The Scoop on Rudy

by Dave on Sep 19, 2007 12:02 AM PDT in News

With Greg Oden down and no real games distracting our attention yet, it's natural for Blazer fans to look towards the future of the squad. The most heralded event of 2008 will be Oden's return. But I couldn't help but notice that another rising star is seeping into the consciousness of the Blazer faithful. You're starting to see more and more speculation about Spanish wing Rudy Fernandez...how good he might be and what he might mean to the team next year and beyond.

Since few of us have seen Rudy play in person, I decided we needed to talk to some people who have. So here are some quotes from various sources in the know about Rudy. We asked all of them the same questions: Is he really that good? What kind of an impact do you think he will have on the NBA?

Disclaimer: Many of these responses came in a language other than English. The Blazersedge Foreign Service Department did their best to come up with accurate translations, but we cannot be held 100% responsible for the results. We apologize in advance for any small inaccuracies.

From an assistant coach on the development squad for the Spanish National Team:

Oh yes...Rudy is fantastic. I saw him once, in this game...he was being guarded by the second-best player in the league. It was a matchup for all the papers. Normally Rudy would drive into the lane but in this game the other player was not guarding him well. So he hit six three pointers in a row, tying a playoff record. After the final one he looked at the opposing team and gave a shrug as if to say, "If you're not going to guard me..." It was very impressive.

From a television broadcast play-by-play man in Spain:

Let me tell you this. It was the most incredible play I have ever seen. Rudy was driving the lane, straight down the middle. He went against the whole team and nobody could stop him. He leapt into the air to lay it in but he noticed an opponent coming to block his attempt. Rudy is right-handed, of course, but when he saw the opponent coming he brought the ball back down, switched it to his left hand, and laid it in on the other side of the rim...all in one jump. I can see it almost as if it were in slow motion. Such grace!

From an opponent on the French National Team:

Ah...Rudee. He is, how you say? Amazing. I am ze center on ze team. Normally I would not guard such a player. But our little men were getting...what is ze word I am looking for? Toasted. That is it. So while Rudee was driving I slid over to bring ze help. He looked me right in ze eye, made a quick jab step to ze left, jumped, and then it happened. He stuck out his tongue. You always know you are in ze trouble when he sticks out his tongue. When he stuck out his tongue many cigarette ashes fell out. Ze ashes got into my eyes and nose. I could not see anymore and could not block ze shot. It was sick. But so was ze dunk he threw down. He is...how you say? Unstoppable.

From an editor of a European scouting blog:

Oh yeah...everybody knows R-Fer can put on a fantastic display. Just the other day they showed a 30-second clip on TV. Rudy blocked every single shot that Kevin Bacon put up. It didn't matter if it was a basketball, a kernel of popcorn, a piece of wadded up paper...he just swatted it all to heck. Kevin Bacon is no slouch, you know. He could probably get decent minutes in a B-league somewhere. It just shows Rudy's defensive ability. He's the complete player. I mean I used to be impressed by that clip they showed of Rudy shooting with this other guy...the one where he says, "Over the Eiffel Tower, bank off the Mona Lisa's nose, skip the Seine, nothing but net" and then he does it. But this defensive display was awesome. Best...defender...ever.

From an Eastern Conference executive who wishes to remain anonymous:

He's a good player. One of the best really. But we have some questions. The guy's physical report had red dots all over it: spleen, lungs...thirty two on his face alone. A secret ultrasound we took showed his appendix isn't functioning properly. We just don't think he's a safe pick. We're happy we went with Shecky Gruberman instead. Well, of course Rudy wasn't available where we were picking, but you know what I mean. Hey you're not going to put my name by this, right? Because I don't want people to laugh at me. Nobody ever understands true genius. Tip from me to you: get your Gruberman jerseys before they get all trendy and sell out. Shecky's da bomb.

So there you go folks. That was the best info we could dig up. It seems like there might be reason for some cautious optimism, though I'm sure Blazer fans will keep it muted as they always do. What is it about us that makes us so chronically underestimate the guys we haven't seen yet?

Anyway...now better informed and wiser, please feel free to return to your sober, placid pre-season speculation.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

P.S. Thanks to Idog1976 for putting us in touch with many of these sources. His foreign connections are truly amazing.

