My most recent and favorite athlete remark was more of a disgruntled sentiment aimed towards my hometown Detroit Pistons by potential draft selection and former Memphis star Chris Douglas-Roberts. Detroit was among the teams with first-round picks that Douglas-Roberts, as well as a couple other notable second-round picks, (Mario Chalmers being one of them) elected to not work out for. They felt that given their performance in college, both would be snatched up by some swooning NBA team executive quicker than Dumars could say "Zeljko Rebraca."
Whoops.
Fast forward through a few hours of Stuart Scott's lazy eye, countless cut-scenes of crying mothers, and 31 David Stern handshakes. The Pistons are on the clock. Both Chalmers and CDR are still available, but all of Motown's front office could care less. Detroit had no plans on ever selecting either of them. I respect very much Dumar's willingness to pass on potential talent and instead select a player with character. It takes quite the...oh...lets say "self image" on CDR's part to deny a teams' request to workout. Detroit is his hometown! It should be his dream to take to the Palace floor. Apparently, he was so confident of his abilities that practicing would be a waste of his time. In the famous words of Allen Iverson, "Practice?" I say good job, Joe. How people treat you is their karma; how you react
is yours. Let him drop down to 40 and out of a guaranteed 1st round salary. I hope he has fun in New Jersey being Devin Harris and Vince Carters' bitch during practice. Had he been a bit more humble, he could have been sharing time with Stuckey and Tayshaun and challenging for a title in Detroit. I wish all professional athletes could understand that they are just that- professional athletes- and that they are not on some higher moral or ethical level than the season ticket holder that ultimately pay their salary.Professional athletes are to public relations as "The Caveman Show" was to television- some things, sadly, just don't fit. And hey, just an FYI, I was offered a job to write for ESPN's Page 2 column. But I'm not going to send them any of my sample writing.
After all, like Douglas-Roberts, I know I can do better.
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7 comments:
First i would like to give u congrats on making an acutal substantial group on facebook. But now its time for me to set you straight in the words of the great Woody Paige. The first bone I have to pick with you is your generalization of pro athletes. Come on Zemon I thought you were better than that many pro athletes have non profit orgs and involved in the political landscape of America. Secondly this years draft was like no other before it a record number of freshman were select in the first round midway through so they had good reason to belive as great juniors (CDR)and seniors (Super mario) would be taken before the 1st round was over. Im gonna go out on a limb and also say that there speech is not horrible either. Glad to see you still love sports, now get some of that hate out of your system!!!
David - While you make excellent points about CDR and other pro athletes struggles with the basics of public relations, I think Joe D took CDRS snub too far. We could have had someone who really should have been a mid range first round pick with championship college experience (not to mention a Detroit native) on a second round pay scale, I can't understand how it wouldn't have been worth the risk to take CDR over Joe's sleeper pick (pun intended). I think CDR was being arrogant, but I also believe Joe was as well. Now that Lindsay is essentially an assistant coach and Chauncey's AARP card is almost in the mail, passing up on a proven performer to take a risk on someone who may fill our second biggest need (a backup SF, since Flip managed to alienate Mo Evans, Carlos Delfino and Jarvis Hayes in consecutive seasons, some kind of record) was clearly a mistake.
Booc33......shut the fuck up. its his opinion. if he wants to hate, he can hate. your argument is unclear, all i know is that you tried to make 2 points, and u mentioned woody paige. go back to grade school slugger.
Really shut the fuck up? Why take it there, its just a friendly blog no need to be an internet tough guy. I made a very valid counter argument by the way when i said that athletes are educated because they involved themselves in the community i.e. charites and politics. Secondly if your the second best player and best player on championship teams it not being all that arrogant in you dont feel the need to try out for the last pick in the 1st round, especially if you have a great body of work like these players do. So chill out and the woody paige quote was just for fun. I would like to hear what Zemon has to say about my post.
To be honest Booc33, I dont think you could be more wrong. Athletes are educated because they are involved in charities? how does that make anyone educated? it helps them understand diseases and how they can raise money for research, but if you come out of high school or after a year in college and you are ignorant or dumb then, then they will be the same after helping out an non=profit organization, unless it involves some sort of math or social studies course. Politics? Diddy is involved in politics, outside of that, give me 5 current professional athletes who are involved in politics. People such as Bill Bradley and Charles Barkley do not count b/c they dont play anymore. When was the last time you saw Adam "Pac-Man" Jones or even someone clean cut such as Peyton Manning say they supported the democratic or republican party? Your other points are prob valid, but to say athletes are educated b/c of politics and non-profit groups? I think not
Greg oden has proclaimed his support for obama and did his research before voting for him, Lebron is helping save darfur Hines ward , yes im putting football players in the mix because he generalized and said athletes are pretty much idiots.
He said they have nothing else to do after they retire but spend money so i said they put the money into non profits, and also a lot of athletes get at least two years of college done so what the hell do you mean that all athletes jump straight out of high school or do one year of college. Still would like to hear what David has to say .
i was kidding around the stfu bro. I think i was...uh....in a diff state of mind. :) but um.. i agree with evan
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