Last week, Ronny Turiaf signed a lucrative (for his role) contract of 4 year for approximately $17 million. It hit me like a cold slap in the face. It came out of nowhere, and was totally unexpected. I realized that day, that the Lakers would probably not match that high of an offer, and I would have to write this goodbye not only from me, but from the entire Lakers Nation.
Ronny Turiaf was the 37th draft pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. I remember that night well, when they announced the Lakers had picked Ronny, I was pumped up, I knew what Ronny was about, I knew the things that he did at Gonzaga to help make them a powerhouse in the early part of this decade. I couldn’t wait to have his energy on our Lakers club. I thought to myself, here is what we have been missing, Mark Madsen, but with actual talent.
Then 4 weeks later, the Lakers Nation mourned when news broke about Ronny Turiaf’s heart. He was in need of open heart surgery, that took place on July 26, 2005. The Lakers had to wave him, but held on to his rights and paid for the entire procedure. The surgery lasted around 6 hours, and it was expected to take up to a year for him to recover. But Mr. Turiaf and his big heart had ideas of his own. Ideas that would bring him back to the game he loved a heck of a lot sooner.
He started rehab and began working as hard as he could. He signed with the CBA’s Yakuma Sun Kings to try and speed things up. He played 9 games for them averaging 13 PPG and 6.3 RBG. The Lakers noticed the great things Ronny had accomplished, and on January 17th less than 6 months after the operation, Ronny was back in the NBA, and back with the Purple and Gold.
It was easy to see that this man had a passion for the game, and the he was the type of person that had great character, someone who every team that wants to be successful needs to have.
On the second game of the 2007-2007 NBA season, Ronny Turiaf scored career highs in almost every category against the Golden State Warriors. Most notably 8/10 shooting with 23 points. Lakers fans and Lakers Management alike began to realize they had someone who was special.
Last season, Ronny was very valuable to the Lakers as he played big minutes with an injury depleted frontcourt. Probably none bigger than the 9 game stretch late in the season when Pau Gasol sprained his ankle. Ronny put up solid numbers as he was now starting and playing 30 minutes a game while averaging 11 PPG, 6 RBG, and 2 BPG. All though the Lakers only went 5-4 on this stretch, including to horrible losses to the Charlotte Bobcats and Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center, Ronny helped it from being a complete disaster.
With Gasol back, his minutes were sliced, but he still showed the same energy and passion game in and game out. Every Lakers fan can remember him yelling “Sashaaa Vujacicccc!!!,” and “ I love you, Sasha!!!!!!!!” While the Lakers ended up short of their NBA Championship goal, there was never a dull moment with Turiaf’s passion.
Ronny Turiaf’s life like so many of ours has been like a dangerous battlefield. And he has won almost every single one of them. He made it into the NBA, beat open-heart surgery, started playing basketball again in record time, got resigned by the Lakers, helped start the bench mob, became a core piece to the 2008 Western Conference Champion Lakers team, and finally got a lucrative contract offer from the Golden State Warriors that he accepted.
While I will extremely miss Ronny, I know he did what he thought was best for his family. I mean he knows as well as anyone you never know how long your going to be able to play sports professionally, you need to get as much money as you can to support your family, because one day, it will all be over for everyone.
So Ronny if you read this know I LOVE YOU, the entire LAKERS NATION LOVES YOU!
We are thankful for the role model you have been in Los Angeles, showing everyone that they can overcome whatever obstacles life throws your way, with hard work, dedication, and most important faith.
Thanks for the memories, Ronny.
Lakers let Turiaf go to Warriors
Purple & Gold Family
Lakers deciding on Turiaf, then perhaps go after Artest?
Turiaf day to day due to tonsillitis
Turiaf to the Jazz?
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Hope he has a good career with GSW.
Ronny was that dude!
words can’t express how happy i am for turiaf but at the same time, i didn’t want him to leave. i fully understand why we let him go though. best of luck turiaf (except against the lakers). i hope that he gets a huge standing ovation when the warriors come to LA
well put man, ull never meet neone who hates ronny, thanks for the memories 2 1
“ronny is crazy man” - the machine blog
ima miss u ro ro, come back in 4 years, we’ll take u in a heart-beat (no pun intended)
ronny will come back to LALALAND
book it! sure he will, may not be this year or next year but he will
i feel like he died. i’m going to miss him so much. he’s truly been a part of ‘Lakers basketball’ for the past few seasons, and to see him in a different uni is going to kill me.
