http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13022744p-13869059c.html
(trimmed to only Kings/basketball stuff)
Mark Kreidler: Larry: Forget LeBron; how about Ostertag?
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Larry Brown To Coach and/or Own Kings!
What, Sacramento isn't good enough for a Brown rumor? The man has been mentioned for every job that's open in the NBA - and a few jobs that aren't.
The Kings can't get a little of that gossip action? Sacramento doesn't rate?
Used to be, you could get a great rumor out of the Kings' daily soap opera without even trying. Chris Webber was unhappy. Webber and Peja Stojakovic were feuding. Stojakovic wanted out. Vlade Divac was smoking again. The Maloofs were too nice to the Lakers when they visited the Palms. You name it.
Now they sit on the outside of the Larry Brown rumor game, looking in. Totally unfair: Cleveland gets LeBron James and all the fun.
* Speaking of which: It's the final countdown for the mighty Phil Jackson, who said all along he would decide by mid-June whether to coach again and, presumably, for whom. The Lakers crouch tight in L.A., waiting and hoping, though by all published accounts Jackson and Kobe Bryant still haven't had the face-to-face meeting that might clear a path for them to work together again.
You'd sort of think Phil would have figured out by now what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but I guess when a person finally gets to take his time deciding something, he does so. No biggie: It's only at least three franchises (Lakers, Knicks, Kings) that are awaiting the Big Word from Jackson before getting on with their lives.
* Shaq-haters, run away: It was a pure classy move for Shaquille O'Neal to offer to pay for the funeral service of George Mikan, the NBA's original dominant big man, who died last week at 80. Mikan's family accepted the offer. You don't need me to tell you Shaq's an incurable (and thoroughly entertaining) blowhard most of the time, but this is a good deed, plain. Well done.
* Bobby Jackson has a chance to end the summer with more games logged in the Sacramento Professional Development League than in the NBA so far this calendar year. You sort of hope he gets the chance in November to fix that.
(trimmed to only Kings/basketball stuff)
Mark Kreidler: Larry: Forget LeBron; how about Ostertag?
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Larry Brown To Coach and/or Own Kings!
What, Sacramento isn't good enough for a Brown rumor? The man has been mentioned for every job that's open in the NBA - and a few jobs that aren't.
The Kings can't get a little of that gossip action? Sacramento doesn't rate?
Used to be, you could get a great rumor out of the Kings' daily soap opera without even trying. Chris Webber was unhappy. Webber and Peja Stojakovic were feuding. Stojakovic wanted out. Vlade Divac was smoking again. The Maloofs were too nice to the Lakers when they visited the Palms. You name it.
Now they sit on the outside of the Larry Brown rumor game, looking in. Totally unfair: Cleveland gets LeBron James and all the fun.
* Speaking of which: It's the final countdown for the mighty Phil Jackson, who said all along he would decide by mid-June whether to coach again and, presumably, for whom. The Lakers crouch tight in L.A., waiting and hoping, though by all published accounts Jackson and Kobe Bryant still haven't had the face-to-face meeting that might clear a path for them to work together again.
You'd sort of think Phil would have figured out by now what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but I guess when a person finally gets to take his time deciding something, he does so. No biggie: It's only at least three franchises (Lakers, Knicks, Kings) that are awaiting the Big Word from Jackson before getting on with their lives.
* Shaq-haters, run away: It was a pure classy move for Shaquille O'Neal to offer to pay for the funeral service of George Mikan, the NBA's original dominant big man, who died last week at 80. Mikan's family accepted the offer. You don't need me to tell you Shaq's an incurable (and thoroughly entertaining) blowhard most of the time, but this is a good deed, plain. Well done.
* Bobby Jackson has a chance to end the summer with more games logged in the Sacramento Professional Development League than in the NBA so far this calendar year. You sort of hope he gets the chance in November to fix that.
