Fergasun

I know there's lots of angst over these Wizards; sure, the coach, sure the talent, sure they slept-walked through a first half like they were one of the late-ago Lakers teams with the full confidence that they had the talent to close the gap and come back in the 2nd half. I grew up with teams full of Harvey Grant's, Pervis Ellison, Rex Chapman, Doug Overton, Don Maclean, and Tom Gugliotta's of the world. The 1992 team won 22 games in total; the 1993 team won 24 games total; the 1994 team won 21 games total; my excitement as a young NoVa kid watching HTS many weekends was whether or not Georghe Muresan would get in the game and whether or not Jim Mcilvane was going to lead the league in blocks... I took out my frustration with NBA Live on the Genesis leading these teams to 82-0 seasons and marching through the playoffs to be NBA World Champions! There was a minor blip and then back to 29 wins (1999); 18 wins (2000); until the Arenas let's go to the playoffs and lose to Lebron times. As far as Wizard teams in my recollection the current collection is one that has a lot going for it and I enjoy that. I'd like to believe I'm looking at a core that will keep growing and (new coach or not) soar to places the Wiz haven't been since I recall. And if not; I can just fire up NBA2K and live in that fantasy video game world where I can make Jan Vesely average 30 a night and shoot 80% free-throw...

Summer League! This is the prime time to be a Bullets fan! Have not had the first 20 games of the season to destroy any optimism we had.

They are trying to use Lin and Omer Asic (sp?) to sign-trade Josh Smith?

I know, I just heard that ~ 1 hour ago (taking kids to In-N-Out).... heard he was flying to LA right now... .

LA sports talk in total meltdown. "What, the man didn't want to play for the most prestegious franchise in the NBA?!" Really... did you not see what was going on in LA? Stephen A came on and pretty much explained it to them: 1) Dwight Howard wasn't happy in LA from the beginning. 2) Dwight Howard wanted Phil Jackson to be the coach. 3) Mike D'Antoni is who he is and runs his team that way. 4) Pau Gasol was benched 2 games in... Dwight Howard can read the writing on the wall... its not a big man offense. 5) Mike D'Antoni wasn't fired during the offseason for Phil Jackson. SAS pretty much said this wasn't going to work from the beginning, the Lakers didn't change the situation to make Howard any happy and he advocated trading Dwight at the trade deadeline (since it was clear Howard was going to leave). Lakers are going to tank next year...

I would've preferred to see the Wizards draft Noel; but Porter isn't bad for #3....

For the first time I'm kind've excited about the Wizards draft. Wizards do nothing and end up with Noel, Porter, or Bennett. I suppose EGEG could screw up by trading #3 for something in the 7-10 range if there was a great deal.... but why bother?

I was just listening to the radio and pre-game shows.... they were saying that the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA and the Friday loss to the Laker's may be one of the worst in the past 3-4 years. Instead of helping to solidify the playoff position, the loss has the Lakers basically clinging to the 8th seed. Kobe is taking major heat. No credit to the Wizards.... these ridiculous radio personalities.

So bad this game got mention on CBS Sports Radio (Brian James and Chris Moore?). "At least Nene is 1-1" was the quote.... lol...

It's more amusing that the media is covering Lakers non-stop and ignoring how the Clippers are on a tear. I can't remember if it was last year, the one where they (my speculation is Kobe) were whispering how it was Pau's fault. Dwight Howard is killing his reputation being on the Lakers (although there is speculation his back isn't right). I wonder how things would have gone if they brought in Phil Jackson. Although Mike Brown did get fired cause of the "Princeton Offense" (not sure if E. Jordan is still on the staff, I think he is).

I just threw it out there. Pau is going to be traded for pennies on the dollar.... maybe I'm biased being around the Lakers, but I think Pau has a couple more good years in him... he's been alienated in Los Angeles. Blaming him for the playoff losses, and then sticking him on the bench.

Wouldn't Okafor+Ariza for Pau work out? Don't think Lakers would take Nene.... front court of Pau+Nene.

Why not try to get Pau?

