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Garnett Tribute

Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:17 pm

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Here it is…the worst post I have ever made. It’s the “Garnett is traded” rambling that I had thoughts of writing long before this day ever came. Yeah…there were plenty of times in his 12 years that people thought he would leave. Either by free agency or by trade demand. I don’t think any of us ever thought he would leave this way. What way are you asking? He was forced out of Minnesota. The man didn’t want to leave, but the ones making the decisions ultimately pulled the plug on the Garnett era. Leaving us Timberwolves fans without a proper way to say goodbye the man who not only changed the game of basketball but also the community. It hits close to home for many of us here in ‘Sota.

I don’t want to get into the politics of basketball but the fact that Glen Taylor would tell Garnett one thing and then do the opposite is a little upsetting. One can understand why eventually Garnett would willingly go to Boston, a place that obviously felt his services were much more needed. Glen Taylor and the Wolves front office let me down and it will be hard for them to get my trust back. Absolutely in shock at the moment.

Anyways, this post is to reflect on the time we had with “Ticket”. He came into the league as a young, thin project who was doing something nobody had done for two decades (coming straight out of high school). The Wolves took the chance on him. McHale and Flip Saunders believed in him and they molded him into the player he is today. The Wolves were in the gutter when Garnett arrived. Once he was here and we got him to team up with Marbury and Gugs and made it to the playoffs that first year against Seattle…we thought there was nowhere to go but up from there. Well guess what? Scandals, greed, death and stupidity stopped a great thing from forming for 6-7 years here in Minnesota. When it seemed like everyone was jumping ship for greener pastures there was one man who stood tall and firmly planted his roots here in Minnesota. Kevin Garnett. He signed extensions. He shot down trade rumors. He repeated he wanted to stay here. In the meantime, he made his mark off the court by spending many hours and paychecks on making this city a better place. He took Minnesota under his wings.

2003-2004 arrived with some new teammates. Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell came to town with a chip on their shoulders. They worked well with Ticket and the team ran away that season. #1 seed in the Western Conference. That playoff run was one of the best times of my life. I’m proud to say I was apart of that. Even though we came up short we were convinced that the next year would be our year. So was everyone else. Things didn’t work out that way. We sputtered. More Greed. More Stupidity. But bigger failure. We missed the playoffs for the first time since Garnett’s rookie year. Big ouch. So the team “retools” in the off-season for a more chemistry drawn approach. Flip is gone. The team misses the playoffs again. Garnett shuts down rumors that he wants to go. The man had NO QUIT in him. He didn’t want to leave. Even after this year with yet another coaching change. He didn’t have to do what he did here, but he wanted to. He listened to other Minnesota sport athletes. He was friends with Puckett and he wanted NOTHING MORE than to be what Puckett was. He can’t do that now because of way this team has been run for the past 12 years. Yeah, Garnett makes a ton of money but that doesn’t explain why the other 65% of the payroll is tied up to complete SHIT. It boggles my mind. I use to defend McHale but this last move puts me over the edge. It’s waving the white flag. It’s ending an era that shouldn’t end this way.

So this is to Garnett…the man who is everything an athlete should be. He’s a model citizen and one hell of a basketball player. We’ll miss his smile, character and selfishness just as much as we’ll miss his 20-10-5. He knows we’ll be waiting for him on February 8th to welcome him back home to the Garnett Center…the very building he helped put on the map.

Until that day comes when we raise his jersey to the rafters next to his idol, Malik Sealy, so long, Kevin. Go win that ring for us in Boston. We are ALL rooting for you.

Garnett video

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INTENSITY.
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CARING.
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EXCELLIENCE.
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PASSION.
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EFFORT.
...And much, much more. Thanks Kevin for everything.

Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:23 pm

Very well written Riot. Few people on this forum have as much of my respect as you do, and I can tell you're certainly bummed out. Just wait until I give my "Goodbye Sonics" post, which I really hope I'll never do, haha.

Anyway, like I said well written and it shows a lot.

Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:14 pm

That's was very cool man. It really shows how much you and the people in Minnesota love KG (Y)

Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:22 pm

Good writing, people will not be mad at KG for leaving as they're not mad in Philly for AI leaving, they both have done something special and will be remembered for that.

Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:31 pm

That's the post I was waiting for. Sorry to hear that your favorite player's gone, but today's a new chapter in the T'Wolves history, and that's something to be optimistic about.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:58 am

cant add nothing to it, great post riot.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:39 am

Players like KG are a dying breed. If you cut him open right now, he'd still bleed minnesota blue. Its fun and awe-inspiring to watch a man play with such obvious conviction and heart. Not only the NBA, but our country and our world would be a better place if we had people with the same work ethic and drive and ideals as Kevin Garnett.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:45 am

How sweet and touching.

Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:50 am

so this Riot dude is famous riot u been all talking about...

Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:15 pm

So you've heard a lot about me? :D

Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:26 pm

people thought you went suicidal and shit, it was funny

Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:58 am

zanshadow wrote:so this Riot dude is famous riot u been all talking about...

*Slaps zanshadow*
:shake:

Nice post Riot. Good pics too. I would like to see Garnett posterizing some fool pics though.

Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:18 am

Well said, Riot. (Y)

Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:53 pm

Sauru wrote:people thought you went suicidal and shit, it was funny


Or like I told him before, blew up the bridge. :lol:

Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:39 am

Wow kool moe dee, I still feel weird calling you that, you have no patience for ignorance, I like it!

Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:12 am

That's the last time I've had it with someone in this forum not knowing who Kool Moe Dee is.

*slaps Silas*

You're next Qballer, if you ever display an ignorance about Kool Moe Dee.

For your reference:
Wiki
pics

Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:58 am

Kool Moe Dee looks like Dave Chappelle in bad sunglasses.

:shifty:

Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:55 am

Horrible or not, that's 80's fashion. I guess it's better to be ignorant about the fashion sense of that decade. :|

Thankfully, we're still young during the time to remember that.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:18 am

I know who kool moe dee is, I'm just more used to you as snakes on a maaz

Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:21 am

Now you're just plain ignorant. You're really asking for an e-gang beating.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:25 am

Alright then whatever I'm going to go get on my plane back home now

Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:26 am

I know you love KG, and he will be missed in Minnesota.

But give praise where praise is due. Minny gutted Boston in this deal. Took their best prospect who is already a sure thing, their second best prospect who is very young in Gerald Green, their third best prospect in Ryan Gomes, and a nice expiring in Ratliff. That's an outstanding return for KG, and gives hope to a franchise that had none left.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:24 am

Indy wrote:I know you love KG, and he will be missed in Minnesota.

But give praise where praise is due. Minny gutted Boston in this deal. Took their best prospect who is already a sure thing, their second best prospect who is very young in Gerald Green, their third best prospect in Ryan Gomes, and a nice expiring in Ratliff. That's an outstanding return for KG, and gives hope to a franchise that had none left.



thats what i said. every minny fan seems pissed about this deal. if i am a fan of the wolves i am happy beyond belief. they just landed a future. went from a team that will constantly fight for the 8th playoff spot and more times than not fail to get it, to a team that in 3-4 seasons could be very fun to watch and very dangerous to play.

the celtics took the flip side and went with win now so i still say this deal was good for both teams involved.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:10 am

Indy wrote:I know you love KG, and he will be missed in Minnesota.

But give praise where praise is due. Minny gutted Boston in this deal. Took their best prospect who is already a sure thing, their second best prospect who is very young in Gerald Green, their third best prospect in Ryan Gomes, and a nice expiring in Ratliff. That's an outstanding return for KG, and gives hope to a franchise that had none left.


For real!!

And Nice Post!!

Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:31 pm

Sauru wrote:
Indy wrote:I know you love KG, and he will be missed in Minnesota.

But give praise where praise is due. Minny gutted Boston in this deal. Took their best prospect who is already a sure thing, their second best prospect who is very young in Gerald Green, their third best prospect in Ryan Gomes, and a nice expiring in Ratliff. That's an outstanding return for KG, and gives hope to a franchise that had none left.



thats what i said. every minny fan seems pissed about this deal. if i am a fan of the wolves i am happy beyond belief. they just landed a future. went from a team that will constantly fight for the 8th playoff spot and more times than not fail to get it, to a team that in 3-4 seasons could be very fun to watch and very dangerous to play.

the celtics took the flip side and went with win now so i still say this deal was good for both teams involved.


Well, apart from the disappointment in simply losing a player who is a fan favourite it's understandable that Wolves fans would remain skeptical about the deal. After all, very few franchise players are traded for equal value unless another franchise player is coming the other way and from Minnesota's perspective, the KG trade is still based somewhat on potential. It could all work out incredibly well for Minnesota in a few years but in the meantime they've given up an All-NBA talent in Garnett and such a loss would make it difficult to look at the big picture.
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