Is the World Ready for Stephen Jackson’s Captaincy?
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I still can’t get over the fact that Stephen Jackson will be wearing the proverbial “C” on his jersey this season. Yes, the man who escalated and took things to a legendarily stupid level during The Brawl to End All Brawls a few years back is expected to lead the Golden State Warriors into battle in 2008.
It’s doubtful that Jack would have ever reached Capo Status on any squad but Golden State (which, let’s be honest here, is not exactly the most conventional franchise), but the fact remains that he is a now a certified leader of men. Jackson, 29, entering his eighth season in the League, says he has matured and sounds ready to assume his new role. From the Consta Costa Times:
“I think I’m growing up,” said Jackson. “I’ve still got that little Stack Jack on my shoulder, but Steve is standing up and kind of pushing him further and further off. But I’ve got to have Stack Jack sometimes, because that’s what gives me my edge on the court.”
“If I blow up, it’s not just about me blowing up,” Jackson said. “It’s about my team losing me on the court and my team losing their focus, because a lot of these young guys look at me and say, ‘Well, if he can scream at the referees, I can do that, too.’ And that’s not the way I want to lead. I want to lead by example, and I want to lead by doing the right things.”
Fear not, though, Stephen still has a healthy touch of crazy in him (emphasis mine):
“If somebody puts a flagrant foul on Baron, I want to be the guy that puts a flagrant foul on their key player. I’m still that same guy.”
Ah, that’s reassuring. I was starting to get worried that someone had kidnapped the real Whoo Jackson and replaced him with an actor.
The look on referees’ faces when the captains’ meeting takes place before Warrior games this season will be absolutely priceless.
40 Responses to “Is the World Ready for Stephen Jackson’s Captaincy?”
Oct.8 at 12:32 pm
Jake Appleman says:
FIRST
Oct.8 at 12:32 pm
Jake Appleman says:
And the answer to your title is “no”.
Oct.8 at 12:33 pm
Bryan says:
I f*cking love Stephen Jackson
Oct.8 at 12:40 pm
MC Welk says:
There goes Stack Jack’s appeal of his 7-game suspension.
Oct.8 at 12:42 pm
white hot eboy says:
BEST MOVE OF THE NBA OFF-SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct.8 at 12:43 pm
Bryan says:
Not for nothin but as crazy as he is , I’d like the idea of my captain ready to whip ass on my behalf.
Oct.8 at 1:04 pm
Jared says:
yea I like the idea of my captain ready to throw down…in the NHL…i don’t think I like the idea of my captain ready to whip ass…especially not the fans… s dot jax is gully, but come on…
Oct.8 at 1:05 pm
Jared says:
stephen jackson needs to be humbled…you can’t take the hood out of someone, but he’s not in the hood no more…
Oct.8 at 1:28 pm
Cheryl says:
I’m telling you, this was a genius move on Nelly’s part. Make the guy responsible for not only himself, but his team as well. Not for nothing, Nelly’s placed the tag on Baron and Matt Barnes as well. You know, just in case…
Oct.8 at 1:31 pm
Jared says:
I don’t think it’s a bad move, I think he’s a strong character and great passion, and that’s what you want in a leader, but it’s like rewarding bad behavior. If Artest had a decent year where he kinda kept his mouth shut does he deserve to be made a cap?
Oct.8 at 1:52 pm
Mo Charlo says:
I have not been this excited to watch the NBA in a decade.
Oct.8 at 1:52 pm
jbn74sb says:
Just get back to your scotch Mutoni. While it is 80 degrees and perfect here, winter is fast approaching up there.
Oct.8 at 1:53 pm
Captain America says:
Captain!
Oct.8 at 1:57 pm
Kiyan says:
Jared, you make some good points in regards to character and passion but you need to look to your captain in tough situations (such as the typical scuffle ensuing a flagrant foul). And following your captain’s lead by clocking someone is probably not the right way to go …
Oct.8 at 1:59 pm
Rubens says:
Stephen Woooo Jackson as a captain? Has the world gone mad?
Oct.8 at 2:22 pm
rory breaker says:
lest we forget, the man has a chip.
Oct.8 at 2:46 pm
Myles Brown says:
Word Rory. And not a Gollum chip either. My favorite quote of the offseason? Stephen Jackson on his tatt of the cliched praying hands… holding a gun: “Cause I pray I’ll never have to use it again…” How do YOU spell gangsta?
Oct.8 at 3:00 pm
rory breaker says:
i want to hear his pep talks. do you want to be the warrior to let stack jack down? Nellie for coach of the year.