I remember my first and only Bullets game. My family had a beach house in Ocean City, MD and for some reason when we were driving through Salisbury there was a mall, and there was a Boscov's and they were advertising something like a free t-shirt with the radio station we were listening to. I don't know if it was because I was begging, but for some reason my family stopped (we normally stop there to shop anyway) and my dad and I went to find out where they were. So we get there like, "Do you have free t-shirts, we were listening in the car!" or something and the guy broadcasting was like, "No we are all out... but we do have these..." and in his pocket was two tickets to see the Bullets! How awesome is that for a 13 year old who loves his local teams (really, I feel like I religiously watched them through High School...). I checked pro basketball reference and it was definitately the 1993-1994 season... because Muresan was on the bench and near the end everyone was just cheering for him. Gugs and MacLean stick out to me. Oh, and even though the Bullets were awful I consistently would just take them undefeated through the NBA Live Genesis series ('93 through '98). That was my payback to the NBA.... I'll never give up on my team. No matter how cheap the owners is, or how stupid the GM is, or how talentless the roster is because of said stupid GM's moves, or how injured the key players are because of stupid cheap owners cheapness.... they are, my team... and every time I see this thread I come in and read it... "oh, did the Wizards win... did something exciting happen...." even though it's been 10+ years since I lived in the DC proper area.... I don't mind talking or listening to the Lakers, sure its LA team, I understand (and even though the Clippers are winning they still talk mostly Lakers) I'll always represent the Wizards in those conversations.... because no matter how many times I get burned by the team, Wall is going to kick ass, Beal is going to win the 3 pt shooting contest, the shot chucker is going to win a couple of games for them (pick who I'm talking about), and there will always be next game, next draft, and next season... (and were I so inclined I could purchase the next generation of NBA video game and even at my advanced video game playing age figure out all the "cheese moves" to hit the computer with and run the tables..." One more thing, Nationals are the Expos and I still love the Orioles!

Take solace fellow Wizards fans. Why? Because it seems like its 10x more crummy to be a fan of the LA Lakers now. I was listening to the game locally last night and the radio announcers (John Ireland and Mykel Thompson) were going to cry after they got blitzed by the Knicks. What's worse than being a cellar-dweller? Thinking that you've got a dream-team roster, and squeezing out less than .500 basketball... if the Wizards make this game tonight one of these 70-80 point "no team can make a shot" games.... well... they are the Wizards. But in all seriousness I think being in the Wizards position with a known dreadful roster is better than the Lakers where they think they are good, but playing mediocre and repeating to themselves "we'll be better soon... we'll be better soon... wait till Nash comes in...."

Of no consequence; but I watched Liverpool-Newcastle live... it was amazing to hear the crowd when Suarez equalized the game... was watching it since I was on a 5 hour flight... but Liverpool (I think that was the red team) dominated time of possession in the 2nd half and just kept on controlling and passing the ball... there was also a red card against Newcastle the last 5 to make it exciting (Argentinian defender challenged Suarez late with his feet up... the linesman made the call).

Why do the Wizards always suck?!

I love days like these.. I've been following the Supreme Court rulings, precedents, etc. closely for 4 years. I'll throw it out there that I seriously thought of mounting some type of lawsuit against the Treasury Department for the TARP and the Federal Reserve for some of their programs [and after all these years while convinced I could achieve some type of legal victory, it would turn out to be phyrric vicotry, as Congress clearly doesn't care about the Constitution, either side... they care about getting re-elected and would defend those involved]. Hence, my interest in understanding the legal system, the courts, etc. I find it funny to see people throwing knip-fits. They struck down the individual mandate and the fact that the government could force you to each broccoli. Roberts did a number of things to narrow the opinion, and leave Obamacare in place. I have a harder time buying the argument that "Congress never intended this as a tax" when they wrote the IRS as enforcing the law. Additionally it seems like the dissent focuses on the fact that the law is bad policy, and when combined with severing the penalties for the states participation in Medicare create a slew of issues... but it's always in Congress' court to fix these things, and not the Courts! Either way, after the Arizona case I said "impeach John Roberts!" for siding with the liberals... it's funny that maybe we'll be hearing more of that refrain (probably tongue in cheek).

I see that. Thomas' own opinion (didn't realized he joined the other dissent when I posted) merely stated his view on the commerce clause and his disapproval of its expansion (its like a two-pager). When I read these opinions I'm always struck how after reading both sides I'm shaking my head saying "yes, that makes sense!" to both sides. What's ironic to me is the phrase "elections have consequences" and how that has come about in this case. One of the consequences of Republican control of the government during the Bush terms was their ability to nominate Roberts. One of the consequences of the 2008 election was Obamacare... I'm still shocked that Roberts provided the 5th vote!

JMU Alum, So all those other taxes that are taken out of people's paychecks don't count? edit: Oops! That's what Sarah Palin said... thought that was your independently thought out post.

I'm amazed by this decision. No one expected John Roberts to cast the deciding vote for Obamacare. Kudos to him! I completely agree that Congress can do much more under the taxing + spending clause than the commerce clause. Amazing! Wish I had more time to read through; it looks like its the conservatives using the "Congress intended this..." slippery slope rather than liberals (who typically do it). I haven't even seen Thomas' dissent but I bet he busts everyone's chops in his own unique way.

I wouldn't mind trading for Harden with the #3. Teams always stand pat, hope their young players improve, etc. It never seems to happen. Someone upthread said "what would OKC do?". Did anyone project that Westbrook was going to be the monster he's developed into? When he came out of UCLA people were saying "why is he coming out, he's not that good!". I certainly don't remember Harden being highly touted either. So basically OKC got lucky with Harden and Westbrook, no? Did anyone think Rondo was as good as he turned out to be? Draft's are always a roll of the dice...

I think only Drummond would make me unhappy....

Listening to laker fan on talk radio... Can I propose something crazy: 1) John Wall straight up for Andrew Bynum: Why? Everyone is sold on Wall developing into a superstar, similar to jerk Wade or Chris Paul. After two seasons we should expect a jump in season 3... is Wall surrounded by similar talent? Paul had Peja and David West... Wade was carrying the load with Shaq. If Wall plateau's next season he'll start to be disappointing, but there's no guarantee. While enamored with Dwight Howard, it's unclear that Howard will want to come to the Lakers. They clearly want to shake up the roster, and Bynum's immaturity has rubbed the wrong way on folks in LA (I know, let's bring in a somewhat flaky big man, at least he seems competent on the court). Bynum is a force when he gets the ball low. *Bonus* bring in Brian Shaw to coach him, since B. Shaw (and Rambis) worked with Bynum in LA. Currently Bynum is more productive on the court and you can't coach size. 2) Sign Steve Nash to play PG. We need someone to distribute to our big men. I wouldn't mind a run at Dragic. 3) Hold onto draft pick. Whoever it is won't be called into start right away, we'll have upgraded our talent. Nash/Mack Crawford/Mason Vesely/Singleton Nene/Singleton Bynum/Seraphin Booker Rotation doesn't include beast of a draft pick. Not even sure that type of deal would be possible with our salary cap number and if Steve Nash is interested in DC (probably not, unfortunately).

I dipped my toes into the soccer world during World Cup 2002; was full in during the 2006 and 2010 years. Drogba and Petr Cech are names I definitely remember; I think Drogba is probably my favorite name for a sports superstar... oh and he's awesome at the soccer as well. Also Schweinsteiger.... for some reason I can't stand the English fellows though... Rooney seems annoying, though Beckham was over-hyped and Terry doesn't seem all that impressive to me... although for some reason I like Suarez (in spite of him cheating for Uruguay) and on the Spanish team I like Puyol. I suppose I recognize them from the national team; but its fun watching the club matches and seeing players off their national team. This thread caused me to find the highlights on YouTube and watch BTW... It could be the fact that the English team always performs like that entitled team trying to re-capture the glory again during every world-cup.... I don't know what it is but they aren't likeable at all... its enjoyable watching them suffer heartbreak (if there are Brit's here I suppose that makes me a ****.... sorry mate).