Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by firefly:

Posted by McK1:

Posted by PresIke:

Posted by McK1:

Posted by firefly:

Mck1, I know you'rea huge Ridnour jock, but thats just ridiculous. Ridnours bsically out of the league and we're talking about a guy who held his own against Kidd, CP3 and Wade.

Come on man, get some perspective.

the way the US Olympic team is set up, saying Rubio held his own against them is like saying he held his own in the all-star skills competition.

[Edited by - McK1 on 06-18-2009 08:40 AM]

this is a pretty silly comment. the us team was under pressure to win, and you could see that they were playing at a very high level of basketball on both ends of the court.

did you get a chance to watch the games?

no I did not.

how much pressure to perform does CP3 need to put on himself when D Williams and Kidd are the other pgs, Lebron, Kobe, Melo, and Wade are on the wings, Bosh, Howard, and Boozer up front. I didn't/don't have to watch this years Olympics to know when the stars are all on the same team a natural deferance happens.

only silly thing here is the inference behind everyone saying Rubio held his own against these guys as if he faced them in their normal NBA mindset.

if it was team Spain vs the Hornets or the Jazz as part of the 82 game schedule and Rubio was able to put his stamp on the game then it would be something to talk about.

....and thats an even dumber comment to make.

In their normal NBA mindset. Any idea how stupidly setreotypically American that sounds. "Oh yeah, we're so great that playing the combined strengths of other countries is below our regular levels of play". Watch the games, hear the interviews and you will see, the US team played like it was the Finals out there and, unlike you with your dumbass "noone is anywhere near as good as the great USA" mindset, they gave the other nations the respect they deserve.

Oh, and BTW, your comment is the reason people think americans are the rednecks of the world. Scmuck.

Firefly I'm with you up until this part

your comment is the reason people think americans are the rednecks of the world. Scmuck.

Calling americans the rednecks of the world is the same mindset as an american thinking they are better then everyone else. They are equally simplistic, and meant to raise one's own esteem at the expense of others.

Other than that, I agree with everything you said. The US team went all out and without a few clutch shots by Carmelo and Wade and some huge defensive plays by Kobe we may have lost to Spain. The reality is that most of us don't know Rubio and how good he is because we've only seen him play a few times. But based on what we saw against the US team there is a lot of evidence that the guy can really play. No reason to knock his performance

Bip, I apologize for over-generalizing. Im just a little riled up is all. I pointed out in my next post that I was speking specifically about people with the same mindset displayed by McK1.

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by McK1:

Rubio can play. It doesn't mean he can play in the NBA. I watched Arroyo and Sarunas destroy the US in the 04 Olympics. It didn't translate. We won't know till he gets here.

Again we don't know who he is because we've never seen him play. Just like Jennings. but people are basing there opinions on the evidence placed in front of them and that's not wrong. He showed well against the US team at a young age. Not proof that he will be a star or even a good player. But he showed enough to make people think he has a shot.

I agree.

I took issue with this statement:

I really don't care about overall athleticism for PG's. It's flashy, but really some of the greatest PG's were avg athletes. Cerebral skills is where it's at so I'd always look at Rudio over Jennings at this point.

Jennings is being stereotyped as a brain dead me first cancer before he ever steps on an NBA court meanwhile Rubio is the 2nd coming based off moments.

Posted by McK1:

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by McK1:

Rubio can play. It doesn't mean he can play in the NBA. I watched Arroyo and Sarunas destroy the US in the 04 Olympics. It didn't translate. We won't know till he gets here.

Again we don't know who he is because we've never seen him play. Just like Jennings. but people are basing there opinions on the evidence placed in front of them and that's not wrong. He showed well against the US team at a young age. Not proof that he will be a star or even a good player. But he showed enough to make people think he has a shot.

I agree.

I took issue with this statement:

I really don't care about overall athleticism for PG's. It's flashy, but really some of the greatest PG's were avg athletes. Cerebral skills is where it's at so I'd always look at Rudio over Jennings at this point.

Jennings is being stereotyped as a brain dead me first cancer before he ever steps on an NBA court meanwhile Rubio is the 2nd coming based off moments.

Agreed. I hate when rookies get pumped up before they even hit the court based on their potential. IMO Jennings and Rubio both have as good a chance of making it. Personally, I like what Rubio brings to the court but thats just me. Theres a reason you, me and the rest of the guys here dont work for NBA teams.

