Still doesn't change the numbers, unless you are claiming his wife had an Olympic-sized pool made of gold bricks and filled with champagne installed in the backyard. I will admit, I'm surprised he chipped in as much as $20-30K, but I'll accept that number. At best though, it is still a joint marketing venture between the organization and Mister Van Gundy, and hardly "buying thirty lower deck season tickets."
The single most important thing JVG said is how little he expects to happen between now and Training Camp. Regarding the Tix Give-Away, it's EXTRA-freaking-Ordinary for a PRO COACH to purchase that many seats, even if he's paying a "whole-sale" price vs. retail. I'm not a Van Grumpy fan, but based soley on his willingness to take on the refs during the MAVS playoff series and the TIX giveaway, he's making it damn near impossible not to like his commitment to the ROX Franchise. I still hope he makes better decisions when we get to the playoffs and with recruiting in the interim... I'll check back in with CC.net if and when there's news on Bobby Sura, the possibility of a trade, or at least progress made Camp!! GO ROX!!! WCF-07
I am also not claiming to have bought any season tickets to give away. Mister Van Gundy gets his props. Assuming he is telling the truth with the "swimming pool" number (and I have no reason not to believe it), that half percent or so of his salary from Le$ is a fair chunk of change. However, those who were crying "He had to have paid somewhere near the rate anybody else would pay for 30 season tickets 'cuz HE SAID SO!" should also look at the numbers and admit it probably isn' the case.
If Van Gundy is hit by a bus tomorrow, ticket sales go up 30%. 35% if the bus backs up to make sure he's dead.
you get off on this **** don't you? i don't even understand what the hell your point is anymore. van gundy's cheap because he only spent maybe $35k? he's under zero obligation to do any of this and regardless of what his contract looks like, ponying up any amount of money to give some great fans the opportunity to come to every game is a class move. you didn't believe that he spent any moeny and now you're not satisfied with what you think he did spend. you may not like the guy and that's fine but you're sure having a difficult time seperating the on-court coach to this off-court generosity.
In addition to being an audio engineer, I can speak as a designer or high end pools and I'm offended. We usually don't use gold. He's almost right. A good pool in Houston costs about 45,000.00 where as a decent quality basic pool is going to run in the low 30,000.00 to 35,000.00. It just depends on if you want quality or not. My average pool sale this year has been closer to 80,000.00 but we've done a lot of 100,000.00 to 450,000.00 jobs. It all depends on what quality and life span you want out of the product. We build works of art that will last many lifetimes. www.wisepool.com You can check out one of our fountains at the church across from the Museum of Fine Arts. International design winner. Regardless of the marketing behind the ticket give-a-way, which any company would certainly take advatage of, it shows what we already know. He wants to win and is willing to do what it takes to achieve that goal even if it requires a certain personal sacrifice. Just for the record, I would have built the pool for season tickets.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember Arco was a loud ass place even when the Kings were horrible during the years before Petrie/Adelman/Webber. Guess fans in some places are less picky and cheer regardless of the record while other fans don't get excited unless the team is contending for the championship.
I couldn't get this point off my mind last night. It is clearly evident to me that the Rockets never wanted Rudy Gay at all. But Ronnie Brewer should have been near the top of the wish list. His qualities fit the team beautifully, and he had one of the best workouts that any player had for any team. And they probably could have traded picks with New Orleans and still got him. I'm pretty sure that I would rather have Battier than Brewer, but it really disappoints me that he wasn't under consideration.
(1) I believe I gave Mister Van Gundy "credit" for chipping in what he did. (2) I *never* said I "didn't believe that he spent any money." I said that I didn't believe he spent anywhere near what the face value of the tickets would be, even with a generous group and employee discount. All of the supporters cried and whined that I was "calling him a lier" because I believed it was *at least* as much a marketing/PR stunt as "the head coach buys tickets out of the goodness of his heart." (3) If some people are willing to pay for BrockStrapper's services at his prices, good for him. Note that he describes his services as "high end pools."
edc, to verify your numbers, we need you to go over to JVG's house and examine the quality of his pool. Just knock on the door, explain what you're doing, and I'm sure he'll understand. I'm just thinking about the awkwardness of that situation.
One look at the suits Mister Van Gundy wears on the sideline is enough to guarantee he is not a "high end" kind of guy.
