NBA: 2011 Off-Season News and Discussion Thread
#121
I think that sums up my opinion on his whole career.
#122
Senior Moderator
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#126
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
LeHeat will win by default. That's why the season will be canned.
#128
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
^ You watch...Stern will award the Title to the LeHeat when he announces the forfeit of the season.
#131
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Stick a fork in the NBA season.
#134
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
LeHeat goes 50-0 and win the first of not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, not eight, not nine, not ten, not eleven, not twelve, not thirteen, not fourteen Titles!
#135
True...this is about small market vs. big market now, with small markets holding the line.
I remember reading Dr. Buss, James Dolan, Mickey Arison, and Mark Cuban, are ready to give in, since they are either big markets or rich guys that can absorb whatever the players cost. I think the article stated other big city teams were ready to go, but I forget which ones (Chicago?).
Also, if you read between the lines a bit, the Lakers and Mavs have aging cores that don't want to miss their window and you have 2 eastern teams that have a great collection of talent that I'm sure the owners want to capitalize on. I'm sure they want to go already...
But most important to me is getting to watch Yumcha and the Miami faction get go back and forth.
I remember reading Dr. Buss, James Dolan, Mickey Arison, and Mark Cuban, are ready to give in, since they are either big markets or rich guys that can absorb whatever the players cost. I think the article stated other big city teams were ready to go, but I forget which ones (Chicago?).
Also, if you read between the lines a bit, the Lakers and Mavs have aging cores that don't want to miss their window and you have 2 eastern teams that have a great collection of talent that I'm sure the owners want to capitalize on. I'm sure they want to go already...
But most important to me is getting to watch Yumcha and the Miami faction get go back and forth.
#137
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
#139
Senior Moderator
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#141
Senior Moderator
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Shaq Details Feud with Beef...
From Chicago Tribune...
Shaquille O'Neal has detailed, in a new book, elements of his rift with former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, including details of an argument about Bryant's sexual assault case.
In the book, “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” O'Neal described how the two feuded over a TV interview in which Bryant was critical of O'Neal, according to an excerpt on Deadspin.com. Bryant also later expressed disappointment that O'Neal had not supported him publicly during his sexual assault case.
The book, co-written with respected NBA writer, Jackie MacMullen, shows an inside view of the feud between the two superstars who helped the Lakers return to glory before going their separate ways.
O'Neal was upset that Bryant did an unflattering interview with broadcaster Jim Gray soon after coach Phil Jackson's coaching staff told the players not to spar publicly.
“… So what happens? Immediately after that Kobe runs right out to Jim Gray and does this interview where he lets me have it,” the excerpt in Deadspin reads. “He said I was fat and out of shape. He said I was milking my toe injury for more time off, and the injury wasn't even that serious. (Yeah, right. It only ended my … career.) He said I was ‘lobbying for a contract extension when we have two Hall of Famers playing pretty much for free.’ I'm sitting there watching this interview and I'm gonna explode. Hours earlier we had just promised our coach we'd stop. It was a truce broken. I let the guys know, ‘I'm going to kill him.“’
O'Neal said the situation came to a further head when Bryant complained that after accusations of sexual assault were levied against him in Colorado, O'Neal did not defend him.
“Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, ‘You always said you're my big brother, you'd do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me,“’ the excerpt reads. “I did call him. … So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn't stand behind him. That was something new. I didn't think he gave a rat's (butt) about us either way. ‘Well, I thought you'd publicly support me, at least,' Kobe said. 'You're supposed to be my friend.’
“(Then-teammate) Brian Shaw chimed in with ‘Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn't come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren't there. Then you got married and didn't invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don't even know you.“’
O'Neal's account said things started to calm down before he told Bryant, “If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you.”
Bryant responded with a shrug and said, “Whatever,” according to the excerpt.
“From that day on, I was done dealing with Kobe,” O'Neal writes.
In the book, “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” O'Neal described how the two feuded over a TV interview in which Bryant was critical of O'Neal, according to an excerpt on Deadspin.com. Bryant also later expressed disappointment that O'Neal had not supported him publicly during his sexual assault case.
The book, co-written with respected NBA writer, Jackie MacMullen, shows an inside view of the feud between the two superstars who helped the Lakers return to glory before going their separate ways.
O'Neal was upset that Bryant did an unflattering interview with broadcaster Jim Gray soon after coach Phil Jackson's coaching staff told the players not to spar publicly.
“… So what happens? Immediately after that Kobe runs right out to Jim Gray and does this interview where he lets me have it,” the excerpt in Deadspin reads. “He said I was fat and out of shape. He said I was milking my toe injury for more time off, and the injury wasn't even that serious. (Yeah, right. It only ended my … career.) He said I was ‘lobbying for a contract extension when we have two Hall of Famers playing pretty much for free.’ I'm sitting there watching this interview and I'm gonna explode. Hours earlier we had just promised our coach we'd stop. It was a truce broken. I let the guys know, ‘I'm going to kill him.“’
O'Neal said the situation came to a further head when Bryant complained that after accusations of sexual assault were levied against him in Colorado, O'Neal did not defend him.
“Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, ‘You always said you're my big brother, you'd do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me,“’ the excerpt reads. “I did call him. … So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn't stand behind him. That was something new. I didn't think he gave a rat's (butt) about us either way. ‘Well, I thought you'd publicly support me, at least,' Kobe said. 'You're supposed to be my friend.’
“(Then-teammate) Brian Shaw chimed in with ‘Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn't come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren't there. Then you got married and didn't invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don't even know you.“’
O'Neal's account said things started to calm down before he told Bryant, “If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you.”
Bryant responded with a shrug and said, “Whatever,” according to the excerpt.
“From that day on, I was done dealing with Kobe,” O'Neal writes.
#142
Team Owner
He also said how he threw Zo out of the way to get to Riley when he burnt the bridge here. But according to one of the beat writers Zo was in crutches at the time.
And Mickey Arison gets fined $500k for tweeting about the lockout.
And Mickey Arison gets fined $500k for tweeting about the lockout.
#143
Shaq and Kobe can fight all they want, we weren't going to win another title with the way it was going. Shaq needed to leave to become motivated, and Kobe was the best player at the time. And IMO, the Spurs were the best in the West.
What's funny is Shaq burned all bridges everywhere he's went. Shaq and Penny, Shaq and Kobe, Shaq and Riley, Shaq and Nash. By the time he got to the Cavs, the guy just didn't fit anywhere. For all the bluster and disagreement, he practically begged to rejoin the Lakers at the end of his career...
And all those guys wanted was for him to work harder...
IMO, 'Shaq vs.' applies more to his career than the show he stole from Steve Nash.
What's funny is Shaq burned all bridges everywhere he's went. Shaq and Penny, Shaq and Kobe, Shaq and Riley, Shaq and Nash. By the time he got to the Cavs, the guy just didn't fit anywhere. For all the bluster and disagreement, he practically begged to rejoin the Lakers at the end of his career...
And all those guys wanted was for him to work harder...
IMO, 'Shaq vs.' applies more to his career than the show he stole from Steve Nash.
Last edited by CarbonGray Earl; 11-01-2011 at 11:35 AM.
#144
I wouldn't put it past him. I don't think Zo gets enough credit for how much he did for that 2006 championship team, both on and off the court.
#146
^^ He did. Nash was going to sue but he ended up being an executive producer on that show because of it (you see his name in the credits at the end of the show).
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...oivinshaq.html
Its a shame because Nash has more of an athlete's general body type. About 6'3" 178 lbs., would have been more interesting playing each sport.
Shaq represented basketball players badly...the show was more a vehicle for himself than something that was actually interesting.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...oivinshaq.html
Its a shame because Nash has more of an athlete's general body type. About 6'3" 178 lbs., would have been more interesting playing each sport.
Shaq represented basketball players badly...the show was more a vehicle for himself than something that was actually interesting.
#147
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
^^ He did. Nash was going to sue but he ended up being an executive producer on that show because of it (you see his name in the credits at the end of the show).
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...oivinshaq.html
Its a shame because Nash has more of an athlete's general body type. About 6'3" 178 lbs., would have been more interesting playing each sport.
Shaq represented basketball players badly...the show was more a vehicle for himself than something that was actually interesting.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...oivinshaq.html
Its a shame because Nash has more of an athlete's general body type. About 6'3" 178 lbs., would have been more interesting playing each sport.
Shaq represented basketball players badly...the show was more a vehicle for himself than something that was actually interesting.
Did not know that.
#149
failhard.
Talks are devolving into threats, lower offers from the owners and ultimatums. Fisher's not even looking to negotiate any of their offers at this point.
The season's done.
The season's done.
#151
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
#153
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Me too.
Yao Ming's got nothing on me.
Yao Ming's got nothing on me.
#154
Team Owner
The 51% offer is BS. The players' split is much lower as the owners can shave off whatever "operations costs" they have and split the net. Billionaires playing accounting is like Jimi playing guitar. The players are fucked and will probably have to take the deal although they wanted a little more.
#158
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Oh well, the Heat would've won the Title anyhow. Like I said, no loss.
#159
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
Well at least I get to watch this in person this weekend, closest thing to the NBA
http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/tag/goon-squad-classic/
http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/tag/goon-squad-classic/
#160
Weak.