Diplomatic skills are not something that you are born with they are something that you acquire as you go through life. New York Vinnie was not always the suave and debonair gentleman that you now have come to know and admire. There was a time when New York Vinnie was considered rude, obnoxious, a loud-mouth and uncouth if you could imagine such a thing! But as time went on New York Vinnie slowly and surely had those rough edges honed away resulting in the man who now runs the “House That New York Vinnie Built” Le Basketbawl.  

Now one guy who can certainly use some Frickin Diplomacy Training is New Jersey Nets Team President Rod Thorn. Thorn can allow his emotions to get the best of him at times and can be a bit of a hot-head. Well Rod My Man you have to learn to pick your Frickin battles wisely; because you could be heading down a pretty Frickin dangerous road.

There have been reports that New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian could possibly miss the NBA regular season opener because he would be in China. Yi is scheduled to play in the Chinese National Games and the reports were that he would be in his native country from October 16-28 which would cause him to miss the Nets season opener.

Thorn told “The Star-Ledger” that was not accurate by any means. The Nets executive told the paper “No, no; he’s not going to be away from Oct. 16th to the 28th. They’d like him to be in the tournament, and it conflicts with the opening of our season. But what I said was, if they wanted him to go for two or three days; like sometime around Oct. 14th to the 16th; that would be all right. But once we get to a certain time in camp, there’s no way, because we’re getting ready for our season. … They understand he has to play here. You can’t be going over there at that time.”

Okay Rod; listen to Your Old Pal New York Vinnie for just a minute. This is not some Frickin player’s agent you can try to intimidate. This is Frickin CHINA! Those guys play Frickin hard-ball Rod; you know how they arrest somebody for graft or corruption in this country they give him a slap on the wrist and throw them in some Country Club Prison for 18 months? In China they execute you; they line you against the Frickin wall and shoot you dead My Man! These guys are not people to be trifled with.

Rod, remember when Yi was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks everybody was holding their breath that he would not play in the NBA? The Chinese Government calls all the shots My Man; their word is law. So chill out; don’t be making intimidating statements and getting yourself, your player, your team and your Country in a whole lot of Frickin scalding hot water!