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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Ah, thanks you guys
We're wrapping up this season ... big changes are in store Ronnie and the gang. Stay tuned and thanks for following!
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
great job man keep it coming!Comment
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
4-5-14
The heartbeat monitor wasn’t the only sound in the room. He was looking at her and wasn’t sure what he was seeing. She was still alive according to the monitor but she didn’t look it. She didn’t look human at this point with all the tubes and wires in her … around her.
He looked over with teary eyes, unable to work up the courage to speak. At this point if he tried to say anything he’d just break down. Even with all the noise around him, all the machines keeping her alive, he could only hear the words in his mind. The words of the doctor.
“She’s been beaten. Shot. Sustained significant brain trauma … we’re not sure how bad yet. It’ll be at least a few days before the swelling goes down and we can get a look. Mr. Gold … I don’t want you to misunderstand me: she will recover but it will likely be over the course of many months, not weeks.”
The doctor’s voice wasn’t very reassuring. Ronnie knew when he was being sold a bill of goods.
“Define recover,” he had asked in a whisper.
The doctor hesitated and then he answered. “She’ll be able to go off the machines.”
“Will she wake up?”
More silence. “I can’t tell you for sure. We’ll know more in the coming days.”
Ronnie just played the words through his mind. The woman he loved … the one he was going to propose to … she was being kept alive by machines.
Because he hadn’t listened.
Because he didn’t stay out of it.
Because he decided he knew better.
He sat back in his chair and beat the armrests repeatedly. Why had he been so stupid?
The door to the room opened and closed. Ronnie’s eyes shot open. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Michael Jordan stood beside him but paid him no mind. “I’m sorry.”
Ronnie shot out of his chair and grabbed the taller Jordan by the collar. He tried to hoist him up but Ronnie was just a wiry guy … not a lot of strength.
Jordan didn’t fight back.
“It was your security! It was your damned security! You said they could protect her!”
Jordan’s eyes softened. “I was wrong.”
Ronnie’s chest heaved. He wanted to hurl Jordan through the nearest window but it didn’t matter.
It wasn’t Jordan’s fault.
It was his.
He let him go and collapsed back into the chair. “I should be the one in that bed, not her.”
“Maybe,” Jordan offered. “But you’re not. There’s nothing more you can do here, Ronnie.”
He shook his head. Too long had he put basketball ahead of her. Too long had he assumed she’d be there for him when he needed her.
“I’m resigning, effective immediately,” he said with a heavy heart. He knew he’d be letting the players down. He knew he’d be letting the entire organization down.
But he didn’t have a choice now. He couldn’t leave her again.
He couldn’t risk it.
Jordan looked at him. “I’ll place you on an indefinite leave. Don’t make a rash decision right now … we’ll talk more when things settle.”
Ronnie shook his head but offered no resistance. Jordan could stick him on leave he wanted.
Ronnie was done. “Just go.”
The door opened and closed. Jordan left.
Ronnie pulled his chair up to the side of the bed and grabbed Liz’s hand. It was cold. It was pale.
He gripped it and tried to will some of his energy into her.
“I’m sorry,” he said through tears. “I’m so sorry.”
The only response he got was the beeping from the heart monitor.
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Whoever taught you how to write knew what they were doing... Amazing job man!Comment
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Man, what a great, intense story. Excited to see what Ronnie does next.Regrets Aren't Something You Did, It's Something You Didn't Do
1000 posts achieved on December 21st,2008 at 2:26 p.m in the "birth of the Mighty Blazers" thread.Comment
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Thanks man! I had a lot of people help me out over the years since I first started writing and did a lot of reading of the great writers to learn from them. It's taken a long time to get here but I'm glad you like. Like basketball, it takes practice ... sometimes for others it takes more but whether you're LeBron or Shane Battier, if you practice you get better.
Oh, it's gonna be fun. I didn't exactly plan for what's gonna happen next to happen (hell, I didn't plan much of this at all to be honest) but it'll be good.
