Webber being booed by 76ers fans LOUD
- Thread starter Since93
- Start date
And what exactly do you expect in response?
Yes, SOME fans - NOT ALL - booed Webber last year. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's in the past. SOME fans still booed him this year - a very persistent but annoying few - but that's also in the past.
Right now, we are pretty much amazed that some 76ers fans would boo someone without him getting a fair chance to show what he could do. That's what bothers me.
If you want to boo someone, boo your coach. He may have just cost you a shot at the playoffs.
If you're here to talk hoops, fine. But if you're just here to rub salt in wounds, etc. then go away now.
Yes, SOME fans - NOT ALL - booed Webber last year. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's in the past. SOME fans still booed him this year - a very persistent but annoying few - but that's also in the past.
Right now, we are pretty much amazed that some 76ers fans would boo someone without him getting a fair chance to show what he could do. That's what bothers me.
If you want to boo someone, boo your coach. He may have just cost you a shot at the playoffs.
If you're here to talk hoops, fine. But if you're just here to rub salt in wounds, etc. then go away now.
Nope.
Let's say he gets totally and completely fed up with what's happening in Philly. So, rather than continue to be involved, he decides to retire, thereby waiving the reminder of his contract, which I believe he can do.
Then, miracle of miracles (**cough Michael Jordan cough**), he decides he didn't want to be retired and declares that he would like to return to the game. I THINK - although I could be wrong - he could accept whatever offer came his way EXCEPT from Philadelphia because that could be construed as a restructuring downward of his existing contact, which is forbidden by the current CBA.
This wouldn't be an optimum solution for him, since he would in essence be giving up $43 million, BUT if he can't stand it in Philly, he might consider doing something drastic. It's not like he's going to go broke right away. And he could conceivably recoup part of the loss by whatever contract he signs with Isaiah for New York.
Let's say he gets totally and completely fed up with what's happening in Philly. So, rather than continue to be involved, he decides to retire, thereby waiving the reminder of his contract, which I believe he can do.
Then, miracle of miracles (**cough Michael Jordan cough**), he decides he didn't want to be retired and declares that he would like to return to the game. I THINK - although I could be wrong - he could accept whatever offer came his way EXCEPT from Philadelphia because that could be construed as a restructuring downward of his existing contact, which is forbidden by the current CBA.
This wouldn't be an optimum solution for him, since he would in essence be giving up $43 million, BUT if he can't stand it in Philly, he might consider doing something drastic. It's not like he's going to go broke right away. And he could conceivably recoup part of the loss by whatever contract he signs with Isaiah for New York.
It's theoretical. It it NOT outside the realm of possibility but it's pretty close to the edge.
Webber is already a very wealthy man. Every person has a breaking point. Who knows at what point Webb might simply decide he's not being paid enough to put up with what's happening in Philly?
As I said, it's theoretical.
Webber is already a very wealthy man. Every person has a breaking point. Who knows at what point Webb might simply decide he's not being paid enough to put up with what's happening in Philly?
As I said, it's theoretical.
Good points.
However, you failed to mention the fact that - although Webber played a less then awe-inspiring game - he was far from the sole reason that the team was getting trounced by the lowly Warriors. The fact that no one could check Jason Richardson or Michael Dunleavy comes to mind, but not before I think back on Allen Iverson's 12 turnovers.
And you mention that AI gets cut slack for being "the savior of the franchise". That's a respectable point of view. But I think the fact that Webber was booed in Sacramento proves that even though you may have been the catalyst behind a team's revival from lottery land into contention, you are not above reproach. And if the loyal Sacramento Kings fans booed their ace, why wouldn't the boo-birds come out in Philly when Iverson turns the ball over 12 times and shoots a lowly percentage? If someone deserved to get booed, it was #3 first, and perhaps Webber second. Actually, probably Mr. O'Brien second, and Webber third.
But beyond all of that, I think the point is that, while Webber hasn't been the 20/10/5 player that fans were expecting him to be, he certainly isn't the reason that the Sixers can't get a rhythm. And most don't believe he deserves to be blamed at all, much less booed. But, as you mentioned, from the fans that booed Santa Claus, you can't expect too much more.
However, you failed to mention the fact that - although Webber played a less then awe-inspiring game - he was far from the sole reason that the team was getting trounced by the lowly Warriors. The fact that no one could check Jason Richardson or Michael Dunleavy comes to mind, but not before I think back on Allen Iverson's 12 turnovers.
And you mention that AI gets cut slack for being "the savior of the franchise". That's a respectable point of view. But I think the fact that Webber was booed in Sacramento proves that even though you may have been the catalyst behind a team's revival from lottery land into contention, you are not above reproach. And if the loyal Sacramento Kings fans booed their ace, why wouldn't the boo-birds come out in Philly when Iverson turns the ball over 12 times and shoots a lowly percentage? If someone deserved to get booed, it was #3 first, and perhaps Webber second. Actually, probably Mr. O'Brien second, and Webber third.
But beyond all of that, I think the point is that, while Webber hasn't been the 20/10/5 player that fans were expecting him to be, he certainly isn't the reason that the Sixers can't get a rhythm. And most don't believe he deserves to be blamed at all, much less booed. But, as you mentioned, from the fans that booed Santa Claus, you can't expect too much more.
Article on how Webber felt about the boos:
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/basketball/11107080.htm
Posted on Fri, Mar. 11, 2005
They don't blame the fans for booing
Webber felt like joining in the catcalls
[size=-1]By PHIL JASNER[/size]
[size=-1]jasnerp@phillynews.com
[/size]IF CHRIS WEBBER ever wondered what life might be like on an island by himself, he has unearthed a world of discovery in a 76ers uniform. Seventeen feet out on the court, at the elbow, an area from which he has operated for most of his career, he has had seven games to watch the world go by.
It has not been a pretty sight.
Webber is a five-time All-Star forward, a gifted scorer and passer acquired from Sacramento just before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. He was brought here to ride shotgun for Allen Iverson, to finally be the complementary star who could find common ground with the league's leading scorer. He didn't expect to be on the outside looking in. He didn't expect boos cascading down from the Wachovia Center fans. He didn't expect to be a target amid Tuesday night's 104-85 loss to Golden State. He didn't expect that, with 21 games left, the Sixers would be three games under .500 and fighting for their playoff lives.
"It's funny, I heard the boos at the game, but you've got to understand, I wanted to boo, too," Webber said after practice yesterday at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, as the Sixers looked ahead to tonight's game against the gritty expansion Charlotte Bobcats. "I don't take that personal, man. I'm an athlete, I'm a competitor. [There are] no expectations on me by anybody else that I probably haven't doubly wanted...
"Booing doesn't bother me. I've been in the league 12 years and, like I said, I wanted to boo. It's just the way it goes. It's just been a learning experience as far as the transition. But everything else has been positive. [The people have] welcomed me. I'm a city kid [from Detroit] and it's good to be back in the city and see people.
"I expect to have the other guys, 'the sports writers on the street,' as we call them, the ones who know more than me and you, statistically and everything... I'm waiting to have some good discussions. I'm at a point in my life where I've overcome [a knee injury]; I feel like I have peace in my career and hope to keep it and just play as hard as I can."
Webber says his knee is fine. Before the Sixers signed off on their six-player trade with the Kings, Webber had a thorough examination from Dr. James Andrews, the nationally renowned orthopedic specialist who performed his surgery. Since Andrews happened to be in Washington, D.C., on other business, Webber made a pit stop there before initially coming to Philadelphia. Dr. Jack McPhilemy, the team's orthopedic specialist, and Jim McNulty, the Sixers' director of sports medicine, were also in attendance; had Andrews and McPhilemy not cleared Webber, president/general manager Billy King would have rescinded the deal.
To clarify, Webber never said he "felt like booing" himself.
"I said I felt like booing, just in general," he said.
