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'Dunk Gate' has gone on long enough
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If you’ve been watching any television the past two weeks, you probably have learned of the mysterious dunk by Jordan Crawford, who plays for Xavier University. Word is that Crawford dunked on NBA league MVP Lebron James during a pick up game at the Lebron James Skills Academy.
No big deal right? Tell that to Nike representatives, who could not imagine having the image of Lebron getting dunked on by some college kid. They decided to confiscate the video from a freelance reporter. Of course they thought their problems were over. The truth is that they have made matters even worse. The event known as “Video Gate” has done little to help the image of James, who could use a little after walking of the court in Orlando and not congratulating the Eastern Conference champs.
There is confusion of who wanted to take the tape away, whether it was James’ Nike camp or James himself. Whoever had the final say, James looks even more spoiled in the eyes of the public. Chances are if the tape were left alone, James probably would be the subject of laughter on sports highlights for a little and YouTube onlookers would have enjoyed it for sure. But, within a week, it certainly would die down. Instead we have on our hands the most hyped dunk in the game never to be seen.
“Video Gate” has turned into a great play by a great athlete (check him out on YouTube), into a public relations nightmare. There have been debates and even Kobe Bryant took a jab at the incident at his own camp, stating, “I’ll tell you one thing, you ain’t dunking on me in my camp.” Not surprisingly, YouTube nation has gotten into the act as well with parodies of the dunk. Personally, though I would have gotten a little laugh out of seeing Lebron get dunked on, I don’t care that it happened. Players get embarrassed all the time during the season. My only problem is how Nike reacted to the dunk
Some of the games greatest players have graced the posters (on the wrong end) of many fans. Hakeem Olajuwon probably still has bad dreams of guard Kevin Johnson’s baseline posterization. A big man getting dunked on by a little guy is the ultimate embarrassment. Chris Webber swung the ball behind his back before rising up on Charles Barkley. Patrick Ewing certainly knows what it feels like. He was on the receiving end of two memorable dunks from Bulls teammates Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Speaking of Jordan, every time they show a John Starks highlight package, you will have a sighting of Starks soaring past Jordan for a left handed jam.
Even during the summer months, players do get caught sleeping. There were rumblings a few summers ago that a New York street ball player by the name of Junie Sanders dropped 42 points on Jerry Stackhouse. Last year, a UK player by the name of Stuart Tanner got the best of Devin Harris in a game of one on one. Harris did not demand the video be thrown away; instead he was a good sport.
The moral of the story is that things happen during a game of basketball. It’s a fast paced game where one mistake can put you on the wrong end of a highlight. James may have underestimated the jumping ability of Crawford and jumped late. No big deal, anybody who knows basketball understands this.
As fans, when seeing the ads of being a witness to the greatness of James, don’t you think you should witness the “dunk” as well? It would be great to see a player with the magnitude of Lebron seem more human. Seeing your favorite player get embarrassed may make you feel less ashamed the next time you get your ankles broken at the local court.
After the Webber dunk on Barkley, Nike made a video with Webber and then Warriors teammate Latrell Sprewell in the barbershop reliving the play. It would be great for Nike to have a remake of this, putting both players in James’ local barbershop. Crawford could brag about how he got the best of one the game’s best talents, with James playfully giving him credit. Crawford would get his fifteen minutes of fame and James would be the good guy. This would certainly put a stop to the rumblings that should have never lasted this long.
Lebron is one the NBA’s brightest stars and by some accounts the best in the league. He knows this, or at least should. Getting dunked on can shatter a lesser player’s confidence, but not a top talent like James. So what if you got dunked on. Imagine the twelfth man taunting Lebron on getting posterized. Lebron’s reply simply is, I’ve won the rookie of the year, league MVP, and oh yeah I’m a future hall of famer. It seems as if Lebron feels that this tape could damage his legacy. This past season has been a learning experience for the “King”, hopefully he decides to do the right thing and let Crawford get his shine. Then we will all be witnesses to his maturation.
