Baron Davis’ crazy summer: $60 million from L.A. Clippers, ’Step Brother’ with Steve Nash, and Jenny Craig diet
September 26 08
Most prefer Will Smith’s idea of ‘Summertime’ –lazy barbeques, chilling at the barbershop, and jumping in the water-plug for old time’s sake.
Not Baron Davis. He got busy, manoeuvring a new contract from the Los Angeles Clippers, filming a Step Brothers parody, and, as HoopsVibe News Crew reported, becoming the unofficial spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
Yes, interesting times for the point guard.
First, he left seventeen million dollars on the table by opting-out of his ‘max’ contract with Golden State. As a prime free agent, Davis quickly agreed to a five-year, sixty million dollar pact with his hometown Clippers.
‘We Believe’ was out. A revamped L.A. side was in.
Not so fast. Controversy soon struck. Elton Brand, the Clippers’ franchise player and Davis’ supposed co-star, ditched L.A. for Philadelphia. However, the club partially covered Brand’s defection by acquiring post Marcus Camby.
Second, Davis’ off-court appeal shone through in a video. No, we’re not referring to another shameless TMZ thing starring Jessica Alba (although, you wouldn’t mind if we were). In mid July, Boom-Nasty productions became youtube legends for this Step Brothers spoof.
(Nice work on the breaking guys.)
Finally, a few days ago, Davis told People Magazine he was using Jenny Craig to shed weight for the upcoming season. With access to world-famous trainers and chefs, it’s priceless that an all-world athlete would admit using the hefty housewife diet plan.
"Inspired by current spokeswoman Latifah, Davis, 29, started the plan at the beginning of August to get in shape for basketball season.
"I know Queen Latifah, and when I saw her out there using it, I thought maybe I could use it, too, to work on my health and fitness goals and inspire others," he tells PEOPLE." (Davis to People Magazine)
The Clippers are the Western Conference’s wildcard. They could make or miss the playoffs. However, with Davis, they’ll entertain. No doubt about it.
What do you think of Davis’ summer? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA Tidbits. Photo courtesy of themikelee.
19 Comments: Baron Davis’ crazy summer: $60 million from L.A. Clippers, (...)
Posted by J.Nguyen on 10.3.2008
C.Y. Ellis, you’re the man! .
Posted by Chips Ahoy on 09.27.2008
Can’t we all just get along? I was cracking up at what Chip said about his Aunt. That is classic. .
Posted by Chip on 09.27.2008
Ha ha the way cy was defending himself sounds like my aunt. Many think she is bias when it comes to hiring miniorites. But she was like I’m offended, I am not a racist. I hired a black driver, and I have a mexican housekeeper, and an asian acountant, whart more do you want. LOL! she has a company of 55 empolyees and 52 are white, hmm... That was a joke, poking fun at my aunt. CY you don’t have to defend your stance, it’s not necessary dawg. Just let it go. The majority of the commenters are just ranters who aren’t releveant including me. .
Posted by Step yo game up on 09.27.2008
Black Pride and YISI make some points. There are far better articles that could have been wriiten, than B.Davis on Jenny Craig. This is something I expect on a WNBA site. Step yo game up HoopsVibe .
Posted by Step Yo Game Up on 09.27.2008
Black Pride and YISI make some points. There are far better articles that could have been written than B.Davis on Jenny Craig. This is something I expect on a WNBA site. Step yo game up HoopsVibe .
Posted by Step Yo Game Up on 09.27.2008
Black Pride and YISI make some points. There are far better articles that could have been written than B.Davis on Jenny Craig. This is something I expect on a WNBA site. Step yo game up HoopsVibe .
Posted by black pride on 09.27.2008
This is my last comment. I have said what I said. To me it’s done and over with. If you want to write about him, fine. I don’t care what the motives are at this point. Even if he had retired 2 or 3 days ago, it’s not ancient history it’s the same damn week. So when you have a great player and guy retire from the game, that had a longer better career than J-Will it’s not really revelant. Hell there are articles on video games, shoes, and players that are disrespectful and immature. But hey I guess that’s the things people are into these days, we know the media is. I wasn’t even the first person to notice it. I was on another message forum and someone brought up how Hoopsvibe looks a little bias by instantly posting a tribute article to Williams and not Abdur-Rahim. That’s when I decided to check it out. I use to come on here alot, but I was shocked to see not even Sandor didn’t write something about him. But whatever I’m done. This tossing comments back and forth is exhusting. I will pray for this site. Peace and love my brothas! .
Posted by DL 2008 on 09.27.2008
why does black pride have to bring the race of jason williams into it ? .
Posted by C.Y. Ellis on 09.27.2008
Once again, the reason we didn’t cover his retirement was because the site was down for over two days following the announcement.
Say what you want about paying attention to the wrong sort of behaviour, but don’t bring race or religion into it. It shouldn’t be worth mentioning, but the day Shareef retired I was in Morocco observing the Ramadan fast out of solidarity for the Muslim friend with whom I was travelling. One of my grandfathers is descended from Turkish Muslims, and the other, C. Ellis I, was part black. I studied Islam under a Muslim tutor in a Muslim faculty for two years. If race or religion were a factor at all, I’d be more likely to cover the retirement of a black Muslim.
I shouldn’t have to play the "I’m not biased" card, but it seems necessary in this situation to disavow you of your idea that we somehow discriminate against particular groups. Frankly, I’m offended that you’d bring it up when we’re discussing basketball, one of the few fields in which someone’s background never has to be mentioned.
.
Posted by black pride on 09.27.2008
Maybe I ahouldn’t have called C.Ellis out that way. But sometimes you have to wonder, Shareef retries a few days ago and was a better player and person than Williams and no mention of it. But the day J-Will retires it’s an instant article. Maybe that was his favorite I don’t know,and you are free to write about who ever. But to me it comes off a little bias. There are few muslim players, and cla-------acts, and it had me tripped out that articles were being written by a superstar who gets talked about frequently, and a white basketball player where he wasn’t nearly the guy Reef was. I understand you can’t write about everything, but come on it’s obviously a popularity contest on who you write about which does make it some what bias. They probably have better highlights, and in the spotlight more. Then you throw a guy like Reef in the storage closet forget he was there. I don’t feel like getting into the whole Vancouver thing. This is just about Shareef for me. Thanks for responding back, you’re a solid writer .
Posted by mclutch on 09.27.2008
how come no one commented on the nash n boom dizzle clip yet? that clip was great! i didnt even know the two were friends. how did you even find this video? .
Posted by O.Sandor on 09.27.2008
I agree Joe! .
Posted by Joe M. on 09.27.2008
"It’s priceless that an all-world athlete would admit using the hefty housewife diet plan."And that’s the point, right? To show that Jenny Craig isn’t just for the hefty housewives but that a male All-World athlete would use it for the betterment of his health and career (he lost 19 pounds according to news reports). It seems like it takes a strong personality to not only lose weight, but to do with Jenny Craig, which carries a stigma, one that Davis overcomes. There’s plenty of jokes that could be made, and I’m glad to see that you don’t. But the truth is that he’s staying in shape. That isn’t always a given with millionaire athletes, just ask guys like Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry or Jerome James. They could certainly stand to shed some weight (through Jenny Craig or otherwise). Regardless of the means: if it keeps Baron fit, then more power to him. .
Posted by O.Sandor on 09.26.2008
Hi Black Pride … thanks for the write-back. Please forgive my spelling on my last piece. I was out the door to watch a nephew and had to be there quickly, but wanted to take more time respond. Also, I was watching the presidential debate reaction. You are absolutely right. All people, athletes included, can’t be everywhere. And ‘Reef’ was one of the good ones. No doubt about it. No major complaints. He was and still is a cla-------act. That doesn’t change because he no longer plays! But I have to take issue with saying this community didn’t support the team. Vancouver and Canada was in a recession for most of the 1990s-2001 or so. Our dollar was at .60 cents US. However, Vancouver’s attendance the first few years was very good and still solid even towards the end, even though the team always lost 60 games and the athletes disrespected this city. We had three owners, Orca Bay, Bill Laurie, and Hiesley. Laurie wanted to move the team from day one. He sold the team to Heisley, who pledged long-term support, even singing the national anthem before a game as a show of good faith and then two months later publicly announced he was moving the team. Many friends, who were long-term season ticket holders, never got called by Heisley to renew tickets. People who worked in sales and marketing under Heisley were told not to try to sell tickets. By keeping the ticket gate down, they could further their case to move the team. The fix, much like Clay B, in Seattle was IN. And everyone knew it. Still, capital, business, and owners do what is best for business. That is their prerogative. After several years, right or wrong, you accept it. But they could have still kept their promise and covered a junior basketball league. It was very little money for the NBA, around a few hundred thousand. Still, you are right. Rahim was and still seems a good man. I wish him the best … However, I must take issue with one of your past comments. Respectfully, of course. In fact, I was a bit taken aback by your comment on CYE’s J-Williams’ post … “what a surprise, talk about he white man when he retires. but the same week, when one of the best and underrated players this decade retires no talk of the black muslim brotha. shareef abdur-rahim deserves some recongition, come on hoopsvibe quit being bias …” Black Pride …All our writers are open-minded, and astute. There are no biases except a love of bball. Perhaps, certain players etc .. We cover and love hoops, because it bridges those things you mentioned. If we have overlooked someone like Rahim, it’s because we can’t be everywhere … like Reef can’t be involved with every cause, we can’t possibly cover every story … Nothing else dictates our coverage … Not race, religion etc … I just wanted to clarify that because you seem like a good guy and I hope you will continue to comment on all of our work. And it is important you understand where we are coming from. At the same time, I think I have an awareness of how things sometimes seem. And people aren’t always decent in this world. But that is not the case here ... we just love hoops. Cool? Stay tuned for the link on your boy (and mine, oh yeah, you re-convinced me, LOL) Rahim. Thanks for writing back. Thanks for a good discussion. Best wishes … .
Posted by black pride on 09.26.2008
Asalaam Alaykum Oly. Have no problem putting up with your rant if you can tolerate mine. I must say though it is unfair for people to place focus on a player to support every event. I understand the importance of supporting a undervalued community. But Shareef is one that supports many causes and doesn’t do it for hype. People label him as a "loser because his teams always sucked and he got a bad wrap as being a quiet leader. But he is a cla-------act and his actions speak louder than words. His foundation is based on school education and being involved in the commuity. The Future-foundation is a great organization led by Shareef, Qaadirah and Delisha. The community didn’t really support the vancouver and they were losing money, so hell they had to go, although memphis isn’t any better. But someone else should pick up the slack in the community once they moved, they’re not the only big corporate in town. What about the Chunks they lover their precious hockey anyway. When it comes to teams and the community its a partnership if you support them they will support you. Seattle Supersonic fans, didn’t come see the team even when they were winning, so when they decide to pick up any leave for good all of a sudden they care. It doesn’t work that way they may rank in millions but it’s a business. But anyway I’m getting off point. This is about showing Reef some love, who deserves more attention than B-Dick head. Look forward to reading your piece, peace! .
Posted by
on 09.26.2008
He wrote on Davis switching teams. That’s a big deal .
Posted by O.Sandor on 09.26.2008
Hi Black Pride, we have had tech issues for the last week. This is the first piece I have really had a chance to write. So yeah, I would love to write about Abdur-Rahim’s reitrement, but frankly the site has been up and down all week. Maybe later I’ll get to Rahim. I do have a link to a great article from Vancouver’s former beat writer. Perhaps, I’ll post a link. Personally, I have mixed emotions on the entire Grizz experience, not so much Abdur-Rahim. For example, the Grizzlies had a junior, kids basketball program that they were committed to funding for several years beyond 2001. Once they left, they ignored this committment and took their money, essentially breaking a goodwill contract with the community, specifically young kids playing hoops. I really repsected Abdur Rahim for his community work until this day, but he never said anything, spoke up publicly, or volunteered to help out financially, which was drop in the bucket for him. Perhaps, it is unfair to expect an athlete to be a social activist, too. As a teacher, though, who works often in underfunded areas (that’s why I’m busy, I really believe in teaching) I saw how the Grizz’s cuts impacted the community and the kids... until Nash picked up the bill and never asked for or received credit publicly. That’s why I really appreciate Nash. I saw first-hand how he kept that program alive. Thanks for writing and reading Black Pride... Thanks for putting up with my Rant ... I’ll get the abdur-Rahim link stay tuned ... And again thanks for putting up with my rant. .
Posted by black pride on 09.26.2008
Oly, of all people I thought you would be the one to show a little respect to Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He was the face of Vancouver basketball. He retired this week, and no love for one of the best and underrated of this decade. This is unbelieveable how some a treated. Ellis is writing about the white boy, you’re writing about the diva superstar. I guess it’s true nice balck guys finish last .
Posted by YEAH I SAID IT! on 09.26.2008
SO WHAT! MAN THE MEDIA CAN TALK ABOUT THE MOST POINTLESS THINGS. WHO GIVES A FU*K WHAT HE DID OVER THE SUMMER. COME ON (H)OLY CRAP I KNOW YOU COULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING THAN THIS, I’LL EVEN GIVE CREDIT THAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF DOING BETTER THAN THIS, LUV YISI! .
No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only.
About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA
Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More
