Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs is known for three things.
He is known as one of the premier shutdown defenders in the NBA, a deadly three-point shooter, and, most infamously, as the dirtiest player in the league.
Last night in the fourth quarter of a game versus the Phoenix Suns, Bowen let his frustration get the best of him and proceeded to give Suns center Amare Stoudemire a forearm shiver to the chest.
A video of the event can be found here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2gQYpdOjjQA
After a couple seconds in which Stoudemire was able to gather himself, he came up looking for blood. Luckily, the Suns knew that if Stoudemire were to retaliate, he would be harshly reprimanded by the league offices.
Bowen got off with a simple personal foul.
Stoudemire could later be heard in the locker room proclaiming that Bowen has a "glass jaw" after watching replays of the incident.
Bowen is the embodiment of exactly what is wrong with the NBA.
It is not like he has been a choir boy during his NBA career. In fact, earlier this year he was suspended one game for kicking New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul.
He is also known for purposely sticking his foot under jump shooters with the intention of rolling their ankles. Oh, and don't forget the time he jump kicked a player in the face.
Despite all of this, NBA Commissioner David Stern continues to let Bowen off with nothing more than slaps on the wrist.
Bowen is a master of these "dirty" plays. He does them discreetly so that nobody will notice unless they see a replay, and are looking explicitly for what he did.
His ability to attack unnoticed by the referees means that if he is ever retaliated against, his victim will be the player to be reprimanded.
David Stern needs to act now before Bowen opens a can of worms.
We all remember how last year’s Western Conference Semifinals were decided by the Phoenix Suns reacting to a cheap shot from a member of the San Antonio Spurs. If Stern does not take matters into his own hands, one of two events is certain to happen:
1. Bowen enacts one of his cheap shots and seriously hurts somebody. Stern is then faced with questions of why he did not stop Bowen when he could have.
Or
2. Bowen enacts one of his cheap shots, and then is seriously hurt when the player attacks him viciously. See Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich.
Stern again is faced with questions of why he did not stop Bowen when he could have.
In both of these scenarios, the league's public image takes a hit. Much of the general public already views the NBA as a league full of thugs and gang bangers. If that stereotype is then perpetuated, the NBA will feel a financial crunch as advertisers do not wish to be associated with such a group of people.
The 2007-08 NBA season has been the greatest season in recent memory. As a fan of the sport, the last thing I want is the memory of this season tarnished by Stern's lack of initiative in stopping Bowen when he had the chance.
Please, Mr. Stern, please let me remember this season for all the amazing games I've seen, and not the chaos caused by a rogue player.
8 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Braden Moore is either an idiot or a sore looser. Bowen is not a dirty player. He is aggressive and tenacious - that is not the same thing as dirty. The vast majority of NBA players respect Bruce and his style of play. It is preposterous to state that Bowen discreetly plays dirty without thousands of watching eyes or even video seeing it.
You should get the facts before writing dribble like this. You are an example of what is wrong with journalism today.
-KDW
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
KDW needs to take of dose of his/her own medicine and consider using the same methods before posting such dribble. While I don't necessarily think Bowen's move on Stoudemire the other night was as callous as many other things he has done, he is certainly unethical in his tactics and one day he most certainly will seriously hurt someone. His knee has met more player groins than a relentless groupie and he has perfected the art of slipping his foot under jumping players. He has taken the art of dirty play to its highest form, so much so that it doesn't appear dirty at all. Either KDW is David Stern, Bruce Bowen, a Spurs fan or blind. Plain and simple.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
You're both idiots, KDW and Anonymous. Dribble is what skillful basketball players do,
or old men on prozac, as they languish away in sheltered care centers. Drivel is what
idiots write when they have nothing useful to say and waste our time listening to or reading
their ill-considered words.
Regardless, Moore is right. Plain and simple.
Jerks are jerks. Bowen is a turd, and thousands of eyes have seen him cheap shot his
way through his career. Stern needs to man up and give him the smackdown before
someone else does. Otherwise, he's a jerk too.
Bubby Splein
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Bubby - why so angry, dude? could it be the ridiculous name your parents bestowed upon you? Man, I'd hate to have been in your spelling class. You're the kind to bring firearms to school, right? Stick with the subject and let the teachers correct the spelling. Get over it dude or get laid. Chill!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Anonymous,
1. I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.
2. Is Anonymous your real name? Is gullible in the dictionary?
3. Spelling class? Did you ever attend a class on spelling? Strugglin'.
4. You can't spell or reason, so I carry a gun?
5. You stick to the subject. You disappoint me again.
6. Is that an offer?
7. I'm still cool. You are a tool.
8. Why defend Bowen's honor? He's a turd.
Bubby
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Anonymous,
You are an idiot.
There is plenty of evidence of what Bowen does. It is no secret what he does, and if you really knew your facts, you would know that there are many players who don't respect him.
Here is a little evidence for you:
1. http://youtube.com/watch?v=sc4yz__akIU&feature=related
2. http://youtube.com/watch?v=MLgHeeOZJFI&feature=related
3. http://youtube.com/watch?v=XhTjSrZi91Y&feature=related
4. http://youtube.com/watch?v=w8WXVJQ06Sk&feature=related
5. http://youtube.com/watch?v=tdxXvkMB6gA&feature=related
Again, you are an idiot.
Bubby and Moore have it right. Bowen is a "turd."
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
sorry...
last post signed as
-SLO
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Dan Siegel about 1 year ago
You gotta be kidding me...Another Bruce Bowen hater. He was fighting through a pick to get to the ball-handler. It happens in every game. The fact that Amare has to whine like a spoiled 7-year-old girl is not his problem. Y'all are just jealous Brce isn't on your team and you have won three championships since 1999.
Go Spurs Go!
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