SB Nation Blog: Mac G

Question-Luxury Tax-Abe "Scrooge" Pollin?

Mac G — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:22:12 -0000

Prada, I remember you mentioning a few weeks ago about writing a long post about Abe Pollin.

Did I miss it?

The fact that we only have 9 players in uniform again for a NBA game is ridiculous.
I know Abe is responsible for putting up his own money (HUGE tax break too by the way) for the Verizon center and revitalizing Chinatown.

His vision was remarkable and he is truly one of the most prominent contributors to the DC community.

However, fans and the City just gave Abe 50 million to upgrade the arena but now in the same year he will not add a few temporary or permanent players because of the luxury tax.

I love the new scoreboard and I am OK with more fees to pay for it but only if he actually puts more money into the team.

I am not an expert of the luxury tax or what the Wizards would be penalized by going over it.

The Wiz desperately need some more warm bodies (a true POINT GUARD!) while their key players return to health.

It is frustrating as a paying customer and a DC resident to see the owner willing to take our tax money but not returning the favor by being too cheap to help the product compete at maximum capacity.

And by maximum capacity, I mean suiting up 12 players like other NBA teams.

Prada or Jake, do you have any thoughts on this? Any other BF homeys?

I think it is time to really dissect Pollin's frugal behavior.

Here are a few posts that I found critical towards the 50 million dollar subsidy to Pollin.

http://dcsportsblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/dc-council-votes-50-mil-for-phone-booth.html

http://endthecolawars.blogspot.com/2007/04/id-rather-spend-it-at-potbelly.html

Simmons NBA Column, Gil mention

Mac G — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:41:21 -0000

Simmons finally gives Gilbert some love but in true chowderhead fashion, he has to conclude with a parting cheap shot. I wish on his next trip to Fenway, Simmons would get pizza thrown at him.

10. Gilbert Arenas
His breakout season as a superstar included a nickname ("Agent Zero"), a catch phrase ("Hibachi!"), an overall philosophy ("Gilbertology"), a consistent hook (an inordinate amount of big shots), a Hall of Fame YouTube clip (the one where he beats DeShawn Stevenson in a shooting contest with one hand), and even a groundbreaking creation (his entertaining blog on NBA.com that included an enlightening opus by about how he felt misunderstood by the media). Maybe those things didn't make him the MVP, but they definitely made him the most memorable star of the season. We need more Gilberts in sports. Whether he'd be fun to play basketball with ... that's another story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070418&sportCat=nba

Courtside Photo Diary of Wiz/Raptors,

Mac G — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:49:49 -0000

I wanted to post my pictures from Friday night's devastating loss. I apologize to keep bringing it up. It is completely squashed after this diary entry.

Have you ever noticed that the Wizard's play absolutely little defense? haha. I forget if it was the end of the 1st or 2nd quarter but the Wiz were shooting a FT, they make it, and the Raptors push the ball up the court for an uncontested lay up!

A few times the Wiz just stopped trying to rotate to the open man. The Raptor's missed some wide open shots at the end of regulation that I thought was going to be the difference. Unfortunately, With 8 secs left, Dixon hit a huge 3 in the corner in like 1.4 seconds and it happened so fast that I never saw how he got so wide open!! They drilled every wide open look in OT.

In the first half, Jarvis took off on a breakaway WAY too soon and almost missed a finger roll layup, it was hilarious. Gil and Deshawn were cracking up on the bench.

The Wiz crowd was overall pretty lame and very few times rose of their fannies. Nowhere near the fan noise I saw on TV during the Wizard's recent road trip. Especially Portland and Golden St.

All right, I hope this was 300 characters!

Wiz/Raptors Game

Mac G — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:41:50 -0000

[Editor's Note: From the diaries. Because anytime a community member gets third row seats, it's a big deal, even if we all want to forget this game. Pictures coming later (maybe?). -Pradamaster]

The Shot

Bosh Abuse Ruffin

In order to give all BF fans a true sense of my emotional state on Friday night, I have to inform everyone that the last 2 Wizards' games I have attended in person were the Damon Jones Game 6 killer and the Gil game winner against the Jazz this season. Both games left me leaving the Phone Booth immediately seeking booze for very polar opposite reasons.

Yet again, I exited VC in pure disbelief of what had just transpired.

My friend hooked me up with 3rd row seats on the court, free throw line, directly across from the Wizard's bench and of course, about 10-15 feet from Mo Pete's prayer shot!! I have a clip of the shot that I will try to upload or paste a YouTube link. I have several pictures too.

The Wiz had that game won several times, up 4 with 8 secs left and you lose?

Here are some random thoughts of the game:

Eddie's subbing patterns are just as frustrating in person as watching them on TV. I tried my best to yell at Eddie across the way several times. I am going to write another diary topic on my new theory about his puzzling coaching decisions.

I have never sat that close to a NBA game and the level of athletic ability is seriously off the charts. They are truly the greatest athletes on the planet. I knew Gil was unguardable but his quickness is purely unbelievable. TJ Ford could not stay in front of him and Ford is one of the quickest guards in the league!

