Ghostface Ziller hates him some Harpring

A few choice words from Tom Ziller, of AOL Fanhouse and Sactown Royalty, about how dirty the Jazz are and how Dirk was completely justified in punching Harpring in the face.

While I might not disagree that the resulting one-game suspension is "complete bollocks" (because I don't think Dirk really MEANT to punch Harp in the face), I sure don't appreciate the implication that Jazz fans glory in the violence that Harpring brings to the game. I wish Harp would cut that stuff out, too. I think most Jazz fans feel the same way. It's not like we're egging him on when he pulls this crap.

But thanks, Ziller, for perpetuating the stereotype of brutal, physical behavior that, Harp aside, is completely uncharacteristic of this current Jazz team, and for implying that we love it. I'm sure you know better about what Jazz fans "adore" than, you know, actual Jazz fans.

about 3 years ago Shums 6 comments 0 recs |

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First,

it wasn’t an elbow. Second, in the video he states that Dirk has boxed out Fess, but we also see Harp getting pushed under the basket while having his man boxed out. Next, that push by Harp wasn’t called a foul as Z stated.

And the whine about Fess’ hand on his back? Are you kidding? Have they ever watched an NBA game? Is there suppose to be no touching?

Finally, it’s easy to take a couple of clips and make them look bad. But they rarely watch the entire game. Over the backs and other fouls were going on the entire game by both sides. Jirk was just frustrated and blew his lid.

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Dec 29, 2008 11:59 AM MST reply actions

Harp is physical, not dirty

Harpring plays position basketball and he uses his muscles…but he’s not out there tripping, elbowing, stepping under elevated players (see Bruce Bowen). He’s just serious about the picks he sets, and using his leverage to get the position he wants. Players like Melo and Dirk don’t like it because he moves them out of their position. I’m sure it is annoying to stand under the basket waiting for a rebound and then have a guy put his hips into you to move you out of the way…but that’s basketball. Quit the whining, slapping, etc. Harpring isn’t intimidated by their celebrity. He should apologize to no one, and other players (Fes, Koufos, Milsap, AK) could learn a lot from Harp’s play. Do you think Bird made friends going after rebounds?

Buckle up!

by MTN on Dec 29, 2008 4:12 PM MST reply actions

yes, but...

We all know Harpring does certain things deliberately to get under his opponents’ skin. They may not be dirty things, but they’re just little pinpricks, head games, unnecessary physicality, just to be obnoxious. That shove he gave Dirk so that Harp could get the ball as it fell through the net, to give to the ref, instead of letting the Dallas players grab the ball and inbound it right away, the way it happens on 95% of all made baskets? Totally needless. True, it would give the Jazz players an extra second to get down court and set up on defense, but seriously, it was going over the line. And he does stuff like that all the time, and he does it deliberately to annoy.

It’s not dirty, exactly. But it is specifically designed to put his opponents on tilt, to get them angry. (Harp has said as much in the past, that he likes to use his physicality to put opponents off their game.) Should he apologize for it? No. Should he be surprised when players retaliate? Probably not, since he’s doing it on purpose to annoy them. Does that justify the opponents when they lash out? Of course not.

Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?

by Shums on Dec 29, 2008 4:43 PM MST up reply actions

What about trash?

If Jordan, Bird, Garnett, etc. talk to their opponents to get under their skin, is that equally egregious to you? There’s something to be said about just playing basketball. But there’s also something to the idea of “any advantage”… I suppose if Harp were on another team I would hate his guts (especially if I were a nuggets fan). But if ~~annoying~~ intimidating your opponent, physically or verbally, shakes them up, is that so bad?

Buckle up!

by MTN on Dec 29, 2008 10:27 PM MST up reply actions

no, it's not so bad

it’s just a whole other type of contest, in addition to the basketball contest already being played. I don’t know if trash talk and bending the rules with overly physical play are equally egregious. I just know they’re both not really basketball. And they engender some seriously ill feelings between opponents, which leads to incidents like punches being thrown. Nobody’s going to punch someone in the face for making five straight 3-pointers. They might if you yell insults in their face five straight times as they shoot, though, or whack them on the wrist five straight times (and only three of them are called as fouls).

I pretty much agree with, or at least see your point, in everything you’ve said. It just still doesn’t sit well with me. I just want to see good basketball. And yes, I would LOATHE Harp on another team, instead of my current attitude of begrudging tolerance.

Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?

by Shums on Dec 30, 2008 1:48 AM MST up reply actions