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I read something today that's been on my mind a lot lately. Ephesians 4:29 Basically says let your words build people up. Not tear them down. If you've read my posts about Flip and Ernie of late, you're going to probably be surprised by what I have to say.

Kind words about Ernie Grunfeld

Ernie Grunfeld was a great NCAA player, with Bernard King, at Tennessee. I remember the Bernie and Ernie show. They were an exciting duo that played NCAA ball just before Bird/Magic. Closest NBA comparison as a player to Ernie IMO would be Wally Szczerbiak. When you consider what fraction of a percent of players make it to the NBA, EG was a great basketball player.

Here's a quote about Ernie's good moves as a GM:

... Grunfeld was part of a Milwaukee club that reached the Eastern Conference Finals and in his current job as Washington GM, Grunfeld has made the Wizards a perennial playoff team ...

It was Grunfeld who traded Kwame Brown for Caron Butler. Grunfeld signed Gilbert Arenas and drafted Nick Young.

In New York, Grunfeld, along with Dave Checketts, twice built the Knicks on the fly in the ’90s. With the Knicks under the salary cap in the summer of 1996 (the way things are going maybe they should make a movie about that off-season) Grunfeld signed Allan Houston and Chris Childs and traded for Larry Johnson. That same year, the Knicks won 57 games.

Prior to the 1999 season, Grunfeld traded Charles Oakley for Marcus Camby and sent John Starks and Chris Mills to Golden State for Latrell Sprewell. He also signed Kurt Thomas at a bargain basement price.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks ... z0hK78aolS


One other nugget to add: Ernie drafted Andray Blatche with the 47th pick. Considering that, and what I've noted in my signature, GIVE ERNIE HIS PROPS.

Kind words about Eddie Jordan

Eddie Jordan coached with class and dignity for 7 years in DC.

One thing about Eddie is he NEVER threw a player under the bus publicly. I also strongly believe he handled any strife and dissension in the lockerroom privately. Considering the ups and downs of the NBA and the fact this team played 90 or so games a year over that time, EJ was a very good clubhouse manager and a player's coach in a players' league. Man he managed egos.

Gil's blog didn't stop. Injuries didn't stop happening. EJ coached Kwame. None of that seemed to bother MJ. In general, his players loved playing for him. For all that went down between him and Haywood's minutes, EJ and Haywood maintain a good dialogue. He's a father figure to those guys. That only comes with respect.

Regardless of how one might feel about his Princeton offense, sure did work well with the personnel on hand. Arguably, only injuries stopped them from doing considerably better and maybe having higher seeds at playoff time.

As a player, EJ led the NBA in steals. I think he was part of a Laker championship team. Mirror as a player to Lionel Hollins, also an NBA coach. When you look at past PGs who become coaches the thing that stands out is their leadership ability. He led Rutgers to the Final Four IIRC from reading up (I don't recall that team for some reason.)

I will always respect EJ's kindness and class. He wants his players to do well, and frequently, they have career years and get paid IMO because of EJ's system and his encouragement.

I like EJ. Just a personal statement. Seems like a good dude.

Last but not least, Coach Saunders. I have kind words for Flip, too.

Number one, he had a win percentage of right around .600 as an NBA coach.

Also, he worked his way up and proved himself in the CBA as a coach. He's a coach's coach. Knows the Xs and Os and what he wants done on the court.

According to this Wages of Win Article:

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/ ... ood-coach/

Maybe Flip Saunders is a Good Coach

Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince - yes, the veterans who supposedly didn’t respect Flip Saunders – produced 10.1 more wins than their past performance would suggest.

Saunders ran into a tough Cleveland team in the playoffs, but his work with the Pistons his final year there was more than solid. He coached them very well.

I can say that over time Flip's won. He's got a right to demand what he wants on the court. Given the type players for his system I'd expect him to win 60% of the time--which is good for an NBA coach.

Flip made a fantastic first impression with the ipods and teaching materials for his young players.

So, the above three posts are just my way of saying Flip, Eddie, and Ernie are SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF THEIR CRAFT.

I apologize for any negativity in my zeal to criticize what I'd consider day-to-day team performance. That said, I'm just glad nobody critiques my every move on the Internet.

(But for the money they make I'd welcome it. )

Ernie is an above-average dresser and has a smokin' throwback mustache

I think EJ is GQ as well.

Saunders, not so much.

Except for saying anything good about EFJ, I think this is a great thread idea. Keep it coming, especially about Ernie!

flip! flip! flip! flip!

Who gets to do the section on Kwame?

KWAME BROWN

one time he gave all wizards fans blue balls when he posted 30 and 19 against sacramento in 2004

zaRdsAndZeRos wrote:flip! flip! flip! flip!

am i the only person that gets this hellish ol' Lil Flip song stuck in his head EVERY time i set my eyes on Flip Saunders??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgFj-ZHAGzY

the worst.

something nice about Lil Flip? apparently he's good at freestyles and "U gotta feel me" sold 2 million copies. good for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NW3p61H ... re=related

this is wat i think of

LyricalRico wrote:Except for saying anything good about EFJ, I think this is a great thread idea. Keep it coming, especially about Ernie!

U kill me Rico.

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I read something today that's been on my mind a lot lately. Ephesians 4:29 Basically says let your words build people up. Not tear them down. If you've read my posts about Flip and Ernie of late, you're going to probably be surprised by what I have to say.

Kind words about Ernie Grunfeld

Ernie Grunfeld was a great NCAA player, with Bernard King, at Tennessee. I remember the Bernie and Ernie show. They were an exciting duo that played NCAA ball just before Bird/Magic. Closest NBA comparison as a player to Ernie IMO would be Wally Szczerbiak. When you consider what fraction of a percent of players make it to the NBA, EG was a great basketball player.

That brings back memories. Back in the day, the first Street and Smith magazine I bought had a picture of the Ernie and Bernie show on the cover. I read that magazine cover to cover at least a dozen times - it was better than Playboy.

Kwame Brown eats salad, which is healthy.

Flip does an amazing impersonation of Twitch from South Park and his is generous a gift giver.

Kwame Brown has served the interest of DC well on the City Council. Oh wait wrong Kwame Brown.

^^But at least Dee Brown brought us a Slam Dunk Title...

...ok nevermind

looks like the Wiz got the doo doo browns on both fronts..

EG has done a great job with 2nd round picks.

I remember being very impressed with EJ when they first brought him here. His demeanor and apparent poise on the sidelines as well as his measured post-game comments exuded the feeling of professionalism yet with a sense of familiarity. I badly wanted EJ to succeed with this team as much on the court as I felt he did off it. As much as I despised the team's lack of defense, he did generally come out with an offensive game plan that left opposing teams reeling to keep up.

Flip impressed me with the Pistons as I equated a lot of their discipline with the experience of the man heading the ship. There is a lot to be said about having such a consistent rotation of players without any major injury or roster shake-ups, but certainly he deserves some of the credit for their success.

I am still on the fence with how I take the post-game comments. On one hand, I like that he's pretty frank with what is on his mind, but on the other I still expect that level of separation between whats said in the locker room and whats said in public.

I really like the hustle and energy played since the trades were done; really gives me a sense of what he can do with players when the clay is still moist. I am looking forward to this team a year or two down the road under his stewardship.

However, since he's come to the Wizards and I see him more often, I am more curious than ever about whatever that growth is behind his left ear; its almost reached Frank Beamer/Tina Fey-cheek scar curiosity level). What is that thing? Where did it come from? Is that a physical manifestation of an evil alter ego ala Chris' Pimple in that Family Guy episode? Growth: Encourage Foye to shoot contested fade-away 3-ptrs early in the shot-clock; thats his Shot!