<u>M Two One</u> You?re into snowboarding, so do you have a favorite athlete in that extreme sport? Explain why he or she is your favorite. A: Favorite athlete in extreme sports is Johnny Moseley. The reason I like Moseley is his versatility in competing in various events. He?s most famous for his freestyle skiing, but he?s also able to hold his own on a snowboard and snow mobile. Invalid Video Link 2. Who do you want to see in a Lakers uniform next season? It can be anyone and explain why. A: Pairing Kevin Garnett with Kobe Bryant has been the lifelong dream for a lot of Laker fans. Kevin Garnett is the perfect complimentary player to Kobe Bryant, because of this skill set and demeanor on the court. Watching them flow together in the All Star Game was fantastic. They had immediate chemistry on the court on both ends of the floor. KG is also highly entertaining to watch because of his energy level and passion for the game. I appreciate the players in the league who leave it all out on the court every night and take their careers seriously. 3. How did JBB start or better yet, what inspired you to purchase this website? A: Originally the site started with Hunter, Mel, and the original founder named Emil. I was an active staff member at another basketball forum, and Hunter used to Instant Message me almost every day for about a year to help with the forum they were starting up. I believe the original name of the website was XHoops. I gave him some feedback throughout and occasionally posted at XHoops. Eventually I left the other site because I didn?t like the direction it was taking. I started posting on XHoops and eventually they decided to add me as an administrator. We decided to change the name to JustBBall, and ditch the XHoops domain name. It was a terrible name, and we decided if we?re going to start a site focused on just basketball, why not cut to the chase name it just that. The site started to grow, and of course with growth you need the financial backing to pay for bandwidth, licenses and other operating costs. Mel, Hunter, and myself decided if we wanted to really expand JustBBall it would be in the best interest to let me become the owner. I had the money and resources, plus I?m much older than either of them and had experience in running a business. <u>MAMBA </u> I want your honest thoughts on Lamar Odom, no sugar-coating. A: If I had to describe Lamar Odom with one thought, it would be frustration. He?s an unbelievably gifted basketball player, but is lacking the drive to become an NBA legend. Lamar Odom has all the talent to be league MVP and impact a game without putting up a lot of points, just like a Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett. I?ve watched Odom in person several times, and I?ve come to the conclusion he?s either lazy by nature, or he doesn?t have a passion for basketball. A lot of the time standing around and just taking up space. If you pay attention to the better players in the league, they are constantly moving around with or without the ball. It?s easy to defend a player when he?s just standing in one place, instead of guys who are constantly slashing and running a defender into a screen. I think Odom is arguably the most wasted talent in the NBA. 2) Predict the Lakers starting lineup next season A:Tough question because the Lakers off-season has been a complete debacle up to this point. Laker fans have gone from the high of possibly landing a front court player like Jermaine O?Neal to a low point of Kobe Bryant requesting to be traded. I?ll give you two predictions with or without employee #24 on the team. PG ? Luther Head SG ? Kobe Bryant SF ? Danny Granger PF ? Lamar Odom C - Jermaine O?Neal PG ? Luther Head SG- Ben Gordon SF ? Luke Walton PF - Lamar Odom C ? Andrew Bynum 3) Have you ever thought of selling JBB? A: I?ve never actively pursued selling JBB. However, if the right deal came along I would consider selling the site, but only if I felt the people buying it would make it better than anything I could do. If an investor came along who wanted to fund JBB into becoming a real company I?d welcome it. I know a lot of the staff want to one day work in the sports industry, and creating that opportunity for them at JBB would be amazing. For example, having the money to hire writers full time, fly them to NBA games, provide them access to player interviews, and even paying people to scout other players or report on a game. Being able to pay designers so they can work full time on graphics for the site. <u>RUN BJM</u> If you were born in San Francisco how did you end up being a Laker fan? Its not like the Warriors were a perennial loser when you became a basketball fan or anything....... A: I grew up watching the Showtime Lakers, and followed the team because of Magic Johnson. I loved watching Magic and spent hours in the hallway trying to copy him with my Nerf basketball hoop fastened to the halfway closet door. The Lakers are my favorite team, but I?m also a close fan of the Warriors and Bulls. I was really excited for the Bay Area Warrior fans this past season because the franchise finally made it back to the post season and pulled off the upset. Fans of the Warriors really deserved it, because they are some of the most passionate fans I?ve ever been around. <u>NTC</u> What kind of music do you listen to? And who are your favourite Artists? A: I listen to everything, but the music I like most is Hip-Hop, Reggae, and Jazz. I have a lot of favorite artists, for each group it would be 2Pac, Bob Marley, and Miles Davis. 