Wednesday, May 7

Radman

The always-entertaining Damon Agnos has a humorous story up at the Seattle Weekly 'Buzzer Beater' about long-time favorite Vladimir Radmanovic. It's worth checking out, even if you just observe the myriad hairstyles of Radman.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's an absolutely excellent article about Vladimir Radmananovic, whose off-court antics and unique style -- despite his so-so on-court production -- have always amused me. Yet, with Vladi Radman nowadays playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, it's definitely the best of both worlds. I don't get frustrated with "The Space Cadet's" inconsistentcy like when he was playing for the Seattle SuperSonics, but am nevertheless able to enjoy his presence from afar.

The tandem of Radmanovic and Aleksander "Sasha" Vujacic -- who's another stylish, flamboyant Eastern European -- at the wing forward position gives the Lakers a dynamic duo of top-notch three-point shooters, while Lamar Odom and Luke Walton's ball-handling, passing, and facilitating skills are a positive at the point forward slot. However, it's the addition Pau Gasol at center that's made all the difference; the Yeshua look-alike is quite possibly the most underrated player in the NBA today.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Utah Jazz series, the Jazz needed to address its lack of interior defense -- since Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer are, well, total shit defensively -- prior to the playoffs. Kevin O'Connor didn't fix that problem, though, and it's coming back to haunt the ballclub.

On 2/5/2008, I made the following comments.

"[The Utah Jazz] should offer Jarron Collins, Jason Hart, and Morris Almond to the Indiana Pacers for Jeff Foster and Andre Owens. For the Jazz, that’d provide the team with a defensive stalwart at the pivot (i.e., Foster), while the Pacers would obtain a sharp-shooting rookie (i.e., Almond) [...] to bring some firepower off of the bench."

http://sonicscentral.com/blog/?p=1676

Yet, because the Jazz are without defensive-minded pivotman like Foster splitting time at center with Okur -- who, as a modern-day version Sam Perkins, has his pros and cons -- Pau Gasol is bound to tear it up for the Lakers. All things considered, I predict that the Lakers will destroy the Jazz in five games and move forward to the 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals.

Anonymous said...

That old Utah trade idea of yours had proper defensive concern and seemed reasonable. I don't know but I assume Foster was seen as a stablizar in Indiana (on court and with fans) they couldn't afford to give up at least yet.

Okur / Boozer isn't good on interior D.

Have they tried Kirilenko or Milsap on him much?

New Sonics assistant GM seems a good choice experience-wise from a number of angles. Hope he helps improve the draft yield.

In rereading the old post I saw your unfavorable comments about Durant at SF. I wonder if in practice if Green ever goes up against Durant and what happens. I also wondered if the way to make it work for Durant in real games would be to have him emphasize ball denial with his long arms, then back off and try for charge or block or long-arm shot contest / added difficulty factor and totally avoid trying to body check / contain the opponent that way. Give him no body contact to work off. What are your thoughts on that strategy?

(Also, some asides.
Do you know about the new independent candidate for Governor?

Have you read about the Free State Project in New Hampshire? If not, I thought you might have interest.)

Anonymous said...

Vlade's charity work seems pretty strong.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious about Durant at SF as well, especially on the defensive end. Obviously, at his weight he's going to get pushed around by some of the more aggresive 3's, but I think long-term that has to be his position. I'd love to see the Sonics take Brandon Rush with their 2nd first-round pick, put Rush at 2, KD at 3, Rose (assuming we get him) at 1, Nick at 4, and whatever at center. Trade away Luke and Wilcox for an older center maybe.

Anonymous said...

Hey AK, did you stop posting at SC or did they just decide to stop letting your posts through?

Anonymous said...

If you like colorful players and colorful commentary on them check this out

Brogan NBA video rap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97CXaDIPYTg

Anonymous said...

"Hey AK, did you stop posting at SC or did they just decide to stop letting your posts through?" {Dick Tate}

Yeah, I got the axe there.

It's not a big deal, though.

As it was, I had pushed Brian Robinson's buttons for a few years -- even during the days that he sucked up to Wally Walker and Rick Sund, which caused him to almost never say a negative thing about those guys -- so one of my recent comments just knocked the poor sap over the edge.

Anyhow, SonicsCentral has been losing its luster ever since the influx of new posters, which is due to this whole ownership fiasco surrounding the Seattle SuperSonics.

Hell, the comments I read today were just back-'n'-forth bullshit between the Okie supporter in San Diego, several mindless Sonic homers, and a few rational guys -- with one of whom being Myk, which is crazy in its own right -- but that's neither here nor there.

It sucks that SuperSonicSoul doesn't have the same amount of readership it did back in 2004 and 2005. Although Paul M. and Pete N. aren't highfalutin insiders like Robinson, they're much more intelligent and informed than him concerning the actual game of basketball.

All in all, there's more substance over style here.

Anonymous said...

"(Also, some asides.
Do you know about the new independent candidate for Governor?

Have you read about the Free State Project in New Hampshire? If not, I thought you might have interest.)
" {Crow}

Regarding the 2008 Washington gubernatorial election, I'm pissed off that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Initiative 872 by overturning the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruiling of its unconstitutionality.

Despite my respect for the process of direct democracy, the institutionalizing of the top-two primary indicates how ill-informed the public is about some things.

At this rate, though, I'll vote for Libertarian Ruth Bennett in the primary and, uh, deliberate between choosing Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire and Republican challenger Dino Rossi come the general election.

Anyhow, I've read about the Free State Project. It's not a very pragmatic proposition -- even though New Hampshire is the perfect location for a potential libertarian movement, which is ironic 'cause it's adjacent to the relatively socialist state of Vermont -- however, there's nevertheless a refreshing idealism behind it.

On a similar note, here's recent remarks of mine involving politics -- which references New Hampshire, too -- that I posted at a well-known blog that's devoted to the subject.

"Unlike Rust Belt states in Michigan and Pennsylvania -- along with New Hampshire up in the New England area -- Barack Obama should easily retain the Grain Belt states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. At any rate, though, those are all big-time battleground states—there's no denying it.

Obama would essentially need to hold serve for the Democratic Party, while also picking up Mountain West states in Nevada and Colorado -- and most importantly the Corn Belt states of Iowa and Missouri, which are smack-dab in the Heartland -- if he's to defeat Republican John McCain during the 2008 U.S. presidential election

1. Midwest:

Iowa and Missouri are socially moderate, economically centrist, and middle-of-the-road regarding foreign policy.

2. Mountain West:

Colorado and Nevada are socially center-left, economically center-right, and proponents of a noninterventionist foreign policy.

Obama mustn't lose the following swing states, too.

3. New England:

New Hampshire is socially center-left, economically center-right, and proponents of a noninterventionist foreign policy.

4. Rust Belt:

Michigan and Pennsylvania are socially center-right, economically center-left, and middle-of-the-road regarding foreign policy.

In the end, ultimately, it'll be an all-out brawl between Obama and McCain—no matter the outcome."

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/politics1/050808b/

That's just my stab at political punditry, though.

Anonymous said...

As it was, I had pushed Brian Robinson's buttons for a few years -- even during the days that he sucked up to Wally Walker and Rick Sund, which caused him to almost never say a negative thing about those guys -- so one of my recent comments just knocked the poor sap over the edge.

Anyhow, SonicsCentral has been losing its luster ever since the influx of new posters, which is due to this whole ownership fiasco surrounding the Seattle SuperSonics.


Yeah, i've been taking a bit of heat for not buying into the "we're gonna win this thing" group think. It looks like they're gonna be gearing up for another fund raiser. They probably don't want you around after the one they did last year, lol.

I too would like to see this site get more comments. Pete's been doing a good job over here. Sorry i've been neglecting it while wasting too much effort banging heads with folks who would rather not hear my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Not a lot of info there but
www.tudor2008.com

and a brief story
http://www.politickerwa.com/tags/chris-tudor

former Sonics spokesperson is now his spokesperson

want and see what develops

Anonymous said...

Free State Project got a lot of publicity and has done some stuff but at a much more modest level that the grand plan.

Anonymous said...

"Not a lot of info there but
www.tudor2008.com

and a brief story
http://www.politickerwa.com/tags/chris-tudor

former Sonics spokesperson is now his spokesperson

want and see what develops
"

Apparently, Chris Tudor is a populist candidate; that makes him somewhat like a more localized version of former Alaskan U.S. Senator Mike Gravel, who's currently a presidential hopeful.

As an aside, Gravel is a libertarian socialist -- which seems to be a contradictory set of terms, but it's nevertheless a legitimate political ideology made famous by Noam Chomsky -- who's always professed a very populist, yet also progressive platform.

Along with incumbent Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire, mainstream Republican candidate Dino Rossi, long shot Republican candidate John Aiken, Jr., Libertarian candidate Ruth Bennett, and Green Party candidate Duff Badgley, an Independent candidate like Tudor should provide some flavor to the 2008 State of Washington gubernatorial primary.

Of course, the media coverage on everyone sans Gregoire and Rossi this election cycle will be slim to none. Hell, the respect level that public usually has for obscure third-party and non-partisan candidates is zilch.