Mike Wells Says "It's Time For TJ Ford To Find A New Team"
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 1, 2011 11:11 PM EDT
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That's Right TJ, YOUR GONNA BE GONE (and yes I'm pointing at you)!!!!!!!!
As we all know it has recently been reported on this site that Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star who has covered the Pacers since I can remember is doing a story on the 5 free agent players the Pacers have in Jeff Foster, TJ Ford, Josh McRoberts, Mike Dunleavy Jr., and Solomon Jones to give his take on rather or not the Pacers should re-sign them once the lockout ends. Today Mike Wells coverd TJ Ford and wrote that "I think everybody, including Ford, would agree it's time for him to find a new team" at the very end of his Indy star article. Pretty much the rest of the article was that statement in a nutshell. Something else worthy of mentioning is on this site it was reported that the Pacers need to let TJ Ford and Solomon Jones go. These head Indy Star reporters of the Colts, Purdue, UI, Indianapolis High school sports, and of course the Pacers are usually pretty accurate in predicting something they seem certain about. Mike Chapel on his Q & A blog said that Peyton Manning will either this season or next get a long-term deal last February and the person who covers Indiana High School sports told me in an email when I asked him about Greg Oden that he would go one season at Ohio State then enter the NBA draft, and in the fall of 2006 Mike Wells said that it would be more interesting to see if Stephen "Just Shoot Me" Jackson who was traded to Golden State that season in one of the biggest trades in NBA history will return a Pacer for the season then if he returns to the form he played when he was the 6th man on the San Antonio Spurs in their 2003 NBA championship. So I think judging by Mike Wells (head Indy Star writer for the Pacers) words it's time for TJ Ford to find a new team. Since Ford is only 28 I think after the lockout ends someone will take a chance on him and although that team will not be the Pacers other teams that could take a chance on him in my opinion would include the Lakers-since once the lockout is lifted they will likely be over the salary cap and in trouble for having too high of a payroll and the Lakers do seem out of money and pretty desperate for a PG since Derek Fisher isn't getting any younger, Shannon Brown will likely be gone in 2 seasons, and Steve Blake ended up being the biggest LA Lakers free agent bust since Luke Walton. The Heat would be another team Ford could sign with since pretty much all their PG's will be free agents and that seems to be the team's biggest weakness. The Minnesota Timberwolves also seem desperate for 2 things signing Kevin Love long-term and a PG. Which means Ford signing a one year deal in Minnesota is a possability. Mike Wells started his coverage on the Pacers 5 free agents and where they would end up next season with Jeff Foster saying that the Pacers re-signing him would be a good move. Personally I think that depends on who they can land in 2 seasons and what type of deal Foster wants. But as a fan I gotta say that it would be nice to see Jeff Foster back in a Pacers uniform once the lockout ends. Next up for Mr. Wells will be Josh "McRob" McRoberts who he may express interest in the Pacers keeping since Larry Bird did kind of back out of the trade offer of the Grizz giving us OJ Mayo for Brandon Rush, McRob and a 2011 first round pick.
PS.
If anyone is interested here is the link to the article
http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider/2011/08/31/its-time-for-ford-to-find-a-new-team/
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You know...
I’ve become so adept at distinguishing you, that I knew this was your post simply from the title.
OT: I am simply fascinated by how people can vehemently despise a person simply because of what school they went to.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey
by infinityzero.systemerror on Sep 2, 2011 3:46 AM EDT reply actions
I still think Wells messed up when he broke the story before the trade deadline that a the Pacers had worked out a buyout for Ford. That report had to diminish what little trade value Ford still had. I’m not sure we would have been able to work out a deal had Wells not reported it, but it still sucks. I guess I’m just frustrated at journalism these days. You can report pure speculation as fact and as long as you say ‘according to sources’ somehow you are immune when what you report turns out to be completely false. Also, I really need to start reading the Star more. I can’t believe that they actually predicted that Manning would get extended and Oden would be one and done. You can’t get insight like that just anywhere.
I'm not much of a Wells fan
But he works for the Star, not the Pacers. Can’t remember if he tweeted or actually published the buyout stuff, but either way I can’t see a rival GM sitting in his office talking to Larry about a move when some intern busts in with “but their local beat writer says they’re buying him out!” Hopefully Wells learned his lesson and that “source” isn’t a source any longer.
Speaking of, you been reading these what should the Pacers do with their FAs articles he’s writing? They’re terrible, couple hundred analysis-free words that would be 3 comment FanPosts on IC. That’s my biggest gripe with most sports writers, they vaguely know what a baseball/football/basketball is and can (sometimes) spell. That seems to be the only requirement. The vast majority offer no insight into the sport they’re covering and worst of all, they’re just flat out bad writers. If I’m not going to be informed then at least entertain me, even Kravitz can do that every blue moon or so.
I totally agree about his blog. The Pacers Insider thing he writes is consistently terrible. It really seems like he writes those half asleep. The thing is a complete afterthought that he puts no effort into. Since he was tweeting about Lance the other day he could have written an interesting story about him dropping 49. There are even a ton of interesting angles he could have went with in discussing Ford, but instead we get a bland story of straight facts with absolutely no insight. If I remember right, the buyout story was originally posted on twitter and then was in the paper the next day. It wasn’t it’s own standalone story, but if you read the Star you know that he usually adds a few paragraphs about individual players after the story about a game. I think this one was a post script to a game story, where the headline was about a Pacers game and then 2 thirds into the story there was a smaller headline about the buyout and the article citing his ‘unnamed sources’. I also hope Ford does well with a new team. He was a good professional here despite being treated like crap and he played well in the playoffs. That 65 foot shot was incredible. The Bulls kept leaving him open out there, we might have won the series if he would have taken a few more from out there.
Also, I realize that he works for the Star and it isn’t his job to look out for the best interest of the Pacers, but when you are putting a story out there that effects the franchise like this one I think you should be absolutely sure that what you are writing is fact and there appears to be no accountability for putting false stories out there. This seemed like speculation since after the deadline passed there weren’t any reports that indicated the Pacers were actually close to a deal. This wasn’t a situation where there was a deal in place and things broke down at the last minute, I don’t think there ever was a deal. I also realize that we weren’t going to make some blockbuster deal for Ford, but we might have gotten something.
it's an effect of the internet age
Reporters are afraid of getting out-scooped on a story, so they’re quick to post information without verifying. Twitter seems to accentuate this.
I think IndyPacers hit the nail on the head about sportswriters, but I have to say it seems like that’s what’s in demand. The market for sports reporting today doesn’t value in-depth analysis as much as it values a constant stream of the very latest information, written by someone who vaguely knows the game and can (sometimes) spell.
For a journalist today, the disadvantage of reporting a story behind the rest of the media is worse than reporting a story that isn’t true
Oh
And legitimately wish TJ well wherever he lands. Not a fan of his game at all but he handled himself very professionally after the franchise, frankly, kinda treated him like dirt. A lesser man could’ve really caused some distractions.
TJ, when playing right was a great player on our team. It was never meant to be though. Jim O’Brien’s system was THE worst possible system for him and he faltered. I feel his career can still have a resurgence. He acted with more class than I wouldve in a horrible situation and certainly more than this author.
Agreed
TJ was never utilized correctly on this team, and JOB’s constant jacking around with personnel couldn’t have helped.
In fact, I can’t really remember a single point guard, from Tinsley to Collison, that Obie got along with. He diminished all of their games.
by Manfred James on Sep 3, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Allen Iverson
Believe he was the only “point guard” to see a #‘s increase under Obie. And I’ll assume that’s because AI didn’t give a shit what he said and played his way and Philly loved Iverson so not much JOB could do about it.
And he's a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.
How did we put up with JOB for so long?
by Manfred James on Sep 3, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey I'll give credit where credit is due
TJ Ford did play better them Mike Donelaevy or should I say Doneleaving in the playoffs against the Bulls.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 3, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
WOW PEOPLE, I'M AMAZED
Someone actually thinks TJ Ford will return to the Pacers next seasons. Serously people I think it’s more likely Dunleaving returns to the Pacers then Ford or Jones.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 3, 2011 9:45 PM EDT reply actions
WOW PEOPLE I'M AMAZED AGAIN
Someone else actually thinks TJ Ford should play for the Pacers next season. Serously people I think it is highly more likely that Solomon Jones or Mike Dunleavy return to the Pacers then TJ Ford. And I know you all know what I think Mike Doneleaving’s chances of staying a Pacer are next season. And no I am not the person voting on TJ Ford to stay with the Pacers I voted for Ford to play for a different team and I’m not gonna tell you which one I voted on. Either way you look at it even though 2 of the 49 people who have participated in this poll think TJ Ford is going to stay with the Pacers next season, I think it’s pretty safe to trust Mike Wells word in saying “everyone including Ford knows it’s time for him to find a new team”. Meaning TJ Ford WILL NOT BE A Pacer next season.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 6, 2011 6:48 PM EDT reply actions
NOW 3 PEOPLE THINK FORD SHOULD STAY
Geese what kind of fans are these no one wants him back.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 7, 2011 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
I'm just amazed people actually want TJ Ford back
But like I said earlier, I think Mike Wells word that it’s time for TJ Ford to find a new team is pretty safe and true. I just can’t believe people actually want this guy back. I mean Solo and Mike Doneleaving I can understand, BUT TJ FORD COME ON!!!!!
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 7, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah btw
If 2 more people vote on this poll and at least one of them actually thinks TJ Ford belongs back in a Pacers uniform, almost 10% of the people who voted on this poll will officially have think TJ Ford belongs back in a Pacers uniform.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 7, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Ford is gone, they basically Jamal Tinsleyed him this season and embarrassingly had to bring him back when Lance was demoted. He was a good professional here though and he’d be a much better backup than AJ Price.
Actually technically they didn't Jamaal Tinsley him last season
Jamaal Tinsley was cut from the team in 2008, since because of David Stern’s stupid rules he was allowed to get fat and lazy under a big contract or at least a semi big one.
Plus when he played Jamaal Tinsley was making the Pacers a worst team. TJ Ford was different although he may have been bad, he still didn’t make the Pacers a worst team. And even though he was rarely dressed for games, it’s not like when he was asked to play he made the Pacers a worst team like Stephen “Just Shoot Me” Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley did. And TJ Ford never went to strip clubs nor was he ever in trouble with the law. But either way you look at it I have to admit I am very amazed people actually think TJ Ford needs to be back with the Pacers and I think Mike Well’s word is pretty much right on the money.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 9, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
By Jamaal Tinsleying him I was referring to putting him in exile. He went home to Texas and was not with the team until Lance was demoted. Jamaal Tinsley was also put in exile while the team desperately tried to work out a trade/buyout. If I remember right it wasn’t until arbitration, or right before the arbitration hearing the Pacers knew they would lose that they cut Tinsley. Ford wasn’t the piece of crap human being Tinsley was, but he was treated in a similar manner by the team telling him to go home to Texas rather than practice.
Well I agree with every thing except 2 things
1.Jamaal Tinsley is a New York native, you said “he went home to Texas”, his home is in New York that’s where he’s from.
2.After he was told not to show up for the Pacers training camp, last I checked he was in Atlanta.
But either way I think it’s safe to say David Sterns stupid rules get most of the blame for Jamaal Tinsely and his fat ass overpriced contract the Pacers have been stuck with for 7 years. In the final season of his rookie contract Jamaal Tinsley had his best season averaging 15 ppg. It got him a big contact and because he knew it was guaranteed he could just slack off and start spending his money in strip clubs thanks to David Stern and his stupid rule about guaranteed contracts.
by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Sep 11, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
He was talking about TJ going home to TX
And there is no rule about guaranteed contracts. They never, in any circumstance, have to be given out.
With the 16th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft the Indiana Pacers select Thomas Robinson, Kansas
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