Jack McCallum from CNNSI. Going to the NBA store in NYC and right before closing I walked in. Grabbed my H-Town cap. Ma friends grabbed their corny Knick and Laker gear. Right before I started to puke, who did I see? Jack McCallum. So, I went to the cashier area and kept an eye on him. Making sure he didn't get too far before I had a chance to speak to him. And right when he was speaking to the manager, they started to close the store. I had to leave. But I couldn't go before speaking to him. Luckily, he had finished speaking to the manager (I am assuming here) and I said "Hey, are you Mr. McCallum from CNNSI?" He said yes. Luckily, my girlfriend works for AOL Time-Warner and they know each other when he goes to CNN at times and she has to do security clearance. In anycase, this is the conversation. Again...like the radio translation...I am going to try my BEST to repeat word for word what we talked about. "Hey, Mr. McCallum. My name is Alex. My wife (have to say that at times or my girlfriend gets a titi fit. ) works at AOL-Time Warner. She tells me she sees you at times and I always tell her to say hello for me and that I am a big fan of yours". "Who is your wife?" "(Erased name). She is head of security at AOL and the Time Life building." "Oh yes. Very nice lady. Nice to meet you, Alex." "Mr. McCallum..." He laughs. "Call me Jack. I am not that old." (Laughs) "Yes sir. I am sorry Jack. Its I am from Texas and my mom embedded respect in me and people here always tell me not to talk to them like I do. The whole yes maam no maam thing is not that popular here." (laughter) "Anyway, I wanted to ask you for a couple of minutes." "Sure." "Sir (oops), I am a Houston Rocket fan. I know you heard our Coach Rudy T. stepped down. I wanted to ask you on your thoughts on that and who you think the Rockets should or could get as their next coach." Ok. Again, I am gonna try for word for word. "Alex, in my opinion Houston is blowing it . I think that they didn't go real hard after Brown. Brown was definitely interested. Just my opinion from what I hear. I don't know if Brown was really into coaching again, but I was convinced that he was going to either Houston or take the year off or something around that scenerio. Let me tell you this, I am SHOCKED...SHOCKED he is going to Detroit. All indications say its a 4-5 year deal on the table. I don't know the amount." "Damn. I am worried now. What about Jeff Van Gundy? I liked him alot as the Knick coach. I hate the Knicks SO SO MUCH but I admire his coaching ability. What do you think about him?" "I think Jeff is an excellent young coach. But Houston can forget about him also. I think that the minute the Cavaliers take LeBron James, I think Gundy signs on. Make no mistake, Houston will do well with Jeff also. But, I think he will end up in Cleaveland. There are strong indications that he is going to either end up in Cleaveland or go back to television. I don't think he will be in Houston. Don't be surprised if they offer him something big like 6 years or something. He is young." At this time, we are alone. My friends think that I am talking to an associate or something. So they wait by the door for me. "Jack, what is going on here. I scream on the top of my lungs everyday to get Jeff and he is not going to my team? Who then?" "I think when its all said and done, the Rockets will end up with Dunleavy. He was a Rocket. And from what I hear, his interview went well. I wouldn't count him out by any chance." "What about Silas?" (Shakes head) "He isn't going to Houston. He is gonna probably end up in Atlanta. Maybe Toronto" "So Dunleavy to Houston, eh?" "Well, its not sure. Mike Fratello hasn't interviewed yet. You know who would be good in Houston? Doc Rivers. He seems to handle young talent pretty well. But as of now, Houston is losing the coaching battle." "Thank you..." Walking to the door. "You not gonna ask me about Ming?" (Smiles) "I am not a reporter so I can't be that complete. (Kiddingly) Hey, Jack. What you think about Yao? Is he the real deal?" "If he doesn't hit the Sophomore slump or if we don't put him on the cover next year, he could hit 17 points per game next year. I personally think he can average 25 now with enough shots. But Houston is not starving for points. They have 4 or 5 scorers on that team. They don't need Yao to take that many shots unless they make the offense around him. Ming seems to be more of a "sharer" than a "dominator". But that is definitely coaching. That demeanor can be changed. Thats why Brown was the right fit for that team. He would force everything through Yao. Like it or not." Walked outside in the pouring rain. Driver waits for him in a Lincoln Town Car. My friends finally get a clue and see he is who he is. They are not too impressed though. "Thanks Jack for 15 minutes. I appreciate it. I will tell my wife you said hi." "Anytime, Alex. Listen. I will be at the Time-Life building on Wednesday. If you get a chance, your wife and I can go to lunch with Mr. Parsons. I know your wife must be excited about the move (headquarters is moving to 59th and Columbus instead of present Rockefeller Center). There will be a whole bunch of us having dinner at (names restaurant)." "Yes sir. I will ask my wife. She will be happy to go, I am sure." "And don't worry about Houston. There is nothing that talent can't fix. And they have tons of it." "Yes sir. Thank you." He gets into car. Waves at my friends before doing so. And thats it. In the pouring rain to the subway I went. POURING. I hope you ungrateful bastards appreciate what I am doing for you. Oh, and you know who else was in the store and stayed there for promotions? Dikembe Mutombo. I don't know why he was there. Maybe we wanted to ask me if Houston needed a back up center? I was thinking...funny how I haven't posted as much since Sept 11th as I use to back in the day...my brother being a Marine and all, I was all into world situations. Now that its a little calmer and the minute I start paying attention, I run into Jack McCallum. Weird isn't it?
Okay, that has to be a typo because why would the Hornets get rid of Silas to only bring him back immediately? I do agree with Jack in that we have probably blown it with Larry Brown.
Wow. Sounds like McCallum has the inside scoop. Makes sense that LB was ready to take the Houston job, but Les wasn't done interviewing. Hell, Silas was in town yesterday. His Van Gundy statement was pretty accurate too. I mean, who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to mold the next great one. I'm a little skeptical about his Dunleavy thoughts though. It seemed like they were based more personal opinion rather than fact. It's too early to put Carlisle in the picture, I guess. Good reporting, Almu. Next time I'm in NYC, drinks are on me in the Village.
Well thanks for all the bad news Almu. Remind me to take you out to lunch sometime for all the bad news Almu. They ought to just call you Bad News Almu. Geez.
Nice work Almu. You will have to dig for more info when yall go out for dinner next week. Amazing! And yes the Rockets may have blown it with Brown. Im not fired up about Dunleavy though.
If this is a carousel, I want off this ride. Rockets please make your selection. The clock is ticking and you have 24 hrs to pick.
McCallum makes some weird predictions. I remember him saying that the Wizards should win the East and that Yao Ming was not worth the #1 pick in the draft. Also, I thought Rivers already turned down an interview request? Weird that he would still mention Rivers as a good fit.
Sorry about that. Two things: One, he said ATLANTA. Not New Orleans for Silas. That was my bad. Second, After thinking about it, I took the name of my girlfriend off the post. I know 95 percent of you dawgs are legit nice people. But for the Freaks of the world (no pun intended to my friend the Freak ), I think its better to remove it. But, if Clutch or one of the crew members want to put this somewhere on the front page or use it as reference, I will be happy to give you ma girls name and you can call AOL-Time Warner and do all that verification stuff. The last thing I need is some Rocketman95 or AntiSonic or Keeley calling my girl asking for more inside info!! And if they know me!! Only Clutch, Jeff and Will are allowed to harass her at work. OK!! PS, because he mentioned Rivers doesn't mean he is gonna interview. He said he would be a good fit. I guess because he has worked with young superstars in Orlando and McGrady has blossomed since going to Orlando. Just my opinion.
Orlando didn't give permission to Doc Rivers, if I remember correctly. I'm not sure how McCallum would know all the details. It sounds like the Rockets made Brown an offer, then Brown said "I'll think about it" so the Rockets figured they should keep interviewing just in case. McCallum seems to think the Rockets never made an offer.
Keith Caulkins on Fox Sports Extra just said Mike Dunleavy "doesn't care whether he's first, seconds, third, etc. choice to get the job, he just really wants it - badly." I'm starting to warm up to a guy who they said had an awesome interview, AND is genuinely pumped about the team.
From what I read, Rivers was not interested in leaving Orlando, thus declining the interview. I could be wrong on this though. Maybe someone else can confirm. I agree with you on McCallum knowing the details. Probably alot of speculation there. Clutch has reported that an offer is indeed on the table and was before the Carlisle situation happened. So I am suprised to see him saying that the Rockets blew it. All we can do is make him an offer and hope he accepts it.
Maybe McCallum is saying the Rockets didn't push Brown to sign sooner rather than not making an offer.
Yeah the Rockets did make an offer to Brown, maybe they didn't realize they had to pressure him to sign immediately. If that's all it is and he goes to Detroit, then Dumars and Brown deserve one another. A Jerk marriage made in heaven. But who knows if that is really the case. Brown has always been my first choice, but there are plenty of scenarios where he comes out smelling like a jerk, and only a few where he doesn't
Thanks, Almu. Duty above and beyond! Hope you dried out. McCallum sounds like a nice guy. He makes me want Brown more than I do already, which is a lot. Maybe LB won't go to Detroit after all. I love what Jack had to say about Houston's talent. And Brown's just a perfect fit, imo. I still have my fingers crossed.
