This is a basketball we are talking about, this isn't life!
All people saying that they will stop being Spurs fans are lying. I don't want to see any of those people celebrating when Tim, Manu, TP, Malone(if he signs) win a third one for SA. And about Malone's Character? Sure he's a dirty in the basketball court and I wouldn't mind other physical teams like Seattle and Phoenix getting a few elbows from him in the playoffs. I haven't heard anything negative other than that bull Kobe/Vanessa fiasco about Malone outside the court. I could care less what Spurs players do in their personal lives as long it's nothing illegal like the Potland players. If Manu,TP and TD swing wives or go to stripclubs, I could care less, as long as they bring another championship to the city.
sickdsm, as a Wolves fan with only one measly division le and only two miserable playoff series wins in around 14 or 15 seasons, you really have absolutely no business in the peanut gallery making any snide remarks about the Spurs, two time champions with countless playoff series wins, including several over your team, and countless division les.
"If I were a Blazer fan for 20 years and the team started having rapists, druggies, blahblah on their team. I'd dump the team."
rapists, druggies --> that's too extreme! Here, we are only talking about signing a player.
"You don't have to root for a team that represents things you're against"
That's true, BUT, at the same time, we (as fans) also SHOULD NOT judge the situation (whether or not signing Malone) based on our own subjective personal preferences.
Can we 100% sure that Karl will make the team worse? or can we 100% sure that Karl will NOT make the team better?
Who knows all of this and the nature of the Spurs team better than Pop (the coach)! Let him decide and make his decision.
bunch of pussies..."i will stop being a spurs fan if malone signs with us"... good... go root for the clippers or some team like that... spurs are the "SAN ANTONIO" spurs..not the tim duncan spurs or ginobili spurs or not even the gervin spurs..they are the team that SAN ANTONIO puts fwd... i will root for them no matter who is on the ing team...
"This is a basketball we are talking about, this isn't life!
All people saying that they will stop being Spurs fans are lying. I don't want to see any of those people celebrating when Tim, Manu, TP, Malone(if he signs) win a third one for SA. And about Malone's Character? Sure he's a dirty in the basketball court and I wouldn't mind other physical teams like Seattle and Phoenix getting a few elbows from him in the playoffs. I haven't heard anything negative other than that bull Kobe/Vanessa fiasco about Malone outside the court. I could care less what Spurs players do in their personal lives as long it's nothing illegal like the Potland players. If Manu,TP and TD swing wives or go to stripclubs, I could care less, as long as they bring another championship to the city." - Ginobilly
I totally agree to this!!
I say bring him in! I've never really been a big anti-Malone guy, anyway. When David got elbowed by him I was living in the Netherlands and didn't get much coverage of it, anyway. He irritated me as a nemesis of the Spurs when the Jazz were tough as nails, but that's all in compe ion. I honestly have no problem with Malone coming to San Antonio and think it might make the long NBA marathon season a bit more entertaining.
I have to chime in and say that I can't stand Karl Malone. If I were anywhere close to the floor the year he elbowed DRob my ass would have been arrested or probably dead because I would have gotten a broom stick or something and busted his ass if I could have. I have never been more upset with the team than I was that year because nobody did shi* to back Dave after Malone knocked him out.
With all that being said when it comes down to this team they have two weak spots in my mind. They are soft down low and they lack some balls in the paint. If Malone is healthy he can provide some toughness and a jumper that would free up Timmy. Malone is an excellent passer and I think he would be awesome with Tony on the pick and roll and high screen and roll. That would allow Tim the freedom to set up off the weak block and give him two options to go to work offensively. IF Karl is healthy it is a no brainer like it or not!
Karl can also provide some defensive help because of his understanding of team defense and in all honesty his game is better suited for Spurs b-ball than it was in LA. If Karl comes with a clear head I think this team keeps him focused and he could be a positive.
If I were in charge of the team I would let his ass go somewhere else. With that being said I have heard all along from anybody who knows anything that it was SA or LA and that most thought it would be SA. My guys in Chicago have said all along that Karl was to selfish not to go to the Spurs and that the LA situation and Kobe gave him a way out.
Timvp is right this SOB is nothing but a drama queen. Do the positives out number the negatives? At this point in his game probably not. Could the Spurs use a productive and healthy Karl Malone? In my opinion yes. What they have right now down low is not going to get them past Minny come playoff time. Is Malone the answer? We will see because I think he is on his way like it or not.
Following this discussion over the past few days, I think the root of the whole argument is that there are 3 different types of Spurs fans, and the reason for the disagreement is that they've all been following the Spurs from different points in time, and have different emotions.