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Sources

I think my cousin dated that "opponent on the French National team."

BLZRS FRVR

by nightbluefruit on Sep 19, 2007 12:09 AM PDT reply actions

hmmm...

reading that was a complete waste of time... Its a sad day when Dave feels the need to make fun of people that visit his site. I guess I will return to my sober, placid speculation...

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 19, 2007 12:14 AM PDT reply actions

Nice signature

I admire your sober placidity.

--Dave

by Dave on Sep 19, 2007 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Or is it

placid sobriety?

--Dave

by Dave on Sep 19, 2007 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Glad you noticed my signature...

Certainly you must understand why I feel this post is poking fun at me and others that frequent this site. The Jordan references making it fairly obvious. My signature is obviously a joke, the joke being that nobody thinks Rudy is the next MJ, let alone greater than MJ, I guess I need that sarcasm font we keep talking about. So you basically insult me and then decide it would be even funnier to reference the "red dot" arguments and make the person who brought them up feel like a jackass. Real nice Dave, way to create a nice family envirnment, ya know, lead by example. I especially like your attempt to poke fun at my signature, not only did you indirectly insult me in the post, you did it in the comments section as well. Way to show everyone how to maturely post their opinions.

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 19, 2007 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Huh?

Not to speak for Dave, but I'm pretty sure this article was just good natured fun about how, as fans, we are always excited about the next new thing. He isn't making fun of anyone, especially not as harshly as you are taking it.

Unless you're kidding back...? I knew "Rudy > MJ" was a joke, and I liked it, but now I don't know nuthin' no mo'.

Are you really hurt by this?

by Mortimer on Sep 19, 2007 12:50 AM PDT up reply actions

not hurt...

Just wondering why Dave felt the need to make fun of people that visit his site. I accused him of making fun of people in my first post and he responded by poking fun at my signature. Why would he do that if he wasnt trying to make fun of people?? It seems to me a logical response to my accusation would have been, "sorry, this wasnt aimed at anyone and was all in good fun", but all Dave gave me was "Nice Signature, you are a hypocrite".

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 19, 2007 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Hmmmm...

I suppose I wouldn't frame it as "making fun of", more like (at worst) good-natured teasing and (at best) taking your inspirational signature and running with it. I guess I don't get where the train got off track? Was this not basically the same thing as your signature, just expanded with some semi-witty asides about how the media always relies on "unnamed sources"?

--Dave

by Dave on Sep 19, 2007 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions

In any case

apologies for the ruffled feathers.

--Dave

by Dave on Sep 19, 2007 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I thought he was saying it tongue-in-cheek too...

Maybe he should have said "Seriously" or something so we knew he wasn't just kidding around.

by jamon51 on Sep 20, 2007 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions

Huh?

Lots of people are excited about Rudy. Nobody thinks your signature is serious.

The "red dot" stuff was simply making fun of a certain Eastern Conference GM who makes stupid picks and then spouts sour grapes. I doubt anyone remembered that you were the one who brought up "red dot" arguments.

To connect the dots :) between "red dots" and your signature, Dave would have had to actually be thinking specifically about you, go back to read all your posts, and figure out how to stick it to you. If you really believe he did that, then you probably better just go to another forum. If you don't, then you ought to just accept that he wasn't talking about you specifically and not take it personally. You are an important part of this forum, but not THAT important, that he would pursue you personally.

This was intended to be fun, rather than gloomy, and get past all the Oden despair. It wasn't about you, it was about fans having fun, dreaming and hoping about the future, and laughing at ourselves.

Fans do this kind of stuff. We want Oden to be the next Russell, LMA to be the next Rasheed without the attitude (or better), Roy to be the next Walt Frazier, JJ to be the next Terry Porter (at least), etc. It's fun, but there's a funny side to it as well. That's what this post is all about.

Besides, the best part of the whole post was the cigarette ashes, which is nothing to do with anything you said.

by jscot on Sep 19, 2007 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I didnt post anything about red dots...

besides in this thread, that was someone else who made those claims. I also feel like this is a shot at everyone who has thought highly of Rudy, not just me. I am not so conceded to think that Dave would single me out, but he did poke fun at my signature in the comments of the thread, so thats when it became more personal for me. Maybe I just dont find any of that funny, and I am way off base. I apologize if thats the case.

