Bleacher Report - Articles by theondeckcircle dotnet

Sport Video Games I Wish Were Made

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:08:16 -0400

Sadly, I am without a “current” gaming system. Because of this, I’m probably not the person videogame developers have in mind as they brainstorm new ideas. Just because I don’t play any new games doesn’t mean there aren’t game ideas out there that I think should be made.

Like a lot of kids, I had a very active imagination while I was growing up, and every once in a while my creative/imaginative streak comes back. This is one of those “once in a whiles.” I now present to you videogames I wish were made.

Steve Smith’s Punchout!!

You start out fighting DBs on a football field before moving on to the squared circle of professional boxing. Do you have what it takes to become the next IBWABCWBKWAS Champion?

Maurice Clarett’s Big Game Hunter

Anyone who has as many guns as Mo Clarett must be a hunter, right?

To Tell the Truth: the Video Game. With special guest host “Rocket” Roger Clemens

As host of this game version of To Tell the Truth, “Rocket” Roger Clemens follows in the footsteps of the legendary Bud Collyer, Garry Moore, Joe Garagiola, Robin Ward, Gordon Elliot, Alex Trebek, John O’Hurley and Lynn Swann. Who mis-remembers now?

Need for Speed and Weed: Josh Howard edition

Sometimes one vice just isn’t enough.

Street Fighter: Kwame Brown’s Cake edition

Sure, you’ve battled Balrog, Vega, Sagat, M. Bison, Fei Long and T. Hawk, but can you beat a drunk, cake-wielding Kwame Brown?

Barry’s Dream Land

Still blackballed from Major League Baseball, Barry Bonds overtakes Kirby’s Dream Land in his pursuit of all the hidden cream and clear.

GTA: UFC Featuring Rampage Jackson

Race around the Left Coast, are you going to let the “authorities” stand in your way?

Major League Eating: The Game. Oliver Miller’s BACK! And he’s HUNGRY!

A classic triple threat showdown between Kobayashi, Joey Chestnut, and Oliver Miller. Wouldn’t want to be a hot dog at that party.

Hard Truck: 18 Wheels of Steel – Nate Newton edition

As Nate Newton, you race across the country in your 18-Wheeler, running from the law, protecting your “special” cargo.

Ben Johnson’s Track and Field: 20th Anniversary Edition

This special commemorative edition of Ben Johnson’s Track and Field celebrates Johnson’s 1988 World Record breaking performance of 9.79 seconds in the 100 meters at the Seoul Olympics.

Oh no! Time to duck for cover. What happens if GTA: UFC Featuring Rampage Jackson meets Hard Truck: 18 Wheels of Steel – Nate Newton edition and then Need for Speed and Weed: Josh Howard edition races in…pure chaos. Everyone, make sure you look both ways before you cross the street!

Fantasy Football Focus: Quarterbacks

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:54:44 -0400

August is great month for true football fans. Training camps are in full swing as teams prepare for preseason games, Madden is released, and most importantly, fantasy football season is just around the corner.

While I consider myself much more adept at drafting skaters and goalies than quarterbacks and special teams players, I have spent many hours at work this past summer reading fantasy football websites and football magazines in order to provide readers with the information necessary to not only compete, but potentially dominate their fantasy leagues this year.

Over the next week or so, I will break down positions and provide information on various players. I know that each league is run differently and that not everyone will agree with my choices, but here are my breakdowns of some of the more important positions for fantasy football teams, starting with quarterback. Enjoy!

Arguably the most obvious position in terms of the top four or five players, the quarterback position offers much debate in terms of who should be avoided and potential sleeper picks.

With rookie quarterbacks or first time starters on a couple of teams and at least one record-setting QB still in limbo, quarterback could be a difficult position to draft if the sure bets are chosen early. Here are my picks.

Pick’ Em

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

2007 Stats: 398 Completions, 4806 Yards, 50 TDs, 8 INTs

Brady is the most obvious pick not running the ball for the Chargers. Although Brady missed out on his fourth Super Bowl last year, his record setting season allowed him to establish himself as arguably the top fantasy football player in 2008.

Surrounded by four or five excellent receivers (including Randy Moss and Wes Welker) and an improved running game featuring Laurence Maroney and newly acquired LaMont Jordan, there is no reason to believe Brady will suffer much of a drop off this season.

It is impossible to say that Brady will match last year’s output, but it is safe to assume he will have another strong season as the Patriots remain a favorite to make the Super Bowl.

2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

2007 Stats: 337 Completions, 4040 Yards, 31 TDs, 14 INTs

Despite losing his favorite target to injury in 2007, Manning once again proved himself as a fantasy football stud last season with another strong campaign.

Manning puts in considerable effort off the field to maintain one of the highest football IQs in the NFL and has never missed a start in 11 seasons. I believe he will put up another 4,000 yard, 30 touchdown season as Reggie Wayne becomes his new favorite target and Anthony Gonzalez enters his second season.

It is yet to be seen whether Marvin Harrison can rebound from injuries and the off-the-field incidents that have plagued him recently, but if he can return at full strength, the Colts offense will be one of the NFL's best once again.

3. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

2007: 335 Completions, 4211 Yards, 36 TDs, 19 INTs

Luckily for fans of Tony Romo, most fantasy football leagues end before the playoffs.

All jokes aside however, Romo will be in much higher demand after throwing for 36 TDs last season. With a stronger defense giving him better field position and Terrell Owens and Jason Witten giving him two of the best targets at their respective positions, Romo should have a similar season as he settles into his third year as the Cowboys' QB.

The addition of rookie running back Felix Jones (who averaged 8.7 yards per carry while sharing the ball with Darren McFadden last season at Arkansas) should also open up the passing game by providing America's Team with a solid one-two rushing attack alongside Marion Barber.

Sleepers:

1. Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

2007 Stats: 277 Completions, 3152 Yards, 21 TDs, 15 INTs

As the quarterback in one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses and a preseason Super Bowl favorite, many of you will be scratching your heads as to why Rivers is a “sleeper.” Remember this however: Rivers is not only coming off a severe knee injury, but his numbers are also rather subpar considering the offensive talent he has around him.

Armed with Chris Chambers for the whole season (along with Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd), a healthy Antonio Gates, a weak division and some guy named L.T., 2008 could be a breakout year for Rivers in terms of fantasy numbers.

If Rivers can stay healthy and keep his mistakes to a minimum, he may finally be the QB the Chargers needed to emerge from the AFC.

2. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills

2007 Stats: 151 Completions, 1630 Yards, 7 TDs, 8 INTs

Although I have continually met the excitement of Bills fans (see Allan, Don) with scepticism this offseason, Edwards has the potential for a breakout season if all the pieces fall into place at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Named the starter over J.P. Losman early in the offseason, Edwards has strong receivers in the speedy Lee Evans and rookie (and potential red zone threat) James Hardy, a solid offensive line, and a running back in Marshawn Lynch who can run, catch, and even throw the ball when needed.

Though he lacks a tight end that he can consistently use as a last resort, Edwards looks to be the solution to the quarterback problem that has plagued the Bills since Jim Kelly retired in 1996.

3. Shaun Hill, San Francisco

2007 Stats: 54 Completions, 501 Yards 5 TDs, 1 INTs

I would be crazy to suggest picking Hill early in your fantasy draft, but he could potentially emerge as a steal if Alex Smith is injured once again or continues to regress under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Critics of this pick will say Martz, an offensive wizard, is all Smith needs to turn it around, but don’t forget that 49ers' players and coaches were on the field as Hill gave them confidence last season by winning his first two NFL starts late in 2007.

With Coach Mike Nolan desperate to keep his job, don’t be surprised if Hill gets the call early in 2008 if Smith does not get off to a strong start. Look for Hill as a potential second or third string QB who could pay dividends.

The only thing that should be noted when picking Hill is that San Fran lacks a No. 1 receiver and tight end Vernon Davis has struggled to be consistent in the NFL so far. Who will he throw the ball to?

Stay Away From:

1. John Kitna, Detroit Lions

2007 Stats: 355 Completions, 4068 yards, 18 TDS, 20 INTs

Despite putting up a lot of yards in 2007, Kitna will be hard pressed to match his output this season. Kitna does have solid receivers in Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson (despite a disappointing rookie season), but Detroit is starting rookie running back Kevin Smith.

This means that teams will be sitting on the pass if Detroit cannot get yards on the ground. In addition, Kitna has also been inconsistent throughout his career, as evidenced by a late season collapse that saw the Lions lose seven of their last eight games in 2007.

In five of the Lions' nine losses last season, the team failed to score more than 14 points.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

2007 Stats: 20 Completions, 218 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs

Despite looking good in his only appearance last season, Rodgers enters 2008 with practically no game experience and a ton of pressure after the Packers named him their QB despite the circus created by Brett Favre's un-retirement during the offseason.

In addition to the offseason turmoil, the Packers' brass drafted two quarterbacks (not exactly a confidence boost) and engaged in a nasty contract dispute with breakout running back Ryan Grant.

Even with a talented core of receivers led by Greg Jennings, Donald Lee, and Donald Driver, a potentially inexperienced running game and all the negative attention off the field could be a disastrous mix for a QB starting for the first time. Approach Rodgers with caution when drafting this season.

3. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

2007 Stats: 291 Completions, 3324 Yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs

While McNabb was a surefire fantasy player only a few years ago, age, injuries, and a potentially tumultuous relationship with the Eagles mean he is a player to avoid this year.

Despite posting some solid numbers in terms of completion percentage and passer rating (both career highs in 2007), McNabb struggled to put up points as the Eagles scored more than 20 points only six times last season. With whispers that Kevin Kolb is the Eagles' QB of the future, McNabb will need a big season to ensure he is back in an Eagles jersey next fall.

As you can see, the quarterback position is an interesting one this season. In addition to Brady, Manning and Romo, players such as Drew Brees and Derek Anderson are poised for strong seasons. Teams such as Chicago, Minnesota, Oakland, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami are all faced with questions behind center.

If drafting early, there are some potential sure things at the QB position, but as always, things can change quickly in the NFL so make sure you have a couple of solid QBs to start this season.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Patrick Tye.

Don’t Hate the Player: Manny Ramirez

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:43:16 -0400

Okay, so the picture probably isn’t a fitting one, since Manny Ramirez more closely parallels The Joker than Batman, but the image is important. It is Manny Ramirez…in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform.

The trade that sent him there has upset some, and it has opened the discussion about whether or not there is a place in baseball for a ~~player~~character like Man-Ram.

“Manny being Manny” annoyances aside, he is widely criticized for his poor demeanor, lack of seriousness, and apparent idiocy on and off the field. Dreadlocks, a dirty helmet, misplayed fly balls, and the occasional high five to a fan all come together to make the population wonder whether Manny even cares, and whether he’s even worth our time.

Well, you may remember a little feature I wrote about another Red Sox player, J.D. Drew. It was called “Don’t Hate the Player…” and was to be the first in a series where I “shine a little light on a good player that maybe wouldn’t otherwise get that light.”

Obviously, Manny has plenty of light shone his way, so the axiom of the feature has been changed to appreciating the sometimes-disliked. That’s almost as broad a definition as the mission of Gary Roberts Wednesdays, so kudos to me.

Regardless, Manny Ramirez is one of the best baseball players of all time. It’s a fact…don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Now, to clarify, I wouldn’t categorize Manny as a hated player. In fact, I’ve loved the guy as long as I can remember. He (and recently, J.D. Drew) was the only thing keeping me from absolutely loathing the most recent instalments of Red Sox Baseball. Still, Manny has angered traditional baseball fans with his unique approach to fielding, dreadlocks, and general goofiness.

He has angered the fans of other teams with his occasional idiocy and frequent hope-destruction at the plate. And most recently, he has angered Red Sox fans by…wait, what did he do again? Oh, right, he wanted to stay with the team another two years and get a commitment from John Henry and the front office. Anyways, he has somehow angered Red Sox fans, too.

Still, for people like me…he’s the Mecca of fandom. A player who plays the game and enjoys it is rare enough, but for that player to also be one of the greatest hitters of all time is just spoiling us. Manny is probably one of the five best hitters in the league right now, has come up in many big opportunities, and has a cannon for an arm to make up for his poor fly ball judgments.

There is also testimony and evidence suggesting that Manny is one of the hardest workers in the game, constantly working to improve in the gym and in the batting cages. Need any proof?

Well, at age 36 Manny is still going. And that’s at a pace consistent with his entire career, not an otherworldly and accusation-inspiring pace well above his regular stats (see: Bonds, Barry). Ramirez currently boasts an Avg/OBP/Slg line of .314/.409/.558 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI.

His .967 OPS is good for top-10 in the league and his OPS+ 140 means he is still a 40% improvement over the average replacement player. Those rates are consistent with his career numbers, where he has posted a line of .313/.409/.591 for an OPS of 1.000 and an OPS+ of 154. His career OPS and OPS+ are third among active players and he ranks as one of the best power hitters of all time with 1,679 RBI (23rd) and 513 homers (20th).

(Oh, and in the five games since he went to the Dodgers, he has been having by far the greatest season in baseball history with an OPS+ of 340.)

To say Ramirez is one of the best players of his generation is a gross understatement. At the plate, you’d have to put him in a league with only Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Alex Rodriguez. Attitude questions or not, haircut questions or not, he is without question a player managers would kill to having hitting third or fourth in their line-ups.

He’s also an instant morale booster for a Dodgers team that lacks personality. Sure, they’re a great team with a lot of very likable players (Kemp, Ethier, Pierre, Furcal, Martin, and Loney all spring to mind, before we even move to pitchers), but they’re a team with an ugly recent history and no real leadership or direction.

Enter Manny, a timely distraction from the pressures of a playoff race, an intimidating bat in the middle of the order to ease pressures elsewhere, and a reminder to all of the good young players that the best way to play the game is relaxed.

You can argue that his attitude, in the long run, can grow tiresome or be bad for a young team, but for a postseason run with a team somewhat low on veterans, Manny is a perfect fit.

At the plate, in the field, in the dugout, whatever. I’ll take Manny any day, however I can get him. Good or bad, goofy or serious, Manny being Manny or Manny being Jeter, he is a talent that simply cannot be ignored for the sake of a few goofy moments.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net—by Blake Murphy

Better Know a Footballer - Ronaldinho

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:59:09 -0400

Last time on BKAF, we took a look at Kaka and thus delved the world of AC Milan, my adopted team. My year abroad saw me frequent the San Siro on numerous occasions, most notably for their upset of Manchester United en route to a European title.

How long ago that success now seems: not only were the Rossoneri eliminated in the First Knockout Round of the Champions League by Arsenal, but the team finished a lowly fifth in Serie A and thus lost its place to compete for next year’s European Cup (instead they will try for the inferior UEFA Cup).

So, why mention the club again if they are in such disarray? The answer lies in a certain attacking midfielder from Porto Alegre, Brazil: the esteemed Ronaldinho. Thanks to the deep pockets of billionaire Silvio Berlusconi, the former FIFA World Player of the Year will be joining Milan this fall (following his transfer from Barcelona for $34 million CDN).

It is not every day that one’s favorite club acquires a player with other-worldly touch and 126 career club goals, so indulge me in profiling Milan’s latest savior via comparison to a star back from that other football…LaDainian Tomlinson.

Offensively Offensive: We are all familiar with Tomlinson’s considerable aptitude for setting scoring records: in 2007, LT set all-time single season records by scoring 31 touchdowns, 186 points, and having eight multi-touchdown games. He set a new standard by once scoring in 18 consecutive games, and his 115 career TDs place him third all-time and climbing.

Tomlinson is clearly the best running back in football and the most impressive offensive force at his position since Marshall Faulk. Though LT’s resume is striking, Ronaldinho is no offensive slouch either. Although he is not principally a striker and therefore not a primary goal scorer, Ronaldinho’s outstanding speed and technical ability enable him to score in abundance.

He won the FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Boot in 2000, the Ballon d’Or in 2005, and overall had 94 goals in his 207 games with Barca. He has also scored an impressive 32 goals in his 82 caps for Brazil.

(Not Quiet) The Face of the Game: Tomlinson is a five-time Pro Bowler, a former MVP, and a former NFL Man of the Year. By any measure, he is reached an echelon of stardom that puts his among pro sports biggest names. Yet he has clearly not achieved the level of fame that either Peyton Manning or Tom Brady has as the unofficial “Face of the NFL.”

The reason he hasn’t attained that magnitude of acclaim is clear: he is not a quarterback. Ronaldinho meanwhile is an international superstar, but even as a two-time World Player of the Year he has never stood alone as the principle figure in the sport. Be it Beckham, Zidane, Henry, Cannavaro, or Totti, there is an excess of great talents and celebrated performers in the beautiful game that compete for consideration as the sport’s biggest draw.

What’s in a Name? While they may not stand out in the way Crosby or LeBron do as the clear-cut upholder of their sport, both players have household names known the world over. What neither has, though, is an original name.

LaDainian’s nickname of “LT” would already win an award for unoriginality, and that is before considering that he stole it outright from the one-and-only true “LT,” Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. As a general rule, one should not misappropriate a nickname from a legend in the very same sport.

For his part, Ronaldinho’s name means “little Ronaldo,” and he is better known in Brazil as Ronaldinho Gaúcho so as to distinguish him from all-time great Ronaldo, who was already called “Ronaldinho” in Brazil. Ronaldo eventually went only by his first name and thereby allowed Ronaldinho to drop the “Gaúcho.” It is in situations like these that one might pine for a last name.

Rare Air: The folks from Beaverton, Oregon have their guardianship over each of these superstars. Nike has showed us that LT’s fast is faster, his quick is quicker, and his better is better (whatever the hell that means).

List of demands aside, he has replaced Mr. Bad News Kennel as the posterboy for the brand’s football division. Ronaldinho, too, is the star of Nike campaigns, both in North America and abroad. Most recently the company used home footage of him playing as a youth in their Joga Bonito campaign. Oh, and there was this, too.

Turn the Page: Tomlinson is the only player to ever have rushed for over 1,200 yards and have 50 receptions in every year of his career. While he had another remarkable regular-season with San Diego last year, he ran for just 42 yards on 21 carries in his first playoff game, then bruised his left knee and missed the second half in a divisional round win over the Colts, and finally had just two carries and 5 yards in the AFC title game.

