Meet Me In St. Louie

Well we're about to hit it. The most boring month in sports.

Fans, meet July.

For 31 days we get to watch coverage drift towards many...different areas we aren't so accustomed to. We're already hearing more soccer talk. Golf will get plenty of hours with the British Open coming up and the Buick Open and World Golf Championships not far after. You'll get your dose of NASCAR and UFC 100, more tennis grunting than even the most hardcore Maria Sharapova fans can handle, and of course, any time an NBA or NFL player Tweets or toots, you'll hear about that too.
It could be worse, don't get me wrong. But if there was ever a month to thank the Lord for baseball, it's July.
Speaking of baseball, July holds one of the sport's most prized gem as well, the "Mid-Summer Classic" a.k.a. - the 2009 All-Star Game.
Well I finally gave in and cast my ballot, complete with my picks of starters for both the AL and NL this afternoon. I usually look for a nice combination of consistency (Hits/Average) and power (HR & RBI) at the plate. I'll factor in steals when it's appropriate and occasionly, I'll scan the Total Bases and Errors category. Basically, you've got to be having a goooooodddd season all around to earn my vote. Just because you're the leader in HR doesn't mean I'm voting for you.
Curious to see my selections? I thought you'd never ask...

AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins- This was a no brainer. Fantastic season all around. I'd like to see the A's Kirk Suzuki get a nod for an invite as well though. He's had a quietly surprising season in Oakland.
1B: Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins- Tough call at this position. I would've easily chosen Victor Martinez here if 1B was his everyday position, but lately he's been doing more catching than anything else. Magglio Ordonez is a worthy candidate here, but Morneau is a little bit better than him at the plate and has only commited 1 error compared ot Ordonez's 4.
2B: Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays- If you don't vote for Aaron Hill, you just don't have a heart. He's been fantastic this entire season and has held off a tough position filled with perenial favorites like Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, and Brian Roberts.
SS: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees- Surprise surprise. But in all honesty, he's very deserving this year. I mean, c'mon, it's not everyday a 35 year old leads all AL shortstops with 17 steals!
3B: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays- No such thing as a sophomore slump for Longoria. Also of note though- it should be interesting to see where Texas' Michael Young ends up playing. He's got the numbers at 3B this year to make him an All-Star, but that doesn't mean we won't see him at SS in St. Louis.
OF: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners- He never ceases to amaze me. 110 hits thus far while batting .372. Ya...that's hard to do.
OF: Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels- Another prime example of consistency. Fantastic in the field and this year, fantastic at the plate as well.
OF: Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox- It's tough for me to put a guy in as my starter when he has neary 70 strikeouts already this season. But Bay's power has been something to take note of and in my eyes, he's the Sox MVP so far this season.
SP: Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals- You can go all day here on whether it should be Greinke or Roy Halladay. There are some categories that are more Zack and others that are more Roy. But what it boils down to for me are the 10 wins that, in my opinion, Zack has had to work harder for. Also there are Greinke's 117 K's to Halladay's 88.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves- While I feel for Benji Molina here, I feel more for what McCann's done after being hampered by an injury for a portion of the first half. Plus he's tearing it up for my fantasy team.
1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals- As if you needed an explanation.
2B: Orlando Hudson, Los Angeles Dodgers- It amazes me that a guy can lead his position with 92 hits and still have enough time to strikeout 53 times. No matter, Hudson has been everything and more in his first season in Dodger blue. I'll also make a pitch for Red's 2B Brandon Phillips to back up Hudson. He's been outstanding this season at the plate and on the basepaths.
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins- If I was going just by stats, this spot should be reserved for Miguel Tejada. But character-wise, I'm just not much of a Tejada fan. Let's insert a little youth and speed to this heavy hitting lineup.
3B: Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants- There are a ton of candidates here. David Wright has done well, but where are the home runs? Casey Blake and Ryan Zimmerman have faired well, but nothing eye popping. And then there's Arizona's Mark Reynolds who is not only killing the ball (21 HR, 154 TB) but killing himself too (102 strikeouts). Therefore, I give it to the consistent youngster from San Francisco by default.
OF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers- He's second in TB's, first in Hits, and fourth in Homers. As a Cubs fan, I envy what the Brewers have at the plate in Braun. Always have, always will.
OF: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers- I was all but ready to hand Justin Upton his first All-Star vote, but I have to give the nod instead to another first timer in Kemp. He's played nearly every game for L.A. and hasn't shown any signs of tiring, both at the plate and in the field.
OF: Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia Phillies- On a roster with Utley, Rollins, and Howard, who knew it'd be Raul Ibanez who would garner the team's only All-Star starter vote? Not this guy.
SP: Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins- Unlike the AL, there are a number of candidates for Starting Pitcher. For my ballot, it came down to three candidates: Johnson, the Dodgers' Chad Billingsley, and the Giants' Matt Cain. Billingsley and Cain both lead the NL with 9 wins. However, Cain has been prone to giving up 11 HR's and Billingsley has surrendered the most walks. Johnson is the NL's only 1-game loser and has still managed to reel off 7 wins. He's got a 2.74 ERA, has pitched more innings than the other two, and has 90+ K's.

Grading the NBA Draft

First off, how wrong was I with my Top 10 predictions yesterday?!

It seems none of the afternoon rumors yesterday held true and it only made me look more and more ridiculous as the Draft went on. Oh well, I'll shake free and get over it. 

