The Haitian Sensation and Other Thoughts That Don't Make Sense

I remember back when the 76ers drafted Samuel Dalembert and I labeled him the Haitian Sensation (I wish I was that witty... I'm sure someone else did it first but it doesn't make the name any less great... jerks.)

The day he was drafted I remember Dick Jerardi of the Daily News saying it maybe the worst draft pick ever, and I laughed… “Oh, you” I said…

Since then he’s missed almost two complete seasons, and continues to struggle with the idea that while blocks come easy if you fly recklessly out of control… so do very easy shots for the other teams on the 9 out of 10 times you miss. Oh and offense... don't get crazy.

The point being, Sami has not always been my favorite player. Now he has come out and said the game isn’t fun, which is apparently because he isn’t playing enough. (Even though he's averaging 33 minutes a game, which is a career high.)

What is most pitiful here is that this is the first time is Sami's storied career that the Sixers are actually winning, other than his first year, when he didn't play (which made the team better.)

They might even make the playoffs and this fool isn't having a good time? They've gone 12-3
in their last 15 (that would be sixteen if A were counting) and that's not enough to get him excited about getting up in the morning.

So how can we help him? Here are some ideas.

1. Have a hockey demonstration at half time.

Sam loves hockey... especially when he can watch the little ball, man.


2. Encourage players to drape themselves in the flag while sitting on the bench.


This is the happiest I've ever seen Sami, other than the video above, and I think it's because the flag is his natural clothing. Once he leaves it's comfortable confines he is like a baby kangaroo lost in the wilderness.

3. Play one game in Haiti.


Sure, they're constantly at war and haven't had a stable government since... well, since Christopher Columbus started messing things up in 1492, but I'm sure with the NBA's new global outreach programs there's an opportunity to sell a pair of shoes or a jersey or something to the entire country. That's money in the pocket.

4. Have a fake afro give-a-way during the next game.



Did Sami ever look better?

So, I hope all of that can help, or maybe what Sami really needs is what will eventually happen. When the Sixers sneak into the playoffs and get stomped by the Celtics or the Pistons he won't have to worry about losing that losing feeling anymore. He clears buys into the idea that with success bring misery, and hopefully this will one day bring him, to another team.