Saturday, February 4, 2006, 05:16pm ET ----- What's Inside

Whoa, two entries today. That's a rarity. But I've been meaning to talk about this.

I'm sure everyone's seen the Adidas TV spots featuring Kevin Garnett. The "What's Inside" campaign was lauched in January to coincide with the release of a3 Garnett '06, and it tries to capture the different parts of KG's personality by showcasing him in various character roles: Hero, Leader, The Kid, Warrior, and Comedian.

"You said that TOO fast!"

The 60-second TV spot was shot in front of a blue screen. The backdrops, effects, and transisionts between the different personalities were then added. Apparently, the shooting took place on some of largest sets ever used in a commercial production, spanning two soundstages.

I really enjoy the campaign. Some people have mentioned that there's something about the ad that makes Kevin Garnett seem to be loneliest man alive, especially the Comedian segment. I feel a little bit of that.

In any case, here are some neat photos.

Saturday, February 4, 2006, 01:44pm ET ----- 21-24

The All-Star balloting has concluded. Can someone tell me why Tracy McGrady and Tim Duncan got more votes than Kevin Garnett.

I refuse to believe that Tim Duncan (1,518,796) is more popular than Kevin Garnett (1,479,386), or is more fun to watch, or is more deserving of the recognition. Duncan is not athletic, explosive, and exciting like Garnett, who always puts on a much better show in an event like the All-Star Game.

Duncan is averaging a career-low 19.9 points. His personal stats are not better than Garnett's. Duncan puts up. 19.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.02 blocks, 0.74 steals, while shooting 49.2%. Garnett puts up 22.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.40 blocks, 1.20 steals, while shooting 54.0%.

The only thing Duncan has over Garnett is that the Spurs have a much better record. And that's only because they have a better team. Duncan is not a better player than Garnett. He has never been, and he never will be.

So someone please explain to me why Tim Duncan got more votes than Kevin Garnett. I don't get it.

Moving on.

So we're at 21-24. That's not good. Last year, we were 24-21 at the same point, and we all remember how that turned out. If the Playoffs started today, we would miss it. Yesterday's loss to Portland was another difficult one to watch. KG made a mistake in the final seconds of that game, letting four valuable seconds to tick off before finally fouling Steve Blake.

"I was just so locked in, thinking we had more time than what it was," KG said. "I should have fouled earlier. I'm thinking that we had him trapped in the corner, but not thinking that he is waiting to be fouled. Stupid on my part."

But the Timberwolves superstar played a great game: 27 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks -- shooting a franchise single-game record 12-13 (92.3%). He missed his first shot, then went to hit his next 12.

"I didn't know that I was 12-of-13," KG said. "I was calling for it and trying to be aggressive, but they start sagging off some of the guards, and our guards have to initiate to play basketball. I don't know. I got to find a way to go get the ball in the last four minutes."

KG didn't take a single shot in the final six minutes of the game. Ricky Davis shot the ball 20 times, and KG shot it 13 times. Can someone also please explains that to me. Why does KG, who shoots 54% from the field, only get to shoot 13 times. Why does KG only average 15.7 shot ATTEMPTS per game.

Why do other superstars like Kobe Bryant (27.1), Allen Iverson (26.2), Tracy McGrady (22.6), Lebron James (22.5), Dwayne Wade (19.0), Carmelo Anthony (19.0), and Dirk Nowitzki (19.0) get so many more shots attempts per game than Kevin Garnett -- when they don't shoot anywhere near as good a percentage as him.

Why do lesser players like Gilbert Arenas (20.6), Ray Allen (19.7), Michael Redd (19.0), Jason Richardson (19.0), Vince Carter (18.8), Chris Webber (18.8), Elton Brand (18.0), Paul Pierce (17.6), Richard Hamilton (17.4), Antawn Jamison (17.3), Zach Randolph (17.2), Mike Bibby (17.1), Shawn Marion (17.0), Baron Davis (17.0), Joe Johnson (16.8), Ricky Davis (16.7), and Al Harrington (15.8) take more shots than Kevin Garnett. Garnett is 27th in the league in shot attempts per game. He takes exactly the same amount of shots per game as Chris Bosh.

Someone please explain it to me.

As far as the team goes, we're 2-3 since the Wally trade. Granted, two of the three losses were to the Spurs and Pistons, we still aren't playing as well as we're capable of. "This team doesn't have the chemistry," KG said. "We're still soul searching. However you want to put it, this is a brand new team and it's not easy going on the road playing teams in their arena, where they are comfortable."

We had better find that soul, and get comfortable in a hurry.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 10:14am ET ----- New and old

Wally Szczerbiak was in the house. In Green.

The Timberwolves new acquisitions -- Ricky Davis, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, and Justin Reed -- put on a show and spearheaded Minnesota to a 110-85 blowout victory over the Celtics. Banks, playing for the first time in a Timberwolves uniform, scored a season-high 20 points. Mark Blount had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Together, they took tremendous burden off Kevin Garnett's shoulders. KG only took seven shots and played just 31 minutes, finishing with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Meanwhile, the subplot was Wally's first game back in Minnesota. It's strange seeing him in the green. Wally received a well-deserved standing ovation during the player introductions, and a hug at center court during tipoff from Kevin Garnett.

Wally had a big day, as his wife Shannon gave birth to their second daughter. Then he played against the team that he had played with for the past six and half seasons. Twice he forgot which side he was on, and tried to get some dap with Trenton and Marko after being fouled. "Then [I] realized, whoa, they don't play for my team," said Wally. "I've been real out of it for a couple of days. I just realized that I played without my mouthpiece."

Michael Olowokandi, on the other hand, was not so well received. Booed when he entered the game, he was jeered each time he touched the ball.

So we're 2-1 since the trade, with the loss coming from the defending champ Spurs. Not bad at all. But look, we're in Detroit tomorrow.

Friday, January 27, 2006, 01:07pm ET ----- Where

As in, where do I start.

First of all, Wally's gone. The Timberwolves traded Wally Szczerbiak to the Celtics for Ricky Davis. We also got rid of Michael Olowokandi and Dwayne Jones for center Mark Blount, point guard Marcus Banks, and forward Justin Reed, plus two conditional second-round draft picks.

I know a lot of Timberwolves fans are happy with Wally's departure. I find it a little sad because Wally's been great for us this year. He's been shooting really well, been attacking the basket, and has actually played decent defense. And he's been a Timberwolf since 1999, and thus has gone through so many of wars with KG. I wish him luck. As for Olowkandi -- I'm just glad I don't have to watch and cringe at his ugly bricks.

