Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
ESPN Title Town Taping
ESPN will be in Ann Arbor taping a segment for it's Title Town series tomorrow. Ann Arbor has been named one of the twenty finalists. Detroit also made the top twenty list but I haven't heard anything about when the ESPN crew will head to "The D" as they call it at my internship with the Detroit Visitors Bureau.
The taping will take place at 12:00-1:00 on the diag tomorrow with Desmond Howard and other guests scheduled to be present. If you're in the Ann Arbor area, come on in to give Ann Arbor a good representation. There aren't many students around right now so hopefully we can get a decent turnout. Weather is supposed to be perfect tomorrow too!
The taping will take place at 12:00-1:00 on the diag tomorrow with Desmond Howard and other guests scheduled to be present. If you're in the Ann Arbor area, come on in to give Ann Arbor a good representation. There aren't many students around right now so hopefully we can get a decent turnout. Weather is supposed to be perfect tomorrow too!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Summer Ball
For the University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, having a lack players in the NBA has become somewhat of a punchline in recent years. Not since 2004 has the program had a player taken in the draft (Bernard Robinson Jr., 45th Pick by Charlotte). Although there hasn't been many players taken in the draft, a few of the Wolverines' former players are still hard at work on the court trying to earn invites to training camp through the NBA's Summer League.
The 2008 Summer League has been noticeably full of Wolverines this season, with 4 former players all working out with different teams. Brent "Air Georgia" Petway (Grizzlies), Robert "Tractor" Traylor (Cavaliers), Courtney Sims (Hornets), and Bernard Robinson Jr. (Portland) are all looking for a chance to show their teams that they have what it takes to earn a spot on their twelve-man roster come November 1. None of these players have received any playing time through the first round of games, even though a guy like Sims was on a NBA roster last season (In Sims' case, he received only garbage minutes with the Pacers at the end of games very early on in the season. I guess you could say the double team is still a problem for him).
Oddly enough, many of the scouting reports have Petway listed as the candidate most likely to stick with a team throughout training camp. Petway, who is most remembered for his highlight dunks and artistic expression through the designs shaved into his head, was often seen as a symbol of everything wrong with the Amaker Era: A kid with a lot of potential and athletic ability, but lacking the discipline and focus to steadily improve his game. He has reportedly added a consistent 15 foot jumper to his game and shown much improvement with his rebounding skills.
Having one of these guys make an NBA roster is just the kind of exposure this Wolverine team needs right now. The NBA is quickly becoming the 2nd most popular sport in the world, and viewer-ship has never been higher. While guys like Lute Olson have openly admitted to shying away from recruiting "one-and-done" high school players (former AZ recruit Brandon Jennings spurned the Wildcats for big money overseas), having one of these guys in Maize and Blue for a year (and subsequently jumping to the NBA) would not only draw interest from national media, but it would also generate interest from kids trying to select the best school to develop their game. Yes, there is the question about Michigan's academic standards. And Yes, Whether a player like this would ever appeal to John Beilein remains to be seen. But the bottom line is that Michigan Basketball is in desperate need of a shot in the arm when it comes to generating interest, and these are the types of things that could provide it.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Grady Pleads Not Guilty
Fox Sports is reporting that Michigan running back Kevin Grady has pleaded not guilty to the charge of drunk driving. Obviously Grady will not be attending Michigan Law School anytime soon. How gusty, ahem, stupid, is this? Never mind the fact that you blew a .287 blood alcohol level, which is more than three times the legal limit. Never mind the fact that your mug shot looks like you are about to slip into an alcoholic coma. Grady must have one hell of a legal team to plead not guilty...oh wait, he hasn't even hired an attorney yet, I suspect a guilty plea might be coming once that is done.
This not guilty plea just escalates this whole entire situation. First, it was an incredibly idiotic decision to get behind the wheel that night. But now, to have the nerve to say, "I didn't do it"? This demonstrates that Grady has no remorse for what he did, he is not even taking responsibility for his actions, and it shows a lack of maturity. If he took the guilty plea, took his medicine, and worked his ass off, Americans have shown in the past that they are willing to forgive someone for making a mistake, to give them a second chance.
Oh the media would have loved it, a college kid who makes a major mistake but learns from it only to become a better person. I can already see the piece on ESPN's College Game Day, maybe even Desmond Howard conducting the interview.
But now? Forget it. It is time to cut the tie with Kevin Grady, at least when it comes to playing football for Michigan. Allow Grady to stay in school and finish his degree, but he should never play another down for Michigan. I can accept a young man making a mistake, even one of this size. But, with the right punishment (a lengthy suspension from the team, community service) I would have welcomed Grady back to the team, but not any more. Not with this scoff to the legal system, further embarrassing the university.
Now the burden falls on RichRod. This isn't West Virginia Rich. The higher ups here at Michigan don't like off the field troubles, and they expect these things to be dealt with swiftly, and not simply swept under the rug like Ohio State. Rich has to throw Grady off the team now. He cannot allow for Grady to stay on the team, he has to send a message to the rest of the team, Lloyd may be gone but the standards he set will continue to be up held. And that brings up another issue with the fans. Michigan supporters have been so quick to blast Ohio State for every issue that has come up with Tressel and his players. Now I hear some fans saying that Grady is just a kid who made a bad decision. How quickly things change.
Rich, it's time to make the right decision because clearly Grady didn't.
This not guilty plea just escalates this whole entire situation. First, it was an incredibly idiotic decision to get behind the wheel that night. But now, to have the nerve to say, "I didn't do it"? This demonstrates that Grady has no remorse for what he did, he is not even taking responsibility for his actions, and it shows a lack of maturity. If he took the guilty plea, took his medicine, and worked his ass off, Americans have shown in the past that they are willing to forgive someone for making a mistake, to give them a second chance.
Oh the media would have loved it, a college kid who makes a major mistake but learns from it only to become a better person. I can already see the piece on ESPN's College Game Day, maybe even Desmond Howard conducting the interview.
But now? Forget it. It is time to cut the tie with Kevin Grady, at least when it comes to playing football for Michigan. Allow Grady to stay in school and finish his degree, but he should never play another down for Michigan. I can accept a young man making a mistake, even one of this size. But, with the right punishment (a lengthy suspension from the team, community service) I would have welcomed Grady back to the team, but not any more. Not with this scoff to the legal system, further embarrassing the university.
Now the burden falls on RichRod. This isn't West Virginia Rich. The higher ups here at Michigan don't like off the field troubles, and they expect these things to be dealt with swiftly, and not simply swept under the rug like Ohio State. Rich has to throw Grady off the team now. He cannot allow for Grady to stay on the team, he has to send a message to the rest of the team, Lloyd may be gone but the standards he set will continue to be up held. And that brings up another issue with the fans. Michigan supporters have been so quick to blast Ohio State for every issue that has come up with Tressel and his players. Now I hear some fans saying that Grady is just a kid who made a bad decision. How quickly things change.
Rich, it's time to make the right decision because clearly Grady didn't.
Less Rich, More Rod
One distraction is out of the way as it was announced today that Rich Rodriguez has come to an agreement with West Virginia University in which the full $4 million buyout will be paid to WVU. Rodriguez will be aided by the U of M Athletic Department which will fork over $2.5 million with the other $1.5 coming from his pocket.
Rodriguez will pay the $1.5 million in three installments of $500,000 while the Michigan payment will come as a lump sum from their reserve fund.
WVU put the pressure on Rodriguez/U of M as Athletic Director, Bill Martin and University President, Mary Sue Coleman would have been forced to testify at the trial as to whether or not there was an agreement made that would have Michigan pay the buyout clause before Rodriguez accepted the U of M job.
Either way, this story is finally over with and we can concentrate on the upcoming season. Rushi is busy preparing an in-depth season preview that should make its way onto the blog in the weeks ahead.
51 days till the opener!
Rodriguez will pay the $1.5 million in three installments of $500,000 while the Michigan payment will come as a lump sum from their reserve fund.
WVU put the pressure on Rodriguez/U of M as Athletic Director, Bill Martin and University President, Mary Sue Coleman would have been forced to testify at the trial as to whether or not there was an agreement made that would have Michigan pay the buyout clause before Rodriguez accepted the U of M job.
Either way, this story is finally over with and we can concentrate on the upcoming season. Rushi is busy preparing an in-depth season preview that should make its way onto the blog in the weeks ahead.
51 days till the opener!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Club Wolverine: Making Waves at Olympic Trials
For the past week at the U.S Swimming Trials in Omaha, the University of Michigan has been constantly mentioned by broadcasters and swimming critics. In almost every single semi-final or final heat, for both men and women, there has been a swimmer with Maize and Blue ties. This is largely due to the fact that the University is home to one of the nation's most elite swimming groups in Club Wolverine.
