Podcast: NBA Preview and Mark McGwire deserves Bonds-like scrutiny
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44 Responses to “Podcast: NBA Preview and Mark McGwire deserves Bonds-like scrutiny”
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Great drop Mr. Smith. As usual, your insight is highly valued. Will you be speaking at the 2010 NFL & NBA Rookie Symposiums with Tariq Nasheed? It would be great for the leagues that’s for sure.
Thank U Stephen!!!! For at least giving the little man his due! I fail to comprehend how all of basketball manages to be prejudice against this man. I’m not here to plead his overall case, though I grew as a Isaiah Thomas lover, “BAD BOYS!!!” As far as I am concerned, anyone that doesn’t include him in the discussion, I eliminate them as one having a true love for B-Ball. And truthfully, the All-Star game became what it was when it was Magic and Zeke doin’ it in the 80’s before MJ came on the stage. They gave it the OOO! and AHH!
Right now however, I’m drivin’ the K.O.B.E bandwagon and quite frankly, WE GON’ STOMP A MUD-HOLE IN THE “C’s”!!!!
Dog’s, you read my mind on this one, I’m right with you on everything except the McGwire take. I’m all for the increased and fair media scrutiny he’s due, but I’m so over the whole steroid thing. To me it’s not that serious and the Bob Costas’ and Mike Lupicas are killing me with the whole integrity of the game ish. Back to the NBA though; I’m glad you elminiated the pretenders from the contenders. If you don’t know that the Portlands, Torontos, Milwaukees, Detroits et. al have no chance you don’t know basketball. Like I tell my little brother; don’t come to me talking about how the Clippers might give someone a scare this year or the Knicks might make the playoffs (I know I know); if you not talking about the Celtics, Cavs, Lakers, Spurs, or Orlando (and maybe the Nuggets) I don’t want to hear it. Last thing; I almost forgot that the NBA was your (for lack of a better term) bread and butter after listening to your podcasts and interviews for the past several months. Keep up the good work; I feel like your giving me/us a voice in the mainstream and it’s greatly appreciated. Keep giving us that uncensored (well I know you ain’t about to go all rogue on everyone you gotta censor it a little) point of view that’s greatly needed in the media… thanks again.
Bro, U have a gift!
Keep saying what certain people in the MEDIA refuse to SPEAK!!!!!!!
Hi stephen i was wondering what your take is on the magic-isaiah mess, i was hopin you would address that in your new podcast. Thanks
what up Stephen A. I agree with your top 5 picks for the nba, however I disagree about the finals, I believe it will be Boston against SA instead of LA, we had Artest last year he is a ball hog, yeah he helped houston to make it a decent season, but all in all he still wanted to be the focus rather than play team ball That will blow up in LA face around March or April
Great podcast SA. I agree with pretty much everything you mentioned, my only concern is rotation with Celtics (Rasheed,Kg,Glen,Perk) I think Perkins will suffer. I know Perk is C but Sheed can be a 4 or 5…
Great podcast! McGwire..not a big baseball fan, however do you think this will make the Bonds issued resurface? Grizzlies, DO WHAT? I live in TN and I give them the big NO! I will administer the drug test ’cause he’s crazy! and Toronto? Yea ummm, what about the fine men? LOL j/k…I would like to disagree just for the sake of disagreeing when it comes to the Celtics beating the Lakers (yea ima ball hogging Kobe fan) but i do think that KG and RW will give it to them hard. Last, but not least, for a book that has not been talked a lot about, it is getting some good coverage now because of what has been said about Isaiah, which is good for Magic. However, in my opinion, because Isaiah is and has been so polarizing, he is not given a fair chance. Magic is and has been known as a more cool and calm guy…so….
@Sherrie: GArnet is a beast
OMG Stephen A you are the man that no one can touch. great very great podcast. I agree with you on everything. If Ariza was going to leave he should have went to the Cavs, and if everybody stays healthy this year it will be the Lakers and the Celtics. There is no way that the Cavs can beat a healthy Celtics team. I was so excited for the 2010 free agency market thinking ok there is a possibility that there could be a D-wade or Lebron on the same team or a Lebron and Amare on the same team, but that was busted up when they came up with the salary cap over the summer that hurt my feelings. Another thing A-rod got tired of everybody talking about him and so far he has shown up in the post season and hopefully he will continue to show up. I really dont trust AJ Burnette like that so hopefully he and the rest of the pitching crew and bats will show up I think this is going to be a great world series because of the two line ups that will be out there, but hopefully the yankees will win. take care hopefully to see you on tnt with charles kenny and ernie soon i got my fingers crossed.
@Addissou: listen to the podcast
Hey Mr. Smith,
Great podcast. I am so glad that NBA season has finally arrived. I look forward to hearing your views and feedback. I can’t wait until you announce your big news. Whatever it is you are well deserving. I see you doing the damn thing on MSNBC. You’re super cool Mr. Smith.
I want to see Cleveland and LA in the finals just because….we shall see what will happen. Anyway Im getting ready to watch the double header on TNT. ttyl Mr. Smith.
Christine
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From SAS: I’d love to see Cleveland/LA, myself. Just because of LeBron and Shaq vs. Kobe. Great storylines. But I can’t see anyone in the East beating Boston.
@John Delaware:
I would if they had asked me to. But they didn’t, so what can I tell you.
@Kenny Ray:
I hear ya, bro. I don’t believe it (Obviously, I think it’s the Celtics, as much as I hate to admit it), but I hear ya.
@Ty:
Thanks for the email, Ty. Don’t get me wrong; I’m so over the Steroid thing, too. All I’m saying is that the nerve of these damn people to bring McGwire back after all they put Barry Bonds through. Just be fair. That’s all I’m saying.
As for the NBA, it will always be my passion, my man. I miss the hell out of it. Love it. Would do it for FREE if I were rich enough to do so. But hey! If networks feel they have better than me and what I can provide, what can I tell you!!!
@DougA:
You could be right. San Antonio is no joke. And this is their last chance, quite possibly. We’ll see.
@Sherrie:
What the hell are you talking about, “Fine Men!” I said “Fine Women!” Don’t ever get that twisted where i’m concerned. I love the ladies. Forever and always
@Stephen A.: Oh Stephen A. never will I get that twisted, I sure as heck didn’t mean it that way. I was just saying look out for us sisters too…You’re saying fine women in Toronto, I’m saying maybe the fine men are there as well. I mean the fine men sure aint in N’ville…LMAO…. But great podcast. You know you are the ISH!!! ESPN’s loss!
This is why I mess with you man! I think your wrong about the Celtics beating the Lakers in the finals,but you are right about Mark McGwire. I feel like if they are going to treat Barry Bonds the way there treating him, they need to treat Mark McGwire the same way. Holla at’cha boy!
Wooooooooo! Bruh, that was one of the best podcasts yet. The NBA is definitely your sweet spot. Let me take this is order:
1. Mark McGwire broke the record before his indiscretion was suspected. Bonds was suspected during his chase. So scrutiny was not the same. McGwire did still won’t feel the heat as he will hide in the dugout each game. However I think I understand your point about the double standard.
2. Good assessment of the NBA teams and predictions. I can’t really argue that. There is one thing. (I’m in Charlotte.) You can’t give MJ a pass because you love him just like you didn’t Pres Obama a pass.
3. Magic v. Isiah – This is such a complex issue. They were both foolish to confuse a professional relationship that was friendly with couple of friends who happen to work together. There are a lot of people that surpress things that thier freinds do in order avoid conflict. Yes Magic should have mentioned how he felt about it before writing it in a book, BUT Isiah in his interview with SI has gone way too far in that article. He should have addressed the allegation only. Instead he wanted to throw out all kinds of dirty laundry. Naming names and completely unrelated things. It is like that scene in “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married”. Isiah seems to always be at the center of some mess. My guess is Isiah is the problem.
About Mc and Bonds
As you have written it is about fairness, and i agree.
However bonds reminds me a lot of Kareem Abdul Jabbar in their relationship with the press. KAB admitted that he was difficult with the press, just as Bonds was.
Now don’t get me wrong, I agree with you, but both find (or have found)themselves on the outside looking in. Kareem had to coach on an Indian reservation. My point is the both “appear to have contributed to their “black balling”.
