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Media Day means the start of the season and gratuitous hot pics like this one of All Beautiful Team spokesperson Corey Maggette! Noah Graham (NBAE/Getty Images)
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Is IT In You, Clipper Nation?
posted by Dena | October 1 @ 11:26 am
Check it out, Clipper Nation! This Blog is now officially fueled by Gatorade. Not only does that (hopefully) mean a lifetime supply of Gatorade for a certain Clippers.com correspondent, it also (not really) means that you might start seeing me sweating blue and purple liquid in commercials! Okay probably not. But thanks, Gatorade, particularly for Gatorade Frost Alpine Snow – best flavor ever.
First things first. Michigan is now 3-2. Oh yeah. That just happened. Now that that’s out of the way…
Media Day is TODAY! That means the season officially tips off and that we are officially one month and one day away from our home opener vs. Golden State. Hooray!
Unfortunately Media Day will be without our 2007 No. 45 pick Jared "J-Jo” Jordan now that we’ve traded his draft rights to New York for cash. How the Knicks can afford to give away even more cash is unfathomable, but I digress… it’s a little disappointing that J-Jo won’t be with us this season. He’s a great player and a stand-up guy and will be missed. Hopefully we’ll see him get an opportunity to shine in the Big Apple.
Later today, after taking tons of photos and answering a billion questions from the media, the team will head up to Santa Barbara for Training Camp and will begin their first of five two-a-day practices tomorrow morning.
What does that mean for The Gatorade Blog? It means it’ll be written every single day with updates from Media Day, Training Camp in Santa Barbara and more starting now. And guess what? YOU get to send ME your questions! E-mail me any questions about the team, for a particular player and I’ll ask as many as I can and post their answers right here on Clippers.com.
Before I get to your e-mails, I’d like to give a shout out to last week’s overdue winner of the Too Much Time on Their Hands Award. And the winner is none other than Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Honestly, Mr. Cuban. I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for you, but… shouldn’t you have been focusing a bit more on fixing what went broke during the Playoffs (two years running) than spending your summer bidding on the Chicago Cubs and training for Dancing With the Stars? I’m just sayin’.
If you didn’t get a chance to see his moves (ha!) last Tuesday night, check out this video. Not only did viewers learn that Cuban underwent hip surgery just seven weeks prior to training with his partner Kym Johnson, they were (unfortunately) treated to a gratuitous view of Cuban’s scar. Let’s just say we saw far more of Cuban than any of us ever thought possible.
Cuban’s "tongue dancing” and stiff dancing earned him the lowest vote total of the men, and second lowest total for all dancers. He eked out a week one "victory,” but my trusty Magic 8-Ball says the chances of his making it past week two is "Very Doubtful” and he’ll be back to yelling and screaming courtside at Mavericks preseason games before you know it.
If you didn’t already know, Ralph Lawler, "The Voice of the Clippers,” will return with his mailbag, answering your questions starting this Wednesday, October 3rd. Click here to send him a question now.
Alright. Let’s get ready to rumble, Clipper Nation. To your e-mails, then more from Media Day and Training Camp tomorrow!
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Clipper Nation Rocks ‘Em N’ Socks ‘Em…
Taylor Moxon, the most loyal of all Gatorade Blog readers from the LBC writes…
I just want to say that I really look forward to your blog every week in these dark times called the off-season. As far as believing you know what you are talking about, I never saw any reason to doubt you. Now for my question: do you think Kaman played better with the long hair, headband or with it cut?
Taylor,
Interesting question. I’ll admit likening Chris Kaman to the Biblical figure Samson a few times after he cut his hair. He seemed to have lost his step after showing up in Dallas on December 22nd last year with a newly shorn head. After going through his game-by-game stats, however, it would appear as though, statistically speaking, Kaman’s numbers are slightly better post coif-crop! Check this out.
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Long hair + headband (11/1 - 12/20): 9.79 ppg, 7.58 rpg, 1.05 bpg
Short hair – headband (12/22 - 4/18): 10.15 ppg, 8.02 rpg, 1.71 bpg.
Should Kaman grow his hair back? Possibly. Two things could happen should he decide to: 1) he’ll be more menacing and/or intimidating on defense, and 2) he could get a call about having a cameo in the new ABC series Cavemen. Rumor has it he's sporting a brand new "fauxhawk" this year. Maybe this fashionable statement will be the key to a successful season.
P.S. Hey Mox, I just found out that you were randomly selected from hundreds of new Full Court subscribers and won last week's prize: an autographed photo of your favorite player! Congrats! Hey Clipper Nation... If you haven't signed up yet, do it now for a chance to win season tickets AND participate in the pre-sale starting this Wednesday!
