ball junkie

Ha-Ha-Ha, very funny guys with the Miami jokes. It's cool. Just thought you guys would be interested since your talking about prison. Don't know if you read the papers this morning but the Gators starting defensive lineman named Wilson(I think) was arrested for shooting a gun(not sure of the specifics) and charged with a felony. Now that's funny!

This is based on an article written by John Denton for Hoopsworld. I hate to rain more negativity on this board but after reading what he had to say I thought the way things are going with this team you never know. Here it is: quote: As far as NBA dilemmas go, the one bedeviling the Orlando Magic these days is a downright doozy. Dwight Howard is the Magic's unquestioned franchise player and his growth as a dominant low-post player will ultimately decide whether or not Orlando ever becomes a serious contender again. But because the hulking Howard is producing more turnovers than a baker these days, the Magic can hardly afford to pass the ball to their most skilled player. When he's not kicking possessions away, Howard's woes at the free throw line just make matters worse than they already are. Howard is unquestionably on a collision course with greatness. With his combination of size, ability, wingspan and leaping ability it would be an upset of the century if he isn't an All-Star for the next 10 years. But that sort of praise and status will come only after he expands his game. Hearing Garnett, the player whose poster was on the walls of his room growing up, criticize his game has to sting. And you'd think it would get Howard's full attention. Because the memories of Shaquille O'Neal's free-agent defection are never too far below the surface around these parts, Orlando has to handle the Howard situation with care. Until he signs the $87 million contract extension that is sure to be offered this summer, the Magic will tip-toe around their franchise center. And that will just make it more interesting to see how they will handle Howard over the final two weeks of the regular season and the playoffs. This is one NBA dilemma that certainly bears watching closely. Anybody worried about Dwight not signing an extension this summer? What if we play the next two weeks and he continues to get 5 shots a game? I think everybody realizes Brian Hill got under his skin with the "Plane" incident. I've heard reliable sources stating Brian will be back next year. With Dwight knowing that would it cause him to withdraw from contract negotiations? As Denton says, "the next two weeks should be watched very closely" with how the team handles Dwight. http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21499.shtml

I looked at the top 10 or 15 Magic threads on the Forum today and couldn't help but notice almost all of them are negative threads. These days being a Magic fan is kind of tough. Take just a moment from all the depressing threads and have a little fun! I got this from my Magic magazine. It was written by Melanie Curtsinger. Let's play a little game. Here's how it works. I'll post a statement about a Magic player and you decide if it's true or an April Fool joke. You guys that get the magazine already please don't give away the answers. I'll come back later in the day and give you all the correct responses. When you write your responses just correspond the number with the player it is talking about. Like this: 1.) Dwight Howard-- True or April Fool 2.) Travis Diener-- True or April Fool(etc.) Good Luck! ------------------------------------------------ 1.) If Dwight Howard wasn't an NBA player he would be a firefighter. 2.) Only one person has ever cut Travis Diener's hair: his grandmother. He lets it grow during the season and gets it cut only when the Magic visit Milwaukee. 3.) Pat Garrity's best job was a pizza delivery man. 4.) James Augustine is an accomplished singer who is also a member of a band during the off-season. 5.) Bo Outlaw's nickname is Charles. 6.) One of J.J. Redick's favorite books is "Oh, the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. 7.) Carlos Arroyo owns a barber's chair and used to cut his friends' hair on Friday and Saturday nights outside his house growing up. 8.) Trevor Ariza says the favorite place that he lived while growing up was Australia. 9.) Hedo Tukoglu has a burger named after him at a Burger King in his native country of Turkey. 10.) Keith Bogans is a very superstitious guy, noting that he doesn't like black cats and is fearful of brooms that are near him. He also says his pet peeve is wet clothes.

quote: Originally posted by Kberto:You FSU fans are just bitter because you suck at everything. My brother is a hurricane fan, and I get to rag on him because Miami sucks at everything now to. Kberto, have you checked the recruiting commitments for next year already(football)? Shannon is cleaning up! Go check it! I firmly believe he will be the first black head coach to win the NCAA championship in football. The Super Bopwl this year had Dungy as the first black head coach to win in the pro's. There is nothing but great stories coming out of Coral Gables in spring football. Can't wait to play the Gators in 2008!

