Weekend Wrapup – Things happened.
April 26, 2009Pistons Offer No Resistance As Cavaliers Advance
April 27, 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.
Not exactly going out on top: “It was great for a while, a good long while, and then it got old. The Pistons got old. Their attitude got old. And perhaps most telling, Rasheed Wallace got old, in every way. His legs. His act. The angry edge he brought to the Pistons five years ago was indeed the missing piece in their 2004 championship. So now that it’s over, it’s fitting that Wallace’s edge is gone, and he should be too.” [Bob Wojnowski/The Detroit News]
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An early season gancer at the Tribe: “This team doesn’t look as bad as they did a week ago, but that 1-7 start is the stinkiest of this lot. Sparked by that Opening Day drubbing of the Yankees last week and following 22-4 blowout, the Tribe has gone 5-3 to semi-recover and get back into striking distance of a AL Central race that’s going to be packed all season. But given Cliff Lee’s struggles to start the season, it’s hard to look at their rotation and think that the Indians won’t go through some equally bad rough patches.” [Kevin Kaduk/Big League Stew]
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Not bad company: “In leading the Cavaliers to a four-game sweep of the rival Pistons, James averaged 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists, becoming just the third player in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a single postseason series, according to ESPN. The other two? Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson.” [Mary Schmitt Boyer/Plain Dealer]
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“This 2009 draft could eventually be judged by the way its trades led to two potential franchise quarterbacks. The Browns gave up the No. 5 overall pick, which turned out to be Sanchez, and the No. 17 pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which turned out to be quarterback Josh Freeman. If quarterbacks Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson don’t pan out in Cleveland, and Sanchez and/or Freeman are future NFL stars, expect many Clevelanders to utilize revisionist history down the road.” [James Walker/ESPN]
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Alex Boone, UFA: “It was a humbling experience, that’s for sure,” Boone said of watching the draft all day. I learned some lessons the hard way. But the 49ers called and were very interested and pushing for me, and right now it’s the best fit for me.” [Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer]
6 Comments
By “Right now it’s the best fit for me”, Boone actually means “They’re the only team that called me.”
I thought I had my own little stinger for Rasheed Wallace, but Bob Wojnowski just blew Rasheed away, and there’s nothing left among the scraps and rubble that’s worth the trouble. And Wojnowski couldn’t have done it like that had Wallace not justified everyone of those brutal words. The flailing forearm that bloodied the nose of LeBron somewhere between the three-point line and the Pistons’ coach was a telling gesture: an isolated, irrelevant act of impudence: the broken paw of a once abused kitten that now waves faintly at every approaching face.
Wojnowski spared Prince, who played like a scarecrow man beaten by the four winds. There was a hollow look in those two players’ eyes. Or were those only ghosts that were suited up for the sake of appearance?
That series was more than just the passing of an era. It was the rude awakening to the fact that the Pistons are now a team solidly divided: on one side, the wearied veterans; on the other, the sparky but unaccomplished young players. It’s as if the Cavs rode the L Train right through the Pistons lineup and thus cut a Mason-Dixon line through the whole organization.
Walker’s comment is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. If I ever hear someone complain that we didn’t draft Sanchez (or even worse Freeman) my explosion will be epic.
This draft will be decided on how Mack, and Elam play, to a lesser extent Coleman. If they play well and ANY of the 6th round picks earn starting positions down the road, that’s a coup.
Everyone, one time:
YOU DO NOT BUILD TEAMS AROUND GAMBOLING ON QUARTERBACKS AND WIDE RECEIVERS.
@ Swig.
Well said, brotha!
Just a note. Rasheed and the remains of the Pistons still have one more ring than this Cavs team. I think people should temper there flaming of DEE-TROIT BAS-KET-BALL a bit.
Swig –
How can you say that not drafting Sanchez at 5 wasn’t a huge mistake? We could have dealt Brady or DA for more picks and come up with some defensive picks. Sanchez was the answer to a lot of our problems and we just passed him up. He’ll be great in the NFL and it won’t be long before we’re kicking ourselves for passing him up.
I had to. You offered it up. I’m totally kidding and this was just the long way of saying ‘I agree’. While I’m not happy with our draft overall, I would have vomited if we ended up picking either of them.