Well, I am glad I am an STH, or I might be pissed.

Wow. My season tickets went from $80 to $85 per game. The individual ticket price for my seats is $90 and $110 for a premium game. I guess they're going to need this extra money to pay for the millions in luxury taxes they're gonna owe over the next few years. No luck on getting a seat upgrade this year, the renewal rate was 99%.

Home has better seats, more privacy, better sound, closer view, access to kitchen, halftime diversions and your sports-loving girlfriend, and best of all - mute.

So they played the curb yer enthusiasm tonight when Shack trips over Larry david's leg...the whole city turns on larry for knocking out Shack for two months...he brings Shack, who's in a hospital, every seinfeld episode and Shack says his favorite episode is "the contest."

Shack likes contests. He loves to compete, however he can. He's not down about his declining numbers as long as he can play for a winner.

Interesting that Porter wants to employ Shack in a more brutal fashion than D'ANTONI.

Smash.

GO LAKERS!

If you want the best you have to pay em. Hate to see the prices go up but a family owner and not a billionaire owner has to do to get us the best.

Butler,

Thanks for the reply.

"It was praise for his shark agent, but yes, Marion was given the best pay of any SUN...17.5 mil...you'd think he'd be happy. But being a millionaire doesn't mean happiness at all, because you've still got your respect as a person and playa to consider. And Shawn was upset...about something."

The news was that Marion wanted an extension. An extension that would have been approximately $20 million per year for 2-3 years. And all agents are sharks. See Ari from Entourage. They watch out for the good pay for their client, and they get paid when the client get their goods.

Besides he got traded to a bottom dwelling team that is hesitant in giving him his extension. I don't know what to say but if you got more info on the Marion conflicts that would be great.

I couldn't resist but repost this one...

That's right butler...

Are you not aware at all why only NASH has not played for a championship of those who won back to back MVP?... and yet you are telling us here that he is one of the greatest player who ever play ball... Look at your example.. Wilt, Bill, MJ... they are there because they battled for championships.. not just WIN MVP's... they BATTLE for something greater than thier personal accomplishments... THEY went to war and took with them thier team... Your Steve Nash has not brought his team to a single NBA Championship game inspite of having around him 2 All Stars in Amare and Shawn and as you say...with the greatest coach in the NBA...

Are you not aware of this? Do you not see the irregularity of this thought?

Amazing... just amazing...

I am perplexed...YOu are better than this.. wake up man...

At least Kobe brought his team all the way to the finals after winning his first MVP...

Go KOBE!

GO Lakers!

It's crap like this that creates Clippers fans.

Seriously, ticket seats are priced out of the hands of true Lakers fans and it becomes an "event" instead only able to be attended by vacuous celebrities who don't know who Chris Mihm and Josh Powell are.

And we tend to lose these "events" because people are too worried about their haircuts than they are about supporting the Lakers, and thus we gain no home court advantage.

It was dreadful in the Finals last year. The crowd absolutely sucked. Oh they looked GREAT, but they made no noise and we just a waste. They were as much at fault for losing Game Four as the Lakers were. Terrible.

Donald Sterling may be a dreadful owner, but he makes enough money in his other billionaire activities to charge a reasonable fee to attend Clippers games.

This is ONLY thing I dislike about the Lakers: They charge too much for tickets to the point where they eliminate accessibility for average (and more passionate) fans.

GO LAKERS!

Kiwi,

How dare you imply that Kobe Bryant is infallible!

'Cause in PEEHONIX you have approximately a 0% chance of the title. If the last 40 years
are any guide Posted by: Jman449 | September 17, 2008 at 12:11 AM

OH THE HUMANITY!!!!

Hey Rick Friedman;

Right on!! Joel Myers is the frigging worst - Why in the world are the Lakes sitting on this boob? Not that he'd want to take a pay cut, but Jim Rome would be an interesting choice. He has revolutionized sportstalk lingo in the last 10 years and is certainly an original. Romer - if you catch this blog, this is beans from KTMS. Love you always!!

As others have mentioned didn't the players complain that there wasn't enough real fans during the finals at Staples and now they go an do this...so the home crowd during those 7 games is going to consist of people who are there to be seen and not watch the game..... /fail.

Also Joel Myers is friggin' horrible. He makes it so hard for me to sit through a whole game. At least Spiro pays attention to the game. They should have let him do the simulcast like Chick used to do

How 'bout that Josh Howard? Couldn't give a s__t about the national anthem 'cause he's black. OK, it's a free country and maybe not the best tune ever written, but did you have to share the sentiment on camera with a new season about to jump it up?

Sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover, he's as stupid as he looks.

The NBA, where dumb dumb dumb dumb happens.

Good morning all

I know this must be a stupid question, but... is training camp in Hawaii??

GO LAKE SHOW!!

So did you hear the latest Josh Howard antics... He was at
an Allen Iverson charity game, and while they were playing
the national anthem, Howard used his cellphone to shoot a
youtube video where he says ""'The Star-Spangled Banner'
is going on. I don't celebrate this [expletive]. I'm black."

You know, it's nice to have a summer where there are no
reports of a Laker dissing the country or getting pulled over
for being drunk in Vegas, or getting injured doing activities
that are prohibited by their contract, or bringing hos & pot
into their room at an NBA function or stalking their ex-girlfriend,
or any of that junk.

Instead the Lakers reports are that they're winning gold
or silver medals, encouraging cooperation between Israel
& Palestine, rehabilitating and working out, and a passel
of other healthy activities.

How long has it been since we could say that?

Butler...

"Nash and the SUNS had amazing reg seasons and provided the most entertaining ball in decades. I'm telling you, watching them every night was basketball heaven. Titles are for bragging rights but witnessing a basketball genius directing an atheltic team night in and night out was awesome!"

You've got to be kidding!!

I'd rather have a championship than an "entertaining" regular season!

It'll be entertaining to watch them emplode when they make it to the playoffs!!

GO LAKE SHOW!!

I watched quite a few suns games last season and let me tell you shaq missed alot of put backs and when a missed shot bounced to him, not him to the ball is how he actually got some boards. Shaq's strengths are now 6 fouls and being a decoy.

Titles are for bragging rights but witnessing a basketball genius directing an atheltic team night in and night out was awesome!

Butler,

You sound like a fan who's team has never seen a championship!! How ridiculous is that!! It's like a virgin saying "Even though I'm in love with her, I don't want to have sex because it'll ruin her image." You continue to push the limits of idiocracy.

Donald Sterling may be a dreadful owner, but he makes enough money in his other billionaire activities to charge a reasonable fee to attend Clippers games.

This is ONLY thing I dislike about the Lakers: They charge too much for tickets to the point where they eliminate accessibility for average (and more passionate) fans.
-----------
Come on Jon, I agree with you in that the fans attending the games, particularly the Finals, are too cool to cheer loudly and that many "Real Fans" are priced out of Staples, but this is economics 101: Supply and Demand. It is also about what makes LA, we just happen to be the home of many wealthy, pompous idiots who want to be at the Laker game because it's the IN thing to do as opposed to regular season ticket holders in a city where NBA is the ONLY thing to do. Sad to say that Lakers games are becoming more like Angels games, (cuz I hate Angels games) but I guarantee if I go to a game, there's no way I'm not screaming my head off!!

What I don't like is your statement that makes Sterling out to be a kind soul who wants to bring affordable NBA to Los Angelinos. Sterling would LOVE to charge Lakers prices, but then nobody would want them!! They BARELY want them at the prices they charge now!! I know I'm looking to cop tickets for the Lakers vs. Clippers game to catch a look at our boys!!

As an STH and someone who sees what types of fans go to games first-hand, I really can't stand all the characterizations about only the wealthy and celebrities going to games. And, no offense, it's not the "in" thing to do. Frankly, if someone isn't a basketball fan, going to see it live is actually an excruciatingly boring thing to do. You can see more celebs and get closer to them eating at any handful of restaurants, shopping at a grocery store or going to the right Coffee Bean or Starbucks.

The uber-rich sit courtside or on the premium-level but that's no different than any other sports franchise including the Clippers. And, there are plenty of other teams that charge just as much, if not more, than what the Lakers charge for tickets. There are just as many "real fans" in attendance as there are for any other team.

Personally, I'm loving the fact that my seats stayed at $28/game. It's about time that they gave STHs a discount.

Not that anyone should need another reason to appreciate KB24's decision to sacrifice surgery for playing time, here's the latest from the Washington Post:

Arenas to Miss Camp, Season's First Month After Surgery

Gilbert Arenas confirmed that he underwent a surgical procedure this morning that "cleaned out some debris" in his left knee. Arenas, who has undergone two surgeries to repair the left knee in the last two seasons, has been limited during the rehab process all summer and said he has planned all along on not participating in training camp or the preseason.

http://tinyurl.com/3wa8bh

Agent Zero will be on the sidelines until early December while the Mamba will be at work building on his legacy. Go Lakers!

Keifo,

That's just something people who root for loser franchises say. And I mean that with all due respect, BUTLER.