That out of the way, I must reiterate how shocking it was to watch teams move up and down, trading picks like hot cakes. The interest in this class was unreal for whatever reason. I can't put my finger on why because this was a pretty poor class besides Griffin and a few point guards. Evidently, GM's didn't care or see things that way though. And after it was all said and done, a few teams came out glowing with great grades as they look ahead to 2009-10. I wanted to do a Top 5, but I couldn't narrow it down enough. So here are the 6 teams I believe faired the best.

CHICAGO BULLS- Well, I said it yesterday in my Draft predictions post. "You've got to feel excited about the possibilities if you're a Chicago Bulls fan. After a tremendous season last year and an even more impressive playoff showing, the Bulls sit nicely at #16 and #26 and are in position to further their already solid depth. This draft could likely put Chicago over the hump and in with the Eastern elite." And that's exactly what the Bulls did. James Johnson was a great pick for this team at #16. He's not a spectacular player on either side of the ball but he has a nice frame to work with and will provide toughness inside. Taj Gibson was an equally good pick. I watched Taj play many times during his career at USC and while there were games where he disappeared or got into foul trouble, their were just as many where he was an absolute game changer. Both Johnson and Gibson compliment the Bulls post players in that Johnson and Joakim Noah will be relied upon for offense, while Gibson can tag team with Tyrus Thomas as defensive threats. 

DENVER NUGGETS- Denver didn't do much. In fact, they didn't even make a selection. But they ended up with Ty Lawson in the end through a Minnesota trade and what a steal it was. Chauncey Billups will provide Lawson with a fantastic mentor during his early years and when Billups retires, Lawson will be more than ready. I also like this pick because as Billups ages and needs time on the bench to rest, Lawson can come in and really give the Nuggets another tempo. With the UNC product on the floor, Denver should have a gear that can really separate them from opponents on the floor and on the scoreboard. 

HOUSTON ROCKETS- The Rockets had zero selections in the 1st round but needed to make some major moves if they wanted to keep up with the West, a conference that never seems to get worse, only better. Houston did well enough to keep them in the mix with the best in my opinion. As a Washington Wizards fan, I was excited when my D.C. boys picked UCF star Jermaine Taylor. That excitement shot to disappointment quickly when they shipped his rights to Houston. Taylor is a phenomenal scorer and is a player to keep an eye on, especially in the Rick Adelman system. Later in the 2nd round, the Rockets added depth for Aaron Brooks with Spanish PG Sergio Llull via yet another trade. Llull has shown promise in Europe and with Houston still unsure if Brooks is "the guy", Llull will be a capable backup plan. Finally, in a trade with Detroit, the Rockets got a huge steal in Chase Budinger. Many believed Budinger would be a late 1st rounder and instead he slipped to #44. No more worries in southern Texas now when Tracy McGrady goes down with another injury because Budinger will be a player for many years with his great athleticism.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES- For the second year in a row my Memphis Grizzlies had a phenomenally well executed Draft. Sure, Hasheem Thabeet is an offensive project. But the Grizz didn't need an offensive post man with last year's addition of Marc Gasol. They needed a presence on the defensive side of things and a player who can bang inside to get loose balls. I'd say Thabeet can do all of those in the league with his current frame, not to mention with weight I expect him to put on in his first year. DeMarre Carroll was another great pick in the late first round. Just as he was in college, I think Carroll's biggest asset is something he can't even control. He is a huge match-up problem for opponents because he does have the mentality to bang inside and rebound as a PF, but he also is athletic enough to play a swing position. Put him inside and he's too quick for power guys. Put him outside and he's too big for forwards to handle. If he can get some consistency on an outside shot, he'll be a prominent bench player immediately for the Grizzlies. Then with their last pick, Memphis snagged Pittsburgh swing man Sam Young. Yet another guy who is a match-up problem for coaches because of his size. Though he's not the aggressor that Carroll is , he is a hard nosed player who isn't afraid to take the ball to the basket. He's got a great head on his shoulders, like Carroll, and comes to the league with a wealth of big time experience having played 4 years in the Big East. Each of these players give Memphis hope in the near future. 

SAN ANTONIO SPURS- You know, I for one was not buying all this talk about the Spurs instantly challenging the Lakers for Western supremecy just by acquiring Richard Jefferson. After this draft though, I'm starting to see L.A. fans sweat a little and I'm becoming more of a believer. DeJuan Blair had to go to a team with a prominent big man for him to thrive. He needs another player to draw defensive double teams in order for him to pick up rebounds and get easy put-backs as he did at Pittsburgh. There are only a few teams that this could've worked best with and San Antonio was one of them with Tim Duncan. Keep Blair healthy and he will be a very solid reserve for as long as Duncan is in the league. Jack McClinton from Miami is a scorer and there's not much more you can say. He is big, in your face, has a quick first step to the basket, and can pull up and hit buckets from just about anywhere on the floor. Defensively, he won't be a Bowen replacement, but with Jefferson, the Spurs won't need him to be. Lastly, we all know it wouldn't be the NBA Draft without a San Antonio selection of a non-United States player. In 2009, they went back to a country that's been good to them in the past, picking Nando De Colo from France. I know nothing about him, but when have the Spurs gone wrong overseas?

UTAH JAZZ- You can talk all day about how good Rubio, Jennings, and Curry will be. I don't care. Utah got my guy with their first round pick. VCU's Eric Maynor will make his mark with Jazz and I firmly believe he will come back to haunt teams that passed on him. He's a little skinny, but Jerry Sloan will add some muscle to his frame. I completely agree with ESPN's Chad Ford when he assessed Maynor's possibilities: "The Jazz really needed to find a competent backup for Deron Williams, and in my opinion, they walked away with the most underrated player in the draft. Maynor is a pure point guard who sees the floor well, makes players around him better, isn't afraid to take over a game late and rarely makes mistakes. On top of that, he's a great kid and a hard worker who should fit perfectly in Utah." You heard it here first though- Eric Maynor is about to make some serious noise. Moving on to the second round, I really liked the picking of Michigan State's Goran Suton. He's a "Sloan type post player" and Utah is the one team that I think can and will get the most out of him. Suton can't do a whole lot because, well, he's just not that great of an NBA prospect. But as we've seen in the past in Salt Lake, you don't have to do everything- just focus on what you do best and let a teammate take care of the other stuff. 

NBA DRAFT- IMMEDIATE PREVIEW

The Draft is nearly here! Under 2 hours away now and I figured I'll go ahead and add on to a previous Draft update (seen here) and predict a few last minute things that should go down tonight. 

First off, here's the Top 10 as I predict it happening tonight (factoring in a late rumors)

1) LA CLIPPERS - BLAKE GRIFFIN

2) MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - HASHEEM THABEET

3) NEW YORK KNICKS (from OKC) - RICKY RUBIO

4) SACRAMENTO KINGS - TYREKE EVANS

5) MINNESOTA T'WOLVES - JAMES HARDEN

6) MINNESOTA T'WOLVES - STEPHEN CURRY

7) GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS - JORDAN HILL

8) OKC THUNDER (from NYK) - JOHNNY FLYNN (team also receives David Lee from NYK)

9) TORONTO RAPTORS - DEMAR DEROZAN

10) MILWAUKEE BUCKS - JRUE HOLIDAY

Predictions aside, here are a few more things I predict happening later tonight based on the moves and rumors that have swirled in the last 48 hours...

• Don't be surprised to see the Phoenix Suns make an attempt at either moving up from #14 or trying to add another first round pick. With the recent "Shaq-tus" deal, I think Steve Kerr is in crisis repair mode with fans and may feel the need to insert some energy in the organization with a pair of picks or a more high profile pick. STILL, I do not- I repeat- DO NOT see the Suns trading away their last true big man (Amare Stoudamire) to do so. If they do, Kerr needs to be checked into a mental institution.
  
• Though most basketball analysts agree, there are still those out their that are completely sold on the skills and flash of Brandon Jennings. Not me. In fact, I'm gonna go on record and predict that Jennings will be the last one left in the green room at the Garden tonight. Tic toc....
• You've got to feel excited about the possibilities if you're a Chicago Bulls fan. After a tremendous season last year and an even more impressive playoff showing, the Bulls sit nicely at #16 and #26 and are in position to further their already solid depth. This draft could likely put Chicago over the hump and in with the Eastern elite. They need another big man with offensive abilities, so I see James Johnson at 16. Look for a guard as insurance for Derrick Rose with the later selection.
• Finally, I've got interest in another selection for an Eastern Conference squad- Philadelphia 76ers. Like the Bulls a couple years back, you can see Philadelphia slowly emerging after surrounding Andre Iguodala with some young talent. The only thing lacking seems to be insurance at the point for Andre Miller or a capable 2 guard who can excel on both ends of the floor. I see it coming down to two PG's- Eric Maynor, who lit up the same Philadelphia floor in this year's NCAA Tournament, and national champ Ty Lawson.

That's what I see and that's what I'm excited for. And oh ya, Vince Carter in exchange for Courtney Lee, Raefer Alston, & Tony Battie. Hey Florida folks, remember that year the Marlins won the pennant in '03. Consider the Magic the deja vu version, NBA style. Yikes!

ENJOY TONIGHT! I'll be back tomorrow for more coverage...

Up Yours- NYC Prep

So I wrapped up a music show around midnight last night up at the KSU student radio station and came home hoping to find something moderately interesting on TV I could fall asleep to. 

I grabbed the remote and did some channel changing until I stumbled across the premiere episode of a Bravo show my sisters had been telling me about. 

It's called NYC Prep and showcases the lives of a few young high schoolers living the wealthy lifestyles of, you guessed it, NYC Prep students.

Just so happens I tuned in just in time to meet some striking dynamo named PC. He simply amazed me with his charm of calling girls 1 year younger than he "children", using the words bitches and c*** (no, try a different 4 letter word than cock), and throwing both a water bottle and pillow at his supposed "best friend". Check out the clip of this winner (watch from the start up until about 3:53)...

Ya, he's a special case. I'd love to see him out in the roaring nightlife of "my" Manhattan. I'd introduce him to the ways we take care of business in the Little Apple. I'm sure a few of my friends could "knock" some sense into him. Oh but wait, that would require him to have a legal I.D. Sorry "youngster", guess you're just not cut out for Kansas. 

Hey PC, UP YOURS!

Kentucky Convinced? Not This Guy

Maybe I'm biased. Maybe I'm bitter. Maybe I'm just flat out blind.

But I for one do not understand the hype and preseason love the Kentucky Wildcat men's basketball program is receiving from around the nation this summer.



Sure, I'm Memphis born and Memphis bred not to mention much of my extended family still resides in the Bluff City. So I understand if you immediately want to stop reading this post, under the impression that I just can't get over the whole "Calipari thing". Honestly though, I feel like I can give better insight on this topic than the average fan simply because I have witnessed what it takes to make the Cal-engine roll. Let me be the first to tell you, it's alot more than hot coals.
Before I get started though, let me put this out there so it's evident. Kentucky will....hang on, this needs more emphasizing...[bold] much better....Kentucky WILL be dominant once again. It just won't be this season. Here are 3 reasons why.