Now the Ricky Davis pick-up I like for the most part. This could either be really good for us, or really bad for us. An aggressive, slashing, athletic player who plays very strong D. I think there's a lot to like here. He's not a pure shooter like Wally though. KG will undoubtedly elevate Davis's game even more. Anyone who plays with KG will benefit tremendously.

And secondly, I wanna touch on Tuesday's game against Detroit. Flip Saunder's Pistons chewed us apart on Tuesday. It really stings because it is pretty clear firing Flip last year was a big mistake. Management was addressing the wrong issue. I am not happy with Flip's departure a year ago. I am not happy with it now. Seeing him triumphant in his return to the Target Center -- I'm glad for him.

And then there was Chauncey burning us in the second half. We should've done everything to keep him. Look at him now: Legit MVP candidate on a team that plays the right way, coached by a great coach.

After 40 games, we are 19-21 -- two games under .500. It doesn't look good. I really hope the Ricky Davis addition will fire us up and get us going. Denver has taken over the division lead, and is red hot. We're gonna be in big trouble if we don't turn it up right now.

Monday, January 23, 2006, 12:49pm ET ----- Why

Why do we blow leads. Why do we lose games we should've won. Why did Marko Jaric get the shot instead of Kevin Garnett.

Yesterday's game against the Sixers left a stunned disgust in my mind. Iguodala's heave was a lucky shot after a lucky tip back out. But the Sixers' win was not luck. They won because we sucked.

Yes, when you blow a 19 points lead in the second half, knowing fully well that protecting leads has been an ongoing issues throughout the season -- you can be on the level of sucking. I don't even know what to say. All I can do is shake my head, and move on.

It's tough being a Timberwolves fan sometimes.

Dwelling on the loss makes me sick. Let's talk about something else. Kobe Bryant.

Eighty-one points. What the hell.

Thursday, January 12, 2006, 04:10pm ET ----- 500 Double-doubles

The Timberwolves have been in a slump as of late, relinquishing the Northwest division lead to Utah -- even Denver has a better record than us right now. Last night's win over the Bulls was a much neede victory for us. Kevin Garnett led the way with 28 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block for his 500th career double-double (regular season I believe). It's a great accomplishment, and it speaks volumes of KG's consistency and dominance. Among all active players, only Shaq has more double-doubles (640) than KG.

With a sub-.500 16-17 record at this point in January, things don't look good. We're still lucky that this is a weak division, and all we need is a strong push to get the top spot back. Turnover has been a problem for us over the past few games. And we still need to have people other than KG and Wally to step up and be a third scoring option. Sadly, T-Hud and Marko are both still trying to find consistency, if not confidence. Hopefully it'll come. Soon.

Anyone else looking forward to the Cavalier-Laker game tonight? I always like TNT telecasts, and tonight's matching will be fun to watch. Kobe will be looking for his points again. He's scored 40 or more in five consecutive games, at the expense of getting his teammates involved. Lamar Odom would produce so much more if he wasn't playing with Kobe. Can you imagine the type of numbers Odom would put up if he were playing with KG? Odom would average 20 points. Easy.

Unlike Kobe, KG knows how to -- and tries his hardest to -- maximize the talent around him. Think of Sam Cassell and how KG helped him make the all-star team in 2003-2004. Can you imagine what kind of player Wally would be if he were playing with Kobe? Hell, Kobe would dominate the ball so much, Wally wouldn't average 10 points -- he'd probably be ridin' the bench. Kobe loves those diffult shots, with hands in his face and people draped all over him. Or he'll do all this one-on-one stuff and drive and kick it back out to Odom, who's then forced to take the three with the shot clock winding down. Odom will miss, and Kobe will get mad. Odom is not a three-point shooter. His strengths are in other areas, like making good decisions with the ball in his hands.

Kobe just doesn't get it.

Fun to watch, though. It's fun watching Kobe perform at this incredible individual level, and I always find it amusing when the Lakers lose anyway. I'll be rooting for the Cavs tonight.

Holla back.

Wednesday, January 4, 2006, 10:23pm ET ----- That's more like it

Just moments ago, the Timberwolves snapped a two-game losing streak with a big win over the Mavericks, 91-78. Finally, a great win over an elite opponent. Kevin Garnett led the charge with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 3 steals, and shooting 7-11. Marko Jaric finished with 22 points, and Wally had 20 points himself.

We came out in the third quarter, playing much, much better than we had over the past few games. This time, the third quarter was our quarter, as we outscored Dallas 31-19. Our defensive was great, as we held the Mavericks to a 37.2% shooting and to a season-low 78 points. Now this is what I like to see :)

Great Kevin Garnett moment in the quarter: KG deflected the ball away from Nowitzki, and as the ball was going out of bounds, KG dove for it trying to save it. Off balance, he tried to bounce it off Dirk ... only to realize it wasn't Dirk he bounced the ball off of -- it was a referee trying to get out of the way. So KG, landing and sitting on a courtside fan's lap, stared at the ref in disbelief and annoyance. Then burst into a big childlike smile.

:D

Monday, January 2, 2006, 06:54pm ET ----- New year, same struggle

Our stay in Florida for New Years was not pleasant. We got blown out by the Magic 107-87 on the 30th of December for our worst defeat of the season.

Then it got worse.

Two days later, on New Year's Day, 1st of January, time for New Year Resolutions and improved play, we got blown out again by Miami. This time by 27 points. I watched that game on RaptorsTV, and I was absolutley disgusted. We came out so flat in the third quarter it wasn't even funny. The Heat basically shut us down after halftime, and we did nothing to prevent them from scoring at will. 32 to 15 was the third quarter scoring output for Miami and Minnesota, respectively. For the entire game, they shot almost 20% better than us (52% to 32.5%), and outscored us in the paint 46-22. That's horrible. KG had a bad game, 11 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals on a dismal 4-13 shooting night.

If we don't get our act together soon, this is going to turn into last year all over again. At 14-14, we're lucky everyone else in the Northwest Division sucks right now, thereby giving us the lead in our division. Last year, Seattle was stellar and stayed ahead of us all year, and Denver had a red-hot finish. This year, everyone in this division is struggling, and we're fortunate to have the lead. But we're in a skid right now, and we don't look good.

Our next three opponents are, Dallas, San Antonio, then Dallas again. I think it's safe to say that, with the way we've been playing, we're gonna wind up with a sub .500 record at this week's end.

