AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 02
Friday, November 2, 2007
Reality used to be a friend of mine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Shouts out to my boys from PM Dawn)
That was before I started coming here for my daily beatings. Before I allowed my sensible side to show around here. Before I decided to ditch my argumentative, divisive-for-the-sake-of-a-good-shouting match philosophy for a more measured approach.
Foolish me.
Rather than responding specifically to all of your pointed criticisms of my cell phone etiquette, timing and equestrian skills (I don’t ride horses, high or low), let me make a few points that will hopefully hit you where they need to so we can conclude this perplexing week of our oft-times tumultuous relationship:
Was I yapping on my cell at Panera Bread? Of course. Was I speaking into the phone and not the sap in front of me? Right again. Did I solicit his input? Nope. So I can say whatever the Sam Houston I want on my own phone conversation. If he wanted to spend some time in his day telling someone what I said, cool. But he chose to dip in a conversation without being invited. It’s just bad manners any way you swing it. That scenario in no way relates to me overhearing a conversation about Josh Smith and then relaying it here. One has nothing to do with the other, for all you deputized members of the Hypocrite Police (look up the word hypocritical and holler back KY, since you were the first officer to show up on the crime scene with your clown hat on).
In regards to the Hawks preview story on Joe Johnson, if you’re more concerned about the timing than you are with the 100-percent legitimate concerns he raised about this team (which remains a promising work in progress and a sure-fire potential playoff contender but far from a shoe-in for postseason play), then all is already lost. And speaking of hypocrites. I seem to remember countless times ‘round these parts and others where people have called for Joe to show some leadership and be more vocal. Now, when he’s willing to say what anyone with any sense that has watched this team the past three years knows is true, he’s some how the villain for saying it out loud. As my favorite 5-year-old cat on the planet likes to say, “I don’t get that.” If you’re worried about the timing of the message and not what (he was saying) … like I said, all is already lost. And when is the right time to say what needs to be said? Just curious.
Two more quick point about what the captain, All-Star and face of the franchise had to say: 1) He didn’t knock a single one of his teammates. He’s always done nothing but praise them for the work they’ve put in and the progress they’ve made. If anything, he’s been far more gracious during some of their growing pains than star players on many other teams would ever be. That shows me some leadership in itself. And 2) Joe saying that the Hawks needs to be vigilant about continuing to explore all avenues to improve the team is just sound business in a league that can change complexion with one quick move by an aggressive team looking to alter the course of its destiny. I didn’t think he was throwing anyone under the bus (well, not anyone that didn’t need to be, and those people know who they are, at this time). That’s just real talk.
Now that the rollover issues from the previous blog have invaded today’s space, I feel like we’ve wasted an opportunity to discuss some of the things we’ve seen in the first three days of this NBA season.
Things like:
Kevin Durant is going to get major buckets this year. MAJOR BUCKETS. I’ve heard all the comparisons and rhetoric about him and what type of player he’ll become. But after watching him closely on back-to-back nights, I see him as an even better version of T-Mac some day. From an offensive standpoint he’s got the total package. He’s going to hit somebody for 50 this season before his body gives out (and unless they get young fella some protein shakes, he’s going to crash shortly before or after the All-Star game as hard as he’s going to have to go for Seattle to have any shot and winning games). But I do like what he’s doing so far.
The league Big Dogs (San Antonio, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, etc.) don’t look like they’re going to coast through the first few weeks of the season in an effort to pace themselves for the playoffs. I don’t know that they’ll be allowed to with hungry young teams all over the league trying to muscle their way into the upper tier of their respective divisions and conferences. That’s the best news of all for the fans of the league. The level of play will be extremely high on a nightly basis, which always makes for interesting game watching.
After watching the Spurs, Pistons, Heat, Suns and Mavericks this week doesn’t it make you wonder how long they all have before the pack catches up to them? Miami is already with the pack and in danger of losing even more ground without D. Wade in the lineup. But them seemed prime to maintain their positions in the league pecking order. It has to be a bit disheartening for all the teams that are working to get on their level. There’s a lot more work to do for the wanna-be powers.
There is a game tonight, ha. So I’ll be back for some live back-and-forth before, during and after the game.
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