Gil's scowl was in full effect in the first half. The intensity he displays on the court is nowhere near the jovial persona he exemplifies off of it. I could just sense he knew this was a big game and did not want to lose. His defense is not good and I screamed at him several times to, "D Up." He totally heard me and continued to let Ford drive by him.

I never saw Butler favor his knee once and maybe he is 100 percent healthy now. I am starting to agree with Prada that his injury was more mental than physical.

Deshawn, the best dressed Wizard according to a Jumbotron segment, played well. I stood up and gave him his facial cheer several times. It was awesome.

AD had great energy and is a good teammate. He is always the first one off the bench, congratulating his teammates. He is a true professional.

Haywood is an awful teammate. I understand his frustration with EJ and he had barely been in when EJ yanked him in the 4th quarter. I do not even mind him displaying some anger and it shows he cares. However, he sulked at the end of the bench and pouted the rest of the game. Not once did he cheer or congratulate any of his teammates. He was barely in the huddle. This is unacceptable in a team sport. I am glad that one of the Wizards was upset as I was about his behavior. I still believe that Haywood needs to be a solid contributor for the Wiz to have a successful playoff run but his child like actions warrant serious repercussions from the coaching staff.

Songalia reminds me of the prototypical Euro player: hgh basketball IQ, solid passer, good shooter for his size, weak D and soft on the glass. His conditioning needs improving but he will be a key player in the playoffs.

Two guys sitting next to me groaned loudly when Arvis Hayes checked in. Enough said.

The view of the Wizard's dance team was disappointing. My favorite dancer looked like she had put on a few lbs and a few others might sleep in tanning beds. Most had tight bodies but looks, just average.

Last and always least, Michael Ruffin or as I have panned him on BF, Eddie's Pet. Plain and simple, he is afraid of the basketball. He wants no part of ever touching the ball. Once he grabbed an offensive rebound, had no one near him and instead of turning around and shooting a lay up, he kicked it out. Mark Madsen, Brian Scalbrine, or fill in your blank NBA stiff would have shot or dunked the ball. Not Eddie's Pet. Later, he missed a point blank tip in lay up. Numerous occasions on offense, a Wiz player beats his man, Ruffin's man helps out, ball goes to Ruffin and he just holds it, stalling the offense. This happens repeatedly and it is counter effective to the Wiz's running their true offense.

How has this guy played 10 years in the league? I do not get it. Some on the Wiz Insider commented on how great Ruffin's defense was against Bosh. I missed the first part 3rd quarter, having some halftime adult refreshments in the Johnny Walker Club bar and maybe this is when Ruff clamped down on Bosh. All I remember is Bosh abusing him in the 4th Qtr and OT. To Ruffin's defense, no one on the wiz could stop Bosh all game. Blatche could have really helped out with his length.

I have no words to describe Mo Pete's shot. I attended the University of Iowa and was about 15 feet from the Northwestern St shot that upset my Hawkeye's in last year's tournament at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Afterwards, I had similar feelings, fortunately this time I was not stuck in Detroit. Stunned in 8 mile

Craig Sager

Mac G — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:15:38 -0000

Did anyone just watch Craig Sager interview a guy that he thought was Chris Weber's dad? I was half paying attention and all off sudden, Craig was back interviewing another Mayce Weber. It was really funny and I wish had watched the whole thing. I am sure You Tube and some blog is firing up right now. God Bless the Internet.

[editor's note, by Pradamaster]: Here's the video.

David Thorpe's chat?

Mac G — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:36:16 -0000

Does anyone read this guy?

John Hollinger's chat and his backhand approval of Butler for the All Star Game

Mac G — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:42:16 -0000

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=14477

Ryan (D.C.): Can the Wizards get to the conference finals this year?

SportsNation John Hollinger: (2:31 PM ET ) Of course they can, just look at the conference. Key thing with Washington is the health of the Big 3 -- they have virtually no bench, and have been very fortunate that the trio hasn't missed a single game yet. If everyone stays upright then they'll be fine, but they're more vulnerable than most.

John, still down on Caron Butler as an all-star? You and Stein should do a pro/con column and debate it. 21pts, 8rebs, 4asts, 2steals. Not sure if anyone else in the league is doing that.

SportsNation John Hollinger: (2:40 PM ET ) I think Caron's stats are going to get him in the All-Star game. I don't think he belongs ahead of a few other guys, but if he makes it I'm not going to summon up mountains of outrage -- he's more like 14th or 15th guy on my list. One key here is I'm not sure if Eastern Conference coaches realize they can take Redd as a forward -- that in fact, they SHOULD take Redd as a forward since he's played there most of the year -- so that should play to Butler's advantage.

Jared (NC): Can you tell all the Wizards fans to calm down? Their team is barely on top of a terrible conference.

SportsNation John Hollinger: (2:48 PM ET ) Do you realize how long it's been since they had a team worth talking about? A quarter century by my count. Having made the long, miserable drive to Landover once or twice myself back when I lived in DC, I understand their enthusiasm.