I’ve secretly been dreading writing this report card. In a couple of days or weeks Air France might just fly up out of this ‘ish to Chicago or elsewhere, but there needs to be some discussion first. I spared Dolin the duty, since he now has a personal relationship to consider. But this is tough; MP2 has always seemed to give a good effort and say the right things, but grading Pietrus is like grading a multi-course French dinner. Certain parts of the meal worked. Others, not so much.
As the Warriors work to reclaim the Bay Area’s hoop dreams, Mr. Obama is sharing his thoughts on reclaiming the American Dream. The American Dream that includes everyone. Well, inquiring minds want to know.
The FTB crew plan to learn more about this candidate endorsed by our logo. Stay tuned for more as dig into our homework this summer.
“There is not a Black America and White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.”
- Barack Obama
Food for thought. Gerald Wallace versus TMNT Harrington is probably still fresh in at least a couple of Dub minds. He’s a free agent and we now have some salary space. He’s still down the list headed by KG and Jermaine O’Neal, but it is some potent food for thought.
As I watched the second game of the Dallas series I proclaimed to the group that BD was going to get more national media exposure and endorsements next season. I even predicted a move up from now subsidiary, Reebok to the Adidas mothership.
Needless, I wasn’t expecting that the first cover story would be in “Diablo, The Magazine of the East Bay“. But, there it is, in CMYK process color on some high-end matte coated stock.
Instead of sporting a vintage jersey, he’s sporting vintage premium denim. No Slam Magazine mean muggin’ street baller. Instead, he’s all smiles with a no look pass. The friendly beard ready for the affluent suburbs just over the hill from Oakland.
It’s a little disturbing, but I fully accept it. No hate here man, only love. Let’s face it, it’s a time-honored tradition, from Magic Johnson to the great Michael Jordan.
A lot can happen in precious few hours, but the end result is this: Jason Richardson is now a Bobcat. We love the upside of Brandan Wright and he could be a really good fit for the squad. That A.C. Green comment earlier was a little bit of blogger bluster. In truth, his athleticism and length (not to mention youth and salary profile) will allow the Dubs to have some interesting options during the trading period that is certain to be ongoing; it should also pay dividends during the coming season in terms of defense and rebounding. At any rate, it’s nice to see Mullin and Rod Higgins working some “Survivor”-style game on the other GMs to fill their own particular needs.
But that doesn’t change one thing. A good Warrior, and the face of the franchise during some really difficult times, is now a Bobcat. On the plus side for him, he will get to soak up some game from his idol MJ. On the minus for for the Warriors, a lingering sense of the Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens dread will accompany the upcoming season barring more moves. At last count Kevin Garnett is still available and summer workouts at Abunassar Impact Basketball in Vegas start soon. Boom Dizzle, Ninja Turtle Harrington and KG are frequent attendees. I’ll be in Vegas in a week and a half and may take a trip down there to shake the tree personally. C’mon, KG would be the perfect mentor for young Mr. Wright. So would Jermaine O’Neal. Gerald Wallace might be cool too. And there’s a little trade exemption thingy involved that might be just what the doc ordered to get the numbers right as well. Mully, work thine magic.
But for now, let’s remember a great Warrior and say a genuine and heartfealt “thank you” to J-Rich. You kept things fun during some tough times and we wish you well.
The draft is set to begin in moments. And seeing as how the Beard has been the official home of the KG to the Dubs rumor for like, three days now, I feel that it is our collective duty to exhaustively chronicle the events leading up to this transformative moment. So, without further ado, here goes some time wastin’. Refresh early and often.
With the first pick in the 2007 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select…
No Yi! Wow. Boston was government approved too. The Yi Movement lives on. Uhm, check that. Milwaukee just snatched him up. I do not think that Milwaukee was an approved destination. And Green just went to Seattle for Ray Allen. Paul Pierce smiles.
So, a 6′9″ forward, eh? Sounds like KG is outta there. I love it when a plan comes together. And in his first act as MJ’s sidekick in Charlotte, Rod “Higgy Baby” Higgins selects…
Yannick Noah’s emotional son goes to Chicago. That’ll work. Between him and Ben Wallace they are officially leading the league in hair. They should trade for Varejao and make the paint one big impenetrable ‘fro. Might be some trade bait action for the Kobestakes.
Big Country II. Sactown irrelevance continues. Cue the trombone: “whomp, whaaa…” Did anyone tell the Maloofs that getting SLOWER in the draft is not a good move in the fun-N-gun Western Conference?
Good pick and thank God he won’t be paired up with OJ Mayo next year against Devon Hardin and my resurgent Cal Bears. Looks like the Wizards got another guard though. A good one, but still a bit of a head scratcher.
