Operation:FreeSpank 1998 - The Responses
Twenty-nine letters went out, addressed to the the general manager or vice-president of
basketball operations for the respective team. I received six responses, each with
their own unique flair, style and encouragement:
01) The Minnesota Timberwolves' Director of Player Personnel, Rob Babcock, was the
first to respond. Impressively so, he called the Jack-town crib directly and
left a very encouraging voice-mail message. Some scouts believe that c-stone
may be posting up next to Kevin Garnett by this time next year!
02) The Indiana Pacers' President, Donnie Walsh, followed suit soon thereafter with a very
simple typewritten correspondence. Unfortunately, the Pacers' response resembled that
which typically papers the second-semester dorm room of many a college senior--a
rejection as resounding as a Flying Dutchman swat!
03) Bob Weinhauer of the Milwaukee Bucks gets credit for the most insightful and constructive
response. He joined Rob Babcock in alerting me of my present free-agent status.
But what really struck me about his letter was the manner in which he presented a more
logical approach to my ascension to the NBA playing level. You can be sure c-stone will
be giving a '99 shout-out to tha' Bucks!
04) The top style points may have to be credited to Pete Babcock of the Atlanta Hawks, whose
letter may have been the shortest...but was handwritten! Kudos to tha' P-cock! However,
c-stone must dock the Hawks negative kudos for citing the delinquency of filing for free
agency. But the negative kudos are balanced out by an encouragement to reapply next year.
So in sum, the Hawks did tally some level of kudos, nevertheless.
05) The L.A. Lakers received negative style points right off the bat, for copying the
previously used (see #2, above) 'standard rejection letter' with their transmittal.
Growing up as a Boston Celtics fan, I would never work for the crummy Lakers anyway.
I just did it out of common courtesy so Mitch Kupchak wouldn't feel left out.
06) The final slap in the face came from Ernie Grunfeld, President & General Manager of the New
York Knicks, who recommended that I 'not quit my day job', as part of his terse reply.
Despite this, Ernie seems to think that with a little practice, I may be ready for prime
time in the Garden!
Watch this space for coming attractions of Operation:FreeSpank 1999!
Kick it back to tha' House of Spank main crib