albeitrue
Bench
Ailene:
The poster (bigbadred00) from kingsfans.com who e-mailed you to refute your above named article (http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13073770p-13918992c.ht) and subsequently posted your response online, did NOT speak for all posters!
I concur with you completely: Webber became a desperate player post injury, hoping "his" team and the fans would eventually believe in HIM once again. His play did not appear to be about the team --his constant insistance on handling the ball every time down the court was telling of that -- but more about himself and, dare I say, keeping Peja on the wing looking lost. Due diligence from Web for a player who literally carried the team when he was out for his 52 games? I hardly think so. Payback for Peja usurping his "greatness" behind his back and possibly becoming "great" himself during his own downtime? Maybe. A famous clashing of the egotistical and the eccentric? Possibly. But "team" play? NO!
If Webber was indeed in charge of the team he couldn't be nailed on that issue, and he brought Bibby into his no-pass camp and later, Cat. Web "had the power" and he selfishly used it to rack minutes, trying in vain to force his way into legitimate play again. That, I believe, was his main goal and everything else became secondary. We saw that in game after game when, late in the 4th quarter there would be Web on the floor during crucial minutes, hobbling and demanding, not going where he could before but wanting like hell to make an impact in some small way. I remember his verbal display of disgust after a game that Adelman benched him for the fist time in a 4th quarter crucial, and it never happened again; a sure sign WEB was "in charge". Web seemed bent on using his apparent authority to his own personal advantage. Although his heart was an important, integral part of Kings team moral, his pride ALWAYS seemed to come first.
When Web was traded, it was said of Peja by "someone in his camp" that he was happy. Then three new players were introduced into the lineup. Cat and Bibby continued leaving Peja on the wing, now actually calling for the ball. Purest shooter in the league on your team, and screens and passing become obsolete, no practices to run plays, no introduction of Princeton offense to the newbies and you have a prescription for disaster for one who once was the NBA's most successful 3-point scorer.
Peja needs to improve his game, but what we have is as good a shooter there is in the league. He is not a leader-type, but has proven his worth in stepping up when the "franchise player" was out. Albeit true, all of this Web vs. Peja stuff is fodder because what we have left is Peja. Web is gone. The Web fans are still bent on protecting his name and I afford them the right to do so, however I personally never thought as much of Web's play as his staunch supporters do, and even less of his character (though I understand his pre-injury effectiveness and the fact that he helped put Sacramento on the map of elite teams, once). Why I don't feel a need to solidify my stance with harsh rhetorical comments I don't know, guess I'll just leave that job to you and support it. You're the professional, what I have to say has little value in comparison so I look for your articles to so eloquently say what I cannot or just plain do not.
Web's legacy will always be a controversial one, and your "side of the story" is as legitimate as any Kings' supporter, why do others feel you should have an alegience either way? Because it isn't THEIR way? You write about many other things related to sports, and do a fine job to boot.
Too bad the "We Love Web" masses do not understand what we do: The Maloof's obviously sided with us, to our wonderment. He was paid the max, but was on the decline and not worthy of max pay any longer on his current b-ball merits. My sympathies are with those who feel the loss, as I'm sure yours are, but let us have our say man!
[size=+0]I know you will not stop saying what is your right to speak, and I'll take that a step further and post this letter to you under my unsername at kingsfans.com. It's time for some there to listen to OTHER opinions without constantly poo-pooing them. Just because they aren't popular doesn't make them invalid, plus I kinda resented being lumped in there with "all Kingsfans posters", so this is my response.
[/size]
I respect your influence, in fact I was accused of being YOU after my very first post at Kingsfans.com, it was an honor. It made me pay attention to your stuff, and I've rarely been disappointed.
Keep up the good work,
original signed - A fan on your side.
The poster (bigbadred00) from kingsfans.com who e-mailed you to refute your above named article (http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13073770p-13918992c.ht) and subsequently posted your response online, did NOT speak for all posters!
I concur with you completely: Webber became a desperate player post injury, hoping "his" team and the fans would eventually believe in HIM once again. His play did not appear to be about the team --his constant insistance on handling the ball every time down the court was telling of that -- but more about himself and, dare I say, keeping Peja on the wing looking lost. Due diligence from Web for a player who literally carried the team when he was out for his 52 games? I hardly think so. Payback for Peja usurping his "greatness" behind his back and possibly becoming "great" himself during his own downtime? Maybe. A famous clashing of the egotistical and the eccentric? Possibly. But "team" play? NO!
If Webber was indeed in charge of the team he couldn't be nailed on that issue, and he brought Bibby into his no-pass camp and later, Cat. Web "had the power" and he selfishly used it to rack minutes, trying in vain to force his way into legitimate play again. That, I believe, was his main goal and everything else became secondary. We saw that in game after game when, late in the 4th quarter there would be Web on the floor during crucial minutes, hobbling and demanding, not going where he could before but wanting like hell to make an impact in some small way. I remember his verbal display of disgust after a game that Adelman benched him for the fist time in a 4th quarter crucial, and it never happened again; a sure sign WEB was "in charge". Web seemed bent on using his apparent authority to his own personal advantage. Although his heart was an important, integral part of Kings team moral, his pride ALWAYS seemed to come first.
When Web was traded, it was said of Peja by "someone in his camp" that he was happy. Then three new players were introduced into the lineup. Cat and Bibby continued leaving Peja on the wing, now actually calling for the ball. Purest shooter in the league on your team, and screens and passing become obsolete, no practices to run plays, no introduction of Princeton offense to the newbies and you have a prescription for disaster for one who once was the NBA's most successful 3-point scorer.
Peja needs to improve his game, but what we have is as good a shooter there is in the league. He is not a leader-type, but has proven his worth in stepping up when the "franchise player" was out. Albeit true, all of this Web vs. Peja stuff is fodder because what we have left is Peja. Web is gone. The Web fans are still bent on protecting his name and I afford them the right to do so, however I personally never thought as much of Web's play as his staunch supporters do, and even less of his character (though I understand his pre-injury effectiveness and the fact that he helped put Sacramento on the map of elite teams, once). Why I don't feel a need to solidify my stance with harsh rhetorical comments I don't know, guess I'll just leave that job to you and support it. You're the professional, what I have to say has little value in comparison so I look for your articles to so eloquently say what I cannot or just plain do not.
Web's legacy will always be a controversial one, and your "side of the story" is as legitimate as any Kings' supporter, why do others feel you should have an alegience either way? Because it isn't THEIR way? You write about many other things related to sports, and do a fine job to boot.
Too bad the "We Love Web" masses do not understand what we do: The Maloof's obviously sided with us, to our wonderment. He was paid the max, but was on the decline and not worthy of max pay any longer on his current b-ball merits. My sympathies are with those who feel the loss, as I'm sure yours are, but let us have our say man!
[size=+0]I know you will not stop saying what is your right to speak, and I'll take that a step further and post this letter to you under my unsername at kingsfans.com. It's time for some there to listen to OTHER opinions without constantly poo-pooing them. Just because they aren't popular doesn't make them invalid, plus I kinda resented being lumped in there with "all Kingsfans posters", so this is my response.
[/size]I respect your influence, in fact I was accused of being YOU after my very first post at Kingsfans.com, it was an honor. It made me pay attention to your stuff, and I've rarely been disappointed.
Keep up the good work,
original signed - A fan on your side.
