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First time I ever recall the finale of a sports event having to be re-done since than the famous Pine tar game. From AP-
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat must replay the final 51.9 seconds of their game last month because the NBA said the official scorer ruled incorrectly that Shaquille O’Neal fouled out. This will be the first time since 1982 the league has sent teams back on the court for a replay.
The Hawks won 117-111 at home in overtime Dec. 19. The NBA said Friday the replay will be held before the teams’ next scheduled game — March 8 in Atlanta. Play will start from the time after O’Neal’s disputed sixth foul.
The Hawks also were fined $50,000, with commissioner David Stern ruling the team was “grossly negligent” in failing to address the mistake.
The protest is the first granted by the NBA since December 1982, when then-NBA commissioner Larry O’Brien upheld a request for a replay by the San Antonio Spurs after their 137-132 double-overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers the previous month.
The Spurs and Lakers finished the game in April 1983, with San Antonio winning 117-114.
The Hawks were leading 112-111 in overtime when O’Neal was called for a foul. The scoring table personnel, who are provided by the home team, ruled it was the Miami center’s sixth foul, when actually it was only his fifth.
According to the league, the mistake stemmed from a foul with 3:24 remaining in the fourth quarter that was called on Udonis Haslem but was mistakenly credited to O’Neal at the scoring table.
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Al Horford hit two free throws after O’Neal’s foul to give the Hawks a 114-111 lead. Anthony Johnson added a running jumper with 14 seconds left to put the game away.
I think the NBA made the right call. O’Neill’s removal from the game certainly could have changed the outcome. Considering how poor the Heat have played this year, I wouldn’t place any bets on their winning the do-over.
Note- I do see where the article says a NBA game in 1982 had to be replayed. Till tonight I hadn’t heard of that happening.
The Miami Heat Center was injured in a game last night against the Atlanta Hawks.
After tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee during Miami’s game in Atlanta last night, the 37-year-old Heat center was placed on the stretcher, but he refused the ride.
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Mourning already has said there is “zero chance” of playing another season.
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Mourning is in his 15th year in the NBA, including 11 with Miami.
Mourning was hurt when attempting to defend the basket on a layup by Atlanta’s Mario West. Replays showed Mourning’s knee buckling without contact from West as Mourning was about to jump.
Mourning is a seven-time all-star and two-time defensive player of the year.
His 15 years in the league do not include a full year he missed because of kidney problems that led to him getting a transplant in 2003.
Many professional athletes say they are going to retire, then change their minds. Should I remind everyone of Junior Seau? His former team the San Diego Chargers has him hold a press conference to announce his retirement, only to have Seau four days later sign a contract to play for the New England Patriots.
In Mourning’s case, I believe it when he says his career will end this year. Alonzo has always been a class act. I hope he gets a chance to play again before year’s end, but if he doesn’t, I wish Alonzo a happy retirement.
ESPN’s Chad Ford offers the Sports Leader’s take on the impending NBA Draft.
It’s almost draft day, and the picture is getting clearer and fuzzier simultaneously.
We’ve been able to narrow down the list of prospects that each team is considering, but two things stand in the way of getting a complete picture.
One, this is a time when many GMs are notorious for dropping smoke screens. A source in Memphis swears the team is taking Joakim Noah. Another says to bank on the Grizzlies’ taking Mike Conley. Someone is misinformed or bluffing.
Two, there is a flurry of trade conversation, starting with Memphis, Boston, Charlotte and Chicago all talking about trading away their lottery picks. Meanwhile teams such as Golden State, Phoenix and the Lakers are trying hard to move up. Others — like Portland, Indiana and Toronto — are trying to get in or grab another pick.
The talk in Phoenix about trading up in the draft has gotten so hot that the Suns have gotten Noah, Jeff Green and Corey Brewer to agree to a workout on Tuesday. They’ll try to add Brandan Wright as a fourth. That shows you how much players want to play in Phoenix — they’ll drop everything just for the chance. It could be the most competitive workout of the draft.
Their consensus draft board:
1. Portland Trailblazers - Greg Oden - C
2. Portland Trailblazers - Kevin Durant - SF - Texas
3. Atlanta Hawks - Al Horford - PF - Florida
4. Memphis Grizzlies - Mike Conley - PG- Ohio State
5. Boston Celtics - Yi Jianlian - PF - China
6. Milwaukee Bucks - Jeff Green - SF - Georgetown
7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Joakim Noah - PF - Florida
8. Charlotte Bobcats - Corey Brewer - SG - Florida
9. Chicago Bulls (via New York Knicks) - Spencer Hawes - C- Washington
10. Sacramento Kings- Brandan Wright - PF - North Carolina
11. Atlanta Hawks (via Indiana Pacers) - Acie Law - PG - Texas A&M
12. Philadelphia 76ers - Al Thornton - SF - Florida State
13. New Orleans Hornets - Nick Young - SG- USC
14. L.A. Clippers - Julian Wright - SF - Kansas
15. Detroit Pistons (via Orlando Magic) - Rodney Stuckey SG - Eastern Wash.
Click the link for more in-depth analysis and for the second half of the draft.
According to an article in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a former member of the Hawks and Thrashers ownership group could potentially end up owning both franchises himself:
Could Steve Belkin, whose deal to depart the Hawks and Thrashers’ ownership group drew applause from employees last summer, wind up as sole owner of the teams?
Yes, he suggests in a new court motion.
In the latest twist to an ever-deepening legal quagmire, Belkin contends that a recent ruling by a Maryland judge means he should have the right to buy out his partners at cost.
The motion asks the Maryland court to enter a judgment declaring, among other things, that Belkin’s partners “failed and refused” to complete the buyout of his stake under the prescribed timetable, and that Belkin therefore “shall purchase all of the interests” held by his partners “for a price equal to [their] aggregate contributed capital.”
In other words, the argument goes, the other owners would get back the money they have put in — about $31 million to date — and Belkin would get the teams.
Obviously, the other owners will have something to say about this as well. As arrogant (and incompetent) as some of the professionals sports owners can be, there’s a lot to be said for having just one person running the ship.
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