Yi Jianlian demands and gets a guarantee of 20 mpg before signing with Milwaukee.

Only such an assurance by Kohl eased concerns that with coach Larry Krystkowiak facing his first full season and GM Larry Harris under pressure to win now to keep his job, Yi would spend much of his rookie year on the bench...

Haitao and the Chinese officials consider it paramount that Yi develop as rapidly as possible and play for a quality team, the source said. They are well-versed in the disparate tales of, say, Toronto's Andrea Bargnani staying in the rotation despite struggling early on and former Piston Darko Milicic, who barely played as a rookie.

ESPN - Bucher: Yi assured rotation role with Bucks - NBA (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=bucher_ric&page=YiDeal)

Doesn't surprise me, but I have to wonder how this is going to affect future international players and free agents. If Yi can get a guarantee of minutes, why can't they? I bet Cornstein is kicking himself for not demanding guarantees of pt for Darko.

Coaches are not going to react well to this if it becomes a trend.

Good point with your post. I want to see the guarantee on paper, or it won't hold any weight.:stirthepot:

Only a crappy team would guarantee minutes to a rookie.

Kohl isn't known for his loyalty. You can bet that Larry K will be out on his butt if the team doesn't perform with Yi.

Only a crappy team would guarantee minutes to a rookie.

Kohl isn't known for his loyalty. You can bet that Larry K will be out on his butt if the team doesn't perform with Yi.

Thats the thing. Usually teams drafting that high have nothing to lose.

What a dumb idea! Minutes built into the contract. Yi could be getting his dunks blocked by the rim quite a few times this year.If his ego is a fragile as Darko's is he could lose all of his confidence.

Another question is whether Yi is good enough to get those minutes. He didn't look all that great during the summer league.

Darko learned a lot by sitting on the pine. Namely how to get pissed off at refs. He outshined even Sheed at Eurobasket by losing 10,000 euros in 5 minutes.

http://grizzlies.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/880608174/m/6631007312?r=5181018312#5181018312

Translation at the bottom. Warning expletive ladden tirade

Here's YouTube recording of Darko going off. It is not in English, but he sure does look mad.

YouTube - Milicic psuje sudije (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaKk8vBiCPw)

I am so happy this guy is not a Piston. Sheed would be thrown out of the NBA for saying something like that. It doesn't matter how competitive Darko is, comments like that are totally uncalled for, no matter who you are or what you are doing.

Wow. I wonder how bad the calls were.

I'd like to see how Donaghy would have responded to that.

You know...it's funny. You guys are so judgemental. You take a guy like Darko who has been tragically mistreated by coaches and fellow players in the NBA and you just can't cut him any slack.

Those officials were obviously jealous of how good Darko is and they wanted to even the playing field for the other players. So they turned against him..(just like everyone does) ..and Darko makes a few innocent comments about things he'd like to put in the reproductive organs of their mothers...and now you are making Darko out to be the bad guy!

When will it end?

I know you guys are generally PC about stuff, but misogyny and murderous intent aside, I find his rant hilarious. The quotes are so awkward that it sounds like it came from Borat (no offense Mikhail).

Silence is greater than speech...Darko needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. Many players feel like their cheated, but they are not stupid enough to cuss every other word.

I know you guys are generally PC about stuff, but misogyny and murderous intent aside, I find his rant hilarious. The quotes are so awkward that it sounds like it came from Borat (no offense Mikhail).
None taken! I am not from Kazakhstan, anyway.
:pound:

What is funny is that the people the broke the story are vilified for spreading lies and it comes out that they were correct (or part of an incredibly huge conspiracy) and no one says didly.

maybe there is some truth to the darko sleeping with lb's wife rumors. so that's why lb was so angry with him. darko needs to find a new way of taking out his frustrations. you can't go around sleeping with women to get back at people.

The Freep has the youtube video on their site. Is it right to display that if you are ignorant of what its saying? I mean if I swore up and down in spanish is that ok? Maybe they have a specific set of standards to adhere to that doesn't include stuff like that.


This affair really changed the meaning of "The Darko Guarantee" :nerd2:

You know...it's funny. You guys are so judgemental. You take a guy like Darko who has been tragically mistreated by coaches and fellow players in the NBA and you just can't cut him any slack.

