Lakers Blog

Round-the-Clock Purple and Gold
written by the Kamenetzky brothers.

« Previous Post | Lakers Blog Home | Next Post »

Ball Don't Lie's "Save the Machine" campaign

July 25, 2008 | 12:18 pm

Always good stuff from Kelly Dwyer over at the Yahoo! NBA blog.  One complaint, though.  I can't believe Dwyer could pen this fun post that somehow works in a dislike for Jimmy Buffet and the Eagles (I can't stand either), the compulsive need Americans feel to sweeten the hell out of iced tea (I highly recommend Tejava for those like me who like to actually taste the leaves) and some Greek (which may not even be real) mocking Ricky Davis... but managed to forget the most obvious touch. 

How do you present the importance of keeping Sasha stateside without including at least one "Machine" clip?

Again, enjoyed Dwyer's piece.  But it just feels like a regrettable oversight.

AK


The comments to this entry are closed.

Comments

That is a great piece, thanks for putting it up.

Great article - sarcastic and hilarious, espeicially the Greek touch with Ricky Davis.

HAHAHA, good stuff AK.

Those videos never get old. We NEED to keep Sasha. Hope he's somewhere in a gym shooting 3s.

Lamar = Laker for Life

GO LAKERS

How can you not like the Eagles? Is that just you, or does that malady affect all the K's?

First Ronny, now perhaps Sasha ?? Summer of 2008 could be a disaster !!!

I like the Eagles. Good ballads.

He went a little far but I kinda agree. You just can't lose the machine.

Go Lakers!

Ex,

"How can you not like the Eagles? Is that just you, or does that malady affect all the K's?"

I can't speak for BK (although I think he's somewhere between "indifferent" and "doesn't like them"), but I have just never liked the Eagles. I think it's just boring, lame music with a popularity I simply don't understand. "I can't tell you why" isn't a bad song, probably because with the woman singing (that is a woman, right?), I don't think it sounds like the Eagles. I can tolerate "In the City." And "Desperado" and "Witchy Woman" now make me laugh because of their use in a "Seinfeld" episode. But other than that, they don't have have a single song I even sort of like, unless you count the Gipsy Kings' version of "Hotel California."

AK

How can you lose a man who has a nike commercial like this?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZrKnkN_3FYk

lol

AK

"the compulsive need Americans feel to sweeten the hell out of iced tea"

Is this true? I thought it was just a Southern thing. The first time I ordered an ice tea at a restaurant in Georgia I actually spit the first sip out. When I asked the waitress for an unsweetened ice tea she looked at me like I was from Mars.

I would not give Sasha anymore than the 20 million over 4 yrs and that's a stretch.

We need to fix our top problem.

Luke Walton and Vlad Rad are dead weight on the roster.
NO ONE WANTS LUKE WALTON BUT HIS DADDY.

How about this trade?

The Sixers are looking for a Kyle Korver repalcement in the worse way.

VLAD RAD to the SIXERS
for REGGIE EVANS and cash.

This gives us a BANGER and someone to help take minutes off of our BIG 3 on the frontline so they can make it through 82 games healthy.

No one considers how important making it through 82 games is from an attrition standpoint.

I WANT REGGIE EVANS for VLAD RAD.

IT FREES UP SPACE FOR SASHA VUJACIC with a sensible payroll.

Make it happen MITCH

I would not give Sasha more then 4 yrs regardless.

I might go up to 5.5 million per yr at best.

does anyone know what euro team has given Sasha offers???...
Nothing has been mentioned on WHICH euro team has an offer for Sasha...Does anyone know where he is potentialy going and for what price?

Giantsquid,

"I thought it was just a Southern thing. The first time I ordered an ice tea at a restaurant in Georgia I actually spit the first sip out. When I asked the waitress for an unsweetened ice tea she looked at me like I was from Mars."

It is particularly rampant down south, where "sweet tea" is basically their version of water. BK and I did a magazine article years ago that took us to South Carolina and I couldn't believe how absurdly sugary that stuff is. But you'll also find stuff with too much sugar everywhere. Even in L.A., I've asked a switch from iced tea to something else because of the sweetness. Granted, I don't really like sweet stuff, so I'm sure it's just me at times. But I've also had other people taste drinks on occasion and they've assured, it wasn't just me.

Americans like them some sugar.

AK

AK,

I understand the hatred for Jimmy Buffett. (Everytime someone puts on "Cheeseburger In Paradise" the jukebox in a bar in Cleveland--and they do... a lot--I want to lock the doors and set the place on fire.)

But HATING the Eagles? Huh? I get that Don Henley is a smug, self-absorbed, pretencious weenie, but, man, songs like "Take It To The Limit" and "Lying Eyes" are awesome!

GO LAKERS!

Giantsquid/AK,

Sweet tea is digusting.

GO LAKERS!

Yeah, Southern tea is like 99 percent sugar with some tea thrown in for good measure.

Arizona Ice T makes a can Southern Tea.

I worked with a guy from Alabama that loved the stuff. He made his own tea for me one time and brought it in. It was like rocket fuel. Fun, but my insulin receptors can only take so much.

ttp://tinyurl.com/6ygc9u

Shane Battier
Luis Scola
to Lakers

T-mac
to Detroit

Chauncey
Tayshaun
Odom
to Houston


That's my dream trade. It needn't be a 3-team trade except maybe to get over the hump of Odom matching Battier/Scola within 25 percent.

Odom doesn't have an expiring contract and there's no way in hell this trade goes down.

This trade gives us a good backup PF, a solid outside shooting, good defending 3 and signficantly reduces our luxury tax.


Detroit does their salary dump and gets to have fun on offense again.

Houston gets 3 solid new players, 2 with championships and one with great versatility. Two of these players significantly improve the Houston D.


Don't like the trade? Tell me why.

Don't think it's realistic? Help me make it so.

Jon K,

What can I say? The Eagles just aren't my cup of (not sweet) tea.

AK

i f'n hate the eagles!

Sasha is NOT worth $5 million, no way! Why reward yet another player who demonstrated lots of "upside" during the last year of his contract, but has no real substance as a professional basketball player? For every point Sasha puts on the scoreboard, he gives up a point on the defensive end or on turnovers. I guaranty you if the Lakers sign Sasha, he will NOT put up the same numbers next season. Sasha CANNOT even create his own shot - that's why he has to shoot the ball immediately after he catches it, aka his "quick release".

This is a disturbing trend with the Lakers - they cough up some big $$$'s and receive very little production out of the players they sign to these expensive contracts (i.e. Walton & VladRad). Mitch needs to get rid of this waste!!

The Lakers are super talented on the offensive end, with or without Sasha. Why not sign someone who can shore up their glaring weakness - DEFENSE! A presence in the middle to stop penetration and a defender who can lock down the other team's wingman is what they need. Sasha is NOT this player. Yeah - he played good "D" on Ginobili - but my grandma can do that too against anybody on one leg.

MITCH needs to improve the DEFENSE on this Lakers team, not reward a triggerhappy-whiny-flopper!

GO LAKERS!!!

I'm still not over losing Ronny Turiaf.

What has been the strength of our team over the last year? Team Unity.

Team unity is brings a synergistic benefit to a team where the players bring up the quality of each others' game.

Team unity doesn't happen by accident. It is fomented by individuals within the group who are supportive, defuse conflict, bring humor and hard work to the spirit of the team.

Here is my review of our roster and the individuals upon it building team unity:

Ronny Turiaf: Strongly supported team unity
Sasha Vujacic: Supports team unity
Derek Fisher: Strongly supports team unity.
Vladimir Radmonovich: Decreases team unity.
Kobe Bryant: Neutral.
Pau Gasol: Neutral.
Andrew Bynum: Neutral.
Lamar Odom: Supports team unity.
Coby Karl: Supports team unity.
DJ Mbenga: Neutral.
Trevor Ariza: Supports team unity.
Luke Walton: Supports team unity.
Jordan Farmar: Neutral.
Chris Mihm: Neutral.

