Sixers legend Nuggets guard Pistons role-player Memphis Grizzlies benchwarmer Allen Iverson doesn’t like warming the bench so much, especially since the team has already put together a terrific three-game losing streak. Who would have thought Iverson to be so outspoken?
“The focus is on it because everybody in this whole world knows that I have a problem with it,” Iverson said. “That’s why it’s an issue. It’s easy to say I’m selfish. My response to that is it’s something I’ve never done. And if we had success with us doing it than obviously I’d want to do it because we are winning basketball games. But if we had no success when we do it, than obviously I would have a bigger problem from the beginning.
“This media thing is so big. Coach played the game before. He’s seen the things that I’ve done. He knows that I’ve never come off the bench ever in my whole career. So he knows that’s something I’m not accustomed to or something I would want to do. He listens to talk radio and TV, what people say, family members, friends – everybody knows that it’s not something I want to do.” –via Marc Spears.
Iverson’s averaging 22 minutes and 14 points per game–not terrible, but that’s about only half of his lofty career marks. But really, why not let the guy start? The Grizz can’t really get any worse. At least add some appeal to your gate and let your fans watch somebody well-known. That’s good business practice. And we talkin’ ’bout practice. Read the rest of this entry »
3 people were injured at the FedEx Forum - home of the Memphis Grizzlies - when a section of the stands collapsed:
The incident happened about an hour before the 8 p.m. EDT tip-off as some of the Grizzlies were leaving the floor after the pregame shootaround. Fans were standing at the rail of the section leaning over seeking autographs from the players. The section collapsed to the aisle where the players leave the court, sending a handful of people falling about 3-5 feet to the concrete floor. Steve Zito, senior vice president of arena operations, said officials will study the accident and talk to witnesses about what happened. He said there have been no similar incidents this season at games or other events, and crews check the stands before the building opens. "This has surprised us," Zito said. "We're going to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again."
I agree it's surprising - why would anyone attend a Minnesota/ Memphis game? Anyway, people with the surname of Zito are masters of telling sports fans what they want to hear. For example, Barry Zito indicated he would fare better this season than his disappointing 11-13, 4.53 ERA effort last year. Well, he's 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA so far this campaign. Seems like the same to me, but I predict he will enter even further depths of suckitude because he's on my fantasy team.
I hope you're enjoying the Sunday Night Baseball contest between, who's playing . . . the Yankees and Red Sox. I bet the Chief will have some comments on this match-up tomorrow morning because these teams hardly ever play each other. -KD
Grizzlies rookie Mike Conley Jr (who I guess is now going by Michael Conley?) posted this video on his Yardbarker blog, and if you think I'm going to stoop to make some stupid joke about how good he is at handling two balls, then thank you, because you must read this site every day. Testicles are often called "balls"! Tee hee hee!
Of course, Mike Conley played with Greg Oden at Ohio State, and I just want to say to all the Buckeye fans that I really enjoyed watching them play together. That's because my frontal lobe is developed sufficiently enough for me to differentiate between the team playing and the people supporting it. But I don't expect everyone to understand that.
Kobe Bryant extended his streak of 50+ points to three games by dropping 60 on the Grizzles in a 121-119 Lakers win. He's the fourth player ever to achieve such a feat (the others were Wilt, MJ, and Elgin Baylor), and his four 60-point games ties him with Jordan for second place all-time behind Chamberlain.
After the game, Bryant deflected praise on his teammates (quote from SportsCenter):
"Tonight was an example of my teammates just making great passes."
"…in that those passes were to me."
I kid, I kid. It's pretty decent of Kobe to focus on the team winning and his teammates playing well. You just don't expect that from a guy with an evil goatee…. unless… He's just luring us into a sense of complacency before stealing those nukes! Oh, laugh now, but you'll miss Colorado after Kobe takes his revenge. The lesson here: never trust a man named for beef.
For some reason, announcers are calling the Knicks-Grizzlies season opener a "triple overtime thriller." Uh, hardly. The Knicks blew a 19-point fourth quarter lead, then the teams went back and forth for three overtimes to see who could out-suck the other.
Like many basketball games, this one was decided at the free throw line, and the Grizzlies were just more dedicated to sucking. The Knicks managed a merely horrendous 10-22, while the Grizz blew the roof off the outhouse with a 6-21 performance. Let that sink in for a moment: six out of twenty-one free throws. The game was in Memphis, so I assume the crowd wasn't waving those little sticks or jumping up and down. And I'm pretty sure there isn't any new kind of rule were you have to shoot free throws while a bear attacks you.
Oh, that's right: it's the new basketballs' fault. The darn things are just too… round. Damn that David Stern!