Luis Fernandez from Los Angeles writes…
Hi Dena! Thanks for answering my question about big Al T. How do you feel about Brevin Knight? When healthy, it seems that Brevin stacks statistically up there with the best point guards in the league. He's a menace on D. He can dish the ball and score. Do you think he can stay healthy and play a full season? With his age and history do you think Mr. Knight will produce those nice stats on his resume
Luis,
I won’t be 100% sold on how well Mr. Knight will fit in until he takes the court with the team during Training Camp next week. And just so you know, he’s not that old – he’ll be 32 years young in November, which makes him only a few months younger than Cuttino Mobley and Ruben Patterson. Age won’t really be a factor here.
Statistically, Brevin’s career average of 8.3 points and 6.8 assists per game proves he can be a solid sixth man. Hopefully one that can come off the bench and provide that same spark the Clips were looking for last season after Shaun’s injury.
Knight mirrored that sentiment when asked what he thinks he could contribute this season. "I'm looking to be a spark plug off the bench this year," he said. "I want to push the ball up the court on the offensive side and be as active as possible defensively whenever I'm on the court."
Will Knight be able to stay healthy and play a full season? After consulting with my Magic 8-Ball again, here is your answer: short of a freak injury or some wheeling and dealing come the trade deadline in February, "It is decidedly so.” The Magic 8-Ball knows all.
Speaking of wheeling and dealing…
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I'd like to wish a very happy (upcoming) birthday to the following wonderful people in the Clippers family...
Alan Camacho from CA writes…
You know, I have to say I'm a little disappointed with the Clippers' off-season wheelings and dealings. Even if Brand had stayed healthy, the team did not stand to get much, if any better. We've still got the same core guys who didn't make the playoffs last year, minus Shaun Livingston and Elton Brand. While this could and should be an excellent opportunity for our young guys to blossom (i.e. Al Thornton, Chris Kaman, and Paul Davis, et al) I would have really liked to see the Clippers aggressively pursue someone who could dramatically improve our line up.
By the way, I'd love to "sea" a pirate in a Clipper uniform. Or even better, a Clipper in a pirate uniform (I mean you, Chris Kaman...best Halloween Party Ever!) That would be worth the price of admission all by itself.
Alan,
You say that "we’ve still got the same core guys who didn’t make the Playoffs last year." What you probably meant to say was that "we’ve still got the same core guys who narrowly missed the Playoffs last year."
Rebuilding around Shaun’s injury mid-season, especially during a time when the Warriors were on an uplifting surge after Baron Davis’ return to the line-up, was pretty close to impossible. The injury happened on February 26th – almost two weeks after much anticipated but anti-climactic trade deadline where NOT A SINGLE TEAM made any sort of blockbuster deal (A.I. trade to Denver excluded).
Who was available to the Clippers after February 26th? Doug Christie, Will Conroy, Von Wafer and, eventually, Jason Hart. Here’s something interesting: between the time of the injury (2/26) and the time the Clippers signed Hart (3/5), the team that was down their best back-up starting point guard went 2-2. One of which was a two point, 77-75 loss at Seattle on March 1st. At the time, that game was a fairly inconsequential match-up – a game the Clippers could have and should have won (on a national TNT broadcast, no less). Turns out, it could have been the most pivotal of the season. What would have happened if the Clips had a quality back-up PG in that game that could have meant leaving Seattle with an extra W? What if the Clips’ 105-100 loss to Sacramento on April 15th wouldn’t have put them a game behind Golden State in the standings, but kept them tied (with the Clips' owning the tie-breaker)? That game in Seattle could have meant our second straight trip to the Playoffs.
Sure we also lost a whole lot of other games we should have won; it happens. But you do realize the problem wasn’t our core group of guys but the lack of depth on the bench. If the Clips had more depth on the bench when Shaun got hurt, or even when Sam, Cat and EB were out periodically throughout the season, they would have made the Playoffs, no question. So, did the Clips "stand to get much, if not any better" this off-season? Abso-frikkin’-lutely. Especially because, as unfortunate as it is, Elton's injury came at a time when LA could still make a few extra moves to the roster. Brevin Knight, Ruben Patterson, Al Thornton, Josh Powell and Guillermo Diaz are all great pick-ups that will have more of a chance to develop during Elton’s and Shaun’s absence.
Not really sure how Chris (in a pirate outfit) and I would make "the best Halloween party ever" as you mentioned. If you’re suggesting I dress as a parrot and perch on his shoulder all night, you’ll be sorely disappointed. This year I’ll be dressed up as Pam from The Office. Chris is far too tall to pull off Jim.
P.S. Chris doesn’t find the height difference between us particularly funny, and I have to agree. It’s too obvious a joke. NEXT!
Jeff E. from Athens, OH writes…
Here’s a nominee for your "Too Much Time On Their Hands Award." Enjoy!
Jeff,
Shooting the pigeons will only disrupt what Mother Nature intended. Pigeons are pooping on Bengals fans’ heads, in their beers and on their food because… they’re Bengals fans. Obviously.
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Dungeons & Dragons & Spaceships, Oh My!
Al from Dungeons & Dragons and/or a Spaceship (seriously) writes…
Dena,
What up gangsta? Please provide your thoughts on the following:
- E.B. being a nicer and a tremendously better (skill wise) NBA player than Bi-Bi-Bi-Bi-Billups.
- Isn't Dumb and Dumber the greatest movie ever made?
First off, it’s "Buh-buh-buh-buh-Billups.” Get it straight.
Second… are you out of your mind? How can you even compare the two skill-wise? One’s a power forward and the other’s a point guard. EB is a big man who gets deep in the paint and can post up against the Shaq’s and KG’s of the league. CB is a quick-minded playmaker who can drive into the lane and nail the three. Who would I want to go up for a rebound against Ben Wallace? EB. Who would I want to take the game-winning shot at the buzzer? "Mr. Big Shot," CB!
What it boils down to is this: both are born leaders that any team would be lucky to have in their locker room. They have completely different skill sets on the court and cannot be compared in terms of level of play.
As for who has a better personality, EB has the edge. (Just bear in mind I'd like to avoid a brutal reception from our team at Training Camp this week.)
Now for your second question: is Dumb and Dumber the greatest movie ever made? Maybe not "ever,” but it’s definitely up there. With that in mind, here is my list of Top Five favorite Comedies of All Time. This is a hard list to create, so I’ll break it down into these five categories: overall comedy, dark comedy, comedy, sports comedy and a romantic comedy (Hey! I’m allowed, being of the female persuasion and all).
Heeeeeeeeeere we go!
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Overall Comedy: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. This is my family’s traditional Christmas Day movie of choice. Every time I watch it, I laugh so hard it hurts. The cat, Grandpa’s stogie and Christmas tree scene, the sled scene… you really can’t beat it. This movie wins by a very narrow margin. Other nominees include: Monty Python and The Holy Grail, The Big Lebowski, Ghostbusters, The Producers, Billy Madison, Caddyshack, Annie Hall and Just Friends.
Visual Comedy: For those who don’t know what a visual comedy is, it’s the Dumb and Dumber, Airplane, Naked Gun, Something About Mary or American Pie type of comedy where it’s not so much the writing that makes it funny, but the visuals that go along with the script that make your side split. This category’s winner is none other than the best Mel Brooks movie ever, Blazing Saddles.
Sports Comedy: Another close call here. Slapshot, The Sandlot, Major League, Bull Durham… so many incredible movies to choose from! In the end, Bull Durham wins as the best baseball movie, but Major League steals home in terms of comedic genius. The one-liners from Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker) make this movie flippin’ fantastic. "Remember, fans, Tuesday is Die Hard Night. Free admission for anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won the pennant.”
P.S. I saw Uecker at a hotel in Denver two years ago. The man needs to lay off the self tanner. Nobody gets that *orange* in Milwaukee year-round!
Dark Comedy: When the laughs aren’t obvious but the idea behind the movie is just plain hilarious, my pick for the best dark comedy: Death to Smoochy. I can’t explain why it is, it just is.
Romantic Comedy: While Love Actually and Bridget Jones’ Diary both include the easy on the eyes dynamic duo of Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, my favorite of all the romantic comedies features the acting genius from a more subdued British actor: Carey Elwes. That's right, The Princess Bride makes the top of this list. Not only is the romantic story between Westley (Elwes) and Buttercup one of the "greatest love stories of our time," the supporting roles played by Robin Wright Penn (Buttercup), Billy Crystal (Miracle Max), Christopher Guest (the six fingered man) and the rest of this All-Star cast make this my personal favorite.
Speaking of Christopher Guest... Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman and Best In Show are also top-quality comedies perhaps in the entirely different genre of "improv-weird"
"Have fun stormin’ da castle," Clipper Nation! The Gatorade Blog will return every day from Training Camp. Be sure to log on to Clippers.com daily!
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