It's one of the juiciest words in sports - "Rumor." It gets fans jacked up, adrenaline pumping, and in many cases, has the ability to cripple your work day and cause you to focus all your time surfing the internet looking for confirmation.
Free Agency period and Trade Deadline are words that are typically synonymous with rumors. With the NBA free agency period starting tomorrow (July 1st), there are rumors-a-plenty around the internet. The latest one in my world here in Atlanta is Josh Smith for Amare Stoudamire. The minute I read that rumor I began to check every website I have bookmarked in my "Sports" folder to see if there is any truth to it. In this day of blogs, columnists, talk shows, google, I'm convinced if you search long and hard enough, you will find whatever you want to believe "might happen" for your team.
Rumors give fans hope for the most part. They signify change and make you believe for just a few minutes that the general manager of your team actually has a pulse. Rumors mean change is coming. However, rumors can also give fans ulcers. Depending on the sport and the city you live in, that "change" can provoke thoughts like, "here we go again." Try being a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Every time a player gets good, the rumors start that the front office is going to move that star player to a contender. Conversely, if you are a Yankee fan, every Winter you get to read rumors that your team is going after "All Star (insert position and name here)."
For every trade rumor or free agent signing rumor there is a fan that "loves it" and a fan that "hates it." That's what makes sports so compelling. One guys trash is another guy's treasure. In the span of 20 minutes, I heard 4 callers on the local sports station in Atlanta be divided down the middle about bringing Amare Stoudamire to Atlanta for Josh Smith.
There is also something very satisfying amongst friends when you are the first one to break a sports story. Once a rumor becomes "fact", it's a fierce competition to see who can get the email out first with the news. There is a sense of accomplishment, achievement. In your own sad way, you feel like you broke a story. The reality is, you were the one guy in your circle of friends that clearly wasn't doing much work in the office and probably had more time on your hands than your boss would like.
So over these next few weeks of NBA Free Agency period, I urge you all to scour the internet. Read the rumors freely and dream about what could be for your favorite team.
Time to get back to my commercial real estate world. Rumor has it, my boss doesn't want us blogging at work......
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Random Thoughts From the Weekend
I had my father in town this past weekend. Always a good time, but I will be honest, 3 days is plenty. By Sunday after lunch, I'm looking at my watch thinking, "What time is his flight?" Is it rude to drop him off at the airport 3 hours early? Will he buy my story that the Atlanta airport is a zoo and on Sundays you really need to give yourself about 3 hours to get through security etc..?"
Needless to say, here are some random thoughts from the weekend that passed:
- By Wednesday of this week, will anyone be talking about USA Soccer, until the World Cup 2010? Will FIFA ban those really annoying horns the fans blow for THE ENTIRE MATCH?
- Watching Tim Wakefield throw a knuckle ball live is fun for about 1 inning. After that, it's pretty boring in person. Especially when its 96 degrees outside, and you're sitting motionless in the stands praying for some excitement....
- Is there a more classic/traditional order at a steakhouse than: Caesar salad, filet, side of some type of potato? Perfect. That was my meal Saturday night at BLT Steak in Atlanta.
- Interleague play works. Crowds continue to show up in baseball stadiums all summer long for the rare chance to see players/teams that don't roll thru town otherwise.
- What caused my current cold? Too much air conditioning or sleeping with the fan on?
- I get the sense, this year's Wimbledon is a battle of "who want's to face Roger Federer in the Finals?"
- Sad news about Yao Ming - out for all of next year....career in jeopardy!?! Devastating news to the Rockets franchise!
- Watched TAKEN on DVD (had seen it at the movies). "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREAT SCENES....
- Fighting a cold, keeping this short...on way to the gym. Is that smart? Never know if working out is bad when you are fighting a cold?
I will have better stuff later in the week..i promise..it's the dog days of summer for cryin out loud!
Needless to say, here are some random thoughts from the weekend that passed:
- By Wednesday of this week, will anyone be talking about USA Soccer, until the World Cup 2010? Will FIFA ban those really annoying horns the fans blow for THE ENTIRE MATCH?
- Watching Tim Wakefield throw a knuckle ball live is fun for about 1 inning. After that, it's pretty boring in person. Especially when its 96 degrees outside, and you're sitting motionless in the stands praying for some excitement....
- Is there a more classic/traditional order at a steakhouse than: Caesar salad, filet, side of some type of potato? Perfect. That was my meal Saturday night at BLT Steak in Atlanta.
- Interleague play works. Crowds continue to show up in baseball stadiums all summer long for the rare chance to see players/teams that don't roll thru town otherwise.
- What caused my current cold? Too much air conditioning or sleeping with the fan on?
- I get the sense, this year's Wimbledon is a battle of "who want's to face Roger Federer in the Finals?"
- Sad news about Yao Ming - out for all of next year....career in jeopardy!?! Devastating news to the Rockets franchise!
- Watched TAKEN on DVD (had seen it at the movies). "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREAT SCENES....
- Fighting a cold, keeping this short...on way to the gym. Is that smart? Never know if working out is bad when you are fighting a cold?
I will have better stuff later in the week..i promise..it's the dog days of summer for cryin out loud!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thoughts from the NBA Draft
Rather than do the typical team grades for each team, I will offer up a few quick comments on things that stood out from last night's draft:
My first thought was, the chair Mark Jones was sitting in looked really big for him. I find Stuart Scott to be rather annoying and his left eye is getting tougher and tougher to look as each month passes by. I would have liked to have seen Hubie Brown on the coverage last night. Mark Jackson didn't appear comfortable. Perhaps another college coach on the set would have been a nice compliment to Jay Bilas too.
The New York city crowd was in it's usual rare form. Right on cue they booed the Knicks draft selection (apparently that's a yearly right of passage for Knicks fans). The biggest chant of the night was "Adam Silver! Adam Silver!" He is the nerdy, bald-headed NBA Deputy Commission left with the responsibility of announcing the 2nd round selections, while David Stern nestles up to the Madison Square Garden Bar for the rest of the night. I was a little disappointed to not see David Stern announce the first selection of the draft wearing a white glove on his hand to honor the passing of Michael Jackson.
How about Brandon Jennings?!? His agent Bill Duffy advised him not to show up to the Draft festivities because he couldn't guarantee him a 1st round selection. So Brandon watched the draft from his hotel room. Well, Brandon got selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks and, man would I have liked to been in the hotel room when that happened. You can just see Bill Duffy calling up there, "Brandon, put the room service burger down, put on that suit I bought you, and get your a*s in a cab immediately!" Next I envision Bill Duffy in the back room begging, pleading with David Stern to allow his "lottery client" a chance to walk the stage, shake Mr. Stern's hand and sit in the really big chair with Mark Jones. This kid looks like trouble already. He had a sh*t-eating grin on his face and when asked if he regretted playing overseas, just said, "I still went in the top10." Welcome to the NBA Mr. Jennings, now meet one of the toughest, hard-nosed coaches in the league - your coach - Scott Skiles.
Obviously the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to make up for lost time at the point guard position. After taking Rubio and Flynn back-2-back, coaches around the league began looking through their playbooks: "Hmmm....a 2-point guard offense? I can't seem to find the pages for that one." Time will tell how that works out. Considering Rubio can't shoot, I would expect Flynn to play more 2-guard. This could be genius or a complete disaster with ego's clashing and one of them demanding a trade by Christmas.
Michael Jordan, once again had a questionable draft night - selecting Duke's Gerald Henderson. Although it wasn't hard to predict since rumor has it, Jordan only watched 2 players work out for the franchise, one was Henderson, the other was believed to be Adam Morrison's brother.
Ty Lawson learning under Chauncey Billups excites me. Terrance Williams replacing Vince Carter in New Jersey intrigues me. Three years from now we might say Toronto got a steal landing DeMar DeRozan at #9. Minnesota swung and missed with Rashad McCants...in the on deck circle: Wayne Ellington.
There are plenty of 2nd round picks that could be of some real value to a lot of teams. I like Sam Young with Memphis and DeJuan "keep me away from the burritos" Blair in San Antonio. Jodie Meeks should have stayed at Kentucky - as he went #41 to the Milwaukee Bucks. With Larry Bird going "white" in the first round, selecting Tyler Hansbrough, he had to address his PG situation in the 2nd round, and probably did as well as he could snagging AJ Price from UCONN. The last player selected in this year's draft is a hell of an athlete - Robert Dozier, going to Miami. D.Wade better point this kid right to the weight room.
Like most drafts, we can't grade this one until probably 3 years from now. Free Agency officially begins July 1st. Until then, it's baseball and the smell of college football right around the corner.
My first thought was, the chair Mark Jones was sitting in looked really big for him. I find Stuart Scott to be rather annoying and his left eye is getting tougher and tougher to look as each month passes by. I would have liked to have seen Hubie Brown on the coverage last night. Mark Jackson didn't appear comfortable. Perhaps another college coach on the set would have been a nice compliment to Jay Bilas too.
