milky_way
09-09-2002, 12:22 AM
By Frank Hughes
Special to ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/hughes_frank/1425073.html
In the spirit of offseason optimism and restful cheerfulness, I list the worst decisions made this summer:
-Shaquille O'Neal's decision to have toe surgery in a few weeks. Now, I know that everybody preaches that the NBA season does not really start until the first game of the playoffs, and, in fact, the playoffs did not even start for the Los Angeles Lakers this past season until Robert Horry hit that prayer at the end of Game 4 to completely deflate the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference finals. But, really, that "season doesn't start until the playoffs" thing is hyperbole, not literal. I also know that Shaq is not a big proponent of training camp, nor of putting forth a great deal of effort in November and December and January, and well, let's be honest, February and March, either. But there has to be some sort of deference toward the fans, doesn't there? I'm quite sure they'll still sell out the Staples Center early in the season, but it is just not the same seeing Samaki Walker post up as it is the big Fella. The Finals stampede ended in mid-June, if I'm not mistaken. Why is it that Shaq had to wait almost three months to get his ailing toe straightened out, then miss the first few months of the season, finally getting into shape around the first game of the playoffs in mid-April? I guess it'll give Kobe Bryant a chance to carry the team for a while, anyway.
-Allen Iverson's alleged gun-toting rampage. Now I know that AI is "keeping it real," which apparently means keeping, as Prince likes to suggest, "a 9 in my pocket," though I suspect Mr. Prince wasn't talking about his cap shooter. But did JimmyDig or PuffyGroove or BubbaGump or whatever his Mom likes to call him learn nothing from the situation in which Jayson Williams finds himself? Let's say it all together class: "Guns are bad. Guns with bullets in them are worse. Guns with bullets in them pointed at people are crimes that send you to jail and make your $100 million contract null and void." Thank you class; you all get A-plusses for the day. I also know that Iverson is loyal to his friends, which, in a way, I commend him for. But Williams is another example of just how loyal your friends are when things go badly. "Yes, Mr. Culuko, you can either go to jail for 15 years or you can rat out Mr. Williams about what happened that night." Mr. Culuko: "I'm beginning to like cheese."
-The media's decision to cover Iverson's alleged gun-toting rampage like it was the second coming of O.J. A lot of times I will watch a movie and laugh/scratch my eyes out at how ludicrous Hollywood portrays journalists -- though, to be fair, from Hollywood's perspective, I guess the only thing they know is the paparazzi. In any case, most journalists I know want to fill their 15-inch space for the day and go home and see their wives and kids just like every other 9-to-5er. "Invading people's privacy" is not a class taken in J school. But this Iverson affair had everybody outside the gates of his suburbian mansion -- as an aside, if Iverson is "keeping it real," shouldn't his mansion at least be in the 'hood? -- shouting questions through the fence, taking pictures of Iverson talking to his wife, the whole deal. It was exactly what Hollywood makes the ugly journalist look like, and, as it turned out, Iverson did not even get serious punishment.
-The Boston Celtics' decision to trade for Vin Baker. It might look good for a month, it might look good for four months. Hey, it might even look good for a year -- though I doubt it. But I know Vin Baker. And, while he's a super nice guy whom, personally, I like, this is his modus operandi on a basketball court: Work really hard for a little while because he wants to prove people wrong, and then when they are sold that he has changed, start slacking. It would be one thing if the Celtics got him for one year, but they have him FOUR YEARS, at $56 million, and by the end of that contract, that $56 million is going to cost the C's their soul.
-Portland's decisions to draft Qyntel Woods, sign Jeff McInnis, trade for Antonio Daniels and bring back Arvydas Sabonis. I'll give Bob Whitsitt this much: He does not stop trying. And I could be wrong, but this just seems like it is taking Andrew Fastow and giving him Alan Greenspan's job at a time when the economy is, well, not exactly robust. Look, let's be honest: Qyntel Woods' stock dropped in the draft because there were incessant rumors that he likes to enjoy the same leisure activities as Keon Clark; there was a good reason that Charles Oakley slapped Jeff McInnis upside the head down in L.A. that time, and few would blame Oak; Antonio Daniels was recently described as a "cancer" in the Spurs' locker room who often complained about his playing time, or lack thereof; and Arvydas Sabonis, well, there is absolutely nothing wrong with him, but the last time we saw him Rasheed Wallace was bouncing a towel off his substantial cranium. Maybe the Blazers were thinking that Arvydas and McInnis can room together and commiserate about what it's like to keep getting hit in the head by other players.
-If Rashard Lewis leaves, Seattle's decision to give Jerome James $15 million. Granted, this is speculative, but the money the Sonics gave Jerome James -- a year after they handed Calvin Booth $34 million -- could have at least partially been used to appease Rashard Lewis, who still has not made a decision about where he will play next season. But by giving James their mid-level exception, the Sonics handcuffed themselves in how much they could offer Lewis because of luxury-tax issues. If Lewis takes the $60 million the Sonics are offering, then they had the best summer of any team in the league, unloading Baker, re-signing Lewis and keeping James. But if James costs them Lewis, Gary Payton very well might be playing in another uniform by the end of the season.
-The Hornets actually picking up and moving to New Orleans. This one also is speculative, but considering there was not a huge rush of people to purchase season tickets to allow the Hornets to even make the move, I am guessing that after the initial euphoria wears off, the team is going to be playing before less-than-half-empty arenas and George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge will be asking the city for some sort of financial reimbursement. On the bright side, I bet they have a really good home record. My prediction for Sixth Man of the Year: Bourbon Street.
