Monday, June 3 Updated 8:44 AM EST NBA Draft Sleepers by Chad Ford Send an Email to Chad Ford Also Below: Are the Jazz after Andre Miller? | Are Mourning and Mutombo on the block? | Draft Rumors: Dunleavy going "back-and-forth" on draft | Writers Bloc: Was David Stern shooting the Kings' free throws? Inside the NBA Draft: Draft IN and OUT List NBA Playoff MVP: Bibby's worth isn't measured by numbers The NBA's annual Chicago pre-draft camp gets underway Tuesday with most of the top prospects once again choosing to stay away and let their private workouts speak for themselves. All of the top underclassmen and even most of the top seniors, like Maryland's Juan Dixon and Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince, are skipping the event despite serious questions about their draft status. Still, the event continues to show its relevance. Last year, two probable second-round picks, DePaul's Stephen Hunter and Pepperdine's Brandon Armstrong, played their way into first round. Two years ago, Jamal Crawford went from a marginal second-round prospect to a lottery pick with his play in Chicago. Speedy Claxton also raised his stock with a good performance. Of course, not everyone who plays well gets to the promised land. Omar Cook got great reviews in Chicago last year but still slipped into the second round. Ditto for Michael Redd the year before. And a few players actually hurt their stock. Arizona's Jason Gardner made enough mistakes last year to put a permanent black mark on his pro prospects. Who could be this year's Chicago sleeper? Insider takes a look at 10 players who have already turned a few heads in private workouts and may be able to parlay a good showing in Chicago into some guaranteed money in the first round. 1. Jason Jennings, C, Arkansas State With Chris Marcus out of the draft, Jennings' agent, Jimmy Sexton, wasn't even sure whether Jennings needed Chicago anymore. Jennings had already worked out well in Memphis and Phoenix and knew, with the dearth of centers in the draft, that his client was a coveted commodity. Like a lot of agents with players on the bubble, Sexton wasn't sure whether Chicago could do more harm than good. Private workouts are a controlled environment. Draft camps are more unpredictable. Besides, it's usually the little guys with the ball in their hands who help themselves. In the next few days of free-for-alls, centers don't get nearly enough touches down low. Still, despite all of the talent in that 7-foot-1 frame, Jennings remains a virtual unknown. A chance to parade in front of every GM will get him a few more workouts and seal his place in the first round. 2. Darius Songaila, F, Wake Forest Probably the most underrated player in the draft. He has the size, strength and fundamentals that pro scouts love in the foreign players they go ga-ga over these days. The fact that he played for four years in the ACC may have erased some of the intrigue, but Songaila is the real deal. He has the ability to play with his back to the basket and put the ball on the floor or spot up for a mid-range jumper. He's not an athlete, but has enough muscle to make an impact in the low post right now. If he shows some of that savvy in Chicago, he'll sneak into the first round. 3. Kei Madison, F, Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC His athleticism and versatility at his size would place him in the first round if he were coming straight from high school. However, a checkered past and a sketchy junior college career have given him second-round baggage. His workouts have been going well. In Chicago, he'll try to show teams that he has the jumper and ball-handling skills to play shooting guard in the pros. 4. Marcus Taylor, G, Michigan State Taylor has managed to generate zero buzz so far. One GM asked me Friday if he was still in the draft. He is, and it looks like he's staying in. Like a lot of the point guards in this draft, he has to convince scouts that he really isn't just a shooting guard trapped inside a point guard's body. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he has the size and raw abilities of a first-round pick. The question is whether he has the decision-making skills. That's what scouts will be looking for in Chicago. 5. Ryan Humphrey, F, Notre Dame There has been a fair amount of buzz about Humphrey in workouts the last few weeks. He surprised teams with his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter and then play down low on the block. He may be a bit of a tweener, but if he can prove to scouts that he can be a small forward in the league, he could be on the move. 6. Lee Benson, F, Brown Mackie JC The feel good story of the draft will have to convince teams that even though he's 29 years old, he has the body of a 22 year old. Teams have already been impressed with his workouts. Now they'll get to see if he can play against some real competition. 