By Paul Casey Gotham
****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.
If a player is measured by his trade value, then I may have hall-of-fame potential. I played for nine organizations in nine seasons. Yeah, you could say Ricky Nelson sang my theme song. I signed a free agent deal with Miami after playing college ball at Duquesne. Three months later they waived me. Then they signed me again two months later – somewhere Elvis was singing “Return to Sender.” Let’s see. One time I was dealt with Zendon Hamilton for Reece Gaines. Another time, I was traded straight up for “Skip To My Lou.” Then I went with Justin Reed for Juwan Howard. There was a three-team trade involving Bonzi Wells, Malick Badiane, Sergei Lashouk, Bobby Jackson and Adam Haluska. Early in my career, I was part of another three-team trade. You might know some of the other guys: Chris Mills, Tony Allen, Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter, Bob Sura, and, oh yeah, Rasheed. I ended up playing for a champion. I averaged almost 20 minutes per game in 26 contests scoring more than six points while grabbing 2.2 rebounds with 3.7 assists. In the playoffs, I came off the bench and brought the defense for almost 9 minutes while playing in all 22 games of the second season. I enjoyed slowing down Derek Fisher. I scored 2.6 while grabbing 1.2 boards and handing out one dime. Two years and three teams later I averaged 20 points in 79 starts. I started 65 the next and averaged 10. Granted those teams didn’t win too many games.
Who am I?
Well I’ll state the obvious – had to be a guard if he is guarding Derek Fisher.
For a guy that was a journeyman for several years and suddenly see a lot of playing time – means he was playing on a team that wasn’t very good. That means, Minnesota, Clippers, Toronto, Memphis (until recently) and more recently – Cleveland.
Okay that is all I have right now – gotta get in the car to head to work.
Wow! The guys that were traded for or with this WAI is a list of “names-I-don’t-know”! Bobby Sura, FSU? Rasheed Wallace? That’s about it. But Rasheed was traded from Detroit, right? And Detroit did win a championship a few years back, right? Now, a guard from Duquesne that was on that team; I’m stumped, and yet I feel we have discussed this player at another time, like in discussions about Dukes in the NBA. All I can remember now is Si Green.
I guess this weekly post should be retitled “Name That Journeyman”. … I refuse to answer on the grounds that this one is absolutely pointless … (plus I have no idea what the answer is).
The only name that popped into my head is Avery Johnson, but his career doesn’t really fit the clues … other than harassing Derek Fisher. Wish I had some knowledge of Duquesne basketball. Wait … no I don’t. But i am wondering if it is a former SA Spur?? Who else has slowed down D Fisher of the Lakers over the past decade other than the Spurs?
And Dick Ricketts.
The “and Dick Ricketts” refers to an addition of old time Dukes in the NBA. Wally snuck a post in between on me.
Wait a minute, if Wally doesn’t know, is this a sign of the apocalypse?
Research is definitely required for this obscure one. Pete’s comments put me on the right track. I now know who it is, but I “cheated” and I’m not proud of what I’ve done. 🙁
For those of you who want to continue racking your brains on this one (why would ya?), pay attention to what Pete had to say.
Casey … C’mon, man! Is the next WAI gonna be the Head Ballboy for the ’79 Portland Trailblazers? Might be time to switch over to baseball if this is what we’re gonna get on the hoops end of it. Just sayin …
I’m still trying to figure out what Ricky Nelson song you’re referring to. “I’m Walkin'”? If so, Fats Domino might have been a slightly easier clue.
Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man”. That part I knew. Rick is on of my favorite artists and vastly underrated.
This is definitely a “research” one if Wally thinks so!
Who’s changing rules? I’m just saying that Wally’s usually the only one to “James-Joyce” it all the way to the final answer. Look-up is not his typical modus opearndi. I haven’t gone there (look-up) yet, but I also have gone as far as I can. No names come into my head. But for others who still want to pursue it, I apparently have opened some doors. Same rules as always; Wally just broke them on this one as early as the rest of us usually do – LOL! And I’m guessing that if he resorted to the look-up, so will the rest of us. I, however, think the obscure WAI is good! I had one I was going to mention to you just the other day, but I forgot it already; that’s how obscure it is! Maybe Wally wants us to return to famous race horses!
All i know is Pets says “dick ricketts,” and it sounds like a horror film title to me. “Steve was just a normal high school senior, until he found out he had . . Bum bum bah bum . . . “
I like it Bill. Could be that’s what I was REALLY remembering; some horror film like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes or The 50 Foot Tall Woman!
