All signs point to the Cavs selecting Nerlens Noel, per ESPN’s Chad Ford
June 25, 2013Indians 5, Orioles 2: So Smooth…..
June 25, 2013
“While We’re Waiting” serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
On the 2003 draft- “Chris Tomasson (Nuggets beat writer, Rocky Mountain News): (Cavaliers owner) Gordon Gund seemed a bit apprehensive. He ate dinner with some media members, which never happened in the five seasons I covered the Cavs at the Akron Beacon Journal. It was amazing he did it in that pivotal of a moment because he’d always kept his distance. I think he was looking for anyone he knew to ease the tension.
Warren Thaler (Cavaliers board of directors): We were in the hallway and it was time for me to go into the room where they were doing the lottery drawing. I was about to part ways with Gordon and I could just tell he was nervous. I wanted to try to relax him. So I said, “Gordon, you know, this isn’t like finding a cure for blindness.”1
Gund: I looked at Warren and told him, “It’s pretty damn close.” [Windhorst/ESPN]
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“Cleveland has a young star point guard in Kyrie Irving and there’s already buzz that LeBron James might come back in two years. Have you done any daydreaming about playing with those two?
“Oh, yeah, that would definitely be a special team, definitely a championship contender. I mean, whether Lebron comes back or not. Having an All-Star point guard does a lot for the organization. Kyrie’s a very good piece and I think I’d develop a lot faster with him.” [Tucker/Courier Journal]
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While you are reading about Noel, you can vote for his draft day outfit. Can’t make this stuff up folks. [NBA.com]
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“Winn proved to be a high-energy player with a knack for getting hits on the quarterback. He showed quickness throughout the season and even recorded an interception.
With the switch to the 3-4 defense, Winn will be one of the team’s backup defensive ends (and if the previous regime’s mentality meant anything, Winn will be the first rotational lineman in at defensive end). Since he isn’t a starter, his reps this season are bound to go down, but he’ll still come in as a substitute for the sake of keeping Ahtyba Rubin or Desmond Bryant fresh.” [Pokorny/Dawgs by Nature]
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“A huge part of Phelps putting these good at bats together has been his eye at the plate. Overall Phelps as a career .64 BB/K ratio in Triple-A, a stat that shows how often a batter walks in comparison to striking out. To compare, Jason Kipnis had a .60 BB/K ratio during his time in Triple-A, with Lonnie Chisenhall having a .47 ratio. What this shows is that when comparing Phelps to the other two players going through the minors with him, he has the best eye of the three of them. This ability to see pitches in and out of the zone has led to his hitting success in Columbus.
Overall, Phelps has been somewhat forgotten by many in Cleveland and has been the product of an unlucky situation being behind Chisenhall and Kipnis. This situation however has not brought Phelps down or negatively impacted on his performance, as he is thriving and having one of his best seasons ever as a professional baseball player this season. If Phelps is able to keep his RBI and power numbers up, and continue to show he has a great eye for pitches out of the zone, then he could provide a solid boost to Cleveland at some point this season, either coming off the bench or playing for an injured player. With injuries being a problem so far this season for the Tribe, combined with his success in Columbus, Cord Phelps should be a name you want to remember this season.” [Travis/DTTWLN]
31 Comments
First Noel: Excellent!
People actually voting on his clothes in all seriousness: Not so much.
I was going to say… was it terrible Rick, or was it brilliant? The two are not so far from each other.
there’s a fine line between stupid and clever.
I live on that line, mg. I revel in it.
from Noel: “I’d definitely say around November, December.”
that scares me. if/when we draft him, then I hope that we can be strong enough to not rush the process. basketball is considered a tougher sport to come back and play than even football because of all the jumping/banging/twisting with the knee.
after the draft, can we send Grant GIFs of RGIII playing through his injury just to be sure he’s careful?
that line goes to 11!
Tucker did a nice job in his interview with Noel… he used to cover my Hokies and was the best source for news when he was there. I miss him… there I said it.
noel squashes the ‘epic bad dudes’ rumor/angle pretty convincingly. (fwiw, noel’s explanation was my take also.)
in a perfect world, simmons would held to account for his rumor spreading. ‘what was your source? might you have been played competing agents? or was there a specific kickback from them for your services rendered?’
but it’s only athletes who seem to shoulder some light expectation of accountability to fans, not national writers.
and now I went through a few of the clips. ah, man, great under-rated movie. try to listen to this clip and not laugh:
http://www.moviewavs.com/php/sounds/?id=gog&media=WAVS&type=Movies&movie=Summer_Rental"e=theylook.txt&file=theylook.wav
I think this is what Simmons was talking about… easy to see how the mix-up occurred.
Hahaha, love it. For my money, I am a Harry Shearer fan.
Born is the savior of Cle-e-eve-land
Summer Rental is John Candy. Love Shearer myself and I had to look up the IMDB on it to make sure I didn’t forget him being in that movie.
are you saying he’s playing video games instead of rehab?
Absolutely, sorry two separate thoughts there. I also love John Candy… Uncle Buck has to be up there as one of the most fun, rewatchable movies. I was thinking of having my nephew call me U.P. as he gets older, but realized that just doesn’t work like U.B.
No, no, no I’m not saying it… I’m just insinuating it.
oh, the middle school jokes they could have had if they called him Uncle Pat (U.P.). I think John Candy messed that one up now 🙂
in related news, ESPN is looking for another writer on athlete injury rehabs.
Agree, and the timing and the tone when Simmons said it made me doubt it all. Guys like Simmons rely on agents to get a stream of scuttlebutt so that they can be interesting on podcasts before the draft. What I heard John Calipari say (I know, I know) in an interview last week made me think the character stuff is petty garbage: Noel comes from an immigrant family, mother from Haiti, and a bunch of star athlete siblings. Kid worked extremely hard in his brief time at Kentucky and improved at light speed. He says here he wants to buy his car and then support his Mom, and he was smart enough to perfectly handle the LeBron to Cleveland question. Whether he can really play or not who knows, but as a functioning member of society it sounds like he’ll be fine.
I don’t think I’m allowed to vote either way.
seems noel also passed on playing simmons’ ‘job interview’ game. but i’m sure that has nothing to do malicious rumor spreading. nothing at all.
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/tag/_/name/nba-job-interview
Oh, it’s GOT to be suit #1.
Hey video games help with eye hand coordination!
One liners are hard work dammit!
I’ll bet Kipnis votes himself for the allstar game. Why should you be any different?
I thought that was Bourn?
I’ve had an extensive experience with rehabs (physical not mental although my inner voice does seem to be getting louder) what’s the link?
Mrs. Owen would not approve clearly it’s suit #2!
http://nba.si.com/2013/06/25/dave-joerger-coach-memphis-grizzlies-lionel-hollins/?sct=hp_t2_a11&eref=sihp
Joerger was my favorite for the Cavs job, so I’ll be interested to see what he can do with the Grizzlies.
Bourne is the savior of The-In-di-ans
Bourn is the savior of the Indians. Bourne is the savior of the USA!