Those officials were obviously jealous of how good Darko is and they wanted to even the playing field for the other players. So they turned against him..(just like everyone does) ..and Darko makes a few innocent comments about things he'd like to put in the reproductive organs of their mothers...and now you are making Darko out to be the bad guy!

When will it end?
but all sarcasm aside. darko was a beast over there. also by all accounts the serbian team was robbed by the refs. darko handled this totally wrong. this is strange to me because darko has always been so politically correct when interviewed about nba going ons. the positive that comes from this is that darko can no longer be questioned about having fire or lack thereof. darko truly is the serbian gangsta

not to argue or discredit but some posters I read were disappointed. Maybe expectations were higher? I guess its like when Jaq rants on Sheed for not being BETTER.

I was looking on youtube and realgm and just was browsing comments. it wasn't all darko-hate

not to argue or discredit but some posters I read were disappointed. Maybe expectations were higher? I guess its like when Jaq rants on Sheed for not being BETTER.

I was looking on youtube and realgm and just was browsing comments. it wasn't all darko-hate

yeah. these were just some dumb comments from darko. he can come back from them. it's not like he's losing endorsements because of the comments. we've all been angry at the refs to the point of cursing. darko just went too far. he should publicly apologize and start the nba season with a clean slate.

yeah. these were just some dumb comments from darko. he can come back from them. it's not like he's losing endorsements because of the comments. we've all been angry at the refs to the point of cursing. darko just went too far. he should publicly apologize and start the nba season with a clean slate.

I would suggest something like this:

I apologize now for saying that I vant to rape the mothers of the referees and their daughters. I just vant to play.

Darko learned a lot by sitting on the pine. Namely how to get pissed off at refs. He outshined even Sheed at Eurobasket by losing 10,000 euros in 5 minutes.

Darko out of Euro's!!! - Topic Powered by eve community (http://grizzlies.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/880608174/m/6631007312?r=5181018312#5181018312)

Translation at the bottom. Warning expletive ladden tirade

Serbia lost to Israel - LOL

:hoops:

Sheed has got to be proud

it's not like he's losing endorsements because of the comments.
Does Darko have endorsements?

Does Darko have endorsements?

Darko Milicic could become the Next Big Thing to hit the NBA, but it may taken him a while to hit it big in the endorsement arena.

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/insider/2003/0529/photo/a_milicic_il.jpg

Milicic quietly signed a modest endorsement deal with shoemaker And 1, a memorabilia card deal with Upper Deck for a fraction of the payoff and a deal with fashion designer Ermenegildo Zegna. Those LeBron-like blockbuster deals, for the time being at least, will have to wait.

ESPN.com - 2003 NBA Draft: Darko Milicic is no Yao Ming (http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/d03/story?id=1572456)

:hoops:

maybe there is some truth to the darko sleeping with lb's wife rumors. so that's why lb was so angry with him. darko needs to find a new way of taking out his frustrations. you can't go around sleeping with women to get back at people.
You also can't go around threatening the referees relatives with rape, or the referees with murder.

Very low moment in the career of Darko.

You know...it's funny. You guys are so judgemental. You take a guy like Darko who has been tragically mistreated by coaches and fellow players in the NBA and you just can't cut him any slack.

Those officials were obviously jealous of how good Darko is and they wanted to even the playing field for the other players. So they turned against him..(just like everyone does) ..and Darko makes a few innocent comments about things he'd like to put in the reproductive organs of their mothers...and now you are making Darko out to be the bad guy!

When will it end?

You're kidding right?

You also can't go around threatening the referees relatives with rape, or the referees with murder.

Very low moment in the career of Darko.

What is this.......career...you speak of?

In all seriousness, I just spoke with my Serbian friend who says that the English translation sounds a bit worse than the actual Serbian phrases. He says they are somewhat common sayings there.

He gave the "mother f****r" example. It doesn't really mean what it literally means.

He said that Darko was just spewing out common Serbian insults and curses. He also said that they have a much richer selection of insults to draw from than we do here.


Mikhail, anything similar in russian?

In all seriousness, I just spoke with my Serbian friend who says that the English translation sounds a bit worse than the actual Serbian phrases. He says they are somewhat common sayings there.

He gave the "mother f****r" example. It doesn't really mean what it literally means.

He said that Darko was just spewing out common Serbian insults and curses. He also said that they have a much richer selection of insults to draw from than we do here.


Mikhail, anything similar in russian?
Yeah, it is similar, but non-the-less this is not the stuff you say when you're on TV and especially talking about the game and refs. I know Sheed is using profanity all the time when talking to reporters and he said numerous times that he's not going to change, but this is worse.

Here's another thought - Darko already made more money (including his new contract) than many of us will make in lifetime. For some that's the life goal. With that money he can live like king in Serbia. Maybe, that's what it is all about and the games don't mean as much. Or maybe he spent too much time around Sheed and by multiplying that by the tender age of Darko this happened. I am not defending the guy, once you get to that stage certain things come with the position. But how many of us said or did something that later on in life we looked at and said - Wow! I was young and dumb? Again, not defending, but just trying to explain.

Yeah, it is similar, but non-the-less this is not the stuff you say when you're on TV and especially talking about the game and refs. I know Sheed is using profanity all the time when talking to reporters and he said numerous times that he's not going to change, but this is worse.

It is not good. But I'm just trying to explain the difference between a guy going on a cursing spree and a potential rapist/ murderer.

I feel like every time I try to defend Darko, it is at a lower level. Next month I'm going to be explaining why his steroids could have been an honest mistake.

It is not good. But I'm just trying to explain the difference between a guy going on a cursing spree and a potential rapist/ murderer.

I feel like every time I try to defend Darko, it is at a lower level. Next month I'm going to be explaining why his steroids could have been an honest mistake.
Do we want to defend Tyson after he threatened to eat Holyfield's (I believe) children? We know he didn't mean it in that sense, but it still didn't sound too good, did it?

It is not good. But I'm just trying to explain the difference between a guy going on a cursing spree and a potential rapist/ murderer.

I feel like every time I try to defend Darko, it is at a lower level. Next month I'm going to be explaining why his steroids could have been an honest mistake.

I was thinking that. He deserves a reprimand and some form of punishment but he's not the Spawn of S.A.T.A.N.

Found a supposed translation by a Serb, Darko doesn't appear to be threatening rape as much as doing the entire family.

Edited quote:
"What happened was the three *kitties* disguised as referees robbed us blind out there. I will $@!! their mothers the first chance I get. Especially the Italian guy, I will $@!! his Italian mother. All three of them can $@!! me. If the Italian guy has a daughter, I will $@!! her too."

Unedited:
DARKO MILICIC IS A BAD, BAD MAN (UPDATE) - With Leather (http://withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=3794&linked_from=recent_comments_box)

Not as bad, gotta love his heart. I'd love to hear Tay get that upset.

Found a supposed translation by a Serb, Darko doesn't appear to be threatening rape as much as doing the entire family.

Edited quote:
"What happened was the three *kitties* disguised as referees robbed us blind out there. I will $@!! their mothers the first chance I get. Especially the Italian guy, I will $@!! his Italian mother. All three of them can $@!! me. If the Italian guy has a daughter, I will $@!! her too."

Unedited:
DARKO MILICIC IS A BAD, BAD MAN (UPDATE) - With Leather (http://withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=3794&linked_from=recent_comments_box)

Not as bad, gotta love his heart. I'd love to hear Tay get that upset.

Too bad his rebounding isn't as strong as his "heart". If Darko really wanted to win, he should have cleaned the glass and given the Serbian team a better chance to win.

It is bad. That's *my* opinion, but that is bad. It might be one of the most vile post game interviews I have ever heard.

I'm not trying to demonize him, but let's not let what he said off the hook. It was wrong, and he owes his fans and the referees an apology at the very least.

I would ask no less from one of my favorite players. Actually, I would probably reject that player outright, but that is my own, personal and non-PF.com moral prerogative.

It was wrong, and he owes his fans and the referees an apology at the very least.
I agree 100%. Here are some apologies he could try out:

"I'm sorry if anyone was offended by my comments."

"I was only pretending to be angry and menacing to encourage my teammates to play harder next time. I'm sorry that my remarks were taken out of context and misinterpreted."

