Feb
27, 2001
NBA
BASKETBALL - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The
John Starks Undercut of Shawn Marion By
ErrntKnght Phoenix
I
am a Phoenix Suns fan but I’ve been an NBA fan for much longer - since
1954 - and I certainly don’t like to admit that any players in ‘my league’
would intentionally undercut another player. But the worst thing
you can do is to ignore it when it does happen because that just gives
the signal that it’s okay. I’m afraid the league is going to just
let it pass.
The
NBC broadcast crew was quick to say that John Starks clearly had no intent
to injure Shawn Marion, citing the fact that he made an attempt to catch
him as he fell. I don’t know what was going on in Starks mind so
I can’t say that he did intend to injure him but I have no doubt that he
intentionally undercut him on the play. If you don’t want to believe
he did it intentionally, I recommend that you read no further. The
following frame by frame description of his movements makes it clear he
knew where Shawn was in the air and pushed his body steadily into Shawn’s
legs. Had Starks stopped pushing as late as the time he first ducked
his head, Shawn would not have been flipped upside down.
This
is from a recording of the live NBC broadcast of the Suns v. Jazz on Sunday
February 25th. The action took place with about two minutes left
in the game. I put in specific positions and actions, in case someone
wants to match this up with a different recording. The dotted ‘no-charge’
line under the basket gives reference marks for the player’s movements.
Stepping from frame to frame highlights every change of position.
Frame
1: Marion and Starks are side by side, facing the basket, crouched to jump
- Marion is to Starks’ left. Shawn’s feet evenly straddle the center
hash mark of the ‘no-charge’ line. Starks feet unevenly straddle
the ‘no-charge’ hash mark to the right of center - his right foot being
just to the right of it and his left well to the left.
2-3.
Shawn jumps. Shawn’s jump causes John’s body to jerk slightly to
the right, indicating that Starks was indeed leaning against him, as it
appeared he was.
4.
Starks is looking up at Shawn and the ball and starts turning his back
to him.
5.
Shawns legs are against Starks. Starks turns his back more and starts
pushing his behind under Marion.
6.
Starks' backside has Shawn's legs bent 20 degrees from vertical.
Starks moves his right foot, moving himself further underneath Shawn.
7-8.
Shawn nears the top of his jump. Starks continues to turn and push
back further against Shawn’s legs.
9-10.
Starks takes another step under Shawn and stops looking up at him, having
done so steadily since frame 4.
11-12.
Shawn is just past the top of his jump. Starks moves further beneath
him, pushing against Shawn’s legs.
13-14.
Shawn’s weight is coming down on Starks’ back. Starks’ knees flex
slightly. Starks pushes back further under him.
15-16.
Starks throws his arms out horizontally to both sides and ducks his head.
Shawn's feet start to flip up. Starks backs further beneath him.
17-18.
Shawn’s upper body starts to flip. Starks stiffens his knees and ducks
his head further.
19-20.
Shawn’s torso starts to fall past Starks right shoulder. Starks straightens
up slightly. This is the last frame in which Starks feet are visible.
He is turned 90 degrees clockwise from his position in frame 1, facing
toward where he originally stood. His right foot is right where Shawn’s
left foot was in frame 1 and his left foot is two feet nearer the basket
and slightly farther to the left.
21-22.
Shawn’s horizontal torso, near the waist, strikes Starts outstretched right
arm.
23-24.
Starks’ right arm is mostly out of sight beneath Shawn but his visible
right hand flips upward. Shawn’s torso continues to invert
but more rapidly as his lower torso is supported by Starks’ hip and right
arm while his head and shoulders fall freely.
25.
The upper part of Starks’ right arm is visible but the rest of it is under
Shawn’s torso. Starks’ left arm is moving toward Shawn.
Beyond
this point Utah player number 3 interferes with the camera’s view.
If
the league doesn't suspend Starks for a good long time I hope the players
union shows some guts and makes him sit a year - it's the men like Shawn
that they need to look out for not the guys like Starks.
- - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[InsideHoops Home | Message
Board | NBA News | NBA Teams]
Find this basketball info useful? Share it with your hoops fan friends! Quick links:
