New York Daily News (Frank Isola) reports (via blog): You never know who you’ll into at the All-Star Game. On my flight from Los Angeles I traveled with Cedric The Entertainer as well as ESPN’s Bill Simmons, who used to be a writer but now that he’s flying First Class you can’t call him that anymore. At the hotel I spotted Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald as well as Shaquille O’Neal walking with his four kids. No sign of Rihanna and Chris Brown however.
Report: John Paxson to eventually step down
The Chicago Sun-Times reports: John Paxson plans to resign as Bulls GM, the Sun-Times has learned. The timing of Paxson’s resignation is not certain, possibly after the season. Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has tried to talk Paxson out of resigning, according to the Tribune. And that report states Paxson may remain in the organization in a different role.
InsideHoops.com editor says: It appears that the New York Post’s Pete Vecsey broke the story, and the Sun-Times has confirmed it. Anyway, I wonder if he’s voluntarily deciding to call it quits or if Bulls ownership privately informed him it’s time to change directions in the leadership department.
Economy affects NBA All-Star weekend
The Washington Post (Michael Lee) reports on 2009 NBA All-Star weekend: An inability to assemble private sponsors has led to the cancellation of some of the more popular parties, such as Zo & Magic’s Eight Ball Challenge, a celebrity-infused pool tournament that usually kicks off the weekend, and an ESPN bowling event. The Jordan Brand shoe company, which held a red-carpet party last year in New Orleans, elected to have a private dinner instead. And the NBA Players Association All-Star Gala, a lavish, invitation-only event considered the premier party of the weekend, plans to rely more on music from a disc jockey after having live performances by comedian Cedric the Entertainer, rappers T.I. and Snoop Dogg, and R&B singer Mary J. Blige in recent years. “I think the people that are coming to Phoenix are going to enjoy All-Star Weekend a great deal,” said Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, president of the players’ union. “At the same time, a lot of our sponsors, a lot of our players and the league overall are very aware of what the people in our country are going through. I think you’ll see a little bit of a subdued feel with over-the-top parties, and guys doing a lot of different things individually.”
Elgin Baylor lawsuit against Clippers
Former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor spent 22 years barely accomplishing anything, making bad draft choices, and not succeeding at making the Clippers a good team.
Now, it’s well known that Baylor faced limits on how much money he was allowed to spend. The Clippers tended to use very little salary, and that makes it hard to ever build a real winner.
Still, Baylor was lousy at his job. Yet the Clippers let him keep his position for over two decades. That’s dedication.
The legendary former player and the organization have since gone their separate ways. But now, it’s getting ugly. The AP reports:
Elgin Baylor, the former Los Angeles Clippers general manager who left the team last fall after 22 years, has sued the franchise, the NBA and team owner Donald Sterling alleging employment discrimination. The lawsuit maintains that Baylor was “discriminated against and unceremoniously released from his position with the team on account of his age and his race” and that he was “grossly underpaid during his tenure with the Clippers, never earning more than $350,000 per year, when compared with the compensation scheme for general managers employed by every other team in the NBA.”
I side with the Clippers. From the outside, Baylor’s lawsuit sounds ridiculous.
Of course, that’s the thing. We’re all on the outside. No one knows what was going on behind closed doors. But, how bad could it have been? If Baylor was being mistreated, wouldn’t he have said or done something while he actually had his job? The guy had job security for over two decades, despite being fairly bad at what he did. The Clippers showed him amazing loyalty over the years.
Here’s a statement sent to InsideHoops.com and other media outlets from Los Angeles Clippers’ General Counsel Robert H. Platt, a partner at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips:
“Now that they have staged their press conference, it has become even more apparent that the decision to bring the suit was driven by publicity-seeking attorneys hoping to draw attention to themselves. Their false claims carry no weight and have no credibility.”
“Elgin Baylor was with the Clippers for 22 years and he received numerous salary increases and was always treated well.”
“During Elgin’s tenure, the other NBA teams employed over 125 General Managers with an average tenure of less than five years. In fact, despite the team’s poor draft history and record, Elgin was the NBA’s longest serving General Manager when he chose to resign.”
“Elgin rejected the opportunity to continue with the organization as a paid consultant or stay in his current job. People can judge for themselves the results of his performance during his 22 years on the job. We stand by our assertion that Elgin was always treated fairly and honorably.”
Unless some new information comes out, I hope the Clippers win out here.
– InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner
Maggette scores 24, Warriors beat Blazers 105-98
The AP reports: Ronny Turiaf recorded his first double-double in nearly two years with 14 points and 11 rebounds while helping lead the Warriors to a 105-98 win over Portland on Thursday… Corey Maggette had 24 points while Jackson and Monta Ellis added 20 points apiece for Golden State, which extended its season-high win streak to three games. The Warriors also beat Portland at home for the eighth straight time… Brandon Roy scored 37 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 for the Blazers, who have not won at Golden State since Nov. 3, 2004.
Rondo triple-double, Celtics beat Mavericks 99-92
The AP reports: Kevin Garnett was frustrated and sitting on the Boston bench after getting three fouls in a matter of seconds while battling with Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas’ lone All-Star. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was already in the locker room because of the same sequence late in the third quarter, ejected after two quick technical fouls… And they would go on to a physical 99-92 victory Thursday night over the Mavericks. Pierce scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, but gave plenty of credit to his argumentative coach… Nowitzki led Dallas with 37 and Howard had 17 before fouling out. Ray Allen, playing a night after injuring his thumb in the Celtics’ victory at New Orleans, had 20 points and will play in the All-Star game still. Rajon Rondo had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists for his second career triple-double, both this season.
Beasley scores 21, Heat beat Bulls 95-93
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade found a streaking Shawn Marion for a dunk with 1.1 seconds left to give the Heat a 95-93 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. Wade, selected as a starter for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star game this weekend in Phoenix, scored 24 points… Reserve Michael Beasley finished with 21 points for the Heat, who came in as a loser of five out of the last seven games… Ben Gordon finished with 34 points for Chicago.
NBA fines Cavaliers coach Mike Brown
The AP reports: Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing officials following Cleveland’s last-second loss at Indiana on Tuesday night. Brown, who will coach the Eastern Conference team at this weekend’s All-Star game, went into a tirade about a call by referee Joey Crawford that awarded the Pacers two free throws and gave them a 96-95 win. Crawford called a foul on LeBron James, who was trying to stop an alley-oop pass to Indiana’s Danny Granger. Brown felt Crawford made a predetermined call against James, who had been involved in a similar call moments earlier with Granger.
Hi from the Golden Gate Bridge
Hi. I am currently in San Francisco, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge on my way to a town called Sausalito. Not sure if that’s the right spelling. Most people drive it or at least bike it, but after rainy days it’s nice out and I’m up for a walk.
No, I haven’t moved to California. Just visiting.
–Jeff
Zach Randolph says he’s unguardable
The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports: Zach Randolph said he knows the Knicks miss him. “I’m a pretty good player,” Randolph said before his Clippers scored a 128-124 overtime victory over the Knicks. “Ain’t nobody in the league can guard me. I thought we were rolling, playing good, had the best start in a long time. We had a good team. I’m not going to start anything. It’s what they wanted to do. I don’t know why, but I guess they have plans. They say they have plans.”