All-Star Votin'..., (a True Story)

Discussion in 'Los Angeles Clippers' started by Shaliq, Nov 9, 2006.

  1. Shaliq

    Shaliq JBB JustBBall Member

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    FOREWORD:

    M
    aybe the very beginning of this story of unspeakable devotion and great sacrifices, is hidden somewhere around the 2000-'01 NBA season. A Clippers season marked by Corey Maggette's debut with the team. It was also when a teenage fan's dream was born.

    Ever since I casted my 1st ever online All-Star vote, I had that
    ambition of helping my favorite NBA player, make his All-Star debut. But little did I know, that the dream I had, would
    prove to be almost impossible to fulfill. For my favorite, could not at all compare to the popularity level of the brightest
    NBA stars. For better or for worse, I chose to give my unconditional online voting support to none other than Corey MAGGETTE.
    I can honestly say I'm always obsessed (in a good way) with the LA Clippers. And when All-Star Balloting tips off, I must turn into a "warrior".
    Not only that I try to cast as many votes as I can every day, but I also try to get more and more people involved in the All-Star voting. This season I asked almost ev'ryone to help vote Corey into "The Game". For I believe that if there's more than 1 Clipper in the All-Star, that would definitly improve the locker-room atmosphere, uplift the team's spirit and give players more confidence, so they can finally make that eagerly anticipated Playoff appearance.
    Rain, Snow, Sleet, I must always be there (online), voting unstoppably. 'Cause I take it as if "I'm on a mission, not on a exhibition". The mid November - late January span is always full of sleepless nights for me. Because I wanna vote from every single PC in every single cyber cafe in town. I also like to put down my "numbers".
    That's hoiw I've set "records" like "Most votes casted in just one day" (341!) and so and so on...
    Here's how he improved my Vote totals over the years:

    Season - Total Votes Casted
    2000-'01 - 49
    2001-'02 - 85
    2002-'03 - 138
    2003-'04 - 494
    2004-'05 - 2536
    2005-'06 - 3352 (!)

    But, unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, and no matter how many folks I got involved, through the years, I still couldn't help Corey in the voting much. Last year, for instance, Elton & Corey needed at least some 190,000 votes each...
    It's been so long, since I've been looking for true, die-hard Clippers-fans to help me. 'Cause all I've come up with so far, is almost nothing. The only accomplishment is Elton's All-Star selections. But as for - Corey, his All-Star apogee so far, is the 2001 Slam Dunk Contest, and he finished last (Pictures & Clip below). This should not be so...
    It's about time things changed.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Photos from Corey MAGGETTE's only All-Star (Weekend) appearance:

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    I guess I jus' got fooled that since Yao, who didn't deserve to start over Shaq 3 yrs. ago, since the NBA take his fake-ass Chinese votes for real, then why not take Corey MAGGETTE's votes too? But, Corey ain't Chinese to get so many votes.
    WORLD IS NOT AT ALL FAIR!! And Yao ain't nuttin' but a lucky son of a gun. Not only that the whole China votes fa him, but I'm sure he gets Chinese votes from ev'ry ChinTown in US & Canada. That's NY, LA, Frisco, Chicago and so and so on... Plus he gets more votes from Houston ROCKETS fans. Now That's What I Call LUCK!

    I jus' wish Corey gets voted in sooner, 'cause I ain't livin' like a normal human being. I ain't eating right, ain't
    getting enough sleep, ain't going to school regularly...
    If I were D. Sterling or some I'd make one of 'em games: "The fan that casts most votes, gets to win... smth." Stuff like that... 'Cause like Corey himself says:

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">?It?s tough being a Clipper. Nobody likes the Clippers. Everyone thinks we are a 2nd-rate team. They think college teams are better. It fuels our fire. We?re workin' hard, even through the dim stages. We?ve kept working.?</div>

    That's why he ain't gettin' many All-Star votes. It turns out that it don?t matter who you are or how gaudy your numbers are; slip into that Clippers' red, white and blue, and they?re gonna start takin' shots. Check out E.B. He?s Mr. 20-10, one of the best fours in the League. But because he?s on that Clipper ship, he gets far less love (and All-Star consideration) than other forwards. Or Q-Rich ? nobody talked about him last year, even when he was blowing up at the two. Once he signed with Phoenix, though, things looked a lot
    brighter in the desert.
    So it seems to be with Corey. No matter how many pts he scores or how hard he works, he?s still a Clipper...