Still, he didn't need anyone to tell him he shot 4-for-18 against New Jersey, 4-for-13 in Atlanta or 3-for-12 against the Warriors. He didn't need to be reminded that life was suddenly very different, that he was no longer in an offensive system that revolved around him and fed off his excellent skills as a facilitator.
Iverson, his 33 points notwithstanding, wasn't exactly facilitating at a high level against the Warriors, coming up with a franchise-record 12 turnovers. Webber's inner circle of friends and confidantes have told him to calm down, that he'd be touching the ball, that he'd be an impact player.
"In no way am I a role player, and I don't intend to be one until I retire," he said.
But even he said playing with Iverson was, in a word, "different." In Iverson's ninth season here, the ball has always revolved around him.
"It's putting me in a tough situation, asking me to critique something, saying is it better or worse... It's just a different situation," Webber said. "I've never gotten so many calls from former basketball players - you name it - Hall of Famers, former All-Star guys who played back in the day who know what a different situation I'm in."
He didn't identify any of the callers, but he did further define the situation.
"I'm a guy who has to touch the ball," he said. "I'm a facilitator and a scorer. Hell, yes, it's tough to get it with 3 seconds left on the [shot] clock... It's been different. We're going to adjust and we're going to make it work. I love the fact that our attitude is kind of laughing at it, like, 'When it comes, don't jump on the bandwagon.' That's talk right now. We've got to go out on the court and actually do that. If we can actually do that, then that'll be fun to laugh at later."
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/basketball/11107080.htm
Posted on Fri, Mar. 11, 2005
They don't blame the fans for booing
Webber felt like joining in the catcalls
[size=-1]By PHIL JASNER[/size]
[size=-1]jasnerp@phillynews.com
[/size]IF CHRIS WEBBER ever wondered what life might be like on an island by himself, he has unearthed a world of discovery in a 76ers uniform. Seventeen feet out on the court, at the elbow, an area from which he has operated for most of his career, he has had seven games to watch the world go by.
It has not been a pretty sight.
Webber is a five-time All-Star forward, a gifted scorer and passer acquired from Sacramento just before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. He was brought here to ride shotgun for Allen Iverson, to finally be the complementary star who could find common ground with the league's leading scorer. He didn't expect to be on the outside looking in. He didn't expect boos cascading down from the Wachovia Center fans. He didn't expect to be a target amid Tuesday night's 104-85 loss to Golden State. He didn't expect that, with 21 games left, the Sixers would be three games under .500 and fighting for their playoff lives.
"It's funny, I heard the boos at the game, but you've got to understand, I wanted to boo, too," Webber said after practice yesterday at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, as the Sixers looked ahead to tonight's game against the gritty expansion Charlotte Bobcats. "I don't take that personal, man. I'm an athlete, I'm a competitor. [There are] no expectations on me by anybody else that I probably haven't doubly wanted...
"Booing doesn't bother me. I've been in the league 12 years and, like I said, I wanted to boo. It's just the way it goes. It's just been a learning experience as far as the transition. But everything else has been positive. [The people have] welcomed me. I'm a city kid [from Detroit] and it's good to be back in the city and see people.
"I expect to have the other guys, 'the sports writers on the street,' as we call them, the ones who know more than me and you, statistically and everything... I'm waiting to have some good discussions. I'm at a point in my life where I've overcome [a knee injury]; I feel like I have peace in my career and hope to keep it and just play as hard as I can."
Webber says his knee is fine. Before the Sixers signed off on their six-player trade with the Kings, Webber had a thorough examination from Dr. James Andrews, the nationally renowned orthopedic specialist who performed his surgery. Since Andrews happened to be in Washington, D.C., on other business, Webber made a pit stop there before initially coming to Philadelphia. Dr. Jack McPhilemy, the team's orthopedic specialist, and Jim McNulty, the Sixers' director of sports medicine, were also in attendance; had Andrews and McPhilemy not cleared Webber, president/general manager Billy King would have rescinded the deal.
