No Hippos Jai Alai Thread

[Drunkmasterflex]

If he won a championship would he have been the most beloved Philly athlete ever?

[MDS]

he already is

[The BIGSTUD]

He definitely is. He has the most loyal fan base of any athlete I've ever seen. People will go to insane lengths to defend him and stick up for him despite how many mistakes he makes. I don't think there is any athlete like that in this town. Even Ryan Howard who brought us a championship will be ripped for striking out. AI could turn the ball over 10 times in a game and no one would rip him for it.

The next in line right now would be Utley though IMO. Especially after the WFC thing, but the fans just love Utley.

[MDS]

utley is white

[PhillyPhreak54]

PC video anywhere?

Eskin probably couldn't wait to rip him.

[BigEd76]

CSN's video

[ice grillin you]

thing about iverson is either people love him or hate him but hes so not that kind of person/athlete....he might be the most complicated ive ever seen...

on one hand he gives more on the field of play than anyone ive ever watched...on the other hand he is not very coachable....on one hand he wasnt always a perfect man off the court but at the same time he is utterly true to himself and the people around him...he never changed for anyone...on one hand he wasnt the greatest teammate and on the other hand he was THE model citizen on the olympic team when no one else wanted to play

you have the right to of course but you dont and shouldnt have to either automatically hate allen or love him

[MDS]

the man peed in a trashcan in the middle of a casino floor, in full view of pit bosses and other players

GOD

[phattymatty]

AI loves to play pai gow at the taj in AC.  have missed him by minutes several times.

[MDS]

he also loves gettin blowies from bar skanks at the old adam marks hotel. but then again, who doesnt?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Brand: "I don't accept it"

Here in Charlotte. Just got back from 76ers practice at the Time Warner Center here. Obviously all the talk right now is AI, but getting lost in that saga has been the fact that power forward Elton Brand has been coming off the bench the last two games. He missed three games with a sore right hamstring, and since coming back, he hasn't started -- although he's played well in both games.

Talked with Eddie Jordan today and asked him if he wanted to keep Brand coming off the bench and if he liked him there. He said, "Yes, to both." So look for Brand to come off the bench again tomorrow night against the Bobcats.

A few minutes after talking with Jordan, talked with Elton Brand, who seemed less than pleased with coming off the bench (naturally, as a competitor).

Here's the conversation with Brand.

You okay with coming off the bench:

"No, of course not. You know what I mean, it's like ... we're not winning either way, so I'd rather be out there and give us the best chance."

Thoughts on AI:

"We have to see, I don't know. I know Iverson can help us and do what he does and be that scorer, but I'm sure he wants to start, too. So, we've got two guys that want to start."

Do you accept not starting?

"No, I don't accept it. What it is – being a competitor – but also I don't think I have done anything to merit a bench spot."

Have you talked to Jordan about it?

"No. Not much, not at all."

How's the hamstring, is it hindering you?

"Not at all, no lingering effect. He knows I feel good. Maybe keep coming off the bench playing my 20 minutes and maybe I can crack the lineup."

On the losing streak:

"Winning is more important, whatever it is. That's why I'm staying positive and I'm going to do whatever we need to do cause I feel like hopefully there is a goal. Hopefully he sees something and we're going to start winning from it, but we're not winning."

But Jordan says he doesn't want to play you 20 minutes, says he wants to get you your minutes?

"Of course he wants me to play 20 minutes, that's what I'm playing: 25 minutes. That's what he wants."

If you want to follow all things 76ers as it happens, follow on Twitter: Deep Sixer.

[ice grillin you]

i dont blame elton at all...hes put up his norm 20 and 10 when hes gotten run in the last two weeks....yet hes gonna come off the bench now and ai is gonna walk in out of his living room and get 30+ minutes?

id call bullshtein too

[The BIGSTUD]

I hope Brand keeps posting 20 and 10. If he does it consistently, someone might be willing to take on that joke of a contract. Then, if that happens all it takes is that rumored 3-way Dalembert deal to be reignited for the Sixers to be major players in the 2010 free agency.

[BigEd76]

Jrue is out tonight with a strained rotator cuff after trying to block a Willie Green dunk yesterday.  Really.

but hey, Elton is starting so there's that.  10 pts 3 rebounds

[ice grillin you]

willie fire