This, combined with his closing in on the age of 30 (the Age of Death for running backs) have many questioning if LT will be the same this season. For what its worth, he did not participate in the Chargers’ offseason program though he is expected to be ready for the regular season. Ronaldinho is at an even bigger career-crossroads. He can be seen as coming to Milan on the cheap, considering just last summer Barca declined an offer of $90 million for the skillful Brazilian.

His star has certainly dwindled since his time as the world’s best player, in part due to injury, but also as a result of questionable desire. His signing with AC Milan is an illustration of how quickly his career turned south. The Barca locker room became bitterly divided when Barça striker Samuel Eto’o suggested Ronaldinho’s effort is lacking, and he played in fewer than half the team’s games. He, and the AC Milan brain-trust, are hoping he can rediscover his game in Serie A.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Trevor Smith.

Trevor Linden's Retirement Virtually Ignored by the Media

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:36:57 -0400

For the last couple of weeks, the retirement status of a certain Green Bay Packers quarterback has been deemed by the sports media to be incredibly important news.

Brett Favre has probably gotten more face time on PTI than Wilbon and Kornheiser combined, while the retirement of one of the greatest Canadian kids of all time has received minimal attention.

The only coverage I remember from Trevor Linden’s retirement was seeing it on The Score’s bottom line. Pretty pathetic effort, media.

Trevor Linden deserves more than the tidbit that I saw while watching Cam Stewart and Gabe Morency talk about finding value in the day’s baseball games. No, Trevor Linden deserves his very own Gary Roberts Wednesday.

This man played in the NHL for 20 years and scored 30 or more goals in six different seasons. His nickname is Captain Canuck! Nuts to GRW, Trevor Linden deserves a statue and a lifetime supply of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Linden started his NHL career by being drafted second overall by the Canucks in the famous 1988 NHL Entry Draft, behind the great American hero Mikey Modano, but ahead of Curtis Leschyshyn.

He played his junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers (Ryan Hollweg’s alma mater!), winning two Memorial Cups and a World Junior Championships Gold Medal. Those titles would be the last of Linden’s career. He collected nothing but silver in international hockey and tons of money in the NHL.

Although he never won a Cup in the NHL, a gold medal with the Canadian Olympic Team, or even a measly World Cup of Hockey, Linden was still good enough to be called Captain Canuck by the Vancouver faithful.

Sadly, he was never able to duel Ryan “Captain Canada” Smyth to the death for Canadian captain supremacy, but this is beside the point.

Linden became captain of the Canucks when he was 21, putting him in the Young Captain Hall of Fame with players like Stevie Y, Vinny Lecavalier, Eric Lindros, and the best hockey player of all time, Sidney Crosby.

He didn’t lead his team to the Stanley Cup Finals immediately after being named captain like Crosby, but Linden did bring the Canucks to the big stage in his third season as the team’s leader.

The Canucks somehow lost that series to the Rangers way back in 1994, but I think the Linden experience can be summed up in a clip from the end of Game 6 in Vancouver. Watch it, live it, dislike Mark Messier because of it.

Linden spent the rest of his career trying to get back to the Cup Finals, playing for the Islanders, Canadiens, and Capitals before returning to Vancouver to finish out his career.

When he was traded to the Islanders, the guys that went over to the Canucks from Long Island were none other than Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan McCabe, and a draft pick that became Jarkko Ruutu.

Even when he was leaving the Canucks, he was actually helping them get stronger. A pretty rock solid multimedia experience of Linden’s entire career can be found at Orlando Kurtneblog. Check out the jersey he got drafted in, it makes old school Houston Astros jerseys look gorgeous.

So if you’re worrying where a certain Green Bay Packer will end up in about two months, take a break for a second. Think about how Trevor Linden, a prototypical NHL leader, won’t be suiting up next hockey season. Well, right now it looks like he won’t be suiting up.

I hear Cliff Fletcher’s going to sign him for three years and $15 million if the Canucks end up getting Sundin. That’s even more than Jeff Finger money!

Inside the Numbers
16 seasons with the Canucks

124 career playoff games played

99 career playoff points

375 career goals scored

1 of the sweetest hits of all time

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson.

The Cold War: NHL v. KHL

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:37:53 -0400

The establishment of the new Russian Continental Hockey League is already proving to be a significant threat to the NHL game.

Earlier this summer, KHL founder Alexander Medvedev proved to everyone he means business by trying to draw Evgeni Malkin out of the last year of his NHL contract with the Penguins. The NHL and the KHL have now drawn up an agreement to ensure all contracts are respected, but it is clear that the new league intends to compete with the NHL for players.

How far will it go? Well, we can only speculate.

Many Russian, Swedish, Czech and other European superstars move their lives and families over to the North America in order to play with and against the best competition in the world. It has always been taken for granted that the best hockey players in the world and the biggest money contracts are in the National Hockey League.

As a result, most of the top young European talents of the last decade have made the sacrifice in order to play with the best players and make the big bucks.

But what if they could do all of it at home?

If we think of the incredible and ever-increasing number of skilled European players (forwards, defensemen, and goalies) playing in the NHL, it becomes easy to imagine an extremely competitive league comprised of these players located overseas. European hockey leagues have always existed and have always been competitive, but the best players aren’t there.

The new Russian League has the potential to change the entire dynamic of hockey worldwide, and it will likely be the start of a huge shift in the balance of power on a worldwide stage the European way.

Although several current European players (most notably Jaromir Jagr, Alexander Radulov, and Sergei Brylin) accepted large money offers to play next year overseas, it remains unlikely that the young and established next-generation NHL superstars will move back home.

However, the NHL does have to be very concerned about the future.

In recent years, there has been enormous incentive for young European players to make the move to North America. Competition, money, sponsors, fame, the list goes on. But as the size, reputation, and power of the Russian league become more attractive to the hometown boys, the benefits of going overseas will all of a sudden not be worth the sacrifice.

And so they’ll stay.

The next generation of great European players is going to have a huge incentive to stay home. And why not? There is no reason that this league cannot, over time, become as or more competitive than the NHL. The players will be there, the fans will be there, and the money will be there.

A majority of American NHL teams are no longer (or never were) financially viable. Despite an improved on-ice product, seats are still empty, ratings are low, and teams are now struggling to meet the minimum end of the cap! The league is vulnerable and the time seems to be right for somewhat of a fresh start for hockey.

The game seems to be transitioning to more of a skillful European style of play and the European players are the most electrifying and fun to watch anyway so why should they keep coming to us? Why don’t they just move the show back home?

Soon enough they will.

And before we know it, we might be back to the Original Six.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Ian Cass.

John McDonald or David Eckstein: Toronto Blue Jays Can't Keep Them Both

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:29:54 -0400

While A.J. Burnett’s fate as a Toronto Blue Jay garners the majority of the media hype, I think there’s another spot in the Jays’ lineup that deserves just as much attention with the trade deadline quickly approaching.

During the past few seasons, Aaron Hill and John McDonald have made numerous appearances on highlight reels with their defensive prowess up the middle for the Blue Jays. On most nights, it seems as though these guys could turn the most difficult double plays with their eyes closed.

However, with Hill on the disabled list, a number of other players have shown that they can perform just as well up the middle.

Up to this point in the season, the second base and shortstop duties have been shared primarily between five guys: the previously mentioned duo of Hill and McDonald, as well as David Eckstein, Marco Scutaro, and Joe Inglett.

If the Jays are to trade away one of these players, who will it be? Let’s see if the numbers can help us out.

Aaron Hill has played 55 games this season, and is batting .263, with two home runs (HR) and 20 runs batted in (RBI). On the defensive side of the ball, Hill carries a .996 fielding percentage (FPCT) and has been a part of 27 double plays.

In my opinion, Aaron is the cream of this crop.

He has shown in the past that he can hit for power, as well as consistency. His defense is impeccable, and I feel he would be one of the Jays’ most productive players if he hadn’t been struck by injury.

John McDonald may very well be one of my favorite players. How can you not like the guy? You can count on him to hoover up any balls hit near him and then proceed to make the unbelievable plays that make you smear your shorts.

The best part?

When he steps up to the plate and gets a hit, you’re even more excited because you’re usually expecting him to be an easy out. As for his stats, Johnny Mac is hitting .182, with two RBI in 25 games and he holds a .953 FPCT.

David Eckstein was one of the major additions made to the Jays’ lineup during the past offseason. He is batting .269 and is fourth on the team in doubles with 15. He holds a .958 FPCT and has contributed to 32 double plays. Ecky has definitely done his job this year. He has earned his playing time with solid defense and decent numbers at the plate.

Marco Scutaro (or Scoots, as he shall be known from now on) has come out of the woodwork this season to put up some impressive numbers. The utility man (he has played six different positions this season) is batting .261, with three HR and 31 RBI.

He has a combined FPCT of .979 at second base and shortstop, and has been a part of 21 double plays between the two positions. He has also played 83 games, 23 more than David Eckstein.

Joe Inglett has made his mark, filling in for Aaron Hill at second base. He is the only player on this list batting above .300, and he also has 18 RBI with five doubles and five triples. Inglett has a .979 FPCT and has been a part of nine double plays in only 23 games at second base.

The Jays really only need four of these guys, and in my opinion, they have to be Hill, Eckstein, Scutaro, and Inglett. As much as I love Johnny Mac, I think his time as a Blue Jay may be coming to an end.

He would be a valuable asset to any team looking to add some depth on defense, and bundled up with another player (Shannon Stewart, perhaps?) and a prospect, the Jays should be able to get something decent in return.

Only time will tell, but it’s apparent to me that the 2008 Toronto Blue Jays may be a little bit too deep up the middle.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Jason Petznick.

Erin Andrews, ESPN, and Black Monday

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:47:01 -0400

As I sit on my couch watching the Home Run Derby and cursing the staining powers of Cheetos, I am shocked by three things.

1) Erin Andrews – OK, so I’m not her biggest fan. No, I’m not jealous that she is (relatively) attractive, blonde, reporting for ESPN and lusted after by millions of frat boy NCAA fans and pot-bellied armchair GMs alike. Well maybe a little. Whatever.

Not only was I disappointed with her choice of attire (THAT shirt with THAT skirt???), but she needed a written script to MC the trophy ceremony at the end of the Derby. If you’re working for the “World Wide Leader,” you should probably know who the bigwigs in MLB are.

Seriously, in a battle of the wits between Jennifer Hedger and Erin Andrews, it would be a bigger beat down than Pacman Jones vs. a stripper.

2) ESPN – sure Josh Hamilton was absolutely ridiculous through the first two rounds of the derby then choked like the Ottawa Senators in the finals, but the very first thing said by the panel after the great CANADIAN Justin Morneau wins is “Nobody will remember who won this, because the story is all about Josh Hamilton.”

…the f$#@?

Can’t ESPN give Canada one ounce of respect? He’s the first Canadian to win the derby and is immediately overshadowed by a former junkie who couldn’t close the deal in the final round. Even the main page at ESPN.com has a picture and story about the guy that came in second. Well I once heard a saying from the Bible… or maybe it was a song by Creed: “Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.” You enjoy yourself, Justin.

As for ESPN? More like “World Wide Leader in Sports When America Dominates The Competition And Fails To Recognize The Achievements Of Other Counties”.

Chris Berman, “leather” may be with you, but I most certainly am not.

3) Black Monday – On Monday there were no professional sports games in North America. None. I feel oddly empty. The newspaper will be full of re-hashed Eklund rumours, sports news stations will be forced to continue discussing the A-Rod/Madonna fiasco (my fantasy?), and Blake will probably accidentally post a graphic love letter meant for Paul Pierce’s eyes only.

Thank god we only have to go through a day like this once a year. But what if this was every day? What if sports just stopped? Where would we find an outlet for our athletic prowess, passionate loyalty and belligerent beer drinking?

During the lockout year I developed a crippling addiction to CSI, but at least I still had the NBA and NFL to fall back on. But if professional sports were to disappear for more than one day, what would happen?

Imagine meeting up at your buddy’s house to down a case of Molson while watching the Oscars instead of the Superbowl.

Imagine decorating your room with stuff from Pier One instead of merchandise from every AL team.

Imagine paying a scalper five times the face value to see The Phantom of the Opera instead of a Leafs/Habs playoff match.

Imagine rocking a Von Dutch hat instead of your vintage Lakers lid.

Imagine seeing Emmitt Smith doing the cha-cha instead of rushing 50 yards for a TD.

And worst of all, imagine the Stanley Cup being used to potty train Kris Draper’s daughter instead of being the centerpiece of every hockey player’s dreams and every Leaf fan’s therapy sessions.

All of this is too much to handle. Let us quietly thank the Sporting Gods for the glorious gift of professional sports, and take this day without them to truly appreciate what they mean to us.

Because, honestly, would life have any meaning without the Rally Monkey?

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by the Sports Socialite

Ryan Hollweg: Today on Gary Roberts Wednesday

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:38:51 -0400

Toronto Maple Leafs fans know they have a lot to look forward to next season, thanks to the brilliance of Cliff Fletcher and the rest of MLSE.

Bryan McCabe’s return to relevance. The Finger-banging of opposing forwards that dare to enter Vesa Toskala’s airspace. The inevitable emergence of Curtis Joseph as a top-five goalie in the Eastern Conference.

All of these future events are obvious to even the most casual Leafs fan, but I don’t think the citizens of Leafs Nation know about the excellence that will be coming from one of their club’s best new additions: Ryan Hollweg.

Before being sent to the Leafs in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick, Hollweg skated for the New York Rangers, the team that originally drafted him in the eighth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

He was drafted from the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers after four seasons, and sitting out most of another season with a concussion. Those four seasons resulted in a respectable 94 goals and 233 points, not to mention a hard-working 476 penalty minutes. As those numbers would lead you to believe, Hollweg is a somewhat scrappy player. In New York he spent most of his time on a prestigious line with Colton Orr and the great Bates Battaglia, scoring very sparingly. What he lacks in goals scored, however, Hollweg makes up for in grit. Sean Avery hogged the spotlight in New York with his well-deserved superpest reputation, so Hollweg’s antics went mostly unnoticed, but not by Chris Simon.

Simon’s infamous slash to the face of some unlucky guy was actually a slash to the face of Ryan Hollweg. If enraging a guy to the point of him slashing you in the face isn’t enough for entrance into the super-pest club, I don’t know what is.

His gritty and somewhat illegal play is also noticed a lot by NHL officials. Hollweg came third on the Rangers in penalty minutes in the 2007-08 season, behind Colton Orr and Sean Avery. In the 2006-07 season, he managed to beat out Orr and Avery for the number-one spot, mostly thanks to injuries to both of them. Fast fact: Jammy Jagr was third in penalty minutes on the Rangers that season.

Mr. Hollweg spends a lot of time in the box because of his pest-like play, but knows how to pick his spots—this past playoff season he only managed one minor penalty in eight games.

It was probably a good call for him to stay out of the sin bin, since he wasn’t really helping his team on the scoreboard. In eight games played he picked up a minus-two (second-worst on the team) and mustered only five shots on goal. Sidney Crosby he’s not.

Scoring, however, is not the reason why Ryan Hollweg is moving to Toronto. Let’s face it, the Leafs don’t need yet another goal scorer—they need grit from a good American kid, and that’s exactly what Hollweg will provide.

Although he didn’t find the twine much in New York and probably won’t in Toronto either, his energy and hard-nosed play will make the Leafs a much more entertaining play.

Oh yeah, and he has a sweet flavor saver and sort of looks like my boy Adam Morrison. And don’t forget his sweet dance moves either (below). You’re telling me this guy’s not going to lead the Leafs to the playoffs?

Inside the Numbers

Four seasons of over 100 PIMs in the WHL

Two-time WHL player of the week

239 PIMs in one season in the AHL

311 career PIMs in three NHL seasons

Five career NHL goals

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson.

A Word With Three NHL Draftees

theondeckcircle dotnet — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:11:48 -0400

Working our way into mid-July, unrestricted free agency continues to be the only real hype the NHL garners at this time of the year. With all the trades, deals, and new contracts being signed, I thought I’d focus on gaining some insight into the league’s future stars.

I got the chance to speak with three fresh NHL draftees last week; Zac Dalpe, Justin Schultz, and Brandon Burlon, and each was eagerly excited about their up and coming careers in the National Hockey League.

Justin Shultz went 43rd overall to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Zac Dalpe to the Carolina Hurricanes 45th, and 52nd to the New Jersey Devils was Brandon Burlon. Since being drafted, the boys have been busy getting a lot of attention.

Aside from celebrating and receiving much praise and congratulations, they’ve been lending their time to answering interview questions, have witnessed their Facebook accounts light up with many new requests, and already have friends thinking they owe them free tickets. But they don’t seem to mind it at all, Dalpe is nonchalant, saying it comes with the territory and, “it’s flattering”. Justin Schultz would agree, “it’s all been fun”.

Zac Dalpe grew up in the small town of Paris, Ontario. He credits his country roots for laying a solid foundation to start a hockey career. At 6’1”, weighing in at 170 lbs, Dalpe wasn’t always built this way. His friends used to call him ‘bones’ because of his 5’5” 110 lb frame. “When you’re smaller you learn to rely on your speed,” and that’s exactly what he did. Doubling as a center man and right winger, Zac took full advantage of his raw skills - speed, shot and passionate play.

He has always mimicked his favorite player Joe Sakic, aspiring to play hockey his way. He has more often been compared to the likes of Jeff Carter, though. Carter’s work ethic, knowledgeable play, scoring ability, and speed seem to resemble his style of play most. Both were also ranked as top skaters in North America by the Central Scouting Service at the time of their drafts - Zac 16th overall and Carter 12th.

Skating on the frozen pond out back of the house with his two brothers also helped in toughening him up. As it is with any hockey player, some of his fondest childhood memories came from playing pond hockey. However, the most memorable moment for Zac so far was going undefeated and winning back to back OMHA championships with his minor team, the Paris Wolfpack, which hadn’t been done in over 24 years.

