This, and a pile of videos, today at RandoMango.
Here's the Florida Marlins situation, in short (as possible). For years, the Marlins have cried poor - bad stadium, bad part of town, bad lease agreement that saw them get no parking revenue for example. They claimed to be a money losing operation and kept squeezing Miami for a new stadium, a squeeze that ultimately worked and a new stadium is being built. Recently, financial documents leaked that show they're not only nicely profitable and pocketing revenue sharing dollars rather than spending them to improve the team, but they've also collected millions in parking. Buster Olney (ESPN Insider required) says the government should investigate. And where is Bud Selig in all this? He had to have known about this deception. Guess he's and the feds are more worried about PED investigations for guys out of the game that used in a time where there was no rule against it than protecting the people who support the team and are taxpayers. Slimy, real slimy stuff, especially when your read the Marlins are among the most profitable teams in baseball.
For a purported "world championship", the World Basketball Championships sure doesn't have a big feel to it, does it? Little coverage on TV and in papers, and no buzz at all. I'd wager if you asked 10 general sports fans, 3 max would know where the tourney is (Turkey, by the way). Of all the team sports, only soccer gets it right on its own. The rest have their biggest stages at the Olympics.
Not sure why SportsNet stays with New York Yankee broadcasts through "God Bless America" in the 7th inning. Less sure why that and anthems remain part of domestic sports.
The European transfer window for its soccer clubs that just closed saw teams spend a combined £325,000, or $526,000,000 (Cdn). Crazy money.
I don't think the NFL going to 18 games will ultimately prove to be backbreaking for players bodies. If anything, the lack of rest they get in the off season and with two-a-day camps has to do as much damage as anything. But to hear Jerry Jones talk of how there are provisions in the CBA to go all the way to 22 games seems excessive. Word is the move to 18 games will see each team play at least a game in a non-NFL market - think London, Barcelona, etc. - and add a second bye week. The Super Bowl would push to mid-February and coincide with Ontario's Family Day weekend, which I'm all for. What says "family" more than "daddy's hungover"?
Trademark looks in the NFL. Yes, of course Wade Phillips blank stare when something goes afoul made the mix. Not sure how "The Manning Look" didn't make it. You know that one, the utterly stunned look when something goes wrong.
Almost a quarter of Toronto Raptors games this year will appear on SportsNet One, which isn't available to about half of Ontario homes right now, and more than half of Canadian homes. This is what is known as providing a public service. For me, SportsNet One has resulted in Yankee games on TV almost nightly, so am pretty happy with its arrival.
Cliff Lee has an ERA of 8.35 his last five starts for the Texas Rangers. This is only slightly above his career average ERA pitching in Arlington, Texas. For those thinking he'd resign in Texas: no chance.
A couple people of former New York Yankees - unnamed - say Derek Jeter's pride will make him insist he get A-Rod money in his next contract with the Yankees. I know it is only money, and the Yankees could probably triple their payroll comfortably, but that's a mistake waiting to happen. Jeter's defence his slipping, and so is his offence. You want pride, DJ? Sign for two more years, get your 3,000th hit sometime next year, maybe win another ring or two, retire.
Pitch F/X, which among other things, tracks pitchers speeds and locations, only has data dating back to the 2008 for regular season. But, Cincinnati Red Aroldis Chapman's 103.9mph fastball in his debut on Tuesday night was the fastest regular season pitch ever recorded. 103.9? Wow.
Audrina Patridge on Dancing With The Stars? Interesting.
All this, and some more "objectionable" content, can be found daily here: http://randomango.blogspot.com/
Going into yesterday, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays had been tied in first in the AL East for eight straight days, a record in MLB. A Rays curb stomping at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees beating of the Oakland A's resolved that, at least for a day. The Yankees have had a share of first since June 22nd, but it is hardly a commanding lead, especially with a tough September ahead.
There have been 24 one-hitters thrown in baseball this year, if you were wondering. Half of them against the Tampa Bay Rays. Admittedly, part of that isn't true.
It is almost like we knew something yesterday in speculating that Matt Leinart might be a target for the Buffalo Bills. Might have something to do with having three quarterbacks, which usually means you have none. Come to find out the Bills, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants have all placed calls with the Arizona Cardinals to see if they're interested in dealing.
