"The behavior that you see on the field was either taught or accepted." -Jim Tressel
"You have to change each year. Your players change, their ability levels change, so we as coaches adjust." -Jeff Fisher
Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe: "We're not looking for the best players we can find. We're looking for the best kids we can find."
“Leadership is a quality of those who earn the respect of others through the wisdom of the combination of their words and their actions.” - Walter Grant IV, former president, University of Redlands Whitehead Leadership Society
Let's first just talk about how big of a C word LeBron James is. I don't want to waste much time on this. It's a non-issue. But can you believe this ass hole? Some no-namer crushes one when you're in the area, and you're so image conscious, you're such an egomaniac that you make some suits confiscate the tapes? In the words of Chad Ochocinco, "child please." I just don't understand the process. This could have been a laugh. This could have been something Sportscenter could have shown for one day. And that would have been it. But LeBron is so worried about his image and his ego that he couldn't just smile and say something like, "hey, I was letting all these bums have their fun and Crawford snuck up on me but when he's in the league I'll try to get him back. I'll be lookin for you Crawford (smile and laugh)." LeBron just keeps getting worse and worse. What a chump. Don't expect to see any comment on this from our crack Plain Dealer staff. Or any radio or TV reporter in Cleveland. All those guys will have their mouths shut. Cause if any of us say anything negative about Bron, any criticism, whether it be constructive or not and he's just gonna take his basketball and go play somewhere else. Nike is smart. They are gonna find a way to spin this. They'll finally concede and show it I imagine sometime soon, and just say that they were going to show it all along. But all this could have been avoided if LeBron would have just conceded it. Jordan Crawford did a hell of a job on his press junket today. He just kinda shrugged it off and low keyed it. Perfect. Bron just looks really stupid.
CAVS COMPLEX 11:30 EST Wednesday Evening
Danny Ferry: Okay, what can we swing and miss on next?
Ferry Minion: This afternoon, we decided to tackle Andy's contract tonight.
Danny Ferry: Great, let's get after it. What are we thinking?
Ferry Minion: Well Mr. Ferry, we kind of lucked out. By opting out and becoming unrestricted, Andy has ended up costing himself money. Weird huh, this economy is really taking its toll, amidst several other fact-(cut off by Ferry)
Danny Ferry: (While watching game film of his senior season at Duke): Watch me, push this kid from Clemson in the back and make a layup. BOOM. Haha.
Ferry Minion: And Dan Fegan really misjudged the market. Currently, there are no other teams interested in signing Andy. We'd be bidding against ourselves if we decide to move on him now. And luckily today, Byrdman Chris Andersen signed last night. 5 years, $26 million. That's a pretty good basis to set our plan of attack. Byrdman is almost better than Andy in pretty much every category, and he plays way less minutes. In fact, if you look at their stats per 48 minu--(cut off by Ferry)
Danny Ferry: So $60 million over 6?
Ferry Minion: Well sir, the market is bearing much less than that. And remember, we are competing against ourselves. And sir, we have to be very conscious of the salary cap in the long run. The cap is really shrinking. Next summer is going to be the most anti-climactic event in the his--(cut off by Ferry)
Danny Ferry: Where are we on Charlie V and McDyess?
Ferry Minion: Those guys signed with some of our major competitors already. I reminded you to call their agents several times. (looks over to see Ferry hanging up the phone)
Danny Ferry (slams phone): It's done, 6 years, $50 million. We won the Andy sweepstakes.
As you can see, I am having a little fun at Andy's and Danny Ferry's expense. I think that contract is a little over the top. Very over the top. By far the worst contract so far in this fun little 3 week free agency period. Brian Cardinal's contract think Andy's contract is a little much. A role player. An energy guy. He now makes more than Trevor Ariza and Charlie Villanueva. He makes more than a ton of guys now. He makes more than a ton of guys who negotiated their deals in a good economy. AND FOR WHAT? Andy is a great player. He does a ton of good things on a basketball court. Intangible things. Things that we have yet to begin to measure effectively. 60 charges a year. Offensive rebounds. Tap backs to get an extra possession. He ruffles opponents' feathers. He's not afraid to put his chest on other teams' star players. He bothers people. All great attributes. Hell, some nights, he can make 7 outta 14 uncontested right handed layups. I just think that you cannot give a guy like Andy that kind of money. I think it's silly. The market was bearing much less than what we paid. There were no other teams interested in him. Energy guy, role players--you can find those guys everywhere. You just have to do a good job looking. There are guys all over this league that can do what Andy does. The scouts and the player personnel guys get paid to find them. I just don't understand how you defend giving this guy that much money for that many years. He hasn't improved in 4 years as a player, both offensively and defensively. He's the same guy he has always been. He held out last season and fucked up your first half of the season. So you were mediocre record wise and had to play Boston in the 2nd round last season. He can't guard Dwight Howard. He can't guard Rashard Lewis. The two areas where you need to improve your offensive and defensive talent. And the argument that he's gonna start and play 35-40 minutes is a complete joke. He's a 20 minute a night fan favorite energy guy. He's gonna play well enough to finish games for you down the stretch because of his defense and awareness. You know what he's gonna give you. All out energy. Effort on the defensive end and the offensive glass. A good perimeter screener who roles right down the middle of the key. You don't reward those guys with 50 million dollar long term contracts. I recognize the importance and value that Andy has had on this roster over the last 4 seasons. I realize that his intangibles are hard to find. I realize that it's a whole new ball game with Shaq in the middle, and a guy like Andy could prove to be ever more vital to this team. I just have a problem with the price point. Look it up. Energy role players getting paid big don't pan out very well. The Cavs overpaid. And that's fine. We have an owner with deep pockets. I just would have liked to see the Cavs get him at a better price. Or give that money to Byrdman Chris Andersen. He's better.
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