Listen, I'm not saying that Larry Legend has had a bang-up tenure as team president, but there are some very real differences that Scoop seems to be missing. Larry helped move this team to the brink of a title in 2004. Were it not for some bum legs in the playoffs and a crazy block by Tayshawn Prince, the Pacers might have been dancing that June. Then came the brawl (instigated by Ben Wallace, inflamed by the Pistons fans, turned into a zoo by the utter failure of court security, and scape-goated by David Stern in which Jermaine O'Neal was actually suspended for punching a member of Ben Wallace's posse who was ON THE COURT OF PLAY ATTACKING HIS TEAMMATES). Injuries and more off the court nonsense since then have left the Pacers desperately trying to remake their roster on the fly.
Scoop blames Larry for Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy, utterly failing to realize that that trade had ZERO to do with winning and everything to do with trying clean up the aftermath of Stephen Jackson's presence. At one point, he actually cites BILL SIMMONS as his source about the Pacers' cap woes. Seriously, Scoop? This is journalism?
Scoop says that Isiah's sexual harassment verdict is the same as random Pacers getting into scrapes with the law. I'm not sure that I buy that. The point of this isn't even to say that Larry's made all the right moves. Obviously, the team shouldn't have committed to Tinsley and Artest. Clearly signing the utterly insane Stephen Jackson was a mistake (although note how no one bags on Golden State for having him around).
Ultimately, if you ignore the fact that:
- the Pacers are STILL markedly better than the Knicks despite all the problems
- and actually have had real success under Larry
- that much of the franchise's trouble can be traced to David Stern throwing the Pacers under the bus instead of burying the Pistons franchise for their role in the ugliness
- and Larry didn't ill advisedly hire a coach that ran out with 18 million dollars,
- AND the fact that Larry didn't sexually harass another employee, resulting in a multi-million dollar law suit and national humiliation for the owner and franchise
People are easier on Larry because 1. it's not nearly as bad a situation and 2. it clearly wasn't all his fault.
People kill Isiah because he's an idiot, not because he's black.
13 comments:
OT--don't bid on this, I might want it.
Nailed it. Awesome post.
Also, can someone please point out that Isiah has a history at being awful in every single way in his post-playing career?!? He almost singlehandedly bankrupted the Canadian League, came to the Pacers and coached them for shit, and now has outright destroyed a franchise with nothing good to show for it. In contrast, Bird was actually a GREAT coach for the Pacers. And he was a great GM for the Pacers until the brawl--the year before they almost made it to the finals under him. Can Isiah say anything similar? No. And, if we're citing Simmons, how about his point that the Pacers would have won it all the year of the brawl if it hadn't have gone down. Unless that was somehow Larry's fault (I wouldn't put it past Scoop's logic to find it to be), he hasn't been a terrible GM at all.
To this day - that was the hardest I've ever seen someone get hit.
When J.O. punched whoever.
That was awesome.
JC
It was amazing. It was insane he was suspended for that. The 'fan' was 1. on the court 2. attacking Pacers and 3. Ben Wallace's brother.
I hate David Stern worse than Bud Selig.
Dammit. I had blocked that out. I actually blocked out all of 05. I watched the Colts go 14-2, demolish everyone along the way, and lose to the Steelers. I watched the Pacers get destroyed by David Stern and the Pistons get off with a slap on the wrist. And I watched the Mets choke against the Cardinals in seven games.
Actually in 2005, the Cardinals were a 100 win juggernaut who lost to the Astros in the NLCS.
It was 2006 when you guys completely blew the boat and watched Cardinal players celebrating a World Series berth on your home field.
Adam Wainwright freezing Beltran with a back breaking curve is my enduring image of that series.
/Cardinals fan rubbing it in
Since you guys love Star Wars (and really, who doesn't?) I thought you'd appreciate this.
http://eden.rutgers.edu/~avinator/starwars/
I'm not sure whether that is amazing or horrifying. Thanks for the link.
Do people think Scoop Jackson sucks because he's black, or because he sucks?
I'm undecided.
I defer to Jason Whitlock on that one
WOW!!!!
LOST finally answered a question!
You missed a key point. The brawl was caused by racism.-Scoop
Post a Comment