# Nicholas Batum disgraces himself, his team, his country, et al **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 10, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037 "2012-08-10T02:08:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/41 "2012-08-10T20:38:40Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > The Blazers have had a ‘thug’ reputation for several years now. What is this, 2003? Blazers have had one of the least amount of ‘thug’ / players with attitude in the past 5 years or so ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/42 "2012-08-10T20:58:01Z")
I’m sorry, nut-punching should only be reserved for guys who insist on calling Phelps the greatest Olympian ever. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/43 "2012-08-10T22:36:52Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Yep. Major dickmove Pun intended, I hope? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/44 "2012-08-10T22:45:03Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Here’s a [photo](http://blog.sfgate.com/olympics/2012/08/08/france%E2%80%99s-nicolas-batum-punches-spain%E2%80%99s-juan-carlos-navarro-in-groin-during-closing-seconds-of-quarterfinal-hoops-loss/) of the deed. Looks to me like he was just going for the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/45 "2012-08-10T22:57:45Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Looks to me like he was just going for the ball. Which is why he said “I gave him something to flop about” and then apologized later? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/46 "2012-08-10T23:06:31Z")
I think you missed the pun there. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/47 "2012-08-10T23:17:43Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Only after [American face stomping](http://www.nbcolympics.com/wnbc/video/soccer/highlight-melissa-tancredi-stomps-carli-lloyds-face.html) is made official. I think we’ve all had enough of hobbies turned into sports for the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/48 "2012-08-11T00:07:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Which is why he said “I gave him something to flop about” and then apologized later? Dude, Really? Was I too deadpan or something? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/49 "2012-08-11T00:50:43Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Only after [American face stomping](http://www.nbcolympics.com/wnbc/video/soccer/highlight-melissa-tancredi-stomps-carli-lloyds-face.html) is made official. American Face-stomping is an event in the X-Games. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/50 "2012-08-11T02:22:41Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Dude, Really? Was I too deadpan or something? Probably the mirrors. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/51 "2012-08-11T03:05:31Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I dunno, I think I could get behind having the penalty for flopping being getting punched in the nuts. Granted, to be proper the sentence should be carried out by an impartial official nut-puncher. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I didn’t realize you were such a piece of shit. I’ll make a note of it. Someone needs their sarcasm meter recalibrated, because **Gorsnak** ’s post was easily discernible by anyone with a functioning sarcasm meter as being in jest. ETA: _impartial official nut-puncher_ should have been your clue. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/52 "2012-08-11T03:08:05Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Looks to me like he was just going for the ball. Looks like he was trying to give him a reach around. I for one am glad he didn’t come to the T-wolves. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/53 "2012-08-11T08:48:36Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Could be worse. There was an Aussie footballer a few years ago who got banned for his habit of, um, inserting his thumb into very private orifices of opposing players. That was John Hopoate, a piece of shit who made a habit (before he was caught) of sticking his fingers up the ring or opposing players. He was so bright that when he was playing for Manly (red hot favourites) in the premiership final he scored early on and to belittle an opposition player made fun of him. Said player went on to win man of the match as manly lost. Last I heard of Hopoate he was working as a bouncer and he was in the shit for punching some drunk pretty savagely. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/54 "2012-08-11T10:08:55Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I believe flopping is also a major component of European soccer matches It’s called diving here. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/55 "2012-08-11T11:08:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > It makes me laugh. Here’s a person rolling on the ground in agony, causing a game stoppage while four people attend to what must surely be a life-threatening injury. Ten seconds later, the guy (or gal) is running full tilt down the field. Funny story. I was watching the last world cup at work and we were talking about diving. Pretty soon after a player flips right to the ground after what looked like an innocuous play, writhing in agony. We were all jeering and yelling at the obvious dive. “Get up! Quit faking it and get up!” Then we saw the replay. Bicycle kick right to the face. :eek: Goes without saying that our tune changed quickly. “Stay down! Don’t try to move! The ambulance is on it’s way!.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/56 "2012-08-13T03:03:10Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t understand why he wasn’t kicked out. Because basketball refs are horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/57 "2012-08-13T13:16:18Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > That was John Hopoate, a piece of shit who made a habit (before he was caught) of sticking his fingers up the ring or opposing players. I preferred the Avondale player who used to piss his shorts deliberately to deter people from tackling him. That’s genius. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/58 "2012-08-13T15:17:17Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > That was John Hopoate, a piece of shit who made a habit (before he was caught) of sticking his fingers up the ring or opposing players. Without going into too much detail, how does this sport afford someone the opportunity for such a stratagem? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/59 "2012-08-13T15:26:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Without going into too much detail, how does this sport afford someone the opportunity for such a stratagem? Jockstraps and no underwear? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037/60 "2012-08-14T13:15:40Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Without going into too much detail, how does this sport afford someone the opportunity for such a stratagem? …spoiled because its not quite safe for work: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ata8F7liAx0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ata8F7liAx0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicholas-batum-disgraces-himself-his-team-his-country-et-al/631037.md?page=2)