The NBA is a constantly evolving league. Just when teams think they have things figured out, something unexpected happens to throw things out of whack.
Sometimes that unexpected thing can be a pleasant surprise, such as the Bulls winning the draft lottery despite having the ninth-worst record in the NBA.
Other times that unexpected thing can be of the unpleasant variety—such as when your starting point guard/franchise player opts out of his $17.8 million contract to join the Clippers for five years and $65 million.
It's not as if the NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball are any different in that respect.
What separates the NBA from the other three major leagues is the summer of 2010. If you don't believe me, take a look at RealGM.com's list of the 2010 free agents. The list is highlighted by names like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, and Chris Bosh.
The NBA could undergo a carousel of player movement, resembling that of a fantasy draft.
As a result, the current state of the NBA has put teams into five sub-categories:
We'll call the first of these categories "The Future Is Now". These are the teams that certainly have an eye on the summer of 2010 but are more concerned with the present. Because of the average age of the team and the amount of money being spent on their players, they don't have a choice but to try to win it all now.
The list is as follows:
- Boston Celtics
- Los Angeles Lakers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Dallas Mavericks
- Phoenix Suns
- Washington Wizards
The Celtics, Spurs, Pistons, Mavericks, Wizards, and Suns are on the list because they are teams comprised of mostly expensive veterans who are either in their prime or just past it.
The two worst teams on the list, the Suns and Mavericks, proved that they were "all in" at the trade deadline when they traded for Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Kidd, respectively. The Mavs now have nine players on their roster over the age of 30. The Suns have eight. By contrast, the Lakers have one player on their current roster over the age of 30—at least until Kobe turns 30 next month.
These are not the teams who could win it all now. These are the teams who think they could win it all now.
The Lakers are on the list for a different reason. The impending free agency of their franchise player, the NBA's reigning MVP, has dictated that if they are not competing for a championship then he'll have no problem asking for a trade, or walking away at the first opportunity he has to do so.
67 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Inglis 11 months ago
I don't think the bulls are running around with their head cut off. They did win 50 games two years ago. Since Thomas didn't work out and Wallace was traded they need to get a good big man to get back in the playoffs.
Gordon, Rose, and Deng are all nice players.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
You can't knock the Bulls for drafting the best player available but the Wallace trade and the drafting of Rose have clearly altered whatever plan the Bulls had. Instead of trading the pick to get themselves a power forward they drafted a guy that plays their only position with stability. You don't think they could have got Udonis Haslem from the Heat for the right to swap picks? They could have used the number 2 pick to draft either OJ Mayo or Beasley and swindled the Heat into taking back Nocioni.
You mentioned Gordon, Rose and Deng. Two of whom are threatening to walk as unrestricted free agents if they're not given extensions before the season starts and the third guy has yet to play a minute in the NBA.
They don't seem to have a plan. The fact that they won 50 games two years ago further proves how hard they've fallen in just one year.
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Joe Willett 11 months ago
The Bulls need to use some of the guards and/or small forwards to make a deal to get that inside presence.
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David Cohen 11 months ago
Um, as a Knicks fan, how are we NOT in the decapitated chickens, lmao.
Fire Isiah = Good.
Fry up Isiah = Delicious, because he is a decapitated chicken.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Because they clearly have a plan. The idea is to get under the cap. There are delusional teams like the Mavs with huge payrolls who are fooling themselves into thinking they have a chance when they're better off blowing the whole thing up.
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Tyler Jones 11 months ago
Great article and great analysis. I totally agree about Detroit. Dumars always has them in the position to stay competitive. I can't wait to see what we do in the future.
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Justin Mathewson 11 months ago
I feel you on that. The Pistons won back to back when I was 2 and 3, and from the age of 5 to 14 I had to watch a Detroit team that was always out in the first round if they ever even made it to the playoffs. But since Joe D. took over, I've been able to watch my Pistons became one of the top 5 teams in the league. Dumars has great intuition in regard to who has potential and who does not.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
"The Mavericks, Pistons, Celtics, and Lakers should all look very much the same way in 2010 as they do now, because the majority of their core players are all either signed or will be signed past 2010."
-If you know anything about the Pistons or have followed what has been going on recently, Joe D has no desire to keep the team as is, or as you state later in your article, be in position to re-sign some of the core guys.
The Pistons on the contrary, are looking to make a big trade and shakeup the entire roster.
Nice analysis, but when basically writing about every single team, I would try not to be so overly in-depth unless you know what you are saying for sure. It's hard, as a general fan, to know everything about every teams situation without multiple and multiple hours of in-depth studying of the current teams situation (or if it is your job for a living like Stephen A Smith).
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
The Pistons are looking to make a trade but the core of the team will remain intact. What I'm saying is that you shouldn't be surprised if 8 to 10 guys that are currently on the roster are still there in two years.
Why would they shake up the entire roster? I heard what Joe D said. I even wrote about it. He said he planned to make changes. He said nobody was safe. But it takes two to tango and right now it doesn't look like there's a lot of trade talk except a couple rumors about McGrady that were shot down and now the Prince for Artest rumors.
I'm not a Pistons fan but I'd bet I know more about them than you do. Thanks for the advice but I've read your writing and I'd sooner take writing advice from my desk lamp.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Brother, you must be pretty dumb is all I can say.
You criticize other peoples writing, all the while, every fan of their respective team is sitting here questioning if you even know what the hell you're talking about (and might I add...it seems like you don't).
Do you know more about the Pistons than me. I promise, you don't. Hell, reading this, you prob. don't know anything more than me, or 90% of the writers on this board.