But, hey, the rest of the NBA goes on and the playoffs are WILD. Unpredictable, these results were ... Vegas would have lost a ton of money on these playoffs. Recap of Round One will be up shortly, thanks for the compliments and stay tuned.Comment
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
2013-2014 Award Winners
MVP: Kevin Durant (Thunder)
27.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.8 BPG
.460 FG% .908 FT% .350 3P%
Rookie of the Year: Nerlens Noel (Bobcats)
17.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.0 BPG
.550 FG% .655 FT%
Sixth Man of the Year: Andray Blatche (Thunder)
9.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG
.434 FG% .774 FT% .182 3P%
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Durant
Most Improved Player: Eric Bledsoe (Pistons)
17.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
.442 FG% .787 FT% .281 3P%
Coach of the Year: Terry Stotts (Trail Blazers)
57-25 Record, 1st in Division and Conference
All NBA 1st Team
Brandon Jennings (Suns)
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Lebron James (Heat)
Dwight Howard (Mavericks)
All NBA 2nd Team
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)
John Wall (Wizards)
Josh Smith (Rockets)
Kevin Love (Timberwolves)
Greg Monroe (Pistons)
All NBA 3rd Team
Dwayne Wade (Heat)
Chris Paul (Clippers)
Blake Griffin (Clippers)
Evan Turner (76ers)
Nerlens Noel (Bobcats)
All Defensive 1st Team
Bradley Beal (Wizards)
Shabazz Muhammad (Magic)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Tyrus Thomas (Lakers)
Nerlens Noel (Bobcats)
All Defensive 2nd Team
Brandon Jennings (Suns)
Chris Paul (Clippers)
Anthony Davis (Hornets)
Kenneth Faried (Nuggets)
Brook Lopez (Nets)
All Rookie 1st Team
Nerlens Noel (Bobcats)
Cody Zeller (Hornets)
Shabazz Muhammad (Magic)
James McAdoo (Kings)
Patric Young (Trail Blazers)
All Rookie 2nd Team
Trey Burke (Lakers)
Tony Mitchell (Wizards)
Alex Poythress (Clippers)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Knicks)
Ben McLemore (Pistons)
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Western Conference Playoffs: Round One
1 Trail Blazers vs. 8 Rockets
Recap: Houston just barely snuck into the playoffs, thanks to a huge helping hand from the Phoenix Suns who beat the Spurs on the last day of the regular season. With the Spurs loss, the eighth seed became the Rockets.
Their opponent would be the young but extremely talented Trail Blazers. Led by the ever calm Damian Lillard, the Blazers had galloped to the best record in the NBA and the Western Conference. Lillard was in the midst of a career year and in their first game, they thoroughly schooled the Rockets 102-87.
Game 2 would be a much different story as the Rockets came out afire, led by their explosive backcourt. James Harden scored 27 points while Lin had 23, while Lillard was held to only ten points. That’s how the rest of the series would largely play out, minus a close Game 5 loss. But they would close out in Game 6, sending the Blazers home earlier than anyone had predicted.
Winner: Rockets 4-2
4 Suns vs. 5 Nuggets
Recap: The Phoenix Suns played in the worst division in the West this year and squeaked into the playoffs with a 42-40 record. But they got there and that was thanks to MVP candidate Brandon Jennings, who played out of his mind after the all-star break and helped lead the Suns to this unlikely birth.
The opponent they drew, however, was the hungry Nuggets. Denver had lost a little focus heading into the playoffs, dropping four of its last six regular season games. They looked like they need a wake-up call, which they got behind a Brandon Jennings led 115-109 Game 1 win in Phoenix.
George Karl and crew got it together after that, winning the next four games in by double-digits in high scoring affairs. This was the most offensive of all the first round series, with neither team caring to keep the other from scoring over 100. It was fast, it was furious, and ultimately the Nuggets advanced.
Winner: Nuggets 4-1
3 Hornets vs. 6 Mavericks
Recap: The Hornets surpassed all expectations this year with a huge leap, going from lottery team to division winner in one offseason. The major contributions by Cody Zeller are a big reason for that. Toppling the nearly annual division winners, the Spurs, for the crown was hugely impressive for this young squad whom most picked to make the playoffs but not as this high a seed.
The Mavericks started the year slow thanks to injuries to Dirk and an adjustment period for new Mav Dwight Howard. Howard, Dirk, and Kemba took some time to gel but when they did they looked like a monster team, a contending team.
And contend they did and rather beautifully in the first round, dominating the Hornets behind the play of D12 and Kemba Walker. The Hornets made only the last game a close one, losing by only one point. This team will be one to fear in the future but for now the vets move on.
Winner: Mavericks 4-0
2 Thunder vs. 7 Timberwolves
Recap: The OKC Thunder had a sluggish start to the season, trying to adjust to a life without Kevin Martin. Martin was let go in the offseason and was replaced by understudy Jeremy Lamb, who promptly began scoring in buckets but his shot selection left a lot to be desired. After the all-star break, the team really started flying and Lamb looked like a big time player in the making.
