Saturday, May 13, 2006
Cavs Impress Commish... I Think
Make no mistake, David Stern is an imposing figure. Otherwise, players like the Cavs' questionably clothed Damon Jones wouldn't scramble to stay on his good side.
Before a recent playoff game, Jones casually strolled through the corridor, resplendent in a jacket that I'm sure once had four legs and sporting a pair of sunglasses that could eclipse the sun, let alone block it out. Safe to say the NBA dress code--as always, with Jones--was in question. But, Damon's grand entrance was spoiled by one of Stern's assistants, who quickly pointed to the shades and then the Commissioner around the corner.
Whew!
Playing fashion police was not on David Stern's agenda that night. Sitting down with Yours Truly, however, was.
The Lucky duck.
Chandler: The basketball climate here in Cleveland is certainly different, has certainly changed...
Stern: Boy, winning really helps, doesn't it?
Chandler: Isn't that amazing?
Stern: It's amazing.
Chandler: Going back to that night, in May of 2003, is this what you envisioned when you found out the Cavs had the first pick?
Stern: Yes. I think that having a great young player to lead a rebound of a club, that's what... the draft is a right of renewal. Obviously, the first pick of the draft is an important right. The draft is supposed to propel teams into the playoffs.
Chandler: You have to let the lottery balls fall where they may, but leading up to that draft, is there a part of you that thinks, here you've got a kid from Cleveland, you've got a franchise that needs the help, if only this could find a way to come together?
Stern: No, you know what? As a group, we were very fond--and remain fond--of Gordon Gund. Cleveland was long suffering, but we have 30 children in the NBA, and try very hard to root for all of them.
Chandler: It was a perfect scenario, though. Almost the perfect storm of conditions.
Stern: It is. Hometown boy makes good, and helps hometown franchise. New ownership. New arena name. New amenities, fan service programs, and the like. It's sort of all come together; although it didn't come together as fast as people thought it would, because it takes a while to adapt, to grow, and to make the team around you better.
Chandler: Where do you think the Cavs franchise would be if LeBron wasn't there for them to pick?
Stern: I don't know. It depends who they took, and how that person did. You mean, would they have taken Dwayne Wade? We've got great players in this league. I sort of reject the task of placing a mantle of greatness, and the burden of that, on a player. We'll see. You get judged by the body of your work, and we'll see what the body of LeBron's work is. He certainly is a talented player, better I think than anyone thought he would be at this age. He's more like 30 than 21, an extraordinary player. But he's going to be judged by the team around him does.
(LEFT: Wade... what could have been in Cleveland?)
Chandler: It's not just LeBron. You have Kobe Bryant in L.A., you have Dwayne Wade blossoming in Miami. Is the league, right now, in as great a shape now than at any point in your time as commissioner?
Stern: I must tell you that I get a kick out of calling LeBron, and Dwayne, and Kobe, and Gilbert Arenas the superstars; the all-stars. But when you look at Nocioni, Kirk Heinrich, Ben Gordon of Chicago, we've got players--all stars and young stars--all over this place. And don't forget, there's old men like Shaq and Tim Duncan, and an extraordinary array of terrific players.
Chandler: You know those rosters pretty well, don't you?
Stern: Well, I try. And, of course, everyone says Detroit has just a bunch of regular players. But they don't, they have five all-stars as deep as they can be. And everyone talks about, "How is Detroit ever going to lose four games in a row?"
Hmm. The Cavs, of course, must be wondering the same thing to themselves right now. So, they won Game 3 over the Pistons. It is still pretty clear who is number one in Commissioner Stern's books. Last time I checked, that's all that matters.
Cleveland, don't forget to Sound Off to us for the Toyota Sports Sunday. Send your comments to 5sports@newsnet5.com and be sure to watch for them every Sunday night, at 11:32 pm.
Before a recent playoff game, Jones casually strolled through the corridor, resplendent in a jacket that I'm sure once had four legs and sporting a pair of sunglasses that could eclipse the sun, let alone block it out. Safe to say the NBA dress code--as always, with Jones--was in question. But, Damon's grand entrance was spoiled by one of Stern's assistants, who quickly pointed to the shades and then the Commissioner around the corner.Whew!
Playing fashion police was not on David Stern's agenda that night. Sitting down with Yours Truly, however, was.
The Lucky duck.
Chandler: The basketball climate here in Cleveland is certainly different, has certainly changed...
Stern: Boy, winning really helps, doesn't it?
Chandler: Isn't that amazing?
Stern: It's amazing.
Chandler: Going back to that night, in May of 2003, is this what you envisioned when you found out the Cavs had the first pick?
Stern: Yes. I think that having a great young player to lead a rebound of a club, that's what... the draft is a right of renewal. Obviously, the first pick of the draft is an important right. The draft is supposed to propel teams into the playoffs.
Chandler: You have to let the lottery balls fall where they may, but leading up to that draft, is there a part of you that thinks, here you've got a kid from Cleveland, you've got a franchise that needs the help, if only this could find a way to come together?
Stern: No, you know what? As a group, we were very fond--and remain fond--of Gordon Gund. Cleveland was long suffering, but we have 30 children in the NBA, and try very hard to root for all of them.
Chandler: It was a perfect scenario, though. Almost the perfect storm of conditions.
Stern: It is. Hometown boy makes good, and helps hometown franchise. New ownership. New arena name. New amenities, fan service programs, and the like. It's sort of all come together; although it didn't come together as fast as people thought it would, because it takes a while to adapt, to grow, and to make the team around you better.
Chandler: Where do you think the Cavs franchise would be if LeBron wasn't there for them to pick?
Stern: I don't know. It depends who they took, and how that person did. You mean, would they have taken Dwayne Wade? We've got great players in this league. I sort of reject the task of placing a mantle of greatness, and the burden of that, on a player. We'll see. You get judged by the body of your work, and we'll see what the body of LeBron's work is. He certainly is a talented player, better I think than anyone thought he would be at this age. He's more like 30 than 21, an extraordinary player. But he's going to be judged by the team around him does.(LEFT: Wade... what could have been in Cleveland?)
Chandler: It's not just LeBron. You have Kobe Bryant in L.A., you have Dwayne Wade blossoming in Miami. Is the league, right now, in as great a shape now than at any point in your time as commissioner?
Stern: I must tell you that I get a kick out of calling LeBron, and Dwayne, and Kobe, and Gilbert Arenas the superstars; the all-stars. But when you look at Nocioni, Kirk Heinrich, Ben Gordon of Chicago, we've got players--all stars and young stars--all over this place. And don't forget, there's old men like Shaq and Tim Duncan, and an extraordinary array of terrific players.
Chandler: You know those rosters pretty well, don't you?
Stern: Well, I try. And, of course, everyone says Detroit has just a bunch of regular players. But they don't, they have five all-stars as deep as they can be. And everyone talks about, "How is Detroit ever going to lose four games in a row?"
Hmm. The Cavs, of course, must be wondering the same thing to themselves right now. So, they won Game 3 over the Pistons. It is still pretty clear who is number one in Commissioner Stern's books. Last time I checked, that's all that matters.
Cleveland, don't forget to Sound Off to us for the Toyota Sports Sunday. Send your comments to 5sports@newsnet5.com and be sure to watch for them every Sunday night, at 11:32 pm.
Posted at 7:17 PM
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