Kevin Durant, Starburys, Text Messaging
L8R BONZI…TTYS!
First of all, if you haven’t checked out the latest column from SLAMonline’s Etan Thomas, you really should. Etan wrote a piece calling for the firing of Don Imus, and he did a great job on the column.
I originally got in touch with Etan through SLAM columnist Dave Zirin. (And if you don’t read Dave, you should. His website is here.) Dave knew Etan had thoughts that ran deeper than the average NBA player, and that Etan was looking for someplace to help him express those thoughts. So Etan and I hooked up and cut a deal: Whenever he had something he felt he needed to write about, we’d run it. That was that.
The funniest thing about all this is that Etan and I mostly correspond through email. He sends me his columns, I edit them and post them. And when he’s got a column idea brewing he usually sends me a text message to run it by me. The thing is, Etan always sends text messages to my home phone number instead of my cell phone. So late Sunday night, the phone rang and Etan’s name and number came up on the caller ID. Wifey handed me the phone because she didn’t recognize the name. Well, I recognized the name, because it said “ETAN THOMAS.” I answered and a computerized voice read the text message to me.
Etan might not have the complexities of text messaging down, but I think he’s a heckuva writer, NBA player or not. And I’m glad he’s on the SLAM team.
More on texting later…
• Went by the Garden last night for the Pistons/Knicks game, but not to actually go to the game — just wanted to swing through and see a few folk before tip-off. In the Pistons locker room, I don’t know who was acting as DJ but they had an ill iPod playlist going; when I walked in Pete Rock and CL Smooth was on blast. Sheed was walking around in a wifebeater and jeans. He gave me a pound, but before I could ask him about Need4Sheed he hustled away.
Then I popped into the Knicks locker room and got into a serious conversation with Kelvin Cato about the Braves starting pitching rotation and new bullpen setup. I knew Cato was from Atlanta but had never really talked to him before. He’s a big Braves and baseball fan — he even went to opening day at Yankee Stadium.
And did you know Cato never played a minute of high school basketball? (He admitted that he was kind of a “knucklehead” back then.) Cato played summer league his junior and senior year, which is where he was spotted by Iowa State. As Cato noted, 6-10 guys who can hit 15-footers are always in demand.
This all devolved into a long argument with Knicks PR dude Vince Jackson about the Braves and Mets, about whether it’s better to win 14 consecutive division championships and one World Series or to win one division championship and one World Series. Didn’t seem like much of an argument to me and Cato.
• The folks at Starbury finally send me a box of gear the other day, so yesterday I rolled out a new pair of Cyclone IIs. (I didn’t realize I was also wearing a LeBron James track jacket yesterday. One of the Knicks ballboys asked me if it was my “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along” outfit. Yes, I told him, it was.)
I’ve been curious about these shoes for a while, so it was very cool to be able to actually put them on and wear them around all day. And when I left the Garden it was actually pretty nice out, so I ended up just walking home about 50 blocks in my Starburys. Figured I might as well put them to the test.
And the verdict? I liked them a lot. They were lightweight, comfortable, and a day later I don’t have a sore foot or anything like that. So I’m officially down with the cause. Thanks, Steve and Barry’s.
• Here’s a random idea: Should we get our people at undrcrwn to make SLAM editorial staff starting five t-shirts? I’m not sure how well a shirt would sell that reads…
ben
khalid
lang
sam
susan
My parents would probably buy one. Probably.
• Hey, Kevin Durant is going pro. Anyone surprised?
• Glad to hear that Bonzi Wells is back in the news, although it’s weird that it went down in this fashion. Bonzi decided he was being a distraction to the Rockets, so he sent a text message to the trainer and didn’t show for the game. This is similar to how Ron Artest text-messaged his teammates recently to tell them that he was going to retire. Text messaging is the new press conference.
I wonder if these guys type in shortcuts?
IM BENG DISTRACTION…NT COMNG TO GME 2NIGHT…L8R…TTYS?
Do they have full keyboards? Are they really sending emails from their phones and the reporters just don’t know the difference? This might have to be the next Tech Corner column in SLAM.
• And it’s certainly not funny that James Posey was arrested for a DUI, but it is kind of strange that he was in the drunk tank along with Florida Panthers goalie Eddie Belfour. The NBA side will probably get a lot more attention, even though Belfour did a Dale Davis and got tagged with a taser, but that’s what happens when nobody cares about hockey.
32 Responses to “Kevin Durant, Starburys, Text Messaging”
Apr.10 at 4:27 pm
The Crack Staff @ Perkisabeast.com says:
Avoiding the Cost: A Story of Interaction Avoidence and It’s Thumb-Qwerty Practitioners The sent text is vital
to all those who practice
subtle poetry Perk is a Beast
Apr.10 at 4:33 pm
white hot eboy says:
Lang, feelin’ you on the Starbury comments. His shoes are nice, and the rest of his line is pretty dope also. Posey never seemed like he had drunken tendencies but maybe that explains his various flagrant fouls against the Bulls. He might have a favorite bar that he wants to cut out early to to get his drink on for the flights back to MIA.
Apr.10 at 4:57 pm
Chief says:
wow Eddie Belfour what ever happened to him. I go this Rookie card in my house somewhere. James Posey…whatevs. I got in trouble with the cops last night too. Maybe it was just one of those days.
Apr.10 at 4:59 pm
Duckets killin' 'em says:
I’m kinda bummed about Durant & Julian Wright bouncing, can’t blame them though.
Apr.10 at 5:03 pm
Reggie Evans says:
if you want the most marketable shirt, it would be : lang & sam & khalid & russ & omar
Apr.10 at 5:06 pm
rob stewart says:
My Starbury Crossovers are still holding up nicely. Go nuggets!
