Sweetney > Johnson

[JBcat]

JJ needs to gain 20lbs to play PF in NBA. ....... JJ has everything we would want in a back up big he just need to get stronger and learn to play at the nba pace (mentally). With a year of solid development JJ will be a solid first big off the bench for us.

Agree with the overall meesage here.

Strength-wise, however, JJJ can more than hold his own.

JJJ can bench 330. How many athletes outside of the NFL can bench 100 lbs over their body weight? He also did 12 reps of 185 at the NBA combine for 9th spot of all participants.

He has all the physical tools and attitude and the right mentor in KG to make an impact this year. Let's hope that it happens sooner rather than later.

I think his upper body strength is fine.  It's his lower body strength imo that needs work. 

[Celtics4ever]

Wasn't JJ a better college player than Sweetney?

[LarryForThree]

I guess this would be a good thread to add that I think the Celtics should drop Greg Stiemsma and sign 41 yr old center Oliver Miller.

He might be retired now but I think KG, Paul and Ray could have dinner with him (probably take the whole night) and convince him to come out of retirement and sign with the C's.

[theswitch]

I guess this would be a good thread to add that I think the Celtics should drop Greg Stiemsma and sign 41 yr old center Oliver Miller.

He might be retired now but I think KG, Paul and Ray could have dinner with him (probably take the whole night) and convince him to come out of retirement and sign with the C's.

Good thing Greg Ostertag just came out of retirement!

[Neurotic Guy]

I don't like to judge people when it seems they are not helping themselves. In fact, I am prone to trying to understand the power of psychological/emotional issues such as a compulsion to eat.  This may not be Sweetney's issue -- who knows, he may just have a horrendous metabolism rate and be a victim of bad genetics.  However, if there was ever a person who SEEMS to want something, but clearly just can't do it, it is Sweetney.  He tries, but the obvious ticket to a career in the NBA -- losing weight -- is clearly unattainable to him.

This off-season provided another chance to drop the weight -- but he couldn't do it.  I feel bad for him, especially since he must know how good he could be if he could drop the weight. It must be painfully frustrating.   My guess is that, like an alcoholic or drug addict, he relapses again and again.  Not for his basketball career, but for the sake of his life, I hope he is able to get the help he needs.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

...he's a big ol fatty...

Abilities aside, this statement disappointed me.  Mike Sweetney is a guy who has had emotional troubles and is trying to get help for a weight problem that, like many who are overweight, would like to conquer.  I thought it interesting that someone who defends the liberal agenda (like yourself, as I've read in other sections here at CB) would have this kind of attitudinal statement towards Sweetney.  Yes, he's responsible for every calorie he puts into his body, but he struggles with something that has had a terrible toll on his life.  Unkind statements like this only compound the problem...

Nothing against you personally, but the wording was very insensitive.  I would love to see Sweetney get his life turned around because I believe beneath that weight is a truly talented basketball player with good hands and a high basketball IQ.

[Chris]

...he's a big ol fatty...

Abilities aside, this statement disappointed me.  Mike Sweetney is a guy who has had emotional troubles and is trying to get help for a weight problem that, like many who are overweight, would like to conquer.  I thought it interesting that someone who defends the liberal agenda (like yourself, as I've read in other sections here at CB) would have this kind of attitudinal statement towards Sweetney.  Yes, he's responsible for every calorie he puts into his body, but he struggles with something that has had a terrible toll on his life.  Unkind statements like this only compound the problem...

Nothing against you personally, but the wording was very insensitive.  I would love to see Sweetney get his life turned around because I believe beneath that weight is a truly talented basketball player with good hands and a high basketball IQ.

Eh, I think you are overreacting a bit here.  Sweetney is not only a public figure, but he is attempting to be a pro athlete.  Given that his weight is intimately linked to his ability to be a quality athlete, it is fair game IMO.

