Michael has been watching basketball since the late eighties.
He has been playing basetball at the amateur level since the
early nineties for such teams as the YMCA Sonics, the St.
Rita Falcons, where he was selected as the Faclon Award winner
for the 1997-98 season, the Solon High School Intermural Eastern
Conference Champion UCLA Bruins, as well as countless other
brief stints in Europe and Eurasia. What he lacks in traditional
talent he makes up in sheer heart. Often he is referred to
as the King of the Hustle, Hustleman Jones, and Sir Hustles.
He is a libra (ladies).
The Abused, Under-Used, or Under-Appreciated All-Stars (AUUUAAST)
Assembled by Michael "Tyco RC Racecars" Tonovitz
Note: The selections are based on a variety of things, most importantly, how much I like the player, their playing style, or something else these guys bring to the floor. This is team ranks as a worthy advirsary to my favorite Cavs of All-Time (which will debut at the All-Star break). The Under-Used, Abused, or Under-Appreciated Team (AUUUAAST, pronounced "ah-oooo-ahst") is a collection of Cavaliers who, despite unbelievable moments of greatness, have managed to slip through the cracks.
PG- William Henry Parker When you play with such stars a s Milt Palacio, Chris Mihm, Jumaine Jones, and Tierre Brown in your rookie year, you almost have no choice but to dunk at will.
You may know him as Smush. I know him as the Brooklyn Cage legend, NBA Live/Grim Reaper/The Aviator. Take whatever nickname you want, the fact remains this guy is Mr. Intangible. Whether it was his crashing of a sweet 16 party hosted by my cousin in a hotel he was staying at where he proceeded to sign a large number autographs simply as "SMUSH", his dunk on Ben Wallace
...
or the fact that I sat next to a man wearing a #17 jersey with Smush on top and Parker beneath the number who claimed to be his uncle, W.H. Parker (a much classier name, mind you), goes grossly under-appreciated in Cavaliers lore. Also, according to Wikipedia, he has an oustanding $12 parking ticket
SG- Derek Anderson There is little debate as to why Michael Jordan saw D.A. as something special.
#1 This kid played for two colleges: The 95-96 NCAA Champion Kentucky Wildcats AND The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
#2 He's got the all-star name.
#3 He was signed to the Jordan Brand Team (like Melo and Chris Paul, but before them and better) and wore the #23.
SF- Luke "The Duke" Jackson Moments before Jackson reportedly shouted "My next shot is going in!" He fufilled his prophecy
All I can say is "sick." Luke was a 3 point sniper, 6'8" (basically rookie LeBron), and got a college degree in playing basketball with long hair at Oregon with Luke Ridnour. Luke was essentially the warm-up to Wally, handsome, a shooting star, and, of course, a dunker. Luke fits under the Abused category of the team for two reasons: 1. After getting traded by the Cavs and getting waived by the Celtics, Luke went on to abuse all opponants of the Idaho Stampede in the NBADL (at which point the Raptors said "Enough is enough" and signed him) and 2. As YouTube has abused his career with only 2 highlights (come on internet, its Luke Jackson!).
PF - Shannon Brown Shannon Brown catches a glimpse of the open lane.
What the hell happened to this ...
...guy?
I am confused as to where this ability to throw the hammer down went. The only logical conclusions is that he didn't get enough time and thus was underused. I guess only time will tell about Shannon
C- Michael Stewart No image for Michael Stewart actually exists. Instead here is a picture of Yogi Bear ejoying Michael Stewart rebounding and playing with strong fundamentals.
I know what you are thinking. This team is too small! Too inexperienced! Too streaky! While I respectfully disagree with all three of those statements, I do also provide an answer. His name is Michael "Yogi" Stewart. I would love to give you all the reasons why Yogi makes this team, why he is the third most under-appreciated player in Cavaliers history (behind Z and Joe Smith) but that would be an insult to your Cavs knowledge and a waste of everybody's time. To avoid shortchanging our readers, I will leave you with this anecdote. In the 2003-04 season, the 28 year old Stewart played 8 games. He started 2 of them. I was fortunate enough to attend one of these games. The game was on November 28th, against the Detroit Pistons. At this point in the season, Yogi had yet to record a point. This would all change. Late in the game, Yogi was fouled. Knowing what all Cleveland fans knew, fearing that his streak of zero points would continue, the pressure of all of Northeast Ohio lay on his shoulders. Then he casually stepped to the line and sunk not one, but BOTH of his foul shots. He ended that evening with going 2 for 3 from the field, accumlating 6 total points. Those 6 points accounted for two thirds of his points that season. The Cavs ended up losing that game 88-92, but without Yogi's efforts, who knows how close it would have been.
Michael
Tonovitz and has written for TAC since 2009, to contact
him email theaustincarr@gmail.com