Justin noted his most memorable moment as being his first junior game when he scored the OT game winning goal, and for Brandon it was winning gold in the Canada Winter Games with Team Ontario’s U-17 team.

Being a smaller player and coming from a smaller town, Dalpe learned to take nothing for granted. “You learn to appreciate things more when you start off small,” he commented. Burlon is also from a small town - Nobleton, Ontario, population 3,000. Both would agree that everyone in the community is very supportive, and they feel almost like celebrities now.

Burlon said half the town showed up for his draft party, and Dalpe was asked to pose for pictures and sign autographs at his younger brother’s graduation ceremony.

Zac only started gaining the recognition he deserved after a massive 6-inch growth spurt over the course of one summer. With this, his career began to skyrocket. He made the move from AAA to Junior B playing for the Stratford Cullitons. The transition from the minor leagues to junior was one of the toughest for Zac, “I was so small at the time… they were bigger, meaner, and older.”

Last season, Dalpe played for the Penticton Vees in British Columbia. As a rookie, he had an impressive season finishing 3rd overall for the team in points with 27 goals, 36 assists, and only six penalty minutes. Having played a total of 46 games, that’s an average of 1.4 points per game.

The Junior A team were BCHL champs, finishing the 07/08 season at the top of the league with a 41-15-2 record (wins, loses, and ties consecutively).

The move to British Columbia definitely wasn’t a tough one for Dalpe, he was “livin’ the dream” as the boys would say. The BCHL gave him the opportunity to meet a lot more people, and receive great exposure. Shultz also played in the BCHL as the league’s top defenseman, on the Westside Warriors. Kyle Beach, Luke Schenn, Colin Long, Tyler Myers, Brandon McMillan, and Brett Hextall are among the other draft picks hailing from the West Coast.

Dalpe was invited to play at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge for Canada West as well. Here he attracted a lot of attention from scouts with his ability to put the puck in the net, scoring a hat trick in the championship game helping Canada West pick up the gold medal. Justin Schultz was also a member of the gold medal team, and Brandon Burlon, having come from the St. Mike’s Buzzer’s OHL team, walked away with a 2nd place silver medal playing for Canada East.

When asked what kind of career they would hope to pursue outside of playing hockey, Dalpes, Shultzy, and Burly all agreed some form of business would be suitable. But school has never been anything more than a back up plan, it’s always been about hockey and being able to do something they love for a living.

Neither of the three will be playing in any league games next season though, as they are committed to playing under the terms of their individual colleges’ scholarship. Dalpe for Ohio State with an undeclared major, Shultz for Wisconsin also undetermined, and Burlon for Michigan studying Literature, Science and the Arts.

Competing as elite athletes, health and diet are essential for each of them. As growing 18 year olds, strength is among one of their weaker assets, and the development of muscle is especially important.

Watching what they eat, training hard, and taking every opportunity they can to be active are among some of the ways they stay fit. Shultz would recommend to “always do more than the other guy that’s competing for a spot on the same team as you,” and keeps his favorite quote in mind, “Pain is weakness leaving the body” (the United States Army Corps motto).

As far as diet is concerned, Dalpe now eats upwards of six meals a day in an effort to continue packing on pounds - a difficult task after such a large growth spurt. “Anything you put in front of me I’ll eat,” he says. He hits the gym six days a week, and has at least two days of on-ice training.

His motivation: being told he wasn’t good enough.

“Sometime’s you feel like the world’s out to get you…you have to have thick skin…surround yourself with positive people.” He’s defiantly been proving everyone wrong with his dedication and hard work. The boys’ advice is simple really…just never give up.

Their biggest idols have to be their fathers. Each of the them credits their dad as being one of the most influential people in their lives. “My dad was the one who introduced me to hockey and guided me through it all,” Burlon says. Emotions running high on draft day, Dalpe saw his dad cry for the first time since he could remember.

With family and friends by their side, they eagerly awaited their names to be called. When the time finally came to throw the jersey over their shoulders for the first time, the moment was surreal and unbelievable for each of them.

Many mock drafts had predicted Zac to go in the first round, but with a significantly larger number of trades than last year, his position of selection continued to be bumped down the line. He stayed positive with a bit of advice from his mother.

She handed him a small piece of paper on the morning of the draft that read, “Always believe,” encouraging words she used whenever he was going through a rough point. To him, it wasn’t a huge disappointment going in the second round, he was just happy to make it as far as he did, “Beggers can’t be choosers,” he says.

With his easy-going and humble nature, Zac’s greatest attribute has to be his character. At the NHL combine, he was invited to meet with 26 teams for brief interviews; and his character assessment was one of the best amongst the draftees.

His persona blew me away; a maturity level far more advanced than his counterparts, a good head on his shoulders, his priorities in check, and a down to earth personality. He is totally laid back, and maintains composure, laughing off any awkward questions. Zac is focused, driven, and committed, showing the true makings of a superstar.

The boys plan to enjoy their summers with a few rounds of golf, but their main focus will be to train and working out. Each will attend their draft team’s training camp, alongside some of the best in the league.

Nervous, yet excited to get a taste of what it’s really like in the NHL, Burlon feels that, “it’s a chance to prove myself against other draftees and promote myself for down the road.” And Dalpe just can‘t wait, “When you’re a small guy, you compete harder, you get established that way, you bring it every shift.”

Straight from theondeckcircle.net by: Tieja MacLaughlin.

Know a Footballer: Kaka

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:29:38 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Trevor Smith.

While most Canadian fans appreciate The Beautiful Game, the strong majority of them haven’t been acquainted with its central personalities. Better Know a Footballer, The ODC’s new weekly feature, hopes to rectify this by means of juxtaposing soccer’s biggest names with North American sports notables we are more familiar with.

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, better known simply as Kaka, is the best soccer player from Brazil, the best player in Serie A, and perhaps the best footballer on Earth. What is my basis for suggesting this?

The 26-year-old Brazilian attacking-mid was the recipient of both the Ballon d’Or (European Footballer of the Year) and FIFA World Player of the Year last year. As far as credentials for greatness go, those two trophies are as weighty as they come. North Americans likely are only familiar with Kaka’s play thanks to Milan’s run to last year’s Champions League title, but if they dig just a bit deeper and examine the evidence it becomes clear that we already know him by a different name: Dwyane Wade.

Unlikely Megastars: Though it may now seem difficult to fathom, Wade was not always a surefire prospect. A mere three schools recruited him as a High School Senior and, though he eventually landed at Marquette, he missed his entire freshman year because of academic failing. He entered the league as only the fifth pick overall and though he had a successful rookie season in Miami, he was greatly overshadowed by Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James.

Despite this, Wade has become one of the more accomplished young players in the NBA and is now a Finals MVP and a four-time All-Star. Kaka was seven when his family moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil. There his houseleague local youth club qualified for the finals in a local tournament, where his unexpected play won him assignment from Sao Paulo FC. Sao Paulo FC is Brazil’s third most popular team, but it does not have a history of national club dominance.

Unlike his countrymen Ronaldo or Ronaldino, Kaka was not a guaranteed star when he was brought aboard by AC Milan in 2003 for a mere $8.5 million transfer fee at age 21 (by comparison, Ronaldo drew $6 for his move from Brazil to PSV, but that was a decade earlier and he was only 17).

Early Returns with Aging Allies: Every basketball fan remembers Wade’s remarkable performance in the 2006 Playoffs, which saw him literally drag the seemingly lifeless-and-decaying corpses he called teammates to an NBA title. He became the fifth youngest player ever to be named NBA Finals MVP and recorded the third highest scoring average by a player in his first Finals, which was made all the more impressive considering his supporting cast included Shaq (34), Gary Payton (37), Alonzo Mourning (36), Antoine Walker (the oldest 29 ever), and Jason Williams (30).

After the win, the Heat seemed to age ten years in the span of one. Its veterans instantly turned into dead-weight and they were forced to rebuild. Meanwhile on the pitch, Kaka soared as he lifted Milan over Liverpool and to its seventh European Cup in club history (second most ever). During Champions League play Kaka scored 10 goals, nearly double the next closest player.

While the Rossoneri were victorious, the core of its roster was also staggeringly old (key players included Inzaghi, then 33; Nesta, then 31; Cafu, then 36; and Dida, then 33). This season their advancing years and lack of speed caught up with them as they made an early exit in Champions League and a dreadfully mediocre Serie A showing.

Selling Sensations: Dwyane is the face of T-Mobile, Converse, Gatorade, Sean Jean, Lincoln, and Topps. Though he may still trail LeBron in terms of marketing potential and overall appeal, he was named in the People 50 Most Beautiful list and had the top selling jersey in the league for two years. Kaka is no slouch salesman himself.

He is the international face of Adidas football (which, given the brand’s dominance in the world’s most played sport, is considerably substantial) as well having being a pitchman for TIM phones and having a modeling contract with Giorgio Armani (after all, he plays in Milan). For a gauge of his importance and fame internationally, consider this: he was the only footballer named in the 2008 Time 100 Most Influential list. Forget Face of the Franchise, Kaka may be the face of the game.

Faithfully Yours: Though he is getting divorced, Wade is a devout Christian (though this would seem difficult given the lure of South Beach) and chose the number three to represent his faith in the Holy Trinity. He tithes 10% of his salary to a church in Chicago and recently purchased a church outright for his mother (he also named his kids "Zaire Blessing" and "Zion" respectfully).

Not to be outdone, Kaka is a devout evangelical Christian and he removed his jersey after his Champions League triumph to show a shirt that read: “I Belong to Jesus.” He also stitched “God is Faithful” in his shoes for the 2002 World Cup final and tithes his salary to his church in Brazil. This all relates back to when he was 18 when he suffered a career-threatening spinal injury in a swimming pool accident only to recovery and attribute it to God.

Fat Friends: Flash seems to have an affinity for girth: he was Shaq’s sidekick in Miami, he has finally been allowed into Barkley’s Fav 5, and internet rumours have him shacking up with formerly-meaty Star Jones. Kaka? For both Milan and the Brazilian national team he plays with… Ronaldo. Enough said, me thinks.

So there you have it. Both men are among the highest superstars in their own sport and beyond that have become global icons. Though it is difficult to compare stats between sports, it can be said with certainty that both men are also wizards of offensive excellence (Kaka has 109 goals in 309 club appearances; Wade has a career scoring average of 23.9 a game).

If you look close enough, you see in DWade the same ingenious mix of flash, substance and creativity that Kaka brings to every match. Now… GET ME THEM SOCKS!

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Trevor Smith.

Mike Mussina on Gary Roberts Wednesday

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:16:46 -0400

When you think of legendary baseball pitchers, you probably don’t think of Mike Mussina.

You actually probably think of "The Moose" when you think of old and overpaid pitchers that could retire and nobody would blink an eye.

Yes, Mike Mussina is in the company of greats like Jon Lieber and Steve Trachsel. I bet you didn’t even know they were still in the majors.

Mussina, however, is not exactly a slouch. He’s a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate and could end up being in the top-20 all time for career wins and strikeouts in MLB, if he pitches for a couple more years. He’s only 39, which is pretty much the new 25 for baseball pitchers.

If Randy Johnson can go until he’s 44, Mikey can keep hurling until 2010, meaning he’ll probably end up with over 300 wins and over 3,000 strikeouts.

What makes Mussina even more impressive is the fact that he didn’t take steroids. Take a second and pick your jaw up off the floor. The former teammate of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte doesn’t come up in a lot of the 'roid rumors.

He’s also never become the subject of the absurd New York tabloids, unlike the immortal Alex Rodriguez and the somewhat ornery Big Unit. By all accounts, Mussina isn’t a cheater, nor is he a bad human being.

As Bubbles from HBO’s The Wire would say, he’s “doing what the f*** he need to be doing.”

Although, while staying the course and being on the straight and narrow has made him a Hall of Famer and an incredibly rich man, it hasn’t gotten Mussina any serious hardware.

He’s been to two World Series with the Yankees (surprisingly, he didn’t make it to the Fall Classic with the Orioles, whodathunkit?). He’s also been nominated for the Cy Young seven times and the MVP award twice, without winning either.

Forget winning serious hardware, Mussina can’t even get past meaningless numerical milestones. He’s never won 20 games in a season, but he’s won over 14 games 10 times. He’s never pitched a no-hitter, but he retired the first 23, 25, and 26 batters he faced in three different games.

I won’t make a call on the no-hitter front, but this year could be his year to become a 20-game winner (he’s got eleven as I’m writing this). He could even win the Cy Young, since I can’t think of anyone else having a dominant season, and he deserves a good old-fashioned lifetime-achievement award (Kobe for MVP, anyone?).

So yeah, you may not like the Yankees, which is pretty absurd to start with (have you seen Jason Giambi’s moustache?), but don’t rag on my boy Mike Mussina.

Here’s a guy who is essentially a normal human being—he’s a crossword-puzzle enthusiast, much like Adam “Pacman” Jones—who is also really awesome at throwing baseballs.

He’s got more career wins than Bob Gibson and more career strikeouts than David Cone and "Cactus" Jack Morris. Give this man the respect he deserves, and try to trade for him in your local fantasy league!

Inside the Numbers

$130 million in career earnings

5 All-Star selections

6 Gold Glove awards

261 career wins

2,726 strikeouts

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson.

A Plea for No More No. 4

theondeckcircle dotnet — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:02:51 -0400

When debating the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Brett Favre’s name would appear near the top of every list. The Atlanta Falcons’ second-round pick in 1991, Favre was the third quarterback selected after two beauties: Dan McGwire and Todd Marinovich.

After being traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1992, Favre embarked on 16-year NFL career in which he endured an addiction to painkillers, personal troubles, and some awful teams, to produce a stat sheet that is second to none:

253 Consecutive Games Started

160 Regular Season Wins (NFL Record)

442 Touchdowns (NFL Record)

61, 655 Passing Yards (NFL Record)

85.7 QB Rating

9 Pro Bowl Selections

7 All-Pro Selections

3 AP NFL MVP Trophies (NFL Record)

2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

1 Super Bowl Championship

Despite his impressive career, both Favre and the Packers endured several tumultuous seasons preceding last season’s emergence as the NFL’s most surprising team.

After each crushing hit or missed playoff season, Favre’s career would come under immense speculation as the quarterback “Sundin-ed” the Packers by taking his sweet time deciding his future.

After challenging Tom Brady as the sentimental favourite to win the MVP Award last season, Favre finally decided to call it a career and he seemed content taking his storied career and the cover of Madden 09 back to Mississippi with him.

At least we were led to believe he was content, until reports surfaced this week that No. 4 might be coming back for one more season.

Despite being an embarrassing loss for my beloved Raiders, the second-greatest football game I have ever watched was played on December 22, 2003 when Favre passed for four touchdowns (in the first half) and threw for 399 total yards as the Packers beat the Raiders 41-7, only one day after his father died of a heart attack.

Even when beating the Raiders, Brett Favre has always been one of my favorite players. Playing in probably the harshest climate (sorry Bills fans) in the NFL, Favre often looked like he was on a playground somewhere as he improvised his way into the NFL record books.

I will not deny his natural talents, but Farve was at his best when he was making throws that no other QB would even attempt, despite an NFL record 288 interceptions, because he made them work more often than not.

Even the most hardcore Vikings’ and Bears’ fans had to respect Farve, as he continually picked himself off the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, muddy and injured, but grinning because he knew, and so did everyone else, that he was going to make something special happen on the next play. For the reasons mentioned above, and many more, it pains me to write the following: Brett Farve should not come back next year.

If Brett Favre had announced that he was returning to lead the Packers (who have a legitimate shot at challenging for the NFC title this year) for one more year shortly after Green Bay was eliminated from the playoffs, I would have been enthralled because he is still a top-tier QB.

By retiring however, Favre shifted the entire focus of the franchise, as the team, coaches, and fans began the transition into the Aaron Rodgers era while attempting to maintain team chemistry.

As quickly as the rumors of Favre’s return began, however, team chemistry emerged as a problem. Rodgers was criticized for telling fans to get on board or shut up, and veteran DB Al Harris was quoted as saying he would welcome Brett back with open arms, despite the Packers being Rodgers’ team now.

If Favre truly wanted to do what was best for the franchise that fostered his greatness, he must reveal his intentions as soon as possible. Interviews with his brother (Scott) and his mother are simply creating unneeded controversy for the Packers’ organization.

If the rumors of a return are untrue, Favre needs to say this as quickly as possible, and offer his endorsement of Rodgers so the Lambeau faithful finally accept him. Each day he remains silent suggests he will return, but the uncertainty surrounding the decision will only hurt the Packers.

As evidenced by his play in replacing an injured Favre against the Cowboys last season (218 yards, 1 TD in three quarters), Rodgers can play in the NFL. Surrounded by youth and talent, I think Green Bay has created the perfect environment to introduce a new quarterback without taking a step-backwards.

With all the attention being given over the past week to Favre’s return, it is hard to believe Rodgers will enter this season full of confidence. If Favre does return, the organization should trade the young quarterback and give him a chance to start elsewhere.

Although it would hurt the Packers in the long run, I think it is the least the organization can do since Rodgers (up until his unnecessary comments about Green Bay fans this week) has remained patient as the backup QB. Rodgers has learned a lot from Favre, but eventually, the Packers need to be his team.

More upsetting than rumors of Favre’s return to the Packers, however, are reports that his agent Bus Cook has asked for his release so Favre could begin negotiating with other NFL teams.

According to Favre’s mother, Favre had contacted Green Bay about a potential return, but he “felt a vibe the team was ready to move on.”

As the face of the Packers’ franchise for over a decade, the Packers have extended Favre patience and courtesy as they have awaited his career decisions, time and time again.

If there were any “vibe” that the Packers had moved on without Favre, it was because he told the team that his playing career was over, so the team made changes to its offense this offseason that would benefit the players they were expecting to play!

If the Packers hurt Favre’s feelings, I feel for them, but Brett needs to be realistic in his expectations of the franchise. The time that Green Bay can wait (most of the offseason) for a decision has passed, if the team is serious about taking the next step,. Favre has to know this after all his time in the league.

If another team is willing to give him a chance, I don’t blame them at all (nor do I blame Brett for taking it). But I encourage Favre to think long and hard before playing in another uniform come September. Favre has come to represent everything the Green and Gold stand for, and seeing him in another jersey would have many football fans taking a Lambeau Leap off the Brett Favre Fan Wagon.

Rumors of Favre’s return have the potential to hurt both the Packers’ organization and the quarterback’s legacy, and I see little benefit for Favre in coming out of retirement. Looking through his accolades, Favre has little left to accomplish, and despite missing out on an opportunity to win a Super Bowl last season, his career will end on a high note because of the Packers’ unexpected success.

Many NFL fans will criticize me for saying this, but stay retired Brett, come back to Lambeau Field to see them raise your name and number, and enjoy retirement. Football fans will miss you Brett, but we will be okay, and so will the NFL.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Patrick Tye.

Today on 'Don't Hate The Player': J.D Drew

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:26:53 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net—by Blake Murphy

“Don’t Hate The Player…,” named after former five-time (five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time!) WCW Champion Booker T’s old catch phrase, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game!” is a segment where I shine a little light on a good player that maybe wouldn’t otherwise get that light.

Now, I know you would have all guessed, after reading that introduction, that Eric Hinske would be the inaugural feature of the almost-named Eric Hinske Thursdays. You would be wrong. Hinske, while appropriate as both a name sake and a Hall of Fame member, is not the first player I honor with DHTP.

People, feast your eyes on J.D. Drew.

Oh, yeah! One of the most hated players in baseball, you would be hard pressed to find a baseball fan out there who doesn’t dislike Drew. Whether it’s because he’s overpaid; because he’s a high-strikeout player (not really) who appears to be "unclutch"; because he opted out of a deal with the Dodgers for more cash; or simply because he’s a Red Sock, Drew is the epitome of unlikable.

Hell, even uber-Sox fan and friend B.J. O’Brien, who is borderline in love with almost every Sox player, hates Drew. Bill Simmons hates him, too. I can’t confirm this, but it’s rumored that his parents don’t like him, either.

First, he refused to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies and became the first ever two-time 1st round draft pick. Later, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa accused him of settling for being 75% of the player he could be. After being dealt to Atlanta, Drew quickly left for Los Angeles, signing a monster 5-year, $55 million deal.

After two years, Drew shocked the Dodgers by opting out after giving them nothing but signs he loved it there. He then signed with Boston, an increasingly unlikable franchise because of their rise from lovable loser to bandwagon central, for 5 years and $70M. After a mostly dismal year, Drew hit a key grand slam in the playoffs, coined "The $14 Million Grand Slam", indicating it was the only thing of value he did all season.

So looking at his resume, yes, J.D. Drew is pretty much unlikable.

He’s also having one of the best seasons in Major League Baseball, a fact that should surprise nobody.

Drew is, after all, the only two-time first round draft pick ever. He’s also the only player to ever be part of two separate back-to-back-to-back-to-back home run sets (Dodgers in 2006 and Boston in 2007). He’s also made nearly $70 million playing baseball. And, despite all reports that he doesn’t use his talent to its maximum, Drew has the 23rd best OPS among active players, 67th all time.

Yes, Drew had serious injury trouble coming into this year and was vastly overpaid. His career highs of 31 home runs, 100 RBI, and a .323 average (none in the same year) are impressive but are what is expected out of a $14 million man, not a best-case scenario. He can add in a few stolen bases and outfield assists, but he is hardly a true five-tool player.

Then David Ortiz went down and the Red Sox needed someone to fill the void. So far in 2008, through 72 games, Drew is batting .299/.409/.570 (all well above his career averages), has 16 HR and 50 RBI, 58 runs scored, and nearly as many walks (45) as strikeouts (54).

His OPS+ sits at 155, meaning he is performing 55% better than an average replacement would, and he currently ranks among the American League leaders in OBP (3rd), Slugging (3rd), OPS (3rd), Runs (2nd), Home Runs (6th), RBI (8th), Walks (8th), OPS+ (3rd), Runs Created (7th), Batting Wins (4th), Offensive Win % (3rd), and At Bats per Home Run (5th).

This is, to the regular fan as well as the sabremetric one, an extremely impressive 2008 resume.

To the "clutch" obsessed fan, he’s hitting .317 with runners in scoring position. While his stats admittedly decline in “late and close” game situations, you can argue that down by pointing out that he has improved in each month of the season, peaking with .337-12-27 in June, when the Sox needed him most in Big Papi’s absence.

Yes, J.D. Drew is overpaid. Yes, all accounts are that he isn’t a great guy and he’s not blood-and-sweat committed to baseball (though there is obviously no proof of that). Yes, his numbers decline in pressure situations. But is the baseball world really ready to write off a 29 year old who is in the top-25 among active players in career OPS, who is the 24th ranked fantasy player on Yahoo, and who by all accounts is coming into his own?

I’m not writing him off. Ask B.J…I even kinda like the guy.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net—by Blake Murphy

Josh McRoberts on Gary Roberts Wednesday

theondeckcircle dotnet — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:23:39 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson.

Duke basketball is, in a word, detestable. In more words, it’s a heinous violation of everything I like about college basketball.

Coach K brings in a bunch of McDonald’s All-Americans, but instead of setting them loose on the NCAA like my boy Roy Williams at UNC, he turns them into a defensive machine.

Had Josh McRoberts attended a high-tempo basketball power like North Carolina, Louisville, or even Memphis, he might have become one of my favorite college hoops players ever. Instead, he went to Duke. The rest is history.

I was reminded of McRoberts while watching this year’s NBA Draft. The deal sending Jerryd Bayless to Portland from the Pacers had already gone down when the electrifying Ric Bucher broke in with a special report. Someone had been added to the Bayless deal!

My mind was full of possibilities. Was David Harrison headed to the Blazers, or was Stevey Blake going to add some little-needed whiteness to Indiana? No, the great Josh McRoberts was heading to his home state of Indiana. Whoa.

How did a former potential number one overall pick become a throw-in for a team trading down on draft day?

When he was playing high school ball for Carmel High School in Indiana, McRoberts was one of the most highly regarded high school big men in the United States. Rivals.com had him as the top power forward in the class of 2005 (it wasn’t exactly a banner class though).

Overall he was ranked second in the class, above current NBA luminaries like Andrew Bynum, Monta Ellis, and Sweet Louis Williams.

McRoberts played at Duke for two years and was considered a shoo-in lottery pick for most of that time. He got a lot of publicity as a hot prospect during his freshman year, playing the role of Duke’s next generation with Greg Paulus (also of GRW fame) as J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams played out their disappointing senior seasons.

Towards the tail end of Josh’s sophomore year, his stock started pulling a Chris Taft, dropping out of the top fifteen and into second round territory. He still went pro after his second year at Duke, leaving a legacy of leading the Blue Devils to their first one and done appearance in March Madness since 1996.

Greg Paulus and some crazy guy who started a senior night back in the day by hacking Chris Paul right after the tip are my two favorite Duke players of all time. Josh McRoberts comes in a close third. The way he plays is so free-flowing and flexible that he’s almost the anti-Duke player.

Instead of giving up the ball to a point guard after a defensive rebound, McRoberts would push it up the floor and look for a coast-to-coast dunk. He dribbled behind the back in the open floor and fired behind the back passes to finish fast break two on ones.

I’m pretty sure Shane Battier wasn’t rolling like that when he was in front of the Cameron Crazies.

So sure, McRoberts went to Duke, and that’s probably reason enough to hate him and revel in his struggles in his early NBA years. But watch his YouTube highlight reel and tell me he’s not Duke’s answer to Shawn Kemp. I double dare you.

Inside the Numbers

2.5 blocks per game in his last season at Duke

28 career minutes played in the NBA

2 high school All-American awards (Parade and McDonald’s)

37th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft

1 sick YouTube mix

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson.

NHL Fireworks and Free Agents On July 1st

theondeckcircle dotnet — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:32:47 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Patrick Tye.

For many people, July 1st is a day to come together, drink cold beers and celebrate Canada’s birthday. For hockey fans however, July 1st is even more important as it is the first day that teams can sign Unrestricted Free Agents.

Although this year’s Unrestricted Free Agents are not as exciting as previous years, there are definitely players available that could make the difference for your favorite team next season. Here are a few player’s who will be watched closely next Tuesday:

Forwards:
Sean Avery
Age: 27
Position: Left Wing
2007/08 Salary: $ 1,900,000
2007/08 Team(s): New York Rangers
2007/08 Stats: G 15, A 18, P 33

What he provides: Whether you love him or you hate him, Avery will command a lot of attention on the free agent market. In a league starved for attention, Avery will bring just that to any team that signs him because his on-ice behavior and flamboyant lifestyle make him a media staple. In addition, Avery is also a solid player who hits, fights and can contribute offensively when he concentrates on hockey.

Pat’s Prediction: Since he has worked as an intern at Vogue this summer and dated a trio of A-List Hollywood Starlets, I can’t see Avery moving outside of a major city. In addition, Avery has also voiced his desire to avoid playing in a Canadian market. Using my powers of deduction, I think Avery will remain in New York but make the move to the Island. If Avery does not sign with the Islanders, look for him to play for one of the Western Conference teams based in California.

Marian Hossa
Age: 28
Position: Right Wing
2007/08 Salary: $ 7,000,000
2007/08 Team(s): Atlanta/Pittsburgh
2007/08 Stats: G 29, A 37, P 66

What he provides: Hossa’s stock definitely increased after a strong playoff run in which he was one of Pittsburgh’s best players. Although he was a -14 with Atlanta, Hossa has the ability to play a strong two-way game while remaining near the top of the NHL points race. Only two seasons removed from a 100 point season, Hossa will be amongst the most sought after players for teams needing added offence.

Pat’s Prediction: Although many teams are going to aggressively pursue Hossa, I think he will end up in Vancouver. After missing the play-offs last season and replacing General Manager Dave Nonis with Mike Gillis, Vancouver needs to find offense. Since it is unlikely the team will re-sign Markus Naslund, Hossa makes a lot of sense on the West Coast.

Jaromir Jagr
Age: 35
2007/08 Salary: $ 8,360,000
2007/08 Team(s): New York Rangers
2007/08 Stats: G 25, A 46, P 71

What he provides: Still one of the best puck control players in the NHL, Jagr can provide a team with plenty of offense but his success depends on whether or not he wants to play. Considering Jagr is only two seasons removed from a 123 point campaign, I believe he can still contribute to a team in need of scoring. What Jagr won’t contribute is defence or a complete effort most nights which means he will (or should) be looking at a serious pay cut.

Pat’s Prediction: Considering the Rangers may potentially lose Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Michal Rozsival and Sean Avery to free agency, look for them to keep Jagr. Jagr has had some great seasons in New York and the team’s style suits the way he likes to play. Look for him to sign a one or two year contract with the Blueshirts before calling it quits.

Ryan Malone
Age: 27
Position: Centre
2007/08 Salary: $ 1,450,00
2007/08 Team(s): Pittsburgh
2007/08 Stats: G 27, A 24, P 51

What he provides: Like Hossa, Malone’s profile was raised a by a strong playoff run in which he seemed to suffer a broke nose for every point he scored. A former fourth round pick, Malone is sought after for his youth, toughness and scoring. Rumored to being going to half the teams in the NHL (Boston, Columbus, Vancouver, etc.), Malone scored 51 points during the regular season and added 16 more in 20 playoff games.

Pat’s Prediction: Many teams will attempt to sign Malone, but look for Columbus to pay big dollars to get him. Although I love Malone’s style of play, I think he will emerge from free agency overpaid. Remember this: Malone scored 51 points last season, but that was playing beside the likes of Crosby and Malkin. I can’t see him scoring many more points playing with a team like Columbus. I have no doubts Malone will contribute much more than points but the expectations that are being placed upon him will lead to criticism from people looking for him to emerge as an NHL superstar.

Mats Sundin
Age: 36
Position: Centre
2007/08 Salary: $ 5,500,000
2007/08 Team(s): Toronto
2007/08 Stats: G 32, A 46, P 78

What he provides: One of the best leaders in the NHL right now, Sundin has provided the Leafs with leadership and clutch scoring since he was acquired from Quebec. A +17 on a weak Toronto team, Sundin would be the perfect fit for a team (i.e. Montreal) that is one or two players away from becoming a serious Stanley Cup contender. My only concern with Sundin is injuries, but if he goes to a more talented team where he could play fewer minutes and see less of the opponent’s top line, Sundin can excel.

Pat’s Prediction: If you had asked me this question a few weeks ago, there would have been no doubt in my mind that Sundin would be back in Toronto if he returned to the NHL. Within the last week however, Toronto GM Cliff Fletcher has given both the Canadians and the Rangers permission to speak with Sundin so it appears he will be leaving T.O. Although cap room will be tight, I see Sundin going to the Rangers. It is no secret that Rangers GM Glen Sather wants Sundin and I can’t see #13 signing with one of the Leafs’ rivals. Look for Sundin ending up in the Big Apple, playing along side Chris Drury and Scott Gomez in what could become one of the best offenses in the Eastern Conference if the Rangers can re-sign some of their talented players as well.

Defense:
Brian Campbell
Age: 28
2007/08 Salary: $ 1,750, 000
2007/08 Team(s): Buffalo/San Jose
2007/08 Stats: G 8, A 54, P 62

What he provides: Probably the most valuable free agent available, Campbell is an offensive defenseman who can also hit and has one of the sweetest spin moves in the league. Not a big player by any stretch of the imagination, Campbell is still a top-two-defenseman on nearly every team in the NHL and he can expect a big raise this of- season.

Pat’s Prediction: Despite Ottawa’s desire to have a former 67 in its line up, look for Campbell to sign with the New York Rangers. Though I keep praying that Chicago will cough up enough coin to bring Campbell to the Windy City, I think the Rangers will take advantage of Campbell’s desire to play in the Eastern Conference to bring him back to New York State.

Brooks Orpik
Age: 27
2007/08 Salary: $ 1,075,000
2007/08 Team(s): Pittsburgh
2007/08 Stats: G 1, A 10, P 11

What he will provide: By laying out two or three Red Wings during one shift of the Stanley Cup Final, Orpik presented himself to teams around that NHL looking for a solid, defensive defenseman. Despite his career -29 mark (which is more a reflection of playing on terrible Penguins teams), Orpik is a solid shut down defenseman who can chip in with a goal or assist every once in a while.

Pat’s Prediction: Since Malone is going, I think Pittsburgh will re-sign Orpik but the team will be in financial trouble for a long time considering they need to re-sign Malkin, Stall and Fleury to new deals over the next couple years. If Pittsburgh can not afford Orpik, look for the San Francisco native to head west and sign with a team like San Jose.

Wade Redden
Age: 31
2007/08 Salary: $ 6,500, 000
2007/08 Team(s): Ottawa
2007/08 Stats: G 6, A 32, P 38

What he will provide: Despite being much maligned by Ottawa’s media, Redden is still a top-four defenseman who can contribute offensively and was a +11 last season. Even though he seems much older because he has been on the Senator’s blue line for over a decade, Redden is only 31 which means he still has lots of time to make positive contributions to the team who signs him.

Pat’s Prediction: After missing out on the Brian Campbell sweepstakes, look for Chicago to sign Redden to provide their defense with a veteran prescience. A life long Blackhawks fan (and long time critic of Redden), even I have to admit I like the looks of a defense that includes Redden, Cam Barker, Dustin Byfuglien (the best player no one heard about last year), Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Brent Sopel.

Goalies:
Ray Emery
Age: 26
2007/08 Salary: $ 2,750,000
2007/08 Team(s): Ottawa
2007/08 Stats: W 12 L 13 GAA 3.13

What he will provide: In addition to providing the Senators with plenty of distractions, Emery also provided the team with solid goaltending as a starter in previous seasons. Athletic and determined when he focuses on hockey and not sleeping with girls at Beach Slam, Emery has proven himself in both the regular season and the playoffs. Despite his past performances however, many people still question his desire to be one of the top goalies in the NHL.

Pat’s Prediction: Though he may be forced to begin next season as a back up, there are enough NHL teams in need of a goalie that Emery will be signed in the up-coming months. Look for Emery to end up in of two places: Washington or Los Angeles. Both teams have traded or waived goalies in recent months and could use a goalie like Emery until their younger talent is ready to start full time. Chicago has also been mentioned quite a bit in the media since a supposed trade that would send Emery to the Blackhawks for Patrick Lalime fell through at the trade deadline.

Cristobal Huet
Age: 33
2007/08 Salary: $ 2,750,000
2007/08 Team(s): Montreal/Washington
2007/08 Stats: W 32 L 14 GAA 2.50

What he will provide: Even with the emergence of Carey Price, Huet’s trade to Washington was one of the most surprising deals made at the trade deadline. Rarely mentioned amongst the leagues top goaltenders, Huet has solid statistics but has yet to make a significant impact in the playoffs. Throughout his four seasons in Montreal, Huet provided the team with solid goaltending that allowed the team to make the playoffs even though a lot of their young talent did not emerge until this past season.

Pat’s Prediction: If Ottawa does not sign Patrick Lalime to serve as their back-up, look for the Senators to sign Huet and allow him to battle Martin Gerber for the starting position. A Gerber/Huet combo would be more effective than the Gerber/Emery duo was and Huet’s veteran prescience may be enough to allow Ottawa to regain its place near the top of the Eastern Conference. If Huet does not sign with Ottawa, look for him to sign with either Los Angeles or re-sign with Washington.

Jose Theodore
Age: 30
2007/2008 Salary: $ 6,000,000
2007/08 Team: Colorado
2007/08 Stats: W 28 L 21 GAA 2.44

What he will provide: Regaining some of the form that allowed him to win the NHL MVP award in 2002, Theodore played well for Colorado this year and led them to a first round upset of Minnesota. Theodore definitely has the talent to be a number one goalie in the NHL and with his off the ice distractions behind him, look for Theodore to continue to be a solid goaltender for at least a few more seasons.

Pat’s Prediction: Since there are only a few NHL teams in desperate need of a starting goaltender, look for Theodore to resign with the Avalanche. If Theodore decides to test free agency, look for him to sign with Washington or Los Angeles (which ever team fails to sign Huet or Emery), the two teams with the biggest need for a starting goalie.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Patrick Tye.

