Rainy Day Discussion

by Mike Prada on Aug 9, 2007 2:13 PM EDT in Site News

It's August, so there's not much going on in NBA circles. The Navarro watch has reached six days (or a month and four days, depending on where you start), and there's still no end in sight. About the only piece of news (as mentioned in this diary) is that Aaron Miles has signed to play overseas, so he won't be coming to training camp. That's too bad, because I definitely think Miles has a future in the NBA, but considering our luxury tax situation, we weren't going to offer him a guaranteed contract. That Spanish club did, so he went there as he should have. He'll probably develop more playing solid minutes for them instead of languishing as the third point guard for us.

I'm going to try to get the last three player evaluations up by this weekend. I started Butler's about a week ago and haven't picked up on it. Hopefully, that'll be up later tonight.

In the meantime, here's today's discussion-starter, which was prompted from this Blazers Edge post.

Who were your favorite random bench guys over the years, and why did you like them? What are some of the memories you have of them?

I guess I'll start with my two favorites -- Jahidi White and Tyrone Nesby. Jahidi just cracked me up, especially after he would score a basket and the jumbotron would begin the "JAHADI HIDI HIDI HO" chant. He just looked goofy whenever he played. I also loved Nesby because he was such a scrappy player. He wasn't afraid to throw his body around, and even though he had a combustible temper, I loved how he always played with heart. Those were definitely my two favorites.

Who are yours?

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My Fav 5

Jared Jeffries - If I could tell you why, I would. I don't really know why he mesmerizes me so much but he just does.

God Shammgod - Best. Handles. Ever.

Popeye Jones - There was this episode of My Wife & Kids where Michael spots this guy wearing a Popeye Jones jersey and he assumes that the guy stole it from him. When his wife asks him how he knows, he says "There's only two people in the world who own Popeye Jones jerseys--me and Popeye Jones."

Calvin Booth - You just don't mess with the Booth.

Kevin Duckworth (He only started 40 games his second year there, it counts in my book) - You REALLY don't want to mess with the duck.

by Jake Whitacre on Aug 9, 2007 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

Best bench player----Charles jones

charles jones aka THE HUMAN ERASER, did all the little things for us to win games, he would set the winning pick or get the game winning block againts a michael jordan shot at home. He was scrappy and probably has the lowest scoring average of all time besides mike ruffin but he was ALL HEART

by chadwain on Aug 9, 2007 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Tracy Murray

February 1998 in his 1st start of 12 that season, tracy drops 50 on golden state.

tracy murray - you da man, you da man!

by facekdr on Aug 9, 2007 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

Chris Whitney

Continuing a trend ... he was a real scrappy, hustling bench guy. Had a nice outside shot, and was also small -- I could definitely relate to him on the court. Smiled a lot, too.

by miestersean on Aug 9, 2007 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

Mitchell Butler

Didn't really do anything great, but he played good defense and could chip in some points. You could always see the effort and he just seemed like a nice guy.

by LoDawg31 on Aug 10, 2007 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

Bluto Beware

My wife and I were both big fans of Popeye Jones. He was a decent shooter when left wide open, and even though he couldn't jump, he rebounded well in his area. What I liked best was that he was a team player who hustled and rarely made the wrong play. He was sort of the anti-Kwame Brown, who despite his ridiculous talent rarely hustled and frequently made the wrong play. Plus, he was funny lookin', and his name was Popeye.

I also was a big Tim Legler fan. When he came on with the Bullets, I figured he was just a cup of coffee guy who would find his way back to the CBA after his 10-day expired. But he made the most of his opportunity, played smart basketball and seemed never to miss an open 3-pointer. When a guy goes from the CBA to leading the league in 3-point percentage, well, that speaks to his work ethic and perserverance. He's gone on to become a pretty good broadcaster with ESPN too.

Finally, I have to say that I loved Manute. Having a 7-goot-7, 190-pound dude with no idea how to play basketball was certainly a novelty, but his beatdown of Bulls toughguy Jawann Oldham (and his reported killing of a lion with a spear in his native Sudan) showed a hardiness that belied his rail-thin physique. He was a great shotblocker, and he certainly changed the game when he came on the court. I once stood next to Manute at the will-call window of a U. of Md. game the year he was drafted by the Bullets. I'm 6-foot-4, and I came up to about his chest. Yikes.

by Vanilla Gorilla on Aug 10, 2007 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

Popeye Jones and Tyrone Nesby

I'm one of those guys that picks out a bench player each year who becomes "my boy." Last year it was Blatche, but I'd have to say my favorite was Popeye Jones, damn you Vanilla Gorilla for getting to him first!

Popeye always brought the hustle and smart play. He tried hard with limited ability and made the most of it. I always rooted for him in the game, and I still get excited when I see him - even if it is on the Mavs bench as an assistant coach.

Nesby gets props because of the first Wizards game I ever went to. There were guys cheering for him constantly calling him "the Nesbian" or the "the Nesbitron." Which I thought was hilarious. I've pretty much rooted for the Nesbian ever since that game.

by mamemimo on Aug 10, 2007 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

Actually

Jake beat me to Popeye in the first comment. But despite the curse, I'll point you to this hilarious Wizznutzz post about yer boy T-Nes. If you don't mind a little surreality in your hoops blogging, it's a laff riot. Enjoy.

by Vanilla Gorilla on Aug 10, 2007 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I was just about to link that

Wizznutzz needs to post more. I miss them being active in the Wizosphere.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Aug 10, 2007 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Wizznutzz is always great.

by mamemimo on Aug 10, 2007 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Here and there

I come here the latest info and insight on the Wiz and there for laughing until my lungs bleed (and incites!). (Although there's funny stuff here too.)

The true crime in the infrequent posting is the two weeks that a naked picture of Bea Arthur spent as the top post on the blog. That ain't right.

by Vanilla Gorilla on Aug 10, 2007 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm still scarred for life from Bea Arthur..

I definitely frequent this site a lot more - every day, in fact, but Wizznutzz is still funny. And I need to pull the trigger on that awesome Obama/Arenas T-shirt.

by mamemimo on Aug 10, 2007 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I too am saddened by Wizznutzz's lack of posting

But if they posted more often would it be as special as it is now? Probably not.

Bea Arthur still haunts my dreams and probably will for a loooooooooong time.

by Jake Whitacre on Aug 10, 2007 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Where to start.

Where to start...?

Popeye Jones- How often does someone with a lazy eye have the name POPeye. Come on.

Lorenzo Williams- Played all of 4 games in like 25 years

God Shamgod- His name says it all. I was about 8 years old when he signed. I actuallymy though he was the second coming of Jesus.

Laron Profit- We had our own all-bible 1st team.

Tyronn Lue- Again, I was about 10 when he joined the Zards. He looked like someone I would invite over to play videogames.

Darvin Ham- Although I later found out he was a slam specialist (meaning that was his only skill), I remember a preseason game a few years back, his first with the team, where he guarded Grant Hill. I figured, hey, he's guarding their best, he must be our best. Ouch.

Peter John Ramos- He looked really, really stupid.

DAGGER!

by SP Yup on Aug 11, 2007 8:44 PM EDT reply actions

Dukie and others

I know its unpopular selecting a Dukie, but I liked Mark Alarie during his time here. He was a good shooter off of the bench and a decent rebounder/defender. He was often in during crunch time. I remember him hitting a last second game winner against the Lakers.

Here's a Terp for you too. Former Representative Tom McMillan. He was known as a "scrapper" (meaning dirty player) but one week in 1985, the Bullets had their top 3 big men injured, so McMillan had to step into the starting lineup. All he did was play so good that he was named NBA player of the week.
Absolutely agree about Charles Jones.
Early in his career, I liked Etan as a high energy reserve, but since he got the contract, he hasn't been so great. Also enjoyed Dixon and Blake off the bench that first playoff year.

by hotplate on Aug 13, 2007 8:08 AM EDT reply actions