Dante’s Speak, Installment 6
September 7, 2004
My deepest apologies for the extended hiatus I took from Dante's Speak. I wanted to truly capture the essence of USA basketball and it wasn't until right now that I felt I had adequate words to describe what I'm feeling. I've been asked over and over how disappointed I am in the U.S. bringing home a bronze medal. The truth is that I'm not disappointed, I'm actually proud. It's the feeling you have when you watch your little brother's soccer game, and you fully expect him to score on his own goalie, but he doesn't. Instead, he scores the game winning goal for his team. We didn't send our best players, not even close, (in fact, only Danny Ainge could have put together a worse 12) and we STILL won a medal and that speaks volumes about the effort of our guys in Athens. However, who are the people that selected this team? I want names!! You take no outside shooters, and no true centers, NOT ONE!! Give me Erick Dampier, Brad Miller, Brent Barry, Ron Artest, and Michael Redd, instead of Amare Staudemire (not a center), Emeka Okafor (was he even IN Athens?), Richard Jefferson (the object is to MAKE a basket), Carmello Anthony (was hardly used), and Dwyane Wade (doesn't shoot as well as Barry) and I will bring you a gold. All that being said, I now have twelve new heroes and I will be a lifelong fan of their NBA careers.
Moving on, it was brought to my attention that Steven Hunter has been signed by the Phoenix Suns. Apparently Phoenix is the only team in the NBA without a scouting department. Steven is a great person, but unfortunately could never realize his full potential with the Magic, and it WASN"T for lack of opportunity. Each of the past three seasons Steven was handed the starting center position at one point, and never because he earned it, it was always by default. I've already heard people say, "Watch he'll go to Phoenix and become a star, we never gave him a chance". That couldn't be further from the truth, he had EVERY opportunity here. Hunter is an athletic 7-footer, and for that he'll always have a job (just ask Mamadou N'Diaye). The truth of the matter is, Steven runs an NBA floor like Bambi runs on ice, it's awkward, uncomfortable, and you can only peek through your fingers hoping he doesn't land on his own neck or T-Mac's leg. No offense, of course...
The much anticipated trade of Erick Dampier and hot garbage to the Dallas Mavericks for Christian Laettner, Eduardo Najera and two future first rounders was finally completed. This is a great trade for two reasons: 1)it gives the Dallas Mavericks the bona fide center they've always needed, and 2) it keeps alive Christian Laettner's quest to never again play for a winning team. I can only imagine how nervous he was when Washington sent him to Dallas this offseason, and then the giant sigh of relief when he was sent to the Warriors and he knew he could again mire away in mediocrity. As for Dampier, he'll finally bring the Mavs some toughness, defense and rebounding, which goes against everything Dallas believes in. With Dirk, Finley and Stackhouse launching up jumpers like a game of "hot potato" look for Dampier to have a monster year on the glass.
And finally, the feel good story of the summer, no, not Alonzo Mourning's comeback (although nothing would please me more than to see Zo back on the court), but Zach Randolph lying to police ensures nine straight summers in which a Portland Trailblazer has had trouble with the law. I was nervous when I hadn't heard anything for months involving a Jailblazer and I was concerned Mo Cheeks' team had turned the corner. However, coming through in the clutch with only a few more weeks of summer left, was good ol' Zach. Can you bet on this in Vegas? "I'll take the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, Ichiro to get 200 hits and a Blazer guard to get busted with a dumpster full of hash!"
Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.
Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for six seasons.
My deepest apologies for the extended hiatus I took from Dante's Speak. I wanted to truly capture the essence of USA basketball and it wasn't until right now that I felt I had adequate words to describe what I'm feeling. I've been asked over and over how disappointed I am in the U.S. bringing home a bronze medal. The truth is that I'm not disappointed, I'm actually proud. It's the feeling you have when you watch your little brother's soccer game, and you fully expect him to score on his own goalie, but he doesn't. Instead, he scores the game winning goal for his team. We didn't send our best players, not even close, (in fact, only Danny Ainge could have put together a worse 12) and we STILL won a medal and that speaks volumes about the effort of our guys in Athens. However, who are the people that selected this team? I want names!! You take no outside shooters, and no true centers, NOT ONE!! Give me Erick Dampier, Brad Miller, Brent Barry, Ron Artest, and Michael Redd, instead of Amare Staudemire (not a center), Emeka Okafor (was he even IN Athens?), Richard Jefferson (the object is to MAKE a basket), Carmello Anthony (was hardly used), and Dwyane Wade (doesn't shoot as well as Barry) and I will bring you a gold. All that being said, I now have twelve new heroes and I will be a lifelong fan of their NBA careers.
Moving on, it was brought to my attention that Steven Hunter has been signed by the Phoenix Suns. Apparently Phoenix is the only team in the NBA without a scouting department. Steven is a great person, but unfortunately could never realize his full potential with the Magic, and it WASN"T for lack of opportunity. Each of the past three seasons Steven was handed the starting center position at one point, and never because he earned it, it was always by default. I've already heard people say, "Watch he'll go to Phoenix and become a star, we never gave him a chance". That couldn't be further from the truth, he had EVERY opportunity here. Hunter is an athletic 7-footer, and for that he'll always have a job (just ask Mamadou N'Diaye). The truth of the matter is, Steven runs an NBA floor like Bambi runs on ice, it's awkward, uncomfortable, and you can only peek through your fingers hoping he doesn't land on his own neck or T-Mac's leg. No offense, of course...
The much anticipated trade of Erick Dampier and hot garbage to the Dallas Mavericks for Christian Laettner, Eduardo Najera and two future first rounders was finally completed. This is a great trade for two reasons: 1)it gives the Dallas Mavericks the bona fide center they've always needed, and 2) it keeps alive Christian Laettner's quest to never again play for a winning team. I can only imagine how nervous he was when Washington sent him to Dallas this offseason, and then the giant sigh of relief when he was sent to the Warriors and he knew he could again mire away in mediocrity. As for Dampier, he'll finally bring the Mavs some toughness, defense and rebounding, which goes against everything Dallas believes in. With Dirk, Finley and Stackhouse launching up jumpers like a game of "hot potato" look for Dampier to have a monster year on the glass.
And finally, the feel good story of the summer, no, not Alonzo Mourning's comeback (although nothing would please me more than to see Zo back on the court), but Zach Randolph lying to police ensures nine straight summers in which a Portland Trailblazer has had trouble with the law. I was nervous when I hadn't heard anything for months involving a Jailblazer and I was concerned Mo Cheeks' team had turned the corner. However, coming through in the clutch with only a few more weeks of summer left, was good ol' Zach. Can you bet on this in Vegas? "I'll take the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, Ichiro to get 200 hits and a Blazer guard to get busted with a dumpster full of hash!"
Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.
Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for six seasons.