I am certinly not beating down Brandon Jennings. Im sure he's got game, and wherever he ends up he will get a chance to prove it. Luckily for Rubio, he has already had better chances to prove it then Jennings and he performed well when given those chances. Thats why I like Rubio. Hes more proven to me. That may not be the case in 5 years time, but today, my pick would be Rubio. Once again, thats why Im not an NBA scout.

Rubio too sick to play

Kings draft prospect Ricky Rubio, who was supposed to participate in a light workout at the practice facility early Wednesday afternoon, became ill and returned to the downtown hotel where he and his mother, Tona, are staying. Sources say the 18-year-old Spanish star had a 101-degree temperature and was prescribed antibiotics by the Kings team physician. Team officials were holding out hope that Rubio would fee well enough to work out Thursday a.m., because he officially has to end his visit after 48 hours, or about midafternoon. It was unclear whether Rubio planned to visit NBA franchises in Memphis or Oklahoma City, the two clubs that hold NBA Draft picks Nos. 2 and 3. He also could return to Sacramento later in the week.


Among the other things I have been hearing throughout the day - the Knicks interest in trading for the No.2 pick to swipe Rubio said to be legitimate - are a few red-not nuggets from former Italian league coach and Milan-based television analyst Dan Peterson. The former Delaware head coach, it appears, is not a fan of Brandon Jennings. During our conversation Wednesday afternoon, Peterson ripped into Jennings, who last week suggested to The Bee that Rubio was little more than a You Tube sensation.
"Ricky Rubio is not overhyped," said Peterson, who broadcast several of Jennings' games last season for Lottomatica Virtus Roma. "Jennings is overhyped. He has it all backwards. He is all about trying to dominate one-on-one, all concerned with individual talent. I find it hilarious."
Peterson went on to say that he liked Jennings' quickness and talent, but didn't think he was NBA-ready. Rubio, he says, is NBA ready. "One of the things that happens in the NBA, everybody has a theory on what a guy can't do. That's all you hear. Sacramento would be very lucky to get Ricky Rubio. It would be a good place for (Rubio), the capital city of California, not too big. He is just a terrific player, though he needs to improve his three-point shooting. He gets into the lane, draws fouls, has the whole package. People would love him there. He's a winner. I would throw myself in front of a bus for Ricky Rubio. But I would have a hard time having Brandon Jennings on my team. I would send him home."
Ouch. Jennings DID apologize to Rubio, by the way.
Boys, boys, boys ...


Why Peterson's words matter

When trolling for information before the NBA Draft, and relying on international sources as well as NBA types for insights, I tend to avoid the couch potato/stats geeks and consult with the coaches/scouts/sources who actually observe prospects during live games and practices. Thus, Peterson is an invaluable resource. Additionally, he has a rich history with the NBA and its international expansion. As I might have mentioned before, my introduction to Peterson occurred when David Stern trotted him out to a press conference in the old Boston Garden during the Celtics-Rockets NBA Finals. The two gentlemen sat on the dais, talking about some player named "Drazen Petrovic" who would someday be an NBA star, and insisting that several other international players had the talent and desire to play in the league. As I reminded Peterson on Wednesday - and recalling that the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan was seated alongside - I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and complained about wasting my time at a pregame press conference, when I could have been in the Celtics locker room listening to the latest witty offerings from Bird, McHale, Parish, D.J., etc. So, hey, how dumb was I? Three years later, the walls came down, Petrovic, Vlade Divac, Zarko Paspalj, Sarunas Marciulionis and Sasha Volkov signed NBA contracts, and the rest, as they say, was history. I will say it again. How dumb was I? Really, really, really dumb ...


A final thought on Rubio and Barcelona ....

While waiting to interview Rubio Tuesday evening, we were chatting about his hometown Barcelona. I recalled covering the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics - Rubio was barely two years old at the time - and asked whether the Las Ramblas, the grand downtown boulevard, ever recovered from Charles Barkley's nightly strolls. Charles was huge - that was his coming out party, as an NBA and international star. The sight of the Round One, dressed in his finest matching Bermuda shorts and shirts, walking along the avenue, followed by hundreds of admirers, remains inforgettable. Rubio laughed and acknowledged that he had heard the stories. His NBA mentors, of course, are considerably younger. He's a big Chris Paul fan ...


This just in ...

One week before the 2009 NBA Draft, here's the latest news flash: The Kings need to land Rubio. If they have to trade up, so be it. Given the state of the franchise - lousy attendance, lack of interest, bad economy, community's craving to love its Kings again - finding a way to sign the gifted Spanish point guard is an absolute no-brainer.

Posted by McK1:

Posted by firefly:



You got me. Gosh my face is red.

