Here are some of my favorite Chris Kaman memories from the last 8 years, no particular order: Feel free to add some!

1) Getting grabbed in the nuts by Reggie Evans and told everybody about it in the interview later

2) When he went coast to coast as a rookie and went behind the back not once, but twice!

3) When he grew out his waxy hair so long that he had to keep putting it behind his ears ala (gulp) sascha vujacic

4) Missing 5 consecutive POINT BLANK layups in a row.

5) Hearing at least every other game from some guy in the stands, "JUST DUNK THE DAMN BALL!!!" Ok, that was me a few times

6) His power reverse dunk on the first play of a game against Yao Ming a few years back

7) Him and EB anchoring the defensive end of that great 2006 Clippers team

8) Throwing the ball back to the ref cause he wasnt ready to shoot a free-throw. Hilarious-- the ref got really pissed :) youtube it

9) The stupid "CAVEMAN" moniker... just never stuck with me

10) His pouting after Sam Cassel would yell at him

11) His humility after getting traded--- class act.

12) His ugly, pasty white skin

13) Shaq was in town in his prime... my friend yelled out to Kaman "it's funny how you are always hurt when Shaq comes to town!!!" Dead silence by Kaman-- the rest of the bench dying laughing

14) Clumsy, Flippy, Floppy.

15) His awesome pick and pop jumper the last 2 seasons

16) His left hand (announcers always said he could dunk the ball with both hands-- just because he could didnt mean he did it)

17) His faux All-Star selection (they never mention injury replacmement about anybody else's all-star appearance-- so annoying)

18) Making us forget about Olowokandi (just got the chills typing that name, like MUFASA)

19) His workout with EB that EB got hurt at, that made the Clips have a miserable season (Mardy Collins anyone?) that netted us Blake Griffin

20) His ability to make me laugh really loud by simply calling someone a "douche" on twitter

Hope you enjoyed! Will miss the guy even though i loved to hate him :)

I dont know about you guys but i'm really glad Blake, Deandre and EJ are not busy with either playing in all of these overhyped schoolyard games, or negotiating for the NBA Players during the lockout.

I watch the highlights of these leagues and i like what i see because it's exciting to see the players we watch all year compete in a much different arena. It's kind of like when you're watching the all-star game and you see blake and kobe on the same team. It's just cool cause it's different.

At this point, i dont think anything real good can come out of those leagues when it comes to the Clippers. Blake is busy getting naked for ESPN and i'm sure he's working on his game, too. DJ is probably shooting 1000 FT's a day and working on his post game. EJ is probably shooting hundreds of 3's a week to get ready for the season and i'm cool with that.

If other players in the league like Mr. Fisher wants to spend 10 hours a day in meetings with David Stern and his cohorts, that's fine with me. I say let them break their heads and just get ready for the season. One this is for sure, Blake wont be breaking anything as long as he stays out of those crazy pickup games that we all know he could dominate without trying.

Clippers news is so damn slow these days i wish i had some old DVR recordings of the 2006 playoffs... kill me

Is this a huge longshot? Yes. Has the GM of the Magic already proclaimed that he's not trading Dwight Howard? Yes.

BUT...you never know what happens in this league. Remember how sudden Deron Williams was traded?

So: Here's what i think would make sense for both teams:

Here are some facts and some assumptions:

Facts:

1) Clippers as currently constituted are not a playoff team

2) Orlando is in CAP HELL after their midseason trades for Gilber Arenas and Hedo T.

3) Howard can up and leave after next year-- it would not be surprising after what Carmelo and Lebron did these past 8 months.

4) Clippers do not have a clear-cut solution at Center. They can lose DJ to free agency and Kaman is in the last year of his deal.

Assumptions:

1) You need at least 1 superstar and 2 boderline allstars on your team in this league to have sustained success. The Clippers have 1 each in Griffin and Gordon, but want a third dynamic player

2) Minnesota's Pick next year is going to be a very high one in a deep, deep draft

3) The new collective bargaining agreement does not enable teams to slap "franchise" tags on their best players

4) Orlando wants to re-build while still being competitive.

