Le Basketbawl

Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison is getting pretty Frickin tired of talking about his suspended teammate Gilbert Arenas. The veteran told the “Associated Press” that he really does not want to have the main Frickin topic of conversation every time he is being approached by a member of the media. New York Vinnie is starting to wonder if the forward will make it to the end of the season with the club. Last month there were rumors that Jamison could be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and with the recent events those rumors could be a lot more credible now than they were in December.

Jamison told reporters that he just wants to move onto another subject. The veteran said “It’s been going on too long; long enough. We’re definitely sick of it, too much negative publicity, and I think guys are just to the point where we just want to get some positive publicity and turn things around and start winning some games, start having fun. We haven’t had fun in a while, so my New Year’s resolution is just to have fun, go out there and play hard and do everything possible to start winning.”

Arenas may have given his teammates one more gift before he was suspended by Commissioner David Stern Wednesday. Unfortunately this was a gift that would be about as appreciated as getting a Frickin Social Disease! In the last game that Arenas played in which was in Philadelphia Tuesday during the pregame introductions when Gilbert was introduced he made believe he was Frickin Bat Masterson shooting at his teammates.

A photographer got the image on film showing Jamison and other Wizards teammates laughing at the gesture. However the veteran said that Arenas did that on his own without telling anybody. Jamison said “You think we’re going to initiate something serious like that? If you know me, you shouldn’t ask that question. A lot of guys didn’t see that happening. I know you see the photo and you see a certain image, but that photo doesn’t justify the way guys viewed the whole situation. Once again, it’s just another use of poor judgment.”

The report goes onto say that some of the Wizards players may be in trouble for laughing; and if that is the Frickin case than New York Vinnie thinks that would be Crapolla! Arenas was playing the Frickin Fool and some guys Frickin laughed? The NBA is not a Frickin prison! What were they supposed to do go “Tsk, Tsk” and look upset and wave their fingers at him? These are Frickin athletes not librarians!

There could be a deal in the works that would benefit the Wizards, Jamison and the Cleveland Cavaliers. There has been speculation since before Christmas that Jamison could be traded to the Cavaliers for Zydrunas Ilgauskas whose contract expires at the end of this season. That move would give Washington some big time flexibility next summer when the Free Agent Class will have some incredible players making themselves available.

If the Cavaliers can pull off a deal to pick up Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison they would have a starting line-up with four NBA All-Stars in it as Jamison would join point Mo Williams, center Shaquille O’Neal and of course the “Chosen One” reigning NBA MVP LeBron James. It could also arguably give them the best team in the entire NBA.

For the Cavaliers it not only increases their odds of winning the NBA Championship this season; it would also give LeBron James even more incentive to sign with Cleveland for another tour of duty. Every time you strengthen the team it only gives James another reason to stay with the Cavaliers.

The Wizards will not be going anywhere this year and Jamison could get himself an NBA Championship ring with Cleveland. The Wizards have probably reached the point of having to start back at square one. If Cleveland can pick up Antawn Jamison this team has the chance to be “Frickin Scary Good!”

As most people who follow the NBA expected  the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the elite teams so far in the 2009-2010 season. Heading into their contest Sunday night in Dallas when they will go up against the Mavericks the Cavaliers have a record of 20–7; which is the second best  record in the NBA Eastern Conference as they and Orlando a team that has the same record as Cleveland and they trail just the Boston Celtics in the Conference. They also have the third best record in the league behind the Celtics and the current leader in the NBA the Los Angeles  Lakers. 

So as we head into the final days of the year 2009 the Cavaliers have to be very pleased where they are currently and have no plans to alter their current roster, correct? Well according to the “Cleveland Plain Dealer” Sunday that might not be necessarily so. The team according to reports feel they could use an upgrade at the power forward slot and have been kicking around some names they may try to acquire before the NBA Trading deadline ends in February.

The Cavaliers currently have two players who play the bulk of the minutes at the four; veteran Anderson Varejao and current starter J.J. Hickson who is in his second year in the NBA. Although both players do bring positives to the team; their lack of consistency is troubling to the Cleveland Brain-Trust. So according to reports the Cavaliers are exploring the possibility of making a move for an upgrade at that position.

The reports on Sunday mention three possible players that Cleveland may be interested in pursuing. After seeing the three names; New York Vinnie is unimpressed with one of the players and feels hinky about the second. However if they could make a deal to pick up the third player; he would not only help them this year but make them  a team to watch out for in the next few seasons.

Okay let’s get rid of the Flotsam and Jetsam first and that would be Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy.  New York Vinnie as always will be honest with you; Troy Murphy is a better than average player but he is not somebody you look at and say that this is the guy that will put us over the top. Murphy does have a career scoring average of 11.8 points per game but he has no sense of urgency on the defensive end. New York Vinnie would not make a deal to pick up Troy Murphy for the Cavaliers.

