Fernando Who? The Story TNT Missed at the Slam Dunk Competition (Bleacher Report)

[ABM]

From: Bleacher Report

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In last weekend's NBA Slam Dunk competition, Portland Trail Blazer representative Rudy Fernandez readied himself for his first attempt. Suddenly, he lifted off his own red jersey to reveal a retro black jersey with the number "10" and the name "Martin" emblazoned across the back.

Most of us missed it at first, thinking it was possibly a tribute to former Trail Blazer LaRue Martin.

However, every Spanish fan watching the competition immediately recognized the connection......

....Fernandez went on to execute a difficult dunk flawlessly, on his first attempt. In Martin's jersey, it was a fitting compliment to the Spanish ground-breaker. However, the judges were harsh and gave relatively low marks for Rudy's effort. He is, after all, a rookie and somewhat of an afterthought in the competition itself. Chalk it up to politics as usual.

Fernandez failed to make the finals.

Given the marvel of modern technology and an army of Web-meisters back in the trailer, TNT dropped the ball.......

 

[crandc]

Thanks, ABM. They did mention Martin but they pronounced it English fashion (mart-in rather than mart-een). And as the article says they missed half the story.

But minor bug, the article says "ironically" Martin played for Portland. Why do so many writers mix up irony and coincidence? It is "coincidentally" that Martin played for Portland, no irony.

 

[Norman Dale]

I missed the tribute during the dunk contest and so I was unaware of the comments made by Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith, but when I went back and watched it again yesterday, I was appalled by the lack of respect and knowledge these two jackasses displayed on national TV. Reggie's quip about the jersey being for "Ricky Martin' was ridiculous. These two "announcers" knew nothing about what Martin meant to Spain and so they ridiculed Rudy for wearing the jersey. They then pooh poohed his next dunk, with Smith remarking that Rudy "couldn't make the dunk", when in fact, a moment later, he did.

I hadn't watched the Slam Dunk competition for several years and now I know why. It's a complete joke. The jackass announcers should be ashamed of themselves and they should apologize to both Rudy and Spain.

 

[maxiep]

It's not just fans of Spanish basketball, but Blazer fans all over who understood the tribute. To me, that was the coolest moment of the dunk contest.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I missed the tribute during the dunk contest and so I was unaware of the comments made by Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith, but when I went back and watched it again yesterday, I was appalled by the lack of respect and knowledge these two jackasses displayed on national TV. Reggie's quip about the jersey being for "Ricky Martin' was ridiculous. These two "announcers" knew nothing about what Martin meant to Spain and so they ridiculed Rudy for wearing the jersey. They then pooh poohed his next dunk, with Smith remarking that Rudy "couldn't make the dunk", when in fact, a moment later, he did.

I hadn't watched the Slam Dunk competition for several years and now I know why. It's a complete joke. The jackass announcers should be ashamed of themselves and they should apologize to both Rudy and Spain.

 

[PapaG]

It's not just fans of Spanish basketball, but Blazer fans all over who understood the tribute. To me, that was the coolest moment of the dunk contest.

It was marred by the antics of Miller and Smith, however. It seems as those two clowns had been told it would be Howard vs. Robinson in the final, and so they had free reign to disrespect Rudy Fernandez on national TV. It was a disgusting display of "professionalism" and I will not be watching "All-Star Saturday" in future years.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Thanks for posting that. I am an ignorant American. I didn't know the relevance, but I'm happy that I've been informed.

 

[44Thrilla]

Smith and Miller acted extremely stupid and disrespectful. They were annoying the shit out of me all night long. As bad as this was, I thought the pissing match they got in that lasted throughout the entire 3 point contest was even worse. For some reason, they think that the on court contests are a sideshow and they are the main act.

 

[ABM]

Smith and Miller acted extremely stupid and disrespectful. They were annoying the shit out of me all night long. As bad as this was, I thought the pissing match they got in that lasted throughout the entire 3 point contest was even worse. For some reason, they think that the on court contests are a sideshow and they are the main act.

Me thinks Reggie and Cheryl should just move to Georgia and get married. Two peas in a pod.

 

[crandc]

One of the better moments of the ASG was when they honored all the players who played in the Olympics for varoius countries. I noticed that Rudy was not there and wondered if he'd just gone home to Portland early. But if he heard how he, and his country, were ridiculed on TNT, I can't blame him.

Anyone know where we can send a message to TNT about this crap?

 

[maxiep]

One of the better moments of the ASG was when they honored all the players who played in the Olympics for varoius countries. I noticed that Rudy was not there and wondered if he'd just gone home to Portland early. But if he heard how he, and his country, were ridiculed on TNT, I can't blame him.

That was really cool. I was hoping to see Rudy standing with Los Hermanos Gasol.

 

[BrianFromWA]

On a tangent...in the span of a few years in the mid-80's we drafted Martin, Sabonis and Petrovic with our late round picks? Kinda savvy and unprecedented.

 

[maxiep]

On a tangent...in the span of a few years in the mid-80's we drafted Martin, Sabonis and Petrovic with our late round picks? Kinda savvy and unprecedented.

People give the Spurs all the credit for discovering European basketball players, but in reality we really were Trail Blazers in that regard.

 

[number 10]

One of the better moments of the ASG was when they honored all the players who played in the Olympics for varoius countries. I noticed that Rudy was not there and wondered if he'd just gone home to Portland early. But if he heard how he, and his country, were ridiculed on TNT, I can't blame him.

Anyone know where we can send a message to TNT about this crap?

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/2/16/761299/for-anyone-who-would-like

http://www.nba.com/email_us/contact_us.html
reggiesmailbag@turner.com

 

[La Bomba]

As a Spaniard myself, I felt the TNT commentators were extremely disrespectful towards this tribute. I wasn't alive when Fernando Martin was playing, but according to my father Martin had almost the same impact on Spain as Gasol is now. If you see people in Spain today they are just so proud of Gasol. Martin was the first ever, and he died tragically in a car accident at a young age. The commentators should of shown more class.