God and The Whip
August 25th, 2007 by DamonFrom the where-are-they-now category: I’ve received a hot tip from a deep source that former Providence Friar and Washington Wizard God Shammgod will be trying out for the Milwaukee Bucks next week. The globetrotting Shammgod’s career has taken him to, among other places, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and, most recently, China, where his playing time was limited by a ceiling on minutes for foreign players. Perhaps the Bucks hope that Shammgod, with his experience in China, can help ease the transition of the still unsigned Yi Jianlian, their Chinese phenom lottery pick. More likely, though, is that in scouting Yi, the Bucks discovered that Shammgod has developed a jumper to complement his ridiculous handle, finally making him an NBA point guard.
Those who watched him in college likely remember Shammgod’s ankle-breaking moves. In fact, one move, in which he drives right, then without directing the dribble to his left, reaches across with his left hand and pulls the ball left, changing directions as he does so–creating a sort of mid-drive, one-handed crossover–now bears his name. If you go to YouTube and search for Shammgod or Shamgod, you will see many examples from many people. Here is a demonstration from God himself:
However, searching through the YouTube clips and reading the comments left on them, it seems that the “Shammgod” may not have originated with Shammgod. One YouTube user created a highlight compilation of Yugoslavian players performing “El Latigo” (Spanish for “The Whip”)—which is basically the same move as the Shammgod. The videos go as far back as 1980, or so the compilation’s producer tells us. The video suggests that the move was popularized by Dejan Bodiroga but originated with Danko “El Killer del Perimetro” Cvjeticanin, a Croatian who now works in scouting for the Philadelphia 76ers.
How did a move supposedly peformed and popularized in Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslavian Republics become known by a Spanish name? (Update: Reader and friend Mike points out that Bodiroga played in Spain–dunno how I missed that one.) And certainly, it’s strange (and humbling for American hoop nationalists) to see that Shammgod’s perceived innovation in the crossover had actually been around for at least 15 or so years. The general perception is that America–particularly its urban courts–serves as the incubator for the game’s dribbling innovations. That often seems to be the case, but probably not here.
Finally, why hasn’t “El Latigo/Shammgod” caught on in the NBA? More often, you’ll see a player perform a similar move one-handed all the way–i.e. dribbling right, faking the cross to the left, but keeping the ball in the right hand and proceeding right. Kobe Bryant does this a lot. A YouTube clip purports to show Manu Ginobili performing the Shammgod, but it’s just an ordinary crossover followed by a spin. In my opinion, the most likely Latigo-ers in the NBA are Jamal Crawford, Kobe Bryant, Rafer Alston, Steve Nash, Ginobili, and Sebastian Telfair (and of course God himself, should the Milwaukee Bucks deem him worthy). Jason Williams should probably make the list, too, though I fear his ankle-breaking days are close to done. Anyone else? Can I get a witness to a Latigo?
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August 27th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Perhaps it is from the two stints Bodiroga spent in Spain?
ps. “El Killer del Perimetro” just doesn’t have the same ring as “The Killer of the Perimeter”
August 27th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Good call on Bodiroga in Spain–that was painfully obvious. I’ve gotta read my wikipedia more carefully. On the nickname, I couldn’t figure out at first why they used English, until I realized that the Spanish would be matador, implying he plays no defense.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
T-mac did the whip x-over in a regular season game last year. I remember going out and trying it the next day
August 27th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
check out the championship game on the movie finding forrester. this is the first place i saw it done. white point guard does it at the top of the key.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Man, Sean Connery, Busta Rhymes, a cameo by Joey Buttafuoco, AND a Shammgod/Latigo?! I gotta see Finding Forrester.
Also, I guess I should’ve put T-Mac on the list.
August 28th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
You missed the three most obvious:
1) Rafer Allston - but you know “skip” would blow the layup
2) steve francis - he loves anything involving him dribbling, and would keep doing the whip until the shot clock blows up
3) AI - duh!
August 28th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I had Alston in there. Francis does love to dribble out a clock–he’s like a one-man four-corners offense. But for some reason, I don’t picture him pulling off the mid-drive Latigo. Not that he couldn’t, though.
As for AI, no doubt he’s a legend of the crossover, but he’s got his thing. It’s been the same crossover for years. With him and Francis, it may be an old dog/new tricks kinda thing. Also, they both use fairly conventional crossovers–hesitations, UTEP two-steps, btw the legs mid-drive, etc. Whereas, for example, Ginobili changes directions in really bizarre ways and is so absurdly one-handed that I could see him being so eager to get his left hand on the ball that he doesn’t wait for the right to pass it over.
August 28th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
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August 29th, 2007 at 8:40 am
“I could see him being so eager to get his left hand on the ball that he doesn’t wait for the right to pass it over.” = hahahahaha.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hi, I am the youtube user that upload the video “El látigo”…
Well, for real Danko Cvjeticanin was one of the first players to make this move into a game but in the 70’s there was 2 more yugoslavian players that used to made this trick: Dragan Kikanovic and Mirza Delibasic.
Is for sure that Cvjeticanin made this move before Dejan Bodiroga. The Cvjeticanin play on my youtube video is from the 1987 European Cup final between Cibona Zagreb and Zalguiris Kaunas.
Regards.
July 15th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I agree with the article that the youtube clip of Ginobili claiming he is doing a Shammgod is not a Shammgod/El Latigo at all, but I can tell you from watching a lot of NBA games that Ginobili does do the Shammgod move a lot, more than any other current NBA player. I’ve also seen T-Mac do it once or twice, but Ginobili does it more often. It’s strange that no one has captured a real Ginobili Shammgod on youtube.
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
You can see my video call”el latigo,snatch or shammgod” featuring bodiroga,Cvjeticanin & troy hudson
And say me if you like it please!
http://www.youtube.com/user/rymkha#play/all/uploads-all/0/mwIRa1D4xLw