Post by aceman034 on May 20, 2009 20:03:41 GMT -6
Live from ESPN we have Stuart Scott catching a glimpse into the Charlotte Hornets organization with General Manager and Team Owner, Ace Cooan.
Stuart Scott: Welcome to ESPN’s Hot Seat Mr. Cooan, it’s a pleasure to have you here, I am curious to see what in the hell you were thinking with some of your recent trades.
Ace Cooan: It’s nice to see you too Stuart, I am curious to see what you were thinking with that choice of shirt and tie today :: points out Stu’s pink tie and purple shirt ::
SS: Let’s get started, shall we?
AC: Sure
SS: Tell me, you recently sent Ralph Sampson packing his bags en route to Memphis, what was the logic behind this trade?
AC: Well Stu, the popular opinion around the league is that Mr. Sampson was a franchise center and the type of guy you build a franchise around. I cannot agree more with these thoughts. However, in contract negotiations with Mr. Sampson he made it quite clear that no matter what team he played for he was going to test the free agent market this off-season, so instead of taking a chance of losing him for nothing we thought it would be in our best interest to get a franchise point guard onto the roster who was locked up long term.
SS: So he made this clear to you in negotiations Ace, but is the Memphis GM aware of this? I am assuming he thought Mr. Sampson would be coming back long-term, especially since the Grizzlies are playing for nothing this season.
AC: I couldn’t care less Stu, to that I say, tough shit. Here in Charlotte we were never known for playing nice. We’re not in the business to make sure everyone and their mothers is happy, similar to the Heat and Bulls we are in the business to bend people over and win some ball games along the way.
SS: Speaking of bending people over, you have been known to have a “buddy” GM down in Orlando, how do you feel about those allegations?
AC: One word, HA. I like to surround myself with winners, Stu. If that guy was in my fave five I definitely would not be able to build a contending team. Getting GMing advice from that guy would be like getting kicked in the nuts, repeatedly. Not good in my opinion. The last I heard all trade negotiations had been cut off between myself and Coach Legend, but that was according to some interview, he can’t resist a little sweet talking.
SS: Is that how you generally like to wheel-and-deal? With sweet talking?
AC: In the biz, we call it ‘schmoozing’, but sweet talking is nice too. And yes, if you can’t sweet talk a little bit your team is going nowhere. A prime example of this is that bonehead down in Dallas, what’s his name Stu, Juan? He supposedly is a sweet talker that liked to pull a Dallas over everyone he dealt with, look where that got him, dead last and no draft picks for the next 10 years. Let’s just say things aren’t looking up.
SS: Well that’s interesting Mr. Cooan, all you do is come on my show and bash other GMs, classy, let’s get back to your team. How do you see your team finishing up the season?
AC: The East is tough, it has been and will continue to be the best conference in the ITP, with that being said I wish we were over the West, we would have already started selling tickets to the NBA Finals, however since we’re in the East we could be looking at a 6 seed. Currently sitting at 6 we would match up against the 76ers. This would be the most enjoyable series so I hope this happens, they are easily the weakest team of the Eastern Conference playoff teams so that would be nice to snag them in the 1st round. Can’t drop any further though as a match-up against the Heat or Bulls would probably be a definite 1st round exit.
SS: Mr. Cooan, thanks for your time, and you are off the hot seat.
AC: Thank you.
SS: Booyah!
Stuart Scott: Welcome to ESPN’s Hot Seat Mr. Cooan, it’s a pleasure to have you here, I am curious to see what in the hell you were thinking with some of your recent trades.
Ace Cooan: It’s nice to see you too Stuart, I am curious to see what you were thinking with that choice of shirt and tie today :: points out Stu’s pink tie and purple shirt ::
SS: Let’s get started, shall we?
AC: Sure
SS: Tell me, you recently sent Ralph Sampson packing his bags en route to Memphis, what was the logic behind this trade?
AC: Well Stu, the popular opinion around the league is that Mr. Sampson was a franchise center and the type of guy you build a franchise around. I cannot agree more with these thoughts. However, in contract negotiations with Mr. Sampson he made it quite clear that no matter what team he played for he was going to test the free agent market this off-season, so instead of taking a chance of losing him for nothing we thought it would be in our best interest to get a franchise point guard onto the roster who was locked up long term.
SS: So he made this clear to you in negotiations Ace, but is the Memphis GM aware of this? I am assuming he thought Mr. Sampson would be coming back long-term, especially since the Grizzlies are playing for nothing this season.
AC: I couldn’t care less Stu, to that I say, tough shit. Here in Charlotte we were never known for playing nice. We’re not in the business to make sure everyone and their mothers is happy, similar to the Heat and Bulls we are in the business to bend people over and win some ball games along the way.
SS: Speaking of bending people over, you have been known to have a “buddy” GM down in Orlando, how do you feel about those allegations?
AC: One word, HA. I like to surround myself with winners, Stu. If that guy was in my fave five I definitely would not be able to build a contending team. Getting GMing advice from that guy would be like getting kicked in the nuts, repeatedly. Not good in my opinion. The last I heard all trade negotiations had been cut off between myself and Coach Legend, but that was according to some interview, he can’t resist a little sweet talking.
SS: Is that how you generally like to wheel-and-deal? With sweet talking?
AC: In the biz, we call it ‘schmoozing’, but sweet talking is nice too. And yes, if you can’t sweet talk a little bit your team is going nowhere. A prime example of this is that bonehead down in Dallas, what’s his name Stu, Juan? He supposedly is a sweet talker that liked to pull a Dallas over everyone he dealt with, look where that got him, dead last and no draft picks for the next 10 years. Let’s just say things aren’t looking up.
SS: Well that’s interesting Mr. Cooan, all you do is come on my show and bash other GMs, classy, let’s get back to your team. How do you see your team finishing up the season?
AC: The East is tough, it has been and will continue to be the best conference in the ITP, with that being said I wish we were over the West, we would have already started selling tickets to the NBA Finals, however since we’re in the East we could be looking at a 6 seed. Currently sitting at 6 we would match up against the 76ers. This would be the most enjoyable series so I hope this happens, they are easily the weakest team of the Eastern Conference playoff teams so that would be nice to snag them in the 1st round. Can’t drop any further though as a match-up against the Heat or Bulls would probably be a definite 1st round exit.
SS: Mr. Cooan, thanks for your time, and you are off the hot seat.
AC: Thank you.
SS: Booyah!