The Fan Voice: "Wouldn't You Pay To See This Dunk?"

By Live or Die Magic | December 7th, 2007


After a four day break, the road weary Magic return home tonight to take on the Indiana Pacers, featuring a rejuvenated Jermaine O’Neal. To help mark the occasion, the Orlando Magic organization are giving away a Dwight Howard figurine to the first 5000 fans arriving for tonight’s game. What makes this figurine special is that it depicts Dwight Howard performing his now famous “sticker dunk” from the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. I don’t think that anyone can argue that this was one of the best, coolest, dunks by a contestant that didn’t even advance past the opening round!

Dwight Howard suffered from the fact that there is a stigma out there that says big men aren’t as impressive while dunking since they are already so close to the rim. It also didn’t help that the judges of the contest were all guards and small forwards. Even more, it appeared that the judges didn’t even realize what Dwight had done until after they had already given their scores!

Despite the unsatisfactory experience, Howard has indicated that he would like to compete in the 2008 Slam Dunk Competition. It has been reported that he will again request the league to allow him to raise the height of the rim for at least two of his dunks. Apparently he intends to try to do a full 360 degree spin prior to dunking at a height of 12 feet. He also will try to place the ball between his legs while dunking at 11 ½ feet. He made these same requests last year, but was denied by the league. The reason given was something along the lines of “that would veer too far away from the current standards of our game.”

Are you kidding me? It is the Slam Dunk Contest! It was created to showcase a particular talent of many NBA players that was not as easily showcased in actual live NBA games. By its very nature, the Dunk Contest exists outside the parameters of the standard NBA competitive rule book!

Here is a list of things that are not permitted during a live NBA game but have been allowed during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest:

A player wearing a blindfold

A player jumping over a cardboard cutout

A player jumping over a chair

A player dunking while still wearing his warm-up jacket

A player dunking from out-of-bounds

A player dunking two balls at once

Dozens of players traveling and double dribbling

Dozens of players taunting after dunking

Dozens of players hanging, and even swinging from the rim

There are other examples that I could mention, but you get my point. I fail to see how allowing a player to raise the rim to perform a dunk is any more outlandish that having chairs on the basketball court!

Now here is the big question…can you see yourself being anywhere else, doing anything else, or watching anything else while that dunk contest is going on? Just think of how strange, yet awe inspiring it would be to see a player elevating two feet beyond the normal rim to slam home a 360 jam!

The NBA is a marketing-savvy organization. The NBA also has a strong business sense and certainly is in the habit of making money. Likewise, the networks that the NBA is in partnership with (TNT and ESPN) are no strangers to self-promotion. Imagine the buzz there would be if it were announced prior to All-Star Weekend that the NBA had granted permission to Dwight Howard to perform dunks that had never been performed before. They wouldn’t even have to specifically state that the rim would be raised. We would all know what is coming, but for the casual fan or to fans of the other teams, it might still create a sense of mystery about exactly what Dwight had planned. You’d better believe that those fans would make sure to tune in! Why isn’t the NBA and its partners all over this? Add to the fact that the Magic in general (and Dwight Howard specifically) are the darlings of the league right now and you have instant ratings…big ratings!

I do hope that Howard competes in the Slam Dunk Contest in February. Just as importantly, I hope that the NBA realizes the opportunity they have before them to show the fans something they have never seen before, something that they wouldn’t soon forget, and something that would only serve to increase the NBA’s popularity, while in no way harming the game’s integrity.

Sorry, I just have to say it again…a 360 degree jam on a 12 foot rim!! Are you kidding me!?


This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.

"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"

There was an unanticipated occurance that is causing me to have to bump this.

Bad game outcome...but the dunks were awesome!

I say if Nate can try the same dunk 100 times and still win the competition then they need to allow Dwight to do something different. I'm tired of the same old crap when it comes to the dunk comp.

The only thing better than watching Dwight dunk on a 12 foot rim would be forcing the other guys to try...

Dwight dunks with one hand tied behind his back, blindfolded, and Jameer Nelson holding onto his left leg. Now THAT would be something.

If dunking is so easy for a big man, then make it fair and relative....if they raise the hoop, that will make it fair for everyone, and should also give him the title hands down....

its nice if they promote it....but it would also be cool if they just do it as a surprise to everyone....too much hype and talk might make it less wonderful than what it is....when you expect something it doesn't surprise you....If they just do it, that would be nice

Dwight Howard getting shafted in the dunk contest = Kevin Smith this year

quote:

Originally posted by WPMagic:
Dwight Howard getting shafted in the dunk contest = Kevin Smith this year

Great correlation...dead on.

He must be allowed to dunk on a 12-foot rim. If they don't let him, then the Magic should arrange for a special exhibition for him to do it here at the O-rena and not charge admission. In fact, all Brighthouse customers should get first dibs on the tickets and get a free OCTB.

quote:

He must be allowed to dunk on a 12-foot rim. If they don't let him, then the Magic should arrange for a special exhibition for him to do it here at the O-rena and not charge admission. In fact, all Brighthouse customers should get first dibs on the tickets and get a free OCTB.

Haha! Brilliant!

Another quality blog from LOD.