5) You can sign and trade a restricted free agent (help!)

So here's the trade:

Orlando sends Gilbert Areans and Dwight Howard to the Clippers for:

Sign n Traded-DJ (dont even know if that's possible), Kaman, Bledsoe, Filler (foye, gomes?) and Minnesota's unprotected 2012 pick.

For the Clips, it's a no brainer... Kaman is coming off the books anyway, and Howard would be an unspeakable upgrade. To keep DJ, they'll probably have to give him 7m/year... i'd rather have Howard for 15.

Arenas' contract is probably the worst one in the league considering he barely got off the bench for most of Orlando's playoff run, but hey i'll take it if it gets Howard on this team.

For Orlando they get salary cap flexibility, some nice young talent and a chance to get a fresh young superstar in next year's draft.

Chances of this happening? maybe 5%? What do you guys think?

I keep thinking that if Lebron had seen Blake Griffin play last year, he may have seriously considered coming to play in Los Angeles.  I mean who wouldnt want to play with a young stud like Blake?

I know Bill Simmons has mentioned this point many times... but wow what a team that would have been.

Looking forward, I'm thinking we wont be shunned by free agents for much longer.  The Donald Sterling factor has always been in play, but dont forget the team sucked for all those years that players other than Tim Thomas were turning the Clippers down for other more attractive destinations.

Now the tide seems to have shifted.  The Clippers are selling out.  They are on national TV and will be many times next year.  They have a real shot at the playoffs next year.  It's still Los Angeles.  Eric Gordon makes the Clippers more than a 1 man team...  We all see the potential.

So is it safe to say some better than average player might wander into this situation (ala Cutino Mobley) with a positive outlook?  The formula in  2005-2006 is there...  We have a solid team but need another veteran at the 3 spot and maybe a grizzled veteran or two (Cassell) to come and shake some things up. 

If i were a free agent... I'd say to myself, "Donald Sterling is a douchebag, but i'm going to be WINNING in Los Angeles and living in Marina Del f-ing Rey."  Lock it up!

As a 10 year season ticket holder I think there have only been 3 really good seasons to be a Clippers fan.  The other 7 seasons were plagued by injury, dissapointment, depression and under-achievement.

Even though the record and the standings dont indicate it, this was a very successful and fun year.  Although it only ranks as 2nd in the last 10 years, it was a blast.

3 of my top seasons:

1.  2005-2006 was my favorite season simply for the fact that the Clippers were winning.  I woud gladly exchange all of Blake's dunks this year for one evening at Staples during playoff time in 2006.  I remember those games against Denver and Phoenix... and how the crowd was super loud.  The atmosphere was jumping.  There was real enthusiasm in the crowd.  And that enthusiasm was not fake or arrogant.  We didnt think we would win the championship, but we knew our team could play with anyone.  We didnt think our team was better than everyone else, but we trusted that the players busted their asses on a daily basis and were talented enough to challenge on a nightly basis.   Wow that was a great time in Clipper history.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2005-2006:  Any home playoff game... maybe the one where Vlad Rad hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter

2.  2010-2011 was number 2 on my list simply for the fact that winning is better than highlights.  Short of winning on the road, this year has been spectacular.  I cant remember anyone asking me to go to games with me until this year (save the playoffs 5 years ago).  Every time i couldnt make it to the game, i'd be able to sell my tickets for more than face value!  Sellouts galore.  Buzz in the crowd.  National spotlight.  All-Star recognition. 

I think the most amazing thing about the Clippers is that they ranked 8th in visiting attendance.  That means when they go on the road, they are playing in front of sellouts (unlike playoff regulars San Antonio or Utah).

Regardless, it feels like i'm getting a bargain now with my season tickets.  My rep didnt have to call me begging to renew.  I called him and asked him why I didnt receive the packet yet! 

My wife loves coming to games where last year I literally had 5 games that i coudnt give the tickets away to... and hell i wasnt going to waste my tuesday night on Clippers vs New Jersey.