The New York city crowd was in it's usual rare form. Right on cue they booed the Knicks draft selection (apparently that's a yearly right of passage for Knicks fans). The biggest chant of the night was "Adam Silver! Adam Silver!" He is the nerdy, bald-headed NBA Deputy Commission left with the responsibility of announcing the 2nd round selections, while David Stern nestles up to the Madison Square Garden Bar for the rest of the night. I was a little disappointed to not see David Stern announce the first selection of the draft wearing a white glove on his hand to honor the passing of Michael Jackson.
How about Brandon Jennings?!? His agent Bill Duffy advised him not to show up to the Draft festivities because he couldn't guarantee him a 1st round selection. So Brandon watched the draft from his hotel room. Well, Brandon got selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks and, man would I have liked to been in the hotel room when that happened. You can just see Bill Duffy calling up there, "Brandon, put the room service burger down, put on that suit I bought you, and get your a*s in a cab immediately!" Next I envision Bill Duffy in the back room begging, pleading with David Stern to allow his "lottery client" a chance to walk the stage, shake Mr. Stern's hand and sit in the really big chair with Mark Jones. This kid looks like trouble already. He had a sh*t-eating grin on his face and when asked if he regretted playing overseas, just said, "I still went in the top10." Welcome to the NBA Mr. Jennings, now meet one of the toughest, hard-nosed coaches in the league - your coach - Scott Skiles.
Obviously the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to make up for lost time at the point guard position. After taking Rubio and Flynn back-2-back, coaches around the league began looking through their playbooks: "Hmmm....a 2-point guard offense? I can't seem to find the pages for that one." Time will tell how that works out. Considering Rubio can't shoot, I would expect Flynn to play more 2-guard. This could be genius or a complete disaster with ego's clashing and one of them demanding a trade by Christmas.
Michael Jordan, once again had a questionable draft night - selecting Duke's Gerald Henderson. Although it wasn't hard to predict since rumor has it, Jordan only watched 2 players work out for the franchise, one was Henderson, the other was believed to be Adam Morrison's brother.
Ty Lawson learning under Chauncey Billups excites me. Terrance Williams replacing Vince Carter in New Jersey intrigues me. Three years from now we might say Toronto got a steal landing DeMar DeRozan at #9. Minnesota swung and missed with Rashad McCants...in the on deck circle: Wayne Ellington.
There are plenty of 2nd round picks that could be of some real value to a lot of teams. I like Sam Young with Memphis and DeJuan "keep me away from the burritos" Blair in San Antonio. Jodie Meeks should have stayed at Kentucky - as he went #41 to the Milwaukee Bucks. With Larry Bird going "white" in the first round, selecting Tyler Hansbrough, he had to address his PG situation in the 2nd round, and probably did as well as he could snagging AJ Price from UCONN. The last player selected in this year's draft is a hell of an athlete - Robert Dozier, going to Miami. D.Wade better point this kid right to the weight room.
Like most drafts, we can't grade this one until probably 3 years from now. Free Agency officially begins July 1st. Until then, it's baseball and the smell of college football right around the corner.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
NBA Moves
A couple of NBA "pre-draft" trades went down the past 24 hours. The one getting the most headlines is clearly the Phoenix Suns sending Shaq to the Cavs for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. My initial reaction to this is 'boring.' I'm not sure the Shaq the Cavs are getting today is enough to get them over the hump in the East, let alone win an NBA title.
I understand the Cavs thought process. Their two biggest competitors in the East feature guys named Garnett and Howard, so yes, it was imperative to improve their front court this summer. However, this move almost comes off as desperate. The Cavs know that LeBron is a free agent next summer so their "knee jerk reaction" was to go after Shaq with hopes he still has some "diesel" left in his tank. This will certainly allow them to change their offense to a more "inside-out" style. However, it's critical that LeBron improves his outside shot for this style to be effective.
If the Cavs can turn this into a title run, Shaquille O'Neal will have won championships with arguably the 3 best players in the game today: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James.
The other move made late yesterday afternoon was the Atlanta Hawks acquiring 'gunner' Jamal Crawford from the Golden State Warriors for Craig (I refuse to call him Speedy) Claxton and Acie Law.
As an unabashed die hard Hawks fan, I like this move. If anything, I like it because of the 'addition by subtraction' philosophy. The Hawks found a team to take Craig Claxton and his $5 million dollar salary off their hands. They also got rid of another Billy Knight Lottery Bust Special - Acie Law. Acie, for whatever reason, never gained his confidence under Mike Woodson. Even in his second year, he would go into games and play tentative on the floor.
