europa2846@aol.com

First of all, they continue to be frightened by the idea that Michael Jordan
buying the Bucks is the worst thing in the world and they simply can't let go
of it or see things with even any type of unbiased eye. Dale Hoffman has been
leading the charge for weeks, saying if Jordan buys the Bucks we might as well
say goodbye to them now because they're going to definitely be leaving town.
All of this despite the fact other reporters at the Journal/Sentinel have


out of a proven NBA market. Not to mention the fact there might not be anyplace
better to go.
And yet, Jordan buying the Bucks is viewed as the end of the world as we
know it.
Bullshit. Can we guarantee the Bucks will be in Milwaukee forever if Jordan
buys the team? Nope. But guess what, no owner can guarantee that. The J/S wrote
a story recently which said there's nothing anyone can do if any owner down the
line wants to move the team. It can't be contractually written into the
contract. So if it's not Jordan, it could be Joe Blow from Racine who sees the
Bucks as a losing operation in 4 years and decides to sell to someone who wants
to move the team to Boise. Guess what guys, the future is unsettled and
unknown. That's why we call it the future.
So stop whining about this shit already. It's getting tired.
The *only* concerns about Jordan buying the Bucks is that his front office
tenure with the Wizards was for the most part a disaster. Other than clearing
out cap room, Jordan did little to make the Wizards better on the court.
They're in the same dismal situation now as they were when he took over. That's
my concern if Jordan takes over, that he won't be any better here than he was
in Washington.
But think about this: since Jordan's tenure in Washington was less than
glowing, don't you think he's going to be a little more motivated to succeed if
he takes over the Bucks? Don't you think he's going to want to shut up all the
critics who say he's a horrible personnel man? Also, don't you think it might
make Jordan feel just a wheeee bit good if he can turn around a franchise
that's just a few miles from his most famous stomping grounds and make them a
winner while the other team continues to struggle? Don't you think Jordan would
take immense pleasure in making the Bucks a winner while his former team showed
no interest in hiring him to run their ship in Chicago?
Think about that for a second before you start loading the packing crates
and shipping the Bucks out of town.
Then in another column on Sunday, Bob Wolfley says **** Vitale pointed to
T.J. Ford as being one of the players who will be able to play right away and
will be a star in the NBA. But according to Wolfley, Vitale's opinion is flawed
because he drafted Greg Kelser ahead of Sidney Moncrief in the 1979 draft. So
apparently, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (two other guys Vitale raved
about) are going to be dogs too because Vitale made a horrible draft day
blunder more than two decades ago? Or is it just Ford who Vitale is clueless
about because he's not some 6-11 stiff who fills the Bucks' requirements in the
team program but can't do shit on the basketball court where it really matters?
This is reporting?
What's funny is the Milwaukee media members who hate the Ford pick haven't
said who the Bucks should have taken in his place. Sweetney? Collison? Who?
Could it be because they know ALL of those guys came with MAJOR question marks
too? Sweetney has been compared so many times to Tractor Traylor you'd think
they were joined at the hip. And if there's one team that should cringe every
time the words "Tractor Traylor" are uttered, it's the Bucks. Collison? Good
college player who many NBA scouts wonder if he'll be strong enough to be a
difference maker in the low post.
But you know what, at least if they came out and said the Bucks should have
taken "X" instead of Ford, I'd have some respect. Don't just slam the pick
because he's 6-feet tall and then run away and hide from taking a stand and
saying who would have been a better pick for the Bucks.
You don't like Ford. You don't want Jordan to buy the Bucks. OK, we get it.
Now move on and do some actual reporting or at least wait and see if maybe,
just maybe, things won't be quite as bad as you think they'll be. And if
they're not, what are the odds the Milwaukee media will admit they didn't know
what the hell they were blabbering about and could not have been more wrong?
Yea, that's what I thought.

terraholm

Besides all the required physicals the average private investigator report
runs 10 pages.

Plus the bucks can get insurance in case he does break.

The NBA still measures them in their shoes....=)

advocated


guy I

europa2846@aol.com

It's pretty dim-witted to think the Bucks wouldn't have made damn sure Ford
checked out before using a lottery pick on him. And given how he was a
consensus lottery pick for months, it's logical to assume at least most of the
league felt confident in him as well.


Well they're not playing barefoot.

champpack@aol.com (champ

<<<I'll tell you who I'd rather have over Ford. Anybody who doesn't have a damn
spinal condition that causes a narrowing of the spine!! Thats nothing to mess
with! >>>


I don't think that matters much in a basketball player especially a point
guard. He is not going to be hit much if at all where it would put a lot of
force on his spine. Football and hockey would be 2 sports where that would be a
big concern.

dee

A spinal condition was diagnosed long ago. A physical doesn't tell. It's a
great risk to take Ford. Riley grew cool about Ford. Chicago chose Hinrich
over Ford. Gruenfeld has been drafting foolishly. I hope Szimon isn't a lemon.


That's cheating.

So he's 5'10" in bare feet. ....................................

dee

But big men can get in his way. They don't have to go for the neck or head.
A hard foul every other game would shake Ford's entire body. Once the word
gets around the guy is weak and can hurt you with driving in the lane, other
teams can take advantage.

It's a big risk to take a small dribbling guy with a spine condition with
the 8th pick.

dee

And depends on the kind of shoes he wears. Don't mention elbows when Ford is in the thread.

europa2846@aol.com

We always wore two pairs of socks back when I played. I didn't need the
inserts, though, cuz I was a legit 6-1. Still am.

terraholm

Which means everyone knew about it and yet several teams were ready to draft him.

Well in that system it might have been dangerous...=)

And maybe it was for that reason, but I suspect it had more to do with his
style of play and the triple post offense where small guards do not fit well
as it does not use a true point. Look at how much Jay Williams struggled
there. Lue at LAL for another instance. Bucks may have got the better player because the bulls

I think that it was understood, and that it is not a real worry, or he would
have gone to no team before the second round where they did not have to
guarantee his contract. It is not like he has never played basketball
before.
They will insure him, maybe for the full amount instead of the usual 80%.

Well hard to add two and a half inches....I have been next to Damon who is
listed at 5-10 and
he is more like 5-9, about an inch over me.


--
Laurel T
"If God is so good, how come
he didn't give you a jump shot?"
Said Sir Charles to AC...

terraholm

Piff I can distroy that image any minute, I am after all a natural
blond.....or used to be.... now I am naturally frosted...=)

You never know. Hard to judge draft picks without a couple of years at least
of hindsight to work with...
Most of the Blazer fans groaned and moaned about another PF in 6-9 fat
Randolph over <I forget the 7 footer> that was falling to them at 19th.
oh yeah...haywood


--
Laurel T
"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
John Kerry, 1971, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
as spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War