The players that BEST support team unity are rarely stars. They are younger players who work hard and appreciate what minutes they get, by doing so, they set a positive example for the rest of the team. They also include veteran players who work hard, defuse conflict, and exhibit selfless play.

Kobe may be our leader and his leadership skills are definitely improving, but leaders generally don't build team unity, because they often have to play the role of the bully to get the most out of players. Those players that build team unity don't take that bullying personally and instead go out and give it their best. In that way they defuse conflict and make it easier for the group as a whole to defuse conflict.

Remember "Rudy" on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? He's a perfect example of someone who builds team unity. Someone who makes a team better.

That quality is worth something. That's why it was wrong to give up Ronny Turiaf because he strongly supported our team unity, and that's what got us to the Finals this year.

Sasha builds team unity on the Lakers, most notably by helping Rad Vlad and Pau Gasol feel comfortable playing on a team filled with Americans.

He's also close to Kobe and puts up with Kobe's "vigor" which helps everybody, including Kobe.

This concept of supporting team unity through individual personalities and effort is a big deal and I hope Mitch Kupchak and Dr. Jerry Buss keep that in mind when making their decisions.

Beautiful basketball is expressed through intangibles.

Dynasties are build upon intangibles.

GO LAKERS!

The Collective Bargin Agreement (CBA) is pretty ridiculous when teams can not even offer players because they are close to or over the salary cap. No team has offered Sasha any money because he's unrestricted, and worst of all they are over the salary cap. Only one team has money to sign players, the MEMPHIS F-ing GRIZZLES. Are you serious? The CBA is making the league less competitive. How do you say to a player, "We like you, you will fit in with our team perfectly. However, we can't sign you, not because we don't have the money but we are almost over the salary cap?"

The league needs to fix this problem fast. According to Dwyer, Ricky Davis might go oversees too. WTF? The guy might not have the best attitude, but he has game.

AK,

I used to be a music critic for a couple American music magazines. So, I kind of feel the need to poke people about their personal tastes in music if I disagree. I think, objectively speaking, "good music" does exist. It's not all a matter of personal tastes.

That much said, hey, if The Dude from "The Big Lebowski" doesn't like The Eagles, I guess it's cool if you don't like them too.

GO LAKERS!

Here's that URL, third frickin try:

http://tinyurl.com/6ygc9u

Sasha is worth $5 million. You know why? Just look at the lineups or minutes in the 4th quarter last season. All of us felt comfortable when it was Fisher or Farmer at the 1, SASHA at the 2, and Kobe at the 3. That was our best lineup throughout the whole season and the playoffs. Luke was not in there, Vlad was not in there, it was Sasha. We can't afford to lose that since it is so hard to replace that. Walton and Vlad are garbage, but Sasha is always game time.

Its unfortunate that we are overpaying Luke and Vlad, but we shouldn't let that cloud our judgment when it comes to Sasha. Out of all those three, Sasha is the one that is worth it at 5 million a year.

I too wanted Vlad to be on this team when he was a free agent. I was wrong. However, the lakers were stupid not to cut him after his snow board accident, when they could have.

GO LAKERS!

How in the hell can anyone not be a Eagles fan?


I like the way your sparkling earrings lay,
Against your skin, its so brown
And I wanna sleep with you
In the desert tonight
With a billion stars all around
cause I gotta peaceful easy feeling
And I know you wont let me down
cause Im already standing on the
Ground

And I found out a long time ago
What a woman can do to your soul
Ah, but she cant take you anyway
You dont already know how to go
And I gotta peaceful, easy feeling
And I know you wont let me down
cause Im already standing on the ground

I get this feeling I may know you
As a lover and a friend
But this voice keeps whispering
In my other ear, tells me
I may never see you again
cause I get a peaceful, easy feeling
And I know you wont let me down
cause Im already standing on the ground
cause Im already standing...
On the ground
Oooo, oooo

mike t.

p.s. ♪'Cause I'm already standing...on the ground!♫

"You can spend all your time makin' money
You can spend all your love makin' time
If it all went to pieces tomorrow
Would you still be mine?

