A Presidential Endorsement

by Ziller on Dec 3, 2007 11:14 AM PST in Links Comment 29 comments

This, I cannot believe.

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Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I don't even know what to say. Did he send another letter in 2002?

by CAB on Dec 3, 2007 11:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Awesome link. Thanks TZ...I knew Clinton was a huge hoops fan but I didnt know it was that serious! Well, regardless, its great to see the Greatest Sacramento King of all-time get recognized in this manner by the Prez!

by Hoops916 on Dec 3, 2007 11:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Mitch Richmond?

by Mityt on Dec 3, 2007 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I love Mitch as well! However, C-Webb was simply the most dominating 4 in the league (yes, better than Malone, Garnett ect) for a few years prior to his knee situation. I vote them numbers 1 and 2 respectively!

by Hoops916 on Dec 3, 2007 12:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

You done lost your mind if you thought that A) Webber was better than Garnett ,and B) ever even approached the level of Tim Duncan.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 4, 2007 1:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I think you could almost make a case that Webber was as good as Garnett for a short period of time...if you really reach. Malone? Not so much.

by otis29 on Dec 4, 2007 6:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Statistically speaking, (which seems to be the barometer for how many, if not all, STR regulars judge players talent)Webber was THE best PF in the league for a few years...Maybe youve lost your mind and forgotten just how good he REALLY was! Im not going to bore everyone with how the other premier PF's produced for EACH year in comparison to Webb's cause I dont have the time...however, here are their bests' for each of the three catagories listed below

Webb 98-99...ppg=20 Reb=13 Assist= 4.1
99-00...24.5 10.5 4.6
00-01...27.1 11.1 4.2
01-02...24.5 10.1 4.8
02-03...23.0 10.5 5.4

Malone ppg..25.5(99-00) Reb..9.5(99-00) Asst..4.7(02-03)

Duncan ppg..25.5(01-02) Reb..12.7(01-02) Asst..3.9(02-03)

Garnett ppg..23(02-03) Reb..13.4(02-03) Asst..6(02-03) (What a hell of a year!!)

Looking at this reassures myself that i have indeed not "lost my mind' as Pukky suggested. It is sure as hell ARGUABLE that for a FEW years, Webber was indeed the BEST PF in the league. Granted, I do remember Garnett consistantly getting "the best" of Webb everytime we played the wolves, (But then again, every great player has a another opponent who always outplays them (see Josh Howard v Artest)) but other than the wolves, i cant recall going into a game vs a team for a few years and feeling that we didnt have a superior PF in the matchup.

by Hoops916 on Dec 4, 2007 10:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

What would we give for a double/double guy with passing skills today?

Webber rocked. The best player on one of the two best teams in the league for a time. It's a shame that post injury Webber has made pre-injury Webber cloudy in some of our minds.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 4, 2007 10:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Couldnt have said it any better myself Section214. Well stated!

by Hoops916 on Dec 4, 2007 10:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I know I'm in the minority on pre-Webber. Which is fine with me.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 4, 2007 2:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Have been a long time subscriber, but this is my first post. I am a golf professional by background (and a big kings fan) but I digress. Anyway I gave President Clinton golf lessons in the mid 90's while he was obviously still president and I got to now him quite well and I have lots of stories that I won't bore anyone with, but I can tell you with absolute conviction that letter is all him. I have never met a more genuine person who (even though he had trouble with his pants)really cares about people. He one time would not give me a scorecard that he and I had used for a round because he had written a name of a person in the crowd on the card and wanted to make sure an aid got the card so that he could send a personal note to the guy.
Enough of the babbling. Just wanted to follow up! on a great letter!

by alweinhold on Dec 3, 2007 1:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ditto to all that.

by Rhondda Nunes on Dec 3, 2007 1:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Bill should write me a letter consoling me for having to watch so many nail-biting games where Chris Webber was my team's go-to player.

by Michael Beasley on Dec 3, 2007 1:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

i can't read this letter too well, is there a sympathetic apology for having to share the floor with gheorghe muresan?

97' wsh bullet starting 5:
pg-rod strickland
sg-calbert cheaney
sf-juwan howard
pf-chris webber
c-gheorghe muresan

if only they knew what they had in a spry 22-year old ben wallace, justin williams anyone.

Whether your dominating the playground, the last one to leave the gym, or your big time like Mike Bibby...

by CrownUs93 on Dec 3, 2007 3:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I hope that analogy isn't re-lived crown.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 4, 2007 1:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

undrafted, poor free-throw shooting, non-factor one the offensive side, decent shot blocking, incredible rebounding ability.... shall i continue?

justin williams will be the next ben wallace

Whether your dominating the playground, the last one to leave the gym, or your big time like Mike Bibby...

by CrownUs93 on Dec 4, 2007 11:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Wow, that's just crazy.

A lonely Kings fan in a sea of gold and purple...

by Jaycee on Dec 3, 2007 4:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

There's a blown call joke here somewhere...

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 3, 2007 5:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I bow before the master, again. : )

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Dec 3, 2007 8:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Who... Clinton? Be careful if you bow before him.

I just couldn't resist.

balls to the walls

by kangsfan on Dec 4, 2007 7:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

BTW,

In case you are wondering, I checked the handwriting against known letters penned by Bill Clinton and the handwriting is a match. It would seem this letter is legit.

by KingsFan on Dec 3, 2007 5:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Can somebody type the contents of the letter and post it here? It's hard to understand :D

by kingme on Dec 3, 2007 10:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

April 9, 1992

Dear Chris,

I have been thinking of you alot since I sat glued to the TV during the championship game.

I know that there may be nothing I or anyone else can say to ease the pain and discouragement of what happened.

Still, for whatever it's worth, you, and your team, were terrific. And part of playing for high stakes under great pressure is the constant risk of mental error. I know. I have lost two political races and made countless mistakes over the last twenty years. What matters is the intensity, integrity, and courage you bring to the effort. That is certainly what you h ave done. You can always regret what occurred but don't let it get you down or take away the satisfaction of what you have accomplished.
You have a great future. Hang in there.
Sincerely, Bill Clinton

Disclaimer: This is via the previous links and not my work product.

P.S. For easier recogignition, Clinton's talking about Webber's Final Fout team, not about any Kings robbery. :snerk:

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Dec 3, 2007 11:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

recogignition=recognition. Sorry.

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Dec 3, 2007 11:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

For younger visitors here, Clinton's letter was an effort to console Webber, who committed a major blunder in the chammpionship game against North Carolina--calling a time-out when his team had none left, which allowed N.C. to win.

by aspen on Dec 4, 2007 9:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

If you don't remember everything (I was 12 but I remember it like it happened yesterday), this video captures the whole build-up, too.

by Ziller on Dec 4, 2007 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

I remember watching that, but even if I hadn't seen it live, the image of him turning away and calling time in slow mo has been repeated so many times, it feels like I was there. (I was 15 or 16)

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Dec 5, 2007 12:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

every real kings fan (who isn't on this site) should and does know about the time-out blunder, it's just another old sweater hanging in the closet of anti-clutch kings related memories

Whether your dominating the playground, the last one to leave the gym, or your big time like Mike Bibby...

by CrownUs93 on Dec 4, 2007 11:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: A Presidential Endorsement

Sure is Crown...Its hanging right next to Christie's air-ball 4thQ 3 pointer vs the Lakers, which was subsequently followed by Christie admitting that he was scared when he took the shot!

by Hoops916 on Dec 4, 2007 11:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs