I just love this one. Warriors' general manager, Larry (Little Nellie) Riley just sent out a news release about Stephen Jackson who wants to get traded to a contender, preferably in Cleveland or Texas. I'll give you the release followed by my thoughts on the matter.
"Stephen Jackson has been a true professional since arriving here three seasons ago, and our expectations of him have not changed despite his recent comments. He's been one of our most consistent and productive players during that time. We expect that same display of professionalsim as we begin to prepare for training camp and the start of the upcoming regular season.
"As far as his remarks on playing for a championship ... that's not the first time we've heard it because that's the goal that he sets for himself and his teammatges every season. That's the type of confidence that he exudes as a player and the reason that he has endeared himself to our fans. That's who Stephen Jackson is.
"We have always understood his desire to contend with the NBA's best; that's an inspiration that is shared by our entire organization. We will continue in our quest to achieve that goal, and to be aggressive in pursuit of those results."
OK, got that? This news release is an example of pure baloney. It's an example of saying nothing while pretending to say something. It's an example of a waste of time.
If you read this junk closely it says Jackson's demand to be traded to a contender is a good thing. When was the last time it was good when a team's star asked for a trade and trashed his current team?
Larry, please don't play us for fools.
The real reality I see -- the reality Riley wants us to forget -- is that Jackson wants out because he thinks, perhaps correctly, that the Warriors stink and have no hope of improving in his lifetime. Before last season, he renegotiated his contract and now he's reneging on that. In other words, he's as selfish as athletes get and he's being selfish because he doesn't believe in the Warriors' program, if there even is a program.
Jackson wants to play for another team. Not for the Warriors. Riley's little note never acknowledges that. He wants us to believe everything is terrific in Warriorland when you know and I know everything isn't terrific. I hope Riley knows, otherwise the man has a problem.
Come on Lowell, Riley said the only thing he could say. Do you have an alternative. Some possibilities:
1. We'll never trade Jack
2. Jackson is a typical spoiled athlete.
3. We're going to dump this jerk for anything we can get.
4. My boss really screwed up, and Jack is untradeable because of that ridiculous extension. Jack should know that.
Could he have possibly said any of those things? No, he could not!
Mike, Maybe he should have said nothing. Lowell
I forgot to mention, he couldn't have really said nothing either. Not without getting beaten up by the press. And then you beat him up anyway. The guy is in a no win situation. Although if I could have his salary, I'd take the job!
I think he should have ended it after the first paragraph or released nothing at all. The way he phrased it sounds ridiculous. There is a difference between saying you want to contend for a championship, and saying you want to be traded to a team that is capable of contending for a championship. Riley seems oblivious to the distinction, or maybe he thinks us Warriors fans are the oblivious ones. It was a pretty sad attempt at a spin-job.
Jackson used the Warriors. He wanted the extension and long term security that only the Warriors could/would offer. Last summer he said all the right things, including that he wanted to retire a Warrior. Now, just a year later, he wants out in order to go to a contender. He never had any intention of staying with the Warriors. He put in his year and now wants out. Cohan and Riley got played.