2. Will you ever change your quite out of date Leon Powe Cal signature? A: Haha, eventually I will, but I like sporting the artwork for a lengthy amount of time out of respect for the person taking the time to design it for me. <u>VOODOO CHILD </u>Your thoughts on the supernatural? A: I don?t really put much thought into it. I?ve never been religious, I?ve always felt the concept of going to church and living in fear of a god was childish. I think you can have faith and be spiritual, but paying money to sit in a church for an hour and listen to someone read a section of the bible never appealed to me. Supernatural phenomenon can be fascinating to theorize about, but I prefer being outdoors enjoying nature than trying to figure out something nature and science can?t explain. 2) Leon Powe vs. DeVon Hardin - Who would you rather have in the long term? A: I?d prefer Leon Powe for the long term. Powe is the type of player who can thrive under any circumstance, because he can adapt to being a role player or the primary option. Devon Hardin would need to be in the right system to be successful. 3) Ever been to Big Sur (Northern Cali, I think)? Heard great things about it and want to vacation out there some day. Is it really what it's made up to be? A: Yeah I?ve been there a few times camping. It is beautiful and there?s a lot of forest to explore. It?s right by the coastline, so the scenery is fantastic, and very lush. There?s a lot of trails to mountain bike on and also you can ride to the peak of the mountain and hall ass downhill. <u>MRJ</u> How do you stay active during the summer? A: I try to maximize my weekends by doing something on Friday night, and always have an activity planned on the weekend. I play a myriad of different sports (basketball, tennis, softball, volleyball, mountain biking, kayaking) and I workout once or twice a day at the gym on the weekends. 2) I always wondered why the name shapecity? A:It was a concept my friends and I came up with a few years ago. We?re all entrepreneurs and the concept was to keep creating businesses that helped shape a person?s city. Whether it be restaurant, clubs, real estate, or technology. 3) What team do you see Kobe next year and if he does get traded will he still be your favorite player? A:I see him with the Lakers next year, but if he is traded it?s likely Chicago. It?s the only team on his list in the Eastern Conference, and they have the most to offer right now in terms of young talent and cap space to rebuild with. I?ll still be a Kobe fan if he?s traded, but if he leaves the way Shaq left by badmouthing LA and LA fans, then I?d lose respect for him. <u>SHARD </u>Why is the West Coast better than the East? Not just basketball but in general. A: I?ve never been to the East Coast, but I notice the people who move from the East Coast to the West Coast tend to stay, and people who move from the West Coast to the East Coast, tend to return back to the West Coast. 2. In your opinion, what is the most challenging sport you have played? A: Golf by far is the most challenging. For starters I don?t have the patience for it, and there are so many variables you can?t control on a golf course. <u>UMAIR </u>What do you look for in a women? A: I?m assuming you mean women I?d date. I?ve been very picky with women I date. They have to be naturally attractive otherwise I?m not going to take the time to find out more about them. I look for the whole 9 yards. Sense of humor, career driven, have a curvy figure, athletic, respects my family, gives me space when I need it, and doesn?t cause drama. Who are some of your favorite posters on this site besides the Team Leaders and the Mods? A: Off the top of my head, wtwalker, AlleyOop, casual, tremaine, kwan1031, REREM, philsmith, huevonkiller, fiyah, illmatic, phundamentalz, and AKIRA Your favorite sports besides basketballl? A: Snowboarding and tennis <u>LAKERSFAN171</u> 1.Favorite Baseball team? A: AL - New York Yankees and NL - San Francisco Giants 2. Dodgers or the Angels? A: I really don?t care for either, but I?d probably choose the Angels. I like their style of baseball and Vlade Guerrero is usually on my fantasy baseball team. 3. How many Years will it take the Lakers to win another Championship? A: I?m hoping 1 or 2 if they keep Kobe, but if they trade him it?s going to be at least another 4 years. <u>KOBIMEL </u> Do you think Kobe will say in LA? A: Yes I think when it?s all said and done he?ll still be in LA. His trade request has been blown out of proportion by the media. 2) Who do you want the Lakers to draft? A: I?m hoping they don?t have to draft anyone, because I want the pick traded for immediate improvement. If the Lakers do end up keeping the pick I would like them to draft Thaddeus Young, Nick Young, or Jared Dudley. 