Okay, so yesterday I posted excerpts from a Peter Vecsey column on Josh Smith's bad attitude. After Smith's second disciplinary problem of the season, it didn't seem that far-fetched that the third-year stud might have some issues. Vecsey's smug takedown told us of the time Smith almost got into a fight with a bouncer. There was also a locker room confrontation between Smith and teammate Zaza Pachulia that ended with Zaza pinning Smith and threatening to end a career. And it wasn't his. Not so fast, says The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Sekou K. Smith, who actually covers the team:
The only problem is Childress said the incident never happened. "That's a figment of someone's imagination," Childress said. "It's unfortunate for both of us to have someone put that out there, something that disrespectful, and to have it done intentionally to badmouth someone."And what about the Pachulia confrontation? Vecsey's a little closer on this one, but still way off:
I don't know who told that version what happened (Pachulia uttered words along those lines, but across a crowded locker room and not directly at Smith), but they've got a future in storytelling.As Smith (the writer) clarified to True Hoop, he was there when it down. Vecsey wasn't. While Vecsey can't be everywhere at once, it seems like in this case a little bit of research wouldn't have hurt. Or maybe he should only bother with Hawks lore that's found its way to YouTube.
