* Crossposted in SPORTS
* Crossposted in NBA_ECHO
This was in the works for a couple of weeks before Sprewell's attack but I've
been busy with a new job and didn't finish it up before posting it. Here are
what I've written before and after the incident:
I still laugh when I think about a couple of years ago when Laettner was
called a cancer by Jack Feldman and during the discussion I brought up
Latrell Sprewell as a true example of a cancer. I couldn't believe how
Christian was vilified and Latrell was being defended by others. The Warriors
traded away Tim Hardaway and one of the reasons why was his clash with
Sprewell. Miami is benefitting from Golden State's mistake and the team has
become so bad that potential free agents on their team or from other teams
won't even consider them as a potential employer, even for big money.
Sprewell has clashed with several coaches and what should have clued those
who defend him in on who the problem is, took off from the team for days
and never let anyone know where he was (Ceballos later pulled a Sprewell on
the Lakers and look at how they dealt with him). Mark Price, who has never
said anything bad about anyone, made it perfectly clear last year that he
was tired of the fact that while HE was supposed to be the point guard,
Sprewell was controlling the ball, the action and subsequently, Golden
State's misfortunes on the court. I think THAT should have clued people in
and out of Warriorland that Sprewell needed to be moved in order to fix the
Warriors (P.J. should be just "thrilled" to have a player who can be just
like Rider was in Portland. Oh, he doesn't have J.R.'s outside problems but
he can be a pain in the butt when it comes to missing practices or hustling
when he gets unhappy).
This is going to be a LOOOOOONG year for the Warriors and will probably cost
them Joe Smith and anyone else who might want to leave the sinking ship. The
Warriors don't have the luxury of having Sprewell jumping ship because they
were stupid enough to not only overlook the fact that HE caused the clashes
with others, they compounded that error by signing him to a contract that
has several years to run. That could be long enough to send this franchise
into a spiral that could take decades to recover from (See LA Clippers). They
need to find a sucker to pick up Sprewell; someone who believes all the good
things they hear about him and not believe the selfishness that they see when
he's on the floor.
                                   ****
DAMN. I've got more to write but now Sprewell has another episode. Attacking
P.J. goes well beyond the line. There's no excuse for him because not only
did he attack him but he came back and did it again. He could have calmed
down but no, he simmered and then went back for more. That's total bs and the 
team needs to quit coddling him and suspend him for as long as they can get
away with. If they let him get away with it, this will signal open season on
coaches and you will see more players going after their coaches because he's
been critical of their play (P.J. can be caustic, however, no more caustic
than Pat Riley can be and I haven't seen Tim Hardaway go after him). This
hurts their chances of being able to get *perceived* value for him, almost
rendering him as valuable as Szabo. I wonder how much backbone they'll show.
                                   ****
Geez, the Warriors do have a few. 10 days is a start but I think they need to
send a message. This isn't a simple head butt or towel throwing incident,
it's assault and battery. They and the NBA need to show others (like the NHL) 
that criminal behavior needs to be taken care of and suspend him for MONTHS
or even a year (If his name was Rodman, he'd probably draw a life
suspension). This is  a start, however, it's only a start. They need to give
him a lot of time to think about it and at the same time, give the players in 
the league to think of the very real consequences of assaulting others.
                                   ****
Well, well, well. GS rids themselves of their disease. If they can get the
league to write off his salary, they're sitting pretty for replacements. They
will have problems with bringing in people because Sprewell has friends in
this league but they should have plenty of choices. Might as well let this
stay on hold for a while because this isn't the end. Sprewell and the
Player's Association are going to have a response.
                                   ****
Oooo, Sterno and the boys are now involved. Sprewell gets a year suspension
but you can bet the the PA will NOW step in. I hope they can make this stick
so that this crap stops here and now (Yeah, sure).
                                   ****
Oh boy, now Spin Control Central has kicked in. Sprewell's friend are now
coming forward talking about how good he is and vilifying P.J. and his
methods (Let me repeat --- Sprewell attacked and then WENT BACK FOR MORE. No
amount of "What a good guy he is" and "What a jerk the coach is" can justify
Sprewell's overall actions). Sprewell's most vocal backer? Rod Strickland,
who has been traded away (not FOR) or allowed to leave many times. There's
not much credibility behind his words because of the axe he has to grind with
Carlesimo.
                                   ****
Oh boy, now it's a race issue. No, guys, it's an ASSAULT ISSUE. If Sprewell
wants to cry race then he needs to stop and think about the fact that Rodman
and Van Exel, who stepped over the line but not as much as Sprewell, are
black and their "victims" were white. Their actions needed to be addressed
but they weren't *as* serious as Sprewell's (They WERE serious but not AS
MUCH).
                                   ****
There's probably more to come, however, I'll address it as I get time. This
is already two weeks behind and I'm sure there's going to be more to come.
I'll state that I think that Sprewell's recent apology rings hollow and is
nothing more than spin control because it has been made clear that he went
out of his way not to apologize publicly to the team or Carlesimo.
--- TrekEd 1.00
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