"We're a big question mark," KG said after the loss to Miami. "We have no real identity at this point. We show glimpses of being very, very good defensively. ... But I don't think you can stamp us as a defensive team or stamp us as a team with an identity right now."

Happy new year.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005, 11:25am ET ----- Book recommendation

I picked up an awesome hardcover pictorial book on Monday called, Hoops: Four Decades of the Pro Game, by Walter Iooss (photography) and Mark Jacobson (text). I'm sure everyone knows who Walter Iooss is. And if you've ever opened Rare Air or For the Love of The Game, or if you've ever read Sports Illustrated, you know how excellent and compelling his work is. Sportswriter Mark Jacobson provides the text and commentary to go along with the pictures.

Hoops: Four Decades of the Pro Game, with Kevin Garnett gracing the cover, is essentially a four-decade look at the best of the NBA in photography. Wilt, Russell, Dr. J, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Mike, Shaq, KG, Kobe, Lebron, and Melo are among the subjects of hundreds of massive, beautiful colour photos. There are several dope portraits of KG -- many of which from that 1999 photoshoot (remember the Sports Illustrated May 3, 1999 issue?).

I recommend checking out the book for yourselves. I also purchased the latest Michael Jordan book, Driven from Within. Both books, being hardcovers, were 30% off the original price -- so getting them was a no-brainer for me.

In other news, yes the Timberwolves are struggling. We've lost six of our last seven, and it's not cool at all. We even managed to lose to Portland -- the worst team in the west -- on Monday. Our lead in the Northwest Division is shrinking day-by-day, holding on to a 1.0 game lead over Denver.

We play the Sonics tonight, another division rival in our rear-view mirror.

Thursday, December 22, 2005, 04:17pm ET ----- Snapping that losing streak

We snapped our four game losing streak with a resounding 88-69 victory over the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. It was a game we badly needed to win. The bleeding had to stop, as we can't afford to have another debacle like last year. KG had 17 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 block in just 30 minutes of play. Wally continues his stellar play with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 2 steals.

Before last night's game, KG was presented with the NBA's Community Assist Award for November for all his charity work, most notably the 1.2 million he gave to rebuild houses for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Last Sunday, I attended the Raptors-Sixers game. It was a lot of fun. Someday I'll be able to tell my grandkids that I saw Allen Iverson play basketball. AI is my second favourite player in the NBA, and I wanted him to have a dominant game. He scored only 18 points though, as he sat out the entire fourth quarter in a Sixers blow-out win.

Oh, and I'm looking forward to ABC's Christmas Day double-header, especially the Lakers-Heat game. I'm sure everyone knows about Kobe's 62-point explosion on Tuesday against Dallas. Impressively, he did it in three quarters, not even playing the fourth since the Lakers were up big. I still think Kobe's a ballhog -- a supremely talented ballhog -- but 62 points is really dope.

I'm sure Kevin Garnett can score 60 if he wanted to -- hell, he can drain those turnaround jumpers all day over anybody in the league. But why would he want to score 60? It's never been an individual thing for him. He wants the team to win; and for that to happen, he needs to get his teammates involved. Kobe had 0 assists on Tuesday.

You look at KG's scoring over the years, and you realize that he has topped 40 only three times in his career -- KG's rate of scoring in the 40s is like Iverson or Kobe's rate of scoring 50s. And KG doesn't score over 30 too much -- only once in 23 games this year so far. But he consistenly scores in the 20s, meaning he is consistently great. And he'll also get you those 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists, along with those blocks and steals.

Friday, December 16, 2005, 10:20am ET ----- Short again

Five points.

That's how many points combined we lost by in three straight games. Last night, San Antonio beat us by two points, handing us another heartbreaking defeat. "I don't even know where to start," Garnett said. "We're right there, we're right there. We're in all these games, we're playing hard, but we're not playing smart at times."

Once again, just like in the Sacramento game, we had another horrible second quarter, managing only eight points while giving up 25. And we were forced to play catch-up the rest of the game. The second quarter is always a dangerous time for us -- that's when KG is resting on the bench. Last night, we got outscored 14-2 with KG on the bench in the second quarter, which was really where we lost the game.

I think Casey needs to rest KG at a different juncture. The way it is now, he has KG playing the entire first quarter, and then a little bit of the second quarter. Then KG goes to the bench for a good chunk of the second quarter. That's when the Timberwolves get stagnant, looking so out of sync and lost. When KG comes back at around the 4:00 mark, the Timberwolves are often trailing, and are so discombobulated that they fail to get the ball to KG. And KG ends up not scoring much in the second quarter.

Maybe Casey should consider resting KG a minute or two before the first quarter ends. This way, KG can come back earlier in the second quarter, maybe at the 8:00 or 9:00 minute mark. Now he has more time to get in rhythm and into the flow of the game.

Last night, KG scored 6 points in the first quarter, and went scoreless in the second. But he had a superb second half. He finished with a "good" Kevin Garnett game: 24 points, 21 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks, thoroughly outplaying old-nemesis Tim Duncan, who had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. It's the first time all season KG cracked the 20-rebound barrier. His previous season-high was 15.

It's good to see Huddy back. We missed his quickness and trigger-happy energy. Wally had another good game as well.

And please, Kandi -- don't shoot anymore. Why the hell is Olowokandi posting up and shooting ugly turnaround jumpshots when we have much better options like KG and Wally on the floor? Feeding Kandi the ball isn't a good idea unless 1) he's wide open, 2) he's got a much shorter defender on him in the post, 3) he's got such a deep position he could just turn and dunk. Really, those are the only times we should EVER pass to him. He's out there mainly to rebound and block shots, not to score. Stop wasting possessions on him.

Michael Finley scored the final six points for San Antonio to keep us at bay. Finley, who during the off-season was courted by the Timberwolves and KG himself in Chicago to sign with the team, opted to sign with the defending champion Spurs. After the final horn sounded last night as the Target Center crowd filed out, Finley approached and stopped a solemn-looking Garnett and explained to him the decision behind the signing, and told him how much he wanted to play with him. Finley put both hands on Garnett's shoulders, as Garnett listened and nodded. Garnett told Finley he understood, and wished him luck. The two shook hands and exchanged pound, then headed for separate locker rooms. "He just expressed his thanks for me reaching out to him and being honest about how I felt, and some more personal things," said KG, appreciating Finley's postgame gesture. "I have a lot of respect for the man."

