By last April, I was openly against LeBron James playing for Team USA this summer. I had seen how the lag of playing last summer dogged him for the first half of last season when his energy level seemed to be at an all-time low. I wrote about this extensively after he seemed to get his legs back in February and played some great basketball down the stretch. I was even more convinced he needed the summer off in June when he left the Finals vowing to improve his jumper. Most NBA players will tell you it is difficult to improve aspects of your game when you are committed to being at so many practices and games. That’s why most players don’t develop their games during the season unless they are at the end of the bench.
All that said, at this moment I appear to be wrong as I discuss in this story today. Really what I have done is violate one of my own rules, which I learned years ago and have told people in various forms for years. It is: “Don’t underestimate LeBron, he will just prove you wrong.” He does this virtually every year on many levels, by the way.
His shooting during the FIBA Americas Tournament in Vegas has been impressive, which has led me to find out just how hard he’s been working on his shot. Even with all of his commitments, LeBron is doing exactly what he said he would, he is making time to improve himself.
LeBron hinted a few times at the end of last season that he wanted to hire a shooting coach, which was the answer to many Cavs’ fans prayers. He didn’t hire one, he has been working very hard this summer whenever he’s gotten free hours with Chris Jent, the Cavs’ director of development. This, of course, thrills the Cavs not just because he’s working on his game when he could be relaxing, but because he’s doing it with their guy. This becomes important during the season because Jent will be around him everyday.
David Thorpe, a shooting coach himself and ESPN’s guru on player skills, had a nice breakdown of LeBron’s improved shot on Truehoop this week. I had a conversation with Jent late in the season asking him why LeBron was always switching his techniques on jumpers and at the foul line. Remember the Ira Newble-esque set shots on 3-pointers for a few days? Jent told me LeBron was looking for something that worked and then was going to try to perfect it. To be honest, I didn’t like that answer because I know LeBron and, while he is coachable, often he is only coachable when he decides to be. I wasn’t sure he’d decided he wanted to be yet with Jent. But after several conversations with Cavs people this week after watching LeBron’s shooting in Vegas there is do doubt he’s serious and pouring in the work at all hours and all over the country.
Because I am a card-carrying realist (some would say pessimist), I have to say that shooting well in August isn’t like shooting well in March, April and May. And that all this summer work may show up again in some low energy nights in Charlotte and the like. However, LeBron should be commended for his willingness to learn from what happened in the Finals and his willingness to work on his game when everyone would’ve understood had he just shut it down for awhile.
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Doesn’t this still leave open the question of whether playing for Team USA this summer (after the Finals) is going to affect his game next season? After all, a player with tired legs is going to lose his jumper first no matter how hard he has worked to make his jumper consistent. Moreover, he won’t have the explosiveness to the basket that would make the jumper as dangerous and defenders could just sit on it. I’m not saying LeBron won’t be able to explode past people when necessary, but it means more games taken off while he sticks with jumper.
Obviously there is a risk for him playing this summer and how it will affect his energy level during the season. But as with Brian, I was totally against him playing for USA ball this summer. I was wrong. Not only is he working with Jent great, but I think he is learning valuable lessons
1. Playing with Kidd is opening his eyes to moving without the ball. This would be amazing for the Cavs if Lebron could add this to his game and would give more creases, openings and movement to the offense.
2. Playing with Kobe and Carmelo is making him better! They are all wing players with different skills and there is an unspoken competition that is lifting all of their games. Obviously Kobe is the most offensively gifted and best defender. Carmelo is unstoppable inside and his J is perfect. But Lebron has showed how versatile and deadly he is in all aspects.
3. Passing – he is learning how to pass again. He is always one of the best in the league. But he is by far the best passer other than Kidd on the team. With all that talent, he is sharpening those passing skills which are ridiculous!
4. Defense – With the rest of the team committed to D, this is the best D i have ever seen Lebron play other than the Eastern Conf finals of this past year. The words that Bron only plays O is over. He is a really good defender now. Thank god.
Also, Mike Brown should run fast break drills every practice next year!! Gibby, Hughes and the like need to learn how to run a fast break. We have the #1 transition player in the league. No question. We need to utilize those skills. Let’s have that defense create those opportunities. Fast outlets. Filling lanes. Bron could score 4-8 points more a game and up his FG% if we do this.
Go Cavs!!
I wonder how Redd likes playing with Lebron? He’s probably like ‘oh man, I messed up not coming to Cleveland’!