Richard Jefferson Traded to Milwaukee Bucks

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:11:25 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net—by Blake Murphy

Richard Jefferson has reportedly been dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks. All I can really say is: wow. The deal will send Yi Jianlin and Bobby Simmons to the New Jersey Nets.

While I’m surprised there are no picks going New Jersey's way, the deal creates $10 million in long-term savings and gives them even greater cap flexibility over the next two summers as they prepare for the LeBron James sweepstakes.

The Bucks get Jefferson, a top-25 player in the league. He is a multi-dimensional offensive tool with high character and a reasonable maximum contract. That makes him exactly the type of player the Bucks were looking for as they seek to establish an inside-outside identity around Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut.

Jefferson should fit in nicely in Milwaukee and could even be a nice mentor for the very similar Charlie Villanueva.

New Jersey gets Bobby Simmons’ ridiculous contract, which has two years at over $20 million remaining on it. Still, that’s a valuable contract or trading piece heading into LeBron Summer, and Simmons is still good enough that his roster spot is not a total write off.

There’s a chance he could be parlayed later in the year for a shorter or more affordable contract. Simmons was a good player on the cusp of being a star in 2004-05 and 2005-06, but injury troubles have set him astray since then. He’s still just 28 and is a dangerous scoring threat—obviously, he’ll be the key to how this deal is looked upon at season’s end.

The Nets also pick up Yi Jianlin, last year’s sixth overall pick. The Bucks drafted him despite his protests and now look the fool, trading him after just one season.

The Chairman wasn’t as bad as I thought he would be. He posted a rookie line of 8.6-5.2-0.8 with 0.55 steals and 0.88 blocks, but he showed a great deal of immaturity and a lack of polish throughout the season.

He is a player that could develop into a great third-option down the line, and if that’s the case he would be an attractive piece alongside LeBron or any other major free agent in 2010.

Yi is also very affordable through 2012 on his rookie deal, making the finances of the trade work but saving New Jersey money in the long-term.

This is a deal that I like for both sides. Once again, while the Nets get remarkably worse on the floor, it sends a clear signal that they’re ready to start rebuilding around Devin Harris. It also shows that they are indeed preparing for a spending spree in two summers’ time.

For the Bucks, they get significantly better and now look like a playoff team in the East.

The teams probably aren’t done adjusting their rosters, as Milwaukee owns the eighth overall pick and New Jersey owns the 10th and 21st. Just a note that because this trade is not 100 percent confirmed yet, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the teams also swap the eighth for the 10th.

For more up to the second news check out Blake's Live Blog today of the draft and up to the second news at The On Deck Circle.net

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net—by Blake Murphy

Raptors Allegedly Acquire Jermaine O’Neal for T.J. Ford and More

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:48:13 -0400

Apparently, the Toronto Raptors have agreed to a trade that would bring Jermaine O’Neal to the Raps along with Indiana’s second round pick (41st overall) for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and the No. 17 overall pick in the draft.

Originally, I had planned to do an article highlighting possible Raptor draft choices at No. 17. Then when I heard this news, I planned to break the trade down in great detail. But now, there are reports that the deal isn’t finalized, as Bryan Colangelo has said they’re in the middle of “four or five” deals.

Additionally, because Ford is a base year compensation player (different cap rules for trading), the deal can’t go through until the new salary cap season starts July 1. There is also an embargo on trades from July 1 to July 9, so the deal can’t go through until July 9.

What that means is that there are a lot of question marks still surrounding this trade. With that in mind, I’ve broken down the trade as if it was official.

The Actual Trade
On paper, the trade makes a lot of sense for both teams. It is essentially a swap of risks that both needed fresh starts. Indiana has wanted a young point guard for some time to replace Jamal Tinsley, and the Raptors needed to deal Ford to allow Jose Calderon to man the point full time.

The Raptors sorely needed inside scoring and rebounding, and the Pacers have been trying to get any modicum of value in a trade for O’Neal for years now. This is one of those intelligent trades for both sides, the rare deal that could make both teams better in the long run.

The Concerns
Jermaine O’Neal is Vince Carter Lite, to some people. Over the past four seasons, he’s played just 206 games and his production in 42 games last season was far below what you’d expect from him.

O’Neal has followed a strange career path, taking a long time to develop, turning into a full-fledged All Star and Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and then declining much earlier than most would expect.

Still, it was just two years ago that Jermaine was a 20-10 threat every night, and his shot blocking average has stayed above 2.0 for the past eight seasons. You could point out that O’Neal isn’t an efficient scorer inside or that he has had well publicized character problems the past few years in Indy, but you’d be ignoring his situation and the one he’s moving to.

The Basketball Aspect
O’Neal and Chris Bosh are perfect complements for each other offensively. Seriously, you couldn’t find a better match. While Bosh has an inside-outside game and a great jump shot, relying on finesse and quickness, J-O is more of a banger and a low-post scorer. Additionally, O’Neal can spread the floor to some degree, and is a fairly effective passer from inside.

O’Neal has averaged over 2.0 offensive rebounds a night for his career, development years included, adding a skill that is of the utmost importance on a team with loads of three-point shooting ability.

O’Neal should fit in right away as a more agile center that can bang the offensive glass, spread the floor from inside, and help take the pressure off of Chris Bosh.

Defensively, the fit is also fantastic. O’Neal is a former Defensive Player of the Year candidate and averaged 2.5 blocks per game from 2000 to 2007.

O’Neal is also the physical presence the Raptors needed, allowing Bosh to guard the less effective big man and help in the paint, something he wasn’t able to do with the group the Raps trotted out at center last season. J-O is also a Sam Mitchell player, I think, as his toughness is sorely needed.

The only questions that remain are motivation and health related, but from a purely basketball standpoint the fit is great.

The Price Tag
O’Neal has two years left at $44M, which some would find to be ludicrous, but the guy is a former All Star and a potential difference maker. While I’ll concede it is far more money than O’Neal has earned the past two seasons, the price tag also makes him an even more attractive player.

In the 2009-10 season, O’Neal could either be a massive trading chip or $23M worth of expiring contract in a big free agent year.

I’d rather pay O’Neal $21M this year than Rasho $10M and Ford $8M to be disgruntled, that’s for sure.

The Draft Picks
It’s always tough to give up draft picks, especially ones just outside of the lottery, but in this case I’d say it’s worth it. All evidence was that the Raptors were leaning towards a physical big man anyways, and they got O’Neal.

Still, if they didn’t give up the pick in this deal, they could have secured a contributing wing player like Chris Douglas-Roberts or Courtney Lee, so add whatever player taken at No. 17 into the deal.

It should be noted at this point that the Raptors will draft the pick and then trade it on July 9, so whoever is selected is Larry Bird’s pick but a Raptor for two weeks.

Initially, reports were that the Raptors hadn’t received a second round pick back. I really like that toss-in, as there could still be some value at No. 41. Primarily, there are three European centers projected to go around there in Nikola Perovic, Ante Tomic, and Omer Asik. While they won’t contribute for some time and may not even come over, they are Raptor-type players, for sure.

Unfortunately Stu, most mock drafts I’ve looked at have Joey Dorsey going no later than No. 40 to New Jersey, and the need for him really isn’t there with the O’Neal acquisition.

Options that could be available include Bill Walker (he’s slipping, somehow, and getting him here would be a massive addition), Indiana’s D.J. White (a backup PF with good rebounding), IUPUI’s George Hill, and Cal’s DeVon Hardin.

There isn’t much except for big men at this point in the draft, so if Walker isn’t there and Dorsey is, I think he’d be the pick. Anyone I mentioned outside of Walker wouldn’t be a huge addition but would definitely see minutes off the bench.

Oh, and with the recent health concerns, Nicolas Batum (the guy many thought the Raps would take at No. 17) has been free-falling down draft boards, providing a potential Roko Ukic situation (almost taken at 16 but the Raps grabbed him at 46 instead).

Bargnani?
So what of the number one pick from 2006? Does this signal that he’s no longer the future of the franchise? Or is it buying him an extra two years to develop? Or does it mean they’re giving up on him as a canter and they’ll try and recreate him as a more natural small forward?

A frontline of Bargnani-Bosh-O’Neal would be imposing and explosive, to say the least, but it may be the case that Bargnani is back to the bench. While I’m not his biggest supporter, if this move was done to signal a white flag on Andrea, I’m not sure I approve just yet. I like him at the three, though—just shoot!

Other Possible Trades
Apparently, Ford and No. 17 for Diaw was readily on the table, but I absolutely hate that trade for the Raptors, even though I kind of like Diaw. It’s way too much for an overpaid role player, and I would have rather just had the No. 17 pick at a discounted price. Colangelo said other deals are still in play, too, and I’ve heard rumors about deals with the Knicks and Clippers.

I think O’Neal is probably the best value the Raptors are going to get for Ford, and at this point I’ve sold myself on O’Neal enough that any other trade would have to blow me away for approval.

The Verdict
If O’Neal plays 70 games and is healthy for the playoffs, this deal is a home run for the Raptors. They were moving Ford regardless, and I didn’t think they could land a top-flight player in return, unless maybe it was Corey Maggette. O’Neal fits well with the Raptors style and fills holes that the Raps desperately needed to fill on the inside.

The salary is tough to swallow, but that means he’ll also be a valuable chip the following season, when he’s a huge expiring contract or a cap space creator.

O’Neal and Bosh should form the most feared big-man duo in the Eastern Conference, and the way their games complement each other and the Raptors’ system should make this trade a glowing success, health permitting.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net - by Blake Murphy

Better Know a Footballer: Cristiano Ronaldo

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:26:03 -0400

Sports fans with international perspective know Europeans take ample shine to their version of football. The beautiful game is a religion and its players, saints. Thus calico stars receive extraordinary attention from the sporting media.

For our part, Canada’s fascination with major international soccer competitions suggests the majority of sports fans are pitch-literate in so much as they understand the game (or perhaps just like putting flags on their cars).

While the stereotypical fan appreciates the game, a strong majority has not been acquainted with its central personalities. Better Know a Footballer hopes to rectify this, by means of juxtaposing soccer’s biggest names with North American sports notables we are more familiar with.

Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as the best footballer in the world and is one of the most talented of his generation. No less an authority than Johan Cruyff (three time European Footballer of the Year) has said Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, two of the greatest players in Manchester United history. Yet the young winger is generally loathed.

Fans in North America that are unfamiliar with Ronaldo should still have a grasp on the Portuguese star’s narrative because it is nearly indistinguishable from that of the Yankee we all love to hate: Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez. A-Rod is the best player in his sport and the odds-on player of his generation.

His individual talents are without question… so is the public’s general repugnance toward him. Analysis of the pair of megastars shows their similitude shining clearly; Canadian sports fans hate Ronaldo the same as Rodriquez, they just don’t know it yet.

Gaudy Stats: Rodriquez has more HR, RBI, runs scored and base hits than the respective all-time leaders in each category did at his age. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs. He is projected to be the all-time leader in homers, runs scored, RBI, and total bases (as well being in the top five in hits and walks).

To call his statistics prodigious is detracting: he will almost surely retire with the best statistical career resume of all-time.

Ronaldo has, himself, put up marvelous numbers. The pride of Funchal, Portugal scored 42 goals in 48 games (including 31 in 34 appearances in league play) last season with Manchester United and was the top scorer in Europe by eight goals.

His performance left him only three shy of the Premier League record for a season, and he did so in eight fewer games.

His 92 goals in 238 career games at Man U place him far behind Bobby Charlton career-record 249, but that mark was set in 758 games.

Hated Teams: As a Yankee, A-Rod is part of the most storied and valuable franchise in North America, a team that is also the most hated team in American sports. The Bronx Bombers’ 26 World Series banners make them the antagonist of every small-market team and their superfluous payroll earns them their "Evil Empire" epithet.

Ronaldo calls Old Trafford home (for now at least) and is therefore part of a house that is even more despised than the Yankees. Manchester United is said to have over 330 million supporters worldwide… and about 6 billion others that hate them.

The club is the most successful in the modern Premiership era, having won 20 major honors since 1986, and have taken the country’s top division 17 times, one short of Liverpool’s record.

Man U is also the world’s most valuable sports franchise, worth over $1.8 billion (by comparison, the Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team at $413 million).

Contract Controversy: Rodriquez famously abandoned Seattle for Texas, only to force the Rangers to trade him exclusively to New York or Boston. But the most damning wrangle for A-Rod was his opt-out last year, when he did not meet with Yankee management beforehand and then made his intentions known during the final game of the World Series.

The subsequent beating he took from the media and public made him ultimately bypass his agent and agree to a 10-year deal with the Yankees himself. Not to be outdone, last week Ronaldo declared his desire to move to Real Madrid, this after Manchester United filed an official complaint with FIFA over Real Madrid’s interest.

It has been suggested that Madrid would be willing to pay up to 100 million euros (!) for the winger, though the transfer is in doubt after the Glazer family stated that it would not sell Ronaldo for any price and would rather sit him all season.

Unclutch: Rodriguez has long been criticized as being "unclutch" (though in 2007 he hit .444 with the bases loaded). Much of this is associated with his inability to lead New York to another championship and his hitting a measly .200 in both the 2005 and 2006 postseasons.

While Ronaldo’s big game failings are not nearly as famous, there still exists the impression that he falters on the game’s biggest stages. One need only reference his missed penalty in the Champions League final, his scoring a mere one goal in four games at Euro 2008, or the controversy that surrounded him after the 2006 World Cup for evidence of his shrinking in the moment.

Disconnect from Common Man: Both men are magnets for criticism in part at least because of the perception of the common fan that they were born with a "silver spoon" and the world at their feet.

There is clearly an envious and resentful feeling amongst fans towards both stars that relates more towards their considerable advantages (good looks, wealth, and fame) than their play on the field. A-Rod has acknowledged as much in saying, “People write [bad things] about me, I don’t know if it’s because I’m good-looking, I’m biracial, I make the most money, I play on the most popular team.”

Perhaps because he is the anti-Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo’s pomp and prettiness has not won over English fans, who hold him as, well, a douche-bag.

Significant Other Issues: I am not even going to touch this one except to point those unaware in the direction of the media storms caused by Mrs. Rodriquez and Miss Nereida Gallardo’s, um, tasteful, pictorials (search for yourself, NSFW).

In conclusion, one sees plainly that the world’s greatest football and hitter have much in common, and with this knowledge you can feel even more justified in objecting to Ronaldo on the grounds that he is A-Rod-Euro Edition.

So tune into a Manchester (or Real) game next fall and take comfort in knowing that their overpaid, obnoxious star is not so different from New York’s.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Trevor Smith.

NBA Draft: Point, Counter-Point

theondeckcircle dotnet — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:52:28 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson and Alex Pennycook.

Y’all know the drill by now, so let’s just get right into it.

Who Is the Biggest Sleeper in the Draft?

Alex: Chris Douglas-Roberts—sleepers are hard to predict at this stage because so much of a player's success depends on the situation they land in, but I’ll go with a guy that I can’t understand why isn’t projected to go higher in the draft, and that is CDR.

A first team All-American, CDR is a little undersized for an NBA two-guard. However, he is a proven scorer that has a ton of big game experience. Right now a lot of experts have him going to New Orleans, which I believe is a perfect fit. The Hornets already have two sharpshooters in Peja and MoPete, and a slashing wing is exactly what they need off the bench.

Stu: If MoPete’s a sharpshooter, then Carlos Delfino is this generation’s Larry Bird. The biggest sleeper in this draft? That’s definitely my favorite question to answer—I’ve got a list of sleepers a mile long. Joey Dorsey, George Hill, Shawn James, Ronald Ramon—they’re all there.

The biggest sleeper of them all, however, is my main man Roy Hibbert. He’s an absolutely mammoth big guy that can change the game defensively, score the ball down low when he’s asked to, and has a little bit of a mid-range jumper to boot.

A year ago he was considered a lottery pick, and now he’s a late first rounder behind JaVale McGee, DeAndre Jordan, and some French guy who averages five points per game? After a very stellar season in college? Am I missing something here?

Rose or Beasley?

Alex: Derrick Rose—if I was building a team for the future, the one player I would want from this draft would be Rose. At 6'3", 200 pounds, he has great size for an NBA point guard, but his best quality is his blazing speed.

Watching him throughout March Madness, I couldn’t believe how quickly he got down the floor. He is as good a scorer as he is a distributor, and he definitely will be a franchise player in the NBA.

Stu: Derrick Rose is an absolute freak and should be number one on every NBA team’s draft board. If you watched the NCAA Tournament (and you did), you know that he possesses ridiculous strength, quickness, and leaping ability. He was coached by Johnny Calipari at Memphis, so you know his head is probably screwed on pretty well at this point.

Plus I just saw Billy King say that the Bulls should take Beasley at number one. Case closed.

Who Will Be the Biggest Bust of the Draft?

Alex: Joe Alexander—a white small forward that isn’t a shooting specialist? Alexander played more of a back-to-the-basket game in college at West Virginia but is too small right now to play in the post in the NBA.

I can’t help but think that he is going to be the next Adam Morrison. While Alexander is definitely more athletic, he won’t be anywhere close to a lockdown defender and isn’t the scorer that Morrison is.

Stu: First of all, I’m watching a draft special on RaptorsTV as I’m writing this. They’re showing a piece on Adam Morrison right now. His quote? “I feel like I’m the best offensive player in this draft.” Don’t call it a comeback when Ammo’s dropping twelve a game next year.

But back to the issue at hand. I think the biggest bust of this draft will be Kevin Love, even though the surprisingly draft-savvy Bill Simmons is harboring a Glen Davis-sized man crush for him. I’d love to see Kevin somehow become an All-Star, but I tend to think he’ll be riding pine more often than not.

The only reason why he wasn’t a liability on the defensive end at UCLA was his boiler that makes Randy Leahy blush. Let’s just say that in the NBA that boiler will be getting called for a lot of hacks.

Whose Stock Will Drop Like a Rock?

Alex: Brook Lopez—first of all, Stanford players do not make good NBA players, especially those that play in the post. Brook Lopez has all the physical tools to be a solid player, but teams are worried about his upside potential, and this will cause him to fall.

