A video and post I have up at TrueHoop:
Clippers fans want you to understand that their devotion to their team isn’t an expression of irony, even if it might seem that way from the outside looking in. The emotional investment in the Clippers is serious even if the organization has done little over the years to earn it. What do Clippers fans derive from that investment? The faith that things will get better next season. That hope carries particular meaning this summer because the Clippers are sitting on a mound of cap space as the most heralded class of free agents in NBA history hits the open market.
When Clipper fans say they want LeBron James in Los Angeles as a Clipper, they’re entirely sincere. They’ll recite the salient points of their argument with passion: A solid supporting cast for a superstar small forward, an impressive home arena and training facility, a city with an alluring lifestyle, a large stage where James can propel his status as a global icon. If James likes storybook romance, there’s an unprecedented opportunity to rebrand a sports franchise. Clippers fans are a fatalistic bunch. They realize the odds are stacked against them, but feel obliged to make the case.
“Clipper Darrell” Bailey, who customizes cars for a living, and singer-songwriter Joshua Fischel hatched the idea to gather Clippers fans to rally in support of their team signing James this summer. They’re media savvy. Want to get the basketball media’s attention? Host the event at L.A. Live across from Staples Center prior to the Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
The unlikely event that the James camp took notice seemed like an afterthought to the 100 or so fans rounding Staples Center during the rally. The Clipper parade-goers are like every other fan base in the NBA sitting home as impartial observers — they’re desperate for a cause. On Thursday, Bailey and Fischel gave them one.
21 Responses
A bigger number of fans than I would have guessed
Great write up
jgroove Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I had no idea. Wish there had been more publicity about it. I would have shown up.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 7:38 am
It’s in the news that the big 4 free agents are going to all talk together before they decide on where to go. It would make sense that if they really care about winning, 2 of the 4 would go to same team. The good thing about LA is there is a lot of endorsement money out here, hollywood… It’s not that much of a strech that the Clippers could land 2 big free agents.
I’m glad the Clippers haven’t made any moves yet. Even if it’s a 1% chance, it’s worth passing on a good coach or GM right now. Without any of the top 4 free agents, Clippers have little chance to make the playoffs, so what would be the use of a good coach.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Good writeup – it was really fun walking around yelling and stuff. Clipper Nation deserves better.
I wish someone would write an article talking about the impact Lebron would have in LA…it’s actually a very interesting exercise. Can you imagine how awesome it would be for LA to have the two biggest superstars in the NBA? For there to be a real rivalry between the Clippers and the Lakers? Did you know they split their season series this year 2-2? Who cares, right? It would be nice if it evolved to something like USC vs UCLA. In one dramatic swoop, the Lakers would no longer be the “IT” team. It would no longer have a monopoly on Hollywood A-listers. Lebron in LA would usher in a new golden age for the NBA…LA would rightfully become the new mecca for basketball…not NYC.
Chris. Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
It would be like NY, with the Giants vs. Jets & Yankees vs. Mets. Rivalries like that rule!!!
Also maybe it would make some of those fakers fair weather fans finally pick a team to go for once and for all.
Kobe vs LeBron would finally be the #1 story LeBron has wanted (he’d want it in the NBA Finals probably, but whatever, that’s 10 days of basketball news coverage, this would be a whole year of Lakers vs. Clippers, LeBron vs. Kobe news coverage.)
Cappy Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
“The Lakers would no longer be the “IT” team. It would no longer have a monopoly on Hollywood A-listers.”
You just put into words why I’d rather NOT see Lebron in a Clips jersey. I want the Clippers to win, but I don’t want them to be like the Lakers. I was rooting against the Lakers last night and found myself wondering why. With the exception of Sasha (and sometimes Kobe) I like most of them as individuals. And I actually don’t mind the Lakers as an organization. Then it dawned on me that, in general, it’s Laker fans that I’m not into. I was really rooting against the Laker fans more than anything. I’d just as soon see them and people like them far away from Clipper Nation.
Qlippers Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
I agree, I just wanna win. I don’t care about being popular, I just care about being good.
Chris. Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
If we’re like Fakers fans in the sense that we’re rooting for a winning team then I don’t mind being compared to them. Who cares how we as Clippers fans are perceived or become. Wouldn’t you rather win now than never and LBJ is the best chance at that we’ve ever had? Or are you just a lover of the underdog who would never root for a favorite?
If we ever win then Fakers fans will start coming to Clippers games because they do now anyways (the tickets are cheap and we try without the best talent out there).
Andy Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Yeah, but there would be nothing better than to hear local sports radio full of Laker fans crying that their team can’t be the Clippers anymore.
Pez Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
If you are a clippers fan b/c you want to forever root for a losing organization I can’t join you. I’m a clippers fan so that when they eventually do win, I’ve got the tshirt that proves I was here…that I rooted for them first.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Parade was a blast. We true clip fans stand up for the cause but mostly for Clipper Darrel. (Can’t leave him hanging) . I would disagree on stating that clippers don’t have playoff hopes without a big name. Last year they lost many games in the last quarter where they tended to drop huge leads. I believe that with this same squad + the addition of griffin we might be a playoff team. (8th seed at least)
Bongstradamus Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
This same squad is all but gone. In order to get the cap space we need to even offer a deal to lebron we have to waive all rights for all the players we acquired at deadline. The only guys guaranteed for next season are BD, Gordon, DJ, Kaman and Griffin and pick 8. Keeping Blake or gooden or outlaw takes us out of play for Any big name FA.
Pez Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I half agree….I think we’ll still need someone else on top of Blake to have a shot at the playoffs. A glue guy to replace Camby’s contributions will be integral, whether or not we get a superstar.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 11:57 am
All the team needs is character and a good coach would do that.
Cappy Reply:
May 28th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Ditto. LeBron also NEEDS a good coach — someone who will call him out when need be. Somehow I don’t think either the Clips or LeBron are going to get what they really need this summer.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Hey Kevin, thanks for showing us Clippers fans in a positive light. Most people don’t know how devoted us Clippers fans are. I’ve got nothing but mad love and respect for every Clippers fan who was out there yesterday
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Akron, Ohio is having a LeBron Appreciation Day June 19th. Uh oh… (on nba.com and realgm.com)
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
winning in the nba and gettin big names and talent requires money and influence not just being a team located in a metropolitan area. we have no where near the influence it takes to get big names here, hence why our best players r always draft picks instead of established players. no big names r coming the best we can hope for are players with potential and building young. yet we traded al thornton and have no rights to anyone we traded for. Now we have no small forward and are gonna try to throw money at lebron? this is just pathetic. we don’t even have a coach or a vision for the team but get lebron and that will solve everything? this is stupid, clippers fans should be happy they r punk rock and stop looking so desperate
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Nice to wish for James, even if it is a small chance at landing the superstar. Clipps barely have enough cap space to sign one superstar, and fill out there roster with good back ups, two is not a chance. What I feel is more likely to happen is Rudy Gay, Tracy McGrady, and Shawn Livingston coming to the clipps, and then focus on signing the best available player in the draft. To me that is a real good team. If I were GM this is what I would do.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Another option is to help bad teams clear space by signing a contract they don’t want and move up to the third pick for example. New Jersey would probably trade that pick if we would take a contract off their hands… there are a lot of options, I hope O’Shay knows what the hell he is doing
Posted on May 29th, 2010 at 1:26 am
David Falk at it again, telling lebron to not go to LA.
Posted on May 29th, 2010 at 7:28 am
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