Now that L.A. and N.Y. are in their Conference Finals, which I hope neither one of them WIN! If you had to pick one who would it be? NBC makes me sick to my stomach about both teams but the media in general, never gives the other teams any RESPECT!!! I guess I'm still Pissed when the Rockets never got any RESPECT!!!!! Later I'm out! Can't let the past rest! TheMugg ------------------ TheMugg [This message has been edited by themugg (edited May 24, 2000).]
Something I would LOVE to see this year would be a Portland/Indiana Finals matchup ending in a 4-game sweep (don't care who wins). The NBA & NBC totally get screwed in that case. That would be my #2 wish, my #1 is of course the Lakers losing to anybody. ------------------ "It's always funny until someone gets hurt...and then it's just hilarious." -Faith No More
Freak- Your #1 wish is EXACTLY what I want. All I want out of these playoffs is for the Fakers to get beaten bad. I got so much pleasure out of the beating they took the other night. Every night I just sit there watching the Lakers just wishing for someone to wipe that arrogant annoying smirk off of Phil Jackass' face. Same with Shaq, and I get so pissed off at how he thinks he is so good and wants to be called the "Big Homage", etc. Hey Shaq- MVP's don't crack in the clutch, and they can make their free throws. That isn't even mentioning his IQ which is about a 10. I can stand Kobe, but Phil and Shaq are the damn most annoying people I have ever seen in basketball. I want some team to knock these Fakers out, and do it in embarassing fashion. As for the rest of the playoffs, I want New York to win without a doubt. Ewing deserves a ring, and Sprewell, Houston, and others are all very likable players. They are a fun team to watch. I could live with Portland and Indiana winning, but I have my reasons against both. Indiana I can't stand cause of that arrogant jackass Reggie Miller and his comments about the Knicks going into the series. As for Portland, I like their whole team almost, but there is some player I can't stand who wears #33... ------------------
I want Indy to win because they have made it to 5 conference finals in 7 years. They have been consistant and they have always had a good team. They have paid their dues. No, I don't want to screw NBC or the NBA or the Lakers or New York... nor do I want small market teams to rise over big ones. I just want Indy to win. If they don't, then fine. Oh, and by the way, do you know that 4 of the lowest rated finals had New York or Los Angeles in them? And do you know that the highest rated had an EXTREMELY small market team in it? TWICE? So, whatever it is that would make anyone think that NBC/NBA are saying or "hoping" or even maybe "influencing" to have a Knicks/LA final is beyond me. ------------------ Live Rocketball. Breathe Rocketball. Die with Rocketball. [This message has been edited by Almu (edited May 24, 2000).]
i hope L.A. loses to Portland and i really don't care who makes it from Indy/NY... i don't like Portland, but i love the way Bonzi Wells and Steve Smith were takin' it to Kobe.... BONZI!!! BONZI!!! BONZI!!! ------------------
Darn! Portland's not a choice? I have no major problems with LA other than the fact that I'd really hate for Phil Jackson to win so quickly with them. He's an arrogant prick already, and I don't want to hear about how he's the best coach in the NBA by every commentator anymore. I don't have too much against New York either, except that I just can't stand the idea of a player choking his coach, getting suspended, being arrogant enough to sue the league to lift his suspension, then going on to win a champioship a few years later. Between these two, I'd have an easier time watching that prick Jackson get another title. But given a third choice, I'll be cheering for the Pacers. ------------------
Launch Pad Man, that's the exact reason I like N.Y. I respect Sprewell. I don't condone him choking his coach, but then I don't condone anything PJ Carlisimo does either. I think it would be such a slap in the face of the NBA for them to see that championship ring wrapped around Spree's finger. Just thinking of him hoisting that trophy makes me smile. I think the punishment did not fit the crime in that case. I think there have been players that have done worse things, and gotten lighter punishments. The guy has never been a trouble maker. He didn't have any problems before that incident and hasn't had any since. GO SPREWELL! Just don't choke anyone anymore... It's sorta like the Mike Tyson biting incident. The first bite really got me fired up. I thought, "Alright, here goes. There's gonna be some real fighting now." But, the second bite really let the air out of me. I just sat down (Because I was jumping around screaming for him to kick Holifield's ass), and wondered why he did it the second time. I didn't think the first bite was "right", but I saw how he felt he was being provoked with Evander's head-butts, real or imagined, Tyson felt Holifield was not fighting within the rules. So, I understood the first bite, but the second one ended the bout, and I was sick to my stomach that he had done it. I'm still a HUGE Mike Tyson fan though. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
DREAMer, That's an interesting Tyson analogy. The first bite you thought was justified, but the second turned your stomach. Well, what about Sprewell? He choked PJ (who probably did verbally provoke him somehow) once, left the practice court, and then returned a few minutes later to try to choke him again. You may be able to forgive the first attempt, but the second one was a little too much. If your coach is driving you nuts, you have several option: You can ignore him. You can argue with him. You can tell him to go $#*& himself and walk away. You can try to strangle him . . . twice. Which option above would an intelligent individual not take? Bottom line: I respect Sprewell the player, but I will never respect Sprewell the man. [This message has been edited by Launch Pad (edited May 25, 2000).]
The old "One strike and you're out" philosophy is great, until it's applied to the people who believe it... -------------------------------- I didn't say Tyson's first bite was "justified", I said I could understand why he did it. Just because I can see why someone did something doesn't mean it's justified, or that I condone it. I "understand" that many of the nazis in WWII killed many people because they were ordered to, that doesn't mean it was justified. -------------------------------- Fact: Sprewell came back. Fact: Sprewell did NOT choke Carlisimo a second time. I do not think Sprewell made the right choice when he decided to physically attack his coach. It was wrong. He deserved a punishment. But, here's some of my thoughts on the incident (I've said them before, but for the benefit of newer members...) 1.) I feel that what he did, he did at a private practice. He did not do it on national TV for millions of people to see, and further tarnish the NBA. To make an analogy, it's like when you fought with your brother at home. It was wrong, but you did it. But, I know as far as myself was concerned, I would never fight my brother or any family member in public. They would both be wrong, but doing it in public would bring more negative reactions. 2.) He did NOT attack a referee, as Rodman did (ON television). I bring up referees, because they are not connected to the game in the same way as players. Referees do not make hard or flagrant fouls, or under cut someone going up for an open dunk. They just do their job. They may not always do it well, but they usually are not the antagonist. (I think when a ref confronts a players, follows him, or does anything else that is not in their job description, THEY should be fined and suspended.) 3.) He did NOT attack a fan, as Vernon Maxwell, and Charles Barkey have done. Again, a fan is someone who in most cases will not physically hurt or injure a player. They may say some stupid things, as in Maxwell's case. 4.) He did NOT injury anyone. Carlisimo was able to resume coaching duties immediately after the incident. Unlike Kermit Washington who severely injured Rudy Tomjanovich and shortened a very good career. What he did do was physically assault another man. It was wrong. He may have been provoked or antagonized, but it was still wrong. So I ask, what made it SO wrong? It was that he attacked his coach. When it's the other way around what happens? Well, we have to look no farther than Bobby Knight to get that answer. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
Dreamer- Great analogy with the "one strike and you're out." I completely agree. Sprewell made one mistake. ONE. Since then he has been the perfect citizen, and represented the NBA in a great way. He is a great player, and with the exception of ONE time has been a person of high class. If you look back at the years in the NBA, the numbers of players who have never made mistakes is very very minimal. Do you hate all of them too? I honestly can say I respect Sprewell, and I would love to see him get MVP of the NBA Finals and win a ring. ------------------
DREAMer and The Cat, If your really believe that Latrine Sprewell's been a model citizens since his unfortunate mistake *cough* understatement *cough*, then check out this link: http://www.jerkoftheweek.com/basketball/jerks/latrell_sprewell.html I especially like how, he claimed "racial discrimination" in his suit against the NBA to be reinstated. Yeah, the NBA has something against African Americans And of course, there were the missed practices with NY, the "profane remarks made to fans", and the allegations of jury tampering for a car accident he caused. Gee, you guys are right, he's practically a boy scout! But if you support Sprewell in spite of all this, then we'll just have to agree to disagree. ------------------
Dreamer- Lame reference to the "One strike and you're out" thing. There's a lot of people in prison that only made ONE mistake. Ya gonna put all them back on the streets. That's the problem with people today. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions Way I see it is, you do the crime...you do the time....regardless of who you are or how much you make or whether your name's Clinton or Sprewell...or even Simpson! [This message has been edited by MoonDogg (edited May 25, 2000).]
DREAMer, the "brother" analogy is way off. PJ was, in a sense, Sprewell's boss. If you choked your boss, would you still have a job? Anyhow, I still want NY or Indiana to win it all. As long as Pippen does not get a ring, I am a happy camper. ------------------ We need some meat in the post!
So Almu, are you saying the NBA doesn't care who makes the Finals? That it makes no difference to them whether or not the Lakers lose? I'm not talking about any conspiracy, I'm talking about who they prefer to have playing. If they don't care, why are the Lakers and Knicks on tv every single weekend? Wouldn't other teams have been represented if it made no difference to the league or the network who was on? So you honestly think they don't care what kind of ratings they get, and that what teams are playing doesn't influence the ratings....wow. The league is selling a product...their objective is to get that product into as many homes as possible. The Lakers are obviously the team that has the best chance of meeting that objective. Revenue will be lost if the Lakers do not make the Finals. If ratings go low enough, it's bye-bye big televison contract. I'm curious as to why you think the league and the network wouldn't care who made the Finals. ------------------ "It's always funny until someone gets hurt...and then it's just hilarious." -Faith No More
Moondogg- You can't compare what Sprewell did to people in prison who murder people or whatever. This was not that big of a deal compared to what people are actually imprisoned for. And as for the racial discrimation thing, that was still referring to the original choking incident. Show me one thing he has done not involving the choking incident. That is all ONE thing. We know he choked his coach, and we know about the suit. Show me something else that he's done that does not relate to the choking. The answer is nothing. I'm going to continue to support Spree, and I think it's the right thing to do. He has represented the NBA very well, and if I had to bet you'd be singing a totally differnt tune if he were traded to well, say the Rockets. ------------------
The Cat, How does you justify his crying "racial discrimination" is okay because it was in response to his suspension? That just tells me that he wasn't man enough to face up to the fact that what he did was totally wrong. As for "something else that he's done that does not relate to the choking", did you even click on the link I gave you in my last post? You would've seen him go AWOL from NY for a week of training camp and get fined for it by his team. You would've seen him carelessly cause a car accident and later, be accused of jury tampering about that incident. You would've seen him fined $10000 by the NBA for making "profane remarks" to fans. Oh, but wait . . . I'm getting carried away. You just asked for one other thing. Oh, and just so you know, there are people in prison for attempted murder and assault. Both of these crimes are felonies. Sprewell could have been tried on either charge in a court of law, and if he was just some street kid instead of an NBA player, he probably would have faced some real consequences. ------------------
Launch Pad- Vancouver fans made the same accusations of Steve Francis earlier this year. (cursing the crowd, etc.) Both he and Spree had reasons. People had thrown tomatos, etc. at Francis all game the last time. And well, we all know how Golden State fans handled Spree. So if you don't forgive Spree for his actions, I don't understand how you can be a fan of Steve if that is one of the reasons you hate Spree. You seem to contradict yourself. ------------------
Hey Almu, You have to admitt that the Media cares if L.A.'s in the finals or not!!! I hope you did'nt forget when Houston won their first RING? I mean before the game was even over Sports Illustrated already printed the Knicks on their front cover!!!! That just shows you that there is FAVORITISM in the NBA!!!!! I have to agree with the FREAK! L.A.& N.Y. can kiss my _ss!!!!!! ------------------ TheMugg
I dont give a @*!& about either team . I hate NBC Damn them! Damn them all! ------------------ Proud owner of 271 different Hakeem Olajuwon Basketball cards
