Spurs Notebook: 'Dirty' Label Upsets Bowen

[duncan228]

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.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Great news about Udoka

[Findog]

"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."

[atxrocker]

rofl rofl @ wrongly accussed. poor bruce.

[Findog]

rofl rofl @ wrongly accussed. poor bruce.

Bruce Christ has been crucified by the Jews!




Forgive them Lord, they know not what they do.

[T Park]

thanks for ruining it...


Good news on Ime.

[remingtonbo2001]

@ findog. That picture of Stern is halarious.

I think Bowen's record should continue actively.

It should followed by an astrix in the record book which states

* 1 game UP by the NBA.

[duncan228]

Great news about Udoka

It is.
We need every hand we can get on deck for Monday.

[DaDakota]

Bowen dirty?

Nah, you don't say...



DD

[The Nba Is Rigged]

Bowen's a good dude but sometimes I just think he loses it which ends up in plays that his opponents think are dirty. Like his Kick on Ray Allen or his jump kick In Wally's face.

[Findog]

The bottom line is that Bowen is a dirty player who frequently crosses the line. However, fans would love to have him on their team and hate him when he isn't.

[ancestron]

Excellent defense by Bowen.

[DazedAndConfused]

You know Bowen is dirty when people on a computer tech. forum are calling him out....

http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...&enterthread=y

[ploto]

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

[1Parker1]

That was a pretty classy way for Bowen to defend himself on the incident. He easily could have gone on a tirade about the NBA and the unfairness of the suspension. Instead he seems to come out honest and sincere and hopefully by the sound of it, he's not going to let the suspension change the way he approaches and plays the game.

[djgruvy]

I can't take this anymore....First Dunacn offers to help Snaq up and he ignores the t out of him....That should have been a declaration of war..and why the is Timmy helping up Chris Paul after Bowen stepped all over him. That's bull t......

[hater]

nice try troll. now go back to your Suns forum

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Bowen dirty?

Nah, you don't say...



DD

i got two words that might scare you

SECOND ROUND!!!!

[ancestron]

<crickets>

[The Nba Is Rigged]

Poor Bruce Bowen...

[m33p0]

off-topic but this photo deserves a photoshop

[CPIM]

Specifically, he was defending his reputation.

"When people think of me, all they think about is, 'He's dirty,'" Bowen said before the Spurs' game against the 76ers.

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

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

"I kicked Ray, ...

"I'm a Christian," he said. "Sometimes when we feel like we're wrongfully accused,....."

Wow, dirty Bowen put himself with Jesus

[team-work]

I also hope that Bruce gets over this incident quickly. He's always a great player whom I admire very much.

Today I played 3-on-3 basketball in a street court. Defensively, I tried to be diligent & stayed physically close to my opponent (of course my efficiency & skills are nothing compared with Bruce.) The result is that at the end of the game, the man I guarded against said something very bad to me. I didn't respond so the incident didn't end in a quarrel or fight. After that I think I have a little understanding of Bowen's situation.

[Admidave50]

I also hope that Bruce gets over this incident quickly. He's always a great player whom I admire very much.

Today I played 3-on-3 basketball in a street court. Defensively, I tried to be diligent & stayed physically close to my opponent (of course my efficiency & skills are nothing compared with Bruce.) The result is that at the end of the game, the man I guarded against said something very bad to me. I didn't respond so the incident didn't end in a quarrel or fight. After that I think I have a little understanding of Bowen's situation.

hehe you're in HK right? I'm in Guangzhou and Chinese people defend like ! It always end in a fight! Maybe one day I can catch you in a court at Victoria Park!

[team-work]

hehe you're in HK right? I'm in Guangzhou and Chinese people defend like ! It always end in a fight! Maybe one day I can catch you in a court at Victoria Park!

I live in Kowloon & seldom goes to the Victoria Park, which is in Hong Kong Island. Maybe next time either you or I goes there, we try to inform one another beforehand!