NBA reviewing Howard's use of sticky substance on hands

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-reviewing-howards-sticky-substance-hands-042847403--nba.html

ATLANTA (AP) -- The NBA is reviewing Dwight Howard's use of a sticky substance on his hands in Houston's loss at the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

Atlanta's Paul Millsap complained about the ball while shooting two free throws with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter. Howard made a layup with 4:04 remaining.

''I've never felt the ball like that ever,'' Millsap told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ''It was sticky. It was like super glue or something was on there. I couldn't get it off my hands. It was the weirdest thing ever.''

Referees gave warnings to each bench and then approached the scorer's table, where they were directed to a can covered with white tape. The can was taken off the table and one of the officials told the scorer to alert him if it was seen again.

There was no penalty issued during the game, but a league spokesman said Saturday night's incident is under review.

''I've been using it for the last five years,'' Howard told the Houston Chronicle. ''It hasn't been a problem. I don't know why people are making a big deal out of it. I do it every game. It's not a big deal. I ain't even tripping.''


From earlier (you can see the video here):

Dwight Howard caught using Stickum, but 'ain't even tripping'

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dwight-howard-caught-using-stickum--but--ain-t-even-tripping-041841927.html

Dwight Howard’s turnover rate, rebounding rate, and free throw percentages are all just about in line with his career averages. They might be about to take a bit of a dive, though.

[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]

During Saturday night’s Houston Rockets/Atlanta Hawks game, Hawk All-Star Paul Millsap noticed that the game ball seemed a little more clingy than usual. The sort of “clingy,” if we’re honest, that we’d always imagined Dwight Howard would be in a relationship.

In between first quarter free throws (following a make, even), Millsap grimaced and told lead referee Monty McCutchen that something was definitely a little too sticky. Though none of the other 11 (at that point) players in the game had noticed it, to say nothing of the three refs, it was immediately sussed out that Howard was culpable of doctoring the ball due to his Stickum use.

Howard, as he usually does, giggled a lot. Watch:

Howard, as he usually does, then made things a lot worse following the game:


"I've been using it for the last five years," Howard said. "It hasn't been a problem. I don't know why people are making a big deal out of it. I do it every game. It's not a big deal. I ain't even tripping."

Stickum is illegal in the NBA. You’re not really supposed to cop to using it every game, when asked. Especially after being reminded that, hey, Stickum is illegal in the NBA.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore:


As Howard was about to check back into the game, he sprayed his hands at the scorer’s table with a can covered in white tape – apparently to hide its contents. He entered the game as Paul Millsap was at the free-throw line and grabbed the ball after a made first attempt. When Millsap got the ball back it clearly had a foreign substance on it.


“I’ve never felt the ball like that ever,” Millsap said after the game. “It was sticky. It was like super glue or something was on there. I couldn’t get it off my hands. It was the weirdest thing ever.”


Official Monty McCutchen grabbed the ball and went to each bench to issue a warning, saying ‘Stickum is illegal in the NBA.’ After first going to the Hawks bench he made his way toward the Rockets bench. Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff slid in front of the can, still at the scorer’s table. McCutchen noted he knew what Bickerstaff was hiding.


No penalty was enforced. The can was then removed from the scorer’s table by a member of the Rockets’ staff. According to one person, the team did not produce the spray can when ask for it later by an official.

The Rockets went on to lose to the Hawks by a 109-97 score. Howard grabbed 17 rebounds but missed five of seven shots on his way to eight points. He banked in two free throws.

The Hawks won and won comfortably, but as you may have noticed in the clip above Millsap missed his second (Stickum-less, weirdly) free throw, and Howard was allowed to remain in the game after Rox coach J.B. Bickerstaff hid the offending and obviously concealed spray. Had Atlanta lost by a point, the team would have had a clear protest situation on its hands, and the team certainly would have protested had Howard erupted for a major scoring burst in a Houston win.

Luckily for all involved neither of those outcomes showed up, so we’re all allowed to laugh and Dwight Howard all over again. What won’t be as funny, especially with the Rockets just a half-game up on the Dallas Mavericks for the seventh spot in the West’s postseason race, will be the NBA’s eventual punishment for a guy that just copped to using an illegal substance on his hand for five years.

(By the way, Dwight Howard’s free throw percentage in what he says was his last Stickum-free season? Nearly 60 percent.

In the five years since? They’ve shot down to 49, 49, 55, 53, and 50 percent. The dude can’t even cheat right.)


My comments:  I expect a $1mil fine, loss of next year's 1st rounder and a universal hate-fest from all non-Rocket fans.  Plus non-stop media attention.  

