Man I wish I could get away from this subject. I just want to pack up, jump in my car and drive away from it. But it’s always in my rear-view mirror. It’s like Walker, Texas Ranger. Per usual, Bill Simmons has been referring to Oklahoma City as “The Team That Shall Not Be Named” and taking it so far as to bleep “Oklahoma City” in podcasts when he slips. You know, keeping up with his shtick. He gets these shticks and themes and he runs with them. And a lot of times, I love him for it. It’s funny, it’s witty and it’s clever. Not so much this time. In his latest mailbag, he let a question from a guy in Tulsa slip through.
Q: You are unfairly killing an entire fan base with your refusal to call the (Team That Shall Not Be Named) by its name. In your attempt to make another state feel better (rightly deserved) you are coming across as a pompous jerk to another one. Can you please start calling our team by its proper name?
– John H., Tulsa, Okla.SG: No way. It’s like (TTSNBN) was a married couple and couldn’t conceive a child on their own, so they went and stole another couple’s kid (in this case, Seattle’s) after proving in court that the kid was living in an aging house and deserved to live in a new one … but then, in the insult of insults, it turned out they lived in a house that was just as old and decrepit as the kid’s old house. How would you expect me to support this? You stole their team. I will continue to call it The Team That Shall Not Ne Named, the Bennett City Hijackers and the Seattle SloppySeconds. And if it costs me every reader in Hijack City, so be it — I have 49 other states and hundreds of other countries to work with. I’ll be fine. You stole someone else’s team. If you were friends with a buddy who stole another buddy’s wife, you would not be friends with that person anymore. Hijack City is not my friend. At least until Seattle remarries.
Bill’s wrong here. It’s more like what happened in Gone Baby Gone. (If you haven’t seen Gone Baby Gone, stop reading and do it. It’s good. Plus, I’m about to spoil it.) The ending to that movie caused instant debate among friends. You had Group A (Oklahoma City) that thought the little girl was better off staying with her new parents even though they stole her. Morgan Freeman was going to be able to give her everything Amy Ryan couldn’t. She would be loved, cherished and even spoiled at times. She’d have a nice house, nice clothes and grow up happy and healthy. Her new parents would give her attention and love and have everything she deserved.
But you had Group B (Seattle) that thought the little girl should stay with her rightful mother. She birthed her, she raised her and no matter how terrible of a mother she is, it’s her daughter dadgumit! So what that she lived in a cramped apartment and it was a mess all the time. And so what that the mother was a crack addict that ignored her baby and went out on dates with strange men. She gave birth to her and that’s that. Doesn’t matter if she left her at home by herself while she went out and got high. She came from her, so she can’t go anywhere, no matter what the situation.
So who should the cute little team go to? The city that will hold and cherish her or the one that birthed her but treated her badly? He says that OKC’s house is just as old and decrepit as the old house. Which is obviously not true. Top 12 in the league in attendance. Merchandise through the roof. Arena renovations on their way. A fan base that is bananas about the team and isn’t taking anything for granted. How could he possibly think that this child is not in a better situation now? The only explanation is denial to keep up the shtick. Because we all know the team is in a much, much better situation now.
(And here’s the ironic thing – after seeing the movie, I was firmly in Group B. I don’t know why. But not in this scenario. Little children and basketball teams are a wee bit different.)
While I don’t know if he’s really “killing an entire fan base” by refusing to call us by our name, it does bother me too. The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous though. What do we care what some ESPN columnist thinks? Just because he wants to act like he’s six and someone stole his toy doesn’t mean we should pout every time he does this (and that’s coming from someone that loves Simmons more than most). If the Celtics were here, I’d understand a bit more. But he has no connection with Seattle. I really don’t get his beef with OKC. He’ll devote 20 minutes on a podcast to talking about moving teams around and how the Kings moving to Kansas City would be OK, because KC had them first (so should he be miffed at Sacramento for “stealing” them?) or how the Hornets moving is no biggie because they’re losing money. But for some reason, the whole Oklahoma City thing is a whole different situation when it’s the same exact situation.
Here’s the type of email I’d love to see Bill try and respond to (from a fan at the Thunder forums):
As I go through your segments every so often, as I’ve done for the past several year, I’ve come to be very annoyed and insulted at the language you use in informing the masses about Oklahoma City. See, though I just got done working in another large city (that shall not be named) I was born and raised in OKC and was very excited to see the growth of the city and the hard work of the community pay off to land a major league sports team. Come back to my home town this week I had the opportunity to attend a game and bought merch, food and enjoyed the good kind hearted people of Oklahoma. When you use incendiary language like “The team that shall not be named” and quips of the like, it diminishes the successes of the city and the incredible growth of downtown area. I get it, you didn’t like the manner in which the team moved.
However, you ignore the fact that the city probably couldn’t get a simple majority vote for 75 million they need to secure funds for the renovation stadium, the fact that the franchise was losing 20 mill a year and the city had been growing cold to the team. You never talk about those things, though they’re the cold hard facts. You reemphasize, in some form, how terrible the move was every chance you get and how terrible the league was to allow it. I’m sure Stern was supposed to tell Howard not to sell the team, and Clay Bennett not to buy it, Stern then told the 80% of Seattle voters to vote no, in a poll that asked if they supported a tax for the Sonics. Everything sounds like a superiority complex that’s gone out of control. Living in a very large city and visiting other large cities on a regular basis I’ve come to find out that people from large cities feel like they’re just better than people from smaller cities. It comes through very clearly in your writing that this is what you think. “Little ol’ Oklahoma doesn’t deserve a team, a great city like Seattle does!”.
(Stands and claps)
That’s the thing. Just like so many other people, he wants to act like this was a heist. And in some ways, yes it was. But it’s the type of heist where the bank hands you the keys to the vault, helps you load the money and even plans your getaway. Some would say the money was stolen. Some would also say the bank gave it away.
I really want to get over this and just talk basketball. Everyone (should know) my opinion on this whole matter and I just need to let this type of stuff go. I should’ve just ignored it again. But it bothers me some because this is the state I love and the city I’m incredibly proud of. He’s a national writer with a huge readership and his commitment to this thing just fuels more anti-Okie hate, which is so pathetic. It’s done. It’s over. Casey Affleck isn’t picking her up and taking her back. I know people are still mad about it and that’s fine. But there’s no reason to just drag this out. This isn’t to open up the debate again and have people go back and forth and say the same thing over and over again in the comments. This will be (hopefully) the last I’ll really say on this matter, but I had to get this off my chest. Bill Simmons is absolutely one of my favorite writers, but enough is enough.
Now go rent Gone Baby Gone if you haven’t seen it so this whole stupid thing makes sense.
Well, uhh, that's like, uh, your opinion, man.
Your analogy to Gone Baby Gone is more tortured than a suspected terrorist. A better analogy might be if the kid was the drug addict instead of the kid's mom. The mom sets a boundary the kid doesn't like, so he runs to a different parent that indulges the kid in his addiction. That's a terrible analogy too, but it's worlds better than yours.
I don't know how I'd react as a resident of OKC who's a fan of the thunder. There's no way to wash the stink off of what happened no matter how you try. But now they're your team and you want to feel good about supporting them. Tough spot.
And BS is way more critical of David Stern and Clay Bennett than he could ever be against the city itself. As much as he likes David Stern, this is one thing that BS hates about him, that he let this happen. Seattle still had people going to games even though Bennett basically took a giant dump in their collective faces. Seattle was a great basketball city. They just got caught in a bad spot because they upgraded their arena right before a new wave of even more modern arenas came out.
And cancelling tickets to Disney world because you don't like what one writer on ESPN.com says about your city is disturbing. Reactions like that are why corporate media is so bland. Why not just grow up?
simmons is a failed pop-culture writer who decided that he was funny compared to most sports writers, and carved out a little niche for himself. when people react vehemently, he's thrilled, that's what he wants. why does he periodically have chuck klosterman on? so he can take notes about being a hipster. he doesn't care about sports any more than tom cruise cares about nazis. it's a gig. don't sweat the small guys.
Simmons still writes and people still read him?
If it works out that Seattle gets another team maybe the fans can have a tailgate party with the best food for each place.
Simmons book coming out in the fall is rumored to be titled "The Best Basketball Book Ever". Not sure what type stuff he'll do but it might include this story.
Probably this right?
http://www.johnniesok.com/johnnies.php
Is that an OKC thing? What are "Johnnies"?
