From The Painted Area: A Minnesota Precedent for Bill Simmons
That said, it should be noted that there is no better precedent for him than in Minnesota, where the George Mikan-led teams which won five championships in six years between 1949-54 were built in large part by a sportswriter, Sid Hartman, who kept his newspaper job while working for the team, and still has a column for the Star-Tribune today at age 89.
From The Bleacher Bums:
And while it’s probably a lot harder job than Simmons thinks it is, I think he could perform it as well as any of the people Glen Taylor is considering. And he’d be far more entertaining.
Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site talks to Craig Smith about summer movies and the player’s offseason.
Jonah: Let’s turn to offseason workouts. What has been going on in your life at this point? Obviously, relaxing is probably number one on your agenda.
Craig: Yeah, staying off my feet a little bit, making sure I rest my body enough. You know, 82 games is a lot of games. I just recently started working out again and I definitely have a lot of things I need to work on for this upcoming season.
Jonah: Anything specific that you are going to target when you get back into full workouts?
Craig: Just really being in much better condition and working on a perimeter game to match my inside game.
Mark Madsen on the Ron Artest/Kobe Bryant playoffs matchup.
The one thing about both of these players is that neither one is going to back down. Having played with Kobe Bryant for three years in Los Angeles, I have to say that Kobe just does not back down or withdraw from challenges. And Kobe has to deal with the best defender on every team he faces. Not only that, but if you’re that “best defender” on a team getting ready to guard kobe, you’re going to be getting extra rest, extra conditioning and watching all kinds of videotape on Kobe Bryant in preparation–Kobe will probably still get 30-40 points. But when it comes to toughness not too many guys surpass Kobe.
I’ve never played on the same team as Ron Artest, but I’ve played against him dating all the way back to college. Of all the guys I’ve played with or against, there were always two people who stood out as aggressive defenders who guys around the league don’t want to mess with. Both Latrell Sprewell and Ron Artest are guys who you absolutely want to go to battle with. They are known as great players around the league, but everybody also knows not to cross the line with either one.
Kahn is an interesting candidate because he has more business development experience than hands on talent and personnel experience. Kahn left the Pacers to join the D-League where he operated and owned several teams and was instrumental in getting the fledgling minor league up and running. Is it odd that the Wolves are considering him, and are things that bad in Minnesota?
From Josh B/Bleacher Report: Glen Taylor: Please Hire Bill Simmons as Minnestoa Timberwolves GM
WOLVES: Are we ever going to hire a GM? I caught word over the weekend the decision was close. Rumor I have is some numbers-cruncher/CEO type from Indy might get the job, HOIBERG would be retained to assist with player personnel, and SAM MITCHELL would be hired as HC. That scenario would be fine.
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