"Anyone who knows me know that wasn't the real Darko talking. It was the alcohol. I will be checking into a rehab clinic so I can sort out my priorities. And find Jesus."

"I misspoke. What I meant to say is that although I disagree with they way the officials called the game, I have always had the deepest respect for them and for their female family members, and I wish them all the best. Including their mothers and their daughters. The Italian ones especially."

I agree 100%. Here are some apologies he could try out:

"I'm sorry if anyone was offended by my comments."

"I think he should start out: To the serbian speaking community and to everyone with access to the internet and all the various and sundry translations...

You know, despite that the latest discussions have been negative or had negative tones, man is it good to have something basketball/basketball player to talk about. I was almost ready to sign up for Tater's daily quizzes.

It is bad. That's *my* opinion, but that is bad. It might be one of the most vile post game interviews I have ever heard.

I'm not trying to demonize him, but let's not let what he said off the hook. It was wrong, and he owes his fans and the referees an apology at the very least.

I would ask no less from one of my favorite players. Actually, I would probably reject that player outright, but that is my own, personal and non-PF.com moral prerogative.
I almost feel like I'm defending Michael Vick by defending Darko's desire to do X, Y, and Z, to various refs and their family members.

Also, it's amazing how Darko hijacked his own thread. This was supposed to be about rooks getting guaranteed time.

And last, considering Darko, 22 years old could say these things in public, to reporters; wow, that's a temper. Seriously, I might have said things like that about Carr, to my computer screen, when I saw the Appalachian/UM score, but to say in public. Wow

IT was reported as one of the biggest failures if Serbian basketball. Considering the magnitude of the game its normal that emotions run high but dude if you have a brain...turn it on.

IT was reported as one of the biggest failures if Serbian basketball. Considering the magnitude of the game its normal that emotions run high but dude if you have a brain...turn it on.


I think Darko really is a "special" player.

Ha Ha Ha,! Darko starting to feel his manhood.
Sheed taught him well.
P.S. when I was young that's what we said when someone got in our face.

It just continues to astound me the difference between how Darko handles himself in Europe and in the U.S. His interviews here are so dull and uneventful that they are painful to watch. I am sure he has FELT just as abused over here, by his coaches, but has always just spouted the company line. He commends his teammates and says all those 'right' things.

But all the interviews I have seen and heard of from Europe have been laced with invective and expletives, not just when he was angry but when he was talking about upcoming games, etc. He seems like a totally different individual, and I really don't like what I hear from over there.

I do think he needs to apologize to the Memphis fans and teammates for any besmirching of their name, at least, and follow the boring straight and narrow over here. He has been punished over there where it happened and barring some additional things they might add like a suspension of some future Euro games, it has been handled.

Has anyone looked into the possibility of making his interview into a rap CD? My apologies to the rappers on this forum who do not participate in that low down dirty stuff, but I have heard that there is stuff that is just as bad out there. Maybe start a new division in rap, Basketball Rap or Euro Rap.

Just kidding, guys. I am still really pi$$ed at him, or at least, very disappointed in this character flaw.

This is obviously a ploy by his agent to create an NBA villain. They have realized that Darko can't get the endorsements by being a good citizen with average stats, so they are creating the new Laimbeer. Not a bad strategy. :sssh:

@TaShawn, I thought was genuinely hot after that game. It wouldn't have been a big leap for him to go after a ref.

We've all been there in competitive sports.

Just the same, there is a line, and personalizing game events towards family members is well over it. Imagine how those relatives felt when they heard someone was saying that stuff about them. It's not good.

I think Darko is far more passionate about Serbian basketball than NBA. NBA could just be a job. Serbia is hometown pride. Probably darko does use more expletives and it could be a cultural thing and a language thing since he does have to speak a foreign language here and you usually speak slower in those circumstances

@TaShawn, I thought was genuinely hot after that game. It wouldn't have been a big leap for him to go after a ref.

We've all been there in competitive sports.