1) The Offense
- One of the biggest draws to playing for Coach Cal is his high octane offense. Coined the "dribble -drive" offense from it's creator, current UMass assistant Vance Walberg, the sets require players to hang near the perimeter and allow the point guard to work his magic. Walberg referred to the offense as "AASAA" which stands for "attack-attack-skip-attack-attack". Basically it's all about penetration from the point guard and once into the lane, it is up to the #1 man to choose an option: a) lay it in, b) dish it low, c) kick it out and restart the process. Here is a great article from Mike DeCourcy who broke it down back in 2008.
Now we all witnessed how nicely it worked with Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans over the past 2 seasons. So why would it not work with #1 recruit John Wall?
Make no doubt about it- Rose and Evans were spectacular decision makers. But they got some serious help that goes un-noticed with a cast of experienced veterans. For Rose, he was lucky to have 2 year starters Chris Douglas-Roberts, Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier, and senior Joey Dorsey. When Evans arrived, Anderson and Dozier remained along with an often used Doneal Mack. That's at least 3-4 players who surrounded the newcomers and understood the tricky playbook.
How many players surround Wall? Zero.
This scenario has happend to Calipari teams in the past that were still successful, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Both of those teams made it to the Elite 8 before being sent home. However, it was clear that the pressure on high profile recruits Darius Washington Jr. and Willie Kemp (the primary ball handlers in those seasons) got the best of them at times and those were the games Memphis dropped.
John Wall is a much better player than Washington and Kemp combined. But it's hard to get past the fact that it's going to be a long learning process for he and his Wildcat teammates. Plus, I still can't envision how DeMarcus Cousins will be used in this system. But that's a whole different topic...

2) You Can't Spell Three without Meeks
- Forget the fact that Calipari loses the SEC's leading scorer with 23.7 PPG (who also was the conference leader in FT% and 13th in the conference in steals). Jodie Meeks will be missed most in Lexington behind the arc. See, now that you know how this whole dribble-drive offense works, you know that one of the keys to scoring, besides penetration, is the ability to make it rain from the outside. Not counting Meeks, Kentucky placed 0 players in the top 15 in triples made. In fact, while Meek pitched in 117 three-pointers last season, Kentucky's next closest option added less than 65 on the season (just more than 1.5 per game). That could be a major problem for UK in 2009-10.

Hardcore analysts know what JUCO swingman Darnell Dodson allegedly brings to the equation. The problem is that requires us to assume he will step in and hit shots immediately. Even if Dodson does fill some of the void, heads will still be turning elsewhere for threats. Darius Miller had success in this area in high school, but he hasn't shown consistency in college. DeAndre Liggins may get more opportunities not handling the ball. But other than that, it wouldn't surprise me if opponents double down on the prominent UK post players, opting to dare the Wildcats to shoot from long range.

3) Schedule leaves little room for error

- We saw during his tenure at Memphis that John Calipari has no problem strapping on armor and going to war with some of the nation's best squads. Of course, that was usually because the Tigers needed constant RPI help before entering a putrid C-USA schedule.
Evidently Cal still hasn't received the official memo that he's playing with the big boys now.
Already leaked to be on the schedule for 2009 include the likes of North Carolina and Louisville, as well as road trips to Indiana, UCONN (in New York), and Virginia/Stanford (in Cancun). Couple that with the SEC schedule and it's not all gravy for this Wildcat team, no matter the talent.
Sure, you may be saying that the SEC isn't known as a basketball powerhouse- to which I'd agree. But we can't count out a few facts...

• Florida and Vanderbilt (yes Vandy) remain difficult places to play for the favorites
• The SEC benefited the most of any conference in regards to players opting out of the NBA Draft. South Carolina will get back stud Devan Downey and Dominique Archie. Arkansas returns Michael Washington, while Mississippi State gets back the most dominant block man in the nation in Jarvis Varnado. And league-champ LSU welcome's back Tasmin Mitchell.
• Tennessee may not show as high as Kentucky in pre-season polls, but make no mistake, the Vols will be the heavy challengers to UK's crown. Tyler Smith is back on a team that loses nobody and should be loaded with veterans.
• Mississippi State will be a tough challenge for anyone this year. Guard play is a question mark, but with Varnado back and the additions of 5-stars John Riek and Renardo Sidney, the Bulldog frontcourt will be bruising for opponents.

So there you have it. My 3 reasons why Kentucky shouldn't be ranked in the Top 10 (especially #2 Gary Parrish). Will UK still win 20+? Most likely. But I'll be surprised if the heralded class of freshman take a clan of under-excelling cast members (minus Patrick Patterson) to the title game or even the Final Four.

"Brick Killed A Guy"

Or so says Ron Burgandy, played by Will Ferrell, in the cult classic Anchorman.

• "Did you throw a trident?"
• "Ya. There were horses and a man on fire and I killed a guy with a trident."

It's all in fun. Just a movie. Just for laughs.

And in that case, I guess this statement released from Miami that scrolled on ESPN's bottom line this afternoon is all for laughs too...

"Stallworth get's 30 days' jail in fatality"


I'm sorry? Did I not read this court case correctly? Because last I checked,
"Donte' Killed A Guy"

For those of you just tuning in to this March incident, here's the case.

• On the evening of March 13th, NFL wide receiver Donte' Stallworth went out for a night on the town in Miami, Florida. Stallworth was most likely in high spirits on this night because hours earlier he had been informed he would receive a $4.5 million roster bonus from the Cleveland Browns. The evening went into the early hours of the morning when, for whatever reason, Stallworth decided to call it quits at the Fountainebleau Hotel; a "swanky hotel bar". He jumped into his black 2005 Bentley and proceeded to his desired destination. Enter 59 year old Mario Reyes, a construction crane operator, who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing his shift at about 7:15 a.m. Not in a crosswalk, Reyes went to cross a Miami street that had a 40 MPH speed zone. Stallworth, who police estimate was traveling around 50 MPH, allegedly flashed his lights to warn Reyes he was coming. Still it did not register with the pedestrian and Mario Reyes was struck and pronounced dead. Stallworth stopped after the crash and immediately dialed 911. When police arrived, Stallworth notified them he had hit Reyes. Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 after the crash, well above Florida's .08 limit.

