Wild, blind, stupid, irrational optimism thread

by Krukow on Nov 19, 2008 10:16 AM CST Comment 33 comments

Okay, so I kinda ignored the begining of the NBA season because my precious Bills were 5-1, but now that their season has effectively ended (who the fuck settles for a 46 y ard field goal into swirling wind with a minute left on the clock. I hope Dick Jauron goes to whatever hell has already been reserved for Dirk and Avery...), I'm ready to get amped up for the Spurs odd year title win. With that in mind, I think this thread should be for reasons why we're retardidly optimistic after the first 10 games. My reasons:

An honest to goodness 4th option! Seriously! Roger Mason gives us an extra scoring option we haven't had since, what, Stephen Jackson? And that was back before Manu and Tony were Manu and Tony.

A real backup point guard. Down the stretch and in the playoffs we're only going to need 10 minutes per night or so, possibly less, if Tony's healthy. And for the first time in years, I won't have to watch the spurs field a PG that I'm convinced I could take off the dribble. Drunk. I could drunkenly take JV off the dribble. He's that fucking bad.

We're 5-5 without one of the 10 best players in the game and one of the 25 best players in the game. Think about that. We're currently in playoff contention and we're going to add one of the best PGs in the game and a player who would be the best player on at least 20 teams to our rotation.

So even though we have rebounding problems, those are my reasons why I'm wildy, blindly, stupidly, irrationally optimistic.

PS: sorry if this has been covered before, I really thought my football team wouldn't suck for the first time in the 2000's. I was wrong. At least Timmy won the CY Young.

PPS: are we still allowed to swear? If not, I'm sorry. You can take it out matthew and replace it with words like "oh butternuts" or something else.

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i am really excited about roger as well. I’m really hoping we fix our rebounding problem though.

What the Bowen giveth Horry taketh away. --LatinD (2008 Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

the Spurs do not defeat you so much as they grind you into tiny shards of psychological wreckage.
-the Denver Post

by Hamer_SpursFan on Nov 19, 2008 11:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, I share your wild, blind, stupid, irrational optimism for sure, but I couldn’t tell why exactly – that’s why it’s irrational, you see.

I’m certainly excited about Hill and Mason. They could be huge for us down the stretch, during the playoffs. And despite my knowing that he’ll be back to sucking sooner than later, the latest stretch of games that had Finley contributing solidly give me some hope that he’ll be useful when the time comes.

I’ll be truly and completely excited if Ian and Tolliver start playing more minutes and manage to grab some freakin’ rebounds, marginalizing Fab-o and KT. Imagine that for a second, guys: how young would we suddenly be if we had Tolliver, Ian, Mason and Hill in the rotation? Sure, we’ll still have old farts like Finley and Bowen, but still.

by LatinD on Nov 19, 2008 11:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

well, my other teams are the reds and bengals so…….believe me, i have been waiting for this time of year. i dont think its wild, blind, stupid or irrational to have optimism. spurs have won 4 in 10 and this core group of guys have won 3 of the last 6.

sure there is plenty of reason to think they are in decline, but dont count them out because they have had a few cuts and bruises so far. rebounding is a big problem, and it has only gotten worse in recent times, but it was also a problem in 07 and they found out how to fix it in time.

i firmly believe that this bunch of guys has one more ring in them. hopefully, that happens this year. if not, it will.

by bones on Nov 19, 2008 1:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wow! Amzing optimism!

Inspiration read, and I agree with every point. The Spurs will beat you with intelligent play.

by dfjmed on Nov 19, 2008 1:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

My other teams are the Titans and the Astros, and I still find time for PtR. Not sure what that says about my affection for Tennessee and Houston, or what that says about me — guess I’ll just let that go.

But as far as blind, stupid, irrational optimism goes, I’m fully on board. Mace Windu’s play is giving me chills, Finley is playing like the F.O. wasn’t ded in the hed for signing him again, and the two-headed center of Fabricio Thomas is playing good enough to — what’s that? How many rebounds? Oh.

Well, I’m still blindly optimistic, and I’ll turn my blindest eye to the center position.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 19, 2008 8:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Go Titans!

But in baseball, it’s the Rangers before the Astros.

by 4Him on Nov 20, 2008 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t tell whether to pat you on the back as a brother for your Titans support, or dog you like an enemy for the Rangers issue. But since they never really play each other, and the Astros have actually had some success in the post-season, I guess I’ll go with the former and ignore you’re unfortunate affiliation with the other Texas baseball team.

Go Titans!

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm...

I think that the Rangers have won the Silver Boot five times over the Astros. And as far as the Rangers’ fortunes, the times they are a changin’ (as soon as they get some good starting pitchers, that is).

by 4Him on Nov 20, 2008 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re bringing up the Silver Boot — I’ll bring up an NL pennant and a World Series appearance. No need to mention what happend after that. I can’t believe that Lidge got his act together, but not until he went to Philly. Too bad.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 3:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

to lidge

what a hoser. we could have used that against the white sox. but no, we get swept. oh, sorry, i guess a mentioned that “after” part. my bad.

by znimrod on Nov 21, 2008 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ok, one more “after” comment

If the ‘Stros had had this year’s Lidge when they went to the WS, then they’d have won at least 2, if not 3. If they win 3 then they’re in a G7 — and it’s anybody’s game.

