FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Dear Tom => Topic started by: jbissell on August 21, 2008, 03:26:15 PM
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Tom,
I know you are a big NBA fan and I was just wondering who some of your favorite players are. Apologies in advance if this has been answered before, but I didn't find anything in a search.
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Tom and Mehmet Okur are old friends. There are some good conversations on the archives between them.
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Tom and Mehmet Okur are old friends. There are some good conversations on the archives between them.
Yeah, I heard one of those a few months ago.
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are we talking only current NBA players? or the classics? or both?
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are we talking only current NBA players? or the classics? or both?
I was thinking some of both.
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gosh, now that the show isn't happening tonight, i'll play around here a bit.
current players:
lebron
s marion
danny granger
past:
reggie (duh)
doctor j
bird
george mcginnis
mj
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RIP Kevin Duckworth (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_obit_duckworth). Best Show-related: Tom talks to a chef (http://www.recidivism.org/2006/06/beardo_meets_el_goodo.html) who prepared food for the Portland Trailblazers.
Tom’s ready for some good DuckworthTales, but John reveals that he just prepared the food at Merlo’s house and had it sent to the airport for the flights. Tom’s not pleased with this twist. John did chat with Duckworth’s nutritionist, who would fax him acceptable recipes. The rest of the team loved the dry tuna sandwiches, but these were off-limits to Duck, who tended to go for pasta with marinara sauce. Tom wonders about the eating habits of Damon Stoudamire, but he was "before [sic] my time". John assembled sandwiches for the P.J. Carlesimo-era Blazers (1994-1997), featuring the likes of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Uncle Cliffie. Since the show, I did some digging around and found out that Jerome Kersey used to eat an entire roasted pig before home games during the 1995 season. Arvydas Sabonis would only eat homeland dishes like kugelis (potato pudding) and borscht. Chris Dudley? Mainly Twizzlers.
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I didn't even see anything on ESPN.com or CnnSI about Duckworth. I heard about it but if they made mention of it, I must have missed it.
I don't think Lebron is that great to watch. He's a lot like KG and Duncan to me- they always puts up the numbers but most of the time it's methodical and you don't realize the numbers they put up until you look at the stat sheet at the end of the game. But, I won't dispute that they are among the greatest players in the game since they get it done every night.
Kobe and Nash are my favorite players to watch. I always liked watching Shaq in his prime too.
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Last season Chris Paul became one of my favorites, especially when he's battling Deron Williams. I'm also pretty excited to see Derrick Rose this year (and hoping he's better than Beasley).
Gilly, I kinda agree with you re: Lebron but everytime I watch him play, he always makes one or two plays that are just spectacular.
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My guess: Stephon Marbury
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TRUCK PARTY!!!!
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chris paul
(why was jason kidd even on the nba team? chris paul blows that kid away)
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Jason Kidd was on the team because they've been trying to build some consistency on the US team. I'm sure we've seen the end of his Olympic run. They won because of guys like that in my opinion - actually build a TEAM, rather than just a collection of players.
As for my favorite NBA players, I like tons of players; a lot of the guys on the Olympic squad and a lot of the foreign players. I am not a fan of most anyone who has worn a Knicks uniform in the last six years or anyone wearing a Celtics uniform these days.
John Starks is still my all-time favorite player. The guy was the epitome of a slob working hard to get where he belonged.
Tom.
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I am not a fan of... anyone wearing a Celtics uniform these days.
Not even these guys?
(http://s.wsj.net/media/fix_bigthree_art_400_20080618111350.jpg)
I think I remember hearing you say that you had an odd run-in with Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker in a limousine. Did you ever share the rest of that story? If not, us NBA fan FOTs would love to hear it.
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Rasheed Wallace
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Rasheed Wallace
breaking the record of technical fouls in a season is quite an accomplishment.
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I know Tom has spoken out against him before, but as a longtime Bullets/Wizards fan, it's impossible for me not to love Gilbert Arenas. Maybe he talks too much and doesn't pass enough, but he never stops trying to improve. He's got a giant chip on his shoulder, but somehow manages to be positive and upbeat and mindful of the kids who look up to him. And as a player, I can't name anyone with a more versatile offensive game. I'm not a fan of his defense, but he's always a steals leader, which is at least something. More than I can say about John Starks. Dude was good for about five minutes.
Also, i don't get what Tom sees in Charles Oakley. That guy was one of the worst Wizards ever.
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Also, i don't get what Tom sees in Charles Oakley. That guy was one of the worst Wizards ever.
But he's great at being MJ's right-hand man.
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I like Gilbert Arenas.
And I hope you're joking about Charles Oakley. Yes, he may have been one of the worst Wizards ever. But he did a lot of stuff when he played for the Knicks that is worth looking into.
Don't go to a Yo La Tengo show and badmouth Oakley. You'll end up with bass guitar splinters in your head.
Tom.
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And I hope you're joking about Charles Oakley. Yes, he may have been one of the worst Wizards ever. But he did a lot of stuff when he played for the Knicks that is worth looking into.
that's what I was thinking. But then any member of the '93 Knicks deserves my undying respect.
Just ask John Paxson.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNM98YBMXk4[/youtube]
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I am so happy for the NBA to return. October 11 -- Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets playing the pre-season outdoor game in California will be awesome
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I like Gilbert Arenas.
And I hope you're joking about Charles Oakley. Yes, he may have been one of the worst Wizards ever. But he did a lot of stuff when he played for the Knicks that is worth looking into.
Don't go to a Yo La Tengo show and badmouth Oakley. You'll end up with bass guitar splinters in your head.
Tom.
I was just joking. As much as I need to root against all New York teams, those Knicks teams were always fun to watch. I do remember thinking it was smart to trade him for Camby when they did, but I always liked him, at least as much as I like any other scrappy power forward type. He got almost no playing time in Washington, and was useless when he did play, and always seemed like he resented being there. Like jbissell said, he was basically there as Jordan's crony. Any hard feelings about that time period are focussed pretty squarely on Michael Jordan, though.
Thank you for saying you like Gilbert Arenas. It's been eating at me for months. Now please fix his knee.
p.s. Your radio show is great. Thank you for your generosity. (Sorry everybody had to see that.)
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Gilbert Arenas is the new Grant Hill. Good guy, great player, damaged goods. I think every year we're going to have to hear about how he's back and then watch him crumble in a heap at the end of the season until he's 40 years old.
Do yourself a favor -- ignore the NBA until at least February. The season is far too long and the first half is just there to set up stats.
I'm interested to see how the new "no flop" rule works out. Derek Fisher might be out of a job, alas.
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I'm a big fan of Kareem, Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson (Suns)
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Gilbert Arenas is the new Grant Hill. Good guy, great player, damaged goods. I think every year we're going to have to hear about how he's back and then watch him crumble in a heap at the end of the season until he's 40 years old.
Obviously, I hope you're wrong. The official word is that there's no structural damage to his knee, but I admit that I'm scared.
Do yourself a favor -- ignore the NBA until at least February. The season is far too long and the first half is just there to set up stats.
Boo. Every game counts. The first half is when teams are made, when they find their identity. And the only problem with the NBA is that the season isn't long enough. They should play 162 games like in baseball.
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I am so happy for the NBA to return. October 11 -- Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets playing the pre-season outdoor game in California will be awesome
I didn't know about this. Is it going to be nationally televised?
Boo. Every game counts. The first half is when teams are made, when they find their identity. And the only problem with the NBA is that the season isn't long enough. They should play 162 games like in baseball.
Nah, both basketball and hockey need to shorten their seasons or at least allow less teams to make the playoffs. The playoffs take forever and it really takes away some of the energy from the conference finals and even the finals. October-June is too long of a season but at least it isn't early October-Late June like the NHL.
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Boo. Every game counts. The first half is when teams are made, when they find their identity. And the only problem with the NBA is that the season isn't long enough. They should play 162 games like in baseball.
Nah, both basketball and hockey need to shorten their seasons or at least allow less teams to make the playoffs. The playoffs take forever and it really takes away some of the energy from the conference finals and even the finals. October-June is too long of a season but at least it isn't early October-Late June like the NHL.
Exactly. You have obviously never watched Shaq stumble through 4 months of games and finally start playing around May. The strike-shortened season was insane because players actually had to hustle every game and not just phone it in. I think the NBA needs to make some changes so that the games stop being about driving the lane to draw a cheap foul every possession late in the game.
I'm looking forward to the Knicks this year, simply because it's fun to watch someone make millionaires run fast. Marbury is going to be begging for an injury within a month.
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Boo. Every game counts. The first half is when teams are made, when they find their identity. And the only problem with the NBA is that the season isn't long enough. They should play 162 games like in baseball.
Nah, both basketball and hockey need to shorten their seasons or at least allow less teams to make the playoffs. The playoffs take forever and it really takes away some of the energy from the conference finals and even the finals. October-June is too long of a season but at least it isn't early October-Late June like the NHL.
Exactly. You have obviously never watched Shaq stumble through 4 months of games and finally start playing around May. The strike-shortened season was insane because players actually had to hustle every game and not just phone it in. I think the NBA needs to make some changes so that the games stop being about driving the lane to draw a cheap foul every possession late in the game.
I'm looking forward to the Knicks this year, simply because it's fun to watch someone make millionaires run fast. Marbury is going to be begging for an injury within a month.
Well then, why not skip the meal and go straight for taking a shit? Besides, most players aren't Shaq. He's got special needs. If he went all out more than a handful of games a year at this point, he would die. Plus, he has the luxury of playing for elite teams. In a shorter season, maybe you don't get to see as many top teams fall apart and overlooked teams pull it together. Plus, a shortened season means fewer games to watch. I don't like the sound of that.
Also, is Marbury even expected to play for the Knicks? If so, what makes you think he'll do what Mike D'Antoni says? The Knicks at least made what seems like a couple good moves for the organization, and I guess, since their most talented players also seem to be the biggest underachievers on the team, maybe a new coach can make a big difference. Good or bad, I do hope they'll at least be interesting (for my own reasons, I also hope ared effries continues to suck).
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Old skool: Magic, Bird, Maravich, Dr. J, Darryl Dawkins, Jordan, Olajuwon
Now skool: uh, I dunno. Steve Nash? Gilbert Arenas?
I am a hoopadummy and only really followed the NBA in high school because of Michael Jordan and NBA Jam and so forth. Even then I only got the vaguest notion of what made players great and kept all my dorky analytical stat/performance obsessions aimed towards baseball. That said, I'm going to try and follow the NBA more closely starting this year because if I want to keep track of a professional sport during the unrelenting hellscape of winter up here it is not going to be the crap-butt Vikings and their dopey sport of fuht-bawl. Also I do not care for hockey, despite my Franco-Canadian heritage. Unfortunately I have the debilitating handicap of having the Timberwolves represent my home metropolitan region and therefore the most I can look forward to is that new guy on our team who is related by blood to the Beach Boys.
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I am a hoopadummy and only really followed the NBA in high school because of Michael Jordan and NBA Jam and so forth.
Brad Lohaus from the corner. Worked almost every time and I loved killing my friends with Lohaus and Blue Edwards.
The Wolves might suck this year, but I can attest that they are still a pretty fun team to watch. I think they'll win 30-35 games this year and be a playoff team next year once they use their cap room to sign a player to complement Jefferson.
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(http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7417/artestwithpuppies7eo.jpg)
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Anybody watching the preseason games right now? I gotta feel bad for the Wizards -- they resign Arenas & Jamison and they both get injured.
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Anybody watching the preseason games right now? I gotta feel bad for the Wizards -- they resign Arenas & Jamison and they both get injured.
C'mon now. These guys are total damaged goods. Maybe they can pick up Penny Hardaway too and complete the early defeat. Poor Bullets.
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Jamison's fine. and he had a banner year last season.
I don't even know where to start with Arenas.
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If we're going current, I have to go with Stephen Jackson. He could murder you on the court and it seems like off of it, too.
(http://www.all-nba-all-basketball.com/images/STEPHEN_JACKSON_THUGLIEST_1.jpg)
All time favorite? It's a tie between Kermit Washington and Bob McAdoo.
(http://images.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/_photos/2004-11-21-inside-washingto.jpg)
(http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2007/12/17/mcadoo_bob_getty_260.jpg)
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Anybody watching the preseason games right now? I gotta feel bad for the Wizards -- they resign Arenas & Jamison and they both get injured.
C'mon now. These guys are total damaged goods. Maybe they can pick up Penny Hardaway too and complete the early defeat. Poor Bullets.
Early defeat? I guess someone's never heard of Oleksiy Pecherov.
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Anybody watching the preseason games right now? I gotta feel bad for the Wizards -- they resign Arenas & Jamison and they both get injured.
C'mon now. These guys are total damaged goods. Maybe they can pick up Penny Hardaway too and complete the early defeat. Poor Bullets.
Early defeat? I guess someone's never heard of Oleksiy Pecherov.
I think this statement answers itself.
Do you think Oklahoma City is going to be a little annoyed with getting saddled by a team that (though possessing some interesting and talented players) is clearly in rebuilding mode for another couple of years?
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Do you think Oklahoma City is going to be a little annoyed with getting saddled by a team that (though possessing some interesting and talented players) is clearly in rebuilding mode for another couple of years?
I'd be more annoyed that the entire city of Seattle hates me for stealing away its team.
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Do you think Oklahoma City is going to be a little annoyed with getting saddled by a team that (though possessing some interesting and talented players) is clearly in rebuilding mode for another couple of years?
I'd be more annoyed that the entire city of Seattle hates me for stealing away its team.
It didn't sound like much of Seattle really cared - I don't think much of Fremont will be crying by the troll.
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I am a hoopadummy and only really followed the NBA in high school because of Michael Jordan and NBA Jam and so forth.
Brad Lohaus from the corner. Worked almost every time and I loved killing my friends with Lohaus and Blue Edwards.
On TE, I always cycled between the Sonics and Magic (when you got the unlocked players, you could switch between Penny, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott and just rain down threes the entire game).
Edit: I just looked at that list. Beating every team in the game enabled you to play with Bill Curley, Eric Mobley and Yinka Dare.
But even the unlocked Sonics team didn't include my favorite player, Nate McMillan:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/20041959_63c53f5d38.jpg?v=0)
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Wolfpack reprazent.
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With Tom being such a big Charles Oakley supporter, I think there is at least one Boston Celtic he would like: Leon Powe. Powe is a cross between Oakley and former Knick Anthony Mason. Powe has also overcome many hardships in his personal life.