Seriously guys, if we don't care let's quit talking about it. God knows he is doing this more now as a running gimmick rather than actually caring that OKC has the Seattle franchise. As he has said before he has a ton of Sonics fan friends because of the ESPN affiliation. Take a deep breath and let it go...this is the same guy who wrote 2,000 words about his dog on a sports website.
I probably shouldn't have phrased it the way I did. There is too much annoying about how it went down for people from both regions.
Stern has done a lot right but this episode went about as badly as it could for everyone including him. I don't think it in the end will help improve his arena extortion game.
Royce, I wish you would call into The Animal. You could say, "Uh, hey Jim. Long time listener first time caller." to which The Ultimate would reply, "Alright, hang on the line at the end, we'll getcha some Johnnies."
I could really go for some Johnnies.
So Thabo hurt his knee? That REALLY pains me!
I have nothing against OKC and the Thunder fans.
Lots of decisions get made by the rich. We deal with it.
But you can't have it both ways. Saying lets move on and then spinning history and taking veiled shots at Seattle politicians, owners, fans.
I might say drop it or lets throw down on it all but I have moved on. Mostly. Maybe completely.
After Howard couldn't get a super sweet deal and Stern's testimony (cocky but casual threats of moving) hurt rather than helped the cause I gotta think that Stern wanted actively for Bennett to take the Sonics. He had the power to block or do city swap or expansion and choose to make Seattle a sacrifice for league greed for cheap arenas (without which the league couldn't stand) and accomodation of Howard's greed and ego and his own ego.
Bennett just moved in and caught the coattails.
One thing that seldom gets mentioned here in the whole move is that a organization (whose name escapes me) got a ballot measure up and running (either at the end of the Schulz ownership or shortly after Bennett bought the team) which essentially said that there shall be no tax payer money used any more for "public" facilities that don't pay for themselves, or something to that effect. The way it was marketed, it was like, why should our taxes go to fund a new stadium so that a bunch of millionaires (the owners) can make a better profit by having the stadium payed for by the taxpayers. That passed, which made it very difficult to get any public financing.
The next thing that happened is that Clay proposed this 500 million dollar stadium, and never put a dollar figure on his contribution. Lawmakers asked him how much? He was constantly ambiguous. Usually when a new stadium is proposed, there is significant ownership contribution.
Next, the Muckleshoot Indians out in Auburn (30 miles south of Seattle) offered to GIVE clay a huge piece of land to build the stadium, right off the highway, but Clay wouldn't consider it.
All this basically meant it wasn't going to happen (a new stadium) in Seattle.
All that said, I hate the way the team left, and all the circumstances around the move, both for Seattleites and OKCers, but, and this is a big but, what does that have to do with OKC, it's people and the team?
Nothing. The players didn't get a vote. You can't blame OKCers for being excited about the new team; who wouldn't be? Bill Simmons comments reflect negatively on the team and the people of OKC who are rightly proud of their team. I wish he would stop.
Oh, and from the first moment I read your blog, I knew that you were Simmons fan because I too enjoy his column. But, I think you do a great job at not causing enmity like a cheap shock jock (which he never refrains from doing).
Sport teams and the leagues that run them, are difficult to run and balance. On the one hand, sports need to be run as a business because there are jobs on the line with these teams. On the other, we don't treat our teams as businesses. I don't shed tears of joy or anguish for WalMart. So, Stern and those money grubbing owners (how did they get the money to own that team you ask?) have a paradox to grapple with at all times. And, there are ramifications for the league, owners and employees if a team is not profitable.
It's rough for a lot of teams, but you gotta think that Stern didn't want Bennett "hijacking" the Sonics, nor did he want Charlotte to lose their team. But, that's why they make the big bucks (as my dad tells me all the time).
"Howard Schultz tried for years to get the renovation and couldn’t so he was forced to sell the team"
He tried for years ineptly to get a far sweeter than average deal from a city that was at at least average or higher in its expectations of pro team owners.
When he failed the third time he decided to stop taking ridiculously calculated to his benefit tax losses (players not re-signed written off as depreciation. seriously.) and sell out of state.
Right on again.
Sorry, above post was in reply to John.
I mentioned earlier that I see Bill Simmons as a comedian masquerading as a sports guy, in the same way Jon Stewart or Bill Maher masquerades as political pundits.
