Moron at ESPN ...

by Nestor on Jun 7, 2006 4:19 PM PDT in Basketball

Yesterday I called out ESPN's Andy Katz as a no talent ass clown for writing this:

He's (Jordan - Ed.) a solid first-round pick if he stays in the draft.

I warned you guys about Katz's track record when it comes to reporting what is really going in the world of college basketball. To lot of the insiders deeply involved in the world of college basketball recruiting, scouting, and coaching profession this guy is a joke. A shill who has made a career out of ass kissing coaches at big time programs. He is a certifiable moron. So just yesterday Jordan was a "solid first-round" pick according to Katz. Well guess what Katz writes today:

Farmar is considered a lock to be in the second round. If he were a lock for the first, then he probably wouldn't be here, either.

Farmar said he doesn't just want to hit a number in the first round. He wants to be in a good situation. The problem with that is he might not know for sure if he's at the bottom of the first round. Getting a guarantee from teams picking in the Nos. 20-30 range is dicey, since a more highly regarded player can easily tumble down, making that guarantee hard to keep.

WTF? How does Jordan go from solid first round pick to a lock in the second round/uncertain in the first round? Is Jordan having a bad camp? Not exactly. From BBR:

The first day session in Orlando was suppose to consist of only basketball and agility drills but players broke into teams after the first hour and played simulated games - and reports indicate Farmar conducted himself well in those games, demonstrating strong floor leadership and playmaking skills.

Also read this from DraftExpress indicating Jordan had an above average showing this morning. All on a sudden in Katz's make believe world Jordan has gone from a sure fire first round pick to a lock in the second round without having any evidence or first hand information to back it up. What an idiot.

So the moral of this post is that lot of these jack asses in the traditional media know nothing. They are guessing and just throwing shit up day to day hoping it will stick. Saying one thing one day and another thing the next day so that they can write "I told you so" in the following one. In other words take what these clowns are writing with a grain of salt. Wait this thing out till June 18th. Let's not jump into conclusion until we hear anything official or know something from a reputable source for certain. Until then wish Jordan luck. The kid is doing well in this camp and the process making Ben Howland and UCLA basketball look great. I am sure recruits are taking note.

GO BRUINS.

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Katz is another sad example...

...about how the profession of sports writing is becoming by far the laziest of all professions. I really don't know how some of these people can spout out bold faced lies and get away with it. They should be subject to the same kind of scrutiny that "real" writers must endure in the realm of fact-checking etc. Just because it's sports does not give you a reason to not do your job properly, and this goes for 80+% of the lazy, no-talent morons writing sports of which Katz is a sad pathetic ringleader.

Maybe they should be restricted to a certain number of articles per time period so that they can't trot out the same diluted crap every couple days.

by scittles on Jun 7, 2006 6:23 PM PDT reply actions

there is nothing wrong with what he did here

Jordan looked to be a lock for the first round when he declared, albeit a low first rounder, however, reports are he did not shoot the ball well in private workouts and didn't defend well. Because of his poor workouts his stock dropped and that is why he is now not a lock for the first round. Things change all the time in the draft and before the draft. Andy Katz is right in this situation and if you read interviews with most exceutives in the league they all say the same as Katz about Jordan.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 7, 2006 11:38 PM PDT reply actions

Rye

With all due respect you are off here.

Jordan was not a sure fire first round coming into Orland. Katz was making shit up.

by Nestor on Jun 8, 2006 5:13 AM PDT up reply actions

From Chad Ford at ESPN.com

Cleveland
Jordan Farmar Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Age: 19
School: UCLA

The skinny: Danny Ferry will be doing back flips if Farmar is still on the board when they pick. Eric Snow peaked years ago and it looks like Damon Jones is on the downside of his career. There's nothing flashy about Farmar's game, but next to Marcus Williams, he's the best pure point guard in the draft.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 7:31 AM PDT up reply actions

That would be the 25th pick...

yes a first rounder

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions

si,com seemed to agrre not long ago too

#17 Indiana Pacers

G Jordan Farmar UCLA Soph. 6-2 175
He's got some quickness, and the physical strength will come, but it is Farmar's ability to deliver the ball to teammates that has NBA teams intrigued. The Pacers may finally be ready to bail on Jamaal Tinsley, and Sarunas Jasikevicius is not the long-term answer at the point.