To clarify, Webber never said he "felt like booing" himself.
"I said I felt like booing, just in general," he said.
Still, he didn't need anyone to tell him he shot 4-for-18 against New Jersey, 4-for-13 in Atlanta or 3-for-12 against the Warriors. He didn't need to be reminded that life was suddenly very different, that he was no longer in an offensive system that revolved around him and fed off his excellent skills as a facilitator.
Iverson, his 33 points notwithstanding, wasn't exactly facilitating at a high level against the Warriors, coming up with a franchise-record 12 turnovers. Webber's inner circle of friends and confidantes have told him to calm down, that he'd be touching the ball, that he'd be an impact player.
"In no way am I a role player, and I don't intend to be one until I retire," he said.
But even he said playing with Iverson was, in a word, "different." In Iverson's ninth season here, the ball has always revolved around him.
"It's putting me in a tough situation, asking me to critique something, saying is it better or worse... It's just a different situation," Webber said. "I've never gotten so many calls from former basketball players - you name it - Hall of Famers, former All-Star guys who played back in the day who know what a different situation I'm in."
He didn't identify any of the callers, but he did further define the situation.
"I'm a guy who has to touch the ball," he said. "I'm a facilitator and a scorer. Hell, yes, it's tough to get it with 3 seconds left on the [shot] clock... It's been different. We're going to adjust and we're going to make it work. I love the fact that our attitude is kind of laughing at it, like, 'When it comes, don't jump on the bandwagon.' That's talk right now. We've got to go out on the court and actually do that. If we can actually do that, then that'll be fun to laugh at later."
Hey, Webb fans, read the news every day at
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/
The local guys on KHTK have also been interviewing the Philly sportswriters, don't know if they have that feed on their website.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/
The local guys on KHTK have also been interviewing the Philly sportswriters, don't know if they have that feed on their website.
Here is the most recent article, in case you don't want to subscribe.
http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/philly.sports/sports;kw=center6;c2=sports_homepage;pos=center6;group=rectangle;ord=1110642325111?
http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/philly.sports/sports;kw=center6;c2=sports_homepage;pos=center6;group=rectangle;ord=1110642325111?
Posted on Sat, Mar. 12, 2005_krdDartInc++;document.write('');
Webber, Sixers give fans reason to cheer
[size=-1]By PHIL JASNER[/size]
[size=-1]jasnerp@phillynews.com[/size]
AS IT TURNS OUT, bronchitis wasn't the only thing running rampant through the 76ers. There was a sudden epidemic of basic ball movement and teamwork. It wasn't necessarily a matter of a sense of urgency; it was more like urgent care.
The Sixers, rolling merrily past the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, 112-80, last night, sucked any lingering negativity right out of the Wachovia Center. The crowd of 19,765 applauded Chris Webber, squealed in delight at Allen Iverson's antics and drank in the wide-open, one-sided action.
The basketball-savvy fans knew they weren't watching a playoff preview, or even a game that would prove a whole lot. But the folks holding the tickets needed this elixir every bit as much as Webber, Iverson and company. The same players who, in Tuesday night's 19-point loss to a not-much-better Golden State team, looked as if they should have been wearing "Hello, My Name Is... " stickers, just as quickly looked as if they'd been together forever.
Maybe there was no true drama or tension in all of this, but there certainly were imposing numbers. Iverson, who set a franchise record with 12 turnovers in the previous game, came up with 25 points, 12 assists and four steals. Kyle Korver, wearing a protective brace on his right knee, had 17 points and seven rebounds. Webber, seeming more comfortable by the minute, had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Samuel Dalembert, profiting from the Bobcats' need to guard Webber, was free to contribute 15 points and six rebounds. Dalembert and John Salmons delivered three blocks each.
Webber even laughed heartily when a reporter kiddingly pointed out that he had sat out more than 12 minutes of a second half for the second time in four games. The first time was in Atlanta on Saturday night, when it became a controversy in a one-point victory; this time, it was to enjoy watching his new teammates complete a victory by the largest margin of the season.
