Wine and Gold Ramblings
Posted February 1st, 2006 by bwindhorst
Some stuff going on with the Cavs that I will pontificate about:
- Why won’t LeBron take part in the dunk contest? Because what if he doesn’t win. Seriously, it is the same reason why none of the top draft picks go to the pre-draft camp, all he can do is embarrass himself. The reason he didn’t do it the first two years was for the same reason, it was beneath him. Why would he want to get into a competition with the Chris Andersons and Hakim Warricks of the world?
- Mike Brown did a very nice coaching job in the win over the Suns. Especially with the changes he made on the fly when his game plan didn’t work. It was a bright spot for him. I still think his offense lacks creativity at times and he simply has got to figure out more ways for Zydrunas Ilgauskas to get the ball. It is unacceptable not to find ways to get him the ball in the post.
- Brown was reluctant to play Anderson Varejao and he had great reasons for doing so. He was nervous about his defense and he had no history with him. Paul Silas said the same thing last year. Andy will force his coaches to play him because he brings intensity every single night. He won’t be able to be effective in every game, foul trouble will get him, but there’s no way he’ll remain on the bench for stretches. Brown is getting this lesson now.
- The Cavs have played better recently because the role players have performed well, covering the loss of Larry Hughes. This, I suspect, will be a common refrain until Hughes returns. When Donyell Marshall is making shots, Sasha Pavlovic is contributing, Varejao is effective and Damon Jones is making shots the Cavs will be winning. If not, they’ll be losing, LeBron and Z can’t do it by themselves.
- The Cavs continue to deny my reporting that things aren’t on the up-and-up with Usher. Hip-hopper Nelly, Hughes’ friend from St. Louis, was at two Cavs games in the past week including one in Usher’s hometown of Atlanta. The part-owner of the Bobcats and the part-owner of the Nets, Jay-Z, have now both been to two Cavs games this year and we’ve yet to have a Mr. Yeah sighting. Just for the record.
- Speaking of things I’m not buying, that LeBron wearing his tights has anything to do with his knee anymore. Call it what it is, a winning streak charm and maybe a bonus check from Nike. By the way, not to incite legal action, but LeBron actually wears Under Armour gear, a Nike rival, under his uni.
- The NBA released a list of jersey sales rankings for NBA players. Tracy McGrady was No. 1, ahead of Yao, which was a surprise. Not listed was Li-Ning mega endorser Damon Jones. I’m sure it was a mis-print.
February 1st, 2006 at 4:40 pm
I now have to wonder: If what’s underneath James’ uniform is sponsored by Under Armour, is what’s underneath his Under Armour sponsored by Armour?
Now I can’t that damn song out of my head. Thanks alot, LeBron. Thanks alot, Brian. It’s going to drive me crazy for weeks. Maybe even months. “Hot dogs. Armour hot dogs. What kinds of kids love Armour hot dogs? Fat kids. Skinny kids. Kids who climb on rocks. Tough kids. Sissy kids. Even kids with chicken pox love Armour hot dogs. Hot dogs. Armour hot dogs. The dogs kids love to BITE!!!”
February 1st, 2006 at 6:20 pm
By the way, I couldn’t disagree more with your Ilgauskas assessment. Ilgauskas represents everything that is wrong with this team. James surrounded by a completely mismatched crew. With some teams where there’s a relative slow shrimp in the middle, they can get away with tossing the ball into Ilgauskas and watch him do his dead-on impression of a black hole. But it’s never going to work against better teams with competent defenders, nor against anybody in a playoff series. Nor, for that matter, would it have worked against Phoenix if their guy hadn’t been sitting on the bench wearing sharp duds and an earring.
Like Ilgauskas, Brad Daugherty was too soft a player. But Daugherty was much stronger, a better scorer, a better rebounder and a better defensive player. But the biggest difference and most glaring of them all, Daugherty had sweet footwork for a big guy and was a GREAT PASSER. It’s the very reason the Cavs will never go anywhere until they unload Ilgauskas. Double-team him, and he gets completely flustered. That’s why teams do it. Not because he’s effective down low, but because the guy is amazingly uncoordinated when pressed and has no footwork nor distribution skills whatsoever. He makes the other four guys irrelevant. In a team game, it’s his biggest weakness. On a team featuring LeBron James, it’s utter blasphemy. It’s why that Eddy Curry deal for top lottery picks could have been and should have been with the Cavs for Ilgauskas. If only the Cavs had a GM.
February 2nd, 2006 at 1:57 am
Holy Cow, Brian posted. Also as sweet, Tucker got his 2 posts, I wonder if he’ll post again?!?!? p.s. Who cares! : )
February 2nd, 2006 at 2:03 am
And Tucker…who cares! My 2nd post, done, as I hope you are. Please don’t respond.
February 2nd, 2006 at 6:46 am
You refrained from trying to sing the Armour Hot Dogs theme song, Phi. You didn’t even hum a few bars. For that, your kindness and consideration is appreciated by the judges. Kelly Clarkson, you’re not.
February 2nd, 2006 at 7:26 am
OK, Tucker, reading your post was more confusing then trying to count how many times Brown says “WOW” in a post game interview. Brian, I do agree with you on your views on Andy. He is a player that has to earn the trust of his coach and his intensity helps him out, as far as earning it, every time he tears off his warm ups.
Yeah, it would be cool to see LBJ in the dunk contest but I don’t think it will ever happen. Personally, I find it more entertaining to see him on the sidelines in street gear saying to myself “Damn, those are some big earrings!!” rather losing to a Spud Webb.
Oh, one last thing, since I can’t afford to buy those under armor tight do you think my mom’s nylon’s will have the same effect for me come softball in the summer??
