Wizard Wrist Bands, and the Missing Haywood
We're all still at the Wizards' year-end media availability. Haven't learned much thus far, except that the rodent I saw last night was likely a rat, and not a mouse. My bad.
I'm sorry, but I'm not done with this team just yet. It takes a professional blogger to wring this many words off a team that just got swept in the first round of the playoffs. Anyhow, my summary of that series's wrist bands was published in today's paper, and part of it has appeared in this blog before, but just for the benefit of those who rely on RSS, here it is.
Antonio Daniels wears "Remember Why You Play" on his right wrist, and "Am I My Brother's Keeper" on the left. Jarvis Hayes has "JH24;" "for jackhammer," Darius Songaila said. Like several Wizards, Hayes also wears a "Gametyme" band, for "God Answers Me Every Tyme." Those are apparently made by a local entrepreneur. I asked why it's spelled "Tyme;" "I don't make 'em," Hayes said. "So the company doesn't know how to spell 'time'?" Darius Songaila asked.
DeShawn Stevenson, of course, varies his bands. For home games, he has two white bands that say "Nutso" in black letters, and two white ones that say "2Family." For road games, he has two black bands that say "2Family," and two brown ones that say "Guda" with "I'm Focused Man" on the other side. What does "Guda" mean?
"Money," he said.
In what language might that be?
"My language," he said. "Stevenson dictionary."
In Cavs' land, things get even weirder. Drew Gooden will wear an actual utilitarian rubber band on his left wrist, but only if he happens to find one laying around, and only for a week or so. (And where does he find them? "Wrapped around a newspaper," he said. We appreciate the support.)
Ever the iconoclast, Anderson Varejao chooses to wear messages around his ankles rather than his wrists; "When you feel weak, that's when you're strong," he said, translating the Portuguese. Songaila hinted that only Brazilians would wear wrist bands around their ankles, but when I said I wasn't exactly sure whether it was actually a wristband, Songaila retracted his statement.
Then, to crown my season in uber-professional style, I began asking the wrist band questions of others. Like Bill Raftery, who was broadcasting the game for NBA TV.
"If it would have helped me win some games as a coach I would have worn a whole armful," he said.
"His might be from a hospital bed, sadly," pointed out Raftery's partner, Ian Eagle.
I also asked the commish, David Stern, what message he wears on his wrist.
"Mine?" he said, pulling up his sleeve. "Mine says Patek Philippe."
[And no, I didn't know what that meant at first.]
[I'm sure Ivan Carter will blog about real stuff later, but if you're curious, Antawn Jamison said he's definitely not playing for the U.S. this summer, Eddie Jordan did not seem thrilled about Songaila's plans to play for Lithuania, Jarvis Hayes said he definitely wants to come back to D.C. next year, Brendan Haywood has thus far managed to avoid the media, Jordan said he'll coach whoever's in his locker room next fall, Jamison said he would strongly lobby for Haywood to return but that the team could not endure another year of distractions, and Jamison has left to get a turkey sandwich at Potbelly.]
By Dan Steinberg |
May 1, 2007; 12:32 PM ET
| Category:
Wizards
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Posted by: hmmmmm | May 1, 2007 01:15 PM
We need this guy gone. Give me Pecherov w/ and a jump shot like Zydrunas.
Posted by: hay-who | May 1, 2007 01:23 PM
Hey, DeShawn! Remember me?
Posted by: Jump Shot | May 1, 2007 01:43 PM
"except that the rodent I saw last night was likely a rat, and not a mouse. My bad."
I always laugh when people say they saw a mouse in DC. It's always a rat. In fact, if you think you're looking at a cat, it's probably a rat as well.
Posted by: Kev | May 1, 2007 01:43 PM
Yo Steinz;
Being a cheese connoisseur, I figured you would grasp the G(o)uda/cheese/money slang. With Stevenson being from Cali, I am sure that he listens to E-40, whose song "Guda" is on the 06 album "My Ghetto Report Card." E-40 has also dissed Rasheed Wallace on "Record Haters," if you needed more linkage.
Posted by: Bobtimist | May 1, 2007 01:49 PM
Good one, Agent Stern!
Posted by: Jamie Mottram | May 1, 2007 01:56 PM
Damn, Bobtimist beat me to the punch.
That Stern line is pure gold--as is his wristband.
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | May 1, 2007 03:47 PM
What the hell is that thing on the back of Gooden's head?
Posted by: Prophet | May 1, 2007 04:32 PM
(And where does he find them? "Wrapped around a newspaper," he said. We appreciate the support.)
lol
Posted by: Nancy | May 2, 2007 09:16 AM
It's a 'style' from the 80's called a Duck Tail, inspired by Scrooge McDuck and Huey Dewey and Louie. Drew Gooden is big into the 80's and has a collection of Cosby-esque sweaters.
Posted by: AdamAnt | May 2, 2007 09:40 AM
That's funny about Stern's Patek Philippe comment; I had to Google it, too.
Posted by: Eric | May 2, 2007 09:49 AM
Well, the 80's were pretty awesome.
Posted by: Prophet | May 3, 2007 10:50 AM
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a fajita bol at chipotle would have filled him up better than potbelly