Joe Hears Your Pain
To quote Stephon Marbury’s Opening Night Plea, “Without you, there is no us.” Email Joe or Champagne. Let us know what you think of this site, the Nets, the NBA, or anything. We’ll post your letters here with our replies.
Addresses: joe@joenetsfan.com, champagne@joenetsfan.com

Byron Must Go!
Dear Joe and Champagne:
I have thought long and hard about Byron Scott. I want him fired for good.

I am fed up with coach Scott. I don't think he is the right guy for the Nets at all. Lots of players have regressed under Scott. Lots of players have shown no respect for Scott. Some have taken advantage of Scott. Some admitted they didn't want to play hard for Scott. These variables have shown that he has to go.

It's going to be hard to get rid of players with the money they make. Plus considering that K-Mart (Kenyon) and Scott did not see eye-to-eye should seal Scott's fate. Lots of players are not going to go through the wall for Scott so why make Scott suffer? Fire him and hire Nets T.V. analyst Jim Sparnakel to coach this team. Considering that baseball T.V. analysts have succeeded, I think it's worth giving Jim a shot. I think Jim can bring a fresh face to the team.

I refuse to watch, listen or even read about the Nets unless they prove they care. I would be excited to follow the Nets if Sparnakel got the job.
- Tom Jones, May 3, 2001

Tom:
I understand your frustration. There were times this season that I couldn't read the sports pages, the Nets were so bad. But you should hang in with Joe. We can commiserate.

I think Byron and Kenyon have made nice. At least I hope so. Scott admitted he was too hard on Martin early on, didn't realize how hampered he was by leg pain, and apologized. I think Byron deserves another year, personally. Hiring another guy who hasn't been an NBA head coach would be giving up another year of the Nets' time to a "learning period."

Although, Spanarkel does know the team. But why such affection for Spanarkel? By the way, you know, Nets Assistant Coach Mike O'Koren was a radio guy, if you're looking for that angle. And O'Koren's been through a few seasons with this bunch already, at all-too-close contact. Or do you just want to clean house?

Something to ponder. But I am definetely not sold on Scott yet.
- Champagne

R U Out of U Mind?
Dear Joe:
Look man i know u think ur telling the truth but its really not that cool when u diss the nets night after night every time they lose. I think u should post more positive things about the team, if u r a true nets fan then u should say wait until next season when we get some high draft picks and maybe some other young players. Other than that i think u site is ok but could be better if u do some of the stuff that i asked for.
- Sincerely, Andrew Barrett, April 19, 2001

P.S. Can u pleese hurry up on the Power N Motion part of the site in Arena Life...

Andrew:
At first I was torn between thinking that this was either one of my friends playing a cruel trick on me or one of those scary people who attend Nets/Grizzlie games. But I'm gonna take you as a true, serious Nets fan.

Let me point out the obvious that I am indeed also a true Nets fan and as such that's what makes it so easy for me to lampoon the franchise. Let's face it: by asking me to be more positive and telling me to wait until next season, you're letting them off the damned hook – and you're enabling the franchise to continue to suck. The Nets needs to stop making excuses and start putting some playoff-caliber product on the floor. Byron Scott won't accept it - why should we, the diehard fans?

And by the way, we love the criticism - please keep it coming. Joe likes to call it like he sees it, and if you think I'm talking trash you should say so. But c'mon man, open your eyes - it ain't sunshine and blue skies. Believe me, I would love to have a positive, playoff-bound story to tell. As a fan, that would be much more satisfying. Oh, Champagne is getting busy on Arena Life, hang on. Peace and enjoy the playoffs.
- Joe

Painful Admissions
Hey Joe:
My name is Brian and I have lived in New Jersey my whole life as well [Ed.: "Hello, Brian!"]. It's nice to see someone actually admit they have been a Nets fan their whole lives. I just found out about your website a couple days ago. Interesting site. As painful as it has been to watch the Nets (don't we say that every year?), I have seen some positives recently and throughout the year.

First, I do like Scott and think the players like him as well. He seems to be taking this season in stride. He always looks and speaks professionally and I think he will be around for a while. Marbury has been terrific this year. His All-Star game really showed the rest of the country that he can hang with the Iversons and the Bryants. He has gone from a pure scorer to more of a team player and should only get better with the emergence of Martin and Van Horn settling in after their leg injuries. And speaking of Martin, he has really come on lately and has looked like a number one pick should. He finally admitted that the broken leg was bothering him the whole first half of the season. Even Eschmeyer has looked tougher lately. Stephen Jackson has looked more like a role player than anything else but not bad for a guy who pretty much came from nowhere. Anyway, basically wanted to say HI and keep up the good work with the web site. I will pass the address to other Nets fans I know.
- Brian, March 16, 2001