quote: Originally posted by fan for too long:Junkie, Just because management has told Brian that he is still going to be the coach next year, doesn't make it so. How many coaches on all levels have gotten the dreaded vote of confidence by their boss. Just to be fired the next week. I believe this is what is going on here. True. But again, don't forget the circumstances with Brian and his first stint here. Let go because of a player revolt. They hired him back cause they partly felt they had wronged him. That is what is causing the rumors now, a supposed player revolt. I just think they'll be very patient with him and give him every opportunity to right the ship. Meaning he'll be back next year.

quote: Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16: quote: Hill said he's made mistakes this season, but believes the slumping Magic will improve once they mature. I can't believe nobody commented on this!! Many people have said that he never admits his mistakes, there it is he admitted it! You are right Marc! If I had a quarter for everytime I've seen somebody post that I'd be rich.

quote: Originally posted by Drunk on Mystery:I wonder what made Schmitz assume him not being worried meant he'd been assured by management. I'm not worried about my job security. That doesn't mean my boss has walked up to me in the last week to tell me that I won't be fired. I just feel like I'm doing a good job. I'm sure Bhill feels that he's doing a good job. It's just a lot of people disagree. Yo Drunk, (you said to do it like that) I got the feeling after reading it that Brian was telling Schmitz what management had told him. Again, if this was Brian's first stint as our coach I would probably agree with you guys. But, knowing the relationship Brian has with ownership and this being his second stint after being fired in a player rift it looks to me as if he'll be back. I'm sorry to say.

I'm sorry, but for him to say he's been given assurances by management would make it extremely hard for Otis and company to let him go in light of the way he was let go his first go-around with the team. My take is he'll be back.

quote: Brian Hill "Bothered" By Rumors Magic Coach Brian Hill tells us he is not "worried" about whether he will be back as coach next season, meaning he has been given an assurance by management. Hill said he's made mistakes this season, but believes the slumping Magic will improve once they mature. Hill, though, said hearing about published reports (ESPN The Mag) intimating there's a rift between him and the players "bothers me". "Of course it does. I'm human." Despite his critics, Hill says he is confident in "my job security" whether the Magic reach the playoffs or not. An item in ESPN The Magazine said that Magic players unanimously wanted Hill out and that Hill had a sour relationship with star Dwight Howard. Hill and GM Otis Smith said that was news to them. There you have it ladies and gentleman! If Brian is not coming back after saying this I'm afaid the roof would blow off of Amway Arena. Can't wait to hear the comments. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2007/04/brian_hill_both.html

quote: Originally posted by ball junkie: quote: Originally posted by Mr Charisma: quote: Originally posted by ball junkie:And you just reminded me of another complaint I have why the Gators could not have beaten Michigan. We can disagree about the comparison of talent, but one thing I doubt that we disagree on is who the better coach is. Billy Donovan compared to Steve Fisher? That alone gives the win to the Gators. Ugh.... why am I being a Gator supporter? Honestly, I think Billy is a great recruiter. I'm still not convinced of how great a coach he is. (x's and o's) One thing that came out in the press this week in regards to Billy taking the Kentucky job was it was to much pressure to win and you don't have that at Florida. Bullcrap! I'll remind Gator fans in the year 2003 after Florida went out in the first round of the tournament for the 3rd year in a row I saw various news articles suggesting maybe it was time for Billy to go. That's why I question his coaching because his success in the tournament has just been the last two years. Every year Billy gets the McDonald's All-Americans. I still think he'll have an opt-out in his new contract with the Gators for when an NBA gig comes up he likes. See Celtics when they get Greg Oden. No comments from Gator fans on these opinions? Un-believable.

quote: Originally posted by SmackDaddy:I'm a fan of what VC could do for this team, however... Can you imagine the defense we could play with this lineup? K Dooling G Wallace T Ariza D Milicic D Howard Whoa! Defense, yes! Offense, questionable at best. Wallace is also injury prone and a streaky shooter. He is not a guy the Bobcats gave the ball too at the end of games who created for others or himself. That's what we need!