So when Jon Stewart makes a face at a sound clip from McCain or Palin, and the whole audience laughs, that's the point. In a way he brings issues to light. We don't take Jon too seriously though, especially when he takes the side of the economically disadvantages. You and I both know Jon Stewart is not economically disadvantaged. But if he were really interested in performing a civic duty there are much more effective means.
In the same way, when Bill Simmons makes a joke at someone's expense, and everyone laughs, that's the point. In a way, he brings light to a subject that those outside the situation couldn't see. We don't take Simmons too seriously either, he's on Page 2 for a reason. Especially when Simmons takes up the cause for a Sonics fan, when we all know that Simmons is a Boston fan. But if he were really that interested in performing a civic duty to the NBA and it's fans, there are more effective means.
And maybe these guys are doing what is in their power to do when it comes to a subject they want to see addressed. Or maybe they make a good living by finding a way to make someone else the brunt of a good joke.
So that's all I'm saying. I'm not here to tell you that what Bennett and Stern did was angelic and anyone who can't see that is wrong. It's not about the move or the circumstances associated with it. It's about Bill Simmons and how I see him and his opinions.
i like that you equated seattle with a crack-addicted mother. well played royce, well played indeed.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
You said it. That's my big problem here.
As for the Seattle situation, I think the team was in jeopardy of moving regardless of Clay Bennett. Howard Schultz tried for years to get the renovation and couldn't so he was forced to sell the team. When an owner and a community aren't on the same page and the community is anti-arena, a franchise is in jeopardy of moving. I don't think for a second Clay intended to be the long-term owner of the Sonics, but I think he knew the city wasn't committed to basketball and moving was inevitable.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Thanks Jax. I am not so sure he's doing it as a gimmick, though it definitely is corny that he keeps sticking with it.
I could definitely be wrong, but haven't previous NBA moves usually been prompted by money issues after years of trying to make it work out? I think the difference in this case is that an ownership group specifically bought the team in order to move it, and they lied to the city at the time about their intentions. I do not know if other moves have had that factor. Assuming this is the case, when Simmons says that he wants another team to move to Seattle I would guess that with the Kings or Hornets the current owners would move with the team, or sell it to an ownership group in Seattle with the declared purpose of moving. Not that it would hurt the respective fan bases much less, but at least it would be out in the open and the fans who didn't attend the games would take responsibility. While Seattle attendance numbers were poor, I don't think that ultimately mattered for the move to OKC, as it has become clear that's what Bennett was going to do from the start.
@John
I know your concern comes from a level headed opinion. I find it genuine, and believe that you are truly concerned with the business side of the NBA.
As opposed to you, I find Bill Simmons disingenuous. He lightheartedly refers to other teams needing to be moved, which is either hypocritical of him, or it's... well... it just leads me to believe that he's being disingenuous with his whole opinion on the Sonics/Thunder. I think he does it to create drama (and sell a column).
If you were the one protesting the move, since you're a Washington resident and a lifelong Sonics fan (as opposed to an LA resident and a lifelong Boston fan), then I'd have no problem with you doing it, since I find you genuine. I think BS does it to stir up trouble (and sell a column). He does the same thing when he lists every reason he can think of to belittle Kobe and get people from L.A. to chime in by the thousands.
Its funny. I used to read Bill Simmon's articles and think to myself this guy is way over the top. So i stopped reading his NFL predictions and his wife's for that matter, like a gave a crap in the first place. But this whole thing reminds me of something i useto think about. Bill Simmons lives in LA and goes to Clippers games because he is a season ticket holder. They suck ass and there attendance is lousy, the only thing that makes the news out of clipperland is Sterling's rants at his players. Why dont they move Simmon's Clips to Seattle to make up for the franchise "he misses so much". I think thats a great idea. By the way, i cant stand that cocky bastard.
