LeBron's flop draws technical
Jun 8, 2011
Here's the latest flop that has pundits wondering if acts like this should be removed from the game completely.
LeBron James draws the foul from former Tar Heel Brendan Haywood when there is virtually no contact. And he draws a technical from Mavs coach Rick Carlisle who protested the call.
I heard Mike Greenberg say on ESPN Radio this morning that the league should start reviewing this stuff on off days and issue the technical to LeBron James.
I've heard some arguments that flopping in basketball is no different than framing a pitch in baseball, or punters or kickers flopping in football — both acts are meant to fool officials to give your team an edge.
It's a valid point. The flops in football and basketball definitely look sillier because it's not much of a motion for a catcher to frame a pitch.
I'm fine if you want to review these plays after the fact and give technicals or a small fine. But I'm also fine with the ridicule the player receives of being known as a clown who does this stuff.
Most Recent Comments
Posted Jun 8, 1:08 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 32719
Joined: Jan, 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: LeBron's flop draws technical
I agree with everything said by TBK....wow that was weird feeling- Posted by agfitz
Welcome to the LIGHT that is TBKR! ;)
Posted Jun 8, 12:57 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 5055
Joined: Aug, 2008
Location: Lawrence, KS
RE: LeBron's flop draws technical
The reason why these superstars make faces and whine when things don't go their way is because the NBA set a bad precedent when David Stern took over and started giving "respect" calls (ie instructing refs to give the superstars preferential treatment to enable Stern to build the league around stars instead of actual fair competition).RE: LeBron's flop draws technical
I agree with everything said by TBK....wow that was weird feelingPosted Jun 8, 9:56 a.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 32719
Joined: Jan, 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: LeBron's flop draws technical
I'm about to go DEEP here. Just know you've been warned! ;)I believe this kind of thing is a reflection of how our society has gone downhill. Morality is disappearing. Integrity is something no one cares about any more. It's one thing to accept a bad call by a ref when he genuinely made a mistake. Bad calls happen. But when players do stuff like this, trying to DECEIVE the ref rather than BEAT their opponent, it shows how society has gone downhill.
This kind of thing seems to be more prevalent now than in the "old days". You see flops all the time in college games, and it carries over to pro games. You see players arguing with the ref, or acting like he was robbed on a call, when he knows very well the call was right. How often do we see a foul called, and the player nods in agreement, like "yeah, that's the right call, ref." More often, it's just a grimace, like "NO WAY you called that on me!"
This stuff has no place in true competition. It's a shame we even have to talk about making a rule change to prevent it. Why don't the players prevent it on their own?
And this will only get worse. Little kids see this stuff. They see it work (like it did for Lebron). And they're laughing about it. And I'm sure a good number of parents (I suspect MOST of them) aren't using it as a teachable moment. They probably just laugh, too. They know it's wrong, but their kids are impressionable, and they will grow up thinking it's OK to do this. And it's just not.
I hope they make this rule change. Sadly, that's the only way to stop it.