Don't sit here and question me when I live in this city and know this team inside out. And don't question my writing when it is yours that is coming into question.
Basically, grow up.
Best of luck.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
I didn't criticize you're writing. I just told you that I've read you're writing so I'll pass on the advice. The funniest thing about your suggestions is that I practically wrote a love letter to Joe Dumars. Do a search on Bleacher Report for "Ungvari" and "Dumars" and you'll see how much respect I have for him. I even went so far as calling him his generation's Jerry West.
Don't speak for other writers because more of the comments here agree with me than disagree. Not only do I know more about the Pistons than you do but I'd bet Stephen A. Smith $25,000 that I know more about basketball than he does. Unlike Screamin' A., I actually watch the NBA.
Perhaps you should read one of my earliest articles, "Five Basketball Websites I Can't Live Without", to see where I get my information from each day. Thanks to the internet, I have access to the same types of media you do. I can tune into WDFN or WXYT and stream audio and I can read Drew Sharp, Eric Lacy, Antoine Pitts, Jim Carty, Michael Rosenberg, David Mayo, and Jim Hawkins from my home in Los Angeles. So unless you're standing outside the Piston's front office with a stethoscope chances are that I'm reading and listening to the exact same things that you are.
You're telling me to grow up? When you have something worth reading let me know. I'm not questioning you because you live in Detroit. I'm questioning you because you're questioning me. Why don't you spend less time giving advice to people and more time worrying about your own shitty writing?
Don't come in here and tell me "I would try not to be so overly in-depth unless you know what you are saying for sure."
What did I say that was wrong based on the team's current financial situation? Are you afraid that someone might doubt that you're not the authority on the Pistons?
I'd be bitter too if I shared my name with the guy that sang "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" and now is a spokesman for NutriSystem.
You wrote:
"Brother, you must be pretty dumb is all I can say."
The fact that that is "all you can say" tells us all who the dumb one is.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Well, your defensiveness shows how wrong you truly are.
Only people who have their own insecurities decide to question others, and talk down to them such as you sir. So I will not go there any further.
Congragulations to listening to the same media and knowing as much as I do about the Pistons.
I just believe if you knew as much as you say, you wouldn't be writing about the team staying in-tact as is through 2010. Fact is, Joe D. wants a major move and it will happen. Will it be tomorrow? Prob. not. And it might not even be by the start of the season.
But unless the team wins an NBA Championship as is (and they prob. won't get the chance to even do that this coming year), this team will not be together as you see it in '10. Sorry, just not going to happen.
And that idiot, who you know more than, a guy on ESPN who has credentials after credentials, would prob. agree with me. And I'm sorry Andrew...i don't know you're last name because you're not really famous, I'll take a respected journalist around the NBA's opinion above yours.
I applaud you for having 5 websites you can't live without. Unfortunately, your websites aren't quite as good as Stephen A. who directly talks to players, GM's and owners.
Two of the core of five will be gone. If you want to say that's just a small little something with the core remaining in tact then fine, obviously we have different definitions of what the core of a team is. Apparently the core to you is Stuckey, Affalo, Johnson, and Maxiell. I think the core are the players that have been together since '04 (some before that).
Writing wise. Well, you are a "Senior Writer" for Bleacher Report and I am a mere "Scribe," so I don't want to act childish like you and debate who is better.
I don't think anyone here is that great. We are all sports fans, some with writers backgrounds, who want to express our opinions.
However, since you are so good, I can't wait for ESPN to fire Smith and hire you. Or maybe one day you will write for the NY Times, or LA Times. BTW, get any offers yet?
Sadly, with attitude like yours, i think you're about to the furthest level you'll ever get.
But really. Best of luck.
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
Anthony, if ESPN fired Steven A and hired Andrew, basketball fans would be thankful they'd receive a lot more knowledge about basketball than they get from Stephen A's screaming theatrics. Talking to players means nothing. Analysis, insight, and grasping the bigger picture beats out ignorant hot air any day of the week.
Why would Dumars blow up a roster where they have potential championship pieces already established? The team needs heart, needs to lose their arrogant sense of entitlement, and needs to trade Rasheed Wallace for a legit star post player.
Why would Detroit blow up a roster so stable, so competitive, and so close to being a championship team? Sure they made trade a key part or two, but Dumars isn't crazy enough to nuke everything and start over.
You said they may trade two of the five...that isn't the complete core! That's just two players being dealt, with the franchise still in good shape to be financially flexible and extremely competitive.
Andrew's listed the overall financial status of the Detroit Pistons and the possible scenarios they'll find themselves in over the next few years. You've countered by by listing Stephen A. Smith as a credible basketball mind. Bring something to the table.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Erik,
Let me just say, first off, it is sad this had to turn into something other than a basketball argument. But when personal shots are taken, I will respond, and that is what Andrew brought it to. I don't know if it is because his ego is overly inflated, or he was truly just offended. I do not know why he would be that offended by the comments I made, because all it was, was a differential of opinion on what the current state and future state of the Pistons will be.
Now to your point. I never said the entire team will be blown up. Actually you stated I thought only a couple players would be traded. You are correct, that is what I said. And never have I implied by trading 2 of the core players would it be "blowing up the team." What I did say was, Andrew has implied that this Piston team will stay constant for the most part through '10. I, on the other hand do not believe getting rid of two core players who have been with the team since 2004 (or before for some), is maintaining the "same team" or a "constant" or the "same core." Trading two stars for one is pretty big in my opinion.
