Comments on: Weekend Chatter http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/ Your Daily Source for Half-Baked Crap Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:12:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34503 SBG Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:06:40 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34503 Good answer. David Stern rules the NBA with an iron fist. He does what he wants. For whatever reason, he wanted this ball. I don't know why. I am also pretty astonished that players are getting cuts from the ball. I mean, what is this composite? Glass? Good answer. David Stern rules the NBA with an iron fist. He does what he wants. For whatever reason, he wanted this ball. I don't know why. I am also pretty astonished that players are getting cuts from the ball. I mean, what is this composite? Glass?

]]> By: ubelmann http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34501 ubelmann Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:41:13 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34501 Yeah, this is exactly the sort of thing that you could use the D-League for, too. I know that the NHL, especially, tests a lot of their proposed rule changes in their minor leagues before they enact them in the NHL--and rule changes are arguably less important than equipment changes. At least the bizarre issue of the ball cutting the players would get caught in the D-League so that it could presumably be fixed before the new ball hit the NBA. Yeah, this is exactly the sort of thing that you could use the D-League for, too. I know that the NHL, especially, tests a lot of their proposed rule changes in their minor leagues before they enact them in the NHL--and rule changes are arguably less important than equipment changes. At least the bizarre issue of the ball cutting the players would get caught in the D-League so that it could presumably be fixed before the new ball hit the NBA.

]]> By: ubelmann http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34500 ubelmann Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:38:24 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34500 This is the first place I've heard of the ball cutting the players. I've heard all kinds of stuff about it being more difficult to handle and bouncing in strange ways, though. You would think that they'd know whether or not the ball would cut the players before they pressed it into service. This is the first place I've heard of the ball cutting the players. I've heard all kinds of stuff about it being more difficult to handle and bouncing in strange ways, though. You would think that they'd know whether or not the ball would cut the players before they pressed it into service.

]]> By: brink http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34498 brink Sun, 10 Dec 2006 23:55:45 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34498 Wait, "cuts various players are suffering"? Did I read correctly? The ball is CUTTING players? What in the world? By the way, I can't help but think that this synthetic ball was just a "New Coke" stunt to boost sales of a sagging product. ;-) Wait, "cuts various players are suffering"? Did I read correctly? The ball is CUTTING players? What in the world?

By the way, I can't help but think that this synthetic ball was just a "New Coke" stunt to boost sales of a sagging product. Wink

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34494 SBG Sun, 10 Dec 2006 08:25:31 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34494 It's a good thing I said reportedly with a link. Thanks for the info. It's a good thing I said reportedly with a link. Thanks for the info.

]]> By: E-6 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34491 E-6 Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:58:13 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34491 The Chairman absolutely butchers "Yesterday" on his My Way LP from '69. The Chairman absolutely butchers "Yesterday" on his My Way LP from '69.

]]> By: brianS http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34487 brianS Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:49:25 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34487 Why isn't Indiana involved in these Iverson rumors? I mean, my GAWD, things are getting ugly in Indy! It's just got to be killing Donnie Walsh and the Basketball Jesus to have to deal with such dysfunction. I'm imagining ways in which Walsh could manage to unload nutcase Stephen Jackson on somebody. Why isn't Indiana involved in these Iverson rumors? I mean, my GAWD, things are getting ugly in Indy! It's just got to be killing Donnie Walsh and the Basketball Jesus to have to deal with such dysfunction.

I'm imagining ways in which Walsh could manage to unload nutcase Stephen Jackson on somebody.

]]> By: brianS http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34485 brianS Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:30:53 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34485 Who the hell is Stern's technical adviser, Donald Rumsfeld?? This is utterly ridiculous. Not even the NCAA would make a major rules/equipment change without thorough testing. Who the hell is Stern's technical adviser, Donald Rumsfeld?? This is utterly ridiculous. Not even the NCAA would make a major rules/equipment change without thorough testing.

]]> By: ubelmann http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34464 ubelmann Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:17:20 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34464 File under <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-061209-10&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2" rel="nofollow">"you're back with me, leather"</a>: <blockquote>Don't forget the other trade front: New ball for leather ball. In the latest strong signal that commissioner David Stern is seriously considering a ball swap just three months into the new microfiber composite ball's first season, league sources tell ESPN.com that all 30 teams were due to received calls by Friday from Stern staffers. NBA officials want to know how many leather balls each team has in storage from last season, in case the decision to switch comes quickly. Teams were allotted 75 new synthetic basketballs at the start of the season, but Stern has acknowledged that the cuts various players are suffering while handling the microfiber version could force him to make a surprising in-season recall of the old ball ... which might include emergency orders with Spalding for teams that have little or nothing left from last season's leather shipment.</blockquote> The league is the only source I've heard from that thinks the new balls really are a good idea. It's somewhat bizarre for me to think that a team gets allotted 75 balls for an entire season when teams prepare as many as a gross of baseballs for any one game. File under "you're back with me, leather":

Don't forget the other trade front: New ball for leather ball.

In the latest strong signal that commissioner David Stern is seriously considering a ball swap just three months into the new microfiber composite ball's first season, league sources tell ESPN.com that all 30 teams were due to received calls by Friday from Stern staffers. NBA officials want to know how many leather balls each team has in storage from last season, in case the decision to switch comes quickly.

Teams were allotted 75 new synthetic basketballs at the start of the season, but Stern has acknowledged that the cuts various players are suffering while handling the microfiber version could force him to make a surprising in-season recall of the old ball ... which might include emergency orders with Spalding for teams that have little or nothing left from last season's leather shipment.

The league is the only source I've heard from that thinks the new balls really are a good idea. It's somewhat bizarre for me to think that a team gets allotted 75 balls for an entire season when teams prepare as many as a gross of baseballs for any one game.

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34460 SBG Sat, 09 Dec 2006 22:31:14 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34460 It has a familiar feeling, to be sure. I can not quite put my finger on it.... :) It has a familiar feeling, to be sure. I can not quite put my finger on it.... Smile

]]> By: ubelmann http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34459 ubelmann Sat, 09 Dec 2006 22:06:36 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34459 The Yankees' offseason has been scary-good. I mean, I guess they probably haven't improved the team by leaps and bounds, but every move has been solid. -- Moved Jaret Wright for a moderately useful reliever -- Moved Sheffield (and his attitude) for a really high-risk, high-upside, young pitching prospect, along with a couple of guys who project to be cheap relievers in the future -- Signed Mike Mussina (one of the ten best pitchers in the AL last year) to a ridiculously cheap $22M/2yr contract -- Signed Andy Pettite to a short-term contract. Pettite was solid last year in the NL, and even if he declines quickly, the Yanks didn't give up any long-term value to get him (Houston didn't even bother offering Pettite arbitration, so the Yanks don't even lose draft picks) -- Picked up Josh Phelps in the Rule 5 draft to cheaply fill a bench spot Now that Cashman is being intelligent about cheaply filling bench roles and middle relief spots, that opens up more payroll for them to outbid other teams by offering contracts with not as many years, but more money per year. The Yankees' offseason has been scary-good. I mean, I guess they probably haven't improved the team by leaps and bounds, but every move has been solid.

-- Moved Jaret Wright for a moderately useful reliever

-- Moved Sheffield (and his attitude) for a really high-risk, high-upside, young pitching prospect, along with a couple of guys who project to be cheap relievers in the future

-- Signed Mike Mussina (one of the ten best pitchers in the AL last year) to a ridiculously cheap $22M/2yr contract

-- Signed Andy Pettite to a short-term contract. Pettite was solid last year in the NL, and even if he declines quickly, the Yanks didn't give up any long-term value to get him (Houston didn't even bother offering Pettite arbitration, so the Yanks don't even lose draft picks)

-- Picked up Josh Phelps in the Rule 5 draft to cheaply fill a bench spot

Now that Cashman is being intelligent about cheaply filling bench roles and middle relief spots, that opens up more payroll for them to outbid other teams by offering contracts with not as many years, but more money per year.

]]> By: WillYoung http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34458 WillYoung Sat, 09 Dec 2006 22:04:32 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34458 So, I clicked on <a href="http://dwil.wordpress.com/2006/12/09/ai-the-king-is-dead-in-philly-long-live-the-king-plus-what-it-means-for-the-76ers-future/" rel="nofollow">this link</a> to learn more about Iverson's potential trade destinations and I was struck with a severe sense of, I guess, deja vu. So, I clicked on this link to learn more about Iverson's potential trade destinations and I was struck with a severe sense of, I guess, deja vu.

]]> By: Nick N. http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34457 Nick N. Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:58:58 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34457 As I hear it, the main obstacle toward the Wolves acquiring Iverson is not that they could not piece together a sufficient package, but an issue of money. <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16199928.htm" rel="nofollow">Said Glen Taylor</a>: <blockquote>"No trade," Taylor said during the Wolves' 110-103 victory over Utah on Friday night at Target Center. "It isn't that I don't like him. Just money-wise, it wouldn't work out."</blockquote> That's really not the case, because if the Wolves really wanted to, they could put together a package that would offset the salary issues. Bringing in AI would put fans in the seats, but McHale and Taylor seem more content with giving absurd contracts to crappy players that nobody wants to watch. Gotta love those Wolves. As I hear it, the main obstacle toward the Wolves acquiring Iverson is not that they could not piece together a sufficient package, but an issue of money. Said Glen Taylor:

"No trade," Taylor said during the Wolves' 110-103 victory over Utah on Friday night at Target Center. "It isn't that I don't like him. Just money-wise, it wouldn't work out."

That's really not the case, because if the Wolves really wanted to, they could put together a package that would offset the salary issues. Bringing in AI would put fans in the seats, but McHale and Taylor seem more content with giving absurd contracts to crappy players that nobody wants to watch.

Gotta love those Wolves.

]]> By: New Britain Bo http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34453 New Britain Bo Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:18:10 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2006/12/09/weekend-chatter/#comment-34453 <i>I don’t want to hear new popular music</i> I would direct th' Stick to reggaeton - when we go to PR I like to tune in to the fast-paced, sexy yet positive riffs o': Daddy Yanquis, Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel (just to name a few). Also, you need to track on th' Canadian indie trax. Follow Grant Lawrence and his podcasts on cbcradio3 (I think avail on satellite, but I get free weekly on iTunes). Good stuff. I don’t want to hear new popular music

I would direct th' Stick to reggaeton - when we go to PR I like to tune in to the fast-paced, sexy yet positive riffs o': Daddy Yanquis, Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel (just to name a few).

Also, you need to track on th' Canadian indie trax. Follow Grant Lawrence and his podcasts on cbcradio3 (I think avail on satellite, but I get free weekly on iTunes). Good stuff.

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