Just the same, there is a line, and personalizing game events towards family members is well over it. Imagine how those relatives felt when they heard someone was saying that stuff about them. It's not good.

yeah. well during my time in competitive sports stuff was said about your mother and sister during the game. relatives were not off limits. i never thought for one second that the other player was actually going to do something to my mother/sister. it was just crap talking.

darko's comments are serbian slang and something was lost in the translation. i have friends of other races and the things they say to people of thier own race amaze me. i would take those things very differently. darko stepped over a line and was already punished. shows over folks.

@lazyberbs.
i'm not pissed at him. he's the serbian gangster and his behavior is different in europe. long as he keeps that mess in europe it's fine with me. what's the saying when in rome do as the romans do or something. the fans behavior and the refs behavior and the players behavior is different in europe. i'm willing to bet his tirade was not all that strange for the european audience. he needs to give the memphis org and fans a bottled apology and come to the nba and take memphis to the playoffs and all will be forgiven.

I'm with you, bball jay.

When I used to photograph the University of Dayton basketball teams, prior to my coming to MI in '66, there was a player from a very small town near Dayton. He played on the same UD frestman team with Roger Brown and Bill Chimielewski (from Detroit). He was a farm boy and one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.

But when he got on the floor during a game, you could hear him talking to the guy he was guarding. He was using the foulest, most vile language against him that you could imagine. It always concerned the guy's mother or wife or girlfriend and I could not believe what he was saying about them or what he would l do to them.

I was never able to imagine why these other guys would take it, but it never seemed to bother them. They would seldom even react and after the games, never an encounter.

I never had anyone do those things to me on the floor and I could not imagine it even happening.

It was during those days that I found out the things the players did to each other on the floor that I had never known before. The camera caught things that I did not see in real time with my own eyes. One guy that comes to mind is Wes Unseld got away with a lot. The worst one was the forward from LA who played with Jerry West. I have a senior moment going on right now and I cannot remember his name, but he was a power forward and one who is recognized as one of the best early players. Darn it!!!

yeah. well during my time in competitive sports stuff was said about your mother and sister during the game. relatives were not off limits.

Really? Well my experience right here in the D is exactly the opposite. The unwritten LAW was you never talked about somebody's mother unless you wanted to part with some teeth. Game or no game. Just about anything else was fair game though. But those who were not aware of the "unwritten LAW" had a very rude awakening.

darko's comments are serbian slang and something was lost in the translation.

Darko must be the only Serbian player in the NBA. Or maybe the only one from his "neighborhood" in Serbia. Cause I don't recall any other Serbian players making this sort of outburst. Particularly those who have reached their hype er...potential.

i have friends of other races and the things they say to people of thier own race amaze me.

Be real careful with this one. A lot of what you hear may be said in a certain context that you may not be aware of; or fully understand. This might be described as an "art," NOT a "science." Everybody ain't an artist.

Really? Well my experience right here in the D is exactly the opposite. The unwritten LAW was you never talked about somebody's mother unless you wanted to part with some teeth. Game or no game. Just about anything else was fair game though. But those who were not aware of the "unwritten LAW" had a very rude awakening.

yeah. well everything you say can be a loaded remark. i had buddies who would sit and talk about each other's mom every lunch hour. they would play the yo momma game every day. it was understood however that you couldn't play this game with everyone. i don't recall anyone ever getting as filthy as darko did about someone's mother though.


Darko must be the only Serbian player in the NBA. Or maybe the only one from his "neighborhood" in Serbia. Cause I don't recall any other Serbian players making this sort of outburst. Particularly those who have reached their hype er...potential.

this was my first serbian interview that i watched. when darko does nba interviews it's in english and it's very politically correct in my opinion. so maybe darko felt that was an appropriate serbian response. i know i may say things differently in an interview or business lunch than i do at the bar. there's a time and a place for things darko just misjudged this one badly.

in my opinion darko is going to exceed the hype in the next few years. he's figured out that he's not only more talented than the rest of the big men. he now knows that he's stronger and faster than them too.


Be real careful with this one. A lot of what you hear may be said in a certain context that you may not be aware of; or fully understand. This might be described as an "art," NOT a "science." Everybody ain't an artist.
exactly. that's why i don't question it or join in.

Just curious, but what's more offensive: Darko talking about the sexual acts he's going to perform on a ref, his momma, and his daughter; or Stefan Marbury actually doing a NY Knicks intern in the back of his SUV in front of a stip club, after he had his cousin try her out to see if she was worth it?