No more video games with Ronnie!
HERES SOME GOOD NEWS!!
Bynum was cleared today to begin basketball practice and begin his summer conditioning workout!!!
Bynum Update
Kupchak said they have gotten “positive reports” on Bynum and that “everything has been really upbeat regarding his rehabilitation” while being cared for by his doctor in New York.
Kupchak said Bynum had therapy in 19 of the past 21 days and finally was cleared Friday to begin conditioning and basketball activity.
Kupchak said Bynum will return to Los Angeles this weekend and that the two will meet Monday before Bynum travels to Atlanta to begin training.
http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_lakers_19.42437d1.html
Bynum was cleared by his therapist Friday to expand his rehabilitation program to include light work on the court.
“The reports are very positive,” Kupchak said. “Everything is upbeat. We expect Andrew to be able to go full steam, full bore by training camp.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9928652?nclick_check=1
Kupchak said Bynum has been in New York and underwent physical therapy in 19 of the last 21 days and has been cleared to work out and play.
“He’s basically on his own to begin conditioning and basketball activity, starting today,” Kupchak said. “It’s a process. Based on what he did last year, I would expect him to come in in mid-September basically in great shape. I know that’s his goal. He’s coming back this weekend, we’re going to meet with him Monday. He will go to Atlanta late next week to begin his training for the upcoming season.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3496084
remember d-fish went to the warriors, too.
he went away to utah. then he came back to the lakers.
im hoping that will happen to ronnie.
ill miss his energy off the bench.
i wonder who kobe will turn to now hes gone.
like fisher, he would be back — as a better man and player.
hey, don’t you guys think it’s time to replace him with Robert Horry?
Let Robert return! As would Ronny in 2012!
I woke up this mornin’ hoping for better news,that they matched the offer but….I don’t know I kinda like things better without free agency that could’ve kept One of the Greatest Players to wear the Purple n Gold.
HE’LLBEBACK.com,HE WILL!!!
ONE LOVE BROTHA…WISH YOU ALL THE BEST…STAY STRONG RONNY!!!
Good luck Ronny, thanks & God bless!
Good luck Ronny, thanks & God bless!
http://nbainsidestuff.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/bring-back-the-long-beach-summer-pro-league/ I saw Ronny Tuiaf’s first game at the Summer Pro League in Long Beach.
Go Ronny!!! Good Luck to you and your warriors career. Hope to see you in P&G again.
Now, lets get back to business. Come on Mitch, get sasha’s deal done. Sign Jorge, Elson, Kurt Thomas, ot Skinner. Find moron GMs to swallow Luke and Vlads contract. Then we are set. I did not mention to trade LO, I believe it’s better to see first how would the Pau/AB/LO frontcourt would do. But if the FO decided to get Bill-Bill, then let it be. Pau/AB/Bill-Bill front court is scary too. Thats for sure!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Lets just hope he doesnt torch us when he plays us….but good luck Ronny…you will be missed as a laker!!!
good bye ronny were ganna miss you
hopefully youll be back, but if you dont best wishes to you good luck
we love you!
all right! ronnie you did the right thing leaving the fakers… bwahahaha… man! now talk about soft bench bunch of sissy players…
Eat Sh!t fools! hahahaha
hope ronny likes coach Nelsons coaching.He will find out like Derek Fisher did that winning is just as important as the big money contract
Thanks HiDORKhi,
We always enjoy hearing from retard fans of the Suckdics.
Aren’t there any Suckdic sites where where you can share your drivel with others who share your mental affliction?
Very sorry to see him go. Will be interesting to see how the next 4 years play out in his career.
I’ll still be a Ronny fan no matter where he goes.
Man, losing Ronny is tough. Like nazanin said, I’ll always be a Ronny fan and I wish him the best on Golden State.
That’s a great picture of him, by the way. It captures everything he brought to the team very well.
I understand that once Ronny Turiaf signed the offer sheet from Golden State that he was as good as gone but that still doesn’t make me mad at Mitch Kupchak. He could have offered Ronny a deal before Golden State got to him. And if that had happened we may not be sitting here discussing this.
They did make an offer to Ronny. Probably an offer that would reflect a 10-12 minute player next season. Paying a 10-12 minutes player over 4 million dollars a yr doesn’t make sense. Also don’t forget the lakers in the lux tax. This would cost the lakers 8 million a year. It doesn’t make sense to sign Ronny for that amount.
