Anger at Peja

[mcsluggo]

Jeez people.

I cant believe how much anger is simmering up at Peja lately. For the last year (at least) there had been a rumbling fault line amongst kings fans, with FANS of Peja throwing grenades in the Chris Webber direction, and FANS of Webber getting all protective and prickly and throwing barbs back at Peja.

Wake up call: Webber is gone.

the animosity that remains (and appears to be growing) for peja is disturbing to me. MOST of the reason people are pissed at Peja is because of things that buthole FANS have been saying NOT AT ANYTHING HE HIMSELF HAS SAID OR DONE.

Don't forget that folks. Give Peja a freakin break.

Kings fans are really starting to sound like the moronic drivel we've heard from down south the last several years (K v S).

Grow up people.

(and its not just "the usual suspects", lots of people who are used to having sunshine flowing out of their rears are amongst the most simmering of Peja grudge holders. Let it go, people. Peja has no control over what his legions of fans dribble out of their pieholes)

 

[gilly420]

well if peja can man up he will shut up all doubters, until it happens he will be subject to (imo) very credable critisism. The guy hasnt stepped up when it matters and thats what matters most in the NBA

 

[Daniela]

Woo Hoo!!!

 

[Heuge]

No grudges with Pedja...I am just ready for him to show up, play with heart and toughness, and use that enormous talent that he has.

 

[bdouble013]

What Heuge said. Or in case the grammar police on the board decide to read this, I agree completely with what my fellow poster Heuge said in the previous post.

 

[sloter]

What Heuge said. Or in case the grammer police on the board decide to read this, I agree completely with what my fellow poster Heuge said in the previous post.

If 'grammer police' decides to show up, perhaps you should spell 'grammar' correctly

 

[iheartBrad]

i personally love Peja...i just miss him and im ready for him to get back out on the floor

 

[VF21]

Jeez people.

I cant believe how much anger is simmering up at Peja lately. For the last year (at least) there had been a rumbling fault line amongst kings fans, with FANS of Peja throwing grenades in the Chris Webber direction, and FANS of Webber getting all protective and prickly and throwing barbs back at Peja.

Wake up call: Webber is gone.

the animosity that remains (and appears to be growing) for peja is disturbing to me. MOST of the reason people are pissed at Peja is because of things that buthole FANS have been saying NOT AT ANYTHING HE HIMSELF HAS SAID OR DONE.

Don't forget that folks. Give Peja a freakin break.

Kings fans are really starting to sound like the moronic drivel we've heard from down south the last several years (K v S).

Grow up people.

(and its not just "the usual suspects", lots of people who are used to having sunshine flowing out of their rears are amongst the most simmering of Peja grudge holders. Let it go, people. Peja has no control over what his legions of fans dribble out of their pieholes)

I'm sorry, mcsluggo, but I'm still just a little upset that he went to the media, demanded a trade, said he'd rather be anywhere else, etc. I have tried very hard to get over it, and have talked about that being in the past, etc. But, for whatever reason, there were some Peja fans who continued to quote B92, etc. saying it was proof he didn't want to be here.

Well, he's here and Webber is gone. I can accept that and I sincerely hope he can contribute. What gets me is when people have to continue to bash Webber, as if that somehow makes Peja better.

So, it's a two-way street. People need to quit bashing Peja AND they need to quit bashing Webber, both of which I addressed in a comment in the PLEASE READ sticky at the top of the forum.

You know what I would like to see? I would like to see Peja come out and say he's not still demanding a trade; that he wants to stay here and do the best job he possibly can. That might make it a little easier than having to realize constantly the two players who wanted to be here the most are gone and the ONE who wanted most to be gone is here.

It may be childish, but it's the truth.

There was a LOT of vitriol on this board in the past year over Webber. As long as people followed the rules of the board, it stayed. I honestly think Peja has something to prove to the fans. As long as people discuss it within the rules, they are as entitled to the criticisms, etc. as the Webber bashers were.

Just my three cents...

 

[AleksandarN]

I'm sorry, mcsluggo, but I'm still just a little upset that he went to the media, demanded a trade, said he'd rather be anywhere else, etc. I have tried very hard to get over it, and have talked about that being in the past, etc. But, for whatever reason, there were some Peja fans who continued to quote B92, etc. saying it was proof he didn't want to be here.