I still can't believe Washington gave Arenas the payday. He was clearly still hurt and the next best offer he MAY have received wouldn't have been within 30 mil of the money he ended up getting.

It's also going to make the FO take a serious pause on the Bynum extension (sorry Tom).

LAMAR=NOT A LAKER FOR LIFE

htj,

>>>>>I still can't believe Washington gave Arenas the payday.
>>>>>He was clearly still hurt and the next best offer he MAY have received
>>>>>wouldn't have been within 30 mil of the money he ended up getting.

I agree. However, it was a good move by Gilbert to forego around $20M. For once, an athlete asked the question of how his and his family’s life were going to be different with $110M vs. $130M.

>>>>>It's also going to make the FO take a serious pause on the Bynum
>>>>>extension (sorry Tom).

Don’t worry. The Lakers are not going to pause even for a second. Drew will sign an extension within the next 30 days for $70-75M. He will accept a little less than max because of the Lakers committing now. He will be under contract for the next 6 years (1 year on existing contract plus 5 year extension) before his birthday on 10/27.

The Era of the Beast has begun. Go, Lakers!

Tom

>>>>>It's also going to make the FO take a serious pause
>>>>> on the Bynum extension (sorry Tom).
>>
>>>Don’t worry. The Lakers are not going to pause even
>>>for a second.

LOL. Good one. The Arenas situation is a textbook example
of why the Lakers WON'T offer Bynum anywhere near
a max contract until and unless he shows that he can play
at full strength in real 5-on-5 NBA game situations.

>>> Drew will sign an extension within the next 30 days
>>>for $70-75M.

He may get that much, but only if it's a couple weeks into
the season and he's playing at full strength with no limp
and no new complications.

>>>He will accept a little less than max
>>>because of the Lakers committing now. He will be
>>>under contract for the next 6 years (1 year on
>>>existing contract plus 5 year extension) before his
>>>birthday on 10/27.

I hope you're right. But it won't happen until the Lakers
front office are positive that he's not going to pull an
Arenas on them. That kind of money for that number of
years puts a serious hurt on your cap space whether the
player is playing or not. So you want to make damn sure
they're going to suit up and contribute.

the regular lineup. and how did they win the only game in the series they won. KOBE! KOBE! KOBE!

Posted by: MAMBA24 | September 17, 2008 at 08:23 AM

Yeah! Sock it to those revisionists.

AK.

I know that Lakers Fans of all walks of life attend the games, and though many of the "pretty people" sit closer to the floor, there is still lots of people in the crowd that don't cheer, or don't cheer as loudly as we'd expect. I think there is something to be said about the "mellowness" of the LA crowd, as I know STHs that are just quiet people.

Still, even in Dodger Stadium, other than Left Field Pavillion, my favorite place to sit, the crowd is also pretty mellow, especially in the field boxes. Yeah, they wear jerseys and I'm sure they care about the team, but they don't cheer like the LF Pav. fans do. So to your point, I don't think it's fair to say that they don't care, but I've met lots of people who go to the games just to go, who won't know who Coby Karl or DJ Mbenga is, and could care less if we won or lost.

Elle,

I feel you on that one. A Clipper team with no Brand, Rockets with no Yao or McGrady, and the Pistons aren't that fun to watch unless they're playing a good team. I couldn't even bring myself to buy that package to watch the Lakers, which shows how dedicated a fan you are!! Oct.29 and Jan 21, maybe I'll see you there!!

AK

>>Where I do think the Laker fans lack, however, is in crowd volume. I'd always noticed before that Staples noise runs in waves, but that never really hit home until going on the road this season.<<

Laker fans are preconditioned to wait for the action to come to them. That's been a trait ever since the 80's. The fans sit on their hands and anticipate the Lakers will give them something to cheer about and there’s nothing wrong with that. All respects to Vlad – if you want to get cheered do something worthwhile. We are not Clipper fans who cheer mediocrity for the sake of cheering. If you want to compare us to theater fans, if the performance sucks we are walking out. We expect more.

I'm just amazed and at the same time upset why some of the bloggers here are still trying to respond to whatever BUTLER brought in the table for discussions. We all know that all his reasonings are crooked or stupid as I should say. The only purpose he blogs here is to pissed all the Lakers fan nothing more nothing less.

HmrHed,

"The fans sit on their hands and anticipate the Lakers will give them something to cheer about and there’s nothing wrong with that."

I disagree.

I believe just as we have a reasonable expectation for the Lakers to continuously improve as a franchise, we also have a reasonable responsibility to improve as fans to better support our team.

