Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:40 pm EST

Joakim Noah critic eats his words ... literally

By J.E. Skeets

Two years ago, Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey wrote that Bulls first-round draft pick Joakim Noah(notes) would never become a productive NBA player. In fact, Morrissey was so certain the ex-Gator forward would be an NBA bust that he said he would slather his June 2007 column with salsa and eat it if Noah ever turned out to be a "useful" basketball player.

Flash-forward to today, where Noah is averaging 11.4 points and 12.4 rebounds in 32 minutes of action.

Useful? You bet. Hungry? No choice.

That's right; a man of his word, Morrissey showed up at the Bulls' practice facility on Monday, with offending column and salsa in hand, and ate a small chunk of the Tribune newspaper in front of a beaming Noah and Bulls rookie James Johnson(notes). Seeing as this is the Internet age, cameras were rolling.

Said Morrissey: "It tasted like a crow enchilada."

For a longer version of the above video, check out chicagotribune.com/noah.

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Related: Joakim Noah, James Johnson

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157 Comments

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  1. Muthu S
    1. Posted by Muthu S Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:59 pm EST

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    Gotta give it to him that he had a clever title, "You gotta be Joakim" hahaha
  2. BrianH
    2. Posted by BrianH Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:09 pm EST

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    I can't believe Noah's transformation. Sometime last year, I don't know when, he flipped a switch and decided that he no longer wanted to show up late to team meetings, team flights and practices late. He looked like he would be another waste of one of the Eddy Curry draft picks, but ended up being the exact opposite. He flipped the switch, played great in the series versus the Celtics and got into the weight room, probably for the first time in an offseason and look at the results. On a team with only a few bright spots, he seems a great rebounder with some crazy athleticism. If he could just improve some of his back to the basket moves, I think he could potential be an all-star, maybe not this year, but in the coming years.
    I was never a big Rick Morrissey fan, but good to see that he is actually coming through on a crazy promise.
  3. GoL8KrZ
    3. Posted by GoL8KrZ Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:11 pm EST

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    Yummm, fiber!
  4. Jamaul Crawford Has Best Handles In The NBA
    4. Posted by Jamaul Crawford Has Best Handles In The NBA Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:23 pm EST

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    lol @ Noah..."roll it up"
  5. J C
    5. Posted by J C Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:28 pm EST

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    The next Rodman
  6. Anton
    6. Posted by Anton Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:32 pm EST

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    Wow. I love it that the guy is a man of his words. Rare to find that these days among the motormouth feces-talkers
  7. Joey
    7. Posted by Joey Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:58 pm EST

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    Nice to know he's getting his much-needed ruf [profane]e and essential links. I hope he had a glass of Malk with that.
  8. Joey
    8. Posted by Joey Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:59 pm EST

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    inks* not links. And... ruf [profane]e is profane?
  9. joel a
    9. Posted by joel a Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:06 pm EST

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    He's still a douchebag jackass.
  10. Jeff
    10. Posted by Jeff Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:07 pm EST

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    Nice picture Noah
  11. Johnathan Alguard
    11. Posted by Johnathan Alguard Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:07 pm EST

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    awesome work camera man
  12. Jeff
    12. Posted by Jeff Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:08 pm EST

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    Noah should have to get a kick in the b@lls for the picture of him w/ Stern
  13. bMac
    13. Posted by bMac Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:10 pm EST

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    Seems like a really respectable guy
  14. MitchellM
    14. Posted by MitchellM Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:10 pm EST

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    worst camera guy ever
  15. dwolf81
    15. Posted by dwolf81 Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:10 pm EST

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    Crazy, Noah is playing great, to see some less known players who play for the love of the game and not money check out PlayerMania.com
  16. SARA
    16. Posted by SARA Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:11 pm EST

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    Sorry ,U of K fan ! Screw Noah! Ronda is ia still a better player!
  17. SARA
    17. Posted by SARA Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:12 pm EST

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    Sorry ,U of K fan ! Screw Noah! Rondo is ia still a better player!
  18. EL Goose
    18. Posted by EL Goose Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:12 pm EST

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    Noah has how many NBA titles?
  19. Lane
    19. Posted by Lane Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:19 pm EST

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    We should demand that what this guy did be set as a precedent for the rest of the news world, especially for the most famous journalist. If every cocky, blowhard of a writer or journalist would have to actually eat their own words after making-what they see as-conclusive statements about people, then we'd have more responsible reporting.
  20. →» G «←
    20. Posted by →» G «← Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:20 pm EST

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    if noah was nice enough, he would've jst stopped him and not congratulate him.
    he shoulda said "u dont have to do it" or sumthin like that
  21. James B
    21. Posted by James B Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:21 pm EST

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    Skeets let me ask you this honest question, since you seem to have your finger on the proverbial pulse of the NBA:
    Is Joakim Noah mentally retarded? I always had the suspicion when he was at UF that he had, at the very least, a learning disability. Maybe a lot of it is just his troglodytic appearance, but I have never heard him say anything that led me to think he had an IQ over, say, 80.
  22. blazers
    22. Posted by blazers Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:26 pm EST

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    joakim is on fire right now. how long will it last? time will tell but i predict it wont last very long!! he needs to get stronger and be a post player. i personally dont like joakim and the bulls could have gotten more from a 1st round pick but he's picking up the slack around there and showing why he was 1st round material
  23. TJ
    23. Posted by TJ Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:34 pm EST

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    Thank you Joakim, for keeping the Bulls very relevant. By acquiring a starting PF through Free Agency and an upgrade at the 2 for next year, we are challenging the dominant three Eastern Conference teams.
    Give me a healthy McGrady and Bosh for a Rose, T-Mac, Deng, Bosh, Noah lineup. We need the leadership of a veteran player like T-Mac.
    @ James B-- you are an ignorant, petty individual.
  24. Runnin'Man
    24. Posted by Runnin'Man Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:35 pm EST

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    Joakim rocks..

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Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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Kelly Dwyer, Rod Benson, Trey Kerby, Nick Friedell, Garbage Time All-Stars, Blair Johnson,

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