Club Wolverine is a group of elite swimmers, most of whom are currently on the Wolverine roster or are notable alumni swimmers that have been swimming competitively since graduating. They are coached by Bob Bowman, Phelps' personal coach, since Bowman arrived in Ann Arbor almost four years ago. Assisting Bowman is John Urbanchek, Michigan's former swim coach that led the Wolverines to a National Championship in 1995. Urbanchek was enshrined into the International Swimming Hall of Fame this year and at 72 is the swimming equivalent to John Wooden in basketball. He has been a coach on the last 5 Olympic teams
The team has been the one of Michigan's best recruiting tools as far as its swimming program is concerned. For example, the signature "CW" that the Club's members wear on their swim caps have been seen all over the trials, the most notable swimmer wearing one being Phelps. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard the meaning behind the "CW" on Phelps's swim cap, I probably wouldn't have to work the rest of this summer. This kind of exposure is extremely valuable and plays right into the hands of U of M recruiting in getting the Wolverines' name out to the public as one of the best college swimming programs.
However, Club Wolverine's future seems uncertain with Bowman announcing his departure from the program to take a directorial position at his former aquatic center... taking prized pupil Phelps with him. Although losing the main attraction in Phelps will hurt, the Club should be in good hands in the coming years. Michigan has already sent a handful of underclassmen to this year's trials, in addition to a few highly recruited incoming freshman making the stop at Omaha before heading east to Ann Arbor. Incoming Coach Mike Bottom (formerly of Cal) has also asked Urbanchek to stay on to assist with the transition phase. Bottom is best known for coaching sprinters, but don't look for things to drastically change just yet. Bottom should provided enough of a sprinting balance (to the already well established distance program of Urbanchek) to give the Wolverines a shot at another national title within the next two to three years in collegiate competition.
So while Phelps may be on his way out of A2, and even though the program is on its last Vanderkaay brother, Club Wolverine looks to remain one of the top swimming programs for years to come.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen....Michigan Stadium!
umm...hopefully they get going on this so it looks somewhat presentable on August 30th.
also, an update on the Kevin Grady situation: Grady blew a .28 which is over 3x the legal limit and according to my M Stay in the Blue table that the University gives to all freshman at the beginning of each year, Grady, a 228 pound male would have to drink roughly 15 drinks in one hour, 25 in three hours, and 30 in five hours to
achieve that whopping .28 blood alcohol level.UHS also says that in the .25-.29 range: Severe impairment of mental, physical, sensory functions; risk of serious injury; passing out likely
Had Grady consumed one more drink and gotten up to that .30 level, UHS says: Stupor, little copmrehension, hard to wake, death possible.
No wonder his mug shot looked like this:
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Kevin Grady: First Player with Legal Troubles for Rodriguez to Handle
Michigan Runningback Kevin Grady was released from jail this morning on a $5,000 bond after being arrested for a misdemeanor charge of Drunk Driving. This is the first Michigan player with legal trouble since Rodriguez has arrived. 
For Grady, this is a very unfortunate and terrible mistake. After battling through a torn ACL and recovering to where coaches expect(ed) him to be a big factor in the backfield, Grady might have found his way back off the field. It will probably only be for a few games, but we will have to see how Rodriguez plans to deal with it.
The backfield definitely will take a hit for the games without Grady, but still should be ok. Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown have been the assumed #1 and #2 running backs (unsure of who is first) followed by Grady and Avery Horn who was very impressive in the Spring scrimmage. Many thought Grady might be used in the mold of Rodriguez's West Virginia fullback Owen Schmidt, however, coaches indicated that Grady was probably going to be a normal running back.
While Grady provides power, and seemed to gain an ability to find the open field in the spring game (an ability he lacked before the injury) Michigan is plenty deep at the running back spot. Still, his loss would hurt.
In a released statement, Rodriguez said this would be handled "in-house" after all the details are gathered. I think this will fairly lead to a suspension of a few games to start the season. A 2-3 game suspension would suffice in my belief, granted that Grady shows remorse for his actions and doesn't do anything else. The 22 year old made a mistake, is probably remorseful and probably won't put himself in that situation again anytime soon. In addition to a suspension, he has to face the punishment the government hands down to him as well. He worked his butt off to rehab his knee back to full strength and will not risk his chance to see the field again. I think he stays out of trouble and we will see him either against Notre Dame or the Big Ten opener.
For Grady, this is a very unfortunate and terrible mistake. After battling through a torn ACL and recovering to where coaches expect(ed) him to be a big factor in the backfield, Grady might have found his way back off the field. It will probably only be for a few games, but we will have to see how Rodriguez plans to deal with it.
The backfield definitely will take a hit for the games without Grady, but still should be ok. Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown have been the assumed #1 and #2 running backs (unsure of who is first) followed by Grady and Avery Horn who was very impressive in the Spring scrimmage. Many thought Grady might be used in the mold of Rodriguez's West Virginia fullback Owen Schmidt, however, coaches indicated that Grady was probably going to be a normal running back.
While Grady provides power, and seemed to gain an ability to find the open field in the spring game (an ability he lacked before the injury) Michigan is plenty deep at the running back spot. Still, his loss would hurt.
In a released statement, Rodriguez said this would be handled "in-house" after all the details are gathered. I think this will fairly lead to a suspension of a few games to start the season. A 2-3 game suspension would suffice in my belief, granted that Grady shows remorse for his actions and doesn't do anything else. The 22 year old made a mistake, is probably remorseful and probably won't put himself in that situation again anytime soon. In addition to a suspension, he has to face the punishment the government hands down to him as well. He worked his butt off to rehab his knee back to full strength and will not risk his chance to see the field again. I think he stays out of trouble and we will see him either against Notre Dame or the Big Ten opener.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Michigan Baseball Draftees
An update on the Michigan Baseball Team's players selected in the 2008 Draft:
Jason Christian, Nate Recknagel, Michael Powers, and Adam Abraham have all signed MLB contracts and therefore will not return to Michigan next season. All except for Recknagel were Juniors. Zach Putnam has not signed with the Indians yet and although most assumed that he was the most likely to leave early, there still is a possibility that he will return with the Wolverines next season. Putnam was drafted in the fifth round, much lower than projected.
Here's my early projection for the starting lineup/rotation (assuming Putnam does not return*):
1) Kevin Cislo (2B)
2) Ryan Lamarre (CF)
3) Derek Vanbuskirk (1B)
4) Mike Dufek (DH)
5) Alan Oaks (RF)
6) Chris Berset (C)
7) Tyler Mills (SS)
8) Nick Urban (3B)
9) Kenny Fellows (LF)
Starting Rotation:
1) Chris Fetter
2) Tyler Burgoon
3) Tyler Mills
4) Eric Katzman
Bullpen:
Ha, this will be fun...
*If Putnam returns, slide him into that DH/#1 pitcher spot and slide everyone else down. Dufek's bat would probably find itself in the lineup at first base, moving Vanbuskirk back to left in place of Fellows.
Well it's safe to say that expectations will not be as high for Michigan Baseball in 2009 as their roster will be extremely depleted. There are no returning infielders, the only functioning reliever is gone in Michael Powers. The starting pitching which lacked a consistent three or four starters loses the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year in Zach Putnam.
I think Michigan will still have enough talent to win the Big 10 behind some excellent coaching and recruiting by Rich Maloney. Tyler Mills is the only recruit I know much about as he was just named Michigan's (co) Mr. Baseball as he went 12-2 with an ERA of 1.50. Mills also hit .426 with 30 RBIs as the shortstop/centerfielder for Mount Pleasant.
Michigan's roster currently lacks any shortstops or third basemen so I'm penciling Mills in at short when he doesn't pitch and giving the third base job to Urban. Look for Adam Arbour and Mike Kittle to be in the mix for playing time at those two positions as well.
Michigan finished the 2008 season ranked in the top twenty-five in three separate polls:
Collegiate Baseball (20th)
Baseball America (22nd)
USAToday/ESPN Coaches Poll (22nd)
Jason Christian, Nate Recknagel, Michael Powers, and Adam Abraham have all signed MLB contracts and therefore will not return to Michigan next season. All except for Recknagel were Juniors. Zach Putnam has not signed with the Indians yet and although most assumed that he was the most likely to leave early, there still is a possibility that he will return with the Wolverines next season. Putnam was drafted in the fifth round, much lower than projected.
Here's my early projection for the starting lineup/rotation (assuming Putnam does not return*):
1) Kevin Cislo (2B)
2) Ryan Lamarre (CF)
3) Derek Vanbuskirk (1B)
4) Mike Dufek (DH)
5) Alan Oaks (RF)
6) Chris Berset (C)
7) Tyler Mills (SS)
8) Nick Urban (3B)
9) Kenny Fellows (LF)
Starting Rotation:
1) Chris Fetter
2) Tyler Burgoon
3) Tyler Mills
4) Eric Katzman
Bullpen:
Ha, this will be fun...
*If Putnam returns, slide him into that DH/#1 pitcher spot and slide everyone else down. Dufek's bat would probably find itself in the lineup at first base, moving Vanbuskirk back to left in place of Fellows.
Well it's safe to say that expectations will not be as high for Michigan Baseball in 2009 as their roster will be extremely depleted. There are no returning infielders, the only functioning reliever is gone in Michael Powers. The starting pitching which lacked a consistent three or four starters loses the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year in Zach Putnam.
