‘Hugging: A New Penalty?’ (A. Bernstein - NBAE/Getty Images)

So, a couple of posts ago; I talked about a bleacher brawl at a high school football game. I never did tell how it ended. I know, I know, this is a Jazz blog-don’t worry, I’m getting there. Anyway, a police officer was fetched and he was apprised of the situation. After hearing the ridiculous accounts from both parties about how the “disagreement” was started, he told each offending adult that all they really needed to do was give each other a hug. Yes, two complete strangers were told to hug by the policeman. Guess what, they did, and it worked. They were pals by the end of the game. Now, I’m not exactly a fan of the hug, especially coming from a complete stranger, or someone shorter than me, or an overly-endowed great aunt (ick). But this was great police work on the officer’s part. So now, here’s where it relates to the Jazz and/or NBA.

From now on, maybe instead of fines, players will have to hug each other, or the offending referee, or person in the stands that they just battered; on national t.v. This could possibly deter those who have the urge to misbehave. My reasoning is this: it was really embarassing to the two grown adults in the bleachers to be called out for their behavior and to be asked to do something so silly as to give each other a hug. The palor of hate was removed from their faces. They had to humble themselves to do it. It was in front of a lot of people. That part was crucial. Now, this reconciliatory hug cannot be the chest bump kind of thing that players do when they see each other at half court, when meeting the referees; it has to be a full embrace, almost tender. It makes me uncomfortable just to write this, so I think I’m on to something.

Hugs not fines in the NBA. It’s the new slogan.

Carmelo Anthony, Rasheed Wallace; the thought of that public hug might just pull back on the old choke collar of your conscience the next time you think about an altercation with the people in the seats.

I bet Andrei hugged everyone when he got back from Russia, that’s why he’s been playing so well lately.