Dan H

It's a very interesting book all in all. I'm about 2/3rds of the way through, just got finished with the first time he was cut by the Suns.

What's depressing is his description of Sarver and his cheapness, and demeanor. It really puts the last couple of offseasons (trading away picks and players) into perspective, and makes me doubt that this team is going to make the moves necessary to win a championship.

I definitely recommend it to anyone here, though. Only thing I don't like is his tendency not to name names when talking about stupid stuff his fellow players do, but that's all right.

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"To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association--'the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.'" - Thomas Jefferson

dodie53

what's the name of the book?

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“You can’t worry about things you have no control over.”

"Above and Beyond"

-- Steve Nash

"I don't even care how much I score.
I just want to win."
-- Ron Artest

fordronken

It's called "Can I Keep My Jersey?"

elindholm

Shirley is pretty disillusioned and cynical about everything, so I wouldn't put much stock in what he says. He probably thinks that the Suns needed to play him a lot more if they were serious about pursuing a title.

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signature pending

where's elindholm, i need to vomit again! -- Ouchie-Z-Clown

azirish

Sarver may very well have earned his rep for being cheap in year 1, but honestly I have not seen much evidence lately. If anything, the team's two biggest blunders have been overpaying for Banks and the Diaw extension.

boisesuns

The Luxury Tax is rough. If you go over, you are paying double for every dollar spent over the limit. I think Sarver has always tried to keep the budget in check.

If it makes a difference in a championship run to pay extra for a player, then maybe it might be worth it, but dollar for dollar can add up fast...Just look at the Knicks. In 05-06, they paid 37 million dollards extra.

Gaddabout

Shirley is probably more irritated the house DJ didn't consult him on each game's play list.

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Before I saw him, I could figure things out. He was the first guy I saw close-up and just didn't get what he was doing. Josh Freese on Vinnie Colaiuta

nathan

So in other words he's the elindholm of the basketball world?

Dan H

Finished the book. It was interesting.

He definitely didn't think that Shawn Marion was the sharpest tool in the shed. Shirley had one passage where he described some of the team members watching the Discovery Channel in the team lounge, and Marion randomly said, "Man, I should invent something, then I'd make some real money."

Shirley's thought was classic - something like, "You already make 14 million a year, you idiot."

The IQ's of NBA players as a whole definitely seem low . . . in one part he describes a discussion as to how many stars were on the US flag. I think this was when he played for Atlanta, though.

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"To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association--'the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.'" - Thomas Jefferson

Toothbrush

I heard an interview with this guy on the radio. He seems pretty cool and funny. I still need to pick up this book and the 7 seconds book.

azirish

Shirley is an intellectual in a world where highly developed instincts are king. I'm sure it was a very strange world for him, but that's what made him such an interesting insider. Still, I have to admit NBA players have the weirdest view of money as any people you'll ever meet.