I haven't touched much, if at all, on the baseball money topic that has been bubbling the last week, but will tomorrow. If you thought Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria - ex of the Montreal Expos - was slime before, you ain't seen nothing yet. Just too big to cram in right now.
Continuing on yesterday's "booze is good for you" subject, got this pieces from KD that are simply amazing: what booze looks like under a microscope. And what's more, you can buy these fine pieces as artwork.
The ever forward thinking UEFA - soccer's governing body in Europe - has issued a vuvuzela ban for Champion's League and Euro 2012 games. They can't figure out how to know for sure if a goal is in or not, but this is pressing.
There are merely 59 NCAA football games kicking off on Saturday. For fans of the college game, here are the Top 9 places to tailgate. No argument with LSU. Went there last year for Bukakke's stag and the scenery was spectacular. The overflowing Johnny-On-The-Spots, not so much. I hate that our archaic booze laws in Canada don't allow this festival of fun to happen. That, along with crazy ticket prices, are key reasons why the "Bills in Toronto" series has been such a bust. Why pay to be fenced in and served way overpriced beer to the strains of Nickelback and the like when you can roll down the QEW to Buffalo and go wild?
And then there is this: Road Rage Cards.
Have a great day.
Will the Raptors play better withut Bosh? I think so because he wasnt a team player and i think now we will see how good players that havent had a chance to prove themselves last year really are like, Derozan, Weems, Johnson and others. I think we will have a better team without Bosh.
I've been hearing a lot about Sonny Weems and Demar Derozan being the next 'dynamic duo'. I've also seen them hanging out together and doing nba kinda stuff, but do they really have the talent to carry this team? I know Demar had a prretty decent year last year and I think that Sonny did not play that much last year. I'm from Chicago so unless the raps are playing the bulls or make it to the playoffs I dont get to see them play nearly enough to know what the team and how the players are doing. So is it possible that both sonny and demar have break out years and can carry this team to possibly the playoffs,sure it is, but how do you think they'll do, and how do the other players look?
The frequent trend in the NBA right now is that when a player is not happy with the situation they are in they “demand a trade”.
This is as frequent as Rudy Fernandez wanting out of the NBA and to go back to Europe, Chris Paul not liking the situation in New Orleans it goes back as far as the whole Vince Carter cry baby days and before. Needless to say it’s been going on too long, and it needs to stop. There are various types of trade demands, and requests that have come out. Good guys, bad guys, and nobody’s. But the fact remains the same you are signing a contract.
So let’s discuss NBA contracts…pretty simple. Players for the most part are all looking for the same thing; long term deals. Why do they want this? They want the ability to have long term financial security. That’s awesome that’s what I would want too, but with everything there are pros and cons. Having a long term deal is great for financial security, but it also locks you in to (get this) a LONG TERM DEAL. Meaning if you want to leave and go somewhere else? Well you’ll have to wait until your contract is up. You want flexibility with finding a contender, finding a team that fits you? Then take the risk of a shorter contract. It’s not something that’s seen very often, but it has some its advantages as well. We all live in a world where money trumps pretty much all and NBA contracts are no different. Players want as much cash as they can get. I’m not going to lynch them for that, I would probably do the same. But it’s the lack of integrity these players seem to have that bothers me and it’s not become and accepted practice in not only the NBA but other sports as well.
The integrity of the game is basically gone. The players aren’t respecting the game, the contracts and their roles as players. What a lot of star players have to realize is that they aren’t GM’s they aren’t owners. They are there for one job and one job only; to play the game. The GM’s make the decisions on the players, and coaches, and the owners have their roles in picking the right staff to do that. Giving players a lot of insight, and asking them for opinions is beyond the scope of their responsibility. I look at it from this point of view: Teams hire GM’s because of their experience. Why on earth would teams listen to a 24 year old player who has been in the league for 5 years to ask his opinions on players? There is only one reason…and that is to make them happy so that they don’t jump ship down the road. Well as a Raptor fan seeing this with a second “star” I’ll say it doesn’t work, it leaves us with scraps.
So I’ll say this players have to understand you sign a 6 year deal expect to be on that team regardless for those 6 years. Or expect to be moved to the last place team every year for the next 6 years, but don’t expect to go where ever you want when you don’t “like” where you are.
I like the direction that the Raptors are going this year, and hopefully for the future.
BC is putting together a team that is athletic and young. Moreover, these players can create
their own shot. Patience is going to be the key to success with this team, and it will pay off.
Portland, and Oklahoma are two perfect examples of why it's good to build a team with young, athletic
talent, and also why it is good to have patience while building a competitor.
Raptors if they gel quickly could make the playoffs, because alot of teams will take them lightly.
Therefore they can use that to their advantage. GO RAPS GO!!!
BTW- Derozan, and Weems are the next version of Vince and T-mac in Toronto. I really hope they keep encouraging each other
to become a mojor tag team in the NBA.
With what the Raptors have done this off-season, and nobody saying that the Raptors can surprise people this season, I don't think its fair.
I believe the Raptors could surprise many with a pretty good "retooling' season. Maybe Bosh's departure is a blessing in disguise.
Think about it, with Bosh gone, We could see Andrea Bargnani become a star, with more touches. And even youngsters Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems, and Demar Derozan take their games to the next level.
I'm not saying the Raptors will make the playoffs because of the Eastern Conference getting stronger, but i think a 9th or 10th place finish is within sights which is not bad considering how young we are. With Jack running the point and pushing the ball in transition, and and with a team that can run the ball in transition and score on the fast break, our offense doesn't look bad without Bosh.
With the aquisitions of Kleiza, and Barbosa, and with returning players like Johnson, Derozan, and Weems, I think the transition game and and a team that can push the ball up the floor is the type of team we have.
Okay, so this weekend Hedo Turkoglu comes out saying that there's something wrong with the organization. Really? The same organization that overpayed your behind, set up a big welcoming reception for you that you shrugged and pouted through, set up a special game night in honor of your homeland and it's people, and then after you shrugged and hemmed and hawed about not wanting to wear a mask and not getting the ball enough and being a spectator for most of the season, and calling in sick to work to go and enjoy drinks down the street, was still traded to what is now without a doubt one of the top teams in the west and in the league, oh yeah this organization is classless.
And for you Chris Bosh, okay your were a Raptor for seven years that's great, that's what you were paid to be, but to say you didn't quit at the end of the year would be to play the fans for fools. People are going to say you played hard, but it doesn't mean you played hard for the Raptors.
What's up with the All Star game?, you asked. Well I believe that's when yourself, Lebron and Dwayne decided that you had put your time in and you should take it easy for the rest of the season, knowing that you guys weren't going anywhere anyway. Could you really not have played a couple of games to help the Raptors get into the playoffs as you claim was the only thing you wanted to do? Were you that hurt? Was Lebron's statement about how the Bulls seemed a better challenge than the Raptors who "seemed like they didn't want it as badly", cooked up to further excuse your inevitable departure of the Raptors? Obviously.
Here's the thing, you knew you were going to leave, everyone on the planet knew it, you are the only one who denied it and continues to deny that, and you know you gave up because you were going somewhere else. Go where you wanna go, who cares, we're better off not having to play your offense stifling half court sets. The thing is you and Lebron should have come out after the all star break and said, look we're not coming back, here's your opportunity to sign and trade us. That's why everyone is hating and that's why you're gonna get booed. And Hedo, I think you should call in sick for your visit to Toronto this season.
The Toronto Raptors should really consider scouting this player by the name of Corey Muirhead. He currently plays for Novy Jicin in the Czech Republic. He won this years slam dunk competition over in the Mattoni NBL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YCwCskkMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=GY7teUOVAOo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=w8uyUswokSU&feature=related
Thanks for all you viewers who read my first blog...133 views just means 133 die-hard RAPTOR FANS...KUDOS TO YOU ALL CONSIDERING ITS THE OFF-SEASON AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN BALL NEWS THESE DAYS!!...
Well I had to get this off my chest...If i some how offended anyone or made my first blog seem racial ...that was not my intention...and i apologize...but there is a sterotype out there in the NBA that European players are soft...and i was just simply stating that point...
OKAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT LETS GET THIS GOING...