Don't forget that the first day of the camp is where a lot of writers get new information because they are with all the NBA execs. Nobody has any conformation on how a player's stock has changed due to their private workouts until Orlando.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Chad Forde

Yes I am going hedge my bets on what Chad Forde has to say.

Again Rye Jordan may well go in the first round or he may be a lock.

But pardon me for not putting too much stock in bunch of assclowns who thought Lavin was doing a great job at UCLA and that UCLA fans were unreasonable with Steve Lavin.

I will rely on what scouts connected to UCLA basketball has to say about this situation (and they have an exemplary track record when it comes to predicting the inside scoop on Bruin hoops). According to them nothing is settled. Jordan may go. But it's not a done deal.

All I am saying we should chill before giving too much stock into what these clowns have to write about matters related to UCLA hoops.

by Nestor on Jun 8, 2006 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions

"experts" are often off

but that just means you have to do some investigating yourself. i just wanted to point out that in this situation your criticism was unfair because katz was just in line with what everyone else in the basketball community said. and as i said before, jordan is not a done deal, actually far from it. he was considered a first round "lock" earlier, but his stock dropped in his workouts. jordan most likely wants to have multiple guarantees from teams that they will take them, with at least one picking before 20 because we have all seen one team tell a kid they'll take him at the end of the first and then they don't, causing the kid to be a second rounder without any guaranteed money.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually my crticism

was more than fair considering Katz was off.

So Katz based his information on what others were saying withouh getting any scoop from those who know actually something about his matter ... i.e. folks connected to Jordan.

Jordan was a first round lock in Katz's eye in the first day ... but he dropped him into second round the next one without having any tangible information to back it up or refer to. He was making up shit. It is really that simple.

by Nestor on Jun 8, 2006 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Not At All

Katz made his original comments based on what was being said around the league and what executives were saying when Jordan first declared. Executives are tigh lipped from that point until the draft camp in Orlando, meaning everybody, including Katz had no new information and no reason to believe he wasn't considered a first rounder. That situation changed at the camp because that is the first time executives first talk about their private workouts and how their draft boards have changed. He wasn't making anything up, just working witht he minimal information given to ALL reporters. Asking people connected with the players about draft status is bad reporting too as teams often lie to players and people witht eh players lie to reporters, hoping to boost their draft stock. When was the last time you saw a report by anybody that was based upon what he heard from a player or people close to him. Never because it is rarely accurate.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh And BTW

I am working with extremely good information here considering I have a contact within the Lakers organization, whom I just calledm, who is in every meeting regardin player personnel and draft. What Katz said was all any reporters knew based on what teams said. Katz is exactly on the dot about Jordans status changing so suddenly. The reason or any more details regarding Jordan specifically I cannot say however.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions

LOL

Yes this gives me reason to believe:

Katz made his original comments based on what was being said around the league and what executives were saying when Jordan first declared.

Yes those NBA execs. have no reason to give Katz information they want to get out and give them their "spin." Katz is a tool who always gets spunned. He is like a little doggie in the part who you throw out the frisbee to. He is that worthless. I will depend more on the sources who are connected to Jordan's family than a tool like Katz who gets spun over and over again.

And I appreciate your contacts in the Laker frontoffice. Speaking of tools they sure have done a great job in destroying an NBA dynasty. Thanks a lot Kupchak.

by Nestor on Jun 8, 2006 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions

You didn't hear it from me but..

Kupchak is a tool with a plush office. He has no authority. Thank the heir to the throne Jim Buss for the past 3 years.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions

No worries Rye

As always really appreciate the information you post on BN. I know this exchange was strident (I feel strongly about Katz), but that takes nothing away from your wonderful contributions on BN.

In fact this is the kind of exchanges that will get all Bruin fans better informed. GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Jun 8, 2006 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions

And This Is What I Love About BN

The ability of people here to argue intelligently, making a strong arguement with support for their claim. Whether you agree with the person or not you must respect the people here who are able to make a strong arguement.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jun 8, 2006 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry Nestor,

But I have no problem with Katz. He has a very good writing style, and has very good connections within the league. As much as I love ya, I think you're dead wrong on this one.
Farmar is gone, and I have no problem with that. With Shipp back, and Collison at the point, I think we'll be far more exciting this year. For me, this is not a Trevor Ariza situation, where I barely consider the kid a Bruin. Best of luck to Jordan.

Go Bruins...F@#$% SC... UCLA Fight Fight Fight!

by HomeBruin @ Bruins Nation on Jun 8, 2006 12:06 AM PDT reply actions