Running Through My Mind

A few random musings (I wrote this several days ago and just never got around to posting):

1) NBA firings are apparently at an all-time high for this point in the season. Six coaches have been given their walking papers and we're barely 1/4 into the season. The chopped list includes: Reggie Theus by the Sacramento Kings, Maurice Cheeks by the Philadelphia 76er's, Eddie Jordan by the Washington Wizards, Sam Mitchell by the Toronto Raptors, Randy Wittman by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and P.J. Carlesimo by the Oklahoma City Thunder. I agree with cutting off the head sometimes, but for most of these, I really think they coach was a scapegoat, covering up the real, massive problem: the team sucks. I won't elaborate on which coaches I think needed to go (to protect the innocent) but suffice it to say that this is a short term solution to a problem that goes way deeper than the head coach. Almost all of these teams are underachieving, and one literally just started a few months ago. Is it the economy? Lack of fans? Whatever the reason, firing the coach this early is akin to throwing in the towel for the year, and, frankly, it's just not very creative . . . especially the Kings who waited for five other heads to roll before he got the boot in the back. What followers.

2) Have I ever mentioned how much I love Stephon Marbury? He is the only guy in the league who would buy a front row ticket to a game in which he is being paid to play but the team doesn't want him. Seriously, the only one. Maybe Latrell Sprewell would have pulled such a move back in his day but other than that, I can't think of anyone. I caught his interview at the game, and he did one of my favorites: "me, myself . . ." I never understood what that means, I guess it's sort of like "um" for the urban set. He really keeps things interesting.

3) Allen Iverson was fined for "making inappropriate comments" to a fan during a Detroit Pistons visit to the Charlotte Bobcats, a game which the Pistons eventually won. I wonder if these guys budget for fines and suspensions . . .

4) So the Atlanta Hawks weren't a fluke and really do have something close to a legitimate response to the Boston Celtics. I will admit that the Celtics have really been impressive. I didn't like the idea of throwing a bunch of superstars together just to win a championship, but by golly, it worked. Two stars may not be enough, but three is solid, especially if one of them is a 7 foot shooter. But the Hawks almost beat them and looked good doing it. I'll have to continue to monitor this as the season develops . . .

5) I've been saying this for a long time, and now I'm finally going public with it. Twins?

Stuart from Mad TV:




Tyler from UNC:

"Giant" Exploitation?

Wednesday night I caught a little bit of the UNC-UNC Asheville game. Of course, everyone was talking about the 7'7" Kenny George with the size 28(!) feet on UNC Asheville's team.

I watched him play. He looks like a giant. Seriously, I've watched a decent amount of basketball and he makes 6'10" guys look like midgets. But he doesn't really look happy, and he seems to be laboring in his movements. I wonder if he's not in any pain and people are just pushing him for the novelty and the (eventual) money. Here's his take on himself. He can't do a lot of things regular people do, like riding in a car or fitting on an airplane. I actually feel kind of sad for him. But on the other hand, he's the leading shot blocker in the NCAA and, let's face it, he's going to block a lot of people by just standing there.

But he didn't block Tyler Hansbrough's dunk. The funniest part in the entire link is George's statement about why he got dunked on:

“I saw him coming to the basket. I just kept my hands straight up,” George said.
“I had him. I just forgot to jump. He jumped. I didn’t jump. I should have known
than a 6-10 player as athletic as him was able to jump over my hands even if I
go straight up.”

I'm going to read between the lines a little bit and speak for George. What he wanted to say was "White men can't jump, and I thought this was going to be no exception."

No, instead, "Psycho T" gets press for dunking on George, who is tall and can block the shots where he's standing but otherwise I'm not sure how developed his skills are.

He wants to play in the league, and I am sure that he can. I just hope he stays healthy.