And when you're looking for your freedom
(Nobody seems to care)
And you can't find the door
(Can't find it anywhere)
When there's nothing to believe in
Still you're coming back, you're running back
for more

So put me on a highway
And show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more time

Take it to the limit
Take it to the limit
Take it to the limit one more time"

This one's for you, Dr. Jerry Buss!

GO LAKERS!

How do I hate the Eagles?
Let me count the ways...
1) Don Henley...nuff said.
2) Hotel California.
3) Oh screw this counting thing, they just plain suck. They are over-produced 70's fluff rock. Fluffers from the 70's are hotter than their tunes. Mojo Nixon wrote a great song called Don Henly must die. Great stuff, slightly better than Gwar's Scumdogs of the Universe.

Sweet tea and the Eagles should stay in the South. Smart people and good food should stay in California.

Alright, that last one was a little harsh. But the South needs a renaissance period, an age of enlightment, hell even the reconstruction part deux might have some be of some aid.

But do you know what doesn't suck...the Machine!

Machine, where wither thou go?
Oh Machine, let jumpers flow.
Oil and shoe, oh Machine we really need you.

Haiku...I think, it's 7-7-12, right?

errrrrr.

Benjamin,

Lamar Odom = Laker for Life.

GO LAKERS!

Jamie Sweet,

Sasha, The Machine
Slovenia's Greatest Son
Stay with the Lakers

5-7-5

GO LAKERS!

I find it to be a bit creepy that Michael Teniente and I literally posted Eagles lyrics at the same moment.

Hmmm....

GO LAKERS!

Eagles - Good
No sign Sasha - Bad
Ice Tea with Sugar - Ugly

How do you not like a face like that?
http://tinyurl.com/4pb6br

Sign the machine before he becomes 'Le Machine', 'El Machino' or Makinos

Keep Sasha Vu-cha-shic!

Little known fact: Obama's daughter was given the name Sasha the Machine first, because of her ability to fill diapers in rapid succession. "My lord, this kid is a machine Obama. When does she ever stop?"


Also if you lose Sasha, you lose half the female laker fan population!

lol.

Go Lakers!

I had an event in my life that didn't exactly endear me to the Eagles.

I dated a girl once that was into this band Venice and super into the Eagles.

I was hanging out with her and one of her friends one time. She loved this particular part of a song that was a cover that this band Venice did of the Eagles.

I was put under the microscope in close observation while I was told, "okay, this is the part" and then after it was over when I didn't immediately process the section as brilliant (and believe me, it wasn't) she told me she was going to break up with me, friend there and everything.

Needless to say, the cover by some okay local band of an Eagles song was not the quintessence of music brilliance.

It was a startling demonstration of just how okay the Eagles are.

Sasha wants too much
His minutes will be lower
With Trevor dressing

enjamin,

Lamar Odom = Laker for Life.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | July 25, 2008 at 01:39 PM


You can do better than stealing mrbarneydangles's line. You wouldn't trade Odom for Scola and Battier at a savings of over 8M in luxury tax?

All mediocre players (solid role players) are going oversees. That means we get to watch superstars, and 3rd rate (garbage) players. Just like today's American society, where the middle class is slowly evaporating.

Bloggers

It is becoming increasingly apparent to the Sober-minded that the Lakers mindboggling attraction to Luke Walton has become the pink elephant in the room when other players for the Lakers determine their value.

The Boston Celtics have set the model for winning an NBA championship. DEFENSE AND REBOUNDING! There is now a premium among GMs and scouts for athletic players that play defense especially interior defense. If you are not strong defensively then you had better be able to shoot the ball and spread the floor on the other end..........

