Thank God for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Not fair. That is what I first thought when my pick for the slam dunk contest, Andre Iguodala lost. Then I thought so not fair! And thoughts number three through 43 were pretty much the same. But then I simmered down, and I thought — thank God.

Thank God that I actually got to watch this contest. Because it was not too long ago – about as recently as 9:25 Saturday night – that talk about how the dunk contest should be cut from the NBA All Star Weekend lineup was loud and clear. I remember hearing on PTI (Pardon the Interruption) Friday, the starting of all-star weekend, that Tony Kornheiser was tired of the dunk contest and just wished they would cut it already. Sad thing is, I was close to agreeing with him. Maybe the only thing stopping me from agreeing with him was that I am a New York Knicks fan (sad, I know) and an Allen Iverson fan, which translates me into being a Philadelphia 76ers fan unless they are playing the Knicks. So because of the contestants I was willing to give the dunk contest one more try.

Thank God the NBA agreed with me.

I saw one of the top five dunks I have ever seen in my life with Iguodala’s behind-the-backboard dunk. The dunk was so great, I was calling acquaintances and co-workers like we were lifetime buddies. It was so great my brother and I talked through the next two dunks and the commercial break just about that dunk. Then Nate Robinson showed that he recognized the dunk contest isn’t just about dunks; it’s about a show – thank God.

Thank God instead of the one-man show we experienced with Jason Richardson, Robinson decided to make things interesting by pulling Spud Webb out of the crowd. Think about what Robinson did. He just jumped over a 5-8 Webb. I’ve seen VC ( Vince Carter) scale a 7-footer. And many times over I have seen in dunk contests a smaller guy jump over a bigger guy, so why all the hype when 5-9 Robinson jumped over Webb?

Because one, he was a clear judge favorite, and two, not just because he was a crowd and judge favorite because because it looked and felt so good. Hell, even I gave him a ten. But that was one of the few undisputed scores of the night that held plenty of controversy.

Thank God for the controversy, too. In a contest that has been judged by biased judges every year, shouldn’t there be some cause for concern when all is well? When things are a little too quiet?

Too often the crowd and judge favorite wins hands down with no competitor. Desmond Mason gave Richardson a little run for Richardson’s first crown, but not really. And people forget how good a show Steve Francis put on when going up against VC. Personally I think that contest deserved just a little more controversy – yeah, Carter won, but it wasn’t by the margin that is perceived.

But this outcome is such a blatant controversy it must be talked about. From judges looking at each’s other cards and making sure there is a tie to Robinson’s last dunk with scores of 10-10-10-9-8. Come on! When are dunks that are tens confused with eights? (And for the record I go with nine.)

I don’t get a vote, though, and thank God. because I would have been on board with Kenny Smith and been the Russian judge, except I would have been for Iggy (Iguodala), just because I hate playing favorites.