I was a casual Sonics fan, because they were in my state when I was a kid. I didn't like the way that OKC got the franchise. The reason imo Simmons is so worked up about this is that it opens the door for any team to depart whenever the owner feels like it. Clay Bennett bought the team with the express purpose of moving it, as evidenced by his emails and halfhearted at best negotiations with the city on upgrading Key Arena. Then he essentially buys his way out of the lease because Washington has a stupid governor who can't manage money and the state is in debt (not your guys' fault obviously, but still Clay took advantage of Washington's economy). "Hey, your attendance figures are falling, the stadium is sooooo lame, if you won't give us money and buy me a shiny new stadium we're out of here suckers!" This can happen to any team now. What if some billionaire out of San Diego decides he wants a team? Then all he has to do is force a hostile takeover of some team with a depressed fan base due to years in the gutter, bribe the city and/or state government, and the team is on the move. Seattle had the Sonics for 40 years and then all of a sudden loses it because some guy wants to be a home town hero, and skeezes his way into it anyways? This could happen to you! Although I think Simmons is more mad at Stern for allowing this to happen.
Now there is no question the franchise is more loved in OKC than they were in Seattle the last few years. But the NBA is cyclical, and the draft is designed to help bad teams. So Seattle fans suffer through garbage in the post-Payton/Kemp era (except for I believe one playoff year, a flash in the pan and nothing more), finally get to draft a once-in-a-decade talent (if not one of the best ever when all is said and done), are stockpiled for the future and then OKC gets the reward. This is about more than just the sleazy move, this is about robbing Seattle of the chance to watch Jeff Green and Kevin Durant light up the NBA for years to come! How would you guys like it if you put in the waiting time, cheering on these young and budding superstars, and then Clay gets greedy and sells the team for twice what it's worth and then San Diego gets the Thunder? Plus Seattle's management auctioned off or didn't pay all of our actual talent (like Ray Allen, Desmond Mason and Rashard Lewis) in order to "build for the future" which Seattle doesn't now even get to enjoy! This is what bothers me more than anything. I understand that the NBA is a business, and while the manner of the move was definitely sketchy there was financial sense in it. But Seattle kept coming to watch crappy teams so that someday our dedication would be rewarded, and it never will be.
@Clark Matthews
Exactly Clark. Exact-ly. And then he goes on and on about other teams moving and he's got no problem with it. He fantasizes about teams in KC and San Diego and Anaheim. I really think since he was opposed to the move to start with, he's just trying to keep up his shtick. That's so much of what he does.
In my bank analogy, maybe it should go this way: "But it’s the type of heist where the bank hands you the keys to the vault, helps you load the money and even plans your getaway. And then you pay the bank $400 million for their money."
Simmons won't ever go on Traber's show because he has to much ego. He'll think "I'm not going on some little radio show in Oklahoma! Who does that guy think he is?" But I'd like to hear it because Traber doesn't back down from anyone and it could be a nice confrontation.
Is it really stealing when you fork over more than $400 million?
My biggest problem with the Columnist Who Shall Not Be Named is that he's such a hypocrite. He never said two words about what a travesty moving the Hornets from Charlotte to New Orleans. In fact, he wrote a loving article about New Orleans when the All Star Game was there. The difference is that he would prefer to visit New Orleans to Charlotte and he'd prefer to visit Seattle over Oklahoma City. I wish he'd just be honest about that.
I hope the Bill Simmons / Jim Traber thing doesn't happen. It just brings more negative attention to the guy who makes a living off negative attention.
Also, as I learned with that old girlfriend, when you roll your eyes and walk away, it works for a while, but eventually it just makes her mad and she gets worse.
Don't feed the trolls.
@Lucho
WOO! I was actually going to call in today to ask Traber what his thoughts are on this whole thing. I wish I would have heard Traber say that. Maybe after they hang up Traber will say, "Shaping the minddds.... of America's youth..."
And you're right James. That's why I think this whole thing is more of a shtick than anything else.
Listening to the sports animal today and it appears Jim Traber is on a mission to get Bill Simmons on the phone so he can question him about his disrespect for OKC. Hopefully they can get that hooked up. Go Ultimate!
The funny thing is, he absolutely loves the players on the team. His man-crush on Durant is both awesome and hilarious.
If you've "moved on though and it’s back to basketball" fine.
I have avoided talking about the departure here and probably will pretty much still do so. But if it is brought up, at least again, I'd think / hope you'd be open to hearing both sides of it. If you don't want that, then don't bring it up.
Simmons approach is pretty strong but he is probably being tough on OKC / Bennett because he probably can't afford to be quite as tough on Stern directly and constantly as he might want to be. ESPN would probably come down harder on him for that. The main point about making the issue linger is eventually getting some remedy. If he refuses to call them OKC Thunder next year I'd consider it too far, but not everybody would. One year of griping about it doesn't seem that excessive.