Last year when Luke was going to become a free agent Mitch Kupchek signed him withing 24 hours of Luke declaring free agency............Why? I am almost positive that not one other team was interested in Luke...........but Mitch signed him so quickly we never had a chance to see just how other teams value Luke. (Which may have been his intention)

Not only did Mitch sign him, but he incredibly gave him a 30 million 6 year deal!! Not only did this tie up a roster spot but it gave other Lakers A STANDARD to negotiate their contract.

They say to themselves if Luke got 5 MILLION dollars GUARANTEED for 6 YEARS, WHAT AM I WORTH?

When you consider that Luke is a poorly skilled player in nearly every aspect of the game..........Poor shooter from the 3, poor mid-range shooter, weak defender, weak rebounder, painfully slow.................How do you justify Luke to Sasha??

Who would you rather have on your team.....Luke or Sasha?

A 28 year-old Luke or a much younger Turiaf? Be honest with yourself.

We may get Ariza back healthy next year......but here is the $64k question.......WILL PHIL JACKSON PLAY HIM??

Phil's and the Laker's fascination with Luke is threatening to destroy this team...........I only hope it doesn't cost us Sasha.

OK, I read that Lakers have offered Sasha $4 for three years but turned it down. Well, increase it to 18M backloaded for 4 years take it or leave it.

At the end of day, Lakers should be ready for replacements. Nobody is indispensable with the team especially if they cost double due to luxury taxes but the most important factor is replacing them immediately. Like Sasha, if we can get Javaris Crittenton or Jennero Pargo in his place then that we don't miss the void left by Sasha. It has been rumored that bulls are interested of Odom and Farmar, so be it we line up the replacement as Hinrich and Nacione now even if Sasha is gone we get new dynamics that will keep us a contender.

Because of the European surge and the high oaying contracts, all players are now greedy for bigger contracts propelled by their agents. At a certain point of greediness, this could be the downfall of the league when teams could not realize any profits while players are demanding more pays. Like for example the Lakerss, Kobe's contract will soon be on renewal, will he be asking for $ 25M per year or $ 20M for longer. Bynum will be asking for $ 80M (Kareem should also get a cut of 10% from that contract, he taught Bynum how to play C.) Gasol and Odom will never go down with their pay but up. There is no point of satisfaction among them....without realizing that the team cannot be in luxury tax status and still generate profits. Luxury thresholds become unrealistic at 71M, it should be increased/ to 90M now there are 15 players. Another factor are the new NBA raiders which are the euro league, salaries become bloated and management will just collect from paying fans. At what point can we say ENOUGH! Perhaps by downsizing and go for youth movement. Can the fans be clarified with the intentions of the F/O?

I don't mind losing Sasha provided there is a clear direction with purple and gold. To rely so much on Walton and another visit of Kwame, it is negative and debilitating stage to embrace Lakers. This is simiilar to insourcing of cheap labor and expect locals to be happy.

I liked the Eagles before they where the Eaples playing back up for Linda Rondstat.

An awesome group that was only together for about 10 years having 6 #1 albums. More than a few people loved the Eagles. Some of their words were corney, but the music was creative and catchy. I guess its an era thing

They had one song that didn't make my charts. "New kid in town" It was so bad that it actually got some credit for breaking up the popular Radio personalties 'Lohman and Barkley'. After complaining that 'how can they give us music like this to play' on the air, they had a falling out and split up their act.

I don't understand the point of tea if you're just going to drink it with 183 packets of sugar in it. I know this girl from Atlanta who lives out here in LA and she's like the bug wearing the Edgar suit from Men in Black...

"SUGAR!.... IN WATER!!!!!"

It scares me.

The Eagles are just "meh" to me. It should be classified under "Easy Listening" not "Rock" IMHO. They're not worth what they've made.

Sasha, however, is worth all the the (unsweetened) tea in China. Ok, not that much, but c'mon Lakers, pay the man!