Answers: 1.) April Fool's! Actually, Howard says he would follow in hisfather's footsteps(Dwight Sr. is a Georgia state trooper) and be a policeman. In another unrelated but true note, Howard also has a dog by the name of Nemo, which he named after one of his all-time favorite movies, Finding Nemo. 2.) True! Thank goodness the Bucks are in the Eastern Conference, or else Diener would only get one haircut a season! This is true, although I think it is getting harder for the second year player to wait in between trims. At one point this season, his teammates urged him to get a perm to control his unruly locks. 3.) True! I am assuming he meant other than being a professional basketball player, but yes, Garrity did say this. He also mentions that his first job ever was selling ice cream at Air Force Academy football games, where his father once played. 4.) April Fool's! While the jury is still out on Augustine's singing voice, he does say that he can play the guitar and had dreams of being a rock star in a band if he didn't make it in the NBA. 5.) April Fool's! Believe it or not, Bo Outlaw's nickname is actually ... Bo! His real name is Charles Outlaw. 6.) True! And like Dr. Seuss, Redick also likes to pen poetry. Among his other favorite reads are "Inside Delta Force" by Eric Haney and "A Seperate Peace" by John Knowles. 7.) True! Arroyo's mom actually purchased the chair for her son when she realized he had a penchant for cutting hair(he also cuts his own). Augustine has had his hair cut by Arroyo, but don't expect Milicic to be lining up anytime soon. He says he would never let him do it because he cuts hair too short! 8.) True! Ariza loved being down under because of the weather and hospitality. 9.) April Fools! Turk does not have a burger named after him - he has a whole menu penned in his honor, "The Hido Menu." 10.) All true. No word yet on the last time his kitchen was swept or on his feelings on doing laundry. See opening post for story questions about each player.

quote: Orlando GM Otis Smith discredited an item in ESPN Magazine that claimed Magic players want Brian Hill replaced and the coach has a poor relationship with Howard. First off, author Chris Broussard isn't negligent; he's not about to get something that somber so wrong. Once Smith denied it, I knew for sure it was true; the truth always manages to escape him when dealing with controversial or trade matters. I thought I'd post this to get everybody excited!(lol) http://www.nypost.com/seven/04062007/sports/draft_dodgi...er_vecsey.htm?page=2

Anybody else wanna guess the answers before I post them? See opening post.

I thought about this on my drive to work this morning too! I mean honestly, can you imagine the reverberations in the Magic front office if we "LOSE" this game? The effects would be heard all the way to Hong Kong!!! I mean there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever to "LOSE" this game!! Period!!!

If we can get him without breaking the bank it's still worth it. Anyone who's a Magic fan can see the end of games(and middle for what it's worth) has killed us this year. If he opts out and Jersey lets him walk does that mean he can sign for whatever he wants and where he wants?

quote: Originally posted by Mr Charisma: quote: Originally posted by ball junkie:And you just reminded me of another complaint I have why the Gators could not have beaten Michigan. We can disagree about the comparison of talent, but one thing I doubt that we disagree on is who the better coach is. Billy Donovan compared to Steve Fisher? That alone gives the win to the Gators. Ugh.... why am I being a Gator supporter? Honestly, I think Billy is a great recruiter. I'm still not convinced of how great a coach he is. (x's and o's) One thing that came out in the press this week in regards to Billy taking the Kentucky job was it was to much pressure to win and you don't have that at Florida. Bullcrap! I'll remind Gator fans in the year 2003 after Florida went out in the first round of the tournament for the 3rd year in a row I saw various news articles suggesting maybe it was time for Billy to go. That's why I question his coaching because his success in the tournament has just been the last two years. Every year Billy gets the McDonald's All-Americans. I still think he'll have an opt-out in his new contract with the Gators for when an NBA gig comes up he likes. See Celtics when they get Greg Oden.

quote: Originally posted by Kberto:Horford can't hit mid range jmpshots? How many gator games have you seen the last couple of years? Not many! And you just reminded me of another complaint I have why the Gators could not have beaten Michigan. As Grant says, because of all the young guys entering the NBA draft these days college is a watered down league. It's just a fact. In those days the college guys were older and more mature physically and mentally. All the good college guys head for the NBA. Except the Florida players this year. Donovan recruited good players who came from family's that were well off financially. I know you guys know the story.

Charisma, there is no way Horford was as good as Juwan Howard. Howard was also only a freshman or sophomore at best. Howard in college could step out and hit mid-range jump shots all day long. Horford can't do that. I do like Brewer. I would still call it a wash though. Brewer is a better defender but Rose was a little more accomplished offensively. And there is "no" comparison between Webber and Noah except length of hair!(lol) I know you know what I'm talking about. Again, the Michigan boys were sophomore's at best. Charisma, I like the Cat's new coach! It won't be long before they're back on top. Whether Billy Donovan is there or not!(lol)

quote: Originally posted by Tobie Horn:Sorry for not posting this before but I didn't really want to get into a pissing match about all things Magic. However with the ESPN story on Hill losing the team I thought some might enjoy this tale. I was in Milwaukee on business when the Magic played the Bucks. My buddy got seats right behind the Magic bench. The crowd was all over Hill all night to play Diener. Hill was ignoring them but the players on the bench were enjoying it alot. There was one kid that was directly behind the bench. He was just ripping B Hill a new one. Telling him that he was a terrible coach. That he was going to be fired from another job, telling him that he had a player on his team that didn't turn the ball over everytime, why not play him. I'm guessing that he may have been a friend of Travis, or at least a Marquette fan. Finally the little tyrant snapped and turned around and told the kid to shut the @#%& up and sit down. This just gave the heckler more ammo and he continued. Anyway, Ariza and Dooling and G Hill were in suits and Trevor and Keyon were loving this stuff. They turned around from the bench and told the kid to keep it up. They were giving him the thumbs up, for a lack of a better discription. It was clear that night that Hill had lost the team and that they questioned much of what was going on. I thought that little runt's head was going to explode. It was classic stuff. And you saw and heard this with your own eyes?

Mods if you wanna move it go for it. Grant Hill is employed by the Magic. He created this blog for Mr. Denton. So, it is somewhat Magic related. Anyway, I was in the mood to talk some hoops and do some Gator bashing! Anybody else besides me get Gator fans in their face Tuesday morning proclaiming Florida the greatest team of alltime? This blog on the site of the Florida Today newspaper has almost 4,000 hits already. Mods, let it play for awhile. I'm curious what the fellows think. quote: Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject: GRANT HILL: MY DUKE TEAM WOULD BEAT GATORS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grant Hill is still a true-blue Dukie, but he actually spent the NCAA tournament pulling for the Florida Gators to repeat as national champions. Hill, you probably remember, was on the last college basketball team to win consecutive national championships in 1991 and

quote: Originally posted by SmackDaddy:I also agree that we have personel defficiencies at the PG & SG positions. However, I think that B Hill's system has greatly contributed to our lack of execution from these positions. It's tough to argue for either side definitively, but we have all witnessed just how ineffective B Hill's system can be once opponents begin to make adjustments. Our adjustments??? None! Still the same starting lineup, still the same questionable substitutions, still the same lack of motivation. If there is indeed another player mutiny at hand, B Hill will be lucky to get another coaching job any higher than the junior high level. And even then, I would hire Junkie over B Hill. Watch it Smack! You didn't put the LOL sign in there(lol).

quote: Originally posted by bhnole:While I agree this team has some serious wholes to fill (i.e. PG and a wing scorer). I still think we had enough talent to be a .500 club, I think poor rotations and morale issues have cost us at least 5 or 6 games this year. A better coach would at least have avoided a first round match up with Detroit. Any other match up could have been one we could at least compete in and build more confidence for next season. Fair enough assessment. Agree. Now, back on topic. And I hate to be a party pooper to what Bhnole said earlier about his insider info. I also have a friend(don't ask) that understands the goings on with the Magic also. He has shared with me that from a reliable source he is 95% sure Brian Hill will be back on the sidelines. Is our organization screwed up or what. Who the heck is calling the shots? Does Otis want Brian gone or is he following orders to keep Brian in good-standing so as to come back next year. Your guess is as good as mine cause honestly, it's got me baffled!

quote: Originally posted by SmackDaddy:Are there still any members of this board that wish to support Brian Hill on this board? Where are all the posters that were calling me crazy 20 games into the season when I recognized a destructive pattern occurring that I predicted would lead to the downfall of this season's team? Soccergal, are you out there anywhere? Right here! (joking) Yeah Smack, I saw the same things. And I didn't want to jump on the wagon. I'll tell you why. I'm the biggest Magic fan there is and I was hoping the team could overcome Brian's shortcoming's. I, like the rest of you was hoping for big things this season. But the most important reason is the amount of "BUCKS" I spend on the organization. I am just now coming to grips with reality. Hard to admit another failed season. And lost money with no playoffs(possibly). I definitely think Brian has lost control of the team. But I also think the incredible amount of turnovers and the low assist rate of this team is a part of the reason for our demise. I don't think any coach could have coached this team this year and done much better. We have personnel issues too. We have "no" point guard. That is crucial. Don't misunderstand me, B. Hill needs to go!

quote: Originally posted by emory889:He was the head coach for Texas A&M. I kind of like Izzo from Michigan State.