Well, he's here and Webber is gone. I can accept that and I sincerely hope he can contribute. What gets me is when people have to continue to bash Webber, as if that somehow makes Peja better.

So, it's a two-way street. People need to quit bashing Peja AND they need to quit bashing Webber, both of which I addressed in a comment in the PLEASE READ sticky at the top of the forum.

You know what I would like to see? I would like to see Peja come out and say he's not still demanding a trade; that he wants to stay here and do the best job he possibly can. That might make it a little easier than having to realize constantly the two players who wanted to be here the most are gone and the ONE who wanted most to be gone is here.

It may be childish, but it's the truth.

There was a LOT of vitriol on this board in the past year over Webber. As long as people followed the rules of the board, it stayed. I honestly think Peja has something to prove to the fans. As long as people discuss it within the rules, they are as entitled to the criticisms, etc. as the Webber bashers were.

Just my three cents...

It is funny that he already mentioned it more than once that he wants to stay and is happy being a King. What more do you want from him. Also alot of people is bashing him for not playing while he injuried which is totally unacceptible. Give it time it is one thing to blame him for on court production but when it somes to critizism for not playing and the theory of him getting Chris traded is total BS. Petrie, the Maloofs, Cwebb and Pedja himself said it was not Pedja who caused Webber to get traded. I can not believe that people who still thinks that it is his fault for the trade. If you believe that then you must think that the whole Kings organization and CWebb and Pedja are liers.

 

[NewEraKings05]

I both agree and disagree with both sides of the coin. But I also agree with McSluggo when it was mentioned to let it go. The cards have been dealt, and all of us Kings fans should just let it be.

I really, truly hope that nobody boo's Peja on Sunday. I will be there, and I will feel bad for him if anyone does. Like VF21 above posted, he was the one who originally wanted to be traded, but he wasn't the one who was. The how's or why's are something none of us really know about. We only have our speculations, and to vilify Peja on this is just wrong.

 

[bdouble013]

If 'grammer police' decides to show up, perhaps you should spell 'grammar' correctly

....

Are you sure it is spelled wrong?

stealth edit!!!!


Oh and its THE grammar police sloter.

 

[Daniela]

Just you wait when he lights up the court and takes us to the playoffs. I wonder what the bandwagon will be saying then.

 

[Mad Iron]

I really, truly hope that nobody boo's Peja on Sunday. I will be there, and I will feel bad for him if anyone does. Like VF21 above posted, he was the one who originally wanted to be traded, but he wasn't the one who was. The how's or why's are something none of us really know about. We only have our speculations, and to vilify Peja on this is just wrong.

If Peja takes 30 ill-advised shots, then he will be booed just like Webber was. I don't think the average Kings fan will boo him because Webber was traded and he wasn't.

 

[sloter]

....

Are you sure it is spelled wrong?

stealth edit!!!!


Oh and its THE grammar police sloter.

HA! I'm pretty sure, you'd have to pick one of these:

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=grammer

 

[Bricklayer]

Just you wait when he lights up the court and takes us to the playoffs. I wonder what the bandwagon will be saying then.

Long before this season began I said that in light of yet another playoff collapse, this upcoming playoff season would be the defining moment in Peja's career. Nothing has changed on that front except that now, whether it be his doing or that of the front office, the pressure is even higher. There is no longer anybody else to pass blame off onto. This time if Peja falls apart again, the franchise goes down with him.

If Peja had remained off in the shadows he could have remained the nice little Serbian boy with the cute little problems with toughness, clutch play, hustle etc. He did not. And whether he orchestrated this most recent turn of events or not, it is clear he wanted something to happen. Well it did. And nice little Serbian boy does not cut it anymore. He has moved out of the shadows. He is not the #3 guy, the #2 guy...he is now theoretically the #1 guy. I am not at all sure he really wants or is really ready for that responsibility -- certainly the Peja we have seen thus far in his career is not close to being enough of a competitior to handle the role. Much to prove. And for the first time there is no blame to spread around -- if Peja fails now, so does the team. And from thence comes the heat.

