Interview With A Jones-pire
I had no idea what to title this post. Can you tell?
Like many others, I absolutely love the work Jason Gurney does with lowpost.net.
In fact, I spend so much time over there — checking recent threads, reading his blog, making sure I write more posts than YAYsports! — that on more than one occasion I’ve accidentally written ‘lowpost.net’ as my current place of address. Yeah, not healthy…
So, it was a great honor for me to wake up this past Saturday to talk with Jason about the Basketball Jones site and podcast — and ‘03 Draft/TMNT comparisons — as part of a continuing feature he’s doing on interviewing basketball bloggers. (See previous interviewees: Abbott, Henry and Gossip, Suns.)
Anyway, if you’re up for more of me–you have a problem, and should probably get that checked out.
Many thanks/apologies to Jason for having me on/trying to transcribe my never-ending babble.
Interview With J.E. Skeets From The Basketball Jones [lowpost.net/blog]
Comments (8)HoopsAddict: The Magazine
I’ve taken way too long to pimp this, but here she is anyways…
Yeah, I highly suggest you pick up this fantastic little ball magazine created and edited by fellow Canadian blogger Ryan McNeil from HoopsAddict.com. Some of the articles in this inaugural magazine — which are also available online — include:
- “Josh Smith: Soaring To New Heights” — an interview with the Atlanta Hawks forward by Alex Labidou
- “The NBA You Won’t Read About in the Official Program” — an expose on William Wesley by Henry Abbott
- “The Evolution of a Franchise” — a look at the Toronto Raptors first ten years called by Dave Randall & Adam Francis
Lots of other good stuff in there too, kids. Check it out.
Great work Ryan, Matt and co. I look forward to Issue #2…
Comments (0)Jammy Hafa!
Ex-Raptor, current-Jazzer Rafael Araujo is currently playing for a contract extension. It looks like he might just get it…
Yeah, they’re apparently so excited about “Hafa” down there in Utah that the Desert News paper just ran a post about him … dunking!
Jazz center Rafael “Hafa” Araujo jams in a two-handed dunk during Utah’s preseason finale 122-96 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at the Delta Center. The former BYU star notched a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
That’s it!
Coming tomorrow… Deron Williams dribbles between his legs!
Jammy Hafa [DesertNews.com]
Comments (0)“Skeets-san All Wet Behind Ear!”
In case we haven’t convinced you enough to listen and/or subscribe to The Basketball Jones podcast, comes this latest iTunes customer review:
Feel-Good Podcast Of The Year (*****)
by jeffpotts77J.E. Skeets and Tas Melas are a ridiculously entertaining tandem to listen to! As an NBA fan, I love their insight and analysis but most of all, the hilarity level is off the charts! Skeets kinda sounds like Ralph Macchio (if Macchio were Canadian, funny, and was obsessed with basketball).
*Shaking head in amazement* Wow. Just wow…
And before you ask, yes — this definitely makes these guys our “Cobra Kai”.
[Subscribe to The Basketball Jones Podcast via iTunes]
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But Will The Cubs Still Win The 2015 World Series, Kirk?
You might want to be sitting down for this one…
Kirk Hinrich can predict the future.
Well… he could at least. Who knows if he’s still got “it”. Michael Wamble of the RSS-less Daily Herald reports:
His freshman English class assignment in 1995 was to write a letter for a time capsule about where he wanted to be in 10 years.
Last summer, Jim and Nancy Hinrich found and opened their son’s letter.
“It said he wanted to be a guard for the Chicago Bulls,” the elder Hinrich said.
Damn. And here I was thinking he just looked like Harry Potter.
Bulls Hinrich Is Coach’s Son At Heart [Daily Herald]
Athlete Run-In: Kirk Hinrich, Gryffindor [Deadspin]
Greg Oden Loves Fish Sticks
And who can blame him? They’re basically sweet heaven dollops, deep-fried in awesome.
Here’s a quick excerpt — of an excerpt — from David Krider, JR Shelt and Scott Freeman’s new book, Uncaged: The Rise of Greg Oden, Mike Conley, and the National Champion Lawrence North Wildcats:
At first, Greg even had a problem scoring in the correct basket. His first two points in organized basketball counted for the opposing team. Consequently, the lanky youngster didn’t see much game action. He spent most of his time on the pine as a fourth and fifth grader.
What transpired during those first two years, however, showcased Greg’s remarkable attitude, a trait he possessed even as a youngster. He never complained about his lack of playing time, and instead spent as much time in the gym as possible, working tirelessly to improve his game - layup after layup.
“I really didn’t look at it like work,” Greg recalls. “Jimmy Smith worked tremendously with me. I probably wouldn’t be as dedicated today if it wasn’t for him.”
A little bribe here and there didn’t hurt, either. Greg’s mother always promised to buy him fish sticks or chocolate milk if he scored in the game. In the classroom, Greg didn’t need any incentive to make good marks. He took great pride in his report card at each grading period, always making sure to show it to his coaches, who were impressed with Greg’s intelligence and desire to be a success off the court. Likewise, it would have been easy for a kid who found success away from the court to become disinterested with a sport he couldn’t master. But for Greg, the challenge was worth the wait.
