Sprewell Acting a fool again

[stevew]

Sprewell wants trade

BY MIKE WELLS

Pioneer Press

Swingman says Wolves are dragging feet on a new deal

Latrell Sprewell thinks he will not receive a contract extension before Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, so the swingman wants a trade.

Sprewell, who is in the last year of his contract, added fuel to the fire Sunday when he said the contract the Wolves have offered him is "insulting."

"I pretty much told them I don't want what they're talking about," he said. "So if we can't work it out, work something out with somebody else."

The Wolves are believed to be offering Sprewell, 34, a three-year, $27 million extension, which likely is substantially more than what he would receive if he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. Some say Sprewell probably would be offered a team's midlevel exception, which is about $5.1 million a season, or slightly more than that if he becomes a free agent.

Sprewell doesn't believe the Wolves are offering enough for his value to the team. He told the Pioneer Press and a reporter from New York on Oct. 21 he wants a deal completed by Wednesday Sprewell never has negotiated during the season, and he won't continue talking once the season starts.

"I'm not trying to stay the year here, I will say that," he said. "If they don't want to sign me, I want to go somewhere else."

Coach Flip Saunders and owner Glen Taylor declined to comment. Vice president of operations Kevin McHale was unavailable for comment Sunday.

The Wolves have the final say in trading Sprewell, but that won't stop him from trying.

"I don't know, whatever I can," he said. "If they don't want to pay me, why would I want to stay here and risk injury and sit there and be with nothing, no contract? If something happens to me, who is going to look out for Spree then? Nobody."

A possible solution for Sprewell would be to play out his contract, help the Wolves in their quest for an NBA title, then leave as a free agent. He said he won't re-sign if he becomes a free agent.

"Why would I want to help them win a title?" he said. "They're not doing anything for me. I've got a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed. Anything can happen; it's a long season. You never know."

Sprewell's $14.6 million salary this season is tied with eight other players for the ninth highest in the league. To put that into context, Sprewell's salary is more than double that of Indiana's Ron Artest and Detroit's Richard Hamilton, players who are more than five years younger and considered better than Sprewell.

Sprewell seems most upset about the timing. He thought something would be done more than three months ago. Sprewell had the option to walk away from his contact at the end of last season, but he says the Wolves gave him the impression he would have a new deal by the end of July. However, talks quickly ceased, leaving Sprewell wondering how important he is to the team.

"It's not tough; it's disappointing," he said. "You would think after what we were able to accomplish last year, they would be at least offering something decent."

Sprewell, who has an injured right ankle, went through a contact practice Sunday for the first time in a couple of weeks, but he is not sure if he will play Wednesday.

"It's not 100 percent. I'm able to run, but I'm still taking my time," he said. "I can play this way, but I'll see how I feel. I'll decide after Tuesday."

When he does take the court, Sprewell said he will play the way he always does, which is hard and with a lot of passion.

"I coach my guys when they step on the floor. My guys step on the floor, and they give me 100 percent and that's all I ask," Saunders said.

Sunday's was the latest episode in which Sprewell voiced animosity toward the front office. Besides setting a deadline for when he wanted an extension, Sprewell told the Pioneer Press on Friday that he was proving a point on how serious he is about getting a deal done when he skipped the team's luncheon Thursday at Target Center.

Wolves officials can try to disguise things all they want by saying the situation is not going to distract them from what they are trying to accomplish on the court, but with the season two days away, it looks as if the turmoil will carry into the season. Sam Cassell also is seeking an extension.

Nothing has been promised to Cassell, who has two years left on his deal, but all indications pointed to the Wolves taking care of Sprewell and then moving on to Cassell.

"I want what I deserve," Cassell said Friday. "Nothing more, nothing less. Me and Spree aren't valuable enough? Kevin is the man; me and Spree are his sidekicks. You pay this guy and that guy, and we're supposed to be happy about everything? It doesn't work like that.

We've missed most of this story with the board being down, but to me at least, Spree is hilarious. Right now he insulted by an offer 10-12 million more than the one he is likely to command on the open market. He should call up Juan Gonzalez.

[rkmsuf]

Free the Spree!

