From Toronto news: Webber on Rose

[Purple Reign]

This could explain his 6-21 last night.


Rose off bench `is not right,' says long-time friend Webber
`I feel sorry for Jalen': Forward
Hopes Raptor can play for contender



DONOVAN VINCENT
SPORTS REPORTER

[font=Times, Times New Roman, Serif, MS Serif]Kings forward Chris Webber has never been one to self-censor, and wasn't holding back yesterday when he expressed disbelief that his long-time friend, Toronto Raptor Jalen Rose, has been relegated to the bench.


"I hope he gets traded to a contender. He doesn't need to be rebuilding and coming off the bench with guys he's better than," Webber said before Sacramento faced Toronto at the ACC last night.


Of course, one has to take what Webber says with a bit of a jaundiced eye, given he and Rose are old friends: they grew up in the same Detroit neighbourhood.


The two were teammates and part of the so-called Fab Five along with Juwan Howard at the University of Michigan for two seasons in 1991-92 and 1992-93.


Rose has been coming off the bench since Dec. 22, and has been in and out of the doghouse with Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. Rose was also part of persistent trade rumours last month before Vince Carter was traded to New Jersey.


Last night, Rose was the second-leading scorer for the Raptors in their 96-93 win. He scored 20 points to Chris Bosh's 23. Rose added five rebounds. He came in at 5:54 of the first quarter, replacing Eric Williams. In the first half, Rose scored 14. He played a total of 28 minutes, and returned early in the fourth, again for Williams.


Rose's assets are his passing, reliable mid-range jump shot, and good low post play. He's the leading scorer right now for the Raptors, averaging about 14 points per game. But it's well known that his defence is suspect, some say a liability. And he's made no big noise about wanting to stay in Toronto.


Still, from a player like Webber, who has been one of the top scorers in the NBA for close to a decade, people do tend to listen.


Webber said Rose has been forced into an unreasonable situation, one that must change.


"I feel sorry for Jalen. I tell him that every day. But he keeps his head strong and that's all that matters," Webber said.


The two hooked up Tuesday night when the Kings arrived in Toronto after beating the Knicks in New York.


"I saw him last night as soon as I got in and we talked. (where did ya'll talk at Chris!!!!!) He's definitely supportive of the team and the coach, but I'm the one in his ear saying this is not right, and you know hopefully he gets traded."


Webber says Rose's skills are being underutilized.


"Hopefully he gets to go play with a contender and do like he did in Indiana (where Rose played for just over five seasons, four of which saw he and the Pacers making the playoffs) come play with us maybe, something, and get to where he could be happy."


He said a team with a good "big man" would be suitable for Rose's skill set, adding Rose's situation is fodder for talk around the league. "Players know it."
[/font]

 

[Bricklayer]

Not terribly amused by Webb basically messing with another team's player. Sure Sam Mitchell must really appreciate having an outsider come in and try to turn his player into a lockerroom cancer and malcontent.

 

[sloter]

On the other hand, I'm happier that Webber is talking about other team's players than about our own.

 

[crypticone]

Not terribly amused by Webb basically messing with another team's player. Sure Sam Mitchell must really appreciate having an outsider come in and try to turn his player into a lockerroom cancer and malcontent.

He may have over stepped is bounds with his comments, but he is right. After seeing Rose torch us last night time in a time out, he deserves better than being a bench player for a sorry team. I have always liked Jalen and admire Webber for sticking up for a long time friend.

 

[VF21]

I don't think he over-stepped his bounds. Webber and Rose have been FRIENDS for a very long time. I don't think it's messing with a team when you sympathize with a friend in what you think is a bad situation. And I don't think Rose is going to become a locker room cancer. Rose saw Carter demand a trade and finally get it. Rose isn't happy either and it's indicative of a franchise in trouble, regardless of what Webber might or might not say...

 

[Bricklayer]

So let me see if I've got this right:


If Rose had come out and said after the game "man, Chris's situation is just really messed up. Getting booed at home, coach won't play him the minutes he needs. He's definitely supportive of the team and the coach, but I'm the one in his ear saying this is not right, and you know hopefully he gets traded."

We wouldn't be screaming bloody murder?


If Vlad Radmonovic comes out and says "its just not right, Peja was an MVP candidate last year, and this year he's not getting the shots. I keep on telling him that I hope he gets traded to a contender. He doesn't need to be sharing shots with guys he's better than."

We think that's cool?

Right. Webb can feel however he wants, but no way in hell that he has any right to be publicly lobbying another team's player like that. Trying to stir up discontent. That is not his business, and not his place.

 

[VF21]

Chris Webber was asked how he felt about his friend Jalen Rose being treated poorly. He replied honestly, which is his biggest problem sometimes.

Had Jalen Rose been asked about how he felt about his friend Chris Webber being booed by his own fans, he most likely would have had something to say in defense of his friend and not too flattering about those who booed him.

I see no real similarity between the Vlad and Pedja situation, because to my knowlege they are not life-long friends.

IMHO Webber was NOT trying to stir up discontent. He was saying he told his friend he hoped he got traded to a team where he would get to play as a starter, which he obviously feels his friend deserves.