"Allen has to have the ball in his hands; you shouldn't change the success plan," Webber said. "I just want to have the ball in my hands as well. We laughed before the game about what we felt we could do. I have higher expectations of myself than everybody; even when people praise me, I feel like there's much more we can do. I [already] have goals for next year and the year after.
"When we win, it'll be wonderful. I love the pressure; I love the challenge. I heard the boos the last game, and maybe I'm naive or whatever, but I swear I didn't hear them toward me. I came [tonight] with an open mind. You [learn to] ignore the boos; you hear the cheers, but [my feeling is] 'You don't even know me yet. Let me show you what I can do.'
"I want to give them something to really cheer about. I'll make them get up out of their seats and throw chairs."
As the wave of reporters dispersed from his locker-room stall, Webber looked up sheepishly, smiled and said, "Maybe I shouldn't have said that part about the chairs after what happened" at the Pistons-Pacers game in Auburn Hills, Mich., in November.
Webber, Marc Jackson and Rodney Rodgers came in battling bronchitis. All three, plus Korver, hadn't gone through the morning shootaround, and Aaron McKie sat out with a fractured right pinkie. But Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who has been around the block more than a few times, knew exactly what had taken place.
"It's real simple; we ran into a wounded tiger," Bickerstaff said. "Everybody has been all over the 76ers about the Webber situation, and their lack of compatibility. What they really don't understand is that it just doesn't happen overnight... They came out with a sense of purpose; their intensity level was good; even the mascot made a shot [from three-quarter court]. They stepped up and showed the people and the media what they are capable of doing. [That] just kind of eliminated some of the negativity that's going on. They took us out of everything we wanted to do... That's it in a nutshell."
Iverson, in sync all night with Webber, was even with him on the bench, sitting out the last 13:02.
"We played the total game," Iverson said. "We didn't leave anything on the floor tonight. We should feel good about our effort. I was saying before the game, we needed a win, [but] let's not just go out there and get a win, let's try to blow them out so I can sit out in the fourth quarter. I guess I should say that every game."
And never mind that the Bobcats are 12-47, or 0-19 on the road vs. the East, or 2-28 overall on the road. The Sixers, now 30-32, had lost in Miami on Monday night and had been embarrassed at home Tuesday night.
"After losing two games, you don't care who's coming in here, you just want to take your frustration out on that team," Iverson said. "It just happened to be the Bobcats. They haven't been having a great year... we're not having a great year. So may the best man win. This game makes me feel as good as if we beat a team at the top of the division.
"I'm not saying this is the game where everybody's going to feel Chris Webber and Allen Iverson can play together, because if we don't play well the next game, people are going to say we can't play together. That's just something me and Chris are going to have to deal with."
Webber, Sixers give fans reason to cheer
[size=-1]By PHIL JASNER[/size]
[size=-1]jasnerp@phillynews.com[/size]
AS IT TURNS OUT, bronchitis wasn't the only thing running rampant through the 76ers. There was a sudden epidemic of basic ball movement and teamwork. It wasn't necessarily a matter of a sense of urgency; it was more like urgent care.
The Sixers, rolling merrily past the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, 112-80, last night, sucked any lingering negativity right out of the Wachovia Center. The crowd of 19,765 applauded Chris Webber, squealed in delight at Allen Iverson's antics and drank in the wide-open, one-sided action.
The basketball-savvy fans knew they weren't watching a playoff preview, or even a game that would prove a whole lot. But the folks holding the tickets needed this elixir every bit as much as Webber, Iverson and company. The same players who, in Tuesday night's 19-point loss to a not-much-better Golden State team, looked as if they should have been wearing "Hello, My Name Is... " stickers, just as quickly looked as if they'd been together forever.
