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Playing For Keeps: TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Aug. 10 -- You've heard of Hack-A-Shaq.
How about Hack-A-Sean?
In a free-throw fest Knicks rookie guard Nate Robinson called "one of the ugliest games ever," Denver rookie swingman Julius Hodge employed an intentional foul strategy to lead his virtual Nuggets to victory over Charlotte rookie forward Sean May’s virtual Bobcats in the Finals of the 2005 EA Sports NBA Live 06 Rookie Tournament.
For his efforts, the winner received a prize package that included a Sony PSP system and five PSP titles, a Xbox 360 and the 2006 lineup of EA Sports games, and one of the two plush leather NBA-logoed couches the rookies gamed from.
"Had to use the intentional foul," Hodge said after the win. "Neither one of us was making free throws in the game. Sean, they swept us this year in the ACC -- NC State-Carolina -- but I got the last one."
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Hodge preparing for the tournament earlier in the day with Warriors rookie Monta Ellis.
Brad Friedman/NBAE |
"I knew Sean was a better player," he said. "I usually play games like Lord of the Rings and Fight Night. This is like my third time playing NBA Live and I got the championship."
After a Raymond Felton three-pointer by May, Hodge found himself down 12-6 with just 1:14 remaining in the five minute contest. Tasting a defeat, Hodge hit pause on his game controller and turned to the audience of rookies behind him.
"How do I intentional foul?" he exclaimed.
Quick to provide instructions to Hodge was Portland rookie guard Jarrett Jack, who earlier in the day claimed to have scored 58 points in a contest with his virtual representation. From the start of Hodge’s strategy, May knew he was in trouble, confessing, "I can’t hit free throws!"
May made just one of his next eight shots from the charity stripe as Hodge evened the score at 13-13 with 16 seconds left. From there, May turned the tables on his opponent, employing "Hack-A-Julius" strategy to which the N.C. State product responded with a 1-of-6 free throw performance in three trips to the line.
At the 8.3 second mark, a Matt Carroll free throw put May's Bobcats ahead 15-14. Determined to protect his lead in the waning seconds, he turned to his peers and asked, "Do I play or do I foul?"
The rookies urged May to play it out, and he announced his intention to do just that. But when the clock ticked down to 3.2 seconds, the burly forward felt a sudden loss of confidence in his defensive skills, prompting him to send Denver's Carmelo Anthony to the line for a pair of free throws rather than letting him get off a field-goal attempt.
Hodge missed the first, but in a moment that will forever be remembered in his competitive gaming career, nailed the second to tie the game at 15 and force overtime before a hooting and hollering audience.
In the extra session the cheers continued, as did the sea of fouls, so much so that May's virtual representation even was disqualified at the 3:08 mark. Hodge clearly had the early momentum of the OT, but May battled back to even the score 26-26 with 1:20 remaining.
After Hodge made an Anthony jumper from the foul line extended at the 56-second mark, putting his Nuggets up two, May responded to an intentional foul with another pair of free throw misses with 30 seconds left.
Knicks rookie Nate Robinson, sitting on the arm of the sofa Hodge would later win, turned to May and earnestly asked him, “How does it feel to miss every free throw?”
May didn't have much of a response. Not for Robinson's question or Hodge's play, giving the newest Nugget the game and tournament, 36-33.
"Yo Sean, good look!" taunted Hodge as he held up the new Sony PSP an EA Sports representative handed him.
"I had a couch," May uttered. "I'm mad!
"This is all sweet right here," Hodge glowingly said. "My mom's going to love this couch."
