John Hammond's funeral
"Jeff, How did this happen?" Alex Martins CEO of the Orlando magic whispered to the man in the finely tailored suit sitting next to him in the back of the large church where a NBA family member was being laid to rest.
"He got t-boned by a drunk idiot is how it happened Alex, you know that." Jeff replied not looking away from the front of the church where members of John's family were paying their respects and telling stories about the man who was supposed to right the ship in Orlando.
Alex wanted to scream. John Hammond was a good man and didn't deserve to go like this. Never mind the place this put his beloved Orlando Magic in. For not he just had to think about John's loved ones and make sure they knew the Orlando Magic family mourns right beside them.
One week later..
Jeff Weltman President of Business Ops, Frank Vogel Head Coach, and Richard DeVos owner of the Orlando Magic, sat around a large round table in Jeff's office. They were trying to consider what direction they wanted to move the franchise in.
"I really feel like we should just promote Matt and let him run things this year, there aren't any better candidate available and if we go hard after someone it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the fans after losing John so suddenly." Jeff had said this several times this morning. He wasn't the most creative man in the franchise.
"I just don't think Matt is ready for that role. Listen I don't want to be seen as making a power play but I think the safest bet is to let me operate as president of basketball Ops for the year and re-evaluate afterwards to see where we are." Frank had been pushing this agenda all morning as well.
Richard was beginning to think he needed to find a new small council with a little more diversity of imagination when their was a knock at the door.
"I'm sorry Mr. DeVos, but their is a man here to see you he says you are expecting him." Staci was a good assistant just a little on the mousy side, cute, perky, and a huge basketball nut. Maybe Richard thought, he should hire her.
"Staci I'm not expecting anyone and this is a closed door meeting so please take a message and let him know I'll.." However Richard was planning on ending his sentence it never happened. as a rather unkempt looking man strode past Staci and into the room.
Big Rayban sunglasses topped a head of unruly graying brown hair he was dressed terribly in a black sports coat with a drab brown polo shirt beneath. He had a lazy uninterested set to his features but his eyes were positively glowing as he took stock of the men at the table.
"Gentlemen please don't get up, the name is Robert California. I'm here to solve your little GM issue. It was such a shame to hear about John he was an icon." As he was speaking Robert had taken a seat at the round table.
"Please, allow me to speak. I understand that you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. What are your options really? Plug in an unprepared Assistant to a role he isn't ready for? Heap loads of extra responsibility on you Frank? Responsibility that would only take away from your time doing what you do best? Of course you could bring in another GM from around the league. But is that really a good look?" Robert took a breath and made eye contact with the men sitting around the table. He had always been able to talk himself into the most entertaining situations.
The men were looking at Robert still slightly in shock at this pudgy, round faced man who had taken over this meeting so suddenly. "No gentlemen what you need is a hire that is so under the radar as to show everyone that you weren't headhunting on John's grave. This has to look as if it was just dropped into your lap, happenstance."
"It's why you need to make me President of Basketball Operations."
Richard had heard enough. He was the owner of this team this fool wasn't going to just barge in and commandeer this meeting.
"I don't know where you came from sir but I suggest you find your way back their quickly before..." Once again Richard was cut off.
"Shaquille O' Neal. Anfernee Hardaway. Dwight Howard." Robert took a prolonged pause.
"Three, you've managed to bring three stars here to beautiful tourist destination central Florida. In what 28 years? Richard you're failing. 28 years. 2 generational talents and a star and what do you have to show for it? Nothing. Not a championship to your name. Its time to make the Orlando Magic a force to be reckoned with. It is time to find the next generational talent and this time? We keep him."
"Listen Robert you seem an interesting fellow but this really isn't an open interview this is a closed door meeting and I think you've said your peace." Jeff said attempting to put an end to this farce.
"He's right."
Frank and Jeff scoffed in unison as they looked at the owner who was transfixed with this scruffy man come to rock the boat.
"Your right Robert, I want a star, I want a championship, I've been the owner of this team practically since the beginning and I have 2 eastern conference championships and a terrible team for my troubles. It's time for a breath of fresh air."
