Why DenverStiffs.com? An open letter to my readers...
by Andrew Feinstein on May 2, 2008 8:25 PM MDT
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My family and I have purchased season tickets and attended Nuggets games since the team was in the ABA. A season ticket holder is essentially a taxpayer – you contribute to the million dollar salaries of your team’s managers, coaches and players. And as a taxpayer, you have every right to demand an earnest effort both on the basketball floor, inside the locker room and within the front office. Moreover, we should never forget the credo that all fans must abide by: if we care more about the outcome of the game than the coach or the players, they no longer deserve our support and instead, deserve our harshest criticism.I launched FireGeorgeKarl.com back in February because I feared that the coach (and by proxy, the players) of the team I love didn’t care as much about the regular season as we, the fans, did. And worse – with a few exceptions – not only was no one in the Denver media calling head coach George Karl out for the team’s underachieving performance, but they were routinely taking up for him. Meanwhile, every Nuggets fan I spoke to was furious with Karl, and who was speaking up for them?
So something had to be done.
By starting this blog, my hope was that by putting some much needed, and frankly overdue, public heat on Karl that he would guide the Nuggets out of the cellar of the Western Conference Playoffs for once and deliver one measly first-round series victory. And that if he didn’t, I hoped the Nuggets would make a change at head coach. Much to my disappointment, neither of these wishes came to fruition and Karl will be back on the bench next season.
But since starting this blog, I quickly learned that the Nuggets organization has a myriad of problems that go well beyond George Karl. And for me – or anyone – to make one guy the scapegoat for five straight years of playoff futility, not only does a disservice to him but lets others responsible for this ineptitude off the hook.
For example, General Manager Mark Warkentien was the co-architect of the Portland Jailblazers team that almost ruined basketball as we know in the city of Portland. And Bret Bearup, owner Stanley Kroenke’s confidant and team adviser, previously operated outside the purview of the NCAA as a financial adviser to athletes. While I appreciate Mr. Kroenke's willingness to open his wallet to put a winning team on the floor, I don’t want us turning into Warkentien’s Jailblazers or worse, the New York Knicks of the Western Conference.
And, of course, there are the players. In spite of the assortment of (very) public incidents – criminal or otherwise – that these current Nuggets have been a part of, I can’t help but root for them. But the reality is that in addition to not being coached properly, these players don’t fit well together and, in some cases, have worn out their welcome in Denver.
I always intended this website to be much more than a "fire the coach" blog and grow into a general Nuggets forum that speaks the brutally honest truth on behalf of Nuggets fans everywhere. Therefore, while continuing to advocate for a coaching change, I will be advocating for other changes within the organization and to the roster, as well – and that’s why this blog will now be known as DenverStiffs.com (for the uninitiated, that’s an homage to former head coach Doug Moe who called all his players "stiffs" – that means you, Blair Rasmussen!). To keep tabs on those who disappoint us in Nuggets Nation, I have produced a "STIFF LIST" to be a regular feature at the top right corner of the homepage.
I hope that all of you will continue to follow this blog regularly, especially given that many of you have been asking me to turn this into a general Nuggets blog from Day One. And in case you’re curious, FireGeorgeKarl.com will remain live and point here.
Before I sign off tonight, I want to thank a few people for making this blog an amazing experience thus far. First off – I want to thank my most active readers: chillz, markp, danjustin, joanna (all the way from China!), Kieran, Nataly, geerten (from Holland!), blue, Petey, Lucas, Andrew (from Australia!), j2y2k3, Iverson Warrior, Lord Sam, Murl, kenoshakid, Nadum, ohxten, DeAngelo Starnes, shonuff101 and even my nemesis, Shaun. You guys have been amazing not just with your loyalty to the blog, but with your thoughtful, detailed comments and analysis. Keep it up!
Secondly, I want to thank Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News, who has treated me as a colleague (and not some internet hack) from our first conversation onward, and had the guts to bring up this site to George Karl in person. I also want to thank the Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla and Woody Paige for being responsive and supportive, and Benjamin Hochman for giving this blog some mention, too.
