http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/30/debbie-rowe-not-kids-biol_n_223054.html
So Michael's kids, who are as white as Ivory Soap, are not his kids? Wow. So if I paint my skin black for the next 15 years, any kids I have after that won't be black?
Geez!
Oh wait, I already knew that: http://www.jstor.org/pss/4608123
There are kids here in need of a mom -- will Angelina Jolie and Madonna have a cage match over them?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Al Franken Wins Again -- MN Supreme Court Smacks Normie's Ugly Mug 5-0
http://www.mncourts.gov/opinions/sc/current/OPA090697-6030.pdf
1) No due process violation
2) No equal protection violation
3) No double counting
4) OK to use the election night count when the ballot were lost before the recount.
What is evident from the opinion: 1) Norm's legal arguments were awfully thin, and also 2) the Court wasn't real pleased by his endless conjecture regarding what might have been done or what might have been said or what a voter might possible say if the voter testified.
In short, Norm had a shitty case and did a shitty job of preparing it.
In the tradition of being Minnesota Nice, the 5 court members did not specifically go after Normie's lawyers for doing a poor job of proving the case. Had this decision been rendered in Illinois or New York, it is likely that counsel would not have escaped so easily.
1) No due process violation
2) No equal protection violation
3) No double counting
4) OK to use the election night count when the ballot were lost before the recount.
What is evident from the opinion: 1) Norm's legal arguments were awfully thin, and also 2) the Court wasn't real pleased by his endless conjecture regarding what might have been done or what might have been said or what a voter might possible say if the voter testified.
In short, Norm had a shitty case and did a shitty job of preparing it.
In the tradition of being Minnesota Nice, the 5 court members did not specifically go after Normie's lawyers for doing a poor job of proving the case. Had this decision been rendered in Illinois or New York, it is likely that counsel would not have escaped so easily.
More Mark Sanford
Some great Sanford tidbits today from his tearful second confession to the press:
1) He went to NYC to meet the mistress and took along a "spiritual advisor" to help him say "no" to her and dump her.
Did not work.
What a wussy. Sorry, but if you are so weak of spirit that you cannot dump a woman without some wannabe Svengali helping you........Plus IT DIDN'T WORK!!!!
2) He asked his wife more than once to go and meet the woman.
Um, why? If you recall my Cast Party story, for a period of about 2 months in my life I had 2+ girlfriends. I had absolutely NO interest in having them meet one another. Was he trying the George Costanza ("it is a French phrase and I don't know how to say it") way out of the relationship?
3) Wife found out about the affair when she found a draft LETTER he was writing to the woman.
A letter? It is 2009. I cannot even recall when I last wrote a personal letter.
I used to write my girlfriend letters in 1981. I was only 17 and I STILL never left them lying around the house!!!!!! You are the Governor of a decent sized state -- don't you have an office? Don't you have a desk drawer that locks? My lord.
1) He went to NYC to meet the mistress and took along a "spiritual advisor" to help him say "no" to her and dump her.
Did not work.
What a wussy. Sorry, but if you are so weak of spirit that you cannot dump a woman without some wannabe Svengali helping you........Plus IT DIDN'T WORK!!!!
2) He asked his wife more than once to go and meet the woman.
Um, why? If you recall my Cast Party story, for a period of about 2 months in my life I had 2+ girlfriends. I had absolutely NO interest in having them meet one another. Was he trying the George Costanza ("it is a French phrase and I don't know how to say it") way out of the relationship?
3) Wife found out about the affair when she found a draft LETTER he was writing to the woman.
A letter? It is 2009. I cannot even recall when I last wrote a personal letter.
I used to write my girlfriend letters in 1981. I was only 17 and I STILL never left them lying around the house!!!!!! You are the Governor of a decent sized state -- don't you have an office? Don't you have a desk drawer that locks? My lord.
Pistons Fire Michael Curry
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?prov=ap&slug=ap-pistons-curry&type=lgns
Ooooops, sorry, that is an entry from about two months ago where Joe Dumars explained how UNfair it would be to fire Michael Curry.
Here is the link today on the firing: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4297296
Welcome to coaching boys, Bill Laimbeer!!!!!!!
What the firing does establish is how stupid it was to fire Flip, especially if you then turn around and dump the guy you honestly thought would somehow be better!!!!!!
Dumars Actual Quote In Bold, My Translation in Plain Text:
"This was a difficult decision to make," Pistons president Joe Dumars said in a statement. (Especially since it makes me look like a complete idiot for firing Flip Saunders)
"I want to thank Michael for his hard work and dedication to the organization. (Really, really nice guy, worked hard, good to his mother.......cannot coach a lick. Not a lick. I think Iverson or Sheed, either one, would probably be a better head coach candidate.)
However, at this time, I have decided to make a change." (Look, I came to my senses. You guys rip me, but don't tell me that you have never had a girlfriend who wouldn't do all the things you wanted, so you dumped her and found a girl in a dimly-lit bar when you were wasted......Then she does you all night.......and you wake up and she looks like Roseanne Barr? Don't tell me you haven't guys. So -------- throwing stones, glass houses, and all that........And I won Detroit a title!!! I mean 3!!!!!!!")
Ooooops, sorry, that is an entry from about two months ago where Joe Dumars explained how UNfair it would be to fire Michael Curry.
Here is the link today on the firing: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4297296
Welcome to coaching boys, Bill Laimbeer!!!!!!!
What the firing does establish is how stupid it was to fire Flip, especially if you then turn around and dump the guy you honestly thought would somehow be better!!!!!!
Dumars Actual Quote In Bold, My Translation in Plain Text:
"This was a difficult decision to make," Pistons president Joe Dumars said in a statement. (Especially since it makes me look like a complete idiot for firing Flip Saunders)
"I want to thank Michael for his hard work and dedication to the organization. (Really, really nice guy, worked hard, good to his mother.......cannot coach a lick. Not a lick. I think Iverson or Sheed, either one, would probably be a better head coach candidate.)
However, at this time, I have decided to make a change." (Look, I came to my senses. You guys rip me, but don't tell me that you have never had a girlfriend who wouldn't do all the things you wanted, so you dumped her and found a girl in a dimly-lit bar when you were wasted......Then she does you all night.......and you wake up and she looks like Roseanne Barr? Don't tell me you haven't guys. So -------- throwing stones, glass houses, and all that........And I won Detroit a title!!! I mean 3!!!!!!!")
Yao Ming -- Career In Danger?
The Rockets report that Yao's broken foot may keep him out all of this upcoming season, and rumors are swirling that he may be done forever.
Since I am super old, let me teach you younger folk what history has taught me about talented big men with bad feet:
-- Bill Walton:
big white guy, unbelievable player, MVP of the league. For an 80 game stretch in the 1970s, he was the best player in the game. But he had foot problems before his run, and he had foot problems after his run. He played 2000 minutes in a season......once. He played 60 games in a season.......three times. He played 468 games in 13 years (including 3 seasons in which he did not play at all). So, about 38 games a year (and even in "healthy" years, 46.8 games).
Yet Portland got a title out of the guy and so did Boston (as a reserve where he played 80 games and won Sixth Man of the Year).
Sam Bowie:
Would you like a center who averaged 10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks a game while shooting about 50% from the floor? I sure as hell would.
Well, meet Sam Bowie in Year 1 of his career. He posted similar numbers in Year 2 before injuries brought him down. In 1985-89, Sam Bowie played 63 total games and about 1,700 total minutes. He also missed an entire year.
Bowie, by the by, was then traded to New Jersey for........BUCK WILLIAMS!!! (Yes, that is correct, the Portland team that threatened for the title twice was powered, in part, by the Sam Bowie pick). Bowie suddenly regained his health in NJ, but he had lost his explosive shotblocking ability (his one high end NBA skill) and he toiled as an adequate NBA center for 4 years before 2 disappointing seasons with the Lakers ended his career.
-- Zydrunas Ilgauskas --
a brighter story for the Rockets; a guy with bad feet as a young man, he played nearly 2,400 minutes his rookie year and then had a three year stretch where he played a total of 2,100 minutes (91 total games).
But a surgery that, as I recall, involved some big-old screws fixed Z's feet and from age 27 to 32 he averaged about 2,300 minutes a year and played in virtually every Cavs game. He has slowed substantially at age 33, but he still is very effective in a 1/2 time role (except when forced to guard Dwight Howard).
SUMMARY:
Worst case for Houston? Walton. Let's face it, there was no way Portland could hold onto the guy, the Clippers used him part time and he only managed one last final run as a Celtic by the grace of God (played 10 games the following year).
Medium Case: Bowie -- you concede that the guy isn't going to ever be a reliable force and you deal him for someone who helps you to a conference championship
Best Case: Ilgauskas -- let's face it, Z has amazed us and has been the same player post-injury as he was pre-injury. In fact, his top 4 shotblocking years have been post-injury.
HM
Since I am super old, let me teach you younger folk what history has taught me about talented big men with bad feet:
-- Bill Walton:
big white guy, unbelievable player, MVP of the league. For an 80 game stretch in the 1970s, he was the best player in the game. But he had foot problems before his run, and he had foot problems after his run. He played 2000 minutes in a season......once. He played 60 games in a season.......three times. He played 468 games in 13 years (including 3 seasons in which he did not play at all). So, about 38 games a year (and even in "healthy" years, 46.8 games).
Yet Portland got a title out of the guy and so did Boston (as a reserve where he played 80 games and won Sixth Man of the Year).
Sam Bowie:
Would you like a center who averaged 10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks a game while shooting about 50% from the floor? I sure as hell would.
Well, meet Sam Bowie in Year 1 of his career. He posted similar numbers in Year 2 before injuries brought him down. In 1985-89, Sam Bowie played 63 total games and about 1,700 total minutes. He also missed an entire year.
Bowie, by the by, was then traded to New Jersey for........BUCK WILLIAMS!!! (Yes, that is correct, the Portland team that threatened for the title twice was powered, in part, by the Sam Bowie pick). Bowie suddenly regained his health in NJ, but he had lost his explosive shotblocking ability (his one high end NBA skill) and he toiled as an adequate NBA center for 4 years before 2 disappointing seasons with the Lakers ended his career.
-- Zydrunas Ilgauskas --
a brighter story for the Rockets; a guy with bad feet as a young man, he played nearly 2,400 minutes his rookie year and then had a three year stretch where he played a total of 2,100 minutes (91 total games).
But a surgery that, as I recall, involved some big-old screws fixed Z's feet and from age 27 to 32 he averaged about 2,300 minutes a year and played in virtually every Cavs game. He has slowed substantially at age 33, but he still is very effective in a 1/2 time role (except when forced to guard Dwight Howard).
SUMMARY:
Worst case for Houston? Walton. Let's face it, there was no way Portland could hold onto the guy, the Clippers used him part time and he only managed one last final run as a Celtic by the grace of God (played 10 games the following year).
Medium Case: Bowie -- you concede that the guy isn't going to ever be a reliable force and you deal him for someone who helps you to a conference championship
Best Case: Ilgauskas -- let's face it, Z has amazed us and has been the same player post-injury as he was pre-injury. In fact, his top 4 shotblocking years have been post-injury.
HM
Jessie James -- Shania Twain, Part II
http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim/82643/jessie-james.html?p=2#1.
Wow, wow, wow.
She has kind of a funny nose, which you will probably notice after about 15-20 time through the photos.
Wow, wow, wow.
She has kind of a funny nose, which you will probably notice after about 15-20 time through the photos.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Billy Mays -- Dead at 50 (Heart Issues)
http://www.popeater.com/television/article/billy-mays-dies/546990?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl1link4http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2Ftelevision%2Farticle%2Fbilly-mays-dies%2F546990
I have used OxyClean back in my single days -- worked pretty well.
RIP
I have used OxyClean back in my single days -- worked pretty well.
RIP
Ricci v. DeStefano -- Good God What a Mess!
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/07-1428.pdf
The city of New Haven, Connecticut administered a firefighter Captain's exam in which almost no minority candidates did well. Rather than risk being sued by the minority candidates who did not do well, the City tossed out the results and promoted no one.
Nevertheless, the firefighters who did the best on the exam sued for a mandatory injunction requiring the City to accept the test results and give them the promotions.
The City won at the district court and the Second Circuit. Today the Supreme Court reversed and ruled that the plaintiffs win as a matter of law.
You can look through the opinions all you want, but here is a basic summary:
-- Kennedy thinks that there wasn't enough evidence showing the exam used was defective, so the City had to accept the test results.
-- Scalia is upset that Title VII was ever passed in the first place and he would find the entire thing unconstitutional if he had half a chance.
-- Alito thinks that the City caved into a poor man's Al Sharpton, so he isn't going to put up with that.
and
-- Ginsburg believes that all written firefighter exams discriminate against minorities, so she would have allowed the city to win.
But let's be frank. This just makes matters worse as a practical matter.
Let's assume that Shreveport, Lousiana decides tomorrow that it is going to change its firefighter exam so that the same exam is used that is used in New Haven, Connecticut. (And why wouldn't you? The SCOTUS has just decided that the exam is perfectly legal and fine. And you know from experience that minorities do worse on the exam.)
So, the exam results come in and 95% of the top exam finishers are white.
Result under today's decision -- City has to promote the white guys.
OK -- but they put the exam in place just for the pure purpose of getting more whites in, right? Or was it because they knew the test was constitutionally approved? Reason 1 is not legal; I assume reason #2 is.......or is it? We know that desire to avoid lawsuits is not a permissible ground for changing your test. We learned that today.
Ginsburg's dissent has three basic problems:
1) She starts it by saying that she has sympathy for the folks who scored best but were not promoted. Bullshit. She has no sympathy for these people. She believes that they benefited from a flawed test and are not entitled to their positions.
Don't lie. Don't claim that you have sympathy for people who played by the rules, did the best and didn't get in. You do not. You feel that they got picked for a bad reason. Basically you think a starting 9 on a baseball club was picked based upon their knowledge of the rules of the game and not on whether they can play. So don't pretend you are sympathetic. You are not.
2) She agrees that if a city "repeatedly" threw out test results that did not feature minority winners that the city might be liable.
Um, why? If it is proper for a city to say, "Yeah, shit, we are going to get sued for these results" then why isn't it OK for the city to say it 2 or 3 or 4 times? Do you get one free bite at discrimination against white folk?
3) Let me mention it, since no one seems to want to mention it in their opinions. Examine the opposite result:
-- the city of Sante Fe, New Mexico has a Captain's exam and 98% of the winners are black and Hispanic and 2% are white. The white population gets all mad and threatens the mayor with no more money for his campaign or his city, and the white guys threaten legal action. Sante Fe throws out the results so the white guys can try again.
Oh.....my.....God......end of the world, right? You are going to toss out an exam because the white guys didn't do well enough? Al Sharpton better love Tex-Mex food because he is going to be in Sante Fe forever.
THE MESS -- Here is the practical mess. What the court has done is make it easier for cities to use discriminatory tests and get away with it. In fact, if you use a discriminatory test, you have a legal obligation to the white guys to defend it to the end of time.
So now every single time that a city has an exam where the racial result is skewed (pro-white or anti-white) the city will be sued. There is nothing the city can do. If the result is skewed, you have a constitutional obligation to defend it. But when you defend the result, you will be sued for disparate impact discrimination and you will not be able to win a motion to dismiss because there will be prima facie evidence of disparate impact. Then you will have 2 years of discovery on whether the city ignored a "strong basis in evidence" that its test was discriminatory.
What the 5-4 decision does (as Ginsburg correctly notes) is make it impossible for a City to avoid litigation risk. The city is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't.
A case that demonstrates the 5-4 conservative-liberal split on the court and that is not very well-reasoned in any of the 3 opinions.
HM
The city of New Haven, Connecticut administered a firefighter Captain's exam in which almost no minority candidates did well. Rather than risk being sued by the minority candidates who did not do well, the City tossed out the results and promoted no one.
Nevertheless, the firefighters who did the best on the exam sued for a mandatory injunction requiring the City to accept the test results and give them the promotions.
The City won at the district court and the Second Circuit. Today the Supreme Court reversed and ruled that the plaintiffs win as a matter of law.
You can look through the opinions all you want, but here is a basic summary:
-- Kennedy thinks that there wasn't enough evidence showing the exam used was defective, so the City had to accept the test results.
-- Scalia is upset that Title VII was ever passed in the first place and he would find the entire thing unconstitutional if he had half a chance.
-- Alito thinks that the City caved into a poor man's Al Sharpton, so he isn't going to put up with that.
and
-- Ginsburg believes that all written firefighter exams discriminate against minorities, so she would have allowed the city to win.
But let's be frank. This just makes matters worse as a practical matter.
Let's assume that Shreveport, Lousiana decides tomorrow that it is going to change its firefighter exam so that the same exam is used that is used in New Haven, Connecticut. (And why wouldn't you? The SCOTUS has just decided that the exam is perfectly legal and fine. And you know from experience that minorities do worse on the exam.)
So, the exam results come in and 95% of the top exam finishers are white.
Result under today's decision -- City has to promote the white guys.
OK -- but they put the exam in place just for the pure purpose of getting more whites in, right? Or was it because they knew the test was constitutionally approved? Reason 1 is not legal; I assume reason #2 is.......or is it? We know that desire to avoid lawsuits is not a permissible ground for changing your test. We learned that today.
Ginsburg's dissent has three basic problems:
1) She starts it by saying that she has sympathy for the folks who scored best but were not promoted. Bullshit. She has no sympathy for these people. She believes that they benefited from a flawed test and are not entitled to their positions.
Don't lie. Don't claim that you have sympathy for people who played by the rules, did the best and didn't get in. You do not. You feel that they got picked for a bad reason. Basically you think a starting 9 on a baseball club was picked based upon their knowledge of the rules of the game and not on whether they can play. So don't pretend you are sympathetic. You are not.