We play Dallas on Sunday. These excruciatingly close losses are killin' me.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005, 09:32am ET ----- Tough losses

Damn, two tough losses.

The first one came on Monday in Philly, as we fell in overtime 89-90 despite having three chances in the final seconds to win it. Kevin Garnett was thoroughly outplayed by Chris Webber, who had a 20-20 game, and who completely shut down Garnett when it mattered. KG couldn't receive a clean pass, couldn't put the ball on the floor without difficulty, and couldn't even get a shot off without being blocked or stripped.

KG had a awful stretch in the end where he didn't look like himself. On a couple of catches, he went up really soft, which allowed Webber to block him. KG should've dunked all over his face. Gotta go up strong, Kevin.

The second loss came last night at home, as Bonzi Wells hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. We lost 91-93. The crowd was silent and stunned as Wells' shot sailed through the net. And our shoulders slumped a bit. It's tough to eat losses this these. "I'm not going to sit here and play like it don't. It hurts," KG said, nearly an hour after Wells' gamewinner. "But we're men. And we have no choice but to use it for motivation and bounce back against San Antonio."

Ah yes ... San Antonio is up next. Then Dallas on Sunday. Clearly, it doesn't get any easier from here. And we no longer have the swagger of the five-game winning streak.

Tread carefully.

In other matters, I hope people are voting daily online for their All-Star 2006 selections. Lately, I've been voting the following:

West:
F- Kevin Garnett
F- Tracy McGrady
G- Ray Allen
G- Steve Nash
C- Yao Ming

East:
F- Lebron James
F- Chris Bosh
G- Allen Iverson
G- Dwayne Wade
C- Ben Wallace

Sunday, December 11, 2005, 11:26am ET ----- Five in a row

Four straight wins on the road equals our most successful road trip ever. Coming home from such a high, there was always that possibility of a let down.

No worries yesterday, as the Timberwolves jumped on the Lakers early and took care of business, behind a season-high 30 points from Kevin Garnett, who finally cracked the 30-point barrrier this season. "When you're winning, it fuels confidence," KG said. "It fuels chemistry in the locker room. When you have 13 or 14 guys who are confident in themselves, it spreads like a virus. Winning early is very, very important."

Before last night, the Timberwolves had four consecutive games in which KG was not the leading scorer -- this had not happened since 2000. Wally has really stepped up in our recent success, and is playing like an All-Star as of late. After struggling early in the season, he has been hitting shots like crazy, taking the ball to the hole, no longer just being a catch-and-shoot guy, and taking charges. Even for the Timberwolves fan who don't like Wally, they gotta admit that it's been Wally's World as of late -- especially in those fourth quarters.

And there's also Eddie Griffin, whose shotblocking prowess has opposing teams thinking twice. He's been a major part of our improvement in defence. Averaging 2.56 blocks a game -- 7th in the league -- in just 19.9 minutes, Eddie was again huge for us last night. Playing despite flu-like symptoms, Eddie contributed 12 rebounds (5 offensive) and 4 blocks.

And of course, KG the dominator is still doin' his thang. His rebounds and double-doubles are down this year, but he's shooting a red-hot 55.1% -- AND the team is winning, so that's what's important. It's also important for him to get his teammates involved, and find that chemistry. KG knows he can take over a game anytime he wants. Last night, he did just that in the fourth quarter: "It's such a blur, man," he said. "It's happening, you're in the moment, you're going with it. ... I understand the last few minutes of the fourth, when I'm in the game, it's going to come through me. Sometimes it's not an easy thing to do. But I figure it out."

Lamar Odom couldn't handle him at all. And neither could Kwame, who returned after being out for three weeks, and who Phil Jackson wanted to guard KG because Jackson knew 18-year-old rookie Andrew Bynum couldn't do it. After the two teams met last week, Phil Jackson crudely joked that the Bynum-Garnett matchup was "almost child molestation."

So, our record, 12-6 is pretty good. We've created some distance and breathing room from the rest of the Northwest Division pack. We must keep this up, though. Last season, we were also 12-6 after 18 games ... and we all know how that turned out.

Don't lose focus.

Saturday, December 3, 2005, 01:33pm ET ----- Keep it G

Sometimes life's about coming back. Something always happens, and you just have to come back from it. To pick yourself up after you fall down. To look at yourself in the mirror and believe you can make things right again.

To never get discouraged. To never give up.

To me, basketball is a metaphor of life. Just look at the Timberwolves in their Friday night win over the Lakers in Los Angeles. Trailing by 18 points at one point, getting killed on the glass, and still down 82-67 late in the third quarter, the Timberwolves staged a furious comeback. Troy Hudson, who scored 18 points off the bench, hit several baskets to slice the Lakers lead. Wally, who scored 28 points in the second half, joined in and hits several shots of his own.

Then Garnett, playing with five fouls at the halfway point in the fourth quarter, went to work. The Timberwolves took the lead and never looked back, clinching a win on their first of four road games. KG finished with 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. Our 8-6 record is hardly impressive, but it's good enough for first in the Northwest Division -- which means we are guaranteed at least a third place slot if we can stay ahead the other division rivals.

By the way, Kevin Garnett has 15,999 career regular season points, and thus needs 1 more point to reach 16,000.

KG's stats look a little diferent this season. Fourteen games into the season, he's averaging 22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.43 blocks, and 1.21 steals. Clearly, the rebounding is down significantly from last year (13.5) and from two years ago (13.9), and is his lowest since 1998-1999.

But look at his shooting percentage! He's scoring at a 57.0% clip!! That's third in the NBA right now. This is amazing considering the type of shots he takes -- turnaround jumpers, fadeaways, mid-range shots. Sure, he gets his share of layups and dunks, but KG is hardly a traditional big-man in the post. 57% is dope.

Interestingly KG averages only 15.9 shot attempts a game. That's 26th place in the NBA right now. Lesser players like Tony Parker (16.0) and Joe Johnson (17.4) jack up more shots than Garnett. Compared to other elite superstar players, KG's field goal attempts are very low: Lebron takes 20.5 shots a game. Dwayne Wade takes 20.2. Tracy McGrady takes 18.4 with an ailing back. Allen Iverson takes 25.4 shots a game. And then there's Kobe, who was criticized by Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Reggie Miller, and Scottie Pippen for his insane amount of shot attempts, forcing up a whopping 28.6 shots a game.

KG's 15.9 shots are economical, as he makes an average of 9.1 of them.