Frank Hughes, who covers the NBA for the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
Special to ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/hughes_frank/1425073.html
In the spirit of offseason optimism and restful cheerfulness, I list the worst decisions made this summer:
-Shaquille O'Neal's decision to have toe surgery in a few weeks. Now, I know that everybody preaches that the NBA season does not really start until the first game of the playoffs, and, in fact, the playoffs did not even start for the Los Angeles Lakers this past season until Robert Horry hit that prayer at the end of Game 4 to completely deflate the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference finals. But, really, that "season doesn't start until the playoffs" thing is hyperbole, not literal. I also know that Shaq is not a big proponent of training camp, nor of putting forth a great deal of effort in November and December and January, and well, let's be honest, February and March, either. But there has to be some sort of deference toward the fans, doesn't there? I'm quite sure they'll still sell out the Staples Center early in the season, but it is just not the same seeing Samaki Walker post up as it is the big Fella. The Finals stampede ended in mid-June, if I'm not mistaken. Why is it that Shaq had to wait almost three months to get his ailing toe straightened out, then miss the first few months of the season, finally getting into shape around the first game of the playoffs in mid-April? I guess it'll give Kobe Bryant a chance to carry the team for a while, anyway.
-Allen Iverson's alleged gun-toting rampage. Now I know that AI is "keeping it real," which apparently means keeping, as Prince likes to suggest, "a 9 in my pocket," though I suspect Mr. Prince wasn't talking about his cap shooter. But did JimmyDig or PuffyGroove or BubbaGump or whatever his Mom likes to call him learn nothing from the situation in which Jayson Williams finds himself? Let's say it all together class: "Guns are bad. Guns with bullets in them are worse. Guns with bullets in them pointed at people are crimes that send you to jail and make your $100 million contract null and void." Thank you class; you all get A-plusses for the day. I also know that Iverson is loyal to his friends, which, in a way, I commend him for. But Williams is another example of just how loyal your friends are when things go badly. "Yes, Mr. Culuko, you can either go to jail for 15 years or you can rat out Mr. Williams about what happened that night." Mr. Culuko: "I'm beginning to like cheese."
-The media's decision to cover Iverson's alleged gun-toting rampage like it was the second coming of O.J. A lot of times I will watch a movie and laugh/scratch my eyes out at how ludicrous Hollywood portrays journalists -- though, to be fair, from Hollywood's perspective, I guess the only thing they know is the paparazzi. In any case, most journalists I know want to fill their 15-inch space for the day and go home and see their wives and kids just like every other 9-to-5er. "Invading people's privacy" is not a class taken in J school. But this Iverson affair had everybody outside the gates of his suburbian mansion -- as an aside, if Iverson is "keeping it real," shouldn't his mansion at least be in the 'hood? -- shouting questions through the fence, taking pictures of Iverson talking to his wife, the whole deal. It was exactly what Hollywood makes the ugly journalist look like, and, as it turned out, Iverson did not even get serious punishment.
-The Boston Celtics' decision to trade for Vin Baker. It might look good for a month, it might look good for four months. Hey, it might even look good for a year -- though I doubt it. But I know Vin Baker. And, while he's a super nice guy whom, personally, I like, this is his modus operandi on a basketball court: Work really hard for a little while because he wants to prove people wrong, and then when they are sold that he has changed, start slacking. It would be one thing if the Celtics got him for one year, but they have him FOUR YEARS, at $56 million, and by the end of that contract, that $56 million is going to cost the C's their soul.
-Portland's decisions to draft Qyntel Woods, sign Jeff McInnis, trade for Antonio Daniels and bring back Arvydas Sabonis. I'll give Bob Whitsitt this much: He does not stop trying. And I could be wrong, but this just seems like it is taking Andrew Fastow and giving him Alan Greenspan's job at a time when the economy is, well, not exactly robust. Look, let's be honest: Qyntel Woods' stock dropped in the draft because there were incessant rumors that he likes to enjoy the same leisure activities as Keon Clark; there was a good reason that Charles Oakley slapped Jeff McInnis upside the head down in L.A. that time, and few would blame Oak; Antonio Daniels was recently described as a "cancer" in the Spurs' locker room who often complained about his playing time, or lack thereof; and Arvydas Sabonis, well, there is absolutely nothing wrong with him, but the last time we saw him Rasheed Wallace was bouncing a towel off his substantial cranium. Maybe the Blazers were thinking that Arvydas and McInnis can room together and commiserate about what it's like to keep getting hit in the head by other players.
-If Rashard Lewis leaves, Seattle's decision to give Jerome James $15 million. Granted, this is speculative, but the money the Sonics gave Jerome James -- a year after they handed Calvin Booth $34 million -- could have at least partially been used to appease Rashard Lewis, who still has not made a decision about where he will play next season. But by giving James their mid-level exception, the Sonics handcuffed themselves in how much they could offer Lewis because of luxury-tax issues. If Lewis takes the $60 million the Sonics are offering, then they had the best summer of any team in the league, unloading Baker, re-signing Lewis and keeping James. But if James costs them Lewis, Gary Payton very well might be playing in another uniform by the end of the season.
-The Hornets actually picking up and moving to New Orleans. This one also is speculative, but considering there was not a huge rush of people to purchase season tickets to allow the Hornets to even make the move, I am guessing that after the initial euphoria wears off, the team is going to be playing before less-than-half-empty arenas and George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge will be asking the city for some sort of financial reimbursement. On the bright side, I bet they have a really good home record. My prediction for Sixth Man of the Year: Bourbon Street.
Frank Hughes, who covers the NBA for the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.