Not playing this summer would’ve been stupid. He’s 22(?), not 32 or 35 – he’s getting stronger, not weaker. It’s all about experience for him now, and he’s getting some of that this year, eh? Getting to the Finals, getting schooled by San Antone, playing with Kobe, Kidd, and Carmelo (not even mentioning the others!) against teams like this. These games are fun to watch, if the others had their best players playing (like us) we would clearly be watching some intriguing games. Having all of our guys clicking this year, getting used to playing with each other, bodes well for the Olympics.
And like Daduke says, look at the D. Kobe is working SO hard back there it is just pushing and inspiring Lebron.
But oh man, the carrying on about the old Dream Team is just as bad as the talk about Lebron ‘burning out’. There were like 3 guys I ever heard of internationally back then. Now it’s much different. The international game and players have progressed and have proven that ‘white men CAN jump!’ And shoot and pass and win MVP awards etc. Back to the main point – we need to practice and have some continuity these days, and I think Sir Charles would have found out the same if he time-traveled to the future LOL
I heard lebron beefed up ten pounds and look at his jumpshot and good point about redd regreting about cleveland i was thinking hat too. maybe in the future the us teammembers will try to cometo cleveland and maybe kobe will add the cavs to his list of places to be traded. i really hope lebron gets help because with uptempo offense and good teamates he could score 26 in 14mins! and go 11 for 11.
I wish I lived in your world, Witness.
Oh, come on … Redd doesn’t “regret” a thing. Do you seriously buy that? He’s getting paid a lot more, and in Milwaukee, he’s the guy. No star is ever going to play second fiddle to James unless being forced to do so via trade.
Besides, *of course* James’ game looks superior on this summer squad. Heck, simply plop Ilgauskas in the middle of this team. What do you think would happen? I think the only thing this team is really teaching James is just how much his skills are being terribly wasted surrounded by half-court mediocrity. I can’t imagine this summer and next summer will succeed in doing anything but really, really, really pissing him off.
Kobe coming to Cleveland? Honestly, whatever you’re taking, double my dose. Lucy in the sky with diamonds? I want the rubies and emeralds, too.
So, LeBron has added 10-20 pounds. Is he getting too big?…has it slowed him down?…will it help his post game?…why the need to add weight in the first place?….does he want to be the next Barkley (only kidding) ?
Since the Cavs haven’t made any major changes in their lineup since the disappointing series with San Antonio, the only way I see the Cavs getting back to the Finals is if 3 or more people have “quantum leaps” in their development. LeBron seems to be on track to have a “killer” season this year. Can Larry Hughes learn to shoot better, also (or can’t you teach a (relatively) old dog new tricks)? I think Boobie will have a “breakout” year this year. One more person (other than LeBron and Boobie) needs to “step it up” this year. Who will it? Who wi-ill it be?!
It’s already September, a mere 37 days before the first preseason game. Only school teachers and Danny Ferry get paid to take their summers off.
As he shrewdly noted elsewhere, I agree with larry, the critical “quantum leap” that’s been made is Big Z has been utilizing the down time to work on his fall-away scoop-hook shot from 3-point range. Combine this with Gibson’s playoff average of 8 points and 1 assist. The world is Ferry’s oyster.
A lot of people have been predicting the poor performance of the Cavs for quite awhile. LeBron is still in Cleveland, contrary to what many, many, many people and writers speculated.They weren’t supposed to do much in their first playoff series two years ago, then they weren’t supposed to do much last year. In each year, they outperformed their projections. (Check out Sports Illustrated each year and, I believe, ESPN and ESPN the MAGAZINE.) Now, no one expects them to do much this year. I understand you reasons for thinking poorly of the Cavs this season. Perhaps this time you all will be right, but then again, you really haven’t been up to now, have you?
i said 10 pounds not 20 so stop making up stuff, and use your brain lebrons not gonna get slower but hes going to care defenders and be aggresive.2 he is going to finsh better and his post game will improve.3 why dont you go ask him?
i think the cavs will be as good as(i didnt say successfull)or better than last year because tams like detroit and chicago who have played with each other for long tend to work together better and gibson will be better lebron will be better(we can already see that)another year will b off those contracts. they might not be as successful but every year has a chance if the cavs have lebron. i think he will get some help eventually, otherwise he will leave and ferry and gilbert know they cant let that happaen
i will ask him when he returns. he is my neighbor. if you are nice, i will invite you over.
Kevin, precisely who predicted that James wouldn’t be in Cleveland now? I don’t recall seeing a sane writer anywhere predict he wouldn’t be in Cleveland now. The guy’s original deal previously tied him to Cleveland’s rapid transit tracks until 2009. Now he’s tied to them until 2010. Was he threatening to jump to the ABA with Rick Barry? Or is jumping to the Canadian Football League more of LeBron’s cup of tea? Or maybe that L.A. Spice Girl, she of the two halves of a cantaloupe bolted onto her chest, is trying to persuade James to leave the country, put on a pair of really cute shorts, and join Randy Lerner’s English football club.
I thought LeBron looked lean and mean this entire FIBA tournament. He’s been the fastest guy on the court at all times – so if he put on weight – it was just replacing some fat with muscle. He doesn’t look any heavier.
I think this tournament has been a real blessing in disguise for the Cavs.
First, LeBron’s confidence has to be way up since he is clearly the best player on a team of All-Star’s. Second, there is some SERIOUS chemistry developing between LeBron and other NBA stars (Kidd, Melo, Kobe, Howard, Stoudemire). This has got to be sending a message throughout the league that: “Hey, you come to play in Cleveland, you’re going to get the ROCK in a position to score” LeBron played pick and roll beautifully with Stoudemire, Chandler, and Howard, and was completely unselfish with the ball at all times, never forcing a shot. Add in the fact that the Cavs will sell out every game this coming season and that the new practice facility is “Off the hook” and Cleveland suddenly looks like a GREAT place to play basketball!!
I wish Larry Hughes would learn how to shoot better;it’s not like he’s not getting enough jack for playing basketball or doesn’t have enough time to work on his shot. Somebody should look into (like the Cav’s front office) whether he is working hard on his game or not…if he’s not it’s inexcusable.
Uh, Hughes can’t work on his game over the summer if he hopes to play more than 25 games this season. He’ll wear out.
Just to add some facts to this thread, alan t., LeBron’s original deal previously tied him to Cleveland through the 2006-2007 season (that is what a 3yr guaranteed deal with a 4th year team option signed in July, 2003 did, for the mathematically or historically challenged). So LeBron’s first chance to bolt from Cleveland would actually have been this summer, and if he had really wanted, he could be getting ready to play in NY or NJ or LA or Chicago this upcoming season and making ALL that extra money in endorsement kickers for playing in a major market, that would obviously offset any lost revenue from not resigning with his original team. However, last year LeBron decided to sign a deal with Cleveland that guaranteed him 3 more years in Cleveland after the expiration of his original contract and also included a one year player option, that most do not expect him to exercise, meaning that he will likely be an unrestricted free agent following the 2009-2010 season. From my calculation, that means that by signing his name last year to a contract presented to him by Danny Ferry, he “tied himself to Cleveland’s rapid transit tracks” for the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 seasons, three more seasons than he needed to be when he was drafted into the league. In summary, alan t., 7-4 = 3, not 1 – at least not in the real world.
Oh, please. I’m talking in real-world terms, Kevin. Don’t get hypertechnical on me. He wouldn’t have been unrestricted until 2009. From a player’s perspective, restricted free agency is bogus. They get the cash, but they still can’t play where they want to play. Are you seriously asserting that the Cavs wouldn’t have matched an offer? Come on. If he opts out and the Cavs match, then he’s stuck for the length of the competing offer. So unless you’re Alonzo Mourning (or Carlos Boozer, come to think of it) and/or you’re dealing with a totally spineless general manager, in the absence of unrestricted free agency, a player is stuck with whatever franchise holds his contract. Accordingly, in the real world, James contractually committed himself to one additional season in Cleveland. And I don’t think he takes the rapid transit to games. James is too pompous and rich to think green.
LeBron was looking awesome at the FIBA games. He gets slammin’ stuffs, lotsa 3’s and 31 points, more than anyone, and really looked like the star he is….and they give the MVP cup to someone else? When will the rest of the world give LeBron the respect he deserves that we of Cleveland have already given him years ago? After the great job he did working with Kobe and the other stars, he has to work with “Z”!? I sure hope “Z” is better than he was last year. Does anyone know why they pay “Z” all that money to make fouls and missed baskets?
If Ferry hadn’t signed Z to that absolutely ridiculous deal, then Z would have been free to join Dajuan Wagner. What a shame, that would been a helluva tandem. Wagner has signed his own deal to play in the Polish League. Really. Make up your own joke.