He doesn't force anything, and is dangersously efficient. A G like him comes naturally.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 11:21pm ET ----- Timberwolf for life

Lately there has been a flurry of rumors and speculations about the status of Kevin Garnett as a Minnesota Timberwolf. After that stirring interview with TNT, and after Charles Barkley's they-need-to-trade-him remark, media and newspapers in places like New York and Detroit buzzed on the possibilities of their teams landing Garnett.

It's all just that, though: Pure speculation.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor cleared it up: The Timberwolves will not trade Garnett this week, not this month, not this year, and -- if it were left entirely up to him -- not ever. "I have no plans on trading him at least through this contact," Taylor said in a phone interview Tuesday. "I'd like to say through life. But I'll just say through this contract, because then there are things you can't always control." And before hanging up, he reiterated: "I can tell you, definitely, we are not trading KG."

Smart man. Trade Kevin Garnett, and I will stop caring about Timberwolves basketball.

And just in case you're wondering ... Yes, KG wants to stay.

"I'm Minnesota," he said. "The Target Center ... that's the Garnett Center!"

He wants to finish his career a Timberwolf, and leave his legacy here. It's something he's never wavered from, as he reflected on one of his first stops in Minnesota after being drafted. "I'll never forget being in the Target Center by myself one day, looking up, saying to myself, 'One day I want to own this city. I want to be a player these people are proud of.'"

I think no matter what happens, it's safe to say that we can't be any more proud than we already are.

Friday, November 18, 2005, 11:12am ET ----- All Star balloting begins

The 2005-2006 All Star Balloting has begun. The mid-season classic will be played on Sunday February 19, 2006. Vote now (and daily) for KG if you want to see him start. Not that you'd care, but here are my votes:

West:
F- Kevin Garnett
F- Tracy McGrady
G- Kobe Bryant
G- Steve Nash
C- Yao Ming

East:
F- Lebron James
F- Jermaine O'Neal
G- Allen Iverson
G- Dwayne Wade
C- Ben Wallace

And I realized something ... they put T-Mac as a forward selection this year. This means one of the Adidas Big Three -- KG, T-Mac, Duncan -- will not be a starter. How wack is that? I hope it's Duncan :p

Timberwolves won last night against the Wizards to improve to 4-4. KG almost had a triple double with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal. After eight games this season, KG is shooting 58.4% from the field. Oh my.

Did everyone see the KG interview with TNT's Cheryl Miller? He vented about last season's Timberwolves flop, with some words directed at Kevin McHale. "I think Kevin McHale, in his heart, wanted to coach," KG said. "He wanted to coach, but he didn't want the responsibility of being a coach. He wanted to come in and say, 'Hey, you two run pick-and-roll, you duck in on the weak side, you be ready to shoot.' He wanted to do that, but he didn't want to manage those guys. He didn't want to manage those egos. He wanted to maybe tell Flip what to do."

And he had some words for Glen Taylor and the management as well, saying that had the organization taken care of the Cassell/Sprewell contract situations during the 2004 offseason, Flip Saunders would still be coaching the Timberwolves. "It should have been done in the summertime so when September got here, it was all about basketball," he said. "'We're not going to re-sign you, we're going to re-sign you,' 'OK, cool,' end of discussion. ... The dialogue was just trashy. ... That set the tone for the whole year."

I'm glad Kevin voiced his concerns. These are the same concerns that many Timberwolves fans share and have thought about since last season. Clearly, KG wasn't taking any cheap shots at McHale or Taylor -- he had already said the same things privately to their faces: "This last summer and the year before, he's shared all that," Taylor said. "That's just the way he talks. Very emotional, and he says what he believes."

So no cheap shots here. It was him telling it like it is, as he sees it. Sugarcoating nothing. No politically-correctness or diplomacy. Straight up KG.

"The questions she [Cheryl] was asking me were for me being able to be a Monday quarterback, sort of sitting back and assessing things like I'd seen it," he said. "I didn't feel I was out of line with anything or untruthful with anything. I didn't feel like I disrespected anybody."

Sunday, November 13, 2005, 01:54pm ET ----- A big helping hand

Five games into the season and at 3-2, we stand atop the Northwest Division. Tonight we play the Nuggets, a division rival we absolutely must keep down. Our next three games won't be easy: Denver tonight, then we get Houston on Tuesday with T-Mac in the lineup, then a dangerous Washington team on Thursday. Better bring our A-game.

Through five games, Kevin Garnett is averaging 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.80 blocks, 1.40 steals, while shooting a superb 58.7% from the field. Once again, he's leading the league in efficiency rating. And you know he's just getting started. The rebounds will go up, as will the scoring. But really, Kevin Garnett's stats -- as brilliant and stunningly consistent as they are -- aren't as important as the Timberwolves performance as a team. You can tell he's trying so hard to bring his new teammates into the fold, and make them comfortable in the new offensive/defensive schemes. Just look at his assists average. He knows these are his soldiers, and he needs them if the Timberwolves are to contend.

In other news, Kevin Garnett is teaming up with Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network charity foundation, and has donated $1.2 million to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. "I knew I wanted to do something," KG said after Friday's practice. "But I didn't know in detail what I wanted to do."

KG said he chose Oprah's foundation because every penny of his donation will go towards helping the victims. "The fact that she pays the overhead of her employees and the foundation itself and just goes out and makes dreams come true ... I think it makes it more beneficial," KG said. "It's a good thing."

As KG has never been one to seek out publicity, he didn't make a live appearance on Oprah's show -- but he taped a vignette to surprise her. "It's just good to know that people actually appreciate when you do give," Garnett said. "I'm not the one for a lot of publicity, I'm not one to put myself out there with what I do, but in this case, I hope that it motivates others to give."

Garnett's sizable contribution will be used to build homes throughout the Gulf Coast region -- one house a month for the next two years. That's 24 homes.

Although he doesn't have any families or close friends directly impacted by Katrina, KG feels a sense of connectedness with the victims: "I'm from the South, though, and I know how hard the South is," he said. "A lot of things that go on up North, there's a lot more opportunity. In the South, there's not as much opportunity and I know it's going to be a dramatic and drastic transition to turn that city around."

Here is the letter KG gave to Oprah:

"Dear Oprah,

When I saw all that you've done for [Bernadette's family] and the survivors of the Hurricane Katrina, I was inspired to log onto Oprah.com to see how I could help. So because of you, Oprah, I'm personally buying one Katrina home from your registry every month for the next two years. That's 24 homes and $1.2 million for your Angel Network to help other families who need a place to live. Keep up the great work.

Your friend, Kevin Garnett"

Sunday, November 6, 2005, 12:04pm ET ----- So close

Last night, The Timberwolves suffered their second consecutive overtime loss. After getting burned by Ray Allen in overtime on Friday, the Timberwolves travelled to Los Angeles to face Sam Cassell and the Clippers, who were off to a 2-0 start.

These are not quite the Paper Clips we're used to.

The two teams traded baskets in the nail-biting fourth quarter and in overtime, with Kevin Garnett working his way in and hitting a tough shot to tie the game and send it into OT. Once in OT, the Timberwolves grabbed the lead for the first time all night ... but it would not last. On the final possession, KG had a chance to win the game, but his shot came up just short. It was a great shot, but he just missed it. "I just took what he gave me," KG said. "It felt good and looked good, from my perspective, but it just came out."

It wasn't a bad loss or anything. KG had 25 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks -- however, he was just 5-9 from the freethrow line. For me, it was my first look at this year's Timberwolves. Kevin Garnett looked great -- his entire post-moves arsenal was on display: Spins, pumpfakes, headfakes, fadeaways, and terrific footwork. Great stuff.

It was also great to see Troy Hudson healthy again. He looked quick and bouncy, finishing with 21 points off the bench. He had a nice little scoring barrage in the fourth quarter to get us back in the game.

It was odd seeing Sam Cassell and KG playing against each other. There was a sequence in the final seconds of fourth quarter -- with the Timberwolves down 91-89 -- KG went up for an offensive rebound, and Sammy was pesky enough to slip in and get both his hands on the ball. The two held on tight to the ball, and as the ref blew the whistle for a jumpball, for a moment there it looked almost as if they were about to get nasty with each bother. But KG suddenly wrapped both arms around Cassell and hugged him, and the two smiled and exchanged high-fives. It was a cool moment.

1-2 isn't good. Losing two straight OT games isn't good either. But we don't look half bad. If we can just make some adjustments, and get to know one another better, we should be alright.

Thursday, November 3, 2005, 02:18pm ET ----- 10 Years of portraits

First things first, the Timberwolves won their season opener last night against a very young Portland team led by Darius Miles. KG had an efficient game, with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks while shooting 9-13. Before last night, KG had a streak of two consecutive monster season openers of 20-20. But hey, a win is a win. First one for coach Casey, too. "We gave him [Casey] a game ball and congratulated him," KG said. "Wins don't come easy in this league. We told him that we're going to fight for him. That's our identity. We can't make every shot but we're going to play hard."

And now, let's move on to the business of the day. It's November 3rd.

It's been exactly 10 years since Kevin Garnett played his first NBA game. On November 3rd, 1995 -- in Sacramento against the Kings -- KG made his debut by coming off the bench with 5:55 left in the first quarter.

And now, 10 years later -- Kevin Garnett has created a legacy for himself. He's a gifted athlete, an unique physical specimen, a supreme rebounder, a prolific scorer, a vicious shotblocker, a terrific passer, and a lockdown defender who could give Jordan-in-his-prime fits.

Kevin Garnett is the complete basketball player.

A legend in every sense of the word.

Ten years of this, and he is still building that legacy. You study the movement of Kevin Garnett, and he looks timeless. You study a portrait of Kevin Garnett, and he looks ageless. Those piercing eyes have seen a lot. And those pierce eyes have a lot to tell you.

And so, I present the third and final section of the 10 Years of KG feature. These are candid portraits of an intense competitor, a fiercely loyal individual, an exuberant hyper man-child who wants the sky. Behind that megawatt superstar smile lurks a venomous snarl. And vice versa, behind that menacing scowl is an almost child-like grin.

These are portraits of a man. A kid. A thug. A hero.

It's been an inspirational decade.

Monday, October 31, 2005, 01:30pm ET ----- 10 Years of dunks

Happy Halloween.

Opening night of the 2005-2006 season is tomorrow. I am real excited about it. The Timberwolves play their first game on Wednesday, a home opener against the Blazers. Go Timberwolves.

There's a great new KG/T-Wolves blog, created by Ryan. He signed my guestbook and let me know about his new blog -- so go check it out: http://www.kevingarnettsource.blogspot.com/. It's always cool to read other KG fans' insights, analyses and opinions. In the words of Ryan: "Kevin Garnett is the reason I watch the Minnesota Timberwolves." I think this is something many Timberwolves fans have in common. And it's something that continues to drive us, and has us feverishly following Timberwolves basketball.

Well, continuing the 10th Year Anniversary of Kevin Garnett's journey in the NBA, I have opened up the next section of the 10 Years of KG feature. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, check out my previous (October 28th) entry. Today I present to y'all: 10 Years of Dunks. This will be a crowd favourite, I'm sure :)

Friday, October 28, 2005, 01:46pm ET ----- 10 Years of Kevin Garnett

The 2005-2006 season is less than a week away. Ten years ago, a 19-year old Kevin Garnett burst onto the NBA scene, playing his first-ever pro game on November 3, 1995. A full decade has passed.

That's 10 years of basketball excellence, joyous passion, and fierce intensity. Ten years of smiles and cries.

As a fan, I grew up watching him through all of this. As a role model and sports hero to millions of fans, Kevin Garnett has had a major influence on me, and on how I approach and view things in life. I wouldn't be the same person today if it weren't for Kevin Garnett.

Ten years of inspiration.

And thus, as Kevin Garnett is about to embark on his 11th season in the NBA -- still chasing that elusive ring -- let's take a look back at his previous 10 seasons. I have prepared a pictorial tribute and celebration of the 10-year anniversary. I will open the different pictorial sections as we count the days till November 3rd.

Let's start off with this: 10 Years of Domination

Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 01:30pm ET ----- Dress code wack

I'm not feelin' this new dress code.

Starting November 1st, players will be expected to wear business casual attire when they participate in team/league functions or activities -- including arriving at games, leaving games, and making promotional appearances.

Players will no longer be able to wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, t-shirts, chains/pendants/medallions worn over the clothes, sunglasses while indoors, headphones (except for on team bus/plane, or in locker room). As well, jerseys and baseball caps will not be allowed in postgame conferences. Violators of the new policy will be fined. Repeat violators will be subjected to suspensions.

Allen Iverson must be rolling his eyes.

In the words of one Stewie Griffin: "What the deuce??"

In my opinion, this new dress code is really uncalled for. I understand that David Stern is trying to improve and repair the image of the league, but this isn't the way to go about it. It seems that the league is trying to market and appeal to the ticket buyers who are largely corporate, white-collared consumers -- i.e. rich White folks -- the very people who can afford season tickets packages. Ever notice the choice of music and spots used in many of the the ABC telecasts? -- that stuff isn't what I want to hear when I think about basketball. To me, basketball always has that urban hip-hop flava, and the league is trying to sell the NBA in a way I find repulsive at times. It's apparent that the league is trying to lessen the hip-hop image associated with many of the players.

I happen to like the hip-hop image. I grew up with it.

I must also say that the ban on jewelry is completely ridiculous. Pacers' Stephen Jackson calls the jewelry ban "racist" and an attack on Black culture. Stephen Jackson acts like a child sometimes, but here he does make a valid point.

What's next -- cornrows? Earrings?

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against business casual attire. There are some sharp dressers in the NBA -- Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Ray Allen, and even Kevin Garnett when he wants to do it. But I prefer choice. It sucks when people tell you what you should wear, or how you should dress. I truly respect and admire Allen Iverson, who wears what makes him comfortable. That uncompromising realness is what's so appealing about cats like AI.

"I think there needs to be some style improvement but at the same time it has to be with in reasons," said Kevin Garnett. The new dress code really isn't practical at times. "Not everyone lives in Minneapolis going out in 20 below," said Garnett. "Not everyone wants to be in a suit and jacket. Hopefully they can go 50-50."

This is a bad move by the NBA.

Moving on, in other news: KG had 16 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in just 22 minutes against the Bulls on Monday. Timberwolves won 97-89, with KG playing cheerleader at the end. KG also had some words with Bulls' Othella Harrington, the two throwing the ball at each other in the first quarter. KG stripped the ball from Harrington after a foul was called, prompting Harrington to throw it at KG, who threw it back. Then Tyson Chandler stepped in, jawing with KG. All three were assessed techs. "He was talking a little bit," KG said. "Chandler, I know he's a nice soft dude. He came out like he -- I don't know, he was a different dude. All of a sudden, he's a gangsta, he was talkin' reckless. I didn't understand that part of it. He got quiet real quick, you know"

KG went off and scored three straight baskets over Chandler, who was then yanked out of the game by Scott Skiles. So apparently Chandler is just a fake thug.

Sunday, October 16, 2005, 10:56pm ET ----- KG sees first action

After tonight's loss to Flip's Pistons, the Timberwolves are 0-3 in these preseason games. Even though these games are meaningless in terms of records, they're still tune-up games that show us where we are as a team. KG played tonight, after sitting out the first two exhibition games as part of coach Casey's plan of limiting his minutes and resting him whenever possible.

That's fine by me. KG may be only 29, but he's an old 29. This being his 11th season, there's a lot of mileage on those knees. "He's [Coach Casey] just preserving me, man," said KG after the game. "I'm about to be 30 with a lot of miles on me."

Garnett is still not discussing how much his sore right knee is bother him, but he did have this to say: "I appreciate the fact that someone actually cares about my body, and is man enough to tell me ... 'Sit [yourself] down. You're hurting,'" KG said of Casey after the game. "He's giving me another outlook on it and saying, 'There's practice and times that are not so heavy-duty.' It's good for somebody to give me a different observation. Not to say that I haven't had that, but one that I trust in and actually respect."

And speaking of taking it easy on those knees, there are two cool television spots on timberwolves.com that show KG running in the sand. Definitey check them out.

Back to the game tonight: KG had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal in 22 minutes. I read in the Star Tribune report that KG didn't limp or anything, but appeared slightly sluggish -- this being his first real game action. "I was a little nervous how I was going to look," said KG. "But that's just me -- I strive for perfection. ... We've only been together 11 days and continuity still ain't there. We've got to build up to it. This is motivating us every night."

And for KG, seeing Flip on the other side was strange. There was a funny moment in the game where KG scored on the Pistons' end, and instinctively extended his fist for Flip to bump it. Then he realized what he was doing, and pulled it back. Hahahaha. "It was pretty weird, I'm not even going to lie," said KG. "I think forever, until I'm out of this league, when I see Flip, we're always going to have that connection."

And likewise for Flip: "I knew exactly what Kevin was going to do to us," Saunders said after the Piston's win tonight. "I must have seen it a thousand times. ... I know all those guys, so it was an odd feeling. But I have a new group now. A new family."

Before the game, Flip approached McHale and shook hands. And the two chatted for the first time since McHale fired Flip in February. "We're still friends," Flip said. "We hadn't talked, but things happen and you move on. Believe me, we had disagreements between us back in college, too."

I wish Flip all the best.

The Timberwolves travel to Chicago for a preseason game against the Bulls tomorrow night. KG will surely be greeted with a warm welcome. [This entry was updated on Monday, October 17, 2005 at 12:18pm]

Tuesday, October 4, 2005, 04:17pm ET ----- One-Man Wreckin' Crew

Kevin Garnett is ready.

"Last year was last year," said KG yesterday during Timberwolves' Media Day. "We have a lot to prove. ... If you sense a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, it is. Because last year wasn't really pleasant. The finger-pointing. I felt like people didn't really look at themselves in the mirror. It's a new year. A new day. Happy to be back in the gym and get after it."

The Timberwolves went 44-38 last season, missing the Playoffs for the first time since KG's rookie season. KG spent much of his summer in his home in California, running on sand to strengthen his knees. Although his knees were sore last year, KG said it didn't affect his game. "I wasn't going to feed into what you guys wanted me to say," he said. "I'm not a puppet. My leg wasn't hurting, it wasn't hurting. If it was bothering me, it was bothering me. But what difference does it make, as long as I perform?"

And performed he did. KG's numbers last year -- 22.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.37 blocks, 1.48 steals -- made him the only player in NBA history to average 20-10-5 for six consecutive seasons. Night after night, he was reliable, durable, and always the hardest-working.

It's hard to predict how the Timberwolves will do this year. Sammy is gone. So is Spree. The three-headed monster that terrorized oppositions during the 2003-2004 was barely barking last season. This year, we're back to the one-man wrecking crew that is Kevin Garnett, the one constant that Timberwolves fans have counted on for the past 10 years. And for the first time since 1995, we don't have a reliable designated point guard. Six of the current 15 Timberwolves players have never worn the Timberwolves jersey. And we also have a new coaching staff.

"We've got a lot of new faces, a lot of variables," Garnett continues. "Can we win? Can we not win? What kind of team it's going to be. Our identity. How different things take shape. We'll find out pretty soon."

Saturday, September 24, 2005, 03:11pm ET ----- New Strength

Hope y'all had a great summer. The Timberwolves traded Sam Cassell during the off-season, and Latrell is as good as gone. There have been a lot of changes -- new coaching staff, new draft picks, new acquisitions -- I don't know what's going to happen to the Timberwolves this upcoming season.

According to yesterday's St. Paul Pioneer Press, Kevin Garnett has added more muscle this summer, and he now weighs 253lbs, which is the heaviest he's ever been. It was suggested that KG will probably be playing more Power Forward this season, and less Small Forward. That sounds weird to me, because I always thought he has played more PF the last couple of seasons than SF.

Last season, Garnett played at 240lbs. It'll be interesting to see how the additional weight will play out. I always saw Garnett as having the optimal combination of agility, speed, and power. I'm not sure how the new weight will affect his game. It'll definitely allow him to better endure the pounding he takes every night. And he'll definitely be stronger. But how about other aspects of his game? His speed and quickness? Agility? Elevation?

I suppose as a player gets older, he needs to make the necessary adjustments to his body and to his game. Michael Jordan did it. And Kevin Garnett is smart enough to know he needs to make sure his body can stand up to the wear and tear of the NBA grind. KG's knees were tender at various points during last season. This summer, he's been keep up with his running, which he does in the sand in Malibu, California.

I can't wait for the season to begin. I'm thirsty for Timberwolves basketball.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005, 01:15pm ET ----- With the 5th pick...

"... in the 1995 NBA Draft," said David Stern 10 years ago this day at the SkyDome in Toronto. "The Minnesota Timberwolves select ... Kevin Garnett from Farragut Academy High School."

Something historical happened on that day.

Something special.

It's been exactly 10 years since Garnett made the leap from high school straight to the pros. Prom to pro, read the headlines. Prep to pro. The media had a field day with this kid, both before and after he was drafted. At the time, Garnett raised a lot of eyebrows. He drew a lot of criticism. He weathered a lot storms. And then he proved the doubters wrong.

But that came later, of course. On June 28, 1995, Kevin Garnett was just a teenager -- all of 19 years old -- who suddenly found himself a member of the NBA family. A new spotlight, with new responsibilities and expectations. At the announcement of his name by David Stern, Garnett walked from the Green Room to the stage. He symbolically wiped the sweat away from his forehead. He hugged his mother. He put on a Minnesota Timberwolves cap. He pumped his fist. He waved to the crowd. His mouth was saying something. He wore a big-big smile -- a superstar smile, you could tell -- to go along with his gray suit. His eyes glistened with joy and an almost childlike giddiness -- so much hope in those eyes. And then he reached the podium, and shook Stern's hands.

Garnett was tall.

Ten years later, Kevin Garnett is still tall. Taller, in fact. Stronger. Wiser. Older.

Fans of Kevin Garnett will fondly mark this 10th anniversary. KG opened the floodgate for high-schoolers looking to make the jump. Kobe followed. Jermaine. T-Mac. Amare. Lebron.

KG paved the way. But not so much for the other players. He really paved the way for himself. He has walked his own path. He has set his own terms. He has negotiated his own journey. Today the journey hits the big One-Oh.

Pour it on.

Thursday, May 19, 2005, 11:25pm ET ----- 29

May 19th.

Kevin Garnett turns 29 today.

A year ago this day, the Minnesota Timberwolves were playing the game of their lives: Game 7 against the experienced, Playoff-tested Sacramento Kings. And, as much a gift as it was to the birthday boy -- the then 28-year-old Garnett -- the series-winning victory was a gift to all of us. If you're a Timberwolves fan, that is a game you just don't forget. Ever.

32 points. 21 rebounds. 2 assists. 5 blocks. 4 steals. These were the numbers Kevin Garnett put up in that game. He came through when it counted most. He silenced the critics. He put the team on his back. A performance for the ages.

That was a year ago. Can you believe how fast time flies? This year there is no Game 7 for Timberwolves fans to watch. There is not even a game. Next year, then. Judging from KG's latest message posted on his official site, he sounds pretty upbeat and hopeful:

What's up FANS?

It's your boy K.G. WellˇKˇK It's Over!!!! Man, Man, Man. You know what? It was a tough season, a tough year, but don't give up on us, not yet. Although we didn't make the playoffs, we will count this one as a learning experience. Don't get me wrong, It's hard and it's hurts, but that's only going to make us that much stronger for you next season. Right now I'll take a few weeks off to rest up a bit, take a few vacationa but then I'll be right back it. Getting ready for the next season. Until then, I want to say thank you for your continued support and loyalty. Look out for us next season. WE'LL BE BACK!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Peace,
K.G

Sounds good to me. Happy birthday, dogg.

Monday, May 9, 2005, 03:29pm ET ----- Site announcement

Many of you may have noticed that Geocities has messed up my HTML coding for the photo galleries. In the past, when you click on a thumbnail image, the enlarged photo should open in a new browser. I set it up that way so you don't need to press the "Back" button, which makes all the thumbnails load again and therefore costs me valuable bandwidth.

A few months ago, however, Geocities decided to mess with some of the stuff. Does anyone notice that annoying stupid ad bar on the right side? God damn that's wack. What's even worse was that my HTML coding for pop-up photos was disrupted by this. I had been using a simple HTML code (target="resource window") to accomplish this, but that no longer works the way it was supposed to. Now when you click on a thumbnail image, a new window still pops up, but the original browser also opens the image -- which completely beats the purpose of having a pop-up window. [Edit: Ahem, actually, I just noticed that no new window pops up, it's essentially just a regular link. In other words, target="resource window" is not even recognized. Bah.]

Note that this is not just for pop-up photos, but also for links that I made to open in a new window.

So, my apologies to those of you who couldn't enjoy the photo galleries the way I orignally intended it.

But good news: Armed with some new Javascript coding, I know how to fix it :)

In fact, I have already fixed the 1995-1996 Gallery. Every picture now opens in a pop-up window the way I want them to. It's so great. Go have a look.

Fixing the other galleries will take much longer, though -- as some of them are massive. It's not exactly a fun thing for me to sit here and copy & paste file URLs all day. So just give me some time. Also, don't be alarmed it some of the photos temporarily disappear, as that would mean that I'm fixing them. Feel free to e-mail me to let me know of any broken links, or mishaps that occur. I am, after all, human.

Peace y'all.