SB Nation User Blog: Chris The Greek

Kings Vs Grizz

Chris The Greek — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:17:31 -0000

Well, the Kings/Grizz game was the first one I have been to this season.

I just had a few random thoughts...

-Hooters is a great place to start game day. Wings, beer, hot chicks. Unfortunately, we got left off the hot chicks level. We got one who was qualified to work there, but with a mole the size of a south american cockroach on her face. Its name was Edward. It kept talking to me. And then Edward got mad when I was too freaked out to respond.

-The people who work at the Kings game might be the rudest on the planet. Everywhere I went, concessions, seats, you name it, someone was rude as hell. Definately not what I was missing about going to Kings games.

-The smart thing to do is to buy $10 dollar tickets, then sneak down. Which we did. And it was fine, until some yuppie showed up to the game midway through the THIRD QUARTER. You know what, I like sitting up high anyways. I got sick of hearing the guy next to me ask "How many baskets until they get a first down?" and "How far away does he have to shoot it for it to be a home run?"

-Arco is dead for this reason: Fairweather fans wont go because they are bad, and pricing has moved out the die-hards and people who actually know whats going on. Dude, your not cool if you take a first date there, and explain "When he runs from that big white line to the other big white line, its icing!" Trust me, I think she knew more about the game than you did buddy. Go schedule another hair appointment.

-Ironically, I ended up in section 214. At the very top, there was a guy wearing a Brad Miller jersey. And when the Kings started making their comeback, he starting doing something like dancing, something like celebrating, and something like a full bodies dry heave. Either way, I coulnd't tell if the guy was drunk or rode the short bus. But he was definately fun.

-Security gueard at the top of section 214: "Conley at the line? He'll make 'em. This game is over." Me: "Wanna bet? I'll take a rookie on the road in his third NBA game." Guard: "Ten Bucks?" Me: "That works." Guess who's ten dollars richer?

-Nothing made me fell like a little kid again like seeing Cisco hit that three. That rocked.

-Afterwards, at the House Party, Muff209 asked Koz if Napear's nickname is really peaches. From the reaction we got, I can safely say that he is really called peaches.

-The KHTK girls are not hot. At all. While we were down there talking to Koz, they kept saying "Yea, We work at the station, we're the KHTK girls, we know all these guys." First, you dont really work. You put on scimpy clothing and sell the one asset you have. Second, your not really that hot. I mean, really, you were the best Sac has to offer? I like to rip Sac for various reasons (Traffic, idiot public officials, bad sports section in the main paper, massive urban decay) but that might be the best. I dont know how many beers it would have taken to make them hot, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had rent money.

More Kevin Martin Glowing reports

Chris The Greek — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:26:50 -0000

Henry Abbot at True Hoop has a great interview with the New K-Mart's high school coach about what kind of guy he is.

Its a great read, especially seeing how down to earth this guy is.

Plus there is a rally for his signing on K and 13th tomorrow afternoon at 4 to celebrate his new contract.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-27-112/People-Who-Know-Kevin-Martin--Scott-Aronhalt.html

The 4 letter

Chris The Greek — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:41:53 -0000

A lot of people in the blog world have a problem with the way the WWL handles its sports stories.

A couple of things yesterday confirmed my growing disgust with them.

First, the NBA took the money to go ahead and extend their broadcasting contract with ESPN/ABC and TNT. While I have no problem with the TNT broadcast, ESPN leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, as a news network, they get free reign to create whatever stories they want, while at the same time blowing some things out of proportion. Anyone remember the Knicks, Nuggets fight last year? How many times did we see that clip re-run on SC?

Plus, if David Stern wants to clean up the league's image, working with a network that blows every little transgression by an athlete way out of proportion does not help. Imagine if the Pacman had been an NBA player instead of NFL? That (unfair) thug stereotype of the League would be getting shoved down even the most casual observers throat.

Second, I know its not breaking news that Greg Oden is a franchise center, and he could change the fate of a franchise, a la Tim Duncan. However, I like to sit and watch the draft, argue with my buddies, and legitimately think what Portland is going to do with all their post players now. I wanted to really believe that Kevin Durant could sneak in there.

It wont happen, though. The debate is over, because a full day before the draft the WWL is breaking news that Portland promised to take Oden.

I know it was probably not even close between the two, but what incentive to I have now to sit and watch the first two picks? None.

Ill leave on this note. A while back the guys at Deadspin broke a story about a high school football recruit who was planning on making his decision on college to his local station. ESPN offered the high school kid national air time if he would tell them early where he was going, just so they could "break" the story.

News coverage or News makers?

Good news Kings fans

Chris The Greek — Wed, 16 May 2007 06:42:08 -0000

Or at least those who miss the Rick days. According to News 10, Geoff Petrie gave a list of coaches for preliminary interviews, and the huge suprise name was good old Elston Turner, Rick's top assistant.

The big suprise was that Elston seemed to burn some bridges on his way out the door lasy year, criticizing the Maloof's for their handling of his and everyone else's removal.

What this means is that Petrie has a chokehold on the coaching search this time around.

Other names mentioned were some we have kicked around here, Brooks, Rambis, Shaw, Theus, Ron Jeremy (cough) Stan Van Gundy, and some assistant for Houston.

Could we possibly be heading back to the old fun and gun ways?

Around the League: Coach of the Year

Chris The Greek — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:31:39 -0000

Musselman is a terrible coach. We can all pretty much agree on that. I cant blame him 100%, but I can lay down a lot at his feet.

However, there are other teams in the league, and some with really good coaches. Which makes me jealous, but I digress...

Having no guidelines as to what would qualify someone as a Coach of the Year candidate, here are some criteria that has been used before:

Best Record
Most Improvement
Overcome the most adversity
Team Unity

Some or all of those have been used at one point or another in determining Coach of the year Candidates. Who stands out this year?

Jerry Sloan - He has been in the league forever, and never won this award. This year, he has the Jazz back on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since John Stockton was playing. He is also the League's longest tenured coach in one of its smallest markets. My reason for placing him as a frontrunner is the fact that Utah still has no "superstar" players, but is winning and could possibly have homcourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. He is getting the most out of the talent that he does have.
Sam Mitchell - Ok, I can not believe that I am really typing this, because I really thought last year made him look like a disaster on wheels. However, his hard-nosed approach has caught on, and with a smart GM like Colangelo finally making smart moves, the Raptors are going to win the Atlantic Division. Having Chris Bosh helps, but you have to get him to buy into it, which he does, and that is why they are winning.
Eddie Jordan - Homer Pick. I liked Jordan while he was coaching here, and he is the brains behind the Nets two Finals runs earlier this decade. He has the Bullets slated to win the Southeast division, and has started and quelled a public Gilbert Arena's fued that got agent 0 back on track. He kept the Bullets winning despite the fact that Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison have both missed games. Luck had a lot to do with it thanks to Oralndo backsliding and Miami's injury bug, but with the heat Charging, the Bullets keep winning.
Avery Johnson - Has the best team in the league. Just like he did most of last year. It kind of takes the luster off, becasue we already know he has a ton of talent and a ton of respect in the Locker room. Plus he was last year's winner.
Mike D'Antoni - Phoenix is proving they can win while playing fast. Do you remember Sacramento at the turn of the century, playing fast and leading the league in scoring? They always got killed by national media who said you cant play like that. Now Phoenix? They are everyone's favorite, led by cuddly Canadian Steve Nash. Im not buying Phoenix, but D'Antoni put in a system, it works, and they are winning.

Honorable mention in no particular order:

Pop-Spurs
Saunders-Detroit
Nellie-GS
JVG-Houston

Around the League: MVP Race

Chris The Greek — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:41:43 -0000

At the time of the posting, Dirk Nowitzki is leading the Mavs to a 59-11 mark.

Steve Nash and his Canadianness has Phoenix with a 53-17 mark and the Pacific Division title already.

Tim Duncan and his lack of facial expression has the Spurs finally playing defense like we know they can, and have killed their last two opponents by a combined margin of 500 points.

The Leastern Conferance, eh.

Lebron took half the season off, D-wade was hurt the other half, Shaq is fat, and everyone's favorite NBA blogger Gilberto is awesome and hardcore, but his team only has 38 wins to show for it.

A lot of talk is centering on the race between Dirk and Nash, former teammates and best pals who are leading the NBA's two best teams.

How can Dirk not win it? He is leading the NBA's best team, and making his teammates better.

How can Nash not win it? He is leading the NBA's best offesnvie show, and showing the Jerks like Pat Riley that his famous 70-65 ballgames are a thing of the past.

My debate is this: How CAN Nash win it again?

He is already two time defending NBA MVP. In my opinion, not rightfully either time. However, his numbers this year are better than during his two MVP years.

But, making him a three-time MVP? Back to back to back?

Three time MVP's in a row: Bill Russell (11 rings), Wilt Chamberlain (2 Rings) and Larry Bird (3 Rings).

Some three time total MVP's are the above three, Kareem, MJ, Magic.

What seperates the above names from Nash is winning Championships. No doubt Nash makes his teammates better, but does he win? Back to back Western Conferance finals appearances look good, but where is the finals trip? Where is the ring?

One time MVP's dont have as much pressure to preform. Do you know guys like Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett? And I am not including Shaq in this, because he has 4 rings, and has gotten screwed more than a few times.

I truly lay hate upon Ric Bucher for a quiet little debate in an ESPN NBA show two years ago, when he went out on a limb and said his MVP vote would go Nash for leading the NBA's best offense. Unfortunately, the rest of the Sportwriter Sheep hopped on the bandwagon, and then were stuck last year when his numbers were better without Amare.

What do they do this year? His numbers are even better than the first two MVP years, and he has been flirting with that 20 ppg, 50%/40%/90% mark only Mr Bird has accomplished.

While we are mired in an unfortunately long season, I really dont want icing on the cake to be another Nash MVP.

Kings 2006/2007 drinking game!

Chris The Greek — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:16:29 -0000

Since the season has taken a decided turn for the worst with Muss blaming himself, Petrie blaming Muss, Bibby blaming Martin, the Maloof's blaming Muss, Ron Artest blaming the giant penguin, the Poodle blaming talent (or lack of), the players blaming Muss, Brad blaming gravity, and Tim Hardaway blaming gays, I thought of a great way to watch the Kings and still get some enjoyment out of the season:

The Kings 2006/2007 drinking game!

This is not for the faint of heart, and if you do this at a bar and wake up with a whale, you cannot blame me.

1 Drink:
-Bibby misses a three
-Artest goes one-on-one
-Brad get burned on defense
-Kenny Thomas makes a turnover
-Francisco Garcia makes a huge defensive play

2 Drinks:
-Bibby misses a three after starting 1/5 from the field or less
-Artest goes one-on-three or more
-Brad gets dunked on
-Kenny Thomas scores

3 Drinks:
-Bibby misses a three in a quarter Kevin Martin has scored 10 or more points in
-Ron Artest takes a shot in a quarter that Kevin Martin has scored 10 or more in
-Brad Miller blocks a shot

Finish your beer:
-Mike Bibby has more shot attempts than Kevin Martin
-Ron Artest has more shot attempts than Kevin Martin
-Kenny Thomas playes more than 15 minutes
-Third quarter
-Lose in overtime
-Every time you yell at the Kings to get the ballboy off the court, until you realize its Coach Muss

Is the Sacramento Era nearing an end?

Chris The Greek — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:22:38 -0000

[editor's note, by louismg] Bumped due to significance. Speculation is fun, but this has more weight.

Last night on the Local Fox 40 news, and again in the Sacramento Bee this morning, reports are coming out about David Stern making a huge announcement about Las vegas.

Lord Stern said that he is NO LONGER OPPOSED to having an NBA franchise in Las Vegas. He even went as far as to say that if the 30 current NBA owners voted to move a franchise to Las Vegas, he would not veto it.

A big part stopping it is the Sports Books, but a pro team in Las Vegas would most likely come under the "UNLV" rule, where a team would be off the books while playing there.

Now Stern and the Maloofs both say that it wont be the Kings, because the money to be made from an expansion franchise is much greater than moving a team; however, I dont see Stern wanting to dillute the NBA talent pool any more than it is. Guys like Jake Tsakalidis should not have an NBA home.

What I dont know is if this is Stern playing the ultimate of hardball with the city of Sacramento, espeicailly since the city government of Las Vegas is scrambling to organize a location and financing plan for a new arena.

I really think that peices are in place now, and if a new Arena is not built, we might be ushering in the Las Vegas Kings. (Shudder)

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/123201.html

DIARY: My day at the Kings practice facility

Chris The Greek — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:16:45 -0000

(From the diaries. I wanted to get this one a little more attention - it really shows us an inside glimpse of assistant coach Mark Hughes, trainer Mark Shapiro, and pesky swingman Francisco Garcia. -TZ)

I work downtown running all the sports programs for a non-profit organization.

I received an invitation to go to a coaches clinic held at the Kings practice facility last night.

The practice facility is amazing. Two full NBA courts, one with the Kings Logo, and one with the Monarchs logo are inside.

A big deal was made of the signs Musselman had put up as motivation, and you really cant miss them if you tried. The 42% was still up though, and I really thought they would have scrapped that one a long time ago. Some of the other signs, like the Kings core vales made me laugh becasue I could not remember seeing them do things like paint catches, more free throw attempts, out-rebound, and defend in a long time.

As guest speakers, we had the Moarchs head coach (whoever she was), Kings strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro, and Kings assistant Mark Hughes.

I didn't get too much from the Monarchs coach, but I got some really great insight from Mark Hughes, who might possibly be the most polite person I have ever met. He was really working with everyone who was there, and going through drills. He was great in answering everyone's questions. He sounds a lot like Avery Johnson with his knowledge of the game.

I was most interested in Daniel Shapiro. This guys resume read off like a list of Shawn Kemp's kids. Bachelor's, Masters, Seattle's strength and conditioning coach during their heyday in the 1990's, head coach in college, and now the Kings strength and conditioning coach.

I was interested to learn that he no longer stretches the players out. Instead, he has them go through an aerobic workout to stretch the players.

Something kind of clicked with me as I realized, I watched the Kings do this before the game. But not before the second half starts. So then I kind of pieced together why the Kings might be so bad in the third quarter, because they are still cold coming out of the locker room. I dont know, it might just be chemistry, but it is interesting to see the consistent bad play in the third.

Things wrapped up about 8:30, but guess who was walking in while we were leaving? Francisco Garcia, shooting jumper after jumper. That right there is dedication.

Thanks Ron, for bringing it to this

Chris The Greek — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 22:22:51 -0000

Honestly, Ego's in pro sports a tough thing to get under control.

Obviously, there were too many ego's to make the Ron Artest experiment work.

Of course, Mike having his feelings hurt does not give him a Green Light to play like Peja did when Webber called him out.

If Ron goes, and Mike plays lights out plays better becasue his feelings arent hurt anymore, im going to flip cookies.

But I ask this: If Ron has been causing some serious problems behind closed doors, why wasn't he ever involved in trade talks to Philly for you know who?