"Richard think this through you don't know anything about this guy. You can't do this. Listen I won't stand by and watch. If you hire this fool I'm gone." Frank said, color rising up from under his collar. veins popping out in his neck.
"Well I think it is a good thing I have a new President of Basketball Ops to handle a coaching change then if that's how you feel Frank. Listen gentlemen I'm glad this went this way I think this sets us up for the future magnificently. Robert I'd like to have dinner tonight to get to know you better. Talk to Staci about an office and getting on the payroll." With that Richard DeVos got up and whistled as he walked out of the room feeling happier than he had in a long time.
"Well Frank it will be a shame to lose you but please if you are going to go don't hang around. Need to move forward." Robert was smiling as he stood up from the table small leather notebook in hand.
Frank and Jeff sat in silence a long time after that. Eventually Frank Vogel short lived coach of the Orlando Magic packed up his stuff, turned in his keys, and drove home contemplating what his wife would say about all this.
Welcome! to the Robert California era in Orlando.
Welcome, guys I hope that this goes as well as it does in my head. Every year I play this game and spend time reading great dynasties. Now it's my turn to try and contribute a bit. I'm no wiz with the fancy picture section headings or the box scores looking sharp as all hell. But I do like to tell stories and hopefully will roll through a handful of seasons here.
I'll only be playing a handful of games between 16-20 a season but will be adding stories and keeping track of a few players and key franchise figures as the league progresses.
Things to note,
-Professors2K's draft class this year then auto generated after
-league expansion is on
-playing all star with a few shooting tweaks because I would rather play a 110-123 game then a 70-89 game.
-Will try to keep trades somewhat realistic but am definitely angling to add a franchise talent and if Robert California needs to work his magic once or twice to make the story work then I guess it's a good thing he's the effing Lizard king.
Without further ado onto the basketball!
"Jeff, How did this happen?" Alex Martins CEO of the Orlando magic whispered to the man in the finely tailored suit sitting next to him in the back of the large church where a NBA family member was being laid to rest.
"He got t-boned by a drunk idiot is how it happened Alex, you know that." Jeff replied not looking away from the front of the church where members of John's family were paying their respects and telling stories about the man who was supposed to right the ship in Orlando.
Alex wanted to scream. John Hammond was a good man and didn't deserve to go like this. Never mind the place this put his beloved Orlando Magic in. For not he just had to think about John's loved ones and make sure they knew the Orlando Magic family mourns right beside them.
One week later..
Jeff Weltman President of Business Ops, Frank Vogel Head Coach, and Richard DeVos owner of the Orlando Magic, sat around a large round table in Jeff's office. They were trying to consider what direction they wanted to move the franchise in.
"I really feel like we should just promote Matt and let him run things this year, there aren't any better candidate available and if we go hard after someone it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the fans after losing John so suddenly." Jeff had said this several times this morning. He wasn't the most creative man in the franchise.
"I just don't think Matt is ready for that role. Listen I don't want to be seen as making a power play but I think the safest bet is to let me operate as president of basketball Ops for the year and re-evaluate afterwards to see where we are." Frank had been pushing this agenda all morning as well.
Richard was beginning to think he needed to find a new small council with a little more diversity of imagination when their was a knock at the door.
"I'm sorry Mr. DeVos, but their is a man here to see you he says you are expecting him." Staci was a good assistant just a little on the mousy side, cute, perky, and a huge basketball nut. Maybe Richard thought, he should hire her.
"Staci I'm not expecting anyone and this is a closed door meeting so please take a message and let him know I'll.." However Richard was planning on ending his sentence it never happened. as a rather unkempt looking man strode past Staci and into the room.
Big Rayban sunglasses topped a head of unruly graying brown hair he was dressed terribly in a black sports coat with a drab brown polo shirt beneath. He had a lazy uninterested set to his features but his eyes were positively glowing as he took stock of the men at the table.
"Gentlemen please don't get up, the name is Robert California. I'm here to solve your little GM issue. It was such a shame to hear about John he was an icon." As he was speaking Robert had taken a seat at the round table.