Uncaged [HoopsHype]
Comments (0)More Things That Should Be Online, But Aren’t
Henry, at True Hoop, just posted a list of things that should be online, but aren’t. He wants to see, among other things, a list of NBA agents and their clients, a tell-all blog updated by a NBA player, and more investigative basketball journalism. All interesting requests and all things I agree with. But it got me thinking — and man, does that ever hurt — what else should be available online? How about:
- A live video feed from the tip of Jackie Christie’s whip.
- A slick YouTube mix-tape of Peter John Ramos’ NBA career — all 20 minutes of it — set to Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams. (Thunder only happens when its raining, Party John.)
- More math equations like this: Old Biff x People Under The Stairs = Chris Kaman.
- A statistical site that keeps tracks of post-game interviews so I can once and for all determine which NBA player leads the league in “you-know-what-I’m-sayin’s”/per 48. (You know what I’m sayin’?)
- A downloadable database of every NBA player rap song ever made.
- The awesome ability to translate text into “Mutombo”.
That’s a start at least. What else should be available? Let’s hear your thoughts.
Comments (7)More Cowbell, Chat Styles
Three brilliant parts from Simmons’ (Insider) chat today:
Jacob (Indianapolis IN): Bill, there’s a wild internet rumor floating around right now that there is a 6 team trade brewing in the NBA including IND, SAC, BOS, GSW, PHIL, ATL…any truth to this?
Bill Simmons: Any time the words “wild internet rumor” and “NBA” are involved, I don’t pay attention. There’s just a zero percent track record of success.
Damn! I guess my Williams-for-Williams-for-Williams-for-Williams-for-Williams-for-Williams trade has no legs, eh?
Sean (Sacramento, CA): When are the sports movie articles coming back? With its top tier unintentional comedy, is there any chance “RAD” makes the top 73?
Bill Simmons: That’s a tough one for me - I loved doing those reviews, but the numbers just weren’t there, people are twice as likely to read a mailbag than a review of a movie that came out 25 years ago. I’m not sure what to do on that front. May end up just compressing everything into a week-long countdown.
Sean from Sacramento, you are my new best friend. Greatest. Movie. Ever. Seriously…
Chris Berman (Bristol, Conn): You’re with me, Sports Guy.
Bill Simmons: (Trying to fight off 100,000 bolts of electric current…)
That sound you just heard? Oh, about a million Deadspin readers simultaneously e-mailin’ Will.
Chat With Bill Simmons [ESPN Sportsnation]
Comments (9)Poodle Skirts and Sweater Sets
If Jack McCallum were the NBA commissioner for a day, I would … immediately page Dr. Mierzwiak: “Yeah, erase it all Doc.”
OK, maybe that’s a bit harsh. But damn are some of McCallum’s ideas ever lame with a capital ‘L’-ou Bega. Curtail crazy introductions? Police the anthem? Hmm… maybe we should just put an end to clapping and force fans to wear brown while we’re at it, eh Jack-O? Jeesh … lighten up. It’s a freakin’ basketball game, not a funeral.*
Now with that said, the articles not all bad. Yeah, I’d say of McCallum’s ten Stern suggestions, there are two I really agree with:
5. Schedule NBDL-NBA doubleheaders: If the National Basketball Developmental League is such a good product, as the NBA insists it is, schedule a few NBDL-NBA doubleheaders during the season.
Love it. Not only is it a great 2-for-1 deal, but it also allows teams like the Hawks and Raptors to grab a few more wins against teams like Sioux Falls and Albuquerque. Umm … that’s what he means, right? They’ll play each other, no?
8. Fix retro night: OK, we get the retro nights. We love the retro jerseys. We love the fact that the old players are remembered. But how about making it mandatory that every team have at least one retro price night? Admission is 10 bucks. Hot dogs are $1.25, sodas are $1.
I’d also make it mandatory for every player to wear short-shorts, knee-pads and wire-frame glasses. Oh, that, and Rick Barry would call every game rockin’ his Studio 54 attire. (NSFW!)
Commissioner For A Day [Yahoo! Sports]
* Unless you’re a Knicks fan of course. Then it’s sort of a toss-up…
Comments (4)Our Show, Your Say: Game 1
Quick reminder that we’ll be recording a Game 1 NBA Finals podcast right after the game so make sure you get to get your comments or questions.
Three ways to do so: call us, e-mail us, or record us a quick message.
You’ll have up to roughly 15-minutes after the final horn blows to get ‘em in. Cheers. Enjoy the 2nd half.
[Record a Message for the NBA Finals Show]
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About
The Basketball Jones is a NBA blog and podcast, written and recorded five times a week by J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Jason Doyle. Comments, questions and cold hard cash are always welcome and much appreciated. Contact us.
Podcast
Latest Episodes
- Ep. 329: Finals, Game 6 – Wednesday, June 18th
- Ep. 328: Finals, Game 5 – Monday, June 16th
- Ep. 327: Finals, Game 4 – Friday, June 13th
- Ep. 326: Finals, Game 3 – Wednesday, June 11th
- Ep. 325: Finals, Game 2 – Monday, June 9th