Sexy Names Watch

Chad Ford deems Carlos Arroyo the eight-best unrestricted free agent still on the market:

Arroyo isn't a sexy name, but the market has a shortage of point guards, and Arroyo was more than adequate as a backup in Orlando last season.

Recalling my use-mention distinction, it's true that Arroyo isn't a sexy name (he's a basketball player) but I think "Arroyo" is about as sexy a name as any other on the list. Certainly I'd take it over "Dooling" (number six, too close to "drooling") or "Nachbar" (number nine, too Serbian). Nachbar, meanwhile, might be the shooting the new-look sixers need at a price they can afford.

Comments

Ugh...

OK, it seems you need to do another of those "request" threads, because you clearly have nothing to talk about.

Are you at the point where you think that if you don't blog, you die?

I defend you on your basketball posts, even though they are typically inane, but this one takes the cake.

Posted by Yglesias in a Tailspin | July 10, 2008 4:28 PM

What do you think about Ford's comment on Andris Biedrins? Do you agree the stats don't tell the whole story?

Posted by right | July 10, 2008 4:31 PM

Isn't "Nachbar" German?

Posted by MG | July 10, 2008 4:33 PM

"Nachbar" may be too Serbian, but Nachbar himself is Slovenian.

Your standards for Serbianity are questionable anyway, since "Nachbar" is actually a German word, meaning "neighbor".

Posted by Cryptic Ned | July 10, 2008 4:33 PM

Given that Nachbar plays the 3 - i.e., the same position as Iguodala and Thaddeus Young - I would think the Sixers would pass. If they want shooting, perhaps they should think about Sasha Vujacic or Carlos Delfino.

And of all the people on the list, I'd think that Delfino is the sexiest sounding name.

Posted by Al | July 10, 2008 4:43 PM

right,
I know, I giggled to myself when I read Ford's article earlier today. It would be awesome if Mat would post about that.

Nachbar would be way sexier if he went by his nickname, SNachbar. Although if he was a little overweight, that nickname would be even sexier.

Posted by Stacy | July 10, 2008 4:45 PM

"Nachbar" (number nine, too Serbian)

Obviously, "Nachbar" = "Nacho Bar". It may not sound that way, but that's what I hear in my head whenever I read it.

Posted by ben | July 10, 2008 4:52 PM

After Danny Ferry or one of his more dimwitted colleagues showers James Posey with $30 million over five years, I could see Nachbar as part of the Celtics' plan B shortlist.

Posted by Joel | July 10, 2008 4:55 PM

"If they want shooting, perhaps they should think about Sasha Vujacic or Carlos Delfino."

The short order cook isn't available. Delfino can't shoot. They already dumped Ashton Kutcher to get the cap space to get Brand. Dude, where's my three point shooter?

Seriously, in April 2009 you'll notice that Washington and Philadelphia both have 46 wins and wonder, didn't Petey predict that precise result 9 months ago?

-----

Arroyo sure looked good during the '04 Olympics. It's gotten him an NBA career despite no one being able to make actual productive use of him in the association.

No wonder you so rarely see Arroyo on TV...

Posted by Petey | July 10, 2008 4:57 PM

Just watched Eastern Promises for the first time since I saw it in the theater. Man, that's good stuff.

Cronenberg is a sexier name than Arroyo.

Posted by Petey | July 10, 2008 5:02 PM

He may or may not have a sexy name, but he sure does bring the sexy.

Posted by Ein Junger Hirt | July 10, 2008 5:02 PM

His nickname is the Boston Snackbar. Also, he's not very good.

Posted by SMK | July 10, 2008 5:03 PM

Delfino can't shoot.

He shot 38% from downtown last year. Nachbar shot under 36%.

Posted by Al | July 10, 2008 5:06 PM

"He shot 38% from downtown last year."

While he knocked down the three at a decent clip, he shot below 40% overall from the field, and produced a substandard TS% of 52.7%.

In other words, despite the respectable three point stroke, Delfino produced a well below average number of points per shot.

Or in even fewer words, dude can't shoot.

Posted by Petey | July 10, 2008 5:13 PM

"Nachbar" is actually the watering hole behind my house (literally a half a block away). Of course, I do live in Germantown so it makes sense because, as someone mentioned above, it means "neighbor" in German.

Which is why the owner (my wife's ex-boyfriend of 5 years) chose the name. Good beers and, as much as hate to admit it, the owner is one helluva a good guy. I recommend it.

But I say pass on Nachbar the player. He could be a real shooter if he had better shot selection. But he's a chucker.

Posted by keatssycamore | July 10, 2008 5:28 PM

Actually, Ford was talking about the actual basketball player, Carlos Arroyo, not the name "Carlos Arroyo," so it would have been inappropriate to place the name in quotation marks. Your mistake was thinking that Ford was using the phrase "sexy name" literally, when in fact he was using it as a metaphor.

Better linguistic analysis please!

Posted by blah | July 10, 2008 5:30 PM

Nachbar would look great in a Sixers uniform.

Posted by Roman | July 10, 2008 5:51 PM

blah is correct.

I think the word "name" here was used as a shorthand for "name player", that is, "recognizable player". On the other hand, "sexy" is not used in its literal sense either, but rather used to mean something like "exciting". It's all a rich tapestry.

Posted by Cryptic Ned | July 10, 2008 5:53 PM

Previous 2 posts = genius.

Our blogger = not very genius

Posted by YIELD | July 10, 2008 7:38 PM

Timeout Ned, and blah, do you actually think that Matt thought that Chad Ford was LITERALLY talking about a sexy name? There is no way that's what Matt meant. He was obviously making a joke. Right? Or you guys are making a joke, right?

Posted by Scotttttttttttttttty | July 10, 2008 7:41 PM

I always suspected you were an anti-Serbian bigot, as anti-Serbian undertones permeate your writing. Now I know.

Posted by Robert | July 10, 2008 8:05 PM

Arroyo means ditch, gully, or ravine.

That is all.

Posted by Pops | July 10, 2008 9:33 PM

What fact about Matt could we examine to determine whether he was making a joke or not? Is there some content of his consciousness that could settle the question?

Posted by Ludwig W. | July 10, 2008 10:24 PM

Matt, people who write post such things as "and I certainly hope she's write" should stay out of the pedantry business.

Posted by Boring Commenter | July 11, 2008 9:06 AM

"Seriously, in April 2009 you'll notice that Washington and Philadelphia both have 46 wins and wonder, didn't Petey predict that precise result 9 months ago?"

Now the only question is which of them will win 55 and which will win 30.

Posted by Njorl | July 11, 2008 9:09 AM

What the fuck is wrong with Serbians? I'm not trying too be overly snide. I'd really like to know.

Posted by DDP | July 11, 2008 10:30 AM