Nate Robinson, more than meets the eye?

He short as all hell, loud, obnoxious, and plays with effort and energy for a full 48 minuets.

He's Nate Robinson.

He's a football player. A former cornerback to be exact.

Yes yes he only played in college, and probably would not have recieved much interest from a pro football team. I mean, he's shorter than Antwan Winfield.

But the characteristics he puts on display while balling for the Knicks are the same things that make for a good cornerback, for a good football player. Foremost of those traits would be the ability to "forget the last play".

Football - You give up a first down? Dont stress it, go back and try and make an interception.
Basketball - You just had a turnover? Dont stress it, hustle back, get a steal and start all over again.

Football - It's 3rd down and you're dog tired? So what, it's 4th quater and you've been working out like a dog for an entire summer. Suck it up.
Basketball - It's under a minuet left in the 4th quarter and you're dog tired?



Football - The dude you are guarding is about a foot taller than you? So what, when it's a jump ball you go and fight for that ball, no matter what
Basketball - The guying up for 2 points is 2 feet taller than you?



I am a sports fan, but in my own personal sports trinity, football is at the top. No other sport can grant you the kind of...guts...it takes to get knocked down and rise again over and over again like football does.

It's something I have noticed in other players too. Like Charlie Ward, who while not near as flashy played good defense and never truly lost his cool. (anti-semitic statements aside)
Allen Iverson was a high school player, and while he is all heart based on his own unique design...that kind of never-say-die attitude gets honed on the gridiron. Matt Harpring of the Utah Jazz played football as a student, he's known for being more toughness and technique than talent, something you find alot off in the football.

On the flip side of that, the football player in Robinson gives rise to the parts of his game that irk most viewers.

He can be too aggressive, always having faith in his abilities when smarts and following the gameplan should be paramount. That has calmed down with time, and given a few more season could be another asset.

He brags far too much, each dunk for him is like a DB making a big hit on a small wideout, or deflecting a pass. It is more acceptable on the grass, where there are 35 to 40 seconds when the huddle has to be gathered and the defense set up again. On the hardwood, you make a big play, the other team does not wait for you to gather your senses. You have to stay focused, and Nate has a big problem with that.

Be that as it may, there are few player that arent ELITE ball players that I'd rather have on my team.
At his size, you forget what it is he can do. You forget about the vertical leap, and the intensity. He get's underrated. Which is why I love it when he scores 30 against a guard 6 inches taller than he is.

Blame on me being raised by a short woman, but the underdog will always get my vote.