....but then I started getting all twitchy. Apologies in advance.

October 6, 2006 (Trib): "One day after coach Scott Skiles stopped
practice several times to chastise him for not knowing plays, the Bulls
waived Eric Chenowith. The 7-foot-1-inch center won't get the
opportunity to play against Seattle at Kansas, his alma mater, on Oct.
15."

After nearly averaging a double-double in his encouraging sophomore
season at Kansas, Eric decided the best way to work on his game over
the break was... to follow the Dave Matthews Band around all summer!
This sage advice was possibly given to him by none other than the great
Bill Walton:

November 15, 1999: "During the summer Chenowith traveled to eight
concerts by the Dave Matthews Band. "I'm friends with Bill," Chenowith
explains, "and he always talks about how the Grateful Dead gave him the
rhythm he needed to play basketball."

Shockingly, FOB's averages plummeted well back to single digits the
following season, and KU rotated in such players as Drew Gooden and
Nick Collison (neither of which are 7ft. 1in. centers, by the way), who
were known to spend actual time at actual gyms actually practicing. By
his senior season things seemed to be spiraling out of control, so Eric
decided the best course of action was to endear himself to KU fans:

February 9, 2001: "Chenowith on Wednesday said he heard grumbles in
the Allen Fieldhouse stands concerning his play during Monday's loss to
Iowa State. He said it's fun to "(tick) off" the fans who want him to
score more. He also said: "All those people saying bad things about me
probably grew up in Kansas and their lifelong dream was to play here. I
get to play here and they don't, so I win."

Admitted-winner Eric once had an incredible 24 point/14 rebound game
against midwest powerhouse Tulsa. What caused this unlikely explosion,
you might wonder?

December 17, 2000: "I was mad the Raiders lost," said Chenowith. "I'm
serious," added Chenowith, a life-long Oakland football fan, who ripped
down 14 rebounds with a scowl on his face just hours after the Raiders'
surprising loss to Seattle. "I was raised a Raiders fan. I woke up
from a nap and saw they lost and couldn't wait to get out there
tonight."

Now I'm as enthused about the coming Bulls season as the next guy. But
I can admit having a slight twinge of regret that, in addition to all
the players with talent, character, potential, and general
non-zaniness, we can't find a spot on the roster for an underachieving,
7-1, Bill Walton sort-of disciple with a Raider fetish. Just imagine
what we're missing out on... Oakland probably won't win a game all year!

In article <1160405577.589156.42550@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.c om>,
"Dave" <davejhawk@gmail.com> wrote:



I have to admit, Pax's camp invitees are some of the weirdest
motherfuckers, just damned souls wandering the carnival of pain on the
fringes of professional basketball. I compiled bios of them last year,
and rarely has 30 minutes of googling blessed me with such a cornucopia
of comedy.

Has any bit of camp cruft ever made the team? There was Basden, but I
think he was going to be on the roster unless he flat-out stunk. Robert
Holcomb? They kept him for a few days so he got a little bigger paycheck
(nice move, but hardly a success).

Compare that to some of the midseason signings: Jannero Pargo, Robert
Dupree, Luke Schenscher. No all-stars there but definitely some useful
pieces, even if none of them should be in the rotation. All three of
those guys actually contributed at one point (even if only at one point
and never again). I can't think of any camp invitees that have ever done
that, in one game, ever.

It's the curse of Maceo Baston, is what it is.

Granville Waiters' Ghost wrote:

The dream of Drago Pasalic lives on. It is a fine dream; finer,
perhaps, than any cold reality in which it could possibly take place.

I read this morning that Kasib Powell is rocking the D-League again
this year.


There was the Dread Pirate Reiner. I don't recall him being in the
summer league that year, and I don't even recall hearing much about him
during training camp, but he did make the roster, although it wasn't
until several months later that he made it off the injured list.


True. Again, though, for me, the creepiest point of last season was
when we signed Randy Livingston. Jesus, I still get chills thinking
about it.

In article <1160465537.962967.259980@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.c om>,
"Marc Heiden" <m.heiden@gmail.com> wrote:



I think Pax has a small -- say 1% -- transfusion of GM Jordan in his
blood. "Are any of the guys I played with still able to walk?" You have
to admit that the Livingston signing makes the Funderburke signing look
like genius.

Granville Waiters' Ghost wrote:

Interesting thing is, though, Executive VP Jordan is now following the
Pax model as closely as possible in Charlotte.

1. Spend first draft pick on experienced college "winner" with white
guy "hard worker" rep and white guy "not that athletic" knock,
pointedly eschewing available wonders of raw athleticism.
2. Sign an unknown forward from the Argentina national team.
3. Sign Othella Harrington.

And that's just his first summer. Gerald Wallace probably goes the
Knicks in a sign-and-trade this summer for their 2008 pick, if Isiah's
still employed.