Nuggets Fans, Did Any Of You Know This?

[RhymesayersDU]

I was just watching this thing on ESPN2 about Kermit Washington, called Searching For Redemption. Anyways, the show was cool because it put a face on everything I had already known/read about, plus it had a slew of legends talking about Kermit and the infamous punch.

Anyways, the point of this thread. At the very end, they talked about what Kermit was doing now. He was an assisstent coach in the D-League, and this past pre-season he worked with our very own Denver Nuggets. Showed George Karl, and Kermit showing Kenyon a few moves. I thought that was pretty interesting, I had no idea he did anything in basketball, much less for the Nuggets.

[CUBuffman08]

I was just watching this thing on ESPN2 about Kermit Washington, called Searching For Redemption. Anyways, the show was cool because it put a face on everything I had already known/read about, plus it had a slew of legends talking about Kermit and the infamous punch.

Anyways, the point of this thread. At the very end, they talked about what Kermit was doing now. He was an assisstent coach in the D-League, and this past pre-season he worked with our very own Denver Nuggets. Showed George Karl, and Kermit showing Kenyon a few moves. I thought that was pretty interesting, I had no idea he did anything in basketball, much less for the Nuggets.

I saw something on him a few months back, before he got the D-league job, he was petitioning to work for the NBA again. His story isn't as bad as everyone thought, and after the NBA he was a great humanitarian.


Kenyon will take away all the wrong aspects from that meeting, wanting to learn more about punching than posting up

[GonzoLays]

I saw something on him a few months back, before he got the D-league job, he was petitioning to work for the NBA again. His story isn't as bad as everyone thought, and after the NBA he was a great humanitarian.


Kenyon will take away all the wrong aspects from that meeting, wanting to learn more about punching than posting up

It was unfortunate what happened to him. He was in a typical NBA brawl and landed a straight money shot to Rudy's grill. It did seem like Rudy was charging him, even though he denied it, but if that was the case what in the hell was Rudy doing running straight at Kermit during a brawl? He should have known better. If I was in a brawl and I saw a guy running straight at me, I wouldn't stop and ask the guy if he was going to hit me, I would punch just like Kermit and ask questions later.

[RhymesayersDU]

It was unfortunate what happened to him. He was in a typical NBA brawl and landed a straight money shot to Rudy's grill. It did seem like Rudy was charging him, even though he denied it, but if that was the case what in the hell was Rudy doing running straight at Kermit during a brawl? He should have known better. If I was in a brawl and I saw a guy running straight at me, I wouldn't stop and ask the guy if he was going to hit me, I would punch just like Kermit and ask questions later.
I agree to a point. I don't think Rudy was at fault, because he was going in there to break up the fight, (according to him) but at the same time you're right, you don't wait for a guy to beat your ass, you protect yourself first, and Kermit acted on instinct.

A bad situation all around.

[CUBuffman08]

It was unfortunate what happened to him. He was in a typical NBA brawl and landed a straight money shot to Rudy's grill. It did seem like Rudy was charging him, even though he denied it, but if that was the case what in the hell was Rudy doing running straight at Kermit during a brawl? He should have known better. If I was in a brawl and I saw a guy running straight at me, I wouldn't stop and ask the guy if he was going to hit me, I would punch just like Kermit and ask questions later.
Rudy's reputation should have been enough for Kermit to think twice before knocking him out cold, but I agree, in the heat of the moment, its tough to think clearly. I'm glad he's back on his feet doing what he loves

[GonzoLays]

When something told Kermit Washington he was about to be attacked from the rear, he wheeled and threw a punch. In time he would explain the punch as an instinctive reaction to a fear acquired in a schoolyard fight. Never again, he had resolved, would he allow himself to be jumped by an unseen assailant.

What he didn't know, couldn't know, may not have cared to know--for by then he had become an NBA "enforcer" whose unwritten duties included the delivery of punishment for slights against Lakers teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar--was that the man running toward him had no intention of fighting.

Rudy Tomjanovich only wanted to break up a fight between a teammate and Washington. He had run some distance to midcourt. Shadowy videotape of the moment shows Tomjanovich raising his hands in self-defense as he sees Washington's punch coming. That, he doesn't remember. He does remember asking the Rockets' trainer: "What happened, Trick, did the scoreboard fall on me?"

Washington's punch, a straight right, had landed square in Tomjanovich's face. A doctor would explain that Tomjanovich's injuries were those of a man who had been thrown through an automobile windshield at 50 mph. Abdul-Jabbar would say the sound of Washington's fist against Tomjanovich's face was that of "melon landing on concrete."

Tomjanovich lay unconscious, blood spread under his head. Facial bones were broken, his skull displaced. Worse, spinal fluid was leaking into the skull capsule. That night, December 9, 1977, he might have died on a basketball floor.

NBA players still throw punches. Adrenaline, testosterone and competition all but guarantee events such as Rick Fox's recent pursuit of Doug Christie. But the Washington-Tomjanovich incident now can be seen as a before-and-after moment in NBA history.

Before, the fighter was a gladiator.

