btw

[Kim Malo]

At 09:04 AM 5/6/2006, Eggcentric at aol.com wrote:
>Of course you wouldn't trade BIG AL for arguably the best inside
>player in the Eastern Conference.   Because aside from being a
>shot-blocking 20-10 guy, poor Jermaine has "nothing else,"
>certainly none of the "extras" that BIG AL has such as:
>
>- Reading too many press clippings at the end of his rookie season
>- Appearing lazy and disinterested in the 2005 Summer League
>- Reporting to camp out of shape
>- Sloughing off in practices
>- Failing to learn offensive sets and defensive rotations
>- Balking at playing with minor pain or tightly taped ankles
>- Continuing to be a foul machine
>- Going into a funk over the superior play of Perk and Gomes
>- Driving his coaches crazy.
>- Causing Danny to question his future role with this team

Uh huh. Now I realize that fairness doesn't enter into your agenda 
any more than the salary cap enters into the minds of people who 
propose not in this universe deals like Big Al for O'Neil, but you 
might try comparing Jermaine after *his* second season as a drafted 
from high school player rather than after his 10th. He has had more 
years in the league to become the player he is than anyone on the Cs, 
even Raef and Pierce, much less Al.

Especially since Jermaine spent his first 4 years in the league in 
Portland with as many or more questions about him as a major 
potential based on skills *but* enigma/seeming bust with a 
questionable drive, etc At least Al scores. That's why they traded 
him despite all that rare potential in a center, which in itself 
usually gets you more slack. With questions lingering about whether 
he would reach his potential even after he came to Indy. Nor has he 
been a complete non-headache there.

Not saying I'm positive Al will become the player his potential says 
he can, because I'm not. Any more than I'm accepting all your 
criticisms at face value. But this seems enough of a cheap shot to be 
a bit unworthy of you. That being said, do you get a reward for every 
time you use the words foul machine, which seems to be all you say 
about Perk too? At least vary things by noting that with Al this past 
season that was largely because of his idiotic new hobby of 
continually trying to take charges that of course usually drew a call 
the other way vs dropping it to imply that it was a matter of his 
doing nothing but draw fouls with every breath...

Kim