You mentioned that you weren’t happy with your fantasy basketball team. How come?

I broke one of the first rules of Fantasy sports… in that, I’ve relied too much on rookies, and put way too much weight on guards, especially with the uncertainty that is the lower body of Al Jefferson.  Seeing Jamal Crawford play only 14 minutes in Atlanta’s season opener was downright frightening… Word that Anthony Randolph WILL get the start in GSW is encouraging, but I think I’ve got too many youngsters overall.  Oh, and I’m relying on the disgruntled former-Capt. Jack for a good chunk of my scoring.  See you in the cellar fellas, and lady (What up, Nat!?).

Tell me about “Got Game.” Was it hard to get a show about video games put on a sports radio station?

I’d like to say that “Got Game” is my baby… but sadly, I can only claim that I take care of it.  I’ve played video games all my life, and the opportunity to talk about both sports and gaming on the radio is an absolute blessing.  The show started up about 6 months ago, growing from Bryan Calhoun’s blog, to the epic 60 minute show that changes weekend time slots as frequently as Shaq misses free throws.  Yes, I understand that video games on a sports radio station might not be top-peg material… but we’ve got a wonderful and loyal fanbase that can thankfully follow along via podcast (available on our blog at fan590.com and on iTunes).

Gamers, hit me up on both PSN and XBL: I’m ZCooperstown (just like on twitter).

I like your bio on FAN590.com (”I’d prefer to pick up two assists than score a goal … anyday” — a man after my own heart). Could you tell me more about the series of events that led you to radio and The FAN 590?

My radio career has spanned about 8.5 years now.  I started off writing news for 680NEWS just before the tragic events of 9/11.  Needless to say, as a 20 year old getting into the biz, it was a great time for me to professionally cut my teeth.  Watching the best do their best under dire, ever-changing, circumstances was eye-opening and enlightening.  It’s certainly somewhat sad that a newsroom feeds off tragedy, and it’s partly that… along with love, and luck, that brought me to The FAN590.

The grind of news, traffic, weather, and entertainment reporting was starting to make me cabin-crazy (long, strange, hours of downright depressing info – and I’m not just talking about the weather here).  Thankfully, the Big Red Corporate Machine (Rogers) took over The FAN a handful of years ago.  When they needed overnight coverage for the Athens games, I stepped up… apparently impressed enough to get more opportunities… and I’ve been growing as a broadcaster ever since.  Hosting shows, reporting from Raptors games/practices (my true passion), and doing the updates have been fulfilling… but I’m curious about what’s next.

You indicated that you’re a newlywed. How does married life work with your FAN 590 shifts? I assume you have odd hours.

I did just get married in July.  Thanks for inquiring.  Life at home is great.  When I get me some life.  I assure you, the most difficult part of my job is not watching sports.  It’s balancing the hours of work with the elusiveness of leisure time with the lady.

Like a lot of people involved in sports broadcasting, my hours are pretty damn loopy.  I’ll go from working an evening shift, which will sometimes end at 2 or 3 in the AM, to coming back to the station about 6 hours later for another go-round.  It’s tough… but as long as the lady can tolerate it, so can I.

Got any dirt on Eric Smith and Jack Armstrong? What are they really like?

I can honestly say that what you hear is what you get with both Eric and Jack.  Sometimes, whether it be TV or radio, certain “personas” might not match that individual… but those two are pretty genuine.  As for dirt… can’t say I’ve got much on them. Oh, except you know how Jack comes off like he doesn’t tweet? …not true.  He’s actually up to 34,980 tweets (as of Friday at 5:52pm), as RaptorJack.

…Actually, that’s a lie.  I’m sorry.  @RaptorJack is apparently some dude who hails from Guilherme, Rentroia.  That’s not him.

What do you think of E’s obsession with bringing the NBA back to Vancouver?

I think Eric’s hopes of a return to Vancity is well-founded.  Clearly that disastrous Grizzlies team wasn’t going to draw many fans… but times have changed and the game has grown immensely north of the border since.  It’s a beautiful city (which I used to visit at least once a year), with fantastic, passionate, people… and they deserve something more than just the Canucks, Lions (seriously, do any of you watch the CFL?), and the WHL.

Who are your favourite Raptor(s) on this season’s squad, and why?

I’m not gonna lie… I’m pretty stoked to see what DeMar DeRozan can bring this season.  He’s obviously got the flash-factor, with game-changing dunks and block-ability… so there’s that… I’m a big fan of Jarrett Jack, and what I’ve learned about him as a person.  He’s the kind of guy who seems like he can keep a locker room together through tough times.  I’ve also got to admit that I wasn’t sold on Antoine Wright, but speaking to the guy has me buying what he’s selling.  The guy’s grown a lot in his short time in the game.  I could keep going, because with this team… there are a lot of solid guys.  But I’m gonna stick with the newbies for now.

You said your true passion is reporting on the Raptors. Any hopes or plans for expanding that career-wise?

There are a lot of ideas that float around in my brain… but given the economic uncertainty of the times, I’m trying to keep things practical and realistic.  You never know what lies ahead… but for right now, let’s just say that I’m hoping to do more of the same.  However… play by play would be a dream come true.

I have no video game system currently. Which one would you recommend?

If you don’t have a system, and you’re looking at getting in on the game… first off, what the hell kept you?  But more importantly… if you could only have one, I’d say go with the PS3.  It’s more technologically savvy, the top-quality exclusives have seemingly swayed Sony’s way… Either way, you’ll be in good shape… but with games like Uncharted 2 (and its unbelievable predecessor), Infamous, Little Big Planet… and that thing called a Blu-ray player, my vote goes to PS3.

NBA Live or NBA 2K, and why?

2K all the way.  Graphics, fluidity, presentation, realism… it’s all there.  Live got much closer this year (with a great ball-handling mechanic), but you can’t go wrong with 2K10.

Thanks, Zack, for answering my questions. Let’s see where we’re at when we meet in our league’s Week 10.

Remember to check out “Got Game,” and follow Zack on Twitter.

Previous Rappings:

• Eric Koreen of the National Post
• Raps Fan of Raptors Republic
  

This is part of a continuing series of Q&A’s and chats with GMs in my fantasy league. In this one, I ask Raps Fan of Raptors Republic about his websites, the potential Big Bosh Problem and more.

Pete Marasmitch: The Raptors FANtasy League season opens with the two of us matched up. Who are you most excited about on your team?

