Pom-Pom Gate: Did Joakim Noah Swipe at a UK Cheerleader?

Thanks to Loser With Socks via Deadspin

Fifteen minutes into the first half of their much-anticipated rivalry game, Florida led Kentucky 31-21. Momentum was shifting ever so slightly towards Kentucky; the Gators had led 30-14 moments earlier, but the Wildcats had begun what would turn out to be a 13-0 run to close within four points.

Rupp Arena was going nuts. The Gators were starting to feel the heat.

Joakim Noah went to the floor, hard, on the defensive end, and found himself face to face with a Kentucky cheerleader. The young brunette did what came naturally; she leaned forward, gave Noah a few choice words, and shook her pom-poms in his face.

Here's what happened next, pictorially. (More after the jump.)
(Picture sequence originally by Rob at http://flickr.com/photos/bobbyuggles/sets/72157594529009945/)

Fact #1: no cheerleader should be interacting with the players... beyond normal cheers and associated stuff... for any reason. Noah draws a lot of attention; Florida fans consider him passionate, while fans (and cheerleaders, apparently) of other SEC teams find him flat out annoying as hell. Regardless, there is no excuse for goading a player on the floor. This cheerleader should not cheer for Kentucky again.

Fact #2: no player, coach, etc. can afford to let himself be affected by the crowd, cheerleaders, hecklers... even when their actions are extremely annoying. This is part of today's game. Noah, in particular, needs to be sure that he can take it if he wants to dish it out... as dish it he so frequently does.