Last night, the maximum-strength FTB posse was in attendance at the Bay Area screening of the Baron Davis-produced documentary about the history of LA gangs, “Made in America.” What we didn’t realize was that we were going to be present as one of the most unexpected stories in recent Bay Area sports history broke.
With the news at maximum boil, and the mainstream media assembled and waiting, Baron came over, gave me a pound and we had a quick private conversation. The subject of same is virtually immaterial, but that he sought us out under the circumstances, and did so knowing that we are all lifetime Warrior fans, spoke volumes. It wasn’t until later, when I was driving home, that I had a moment of clarity about it all: perhaps our “Contract Karma” video worked too well, to perfection even. Just not for the benefit of the Warriors. Perhaps some “front-office” karma would have helped too. I suppose that two things go without saying for anyone not reading this blog for the first time. First, obviously, we are sad for our Warriors. They have likely regressed and if the rumors of today are to be believed, they are scrambling for position. Not good. But second, we can’t help but be happy for Baron. He has been nothing but class around us and good for the Dubs. And we have to accept that this world is governed by commerce. That he proved to be good at the game of commerce is not something to trifle with. He got the contract he wanted and he gets to cash the checks in the city he’s always truly called home.
As for us, we’ve got a couple of staff meetings on the horizon. We’re not terribly stoked about the departure of our avatar from the home turf, but let’s be realistic too. We’re Warriors fans. We rebuild for 15 years to succeed for two or three. And frankly, it’s getting tiresome. Just the same, il capo di tutti capi (at least on the hardwood) has just left the building. Pour some red wine out on the curb and try not to hate. He earned his. On the floor and off.
Last week, Baron Davis was participating in Steve Nash’s “Showdown in Chinatown” back in the NYC. In the “beautiful game,” that is. That would be futbol. While BD picked up a couple of handball violations, apparently, he was also doing his thing. Video to follow after the jump. Our man on the ground was our hitherto unknown operative Stan Park, who captured BD in this moment of grace on the pitch and forwarded the pic. We’re not sure why BD plays in spectacles and a cap, much less cleat-less OG Reebok pumps, given the insurance considerations, but WTF, it’s summer. Even Lloyd’s of London takes a day off every so often (we hope). But yeah, with $100M on the pitch, including global futbol superstar Thierry Henry (fresh off his Euro-cup “own goal” for France’s Les Blues no doubt necessitating a vacation), summer is in officially in full swing.
Meanwhile, back in Tha Bay, FTB was taking on all comers at Saturday’s Panhandle 3-on-3 in the city. With Baron unavailable, we had to settle for the lefty stylings of stand-in David Singleton. He performed capably, but Meschery and Turman were only adequate in a reputation-damaging loss to a team known only as “Hubris.” At least the $60 went to a good cause, in this case the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco. Plus, we got to holler at Bay Legend (and card-carrying 50 Greatest member) Nate Thurmond in the process. So, while we are getting back to our grind tonight night at the Berkeley YMCA and BD is doing whatever BD do, FTB encourages you to put on those PF Flyers and get in the game. Summer is for getting outside and making it happen.
And with the 14th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select forward Donté Greene from Syracuse. This was our choice in the NBA blogger mock draft being conducted by the fine folks over at What Would Oakley Do? They got bloggers representing each team in the NBA to draft according to their team’s presumed interest. Full results can be seen over there sometime soon. Theirs is a New York Knickerbockers-centric organization, so stop by with some sympathy. Now that we got our guy, and we all actually really do hope this is who we get, I can confess another secret. We passed on a deal that would have sent a 26-year-old Zach Randolph to the Dubs. I will not reveal any more about the deal than that. Here’s the info that I passed along to WWOD?
Our Pick. Donté Greene
Why? The Dubs need somebody who can get the job done in the paint on both ends of the floor. Greene is a tremendous athlete with nice upside, especially given the peculiar demands of Nellieball. He’s developing a tough inside game and he has the athleticism and length to be a difference maker on defense. He’s only 6′9″, but he’s got a standing reach of 9′0″; that helps a lot in a league where leaving your feet means a foul and some of Nelson’s well-charted rookie pine. Plus, he can run. And he’s got a nice stroke.
Who we don’t want? The other reason we want Greene is because we don’t want to draft another guy named Kosta to play for the Bakersfield Jam next season. Although we would love to hear Jim Barnett’s first “Kosta to Kosta” joke sometime in the middle of the third quarter of the first pre-season game, having two dudes named Kosta on the squad would feel kinda strange. Like bathing in borscht.
Who am I? I am Daniel Turman. I wrote this on the subway. Guthrie Dolin and Matthew Meschery also contributed to this logic and our decision.
A couple weeks ago, the FTB crew was musing aloud about the status of Baron Davis’ contract negotiations. And by musing aloud, I mean arguing. As with most of our staff meetings, adult beverages were involved and opinions were flowing like wine.
An unnamed New York tabloid had reported on the possibility—however, improbable—of Baron Davis becoming a New York Knick. In turn, this was parroted onward and upward in the local media. As we considered some of the possibilities out there for our avatar and namesake, one additional possibility dawned on me.
Why not just ask him for an interview? Baron’s pretty public facing as athlebrities go. What could it hurt to ask? Of course, if he said “yes” some diplomacy would have to be exercised. Nothing too specific numerically, of course. But, Boom willing, we could at least confirm that he’s digging the Bay Area and wants to stick around.
And so it was. We asked. And we got our interview. And then we made a bigger ask. A challenge, actually. We figured that the whole deal-making process needed an infusion of karma. Contract talks are a natural pain point for GM, athlete and agent alike, so why not go out and try to tip the great karmic scales in the sky a bit. Be the change, as it were.
Boom was with it.
The results are above, in convenient, linkable YouTube format. Hopefully, this is our little karmic gift to the process as well. Good luck to all at the table. Breathe deeply and work together in good faith. And as for us, we’ll be releasing segments from the sit-down interview over the coming weeks.
In victory,
Daniel Turman, on behalf of all of us at www.fearthebeard.org
PS. The long list of shout outs and credits to follow. Read More »
So, it’s two days later and I’m pretty sure it’s not just me. The Bay to Breakers has gotten wilder. Nakedness abounds. Boozing is at an all time high. And speaking of high, Cheech Marin might as well be the honorary race director next year. The fact that the organizers still manage to have a world-class road race in the middle of Mardi Gras West makes it all the more amazing and cool. You get the feeling that things could get seriously out of control though; anytime nearly 100,000 people start drinking together at 7:00 am things can happen. But there’s some serious fun being had too.
My attempts to catch the Autodesk Adidas TranSports centipede at the start line were foiled by a lackluster effort by BART schedulers, but fortunately the good folks at Flotrack caught up with them at the finish. The Autodeskers attempt to win the team competition for a fourth time in five years fell short to a resurgent Asics Aggies squad. FTB commenter and brother o’ mine can be seen in the video suppressing dissapointment. (Hat tip to them, all of that.) But just the same, both teams clocked the fastest times that the centipede competition has seen in some time. All I know is that running 5:05 miles across San Francisco while chained to 12 dudes ought to be worth some free publicity. So hell, I’ll do my part. Bonus NSFW Autodesk photo after the jump, even! Perhaps this explains why they fell off the Aggies’ blistering pace.
As for me, well, my B2B was highlighted by the fact that I got out of bed on time. And got to the city by 8:00. Strolling the course with newbies and searching (nearly in vain) for my neighbor’s epic Donkey Kong-themed beer hauler (David, in green, astride Kong) provided an entirely different kind of challenge. After two mimosas and some cheese at the top of Hayes Hill, while taking pictures of passing madness like the Filipino Prison Thriller Dancers (bottom), we rejoined the parade as accessories to 80s-Nintendo-themed mayhem. After a stretch of panhandle, we broke away for some late breakfast and more mimosas.
Turman
PS. Now, make the jump for the Autodeskers epic NSFW distraction! Huzzah! Read More »
I know it’s not “Hater Tuesday” today, but I was overcome by the spirit. The whole Lakers/Jazz thing going on over on TNT stirred something in me. I was still at a loss as to who I would prefer to see emerge, and with the game momentarily preempted (at least on this television, tonight), I started searching for my lesser-of-two-evils option online. Now tied and in the fourth I have settled on a Strychnine martini over a Hemlock quesadilla. Go powder blue. I guess.
At least until Kirilenko’s dance-crew video surfaces in time for game six.
Turman
PS. Thanks to the ever-vigilant Rod Benson and his endless reservoir of Boom-Tho-Ness for bringing this microphone malfeasance (back) to my attention. I’m sure I saw this before, or at least knew about it, but my subconscious brain (ever the smarter one) had painlessly removed all recollection. And Tyra. Lord. With America’s Next Top Model momentarily interrupting the Lakers/Jazz game earlier for reasons better left unspecified, you have overrun my evening of hoops appreciation on multiple fronts. Congratulations. You. Have. Become. America’s. Next. Top. NBA. Interruption. And I ain’t forgot that you once dated C-Webb either. Make the jump for my brief ANTM recap. Read More »
It looks like Hillary and Barak may end up splitting Indiana and North Carolina. Kinda’ the way they’ve been splitting the Democratic votes for months. But why must it be only one?
Now, I’ve been on board with Mr. Obama from the beginning, but I think it may be time to start thinking about how we unite this party. Divided we fall, and all that. So, would we consider the “super ticket”? The Dream Team. For you ice cream lovers, the “chocolate-vanilla swirl” (always a crowd pleaser).
Of course, this kind of mash-up is nothing new in Berkeley. It’s a source of great pride in fact. But, for this country, that would be some real change right thar.
Don? Baron? Who’s with me?
Gd.
Update:
With Obama’s gains last night (dominating in N. Carolina, while Clinton eked out Indiana), Obama should take top billing. If such a combination was considered. As intriguing as it may be, Hillary as VP seems very unlikely to me.
Personally, I want a president who looks comfortable on the hardwood. In fact, Obama’s quick hands netted a few Boom-esque steals while hooping up the Kokomo High Schoolers. His 3-on-3 team, which included Indiana Fever player Alison Bales, took the 15 minute game 15-5.
Now, lets see if we can come up with the victory in the Indiana primary, where he and Clinton are virtually tied.
Thanks to all who came out for the season-ending fun at Looney’s Smokehouse on Wednesday night. The core FTB’ers and guests lamented our forthcoming “bearding down,” debated the relative merits of certain draft prospects and endured my well-intentioned fictionalization of game action based on Yahoo Sports updates. We also celebrated a birthday, ate a mountain of smoked meats and poured some beer out on the curb for the playoff-less Dubs. We’ll be here all summer with rumor, hearsay and quasi-analysis, so stick around, comment with abandon and keep it bearded (at least metaphorically).
Well. Bad news. See, I knew that the game wasn’t being televised in the Bay Area. That’s why I decided to get folks together at Looney’s Smokehouse tonight; they’ve got NBA League Pass. What I failed to realize is that apparently the game isn’t being televised in Seattle either.
Really?
The final game of the season. Which could have decided the Warriors’ playoff fate. And what may prove to be the final game of the Seattle Supersonics before they up and move to Oklahoma City (a tragedy which deserves it’s own post, but I’ll let Mr. Meschery handle that one). Really.
Anyway, once again, my day is far less Comcastic than it could be. I will take consolation in the fact that I will be commiserating with friends and consoled by an abundance of smoked meats. If the lack of local basketball is a deal killer, consider this an advisory. If you’re looking for someone to share your frustration with, follow the map.
