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cmonkee
Star Player
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 5301
Location: Redondo Beach
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 Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:26 am Post subject: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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OC Register Blog
| Quote: | OK, it wasn't Shaq calling himself the GM of the team and longing for the days of Jerry West, but Kwame Brown had one suggestion in light of Mitch Kupchak's prodding that Brown show up more often at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo to work on his game over the summer.
"That’s the one thing I wish that we could change,” Brown said. “If he wants us to be here, try to get some games going, because there aren’t a lot of games going here. We can work out and do all the shots and skill work, but then you’re still behind the eight ball because there’s no playing.”
It has been a quiet, controversy-free camp so far. Are these the Lakers? Where's the drama?
Lamar Odom was talking baseball, as he likes to do, after practice and lamenting how little chemistry his Yankees have (and this was before they were eliminated later that night). I asked him if chemistry matters nearly as much in baseball as in basketball, so much more of an in-game team sport. Odom was sure harmony matters big-time there, too. So far, so good, on that front for the Lakers this season, even without a head coach.
Phil Jackson's fill-in, Kurt Rambis, evoked a lot of laughs at the end of the Saturday morning practice by jokingly complaining about Lakers rehab specialist Chip Schaefer lingering diligently with Chris Mihm on the StairMaster instead of joining the big post-practice huddle. "We don't care about him -- he's injured!" Rambis yelled. |
Daily News - Ross Siler's Lakers Blog
| Quote: | Saturday report
The Lakers held their first two-a-day practices on Saturday. We had media access at the end of the morning session. The team was going to scrimmage when it reconvened in the evening. Assistant coach Kurt Rambis was encouraged about how the team looked going through a defensive drill built around standard NBA offensive sets.
``We got through that a lot faster than I thought we would,'' Rambis said.
The most exciting thing we saw was a set of drills in which the guards, forwards and centers worked in groups. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the centers doing a drill in which they would take up the ball on the left side with their left hands while holding a weighted ball in their right hands.
Then they would switch the weighted ball from their right to their left hands, catch the regular ball with their right hands and take it up on the right side. Repeat a couple of dozen times. It's a test of coordination. With all the questions about his hands, Kwame Brown seemed to do it pretty well.
I posted a couple of weeks ago in response to a question about how many minutes Jordan Farmar will get as a rookie. It's all up to how well Farmar plays and, especially, how he shoots. The over-under should be 11.6 minutes, which is the average for a rookie on a Phil Jackson-coached team.
By Ross Siler
Staff Writer
EL SEGUNDO--After all his teammates had left for the afternoon, Lakers rookie guard Jordan Farmar stayed on the practice court Saturday taking one jumper after another.
Those extra 15 minutes of work were a sure sign of Farmar’s determination. Even though he had to be back for a scrimmage in only five hours, Farmar would not leave the gym without feeling good about his shot.
Only six months after leading UCLA to the NCAA championship game, Farmar is starting over as a 19-year-old in the NBA. He played beyond his years on the Lakers’ summer-league team but knows nothing is guaranteed as a rookie.
With three other ball-handling guards on the roster - - Smush Parker, Sasha Vujacic and Shammond Williams - - Farmar might get his minutes in the NBA Development League this season. He could find himself on the inactive list more nights than not.
He might also be able to challenge for a role, especially if he can knock down his jumper with consistency. Farmar summed up his expectations for the season as ``just to be productive, whatever they need me for.’’
``If they’re not going to play me, to be a good teammate,’’ he added. ``If I’m going to play, I want to contribute as much as I can. I definitely want to play, I want to be out here and compete and make the guys ahead of me better so that we can improve as a team.
``If I’m pushing them and they’re pushing me, we’re going to improve along the way. That’s my goal is just to take it step by step and do what I’m asked to do. That’s part of being a professional. You have a job to do.’’
Farmar said he struggled a little with his shot in the first week of training camp. He had to remind himself to slow down a couple of times and make good decisions.
The Lakers also have worked with Farmar to change how he shoots. Farmar has a tendency to lean back slightly, which leaves his jumper coming up short. Now he is making a point of going up straight or leaning forward when he shoots.