Well, that does help to explain why he's such a good rebounder, doesn't it?

It would be funny if the league will fine a player if their jersey isn't tucked in but will let them put glue on their hands.






bob


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Little personal stickum story

at a High School track practice the pole vaulters would use the stuff or obvious reason. After practice one of the guys asked to use the others "spray" deodorant that was on the top shelf of his locker. The guy was in the shower but hollered sure go ahead.

Well next to the can of Right Guard was the can of spray stickum, needless to say he grabbed the wrong can, took several minutes back in the shower to get the  darn stuff off.

beat

As for Howard, stoning would appear to be in order

Imagine if Howard got busted like this and he'd been playing for us..... lol even hitlery and the Donald would be making talking points about it already..

I loved this movie.







bob



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Any stickum on Howard's free throw shooting hand would indeed hinder his free throws. Wonder how many other terrible free throw shooting big men are also trying to shoot their free throws in this manner?

But did he deflate the ball?

Rockets' Howard upset by being called a cheater

http://news.yahoo.com/rockets-howard-upset-being-called-cheater-201452834--spt.html

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Dwight Howard is surprised and disappointed that he's being labeled a cheater.

The NBA is reviewing the Rockets center's use of a sticky substance on his hands during Houston's loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Atlanta's Paul Millsap complained about the ball while shooting free throws with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter. Howard had made a layup before Millsap's free throws.

Howard said Monday that he doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

"I just think that it's getting overblown, like I'm doing something crazy," he said. "But again, I've never been a cheater, never been the type of player that has to do something illegal to win. It's upsetting, but I can't control it now."

After the incident, referees gave warnings to each bench and then approached the scorer's table, where they were directed to a can covered with white tape. The can was removed, and one of the officials told the scorer to alert him if it was seen again.

Howard noted that many players use sprays and powders on their hands during games.

"I've been using the spray for the last five years," he said. "I never hid the spray. I never did anything to try to hide what I was doing. It was just something to make my hands dry."

There was no penalty issued during the game. Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the league interviewed him Sunday night, but he hasn't been notified of any disciplinary action. The Rockets play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

Bickerstaff was surprised that anyone asked about the can, and by reports that the team tried to hide it from the officials.

"Every time Dwight goes into the game, it's the same routine," he said. "It was no cover-up on my part."

Bickerstaff said Howard has done nothing wrong.

"He's never run to the back in the locker room to try to trick anyone," he said. "It was never brought to our attention. No one's ever said anything to us about it. If you go back, you can watch every single one of our games for the past three years, it's (the can) there. So we were obviously surprised by the attention it has drawn."


My comment: So why was the can covered in white tape?  A precedent has been set; you need to be fined and suspended without pay for 20.5 games (1/4 of the regular season).  

gyso wrote:Rockets' Howard upset by being called a cheater

http://news.yahoo.com/rockets-howard-upset-being-called-cheater-201452834--spt.html

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Dwight Howard is surprised and disappointed that he's being labeled a cheater.

The NBA is reviewing the Rockets center's use of a sticky substance on his hands during Houston's loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Atlanta's Paul Millsap complained about the ball while shooting free throws with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter. Howard had made a layup before Millsap's free throws.

Howard said Monday that he doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

"I just think that it's getting overblown, like I'm doing something crazy," he said. "But again, I've never been a cheater, never been the type of player that has to do something illegal to win. It's upsetting, but I can't control it now."

After the incident, referees gave warnings to each bench and then approached the scorer's table, where they were directed to a can covered with white tape. The can was removed, and one of the officials told the scorer to alert him if it was seen again.

Howard noted that many players use sprays and powders on their hands during games.

"I've been using the spray for the last five years," he said. "I never hid the spray. I never did anything to try to hide what I was doing. It was just something to make my hands dry."

There was no penalty issued during the game. Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the league interviewed him Sunday night, but he hasn't been notified of any disciplinary action. The Rockets play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

Bickerstaff was surprised that anyone asked about the can, and by reports that the team tried to hide it from the officials.

"Every time Dwight goes into the game, it's the same routine," he said. "It was no cover-up on my part."

Bickerstaff said Howard has done nothing wrong.

"He's never run to the back in the locker room to try to trick anyone," he said. "It was never brought to our attention. No one's ever said anything to us about it. If you go back, you can watch every single one of our games for the past three years, it's (the can) there. So we were obviously surprised by the attention it has drawn."


My comment: So why was the can covered in white tape?  A precedent has been set; you need to be fined and suspended without pay for 20.5 games (1/4 of the regular season).  

gyso,

I'd be happy with just the next 12 games.


bob


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