Moderators: LyricalRico, nate33, montestewart
ozthegap wrote:And why would someone that is already part of that front office deserve a promotion at this point? How would this make things better for us?
ozthegap wrote:And if they did do it this way and hired someone who's only job was to build a great team, what about hiring a media analyst for the job? They have connections in every team's front office, they monitor every teams moves for a living, they monitor league trends, they have connections with players and their agents, they know who's who in coaching, and they aren't stuck in the ways the front office they gained experience in, did things.
"I hate sports now. It is largely because of these two men, and how they starkly revealed to me why sports is a vile business and one I want no part in. Today is a prime example why, and I refuse to let them off the hook like so many others who are still in the media today, and are in the pocket of Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld."
"I have not watched the Washington Wizards play in three months. Oh I’m aware they’ve won five straight games to end the season. Of course they have, because this is what they always do under Ernie Grunfeld. Ted Leonsis will smile and nod and scold the critics for their lack of empathy. I do have empathy. I have empathy for whoever bought the season tickets I finally gave up this year because I couldn’t stand it anymore. Those who bought into the con-game of Ernie Grunfeld and Ted Leonsis."
"I have left the media for good, so I have no agenda. These will be the last words I ever write about this team, because they’re dead to me as long as Ernie Grunfeld occupies that office."
"There’s no way to convey appropriately the incredible losing culture that Grunfeld has cultivated without being there yourself. As I’ve said, it drove me to such anger to see players and staff fail so miserably yet act with such incredible nonchalance, all with the pleased eye of Grunfeld overseeing this atrocity. There’s no possible reason that any owner within his right mind and trying to win a title would bring back this man who has further defiled a franchise that already was one of the most embarrassing in sports. He gets credit for building a playoff team – but that was years and years ago, and even those teams underachieved because the same culture that has this team a bottom feeder now was pervasive even then. It’s the Grunfeld way.
Ted Leonsis, as we’ve seen very clearly however, has no interest in building a title team. His interest is in proving anyone who ever questions him wrong. It’s why he called me into his office after I gave him a poor midseason grade last year (solely on the basis of allowing Grunfeld to further disembowel this organization – imagine what his grade would be now!). He can talk about wicked pixels and all that garbage all he wants – he had a chance to truly rebuild this franchise with John Wall, and instead he and his staff used John Wall as the reason to continue their sloth and cowardly operations. This is a franchise that is more terrified of winning because of the effort it entails, than it is of losing because they have become masters of blame and excuses."
BigA wrote:ozthegap wrote:And if they did do it this way and hired someone who's only job was to build a great team, what about hiring a media analyst for the job? They have connections in every team's front office, they monitor every teams moves for a living, they monitor league trends, they have connections with players and their agents, they know who's who in coaching, and they aren't stuck in the ways the front office they gained experience in, did things.
Do you have someone specific in mind? I'm no expert on possible GM candidates, but there have been lists posted and discussed on this board from time to time.
As for the media analyst, the one example I remember is from the NFL, when the Lions hired Matt Millen. Not to say that this approach wouldn't necessarily work in the NBA with the right person, but Millen is a cautionary example I think.
paulpressey25 wrote:Grunfeld can't last past May 1st this time----right?
AFM wrote:paulpressey25 wrote:Grunfeld can't last past May 1st this time----right?
The Teflon Don can't be taken down. He has tenure. Like a supreme court justice.
closg00 wrote:For guys on the board who are effectively done with supporting this team, recall how former Wizard reporter Jay Glassie gave up on the organzation as-well and gave his insider account. It appears hopeless unless Ted has changed. This from 2012 and nothing has changed."I hate sports now. It is largely because of these two men, and how they starkly revealed to me why sports is a vile business and one I want no part in. Today is a prime example why, and I refuse to let them off the hook like so many others who are still in the media today, and are in the pocket of Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld."
"I have not watched the Washington Wizards play in three months. Oh I’m aware they’ve won five straight games to end the season. Of course they have, because this is what they always do under Ernie Grunfeld. Ted Leonsis will smile and nod and scold the critics for their lack of empathy. I do have empathy. I have empathy for whoever bought the season tickets I finally gave up this year because I couldn’t stand it anymore. Those who bought into the con-game of Ernie Grunfeld and Ted Leonsis."
"I have left the media for good, so I have no agenda. These will be the last words I ever write about this team, because they’re dead to me as long as Ernie Grunfeld occupies that office."
"There’s no way to convey appropriately the incredible losing culture that Grunfeld has cultivated without being there yourself. As I’ve said, it drove me to such anger to see players and staff fail so miserably yet act with such incredible nonchalance, all with the pleased eye of Grunfeld overseeing this atrocity. There’s no possible reason that any owner within his right mind and trying to win a title would bring back this man who has further defiled a franchise that already was one of the most embarrassing in sports. He gets credit for building a playoff team – but that was years and years ago, and even those teams underachieved because the same culture that has this team a bottom feeder now was pervasive even then. It’s the Grunfeld way.
Ted Leonsis, as we’ve seen very clearly however, has no interest in building a title team. His interest is in proving anyone who ever questions him wrong. It’s why he called me into his office after I gave him a poor midseason grade last year (solely on the basis of allowing Grunfeld to further disembowel this organization – imagine what his grade would be now!). He can talk about wicked pixels and all that garbage all he wants – he had a chance to truly rebuild this franchise with John Wall, and instead he and his staff used John Wall as the reason to continue their sloth and cowardly operations. This is a franchise that is more terrified of winning because of the effort it entails, than it is of losing because they have become masters of blame and excuses."
montestewart wrote:AFM wrote:paulpressey25 wrote:Grunfeld can't last past May 1st this time----right?
The Teflon Don can't be taken down. He has tenure. Like a supreme court justice.
Does Grunfeld hunt?
closg00 wrote:For guys on the board who are effectively done with supporting this team, recall how former Wizard reporter Jay Glassie gave up on the organzation as-well and gave his insider account. It appears hopeless unless Ted has changed. This from 2012 and nothing has changed."I hate sports now. It is largely because of these two men, and how they starkly revealed to me why sports is a vile business and one I want no part in. Today is a prime example why, and I refuse to let them off the hook like so many others who are still in the media today, and are in the pocket of Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld."
"I have not watched the Washington Wizards play in three months. Oh I’m aware they’ve won five straight games to end the season. Of course they have, because this is what they always do under Ernie Grunfeld. Ted Leonsis will smile and nod and scold the critics for their lack of empathy. I do have empathy. I have empathy for whoever bought the season tickets I finally gave up this year because I couldn’t stand it anymore. Those who bought into the con-game of Ernie Grunfeld and Ted Leonsis."
"I have left the media for good, so I have no agenda. These will be the last words I ever write about this team, because they’re dead to me as long as Ernie Grunfeld occupies that office."
"There’s no way to convey appropriately the incredible losing culture that Grunfeld has cultivated without being there yourself. As I’ve said, it drove me to such anger to see players and staff fail so miserably yet act with such incredible nonchalance, all with the pleased eye of Grunfeld overseeing this atrocity. There’s no possible reason that any owner within his right mind and trying to win a title would bring back this man who has further defiled a franchise that already was one of the most embarrassing in sports. He gets credit for building a playoff team – but that was years and years ago, and even those teams underachieved because the same culture that has this team a bottom feeder now was pervasive even then. It’s the Grunfeld way.
Ted Leonsis, as we’ve seen very clearly however, has no interest in building a title team. His interest is in proving anyone who ever questions him wrong. It’s why he called me into his office after I gave him a poor midseason grade last year (solely on the basis of allowing Grunfeld to further disembowel this organization – imagine what his grade would be now!). He can talk about wicked pixels and all that garbage all he wants – he had a chance to truly rebuild this franchise with John Wall, and instead he and his staff used John Wall as the reason to continue their sloth and cowardly operations. This is a franchise that is more terrified of winning because of the effort it entails, than it is of losing because they have become masters of blame and excuses."
nate33 wrote:It's up to John Wall. He's the only man on the planet who can end this living nightmare.
John, if you are reading, please demand to Ted that EG be replaced. And if he isn't, vow to leave the team in 2018.
payitforward wrote:nate33 wrote:It's up to John Wall. He's the only man on the planet who can end this living nightmare.
John, if you are reading, please demand to Ted that EG be replaced. And if he isn't, vow to leave the team in 2018.
I don't think they care whether Wall leaves the team in 2018. Ernie thinks players are a dime a dozen. We'll have real high picks in 2017 and 2018, and we can rebuild again. There'll be a new "face of the franchise," etc.
No, there's only one thing can change this: fans have to stop going to the games, stop buying season tickets, stop supporting the team.
gambitx777 wrote:He has to go after this terrible trade that was made there is not way he survives his blunder this time. We are in danger of loosing a high pick and missing the playoffs and loosing KD. and even other high level free agent guys. This is almost a bigger mess than the Gilbert implosion and this time it is all 100% on EG.
jayscott wrote:gambitx777 wrote:He has to go after this terrible trade that was made there is not way he survives his blunder this time. We are in danger of loosing a high pick and missing the playoffs and loosing KD. and even other high level free agent guys. This is almost a bigger mess than the Gilbert implosion and this time it is all 100% on EG.
You know what? If Ernie can stay after the colossal disaster that is the Gil era then why would he leave now? The team is not nearly as in bad of shape now as they were back then. Ernie got two built in excuses for the horrible product they have given us this year: injuries and sub-par coaching. Ernie is coming back and he will be the one making all of this team's offseason signings. Ted doesn't care about how this team actually performs as long as they stay profitable. He's increased ticket prices again, lowered his operating costs with cheaper entertainment, less perks, and god knows what else. We're stuck with Ernie. And its worse than being stuck with Unseld because Ernie does just enough to keep his job around and he's been around much longer than Unseld has.
jayscott wrote:I dunno Nate....
I guess my thing with Ted is that I wonder if he cares nearly as much about this team as he does about the Caps. He has the GM and the head coach on limited contracts. Would this team for Ernie be considered a disaster or just bad luck? We all know Randy will probably be gone because of his failure to adapt to a new way of playing. But for Ernie, considering how much injuries have plagued the team and his activity in finding players that fit, do you really think that Ted will look at Ernie's body of work and honestly give him the boot? He did bring in young developing talent and he did prepare the team for a nice offseason. I know the results are horrid, but since he kept Ernie on when the team was in complete shambles, do you think he lets Ernie go this year based off of how he has followed the plan? I don't think so.
TheSecretWeapon wrote:jayscott wrote:I dunno Nate....
I guess my thing with Ted is that I wonder if he cares nearly as much about this team as he does about the Caps. He has the GM and the head coach on limited contracts. Would this team for Ernie be considered a disaster or just bad luck? We all know Randy will probably be gone because of his failure to adapt to a new way of playing. But for Ernie, considering how much injuries have plagued the team and his activity in finding players that fit, do you really think that Ted will look at Ernie's body of work and honestly give him the boot? He did bring in young developing talent and he did prepare the team for a nice offseason. I know the results are horrid, but since he kept Ernie on when the team was in complete shambles, do you think he lets Ernie go this year based off of how he has followed the plan? I don't think so.
Yep, this is very much how I read the situation.
