| Players Behaving Badly.com Tim Duncan vs Joey Crawford Dumbest Technical Fouls, EVER! |
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April 15, 2007 (Dallas, TX) - Joey Crawford ejected Tim Duncan for basically
laughing. While Tim Duncan was sitting on the bench, he was assessed with his
first technical for criticizing an offensive foul call. Over a minute later, Duncan
was still on the bench, and Josh Howard drove into the lane and lost control of
the ball after grazing Fabricio Oberto. Crawford called an offensive foul on
Oberto, and Duncan laughed at the absurdity of the call. The emotional Crawford
was not amused and threw Duncan out of the game.
In the postgame press conference, Duncan claimed that Crawford challenged him
to a fight:
“He looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?”‘ Duncan said. “If
he wants to fight, we can fight. I don’t have any problem with him, but we can do it if he
wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, ‘Do you want
to fight?”‘
laughing. While Tim Duncan was sitting on the bench, he was assessed with his
first technical for criticizing an offensive foul call. Over a minute later, Duncan
was still on the bench, and Josh Howard drove into the lane and lost control of
the ball after grazing Fabricio Oberto. Crawford called an offensive foul on
Oberto, and Duncan laughed at the absurdity of the call. The emotional Crawford
was not amused and threw Duncan out of the game.
In the postgame press conference, Duncan claimed that Crawford challenged him
to a fight:
“He looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?”‘ Duncan said. “If
he wants to fight, we can fight. I don’t have any problem with him, but we can do it if he
wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, ‘Do you want
to fight?”‘
Crawford’s side of the story:
“And then he went over to the bench and he was over there doing the same stuff behind our back,” Crawford said. “I hit him with one
(technical) and he kept going over there, and I look over there and he’s still complaining. So I threw him out.”
“That’s his opinion. He said nothing when he was walking off the court and he called me a piece of (expletive). Is that nothing?”
“And then he went over to the bench and he was over there doing the same stuff behind our back,” Crawford said. “I hit him with one
(technical) and he kept going over there, and I look over there and he’s still complaining. So I threw him out.”
“That’s his opinion. He said nothing when he was walking off the court and he called me a piece of (expletive). Is that nothing?”
San Antonio had won six straight and was on a 12-1 roll. The only loss came
against Indiana - another game that Crawford worked and another game that he
rang up a T on Duncan.
"I kind of imagine it stemmed from that," Duncan said. "I don't have a problem with
Joey. Obviously he's got a problem with me."
Teammate Bruce Bowen, who also got a technical from Crawford in the third
quarter, couldn't believe his superstar teammate was tossed, especially for
something so mild.
"Do I think it was deserved? No," Bowen said. "For a former MVP of the league, a
guy that doesn't curse out the officials like I hear some of the other guys cursing
out the officials, I think it was unfortunate that he was dealt this blow."
Said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: "My beliefs will be shared privately, not with
(reporters)."
against Indiana - another game that Crawford worked and another game that he
rang up a T on Duncan.
"I kind of imagine it stemmed from that," Duncan said. "I don't have a problem with
Joey. Obviously he's got a problem with me."
Teammate Bruce Bowen, who also got a technical from Crawford in the third
quarter, couldn't believe his superstar teammate was tossed, especially for
something so mild.
"Do I think it was deserved? No," Bowen said. "For a former MVP of the league, a
guy that doesn't curse out the officials like I hear some of the other guys cursing
out the officials, I think it was unfortunate that he was dealt this blow."
Said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: "My beliefs will be shared privately, not with
(reporters)."
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| Post Game Coverage |
Aftermath of the Incident between Tim Duncan & Joey Crawford
April 17, 2007 - The National Basketball Association suspended referee Joe Crawford at least through the playoffs after his ejection of San Antonio's Tim
Duncan in a game against Dallas two days ago. The suspension is indefinite in length.
Duncan was ejected from the Spurs' 91-86 loss after receiving his second technical foul while sitting on the bench and laughing. After the game, he said
Crawford, in his 31st NBA season, challenged him to a fight.
A statement from the NBA today said Crawford was punished ``for improper conduct toward Tim Duncan,'' including the second technical and ejection.
``Joey Crawford's handling of this situation failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees,'' NBA
Commissioner David Stern said. ``Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted.''
April 17, 2007 - The National Basketball Association suspended referee Joe Crawford at least through the playoffs after his ejection of San Antonio's Tim
Duncan in a game against Dallas two days ago. The suspension is indefinite in length.
Duncan was ejected from the Spurs' 91-86 loss after receiving his second technical foul while sitting on the bench and laughing. After the game, he said
Crawford, in his 31st NBA season, challenged him to a fight.
A statement from the NBA today said Crawford was punished ``for improper conduct toward Tim Duncan,'' including the second technical and ejection.
``Joey Crawford's handling of this situation failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees,'' NBA
Commissioner David Stern said. ``Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted.''