2) She agrees that if a city "repeatedly" threw out test results that did not feature minority winners that the city might be liable.
Um, why? If it is proper for a city to say, "Yeah, shit, we are going to get sued for these results" then why isn't it OK for the city to say it 2 or 3 or 4 times? Do you get one free bite at discrimination against white folk?
3) Let me mention it, since no one seems to want to mention it in their opinions. Examine the opposite result:
-- the city of Sante Fe, New Mexico has a Captain's exam and 98% of the winners are black and Hispanic and 2% are white. The white population gets all mad and threatens the mayor with no more money for his campaign or his city, and the white guys threaten legal action. Sante Fe throws out the results so the white guys can try again.
Oh.....my.....God......end of the world, right? You are going to toss out an exam because the white guys didn't do well enough? Al Sharpton better love Tex-Mex food because he is going to be in Sante Fe forever.
THE MESS -- Here is the practical mess. What the court has done is make it easier for cities to use discriminatory tests and get away with it. In fact, if you use a discriminatory test, you have a legal obligation to the white guys to defend it to the end of time.
So now every single time that a city has an exam where the racial result is skewed (pro-white or anti-white) the city will be sued. There is nothing the city can do. If the result is skewed, you have a constitutional obligation to defend it. But when you defend the result, you will be sued for disparate impact discrimination and you will not be able to win a motion to dismiss because there will be prima facie evidence of disparate impact. Then you will have 2 years of discovery on whether the city ignored a "strong basis in evidence" that its test was discriminatory.
What the 5-4 decision does (as Ginsburg correctly notes) is make it impossible for a City to avoid litigation risk. The city is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't.
A case that demonstrates the 5-4 conservative-liberal split on the court and that is not very well-reasoned in any of the 3 opinions.
HM
Friday, June 26, 2009
Mavs Trade Down........By Giving Up a Pick
Mavs pick BJ Mullens at #24. OKC then picks the guy Beaubois at #25. Mavs then trade Mullens and a #2 to get Beaubois.
Wow.
Again I ask -- how bad must BJ Mullens suck? And how bad was this draft for centers? Thabeet went #2, Mullens #24 (or 25, I guess). There were no other players drafted who did were over 6'10" and who didn't have a forward designation by their name.
60 picks, 2 true centers.
There are a ton of centers in the 2010 mock draft: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/
Wow.
Again I ask -- how bad must BJ Mullens suck? And how bad was this draft for centers? Thabeet went #2, Mullens #24 (or 25, I guess). There were no other players drafted who did were over 6'10" and who didn't have a forward designation by their name.
60 picks, 2 true centers.
There are a ton of centers in the 2010 mock draft: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/
Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Grade -- B
As someone who has spent his entire life watching sit-coms, all I could think of last night was the classic sit-com setup where a main character wants desperately to date some hot chick and she constantly disses him, but after he has already asked someone very nice and sweet to go on the date, the hot chick suddenly says "yes."
Now a woman would handle this with the Marcia Brady aplomb of "Something suddenly came up" and dump the nice sweet guy.
The guys, however, always seem to think they can date the two girls the same night or at the same time. Fred Flintstone, Beaver Cleaver, the kid from "Boy Meets World" -- all have to give it a try. It never ends well.
So the Wolves go into the draft last night firmly convinced that picks two through four will result in either Jonny Flynn or Ricky Rubio being drafted. So the Wolves are sitting around saying they are all set in the backcourt for 10 years with:
Flynn and Evans
Flynn and Harden
Rubio and Harden
Rubio and Evans
But hell, even if Rubio and Flynn both go, Tyreke Evans can play some point and you can go:
Evans and Harden
Evans and Curry
Again, backcourt set for 10 years.
#3 -- OKC -- apparently having received an earful from Russell Westbrook about how disrespected he will be if the Thunder select Rubio, management pusses out and picks James Harden. (By the way, how do you think Jeff Green feels about this pick? I mean, you aren't telling me Kevin Durant will be playing PF anytime soon, are you? So if it goes Westbrook, Harden, Durant...........welcome to Benchville, population YOU Jeff Green.)
#4 -- Sacto has one good player -- Kevin Martin -- off guard, scorer not a distributor
They select -- Tyreke Evans -- off guard, scorer not a distributor.
This would be like the Wolves picking Jordan Hill. (Hmmmmmm, Al Jefferson is pretty good, guess he kinda needs another backup though......)
Now, these selections made little sense, but now the Wolves are in sit-com city. They have already asked Jonny Flynn to be their special guy (I talked with Wolves personnel for 2 days pre-draft; had Jonny Flynn shot and killed a nun in front of Target Center yesterday, they still pick him).
But now the great Ricky Rubio is at their doorstep saying "Oooh, pick me; pick me!"
Fact of the matter -- you have to pick him. I mean, like a single guy who has the prom queen and head cheerleader saying "yes" before the dance, you gotta go with it. You are a guy. You have no choice.
But do the Wolves show some form of judgment and tell Flynn, "Something suddenly came up?" Nope. They pick him TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David Kahn -- "Well, Isiah and Dumars played together. Ainge and Dennis Johnson played together." Joe Dumars was 6'3" and one of the greatest on-ball defenders of all-time. Which one of Flynn and Rubio fits that description? Oh, neither, correct. Ainge and DJ were both 6'4". Yes, I would agree, if you picked Tyreke Evans and Ricky Rubio together that you could play them together.
Heck, I would even agree that you could play two point guard together if you have a good shotblocking big man. We have Al and Love. You won't be a good defensive team unless you play Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade together as your backcourt.
So now the Wolves have two dates for the same night. The logical thing to do would be to cut your losses and weasel out of the deal -- trade Rubio to some big market club for a center and a veteran off guard/SF.
But Kahn won't do that. He will take the Fred Flintstone/Beaver Cleaver route and try to date both. You promised both that you would go, how can you pass it up?
At the end of the day, maybe Prom Queen Rubio makes it easy on Kahn and goes back to Europe for a year. That way Kahn can date Flynn, see if things work out, and then either take Rubio back or not based upon future events.
PICK 28
Wayne Ellington -- While I can never support picking a UNC player, I have to say, way down at #28 at least Kahn tried to fill a need and picked an American player who had shown some signs of success as a player. Ellington has huge deficiencies (mostly he can't dribble and doesn't play hard), but he is as of today the only off guard the Wolves have.
By the way, the Lawson trade effectively moved the Wolves up a few picks. I would anticipate Charlotte's pick next year being 13-15. So, worth a shot.
Bill Simmons on the Wolves 5 & 6 picks:
5:01: As we're waiting for Sota, instead of making the obligatory Jonas Brothers joke about Rubio, I'm going in a different direction: Why didn't the "High School Musical" producers hire Rubio for the third movie? He could have played a transfer student from Spain who made Zac Efron feel threatened, briefly dated Vanessa Hudgens, then became friends with them before winning the state title … and everything could have finished with a big dance number. Come on, you're telling me Rubio wouldn't have killed with Disney's audience? Hell, even I think he's cute, and I'm a heterosexual male with a wife and two kids. Wait, did I say that out loud?
5:03: Phew. Sota took him. The best part: Stern going into "I'm gonna be extra gregarious right now because they'll be replaying this in Europe!" mode as he announced the pick. Gotta say, I can't kill Kahn for turning Randy Foye and Mike Miller into Rubio. Nice work. An orgasmic Fraschilla says Rubio is "the best passer in the last decade of drafts" and he's "got a Gretzky-like feel, he sees the game two and three plays ahead." Totally agree.
5:06: Exchange of the night so far …
Jones: "For the fans that haven't seen you play, which NBA player do you think you play like?"
Rubio: "I'm Ricky Rubio, I'm not like anyone else."
(I think I'm borrowing that answer anytime my wife yells at me. "Honey, what do you want from me? I'm Bill Simmons. I'm not like anyone else.")
5:10: So much for Minnesota doing the right thing. The Wolves just took Syracuse's Jonny Flynn … whom I really like … but … well … he's a point guard. Didn't they just take Rubio? Did I black out? You're going to have two young ball handlers playing together -- one who's 5-foot-11, the other who's 18 years old and weighs 180 pounds (and 30 of that is his hair), and that's your plan? Who's guarding the Kobes and Vinces out of those two? Why didn't they just take Curry? And why aren't the ESPN guys wondering about a trade here or, at the very least, murdering this pick? THEY JUST TOOK TWO STRAIGHT POINT GUARDS!!!!!!!!!!
5:11: I'm in "Star Trek II" mode right now. "Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahn!!!!!!" So stupid. I'm never trusting a guy who worked as a TV consultant, a sports writer and a stadium campaign organizer to run an NBA team again.
5:12: Jonny drops a little third person in his interview -- we're on a streak of two right now. Bill Simmons is beside himself.
Now a woman would handle this with the Marcia Brady aplomb of "Something suddenly came up" and dump the nice sweet guy.
The guys, however, always seem to think they can date the two girls the same night or at the same time. Fred Flintstone, Beaver Cleaver, the kid from "Boy Meets World" -- all have to give it a try. It never ends well.
So the Wolves go into the draft last night firmly convinced that picks two through four will result in either Jonny Flynn or Ricky Rubio being drafted. So the Wolves are sitting around saying they are all set in the backcourt for 10 years with:
Flynn and Evans
Flynn and Harden
Rubio and Harden
Rubio and Evans
But hell, even if Rubio and Flynn both go, Tyreke Evans can play some point and you can go:
Evans and Harden
Evans and Curry
Again, backcourt set for 10 years.
#3 -- OKC -- apparently having received an earful from Russell Westbrook about how disrespected he will be if the Thunder select Rubio, management pusses out and picks James Harden. (By the way, how do you think Jeff Green feels about this pick? I mean, you aren't telling me Kevin Durant will be playing PF anytime soon, are you? So if it goes Westbrook, Harden, Durant...........welcome to Benchville, population YOU Jeff Green.)
#4 -- Sacto has one good player -- Kevin Martin -- off guard, scorer not a distributor
They select -- Tyreke Evans -- off guard, scorer not a distributor.
This would be like the Wolves picking Jordan Hill. (Hmmmmmm, Al Jefferson is pretty good, guess he kinda needs another backup though......)
Now, these selections made little sense, but now the Wolves are in sit-com city. They have already asked Jonny Flynn to be their special guy (I talked with Wolves personnel for 2 days pre-draft; had Jonny Flynn shot and killed a nun in front of Target Center yesterday, they still pick him).
But now the great Ricky Rubio is at their doorstep saying "Oooh, pick me; pick me!"
Fact of the matter -- you have to pick him. I mean, like a single guy who has the prom queen and head cheerleader saying "yes" before the dance, you gotta go with it. You are a guy. You have no choice.
But do the Wolves show some form of judgment and tell Flynn, "Something suddenly came up?" Nope. They pick him TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David Kahn -- "Well, Isiah and Dumars played together. Ainge and Dennis Johnson played together." Joe Dumars was 6'3" and one of the greatest on-ball defenders of all-time. Which one of Flynn and Rubio fits that description? Oh, neither, correct. Ainge and DJ were both 6'4". Yes, I would agree, if you picked Tyreke Evans and Ricky Rubio together that you could play them together.
Heck, I would even agree that you could play two point guard together if you have a good shotblocking big man. We have Al and Love. You won't be a good defensive team unless you play Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade together as your backcourt.
So now the Wolves have two dates for the same night. The logical thing to do would be to cut your losses and weasel out of the deal -- trade Rubio to some big market club for a center and a veteran off guard/SF.
But Kahn won't do that. He will take the Fred Flintstone/Beaver Cleaver route and try to date both. You promised both that you would go, how can you pass it up?
At the end of the day, maybe Prom Queen Rubio makes it easy on Kahn and goes back to Europe for a year. That way Kahn can date Flynn, see if things work out, and then either take Rubio back or not based upon future events.
PICK 28
Wayne Ellington -- While I can never support picking a UNC player, I have to say, way down at #28 at least Kahn tried to fill a need and picked an American player who had shown some signs of success as a player. Ellington has huge deficiencies (mostly he can't dribble and doesn't play hard), but he is as of today the only off guard the Wolves have.
By the way, the Lawson trade effectively moved the Wolves up a few picks. I would anticipate Charlotte's pick next year being 13-15. So, worth a shot.
Bill Simmons on the Wolves 5 & 6 picks:
5:01: As we're waiting for Sota, instead of making the obligatory Jonas Brothers joke about Rubio, I'm going in a different direction: Why didn't the "High School Musical" producers hire Rubio for the third movie? He could have played a transfer student from Spain who made Zac Efron feel threatened, briefly dated Vanessa Hudgens, then became friends with them before winning the state title … and everything could have finished with a big dance number. Come on, you're telling me Rubio wouldn't have killed with Disney's audience? Hell, even I think he's cute, and I'm a heterosexual male with a wife and two kids. Wait, did I say that out loud?
5:03: Phew. Sota took him. The best part: Stern going into "I'm gonna be extra gregarious right now because they'll be replaying this in Europe!" mode as he announced the pick. Gotta say, I can't kill Kahn for turning Randy Foye and Mike Miller into Rubio. Nice work. An orgasmic Fraschilla says Rubio is "the best passer in the last decade of drafts" and he's "got a Gretzky-like feel, he sees the game two and three plays ahead." Totally agree.
5:06: Exchange of the night so far …
Jones: "For the fans that haven't seen you play, which NBA player do you think you play like?"
Rubio: "I'm Ricky Rubio, I'm not like anyone else."
(I think I'm borrowing that answer anytime my wife yells at me. "Honey, what do you want from me? I'm Bill Simmons. I'm not like anyone else.")
5:10: So much for Minnesota doing the right thing. The Wolves just took Syracuse's Jonny Flynn … whom I really like … but … well … he's a point guard. Didn't they just take Rubio? Did I black out? You're going to have two young ball handlers playing together -- one who's 5-foot-11, the other who's 18 years old and weighs 180 pounds (and 30 of that is his hair), and that's your plan? Who's guarding the Kobes and Vinces out of those two? Why didn't they just take Curry? And why aren't the ESPN guys wondering about a trade here or, at the very least, murdering this pick? THEY JUST TOOK TWO STRAIGHT POINT GUARDS!!!!!!!!!!
5:11: I'm in "Star Trek II" mode right now. "Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahn!!!!!!" So stupid. I'm never trusting a guy who worked as a TV consultant, a sports writer and a stadium campaign organizer to run an NBA team again.
5:12: Jonny drops a little third person in his interview -- we're on a streak of two right now. Bill Simmons is beside himself.
Bernie Kosar -- Bankrupt
http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/bernie-kosar-files-for-bankruptcy/535117?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl7link5http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanhouse.com%2Fnews%2Fmain%2Fbernie-kosar-files-for-bankruptcy%2F535117
Sigh.
If the story is correct, he owes his first wife, "Babette," money. Isn't "Babette" supposed to be the name of the brainless bimbo who takes all of YOUR money through her feminine wiles?
Sigh.
If the story is correct, he owes his first wife, "Babette," money. Isn't "Babette" supposed to be the name of the brainless bimbo who takes all of YOUR money through her feminine wiles?
Michael Jackson -- Dead
I am selecting this video because it is from a time when Michael was still part human and it shows his unbelievable fan following. I have also always found the song lyrics fitting -- "I am asking him to change his ways."
Since I firmly believe that the guy was a child molester, I really cannot give him his due here except to say that if there was ever a study to be done of how a person's upbringing impacted his life, this would be your #1 target for such a study.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Add On Another Jonny Flynn Vote
Chad Ford's insider Mock Draft -- pick #6 to Minnesota: Jonny Flynn.
Go upstate NY!!
Go upstate NY!!
The (VERY) Skinny On Round 1
From cnnsi.com's Thursday afternoon mock draft:
16 -- SF
Austin Daye
Gonzaga
Soph.
6-11
192
17 -- PG
Brandon Jennings
Lottomatica Roma (Italy)
6-2
165
18 -- PG
Eric Maynor
VCU
Sr.
6-3
164
My son (PM) is 13 1/2 years old. He is 5'10 1/2" in bare feet. There is not one single ounce of fat on the kid. He weighs 140 pounds.
Austin Daye -- 6'11", 192 pounds!?!?!?! 192!?!? Louie Orr and Corey Brewer will beat him up if they ever meet him. 192?
Jennings -- 6'2" and 165. OK, so assume he is 6'1" barefoot. He is 2 inches taller and only 25 pounds heavier than my 13 year old.
Maynor -- He is an inch taller and yet one pound lighter than Jennings!!!!!!!!!
Corey Brewer has about a 28 inch waist, no thighs and no calves. Corey listed at 6'8" and 195.
So Austin Daye is Corey Brewer stretched 3 inches and dropped 3 pounds. Hard to even imagine. Are his knee joints bigger than his thighs (ala Manute Bol)?
I am trying to think of a super skinny NBA guard. Tony Parker has some muscle now, but maybe I can go back to his draft weight when he was a little twirpy dude. Hold on. 2001 Draft Report -- Tony Parker 6'1", 180.
So Maynor is 2 inches taller and 16 pounds lighter; Jenning is 1 inch taller and 15 pounds lighter.
I would just like to trade for 25% of their metabolism, and they can take 25% of mine.
16 -- SF
Austin Daye
Gonzaga
Soph.
6-11
192
17 -- PG
Brandon Jennings
Lottomatica Roma (Italy)
6-2
165
18 -- PG
Eric Maynor
VCU
Sr.
6-3
164
My son (PM) is 13 1/2 years old. He is 5'10 1/2" in bare feet. There is not one single ounce of fat on the kid. He weighs 140 pounds.
Austin Daye -- 6'11", 192 pounds!?!?!?! 192!?!? Louie Orr and Corey Brewer will beat him up if they ever meet him. 192?