February 2nd, 2006 at 8:26 am
Oh-oh, I see the Nike execs coming down on Lebron hard for this violation! This needs to be a wake-up call for Nike to step it up. Under Armour gear is simply a better product. Good question, what is going on wtih Usher? I went to his website, but it hasn’t been updated in months. Keep us posted. Love your blog!
February 2nd, 2006 at 10:10 am
J Mart, a little specificity would be very helpful. What is confusing about it?
February 2nd, 2006 at 11:14 am
So, with all of LeBron’s deals, he wears Under Armour instead of Nike and drinks Gatorade instead of Powerade on the sideline? There’s humor there somewhere…
February 2nd, 2006 at 11:21 am
Tucker, the part that got me was when you said, quote (actually copy / paste)
“I now have to wonder: If what’s underneath James’ uniform is sponsored by Under Armour, is what’s underneath his Under Armour sponsored by Armour? ”
But, after further review and re-reading it a few more times it all made since to me.
Sorry for the red flag.
February 2nd, 2006 at 1:40 pm
“I hope I get a great reception,” Jones said. “Actually, I am not even nervous about the game - I am more interested in the reception.”
Speaks for itself I think. I’d bench him.
February 2nd, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Oh, leave the guy alone. Jones was simply talking about the wedding reception. After a 30-year courtship with his bathroom mirror, he’s finally marrying it. Didn’t you get the invite?
February 3rd, 2006 at 5:34 am
You rip on Ilgauskas for not being a good enough passer, and defender but last time I checked he’s average more assists, rebounds and nearly twice as many blocks as Curry.
February 3rd, 2006 at 10:42 am
Uhhh…Jon. Take a chill pill and read what I wrote. Has nothing to do with Curry, per se. What I said was that if Ferry wasn’t as massively untalented a GM as he was a player, the Cavs would now be sitting on the Knicks’ lottery picks. Not the Bulls.
Do you know what kind of golden trade value those picks would now have? And, may I also note, without Ilgauskas’ contract there would now be major cap space cleared out to acquire players that actually can play team offense and team defense with LeBron James and the three other guys on the court. As opposed to the passing ability and speed of a one-legged tortoise, as Ilgauskas provides. As in Ron Artest. Or Latrell Sprewell. Or a myriad of other guys that become available during a season. Or for guys that will be available the next off-season. Or….Well, you see my point. Hopefully. You didn’t see it the first time around.
Never mind those awful Marshall and Jones long-term contracts. Imagine a team filled with stallions, some top lottery picks to trade, and additional large cap space available for more free agents and trades. Seriously, I have a question for every Cavs fan out there. Including the Cavs fan that gave birth to this blog…First, force yourself to ignore Ilgauskas’ foot operations and his ability to overcome them. Now force yourself to ignore that Ilgauskas has done a Bernie Kosar impression by saying he likes Cleveland. Now force yourself to ignore that Ilgauskas is white, you are white, and the vast majority of ticket buyers in the Cleveland area are white in a predominantly black sport. Now force yourself to ignore that Ilgauskas is a very popular local player that’s played a lot of years in Cleveland, which is a rarity. Now, after having done all that, put all of your emotions completely to bed and answer this - -
Does you HONESTLY believe Ilgauskas is the right fit together on any running and passing team starring LeBron James? I repeat…LeBron James. On both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Or would a team starring LeBron James be better served with far superior and talented guards and forwards that have foot speed, have talent to distribute the ball, excel both inside and outside, and on both offense and defense? Like the current team and future team that Ferry could have assembled before he pretty much made it a salary-capped moot point. Put all of your emotions aside, really, really think about it, and answer this question. I don’t see how anybody in their right mind could possibly disagree.
February 3rd, 2006 at 7:34 pm
The fact that the Chris Anderson’s of the world have been in the slam dunk contest over the last few seasons, is the exact reason that a star like LeBron James can’t lower his self to be in the Dunk Contest.
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:43 pm
I don’t see much difference between James and Chris Anderson. When LeBron is dunking, isn’t he also getting high?
February 4th, 2006 at 8:22 am
While it’s on my mind, why is this entry entitled “Wine and Gold Ramblings?” Pet peeve here. That’s the Cavs’ marketing department’s fabrication, please don’t perpetuate it. Yes, the early Cavs uniforms were wine and gold. But now their uniforms are also a lot of white. And blue. And black. Although, I suppose Tad Carper’s genius for PR crapola is far more catchy when Reghi gets paid to pant and bellow, “And here comes the Wine & Gold…And the White…And the Blue…And the Black…AND ALL OF THOSE ILLUSTRIOUS COLORS EMBLAZONED ONTO THE GLORIOUS, RESPLENDENT MAJESTIC CAPE OF THE SPECTACULAR PRODIGY FROM ST. VINCENT-ST. MARY’S AS HE RISES UP INTO THE SPACIOUS SKIES OF THE “Q” IN FULL FLIGHT!”
February 4th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Alan, I love you man, but please take a chill pill.
February 4th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
“I love you man?” Hey, I liked those beer commercials, too, Maureen. But they haven’t shown those for a few years. Regardless, I love you, too, Babe. But regarding that post about Reghi, and although the wine & gold marketing fiction really does bug me, I had an overwhelming urge to write that immediately after I got a huge belly laugh reading a bit of Reghi commentary. I mean that my laugh was extremely huge, not my belly. Reghi wrote, and I am not making this up, that his on-air schtick is “real, not contrived.” My two parrots Julio and Nina were laughing so hard, they each fractured a rib. Maureen, whenever I get that broad a smile on my face, it makes me love you and Brian even more.
February 21st, 2006 at 8:30 am
HEY LEBRON WON M.V.P OF THE ALL-STAR GAME AFTER YOU SAID IT WAS UNLIKELY. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY NOW?