Ali Farokhmanesh and ESPN

[erpowers]

It seems to me that some on ESPN and other networks are making a big deal about the shot taken by Ali Farokhmanesh. Some are acting as if that was the greatest shot ever taken. In my opinion, the shot was not that big of a deal. Yes it was at the end of the game and it was mainly a two on one situation. However, neither one of the players was really that close to Farokhmanesh. There was probably about 7ft.-14ft. between Farokhmanesh and player #14. There was at least a few feet between Farokhmanesh and player #4 when he was starting his shooting movement. Clearly, both players thought he was going to drive the lane. Player #14 backed up to try to get to the basket. At the same time player #4 was also trying to move toward the left and then came back to the right after Farokhmanesh began to go to the shooting motion. It seems Farokhmanesh took the three because he realized two players that were trying to guard him thought he was going to drive to the lane.

That was a shot that just about any good college basketball player could make on any given day. I am not trying to take very much away from Farokhmanesh. I just do not see why some of the sports reporters on ESPN and other networks are making so much of the shot. So, what do others think?

[Stevepol]

1. Any good college player could make any shot on a given day.

What makes a shot special is the CIRCUMSTANCES. It's easy to watch a golfer putting an 8-ft putt that will mean whether or not he wins the Master's, but not many can make that putt under the circumstances. What's worthy of praise is being able to control the emotions, the fear, the nervousness, and still make the best shot.

Faroukmanesh can hit these shots almost routinely, even in the most potentially destabilizing CIRCUMSTANCES. Can ANY college player do that?

We love it when somebody displays grace UNDER PRESSURE as Hemingway says.

[Condem]

2. Totally agree. The smart thing to do would be to pull back and milk the clock.

You watch it a thousand times. It's obvious that thought is racing through Ali's head as he hesitates. Then it hits him. I'm from Iowa City and I've got balls of fucking Brass!! You knew it was good the second it left his hand. Nope. A VERY big deal.

[taterguy]

4. "I'm from Iowa City and I've got balls of fucking Brass" would be a great book title

[Condem]

5. Already used, tater.

John Irving.

[joeybee12]

6. That's it...you could easily see him holding onto the ball and running it out...

...but he went for it...had he missed, he could be the goat, but he didn't...he took the chance. Bravo!

[Captain Hilts]

3. It was VERY gutsy. If he didn't make it, he'd be the goat of the game. It took great poise.

No, not "any" player could make it under those circumstances.

[thewiseguy]

7. Ali is half Iranian and he made that shot on the Iranian New Year's Day!

:toast:

and it was the circumstances that made that shot very special. As others have pointed out, he could have advanced the ball further to kill some time but he went for a 3. The kid has got balls!

[Condem]

8. So big of a deal, he's on the cover of SI.

Ah, fuck!! The fucking jinx.

[Condem]

9. Yet more accolades...

...not a Forde fan but, nonetheless, a good read. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=5020760
This nails it just fine.

[JonLP24]

10. I did not notice he was on a 7 shot miss streak at the time before he made that shot

I think he does nail it.

"Consider this argument for why it should go down as the greatest early-round shot in NCAA tournament history:"

Before I read any further I was thinking what about the shot the MSU player made to beat Maryland or the several other buzzer beaters from the first round? He addressed that and convinced me otherwise. It was different because in those cases as well as other famous shots they had no choice but to put it up----"Ali? He chose greatness -- and the potential censure that would have come with a miss. He made a completely voluntary decision to tee up a 3 with 30 seconds on the shot clock and 35 seconds in the game and his team holding a one-point lead"

[Condem]

11. The two free throws with 4 seconds left were just icing on the cake, Jon.

But who better to have that honor than Ali? Just two games in but along with his game winner against UNLV, you're looking at perhaps one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) clutch performers in NCAA tournament history.