11/17/24
November 01, 2004
Spree to flee?: The incomparable Latrell Sprewell wants to be traded. He "doesn't believe the Wolves are offering enough for his value to the team" and says, "Why would I want to help them win a title? They're not doing anything for me. I've got a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed. Anything can happen; it's a long season. You never know."
posted by thatweirdguy2 to basketball at 08:20 AM - 14 comments
Well, it would be difficult to feed your family on $14.6M per season if you were Shawn Kemp.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:06 AM on November 01, 2004
wfrazerjr...ha! Why do these guys always pull out that "I have kids to feed" bullshit? Do they honestly think that anyone outside all the other overpaid assholes sympathizes? Just say you're a greedy bastard looking for even more money. I'll support someone that speaks the truth before someone that tries to get pity for only making 100 times what I do...
posted by MeatSaber at 09:20 AM on November 01, 2004
He's in the NBA. maybe he's got like 67 kids. who knows.
posted by gspm at 09:39 AM on November 01, 2004
Do they honestly think that anyone outside all the other overpaid assholes sympathizes? Do you think they ever speak to anyone outside that group, ever? Those other overpaid assholes are the only ones with any sway over their opinions. The cameras and the little people are merely there for adulation and the occasional semi-consensual hotel room romp, and that's about it. Just because Spree hasn't choked a coach in a couple of years doesn't necessarily mean he's actually grown up at all.
posted by chicobangs at 10:20 AM on November 01, 2004
Do you think they ever speak to anyone outside that group, ever? Well, certainly most of them come from the real world, or some version of it. Based on that, a little perspective might not be too much to ask for.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:42 AM on November 01, 2004
Safe to say that Spree has forgotten the important stuff by now. You can kind of tell when that's happened to a sports figure who's made a little too much, and forgotten a little too much about where they came from. Spree, at this point, is wedged impenetrably inside his entourage and his yes-men. (Those, incidentally, are the mouths it's hard to feed on 14.6 mill a year, not his kids, whoever and however many there might be. Just guessing.) No one else gets into his world anymore. If they did, he wouldn't be talking this kind of shit everywhere he goes. Carlesimo was three teams ago now. You think he's have figured out that if he didn't want to be an underachieving journeyman his whole life, maybe he could pull his head out of his ass long enough to notice that there's 11 other guys wearing the same uniform he is? I don't know much about Rip Hamilton, but Artest seems to have made an honest effort to keep a foot in the outside world. Which is admirable given the type of wacked-out hothead he was, say, five years ago. After four losing teams and no change in his tune, I get the feeling Spree's a lost case. But then again, I thought the same thing about Rasheed Wallace, and he grew a consciousness out of nowhere. And it won him a championship. KG has some serious leadership ahead of him if he wants to save Spree. It might not be worth the trouble.
posted by chicobangs at 12:00 PM on November 01, 2004
As a Wolves Fan I have ben waiting for this. Spree seemed too happy last year. I figured that something like this would happen sooner or later.
posted by daddisamm at 12:44 PM on November 01, 2004
I would say to him: I ran out of TP and had to wipe with a sock Spree...WITH A SOCK SPREE! Don't tell me you can't get by on your cheddar you are making now. Choke yourself Spree and choke me too because I don't want to hear it anymore.
posted by chris2sy at 01:28 PM on November 01, 2004
But seriously, he's only worth that in his own mind. Its big dilemma for the Timberwolves though if they planned on getting something in return for him. During last season I was, like many, lulled into the false sense of security and allowed myself to think he had put this stuff behind him...only to be awakened to this.
posted by chris2sy at 01:39 PM on November 01, 2004
Spree could not get another checking playing basketball in his life and still do quite well for himself with his quite sucessfull car customization business.
posted by corpse at 02:53 PM on November 01, 2004
Spree could not get another checking playing basketball in his life and still do quite well for himself with his quite sucessfull car customization business. How many players are into that scene? I know Bobby Jackson and Gary Payton have a joint wheel-making company. During last season I was, like many, lulled into the false sense of security and allowed myself to think he had put this stuff behind him...only to be awakened to this. Ugh, me too. This is the kind of crap that's going to make it clear that the West is the fucking Spurs' to lose.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:58 PM on November 01, 2004
Spree is an asshole. Always was and always will be. He should be thrilled with a 3-year, $27 million extension. He's 34 years old and his skills are declining. How many 37 year old guards not named Jordan are worth $9 million/season? I hope McHale tells him to go choke himself. Hopefully, KG will talk some sense into him.
posted by Scott Carefoot at 04:11 PM on November 01, 2004
I know Bobby Jackson and Gary Payton have a joint wheel-making company. Are you sure the word "wheel" should be in that sentence? As for talking some sense into Spree, Jesus, let him go. Why would you want a prick like that on your team anyhow? Has he elevated them to the promised land yet? Cut him loose and move on.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:12 PM on November 01, 2004
Here's my favorite part of the article: "Sprewell's $14.6 million salary this season is tied with eight other players for the ninth highest in the league. To put that into context, Sprewell's salary is more than double that of Indiana's Ron Artest and Detroit's Richard Hamilton, players who are more than five years younger and considered better than Sprewell. " I guess it's hard to feed a family on only $14.6 million a year, what with taxes and all.