Is it right, no! But it is human, I know I would not go out of my way to help(write stories of support) someone, who made my job difficult. Kareem appears to have learned.
He seems more affable and accessible. Bonds, well it just appears that people don’t like him, and they are going to stick it to him, just because they can. Too Bad
@Keith S. Williams:
Zeke is interesting, now people make mistakes,so no casting stones here!
But if you just step back and look. Man, Isiah seems caught up in an inordinate amount of controversy.
I agree 100% with Stephen’s comments on McGuire, but his comments on CNN just now (re: Agassi and crystal meth use) were way over the top. The dude sucked when he was using meth, he didn’t play better for two years as a meth-head, c’mon brother. Is there a double standard? For sure. In the case of this tennis guy? I don’t think so.
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From SAS: You’re right, STeven. I didn’t make the point I wanted to make. I wasn’t trying to claim Meth was some kind of Performance enhancer. I was trying to say look at the time he said he was using. And if he was using Meth, what else was he using. But I did a poor job of making that argument. Bad night on my part. Plain and simple! I thought I’d have more time.
Love the podcasts and all of your work for the past several years. I miss your old tv show.
Now onto the NBA….Pretty much agree with everything youve said, I orginally had the Cavs coming out of the east, but after watching them so far it looks like Shaq is more harm than good to that team…which I predicted, but I didnt figure it would be on the court. The Cavs just dont know how to utilize their own offense effectively.
On the flip side, the Celtic’s are looking dominant early, their defense is shaping to be devastating. Orlando tried addition by subtraction, but that will ultimately backfire come playoff time as Vince Carter is going to want the ball in the waning minutes of close games, and I much rather prefer the ball in someone else’s hands than his.
My only gripe with your podcast is your almost premeditated dismissal of the Raptors. If you had to pick a sleeper out of the east Stephen A, who would be a better pick than the Raptors? The Sixers come to mind but I just dont see Elton Brand playing more than half the season. The Raptors have so much upside and their only downfall is lack of defensive talent. This team WILL make the playoffs, but lose in the first round. I dont see them topping Atlanta if they make the 5th seed, and they have no shot against any of the big 3 from the East.
As far as Mark Mcgwire is concerned, he cheated. He deserves to be ostracized, scrutinized and anything else you can think of. I quite frankly couldnt care less if Mark gets a MLB job, but if so, he needs to stop lying about any and everything he has done.
Thanks Stephen A, I look forward to your future podcasts.
love your rant! I hear your frustration about the double-standard issue between McGwire and Bonds but I think McGwire won’t be set to the same vitriol and “same intensity” as Bonds because people liked McGwire as a person off the field before the roid allegation and people hated and still hates Bonds on and off the field. You know this!
Thank you very much for the new podcast, I really enjoy your commentary. Today is day three of the 09-10 NBA season and I am already loving it. I have a quick question for you. I know it’s a bit to early to call it but u like many others have predicted the cavs as a top five team, I personally don’t see how adding a 37 year old shaq to your team is an upgrade, to be honest i am much more excited about the Moon and Parker additions. Lebron has been his usual self but the rest of that team is very suspect. Do you really think that the cavs can beat
Boston, L.A, Orlando, or even San Antonio? It might be a bit to early to call but this cavs team does not impress me.
Noe from Cali
p.s. – sorry for the spelling
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From SAS: You must not have listened to my Podcast, Noe. It answered every question you asked.
Hey Stephen A.! I just want to say that i love your podcasts. You speak nothing but the truth. all of those who dont like you are just people who cant handle the truth. If there were more people like you in the world, it would be a much better place. Keep those podcasts coming!And God Bless.
Stephen a,
good podcast put I have a couple of suggestions for the NBA season as well. First the season is still young and their is likely to be a dark horse from the east and west. Next, the Spurs need to trade for AI immeadietly (they can have tony parker and a 1st round pick; I don’t care if you think i am crazy because he has underachieved more than VC) watching their offense is like having a route canal. If possible can you look into Michael Redd or (Stephen Jackson) being traded to San Antonio. I know you are well connected with these republicans and the NBA community can you make it happen. If this happens I would gratly appreciate it.
(Hey when you stop laughing, consider this, how do you think the lakers got Pau Gasol, there’s got to be a firesale by the Holiday Season.)
Thank You
Spurs Fan
Hey Stephen A. what’s with your boys Darko Milicic, Rasho Nesterovic, and Brian Scalabrine???
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From SAS: I won’t even waste my breath. But I will say Brian Scalabrine is a very nice guy. Nothing bad to say about him.
Why do you think great players struggle as executives? Granted there are a few who succeed but the case of Michael Jordan is quite an anomaly.
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From SAS: I believe they have trouble because they’re so great, they’re looking for others to be like them and that just isn’t possible in most situations. Hand-picking mediocrity when you’re not accustomed to it at all leaves you devoid of the ability to BUILD. That’s just the way it is.
I definitely agree 100% with your predictions. Rasheed will give so much room by spreading the floor offensively for Rondo to operate in the paint that the Lakers with Fisher, Brown and Farmar will just have way too much trouble to close Rondo down consistently. Even if Kobe is the one guarding Rondo and the Lakers put Fisher on Ray Allen, the Lakers won’t be able to clog up the paint consistently enough.
I know you’re a busy man, I just found it interesting that my predictions are so similar to yours. Take a look if you’re interested:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=180358178884
p.s. I don’t think I have the authority to comment on the Magic – Isaiah situation or your views on it, since you do have much more information on the matter than I, or most other listeners here, do. I have just always found Magic to seem the nicer man of the two, but again, I have absolutely no information on the subject.
Stephen A. great podcast.. I know its one week but what do you think about how Miami has looked. J’O looks finally healthy and Beasly is now starting and looking good as a starter. Can the Heat get into the second round and scare a team like Orlando or Boston. And if Miami can get into a deep second round playoof birth, does Dwayne Wade stay?
Yo Stephen A, you have to give us a new podcast and roast Donnie Walsh for drafting that bum Jordan Hill over Brandon Jennings. WTF was he thinking?
Let him have it man!
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From SAS: I’m on it.
Hey Stephen A. since the Yankees regained the world series throne did you think the laughable knicks watch the whole championship game if they do which they better what advice would give to them in order to pick what Red Holzman and his players left off?
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From SAS: Advice? Pray everyday that you get LeBron James AND Dwayne Wade or Amare Stoudamire.
@PTIDebator: the spurs need offense stephena do you have any Idea’s
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From SAS: The Spurs will be just fine. They’re just gearing themselves for a playoff run. Can’t have a good offense without consistency, and you’re not going to get any consistency with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili This is the way it goes.
Congrats on the Philly Enquirer. Glad they got my brother back on his feet… Good for them out there, but us midwest people still wont hear from u as much as if u were on TNT or ABC, or ESP….n.
Anyway glad u got some chips following back in line… maybe we will see u on sports reporters if ESP…n, is not going to continue to hate…
Hear some grumbling about Lebron in LA?? Play with Kobe for 3 years to get 7 rings total, then run it from there. Can they afford it with 3 free agents not able to resign?
I like MIAMI, but Lebron wont like not eing the man.. New York.. still dont like it, because they still need 4 pieces.
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From SAS: Thanks, Shawn. I’ll have more news in the next few days. You’ll be hearing from me. No worries. As for LeBron, LA is not a possibility, as far as I can see. Miami? Don’t ever rule out S. Beach — and LeBron will be the man whereever he goes. But NY is still the piece. It won’t happen if the Knicks have enough room for only one star. But if they can get two, LeBron is coming to NY.
Stephen A.
What’s the deal with this Knicks squad? I cannot believe the lack of emotion, energy, passion they continue to display on a game-by-game basis. It’s ridiculous! Okay, you bring in ‘Danonly offense’ and I was skeptical. But I also respected him because he was on the Olympic squad. The problem is, in the NBA you have to play DEFENSE to win games. The only players that plays hard are Douglas and Hill. Of course! They are rookies, they are supposed to play hard and follow the example of the leaders on the rest of the team. The only thing is there are no leaders, players, athletes to set examples for them. Is this Lebron thing real? If it is, I’ll suffer. But if it’s a pipe dream, this is B.S. God bless you brother and God bless my Knicks. They need something.
P.S.-Great work on the Obama piece. Keep up the fantastic work.
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From SAS: I’m literally getting to the point where I’m trying to fathom how LeBron James would even think about coming to this franchise. It’s an absolute mess. I’ve reported on many occasions that he’s coming to NY and I stand by that report because I know where I got it from, but I just can’t imagine anyone walking into this situation. I don’t know if I’ve EVER seen the Knicks look this bad. It’s an absolute atrocity. To me, the Knicks’ only hope is to make sure they have enough room to get 2 superstars. One won’t due. Why would anyone walk into this situation solo? PATHETIC.
What’s up Stephen A. I just found your website and I so happy to have found it… I found myself thinking where is Stephen A on ESPN it basketball season and no one knows more or has more sources and went looking around only to come up on this. Im a brooklynite and just have to hold my head in shame when the topic of the knicks comes up but I want to know how you feel about them passing on Brandon Jennings who then scored 55 points on Golden State… the team who took the player the the knicks wanted in stephen curry. Again im really happy to be able to hear your opinions again and hope you keep it up.
Great Job!!!
What do you think about the knicks not signing Iverson? Me personally I’m happy because I don’t think it would have worked out. Also, I’ve never heard you talk about Muhammad Ali. It would have been interesting if you were around back then hear you cover his fights.
Congrats stephena on the new job, keep mashen em. And another thank you for AI’s release, now all he needs to do is make his way down Highway 10 in Tx.
One last thing, do you have any opinion on college football as regards to the heisman race and the BCS championship in particular. ( I think Boise St. and TCU have earned a legitimate shot if still unbeaten.) Also feel C.J Spiller at least deserves a trip to New York.
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From SAS: If Ingram has huge games over the last three weeks, Alabama’s running back should win the Heisman.
Hi Stephen –Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Where have you been? I really miss you on espn. I thought you had been fired or something. We need personalities as yourself. At least I have your website. Thanks for the time. Take care – Donald(duck)
Mr. Smith, Upfront, not a follower of yours, read you @ times in Philly Inquirer, however, in Nov./Dec. 06, on espn radio, you bellowed,” Mark McGuire will be voted into HOF, because of his white boy self”. Besides relegating most voters as racist, you were quiet when McGuire failed to gain admission into Cooperstown. I sense why even ESPN dismissed you, so your NBA insight seems to me, to you speaking to your core audience.
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From SAS: You’re wrong, Joe. But I won’t bother debating you.
Hey Stephen,
I’m a little late to the party, I Guess, but let me throw my two cents in.
First, let me predicate that I would put Bonds in the HOF. Why? Because even if you take away everything after 1999, his performance overall from 1986-1999 is HOF worthy.
Second, MCGwire has been a pariah, so I believe the premise of your argument is faulty
But let me get to the heart of the matter. The typical barbershop argument, which this question echoes,is “what about that *@@#*ng white boy”
Here’s the difference. Mark McGwire would have hit 500 even if he had never injected anything. Why do I say that? Look at his rookie year, when he was only about 215. He hit 49. Moreover, he was a naturally big man. See, I’m from California, and I know high school teammates of his and his brother Dan. THE WHOLE FAMILY IS BIG! So why did he do it? Injuries. He was on his way to the single season record on multiple occassions, but an injury knocked him out. One thing we know Andro and some other substances do is speed recovery, and Mac was a workout fiend.
Compare this to Bonds. His extremities(head, Hands, Feet) got bigger. Mac’s did not. Steroids MADE Bonds a Big Bopper, they merely kept Mac on the field. Does it make it right? It’s not for me to say, considering that no sport has cheating more endemic to it than baseball(see HOFamer Gaylord Perry, who created a much bigger advantage than Bond or McGwire did by doctoring baseballs) and Amphetamine usage.
Mr. Smith,
Relative to FSR on 29 Dec. 09, about air travel, profiling, etc.
Mr. Man that was the best said, most accurate ever take on TSA. I was screaming and cheering you on, you’ve got the biggest balls on the planet brother!!
The young lady on the show simply doesn’t get it or you, so nice job of being polite with her. Backbone baby, you got it right. Thank you so much for saying so eloquently what needed to be said and is felt by so many. I’m a fan for life.
Respectfully,
George Dessingue