Saying the US disrespected the Olympics doesn't, in point of fact, make you look any better. Im just pleased that someone got their head out of their ass and realized its maybe a litle important to join with every other nation in the world in respecting international competition.

Comparing NCAA amateur teams to international sides is like comparing Burton Albion to Man United. But you wouldn't understand what that means *******, so raise your beer, drool a little, chant "USA, USA, USA" and go watch NASCAR. You're todays equivalent of George Wallace and Im glad the rest of the country is embarrased of gormless fools like you.

I don't follow soccer but I do watch enough ESPN to know who and what MAN U represents in the soccer world.

same thing with NASCAR. I don't watch but its covered enough to know anytime Jeff Gordon feels like it, he will crush a Danicka Patrick. Same thing with USA team as its constructed now. The Danicka's don't stand a chance when the home team feels like going full thottle. Sorry if thats being an arrogant redneck American ******* but it is what it is.

I feel the US should stop sending its pros and go back to sennding its college players. Alot of those guys can use the experience. It may make them better professionals. All playing internationally does for the current pros is increase their risk of injury and/or fatigue as the season wears on.

And thats my issue right there. You may be right that at this moment 80% of the best players in the world are american. That fine. Good for you. But that wont always be the case.

Saying that you view the Olympics as simply a hindrance to the real business is where you are going wrong. International sport is MUCH more important then the NBA. You're representing your country. Why do you think the USA team were so up for the last Olympics? Because they embarassed themselves in front of the whole world. We all know you have the best players. But you got your asses handed to you.

In 99% of the world, representing your country is the ultimate honor, the culmination of a career. Players dont get paid to play for their country , thyre just glad to be picked. Of course the clubs complain, because thats their right. They make financial investments in these players and they want to protect that investment. Fine. But the players should demand, hell, beg to be allowed the right to stand in front of their countries flag. Fans are proud when a player from their team gets picked for a national team, because it shows that your club has the best players. And if that player gets injured on international duty, well, thats the way it is sometimes. Absolutely no fan in the world is saying "lets stop them representing our nation" in case they hurt themselves.

Im sure you saw Cristiano Ronaldo in the news recently. £80 million is an insane amount of money to pay for a player, and a world record. He will be getting a basic pay of £200,000 a week, plus all the commecial deals you can eat, plus a cut of the shirt sales. But I guarantee you that if Real Madrid told him that as a condition of the transfer, he wouldn't be allowed to play for Portugal again, the deal would be off. If you want to see how inportant it is to represent your country, I suggest you go and watch the British and Irish Lions against South Africa (rugby) on saturday. Watch the players during the national anthem and maybe you'll get an idea. (If you want to see real, hard men taking HUGE hits without girly padding on, you should watch it anyway, buts another conversation)

I cant understand someone who thinks that the Olympics is there to give college kids experience. Its not there to make you a better professional! Its a meeting of the greatest professionals in the world and you only get invited if you are the best at what you do for your country. Non-american sit and watch in amazement when NBA players decline the invitation to go the the Olympics. We cant understand it. We simply cant fathom it. And you're the only country that does it. The only one.

Posted by firefly:

Posted by McK1:

its hundreds of millions of dollars involved. That has trumped patriotism since before the Mayflower.

An owner of a team signs off on a contract for player x that will pay him anywhere from 50 to 100 mill over the life of the deal in the hopes that this player will help lead his team to an NBA championship. Injuries happen in season, it hurts but its the nature of the business. But watching that multimillion dollar investment go down playing for something that he has no chance of reaping any reward from...

It hasn't happened yet and I don't wish to jinx anyone but if it does are NBA contracts insured against getting injuries sustained playing for the US Olymic team? If not will an owner try and void a guys contract or bring a lawsuit against the US Olympics committee or both?
If there is language in the contract that allows an owner to void what is that player's recourse?


[Edited by - McK1 on 06-18-2009 12:02 PM]

Thats the teams problem. Its got nothing to do with the players or the fans. Both the players and the fans should be delighted to represent their country. A teams reticence is totally understandable, the players or fans is not. When a player plays basketball, its never just about money. Yeah money plays a part, but glory, achievement and recognition are just as important and for those things the NBA has nothing on representing your country. Your lack of respect for the international game is a sad indictment of where you believe your "rightful" place is in the global community. Why dont you just pat us on the head give us a nice chew toy while your at it.

Posted by McK1:

Posted by Bippity10:

Mck1: Did you watch the Olympics?

nope. I tried and was bored by it.