Monday report
Since we're talking so much about Kyle Korver's return to Philadelphia on Tuesday, I think it's only appropriate to take a moment and remember Gordan Giricek, who was traded to the Sixers along with a future first-round draft pick for Korver last December.
In seven months, Giricek was banished by Jerry Sloan, traded to Philadelphia, released by the Sixers after playing in 12 games, signed by Phoenix and then sign a two-year contract with a Fenerbahce, a Turkish club, this summer as a free agent.
What you probably didn't know about Giricek is that he was on a mission to acquire a pair of hockey skates during his last season in the NBA. For what reason, I don't know. But he was even more determined after going to a Maple Leafs game in Toronto.
The Jazz had made some calls on Giricek's behalf, but couldn't get anything done before the trade. Giricek, however, had a little more luck in Philadelphia, where the Flyers and Sixers both are owned by Comcast. A call was made. Skates were special ordered.
By the time his skates arrived, though, Giricek was already on his way to Phoenix. The Sixers packed up the skates and shipped them to him. All I can say is that if Giricek ever comes to the NHL as a 6-foot-6 Croatian winger, you'll remember this story.
We also will be returning Tuesday night to Wachovia Center, where Giricek had a memorable moment last season as a member of the Jazz.
If you remember, Giricek was benched on the Jazz's entire three-game trip to Detroit, New York and Philadelphia in favor of Ronnie Price. It was the beginning of the end for him in Utah, although his meltdown with Sloan was still another month away.
Giricek was walking from the locker room to the bus, talking to a friend. We were heading in the other direction and not going to interrupt him. He gets probably a good 20 yards past us, then turns around and yells, "Strike one. Strike two. Strike three. I'm out."
You couldn't have summed up his road trip any more perfectly. He kept walking to the bus. We kept walking to the press room. Just one of those moments that you still laugh about as an NBA writer more than a year later.
* * *
As I'm typing, the Jazz and Kyrylo Fesenko's representatives are still trying to figure out a way that he can reschedule his visa appointment Tuesday in Toronto and play against the Sixers.
From what I can gather, the Jazz scheduled the appointment and thought it would be easiest to get him in and out of Canada when they were on the East Coast. But they had no idea that Mehmet Okur would have to leave for Turkey because of a family illness.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's preference would be to start Fesenko, not Kosta Koufos, against Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert. Fesenko's camp thinks the opportunity is too important to miss and hopes to reschedule the appointment for another couple of weeks.
The Jazz could have anywhere from 10 to 12 players in uniform against the Sixers depending on what happens with Fesenko and Deron Williams. We might not know more until Tuesday's morning shootaround.
* * *
Korver was asked a couple of questions by Philadelphia reporters about Sloan and his 1,000th victory as Jazz coach. Here's what he had to say: ''Everyone thinks he's crazy and yelling all the time. That's not the way he is at all. He's a really good guy, down to earth. He commands respect and he gives you that back as well. He's stuck there in Utah and he's going to stay as long as he wants.''
--Ross Siler
In seven months, Giricek was banished by Jerry Sloan, traded to Philadelphia, released by the Sixers after playing in 12 games, signed by Phoenix and then sign a two-year contract with a Fenerbahce, a Turkish club, this summer as a free agent.
What you probably didn't know about Giricek is that he was on a mission to acquire a pair of hockey skates during his last season in the NBA. For what reason, I don't know. But he was even more determined after going to a Maple Leafs game in Toronto.
The Jazz had made some calls on Giricek's behalf, but couldn't get anything done before the trade. Giricek, however, had a little more luck in Philadelphia, where the Flyers and Sixers both are owned by Comcast. A call was made. Skates were special ordered.
By the time his skates arrived, though, Giricek was already on his way to Phoenix. The Sixers packed up the skates and shipped them to him. All I can say is that if Giricek ever comes to the NHL as a 6-foot-6 Croatian winger, you'll remember this story.
We also will be returning Tuesday night to Wachovia Center, where Giricek had a memorable moment last season as a member of the Jazz.
If you remember, Giricek was benched on the Jazz's entire three-game trip to Detroit, New York and Philadelphia in favor of Ronnie Price. It was the beginning of the end for him in Utah, although his meltdown with Sloan was still another month away.
Giricek was walking from the locker room to the bus, talking to a friend. We were heading in the other direction and not going to interrupt him. He gets probably a good 20 yards past us, then turns around and yells, "Strike one. Strike two. Strike three. I'm out."
You couldn't have summed up his road trip any more perfectly. He kept walking to the bus. We kept walking to the press room. Just one of those moments that you still laugh about as an NBA writer more than a year later.
* * *
As I'm typing, the Jazz and Kyrylo Fesenko's representatives are still trying to figure out a way that he can reschedule his visa appointment Tuesday in Toronto and play against the Sixers.
From what I can gather, the Jazz scheduled the appointment and thought it would be easiest to get him in and out of Canada when they were on the East Coast. But they had no idea that Mehmet Okur would have to leave for Turkey because of a family illness.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's preference would be to start Fesenko, not Kosta Koufos, against Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert. Fesenko's camp thinks the opportunity is too important to miss and hopes to reschedule the appointment for another couple of weeks.
The Jazz could have anywhere from 10 to 12 players in uniform against the Sixers depending on what happens with Fesenko and Deron Williams. We might not know more until Tuesday's morning shootaround.
* * *
Korver was asked a couple of questions by Philadelphia reporters about Sloan and his 1,000th victory as Jazz coach. Here's what he had to say: ''Everyone thinks he's crazy and yelling all the time. That's not the way he is at all. He's a really good guy, down to earth. He commands respect and he gives you that back as well. He's stuck there in Utah and he's going to stay as long as he wants.''
--Ross Siler
7:40 PM
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1 Comments:
Ross,
Keep up the good work man...Seriously, Im loving these entries. Good stuff. Who says Utah writers suck!?!?! OK, they mostly do, but you and your boy are on point.
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