Alan, you say no “sane” writer predicted LeBron wouldn’t sign his extension? Bill Simmons did, repeatedly: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060707
There were plenty of others who did as well. A lot of people didn’t think LeBron would sign an extension with the Cavs, but he did. I’m also pretty sure that you’re wrong about 2009. LeBron would have been an unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season. At least that’s what NBA writers were always saying (including Simmons in this article).
Look, you can try to get into a semantics war with people here all you want, but Kevin really did make a valid point. People always underestimate both LeBron and the Cavs, and so far, they (including you) have been proven wrong. That doesn’t mean the Cavs will do any better this upcoming season. I tend to agree with you that this could be a rough season for the Cavs. But you and almost everyone else (I even thought they would lose that series) were 100% wrong about the Cavs last year. They exceeded all our expectations. And that’s where Kevin’s argument is valid. When you have a player like LeBron on your team, it changes the rules. It suddenly becomes ok to HOPE for the unexpected.
Alan,
You need to get over the hatred of all things “Z.” As Brian, Pluto and others have pointed out many times before, Z’s contract is average at best compared to other centers in the league. What is killing us is the contracts for Snow, Newbell, and Hughes (which at the time did not seem that bad).
Also, if LeBron wanted or wants out of Cleveland before the end of his contract, he can. All he has to do is say so (ala Iverson) and it might take a while but will get done. He might take a PR hit initially but that will fade.
When will Alan Tucker fade away please? I wish Ferry would stuff Tucker into a boatshoe and set him off to sea.
I can see from today’s column that ‘Windy’ has converted ‘Pat’ to the Ferry Way of Thinking. Hope he gets something from the bald one himself for all his good work spreading the word.
JoeHoops, when will *you* fade away?
Actually, NoName, as usual, Pluto is worlds away when it comes to reality. Ilgauskas’ contract is mammoth compared to most centers. In fact, after all the hoopla about Dampier’s purportedly ridiculous Mavericks contract, I found it interesting that Ilgauskas’ contract dwarfed it. To top it off, they can’t even trade this guy in the last season of his contract because of his unbelievable 15% trade kicker. Ferry bid against himself for Ilgauskas, signed him for five years, and ADDED a 15% trade kicker! There is no conceivable or justifiable reason on earth for this incredible trade kicker to be included in the contract, other than Ferry is either Santa Claus or retarded.
Ilguaskas isn’t worth the midlevel exception, and there they are, paying this guy over twice the midlevel exception for a dude that can now best be described as journeyman quality. And he’s still got three years left! It’s a joke.
And larry, I did notice that, and I think for the local readers, it’s a damn disservice. The last thing readers needed in a local sports columnist was yet another Ferry Stepford Wife. Well, they got one.
The Cavs desperately need one or more enforcers. Any chance they can sign this Leigh Bodden guy?
I heard that alan anderson is going to work out for the cavs. I dont know him. does he play good?
The putrid injury-riddled Bobcats waived Anderson in 2006, and none of the other teams picked him up. The Bobcats re-signed him in March 2007, now they don’t want him again, and none of the other teams have picked him up. Draw your own conclusions. Is he better than David Wesley? Probably. But then so was that Golden Retriever, Air Bud.
Sad to see Stepien go, despite his being possibly the worst owner in the history of major sports. The man did bring Jerome Whitehead to Cleveland so he couldn’t have been all bad.
I saw an interesting note in the SI obit. Despite his follies, Stepien bought 37 percent of the team for just $2 million in 1980. In 1983 he sold the Cavs for $20 million. He was no dummy.
Its appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement.
May God bless Mr. Theodore Stepien and Mr. Peter Franklin
for providing us with much humor in our youths. As Pete
would say “Teddy why don’t you just go gargle on some
razor blades”. And isn’t it wonderfull to at least have some
professional people now running our franchises. Even the
Cleveland Clowns.
I saw the column regarding James having Lasik surgery. Was James even nearsighted? Or did he have astigmatism, or what? I don’t recall ever reading anything regarding his eyesight being less than good. What made him a candidate for this type of surgery? Years ago I had the old type of refractive surgery with the scalpel, and have since met with several surgeons regarding Lasik. From what I’ve learned, eye surgeons feel that not everybody has eyes that are deemed qualified to get buzzed by a laser, even if they are slightly nearsighted. Too much risk, regardless if a surgeon is “renowned” (your words), or not. Amongst other possibilities, they feel the potential risk of overcorrection is too great.
There is something fishy here. I have a creeping feeling that James’ pupils will be shaped like swooshes next time we see him.
