An Explosion of Awfulness Game 15

Today will mark the first installment of "An Explosion of Awfulness Game X". I'm going to try and put one of these together from each game that I can, but may combine a few games. These will be direct, or as direct as I can remember them, quotes about Rafer Alston. Most will be from the broadcast of the game (which was in fantastically awesome HD last night), but some will come from print media not as badassed as this blog, and even other will be my thougths during the game and maybe Dave's.

Here's a few from Game 15 against the Clippers, a game he actually played decently in. And there were more, I just started keeping track when I realized how much trash they were talking about him:
Rafer!…and it goes… out of bounds - Bill Worrell

Rafer’s wide open…and he misses - Bill Worrell

Everyone’s gotten hot here in the second half… expect for Rafer - Air Bullard

If you go by statistics, you have to leave him open, because he’s only hitting 22% from behind the line - Bill Worrell

Stop fucking shooting Rafer!!! - Lee

Fuck! Now he's going to think he's good - Lee

God, can I please have Calvin back? He would be making me laugh about how awful Rafer is - Lee

Of course, any offense will look a whole lot better with Rafer Alston at the controls.
Well, only if it's this Rafer. - Jonathan Feigen

That concludes the first edition. Here's hoping by Game 16 he will somehow be traded and this is the last edition...

I'm trying hard not to believe in jinxes...

but I've never been good at fighting off my superstitions. I'm trying to fight it because otherwise I'd have to kill this blog, since the Rockets are 0-2 and TMac is now fighting nerve damage to his elbow since we started it up. It's an uphill battle for me, hell I just stopped watching the Texas (and I live for the Longhorns) vs. OkieSt game a couple of weekends ago because every time I turned it on something bad happened and every time I came back from turning it off Texas was back in it. Sure enough, Texas pulled it out and no one will ever convince me that they would have if I had been watching. I've been known to blame traffic on my wife because she made the fatal error of saying "Wow, this trip is going really quickly". Is it her fault? Hell yes it's her fault. You know how I know? Because I'm superstitious. And yes, I realize my argument reads a little like



Beavis: [watching a Tom Petty video] Hey Butt-head, how come Tom Petty is famous?
Butt-Head: Because he's on TV, dumbass.
Beavis: Yeah, but like... but how did he get on TV?
Butt-Head: Uh... because he's famous.
Beavis: Yeah, but, I mean, like, how did he get famous?
Butt-Head: He got famous because he's on TV.
Beavis: YEAH, YEAH, BUT HOW DID HE GET ON TV?
Butt-Head: Because he's famous, Beavis! Now shut up before I smack the bejesus out of you!




So, I ask you, are we jinxing them? The early origins of the word seem to mean that you are casting a spell and causing something to happen on purpose, but the definition of jinx as it now stands is decidedly different.


I'm going to have to make a decision? Right? It's not like I'm Bill Worrell and I'm talking about how Yao never misses and then having that turn into a 9-15 showing after that. So I'm saying it's Bill's fault, and not taking the blame right now.


I think Bill was smiling about jinxing him.

I think he did it on purpose just so he didn't have to see Calvin cry again.

And I mean, who wants to see Calvin cry? I mean, I'd like to see him twirl a batton or choose a couple of less ridiculous suits, but is there anyone out there (besides Marc) that doesn't want him back on the broadcast team?

My conclusion to this poorly laid out question is that it's not our fault, and that my pride is going to supersede my superstition.

Plus, if I have to own up to jinxing something/someone then so does Matt over at Da Good, Da Bad, And Demeco