Per the Daily Herald, Jerome James wants to make a "comeback," and to achieve some shred of salvation from the laughing stock that his career has become.
His main motivation for this?
"My kids, they're starting to read stuff on the Internet that just isn't true about me."
What could they have read that wasn't true? What criticisms are levied against Jerome that the kids might see? That he's not very good? That he's overpaid? That he's overweight? That he once turned up to practice still drunk from his New Year's Eve celebrations? Because they all seem to true to me, if not to Jerome.
So, what did Jerome do to change our minds?
Only this.
That svelte little beauty is our fourth string centre, our token fat guy, our last remaining relic from the Ben Wallace debacle. That emaciated young stunner is the guy who wishes to dispel malicious internet stories about his conditioning. That fat old bugger is the 2009 incarnation of this scrawny little upstart (dated 2001). That's what's become of Jerome James.
It's a shame. As Bulls fans, we've witnessed a long struggle of players battling weight issues, including Mike Sweetney, Eddy Curry and Khalid El-Amin. It ended Sweetney's career, it's absolutely poleaxed Curry's, and El Amin's sole contributions to the NBA these days are his dancing cameos in Stephon Marbury's streaming meltdown. It's going to do the same for Jerome, too, if it hasn't done so already.
Part of the shame comes from the sadly overlooked fact that Jerome could play. Even if he only ever showed it in 5 minute bursts, Jerome was a decent player back in the day; a rebounder, a shot blocker, a decent finisher around the rim, and a strangely successful pick and roll option. His jumpshot was about a twentieth of as good as he thought it was, he was burdened with permanently cataclysmic fouling rates, and he had all the catching ability of a quadraplegic Jonny Gomes, but James was a player that had to be respected in the paint on both ends. Kind of.
But that's all gone now. Jerome is 34 next month, and has played a total of 15 minutes over the last two seasons. In fact, in the 2005 playoff run with the Sonics that got him his big pay day, James played almost as many minutes (295) as he has done combined over the last three years (298). There is little reason to believe that anything he had to give will ever "come back." And even if there was, I think his media day picture just killed it.
The real shame, though, is the excuses. James may have had his injuries over the years, but the injuries were born out of the poor conditioning and not the other way around. Furthermore, just because you're injured, it's not an excuse for getting fat and losing the ability to play a sport for more than 3 minutes at a time. This is a professional sportsman we're talking about here. Come on now.
Jerome's spectacular failings with the Knicks weren't due to a "bad situation," like he would have you believe. That was a man who didn't want it. If he starts wanting it again, great. But that won't change the past, and the past will still be there for his kids to read.
If Jerome loses 200 lbs, gives a toss, remembers that his guaranteed money is about to run out, and gets himself in a position to block shots and rebound for 10 minutes a game down the stretch of the season, that would be great. We could certainly use another rebounder, and the league is permanently starved of capable 7 footers. Jerome has (or had) the potential to be one, and he says that he wants to be again.
But his actions don't match his words. Not even close. So I'm probably going to expect the expected.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Bad Media Day Pictures, chicago bulls, Highly Unlikely Events, jerome james
I sure home he saved his money or atleast invested it correctly. I think Jerome may have a drinking problem which contributed to his weight as well. I remember he showed up to a practice with the knicks smelling of booze and hung over. As for his kids dont you think they know dad isnt a real good basketball player? Has he been keeping them in a village with no TV or internet? Maybe he does and he lies to them. Hey dad how did you do tonight? Well son I led the bulls to victory with yet another 20/20 night.
OMG, I had no idea what the guy looked like. It is way worse than I thought that it was. He should not even be allowed anywhere near the team, someone might catch something, like a bad attitude.
Next to rap/hiphop, the NBA has to have paid more money to usleless spineless mindless morons than any other industry in the history of the world. What a country, who needs reparations.
oops, I forgot to finish the line, it should have read "spineless, mindless morons with a hippo build".
Money for nothing, Dire Straights, I believe.
who cares.
^^^^
Suck up much lmao
Great website though.
Interesting that you would say that, given that you once called it the "unfunniest garbage on the internet."
http://www.bullspodcasters.com/forums?id=25940&catid=5&func=fb_pdf
Don't know anything about your beef with Newskoolbulls, but you appear to be chaneling Michael Jordan, don't you think.
Mark I am a changed man. I check that site out every day. Dont take what i say seriously. I respect you nba knowledge and i believe if you ever move to America you can seriously get a gig at NBA TV, ESPN, or some coloumn in a paper.