OT: There's no need to boo Turkoglu, feel sorry for raps fans instead ...

[Nikolokolus]

http://www.outsidethenba.com/2010/03/hedont/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

An athlete’s job is simply to show up and do their best. That’s it. As long as they meet that modest modicum of success for athletes I have, I will have their backs any day of the week. So what if Vernon Wells is overpaid? True, his offense has dried up, but who’s been protecting him in the line-up? He is still one of the best defensive centre fielders in baseball and he hustles out every ground ball. Again, it’s not his fault JP “I’m functionally retarded” Riccardi wasn’t able to find a single decent power hitter in 8 years.

Turkoglu on the other hand doesn’t even PRETEND to be busy when the boss walks by. He IS the jackass from my office who got a 5% raise despite being useless and after getting the raise managed to do even less. In real terms, a 5% raise on a $25 000 salary isn’t even very much money, and it wasn’t a results-oriented business. In sports, his lack of effort directly affects the ability of his teammates to do well, and in turn directly affects their own abilities to earn raises. Not to mention that his pay isn’t a few hundred dollars more than his colleagues, but millions of dollars.

...

More goodness:

Turk however has transcended sports hate for me. I have realized that I legitimately hate Hedo Turkoglu. If I saw him walking down the street I would either scream obscenities, spit, or just turn red and walk away to avoid somehow making him worse. Remember, this man plays for MY Toronto Raptors! Turkoglu has managed to personify everything I hate about modern athletes. Entitlement? Check. He needs the ball to be effective, doncha know. Laziness after a big contract? Check and check, no explanation required. Lack of hustle and emotion? BIG check. But hey, jogging 60-70 feet to get back on defence once every ten to fifteen minutes IS something. Lack of desire to fit in to a ‘team’, and a system? “Ball”. I’d call him a mercenary but mercenaries are actually EFFECTIVE.

 

[BasX]

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[Nikolokolus]

FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Understandable. I'm just glad we dodged the bullet.

 

[anonymous gambler]

Lol!! This is great reading, though I do think that Turk would have been a better player for us.

 

[illmatic99]

Reminds me of DA's toothache fiasco: http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2737579

But Turkoglu, the under-achieving forward, did not play in the Raptors' 97-94 loss. He was in uniform, but he was on the bench.

"He was active, it was a coach's decision to not play him," Raptors coach Jay Triano said, adding he made that decision because Turkoglu was not healthy - and to send a message.

The message dates back to earlier last week. Turkoglu left midway through Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz with a stomach virus. He did not play against Denver on Friday - another loss - but was seen out on the town following the game.

Earlier yesterday, Turkoglu insisted he was just grabbing a bite to eat after the game. Apparently, that is not how the club saw it. When pressed, Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said the matter was handled internally.

It seems likely that Turkoglu not playing was a part of that internal operation.

Turkoglu, for his part, declined comment after the game. "I'm good, I'm good," he said.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[RoyToy]

At no point did I want him!

 

[maxiep]

At no point did I want him!

I figured KP saw something I didn't; I didn't get why we were so hot for him.

On the other hand, I'd like to thank the vibrant Turkish community in Toronto for making such a positive impression on Mrs. Turkuglu.

 

[Further]

I was not too hot on him but when it looked like he was coming I started to embrace it. The second he rescinded, I was pleased. Miller on the other hand I was totally excited about from the get go. Then, after we got Miller and there were all sorts of problems with how he and Roy would exist, I got real bummed. So glad that everything worked out the way it did. Fuck you Turk. Miller, you rock.

 

[KingSpeed]

Lol!! This is great reading, though I do think that Turk would have been a better player for us.

I agree. And he'd be in a winning scenario like he was with Orlando so I think he would care more. He was amazing in last year's playoffs. Of course, I guess he doesn't care about being in a winning scenario cuz he passed on us.

 

[KingSpeed]

Also- remember what signing Turk would've allowed us to do- to trade Outlaw and Blake for a point guard, whoever that could've been.

 

[Natebishop3]

Also- remember what signing Turk would've allowed us to do- to trade Outlaw and Blake for a point guard, whoever that could've been.

And then Greg and Joel would have been injured, and we'd be up the creek without a Camby.

 

[EGame]

Needless to say, I really wanted Turk at the time of free agency. I was super excited when I read the deal was pretty much done until he backed out of it the last second, which dissapointed me. Now, I couldn't be happier that we have Miller. Turk here might have been disastrous for us.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I was on board for all 3 of our targets..Dre, Hedo, and Millsap

 

[Minstrel]

I was very much on board for Millsap and Miller.

Turkoglu was a very confusing selection by Pritchard, to me. But I'll allow Pritchard the infrequent mistake, especially when that mistake quietly disappears of its own accord...

 

[KingSpeed]

And then Greg and Joel would have been injured, and we'd be up the creek without a Camby.

Of course we were hoping Turk and Oden would have the chemistry that Turk had with Howard.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

And then Greg and Joel would have been injured, and we'd be up the creek without a Camby.

Don't you get it!?!? If Turkyglue comes here it changes the whole space time continuum and Oden and Pryz never get hurt! TO THE TIME MACHINE!

 

[Sedatedfork]

Turkoglu loves to party

 

[hasoos]

I was very much on board for Millsap and Miller.

Turkoglu was a very confusing selection by Pritchard, to me. But I'll allow Pritchard the infrequent mistake, especially when that mistake quietly disappears of its own accord...

I think it was pretty obvious was KP saw. He saw a player that gave many of upper eschelon teams fits. He gave Cleveland fits. He gave LA fits. He is a big wing player that can handle the ball like a smaller player. He can play the pick and roll with a center, and hit the open shooters for 3's. He saw a guy who could take a load off of Roy, and be a legitimate #2 scorer on the team. It just didn't work out.

IMO I have no idea what Turkoglu was thinking. Bosh plays nothing like Howard, he is a face up PF, where Howard is mostly a pick and roll center. I just don't see how the thought that would work out.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I figured KP saw something I didn't; I didn't get why we were so hot for him.

On the other hand, I'd like to thank the vibrant Turkish community in Toronto for making such a positive impression on Mrs. Turkuglu.

Who, according to Mr. Turkuglu, has never been to Canada...

 

[BlazerWookee]

Lol!! This is great reading, though I do think that Turk would have been a better player for us.

Better than he is for Toronto? Highly likely.

Better than Miller is for Portland? Not bloody likely.

Miller may be a passive-aggressive jerk, but he's turning into a pretty danged effective passive-aggressive jerk.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Turkoglu loves to party

I don't get it. What does some short fat guy dancing like an idiot have to do with Hedo Turkoglu?

 

[ironcrotch]

I don't get it. What does some short fat guy dancing like an idiot have to do with Hedo Turkoglu?

Rumored that Hedo was sick and didn't play but was spotted in Toronto partying it up in a club.

That is Tas Melas and happens to look exactly like Hedo.

 

[BBert]

Of course, I guess he doesn't care about being in a winning scenario cuz he passed on us.

I thought that at the time. We want winners. Not a good fit.

 

[BBert]

Also- remember what signing Turk would've allowed us to do- to trade Outlaw and Blake for a point guard, whoever that could've been.

It would have been Miller.

 

[BBert]

And then Greg and Joel would have been injured, and we'd be up the creek without a Camby.

It was fate. We dodged Turk. Got Miller for cheap. Got Camby for our extras -- who we could probably sign back if we want.