Jennings -- 6'2" and 165. OK, so assume he is 6'1" barefoot. He is 2 inches taller and only 25 pounds heavier than my 13 year old.
Maynor -- He is an inch taller and yet one pound lighter than Jennings!!!!!!!!!
Corey Brewer has about a 28 inch waist, no thighs and no calves. Corey listed at 6'8" and 195.
So Austin Daye is Corey Brewer stretched 3 inches and dropped 3 pounds. Hard to even imagine. Are his knee joints bigger than his thighs (ala Manute Bol)?
I am trying to think of a super skinny NBA guard. Tony Parker has some muscle now, but maybe I can go back to his draft weight when he was a little twirpy dude. Hold on. 2001 Draft Report -- Tony Parker 6'1", 180.
So Maynor is 2 inches taller and 16 pounds lighter; Jenning is 1 inch taller and 15 pounds lighter.
I would just like to trade for 25% of their metabolism, and they can take 25% of mine.
NBAdraft.net -- Wolves Now Selecting Tyreke Evans and..........Jonny Flynn!
http://cloud1.nbadraft.net/2009mock_draft
Harden seen as plummeting to #8.
Soaring -- Gerald Henderson (#11), Psycho T (#14 to Suns -- imagine the battle between the Arizona sun and his pasty white skin! Irresistible force, immovable object debate will be resolved once and for all).
Dropping like a rock -- Jrue Holiday, Brandon Jennings.
Look, I should be a huge supporter of a short chunky guy from near Buffalo, NY, but I think #6 is just not value for a 5'11" guy who can't shoot. If you want Flynn, take Curry, then swap with the Knicks at #8 for Flynn and someone athletic like Wilson Chandler.
Harden seen as plummeting to #8.
Soaring -- Gerald Henderson (#11), Psycho T (#14 to Suns -- imagine the battle between the Arizona sun and his pasty white skin! Irresistible force, immovable object debate will be resolved once and for all).
Dropping like a rock -- Jrue Holiday, Brandon Jennings.
Look, I should be a huge supporter of a short chunky guy from near Buffalo, NY, but I think #6 is just not value for a 5'11" guy who can't shoot. If you want Flynn, take Curry, then swap with the Knicks at #8 for Flynn and someone athletic like Wilson Chandler.
Wolves Setting Up to Become Whitest Team Since The Merger?
I always identify the modern day NBA as 1979-80 forward, because that is when Bird and Magic entered the league and people generally became interested in pro basketball again.
But some folks like to go with the 1976 ABA-NBA merger (unfortunately not involving Jackie Moon's Flint Tropics) as the key "break" date for the modern NBA.
It doesn't really matter, but here is my point:
I have seen mock drafts that have us selecting Chase Budinger and Jonas Jerebko -- wow, TWO white guys, one of whom is from Sweden!!!!!!!
If we can swing Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves would have:
Mark Madsen (can't we get him to retire?)
Brian Cardinal
Ricky Rubio
Chase Budinger
Jonas Jerebko
Kevin Love
Darius Songaila
Oleksiy Pecherov
8 roster spots filled by white players!!!!!!!! (Sadly we had to deal Mike Miller; sad only because he is white and would have given us 9).
I am unsure about the light-skinned Stephen Curry's racial makeup, but maybe his mom might be partially white? Is that why the Wolves are trying so hard to get him?
Black Wolves -- Gomes, Smith, Jefferson, Telfair, Brewer, Etan Thomas
(There are three black Wolves who will almost certainly not return -- Shelden Williams, Rodney Carney, Bobby Brown).
I guess I better brace for a trade-up for Tyler Hansbrough..........
But some folks like to go with the 1976 ABA-NBA merger (unfortunately not involving Jackie Moon's Flint Tropics) as the key "break" date for the modern NBA.
It doesn't really matter, but here is my point:
I have seen mock drafts that have us selecting Chase Budinger and Jonas Jerebko -- wow, TWO white guys, one of whom is from Sweden!!!!!!!
If we can swing Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves would have:
Mark Madsen (can't we get him to retire?)
Brian Cardinal
Ricky Rubio
Chase Budinger
Jonas Jerebko
Kevin Love
Darius Songaila
Oleksiy Pecherov
8 roster spots filled by white players!!!!!!!! (Sadly we had to deal Mike Miller; sad only because he is white and would have given us 9).
I am unsure about the light-skinned Stephen Curry's racial makeup, but maybe his mom might be partially white? Is that why the Wolves are trying so hard to get him?
Black Wolves -- Gomes, Smith, Jefferson, Telfair, Brewer, Etan Thomas
(There are three black Wolves who will almost certainly not return -- Shelden Williams, Rodney Carney, Bobby Brown).
I guess I better brace for a trade-up for Tyler Hansbrough..........
3 Mock Drafts
http://www.draftexpress.com/
and
http://cloud1.nbadraft.net/node/7871
and
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-090625 (Top 5 ONLY)
What are we seeing here with respect to the Wolves?
Most common result -- Harden
Two Other Most Likely -- Curry, Evans
Looks Doubtful -- Rubio, Thabeet
Jim Boeheim on the radio today: 1) Thabeet is a better shot blocker than Zo or Ewing or Mutombo. 2) I watched Rubio play on Spain's team. He is horribly overrated.
Those are some strong, strong comments by Boeheim. He said if he were at #1 he would probably select Thabeet.
and
http://cloud1.nbadraft.net/node/7871
and
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-090625 (Top 5 ONLY)
What are we seeing here with respect to the Wolves?
Most common result -- Harden
Two Other Most Likely -- Curry, Evans
Looks Doubtful -- Rubio, Thabeet
Jim Boeheim on the radio today: 1) Thabeet is a better shot blocker than Zo or Ewing or Mutombo. 2) I watched Rubio play on Spain's team. He is horribly overrated.
Those are some strong, strong comments by Boeheim. He said if he were at #1 he would probably select Thabeet.
The Big Cactus Becomes the Big.......???????
Rock and Roller? The Big Aramis? (I heard Dan Patrick go with The Big Cayahoga, so you could say when he started scoring a lot -- "The Big Cayahoga is on fire.").
Anyway, Shaq to Cleveland for basically nothing of value (the completely washed up Ben Wallace and the ultra-mediocre Sasha Pavlovic).
Is this what Cleveland needs? Absolutely not. Cleveland needs guys 6'6" to 6'9" who can guard on the perimeter and make open 15 footers. The Diesel is at least a post presence, and he may help LeBron conserve energy in the regular season (just drop it in to Shaq 15 possessions a game).
It also provides the Cavs with probably the two most physically dominating players of the past 20 years (Diesel and LeBron). Unfortunately, one is 37 years old and has logged 1,000,000 minutes on the NBA hardwood.
Grades:
Cavs -- B (worth a shot, gave up nothing)
Suns -- C (you would have thought that dumping $20MM of salary you could have received one actual good player in return; but they were not winning with Shaq and they may buy out the two guys they got and save some cash).
HM
Anyway, Shaq to Cleveland for basically nothing of value (the completely washed up Ben Wallace and the ultra-mediocre Sasha Pavlovic).
Is this what Cleveland needs? Absolutely not. Cleveland needs guys 6'6" to 6'9" who can guard on the perimeter and make open 15 footers. The Diesel is at least a post presence, and he may help LeBron conserve energy in the regular season (just drop it in to Shaq 15 possessions a game).
It also provides the Cavs with probably the two most physically dominating players of the past 20 years (Diesel and LeBron). Unfortunately, one is 37 years old and has logged 1,000,000 minutes on the NBA hardwood.
Grades:
Cavs -- B (worth a shot, gave up nothing)
Suns -- C (you would have thought that dumping $20MM of salary you could have received one actual good player in return; but they were not winning with Shaq and they may buy out the two guys they got and save some cash).
HM
Liberal Media Bias?
Fox News gets the info on Senator John Ensign's affair for five days and buries it. Liberal media bias? No.
Then we learn yesterday that the main newspaper in South Carolina has had Governor Mark Sanford's personal e-mails to his mistress.............SINCE DECEMBER 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and buried them.
You wonder why newspapers are a dying business? Because they are so beholden to corporate and political interests that they DO NOT DO THEIR JOB of informing the public. Hell, they do not even do their job of entertaining or titillating the public. You have a holier-than-thou Republican Governor who voted to impeach Clinton (as a Congressman) because Clinton lacked moral authority, and you have possession of this e-mail sent to you by a source:
"Two, mutual feelings .... You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night's light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details ...
Three and finally, while all the things above are all too true - at the same time we are in a hopelessly - or as you put it impossible - or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure. As I have said to you before I certainly had a special feeling about you from the first time we met, but these feelings were contained and I genuinely enjoyed our special friendship and the comparing of all too many personal notes ...
Lastly I also suspect I feel a little vulnerable because this is ground I have never certainly never covered before - so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know... In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul."
And you bury it. Alleged reason "We didn't know if it was true." Jesus, come on! How about, say, investigating the matter? Maybe you find the internet address of the person who forwarded the info? Maybe you see if you can find people who know of the affair?
Wow.
Then we learn yesterday that the main newspaper in South Carolina has had Governor Mark Sanford's personal e-mails to his mistress.............SINCE DECEMBER 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and buried them.
You wonder why newspapers are a dying business? Because they are so beholden to corporate and political interests that they DO NOT DO THEIR JOB of informing the public. Hell, they do not even do their job of entertaining or titillating the public. You have a holier-than-thou Republican Governor who voted to impeach Clinton (as a Congressman) because Clinton lacked moral authority, and you have possession of this e-mail sent to you by a source:
"Two, mutual feelings .... You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night's light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details ...
Three and finally, while all the things above are all too true - at the same time we are in a hopelessly - or as you put it impossible - or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure. As I have said to you before I certainly had a special feeling about you from the first time we met, but these feelings were contained and I genuinely enjoyed our special friendship and the comparing of all too many personal notes ...
Lastly I also suspect I feel a little vulnerable because this is ground I have never certainly never covered before - so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know... In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul."
And you bury it. Alleged reason "We didn't know if it was true." Jesus, come on! How about, say, investigating the matter? Maybe you find the internet address of the person who forwarded the info? Maybe you see if you can find people who know of the affair?
Wow.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Governor Mark Sanford -- "I Was Gonna Go Hiking, But Instead I Wanted To Do Something Exotic"
So he spent 5 days in Argentina doing something exotic -- his mistress: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/23/sanfords-story-questioned_n_219809.html.
Wow, wow, wow. The guy is Governor of a fairly populous state. He leaves and lies about where he is going. He then goes into radio silence for 5 days and his wife says she doesn't know where he is (true) and so does his staff (probably false).
So he gets caught and he says that he spent 5 days in Argentina with a "dear, dear friend" who he met on e-mail 8 years ago. She only "recently" became his eff-buddy. Uh, huh.....sure.
"I spent the last 5 days in Argentina crying." How wussy is that comment? And what a sack of shit liar. You spent 5 days in Argentina doing things to that woman that you spent the entire week before reading up on and you expect us to believe that you were down there pouring your heart out? I am sure fluids were poured out, but few tears.
Oh, and Sanford (who stated that Bill Clinton must be impeached because he lacked "moral authority") went so far as to say he would resign.................from a ceremonial post in the National Governor's Association. Hey, Mark, stop beating yourself up. What next? Maybe you pay back the state credit card for the 30-pack of Trojans (extra small) you had the staff buy for the trip?
Wow, wow, wow. The guy is Governor of a fairly populous state. He leaves and lies about where he is going. He then goes into radio silence for 5 days and his wife says she doesn't know where he is (true) and so does his staff (probably false).
So he gets caught and he says that he spent 5 days in Argentina with a "dear, dear friend" who he met on e-mail 8 years ago. She only "recently" became his eff-buddy. Uh, huh.....sure.
"I spent the last 5 days in Argentina crying." How wussy is that comment? And what a sack of shit liar. You spent 5 days in Argentina doing things to that woman that you spent the entire week before reading up on and you expect us to believe that you were down there pouring your heart out? I am sure fluids were poured out, but few tears.
Oh, and Sanford (who stated that Bill Clinton must be impeached because he lacked "moral authority") went so far as to say he would resign.................from a ceremonial post in the National Governor's Association. Hey, Mark, stop beating yourself up. What next? Maybe you pay back the state credit card for the 30-pack of Trojans (extra small) you had the staff buy for the trip?
Rumor -- Wolves Trade ##5 and 18 to get #3, Rubio
Let me tell you what I think -- I don't want us trading ##5 and 6 to get up a couple picks. I don't even want us trading #18 to get up a couple picks from 5 to 3.
Sit at ##5 and 6 and see what comes. Absolute worst case? James Harden and Steph Curry. Could either guy be better than Ricky Rubio? Yes. Did you have to give anything to get them? No.
So then you keep your #18 and you try to move up a couple spots by giving #28 and maybe a player.
So then you keep your #18 and you try to move up a couple spots by giving #28 and maybe a player.
So instead of picking 18 and 28, maybe you pick 14, 15, 16 and get BJ Mullens or Ty Lawson.
Let's rate the Wolves' 5 & 6 pick possibilities based upon female hotness analogies:
SCENARIOS I CAN SCARCELY IMAGINE ANYTHING BETTER -- Rubio and Evans; Rubio and Thabeet; or Evans and Thabeet -- would be the Salma Hayek of drafts.
SCENARIOS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD -- Evans and Curry; or Evans and Harden -- current-version Jennifer Aniston of drafts
SCENARIOS THAT ARE SOLID AND MAY WORK OUT FINE EVENTUALLY -- Harden and Curry; or Harden and Flynn -- Mandy Moore of drafts
SCENARIOS THAT YOU SIT AND WONDER "OK, BUT COULDN'T THIS BE MUCH BETTER?" -- Any draft which includes the top 6 selection of either Jordan Hill or DeMar DeRozen or Jrue Holiday -- Rachel Ray of drafts.
"WHAT THE EFF DID WE JUST DO?" SCENARIOS -- any draft action in which the Wolves find a way not to get two picks in the top 6 or somehow pick guys not mentioned above in any scenario -- the Ellen Degeneres of drafts.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Richard Jefferson -- Spur
Great move by the Spurs. Jefferson gives them a starter-level player in return for Bowen (who will suck elsewhere and may just end up back as a Spur) and Oberto (who may just be cut and.......well.......end up a Spur). Kurt Thomas is 1,000. You think he won't be available if the Spurs want him back?
Grade -- Spurs A -- need a talent improvement to win, and like I said, I think they could get back the guys they traded.
Bucks -- D minus. A straight salary dump. Why wouldn't they have dealt him at the trading deadline last year when they would have received Wally Szczerbiak? Wally's cost to the Bucks this year would have been $0. They will have to pay about $9MM to the guys they actually acquired. If you are gonna dump, really dump.
Grade -- Spurs A -- need a talent improvement to win, and like I said, I think they could get back the guys they traded.
Bucks -- D minus. A straight salary dump. Why wouldn't they have dealt him at the trading deadline last year when they would have received Wally Szczerbiak? Wally's cost to the Bucks this year would have been $0. They will have to pay about $9MM to the guys they actually acquired. If you are gonna dump, really dump.
David Kahn -- At Least He Is Trying
Kahn has now acquired the #5 overall pick, thus giving the Wolves 6 picks in the top 47 of the draft
(5, 6, 18, 28, 45, 47).
The Wolves have now also acquired Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleisky Pecherov, providing them with three more guys who are big forwards...........and all offensive-minded big forwards.
I believe that the Wolves will keep the 7 foot Pecherov (still working on a rookie deal). He has some scoring upside and he was a 2006 first round pick. A guy worth keeping for a year.
I think they will try to move Thomas and Songaila for other assets.
The trade leaves the Wolves with basically no guards. So look for them to select two guards at 5 and 6. I would also look for them to package some assets to find a veteran guard or center somewhere.
Foye's play for the Wolves can best be presented as follows: he was 7th place among Western Conference guards in minutes played per game. He was 38th in Efficiency per 48. 38th. Below Steve Blake, above Sasha Vujacic. In other words, he played a lot, but not that well.
With Foye hitting his last year before free agency, the Wolves needed to determine whether he would be worth a big contract. Answer? Apparently not.
Mike Miller? A guy acquired to be a shooter who simply refused to shoot the ball. Miller's most amazing stat combo: Shot nearly 49% and averaged..............9.9 points per game. WHILE PLAYING 32 minutes a game!!!! That is almost impossible to do. There were 101 NBA players who averaged 30.0 mpg last year. Of those 101 guys, only 2 scored less than 10 points a game. Miller and..........41% shooting Jason Kidd. In fact, the only other guy really close to joining these two was Kendrick Perkins.
Jason Kidd averaged 9.2 assists and 2.3 steals+blocks a game. Miller averaged 4.5 assists and 0.8 steals+blocks a game. Perkins is an enormous defensive stopper.
Short story -- Mike Miller: good riddance. Wiz fans beware; he still cries every night to play in Memphis.
Wolves Grade: A plus (a good move to show your fans you are trying. You weren't going to re-sign Miller or Foye, so why not get the #5 pick?)
Wizards Grade: C minus (Foye may do something for them, but can he play much with Gilbert Arenas? Miller will disappoint them.)
(5, 6, 18, 28, 45, 47).
The Wolves have now also acquired Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleisky Pecherov, providing them with three more guys who are big forwards...........and all offensive-minded big forwards.
I believe that the Wolves will keep the 7 foot Pecherov (still working on a rookie deal). He has some scoring upside and he was a 2006 first round pick. A guy worth keeping for a year.
I think they will try to move Thomas and Songaila for other assets.
The trade leaves the Wolves with basically no guards. So look for them to select two guards at 5 and 6. I would also look for them to package some assets to find a veteran guard or center somewhere.