Raps Fan: Gotta go with Brandon Roy. He is going to have a very big year, now that he can play off the ball. 25PTS 6AST 5REB sounds about right to me.

PM: And what about this year’s Toronto Raptors? Which player would you especially like to succeed, and why?

RF: Easy — Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors have very little chance of getting to the next level with him doing nothing but dropping 17 a game. If he can grab 8-10 boards, I would be a happy camper.

I also am rooting for Amir Johnson. The kid is raw and goes after it. I love seeing big guys who are aggressive on the boards and on the low blocks.

PM: Any thoughts on the 2-guard-by-committee situation?

RF: I hate anything by committee … I’m a dictator kind of guy. I’m just biding my time, hoping Dave Hopla can work the kinks out of DeMar DeRozan’s shot, and he becomes a legit 2.

PM: Say Chris Bosh leaves. To you, is that the end of the Raptors’ world? What could Bryan Colangelo do to fill that huge hole?

RF: There is nothing BC could do to fill the hole if Bosh leaves.

He can only do two things to make things right: 1) sign Bosh to a max deal, or 2) trade Bosh for, say, Amar’e, and up him as soon as he lands.

Raps Fan of Raptors Republic

PM: What events led to the birth of Raptors Republic and its TrueHoop affiliation?

RF: Josh (Dinosty) got Zarar (Arsenalist.com), Scott (AltRaps.com) and me (RaptorsTalk.com) together and said the sum of the parts would be greater than the whole, and he was right. We all became friends over the last couple of years from being on each other’s blogs, so we thought this would be a great way to share the load. From the get-go, we had incredible support from our readers and have been growing ever since.

Kevin Arnovitz and Henry Abbott came knocking one day, and said they liked what we were doing with the blog (especially the Stat-O-Meter 3000), and the rest is history.

PM: Who designed that trippy, Trekkie RR symbol?

RF: We have a kid (LyNx — his bio here) who does all our stuff and sends us an inflated bill at the end of the month.

PM: Tell me more about RaptorsTalk.com. What motivated you to start that site?

RF: I started RaptorsTalk.com because after every game, my buddies and I would break every aspect of the game down, and get into huge arguments. So I decided to put myself out there and document everything.

PM: Please answer a question I didn’t ask.

RF:
Q: What did you think of “The Wrestler“?

A: I’m really not a fan of Darren Aronofsky movies. They don’t go anywhere, and I don’t get what he is trying to say, or the point of them. He scores them nicely though … love dramatic orchestra music.

Thanks again to Raps Fan. Check out his posts and follow him on Twitter.

Pete Marasmitch: I enjoyed your hair-raising piece, a.k.a. Bryan Colangelo’s Personal Vendetta. How goes the faux-hawk? Are you sporting the fedora, 24-7?

Eric Koreen: The faux-hawk lives. (Although I’m writing this a few days before the season starts. I could have evened it out by the time this is published.) I have worn a hat just once, and am now pretty comfortable with it. I don’t like it, but I’ve made my peace. Amir Johnson told me he did me a favour, while Sherman Hamilton told me about three weeks after the cut that the hair was at the ideal length. (Although, perhaps I should not be putting too much stock into Sherm’s thoughts on hair.) And if I do cut my hair soon, it will be legitimate: Johnson cut his hair a week before the season started, although he did apologize to me for leaving me hanging.

PM: In your behind-the-scenes view of the Raptors, what are some things about the players, coaches, management, etc., that might surprise the average fan? (Feel free to counter-attack B.C. and Amir Johnson.)

EK: There’s not much I can share here that’s particularly interesting, but I will say that Johnson, derided for his work ethic in the past, has stayed late almost every day of the pre-season. Maurizio Gherardini likes his dark humour, and is kind of the feet-on-the-ground yang to Colangelo’s always-hopeful yin. There is also far less defiant nudity in a basketball locker room than in a hockey or soccer locker room, and I’m fine with that.

PM: Please share a funny anecdote from your time as a beat writer.

EK: Jose Calderon has a reputation as a mundane quote, and that’s fair. Players don’t owe us anything, and I certainly don’t hold this against a player like Calderon, especially considering English is not his first language. But that doesn’t mean he’s devoid of personality. Two seasons ago, during the winter that featured unrelenting snow, Calderon was late for a game. When he arrived, he went on a two-minute rant about how drivers in this city over-react to snow, driving cautiously well past the point of necessity. He was not mean-spirited; I’ve never seen him be a jerk. But he was certainly enthused by our inability to cope with the conditions as a city, and it was damned entertaining.

PM: Do you regret missing the Sam Mitchell years? What nickname would he have given you?

EK: I didn’t miss all of the Mitchell years. I became full time in January 2008, so I got 11 months of Smitch — minus the summer, of course. It wasn’t quite enough time for us to form much of a coach-reporter relationship as he had with Doug Smith or Michael Grange, but I think he called me Goldilocks a few times. He was half-right. 

PM: Who are your sleepers from this edition of the Raptors, and why?

EK: With the nature of the Raptors’, errr, fervent fanbase, and the amount of money Colangelo tossed around this summer, I’m not sure anybody on this roster can be considered a sleeper. But my favourite thing the Raptors did this summer was sign Jarrett Jack. Their second unit was just brutal last year, and Jack is poised, and up to this point in his career, he has been productive.

One of my biggest problems with this team, as constituted, is the lack of offensive punch off the bench. I think they hope Marco Belinelli would fill that role, but I was not impressed with his pre-season body of work, and remain unsold. They’ll need someone to contribute offensively off the bench, other than Jack. I like Antoine Wright’s demeanour, but I’m not sure that’s him.

PM: What were the events that led you to become a beat writer for the National Post? Did you ever seriously consider a different career?

EK: To answer the second question first, ever since I about 16 or 17, I had tunnel vision toward sports reporting. As somebody who grew up in Toronto when the Raptors were just starting, as far as beat reporting goes, this is as good as it gets for me. I’m not sure I want to be in sports for 20 more years, but there are more good days than bad days on this job, and I think that’s better than most people can say.

As for how I got here, I started as an editorial assistant as The Canadian Press when I was 18, the summer after my first year at university (Ryerson, journalism). I did that for a year and a half’s worth of weekends (nothing good happens on weekends in university, right?), and then quit, had a miniature life crisis, then got a job at the Post sports section, doing a little bit of everything. I hung around there for a while, long enough for them to gain some trust in me, and I spent six weeks in the winter of 2007  interning there, which meant far more chances to write, including some Raptors stuff.

