Archive for July 1st, 2006
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
Dirk Nowitzki is taking his leadership role on the Dallas Mavericks seriously. He’s not calling out another player, he’s not even calling out a coach. He’s got issues with team owner Mark Cuban. From an article in the Dallas Morning News, here’s Dirk on Cuban’s courtside behavior:
“Do I think it’s a bit much sometimes? Yeah. He’s got to learn how to control himself as well as the players do. We can’t lose our temper all the time on the court or off the court, and I think he’s got to learn that, too. He’s got to improve in that area and not yell at the officials the whole game. I don’t think that helps us.
“We all know what Mark brings to the team, how he supports us. We live with who he is, and we love him that way. But do I think it’s good for us always? No.”
I don’t know if this is what people mean by Cuban “making himself the story,” but Dirk may have a point. You see your boss bitch, maybe you feel it’s alright to bitch yourself. For example, one time I saw my boss at a bar, and now I show up drunk to work three times a week.
But Dirk says he’s told Cuban all this before. In fact, he, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley once went to Cuban and asked him to take his ass up to a luxury box. Of course, as you may have noticed, Cuban refused.
Dirk tells Cuban to chill out [Dallas Morning News]
Im sorry for what I make you cover. [Blog Maverick]
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
Dirk Nowitzki is taking his leadership role on the Dallas Mavericks seriously. He’s not calling out another player, he’s not even calling out a coach. He’s got issues with team owner Mark Cuban. From an article in the Dallas Morning News, here’s Dirk on Cuban’s courtside behavior:
“Do I think it’s a bit much sometimes? Yeah. He’s got to learn how to control himself as well as the players do. We can’t lose our temper all the time on the court or off the court, and I think he’s got to learn that, too. He’s got to improve in that area and not yell at the officials the whole game. I don’t think that helps us.
“We all know what Mark brings to the team, how he supports us. We live with who he is, and we love him that way. But do I think it’s good for us always? No.”
I don’t know if this is what people mean by Cuban “making himself the story,” but Dirk may have a point. You see your boss bitch, maybe you feel it’s alright to bitch yourself. For example, one time I saw my boss at a bar, and now I show up drunk to work three times a week.
But Dirk says he’s told Cuban all this before. In fact, he, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley once went to Cuban and asked him to take his ass up to a luxury box. Of course, as you may have noticed, Cuban refused.
Dirk tells Cuban to chill out [Dallas Morning News]
Im sorry for what I make you cover. [Blog Maverick]
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
In need of a point guard, and realizing that free agents flock to Toronto like women flock to bloggers, the Raptors acquired a point guard in a trade last night. T.J. Ford heads north of the border, and Charlie Villanueva goes back the other way to play alongside Andrew Bogut in Milwaukee.
This could be one of those deals that works out for both sides. Milwaukee gets a hairless 6′11″ rookie who averaged 13 points a game last year. Those do not grow on trees. And the old maxim says that you don’t trade big for small, but that was before the Phoenix Suns existed, and before the Raptors wanted to rip them off. TJ Ford could kinda be like Steve Nash, if Steve Nash wasn’t as good as he is. Ford, like Nash, is small, lightning fast, distributes the ball, and can drive the lane. He’s got the back problems, too. It’s almost uncanny.
I feel for T.J. Ford here. He spends his entire pro career in Milwaukee, wearing purple. They finally drop the purple, and then they send him to Toronto. Where the mascot is a goddamn purple dinosaur.
And the poll pictured there is something I spotted on the Raptor website. Just because it amused me.
Numbers Game: Ford-for-Williams [TSN.ca]
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
In need of a point guard, and realizing that free agents flock to Toronto like women flock to bloggers, the Raptors acquired a point guard in a trade last night. T.J. Ford heads north of the border, and Charlie Villanueva goes back the other way to play alongside Andrew Bogut in Milwaukee.
This could be one of those deals that works out for both sides. Milwaukee gets a hairless 6′11″ rookie who averaged 13 points a game last year. Those do not grow on trees. And the old maxim says that you don’t trade big for small, but that was before the Phoenix Suns existed, and before the Raptors wanted to rip them off. TJ Ford could kinda be like Steve Nash, if Steve Nash wasn’t as good as he is. Ford, like Nash, is small, lightning fast, distributes the ball, and can drive the lane. He’s got the back problems, too. It’s almost uncanny.
I feel for T.J. Ford here. He spends his entire pro career in Milwaukee, wearing purple. They finally drop the purple, and then they send him to Toronto. Where the mascot is a goddamn purple dinosaur.
And the poll pictured there is something I spotted on the Raptor website. Just because it amused me.
Numbers Game: Ford-for-Williams [TSN.ca]
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
It’s open season on free agents and trades, and the Rnaptors (say it like that - it’s fun) sent the first bit o fun out there by moving Charlie V to the Bucks for spinally fused point guard TJ Ford.
It’s an interesting move that’ll hinge on whether first overall draft pick Doofy Italiano is all he’s supposed to be.
We’re not sure why a promising young big man like CV31 (as his hyperactively unreadable website dubs him) was such an easy get, but the people of Milwaukee are glad to have him.
“It was one of the primary needs that we were focusing on once the season ended . . . getting a power forward,” Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. “We really feel we filled that bill with the acquisition of Charlie Villanueva.
“Having said that, we got a very good player and we gave up a very good player. It goes without saying what T.J. has gone through. We wish him the best of luck and all the things he did for us we really appreciate. But we also feel that we got a tremendous young player who was first-team all-rookie, and was right up there neck-and-neck for rookie of the year.”
DUDE. Larry Harris just went “pun” on TJ Ford’s massive neck injury, whether he meant to or not. We like to think he did it on purpose, mainly because it gives us material.
Alas, great trade for the Bucks either way. Ford was nice but inconsistent, and fused necks are never all that great in terms of long playing careers. Plus, they’ve got a guy named Mo who filled in nicely for Ford when he would go down.
As for Charlie, he and his agent have officially declared the trade funny, which means he’s a great fit with Larry Harris, who wears sandals to press conferences.
That’s about all that’s happened so far, although the Cavaliers have formally offered LeBron the big extension. So, uh…we’ll just sit here and wait now.
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
I’m watching World Cup action and England-Portugal is 0-0 in the second half and Beckham is crying on the sideline and England’s best player, Wayne Rooney, goes and stomps on a guy’s balls and then pushes Portugal’s star, C. Ronaldo, right in front of the ref, earning himself a red card, which means he’s gone and England has to play a man down the rest of the game. Here’s the ensuing IM conversation between The Mighty MJD and I…
DCSportsGuy [12:19 P.M.]: wayne rooney is, um, smart.
mjd [12:23 P.M.]: I’m positive that he can’t read.
DCSportsGuy [12:23 P.M.]: i’d hate to even be in the same pub as that guy. no doubt i’d leave bloodied and without my manhood.
mjd [12:24 P.M.]: I know, man. He’s an animal. If he wasn’t a player, he’d be the country’s top hooligan.
Judging by this Nike ad, MJD’s assessment is spot on…
Continue Reading July 1st, 2006
This may be old, but Randy Moss opened a smoothie store in Charleston, WV and the accompanying photo is too priceless not to post as it only solidifies his standing as one of my favorite non-Redskins in the NFL (along with Kyle Orton, of course)…