Well, since Brian W. is on a summer siesta along with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ wily brain trust, I thought I’d post a link to this photo. If these guys can persuade their bodies to remain all in one piece (a dicey “if,” I know), does anybody honestly believe they wouldn’t bitchslap the Cavs in a series?
http://aol.nba.com/celtics/news/notes/notes091107-pierce-allen-kg-shoot.html
Tucker you are absolutely right. That trio would sweep us
3 on 5. Is Ferry really this naive? Even the Knicks with Isiah
“our relationship is like the one portrayed in the 2000 film, “Love and Basketball,” Thomas are better. Does he think he can just sit still. Even Shapiro made the boneheaded moves to get Delucci and Nixon trying to make the Indians better.Even the Cleveland Clowns made the bold move on draft day to Acquire
Brady”I am about to get killed” Quinn. Join the real world
Danny and grow up. Your a big boat shoed baby. You cant
compliment James with a non enforcer big toed sloth like Z.
Tucker we are screwed. And Joe Hoops and Billy have been banned by Windhorsts censorship commitee.
Alan,
There was a ton of speculation in the print media about LeBron leaving after his first contract lapsed. It was supposed to be a foregone conclusion. Stein talked about his incentive deals that paid him extravagantly more if he relocated in NYC, LA or Chi-town, but he was hardly alone to note this. You, Alan Tucker, took Brian to task for getting the specifics of these deals wrong, and — if you didn’t specifically say it — you certainly implied that these deals would be the reason LeBron left sooner, not later.
There was much Alan Tucker smack in print in the two years before LeBron could have let his contract lapse, and I recall more than one sarcastic Jay-Z (hope I have that right) references. It wasn’t until March or April of his third season that you said, I believe for the first time, yeah, he’ll be sticking around.
I’m not surprised you would try and revise this perception, insofar as it doesn’t flatter you.
Kevin, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, dude. Long ago I said I believe he’s going to be flipping a coin between the Knicks and the Nets in the months before the Nets’ arena is finished, and I still strongly believe that. A coin doesn’t have three sides, and I believe the Cavs won’t be part of that flip. What does your post have to do with the Celtics’ three all-stars and James’ extraordinarily curious eyesight surgery, anyway? Your post is straight out of left field. Take a break from your Apple and your billion gigabytes of stats, man. It’s beginning to affect your thought processes, and not in a good way. Even God rested on the seventh day.
Kevin’s post isn’t out of leftfield. What are you talking about? He’s clearly responding to your post:
# alan t. Says:
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Oh, please. I’m talking in real-world terms, Kevin. Don’t get hypertechnical on me. He wouldn’t have been unrestricted until 2009. From a player’s perspective, restricted free agency is bogus. They get the cash, but they still can’t play where they want to play. Are you seriously asserting that the Cavs wouldn’t have matched an offer? Come on. If he opts out and the Cavs match, then he’s stuck for the length of the competing offer. So unless you’re Alonzo Mourning (or Carlos Boozer, come to think of it) and/or you’re dealing with a totally spineless general manager, in the absence of unrestricted free agency, a player is stuck with whatever franchise holds his contract. Accordingly, in the real world, James contractually committed himself to one additional season in Cleveland. And I don’t think he takes the rapid transit to games. James is too pompous and rich to think green.
So a mere two weeks later he’s writing a response? What was he doing in the meantime, statistically measuring the marrow in Greg Oden’s bone? I still don’t see the purpose other than gloriously waving the Cavaliers flag and picking a fight. Sorry, but I’m a wuss. I don’t feel like fighting.
I still want to know what the deal is with James getting refractive eye surgery. Four seasons and not even one report of his eyesight being purportedly even remotely hazy. Then suddenly he wakes up one summer morning and he’s Stevie Wonder? I think larry might have a solid theory.
I’ll tell you what he wasn’t doing in the 2 weeks since that quoted post…..he wasn’t coming to this blog hourly to see if anything new has shown up in the OFFSEASON. He wasn’t waiting for someone, anyone to post something just to have cause to retort with a snide remark full of negativity. He wasn’t looking for attention and approval from an online blog and act like he knows the best way to run a professional sports franchise. He wasn’t looking for validation for his stinking pathetic negative life in hopes to find a friend online. And I’m pretty sure he wasn’t in one of those 2 week emergency comas.
Perhaps, because it is the OFFSEASON, he was just browsing this site to see what had been written lately and came across that insignificant comment from you and decided to call you out on something you said. You know, something you’re quite familiar with since you call everyone out on whatever they say the minute a post is made. He responded in this blog topic because it is the most current one. Maybe YOU go back to previous blog topics over and over again hoping against hope that someone added something to it so you can pounce on it with comments that only sound ingenious in that mentally challenged brain of yours.
