Tuesday November 11 2008 - 5:10pm
I wasn’t able to attend the Raptors practice today - I was busy at a doctor’s appointment. But David Alter was there for the FAN and he’s got a blog/recap posted from the day’s events.
But I wanted to check-in on the hottest topic of the day (aside from Kapono vs Pierce in the 4TH quarter): The verbal battle that was going on between Kevin Garnett and Jose Calderon in last night’s game.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out this clip:
To be honest, I didn’t think much of it at the time. Jonesy and I were sitting at the far end of the floor — our new, BRUTAL broadcast location in Boston — so we weren’t really close to the action or the incident(s) at all. Our initial instinct - and we said it on the air - was that Garnett should have been given a technical foul for “taunting”. But in terms of what was actually said or what set of KG and/or Jose … we have/had no idea.
The “T” should have been called … but … it wasn’t … and life goes on. However …
Then this post came through on Alter’s blog today:
What in the world is Jose Calderon doing getting in the face of Kevin Garnett early in the 4th quarter? Hey kid, shut your mouth and ease off the throttle before someone else punches you in that pretty little face of yours. How about you do something in this league before making a piddly a** jump shot and then run over to tell Garnett about it. Garnett’s a Hall of Famer. It’s no coincidence that shortly after that episode Boston came back and buried the Raptors. Toronto is not even in Boston’s stratosphere. We’ll see if you guys can actually WIN a playoff series before you talk smack to the World Champs OK?
- Blair Martin
Where should I start?
I’ll ignore the fact that the Celtics aren’t the “World” Champs … they’re the NBA Champs. I’ll just deal with your premise that Jose should have simply backed down and walked away from KG.
Well, Blair, two wrongs may not make a right, but KG was the one that started the “incident”. His finger-wagging and trash-talking should have earned him a technical for taunting. And, for what it’s worth, Jose did nothing “wrong” anyway. What did he do ….. ?
Calderon tried to point out to the officials that Garnett was taunting and flapping his lips and the Raptor guard simply wanted the refs to make a call.
When the yapping continued, Calderon stood up for himself.
I don’t know how old you are or if you’ve ever played sports at any kind of level … but … what would you have rather seen Calderon do? Cower to KG? Duck his head, shrug his shoulders, and run away like a scared little boy?
He confronted KG - in a non-physical manner - trying to handle the situation like a man. He wasn’t resorting to violence or challenging the dude to a fight … he was simply verbalizing how foolish he thought Garnett was acting and basically telling him to ‘cut it out’.
Of course Garnett wasn’t going to listen. At that point he knew - or assumed - he was inside Calderon’s head; inside the Raptors’ heads.
But I applaud Calderon for standing up for himself. He didn’t back down from one of the greatest players in the game (in the history of the game) and the Defensive Player of the Year. He ‘fought back’ like any competitor would (should) and I have no problem with that. If I had a son, I’d tell him to do the same thing.
So where you’re coming from, I have no idea. You’re out to lunch on this one man.
If you’re simply a rabid Celtics fan … good for you. It was a good win last night and an incredible 4TH quarter. Your team sure smacked T.O. in the final 12 minutes!
But if you’re here to defend Garnett or slam Calderon for simply standing up for himself and his team, then you’re completely way off base.
E. Smith
Click here to subscribe to Smith's blog
KG really should have gotten T’d up last night for the finger in Jose face. I’ve never liked Garnett and his stupid baby powder clap at the start of games, Calderon should have powdered up his hand and slapped KG across the face.
- TomGfromBramptonKG is a d***. As a person, I have very little respect for him. As a player, he does his job well. For a guy that can barely put two intelligent sentences together, he’s done well for him self.
No class.
- DCE Jose did what he had to. I’m a T.J. fan but that took stones. Last night made me for the first time question CB4. In the play offs he’s not there. And in an intense playoff like 2nd half again no Bosh. He as the face of the team should have stood up for Jose. Super stars are made in games like that one and Bosh is again on the outside looking in. These boys need some real edge to their game. They had a chance to build on their rep but nothing. A rivalry is born.
- Andre from B- townzing!
- Aaron(couldn’t have said it better)
I would have punched Garnett in the face if I were Jose, lol. Blair must be a rabid Celtics fan, b/c looking at the situation without bias, most basketball fans would be rather impressed with Jose’s ability to control himself. Garnett was acting like an animal, did he forget where he was? I really hope his time on the bench during the 4th wasn’t just for rest, I’m not sure Rivers or Ainge want such an awful reputation, or at least I hope they don’t.