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Shaliq

    Shaliq JBB JustBBall Member

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    Chapter 2:

    It was a few dayz befo' Halloween last year, when I was readin' season preview magazines. Neither predicted great things for the Clippers (what else is nu?) but both took some additional shots at Corey. One said he was the “worst defensive player in the NBA.” The other referred to him as “wild as can be.” Sure, Maggette needs to improve his defense (just like 90% of the League), and he does like to take it strong to the hoop. But worst? Wildest?! Come on.
    What wild player averaged 20 pts, 5 rebs and 3 assists per game last year? I'm not really angry. More like shocked that folks would think so little of Corey's improvement. I know I can’t stop the madness, but I sure wish hard-workers would get a little more credit.

    [​IMG]

    Everyone has their own opinion. But each and every year Corey's goal has been to get better. When you’re playing for an organization nobody likes, you’re gon' get some bad reviews. But it seems like people are always hatin' on him.
    The strange thing is, Corey’s been proving haters wrong for a few years now. And he’s by no means a finished product. But he still doesn't get any All-Star consideration.
    He’s a player who's increased his scoring in each of his first 5 NBA seasons, improved his rebounding average by a full 2 boards and nearly quadrupled his assists since his rookie year. He doesn’t get in trouble off the court, makes nice with the media and is involved in the community. Yet he’s getting killed. The motive? Well, there is compelling evidence that Corey may be a victim of one of the NBA’s most crippling conditions: "Guilt by Clipper Association".

    [​IMG]

    And Corey doesn’t stop working. Ever. A lot of pro athletes talk about their offseason devotion to self-improvement. Corey lives it. He took off 3 days over the summer, total - weekends and holidays included. Three days for a family reunion down in Florida, nothing more.
    Otherwise, he ran. He lifted. He shot. He balled. He did it again the next day. Whether he was working with trainers or shot specialists, Corey was on the job. How can you not appreciate something like that? You want these millionaires to earn their keep? Well, Corey’s out there, trying to bring his hourly wage down by working longer for the same dough. Try to find many folks in this country willing to do it.
    And judging by his stats, he’s working on just about e'rything. Like free throws. When Corey came into the NBA, he hit a solid 75.1 %. Last year, he connected on 84.8 % from the line, and since his percentage has improved in each of his 5 seasons, there’s reason to believe Maggette could hit the 90-percent mark at some point in the next few years.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Shaliq

    Shaliq JBB JustBBall Member

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    Chap. 3: SmyLee's All-Star Votin' Diary

    Sat, Novemba 19th, 2005
    I was exactly two months into my Korean Studies freshman year at the Sofia University. It was also the day I would tip off my most dramatic "Voting Campaign" ever...
    -----------

    Sun, NOVEMBA 20th, '05:
    While Corey scored 24 pts, grabbed 9 rs and dished out 5 assists vs. the Warriors, I casted 160 online votes (for him & Elton) over two days.

    Wed, NOVEMBA 23rd, '05:
    Corey: 30 points & 7 rebounds vs. Raptors
    Me (Tony a.k.a SmyLee Shaliq): increased total votes for Corey to 203.

    [​IMG]

    Tue, DECEMBA 6th, '05
    Clippers swingman Corey Maggette left last night?s game versus Miami following the 3rd quarter with a left foot ligament
    sprain and did not return.
    An MRI taken this morning was negative and he is listed as day-to-day.

    Had to study for a big test and managed to cast just 41 votes.
    -------------

    Fri, DECEMBA 9th, '05
    'Twas a good day to vote. Casted 91 more votes.
    The total tally so far - 450! Some friends promised to back me up with some votes. Last year's balloting record of 2536(!) votes still looks unbreakable...

    Maggette Injury Update:
    Clippers FW Corey Maggette received treatment on his sprained left foot ligament Friday morning. He remains listed as
    day-to-day by the Clippers medical staff.
    -----------------

    Tue, DECEMBA 27th, '05
    Maggette Injury Update:

    Clippers FW Corey Maggette returned to L.A. on Thursday, December 22nd to undergo a CT Scan on his injured left foot.
    Team physician read the results, which indicated a small Liz Franc separation (ligament between the bones in the mid foot).
    Previously listed as day-to-day, the results of today's examination project his return to action to be in at least four
    weeks.
    In 13 games played this season, Maggette has averaged 21.7 points, 5.5 rebounds (34.1 minutes) per game.
    Meanwhile, I kept up the good work reaching the 850-vote plateau.
     
