Another question of mine answered in ESPN chat

[Kolo]

This time using my pseudonym:

Mike Rotch (Tempe): How soon until Amare Stoudemire is mentioned in the same breath as Duncan/KG/Kobe?

Chad Ford: (1:19 PM ET ) From what I've seen the past two nights . . .soon. He has been the most dominant center in the league this year. He has a unique combination of athleticism, strength and aggressiveness that I haven't seen since . . . Moses Malone. And he turned 22 on Tuesday. He's blossoming right before our eyes this season.

 

[Kolo]

And from "Dave":

Dave (Sun City): Lost in the Suns' early success this year is the job done by Bryan Colangelo over the past two or three. Almost every move he has made since the 2002 offseason has paid off, and some have been brilliant. Why does he not get more credit from the national press? I think he deserves consideration for executive of the year.

Chad Ford: (1:22 PM ET ) He'll get it. You're right, he doesn't get enough credit. Everything from landing Steve Nash, to drafting Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, to trading for Joe Johnson have paid off. Even the mistakes he's made -- like trading Jason Kidd for Stephon Marbury -- have paid off because he was quick to realizes his errors. His eye for talent is strong. I think this team is going to be special -- maybe not this year, but soon. As long as Nash stays healthy the Suns have a shot at being great

 

[slinslin]

Kidd had to go.

He was going to be FA, getting older and didn't lead the team anywhere. Imagine we would be stuck with his contract now.


Here is a quote from the New Orleans paper on Amare
Amare Stoudemire, a power forward playing out of position at center for Phoenix, is a great player. He'll be the best of all time if he manhandles every opponent the way he toyed with New Orleans, resembling a father banging around his 10-year-old in the driveway. He undressed the Hornets in such a way you'd have thought there was a league rule against guarding him.

 

[myrondizzo]

Kidd had to go.

He was going to be FA, getting older and didn't lead the team anywhere. Imagine we would be stuck with his contract now.


Here is a quote from the New Orleans paper on Amare
Amare Stoudemire, a power forward playing out of position at center for Phoenix, is a great player. He'll be the best of all time if he manhandles every opponent the way he toyed with New Orleans, resembling a father banging around his 10-year-old in the driveway. He undressed the Hornets in such a way you'd have thought there was a league rule against guarding him.

I cant believe that they put that in there paper the fans must be sick of losing or something like that. can you imagine if one of the reporters here said something like that about our teams. there head would be on a platter. i wish they were a little more like that sometimes i think that they just kiss butt in hopes to score free tickets or something.

 

[slinslin]

Speaking of reporters....

Tom Leander is worse than Gary Bender. His play by play is so bad and he is dragging down Majerle as well with his stupid jokes.

I almost had to turn off the volume when I watched the Kings-Suns game on dvd.

 

[Joe Mama]

Speaking of reporters....

Tom Leander is worse than Gary Bender. His play by play is so bad and he is dragging down Majerle as well with his stupid jokes.

I almost had to turn off the volume when I watched the Kings-Suns game on dvd.

I've heard a lot of people complain about Tom Leander, but I rather enjoy listening to him and Dan Majerle/Eddie Johnson together.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

Leander has the vocabulary of a 9yr old boy.

His play-by-play is so boring and stupid it's almost like reading the play-by-play transcript online.
And he spends half the time cracking bad jokes that are not funny.

 

[asudevil83]

I've heard a lot of people complain about Tom Leander, but I rather enjoy listening to him and Dan Majerle/Eddie Johnson together.

Joe Mama

i cant stand Leander. he makes our uptempo game seem boring. if the score wasnt listed on the screen i'd think we were playing a game like last years with a final score somewhere in the 70's or 80's.

Leander doesnt bring the fire to the announcing, and does a horrid job making the game exciting. he has no personality when it comes to big plays.

 

[newfan101]

Speaking of reporters....

Tom Leander is worse than Gary Bender.

Nobody is worse than Gary Bender.

Nobody.

You could tie me to a chair in the most surreal Kubrickian fashion imaginable, blaring Dick Vitale through a stereo set at 11, in a room with Metal walls, while getting a root canal, and it would still be better than listening to Gary Bender, even in the comfort of my own living room.

 

[Gaddabout]

Neither Tom Leander nor Gary Bender are "reporters." They're not even members of the press. They are essentially employees of the Suns organization.

p.s. Reporters don't get anything from the team they cover. The bigger papers provide reporters and photographers per diem so they can pay for their own meals on the road, etc. When I did it I went out of pocket and was reimbursed at the end of the month. I think they only thing media members might receive for free is travel on the team bus and plane and access to the media booth during the game.

p.s.s. If anyone remembers Bob Cohn, shoot him an e-mail at the Washington Times and let him know the Phoenix media kneeds his sharpened teeth back in the market.

 

[sunsfn]

Speaking of reporters....

Tom Leander is worse than Gary Bender. His play by play is so bad and he is dragging down Majerle as well with his stupid jokes.

I agree,
Leander also says some things that are not true, talking about trades that have happened and draft picks etc........... He just does not seem real informed like an announcer should be. It seems at times that he leaves his day job to fill in for someone else that is home sick and he kind of just jumps in without knowing what he is doing!!

 

[Billythekid]

SLin, which DVD's did you get from last week?

I have Atl, Phi, Nj so far.

 

[arthurracoon]

I wish Al McCoy was still doing play by play on the TV and radio.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Speaking of reporters....

Tom Leander is worse than Gary Bender. His play by play is so bad and he is dragging down Majerle as well with his stupid jokes.

I almost had to turn off the volume when I watched the Kings-Suns game on dvd.

You mean you don’t like to hear that the player “elevated” and “detonated” when he dunks? Or that it was a “savage” slam? I use these terms all the time, I guess it’s an inside joke to those who watch the Suns. He’s a bit raw right now, but give him some time. McCoy has been in the business for how long, 50 years?

 

[Joe Mama]

McCoy has been in the business for how long, 50 years?

I thought he was there when Naismith first put up a fruit basket.

It's sad to see the good ones get older and start slipping. It saddens me to listen to Keith Jackson anymore, and to me he is the voice of college football.

Joe Mama

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kidd had to go.

He was going to be FA, getting older and didn't lead the team anywhere. Imagine we would be stuck with his contract now.


Here is a quote from the New Orleans paper on Amare
Amare Stoudemire, a power forward playing out of position at center for Phoenix, is a great player. He'll be the best of all time if he manhandles every opponent the way he toyed with New Orleans, resembling a father banging around his 10-year-old in the driveway. He undressed the Hornets in such a way you'd have thought there was a league rule against guarding him.

THAT QUOTE IS FREAKING AWESOME!

 

[slinslin]

SLin, which DVD's did you get from last week?

I have Atl, Phi, Nj so far.

Sac and Cavs unfortunately.

I couldn't convince myself to watch the Cavs game yet.

 

[Billythekid]

Damn, i wanted the Chi game.