It's too bad that Baron Davis didnt come in ready to play this year and it's too bad that Kaman couldnt sustain his hot preseason start... because we could be talking about another magical season.  Truth is the team's young rotation players like BG, Bledsoe, Aminu and Jordan just were too young and inexperienced to consistently win close games on the road.  Throw in that the Gomes/Butler platoon  was a dissaster this year, and there you have a 50 loss team.

Either way, I had a great time this year.  It was really, really fun and it actually improved the quality of my life.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR:  Clippers vs NY where Blake exploded for 44 points and Mozgoved Mozgov and Danillo Galinari.  I was sitting right behind the basket that Blake was dunking on.  That was the most exciting non-playoff basketball i've seen in person my life.

3.  2000-2001-- This was my first year as a ticket holder and i got those tickets for so cheap they were practically free.  I remember the T-Shirts that i bought outside of staples for $5.00--

"A New Era"  and then it listed the players:  Odom, Richardson, Dooling, Skinner, Nesby, Rooks, Piatkowski, McInnis, Maggette, Miles, Olowokandi.

Those were fun times.  Unlike this year, there was zero expectaion of winning yet the dunks were a-plenty.  Remember the old commercial?  D-Miles telling us to come to the games to see "dunks, dunks and more dunks".  Q-Rich and Miles had the fist to head thing which till this day i still dont know what it means.  The Clippers Spirit were super hot (they've been short of "super" hot the last few years). 

ESPN made a series of six  30 minute specials on the Clippers because people cared.  The Clippers were stacked but needed time to mature (sounds like OKC).  Meanwhile, Olowokandi turned out to be a huge bust, Lamar Odom literally smoked himself out favor witht he team and then BEGGED to be allowed to go to Miami (for which i still HATE him.  I always believed the Clippers should have matched that offer and told him to screw himself). 

Regardless of the bad taste that team left in your mouth a few years later, that year was a magical one.  Do you guys remember the full court alley-oop that ended in Odom catching in mid air and laying it off to Miles for a huge windmill dunk?   It was great to go to the games.  The only difference between this year and that  year, is that nobody saw any future MVP candidates to build around on that team.  It was just pure fun.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2000-2001-- The Season Finale.  After the last game of the year, the crowd stuck around for at least 20 minutes after the game (a blowout win of playoff bound Phoenix if i can recall correctly).  The players didnt want to leave the court and the fans stood and cheered while players removed every thing they were wearing (less their shorts) and threw them into the crowd.  Darius Miles and Q-Rich were dancing on the scorer's table.   Nobody wanted the season to be over.  Great day.

---------------------------------

Recap--  It's been a great year, and something we're not really used to.  The franchise we love is somewhat relevant and there is hope again.  And hope is a good thing (especially if we get to see Blake destroy people on a nightly basis).

There are certain players in the NBA I can't stand...   If they just dissapeared off the NBA landscape, i'd never miss seeing their mugs on TV or in person again.  There is something to be said about rivalry creating better drama... but these guys annoy me so much, i'd be willing to give up the added tension i get from watching the games.

I've broken them down into 3 categories:  Hate their Game, Hate their attitude, Hate them because they are Clipper killers...

I hate their games:

Travis Outlaw

Jeff Foster

Drew Gooden

Correy Maggette (sorry)

Al Thornton

Chuck Hayes

Shaun Marion

 

I hate their attitudes/cockiness/demeanor:

Shaq O'Neal

Sasha Vujacic

Dwayne Wade

Derek Fisher

Brendan Haywood

Brad Miller

Kenyon Martin

ANDRE MILLER

Joel Pryzbilla

 

I hate them becasuse they are Clipper killers:


Kris Humphries

Anthony Morrow

Raja Bell

Reggie Evans (more like a grabber than a killer)

Carlos Boozer

Carl Landry

Mike Bibby

JJ Barea (remember the 21 point 4th quarter comeback?)

David West

Paul Milsap

Grant Hill

 

Any other guys you just cant stand???