I wanted to get a blog in yesterday after reading the FAN590 interview with BC and state my opinion but work and other social duties distracted me from doing so...well nonetheless here's my take...
Has anyone read the interview bosh had with the miami hearld? I thought it was a good read...lengthy but nonetheless a good read for a RAPTOR FAN...
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/25/1745616/chris-bosh-goes-from-raptor-to.html
I assume BC read or heard Bosh's comments before proceeding with the interview with FAN590 which i believe he is simply defending his case. Not necessarily causing a heated argument or ranting at bosh, but letting him and the world know how he TRULY felt...after the fact. Obviously BC knew he couldn't go public about Bosh being cleared to play and wanting him to get back on the floor sooner rather than later during that time...but truth be told a guy needs to take care of himself and make sure when he gets back on the floor after an injury he can go all out and give his 100% even if he was medically cleared to play...so im not hating on bosh for making that decision...i've been hit with an injury before and it asontishes me how some NBA players can play with a spained ankle or any other type of injury...and still produce...THATS JUST CRAZY!!...So if bosh decided he was not ready to go i won't knock him for making that decision...
In my opinion if Bosh did comeback earlier rather then later and wasn't playing his best ball cause of the injured ankle maybe the media might have twisted the story and say bosh isn't playing at 100% cause he's giving up...sorta like what VC did to us...who knows what could have happened...he's gone now and there's nothing much we can do about it...
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS - Will you CHEER or BOO BOSH when he comes to town?!?!?
well i do have a couple of more things to say concerning bosh's internview with the miami hearld...but again i want to keep my blogs simple and short...
If any of you who read the interview and want to have a discussion i'd love to take part in it...just hit me up!...if i dont responded to you this weekend don't take it personal...my bestfriend is getting married so it'll be a busy weekend...
HAD TO GET IT OUT THERE CONGRATS TO PAOLO AND APRIL...THE WEDDING SHOULD BE QUITE ENTERTAINING 
So my first Blog in Raptorspace is going to be about Linas Kleiza...really?!?! I find this very disheartening, but can't complain since i think BC has done a tremendous job keeping us RAPTOR FAITHFUL'S entertained during the off-season each and every year since joining us south of the boarder...but really Kleiza?!?!...
I'm gonna try and keep my blog's short and sweet...sorta like me at 5'3 with a sweet tooth for candy...iiiyyyyy...*** BADDA BING BADDA BOOM***.
okay anyways back to blogging...
When i first heard of the raptors signing Kleiza to an offersheet i almost broke throwup with disgust. The first thing i thought about was another Euro player that can't defend, is too slow, isn't athletic, and can only make the open jumper... At the time all i could think about was a starting 5 of jose, demar, turk, possibly kleiza, and Bargs...i dont know about you but that sounded like a team to break the all-time record for worst defensive team EVER!...as if last year was just as bad...
But time healed my wounds once i read about the trade with Turk, jose, and reggie being shipped out for barbosa, chandler, and diaw...all of a sudden my heart was forgiving and i couldn't help but praise BC for being able to pull such an amazing trade...unfortunately the chandler and diaw trade didn't pull through (don't know about you but i can't help but not be mad at MJ...just cause its MJ!!) but atleast we got rid of Turk right?!?!...welll kinda...instead i feel we just added a lithuanian Turk to tell ya the truth...well looking at the positive side atleast he comes at a cheaper rate right?
ALL I CAN SAY IS I HOPE I'M WRONG AND HE TURNS OUT TO BE A GARBAJOSA TYPE PLAYER...NO SOFT BS...NO INTIMIDATION...NO WORRY ABOUT WHO THERE FACING...JUST STRAIGHT UP HEART, HUSSEL, DETERMINATION, AND STRENGTH WITH GREAT BASKETBALL IQ...PLEASE KLEIZA PULL THROUGH THIS YEAR CAUSE OUR RAPTOR FAITHFUL CAN'T GO WITH ANOTHER SEASON FULL OF NONESENSE!!
QUITE FRANKLY ANY PLAYER THAT WANTS TO BE IN TORONTO AND BE PART OF THE CITY HAS MY HEART...
SO WELCOME LINAS KLEIZA TO TORONTO...MAKE ME PROUD BROHAM!!!
I know Colangelo has been working it lately trying to do what he can for our Raps but things havent just worked out until possibly now....Can someone put in Colangeos ear the CP3 is avialble!!! and TO can get him!! I know New Orleans wants to get rid of Emeka as well so that might be the only real obstacle. New Orleans wants the best deal for their team and the bottom line....Why not offer DD, Jose and our 2010 pick for CP3. No one and I mean no one can beat that value deal and we have a better team than NO anyways. Offer it to New Orleans and see what they think if they had that oppourtunity. Lastly and if Colangelo wants to ice it, give Shaq a call and offer him that max mid level and tell him he can now concour Canada for 2 years with CP3. All is forgiven if this realistic transaction goes down. Someone please get this to BC even though he is already looking into it. I would love to see what he thinks of this because I believe this is his kind of deal.
Hi everyone. I've heard that many people think that tyreke evans needs a playmaking pg to play with him, insert Jose, i know there's two players i wouldn't mind on the raps through trades with SAK (being realistic), Samuel Dalembert and Beno Udrih, the kings have many bigs: dalembert,cousins,landry,JThompson,Whiteside,D.Jackson. That's a group of quality bigs that any team would love 2 have. The raps should only get udrih if jose's in the deal. The raps currently have these players to offer: Jose, Banks, Evans, Beli, Dorsey, D.Jones, printezis nba rights. (Not to mention a 14.5 trade player exception and a smaller one for roughly 2.7 million). Anyways I can still see BC making 1 or 2 trades this summer. To sum up, he has, jose, expirings, big tpe and small tpe. Ok, peace out ppl. PS: when commenting, list some trade ideas, but realistic, no CP3.
Thus ends my foray and talents in French.
To put it simply, as soon as Chris Bosh went to Miami, that was it, if you look at it from an alternates point of view. Chicago by way of John 'Bi Polar' Paxson would be pitching a Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and "Probably, what if, maybe other good players signed too...like in the future sometime...you know....maybe?" and those words would have echoed into auditoriums with KG, Pierce and Ray Allen; the Magic, the Hawks, the Mav's....a plethora of teams who would weigh on his shoulders as teams to beat. The pitch of the other 4 teams would have been similar. The bottom line though, 1 Amar'e + 1 James isn't enough, 1 Boozer + 1 Derrick Rose + 1 James...well...its close, but it isn't enough. Then you look to Miami, where CB4 joins with Wade and suddenly, in my opinion, you have the strongest team in the East (without James), based purely, PURELY on Rileys ability to attract everyone else who wanted to win and could play a role. I'm talking the Korvers', Barnes', Chris Mathews (why he wasn't Rookie of the year, I'll never know). Lets say they keep JO, Beasley, Chalmers, make some additions, and I believe 1 Wade + 1 CB4 comes out of the east without a scratch. Wade even as an unbelievable superstar is underrated (remember the comeback season after the Olympics, after taking some shots for being out of shape and not the winner he once was). It was Wade and No one, and he was winning. A lot more then he should have.
So now you have James looking at the strength of Chicago, Boston, Magic, NY (Hrmm....maybe?) and the West and you're thinking....what am I going to have to do to win? So you join the team that, if you hadn't, would've handed you your hat trying to get out of the east each year. Might as well stay in Cleveland? Either that or....Miami.
The problem now: Will they mesh. CB4 will be great, but Wade and James might as well be the same player. Will they play D? I wonder if CB4 + Wade might have been a better formula on paper, but this we will never know.
Rooks
The summer league was a lot of fun, but...I guess disheartening, seeing so SO many great players who just wont get a run this year. Cousins gets Rookie of the month (umm...in July???) and Wall gets MVP of the league, so...maybe there's some ego canoodling going on.
I'm very disappointed I didn't get to see more of the Syracuse products from the draft. Wesley Johnson was a steal at 4, and I cant wait to see him playing for the T-wolves, but he pulled up with a Hammy after only 10 (actually really really good) minutes. Andy Rautins is a glue guy, one of the best defenders in the draft and can shoot lights out, but had an average summer league and....I wonder if the Knicks will sign him...and if they do, I don't see them playing him. Hoping for the best for him though. Weirdly, everyone was so high on JaVale Mcgee. I think he's entering his third year of the NBA, still playing Summer League though. Wall made him look good. Period. Much like Nash made Amare' look good. Period. How long are we going to underestimate great point guard play?
