Bleacher Report - Articles by 12

LeBron Has A Defining Moment

12 — Sat, 23 May 2009 08:51:25 -0400

Friday night was magic, but not for Orlando fans.

With one second on the clock LeBron "King" James displayed his best Michael Jordan impersonation and executed one of the best catch and shoot plays in NBA history, sealing a 96-95 victory for the Cavs and tying the series 1-1.

The Magic had a 23 point lead early in the first half, but reminiscent of Game One of the series, Cleveland blew the huge lead and found themselves trailing in the final quarter with one second left in the game.

Enter LeBron James. Mo Williams took the ball from the ref on the last play of the game, found an open James, and LeBron turned and shot the biggest three-pointer of his young career.

IT'S GOOD!!! GAME OVER!!!

I remember Michael Jordan making shots like that in playoff circumstances during his career, and this shot by LeBron certainly puts him in elite company.

I expect this is not the last time we will see this incredible basketball player perform outstanding feats in the NBA. I look forward to watching the remainder of this series, and the remainder of the career of LeBron James.

See the original article here.

Brett Favre: Here We Go Again...

12 — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:00:42 -0400

Let’s go back to the end of the 2007 NFL season.

Brett Favre, after completing 16 seasons in the NFL, most of them with the Green Bay Packers, emotionally and reluctantly decided to hang up his football cleats. It was time to spend more time with his family after giving all that he could possibly give to the game of football.

Then, after spending the winter and part of the spring contemplating his decision, he had second thoughts about his decision and made the decision to return to the gridiron in 2008 in a New York Jets uniform.

After a great start, things went downhill in a hurry in the second half of the season, and in the end Favre again decided to call it quits to an outstanding career.

Not so fast, my friend.

Recent reports from many sources—ESPN being one of the many—say Brett Favre is scheduled to talk to the Minnesota Vikings brass about coming back once again.

Huh?

Brett, I could have sworn I heard you say in your latest press conference that there was absolutely no way you would play football again, ever.

Asked again if you were sure, if you were absolutely sure, you said, “Yes, I’m sure.”

Now I understand how hard it is to admit it’s time to quit when you’re one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

This is not intended to be a Brett Favre-bashing session, but what in the world is going on here?

Is he not sure what he wants to do, or is there a hidden agenda?

I submit there might be a little gamesmanship going on here. The Jets had the option to re-sign Favre for the 2009 NFL season if he wanted to come back. He told them he didn’t want to play anymore, so the Jets gave him his unconditional release (after drafting Mark Sanchez of USC, by the way).

Now the Vikings have offered to talk to Favre about being the QB for the Vikings in 2009, allowing him to face off against his beloved Green Bay Packers, the team that showed him the door.

Is Favre trying to prove something to himself and the Packers?

Is he contemplating coming back for the wrong reasons, or is he genuinely having this indecision because he loves the game of football so much?

I actually think this time around it’s a little more fair to all involved. The Packer fiasco was handled horribly, no matter which side of the fence you were on. At least now no one will be left hanging out to dry, as was the case during the Green Bay-Favre negotiations.

There’s no doubt Brett Favre can still play QB in the NFL, and I’m all for seeing him play for the Vikings if it all works out.

But Brett, for the love of all that’s decent, please don’t retire again until you are absolutely sure you are ready to hang it up.

We’re all growing very tired of the drama.

You can view the original article at www.bamanation.net.

Andre Smith Drops the Ball

12 — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:29:11 -0500

On the heels of missing the biggest college football bowl game in his career, and his University’s biggest bowl game in many, many seasons, Andre Smith has dropped the ball—again.

After being sent home from the 2009 Sugar Bowl, disappointing his teammates, fans and University, Smith makes another boneheaded move and doesn’t show up for the NFL combine.

What? You’re about to have the most important evaluation, or interview if you will, in your entire sports career, and you don’t show up? How in the world can you let this happen?

I’ve got to admit I had many questions about the incident surrounding the Sugar Bowl debacle, where it was rumored Smith had illegally contacted an agent. I had heard Smith never actually spoke to an agent himself, but a family member, or maybe two, had made that brilliant move.

I believed Smith's innocence then, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Sure, he should have contacted his head coach immediately after hearing about it, but still I didn’t think he was 100 percent responsible for the error in judgment.

This action, however, makes me question this young man’s accountability.

How can you not want to come to the NFL combine in shape for the event that might shape your entire football career?

