October 31st, 2008
Kinda like saying, “I promised you a custom deep-dish pizza, but here’s a Pizza Pizza coupon instead.” But since my Blogger access has been spotty, Roko Ratings has been suspended indefinitely, let’s say. So instead, I give you NBA.com’s widget to follow our Raptors rookie.
By the way, Roko basically tells Michael Grange that sticks and stones may break his bones, yada yada yada:
“I’m sure back home I’ve played in much more [difficult] environments than
here,” he said. “One time I almost got hit by a dart. When you’re Croatian and
you play in Serbia you experience that kind of thing. So if they boo or
something, that’s nothing.”
So you want to follow Josh Childress’ lead, do ya?
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October 31st, 2008
A quick and easy way to follow the progress of the Pete Marasmitch mascot.
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October 27th, 2008
During an email conversation with Mookie, he riffed off a great nickname for my Create-a-Photo “contest”: Rasho Libre.
Hey, how ’bout someone Photoshop the movie poster?
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October 22nd, 2008
In this corner: “Crasho” Nesterovic! (Picture taken from Raptors.com)
You’ve really gotten into my head, Skeets — I dreamt last night about doing a
Create-a-Caption. The photo? Some nameless fodder is down on the squared circle, pinned by a big Samoan wrestler (it might have been
Afa or Sika). Watching the action from the corner, leaning over the ropes in anticipation, is none other than our favorite former Raptor, Rasho Nesterovic.
Here’s one of the captions I wrote in my dream:
Afa/Sika: Come in and finish this guy off with your signature move!
Rasho: … I don’t have a signature move.
Afa/Sika: *cough* Stiff *cough*
Can you (re-)create that photo? Send your Photoshopped entry to me at
jwjeff@gmail.com. Deadline is … 2009-ish. Winner gets Rasho’s match-worn wrestling tights.
Posted in Rasho Nesterovic, contests
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October 16th, 2008
Michael Grange’s From Deep has the transcript from a group interview with Roko Ukic. Yes, group interview. Kinda like a group hug, only with interviews.
Grange includes some interesting perspective on Smitch’s high praises:
But after four years of listening to Sam, I’d have to say that was about as
enthusiastic as I’ve heard him about one of his young ones. Sam loves gym rats.
He loves guys who are crafty. He loves guys who want to learn. I mean, who
doesn’t? So for those Roko watchers out there, take heart, because Sam
likes Roko – or more importantly respects him — this much is clear.
So that must mean I’ll have stuff to write for Roko Ratings this season, right?
Posted in Roko Ukic
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October 16th, 2008
The commute and at night – that’s when ideas hit me. Some don’t work out so well (see the Thunderous Contest Failure), but some do.
So I was thinking of a way to track and blog about the Raptors this season without committing a whole lot of time to researching and watching games, as I might if I were to do game recaps. Why not, then, focus on one particular player, a Pete Marasmitch mascot? The best candidate in my mind is Roko Ukic. Why?
- He’s a six-foot-five guard, like Maravich.
- He won’t play too many minutes, so my Roko Ratings will fill a niche.
- He won’t play too many minutes, so it will be less work for me.
What will be in the Roko Ratings?
- the game results
- his line
- any observations from the internets
- my response to any commentary from aforementioned internets
- my opinions and/or highlights of his play
- maybe a photo
- some kind of rating – an overall “score” of how he did that night
I think I’ll run with this and see how long I can sustain it.
Posted in Pete Maravich, Roko Ukic
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October 10th, 2008
Yes, this is number three on the mantle, and first from the Hoop Doctors. And there’s an actual, real, non-joke prize, too: a Tim Grover Vertical Leap Training Package, courtesy HoopSkills.com. Now I can add up to 14 inches to the jump out of my swivel chair. My co-workers will marvel at my jawdroppability.
The package includes a PPT band and the book Jump Attack by Grover (no, not that one). Look at all the testimonials: MJ, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Finley, Corey Maggette, Tim Hardaway and … Darius Miles?!
