Washington punching of Tomjanovich
The "Washington punching of Tomjanovich" refers to a significant incident during an NBA game on December 9, 1977, involving players Kermit Washington of the Los Angeles Lakers and Rudy Tomjanovich of the Houston Rockets. The altercation began when a fight broke out between other players, prompting Tomjanovich to rush over to help. Unbeknownst to him, Washington turned around and, believing he was about to be attacked, threw a punch that resulted in severe injuries to Tomjanovich, including spinal and brain damage along with multiple facial fractures. This event, often referred to as "The Punch," had profound implications for both players; Washington faced a sixty-day suspension and significant public backlash, while Tomjanovich's career was impacted, though he returned to play the following season.
The incident sparked discussions about race, as Washington, an African American player, and Tomjanovich, a white player, brought attention to perceived racial dynamics in sports. In its aftermath, the NBA took steps to reform its image and address issues of player conduct, implementing stricter rules against fighting and introducing measures aimed at protecting the league's reputation. This incident, while one of the darkest moments in NBA history, ultimately contributed to the league's transformation and growth into a more globally recognized sport.
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Washington punching of Tomjanovich
The Event Kermit Washington punches Rudy Tomjanovich during a professional basketball game
Date December 9, 1977
Washington’s near fatal punch to the face of Tomjanovich caused the National Basketball Association (NBA) to remodel its image and rulebook.
During a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Kunnert became involved in a scrap that quickly developed into a multiplayer melee which included Kermit Washington and others. Kermit Washington’s back was turned to Rudy Tomjanovich, who had run from the other side of the court to help break up the fight. Tomjanovich arrived as Washington turned around. Believing that Tomjanovich was going to attack him, Washington threw a punch at him. The combination of Tomjanovich’s momentum and Washington’s strength had disastrous consequences.
Tomjanovich was nearly killed by the blow. He suffered spinal and brain injuries as well as multiple facial fractures. Washington received a sixty-day suspension and was permanently marked as a violent and dangerous man. He was targeted for derision by fans and was one of the league’s most unpopular players. He became depressed and lost much of his effectiveness as a player whose style depended on gritty and rough play. Tomjanovich’s playing career resumed the following season, but not with the same level of success as before the incident.
“The Punch,” as it quickly became known, resonated around the country, not only because of its devastating effect on Tomjanovich but also because of its racial subtext. For some, the incident’s significance rested upon Washington’s being black and Tomjanovich’s being white. Washington believed that the length of his suspension was race-based, as did his teammate Abdul-Jabbar. They believed that if Tomjanovich were black or Washington were white, then the incident would not have been as important to the public as it was.
The NBA, which had been suffering from declining attendance for several years prior to the incident, decided to revamp its rulebook and its marketing strategy as a result. New bylaws resulting in automatic suspensions for players who fought were put in place and strictly enforced. The league also added to its games a third referee, who would trail the players and be able to intervene quickly in case of trouble behind the ball in the backcourt, as had happened with Abdul-Jabbar and Kunnert. Most important, the league sought to cleanse its image, which resulted in new marketing techniques and a repackaging of professional basketball to the public.
Impact
Although one of the league’s ugliest incidents, “The Punch” ultimately helped the NBA rise as a worldwide phenomenon. It forced league officials to rethink its public image and make itself more palatable to a mainstream audience.
Bibliography
Feinstein, John. The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever. Boston: Little, Brown, 2002.
Tomjanovich, Rudy, with Robert Falkoff. A Rocket at Heart: My Life and My Team. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.