If the Pistons get McGrady, for example, the entire teams dynamics change in the drop of a hate.
Say it's Billups and Prince for TMAC. You just gave away a defensive, shutdown, small forward, and one of the better PG's in the game for a scorer. Billups is replaced with a rook. Where does Hamilton go (as the current starting SG), does McGrady switch positions...there are many questions to be asked. And no one, no matter what they say can answer it until the deal goes down. Who knows.
But the point is, that's a big change. And then what if they don't resign McGrady...his contract will be up...then there's more changes.
Bottom line. Dumars said changes will come, and it will shakeup the team. Those moves could, in turn leave to more moves, and then there are new contracts to deal with, etc. A lot can happen. And i see anything but a stable Pistons team for the near future.
They should remain good, but that's because they have pieces that are already good, and if they trade those pieces they will get someone good in return. But I never said they wouldn't be good, just that they will not be the same team.
Now i believe many people do not like Stephen A Smith. Maybe he was a bad comparison. However, as much of a loud mouth he is, he is a knowledgeable insider, who gets a lot out pf players. I don't think anyone else on this board has those connections.
I do not know Andrew as a person. He wrote a good article with good insight for someone who is not a professional journalist. I do believe, sometimes, as was my original point, we can try to say so much about a team we don't fully know about and it could lead to someone, like i did with the Pistons portion, to question it.
Now, Andrew responded by insulting me, when all he had to say was he does, in fact, know the pistons well, and then list why I am wrong about my point and why he is right.
Isn't that what this is all about anyway? I do not believe I know everything. I don't claim to believe I could do an in-depth analysis of every NBA team, or NFL, NHL, MLB team for that matter. I feel I have a very good overall knowledge of the current happenings of all those sports, but not the intricacies.
The only teams I feel I know inside and out, down to the very core are Michigan teams.
Maybe this long blog cleared some stuff up. I like sports arguments. Not personal shots. And I don't appreciate anyone acting bigger than what they currently are.
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Geoff Townsend 11 months ago
Anthony, Andrew is right on more than one front.
---You are not the authority on the Pistons.
---A core is not the starting five. It's the leaders in the locker room. Sure Joe D. wants a trade to make the Red and Blue stronger. What GM doesn't? If it's not there, though, my friend, it ain't happening.
---Please, please, please do not speak for other writers because that includes myself. I can speak my opinions in a decent enough fashion without your tacky attacks. And yes, fellow scribe, that was alliteration...look it up.
---I doubt that you know as much as you think you do because you have brought nothing what-so-ever to this argument. No stats, no quotes, nothing new. If you are the Voice of Reason out of Detroit, MI, then prove your worth. Quit talking so much when you have nothing of value to talk about.
Andrew. Good article.
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
Fair enough, but I don't think Detroit will do anything extreme to their roster. McGrady is fool's gold, he's expensive, and he's a defensive liability. Plus he's worthless off the ball.
One of Detroit's problems the past three seasons or so has been an inability for the Pistons to run any weak-side offense. McGrady won't resolve that, and he won't defend. He's not going to Detroit, no way, no how. Those rumors are smoke with no fire.
Can the rest of the Pistons be traded? Sure, but Dumars won't put all his eggs in an expiring basket like T-Mac's.
And aside from somewhat vague quotes by Dumars and the McGrady rumors, there isn't anything substantial to suggest that any big changes will be, or need to be made.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Tony Orlando-
This comes down to our definition of core. In 2010 it's safe to say that Jason Maxiell, Stuckey, Johnson and Afflalo will be a part of the team's core. All four of them will have been in the league for at least 4 years. Now the Pistons will probably have at least 2 from the sextet of the starting five plus McDyess. If Wallace or Hamilton are one of those 2 then they'll have to re-sign either before 2010. So we're talking at least 6 guys from the current team plus whoever they get for the two or three they trade. Now we're looking at another two to three guys so we're now at 9. They're not going to trade those guys for expiring contracts because they could just let them expire if that's what they wanted.
Keeping 9 guys off your current roster means your core is intact. You think core is based on tenure and I'm telling you the my definition in this case has more to do with number of players on the 2008 team that will also be on the 2010 team.
Your initial comment told me not to write about the Pistons as if I was spreading rumors and false information. I don't tell you what to write about and what not to write about so how did you expect me to respond to a comment like that? On top of that, I think you're writing is porous so I found it even more insulting that you would try to dictate what I choose to write about.
I didn't make this personal. You did when you questioned my knowledge of your team.
I hope ESPN does fire Smith just like they did when they canceled his TV show and radio show and just like the Philadelphia Inquirer tried to do when they demoted him. But I don't want to work for them.
Keep working on your writing, though. You've got nowhere to go but up.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Nice actually getting into a debate this time with you about sports. You almost finished a whole paragraph without sounding like a jackass too.
I would normally take offense to someone saying my writing was bad, but coming from you, I take it with a grain of salt. Actually, I'd kick your ass in a writing contest any day.
But that's besides the point. Continued luck on trying to get your own head out of your ass.
Look forward to future debates, especially when we can see what happens with those Pistons by '10. I'm sure you'll still just be writing for Bleacher Report, so I should be able to get in touch with you,
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Here's the exact Dumars quote:
"Make no mistake, everybody's in play now," Dumars said. "There are no sacred cows here. I have no interest in completely ripping the team down, but will I look to make like significant changes? Yeah, you're damn right I will"
Don't be surprised if the "significant change" turns out to only be the head coach because you and I know that Dumars won't make a change just for changes sake and might wait to see how the team plays under Curry before trading guys away.
You want to have a writing contest? Should I have my 7th Grade English teacher, Ms. Dawson, judge it.
I probably will be writing for Bleacher Report in 2010 because this a hobby and not a profession. You'll be a 7th-year senior by then but that's nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of people go to college for 7 years. They're called doctors and lawyers.
You still haven't answered any of my questions.
I can't believe my credibility is being challenged by someone who actually believes that the Pistons could sign Andris Biedrins for the mid-level exemption without the Warriors matching the offer and by someone who wrote about the McGrady rumors on July 21 despite the fact that Rockets' GM, Daryl Morey, shot the rumors down a week earlier.
Now go write another crappy article that only six people will read.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
First off I will be graduating this year as all I am doing is an internship sir. I am doing that internship within a collegiate athletic department doing marketing and promotions, for a division 1 athletic department. So sir, I do not need your approval of anything to do to make me feel confident in my abilities. You are nothing but a piece of crap to me, and hopefully others now see that as well.
And secondly, to prove, you, captain douche bag to be wrong again....
"and by someone who wrote about the McGrady rumors on July 21 despite the fact that Rockets' GM, Daryl Morey, shot the rumors down a week earlier."
-Well, Capitan D. if you look at my article list you will see that a wrote an article called "Tracy McGrady to Detroit? Where There's Smoke There's Fire."
When was it published you asked Captain D? The same day the AP came out with the news -- July freekin 16.
Morey never shot down the rumors, actually you should read my article, you'll learn something. He said the media over blew it, but Detroit-Houston were in talks at one point, and declined to say if they still were or not.
Secondly Captain D, I didn't know by me publishing rumors, so the BR community knows the latest rumors, was implying that I thought it would happen.
I think I said "reports out of Detroit," and then I went on to say suggested that if GS did indeed get Turiaf, the Pistons might take a shot a Biedrins. Likely? Prob. not, it came from Drew Sharp on his 97.1 Live talk show. I don't usually even pay attention to half the things said, but he said he heard it from a source. It would be insane for GS to get rid of Biedrins, but unless you can find where I said that this was anything other than a rumor...then you just went 0-2 AND PROVED, why you are truly the Captain of all douche bags.
Lastly, Joe D will not make changes just for the sake of it. But he obviously wants to make changes bad enough that, in time, this roster will change. To what extent, who the hell knows. I don't think you have a crystal ball Captain D, and i know all I've done is speculated, along with the rest of the media.
So look up the definition of rumor, and lead on captain. More rumors will come, and hopefully you take them for what they are, rumor, not Anthony Orlando saying "the deal is going down."
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Oh and to your last point, "go write another crappy article only 6 people will read."
Current reads for my latest article: 1896 reads
Current reads for yours: 825
I'll even spot you 500 since they have a one day publishing difference. : )
Not that this is a competition, because believe me Captain D, I really don't give a crap if you have a better following than me, or more readers. I don't have an out of control ego. I'm happy with the people who like my insight.
You're not one of them, and it's certainly no skin off my back.
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Jeff Allen 11 months ago
Did you challenge someone to a "writing contest"?
Nerd alert.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Captain Douchebag? That's pretty brave coming from a guy who looks like he's trying to use his tongue to get jizz out of his teeth in the picture he chose for his profile.
Why don't you read this articlet titled "Rockets GM dismisses trade talk involving McGrady" from the Dallas Morning News on 7/16, the same day you wrote that horrible article.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D91V520O1.html
You really wanna compare numbers, geek? How about the fact that you have one fan?? You wanna know why your article has so many reads? Because if you typed Artest or McGrady and Pistons into Google News it's gonna show up. My Artest/Lakers story got 500 more reads than yours for the same reason. It's nothing to brag about.
I can't believe I'm arguing with a guy who thinks I should be impressed that he's an intern at a barely-Division I school. Here's the test: if nobody outside of the state knows the school's nickname, then it's really not that important of a school.
Calling me Captain Douchebag, in lieu of actually answering my questions, only makes you look like a bigger nerd than you already do.
Now go get me coffe, intern. Isn't line 4 ringing? Answer it. There's also a lacrosse player that needs his shoes tied. Snap to it.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Hahaha. I must say, you made me laugh at the end there.
It has been fun trading insults. Hopefully we can do it again over the next batch of Pistons news.
BTW, i cited the Dallas Morning News in the very article you are questioning me on.
FROM ARTICLE: A day later, Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey responded in the Dallas Morning News.
"He said he wanted to win and they (the media) ran with it," Morey said. "He said he's happy in Houston. He just was surprised how it all came out."
----
Oh, and don't forget, Boise State, Hawaii, Utah...they weren't always household names either. You never know what can happen, that's why there's nothing quite like collegiate athletics.
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Jeff Allen 11 months ago
We've got quite a barnburner going here in the Super Bowl for Nerds, folks. We've got "The Intern" challenging "The Screenwriter" to a "writing competition" - no words barred, I'm assuming - and the Screenwriter comes back with a "how many fans do you have?" haymaker after already landing a "cum in the teeth" uppercut!
Cum in the teeth? I knew I knew your name from somewhere - you did some script work for Vivid Entertainment, right? What's it like working with Lexington Steele? Do you know Ron Jeremy?
What does the Intern have left in his tank? Can he get up off the mat after taking multiple titanic shots? Stay tuned!
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Superbowl for Nerds, Jeff?
I think it's hilarious that the only two porn stars you wanna know about are both dudes.