Foye's play for the Wolves can best be presented as follows: he was 7th place among Western Conference guards in minutes played per game. He was 38th in Efficiency per 48. 38th. Below Steve Blake, above Sasha Vujacic. In other words, he played a lot, but not that well.
With Foye hitting his last year before free agency, the Wolves needed to determine whether he would be worth a big contract. Answer? Apparently not.
Mike Miller? A guy acquired to be a shooter who simply refused to shoot the ball. Miller's most amazing stat combo: Shot nearly 49% and averaged..............9.9 points per game. WHILE PLAYING 32 minutes a game!!!! That is almost impossible to do. There were 101 NBA players who averaged 30.0 mpg last year. Of those 101 guys, only 2 scored less than 10 points a game. Miller and..........41% shooting Jason Kidd. In fact, the only other guy really close to joining these two was Kendrick Perkins.
Jason Kidd averaged 9.2 assists and 2.3 steals+blocks a game. Miller averaged 4.5 assists and 0.8 steals+blocks a game. Perkins is an enormous defensive stopper.
Short story -- Mike Miller: good riddance. Wiz fans beware; he still cries every night to play in Memphis.
Wolves Grade: A plus (a good move to show your fans you are trying. You weren't going to re-sign Miller or Foye, so why not get the #5 pick?)
Wizards Grade: C minus (Foye may do something for them, but can he play much with Gilbert Arenas? Miller will disappoint them.)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Draftees I Like, Draftees I Do Not Like
It is tough to write these, because I occasionally get reminded of my love for Olden Polynice over Scottie Pippen or my disdain for Chris Paul. But hey, why not try?
Guys I Like
-- Blake Griffin -- Only guy in 20 years who truly reminds me of Charles Barkley. He will not be great defensively, but he will score, rebound and run the floor.
-- Gerald Henderson -- the question mark hurting Gerald is his inability to handle the ball. The Villanova game cost him maybe 10 draft spots. Here is what I know -- he has enormous strength, can leap out of the gym, can draw fouls, and has shooting range (if sketchy accuracy). His defense is far above average, as is his rebounding. Team him with a good point guard (i.e. not Greg Paulus or Nolan Smith) and you will be surprised what production you get.
-- Tyreke Evans -- here is what I like about Tyreke Evans: his absolute downside risk is basically a Phil Jackson-type of shooting guard -- great defender, big, long arms, good rebounder. Is Tyreke Evans going to remind anyone of John Stockton or Steve Nash? No. If he is a Timberwolf will he immediately improve the shitty defense and lack of athletic ability on this team? Oh yeah.
Guys I Don't Care For
Earl Clark -- I saw Earl play against the Gophers on TV (in a Louisville loss). Couldn't score or rebound consistently against Ralph Sampson or Colton Iverson. Both freshmen. In a game where if anyone breathed on you it was a foul. If you got down to a choice of the last of the 100 point guards available in this draft or Earl Clark, I would take the PG.
Brandon Jennings -- look, Brandon, we all know the drill; leave high school, pretend to attend college for a year, excel, tell people all you learned, go pro. Jennings apparently couldn't stand the idea of college coaching so much that he fled to Europe. Did NOT excel in Europe. But what scares me the most??? The comparisons to.......Kenny Anderson and Sean Livingston. So your FANS compare you to one guy who was just too skinny to hold up physically and one guy who is a notorious head case. No thank you.
DeJuan Blair -- Everyone is saying, "Well his knees are holding up. His stock should keep going up." My issue is not with his two bad knees, it is with the fact that he is about 6'5 1/2" in bare feet and tips the scales around 270. Pitt plays a very ugly grind it out game. They don't exactly fly up and down the court.
I think Blair will struggle in the full-court game and I think he will commit a thousand fouls and I think he will have a hard time scoring 10 points a game. So, down at #28 for the Wolves -- great pick. Where people have him going (top 15) not getting much value for that pick.
Three Guys Who Really Vex Me
I want to hate these guys, but there is something about their workout stats that makes me hesitate:
BJ Mullens -- his college stats and his overall play were poor, but look, the guy is fast, quick, and can almost touch 12 feet. How can you honestly say that a guy who is 7' in shoes shouldn't be a 15-20 area pick??? At the end of the day, might he be better than Hasheem Thabeet? Sure.
Jordan Hill -- look at his draft workouts. He is more athletically gifted than Blake Griffin. So if Griffin is the #1 overall pick, how can you rip someone for looking at Hill at 5-9? Again, there is just too much upside there to completely dis. But why then can't his college team win more games?
James Harden -- I know Fred Hoiberg likes James Harden. So I have watched him play 5 times on TV. Every time I could not make it through a full game. He just isn't very exciting or fun to watch. So it appears when you actually watch him play that he isn't very gifted athletically. But his workouts were outstanding.
As I said before about Harden, the only guy I have ever seen who was a real "high end" player who was as unsatisfying to watch was Jimmy Jackson. Is Jimmy a Hall of Fame player? No. Was he traded a million times? Yes. Did he have a year where he averaged over 25 points a game? Yes. Did he have 8 years where he averaged at least 15 PPG? Yes.
Was he ever an NBA all-star? NO. NEVER. So when I look at Harden I see Jimmy Jackson. What you have to ask yourself is "If I knew I could get a Jimmy Jackson in this draft spot, is that better than my other choices?" I don't think so at ##2-4, but I think 5 and below you have to say yes.
HM
Guys I Like
-- Blake Griffin -- Only guy in 20 years who truly reminds me of Charles Barkley. He will not be great defensively, but he will score, rebound and run the floor.
-- Gerald Henderson -- the question mark hurting Gerald is his inability to handle the ball. The Villanova game cost him maybe 10 draft spots. Here is what I know -- he has enormous strength, can leap out of the gym, can draw fouls, and has shooting range (if sketchy accuracy). His defense is far above average, as is his rebounding. Team him with a good point guard (i.e. not Greg Paulus or Nolan Smith) and you will be surprised what production you get.
-- Tyreke Evans -- here is what I like about Tyreke Evans: his absolute downside risk is basically a Phil Jackson-type of shooting guard -- great defender, big, long arms, good rebounder. Is Tyreke Evans going to remind anyone of John Stockton or Steve Nash? No. If he is a Timberwolf will he immediately improve the shitty defense and lack of athletic ability on this team? Oh yeah.
Guys I Don't Care For
Earl Clark -- I saw Earl play against the Gophers on TV (in a Louisville loss). Couldn't score or rebound consistently against Ralph Sampson or Colton Iverson. Both freshmen. In a game where if anyone breathed on you it was a foul. If you got down to a choice of the last of the 100 point guards available in this draft or Earl Clark, I would take the PG.
Brandon Jennings -- look, Brandon, we all know the drill; leave high school, pretend to attend college for a year, excel, tell people all you learned, go pro. Jennings apparently couldn't stand the idea of college coaching so much that he fled to Europe. Did NOT excel in Europe. But what scares me the most??? The comparisons to.......Kenny Anderson and Sean Livingston. So your FANS compare you to one guy who was just too skinny to hold up physically and one guy who is a notorious head case. No thank you.
DeJuan Blair -- Everyone is saying, "Well his knees are holding up. His stock should keep going up." My issue is not with his two bad knees, it is with the fact that he is about 6'5 1/2" in bare feet and tips the scales around 270. Pitt plays a very ugly grind it out game. They don't exactly fly up and down the court.
I think Blair will struggle in the full-court game and I think he will commit a thousand fouls and I think he will have a hard time scoring 10 points a game. So, down at #28 for the Wolves -- great pick. Where people have him going (top 15) not getting much value for that pick.
Three Guys Who Really Vex Me
I want to hate these guys, but there is something about their workout stats that makes me hesitate:
BJ Mullens -- his college stats and his overall play were poor, but look, the guy is fast, quick, and can almost touch 12 feet. How can you honestly say that a guy who is 7' in shoes shouldn't be a 15-20 area pick??? At the end of the day, might he be better than Hasheem Thabeet? Sure.
Jordan Hill -- look at his draft workouts. He is more athletically gifted than Blake Griffin. So if Griffin is the #1 overall pick, how can you rip someone for looking at Hill at 5-9? Again, there is just too much upside there to completely dis. But why then can't his college team win more games?
James Harden -- I know Fred Hoiberg likes James Harden. So I have watched him play 5 times on TV. Every time I could not make it through a full game. He just isn't very exciting or fun to watch. So it appears when you actually watch him play that he isn't very gifted athletically. But his workouts were outstanding.
As I said before about Harden, the only guy I have ever seen who was a real "high end" player who was as unsatisfying to watch was Jimmy Jackson. Is Jimmy a Hall of Fame player? No. Was he traded a million times? Yes. Did he have a year where he averaged over 25 points a game? Yes. Did he have 8 years where he averaged at least 15 PPG? Yes.
Was he ever an NBA all-star? NO. NEVER. So when I look at Harden I see Jimmy Jackson. What you have to ask yourself is "If I knew I could get a Jimmy Jackson in this draft spot, is that better than my other choices?" I don't think so at ##2-4, but I think 5 and below you have to say yes.
HM
NBA Draft Rumors (Now With Extra Timberwolves Flavoring!)
From draftexpress.com:
The wildcard in all this are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who could throw a wrench in things by trading up to #2 to take Ricky Rubio.
Sources say that Rubio’s camp has warmed up significantly to David Kahn and the Timberwolves organization as of late, and that they would not be opposed to him landing there. The catch is that the rookie scale salary slot of the #6 pick would not be sufficient in terms of satisfying Rubio’s gigantic buyout from DKV Joventut, so Kahn would have to trade into the top three to make that happen.
At this point, Kahn is holding firm on not putting Kevin Love on the table for the right to move up in the draft, and is instead trying to acquire another pick to entice Memphis to swap with them. As other media outlets have reported, they are targeting Washington’s #5 pick, but are only offering some combination of Randy Foye, Mike Miller and the #18 pick, which probably won’t get it done.
We want to trade the #5 and #6 pick in the draft for Ricky Rubio.....??? Um, why???? If we could get the #5 pick in the draft for the shit we are offering here ("how about the #18 and Mike Miller?" Randy Foye and Miller?") then we have performed a heist. Keep the pick and pick two of the top 6 guys in the draft. Ricky Rubio isn't Tim Duncan.
The Wizards have been bombarded with trade offers as of late, some of them more realistic than others, but it’s not a given that they will decide to trade the pick. If Rubio is on the board, all indications are that the Wizards would take him, and worst comes to worse, deal with the repercussions of him staying in Europe for another year or two until his buyout situation gets resolved. There aren’t many teams that are higher on Rubio’s upside than Washington.
Imagine Flip with Rubio, Arenas, Butler and Jamison. My lord, they would score 120 a night and give up 115. Then in the playoff they would score 115 a night and give up 120.
The official party line is that Sacramento is concerned that Rubio will struggle to assert his leadership ability on the group of players they currently have in place, due to the fact that he’s only 18 years old and not a native English speaker. One of the biggest issues Sacramento had last year was with the culture of their team lockerroom.
And the fact that they didn't have very good players and were using two terrible coaches, but yeah, chemistry issues. That was it.
On top of that, the Kings are worried that will Rubio will have a huge target on his chest coming into the NBA, and that other players will “try to go at him every single night.”
So, you don't draft a guy because he doesn't speak English and because guys might "go at him."
Maybe you hire an interpreter and a shot blocking center?
[The Kings] may opt to just put a Band-Aid on the problem and draft a more ready player, such as Tyreke Evans or Jonny Flynn—who is very attractive due to his outgoing personality and terrific leadership skills-- and hope that things magically get better next season. This is a situation that seemed almost unfathomable a few months ago, as the Kings were supposedly so enamored with Rubio’s talent that they were strongly considering drafting him with the #1 pick before falling to the #4 slot in the lottery. Considering what we know about all these prospects, it’s tough not to think that Sacramento would be making a colossal mistake letting a playmaker of Rubio’s caliber get by them, as his upside is substantially higher than that of Evans or Flynn.
Well, doesn't that beg the question? Is Rubio's upside "substantially higher" than Evans' or Flynn's? Right? Cuz what the Kings really are saying here is that Rubio isn't worth the pain in the ass that will come with the language barrier and him being the Great White Hope. So they don't believe that statement.
Jonny Flynn happened to work out in Sacramento this weekend, alongside other Kings favorite Tyreke Evans, as well as Stephen Curry, [and] Nick Calathes. It’s well known at this point that Flynn is not getting past Milwaukee’s pick at #10 at worst, but his chances of going 4th seem to be improving by the day. It’s too early to rule out Evans at Sacramento’s pick either, even though Rubio is still very much in the picture as well. Rubio is reportedly returning to Sacramento tomorrow for a workout, which should ease one of the concerns the team has about being unable to watch him last week.
This makes no sense. I thought Rubio did not speak English? How can they work him out if he doesn't speak English? What if somebody goes at him defensively in the workout?
B.J. Mullens worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers (#17) on Sunday, and is scheduled to work out for Chicago (#16) on Tuesday. While many NBA teams we spoke with have picked up on the rumor that he may have a promise from Detroit at 15, things don’t really seem to add up here. If anything, the Pistons seem to be most interested in Earl Clark, and have reportedly told him as much, as have the Phoenix Suns, drafting 14th. On the other hand, Detroit continues to be very active in trade-talk, though, and could very well decide to move the pick, which would make all of this moot. Would Mullens really turn down his Green Room invite if he definitely knew he was going 15th?
Mullens or Clark -- can another NBA title be far off?
Clark on the other hand just passed up a workout with Chicago this week in order to be with his newborn baby, as he seems to be feeling very good about where’s currently at in this draft.
Modern day Jerome Moiso -- drafted high, can't play.
-Golden State appears to be exploring possibilities to improve on the defensive end in hopes of making a strong run to the playoffs next season. One trade that has reportedly been offered by the Charlotte Bobcats that may help on that front would involve packaging Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli in exchange for Raja Bell.
Bobcats should have said, "Done" and hung up.
In other Warriors news, it appears that despite not having worked him out, Stephen Curry is the team’s main target should he be available with the 7th pick. Other options include Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans and James Johnson.
Warriors message to Hill, Evans and Johnson -- "Yeah, we would rather pick a guy we have only seen on TV."
-According to an NBA source, super active Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn has offered Mike Miller to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Chris Kaman. The Clippers shot down that trade, but countered with Marcus Camby. -
So many things wrong here. Chris Kaman has more value than Marcus Camby? Um, why? Kaman's contract is WAAAAAAAAAAAY worse: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_clippers.htm Is Marcus Camby dying of some untreatable disease?
If Camby is physically able to play 55 games and over 15 minutes a game for Minnesota next year, here is how that trade talk should go:
Wolves -- "We will give you Mike Miller for Chris Kaman."
Clips -- "No way. Kaman is basically a better, lighter-skinned Tim Duncan. We would do the deal Mike Miller for Marcus Camby."
Wolves -- [silence while the audio tape machine is turned on], "I am sorry. Brooklyn Decker was just on TV. What did you say?"
Clips -- "We would trade you Marcus Camby for Mike Miller."
Wolves -- "Done. No back-sies." [slam down phone and inform league office -- advise secretary that absolutely no calls from Los Angeles are to be taken until league approval]
A few players that could shake things up on draft night…Taj Gibson to Utah at 20? Wayne Ellington to Philadelphia at 17? Tyler Hansbrough to New Jersey at 11? Ty Lawson to Indiana at 13?
What the hell is wrong with Utah? Taj Gibson? I guess they lose their mind when white player Psycho T goes to NJ at 11 (yeah, that is an athletic front line, T and Brooke Lopez -- welcome to the old Mike Fratello Cavs walk it up style of play).
Let me give you some Wayne Ellington reviews I have read:
-- rarely gets to the line
-- can't dribble
-- can't create his own shot
-- mediocre and disinterested defender
-- best working off the ball and spotting up
And the Wolves won't get a chance to snag this gem at #18? I mean, a 6'4 1/4" off guard whose upside is..........Al Wood?
The wildcard in all this are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who could throw a wrench in things by trading up to #2 to take Ricky Rubio.
Sources say that Rubio’s camp has warmed up significantly to David Kahn and the Timberwolves organization as of late, and that they would not be opposed to him landing there. The catch is that the rookie scale salary slot of the #6 pick would not be sufficient in terms of satisfying Rubio’s gigantic buyout from DKV Joventut, so Kahn would have to trade into the top three to make that happen.
At this point, Kahn is holding firm on not putting Kevin Love on the table for the right to move up in the draft, and is instead trying to acquire another pick to entice Memphis to swap with them. As other media outlets have reported, they are targeting Washington’s #5 pick, but are only offering some combination of Randy Foye, Mike Miller and the #18 pick, which probably won’t get it done.
We want to trade the #5 and #6 pick in the draft for Ricky Rubio.....??? Um, why???? If we could get the #5 pick in the draft for the shit we are offering here ("how about the #18 and Mike Miller?" Randy Foye and Miller?") then we have performed a heist. Keep the pick and pick two of the top 6 guys in the draft. Ricky Rubio isn't Tim Duncan.
The Wizards have been bombarded with trade offers as of late, some of them more realistic than others, but it’s not a given that they will decide to trade the pick. If Rubio is on the board, all indications are that the Wizards would take him, and worst comes to worse, deal with the repercussions of him staying in Europe for another year or two until his buyout situation gets resolved. There aren’t many teams that are higher on Rubio’s upside than Washington.
Imagine Flip with Rubio, Arenas, Butler and Jamison. My lord, they would score 120 a night and give up 115. Then in the playoff they would score 115 a night and give up 120.
The official party line is that Sacramento is concerned that Rubio will struggle to assert his leadership ability on the group of players they currently have in place, due to the fact that he’s only 18 years old and not a native English speaker. One of the biggest issues Sacramento had last year was with the culture of their team lockerroom.