 

[AleksandarN]

Long before this season began I said that in light of yet another playoff collapse, this upcoming playoff season would be the defining moment in Peja's career. Nothing has changed on that front except that now, whether it be his doing or that of the front office, the pressure is even higher. There is no longer anybody else to pass blame off onto. This time if Peja falls apart again, the franchise goes down with him.

If Peja had remained off in the shadows he could have remained the nice little Serbian boy with the cute little problems with toughness, clutch play, hustle etc. He did not. And whether he orchestrated this most recent turn of events or not, it is clear he wanted something to happen. Well it did. And nice little Serbian boy does not cut it anymore. He has moved out of the shadows. He is not the #3 guy, the #2 guy...he is now theoretically the #1 guy. I am not at all sure he really wants or is really ready for that responsibility -- certainly the Peja we have seen thus far in his career is not close to being enough of a competitior to handle the role. Much to prove. And for the first time there is no blame to spread around -- if Peja fails now, so does the team. And from thence comes the heat.

That critizism I do not mind because it is related to his on court production. What I do not like is the people who are holding a grudge against him. When his production is not there than that is one thing but if it baised on other things that are out of his control(injuries and the Webber trade) than that is something totally different.

 

[Rowdyone]

Well said, Brick. And unfortunately I don't think that Peja has the game to lead us to the promised land. Not yet, anyway. Peja, unless he becomes multi-dimensionable overnight, is a known quantity and in important games re: playoffs, is defendable by a multitude of guys, not just defensive specialists like Bowen and Hassel, because he takes low percentage shots for the most part. And now that CWebb, Vlade and Doug are gone he's less likely to get the easy, back door shots that are the higher percentage shots he takes (that often get blocked when he just lays them up there). Dude needs to take a summer and work with someone like Pete Newell in his big mans school he holds every summer in Honolulu.

 

[bozzwell]

Long before this season began I said that in light of yet another playoff collapse, this upcoming playoff season would be the defining moment in Peja's career. Nothing has changed on that front except that now, whether it be his doing or that of the front office, the pressure is even higher. There is no longer anybody else to pass blame off onto. This time if Peja falls apart again, the franchise goes down with him.

If Peja had remained off in the shadows he could have remained the nice little Serbian boy with the cute little problems with toughness, clutch play, hustle etc. He did not. And whether he orchestrated this most recent turn of events or not, it is clear he wanted something to happen. Well it did. And nice little Serbian boy does not cut it anymore. He has moved out of the shadows. He is not the #3 guy, the #2 guy...he is now theoretically the #1 guy. I am not at all sure he really wants or is really ready for that responsibility -- certainly the Peja we have seen thus far in his career is not close to being enough of a competitior to handle the role. Much to prove. And for the first time there is no blame to spread around -- if Peja fails now, so does the team. And from thence comes the heat.

I find your pejorative use of "little Serbian boy" to be offensive.

The rest is just demeaning to Pedja, you and the whole board.

 

[uolj]

The rest is just demeaning to Pedja, you and the whole board.

I don't see how the rest is demeaning to anyone. It is an honest assessment. I happen to agree with most of that assessment. What is so demeaning about it?

 

[piksi]

I find your pejorative use of "little Serbian boy" to be offensive.

It was obviously meant to be that way

 

[ovrush]

It is funny that he already mentioned it more than once that he wants to stay and is happy being a King. What more do you want from him. Also alot of people is bashing him for not playing while he injuried which is totally unacceptible. Give it time it is one thing to blame him for on court production but when it somes to critizism for not playing and the theory of him getting Chris traded is total BS. Petrie, the Maloofs, Cwebb and Pedja himself said it was not Pedja who caused Webber to get traded. I can not believe that people who still thinks that it is his fault for the trade. If you believe that then you must think that the whole Kings organization and CWebb and Pedja are liers.