3)Which part of Cali do you like best? A: I like Northern California the best, primarily San Francisco. <u>BRIAN </u> Is it hard running a forum like JustBBall, and on average, how much time do you spend on here each day? A: There are aspects of it, which are hard. Constantly finding time to update the site is probably the most difficult. It takes a lot of discipline to maintain the site and keep it focused on quality basketball discussion. On average I probably spend 4 hours a day on the site. 2. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? A: I?d change my legs. I have some chicken legs like Kevin Garnett and I cannot get them bigger despite trying several different training techniques. 3. What happens when the Clippers win the championship, and the Lakers miss the playoffs? A: Hah, it?s never happening as long as Donald J. Sterling is the owner of the Clippers. He?s reportedly clearing $40Million a year fielding a losing team, so there?s not much incentive for him. <u>LEGACY </u>Do you go on any other forums besides JBB? A: Yes I visit several forums, just to stay on top of the latest news and rumors around the league and to read some different opinions. 2. How come you never change your sig? A: I answered this above, it?s out of respect for the graphic designer who made it for me. 3. How do you think JBB is doing against other basketball forums? A: I think JBB has a nice niche for itself. We have a lot of talent and a great community of posters. There?s always room for improvement, but I like the general direction of the site. <u>SWISH </u> If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? A:The ability to fly popped into my head first (now R. Kelly's "I believe I can fly song is stuck in my head) so I?ll stick with it. With the ability to fly, the possibilities are endless. You could explore the entire world and outer space anytime you wanted. What is the most challenging aspect of running a forum like JustBBall? A:Time constraints. There?s an endless amount of information out there, and it takes time to filter out what you think is worthy of discussion. I?m a very active person, so it?s hard to find a weekend or weekday where I can sit around and watch basketball 24/7 and then talk about on the site. What is something that most posters don't know about JBB? Any behind the scenes stories? A: I?ve always thought it was weird that I?ve never actually met anyone from JBB in real life. MASTER SHAKE Better OF, Vladdy or Beltran? A: Guerrero. 2. Who is the best up and coming team in the east? A: Toronto Raptors 3. If Kobe was to be traded, who would you want for him? A: I wouldn?t want just one player for him. If I was forced to pick I?d have to go with Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett. <u>THELEGEND </u> Would you still be a Laker fan if Kobe signed off with the team in a few years and we got no one in return? A: Absolutely. I?m a Laker fan first, Kobe fan second. I might like Jim Buss taking over the team in the next couple of years, but I wouldn?t quit being a fan because of it. What was your motivation to make this site? A: The motivation behind the site was to create a community of knowledgeable NBA fans to talk about basketball and not get caught up in personal attacks and the drama you often find at other forums. <u>PHUNDAMENTALZ </u>1. Which NBA player most reminds you of yourself - personality wise. i.e. forget what position they play and how they play. A: Interesting question. My personality is probably closest to Jason Kidd. I?m really competitive on the court and I try to take on a leadership role when I play. 2. what got you into the NBA in the first place? A: I?ve always enjoyed sports, but Magic Johnson was catalyst for drawing my interest into becoming a full fledged NBA junkie. 3. Do you think you will ever get sick of the NBA and what would it take to do that? A: To be honest, I don?t think the NBA is the best option for watching basketball anymore. I actually prefer college basketball to the NBA. The problem with the NBA right now is two-fold. The quality isn?t what it used to be for various reasons, and players aren?t dedicated to the game like they were 15 to 20 years ago. <u>CHUTNEY</u> 1. Which NBA player do you dislike the most? A: Well I?m not sure if he?s considered an NBA player anymore, but it would have to be Smush Parker. He?s the poster child for everything wrong with today?s NBA player. 2. If you had to follow an NBA team other than the Lakers, just based off their current roster and playing style, which one would it be? A: Golden State Warriors 3. What's your favourite location to go snowboarding/skiing? A: Whistler Blackcomb in Vancouver Canada <u>CHINGY0007 </u> What has been your best experience on JBB? A: The best experience is having a place to go every day to talk hoops with other people from around the world who share the same interest. I know I can come on the site and there?s always going to be something new to read and debate. 2. If you could make one rule change to the NBA, what would it be? A: I would immediately get rid of all the guaranteed contracts. It?s the root of all evil in the sport. It?s created complacency amongst players and owners, and it?s given sports agents far too, much leverage to dictate player movement. 