In doing some research on NBA free agents and the upcoming draft, I came across a Houston based blogger that claims Rudy Gay wants out of Memphis.
Travis Houser, publisher of the web site Sorry Bro: Sports Through Houser, says perhaps jokingly that he’s a “sports media phenom” and has recently written some articles regarding the future of the Grizzlies.
In a May 13 post, Houser says that, “O.J. Mayo more than likely hates coming off the bench for the team and will want them to make another trade with him involved.”
Within the same article, Houser says, “Rudy Gay is to be rumored wanting out of Memphis.”
Travis Houser
Of course, Houser doesn’t cite a source to base his claims upon like any good “sports media phenom” would do, but since his blog amounts to a celebrity gossip site he apparently didn’t feel like wasting time with reliable sources or, heaven forbid, verifiable facts.
In a May 16 post he wrote an article suggesting that Gay could become the new face of the Cleveland Cavaliers, reiterating his claim that Mayo wants to be traded and “Rudy Gay wants out of Memphis this offseason.”
I’ve been covering the Grizzlies for three years and have never had a conversation with owner Michael Heisley or GM Chris Wallace, but Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal has had plenty of conversations with both.
On May 17, Calkins wrote an article that was published in the CA that makes the “sports media phenom” look like a complete buffoon.
Calkins got a call from Heisley in which the Grizzlies’ owner asked him to make it clear that he wasn’t going to trade Gay.
At this point I hear crickets chirping outside the Houser residence in Houston.
And if Heisley’s words weren’t enough to convince Houser, perhaps the man he claims who wants out of Memphis can convince him.
Following the Grizzlies’ Game 7 loss to Oklahoma City, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein wrote an article about the future of the Memphis franchise.
A defiant Gay, meanwhile, is convinced that neither he nor the Grizzlies are going anywhere. He’s ignoring both the speculation about a possible offseason trade to make it easier for Memphis to afford re-signing Gasol as well as the suggestion that the Griz can’t possibly be fortunate or smart enough to keep this going.
“We’re a playoff team and we’re gonna [stay] a playoff team,” Gay said. “Get with us or get lost.”
When Gay said “get with us” I don’t think he was referring to the Cavaliers.
This is the kind of stuff you’d expect to read from a guy who looks like he just smoked the world’s biggest doobie, but not from an esteemed member of the professional media like Houser.
Here’s some friendly advice for all those sports media phenoms out there: before you write an article that’s rife with speculation and innuendo, maybe it would be best to do a little research before you come off looking like a fool.
Those crickets sure are noisy tonight.