Since the change, Farmar said he has had more strength on his shot and greater accuracy.
``I still go back to my old way a lot,’’ Farmar said. ``It’s just natural habit. I have to keep getting the repetitions and doing it over and over again.’’
Sure-handed: After a season of watching center Kwame Brown sometimes fumble away passes out of bounds, assistant coach Kurt Rambis’ comment Saturday came almost as a revelation.
``To be honest with you, I don’t think that I’ve noticed him dropping the ball in this training camp,’’ Rambis said. ``Which is good, considering that most of this is a hack-fest out there.’’
Brown said he is not as ``wide-eyed’’ as he was first coming to the Lakers. His biggest challenge comes not only in catching the ball, but in slowing down once he has it.
``You can think about the spot that you’re supposed to be at all day long,’’ Brown said, ``and then you can’t do nothing without the rock.’’
Injury report: Veteran guard Aaron McKie practiced after sitting out Friday with a sore back.
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George W Buss
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Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 2816
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:15 am Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| cmonkee wrote: | OC Register Blog
| Quote: | OK, it wasn't Shaq calling himself the GM of the team and longing for the days of Jerry West, but Kwame Brown had one suggestion in light of Mitch Kupchak's prodding that Brown show up more often at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo to work on his game over the summer.
"That’s the one thing I wish that we could change,” Brown said. “If he wants us to be here, try to get some games going, because there aren’t a lot of games going here. We can work out and do all the shots and skill work, but then you’re still behind the eight ball because there’s no playing.”
It has been a quiet, controversy-free camp so far. Are these the Lakers? Where's the drama?
Lamar Odom was talking baseball, as he likes to do, after practice and lamenting how little chemistry his Yankees have (and this was before they were eliminated later that night). I asked him if chemistry matters nearly as much in baseball as in basketball, so much more of an in-game team sport. Odom was sure harmony matters big-time there, too. So far, so good, on that front for the Lakers this season, even without a head coach.
Phil Jackson's fill-in, Kurt Rambis, evoked a lot of laughs at the end of the Saturday morning practice by jokingly complaining about Lakers rehab specialist Chip Schaefer lingering diligently with Chris Mihm on the StairMaster instead of joining the big post-practice huddle. "We don't care about him -- he's injured!" Rambis yelled. |
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I try not to interpret that part negatively but I can't ... |
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Texas_Pete
Franchise Player
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 12825
Location: Somewhere watching a Laker game
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| ^^He basically is saying he wants to play against some competition in addition to working on his game. What's wrong with that? |
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George W Buss
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Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 2816
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| Texas_Pete wrote: | | ^^He basically is saying he wants to play against some competition in addition to working on his game. What's wrong with that? |
I guess that's a way to interpret it healthily ...
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la45
Starting Rotation
Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 783
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:29 am Post subject: |
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How else would you have interpret it, that's because there's no game there's no reason for him to work?
When I read that, I thought my, how this kid has grown. That's exactly what I thought we should have tried earlier in the summer, so not only is he working, he understands what they could try to improve their game.
Of course, all this is easier said and done. I don't think we even had enough healthy bodies to makeup a two teams squad, at least a quality one. Until then, I guess what they could do is hire a dummy, who does nothing but to root him out. |
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RMurphy_22
Star Player
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 4193
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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[quote="George W Buss"][quote="cmonkee"]OC Register Blog
| Quote: | OK, it wasn't Shaq calling himself the GM of the team and longing for the days of Jerry West, but Kwame Brown had one suggestion in light of Mitch Kupchak's prodding that Brown show up more often at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo to work on his game over the summer.
"That’s the one thing I wish that we could change,” Brown said. “If he wants us to be here, try to get some games going, because there aren’t a lot of games going here. We can work out and do all the shots and skill work, but then you’re still behind the eight ball because there’s no playing.”
