Vesper

I just hope he earns that 5 million!

Nice Video and with Christian Rap music!

By Sekou K. Smith June 15, 2008 10:52 PM No head coach does the player developing on hiss own doc. Woodson certainly has had a hand in the development of the players under his tutelage, both good and bad. But there are assisstant coaches on every team whose speccific job duties include working with young players to develop them. That was Fizdale’s charge when he joined Woodson’s staff and if you look at the quality of player the Hawks have on their roster (the guys they drafted), someone’s done a pretty good job. The credit can be handed out in whatever way you want. Brown will not be a part of the bench staff anymore, but in fairness to all, he wasn’t really an active coach this past season. He worked, technically, as a special consultant to Woodson. As for Sund’s autonomy, Sautee, I think he made the decision he wanted to make. I don’t think he was inclined to make a coaching change at all. I got that impression the first day I met him, mostly because he understands what kind of transition this team could be in store for if the roster changes dramatically. Another thing we need to keep in mind, what looks one way to us in the media and the fans (all of us on the “outside”) always looks different to people around the league. I can’t tell you how many people (execs, coaches, etc.) I’ve talked to since the Hawks’ playoff run ended that gave me the “I told you things were better than you thought they were” speech. What looks dismal to us looks a bit different to the people whose lives and careers depend on doing exactly what the Hawks did during the playoffs. The other thing you need to keep in mind is that NBA types understand the limitations involved in what the Hawks are doing (everybody’s not willing to spend what it takes to chase success the way the Celtics did last summer). They know how difficult it is to build a successful team without blowing up your budget. But that’s the beauty of living in democracy. They get to see it their way and we get to to see it ours.

Damn!

"do i need to post some more white chicks?" No, you have already conditioned us to the AZZ!

The interview had me feeling positive about the future of the Hawks

Sign on the dotted line! By Sekou K Smith | Thursday, June 12, 2008, 12:16 PM By Sekou K. Smith The Atlanta Journal-Constitution SMYRNA - The contract offer has been extended. Mike Woodson only has to sign the contract to continue his tenure as Hawks coach. I know the juices will be flowing for many of you over this news, so I won’t bother blabbing here (if you believe that you’re crazy). In fact, I’m more curious as to what you think about the idea of Woodson (and possibly his staff, in some form) sticking around for another couple of seasons. I’ll weigh in later today as things evolve. But all signs point to Woodson continuing as the Hawks’ head coach. What say you?

Woodson still unsure if he'll remain Hawks coach Woodson Still Unsure The Associated Press Published on: 06/10/08 Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson says he still doesn't know if he'll be offered a new contract by new general manager Rick Sund. "We're still going through the process," Woodson said Tuesday. "That's all I can tell you. It's more of a feel-out process. We're getting to know each other. That's where we are. We'll play it by ear and just see." RELATED STORIES * Woodson still unsure if he'll remain Hawks coach * Breaking down the top prospects in the draft * Woodson may be candidate for other NBA jobs More Hawks coverage Woodson's contract is up at the end of the month. He has a poor 106-222 record, but the Hawks have made steady progress during his four years and ended the NBA's longest playoff drought this season, when they were 37-45. The Hawks lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games in the first round of the playoffs, their first postseason appearance since 1999. Sund, 57, was hired on May 28, and last week he said it was too early to comment on Woodson's status. "Next week at this time, it might be a more appropriate question," Sund said last Wednesday. "But today I can't answer it." Sund didn't return a phone message on Tuesday.

How do you make wallpapers? I've never tried.

Woodson may be candidate for other NBA jobs

Doesn't he have one more year left on his rookie contract before becoming a RFA? Why would the Bucks pay so much for him now?

Quote: Quote: Wow, Alonzo Mourning had a 7'6" wingspan. Shaq was 7'7". Crazy. They probably still do lol

AJC Mark Bradley Advice for new Hawks GM Sund By Mark Bradley | Thursday, May 29, 2008, 07:09 PM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Hawks hold no picks in next month’s draft, but their general manager still faces significant choices. Speaking of Rick Sund, co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said Thursday: “Every decision with regard to this franchise is going to be his decision.” Here are the issues at hand, and here, for the new man, is some unsolicited advice: Mike Woodson: Keep or dump? This is tricky, given that Gearon has expressed his desire to retain Woodson, whose contract expires July 1. If Sund indeed has carte blanche, he should be able to hire the coach of his choosing. But does any GM want his first move to be a refutation of an owner’s stated wishes? Luckily, there’s a middle ground here. Sund could offer a one-year extension. That way he could be seen as erring on the side of continuity while committing himself to nothing long-term. And if Woodson balks to the point of demanding more years, the new GM could wind up getting to hire his own man for next season anyway. Recommended course: Sund should tell Woodson, “Your career record is 106-222. You’re lucky I’m offering another week, let alone another year. Take it or leave it.” Josh Smith: Keep or dump? The feeling is that some other team — Philadelphia has long been rumored as a suitor — will make a Joe Johnson-type offer to the free agent. (Say, $70 million over six seasons.) These owners could well be tempted to do a sign-and-trade and let Smith leave rather than match such a windfall. Here’s where Sund’s 30 years of NBA experience must be brought to bear. No matter what the sign-and-trade package might be, it won’t include any player who fuses proven performance with such untapped potential. Already really good, Smith could/should get way better. It was evident in the Boston series that, for all the Celtics’ depth, they had only one man capable of playing so far above the rim, and that one — Kevin Garnett — is 10 years older. •Recommended course: Sund should tell his owners, “Nobody in this draft and not many guys in the league can do what Smith does. If we let him leave, we’ll spend the next decade regretting it.” Josh Childress: Keep or dump? The Hawks might try to pinch pennies on Childress, who is also a free agent and who could command even wider interest than Smith. Ownership could say, “Do we really need to pay $40 million over six seasons for somebody who doesn’t start?” Two years ago, the answer would have been no. But it became evident in the playoffs — Childress was, with the possible exception of Johnson, the most impressive Hawk over seven games — that he’s exactly the sort of dauntless sub who makes good teams good. The Hawks have a chance to stay good for a long time if they tend to business this summer. Recommended course: Sund should say, “If we don’t match, we’ll have to find someone like Childress somewhere else. It’ll be simpler and cheaper to keep what we have.” Mike Bibby: Keep or dump? He helped the Hawks make the playoffs but was mostly awful in the seven games against Boston. He just turned 30 and will be a free agent after next season, during which he’s scheduled to make $14.5 million. Sund has indicated to the AJC’s Sekou Smith that he’s high on Acie Law IV. For a franchise unaccustomed to spending big, keeping the Joshes will represent a massive outlay, and there will be some sentiment to ease the burden. But even if Bibby isn’t the long-term answer, this is no time for the Hawks to get stingy. For the first time in a decade, they’ve got something going. Recommended course: Sund should say, “We need Bibby because Law isn’t quite ready. If he proves otherwise next season, I’ll try to move Bibby at the trading deadline. But not just yet.”

Sund: Better than

Quote: Speedy has been reassigned to a front office position. Vice President of Marketing. Anyone who could fleece a franchise like he has has to be a great salesperson. lol

Quote: whatz myspace? lol

I bet LeBron, Horford and Joe Johnson could when a championship for Atlanta!

It looks like Anderson has less polished KG type skills.

Quote: 100-67? Daaaaaaaaaaaaaang. Well, they ARE an expansion team. It looks like they got off to a good start, then something happened!

Dream loses first WNBA game The Associated Press Published on: 05/17/08 Uncasville, Conn. — Tamika Whitmore had 22 points and 10 rebounds Saturday and the Connecticut Sun defeated the Atlanta Dream 100-67 in the season-opener for the two teams. Connecticut (1-0) scored 100 points in regulation for the second time in franchise history. Asjha Jones had 18 points for the Sun, while Barbara Turner had 15 points and Lindsay Whalen scored 13. Betty Lennox led Atlanta with 14 points and Katie Feenstra added 10. The Sun had a 17-point lead at halftime and didn't let the Dream (0-1) get closer than 14 points in the second half. Atlanta led 15-8 in the first half and later 17-12 before Connecticut used a 26-6 run to take over. Turner scored 11 of her points in the final seven minutes of the first period, including back-to-back 3-point field goals that gave the Sun their first lead at 18-17. Whalen scored at the first-half horn to give the Sun a 51-34 halftime lead. The Sun added nine new players in the offseason, following their first-round playoff exit last season. It was the first game in the history of the expansion Atlanta franchise. And it was the first game in a Connecticut uniform for Whitmore, who was traded to Connecticut from Indiana in the offseason for all-star Katie Douglas.

Boston’s Paul Pierce and Washington’s DeShawn Stevenson Fined Posted Apr 28 2008 5:17PM NEW YORK, April 28, 2008 – Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce and Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson have each been fined $25,000 for making menacing gestures during games played this weekend, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations. The incident involving Pierce occurred in the fourth period of the Celtics’ 102-93 Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on April 26. The incident involving Stevenson occurred in the first period of the Wizards’ 100-97 Game 4 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 27.

http://www.nba.com/hawks/promotions/Playoff_Block_Party.html

Hawk swoops down on girl at Boston's Fenway Park BOSTON, April 3 (Reuters) - Something unusual was flying at Boston's Fenway Park on Thursday when a hawk not a ball injured a young girl touring the baseball stadium. A red-tailed hawk, nesting near home plate, swooped down and scratched the eighth-grader's head as she visited the Boston Red Sox' home, team spokeswoman Susan Goodenow said. The girl, who paid $10 for the tour, was treated and released from a local hospital, Goodenow said, adding "it was an unfortunate incident but the girl is fine now." The Boston Globe said the eighth-grader, who are typically 13 or 14 years old, was touring the ballpark with a group from her Bristol, Connecticut, middle school. Fenway Park has long ranked among Boston's most visited attractions and has become even more popular since the baseball team clinched the World Series championship twice in four seasons. Workers later removed the hawk's nest in time for Tuesday's opening game when some 37,000 fans are expected to crowd into the stadium. It is not uncommon for birds to nest in the ballpark in the offseason, feasting on mice and rats. They usually leave when crowds arrive, Goodenow said. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Eric Beech)

Great Video, Mad Skills!

Quote: Is that the guy some moron GM and franchise gave a near max deal to ? To think that scrub could lead a team to the playoffs........What were they thinking ? Let's see, Rondo, Diaw & the #16 pick for a guy who is the best player in his conference the last 5 weeks when his team needs him the most to land a playoff berth? Oh and he's a 2-time All-Star to boot... would I make that trade? Or would I prefer 3 role players? Wow, that's a tough one. BK is not perfect, but he has built a decent team!