After I finished school (not to mention an appendicitis scare; I started the Toronto sports year of appendicitis in which Andrea Bargnani and Roy Halladay also suffered from the same ailment) I interned for the Post for the summer. I stayed on in a freelance role, and Matthew Sekeres, who was briefly the Raptors reporter, left the Post in around November to go be the Globe’s sports guy in Vancouver. I got the job at that point. (Matt recommended me, so I owe him a thank you.)

PM: Who are you most excited about in your Raptors FANtasy team lineup, and why?

EK: Durant! I co-run a keeper fantasy league with some friends, and I drafted Durant in the fourth round of his rookie season. He has been on my team for the last two years, and he is the only player in the league I can no longer write objectively about. (I’m joking about that. Kind of.)

Elsewhere, I thought getting Caron Butler in the third round was good, and Troy Murphy in the fourth round was absurd value. It’s easy not to like his game, but he was a points-rebounds double-double last year, with 45% three-point shooting. That last number will probably go down, but still, I was very pleased with that pick. I keep waiting for Al Horford to blow up, and that could happen this year. I was excited to get Allen Iverson as low as I got him. It’s a risky pick, but so is anything in the 10th round. If one of D.J. Augustin and Mike Conley has a good year, I think I have a chance, although I’m not sure I have the requisite hustle stats. That’s always my blind spot.

PM: You talk a lot about TV in your personal blog (A Snack and an Ego Stroke) and on Twitter (@ekoreen). What are your favourite shows? How do you feel about the final season of Lost?

EK: Oh, how you’re going to regret asking me that question. My two favourite shows on television are Friday Night Lights (inside every cynical sportswriter is a beating heart that is dying to feel good about athletes and coaches; FNL feeds that, and gives interesting portrayals of small-town life, too) and Chuck (as far as I know, it’s the only comedy-action-romance-straight-up-drama hybrid with unremitting ’80s pop culture references on television.) Yes, I suppose I’m doomed to love poorly rated shows. I also enjoy new comedies Community and Modern Family. I liked a pair of little-seen comedies from last year, Better Off Ted and Party Down, as well as stalwarts How I Met Your Mother and 30 Rock. If we’re talking all-time (or at least this decade), I loved both Veronica Mars (Buffy with a little more heart and more propulsive serialization) and like everyone else, The Wire. The latter has kind of ruined cable shows for me. The Wire is great, but so much effort was required for it to really kick in that I’m just too lazy to give Mad Men or Breaking Bad a chance. I know they’ll be great, but I feel like I need to clear my schedule for a month to give them a shot.

As for Lost, I’m a fan, although not a huge one. The only season I can say I really loved was the fourth. They changed up the formula just enough, but were still telling compelling character stories that year. I like my cult television, but the sci-fi-ness of Season 5 sort of lost me. And I stand by the notion that Seasons 2 and 3 were kind of a waste of time.

I think Lost is more plot-driven at this point than character-driven, and that’s perhaps why I can’t embrace it as much as people seem to think I should. (And I don’t think many of the characters are that compelling; the only two I really care about are Desmond and Penny. Sun and Jin used to be in that group, but they’ve been too de-emphasized lately. I also think Ben is one of the more overrated characters in TV history; he’s more of a plot device than a character, but that’s a whole different conversation.)

Despite all of that, I’m hopeful for this season. I’m positive they’ve left themselves with too little time to address all the questions they’ve asked. But there should be enough time to resolve the major questions as well as give resolutions for the main characters. As long as they have the guts not to end with an abrupt fade to black, I’ll be good.

PM: Thanks, Eric. Looking forward to our Week 2 fantasy matchup. Go, Channing Frye!

Don’t forget to check out A Snack and an Ego Stroke, @ekoreen, and Eric’s work at the National Post.

Chris Bosh and I are excited. Are you? (AP via Daylife)

Anybody else as excited as I am for the 2009 NBA draft, a.k.a. Bryan Colangelo Redemption Night?

If you are just as pumped, stoked or whatever-other-adjective to see what the Raptors will do this Thursday night, comment below, and I’ll respond ASAP — like a makeshift live blog, from now till 4PM today!

And keep commenting on through Sunday and tell me your reactions to the wheelings and dealings related to our beloved Raptors.

Here are some ideas to get you going. What do you think of:

• B.C.’s fave five: DeMar DeRozan, Gerald Henderson, James Johnson, Jrue Holiday and Jonny Flynn?
• Shawn Marion signing-and-staying or signing-and-trading?
• Drafting a point guard?
• Getting a second-round pick?
• Free agents?
• Potential trade partners, like the Minnesota Timberwolves?

Looking forward to chatting with you!

Caron Butler. I still think he looks like Chuck Swirsky. (NBA.com)

What a treat! Not only do we get to see the Toronto Raptors face the Washington Wizards twice this weekend, but I also got to do a Q&A with Thomas Threlkeld of D.C. Pro Sports Report and the Dan Steinberg of D.C. Sports Bog!

(UPDATE: My answers to Thomas’ Raptors questions are now up on DCPSR.)

Here we go:

Pete: What do you see as the positive(s) of this season?

Threlkeld: There are two positive things that can be taken from this season. First, and most importantly, the Wizards will receive a very high lottery pick. There’s nothing wrong with that. Secondly, the Wizards got a chance to look at some of their young kids and found that they have a pretty decent, though still very raw, big man in Javale McGee. They found that Dominic McGuire is going to be a nice role player in this league, capable of filling the stat sheet with rebounds and assists, in addition to great defense.

Steinberg: Well, despite leading the league in games lost to injury, no one died. That was good. Also, Dominic McGuire seems like a keeper, though not a starting NBA two guard. Also, they’re going to get a top four or top five overall pick, which no team that has three recent All-Stars really deserves, though they might not even keep it. 

Remember, AP: Dominic McGuire feels faces. (TruthAboutIt.net)

Pete: How do you feel about the Big Three of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler? Is it time to break it up?

Threlkeld: I know Charles Barkley wants to break up the big three. None of them should be untouchable, but the team deserves a chance to see the three on the floor for an extended period of time. The last time we really got a look at all three of them healthy was around the All Star break in 2007. The Wizards were the top team in the Eastern Conference at that time. Granted, that was like being the top guy on the junior varsity, but they still had the best record. Soon after the All Star game, Antawn Jamison got hurt and the team took a tumble. When Jamison got back, Gilbert and then Caron went down with injuries. Gilbert, as we know, is still trying to come back from that first injury.