I try not to interpret that part negatively but I can't ... |
GW, you are exactly right. I like the growth of Kwame Brown but this was out of line. The Lakers are currently over paying him until he proves otherwise. He should be busting his butt over the summer to become the talent he is supposed to be, instead of saying he didn't show up because there was a lack of games. He needs to has basketballs thrown at him 500 hundred times and only go home after he catches all 500 in a row. He should be playing 1 on 1 with any big that is at the facility, or talking to Kareem. I promise you if he starts slow this season, the Lakers will be very disappointed and will look to move him. I would have no problem moving Kwame plus extras for Carlos Boozer. (if possible)
The keys to Lakers success are LO, Kwame, and team health. If all 3 of those keys are come through this team will be very good.
Go Lakers |
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ALbino
Star Player
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: |
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He should just go down to Pauly and play with like Pierce, Davis, etc.
AL. |
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la45
Starting Rotation
Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 783
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| Quote: |
"That’s the one thing I wish that we could change,” Brown said. “If he wants us to be here, try to get some games going, because there aren’t a lot of games going here. We can work out and do all the shots and skill work, but then you’re still behind the eight ball because there’s no playing.”
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First of all, I don't know how you can assume that he didn't show up. When I first read it, Texas_Pete's interpretation was how I viewed it(a guy that doesn't care wouldn't have thought of such an "enlightening" suggestion.)
Here's the whole context from the Daily News:
A day after last season ended, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak challenged Brown by saying, "My understanding is that he has not put as much time into his game during the off-season as he should."
So Brown became a fairly frequent visitor to the team training facility, although he wished he could have done more.
"I understand that he wanted to see us in here, but there were no guys in there playing," Brown said. "That's the one thing I wish that we could change. If you want us to be here, try and get some games going because there's not a lot of games going here. You can work out, you can do all the shots and skill work, and you're still behind the eight-ball because there's no playing." |
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Rick12322
Franchise Player
Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 19164
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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I think some of you are making a mountain out of a mole. All t hat matters is that he DID show up and work on his game.
Two more days until the first Pre-Season game of the 06-07 season! |
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RG73
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2001
Posts: 11508
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| la45 wrote: | | Quote: |
"That’s the one thing I wish that we could change,” Brown said. “If he wants us to be here, try to get some games going, because there aren’t a lot of games going here. We can work out and do all the shots and skill work, but then you’re still behind the eight ball because there’s no playing.”
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First of all, I don't know how you can assume that he didn't show up. When I first read it, Texas_Pete's interpretation was how I viewed it(a guy that doesn't care wouldn't have thought of such an "enlightening" suggestion.)
Here's the whole context from the Daily News:
A day afterlast season ended, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak challenged Brown by saying, "My understanding is that he has not put as much time into his game during the off-season as he should."
So Brown became a fairly frequent visitor to the team training facility, although he wished he could have done more.
"I understand that he wanted to see us in here, but there were no guys in there playing," Brown said. "That's the one thing I wish that we could change. If you want us to be here, try and get some games going because there's not a lot of games going here. You can work out, you can do all the shots and skill work, and you're still behind the eight-ball because there's no playing." |
Thanks for the context there--again, people jumping the gun. Kwame was working out during the summer. It seems that the problem is that a lot of other guys were not, or at least not enough players frequently enough to scrimmage.
So far as I'm aware the coaching staff hasn't had anything bad to say about Kwame thus far in camp, which would suggest he finally has developed something of a work ethic and focus. |
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Exick
Site Staff
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 15880
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:44 am Post subject: |
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For those that are worried about Kwame being negative, look at it this way: You can't know that nobody's playing games at the training facility if you aren't there.
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Game recognize game, Granddad. - Riley Freeman, The Boondocks |
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BeeBackLakerFan
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Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Posts: 401
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Wow I can't believe people are bashing Kwame for that quote.  |
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Aussiesuede
Franchise Player
Joined: 27 Jul 2005
Posts: 10964
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Wow,
It certainly seems pretty clear that Kwame was not only working out at the facility all summer but he added that it would have been better if there were organised games in ADDITION to his workout regimen. I certainly hope that some are just misunderstanding what he said because it's hard to fathom people getting down on Kwame for actually wanting to practice MORE than he already has been....
