As I work my way up my news reader, I happened across an article about Chicago Bulls rookie Tyrus Thomas. I had heard grumblings yesterday about comments Thomas made to a reporter from the Chicago Tribune about his desire, or lack thereof, to compete in the NBA's slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend.

Thomas was quoted in the Tribune as saying, "I'm just going to go out there, get my check and call it a day."

When asked if being around some of the game's greats could be beneficial for a rookie, he responded, "I'm just into the free money. That's it. I'll just do whatever when I get out there."

In a follow-up to that story, Thomas appears to have taken a stand-up attitude about the whole thing. He didn't claim he was misquoted by the reporter but rather said that he's going to use this as a lesson that he needs to be careful about what he says and how he says it and that he couldn't fault the reporter for doing his job.

I'm mildly amused by Thomas' comments because I think this is a reflection of what the slam dunk contest has become. Everything that can be done, for the most part has been done. The only innovative thing I've seen recently was when Steve Nash demonstrated his soccer skills in helping teammate Amare Stoudemire in the dunk contest. I think the dunk contest needs to be discontinued and replaced with a skills competition or something of that ilk. I know it will be hard to part ways with the dunk contest because of the nostalgia and great moments attached to it (see, Jordan and 'Nique, Dr. J., Cedric Ceballos dunking blindfolded, etc.) but I think the times has come to move forward and start a new tradition.

In today's piece in the Chicago Tribune, Thomas said he was going to donate any slam dunk winnings or additional money he would receive for participating in the dunk contest to his high school. That is something I don't believe for a second. Maybe I'm a little cynical but I firmly believe that had this story not come to fruition and had Thomas not described his slam dunk contest check as being "free money", that check would be finding it's way to the Tyrus Thomas pocket fund.

Thomas has since found out some of that "free money" from the dunk contest is now going back to the Chicago Bulls who have fined the rookie from LSU for his comments.

Here is the link to the Chicago Tribune article today....