With Game Seven looming in what has been a compelling Eastern Conference Finals (a series so gripping, I’ve had nothing to say about it, not even the bit where Rasheed Wallace channelled the spirit of the late Jeff Van Gundy and hinted that the league and its officials would conspire to make a 7th game a reality), once again, we’re back to Larry Brown. Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen predicts that the Pistons coach will ultimately reject Cleveland’s overtures. The New York Post’s Peter Vescey, however, offers reasons why Detroit will not complain of tampering nor shed many tears if Larry leaves.
‘Ask yourself who is the largest advertising customer for the Pistons,” underlines a vigilant column monitor, “and spends more money with them than anyone other than their broadcast partners ” and you have your answer why the Cavaliers have such leeway” regarding the romancing of Larry Brown.
That customer is Quicken Loans, a home loan firm owned by Dan Gilbert, a Pistons season-ticket holder and Michigan native.
“It’s a huge deal for the Pistons,” resumes the sophisticate. “They get rid of Larry and their [remaining three year, $21 million] contractual obligation to him. If he retired sick, especially if they win this year, the Pistons would feel obliged to pay him.
“So they push Larry’s salary to Cleveland and keep their biggest customer happy.
“That’s good business. Who cares what Larry says or does?”
Meanwhile, Brown’s doctors are confiding to hospital technicians that Larry may no longer be up to coaching, but he’s more than capable of those day-to-day rigors of changing jobs.
Ok, the NBA polayoffs are a bit slack this year. But the commentary, including the coverage on Pushing the Envelope, here, has been terrible. And the reason for both situations is the same–the overabiding interest on the part of the players and the journalists and everyone in the business. The Fantasy GM part of the game has become the dominant mode, and somehow Rasheed’s game, or Eddie Jone’s weird semi-stardom, and Amare Staudamire’s monstrous testosterone harvest at the end of game 4… that was a line Vescey used to describe Time Hardaway destroying the Knicks during that long ago time when Miami and the Knicks were fierce rivals and Vescey actually wrote about players and the game they playes, as opposed to wondering endlessly about which Gm will hire which coach. As Eric Konigsberg, the man who got Charlie Ward on record as having some backwards ideas about Jews put it, the game has become too much of a business. That problem does not have to extend to this page, though!
Im sorry – I’ve had a blast watching the 2005 Playoffs: Reggie’s farewell. Nash going off against the Mavs. Amare taking a huge step forward. Wizards/Bulls. McGrady’s annual first round exit. The machine that is the Spurs. Maybe it’s not as superstar driven as it used to be. But Im enjoying it.
Seriously – isnt it nice to have a Game Seven tomorrow night? And isnt it refreshing to honestly not know who is going to win it all?
And isnt it fun to think of Kobe and Garnett sitting at home in May?
TH
PF,
guilty as charged. Though I’ll gladly take Eric Kuselias and Colin Cowherd to task for their pre-playoffs predictions that the league was going into the toilet, I’ve also done relatively little to illustrate why they were dead wrong.
I’ve followed this year’s playoffs closely — much more so than in the prior 5 seasons I couldn’t see anything except the finals (and that was in low-def) and I’ll concur with Sir Hoops. But the sad fact is, the Heat/Pistons series and resulting battle with the Spurs won’t have my undivided attention unless MLB suffers an unexpected work stoppage.
It’s great to think of Kobe sitting at home. Unless you’re his wife.
And please, no more Envelope jokes or I’ll be forced to reform the band with Bruce Foxton replacing Jesper, Chuck Biscuits replacing Harry, and Lindsey Buckingham as Michael. My part will be played by Craig Finn or his more talented brother, Neil. Whoever has more time on his hands.
Thank you for the thoughtfull response. The band sounds good. “Endless Bleeding.”