From Chris McCosky’s blog Friday afternoon:
So I go on this talk radio show down here Thursday afternoon. I thought they wanted a Chauncey Billups update. But no, this guy — I don’t remember his name — says, “Now that the Magic have control of the series…” And I stopped him. Control of the series? How does being down 2-1 with two games still to be played in Detroit give the Magic control of the series. […] It was his show, so I tried to be diplomatic. I said from the Magic point of view, sure, they probably feel like the tide had turned. But I said the Pistons didn’t feel that way at all. Well, the jackass just couldn’t accept that. He must asked me three more times, in three different ways, if the Pistons feared the Magic now. I was like, Dude, they have a healthy respect for the Magic, they always have. But they don’t fear them. My God, get a grip.
I was thinking about this — early in the series, the Magic players made a big deal about not being intimidated by the Pistons, not backing down and all that. But where did that come from? The Pistons never talked like they were out to punk the Magic. They never talked like they didn’t respect them. The Pistons were actually surprised that the Magic had that mind-set. So where did it come from? It came from the Magic’s own inferiority complex. They are the ones who felt punked. Their media buys into it and perpetuates it. Even this half-baked talk show guy was all, “I’m going to stand up to this Detroit writer. I am going to show how tough I am.” Whatever.
Here’s how tough this guy was. He apparently kept ripping on me AFTER I was off the air. Real braveheart, this guy. He had no retort when I was talking to him, but boy, he tore me up when he knew I couldn’t answer back. Piece of work. But that’s how they roll down here.
From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel following Saturday’s game:
Many of us in the press room before the game could see this coming.
That’s when a hulking Pistons beat writer for the Detroit News nearly beat up undersized Orlando sports radio host Jerry O’Neill before the game. Even the Magic media came up small.
And that’s how we roll in Detroit. I’ve never seen this O’Neill fellow, but my money is on McCosky.
(And by the way, even the locals down in Florida are embarrassed by Orlando’s media. The Magic look like they’ll be good for quite some time — hopefully in a few years the media down there will catch up and learn how to act like a big league sports market.)
Update: McCosky explains what happened in his blog today:
Anyway, I walk up to him and I said, “You always rip on your guests once they are off the air and can’t respond?” He said something about how it was his show and for me not to tell him how to run his show. I questioned his courage and some other things and we went back and forth. I was holding my laptop, so it wasn’t like I was about to strike him. But I was up in his face, and I suppose I might have cursed a bit. Again, sort of what I do. I remember him saying that I talked down to him, and I said something like, I only talk down to stupid people. I suppose that wasn’t very nice.
It was getting pretty heated when Sherrod Blakely from Booth Newspapers stepped between us and guided me away. I am embarrassed how many times Sherrod has had to pull me away — usually its from a visiting camera guy or an overzealous security guard. God bless you, Sherrod.
His whole post is worth a read — if I blockquoted the interesting parts, I’d be re-printing the whole thing. You know, for a guy who says he’s not a fan of blogs, he does a pretty good job writing one. There’s obviously no place for this type of stuff in the actually paper but it’s certainly entertaining.
I had to listen to the 1Q on ESPN Radio on Sirius. ESPN bestowed upon us the team of ex-Pistons coach Richie Adubato and Dennis Newman, who gave a new dimension to homerism. It was excruciatingly annoying, particularly in the light of me thinking every two-three minutes, “what have they ever won?” At least a Johnny Most has a right to be a homer, these guys are total claimers.
I can see why Adubato isn’t coaching anymore, he really wasn’t very well prepared, and he and Newman certainly like themselves a little too much.
Detroit does not fear Orlando at all.As a matter of fact I dont think they “fear” any team.The Pistons are a major contender in the East still.Chauncey should be back for game 5 and they’ll be back to their old dominate ways!
i was thinking about orlando’s future, which it looks like they’re going to be doing very soon, and i was wondering how effective they’re going to be improving this team over the next few years. obviously, howard is in a meteoric ascension. the sky isn’t even the limit. but lewis isn’t even a $10 million a year player, let alone a $17 million and up player. he’s making THREE TIMES what turkoglu is making, and lewis is the 3rd best player on that team. and then they gave jameer nelson, the matchup every opposing team can’t wait to get their hands on, a long-term deal at $6-7 million a year. so they’re stuck with him. obviously just by standing pat, they’re going to improve because they have howard. but are they going to be able to resign hedo when he knows he’s worth more than a guy he outperforms on a nightly basis? and has a playoff team ever had a more glaring need at the 2 spot? mo evans? i mean, kudos to him, but you gotta think he’s just warming a seat for someone. and then this is your guy to build a successful franchise around the best center since shaq?:
http://hoopshype.com/general_managers/otis_smith.htm
when your best move is “Trading guard Steve Francis to the New York Knicks for guard Anfernee Hardaway and forward Trevor Ariza on February 22, 2006″, that is not a good gm. the guy drafted fran vasquez as the 11th pick, jj rredick as the 13th, traded the 15th pick to the pistons for darko (who’s gone) and arroyo (who’s about to be gone.) orlando’s future is bright because of d-ho. but there are a lot of possible problems down the road that they’re trusting otis smith to navigate through. good luck with that, magic fans.
I love the fact that McCosky and O’Neill are apparently engaged in the sniping, petty crap often attributed to blogs, while Ben Q Rock of the Magic blog 3rd quarter collapse is constantly appearing here at DBB with thoughtful perspective from another team. With the exception of the dude who runs Perkisachump, I can’t think of any blogger that would engage in the sort of behavior rumored to be true of the two “major media” writers/commentators.
Jerry O’Neill was the guy McCosky ripped? That surprises me. Jerry is usually a very reasonable, down-to-earth guy. I figured it might have been Scot Anez, who’s an insufferable homer. Doesn’t matter who it was, though, really; nobody who says the Magic took control over the series after winning Game Three can be taken seriously.
The Magic/Pistons rivalry is media-generated.
JD: If Vazquez ever joins the Magic I dunno if it’ll be Smith’s worst transaction. Of course, that’s a big IF. If Vazquez matches the hype and he comes in for the 2009-2010 season at PF (he’d start the season 26 years old, I believe). The Magic can slide Lewis over to a more natural SF position, and Turkoglu can play SG (assuming he exercises his player option or gets re-signed). That’s nasty even with Nelson at PG. Even if Vazquez is just average, that lineup is very daunting with the length it brings. Yeesh.
Of course, it’s all dependent on Vazquez coming in, but even if he doesn’t come in, I’m sure the Magic can find somebody through free agency or the draft in the near future. I mean if not, they can still give it a go with (hopefully) a healthy Brian Cook and Tony Battie (who I think is a very good defender despite limited offensive ability).
I really think the Magic should look for a solid contributor in the classic PF (or a seven-foot center if they shift Superman down to PF) so that they can shift Lewis and Turkoglu down a position. Obviously Nelson is average, but if Orlando is stocked 2-5, I think trouble is a-brewin’ for the East even with Nelson at the helm. Imagine if Nelson was the 5th best guy on the floor instead of far and away the 4th? The ‘99-’00 Lakers had nothing at point guard and still won a title. Perhaps it’s different when you have Shaq and Kobe to play with, but I’d say Superman, Lewis and Turkoglu is a scarier big 3 with one more solid post presence and Nelson than the Celtics’ Big 3 w/Rondo and The Non-Factor.
Rob G.: +1 … agree wholeheartedly. perkisabeast.com has no recap of yesterday’s game. Are they just behind or are they going to pretend it didn’t happen because they’re sore losers with the emotional strength of a beet? It’s nice to have Ben Q. around here; his writing is fantastic. “To out-of-towners, though, it appears as though we’re little more than a town of cloying sports neophytes and mouse-ear-wearing idiots.” All I can say is wow, and in the past yes, that’s what it appeared like to me. If the squads and fans do things the right way, it’s more fun and never personal (unlike the Jersey Poppin’ Daddies - The Celtics).
My only problem with the Magic is that right now they stand between the Pistons and a sixth straight ECF berth. After that’s settled (on Tuesday, hehe), I go back to appreciating the Magic. SVG’s comments during post-game pressers have been nothing but classy and respectful to the game. You won’t hear anyone from the Magic saying “That’s what they get” in a postgame interview. Good going KG, you jackass.
McCosky dislikes views dissenting from his own, and it’s reflected in his WDFN interviews and his blogs. He can get snide and condescending, and it’s why I typically like Jahnke’s or Blakely’s coverage a lot more. Today’s blog is more vintage McCoskey, including a “know-nothing homer radio clown” blast.
Also, note this passage:
“Well, after I was off the air, this clown ripped on me for a good 15 minutes, I was told. I guess he went on and on…”
So Chris heard this second-hand, and doesn’t know exactly what was said to begin with? Great premise to start calling people names. Very…professional?
“So, I see him skulking around the press room before the game and I confront him. That’s sort of what I do.”
Yeah, you’re a real Billy Bad-Ass. Good job.
I know, McCosky is the clown. I can imagine what the radio interview was like.
O’Neill: Do you think the Pistons have to respect the Magic now, after getting destroyed by them and losing their best player.
McCosky: No you f’ing moron, do you know who I am? I’m Chris McCosky. I’m the guy who Chris Sheridan had the gall not to consult when he broke the “Rasheed and Flip don’t like each other story” (which near as I can tell was pretty prescient, given Sheed’s behavior in the Cavs series).
O’Neill: I’m just saying…I mean dude are you suggesting there’s a 0 percent chance the Magic win and the Pistons will just walk all over them?
McCosky: Yes.
McCosky clearly has an inferiority complex…which makes sense given that he’s a local beat writer for the #2 paper in Detroit. Parting shot: love how he feigns remorse and “not being proud of his hair-trigger temper” when clearly that post is one big ball of “I’m so proud of how I put this guy in his place in a physically intimidating manner.”
Note to Orlando: If we didn’t take you seriously, we wouldn’t be kicking your ass.
lb: the thing is there is no evidence that otis smith can do anything to improve this team. think if he had paid lewis what he was actually worth instead of overbidding against himself. they’d have cap room to make a legit run at a monta ellis or a ben gordon this summer, and can you imagine if this current team had either of those guys? they’d be murderers. and as far as doing something with the 22nd pick, what do you think he can do after he farted away the 11th, the 13th and 15th picks in consecutive drafts? my guess is not much. their fate is firmly in the hands of superman and his transcendence.
and the lakers never had anyone at point guard during the jackson era because you don’t need a true 1 for a triangle offense. he’s never had a reputable point. bj armstrong maybe? derek fisher possibly?
lindsay hunter?
JD: Fisher was a scrub on the 99-00 team but started to take off in 00-01, so my argument is fairly hollow and your counterpoint is well-thought out and probably more convincing than my initial assertions. I think I was just trying to defend Smith because I liked the Vazquez pick at the time (I think he has lottery talent, it’s just still hanging out overseas, bah!).
I’m not sure if there was a way Smith could know/sense Vazquez would stay overseas this long and he simply didn’t pick up on it because he’s a foolish GM. I think if Vazquez came over now or better yet, a couple of years ago, it would make a huge difference on this current Magic team. Vazquez is apparently locked in to ACB league ball through at least next year though. So basically, this is a “if my grandma had a certain male-only appendage, she’d be my grandpa” scenario.
The guy did draft Travis Diener 38th overall, and I don’t think Diener is too far from becoming as good (or better) than Jameer Nelson if he continues to develop under Jim O’Brien in Indiana. But yes, that hardly saves face for Smith when he didn’t even bother to keep Diener around! So on the whole, his record is quite spotty. Hell, he didn’t even draft Howard. I think his worst transaction though, is hiring Billy Donovan. What an egg-on-face situation that more or less reinforces “Mickey Mouse” status.
Oh, and drafting Redick is absolutely inexcusable. I shook my head at that selection from moment one. In J.J. Redick, Otis Smith selected Steve Kerr V. 2.0. Steve Kerr’s only success came during his tenure with those Jordan-led Bulls teams and the league was different then anyway. Kerr probably dribbled even less during his career than Jarvis does. He just camped out beyond the arc and boom goes the dynamite. That Bulls squad was the only one he ever did anything for either. He didn’t even help the 1999 (strike-shortened season) NBA Champion Spurs!
But the point is Redick, who may even be a better shooter than Kerr, but is completely useless in today’s league that now puts much greater emphasis on athleticism and less on pure shooting touch. He’s especially useless on a Magic squad that has a bunch of three-point shooters who may not shoot as well as him but do so much more offensively that it becomes a “What’s the point of Redick?” situation. Selecting Redick: dumb, dumb, dumb. Just look at the glut of guards selected after him in that draft who contribute on their respective teams now. Don’t try to count Will Blalock though, that’s homeristic cheating!
LB’s comment prompted me to refresh my memory … an incomplete list of players who may or may not be worth a damn drafted after Redick in 2006: Ronnie Brewer, Renaldo Balkman, Quincy Douby, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar, Sergio Rodriguez, Daniel Gibson, Paul Millsap, Leon Powe and, of course, Cheikh Samb!
Pardon the completely shameless plug, but here’s a post I made a few months ago evaluating Smith’s draft selections as the Magic’s GM:
http://www.thirdquartercollapse.com/2008/2/28/131511/558
He’s also the guy who drafted Adonal Foyle over Tracy McGrady, if memory serves.
In Otis’ defense, his trades have been excellent. I know you guys don’t think much of Mo Evans (from what I gather, you like him, given how hard he played for you, but recognize his limitations as a player), but acquiring him from the Lakers was a great move. Give Trevor Ariza’s minutes to Evans and the Magic aren’t the three-point shooting threat they are now.
Plug away — relevant links are always welcome. I have a feeling the “Stuckey for Arroyo and Darko” deal will haunt Smith for years.
Also, failing to get Kurt Thomas from Seattle even though they were offering a better deal than the Spurs is kind of weird. Maybe not entirely Smith’s fault, but it happened on his watch.