I want Peja to come out and play with relentless effort, to cut hard off screens to wear down defenders moving off the ball like I've seen him do his whole career but not this year. I want Peja to not just step back for jumpers because its easy but to drive hard inside and wear down his defender and get free points by getting to the stripe. I want Peja to Jam the ball when he could toss up a soft layup to try to change the momentum of a game with one play. I want a guy who is an MVP candidate to get in people's faces when they hack him. I want him to take it personally when a guy thinks he can be stopped. I want him to get in people's faces on defense, to average more than 6 boards as a 6'10" small forward. I want him to be vocal, I want him to demand teams create entire defensive schemes to stop him. I want him to hit the ground for loose balls, to play on minor injuries, to do the things that make his team and every other team in the league KNOW this is Peja's team.

I think what frustrates people on this board is that everything I listed above Peja is COMPLETELY capable of. I would have NO problem with the guy as long as he fullfills his potential and starts playing like the star we all know he can be. Until he does that, I think there will always be a portion of people In Sac that will be frustrated by his apparent lack of giving his all. Especially when he was arguably a reason we traded away a guy who was putting up 20-10-5 on one leg at a TREMENDOUS physical disadvantage basically because of his heart.

I think it chafes people to see Peja who has the ability to be not just great, but one of the ALL TIME greats not doing the things to make himself, and his team great.

 

[bozzwell]

I don't see how the rest is demeaning to anyone. It is an honest assessment. I happen to agree with most of that assessment. What is so demeaning about it?

The demeaning part is implied. Would you like my interpretation?

Do you agree that Pedja should know his place? Do you think that a Kings fan and an influential poster/analyst and a moderator should take up such a position in a condecsending tone, that the rest of us usually reserve for the most loathed of our basketball adversaries?

Or did you miss all that?

 

[uolj]

The demeaning part is implied. Would you like my interpretation?

Do you agree that Pedja should know his place? Do you think that a Kings fan and an influential poster/analyst and a moderator should take up such a position in a condecsending tone, that the rest of us usually reserve for the most loathed of our basketball adversaries?

Or did you miss all that?

Yes, I guess I missed all that. I don't see where it implies that Peja should know his place. In fact, all that is being said is that this is Peja's chance to disprove the appearances he has created with his play and actions so far in his career. If you stand by your comment, I'd love to see where in that post is even an implication that is demeaning.

By the way, the moderator part has no place in the discussion, because if you want to question the example being set by someone of greater authority on the board, this is not the appropriate place to do it.

 

[Bricklayer]

I find your pejorative use of "little Serbian boy" to be offensive.

The rest is just demeaning to Pedja, you and the whole board.

If he were from Iowa, he would be a "nice little farm boy". Its got nothing to do with his origin -- the fact is that his portrayal as some sort of sweet virtuous manchild as been at the core fo he reason he has been given a free pass for failings which are universally decried in other players.

And that obviously is not sufficient anymore. If he did not ask for this heat, I truly do feel sorry for him -- in the end I am sure it will be no more fair to him than it was to Webb. But in any case, the MAN which walks out on the court fro the Kings from this point onward can no longer hide behind that image as being sufficent and has to be far more assertive than the player who has taken the floor thus far in his career or he's going to find himself really taking a lot of heat.

He can;t be both. He can't be "sweet little fill-in-the-blank boy", and "the man" at the same time. If he wants the spotlight, then he has to step forward as a fierce competitor and leader. If he does not, then he has no place there and should go back to the shadows. But there is no "I am the #1 option now you guys go win the game" option. Its one or the other.

 

[JohnGalt]

Oversensitive Pedrag fans aren't really doing a lot to shore up his image as a sissy.... only Pedrag can do that by showing us an appropriate number of rebounds for a 6'10" guy playing 40 minutes a game (hint: it isn't 4). That's what I want to see before I will stop riding the guy. It was Pedrag's trade request that led us to where we are today.

 

[AleksandarN]

I want Peja to come out and play with relentless effort, to cut hard off screens to wear down defenders moving off the ball like I've seen him do his whole career but not this year. I want Peja to not just step back for jumpers because its easy but to drive hard inside and wear down his defender and get free points by getting to the stripe. I want Peja to Jam the ball when he could toss up a soft layup to try to change the momentum of a game with one play. I want a guy who is an MVP candidate to get in people's faces when they hack him. I want him to take it personally when a guy thinks he can be stopped. I want him to get in people's faces on defense, to average more than 6 boards as a 6'10" small forward. I want him to be vocal, I want him to demand teams create entire defensive schemes to stop him. I want him to hit the ground for loose balls, to play on minor injuries, to do the things that make his team and every other team in the league KNOW this is Peja's team.

