Fare Well to the True Team Player
It is one of those events when you remember exactly where you were, exactly what you were doing, and the exact time you heard about it. At 8:03 in the morning of July 7, 2005, I was reading the New York Daily News. I am accostumed to this every morning when I get into work. First, ESPN.com, CNN.com, Star Ledger, Daily News etc…
I was looking all over to get some news and reports on how the courting of Shareef Abdur-Rahim went the day before, and what the plans were with this outstanding Power Forward were going to be today. That is when I read the following in the Daily News:
That need (for Shareef) is even greater with the likely departure of Brian Scalabrine. While the Nets entertained Abdur-Rahim yesterday, Scalabrine agreed to a five-year deal worth $15million with the Celtics, according to a league sources. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams cannot officially sign free agents until the end of the month.
I was stunned, shocked, upset, pissed off. A lot of emotions running through my mind. This is a player I had followed since his rookie season in 2001-2002. He was a 2nd round pick (35th overall) by the Nets in 2001 out of USC. He was looked upon as another 6’9’’ red head white guy who would play a minute here, a minute there when the team was either up by 15-20 with a minute left or down 15-20 with a minute left. Things didn’t quite turn out that way.
I had read in numerous publications, heard from Byron Scott, Lawrence Frank, Rod Thorn, J-Kidd, K-Mart, RJ, Vince Carter et al spoke highly of Scalabrine’s work ethic, heart, soul and the progression he made over his 4 years with the Nets.
He played in only 28 games in his rookie campaign, which was the first time the Nets franchise had ever made it to the NBA finals. He only averaged 2.1 pts and 1.8 rebounds/game that year. In his second year, Byron Scott relied on Veal more and more. And that was also the year where I, yes I, started the Scal-A-Bri-NE chant. I remember specifically. I was at the game with a bunch of my buddies. We had gotten free tickets from my friends who worked at the Meadowlands Race Track. The Nets were playing the Minnesota Timberwolves. And the Nets were up by a lot, and I felt it was time for Scalabrine to get into the game. So I got started the Scalabrine chant, and got the rest of the section chanting along with me. Ever since then, Veal became a fan favorite, with the Scalabrine Chant becoming a recurrence every time he would enter the game that season. That season, he played in 59 games, started 7 and logged 12.3 minutes, 3.1 points, and 2.4 rebounds/game.
In his 3rd season with the Nets, he was a regular fixture with Byron Scott. When Byron Scott was fired, Lawrence Frank took over and did not use Scalabrine in important times of the game, like Scott had done in the second half of Brian’s 2nd season and the start of the his 3rd. But Lawrence Frank finally understood what Scalabrine brought to the table; Hustle, Enthusiasm, Heart, and Passion. His skills and understanding of the game improved each and every year during his brief 4 year career. In his 4th year he played in 69 games, started 2 and averaged 3.5 and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Net fans saw how valuable he was to the team when he filled in for the injured Kenyon Martin during his absence from injury. But it was then, in Game 4 of the 2nd round of the playoffs in 2004 when Scalabrine really showed his value to the team to a nation-wide audience. In a tight playoff game with the Detroit Pistons, Scalabrine logged important minutes during the game, but really stepped it up in the 4th quarter, and then in OT. With Kenyon Martin and Jason Collins in foul trouble the whole game, they had to rely on Scalabrine to do the dirty work, like usual. But they did not expect him to knock down 17 points, along with a crucial 3 pointer in the last minute of the regulation to tie the game. It was Scalabrine who won that game. It was then, my favorite NBA player had showed the world he belonged.
In the 2004-2005 season, which is now known, his final season with New Jersey Nets, he played in 54 games (missed a lot of time due to injury) and started in 14 and really came through during the time when RJ was injured. He averaged a career high 21.6 minutes/game, 6.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists/game. During the season he periodically was relied upon to hit big shots, big 3’s. Grab the big rounds and make some great assists.
I have a lot of fond memories of Scalabrine playing. He was my favorite player where I even started the Scalabrine chant during my College Graduation Ceremony. I had even planned to put #21 on the back of my robe with Scalabrine above the 2-1.
I was looking all over to get some news and reports on how the courting of Shareef Abdur-Rahim went the day before, and what the plans were with this outstanding Power Forward were going to be today. That is when I read the following in the Daily News:
That need (for Shareef) is even greater with the likely departure of Brian Scalabrine. While the Nets entertained Abdur-Rahim yesterday, Scalabrine agreed to a five-year deal worth $15million with the Celtics, according to a league sources. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams cannot officially sign free agents until the end of the month.
