The Detroit Thugs....Umm...I mean Shock

After recovering from that heart attack-inducing win by the Storm last night, I've decided to blog about something that's been bothering me. First of all, I'd like to clarify that I think that Detroit has excellent players. They're skilled and they are absolutely good basketball players. This post isn't going to say that Detroit has such a sucky team. In reality, they have an undeniably strong starting five and a pretty good bench as well.

Despite their talent, however, the Shock choose to play thuggish basketball. They give unexplainably hard fouls. Apart from this, they whine a lot about calls that don't go their way. Other players also argue a lot of calls, but the Shock team seems to think that they can commit no foul. Due to these two factors, while the Shock are a very good basketball team, they have become annoying to watch.

Last night, Cheryl Ford punches LJ in the back of the head (or neck or something) as LJ is going up for a shot. It wasn't an accidental little shove. It was a flagrant hit. She even gave LJ some kind of dagger stare after that. Please, Cheryl Ford. LJ could clock you if she wanted to. Luckily, LJ just kind of walked away from it, showing her maturity and class.

It was a completely uncalled for play and Detroit has been making these kind of plays all year, probably thanks in part to their imbecile coach Bill Laimbeer who seems to like it when fights erupt on the floor or when his players act like thugs.

I could have liked Detroit given all their talent, but the way they play the game just makes me sick. I think it takes away some of their credibility, which is sad considering how talented they are. Seriously, if you have that much talent, the best thing you can do is back up that talent with class. Not in the Shock's case.

Don't worry, Detroit fans, I think the Sparks may be more thuggish than your team is. But you guys are coming close now.

It's sad to think that the Shock could be called a superbly structured team, but all most people can talk about is their dirty play. Come on Shock, this isn't what the WNBA is all about. Get your act together.