Argh

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 21, 2008 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

argh indeed

by znimrod on Nov 21, 2008 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you kept your Oilers love when they moved? i could not, hence i am a man without a football team to root for. but i still have the Astros, so i’m satisfied…kind of (if they would just quit messing around in the first half of the season and play like they do in the second half).

by znimrod on Nov 20, 2008 10:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Could not deny the Oilers love

Bud Adams tried to kill it, and couldn’t. The Texans tried to steal it, but didn’t. The Titans tried to morph it into something completely other, but the Oilers love just kept going strong.

And some Sundays, when they go White shirts and light blue pants, if you squint just a little bit, you can pretend that Lendale is Earl, and Collins is Pastorini, and Bulluck is Bethea, Gage is Jefferies, and … (sniff, sniff) and, I — uh … I’ll get back to you later. I need to go outside and scream “love ya blue” until the Renfro catch stops playing itself in front of my eyes. That usually works.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 12:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Albert Haynesworth is Curley Culp, Bo Scaife is Mike Barber, Rob Bironas is Tony Fritsch…

by 4Him on Nov 20, 2008 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's all fine and dandy...

…but who is Billy White Shoes Johnson?

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 20, 2008 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There will never be another

White Shoes…he was one of a kind (and had the all-time best end zone dance!).

by 4Him on Nov 20, 2008 2:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You’d have to squint quite a bit more than I’m prepared to in order to get Rob to look like Tony. Dude, Fritsch was like a fireplug. A well-fed fireplug.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 3:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fritsch

had a very uniquely-shaped body – sort of a Mr. Potato Head torso. What a sight it would be to put Bowen’s head on Fritsch’s torso!

by 4Him on Nov 21, 2008 1:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that’d be an abomination

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 21, 2008 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My only complaint with this is Jeffires. Wrong era. I’m thinking Gage has to be 00 Kenny Burroughs.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 20, 2008 2:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jeffries was my era. I played WR in middle school and loved Haywood Jeffries. I left the Oilers when they left me though, so I’m also without a team.

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Nov 20, 2008 3:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

my era was the Jack Pardee coaching era. a couple of Glanville’s last years, but mainly Pardee. then when fisher took over, and team then moved, it was goodbye cruel adams. i miss me some warren moon, drew hill, bruce matthews, and the sweet kicking tony zendejas (who apparently likes to rape women – he’s on trial). i didn’t have a long history with them, because i moved to houston basically for my high school years, and then they ran out on me.

by znimrod on Nov 21, 2008 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I felt like Gage needed to prove himself a bit more before I could give him a true olden-days Oiler look-alike. Burroughs is a pretty good match, though.

But 4Him is completely correct, there will never be another Billy White-Shoes Johnson. There’s just no over-stating just how big a deal those white shoes were when the entire league was wearing black shoes. He had these thick black-rimmed glasses. Used to come over to our house all the time. Great guy. Broke my heart when the Oilers let him go to the Falcons. Sigh.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My optimism looks way more irrational today, eh?

by LatinD on Nov 20, 2008 5:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wild, blind and stupid — yeah. It looks way more of all of those than it did yesterday.

But irrational? Hmmm, no. It looks just as irrational as before, and no more.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm starting to be even more optimistic

i saw this at mysa.com today, and i keep feeling giddy when i think of seeing MANU playing again. and i’ll take Tony, too, i suppose – i hear he’s pretty good.

by znimrod on Nov 20, 2008 11:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Parker is "in the throes of a rehabilitation regimen "

Wow, what a quote, but it pales in comparison to Pop’s:

"(Parker) did a good job of … keeping his leg up at night, getting the swelling out of there."

That quote along with a pic of a dunking cheerleader and Pop could be banned for life from PtR.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 20, 2008 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by znimrod on Nov 21, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

UPDATE: Manu plays 5 on 5

one more step has been made. MySA.com reports:

The Spurs’ shroud of secrecy was lifted Thursday, revealing that,.for the first time all season, Manu Ginobili participated in a five-on-five scrimmage at the team’s practice facility.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 20, 2008 2:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent.

Hopefully, it’s with the rest of the players and not Pop, Bud, Chip and The Coyote.

Encouraging signs though.

by werdnawee on Nov 20, 2008 10:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hey, now

the Coyote is deceptively fast, has a great first step and can really sky

as long as you allow him that mini-tramp

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Nov 21, 2008 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you can see the culprit behind the leakage of this news on spurs.com. there’s a video of the practice report, and Mace Windu spills the beans. it may be a very good Thanksgiving indeed this year.

by znimrod on Nov 21, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs