I listen to all of this convoluted press 'information' and then see the Pioli comments. And I ask myself: "Self, what do you think about all of this?" And Self says to me, "Well, how many of the 'early' press reports on all of these type of situations turn out to be correct?". And I say to self: "Gosh, Self, almost all of them get it wrong, many times even radically wrong as we find out when the final information comes out". And Self says: "How ABOUT that." And Self asks me: "And what is the track record of what are admitted to be "heard" or just stated as rumors or speculation?". And i say: "Gosh, Self, much of that turns out to just be nonsense". And Self says: "How ABOUT that." And Self asks me: "How do you think a GM will fare if other GM's think he is trying to manipulate them through press 'leaks'?" And I say to Self: "Gosh, Self, I would think that before very long a GM that operated like that would have a pretty tough time getting much cooperation in making deals with other GMs." And Self says: "How ABOUT that." And Self asks me: "Well, do you think a GM could convince other GMs that he wasn't trying to manipulate things in the press by saying in an interview that there wasn't anything like that going on?" And I say: "Gosh, Self. No, I don't think that would have any effect at all. Wouldn't be much point in even saying something like that. Might even p**s the other GMs off more than they already were." And Self says: "How ABOUT that." And Self asks me: "If you are a GM who is interested in a player that is in restricted free agent status with another team and you talk to the player/his rep and they say they would be interested in signing with you, which do you think you would do. Carefully spend a lot of effort working out a tricky offer sheet that would pay the player more than you really want to and figure out poison pills that would ace out the other team and then call some press guy and leak information - or would you just pick up the phone and ask the other GM if he'd be interested in trading the guy to you for the restricted agent pick plus a little sweetener?". And I say: "Gosh, Self, I think, especially if I were kind of busy, that I'd just do the simple thing first and call the other GM and see what he thinks about a trade." And Self says to me: "How ABOUT that."
And Self asks me: "Any more questions?". And I say to Self: "Gosh, Self, doesn't seem to be very complicated after all." And Self says to me: "How ABOUT that."
Always enjoy talking to mySelf.
