Cavaliers Preview Game #49
February 8, 2009Lakers Top Cavaliers: Ding, Dong….
February 9, 2009While We’re Waiting aims to be the round-up of the recent WFNY-esque information for your morning viewing. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.
Scene Magazine’s Vince Grzegorek sits down with Cavaliers’ color commentary man Austin Carr. Discussing any new additions to the repitoire: “We’re working on coming up with a new name for LeBron and Mo Williams, instead of calling them Batman and Robin. You know, it would just have to happen. I don’t think he likes to preset things. It has to fit and flow.” [Vince Grzegorek/Cleveland Scene]
“The blueprint to success for the Browns lies about 120 miles southeast of Cleveland. It resides very comfortably and quietly among the hills of a former steel-reliant town that has broad shoulders and a football team that has produced two Super Bow championships in the last four years. It is a very simple blueprint predicated on hard work, dedication, selflessness and an overwhelming desire to be the best.” [Rich Passan/The OBR]
If this doesn’t scream “Get a Big Man, Danny,” I don’t know what does: “When the 6-foot-10 [Lamar Odom] is playing well, he’s a matchup problem for every team in the league and he was playing very, very well under the circumstances. When he’s at his best, Odom is too quick on the drive for Ben Wallace or Anderson Varejao, too big for Wally Szczerbiak inside, and way too savvy for rookie J.J. Hickson. All of them took turns dealing with him and all of their weaknesses were exposed.” [Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer]
An incredibly classy move by Shaun Rogers: “Players at the Pro Bowl often treat assistant coaches, teammates, family members or others important to them to the luau festivities in Honolulu, Hawaii. Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers was so appreciative of the job done by former Browns communications director Amy Palcic that he paid for her to attend the Pro Bowl. Rogers arrived in Cleveland with a reputation of being media unfriendly. He thought Palcic helped change that image. Palcic was a victim of the Browns’ recent layoffs.” [Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer]
Don’t look now, but with the win over the Minnesota Gophers, Ohio State hoops is in third place within the Big Ten. Could they somehow find themselves with an at-large bid next month? [Chris/Eleven Warriors]
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(photo courtesty Scene Magazine)
9 Comments
I think the Bucks deserve an atlarge bid. They beat Miami and Notre Dame on the road. The ND win doesn’t look good at all now, but at the time they were rolling and ranked pretty high. We also have good in conference wins against ranked teams, beat Butler, and have owned Michigan who has 2 top 5 wins this year I think.
A couple more good wins and I think the Bucks will be in. If not, then there is always the B10 tourney to make our move as well.
Classy move by Rogers. He just seems like a stand up guy. Always played his hardest on the field even though the Browns sucked, and you never hear about him geting arrested. Now this. I applaud you, sir.
“Get That Weak Stuff Outta Here”!
I was at the game yesterday………hopefully the CAVS go back to work and fix the vulnerabilities exposed so it will all be for the good. I’ve been saying all along that the need is to go out and get a post big man who can provide low post offensive presence (that Andy and Ben can’t, much as they play great roles). We don’t need shooters……we’ve got enough of them. And, we don’t need to take on salary unless it’s a big time player (Amare Stoudemire). I’d be happy if we can finagle Joe Smith, as I’ve said before.
Go Cavs! I’ve got all the confidence in Danny and Dan to do whatever it takes.
Kudos to Shaun Rogers………flying Amy Palcic up to the Pro-Bowl was both was a wonderful gesture; we need more like him in that organization.
Utilizing the audio recorder on my cell phone, the built in speakers on my laptop, and the austin carr sound board at the austincarr.com “Get that weak stuff outta here!” is now my ringtone and “The L-Train throws it down deep in the Q” is my message alert tone.
Unfortunately the only weak stuff getting outta there deep at the Q last night was the Cavaliers rebounding…pathetic…and the L-train was throwing down some rare bricks…
Only one game though…or is it? So torn about this additional big needed/good chemistry dilemma. Just don’t know why we didn’t get a body on Odom…
The most important part of that Rich Passan column:
“If you want to know more and exactly how the Steelers have done it, check out Tim Layden’s piece in Sports Illustrated two weeks ago. Fascinating read…
I’m a firm believer in the trickle-down theory. The Steelers are all about the Rooney family. Even since Dan Rooney took over running the club from his father 40 years ago, they have been a different club.
For decades, the Steelers were laughable losers under Art Rooney. Dan Rooney brought an entirely different culture to the organization.
It was not all right to lose. It was not all right to be the butt of jokes. It was not all right to mail it on Sundays. That, he determined, was going to stop. And it did.
Since then, the Steelers have been the NFL model for consistency on many different levels, the most important of which is coaching with only three head coaches in the last four decades.
They play the game with the same proficiency as the Browns did from 1946 through 1970 when they were known as The Greatest Show in Football…
If you want to model your team after any in the NFL, why not the Steelers? How can you argue with their successes? You don’t have to like them, but how can you not respect what they’ve accomplished?
What makes that harder to swallow is the fact this is a young team that figures to get better. The Baltimore Ravens have copied some of the success of the Steelers, especially on defense, and most likely will provide the most opposition in the AFC North.
The Browns, meanwhile, have meandered in and out of coaching changes since their return. Eric Mangini is the fourth head coach in last10 years. It’s like throwing darts at a board and hoping something lands near the bull’s-eye. Eventually, something is going to stick. The question is when?
In the end, it’s the system that works in Pittsburgh. The Steelers look for and draft players who fit their system. There is a plan and they stick to it.”
Should have included this paragraph at the end, too:
“Tomlin came in and didn’t change a thing outside of elevating Bruce Arians to offensive coordinator. The Steelers were successful before he arrived, so why tinker? It’s the system that works in Pittsburgh and Tomlin was wise enough to leave it alone.”
What stark contrast… establish a winning culture at the top and then hire a HC that fits your philosophy, vs. hiring people and crossing your fingers that they can establish such a culture from the middle while getting out of town and saying “what else do you want me to do? I made the right hires.” There is the clear core of the problem… consistent winners are the outgrowth of sound organizations with good leaders setting the tone.
Great column by Mr Passan.
MJ-it’s so obvious that the Browns should be emulating Pittsburgh (and not New England and Baltimore) that it’s sickening. Since the bird has flown in regards to the Browns (Lerner) hiring a GM and Exec. VP and THEN letting THEM hire the head coach, here’s something to ponder:
We all can agree with experience as a prerequisite-however, with such a dearth of coaching candidates in that vein (Cowher….et al) why not have spent time looking at the formula ALL of the other many vacancies filled utilized; namely finding a head coaching candidate with great personal attributes (leadership, communication skills, passion) and pairing that person with experienced NFL coordinators? (examples-Harbaugh with Cameron/Ryan….Tomlin with Lebau/Ariens). Instead of projecting someone with limited experience whom most NFL experts agree has little in the way of tangible leadership/communication aspects (and brings along coordinators such as Brian Daboll).
Again………..logic never factored as part of Lerner’s equation. We have to “hope” his gut instincts are correct……..want odds on that?
Viva la Mankok.
Anyone see the cuts made today by the browns? Peak and Cousin out, along with a few scrubs.
bobby…….they snuck under the radar as Mankok releases no presser or communique. Get used to it.