Let the Marco movement begin. He’s a 6′6″ shooting guard (don’t we have one of those?) from Italy. Don Nelson will likely confuse him with a refreshing frozen adult beverage made from peaches and champagne, but no matter. Kid is lights out from deep and has some hops too. I sense some J-Rich to the Minneapple ’bout to go down. But I’m tired. And really want an adult beverage of my own. More on what this all means later.
So, only 40 minutes left until the chain of events commences that will lead to the three-team shocker that delivers KG to the Dubs. So rather than drown in the anticipation of this glorious moment, why not spend a few minutes with our very first Bay Area music-trivia challenge. It’s so charmingly provincial and much, much less acid-reflux inducing that trawling the ‘net for hoops rumors. Good luck and godspeed.
1. Berkeley’s own Greg Kihn and his eponymous Greg Kihn Band had a big hit for Berserkeley Records back in 1983. With what single and album did Kihn score big? Hint: Weird Al Yankovic honored the single with one of his patented yuk-yuk remakes.
2. Oakland rapper Too $hort is well known for his hustle power, and he famously sold tapes of his first single out of the trunk of his car at locations throughout the East Bay. Emblazoned with a skull and crossbones, the tape’s label read “dangerous music” and anticipated the movement that would later be called “gangsta rap.” But what was the name of this breakthrough single?
3. The Beatles played their last live show (not on a rooftop) in—of all places—San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. In what year did this concert take place?
4. This Tower of Power veteran dropped out of Berkeley High in 1972 and didn’t even have any formal musical training, but that didn’t stop him from hitting the road with TOP at age 18. Now he’s the musical director for Saturday Night Live and a professor at NYU. What’s his name?
5. Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown was romantically linked to which songstress back in the 70s when he was the swinger better known as “Governor Moonbeam”? Hint: She was later engaged (“ring and all,” according to her) to Star Wars creator George Lucas. Biggest hint of all: she’s pictured above as a member of a band that really shouldn’t have dropped the peyote on let’s name the band night. Worst band name ever!
John Salley tries to clown BD’s throw-back fashion sense – but I must say Boom looks pretty saucy in his brown Panama. DT now rocks his own (but no bullet laden fedora in the crew as of yet). If you haven’t seen the tape, it’s worth a watch. Sit back, relax, and let FTB feed you 8:53 of our very own logo talkin’ shop.
And, yes, more Jessica Alba and replays of the AK-47 dunk. I don’t seem to tire of watching either.
This morning I read another journalist make an argument for the Dubs (Chris Mullin) to do something “big.” Specifically, to work out some monster trade with the goal of achieving a title run while Nelson is still coaching. Namely, J-Rich, Harrington and Ellis for KG, or J-Rich, Pietrus, others and the 18th pick for a high enough pick to get Yi.
Even with a presence such as Garnett or the potential (he may be great, but he also may be a bust) of a Yi, the future is fuzzy at best. Frankly, I would question if what would remain to support the acquisitions would be that much better (let alone a title contender) then our existing team at full health – happy, clicking and passionate as always.
Please be clear, I’m a huge, huge fan of Kevin Garnett. Did I mention huge? Seriously, I get the jitters just thinking about KG and BD on the floor in Oakland. His size, talent and beard, all would be an amazing fit. With that said, achieving that goal most certainly will have a massive cost, both fiscally and in terms of the young talent lost.
I know we need a big man that can run, but I’m not greedy. After 13 years of my hopes being dashed against the rocks, I would love to see a full season that resembled those last 20 games. And if everyone stays healthy, that prospect is much less far fetched then a blockbuster Jedi mind trick on Kevin McHale.
We had a taste, and it was good. I’m all for getting better, but let’s keep some perspective Carl.
Elie Seckbach is, well, kind of the man. He worked for media outlets in Israel and the US before he began shooting videos for the Los Angeles Daily News back in January. Better still, his quirks seem to get the best out of his interview subjects. Sort of like Sasha Baron Cohen. And his ongoing “yo mama” relationship with Shaq is the stuff of journalistic lore. (Seriously, he came with the heretofore unused “Yo mama’s so mean Al-Qaeda wouldn’t recruit her” cap!) Anyway, above is some behind the scenes Q and A with the Dubs from back in the We Believe moment. And after the jump is his one-on with Crazy Eyez Jackson. These are from during the season, but they can help the Beard and its denizens fill some valuable break time until Thursday when we unexpectedly pull the trigger on the three-team seven-player deal that brings Kevin Garnett to the Warriors. Think I’m joking? Watch. All will be revealed.
Just remember: this was first reported on the Beard. I’m talking to you, Ray “as reported in a Warriors fan blog” Ratto. Now. Let’s all just sit back and watch the magic as the wishful-thinking, rumor-seeding thing comes gloriously to life as our fantastic new reality: instant title contenders.
