Hornets Hype

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

A Wrap-Up of All the Prose of Pose

Hour 1: The #41 Jersey: A Statistical Diagram

Hour 2: THE_REAL_POZZZZ on Twitter (Pt.1)

Hour 4: THE_REAL_POZZZZ on Twitter (Pt.2)

Hour 5: Celtics-Lakers Game 4 (video)

Hour 12: Great Moments in Drunkenness (video)

Hour 13: The Many Colors of James Posey

Hour 14: The Real Diary of James Posey

Hour 15: Hip Check What? (video)

Hour 16: THE_REAL_POZZZZ on Twitter (Pt.3)

Hour 18: The X Factor

Hour 20: The Man Hug

Hour 22: Accessorizing With Pose

Hour 23: Growing Up With Pose (plus a bonus!dirty comment)

Hour 25: Posey vs. Kamla on NBA TV: the best interview transcript you’ll read this season

Hour 27: The bobblehead

Hour 28: Hornets Training Camp (video)

Hour 29: Great Moments in Pissing Off Kobe

Hour 31: 278 Poseys, One Ticktock6

Whew. That’s a lot of Pose. Thankfully, 24 hours of Chris Paul will be eight hours less exhausting… ha! You know we’re never doing this again, right?

Three final notes, and the first one’s on the mood theme. You might have noticed the smilies at the bottom of each post are all tiny James Poseys. That wasn’t just for yesterday– it’s a permanent thing. There are, in fact, 68 James Posey moods. No, I won’t post them all. There’s one in particular that’s only going to see the light of day for a really… special… occasion. (NOTE TO HORNETS: Being the Cavs’ first home loss would be that occasion. I am JUST SAYING.) But in the meantime, it’s in the shadows, like a phantom, waiting… like Posey himself.

Second, this is Hornets Hype’s 400th post, and yesterday morning we received our 50,000th visitor. Yay us.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to James Posey. We think you’re the best free agent signing of the summer of 2008. We really do love and appreciate what you do for our team. And we couldn’t be happier to  have you along for the ride.

Hornets Hype would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Mr. James Posey!

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

Once upon a time, in October, Ball Don’t Lie wrote this season preview which included a rather startling (if you look closely) graphic.

Which caused me to write this, in which we spun up a season preview for an NBA team made up of 23 James Poseys and me. (IT WOULD ROCK is the short, short version.)

But on a more serious note, I’m glad they realized the crucial role me ‘n’ Pose are going to play this year. Anyway, after last night’s game against Golden State, I am happy to report that the lineup for this year has been set. Obviously I’m slightly biased, but I think me and 23 James Poseys have the skills to really kick ass this season.

This is how I envision things breaking down:

James Posey will play point guard, center, power forward, small forward, and shooting guard. Naturally, with Pose coming off the bench as sixth man, this squad will have a sweet energy boost that should lift them above the other teams in the formidable Western Conference. The rest of the Poseys will play backup minutes as dictated by the intensity of their play in practice, as judged by head coach James Posey… Ticktock6 will be the 13th man, the one who jumps up and down, talks smack on the end of the bench while drinking a Red Bull, and sometimes does funny dances. Like Ronny Turiaf but with different hair.

Which led to J.E. Skeets sending me this tonight:

Our army. We're hot.

Which is just an appropriate way to bring this thing to a close. What does this all have to do with James Posey? It does, somehow. Trust me.

278 out of 278 James Poseys approve this message. And so do I.

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

Great Moments in Pissing Off Kobe

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

Because I felt we didn’t have enough Posey-on-the-Hornets content, we now present…

Great Moments in Trying to Help Your New Teammate Prevail Against an Evil Trashtalking Coach… with James Posey (& Peja Stojakovic & Morris Peterson)

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

All I want for Christmas is… What? Christmas is over? Whatev. I still want it. As far as I could discover in Google, this is the only Posey bobblehead out there. I think. If it’s true, clearly this is a crime.

A CRIME. (I would paint tall socks on it and make it a tiny headband out of a hair elastic and… oh, I’m sorry, were you saying something?)

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, TT6 jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, She’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And TT6 is a woman of her word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

This is the transcript of a maybe real interview of James Posey by NBATV’s Rick Kamla, from last night, after the Knicks-Hornets game.

Rick: [In the studio] So I’m here with James Posey, one of the key 6th men in the NBA this year or any other.  How are you Pose?

Pose: [Headphones on somewhere in the Hive]  Cold.  [Shivers.]  I moved here for the warmth, man.  The warmth.  What, it’s like 42 degrees up in this, um, piece.

Rick: Posey, as many of you know was instrumental in the NBA Championship runs during 2 of the last 3 years, first with Miami and then with Beantown.  How do you do it, Mr. Posey?

Pose: I’m like the Robert Horry of the Eastern Conference.

Rick: Well, you’re in the Western Conference now.  Dominant still?

Pose: Of course, of course.

Rick: If you had signed with my T-Wolves this year instead of the Hornets, do you think my Wolves would be playing in June this year?

Pose: No doubt.  And McHale would be GM of the year.

Rick: Right.  Ha, great to hear, man.  I would’ve loved that.  But onto this year with the Hornets, you are looking great and have been hitting clutch shots and game-winners all year!

Pose: Was that a question?

Rick: Nope, just saying you’re the man.

Pose: That’s right.

