Howard Reveals Frustration

Update: To the surprise of absolutely no one, Howard has been fined $35,000 according to InsideHoops.com.

"I gotta say this is the most frustrating
stretch of my career." - Dwight Howard
on DwightHoward.com.

Sometimes in this world of "news now", we can easily be led astray by the fact that there are facts absent from a story. You know, checking resources, verifying facts, things of that nature. Some outlets want to scoop the rest of the internet by breaking a story that we find those edges being blurred.

Another phenomenon of the digital age is that we are granted a front row seat into the thoughts of celebrities and others of certain notoriety due to one thing, a blog. Yes, just like what you're reading now, the whole world attains an insight into one's soul.

Orlando Magic big man Dwight Howard has delivered to us such a gift.

Yesterday, in a post on his blog through DwightHoward.com, Howard revealed his opinion on the recently completed series against the Charlotte Bobcats. Just a couple of lines will do for now.

Ya’ll know that that series against Charlotte drove me crazy. I mean it was almost comical at times how I was getting fouls called on me. There was nothing I could do our there and I felt like I couldn’t even move without getting that whistle blown on me.

I’m not looking to say anything to get myself in trouble with the league, but I just don’t see other star players getting called for fouls the way I get them. No star player in the league is outta games the way I am. I even talked to Pat Ewing about his career and he said he never had foul trouble like what I’m going through.

The first thing is obvious. Howard will be in trouble with the league for his questioning of the officials, but Howard provides his own take on what was once known as the "Jordan Rules".

As a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, you would suspect that Howard might get the benefit on some calls such as Jordan, LeBron, Kobe and Dwayne Wade appear to get in their favor. That's the point Howard is trying to drive home here and I applaud him for taking the risk of a fine in order to express his views. But this leads me down a road that I do find just a bit disturbing and it applies to all sports.

It's more prevalent in the NBA and that's one reason I don't watch the NBA as much as the NFL or even the MLB and that is because those perceived "benefits" seem to take on a life of their own. LeBron drives down the lane and runs into an opponent that is clearly in position and set, but a blocking foul is called on the defender. The foul occurs about 10 feet from the hoop. Flip that and LBJ gets the charge. What makes this type of favor more visible is just that...it's visible by almost all in attendance, all on press row, all watching on TV and all members of both teams.

I'm by no means dismissing that during his days of dominant pitching, Greg Maddux didn't get a call or two on a borderline pitch. I'm also not saying that on some occasion during this past NFL season that Darelle Revis out on Revis Island didn't get away with a push or an armbar on a receiver on any given play. What I am saying is that I am completely aware that players earn a reputation through their performance and their attitude. This leads to some players getting calls and other not. No, it isn't right and rules are rules. Since those rules are in a rulebook, they should inherently be judged the same for all participants, not certain individuals.

I actually understand Howard's frustration since he views himself as a star player, and he is, and he's not seeing any of these calls added to his side of the ledger.

Good luck in your next series and keep your head up, Dwight. Enough of this officiating stuff. Play hoops and do not assume that you will get calls.

We all know about that word assume.