HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Tuesday, 6 Oct 1992 15:38:52 EDT
From: <IO11087@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: What about Nique?

I was just awonderin'.  Although I am a hard-core Celtics fan, I
really missed Dominique last year.  I think the NBA really lost
something when he went down, but I haven't heard any talk on him.
Does anyone know how his injury is progressing?  Will he be ready
for 92-93?

Like I said before, I am a hard-core C's fan.  It will be interesting
to see how the team will react to the absense of Bird.  I would like to
think that they would handle it like they did during the last 20 or so
games last year, and several games into the post-season.  I hope McDaniel
will work out, but that is up in the air.  He is definately an above
average player.  We'll have to wait and see...

Is it just me, or does it seem that the NBA summer break lasts forever?
I can't wait for the tip-off of the 92-93 season.  I usually watch baseball
during the summer to tide me over, but I am(was) a Red Sox fan.  Needless
to say, this was not a baseball summer 4 me.  I didn't know the season was
even over yet until I read in the paper this morning that the playoffs
begin 2day.  BFD.

Just a thought.  Magic retired because of the HIV virus, and was apointed
by Bush (Not gonna doit!) to the National AIDS Commision.  Should we expect
Larry Bird to be the first president of the National Bad Back Commision.
It remains to be seen, although there may be even less funding for that!

I won't even buy a preseason edition of any basketball publication this
year.  The predictions they give for the end of the year results should
B way off base with the moves by the C's, Knicks, Bulls, Lakers, and countless
others.

This scares me.  Although I HATE the Knicks, I think if they gel together
this year, they have the ingredients for a team that can go way into the
playoffs.  Hopefully, there will be a chemistry problem, but that is highly
unlikely with their great coach, Pat Riley.  I always thought he was over-
rated until I saw what he did with NY last year.  Pretty impressive, Pat.

That's my 2 cents worth, plus Maine's 6 percent sales tax.  I would be
flattered to think that the government would want even 1 percent of what I
have to say, though.

Take it easy, everyone.  Season starts a month from 2day!

---GumbyJr.
From: lucy@sfu.ca (Lucy Chan)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Selfish
Date: 6 Oct 92 23:47:28 GMT
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

rsmith@strobe.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Russ Smith) wrote:

> 2 players butted heads during the game. One was HIV + the other was not.
> The HIV+ player now has full blown AIDS, the other player tested HIV+.
> The incident occurred while being filmed and they used the video as
> evidence in determining the source of transmission.

So the collision resulted in open wounds in both players and mixed blood?
And they also verified that the HIV that the second player has did not come
from another source, such as unsafe sex or a dirty needle?

Lucy_Chan@sfu.ca
not flaming, just asking
From: koehnema@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Trent Tucker signs w/ BULLS
Date: 7 Oct 92 00:12:53 GMT
Reply-To: koehnema@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann)
Followup-To: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Organization: Arizona State University

In article <1992Oct6.190851.17248@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei) writes:
>
>Not a bad acquisition here.  Tucker's D is in fact pretty good, and he's one
>of the NBA's all time leading three point shooters.  But I can't see him being
>on the floor very long.  He's not much of anything else.

Good D and great outside shooting, but he's not that good?  What else
do you want from your 2 guard :).  The problem is that he won't be able
to play next to Paxon - who the hell would handle the ball?  I do see
him spending seom time next to Jordan, though.
--
Harry Koehnemann
koehnema@enuxha.eas.asu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: dwarner@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (David J.)
Subject: Re: Hornets stirring
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 03:38:07 GMT

In article <Bv3CzJ.495@apollo.hp.com> stuart@apollo.hp.com (Stuart Troutman) writes:

>Now, where will this leave the roster? To the best of my recollection, 
>they have:
>
>- Larry Johnson (solid)
>- Alonzo Mourning ("any day now")
>- Kendall Gill (solid)

These three will constitute the heart of the Hornets this year.  LJ and
Mourning are one hell of a 1-2 punch inside, and Gill is capable of lighting
it up from the outside, as is Curry.

>- Tyrone Bogues (the unstoppable mosquito)
>- Johnny Newman (I take it he's injury-free now)

Hope for it, but don't ever assume...

>- Dell Curry (they still under-utilize him)
>- J.R. Reid (will this guy ever produce?)

I think the bigger question is why Shinn bothered with him in the '89 draft 
when Stacey King was availible.

