Andres Nocioni has played every position but PG so far. Tonight he was asked to guard Jermaine O'Neal. O'Neal did his best to establish position on the block. Nocioni did his best to front O'Neal and make it difficult for him to receive an entry pass from the wing.
O'Neal took exception to Nocioni's physical play after Andres was whistled for a foul. Andres extended his hand twice to Jermaine in a show of good sportsmanship. O'Neal refused to shake hands.
On the Bulls very next offensive set Andres ended up with the ball under the Bulls basket. He left his feet in an attempt to lay the ball in. O'Neal crashed into Nocioni from behind, planting his hipbone solidly into Nocioni's back. Andres crumbled to the floor in obvious pain while O'Neal stood just in front of him and stared down at Andres as he rolled on the floor in pain. This all took place right in front of referee **** Bavetta. No foul was called.
Indiana brought the ball upcourt while Nocioni was still on the floor forcing Hinrich to commit his 5th foul to stop play. A minute or two later Nocioni was helped to his feet and assisted off the court by a member of the Bulls staff while the Pacers sound man played The Village People's Macho Man to the delight of the crowd.
Bulls assistant coach Jim Boylan went off on the entire Pacers scorer's table demanding to know who made the decision to play that song.
Celebrating a home team victory with music is one thing. So is teasing an opposing player who's just fouled out with "Happy Trails" or "Hit The Road, Jack." But celebrating an injury to an opposing player by mocking him with a song about machismo as he struggles to leave the floor under assistance is completely bush league and classless.
Shame on Jermaine O'Neal for refusing to shake hands with Nocioni. And shame on him again for crashing into him from behind after he'd left his feet. And shame one him one more time for standing before a player he just injured and looking down on him as though he was glad he injured him.
Shame on **** Bavetta who swallowed his whistle in a brazen display of partiality for an established star vs. a rookie.
And finally, shame on the Pacers organization, particularly the employee who ridiculed an opposing player's injury by playing music intended to taunt the player for exhibiting pain.
Interestingly, after Nocioni reached the Bulls bench and stood there trying to stretch his injured back, it was Ron Artest who walked over to him to shake his hand in a display of respect. Apparently Artest has more respect for Andres' aggressive style of play than the rest of the classless hayseeds who call Indianapolis home. I'd love to hear someone among the Pacers faithful or their own local media take O'Neal and the Pacers' sound man to task for their unprofessional behavior.
O'Neal took exception to Nocioni's physical play after Andres was whistled for a foul. Andres extended his hand twice to Jermaine in a show of good sportsmanship. O'Neal refused to shake hands.
On the Bulls very next offensive set Andres ended up with the ball under the Bulls basket. He left his feet in an attempt to lay the ball in. O'Neal crashed into Nocioni from behind, planting his hipbone solidly into Nocioni's back. Andres crumbled to the floor in obvious pain while O'Neal stood just in front of him and stared down at Andres as he rolled on the floor in pain. This all took place right in front of referee **** Bavetta. No foul was called.
Indiana brought the ball upcourt while Nocioni was still on the floor forcing Hinrich to commit his 5th foul to stop play. A minute or two later Nocioni was helped to his feet and assisted off the court by a member of the Bulls staff while the Pacers sound man played The Village People's Macho Man to the delight of the crowd.
Bulls assistant coach Jim Boylan went off on the entire Pacers scorer's table demanding to know who made the decision to play that song.
Celebrating a home team victory with music is one thing. So is teasing an opposing player who's just fouled out with "Happy Trails" or "Hit The Road, Jack." But celebrating an injury to an opposing player by mocking him with a song about machismo as he struggles to leave the floor under assistance is completely bush league and classless.
Shame on Jermaine O'Neal for refusing to shake hands with Nocioni. And shame on him again for crashing into him from behind after he'd left his feet. And shame one him one more time for standing before a player he just injured and looking down on him as though he was glad he injured him.
Shame on **** Bavetta who swallowed his whistle in a brazen display of partiality for an established star vs. a rookie.
And finally, shame on the Pacers organization, particularly the employee who ridiculed an opposing player's injury by playing music intended to taunt the player for exhibiting pain.
Interestingly, after Nocioni reached the Bulls bench and stood there trying to stretch his injured back, it was Ron Artest who walked over to him to shake his hand in a display of respect. Apparently Artest has more respect for Andres' aggressive style of play than the rest of the classless hayseeds who call Indianapolis home. I'd love to hear someone among the Pacers faithful or their own local media take O'Neal and the Pacers' sound man to task for their unprofessional behavior.
