Al Horford: Dirty Player?

In a game against the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks rookie PF Al Horford fouled Raptors PG TJ Ford as Ford went up for a reverse lay-up. By going for the reverse lay-up, Ford took the blocked shot by the taller Horford out of the equation, putting himself between the ball and the defender. For whatever reason, Horford didn't accept defeat. Instead, he brought his arm down right on Ford's head, knocking him to the ground in an awkward fashion. The result was that Ford ended up in the hospital.

After the game, Horford and Atlanta Coach Mike Woodson were defending Horford, saying that he isn't a "dirty player". Hmmm ... it sure looked like a dirty play to me. The league tends to frown on hitting other players in the head, which is probably why Horford was called for a flagrant foul (I'll admit some of the fouls they call fragrant aren't that bad, but this wasn't one of those).

I find it hard to believe that Horford didn't realize that he wasn't going to be able to make a play on the ball. If so, maybe he needs his eyes checked. Or, maybe he's not professional athlete material. But, I think it is more likely that he wanted Ford to earn his points at the FT line, even if he couldn't make a play on the ball ... which is the wrong thing to do and one of the things that plagues basketball. Not only do fouls like Horford's stop play and break up the flow of games, they also give the other team 2 FT's and the ball. Don't commit unnecessary, flagrant fouls! Personally, I think more fouls need to be called intentional. Fouls are supposed to be a punishment to the team committing them. I doubt the original intent was for fouls to be a tool to "make them earn" points. It's time for the enforcement of the rules to match the rules.

Now, moving on the the question of whether or not Horford is a dirty player. Al Horford might not admit it, but his foul on TJ Ford was a dirty play. Does that make him a dirty player? If someone steals something, are they a thief? If someone commits a murder, are they a murderer? I'm not saying Horford's play was criminal (like the Todd Bertuzzi v. Steve Moore play in hockey), but it was dirty ... and, thus, at least for tonight, Al Horford was a dirty player. Not living in the SE, I'm not privy to many Hawks games (I don't think I've seen them yet this year), so I don't know if this is an isolated incident or not. But, I'd have more respect for Horford if he owned up to his actions, rather than trying to dance around them and hide behind his pronouncement that he's not a dirty player. Just say you took a cheap shot on the guy because you didn't want to give him a lay-up and leave it at that ... I'm pretty sure people don't think Horford was trying to send Ford to the hospital.