3. What has been the most difficult aspect of owning JBB? A: It was asked earlier, but not having enough time is the greatest difficulty. <u>CK </u> In five years, Tim Lincecum or Cole Hamels? A: Cole Hamels 2. What does the age limit do more: strengthen the value of draft picks in the NBA or diminish the quality of basketball in college? A: The current age limit does neither. I would have liked the age limit to be set at 20 because it forces most kids to stay in college for two years. From my experience, the majority level exponentially grows from the age 19 to 20. Having the opportunity to watch a player for two years in college takes away a lot of the guess work scouts have to deal with right now. I think one of the reasons you are seeing other countries catch up to us in basketball is the fact they develop their players better. This notion of ?tremendous upside potential? has been a detriment to the NBA. Last year was one of the most competitive March Madness tournaments to date. The fact you had a wealth of NBA talent in the NCAA tournament resulted in a lot of exciting matchups with the better teams going at one another. Just look at the two teams in last year?s Finals, Florida and Ohio State. Both of these teams are going to be responsible for 8 to 9 players in this year?s draft, and potentially all 9 being selected in the 1st Round. Had the NBA not implemented an age limit, college fans would have been robbed from experiencing a high quality finale. 3. Would your views on what the NBA should do about tanking differ if the Lakers were in the Celtics or Grizzlies situation? A: No, I would never want my team to tank. It just sets a bad tone for your franchise and it?s hard to shake that mindset when you?re franchise is constantly in the lottery. Just look back at the past few drafts, it?s typically the usual suspects ending up with high picks. Playoff experience appears to be undervalued in today?s game. Do you play an instrument? If not, which one would you like to be able to play? A: The closest I?ve come to playing an instrument was two turntables and a mixer. I always wanted to learn how to play the drums. When I?ve gone to jazz concerts, the drum solo is always the highlight of the performance. <u>THE DREAM </u> If you had to choose between spending a whole day going to some of your favorite sporting events (including getting to hang out with Kobe in the locker room) or just spending a whole day with your girl doing nothing special (like watching movies) which would you do.............and be honest, that means no answers such as the following..... "well every day with my girl is special" lol A: How come both people in Houston asked me a question relating to girls? To be honest, I don?t think I?d want to hang out with Kobe in the locker room. I?m not star struck by celebrity athletes, especially since I?m now older than most of them. LOL. I?d definitely choose going to a sporting event over Blockbuster night with the lady. And I'm with my current girl, because she wouldn't gripe about it either. <u>ED! </u> Who's got the better shot at controlling the East in the near future, Chicago or Cleveland? A: Chicago, because Cleveland is dead in the water with their current cap situation. The team I?d worry about is Toronto, I think they have the young talent to emerge out of the East. <u>J-RAY </u>Barry Bonds, love him or hate him? A: I?m impartial to Bonds. I?m just waiting to see what the Giants can get in a trade for him. 2. What is your most memorable sports moment you had in High School? A: Winning the All-City title in doubles. 3. Where do you see yourself in 20 years? A: Married and out on the slopes teaching my kids how to snowboard and coaching the any sports teams they play on. <u>LOCKE </u>Briefs or Boxers? A: Boxers Sports Car or SUV? A: Should be an SUV, I?m hoping to avoid the clich? mid-life crisis routine of driving a supped up convertible sports car. Snickers or Mars? A:I don?t eat candy bars.
I'm lost, what does UTM mean? Is this fan mail of some sort you're responding to? If so I have a question: can I name my first kid after you? Not you're actualy name, but after your shapecity handle? I would appreciate that.
UTM means Under The Microscope. It gives people a chance to know more information about a certain person we vote to know about.Every asks upto three questions and the person has to answer the question.
Tim "Cum Shot" Lincecum >>>> Cole Hamels <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Who are some of your favorite posters on this site besides the Team Leaders and the Mods? A: Off the top of my head, wtwalker, AlleyOop, casual, tremaine, kwan1031, REREM, philsmith, huevonkiller, fiyah, illmatic, phundamentalz, and AKIRA</div> Warriors board represent.
<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Tim "Cum Shot" Lincecum >>>> Cole Hamels </div> Amen brother.
Great answers, sorry that I have a few more questions: Getting interested in the field of business, I'm wondering what exactly did you study in college and how easy was it starting up all those businesses?
I agree, guaranteed contracts are what's screwing up the NBA. I was thinking it was because the players are getting paid to much, but this makes more sense. EDIT: I hope Luther Head doesn't get traded.