Ed Davis, the hope of the great white North was...well...ok. He blocked some shots, got some rebounds, but I hate to say it: He's a project :o( On the other hand how huge is Joey Dorsey?? I think his toughness is sorely needed in Toronto, and...well he cant get a run anywhere else after being a college legend only 2 years prior. Sign the guy!
As for the Raps, rumor has it we got Matt Barnes, which I saw coming, from the remainder of the free agents. Colangelo has trade exception money he has to spend this year or it goes so Matt Barnes gets 9 million for 2 years. With a bad back. And Kobe doesn't like him, which is NOT a good thing (80 points anyone?).
Still pining away for the new season, so more inane banter to come. Oh and Ill throw in some reviews of the Thunderbirds too :p My local division 4 team (and yeah the divisions are like Golf...lower is better :p )
In and out of my previous blog has been...frankly NBA gibberish. Only real insiders would understand the terminology, and only really really real insiders would have any idea what I'm saying....
See Raps gibberish
(p.s. Did all those things happen to the Raps?...YES! I picked it! Vindications GALORE!....screamed to an empty empoty silence of those that just dont care about the mighty....urm..once mighty....urm...once mediocre...Raps!)
A few things first. Im watching a summer league game, Nets and Philly (Chance to see Favours and Turner)
oh oh OH and Doug Collins coaching again. Its been soooo long since Phil Jackson usurped this guy from his last coaching post. Collins had Pippen, Jordan, Grant, Paxson, Big Bill I-used-to-come-on-before-Ewing-in-NY-remember?-Remember?? Cunningham, and couldn't get a championship. Insert the Zen master and the rest is history...that is to say also happened with the Lakers...recently....*ahem*
Lol Theres a guy playing for a contract in this game called 'Tweety'. I get post racial America, but....wtf? Tweety, Boobie lol and theyre being coached by NJ assistant coach POPEYE jones. Good lord.
Anyway...this will do as a first post. This will still be a homage to the craptitude of the Raptors (fingers crossed Ed Davis was holding back in the NCAA and can bring Bosh's 20/10 to the team from game one). What do they have now? Well from between the lines I figure Collangelo gave Bosh a date, i.e. "Hey man, leave if you want, but if you do, lets sign and trade so we can..you know...field a team next season, by *insert date* otherwise we HAVE to move on as a business" to which Bosh replies "Apologies to the Raps, but Im about to go play with the King and DWade so um...CYA!"
More or less leaves the Raps with a bad team. I'm going to call it a 25-30 win team IF Turkgolu a) gets traded for someone with two hands and a heartbeat or b) he remembers how he can actually play some ball. Every year since they signed Andrea they've hoped for a 'breakout' year...but its been a steady incline playing with CB4...and...yeah...I dont think he has the strength or toughness to rebound enough at at the C to make this team competitive. Reggie Evans might help. And look....i'll be watching the Raps play, if only because DeMarr Derozen might get the hang of the NBA game, because this kid has Jordan-esque athleticism.
Free Agents left...kind of a mess of mid range players, but no team changers...David Lee's gone to the Warriors in the Lebron trade, A'mare is with the knicks (on a 5 year 100mil deal!?!?! I suspect unless A'mare packs a 6 foot Canadian luggage, he 's going to get smacked hard by the NY press) They expect winning and will boo a team quicker then any other fan base in sports.
The Raps only hope is that Triano really can perform a coaching miracle and get these extraordinarily athletic bunch of guys (as you must be to break it in the NBA) to buy in to being a 'team'. Oh and thanks again to Colangelo for following his 'Lets get the most European players on the team we can!!' GM style (see Lenus Kleiza, signed the other day. Thing about Kleiza was, pre-a falling out with the head coach, he was their starting 2 guard, could shoot the 3 over %40 and attacked with strength. I remember a few years back playing division 1 with some friends, trying to model my game after his, it was economical, fit into the team and had that Euro "Team comes first" attitude). So Im hopeing we get like Galinari (who now I hate, but come play for the Raps and It would be awesome -- the two best Italian players, best PG from Spain Vs America) oh and pick up Goran Drogic (who I think is still under contract) and you've got yourself a team.
