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NBA

Darius Songaila Unaware of His Position in Life, Punches LeBron James

Posted Apr 30, 2008 10:28PM By Matt Moore (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Cavaliers, Wizards, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, NBA Videos, Cleveland, Washington, DC

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So apparently someone forgot to tell Darius Songaila that a. no one punches LeBron James, and b. if someone were able to punch LeBron James, it's certainly not him. But that's just what the 6-8 Lithuanian forward did tonight. While Songaila was only given a technical foul for this, it's likely (read: certain) that he'll be suspended for Game 6 in Washington. And a series that has already been brutally dirty just got nastier. Except for the fact that it's pretty clear Songaila just got tangled up with him. It's not like Songaila was actually thinking "Who do you think you are? I'm Songaila!" It would be a shame for Songaila to be suspended for this, but still ... dude, it's LeBron. What do you think is going to happen?

(Video HT: Odenized)

Tags: dariussongaila, lebronjames

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-01-2008 @ 1:52AM

instant35 said...

Definitely not a punch! Jordan was right, LeBron tried to pull his arm away and when he did that, he forced Songalia's hand up. Watch the replay.

4-30-2008 @ 11:45PM

anny said...

Well since Brendon Haywood wasn't suspended for pushing LeBron while he was in the air, Jason Kidd wasn't suspended for flipping Pargo, KG wasn't suspended for elbowing a ref, and random Celtics and Hawks players weren't suspended for leaving the bench during the KG-ZaZa incident in Game 4, I would say nothing is going to happen.

5-01-2008 @ 12:32AM

aksen said...

i really think marv was exaggerating the situation there.

unnecessary arm movement/contact? definitely.

flagrant 1? probably.

punch? hardly.

5-01-2008 @ 12:50AM

George B Vieto said...

LeBron should take up self defense courses in the off season. Darius shouldn't get suspended for his feeble punch at LeBron's kisser. Compared to the knockout punch Kermit Washington laid on Rudy T about thirty years ago this was a love tap.

5-01-2008 @ 1:48AM

Truth said...

An injustice is done to NBA fans by even associating this occurrence with a punch.

Please do not listen to Marv Albert or Reggie Miller as they both made a rush judgments without seeing all replays.

If you were watching Comcast in DC, you know what I'm talking about.....the fact that TNT's broadcast (and camera angle) is the only source available is utterly unfortunate.

5-01-2008 @ 3:02AM

Spencer said...

"5. Definitely not a punch! Jordan was right, LeBron tried to pull his arm away and when he did that, he forced Songalia's hand up. Watch the replay"

100% Correct

The media wants controversy so they hype it up to be a punch when Songaila didn't even do anything wrong. Yes, I said he did nothing wrong. LeBaby forced his hand up into his own face. In essence, LeBron MADE Songaila hit him.

Whoever calls this a punch is an idiot and obviously biased towards LeBron.

5-01-2008 @ 4:19AM

0nyx said...

Yep, you guys are right - that wasn't even close to a punch. I was expecting something much worse when I read the title. The commentators are plain wrong and LeBron's acting (flopping??) by holding his chin and stuff makes the situation even worse.

Oh, how I wish that the Cavs get their a$$ handed to them by the Wizards....

5-02-2008 @ 1:02PM

Will said...

One can only hope that you're fully in touch with your own unimpressive personal lot, mindless blogger that you are.

5-01-2008 @ 10:54AM

Jared said...

If it was Dirk instead of Lebron he would have hit the floor.

I vote not a punch. Pretty sensational headline for something that's almost not even a story.

5-01-2008 @ 11:45AM

Unsilent Majority said...

What a farce.

5-01-2008 @ 2:37PM

cpa said...

From a Cavs fan. No punch thrown. Just two guys tangled up after a foul. Miller is an idiot.

5-02-2008 @ 2:26AM

BobbyG21 said...

The washington wizards are trying to hurt Lebrons James on purepose. The wizards fear him so the punch in the face just to stop him from getting to the basket. This is sad because it show that wthe wizards have no respect, character, or class about themselves. The wizard players should be suspended and fined on the washington wizards.

5-01-2008 @ 5:21PM

hawkins said...

Not even a foul - if anything it was an offensive foul.

Check out the first picture (after the video) here http://www.bulletsforever.com/2008/5/1/470394/darius-songaila-is-lithuan

5-01-2008 @ 8:14PM

will10 said...

Man you have to be a dumbass to think that was on purpos. Darius was just trying to untangle him and why would he even do that if the game just started and Darius has always been a good guy. Who ever wrote this story is dumb as hell. Paris Hilton could have wrote a better article.

5-02-2008 @ 12:17PM

cpa said...

Ok, now number 11 comment is an idiot along with Reggie Miller. Songalia obviously fouled in order to force Lebron to go to the line. It was a great play on Songalia's part. The fould was hard enough to prevent the "and one", but not dangerous like Haywood did in game 2. Hard fouls are part of Basketball. A "good foul" is when you wrap up a players arms preventing him from getting the ball up to the basket, forcing foul shots and little change for an "and one". Songalia and Lebron's arms got tangled, Lebron tried to get away which caused the weak backhanded slap (not a punch Reggie. I am not sure if the officials have the right to remove a tech after it has been called, but I am sure after reviewing the replay they decided not to call the a flagrant and rightfully so. Haywoods foul in game two was not a "good foul", it deserved and received the flagrant 2 status. It was not a "playoff foul" as Reggie put it. A shove while in the air is a great way to hurt someone.