http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/columnstoryS1104KERASOTIS.htm But let's back up a little bit to Tracy McGrady, the guy the Magic traded along with Juwan Howard to Houston in the offseason, getting Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato in return. "He says he's with the perfect team now," said Magic general manager John Weisbrod of Me-Mac. "He says he's got the perfect big man now (in Yao Ming), the perfect coach, the perfect general manager. So the rings ought to start rolling in." Right? Well, don't look now -- on second thought, go ahead and take a peek -- but the Rockets have started the season and the Me-Mac Era 0-2, the latest loss coming last night to the lowly Toronto Raptors. It's got to be gratifying for a guy like Francis, who heard all offseason that the Rockets got the best of the deal. "People can say that they got the better of the trade," Francis said. "But I think both teams got what they wanted. If they want guys to walk up the court and shoot fade-away jumpers, then they got what they wanted. And if Orlando wanted a team of players that is going to get after it up and down the court, then they got what they wanted."
Weinsbrod didn't say anything insulting. That was the writer saying "Me-Mac". All Weinsbrod said was that Tracy's happy where he's at.
brocktoon already posted it here: http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86173&perpage=30&pagenumber=3
I'm a little more surprised about Francis seemingly ragging on the players that he was traded for...basically stating that Howard, McGrady and co. just walk up the court and shoot fadeaway jumpers. I'm sure you are still a little bitter that you were traded, Francis, but I don't think the players you were traded for share much of the blame here. Lay off.
It wasn't "obviously" anything. If you wanna assume that he was being sarcastic that's fine, but I honestly think you guys are just getting paranoid about any and everything Steve and Weisbrod say. Lighten up.
While I agree that some statements out of Orlando may be misconstrued on this board, I cannot imagine how 'the rings ought to start rolling in' can be interperted as being anything but sarcastic. If you look up sarcasm in the dictionary, they probably use that quote as an example.
This Guy Is Not Going to Last in the NBA Saw this in the Chron from Orlando GM, John Weisbrod: "(McGrady) says he's with the perfect team now," Weisbrod said. "He says he's got the perfect big man now, the perfect coach, the perfect general manager. So the rings ought to start rolling in." Every chance he gets, he takes a shot at McGrady. At first, I thought it was to help him save face when he traded away the team's best player. Then, I thought it was just something he did to make himself feel better before the season started. Now, I'm starting to wonder. At every turn, this guy is taking a chance to run T-Mac into the ground. T-Mac has fired back a total of once and Francis has gotten off one verbal jab as well. That seems pretty restrained for players. But, can you imagine Jerry West or Pat Riley or Carroll Dawson or Steve Patterson ripping a former player like this in public??? It is really pretty damn amazing to me that Weisbrod continues to pick at that scab. Not only is it going to piss off McGrady, it is going to fire up his teammates and, in truth, it is already taking away from his current team that could be decent. What is worse for Orlando is the fact that every GM, coach, player and agent in the league is watching this and taking note. In essence, he is not only taking a shot at McGrady with his verbal jabs. He is insulting the entire Rockets franchise by saying that we were too stupid to see that McGrady wasn't a winner. He makes the Rockets out to be less about winning and more about hype. Everybody has an eye on the guy and NO ONE is going to trust him when it comes time for the draft, free agency, trades, you name it. It is only going to make it harder on him to get an edge in any situation. Frankly, I don't care about Orlando and if they suck forever, it won't be much different than what they've done in their short history as a franchise. But, guys like Weisbrod irritate the hell out of me because they make a mockery of the game. He has frequently implied that T-Mac cared only for himself and put himself above the team. Well, guess what, John-John, what exactly do you think you are doing? GM's are supposed to be seen and heard ONLY when deals are in the works or at draft time. They don't talk to the media unless there is a good reason. He has managed to inject himself right in the middle of the team when he has no business there. He is placing his own desire to be a jackass above the welfare of the franchise. What an idiot.
I say let him keep talking...Seriously, I don't think anyone is listening to him anymore. And if Tracy is listening, its just going to make him play harder and better. This guy is nuts. It seems like he is afraid to let Tracy go. It seems like every single week it is something diffrent. I bet the Magic team is getting tired of reading about it. I know everyone else is. LET IT GO. He's ours...
I dont know crap about hockey, but is this the norm for GMs to talk like this??? Anyone think the owner really wanted John to try his best to keep T-mac ALA Shaq and b/c it didnt happen the owner gave John lots of heat and now he is covering his butt?? After steve started talking also I lost lots of respect for him... I thought cat was the one with the quick mouth..
I don't really care one way or another. He'll get what's coming to him eventually. Both teams got a good deal in the trade. Although the Magic very well could be 0-3 considering how close all the games went down. I'm glad we made the deal.
I've never seen a GM get as much air time as Weisbrod. I heard him on the radio the other night still taking shots at McGrady. Basically he repeated what he's been saying: McGrady is probably the most gifted player physically in the NBA, but immature from an emotional, mental, and leadership standpoint. Why keep harping on this? It's unprofessional, and seems to have become a personal issue.
Weisbrod's attitude is typical of many people who get rejected. Once McGrady showed signs of discontent at Orlando, Weisbrod probably thought, "If you don't want me McGrady, then I don't want you too." Now Weisbrod is apparently taking every chance he can to prove to others that he doesn't want McGrady. But, IMO, Weisbrod is still trying to prove it to himself by constantly repeating his dislike of McGrady. Point is -- when you're over someone or something, you don't keep repeating about it ad nauseum.
Funny you say that, checkout what Cat just said about the Bobcat game, "That team's nothing. . . . . I don't mean any disrespect, but not compared to what we have to face like Dallas on Tuesday," He said that AFTER they lost to them. That's what I didn't get about those 2 guys..after losses to teams like the Mavs and Spurs they'd say some ridiculous statement about how they were still better even though they lost. Just shut up already, you just got your ass beat down!
I am *so* looking forward to that first "magical" meeting between Orlando and Houston! All we have to do is put the ball in T-Mac's hands. Seriously, Yao can wear street clothes to the bench. T-Mac is going to be on a mission to completely dismantle the Magic from the opening tip; I almost feel sorry for Cuttino having to guard him. I'm thinking Tracy will be going for 50 points. The funny thing is, Steve will probably try to match him every step of the way. It's going to feel like a playoff game. But Steve Francis is no T-Mac. And Cato is no... well, I like Kelvin so let's just leave him be.