You want all the hate for OSU to stop? Maybe it'll stop if they play in a championship game where the game isn't over by halftime. What do you think the line on the USC game is gonna be? I'm guessing between 17 and 21.
Go write Part IV of your riveting series on sports cliches that are stupid. Or instead, perhaps you could follow it up with a trilogy on another tired topic that's just as interesting, like MLS soccer or the Tour de France.
Any other male porn stars you wanna know about?
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Jeff Allen 11 months ago
Aww, sorry bud. i was just having a little fun. Please go easy on my writing, as I take it very seriously. I guess I'd probably be a little defensive too if I were a struggling waiter in LA..oh, I
mean "screenwriter".
Keep those gay jokes coming (or should I say cumming?). They're a riot!
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
That comment would have been really funny if I was a waiter or actually struggling.
How come no articles for three months, Jeff?
I miss your writing. We need more gems like "You know what's overrated? Calling things "overrated" is overrated."
Wow.
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Jeff Allen 11 months ago
Apparently someone's sarcasm detector was turned off on that last comment! LOLZ!! LOL!!! To be completely honest, I really don't take my articles seriously. But if you'd prefer to keep "zinging" my writing ability, have at it.
(Lemme guess: it was already obvious that I don't take my articles serious....as evidenced by my shitty writing!!! Bwahahaha!!!! Right?)
*yawn*
Bring me a refill, waiter.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
You win. I can't compete with someone who uses zing, lolz, **yawn** and bwahahaha in one post and calls ME a nerd.
If I was a waiter I'd gladly bring you a refill. But since you went to OSU I'd probably be afraid you'd get to the last sip and then choke on it.
Are you sure you wouldn't rather have Lexington Steel or Ron Jeremy bring it to you?
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Jeff Allen 11 months ago
Don't let anyone ever tell you that 31 years is "too old" to use "you're gay" jokes as insults on internet message boards!
OSU chokes? Wow, your writing talents extend beyond basic sophomoric immaturity into the realm of unoriginality. You're a double-threat! Watch out, Coen brothers!
Next thing ya know, you'll be telling me that that Ohio State is slow. Zing!
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
What gay jokes are you referring to? I just thought it was funny that the only porn stars you asked me about were dudes. How is that a gay joke? Were you referring to what I said about Tony's profile picture? The same guy that referred to me as Captain Douchebag?
Nothing is funnier than hearing someone tout my humor as sophomoric when he asks me about male porn stars on an internet message board.
You think I'm so predictable and yet you keep repeating the same jokes. Nothing screams originality like writer/waiter jokes.
Go do more research on me for your next post. I think it's hilarious that I've got you heated enough to spend your Friday afternoon digging up dirt like Woodward and Bernstein.
Do I really need to say that OSU is slow? Isn't that a little obvious when you have to give Buckeyes fans ammunition to use when the rest of the country tells them how overrated their team is.
From your brilliant opus, enittled "Stop the OSU Hate!!":
"People suffering from OSU haterism genuinely believe this ignorant crap. It’s a serious condition that they can’t control. They are not to be mocked. They are to be helped.
Should you come across one of these freaks of humanity, I’d encourage you to politely correct them and be on your way. Do not give them any more of your valuable time than that.
If you do, you risk becoming stupider by merely listening to their uneducated logic. Keep the following responses close at hand if you find yourself suffering from the mere sound of their voices:
“WE have the premiere college football program in America, not you.”
“WE have Beanie Wells, not you.”
“WE got Terrelle Pryor, not you.”
“WE have TONS of money, not you.”
“WE play in BCS games all the time, not you.”
“WE play in the country’s premiere non-conference game year after year, NOT YOU!”"
Wow, Jeff. You forgot "I know you are but what am I" and "Sticks and stones may break my bones..."
You've attacked my age and my paid profession and asked me if I write porn. What's next, Jeff? How about an anti-semitic slur about me being cheap or my people controlling the media or something about my grandmother who died of bladder cancer?
Give me a break. And then give me back the six minutes of my life I lost while reading "Ten Suspected MLB Juicers" and "Get Serious: The BCS Is NOT a Major Conference".
You should really use ALL CAPS and more exclamation points in your writing. But not really. I've received text messages from my eleven-year-old nephew that are more thought-provoking and articulate than the things you write.
And learn the difference between "you're" and "your". It's not "you're gay jokes", genius. It's "your gay jokes."
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Jeff Allen 11 months ago
"I think it's hilarious that I've got you heated enough to spend your Friday afternoon digging up dirt like Woodward and Bernstein".
So says the guy who responds to every line I type with 750 lines of his own. Christ, man. When did conciseness become a felony?
(I know..kind of ironic, since I'm about to type a fairly lengthy response myself)
I'm sorry you disapprove of how I have been spending a small portion of my Friday afternoon - I didn't even realize that I had "dug up dirt" on you, but that's off topic. I suppose you would recommend more constructive uses of my time, like making homophobic jokes and correcting other people's grammatical errors on internet message boards? Ok, I'll bite.
Re: "you're gay" jokes - I put the quotes around those two specific words, because that's essentially what YOUR (possessive) gay jokes are telling their intended target:
"Hey Target, YOU ARE gay".
If I wanted to use the possessive YOUR in this instance, I would have - but I would not have put quotations around those two little words. So while I'm sure I've made some grammatical errors along the way, you didn't correct one. And no, I'm not professing to be a greater wordsmith than yourself. Rest assured, I will not be challenging you to a duel like young Anthony did. I think we've already established that you'll never be adding me to your favorites list. Believe me, I'm terribly distraught over your constant barrage of creative criticisms. I just found it somewhat humorous that the one example you chose to correct was a non-example.
Context, sir.
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John McClory 11 months ago
Erick: "Talking to players means nothing."
Yeah, going to the source isn't helpful at all (cough, cough). I get that Stephen A. is a raging loony but let's not assume "unknown blogger X" is going to be any better. That's a stretch.
Andrew: You listed the Hornets as a "fine wine." Do you think all the pieces are in place to win a championship, or is there still some holes to fill? Are they the team to make the leap next season? Fill me in on your thoughts.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
John-
I think the Hornets are in great shape because they've locked up their nucleus and coach for at least the next three years and because the team has a nice mix of young and old. They're pretty much capped out but they're under the luxury tax so they could use their mid-level again next year to add depth to their front-court without paying the tax.
The only significant free agent they have next summer is Mike James who has a player option for 2009-10 but I doubt he'll opt-out when so many teams will have money to spend for 2010-11.
The key for them this year is to make it to the Western Conference Finals. The worst-case scenario is a step back where they finish with the 7th seed and get knocked out in the first round. The fact that they have the runner-up for MVP and he's only entering his fourth season is reason enough to be excited about the next ten years.
There are many basketball analysts and writers I admire. There are others, like Stephen A. Smith, who are wrong more often than they're right. I'd gladly give you a list of NBA writers who are worth reading. Smith is just a clown with a shtick. It's the reason he's been fired from 2 of his 3 jobs in the last two years.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
John-
I think the Hornets are in great shape because they've locked up their nucleus and coach for at least the next three years and because the team has a nice mix of young and old. They're pretty much capped out but they're under the luxury tax so they could use their mid-level again next year to add depth to their front-court without paying the tax.
The only significant free agent they have next summer is Mike James who has a player option for 2009-10 but I doubt he'll opt-out when so many teams will have money to spend for 2010-11.
The key for them this year is to make it to the Western Conference Finals. The worst-case scenario is a step back where they finish with the 7th seed and get knocked out in the first round. The fact that they have the runner-up for MVP and he's only entering his fourth season is reason enough to be excited about the next ten years.
There are many basketball analysts and writers I admire. There are others, like Stephen A. Smith, who are wrong more often than they're right. I'd gladly give you a list of NBA writers who are worth reading. Smith is just a clown with a shtick. It's the reason he's been fired from 2 of his 3 jobs in the last two years.
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John McClory 11 months ago
Hm, interesting to know. Thanks for the response. I'm not necessarily a fan of NO but it seemed the Hornets could've had an even stronger showing than they did last season, hence the question about "making the jump" in the season to come.
I'd be glad to load up on some decent NBA writers. Give me your favs (I'll go 'head and assume Stephen A. doesn't crack your top 100). Thanks
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c s 11 months ago
so philly is in fine wine and toronto isn't.....wtf? we both added one all star player and we had a better record then they did last year you should probably recap this article.......we gave up nothing for JO everything we gave up for him we didnt need so i dont know....we're fine wine
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Listen to the definitions. One team has it's core while the other team is clearly gearing up to change it's roster in 2010. Do you really think either team is going to win the title this year? You gave up nothing for JO because nobody else wanted to pay an injury-prone center $45 million over the next two seasons. Fine wines were teams that were pretty much done tinkering. The wishful thinkers are the teams that are gearing up for 2010.
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Michael Inglis 11 months ago
JO isn't a walking injury and his production seems to be going down.
I'll take Elton Brand any day over JO. Who do you have besides bosh? Nobody. Parker, Calderon, and Bargnani are all just average NBA players. Not one of them averaged more than 13 points last year.
For the 76ers, they have Iguodala, Brand, and Dalembert who averaged a double- double last year.
Also, Young looks like he's going to be a good player and Andre Miller does a nice job with 17ppg and 7 ast last year.
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Bob Joey 11 months ago
I totally agree with this other Toronto Raptors fan!!! I was thinking the same thing as I read the article. The Toronto Raptors have a great team going into the 2008-2009 season. We are the only team dominate with 2 all-star post players. The wings are good talent for this team and we locked in Jose Calderon, an awesome young point guard who has so many skills. Philli and Toronto have really similar teams. The difference I see is that Toronto has a really deep bench, where philli really doesn't and, we have Jason Kapono/Anthony Parker/Jose Calderon...etc. players who can shoot the jump shot if Chris Bosh or Jermaine O'neal gets double teamed. Toronto must be in the Fine Wine section of NBA teams.
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Taylor Gram 11 months ago
The Bulls could easily be in the Realist if they would make the trades. They have so many backcourt players it's not even funny. Hinrich, gordon, Highes, Duhon, and Rose. at SF they have Deng and Nocioni. TRADE TRADE TRADE! THey already traded Wallace to the Cavs to get their great backcourt better, and their bad froncourt worse. they are in a deep hole and have no idea what to do. Great Article Andrew.
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Brandon Schleigh 11 months ago
Should have more info about the Suns.
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c s 11 months ago
Call me crazy if you want, but if you check it we will have money of 2010 hell we'll have over 20 million to spend JO is overpaid and is that the raptors fault? no, thats the contract that was given to him by the indiana pacers if he is healthy and plays well and the raptors do good doesn't it cross you're mind that they'll sign him back for half that like 10 mil per? If not, he can walk 2010 is a big year for free agents you say OH the raptors are the only ones crazy to trade for a 45 million center well no shit he'll be gone in 2010 hello! think about it did losing tj ford, rasho, and maceo baston really affect our team? HELL NO to be honest even if JO doesnt play i still think they will be better then last year becase both tj' bitching and roasho's slow motion speed affected alot of things aobut the team we play run and gun game similar to pheonix of course there offense is better but thats how we played plus we got another jose calderon in roko ukic and probably another JO in Nathan Jawai then to top it all off hassan adams was like an all star internationally last year, oh and lastly joey graham was top 10 player in summer league i dont know about you but outside of JO(maybe) toronto pretty much know who are there core players for the future, it's you who doesn't know.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Thank you. You just repeated everything I wrote. Here's what I said:
"The Raptors, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City will all have plenty of cap space, but none of them have a reputation for being desirable free agent destinations unless you count players like Jason Kapono, Brian Cardinal, and Mark Madsen."
If I'm wrong then please tell me the last big name free agent that signed with the Raptors. There have been plenty of big names who either signed with or were traded to Toronto but most guys, like Antonio Davis, want their kids learning U.S. History in schools without having to get special tudors. That's why the entire roster is made up of guys from Europe because they're not ignorant like Davis. Here's a link to every transaction made by the Raptors since 2004:
(http://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=raptors&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&BeginYear=2004&BeginMonth=&BeginDay=&EndYear=2008&EndMonth=&EndDay=&submit=Search)
The biggest name they've signed in five years is Rafer Alston.
Bosh and Calderon will still be there in two years but the rest of the team might be completely new. Even Bargnani could be gone. I can't argue with a guy who thinks every player is amazing because he's on my team. Ukic is another Calderon, Jawai is Jermaine O'Neal, Hassan Adam is all-world and Joey Graham is now an all-star because he played great against rookies and free agents.
If the Raptors make the playoffs consider your season a success. The five teams that finished ahead of the Raptors should all be better and the team right behind you, Philadelphia, got Elton Brand while the Heat and Bulls got the top two players in the draft and Milwaukee added Richard Jefferson.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
I accidentally wrote "signed with or were traded to Toronto..." but I meant to write "were drafted by or traded to Toronto"
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Gaz V 11 months ago
Wow, you've put in a lot of work here and it shows. Great analysis, Andrew! You already know I'm a die-hard Celtics fan, so that part of your article was what really grabbed my attention.
I think letting Ray Allen go elsewhere after his current contract expires is a given. His legs are already showing signs of wear, so two more seasons (with a strong likelihood of post-season action, too) will bring his career pretty close to the end. I can't see the Celtics offering him anything beyond the veteran's minimum at that point in time.
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c s 11 months ago
you know you're just twisting things around i swear where did i say big free agents wanted to sign with toronto? all i said is we'll have 20 million in cap and the free agent thing is slightly true some free agents dont like to come play here like that bitch john salmons, he said oh he doesnt want to come here and we said fine, and we signed anthony parker and everyone was happy though salmons is still a big Puss that did nothing with his career. Why is jermaine oneal an NBA all star so excited? because he knows the oppurtunity and energy that the city and crowd will bring to the team did you know toronto has been on the top 10 in crowds in the NBA for probably the last 10 years? Guess you didnt the reason free agents havent come here is becasue WE DIDNT HAVE THE FUCKING MONEY, you think money maters anymore? You think location matters anymore?? If so why are people running overseas??!!! Vince carter took tons of money then alonzo was a huge contract that had to stay on our books for a while then in our team history we always have that one overpaid player thats just how the league works. i never said those guys would be nba all stars i said probably i don't want to give up hope like your lakers did, and why explain something to me why is philly getting elton brand a bigger deal then the rpators getting JO, roko,nathan, and hassan adams? will he be better then all 4? i dont nkow i guess you know something i dont how do you know both brand and JO wont be injured all year next year? i said it before and 'i'll say it again we had a bettter record then philly last year even if it was by a little but look at all the pieces we added compared to them they add one player and they are automatically "fine wine" i just don't get it, i guess brand wil make such a big impact that we will become obsolete.
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Gaz V 11 months ago
Here's a few extra periods (. . . . . . . . . . ). Please use them in your next post. It would make it easier on the rest of us who have spent forty years reading something called sentences.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
You're not understanding what I meant by Fine Wine and Wishful Thinker. The fine wines are teams that just need to mature because the pieces are in place.
The wishful thinkers are all those teams that have cap space in 2010 because most of those teams will strike out in free agency. These are the teams that are unwilling to trade for big contracts right now and don't mind trading a draft pick because they're trying to have maximum flexibility.
You're taking it as an insult. There's no order to the list. I'd rather be the Raptors than the Mavericks. I'd rather know that my team has a franchise big and a franchise point guard and a ton of cap space in two years than be a team with the highest payroll in the league, very little salary cap flexibility, and two horrible contracts.
I don't know what you're talking about with all that John Salmons talk but if that's the biggest name free agent you've lured, other than Jason Kapono and Rafer Alston, then I'm going on the team's track record. Every great player that's ever played for the Raptors was either drafted by the team or traded to them.
I understand that they didn't have much flexibility but there's a reason why Stoudamire wanted out after 2 1/2 years and Carter wanted out after signing a new deal. I don't know what that reason is. Every recent free agent they've signed, except Kapono, is either from Europe, an American who played in Europe, or a CBA find. Even Kapono needed 4 years and $24 million to go there. What would it cost to get someone good?
