No Way, LA for Blake Griffin.

At least as an L.A. Clipper, and I'm going against my own grain saying this.

I read a column in the OKC paper about a month ago that basically said that now-former Oklahoma hoopster and 2009 collegiate player of the year Blake Griffin should find a way to not play for the Clippers. More specific, that Blake's dad, Tommy Griffin, should not allow his son to ever don the clippers red and white--with a dash of blue. I waited until today, NBA Draft Day, to chime in--largely because I'm going to agree with the aforementioned column--that Griffin and his agent and/or handlers should find a way to say, "No Way, Clippers of L.A.".

The first reason is simple: the Clippers are the NBA's version of a dumpster fire. A grand total of six winning seasons in the franchise's history--with only two of those since move to L.A. back in 1984. Think about that. 25-years, two winning seasons. It's sad that the franchise's "glory days" came when the Clips were the Buffalo Braves back from 1970-78, when the likes of Bob McAdoo, Randy Smith, and Ernie DiGregorio donned the Braves baby blue unies. It was also during those years that franchise's head coach had the longest tenure--Dr. Jack Ramsay from 1972-76. That's right. To be fair, both Bill Fitch (1994-998) and current head coach and GM Mike Dunleavy, Sr. have matched Ramsey--but seriously, 4 or 5-years?

Reason two: the Papers Clips just don't know how to win, and when they do, they can't sustain the momentum. Consider the track record: league titles? Zero. Conference titles? Goose eggs. Division titles? Nil. Now, playoff series victories since moving to L.A.? We have a pulse at two.

Reason three: the old adage, "A fish rots from the head down." And it's been rotten since Donald Sterling bought the franchise back in 1981 when it had been 3-years removed from Buffalo and in San Diego. Before 2003, he'd been known for beyond frugal--how about just downright cheap. But ever after signing some big checks to the likes of Elton Brand, Cory Magette and Cuttino Mobley since 2003--and acquiring Baron Davis before the 2009 season--how many of those guys are still with the team? Davis. Everybody else either fled or got traded. Yes, not exactly the track record of consistent winning, not to mention something as lofty as an NBA title. Why does Sterling hold onto the Clippers? Simple: he bought 'em for $12.5 million back in '81, and they're worth $297 million in 2009. Can you say cash cow? Yep, just another owner looking to print money, and not win titles.

Now, I've never been one to encourage a player to tell a prospective player in any sport that he should tell a franchise that, "Sorry, but I just won't play for you.". On a radio show I hosted back in 2008, I railed on John Elway for the stunt he pulled on the then Baltimore Colts back back in 1983 because he just didn't want to play there. Same kind of with Eli Manning and the Chargers in 2004. In my mind, neither player had proven anything on the NFL stage, and looked like prima donnas by demanding not to play for the team that drafted them. Thus, by encouraging Blake Griffin to do the same thing would make me a hypocrite. However, like the English language, there are exceptions, and in the NBA, the Clippers are THE exception. Again, no league titles, no conference titles, no division titles and what still looks like not commitment to adding any. The NFL's Colts? Nice tradition--the Unitas years come to mind. The Chargers? They had at least been to a Super Bowl. The Clippers? The F-word, and that's F for Futility. Big difference. And futility for 25-years is all I need to look at to go against my own grain and not lose a wink of sleep over it.

So, there you go. The Clippers will take Blake Griffin as the top overall pick in tonight's draft. Let's hope his handlers pull off something Elway and/or Manning-esque.