That said, I still think that he’ll be a better pro than Kevin Love, and I probably am still just bitter at him for nailing that buzzer beater to knock out Marquette in the NCAA tourney.

Stu: I pray that the answer to this is K-Love, but I think it’ll be Eric Gordon, which I think is completely bizarre. First, here’s why Eric will drop: injury concerns, poor shooting at Indiana (33 percent from MoPete Land), and a lack of team success in his only year in college.

With a lot of guards available in the draft (O.J. Mayo, Mario Chalmers, Jerryd Bayless, Russell Westbrook), Gordon could be cast aside in favor of these big names and drop to the later portion of the lottery.

Now here’s why he shouldn’t drop: He’s a sick athlete, he can shoot, and he didn’t actually suck at Indiana like people would have you believe. Chad Ford said in his mock draft with Billy Simmons, “I’m scared of this kid. He collapsed in the second half of the season.” He averaged 20 a game at Indiana! How can you do that and collapse in the second half of the season?

Who Is Anthony Randolph?

Alex: So apparently Mr. Randolph is a 6'10", 200 pound, 18-year-old freshman from LSU that is some kind of a freak of an athlete. If you are looking for an NBA comparison, envision the exact opposite of Zach Randolph.

Obviously he is a very raw prospect, and it will probably take a couple of years for him to make any kind of contribution to an NBA team. On the other hand, his ceiling is as high as any player not named Rose or Beasley.

What does this all mean? He probably will be taken late in the lottery by a team that can wait for him to develop.

Stu: Anyone who’s the polar opposite of Zach Randolph doesn’t deserve to be close to the league, but he’ll probably make it anyway. I’d love to see the Nets take him just so they could bring a project on board to help them make the lottery for the next couple years, bringing more talent on board for the coming of King James.

How any team looking to make the playoffs in the next couple years could take Anthony Randolph boggles my mind, especially when guys like Chris Douglas-Roberts and Brandon Rush will be available when he’s taken.

Who Should the Toronto Basketball Raptors Take?

Alex: Frankly it does not seem like the Raptors will even have the 17th selection, as rumors continue to swirl about packaging the pick along with T.J. Ford to acquire an established veteran scorer. The biggest need they have right now is a rebounding big man that can score in the post to complement Bosh and Andrea.

If they do keep the pick, they would likely be looking at Robin Lopez, DeAndre Jordan or Kosta Koufos. Of those players, I think that Jordan would be the best fit for the Raptors and would give them a very solid front line for years to come.

Stu: Here’s my incredibly simple, easy to execute plan for Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors. Step one? Pray that Eric Gordon free falls into the teens, allowing you to trade up to snag him without losing too much (too much meaning valuable assets like T.J. Ford and Rasho Nesterovic).

Step two? Make sure you get Joey Dorsey in the second round. Sell the farm for Joey Dorsey. I want Joey Dorsey on the team next year.

If that strategy somehow doesn’t pan out, I’d love to see the Raps bring two NCAA Championship Game alumni into the fold: Brandon Rush in the first round, and then Dorsey by any means necessary in the second.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Stu Wilkinson and Alex Pennycook.

NBA Draft Week: Centers

theondeckcircle dotnet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:15:29 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net by Blake Murphy

This is part five in a seven part NBA Draft Preview Series over at The On Deck Circle.. The series will take a look at the draft, position by position, attempting to amalgamate information from ESPN and Draft Express and condense it into digestible profiles for the top players of the Class of 2008.

Monday, I started with Point Guards, yesterday feature Shooting Guards and Small Forwards, today will examine Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday will look at potential Toronto Raptor draft picks.

The week-long coverage will commence with a live-blog of Draft Night, starting in the afternoon with news updates. Up next, the Centers.

Brook Lopez, Stanford
Measurements: 7’0”, 260lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 1
ESPN Rank: 1
Projection: 3-10
Synopsis: Nobody really seems sure where Brook will go, both because there are other intriguing prospects available and because he, too, is a pretty big question mark.

While his offensive game is as polished as any big man in the draft, Brook’s athleticism and unorthodox style of play are concerns. He also likes to shoot, even bad shots, and is an average rebounder at best, so team’s will be looking at Eddy Curry numbers (though I’m not at all comparing the two).

Lopez is big, though, and excels running the floor and basically all over the offensive end. He’s going to be a good player, but whether or not he’ll be great is the question stumping GMs.

Interesting Fact: Was ineligible for the first half of this past season because he struggled academically—a scholastic problem only, I think, as he has a high basketball IQ.

Kosta Koufos, Ohio State
Measurements: 7’1”, 245lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 2
ESPN Rank: 2
Projection: 12-20
Synopsis: The Mehmet Okur comparisons really are fitting, as Koufos is a sub-par athlete with questionable shot selection who also happens to have a great frame and great scoring instincts.

He’s also fairly mobile, has three-point range, and can be an average defender immediately. With his high upside at both ends, scouts can ignore his lack of quickness and intensity, as well as some off-court maturity concerns.

Koufos probably won’t be a franchise player, but he could be a sleeper if he falls from the lottery.

Interesting Fact: He was born in Ohio but has dual citizenship (Greece) and plays for the Greek national team.

DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M
Measurements: 7’0”, 260lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 3
ESPN Rank: 5
Projection: 12-30
Synopsis: One of the largest mock draft gaps I’ve seen, Jordan fits best on a young team with time to wait, meaning if he isn't taken in the lottery he could continue to slide. Jordan is an impressive prospect, the likes of which we've seen before—poor strength, fundamentals, defense, and maturity.

There is obviously a great deal of potential for Jordan to be a bust, and he really should have returned for at least one more year of school. Teams will look at his body and salivate anyways, as he adds insane athleticism and wingspan to a package that includes NBA-ready finishing and rebounding.

Big gamble here, as fringe playoff teams and competitors will likely want to stay away from one of the biggest project players in the draft.

Interesting Fact: Jordan once scored 37 points in a high school game…and set the school record with 20 blocks.

Marreese Speights, Florida
Measurements: 6’10”, 245lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 4
ESPN Rank: 3
Projection: 18-25
Synopsis: Another impressive body with great athleticism, Speights raises the same concerns most college big men who leave early do—basketball IQ, work ethic, conditioning, and the need for time to develop. Makes you wonder why they don't just stay in school longer, but I digress.

The scouting report is that he can score facing the basket and with his back to it, he has fantastic finishing ability around the rim, and should be a great offensive rebounder immediately.

His decision-making and maturity will hold him back, placing him in a similar draft situation to DeAndre Jordan, though Speights could contribute more initially.

Interesting Fact: Attended Hargrave Military Academy in high school, the same school Larry Brown, Torry Holt, David West, Josh Howard, and Joey Alexander went to.

Alexis Ajinca, France
Measurements: 7’1’, 225lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 5
ESPN Rank: 5 (as a Power Forward)
Projection: 10-15
Synopsis: Although you probably haven't heard much about him yet, Ajinca has sky-rocketed into the lottery over the past few weeks, as he showed great shot blocking potential and measured in with a 7’9”wingspan at the Nike Hoops Summit.

He is very athletic, unselfish, and almost has three-point range already, giving him huge upside in combination with his shot blocking. Not to be a broken record with the big men, but he’s a little skinny, an average rebounder, and will need time to develop and improve his basketball IQ.

He’s worth a risk in the lottery, for sure, and a team that is building for now and the future (Philadelphia, for one) could provide a suitable home.

Interesting Fact: Here’s

Robin Lopez, Stanford
Measurements: 7’0”, 255lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 11
ESPN Rank: 4
Projection: 15-20
Synopsis: I’ve heard that if the Raptors keep their pick, Robin is a lock at No. 17, but Alexis Ajinca and Donte Greene roam in the back of my mind still. Robin would be my first choice for the Raptors, even though some media outlets have trouble understanding why a seven-footer who isn’t a great rebounder or athlete is expected to be a big contributor.

Fair enough, but he could step onto an NBA team and be an instant defensive contributor, plus he is an agile big man with strong passing skills, making him a good fit in a faster offense. He’s physically tough and will block shots immediately, providing a toughness and defensive presence several fringe playoff teams could use.

Interesting Fact: Best. Hair. Ever.

JaVale McGee, Nevada
Measurements: 7’0”, 237lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 6
ESPN Rank: 7
Projection: 18-25
Synopsis: Apparently, McGee underwent some rigorous training in preparation for the draft, leaving college for six weeks to prepare at a private location. Whether or not it paid off is unclear, as I saw him in the lottery on some mocks during the season.

The main problems with McGee are ones that are going to take a long time to fix, if they can be fixed—he has a low basketball IQ, is an awful defender, has poor fundamentals, lacks mental and physical toughness, and lacks strength to a Durant-like degree.

Still, I’d be swayed by the reports on his private workout regimen, since it shows the kid clearly wants to be an NBA player. He has great size (and he’s shredded) working for him, is a great athlete, and already has NBA three-point range, giving him a few good pieces to build on.

He’s a serious risk in the lottery, but a team with the flexibility to stash him in the D-League for a year or two could do worse.

Interesting Fact: Is represented by NFL-agent Roosevelt Barnes, a former linebacker for the Detroit Lions and point guard for the Purdue Boilermakers (on their Final Four team in the 1980s).

Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
Measurements: 7’2”, 272lbs., Age 21
Draft Express Rank: 7
ESPN Rank: 6
Projection: 15-25
Synopsis: To the casual fan, it’s a shock to hear Hibbert won’t even go in the lottery. He’s been hyped for some time now playing on Georgetown, and I remember a time when he could have been a number one pick in some people’s minds.

Now, he’ll be lucky to sneak into the lottery, after failing to significantly improve over his last three years of school. With his size, frame, and work ethic, Hibbert could still blossom into a starting NBA center. After all, he has good shot blocking and defensive instincts, a good touch around the basket, and is an excellent passer for someone his size.

He isn’t the athlete you’d want, and he has durability concerns, but in a league devoid of true centers he should have no trouble finding playing time.

Interesting Fact: Before letting him play basketball, his parents tried to get him to play tennis, golf, and the piano.

The International Centers
I grouped these three together because they all have the same story—high-potential big that is somewhat raw, and because there is no precedent for them to be successful, really, teams will wait on them with fingers crossed.

Ante Tomic is a 7’2”, 220lbs., 21-year-old Croatian with the highest upside of the three. He can score and handle the ball with the best of them but is far too thin and raw defensively. He is currently projected to go in the 30-40 range.

Nikola Pekovic is a 6’11”, 243lbs., 22-year-old Serbian who is the most proven of the group. Pekovic has performed as the top center in the Euro League and is the most NBA-ready, with scouts thinking he has little downside.

His hands, IQ, and questions about whether he’d come to the NBA are holding back his draft stock, but his toughness, rebounding, and efficient offensive game have me thinking he should be pegged higher than the 30-45 range he’s currently projected to go in.

Omer Asik is a 6’11”, 230lbs., 21-year-old Turkish player who scouts say is the most attractive of these three, but there are huge concerns if you could get him to jump to the NBA, as he just signed a five-year deal in Turkey with no buy-out clause. Still, he is an American-style center with more grit than Euro-flash, and teams will probably take a chance in the 35-45 range.

There are even more big men to be had later in the second round. This year’s draft is deep for bigs, and like the power forward crop, most are either players with high upside or no guarantee or low-downside players with low ceilings.

Among them, you may recognize Rider’s Jason Thompson, California’s DeVon Hardin, Kansas’ Sasha Kaun, and Australia's Shaq, Nathan Jawai, who was originally thought to be a potential lottery pick. On the bright side of all this depth—the D-League draft will be a hot night, and Europe should have a decent incoming class.

Check out Monday’s piece on Point Guards, yesterday’s pieces on Shooting Guards and Small Forwards, today’s piece on Power Forwards, and check back Thursday for Potential Raptor Picks and a Live-Blog of the Draft.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net - by Blake Murphy

NBA Draft Week - Power Forwards

theondeckcircle dotnet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:00:46 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net - by Blake Murphy

This is Part 4 in a 7-part NBA Draft Preview Series over at The On Deck Circle.. The series will take a look at the draft, position by position, attempting to amalgamate information from ESPN and Draft Express and condense it into digestible profiles for the top players of the Class of 2008.

Monday, I started with Point Guards, yesterday feature Shooting Guards and Small Forwards, today will examine Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday will look at potential Toronto Raptor draft picks.

The week-long coverage will commence with a live-blog of Draft Night, starting in the afternoon with news updates. Up next, the Power Forwards.

Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Measurements: 6’9”, 235lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 1
ESPN Rank: 1
Projection: Top 2 (possibly 3rd)
Synopsis: Beasley is the man. A consensus top-3 pick, Beasley is harmed only by a top-heavy draft class and some minor character concerns (meaning people like Pat Riley don’t like that he’s a normal 19 year old).

He has enormous upside and should be an instant contributor, as his scoring and rebounding abilities are on par with the tools Kevin Durant entered this season with. Beasley is stronger and will likely be allowed to play his normal position, meaning he could have an even bigger impact in his first year.

Again, his focus and mentality are in question, especially when it comes to the defensive end, but the fact that he’s already a go-to guy on offense makes him a safe pick anywhere but #1.

Interesting Fact: Took part in a “you’re better, no you’re better” with Derrick Rose via Draft Express interviews. Also, he’d probably be the most fun player to hang out with from this draft class.

Kevin Love , UCLA
Measurements: 6’9”, 255lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 2
ESPN Rank: 2
Projection: 3-9
Synopsis: I really like Love’s game, but scouts have questioned all year whether or not it will translate to NBA success. It’s difficult to tell because there have been very few players like him in the past. It’s not often that an overweight big man with speed and defense concerns is talked about as a lottery pick, which should speak volumes about how good he could be offensively.

He is the best passing big man the league has seen in some time, and he is an extremely intelligent basketball player. He is a good rebounder and dazzles everyone with his outlet passes, complimenting a good finishing touch and a great back-to-the-basket game.

On a scouting report, Love looks like a pretty good prospect, but any team drafting him needs to be cautiously optimistic because of the athleticism concerns. Regardless, he’ll be a popular player, a true throwback with a unique way of playing.

Interesting Fact: His father, Stan Love, played in the NBA in the 1970s, and his uncle Mike was a member of the Beach Boys, while the rest of the Beach Boys are a part of his extended family.

Darrell Arthur, Kansas
Measurements: 6’9”, 215lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 4
ESPN Rank: 4
Projection: 15-20
Synopsis: Most mocks have him going to the Wizards at #18, which is probably a good spot for him and a good fit. He’s a lot like Antawn Jamison, being a combo-forward with length and athleticism. He has a decent inside-outside game offensively, and is already a strong defender at multiple positions.

He’ll need to add size eventually to avoid the ‘tweener’ tag, and he could really use some work sharing the ball, but otherwise he’s a solid pick with high offensive and defensive upside.

Interesting Fact: He was the first Kansas Jayhawk to wear #00 since Greg Ostertag, and he’s cousins with Quinton Ross of the Clippers.

Anthony Randolph, LSU
Measurements: 6’11”, 220lbs., Age 18
Draft Express Rank: 3
ESPN Rank: 3
Projection: 10-20
Synopsis: Everyone’s impressed with Randolph for the same reasons they’re always impressed with big, young power forwards. Unfortunately, the concerns are the same as always, too. Obviously, Randolph has a small frame and lacks strength, but he also lacks consistency and basketball IQ. He lives off of instincts and fundamentals, neither of which is a strong suit for him.

Still, he has great size and wingspan, is explosive and athletic, and is a mismatch waiting to happen against opposing small forwards. He has the potential to be a great defender and has enormous upside, but the potential for a bust pick here is equally enormous. I’d stay away until he leaves the lottery, but someone may gamble earlier.

Interesting Fact: He is, without question, the ugliest player in this draft class.

J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State
Measurements: 6’9”, 242lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 6
ESPN Rank: 5
Projection: 20-25
Synopsis: Hickson has all the physical tools to be a premier power forward in the league, but his skills and mental make-up may get him into trouble. He has great strength and explosiveness and a good drive for scoring, but he lacks shooting range and ball handling skills. His decision making is also pretty poor, with reports indicating that he loses focus and is generally not that aware on the floor.

He should be a solid dunker in the league regardless, and he rebounds and gets to the free throw line well, so he has the building blocks for success if he finds the passion to work for it.

Interesting Fact: He’d be a lottery pick if he waited until 2009, but instead he’ll be the D-League’s Rookie of the Year this season. Fact.

Ryan Anderson, California
Measurements: 6’10”, 240lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 7
ESPN Rank: 10
Projection: 25-30
Synopsis: He’s going to get lucky by hopping in with an immediate winner late in the first round, but it may stunt his development to some degree. The fact that the Spurs have reportedly committed to him at #26 should tell you a bit about him as a player – he isn’t the most athletic player but he can shoot from everywhere, play inside and out, and has a great head for the game. Sounds like a Spur to me. He’ll need to add strength and pick up some tricks for the defensive end but he is without question an NBA-level offensive talent.

Interesting Fact:He is supported by The Boom Tho Movement.

Serge Ibaka, Congo
Measurements: 6’10”, 220lbs., Age 18
Draft Express Rank: 5
ESPN Rank: 6
Projection: 22-35
Synopsis: Ibaka came on strong late in the pre-draft season, as African big men tend to do as they measure out well. While he is raw, he has great athleticism and sound shot blocking and rebounding abilities already. Unlike most imported big men, he also has an 18-footer he can utilize. Obviously, Ibaka will be a project, and with so many failures in recent years he could slip, and a year or two developing in the Spanish League seems likely.
Interesting Fact: He is absolutely ripped. That’s all I’ve got.

D.J. White, Indiana
Measurements: 6’9”, 230lbs., Age 21
Draft Express Rank: 9
ESPN Rank: 8
Projection: 30-40
Synopsis: White is a physical player with great wingspan and toughness, meaning he should have an easy adjustment to the NBA. He has a good jump shot from inside 15 feet, is a great rebounder and shot blocker, and already has a fairly polished back-to-the-basket game.