Tim’s training is the space-age exercise that all athletes need if they want to
go to the next level. I recommend him to my peers that are serious about
becoming the best at whatever sports they play. [emphasis mine]
Anyway, I’m looking forward to reading the book – which I figure will arrive in six-to-eight weeks – and trying the exercises. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?
(Thanks to Carolyn for directing me to the Hoop Doctors’ contest.)
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October 8th, 2008
(Click on photo to enlarge.)I finally broke down and bought Comic Life. Thanks to The Cavalier for recommending it. And thanks to my wife for letting me indulge.
The above photo was taken from the Create-a-Caption featuring Byron Scott and James Posey. Yes, I am Jeff W. Looks like I have a chance to win this latest one, too.
Speaking of Posey, I got him in the last round of Give Me The Mock. Go, Jimmy Po!
(Photo courtesy Getty Images, but mutilated by me.)
Posted in fantasy, photo fun
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October 2nd, 2008
Obviously this is not Andrea Bargnani (maybe in 40 years?). This is
Dr. Herb Greenberg, whom I interviewed for – you guessed it – Hoops Addict. Picture it: The spring of 2007. The Cleveland Cavaliers upset the “classically good” Detroit Pistons. Some blogger in Toronto harrasses Caliper into a telephone interview with its CEO. Good times.
Why do I bring this up? Well, I finally made my homer pick on Give Me The Mock and selected much-maligned big-man Andrea Bargnani. From all the articles I’ve read, it seems his sophomore campaign was a write-off, due to partly what was demanded (moving to center
and starting) and partly his health (
surgery this offseason for deviated septum and adenoid removal). Hey,
you try playing at a high level without breathing.
Back to Dr. Greenberg. He was very high on Bargnani, giving the Raptors and Bryan Colangelo the thumbs-up. After the
Italian Scallion’s impressive rookie season, the good doctor had this to say:
That’s the kind of thing we’re very, very proud of. We did some … I wouldn’t say
“arm twisting,” because they liked him, but they knew they’d get a lot of
criticism for drafting him. I can tell you right now: He will be one of the top
eight or ten centers in NBA history. They’re happy with it, we’re happy with it.
So that was in the spring of 2007. Flash forward to January 2008, and Dr. Greenberg’s enthusiasm was decidely muted. But enthusiasm is still there – a “top-notch” player, but not top ten in NBA history.
Bargnani, 2008-2009 edition, sounds very good for the 12th round in the Give Me The Mock draft, and top-three big on the Raptors rotation.
(Photo courtesy of Caliper)
Posted in Andrea Bargnani, fantasy
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October 2nd, 2008
… [Trust] yourself. It’s easy to read someone’s article telling you to
take Paul Mokeski in the first round, but when your pick is up and Paul is still
on the board, what matters most is what you think. Many of the experts out there
are no more equipped to make a decision than you are (this applies to all walks
of life). While collecting thoughts from different people is always helpful when
forming an opinion, you inevitably will take responsibility for your picks.
Trust your gut — in the end, a successful season (career, life, etc.) is much
more rewarding when you put thought into your decisions instead of copying off
of the guy’s paper next to you. This helps me now as I am ignorant to what other
“experts” think. I trust myself.
… [Think] outside the box. Popular opinions often lead to failure,
and you will be ridiculed for not thinking mainstream. Whether it’s your fantasy
team, interaction with friends, or your career, it’s important to think about
things in new and different ways and stand firm in your findings. Use statistics
in new ways, question what is accepted fact, challenge authority. I guess this
is a variation of the first in some ways, but hang with me.
And his third point, which I especially appreciate while sifting through Career Alerts:
I also learned to create opportunities if they are not perceived to be there.
You can’t sit around waiting for something to happen. That helped me get this
job, but it also helps as we continue to develop new games and content on
NBA.com.
Thanks again, Jon. I will indeed pick Paul Mokeski.
(Photo courtesy of Jon Loomer, the vain guy.)
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