Wiz: Serious, With a Side of Goof
Booooooooooth.
There were conventional signs of abnormal Wiz seriousness at yesterday's practice. Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas did not address the media. Eddie Jordan looked like he had been sleeping on a bed of nails. Brendan Haywood went out of his way to praise his coach, saying Jordan had just delivered "one of his better speeches today; he really addressed some issues that have been lingering underneath the surface for a couple months about ball movement and what's gonna happen if there isn't ball movement."
And then there were more traditionally Wizardly signs of seriousness. Like the fact that DeShawn Stevenson practiced in a No. 52 jersey (Calvin Booth!!!!!!) but refused to discuss the incident after practice. Or the fact that Stevenson declined to address the possibility of Soulja Boy's attendance this week; "I'm just worried about the game man, all that off-the-court antics is done."
At the time, Stevenson was wearing a Jay-Z t-shirt, but he seemed genuinely surprised when reporters pointed that out, said it was completely unintentional and then returned to ask that reporters not make a big deal out of the shirt, repeating several times that he had not even realized the implications when choosing the shirt.
"I just wore it [randomly]," he said again and again. "I don't want TNT saying I wore a LeBron-Jay-Z shirt. I just wore it, I swear."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that's DeShawn Stevenson, attempting to defuse diffuse a potential media moment that would have earned him face time. When DeShawn Stevenson is attempting to avoid getting his name out there, you know things are serious.
(Best moments yesterday? Bruce Boudreau walking through the hallway during Wiz interviews, Brendan Haywood reaching out to shake his hand and say "Good luck coach." Eddie Jordan discussing Wiz fans, saying "when we play a game like we did [Monday] night, heck, they might cheer for Cleveland. And DeShawn Stevenson refusing to address Damon Jones's hand waggle, saying "I don't know who Damon Jones is, so it doesn't matter.")
By Dan Steinberg |
April 23, 2008; 11:08 AM ET
| Category:
Wizards
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Posted by: wiz = poop | April 23, 2008 11:32 AM
Funny Deshawn that's pretty much what Lebron said about you when you called him overrated. Just play ball you d-bag! I don't even care if you do the 'feel my face' motion (i actually like it), just make sure you do when we're up by 16, not down by 16.
Posted by: Los | April 23, 2008 11:43 AM
No surprise that DeShawn is trying to "diffuse" the situation after being totally humiliated in Cleveland. Just make some damn shots tomorrow night.
Posted by: Kev | April 23, 2008 11:43 AM
Brenda is making it impossible to dislike him.
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | April 23, 2008 12:08 PM
Brenda is making it impossible to dislike him.
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | April 23, 2008 12:08 PM
For really! Now I even feel bad about calling him Brenda.
Posted by: | April 23, 2008 12:44 PM
If Eddie Jordan does sleep on a bed of nails that might explain his stiff performance in those godawful car commercials he's doing.
Posted by: mrlogical | April 23, 2008 1:09 PM
Adam Jones > Damon Jones
Geaugh O's!
Posted by: WaPoLiveFan16 | April 23, 2008 1:24 PM
Hey Deshawn
Damon Jones is the guy that eliminated you your team in the 06 playoffs.
Posted by: clefan | April 23, 2008 1:24 PM
It makes sense that so many Cleveland fans are on WashPost message boards- their own are consistently empty or only offer a few comments. Meanwhile, major articles here have close to 300.
Brendan has become a team leader while others have struggled. His value cannot be overstated right now. We need his snarky confidence and aggressive play to spark this team.
Cleveland. . . Your city is kinda alright. But the vast majority of it is dull and boring.
Posted by: rob g in annapolis | April 23, 2008 1:43 PM
@Rob G: eh, DC isn't all that exciting compared to most US cities in all honesty.
Anyway, I feel bad for the Wizards cause they were playing well but they made two deadly mistakes:
1.) Waking up a team that had played without any enthusiasm for the last two months. Really, they had no fire whatsoever until the "overrated" comment and Gil blogging about wanting the Cavs.
2.) They tried to be physical. It made absolutely no sense. When they run, they cause the Cavs a LOT of problems. Jordan probably should be fired just for that reason, even though he seems like a good guy.
But there is no going back now, the Cavs are up 2-0, they have their swagger back, they care, and James wants to make an example out of the Wizards. On top of that, they now have a defensive identity back.
It's weird, this series is over but it shouldn't be. The 2008 playoff Wizards will be a case study on what NOT to do going into the playoffs.
Posted by: Plainview | April 23, 2008 3:19 PM
Plainview, coming from that muckidy city you live in, you have lost your mind. DC is the NATIONS Capital. We have it all here and are centrally located. You got some nerve trying to talk about someone's city. I bet you have never even been here before. Name me ten things that would want to make someone come there? I've been to that gray mass and trust me, I have no desire to EVER visit that slum again!
Posted by: | April 24, 2008 9:06 AM
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sorry wiz, you done. sorry caps, nice run. sorry skins, you too will enjoy the curse of DC sports