Beasley's visit (with poll) & a local Celtics celebration (UPDATED)

Michael Beasley is in Miami Wednesday and Thursday for his workout/interview with the Heat. He put on quite a show with the media Tuesday in Chicago, lightheartedly answering questions about his character.

Here's a webisode of Beasley that just came out, and he is on the cover of the newest ESPN The Magazine issue with this article.

Beasley is a prankster and a lot has been written a lot about his immaturity during the lead-up to the June 26 draft. The power forward is projected to be a great pro, but what do you make of everything written about his personality and character? Word is that Heat officials are leery of Beasley's work ethic and character.

One scout recently said of Beasley, according to ESPN The Magazine, "If you look into his eyes, you'll see Looney Toons playing inside his head."

Opinion Polls & Market Research

For any local Celtics fans looking to celebrate the Celtics 17th championship, Arbetter Hot Dogs in Miami is serving FREE Boston baked beans until closing (9 p.m.) Wednesday. Boston captured its first NBA title in 22 years last night. If you're looking to celebrate, there will be bagpipe player a DJ is scheduled for about 4 p.m.

Location: 8747 SW 40th St

Arbetter's, a family-run business, tries to unite local Boston fans each time its teams win a title. The Arbetter's are huge Celtics fans (and Heat fans), so today is one of celebration. But Dave Arbetter said Wednesday it's also one of remembrance for his late brother Ronnie, who was a Celtics aficionado. Ronnie, 52, died Feb. 28 of pancreatic cancer but felt great joy when the Celtics acquired guard Ray Allen and forward Kevin Garnett last offseason.

Each time the Red Sox or Celtics win a title, the Arbetter's give away free baked beans.

"This is a special one," Dave said.

Dave said this Celtics championship is particularly gratifying because of the way Allen, Garnett and 10-year veteran Paul Pierce celebrated. Garnett and Pierce cried postgame and the Celtics were overcome with emotion.

"I almost had tears in my eyes," Dave said. "When I saw real, true response from these guys and how much it mattered to them--it had nothing to do with money--it made me feel like the old days. They just wanted to win so bad."

Comments

[heatstroked]

with all due respect to your herald colleague -- when was izzy EVER right, ex anted, about the grayish, most indigo intricacies of milestone nba decision-making?

in this instance, trust the *other* guy upstate. the guy who in his latest blog finally and reluctantly admits the better defense ALWAYS wins the trophy (incl. the showtime lakers).

that's why mayo intrigues (riley). thats why beasley (in part) does not. defense *is* work. mayo, recognizing the nba-difference defense makes, made that commitment in high school. he's not *there* yet but he's closer, much closer, than either rose or beasley.

would the heat take rose if chi takes beasley? of course. is mia trying to trade beasley at #2 as we speak? undoubtedly. would riley take mayo at #2 if they can't get what they want for beasley? tougher call, but i suspect YES.

the heat aren't "misidirecting" anyone with their #2 anymore than they did with #5 in 2003. 2003 was not the simple case of lebron, carmelo, wade revisionists insist. that draft order was james-milicic-anthony-bosh-THEN-wade. did the heat play pre-draft games to trade up? trade down? would they've chosen milicic, bosh or anthony had they fallen? no idea. only riley/pfund know for sure. but instant recall suggests no, no games, no feints, no misdirection, discussions yes, deals no.

ergo, riley/pfund aren't "playing games" by *feigning* interest in mayo -- including interest AT #2 -- anymore than they feigned interest in a then comparatively-unknown wade out of marquette.

why? because the heat are NOT about WASTING time, FAKING interest, RUNNING in circles hoping fools (e.g. gutierrez) will follow.

ibid. the shaq trade, 2003 draft, the zo trade or any other franchise milestone under riley's tenure with the heat.

beasley is a queen who was anointed by frank martin as "the team." rose, mayo et al., while acknowledged stars, were *NOT* similarly anointed. it shows -- both on and off the court.

if the heat can deal beasley at #2 for a playoff-calibre veteran starter(s), they will. if they can't or chi does what paxson does best, welcome to south beach derrick/oj.

[heatstroked]

erratum [ex ante]

[heatstroker]

You are an idiot heatstroker if you think Riley isn't playing games....oh there's no way we're trading Shaq-sound fimiliar?

Second, you're a bigger idiot for thinking the Heat would bypass Beasley if a good deal isn't in place.....One major problem with your hypothesis.....no matter how good defensively Mayo is, BEASLEY STILL HAS MORE TRADE VALUE!! If he can't trade Beasley on draft night doesn't mean he will be in a Heat uniform come opening day. Moron, stop trying to sound so sophisticated with such stupid answers.

[Heatstroked to death]

I'm sorry your a complete moron, I gave you a lil credit.....Riley himself said he would've chosen Bosh had he been available in 2003....go do some research. Wow what a poser sports fan you are.

[larry]

Maybe Dwayne Wade was comparatively unknown to you in 2003, but I guarantee that was not the case within NBA circles. John Paxson was drooling at the opportunity to take Wade if he fell to #7, but sadly that didn't happen. I suspect there are more than a few GMs who would've traded up to #5 that season to select Wade, if Riley had made that opportunity available.

[Heatfan318]

I agree with Izzy's column that the Mayo talk is probably just misdirection. I also agree that Beasley is far too gifted a player to pass up. His skills are unbelievable.

Ask yourself the following questions -

We've been TOLD that Riley wants Derrick Rose and we've been TOLD that we're interested in possibly trading Beasley for OJ Mayo and other pieces.

If that is all true, then why on earth is Riley trying to torpedo Beasley's stock by publicly letting everyone know how much we like Mayo? Why have we taken such a cold stance toward Beasley publicly over the last few weeks?

The only logical explanation is that Riley actually wants to draft Michael Beasley.

The only reason why you would trash Beasley's stock the way we have is to encourage the Bulls to take Derrick Rose to ensure that Beasley falls to us.

If we really wanted Rose, we would be publicly saying that we LOVE Beasley to encourage the bulls to take Beasley so we could get Rose.

I'm not saying that this is definitely what's going on, but it makes a ton of sense.

ESPN's Chad Ford finally provided some confirmation that this might be happening in his latest mock draft -

"One source close to the process says Pat Riley thinks Rose is a bad fit in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade, because drafting Rose would give Miami two athletic slashers who (a) are subpar shooters and (b) would have to try to share the ball. That source insists the Heat are bluffing about their interest in Rose in the hopes that Beasley falls to them at No. 2."

[Stroke This]

I just wanted to say that there is way too much stroking going on in here. Carry on.

[Kimsly]

The heat should hope and pray n hope dat chi-town bypasses beasley n takes rose, we draft beasley trade marion to portland for aldridge & outlaw or aldrdge n rudy fernandez or aldridge and 1 of portlands pick #13 or #21 then sign a rebounding & defensive minded center with the mle(diop) to protect the paint, move beasley to the 3,start aldridge at da 4,haslem come off da pine, beasley rookie of the year,haslem 6th man of the year, d wade leagues mvp n heat are young n talented 4 years to come

[Kimsly]

The heat should hope and pray n hope dat chi-town bypasses beasley n takes rose, we draft beasley trade marion to portland for aldridge & outlaw or aldrdge n rudy fernandez or aldridge and 1 of portlands pick #13 or #21 then sign a rebounding & defensive minded center with the mle(diop) to protect the paint, move beasley to the 3,start aldridge at da 4,haslem come off da pine, beasley rookie of the year,haslem 6th man of the year, d wade leagues mvp n heat are young n talented 4 years to come

[heatstroked]

// Posted by: larry | June 18, 2008 at 05:29 PM -- Maybe Dwayne Wade was comparatively unknown to you in 2003, but I guarantee that was not the case within NBA circles. John Paxson was drooling at the opportunity to take Wade if he fell to #7, but sadly that didn't happen. I suspect there are more than a few GMs who would've traded up to #5 that season to select Wade, if Riley had made that opportunity available.//

"comparatively unknown" in the factual sense that wade, by his own admission, credited his ncaa tournament/final 4 performance for subsequent lottery ascendance.

also and otherwise unknown to pervasive "big 3" assumptions:

Israel Gutierrez, May 25, 2003 -- "It would seem the Nuggets' front office has little work to do between now and draft day. With the No. 3 pick, Denver is expected to take the remaining member of the Big Three -- LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and DARKO MILICIC." [empahsis added]

and according bob wolfley reporting for the milwaukee journal-sentinel june 19, 2003 -- "The Miami Herald [stephen holder? barry jackson? izzy gutierrez?] reported *it's doubtful* the Heat would use its pick at No. 5 to take Wade, but if the team traded down, Wade could be available to the team at a later pick."

however, you're right re chi's authentic interest in wade -- a hometown star with fresh cred viz marquette's f4 ball -- notwithstanding paxson's $60 million flyball on ben wallace and newest flake-in-progress from florida.

dolts who overlooked wade? many.
start with the still-revered jay bilas, who had this to say about the 2 "best all-around guards" in the 2003 draft -- "I think Hinrich is the best all-around guard in the draft, and I would take him over T.J. Ford," Bilas said. "He is tough, fast, and he can handle, pass, shoot and defend. The only question about his shooting is whether he can get hot and get on a roll. I think he can."

but back to beastley.

yeah. i can really REALLY see riley drafting a cretin who volunteered this assessment of future nba success, kidding or not: ``Depends if I like the coach'' [reported by sarah].

or the nba scout who WASN'T kidding: "If you look into his eyes, you'll see Looney Toons playing inside his head." [ibid]

[heatfan318]

heatstroked, Beasley was joking around when he made that "depends if i like the coach" comment.

As truehoops Henry Abbot put it, he was putting on a comedy show for the reporters, cracking all kinds of jokes.

[heatfan318]

I mean, are we really supposed to penalize someone for having a sense of humor?

He's been on good behavior over the last year, not making any more practical jokes.

[heatstroked]

chicago sun-times, june 18 2008 [ www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/1010869,CST-SPT-bull18.article ]:

//Character questions have followed Beasley because he attended [SIX] high schools. BUT HE SAID IT WAS HIS CHOICE TO MOVE ON, NOT A DISCIPLINARY DECISION BY THE SCHOOLS. 'I went to one high school, and the basketball program is not as good as it's supposed to be or the system the coach was playing was not the system for me," [Beasley] said. "I was just trying to find the right fit." [ ]//

wow. beasley really IS funny.

beasley wasn't disciplined.

beasley wasn't asked to leave.

beasley, according to beasley, was only looking for the "right fit" ...

... looking and apparently unable to "fit" in 6 high schools spanning 5 states until he was home-schooled.

so, how many NBA suckers -- err teams -- will it take to bite on beasley until he fits?

the same number looking for new gm's or winning seasons once beasley moves on.

espn the magazine, june 18, 2008, "REPORTING FROM MICHAEL BEASLEY'S BULLS AUDITION" by Scott Power" [ sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3449001 ]

//With the crowd of reporters, it was often hard to look him straight in the eyes, but with all this in your mind, you wondered just how easily his mind wanders. On Tuesday, he often paused midway through answers and provided peculiar observations. On the draft approaching: "I'm a little nervous, a little anxious, but excited at the same time. … Man, they got people behind the fence, too." Beasley had lost focus. Fans were looking at him through a fence, some wearing Kansas State gear. This wasn't a new phenomenon. On the interview process with the Bulls: "I felt great about it. I think … IS THAT A BUG ON MY NECK? … I think everybody's liking me, at least I hope. I like everybody. The team's pretty cool. I'm just having fun."//

just a hunch: riley will *not* risk arison's wrath or wade's future on this clueless flake.

[heatstroked]

espn reporting billups requests out of olympic consideration [ sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=3449236 ] -- which essentially confirms wade is in.

[Danny]

I think theres no doubt we draft Beasley at #2 if Rose goes #1. It all depends on whether the HEAT will trade him for Mayo and a few good players...Rumors are Mo Williams could be on the trading block. If we draft Beasley I really find it hard to picture Haslem in the same lineup as him. Trade Haslem for Williams and we'll have a better, younger, healthier williams in the backcourt who we wanted last summer.

[heatfan318]

Ya, if we draft Mike the next step is moving Haslem for Hinrich, Williams, or TJ Ford. All 3 guys seem to be on the block.

It would be a tough choice between Hinrich and Williams, IMO. Hinrich gives you defense, but he just had a pretty bad offensive year. Who knows if he'll bounce back.

Mo Williams gives you some blazing speed for easy baskets. His contract also pays slightly less than Hinrich's.

I'd probably lean toward Williams.

[Magic_Marc]

The pros will not be the same as high school or college. In the pros Beasley will be getting mentored by 2 hall of famers. Mourning and Wade. I think that he will respect them both.

Plus there is a young Spoelstra and Pat Riley to add additional motivation. I don't expect any stupid pranks.

I see a kid who knows that he is gifted and has ambitions to be great, but simply got bored in college where he was far superior to the average players. He probably never wanted to be there in the first place but the new rules forced him into college. His lack of ambition to win a championship concerns me. But he has far too much talent and potential to pass on him for Mayo. The Heat organization has to see that.