The only thing in common to many is that the two people that made said the statements weren't using their brain, and didn't have a firm grasp of how people would interpret them. Or that they are both soft.
NBA analysts everywhere were calling that contract a move that wasn't for basketball purposes. Most except for Laker fans and Kobe fans thought it was a bad deal especially coming off an injury riddled season. Wilbon's not the majority here.
If you watch PTI regularly, Wilbon is a big NBA guy. To him, the NBA can do no wrong and the NFL just messes everything up. Klinsmann insulting an NBA player probably made Wilbon upset.
I would like to believe Mr. Wilbon was speaking metaphorically about suggesting Mr. Klinsmann to get out of the country.
And Jurgen inferred that is was a common occurrence in American sports. Not true at all when veterans start showing signs of decline they are usually shown the door in American professional sports even if they were a star.
In the NFL that has become far more common place. But in the NBA lots of old veterans keep getting them checks! As Jalen Rose likes to say. But ultimately he is right in the singular case of kobe bryant. the man is getting paid an enormous amount and he cant play. his body is done. its ridiculous. meanwhile dirk and tim duncan and others take paycuts and add more talent to play with them and remain competitive.
I'm a Lakers fan and Kobe fan. But anyone who thinks Kobe deserved that contract has their head of their behind. This kind of stuff happens all the time in American sports though. Old players get paid for what they've done, not what they'll do. Look at the contract the S.F Giants gave Lincecum. $17 mil a year and he's a shell of his former self. He can't pitch anymore. 5.18 E.R.A in 2012. 4.37 in 2013 and this year he's over 5.00 again. I think the New England Patriots are one of the few teams that only pay players for what they will do now, not what they've done in the past. If Tom Brady loses a step he doesn't get the same contract he got when he was a superstar.
if The U.S plays disciplined ( like im sure JK will make them ) then Nigeria wont score , their creativity is poor they only rip long range shots , im calling a 3-1 win tomorrow for the U.S , im curious if JK will stop getting crap them , personally I think Wilbon is an idiot and that level of xenophobia is comparable to racism so it has no place on National TV , imagine if the coach was African and some white guy told him to go back to his country ......
I think something major is being overlooked here ,JK spent much time studying the coaching style of Phil Jackson and other NBA coaches, its was quite common for Phil to do something like this and silently call his players or team out similar to what Gregg Popovich does, if Wilbon payed attention to soccer news then he would know this. This is a motivational technique by JK plain and simple, GERMANS KNOW HOW TO WIN AT THE WC
Cutting Donovan and now the Kobe comment has given soccer so much press. I love the drama and clout it's bringing. Thanks klinsi
So all this whining and gnashing of teeth is because the US coach didn't use tact? Seriously? Hey Klinsi, it's the truth but sugar coat it for us please or we will throw a tantrum!! Yeah, ok.
Well your crap capacity at this point is still not measured, to be honest. You did come up with that "No American coach would make that statement!" trash after all. Funny how you seem to be following Klini's actions step for step but feel he is wrong...
I'm actually guessing Klinsmann's words were chosen very carefully - either to lower expectations so that he'll face less criticism after we get bounced before the knock-out stages or to take the pressure of his players.
No. I just brought him into the discussion because of what he says. Controversial for the sake being controversial.
I think it's a healthy dose of reality that the soccer fan that only watches the world cup needs. Only 8 countries have ever won it. Only 12 countries have been in the finals and one of those countries no longer exists.
That's a great point and something which is lost in all this with the overly-sensitive crowd dissecting anything and everything Jurgen says, is that many times what a coach says to the media and what he says behind closed doors are two completely different things. Just imagine if Popovich was judged by his courtside and postgame interviews. People would think he's the most arrogant douche ever to coach in American sports. Yet, he's completely different behind closed doors.
There's no reason for Klinsmann to be mad about this because he can simply get rid of someone who can't - or isn't willing - to go hard at each practice. In other words, you can be an Alen Iverson but only in the NBA. In other sports, you're usually shown the door. And, with that in mind, Klinsmann is bewildered why someone is making huge money when he can't perform anymore. His own experience has been the opposite. As to Wilbon's statement - ESPN let it go on the air because it employs a bunch of loud mouthed yahoos who appeal to the lowest common denominator. That's what drives ratings ... in yahoos. Thinking sport fans usually turn away from that drivel.
I understand Klinsmann's point, but it's kinda apples to oranges in our sports structure. American sports are about business as much as they are about the actual play, they're literally franchises. Kobe's contract hurts the teams ability to sign other players that can help them win, but the dollars he brings in with advertising, merchandise, and ticket sales is currently more important to management than a championship is. Kobe is hugely popular in China. That alone is worth his contract from a business perspective. They're milking the cash cow while they still can and they'll worry about building a winning team later.