Lakers - The Evil Empire (2006-07 Season)

[kibaxx7]

Man! Lenard's a zombie??? He traspassed Grant!!!!

[selwyth]

I know!

Oh my God, he stabbed Grant!

[HonorGlow]

...now back for the Christmas Season!

...from the annals of the 2005 Birdie Project: (info)
selwyth's LA Lakers 2004-05 end of season Birdie Breakdown:



As the newly dubbed front-man for the Lakes, selwyth's Kobe Bryant took the new role in stride and led the team for team MVP honors with a weighted Birdie score of 20.83- and his 'reversible' Live Card is enabled.

'reversible Live Card preview':


Parum-pa-pum-pum...:
This Dynasty is currently ranked #4 on the 2005 Birdie Board.
(Quite the accomplishment among all the other solid Dynasties!)

For the complete 'Birdie Breakdown' AND to see Bryant's ' reversible' Live Card click here.

selwyth: Hope you do well in the Playoffs here! I'll keeping tabs on your "Top 10 dynasty" and don't forget to send your mid-season pstats for 05-06...so rock hard man!

[selwyth]

Thanks. The game's getting a little easy now that I'm used to playing the Lakers, so I have significantly reduced my shooting, stealing and blocking sliders in an attempt for more realistic stats. I play on All-Star (computer cheats too much on Superstar)

[selwyth]

Nuggets 88
Lakers 103

Lakers Rally from 20-point Deficit to Clinch Conference Title

Again, the Nuggets were in contention at the start of the 4th quarter, trailing 72-77, but blew their playoff chances with lackadaisical play down the stretch, allowing the Lakers to enter the NBA Finals for the 5th time in the last 6 years.

The Lakers had started poorly, shooting 31.7% from the field in the 1st quarter and missing their first 7 free throws. By the end of the quarter, they were down 27-15. The Nuggets continued their dominance after the break, building a 41-20 lead mid-way through the 2nd quarter.

But the Lakers were not out of it yet. With the support of the home crowd, the Lakers closed the quarter with a 24-8 run to only trail the Nuggets by 5 at the half. Lakers backup point guard Chucky Atkins sparked the run with 2 consecutive baskets, and scored 6 points during the run to lead the Lakers' comeback.

After the break, point guard TJ Ford helped the Lakers close the distance, scoring 6 points off fast-break lay-ups as the Lakers tied the score at 54, led, and never looked back.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom was instrumental in the victory, scoring 28 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Lakers in both categories. Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, and Devean George added 18. Voshon Lenard paced the Nuggets with 23 points, and Carmelo Anthony added 16.

"Lenard played better today," General Manager Selwyth observed. "So we simply decided to screw over the rest of the team. And bully that little shorty on their team. It was fun seeing him get rejected so many times, and him keep trying. It's like watching Paris Hilton trying to get in my pants. Haha! Hah!"

The Lakers suffered a setback late in the 1st quarter when backup forward Brian Cook was injured on Lenard's drive to the basket. He broke a bone in his left arm and will be out for 6 weeks, ruling him out of the NBA Finals.

[selwyth]

NBA Western Conference Finals Game 2 Highlights


Bryant makes a 3-pointer out of a triple team to start the 4th quarter.


George's fast-break dunk off a turnover from Boykins ball-hog.

[selwyth]

NBA Finals Preview

Lakers vs Heat. Kobe vs Shaq. It is the NBA Finals match-up everybody would have liked to see at the beginning of the season, but little imagined that it would actually materialize.

Both teams struggled in the early stages of the season with new line-ups after the blockbuster trade in the off-season which sent O'Neal from the Lakers to the Heat, and got Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler suiting up in Laker jerseys. The Lakers started 4-5 before finally settling into their running game and stringing consecutive victories together. The Heat fared even worse, having a 4-11 record at the All-Star Break and languishing in 2nd-last place in the Southeast Division. The lack of competitive teams in the Southeast Division helped the Heat, however, as it battled back after the All-Star Break and qualified for the playoffs with a 12-17 record, beating the Lakers 111-107 in the process. Fans and officials had lobbied for Miami to be excluded from the playoffs because of their poor, sub-.500 record, but the NBA refused to budge. Instead, Miami, in spite of having only the 9th best record in the Eastern Conference, entered the finals as the 3rd seed in the East.