And for you to wonder what someone else’s comment has to do with the current blog topic?? Please, your posts consistently have nothing to do with the current topic once your initial insult or two are out of the way. Don’t act like they committed a faux-pas when that is your own MO on this and whatever other blogs you rant on. Your stupidity knows no bounds man. Go find a replacement for your hand and you’ll be amazed at how much better it is, emotionally and physically. Less anger, less hatred, and with any luck, maybe a new comaguy will emerge – one who feels his life isn’t validated by online blogs.
Ah, my personal stalker rears his ugly head. What a pleasure. Seriously, pal, take a sedative. Or acid. Or maybe do some yoga with O.J. Simpson, or something. Anything to cure, or at least curb, your obsessive rants.
Ditto for you….what you wrote is something that you should adhere to when considering your own posts here.
Let’s make a deal….you do what you just said and I will comply as well. Who’s with me?
Hey Brian, any updates on Sasha and Andy’s status on the roster? What’s taking them so long to resign???
They were waiting to see the new Cavs practice facility. Unfortunately, no bidets mean no foreign-player signings so we won’t be seeing those two anymore.
I wonder how Ferry’s crumpled paper/nurf hoop bank shot is coming around.
Pretty funny. Yes, larry, bidets were left out of the blueprints. A serious lapse in architectural judgment. But at least Ferry’s office is larger.
I found the below piece very insightful. Since this piece ran, I also found it interesting that the mayor of Independence has said the Cavs are going to receive tax breaks. I also found it interesting that the team sought to borrow money from the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, and then use taxes it will pay on the building — which normally go to schools and government — to repay the loans. I don’t know if they did obtain the loans, but the whole thing just stinks.
Even taking all this highfalutin corporate welfare into account, if the mortgage business started tanking a couple of years ago, I doubt if this facility would have even been considered in the first place. I’m sure there’s absolutely nothing wrong with what’s in the arena, either in the way of the Cavaliers offices or with the arena’s equipment and practice facility.
Ferry may not have made any significant personnel moves, but thank goodness that Drew Gooden will now be able to view crystal clear high-definition film of his attention-deficit disorder in action.
With all that said, I’m still chuckling at that bidet remark. Or maybe I shouldn’t chuckle, perhaps there actually are bidets in the marble executive offices. So if Pavlovic ever needs a cleansing warm ball rinse, all he needs to do is sneak into the executive washroom.
http://www.coolcleveland.com/index.php?n=Main.RoldoLinkUrbanRenewalByStarvingTheBeast
C’mon, alan. What’s with this negative vibe concerning the beautiful new practice facility for LeBron and his running mates?
Tax breaks, poor people, deficits, a dying city?
Hello! I’ve read only very positive things about this project in the Beacon Journal and if it helps the team sign Beno Udrih what more can you ask?
Rick, thank you for that post to Alan expressing how so many of us on this board feel. What I love is Alan has a delusion of grandiosity, believing he’s loved by all and hated by one single “stalker.” He even continues to think I’m JoeHoops, just because he can’t fathom that there might be a majority who read this blog who can’t stand the clueless and petty comments he has to make on everything from Ferry’s shoes to Windhorst’s reporting. I’m not JoeHoops, but I certainly feel the same way about Alan as Joe does…just count me as one among many wishing Alan’s friend would go into a coma again to spare us from his pathetic and inane ramblings.
just thought i’d pass this along since i didn’t read about this prank in any of the articles about the new practice facility:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3028580
Every portion of contempt shown for Alan Tucker is well-deserved, and not only because of his sneering tone, obsessive hatreds, and pitiful grandiosity.
In any given thread, his posts — by space AND number — consume a huge chunk of this blog, and have for years. It’s idiotic to say, ‘Just don’t read his comments’ when he regulary fills half of a thread or more.
But, BUT — I gotta give credit where it’s due, even to this schmuck. Posting the link to Roldo Bartimole above, raising the issue of Dan Gilbert’s plundering of the city of Cleveland, and pointing out that this is an important story that no mainstream reporter will EVER see fit to cover, on or off the sports page — I think that’s a fine thing to do for the group reading this blog. Even if it seems, as ever, to be prompted only by Alan’s anger, bitterness, and loathing, it is well worth reading and thinking about.
Kudos, Alan Tucker. Now please shut the fuck up.