KJ Carson talks about JB, Piling On and Money Making Athletes

I think JB is an honest broker. I think KI was singled out unjustly for commenting on a video seen by millions (not me), readily available on Amazon, rated 5 stars by most viewers. I like KJ’s comparison of BB players to hedge fund managers. If Kyrie worked in a different line, he would not have been punished. I think basketball players deserve the same First Amendment rights as you and I, who wish we had their talent. Go JB: history will prove you right. hawk

Kyrie is an idiot, but I agree with the opinions of JB and KJ on this matter. Glad we've moved on.

Let's complete the circuit as to why KI is being perceived and/or being treated differently/unfairly...Kyrie's previous work-related behaviors.  SAS spells it out in great detail every time he talks about him.  There is nothing else involved and no other reason or motive.  

Kyrie did not get offered a 4-5 year max extension from BKN...because of his previous work-related behavior(s) and not showing up for work for whatever reason(s).  That's it.  Nothing else.  That's easy.  When one starts effecting the bottom line of a business at this magnitude and level, you're going to build in some leeway.  Period.    

Kyrie got the extended, open-ended ruling with extras (vs. let's say just a 5-game suspension and nothing else)....because of his previous work-related behaviors.  Our season ticket holder sales suck...because of your actions only.  It's that simple.  So now we are crunching the numbers over this time period (two weeks or more, we don't know how long this may take because we've never had this situation before) and we are deciding whether to bring you back, trade you or waive you and whether all you are in the basketball world is worth it to BKN.  It's a little complicated.  We know and you know currently no other franchise wants you on their team or is willing to give up what we want in return because of your work-related behavior which should tell you something, so we're left with either bringing you back after at least five games or waiving you.  We know you are going to walk at the end of the year and we will have nothing in return for you.  Please forgive us if we can't get that done inside of two weeks or in 5 games or if you feel you are being treated unfairly.  But we're losing money like a sieve...because of your work-related behaviors.  Nothing else.  We have to act in a very diligent fashion.    

One may say well no one else is being treated like this.  And you'd be correct.  But clearly, no one else behaves like KI does.  He's not the status quo.  So you don't get treated status quo.  Any normal behaving player in the NBA would have gotten 5 games and nothing else.  As Eddie Murphy used to say, "You brought that shoot on yourself.  Don't make me do it again."    

And where is the outcry from his peers that KI is getting the shaft?  I'm hearing crickets.  When KI doesn't show up for work, his message, whatever it may be, gets lost.  Permanently.  And no one seems to support your cause even if your points/issues are or may be perfectly valid.  Like myself.  I still can't confirm he did anything wrong.  The way he hesitated initially for the apology, then issued a half-assed, forced, begrudging apology, then the deeply felt apology yet it had 10X as many I's and me's in the three reports paragraph quotes than talking about who was ultimately affected by his actions.  Come on people, this isn't rocket science.  It's a Psych 101 display of why KI still thinks he didn't do anything wrong.  And to a certain extent as I have said, I don't think he did anything wrong either.  But that's not the issue.        

One last thing.  KI is not a martyr as he likes to think or claims to be.  Please Google the definition of a martyr.  He ain't willing to die.  All martyrs have one thing in common.  They're all dead.  Therefore, KI is not a martyr.  Q.E.D.    

Now on to Ime and his open-ended sentence.  Can't really explain that one as well because myself and none of the rest of us know what happened.  But I can connect the dots and infer to the best of my ability.  

I do know that Ime's camp has been totally silent since after everything went down.  I also know that Ime quietly agreed to the 1-year open ended suspension without argument, no questions asked, no contest or at least that was what was implied/reported/omitted.  What I can probably surmise from that is that the offense was either so egregious or embarrassing to admit publicly, Ime wanted to shut it down right out of the gate.  His actions afterward, or lack thereof so far, back that up.  His offense may not have been that bad.  We'll never know.  He may just be a very private man off the court that he didn't want to have all this out in public and drag his family into the mix.  

The Celtics open-ended Ime because they as well needed to see how things played out with the new interim coach.  And we still don't know everything or anything really.  It looks like we are all very pleased with the interim coach so far.  

You are also dealing with attorneys, big money, contracts and buyouts, etc.  Nothing in that world moves at normal pace, not even a snail's pace.  I'm pretty sure we're going to hear from the Celtics a resolution and releasing of Ime anytime now.  It looks like CJ's going to be our full-time new head coach.  I'd be stupefied if anything less than that happens here shortly.  I believe the Celtics have all the information they need to move forward and promote CJ and close the book on Ime.          

Lastly, both of these cases happened in a union environment.  Lots of moving parts with that as well regarding the subsequent fallout(s).  Insert snail's pace as well here.  

Anyway, that's my two cents, which, on this subject due to inflation, is up around $5.  

db

I do not think Ime is part of the CBA since he is a coach.

Db,
I see you’ve done some homework :>)!

There’s still a lot that we don't know in Ime’s case. I think the Front office is pleased with the job that Coach Joe is doing but I don’t think that’s why Ime was suspended and not fired.
As you said there’s so much legal stuff and so many moving parts that we can only speculate. Sometimes that’s good and often times its bad. We really can’t conclude anything because we don't have all the details.

If you listen to commentators, many of them did not think the Celtics would be playing this well because of “The Turmoil” that took place right before camp.
As a team and as a fan we can all count our blessing that this didn’t go sideways as some suspected and that the coaching staff hasn't missed a beat and the players are playing at a high level despite all that went on.
We’re in a good place.

As for Kyrie and Martyrdom. First, he did do something wrong by posting a link that he obviously didn’t fully understand (if he watched or read it which I doubt) and didn't have a clue as to the blowback he would get. He then doubled down and said he wasn't promoting it and that’s exactly what he did. We don’t need to go into all of his other discrepancies because we all here lived through some of it. As you pointed out. He didn't show up for work. Another wrong.

I agree, by definition he is not a Martyr.

However that ridiculous shopping list that the Nets gave him didn't help.
I cannot believe how many people have swung to Kyrie’s side and the ones that were already there became more vocal in their support.
I strongly feel that Kyrie has gotten more support because of the demands they put on him.
Most level headed people may say “okay the guy’s a jerk but the team shouldn't have designed a list that appears to be demeaning”. In a way thats support that he wasn't getting before the demands.
I have been on many sites and the support Kyrie has now wasn't there before. He has sympathizers and many of them are irrational but still in all its made all of his other discrepancies and insubordination appear small in comparison.

As for me, nothing has changed my mind.
I do believe he sincerely cares about whats going on in the world and would like to do something about it. The problem is is that he doesn't know how to appropriately apply it. I also don't think he knows how to affect change because he keeps screwing it.
He’s still a jerk, an A-hole, a terrible employee and a lousy teammate.
I don’t see any of that changing.

Maybe now we can put this stuff to bed, at least temporarily because we all know there’s another Hurricane coming from his direction.
Its just a matter of time.

Ktron,

Agreed and well said. You unfortunately know me, though. I can't seem to let KI go!! I'll try, though, I promise. I'll just sit around until that hurricane of which you speak comes through in the next week or so!!

db

dbrown4 wrote:Ktron,

Agreed and well said.  You unfortunately know me, though.  I can't seem to let KI go!!  I'll try, though, I promise.  I'll just sit around until that hurricane of which you speak comes through in the next week or so!!

db

Its coming in a day or so. He said “Fk Thanksgiving” so thats a hint and a half right there!

Did he really?!!!  I hadn't heard that.  You know you're not helping me much by egging me on with crap like that!!  haha  I'm guessing the National Turkey Anti-Insulting League will be knocking on his door this morning....Here comes another open-ended 5-game+ suspension!  

OK.  I seriously can't help myself!!

Love you, Ktron!!  I hope you and your family have a great and very Happy Thanksgiving!

db

OK. I saw this on ESPN site this am and JB says exactly what I've been trying to say about Kyrie regarding social media.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35076803/jaylen-brown-endorse-barclays-center-protestors

Most of you know I quote movies here on site out the wazzoo for comedic effect. One of my favorites is Full Metal Jacket. What follows is my perception of the current world regarding social media and its perceived effects.

Given today's social media world, I would be perceived as a racist simply because I quote several innocuous lines from Full Metal Jacket on this site but in a couple of its scenes the movie has several racial slurs against several groups. That's easily the dumbest thing I've every heard and can comprehend.

In what I've been able to describe in several non-successful attempts regarding my stance on KI, JB sums up nicely below.

"I saw a large group of our people from our community showing support for [Kyrie] and his return," Brown said Monday. "Me being proud of that support and being proud of our community for doing that does not mean I endorse or celebrate some of the things that were being done or being said.

Now JB handled this completely differently than KI did as Ktron points out repeatedly about KI's delivery, but what JB is saying in his defense is what I think KI was and still is trying to say. And subsequently, KI still doesn't believe he did anything wrong.

In either case, one should not have to clarify this but in today's social media world, I guess you must to save face.

I've officially become old and out of touch and sound like my parents. The rest of the world should stand up against this social media perception idiocy.

db

dbrown4 wrote:Did he really?!!!  I hadn't heard that.  You know you're not helping me much by egging me on with crap like that!!  haha  I'm guessing the National Turkey Anti-Insulting League will be knocking on his door this morning....Here comes another open-ended 5-game+ suspension!  

OK.  I seriously can't help myself!!

Love you, Ktron!!  I hope you and your family have a great and very Happy Thanksgiving!

db

DB,
KI actually said it first when he was playing for us. I wouldn’t be surprised if a journalist asks him about it again this week and he ends up saying something idiotic while trying to show how smart he thinks he is.
Backatcha on the Love DB.
Enjoy your holiday!!

Social Media can be dangerous. Too many people think that what’s said on Twitter and other sites reflects the mood and opinions of everyone.
It’s actually a very small sample size.
It’s why the more astute say that “Twitter is not real”.
It’s ironic that you bring that up because it’s true. I’m in the process of going through a research study on social media now and will share it with the members once I’m done.

Ktron,

UDAHMAN!! Looking forward to it!!

db