  4. Shaliq

    Shaliq JBB JustBBall Member

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    Chapter 4:

    January 1st, '06, 2:30 AM
    After celebating New Year's Eve, Tony got back to work. Inspired by Jamie FOXX's "Any Given Sunday", he casted 21 votes,
    increasing the total to 894.

    "...Sacrifice, Don't Give Up Now, You Know You Gotta Face Some Dues On Any Given Sunday.
    It Depends On You If You Win Or Lose...
    Strive To Achieve & Fight For What U Believe In."
    -------------

    Sun, JANUARY 22nd, '06
    Last day of voting. Tony casted 171 votes. Increased his total to 3339, and then he saw the Fourth Balloting Returns.
    Western Conference/ Forwards:
    Elton Brand was 7th with 317, 426 votes. The 10th and last name on that list was Lamar Odom with 179, 681 votes.
    No Corey Maggette...
    Tony had the intention of voting all night long again, but now it seemed useless. He had lost any hope and faith and got
    home feeling defeated.
    That night he said to himself "If the Clippers had someone to pay fans just to vote... Corey would've got voted in. His
    popularity would've grown so much. And the Clippers would only benefit from this. It's such a shame they ain't got that Mark
    Cuban type of guy to make that risky investition..."
    ------------

    Mon, JANUARY 23rd, '06, 6:00 AM
    Tony could not get much sleep that night. Tossed and turned in his bed, tormented by the thought of another failure. So many
    votes - in vain... Then he realized, that he'd been aiming too high. And should've set an easier goal - to get Corey in the
    Top 10 Forwards list. So that he could at least see how many votes the Clippers' #50 had collected. (Unfortunately NBA.com
    only reveals the top 10 vote-getters' numbers)
    Da Voting deadline was 00:00 - January 23rd. That meant he had until 7:00 AM (local time) to vote. But he ain't had
    a PC at home, so he had to go to the nearest internet access outside. He rushed out and ran for the bus stop with one wish only - to cast
    as many votes as he could, by the end of the balloting program. It was freezing cold outside (-13 degrees Celsius). And he
    urgently needed Internet access. Then he saw some lights in the darkness of the road. A bus was coming. That would've saved
    some precious minutes. Tony was grateful for this chance. But no sooner had he got in, than he realized he was on the wrong
    bus. And it would stop after another mile. As soon as Tony got off that unlucky bus, he rushed back through a shortcut. Just
    when he saw the nearest bus stop was just 50 ft from him, he heard a familiar bus noise. This time it was the one he would
    really need. But it was some 100 ft. behind him. Tony had no time to chill. He started running like a fugitive through
    puddles of mud, just to make the much needed bus. The snowstorm bruised and battered his face. There was no sidewalk on that
    narrow street and as the bus passed by him it filled his shoes with muddy water.
    He somehow made it, driven by his strong will and desire to help Corey. And when he saw his reflection in the bus window, he
    was unrecognisable to himself. Couldn't know his own face.
    Tony would eventually cast 13 more votes before the end of the NBA All-Star Balloting Program.
    He would finish with a total of 3352 All-Star votes for Corey Maggette (and Elton Brand, of course). And for the 6th straight
    year, it won't be enough for Corey to make the West All-Star Team...
    "I could've done a whole lot more", Tony says. "Right now school's eating most of my time. If voting was in the summertime, I
    could've at least doubled my votes."

    [​IMG]"After All, Practice Makes Perfect"
    One thing's for sure, never before, in my whole life, have I ever felt such unconditional support, such strong compassion and sympathy. Moreover, it's for something so distant and remote (I'm from a Bulgarian town called Bourgas).

    P.S.
    This is not the full story. A lot of things were left out
     
  5. Shaliq

    Shaliq JBB JustBBall Member

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    Epilogue

    To those wonderin' "What EXACTLY was the point of posting all this?"

    - To show that Maggette is a great possible/borderline All-Star. He's really grown each and every year he's been in the league and he's just getting better- as long as he stays healthy. I hope in 2006-2007 he'll become a coaches picked All Star as the fans will never vote him in.

    QUOTE
    "I honestly think that Yao just got the votes because the fans vote for him because of his size. after about 3 or 4 years in the nba, he still hasnt been explosive, hes still gentle and weak.."
    by Zj23

    QUOTE
    "the only reason he's leading in votes is because he has the whole Far East voting for him. All-star game voting is a popularity contest, and nothing more"
    by Bluedevil$

    QUOTE
    "...and centre is probably the shallowest position in the league skill-wise"

    Last but not least, this Topic is about Dedication

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"it's good to see some dedication in this world. who gives a [​IMG] what anyone else says about it."
    by Rikdaddy</div>

    But this topic ain't only about the Votin' system, Yao, Dedication & Unconditional Support.
    It's about my story, 3 months of my life, sleepless nights, Sacrifices...