Now, Jamal Crawford is a guy who certainly doesn't lack confidence. He's what you call a "pure scorer." He has no problem dropping 20 points per night and occasionally will burn you with a 40 point outing. Is he a savior for the Hawks? Absolutely not. Is he a piece for the Hawks? Definitely. He is going to a team with a reluctant star in Joe Johnson. Joe is a guy who doesn't command the ball and at times appears to shy away from big moments. Jamal Crawford is the exact opposite. With the game on the line, Crawford will want the ball and can create better off the dribble than Joe. Joe should like this move, as it should decrease the amount of double teams he typically sees throughout a game.
The reality is the Hawks were not going to resign Mike Bibby. He (and his agent) probably wanted a longer contract than the Hawks were willing to give him, at this stage in his career. I still think the Hawks may draft a point guard in tonight's draft. This allows them to look at a player like Jeff Teague and not have to enter next season with the pressure to start him right away. The Hawks are a playoff team. They don't have the luxury of trotting out a rookie point guard and saying, "we're rebuilding this year." This franchise had been rebuilding since the Omni was demolished in 1997.
The draft is tonight. While it may lack star power, I think we may see some creative moves by teams tonight. Many teams will start planning for next summer's free agent class, and some will acquire 'pieces' to solidify their playoff strength for the upcoming season.
Look for draft reaction tomorrow right here on Monday Morning PG.
I understand the Cavs thought process. Their two biggest competitors in the East feature guys named Garnett and Howard, so yes, it was imperative to improve their front court this summer. However, this move almost comes off as desperate. The Cavs know that LeBron is a free agent next summer so their "knee jerk reaction" was to go after Shaq with hopes he still has some "diesel" left in his tank. This will certainly allow them to change their offense to a more "inside-out" style. However, it's critical that LeBron improves his outside shot for this style to be effective.
If the Cavs can turn this into a title run, Shaquille O'Neal will have won championships with arguably the 3 best players in the game today: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James.
The other move made late yesterday afternoon was the Atlanta Hawks acquiring 'gunner' Jamal Crawford from the Golden State Warriors for Craig (I refuse to call him Speedy) Claxton and Acie Law.
As an unabashed die hard Hawks fan, I like this move. If anything, I like it because of the 'addition by subtraction' philosophy. The Hawks found a team to take Craig Claxton and his $5 million dollar salary off their hands. They also got rid of another Billy Knight Lottery Bust Special - Acie Law. Acie, for whatever reason, never gained his confidence under Mike Woodson. Even in his second year, he would go into games and play tentative on the floor.
Now, Jamal Crawford is a guy who certainly doesn't lack confidence. He's what you call a "pure scorer." He has no problem dropping 20 points per night and occasionally will burn you with a 40 point outing. Is he a savior for the Hawks? Absolutely not. Is he a piece for the Hawks? Definitely. He is going to a team with a reluctant star in Joe Johnson. Joe is a guy who doesn't command the ball and at times appears to shy away from big moments. Jamal Crawford is the exact opposite. With the game on the line, Crawford will want the ball and can create better off the dribble than Joe. Joe should like this move, as it should decrease the amount of double teams he typically sees throughout a game.
The reality is the Hawks were not going to resign Mike Bibby. He (and his agent) probably wanted a longer contract than the Hawks were willing to give him, at this stage in his career. I still think the Hawks may draft a point guard in tonight's draft. This allows them to look at a player like Jeff Teague and not have to enter next season with the pressure to start him right away. The Hawks are a playoff team. They don't have the luxury of trotting out a rookie point guard and saying, "we're rebuilding this year." This franchise had been rebuilding since the Omni was demolished in 1997.
The draft is tonight. While it may lack star power, I think we may see some creative moves by teams tonight. Many teams will start planning for next summer's free agent class, and some will acquire 'pieces' to solidify their playoff strength for the upcoming season.
Look for draft reaction tomorrow right here on Monday Morning PG.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Bandwagon.
I'm already beginning to wonder how many times will I get out of the bed after midnight, to put thought-to-blog (man that just sounds wrong....considering it used to be 'thought to paper').
One thing that pissed me off tonight watching the Braves/Yankee game on television were all the 'band wagoners' at Turner Field in Atlanta. I was not at the game, but you could clearly see and hear a stadium packed with so-called Yankee fans. Now, I have not done the Census research, but I would be very surprised to hear that 30,000 New Yorkers in Atlanta all went to the Braves game tonight. The sad thing is many of those fans were from Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta (suburbs of Atlanta).
I understand the concept - it's more fun to root for a winner. But let's be honest....how long has it been since the Yankees won anything, besides "Highest Payroll in Baseball" Award?
