http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040707/ap_on_sp_co_ne/bkn_magic_threats ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando Magic (news) general manager John Weisbrod reportedly received written death threats at his home about trading two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady. AP Photo Florida Today reported Wednesday that Weisbrod received two such threats since mid-June, and was forced to check into a hotel under an alias for two nights last week. On June 17, one week before the NBA draft, Weisbrod found a threatening note taped to the front door of his home. He said he called Magic assistant general manager Scott Herring and went ahead with plans to take draft prospect Emeka Okafor to dinner. Nearly two weeks later, on the day the Magic announced McGrady's trade to Houston, a death threat was scribbled on the glass door of the house with a grease marker, Weisbrod said. "I get harassing correspondence all the time, but when it starts happening at your house, that raises the bar to a different level," said Weisbrod, a 35-year-old divorced father of one. Weisbrod said the Magic notified the Orange County Sheriff's Office of the threats last week, but filed no official report because he wanted to keep the incidents "out of the public eye." Sheriff's officials took the June 17 note to analyze for fingerprints and study the handwriting, he said. McGrady, an all-star in each of the four years he played in Orlando, was sent to Houston with three others in exchange for point guard Steve Francis, shooting guard Cuttino Mobley and center/forward Kelvin Cato. The deal was announced June 30. McGrady averaged 28.1 points for the Magic, and quickly became the team's most popular player. But he told team owner Rich DeVos he wanted to be traded, and the Magic didn't want to be left without compensation if McGrady opted out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season.
How ingenious to leak this to the press to avoid public scrutiny over the trade. Boy, I'm glad the Rox (1) took the high road in not bashing this guy publicly after the trade, and (2) won't have to deal with him most likely for a long time.
I hadn't noticed before, but does it appear that he may be coordinating Al Qaeda's next moves with those hand gestures? I'm not an expert, but there could be something to this.
All the crazy crap going on on this planet and a guy gets death threats over trading a basketball player. A few things jump to mind reading this: 1.)I guess trading Tracy McGrady was a bigger deal then people thought huh? 2.)Maybe Weisbrod should learn to keep his mouth shut instead of riling people up and waking up the nut jobs. 3.)I love Steve, but death threats over trading McGrady. Damn that tells you something about McGrady's talents! 4.)People in Orlando have lost their minds. 5.)How long will it take Orlando fans to blame this on Houston? And how long will it take fans of other organization to say this is another reason Yao will leave Houston?
Its obviously unreasonable to threaten someone over a basketball trade. But I'd be pretty mad if I was Magic fan, look at what Wisebrod has done since taking over: 1. Team goes from playoffs to worst team in the league. 2. Gives one of the best players in the league an ultimatum to leave, which never should have happened, worked out for us though. 3. Drafted a prospect instead of the sure thing, most analyst agreed that the Magic messed up in the draft. Okafor can help now. 4. Ended up trading a top 5 player in a ridiculous, messy, matter. Really ended up making himself looking like an ass. Wisebrod isn't helping the Magic franchise at all. Fans may not know all that happened during the T-Mac fiasco, but a lot of people found out what kind of guy Wisebrod is.
This isn't really anything to laugh about, the guy knows where he lives if he's taping death threats to his front door and writing them on his window.
I think going for death threat are a little too far, no matter what happened, people needs to understand that NBA is a business after all.
I think more 4 than 3 I mean hell . . ole boy tried kill Reagan for Jodie Foster and . . well . .. Just some Nuttie folx in the world with too much free time Rocket River
