Re: Did I see right?

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

Sherry & Hart wrote:

> R. Bentz Kirby wrote:
> > Did I see right?  Someone said that Malone hadn't won anything?  If
> I
> > did see right I would disagree with that.  He hasn't won the big
> ring,
> > but he has won quite a lot.  Including two Western Conference
> > championships.
>  --
> > Peace,
> > Bentz
> You're eyes are not deceiving you, he hasn't won anything except 2nd
> best, but I guess that makes him the best of the rest. Jazz fans just
> love those Western conference championship banners.(As an aside I take
>
> it you must be a big Red Sox, a team which has made losing the World
> series a tradition). Those Western conference banners IMHO does not
> rate
> a 20 mill per year contract and as Cecil so eloquently put they should
>
> drug test the Jazz owner if he pays him that salary.
> Best regards,
> Hart

Yeah but, in general, I don't think any of us can legitimately equate a
team's championship banners with an individual starter's right to high
wages. Obviously, Steve Kerr and John Paxson both made absolutely
pivotal shots in helping the Bulls win decisive championship games. They
thus qualify as winners - and have the rings to prove it - but none of
us would argue that they are worth anything near what a legitimate
league MVP of the Michael Jordan era (Karl Malone) is presently
demanding.

For the Jazz, signing a 36-year-old guy to a long-term playing contract
is a sure recipe for painful rebuilding in a few years. But by all other
criteria, Malone is the leading candidate for his second MVP and richly
deserves to be paid Garnett money. We really can't have it both ways,
namely telling the young fellas (Toine, Garnett) to wait until they are
proven veterans before they get big money etc.

So I say the Jazz should sign Mailman to a maximum two or three year
contract at a salary worthy of a league MVP (even though he played more
like the "Postman" in last year's NBA Finals).


Go Celtics,


Joe


p.s. Why do I have a feeling Kobe Bryant will flop as a starting
pointguard for the Fakers?


****