7. Vincent Yarbrough, F, Tennessee His stock has slipped due to injuries and questions about what position he plays. But he's an athlete who knows how to put the ball in the basket. If he can show some shooting range and the ability to handle the ball, he has the raw skills to be the darling of the camp. 8. Jannero Pargo, PG, Arkansas He really impressed teams with a strong Portsmouth tournament. Like Taylor and a host of other point guards, the question is whether he's too focused on his own offense. Several teams told Insider that in his early team workouts against better know point guards like Dan Dickau and Juan Dixon, he's more than held his own. Pargo has been working out with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover, and has reportedly put on quite a bit of muscle. If he shines in Chicago, he's got a shot. 9. J.R. Bremer, PG, St. Bonaventure Speaking of muscle, Bremer can reportedly bench press 350 pounds. He's been on the workout circuit with Dickau and Dixon and has impressed teams with his shooting range and strength. He was the NCAA's fourth leading scorer last year with a 24.6 ppg average. Like Pargo and Taylor, Bremer has gotten a rap as a shooting point guard. In this case it might not be entirely fair. Bremer spent the first three years of his college career running the point. It was only during his senior season that he was asked to play two guard. 10. Chris Owens, F, Texas A preseason All-American candidate, Owens had his senior season cut short when he tore his ACL in his right knee in December. Owens is out to show teams that he's recovered and worth a look. He won't be in great playing shape, but a few league physicals may go a long way toward convincing teams that this first-round talent is worth the risk. Are the Jazz after Andre Miller? The Cavs-Andre Miller saga gets more interesting by the day. Speculation has already been running rampant that the Cavs may attempt to trade their only star this summer after Miller publicly stated that he wants a max contract extension this offseason. The Cavs have been balking, instead saying that they'd prefer to wait another year before committing that kind of cash to Miller. Owner Gordan Gund has said publicly that he doesn't believe Miller could command a maximum contract anywhere else. The lid was blown off that Sunday when the Akron Beacon Journal reported that the Jazz would make a run at Miller next summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. According to the report, which cited a source close to the Jazz, the team has no qualms about paying Miller the max. If the Cavs believe Miller will be tendered a max offer by the Jazz or someone else, then they'll likely explore trading him this summer while they can still get value in return. How real has this possibility become? Several GM's told Insider over the weekend that they definitely think he'll be moved by draft night. That's interesting because the Cavs recently canceled their annual draft night party for fans. Speculation is the team might want to avoid the negative reaction if it trades Miller on draft night. The Dayton Beach News Journal reported that the Magic were trying to pry Miller away. To get something to work, the Magic would likely have to give up Mike Miller, Darrell Armstrong and some future first-round picks (something the Magic have a plethora of). The Chicago Tribune reported that the Cavs and Bulls may be having discussions that could presumably lead to a Jay Williams-Miller trade. The big question for the Bulls is whether they're ready to scrap the triangle offense. Miller is the type of old-school floor leader who was made obsolete by the use of the more structured triangle offense. Still, Miller has the type of court savvy and pass-first mentality the Bulls are in desperate need of. The Tribune also reported that the Clippers have shown an interest in Miller. But with owner Donald Sterling on the precipice of big contracts for Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi and (eventually) Darius Miles, the team may not be able to afford Miller's asking price. And the New York Daily News reports today that the Knicks have coveted Miller for the past three years. Knicks GM Scott Layden followed Miller's career closely when he was in Utah and has longed for a reliable point guard to run the team for years. If those aren't enough possibilities, Indiana, Milwaukee and Minnesota have also been mentioned as possible destinations for Miller. New tune could foil Miller plans Chris Tomasson / Akron Beacon-Journal Magic may be wooing Cavs' free agent Miller Ken Hornack / Daytona News-Journal Knicks Point To Cavs' Miller Frank Isola / New York Daily News Are Mourning and Mutombo on the block? Could the East be preparing to remove the last vestiges of the big-man movement that dominated general managers' thinking the last two decades? Chicago Tribune columnist Sam Smith writes that the migration of all of the good NBA big men to the West might be complete this summer. Smith writes that with the success of more finesse teams like the Nets, Celtics and Bucks, teams like the Sixers and Heat may be willing to part with their centers for a package of skilled, athletic players. With so many Western Conference teams still trying to figure out how to beat the Lakers, there could be a very large market for players like Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning despite their obvious weaknesses. The Blazers, Mavs, T-Wolves and the Spurs (with David Robinson on his last breath) are all searching for answers in the middle. Smith writes that the Heat and Mavs have been exploring a Mourning trade since mid-January. With sign-and-trade issues factored in, Smith believes that the Mavs might be willing to put together a package with Raef LaFrentz, Nick Van Exel, another first-round pick, one of their excess big guys like Shawn Bradley and the $3 million Cuban likes to add to deals. The deal would give the Heat missing scorers and players to spread the court and compete with Eastern teams and it would give the Mavs a physical low-post presence to bang with Shaq. While Mourning's health remains an ongoing issue, Cuban is one of the few owners in the NBA who could afford the risk. If Larry Brown really wants a few more headaches, he could probably swing a Mutombo-for-Rasheed Wallace deal that would give the Sixers another solid option offensively and give the Blazers that defensive presence in the middle that they've sorely missed since Arvydas Sabonis retired. A tough-guy migration Sam Smith / Chicago Tribune Draft Rumors: Dunleavy going "back-and-forth" on draft Is Mike Dunleavy in the draft or is he returning to the Duke Blue Devils for his senior season? That is the biggest question on many general managers' minds right now. Dunleavy's presence in the draft alters almost everyone else's thinking. It isn't very often that a projected top-5 pick is still flirting with the draft this late in the process. Dunleavy's father, former Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy Sr., says that his son his having a tough time deciding what to do. "He's having a hard time," Dunleavy Sr. told the Denver Post. "It's really more the fact that he planned on going to school for four years. [His senior] year was supposed to be his year, his team. He wanted to take that challenge. ... I don't know how many people would turn this down. But he goes back and forth. One minute he says he wants to do it, and the next minute he thinks he still wants to stay." When can teams expect to get a more definitive answer for Dunleavy Jr.? He has until June 19th to pull his name out of the draft. "It will really come to the wire," Dunleavy Sr. said. "It will be a last-minute decision for him." Chris Wilcox's decision to limit his workouts to three general sessions -- June 12 in Chicago; June 15 in New York; and June 19 in Phoenix -- where all teams can attend, drew some boos from several lottery teams. Several lottery executives told Insider that Wilcox was making a big mistake. "He's obviously got a lot of raw talent, but with a kid like that, you want to be able to go over him with a fine tooth comb," one GM told Insider. "With Gooden, Nene [Hilario] and [Amare] Stoudemire working out well and not shying away from team workouts, you wonder if he's getting the best advice. He'll still be a lottery pick, but I think he may slip a bit." Gooden, Hilario and Stoudemire have all been playing to rave reviews in workouts so far. Several teams now feel that Gooden has the shooting range and ball-handling ability to play small forward until he gets strong enough to handling the physical pounding in the paint. More teams are now projecting Hilario to be a center, something that will surely raise his stock on draft day. And one GM thinks Stoudemire may "redefine the power forward position" once he gets a few years of experience under his belt. Kansas junior Drew Gooden seems to be falling back into favor with several NBA teams. According to several league sources, Gooden has shot the ball extremely well in workouts and showed surprising ball-handling ability. Gooden has worked out for the Rockets, Bulls, Warriors and Grizzlies. He has workouts scheduled with the Knicks and Cavs after the Chicago pre-draft camp. His workout in Memphis Friday went well. "I've seen him a lot," Griz director of player personnel Tony Barone told the Memphis Commercial Appeal . "You tend to sometimes try to find something wrong with them. You say 'he can't be that good.' This kid has great quickness with the basketball. There are guys who are quick and there are guys who are quick with the basketball. A guy his size at 6-11, his ball quickness is phenomenal." Gooden still feels confident he'll be a top-3 pick. "I'm a top lottery pick, wherever I end up," said Gooden, who already has visited Houston, Golden State and Chicago. "My workouts definitely have put me there. . .I'm starting to open a lot of eyes now. My last three workouts have shown [my shooting ability] pretty well." Add Knicks GM Scott Layden to the list of GM's who feel that Dajuan Wagner can make the move to point guard in the NBA. Wagner worked out for the Knicks Friday and impressed. "I don't know if Dajuan is a point guard or a two-guard, but he's going to find a way to play," Layden told the N.Y. Post. "What he can do is play both positions and therefore be more valuable." Duke's Dunleavy might be out of Nuggets' reach Marc J. Spears / Denver Post Gooden impresses Griz Ronald Tillery / Memphis Commercial-Appeal Gooden scheduled to pay Cavs a visit Chris Tomasson / Akron Beacon-Journal Layden's Sure That Dajuan Will Find A Place In The NBA Mark Hale / New York Post Writers Bloc: Was David Stern shooting the Kings' free throws? NBA conspiracy theorists can sleep a little easier tonight. Their beloved Roswell Ray Guns (aka the L.A. Lakers) have somehow mysteriously managed to overcome the odds (they're the first team in 20 years to win Game 7 of a conference championship on the road) and make it to the Finals. Maybe all of that meditating got the Lakers and refs in synch one more time. Or maybe, just maybe, the Kings lost this one all by themselves. Last time we checked, David