And the fact that they didn't have very good players and were using two terrible coaches, but yeah, chemistry issues. That was it.
On top of that, the Kings are worried that will Rubio will have a huge target on his chest coming into the NBA, and that other players will “try to go at him every single night.”
So, you don't draft a guy because he doesn't speak English and because guys might "go at him."
Maybe you hire an interpreter and a shot blocking center?
[The Kings] may opt to just put a Band-Aid on the problem and draft a more ready player, such as Tyreke Evans or Jonny Flynn—who is very attractive due to his outgoing personality and terrific leadership skills-- and hope that things magically get better next season. This is a situation that seemed almost unfathomable a few months ago, as the Kings were supposedly so enamored with Rubio’s talent that they were strongly considering drafting him with the #1 pick before falling to the #4 slot in the lottery. Considering what we know about all these prospects, it’s tough not to think that Sacramento would be making a colossal mistake letting a playmaker of Rubio’s caliber get by them, as his upside is substantially higher than that of Evans or Flynn.
Well, doesn't that beg the question? Is Rubio's upside "substantially higher" than Evans' or Flynn's? Right? Cuz what the Kings really are saying here is that Rubio isn't worth the pain in the ass that will come with the language barrier and him being the Great White Hope. So they don't believe that statement.
Jonny Flynn happened to work out in Sacramento this weekend, alongside other Kings favorite Tyreke Evans, as well as Stephen Curry, [and] Nick Calathes. It’s well known at this point that Flynn is not getting past Milwaukee’s pick at #10 at worst, but his chances of going 4th seem to be improving by the day. It’s too early to rule out Evans at Sacramento’s pick either, even though Rubio is still very much in the picture as well. Rubio is reportedly returning to Sacramento tomorrow for a workout, which should ease one of the concerns the team has about being unable to watch him last week.
This makes no sense. I thought Rubio did not speak English? How can they work him out if he doesn't speak English? What if somebody goes at him defensively in the workout?
B.J. Mullens worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers (#17) on Sunday, and is scheduled to work out for Chicago (#16) on Tuesday. While many NBA teams we spoke with have picked up on the rumor that he may have a promise from Detroit at 15, things don’t really seem to add up here. If anything, the Pistons seem to be most interested in Earl Clark, and have reportedly told him as much, as have the Phoenix Suns, drafting 14th. On the other hand, Detroit continues to be very active in trade-talk, though, and could very well decide to move the pick, which would make all of this moot. Would Mullens really turn down his Green Room invite if he definitely knew he was going 15th?
Mullens or Clark -- can another NBA title be far off?
Clark on the other hand just passed up a workout with Chicago this week in order to be with his newborn baby, as he seems to be feeling very good about where’s currently at in this draft.
Modern day Jerome Moiso -- drafted high, can't play.
-Golden State appears to be exploring possibilities to improve on the defensive end in hopes of making a strong run to the playoffs next season. One trade that has reportedly been offered by the Charlotte Bobcats that may help on that front would involve packaging Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli in exchange for Raja Bell.
Bobcats should have said, "Done" and hung up.
In other Warriors news, it appears that despite not having worked him out, Stephen Curry is the team’s main target should he be available with the 7th pick. Other options include Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans and James Johnson.
Warriors message to Hill, Evans and Johnson -- "Yeah, we would rather pick a guy we have only seen on TV."
-According to an NBA source, super active Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn has offered Mike Miller to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Chris Kaman. The Clippers shot down that trade, but countered with Marcus Camby. -
So many things wrong here. Chris Kaman has more value than Marcus Camby? Um, why? Kaman's contract is WAAAAAAAAAAAY worse: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_clippers.htm Is Marcus Camby dying of some untreatable disease?
If Camby is physically able to play 55 games and over 15 minutes a game for Minnesota next year, here is how that trade talk should go:
Wolves -- "We will give you Mike Miller for Chris Kaman."
Clips -- "No way. Kaman is basically a better, lighter-skinned Tim Duncan. We would do the deal Mike Miller for Marcus Camby."
Wolves -- [silence while the audio tape machine is turned on], "I am sorry. Brooklyn Decker was just on TV. What did you say?"
Clips -- "We would trade you Marcus Camby for Mike Miller."
Wolves -- "Done. No back-sies." [slam down phone and inform league office -- advise secretary that absolutely no calls from Los Angeles are to be taken until league approval]
A few players that could shake things up on draft night…Taj Gibson to Utah at 20? Wayne Ellington to Philadelphia at 17? Tyler Hansbrough to New Jersey at 11? Ty Lawson to Indiana at 13?
What the hell is wrong with Utah? Taj Gibson? I guess they lose their mind when white player Psycho T goes to NJ at 11 (yeah, that is an athletic front line, T and Brooke Lopez -- welcome to the old Mike Fratello Cavs walk it up style of play).
Let me give you some Wayne Ellington reviews I have read:
-- rarely gets to the line
-- can't dribble
-- can't create his own shot
-- mediocre and disinterested defender
-- best working off the ball and spotting up
And the Wolves won't get a chance to snag this gem at #18? I mean, a 6'4 1/4" off guard whose upside is..........Al Wood?
Glover Wins -- Barnes and Duval Miss Out on Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
Duval has a 4 footer spin out on 17. Barnes misses a putt by an inch or two on 18. Had either finished at -3, they would have been second alone.
Last year second alone paid Rocco Mediate $810,000. This year, Phil, Duval and Barnes will split the prize money for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Based upon last year's payout, Barnes and Duval will each get about $550,000. Second alone was worth $810,000 or more. So, they missed out on $260,000 by a couple inches.
It looks like you need about $900,000 in earnings to finish in the top 125 on the money list. http://blogs.courant.com/chip_shots/2008/11/petrovic-retains-pga-tour-in-s.html
In 12 tourneys, Barnes had made about $68,000 this year. Had he finished second alone, he could have basically been assured of a top 125 finish. Now he is not.
David Duval in 13 events had made under $59,000.
So while I am sure either guy would have loved to win, it is possible that not finishing second alone may have done more harm to their respective careers.
HM
Oh, and Lucas Glover won -- whoever that is. This is basically like having Reed Sorenson win the Daytona 500.
Last year second alone paid Rocco Mediate $810,000. This year, Phil, Duval and Barnes will split the prize money for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Based upon last year's payout, Barnes and Duval will each get about $550,000. Second alone was worth $810,000 or more. So, they missed out on $260,000 by a couple inches.
It looks like you need about $900,000 in earnings to finish in the top 125 on the money list. http://blogs.courant.com/chip_shots/2008/11/petrovic-retains-pga-tour-in-s.html
In 12 tourneys, Barnes had made about $68,000 this year. Had he finished second alone, he could have basically been assured of a top 125 finish. Now he is not.
David Duval in 13 events had made under $59,000.
So while I am sure either guy would have loved to win, it is possible that not finishing second alone may have done more harm to their respective careers.
HM
Oh, and Lucas Glover won -- whoever that is. This is basically like having Reed Sorenson win the Daytona 500.
Phil on 18 for a Clutch Birdie.................
of course not. 2 under -- leader in the clubhouse. But I think Glover can now just about 7 iron it home.
Lost Bet
I was listening to the KSTP 1500 AM guy around 8:15 on Sunday morning. He stated that he would bet "everything he owned" that Ricky Barnes' final score would not be better than Tiger's.
If Barnes can just play the final 2 holes in 1 over, he will outscore Tiger.
If Barnes can just play the final 2 holes in 1 over, he will outscore Tiger.
Phil -- Choke
From 6 feet for par on 17??????? Does not reach the hole, not close to being on line. Now it is Glover with a short birdie putt.
Duval -- can't get it up on 17.
Ricky Barnes and Ross Fisher -- is it their time to shine (however dimly)?
Duval -- can't get it up on 17.
Ricky Barnes and Ross Fisher -- is it their time to shine (however dimly)?
Players Ahead of Tiger?
Only one guy under par for the day. And Phil is trying to give that shot back to par on 17.
Hard to Putt With Both Hands Around Your Neck
Glover 3 putts from 45 feet. Mahan 3 putts (at least). Phil drives it 7 feet past from 25 feet.
As Jerry Lee Lewis might say, "Come on over baby, whole lotta choking going on."
Guys with a chance -- Duval and...........RICKY BARNES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both one off the lead.
As Jerry Lee Lewis might say, "Come on over baby, whole lotta choking going on."
Guys with a chance -- Duval and...........RICKY BARNES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both one off the lead.
Hunter Mahan
(who lost to Ricky Barnes in the 2002 U.S. Amateur) bangs one HARD off either the flag or the hole on the fly -- bounces back 25-30 feet).
Bad break. I guess Ricky Barnes was better?
Bad break. I guess Ricky Barnes was better?
Mike Weir and Ross Fisher and David Duval
Will soon be hitting 4 on a par 4...........from the fairway rough. Looking at triple if he is lucky.
Ross Fisher -- just putted over David Duval's coin on 15. I have never seen that.
David Duval birdie, now at 2 under!!!!!!!!!!! Would be -5 but for that triple.
Ross Fisher -- just putted over David Duval's coin on 15. I have never seen that.
David Duval birdie, now at 2 under!!!!!!!!!!! Would be -5 but for that triple.
Ummm, Bop.
Soren Hansen in the clubhouse at Even par, so at least Tiger won't be handed the trophy outright. When the ummm, bop is gone, then the ummm, bop is not there.
Phil on 15 From 4 feet
Didn't even touch any part of the hole..........
And so it begins....
Lucas Glover now leads.
And so it begins....
Lucas Glover now leads.
Ricky Barnes' Final Round Card -- Holes 5 Through 12
Bogey, Bogey, Bogey, Bogey, Par, Par (OK, you are turning it around now Ricky, confidence Ricky, confidence).........
Bogey, Bogey.
(OH, and he bogeyed #1 as well -- no birdies on the card).
Now he has to worry about a "Tin Cup" McAvoy finish in which he plays himself out of qualifying for the next year's Open.
Oh WAIT!!! As I write he has birdied the par 5 13th!!!!!!! Minus 2, still ahead of Tiger, two shots off the lead.
Bogey, Bogey.
(OH, and he bogeyed #1 as well -- no birdies on the card).
Now he has to worry about a "Tin Cup" McAvoy finish in which he plays himself out of qualifying for the next year's Open.
Oh WAIT!!! As I write he has birdied the par 5 13th!!!!!!! Minus 2, still ahead of Tiger, two shots off the lead.
World's Golfers Once Again Trying To Piss It Away To Tiger
But did Tiger do enough to take it? Tiger is Even par for the tourney (or "Level" par as they say across the pond).
Tiger was one under on his round today. So Tiger is just an awesome golfing machine churning out an unthinkable, once in a lifetime, Johnny Miller-like round, right?????? Well, Tiger couldn't manage to shoot the 2 under scores shot today by Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson, and Ian Poulter is currently 4 under on his round.
On the plus side, Tiger was up to the task of equaling Matt Bettencourt's 69.
So, no. Tiger is not some super human cyborg who just shoots lights out and you have to tip your hat and give him the title. Tiger's greatest strength in this era of medicore golfers is his ability to shoot a good score while others are pissing their pants and throwing up on their own shoes.
Tiger improved one shot today. The guys in front of him?
Ricky Barnes so far today -- +6
Lucas Glover - +3
David Duval -- +3 (took a 6 on a par 3, at par otherwise, which is kinda like saying "except for the facts that I hit on her sister and mom and best friend in front of her, I thought the date went well").
Mike Weir -- +1
Ross Fisher -- +2
So the only two guys who have stood up to the pressure (so far, let's not forget the tent shot at Wingfoot, cuz he may be getting primed for a repeat):
Hunter Mahan -- Level
Phil Mickelson -- -2 on the day, just eagled 13.
So it is almost noon Eastern time. Tiger is tied for 7th.
Here is what I anticipate: One guy will manage to squeak in under par. It may be -2 or it may be -1, but they will all have the tank on empty, the wheels falling off, and oil burning in the engine by 2PM eastern. Tiger will be left in a tie for second place, wondering why he couldn't get a couple more putts to fall so that he could win by default.
Tiger was one under on his round today. So Tiger is just an awesome golfing machine churning out an unthinkable, once in a lifetime, Johnny Miller-like round, right?????? Well, Tiger couldn't manage to shoot the 2 under scores shot today by Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson, and Ian Poulter is currently 4 under on his round.
On the plus side, Tiger was up to the task of equaling Matt Bettencourt's 69.
So, no. Tiger is not some super human cyborg who just shoots lights out and you have to tip your hat and give him the title. Tiger's greatest strength in this era of medicore golfers is his ability to shoot a good score while others are pissing their pants and throwing up on their own shoes.
Tiger improved one shot today. The guys in front of him?
Ricky Barnes so far today -- +6
Lucas Glover - +3
David Duval -- +3 (took a 6 on a par 3, at par otherwise, which is kinda like saying "except for the facts that I hit on her sister and mom and best friend in front of her, I thought the date went well").
Mike Weir -- +1
Ross Fisher -- +2
So the only two guys who have stood up to the pressure (so far, let's not forget the tent shot at Wingfoot, cuz he may be getting primed for a repeat):
Hunter Mahan -- Level
Phil Mickelson -- -2 on the day, just eagled 13.
So it is almost noon Eastern time. Tiger is tied for 7th.
Here is what I anticipate: One guy will manage to squeak in under par. It may be -2 or it may be -1, but they will all have the tank on empty, the wheels falling off, and oil burning in the engine by 2PM eastern. Tiger will be left in a tie for second place, wondering why he couldn't get a couple more putts to fall so that he could win by default.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Nadal (Wuss) Begs Out of Wimbledon With.....Tendinitis
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/19/rafael-nadal-withdraws-fr_n_218190.html
Good lord.
Then he says, "Oh, I didn't think I could win, so I didn't want to play." O.......K.......... Imagine Willis Reed, knee a shambles, advising the Knicks, "You know, I don't think I can score 25 tonight, so I won't be playing."
Or Michael Jordan saying to Phil Jackson, "Got the flu big fella, can't go tonight."
Or Jack Morris before Game 7 in 1991 -- "TK, gotta tell ya, feel a little tenderness in my elbow. You better go with someone else."
I know that tennis is an individual sport and technically Nadal is wussing out on no one but himself (and his true fans....who will forgive him anyway if he just keeps wearing sleeveless shirts). But this is hardly a "Profiles in Courage" moment. You back out of the #1 tennis tourney in the world, where you are defending champ, not because you cannot play, or because you risk more serious injury (you played today for goodness sake). But because you probably won't win the entire tourney.
Rocco Mediate wishes Tiger Woods felt that same way a year ago.
Good lord.
Then he says, "Oh, I didn't think I could win, so I didn't want to play." O.......K.......... Imagine Willis Reed, knee a shambles, advising the Knicks, "You know, I don't think I can score 25 tonight, so I won't be playing."
Or Michael Jordan saying to Phil Jackson, "Got the flu big fella, can't go tonight."
Or Jack Morris before Game 7 in 1991 -- "TK, gotta tell ya, feel a little tenderness in my elbow. You better go with someone else."
I know that tennis is an individual sport and technically Nadal is wussing out on no one but himself (and his true fans....who will forgive him anyway if he just keeps wearing sleeveless shirts). But this is hardly a "Profiles in Courage" moment. You back out of the #1 tennis tourney in the world, where you are defending champ, not because you cannot play, or because you risk more serious injury (you played today for goodness sake). But because you probably won't win the entire tourney.
Rocco Mediate wishes Tiger Woods felt that same way a year ago.
Cuckolded Hubby Doug Hampton's Letter To Fox News
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/19/text-husbands-letter/
It is difficult for me to even describe how idiotic it is for a person to try to bring down a GOP rising star by contacting Fox News. (From Fox News -- "We never got the letter." Yeah, uh huh. That is why Ensign had a press conference 5 days later).
Here are similar pleas for help I have come up with:
1) Advising this Blog one day before an NBA Finals game 7 in which the Wolves are favored that a star MN player is on steroids.
2) Exposing any Green Bay Packers player wrongdoing to the mayor of Green Bay or Packer Weekly.
3) Telling my wife that I am having trouble scheduling some good solid quality time with an ex-girlfriend and asking her to draw up some good scheduling options for me.
4) Saying to my kids, "Hey, make me a list of all of the chores you would much rather do than watch me do."
5) Finding myself unable to avoid marital infidelity and sending an e-mail pleading for advice from Bill Clinton.
What an idiot.
HM
It is difficult for me to even describe how idiotic it is for a person to try to bring down a GOP rising star by contacting Fox News. (From Fox News -- "We never got the letter." Yeah, uh huh. That is why Ensign had a press conference 5 days later).
Here are similar pleas for help I have come up with:
1) Advising this Blog one day before an NBA Finals game 7 in which the Wolves are favored that a star MN player is on steroids.
2) Exposing any Green Bay Packers player wrongdoing to the mayor of Green Bay or Packer Weekly.
3) Telling my wife that I am having trouble scheduling some good solid quality time with an ex-girlfriend and asking her to draw up some good scheduling options for me.
4) Saying to my kids, "Hey, make me a list of all of the chores you would much rather do than watch me do."
5) Finding myself unable to avoid marital infidelity and sending an e-mail pleading for advice from Bill Clinton.
What an idiot.
HM
Wolves -- 26th Best NBA Franchise
In Buffalo we used to say "thank goodness for Cleveland." I guess now in MN we say "thank goodness for Memphis."
HM
NBA Draft -- What I hear
I have reviewed a ton of mock drafts and web sites to determine where guys will go. It appears that once Griffin gets picked at #1 there are about 11 guys who could go 2-9 in any order.
What I have done here for you guys is take the Draft Express current Mock Draft and noted below each guy the variance I see in draft spots in various Mocks and articles discussing draft prospects.