I think Michigan will still have enough talent to win the Big 10 behind some excellent coaching and recruiting by Rich Maloney. Tyler Mills is the only recruit I know much about as he was just named Michigan's (co) Mr. Baseball as he went 12-2 with an ERA of 1.50. Mills also hit .426 with 30 RBIs as the shortstop/centerfielder for Mount Pleasant.
Michigan's roster currently lacks any shortstops or third basemen so I'm penciling Mills in at short when he doesn't pitch and giving the third base job to Urban. Look for Adam Arbour and Mike Kittle to be in the mix for playing time at those two positions as well.
Michigan finished the 2008 season ranked in the top twenty-five in three separate polls:
Collegiate Baseball (20th)
Baseball America (22nd)
USAToday/ESPN Coaches Poll (22nd)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
No Tiger? No Problem
This past weekend, I had the chance to spend a few days helping cover the Buick Open up at Warrick Hills in Grand Blanc. There was no Tiger, no Phil, no Vijay, and only two of the world's top ten golfers were there. Despite all these pitfalls, it turned out to be one of the best events I've gotten to attend this year. People in the media wanted to say that this tournament had no appeal and with Tiger out for the rest of the year, the game of golf would be in a tailspin. The exact opposite happened, as a wild pro-am and competitive finish allowed the Buick Open to post above-average attendance numbers.
One way the Buick Open drew people to the gates was with the Pro-Am on Wednesday. The feature group on this day included Kid Rock and John Daly, which turned out to be one of the oddest rounds of golf ever played. It included Kid Rock coming out of the clubhouse wearing denim overhauls, white undershirt, and a fedora. The fun didn't stop there as Rock and Daly both prompted the gallery to make noise and do the wave while they were taking their cuts at the ball. This was a gallery straight from Happy Gilmore, and was comprised of more groupies than golfers. The highlight of the round was when Rock gave Daly a full can of Budweiser and Daly then used it as a golf tee, smashing the ball 305 yards and spraying the gallery with beer in the process. The gallery was 4 people deep on each hole, and the Buick organizers (who each had nervous grins on their faces during the round, as if anticipating a disaster at any moment) reaped the benefits of increased ticket sales due to the pairing.
The tournament also provided much drama, as Kenny Perry came from 7 strokes back on the 2nd day to win the tournament by one stroke over Bubba Watson. Watson had a chance to force it to a playoff but his birdie putt fell inches short of the hole. While the tournament may not have had a superstar, it was a family friendly event,with many of the players stopping to sign autographs between holes and to give a golf ball to a kid on the boundary ropes. I know Stu went on Friday and although temperatures got into the 90's, it still provided a lot of fun.
The next tournament to come through Southeast Michigan is the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Hills. I highly recommend going, as this is the last major tournament of the year and the final Ryder Cup qualifying tournament. The competition should be great, and it's one of the few events left where you get to walk the side by side with your favorite player. Although golf on TV might not exactly be a rip-roaring good time, watching a live PGA event is a great summer treat that everyone can enjoy.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
LIVE BLOG: NBA Draft 08
8:04pm- OK I'm a little late getting in on this blog due to technical difficulties. Memphis just took Kevin Love a lot higher than I thought. Not sure if he has the inside-outside game Memphis seems to like.
8:06pm- Stan Love flashback. I'm thinking he needs to bring back the long hair as long as Kevin is going to rock that weird-ass beard.
8:08pm- New York fans just received the news that they have selected Danilo Gallinari and is about to be booed off stage. Even without Isiah, these people are still pissed. There is no pleasing these people. I smell a bust with this pick.
8:09pm- Friscilla just held up Gallinari's new shoe called "The Rooster." Not only is it the ugliest shoe I have ever seen, but how can a guy get his own shoe deal when no one has ever heard of him?!
8:11pm- Gallinari seems like a nice kid. I feel bad for him 'cuase he can't even hear Stephen A. Smith over all the boos... Looks like a deer in the headlights. Says his favorite player is Tayshaun Prince. Obviously, the last four years of the NBA have not been seen by Italians yet.
8:14pm- Eric Gordon just went 7th to the Clips. I really like this pick. 3 of his 6 highlights on the tape they just showed are against Michigan. This is the only time we will see the Wolverines in the draft so cherish the moment.
8:16pm- If Stephen A. Smith asks one more draft pick what he brings to the team, I'm going to hurl.
8:18pm- I'm flipping over to Last Comic Standing for a moment, even though I got it on TiVo. My pick for this year is Rod G.
8:20pm- Bucks just went with Joe Alexander, a former John Beilein recruit. Had a great NCAA tournament . I think we will look back and say Darrell Arthur was the better Forward, but a solid pick for the time being.
8:19pm- Joe Alexander sounds like an Army cadet in his interview with Stephen A. Dude, relax! It's the NBA Draft...might as well enjoy it because he will spend the next 3 years in the Milwaukee boondocks.
8:26pm- Bobcats just took DJ Augustin. I'm a little confused, but Rob had this pick correct in his Mock Draft. Rob went 60% in the first ten picks. Hopefully he and his Sixers are rewarded with Arthur at 16.
8:28 pm- Stu's boy Brook Lopez is literally shedding tears over not being taken by the Bobcats. If I'm him, I'm just glad Jordan didn't pick me. The last big man MJ selected in the first round was umm, lemme check here.... Oh yeah! KWAME BROWN... Be happy, Brook. You dodged a bullet.
8:31pm- Lopez didn't have to wait long because the Nets have just called his number. He fell a long ways as Stu had him going 4th to the Sonics. He only played half the season at Stanford, but he made it count in the tourney. I like his potential.... I'd still like to see Stephen A. ask him why he was crying, though.
8:35pm- Holy S^%$!!!! Brook Lopez sounds exactly like Sean Penn in "Fast Times..." He talks like he's a beach bum, but has the same tone as Cookie Monster has in his voice. He can't interview, but he's got a mean turnaround.
8:36pm-Jerryd Bayless just got picked by the Pacers. He's a project but it doesn't bug me that much, seeing as the Pacers are about to get TJ Ford. Would have liked to see them take a big man to replace O'Neal though.
8:37pm- Tim from Varsity Blue says "THIS LIVE BLOG IS GREAT. by which I mean terrible. Matt Boyer is the only contributor wirth his weight on this awful blog." I don't know if I should be insulted or just happy someone is reading. I'll go with the latter and keep going.
8:38pm- Kings take Jason Thompson out of Rider. Wow. A MAAC player was taken 11th?!? I heard the Pistons like his offensive skills and inside-outside game... but that was at 29. Chad Ford had him falling to 29 too. This is the biggest reach since the Lions took Gosder Cherilus at 16 in April's NFL Draft.
8:48pm- Blazers take Brandon Rush. I think he's been one of the most underrated players in the draft and will be a Pippen-like defender in Portland. Look out for these guys in the playoffs in '09.
8:50pm- Andrew Seid just texted," Grizzlies new dynamic duo.. the Gay-Love connection." I can't believe I didn't think of that! There's enough material there to fill at least 2 minutes of a pre-season game for a broadcaster. Good catch by Andrew.
8:54pm- Golden State just selected Anthony Randolph of LSU. This is the player that worried me the most. He really didn't make a huge impact in the SEC and I didn't really hear about him, untill February. Most of the critics say his potnetial is his best attribute. I don't like it.
8:56pm- Dick Vitale just professed his undying affection for Kevin Love. He also just called Gallinari the next Darko in the draft. I have to agree. He even looks like Darko a little bit. Minus the bleach blonde hair.
8:58pm- Speaking of hair, Robin Lopez just got drafted by the Suns. The hat won't fit over his 'fro. I like th pick, because Terry Porter is a defensive guy. I got to hear Porter speak at Pistons practice during the playoffs and I like his style. Lopez's strengths on the glass and defense fits Porter's style very nicely.
8:58pm- Robin doesn't sound like his brother in his interview, but it's close. Much more reserved.
8:59pm- I was really hoping Lopez would have fallen to the Cavs, just so I could watch Lopez and Varejao play side by side in the post. They have the exact same Side-Show Bob 'fro.
9:04pm- 76ers on the clock. After the pick, I wish we could go to Rob via video conference to get his take on the decision.
9:05pm-Maurice Speights goes to Philly. I'm not sure I'd take him here, with Arthur still on the board. If I'm a Philly fan, I'd be kind of pissed, but I'd like to hear what Rob has to say.
9:08pm- Raptors pick for Indy and take Roy Hibbert. Stu's ideal pick for the Cavs is off the board. Stu's potential nightmare of drafting Koufos of OSU is getting closer and closer. Arthur is looking very lonely in the green room.
9:10pm- I think Hibbert is going to be a bench player for most of his career, but seeing as he is going to Indy and would have to guard Rasheed or McDyess in the Central, I don't mind that much.
9:13pm- Of all the players to Wire-Up for sound, why Brook Lopez?!? He's like the NBA's own version of a "Valley Girl."
9:14pm- My boy Terry Porter on Robin Lopez: Took him for his defense. The Phoenix Suns are about to look totally different next year.
9:15pm- JaVale Mcgee to the Wizards. This is a good pick because it strengthens the front court of the Wizards. Gives Haywood some help in the middle. Solid pick.
9:17pm- Bayless was just traded to Portland and Rush was moved to Indiana... I'm not sure Rush knows who the coach of Indy is according to his interview with Andy Katz. He just said "that coach" when referring to Jim O'Brien.
9:19pm- Cavs are on the clock... and Koufos is on the board........
9:20pm- Cavs select NC State's JJ Hickson. I guess this makes sense being 6'9 in the Carlos Boozer mold. Stu, you dodged the proverbial bullet. Rob didn't even have Hickson in the first round.
9:26pm- Jay Bilas sounds like a used-car salesman trying to pawn off Koufos on the Bobcats. If I'm a Bobcat fan, I'm praying Jordan stays away from big men.
9:33pm- Just took my dog Obi out for the night. I'm pretty sure even he knew it would be a bad idea to take a center named Alexis. Jordan strikes again!!
9:35pm- NJ just took Ryan Anderson after getting Yi and Boby Simmons via trade today and already drafting Brook Lopez. I'm a little confused why they would need a third big man in Anderson after you traded for a guy (Yi) with the exact same skill set as Anderson.
9:39pm- Courtney Lee is taken by the magic. I really like the pick. He had his coming out party during the tournament and will be a nice player to compliment Nelson and Howard. He had the nicest jump shot I saw all year.
9:41pm- Rob had his confident prediction confirmed with Lee....Koufos selected by Utah. I don't like the pick because I didn't think he did that much to help the Buckeyes this year. He didn't stand out at all when I saw him play against weak Big Ten Competition this year.
9:47pm- Andrew has turned to a higher power and is now praying Arthur falls to the Spurs. This is a strong possibility since Houston and Seattle seem set at the 4 spot.
9:50pm- Sonics take Serge Ibaka from the Congo. This guy will stay overseas for at least another year. I feel bad for the Sonics, becaause this pick should have alienated whatever fan base they had left. Your franchise is on life support and select a no name from the Congo? At least take a name that might sell some tickets.
9:53pm- Doris Burke just told Arthur that many players have had success and were never drafted. I'm sure this is just what he wants to hear. In other news, Stan Van Gundy loves buffets.
9:54pm- Rockets take Batum of France. I've never seen the guy play so I'm not going to act like I know what is going on. San Antonio is next and the Spurs have Arthur to themselves if they want him. Bucher reports he has kidney issues, which is the reason he has fallen so far
10:02pm- Spurs go with George Hill, guard from IUPUI. I'm a little confused because he is a 6'2 slashing guard. Andrew says "Whoa...didn't see that coming."
10:03pm-The Hornets select Darrell Arthur for Portland. I'm happy to see him go to Portland. He is a great player that I was able to see in Detroit for the NCAA tourney. Great pick and will help make Portland scary good in 3 years.
10:15pm- Memphis is next with Detroit on deck.... please don't let Memphis take CDR, please don't take CDR...
10:16pm- The Grizz take Donte Green... Bilas calls him a wing athlete... I thought Memphis already had Rudy Gay? I shouldn't be surprised since this pick came from the same guy who traded Pau Gasol to LA for Kwame Brown and some beach side real estate in Malibu. CDR to Detroit? I hope it comes true.
10:22pm- *$&%!!!!!!!!!!! DJ WHITE?!?! I absolutely hate this pick. He is another Corliss Williamson type player. I understand the Piston are in the midst of moving some guys, but Joe went from drafting Stuckey last year to this... This smells of 2003.
10:28pm- Apologies to Andrew... he called this pick when SA was picking. I'm about to go eat an entire Hot N' Ready and drink heavily to help soothe that Piston's pick.
10:30pm- Boston is next. I'm still sad about that Piston's pick but this week hasn't been a total loss... I got to see John Daly hit a ball 300 yards off a beer can on Wednesday... so I got that going for me.
10:32pm- J.R. Giddens closes the first round to Boston. Transferred from KU to NMU early in his career. Don't think this kid will make the roster on what is already a loaded team. Can you say D-League?
10:36pm- Stu Scott briefly mentioned White might've been on the move.... hopefully that comes true as my blood pressure is slowly returning to normal levels.
Thanks for reading the blog. I'm off to bed because I need to be up early for the Buick Open tomorrow. My winner for the draft was Portland and loser was the Nets or Pacers (tie). Hope everyone is enjoying their summer and have a safe Fourth of July for all those going on vacation.
8:06pm- Stan Love flashback. I'm thinking he needs to bring back the long hair as long as Kevin is going to rock that weird-ass beard.
8:08pm- New York fans just received the news that they have selected Danilo Gallinari and is about to be booed off stage. Even without Isiah, these people are still pissed. There is no pleasing these people. I smell a bust with this pick.
8:09pm- Friscilla just held up Gallinari's new shoe called "The Rooster." Not only is it the ugliest shoe I have ever seen, but how can a guy get his own shoe deal when no one has ever heard of him?!
8:11pm- Gallinari seems like a nice kid. I feel bad for him 'cuase he can't even hear Stephen A. Smith over all the boos... Looks like a deer in the headlights. Says his favorite player is Tayshaun Prince. Obviously, the last four years of the NBA have not been seen by Italians yet.
8:14pm- Eric Gordon just went 7th to the Clips. I really like this pick. 3 of his 6 highlights on the tape they just showed are against Michigan. This is the only time we will see the Wolverines in the draft so cherish the moment.
8:16pm- If Stephen A. Smith asks one more draft pick what he brings to the team, I'm going to hurl.
8:18pm- I'm flipping over to Last Comic Standing for a moment, even though I got it on TiVo. My pick for this year is Rod G.
8:20pm- Bucks just went with Joe Alexander, a former John Beilein recruit. Had a great NCAA tournament . I think we will look back and say Darrell Arthur was the better Forward, but a solid pick for the time being.
8:19pm- Joe Alexander sounds like an Army cadet in his interview with Stephen A. Dude, relax! It's the NBA Draft...might as well enjoy it because he will spend the next 3 years in the Milwaukee boondocks.
8:26pm- Bobcats just took DJ Augustin. I'm a little confused, but Rob had this pick correct in his Mock Draft. Rob went 60% in the first ten picks. Hopefully he and his Sixers are rewarded with Arthur at 16.
8:28 pm- Stu's boy Brook Lopez is literally shedding tears over not being taken by the Bobcats. If I'm him, I'm just glad Jordan didn't pick me. The last big man MJ selected in the first round was umm, lemme check here.... Oh yeah! KWAME BROWN... Be happy, Brook. You dodged a bullet.
8:31pm- Lopez didn't have to wait long because the Nets have just called his number. He fell a long ways as Stu had him going 4th to the Sonics. He only played half the season at Stanford, but he made it count in the tourney. I like his potential.... I'd still like to see Stephen A. ask him why he was crying, though.
8:35pm- Holy S^%$!!!! Brook Lopez sounds exactly like Sean Penn in "Fast Times..." He talks like he's a beach bum, but has the same tone as Cookie Monster has in his voice. He can't interview, but he's got a mean turnaround.
8:36pm-Jerryd Bayless just got picked by the Pacers. He's a project but it doesn't bug me that much, seeing as the Pacers are about to get TJ Ford. Would have liked to see them take a big man to replace O'Neal though.
8:37pm- Tim from Varsity Blue says "THIS LIVE BLOG IS GREAT. by which I mean terrible. Matt Boyer is the only contributor wirth his weight on this awful blog." I don't know if I should be insulted or just happy someone is reading. I'll go with the latter and keep going.
8:38pm- Kings take Jason Thompson out of Rider. Wow. A MAAC player was taken 11th?!? I heard the Pistons like his offensive skills and inside-outside game... but that was at 29. Chad Ford had him falling to 29 too. This is the biggest reach since the Lions took Gosder Cherilus at 16 in April's NFL Draft.
8:48pm- Blazers take Brandon Rush. I think he's been one of the most underrated players in the draft and will be a Pippen-like defender in Portland. Look out for these guys in the playoffs in '09.
8:50pm- Andrew Seid just texted," Grizzlies new dynamic duo.. the Gay-Love connection." I can't believe I didn't think of that! There's enough material there to fill at least 2 minutes of a pre-season game for a broadcaster. Good catch by Andrew.
8:54pm- Golden State just selected Anthony Randolph of LSU. This is the player that worried me the most. He really didn't make a huge impact in the SEC and I didn't really hear about him, untill February. Most of the critics say his potnetial is his best attribute. I don't like it.
8:56pm- Dick Vitale just professed his undying affection for Kevin Love. He also just called Gallinari the next Darko in the draft. I have to agree. He even looks like Darko a little bit. Minus the bleach blonde hair.