I was stunned, shocked, upset, pissed off. A lot of emotions running through my mind. This is a player I had followed since his rookie season in 2001-2002. He was a 2nd round pick (35th overall) by the Nets in 2001 out of USC. He was looked upon as another 6’9’’ red head white guy who would play a minute here, a minute there when the team was either up by 15-20 with a minute left or down 15-20 with a minute left. Things didn’t quite turn out that way.
I had read in numerous publications, heard from Byron Scott, Lawrence Frank, Rod Thorn, J-Kidd, K-Mart, RJ, Vince Carter et al spoke highly of Scalabrine’s work ethic, heart, soul and the progression he made over his 4 years with the Nets.
He played in only 28 games in his rookie campaign, which was the first time the Nets franchise had ever made it to the NBA finals. He only averaged 2.1 pts and 1.8 rebounds/game that year. In his second year, Byron Scott relied on Veal more and more. And that was also the year where I, yes I, started the Scal-A-Bri-NE chant. I remember specifically. I was at the game with a bunch of my buddies. We had gotten free tickets from my friends who worked at the Meadowlands Race Track. The Nets were playing the Minnesota Timberwolves. And the Nets were up by a lot, and I felt it was time for Scalabrine to get into the game. So I got started the Scalabrine chant, and got the rest of the section chanting along with me. Ever since then, Veal became a fan favorite, with the Scalabrine Chant becoming a recurrence every time he would enter the game that season. That season, he played in 59 games, started 7 and logged 12.3 minutes, 3.1 points, and 2.4 rebounds/game.
In his 3rd season with the Nets, he was a regular fixture with Byron Scott. When Byron Scott was fired, Lawrence Frank took over and did not use Scalabrine in important times of the game, like Scott had done in the second half of Brian’s 2nd season and the start of the his 3rd. But Lawrence Frank finally understood what Scalabrine brought to the table; Hustle, Enthusiasm, Heart, and Passion. His skills and understanding of the game improved each and every year during his brief 4 year career. In his 4th year he played in 69 games, started 2 and averaged 3.5 and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Net fans saw how valuable he was to the team when he filled in for the injured Kenyon Martin during his absence from injury. But it was then, in Game 4 of the 2nd round of the playoffs in 2004 when Scalabrine really showed his value to the team to a nation-wide audience. In a tight playoff game with the Detroit Pistons, Scalabrine logged important minutes during the game, but really stepped it up in the 4th quarter, and then in OT. With Kenyon Martin and Jason Collins in foul trouble the whole game, they had to rely on Scalabrine to do the dirty work, like usual. But they did not expect him to knock down 17 points, along with a crucial 3 pointer in the last minute of the regulation to tie the game. It was Scalabrine who won that game. It was then, my favorite NBA player had showed the world he belonged.
In the 2004-2005 season, which is now known, his final season with New Jersey Nets, he played in 54 games (missed a lot of time due to injury) and started in 14 and really came through during the time when RJ was injured. He averaged a career high 21.6 minutes/game, 6.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists/game. During the season he periodically was relied upon to hit big shots, big 3’s. Grab the big rounds and make some great assists.
I have a lot of fond memories of Scalabrine playing. He was my favorite player where I even started the Scalabrine chant during my College Graduation Ceremony. I had even planned to put #21 on the back of my robe with Scalabrine above the 2-1.
The main reason I am a huge fan of Veal is due to his hustle, determination and his team-first mentality. Never once did he complain about his role. He did what was expected of him. He was a fundamentally sound player, understood the game. He chased and dove after loose balls. Battled with the biggest players in the NBA for tough offensive and defensive rebounds. He did what ever was asked of him and whatever he needed to do to stay and stick around in the NBA. I compared him to myself. I was never the best athlete at any given sport, but I have passion while playing. I go out and play hard every time. Make the best of my abilities, just like Scalabrine. Was in essence, a true Warrior.
My sister’s had gotten me the greatest Christmas Gift last Christmas, and I’m not just saying that now, I have said that ever since I opened it. A Scalabrine Nets jersey. I wore it with pride. That was the only jersey that was able to replace my New Jersey Nets Ed O’Bannon jersey. I will continue to wear the Jersey. And even though he has reached an agreement in principle with the Boston Celtics, I will still wear #21 with pride, just as he did each and every night he put on his Nets jersey.
posted by Mark D. Miller at 6:12 AM
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