MW: Thank you for including Sergio Rodriguez in your list, when I figured most people would pass over him on stats alone. I suppose your supreme knowledge is part of what makes DBB so great. I love the way that Rodriguez plays, and assuming he’s given the ample playing time, I have absolutely no doubt he will be a useful player in this league. As mediocre as they are, it’s tough to make a case to play the not yet even twenty-two year old (second-year) Rodriguez ahead of either Steve Blake or Jarrett Jack. Those two are undoubtedly serviceable at their very worst, but they’re also a known quantity. I don’t believe that Rodriguez’s true skill has been illuminated on a consistent basis yet, and that’s a legitimate reason when you have the talent Portland does.
If it’s not obvious already, yes I have a man crush on Kevin Pritchard for his work as GM in Portland and I love the TrailBlazers team he’s put together. Think about this: besides Raef LaFrentz (7 years/$70 million, uch, but not Pritchard’s work), Portland’s highest cap hit is Pryzbilla’s 5 year/$32 million deal that expires in 2011, one I would still consider fairly reasonable. Despite all the tight spending and the colossal injury to Oden, Pritchard amassed a team that went .500 in the West. Now that Darius Miles’s contract no longer counts against their salary cap, this team has an insane amount of cap space. The Blazers are probably one starting PG (perhaps Jose Calderon, free agent this summer? I dunno that Arenas is the right fit in Portland) and one backup SG (Matt Barnes or perhaps a probably bargain basement priced Kirk Snyder?) away from ascending to elite status in the West.
And before anyone tells me I’m insane (though to be fair, my argument is predicated on them augmenting their team), New Orleans went from being the 10th place team in the west (39-43 record, only 3 games back of 8 seed Golden State) to finishing 2nd in the West this year with a 56-26 record. What changed? A healthy Peja Stojakovic and a pickup of Morris Peterson (as well as the seemingly inconsequential pickup of Melvin Ely), and the ascent of Chris Paul. Who’s to say Portland couldn’t make a similar change this year with a healthy Oden, the further ascent of some of its current cast of characters, and a free agent or two? Simply put, they absolutely can. And it’s all thanks to Kevin Pritchard. Okay, I’m done fawning for now.
As an addendum, I forgot to mention that LaFrentz is an expiring contract, so it’s possible Pritchard could move it to a team before next season ends who’s looking for cap relief.
Can’t pin the failure to get Thomas from Seattle solely on Otis. I’m convinced that was an inside job, given Presti’s connection to the Spurs (as Ziller mentioned at FanHouse).
As for the Stuckey deal… we’ll see how that turns out. Initially, it looks bad for the Magic — Stuckey and Cato’s contract for 1.5 years of Darko and 2.5 years of Arroyo?!??! — but it’s not a total disaster. Not yet, anyway.
The real test for Otis is what he can do with J.J. this summer. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s finished here.
The only thing one wants to do with J.J. should be to include him in a package deal for an ‘upgrade,’ but I wouldn’t count on Otis to figure out the right deals. J.J. is a slow undersized 2 that can’t get open for those sweet Js.
He doesn’t have Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiell setting screens for him…
I’m sure to cover J.J. trade possibilities this offseason. Better get on that. In all likelihood, it starts Wednesday.
Wow, a Trailblazers team with Calderon running the point would be scary. That’s a lineup of Calderon, Roy, Troutlaw, Aldridge, and Oden. Dang.
Birdman: It’s predicated on Portland outbidding Toronto and Calderon wanting to go to Portland instead. Bryan Colangelo seems to be willing to do anything outside of move Bosh to keep Calderon. Buuuuuut, Portland certainly has lots of money to spend (they probably could woo Gilbert from the Wiz if they so desired. I for one, hope they don’t desire it though). Portland’s current payroll for next season is only at about $48 million (approximation give or take a 3-5 million). By comparison, we probably have around $60 million (again, approximation, +/- a few million) committed already for next season, and that’s with Dixon, Herrmann, Hayes, Hunter and Ratliff off the books (that leaves 10 players under contract), and assuming Rip doesn’t opt out of the final two years of his deal and ask for more than the 9 or 10 million per year he’s already making.
I’m pretty sure the luxury tax kicks in when your payroll hits the low-to-mid $60 millions, though there’s an endless list of complicated exceptions and stuff that I really don’t understand that I believe can keep you from paying the luxury tax. All I know is, Portland’s payroll is fairly low for the NBA so they must have a ton of money to spend.
Source - http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/contracts
that’s right. i forgot about the whole billy donovan mess. but they got the hedgehog instead, who to me is an absolute upgrade.
bqr: you’ve been a very gracious adversary in a very heated series, so don’t take this the wrong way when i say you’re high if you think you’re getting more than a bag of rocksalt for jj “roses are” reddick. however, despite my above posts, i do think if you’re a magic fan, you have a lot to be enthusiastic about going forward. best center in the game who’s only going to get better. fantastic coach. really tall dudes who can play inside and out. if i were you though, i would wake up in cold sweats knowing that otis smith has a daily opportunity to screw it all up.