Monday Nights Event

[TheKidHypno]

they didnt allow any videotaping because they wanted to keep everything they said in the room

thorn started off saying how he regretted not resigning mikki moore because of his attitude and he never gave up, talked about the kidd rumors but nothing we havent heard yet, about krstic coming back theyre starting to gel together as a team now how he supports frank and how good of a job he does

this one guy RIPPED the nets front office right in their face, here's some of the quotes

"im sick of hearing about krstic being the reason for us doing back thats not the problem"
"players not complaining about the coach is a bad thing, if players dont get mad at him hes not doing a good job of motivating them"
"i used to punish my kids and not let them go to games, now going to games is the punishment i wont even go anymore i refuse to i go and drop them off and pick them up after the game, you guys talk alot up here but give me no reason to renew my season tickets"
"i can go on stubhub right now and get tickets for 2 or 3 dollars and they still wont sell"

all ratner thorn and kiki did was laugh while everybody was laughing at them

 

[GMJ]

ouch. Any mention of Bobby Jones or "old veteran free agents?"

 

[TheKidHypno]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Feb 11 2008, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ouch. Any mention of Bobby Jones or "old veteran free agents?"</div>
yes someone mentioned that started off with "you already apologized for not signing moore but how about all the others you messed up on" and started going through alot of players that didnt work out

 

[Stromile6]

There's gotta be something else of some worth to come from the meeting... did he say anything about Stro per chance?

 

[TheKidHypno]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stromile6 @ Feb 11 2008, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>There's gotta be something else of some worth to come from the meeting... did he say anything about Stro per chance?</div>
he said they made the trade because the nba is becoming more fast paced and he isnt getting minutes because he needs to learn all of the plays first

alot of people questioned them about marcus' pt i think they said he doesnt get minutes because those are kidds minutes or something

 

[JCB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>i used to punish my kids and not let them go to games, now going to games is the punishment</div>

Ouch. Glad to see some fans standing up.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheKidHypno @ Feb 11 2008, 10:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stromile6 @ Feb 11 2008, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>There's gotta be something else of some worth to come from the meeting... did he say anything about Stro per chance?</div>
he said they made the trade because the nba is becoming more fast paced and he isnt getting minutes because he needs to learn all of the plays first

alot of people questioned them about marcus' pt i think they said he doesnt get minutes because those are kidds minutes or something
</div>

Well then, at that, Swift won't be getting minutes until...hm...next year..?

So did anyone throw anything at Kiki and Thron?

 

[TheKidHypno]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 11 2008, 11:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheKidHypno @ Feb 11 2008, 10:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stromile6 @ Feb 11 2008, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>There's gotta be something else of some worth to come from the meeting... did he say anything about Stro per chance?</div>
he said they made the trade because the nba is becoming more fast paced and he isnt getting minutes because he needs to learn all of the plays first

alot of people questioned them about marcus' pt i think they said he doesnt get minutes because those are kidds minutes or something
</div>

Well then, at that, Swift won't be getting minutes until...hm...next year..?

So did anyone throw anything at Kiki and Thron?
</div>

you got to sit up with all of them and ask them something nobody really directed any questions to either of them

 

[purplehaze89]

So Thorn didn't even try to defend himself?

anyone ask about trading other members (non-kidd) ie. Carter, RJ etc?

 

[GMJ]

Anyone ask how a 6-month old contract is already un-trade-able?

 

[rory]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheKidHypno @ Feb 11 2008, 10:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Feb 11 2008, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ouch. Any mention of Bobby Jones or "old veteran free agents?"</div>
yes someone mentioned that started off with "you already apologized for not signing moore but how about all the others you messed up on" and started going through alot of players that didnt work out
</div>
Yeah that was me, I'll just give me brief recap first, then get to my "question"

Basically, the original poster hit on it - Rod mentioned 4 main topics in his "State of the Team"
1. His regrets about not resigning Mikki Moore, he said he wanted a "do-over" - I had never heard this publicly stated before, and thought "hm, this could be interesting, maybe I'll learn something new."
2. Lawrence Frank - supporting the coach, would fire him if he thought Frank was the problem, players don't complain about him. Basically same old same old. I support Frank, so I didn't have much of an issue here. It's not Frank's fault that the team is poorly constructed.
3. Jason Kidd - again, more of the same about not trading him for the sake of trading him, looking for the best deal. Sky is still blue, grass still green, Rod Thorn still not trading Kidd unless he gets a great offer.
4. Vince Carter - addressed that some people thought his contract was bad, and battled back using the typical pure numbers argument (leading scorer, 0-5 without him) instead of addressing the true issue (there was no market for Vince, hence he was overpaid).

So they turned to the audience to ask questions. It was pretty cool, as you sat literally next to Rod Thorn, like if you went to a movie theater with him. On your right was Chris Carrino, the emcee. On your left was Thorn, followed by Ratner, Kiki, and Yormark. The majority of the questions focused around the topics Thorn already addressed - i.e. Coach Frank, Jason Kidd, finding a big man, etc.

I wasn't going to ask a question until I heard a few. After the first ones were basically deep tissue massages for management (I honestly believe a few had to be planted), I figured I should go up - this is my chance to complain TO ROD - it'd be disingenuous if I go back on the Internet and complain without having the guts to saying anything to his face. So I go up there, and I must've looked really dorky - I'm a skinny white kid and my face was beat-red (I was nervous). So I go up there, and a rough transcript:

"Hey Rod. I've been a fan for a long time, and I'd be really remiss if I didn't get to ask a question. This is my first time at the Town Hall meeting, and after my question, it might be my last time. I was going to go up here and rip you about Mikki (note: this is true, I made sure to look up Mikki's and Magloire's stats before going), but you already apologized for that. And I accept your apology - everyone makes mistakes, that's why pencils have erasers.

Now...

Could I get an apology for Jamal Magloire, Jeff McInnis, Chris Childs, Ron Mercer, Scott Padgett, selling the 2004 draft pick, trading Korver for nothing..."

I trailed off, as I was trying to think of the ones I forgot (Wright over Granger, dammit!) but the crowd had already started applauding and the management was laughing. After it settled down (and I heard Ratner mumble something about selling the 04 pick - maybe not his fault? The Goldman Sachs investors? I forget how the story went), Rod went onto explain how sometimes things work, sometimes things don't, how they all looked good when it happened (I had to bite my tongue, because none of those did). Kiki added that if you aren't making mistakes, you aren't trying. I wish they would print THAT in the media guide. Chris Carrino made a joke as I went off stage, saying that security has my picture.

A couple questions later, then the angry european guy (as described above) came on. He left them speechless.

Overall, it wasn't anything new, but I didn't expect it to be. When your boss calls you out at work for all your mistakes, you never own up - you just make BS and beat around the bush - this was similar. My friend thought I should've asked a more "answerable" question - but I decided to stick with something jokey, like a pie-in-the-face. If I went up there and did a "here's what I would've done with the team" and played fantasy GM, I think their eyes would've glazed over and they would've given more of the same type answers. At least now they'll remember my question.

 

[ghoti]

Good for you, rory! Awesome post.

I think they make you sit right next to them because most people don't have the guts to criticize others right to their faces. (It's REAL easy on the internet, though!)

Add to that that these people are celebrities and older professional people with high paying jobs and it's pretty daunting.

Great job figuring out a way to get your point across without being too disrespectful and getting through it unscathed!

 

[furnace]

Go Rory!

 

[TheKidHypno]

thanks for the better summary rory, i remembered as much as i could, i wasnt feeling well and wasnt going to go but i forced myself since i was invited by someone else

 

[soul driver]

awesome story guys!

 

[Petey]

... What about not resigning Rodney Rogers?

-Petey

 

[RUstrong]

Hey, they are gonna show some video coverage of this during tonight's pregame show. I hope they show that guy who rips them apart, though I doubt it.

 

[RUstrong]

......Or not. That coverage sucked. They didn't show anyone but one guy saying that VC has to get aggressive.

 

[TheKidHypno]

yeah they made it seem lovely

 

[Jizzy]

aw man, if i was there...