1. Clippers Blake Griffin PF/C
Oklahoma, Sophomore
Plus or Minus 1 spot -- Clips say they will pick him. Rubio is only competitor for the possible #1.
2 Grizzlies James Harden SG
Arizona State, Sophomore
Minus as much as 4 spots -- the rap on Harden has always been that he isn't very explosive or interesting to watch. His workouts were amazing. So he is a top-end athlete, he just doesn't show it in the court. Um, OK. Is that better? I think that the best player I can recall who played like that is Jimmy Jackson. I suppose getting Jimmy Jackson isn't all bad.
3 Thunder Hasheem Thabeet C
Connecticut, Junior
Plus 1 to minus 7 -- have seen him at #2, have seen him fall past the Wolves at #6.
If the Wolves don't pick him, I think #10 is a logical stopping point.
4 Kings Ricky Rubio PG
DKV Joventut, International
Plus 3 to minus 1 -- saw one draft where the Clips picked him. No one thinks he will reach Minnesota at #6.
5 Wizards Jordan Hill PF
Arizona, Junior
Plus 1 to Minus 5 -- If you look at Jordan Hill's workout results, you wonder how he drops even past #2. Then you remember that you actually should have won some games at Arizona if you were that good. His numbers are SO amazing, I don't see him dropping to 10, but others do.
6 Timberwolves Tyreke Evans PG/SG
Memphis, Freshman
Plus 4 to Minus 4 -- Saw one draft with him #2 to Memphis. Also have seen him dropping.
7 Warriors Stephen Curry PG/SG
Davidson, Junior
Plus 4 to minus 1 -- Word is he will never get passed the Knicks at #8, so that is his downside risk. Have heard that many teams like him and want to go up above Mike D'Antoni to get him.
8 Knicks Jrue Holiday PG/SG
UCLA, Freshman
Plus 3 to Minus 10 -- some folks really like Jrue Holiday, some folks really, really do NOT care for Jrue Holiday.
9 Raptors Demar DeRozan SG/SF
USC, Freshman
Plus 7 to minus 7 -- explosive athlete. Is he Clyde Drexler or Harold Miner?
10 Bucks Jonny Flynn PG
Syracuse, Sophomore
Plus 7 to minus 5 -- I have never seen a guy blast up a draft board quicker than Flynn (thought to be a low first rounder about 2 weeks ago). Now some folks are saying he is the best PG in the draft and should go before Rubio. Other say he will be the guy left out in the PG rush and may fall behind even Ty Lawson.
11 Nets Brandon Jennings PG
Lottomatica Roma, International
Plus 4 to minus 10
I think his lack of success in Europe has scared some folks away. If the top 8 start picking fewer PGs in favor of bigger players, Jennings could be the guy dropping.
12 Bobcats Gerald Henderson SG
Duke, Junior
Plus 2 to minus 10. I think as a Duke guy that Charlotte is his firewall. They don't pick him, he is headed to MN at 18........or lower.
13 Pacers DeJuan Blair PF/C
Pittsburgh, Sophomore
Plus 2 to minus 4. Everyone says he is about 11 to 16. I wouldn't pick him top 25, but that is just me.
14 Suns Earl Clark SF/PF
Louisville, Junior
0 to Minus 7 -- Draft Express ranks him as high as I have seen
15 Pistons Austin Daye SF/PF
Gonzaga, Sophomore
0 to Minus 16 -- I have seen him much, much lower.
16 Bulls James Johnson PF
Wake Forest, Sophomore
Plus 8 to minus 1 -- I have seen him moving up.
17 76ers Ty Lawson PG
North Carolina, Junior
Plus 10 to Minus 10 -- biggest unknown in the draft
18 Timberwolves Terrence Williams SG/SF
Louisville, Senior
0 to Minus 10 -- terrible pick for the Wolves, so they will probably do it.
19 Hawks B.J. Mullens C
Ohio State, Freshman
Plus 3 to Minus 5 -- I believe he will go higher, maybe to Minnesota at 18.
20 Jazz Tyler Hansbrough PF
North Carolina, Senior
Plus 8 to Minus 5 -- I have lost a lunch barring injury to Psycho T.
What I have done here for you guys is take the Draft Express current Mock Draft and noted below each guy the variance I see in draft spots in various Mocks and articles discussing draft prospects.
1. Clippers Blake Griffin PF/C
Oklahoma, Sophomore
Plus or Minus 1 spot -- Clips say they will pick him. Rubio is only competitor for the possible #1.
2 Grizzlies James Harden SG
Arizona State, Sophomore
Minus as much as 4 spots -- the rap on Harden has always been that he isn't very explosive or interesting to watch. His workouts were amazing. So he is a top-end athlete, he just doesn't show it in the court. Um, OK. Is that better? I think that the best player I can recall who played like that is Jimmy Jackson. I suppose getting Jimmy Jackson isn't all bad.
3 Thunder Hasheem Thabeet C
Connecticut, Junior
Plus 1 to minus 7 -- have seen him at #2, have seen him fall past the Wolves at #6.
If the Wolves don't pick him, I think #10 is a logical stopping point.
4 Kings Ricky Rubio PG
DKV Joventut, International
Plus 3 to minus 1 -- saw one draft where the Clips picked him. No one thinks he will reach Minnesota at #6.
5 Wizards Jordan Hill PF
Arizona, Junior
Plus 1 to Minus 5 -- If you look at Jordan Hill's workout results, you wonder how he drops even past #2. Then you remember that you actually should have won some games at Arizona if you were that good. His numbers are SO amazing, I don't see him dropping to 10, but others do.
6 Timberwolves Tyreke Evans PG/SG
Memphis, Freshman
Plus 4 to Minus 4 -- Saw one draft with him #2 to Memphis. Also have seen him dropping.
7 Warriors Stephen Curry PG/SG
Davidson, Junior
Plus 4 to minus 1 -- Word is he will never get passed the Knicks at #8, so that is his downside risk. Have heard that many teams like him and want to go up above Mike D'Antoni to get him.
8 Knicks Jrue Holiday PG/SG
UCLA, Freshman
Plus 3 to Minus 10 -- some folks really like Jrue Holiday, some folks really, really do NOT care for Jrue Holiday.
9 Raptors Demar DeRozan SG/SF
USC, Freshman
Plus 7 to minus 7 -- explosive athlete. Is he Clyde Drexler or Harold Miner?
10 Bucks Jonny Flynn PG
Syracuse, Sophomore
Plus 7 to minus 5 -- I have never seen a guy blast up a draft board quicker than Flynn (thought to be a low first rounder about 2 weeks ago). Now some folks are saying he is the best PG in the draft and should go before Rubio. Other say he will be the guy left out in the PG rush and may fall behind even Ty Lawson.
11 Nets Brandon Jennings PG
Lottomatica Roma, International
Plus 4 to minus 10
I think his lack of success in Europe has scared some folks away. If the top 8 start picking fewer PGs in favor of bigger players, Jennings could be the guy dropping.
12 Bobcats Gerald Henderson SG
Duke, Junior
Plus 2 to minus 10. I think as a Duke guy that Charlotte is his firewall. They don't pick him, he is headed to MN at 18........or lower.
13 Pacers DeJuan Blair PF/C
Pittsburgh, Sophomore
Plus 2 to minus 4. Everyone says he is about 11 to 16. I wouldn't pick him top 25, but that is just me.
14 Suns Earl Clark SF/PF
Louisville, Junior
0 to Minus 7 -- Draft Express ranks him as high as I have seen
15 Pistons Austin Daye SF/PF
Gonzaga, Sophomore
0 to Minus 16 -- I have seen him much, much lower.
16 Bulls James Johnson PF
Wake Forest, Sophomore
Plus 8 to minus 1 -- I have seen him moving up.
17 76ers Ty Lawson PG
North Carolina, Junior
Plus 10 to Minus 10 -- biggest unknown in the draft
18 Timberwolves Terrence Williams SG/SF
Louisville, Senior
0 to Minus 10 -- terrible pick for the Wolves, so they will probably do it.
19 Hawks B.J. Mullens C
Ohio State, Freshman
Plus 3 to Minus 5 -- I believe he will go higher, maybe to Minnesota at 18.
20 Jazz Tyler Hansbrough PF
North Carolina, Senior
Plus 8 to Minus 5 -- I have lost a lunch barring injury to Psycho T.
More William Hung
http://www.williamhung.net/Concertnews.html.
He just recently participated in a celebrity mahjong tournament in Hong Kong. And you guys thought he wasn't going to last!!
He just recently participated in a celebrity mahjong tournament in Hong Kong. And you guys thought he wasn't going to last!!
Carly Smithson To Front "Fake Evanescence"
http://www.popeater.com/music/article/carly-smithson-in-evanescence-offshoot/532428?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl2link6http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2Fmusic%2Farticle%2Fcarly-smithson-in-evanescence-offshoot%2F532428
I always thought William Hung should front "The Eagles" once Henley and Frey decide to hang it up.
Why? Listen to his wonderful "Hotel California":
I always thought William Hung should front "The Eagles" once Henley and Frey decide to hang it up.
Why? Listen to his wonderful "Hotel California":
Thursday, June 18, 2009
David Archleta's Dad -- Fighting a Bad Back
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/06/exclusive-interview-cops-reveal-how-they-busted-david-archuletas-dad
So, assuming he paid $120 for the lacy massage, $2,000 for the attorney, and $582 for the criminal violation, the massage cost him around $2,700.
I guess a chiropractor would have been cheaper.
HM
So, assuming he paid $120 for the lacy massage, $2,000 for the attorney, and $582 for the criminal violation, the massage cost him around $2,700.
I guess a chiropractor would have been cheaper.
HM
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Nevada Senator John Ensign -- "What Happens In Vegas, Well, Let Me Tell You All About It"
Frankly, before looking at these photos, I had no idea that John O'Hurley was married to Hannah Storm (and was cheating on her!!!!!!!!).
Anyway, Ensign, born-again Christian, Promise Keeper, pillar of society, who demanded both the impeachment of Bill Clinton and the resignation of Larry Craig, came out today to say how he spent around a year banging the wife of his male Senate staffer, and oh, the wife was also a paid campaign staffer. THAT must have been a nice campaign bus.
Ensign was quick to point out that the staffers both quit their positions in May of 2008. I am not sure what "position" his mistress quit, but I hope it was one John didn't enjoy anyway.
Hannah Storm, er, I mean, Mrs. Ensign has forgiven her man and said his banging a hot married chick has made their marriage stronger.
Well, I gotta say, this kind of statement does NOT help me!!!!! I mean, what kind of guy doesn't want a stronger marriage, right? So what do I do now?
Side note -- I found out about a month ago that the couple that got divorced down the street got divorced because the guy was doing a married woman (I would rate his wife a 4 and the woman he was ramming a 4). So the mistress's hubby finds out and.....says, "Well, you owe me one now" and he starts shagging another married woman in our town!!!!!!!!! He picks a woman who at the time was about a 7.5. This is apparently an agreeable result for the mistress.
I don't live a very interesting life, I guess.
McHale -- Done With the Wolves
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4265512
I will not miss him.
Although McHale was actually a very good NBA coach, how long can you stand to have a coach who doesn't want to................coach?? I mean, every day of his reign the question always was "Will McHale coach again or is it too much work?" Is this REALLY the level of dedication you want out of a man who get 7 figures a year? Answer -- no.
Now David Kahn will start looking for coaches (Bill Laimbeer just quit the WNBA without a job -- 3 days later McHale is let go. Coincidence? Seems more likely that Laimbeer is a serious candidate in Minnesota).
Kahn strikes me as the exact opposite of McHale -- Kahn is a hamster on a wheel. He will work 20 hour days and hold 5 hour meetings, all with the idea that he is going to be very "prepared" for whatever happens next. McHale would work 20 hours a month and 5 hours a week.
I don't think that either style is ideal. This is basketball, not the study of the cosmos. There is only a finite amount of stuff you can get done. It is little better to overwork your people for no good reason (Kahn) than it is to base your drafting of players (McHale style) on whether they have been on TV a lot and played a game in the state of Minnesota (Brewer, McCants, Love, Foye).
Look, as the Wolves GM you have the opportunity to keep Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Randy Foye and move all the other guys in some manner. You should try to do so. Pick four good young players in the draft, get two veteran free agents, then fill in the final 3 with guys you either couldn't move or guys looking for a club.
If the Wolves do not have 7 new guys to start the year, all of Kahn's late-night effort will be for naught in my opinion.
I will not miss him.
Although McHale was actually a very good NBA coach, how long can you stand to have a coach who doesn't want to................coach?? I mean, every day of his reign the question always was "Will McHale coach again or is it too much work?" Is this REALLY the level of dedication you want out of a man who get 7 figures a year? Answer -- no.
Now David Kahn will start looking for coaches (Bill Laimbeer just quit the WNBA without a job -- 3 days later McHale is let go. Coincidence? Seems more likely that Laimbeer is a serious candidate in Minnesota).
Kahn strikes me as the exact opposite of McHale -- Kahn is a hamster on a wheel. He will work 20 hour days and hold 5 hour meetings, all with the idea that he is going to be very "prepared" for whatever happens next. McHale would work 20 hours a month and 5 hours a week.
I don't think that either style is ideal. This is basketball, not the study of the cosmos. There is only a finite amount of stuff you can get done. It is little better to overwork your people for no good reason (Kahn) than it is to base your drafting of players (McHale style) on whether they have been on TV a lot and played a game in the state of Minnesota (Brewer, McCants, Love, Foye).
Look, as the Wolves GM you have the opportunity to keep Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Randy Foye and move all the other guys in some manner. You should try to do so. Pick four good young players in the draft, get two veteran free agents, then fill in the final 3 with guys you either couldn't move or guys looking for a club.
If the Wolves do not have 7 new guys to start the year, all of Kahn's late-night effort will be for naught in my opinion.
Government to Receive $55 Billion in Wire Transfers Today
http://money.aol.com/article/big-banks-to-return-tarp-funds/530551
Hey, much as I wanted the givernment to let the whole thing collapse, I have to say, there should be a LOT more publicity to the government getting back $55B if that occurs as scheduled today. Plus, every single one of these re-paying banks STILL must buy back from the government the warrants that the government owes.
Actually turned out OK in places.
Hey, much as I wanted the givernment to let the whole thing collapse, I have to say, there should be a LOT more publicity to the government getting back $55B if that occurs as scheduled today. Plus, every single one of these re-paying banks STILL must buy back from the government the warrants that the government owes.
Actually turned out OK in places.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
NBA Draft Facts and Figures
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?year=2009&sort2=DESC&draft=&pos=&sort=2
And best of all.........they are sortable....so you wanna know who has the lowest body fat (Gerald Henderson at 4.4%) you can sort by that category. Wanna know who can touch the highest off a full run (BJ Mullens, almost 12 feet) you can sort by that (Thabeet chose not to do that drill).
Wanna tell which guys are generally two foot jumpers and which like to jump off one foot? Compare the standing jump with the max jump numbers.
Example: Blake Griffin can jump almost as high just off a flat stand as he can off a running jump -- he is a two-foot jumper; Demar Derozen ranked 10th overall in maximum jumping (11 feet 9 inches), but 28th overall in standing jump (almost a foot less). He would be a one-footed jumper.
Great stuff.
And best of all.........they are sortable....so you wanna know who has the lowest body fat (Gerald Henderson at 4.4%) you can sort by that category. Wanna know who can touch the highest off a full run (BJ Mullens, almost 12 feet) you can sort by that (Thabeet chose not to do that drill).
Wanna tell which guys are generally two foot jumpers and which like to jump off one foot? Compare the standing jump with the max jump numbers.
Example: Blake Griffin can jump almost as high just off a flat stand as he can off a running jump -- he is a two-foot jumper; Demar Derozen ranked 10th overall in maximum jumping (11 feet 9 inches), but 28th overall in standing jump (almost a foot less). He would be a one-footed jumper.
Great stuff.
Zooming Up The Draft Board -- Stephen Curry
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Stephen-Curry-1170/
Draft Express has him at #5 (at best -- Mike Bibby, at worst Janerro Pargo -- ooooh, imagine drafting Jannero Pargo with the #5 pick!).
NBA Draft.net has him going at #6 to Minnesota (where Minnesota would presumably trade him for a lower selection and a veteran player).
Why so much upward pressure with Curry?
1) The Knicks are sitting at #8 and they are said to love him. So everyone interested in Curry wants to leapfrog the Knicks.
2) He is a sort-of-big-name and the economy sucks. So you can tell your few remaining fans in Memphis, Washington, Sacramento, etc. "Hey remember that kid from plucky Davidson? We got him" and sell a few tickets, or you can answer 300 e-mails asking, "Who the hell is {Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, Demar Derozen, etc., etc.}!?!?!"
3) Recall that Flip Saunders is now in Washington. No coach in the NBA does a better job of getting into favorable offensive sets for his personnel.
4) He measured 6'2" with no shoes. 6'3 1/4 with shoes on. So he is an average size point guard. Not a midget.
HM
Draft Express has him at #5 (at best -- Mike Bibby, at worst Janerro Pargo -- ooooh, imagine drafting Jannero Pargo with the #5 pick!).
NBA Draft.net has him going at #6 to Minnesota (where Minnesota would presumably trade him for a lower selection and a veteran player).
Why so much upward pressure with Curry?
1) The Knicks are sitting at #8 and they are said to love him. So everyone interested in Curry wants to leapfrog the Knicks.
2) He is a sort-of-big-name and the economy sucks. So you can tell your few remaining fans in Memphis, Washington, Sacramento, etc. "Hey remember that kid from plucky Davidson? We got him" and sell a few tickets, or you can answer 300 e-mails asking, "Who the hell is {Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, Demar Derozen, etc., etc.}!?!?!"
3) Recall that Flip Saunders is now in Washington. No coach in the NBA does a better job of getting into favorable offensive sets for his personnel.
4) He measured 6'2" with no shoes. 6'3 1/4 with shoes on. So he is an average size point guard. Not a midget.
HM
Sent By a Congressional Staffer To a General E-mail List
One guess as to the political party and the area of the country represented by the staffer.
Her reply after being caught? "I sent it to the wrong list of people." Her employer's response, "She has been reprimanded but will keep her job."
Translation -- being a 1940s racist employed by a GOP congresswoman? Fine. Just send the stuff to "our people" from now on.
ESPN The Mag Plans "Body" Issue
Whatever you do, do NOT click on this guy's link discussing/dissing the proposed body issue.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/extramustard/hotclicks/06/12/bar-refaeli-brooklyn-decker-messy-wrigley-field/index.html
Why? Because then you will see pics of Bar Rafaeli and Brooklyn Decker(Roddick?). And links for more pics of those two ladies. I always thought that no one had a body like Brooklyn Decker. I think that the wannabe Ms. Dicaprio has proved me wrong.
But like I said, I am warning you, if you value the next 15 minutes of your life (and your job) you will not go to that link.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/extramustard/hotclicks/06/12/bar-refaeli-brooklyn-decker-messy-wrigley-field/index.html
Why? Because then you will see pics of Bar Rafaeli and Brooklyn Decker(Roddick?). And links for more pics of those two ladies. I always thought that no one had a body like Brooklyn Decker. I think that the wannabe Ms. Dicaprio has proved me wrong.
But like I said, I am warning you, if you value the next 15 minutes of your life (and your job) you will not go to that link.
Monday, June 15, 2009
And The Final Lakers Championship Ring Goes to........Chris Wallace
On February 3, 2008, Memphis traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers for:
a 2008 #1
a 2010 #1
Aaron McKie
Javaris Crittenden
Kwame Brown
Cash
Marc Gasol
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203
At the time everyone who knew anything about basketball and hated the Lakers (e.g., me) groaned loudly at this horrendous giveaway. Grizzle GM Chris Wallace was quoted:
But the Grizzlies, 13-33 after finishing with the league's worst record last season, decided to clear salary cap space knowing they aren't in position to win in the next couple of years.
"We're a 13-win team, so when you're in that situation, you've got to make moves," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. "Brown was the largest expiring contact we could find in the league where we also got back an attractive young player like Crittenton ... and multiple first-round picks."
Now, what Wallace failed to state was that in 2005-06, the last year Gasol had played 80 games, the Grizzle were 49-33 and Gasol was 20/9/4.5/2.5 steals+blocks.
So Wallace was trading a guy in Gasol who was capable of all-star level play for three guys who were clearly worse (McKie, Brown, Gasol's little brother) and what was almost certain to be two very low #1 picks. They drafted Donte Green (32% with Sac Kings) and traded him draft night for Darrell Arthur (who appears to be a young Kwame Brown with his 43% shooting and 4 fouls per every blocked shot).
I would imagine that the Lakers' #1 in 2010 will be no better than Darrell Arthur.
So who was supposedly the key to the deal for Memphis? Well, per Chris Wallace, that "attractive young player" Javaris Crittendon. How "attractive" was Javaris Crittendon to the Grizzle?
Well, he was traded to Washington in return for Washington giving back a conditional #1 that Memphis had given Washington for Juan Carlos Navarro. So, basically, "You know that low #1 that you guys will never give us because Memphis never finishes out of the lottery? Give us Crittendon and we will call it square."
So, yeah, out of the Pau Gasol trade, the Grizzle now have/has:
Marc Gasol (an OK, low NBA-level starter player)
Darrell Arthur (5.6 PPG)
a very low 2010 #1
whatever cash they have left
their own protected (10 or below) #1 back
The Lakers?
Gasol and two western conference titles and an NBA title...................oh, and a 2010 #2,
a 2008 #1
a 2010 #1
Aaron McKie
Javaris Crittenden
Kwame Brown
Cash
Marc Gasol
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3226203
At the time everyone who knew anything about basketball and hated the Lakers (e.g., me) groaned loudly at this horrendous giveaway. Grizzle GM Chris Wallace was quoted:
But the Grizzlies, 13-33 after finishing with the league's worst record last season, decided to clear salary cap space knowing they aren't in position to win in the next couple of years.
"We're a 13-win team, so when you're in that situation, you've got to make moves," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. "Brown was the largest expiring contact we could find in the league where we also got back an attractive young player like Crittenton ... and multiple first-round picks."
Now, what Wallace failed to state was that in 2005-06, the last year Gasol had played 80 games, the Grizzle were 49-33 and Gasol was 20/9/4.5/2.5 steals+blocks.
So Wallace was trading a guy in Gasol who was capable of all-star level play for three guys who were clearly worse (McKie, Brown, Gasol's little brother) and what was almost certain to be two very low #1 picks. They drafted Donte Green (32% with Sac Kings) and traded him draft night for Darrell Arthur (who appears to be a young Kwame Brown with his 43% shooting and 4 fouls per every blocked shot).
I would imagine that the Lakers' #1 in 2010 will be no better than Darrell Arthur.
So who was supposedly the key to the deal for Memphis? Well, per Chris Wallace, that "attractive young player" Javaris Crittendon. How "attractive" was Javaris Crittendon to the Grizzle?
Well, he was traded to Washington in return for Washington giving back a conditional #1 that Memphis had given Washington for Juan Carlos Navarro. So, basically, "You know that low #1 that you guys will never give us because Memphis never finishes out of the lottery? Give us Crittendon and we will call it square."
So, yeah, out of the Pau Gasol trade, the Grizzle now have/has:
Marc Gasol (an OK, low NBA-level starter player)
Darrell Arthur (5.6 PPG)
a very low 2010 #1
whatever cash they have left
their own protected (10 or below) #1 back
The Lakers?
Gasol and two western conference titles and an NBA title...................oh, and a 2010 #2,
2009 Free Agents Who Would Get 20+ minutes a Night Playing For Minnesota
I took the entire list from here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=freeagents-09-10.
I thought Andrew Bynum was a free agent, but he is not on the list.
Here is the Minnesota roster: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/minnesota.htm I gotta imagine that Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown and Rodney Carney are all gone (Brown's deal is listed at $700K guaranteed, but that is something you eat -- he sucked as a Wolf). Madsen MUST be encouraged to retire and become a coach or announcer. Why spend $3MM again on a guy who will log, what? 500 minutes during the year?
If you could somehow swing a 3 for 1 deal (Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman are inviting targets) involving the expiring deals of Miller, Cardinal and Gomes, you would end up with only 7 Wolves under contract:
Jefferson, Love, Foye, Brewer, Telfair, Smith, New Guy acquired in trade.
You have 3 first round picks, 2 mid-seconds and free agency to fill out your roster. Some options (better than what you got):
Marvin Williams, Pachulia, Bibby, Big Baby, Leon Powe, Ray Felton, Ben Gordon, Varejao, Ilgauskas, Kidd, The Birdman, Iverson, McDyess, Sheed, Crawford, Artest, Ariza, Kobe, Odom, Ramon Sessions, Villanueva, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Chris Wilcox, Marcin Gortat, Andre Miller, Grant Hill, Louis Amundson, Michael Finley, Turkoglu, Delfino, Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Paul Millsap, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur.
Some of these guys are restricted free agents, and one of them is Kobe, but if you have 36 guys to pick from who are better than what you have, maybe you should try to get one or two of those guys. Get two decent free agents (say, Ariza or Lee and Wilcox or Gortat) and you at least solve some problems (athletic ability, size).
It is a long, long road for the Wolves, but they have a chance to turn over half of their roster if they just make an effort to do so. When you suck as badly as the Wolves have, that should be job #1 -- get a lot of new guys.
HM
I thought Andrew Bynum was a free agent, but he is not on the list.
Here is the Minnesota roster: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/minnesota.htm I gotta imagine that Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown and Rodney Carney are all gone (Brown's deal is listed at $700K guaranteed, but that is something you eat -- he sucked as a Wolf). Madsen MUST be encouraged to retire and become a coach or announcer. Why spend $3MM again on a guy who will log, what? 500 minutes during the year?
If you could somehow swing a 3 for 1 deal (Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman are inviting targets) involving the expiring deals of Miller, Cardinal and Gomes, you would end up with only 7 Wolves under contract:
Jefferson, Love, Foye, Brewer, Telfair, Smith, New Guy acquired in trade.
You have 3 first round picks, 2 mid-seconds and free agency to fill out your roster. Some options (better than what you got):
Marvin Williams, Pachulia, Bibby, Big Baby, Leon Powe, Ray Felton, Ben Gordon, Varejao, Ilgauskas, Kidd, The Birdman, Iverson, McDyess, Sheed, Crawford, Artest, Ariza, Kobe, Odom, Ramon Sessions, Villanueva, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Chris Wilcox, Marcin Gortat, Andre Miller, Grant Hill, Louis Amundson, Michael Finley, Turkoglu, Delfino, Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Paul Millsap, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur.
Some of these guys are restricted free agents, and one of them is Kobe, but if you have 36 guys to pick from who are better than what you have, maybe you should try to get one or two of those guys. Get two decent free agents (say, Ariza or Lee and Wilcox or Gortat) and you at least solve some problems (athletic ability, size).
It is a long, long road for the Wolves, but they have a chance to turn over half of their roster if they just make an effort to do so. When you suck as badly as the Wolves have, that should be job #1 -- get a lot of new guys.
HM
Movie Review
So shoot me, but I liked the sneak preview I saw on Friday of "The Proposal." Somehow Sandra Bullock has managed to keep a very nice bod at age 45. She looks extremely well put together.
Is it ever going to displace "The Godfather" as the greatest American movie? No. Will you enjoy it if you are 35+ and go with your wife? I would say yes.
8 out of 10.
Betty White, by the way, is awesome.
Is it ever going to displace "The Godfather" as the greatest American movie? No. Will you enjoy it if you are 35+ and go with your wife? I would say yes.
8 out of 10.
Betty White, by the way, is awesome.
Megan Fox Pics
When AOL decides to feature "photos of......." generally you click on the link and see 2-5 photos of the celeb. Maybe 8.
Here is an AOL link today that you can follow to pics of Megan Fox.
http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2009/06/15/transformers-2-sexy-stars-clip/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl2link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moviefone.com%2Finsidemovies%2F2009%2F06%2F15%2Ftransformers-2-sexy-stars-clip%2F
I got up to about photo 40 and saw no signs of the photog stopping any time soon. Got a slow day? See how many of these shots are Megan Fox shots -- does it go all of the way to 500?
Here is an AOL link today that you can follow to pics of Megan Fox.
http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2009/06/15/transformers-2-sexy-stars-clip/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl2link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moviefone.com%2Finsidemovies%2F2009%2F06%2F15%2Ftransformers-2-sexy-stars-clip%2F
I got up to about photo 40 and saw no signs of the photog stopping any time soon. Got a slow day? See how many of these shots are Megan Fox shots -- does it go all of the way to 500?
Ode to Kobe Bryant -- 4 Time Champion
As anyone who has ever read my blog knows, I absolutely despise Kobe Bean Bryant. However, he just won his 4th NBA title and so I felt I should try to be gracious in defeat. (And believe me, there is no one in America, Dwight Howard and/or Stan Van Guindy included, who feels more defeated than I do right now).
So I was wondering how I could channel all of the hate I feel toward Bean into a similar level of man-love for just one entry.
I cannot bring myself to type such dreck, so I will rely upon the sappiest video of all-time to express the exact opposite of how I feel for Mr. Bryant.
Enjoy.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Joe Mauer -- Still Above .400 After June 12, Joining the Likes Of.......Tony Fernandez?!?!?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/latest.dates.above.400/content.2.html
Since 1980 there have been 15 guys before Mauer who were hitting .400 or above after June 1.
Of those 15, 10 made it through at least June 12 while hitting .400 or above. They are:
Chipper Jones -- June of 2008
Paul O'Neill -- June 16, 1994
Tony Fernandez -- June 29, 1999
Andres Gallaraga -- July 5, 1993
Rod Carew -- July 14, 1983
Tony Gwynn -- July 14, 1997
Larry Walker -- July 18, 1997
Nomar Garciaparra -- July 20, 2000
John Olerud -- August 2, 1993
George Brett -- September 19, 1980
Mauer is at .415 as I write this (2 for 3 with a homer today). So barring a 20 inning game at Wrigley, Joe is going to be above .400 after today.
As far as his search for a 3rd batting title -- after today Joe will have about 171 plate apperances and the Twins will have played 63 games. So he would be 24 plate appearances behind what he needs (63 games times 3.1 plate appearances = 195.3 apperances required).
As I noted before, when Joe plays he generally gets 4.3 plate apperances a game. If the Twins play 60 games and Joe plays 50, he will need 195+186(60 games time 3.1) plate apperances = 381 plate appearances needed.
Joe, by playing in those 50 games will have 171 + (50 times 4.3) plate appearances= 171 + 215 = 386 plate appearances.
So, barring injury, by Game 123 Joe should qualify for the batting title.
HM
Since 1980 there have been 15 guys before Mauer who were hitting .400 or above after June 1.
Of those 15, 10 made it through at least June 12 while hitting .400 or above. They are:
Chipper Jones -- June of 2008
Paul O'Neill -- June 16, 1994
Tony Fernandez -- June 29, 1999
Andres Gallaraga -- July 5, 1993
Rod Carew -- July 14, 1983
Tony Gwynn -- July 14, 1997
Larry Walker -- July 18, 1997
Nomar Garciaparra -- July 20, 2000
John Olerud -- August 2, 1993
George Brett -- September 19, 1980
Mauer is at .415 as I write this (2 for 3 with a homer today). So barring a 20 inning game at Wrigley, Joe is going to be above .400 after today.
As far as his search for a 3rd batting title -- after today Joe will have about 171 plate apperances and the Twins will have played 63 games. So he would be 24 plate appearances behind what he needs (63 games times 3.1 plate appearances = 195.3 apperances required).
As I noted before, when Joe plays he generally gets 4.3 plate apperances a game. If the Twins play 60 games and Joe plays 50, he will need 195+186(60 games time 3.1) plate apperances = 381 plate appearances needed.
Joe, by playing in those 50 games will have 171 + (50 times 4.3) plate appearances= 171 + 215 = 386 plate appearances.
So, barring injury, by Game 123 Joe should qualify for the batting title.
HM
Is That A Baby In Your Pants, Or Are You......EWWWWWWWWWW It Is a Baby!
http://www.parentdish.com/2009/06/10/mom-gives-birth-in-her-pants?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl7link6http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2009%2F06%2F10%2Fmom-gives-birth-in-her-pants
Men with small hands and feet need not apply to, er, date this woman. "Like throwing a hot dog down a hallway."
Men with small hands and feet need not apply to, er, date this woman. "Like throwing a hot dog down a hallway."
Goodbye to Analog TV
http://www.popeater.com/article/friday-marks-final-signoff-for-analog-tv/524641
If my two little portable sets are any indicator, the new digital signal is extremely weak and, basically, a piece of shit.
So the poor and the rural get fucked over once again so.........what? So that we don't run out of emergency frequencies? Is this really a huge problem? Do you read in the paper every day "Another guy dies from lack of emergency frequencies"??? Hey, ya know what, we have these things called cell phones today. Come in pretty handy. We also have 911 for emergencies.
But the die has been cast. So the TV signal that served me so well from 1964 to 2009 (with the exception of this NBA final) dies today.
RIP old friend.
HM
If my two little portable sets are any indicator, the new digital signal is extremely weak and, basically, a piece of shit.
So the poor and the rural get fucked over once again so.........what? So that we don't run out of emergency frequencies? Is this really a huge problem? Do you read in the paper every day "Another guy dies from lack of emergency frequencies"??? Hey, ya know what, we have these things called cell phones today. Come in pretty handy. We also have 911 for emergencies.
But the die has been cast. So the TV signal that served me so well from 1964 to 2009 (with the exception of this NBA final) dies today.
RIP old friend.
HM
Kobe Versus LeBron
Kobe Versus the Magic: 43% shooting, 33 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2.0 steals plus blocks, regularly guards Courtney Lee
LeBron Versus the Magic: 49% shooting, 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8 assists, 2.4 steals+blocks, regularly guarded Turkoglu and Lewis.
Conclusion -- had LeBron played at Kobe's level, the Cavs would have been swept in 4.
HM
LeBron Versus the Magic: 49% shooting, 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8 assists, 2.4 steals+blocks, regularly guarded Turkoglu and Lewis.
Conclusion -- had LeBron played at Kobe's level, the Cavs would have been swept in 4.
HM
God Takes a Vacation -- Lakers and Devil Lead 3-1
I have been watching the NBA finals since 1974. I honestly cannot remember a series in which a team has had a layup to win one game and 2 free throws to win another and pissed them BOTH away. Sure, you had Magic throwing the ball to Gerald Henderson, but he didn't do it twice. You had Nick Anderson blowing the 4 free throws, but Orlando basically collapsed thereafter. Even the Lakers' blown games against Boston last year involved lengthy collapses not games that could have been so clearly won with under 12 seconds to play.
I recall Detroit beating Portland in........1990? That was similar, but that also involved great work by Dumars and Vinnie Johnson. Not sure what Lakers did a great job in having Courtney Lee blow a layup and Dwight Howard clang two free throws.
I really cannot believe that the Magic is/are down 3-1. At WORST it should be 2-2, and if God had not forsaken true basketball fans everywhere outside of SoCal, it should be 3-1 Magic.
And of course driving in I heard The Fray's "You Found Me" -- a song about God not answering your prayers and then you meeting him on the corner while he is smoking a cigarette. Here is what Stan Van Gundy must have been thinking as he failed to sleep last night:
I found God
On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west Was all but won
All alone Smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?" He said, "Ask anything."