Type 1 : The guys who fell in love with the Spurs during DRob's time or even before. I think much of the faults pointed out in Malone are essentially the result of observing his dirty tricks up close, as a division rival throughout the 90s. The Jazz and the Spurs have a long history, and Malone and DRob are the protagonists, with Malone being the quintessential bad guy who resorted to the meanest tricks in the book against David and the Spurs. This is the reason you're violently against Malone's name being associated with this franchise, DRob's franchise.
Type 2: The people here either followed the Spurs from not too long ago, or weren't that emotionally attached to this club during DRob's time. I think they're practical to the extent of agreeing that Malone is a dirtbag, but that he's still a more-than-capable player and can really help us out this season. He may be the hired gun that we need to go all the way. They certainly don't agree that his past should be held against him now.
Type 3: These guys aren't emotional on the Malone issue, but they really question whether he can make an impact at his age and with his knees. Is it really worth bringing him in and watch him do one or more of the following:
a) not contribute to match our expectations
b) mess up team chemistry
c) break down physically at a crucial juncture
d) choke when it counts
Before the Kobe-Karl saga I was a Type 2 fan who really wanted Malone on board to get us over the hump. But after reading up on whatever's been happening of late, I hate to say this: this guy is looking less and less like a championship-winning piece. In fact he looks like a short-sighted drama queen who really hasn't figured out what it takes to win and is hopping teams to get a ring without really earning it.
Look, if we want veteran experience, we need a guy who can contribute where we are weak. I'm sure most of us would agree that our biggest problem is how to take the pressure off Tim during 4th quarters ... but Malone IS NOT clutch. Yes, Malone is better than Rasho. He can hang with the KGs and Wallaces, but can his knees survive that long? One more thing, I think it is unfair to saddle Rasho and Massenburg with all the blame relating to our 4th quarter woes. Most of the time when we choke, its because either Manu or Tony or both aren't doing enough. Barry hasn't even started doing enough. Malone can't fix all this. Yes he can elbow Fortson and Collison, but would that be the missing piece which dramatically changes our 4th quarter production? I think not.
I believe Malone can help us with toughness and rebounding, but I don't think he's the missing piece; he isn't gonna be the difference-maker in terms of a championship. His help would be incremental more than transformational. But when you balance these against his ego, his knees, his lack of clutchness and the potential threat to our chemistry, I don't think this deal makes sense. Maybe we still aren't championship-caliber, but Malone isn't gonna change that. Just my take.
I hate Karl Malone because of his style of play. The elbow to Dave was, IMO, malicious and vicious. He has that karate chop strip that he uses. He uses his elbows to clear room for a jumpshot or pass. He uses his elbows to gain rebounding position. He has that flying kick driving to the basket. He's a flopper. He cries to the refs the entire game.
But he is a hardworker. I do respect his work ethic. He worked out at the Bally's Gym in Downtown LA, a couple years ago which happens to be the one I frequent. He was working out on an elliptical when I walked into the club. The Jazz were playing the Clippers the next night. I don't know how strenuous other players workout on an offnight, but Malone was there before I got there and was weight training when I left one hour and a half later. Peter Chilcutt was also there working out with an assistant but they left way before Malone.
The drama queen stuff? I really don't care about that. He is not unstable like Dennis and plays just as hard.
I hope he doesn't come because I want these Spurs to win it all. But if he does come, I will still cheer for the Spurs, not Malone.
Indeed.With all that being said when it comes down to this team they have two weak spots in my mind. They are soft down low and they lack some balls in the paint. If Malone is healthy he can provide some toughness and a jumper that would free up Timmy. Malone is an excellent passer and I think he would be awesome with Tony on the pick and roll and high screen and roll. That would allow Tim the freedom to set up off the weak block and give him two options to go to work offensively. IF Karl is healthy it is a no brainer like it or not!
What concerns me most as a Spurs fan is that the Spurs are doing what it takes to win a championship. It would concern me if the Spurs were not seriously entertaining the notion of adding Malone. Now this is not to say there aren't concerns about such an addition, namely his health and also the disruption of the change. But he has shown himself to be a committed teammate, something which by all accounts he proved last season while filling a role in LA. Malone could easily have spent this season and the last in Utah making $20 mil a year, chasing the all-time scoring le, and still being the man on a team.
Instead he chose to pursue a championship for close to a minimum salary as a role player.
The Spurs do need to get more physical up front and they also need to increase their aggressiveness as a team. These are not new issues in this forum. If I felt those problems could be solved from within the organization I would be opposed to bringing Malone in.
As for the "he's not a winner" complaint, come on. The Spurs have added vet role players before who didn't have rings. Malone's role in SA wouldn't be to carry a team, that's the job of TD, TP, and Manu.
At the end of the day what matters most to me is that the Spurs win and don't waste Duncan's prime. I think it's ty that Duncan has to carry a gimp like Radosoft. How many more 4 point, 4 rebound nights must TD and we endure? If a 57 year old Karl Malone can do a better job and wants to play in SA do you turn that down and saddle TD with another year of ho-hum help up front?