A loud, enthusiastic crowd matters. It makes a difference and to claim that it doesn't is just good old plain intellectual dishonesty.

Anyone who has every performed in front of an audience in any regard (athletics, arts, public speaking) knows the audience matters in terms of your performance. It may not be the most important thing, but it is important.

GO LAKERS!

Rick F,

here! here!

Lately I've exceeded my patience for Stu Lance as well. Not that I don't like him or anything...but of late he's been too pessimistic. Often calling on negative plays before we even have the ball!

Overall the combination doesn't work.

I'd add to what HmrHed said that the fans in the lower bowl that have been STHs for decades have witnessed, first hand, some of the greatest basketball anyone has seen. When Championships become expected, the fans do tend to sit on their hands more and wait for the team to rise to a certain level before they'll cheer. Heck, I'd settle for them all wearing the free t-shirts that get handed out at important games.

Getting rid of the Laker Band would help too. A bunch of USC Band rejects playing decades old bleacher music. They're a real downer. Gimme Some Lovin? In The Stone? It's so bad and just puts people to sleep.

http://tinyurl.com/3ucnuf

I don't mean to diss Agent Zero aka Captain Quirky, I respect the guy and glad that he's a fellow Southern Californian. That being said it seems Captain Quirky got yet another operation on that knee and will be out till December after signing a HUGE contract.

Just another thing to add to his quirkiness.

-blitz

I really don't get the appeal with Gilbert. WHEN HE WASN'T INJURED he was a good player, that flirted with greatness on some nights (dropped 60 on the Lakers), but what has he really accomplished? He made the playoffs a couple of times, big deal!! Is it because he tries so hard to get the fans to like him? He seems to be as arrogant a person as anyone playing today!!

I remember a couple seasons ago when he was hot, he gave away a bunch of his jerseys as promo on game night and "advised" that Kobe do the same to get love from LA!! I think playing hard, winning games and taking your team to the Finals is a better road to getting love than giving out jerseys and sitting for months at a time. Can't say that he's milked his contract, ala Grant Hill and Allan Houston, since he just signed it, but something tells me he'll be missing more than just this November. I will say that he's accomplished more than initially expected, but so have other players. At least he got paid!! Enjoy the new crib Gil.

Whats up all!

just wanted to share this Lazenby blog entry on Hoopshype.
http://tinyurl.com/3u5jrt

"Jordan acknowledged Bryant is the best of a generation of players who have tried to be like Mike."

I don't see how anyone can argue against Jordan's own words.

Have any of you guys seen the Spaniards show up to represent since the Gasol trade? With their flags and Gasol jerseys.

I have been to several games with PSLakerFan - JSNV - and LAKER LEGACY and have noticed the enthusiasm.

They brought the excitement reminiscent of a Soccer game. The sporting FAN culture of Soccer and small towns are amazing. I definitely would like to leave an arena exhausted of my Fandom for my team, than act like some Sporting-Hipster with sunglasses.

I will say, sometimes this town plays way too cool.

Magia32 sez:

"I watched quite a few suns games last season and let me tell you shaq missed alot of put backs and when a missed shot bounced to him, not him to the ball is how he actually got some boards. Shaq's strengths are now 6 fouls and being a decoy."

The worst was when he ran the floor with the ball and then passed to a ref in the Pistons game...

Jon K: "A lot of narcissists out there rationalize "I've paid a lot of money for tickets. Nothing else should be expected of me. Perform for me now team." I personally don't like this attitude. I know people out there will find a way to rationalize it, but I find it to be shallow."

I wouldn't like that attitude either. But I don't agree with you that that's the attitude the fans have.

JSNV,

I'd say that Gilbert was a great player, who often flirted with superstardom. He was awesome in 05-06 and 06-07, and for the first few months of 06-07, while Kobe was working back from knee surgery, he was the most electric scorer in the league. He hasn't achieved much in terms of team success, but he was one of the most exciting guys in the league.

Any time one of the most exciting guys (and now one of the highest paid) in the league goes down it's a big deal.

dice8up; Thank you from the previous thread.

I think Butler is KL is disguise...hmmm? just kidding k-buddies, i don't want to violate parole conditions.

Discount ticket prices? so cheap seats are only $100 now? great deal.

BTW, i know this is a laker blog, but i gotta give it up for the USC Trojans' COMPLETE domination of the Buck-who's.

Fight on!

JSNV,

I love the Lakers so it all evens out in the end, even if i did end up paying 300.00 for two tickets in "so-so" seats. I have new system that seems to work out okay, I buy tickets in the premium section for a preseason game, normally most of the guys play and we get to see them close up for a much better price, then I save up enough to get tickets again in the premium section for two games in the spring.

I'm wondering how much do some of you guys pay on average to get toa game?

"I don't see how anyone can argue against Jordan's own words."

I'm all for Kobe but didn't Jordan draft Kwame?

Also remember a halftime show where they asked Wilt who he would pick as his PG. He picked Stockton over Magic. Lainier's eyes popped out and he put his hand on Wilt's forehead to see if he was running a fever. Saying something to the effect that "you've got to be kidding me".

Greats, except maybe for the rare few (Jerry West and Mike T, lol), can be argued with.

JSNV,

Oh, there's no way I would have given Gilbert that contract. Even with him taking less money to come back. The reason is they're never going to win a championship with him playing point guard for two reasons. The first is that his deal, coupled with the ridiculous deal they gave Jamison, is going to put them in NBA purgatory (good enough to make the playoffs, not good enough to win a title).

Secondly, he's not willing to move over to SG and let them get a real PG in there. Or at least run a motion offense or a variation of the triangle offense with a PG who can defend and hit open 3's (while also playing an uptempo style), where Gil isn't dominating the ball and jacking crazy 3's, they won't have a very high ceiling.

I liked watching the guy play, but I'm glad he wasn't on our team.

Xodus,

I disagree. If it was possible, Captain Quirky (Gilbert Arenas) would have played shooting guard. SG was the position he played at Arizona. However because he is too small for a shooting guard (6'4) he has to play PG since it is more around his size. Same thing with The Answer, The Answer is only 6'0 (actually 5'11) yet is more like a shooting guard but because he is smaller than most shooting guards, he had to play a point guard which is more to his size (and hence why Derek guarded him most of the time).

Basically Iverson, Arenas, Bibby, and Davis are very similar: shooting guards who are too short to play shooting guards and instead has to play point guards. They may be the leader of the team but they should be no way confused as a true point guard and while that may win some/many games, neither Iverson, Arenas, Bibby nor Davis will win a championship for the foreseeable future.

-blitz

Here's a great article by Roland Lazenby on Kobe and MJ.

http://tinyurl.com/3u5jrt

blitz,

Dwyane Wade is 6'4 and plays shooting guard. Arenas is big enough to play the 2, he just doesn't want to. I've read that he wants to play PG before too. Iverson has played SG, by the way. He played SG under Larry Brown with Snow playing the point.

As far as those guys not being true point guards, I agree. Which is one of the points I made in my earlier post.

Xodus hope I don't have a Hobbit-Blitz debate here again lol but

Dwyane Wade is 6'4 true and usually that is still a point guard height. He himself said he didn't want to go back to playing point guard after his rookie year when Eddie Eddie Eddie Jones was playing shooting guard. Afterwards the Heat acquired Damon Jones to play Point Guard and allow Wade to play Shooting Guard. And then came Jason "White Chocolate" Williams and Chris Quinn will probably play the point this year.

With Snow and Iverson it was similar and different. You can probably tell the similarities. In terms of difference however, Snow was able to guard the other shooting guards like Kobe to allow Iverson to guard point guards like Derek. After Snow left Philly, Iverson was forced to play point guard again.

With Arenas it is much different than Wade-Jones or Snow-Iverson. Gilbert can certainly play the shooting guard spot but that belongs to DeShaun Stevenson who is a solid shooting Guard and is 1 inch taller than Gilbert is. Since Deshawn is not a point guard like Snow was, he couldn't be shifted to point guard so Arenas could play more shooting guard.

If the Wizards can't resign Stevenson and doesn't get a starter type shooting guard, then it is my opinion that they could shift Gilbert to Shooting guard. They have after all have young point guards behind Arenas at the moment including Nick Young.

-blitz

And by the way BUTLER...

Why do athletes play? in NBA's case, why do players play in a game?

Is it not to win a championship? All players dream of holding a championship trophy, or be a part of a champion team.

The regular season is played toward that end! To play for a championship game and possibly win Champioships... it is a futile endeavor not playing to that end.. the GREATNESS of a player is meausred when he is able to lead his team to play for a CHAMPIONSHIP... NOT the regular season... GREAT PLAYERS are remembered in those places and situations...

I am sure you will agree... correct?

Every body that is into sports will agrees.... I am because I play sports in my own way... the hunger to win is never a question in every players mind.. but the resolve to play for the ultimate price and give your team a chance to win it all is in a totally different plane...

Blitz,

I definitely don't care enough about Gilbert to spend two weeks arguing about this. lol