Behind the Scoreboard - Claude Vinson


Thursday, February 14, 2008
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Behind The Scoreboard
By Claude Vinson

Griz tickets likely cheap

The reverberations from Eli Manning and the New York Giants’ spectacular victory in Super Bowl XLII are finally ebbing. And all the NFL players who were lucky enough to make the All-Pro teams which got to bask in the sunny climes of the Islands in the “vacation game,” left the rest of us with time on our hands to ponder “why not us?”

It also leaves us time to ponder just what is going on with the Memphis Grizzlies and their whirlwind trades in almost mid-season. I am sure that you all saw the headlines last week (in both the printed and broadcast media), that the Grizzlies’ Pau Gasol was “surprised and shocked” to find out that he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Correct me if I am wrong (and I very well could be; after all, I did pick the Patriots), but is that not the same Gasol who almost a year ago stated that he would like to be traded? As a matter of fact he and Stromile Swift practically formed a chorus.

Please don’t mistake my intentions. This is more analytical than critical. In this trade, the Lakers added another big man to go with the two giants which they already have, namely Andy Bynum and Lamar Odum. The former is also a seven footer (as is Pau) and the latter is just one inch shorter. When Bynum returns to the lineup from his short term injury, L.A. will have the most formidable front line in the NBA.

And what did the Griz get? A seldom used Kwame Brown, a never used rookie and two players ( from the draft in the future) and an option on Gasol’s younger brother. Brown comes with a nine million dollar price tag. Not bad for bench warming. He probably has the same outlook as the late Liberace, who answered all his critics with the patent answer, “I cry all the way to the bank!”

One final observation about the closest thing to an NBA team that we have in these here parts – was not the front office upheaval and coaching change in the off season intended to “fix the Grizzlies?”

I suppose all of us could look on the bright side. Tickets to the Griz games should be now cheaper than petrol.

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