>- Mike Gminski (why?)

Damn good question.  He should be in Spain playing against Ralph Sampson.  He's
a nice guy and all, but he's just too old now.

>- Kenny Gattison (he looked good last season)

Gattison always looks good for this team as a backup, where he will be most
effective.  He's a banger with a decent touch to the hoop.  If Charlotte has
to rely on him for some real production, though, they're in deep trouble.

>- Anthony Frederick (will he start?)

No.

>- Kevin Lynch?

He's still around, but I don't see him producing a great deal for this team.

>- Tom Hammonds? (he has yet to play, right?)

And may never play.  John Salley, he ain't.

>- Tony Bennett (unknown rookie)

Bennett is an interesting 2nd round pick.  He was a star at Wisconsin-Green
Bay, where his dad coached, and some scouts say he is capable of becoming a
Marc Price-type player with his good court sense and quickness.  IMHO, this
is an excellent pick for the Hornets, and if he and Bogues work out at the
point, expect big things out of this team.

If they don't, however, expect the Hornets to take Bobby Hurley in the next
draft.

>Who am I forgetting? Who's the starting "center"?

Mourning.  He started at center for Georgetown for two seasons and was in
the starting lineup for four.  You could call it a trial-by-fire, but with
LJ and Gill around, he'll be that much more effective inside.

I really like this team's chances this year.  They've finally built a solid
nucleus of young talent that can take them places in the Central Division,
and they could easily reach the playoffs this year.  However, I'm a little
hesitant to put them third in the Central, as some magazines have done,
though I'm not sure of anyone in that division, outside of the Bulls and
Cavaliers, of course, better than the Hornets.

I'll have a little something here about the Pacers next week when I talk with
them on Media Day this Thursday.

-- 
- David J. ---- BLUE RIDDLE PRODUCTIONS ---- dwarner@silver.ucs.indiana.edu -
- Coming October 20th: GRAND PUBA, "Reel to Reel", PRINCE, "O-+->",         -
******* Coming in 1993: The long-awaited 12" single, "RAP IS AN ART" ********
****************** ON VINYL from Blue Riddle Productions. *******************
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: markham@brtph600.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205)
Subject: Re: Underestimating the Lakers, again
Organization: Bell Northern Research Inc.
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1992 12:42:10 GMT

In article <BvGoyH.GnK@news.cso.uiuc.edu> jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jazzy J ) writes:
>markham@brtph600.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205) writes:
>>>
>>>How?  We all know that Magic can shoot from anywhere, that he'll raise Byron
>>>Scott's % drastically and add that Threatt can shoot pretty well...
>
>>Magic can shoot from anywhere, I agree.
>>Scott seems to be getting worse year by year, so I'd be surprised if he
>>improved drastically.
>>Threatt?  Can you say, streaky?
>
>	I wouldn't call Threatt streaky at all.  In fact, he was the Lakers'
>	most consistent performer last year.  He averaged 15 ppg and LED
>	the Lakers in FG shooting -- at 49%.  Pretty solid to me...

Sorry, I was thinking of Teagle when I said Threatt.  Threatt definitely 
isn't streaky.

-- 
Andrew W. Markham (markham@bnr.ca)
Bell Northern Research, Inc.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: benjie@quack.sac.ca.us (Android)
Subject: Re: Magic Johnson
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 01:05:06 GMT

I think Threatt played very well last season.
He is not as good as Magic, but he is solid.  I hope he will be playing
both guards.
Ben

-- 
     BBB		Benjie Chen
    BCCCB 		benjie@quack.sac.ca.us
    BCCCB		No Axiomatic System Could Produce All Number-
     BBB		Theoretical Truths, Unless It Is Inconsistent.
From: jblixt@neon.cdc.com (jon blixt)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Magic Johnson
Date: 30 Sep 92 15:31:44 GMT
Reply-To: jblixt@mips.COM (jon blixt)
Organization: Your Organization Goes Here

With Magics return to the game, there are a few I have for the net
faithfull and my own answers. 

Will Magic return to form?

Yes.  As long as return to form means his previous from he will be there.
I expect people to want miracles and MVP basketball from Magic(I wish:))
but realistically Magic should be a better than average guard on a 
better(not much better) than average team.

How will HIV affect his game?