Maybe there was no true drama or tension in all of this, but there certainly were imposing numbers. Iverson, who set a franchise record with 12 turnovers in the previous game, came up with 25 points, 12 assists and four steals. Kyle Korver, wearing a protective brace on his right knee, had 17 points and seven rebounds. Webber, seeming more comfortable by the minute, had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Samuel Dalembert, profiting from the Bobcats' need to guard Webber, was free to contribute 15 points and six rebounds. Dalembert and John Salmons delivered three blocks each.
Webber even laughed heartily when a reporter kiddingly pointed out that he had sat out more than 12 minutes of a second half for the second time in four games. The first time was in Atlanta on Saturday night, when it became a controversy in a one-point victory; this time, it was to enjoy watching his new teammates complete a victory by the largest margin of the season.
"Allen has to have the ball in his hands; you shouldn't change the success plan," Webber said. "I just want to have the ball in my hands as well. We laughed before the game about what we felt we could do. I have higher expectations of myself than everybody; even when people praise me, I feel like there's much more we can do. I [already] have goals for next year and the year after.
"When we win, it'll be wonderful. I love the pressure; I love the challenge. I heard the boos the last game, and maybe I'm naive or whatever, but I swear I didn't hear them toward me. I came [tonight] with an open mind. You [learn to] ignore the boos; you hear the cheers, but [my feeling is] 'You don't even know me yet. Let me show you what I can do.'
"I want to give them something to really cheer about. I'll make them get up out of their seats and throw chairs."
As the wave of reporters dispersed from his locker-room stall, Webber looked up sheepishly, smiled and said, "Maybe I shouldn't have said that part about the chairs after what happened" at the Pistons-Pacers game in Auburn Hills, Mich., in November.
Webber, Marc Jackson and Rodney Rodgers came in battling bronchitis. All three, plus Korver, hadn't gone through the morning shootaround, and Aaron McKie sat out with a fractured right pinkie. But Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who has been around the block more than a few times, knew exactly what had taken place.
"It's real simple; we ran into a wounded tiger," Bickerstaff said. "Everybody has been all over the 76ers about the Webber situation, and their lack of compatibility. What they really don't understand is that it just doesn't happen overnight... They came out with a sense of purpose; their intensity level was good; even the mascot made a shot [from three-quarter court]. They stepped up and showed the people and the media what they are capable of doing. [That] just kind of eliminated some of the negativity that's going on. They took us out of everything we wanted to do... That's it in a nutshell."
Iverson, in sync all night with Webber, was even with him on the bench, sitting out the last 13:02.
"We played the total game," Iverson said. "We didn't leave anything on the floor tonight. We should feel good about our effort. I was saying before the game, we needed a win, [but] let's not just go out there and get a win, let's try to blow them out so I can sit out in the fourth quarter. I guess I should say that every game."
And never mind that the Bobcats are 12-47, or 0-19 on the road vs. the East, or 2-28 overall on the road. The Sixers, now 30-32, had lost in Miami on Monday night and had been embarrassed at home Tuesday night.
"After losing two games, you don't care who's coming in here, you just want to take your frustration out on that team," Iverson said. "It just happened to be the Bobcats. They haven't been having a great year... we're not having a great year. So may the best man win. This game makes me feel as good as if we beat a team at the top of the division.
"I'm not saying this is the game where everybody's going to feel Chris Webber and Allen Iverson can play together, because if we don't play well the next game, people are going to say we can't play together. That's just something me and Chris are going to have to deal with."
they pretty much manhandled the Bobcats from the start...you could tell that everyone was trying to get him and involved and vice versa....when they made a mistake or turned the ball over they still high fived each other and padded each other on the back as if to say..."don't worry we'll get this eventually"
Ehhh..........how much strategy can you hear in an NBA huddle anyway? Peek your head into Larry Brown's huddle and you'll hear some BS about playing the right way. In Jackson's...don't go away from the offense. In Riley's...stay tough, that's what it's about. In Collins'...get the ball to Michael and everyone else get the F out of the way. In Rudy T's...ok, we're goin with the iso on this play.
Any others?
Any others?