Le Basketbawl

Okay if you expect that just because New York Vinnie has his own website now that he is gonna pull his punches you are dead wrong. When you come to Le Basketbawl you are gonna read the truth not just what the Frickin suits in the NBA want you to hear. Everything is not nicey-nicey and all peaches and cream in the world of sports today you know that and I know that. So New York Vinnie is not about to pretend that it is. That just is not right!

Even though New York Vinnie’s team the Knicks are in the toilet and have been for years it does not change my love for the NBA. The NBA truly is “The Greatest Game On Earth!” And right now we are living in what is truly a Golden Age for the NBA. Think of the five guys who led the MVP race this past season; LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. That is just the tip of the iceberg as right now the NBA is loaded with talented players who are for the most part good guys.

However there are exceptions the guys that New York Vinnie refers to as PUDS. There are two ways that you can be designated a PUD in New York Vinnie’s book. The first way is to have talent but a lousy attitude, the second way is that you are just a stiff. So New York Vinnie would like to know who do you think the biggest PUD is playing today in the NBA?

Here are some choices: First we have the Thug Kenyon Martin. Martin has been called a thug more times than John Gotti has. The man has talent but he always looks like he is ready to get that advantage whether it is in the rules or not. This in New York Vinnie’s eyes qualify Kenyon Martin as a PUD.

Here is another guy high on New York Vinnie’s list of PUDS Stephen Jackson. New York Vinnie could never quite understand why Captain Jack got suspended for less time than Ron Artest did after the Brawl in the Palace. At least Artest was provoked what was Jackson’s reason? New York Vinnie will tell you why because he is a PUD!

As we reach the No-Talent part of our presentation nobody could represent it better than the “PUD-Master” himself Kwame Brown. If his Royal Highness Commissioner David Frickin Stern ever needs to validate why there is an age restriction now in the NBA this PUD is the proof.

So is New York Vinnie being too harsh on these guys? Or do you agree that all three qualify as PUDS? Do you have any nominees for our PUD Hall of Shame? Then share them with New York Vinnie and the World Wide Web on Le Basketbawl! 

Kenyon Martin was up to his usual antics Sunday in game one of the Western Conference semi-finals series between the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran power forward was assessed a “Flagrant Foul One” during the first quarter of the Nuggets victory when he knocked Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki to the hardwood. Monday K-Mart was fined 25 grand by the Association for the misdeed. Tuesday according to the “Associated Press” Nuggets coach George Karl tried to defend his player.

Karl told reporters before game two of the series that he thought the NBA was totally out of line with the fine. The Nuggets coach said “I think it’s wrong and Kenyon didn’t deserve a $25,000 fine! It’s amazing to me! I saw some hits in Chicago-Boston, some hits in Atlanta-Miami; this is not on top of the list from my observation.”

The Nuggets bench boss said that the true problem was that K-Mart was just misunderstood. He told the media “Kenyon is a tough defender that gets at times the wrong interpretation because he’s so tough. He’s not going to get the perfect whistle because the way he plays creates a lot of interpretation.”

Karl said to the media gathering  that he watched the play 10 times on replay after the game and the more he watched it the less he thought it warranted a “flagrant foul” call. There is a very good possibility that in order to protect his player that the coach was engaging in some “major spin.” However if he truly believes what he told the media it may be time for George Karl to retire from coaching. Because if he truly believes that was not a flagrant foul then he no longer comprehends the rules of the Association.

Kenyon Martin has been a “Gangsta Wannabe” since his days playing under Bobby Huggins at the University of Cincinnati. I had the experience of interviewing Martin during his college days and did not walk away impressed from the experience. K-Mart has a tattoo on his arm with his description of his demeanor. The words on that tattoo will not be repeated here; personally I found it an offensive phrase.

Martin has had questions about his tactics during games going back to his early days in the Association playing for the New Jersey Nets. The veteran now in his ninth season in the NBA was drafted by New Jersey in the 2000 NBA Draft. Accusations of K-Mart going overboard during games started not long after his career started and have stuck with him since.

Last month Martin was called out by Sacramento Kings Team Owner Joe Maloof who was quite angry at the Denver player when he was assessed a “flagrant foul one” after slamming Kings center Spencer Hawes knocking the second year player to floor. Maloof told reporters that what the Nuggets forward did on the play was inherently wrong. The Kings Owner said “That was thuggery and you can quote me on that. Kenyon Martin wasn’t trying to block the shot. He went right at Spencer when he was running full speed and when he was most vulnerable.”

The Kings Co-Owner said that Martin’s actions were “completely unnecessary. The Nuggets might not want to hear this, but there was no excuse for that, and he needs to apologize to Spencer and our organization. That just wasn’t right!”

It was not right with Hawes in April and it was not right with Nowitzki on Sunday. Martin has been getting away with these stunts for years; the amount he has been fined is a small slap on the wrist for what he did. He seems to get away with a lot more than Houston’s Ron Artest or Golden State’s Stephen Jackson are allowed to. Why there seems to be greater tolerance for K-Mart is a mystery in this corner.

George Karl was hoping by playing the media Tuesday that the game officials will be more lenient with his power forward’s indiscretions. I truly hope that is not the case; there is no room for thuggery in the NBA.