At the same time, he won’t overpower anyone or jump over anyone, and he really lacks speed and quickness. His upside may not be that high but he could be a solid hustle player off the bench for someone.

Interesting Fact: He has minors in criminal justice and African-American studies, with a general studies major. Yup, there is nothing interesting about this guy out there.

Joey Dorsey, Memphis
Measurements: 6’9”, 260lbs., Age 24
Draft Express Rank: 10
ESPN Rank: 13
Projection: 30-45
Synopsis: Rightfully, Dorsey shouldn’t make it into my rankings here, and should be in the paragraph after, but he’s Joey Dorsey! He had his own Gary Roberts Wednesday! Dorsey is a physical specimen, but one that probably won’t improve a great deal once in the league.

His toughness, defense, and rebounding should win him a roster spot and some playing time, but the Ben Wallace comparisons may be a little rushed. He was a key cog on a National Championship runner-up and as such shouldn’t go further than the Spurs’ pick at #45, even with slight character concerns.

Interesting Fact: This generation’s Charles Oakley.

The power forwards go quite a bit deeper in the draft this year than the first three positions I covered. Several players deep already, the second round is littered with big men that either have high upside and no guarantee or a guaranteed downside with little upside. Alabama’s Richard Hendrix, Xavier’s Josh Duncan, and Maryland’s James Gist are names you may hear called out late in the draft, while there are a slew of PF/C headed to Europe or the D-League.

Check out Monday’s piece on Point Guards, yesterday’s features on Shooting Guards and Small Forwardsand check back later for Centers, and Thursday for Potential Raptor Picks and a Live-Blog of the Draft.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net - by Blake Murphy

Brandon Rush on Gary Roberts Wedneday

theondeckcircle dotnet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:04:58 -0400

Straight from theondeckcircle.net - by Stu Wilkinson

A few years ago, the North Carolina Tar Heels won an NCAA National Championship in Men’s Basketball. Four of the Tar Heels—Marvin Williams, Sean May, Ray Felton, and Rashad McCants—left school early after winning a championship. All four of them were drafted in the lottery.

Some of them haven’t exactly lit it up in the NBA, but nobody can say that on draft day they thought the four Tar Heels didn’t belong in the lottery. Well, maybe Sean May didn’t belong, but just go with me on this one—I’m on an NBA Draft roll.

Fast-forward to the present day. Kansas has just won a National Championship, and three of its key players have left Lawrence early and declared for the NBA Draft. Darrell Arthur, Super Mario Intendent Chalmers, and Brandon Rush have all left school after beating Memphis to win it all in March Madness.

Will they be greeted with the same enthusiasm as the Tar Heels were in 2005? Not exactly.

You could say that the NBA’s reaction, or at least the typical NBA outsider’s reaction, to the three gentlemen from Kansas has been quite tepid. Darrell Arthur has been plagued by questions about his work ethic, Mario Chalmers has been lost in a sea of point guards, and Brandon Rush’s hair is too goofy to get into the Green Room at MSG.

Sorry, but that’s the only legitimate excuse for the lack of love for the swingman from Kansas City.

So where will the Jayhawks go? According to DraftExpress.com as I write this, Arthur will go first at 14th, Rush will go out of the lottery at 16th, and Chalmers will go deep in the first round at 27th.

I can see Chalmers dropping (although not that far) because of this year’s deep point guard class, but Brandon Rush 16th? I know there are a lot of good players in this draft, but excuse me? NBA GMs are going to let this guy go to a playoff team?

Brandon Rush was absolutely critical to Kansas this year. He led them in scoring, shot 40% from behind the arc, and played perfectly within himself at all times. I hate to go all Dick Vitale here, but how could a team possibly draft a 7’1” Frenchman averaging five points per game over the most important player on a National Championship team?

I’m praying on Bryan Colangelo’s behalf that teams will be dumb enough to take guys like the Frenchman, Kosta Koufos, JaVale McGee, and Anthony Randolph over Rush.

If Rush somehow drops to My Toronto Raptors thanks to some prototypical NBA stupidity, I will be overjoyed. Heck, I’d be happy with Chris Douglas-Roberts at 17th, and you’re telling me there’s a chance we could get the man who will bring the high fade back to Canada?

This year Rush was rated the number one small forward in the nation by Rivals.com, selected as a Wooden All-American for the second time, given the MVP award for the Big 12 Tournament, and crowned an NCAA Champion! Not too shabby.

He possesses great athleticism (don’t forget that his knee surgery from last summer may have held him back this past season), along with the unselfishness necessary to fit in with an NBA team. He’s a consistent scorer that can step up in big games, as he proved by scoring 25 against UNC in the Final Four. He’s everything you want in a pick outside of the top five! He’s awesome, baby!

Inside the Numbers

3 different times entering the draft

13.6 career points per game

43.5 percent career three-point FG% at Kansas

1 brother named Kareem Rush

15.8 points per game in this year’s NCAA Tournament

Straight from theondeckcircle.net - by Stu Wilkinson

2008 NBA Draft: Small Forwards

theondeckcircle dotnet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:36:51 -0400

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net - by Blake Murphy

This is Part 3 in a 7-part NBA Draft Preview Series over at The On Deck Circle.. The series will take a look at the draft, position by position, attempting to amalgamate information from ESPN and Draft Express and condense it into digestible profiles for the top players of the Class of 2008.

Yesterday, I started with Point Guards , today features Shooting Guards and Small Forwards, tomorrow will examine Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday will look at potential Toronto Raptor draft picks.

The week-long coverage will commence with a live-blog of Draft Night, starting in the afternoon with news updates. Up next, the Small Forwards.

Danilo Gallinari: Italy
Measurements: 6-foot-9, 209 pounds, age 19
Draft Express Rank: 1
ESPN Rank: 1
Projection: 5-10
Synopsis: Gallinari is the rich man’s Andrea Bargnani. While not a center and not quite as big, Gallinari is polished beyond Il Mago’s current level and has addressed most of the concerns usually apparent with European imports. That is, he has a high basketball IQ, has great maturity and experience for a player his age, and already has an NBA-ready offensive game.

The main knock against him is that he may lack the athleticism to play strong defense against other small forwards, and he rebounds poorly for a player his size, but he more than accounts for these concerns with his frame, intensity, and versatility.

Try not to get too excited about Gallinari, because European imports are generally risky, but feel free to express cautious optimism if your team drafts him. He is the surest thing a European draftee has ever been.

Interesting Fact: He plays for Armani Jeans, Milano of the Italian League, no joke. He was also awarded the EuroLeague Rising Star Trophy this past season.

Brandon Rush: Kansas
Measurements: 6-foot-7, 211 pounds, age 22
Draft Express Rank: 3
ESPN Rank:3 (on the SG rankings)
Projection: 12-20
Synopsis: Nobody questions that Rush has NBA-level talent, but over the past three years he has jumped around mock draft boards more than anyone save for Tiago Splitter. Rush is another NBA-ready swingman with an NBA-ready body.

He possesses good size and strength for his age and position, and he’ll have the ability to play both wing positions. Additionally, he may be the best 3-point shooter in the draft, though he struggles to create his own shot.

There are questions about his mental make-up as a go-to guy, but he should be a contributor regardless. With his athleticism, range, and basketball IQ, Draft Express’ Caron Butler comparison is very fitting.
Interesting Fact: He broke his elbow as a child and can’t straighten his right arm because of it.

Joe Alexander: West Virginia
Measurements: 6-foot-8, 230 pounds, age 21
Draft Express Rank: 2
ESPN Rank: 2
Projection: 5-10
Synopsis: It seems almost a lock, according to most mocks out there, that Alexander will be a Buck via the eighth pick overall. Alexander has a toughness and presence that the Bucks want out of a potential top-flight player, and they feel Alexander’s length, athleticism, shot-blocking, and “maniacal” work ethic make him that package.

Don’t get me wrong—Alexander is a freak and exactly what you want in a player mentally, but there are some big concerns. For one, Alexander is very unorthodox and doesn’t have a clear offensive game, which could make him hard to utilize in the offense.

Additionally, he is still pretty raw (he’s only been balling for five years) and will need time to develop. Then again, that means he probably has higher upside than most. Despite scouts being high on Alexander, I have trouble envisioning him as a franchise player or No. 2 option (or a lottery pick), but he could develop into a decent role player.
Interesting Fact: He was born in Taiwan and also lived in Beijing and Hong Kong, though he makes his home in Maryland.

Donte Greene: Syracuse
Measurements: 6-foot-10, 200 pounds, age 20
Draft Express Rank: 5
ESPN Rank: 3
Projection: 12-25
Synopsis: It’s tough to see a specimen as impressive as Green going as low as 25, but he’s also probably not a lottery pick anymore. He has great size and a very high skill level, but he lacks a true position and is short on lateral quickness and length, creating concerns about his defensive potential.

Still, he has a good jump shot with NBA range and a great back-to-the-basket game, and with added strength he could be a great rebounder at the big league level. Definitely worth a risk for a late lottery team with time to wait for him.
Interesting Fact: Surpassed the legendary Gerry McNamara for the Syracuse freshman 3-point shooting record with 90.

Nicolas Batum: France
Measurements: 6-foot-8, 214 pounds, age 19
Draft Express Rank: 4
ESPN Rank: 4
Projection: 20-35
Synopsis: Things have taken a serious turn for the worse for Batum over the past week, after a workout in Toronto revealed a potential heart problem. While his agents say it’s fine and not hereditary, it is a huge red flag that, coupled with the fact that it limited Batum’s workouts, has Batum slipping out of the first round on some mocks.

If taken, Batum is an intriguing prospect because of his athleticism, length, intelligence, and offensive polish. He may be a little soft and appears to lack confidence and aggression, but he’s still young and has pretty sizable upside. He could be a steal if he slips to the second round but there are just too many risks for him to sniff the lottery.
Interesting Fact: Last year, he dropped 23 points at the Nike Hoop Summit in just 28 minutes.

Bill Walker: Kansas State
Measurements: 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, age 20
Draft Express Rank: 6
ESPN Rank: 6
Projection: 25-35
Synopsis: Okay, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that he’ll be gone by the end of the first round. He is a mortal lock to be taken by the Pistons at No. 29 if available, and the fact that he is a ‘Pistons type’ of player tells you the whole story.

He’s a great athlete with a basketball IQ through the roof, and he is a highly systematic player. He is also apparently an eager learner and hard worker, meaning he could add even more skill and polish to his NBA-ready package.

The main concern with Walker is that he’s had three ACL injuries since 2003, costing him a potential lottery slot, but rest assured that when healthy, he’ll be a meaningful contributor.
Interesting Fact: Was a teammate of O.J. Mayo at North College Hill High School. He was also enrolled at K-State as a part-time student so he could play in the last half of the 2006 season after leaving high school in his extra year.

Once again, I won’t exit the first round in this discussion. The overarching theme here is that the first round is loaded with talent, but it really drops off heading into the second round. USC’s Davon Jefferson, Xavier’s Josh Duncan, Virginia Tech’s Deron Washington, and Oregon’s Malik Hairston are names you may recognize when called in the second round, if they’re called at all.

Check out yesterday’s piece on Point Guards, today’s piece on Shooting Guards, and check back tomorrow for Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday for Potential Raptor Picks and a Live-Blog of the Draft at The On Deck Circle.

Straight from The On Deck Circle.net - by Blake Murphy

NBA Draft Week: Shooting Guards

theondeckcircle dotnet — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:16:26 -0400

Straight from theondeckcircle.net by Blake Murphy

This is Part Two in a seven-part NBA Draft Preview Series at The On Deck Circle. The series will take a look at the draft, position by position, attempting to amalgamate information from ESPN and Draft Express and condense it into digestible profiles for the top players of the Class of 2008.

Yesterday I started with Point Guards. Today will feature Shooting Guards and Small Forwards, tomorrow will examine Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday will look at potential Toronto Raptors draft picks.

The week-long coverage will commence with a live blog of the actual draft on Thursday night, starting at 7 p.m.

Up next, the Shooting Guards.

O.J. Mayo, USC

Measurements: 6’5”, 195 lbs., Age 20

Draft Express Rank: 1

ESPN Rank: 1

Projection: Top 3

Synopsis: Originally thought to be a risk, and mid-season was projected to go later in the lottery, but a strong second half and improved reputation have Mayo looking at a chance to crack the top two picks. While unlikely, it wouldn’t be a terrible decision on the part of the Bulls or Heat. After all, the criticisms of Mayo are eerily similar to those of LeBron James.

At this point, there’s probably very little to tell you that you don’t already know about Mayo—he has been hyped since elementary school for his big-time scoring ability, great body and athleticism, and off-the-charts potential. The knocks are largely personality-based, citing attitude and discipline problems as well as turnovers and poor decision making.

Even so, he was extremely productive at USC, has a fantastic basketball IQ, and most importantly, an NBA-ready game that could translate into immediate All-Star consideration. You really can’t go wrong with Mayo, especially if you can surround him with a franchise geared to help with the intangible issues.

Interesting Fact: O.J. - Ovinton J’Anthony. Yup, drop that on your friends on draft night.

Eric Gordon, Indiana

Measurements: 6’3”, 215 lbs., Age 19

Draft Express Rank: 2

ESPN Rank: 2

Projection: Top 7

Synopsis: There is a good deal of buzz surrounding Gordon right now—not necessarily because of improved stock, but because several of the picks in the four to ten range are potential trade bait, making a potential suitor wildly uncertain.

Whoever does jump on Gordon will be getting a potential combo guard with great court intelligence, attitude, and NBA-readiness. His game at both ends of the floor is ready for the big time, with only his ballhandling and court leadership in question.

While his draft stock fell with a shaky end to his freshman season, this is a talent many thought could have gone as high as No. 1 heading into the season. His instincts and approach to the game should make him an immediate impact player.

Interesting Fact: Gordon originally committed to Illinois and attempted to convince Derrick Rose to join him there, but changed his commitment early in his senior year of high school.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis

Measurements: 6’7”, 200 lbs., Age 21

Draft Express Rank: 3

ESPN Rank: 4

Projection: 20-27

Synopsis: CDR is as NBA-ready as any player in this draft, with impressive size and great athleticism. He has the height, wingspan, and first step to be effective at the professional level, and also has a strong scoring mentality and ability to get his shot off. His toughness and defensive potential have also impressed scouts.

The main drawbacks to his game are that he may be a little thin at this point, and he plays a very unorthodox style of basketball, making him tough to evaluate in pre-draft workouts. Still, a good team picking him up late in the first should be happy, as you usually don’t find this kind of productivity this late.

Interesting Fact: Not really a fact, but he is from Detroit and would be a great fit on the Pistons. He also taps the tattoo on his arm, Psalms 37:1-3, three times before each free throw.

Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky

Measurements: 6’5”, 200 lbs., Age 22

Draft Express Rank: 4

ESPN Rank: 5

Projection: 20-30

Synopsis: A bold statement, yes, but I’m going to flat-out state that Courtney Lee will be the steal of this draft late in the first round. Playing for Western Kentucky hid him from the limelight a little bit, as did being a senior, but Lee is a player who can contribute immediately and has a high ceiling on both ends of the floor.

While his rebounding and assist rates weren’t off the charts in college, his scoring was, and he shot the ball efficiently from everywhere on the floor. He has NBA three-point range, solid fundamentals, and great perimeter defense, making him a fantastic role player candidate, especially if he slips to a contender.

Interesting Fact: When asked how he can help a team most next season, Lee pointed to his character and personality, not his on-court game. Yup, he’s an intangibles guy alright.

And once again, we end early at a position. Not to be lazy, but there are few details that matter about potential mid-to-late second round picks, where the rest of the Shooting Guard class lies.

Vanderbilt’s Shan Foster and New Mexico’s J.R. Giddens have a chance to go earlier in the second round, while Washington State’s Kyle Weaver may be the best of the remaining crop.

On the low-end, Tennessee’s Chris Lofton, Nevada’s Marcelus Kemp, and Duke’s DeMarcus Nelson are names you’ll probably recognize, but won’t hear on draft night (but look for Lofton to make a splash in Summer League and training camps).

Check out yesterday’s piece on Point Guards, and check back later for Small Forwards, Wednesday for Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday for Potential Raptor Picks and a Live-Blog of the Draft.

Straight from theondeckcircle.net by Blake Murphy

NHL: Hockey Night in Canada’s Last Song

theondeckcircle dotnet — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:16:25 -0400

Straight from theondeckcircle.net by: Tieja MacLaughlin.

So it‘s official…CBC has dropped its legendary Hockey Night in Canada “dunt-da-DUNT-da-dunt” theme song, and in turn, killed a small piece of each and every Canadian.

No longer can we Canucks look forward to the excitement of getting all jacked up at the first sound of this heavenly music; because there will be no more humming along, there will be no more intoxicated sing-alongs, and lets just face it, you might as well just lose the Saturday night hockey hype all together without an anthem we can all get excited about.

Hubert T. Lacroix, President of CBC, announced last week that the network would be moving in a “new direction” with their HNIC theme. Unofficially recognized as Canada’s second national anthem, the song stood to celebrate its 40th year on-air in the upcoming NHL season.

Due to “contractual difficulties,” CBC chose not to renegotiate the terms of their contract with the song’s composer, Dolores Claman.

Dolores wrote the refrain in 1968 in response to a contest an advertising agency in Toronto held looking for a “powerful commercial jingle suitable for hockey.”

Apparently aspiring to be the musical director for any and everything Canadian, she also composed that annoying “Ontari-ari-ario” jingle popular in the 70‘s; comparable to the also ever-so-irritating little ditty “There’s no place like this” of today’s generation.

The song’s current license agreement expired after the recent Wings’ Stanley Cup victory ending the 07/08 season. Rumor has it, this had been quite a long-standing, dramatic, behind the scenes battle spanning over the past six years. It had only recently been brought to the media forefront with the inability to reach an agreement, in regards to copyrights.

Despite licensing terms consistent with those of the past four decades, a compromise could not be met between the two parties.

John R. Ciccone, the copyright specialist who works on behalf of Dolores, said she was more than willing to reach an arrangement, but claimed the network was unreasonable. On the other hand, the network made Dolores out to be a cheapskate hoping to walk away with not a penny less than she could get her hands on.

