February17
Gigantor Wins Slam Dunk Contest
My friends, gone are the days of Dominique Wilkins vs. Michael Jordan and 5'7" Spud Webb (which is STILL amazing). In fact, in direct contrast to Webb, this year's slam dunk contest winner is none other than 6'11" Dwight Howard.
You read that correctly. Howard is a full foot taller than the shortest winner ever and, while wearing shoes, stands at over 7'. He can literally kiss the rim. When he hangs from the rim, his feet are less than a foot off the ground. That means he only has to jump about 1.5 feet to slam the basketball.
But that doesn't mean he's the next Shaq. Actually, he's far from it. The reason why – athleticism. This guy isn't just a big tree that moves slowly and only when he wants to. No, this guy can fly. And jump. And apparently can dunk on a 12-foot goal (not too many people can make that claim and back it up).
So before you pass judgement on allowing a super tall dude win a dunk contest, check out the video (courtesy ESPN's new video embedding service) and see why.
+ original post date: February 17, 2008 01:09 PM
+ categories: Sports
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Was no one else put off by the fact that he didn't dunk the ball, and that he just threw it into the hoop? Considering he threw it into the hoop, doesn't this just make this either a blown dunk or a shot?
+ author: jones
+ posted: February 18, 2008 10:07 AM
Uh, Jones. No one cares! In fact, they love it because it gives everyone's favorite announcer, Bill Walton, more reason to use his incredibly cool phrase, "throw it down, big man, throw it down."
+ author: sg
+ posted: February 18, 2008 03:05 PM
no offense jones but you've never dunked before have you? two feet from just inside the free throw line? being high enough to literally throw it down through the goal? would it have made you feel better if he touched the rim on his way down?
one more reason to hate espn they don't even show the best dunk of the night. the one hand tap off the glass was insane. a better version can be seen here.
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/02/11/dwight-howards-dunk-contest-sneak-preview/
and the dunk contest will never be as good as it can be until james white is in it...
+ author: Thomas
+ posted: February 18, 2008 09:53 PM
No, I have never dunked a ball, but that doesn't mean I don't know what a dunk is. Was what Howard did cool? Sure. Was it an example of impressive athleticism? You bet. Was it a dunk? No. Did it help win a dunk contest? Yes. Does this make sense? No.
+ author: jones
+ posted: February 19, 2008 08:08 AM
dunk (dngk)
v. dunked, dunk·ing, dunks
3. Basketball To slam (a ball) through the basket from above.
from wikipedia - A slam dunk (or simply a dunk) is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both of his hands over the rim.
also tell shawn bradly this is not a dunk, i'm sure it will make him feel better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ALAf186lLA
it was a dunk.
+ author: Thomas
+ posted: February 19, 2008 09:48 AM
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