Oct.8 at 3:00 pm
Co Co says:
Stephen’s the best.
Oct.8 at 3:43 pm
whooo says:
could you imagine if he had stayed with the spurs and popovich made him the team captain? i wonder if nelly saw the prayer hands clasping guns tat before the decision was made.
Oct.8 at 4:06 pm
Allenp says:
Miles, I spell it STACK JACK. By the way, that is an awesome nickname. If I was playing pickup ball, I’m taking Steven Jackson with the first pick every time. I know we ain’t getting cheated on fouls or the score..
Oct.8 at 4:10 pm
Rob Paxon says:
Who better to lead this particularly team… seriously. This squad is roughneck and Jackson is the most passionate guy on it and one of the most experienced, so that counts for something. Once you get passed the comedic irony of it, it’s probably the right decision. Give him responsibility and see if it doesn’t help him be more responsible.
Oct.8 at 4:18 pm
Johnny Kilroy says:
in all seriousness, Whoo is a leader, he would absolutly go to war for his teammates. Making him the C sends the message to the Warrior’s that their about the team not about just the stars.
Oct.8 at 5:38 pm
Bryce says:
Everyone on the warriors should be a captain considering they are all the same player…except davis
Oct.8 at 5:56 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
some of you may have forgotten that he hit many clutch shots as an important piece on the way to a ring
Oct.8 at 6:26 pm
ForzaMilan says:
Yes. No matter what you think, some of that Duncan/Robinson must have rubbed off on him. And I agree with Bryan. Leaders will get-in-face if need me. For example. You may think of Nash as a pretty sissy boy (by looks, anyhoo), but in spite of all the bigger players out there, who’s getting in Kobe’s face when his teammates get out of line? System. He’s jawin’, he’s yelling. I think Jax has the stuff.
Oct.8 at 7:13 pm
d.Y. says:
I love the Whooo nickname, but where does it come from? Is it like Ric Flair? Does he take off his dress code approved suit and drop elbows on the court?
Oct.8 at 9:07 pm
Walter Olivera says:
He definitly has heart and is a tough leader,but he has not yet proven he has the mind to be a leader.He needs to know the boundaries from the right choice to a stupid and unnecessary choice
Oct.8 at 11:40 pm
Kayce Online says:
don’t know how the idea hit me.. but imagine Stephen Jackson in Phoenix instead of Marion.. Marion’s a far better player overall but i’d love to see Jackson’s raw heart complement Nash’s controlled desire..
Oct.9 at 1:03 am
Dyce says:
Um..Kayce who is going to play power forward?
Oct.9 at 1:10 am
MOMONEY says:
another reason to love my warriors…. shame we didnt get kg
Oct.9 at 9:03 am
Tariq says:
Stack Jack is the best player in the history of basketball.
Oct.9 at 8:50 pm
John E. Sanford says:
Whoooooooo!!!!!!!
Oct.9 at 11:37 pm
chronically_ill says:
Jackson embodies the Warriors. Here’s a guy that’s been played his way from Venezuela to the NBA! The Warriors are a team full of players nobody believed (even B. Diddy, who everyone thought was finished cuz of all his injuries). Baron is the face of the Warriors, and rightfully so, but Steven Jackson is the heart and soul.
Oct.10 at 12:03 am
funkymunky says:
Why does everyone at Slam call Stephen Jackson “Whoo!” ?
Oct.10 at 5:00 am
Robbi says:
Remember the Outkast song “Ms. Jackson”?
Oct.10 at 8:14 am
Anthony says:
Stephan jackson as captain? did the warriors forget hey had baron davis?
Oct.12 at 5:24 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Friday comedy time! says:
[…] People have had fun with the story of Stephen Jackson’s ascent to NBA team captaincy and the weird font errors it creates. I know the last thing you’re supposed to when writing about pro athletes is to compare yourself as an athlete, but I have a personal parallel. Right now I am the captain of my weekend football team. I am a worse choice for a captain than Whoooo! if you can believe it. I’ve got no time for things like “huddles.” I just go deep every play, and yes I’m 7-11 open 24 hours. If the ball comes, boom touchdown, not bragging that’s just reality. If I don’t get the ball, I sulk and run at half speed. I’m like Randy Moss pre-this year. So anyways, I think that my team is secretly plotting to overthrow my captaincy. There’s a new guy who’s real aggressive. Now I’m getting paranoid. […]
Oct.15 at 12:33 pm
Ernie says:
Jackson is the man, but I’m still praying for another fan to come out of pocket around dude, when do the warriors go to Detroit?
Oct.25 at 5:45 am
rpee says:
captain jack..