This proves a rather interesting point, considering Dolores earns a measly $500 per HNIC broadcast. This, compared to The Who, for example, who receive hundreds of thousands of dollars a pop in royalties lending their theme to CSI.

Moreover, I’m sure a looming lawsuit filed against CBC didn’t help matters. In 2004, Dolores sued the public broadcaster alleging that they used her theme in broadcasts not covered in their license agreement.

Prior to the current theme song, the network had tried several others, none of which ever really caught on though. Many average Canadians and hockey greats alike have expressed how much the theme means to them.

Even the Great One himself declared, “…the greatest song in Canada is the theme song to Hockey Night in Canada…to this day, it still sends a shiver up my spine when I hear the song come on.” An online petition also racked up over 10,000 signatures hoping to preserve a little bit of history.

Its rights were sold to rival network CTV for what is said to be well over six figures. It will now be heard before NHL games aired on TSN, which is owned by CTV. TSN…for real??!

My problem here lies in the idea of disassociating Don Cherry and Ron MacLean with “dunt-da-DUNT-da-dunt.” Not to mention, my basic cable television likes channel 5 way better than 30. Now TSN thinks they’ll be preserving this piece of Canadian nostalgia with their outbid? I’m sorry…it will never be the same.

Infamous super-patriotic American Steven Colbert gave his two-cents on the issue during The Colbert Report (see below for a good laugh).

But just as Dolores won her honors, yet another contest will be held to find a new HNIC theme. At least five semi-finalists will be chosen from across Canada. They will then be presented worldwide on a series similar to that of American Idol.

Hopefuls will be critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges, the public will vote, and the two finalists will go head-to-head.

The winner will be awarded $100,000 cash, and given half the royalties to the composition (with the other half donated to the minor leagues). Eager composers have until Aug. 31 to submit their entries.

So best of luck, young Mozarts.

http://www.youtube.com/v/s8BhSXEu3fo&hl=en

Straight from theondeckcircle.net by: Tieja MacLaughlin.

NBA Draft Week: Point Guards

theondeckcircle dotnet — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:52:57 -0400

This is straight from theondeckcircle.net, by Blake Murphy

This is Part one in a seven-part NBA Draft Preview Series at The On Deck Circle. The series will take a look at the draft, position by position, attempting to amalgamate information from ESPN and Draft Express and condense it into digestible profiles for the top players of the Class of 2008.

Today, I’m starting with Point Guards; Tuesday will feature Shooting Guards and Small Forwards; Wednesday will examine Power Forwards and Centers; and Thursday will look at potential Toronto Raptor draft picks.

The weeklong coverage will commence with a live-blog of the actual draft on Thursday night, starting at 7PM. Up first, the Point Guards.

Derrick Rose, Memphis
Measurements: 6’3”, 190lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank (mock position in parentheses): 1
ESPN Rank (mock position in parentheses): 1
Projection: Top 2
Synopsis: The big debate has been raging for some time now—Rose or Beasley? I was originally pretty adamant that Rose should be the pick, and feel even stronger about this now that Rose is practically begging to play for his hometown Chicago Bulls.

Teams are endeared by Beasley’s size and potential, but Rose is already a sure thing. He has great size for a guard and is physically dominant. He is ambidextrous when handling the ball, has great finishing ability, and he has the skill and heart to guard multiple positions at an elite level.

The main knocks against Rose are perimeter shooting and his decision making in half-court sets (where he sometimes plays out of control), but both of these are issues that generally come later for point guards. With guards taking the NBA game back from the bigs in the next few years, having a franchise guard like Rose is imperative for any franchise.

Interesting Fact: He will be the best player out of this draft class.

Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
Measurements: 6’3”, 204lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 2
ESPN Rank: 2
Projection: Top 7
Synopsis: Bayless is a premier athlete, one of the best in this draft class. At 6’3” he has the size to be physically imposing against point guards, but his skill set marks him as a combo guard (tweener), a usual kiss of death on scouting reports.

Still, he has incredible floor vision and passing, making him the ultimate offensive weapon in combination with his above average shooting touch. There are some concerns about his decision making and occasional selfishness (he is better playing off the ball), and defensive concerns could see him slide.

Even so, his athleticism is impossible to ignore and gives hope for his defensive potential. Oh yeah, DX says he has "intangibles," too.

Interesting Fact: His ESPN player comparison is Gilbert Arenas, yet they call him the “thinking man’s Monta Ellis.”

Russell Westbrook, UCLA
Measurements: 6’4”, 192lbs., Age 19
Draft Express Rank: 4
ESPN Rank: 3
Projection: Top 9
Synopsis: The sophomore out of UCLA gets the nod over D.J. Augustin here simply for being a Bruin—the two are that close in talent. His size is obviously endearing to scouts, but again, it sees him labeled as a combo-guard.

This may not be a bad thing for Westbrook, who has the size and tenacity to guard NBA two-guards. He has great speed and apparently has an impressive work ethic, so the only real question is whether he can learn the point from an offensive standpoint.

Reports are that as a person and player, he is off-the-charts likable and coachable, making his upside tremendous, even in light of the position concerns.

Interesting Fact: His NBA Draft.net comparisons are Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis, neither of whom he is readily comparable to.

D.J. Augustin, Texas
Measurements: 6’0”, 172lbs., Age 20
Draft Express Rank: 3
ESPN Rank: 4
Projection: Top 11
Synopsis: The first guard on this list with size concerns, Augustin is also a streaky shooter and an average (at best) defender. Those are the knocks, but he also completely took over his Texas Longhorns this season, creating a favorable scouting report a mile long.

He has a great head for the game, can shoot in all forms from all areas, is generally unselfish and under control, and is fantastic at changing speeds on the fly to trick defenders. He is the first guard on this list with legitimate NBA three-point range (for now) and projects to be a good leader on the floor.

There is definite value here if he slips out of the top-10, especially given the drop off after he comes off the board.

Interesting Fact: His numbers decreased in every category except points this season, but the reviews are far better now than in 2007.

Mario Chalmers, Kansas
Measurements: 6’1”, 190lbs., Age 22
Draft Express Rank: 5
ESPN Rank: 5
Projection: First Round
Synopsis: As the only guard in the draft to have a Gary Roberts Wednesday in his honor, Chalmers has a lot going for him, obviously. Like a few other guards here, he’s definitely been given the combo guard tag, despite not really having shooting guard size.

The knocks against him are numerous, hence the mention of a big talent drop off after Augustin, as he has a poor mid-range game, struggles to make his own shot, and projects as a back-up. Still, he might be the best defender in the entire draft class, is intelligent and fearless in his shot selection, and he has run the point for a National Champion.

He is a gamble in the lottery but has incredible value later in the first round, as his best fit is on a strong team as an instant contributor.

Interesting Fact: DX has him going 27th to New Orleans and ESPN has him going 12th to Sacramento—the largest difference in the two mocks.

And that’s it. Seriously. This year’s draft class is extremely top-heavy for point guards, but if you’re not selecting in the lottery you may be out of luck. The next few point guards ranked project as mid-second rounders to undrafted (Mike Taylor of Iowa State, Jamont Gordon of Mississippi State, George Hill of IUPUI), so I didn’t feel the need to break them down in depth.

It looks as if this situation could lead to a good deal of trading on draft night as, by my count, most teams could use a top-level point guard.

Check back tomorrow at The On Deck Circle for Shooting Guards and Small Forwards, Wednesday for Power Forwards and Centers, and Thursday for Potential Raptor Picks and a Live-Blog of the Draft.

NBA Draft: Jumper Edition

theondeckcircle dotnet — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:38:36 -0400

Straight from theondeckcircle.net - by Stu Wilkinson

This past Monday, dozens of NCAA student-athletes made life-altering decisions—decisions so big that millions of people that these young adults don’t even know could be dramatically affected by them.

That’s right: Girls Gone Wild finally started filming the long-awaited “Softball Skanks of the SEC” edition of their landmark series of documentary films.

Also, a bunch of dudes decided to either go pro and enter the NBA Entry Draft or stay in school for another year.

Although Girls Gone Wild is kind of a big deal, I’d like to focus on the NBA Draft, which just may be my favorite part of the NBA season. We all know what’s going on at the top of the draft—Mike Beasley and Derrick Rose are battling for the right to be chosen by the Chicago Bulls (it should be Rose).

What I’m interested in today is looking at the rest of the draft. Which players not named Beasley or Rose have made good decisions by entering their names into the selection process? Which players should have stayed in school? Who the hell is this guy from Missiouri named Kalen Grimes? Let’s get to the bold headings!

Good Calls

Kevin Love, Freshman F, UCLA (Going Pro)

I have to say that I was entertained by the Kevin Love Experience, even though I never really liked him as a player. Don’t get me wrong, I’m down with UCLA. From Danny Gadzuric to Jason Kapono to Darrick Martin, I can’t get enough of those Bruins—but I got quite enough of K-Love in the 2007-08 season.

His NBA stock skyrocketed as he played his way to a Pac-10 Player of the Year award and a Final Four. Basketball people around the country fawned over his “fundamentally sound game” and his absurd outlet passes.

Well, congrats Kevin. You’ve played your way from being a Tyler Hansbrough-esque “only good in college” player into being a well-hyped lottery pick. It was time to sell high, and you made the right call.

However, you better be ready for about 5,000 rookie calls against you next season thanks to your unique defending style of standing straight up and hitting attackers with your gut. Don’t think for a second that Shawn Marion’s not getting the call when he’s posting you up next year.

Robert Dozier, Junior F, Memphis (Back To School)

Memphis will be going for its umpteenth Conference USA crown in a row this season with both Robby Dozier and Antonio Anderson back in the lineup after testing the draft waters.

Going pro certainly would have made sense for Dozier. His team’s Big Three (Rose, Joey Dorsey, and Chris Douglas-Roberts) is going to the pros, so the chances of the Paper Tigers making another run in the NCAA Tournament are slim to none.

UAB might even knock Memphis off their Conference USA pedestal this year, making Dozier the senior leader that ended the streak of dominance (the Kris Lang of Memphis, if you will).

Even with a small chance of team success, Dozier made the right decision by coming back. He probably won’t make it in the NBA, but if anyone can get him there, it’s Coach John Calipari.

If Coach Cal made Dorsey into a 6’8” center ready to be drafted by an NBA team, he can mold Dozier into a prototypical NBA energy guy. A year learning how to lead his Memphis team with one of the best college coaches in the world can’t hurt, can it?

Ty Lawson, Sophomore G, North Carolina (Back To School)

Ty probably could have made it in the NBA past his rookie contract if he went pro this year. His ridiculous quickness makes him a valuable commodity for pro teams, but his game could still use some polishing.

Sticking around in North Carolina to play with Psycho T, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, and Deon Thompson will help Lawson improve by leaps and bounds.

Hopefully he comes out of the 2008-09 NCAA season with an improved three point shot, better finishing skills, and the prestige that comes with a championship run in March Madness.

How could the Heels not win it all next year? Nobody else stands a chance!

Bad Calls

JaVale McGee, Sophomore C, Nevada (Going Pro)

I’m not going to lie—I’ve never seen JaVale McGee play a minute of basketball, but I’m still going to bash his decision-making ability. He’s a legit seven-footer coming out of one of my favorite non-BCS schools, the University of Nevada (do the names Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions ring a bell?).

He’s projected to be a late first round pick, but we all know that NBA teams drool over size and potential, which is exactly what he brings to the table, so he could find his way into the lottery very easily.

Despite his potential lottery status this year, I still don’t like this guy going pro. I feel like another year at school dominating the WAC with the Wolfpack would have made McGee into a well-hyped top ten prospect.

When I hear about this guy, I can’t help but think of Patty O’Bryant, the seven-footer out of Bradley who came out after his sophomore year and went in the lottery to Golden State a couple years ago. Guess who’s not having his option picked up this year? Don’t worry, the question was rhetorical.

Donte Green, Freshman F, Syracuse (Going Pro)

I really wanted to see everyone stay at Syracuse for next year. Paul Harris, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Eric Devendorf, and the great Andy Rautins could have formed a great core for the Orange.

Green could have been a key cog in that machine thanks to his Stephen Jackson-esque game (treys and dunks), but he’s going pro instead.

I can’t really blame him—he’s projected to be a lottery pick—but I feel like another year at 'Cuse and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament with Jim Boeheim and company could have made him into a top five prospect.

Chase Budinger, Sophomore G/F, Arizona (Back to School)

Chase, what are you doing? Last year you were riding shotgun with one of the best point guards in the nation, and you still couldn’t bring Arizona back to their winning ways.

Your program, at least from an outsider’s perspective, appears to be in disarray, with Lute Olson’s future shaky and Kevin O’Neill’s status as heir apparent gone with the wind.

You were a highly touted freshman thanks to your freakish athleticism, but that has never translated to team success at the college level.

It’s time to get that paycheck from a spot in the first round before your stock pulls a Josh McRoberts. Just go pro and get it over with—Arizona ladies can’t be that much better than NBA groupies.

Calls I Was Personally Insulted By

George Hill, Junior G, IUPUI (Going Pro)

George Hill really pulled a fast one on me here. Last year, during the NCAA Tournament, I anointed IUPUI as one of next season’s non-BCS sleeper teams. George was set to average something like 23-7-5 next season for the high-octane Jaguars of IUPUI (pronounced ooo-eee-poo-eee).

Now that George turned down that opportunity of a lifetime in favor of being a second round draft pick, I’ll have to put all my marbles on the San Diego Toreros bandwagon next year. I hope you’re happy, “George.”

Shawn James, Junior C, and Kojo Mensah, Junior G, Duquesne (Going Pro)

These two were both victims of the shooting at Duquesne (in Pittsburgh) nearly two years ago, so their situations might be a little more complex than others. That said, it sucks for me, the potential bandwagon Duquesne fan, that these two talented youngsters are leaving the program early.

So nuts to you, Shawn James and Kojo Mensah. Your departures have forestalled a classic City Game between two solid teams, instead of one solid team and one College Basketball Invitational candidate.

While I don’t know much about Kojo (he’s got undrafted written all over him), I know that Shawn James is a beast in the paint that could have success in the NBA. He averaged 6.5 blocks per game at Northeastern in the season before he transferred to Duquesne.

After sitting out a season for the transfer and to recover from being shot, James averaged four swats a game playing in the much tougher Atlantic 10, helping Duquesne post a somewhat respectable 17-13 record after several seasons of futility.

Dominic James, Junior G, Marquette (No Decision Necessary)

Dom James is back for his senior season at Marquette! Even with his head coach, Tom Crean, bolting for the pressure-packed pastures of Indiana University, James decided to come back for one last run with the Golden Eagles.

For his sake I hope it’s more successful than his most recent efforts—his scoring average has gone down in his last two seasons.

Don’t worry though, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that Dom will be alright. After all, anyone I anoint to be the next Stevie Francis can’t fail. Can they?

So Much for Celtic Pride

theondeckcircle dotnet — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:03:54 -0400

Straight from theondeckcircle.net

As I embark on writing my first hoops article since arriving here, I can openly admit that I am definitely a little less knowledgeable about the hard court then some of our prestigious writers. I would also like to apologize for the article being late. Work has been putting my opinion on hold.

However, that is not going to stop me from telling you exactly what I thought of the post game festivities of game six in Boston.

When the finals were set, I was one of the select few that was upset not to see a Pistons-Spurs finals. The main reason I was rooting for the Pistons and Spurs was basically because that was exactly the last thing David Stern wanted to happen.

Not to mention every year it seems most fans continue to hate on the Spurs and almost everyone outside of the "D" always forget to mention the Pistons when talking about the league's elite because of the lack of star power.

With the beloved Raps out of the playoffs long ago, I was left with having to choose to cheer for the Celtics or Lakers. The way that Chris Wallace basically handed Pau Gasol over to the Lakers like it was Christmas Eve in a soup kitchen hit me the wrong way. That along with Ray Allen, KG, and Pierce all going for the first ring made me want the Celtics to win.

That is until it actually happened.

As the seconds fell off the clock in the fourth quarter and Boston was on the way to the largest margin of victory in a NBA championship-deciding game, the bar started erupting in excitement with many Celtics fans clapping and chanting, “Na na na na hey hey hey…goodbye.” This led to many of the Lakers fans in fact, saying goodbye.

The clock reads zero, the ball is in the air, people are rushing onto the floor, and then it happens.

Kevin Garnett runs off the bench and drops at center court to kiss the Celtics symbol as if he had been with the franchise since his first NBA game and been through the rough times and had lived and breathed Celtic pride.

But none of that is true. This was his first season in Boston. He was not standing next to Doc and P-squared last year through the death of the great Red Auerbach and the dismal 24-58 record.

Watching that made me think that I had seen something similar back in the day… say maybe around 1996. Wait. That was Michael Jordan after his first championship since the murder of his father.

Hey Kevin, you are no way near half of the basketball player Michael Jordan was and you never will be. Please never try and be Michael again; we already have Kobe trying to be like Mike.

The Big Ticket is then being interviewed by Michele Tafoya and decides that it’s necessary to not answer her question but scream at the top of his lungs with tears in his eyes that are hidden by his hat that looks to be 10 sizes too big, “Anything’s possiblllllllle” numerous times.

Then came the real shocker.

Bill Russell makes his way over to KG through the horde of people to congratulate Garnett on something Russell did 11 times (in 13 years). What does Garnett do?

No, he doesn’t realize he is among a (in the best impression of WWE’s JBL) basketball god and thank Russell for everything he has done in his life but he hugs Russell and tells him, “I got one of my own now; I got one of my own baby.” Instead of gloating to one of the all-time greats, Garnett should have been humble enough to speak to Russell as the god he is.

Dare I say it again? Hey Kevin, you are no way near half of the basketball player Bill Russell was and you never will be.

Then came the trophy ceremony when the trophy was being passed by the team. KG grabbed it with his two hands and held it high as he looked into the rafters hoarding it from the rest of his teammates instead of sharing in the glory.

In my mind, all of these things piled together in a matter of 15 minutes of selfishness by Kevin Garnett definitely made me wish that it was Kobe and the Lakers that had won the Championship. At least then we would be expecting the cockiness.