lethalweapon3

I hear he customizes his bathroom tissue with the Hawks logo... :) ~lw3

Quick plug for my other favorite summer squad, the Silverbacks, who will be playing tonite @ 7:30 for the Eastern Conference title. They'll take on the Charlotte Lady Eagles who always gives them trouble (same team sent them packing early last season). Winner goes on to the USL W-League's Final Four in Cali next week. The Silverbacks (ex-UGA) goalie Michelle Betos is like the Ron Hextall of women's soccer. Go 'Backs! http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/news/displaynews.php?id=1170&cat=4 ~lw3

Can't wait either. I'm just hoping the words-to-butt-whoopin ratio, and the critics' review ratings, will be tremendously low. Better not be ANYBODY going for the Oscar in this one! Regarding "The Muscles from Brussels" definitely check out the "JCVD" film sometime, he had an epiphany a couple years ago and now only seeks to appear in "quality" straight-to-video C-movies. ~lw3

Nique (edges Barkley) ~lw3

I always get in trouble with these, but how about Antonio McDyess (pre-injuries) instead? ~lw3

Local-kid-makes-good link... props to Kobe as well. http://www.mycountypaper.com/claytonsports/headlines/89574917.html ~lw3

Piling on.... Apologies but in reference to some related earlier threads... http://www.hawksquawk.net/community/index.php/topic/350522-shaq-a-cancer/ Most of that discussion appears to come from this O-Sentinel piece, which lacks much in the way of damning content, and appeared in the wake of a burgeoning one-way feud with the "New Superman" of Orlando. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-03-06/sports/magic06a_1_shaq-dwight-howard-kobe ...I'm looking for statements from players/coaches/GMs, not stuff "overheard" from Ric Bucher or salty Lakers/Heat/Suns/Magic fans. ~lw3

... I'm referring to that dreaded interminable "locker room cancer" label has been affixed to him over the years. Often it seems to be applied to any aging player who's gotten perhaps a little too comfortable around a microphone, and hasn't won something in awhile. A "Type-A" locker room braggadocio and clown? Perhaps. There's plenty of them around, I'm sure. But a cancer? We all know of his documented (if a bit faux) disdain for Signor Bryant. And we know Phil Jackson's feelings about you can depend on whether you're presently adding Roman numerals to his baseball cap or not. Unlike the Kobe beef, I can't recall any similar queries of the culinary attributes of Shaq's posterior directed toward the likes of Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, LeBron James, or any other ex-teammates and ex-coaches. Forgive the inappropriate medical allusions, for those suffering with real maladies, but I'd imagine if one were such a cancer, we'd have evidence that his ill effects would spread to other locker rooms as well. In this thread, can we collect weblinks to statements by coaches, players, GMs "on the record," verifying that he is the locker room Debbie Downer that many of us have grown to envision? Perhaps there are many instances out there, I just want them in one place. I'm not looking for "don't let the doorknob hit you..."-style statements from vexed local beat reporters and ex-fans on forum posts in towns left in Shaq's wake. I'm talking about quotes from people who have actually witnessed the Diesel in action behind the scenes over the course of 20 years. I'm gonna go get my Google on and see what (if any) dirt I turn up as well. ~lw3

Sincerest blessings to the Wrights. ~lw3 ...and the Potapenkos... ~lw3

fixed, and yes! I'm wondering, given the tighter purses teams have in regards to Shaq, whether it would be prudent for him to simply sit out for the first half of the season (just until after the All-Star Break), then ride on the coattails of the team he prefers. Do some extra "Shaq Vs." and "Icy Hot" joints in the interim, build his celebrity side up some more via TNT and NBA-related events. He might not get $6 mill for >82 games, but he might have $2 mill suddenly available for >30 games when playoff time approaches. ~lw3

Oops, I clicked on the title thinking it was a new Forum category. :-) ~lw3

Earl "Viscount" Barron? Or, like another poster mentioned, perhaps Kyrylo "No Runs, No Drips, No Errors" Fesenko ~lw3

Bruce, if you're reading this for suggestions, I have three words: PLUMPER HOT DOGS! ~lw3

Jerm Daddy was going on 22 when Portland released him from their evil grip, while J-Pow will be pushing 28 when the season starts. But with extended minutes, I think a pleasant "surprise" is what they "expect" from him. (That came out real well) ~lw3

Neither has the NHL, apparently... http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ao3KPJ.HKein4Fah.DSdawF7vLYF?slug=ap-devils-kovalchuk Imagine the bellyaching 'round these parts if A$G made that contract. ~lw3

Hopefully he's working on free throws, free throws, free throws so his offensive opportunities are not limited to midrange, midrange, midrange. ~lw3

How do you pronounce "Tzvi"? ~lw3

Dude can't catch a break. Hopefully his wife is okay. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/23/1577971/armed-men-break-into-home-of-bobcats.html ~lw3

LA Times blog noted the signing is expected on Monday ~lw3

Now that you mention it, there were a couple games (Dallas? Phoenix?) early in the season where Powell made some key boards 'n buckets while Pau Gasol was a little gimpy. I can see where he'll be eager to play a bigger role than just band-aid duty. I was more impressed when he was with the other Staples tenant, but that was a different role, and of course Clipper highlights on ESPN are like Halley's Comet. My only concern is he has been increasingly happy with his outside shot, effectiveness notwithstanding, and we don't need two 6'9" Joshes firing away from 15 feet out while we sit back and cringe. Hopefully, he'll come to understand we need a big body to be just that, a big body. ~lw3

A couple OT notes: (a) very smart move cutting bait with his ex-girlfriend, recently busted for allegedly transporting coke in Norfolk. (b) despite his upset loss to Werdum a couple weeks ago, Fedor received these lovely parting gifts after the match (jump to 2:00) (c ) Two degrees of separation: Rumors indicate that J-Pow was the high school-era boyfriend referenced in an MTV "When I Was 17" episode by eventual superstar singer Ciara. Her "Never Ever" video prominently features Al Horford in a cameo role. ~lw3

A Phil Jackson disciple, and another local-guy-made-good (Riverdale HS) story. Young but lots of pro (NBA and international) experience. I was going to suggest him for my "Backup PF is ?" thread, but thought it was premature at the time. http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/07/josh-powell-who-spent-the-last-two-seasons-with-the-lakers-is-nearing-siging-a-one-year-contract-with-the-atlanta-hawks--h.html ~lw3

Woody was the reason for Cloverfield 1. ~lw3

Latest buzz as per ESPN's Marc Stein: http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/18437/latest-buzz-rj-shaq-t-mac-more http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NBA&id=245 ~lw3

Are Smoove and Al supposed to log 99% of the 48 minutes at the 4? Zaza can humor us for a few minutes there, but we need him at C primarily. Marvin -- same story at SF. I don't think JaCo can help at all at that position. Assuming we're not just hoping our starters won't get injured, what are we looking to bring in whose first name doesn't begin with Randolph and end with Morris? ~lw3