While We’re Waiting… An Ugly Trade, Entourages and Crisp Passes

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

10 Year anniversary of a trade to forget- “When you trade a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer who came off a very good 2001 season and arguably the best three-year run in his career, you better nail it with the players acquired in the deal. The Indians’ intent in the deal was to get some good, young Major League ready talent in return, but in the end not even one core player came from that trade. The fact the Indians never had anything to show from the Alomar trade is mind-boggling. Forget that Alomar’s career plummeted at a ridiculous rate upon being traded and he really did nothing once he left the Indians. The fact is, at the time of the trade, he was the best second baseman in baseball and one of the game’s elite players who was still performing at a high level. For players like this, you usually get tons of talent dumped in your lap in a trade, which the Indians thought happened.” [Tony/Indians Prospect Insider]

–

Three more videos from Cavs Media Day, including Brendan’s man-crush Christian Eyenga. I’ll say this about Tristan and Kyrie, they have interview skills down already. [Stepien Rules]

–

I know, we’re all tired of hearing about him. Stories like this do shed some light on the last 7 years for the Cavaliers though- “LeBron [James] became a villain to many after The Decision. I’ve seen a lot of entourages, but none like his. In July 2010 I got an assignment from Nike to shoot LeBron right after his TV special announcing his move to the Heat. We rented the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where the Lakers and the Clippers used to play, and there were 53 people on my crew-including hair and makeup artists, production people, a stylist. I had $10,000 in Hollywood lighting. It was huge. When LeBron arrived, it was as if Nelson Mandela had come in. Six or seven blacked-out Escalades pulled up, a convoy. LeBron had bodyguards and his masseuse. His deejay was already there, blasting. This for a photo shoot that was going to last an hour, tops.

This is how crazy it was: I wasn’t even allowed to talk directly to LeBron. There was a liaison, someone from Amar’e Stoudemire’s family. I would say to him, “O.K., have LeBron drive right,” and then he’d turn to LeBron and say, “LeBron, go right.” LeBron had guards in the portals on the mezzanine level, talking into their hands. Really, what was going to happen? And then at the end of the shoot they all got in the Escalades. My God, I’ve been around Michael Jordan, but with him nothing even came close to this. Unimaginable.” [Iooss/Sports Illustrated] (H/T WFNY Tumblr]

–

Good news for a change? “Kyrie Irving is already popping eyes at Cavaliers practice sessions. And you would expect nothing less of the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick. “There are gonna be some oohs and aahs at (Quicken Loans Arena) this season,” Cavs forward Samardo Samuels predicted of Irving. Samuels said it while wearing a large smile, adding he has been most impressed with how the rookie point guard out of Duke “gets to where he wants to go every time” and almost always finds the open man with quick, crisp passes.

“Coach (Byron Scott) told me, ‘Just keep your hands ready,’” Samuels said. Scott offered his own praise. “Kyrie,” Scott said at the team’s media day, “has a chance to be a superstar.” [Amico/FSO]

–

Thanks to @WFNYKirk for this one. Every time the home team has worn white in the NFL. [Brulia/UniWatch]