We love to bitch about the Erz. And with good reason; the organization has been a near train wreck for years now.
But can you imagine being a T’Wolves fan? From 2007 forward, they’ve endured the NBA fan’s version of Chinese water torture — KG being traded away for spit, missing out on O.J. Mayo, trading Mike Miller for a #5 draft pick that was used on a player they’ll never see in uniform (Rubio), Al Jefferson tearing his ACL, the Wes Johnson pick (a bust waiting to happen), and the Darko signing — and they’re still nowhere near having a team that can compete on any serious level.
Imagine that. Then imagine tuning into the NBA Summer League and hearing your Director of Basketball Operations talking this kinda shit:
C-Webb is priceless here. I especially love the way he signed off with a dismissive, “Good luck.”
My heart goes out to you, Minnesota. Hey, at least you got Al Franken. Oh, and Prince.
-G
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
A discussion of hoops, culture and philosophy — between two Philly brothas.
THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN, BITCHES.
WHAT ARE WE MISSING?
Is there some topic you’d like us to discuss? Just send us an email and say so.
4 comments:
Webb was pissed! You see how he was looking off at the end of the interview? He couldn't even look dude in the face, cus he probably woulda slid him in his eye. Here's the question, did Kahn mean to piss off Webb or does he not realize when he's being a condescending prick? He either missed or purposely ignored the obvious opportunity to pay his interviewer a compliment, and show a little respect. Vlade Divac is one of the best passing big men ever, but so was C-Webb. Then, to go and ask C "so, when did you finally get your act together?" Do you think Kahn followed basketball before being employed by the T-Wolves, or is he just ignoring the fact that Webb was one of the most highly tauted big men of his generation? He was treated as a franchise player from the first tip off, and did his best to fit the role. When did you get your game together?!!? We can sit here and complain about, and joke on, Webb, but Kahn just chumped him to his face. He actually made Webb have to say "we're not going put Darko and me in the same sentence" just so he doesn't have to hear about it from Kenny Smith all season. You're going to compare a repeat All Star to the worst draft pick in the past 20 years?
It's too ballsy for me to accept as intentional. I think instead he is ignorant and oblivious to the fact. Then again, the most ignorant among us are often the most brash. Could he be clueless, cocksure and totally unaware of how this puts other people off?!!? It's hard to fathom such an awful combination. It's a triple threat that increases the chances of being the victim of a homocide by what, 40%?
Kahn strikes me as a typical, Type-A(hole) who’s hubris strips him of any self-awareness and allows him to believe his own faulty logic.
Here’s the thing: I can see Kahn talking himself into Darko — a former #2 pick who ended up in the worst possible situation (read: still has the potential to surprise), who you’re signing for less than the mid-level exception. I can totally see that. But then the Type-A mind starts to spin a sales pitch (for the press, for the public), and the arrogance that comes with it leads the guy to believe his own horseshit. “Manna from Heaven”? Come on, man. Seriously.
And no, I don’t think he realizes — AT ALL — what it is to be a basketball player and to have strong feelings about the game, the guys you played with, and yourself. That would require empathy (which Type As are typically waaay short on.) First, he punked Vlade (unknowingly), who was Webb’s boy. Webb gave him a subtle jab (totally warranted)…but then took the high road and complimented Kahn for his foresight, saying that some guys just need the right situation and someone to believe in them, and that he, Webb, is intrigued to see how Darko will develop with Minnesota this year. Wow. That is class-A diplomacy right there. Kindness, even.
At that point, David Kahn, you take the compliment and shut up.
But no. He somehow thought it would help the conversation along by asking Webb (ironically) a question that was tantamount to challenging him to empathize with Darko: by suggesting that Webb remember his first years in the league and how hard it was to adjust. The first time I watched that video, my eyes popped out, waiting for Webb to say: “You just dissed Vlade, now you’re gonna compare Darko to ME?! Gimme that…” [sound of microphone being wrestled from Kahn’s hand, followed by the thumping sounds of a mic whacking Kahn’s head and arms]
Yeah, man. All signs point to your Triple Threat.
Seriously, how happy are you that we don’t have him in Philly? And now Isiah is coming back to NY as a consultant?! Jesus H. Christ. For today — and just for today — I’m gonna call my Sixers glass half full.
G.
Post a Comment