If giving TD the help he needs entails adding a physical big who happens to be the #2 all time scorer in the league, a player who has shown himself certainly capable of suppressing his ego for the good of the team, and willing to play for the minimum, sobeit.
Now I will try to fall asleep again. This is what I get for taking the patented 4 hour nap when I got home from work.
Last edited by Marcus Bryant; 12-14-2004 at 04:54 AM.
Before I forget, whottt, trying to take away Ferry's performance in the Suns series doesn't cut it.
Tony Massenburg played GREAT and provided needed muscle for Sacto last year when CWebb was out. Give him some burn in non-garbage time, Pop. Don't believe the hype. There's nothing that Warm Karl can provide that's not already on your roster.
I'll die a Spurs fan, but I will never, ever support Malone. Whether the spurs win or lose, I will still be a fan. In fact, if Malone is on the team, I hope they lose. I still love my Spurs, but I can't see letting Malone have a ring. Regardless of what uniform he's wearing, he will never be a Spur. Just like Rodman. He wore silver and black, but he was just a sideshow. Malone, IMO, is similar but more malicious and infinitely more subtle. I'll still cheer for the other guys, but I have absolutely no love for Malone. Finally, if the Spurs sign this bas , it's time for some major, major changes in the front office/coaching staff. Damn Pop for pursuing this jerk.
I see your political and sports analogy are much the same. Pull off the blinders.
Exactly. Good enough for Popovich, the organization, the team, but not for some disgruntled fans? Oh well. Enjoy Cleveland BB and TimVP. He's coming.
If the Spurs sign Malone, a few months focusing on my own Basketball game will do me good, because I sure as aint gonna be caring about how the Spurs go.
Malone.
Sweet blessed coffee.
As for the "drama" I have seen referred to in this thread, what "drama" has Malone brought to the lockerroom of a team he was a member of at the time? Think about that for a minute. The "drama" is usually relegated to fluff offseason matters or a matter of personal style. WWF. Hunting. Referring to himself in the 3rd person. Etc.
When it comes down to playing the game, being part of a team, assuming a role, playing hard, and not causing any problems then I don't see much of the typical NBA "drama" in Malone's career which does give one pause: complaining about not getting the ball enough, making every little disagreement public, etc. Malone's off court, offseason antics may be a bit tiresome but the man knows how to do his job.
Look at the Lakers last season. Which of the two 'name' free agents who joined created the standard lockerroom drama? Wasn't Malone. Now which player took a larger pay cut to join? Which player gave up the serious pursuit of the all-time scoring le? Which player was regarded as a total team player that held that team together in the lockerroom and was totally committed to winning a championship? That was Malone.
Yes, much of Malone's schtick is tiresome, but as long as that is the only "drama" he would bring to the Spurs then I don't have a problem with the possibility of him joining the team.
That was my point all along. I was wrong for dropping the disloyalty card. Props to you for staying true.because I rep in LA win or lose
I like what warlord said, although there should be a category for a lot of us here that have been Spurs fans since the 70's. By Warlords criteria, I am a type 3. The Spurs are 17-5, they must be doing something right.
Just make sure you stick to your guns, Malone-Haters.
Don't show up for the party in June.
Jumping off on ethical grounds does not make you bandwagoners.
Jumping back on when we win does.
Does anybody else catch the irony that the people threatening to hang up their Spurs fandom during Malone's tenure, should he sign here, are the ones calling Malone a drama queen?
Sure...Malone's the drama queen.
Whatever helps the team win, is my stance. Let Malone take the minutes from Rasho.
That's the only thing I ever really remember hearing about him while he was in LA. What drama are we talking about?
It'd certainly be even more weird to me than when Horry donned the Silver & Black, or even Rodman (I loved Rodman right up until that playoff crap, btw) but I certainly wouldn't stop supporting the Spurs.
1 game does not a series or season make. I didn't want to see Ferry getting substantial minutes in the playoffs, and I didn't hear you calling his number either.
Besides, Ferry knew he was done, he retired.
And Ferry was what..38? Kal Malone is nearly 4 years older, so you can imagine how much he is breaking down.
Basically it's a combination of his history as a Spurs playoff killer and his personality. It's not enough for me to really care. Were Jerome Kersey, Mario Elie, and Terry Porter 'true Spurs' or whatever? no. They were vet role players. Hired guns. If they help win a le while they are here, good.What drama are we talking about?
At least come with an argument. Ferry fit your profile and he certainly came to SA and helped win a championship.
I noticed you didn't even try to stretch an argument wrt Kersey. Give it a ing rest and worry about the Coyote and Shane Heal or whatever.
Like I say, I'm not really against it...but the fact that the guy that championed the sign Jason Kidd movement is also championing this one, gives me reason to pause.
Serious reason to pause.
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