Category: Rumors & Gossip (Page 69 of 225)

Aaron Rodgers is no fan of Tony Kornheiser

In an interview with ESPN Radio Milwaukee, Aaron Rodgers blasted Tony Kornheiser.

“You know who was better than Tony Kornheiser? Dennis Miller was ten times better. Dennis Miller was a great comedian, but one of the worst Monday Night Football guys ever. And he was ten times better than Tony Kornheiser. His stuff was actually funny. Tony stuff wasn’t funny at all. He did no research. We’d sit in those production meetings and he would add absolutely nothing to the conversation. I’d be like, ‘What are we doing here? This is stupid.’… You get in there with Tony and he’s asking you all these dumb questions that have no application to the game you are playing or anything you are doing. He’s terrible… I don’t think he’s funny. I don’t think he’s insightful. I don’t think knows anything about sports.”

Tell us how you really feel, Aaron.

I’ve made this argument before about Kornheiser: he’s not a diehard sports fan and therefore, I agree that he doesn’t have much detailed insight to any of the leagues. But he’s good on Pardon the Interruption because he can introduce a topic and look at it from a non-diehard point of view. The show has been successful because Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon have different styles, but work extremely well together.

That said, Rodgers says what most fans have been thinking for a while: Some of ESPN’s content just isn’t good. Kornheiser isn’t a fit for MNF, just like Miller wasn’t. I appreciate the network’s thought process behind trying to bring entertainment into the booth, but they’re pissing off true NFL fans that could do without Kornheiser’s constant questions and bantering with Jaworski.

“NFL Live” is another show ESPN should take a long, hard look at. Nobody manages to say as much as possible but nothing at all like Mark Schlereth. On the surface, it seems like he’s saying insightful things, but you peel away his comments and you realize they’re as thin as notebook paper. Yet ESPN has him on the show because he’s a former player.

I know it’s tough, but the network would be best served if they can find former athletes that not only know what they’re talking about and can bring something to the table, but who are also comfortable in front of the camera.

Maybe Rodgers can help the network out by finding new analysts. At least he’ll tell it like it is.


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Who is on LeBron’s team?

Roland Lazenby outlines the team that surrounds LeBron and will influence his decisions this summer:

It’s an impressive group that tightly encircles James these days, mostly people who knew LeBron before he became royalty. Randy Mims handles logistics and travel. Richard Paul deals with image and publicity issues.

But the central figure is Maverick Carter, his older high school teammate, who returned from playing college basketball at Western Michigan to take up a main position in LeBron’s life. They have called themselves the “Four Horsemen” and quite some time ago formed LRMR Marketing to handle James’ many opportunities.

Carter’s known as one of the smartest players to ever emerge from the Akron hoops scene. When LeBron ended his relationship with agent Aaron Goodwin with a text message notice in 2005 and turned things over to Carter, there were immediate suggestions that Carter, just 23 at the time, was in over his head, that he would fall on his face.

That hasn’t happened, though. Carter has prospered in the role.

Lazenby also touches on William Wesley’s influence. Apparently, he moved into the same apartment complex that LeBron lived in as a rookie. Wesley was the one who introduced LeBron to Michael Jordan when he was still in high school.


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Carlos Boozer thinks he’s better than David Lee

Per the NY Post…

Boozer was asked on ESPN 1050 if he was a better player than Lee.

“Absolutely I do. I think he’s a very good, young player though,” Boozer said. “I think he’s had a great season and he was the all star this year. I think he has a great upside to him I just think I’m better, but I mean that’s for you guys to debate about, I don’t worry about that kind of stuff.

“I just go out there and play all for my team and try everything I can to win games and win a ring. David Lee is a great young player, a good friend of mine, and of course I wish him the best of luck as well with whatever he does, if he stays in NY or if he also goes elsewhere.”

Lee just turned 27 while Boozer turns 29 in November, so Lee is about 1.5 years younger. I agree with Boozer that he’s (a little) better when he’s healthy, but that’s a big condition. Lee has missed three games in the last three years while Boozer missed 45 games during the 2008-07 season and another 80 games from 2004-2006.

Boozer is a better post up player, but the two are about the same on the glass and neither player is terribly good on the defensive end. Moreover, Boozer is (probably) going to command a starting salary of $14 million per season on his next contract while Lee will likely be $2 million – $3 million cheaper per year.

Bottom line — I’d rather have Lee because he’s younger, cheaper, more durable and almost as productive.


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Parker-for-Lee…why not?

Tony Parker is rumored to be available for trade, but that has more to do with the presence of George Hill than anything the Spurs have done since their season ended. The Knicks are in dire need of a good point guard, so of course there have been some Parker-to-New York rumors as well.

Chad Ford writes that the Spurs are looking for a big.

The Spurs and Thunder also are in the hunt for a big and have targeted a number of teams in the lottery to move up a few spots. The Thunder have multiple picks to offer. The Spurs have Tony Parker or George Hill. While the Spurs aren’t necessarily shopping either player, they’re not untouchable, either. If the Spurs can get another big man to help prolong Tim Duncan’s career, they’ll do it.

But looking ahead — if the Knicks strike out on their plan to get one of their LeBron/Bosh, Wade/Bosh or LeBron/Wade dream combos, maybe a Lee-for-Parker deal would make some sense.

Let’s say the Knicks strike out on LeBron, Wade and Bosh, but manage to sign a couple of second-tier free agents (Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, etc.) starting at $14 million per season, that would leave them about $9.5-$10 million to re-sign Lee and then move him for another asset like Parker. That would give the Knicks a core of Parker, Johnson and Boozer moving forward, and give the Spurs a quality power forward to play alongside Duncan. (Remember, Antonio McDyess is still under contract for another season and the Spurs have DeJuan Blair as well.)


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T-Wolves interested in Gay?

Ronald Tillery of the Commercial-Appeal thinks so

One team that will make a strong run at Gay is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Team owner Glen Taylor and president of basketball operations David Kahn have already targeted Gay as an attainable player to uplift the struggling franchise.

Griz owner Michael Heisley continues to insist that Gay will be a Grizzly next season. Memphis (namely Heisley) has the right to match any offer sheet that is presented to Gay from another team.

Gay would be a nice fit in Minnesota who could use his scoring on the wing. Neither Kevin Love nor Al Jefferson are terribly athletic, so Gay would help bolster the Minnesota front line. I am sure that David Kahn is envisioning Ricky Rubio feeding the ball to Gay on the break in two years.

But when the owner insists he’s going to match any offer for one of his restricted agents, it’s usually a good sign that it’s going to happen. He holds the purse strings, so he can spend whatever he wants to retain Gay. The Grizzlies can sit back, wait for Gay to work out a deal with another team, and then match it. Memphis has an advantage over, say, the Knicks, who hope to land LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and/or Chris Bosh. But if a team makes David Lee a “take it or leave it” offer on July 1, the Knicks may not have much time to beat it since they’ll be waiting on answers from LeBron and Co.

Gay is not a “max” player, but there’s a good chance that he gets a max deal, or at least a maximum offer from a team who doesn’t hold his Bird rights. This may help the Grizzlies a little bit because they won’t be on the hook for that extra year and the additional $30 million.

Gay is a nice player — he averaged 20-6-2, 47% FG, 33% 3PT — but he’s not a max guy. Chances are that whoever ultimately signs him this summer will have to overspend for his services, especially with so much cap space floating around.

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