Now, personally, I could care less if Stallworth honked his horn and shined flood lights at Reyes. I could care less if he immediately called police and admitted to blood-alcohol tests. It wouldn't even matter if the wide-out offered to pay for the funeral and supply the Reyes family with cash for life.

The fact remains- "Donte' Killed A Guy".


Don't get me wrong. I'm not calling for a noose here. But think about this sentence that the Miami-Dade court issued to Stallworth:
30 days in jail (in which he only has to serve 24), two years house arrest following jail release, and eight years probation.

Call it beating the system or call it an honest punishment. All I know is I "Googled" DUI manslaughter sentences and found some 3 cases in the first 2 pages alone that described 20 and 30 year jail times for men in the same circumstance.

What this court proved is that no matter how many long island ice-tea's or rum and Cokes you have, as long as you immediately call police and handle yourself accordingly in the following weeks (as if you'd go off and do it again anyway?!) you can get off with a slap on the wrist.

Sure there are those of you who would argue that 2 years of house arrest is basically like jail time. I would disagree. Watch the movie Disturbia and tell me Shia Labeouf doesn't have it made in the shade compared to "dropping the soap". Ya, because the catch in this "plea agreement" is that, although far fetched, Stallworth is eligible to compete for an NFL franchise while on house arrest. Now make your argument.

This whole thing is ridiculous and I could go on, but I'll just stop here. My only hope is that Donte' feels repercussions from a "higher power" because, in my mind, the higher power of our government did not issue a punishment that fits the bill.

Born Ready = Still Waiting: The Rise and Fall of Lance Stephenson

Recruiting analysts remain baffled. College basketball fans continue to shake their heads. And Coney Island, New York can't get over the silence. 

Why?

Well, it isn't everyday that June 16th rolls around and one can scroll down Rivals.com's Top 100 recruits and find the #11th ranked player still "undecided". Sure, late signings have happened before. In 2008, it was Devin Ebanks and 2007 had Patrick Patterson. But mid-May decisions and mid-June decisions are much different. That's implying Stephenson still has schools to decide upon. 

See this wasn't supposed to be the road for Lance Stephenson. A Coney Island native with a slender frame and cat-quick crossover, Stephenson was dubbed "The Next Big Thing" at age 14 as his name swirled around skyscrapers and street corners across NYC. His battle against O.J. Mayo at Reebok's ABDC camp made national news, where onlookers argued as to whether the pre-high school phenom de-throned 2007's best player. 

In 2006 at the inaugural Boost Mobile Elite 24 game- which included a star studded cast including Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Kyle Singler, and Tyreke Evans- it was Stephenson who brought the crowd and received the cheers. His performance against the older players led Rucker Park MC and local legend Bobby Garcia to call Lance, "Born Ready". From there, the Born Ready was...well...born. 

Fast forward to the heat of this summer and in NYC, the Lance camp recruitment is going cold. It didn't take long for numerous coaches to realize the negatives associated in signing this prodigy. By his junior season, many recruiters had backed off, worrying about possible problems the shooting guard may bring to a team and program. A poor showing at team USA's U-18 trials didn't help. That's because Lance took an early flight home after being told he would not make the squad. Coaches said it had nothing to do with his play, but others who were able to watch the early practices disagreed saying Lance "didn't know what to do without the ball"; a cancer to team chemistry. Shortly after came the widely publicized sexual assault case which is still on-going in local court. Don't forget BornReady TV, his very own website where a camera crew documents the Lincoln High star's every move as a senior: from bringing home a state championship to getting suspended to throwing a birthday party even P.Diddy could be jealous of. 

All of these things add up to one thing- Born Ready just may be Born Problems. All his fault? Who knows. Two things aren't helping though: his entourage and local history. 

Lance Stephenson Sr. is vocal. He knows what to say and when to say and holds nothing back. It's been that way since he began answering questions for his son at age 13. He knows alla bout the potential his son brings to the table and has collected a posse of family and friends to usher Lance to the promise land. Unfortunately, it seems everybody wants in on the dream. The posse is out of control and is turning programs off because of the baggage that comes with the Stephenson gift. It's like wanting a Batman action figure for Christmas, but the only package it comes in, you're stuck paying for Joker, Penguin, and the Riddler too. 

Then of course there's the Lincoln High curse. That's right, Lance isn't the first stud to walk through the school's halls. First it was Stephon Marbury. Back in 1996, Marbury was the first nationally recognized player of this era from NYC. A McDonald's All-American, Marbury went on to play one season at Georgia Tech before declaring the NBA. Once in the league, Marbury shot around 5 times, and thanks to "attitude problems" now rides bench for the Boston Celtics and is known more for a tattoo on his head than his career 19 PPG. 

Cousin to Marbury is Sebastian Telfair, NYC's other misfortune. Telfair was a coach's dream. Rick Pitino, who earned Telfair's commitment for a short time at Louisville, was once quoted as saying, "I realize that if he puts on a Louisville uniform, he will be the best point guard I would have coached in the collegiate ranks". But the NCAA, Pitino, and Louisville fans never saw that day. Instead, Telfair's hype got the best of him as he began running with an entourage and showing up to local events with Jay-Z and Derek Jeter. The possibility of a lucrative shoe deal proved to be too much, as Telfair entered the NBA Draft and has floundered since, dealing with off-the-court issues as well. 

Seem similar to our 2009 product? Like copy-paste. 

The only difference is that Lance's career may be more endangered at an earlier stage than either of the others. Right now, he may not go to college and follow Marbury's footsteps. Released yesterday, the University of Maryland has officially backed out of the "Tour de Lance". Florida got in and pulled out late this spring. Arizona looked like a nice destination, but talks in the desert have cooled. And Memphis, in desperate need of a play maker, still isn't set on making a heavy move for Stephenson. Kansas is out and ties at neighborhood favorite St. Johns have been cut. It appears now that Lance may be in position to follow Telfair and turn pro, only in 2009, that means overseas. 

No matter what happens with Born Ready, there's no doubt he has all the tools. Unfortunately, he's surrounded by a few too. I can guarantee this, the Stephenson saga is far from over because whether he flourishes or fails, writers will continue to document this wild ride. 

This Is All That Needs To Be Posted For Monday!

Period. End of story.

Wallyz World gives you- Remi Gaillard.

Cotto vs. Clottey

Once again, I'm back after a longer than anticipated hiatus.

Today's topic? The fantastic boxing match I was lucky enough to witness on HBO last night.

Thank goodness the cards fell in place for me this weekend, otherwise I wouldn't have seen a lick of the action that took place in Madison Square Garden late Saturday. First, I was able to switch work days by chance, giving me an entire weekend off. Being that I had a sister turning the big 1-6 Saturday too, I figured, let's take a trip home to KC for three days. Lastly, upon my arrival, my dad let me know that Time Warner Cable was giving customers free previews of HBO/Cinemax for the weekend! Awesome right?

Even better that this fight took place. I let my dad know to record the fight so we could watch it later and he easily agreed. However, he did need some background on the fighters as I'm sure some of you may, so here's the fight card.

Miguel Cotto is a fantastic boxer of Puerto Rican discent who currently resides in the NYC. The present WBO Welterweight champion, it took Cotto 32 fights before suffering a loss- a stretch that included wins over the likes of DeMarcus Corley, Ricardo Torres, Zab Judah, and Shane Mosely. But on July 26, 2008, Cotto nearly had his entire career dismantled with one ring appearance against Antonio Margarito. In a fight that was completely controlled by the bigger Margarito, Cotto didn't appear to be the man atop the Welterweight division many expected him to be. He was pummeled left and right and looked to be in shock at what was happening to him, with everything unraveling in the 11th round.

After the Margarito KO, many believed Cotto was done and that the Margarito ghost would forever hang over him and deny him any chance of regaining credibility.

Enter Joshua Clottey. An up and coming Welterweight who considers himself one of the "most overlooked and under-appreciated boxers in the sport", Clottey is as fast as a snake with his punching and has pin point accuracy that makes each punch he throws extremely sharp and calculated. Though he has only 20 KO's and isn't known for his power punching, he is known for being nearly impossible to put on the canvas. Clottey also had a record that was fairly impressive, including victories over Richard Gutierrez, Jose Luis Cruz, Zab Judah, and also a tough unanimous decision loss to Antonio Margarito that many boxing enthusiasts believe to be a much closer bout than the scorecards indicated.

Add to the fightcard that the Sunday following the fight would be NYC's annual Puerto Rican parade, and the drama reached a boiling point inside MSG.

The fight itself had nearly everything you could ask. Lots and lots of punching, including a first round knockdown of Clottey that proved big for Cotto. Let me just put it this way, if memory serves me correctly, these two didn't even tie up until the 4th or 5th round; it was a straight battle back and forth and the ring activity was more than active. Cotto would suffer a nasty cut over his left eye midway through the fight and it appeared things would be all but over for Miguel down the stretch. However, while he continuously got popped from Cottley right's he could not see coming, Cotto stood tall and withstood some flurries from his opponent. Clottey suffered an "injury" himself midway through after an interesting hook-up/throw-down near Cotto's corner. Clottey came up limping and was quoted in between rounds as being bothered by his leg. Still, both fighters continued through all 12 rounds, trading blows in epic fashion. In the final rounds though, Clottey appeared to go head hunting instead of working a tired Cotto body. In doing so, he began throwing fewer and fewer punches. Cotto used the room and extra wind to dish out a few nasty combinations of his own, at some points pinning Clottey in the corner and going to work for 10-12 punches at a time.

When the fight ended and HBO turned to the scorecards, my dad and I along with HBO's Larry Merchant believed we could have controversy. We were all correct.

When Bruce Buffer began reeling off the scores, it was obvious one of the fighters would go home disappointed. Clottey earned one of the judge's votes with a 114-113 card. But the other two judges scored in unanimous favor with the hometown boy, going 115-112 and 116-111 in favor of Cotto giving him the victory.

Now I completely agree with Teddy Atlas on the post-anlysis of this fight. To say Cotto won by the margins 2 of the judges scored is pretty ridiculous and just flat out not true. However, for Clottey to back off and feel that he had the fight won in the 10th is plain stupid on his part. In fact, it was probably the 12th and final round that netted Cotto the victory. But as we said, that was not the case according to the judges.

In all honesty, I can't say who I thought fought well enough to win. Without a doubt, this fight needs a rematch and quickly. Not just because the fans and fighters deserve it, but more so because I do not want to see a Cotto-Pacquiao fight. Cotto is my second favorite boxer in any division because he's tough as nails and has a no fear attitude. But he's not ready for the constant improvement and ever growing momentum Pacquiao has going. If Cotto-Clottey II happens sooner rather than later, pull out your wallets- this will be one PPV you won't want to miss.

