Bleacher Report - Articles by Tony Mcclusky

John Wall Makes a Decision

Tony Mcclusky — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:15:42 -0400

The College Basketball world has been awaiting a decision the prized No. 1 recruit in the nation, John Wall. After much speculation, the wildly exciting point guard from Word of God Christian in Raleigh, NC has made his choice known.

Wall will remain in North Carolina with his shady handlers and entourage until a fascinating website called Bleacher Report ceases to produce 150 articles a day concerning either his recruitment or legal issues.

Mr. Wall feels he has no choice in this matter because of the overwhelming popularity of these articles. Some of the articles have actually been well written which is surprising because of the lack of non-regurgitated content.

Sports fans don't worry. Mr. Wall has assured the author that after the frenzy on Bleacher Report has waned he will reopen his recruitment and he has already trimmed that list of perspective colleges to 187.

Mr. Wall has also not ruled out playing basketball for the highly competitive "North Carolina Corrections Team" or the other semi-pro juggernaut "Someschoolhurryupandwri Tethecli Ftonsacheck", also know as S.T.F.U.

On the Seventh Day God Created Kentucky Basketball?

Tony Mcclusky — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:22:55 -0400

I guess I was asleep during the the Sunday school lesson when God created Kentucky basketball. I have always though that on the seventh day He rested, but apparently after looking at His only son, God decided that Jesus could not teach the pick and roll so He created Rupp.

I have long suspected that Eve was an evil women from Louisville and that the serpent was actually the NCAA with its' blasphemy.

The Cain and Abel argument and subsequent murder had more to do with the "inside screen" than an example of morality.

Really, why else would thousands of otherwise intelligent people continue to think it was their destiny to be a final four contender.

If past success is always a premonition of future gain, we should all buy stock in General Motors.

There is nothing wrong with being a passionate fan and to always remain optimistic that "your team" will emerge as the champion, however, the entitlement that has swept over the commonwealth is absurd.

For the sake of 4,259,000 followers I hope the Wildcats win a championship next year.

The rest of the unsaved world will merely enjoy watching their team play a game.

The End of College Basketball as We Know It

Tony Mcclusky — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:55:53 -0400

The landscape of college basketball is rapidly changing for the worse. The NCAA seems unable or perhaps unwilling to chart a new course. The NBA behaves in a manner that leads one to believe they are not going to help either.

College recruiting, one and dones, highschoolers to Europe, shoe company tournaments, academic non-qualifiers, allegiance to AAU coach not "State U," the list could never end.

Athletes should be made to sign with their college of choice by the deadline established by the school for regular students, usually sometime in February. Just like every other applicant, the "student-athlete" will have to apply and submit transcripts and standardized test scores.

Once an athlete is approved by a school the athlete will not be allow to "re-open" recruitment without penalty year. Allow schools to pay AAU coaches a disclosed amount of money for their recruiting services. Get rid of the backroom BS.

It always amazes me that these high school prospects have entourages, Sports Illustrated covers, ESPN movies, personal trainers, etc. but nobody bothers to review their grades or test scores so they can qualify for college. When players are committed earlier, it will allow college administrators more time to help "student athletes" get everything in order.

The current NBA rule that requires an entrant to the draft be 19 years or older and one year removed from HS graduating class does not work. The rule should be amended to a) two years in JUCO, Div I, II or III college b) players can be selected from NBADL after one year and can still enter after HS c) ALL players must complete mandatory NBA entrance curriculum course (more on that later) d) players must be invited to enter draft by League.

Most athletes are not ready for the NBA after their freshman season. The success to failure ratio is vast. If you are a super phenom and you want to be in league ASAP go to the NBADL.

The NBA "farm" system is an absolute joke. This move would put marquee athletes into that league and would increase the relevance. The NBA could now market that arm of its league for television, radio, advertising and make it an overall better product.

This would allow players to fully develop their skill sets and reset the basketball world to its normal order. College basketball is for "team ball" and the glory of playing for State U; let the pro leagues be for players. You watch college because you care about the school, you watch the NBA to see Kobe make a tip dunk from 10 feet.

The most important aspect of this change would be the NBA curriculum course. The NCAA, with the collaboration of the NBA, MLB, NFL, etc., would construct a two year college degree program that would encompass an education that fits the athlete's career.

There would be a mix of business type courses that would cover contracts, money management, investments, insurance, and so forth. Let's stop creating millionaire dolts that squander their money on Bentleys with gold plated headrests.

The course would also have elements of ethics, morality, and legal issues. Most of these kids don't have the best of situations growing up and need some mentoring and education on how to become a participating member of society.

For the guys that opted for the NBADL route, these classes could be taken in an online or correspondence type version.

Lastly, the NBA needs to invite athletes to participate in the draft. There is no reason to have 400 entrants for a 64 person draft. Let the new and improved NBADL have a draft and limit the number of NBA draftees to around 150.

Basketball is a billion dollar business that has been allowed to operate like a mafia. It corrupts the education and well being of children. Take the necessary steps to legitimize the entire process and the end result will create a better CBB environment, a finished NBA product, and a new and exciting "farm system."

I'm Glad Coach Cal Is Gone

Tony Mcclusky — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:34:10 -0400

First, I'd like to say that I enjoyed the Memphis basketball program under former head coach John Calipari. The Tigers had great success, and we fans were able to watch some truly gifted athletes become great players and great men during his watch.

However, to help everyone process the change, I would like to start a list of the things that Cal did poorly. Hopefully this will get the public more optimistic about Coach Pastner and his new endeavor.

Cal did not recruit local (Memphis) talent successfully. The Tiger faithful had to follow Georgia Tech to see what Thaddeus Young did, and Wake just to see O'Kelley. We have always enjoyed watching "our" talent at the University, but under Cal, they went elsewhere.
He absolutely could not get the most out of the players he had. Bobby Knight once said "the chief want in everyone is for someone to bring out the best in them." Cal never understood this and gave up on a lot of players too early.
Calipari demanded a raise year after year. I don't mind people making what they are worth, but this led to ticket prices at the Forum reaching untouchable levels, even for fans that had been season ticket holders since the Coliseum. I find it hard to believe that revenue for tickets generates that much money compared with TV rights, apparel fees, and speaking engagements.
The whole "Worldwide Wes" association stinks. I know that college basketball is a competive business and that in order to get the players, you have to be relentless, but Cal always had an unpleasant aura. I don't know if he broke rules or not, but the perception of foul play is not just mine. I don't subsribe to the "win at all cost" mentality, and a major violation could be deadly for the athletic department at Memphis.
I heard John speak many times and was always amazed at how unprepared he was. I know everyone thinks he himself is the greatest PR man ever, but if you hear three Cal interviews, you've heard them all. From "it is what it is," "it takes a village," and "miserables," to "for sale signs in my yard," "blue hairs love me," and "us against them," it got old. And after a one seed and a two seed, he is still campaigning with "no respect." I think Dangerfield has been reincarnated.

Tiger Nation: Add your thoughts to my list; let's see just how much we will all miss Cal.

Memphis Basketball Will Reload, Not Rebuild Next Year

Tony Mcclusky — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:34:18 -0400

For all the Memphis fans developing ulcers worrying about next years team STOP panicking. Sure the departure of Cal and possibly the best recruiting class since Michigan's "Fab Five" has alot of us singing the blues, but I say good riddance.

Memphis will never be a Kansas, Duke, Indiana, etc because we are Memphis. All the perceived "elite" programs in the country have a common thread. Their basketball programs all were developed by coaches and athletic directors that had ties to Naismith and Phogg Allen. Those guys are dead.

Why can't Memphis just be Memphis? Why does it matter how we are perceived by outsiders? Do you have to see your team on ESPN to be a fan?

Memphis has its own history; Finch, Kennon, Kirk, "tomb of doom", Lee, 1985, Bartow, Turner, the Coliseum, hating Huggins, hating Crum, hating Drexel (LOL) really I could do this all night.

Do we have to borrow Doc Browns' Delorian and go back 50 years and win a couple championships so we feel validated? I have been to hundreds of Tiger games, we one some and we lost some, but I enjoyed all the games. I would love to win a NC, but what happens the next day....nothing.

I'll still be jonesing for next season like i do every offseason. We have only one significant problem, conference affiliation. The power brokers at Memphis will not let another realignment chance pass by so all we can do is wait and continue to strengthen ALL aspects of the University.

Moving on to next season there are a few things to consider before jumping from the top of Clark Tower. Players. We already have extremely good talent. Kemp was a highly recruited player out of Bolivar he just never reached his potential in Cal's system.

For the most part Cal had a way a bringing out the worst in alot of players, Scooter, Snap, Barron, etc. Cal put his arm around his coveted recruits and let the rest fall where they may.

Remember fans until the DDM offense we were not on the national radar at all. Anyway Coach P will install a more traditional style run offense that has more set plays, fundamental passing and ball handling schemes, more off the ball player movement, and relentless team defence.

I bet any coach in CUSA would trade their returning players for the players returning to Memphis. All CP has to do is recruit a decent PG and a few combos, they dont have to be top 50 players. Anyone enjoy watching Rodney Carney? Coach P is not a Calipari clone at all, he is a Lute Olsen man.

Olsen had solid players he developed in his offense and Arizona was a steady program for 20 years. Sure he had some one and done type recruits but that never defined Arizona and I think Pastner will do similar things at Memphis.

What's wrong with having three to four years players anyway, wonder what Roy Williams thinks? So you take the current players ( tag will be back, reke is gone) throw in a couple a recruits and voila. Conference.

The knock has always been we are a giant among midgets right. We are still better than almost every CUSA team, so we go 12-4 and compete in the conference tourney ( not at FEDEX Forum next year). Non Conference schedule.

Here is the dicey part. CP needs to try and get out of some commitments next year. The Memphis non-cof schedule is strong, maybe too strong. Drop a big boy or two and get a couple of buy a win teams in here next year we go 10-6.

Boom 22 win season,maybe another CUSA Championship, NCAA bid, maybe a round of 32 or better. See Tigernation all will be fine.