Sasha, wil 4 years, $19 million do it for you?

there are many questions going around here. when will we have more info on moves lakers make. its been to quiet for long time now. some teams have made changes of personel. only trveor has decided to remain laker and maybe mim. i dont see any trade coming but will we resignature sascha. we need identification complete team and prepare for season. i see koby carl coming back and benga to. kemantski brothers any insider on mitch k. ok

ding how in prattville

Benjamin,

I've had the unfortunate experience of being around/with women with undeveloped tastes in music (yet a delusional sense that music communicated their soul in a purer language than any words ever could... who knows maybe they were right.)

Anyhow, I've several occasions in my life where I've had women play absolute drivel for me and look at me with wide eyes and say, "What do you think this song means?"

And after I express a certain lack of enthusiasm for the song, they snap, "That song is my heart! If you don't understand it! You don't understand me!"

No, I understand the song, I'm just not enthusiastic about it because it's drivel.

In any case, if you're not enthusiastic about the Eagles, I understand. They're not geniuses or anything. Just gifted musicians and songwriters who put together some awesome songs.

Also, I have a sentimental connection with them because they remind of Southern California in the 70's when I was a little kid. And, in many ways, the 70's was a very special time for California, when it was still free and overpopulation hadn't complicated everything.

GO LAKERS!

Sasha Vujacic
Machine. Unity maker.
Without him, sadness.

GO LAKERS!

FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE:

LAMAR = LAKER FOR LIFE. . . what you should know is

LAMAR = LOSER FOR LIFE. . .

. . . HELLO MR ARTEST - LETS GET TO WORK BROTHER

You're all in denial, Ron Ron is on his way to save the day!

Faith,

Sasha seems to be the favorite among the Lakers Cheerleaders.

We have to keep the Lakers Cheerleaders happy.

GO LAKERS!

AK,

You and Lebowski have something in common. Eagle hating that is.

also, pretty sure "In the City" was Joe Walsh solo. Sweet on the soundtrack of "The Warriors".

cheers,

Chick Penberthy

I didn't know this board was up. OC Register makes it sound like there will be a Sasha decision "this afternoon":
---
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said he expects a “resolution” to the Sasha Vujacic contract situation later this afternoon.

“I hope it’s pro-Lakers,” he said.

Jon K,

You wrote: dynasties are built on intangibles.

I disagree. Dynasties are built on defense.

AK,

i didn't even have time to read the rest of the thread i had to scroll straight to the bottom...

I'm so glad to know there are others out there that can't stand the Eagles. Every time i say that, people look at me as if i told them i support the Second Reich... "Gees guys. All i said was 'i don't like the eagles'.

You ever see The Big Lebowski? "I can't stand the *bleeping* Eagles, man."

Good Lord, Paul Pierce is an arrogant a-hole....

Found this off a link to a Spanish site-

"I don’t think Kobe is the best player. I’m the best player. There’s a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don’t cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself."

 


Advertisement

About the Bloggers

Recent Posts
Holiday links! |  November 26, 2009, 10:42 am »
New 710 ESPN Lakers podkast, featuring Spike Lee! |  November 25, 2009, 7:36 pm »
Live from the Game: Lakers vs. Knicks |  November 24, 2009, 7:34 pm »

Recent Comments
 
RE: Holiday links! | comment by Thomas
 
RE: Holiday links! | comment by father guido sarducci
 
RE: Holiday links! | comment by father guido sarducci
 
RE: Holiday links! | comment by jacqueline
 
RE: Holiday links! | comment by never
 
RE: Holiday links! | comment by Caliphilosopher



Archives
 




Buy Tickets
Search for Tickets
 

LATimes.com now offers sports tickets to popular events around the world including NBA tickets, MLB tickets and NFL tickets to otherwise sold-out events.

Popular Events
As the Lakers get set to defend their title, Lakers tickets are going to be huge all season. Dodgers tickets and Angels tickets are also in high demand with another season of MLB baseball underway.

We've got plenty of LA sports tickets and college football tickets for sale, with MLB tickets and USC football tickets being the mosts popular sellers at the moment.
Powered by TicketNetwork