Rick: But now onto last night.  In New Orleans, playing the lowly Knicks, and you were only 1-4 overall and 0-2 from deep.  What’s up with that?

Pose: I had five rebounds and a steal, man, you see that?

Rick: I did, but I also saw you getting run around by Wilson Chandler.  Do you feel like you’ve lost a step, or were you just maybe looking past this game and ahead to the upcoming road trip?

Pose: …..

Rick: Not trying to bust on you, just wondering how a good defensive team like the Hornets struggled against the Knicks?

Pose: [Pulls off headset and steps off camera.]

Rick: Um, are we having a technical problem here?  Is James still there?  [Holds hand to his earpiece.]  Well folks, we’re not sure what happened to — [eyes go wide in shock]  — what the?!?

Pose: [In the NBATV studio Posey commits a Flagrant 2 Foul on Rick Kamla, knocking him from his seat and onto the floor.]  How you like my defense now?  [The cameras switch and we can see Rick on his back, Posey standing over him.]

Rick: [In shock] How the hell did you get from New Orleans to Atlanta in just seconds?!

Pose: [Looking angry]  I can travel instantaneously through a little thing I call the Dark Dimension.  Did you say I lost a step?

Rick: [Still on his back]  No way.  Quick as ever.  Plus, you’re defintely the baddest player in the NBA, James Posey.

Pose:  Yeah.  You better remember that when you cover my Bees on this road trip.  [Fakes head bob toward Rick, who flinches.]  Or I’ll be back.

Rick: Definitely won’t forget.

Pose: [Steps into suddenly appearing Dark portal and enters another dimension.]

Rick: [Climbs back into his seat and adjusts his mic.  The camera returns to the normal studio angle.]  Well, there you have it.  James Posey.  Straight from the Dark Dimension.  One hell of a defender, who is not afraid to put his critics on their backs.  We’ll return after a short commercial break and some treatment on my back.

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

This one’s an article, about how Posey sent a replica of his Miami 2006 championship ring to his high school coach back in Ohio.

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

Accessorizing! … With Pose

If you’re a Posey fan, you know he accessorizes on court like no other, choosing to rock the headband, knee pads, and tall socks. He explains the stories behind his stuff here… and also alerts us to his (maybe?) slightly gross habit of storing the mouthguard in the knee sock when he’s not on the floor.

I say, eh, whatever. It’s not like it’s someone else’s leg.

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

This post is dedicated to the legendary James Posey Man Hug.

Says Hornets247:

I haven’t said anything about it here, but I’ve got to mention the pre-game ritual of James Posey standing at the scorer’s table and giving each of the starters a hug/chest bump/chest punch according to their preference.  The players checking in from the other team typically poke, prod and even hug him from behind while he does it.  I’m not even sure how to describe it.  It’s just a strange mix of awesomeness, awkwardness, and plain hilarity.

Quoth Kevin Garnett:

“It’s not necessarily the hug. It’s what he’s saying to me and reminding us what we need to do to go out and be successful,” Garnett said. “It’s kind of good before you hit the floor. He’s not just talking the talk. It really means something. You guys see it as a hug, but it’s the unity of what he’s saying. It’s all motivating. It’s all positive.”

Ray Allen:

“Yeah, you start one thing and it becomes ritual and you can’t change it. (Wednesday) night he wasn’t there (DNP-CD) and you kind of freeze up a little bit.”

Posey is still bringing the pre-game man hug tradition now that he’s with the Hornets. He has his own little routine. He waits at the end of the scorers’ table to hug the starters before they head out onto the court. Tyson Chandler does not partake in the hug, and usually, neither does D West (You can’t picture it, right? Your instincts are correct. West isn’t a hugger. See left.) Peja will take some quick hug action, as will Rasual Butler. Chris Paul goes last. He gets a big bear hug and those mysterious Posey words of champions whispered in his ear. Then Posey high fives everyone seated in the chairs on his way back down to the end of the bench, including random ticketholders. Then he gets some water. Or Gatorade. I’m not sure. I just report the greatness, people. Plus I sit in Row 26.

I don’t know, D West. You think maybe you want to consider getting on board with this one? ‘Cause those are the Words of Champions. And you’re missing out.

While making fun of the corporate-whorish NBA TV/Nike “24 Hours of LeBron” to celebrate LeBron James’ 24th birthday, I jokingly stated that the next Hornet birthday, I’d top that. January 13th is James Posey’s birthday. And I am a woman of my word. Check out the rest of the silliness here.

The X Factor

James Posey graduated from Xavier University in Ohio in 1999, where he led the team in rebounding each of the three seasons he played. It was only the beginning of the tradition of 6th Man excellence that we know and appreciate today. Posey was drafted by Denver with the 18th pick… sans (according to the pic) headband, high socks, knee pads, and hand tat.

Of course, a piece of Hornets trivia that most fans know is that David West also played at Xavier (in case you missed the big X tattoo on his left shoulder), graduating in 2003. (Which gives DX and me two things in common– graduating in 2003 and having our respective alma maters’ logo tattooed somewhere on our bodies. Now that is a little-known piece of trivia.) West got there the year after Posey left, which means they didn’t play together. A third Xavier connection on the current Hornets team is the fact that, in addition to West and Posey, Chris Paul was also coached by Skip Prosser in college, except at Wake Forest a couple years later. A fourth is that there’s an Xavier in New Orleans, but it is of course not the same one.