I think what frustrates people on this board is that everything I listed above Peja is COMPLETELY capable of. I would have NO problem with the guy as long as he fullfills his potential and starts playing like the star we all know he can be. Until he does that, I think there will always be a portion of people In Sac that will be frustrated by his apparent lack of giving his all. Especially when he was arguably a reason we traded away a guy who was putting up 20-10-5 on one leg at a TREMENDOUS physical disadvantage basically because of his heart.

I think it chafes people to see Peja who has the ability to be not just great, but one of the ALL TIME greats not doing the things to make himself, and his team great.

Did you read my whole post or did you highlight one sentance that you did read. Because if you did read my post I pretty much aggreed what you said. What I said and I will repeat it one more time judge him on his performance not on what he can not control.

 

[bozzwell]

If he were from Iowa, he would be a "nice little farm boy". Its got nothing to do with his origin -- the fact is that his portrayal as some sort of sweet virtuous manchild as been at the core fo he reason he has been given a free pass for failings which are universally decried in other players.

I got it the first time, and I appreciate that for you it is not different then "fill in the blank". I was just expressing my own feelings. There have been insinuations before (not from you) on this board that "some" are posing as Kings' fans when in fact all they are is very eager Serbian nationalists and that that is the reason for all the player bashing (so that Pedja can be No1. etc.).

And that obviously is not sufficient anymore. If he did not ask for this heat, I truly do feel sorry for him -- in the end I am sure it will be no more fair to him than it was to Webb. But in any case, the MAN which walks out on the court fro the Kings from this point onward can no longer hide behind that image as being sufficent and has to be far more assertive than the player who has taken the floor thus far in his career or he's going to find himself really taking a lot of heat.

I think I was among the first posters to submit that Pedja is fair game now, in the same way that Webber was before the trade. I am not defending Pedja, I took issue with the tone and some semantics of your post, I have no objections or additions to the crux of the assesment.

He can;t be both. He can't be "sweet little fill-in-the-blank boy", and "the man" at the same time. If he wants the spotlight, then he has to step forward as a fierce competitor and leader. If he does not, then he has no place there and should go back to the shadows. But there is no "I am the #1 option now you guys go win the game" option. Its one or the other.

I have a feeling that this is in response to all the Pedja boosters that were forever defending Pedja from big bad Wolf. I don't see anything in Pedja's biography to suggest that he has been conciously cultivating an image that you present here.

 

[bozzwell]

Yes, I guess I missed all that. I don't see where it implies that Peja should know his place. In fact, all that is being said is that this is Peja's chance to disprove the appearances he has created with his play and actions so far in his career. If you stand by your comment, I'd love to see where in that post is even an implication that is demeaning.

By the way, the moderator part has no place in the discussion, because if you want to question the example being set by someone of greater authority on the board, this is not the appropriate place to do it.

I have no problem with Bricklayers moderating style. In fact I complimented him indirectly by suggesting that his stature in our little community magnifies his every comment. That is an observation, not a critique.

I've read most of your posts since joining this forum and I always look forward to them as they are some of the most level headed and rational posts around. So, if you don't see what I've seen in those comments - fine, I am not gonna argue with you. Let me have my say and I am sure that Brick and I get to the bottom of it.

 

[bozzwell]

Oversensitive Pedrag fans aren't really doing a lot to shore up his image as a sissy.... only Pedrag can do that by showing us an appropriate number of rebounds for a 6'10" guy playing 40 minutes a game (hint: it isn't 4). That's what I want to see before I will stop riding the guy. It was Pedrag's trade request that led us to where we are today.

On the contrary, noone is sugegsting that we stop riding the guy. In fact I am on the record that he is number 1. saddle right now. I took issue with the poster (Brick) and I am not defending Pedja. But, I guess, you overlooked that little fact in order to launch your pre-fab snide remark.

 

[bdouble013]

Sloter, now you know why I use this.