Brian:
We can't thank you enough for spreading the word about "Joe." Big hug. I like Scott too and believe the guy deserves another season, with his guys and his plan. I have a deep crush on Martin, as you may know, from way back in this season, and as much as we bust Van Horn's chops, I think the Nets should give him one more year to prove himself. Joe may think otherwise. I don't know, he's busy right now, cranking out Game Reviews and working for a mega corporation, trying to put food on the table for his two children, Vanilla Thunder and Truckman. Nevertheless Brian, welcome to our support group: the "Fright Club," if you will. We'll be here for you. We care. Hit me as hard as you can. Damn it, we care.
- "Tyler Durden " 'Pagne

Ehlo Freak
You Nets fans definitely have a winner for years to come in GRAND Kenyon Martin. He is awesome!!

RE: Those little cartoon pictures you have on your website of the Nets players....can you make me a Craig Ehlo one??

Thanks,
- Tom, January 20, 2001

Tom,
Thanks - we like to think that Champagne's big crush on Kenyon Martin is not inappropriate or misplaced. Though being force-fed at a quicker pace than one would like, Kenyon is starting to pull it all together like the #1 drafted player that he is. Not crazy about that nickname, though.

As for your bizarre Craig Ehlo fixation, uh, I can only guess that you must be related to him. I did find his picture and bio on the web, and I learned that his favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys and his favorite movie is Forrest Gump. But how long has he been out of the league?? Sorry, but Champagne is too busy multi-tasking, drawing, site layout and administration and god knows what else he does to keep this site going, to be able to draw Craig Ehlo for you.

Again, thanks for your backlash comments. We hope you enjoy the site.
- Joe

Awesome Site
You guys have a great site. Very funny.

And you gotta be funny to remain a Nets' fan after all of their bad luck and incompetence. It amazes, year after year, that key players are consistently hurt. Why is that if we get somebody promising, they have to be injured?

Remember when Kittles was equal to Ray Allen?

It's only a matter of time before Jackson and Martin collide going up for a rebound ending both of their seasons.

The cartoon drawings are the best!! Keep it up. I have your site bookmarked. Zed Zelch, esq., December 20, 2000

P.S. How do u do the cartoons? Do u draw it first then scan it in the computer or do you use a software program...if so, which one?

Zed Zelch,
Thanks for the positive feedback. We struggle, as all true Nets fans do, just to get out of bed in the morning to produce this site. So if we don't use humor as our pain deflector, well, then we just have bad basketball.

We're here for you. Please send us your thoughts, your issues, your prayers for the team, and we'll continue to respond and post them.

All illustrations are hand drawn by Champagne. Which is the most impressive thing about the site, by far. He then scans them in or something, and somehow makes them look pretty by adding all the colors of the rainbow. I can't explain it. It's all smoke and mirrors to me.

Spread the word to Nets fans everywhere.

Peace,
Joe

The Commish
Hey guys!
This is hands down the greatest site I have ever seen. I check it daily...and trust me I feel your pain.

With the luck of an average Net fan, the only games I didn't see this year were the Phoenix win and the Minnesota win. Samake-ball has its charm, but winning is better.

Great call on that obvious plant in starting that N-E-T-S chant, he is the worst...doesn't he work for the Devils? I'd rather have some canned crowd noise (ala Calipari)

And a quick question...How do you create those images? They are incredible!

Keep up the good work!
The Commissioner, December 19, 2000

Commish -
We don't know who you are, but God bless! Joe and I have been slaving away at this site from way back in September, trying to make it better all the time. We're glad you appreciate our efforts. Eventually we're gonna get some work done on that Arena Life section and go hog-wild...

Little old me does all the drawing for this site. Really happy you like them. Got to fix that Kenyon caricature though, it just ain't right.

Stick with us, Commissioner.
Champagne

Noah -
Whoa, you're really aiming high and shooting low. Well, you're right, Marbury hasn't been playing well...while sitting on the bench. But he's back now from an ankle injury, and Champagne says he's a shoo-in for starting Eastern Conference point guard in this year's All Star Game. As for that "Russian guy," you have to be referring to ex-Net Gheorghe Muresan, who hails from Romania (I didn't know where he was from either). If you never hit 7'7" don't fret Noah, remember, extreme tallness has it's drawbacks: sure, it landed Gheorghe a co-starring role in the 1998 comedy My Giant, but it was at the price of standing around watching Billy Crystal be adorable, while serving as his human punchline. You can do better, at any height.

Joe and I are really pleased you wrote, and really happy to hear from another die-hard Nets fan. Hope you get to go to a game.

Keep the faith,
Champagne

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