If the Wizards get a good offer for one or more of the three, they should consider it. However, there is nothing wrong with going into the next season with those three players. They’re all good and, if the Wizards’ luck ever turns, they will all be healthy.

Steinberg: Nah. Are they going to win an NBA title? Probably not. Can they go to the second round of the playoffs? I think so. With the recent history of D.C. basketball (and D.C. sports in general), being in the top eight of the NBA is good enough.

D.C. fans will be saying this for the next 46 years, but when the core was reasonably healthy (winter of ‘06), they were one of the most entertaining and successful teams in the NBA. Now, sure, everyone in the East has gotten better since then, but I don’t see some nirvana that comes from breaking this thing up. At least give them one fair shot to finish a season together.

No more 4,000-word essays from Arenas? (via FamousDC.com)

Pete: What does Arenas, retired blogger, mean to you?

Threlkeld: Gilbert was a good blogger. He actually wrote interesting things and he was funny. He was controversial. He didn’t take himself too seriously.

Let’s face it, most pro athletes don’t have much to say. They’ve spent a lifetime working on their bodies, not their minds — as well as mastering a game, not nuclear physics or 19th century French poetry. Gilbert is one of those athletes who can talk almost as well as he can play. I’ll miss Gil the Blogger, but I don’t know if he’s gone for good.

Gil often says one thing and then soon does the opposite. He’s not a liar, he just says whatever is in his head at that time. That’s one of the things that makes him so interesting.

Steinberg: Less work. Less laughs. He’s still one of the best quotes in pro sports; his “a broken clock’s right twice” line after the Wiz beat the Cavs for the second time this year was pretty genius, and he still says any and everything that’s on his mind, if you can actually stand in front of him and get him to start talking. Anyhow, the world of online athlete interaction has changed a lot since then; 140 characters are in, 4,000-word essays are out.

Pete: Was Eddie Jordan the “fall guy” for an injury-hampered season? What is your opinion of Jordan?

Threlkeld: Eddie Jordan didn’t deserve to get fired, but most coaches would have been canned after a 1-10 start, particularly when it was clear the team was going through the motions in several games. It appeared that the players were shell-shocked over the loss of their best offensive player (Gilbert) and their best defensive player (Brendan Haywood).

Jordan’s firing is one of those things that happens in sports — a good guy loses his job because something has to change and you can’t fire the players. Eddie Jordan can teach offense and he’s good at relating to most players. It will be a real challenge for the next coach to handle Arenas as well as Eddie Jordan did.

The major flaw in Eddie Jordan’s tenure is that he never got a good defense out of this team. He never got Gilbert Arenas to play hard on defense and he didn’t lean enough on Brendan Haywood, who is the heart, soul, spine and brain of any defense Washington plays.

Steinberg: I guess he was the fall guy, and a lot of fans have said a lot of kind things about Eddie since then. He also was one of the nicest and most generous (with his time) coaches I’ve ever dealt with. But the fact of the matter is, the team’s horrendously awful winning percentage under Ed Tapscott is actually better than it was under Jordan, and he had an incredibly long (by NBA standards) tenure for a guy who had never won a second-round GAME in this city. He absolutely should and will get more coaching chances, but with two all-stars (Butler and Jamison) and what seemed like a promising group of newbies, I think it was worth letting Eddie  go to see if a new coach could rescue the season before it completely splintered. The answer was no, but it was worth the chance.

Are we talking enough about Brendan Haywood? (via AtTheBox.com)

Pete: Is Brendan Haywood underrated?

Threlkeld: Brendan Haywood is only underrated by people who don’t know basketball. The Wizards have usually been dominated in rebounding and scoring in the paint this season. However, the Wizards have won the rebounding and points in the paint battle in all three of Haywood’s games this season. He’s a legit 7-footer with good size and a real feel for defense. You can see him directing his teammates about where they should be on defense. And he’s very difficult to score over. Coach Ed Tapscott says Haywood’s absence has hurt the Wizards defensively as much as Gilbert’s injury hurt the team offensively. That might even be understating things.

Steinberg: Is Brendan Haywood underrated? From everything the team says, yes, tremendously. Because he’s a veteran, and has a great basketball mind, and cares about defense, and helps his teammates on defense, and has size and savvy. With him and no Gil last year, they were still a playoff team. Although it’s worth noting that with Haywood last week, the Wiz lost at Memphis, and with Haywood and Arenas, they beat the Cavs.

Pete: Who would you like in the draft, apart from the favorites (Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio)?

Threlkeld: If Blake Griffin is available, you take him and walk away from the table. If he’s not, things get more interesting, though less rewarding, most likely. Apart from the obvious choices like Thabeet and Rubio, Jordan Hill is an intriguing player. He can handle the power forward position, like Griffin, and he’s a freakish athlete who has some post moves, but can also step out and hit a mid-range shot. He’s a bit raw, but with Jamison on the roster, he wouldn’t have to step in and start immediately. With Jordan Hill, you want to watch his motor because it appears to me as if he’s not always working as hard as he could be.

Steinberg: I’m not a fan, really, I’m a reporter, so I just like excitement and good personalities. Brandon Jennings would fit nicely. But who knows if they’re even keeping this pick….With all the kids they have, and their cap situation, there’s a school of thought that says they trade the pick and whatever else for a veteran to try to make this run now before someone else gets hurt.

Pete: Anything else you’d like to talk about?

Threlkeld: An extra point about the Wizards: They will have a new coach next season. Tapscott is a placeholder, a position he’s filled willingly. If the Wizards have a healthy Gilbert Arenas, a healthy Brendan Haywood and one of the first three picks in the draft, this would be a very attractive job for lots of coaches looking for a job. Avery Johnson could be the choice, but I wonder if he and Gilbert would mesh well. Flip Saunders would be an obvious way to go.

Thanks again to both Thomas Threlkeld and Dan Steinberg for A’ing my Q’s. Please check out D.C. Pro Sports Report for my A’s to Raptors Q’s.

D'Antoni + Lee = 20/20 (Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.)

This weekend features a back-to-back series between division rivals, the Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks. They may be ”battling for the 14th spot in the East” right now, but both teams have a bright future. I ask SML, writer for Stop Mike Lupica and Sports On My Mind, and Mike Slane, beat writer for NYKnicks.com, about what’s going on in Knickerbockerland. (Check out my answers to Raptors questions at Stop Mike Lupica.)