I've lived in this city for 13 years. I have come to expect "bandwagon fans" at Hawks games or maybe even a few Falcon games, but not Braves games. This baseball franchise, for the most part, has been a first class organization with a 15 year run of continued success.
Besides, there is something about Braves baseball that just feels so 'southern'. 'Braves Baseball' - those two words are synonymous with hot summer nights in the South. To see that sweaty family of four in their jean shorts and matching Chipper Jones jerseys get out of their family pickup truck with the Coweta County license plate...it just warms my heart like a bowl of fried okra.
What's worse is after the "New Yorkers" from Marietta leave Thursday....."RedSox Nation" from Conyers and Norcross arrives at Turner Field for a weekend series. I guess the only way for the Braves to win back their own fans is to beat these teams on the field. The question is - will winning games on a Tuesday night in June make a lasting impression on that guy in section 213 in the Yankee cap, or the girl in the pink RedSox tshirt in ChopHouse? Probably not.
Playing meaningful baseball in October is the only way to get these fans off one bandwagon and on to another.
One thing that pissed me off tonight watching the Braves/Yankee game on television were all the 'band wagoners' at Turner Field in Atlanta. I was not at the game, but you could clearly see and hear a stadium packed with so-called Yankee fans. Now, I have not done the Census research, but I would be very surprised to hear that 30,000 New Yorkers in Atlanta all went to the Braves game tonight. The sad thing is many of those fans were from Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta (suburbs of Atlanta).
I understand the concept - it's more fun to root for a winner. But let's be honest....how long has it been since the Yankees won anything, besides "Highest Payroll in Baseball" Award?
I've lived in this city for 13 years. I have come to expect "bandwagon fans" at Hawks games or maybe even a few Falcon games, but not Braves games. This baseball franchise, for the most part, has been a first class organization with a 15 year run of continued success.
Besides, there is something about Braves baseball that just feels so 'southern'. 'Braves Baseball' - those two words are synonymous with hot summer nights in the South. To see that sweaty family of four in their jean shorts and matching Chipper Jones jerseys get out of their family pickup truck with the Coweta County license plate...it just warms my heart like a bowl of fried okra.
What's worse is after the "New Yorkers" from Marietta leave Thursday....."RedSox Nation" from Conyers and Norcross arrives at Turner Field for a weekend series. I guess the only way for the Braves to win back their own fans is to beat these teams on the field. The question is - will winning games on a Tuesday night in June make a lasting impression on that guy in section 213 in the Yankee cap, or the girl in the pink RedSox tshirt in ChopHouse? Probably not.
Playing meaningful baseball in October is the only way to get these fans off one bandwagon and on to another.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Well the NBA draft is only a few days away. As most drafts go, this one is fairly pedestrian. There doesn't appear to be a real "franchise changer" this year. Blake Griffin has the potential to be a solid NBA forward, however, he doesn't come across as the 'centerpiece' a GM can build around to win a championship. We've certainly seen a few of those players recently: Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and LeBron James to name a few.
It's rather ironic that this draft happens to be the summer before the SUPERSTAR FREE AGENT SWEEPSTAKES begins. Just like this summer's free agent class takes a back to next year's crop, apparently the Draft Class of 2009 will do the same. Ahhh...the summer of 2009 - it will be remembered as "the calm before the storm."
In fact, I anticipate next summer's SUPERSTAR FREE AGENT SWEEPSTAKES to impact team's decisions this draft and this season. Look for many GM's to dump money faster than a drunk college student in Vegas. GM's will be trading for guys with expiring contracts and you might even see some teams trade down in the draft so they don't have to committ bigger money to rookies early in the draft.
Who is your team? What areas do they need to improve in and how would like them to address it? In the draft or via free agency? Are you willing to 'mail it in this season' for a shot at landing a SUPERSTAR next summer?
It's rather ironic that this draft happens to be the summer before the SUPERSTAR FREE AGENT SWEEPSTAKES begins. Just like this summer's free agent class takes a back to next year's crop, apparently the Draft Class of 2009 will do the same. Ahhh...the summer of 2009 - it will be remembered as "the calm before the storm."
In fact, I anticipate next summer's SUPERSTAR FREE AGENT SWEEPSTAKES to impact team's decisions this draft and this season. Look for many GM's to dump money faster than a drunk college student in Vegas. GM's will be trading for guys with expiring contracts and you might even see some teams trade down in the draft so they don't have to committ bigger money to rookies early in the draft.
Who is your team? What areas do they need to improve in and how would like them to address it? In the draft or via free agency? Are you willing to 'mail it in this season' for a shot at landing a SUPERSTAR next summer?
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