Last words -- Ill always stick by the raps because of Merrizio Guardini and their pledge to incorporate Euroball into the NBA. But if im not watching every Heat game...I haven't got a pulse.
...be kinda sweet if the experiment blew up, Kobe and Shaq style with the Lakers....lol...that would be delicious...lol....prob wont though :o(
Ill be watching every summer league game to try to keep a handle on which Rooks look the goods, so stay tuned for a summary of that..and that's about it.
Rook watch for this week: Favors can ONLY help NJ. I think he'll get CDR's minutes...which is a shame, CDR was SO good playing NCAA, always thought he'd be a strong NBA player...But Anyway, Favors can flat out play against some quality guys (Matched up against Speights from Philly and had his number)
Turner I think will get the backup PG minutes in Philly....if he comes on quickly, he'll get the starter spot.
Clearly I need a life.
P.s. Keep an eye out for Gordon Haywood. Jerry Sloan's that old....maybe he'll think its Stockton Mark 2. Seriously though, he's one of those great intangible guys...sadly one of those that get looked over because they focus on winning before stats.
Hi everyone. It seems unlikely that barnes will come to toronto:(Anyways I've noticed something key, if the raps want to play uptempo, they'll need a very good ballhandling/passing pg, as good as LB and JJ are they can't handle the ball that well and aren't players likely to get 8-11 assists/game. Jose would be perfect,but for whatever reason he loves to play in the halfcourt system. Anywho, I have a feeling BC will go hard after nash or collison.i'm sorry but hedo,nash, and dragic, that s**t aint gonna work out. I think hedo will again be misused. Anyways, the problem with collison is that we'd have to get emeka 2, he's great but we just signed amir and would have too much money invested in bigs, also davis' development would be hindered. Anyways, it will be interesting to see what BC will do with Jose, Evans, Banks, Beli, Dorsey, Jones, 14.5 trade exception, and Barbosa TPE. Ok, peace out ppl.
Hi all it seems we are headed nowhere but down, other than rookies only has beens play here. sorry same mentality as the leafs milk the crowd.
Micheal Jordan can really hold a grudge! This guy is still pissed about the fact that we beat him back in '96 (as an expansion team). Why else is he acting like a big baby and going back on his word? It's not that Tyson Chandler is the missing piece for our championship hopes but, having a pissed off Jose Calderon and Reggie Evans hanging around and the hit that their trade-a-bility took once word was out that they are on the block do not help our "re-tooling" franchise! Here's my call for the rest of the summer: No GM is going to be doing a deal with the Bobcats. How do you let this trickle all the way down from your office to the execs to the agents to the papers and then to the players then decide you know what I change my mind! WOW!
I know, I shouldn't be saying this... but who are we actually left with? Are they going to hold open tryouts this week? I've been going to quite a few games over the last few years, and I don't think I'll be doing the same.... except maybe when the Heat come to town.
Hi everyone, i think it's safe to say the bobcats just want to save $ considering MJ nixed the diaw/chandler trade to get dampier and save like 13 mil. Anyways i think its ok that chandler isn't coming to TO, he would've risked amir/ed's development. I think it's safe to say the raps have an /good/decent/set big man rotation:bargs,amir,ed,alabi,evans,dorsey. now the raps need to try to upgrade on the wings or at the 1. they just got barbosa, he can play pg or sg, i think the raps need to get an SF who can rebound,when marion was here, him,cb,and bargs looked good. if raps get a rebounding sf, the team would be in slightly better shape. here is next season's lineup:
JJ/Jose/banks
Weems/BB/Marco
Kleiza/derozan
Amir/Ed/Evans/Dorsey
Bargs/Alabi.
I think the raps 2nd unit could be a force, with jose setting up DD and BB, ed & alabi hustling,it will be nice to watch.
But, don't rule out BC using reggie,jose,marco,dorsey,banks or even the tpe durig this month to get a borderline allstar.
Ok, peace out ppl. Also,who do u think BC will/should get? (also be realistic, no CP3)!
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