I don't see it having much affect at all other than his skipping hard road
trips and back-to-back games.  I do wonder about his defense though.  Even
without HIV, it would be a question.  With HIV, I'm afraid Magic might
subconsciously try to save energy thus sacrificing defense.  I know this
is going out on a limb, but I'm just trying to start conversation.:)

How will this affect the team chemistry?

It should lift the teams spirits.  Other than Sedale Threatt, this should
have a positive affect on everyone elses performance, ecspecially Worthy,
Scott, and Divac.  First, Scott seemed lost in the offense at times and
Magic knew best when and where Byron could score.  Second, Worthy will no
longer be burdened by the role of sole leader on the team(A job he handled
spendidly last year).  Finally, Magic will again be there to scold and 
console one of the most sporatic player, Vlade Divac.

What will the Lakers do with Threatt?

Sedale proved to be an invaluable replacement when Magic retired.  He will
now be rellegated to a backup role, probably.  Is it possible that he could
start at the guard spot?  Sedale is a good defender(could size be a factor?)
who is an average scorer when he looks for his shot.  Regardless, this 
should give the Lakers much needed depth at the guard spots.  Terry Teagle
never seemed to work out(Is he still with the Lakers? thought I heard that
he left for Europe).

What impact will Magic have in the w column?

As has been stated in other posts, IMHO Magic is not going to instantly 
transform this team into a contender.  However, and this is a big however, 
he will make the Lakers tough to beat on any given night(when he plays
of course).  The Lakers were just too outmatched against the best in
the league last year.  Also, Magic will help make the Lakers more consistent 
against the cellar teams(They lost to the T-Wolves last year for cryin'
out loud).  Finally, the Lakers will have a clutch performer to 
finish games.  It seemed like last year the Lakers worked very hard to
stay in games and couldn't get that final spurt to win in the fourth
quarter.  

Will Magic last the entire season?

For all the Lakers fans out there, I certainly hope so.

Fingers crossed,

-Jon
From: kompella@cs.ucsd.edu (Vachaspathi Kompella)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Magic's teammates are in danger!
Date: 7 Oct 92 02:37:08 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: CSE Dept., UC San Diego


In article <6OCT199218421250@rigel.tamu.edu>, c1h3384@rigel.tamu.edu writes:
|> 
|> I think Magic's teammates are in extreme danger because of his decision to
|> come back. Let us face it, Magic and his teammates will be treated by the 
|> same physician and the same medical instruments. Even though certain measures
|> will be imposed, I am sure, to prevent possible transfer of the virus, but
|> who know what will happen. Anyone in LA hears any responses from the rest of
|> the Lakers team to complain about the danger? 
|> 
|> Bob

Sheesh!  I would have thought that it would be patently obvious to the dumbest
doctor that when you have a person KNOWN to have the HIV virus, that you'd use
separate sets of instruments for the infected persons.  No, the folks in real
danger are the others, the ones who the doctors don't know have the virus.
But, it seems to me that if they can't that much care of the players, then I
should stop donating blood!  I mean, if the doctors hired specifically to look
after the 12 players can't keep the virus from spreading, who is to say that
the Red Cross can prevent it from spreading among the zillions of volunteers
who donate blood?

Anyway, are you trying to say that if Magic lies down on a rubbing table, then
no one else should use it because somehow (who knows how) the virus will spread?
Give us a break!

-Vach
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: art30248@nusunix1.nus.sg (NG LING LING)
Subject: Re: Underestimating the Lakers, again
Organization: National University of Singapore
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 06:14:11 GMT

Yes. Agree with most of you. The Lakers will cleanly make the play-offs
(as compared to last season). However, I predict that they'll be in the
bottom-half of the draw because there are other teams tougher than them
(Portland, Phoenix, Golden State!!!, Utah)

Yet, nobody has mentioned what the new coach, Berthka (sp) will do.
Would he do what people thought Riley did (but really didn't do) ? Keep
the ball in clutch situations in Magic's hands (or earlier) Kareems' ?

I figure that since I'm gonna get flamed again, I'd go out on a limb to
suggest that Magic might disrupt a team chemistry. They'd have to run
"Non-Magic" plays. For example, Run when he's around...set up post up
offense when he's not. Also, would other team-mates have to cover for
him defensively ?

