The Importance of John Salmons - A Rebuttal Against One's Self

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jul 25, 2006 1:07 PM EDT

I despise Blockbuster.

Always have.

Their prices for rentals border on insanity at times, and their selection of anything other than new movies is pitiful at best. Basically, I try to avoid renting movies from Blockbuster at all costs.

However with a location right beside my residence, sometimes I've given in, especially if I'm looking to see a new release that I didn't get to see in theatres. This was the case recently and during this visit, I was exposed to what is probably the biggest current scam on the planet.

Yes, the "no more late fees" ruse. Hands up for those who know of this "great new deal."

After seeing the commercials and having a tough time deciding between three DVD's I decided "hey, if I don't get to watch them all this week, no big deal because there's no more late fees right?"

Wrong.

Upon returning the movies three weeks later, I found out that because I had not returned them in over a week, Blockbuster had assumed I wanted to buy the movies! In fact, had I not returned them for another week after that, I would have been charged for the movies' full retail price!

HUH? Can someone explain this logic to me? Isn't that sort of like my work assuming that because I wasn't back from lunch at my usual time, that I was never coming back to work for them again?

Never mind, I see. Blockbuster was being squeezed by upstart online DVD rental companies like Netflix, and needed some new way of tricking the public into thinking that they too, had "no more late fees" when instead, they would initiate an even sneakier way to make money.

And did they ever.

Because now, even if you do return the movies within the 30 day time frame, as I had done, you still get charged what they call a "re-stocking fee." Upon learning of this I asked the Tintin look-a-like behind the counter what this fee was for. He explained that it was simply the cost of bringing a replacement product in to the store because I hadn't returned mine on time.

My response?

"Oh...you mean a late fee?..."

In any event, once again this was another chapter from the book of "you can't assume anything and need to read the fine print." I guess I skipped most of that chapter, especially when referencing the John Salmons deal...

Yep, great argument Franchise - Salmons is definitely the most important free agent signing in Raptors' history...ASSUMING HE SIGNS.

The NBA is a wacky world. It was only a few off-seasons ago when the Cleveland Cavaliers assumed that Carlos Boozer would honour a supposed "hand-shake" agreement to return to the Cavs for less money in the impending off-season. Instead, Boozer bolted for a max deal in Utah leaving the Cavs reeling and their fans "slightly" upset.

The John Salmons affair isn't on par with "Boozergate." However it does have similar undertones - especially now that Salmons has agreed to a deal with the Sacramento Kings after seemingly being committed to joining both Toronto and Phoenix. As the Toronto Star's Doug Smith correctly pointed out this morning, NBA GM's talk and Salmons' slite won't go unnoticed.

For me, admittedly it's taken a few days to comprehend this situation. As I had discussed in my article on Salmons barely a week ago, I was quite excited to have him on-board as a Raptor. Don't get me wrong, I like Fred Jones' game, but I just saw more upside and a better fit in Salmons. Where my argument from the past article really goes awry now though is during the whole "Salmons choosing Toronto over a contender like Phoenix" thing. Yeah, remember, the whole "beacon of hope?"

Yikes.

Well now it seems like Fred Jones and the recently signed Jorge Garbajosa will have to play the beacon roles. Garbajosa is expected to backup both the 4 and 5 spots and provide an injection of toughness to the club that's been lacking since Charles Oakley left town.

(Speaking of which, can we start up the "Senor Oakley" nicknames yet? I think the "porn player" nickname is going to stick but what about other comparisons to Oak? Will we see Garbajosa chomping on cigars off-court? How about chasing down opposing team players who owe him money prior to games?)

With Garbajosa and Jones in the fold this leaves Toronto once again with a full roster of 15. And therefore predictably, the

FRANCHISE

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Comments

Yes! The Salmons deal was strange. What happened to the days when deals were not announced until the pen hit the paper. I like the "fine" idea and would not be surprissed to see something similiar introduced in the near future.

The Fred Jones deal still has me nervous becouse nothing has been signed.
The Garbajosa deal took almost 4 weeks to be completed from the time an announcement was made.All this speculation is making me insane(at least that my excuse).

Fred Jones reminds me of a Vinnie Johnson type player lots of energy and knows how to score in bunchs.

M.G was reluctant to compare Garbajosa to another player saying he is "unique" I'm thinking Vlade Divac ! He got skill to score both inside and out. Has the tenasity to defend & rebound but what really has caught my attention is that from all the blogs that I have read is that He(Jorge) has a high basketball IQ meaning he will be quick to adapt and progress in a new league. I think we are really going to like him here in T.O.

I'm still waiting to see what happens with Alvin Williams !!!

by mudhen on Jul 25, 2006 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

you were losing me with the blockbuster analogy ... but wrapped it up nicely!

by utes on Jul 25, 2006 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

hopping on the "I hate blockbuster" bandwagon... not only do the overcharge ... they edit out violence and sex... THE BEST PARTS....

Anyway... Fred Jones is nice but... would have loved to see someone with more of an outside shot... but don't ask me who that would be...

by d2 on Jul 25, 2006 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting thing about the Kings' signing of Salmons - Bonzi Wells will not be coming back to Sacramento. This sounds strange, but I wonder if Bonzi, as talented as he is, as played himself out of the league a la Sprewell. Who's going to sign him now? Detroit would have been a suitable destination, but they've committed to Flip Murray.

My guess is that he will have to swallow his pride and take a one or two year deal for a relative pittance. Maybe that's the best thing for him. If he had signed a deal to the one Salmons just signed, I'm sure he would have felt free to continue acting like the jerk he is. Now he may have been humbled.

Of course, some idiot GM is probably ready to throw big dollars at him just so my theory gets screwed up. Bonzi, Isiah and the Knicks; now there's a match made in heaven.

On another note, I've also heard the Alvin rumblings. I doubt if a classier athlete has ever put on a Raptor uniform. However, the Raptors can't give up a roster spot to a guy who can't play. I know Alvin insists he can play, but you have to think that if there was any chance of that (particularly given their lack of depth at the point guard spot), the Raptors would have let him. Sad as it is, a buyout may be best for both parties.

by Skywalker on Jul 25, 2006 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

i like the fact that he had at one point refused to go to Phoenix (contender) to perhaps come to T.O. giving Raptor fans a huge sense of pride only to have him turn around and go to Sactown...Doh!!!!

But where will Wells land now?

despite his character issues he can have a huge impact on games

u would have to think that he is the newest prize on the market

by rem on Jul 25, 2006 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

Here's my take on the Salmons situation.

By agreeing to a sign-and-trade with the Raptors, Salmons -and his agent - were able to have the Sixers rescind their qualifying offer to Salmons. In so doing, and by Salmons subsequently backing out of the Raptors deal, he was able to bypass his restricted free agent status. This in turn allowed him the freedom to sign with any team he wanted, without any worry by himself or the team making the offer that Philly could match and keep his services.

To borrow a phrase, "The NBA, it's FAAAAAAAAAAN-tastic".

by Dave on Jul 25, 2006 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

hehe u giving alot of praise to his agent...who isn't making any friends but is surely to get noticed now

by rem on Jul 25, 2006 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

Dave - Bang on with your comments. While I didn't say it in so many words in the article, your explanation is exactly what I really think happened in this case. It would be difficult to prove...but really the league should step in to investigate shady situations like these...

by Franchise on Jul 26, 2006 12:08 AM EDT reply actions

I read elsewhere that GOD told Salmons that Toronto may not be the place to be. I don't get it. Does GOD like Toronto or not? I mean he (GOD) helped us out when he told Joe Carter to stay with the Jays to win the world series.

I don't get it. Where does God stand? With us or against us? Is there a raptor's jersey in his closet? I understand him being a fan of the LA Angels of Anaheim. I understand him booing the NJ Devils. I know he doesn't like Miroslav Satan. But does he feel resmorse for wiping out the orignal dinos?

Do or not do.. there is no try.

by Ustation on Jul 26, 2006 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

lmfao @ ustation....dude you just killed it with that...

by Damir on Jul 26, 2006 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you.. I'm here every Tuesdays and Thursday.. Don't forget to tip the waitresses, or go ask your wife to bring you another beer cause Raps training camp starts in 3 months.

by Ustation on Jul 27, 2006 11:16 AM EDT reply actions