Philly getting Elton Brand is better than the Raptors getting JO because they just got a 20 and 10 guy while the Raptors went from being a 3-seed to being a 6-seed and added a 15 and 10 guy who has missed at least 31 games in 3 of the last 4 seasons.
I can't debate you if you're going to bring up hypothetical injuries and I can't be impressed by the Raptors adding Roko, Nathan and Hassan Adams. Roko could be Calderon or he could be Navarro or Jasikevicius. Adams got cut by the Nets so I wouldn't put much faith in him. Jawai played in Australia so it's gonna take him some time to learn the NBA game. So if it's Brand vs. JO I'll take Brand every time.
Instead of thinking of these teams as fine wines and wishful thinkers, think of them as teams that will be players in 2010 and teams that won't be but they've already got their nucleus together. The Raptors could have 10 new players in two years. The Sixers might only have 3.
It wasn't a dis. Got it?
P.S. The Raptors do suck though.
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c s 11 months ago
no one's talking to you buddy.(satisfied)
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
And nobody's reading your comments. (satisfied?)
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c s 11 months ago
you just answered so you must be haha, thanks for wasting a comment.
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Sean Stancill 11 months ago
I mentioned Martin being traded to Cleveland for Wallace a while ago in one of my articles: Has Kenyon Martin Just Become Tradeable.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
Every day that goes by makes him more and more tradeable but I think the Cavs should do it if it meant getting AI. Wouldn't Cleveland be better off giving LeBron some guys that he'll feel accountable to? Wouldn't he be less likely to leave if he felt a personal connection with his teammates? I don't think Cleveland would trade Wallace for Martin straight up but they might do it if it meant getting AI. With only two players (three, including rookie JJ Hickson) under contract that Cavs could afford to take on both contracts. The problem is they'd have to re-sign Iverson and I don't think he stays unless he knows LeBron isn't leaving. How many more chances will AI have to win a ring?
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David Wang 11 months ago
superb article
i think u've nailed the NBA quite well
i mean, the 2010 free agent draft pool is ridiculous, and you're right with various teams taking different approahces. some teams just seem to be a bit slow in understanding the situation, like the Bulls
but however u may see it, i think the NBA is going to go through an evolution-like change during 2010.
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
Actually the Pistons are about now and the future. After their starting five, the Pistons are one of the youngest, most promising teams in the NBA. It is a real nice balance Dumars has.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
You're absolutely right, Tony. But more guys on the current roster will be on the team in two years than not. That was the point that I was trying to make that Tony Orlando took issue with.
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Prem Vuppuluri 11 months ago
I'm curious, how many of the big name free agents in 2010 do you think will leave their teams? Do you believe that the unusually large number of high profile free agents in 2010 guarantees that there will be big changes to the distribution of talent throughout the NBA that year?
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
I think there will be a lot of player movement but not necessarily in free agency. A lot of those teams that have space and miss out on free agents will be able trade for contracts without having to match salaries (a la Marcus Camby).
Don't forget that all it takes is one free agent, like Baron Davis this year, to create a market. Teams will also end up overpaying for 2nd and 3rd tier free agents just so they have something to show for it. Restricted free agents will also make a killing because teams will have to make offers that they know teams won't match.
I think that Wade and Bosh stay put unless both teams take a huge step backwards. Wade can always go home to Chicago if the Bulls are in a better place. Bosh can always go home to Dallas if they decline to exercise their option on Howard and Dirk decides to opt-out and they renounce him.
You have to be most afraid of guys going home. Especially the ones in their prime. LeBron might be the exception because he wants to rule the world.
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Prem Vuppuluri 11 months ago
Thanks for the info. I agree with most everything, especially that last part. I should fess up that I entertained (for a short period of time) the delusion that it would be possible for Portland to ensnare LeBron without blasting the big 3 core (Roy/Aldridge/Oden) completely out of the water. There was a discussion about this issue on another site which considered that the (likely) possibility of LeBron walking out on the Cavs in 2010 might push them into forcing a sign and trade with anyone they can barter with so that they don't end up with absolutely nothing once he leaves. That coupled with their probable distaste for giving him up without getting at least 1 all-star level player might inspire them to consider teams with an abundance of young talent that could afford to give up at least 1 or two all-star potential talents for the Bron', and that was where the Blazers, with their glut of young, potential laden players comes onto the scene. Regardless of how things turn out in 2010, it is too bad that the Cavs have the best young superstar in the game, but his stated goal is to become the world's first billionaire athlete. That mindset could be the deciding factor between the Cavs coming up empty after LeBron leaves as a UFA and them gaining some valuable talent in a sign and trade. Ultimately though, LeBron holds almost all the cards, unless the Cavs fold first in this imaginary game of chicken and decide to cut their losses this year by trading him when he has two years left to some hapless team that deludes itself into believing that he's not going to cut and run in '10.
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shaunak maru 11 months ago
what the hell r u taking abt.? the Warriors are probaly the most smartest team right now, watch em' win the championship nxt yr. beating Boston 4-0.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
and that was probably the most smartest post I've read yet.
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Bob Johnston 11 months ago
Wow -- what a moron fest -- like two retards trying to determine who's smarter. This is entertaining.
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Andrew Ungvari 11 months ago
...so says the genius who took the time to set up an account just to write out that brilliant observation.
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L.J. Burgess 11 months ago
When the comment thread equals or exceeds the original article in passion you know you've done your job Andrew.
I learned a lot here. 5 Starz for both so hmmm...that makes 10 starz.
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Elmer Crisostomo 9 months ago
great one.
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