@okcnba
I know. Like I said, I'm through with it, but I just couldn't get over it today. I'm moved on though and it's back to basketball.
Royce, I know this is a blog about "all things Thunder"... but why even give this guy air time. No one but us and seattleites care any more. My question is, why does he call the Memphis Grizzlies "The Memphis Grizzlies"; hailing from Vancouver I'd love for him to be... oh I don't know... FAIR!
Wow. Amen.
Whoah.
I should do the same thing with my ESPN insider account.
Wow, this is quite a way to take a stand. Read this:
http://www.okcthunderfans.com/vforum/showthread.php?t=1386&highlight=disney
"Every year, for the past 6 years my family and I have made an annual pilgramage to Disney World for vacation.
We had reservations and a deposit paid for this year, and finally I was up to my eyebrows with Simmons.
As you guys know, ESPN (and just about everything else these days) is owned by the Disney Company. After making sure it would fly with the family to switch from Disney to Universal Studios this year, I called and cancelled my reservation.
The customer service person from Disney was very nice, and said, "Could I please ask what made you change your mind. I'm sure she was expecting me to say the economy or something like that. Instead, I told her exactly why. I didn't feel that I could spend my money with a company that employees and gives a public platform to a person who is continously (sp?) disrepectful to our City. She sat there for a few seconds and asked "Disney has been disprectful of Oklahoma City?" I explained the Simmons situation and told her that I was very suprised that they continued to allow it. I was asked to hold for a second and a supervisor got on the phone who asked me to repeat what I said. I told her also, and she offered my a free night......That kind of got on my nerves, but she was just doing her job. I explained that this was not an economical issue, I was happy to spend the money at Disney World because it's worth every penny, but this was a issue of principle. They cancelled my reservation and refunded my deposit (almost immediatley) but asked if I could email the issue to them. I told her I would be happy to.
Now I thought that would be the end of it. I have since recieved three emails. Two from executives with Disney World, and one from customer relations with the Disney Company. Each...sort of apologized, but the last point blank asked, "Is this issue important enough to you that you would stop coming to Disney Resorts? I told him that it, without a doubt, is. Two days later, another reply saying that they would look further into the issue and get back with me.
This is about a professional sports journalist being outright disrespectful to our city, and each time Simmons gives the middle finger to OKC by refusing to call the team by its name, I see it as ESPN and Disney is doing the same thing by allowing it."
Very nice. Like he said, nothing's going to happen but still, cool.
"That’s the thing. Just like so many other people, he wants to act like this was a heist. And in some ways, yes it was. But it’s the type of heist where the bank hands you the keys to the vault, helps you load the money and even plans your getaway. Some would say the money was stolen. Some would also say the bank gave it away."
Thank you!
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
You're right, you're totally right. But it's happened a lot and I've been biting my tongue (or holding my fingers... whatever) and I couldn't take it anymore. So I spit it out and now I'm done with it.
*when he's having to write*
It will be glorious when he's have to write "The Team That Shall Not Be Named" over and over again when we become perennial playoff contenders and are always in the running for the top spot in the west. I just hope he doesn't sell himself short and write TTSNBN... because if that's the case, then I question his passion and motivation for his "cause." If he is to stick to his guns, I'm already looking forward to the future of this Bill Simmons/OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER relationship.
Don't get too worked up over Simmons. He's a comedian masquerading as a sports guy. He is to sports like Jon Stewart and Bill Maher are to politics, in that the only people who takes them seriously are the ones who forgot that these guys are comedians, and not actually political pundits. They're all comedians who make a living pointing out extreme perspectives on emotional issues. As long as you'll read it or watch it, you get emotionally attached to it, and they got you.
Simmons' opinions are too biased for a real sports guy. His take on Kobe has a life of its own, and he's made thousands of Laker fans irate at him for years. All he has to do it slight Kobe in one sentence of a completely unrelated article, and he suddenly has tons of built in attention. I once had a girlfriend who could that too. If she was just shy of the attention quota she needed for the month, she knew just how to stir up the drama and make the world revolve around her, at least for a bit.
When you come across one of his contrived opinions, you just roll your eyes, and hope that somewhere else he'll make you chuckle.