Good luck in Oakland.
Golden State overpaid for Ronny.
Shouldn’t you be mourning the loss of Posey, one the better Suckdic bench players. WHAH WHAH WHAH
eat Boston sh*t and die f*ggot
I guess winning isnt important to him rite now. CUZ the warriors aint gonna get at least 35 wins this yr. Well it was fun having you in our team. I hope u come back. But get ready to lose.
go suck KG’s dick you fag!!!
Bye Ronny! Thanks for giving us 110% every time.
Thats what happens when your greedy you leave a good team and get payed higher. But you always go to a bad team. He will be back in 4 years.
I’ll miss you dearly Ronny!!!
Best wishes on your upcoming GSW games!
hahahaha… we’ll be just fine next season… underestimate us again is your biggest mistake fakers and that is exactly how get beaten by 39 points… bwahaha.
man, just wear those cute-azz short shorts and just replace those faker cheerleaders bunch of sorry azz players! and sissy bench.
YOUR NOT JORDAN WHERE IS KOBE? BWAHAHAHA….
na-na-na NA! hey hey HEY! GOODBYE..
eat sh!t fools hahaha..
regards from,
beantown!
WE LOVE YOU RONNY!!!!
Joseph,
Obviously you need a GIANT ENEMA.
Why don’t you go to a Suckdic site where you share your diarrhea of the mouth with others who share your level of mental retardation.
are you in a tall in building? ok, go to the top and jump off.
good luck. we love you
Blah blah blah!!! He’s gonna be over paid to sit on the bench at golden state at least better than underpaid sitting on the bench at L.A. The guy is just NOT that good. He can’t hit shots that good, can’t rebound that good. He’ll never be a double double guy, OH was he playing in the finals?…..sometimes. Better the Lakers save their money for a stronger contributer and enough with the “heart” reference. everyone knows what ronnie WAS about. Can’t wait to see him celebrating on the Lakers home floor see if y’all like that.
This is a bad move on the part of LA. At this point they have a number of players on the team that they simply can not unload easily so they’ll have to run out their contracts, and then they had players like Ronny who might not get playing time on the team but had trade value. So, they have just hung on to a bunch of bad contracts with no payoff, and let go of one of those talented players for whom they could have received something. Letting go of a player Ronny while hanging on to the bad contracts of Rad, Luke, Mihm was just not a smart thing. With Turiaf there was a mutual love affair between him and the Lakers+fans and for a good reason: he has more dedication, focus and talent than those 3 combined.
I would have matched GS’s offer and then traded him for the right player. If I couldn’t trade him that’s no loss to us. Why is it any worse than not being to trading Luke, Rad and Mihm. I would always love for the team to be “stuck” with someone Turiaf.
THIS SH!T ISN’T FU$$IN FAIR, I HATE DIS MAN, HEIGHT, AND LEARNING THE GAME PREVENTED MY NBA DREAMS, BUT, WHENEVER I WATCHED RONY PLAY, IT REMINDED ME OF MYSELF. CHRIS MIHM = DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU KIDS!!! LUKE WALTON = A MISTAKE MEETS A MENTALLY CHALLENGED JACK MOON!!! RONY TURIAF = FEARLESS (REGARDLESS OF WHO HE DEFENDS)
I GUESS HE HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE HIS REP HAS TO GET PAID TOO YA KNOW, BUT, IF IT WERE ME I’D JUST PLAY ONE SOLID YEAR W/ THE LAKERS HELL EVEN ON THE BENCH, THEN RETIRE BECAUSE I’D COULDN’T LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR KNOWING I DIDN’T PLAY FOR THE LAKERS.
RONY THANKS FOR DSPALYING HEART AND NEVER EVER GIVING UP, AND WISH YOU THE BEST, AND I’M SORRY!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qy8i49Sd2Bo&feature=related,Mitch,YOU OWE IT TO LAKERNATION!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qy8i49Sd2Bo&feature=related!
Mitch,clock is tickin’,tick-tock,tick…tock.
hibachi, i’m gonna call you hibithy cause you should be {Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.}ing bout all your bench players being gone next year, and concetrate on loving your boyfriend, and keep selling dope, cause you’ll just fit in prison with all the other suckdik fans, the only diffrenece is that you be in prison sucking paul pierces dic
joseph probaly recorded that game, and everynight he plays the game and goes in a dark corner for alone time
{Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.} THAT J-CAT