The NBA's confidence in the Heat has been rewarded, with Miami's march to the NBA finals.

"Everybody wrote us off," O'Neal, who was named Season MVP for his efforts in rejuvenating the franchise, said. "Them haters always do. They kept saying we were going to be watching the playoffs on TV, and that the Lakers were better than the Heat, yada yada. We shoved it all in their faces."

Lakers General Manager Selwyth is still writing O'Neal and the Heat off.

"This is a joke. A team with a losing record in the NBA Finals? And to think they have a division title too! But the joke will be on them in the end. We can't wait to send them packing back where they came from. Look at them, then look at us. We're gonna blow them out with ease. I mean: 12-17 record AND 3rd seed AND NBA Finals? I'm thankful that our easiest hurdle lies in the NBA Finals. We have triumphed over the more competitive West, and the Heat will just be the icing on the cake as we get another championship."

Major players in the series, besides Bryant and O'Neal, will include former Heat teammates Lamar Odom and Dwayne Wade.

"Odom has really stepped up to the plate in the postseason," Bryant had effusive words for the forward. "He has been covering my lapses, and his scoring has really made up for the slack from my other teammates. Make no mistake though: I am still, and always will be the leader of this team. Lamar would make a good vice-corporal though."

O'Neal was equally supportive of 2nd-year guard Wade.

"We have the Flash. And the Flash is powered by Diesel. It's season over for the Lakers, and I'm going to prove the stupidity of Lakers management. Jerry Buss will forever be known as the idiot who traded the Most Dominant Ever and his championship hopes away."

[selwyth]

Lakers 117
Heat 110

Kobe-Shaq Feud in Full Force as Lakers take 1-0 NBA Finals Lead

The NBA Finals opened in Miami with an explosive, fast-paced game, as the Lakers and Heat sought to gain an early advantage in the series. The Heat had a bad start, falling behind early in the 1st quarter 20-6 and trailing 34-48 midway in the 2nd quarter but after making up the deficit before the half, both teams were never separated by double digits.

The Lakers, however, never trailed en route to the victory. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 42 points, and Lamar Odom added 34 points and 11 rebounds. No other Laker finished in double digits. Eddie Jones had 32 points, Dwayne Wade had 19, Rasual Butler had 17 and Shaquille O'Neal added 18 points on 9/10 shooting and 18 rebounds.

The game was not without its share of controversy, as had been expected with the Kobe-Shaq rivalry. Midway through the 2nd quarter, when the Heat were in the midst of their rally, Bryant pulled down a defensive rebound in front of O'Neal. He then turned around and threw the ball at O'Neal's face, to the chagrin of the Miami supporters in the arena.

"He wants to play dirty like that, fine," O'Neal was irate in a half-time interview. "But he'd better watch out. He's a corvette and I'm a brick wall. He tries to crash me like that again, and he'll be the one broken in half."

Bryant downplayed the incident. "I was trying to pass to Devean [George] for a potential fast break. I did a quick pass once I turned around, and didn't expect Shaq to be there."

Both players exchanged heated words, but were separated by the officials. The incident was deemed to be unintentional and play continued.

"That's bulls***," Heat coach Stan van Gundy spoke of the incident. "Kobe could feel Shaq with his butt when he tried to box him out. Didn't know Shaq was behind him? He was just looking for a cheap way to slow our momentum."

For the most part though, the Lakers avoided O'Neal on offense, settling for outside shots. That tactic proved devastating, as the Lakers went 13 for 24 from beyond the arc, while the Heat only made 5 for 14. The difference allowed the Lakers to clinch the game despite making fewer field goals and having a worse shooting percentage.

"That's cheap," O'Neal had to say of the Lakers' sharpshooting. "They completely dismantled their inside game because of me. They were afraid of me, so they betrayed their usual game. They betrayed their fans with their decision to make long jumpers, and all because they're afraid of me, the Most Dominant Ever."

Of the next game, O'Neal had this warning to offer the Lakers.

"Today, you guys were lucky to make your outside shots. Won't ever stay the same. Sooner or later in this series, you'll start missing and have to battle inside against me, and that's when you guys will start wishing Diesel was back in L.A."

