re: Official Free Agency and Trade Thread: Latest Pels sign Charles Cooke to 2 way

I don't care whether you guys believe or not. Like I said, from my perspective I am just being a nice guy by sharing stuff that I am fortunate to know.

My question for the non believers is simply: What do you think I gain, if let's say I was just making it all up? I hate dealing with fans and want less attention, not more as evidenced by me deleting an account with 5000+ followers and growing every day, writing less, and refusing radio interviews. So, with that in mind, what would my intention be from the non believers perspective?

Also, I have a few friends in the media who pass stuff along to me from time to time. I heard Pels we're interested in J. Lin about a week before Woj reported it on The Vertical I have independently heard what Mac has reported on a few occasions. Take it for what it's worth. A rumor, something from along the grapevine, which may be distorted, but usually has an element of truth.

I think he has legit sources. The truth is in this league the large majority of deals in this league fall through. So say what you want about the guy, but with him being so generous with his info, of course he's going to look wrong more than right. If someone like Woj tweeted everything he was told how bad would he look? Difference is, McNamara is more forthcoming, which I personally appreciate.

You've done all of this to yourself. It's your antics. About every other month you come on here and call everyone an idiot because they question your validity. Which, if you pay attention, happens to about 95% of anyone who tweets any sort of rumor.. "That's (insert sports journalist) he doesn't know anything don't believe that". It's not just you, but you come here to wage war like it is.

And then after all of this you come on here and rant about how you're doing this because you want LESS attention? come on dude. If you're truly a "nice guy" who wants to "share his info" while getting "less attention" then just drop your info and roll out and wait on it to come true. Don't stick around and bicker like a petulant child when someone disagrees or doesn't believe you. When you do that kinda stuff people will be lining up to ridicule you when you aren't right.

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What do you guys think I get out of it? I want less followers, not more. I don't want any praise or thank you

I have info that none of you guys have access to and sometimes I feel nice enough to share some of it. If you don't like how much I share or the details of it, don't listen. But I am not trying to get some kind of props. Even when I give you guys the good info and it comes true, you don't give me props anyway. So, don't think that is my intention

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I like your analysis(I often find myself referring back to your offseason pathway pieces regularly) but what you are putting on offer IMO is indistinguishable from reasonable but vague speculation. That is why I am highly suspicious. Vague assertions that any rational and well read fan could easily do if they were so inclined. And in a suspicious way that every post has a convenient out of culpability and responsibility if the story doesn't turn out as inferred. Vague enough to spin it in any number of ways.

The way as I understand it with how stuff like this works, in journalism, in sports(as someone with family and relatives in the profession), is that insiders tend to create a reputation from which to work from, so when you get to the vague stuff like you posted, you have more credibility. And that reputation has a compounding effect. If you seem responsible and credible, and as your spotlight grows, more insiders seek you out. You maintain that credibility by getting others to corroborate your info and speak to the sources(or at least verify their existence and some of what they are saying). Like an editor or senior staffer. To which they will stand behind the story, even run it under their outlets banner. And also to hedge against and occasionally take responsibility for false info that gets through the filter. For fans you want concrete details that turn out exact. Anyone could reasonably infer Jrue would push above 25 million based on the various info out there. Even just based on prior history of contracts unrelated. But for instance where are the moments you break Demps taking a meeting with a FA? And what those details are? Like Nick Young? That later gets corroborated by someone like Aldridge or another insider? Where facts of details only an insider would know end up aligning perfectly with what ends up becoming verified public knowledge?

As an audience member I am looking for things I can hold up tangibly and see a long line of solid and credible info that originates from this author and subsequently turns out to be accurate consistently.

I don't mean to be rude, but I have not seen that with you so far, and the process with how this has happened is a bit suspect.....Though if it is all a bit of a troll, kudos. You definitely have communities buzzing.

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Also, I have a few friends in the media who pass stuff along to me from time to time. I heard Pels we're interested in J. Lin about a week before Woj reported it on The Vertical I have independently heard what Mac has reported on a few occasions. Take it for what it's worth. A rumor, something from along the grapevine, which may be distorted, but usually has an element of truth.

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The interest in Lin makes sense as we tried hard to sign him last offseason.

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Also, I have a few friends in the media who pass stuff along to me from time to time. I heard Pels we're interested in J. Lin about a week before Woj reported it on The Vertical I have independently heard what Mac has reported on a few occasions. Take it for what it's worth. A rumor, something from along the grapevine, which may be distorted, but usually has an element of truth.

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Here is some honest to goodness advice to cut through people's (rightful) cynicism with message-board insiders, since every forum has a half dozen of them it seems, that more often then not conveniently turn out to be bunk. And a half dozen more that will latch onto those first insiders to get in on the action.

Whenever your next inside bit of info occurs, find and then keep on hand the post(s) or whatever where you brought up the details of Jeremy Lin and the Pels having strong interest. Screenshot, link it, whatever. Since it will undeniably be questioned. Along with the first time a person outside of yourself corroborated it. It helps show you aren't just blowing smoke. At least it would for me and I bet many others. Get more then one or two right like that and you are probably going to get a respectful following and most cynicism washed away.

Damn I don't get why ppl get so upset with MM saying stuff if you don't believe him then ignore everything that he says. I think most ppl on the board enjoy the conversation he usually starts and not every rumor is going to come true.

Agreed. True or not, it's keeping me interested and refreshing my phone constantly. I appreciate topics that keep this board alive in the offseason.

Some of y'all just need to chill.