Where were you When everything was falling apart?
All my days Were spent by the telephone It never rang
And all I needed was a call It never came
To the corner of First and Amistad
Lost and insecure You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
I recall Detroit beating Portland in........1990? That was similar, but that also involved great work by Dumars and Vinnie Johnson. Not sure what Lakers did a great job in having Courtney Lee blow a layup and Dwight Howard clang two free throws.
I really cannot believe that the Magic is/are down 3-1. At WORST it should be 2-2, and if God had not forsaken true basketball fans everywhere outside of SoCal, it should be 3-1 Magic.
And of course driving in I heard The Fray's "You Found Me" -- a song about God not answering your prayers and then you meeting him on the corner while he is smoking a cigarette. Here is what Stan Van Gundy must have been thinking as he failed to sleep last night:
I found God
On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west Was all but won
All alone Smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?" He said, "Ask anything."
Where were you When everything was falling apart?
All my days Were spent by the telephone It never rang
And all I needed was a call It never came
To the corner of First and Amistad
Lost and insecure You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Carrie Prejean -- Fired
Tami Farrell (pictured as Miss Malibu -- dude!) will take over.
Prejean apparently learned she could make a ton more money as a right-wing shill, so she and her man-made cans are moving (well, she is moving, those cans probably will stay pretty rigid) on to bigger and more conservative things.
NBA Mock Draft -- Funny
http://www.nbadraft.net/2009mock_draft
1) While it will cost me a lunch bet, I think it is HILARIOUS that Utah is said to pick Tyler Hansbrough at #20. "Hmmm, let's see, need a white guy, need a white guy. Mark of Cain, mark of Cain."
Wow.
2) Wolves select in Round 2 -- Robert Dozier. I know where my son is going for SAT prep.
3) DuJuan Blair moving way up the draft board. Did someone actually hire Mel Kiper as their draft analyst? Great D-end, never gonna be a starting NBA player -- top 15 pick???
1) While it will cost me a lunch bet, I think it is HILARIOUS that Utah is said to pick Tyler Hansbrough at #20. "Hmmm, let's see, need a white guy, need a white guy. Mark of Cain, mark of Cain."
Wow.
2) Wolves select in Round 2 -- Robert Dozier. I know where my son is going for SAT prep.
3) DuJuan Blair moving way up the draft board. Did someone actually hire Mel Kiper as their draft analyst? Great D-end, never gonna be a starting NBA player -- top 15 pick???
Paul Westphal To Coach the Kings.....For Not Much Money
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4247234
Much as I would like to haul out my favorite phrase of "blow the dust off" Paul Westphal, I gotta say, this is a pretty solid hire.
Look, Eddie "Roll the ball out on the floor" Jordan got a 3 year $8MM deal. Is he a better coach than Paul Westphal? Not in my opinion. So you get a better coach with a history of greater success and you have to pay him only $3MM over 2 years. If he does well, he has contractually-guranteed incentives to get more pay.
There are only about 8 NBA coaches who you really should break the bank for. Then there are about 12 who you can hire and say, "Yeah, OK, not horrible." And then after that it is basically just a crapfest. (Reggie Theus anyone? Leonard Hamilton? Randy Wittman? Dwane Casey?).
So where does this leave Kevin McHale? Answer -- it destroys his bargaining power. There is no reason for David Kahn to want him around, and now Kahn can point to a comparable-market situation where a coach with a better career mark than McHale took WAY below market value to coach in the NBA. McHale's first proposal, apparently, was that he wanted the 5 year, $21MM deal Flip Saunders got in Washington. I would imagine that after Kahn got done saying, "Yeah, and I would like to shower every morning with Salma Hayek" (thanks to "Get Fuzzy" for the premise of that joke) he mentioned to McHale how no one wanted him around, but if he would work for nothing we might be interested.
NBA Draft, June 25, Wolves currently slotted to pick Tyreke Evans (which I can live with). Moving way up -- Jonny Flynn. Plummeting -- Gerald Henderson.
Much as I would like to haul out my favorite phrase of "blow the dust off" Paul Westphal, I gotta say, this is a pretty solid hire.
Look, Eddie "Roll the ball out on the floor" Jordan got a 3 year $8MM deal. Is he a better coach than Paul Westphal? Not in my opinion. So you get a better coach with a history of greater success and you have to pay him only $3MM over 2 years. If he does well, he has contractually-guranteed incentives to get more pay.
There are only about 8 NBA coaches who you really should break the bank for. Then there are about 12 who you can hire and say, "Yeah, OK, not horrible." And then after that it is basically just a crapfest. (Reggie Theus anyone? Leonard Hamilton? Randy Wittman? Dwane Casey?).
So where does this leave Kevin McHale? Answer -- it destroys his bargaining power. There is no reason for David Kahn to want him around, and now Kahn can point to a comparable-market situation where a coach with a better career mark than McHale took WAY below market value to coach in the NBA. McHale's first proposal, apparently, was that he wanted the 5 year, $21MM deal Flip Saunders got in Washington. I would imagine that after Kahn got done saying, "Yeah, and I would like to shower every morning with Salma Hayek" (thanks to "Get Fuzzy" for the premise of that joke) he mentioned to McHale how no one wanted him around, but if he would work for nothing we might be interested.
NBA Draft, June 25, Wolves currently slotted to pick Tyreke Evans (which I can live with). Moving way up -- Jonny Flynn. Plummeting -- Gerald Henderson.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Belated Tribute -- Randy Smith, Dead at 60
While I was in trial, one of my boyhood basketball icons, Randy Smith, died while working out on a treadmill at a casino.
I think it is fair to say that my love of basketball came almost entirely from watching the Buffalo Braves play in the mid-70s. The Braves would from time to time bring in good players like Jim MacMillan, but the team really just had two top-flight NBA players -- Bob McAdoo and Randy Smith.
Smith was an all-American athlete at Division III Buffalo State in both basketball and soccer. Smith would petition the Braves year after year for permission to play in the NASL, only to be denied.
Smith held the NBA record for most consecutive games played, and he still holds that record if you count non-virgin players only. I will always imagine Randy flying down the right side and going in for the slam.....or pulling up from some undetermined distance (no three point line) and jacking up a LONG two-pointer.
If you take a 5-year stretch at the top of his game, Smith had a 5-year average of 20+points, 5+ assists, 5+ rebounds and about 2 steals per game.
While today's game is certainly slower and involves less possessions, I would doubt that there are 3 players in the league this one single year who put up stats in all categories to equal Randy Smith's 5-year averages.
So, to whom in today's game could we compare Randy Smith?
Top 30 player, occasional all-star (once all-star MVP), great defensive guard, languished in a small market for a team who would reach the playoffs but not go far any year.......???????
My best comparisons -- Joe Johnson, Jason Terry, Andre Miller.
And he was a young tween's hero back in the mid-70s. RIP, Randy.
Monday, June 08, 2009
And Thus, The Texas Courts Will All Shut Down for a Few Years
http://money.aol.com/article/court-says-judges-must-avoid-appearance/518155
Wow.
I kid you not. Based upon my experience with the Texas state courts, no corporation in Texas will ever be able to appear before the Texas state courts until the next election cycle. The implicit bribing of judges through campaign contributions is rampant in the South. I really do not know how a corporation sued in certain counties in the South will EVER get a judge appointed. The 5-4 decision does mention that not all contributions will definitely result in required recusal, but.........come on........ Does it make you feel any better as a litigant that the petrochemical company you are suing gave only, say, $10,000 to your judge?
I love how the 4 dissenters are right-wing Republicans. The issue is basically the implicit bribing of judges. Are Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas really on record as saying, "Yeah, go ahead!"???? This is a pretty bleak day in your career as a "public servant." Roberts apparently recognized that campaign contributions are prospective bribes, yet he comes to the conclusion that "the cure may be worse than the disease." Because............????????? This will lead to less public bribing of judges?
Will Magic Fans Remember Courtney Lee 2009 as They Remember Nick Anderson 1995?
I cannot locate actual video of Nick's 4 blown free throws in Game 1, 1995, but there can be no doubt that if Nick hits even 1 of the 4 the Magic almost certainly prevail in Game 1, Shaq and company do not completely lose their poise, and the Magic perhaps become a dynasty for 8-10 years.
But I do have the Courtney Lee footage:
I am fairly certain that Courtney Cox-Arquette could have made this layup. Lee also later missed an 18 inch finger roll in the lane after Gasol fell to the floor.
But I do have the Courtney Lee footage:
I am fairly certain that Courtney Cox-Arquette could have made this layup. Lee also later missed an 18 inch finger roll in the lane after Gasol fell to the floor.
Robert Dozier and Memphis -- Not Good At Cheating
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Robert-Dozier-s-SAT-scores-are-kind-of-hilarious?urn=ncaab,168367
Since we have so many midwesterners here, let's make sure everyone is clear. Outside of the Midwest (where basically everyone takes the ACT only):
-- high school students take a "pre" SAT known as the PSAT. It does give you your qualifying score for the National Merit Scholarship candidates (top of the top -- e.g., me in 1981).
Robert Dozier posted a score in the 4th percentile on the PSAT. This means that 95.9% of people who took the test did better than Dozier. 3% did worse, and about 1% did the same.
Conclusion -- Robert Dozier did about as well as could be expected of a guy who got a C minus average in high school -- a high school that desperately needed to keep him eligible for basketball.
-- Most high schoolers then take the general SAT test which contains fairly easy math questions and a language section that is just flat out a bitch. Most future quality engineering students (math guys, not English guys) generally struggle to get 500 on the language section. A score of 600 for a male is very difficult to achieve. http://www.freekidstrivia.com/sat_vocabulary/
Dozier, despite a high school transcript and a PSAT score that would label him as barely competent, scored a 590 language and a 670 math.
How hard is this? Well, I would have received a National Merit Scholarship had I attended Michigan State (my second choice) and I was one of the 20 smartest kids to enter SUNY Buffalo the year I did (I got a scholarship based upon that fact). I took the SAT twice, both time finishing in the 95th percentile:
I -- Language -- 680, math 670 (father told me to retake)
II -- Language 640, math 720
So Robert Dozier scored only 100 points worse than I did on the SAT. He TIED one of my math scores!!!!!!!!!
I would imagine that the combined 1260 for Dozier was around the 90th percentile score for his year. Very few people are good enough at math and language that they can post a 1260 combined. Men generally do better on the math, women on the language.
So, Dozier obviously cheated on his SAT. How? Could he have been provided the answer key and taken the test himself remembering the correct answers? No way. Sorry. If you are in the 4th percentile nationally, you can't remember well enough to cheat that well.
Obviously someone took the test for Dozier. And they probably weren't informed that he was a basketball player who was just supposed to slide by into school at around, say, 900. You need plausible deniability, so the kid was probably told that he was taking the SAT for someone who needed to get into college "the kid doesn't need a great score, just a good one."
Unfortunately, no one told the hired cheater what "good" was. You could give Robert Dozier the SAT once a day for an entire year and he would never approach 1260.
So, OK, we know Dozier cheated. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4233718 So how is Memphis to blame?
You take a kid who obviously cheated on his college board scores. A kid GEORGIA!!!!!!! would not enroll. And then your AD says NOT that he was somehow fooled by Dozier or that he somehow believed Dozier was clean. What he says is that Memphis was perfectly justified in taking Dozier. And how about Derrick Rose's suspect SAT scores? Certainly justified in taking those as well.
Let's face it -- Memphis was an outlaw program back in the 1980s and they tried to clean it up and it didn't work. So they just gave up and went back to their old ways of admitting non-students who they knew were suspect.
And this gets Calipari the Kentucky job????????? I can see we have come a long way since Norm Sloan's cheating his way to a title in the 1970s.........oh wait........I mean "the opposite of that."
HM
Since we have so many midwesterners here, let's make sure everyone is clear. Outside of the Midwest (where basically everyone takes the ACT only):
-- high school students take a "pre" SAT known as the PSAT. It does give you your qualifying score for the National Merit Scholarship candidates (top of the top -- e.g., me in 1981).
Robert Dozier posted a score in the 4th percentile on the PSAT. This means that 95.9% of people who took the test did better than Dozier. 3% did worse, and about 1% did the same.
Conclusion -- Robert Dozier did about as well as could be expected of a guy who got a C minus average in high school -- a high school that desperately needed to keep him eligible for basketball.
-- Most high schoolers then take the general SAT test which contains fairly easy math questions and a language section that is just flat out a bitch. Most future quality engineering students (math guys, not English guys) generally struggle to get 500 on the language section. A score of 600 for a male is very difficult to achieve. http://www.freekidstrivia.com/sat_vocabulary/
Dozier, despite a high school transcript and a PSAT score that would label him as barely competent, scored a 590 language and a 670 math.
How hard is this? Well, I would have received a National Merit Scholarship had I attended Michigan State (my second choice) and I was one of the 20 smartest kids to enter SUNY Buffalo the year I did (I got a scholarship based upon that fact). I took the SAT twice, both time finishing in the 95th percentile:
I -- Language -- 680, math 670 (father told me to retake)
II -- Language 640, math 720
So Robert Dozier scored only 100 points worse than I did on the SAT. He TIED one of my math scores!!!!!!!!!
I would imagine that the combined 1260 for Dozier was around the 90th percentile score for his year. Very few people are good enough at math and language that they can post a 1260 combined. Men generally do better on the math, women on the language.
So, Dozier obviously cheated on his SAT. How? Could he have been provided the answer key and taken the test himself remembering the correct answers? No way. Sorry. If you are in the 4th percentile nationally, you can't remember well enough to cheat that well.
Obviously someone took the test for Dozier. And they probably weren't informed that he was a basketball player who was just supposed to slide by into school at around, say, 900. You need plausible deniability, so the kid was probably told that he was taking the SAT for someone who needed to get into college "the kid doesn't need a great score, just a good one."
Unfortunately, no one told the hired cheater what "good" was. You could give Robert Dozier the SAT once a day for an entire year and he would never approach 1260.
So, OK, we know Dozier cheated. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4233718 So how is Memphis to blame?
You take a kid who obviously cheated on his college board scores. A kid GEORGIA!!!!!!! would not enroll. And then your AD says NOT that he was somehow fooled by Dozier or that he somehow believed Dozier was clean. What he says is that Memphis was perfectly justified in taking Dozier. And how about Derrick Rose's suspect SAT scores? Certainly justified in taking those as well.
Let's face it -- Memphis was an outlaw program back in the 1980s and they tried to clean it up and it didn't work. So they just gave up and went back to their old ways of admitting non-students who they knew were suspect.
And this gets Calipari the Kentucky job????????? I can see we have come a long way since Norm Sloan's cheating his way to a title in the 1970s.........oh wait........I mean "the opposite of that."
HM
Susan Boyle and Lloyd Daniels
There are people in the world with superstar talent who never become superstars. It is rare that these people are actually "undiscovered." People have seen them, and important people have commented on their ability.
Quite often the problem is that the person has so many troubles that they really are not worth the constant effort required to make them a mainstream star.
One of the problems we see with Susan Boyle is that she is emotionally (and perhaps mentally) unstable, and (according to reports I have seen) reads at a 3rd grade level. While there are instances where people are dragged kicking and screaming into stardom despite being uneducated (Dexter Manley), it generally helps you to succeed if you can support your own image/career.
In the 1980s, Lloyd Daniels was regarded as the greatest NYC player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Some called him "Magic Johnson with a jump shot." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Daniels But he never became an NBA star or even a consistent NBA contributor. This despite the fact that if you review his game log you will find that he had multiple games over the course of his NBA career where he scored over 20 points. Lloyd Daniels -- emotional issues, addiction issues, read at a third grade level.
Despite his many troubles, Lloyd Daniels evetually made it to the spotlight in the NBA where he.......did OK........ Despite her many troubles, Susan Boyle has now made it to the point where she will get a recording deal. Will she fare any better in her chosen field than Daniels did in his? I would guess "yes." Why? Because the hardest thing in the world for someone who is undereducated and not real stable is to do something consistently over an extended period of time. To truly succeed in his field, Daniels needed to be able to do that (play 82 games, play every other night). Boyle will not. All she needs to do is hold it together long enough to record an album and/or a couple singles that people will buy and her legacy is complete. Heck, even if you can hold it together once every 5-7 years, you can be revered in the music business (ask Tom Scholz).
Friday, June 05, 2009
Auto-Erotic Strangulation
http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/05/carradines-family-suspicious-of-death/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl2link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmz.com%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Fcarradines-family-suspicious-of-death%2F
AKA "auto-erotic asphyxiation."
http://www.chacha.com/topic/inxs/how-did-michael-hutchinson-of-inxs-die
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoerotic_asphyxiation
and I stumbled across a RACK in my research, but not a good one like K always offers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_Aware_Consensual_Kink
AKA "auto-erotic asphyxiation."
http://www.chacha.com/topic/inxs/how-did-michael-hutchinson-of-inxs-die
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoerotic_asphyxiation
and I stumbled across a RACK in my research, but not a good one like K always offers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_Aware_Consensual_Kink
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Trial Filler
Since I am in trial all week (arbitration actually), I provide the following filler of "Good Skin/Bad Skin."
http://www.aolhealth.com/healthy-living/beauty-skin-care/celebrities-with-best-skin?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl7link5http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fhealthy-living%2Fbeauty-skin-care%2Fcelebrities-with-best-skin
Warning -- those who love either Mel Gibson or Teri Hatcher would probably be well advised NOT to review these pictures!!!!!!!!
http://www.aolhealth.com/healthy-living/beauty-skin-care/celebrities-with-best-skin?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl7link5http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fhealthy-living%2Fbeauty-skin-care%2Fcelebrities-with-best-skin
Warning -- those who love either Mel Gibson or Teri Hatcher would probably be well advised NOT to review these pictures!!!!!!!!
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