8:58pm- Speaking of hair, Robin Lopez just got drafted by the Suns. The hat won't fit over his 'fro. I like th pick, because Terry Porter is a defensive guy. I got to hear Porter speak at Pistons practice during the playoffs and I like his style. Lopez's strengths on the glass and defense fits Porter's style very nicely.
8:58pm- Robin doesn't sound like his brother in his interview, but it's close. Much more reserved.
8:59pm- I was really hoping Lopez would have fallen to the Cavs, just so I could watch Lopez and Varejao play side by side in the post. They have the exact same Side-Show Bob 'fro.
9:04pm- 76ers on the clock. After the pick, I wish we could go to Rob via video conference to get his take on the decision.
9:05pm-Maurice Speights goes to Philly. I'm not sure I'd take him here, with Arthur still on the board. If I'm a Philly fan, I'd be kind of pissed, but I'd like to hear what Rob has to say.
9:08pm- Raptors pick for Indy and take Roy Hibbert. Stu's ideal pick for the Cavs is off the board. Stu's potential nightmare of drafting Koufos of OSU is getting closer and closer. Arthur is looking very lonely in the green room.
9:10pm- I think Hibbert is going to be a bench player for most of his career, but seeing as he is going to Indy and would have to guard Rasheed or McDyess in the Central, I don't mind that much.
9:13pm- Of all the players to Wire-Up for sound, why Brook Lopez?!? He's like the NBA's own version of a "Valley Girl."
9:14pm- My boy Terry Porter on Robin Lopez: Took him for his defense. The Phoenix Suns are about to look totally different next year.
9:15pm- JaVale Mcgee to the Wizards. This is a good pick because it strengthens the front court of the Wizards. Gives Haywood some help in the middle. Solid pick.
9:17pm- Bayless was just traded to Portland and Rush was moved to Indiana... I'm not sure Rush knows who the coach of Indy is according to his interview with Andy Katz. He just said "that coach" when referring to Jim O'Brien.
9:19pm- Cavs are on the clock... and Koufos is on the board........
9:20pm- Cavs select NC State's JJ Hickson. I guess this makes sense being 6'9 in the Carlos Boozer mold. Stu, you dodged the proverbial bullet. Rob didn't even have Hickson in the first round.
9:26pm- Jay Bilas sounds like a used-car salesman trying to pawn off Koufos on the Bobcats. If I'm a Bobcat fan, I'm praying Jordan stays away from big men.
9:33pm- Just took my dog Obi out for the night. I'm pretty sure even he knew it would be a bad idea to take a center named Alexis. Jordan strikes again!!
9:35pm- NJ just took Ryan Anderson after getting Yi and Boby Simmons via trade today and already drafting Brook Lopez. I'm a little confused why they would need a third big man in Anderson after you traded for a guy (Yi) with the exact same skill set as Anderson.
9:39pm- Courtney Lee is taken by the magic. I really like the pick. He had his coming out party during the tournament and will be a nice player to compliment Nelson and Howard. He had the nicest jump shot I saw all year.
9:41pm- Rob had his confident prediction confirmed with Lee....Koufos selected by Utah. I don't like the pick because I didn't think he did that much to help the Buckeyes this year. He didn't stand out at all when I saw him play against weak Big Ten Competition this year.
9:47pm- Andrew has turned to a higher power and is now praying Arthur falls to the Spurs. This is a strong possibility since Houston and Seattle seem set at the 4 spot.
9:50pm- Sonics take Serge Ibaka from the Congo. This guy will stay overseas for at least another year. I feel bad for the Sonics, becaause this pick should have alienated whatever fan base they had left. Your franchise is on life support and select a no name from the Congo? At least take a name that might sell some tickets.
9:53pm- Doris Burke just told Arthur that many players have had success and were never drafted. I'm sure this is just what he wants to hear. In other news, Stan Van Gundy loves buffets.
9:54pm- Rockets take Batum of France. I've never seen the guy play so I'm not going to act like I know what is going on. San Antonio is next and the Spurs have Arthur to themselves if they want him. Bucher reports he has kidney issues, which is the reason he has fallen so far
10:02pm- Spurs go with George Hill, guard from IUPUI. I'm a little confused because he is a 6'2 slashing guard. Andrew says "Whoa...didn't see that coming."
10:03pm-The Hornets select Darrell Arthur for Portland. I'm happy to see him go to Portland. He is a great player that I was able to see in Detroit for the NCAA tourney. Great pick and will help make Portland scary good in 3 years.
10:15pm- Memphis is next with Detroit on deck.... please don't let Memphis take CDR, please don't take CDR...
10:16pm- The Grizz take Donte Green... Bilas calls him a wing athlete... I thought Memphis already had Rudy Gay? I shouldn't be surprised since this pick came from the same guy who traded Pau Gasol to LA for Kwame Brown and some beach side real estate in Malibu. CDR to Detroit? I hope it comes true.
10:22pm- *$&%!!!!!!!!!!! DJ WHITE?!?! I absolutely hate this pick. He is another Corliss Williamson type player. I understand the Piston are in the midst of moving some guys, but Joe went from drafting Stuckey last year to this... This smells of 2003.
10:28pm- Apologies to Andrew... he called this pick when SA was picking. I'm about to go eat an entire Hot N' Ready and drink heavily to help soothe that Piston's pick.
10:30pm- Boston is next. I'm still sad about that Piston's pick but this week hasn't been a total loss... I got to see John Daly hit a ball 300 yards off a beer can on Wednesday... so I got that going for me.
10:32pm- J.R. Giddens closes the first round to Boston. Transferred from KU to NMU early in his career. Don't think this kid will make the roster on what is already a loaded team. Can you say D-League?
10:36pm- Stu Scott briefly mentioned White might've been on the move.... hopefully that comes true as my blood pressure is slowly returning to normal levels.
Thanks for reading the blog. I'm off to bed because I need to be up early for the Buick Open tomorrow. My winner for the draft was Portland and loser was the Nets or Pacers (tie). Hope everyone is enjoying their summer and have a safe Fourth of July for all those going on vacation.
NBA MOCK DRAFT (1ST ROUND)
-Time: 6pm on draft night. Already, there was a big trade today between the NJ Nets and MIL Bucks. Yi and Bobby Simmons traded for Richard Jefferson. Prediction time…
#1 CHICAGO BULLS: G Derrick Rose (Memphis)
#2 MIAMI HEAT: F Michael Beasley (Kansas State)- I think Beasley will be taken 2nd. If the T’Wolves fail to take Mayo third, then the Heat and Clippers could make a blockbuster trade involving Brand and Marion.
#3 MINNESOTA T’WOLVES: G OJ Mayo (USC)
#4 SEATTLE SONICS: (traded to LA Clippers): G Eric Gordon (Indiana)
#5 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: C Kevin Love (UCLA)
#6 NY KNICKS: G Russell Westbrook (UCLA)- The Italian Danilo Gallinari is also an option for the Knicks in this position.
#7 LA CLIPPERS (traded to Sea Sonics): C Brook Lopez (Stanford)
#8 MILWAUKEE BUCKS: G Joe Alexander (West Virginia)-We’ll see if the Bucks go another direction with Jefferson now on the roster.
#9 CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: G DJ Augustin (Texas)-Biggest bust of the top ten picks. A great college player, but he is too small to contribute on the NBA level. Plus, if Michael Jordan likes you, that can’t be a great sign.
#10 NEW JERSEY NETS: F Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
#11 INDIANA PACERS: F Anthony Randolph (LSU)
#12 SACRAMENTO KINGS: G Jerryd Bayless (Arizona)- Either Augustin or Bayless will slide towards the end of the lottery. This would be a great steal for Reggie “Hangtime” Theus.
#13 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: G Mario Chalmers (Kansas)
#14 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: C Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
#15 PHOENIX SUNS: G Brandon Rush (Kansas)
#16 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: F Darrell Arthur (Kansas)- Not thrilled about this pick, but I like him more than Koufos, Speights, Lopez, Anderson, and Hibbert. At least, he can run the floor.
#17 TORONTO RAPTORS (traded to Ind Pacers): C Marreese Speights (Florida)
#18 WASHINGTON WIZARDS: C Robin Lopez (Stanford)
#19 CLEVELAND CAVS: F Ryan Anderson (Cal)- A chance to be an impact player immediately.
#20 DENVER NUGGETS (traded to Cha Bobcats): C Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)- No thank you.
#21 NEW JERSEY NETS: Alexis Ajinca (France)
#22 ORLANDO MAGIC: G Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky)- Pretty confident about this prediction.
#23 UTAH JAZZ: C Serge Ibaka (Spain)
#24 SEATTLE SONICS: C DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M)
#25 HOUSTON ROCKETS: F Donte Greene (Syracuse)
#26 SAN ANTONIO SPURS: F Nicolas Batum (France)
#27 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (traded to Por Blazers: C Ante Tomic (Croatia)
#28 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: C Javale McGee (Nevada)
#29 DETROIT PISTONS: G Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis)
#30 BOSTON CELTICS: C Omar Asik (Turkey)-I really hope I predict this one right.
#1 CHICAGO BULLS: G Derrick Rose (Memphis)
#2 MIAMI HEAT: F Michael Beasley (Kansas State)- I think Beasley will be taken 2nd. If the T’Wolves fail to take Mayo third, then the Heat and Clippers could make a blockbuster trade involving Brand and Marion.
#3 MINNESOTA T’WOLVES: G OJ Mayo (USC)
#4 SEATTLE SONICS: (traded to LA Clippers): G Eric Gordon (Indiana)
#5 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: C Kevin Love (UCLA)
#6 NY KNICKS: G Russell Westbrook (UCLA)- The Italian Danilo Gallinari is also an option for the Knicks in this position.
#7 LA CLIPPERS (traded to Sea Sonics): C Brook Lopez (Stanford)
#8 MILWAUKEE BUCKS: G Joe Alexander (West Virginia)-We’ll see if the Bucks go another direction with Jefferson now on the roster.
#9 CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: G DJ Augustin (Texas)-Biggest bust of the top ten picks. A great college player, but he is too small to contribute on the NBA level. Plus, if Michael Jordan likes you, that can’t be a great sign.
#10 NEW JERSEY NETS: F Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
#11 INDIANA PACERS: F Anthony Randolph (LSU)
#12 SACRAMENTO KINGS: G Jerryd Bayless (Arizona)- Either Augustin or Bayless will slide towards the end of the lottery. This would be a great steal for Reggie “Hangtime” Theus.
#13 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: G Mario Chalmers (Kansas)
#14 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: C Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
#15 PHOENIX SUNS: G Brandon Rush (Kansas)
#16 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: F Darrell Arthur (Kansas)- Not thrilled about this pick, but I like him more than Koufos, Speights, Lopez, Anderson, and Hibbert. At least, he can run the floor.
#17 TORONTO RAPTORS (traded to Ind Pacers): C Marreese Speights (Florida)
#18 WASHINGTON WIZARDS: C Robin Lopez (Stanford)
#19 CLEVELAND CAVS: F Ryan Anderson (Cal)- A chance to be an impact player immediately.
#20 DENVER NUGGETS (traded to Cha Bobcats): C Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)- No thank you.
#21 NEW JERSEY NETS: Alexis Ajinca (France)
#22 ORLANDO MAGIC: G Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky)- Pretty confident about this prediction.
#23 UTAH JAZZ: C Serge Ibaka (Spain)
#24 SEATTLE SONICS: C DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M)
#25 HOUSTON ROCKETS: F Donte Greene (Syracuse)
#26 SAN ANTONIO SPURS: F Nicolas Batum (France)
#27 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (traded to Por Blazers: C Ante Tomic (Croatia)
#28 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: C Javale McGee (Nevada)
#29 DETROIT PISTONS: G Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis)
#30 BOSTON CELTICS: C Omar Asik (Turkey)-I really hope I predict this one right.
Mock Draft
Things have been a little slow lately here at M&B, so Stu and I thought we'd go out on a limb and try our first NBA Mock Draft. These picks have been soundly thought out and have been decided based on what we feel these teams SHOULD do and not what they necessarily will ultimately decided on. Props to Stu for sticking this out on 1.5 hours sleep. Eat your heart out, Chad Ford.
- Chicago- Derrick Rose. Guard, Memphis. This pick shouldn't surprise anyone as we both agree on this pick due to Rose's versatility and quickness for a bigger guard. He will also benefit in playing for a young, athletic team and a hometown crowd. Welcome home, Mr. Rose.
- Miami- O.J. Mayo. Guard. USC. This was very much a Stu Zaas production, however, I can see his logic. A lot of questions are raised with Michael Beasley (his height is only 6'7, his character issues, his work ethic, etc.) that might not be worth taking such a huge risk at No. 2. I see him being a Glenn Robinson type player (O to burn...No D though). Mayo is an explosive guard that could give the Heat a franchise backcourt. Although I'd probably take Beasley. I gave Stu the nod and we'll give his pick the bold print here.
- Minnesota- Michael Beasley. Forward. KSU. Stu thinks Minny needs some help at the 3 spot while Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer progress. I think they should take instant offense in Mayo, and build around him and Jefferson.
- Seattle (or location TBD)- Jerryd Bayless. Guard. Arizona. Bayless gives the Sonics their first franchise PG since Gary Payton lead the team to a Finals appearance. He's a project, but has tremendous potential. Stu has Brook Lopez here, giving Durant some support up the middle. Stu says "premium on the big guys ...seattle/new orleans needs one.... they have guards and guards are a lot easier to come by."
- Memphis- Brook Lopez. Center. Stanford. This is a Matt pick, and one that should help fill the void left by the Gasol trade (and No, Kwame Brown doesn't count). Stu likes the Italian forward Gallinari here because of his outside game.
- New York- Eric Gordon. Guard. Indiana. Me and Stu both believe that Marbury and Crawford are both on the way out of New York within the next two years. This gives Mike D'antoni the run and gun 2-guard he covets in his 7 second offense.
- LA Clippers- DJ Augustin. Guard. Texas. I like Augustin here because of his ability to distribute the basketball and perimeter scoring. Has the ability to help Corey Maggette into a Tyson Chandler-esque transformation by drawing the defense and leaving Maggette open. Stu has Bayless falling here on his big board.
- Milwaukee- Brandon Rush. F/G. Kansas. Stu says "Brandon Rush...to replace Michael Redd who's coming to Cleveland. I have the rangy Gallinari here.
- Charlotte- Kevin Love. Center. UCLA. Stu made this intial pick which I can see. Okafor gets some help up front and completes a college all-star front court of Okafor, Love, and Sean May.
- New Jersey - Russel Westbrook. Guard. UCLA. This gives NJ some defensive help after Jason Kidd left the team devoid of defense at the guard position. They are just biding their time before the LeBron Sweepstakes open up in two seasons.
- Indiana- Mario Chalmers. Guard. Kansas. Plenty of Final Four players in this year's lotto. We both agree this is the spot for Chalmers as Tinsley is on his last legs as the Pacers veteran PG.
- Sacramento- Alexis Ajinca. Center. France. This will be a "project pick" with the final prdouct not complete for the next two years. Ajinca is a risk, but has the size and strength to bolster the Kings weak frontline. Stu has Anthony Randolph (another project pick) landing here.
- Portland- Stu has DJ Augustin and seeing as most draft boards have him here, I'll give Stu some credit on this pick. Portland needs a Chris Paul type point guard who can create for other players. Should be dynamic on the offensive end with Oden. I have Randolph here.
- Golden State- Kosta Koufos. Center. Ohio State. Stu has him here becuase he doesn't want this Buckeye anywhere near the Cavs at 19. He has Koufos as the biggest bust thus far. I have Joe Alexander here, as Al Harrington is reportedly being shopped to multiple teams.
- Phoenix- I have Brandon Rush here, filling the Shawn Marion void at the 3-spot as a defensive stopper for this team. Stu likes his KU teammate Mario Chalmers. Phoenix will look to bulk up defensively regardless with Terry Porter this year.
- Philadelphia- We both like Darrell Arthur here. Forward. Kansas. Arthur gives them a physical presence up front to help Sam Dalembert against the bigger frontcourts of Boston and Detroit in the East. Hopefully Sam brings back the mohawk and passes it on to future generations of Sixer players.
- Toronto- Robin Lopez. Center. Stanford. He should compliment Chris Bosh nicely by providing nice defensive help and is a great rebounder. Doesn't have much offensive but that's not going to factor into this decision too much. Me and Stu agree here as well.
This is where Stu started to fade as the lack of sleep got to him. But he fought on like a champ in a heavyweight fight...
18. Washington -Jason Thomson. F/C. Rider. Versatile scorer who could prove to be a nice complimentary forward to Jamison and Haywood up front. Could even be his replacement should the Wiz choose to ship Jamison out.
19. Cleveland- The reason Stu Zaas stayed one more hour. Roy Hibbert. Center. Georgetown. Stu likes the big men in this draft, and Hibbert fits the mold at 7'2. He would provide a nice back-up to Illgauskas, and will replace Varejao in the rotation, as he is reportedly very likely headed on his way out via trade.
20. Charlotte - JJ Hickson. Forward. NC State. Good forward to help bolster the front line/good PR move to help the good people of forget the draft blunder of Adam Morrison.
In the interest of time (and Stu's health) we fast forwarded through the rest of the first round.
21. New Jersey- Stu with Hickson here. I like Hibbert here. I'm a sucker for local picks.
22. Orlando- Maresse Speights. F/C. Florida. Nice hometwon project pick.
23. Utah- JaVale McGee. Center. Nevada
24. Seattle - Donte Green. Forward. Syracuse.
25. Houston - Serge Ibaka. Center. Congo. Will play in Europe at least 1 more year.
26. San Antonio- Bill Walker. Forward. KSU. Hard-worker at the 3 will make the Spurs very deadley within a year.
27. Portland- Nicolas Batum. Forward. France.
28. Memphis- Ante Tomic. Center. Croatia. The run on big men continues...
29. Detroit- Chris Douglas Roberts. Forward. Memphis. Great pick here as a hometown boy, blue collar worker on D, and ability to create his own shot. He will light the fire to be put under Tayshaun Prince's butt.
30. Boston- Courtney Lee. Guard. Western Kentucky. Hard-working SG could be seen as a steal this late within three years.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Pre-NBA Draft Venting
Well the NBA draft is less than 24 hours away and it is about time the NBA machine got rolling with the first couple of trades going down (Jermaine O'Neal finally gets to put the Pacers and (hopefully) the Melee behind him and move on with his career across the border, while TJ Ford gets to go somewhere where he will be appreciated as a very skilled, but injury-prone point guard, replacing a not-so-skilled, but injury prone point guard in Jamaal Tinsley...oh, and the Bobcats and Blazers each picked up an extra 1st round pick for a future first rounder and cash, respectively). Anyways, leading up to the draft, we have heard all of the experts, prognosticators, and other miscellaneous talking heads predicting who will go first, second, and third in the draft. As much as I usually love this (I love the NBA and the draft is the future of my sport, so...), this year's predictions and reasoning for these predictions has me seriously questioning the intelligence of the media, John Paxson, and Pat Riley for the following statements made:
So in closing this rant, I just want to point out that, while the Bulls might take Derrick Rose with the number 1 pick on Thursday night, and the Heat might trade down so they can grab Mayo rather than Beasley, this could all result in Kevin McHale, the moron who traded KG to Boston for Al Jefferson and nothing else just to make his former teammates and fan base love him again (he had lost...that loving feeling...whoa, that loving feeling), getting the luck of Beasley dropping in his lap and setting up a frontcourt of Beasley, Jefferson, and insert random athlete/shooter here that will lead the T'Wolves back to the playoffs and possibly further than KG ever took them in all his years in Minny. The League of Ordinary GentleMens continues it's trend of one moron helping another moron keep his job...at least, we have the one year rule to keep these GMs from drowning the league in loser, undeveloped (but POTENTIALLY great) players who for the most part, make the game unbearable to watch, but that is a rant for another day.
- Derrick Rose will be better in the NBA than Michael Beasley
- Michael Beasley has character issues, so let's take OJ Mayo instead
- OJ Mayo is a great, honest, hard-working individual who is willing to put the team before himself
So in closing this rant, I just want to point out that, while the Bulls might take Derrick Rose with the number 1 pick on Thursday night, and the Heat might trade down so they can grab Mayo rather than Beasley, this could all result in Kevin McHale, the moron who traded KG to Boston for Al Jefferson and nothing else just to make his former teammates and fan base love him again (he had lost...that loving feeling...whoa, that loving feeling), getting the luck of Beasley dropping in his lap and setting up a frontcourt of Beasley, Jefferson, and insert random athlete/shooter here that will lead the T'Wolves back to the playoffs and possibly further than KG ever took them in all his years in Minny. The League of Ordinary GentleMens continues it's trend of one moron helping another moron keep his job...at least, we have the one year rule to keep these GMs from drowning the league in loser, undeveloped (but POTENTIALLY great) players who for the most part, make the game unbearable to watch, but that is a rant for another day.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My First NASCAR Experience
To begin, I am not a NASCAR fan. In eighth grade we were given a homework assignment of watching the Datoyna 500 for science class. I cheated and just watched the last lap. That was the one that ended in the crash, claiming the life of Dale Earnhardt. That has been the only bit of NASCAR that I've watched, with the exception of Sportcenter highlights when I'm either too lazy or too slow to change the channel.
Here's the text of the email I received on this past Wednesday that was forwarded
from the U of M Kinesiology Depatment.
So, I figure this is a pretty good opportunity to make some money and experience something new. I got a couple friends to sign up with me and on Sunday we headed out to the Michigan International Speedway at 7 in the morning to make sure we got there by our new 9 AM start time.
We were expecting a huge crowd and along with it, a huge traffic jam, but MIS officials did a good job of converting US-12 - a two-lane highway - into a three lane road with all three lanes leading towards the racetrack.
We were also expecting there to be a lot of domestic cars and domestic beer at and around the track. This was confirmed when we passed the first tailgate about 10 miles away from the track complete with burgers, eggs, and of course bud light.
When we got to the track, we met up with the TNT guy who pointed us to a pile of boxes that needed to be hauled to the various guest service tents that surrounded the track. Ryan, from TNT assured us that the boxes weren't heavy which sounded good to us since the track was 2.5 miles long, meaning the walk around the outside of the track had to be at least three miles.
Turns out the boxes were heavy. Very heavy. Who would have known that paper fans (which consisted of a circular paper cut-out stapled to a popsicle stick) would weigh so much? We figure we hauled around about 25,000 of these fans to the tents over the course of about an hour. Lucky for us, we were able to hitch a few rides on golf carts passing by to save our backs from completely giving out.
Part of our compensation for this back-breaking (literally) work was a ticket to the race. None of us had ever seen a NASCAR race, whether it be live or on TV so we briefly considered staying and watching, however common sense kicked in and we decided to sell our seats.
To gauge the market value of our $85 face value seats I went up to a guy trying to scalp his and asked how much he wanted for it. His seats had a face of $95, his asking price was $75. I said no thanks, I wasn't looking to spend that much and started walking away.
"How 'bout $50?" he asked.
"No, no thanks"
"$30?" as we keep walking. "20? 10?" he pleaded to our backs.
This was a very discouraging sign as we began our quest to scalp our tickets. We thought we could make some good money since the race was sold out and there were about a million people milling around in their campers in makeshift campgrounds set up around the track's perimeter.
Eventually, after 45 minutes of walking around MIS we were able to sell all three tickets for a combined $85. While we were disappointed that we couldn't get more than 1/3 of face value, we were all pretty content that we just made $128 for about two hours of actual work (including the work of selling the tickets).
All-in-all, it was a pretty interesting experience. There is a TON of money pumped into the sport from advertising and sponsorship. Just about every type of product imaginable was being marketed at the track. Some examples:
Combos
Vault energy drink (made by coke)
The Discovery Channels's "Ice Road Truckers"
The National Gaurd
LifeLock - the overall sponsor of the race. Apparently they sell identity theft protections. I'd never heard of them...
Hooters
Jack Daniels
those are just a few of the sponsors that had booths set up selling or giving away products before the race.
Preconceived notions going into the race and how they turned out:
1) Lots of rednecks
It turns out NASCAR does a pretty good job reaching people from many demographics. There were a pretty good balance of men and women and what surprised me was the age range that the race drew. There were not a whole lot of kids (which was definitely a good thing since preconceived notion #2 was definitely accurate).
2) Lots of drinking
And as expected, everyone was drinking bud, bud light, with a few scattered coors light. Kyle pointed out that if we had brought a few garbage bags and collected empty cans we would have made another hundred dollars by returning them for the $.10 deposits.
Ironically enough, I read the next day that Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race under caution which came when another driver spun out trying to avoid a beer can that a fan had thrown onto the track.
3) Lots of Fords, Chevy's, and GM's...and not just on the track
My Toyota was one of the few foreign makes in the lot. It seemed like everyone drove either a camper, pickup truck, or SUV. In fact, my car probably got twice the gas mileage than the majority of cars in the lot.
4) The literacy rate of the NASCAR fans would be less than we were used to
Well, to sum it up, the following sentence was just about the only line of text on the promotional fan that we were distributing:
"Are you the biggest RaceBuddy Fan out there? Upload your pictures with you're RaceBuddy "Fan" by going to NASCAR.COM/TNT and share them with others!"
Obviously someone working for TNT's NASCAR crew did not take grammar 101. There is no reason that fan should be capitalized and despite using your properly at the beginning of the sentence, they screwed it up the second time around. We figured about .5% of people there would notice the error.
All in all, it was a great experience. We got to see a totally different culture and despite not staying for the race, I think we got a pretty good feel for what race day is like at a major NASCAR track. I recommend giving it a try if the opportunity presents itself.
Here's the text of the email I received on this past Wednesday that was forwarded
from the U of M Kinesiology Depatment.Turner Sports is looking for some help with a guerilla marketing campaign at the NASCAR race this weekend and they can earn a free ticket plus $100.
Here's the description from our Marketing Manager:
So, I figure this is a pretty good opportunity to make some money and experience something new. I got a couple friends to sign up with me and on Sunday we headed out to the Michigan International Speedway at 7 in the morning to make sure we got there by our new 9 AM start time.
We were expecting a huge crowd and along with it, a huge traffic jam, but MIS officials did a good job of converting US-12 - a two-lane highway - into a three lane road with all three lanes leading towards the racetrack.
We were also expecting there to be a lot of domestic cars and domestic beer at and around the track. This was confirmed when we passed the first tailgate about 10 miles away from the track complete with burgers, eggs, and of course bud light.
When we got to the track, we met up with the TNT guy who pointed us to a pile of boxes that needed to be hauled to the various guest service tents that surrounded the track. Ryan, from TNT assured us that the boxes weren't heavy which sounded good to us since the track was 2.5 miles long, meaning the walk around the outside of the track had to be at least three miles.
Turns out the boxes were heavy. Very heavy. Who would have known that paper fans (which consisted of a circular paper cut-out stapled to a popsicle stick) would weigh so much? We figure we hauled around about 25,000 of these fans to the tents over the course of about an hour. Lucky for us, we were able to hitch a few rides on golf carts passing by to save our backs from completely giving out.
Part of our compensation for this back-breaking (literally) work was a ticket to the race. None of us had ever seen a NASCAR race, whether it be live or on TV so we briefly considered staying and watching, however common sense kicked in and we decided to sell our seats.
To gauge the market value of our $85 face value seats I went up to a guy trying to scalp his and asked how much he wanted for it. His seats had a face of $95, his asking price was $75. I said no thanks, I wasn't looking to spend that much and started walking away.
"How 'bout $50?" he asked.
"No, no thanks"
"$30?" as we keep walking. "20? 10?" he pleaded to our backs.
This was a very discouraging sign as we began our quest to scalp our tickets. We thought we could make some good money since the race was sold out and there were about a million people milling around in their campers in makeshift campgrounds set up around the track's perimeter.
Eventually, after 45 minutes of walking around MIS we were able to sell all three tickets for a combined $85. While we were disappointed that we couldn't get more than 1/3 of face value, we were all pretty content that we just made $128 for about two hours of actual work (including the work of selling the tickets).
All-in-all, it was a pretty interesting experience. There is a TON of money pumped into the sport from advertising and sponsorship. Just about every type of product imaginable was being marketed at the track. Some examples:
Combos
Vault energy drink (made by coke)
The Discovery Channels's "Ice Road Truckers"
The National Gaurd
LifeLock - the overall sponsor of the race. Apparently they sell identity theft protections. I'd never heard of them...
Hooters
Jack Daniels
those are just a few of the sponsors that had booths set up selling or giving away products before the race.
Preconceived notions going into the race and how they turned out:
1) Lots of rednecks
It turns out NASCAR does a pretty good job reaching people from many demographics. There were a pretty good balance of men and women and what surprised me was the age range that the race drew. There were not a whole lot of kids (which was definitely a good thing since preconceived notion #2 was definitely accurate).
2) Lots of drinking
And as expected, everyone was drinking bud, bud light, with a few scattered coors light. Kyle pointed out that if we had brought a few garbage bags and collected empty cans we would have made another hundred dollars by returning them for the $.10 deposits.
Ironically enough, I read the next day that Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race under caution which came when another driver spun out trying to avoid a beer can that a fan had thrown onto the track.
3) Lots of Fords, Chevy's, and GM's...and not just on the track
My Toyota was one of the few foreign makes in the lot. It seemed like everyone drove either a camper, pickup truck, or SUV. In fact, my car probably got twice the gas mileage than the majority of cars in the lot.
4) The literacy rate of the NASCAR fans would be less than we were used to
Well, to sum it up, the following sentence was just about the only line of text on the promotional fan that we were distributing:
"Are you the biggest RaceBuddy Fan out there? Upload your pictures with you're RaceBuddy "Fan" by going to NASCAR.COM/TNT and share them with others!"
Obviously someone working for TNT's NASCAR crew did not take grammar 101. There is no reason that fan should be capitalized and despite using your properly at the beginning of the sentence, they screwed it up the second time around. We figured about .5% of people there would notice the error.
All in all, it was a great experience. We got to see a totally different culture and despite not staying for the race, I think we got a pretty good feel for what race day is like at a major NASCAR track. I recommend giving it a try if the opportunity presents itself.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
We Have A Deal!
At long last, Comcast and the BTN have reached an agreement on contract negotiations after the year long hold out forced fans into local bars/homes of friends with DirectTV. Here are the terms as specified by the AP:
The BTN and cable carrier announced a multiyear agreement Thursday that puts programming on expanded basic on Aug. 15 in states with Big Ten schools. After the 2008-09 basketball season ends, Comcast has the option to shift the network to its digital service.
The Good News: All televised Michigan athletic events (except for some of the weird broadcasts for hockey) are now available to Comcast customers.
The Bad News: The UM/App State game is now available to be seen on re-runs.
The BTN and cable carrier announced a multiyear agreement Thursday that puts programming on expanded basic on Aug. 15 in states with Big Ten schools. After the 2008-09 basketball season ends, Comcast has the option to shift the network to its digital service.
The Good News: All televised Michigan athletic events (except for some of the weird broadcasts for hockey) are now available to Comcast customers.
The Bad News: The UM/App State game is now available to be seen on re-runs.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Michigan Baseball Update
As the college World Series continues in Omaha, Neb. there is some news concerning the Michigan baseball team coming across the wire. As All-American teams are announced Michigan has a trio of players whose names keep popping up.
Also, after scouring team blogs, I have an update on the five Wolverines who were drafted (in order of draft position)
- Zach Putnam: Rawlings All-Mideast 1st Team Utility, 2nd Team All-American Utility (American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America, Ping, National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association), National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Region V Player of the Year
- Nate Recknagel: Rawlings All-Mideast First Team 1B, 2nd Team All-American DH (Baseball America, Ping Baseball), 3rd Team All American 1B (ABCA)
- Chris Fetter: Rawlings All-Mideast First Team P, 2nd Team All-American P (ABCA)
Also, after scouring team blogs, I have an update on the five Wolverines who were drafted (in order of draft position)
- Jason Christian Jr. SS - 5th Round (154) Oakland Athletics: Signed a deal, no terms released
- Zach Putnam Jr. SP - 5th Round (171) Cleveland Indians: has not signed
- Adam Abraham Jr. 3B - 13th Round (411) Cleveland Indians: has not signed
- Nate Recknagel Sr. 1B - 19th Round (591) Cleveland Indians: Signed a deal, will report to Winter Haven after rehabbing his elbow
- Michael Powers RS Jr. RP - 31st Round (944) New York Mets: has not signed
- Casey Close C (incoming freshman) - 47th Round (1,408) Oakland Athletics: has not signed
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Michigan Football Falls in IM Softball Championship
The Michigan Football team's run in the intramural slow pitch softball playoffs came to an end as they were defeated 20-5 in a mercy rule shortened championship game. The team had reached the finals in the All Campus Men's A Division, breezing through the regular season without any difficulty.
The football team was led in the pitching circle by southpaw ace, Zoltan Mesko who pitched well in the first three innings before losing his control in the fourth. Despite a very generous strike zone, Mesko walked three in the inning and also surrendered a three run triple that could have been avoided had he waited for Artis Chambers to return to his position in left-center field before pitching.
Given the way the football players mashed home runs all season long, the game was never out of reach until team CWare and Co. put up an eight spot in the fifth to give them the 20-5 lead. Greg Matthews stepped up to lead off in the bottom of the fifth and popped out to first. Instead of running it out, Matthews headed straight to the dugout, drawing the ire of first base coach, Brian Wright.
Matthews response? "F*ck it, it's F*ing softball"
Perhaps the Barwis workouts are taking effect.
The football team was led in the pitching circle by southpaw ace, Zoltan Mesko who pitched well in the first three innings before losing his control in the fourth. Despite a very generous strike zone, Mesko walked three in the inning and also surrendered a three run triple that could have been avoided had he waited for Artis Chambers to return to his position in left-center field before pitching.
Given the way the football players mashed home runs all season long, the game was never out of reach until team CWare and Co. put up an eight spot in the fifth to give them the 20-5 lead. Greg Matthews stepped up to lead off in the bottom of the fifth and popped out to first. Instead of running it out, Matthews headed straight to the dugout, drawing the ire of first base coach, Brian Wright.
Matthews response? "F*ck it, it's F*ing softball"
Perhaps the Barwis workouts are taking effect.
Monday, June 16, 2008
What an U.S. Open!
I'm too tired to write anything about it right now, but eventually we'll get something going. Tiger wins the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines today in sudden death after 90 holes were not enough to determine a winner. Woods tied Mediate with a birdie on 18 yesterday to force the playoff and then found himself in the same spot today. Down one stroke heading to 18, Tiger came up with another birdie which forced a sudden death playoff. Mediate struggled off the tee and eventually bogeyed the hole leaving Tiger the winner as he made par.
Tiger has now won all 14 times that he has had at least a share of the lead going into the fourth day of a major tournament. Interestingly enough, Tiger has NEVER won a major that he did not lead after three rounds.
This was an amazing tournament from start to finish. Tiger made his run on Saturday with a pair of eagles, a chip-in that would have gone 10-20 feet past the hole had it not hit the stick and dropped in the cup.
More on this to come...
Tiger has now won all 14 times that he has had at least a share of the lead going into the fourth day of a major tournament. Interestingly enough, Tiger has NEVER won a major that he did not lead after three rounds.
This was an amazing tournament from start to finish. Tiger made his run on Saturday with a pair of eagles, a chip-in that would have gone 10-20 feet past the hole had it not hit the stick and dropped in the cup.
More on this to come...
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