TWO BITS: Bulls keep Richard, Tebow’s a “goon”

By Adam Silverstein
February 16, 2010

1 » Originally a second-round pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2007 NBA Draft, former Florida Gators forward/center Chris Richard was most recently playing for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. That was until Feb. 5 when he signed a 10-day contract with the NBA‘s Chicago Bulls. In fact, the Bulls have been so impressed with his limited work that they have decided to sign Richard to a second 10-day contract as fellow former Florida F/C Joakim Noah continues to nurse his plantar fasciitis injury. Richard also played for Chicago during the preseason and saw action in six games before being released.

2 » It is tough to question new Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips’ football credentials, seeing as he has coached Division I college football for over 20 years. But when he goes out of his way to call former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow a “goon,” well, OGGOA can certainly question his vocabulary. Asked by CBS if he senses “an opening at Florida with Urban Meyer’s status up in the air,” Phillips responded that the loss of Tebow is the real key. “Obviously, Florida won’t be the same,” he said. “They had a goon at quarterback. Usually the goon is the offensive or defensive lineman. They’ve had a goon at quarterback. That guy is a great leader. He could play anywhere. He’s a coach on the field. He’s one of those guys who rarely comes around. Now with him being gone, you hope that they take a step back. They will, definitely, in leadership.” If you want to get technical, there is a definition of goon (a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents) that fits Phillips’ usage…but it is a stretch to say the least. You could also argue that this BIT is a stretch. Well…so be it.

9 Comments

  1. Wingtee says:

    Sounds like a “BIT” of respect from Joker

  2. O-town Gator says:

    Joker Phillips could have been more careful in his choice of words. “Goon” to me conjures up an image of a hockey player trying to instigate a fight.

    (Notice CBS is trying to stir the pot in saying they sense “an opening at Florida with Urban Meyer’s status up in the air.” Nothing like trying to keep the rumor mills going, you idiots.)

  3. SC Gator says:

    He obviously doesn’t mean is as an insult, considering he then proceeds to talk about what a great leader he is.

  4. Mr2Bits says:

    Sounds like Joker is finally glad that Tebow wont be so we might stop givin em the business.

  5. SC – Obviously. Poor choice of word nevertheless.

  6. j.b says:

    I might be mistaken, but isn’t “goon” a slang term for those who are on the lines? Joker even said that term is usually reserved for those on the offensive and defensive lines. It was a sign of respect. We had a baby elephant as a quarterback. He was a goon. It was totally complimentary. I think not knowing the slang term and looking it up in Webster’s migth lead one to think it was an insult. There are lots of “insulting” terms used to describe players in sports, but they’re not insulting in the context. How is it not insulting to call a guard a goon, but it is to call Tebow one?

    Joker was being complimentary, and likely is quite happy that Tebow has graduated.

  7. Tanner says:

    We call them big uglies or hog mollies, he calls them goons. I understand what he was saying. Kiper and McShay on the other hand, can kiss my…

  8. j.b. – That is why I included the definition he was likely using (a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents) in the post itself. Nevertheless, it is a strange choice of a word as that is not what the word means to most people and he used it three times consecutively. As I said to SC above, he was obviously being complimentary, but at first it does not come off that way. And I’ve never heard of that as a slang term for simply someone who is a lineman.

  9. npgator says:

    We need some bultinboard material when playing kentucky so why not this?

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