SCORING MACHINE | By KATI CORNELL | New York News | New York City News | NY News (http://www.nypost.com/seven/09132007/news/regionalnews/scoring_machine.htm)

is this even in the same class??? :yellowprison:

darko's comments are serbian slang and something was lost in the translation.


Thats a very good point.

Here's YouTube recording of Darko going off. It is not in English, but he sure does look mad.

YouTube - Milicic psuje sudije (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaKk8vBiCPw)
oh my, Darko truly acts like a typical serbian construction worker- all this blusterin, referring to the ref's mum and calling him "penis" (but not the nice version). I don't understand serbian too well, but well enough to know that he acted really dull in that interview.

Hassan Gonsalves.
$15 tennis shoes now worth $100

Just curious, but what's more offensive: Darko talking about the sexual acts he's going to perform on a ref, his momma, and his daughter; or Stefan Marbury actually doing a NY Knicks intern in the back of his SUV in front of a stip club, after he had his cousin try her out to see if she was worth it?

SCORING MACHINE | By KATI CORNELL | New York News | New York City News | NY News (http://www.nypost.com/seven/09132007/news/regionalnews/scoring_machine.htm)

The fact that you have to ask that question is troubling.

What is more offensive, Darko's tirade where he's going to rape a referee's wife and daughter or Brittney Spears' "comeback"? Brittney Hall of Famers claim that much of what is depicted can be dismissed as a 'cultural misunderstanding' and despite universal disgust and scorn, something was lost in the translation. BHOF'ers have also pointed out that MANY overweight women dance in lingerie in the privacy of their own homes so Brittney doing the same thing on stage is just part of what makes America so foreign to the rest of the world. Well, as long as Brittney does that on MTV and not in concert in my hometown, its all good. She still has worlds of potential.

What is more offensive, Darko's tirade where he's going to rape a referee's wife and daughter or Brittney Spears' "comeback"? Brittney Hall of Famers claim that much of what is depicted can be dismissed as a 'cultural misunderstanding' and despite universal disgust and scorn, something was lost in the translation. BHOF'ers have also pointed out that MANY overweight women dance in lingerie in the privacy of their own homes so Brittney doing the same thing on stage is just part of what makes America so foreign to the rest of the world. Well, as long as Brittney does that on MTV and not in concert in my hometown, its all good. She still has worlds of potential.

That's the first time Darko has been compared to Brittney Spears as far as I remember. I think the BHOF'ers also claim that the reason she isn't producing any good music is because she wants to make the other singers look better.

She didn't look that bad. Especially after having 2 kids. It was the show that stank.

She didn't look that bad. Especially after having 2 kids. It was the show that stank.

Yeah...leave Brittney alone:


YouTube - LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!! UNEDITED VERSION!!! (http://youtube.com/watch?v=GqtjOn9qVg4&feature=bz301)

If Britney hadn't been forced to hire Larry Brown as her manager she'd still be at the top of the charts.

Actually as far as Serbian curses go, this was a pretty mild tirade. I actually can't imagine a Serb curse without saying something about someone's mother. The daughter part was a bit vulgar, and made Darko look like a peasant, but you have to remember that Darko IS a peasant.

Darko also made a mistake of giving interview on the FIBA premises. If he was going to curse them he should have exited the arena and then cursed them. That way it could have been considered a free speech and FIBA couldn't fine him. But Darko's too rich too care.

In any case, it's about time someone cursed these referees. In any UEFA or FIBA tournament, in a tight situation the referees will be always biased against poorer Eastern European countries, especially against Russians or Slavs. I wouldn't be surprised if there is corruption amongst these referees, as every year there is a scandal in soccer, or in Euroleague.

In any UEFA or FIBA tournament, in a tight situation the referees will be always biased against poorer Eastern European countries, especially against Russians or Slavs. I wouldn't be surprised if there is corruption amongst these referees, as every year there is a scandal in soccer, or in Euroleague.
just like it happens in the NBA, with the difference, that there are quite lkess superstar calls- almost none. And how dare you say that there is a scandal in soccer annually? That simply ain't true