The Lakers' sharpshooting led to a season-high 34 assists.

"Our passing game was on," Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We took advantage of O'Neal's unwillingness to come out of the paint, and moved the ball quickly around to confuse the defense."

Bryant, who shot 4 for 9 from three-point territory, benefitted from several picks by center Vlade Divac in which O'Neal did not come out to challenge him.

"He's lazy," Bryant said of O'Neal. "Everybody knows it, and I'm the only one to do something about it. If he wants to win, he'd better be willing to respond when I run the picks. Or maybe he's just scared that I'll break his ankles if he switches on me."

The Lakers will try to clinch the NBA Championship when the series goes to Los Angeles on Saturday.

[selwyth]

NBA Finals Game 1 Highlights


Bryant throws the ball at O'Neal. Was it intentional or not?


George strips O'Neal of the ball.


Bryant makes a 3-pointer after losing Jones in a Divac pick and O'Neal is nowhere to be found.


Bryant drives to the basket off another Divac pick and finds O'Neal waiting in the paint.

[scj]

Good stuff.

Hopefully they win tomorrow!

[Donatello]

i actually tanked the playoffs the first season of my nets dynasty on purpose- i didn't want to win the championship my first year- then what will you build to? but go for it if you want it

[selwyth]

I was ready to tank it against the Spurs

And I'd seriously consider tanking it if it wasn't the Heat in the Finals. But no, Shaq cannot have the last laugh.

Anyway, I can always build to the longest streak of NBA Championships ever .

[Micchy_boy]

nice job making it to the finals. hope you win it....

honestly i dont like the idea of tanking your season just to make your dynasty intersting. if your team or your skill have the capability to win the trophy on your 1sr season then go for it. you dont have to lose it just to make your dynasty interesting.

winning on your 1st season only be a rewarding feeling after so many game you played and recap you post so if you can win it , win it and dont let everyone think be a factor in winninng or tanking your champoinship dream.

and yeah you can still try making a new Lakers dynasty...

[selwyth]

Point taken.

Heat 108
Lakers 92

Heat Forces Game 3

Heat center Shaquille O'Neal warned the Lakers of over-reliance on the jump-shot, and his words proved true. The Lakers shot a dismal 37.8% from the field, including 35.6% in the first half, and never recovered as they trailed the Heat from start to finish.

Kobe Bryant scored 35 points, and Lamar Odom scored 20 to lead the Lakers. Dwayne Wade had 28 points to lead the Heat.

"This is what I'm talking about," O'Neal, who was held to 15 points, said after the game. "It's just a pity we won't get to play Game 3 in Staples. I'd like to see the looks on everybody's faces when they see me win the championship and they start throwing up the 'what if's. What if Shaq had stayed in L.A? What it Kobe hadn't been so selfish?"

Bryant was unfazed by the comments. "It was just a lapse. We were going to go through it sooner or later. My team's gotta step up. I didn't let up, with 35 points and 6 assists. My teammates have to realize that I won't let them win a championship so easily. They have to earn it."

On defense, the Lakers have been found wanting against the lightning-quick Heat, conceding over 100 points in back-to-back games. The only consolation is that O'Neal was held to only 15 points after scoring just 18 in the series-opener.

"I don't care," O'Neal said of his dip in production. "The Lakers want to throw three people on me, let them. My perimeter guys will get the job done. This is a team game, and unfortunately for the Lakers, somebody on their team doesn't know what that means."

General Manager Selwyth had his own warning to give the Heat by the end of the game.

"They should stop celebrating, and realize that they haven't won the series yet," he said. "Kobe is going to go berserk in the next game: I can feel it. And we have a surprise in store. The precious will be mine! Mine! Ours!"

The deciding Game 3 will be played XX days from now in Miami.

[selwyth]

Lakers 115
Heat 109

Lakers Outlast Shooting Blitz; Become 2005 NBA Champions

The Miami Heat have earned the dubious disgrace of staging of one of the biggest collapses in NBA Finals history.

With slightly over 2 minutes to go, sophomore sensation Dwayne Wade made a 3-pointer, the last of his 34 points, to give the Heat a 107-100 lead and send the home supporters wild.

Then emerged one of the unlikeliest Laker heroes ever: TJ Ford, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in a mid-season trade.