Weekend Snacks

Until I brainstorm a creative and more intriguing article, here's another lite post for entertainment purposes.

Let's start with a funny article put together by "The Bachelor Guy". The fellas over there have put together "Adam Morrison's Random Thoughts- NBA Finals Edition" which is pretty hysterical. 

 

Click here to read and laugh out loud. 

Speaking of the Lakers, avid sports fan and the world's "greatest rapper alive", Lil Wayne, has a new song out. The title? Kobe Bryant.

Finally, if you know anything about collegiate journalism, you know that the University of Missouri is known for being one of the top institutions in America when it comes to preparing students for the world of communications. Here's more proof from a local Columbia newscast. I believe Stuart Scott calls this "dedication holmes".

Wet KOMU 8 Live Shot from KOMU News on Vimeo.

NBA Finals Predictions

After some of the most compelling and drama laiden playoff series I can remember, the NBA Finals are finally here. 

On one side, we've got the Orlando Magic. A surprise team to many, but a team who I actually selected as the Eastern Conference representative before this season even began. Everything seemed to fall in place for the Magic this season with offensive capabilities at every position. More importantly though, they finally started realizing that they can't simply outscore every team to earn W's. Defense has become just as big a staple on this squad as the 3 ball is.

On the other side, a team I've hated on for much of this season. In fact, for every time I said the Magic were for real, I was saying the Lakers were a flop. I even went so far as to say Utah would eliminate L.A. in the opening round! (Ya, I guess that's what they call a "WTF Moment" these days). As usual, the team thrives through #24. But a 50/50 cast of superstars and nobody's has picked up the slack every time Kobe can't come through, and they've proven to be the most consistent team in the playoffs.

So, with the stage set, let's breakdown positions and spell out a Champion.

PG- Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar, & Shannon Brown vs. Rafer Alston, Jameer Nelson, & Anthony Johnson

> This is a clear cut advantage towards the Magic simply because of depth. Fisher, dirty or not, is a veteran player who's capable of handling this spotlight and distributing the ball. However, Farmar and Brown aren't necessarily the best backup's in the league. The duo combined to go for more than 10 points only once in the Conference Finals vs. the Nuggets. To make things worse, Farmar, who's been first off the bench for Fisher, is averaging nearly 2 turnover's a game in very limited minutes. REGARDLESS of whether Jameer Nelson plays for 10 minutes or all 4 quarters, the mere presence of him on the floor beside or in place of Alston, gives the Lakers an area for concern. 

ADVANTAGE: SOLID ORLANDO

SG- Kobe Bryant & Sasha Vujacic vs. Mickael Pietrus & Courtney Lee

> Of course the smart fan goes for Bryant in any battle. I will too because, right now, he is the best player in basketball (key word: right now- as in June 4, 2009). However, I will give my schpeel for the Magic's off-guards. I'll start first with Lee, who has been fantastic this season as a rookie out of Western Kentucky. He's a sniper from outside, which is why the Magic drafted him in the first place. But his ability to go hard to the lane has been more evident in the playoffs, especially vs. the Cavs with his thunderous dunks over Lebron. Like Pietrus, he's a long armed guard with a physical frame and he'll be a tough guard when Vujacic is in the game. As for Pietrus, say what you want about Rafer Alston being the savior for Orlando, but I give my vote to Mickael. He's shown against both Ray Allen and Lebron James that he should be considered one of the league's top lock-down defenders. Past that, just when you think his game is only on defense, he seems to get open in the corner for a key three. I'll go with the Lakers, but this will be a position to keep an eye on. 

ADVANTAGE: PUSH LAKERS

F: Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton, & Lamar Odom vs. Rashard Lewis & Hedo Turkoglu

> This is the closest call of all positions. Offensively, Lewis & Turkoglu are clear favorites. Defensively, Ariza & Odom get the obvious nod. There's not much more you can say.However, there are 2 points of interest viewers need to be aware of. First for the Lakers, I've said it all season long (even back to last year), and that is that when L.A. is at their finest, beating teams by 20+ points, it's because Lamar Odom decides to break loose. Odom is still a threat against any opponent and is the final piece of the triangle offense that makes the Lakers so dangerous. If teams have to worry about Bryant, Gasol, AND Odom, it's too much to handle. But when it's just Bryant and Gasol, defensive schemes can be arranged. Finally, for Orlando, Lewis and Turkoglu make the wheels turn for the Magic offense. Sure Dwight Howard is the launching pad, but these guys are equally important. Forget about when their shot is not falling, because on every night, it has been for at least 1 out of 2. The real concern is one of them gets in foul trouble. The Magic don't have backups at this position. Instead, it forces Pietrus or Lee to play a position where they have to guard a bigger player and has hurt Orlando. Fouls must be avoided for the 2. 

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

C: Pau Gasol & Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat, Tony Battie

> Dwight Howard vs. Pau Gasol? Dwight Howard vs. Andrew Bynum?  Is this even a discussion. I thought the Conference Finals against Cleveland's big men would be easy for Howard. But these match-ups look like an unfair recess game. If Howard doesn't put up 20 points a night and get at least 1 of L.A.'s 7-footers in foul trouble, throw out everything he did to this point- he failed. Gasol is the softest big man in the game and Bynum, who has all the tools, has yet to put anything together. Besides Howard, let's not forget how well Gortat has filled in for spells that have been crucial for Stan Van Gundy. Battie is also a body that's good for a few fouls and allows Howard rest. I don't care how good Gasol is on the offensive end- he's about to get a lesson in "Paint Power" from Howard.

ADVANTAGE: SOLID ORLANDO

Basically, this will be a very evenly matched series. 

Each team has a player who should have an advantage vs. his opponents- Bryant & Howard

Each team has a "third piece to the puzzle" player who must show up- Odom & Lewis

Each team beat the hottest squad coming into the playoffs- Nuggets & Cavs

Each team has shown the capability to win big games on the road

I've heard a lot of people saying Lakers in 6. I've heard a few go out on a limb with Orlando in 4. 

So here's my take. I see the Magic taking 1 of 2 in L.A. I see the Lakers taking 1 out of 3 in Orlando. That puts the Magic up 3-2 heading back to Los Angeles for Game 6. No way Kobe goes out in 6. Which pushes us to game 7. With Kobe exhuasted from carrying the Lakers to a Game 6 victory, Dwight Howard and company take over and shoot the Lakers out of their own building. 

MAGIC IN 7 - DWIGHT HOWARD = MVP

Up Yours- Dana White

Ahh yes, your favorite installment of Wally'z World is finally back. Once again, I'm not holding back in this edition as I call out UFC big wig Dana White on a recent decision he made that's long overdue.

Before I begin the onslaught, allow me to throw some praise the way of Dana. 

Since 2001, one can make the argument that White has equaled, if not topped, Vince McMahon in the entrepreneur department. MMA is widely considered one of the world's top grossing sports and continues to grow. Count much of that to the job White has done with the sport's top "league"- Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). They've gone out and marketed their product like nobody's business. TV Shows, apparel- you name it, UFC will brand it and make it successful. The same goes for their fighters. Chuck Liddell, washed up or not, remains a household name. Rich Franklin is all over the television marketing pull up bars and making talk show appearances. And Rampage Jackson is a beast who's antics provide chatter all over blog-o-spheres.

Let's just put this in perspective for a second to truly show you how successful UFC has become. Over the last year alone, reports indicate that the UFC has surpassed the NHL in money making and is nearing the Top 4 in sports worldwide. In one of their worst PPV's in recent memory back in April, where Anderson Silva and Thales Leites basically played with each other, White confirmed that the event still grossed close to $5,000,000. One can only imagine what the heralded UFC 100 will net come July.

(As a side note I always like to write large dollar amounts using zero's. I dunno, it adds flare or something. I mean honestly, what pops out in a story- $5 million or $5,000,000. There's a reason Cuba Gooding said, "Show me the money". Ok, back to the story.)

Now all that money and success- it's gravy. But the fact of the matter still remains: Dana White is the dufus sopping it all up.

For all the criticism he dishes out to former friend and UFC star Tito Ortiz, White is just as thirsty for the limelight as anyone. He has his own vlog on YouTube that's been a real smash with fans and enemies alike. This video alone, which was rescinded by UFC and forced White to issue a public apology statement, shows the true character of the fighting league's head hancho and top prick.

Class act huh? It seems White holds back from nobody and will tell you it's "just the Boston in him". That's right the same Boston that White deserted with his tail between his legs all because he opened his mouth to a local mob and got up to his ears in trouble. But who's laughing now? Well it shouldn't be Dana. 

Sure he's the top dog in a sport which I've already described as having unlimited potential and success. However that's not to say it's truly his baby/brainchild. While he's called the shots for a while, he wouldn't have even been here had he not made friends with some rich brothers in Las Vegas who graciously fronted the money for Dana and themselves to purchase the rights to UFC, not once but twice. The latter of which even involved White coaxing the Fertitta's to write a check on a business that was already $40,000,000 in the hole. The drive of a good business man? I think not.

No, a good business man would have had video games out many moons ago. A good business man would not stoop to lows of cussing out reporters on, of all things, a YouTube video. A good business man would have also apologized to that reporter in the issued statement released shortly after. A good business man wouldn't make fun of his company's own fan's when they ask questions at press conferences. And a good business man wouldn't throw good fighters, serious or not, under the bus.

Which brings me to the point that erupted this entire piece in the first place. In a report released by ESPN earlier today, White has finally come to his senses and decided to market the unlimited potential that is Kimbo Slice. Slice will be one of the contestants on the upcoming season of "The Ultimate Fighter". 

Now here's the beef i have with this whole situation. Dana White loves the money and Dana White loves his sport. He says he doesn't want to jeopardize the UFC by allowing a "non-athlete, street fighter" into the ring to face real professionals. How on earth does this make sense?

Whether Slice gets KO'd in the 1st round or whether he proves White wrong, how is this NOT a win-win situation for both the UFC and its boss?

Kimbo Slice has been and will be, at least before a few more knockouts, the biggest promotional tool in White's bag of tricks. It disgusts me to think after all the things he's publicly said about Slice as a fighter and person, that Dana would all of a sudden see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's what we call a hypocrite Mr. White.

What's even more discouraging is that I believe this whole thing started out of jealousy, not disrespect. White wasn't upset that people were calling Slice a fighter. White was upset that Slice was drawing attention away from UFC and essentially taking his money. To this day, the largest crowd I've ever seen at Tubby's, the local bar here at K-State that shows all the MMA fights, was not for a UFC fight, but instead the Elite XC knockout of Kimbo. And so, what's better publicity to draw back attention to your own corner, than to call out XC's top draw? It's selfish, greedy, and stupid. And now that he's gone behind his word, whether it was a business ploy or not, he just looks like an idiot.

I applaud you for finally becoming the business man you believe you are and making an executive decision that should have been made a long time ago. But hey, what's new?

Up Yours Dana White!