This kid has been quite a revelation the past few weeks.  He's turned from a dumb athlete to an intimidating basketball player.  It took 3 years, but he seems to finally be "getting it". 

His freethrows look a lot smoother.  He is actually finishing around the bucket.  He is running the lane.  He is defending the pick and roll better.  He is changing so many shots.

Of course this can be attributed to many things including the re-emergence of Baron Davis and having an all-world athlete/basketball player on your side in Blake Griffin.  But my take is, who cares?  He's playing much better and it's really refreshing that one our projects worked out (unlike Mike Taylor, Korolev, Livingston, Daniel Ewing, Mario Chalmers, etc).

I dont know how this works out in the long run for the clippers being that they already have an all-star center who is under contract for 2 more years.  At worst, they have another asset they can keep and develop or trade for another need.

I used to think he would never become a basketball player.  I'm glad to say I was wrong...

 

BTW--- clippers are winning and Rasual Butler is not playing... Coincidence??? :)

Some STH rumblings....

So, as i a season ticket holder, i got a letter from the Clippers today.  I can buy 2 upper deck (300's) tickets for $500 a pop, $1000 total!  They should give those crappy tickets away to season ticket holders as a "thank you" for their patronage.  They make tons of moneyoff me every year and even more on Laker fans.  The least they could do is offer something other than "the opportunity" to get killed on a ticket.

I am a realist--- I understand supply and demand.  Even if I got the tickets I'd probably sell them off because having gone to my share of big games, I realize (for me) that no game is worth $500/ticket.

I went to the all star game in 2004 and it really sucked.  We got stuck sitting in some crappy seats and the game was a real bore.  It definitely didn't improve my life.

I think a better value is $300 for the All-Star Saturday night featuring the 3 point contest and Dunk contest.  At least it's something I havent seen before, and may be a memorable night if Blake and Lebron do the dunk contest.

The NBA.  Where paying handsomely for your favorite form of entertainment happens.

I guess that's the extent of my post.

I'm really glad that the outcome of this game has not been decided yet.... usually you an pencil in Utah, San Antonio, and Portland as teams that rape us with zero vasoline on a yearly basis.

I remember going to a San Antonio game last year or the year before... and we kept saying to ourselves, "This is the worst NBA game in the history of the world".  Duncan only played like 18 minutes because the rape-job was so bad he didnt have to play. 

We can do this!  No AK-47 which can't hurt....

Am i absoultely insane to be posting this message?  Winning 4 out of 5 games is no slouch, but it's also nothing to get THAT excited about, right?

Here's what they have going for them:

*They've played one of the hardests schedules in the league thus far--stands to reason they'll play an easier schedule for the last 2/3 of the season

*The kids are all right---  the youngins  are actually getting better!

*Baron is playing with passion again

*Blake is on a friggin mission

*Kaman can come back and shore up the middle so that collins can remain 3rd string

*They're too young (and naive) to think they're out of the playoff race

*The Staples Center is jumping again

*Phoenix, Memphis, Portland, Denver and GS are all struggling

 

But there are a lot of bad things going for them as well:

*That killer month long road trip in February

*Baron's injuries can flare up at any time

*They have no margin for error-- which means they can't give up many more close games

*They still have to leapfrog 5 teams-- which is much harder than trying to catch one team

 

But at the end of the day-- they are ONLY 6.5 games out of the playoffs.  I dont care if they players and coaches like to talk about progress and learing and getting better.... i like to talk about what we are really here to do-- to make it into the playoffs and upset some prima donna 1 seed.

(Enter Jim Morra)

Are you serious?  We were watching the Chicago game on TV the other day and midway she asked if I have the tickets to the next game (i have a 1/2 season package).  After telling her i did have them, she got excited and asked if i was going with any of my friends....

I'd usually prefer to go with one of my buddies to a game, drink some beers, yell out at the players, etc.  I'm a bit more subdued with her next to me.  But when she specifically ASKED me to go to the game, I couldnt resist.

This is the FIRST TIME in 4 years (since 2006) that this has happened.  Imagine if the Clippers were .500.  I could actually sell my tickets for face value!