Something is terribly wrong with this. The people who are advising Smith are either not able to influence his decisions correctly, or they are as naïve as the young player himself.

Alvin Kells is his agent, and there are lots of questions to be answered here. Why didn’t Kells emphasize the importance of a great combine workout to Smith?

He was said to be in the top 10 draft picks overall, and the No. 1 tackle. Now his stock will significantly drop, and his future will be adversely affected by this very unintelligent action.

It’s a shame to see young men like Smith making these kind of mistakes so early in life. It makes me now question how he will handle the pressures of the highly competitive NFL.

I’m pulling for you, Andre, but young man, you had better make some changes in your mindset and get your act together.

Bama Fans, We All Need To "Settle Down"

12 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:32:17 -0500

The 2008 season was a spectacular season for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

16 true freshmen got valuable experience, and the groundwork for the resurgence of the Alabama football program has been established. Coach Nick Saban has improved this team from 7-6 in 2007 to 12-2 in 2008, and that is something even revered coach Paul "Bear" Bryant didn't do.

So, why are Bama's fans all so down? I was upset at the losses to Florida and Utah as much as anyone. The Tide had a chance to beat Florida, and came up short. Alabama got down by 21 points to Utah in the first quarter before waking up, and never gave up.

It was just not Bama's day. However, after having a complete day to digest the situation, I'm in a completely different frame of mind this Sunday, Jan. 4.

Bama is a blessed team. Try and force yourself to remember where we were before this season. Try and recall the probation years when we were being beat up by teams that have previously respected us (LSU, Auburn, Tennessee etc.).

The Crimson Tide now is respected by all of these teams, and the future looks bright. The Alabama Crimson Tide is relevant in the SEC once again, and I don't think that is anything to take for granted.

Coach Saban has recruited some of the finest quality young men in the entire nation to attend the University of Alabama, and he will continue to build this program into a winner once again.

Alabama is well on it's way to becoming one of the prominent teams in college football, something that couldn't have been said for many, many years. So cheer up, Bama fans, the sun came up this morning after all, and I for one am excited about the future of Alabama Crimson Tide football. Let's all "settle down", and enjoy the ride. Roll Tide!

Bama fans, please feel free to check out our forum at www.bamanation.net

http://www.bamanation.net/index.php?topic=10021.msg80590#new

Heartwarming Story On Roy Upchurch, University Of Alabama Running Back

12 — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:41:57 -0400

Over the past couple of days there have been some arguments on BR concerning the direction of the Alabama football program and the leadership of these young men under the watchful eye of head coach Nick Saban.

While the program experienced some setbacks early on under Saban, things are beginning to take shape. The following is a great story about running back Roy Upchurch.

Upchurch was one of the young men in Saban's dog house at the beginning of the season, but after buying in to the "process" under his head coach, Roy has turned his life and his football career around.

I hope you enjoy the read, and maybe some of the detractors can see what we as Alabama fans have known since the arrival of coach Nick Saban.

Dedicated Effort
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
By IAN R. RAPOPORT
News Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA- Alabama running back Roy Upchurch never had the opportunity to meet Micah Edwards, a 14-year-old from Warrior who was one of his biggest fans.

He didn't know that he kept a picture of Upchurch in his desk at North Jefferson Middle School.

All he knew was what his mother learned on the news. By then, it was too late.

Edwards and his grandmother, Juanita Sue Calvert, died tragically on Oct. 17 when their mobile home caught fire. When the smoke cleared, the two were found huddled in Calvert's bedroom, and experts speculated that Edwards did not want her to die alone.

On the verge of tears after watching Fox 6, Upchurch's mother called her son to tell him of a grandson who loved his grandma as much as he did.

The 6-foot, 201-pound junior rushed for a career-high 86 yards in the second-ranked Crimson Tide's 29-9 win over Tennessee Saturday, doing so with the words "R.I.P. Micah" on his left wrist tape.

"That was my inspiration," Upchurch said. "It really touched me, touched my heart. I dedicated the other night to him."

The Tallahassee native is carving out a niche in Alabama's running attack, whether learning to play fullback or providing fresh legs to help decimate a defense. After gaining 282 yards on 62 carries his first two seasons, he already has 304 yards on 51 carries with three touchdowns this season.

He is also a special teams standout, leading returner Javier Arenas to mention that he'll look up and see Upchurch "abusing his guy. I'm sure opponents hate to go against Roy."

The tough side met the soft side when he learned Edwards' story.