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by stevew

We've missed most of this story with the board being down, but to me at least, Spree is hilarious. Right now he insulted by an offer 10-12 million more than the one he is likely to command on the open market. He should call up Juan Gonzalez.

I'll give him $20 Million if he spends the entire season accepting kicks in the nuts from PJ Carlisemo after every bucket he scores.

[sovereignstar]

Come on, Steve. The man has a family to feed, not to mention the salon bill as well.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Come on, Steve. The man has a family to feed, not to mention the salon bill as well.

I cant find it, but somewhere he was quoted as saying "I gotta eat" or "i gotta provide for my family"......something like that.

Also, he mentioned elsewhere that he picked up his 14 million option this year "in good faith" cause he thought that he would be extended. I may be no NBA insider, but he would have been hard pressed to get more than 5 million this season anywhere else.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by stevew

I cant find it, but somewhere he was quoted as saying "I gotta eat" or "i gotta provide for my family"......something like that.

Yup, they were talking about that quote on PTI yesterday. What a buffoon...

[tategter]

Looks like old Latrine Sprewell has lost his touch with reality again. Yet another reason I refuse to watch the NBA.

[HornedFrog Purple]

Can he play quarterback?

-Signed,
Danny Snider

[sovereignstar]

In case you had any doubt on whether Sprewell could indeed feed his family.



Sprewell's comments out of touch with reality

Mike McFeely, The Forum
Published Wednesday, November 03, 2004

· advertisement ·

Wayne Hankel had one thought after hearing about Latrell Sprewell's angst over feeding his family on the disrespectful $27 million over three years offered by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the way of a contract extension.

That's a figure, by the way, not including the $14.6 million Sprewell will be paid this year, and the tens of millions he's already been paid over the previous dozen years of his NBA career.

"I'd like to know what he's feeding his family," chuckled Hankel.

Bricks of gold, perhaps? Diamonds? Bill Gates' money clip loaded with bricks of gold and diamonds?

Not likely, given that those items are somewhat lacking in nutritional value. We'd guess that Sprewell would have to feed his family with more traditional items like meat, bread and milk.

"I would think that it's possible to feed a family on that income," Hankel said.

That makes it official. Sprewell is slightly exaggerating his impending financial plight if the Wolves don't ante up a bigger pile of money.

It also makes it official that Sprewell is a blockhead. Not to mention an egomaniacal, self-absorbed, greed-saturated donkey's relative for suggesting that he was insulted by the Wolves' contract offer because, as he said, "I got my family to feed."

If there is one person in Fargo-Moorhead who knows about families who are struggling to put food on the table, it is Hankel. He is the president of the F-M Emergency Food Pantry, which provides food for people who often don't have $27 to their names, much less $27 million.

"We are the emergency pantry, so we're really here for people or families who are in dire need," Hankel said. "We only take people on referral from things like churches, shelters, agencies or organizations. Most of our clients are in an emergency because of a medical situation, a loss of job, or no job."

Hankel said the pantry served about 15,000 people in 2003, with the number of clients growing slightly each year. Sometimes it is individuals that come through the doors, sometimes it is large families with six or eight children. But mostly, Hankel said, it is families of four who don't have enough money to put food on the table.

Seriously. And not just as a tired, embarrassing negotiating ploy.

"Just people who need help getting by for a week," he said.

When a needy family goes to the pantry, each person receives enough food for one week. That is figured as about 40 pounds of food per person -- meat, bread, eggs, cereal, butter, fruit, vegetables, pasta, juice, peanut butter and other items that pantry staffers choose according to a menu. Hankel said cost of the food is figured at $1 per pound.

Do the math, and you get the kicker. And the number that would most interest Sprewell if he were interested in anything but himself and his wealth:

At $1 a pound, 40 pounds per person, the pantry fed those 15,000 people over a year's time with $600,000 worth of food.

We repeat: Sprewell is scheduled to make $14.6 million this season (figured on a 52-week pay schedule, that's $280,000 per week).

We repeat: The Wolves' slap-in-the-face offer to Sprewell was $9 million per year (an admittedly precipitous tumble to $173,000 a week).

We repeat: "I got my family to feed."

Based on what the F-M Emergency Food Pantry does for hungry families with the equivalent of a few weeks' worth of your pay, Spree, we're confident your team of accountants will find a way to make it work.

The pantry, by the way, depends solely on contributions. It accepts food and cash. The phone number to make a donation is 237-9337.

Maybe, with his abundance of riches and foot in his mouth, Sprewell could be calling.

"I doubt it," Hankel said.

Come to think of it, it's probably wise that Hankel doesn't hold his breath. To paraphrase another precious Sprewell comment concerning the team that will issue his paltry paycheck, what has the food pantry ever done for him?





Forum sports columnist Mike McFeely can reached at (701) 241-5580 or [email protected]

[stevew]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

In case you had any doubt on whether Sprewell could indeed feed his family.



Sprewell's comments out of touch with reality

Mike McFeely, The Forum
Published Wednesday, November 03, 2004

· advertisement ·

Wayne Hankel had one thought after hearing about Latrell Sprewell's angst over feeding his family on the disrespectful $27 million over three years offered by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the way of a contract extension.

That's a figure, by the way, not including the $14.6 million Sprewell will be paid this year, and the tens of millions he's already been paid over the previous dozen years of his NBA career.

"I'd like to know what he's feeding his family," chuckled Hankel.

Bricks of gold, perhaps? Diamonds? Bill Gates' money clip loaded with bricks of gold and diamonds?

Not likely, given that those items are somewhat lacking in nutritional value. We'd guess that Sprewell would have to feed his family with more traditional items like meat, bread and milk.

"I would think that it's possible to feed a family on that income," Hankel said.

That makes it official. Sprewell is slightly exaggerating his impending financial plight if the Wolves don't ante up a bigger pile of money.

It also makes it official that Sprewell is a blockhead. Not to mention an egomaniacal, self-absorbed, greed-saturated donkey's relative for suggesting that he was insulted by the Wolves' contract offer because, as he said, "I got my family to feed."

If there is one person in Fargo-Moorhead who knows about families who are struggling to put food on the table, it is Hankel. He is the president of the F-M Emergency Food Pantry, which provides food for people who often don't have $27 to their names, much less $27 million.

"We are the emergency pantry, so we're really here for people or families who are in dire need," Hankel said. "We only take people on referral from things like churches, shelters, agencies or organizations. Most of our clients are in an emergency because of a medical situation, a loss of job, or no job."

Hankel said the pantry served about 15,000 people in 2003, with the number of clients growing slightly each year. Sometimes it is individuals that come through the doors, sometimes it is large families with six or eight children. But mostly, Hankel said, it is families of four who don't have enough money to put food on the table.

Seriously. And not just as a tired, embarrassing negotiating ploy.

"Just people who need help getting by for a week," he said.

When a needy family goes to the pantry, each person receives enough food for one week. That is figured as about 40 pounds of food per person -- meat, bread, eggs, cereal, butter, fruit, vegetables, pasta, juice, peanut butter and other items that pantry staffers choose according to a menu. Hankel said cost of the food is figured at $1 per pound.

Do the math, and you get the kicker. And the number that would most interest Sprewell if he were interested in anything but himself and his wealth:

At $1 a pound, 40 pounds per person, the pantry fed those 15,000 people over a year's time with $600,000 worth of food.

We repeat: Sprewell is scheduled to make $14.6 million this season (figured on a 52-week pay schedule, that's $280,000 per week).

We repeat: The Wolves' slap-in-the-face offer to Sprewell was $9 million per year (an admittedly precipitous tumble to $173,000 a week).

We repeat: "I got my family to feed."

Based on what the F-M Emergency Food Pantry does for hungry families with the equivalent of a few weeks' worth of your pay, Spree, we're confident your team of accountants will find a way to make it work.

The pantry, by the way, depends solely on contributions. It accepts food and cash. The phone number to make a donation is 237-9337.

Maybe, with his abundance of riches and foot in his mouth, Sprewell could be calling.

"I doubt it," Hankel said.

Come to think of it, it's probably wise that Hankel doesn't hold his breath. To paraphrase another precious Sprewell comment concerning the team that will issue his paltry paycheck, what has the food pantry ever done for him?





Forum sports columnist Mike McFeely can reached at (701) 241-5580 or [email protected]