The Closer

Sometimes the blog has become the hoop version of 'Six Feet Under'. Because over the past 16 months, I have had to pay tribute to a number of fan favorites with a Sez obit-both for the PR and the PA guy. First, there was J Kidd (Three ball, side pocket), then Richard (Movin' on up) and now Vince (we'll discuss this one a bit later). And in the spirit of team play and good sportsmanship, I have to admit that this particular exercise was more difficult than any of the others (which must include the tribute to my good friend Easy Ed Stefanski, The Travelin' Man, who sped down the Turnpike faster than Bob Irsay leaving Baltimore, but since he did not have a number on his back , he goes into a special subsection). Because Vince was a special guy, for both PR and PA , and it's unlikely that either of these Sybil characters will see his like again at the home on Murray Hill.

His exploits on the court were well documented...both in print, on TV, on YouTube, online...and each and every Nets fan (and aren't we all), have their favorite moments...which are probably a bit different than those of The Sez.

First and foremost, Vince allowed you and helped you do your job...and please let me tell you that not all players, especially those of VC's stature, partake in this activity...no reason to name names, because I have been very fortunate to be around good guys...but there is none better than Vince...and for that PR, not only here, but in his first stop for LaBamba Toronto and I am sure for Glass Half Full and Dante and Galante in Orlando, is a tribute to his character as a person.

And let me digress for a moment to our friends north of the border. Some players have to carry their teammates...Vince was carrying an entire country...and they took it very personally how it ended. Barnum and Bailey do not state a bigger circus than what took place on the first visit through customs for Vince as a Net. The media coverage was akin to the NBA Finals, the fan reaction was worse than Ed Whitson on his worst day at the Stadium...but in the locker room, all of the regular people associated with the team came to see him...and Vince's demeanor never wavered...regardless of the pressure he was facing when 18 thousand were booing him even when he touched the ball in the layup line! Oh Canada!!

And that was and is Vince...the type of person you look forward to seeing at work (and we all know that wherever you work, you don't like to see everyone everyday)...honking his horn and waving when he came to practice...and doing the same when he was leaving. But the best part of working with Vince...he just could not bring himself to be a horse's behind...which is a common trait amongst a number of the fellas. Even when he had the opportunity, the out, the red carpet to bolt (KVH would leave through the back door of the weight room to a waiting car driven by one of the interns...which I disclose in the spirit of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, since Keith also lived in Franklin Lakes...but I digress) Vince could not bring himself to do this...and the PR guy is forever grateful.

So it is now time to bid a fond adieu to Number 15....our Wettland...our Mariano...our Kyra Sedgewick (you didn't think I would tarnish this writing by inserting a Red Sox, did you?). It was a great run, and you have to be happy that he will be able to chase the ring while he still has a lot left in the tank...and to be able to do this at home. And when someone asks me what I will remember most about the past few years...it may be this...playing ( and winning, but don't say anything) tennis with J Kidd at Vince's house...not a bad afternoon for a hoops junkie.

So on behalf of the PR guy...only the best of luck to you, Vince. And on behalf of the PA guy....R.I.P.....VC-3333333333333333333333333333333333333

Posted by Gary Sussman on June 28th, 2009 at 12:41 p.m., ET

Jammin’

It is my pleasure to report that yes, the Nets have made it to the 2009 NBA Finals…not on the court, of course, but behind the scenes…where the best stories are often untold...unless someone sends me a text. The Nets formerly fresh- minted Director of PR, Aaron Harris, was requested by the NBA to work the Eastern portion of the Finals, so a nice week away from East Rutherford for A-Rod. Very nice for him, except he will be absent for the return to action for Nets basketball, the First Annual Bobby Marks Hoops Jamboree, June 12th -14th, when more than 35 collegians will be worked out by the Nets coaching staff, led by The Enforcer, assistant coach Tom Barrise (think gym class when you were less than enthusiastic about running the mile…and here comes Mr. Woodcock, whistle around his neck, verbally slicing and dicing your manhood…that’s Tom if a recruit takes one of the drills a bit too lightly.) The Nets VP of Basketball Operations, the aforementioned Mr. Marks, has assembled a cavalcade of hoop talent looking to display their skills before an array of bball execs from around the country…which means clean shirts and shorts for the PR staff. It has been a little while since there was some serious action in the practice facility, so it will be a welcome sight to walk into a workout, take a look at the players on the court, refer to the Draft media guide, and then ask Bobby…”that’s him?…not as big as I thought.” Now, The Sez would love to give you the behind-the –scenes word picture of these workouts, as well as the individual workouts that will follow the week of the 15th…which will feature a number of players you have read about who may peek the interest of the Nets President if available when our number is called on the 25th of June. But since tuition has once again taken a hike, and The Blogger is not looking to search out the nearest job fair, the best we can offer is a trip to the team’s web site for the daily Kiki recap, as well as the stories generated by the beat reporters…which may be scant depending if our main guys…and not those who cover the squad that plays in the former World’s Most Famous Arena…are sipping coffee in our press room rather than on the beach in Belmar. So let the games begin…well, not really games, but a lot of hackin’ and jackin’, boundin’ and houndin’, wheelin’ and dealin’. And as we approach the first day of summer….sights and sounds that are welcome noises at the Palace on Murray Hill.

Devinth Heaven... Nets all-star rep making the ESPN tour in Bristol on Monday…First Take, ESPN News, ESPN Radio…and Devin also cut the ribbon at a Dunkin’ Donuts grand opening in Hackensack on Saturday….there’s no question who had the better coffee….The Big O…NBC News with a two -hour inside look at the Obama White House… great piece…asked if Brian Williams was interested in a similar piece here…promised my Prez will do better than burgers….Ripley’s Believe It or Not....Nadal losing at the French Open…or the Nets making the Finals in 2002…and 2003…be honest now….Congrats…To our own Double C, Chris Carrino, for landing a weekly NFL radio gig this fall…Doc….And on the subject of radio, even if you’re not a hockey fan, treat yourself to Doc Emrick calling the Stanley Cup Finals-while they last…Line of the Week….Tiger goes to practice for the Open in LI…has a local caddie…courtesy of Mark Cannizzaro of the Post…Who's Billy Schwafel? He might as well have been Ferris Bueller…whenever there is a reference to one of the great movies of all time, I feel the need to acknowledge.

Posted by Gary Sussman on June 9th, 2009 at 1:17 p.m., ET

Your Powerball Winner is……

It used to be held on a Sunday afternoon. Now, the Losers Ball (a term coined by a former Nets president as he was leaving the proceedings on one of those hot, muggy weekend excursions) is held on a Tuesday night. So that’s an improvement. And the fact that you don’t have to get into a plane to reach the destination is also a very big positive…just a few turns leaving the compound on Murray Hill Parkway, ride with the current President, who has a reserved spot right in front, (as did all of those repping their teams on camera) and presto, say hello to all of my friends at NBAE. The negative surrounding the entire extravaganza…the Big Papi in the room (by the way, just how do you have a mediocre career before and after Manny, but excel during Manny? just asking…but I digress)…nobody really wants to be there! You want to be at the real postseason hoops buffet, the playoff dais, not exchanging pleasantries with the originator of DraftExpress. And with that being said, The Sez will now provide you with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the recent NBA Lottery…which cannot be any worse than the behind-the-scenes look at how the league determines the actual order of selection. Because at least my tour involves the one staple that keeps us all happy…free eats.

Let’s begin with the menu, and it was superb as usual. Pasta station, carving station, stuffed chicken, salads, cookies…think small scale Bar Mitzvah. Unfortunately, The Sez ushered his Nets friends to a table right in front of a huge fan, so by the time we got done eating, I was unable to chew due to frostbite. Last year, our first back at this affair after a glorious six-year playoff run, the place was buzzing…celebs in the house, lots of media, you actually felt that this wasn’t a bad place to be. This year…a little more subdued….but since the food was still top shelf, ambience was not a priority.

You then successfully kill two hours…and for those of you who don’t major in mingling, this is easier said than done. You finally enter the TV studio a little before 8:00 for a valued seat…it must be how people feel when they wait on line for a spot in the audience for ‘Regis and Kelly’…except for this studio show, there’s no production assistant holding up an applause sign. And it’s at this point that you catch sight of the only celeb in the house…Mr. October, who sits right in front of the blogger. I try to give him a Yankee score, but he doesn’t care to engage in conversation…much like my players when I try to talk to them. But who would think that you come to the lottery show…and #44 ends up blocking my view…only in Secaucus!

French Pastry….The Bird has flown to Paris to broadcast the French Open on the Tennis Channel…Spanarkel asked if he could join him, but Ian chose his wife instead….Beadle-mania….It has been reported that after a three-year stint, Michelle will be leaving the land of the Nets for ESPN … have not seen so much angst on the message boards since Sly missed a dunk….Condolences…To our beat writer from the Record, Al Iannazzone, on the passing of his dad….Twitter…Not right now….Bravo…The Real Housewives of New Jersey…what can I say…not every show has to be Meet the Press….American Idol…I’m going with A-Rod….and Teixreira agrees with me….Ciao….The Diva has returned from her semester abroad in Florence…told me she learned a great deal about wines…I feel much better now knowing my money was well spent.

Posted by Gary Sussman on May 21st, 2009 at 11:39 a.m., ET