Blazers' Nicolas Batum punches Juan Carlos Navarro in groin in France's loss to Spain
LONDON – After France's Nicolas Batum delivered a vicious punch to the groin of Spain guard Juan Carlos Navarro, Batum left no confusion over his intentions.
"I wanted to give him a good reason to flop," Batum said.
Batum was angry with the Spanish guards for falling to the floor for what he believed was incidental contact throughout Spain's 66-59 quarterfinal victory over France at North Greenwich Arena.
Asked by Yahoo! Sports if he believed his punch to the groin had given Navarro "good reason," Batum smiled and said, "I hope so."
[ Photos: Team USA goes for Olympic gold ]
France's coaches and several players believed Spain intentionally lost a final preliminary round game Monday in which Spain blew a 12-point fourth quarter lead to Brazil. The loss allowed Spain to face France in the quarterfinals, and would potentially keep it away from the powerful United States until the gold-medal game.
Asked if he was convinced that Spain had taken a dive in the fourth quarter of the game with Brazil, Batum told Yahoo! Sports, "They did what they had to do."
When told that some won't think that a deliberate punch to the groin is in the Olympic spirit, Batum said, "Do you think if you lost a game on purpose, that's the Olympic spirit?"
[Related: Full video coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games in London]
Batum later posted an apology on his Twitter account for his actions.
"I want to apologize for my stupid act at the end," Batum tweeted. "I showed a bad image of France and myself. Congrats to team Spain."
Batum signed a four-year, $45 million contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers this summer.
Related Olympics coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Video: Biggest upset of the Olympic Games is in pole vault
• Alex Morgan's last-second goal gives U.S. soccer the win over a bitter Canada
• Which Olympic sports are best and worst to watch on TV? Ranking all 32
