December 14th

• Great. Old ass Joe Smith. This BLOWS
• I knew this day was coming. He’s still my favorite Laker of all time. 6 years is a long ass time. We had a good run.
• I’m very sad
• They’re almost all gone. Ronny, Vlad, Trev, Yordan, DJ,
• And now Sash. It’s over
• Here’s the bottom line. The Sasha trade netted the Lakers about $4 Million (x2) in Luxury Tax relief. This was far from a basketball move
• Seeing Sash still on the bench is like seeing a ghost
• The saddest part is that he prolly doesn’t even know
• I want to cry. This is too sad. “We hope the report is wrong. We’ve watched Sasha grow up as a player and a person.” – Joely Meyers.
• You know who played on the Nets and was a European G? DRAZEN PETROVIC! Sash can carry the mantle. I believe. You should too. It’s a longshot
• A world in which Sash and Yordan are on the Nets is a world I’m not sure I wanna live in.

December 15th

• October 27, 2007-December 14, 2010
• @KevinDing can seriously go fuck himself for his article about Sash. I would say more, but that fucking gnome isnt worth it. Bitchmade fuck

December 16th

• https://twitter.com/lakers/status/15463338620231681 – this is like a bad dream. He’s like a create-a-player.
• Ben fucking Uzoh
• I’m at the acceptance part of the grief process. I can’t wait to see him kill tonight. #LetsGoSash
• Fucking Terrence Williams is ALWAYS late!
• folks said a lot of shit over the last couple days about Sash, but despite all the negativity, his play speaks for itself http://j.mp/e3ztd1
• Real moment of honesty here: that video legit made me cry at work. I’ve never in my LIFE enjoyed watching a player PLAY more than him.
• My fandom took a HUGE hit on Tuesday and it may never recover. I’m afraid of that. But I could watch that 3:49 and remember PURITY forever.
• I’m serious here. No jokes. For the rest of my life, I’ll wear my Sash yersey to any and every Laker game I attend, no exceptions. PURITY
• I love Sash cause he cares SO much and tries SO hard and people fucking HATE him for it. I can relate.

AND THIS STATEMENT:

He plays every second like it’s game 7 of the NBA Finals, almost to a fault  so it frustrates and angers people because it’s not what they’re used to. They want “chill” guys and guys who embrace the “moment” whereas for Sasha, every moment is THE moment. “Fuck you, I may not be as physically gifted or naturally talented as you, but I’m gonna play ten times as hard as you and exploit your mental weaknesses and THAT’S how I’ll beat you. People have a rough time reconciling Sasha’s game because it’s so contrary to what the run of the mill backup guard is expected to do. He is a white guy who has a hell of a lot of swagger and understands that frustrating the shit out of an opponent and getting in his head can be just as effective and potent as on ball defense.

The man has spoken.

Before I start, let me first note that I initially was going to title this post “Fire Joel Meyers,” but amid all of this hate and confusion, that brought me back to October 9th, 2009. Andrew and I bumped into Joel in the bowels of The Forum and he was the nicest guy ever. That was after we almost died at Forum Liquor. Mr. Meyers, you’re spared. The Lakers Nation is not. We shall begin.

The Jersey shore seems to be a popular destination for Jackson’ cast-off’s, where Sasha Vujacic will join another ex-Lakers guard, Jordan Farmar, on a 6-19 Nets squad.

Relating the Nets to Jersey Shore is so fucking tired. Not only is it stupid, but the Nets play in Newark. Newark is like two hours away from Seaside Heights. And yes, I  had to Wikipedia Jersey Shore (TV Series) to find out where it’s filmed.

According to several ESPN resources, the Lakers will receive veteran forward Joe Smith – who just celebrated his 91st birthday and will be playing for his 43rd NBA team – and the draft rights to Houston’s Sergei Lishchuk (or, as our own Kam Pashai suggests, just ‘Lish’). Additionally, the champs will give New Jersey their 2011, lottery protected, first-rounder and receive a pair of second-rounders in return.

Haaayoh. Old guy joke. Joe Smith played against real Raptors in a pre-downsizing NBA. Also, big ups to Kam Pashai on nickname duties. Aside from it all, I’m really enjoying the perceived notion that Lishchuk’s 6-11, 250 frame is going to help the Lakers. He was the 49th pick in 2004. His rights have been nothing but trade filler since then. GO LISH.

By all indications, the Nets are looking to re-boot the Machine right away.

Couldn’t have not gone there.

“We’re gonna need Sasha to play immediately. We need help at the combo guard spot. We’re gonna want him to play on the ball and off the ball and knock down some shots”, said Nets head coach, Avery Johnson.

Upon hearing about the proposed deal on Tuesday, Mr. Sharapova expressed some frustration about his diminished role on this Lakers team.

Mr. Sharapova.

“It’s terrible. I’m 26 years old. I played a few years [consistently] and the last couple years, playing on and off, it was just killing me. We’ll see, if it happens then I definitely want to double what I did in LA.”

I am not entirely sure how you can double next to nothing, but I am sure that all 700 Nets fans will be anxiously waiting…

Fuck you. It’s not even possible to accurately criticize this.

fuck.

• Jordan Farmar
• Derek Fisher
• Kobe Bryant
• Coby Karl
• Sasha Vujacic
• Trevor Ariza
• Ira Newble
• Vladimir Radmnovic
• Luke Walton
• Lamar Odom
• Ronny Turiaf
• Pau Gasol
• Andrew Bynum
• DJ Mbenga
• Chris Mihm

Commentary I wrote for the Petros & Money Show on Fox Sport Radio

Here is a little tale of HUBRIS involving none other than the commissioner of the NBA himself, David Stern, whose battles with his own arrogance litter his tenure as the power that be in the NBA. From the draft lottery to the trend of having grown men wear cartoon dinosaurs and flaming horses and angry rockets on their uniforms in an attempt to capitalize on kids’ fondness for the game to the debacle that was the NBA’s dress code, but none of those come close to Stern’s love affair with the idea of keeping the NBA in New Orleans.

Now, New Orleans is a wonderful city, it is one hell of a place, but with the team hemorrhaging money and their punkass now former owner George Shinn making it painfully clear that he had no interest in operating the New Orleans Hornets in a respectable and financially safe way, the NBA has stepped in and seized control of the team with one of their goals being to keep the team in the 504 DESPITE sporting one of the lowest attendance figures in the league, barely being able to fill 13,000 of their building’s 20,000 seats. Speculation has already arisen that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is willing to pony up and buy the Hornets from the NBA AND pay for the relocation to move the Hornets and return the NBA BACK to Seattle, but it seems as if Stern and his cohorts at the NBA offices are going to try and avoid the PR nightmare of “giving up” in New Orleans and drag this one out as long as possible.

This isn’t the first time the NBA has used New Orleans as their pro of righteousness and benevolence. In 2008, the ENTIRE all-star game was one LONG photo-op with Dirk Nowitzki painting a house in the 9th Ward and David Stern and that weird bat-looking guy who does the second round of the NBA Draft hanging drywall in Gretna, and you know what, that was nice of you to do for one weekend, but the city of New Orleans needs and needed WAY more than what you gave them and keeping an NBA team playing in a city as a charity case is almost an insult to the city itself, but it seems as if that is exactly what the NBA is planning to do, regardless of good business sense.

Over the past two years, Ron Artest has transformed from bat shit crazy to the NBA’s most lovable, huggable personality. The following clip is evidence enough that Ron Artest is the Association’s own Benjamin Button:

Artest Calls Houston Post-Game Show as Luis Scola.

Thank you now.

In my agonizing efforts to follow the Lakers in a Jazz media market, one thing hits me every time I sit down to recap current events. There’s a major economic piece of this team missing and it’s become so routine over the past few years that I have to keep reminding myself that it’s happening.

Andrew Bynum is a Laker.

Andrew Bynum is a Laker.

Every time I hear someone on TV or radio mention Bynum’s inevitable return, I think “Oh yeah. That guy…”

My dislike for the Bynum must have, over the past year, bred itself into utter apathy. His “I’ll be back in three weeks” charade would’ve been roundly and tirelessly mocked by me even a year ago, but now I just subconsciously dismiss it.

Oh yeah. That guy.

It’s not the fact that he’s injured all the time and can’t contribute to the team. I understand that nine foot tall guys have knee problems. I even understand his frustration in the matter but goddamnit, Andrew Bynum, stop telling the fans what they want to hear. I’ve been saying this ever since 2007 when I was blogging front page stories for Fox Sports in exchange for no money and little recognition. Andrew Bynum wants you to think everything is okay.

But it isn’t. His knee isn’t healed and he won’t be back in three fucking weeks.

Andrew Bynum is 23. The “he’s just a kid” lines dont work anymore. Andrew Bynum is an adult. Flippancies like hoisting Playboy Bunnies on an injured knee and hitting frat parties at UCLA on that same knee while the team is sleeping in Atlanta might be excusable behavior for a 20 year old.

Is dropping 110 on the 405 in a Ferrari excusable behavior for a 23 year old? Maybe, but not for the “lifeblood” of the post-Kobe Lakers who happens to be rehabbing a never-ending injury. I’m tired of thinking about this shit. It’s giving me nerdy chills. I feel like I’ve awakened a monster.

It’s just the timing. All of these things would be seen as comical if it was in the offseason and he was healthy. Hell, we’d celebrate a healthy Andrew Bynum flying through Upper Marlboro, Maryland on a Can-Am Spyder with a shotgun in a guitar case.

It’s all okay though. He’ll be back in three weeks.

BABY TALK, BABY TALK.

Vlade Divac is my all-time favorite basketball player ever. Now, before you call me a bearded fucking hoopster, let me take the opportunity to show you the new house band for bearded fucking hoopsters: Vladee Divacc.

Watch this.

This  is described as “Dunkwave”, a varient of ambient with strong basketball overtones. We endorse.

Vladee Divacc, is a Dunkwave project from Tempe, Arizona created by Christian Filardo. Currently the band consists of two members Edouard Urcadez and Filardo. They are playing shows, and are looking to tour Summer 2011. They are currently working on a full length entitled “Get Open”.

Their music is available for download for free here. Also, thanks to The Jones for bringing this to the masses.

PS: Tracklisting: 1. Ostertag, 2. Drazen Petrovic (Hero), 3. Vlade Divac, 4. TECHNICAL, 5. The 76ers

IS MATT BARNES LATINO?

IS MATT BARNES CHICANO?

IS MATT BARNES HISPANIC?