A similar story: The more Terissa Upchurch Butler told her son, the more he felt for Edwards. The fact that his picture was found in the desk of Edwards, a Crimson Tide fan, was too much.

"Roy was like, `Mom, you're going to make me cry,'" said Upchurch Butler, who works and lives in Tuscaloosa. "I said, `Roy, that's OK.' It was just so amazing."

But it was the boy's love for his grandmother with which Upchurch could empathize. Upchurch, after all, spent 18 months in high school living with his grandmother, Gladys Garner.

The 71-year-old was in failing health, and none of her adult children could care for her full time. Upchurch volunteered, then spent a long time convincing his mother to allow him to do so.

"Finally, he said, `I can't not go over there and look after her,'" Upchurch Butler recalled. "He broke down and cried. I had no choice. Roy just cares about people."

He rose at 4 a.m., cooked her breakfast, gave her medication, went to school, went to football practice, became a Parade All-American, came home, and repeated it the next day.

When Garner passed away in 2001, Upchurch began spending Christmases participating in a clothing

drive for the elderly in her honor.

"I saw the story," his mother said, "and I knew it would touch his heart. It reminded me of how Roy was with his grandma."

With Edwards, Upchurch felt a kinship. The teenager had stayed home from school that day to care for the 55-year-old Calvert.

"And he wouldn't leave his grandmother in a fire," Upchurch said, shaking his head.

Mary Beth Blankenship, the principal at North Jefferson Middle School in Kimberly where Edwards was an eighth-grader, described him as "a really nice guy who had a really good heart. I don't know of anybody who didn't like Micah. And he was a big Alabama fan, which helped Roy make the connection."

On Thursday at 2 p.m., a joint funeral is scheduled at Messmer Goodwin Funeral Home Chapel, with the burial in Elvester Cemetery.

To pay his respects, Upchurch sent a signed a football and a note to the family. His mother wanted to make sure the remaining family members knew "they're in our thoughts and prayers. It's something we certainly won't forget."

Buying into Saban way:

In Upchurch, Edwards had a role model.

But before this year, that might have been difficult.

Upchurch's behavior wasn't always consistent with this kind-hearted display. Ask him why he was in coach Nick Saban's dog house last year, and Upchurch is honest.

He didn't buy in to what Saban wanted.

"Playing for Coach Saban, it's been a bumpy road," Upchurch said recently. "But once you figure out what he wants you to do on and off the field, it kind of just smoothes out and all the problems go away. It was me, seeing the light."

It wasn't just football. Upchurch has come a long way academically. It was all related.

"Most of the time," Saban said, "(people) aren't one kind of character in one part of their life and another kind of character some place else. I don't think these things change in a day. They change over time. Roy is one of the great examples in the program of a guy who has made significant amount of changes that have impacted him positively as a person."

Upchurch said he altered his life because he simply felt awful being at the bottom of the depth Grechart. He was frustrated, because he knew his talent level.

"And you know you can help a good football team," he said. "Now, I'm doing right in (everything), and I'm winning right now."

Somewhere, Edwards is cheering. Check out Rapoport's blog at blog.al.com/rapsheet

irapoport@bhamnews.com

http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2008/10/a_heartwarming_story_on_roy_up.html

Has "Ol' Ball Coach" Steve Spurrier Lost a Step?

12 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:03:49 -0400

The following is something I wrote for the website that I call home, BamaNation.net. I hope it's OK to share here.

Vanderbilt 24, South Carolina 17. That's two wins in a row for the 'Dores vs. the Gamecocks, and this year proved it was no fluke.

Vanderbilt players heard the "f" word often after last year's victory over the Commodores, but this season they proved they were worthy. Vanderbilt was the better team. Bobby Johnson was the better coach.

Steve Spurrier looked different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but he almost looked as if he was just going through the motions.

Has the Ol' Ball Coach lost interest? Has one of the greatest offensive minds in college football history lost a step?

I realize the talent level at USC is far below what Coach Spurrier experienced at Florida, but lately it seems to me something is different. I don't think he's thrown his visor in 15-20 games...and that's just not like him.

Has his passion for the game waned? Has Steve Spurrier reached the point in his career where he is ready to hit the golf course and hang up his clipboard?

I am a fan of coach Spurrier, and I would hate to see him retire. If I am wrong about my observation, I am truly sorry. But something seems different about him. Something is missing.

Could it be that he has lost a step—or could it be that he is just about done?