I want to give a quick shout out to ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons and Henry Abbott (of True Hoop fame), and Brett Edwards of AOL Fanhouse and Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype.com for mentioning this blog on several occasions. And of course, many thanks to the "dean of sports bloggers," Will Leitch at Deadspin, for having my back when Coach Karl’s "lawyer" threatened to sue me.
Thirdly, I want to thank the folks who have interviewed me, 850 KOA’s Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian, Dino Costa and Fox News 11’s Eric Goodman for hearing me out when the blog first launched. I also want to thank 104.3 The Fan’s Mike Evans and Sandy Clough whom – even though we got off to a rocky start together – have since agreed to disagree in a cordial manner and I know they only want what’s best for the Nuggets and their fans at the end of the day.
And most importantly, I want to thank Bret Adams, Esq., Coach Karl’s "lawyer" from Columbus, Ohio. If it wasn’t for Mr. Adam’s obnoxious, inappropriate and unprofessional threat of a lawsuit against me, this blog would have never received the notoriety and popularity that it has. Bret, I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.
So let’s get the Nuggets a Larry O’Brien trophy already!
Sincerely,
Andrew
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Comments
Love the new look and the new name. Will you please write about AI now???!!!!!!!!!!
-Dave in Denver
by Anonymous on May 2, 2008 8:38 PM MDT reply actions
by Anonymous on May 2, 2008 9:05 PM MDT reply actions
by Not anonymous? on May 2, 2008 11:01 PM MDT reply actions
by JBE on May 2, 2008 11:52 PM MDT reply actions
by bubba on May 3, 2008 12:00 AM MDT reply actions
1. Juwan Howard. Dude gave it his all every night on one of the worst teams ever.
2. Dikembe Mutombo. Man does not fly in the house of Mutombo.
3. Robert Pack. Explosive. Last guard to actually make a difference in Denver.
4. Carmelo Anthony (2006-2007 only). If given the ball more would have destroyed the Spurs despite getting no calls.
5. Michael Adams. Worth the price of admission.
Sad to say that is all I got.
by Paterade on May 3, 2008 12:24 AM MDT reply actions
Just when you (yes you and this blog) have put a little fire on GK's seat, you put out the fire.
For example, if the Nuggets open the 2008-09 season 0-4 or 0-6 then you continuously call for his firing, I think his seat will be like a grill.
But whatever it is I'm going to come to this site and post here. I like it. :) Still should have kept firegeorgekarl.com until GK is actually fired though.
- Snake -
by Anonymous on May 3, 2008 1:14 AM MDT reply actions
by Anonymous on May 3, 2008 2:02 AM MDT reply actions
Glad to see the blog is still alive. How about a post on all time STIFFS???
-Bill
by bill on May 3, 2008 2:06 AM MDT reply actions
by Anonymous on May 3, 2008 2:16 AM MDT reply actions
p.s. Dino really rocks!!I just finished the 3 parts show downloaded from ur earlier post.I've never seen a media personnel speaking and critizing in such a direct and bitter way.Or perhaps it's because of culture difference.
p.p.s. Thanks for mentioning me in ur post:).I believe more or less this website has some impact on the development of the team.
by joanna on May 3, 2008 4:07 AM MDT reply actions
FGK is the best thing going but whatever site you want to change it to fits well by me. Your site has been an outlet for me especially during the games to blow out the steam. Of course the entertainment value ranks way up there. Thanks for your complete dedication to your site and us rabid fans. Thanks for the nod.
by markp on May 3, 2008 5:41 AM MDT reply actions
Back to the DUI, Melo's "mistake" is a clear sign that he was not coping with something. What was it? I don't exactly know, but I would put my money on this:
Trying to be a superstar on a screwed up "team" going nowhere.
No amount of leadership, or stellar play, or anything else Melo could do was going to change the outcome, and Melo knows this. So he got drunk and, unfortunately, drove his car. Having done that myself in the past, I can sympathize. This sanctimonious BS from a lot of people here or at NT makes me crazy. Melo is 23 years old and has been placed in a situation, unlike Lebron or DWade, that is impossible to deal with.