All Hail Blake Griffin

 

I am actually stealing this quesion from someone who posted this question on the LA times website.

You guys hate him so much, and he's such a horrible owner, why does nobody have the balls to yell something out to him? 

I'm guilty of the same thing Sterling is concerning the players.  When Kaman goes up for a chippy and airballs it, i yell, "DUNK IT KAMAN!".  Or if DJ loses a ball off his fingers for the 12th time in 1 game, i yell at him to "WAKE UP!"

I've been going to games for 10 years, and everybody treats Mr. Sterling like the Pope.  Maybe we need to hire someone to do it...  i'm sure all of us are willing to put in 5 bucks to hire some obnoxious dude to yell at sterling during a TNT game.

Maybe Clipper Darryl can do it?  He'll do anything for the cause... and likes to make money off of it.

Thoughts?

Baron Davis should have been in to defend the last play of the game.  There was a timeout called and VDN easily could have inserted him into the game.

Did the gang play better overall when Bledsoe was in the game last night?  I think so.  But when it comes down to crunch time basketball...  i'd rather have the old dude with saavy in there.  Especially against a guy like Derek Fisher.  Baron Davis didnt have a great game, but he played his ass off on defense when he was in there.   Bledsoe hasnt proven that he can keep anyone out of the paint this year and more beef vs a big and strong PG like Fisher could have helped...  hmmmmmm

I'm just filling out the rest of the workday before the long weekend.  Feel free to add to the list of things to be thankful for.  Of course a 2-13 start was not what we had hoped for, but like Steve has mentioned, it could be worse:

I am thankful that:

a) Mike Dunleavy is not our coach

b) I dont have to hear another "FIRE DUNLEAVY" debate or chant

c) I'm not a Cleveland Cavaliers fan

d) Rick Brunson is not on the active roster

e) The Miami Heat are having a tough start

f) I was able to witness 44, 17 and 7 in person

g) I have people asking me to come to Clippers games with me

h) There are still 60 games left

i) I dont have to watch the 2009-2010 Clippers anymore

j) Elgin Baylor is retired

k) Baron Davis has only launched a few 30 footers with 18 on the shotclock this year

l) Deandre Jordan is shooting over 50% from the free throw line

m) Eric Bledsoe and Aminu are in the top 10 of their rookie class so far

n) Corey Maggette OR Quinton Ross are not on the roster

o) Blake Griffin makes it fun to go to Clippers games again

p) Clipper Darrel has toned it down this year

q) Ralph Lawler still is optimistic, pragmatic and professional as ever

r) "RENTAL MAN" hasn't sat in my section yet this year

s) Eric Gordon played on team USA

t) Phoenix, Memphis and Houston have fallen on hard times

u) We only have to play San Antonio 1 more time

v) My tickets to the Heat game will pay for 5 other games I'll actually go to

w) Brad J doesnt do the games anymore

x) I only have to listen to Marc Jackson on TV a few times a year

y) I dont have to watch 2 1/2 hour games anymore thanks to tivo

z) Blake, Blake and more Blake Griffin!

 

I'm not one to usually listen to the expert takes on the Clippers' chances year after year...  This year, we've all heard the same 5 things from these guys that barely know anything about the Clippers:

1) Blake Griffin will be great (always prefaced with "if he can stay healthy")

2) Baron Davis' play controls the destiny of the team (always prefaced by "if he wants to play hard")

3) Chris Kaman is a very good player and a former all-star (always noted that he was an "injury replacement")

4) Eric Gordon is a good player (they always mention his USA Basketball exploits, and him being undersized)

5) The bench, coach, owner, environment, attitude all are sub-par

I usually brush these things off and remain my optimistic self.   Maybe it's the 1-7 preseason that didnt sit well with me or the way they lost that last Sacramento game.  It's that QUEASY feeling you get when the team was up 18 and gives up the lead later in the game. 

I still get that same feeling that we dont haven anyone to help FINISH those close games that cause us, as fans, the most heartache.  3 or 4 of those close losses vault you from a nice 10-7 start to a 7-10 start...    10 winnable games that are "blown" can determine your playoff chances in the tough west.

