Sam Cassell Appreciation Thread

[mkwest]

Sam-I-Am bids farewell to the Clipper Nation to move on to "greener" pastures. Throughout Clipper Nation, the loss of Sam has had a big impact on us all. Many Clipper fans have a wide variety of feelings on Sam as he has made his exit. Some positive and some not so positive. Aside from all of that, there is not one fan who has not enjoyed his time with us. 3 Summers ago Sam was traded to the Clippers. He brought moxie, fight, heart, a desire to win, confidence, and swagger.

He led a Clipper team that had not seen post-season action in 9 years to the playoffs, while propelling the Clippers to their best record while in Los Angeles. Not only did we make the playoffs, but we advanced to the second round for the first time since the Buffalo days.

The feisty little old floor general will always be a Clipper favorite of mine. He said he knew how to win, he talked a big game and he backed it up. He showed the Clippers how to win. Thanks for the memories Sam.

Even in the not so great times, I always got a kick out of your patented on the court antics. Even the seasoned vets fall for 'em. Good Luck this season and go get 'em in the playoffs like only you can.




http://youtube.com/watch?v=YA7l9KAajAs

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Thanks for all that you've done Sam. You won't be forgotten by Clipper Nation. He taught us how to win and he brought some respectability to the franchise. May we part on good terms.

[PlinkingPanda]

Thank you and good luck on your next team Sam. I'm kinda hoping he takes Dunleavy's spot as head coach when he decides to retire.

[Truthiracy]

I really wish the Clippers run lasted longer than that one year, and I definitely wanted your team to beat the Suns in the playoffs a couple years back.

Looks like Sam will be coming to Boston, I look forward to watching him play in a Celtics uniform.

[JJ LoDuca]

Sammy Baby... :'(
I thought he'd retire as a Clipper, and what hurts the most is that he may have if EB had never gone down.

I'll never forget him sealing the win in Game 6 against Phoenix with that big 3-ball, and doing the big balls dance on the way back down the court...it was my birthday!

No Clipper ever provided a better interview than Sam. His tone plus the things he comes up with make for unforgettable sound bite.

He gave our team heart, and I hope his swagger rubbed off on the players he mentored in the short time he was here. I hope we haven't seen the last of him in Clipper Nation and he returns as a coach!!

[mj_shoefanatic]

Props to Sam-I-Am for 05/06

[loflin3hree5ive]

i still credit sam for changing the culture in clipper-town. watching the guys short-handed play their butts off in denver last night shows me sam's influence has carried over already into the post-sam era.

the playoff run sam guided us through two season ago was magical. all-time great coach phil jackson summed up sam's influence on the clippers pretty easily, as he said "as sam cassell goes, the clippers go". thanks for being the balls of the team sam. i'll be rooting for sam as i know he will be rooting for the clippers.