I also would point out that if Sweetney really has deep issues that is leading to him putting his health in jeopardy by allowing his weight to balloon to unhealthy levels (he is not basketball fat, he is truly obese), then maybe he should stop trying to revive his basketball career and work on getting his life back together instead. 

[33_Larry Legend_33]

I'm married to a woman (of 13 years) who was hospitalized 3 times in her life for anorexia (at one point weighing less than 70 pounds as a 20 year old).  So yes, I'm sensitive to this because I live with this everyday of my life.  Though the opposite of Sweetney, I understand the psyche behind this.  It's not just food...it's a thousand other things (much of which I've sat with counselors and have seen how this stuff goes back to childhood).  The unthoughtful term used to describe Sweetney just kinda got to me a bit...

[Fafnir]

I'm married to a woman (of 13 years) who was hospitalized 3 times in her life for anorexia (at one point weighing less than 70 pounds as a 20 year old).  So yes, I'm sensitive to this because I live with this everyday of my life.  Though the opposite of Sweetney, I understand the psyche behind this.  It's not just food...it's a thousand other things (much of which I've sat with counselors and have seen how this stuff goes back to childhood).  The unthoughtful term used to describe Sweetney just kinda got to me a bit...

Sometimes its those things. Other times its a lack of discipline and impulse control, aka laziness.

Either way he's a professional athlete who can no longer perform his job because of his physical condition. There is no reason to mince words over calling him fat.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

Such compassion here...

I read this a few days ago...guess it gave me a little perspective on the guy, but I'm seeing I'm probably in the minority here amongst this fine group of caring citizens at CB.

http://www.necn.com/12/21/11/Sweetney-not-giving-up-on-NBA-return/landing_sports.html?blockID=616986&feedID=3352

[Neurotic Guy]

Such compassion here...

I read this a few days ago...guess it gave me a little perspective on the guy, but I'm seeing I'm probably in the minority here amongst this fine group of caring citizens at CB.

http://www.necn.com/12/21/11/Sweetney-not-giving-up-on-NBA-return/landing_sports.html?blockID=616986&feedID=3352

I don't think there isn't compassion here.  People are reacting to a guy who is frighteningly overweight considering what he hopes to do for a living.  The incongruity of it leads to humor.  My guess is that if given the opportunity to talk to Sweetney and given the opportunity to hear his struggles, most here would feel for the guy. 

[Chris]

Such compassion here...

I read this a few days ago...guess it gave me a little perspective on the guy, but I'm seeing I'm probably in the minority here amongst this fine group of caring citizens at CB.

http://www.necn.com/12/21/11/Sweetney-not-giving-up-on-NBA-return/landing_sports.html?blockID=616986&feedID=3352

Woah woah woah.  I take from that Sweetney thinks he is fat because of the steroids given to chickens?  I am sorry, I am all for fluff pieces, but this guy does not get sympathy based on that one.

He does not sound like someone who has accepted that he needs to put in the work to get himself in basketball shape.  

That was not the story of a guy who has struggled with personal demons, that is the story of a guy who hasn't wanted to stop eating.  Yeah, its tough, but if you want that multi-million dollar contract, then you do it.  

[footey]

I have yet to see JJ play for us. What's the deal with him?

[Chris]

And for the record, I am sure there are plenty of people on here who have battled with weight every bit as much as Sweetney.  And I will tell you, it is a hell of a lot harder to deal with that, when you don't have the motivation and assets of being a professional athlete to help with it.  

So, no, he is not getting any sympathy from me.  If he wants to get in better shape, then hire a dietician and person trainer, and do it.  Until then, he is just a fatty trying to play basketball.

[greenpride32]

"I had to cut a lot of junk food out".  Sorry but I have no sympathy for the guy after reading that article.  You're either dedicated or you are not, and he is clearly not.  Nothing personal, but I am just looking at this from a fitness and nutrition perspective.  He is from Lebron's draft year; if he hasn't made it buy not it's not verly likely he will in the future.