    Look at dat pic below:

    [​IMG]

    Now tell me if you honestly don't wanna see Corey there... It's all up to you, Clipper-Nation Faithful!

    Thank You for takin' the time to read my sad story. And Thank You for bein' Who You Are!
    Best Wishes!!

    P.S.
    I had to post it into different posts as it was too large for a single post,

    <a href="http://geocities.com/smilemanbg/creator.html" target="_blank">Clippers Faithful
    SmyLee Shaliq</a>


    [​IMG]
     
  6. Shaliq

    Shaliq JBB JustBBall Member

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    Part 6: Features

    My true story was previously posted at a Clippers Forum at Mb3.Scout.com:

    mb3.scout.com

    Unfortunately no one there appreciated it.

    Below are the brutal responces:

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DariusNaz said:
    "Tony isn't the first man to fall victim to the Siren's song of Maggette's bulging muscles." </div>

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OKPistolpete said:
    "..Tony's an infamous "hero"..."</div>

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WhoRunBartertown said:
    "..How would you feel if Brand didn't get in because some lovestruck teenage girls voted some handsome player who started 9 games in?
    Hmm apparently I must speak slowly to the Corey-Idolizer ™ here..
    ..Nobody who has started in nine games deserves an all-star vote, even from a rapidly drooling lovestruck internet fan.
    ..Not that whether Brand gets my vote explains you behaving like a teenage girl over Maggette.
    If you wasted your time casting 2000 votes to put a player in the all-star game who has hardly played then I'm glad you're frustrated at your unproductive life.

    Carry on. Good Luck!"</div>

    [​IMG]

    I wonder how would Corey react if he see how some folks disrespect him..??

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BeLikePat said:
    "I'm thinking if you vote Maggette instead of Marion, you simply aren't paying attention. It is clearly a homer vote at this point as I'm sure when Corey says his prayers at night it is to awaken with Matrix ability."</div>

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
    Clipjoint said:

    "This is exhilirating and deeply disturbing at the same time. I feel I am devaluing the genius by even posting this here.
    Yeah. Like a crazy poem. "Howl," or something. "The Waste Land." Forgive me for interrupting. Go on." </div>

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">YOJIMBO82 said:
    "What a dumb thread... I can't believe I read the whole thing....this has turned into the dumbest thread since the one claiming Corey should be the team's MVP rather than Brand.
    Sorry man - You're not a true Clipper fan, you're an obsessed fan.

    I can be honest enough to say that a guy that has been injured most of the season does not deserve to be in the allstar game - I don't care who it is. Your obsession has blinded you to reality.
    Wake up and get a life!"</div>

    More Disrespect...

    [​IMG]

    P.S.
    Corey's a great player and I love his game; I'd Always Support Him, Unconditionally! No matter where he goes!! I think he's an All-Star caliber player.. Unfortunately, there's too much competition. BUT, you can help Corey make his 1st ever All-Star appearance - vote daily at Staples Center and online at NBA.com!

    [​IMG]
     
  7. hustler

    hustler Revving up the Engine

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    Why is the all star game so important for Maggette? Anyways, good luck with voting everyday...
     
  8. NTC

    NTC Active Member

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    Yeah, I dont see the point in this, the All Star Game is just a popularity contest. I mean people these days are still voting for Michael Jordan.
     
  9. I-Miss-MJ

    I-Miss-MJ JBB I am so SMRT

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    Sounds like a bit of a whinge essay.

    Who cares.
     
  10. Sikwitit

    Sikwitit JBB JustBBall Member

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    Yao Ming
    2005-06
    22.3 PPG
    10.2 RPG
    1.7 BLK
    51.9% FG
    85.3% FT

    Shaq
    2005-06
    20.0 PPG
    9.2 RPG
    1.8 BLK
    60% FG
    46.9 FT

    They Pretty Even. I think Yao deserves to be an allstar regardess of the many votes in China.

    Maggette
    2005-06
    17.8 PPG
    5.3 RPG
    2.1 APG
    0.1 BLK
    44.5% FG
    82.8 FT

    Maggette had good numbers but not allstar numbers for a guard/forward especially in the west. Maybe if they play him at center you can get Maggette in as a allstar.[​IMG]
     
  11. arre

    arre JBB JustBBall Member

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    ^you got him there [​IMG]
     

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