Sean Tuohy - "Zach Randolph is the reason the Grizzlies are much better"

[PtldPlatypus]

Sean Tuohy (the father from the "Blind Side" story, and also Memphis' TV analyst) just said on Wheels' show that Zach Randolph's presence is the biggest difference in the Grizzlies' maturation. He said that we got the bad Zach, but they got the good Zach. He says that Zach actually passes so much that the coaches have to tell him to shoot, that he never refuses an interview, is always smiling, is the first to lift teammates' spirits after a tough loss, is involved in every team community event, and is generally a coach's dream.

How much of that do you believe, and how much do you think is Mike-Barrett-style hyperbole? And if you buy it all, how do you feel about it?

 

[RR7]

couldn't care less. I'm happy he's not on our team. That is all.

 

[LameR]

Good for him/them.

 

[Haakzilla]

zBO must GO!!!

 

[ABM]

Good for him/them...

...and us.

win/win/win

 

[hasoos]

Look at who they had at PF before. No wonder it seems an upgrade to them. I have watched Memphis many times this season. I do admit Zbo is passing more. But he is still Zbo. I still have seen him jawing at the ref as his guy is dunking on the other end. I have also seen him be a ballhog at the end of the game, for better or worse. One game he almost gave it away, but during the last 3 posessions the guards didn't pass him the ball and preserved the win. So they can say whatever they want. I know better.

 

[RR7]

I'll add, this is the same organization, fans, and media members who told us how good of a presence Darius Miles was last year for them. Until the summer, when they were scared about his interactions with Mayo, and couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

 

[Kaydow]

How many other 20/10 guys have played on 4 teams in 4 years? Just sayin' . . .

 

[hasoos]

You know what I would like to see. Just for once, I would like Lamarcus to show up with his motor actually running and ready to play against him. Zbo always plays against the Blazers like he has a chip on his shoulder, but the Blazers never play that way themselves. It sure would be nice for that to change.

 

[bigbailes]

zbo is in a contract year. not a surprise that he's acting like a model citizen. next year he'll be back to his good old zbo.

 

[Buzz Killington]

ZBO is not in a contract year. maybe an extension, but I don't think he would play differently based on "contract years"

 

[Nikolokolus]

If he's turned a new leaf then all I can say is "good for him," I'd also assert that he was never going to turn a new leaf if he'd remained in Portland; I'm guessing he's been somewhat humbled by being traded 3 times in 3 years.

 

[KingSpeed]

Zach is one of the nicer guys I've ever met. I don't understand the hate towards him. He'll probably make the All Star team this season.

 

[ABM]

Zach is one of the nicer guys I've ever met. I don't understand the hate towards him.

If you had been to his room at the Vintage Plaza, you'd understand.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The Zach hate around here is just silly. So, the guy wasn't the 2nd coming of KG or Duncan. Boo-frickin-hoo. For a late 1st round pick, he turned out just fine. Hate on Nash for the silly contract - one of several - but don't blame Zach for taking the money when they offered it.

 

[craigehlo]

Hate on Nash for the silly contract - one of several - but don't blame Zach for taking the money when they offered it.

Just like paying LMA $10-15 million until 2015.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Just like paying LMA $10-15 million until 2015.

I was trying to be diplomatic and not mention that.

 

[craigehlo]

I was trying to be diplomatic and not mention that.

Maybe KP kept the receipt for that transaction? We didn't know LMA was allergic to the painted area when we signed him.

 

[Kaydow]

The Zach hate around here is just silly. So, the guy wasn't the 2nd coming of KG or Duncan. Boo-frickin-hoo. For a late 1st round pick, he turned out just fine. Hate on Nash for the silly contract - one of several - but don't blame Zach for taking the money when they offered it.

For the record, I thought Zach played well in Portland. And I don't blame him for getting P-A-I-D. But his off-the-court stuff was an embarrassment. Had he been a model citizen, it's possible he'd still be here. I can't stand the guy's fat face b/c he's a bad human being, who is a very good basketball player.

 

[KingSpeed]

For the record, I thought Zach played well in Portland. And I don't blame him for getting P-A-I-D. But his off-the-court stuff was an embarrassment. Had he been a model citizen, it's possible he'd still be here. I can't stand the guy's fat face b/c he's a bad human being, who is a very good basketball player.

Okay. Please tell me what the off-the-court stuff was. I'm not being snarky or sarcastic. I actually want to know. I never paid much attention that stuff. When I met the guy, he was so sweet. And he looks really fun loving out there talking to the players before and after the game. He seems like a good guy who worked hard to get to where he is.

What are the off-the-court things and were they so bad?

 

[Deebag]

I'd take him over LMA.

 

[Kaydow]

Okay. Please tell me what the off-the-court stuff was. I'm not being snarky or sarcastic. I actually want to know. I never paid much attention that stuff. When I met the guy, he was so sweet. And he looks really fun loving out there talking to the players before and after the game. He seems like a good guy who worked hard to get to where he is.

What are the off-the-court things and were they so bad?

What you see below is all I could find this morning, and it's just a fraction of the incidents Zach had. There were bar room brawls (Green Cusina, The Ohm) Zach & Q Woods "allegedly" battered and harassed a man they thought ratted Woods out on the whole dog thing - he went to court for that. There was an article in either the Oregonian or Tribune that listed all his incidents and it was about 30 lines - I couldn't find it. Since we traded him he punched Phoenix Sun Louis Amundson and was suspended. He was arrested on DUI last April. It's not just the incidents either - go research the details of them, it's disgusting. A despicable human being. When he comes to Portland and kicks our butts, it's like rubbing salt in the wound. Why is HE motivated to be US? He'd probably still be here if he wasn't such a bad guy. Can you imagine a front line of Oden, Zach, LA? Instead they trade him for Channing Frye who they let walk for nothing.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2007/05/29/mavericks-on-zach-randolph-hes-not-a-bad-ass-hes-a-dumb-ass/


•1995. Thirty days in juvenile detention for shoplifting.

•High school years: Thirty days of house arrest for battery.

•Thirty days in juvenile detention for receiving stolen property, a gun.

•2002. Underage drinking arrest in Marion, Ind., his hometown.

•2003. Team suspension by the Trail Blazers for sucker-punching teammate Ruben Patterson in practice and breaking his eye socket.

•2003. Arrested in Portland for driving under the influence of intoxicants and marijuana.

•2004. Accused by police of lying in an investigation of his brother shooting three men in an Indiana nightclub.

•2006. Suspended by the Trail Blazers for making obscene gestures to fans after a game in Indiana.

•2006. Sued by a Portland woman for sexual assault, though prosecutors didn't file criminal charges.

•2007. Left a strip club without paying the bill while he was on bereavement leave from the team and missed three games after the death of his girlfriend's cousin.

•2007. Earlier this month, police were called to the parking lot of a strip club where Randolph and teammate Darius Miles were part of a gathering and a gunshot was fired.

 

[mook]

•1995. Thirty days in juvenile detention for shoplifting.

•High school years: Thirty days of house arrest for battery.

•Thirty days in juvenile detention for receiving stolen property, a gun.

•2002. Underage drinking arrest in Marion, Ind., his hometown.

•2003. Team suspension by the Trail Blazers for sucker-punching teammate Ruben Patterson in practice and breaking his eye socket.

•2003. Arrested in Portland for driving under the influence of intoxicants and marijuana.

•2004. Accused by police of lying in an investigation of his brother shooting three men in an Indiana nightclub.

•2006. Suspended by the Trail Blazers for making obscene gestures to fans after a game in Indiana.

•2006. Sued by a Portland woman for sexual assault, though prosecutors didn't file criminal charges.

•2007. Left a strip club without paying the bill while he was on bereavement leave from the team and missed three games after the death of his girlfriend's cousin.

•2007. Earlier this month, police were called to the parking lot of a strip club where Randolph and teammate Darius Miles were part of a gathering and a gunshot was fired.

I think he also at some point had a three way with a friend and a prostitute, as I recall. I don't remember the specifics on that one. He also allegedly tried to intimidate the guy who told the police about Qyntel's dog fighting thing.

Anyway, of all that stuff, the DUI is the one that bothers me.

Patterson is an asshole. I'd lie to protect my brother too. The sexual assault/intimidation things didn't have enough legs to prosecute. Being in a parking lot where shots are fired is hardly criminal. Randolph isn't the first guy to ever leave a bar without paying his tab. How he gets his sexual jollies isn't my business.

Anyway, some guys just need to get bounced to several teams before they finally get the message that it's time to grow up. I imagine it started getting old, having to constantly move him and his posse from town to town, getting left off the All Star ballot, etc.

I really do enjoy watching his offensive game. He's still a little bit of a ballhog, but he is such a great shooter and a dogged rebounder. Still a crummy defender, but he's reached the same point Amare did where you pretty much have to live with it for all the great things he brings to the game.

 

[Kaydow]

I think he also at some point had a three way with a friend and a prostitute, as I recall. I don't remember the specifics on that one. He also allegedly tried to intimidate the guy who told the police about Qyntel's dog fighting thing.

Anyway, of all that stuff, the DUI is the one that bothers me.

Patterson is an asshole. I'd lie to protect my brother too. The sexual assault/intimidation things didn't have enough legs to prosecute. Being in a parking lot where shots are fired is hardly criminal. Randolph isn't the first guy to ever leave a bar without paying his tab. How he gets his sexual jollies isn't my business.

Anyway, some guys just need to get bounced to several teams before they finally get the message that it's time to grow up. I imagine it started getting old, having to constantly move him and his posse from town to town, getting left off the All Star ballot, etc.

I really do enjoy watching his offensive game. He's still a little bit of a ballhog, but he is such a great shooter and a dogged rebounder. Still a crummy defender, but he's reached the same point Amare did where you pretty much have to live with it for all the great things he brings to the game.

Me too. He's a really good player. I wish he was a decent human being, and still a Blazer (I'd live with his poor defense - plus, we have Greg/Joel)

I don't buy that he's turned it around. I can't think of one case where a guy that has constantly been in trouble since childhood turns it all around. His issues will resurface again, you can count on it.

 

[roydezlaw]

Maybe KP kept the receipt for that transaction? We didn't know LMA was allergic to the painted area when we signed him.

Sure we did. He's always been portrayed as "soft as a tissue" or Charmin soft. Portland fans always take offense.