Joakim Noah has always said he was “goin’ to do it big” one day. Noah also isn’t shy about letting you know either. Last Sunday, the Bulls rookie was spotted on a sidewalk in Gainsville, Florida with a plastic cup of beer. That’s not all though. Upon arriving at the police station, officers found some marijuana in his pockets. One would like to think Noah would have some type of intelligence after graduating from Florida, but I guess roaming around the university with a beer and a gram are more important.

Joakim Noah is strange.? He doesn’t like haircuts, he hates losing, and apparently he hates Michael Jordan.? “I hated Michael Jordan.” Noah told the press on Friday while talking about his days growing up as a Knicks fan.

Noah, who is projected to go in the top ten in the draft, is heavily rumored to be going to the Bulls at the ninth overall pick.? The irony of the situation?? The Bulls got the pick from the Knicks in the Eddy Curry trade.? How sweet irony is.

It’s no secret that he may be the most emotional and passionate player in the draft.? And while many people, myself included, criticize him for disappearing during games, his emotion and intensity is never lost on the court.? That passion is what will make him millions of dollars in the NBA, and for comedys sake lets hope it’s for a team that he watched dismantle his Knicks year after year in the playoffs during the 1990’s.

I don’t fault Noah for hating Jordan, especially since he seems like the kind of kid who would throw things at the television?while Jordan was burying jumpers over Glen Rice and Allan Houston.? I have my certain hatred for players in sports, and it has nothing to do with my lack of respect for their talent.? Isn’t that what makes a rivalry?? Red Sox fans hate Mariano Rivera with a passion, but I’d be willing to bet if you asked a Sox fan if Rivera was one of the best closers of all-time the answer would be yes.? Millions of people hate Alex Rodriguez but that doesn’t detract from the respect he gets around the league and the fact that he is certainly one of the best hitters in the game right now.? The same applies for Jordan.

Show me where it says that everyone must like Jordan (who is addicted to gambling but we won’t get into that.? so much for a role model) and I’ll show you a fat lie.? Hating players is what builds rivalries and what makes competition so great.? It’s the respect that comes with the hate that makes one’s opinion about a player worthwhile.? Yes, Noah hates Jordan, but I’d be willing to bet you that he respects Jordan more than any other player to ever step on the hard wood.? That’s just the way it works.

I came across an article on AOL’s Sports Blog regarding something I didn’t see on Saturday. Florida’s close win over Kentucky, had a bit of controversy to it. It involved Joakim Noah and a Kentucky cheerleader. TV cameras have shown a UK cheerleader apparently taunting Noah with her pom-pom after he took a spill near the baseline. The article also used the description of “Pom-Pom Gate,” which I happen to despise.

First of all, I’ll scold Noah. Come on Joakim. I’m sure you’ve heard it all this year. You’re the most known player on the defending National Champion Florida Gators. You play in the SEC, meaning hostile fans and atmosphere. And you just happen to be ugly as sin. I understand Florida vs. Kentucky is a heated rivalry, so your emotion is understandable. Noah is an emotional player and this time, it got the best of him. It’s a mistake.

More importantly, what the hell is this cheerleader thinking? You’re sitting your ass on the baseline, which lets you say a couple choice words to the opposition. That’s fine. But once you start swinging your pom-poms in player’s faces, you’re playing with fire. It’s a huge rivalry game so obviously, it’s an intense atmosphere. Your little stunt might have made you LOL, but it’s your fault. Noah isn’t taking swings at a cheerleader if he’s not getting pom-poms in his face. You goaded him, you angered one of the most emotional players in college basketball. Prepare to deal with whatever happens.

A cheerleader’s job is pretty simple: Lead. Cheers. It’s not heckleleader or tauntleader. Leave that to the student section. I’m sure they were doing a nice job of letting Noah hear it. Sure, Noah shouldn’t have reacted the way he did. But the cheerleader also shouldn’t have been goading him, especially when he’s face down on the court. Noah doesn’t deserve punishment, it’s the cheerleader that should be canned from the team.