What are some positives from this Knicks season, aside from clearing out cap space and dropping dead weight?
SML: Well, the clearing of cap space is going to be the biggest positive from this season by such a large margin that it overshadows everything else.  In fact, it’s pretty much overshadowed everything else – the other positives and the negatives (more on that later).  The pluses: David Lee (and Nate Robinson to an extent) emerged as solid players that now hopefully have some real trade value; Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced system is the most exciting thing to happen to Knick fans in almost a decade; the team has some good young pieces, particularly Wilson Chandler, but also the aforementioned Lee-Robinson duo that might be in NYC past 2010.  Most importantly of all, the negative energy that engulfed the Knicks, from the media coverage to the fans at the games, has been replaced by a different energy.  It’s not positive – not quite – but it’s the feeling of “okay, where are you going to take us next, Donnie Walsh?”.

That’s the two biggest changes with the team right there – one, Donnie Walsh seems to have a plan, and everyone knows what the ideal plan is long term (hint: it’s LeBron), but at the same time we all want to see how it’s going to actually unfold.  Will David Lee be a part of that future?  What will be the backup plan if LeBron says no?

The second change has been D’Antoni.  He’s a coach who has a structure on offense (the previous coach, Isiah Thomas, did not have a very structured offense, to say the least), and who seems to inspire his players more.  While the overall success of his coaching here is still to be determined, at least there is a more positive attitude in general.  Players seem less surly, the media seem less surly, and the fans are happier, too.

Slane: The biggest positive by far is rookie Danilo Gallinari. Despite playing only 28 games this season, he’s shown all the doubters that he can play and will be a valuable piece to the team’s future. Not only is he already the best shooter on the Knicks but he has surprised the team with his defensive skills. Honestly, I thought this guy was going to get pushed around against NBA players – he might be the skinniest dude to ever put on the blue and orange – but he really held his own. I’m hoping he bounces back from his back injury over the summer.

Another positive is just the overall culture of the team. Nearly every game is a sellout or close to it, and the fans got to experience a playoff atmosphere for the first time in years. The Knicks have broken so many offensive records this season under Mike D’Antoni and they’re really a fun team to watch. They would have been a playoff team had they not made the deals involving Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, but they did remain competitive through most of the year even after making four in-season trades.

Image by Points In The Paint

Speaking of dead weight: What is the future of Eddy Curry?
SML: 45%: Donnie Walsh somehow finds a way to trade him this offseason, even if it means the Knicks give up an asset to do so – someone like David Lee, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, or maybe even the #1 pick this upcoming draft (if it’s not a great pick).  My bet is still on a Lee & Curry (and money… don’t forget that money goes far in today’s NBA given the economic conditions) package trade.

55%: Donnie can’t find any takers this offseason, not even with David Lee included.  The Knicks have him work out in the offseason, and try to play him early next season with the hopes of getting his trade value up enough that they can shop by next season’s trade deadline (February 2010).

Bottom line: I don’t think there is anyway Curry is here in NY past the summer of 2010.

Slane: Eddy Curry has had a rough year to say the least. With starting the season off with a bacterial infection followed by knee injuries and all the personal problems, you have to feel bad for this guy. I think he’ll get some much-needed playing time in the final few games and he says he plans on coming in early this summer to workout with his teammates. If he’s healthy and in shape next season, I don’t see why he couldn’t be a good offensive player again playing for D’Antoni.

Little Nate is larger than life. (Streetball.com)

What do you think of Nate Robinson? Is his enthusiasm contagious or grating?
SML: Both!  That’s the Nate Robinson Mystery, all in one.  Ask Mike D’Antoni himself… he’s been back and forth all season long on Nate.  When his energy is controlled and channeled correctly, he is positively explosive.  When it’s out of control and Nate is lashing out at opponents, showboating, and fighting with refs… it’s negatively explosive.  Someday he may develop the maturity, or the coolness, to not a) bicker with refs b) fight with opponents and c) showboat.  But until then, you have to take the good (those 30-point outbursts off the bench, those 12 assists, 1 turnovers games, the tough defense and hustle) with the aforementioned bad.

Slane: I’m a big fan of Nate. When I first started covering the Knicks prior to the season I had no idea how much he could change the game off the bench. He’s a sparkplug player any team would want and I think he could continue to excel in this fast-paced system, which is clearly perfect for his game. For the few weeks following the All-Star break, he was averaging around 30 points per game and the Knicks were in the midst of a playoff race. That says a lot.

As far as his enthusiasm, I like the energy he brings on the court every night. I really don’t mind the technical fouls and all that as long as it doesn’t affect the overall outcome of the game. If he didn’t play with that certain attitude, he probably wouldn’t be the type of athlete we all know him as.

Who do you like in this year’s draft?
SML: The Knicks won’t get a top-3 pick, but Blake Griffin is a monster.  He’s the clear cut #1.  Is Ricky Rubio waiting another year?

The player I’m most intrigued by in this year’s draft is Brandon Jennings, who spent the year playing in Italy. [Pete's note: Jennings plays for Lottomatica Roma, in the spot vacated by ... Roko Ukic.] He’s been okay out there, putting up so-so numbers in about 20 minutes a night of balling.  But seeing how high (or low) he goes in the draft, and what he does in the NBA, will be very crucial to a lot of future high school stars.

Slane: I have no idea what his status is, as far as entering the draft this year, but Ricky Rubio could be a lot of fun to watch in the Knicks’ offense.  But what the Knicks really need is a shot blocker and some size down low.

Image from Bleacher Report

Beyond LeBron, who do you want from among the potential 2010 free agents?
SML: I’m actually hoping it turns out to be Plan B for the Knicks.  Having LeBron will be great, but you know what?  It’ll be even better, and more meaningful to me as a fan, if the Knicks found a way to win without LeBron.  It’s like that would be too easy.  The ‘96 Knicks were the last Knicks team to have lots of salary cap room; they did it with the intention of maybe luring Michael Jordan to NYC.  It didn’t work, of course.  Instead, they went to Plan B: Larry Johnson (via trade), Allan Houston (via free agency), and Chris Childs (also free agency).  They ended up putting together some really great playoff runs, even if they couldn’t win it all in the end.

Me?  What I really want is this: Chris Bosh (sorry, Jeff) or Amaré Stoudemire for cheap in 2010, then Kevin Durant in 2011.  Nobody is talking about it yet, but does anyone really think Durant, already a top-5 player in the NBA, is going to stay in OKLAHOMA CITY for the rest of his career?!?  If LeBron wants to stay in Cleveland, I say save the cap room for Durant in 2011, team him up with another stud, and let’s see if they can take out King James.

