Gordon leaving Bulls for Russia?

[Warhawk]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/64984

Multiple Internet reports based in Europe suggested Tuesday that Bulls guard Ben Gordon has had talks with overseas power CSKA Moscow about signing a one-year contract. Gordon, a restricted free agent, and the Bulls have been in a negotiating stalemate all summer. Reached Tuesday, Gordon said he'd prefer not to comment on the reports. His agent, Raymond Brothers, did not return a phone message. It's possible Gordon would prefer joining a European team over signing the one-year qualifying offer from the Bulls worth $6.4 million. One site pegged CSKA's offer at $5.5 million.

 

[Bricklayer]

Again, this is Europe being used as leverage to try to make an end run around the NBA's salary rules. This is a problem. Its not a question of the big salaries, but of the top European teams now being able to match or exceed the MLE and qualifying offers that make the sytem work. Its also of course Ben Gordon continuing to display his utterly delusional assessement of his value. If I was the Bulls I might be tempted to just say, go get em tiger, and send the little twit packing. He's a useful player, but not so useful that he is worth the headaches if he's going to spend his career thinking he's Kobe.

 

[NoBonus]

Hey, what is better than making less money in a sub-par league somewhere on the other side of earth. The NBA should tell these jokers, to go ahead and sign overseas, but disqualify them from EVER returning to the league due to a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Seems fair to me... if you want to play by your own rules, you can play some place else... and by the way, what sort of pro-athlete does not want to play in the top league? To compete at the highest level? What losers.

 

[Arco Arena]

Lol! Why would he take less money to play halfway around the globe in a league that doesnt matter with no media exposure? Sounds like a pretty weak bluff to me, the Bulls should call him on it

 

[Packt]

Hey, what is better than making less money in a sub-par league somewhere on the other side of earth. The NBA should tell these jokers, to go ahead and sign overseas, but disqualify them from EVER returning to the league due to a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Seems fair to me... if you want to play by your own rules, you can play some place else... and by the way, what sort of pro-athlete does not want to play in the top league? To compete at the highest level? What losers.

He's not violating any CBA rule. The Bulls have his rights for only the upcoming season, and it's up to them to get something done or they risk losing him for nothing. Both sides have a vested interest in getting something done. Lots of players have threaten to sit out the year, but few if any have went through with it because getting some money is better than getting none. With European clubs coming in to play, that's not the deterrent it used to be. The CBA is looking outdated in this new global economy.

I see a Visa ad in the making:

Playing over seas for less money, 1 million dollars
Sub-par league, a bruised ego and a 500, 000 dollar bar tab
sticking it to a former employee, priceless

However what does Gordon expect will happen next off-season? 3 inches is the difference between 50 mil and 70 mil and that won't change. Better hope Nike develops high heel sneakers by then.

 

[BritishColumbia]

"Hey, what is better than making less money in a sub-par league somewhere on the other side of earth."

1. $5.5M in Russia is like 9M in NBA (taxes) + they pay for your elite condo, car etc. I'd say it is better than $6.4M.

2. Euroleague is not a sub-par league. It is not NBA good but it is good enough. And Moscow is no less fun than Chicago. You know, Monte Carlo is also somewhere on the other side of the world.


However, according to CSKA GM, this is a dirty rumor and he knows nothing about it. So, I guess Gordon's agent is pretty desperate now. He needs rumors like that and wanna show other GMs in NBA that the richest team in Europe is willing to give his client money, so you'd better hurry and give us something serious.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

2. Euroleague is not a sub-par league. It is not NBA good but it is good enough...

Everything is relative; the same way some people (namely me) believe that there are only two delineations in sports: stars and roleplayers (ie, starters who are not stars are also roleplayers), I'm sure that there are also people who believe that not-NBA good = sub-par. And they're not necessarily wrong.

... And Moscow is no less fun than Chicago.

Again, everything is relative; Moscow may be no less fun than Chicago to BritishColumbia, but that's not necessarily true to Ben Gordon. I am someone who feels that Americans get a bad rap from the rest of the world but, at the same time, I also have seen from experience how resistant some of us can be to adapting to a different culture.

As someone whom has been to Moscow and Chicago, I can tell you that your comment about Moscow being no less fun than Chicago is not true, at least not from my point of view. I wouldn't equate Moscow to Chicago any more than I would equate Sacramento to Chicago. And it doesn't have anything to do with being better or worse; they're just different. There's a taste, if you will, of Chicago, that simply can't be replicated in Moscow, or Sacramento, for that matter.

Having said that, Gordon is in an entirely different tax bracket than I am, so I'm sure that his experience would likely bear little-to-no resemblance to my own. But my inclination is to say that players such as Gordon pull out the "overseas card" without having any sense of what that actually entails.

 

[FakeInjury]

Gordon is not going to be in Chicago much longer. I expect a trade to happen to resolve the issue. Gordon doesn't want to play for pennies. And he will probably sit out the season. The problem with Gordon's game is he is undersized, and wants to be over paid. He would be highly paid if he was taller and could dunk like Vince Carter. But he is not. I see him worth 7 million a year. thats a 5 year 7mill per...42million. I just dont understand why he left that exact offer on the table....Its like Bonzi/Spreewell except a worse player asking for more money.

 

[NoBonus]

Gordon is not going to be in Chicago much longer. I expect a trade to happen to resolve the issue. Gordon doesn't want to play for pennies. And he will probably sit out the season. The problem with Gordon's game is he is undersized, and wants to be over paid. He would be highly paid if he was taller and could dunk like Vince Carter. But he is not. I see him worth 7 million a year. thats a 5 year 7mill per...42million. I just dont understand why he left that exact offer on the table....Its like Bonzi/Spreewell except a worse player asking for more money.

Let's see, Minnesota or LA Clips might be a nice home for Gordon...

 

[Section 101]

the bulls retain his rights if he plays in another league.

he won't sit out the season. he can sign the qualifying offer for a few mil then become an unrestricted FA next year.

 

[One and Done]

I think Memphis could use another guard...

 

[BritishColumbia]

Everything is relative; the same way some people (namely me) believe that there are only two delineations in sports: stars and roleplayers (ie, starters who are not stars are also roleplayers), I'm sure that there are also people who believe that not-NBA good = sub-par. And they're not necessarily wrong.



Again, everything is relative; Moscow may be no less fun than Chicago to BritishColumbia, but that's not necessarily true to Ben Gordon. I am someone who feels that Americans get a bad rap from the rest of the world but, at the same time, I also have seen from experience how resistant some of us can be to adapting to a different culture.

As someone whom has been to Moscow and Chicago, I can tell you that your comment about Moscow being no less fun than Chicago is not true, at least not from my point of view. I wouldn't equate Moscow to Chicago any more than I would equate Sacramento to Chicago. And it doesn't have anything to do with being better or worse; they're just different. There's a taste, if you will, of Chicago, that simply can't be replicated in Moscow, or Sacramento, for that matter.

Having said that, Gordon is in an entirely different tax bracket than I am, so I'm sure that his experience would likely bear little-to-no resemblance to my own. But my inclination is to say that players such as Gordon pull out the "overseas card" without having any sense of what that actually entails.

Sure it depends and it was my opinion ... I am not stupid and I understand that everyone is different. I know a lot of people in Europe who think that Istanbul is the best city in Europe for entertainment. I believe that London is the best for it and Moscow is Top-5. I personally think that if you have a lot money and you want night clubs, restaurants, big parties etc., then Moscow is better than Chicago; I'd say way better. I was in Moscow 5 months ago and in Chicago 3 months ago. So, this is my fresh opinion. May be Ben Gordon is a family man and he does not like that life style. I do not know what he wants. I do not know and you do not know. I am not going to persuade anybody that one city is better than another. I do not want to compare them. My point was that Moscow is no less fun if you want to have fun. No more, no less.

About Euroleague. This is the second best league in the world with decent players. There are a lot of Euroleague players who can play in NBA and be pretty competitive. "Sub-par" is a very strong word.

"I'm sure that there are also people who believe that not-NBA good = sub-par. And they're not necessarily wrong."

.... and not necessarily right too. It is like to say that not-Ph.D good = sub-par. Why not? I understand you but I disagree with this statement.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Well, as I said, I don't think that Moscow is as fun or better than Chicago, but I don't have a whole lot of money, either... My experience with Moscow was on an E-3's salary. From that perspective, and my comparative lack of funds, Chicago was superior to Moscow. For all I know, the nightlife might be better there if you're a "balla," but I'm not.

Plus, you can't can't discount the impact of how you perceive another culture colors your point of view. I've been exposed to many more different cultures than the average American, but it would certainly be fair to say that I didn't appreciate a lot of them, especially in eastern Europe. The culture in Moscow was so foreign to me as to be completely alien; it might as well have been Mars. I was much more comfortable with western European culture: Spain, UK, and so forth. I will say that Monte Carlo >>>>> Las Vegas, though. I'm also probably partial to Asian culture over European: I'd take Hong Kong over Moscow eight days out of the week.

As far as "sub-par" being a strong word, I'd just as soon say "deal with it," with all due respect. I think that Euroleague is sub-par, relative to the NBA, but that's because I'm partial to the way the game is played in the NBA, versus FIBA rules. My opinion may be "wrong," but I stand by it.

 

[BritishColumbia]

Well, as I said, I don't think that Moscow is as fun or better than Chicago, but I don't have a whole lot of money, either... My experience with Moscow was on an E-3's salary. From that perspective, and my comparative lack of funds, Chicago was superior to Moscow. For all I know, the nightlife might be better there if you're a "balla," but I'm not.

