Just wanted to start a thread on this. Clutch and I went. He will have lots of audio later. I have a bunch of photos. Unfortunately, it wasn't like last year. They ran guys through a single press room where everyone sat in seats, so my pictures aren't terribly creative. Also, not every player came through so no Aaron Brooks or Steve Novak or Luther Head or Kirk Snyder. The guys that did come through included Les Alexander, Darryl Morey, Rick Adeleman, Steve Francis, Luis Scola, Rafer Alston, Mike James, Carl Landry, Chuck Hayes and Shane Battier. They had a Dikembe Mutumbo press conference prior to the media day rounds for the signing of his new deal. Most years, all the guys are just standing around waiting to take promo photos, etc. Because it was done differently this year, it wasn't quite as fun and there weren't quite as many opportunities to talk to the players. Photos and audio to come.
Bonzi was interesting in general. He said several times, "Van Gundy wouldn't let me play." Rafer's interview felt awkward. He was barraged with questions about how many guards there are an his offseason issues. He's such a nice guy, I kinda felt sorry for him. Ironically, Mike James was standing in the doorway waiting for Alston to finish because James was up next. As he finished, Alston said, "Oh, you're bumping me off already?" Everyone laughed, but it was weird.
true. he also said jvg was a good coach and "it wasn't even about coach van gundy I had a lot of personal problems." (or there abouts). It seems like he obviously had some issue that go beyond the contract fubar and jvg.
the guys on 610 said he looked VERY good and matt said he looked the fittest he'd ever seen bonzi. They made a big deal about it so it didnt seem to just be a passing comment
Can't wait for the photos and everything. It's good to hear that the rumours about Bonzi were true and he is indeed in shape.
Alston said earlier today (in the radio interview thread) that James and he go way back. In the context his comments in the radio interview, this sounds like harmless fun.
They used to ball it up on the hardtops of NY. Rafer is the playground legend and entertained everyone, but Mike James was always the best player on the court, according to James.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469327739/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1339/1469327739_9619c12e5c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Smile for Your Closeup" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469327453/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1086/1469327453_9a10dc1e9f.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Dikembe Mutumbo" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469327003/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/1469327003_b982af5cd4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Laugh It Out" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470181250/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1198/1470181250_37b3a38ef7.jpg" width="320" height="500" alt="Rafer Alston" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469326273/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1141/1469326273_78935b1ae9.jpg" width="318" height="500" alt="Rafer Smiles" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470180670/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/1470180670_e809fe7182.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Rafer Alston" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469325879/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1078/1469325879_d9869267c0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="I'm Mike James" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469325767/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1469325767_a0a14f32d4.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Mike James" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469325691/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1063/1469325691_05766d94b6.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Les Alexander, Owner" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470180256/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1146/1470180256_5fa80bb0ec.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Bonzi Being Bonzi" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469325507/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/1469325507_0620246fae.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Bonzi Wells" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470180068/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1061/1470180068_292b50c35a.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Franchise" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179978/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/1470179978_8f6acebb8f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Steve Francis" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469325251/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/1469325251_4c3a7b3d49.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Shane Battier" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179772/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/1470179772_c1f0026161.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Shane Battier" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179652/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1239/1470179652_a10d59de08.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Luis Smiles" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179552/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1470179552_b63c09e55d.jpg" width="315" height="500" alt="Luis Scola" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179408/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1212/1470179408_545793bfb0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Chuck Hayes" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1469324741/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/1469324741_76256cf830.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Carl Landry" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179212/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/1470179212_585d65942e.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Coach" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffbalke/1470179118/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/1470179118_00ec4a41e6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Rick Adleman" /></a>