Good for Jose, like I said, I was amazed at how he handled himself. I guess he finally realized that Kevin isn’t the maturest of 32 year olds and punching him wasnt going to fix Kevin’s social problems.
- JamieKG is a joke, without Paul Pierce he would still be losing in the first round with Minnesota every year. He isn’t a franchise player, he is a franchise wannabe. The NBA is a joke, and this game gave me another reason to believe the league is rigged. Whenever there is a tick-tack player and the call goes against the home team, the crowd boos, and then the officials get together for a fake little huddle and then reverse the call EVERYTIME.
Blair is a joke, as well as KG. KG finger waves and bounces around like a buffoon in front of guys like Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Anderson Varejao etc, yet, you would never see him do it to people like Jermaine O’Neal, Shaq, etc, because he is soft when the players are bigger than he is.
- BrandonGood picture of KG vs Jose here too:
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/tor/photos;_ylt=AiL9iYYwQ6dnqTw62Cw1XuQvcAM6#photoViewer=urn%3Anewsml%3Asports.yahoo%2Cgetty%3A20050301%3Anba%2Cphoto%2C3e5859f2e21d554222c0d13be95b7569-getty-82994154eg020_toronto_rapto%3A1
- E. SmithBosh vs KG is a match up worth paying for if the coaches let them go one on one. Bargnani is under rated and is still the best player in his draft year. The Defence is coming for Bargnani and the shot will only get better when he starts slowing his game down a little. Don’t give up on this big man he’s just getting started.
- Rob from brantfordIs it just me or is boston still celebrating their championship winning game? I mean I’ve never seen so much celebration after every basket in a game since the fianls, especially not seven games in.
- M. CharlesI have to agree with M. Charles, it was exactly what i was thinking during the game. I love Garnett’s game and intensity, it’s exactly what would make Bargnani great one day but the finger waving is over the line. On par is Pierce’s chest pounding on the way back up the court - no class and the basketball equivalent of Tie Domi’s stick riding after a goal.
- GaryWhile I’m on a rant, the other thing that drives me nuts is all the hugging and “where are we meeting for drinks later” both b4 and after the game between opposing players - mostly the star players.
NO HUGGING, NO HIGH-FIVING and NO JOKING AROUND with the enemy until after the game and off the court.
There; I feel better :-)
Come on guys, your a bunch of delusional canadians. What do you know about the game of basketball? Basketball in boston is like ice skating to you guys. You don’t see me telling you guys about your culture!
- Blair MartinLooks like i’m not the only one who feels this way!
- Blair Martinhttp://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Video-Kevin-Garnett-taunts-Jose-Calderon?urn=nba,121246
Hey Blair, last time I checked a Canadian invented the game!
- MJCBlair… if thats what you call knowing basketball… i think you’ve made your point :)
- Sidgimme them laker fans anyday
I really just think this is a whole lot about nothing. K.G talks smack? WOW THAT IS SHOCKING. If anything was shocking it is that for a change the Raptors didn’t turn the other cheek and that I think goes right to the influence of J.O on this team. But this is honestly a heck of a lot about nothing. Still it adds some hype to the re-match which happens to fall on my birthday. Which is good stuff for me.
- James BorbathYo, Blair Shut Up
Never make fun of Jose he did the right THING!!!!
YO don’t know anything about BASKETBALL
- RAPS FANI love JO but,I remember Norm saying O’Neil wave his finger? Against the Bobcats??!!!
- Finger WaverLike I said, I’m a big Garnett fan (his game, intensity, drive) but he certainly wasn’t this much of a hotdog in MN and Pierce wasn’t when the Celtics were a joke just two years ago.
It’s easy to trash talk when you’re on a juggernaut. Does they taunt the Washington Nationals too? No Class…
- GaryIsn’t this “incident” what added to the game? Finger waving yea he should have gotten a “T” but didn’t and good on Jose for not backing down. Isn’t this how rivalries start? Isn’t good to see that the raps are not intimidated by KG. CB4 should have demanded the ball especially the way he’s played. Relax people if players were on the opposite team the discussion would only be reversed. Bring on the C’s again!!!!
- LannyIt would have been great if Bosh had given KG a royal NBA facial after this incident. The guy is fake. Calderon didn’t back down and that’s what he was supposed to do. Wait until June when my Lakers will THRASH KG’s team and make him cry like a baby.
- Beburg aka The 88mph manJames Borbath quit self promoting we really don’t want to talk about your birthday….we won’t send you any presents like you stated the other day. Keep the focus on B-Ball. As for Blair Martin you define the word ignorance!
- DC