Plus, you can't can't discount the impact of how you perceive another culture colors your point of view. I've been exposed to many more different cultures than the average American, but it would certainly be fair to say that I didn't appreciate a lot of them, especially in eastern Europe. The culture in Moscow was so foreign to me as to be completely alien; it might as well have been Mars. I was much more comfortable with western European culture: Spain, UK, and so forth. I will say that Monte Carlo >>>>> Las Vegas, though. I'm also probably partial to Asian culture over European: I'd take Hong Kong over Moscow eight days out of the week.

As far as "sub-par" being a strong word, I'd just as soon say "deal with it," with all due respect. I think that Euroleague is sub-par, relative to the NBA, but that's because I'm partial to the way the game is played in the NBA, versus FIBA rules. My opinion may be "wrong," but I stand by it.

I understand your opinion but you are NOT Ben Gordon. And I was not talking about you. You always say me .. me ..me. "Moscow for you" and "Moscow for Gordon" are two very different things. I am not gonna argue with you about it because it is your personal opinion and I respect it.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

That's all well and to the good, and I still say that Gordon is pulling the "overseas card" without having any sense of what it means to actually have to live there. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that he's never even traveled abroad.

You're damned right I say "me, me, me." That's because it's the only thing that I can say with any degree of honesty or truth. You will at least concede that I have openly admitted that I don't purport my opinion as any kind of fact, and have further admitted that Gordon's experience could very easily differ from mine, yes?

I don't know how much you make, and I don't care; I know that, as a single man who was making less than 20K USD in the mid-nineties, Chicago was more fun for me than Moscow. But, then again, I'm also someone who can sympathize with Kareem Adbul-Jabbar wanting to leave Milwaukee because it didn't meet his "cultural needs." Moscow doesn't meet my "cultural needs." I'll never have as much fun in Moscow as I can have in Chicago, no matter how hot the parties are, because I'll never feel as comfortable in Moscow as I do in Chicago. As I mentioned before, Eastern Europe might as well be another planet to me; when I was there, I didn't just feel like a foreigner, I felt like Valentine Michael Smith.

Is it a different experience when you have Ben Gordon money? I suspect that I'll never have occasion to find out.

 

[BritishColumbia]

"It wouldn't surprise me to learn that he's never even traveled abroad."

He has. He was born in Europe.

.................

Again, I see your point and I am not gonna argue with that. My point is that an upscale life in Moscow is no less fun then in Chicago. Moreover, I personally think upscale night clubs, restaurants etc. in Moscow are much more sumptuous and chic. BUT I have never said that Moscow is better than Chicago, or everybody should love Moscow much more, or Ben would love living there every minute. I guess we might assume that rich and young guys like Ben Gordon like a big city upscale life (I do not know, may be he likes small and nice resort cities like Santa Barbara or Saint-Tropez) but if he likes it, then he can find it in Moscow. That is why Moscow is no less fun than Chicago and that is my point. No more, no less. It was not about which city is better or how we personally feel about it.

Personally, I can not say that Moscow is like Mars to me but I can speak decent Russian (I have to know it because I am in oil business) and honestly, I feel comfortable everywhere. I was born in Eastern Europe (the place you do not like so much) but I have never really lived there (about 1 month). I grew up in Asia (clue: I am not 100% Caucasian) and then lived in my mom's country (Germany). I even lived and worked in Azerbaijan and that year was a great expirience to me. 3 years ago I moved to North America (my company asked me to move) and I like it. Unfortunately, my English is still horrible (as you all can see) because I have never lived in English-speaking countries before and it is my only 5th language. But I still enjoy every day here. I have visited about 20 countries and I have never felt like an extraterrestrial anywhere. I am really sorry that you have had a bad expirience in Moscow and Eastern Europe but it does not mean that we all should feel this way. Everyone is different. May be he will hate it. Who knows.

 

[Warhawk]

3 years ago I moved to North America (my company asked me to move) and I like it. Unfortunately, my English is still horrible (as you all can see) because I have never lived in English-speaking countries before and it is my only 5th language. But I still enjoy every day here.

Um, your english is better than 3/4 of the posters on this board, I think. Don't worry about your english skills, I thought (based on your posts) you were a native english speaker.

 

[BritishColumbia]

Um, your english is better than 3/4 of the posters on this board, I think. Don't worry about your english skills, I thought (based on your posts) you were a native english speaker.

Thanks, Warhawk.

 

[Gary]

shoot.. Technically my first language was Romanian, but I only spoke it in fragments (because I was like 2 1/2 years old). Then at the daycare - pre-school level I learned English and never looked back. I don't really speak Romanian anymore (at least not very well), but I can understand it.

But BC, I thought with the whole "gonna" slang you were using that you were native as well. Punctuation is spot on as well. At least from what I could see. Well done!