 

[profit]

So let me see if I've got this right:


If Rose had come out and said after the game "man, Chris's situation is just really messed up. Getting booed at home, coach won't play him the minutes he needs. He's definitely supportive of the team and the coach, but I'm the one in his ear saying this is not right, and you know hopefully he gets traded."

We wouldn't be screaming bloody murder?


If Vlad Radmonovic comes out and says "its just not right, Peja was an MVP candidate last year, and this year he's not getting the shots. I keep on telling him that I hope he gets traded to a contender. He doesn't need to be sharing shots with guys he's better than."

We think that's cool?

Right. Webb can feel however he wants, but no way in hell that he has any right to be publicly lobbying another team's player like that. Trying to stir up discontent. That is not his business, and not his place.

Why would you care about what another player said about one of our players? If that's how Weber feels I don't see anything wrong with him voicing his opinion. Atleast he knows something about the issue being that Rose is his friend. It's not like he's talking out of his rear. I'm not saying if I was a Raptor fan I would give a damn about Webers opinion, but who cares if a voices it.

 

[VF21]

One more thing? Are we really going to take AS GOSPEL what some Toronto writer says Chris said and meant?

Tempest in a teapot, IMHO.

 

[piksi]

Is he ever going to learn it ?

 

[HndsmCelt]

Yeah Webber should keep his trap shut... but he never will. Is concern for a long ime frind the same as stiring up **** in someone elsesback yard, probably not. Could he have voiced his support for Rose with out it comming off as a criticsim of the coaching staff? Absolutly. Once again I will use this as an example of the need for a class in interviewing. Anyone from the CSU provost office reading this?

 

[VF21]

Did anyone consider the fact that this article could be the writer's attempt to further his own agenda? Could it be that Mr. Donovan Vincent AGREES that Rose should not be coming off the bench and used this opportunity and a couple of choice Webber quotes to further that point?

Still, from a player like Webber, who has been one of the top scorers in the NBA for close to a decade, people do tend to listen. Webber said Rose has been forced into an unreasonable situation, one that must change.

Sounds like agenda promotion to me.

 

[Bricklayer]

We would be absolutely FURIOUS if an opposing player encouraged one of our guys to seek a trade, or be discontented with his role. Even worse yet if it was a friend who might actually have his ear and cause problems.

 

[VF21]

The problems are already there. It's not like Webber's comments created a situation where all had been blue skies and sunshine before AND it's not like Webber making those comments is a surprise. I think he was asked leading questions to further the writer's position. Should he have answered? Probably not but that's Webber and I think the writer knew it.

Do we know what advice Webber received from friends last year when he was trying to come back? Not for sure but there were rumblings. Do we know what advice Pedja received from friends this summer? Nope, but a lot of comment were attributed to Vlade...

In both cases, the situations were resolved because we have a healthy organziation that can overcome some of the usual pitfalls. Toronto is in shambles; one player has already demanded and obtained a trade. Now, a GOOD player is coming off the bench behind someone who simply isn't as good.

I don't think a couple of comments in passing by Chris Webber or anyone else are going to tip the scales in Toronto one way or the other.

 

[Purple Reign]

What caught my attention is that Webb said as soon as he touched down in Toronto, him and Jalen hooked up. Couldn't he have gone home and went to bed . If he would have, maybe he would have shot 9-21 instead of a misberable 6-21.

 

[mcsluggo]

Well, all I can say is that a pro basketball writer (and a paper full of editors) that cannot spell "defense" has all sorts of weight to throw behind any argument.


("defence" isn't one of those words that those illiterate brits are always mis-spelling, is it? Even if it is, what is some poseur Canadian doing "playing British?" Does he fake an accent in bars to pick up chicks?)

 

[VF21]

Toronto is in Canada. They spell things the "British" way. "Defence" is one of those things, much like flavour, and colour, and analyse...



And, for the record? I agree with everything you said, Mcsluggo...

 

[KP]

What caught my attention is that Webb said as soon as he touched down in Toronto, him and Jalen hooked up. Couldn't he have gone home and went to bed . If he would have, maybe he would have shot 9-21 instead of a misberable 6-21.

Good point ^^ Then again who cares about what Canadians think anyways?? Eh?

 

[TheSerbianQueen]

Toronto is in Canada. They spell things the "British" way. "Defence" is one of those things, much like flavour, and colour, and analyse...



And, for the record? I agree with everything you said, Mcsluggo...

You beat me to it VF21..... well explained!! Canada has a huge British influence and therefore, many word/spellings used are like british and not American.

 

[KP]

Wait I'm confused... so how do you spell Defense in Canada?

 

[VF21]

Wait I'm confused... so how do you spell Defense in Canada?

D#########################

 

[KingKong]

What caught my attention is that Webb said as soon as he touched down in Toronto, him and Jalen hooked up. Couldn't he have gone home and went to bed . If he would have, maybe he would have shot 9-21 instead of a misberable 6-21.

Webb wanted to check out some of that Canadian bud that Jalen has been harping about.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Isn't Canada technically still part of the British Empire?

 

[KingKong]

I think that Canada still follows the Monarchial system where Elizabeth II is their Queen, butI don't think they are still a part of the British Empire. I wasn't even aware that Britain still had an empire.