And now, it's guaranteed to continue next year. I'll bet Melo secretly wants out of this Nuggets travesty. Trade Melo -- not to help the Nuggets, who are now beyond help -- but to give Melo a chance to shine somewhere where he's has got a real coach and a reasonable chance of success.
by Dave on May 3, 2008 6:30 AM MDT reply actions
by Chris on May 3, 2008 8:16 AM MDT reply actions
ha ha ha ~~~~~~
by Muse Favor on May 3, 2008 8:23 AM MDT reply actions
Was that 'other Andrew' you were referring to me? Haha if it is then thanks for the mention! And i think i deserve more credit being from Australia! Which is much further away from Denver than China is :P
by andrew fisher on May 3, 2008 8:29 AM MDT reply actions
by markp on May 3, 2008 9:10 AM MDT reply actions
by joanna on May 3, 2008 9:42 AM MDT reply actions
by J Silver on May 3, 2008 9:51 AM MDT reply actions
Does anyone here think we kinda "won" now that George Karl has proclaimed he is going to be more of a disciplinarian next season? I may not be sold on the Denver Nuggets as a product, but I like that small baby-step in the right direction. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic. 60 wins in 2009!!
Just kidding.
by Lord Sam on May 3, 2008 11:17 AM MDT reply actions
by Players Voice on May 3, 2008 11:46 AM MDT reply actions
And, you weren't the only one who wanted to blame George Karl for the entire mess, a lot of us did as well.
by Nataly on May 3, 2008 11:50 AM MDT reply actions
Mediocrity and a lack of professionalism are considered acceptable behavior here. Kobe Bryant gets up at 6 in the morning in the summer to work out. He's got workaholic tendencies, whereas Melo appears to have alcoholic tendencies. Nene must have gained 40 pounds in the offseason last year.
Karl says next year he's going to ask the players to make a commitment to coming to practice on time more often. More often? What? What kind of job can you make $10-20 million a year for coming to work on time irregularly? With that attitude, they're doomed from the start.
Utah, Portland, and Seattle/OKC Supersonics/Carpetbaggers are run by smart GMs who do good work. They are younger than the Nuggets are they are on the upswing. Soon the Nuggets will return to their rightful place in the cellar of the Northwest Division. Maybe then Stan will finally have the sense to fire George Karl.
by Kieran on May 3, 2008 11:57 AM MDT reply actions
Unfortunately, the fans are also gettin' stiffed by having to pay for that lame product the No-guts inist on putting on the floor. The team's architects lack vision, the players lack commitment and the rest of the wreteches lack common sense if we continue to buy tix. Fire us all!
by Anonymous on May 3, 2008 3:41 PM MDT reply actions
by GoldenNugget on May 3, 2008 6:20 PM MDT reply actions
by markp on May 3, 2008 10:20 PM MDT reply actions
by markp on May 3, 2008 10:24 PM MDT reply actions
by Anonymous on May 3, 2008 11:10 PM MDT reply actions
by shonuff101 on May 4, 2008 8:15 AM MDT reply actions
by shonuff101 on May 4, 2008 8:16 AM MDT reply actions
It's really ANNOYING. How about fixing it? Thanks.
by Anonymous on May 4, 2008 11:53 AM MDT reply actions
And to the other post about browsing, click at the top,and your back to the home page
by markp on May 4, 2008 5:31 PM MDT reply actions
by shonuff101 on May 4, 2008 5:46 PM MDT reply actions
by Anonymous on May 5, 2008 12:01 PM MDT reply actions
-Andrew P.
by parce on May 5, 2008 3:22 PM MDT reply actions
But like most people here I will support this site forever. Oh, and thanks for the shoutout Andrew, much appreciated! And two thumbs up for putting Chris Andersen in the banner!
by Geerten on May 5, 2008 4:29 PM MDT reply actions
He said "Whatever the name, it's an interesting, professionally done Website and one worth perusing by Nuggets fans."
Nice commentary:)
by joanna on May 5, 2008 11:10 PM MDT reply actions
by Murl on May 7, 2008 11:52 PM MDT reply actions
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