From Mark Madsen’s blog– What is a “flop”?
The funny thing about this is the way the game is called on this type of play at the NBA and college level. Every year, an NBA official comes in and talks to every NBA team at the beginning of the season. One year, we were in this meeting and a Timberwolves player made the point that NBA players are strong and have good balance and that for an NBA player to fly backwards after getting hit is actually almost “impossible” without the player faking it. The referee disagreed, but hey, I can tell you it’s true.
NBA Commissioner David Stern scolded Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and coach Kevin McHale for comments they made last week about the troubled economy and the league’s future labor agreement with its players.
Taylor and McHale both candidly answered reporters’ questions Tuesday about possible changes coming when the league’s collective bargaining agreement with its players expires in 2011.
Stern quickly sent word to both, telling them to shut up about such matters.
Taylor last fall became the new NBA Board of Governor’s chairman, which means he’s the owner most entrusted with the money. “I’m very concerned for pro sports,” he said. “I could talk about banks or health care or the media business. I don’t think pro sports is protected in any sense.”
Taylor foresees a day when NBA superstars still earn millions, but not the common player.
“I still think there’s a star element — movie stars, singers, basketball players — that’s just part of this country,” Taylor said. “Do I think the average of all the players will come down to a different level so people can afford to watch? I see that as a more likely possibility.”
Karen Love said she always felt sorry for the kids because the family’s life revolved so much around basketball. With all the practices and tournaments, it felt like they lived in a gymnasium for a while there. And Stan said it became important even as people were putting one of their children on a pedestal that he and Karen didn’t. They weren’t perfect, but they paid attention when things got out of hand, and sometimes that matters most.
“Kevin made a bad mistake one time,” Karen said. “He was with friends and they drove a car on someone’s lawn. They did donuts on the lawn and tore it up.”
When Kevin got home, he came to his mother and said, “I did something really bad, mom.”
When the victimized lawn owner called the house, Karen said, “Yeah, we already know.” And Kevin apologized, and promised to never do it again
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Kevin Love:
He has struggled in the first three games against the Trail Blazers — the NBA franchise he grew up cheering — and has played better, if uneven, against the Lakers, which he considers his adopted hometown team.
“You mean he doesn’t play very well?” McHale said when asked about Love’s games against his two “home” teams. “You notice that, too? He’ll be OK. Sometimes, you have to get the jitters out. You become a way, way better player when this league becomes mundane to you and nothing really is too interesting and nothing is too exciting. When you just kind of plod along, when you just go out there and do your job, that’s when you become a really good player.”
Are the Timberwolves really worth owning?
“Financially, this will be very good for me,” said Taylor, who has owned the team for 15 years. “Am I happy that I did this? Yes. Do I anticipate doing this in the future? I do. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it.”
Taylor said he still enjoys owning the team.
“I’m doing it because of the challenge,” he said.
He has that, for sure.
“Sure, I’m losing money,” Taylor said. “But I don’t tell you the years I made money.”
Such were places the state’s three major pro sports franchises fell in a grading of the 122 teams in baseball, basketball, football and hockey published last week by Bizjournals, the online version of American City Business Journals…
The Washington Nationals were ranked the worst organization, followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Timberwolves.
From Sid Hartman:
Going into Friday’s game in Los Angeles, the Timberwolves’ Mike Miller was averaging 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in the nine games since the All-Star Break. Miller is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game since the break. On the season, Miller is averaging 9.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Miller is one of just five players in the league to average at least nine points, six rebounds and four assists per game this season. The others are LeBron James, Caron Butler, Andre Iguodala and Jason Kidd.
From the Star Tribune:
The Wolves have lost eight in a row and 16 of 18 after two more home losses — Sunday to Houston and Tuesday to Golden State — followed by a 20-point road loss Friday to the Lakers. The week ended with a game Saturday night at Portland. Tuesday’s loss might have equaled December’s lifeless 23-point home loss to the Clippers, and that one got Randy Wittman fired.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
