Let's just get one thing clear, to label anything in the NBA with the word "thug" is absolutely wrong. In the modern day era of the NBA, where the majority of the players are African-American, with tattoos, or rough childhoods, the label of "thug" coincides with the views of mainstream media, mostly, hip-hop.

The English word thug, meaning a violent criminal, comes from the Hindi word thag (and originally from the Sanskrit word sthaga), meaning a thief or villain. In fact the same word thug was used to describe and individual in a band of assassins formerly active in northern India who worshiped the god Kali. Are there thugs of this caliber playing for the NBA right now? If so I believe we should all be heading for the hills or running for our lives.

I cannot remember the word thug being used in the context of the NBA until the very recent years, where on and off court incidents have amassed. In the past era's of the NBA, mostly the 60's, 70's, 80's, and even the early to mid 90's, hulking, bruising, individual players were put into place to set "law and order" on court. Back then they were known as enforcers; who's sole purpose was to harass, deter, and provoke the opposing teams star player, often causing brawls and skirmishes. There was a no nonsense approach utilized by these men, who often got into foul trouble, or piled up a body count of often injured players. This form of on court "justice" was instructed by coaches and carried out by these men and yet they were never labeled as "thugs".

In fact at the time there was no such thing as a flagrant foul, which was incorporated later in the mid 90's to deter excessive contact. NBA greats such as Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Charles Oakley, Xavier "X-Man" McDaniel, to name a few, not only protected the star players on their respective teams, but dished out the same physical punishment to the opposing teams players as well. They weren't labeled in a negative light as thugs or thuggish, but honored and praised for their grit and teamwork. So why now are the players of the post millennium NBA being burdened with this negative title?

Most people can admit this isn't the NBA of old, enforcers now are labeled defensive specialists and come in the shape of Bruce Bowen and Raja Bell. The league has gotten younger and younger as the years go by and the players of tomorrow are tied into the mainstream of today. Walt "Clyde" Frazier's look screamed 70's (then and today) so it shouldn't be a surprise to

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