For the Twolves, an offseason trade to bring Monta Ellis back to the West was seen as a desperation move by GM David Kahn, but Ellis played surprisingly well during the year (a contract year, of course) and the Wolves managed to hang on to a playoff spot despite some nasty injuries during the stretch run.
This was expected to be a tough series for the Thunder but no one could have predicted how well the Wolves would play. After dropping Game 1 100-88, the Wolves went on to win four straight games, including two overtime affairs, just to get into the second round. The Thunder just didn’t have the ball bounce their way and the defending champs got bounced from the playoffs in the surprise of the year.
Winner: Timberwolves 4-1
Eastern Conference Playoffs: Round One
1 Bulls vs. 8 Wizards
Recap: The Bulls never do things the easy way. Derrick Rose sat for the last four games of the season to rest a sore ankle and the Bulls got lucky that the Bobcats and Heat couldn’t catch up to them. Their season was a one built on winning a title and some questioned whether that was possible with just Rose as their lone superstar.
The Wizards barely squeaked into the playoffs in a wretched East. They of course made it in with a losing record but they still made it, marking the first time John Wall made the postseason. Wall and the Wiz would jump out to a surprising 2-1 series lead behind hot shooting performances from Beal and Granger.
And then they both went cold in Game 4 and the Bulls took control of the series from that point, winning the next three in close fashion. The Bulls move on and Rose’s quest for a ring, for redemption, continues.
Winner: Bulls 4-2
4 76ers vs. 5 Pacers
Recap: The Pacers lost to the 76ers in last year’s playoffs in embarrassing fashion and in the offseason made some moves to end that trend. They struggled early in the season adapting to their new pieces but they made it work after the all-star break and surged up the standings.
The 76ers looked like a favorite early in the season for the number one seed, but injuries to Bynum sunk their chances to get that. They rested, they coasted, they settled for the fourth seed and prepared for the playoffs.
That preparation paid off in a big way as the 76ers again embarrassed the Pacers, this time in a 4-0 sweep. The Pacers lost all four games by double-digits, getting no help from their deep bench who pulled a disappearing act at the worst time. With the 76ers again advancing and the Pacers again heading home early, one can only think heads will roll in the offseason.
Winner: 76ers 4-0
3 Heat vs. 6 Cavaliers
Recap: LeBron James had to carry the team in the last month of the season thanks to the injury to D-Wade and very much like his Cleveland days, he did it all. James and the Heat fell short of the top two seeds but snagged the third seed and perhaps the most interesting playoff matchup of postseason. Without Wade, could LeBron carry the Heat to the second round?
It’s not like the Cavs were scubs. After an impressive start to the season the Cavs got derailed by injuries, as it seems to happen every year with this team. Despite that they came into this series thinking they could make things interesting.
They were wrong, sadly. LeBron is not the same player he was in Cleveland and the Heat came within a questionable last second foul to sweeping the Cavs. Kyrie Irving played insane through most the series but the rest of his team couldn’t keep up with the Heat’s firepower. The Heat goes on and the Cavs go home, but Kyrie is just getting started.
Winner: Heat 4-1
2 Bobcats vs. 7 Nets
Recap: The best feel-good story of the year, the Charlotte Bobcats, came into these playoffs heavily burdened. One of their best players, MKG, had missed the last two months and GM Ronnie Gold had taken an indefinite leave of absence earlier in the month after the attempted murder of his girlfriend, who still resides in critical condition. The Bobcats wanted to prove that they were no fluke, that they were no blip on the radar.
Their matchup was the overpaid Brooklyn Nets, who had so far proved that money couldn’t buy rings. The Nets got into the playoffs and faced a foe they had beaten on the last day of the regular season. The two teams knew one another and knew each other well.
It was a fight, this series. Back and forth the teams went, trading wins and hard fouls, but it eventually came down to a rough Game 7 where the Bobcats looked exhausted and played as such, losing by 11 in front of their home crowd. But the season wasn’t a waste and the home crowd stayed until the bitter end, giving their team a standing ovation for the best season of pro basketball Charlotte had ever seen. Though the Bobcats fell short one can’t blame the young team for succumbing to the pressures off the court … this year was special but the Nets will move on to face the Heat.
Winners: Nets 4-3
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Rough loss, better luck next time! Great season from the team though!Comment
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Western Conference Playoffs: Round Two
5 Nuggets vs. 8 Rockets
Recap: George Karl probably wasn’t afraid of the Rockets. He knew the Rockets. He knew the players. Karl, the strongest proponent of the fast paced scoring system both the Nuggets and Rockets use, probably wasn’t scared. His Nuggets sure didn’t look scared.
The two teams played each other as one might expect, fast and furious, in a playoff series that emphasized the need for timely defense and not superstars. The Nuggets played that defense as AI and Ty Lawson ran all over the Rockets poor excuse for a defense. The Nuggets lone loss came on a last second three from Harden in Game 4, but by that point the series was over. The Rockets again have not performed up to expectations and one must wonder if the franchise will do something in the offseason to change that.
The Nuggets don’t care though as they move on and the offseason seems further off than ever for them.
Winner: Nuggets 4-1
6 Mavericks vs. 7 Timberwolves
Recap: This was a game that featured two very similar teams going head to head. Kemba versus Rubio, Dwight versus Peklovic, Mayo versus Monta, and Dirk versus Love. Game 1 saw both teams trade the lead back and forth before a decisive 3-pointer from Monta in the final minute have the Wolves the win. The next game the Mavs pulled away, but the next two games the Wolves would ride K-Love and his hot shooting to easy wins. In Game 5 the Mavs gave the ball early and often to D12 who pounded the Wolves on the inside.
Game 6 was the clincher as K-Love came out shooting again and shot the Mavs right out of the playoffs. Though the year wasn’t what many Mavs fans expected, they should be excited about next year as the team will have a chance to build upon the foundation laid here. The Wolves surprise run continues.
Winner: Timberwolves 4-2
Eastern Conference Playoffs: Round Two
1 Bulls vs. 4 76ers
Recap: Derrick Rose again showed why he was an MVP. He doesn’t just have to score to affect the outcome of the game, he can pass too and in this series his courtvision was on display. Rose again led the tough as nails Bulls to a relatively easy four wins in this series. The 76ers managed to stave off elimination in Game 4 with a three point win but the Bulls shut the door the next game. Andrew Bynum and Jrue Holiday continued to play well with one another but they got little support from those around them. The 76ers will likely see some changes this offseason as they continue to build a contender.
Winner: Bulls 4-1
3 Heat vs. 7 Nets
Recap: The Heat came into this series fresh compared to their counterparts and they got fresher when Dwayne Wade came back from injury. Wade and LeBron combined to form the dynamic duo once more and the Nets were just demolished. Exhausted on all levels they came out flat in Game 1 whereas Wade came out electric, scoring 43 points as the Heat stomped the Nets. The Nets never recovered and the Heat easily swept them.
Winner: Heat 4-0
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
T-wolves baby!Comment
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
Western Conference Finals
5 Nuggets vs. 7 Timberwolves
Recap: These two teams took their best shots at each other during the regular season but the Nuggets came on top then. The same happened here as the Nuggets played their game to perfection and the Timberwolves struggled to continue their hot shooting. The home court advantage Denver has is the best in the league and the poor Timberwolves were run ragged.
They only managed to win one game, Game 3, behind an incredibly hot 3-point stroke from Ricky Rubio of all people. After that, the Nuggets finished them off blowing out the Wolves in the next two games and securing a trip to the NBA Finals, where George Karl has some experience.
Winner: Nuggets 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals:
1 Bulls vs. 3 Heat
Recap: This series was brutal. Neither of these teams like each other and that dislike erupted into full hatred in last year’s playoffs. That hatred was elevated to another level in this series as the Bulls took on the Heat. Miami hadn’t had much of a challenge in the playoffs, easily dealing with the Cavs and Nets, but the Bulls had to play some tough games.
The Bulls also had home court and that’s what this series came down to: if you were the home team, you were going to win. The Heat fell behind 2-0 early in the series but came back in Miami to even it up 2-2 behind dominating performances from Wade and Lebron. Game 5 went to the Bulls and the next one went to the Heat.
It came down to Game 7 with a trip to the Finals on the line. While LeBron and Wade got hot in the first half getting the Heat a precious five point lead heading into halftime, the Bulls looked worn out. The series had taken its toll on both teams but the Bulls depth wasn’t the same as the Heat’s. In the second half an unlikely hero emerged for the Bulls: Luol Deng.
Deng went nuts from the floor in the second half after being held scoreless in the first half. Deng finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and a number of timely steals. As the Heat struggled to contain him the Bulls’ bench came alive. The Heat would fall 88-81 and they again go home, unable to get to the Finals. The Bulls move on and get their chance to exercise last year’s demons.
Winner: Bulls 4-3
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Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS TAKE FIANALY AN NBA 2k13 ASSOCIATION WERE THE HEAT DONT WIN IT ALL!Comment
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