Bonzi's comment about Peja's injury.

[bozzwell]

This whole pinkygate is sureal. Everybody is getting worked up over nothing. I understand how this turn of the events could be a surprise to Bonzi, but I don't see how this is any news to kingsfans.com. Physical athletic players, like Bonzi, get nicked up all the time, so playing with aches and pains is business as usual. The opposite from that (call it a wuss or whatever you want), there are players who are either unable or unwilling to put up with rigours and punishment of physical game (whatever sport we are talking about). For those players, even a hung-nail can be an insurmountable obstacle on the way to the arena (and yes, the irony of using the word "arena" is not lost on me).

Bonzi, a tough hustle and bustle guy, calls out I-can't-feel-my-Pinky-Pedja and somehow that merits all the debate and bile to come out on the forum?

The only thing that anyone should be questioning is how come that it came down to Bonzi for this (unless of course he was speaking out of turn)? If we need the new guy to spark things up in the locker room then there is at least two other guys in that same locker room that either don't care enough or a wusses themselves.

 

[Bricklayer]

This whole pinkygate is sureal. Everybody is getting worked up over nothing. I understand how this turn of the events could be a surprise to Bonzi, but I don't see how this is any news to kingsfans.com. Physical athletic players, like Bonzi, get nicked up all the time, so playing with aches and pains is business as usual. The opposite from that (call it a wuss or whatever you want), there are players who are either unable or unwilling to put up with rigours and punishment of physical game (whatever sport we are talking about). For those players, even a hung-nail can be an insurmountable obstacle on the way to the arena (and yes, the irony of using the word "arena" is not lost on me).

Bonzi, a tough hustle and bustle guy, calls out I-can't-feel-my-Pinky-Pedja and somehow that merits all the debate and bile to come out on the forum?

The only thing that anyone should be questioning is how come that it came down to Bonzi for this (unless of course he was speaking out of turn)? If we need the new guy to spark things up in the locker room then there is at least two other guys in that same locker room that either don't care enough or a wusses themselves.

Absolutely agree with most of that, but I will say that before the season even started I felt that one of the GOOD things that could happen for the Kings was for Bonzi to swell up and become a leader for the team. That's a highly unstable leader of course. But given our options and the leadership void, the idea of your toughest hardest-hustling player really beginning to take it upon himself to lead is not that unappealing. Just not sure if Bonzi really knows how to go about it or not.

I also think that really this sort of thing was far more likely to come from a newbie anyway, since the other vets have alreeady seen this before and would have a hard time abruptly speaking up about it. Besides, they don't want to get traded.

In any case, Bonzi stepping up and even trying to make a statement for the team while really backing it up/busting his butt on the court could be a good thng for us. On a team full of natural scorers, where we really need leadership is in the toughness/rebounding/defense categories. If Bonzi is driven to prove himself and set an example every game by crashing the glass and leading the charge, great. If anyone follows him, double great.

Now what I'd like to see is Peja come out looking to reestablish himself and prove that he can do it too. May not be how he responds, and I know that. But before pinkygate he had actually given us a couple of pretty complete games where he had nothing to be ashamed of, and if he does not go into a shell and can repeat those complete performances while Bonzi is leading a hustle charge, we'll be in good shape. Much may depend on whetehr Peja ever honestly looks in the mirror, or whether he is someone who always feels picked on/victimized.

 

[6th]

Much may depend on whetehr Peja ever honestly looks in the mirror, or whether he is someone who always feels picked on/victimized.

Absolutely agree. When Peja stands up and says, "I'll show you" and goes out and takes over the team, I will be one really happy camper. Unfortunately, I'm afraid he is more likely to feel the victim of big ol mean Bonzi. That is what I expect. I would love to be wrong.

 

[bozzwell]

Absolutely agree with most of that, but I will say that before the season even started I felt that one of the GOOD things that could happen for the Kings was for Bonzi to swell up and become a leader for the team. That's a highly unstable leader of course. But given our options and the leadership void, the idea of your toughest hardest-hustling player really beginning to take it upon himself to lead is not that unappealing. Just not sure if Bonzi really knows how to go about it or not.

I also think that really this sort of thing was far more likely to come from a newbie anyway, since the other vets have alreeady seen this before and would have a hard time abruptly speaking up about it. Besides, they don't want to get traded.

In any case, Bonzi stepping up and even trying to make a statement for the team while really backing it up/busting his butt on the court could be a good thng for us. On a team full of natural scorers, where we really need leadership is in the toughness/rebounding/defense categories. If Bonzi is driven to prove himself and set an example every game by crashing the glass and leading the charge, great. If anyone follows him, double great.

Now what I'd like to see is Peja come out looking to reestablish himself and prove that he can do it too. May not be how he responds, and I know that. But before pinkygate he had actually given us a couple of pretty complete games where he had nothing to be ashamed of, and if he does not go into a shell and can repeat those complete performances while Bonzi is leading a hustle charge, we'll be in good shape. Much may depend on whetehr Peja ever honestly looks in the mirror, or whether he is someone who always feels picked on/victimized.

I will return the favor and absolutely agree with most of what you wrote. However, while you managed to explain well how and why Brad and Mike would not feel like challenging Pedja, it is still not excusable. Especially in view of the fact that Pedja was making really good progress and putting up a streak of promissing performances. If he was showing any signs of relapse, i.e. pinkygate, then why wouldn't Brad or Mike feel comfortable razzing him too. Now that I think of it, that might be just that: The guys were giving Pedja hard time about pinky (they must have had same reaction that we did to the headlines) and Pedja took an exception to noob calling him out.

 

[SIR HENRY 8]

I am in no way sticking up for Peja,but i do know that with any injury,pain is inevitible,the suffering is optional and if you learn to live with pain as part of your life, your better able to endure the difficult times and move on leaving the pain behind.Peja will return when he is ready,no matter what we think.

 

[Mad D]

Isn't that funny, that the guy you call wuss 5 times a day has had more succesfull career in the last 6 years than you wil ever have for the rest of your miserable life.

money does not always equal success

For an NBA player, success = Championships (To a lesser extend NBA player awards)

Wussesiness doesn't win rings.

 

[Kings113]

Unfortunately, I'm afraid he is more likely to feel the victim of big ol mean Bonzi. That is what I expect. I would love to be wrong.

I don't think it/it'll effect him like that.

 

[VF21]

Okay, I've read the whole thread and I want to remind people to READ the rules for posting that are stickied up at the top of the Kings forum. My august co-moderator Bricklayer is a lot more tolerant and forgiving than I.

If people want to make it personal and not about the topic at hand, they're going to have to find another place to do it. Kingsfans.com is the most active and popular Kings message board on the Internet because, even though we may disagree vehemently at times, we manage to say so without resorting to personal attacks, name calling, puerile insults, etc.

I certainly hope a word to the wise is sufficient.