Thursday, July 07, 2016

Green and Gold (et Les Bleus)

It's stupid hot here in the Nation's Capital this week, which has us thinking thoughts of winter. Fortunately, we're only three months or so away from the start of college hoops season, so what better (in a completely unforced and artificial way) reason for a post about Tribe basketball.

This shot didn't fall, but Marcus did get the foul call
More accurately, about the current status of several of the pillars of the golden era of Tribe basketball.

Because of the tireless work of your humble editors here at G:TB, you're no doubt aware that Marcus Thornton enters his second season as a professional player with some work to do. W&M's all-time leading scorer struggled with consistency and his shot in his first season as a pro in both Australia and the D-League. He's playing once again with the Celtics' summer league team, starting and scoring 10 points in 21 minutes against Utah on Tuesday.

Thornton looked reasonably comfortable on offense, but got a shot blocked by Marcus Paige on an attempted step-back jumper, and missed his only three-point attempt. He worked harder on defense than I'd seen him do in the past, closing out on ballhandlers and fighting through screens. He's still got work to do there, though, and in distributing the ball from the point. I'm no expert, but my guess is that he's got a long and fruitful career as a foreign pro ahead of him, though the NBA may be a bridge too far.

Sean Sheldon's hoping for that same kind of career. The recent W&M graduate signed a pro contract with Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu of Romania's top league. The fighting Jius (not sure how that's pronounced, but maybe we don't tell the Trump campaign, just to be safe) finished 11th in the 12-team league last year, so Sheldon's size and strength can't hurt. Sheldon joins former St. John's forward Paris Horne on coach Ioannis Diamantakos' squad.

Do-everything small forward Terry Tarpey's likely to follow Thornton and Sheldon into the foreign professional ranks, but he's taking a summer detour first. Tarpey, born in Pouissy, France while his father played there in the 80s, is eligible to represent Les Blues in international competition. He tried out and made the French Team A (which, ironically, is actually the nation's B team) and flew to Beijing with the squad to participate in the annual Stankovic Cup. France won its first two games, defeating a partial Argentina squad, 64-57, and topping China's full Olympic side, 63-48. Since box scores are next to impossible to find and I've only got a few minutes here, I can't tell you how Tarpey did. But he looks happy in this picture (he's number 13, far right).


Tarpey's French citizenship will be a boon in his professional career, as he will qualify as a European for the purposes of roster composition. He'll have to learn French, he says, but that's a small price to pay.

More to come, as we learn to navigate foreign websites and read Romanian.

23 comments:

zman said...

Comey is smooth.

TR said...

Tarpey is a Pouissy

TR said...

Here's a question related to Squeaks' enjoyable late night rambling last night. How do you all think about video etiquette at live shows? When Zman and I saw WWPJ, we were in the mix near the front of the crowd. As soon as they started playing, a guy immediately next to us out his phone-holding arm straight up and started recording. He recorded the entire first song. It was an annoyance for sure, but given he had an "I've been in plenty of fights" kinda look to him, I bit my tongue.

Later in the show, after we retreated back a bit for space (and another cocktail, of course), I took a couple ~30 second video clips. But was careful to make sure I wasn't obstructing anyone. And I showed them to some friends in a "look what you missed, dumbass" kinda way. So I'm qualmless, morally speaking, about my actions. But I did find the guy in the mix to be a bother.

What's the line for you all?

rob said...

as a smaller human, i'm opposed to anything that impedes the already crowded airspace between me and the stage. on a related note, i'm generally amused by the reaction of people around us when i go to concerts with clarence and he steps into the crowd. 'tall people suck' seems to be the general consensus.

Clarence said...

That look is best described as "pained." Hey, if I come late and step in front of you, my douche. If I'm there early and camp out, consider me a pillar. You whine, your douche.

TR said...

A buddy and I got crushed by a giant bearded man at a show many years ago. We called it "getting Bunyaned". When it's happened, we'll just look at each other, shake our heads and mutter "Bunyaned".

So screw you Clarence, I guess.

zman said...

There was a giant weird dude at the WWPJ show rocking mutton chops, a goatee, receding and thinning hair, a black tshirt stating "NY SUBWAY EATS OUR YOUNG," black shorts, and black-and-white Reebok Kamikaze 2's. He was at least 6'6" and 275 lbs. He liked to bop around and dance while filming on his phone. He couldn't decide if he was goth or street or skate or nerd. He was just crazy. Neither of us told him to cool it with the dancing or filming.

TR said...

He was a smush of Brian Posehn and Jemaine Clement. And giant.

zman said...

This is the shirt. I got it slightly wrong.

http://insidehboshop.hbo.com/2010/03/16/new-york-city-eats-its-young-tee-as-seen-on-how-to-make-in-america-sm/

TR said...

That Euros first half was pretty bonkers. No way the French D will hold. I watched Evra w/ Man U since '09. He does not have enough in the tank these days. Germany wins 2-1 in regulation.

This "not having to work" thing is sweet, albeit unsustainable.

zman said...

Just in case you're looking for a used Dodge Viper ...

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/most-honest-viper-craigslist-ad-ever-1782809075

rob said...

#trhottakesexposed

griezmann is bite me, randy newman material, methinks.

TR said...

I NAILED that call.

T.J. said...

IMPORTANT:
http://www.basketballcaricaturetshirts.com/

rob said...

somebody post something stupid and silly. i'm pretty fucking deflated by the state of the world right now.

zman said...

This is just like Unit M in the mid 90s.

http://pagesix.com/2016/07/06/wall-street-hot-shot-trashes-20m-hamptons-home/

zman said...

Five days after my Djokovic post, Andy Murray advances to his first major final that doesn't feature the Djoker or Fed on the other side of the net. Coincidence? I think not.

Murray will spank Raonic in straight sets. Someone should write a post about this.

Danimal said...

had full intention of posting something for our diminutive leader but had to work today, like be productive work. sorry rob. was going to be a full movie review of vacation (the remake) and why it was maybe the best fucking remake of our time.

Mark said...

20 year HS reunion this weekend. I live two towns away from my HS and moved back 11 years ago. Also, I'm only really still friends with a couple guys from HS so, honestly, what's the point?

Unfortunately, my wife graduated in the same class and is tight with a bunch of her friends from HS. So I'll be attending tonight's informal get together a local bar and skipping the actual reunion while my wife and her friends do it up tomorrow night.

I'll gladly take my kid, bourbon and UFC.

Mark said...

So nobody cares about my high school reunion and anti social attitudes?

zman said...

Nope. Michter's rye though!

Shlara said...

Serena
22nd grand slam win
And no signs of slowing down
GOAT

Mark said...

Perfect day to wear my Compton Tennis Club shirt.