"Please, allow me to speak. I understand that you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. What are your options really? Plug in an unprepared Assistant to a role he isn't ready for? Heap loads of extra responsibility on you Frank? Responsibility that would only take away from your time doing what you do best? Of course you could bring in another GM from around the league. But is that really a good look?" Robert took a breath and made eye contact with the men sitting around the table. He had always been able to talk himself into the most entertaining situations.
The men were looking at Robert still slightly in shock at this pudgy, round faced man who had taken over this meeting so suddenly. "No gentlemen what you need is a hire that is so under the radar as to show everyone that you weren't headhunting on John's grave. This has to look as if it was just dropped into your lap, happenstance."
"It's why you need to make me President of Basketball Operations."
Richard had heard enough. He was the owner of this team this fool wasn't going to just barge in and commandeer this meeting.
"I don't know where you came from sir but I suggest you find your way back their quickly before..." Once again Richard was cut off.
"Shaquille O' Neal. Anfernee Hardaway. Dwight Howard." Robert took a prolonged pause.
"Three, you've managed to bring three stars here to beautiful tourist destination central Florida. In what 28 years? Richard you're failing. 28 years. 2 generational talents and a star and what do you have to show for it? Nothing. Not a championship to your name. Its time to make the Orlando Magic a force to be reckoned with. It is time to find the next generational talent and this time? We keep him."
"Listen Robert you seem an interesting fellow but this really isn't an open interview this is a closed door meeting and I think you've said your peace." Jeff said attempting to put an end to this farce.
"He's right."
Frank and Jeff scoffed in unison as they looked at the owner who was transfixed with this scruffy man come to rock the boat.
"Your right Robert, I want a star, I want a championship, I've been the owner of this team practically since the beginning and I have 2 eastern conference championships and a terrible team for my troubles. It's time for a breath of fresh air."
"Richard think this through you don't know anything about this guy. You can't do this. Listen I won't stand by and watch. If you hire this fool I'm gone." Frank said, color rising up from under his collar. veins popping out in his neck.
"Well I think it is a good thing I have a new President of Basketball Ops to handle a coaching change then if that's how you feel Frank. Listen gentlemen I'm glad this went this way I think this sets us up for the future magnificently. Robert I'd like to have dinner tonight to get to know you better. Talk to Staci about an office and getting on the payroll." With that Richard DeVos got up and whistled as he walked out of the room feeling happier than he had in a long time.
"Well Frank it will be a shame to lose you but please if you are going to go don't hang around. Need to move forward." Robert was smiling as he stood up from the table small leather notebook in hand.
Frank and Jeff sat in silence a long time after that. Eventually Frank Vogel short lived coach of the Orlando Magic packed up his stuff, turned in his keys, and drove home contemplating what his wife would say about all this.
Welcome! to the Robert California era in Orlando.
Welcome, guys I hope that this goes as well as it does in my head. Every year I play this game and spend time reading great dynasties. Now it's my turn to try and contribute a bit. I'm no wiz with the fancy picture section headings or the box scores looking sharp as all hell. But I do like to tell stories and hopefully will roll through a handful of seasons here.
I'll only be playing a handful of games between 16-20 a season but will be adding stories and keeping track of a few players and key franchise figures as the league progresses.
Things to note,
-Professors2K's draft class this year then auto generated after
-league expansion is on
-playing all star with a few shooting tweaks because I would rather play a 110-123 game then a 70-89 game.
-Will try to keep trades somewhat realistic but am definitely angling to add a franchise talent and if Robert California needs to work his magic once or twice to make the story work then I guess it's a good thing he's the effing Lizard king.
Without further ado onto the basketball!
Cleveland Cavaliers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Washington Wizards
Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Clippers
Charlotte Hornets
Brooklyn Nets
San Antonio Spurs
Golden State Warriors
Phoenix Suns
Toronto Raptors
Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
Boston Celtics
Memphis Grizzlies
Portland Trailblazers
Denver Nuggets
Sacramento Kings
New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves
Dallas Mavericks
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Atlanta Hawks
Los Angeles Lakers
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
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