After Bryant had passed to Odom for a dunk on the ensuing possession to bring the Lakers within 5, Ford pressured Wade and stole the inbound pass. He immediately did a quick pass to Odom, who connected on his second alley-oop dunk from a Ford pass. Then, Odom intercepted a pass in midcourt and passed to Ford for a breakaway lay-up.

The entire game-changing sequence took only about 30 seconds, as the Lakers found themselves within 1: 106-107, with 1:30 left in the game.

After the Heat was unable to convert after a timeout, Bryant sank a jumper to give the Lakers their first lead since early in the 4th quarter. The Heat was not out of it yet though, with Eddie Jones helping the Heat regain the lead with a jumper of his own. But the lead was short-lived when Bryant responded on the other end.

With 35 seconds left in the game and the Heat desperately needing to score, center Shaquille O'Neal tried to fight through a double-team. He ended up losing the ball to Bryant, who fired the ball down the court. Forward Devean George raced down the court and converted on the fast break to give the Lakers a 112-109 lead. The Heat was never able to score again in the game, with free throws from Bryant and Odom icing the victory and completing the spectacular comeback.

GM Selwyth's promised "surprise" turned out to be Chris Mihm starting at center for the Lakers to hone his defensive skills against O'Neal. It did not make much of a difference, and the the Lakers trailed for most of the high-scoring game, lagging behind 30-32 at the end of the first quarter, 60-63 at the half and 82-89 by the end of the third. The Lakers threatened to take over the game when they started the 4th quarter with a 12-1 run, but the Heat got back into the game and threatened to run away with it, until Ford's clutch steal. Instead, the Lakers are the ones celebrating with their fourth NBA championship in six years and their first without a certain dominant center in the paint.

"You see? In basketball, you just need to keep it simple," a jubilant Bryant said after the game. "Last year, our superstar team just complicated things. This year, it is just me, and I carried the team on my shoulders, like I always have done. I'm a trooper, and the Lakers are my armor. We're starting a new era, a new dynasty."

Bryant was essential in the victory, scoring 47 points. His impressive post-season averages of 35.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.50 spg and 1.00 bpg were enough for him to be named 2005 NBA Finals MVP. He also shot a lethal 54.9% from the field and 37.9% from three-point territory during the playoffs.

"Playoffs are about stepping up," Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "And Kobe did, big time. He led the team beautifully, and deserves the trophy."

O'Neal probably does not know about stepping up. He posted only 13 points, but grabbed 19 rebounds.

"My teammates were not giving me enough touches," O'Neal, who shot 6 for 8 from the field, complained after the game. "For stretches of the game, I thought that corvette was back on my team. Then I realized it was just Flash. Flash better learn how to play team ball. There is only a number of ballhogging guards which I can tolerate in my career."

To Bryant, this victory is that much more significant because of the bad blood between him and O'Neal and critics' dismissal earlier in the season of the Lakers even entering the playoffs, let alone winning the whole thing.

"I am absolutely speechless for this moment," Bryant said during the post-game interview. "Of my four championships, this has to be the best, because nobody can now say that I didn't earn it. I've proved I can do it without Shaq, and that I was the one helping us win the last 3, not him. Justice, I have found on this day, is not blind."

The triumph is also remarkable for Tomjanovich and Lakers General Manager Selwyth, who both struck gold in their first season at Los Angeles.

"This shows how great of a GM I am," Selwyth said after the award presentation. "I have the Midas touch. Kobe did it for us on the court, but I did it behind the scenes. Like, look at Ford's clutch performance. Give the boy some credit, but never forget that I was the one who initiated and closed the trade that brought Ford to L.A. I urge people all over the world to remember me as the driving force of the Lakers juggernaut and the instant savior of a moribund franchise."

Odom, who scored 30 points and passed for 8 assists, was awestruck with the magnitutde of the Lakers' achievement.

"It's cool, dawg. Way cool. Really cool. I mean, it's cool to kiss Larry [O'Brien]. I've never felt so turned on after kissing a man."

But Bryant had the last laugh of them all.

"Hey, Gary [Payton], Karl [Malone], Shaq. Ya see this bling? Don't you haters keeping putting it on me no more, because time has spoken. I am the best player of you all, and because of that, my team is the best in the league. Nobody else compares to us." Selwyth chimed in, "YOU ALL SUCK!"

[selwyth]

NBA Finals Game 3


The crucial fast break that put the Lakers up 112-109 with 30 seconds left to play


Scenes after the final whistle

[selwyth]

Divac Retires

7/1/2005 - After winning the NBA Championship last June with the Lakers, center Vlade Divac is calling it a career. He officially announced his retirement from professional basketball earlier today.

Divac spent most of his early years with the Lakers, before being traded to the Sacramento Kings. He had a productive time there, but did not win any major silverware until he returned to Los Angeles last summer. He started in all but one of the Lakers' games, and contributed with his rebounding (especially on the offensive end), passing and ability to outfox younger, inexperienced defenders.

"I had already been thinking of it for quite some time," Divac said of his decision. "So why not now, at the highlight of my career? I'm going out on a high, and I'm grateful to the Lakers for giving me this opportunity. I never expected to get this ring at the twilight of my career."

Divac, however, did not have good parting words for now-former teammates Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant.

"I don't want to say too much, now that we actually won a championship, but I can say that Odom and Kobe were not reasons for me to keep playing. Even if there might be more championships along the way."

Divac refused to elaborate when pressed for more information.

Lakers GM Selwyth was dismissive of Divac's lash at his former teammates.

"All I can say is: good riddance. He got a ring with so little contribution, and he's complaining? People like him who don't deserve their rings should just shut up and be grateful for their luck of hopping on the right bandwagon at the right time."

"Divac was a great friend and teammate," Lakers guard TJ Ford spoke of him, before Kobe Bryant walked over and whispered something in Ford's ear. "But he was also an outcast in the locker room. He just didn't socialize, and his feet stink. All in all, I think he was a bad friend and teammate."

Regardless of the manner of his departure, Divac remains one of the fortunate ones who retired after winning a championship. A look at players on other teams who are moving on to greener pastures.

Kevin Willis, ATL
S. Williams, CLE (who the hell?)
Derrick Coleman, DET
Clifford Robinson, GS
Corie Blount, GS
Dikembe Mutombo, CHI
Reggie Miller, IND
Darrell Armstrong, NO
Stacey Augmon, ORL
Tony Massenburg, SA

[selwyth]

Off-season News:

No huge changes around the league. Kirilenko, Gasol and Grant Hill were all re-signed by their teams after initial talks fell through and they tested the free-agent market. The Bobcats signed a lot of players.

I drafted Mitch Dickerson (shot-blocking PF) and Cordell Bowie (6'6" PG, very quick, and excellent potential). They had 55 and 53 ratings, which rose to 58 and 57 after training camp. I also signed undrafted PG Damian Beranek (excellent potential) for a year, and will keep tabs on his progress. He's risen from 47 to 49. 3 young, explosive players at the PG position now (they're all slashers and passers who can't shoot though).

No players regressed. Bryant stayed the same. Odom went from 77 to 81. Mihm went from 55 to 58. Atkins went from (I dun remember) to 58. Brian Cook from 55 to 65. George from 66 to 71. Walton from 58 to 63. Jones from 58 to 60. Rush from 57 to 61. Medvendenko from 55 to 57. Grant stayed the same. Ford from 61 to 64.

Team rating went from 90 to 97. Nearly every team's rating went up due to the very high draft depth.

[Micchy_boy]

nice job winning the trophy... what a comeback!!!
about the off-season nice to see lakers players rating almost everyone goes up.
and about Cordell Bowie (6'6" PG, very quick, and excellent potential). i also have him in my dynasty, projected 2nd round but have excellent potential and im gonna draft him using my charlotte pick i got from rush trade.

[selwyth]

Lakers 93
Bucks 99

Significant MIL roster changes:
- Signed Antonio Daniels (67)

Defending Champions Drop Season Opener

10/31/2005 - After last season's roller-coaster ride to the NBA Championship, the Lakers started the 2006 season on a dismal note, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The fast-breaking Bucks were too quick for the Lakers to handle, and the Lakers did not help their cause, taking 100 shots but only making 38 of them. Michael Redd paced the Bucks with 35 points and thoroughly outplayed Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was held to only 18 points and 5 assists. Bryant had scored 14 in the first quarter.

"Redd is a one-hit wonder," Bryant said of the rising star. "Come crunch time, he'll realize that he's the one on the sub-.500 team and we are the ones going to the NBA Finals once again."

The one bright spot for the Lakers was 3rd-year forward Brian Cook, who came off the bench to score 16 points. Rookie Mitch Dickerson also impressed, posting 9 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in limited minutes. He is expected to contest Brian Grant for the starting center position in the Lakers' next game against the Phoenix Suns after incumbent Chris Mihm was injured late in the 1st quarter with a sore elbow. He is expected to be out for 6 days.

[ShivaSquad]

awesome recaps good sense of humor u had me laughing out loud several times (shaq-kobe) lol

[selwyth]

Check out this PF Milwaukee drafted (Tsikishba or something). I dub him "God Face".


I have never done any .dbf editing.

And he cost me the game against Milwaukee, because I drew Joe Smith's 5th personal midway in the 4th quarter, when I was leading, so God Face came in, and he kept BLOCKING THE SCREEN at crucial times (e.g. when I was going up for a shot), so I couldn't see what I was doing. Arghhh.

And check out Robert Swift dunking the ball. Yes, his arm went through the glass. Alert!


And something that looks almost normal. Mitch Dickerson, the Laker rookie, aka The Man Behind the Iron Veil, rejects Amare Stoudamire.


3 bugs in 3 games in Season 2. I wonder if the game just goes wonky after you complete 1 season.

Note: I don't recap every single regular-season game. The schedule on the first page provides the most up-to-date results.

[selwyth]

Suns 94
Lakers 95

Bryant Shrugs Off Injury to Lead Lakers to Victory

11/6/2005 - Lakers star Kobe Bryant "only" scored 29 points in the Lakers' victory over the Suns, but came through when it most mattered. He scored 18 points in the 4th quarter, including all 10 of the Lakers' points in the last two minutes to cap off an amazing clutch performance.

Bryant had earlier been injured in the 2nd quarter after coming into contact with Suns forward Quentin Richardson. He missed significant minutes, but made the most out of his time in the court. With 2 minutes left, the Suns led 91-87. Bryant made a jumper on the first possession, stole the ball on the next in the backcourt for another easy basket and drove to the rim for a dunk to put the Lakers up 93-91 with 38 seconds to play.

Joe Johnson made a 3-pointer for the Suns as the shot clock wound down, restoring the Suns lead at 94-93 as the Lakers took a timeout with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

Bryant received the inbound pass and bounced the ball for about 8 seconds before making his move. He penetrated into the paint off a pick by Chris Mihm, but immediately found himself smothered by three Suns players. He made the kick out to Devean George, who passed to Mihm on the perimeter. As Bryant shook off his marker, he received Mihm's pass, did a crossover dribble to confuse Johnson and pulled up for an 18-footer. The ball found the net with 0.2 seconds remaining on the clock, giving the Lakers the close victory.

"Another fantastic performance by Kobe," Lakers GM Selwyth was pleased after the game. "And that much more intriguing if you consider that he played through his injury. The man's unstoppable."

Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich, however, was not impressed.

"We're the defending champions, yet we opened our season with a road loss, and struggled to beat Phoenix, who didn't make it to the playoffs last year. We have to focus and make sure we do a valiant effort of defending our title."

The game also saw the debut of Lakers rookie Cordell Bowie, who impressed with his quickness off the dribble. He blew past Suns guard Steve Nash on numerous occasions to drive to the basket. Rookie Mitch Dickerson also did well as a starter, posting 2 blocks and 5 assists.

Lamar Odom paced the Lakers with 31 points, while Joe Johnson led the Suns with 27. Steve Nash only managed 7 points and 6 assists and picked up an injury in the 4th quarter. He will be out for more than a week with a sore thumb. Bryant will miss some minutes in the next few days due to the sore shoulder he suffered in the game, but is not expected to sit out any games.

[scj]

"Divac was a great friend and teammate," Lakers guard TJ Ford spoke of him, before Kobe Bryant walked over and whispered something in Ford's ear. "But he was also an outcast in the locker room. He just didn't socialize, and his feet stink. All in all, I think he was a bad friend and teammate."

[bryantK]

LOL nice