Oh, sure, he's annoying anyway, but did it strike anyone else that his incessant ranting aboutt how he would take American-born players over foreigners any day bordered on inappropriate after a while? I mean, he actually said at one point that he couldn't believe a guy like Carlos Boozer dropped and that he would take a proven player like him over any of the best European players. I know, I know. It's Kenny Smith! He complained that foreign players were too slow. Uh, Kenny, uh...nevermind. He said that guys would have trouble with the language in the last minute of a close game. From what I remember, the only language he heard in the last minute of close games for the Rockets was Rudy T saying, "Sit down, Smith. Cassell is in the game." I guess I could have lived with the ranting if he had done it and left it alone, but every damn foreign player that was picked, he kept saying, "This is a wake up call for American basketball players." He said such incredibly un-educated stuff like, "our guys grow up with this sport" as if Yao Ming, whose parents were PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS, did not. Ugh! At least Barkley was ambivalent. He stated the obvious that players will struggle and their games will have to adjust. Typical analyst stuff. But even when Ernie Johnson asked Da Jet, "aren't we just seeing the globalization of basketball coming to the front," he wouldn't relent that "our players" are much better than any international player. It's his opinion so, whatever, but doesn't he realize that there are over 200 countries watching the NBA draft? I mean, Stern had to be crapping his pants in the back thinking, "Damnit, you idiot! We WANT foreign players. It expands our markets and keeps you in a job you don't really deserve. Don't piss them off you dumb ass!" I thought Stern's thoughts were summed up when he said that neither Kenny nor Charles could speak English when them came in the league either. As someone said to me about that, "S-L-A-M!"
He was pissing me off too. I was like. . . KENNY . . GET OVER IT!! He kept harping on it. Rocket River
He did harp on the subject too much. I wasn't to the point of being angry about it, but I felt more like he was embarrassing himself by sticking on the subject way too long.
It was a bit over done! Yet I think he had a valid point when he said "This is a wake up call to American Players" The NCAA does need a big overhaul especially in its regular season . He and Charles ( who showed he has no sense of the occassion) pointed out that the foreign players were more experienced and more ready for NBA competition.
I felt like throwing a boot at Kenny listening to him last night. I agree that this is a wakeup call to American players, but he did overdo it last night. They kept harping on the language barriers and how terrible a problem that would be. I kept asking how big a problem it's turned out to be for Stojakovic, Nowitksi, Turkoglu, and Gasol. Unlike a lot of people, I think Kenny is not that bad a broadcaster. I just lost a bit of respect for him last night and gained a bit more for Satan (David Stern) after his comments about Charles and Kenny not being able to speak english when they first came to the NBA. Hell, I was saying in chat that it's no big deal that Ming needed a translator because I always thought Cuttino needed one, too. Most of the European players' english was better than Qyntel Woods. Anyway... the night was good. I hope Ming and Nachbar turn out to be steals.
Yeah, Kenny pissed me off big time last night, he seemed like a racist, IMO. We all know Charles isn't there for his basketball analyzing skills, but for entertainment, but I'm not quite sure why Kenny is there...If its to keep saying crap about how he'd take any player on any winning team over a good Euro, then I need to stop watching him.
I would have thought he would have come a little better prepared than that. Rudy and CD have said over and over that a language barrier will not be a problem on the court. os
ALSO Is Charles ALL ABOUT MONEY GOODNESS every other statement was. . HEY THEY GETTING PAID or . . .THEY NOT GETTING PAID RIGHT . . . or STAY IN IF YOU NOT GETTING PAID . . . EVERY THING CENTERED AROUND MONEY Rocket River
Jeff -- sooooo glad you posted this....my friends and I at SRO were saying the very same thing. It's like guys like Kenny and Charles literally feel threatened and defensive about the influx of foreign-born players. Ummmm...this just in, Kenny...Dirk is pretty good...so is Stojackiscan'tspellhisname from Sacramento...there was a little guy called Petrovic who was a pretty nice little player too. "He won't be able to communicate with Rudy in a twenty-second timeout" was a ridiculous and uninformed statement. If they're spending this much money on him, they'll make sure that communication won't be a problem. It was very clear that Kenny (and Charles in my opinion)were defensive about the attack on the typical US approach to reaching the NBA...seems they're a few years behind. Sir Charles reminded me of a great point in his post...Kenny said you should take any player from a winning college team over an international player. Yeah, Kenny...that really worked out with Danny Manning...Danny Ferry...Jacque Vaughn...etc etc etc. Does he honestly think this is the ONLY formula to build a team. I really liked Kenny when he was here...and for the most part I enjoy his coverage on TNT...but I thought he and Charles both had some underlying thoughts there that were a little suspect.
Hey, didn't Windandsea say Yao spoke perfect English. So I'm yelling at at Kenny...the fcker speaks English you numbnut! But then when Yao comes on for his interview he is using a translator. The paper said he made some attempt to say howdy to Houston but I didn't hear it. So what's the deal, does he speak English or not ( I hate to side with Kenny but it does make a big difference on how he integrates with the team and how fast he picks up the Rockets system). If I were the Rockets I would send tutor/liason to Bejing to work on the language and basketball terminolgy. He could be the first coaching 'aid' for China basketball too. GP
I found it rather amusing and annoying myself. Here is a guy who is complaining about a language barrier and he hasn't even heard Ming or Nachbar talk. I did find it a bit disturbing that there were translations during the first interview with Ming. I was lead to believe that he knew some english. Its HELLO, Olajuwon was not raised speaking English ... was that a problem?? Its easier to understand a language than speak it ... and besides, the ebonics some of these players speak are worse than a foreign player who has yet to set foot in the States (can we say Wilcox) Face it, very few first year players have made a major impact on a team. Shaq, Duncan ...anyone else?
Racist?? He didn't say anything that was even remotely racist. He never mentioned white players, asian players, black players, etc. Foreign players of all races were chosen in yesterdays draft.
I have lost much respect to Kenny Smith. He can't stand the change that is occuring in the NBA and the flux of Euro players. He is showing how ignorant he really can be with his idiotic comments last night. I would have been fine with Kenny stating that the language would be a problem, but every damn time they mentioned Ming or and foreign player ... GET OVER IT KENNY!!! I don't think he had one good thing to say about Ming. I was hoping that he would at least be happy for the Rockets organization for attempting to get back to the glory days. Sorry ass Kenny ...
IMO, Smith's comments were more nationalist than racist. He criticized Hilario too who is black. I think it is more about protecting American players, which is fine, but if they are good, who the hell cares??? As for Yao's English, it is good in interpersonal conversations, but according to an article I read, most guys who don't have the language down (Hilario, Yao, etc) will have translators mainly for the media. They are concerned their language will get them mis-quoted so they want a translator to handle it for them. I don't have a problem with that at all.
Jeff, At least he could have said "Houston I'm com-Ming" He is going to need a tag line if he expect to sell any funinture for Mattress Mac. Uhnbeadable! GP
Kenny Smith looked downright sour last night...I am glad you posted on this Jeff because a majority of us saw it also. I was kinda shocked in chat.
I loved David Stern's comment that Kenny and Barkley could not speak English either when they first entered the league.
Kenny Smith should not have been doing the draft coverage last night. I see why Barkley is there because of the entertainment factor but this is not so for Kenny Smith. This guy was not knowledgeable about many of the players. I even remember him asking why Chris Wilcox is rated higher than Juan Dixon. Kenny, next time you cover a draft try and do a little research on it so you don't look as stupid as you did last night.