I look forward to the WAI diversion every Wed, but there’s a practical time limit that any of us care to spend on it. detroit. WAI started out being a race in the early days … maybe it was “too easy”, but when there’s really no detroit “fame aspect” to the answer (like this one), you’re either gonna spend a whole day on it … or do some research detroit … and neither are really that fun. If there’s no way any of us are gonna get it (without research) before noon in detroit, then we’ve gone too far … in my humble opinion 🙂
Pete … “Famous” racehorses would be better than what we went through today. Bring it on.
Is it the spurs?? Is it Bruce Bowens?? He has been on ESPN or TNT as of late, and this might be how Casey got this.
Bruce Bowens was a defensive specialist, though I believe he might have guarded Kobe when they were playing..
I admit that I was thinking a Detroit PG because of the 1 championship, but I went back and read some comments and Wally was pointing towards a possible Spur.
Chauncey Billups was the point guard for the Pistons teams and yes he’s been traded a bunch, but is it 9 teams??
Oh wait, it does say play”ed”, so this player is retired…
My guess, while possibly a poor one, is Bruce Bowens…
In looking back, it’s got to be a Piston…
The 2 guards were Billups and Hamilton. It must be a backup guard on those teams.
Name any other players from the Piston’s championship team??
Ben Wallace, Sheed Wallace, Hamilton, Billups, Taishon Prince…that’s 5, 7 more…
Real subtle, Wally. 🙂
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, the guy played for Detroit. But, he was a bench player, so it’s not Chauncey Billups. He’s still playing professional basketball, but not in the NBA, so technically he’s not retired.
I really don’t know who will know the answer to this question. Maybe Bill James? Or, one of the hosts of the “Mike and Mike” show? I never would have got it. To me, Bruce Bowen is less obscure than this guy.
Oops…Dan appears to be on the right track. Maybe he has a shot at getting this. I’d like to delete my previous comment, but I can’t.
Linsay Hunter??
I believe Lindsey Hunter was mentioned as one of the guys involved in the trade that also included the WAI subject. So, no…
Getting warm, though.
You guys are getting real warm with the Motown theme, esp the last championship squad.
Chas … Billups is still in the NBA … was Denver, now the Knicks. Not to mention he is FAR MORE decorated than the player we’re talking about. And it’s not Hunter.
BUT, Chas, you did actually mention “part” of the WAI correct answer in your 1:49pm comment.
Honestly, after all this, the ONLY way any one of us was gonna guess correctly is IF they were a fan of Duquesne basketball, or the Pistons I suppose. Now, if that’s you, raise your hand. If you have your hand raised …. Shame on you for not getting this! What? Nobody raised their hand? I’m shocked.
No kidding, Wally. I was being a little more subtle than you (but not by much, with my hints). I looked up the answer too, so I know who he is. When I said “he’s not in the NBA,” I was referring to the WAI guy, not Chauncey Billups.
Yes, that’s right folk. My 1:49 comment provides hints as to the player’s first and last name.
I’m a little slow on the uptake, Chas. The pursuit of the identity of a totally obscure, irrelevant NBA journeyman has totally dulled my senses. Actually, it has decreased my very will to live. Please … someone … kick the chair ….
You know, Casey does a GREAT job with these WAIs. Most answers are “obscure” to me anyway, so I am not struggling any more with this one than with others. I simply don’t know.
Pete –
There’s a big difference between not knowing and not wanting to know. For most of these WAIs, I’ve been very interested in what the answer is. With this one, I don’t really want to know. Could care less. Waste of time.
Given the number of WAIs that Casey has done, he reaches a point where he has to choose between obscurity and obviousness. I opt for obscurity; at least it’s a challenge. No one is going to like EVERY instance of ANYTHING. If you didn’t care to know the answer to this one, that’s OK. Don’t play this week. Although a journeyman (as you say – I have still not looked it up – don’t care to – LOL), this player has some interesting accomplishments per the bio above; played in all 22 post season games for a league champion; shut down Derek Fisher ) many “defenders” are obscure), averaged 20 points in 79 games one season, was part of a trade for Rasheed Wallace (who SHOULD be obscure)! He may be obscure, but he’s certainly not un-accomplished. The fact that we don’t all know his name is unfortunate, but I think the bio proves that he is worth remembering and that once again the WAI has served as an educational tool. What amazes me is how Casey comes up with these topics. I would have run out long ago. I am going to go look him up now – finally!
Never heard of him. Had to go to Dukes in the NBA and then search by dates. But I did learn some things, so not a waste by any means.
I definitely agree that there’s a challenge between trying not to make these too easy or too hard. I suppose we crossed over into too hard this time, but so be it. Casey does a good job with these, so let’s cut him some slack.
Slack is cut … we’re movin’ forward. Good job, Casey. But knock it off with these Mike James types. 🙂
Now that’s the spirit. But…real kudos to the guy who gets the really obscure one(s). Not me; I don’t even get most of the obvious ones. Heck, I’m strutting on Mike James because I figured out it was Detroit’s championship year.