Apr.10 at 5:09 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
That would be amazing if Bonzi started the message IM BENG DISTRACTION. Didn’t he get suspended from the Grizzlies in the middle of a playoff series? He has really bad timing. I do hope he gets the psychiatric help he needs.
Warren Moon just joined the DUI club.
Apr.10 at 5:16 pm
Mike says:
Anybody know where I can get some Starbury court shoes up in Canada?
Apr.10 at 5:19 pm
blake wright says:
Think Starbury would sponsor me if I opted to wear those kicks in a marathon this summer? I need some new running shoes and I’ve been thinking about grabbing these for some lighter training…don’t think they’d feel good for 26.2 miles, though.
Apr.10 at 5:22 pm
TheHype says:
IM BENG DISTRACTION –> *that* should totally be on a t-shirt
Apr.10 at 5:37 pm
albie1kenobi says:
since durant is gonna be in the draft, does that mean Oden will have to declare too, Ryan?
definitely enjoyed Etan’s column. way way way better written than a lot of crap online.
i actually wish bonzi is still sane enough to play. remember the trouble he was causing Spurs last year’s first round? in playoff it’s all about matchups.
Apr.10 at 5:38 pm
Joe says:
Britney’s dating Luke Walton….this should be interesting. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/210255/britney_dating_basketball_star.html
Apr.10 at 5:59 pm
dma says:
i think it’s funny that the nba has an exclusive partnership with tmobile, but half of the blazers have sprint (crackberrys and treos that i’ve seen)
Apr.10 at 6:20 pm
Reggie Evans says:
is there still a shirt for sale that reads “BOTH TEAMS PLAYED HARD”?
Apr.10 at 6:29 pm
Reggie Evans says:
never mind. found it at needforsheed
Apr.10 at 9:58 pm
Natalie says:
Thanks Lang I actually saw Sheed tonight and gave him a Ball Don’t lie T-Shrit.
Apr.10 at 11:16 pm
Young Chris says:
How come Shaq never gets mentioned for his Dunkman shoes?
Apr.10 at 11:52 pm
Co Co says:
Shaq’s shoes are too shiny.
Apr.11 at 4:52 am
uamini says:
There should be a limited edition Omar movie shirt that reads gangsta & gangsta & gangsta & gangsta & gangsta
Apr.11 at 4:57 am
Drolfe says:
The acronym TTYS makes me think of word TITTIES!!! Like some big breasted lady walked past the texter just as he was wrapping up his message.
Apr.11 at 7:34 am
Bigi says:
Belfour and Posey…I think they arrested Ville Peltonen too in that Belfour-Taser-Case he is a Panter too(Go Finland!!)…Acording to finnish news he attacted a fire truck and ripped off a handle or something…Weird things are happenin’?Ville made a Melo-like public-apologise…They all do that!!!
Apr.11 at 8:17 am
Ryan Jones says:
Albie, I’d imagine we’ll find out about Oden soon enough. And you can certainly expect me to commen on it either way.
Apr.11 at 8:44 am
Joe says:
LANG! You went to a Rangers’ game last year and proclaimed on your SI page that you’re a hockey fan. Why rip into the sport now? Where’s the f***** love?
Apr.11 at 8:56 am
Redrum says:
Oden vs. Durant #44556600932: A once every 15 years center (which Oden seems to be) will most likely win you a ring. A once every 4 years winger (which Durant seems to be) could (possibly… sometimes… if lucky enough to get some quality pieces around him…) win you a ring.
Apr.11 at 9:01 am
Boing Dynasty says:
The Glory that is the Canadian media’s take on the posey/belfour story was remarkable. They posted the picture with the 2 stars of the evening (doing there best googley eyed ice grill) and then didnt mention Posey’s name once. Brilliant.
Side: When pulled over by police on a previous DUI stop, Belfour offered said police man a 1 Billion dollar bribe. Seriously. Thats a “B”.
Apr.11 at 11:32 am
YOUR BEARD LOOK STRONG aka PIMPN says:
what happened with melo??????????????????????? julian wright will be the 3rd pick in the draft
Apr.11 at 2:02 pm
Dblizzy! says:
Julian Wright is gonna flop.
Apr.11 at 2:04 pm
Cheez says:
Lang… another great shot of Dunleavy Jr. from Pacers/Sixers last night: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20070411_Sixers_young_lineup_holds_off_the_Pacers.html
Apr.11 at 2:10 pm
YOUR BEARD LOOK STRONG aka PIMPN says:
dblizzy? is your real name jay bilas? have you watched him play at all? 6-8, handles, athleticism, defense, killer midrange game. he really only needs to refine his outside shot and get a little bigger. but that is said about everyone going into the L
Apr.11 at 5:03 pm
Dblizzy! says:
Your Beard- LOL I like how you threw that in at the end. I am Jay Bilas, disguised as DBlizzy! here on slamonline to hate on every underclass prospect not from Duke. On the real though, I did see him play a lot this year, and he has all the tools you noted, but he’s horribly inconsistent. He shows flashes one moment, then he looks like a role player the next. An he’ll do that, not only from game to game, but from half to half, even timeout to timeout. He’s at a good school with a good coach and I think he could use at least another year just to learn the game more. Sure he’ll make a couple mil by coming out, but I don’t think he’ll have a good career. But what do I know, I’m not paid for my opinion so it doesn’t really matter. I wish him well!
Apr.11 at 5:03 pm
Rodney says:
Please, Please, Please, Please have undrcrwn make that shirt; and have the SLAM logo on the back up by the neck! I would buy it in a heartbeat!
Apr.17 at 11:07 am
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