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Kirilenko wants to play ball in Russia
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right after going to the western conference finals Derek Fisher wanted to be closer to a hospital which could care for his daughter. That hospital is in NYC. So Fish walked away from millions to get where? L.A.?? Wrong direction.
Now Linx wants to throw away 63 million dollars to play anywhere. Portland, Charolott, Poland, Siberia anywhere but with Jerry's kids.
Way to go Kevin Larry and Jerry. You have managed to loose 2 of your starting five from last year for nothing. And who did we add? Jason Fart???
Humiliation. No one will ever want to come play for sloan again. He's being exposed. Just wait for man in the middle part two to come out with guest authors AK-47(little russian) D-fish and Memo.
Sloan is poor motivator
Sloan is good tractor mechanic
Sloan is poor game time coach, substitues by clock not by situation
Sloan sends players to D-league for mistake that instruction would correct
Thank you for sending Andre home. Please send Fessenko home soon. My guess is two years.
Kirilenko never said anything about throwing away 63 million to play anywhere. If he went to an NBA team he would be getting the 63 million still unless there was a special provision. Of course if he went to another country (he only said Russia, by the way-and I believe that would be the only country he would go to) he would be getting less, but that's understandable seeing as how his wife is a major star over there and he's already made more money than most people in the US, let alone Russia, will ever imagine making. It's understandable that he would want to go back to Russia, as it is his home. I want him to honorably play as his contract requires and if he did what Sloan says I think he'd greatly improve. I'm just saying don't put words in his mouth.
As for the anti-Sloans. He's had one losing season, marred by extensive injuries, otherwise he's got the most out of the least, as long as they have been willing to give it. I'm glad Miller has his back and the Jazz aren't an out-of-control franchise where multi-millionaire babies and their corrupt agents are in charge. I think Sloan said it best - if he did everything the fans wanted him to, he'd soon be sitting with them instead of in the head coach's chair.
I originally renewed tickets after Stock/Mail left purely to watch AK47 play. He was exciting and had a refreshing attitude- a pure love of the game really showed through.
Then his demands for max money killed everything.
Sloan's stubborn attitude didn't help.
AK's actions show that he has ZERO loyalty to the Jazz and doesn't care what happens to them. It is unbelievably selfish. His public comments have made it impossible for the Jazz to do anything and save any shred of dignity.
AK was once the bright, shining hope for the Jazz and even the NBA. No he is a Jazz killer.
SLoan, AK and the Jazz are all partly to blame.
As a season ticket holder, I believe the Jazz owe us more than "no comment" or "this is purely an internal matter". We're sick of that.
Jimmy thinks we should still try to trade him and however many #1 picks to the Nets for Richard Jefferson. RJeff is the type of 3 that we need to compliment DWill and Boozer and AK would be a great 4 playing with Kidd and Vinsanity.
If that doesn't work maybe we can convince The Bobcats to take AK for the recently re-sigend Gerald Wallace.
Fisher was a hasbeen, and you will see it in lakerland. Fisher didn't want to be in SLC. Let see SOC in the winter or SLC? Easy.
AK was whining about his money threes ago, now he wants to walk, so start walking.
Paul was going to take his minutes anyway.
It's a job folks, and you can be replaced anytime.
Some of you may want to try working for a living instead of living off your parents, and you'll know what I mean.
His game started suffering when he decided to become a scorer instead of just letting the points come to him. His jump/set shot was among the ugliest in the civilized world last year. Why can'y he just gain satisfaction in being a key member of a good team?
Sloan is not going to baby an of these grown men. He expects them to work hard every night as part of a team effort. If their feelings get hurt once in a while, they need to bounce back, and realized that life (regardless of your income) is full of frustrations that we need to work through, not cry about. Too many athletes are constantly told how great they are by people around them, so when they don't get their way it's really a shock to their system. I don't think Sloan is perfect, but I slao don't think he's asking for more than your boss or my boss is asking from us when we go to work.
"I don't care about winning"
"All I care about is leading the team in scoring"
"Screw the team that helped make reach financial independence"
"If I say it publicly, then I can get out of this the easy way instead of being a man and dealing with this internally"
AK is immature and selfish. I hope the Jazz do everything possible to hurt his career. Make it impossible for him to play in Russia or anywhere.
SICK OF THIS FROM PRO ATHELETES.
The long list of players that don't want to play in Utah is longer.
First D-Fish.
Now AK47.
It's so bad that players will give up the chance to win and big money.
Ugly.
Memo to LHM: "Do something about this because it's only going to get worse."
So, while Sloan is a fantastic coach, let's face the music and realize that he will never be Urban Meyer--no one else can reach those lofty heights.
AK's team just went to the playoffs for the first time in many years, and why is that? Because there are better offensive players on the Jazz now, and AK is not the #1 go to guy anymore. Great! Now they are a playoff contender, and the fans are loving it, and everybody is happy except who????? AK!!! YOU BIG BABY, shut up and think about the team instead of your own selfish ego!!!
The truth is that he's frustrated because he can't play to his strengths here. If he stays here he is bound to fade into nothingness, nobody wants that.
We as fans have to face the fact that, stay or go, Andre will never play like AK47 again here in Utah.
The best thing that could happen for everyone would be for Andre to be released from his contract and go to Russia. It would free up time and money for other players who can fit in Utah's game.
Put yourself in his position. How would you feel about running up and down the court for 30-40 minutes and not being involve in the game. Pretty lame, he is already doing that in practice. The money is nice but you also got to enjoy what you do or else find something else and that is what he exactly doing.
As a side note, AK WOULDN'T BE WHERE HE IS WITHOUT THE JAZZ. Remember when he had an all-star season? I didn't hear people giving Sloan any credit for getting AK there. But Sloan gets blamed when AK whining his way through the offseason. THE COACH ALWAYS TAKES THE HEAT, and rarely gets credit.
AK doesn't deserve to be called AK 47 any more. Perhaps he should be called AK 22, or AK pellet gun. Or we could just call him AK Adam Keefe.
�I spoke to Utah general manager Kevin O�Connor ahead of European Championships kick-off so Russia�s victory has not influenced my decision in any way.�
Sound a little contradictory?
As far as putting myself in AK's position, I would take a look into myself and live up to my contractual obligations instead of thinking of how the grass is greener everywhere else. Perhaps the love of the game and an appreciation for winning would be enough to motivate me.
He took an extremely talented team he didn't recruit and raised himself to national aclaim. Then he jumped ship! He took a better deal for his own ego and bank account and said, "To heck with the UofU! He goes to another talent laden team, again that he didn't recruit, and heightens his own stature once more. UM doesn't have the decency to live up to his word. He'll jump from Florida as soon as an other school (or probably the NFL) makes him a bigger offer! Worhip UM???!!! Give me a break!!!
No way are the Jazz going to just let AK walk away. That'd be a public relations nightmare: two starters opting out of their contracts in the same season. Never mind the reasons. It's just bad press. They won't do it.
DROP THE MARION TRADE. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
To blame management is also crazy. I'm amazed they have re-built (don't be quick to forget the Western Conference Finals)this quickly in a place no one wants to play. Besides, I'm 6'2" but play much bigger, I could fill the void at the 4!
yes I know my Jazz. Fisher and AK started nearly every game of the season that they were not injured. Your bad
I mean, you have a guy like Steven A. Smith (ESPN - QUITE FRANKLY) commentating on the NBA - enough said about the problems the league has. ITS A JOKE!!!
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I guess AK opted not to use this years free pass on one of Russia's finest. Instead he used his allowance on Miller, the Jazz and ultimately on us. No thanks AK, your not my type.
Hi Reeshard