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I'm On point, On task, On message, and Off drugs. A Streetwise Smart Bomb, Out of rehab and In denial. Over the Top, On the edge, Under the Radar, and In Control. Behind the 8 ball, Ahead of the Curve and I've got a Love Child who sends me Hate mail. |
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PopcornMachine
Franchise Player
Joined: 19 Apr 2001
Posts: 10566
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| Rick12322 wrote: | | I think some of you are making a mountain out of a mole. |
You are descirbing half the posts here. |
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LawyerShawn
Star Player
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:57 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Phil Jackson's fill-in, Kurt Rambis, evoked a lot of laughs at the end of the Saturday morning practice by jokingly complaining about Lakers rehab specialist Chip Schaefer lingering diligently with Chris Mihm on the StairMaster instead of joining the big post-practice huddle. "We don't care about him -- he's injured!" Rambis yelled. |
True story.
Back in the old forum days, we went to go buy tickets for some games. It was POURING that day. Rain everywhere. We ran back to our car and the damn thing wouldn't start!
So my dad got out, (Not a Laker fan at all barely knew who Shaq was) and goes to ask some guy he sees walking in the rain. there was nobody else in the entire lot.
So he comes back walking with this guy who brings his car around to give us a jump with some cables. Lo and behold its KURT RAMBIS. He's walking IN THE RAIN over to our car to help us, getting his hands dirty on the motor and stuff.
My dad had no idea who he was. He was talking to him like a normal guy.
True story.
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Station where the act becomes the art of growing up. |
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In the paint
Star Player
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 1371
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Ataris_PunK wrote: | | Quote: | | Phil Jackson's fill-in, Kurt Rambis, evoked a lot of laughs at the end of the Saturday morning practice by jokingly complaining about Lakers rehab specialist Chip Schaefer lingering diligently with Chris Mihm on the StairMaster instead of joining the big post-practice huddle. "We don't care about him -- he's injured!" Rambis yelled. |
True story.
Back in the old forum days, we went to go buy tickets for some games. It was POURING that day. Rain everywhere. We ran back to our car and the damn thing wouldn't start!
So my dad got out, (Not a Laker fan at all barely knew who Shaq was) and goes to ask some guy he sees walking in the rain. there was nobody else in the entire lot.
So he comes back walking with this guy who brings his car around to give us a jump with some cables. Lo and behold its KURT RAMBIS. He's walking IN THE RAIN over to our car to help us, getting his hands dirty on the motor and stuff.
My dad had no idea who he was. He was talking to him like a normal guy.
True story. |
I think you are mistaken, that was not Kurt Rambis, it was Superman. |
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TLT
Star Player
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 1025
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| PopcornMachine wrote: | | Rick12322 wrote: | | I think some of you are making a mountain out of a mole. |
You are descirbing half the posts here. |
ONLY half?? (Anyway, I thought the saying was " mountain out of a molehill.") |
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PopcornMachine
Franchise Player
Joined: 19 Apr 2001
Posts: 10566
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| TLT wrote: | | PopcornMachine wrote: | | Rick12322 wrote: | | I think some of you are making a mountain out of a mole. |
You are descirbing half the posts here. |
ONLY half?? (Anyway, I thought the saying was " mountain out of a molehill.") |
Yeah, that's what he meant.
And it is way more than half.
I was just being nice for a change.  |
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TLT
Star Player
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 1025
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: Training Camp: Sat, 10/7/06 Blog Roundup |
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| PopcornMachine wrote: | | TLT wrote: | | PopcornMachine wrote: | | Rick12322 wrote: | | I think some of you are making a mountain out of a mole. |
You are descirbing half the posts here. |
ONLY half?? (Anyway, I thought the saying was " mountain out of a molehill.") |
Yeah, that's what he meant.
And it is way more than half.
I was just being nice for a change. |
No need to change now. Nice guys finish last. Just kidding. I joined LG because of your comments. They seemed to make more sense than most. Lakerjam and wolfpaclaker also being very good ..
Last edited by TLT on Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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wolfpaclaker
Retired Number
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 58348
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I also like lakerjam and wolfpacklaker |
Jam is cool. Half of LG would marry her because she'd be one of the few women that gets "it" when refering to the obsession we all have for the Lakers.
That wolfpacker is a tool, though. F'ing homer. |
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