IC Cold Links: Time To Defend Brandon Rush; Foster, Stephenson Show At Fieldhouse

by Tom Lewis on Dec 2, 2011 8:35 AM EST in Indiana Pacers News

The Indiana Pacers opened up Conseco Fieldhouse, but like many other NBA facilities around the league, attendance was sparse at the gym. Free agent Jeff Foster, who remains Mr. Pacer, and guard Lance Stephenson have been in town throughout the lockout and were the only two to show up to put in work at the Fieldhouse.

The rest of the players are headed to Indy today and tomorrow and will begin working out together under the odd circumstances that don't allow the non-players (including coaches, front office) to talk with the players at the Fieldhouse.

Speaking of odd circumstances, I have to shake my head at the news surrounding Brandon Rush and his (or a hacker's, wink, wink) Twitter binge in which he swapped insults with other people on Twitter. The topic came up yesterday in the front office press conference and was essentially dismissed, but the AP story on the issue appears to have been picked up by every sports news outlet in America today.

As I mentioned last night, this is what constitutes drama for the Indiana Pacers these days? More on this along with the links after the jump.

I'm not saying Rush didn't use poor judgment in responding so harshly while using equally harsh and offensive language. The first thing Clark Kellogg needs to tell Rush when he can speak to him is to familiarization himself with the Block feature on Twitter.

I just can't help but feel like the general public is overreacting just because Rush is an easy punching bag. He can come off as aloof and his inconsistent play while flashing brilliant skill at times can be down right maddening. So that makes him fair game to get destroyed after a few ill-advised tweets?

I read through the whole timeline of tweets and responses (from both sides) and quite honestly it bored me. I received several emails from dismayed fans thinking I should make a big deal out of it and rip Rush for going off on fans. I'm sorry, those were fans? I'd say they were people with Twitter accounts happy to take a shot at an NBA player without repercussions. Then he fires back and everyone is outraged.

Seriously, I just can get upset over the act, in fact I'm obviously more exercised over the reaction to the act. Again, I'm not endorsing the act, (just block 'em) and there's a very good chance Rush will be traded by the Pacers, but it won't have anything to do with these tweets or Rush the person. For the record, I've seen him interact before games many times with actual fans, including big groups with ties to Kansas, and leave them all giddy.

In case you forgot, we've dealt with actual attacks at Club Rio, 8 Seconds Saloon and Cloud 9/Conrad Hotel around here, so a little skirmish on Twitter is nothing more than ridiculous. Let Rush take his lesson learned (did I mention he should block Twitter combatants?) and move on.

Here are a few links of interest, including news that the players and owners will finalize the CBA details today with the players planning to vote on it on December 8th.

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Ah

The good ol’ ‘my twitter account got hacked, so that wasn’t actually me (even though it really was)’ excuse. It gets more believable each time.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Dec 2, 2011 9:00 AM EST reply actions

tried and true, ha ha

Indy Cornrows

by Tom Lewis on Dec 2, 2011 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

of course, of all the people to get 'hacked' it had to be Brandon Rush

just in case this point hasn’t been beaten over the head, Lance stephenson has had a tremendeous summer, and I think most of us are really proud of him right now.

by latrell spreewel on Dec 2, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

Proud my ass

It’s like the Chris Rock skit, you don’t get a pat on the back for paying your child support. Good job Lance, you didn’t throw any women down some stairs! I’m glad Lance seems to have done some growing up, but “proud” is far from the right word.

Sup Jello Shot?

by IndyPacers on Dec 2, 2011 9:35 AM EST up reply actions

haha, lol

well we held the bar so so low that just being normal is spectacular for Lance.

by latrell spreewel on Dec 2, 2011 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

the reaction the BRush's little Twitter tirade is pretty outrageous

I realize it’d be completely out of character but if Roy went off on some people on Twitter like that everyone’d be full of excuses for him, but since it’s Rush and he’s smoked pot and hasn’t lived up to expectations he’s apparently the anti-christ. It was stupid and incredibly immature, but I mean, REALLY? This is what we get up in arms about now? There were Pacers Digest guys acting like he pulled a Stephen Jackson. Then you get Wells’s dumb ass talking about it on the radio, Kravitz who I’m surprised even knows who Brandon Rush is asking about it (oblivious as always) just blowing the entire thing entirely out of proportion.

It was stupid, dumb, immature, plenty of adjectives, but I’m just tired of the local media blowing this shit out of proportion. No one seemed to give a damn when I think 4 Colts got alcohol related ARRESTS, which is the same ratio of rostered players as a single Pacer calling some Twitters the F word.

Sup Jello Shot?

by IndyPacers on Dec 2, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions

the same thing happened to Kobe last year

not a big deal, everyone calls everyone that phrase now adays, once something gets so over use like that it really doesn’t have the derogatory meaning that it originally had. should he have said it? no, but even if he did, no one really is all that offended by it anyways especially not the media guys.

by latrell spreewel on Dec 2, 2011 9:44 AM EST up reply actions

That's rich

Anyone who’s spent five minutes reading Rush’s Twitter feed could probably surmise an anti-gay slur was a possibility among other things. Lance’s twitter feed is another one that worries me.

by Glenn A. on Dec 2, 2011 9:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Who cares about Rush. Hope he gets traded for Jason Thompson or even a 2nd round pick.

And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Dec 2, 2011 11:24 AM EST reply actions

Not comparing Thompson to a 2nd round pick. Just saying I’d take just about anything for Rush except a bad contract.

And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Dec 2, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

Totally agree

I tend to ignore this outrage. Rush is immature, and I don’t like him, but this is just “Twitter rapping.” It happens when people get a forum where they can post all night after they’ve been drinking God knows what and have to face no immediate consequences. I completely agree that someone should speak with Rush about controlling himself, because we all know those “fans” aren’t going to control themselves. I also think there should be some sort of ap for iPhones that tells you when your tweet makes you sound like an idiot and tries to convince you to not post it, or just completely blocks it. This should also apply for all tweets that include pictures of your private parts.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on Dec 2, 2011 11:47 AM EST reply actions