Nate Robinson apology blog post
Let the healing begin
Little Nate is being a big man and apologizing on his blog. If it took a brawl and 10 game suspension to get him to update, then I say brawl away big fella. (Kidding. Maybe.)
During my suspension, I will practice every day with the team in an effort to improve me game. Unfortunately I won’t be allowed to go to the arena. And with a 10-game suspension, that takes me right up to the game in my hometown of Seattle on Jan. 5. So it is very disappointing that I won’t be able to play in my hometown.
Hopefully nobody on the Knicks tries to show him up in a blowout in practice. That is, if the starters can beat their B team.
One thing that separates the brawl from the Malice at the Palace it that the old brawl enhanced the gully factor of several players. Ron Ron, Stephen Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, and Jermaine O’Neal all did something that made you stop and say wow that guy could really present a physical danger to another human being. The Saturday Night brawl, all we learned is that Mardy Collins can give a hard basketball foul, J.R. Smith would not win a greco-roman wrestling competition, Jared Jeffries makes funny faces when he’s mad, and Carmelo will punch and run. But none of those guys made you think, whoa this is a crazy lunatic that challenges my notion of public safety. I would not mess with (insert name). Except for Nate. He might be inconsequential as a basketball player, but he picked up a lot of points in the loose cannon competition.
17 Responses to “Nate Robinson apology blog post”
Dec.19 at 3:05 pm
Cheryl says:
Check out Zirin’s piece in the Nation: http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20070101&s=southpaw
He’s one of you guys’ occasional contributers, yes? I like his take on the whole NBA and fights issue.
Dec.19 at 3:09 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
I just read Zirin’s piece right before you posted that. I agree 1000%. And furthermore, baseball fights are awesome and the same people that condemn NBA brawls as a sign of a league gone wrong also write columns about how the Yankees need to throw at Big Pap’s head and how the Mets blew the world series when Piazza didn’t bumrush Clemens.
Dec.19 at 3:13 pm
Max Airington says:
Zirin on point as usual. Maybe if basketball had a penalty box where you could be punished for 2 minutes rather than 15 games, people might feel safer.
Dec.19 at 3:20 pm
Cheryl says:
The way the fights are covered in the media–NBA vs. all other sports leagues–is jacked, no question. But I do think that fights in the NBA are unique in that they have the potential to injure fans with these really big guys flying into the front row of seats. Now, a fan can also get injured by a player flying for loose balls (poor choice of words??). I wouldn’t want to see it happen, but maybe the league should consider moving those seats. I’m just recalling Nate and JR flying into those seats with this old lady looking like “oh sh*t, I’m gonna die”! That scene actually had me cracking up, but I guess that’s kinda mean. but it was funny…
Dec.19 at 3:51 pm
rob stewart says:
I also think they should move the fans back and the camera men and the media. They are just to close. I hate seeing guys getting injured because they ran into a camera. In baseball, hockey, and football fans are not that close to the playing field/court. I also think basketball fights are viewed differently because of public perception. If you have big angry black guys fighting each other it resembles gang violence. But in baseball or hockey it’s just a heat of the moment kind of thing. I would love to hear what other people think.
Dec.19 at 4:18 pm
allenp says:
From Rob Stewart I also think basketball fights are viewed differently because of public perception. If you have big angry black guys fighting each other it resembles gang violence. But in baseball or hockey it’s just a heat of the moment kind of thing. I would love to hear what other people think. While this is a correct assessment, it’s more a condemnation of the public then it is of basketball players or black athletes. It’s ridiculous that fights by one racial group create and image of gang violence and fights by another are just boys being boys. Here’s a news flash for the public, all black people don’t belong to gangs. Furthermore, gangs of white men have done more damage to black people throughout history, than gangs of black men have ever done to white people.
The coverage of these type of incidents always underscores the lack of true understanding between sportswriters and the black athletes. And it’s not just the money gap that creates that distance, it’s a black and white thing.
Dec.19 at 4:38 pm
Ivory says:
i agree with you. That is the way i feel about Scott Layden ruining the knicks before isiah thomas got there. And isiah has spent about 2 years cleaning up his mess. Then after that whole mess he hired the best coach in the world in Larry Brown. Never got anything from him, but now everyone wants his head. That seems obsurd to me. I never heard fire larry brown or scott layden in the garden. But the sports writers are making sure they fuel a problem with him and the fans. I think that is another way these sportswriters treat black coaches and athletes period.
Dec.19 at 4:38 pm
Mr.100 says:
I sadily applude Nate for doing so. Just saying Melo should have got a 8 game susspension.
Dec.19 at 5:14 pm
Tim says:
has anyone ever thought maybe in the nba fights get more coverage because there are larger penalties and stern makes a point of saying there was a fight and we are suspending people for 15 games and such. other leagues when big things happen thats the only time you hear about it, but little altercations a fights that occur there is barely a report because they get fined and maybe a couple games off, so there really isnt any huge news to report like a star getting suspended for 15 games. i think they should just start fining maybe a couple games if its huge and then move on because then it will get out of the media, there wont be any well carmelo hasnt played for 15 games it will be saturday he hit a guy and the he dropped 45 on monday and by saturday again all people will talk about is his scoring average. stern just brings extra attention by giving out huge suspensions, and thats why i think fights are such a big deal in the nba.
Dec.19 at 5:40 pm
rob stewart says:
I totally agree with you allenp
Dec.19 at 5:58 pm
Chris says:
I don’t think the fault lies with stern on this issue, it’s society. Stern realizes that basketball players are held to a different standard largely because (in my opinion) it’s seen as a black sport/league so he has to come down hard on the players. How many times have you heard people say, I don’t watch the nba anymore because it’s filled with thugs & gangsters. So stern has to dress his players up in shirts and ties, and hide their jewelry and chains just make the ignoramuses living in middle america feel safe. Meanwhile, brawls occur in baseball and nobody says sh*t. Tank Johnson (a defensive player for the Chicago Bears) got arrested a couple days ago for having 6 guns w/out permits and over the weekend his body guard got shot to death, and it was barely mentioned, now imagine if it were Stephen Jackson, the media would still be ranting and raving about how the league is out of control. Sorry that this post is so long but I’m just sick of the double standard. Melo, Nate, and J.R. acted a fool over the weekend, and they should be punished for it, but let’s not make this bigger than it is, let’s not treat them any differently than we would a baseball or hockey player
Dec.19 at 6:16 pm
One Angry Knick Fan says:
Melo is a chicken Nugget
Dec.19 at 6:59 pm
Dblizzy! says:
I got a mild chuckle out of the Knicks Fan. But I think all you guys are on point with what you are saying, and I think the factor that tops it all off, is the fact that these guys are not only percieved as black thugs, but black thugs making millions of dollars. I think that get’s under the skin of a lot of people to see A.I. with his corn rows and all his tattoos as a millionaire. And I don’t condone fighting in any sport, and outside of the dress code, I applaud stern for trying to clean up the league with the stiffer suspensions. The other leagues should take note and do the same, because whether you like him or not, Stern has done a lot for the NBA in his time as the commish. Carmelo is a complete idiot to throw that punch, knowing how the league is now and especially with they way he has been percieved by some in the media. So I think he deserved all 15 games It’s sad, but thats just the way it is for the black athlete. Mark Mcguire was the golden boy when he was breaking HR records, but as soon as Bonds did it, they brought in the government to clean up baseball… Sorry for the rant
Dec.20 at 7:25 am
Boing Dynasty says:
Oh Nate, you idiot.
Dec.20 at 11:25 am
Froggiestyle says:
I didn’t read Nate’s apology, didn’t read the Zinn piece but can only say what happened to the love? Member the bad boys area? Hooweeeee does that ever seem like a million miles away or what? The game is all about emotion and intensity, and so sometimes shit happens. Yes it’s not right and shouldn’t happen but it can and does and will. 15 games? I dunno man. That just sounds whiny and bitchy to me. If you’re serious Stern why not force them to do a solid week of community service, or youth reach out coupled with anger management (yada yada yada) but actually address what happened, make a statement to the youth (for face) and let the boys still play. 15 games, why not 50? Where else do they suspend cats that long?
All said and done, there’s much more hype than there needs to be - and I hope that’s an accident, but it feels like media positioning. Whatever.
Dec.20 at 2:31 pm
Da one says:
Nate is a big suck up. But so little. First of all he shouldn’t have jumped into that fight because it was not any of his concern. Now he’s only suspended for 10 games. But why is Carmelo’s suspension so long? If you ask me Nate should of gotten the 15 game suspension and Carmelo Anthony get the 10 game suspension. No one told whoever it was that fouled J.R. Smith to start it in the first place. IF YOU’RE LOSING A GAME HAVE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND SUCK IT UP!! THE NEW YORK KNICKS SUCK!!!!!!!!!
Jun.14 at 6:34 pm
Melo ownz says:
Melo did a hit n run he punched robinson and got out of a crowd so robinson wouldnt run to his teamates melo could ko robinson anyday