Below-The-Belt Olympic Cheap Shot Drops Carmelo Anthony
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Talk about adding fuel to the USA-Argentina basketball rivalry.
Facundo Campazzo cast aside the Olympic spirit for a moment on Monday when he hit Knicks forward and Team USA member Carmelo Anthony in the groin.
With the U.S. men's basketball team up by 23 in the closing seconds of the third quarter, Anthony dribbled down court and put up three-pointer. As Anthony's feet hit the ground -- and before the ball even landed in the basket -- Argentina's Campazzo delivered his not-so-friendly tap.
"It was more than a tap. ... It was a cheap shot. But we move on," Anthony said after the 126-97 win.
Campazzo "acknowledged hitting Anthony on purpose" and accused U.S. point guard Chris Paul of punching him in the first half, The Associated Press reported.
Players from both teams jawed at each other while Anthony writhed in pain on the court.
"We all saw it," said center Tyson Chandler, according to the New York Daily News. "It was a cheap shot. He hit him in an area where you don't want to get hit in. We all represent our countries. This is the Olympics. You never want it go like that."
The low blow remained a hot topic before practice Tuesday.
"I don't play like that, I don't agree with that," Anthony said. "If you're going to foul somebody ... foul them hard, but you don't take a shot like that. So I don't agree with that, but at this point there's really nothing that nobody can do about it."
Did you think it was on purpose when you saw it happen? Let us know in the comments below!