Stern wasn't shooting the Kings' free throws. L.A. Times columnist Bill Plashcke sums up the mood Sunday night in L.A. -- Whewwwww! "This time, for the first time, their greatness didn't come from the sky. This time, the Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal could jump no higher, stretch no farther. This time, as a stomach-turning Sunday afternoon became evening, they reached down. Down past the ego. Down past the glitter. Down past everything the sports world has come to believe about a pretty basketball team that had yet to show its soul." Sacramento Bee columnist Ailiene Voison sums up the mood in Sac-town -- Damn Lakers! "The one thought that will keep the insides of [coach Rick] Adelman and Geoff Petrie twisting throughout the long, dry summer, the issue that will haunt long after Mike Bibby is re-signed -- and this is an absolute necessity -- is that while the Kings remain deep, versatile and immensely talented, Shaq and Kobe aren't going away. And if Shaq undergoes surgery on that arthritic right toe during the offseason and returns next season at his fighting weight?" N.Y. Daily News columnist Mitch Lawrence sums up the mood in New Jersey -- Holy crap. "The Nets' celebration officially ended at 10:40 last night, Jersey Standard Time. That's when they found out their prize for winning the East: The team nobody wants to play in June." Digging Deep to Find Heart of a Champion Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times Huge opportunity, grand frustration Ailene Voisin / Sacramento Bee This Time, N.J. Gets Swamped Mitch Lawrence / New York Daily News
It's nice to read it, but you know you can't just go posting for-pay content on the Net. There are many repercussions that could stem from such a thing, including action on the server, if it was determined they were being posted here.
how is Dearrock's post any different from passing around a copy of Sports Illustrated after he finished reading it? he's not reselling the information. Neither is ClutchBBS.
Because purchasing an subscription to such a site comes with an agreement not to retransmit said information. There is no such agreement when you purchase a copy of a magazine at a newsstand or store. Very different.
mfclark, that may be true but it's been done quite a bit before on this BBS and it's far from the worst computer related crimes out there. The EULA's on software are rediculous and even through regular use of the software you can easily break that licenseing agreement. I wouldn't be too worried about what ESPN is going to do. It's not worth the time or effort to enforce, unless someone is making a profit off of that information.
That may be true, but it doesn't make it any less a "crime." EULA's may be easily broken, but I don't think ESPN has any clause in there to allow the republication of the material without paying for it. Sorry to drag this out....but it is something that people need to be careful about. Little snippets are generally ok; they come from newspapers themselves....it's just the big articles they'd crack down on, and I don't think anyone wants to lose this over something like that (yes, a doomsday scenario but worthy of noting).
A big chuck of insider's content comes from newspapers. Also, I took it from another website. I see no reason why the stuff should not be free anyway. If they are going to be so bold to put a price on it then they would have to be so bold to patrol it. We all have out respective sense as to what is fair and I certainly do not think I am being unfair to ESPN. Finally, I made no money on it.
I fail to see the similarity with software licensing agreements. However, IMHO I think the fact that there is no profit being made by either CC or DearRock is significant. This would be the same for taking a copy of SI and reprinting the information and charging for it. That obviously would not be legal. I would not underplay the significance of the lack of profit. I believe this is why you can go to a sports bar to watch a game, but the sports bar can not (legally) charge you a specific fee to watch that game. Perhaps DearRock can read the fine print and tell us the wording of his "contract" with ESPN.
Not to beat this issue to death, but ESPN might run right smack into the Bill of Rights if it tries to keep people from disseminating its information. There's something about free speech in the First Amendment . . . on the other hand, why shouldn't people be able to contractually waive their rights . . . I'm sure everyone has bought something or some service that says you contractually waive your right to a jury trial and agree to go to arbitration to resolve any disputes. on the other hand, the big companies should not be able to beat up on the consumers because there is a disparity of bargaining power, lack of business sophistication (no barb at anyone intended at all), and the free enterprise system must have some controls. on the other hand, the free enterprise system is what makes this country great. I'm out of hands.
This whole thing is stupid and run out... #1- Who would pay for that recyled crap? I laugh at whoever does because not only can you find it all over the net daily but it just is not worth the price. It SHOULD be free. #2- I doubt ESPN cares... If you say otherwise - EMAIL THEM and tell them folks at every draft message board and site post it daily.
Also Below: Rockets making progress on Yao | Draft Rumors: The NBA's top 15 | Ralph Nader attacks NBA officiating | Writers Bloc: Can the Nets gets some respect? Inside the NBA Draft: Updated Top 25 NBA playoffs: Four more questions you were afraid to ask CHICAGO -- Organizers of the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago were already on pins and needles about who would and wouldn't show up Tuesday. Imagine their surprise when no one did. Actually, no one is a bit of an exaggeration. Still, thunderstorms and a security breach at O'Hare airport in Chicago kept many of the camp's players and NBA personnel from getting to Chicago Tuesday. The disruption was significant enough that the NBA was forced to cancel Tuesday night's drills and start again this morning. Despite the slow start, there was good news from Chicago. Insider confirmed that Oregon's Freddie Jones will play at the camp. Jones, a super athletic two guard, is perhaps the best player so far to accept an invitation to the tournament. While some teams have him already penciled in as a first-rounder based on his incredible athleticism and scoring prowess, other teams still question his size (he's 6-foot-4) and shooting touch from outside. Jones can't do much about his size, but he's already begun answering his shooting critics. At a recent workout in Memphis versus Caron Butler, Jones nailed 21 of 25 NBA threes. If he shoots like that here, he's a first-round lock. That's what his agent, Bill Duffy, is hoping for. "Freddie's worked out great, but I thought he needed the bigger stage," Duffy told Insider. "He's still not on everyone's radar screen. But he has the athleticism and explosiveness to dominate here in Chicago." Duffy, like every NBA agent, has to carefully weigh whether playing his clients in Chicago will do more harm than good. Agents rely on a number of factors. Some of it has to do with exposure. Agents also rely heavily on feedback from teams after the first few weeks of workouts. Guards will more readily get a green light than forwards or big men because they control the ball. Big men often have a hard time getting shots at events like this. The little guys like to run the floor and gun away. While Jones got the green light to come, another one of Duffy's clients on the first-round bubble, Kentucky forward Tayshaun Prince, did not. "Don't worry about Tayshaun," Duffy said. "He's going to be just fine. He is on everyone's radar screen. Besides, he's played on a major stage in Kentucky for four years. Everyone knows what he can do. What does he do here, that he hasn't already done?" Agent Mark Bartelstein held out Gonzaga point guard Dan Dickau for a similar reason. "It's hard to justify Dan playing in Chicago," Bartelstein told Insider. "He had a remarkable season and has been sensational in the workouts. I don't know how anyone can be more tested. There are teams in the lottery who have serious interest in him. No one else of his status in the draft is playing. What can he prove in Chicago?" Still, for players who have the competitive juices flowing through them, the decision not to play can be a hard one to swallow. "I just want to play basketball," Dickau told Insider Tuesday in an exclusive interview you can read later today on ESPN.com. "I was preparing myself to play and I know I would've played well. . .I'll play anytime, anywhere. But I've figured out quickly that this is also a business." Rockets making progress on Yao Either the Rockets are blowing a smoke screen bigger than The Great Wall of China or the team is finally making some headway with Yao Ming. "Things have been progressing well. I think it's time we got together," GM Carroll Dawson told the Houston Chronicle. "We want them to know where we stand and let them know we understand Yao Ming's importance to the Chinese national team." Dawson admitted that the trip to China, which will include coach Rudy Tomjanovich, was "a pretty good indication" of what the Rockets hope to do with the first pick. "We're optimistic enough," Dawson said. "We think it's the right time to meet face-to-face. We've got to find out if there is any mystery. We think that the Chinese government is ready to do this. We're going to find out. If they give their blessings, the guarantee that the league is looking for, we'll see. Both sides want certain things. We want an uninterrupted season and playoffs. They want us to understand how important he is to the Chinese national team, and we do." Rockets plan to send contingent to China Jonathan Feigen / Houston Chronicle Draft Rumors: The NBA's top 15 Believe it or not, the NBA has its own "top 15" draft prospect list that has been very accurate the last few years. The NBA puts together the list by polling the lottery teams and uses it for everything from inviting players to Saturday's media session to issuing out invitations to the Green Room on draft night. Who's on the list? We'll get our first official peek Saturday afternoon at the media session. Insider talked to several league sources and NBA agents and has confirmed that the following players have been invited to the Saturday session: Duke's Jay Williams, Kansas's Drew Gooden, UConn's Caron Butler, Memphis's Dajuan Wagner, JUCO star Qyntel Woods and Missouri's Kareem Rush. Several of the top international players like Yao Ming and Nikoloz Tskitishivili are out of the country. Duke forward Mike Dunleavy and Stanford center Curtis Borchardt are unlikely to attend because of school commitments. Last year, of the players invited, only one, Brendan Haywood, was not a lottery pick. Ralph Nader attacks NBA officiating Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder with the NBA's goofy officiating in the Western Conference Finals, here comes this story from the San Francisco Chronicle. Consumer watchdog and former U.S. presidential candidate Ralph Nader sent a letter to NBA Commish David Stern Tuesday urging a review of the officiating in the aftermath of the "notorious" refereeing in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals between the Kings and the Lakers. "At a time when the public's confidence is shaken by headlines reporting the breach of trust by corporate executives, it is important, during the public's relaxation time, for there to be maintained a sense of impartiality and professionalism in commercial sports performances," the letter read. "That sense was severely broken . . . during Game 6." Then it gets nasty. "Your problem in addressing the pivotal Game 6 situation is that you have too much power. Where else can decision-makers [the referees] escape all responsibility to admit serious and egregious error and have their bosses [you] fine those wronged [the players and coaches] who dare to speak out critically? . . . A review that satisfies the fans' sense of fairness and deters future recurrences would be a salutary contribution to the public trust that the NBA badly needs." Nader urges NBA to review officiating staff / San Francisco Chronicle Writers Bloc: Can the Nets gets some respect? Have the Nets finally gotten what they've craved all season -- respect? The Lakers spent Tuesday applying to be official members of the Nets' fan club. "The Nets are a great team," Shaquille O'Neal said. "I think it's going to be a great series." Added Kobe Bryant: "We are not underestimating this team at all." Newsday's Shaun Powell wonders whether all of the praise the Nets are getting from the Lakers is just another Phil Jackson smoke screen. "The Lakers spent yesterday giving more props than a Hollywood set designer. If only 13 people in the world think the Nets will give us all a good reason to watch basketball the next few weeks, yesterday gave you the impression it's 12 Lakers and their coach. . . .Assuming the Lakers aren't liars, the Nets finally have what they've craved the most: respect, just when they need it least." Speaking of respect . . .not that they're looking past the Nets or anything, but the Lakers are eyeing history. They have a chance to do something that Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar could not. The Lakers have not won three consecutive titles since 1954, when George Mikan was leading the Minneapolis Lakers, writes L.A. Times columnist J.A. Adande. "The Lakers' opponents in these NBA Finals aren't the New Jersey Nets. They're engaged in a battle with history. And they're up against ... the Lakers." Speaking of legacies and respect, given the Nets' checkered past, Houston Chronicle columnist Fran Blinebury wonders whether we can ever take them seriously until they win a title. "To say they come at this from vastly different places is just the start. The Lakers vs. the Nets. The yin and the yang. By lineage, all those championship banners vs. all those miserable years of losing. The sublime and the ridiculous. By location, the star-studded shores of La-La Land vs. exit 16W of the New Jersey Turnpike. The penthouse and the outhouse." Lakers blow smoke, don't light fire Shaun Powell / Newsday History Test J.A. Adande / Los Angeles Times Inept past makes it hard to take Nets seriously Fran Blinebury / Houston Chronicle
To beat this issue to death... how about this. What if I had your medical records, credit card numbers, social security number, etc? Would it be free speech to distribute this information anywhere I wanted to? What if you did something like wrote a book, and I had a copy. Would it be free speech for me to give away copies of it?
We are now far, far away from NBA draft talk, but for those of you still tuned in . . . 1. It is completely legal for someone to distribute another's ssn, med records, etc, unless (i) you have a contractual obligation to that person not to disclose that information (like a confidentiality agreement), or (ii) the law imposes upon you a duty not to disclose that info (doctor/patient relationship; guardianship; attorney/client; consumer protection statute, etc.) Even though it might be "legal, if you distribute that info, and someone uses that info improperly (like to commit credit card fraud), you just bought yourself a lawsuit. They may or may not win that suit, but they can sure as hell sue. 2. If I wrote a book, and you had a copy, you could give it away to anyone you wanted to (unless you had a contractual or legal duty not to - see above). You could even resell that book for a million bucks. However, you could not make copies of the book and then resell or distribute. Copyright laws (assuming my book was copyrighted, like most publications are) cut into your 1st amendment rights because our free enterprise economy needs that. My apologies to those that wanna talk Yao Ming. I feel sick. I can barely eat my lunch. Yao is CoMing.
