Still hate Reggie Miller?

Chaplin

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After signing a new contract with the Pacers...


"I wanted to be loyal to myself, the franchise and the fans by finishing my career with the Pacers and pursue our goal of winning a championship," Miller said. "I could not see myself being one of those players that bails out on their franchise just to try and win a ring."

Newfound respect for Reggie? Hmmm....
 

JJ Slim

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OK, a couple of things about that. First, that seems to be a direct slam on Malone. I'm ok with that. Second, how much is this new contract and was there any other teams that would have paid him that much? And were there any championship contenders that would have paid him anything?
 

Brian in Mesa

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What a load of crap.

The NBA is a business. When your contract is up, so is your obligation to the team you were contracted to play for. Then you either look to work out another contract with the team you were previously contracted with, or you find another to sign a contract with.

Going somewhere else to play is not "bailing on your franchise." Especially when you go somewhere with a much better chance to win a title.

Reggie is basically saying "I'd rather be a Pacer than win a title." Period.
 
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Chaplin

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Originally posted by JJ Slim
OK, a couple of things about that. First, that seems to be a direct slam on Malone. I'm ok with that. Second, how much is this new contract and was there any other teams that would have paid him that much? And were there any championship contenders that would have paid him anything?

Good questions. There's no word on how much he will make, although consensus is that it's a lot less than the 12mil he made last year.
 
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Chaplin

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Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
What a load of crap.

The NBA is a business. When your contract is up, so is your obligation to the team you were contracted to play for. Then you either look to work out another contract with the team you were previously contracted with, or you find another to sign a contract with.

Going somewhere else to play is not "bailing on your franchise." Especially when you go somewhere with a much better chance to win a title.

Reggie is basically saying "I'd rather be a Pacer my entire career than win a title." Period.

Ugh. Laker homer! Laker homer!

Better take off those yellow-colored glasses BIM... :D
 

Brian in Mesa

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It's likely that Reggie has no clue what he'll do when he retires, so he's kissing up to the Pacers' organization in hopes that they'll give him a position in the future. :D
 

elindholm

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Reggie is basically saying "I'd rather be a Pacer my entire career than win a title." Period.

Yeah, basically. There are (at least?) four different things an athlete can play for:

1. money
2. personal accomplishments
3. championships (or winning in general)
4. relationship with the community

For most, #1 and #2 are the dominant concern. #3 holds some special appeal to players who have already accomplished great things in #1 and #2 but been shut out of the winner's circle. #4 is usually ignored, but some athletes choose to embrace it. It looks like Miller is one of those, and I think that's nice to see.

The Pacers organization and their fans love Miller, as well they should -- it's hard to think of a more lethal pure shooter during the past 15 years. Miller is acknowledging that affection and showing that, to a degree, he feels the same way about his employers.

Malone's priorities are different, and he should do what he wants. I don't think that their decisions this summer make either Malone or Miller a better (or worse) player. But, from a fan's standpoint, Miller is certainly easier to root for, because he honors what his fans have given him throughout the years.
 
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Yep. You hit it on the head, Chap'.

BIM, I've "known" you since Suns Backcourt over at Rivals & you're probably the coolest Laker fan I've conversed with so far, but your first post is definitely spoken like a fan of a team that just signed what otherwise would be a Utah lifer for peanuts.

Because of Malone's willingness to ride others' coattails, L.A. took advantage & swept away part of what was & what still could've been the very face of the Utah Jazz, plain & simple. Damned shame, despite my loathing for Malone & the Jazz.

That said, here's to hoping we can make Amare a Suns lifer. :)
 

elindholm

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Oh, regarding the topic of the thread ("Still hate...?"), I've always liked Miller. But then, I've never had a big problem with Malone either.

Between the two, Miller is more fun to watch, for two reasons:

1. He is really an amazing shooter.

2. He plays at a hall-of-fame level with basically no muscles at all. I think I could beat him arm-wrestling. He almost looks like a girl. To me, that makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

Malone is an absolute brick of a human -- solid, cold, uncompromising, and minimally creative. The things I like best about him are his passing (which is underrated) and his work ethic. I have to believe that his astonishing record of good health is partly due to his unmatched commitment to staying in top condition. (It also helps that his game doesn't involve a lot of jumping.)
 

JCSunsfan

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Originally posted by elindholm
2. He plays at a hall-of-fame level with basically no muscles at all. I think I could beat him arm-wrestling. He almost looks like a girl. To me, that makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

His sister has more muscle than he does (she looks more like a boy than he does too).
 

Brian in Mesa

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Originally posted by SunsCat
BIM, I've "known" you since Suns Backcourt over at Rivals & you're probably the coolest Laker fan I've conversed with so far, but your first post is definitely spoken like a fan of a team that just signed what otherwise would be a Utah lifer for peanuts.

Thanks for the props.

I just don't get why people are so rough on Karl Malone for leaving Utah to go to LA, at a personal sacrifice of $18 million (whether he "needs" it or not). He spent 18 seasons with the Jazz (2 more than Reggie has been with the Pacers...). That's like a lifetime in the NBA! He and Stockton took the Jazz as far as they could, and always gave all they had for the team, the city, and the fans. With Stockton gone, how odd would it have been to see just Malone? And how well was the team going to do? Would they compete for a title? Would Malone basically be on a team in the process of rebuilding? Would fans say "Yeah, we suck, but it sure is great to see Karl pouring in points on his way to the career scoring title..."? It would have been a very anticlimatic ending to a great career in Utah. So Karl said "Why don't I go and try to put the Lakers back on top (after all...Spurs are the reigning NBA Champs, not the Lakers), especially if Gary Payton will be there also (he implied that he would go there if GP was)?" Karl, by going to LA, will have a more difficult climb to the career scoring pinnacle he is after, but it gives him the best chance to win a title. And I don't think Karl is going to be riding the bench to a ring. If that was the case, I could understand the backlash. I think people just don't like Karl or the Lakers. Somehow I don't think you guys would be bagging on Karl if he had just signed on with the Suns and they had just won 3 of the past 4 titles. :D
 
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Chaplin

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Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
With Stockton gone, how odd would it have been to see just Malone?

Probably not as "odd" as seeing him in a Laker uniform...
 

hcsilla

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Originally posted by elindholm
Oh, regarding the topic of the thread ("Still hate...?"), I've always liked Miller. But then, I've never had a big problem with Malone either.

Between the two, Miller is more fun to watch, for two reasons:

1. He is really an amazing shooter.

2. He plays at a hall-of-fame level with basically no muscles at all. I think I could beat him arm-wrestling. He almost looks like a girl. To me, that makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

Malone is an absolute brick of a human -- solid, cold, uncompromising, and minimally creative. The things I like best about him are his passing (which is underrated) and his work ethic. I have to believe that his astonishing record of good health is partly due to his unmatched commitment to staying in top condition. (It also helps that his game doesn't involve a lot of jumping.)
Exactly my feelings.
 
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elindholm

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And by girl do you mean alien?

No, I outgrew that attitude by high school.
 

Brian in Mesa

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Originally posted by Chaplin
Probably not as "odd" as seeing him in a Laker uniform...

Or seeing Jordan in a Wizards uni? Joe Montana in Chiefs' gear? Wasn't Babe Ruth a Boston Brave after he was a Yankee?

Big deal.

It's not like Karl is the first MVP to play for another team after a long run with one team.
 

JJ Slim

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Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
It's not like Karl is the first MVP to play for another team after a long run with one team.

Just because someone else has done it doesn't make it right.

And there would have been many, many Suns fans that would have had a VERY hard time dealing with Malone in a Suns uniform. He is among the most hated players for us and him signing with our team would not have changed our minds. At least Suns management and fans have scruples. :D
 

Brian in Mesa

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Originally posted by JJ Slim
Just because someone else has done it doesn't make it right.

I didn't say that it did. I don't believe there is a right or wrong in this situation. It's the NBA. It's a business. It's no different than a player or celebrity changing from promoting Coke to Pepsi once their contract expires with Coke. It's their choice. He played 18 seasons in Utah, but was under no obligation to remain there. I just didn't see the backlash that Karl is getting when other players have done the same thing. He's being singled out unfairly simply because many fans of other teams do not like the guy.

Originally posted by JJ Slim
And there would have been many, many Suns fans that would have had a VERY hard time dealing with Malone in a Suns uniform. He is among the most hated players for us and him signing with our team would not have changed our minds. At least Suns management and fans have scruples. :D

Like the hatred Suns fans always had for Danny Ainge? :D You're just lucky no one went to http://www.everyeffort.net (where Suns fans beg and or make suggestions to management) and requested that the mailman be brought in...Jerry might have done it. :D
 

JJ Slim

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I didn't know who Danny Ainge was before he was a Suns. I became a Suns fan during the playoffs in '93 (we moved to AZ that May and I got hooked). I did have a problem with Horry and Cassell though.

We had nothing to fear from everyeffort.net because no one would bother to suggest that.

Anyways, I'm just saying that I think you would be singing a different song if Malone had gone to another team like the Spurs, Mavs or Kings.
 

SirStefan32

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Originally posted by JJ Slim
Just because someone else has done it doesn't make it right.

Why is it not right? Malone's contract in Utah expired, and he decided to play for the Lakers. What is wrong with that?:confused:
 

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I think that the problem lots of people have with Malone on the Lakers is that he went there for below market value. There were other teams out there that were willing to give him more than the Lakers. If the Lakers had to pay him what other teams were offering they wouldnt have been able to sign him and GP. Thats the problem I see mainly with it that bugs me. Thats one of the things that I like about the salary cap is that it keeps anyone from assembling a team of allstars (unless they do it through the draft and have bird rights on the players) and that is what the lakers basically did.
 

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I think I'm more excited to listen to the Laker excuses as they flop than I am for the Suns season. They have no bench and there is no way these guys stay healthy the whole year with as many minutes they will need to play. In my opinion this is the most overrated team ever. San Antonio has made smart moves while the Lakers have only increased their ego. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is watching the refs give them "special" treatment. It will be worse than ever...
 

Brian in Mesa

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Klod - Try being a diehard Lakers' fan that no longer supports Kobe. :rolleyes:
 

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