Hawks Board Non-Sports Talk

Spud2nique · Post #121 » by **Spud2nique** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:21 pm

jayu70 wrote:My power is finally back on... what a miserable 2 days and to top it off I now have the flu

Me too...the flu stinks...good news is that I'll be home so more time to post...lol. H20 yourself a good one!

Post #122 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:35 pm

1. This shouldn't be some national story that ESPN promotes ad nauseam.
2. There's a chance this ends up becoming a cautionary tale, particularly for LiAngelo.

Read on Twitter

Post #123 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:49 pm

^

LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball have reached an agreement to sign professional basketball deals with Lithuanian club Prienu Vytautas.

The franchise is hoping the Ball brothers -- and father LaVar -- can be a publicity boon to the fledgling organization. There are already grave concerns among those familiar with both the teenage Americans and European team about whether the players can fit into Vytautas on any level.

Vytautas plays in the Lithuanian (LKL) league, but it is unlikely the Ball brothers would see significant playing time in that league.

Vytautas has sparingly signed American players in the past decade, the only one being former Vanderbilt guard Brad Tinsley. He left the team after a month.

The club plays in a 1,700-seat arena; Tickets cost around 5 euros.

The team has no general manager and doesn't practice regularly due to the poor financial situation.

ESPN

<sigh>

jayu70 · Post #124 » by **jayu70** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:56 pm

If that's the best offer/team they could get this is a looming disaster.

Post #125 » by **ATL Boy** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:09 pm

I never had a real problem with LaVar Ball's actions until now (see the post I made a few pages ago in this thread), but this really is something else.

LiAngelo was never getting drafted coming out of UCLA, but like y'all said earlier, he could have pursued a business degree on a full ride scholarship and then used that knowledge to advance the family's brand. Instead he's now kicking it in some obscure league in Lithuania. As someone who comes from Eastern Europe, I can tell you that there is a culture shock in trading your life in the United States to move there. It's not a comfortable situation if you're not used to that culture.

It's even worse for LaMelo Ball, who actually probably has a future as an NBA player. He's also abut to experience that culture shock but at age 16 instead, now going from playing against Highschool kids to actual professionals. I get the concept of improving someone's game by throwing them into the fire but I don't think LaMelo's game is developed enough for that. There's a good chance that he falls into obscurity playing in this league and completely jeopardizes his chances of getting drafted.

LaVar really isn't doing right by his sons trying to pull the string on this circus act. This is the type of move that can completely blow up in his family's face.

jayu70 · Post #126 » by **jayu70** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:18 pm

ATL Boy wrote: As someone who comes from Eastern Europe, ....

From Eastern Europe to ATL Boy...nice!!

jayu70 · Post #127 » by **jayu70** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:40 pm

Read on Twitter

And so.....it begins.....the beginning of the end for these kids.
I get that the objective is to play pro ball but playing PRO-BALL in the D3 version of the NCAA is it really pro ball?
What's the fall back plan? Hope that Lonzo doesn't wash out the NBA?
Whatever the plan is, keep some money in the bank boys.

MaceCase · Post #128 » by **MaceCase** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:40 pm

I've never cared about LaVar because he's never struck me as any different than any stage-mom or football-dad that's tried to live their failed hoop dreams of stardom by pimping out their children. We've definitely seen and heard of worse so I suppose the only hope (if you're inclined to care) is that the family doesn't squander the already banked guaranteed $14 mil in addition to whatever numbers their hyped up brand is pulling in.

Post #129 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:45 pm

ATL Boy wrote:LaVar really isn't doing right by his sons trying to pull the string on this circus act. This is the type of move that can completely blow up in his family's face.

This is the age where these guys need to be learning the virtues of patience. Putting in the hard work behind the scenes and paying dues. Those are important lessons to learn not only in basketball...but in life.

Who is going to be parenting 'Melo over in Lithuania for the next three years? Is his pops moving with them?