After, he is a fool.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is advised to run, not walk, to the bookstore and bring home John Feinstein's The Punch. The book will scare you straight.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_45_226/ai_94334802

Once again, only a fool would blame Kermit Washington for what happened to Rudy. Tomjonavich should have known better than to charge a man during a brawl. Kermit was away from the action and it made absolutely no sense for Rudy to be charging anywhere in Kermit's vicnity.

Oh, it easy to say after the fact when you are suing the NBA that you were "rushing to break up the fight" but his actions speak differently. I believe after Rudy found out his condition and was asked by reporters about the incident he played the role of victim and stated that he was simply trying to break up a fight instead of trying to runover Kermit Washington. And he has simply stuck to the story ever since.

3.2 million dollars will make you say anything.

[Orange_Beard]

Judy's hands were down.
It was uncalled for, cheap-shot.

[CUBuffman08]

Oh, it easy to say after the fact when you are suing the NBA that you were "rushing to break up the fight" but his actions speak differently. I believe after Rudy found out his condition and was asked by reporters about the incident he played the role of victim and stated that he was simply trying to break up a fight instead of trying to runover Kermit Washington. And he has simply stuck to the story ever since.

3.2 million dollars will make you say anything.
Wow... Rudy was obviously not running in to attack Kermit. Saying Kermit was acting in self defense is one thing (that I agree with), but saying Rudy has lied all this time about his intentions is insane.

[Mr Chatterboodamn]

http://www.break.com/index/basketballknockout.html

[CUBuffman08]

http://www.break.com/index/basketballknockout.html The ref will probably lie and say he was trying to break up a potential fight... 3.2 Million will make a man say anything

Right gonzo?

[RhymesayersDU]

One thing is clear -- anybody interested in this topic of The Punch should go get Feinstein's book.

[Nuggets4]

I couldn't believe that anyone was defending Washington in this, let alone placing the blame on Rudy. Then I realized it was Gonzo posting.

[Northman]

I couldn't believe that anyone was defending Washington in this, let alone placing the blame on Rudy. Then I realized it was Gonzo posting.


I agree totally. Typical of some of the posters on here to do that. Suffice to say if it was the other way around we would be hearing how Rudy is a racist and blah blah blah. But, oh its a black man who assaulted a white guy so its ok. pure bull****.

[RhymesayersDU]

I couldn't believe that anyone was defending Washington in this, let alone placing the blame on Rudy. Then I realized it was Gonzo posting.
I definately will defend Kermit to a point.

On the most basic level, if you choose to fight, you have to live with the outcome. If you choose to throw a punch at another human being, that is your choice and you must live with any consequences.

Kermit threw that punch, and he can't take it back. However, I do believe he thought somebody was coming to beat his ass, and I do believe he was trying to protect himself. I don't think he was trying to cave Rudy's face in.

I would never place the blame on Rudy at all, however, I do feel like it's a shame that Kermit's whole life has been changed due to one night. Again, I guess it depends on your interpretation of what happened that night, but in an era where guys fought all the time, I don't think it's unreasonable that Kermit knew somebody was coming at him, and he wasn't going to possibly get his ass beat if he could help it.

[GonzoLays]

I couldn't believe that anyone was defending Washington in this, let alone placing the blame on Rudy. Then I realized it was Gonzo posting.

Rudy is so close to Kermit he could tell you what toothpaste he used that morning.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316279722.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Once again, what in the hell was Rudy Tomjonavich doing all up in Kermit's grill? You don't charge somebody in a brawl. Did Kermit run at Rudy? No. Did Kermit seek out Rudy on the court to punch him? No. Did Tomjonovich charge Kermit Washington? Yes.

What is so hard to understand? The picture clearly shows how close Tomjonovich came to Kermit before he punched him. You don't charge people in a brawl. That picture clearly shows a man defending himself.

I guess the next time you go to one of your Star Trek conventions and a fight breaks out and you see a guy in a captain kirk outfit charging you will stop him to ask, "are you going to hit a guy in a storm trooper outfit?" No, you step back and if Captain Kirk got close enough you would punch him.

[RhymesayersDU]

I guess the next time you go to one of your Star Trek conventions and a fight breaks out and you see a guy in a captain kirk outfit charging you will stop him to ask, "are you going to hit a guy in a storm trooper outfit?" No, you step back and if Captain Kirk got close enough you would punch him.

Bob isn't posting in this thread.

[-Slap-]

I saw that game live. There was definitely fault on both sides, but most of the blame falls on Washington. Kermit's primary function on the Lakers was to lay the wood to goons like Dennis Awtrey and Tom Boerwinkle when they entered the game for no other reason than to cheap shot Kareem. To this end, Washington already had a rep as an enforcer/goon himself. The statement that he was nowhere near the original altercation is a complete lie. He was lurking a few feet away.

I don't know if Rudy intended to tackle him or just get in his way, but Washington completely overreacted. I had some kid charge me in a parking lot once. He was some scrawny punk and obviously clueless because he charged me with both of his hands almost straight down at his sides. My first instinct was to quickly disable him with a palm strike http://www.ancestralmountains.com/about/PalmStrike.jpg under the chin. As this idiot approached me, I realized he was moving so fast I was liable to break his neck with that move.

Instead I sidestepped him a little and misdirected him into a parked car. His momentum and lack of balance as he struck the vehicle incapacitated him nicely and the catcalls and laughter from bystanders made my night. Had I overreacted to this situation, I probably would have been looking at criminal and/or civil charges.

Washington had the same time to make the same kind of decision. Instead of using some common sense, he gave into his anger and escalated things into a life threeatening situation. Make no mistake, Rudy T posed little threat to Kermit in a fair fight. He was giving up 20 pounds of rock solid muscle and both of them knew it.

[GonzoLays]

Bob isn't posting in this thread.

But Nuggets4 and Anubis are.

[Northman]

I saw that game live. There was definitely fault on both sides, but most of the blame falls on Washington. Kermit's primary function on the Lakers was to lay the wood to goons like Dennis Awtrey and Tom Boerwinkle when they entered the game for no other reason than to cheap shot Kareem. To this end, Washington already had a rep as an enforcer/goon himself. The statement that he was nowhere near the original altercation is a complete lie. He was lurking a few feet away.

I don't know if Rudy intended to tackle him or just get in his way, but Washington completely overreacted. I had some kid charge me in a parking lot once. He was some scrawny punk and obviously clueless because he charged me with both of his hands almost straight down at his sides. My first instinct was to quickly disable him with a palm strike http://www.ancestralmountains.com/about/PalmStrike.jpg under the chin. As this idiot approached me, I realized he was moving so fast I was liable to break his neck with that move.

Instead I sidestepped him a little and misdirected him into a parked car. His momentum and lack of balance as he struck the vehicle incapacitated him nicely and the catcalls and laughter from bystanders made my night. Had I overreacted to this situation, I probably would have been looking at criminal and/or civil charges.

Washington had the same time to make the same kind of decision. Instead of using some common sense, he gave into his anger and escalated things into a life threeatening situation. Make no mistake, Rudy T posed little threat to Kermit in a fair fight. He was giving up 20 pounds of rock solid muscle and both of them knew it.




Excellent post Slappy.

[Northman]

But Nuggets4 and Anubis are.


I dont go to Star Trek conventions so your already wrong with that assumption. Secondly, Kermit is nothing but a thug and was not being attacked. When i was younger i got involved with a gang and there is a huge difference between someone trying to break up a brawl and someone attacking you. I guess Kermit wasnt intelligent enough to figure that out even though it was quite obvious. Your also a Bonds apologist which doesnt help your case here. You seem to pick all these great winners with zero character. I wonder why. Ha!

[GonzoLays]

I dont go to Star Trek conventions so your already wrong with that assumption. Secondly, Kermit is nothing but a thug and was not being attacked. When i was younger i got involved with a gang and there is a huge difference between someone trying to break up a brawl and someone attacking you. I guess Kermit wasnt intelligent enough to figure that out even though it was quite obvious. Your also a Bonds apologist which doesnt help your case here. You seem to pick all these great winners with zero character. I wonder why. Ha!

I never knew there was such a thing as a dungeon and dragons gang. What did you guys do, rob comic book stores? Crazy.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316279722.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

This picture obviously shows Rudy charging Kermit and not the other way around. Now if Kermit had been charging Rudy you then could argue malicious intent on Washington's part. But that is severely not the case. If Rudy was intelligent, he would not have charged an all out brawl with his hands down. Its safe to say he learned his lesson.

[Northman]

I never knew there was such a thing as a dungeon and dragons gang. What did you guys do, rob comic book stores? Crazy.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316279722.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

This picture obviously shows Rudy charging Kermit and not the other way around. Now if Kermit had been charging Rudy you then could argue malicious intent on Washington's part. But that is severely not the case. If Rudy was intelligent, he would not have charged an all out brawl with his hands down. Its safe to say he learned his lesson.


And so did Kermit, his reputation tarnished which it should be. Had Kermit had more character he wouldnt have been getting into that melee to begin with. Rudy on the other hand, has showed total class before and after the assault by Washington which i applaud him for.

[Nuggets4]

But Nuggets4 and Anubis are.

Because I defended Rudy I'm a Star Wars geek?

Slap hit the nail on the head. Kermit could have reacted differently. He didn't. He ****ed up.

[CUBuffman08]

I never knew there was such a thing as a dungeon and dragons gang. What did you guys do, rob comic book stores? Crazy.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316279722.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

This picture obviously shows Rudy charging Kermit and not the other way around. Now if Kermit had been charging Rudy you then could argue malicious intent on Washington's part. But that is severely not the case. If Rudy was intelligent, he would not have charged an all out brawl with his hands down. Its safe to say he learned his lesson.
I've seen the video of the event only a couple times, but when I first saw it, I actually thought Rudy was running past Kermit to break up the scrum on the other side. I think you're picture actually helps illustrate that, both Rudy's feet are on the left (Kermit's right) of Kermits body. I think he was running past Kermit, and regardless of motive (I think there was at least a little self defense involved) Kermit did **** up.