I just dont see that killer attitude or more importantly, the mental toughness to grind out those games.  I hope that BG's ability to make game winning plays by getting tough rebounds are equally as important as a guy's ability to make a game winning shot... because right now, we got nobody that scares the opponents in that regard.

Ok....I'm rambling--

In short-- I dont feel as optimistic today as i did 3 weeks ago.. am I alone?

 

Wow... last night was a wake up call. We dont have a damn finisher!

Blake was unbelievable and even though EJ wasn't on his game, we know the kid can play. We have a dynamic point guard (whatever that means) who can still get people the ball where they need it and seems motivated when he has good players around him.

We just need a horse who can score... and who is that guy? Not Chris Kaman.

That man is Carmelo Anthony.

Are we going to miss Kaman's 1st half scoring and defense? YES. But what's the point if you get to the 4th quarter tied and have no one to finish?

So... give them Kaman, Aminu, minnesota's #1 pick, and maybe even the #1 pick in 2013 or something.... Who gives a rat's ass. We have a chance to have a CHAMPIONSHIP contenting team in 2 years and an AUTOMATIC playoff team THIS year.

Why not take a friggin' chance?

Melo's "bad" game yesterday netted him 30 friggin points and he dominated the last few minutes of the game.

Do it. Do it now. Stop being over-rational. Give them whatever they want. Fill that damn Staples Center full. Get Carmelo and Griffin Jerseys SOLD nationwide... make my season tickets valuable again.

Just grow some big hairy balls and do it!

Oh ya-- hopefully denver wants to do it too :)

It was so much fun to be relevant back then...  There was so much promise...  

 

 The Bad: 

1) Sam Cassell's 8-second violation

2) Raja Bell's rape job over Daniel Ewing

 

The Good:

1) Sam Cassell's REAL and TANGIBLE leadership

2) Elton Brand's All-NBA type monster year---(In 79 games (all starts), averaged a career-high 24.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.54 blocks and 1.03 steals in 39.2 minutes per game… Shot 52.7% from the floor and 77.5% from the line… Ranked 11th in the NBA in scoring, tied for sixth in rebounding, fifth in blocks, seventh in field goal percentage and tied for 12th in minutes per game… Recorded 45 double-doubles… Scored in double figures all 79 games, including 50 games with 20+ points and 25 games scoring 30 or more… Led the league in 30-point, 10-rebound games with 16…Named Western Conference Player of the Month for November 2005… Named Western Conference Player of the Week three times (weeks ending 11/20/05, 12/11/05 and 1/29/06).

3) Chris Kaman's Hair

4) Chris Kaman getting grabbed in the balls vs Denver

5) Not having to sell my tickets below cost

6) Making money on playoff tickets

7) Respect

8) Dunleavy not being referred to as the anti-christ

9) Eligin winning executive of the year (hahaha)

10) Those cheesy red playoff shirts

11) The tankjob at the end of the year to draw the nuggets

12) Q Ross' defense

13) Q Ross vs Maggette argument

14) Maggette's relentless foul shooting attack

15) Shaun Livingston's blossoming career

16) Great team defense

17) Brand & Kaman's blocks

18) Sold out Staples Center

19) The Radmonovic Trade

20) Playing longer than the other LA team!

What else can you guys think of?

I remember the day very vividly when I read an ESPN article saying that Philadelphia sent some scrub to another team for some 2nd round pick to clear up some cap space to sign Elton Brand.  2 days later, it was a reality.  Mr. Brand had left the Clippers out in the cold and had chosen to leave us for another team.

That was the worst i'd ever felt as a Clippers fan.  Worse than the day i saw Livingston's knee buckle and worse than the day Mr. Bell hit that 3-pointer over Ewing.

There is a sense of betrayal that oozes through your veins when a guy you poured your heart into just gets up and leaves.  I know how bad i felt when Brand left us... and he was a borderline star.

James meant so much more to the people in Cleveland.  I can only imagine what they're going through right now.