As the father of a young teenager, I am aghast.

kg01 · Post #130 » by **kg01** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:53 pm

They'll be there a few weeks, tops. IMHO

Will pull out citing differences with the coach, etc. Will point the finger at the organization to blame for their failings. Wash, rinse, repeat.

This is really the first time I question the parenting here. Surely the mom isn't healthy enough to follow them there and the dad has a business to run. Surely the middle Ball isn't mature/sensible enough to deal with what they'll face.

I mean what's the plan here, bro?

jayu70 · Post #131 » by **jayu70** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:56 pm

kg01 wrote:They'll be there a few weeks, tops. IMHO

Will pull out citing differences with the coach, etc. Will point the finger at the organization to blame for their failings. Wash, rinse, repeat.

This is really the first time I question the parenting here. Surely the mom isn't healthy enough to follow them there and the dad has a business to run. Surely the middle Ball isn't mature/sensible enough to deal with what they'll face.

I mean what's the plan here, bro?

Think Lavar said that 2 uncles will be with them and he'll fly back and forth.

Post #132 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:58 pm

kg01 wrote:This is really the first time I question the parenting here.

I mean what's the plan here, bro?

There is one adult in that family that really seems to have his head on straight.

I honestly hope Lonzo steps in at some point and provides some guidance and stability for these kids.

Let 'Melo go to High School and play AAU.

Let 'Gelo go to the G-League and go from there. (Surely Magic would pull some strings there.)

That's the easiest path for this disaster to be mitigated. The 20 year old has to step up and be the mature one.

MaceCase · Post #133 » by **MaceCase** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:06 pm

kg01 wrote:
I mean what's the plan here, bro?

Stay relevant.

The Kardashian-Jenners have like a billion dollar brand and I doubt there's a single high school diploma between all 17 of them. It's the new world, some kid on instagram can go from recording himself stealing donuts from Krispy Kreme to throwing up 10k in hundred dollar bills in a Walmart. Some folks actually consider all of these people "master marketers" but really we're just predominantly dumb in what we choose to give our attention to. We can certainly call this questionable parenting but at the same time some other parent will shell out 25k just so Lil' Melo or whomever can show up at his kid's bar mitzvah.

Post #134 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:12 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #135 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:01 pm

My last post on the subject...for today.

Read on Twitter

Post #136 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:45 pm

Small story that helps restore my faith in people...a little.

Read on Twitter

Alabama dad blasts Roy Moore, mourns gay daughter in viral video

At a Roy Moore campaign event in Midland City, Alabama, on Monday, a father made a heartfelt plea on behalf of his deceased gay daughter: Don't vote for Moore.

"I was anti-gay myself," Mathis said. "I said bad things to my daughter, which I regret." While he acknowledged he "can't take back what happened to my daughter" and may not be able to change anyone's mind about Moore, he said he felt compelled to attend nonetheless.

"I had mixed emotions about coming," he said. "But somebody needs to speak up."

Post #137 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 1:07 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #138 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:40 pm

This dude is along time elected official and member of congress.

It makes me both furious and heartbroken that people not only feel this way, but now feel empowered to spread this ignorance.

Read on Twitter

kg01 · Post #139 » by **kg01** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:58 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:This dude is along time elected official and member of congress.

It makes me both furious and heartbroken that people not only feel this way, but now feel empowered to spread this ignorance.

Read on Twitter

Want to hear something even more frightening? I read that initially thinking it was an American politician that said it ... and I didn't feel the least bit surprised to see those kinds of statements being made publicly.

Post #140 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:05 pm

kg01 wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:This dude is along time elected official and member of congress.

It makes me both furious and heartbroken that people not only feel this way, but now feel empowered to spread this ignorance.

Read on Twitter

Want to hear something even more frightening? I read that initially thinking it was an American politician that said it ... and I didn't feel the least bit surprised to see those kinds of statements being made publicly.

Sadly, Steven King is an American Congressman from Iowa. And he's repeated/retweeted these sentiments loudly and proudly.

:nonono: