Spurs Notebook: 'Dirty' Label Upsets Bowen

[T Park]

Pulling out the "wrongfully accused card" as we enter Holy Week is pretty pathetic.

Wow, the bitter pulls out a crack on Bruce Bowen.

One of the classiest people on the team.

Great job Ploto you've sunk to new depths of stupidity

[michaelwcho]

"When people think of me, all they think about is, 'He's dirty,'" Bowen said before the Spurs' game against the 76ers. "You don't ever want to be looked at as a player like that."

This is a very careful, "that depends what the meaning of is, is" type of sentence. It doesn't specifically say it hurt his feelings. It just as well could mean it's a disadvantage with the refs to be known that way. I'm sorry, I love Bruce, but I am a little su ious after that weird kick against Amare. It's kind of like you have a real good friend, but then you see him do something you thought was far out of character, and you lose a bit of trust and doubt him a little.

[ploto]

Wow, the bitter pulls out a crack on Bruce Bowen.

One of the classiest people on the team.

Great job Ploto you've sunk to new depths of stupidity

Last time I checked Jesus did not have a history of kicking people in the face or the back. He was completely sinless and wrongfully accused. For Bruce even to hint at a relation between his situation and Jesus' life is disgusting to me as we enter the most Holy Week of the entire year. Truly.

[loveforthegame]

Good news about Udoka. We need him out there and hopefully his offense returns as well.

[DarrinS]

Can somone please photoshop Bruce's face in a habit.

[T Park]

Last time I checked Jesus did not have a history of kicking people in the face or the back. He was completely sinless and wrongfully accused. For Bruce even to hint at a relation between his situation and Jesus' life is disgusting to me as we enter the most Holy Week of the entire year. Truly.

Then swing from the shower curtain and do the in world a favor.

[rasho8]

Pulling out the "wrongfully accused card" as we enter Holy Week is pretty pathetic.

I never said anything about you but you really are re ed arent you?

I mean seriously its great they let kids with mental disabilities type on computers, but they should at least add forum blocks so the rest of us dont have to listen to your mewling all the time.

Now put your helmet back on and try not to run into any walls while watching TV.

Great leave now. plskthnx

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

ploto
ATXRocker
Findog

So none of you would respond to being punched in the groin by someone else?

(ploto, subs ute being donkey punched for this question)

[T Park]

apparently not because shes a perfect christian.

She acts like a bitter old nun that never gets laid though I'll say that.

[Gino]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...k.3221880.html

Spurs notebook: 'Dirty' label upsets Bowen
Jeff McDonald
Express-News

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Early game notes - will be updated)

PHILADELPHIA — A night after the NBA suspended him for a game for purportedly kicking another player, Spurs forward Bruce Bowen was back on defense Saturday.

Specifically, he was defending his reputation.

Vehemently denying the league's assertion that he had purposefully kicked New Orleans guard Chris Paul, Bowen said it bothers him to be considered a dirty player.

"When people think of me, all they think about is, 'He's dirty,'" Bowen said before the Spurs' game against the 76ers. "You don't ever want to be looked at as a player like that."

The incident occurred in the third quarter of the Spurs' loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, when Bowen and Paul became entangled in a fight for a loose ball. Paul was called for a foul on the play, but upon viewing tape of the episode, Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president of basketball operations, ruled that Bowen had kicked Paul after the whistle.

The league informed Bowen of its decision to suspend him after shootaround Friday in Detroit. He watched the Spurs' 84-80 loss to the Pistons on television at the team hotel.

The suspension ended Bowen's league-best streaks of consecutive games played and started at 500.

At the time, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he didn't think Bowen's crime warranted the punishment meted out.

"It doesn't reach the level of other suspensions that I've seen, either in physicality or harm," Popovich said.

Bowen agreed. He recalled a game in 2006 when he kicked then-Seattle guard Ray Allen in the back during a tangle — and admitted to it.

Bowen's punishment then? A $10,000 fine and no suspension.

"I kicked Ray, and I was wrong for that, and I dealt with the consequences of that," Bowen said. "But the consequences here were greater, and it wasn't a kick."

Back in action Saturday night, Bowen has chosen to take a philosophical view of the ordeal.

"I'm a Christian," he said. "Sometimes when we feel like we're wrongfully accused, you have to look at it as people we try to emulate our lives after were wrongfully accused. It's about how you handle that, more than anything else.

"Are you able to just continue on with life and move on? Or do you allow that to be a deterrent? It's important to move on. Sometimes things happen like that, but life doesn't stop."

Udoka on mend:

Popovich says he expects injured swingman Ime Udoka to be ready for Monday's game against Boston.

Udoka, who has been battling a foot problem for several weeks, was sent back to San Antonio for treatment after Wednesday's loss at New Orleans.

"We watched him play in that game, and he could hardly move," Popovich said.

Oh wow.......

[Findog]

ploto
ATXRocker
Findog

So none of you would respond to being punched in the groin by someone else?

(ploto, subs ute being donkey punched for this question)

I thought Bruce was a Christian and Christians turn the other cheek.

But don't worry, on the third day after the Pistons game he will rise again.

[Gino]

LMAO @ Saint Bruce!!!

[Findog]

LMAO @ Saint Bruce!!!

He's got holes in his hands and he's never been laid!

[foodie2]

Last time I checked Jesus did not have a history of kicking people in the face or the back. He was completely sinless and wrongfully accused. For Bruce even to hint at a relation between his situation and Jesus' life is disgusting to me as we enter the most Holy Week of the entire year. Truly.

Bible-thumper forum.

[ChumpDumper]

He was wrongfully punished, not wrongfully accused.

[ClingingMars]

I thought Bruce was a Christian and Christians turn the other cheek.

But don't worry, on the third day after the Pistons game he will rise again.

God gave us these things we call testicles, and when someone hits us there, it is extremely difficult to control our actions. But of course, a person with no balls like yourself wouldn't understand this concept.

I liked what Bruce said, and am glad that I will see him in heaven one day.

-Mars

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

He's got holes in his hands and he's never been laid!

I guess it's better than having no balls like your All-Star PF.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Wow, the bitter pulls out a crack on Bruce Bowen.

One of the classiest people on the team.

Great job Ploto you've sunk to new depths of stupidity

You've already explored and conquered the lowest depths of stupidity my friend.

[Findog]

God gave us these things we call testicles, and when someone hits us there, it is extremely difficult to control our actions. But of course, a person with no balls like yourself wouldn't understand this concept.

I liked what Bruce said, and am glad that I will see him in heaven one day.

-Mars

You're a ing idiot.

[Findog]

I guess it's better than having no balls like your All-Star PF.

Ooh! Total Burn! What a bunch of whiny es you guys are. I guess you take your cue from Bruce Christ.



"What did I do? What did I do?"

[Phenomanul]

Bowen is a defensive pest... And he does his job exceptionally well.

Why would it surprise anyone that players don't like being hounded by him? What else is new? Do they expect an unimpeded path to the basket? That the opposition simply quit on defense?

His high profile label is created because he usually defends the opposition's marquee perimeter player. Bowen is obviously no saint on the court... but the very nature of his role will never allow him to be that player (you know... the player that's always smiling and cordial with everybody on the court).

On the court he will always be the player you hate to face, and be generally disliked. But, to accuse him of purposely trying to end other players' careers is beyond comprehension and an utter lie. To further suggest that he is a 'bad Christian' for doing his job on the court is stupid, irrelevant and unfair. Bowen didn't throw the Christian word in there to defend his actions, he threw it in there because he's trying to state that his personal convictions don't mesh with the notion that he could simultaneously be a ruthless, machiavellian player.

Bowen's community work is a reflection of his personal convictions. Anybody that is acquainted with his lifestory would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated individual (outside of Robinson and Mutombo). And unlike many of Bowen's NBA peers, he doesn't do it for the publicity or as part of an NBA mandate that requires all players 'work' x amount of hours for the community. His work is compassionate and heartfelt; one can see it even when the cameras aren't rolling [personal story about my cousin].

Bowen plays hard, and sometimes his plays do get 'testy'. But outside of the two incidents stated above (for which he has already paid his dues) labeling him 'dirty' is a copout tactic to get the league to restrict his effectiveness (exhibit A - the Phoenix Suns organization, Phil Jackson, Isaiah Thomas etc...).

The two guys who started that accusation: Vince Carter and Ray Allen - blatantly lied about saying Bruce had 'ended their season', or 'injured their ankle on purpose'. Both were later confronted after seeing footage that proved the contrary; they recanted their statements, but the damage was already done. What hurts is that the media failed to present both sides. They could care less about the 'dirty image' they had created for Bowen and had no intentions of undoing their unjust mischaracterization. The do ented lies stated by Carter and Allen received very little media attention - they weren't even a footnote on BSPN. Instead, their lies keep getting propagated and used against Bowen to the point where they've ruined a very special iron-man streak. Yeah, I would be quite upset.

ploto, get off of your high-horse already.

[Findog]

Waiting for the "4 rings, empty trophycase" comeback AggieHoopsfan. Don't keep me waiting...

[ChumpDumper]

Ooh! Total Burn! What a bunch of whiny es you guys are. I guess you take your cue from Bruce Christ.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Bowen is a defensive pest... And he does his job exceptionally well.

Why would it surprise anyone that players don't like being hounded by him? What else is new? Do they expect an unimpeded path to the basket? That the opposition simply quit on defense?

His high profile label is created because he usually defends the opposition's marquee perimeter player. Bowen is obviously no saint on the court... but the very nature of his role will never allow him to be that player (you know... the player that's always smiling and cordial with everybody on the court).

On the court he will always be the player you hate to face, and be generally disliked. But, to accuse him of purposely trying to end other players' careers is beyond comprehension and an utter lie. To further suggest that he is a 'bad Christian' for doing his job on the court is stupid, irrelevant and unfair. Bowen didn't throw the Christian word in there to defend his actions, he threw it in there because he's trying to state that his personal convictions don't mesh with the notion that he could simultaneously be a ruthless, machiavellian player.

Bowen's community work is a reflection of his personal convictions. Anybody that is acquainted with his lifestory would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated individual (outside of Robinson and Mutombo). And unlike many of Bowen's NBA peers, he doesn't do it for the publicity or as part of an NBA mandate that requires all players 'work' x amount of hours for the community. His work is compassionate and heartfelt; one can see it even when the cameras aren't rolling [personal story about my cousin].

Bowen plays hard, and sometimes his plays do get 'testy'. But outside of the two incidents stated above (for which he has already paid his dues) labeling him 'dirty' is a copout tactic to get the league to restrict his effectiveness (exhibit A - the Phoenix Suns organization, Phil Jackson, Isaiah Thomas etc...).

The two guys who started that accusation: Vince Carter and Ray Allen - blatantly lied about saying Bruce had 'ended their season', or 'injured their ankle on purpose'. Both were later confronted after seeing footage that proved the contrary; they recanted their statements, but the damage was already done. What hurts is that the media failed to present both sides. They could care less about the 'dirty image' they had created for Bowen and had no intentions of undoing their unjust mischaracterization. The do ented lies stated by Carter and Allen received very little media attention - they weren't even a footnote on BSPN. Instead, their lies keep getting propagated and used against Bowen to the point where they've ruined a very special iron-man streak. Yeah, I would be quite upset.

ploto, get off of your high-horse already.

He has gotten more than just "testy" man. The kick to the back of ray was dirty and so was the knee to Chris Paul. The movement that he made when he kneed steve nash looked intentional, and so did the one where he stepped on Amare's heel. And I'm a Spurs fan. Bruce is constantly in control of his body when he is playing defense. To make those sort of mistakes is uncharacteristic of Bruce.

[ploto]

You do know that according to player survey, Bruce Bowen was named the second dirtiest player in the NBA. What annoys me is people claiming that it is because he plays good defense but that simply is not true. I do not recall anyone calling Shane Battier or Marcus Camby dirty. It is a cop out to claim the objections are because he is a good defender-- the objections are because he hurts people knowingly. Does he play dirty every game- no-- all the time-- no- but when he gets frustrated he plays dirty. Everyone knows it. His playing the martyr is downright pathetic. I recall him being admonished for misconduct. And yes, Bruce has control over his body. He does not accidentally kick people in the face. He knows exactly what he is doing, and he goes overboard at times. It is a shame: he will never be the defensive player of the year because of it.