The question is... would you trade 7 years of GREAT fun and deep playoff runs for this terrible heartbreak today?  Sign me up.

Tough day to be a Cavs fan. 

Ralph recently mentioned that the Clippers are tweaking their uniforms for next year.... anyone have any information or sneak peaks? 

I know we've discussed those Blue Alternate Uni's before-- but i find them disgusting and hard to look at.  Plus, i dont think we've EVER won a game wearing them (they're worn only on select road games).

I dont HATE the current uniforms... but i'm really afraid that the Clips will F this up too.  Imagine if they come out and they're brutal?  That's what we'll have to stare at for the  next 4-6 years.

Thoughts? 

"They're just a bunch of Pansies"  Madagascar (2005)

When is the last time a Clipper got ejected for getting in someone's face?  Or for standing up for a teammate?  Or even got upset for the winning team running up the score?

I'm so sick of having a bunch of Pansies to cheer for.  Kaman hasnt stood up for himself since the 2006 playoffs (unless it's a ref--- real tough guy). 

EJ gets hit on the head everytime he goes to the bucket but just stares there in bewilderment. 

Jordan is a big baby.

Baron Davis is an actor, not a fighter.

The only 2 dudes that have shown any fight in them are the new guys, Blake and Outlaw from last night.

Listen, i dont want a bunch of crazy hooligans on the court, but i cant handle these pussies anymore.  For the last 10 years, even with Elton Brand-- the king of the "nice guys", we havent had anyone who could enforce and command respect.

Where's the pride?  When Stephon Curry tries for a rebound with 3 seconds left in order to secure his tripple double in a 20 point blowout, and i'm Craig Smith, i'm bowling that little prick over to get that rebound.  Even if Stephon gets it, he's going to have it with his ass on the ground. 

Remember when Cassel almost took Rasual Butler's head off after Butler shot a 3 with time expiring a few years ago?  Thats what we need.  I hate nice guys.  They're hard to cheer for.

I recently wrote a message to Mr. Lawler through facebook.  Sometimes i find myself sitting on the couch wondering why he and Mike are not ripping the players' effort.  I guess it  wouldnt make his life any easier but being objective is sometimes giving it to the lagging star or uninterested starter.  Ralph is one of the best in the business...if you have league pass you know that those other guys around the league are actually quite horrible, but still-- i want to see some damn anger.  Especially since most of these guys are not going to be on the team next year anyhow--- here's the exchange.  What do you guys think?

 

Cueball 123  March 29 at 1:02pm Ralph, thank you for continuting to be positive in this otherwise dim season. I know you travel with the players and have personal relationships with them... but for once i'd like to see you rip them on the air for the lousy effort. Do you think it would be better for the telecasts if you were separated from the team on road trips so that you could be a bit more objective? Thanks again!!!

 

Ralph Lawler March 29 at 1:42pm We have no problems saying the team or the players are not playIng well or hard. Never-ever been called or reviewed as a "homer." My traveling with the team is a non-factor. More than a few times each season a player or players get unhappy w/us. So be it - we do our job.

 

Cueball 123  March 29 at 5:22pm

Thank you for your response! I would never question your professionalism... I'm sure that it is a very difficult position to be in for yourself and Mike.

However, sometimes i wish you'd just let loose and single out some players that are lagging during a 15 point loss rather than praising the other team. Examples:

"For a supposed All-Star, Chris Kaman sure is sleep-walking tonight"

"It sure looks like the face of the franchise, Baron Davis, decided to take the night off tonight"

You are the best of the best. Thanks again.

Chris Kaman has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Brandon Roy (right hamstring strain) in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.
Kaman will be making the first All-Star appearance of his career.
Kaman was selected sixth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. He joins fellow 2003 class members LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in this year's game.

------------------------------------

Say what you want about if he deserves it or not, it will be quite cool to see him mixing it up with those superstar heavyweights.... Must be kinda awkward with Pau on the same team after he talked all that shit! hahah

Good going, Chris!

Same story every year...  Do these story lines sound familiar?