Slane: Sorry I had to stay away from the free agency questions. Since I work for the team, I don’t want to get in trouble for speculating about the future.

The economic downturn – how do you think it will affect the Knicks’ free agency plans, for this year and next?
SML: Not in a negative way.  In fact, it is an advantage to the Knicks – they can still afford to be big spenders at a time when other teams are trying hard to cut costs however possible. The Knicks could probably swings some trades based purely on financial advantage; for example, I believe there’s a handful of players out there without insurable contracts (Eddy Curry’s heart, for example).  These players are dangerous during normal times, but they are even scarier nowadays.  If something happened to these players, the team wouldn’t even be able to collect the insurance money on the player.  The Knicks might be able to trade someone like Jared Jeffries for such a contract, if that player was injured and uninsured.  Something to keep an eye out for….

Anything else you want to talk about?
SML: Yep, one last thing: the Knicks looked good for most of the year, even threatening to compete for the 8th spot for a while, before falling apart at the end of the season.  This reminded me very much, unfortunately, of Isiah’s first season as coach, two years ago.  The Knicks were 29-34, in 8th place (actually better than D’Antoni’s Knicks this season), when they fell apart at the end of the season and ended up in the lottery.  That’s not to say the Knicks will continue to go downward from here.  But there is a bit too much optimism out there about the “step forward” the Knicks have taken, but to me it’s this simple: I’m tired of the lottery.  Until we make the playoffs, I don’t want to here about how much this team is an improvement over last year, blah blah blah.  There are three levels to measure where a team is at: lottery teams, playoff teams, serious contenders.  Right now the Knicks are the in the first group.  The majority of the NBA is actually in the second group, with only a handful of elite teams (Boston, Cleveland, LA, San Antonio) in the top group.  So for all the talk about improvement, the Knicks are still sitting in the bottom third of the NBA.  We Knick fans want more than that.

The bad news is that the Knicks still suck in the present as much as they have over the past seven years; the good news is that for once, we Knick fans maybe have a future to look forward to.

***********

Thanks again to SML and Mike Slane, as well as DV for making the connection.

OKC Thunder's Russell Westbrook is a guy to watch.

As we near the end of this sorry season, the Toronto Raptors get to face teams that are “down there” with them. Tonight, Toronto hosts the similarly sad Oklahoma City Thunder. Zeb of Blue Blitz comes to share some insight, some hopes and some dreams for his Thunder. 

We all know about Kevin Durant. But what about Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook – are they “studs,” bona fide starters?

Honestly, if you asked any Thunder fan who the three most valuable players on the Oklahoma City Thunder were, the automatic response out of their mouths would be, “Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook”. If you asked them the fourth, many would stumble between guys like Nenad Krstic, Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, and Desmond Mason. There’s no question who the most valuable guys on the team are. When it was suggested that we were going to trade Jeff Green for Amaré Stoudamire, many fans stood up in outrage (well, typed onto their computers in outrage) at the thought of breaking up the trifecta.

Now, most would say this is no indicator, as Oklahoma fans are, according to Phil Jackson, uneducated about the NBA game. And, even if I pointed to stats, most would point right back at the fact that the Thunder have no one else to rely on. So, my last resort has to be their performances against bona-fide teams. In the win against Dallas, Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double. Jeff Green put up 22 points against Utah. Russell Westbrook has out-rebounded his scoring on more than one occasion, showing you he’s not selfish with the ball. Jeff Green put up a double-double (25-10) against Orlando. I could go on, but I think it’s pretty obvious that both of them could start on 25 out of the 30 teams in this NBA, and be the best player on some of the cellar-dwellers. But, will they be All-Stars? That’s something that only time can tell.

Interesting to see Westbrook doing well at PG, since he came into the league with questions about his ability to play lead guard. (Incidentally, I have Earl Watson on my fantasy team.) What are his ballhandling, court vision and passing like?

They’re not super excellent or anything. His main forte seems to be driving and dishing the ball. He’s not a Steve Nash, but he’s unselfish with the ball, never jacks up bad shots, always seems to get something out of every possession, and will always get away with excellent steals on weak, opposing PGs. So, his strengths lie in the fact that he defends on the perimeter extremely well, can drive, drive and dish, and not jack up shots. He’s not the type of PG to carry out an excellent pass to a cutter for a layup or dunk, but more so the guy that will just keep the offense moving and not spend 18 seconds dribbling it at the top of the key like a Baron Davis.

Earl Watson is more of a pure PG, and has much better court visions and passing skills. His inherent flaw is that he has absolutely no offense, and can’t rebound nearly as well, and that’s why we go with Westbrook.

How do you feel about the much-maligned Thunder logo now? Do you expect a redesign in the near future?

As for a redesign, I’d give a strong no. From what I understand, the ownership group stepped in and said, “This will be the team name and logo”, forgoing all of the marketing and design guys who were supposed to decide. Since then, the team has sold lots of jerseys, and the fans seem to be happy. So no, it’s not happening any time soon, no matter how much I wish it.

Rumble the Bison.

I’m not sure who Lion-O is, but I think Rumble is just pretty average as far as mascots go. I mean, when you have a mascot, he’s supposed to be either really cute (think the Rockets mascot), really weird (Magic mascot), or really tough (Warriors old mascot). Here, we just got a mascot that’s middle of the road. Not weird, kinda cute, but not super tough. Honestly, I think they were just trying to get as close to the old Sonics “Sasquatch” as possible, so the performer would be used to the costume. Still, I love mascots, and I’m being really nitpicky. The old Hugo was really awesome too.

This is Lion-O of the Thundercats. What do you think?

I never even knew the Thundercats existed until I was 12 or 13. I thought they looked gross and weird, and I still think they look gross and weird. Rumble easily trounces them.

Thanks for your answers, Zeb.

Be sure to check out Blue Blitz for my A’s to Zeb’s Q’s.

Do you remember those Raptors ticket giveaways, oh, end-of-last-yearish? I Q&A’ed the man responsible, Bohire’s VP of Business Development, Vincent Tsang. We talk about happy stuff, like Raptors and cash rewards. Here we go:

Tell us briefly about yourself.

In 1996 I co-founded a company called Infocheck.  Infocheck became the largest Canadian owned Human Resources Consulting Firm specializing in Background Checks and Exit Interviews.  In 2004 Infocheck was acquired by First Advantage.  From 2004 to 2006, I was the Vice President of Business Development with First Advantage.

In 2008, I co-founded a company called Bohire, Canada’s Job Referral Community.  Bohire is an online community where companies post jobs and offer cash referral rewards.  When you refer a friend and he/she gets hired, you get the cash!

When did you become a Raptors fan?

Right from the beginning.  I remember going to the SkyDome and watching a game, 50 rows up from the floor and I couldn’t see anything but little sticks running up and down the court.

How did the Bohire-Raptors connection come about?

When we first started Infocheck in 1996, we had absolutely no money.  We ran our business from home and we had about $100/month for groceries and entertainment. We were starving!  Long story short, we finally started making some money 5 years later and decided to purchase Raptor Season Tickets to give to our clients.  Of course, we take a few games for ourselves once in awhile.

How can Bohire help job seekers during this economic downturn?

Bohire is Canada’s Job Referral Community where companies post jobs and offer a “cash” referral reward.  When you refer someone to a job and they get hired, you get the cash, up to $6000.  There are currently over $370 000 worth of rewards available and some people are starting to make a living off of our site. Over 3000 people across Canada have already joined Bohire as “referrers” and it’s absolutely free to join.  We have all referred people to jobs in the past, and now you get paid for it on Bohire.

Bohire is perfect for everyone during an economic downturn.  Corporations are drastically reducing their hiring cost and they are looking for more cost effective solutions.  Everyone wins in our community.  Companies hire a great passive job seeker at the price they wanted, your friend gets a great job, and you make great money by simply referring.  We all know someone and we believe social networking will take over the recruitment world in the next 5 years.

Any tips for Bohire users?

We can all use a few extra dollars during an economic downturn and this looks like a deep deep recession in my opinion.  Job seekers can check out Bohire to look for jobs.  If you see a job for yourself, get someone you know to refer you.  On the flip side, you can make great money by referring people to jobs.  Check out Bohire on a daily basis and if you see someone you know who would be great for that job, all you have to do is refer them through Bohire. When your friend gets the job, you get the cash.

Thanks, Vincent!

**************

So, you wanna make up to $6000? I’m looking for a job in the publishing or media industry in the Greater Toronto Area, preferably close to Ajax. Please add me as a Bohire Friend and refer me! I’ll gladly return the favour.

Pete: Brendan! How goes?
Brendan: Heya. Goes pretty well, considering it’s Monday.
Pete: And considering the status of your founder, Andrew Bynum?
Brendan: Indeed. Mookie talked me off the ledge but… jeez…
Pete: How bad is it, anyway?
Brendan: Still not sure. It looks like a fracture rather a sprain. Don’t know why I said that
BUT
There’s still no definitive word after seeing the specialist in NY, which strikes me as bad.
I’d guess Kidrew is out at least a month. [Pete's note: Latest report says at least eight weeks.]
Pete: They often blame swelling, don’t they, for the late word?
Brendan: It’s the indeterminate factor I suppose. But if the x-rays are negative, why can’t you help a fantasy owner out, you know?
I’ll make it.
Pete: Who takes Bynum’s place in the meantime?
Brendan: It ain’t Chris Mihm, I’ll tell you that.
I think Lamar Odom is the obvious pick, with extra minutes for the bench corp (and Trevor Ariza in particular).
How this might disrupt Odom’s play when he returns to the bench nobody’s sure.
Pete: Hey, speaking of Odom,
Brendan: As we are… (nice segue)

Pete: Any talk of him being traded, to beef up for the playoffs?
Brendan: Honestly, nothing more serious than any other rumor we’ve heard for the last few years. With Shawn Marion clearly on the market and a more proven commodity, I’d be surprised if we saw anybody trade for Odom. People think he’s overpaid.
Pete: But his contract is expiring…
Brendan: True.
I wrote something down about this…
See, I have a suspicion that no contract worth more than $8 million is getting dealt this year.
Last season’s big deals were about a glut of highly competitive teams trying for the push over the top and into the finals. This year’s contenders are pretty solid as they are, but everybody else would only be negotiating position for the free-agent feeding frenzy to come, and all the biggest players in that world seem pretty poised already.
Pete: Ugh. Bad news for Raps fans.
Brendan: How much is left on Jermaine O’Neal’s deal?
Pete: $23 mil in 2010.
Brendan: Ouch.
I take it back. Bryan Colangelo will try to make something happen there.
Pete: I sure hope so.
Brendan: Not sure if they’ll pick up an expiring deal to re-sign a player though. It’s not like players are busting the door down to play up north.
(No offense, my father is a canuck.)
Pete: You do have a point. Winning attracts.
Brendan: And the Raps are going the wrong way on that elevator.
How nervous are you that Chris Bosh leaves?
Pete: Not really.
Brendan: One more season, right?
Pete: Yes. The big 2010. [Technically, he's got a player option for the 2010-11 season. Thanks, Carolyn.]
Brendan: He’s got to like making franchise money there, anyway.
I’ll tell you a secret.
Pete: Okay!
Brendan: He was my pick as the bird-man in my banner.
I’ve always thought that Bosh looks like a raptor, like a bird of prey. I’ll tell anybody who listens that I think he looks birdlike.
Pete: Or ostrich-like?
Brendan: SURE! Facial features, thin limbs. He’s, like, two evolutionary steps from defunct patagia.
Pete: Hahaha.

Brendan: Not that I dislike Bosh, though I’ve always thought him an overrated fantasy player. Unless you’re playing roto, he’s a second rounder for sure (at best).
Pete: Agreed, but he does have the drive to improve, and he has improved over the years.
Brendan: Absolutely.
I kind of like him in real life.
But you said it, winning is all.
And he might be devalued a tiny bit by 2010.
Lebron + Bosh = rings. All I’m sayin’…
Pete: You believe the rumors – Bosh and LeBron (and Wade?) in New York?

Brendan: Nah, not really.
It’d be terrible for the league, too. As much as we all think talent has been diluted by expansion, the spread of wealth keeps each team profitable.
Pete: Good point. But it would be fun to see the New Big Three.
Brendan: Oh, absolutely, but they’d also be the ONLY thing anybody ever talked about, and that would get old.
As long as they ain’t Celtics, I’m cool.
(there’s no angry-face emoticon)
Pete: (Sure there is!)
x-(
Brendan: Haha. I’m internets-lazy, apparently.
Pete: Hey, I wanna talk to you about a particular player.
Brendan: Bargs, right?
Pete: No…
Brendan: Ah… hit me.
Pete: Check out the poll. See who’s the top pick for Raps SF.
Brendan: Ahhh. I thought that was interesting. Marion vs. Hedo.
Pete: Hedo won. Who-da thunk?
Brendan: That’s the big debate.
I’ve been pretty adamant that Marion needs a pass-first PG, and I think he’s the obvious choice for Colangelo’s Suns-North ideal.
Plus I’m not sure (from what little I’ve seen) that the Raptors’ problem is ball movement.
I’m a little convinced that Turkoglu’s value has been meshing with the system in Orlando, and (sorry Jermaine) O’Neal just isn’t Dwight Howard.
I’m thinking it’s more likely that Marion has a resurgence with fewer expectations (and probably less money) in the new setting than Hedo fits and pushes you guys over the top.

Hedo’s in sync with D-Ho. (from SlamDunkCentral.com)

Pete: So you think Marion’s not breaking down? Still something left in the tank?
Brendan: I think he’s DEFINITELY got some great game left, but he – more than ANYBODY on those Suns teams – thrives under pace and with a PG feeding him on the break.
Plus I think Turkoglu’s a little flukey.
Pete: I know – he’s on my fantasy team for the second year in a row.
Brendan: Oooohhh. I warned ya. One of my few correct calls this season.
Pete: And I agree, Raps need a Marion-type more than a Hedo-type.
What about your Lakers? Offseason, that is.
Brendan: I like this team. I do.
I think they might actually benefit from losing Odom, as horrible as that sounds. He’s been a warrior for us, playing hurt in the playoffs.
And I’m not nearly as hard on him as a lot of folks, but he’s just not being maximized by any stretch of the imagination.
I’m not fully convinced of our ability to score off the bench. Jordan Farmar is nobody’s Pistol Pete.
But as constructed, I think they’re a title contender for years, obviously. It just means more minutes for the starters.
I’m very content, ultimately.
(And, incidentally, the Ariza-for-Cook trade was the beginnings of Mitch Kupchak’s emergence as a good GM!)
Pete: And once Odom’s gone, do you guys have much cap space?
Brendan: Not really. Haha. He’s got a sizeable contract, but we’re pretty well over the cap. Not a big 2010 destination for anybody.
Pete: And Bynum’s contract starts?
Brendan: That seems to be the plan.
Would you go to war with Bynum/Kobe/Pau as your core?
Pete: It seems to work, no?
Brendan: Absolutely.
I was up and down on Bynum – I honestly was – but you don’t score 40 points by accident, you know?
He could be a legit offensive presence someday, and maybe rather soon.
Pete: You know, I was thinking: Hedo would work in LA.
Brendan: HE WOULD! But he’ll command around $10 mil this year, and we don’t NEED him. He’s not the best wing defender, and our intermittent/lazy D is our achilles heel.
But that’s a triangle player right there.
Pete: True. That’s what I thought. But his so-so D … another reason why he’s not good for the Raps.
Brendan: Honestly, we have an embarrassment of riches.
And Marion is forgotten as a tenacious defender. He was the ONLY actually defender on those Suns teams. He can guard 4 positions, etc. You don’t lose that in your early 30s.

The Matrix can still defend like old times. (from Basketbawful)

Pete: That’s why I want him!
Brendan: As well you should!
Pete: Just scared by his health.
Brendan: Yeeeah. But again, your options are slightly limited.
And he’s nowhere near the risk you took in acquiring JO.
I think it’s a fit, but a trade would have happened by now if it’s gonna.
I’m thinking the FA price of Marion is around $13 mil. Somebody’ll give him that, maybe a little less. And that’s a paycut.
Pete: Would Matrix be too proud? Go to Europe?
Brendan: Probably not. He’s got the NBA bonafides, and somebody will pay him, probably the Raps if they can make the cap work.
I like your GM. I do.
Pete: Me too!
Brendan: Hang in there, Toronto.
(Maybe the best Raps blog name: Mediocre Forever.)
Pete: I thought the best was Pete Marasmitch.
Brendan: OMG! I am SO SORRY Master Pete! Look what I’ve gone and said.
Seriously though, “Smitch’s Smash” is great. If only you had the Smitch…
Pete: He’s now hanging out at the Atlanta Hawks games.
Brendan: Is he?
Pete: Apparently.
Brendan: Is Mike Woodson on the outs?
Pete: Smitch – whatta vulture.
Seriously, I dunno.
Brendan: I can’t see them firing Woodson after sticking by him and them becoming a playoff team. I wouldn’t mind him in Memphis though…
Pete: Hey, one more thing before we leave the fire.
Brendan: Sure.
Pete: How goes the Chinese Magic Johnson?
My countryman?
The Monkey King?
Brendan: He prefers “The Monkey King”!
Pete: Snap!
Brendan: Sun Yue’s a fan favorite. A Chinese victory cigar.
I don’t see anybody that deep on the depth chart in LA making a name there. But from what I’ve seen, he wears warmups VERY well.
Pete: Haha. But he hasn’t been cut (yet), so that’s positive for him.
Brendan: Sure. I guess he’s got some talent.
And remember, Sasha Vujacic was a practice player for a few years, so maybe that contract is coming after all.
Pete: The Machine, The Monkey King, and Kobe. LA has it all.
Brendan: Best buddy-cop movie ever?
“The Machine, The Monkey King, and Kobe”
I’d shell out nine bucks, ’cause I sure can’t afford Lakers tix.

Looks more like a crime drama to me. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Pete: Kobe has to feed his family.
Brendan: Hehe.
Rick Fox is crying to himself somewhere becaus he thinks we could be serious, and that Kobe could get cast in something.
Pete: I could see that. MJ got to work with Toons, why not Kobe?
Brendan: In this economy, why not? Mother of all career reinventions…
Eagle, CO to a new Looney Toons flick.
I honestly shudder at the possibility.
For all the world, really.
Pete: On that note…
Brendan: On that thoroughly depressing note…
Pete: Thanks for sitting down by the fire with me.
Brendan: Hey, it was honestly my pleasure. I love Pete Marasmitch!
(Was that the line we agreed to?)
Just kidding!
Thanks a ton. I’d love to do it again.
Pete: Great!
By the way, what does the “K” stand for?
Brendan: “Kelly.” My lineage is apparently of Irish cop characters from old Hollywood movies. I am “Brendan Kelly O’Grady.”
Try not to do a borderline-offensive accent on it.
Pete: I can’t help it now!
Brendan: Ha! Nobody can.
Thanks, Jeff.