 The second player named in the report has a huge upside however he could be a “True Problem Child.” The only reason that New York Vinnie is willing to give this young man the benefit of the doubt is the team he is on and the coach he is playing for seem to be filled with players that are very dissatisfied. Golden State Warriors second year player Anthony Randolph has the physical tools to be a possible NBA All-Star one day. The question is does he have the proper mind-set and inner discipline to get to that level? Randolph is in Warriors head coach Don Nelson’s dog-house; however it seems like almost every player on the roster has been at one time or another. The problem may not be the players it may be time for Nellie to take off to his home in Paradise and leave the NBA for younger men. Bottom line Randolph could be a steal or a bust; the jury is still out. 

Now the third player on the list could be  the player that takes Cleveland to the next level; and barring injury could  have this club celebrating their first NBA Tittle in the team’s history. If the Cavaliers can pull off a deal to pick up Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison they would have a starting line-up with four NBA All-Stars in it as Jamison would join point Mo Williams, center Shaquille O’Neal and of course the “Chosen One” reigning NBA MVP LeBron James. It could also arguably give them the best team in the entire NBA.

The Wizards have gotten off to a terrible start and their have been rumors that Jamison and Caron Butler are on the block. The question is does Cleveland have enough for the Wizards to make the deal? Now one thing they do have is an expiring contract in veteran center Zydrunas Ilgauskas which would give Washington some big time flexibility next summer when the Free Agent Class will have some incredible players making themselves available.

For the Cavaliers it not only increases their odds of winning the NBA Championship this season; it would also give LeBron James even more incentive to sign with Cleveland for another tour of duty. Every time you strengthen the team it only gives James another reason to stay with the Cavaliers.

So New York Vinnie says that the Cavaliers should make this deal; anybody except for James or Mo Williams should  be made available. If Cleveland can pick up Antawn Jamison this team has the chance to be “Frickin Scary Good!”

This was the season that things  were going to turn positive again for the Washington Wizards. After suffering for the last couple of seasons Wizards the team’s star guard Gilbert Arenas is finally pain free and starting to get back to the player that caused so many opponents headaches when he was at his best. Unfortunately the team is still doing far lees than even mediocre with a 7-16 record.

 Asked by a reporter how he would have responded if he had been told before the year started how poorly the Wizards would kick off the season the veteran was visibly dis-pleased. He responded “I would’ve laughed. I would’ve said, How many people got hurt?”

Washington has lots of talented players on their club starting with their three stars Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Now Jamison did miss a chunk of time at the beginning of the season, however the injuries excuse has gotten old for fans of the team. They have seen what this club is capable of when running smoothly and they want to see them perform like that again.

The “Washington Post” asked the veteran guard if he feels  any  pressure this season. Arenas fired back “It’s only pressure whenever somebody mentions my name, they mention one-eleven. They don’t just call me a basketball player. They put a number behind it, like that defines who I am. There is no pressure playing the game of basketball. I’m a basketball player. I haven’t played this game in two years. I haven’t been in situations where I get to take game-winners. I can’t take game-winners in practice. I can’t shoot free throws in practice that simulates the game. There’s no crowd. There’s no nothing, so I’m learning as I go. I’m getting back and feeling the vibe again. People don’t understand that. It’s like, if you’re a bodybuilder and you stop lifting for two years, then go back in there and try to lift 400 pounds, you’ll break your arm. I’m happy where I am. I see progress (23) games into the season. I know where I need to be.”

Arenas although just shooting at about 40% from the floor has had a  season average of 21.0  points and 6.9 assists per game. Yet this team that  looked like a safe bet to make the NBA playoffs this season is on pace to  be Lottery bound. Rumors have been floating around the last couple of weeks that All-Star forward Caron Butler may be on the trading block. If that is the case any realistic hopes of this team ending the season with a winning record and making the Post Season would drop radically.

The Wizards back in the middle of the decade looked like they were on the verge of being a perennial power in the NBA Eastern Conference. Unfortunately it is looking more likely that their legacy will be as “The Greatest Team That Almost Was.”

Even before New York Vinnie writes a word of this column I realize all the grief and heat that I am going to take for the stand I am going to take. New York Vinnie will get e-mails saying that I am twisted and Frickin sick and my priorities are all messed up. That is fine New York Vinnie has very broad shoulders and you can throw a lot of Crappolla on my back and I will be strong enough to stand it!

New York Vinnie does not always follow conventional Frickin wisdom; I have my own mind and my own set of values. New York Vinnie is not some lemming who follow the Frickin crowd; I go by what my brain and my heart tell me not what society thinks is the correct way to act.

A wise man told New York Vinnie many years ago that there are two kinds of mistakes a person can make; a mistake that is caused by trying too hard or a mistake a person can make by not trying hard enough. He then went on to tell New York Vinnie something that has stuck with me for the rest of my life. He said he could always for give someone for making a mistake by trying too hard but a mistake that is created by not trying hard enough is unforgivable.

Those are words to live by as far as New York Vinnie is concerned; you make a mistake because you are trying too hard New York Vinnie will pat you on the back. However if you make a mistake by giving too little effort than New York Vinnie is going to call you what you are; a lousy Scumbago. You don’t show any effort that means that you lack pride. And if you do not have pride you are Frickin worthless.