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 19, 2007 1:21 AM PDT up reply actions

OK

I think highly of Rudy as well, I think he'll be a nice piece of the puzzle for us.

Yeah, he did poke fun at your signature, but since I thought A) the post was in fun and B) your signature was in fun, I also thought your first response was not serious, and that he was just still playing the game.

Just one question, and then I'll drop out. Does RUDY > MJ mean he's better than Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, or both? Because that would solve our PG problem, wouldn't it?

by jscot on Sep 19, 2007 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Well I can't speak for Dave but...

I can say that this whole article sprouted as a joke. Dave asked me to do a guest blog and I made a joke in my email back about doing an article about Rudy being better then MJ. He thought it would be fun to write a joke article about exactly that. I would write my normal Guest Blog and help him write a later blog about Rudy = MJ. We were planning on having it be more elaborate but the GO injury happened and everything changed and for my end I lost focus and Dave had to make the best out of a few little ideas I had and alot of good comedy on his part.

I was thinking about all the threads where people said that even though I never saw an original post where someone actually said those words. If I associate it with anyone I associate it with his rotundness who is on the way out and the blog was partially a joke for his sake since he is leaving. If anything this is teasing the folks who say that Rudy is NOT the next MJ even though to my knowledge nobody ever HAS said that.

I can say with near certainty that Dave was not ripping on you or anyone but rather as others have said the next big thing phenomena (hence the obvious GO red dot references) and the silliness of comparing anyone to MJ. Perhaps especially a white guy from europe who, while graceful, could not lace up the sneakers of his airness.

So really don't be offended man. It was meant to be a joke and not directed at anyone just a bit of fun to take the edge off or originally pre-injury to kill the Boredom. Oden sort of stole the thunder or was that Thor...

October, October, October, October, October...... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin)

by Idog1976 on Sep 19, 2007 2:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Myemic, I don't know if you realize it

but you are sounding hyper sensitive here. The only person that came to mind in reading Dave's post was fatty and that was only because of the cigarette ash reference. (His chain smoking Euro's comment is going to be a classic.)

Hell, I thought it was a serious piece until I got to the center of the French National team. But it really wasn't until the cigarette ash line that I realized I'd been had.

I'm reminded of an old saying my mom often used. "If the shoe fits, wear it."

by timg56 on Sep 19, 2007 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions

really???...hypers sensitive???

I was going for everyone is out to get me paranoid...

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 19, 2007 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

In that case...

... beware of the red dots.

by timg56 on Sep 19, 2007 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha!

Great post. The first quote made me chuckle... after that it was blatantly obvious what you were getting at... you wile-e-coyote you!

Seriously though... wtf is with the talk of this guy being the next MJ? I dont get to watch a lot of TV, but I do browse the sports pages online, and wouldnt there be a little more hype to him if he was SOOOO great?

by Blazer on Sep 19, 2007 12:26 AM PDT reply actions

Fatty Said It

Fatty, I believe, claimed some Blazer fans were treating Rudy like he was the second coming of MJ. No one really thinks that of him, though people are a lot more excited for Rudy than maybe they should be.

I think he'll be a cool player, and a great backup at least. But, yeah, the MJ talk is just people funnin' with crack-me-ups.

Plus Rudy smokes too much to really make an impact in the NBA.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Sep 19, 2007 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions

You had me going

with the first two, but then I was like "Wait a dang minute, I've seen those clips and I'm pretty sure the guy was black, bald, and wore # 23 for the Bulls."

by jamon51 on Sep 19, 2007 1:09 AM PDT reply actions

Funny

After briefly skimming the post to see what it was about, I copied and pasted it to an email for a couple Blazer fan friends who don't go to blazersedge. Only at the last moment did I actually read it and realize it was a gag. Funny one, too.

It's too bad that myemic23 took it the wrong way. Unfortunately, it's easy for email/blog communication--especially humor--to go awry because words on a screen can easily be misinterpreted. I'm sure Dave of all people meant no insult to anybody--either by the post or his comment on myemic's signature.

This GO injury seems to have us all a bit on edge. Maybe we should get together and attend a grief meeting. :-) (I've resorted to the dreaded smiley face for clarity.)

by hurryup09 on Sep 19, 2007 2:12 AM PDT reply actions

Feel a little like Larry David, Dave?? :)

by edgeguy42 on Sep 19, 2007 4:16 AM PDT reply actions

Well, you can't please everyone...

but you got a good belly laugh out of this reader. This one is right up there with your best, Dave. I'd put it in the top three with Mike Carrot and Mike Spice and Darth Swirsky.

Keep up the good work.

by ken @ Blazer's Edge on Sep 19, 2007 6:14 AM PDT reply actions

All I know,

is that KP will be forever judged by Rudy vs. Shecky. If Rudy can't win championships and Shecky can, KP will have trouble finding another job.

I got my front court aLaMOde!!

by shenanigans on Sep 19, 2007 6:26 AM PDT reply actions

This proves that

Dave is/was fatty.

Now that fatty is muzzled, and based on Dave's previous statements that a jerk is good for for circulation, Dave has resorted to a new literary devive not previously seen here.

Rush Limbaugh humor.

by ojala on Sep 19, 2007 7:53 AM PDT reply actions

I'm so glad to finally have a scouting report!

It's nice to finally have an accurate scouting report about what we can expect from our Spanish shooting guard! He sounds amazing...

Honestly, what threw me off was how Dave was able to contact the Spanish National team's assistant coach and then their play-by-play guy. For a minute, I was like "Man, Dave's really blowing up on an international scale! He's almost as world reknown as fatty..."

Ironically, what if Rudy DID become the next MJ? Bill Simmons could write an article about how we missed MJ with the first pick but got him later in the first round.

Suck it East Coast!

by Champs2009 on Sep 19, 2007 8:44 AM PDT reply actions

I'm going to come to your defense

a bit Myemic as right now you could probably use a little support. We're instructed not to use benign terms such as "bandwagon" and "GOOF", but insulting humor is OK.

But we have to remember ... it is Dave's site and a high quality one at that. He is entitled to call the shots.

by TwoDeep on Sep 19, 2007 10:13 AM PDT reply actions

Guys it was a joke

and as an insider on this piece I can tell you if anything it was pulling fatty's leg one last time before he left. It was definitely not directed at Myemic. Wow I thought some people wouldn't appreciate the humor, but I never thought anyone would be offended. I think everyone is overly sensitive due to the Oden thing. I know I've been more easily upset since it. Let's not turn on one another...this was meant to lighten the mood not make it heavier.

October, October, October, October, October...... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin)

by Idog1976 on Sep 19, 2007 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions

I saw this reel on you tube

where Rudy caught an inbounds pass, nailed a game winning jumper falling sideways from the free throw line and then did a jumping fist pump and almost kicked his distraught defender in the head.

It was awesome.

Rudy for MVP

I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul. - Charles Wesley

by Earl on Sep 19, 2007 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

Who is this Shecky Gruberman?

Is it too late to trade for him?

Nice post, I think Blazer fans as a whole needed to lighten up. Including of course myself.

"I'll see you in hell, but I won't wave."

by Krang on Sep 19, 2007 11:11 AM PDT reply actions

Had me going in the

first two and then it started to get real funny and I knew it was a joke. To bad myemic23 got so mad about it. Any way, Dave IT was funny and made me smile alittle today. myemic23 take it easy, I'm sure it was all fun...

Life is always hard, try to smile today!

by creepbblazed on Sep 19, 2007 12:46 PM PDT reply actions

Loved it, very funny.

I'm sure no harm was intended myemic23, you are a valued member of this site.

by drawingjeremy on Sep 19, 2007 1:30 PM PDT reply actions

I gotta admit

The ashes coming out after the tongue was pretty good.

And, yes, it does prove that fatty is Dave.

Does it matter?

Like it or not, Rip City is Back

by sohrab19 on Sep 19, 2007 1:50 PM PDT reply actions

Intent can be difficult to interpret in text...

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/02/70179

The Secret Cause of Flame Wars
Stephen Leahy

"Don't work too hard," wrote a colleague in an e-mail today. Was she sincere or sarcastic? I think I know (sarcastic), but I'm probably wrong.

According to recent research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, I've only a 50-50 chance of ascertaining the tone of any e-mail message. The study also shows that people think they've correctly interpreted the tone of e-mails they receive 90 percent of the time.

"That's how flame wars get started," says psychologist Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago, who conducted the research with Justin Kruger of New York University. "People in our study were convinced they've accurately understood the tone of an e-mail message when in fact their odds are no better than chance," says Epley.

The researchers took 30 pairs of undergraduate students and gave each one a list of 20 statements about topics like campus food or the weather. Assuming either a serious or sarcastic tone, one member of each pair e-mailed the statements to his or her partner. The partners then guessed the intended tone and indicated how confident they were in their answers.

Those who sent the messages predicted that nearly 80 percent of the time their partners would correctly interpret the tone. In fact the recipients got it right just over 50 percent of the time.

"People often think the tone or emotion in their messages is obvious because they 'hear' the tone they intend in their head as they write," Epley explains.

At the same time, those reading messages unconsciously interpret them based on their current mood, stereotypes and expectations. Despite this, the research subjects thought they accurately interpreted the messages nine out of 10 times.

The reason for this is egocentrism, or the difficulty some people have detaching themselves from their own perspective, says Epley. In other words, people aren't that good at imagining how a message might be understood from another person's perspective.

"E-mail is very easy to misinterpret, which not only triggers flame wars but lots of litigation," says Nancy Flynn, executive director of the e-Policy Institute and author of guidebooks E-Mail Rules and Instant Messaging Rules. Many companies battle workplace lawsuits triggered by employee e-mail, according to Flynn.

People write absolutely, incredibly stupid things in company e-mails," said Flynn.

by shralpster on Sep 19, 2007 2:25 PM PDT reply actions

I love

things like this Trojan. Thanks for relaying it.

Years ago, before email software packages were available, an individual in our very large company wrote one himself that was used company wide. What a new revelation! But messages and meanings of those message got quite misconstrued because you couldn't see facial expressions or hear voice tones; at that point in time, many people weren't aware of this specific defect regarding telecommunications. But your post shows that time has enlightened us. Still, we need to keep this deficiency in mind in our daily email communications.

Don't get me wrong ... email is a wonderful technology, but you just can't beat facemail with phone communication coming in a close second.

by TwoDeep on Sep 19, 2007 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I sometimes get e-mails from

prospective customers and I think they're blowing me off. But I follow up and they're ready to go. So I think that's true. I try to be as concise as possible and use smileys if I feel something could come across the wrong way.

by jamon51 on Sep 20, 2007 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions

i was beginning tyo worry about you sir

nice to see my guy dave is human and has a sense of humor.. im looking forward to rudy and every body else .. but at the same time it means some body has to go..thats the intriguing thing about it all

if it can be conceived it can be achieved

by lyfefindsaway on Sep 19, 2007 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

Key to sarcasm/sense of humor

Let's try not to take ourselves too seriously. I used to get worked up over fatty's posts until I realized I was taking my own opinions way too seriously. I know a little about basketball but not everything. I can learn from fatty, myemic, Dave, and even you guys that love Sergio.

I hope to one day post something so legendary, Dave will make fun of me in a post.

By the way Dave, that was a well written post. You drew me in with the topic and the first quote and then slayed me with the rest. Thanks for the laugh at the joke and myself for not getting it sooner.

by tssbro on Sep 19, 2007 7:35 PM PDT reply actions

Rudy with Brandon Roy?

I will be interested in seeing if Rudy plays much with Brandon. Call Rudy the PG there or say the role is shared. His weight is a concern for me at SG in a league with a lot of strong "power" shooting guards.

Not they are the same player just because they are both from europe but Roy with Sergio was essentially Roy's best on individual stats but basically the worst team result on any player pair with Roy. http://www.82games.com/0607/0607PORP.HTM

Will Rudy with Roy work at team level? If it does that will be significant long-run development. If it doesnt Rudy can still try to make the SG backup role work or be PG with a different partner.

I also wonder how much SF Roy ends up playing this season.

by outsider on Sep 21, 2007 7:48 PM PDT reply actions