***High hopes for the playoffs are gone relatively quickly.  Even after the 0-4 start, we knew this was not a great team.  They strung us along for a few months and now it's offically over.

***The team is devastated by an injury--- Blake, Livingston, Brand, Kaman, blah blah blah.  Dont' worry, he'll be back next year, and NEXT year , we'll be good!

***We can get an elite free agent next year!  blah blah blah.   Nobody ever comes.  we overpaid for cutino and thomas. kobe? nope.  arenas?  nope.  ray allen? nope.  nobody wants to come here.

***You should buy season seats because they're going to be good this year! blah blah blah.  every year those reps sucker me in... not because they're such good salespeople, but because i want to believe in something.  I end up feeling like a big idiot when i cant give away $200 tickets for a weekend game, let alone break even on them.

My level of interest is down 75% since about a month ago.  i actually fast forward through some 1st and 2nd quarter minutes.... when about a month ago, i would listen to every comment made by Ralph & Mike as if it were the last ones they'd ever make.

 

I hate reading pessimism.  I hate writing it.  But i'm pretty much done with this season.  It's been a downhill roller coaster ride.  

Clips are about 5 games out of the 8th playoff spot, with ZERO reinforcements coming.  It's been one blow after another....  Of course, as KA so eloquently put it, the team has not really disspointed when it comes to re-gaining respectability. 

It just seems like it's not in the cards for this year.

***Kaman is getting worse, not better.  Coupled with the deserved snub, will it make him angrier (better) or more whiney (worse)

***Blake Griffin

***Beat LA, Boston, lose to NJ, Indiana

***give away winnable games

***Camby is on the verge of being traded

***Every 3 game winning streak is followed by a 3 game losing streak

***Eric Gordon has regressed

***Thornton is not proving to be a starting quality 3--- so he wasnt so much a steal at 14 anymore

***Butler is long gone after the season-- mostly because he only plays well on every other night

***Craig Smith is gone after the seaon unless he wants to stay on for cheap

***Baron is revitalized--- but for what?  a sub .500 team?  Will he stay  motivated for next year?

---Just doesnt seem like it's going to get much better than this.  I cant forsee a crazy streak of them winning 8 of 9 and getting back into the hunt this year.

It's bleak -- and we're miles away from from Lebron James.

Sorry, this is depressing.  Go Clippers!

I know it's a pipe dream and it's been discussed ad nauseum....  but here's a different take on Lebron in Clipperland.

Overnight, the Clippers become top 5 most watchable and talked about teams (even though they're not awful these days, they rarely get ANY press).

Overnight, our days of being miserable, loveable losers would be over

Overnight, the value of my season tickets will double.   With my 10 years of seniority, i could probably buy tickets twice as expensive as i have now, and still break even by selling half the tickets off (like laker fans do).

Overnight, Clipper Darrell becomes a national cult figure and is featured on Ahmad Rashad's crappy show.

Overnight, Ralph Lawler becomes Hall of Fame worthy.

Overnight, the Clippers become a surefire playoff team.

Overnight, semi-all stars like Kaman and Baron Davis become guaranteed all-stars

Overnight, Eric Gordon becomes a 3 time all star and is mentioned as a worth all-defense candidate.

Overnight, Mike Dunleavy becomes a "great veteran coach" rather than an embattled one.

Overnight, Donald Sterling does interviews!

On occassion, the Lakers will play the 12:30 PM game while the clips get the 6:30 Sunday start.

Quited annoyingly, you will see Clippers jerseys pop up all over the world (selfish i guess).

Overnnight, we wont have to pencil in 12 L's in the loss column before the season starts for the 0-12 record against the Spurs, Jazz and Blazers.

Overnight, there is a chance the Clippers can hang a banner next to the (gulp) Sparks' banner

Overnnight, a new statue is errected of Sam Cassell in front of Staples Center between Magic and 99.

Overnight, you have a nucleus of Gordon, Lebron, Kaman, Davis and Griffin... the best starting 5 in the League.

Wake me up, i'm dreaming....