Comments on: Attention Sports Fans: Kobe, AROD or Neither! What Is Your Choice?

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:48:26 +0000

I thought I would share some additional comments since the Kobe led Laker’s were knocked out of the NBA finals last night.

I am sorry blown out last night, destroyed last night. The Laker’s lost the final game of the NBA season by 29 points! Yes 39 points that is the largest margin of victory in the final game of the playoffs in the history of the NBA.

Sorry guys Kobe is a GREAT individual player - I still believe he would not have won anything without SHAQ and will NEVER win another NBA championship. What is amazing to me is that there are long stretches of lots of games that Kobe disappears including a number of games in this NBA finals. Great team players don’t do that!

I still wouldn’t trade for him!

Merrill

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:09:01 +0000

Steve,

Thanks for your comments. You bring up a very interesting point. From a putting body into seats standpoints I think Kobe does that for sure. One reason is he can totally dominate a game much more than AROD can for the simply reason he can take 40 shots while AROD only gets up 4-5 times a game and if he is on a tear the other team can walk him. Also since NBA stadiums are much smaller Kobe can make an impact and does for sure. I love baseball more than basketball but would actually try and see Kobe play before I would AROD.

In addition I am not sure AROD really does put fans in the seats - maybe he does but I think he has turned lots of folks off because of some of the stuff he has done for some reason Kobe is getting more pf a pass from my standpoint.

I love the Cubs - since they are almost always sold out not sure he adds much to the attendance but wow what a lineup they would have.

Again thanks for your comments.

Merrill

By: Steve Kennedy

Steve Kennedy — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:55:20 +0000

On whether I would want either on my team as an owner, I would have to ask the question, Do I want to win titles or fill seats? Any owner that is trying to build championship teams should stay clear of both these “individuals”. Their salaries impact your ability to sign other players and they create division in the locker room. On the flip side, if I want to fill seats, both are tremendous draws for both home and away games. As a Cubs fan, I would love to see AROD at third. I have long ago given up hope that the Cubs will ever win a title, so the idea of at least knowing that he can turn a game around with one swing of his bat will keep me watching as we battle for third in the NL Central.

By: Bob Graham

Bob Graham — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:23:06 +0000

I think part of the answer depends on which team I’m coaching.

If I’m coaching the RedSox, no way do I want A-Rod. I’m reminded of a time in the 90’s when the Sox were going to pick up Daryl Strawberry. There was a huge outcry from the fans and he wound up going to the Yankees.

On the other hand, if I’m coaching the Celtics, trying to get back to a regular playoff rotation, I might take a chance on Kobe. Here I’m reminded of when Mark Cuban bought the Mavericks and signed Dennis Rodman. Rodman was a head case, but he put butts in seats and started to bring attention to a team that had for the most part been ignored. He only lasted part of a season, but he served his purpose and the Mavericks started to become the team they are today.

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:58:27 +0000

Pat,

Strong comments - actually very strong comments considering your love for the Yankees. It appears that AROD has turned off lots of people. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. My hope no where near the east coast.

Merrill

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:17:03 +0000

Merrill-
The Red Sox can have AROD if the Yankees can have Mike Lowell — and may I add — if the Red Sox organization let’s that happen they are out of their minds. I never thought of AROD as a curse until you brought it up — and I think you are right!
Pat

By: kath

kath — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:55:28 +0000

Ugh.
I would be supremely bummed out to see Rodriguez in a Red Sox uniform.
Especially at the price of losing Mike Lowell.
My professional sports knowledge is admittedly pretty marginal, but in my opinion, AROD, as good he may be, is clubhouse poison.
As to the original question, my answer would have to be neither.
The inability to truly be a team player can easily cripple whatever talent or gift you have.
-kath

By: Larry Brownell

Larry Brownell — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:55:00 +0000

As an LA person it is simple.

Kobe time to go and don’t pick him up his ego is bigger than his upside. Kobe and Shaq will some day realize that it was the three of them (Phil Jackson) that made the Lakers good. Non are as good on their own, with maybe the exception of Phil.

But, A-Rod please Dodgers pick him up and get Andy Pettit and then Joe Torre can coach them to playing in the next three series against the Red Sox and the Angels can back to calling themselves Anaheim. The world will be righted again and the best fans in baseball (Dodger fans) can have their reward.

By: Merrill Dubrow

Merrill Dubrow — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:11:27 +0000

This was mentioned in today’s Boston Globe - I am still ON RECORD SAYING I HOPE THE RED SOX DON’T SIGN HIM:

ALEX RODRIGUEZ isn’t expected to be present at this week’s GM meetings, but his agent, Scott Boras, will be.

Rodriguez, who is reportedly TELLING CLOSE FRIENDS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY FOR THE RED SOX, still can’t discuss money with other teams until next week. Boras wouldn’t want him to be in the room for face-to-face talks anyway. Boras is saying that he won’t go public with any negotiations. “Any discussions as to the contract terms is between the teams and ourselves,” Boras said. “It’s clear for all of us that we’re at the point now where we’ve got to do a lot of work with the teams involved and we’re going to keep the information and dialogue with the clubs private and confidential as we go forward.”

Merrill

By: Michael Halberstam

Michael Halberstam — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:44:20 +0000

This is tough for me as I am a Yankee’s fan and a Laker’s season seat holder. Probably the best thing for everyone is for the Yankee’s to sign Kobe and for Scott Boras to pursue an Arod deal with the Laker’s. The Yankee’s are used to Kobe’s kind of craziness and the Laker’s are used to selfish players! (Shaq)