Orlando Magic News for October 16th: The Orlando Magic Say "Thank You"; a Look Ahead to the 2009-2010 Season

by erivera7 on Oct 16, 2009 5:46 PM EDT in News

Via the Orlando Magic:

Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and Central Florida Sports Commission hosted a ‘Thank You Luncheon" for the Orlando Magic on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency International Airport. Magic players, coaches, staff, Magic Dancers and STUFF the Magic mascot along with 400 guests were all on-hand for the celebration. The luncheon recognized the accomplishments of the Magic both on and off the court.
On Tuesday, October 20th at 8:00 p.m. EST, Sun Sports will offer a preview of the 2009-2010 Orlando Magic hosted by Paul Kennedy. Interviews will include Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, and head coach Stan Van Gundy.

Mark your calendars!
Blowing the Whistle
Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus touches on the topic of replacement refs and tries to figure out whether or not they will continue to be whistle-happy entering the regular season. The answer may surprise.

As the NBA's preseason reaches its midway point, the most pressing question around the league might be this: Will the whistles continue? There is little reason to believe that the NBA's regular referees are anywhere near returning to work, which means the league is close to opening the season with replacements for the first time since 1995. While reviews of the fill-ins, mostly from the NBA D-League and the WNBA, have been mixed, it has been impossible to ignore the trend toward more fouls during the preseason. [...]

To try to answer that question, we turned to the past and the referee lockout of 1995. Using the incomparable Basketball-Reference.com database, Justin Kubatko was able to pull statistics that compare games officiated by the replacements (through Dec. 12) with the remainder of the season called by the regular referees.
adidas TS Commander LT
Aron Phillips of Dime Magazine examines what shoes Dwight Howard (as well as Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett) will be sporting on his feet this year.
NBA fines Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy $35,000
UPDATE: Josh Robbins reports that Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy has been fined. Click on the link to find out exactly how.

The NBA has fined Stan Van Gundy and the Orlando Magic $35,000 apiece for publicly criticizing game officials, the league announced late Friday afternoon.

Van Gundy was fined for his comments following Thursday's practice, said Tim Frank, the league's vice president for basketball communications.
The Dwight Howard comedy hour (aka the Orlando Magic's thank you luncheon)
UPDATE 2: Tania Ganguli shares some details and specifics from the "Thank You" luncheon that occurred earlier this afternoon.

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Comments

Okay. Why was Van Gundy fined?

His comments seemed commonplace to me. He was simply answering a question. The NBA seems hypersensitive about the issue.

by downbeatitude on Oct 16, 2009 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

Where does the above mention anything about SVG getting fined?

Let's observe a moment of silence for CLee, Skip to my Lou, Batman, and The Michael Jordan of Turkey...

Welcome Back Polish Hammer and Adonal Foyle, and Welcome Vinsanity, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, and Matt Barnes!!

by malars on Oct 16, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Post has been updated.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 16, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That fine on SVG seems to be bull**** to me

At worst, what he said could be characterized as ‘constructive criticism.’ It is especially bull**** when Lionel Hollins gets fined $10,000 less for what was outright inflammatory comments in regards to his comments about the refs favoring Dwight.

Even though the Hippopotamus lacks a stinger for a tail, a truly wise man would rather be sat on by a bee. ~ Banacek

by funny80sguy on Oct 16, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised.

I was there when the question was asked and I didn’t even think Stan Van Gundy’s comments were a big deal. Not a second thought crossed into my mind that he was going to get fined for what he said.

Sucks to be honest, I suppose.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 16, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

That's just ridiculous

by josh99 on Oct 16, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

League's going overboard....they cant just sit there and pretend things will be okay with these refs

and no one can say anything

"My features are that of a god, its not a facade these rappers wanna be NaS"- Nasir Jones QB's Finest

Founder and only member of the Kristin Kreuk Appreciation Society, and future Husband

Still miss em: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvvgVn0gg1E

by Wasabi Steak on Oct 16, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

this

by magicfaninTN on Oct 17, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

That's how the NBA works sometimes.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 17, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Bizarre

Apparently, not only are you not allowed to criticse referees, now you can’t even comment on them.

“They’re doing as good a job as expected, some better than others, and obviously they can’t replace the best refs in the world.”

I’m expected a fine from the NBA any minute now.

by eltharion_doa on Oct 16, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

shrugs

Go figure.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 16, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I love that Jameer's feet don't reach to the floor in that pic

Not even commenting on the ridiculousness of SVG’s fine. Jesus.

by TheGiantSquid on Oct 16, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

WOW. That's all I could say.

SVG would probably pay half a million if said he didn’t like Danny Crawford’s mustache.

What he said was not a criticism. It was a fair and balanced assessment that almost everyone would agree with. It’s absolutely ludicrous to punish someone for that.

It's not a dunk unless your hand makes contact with the rim. Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, "Superman..."

by ben_gleicher on Oct 16, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

better hear this at every game, hope something very very bad happens 2 Stern

ref u suck, ref u suck , ref u suck ,ref u suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
starting to feel better about not being there and having season tics, I just dont feel good about putting money in Sterns pocket anymore.

I know what Bo dont know.

by D-RAK on Oct 16, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

freedom of speech?

I think the NBA has been learning a thing or two from the Chinese government or something :p

by RussL on Oct 16, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

China?

Sounds more like Iran, you don’t agree with injustice, well then I am going to drop the hammer!

by Eric9321 on Oct 16, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

The Polish Hammer!

Sorry, just had to say that, even though I know Marcin doesn’t like the nickname.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 16, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Marcin doesn't like it? How can you not like it?

by josh99 on Oct 16, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

It's too good of a name to just throw away...

by josh99 on Oct 16, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

In Poland, "hammer" has a slang meaning kind of like "dolt" does here. Like an incompetent person.

He prefers The Polish Machine.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Evan Dunlap on Oct 17, 2009 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions

The freedom of speech protection

Only applies to federal government censorship [/legal anal retentiveness]

by eltharion_doa on Oct 17, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think the NBA can get away with this

Someone in this league needs to stop the nonsense, rules are one thing, but total censorship is another.

by Eric9321 on Oct 16, 2009 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

Unfortunately, I doubt someone will step in.

I’m all for punishment if it’s justifiable to the offense, but in this instance, the punishment is questionable.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 16, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Private competition

They’re entitled to set the rules however they want. You don’t like it? Don’t play/coach in the NBA.

by eltharion_doa on Oct 17, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Which isn't to say...

That I agree with it. But nobody can change or stop it except the NBA themselves.

by eltharion_doa on Oct 17, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, Congress always has the exemption to the Sherman Act to hang over the sports leagues’ collective heads, but that would be massive overkill. [/legal anal retentiveness]

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Oct 19, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I would like an explanation.

There is only one good reason that I can think of: Stern doesn’t want to give the NBA refs any leverage (SVG called them the best of the best). SVG’s comments about the replacement refs were about as offensive as saying that Stern struggles with weight management more than others.

by downbeatitude on Oct 16, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions

Unfortunately, an explanation won't be given.

The NBA doesn’t need to explain itself, which is how the cookie crumbles.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Oct 17, 2009 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions

well i guess we can look at it like this.

just like our players have to get used to eachother the refs have to get used to nba lvl. play.when we get to a third of the season and they are still wistle happy then say somthing till then they should get a chance to work the kinks out.

by magicman775 on Oct 17, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions