Nate Robinson is your 2009 slam dunk contest winner

Nate Robinson regained the crown as the NBA's slam
dunk winner (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nate Robinson may only be 5’9” but he has a heart the size of giants. Or maybe it is just the size of Dwight Howard at about 6’11”.

Nate electrified the crowd Saturday night as he regained his title as slam dunk contest champion, which he held back in 2006. He spring boarded off his teammate Wilson Chandler in the first round, who was in Arizona for the rookie vs. sophomore game. It was a conservative move, but Nate had to believe that he was going to square off against the reigning champion, superman himself.

For his second dunk, Howard ran into a conveniently located phone booth at the top of the band stage, while a special rim was being set up at 11 feet in the air. When he emerged, he was Superman with his cape on and the fans ate it up. He took a bounce pass off the rim from fellow teammate Jameer Nelson and tomahawked the ball down with authority. He received a perfect score in the first round and looked prone to another victory.

Other participants Rudy Fernandez and J.R. Smith were eliminated after the first round. I guess the fans were just anticipating the battle of David vs. Goliath.

Once in the second round Nate disappeared into the locker room to get into character. He returned in a full green Knicks uniform with green shoes, and even used a green ball. He was Krypto-Nate, the villainous arch-enemy to Superman and he was ready to show his worth. Of course this is all for the fans, but it was good to see such charisma and sportsmanship on both sides. Nate started the second round with a bounce pass into a side spin backwards dunk, pulled himself up and gave a little tap on the glass.

A move he may have picked up from Al Harrington from a few nights ago. (just kidding!)

In retaliation Howard bounced the ball off the side of the backboard, got some huge air and caught the ball with one hand for a thunderous slam. The crowd went ballistic, superman really can soar!

Looking phased but not out of it, Nate pulled out all the shots. He used superman himself for his next trick and took out the green basketball to make a statement. With a running start from about half court Nate ran at the back of Howard, who was now in costume again, and hurdled right over the big behemoth putting his left hand on his shoulder and leapfrogged over Howard for a one hand slam. You can see what I am talking about below.

It was incredible, and it was able to give Nate the victory with 52% of the fan voting. Howard was happy to help, and was not bitter about his defeat. “It is all about having fun,” Howard said. “Hey, he won fair and square. The fans loved it. We tried to put on a good show. That’s what it is all about at All-Star weekend. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses.”

Nate did a little bit of a soulja boy dance shuffle after the dunk, but it was all in good fun.  You know because you "superman that HO[ward]!"  Or maybe Nate was thinking of Eminem's Rain Man with his lyrics;

I killed Superman, I killed Super—man And how ironic, that I'd be the bad guy Kryptonite: The Green Chronic

The razzle and dazzle of the all-star weekend may have wrapped up last night, but the battle of the games best will air this evening as the East plays the West in some old fashion basketball. Since the beginning of the decade, the West has the edge winning five all star games to the East’s four. Expect another great game tonight.

And congratulations to little Nate Robinson for bringing home the slam dunk contest and shining some positive light on the Knicks this season!