jamie cooper's Detroit Pistons fan blog

On August 7, 2007, former NBA player Eddie Griffin was killed in a fiery crash after slamming his SUV into a moving train. An autopsy indicated that his blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit. There were no other substances found in his blood.

Almost a year later, Griffin’s tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the NBA’s failed substance abuse policy.

According to the players association’s anti-drug policy, prohibited substances include “amphetamine and its analogs, cocaine, LSD, opiates (heroin, codeine and morphine), PCP, marijuana, and steroids.” Nowhere in the policy is there any mention of alcohol abuse.

Continue reading "The NBA's Real Substance Abuse Problem"

There's no question Darius Miles has acted like a fool both on and off the court at various times throughout his abridged career, whether it was that ridiculous, tricked out car of his, his consistent insubordination, or his inability to quit smoking weed for more than 2 seconds at a time. For this, he has no one to blame but himself.

My point of contention lies within the inclination to blame Miles for all the Blazers woes. Critics are quick to point out how his huge salary has hamstrung the team's trade manuevering or to blame his lack of productivity for the Blazer's dreadful regular season records of the past years. But doesn't at least some of the responsibility belong to the team's front office?

Continue reading "In Defense of Darius Miles"

Mystery abounds in the Blazers' front office as GM Kevin Pritchard tries to work a little last-minute magic on draft day.

After trading straight cash to the Hornets for another first round pick, we're left scratching our heads now more than ever.

But the one thing Blazers' fans can take comfort in is that no other GM in the league does more finagling than Pritchard. And if the amount of time he spends on his cell phone is any indication, rest assured he's exploring every possible option. Not to mention that fact that his penchant for picking the right players has earned him the nickname "golden gut"  by owner Paul Allen.

Continue reading "Blazers' Pritchard Officially on the Clock"

Over the past 6 years, Tayshaun Prince has quietly averaged 14 pts and 5 boards a game, while shooting a solid 45% from the field. But it's the little things Prince does on the court that don't show up on the stat sheet that got him selected to the Team USA roster bound for Beijing, a team desparate to regain Olympic glory after an unthinkable second place finish in Athens in 2004, led by none other than Prince's former coach Larry Brown.

With Coach K at the helm, there was never any question that Prince would make the team. Prince is the type of blue collar player Coach K loves. He's defensive-minded and can go head-to-head with the best player on the court at any given time. He thrives on guarding big time players like Kobe and LeBron. And how many times have we seen him do the "little things" like seal playoff series clinchers with huge defensive plays in the final seconds? (Just ask Reggie Miller and Jason Kidd)

Continue reading "Prince Beijing Bound"