Friday night the Washington Wizards  lost a game to the Indiana Pacers by the score of 102-86. It was a game that the Wizards could have won had they exerted themselves instead of just going through the motions. Washington played the game with no heart and no passion and it showed in their lack of effort on the hardwood. Wizards All-Star forward Antawn Jamison injured his right shoulder during the preseason and has had to start the regular season on the injured list.

Jamison is a big time competitor and there is no doubt he is chomping at the bit to get back on the floor. However it is one thing to be frustrated because you can not play quite another if your anger is caused by a half-hearted effort by your teammates. According to the “Washington Post” Jamison let his teammates know his displeasure in the locker room in no uncertain terms. Reports say that Jamison could heard screaming and cursing in the hallway outside the team’s locker room. When reporters entered the room they saw that Jamison had also taken the fruit tray provided for the team and had thrown it off the table. There were reports of fruit, candy and pieces of the broken tray all over the floor.

Now New York Vinnie knows that lots of sports fans are going to think that Jamison blew the whole thing out of proprtion and overreacted. Not New York Vinnie though; I applaud Jamison for getting so fired up and hopefully he has inspired his teammates to play better. Every once in a while you have to speak out when you are disgusted by what you see around you; and to New York Vinnie this was one of those times. Antawn Jamison is the kind of player that New York Vinnie would want on his team; a guy who is unwilling to put up with a lack of effort.

The Washington Wizards are truly a team that if it wasn’t for bad luck they would have no Frickin luck at all. When all is said and done with this era of the Washington Wizards they may go down as “The Best Team That Never Was.” The Wizards have the horses; the problem has been injuries have not allowed those horses to run. Injuries never allowed this club to make it past the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Last season injuries cost head coach Eddie Jordan his job in mid-season and Washington did not come close to making the Post Season.

Things looked they were ready to turn around this season as Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas finally overcame problems with his left knee that had made him a shell of his former self the last three seasons. However the “Associated Press” reported Thursday that another key member of the team All-Star forward Antawn Jamison is out indefinitely after injuring his right shoulder Wednesday night as his team beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-104 in an exhibition game.

Jamison hurt himself trying to block a shot  by Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The Wizards forward had an MRI Thursday but swelling prevented doctors from really determining how much damage there is. He will be out for the remainder of the preseason and he will be re-evaluated some time next week. The Wizards will go with Andray Blatche as a starter while Jamison is out.

Jamison was the leading scorer last season for Washington as he averaged 22.2 points per game. He has been named to the NBA All-Star team twice in his career; and along with Arenas and Caron Butler make the Wizards when healthy a very dangerous squad.

It is tough going walking through life with a bad attitude; Your Old Pal New York Vinnie knows all too well because that is how I spent a lot of years. I lost My Moms God Rest Her Soul back when I was 12 years old after she lost a tough battle to Cancer. For many, many years after that New York Vinnie was nothing but a Bitter PUD taking out his anger on the entire Planet.

Now New York Vinnie’s Guardian Angel must have been watching out for me because in my mid-twenties New York Vinnie met His Doll. She is the one who turned me around; she is the one that convinced me My Moms would not be happy with the way I was conducting myself. The change did not occur over night but slowly and surely New York Vinnie’s Doll got me back on the straight and narrow and taught me how to enjoy life again.

The reason that New York Vinnie is telling you about some of his toughest times is a story that the “Sporting News” has reported on the Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas. Arenas has gone through some very frustrating moments over the last couple of years as he tried to come back from surgery on his left knee.

Arenas has had numerous operations but complications kept setting him back and resulted in him playing just 15 games over the last two seasons. It truly has been a shame because Arenas when healthy has been an elite player in the NBA; but when your body won’t cooperate there is not much you can do. 

The “Sporting News” spoke with Arenas teammate Antawn Jamison who told the magazine that Arenas was not only looking forward to playing at full strength this year; he was looking for revenge as well. Jamison told the magazine “I think people are going to be shocked by where he is, by how ready he is to play. There is going to be rust, of course, but he is going to be ready. I think sitting out for two years has really motivated him. I know Gilbert, and the guy loves basketball about as much as anyone I know. It’s killed him to be out this long. Plus, the criticism and all of that, he has listened to it, he has taken it. Now he wants some payback.”

Now New York Vinnie is going to be straight with you as I always am; I have never heard one bit of criticism directed at Gilbert Arenas because of his injuries. Getting hurt is part of being a Pro Player it eventually effects most players at one time or another. Now if a player gets hurt on a moped like that Frickin Einstein Monta Ellis did he will be ripped and deservedly so. However if a player gets hurt in a game only a PUD with no heart would criticize the player.

Now if Arenas is using this as a ploy to get himself pumped for the upcoming season that is cool; New York Vinnie understands self-motivation. How ever if he truly believes that he was unfairly criticized while he was hurt then he is just being paranoid. NBA Fans will crucify you if they see lack of effort; but for someone who has battled back from injury the way Agent Zero has fans will show nothing but respect. So lose the attitude Gilbert and go back and learn how to enjoy the game again!