Lastly, his age might be a factor. He's no spring chicken no more...

okay, lemme have it.
From: jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jazzy J )
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Magic un-retires
Date: 5 Oct 92 16:14:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bvnp3H.n2D
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei) writes:

>This is true, especially the one about the Blazers.  Cliff Robinson could
>also plug the gap.  But if they lost Drexler or Porter...

	Well, in the past, losing Porter wouldn't have been too much of
	a problem, since they had Ainge to back him up.  Now, if they lost
	Porter -- they do have Strickland -- but depending on him is	
	probably as good as depending on your hard disk never crashing...

>That's why I kind of gag when people say how valuable Mark Price is.  They
>point to the Cavs' record without him forgetting how many games Daugherty,
>Williams, Nance and Harper (after they traded him) missed from that original
>projected team of the '90s.  The Lakers would have been a 20 win team or
>less if Sedale Threatt hadn't come in and provided VERY competent numbers
>if not Magic ones.  Can you imagine Byron Scott playing point or letting
>Rory Sparrow do it?  Disaster!  Price was the only real player in the Cavs'
>backcourt, so the dropoff without him to Darnell Valentine (who's barely
>CBA quality) was totally harsh.  Include half a season without Hot Rod
>Williams, and you've got a team that looks like it's been trashed.

	It's even more true now that the Cavs have young Terrell Brandon
	to fill in for Price in case he goes down.  And, to replace his	
	outside shooting, they have Steve Kerr.  I'm not saying the loss
	of Price would hurt -- but they do have some insurance in case
	he does go down.  U are certainly right about the Cavs downfall
	that season though -- they also lost many other games due to
	the injuries of their other starters.

	Darnell Valentine -- interesting enough was an All-American at
	Kansas.  He did have a solid NBA career -- albeit not spectacular,
	so I wouldn't go as far to say he's barely CBA quality.  In the
	season he filled in for Mark Price, he did put up some decent #'s.
	I believe he averaged around 9ppg, and led the team in assists.
	He did a decent job for a team in disarray.

	Jazzy J
 
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  "I am human and I need to be loved,            | Jazzy J                   |
|   just like everybody else does..." - The Smiths| jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu | 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: zeke@fasttech.uucp (Bohdan Tashchuk)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Magic signs $14.6M 1-year contract for 1994-1995
Date: 2 Oct 92 22:41:23 GMT
Article-I.D.: fasttech.1992Oct2.224123.3944
Organization: Fast Technology

In <1992Oct02.123623.26492@brtph560.bnr.ca> markham@brtph600.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205) writes:

>On the radio this morning, I heard that Magic Johnson has signed a 1-year
>extension to his contract worth $14.6 MILLION.  This would be the largest
>contract ever awarded in team sports (obviously).

Can someone who understands the NBA "salary cap" rules explain how the Fakers
pulled this off? Seems like three possibilities:

	1) the Fakers have weaseled thru yet another loophole
	2) they expect the cap to increase by about $14 million by 1994-1995
	3) All other Fakers agreed to work for NBA minimum in 1994-1995
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: kbowers@esrc1.uucp (Ken Bowers)
Subject: Re: Shaquille/Sampson
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 20:52:53 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.141656.25706@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei) writes:
>In article <1992Oct05.123248.9179@brtph560.bnr.ca> markham@brtph600.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205) writes:
>>tseng-neill@CS.YALE.EDU (Neill Tseng) writes:
>>>I was just thinking about Shaquille O'Neal the other day and all the hype 
>>>he's received.  Being from Houston, it couldn't help but remind me of all 
>>>the hype Sampson received when he was selected with the first pick in 1983.  
>
>Well, the hype about O'Neal has got to blast all the other centers into
>oblivion.  Although all the other centers (Ewing, Olajuwon, Robinson, Sampson)
>got plenty of press, only Robinson had anywhere near Shaquille's numbers in
>college.  But what the league and the Orlando Magic must see is the sheer
>potential O'Neal has.  No, maybe it's premature saying how well he can do in
>the league considering he hasn't played a single game yet (and he has to dunk
>over someone about a half foot taller than he's used to), but just the guy's
>physical dimensions, and his athleticism for someone so big (like that unreal
>vertical that makes him the most powerful dunker I've ever seen), is really
>what gives him such press coverage.  
>

I think the hype has been very different for the two.  A *lot* of people
thought Sampson was too thin to be a dominating center. He had been hyped
as a potential great since eighth grade, but there was always the hope
that he would fill out more than he did. 

Everyone has question marks coming out of college. Here is a list for
centers:

Sampson: too thin, doesn't take over games, no "go-to" move 
Ewing: no ofensive moves
Hakeem: not all that tall, lack of game sense, Guy Lewis
Robinson: lack of college comp, weak inside, time away from game 
O'Neal: free throws, any shot over five feet away, Dale Brown
Brad Dougherty (sp?): soft, appreciation of country music may
                      cause locker room brawls 

and earlier:

Dave Cowens: really a forward 
Moses Malone: no college prep, (believe it or not) too thin
Bill Cartwright: no 'D', fades in big games
Bill Walton: weird hippie attitude; vegetarianism may make him weak
             limited offensive moves, (knees?) 

Alcindor probably had the best rep coming out of college, but there
were people who questioned his drive and his strength/rebounding. 

Ken B. 

Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: dwarner@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (David J.)
Subject: Re: Magic's Back
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 15:51:46 GMT

Jazzy J writes:
>   >	I've always wondered why everyone's made such a big deal about this.
>   >	Think about it -- Magic's been in the league for over a decade now,
>   >	and -- have U ever seen him suffer an open wound?  Sure, I've seen
>   >	him injure a knee, or pull a hamstring -- but I've never seen him
>   >	get anything as much as a paper cut!  In fact, just off of the top
>   >	of my head, I have barely ever seen any open wounds at all -- sans
>   >	the time when Isiah Thomas ran into Karl Malone's elbow... :)

And Jerry Simmering replies
>	 Its pretty obvious to me that a lot of NBA fans out there don't also
>   participate in the sport recreationaly. I play at the local gyms 2 or 3
>   times a week and even at this level i find not more than 2 weeks will
>   go by without at least a small bleeding cut being inflicted on myself. Ask
>   an NBA player and i'd be willing to bet that they'd tell you they seldom
>   leave a game without at least a little of thier own or someone elses blood
>   on themselfs or at least on thier clothes. Television does not show this
>   amount of blood very well and i really beieve there is a lot more there
>   than most people realize.

T.V. does show some open wounds - Eric Montross vs. Duke last year, for
example (albeit a college example) I'm less concerned about open wounds
than I am about Magic's personal health here, but i imagine that it is a
pretty serious concern for everyone involved.
-- 
- David J. ---- BLUE RIDDLE PRODUCTIONS ---- dwarner@silver.ucs.indiana.edu -
- Coming October 20th: GRAND PUBA, "Reel to Reel", PRINCE, "O-+->",         -
******* Coming in 1993: The long-awaited 12" single, "RAP IS AN ART" ********
****************** ON VINYL from Blue Riddle Productions. *******************
From: max@ocf.berkeley.edu (Fude Max Chuang)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Magic un-retires
Date: 3 Oct 1992 00:22:24 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
NNTP-Posting-Host: whirlwind.berkeley.edu

In article <Aen_Fwa00YV9Q4GnZ5@andrew.cmu.edu> Erik Karl Witte <ew2r+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>retirement.  He will not play as well as he did before (age being
>perhaps more of a factor than HIV+), and will not be that valuable (15
>million?!?) because he's only playing 50 or so games.  I always had a

From what other postings have said, it doesn't seem that anyone expects
him to play as well as he did before, but that doesn't say very much.
Not playing like one of the greatest of all time still leaves a lot of
room to be pretty good.  Anyway, I personally won't change my opinion
of him as a player if he comes back and doesn't play all that well.
It would be ignorant to evaluate a player in his waning years (though
some people do).

>lot of respect for Magic, but this is just a money grab on his part, and
>I'm sad to see it happen.

I read a quote from Jerry Buss that said this is more of a retirement
"thank you" note, and that he was planning to pay this anyway.  Magic
has never been a money-grubbing type anyway.
From: edrury@3cpu.rain.com (Ed Drury)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Shaquille/Sampson
Date: 5 Oct 92 23:28:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: 3cpu.4279
Reply-To: edrury@.UUCP (Ed Drury)
Distribution: na
Organization: Garden Lane Software

In article <1992Oct5.172633.15023@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei) writes:
>down.  Side note trivia: who's the guy who's increased his scoring average
>every year (except for last I think).


 Derrick Harper ?

-- 
   __
 /--   __/
(___, (_/rury@3cpu.rain.com
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro