Friday, September 23, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sucker Punch Or Not Mayweather Wins
Mayweather was making his much-anticipated return to the ring after yet another long layoff this time 16 months following his wipeout of Shane Mosley. Ortiz, 10 years younger than the 34-year-old Mayweather, won the lottery when he outpointed Andre Berto in April to win a welterweight title and landed the $2 million shot against Mayweather.
But few gave Ortiz, of Ventura, Calif., a serious chance to win unless the layoff and age had caught up to Mayweather, who was fighting in his adopted hometown, as usual.
Mayweather's age and the layoff did not show up at all. He was, as usual, brilliant. Put all the flamboyance, bragging, the flashing of money and jewels and tiresome rhetoric aside and Mayweather remains the best fighter in the world not named Manny Pacquiao, the one fighter Mayweather needs to face to secure his ultimate legacy. But on this night he was facing Ortiz, whom Mayweather had sat ringside to watch get knocked down twice by Berto but win. Mayweather then picked him to fight and, after a drama-filled promotion (at least on Mayweather's side, just watch HBO's "24/7") they met before 14,687 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mayweather's regular venue. It was an Ortiz house, however, with most of the fans turning out to support the Mexican-American on the weekend of Mexican Independence Day.
It was clear from the outset that Ortiz was not on Mayweather's level. Mayweather used his speed, skills and a very accurate right hand to tag Ortiz repeatedly. Mayweather seemed in total control through three rounds and it looked as if he was on his way to yet another easy victory. Then things turned wild in the fourth round. Ortiz began to have his best success, landing a few shots and stinging Mayweather before bulling him into the corner. Then the fight devolved.
Ortiz rammed Mayweather in the face with an intentional head-butt, busting open a cut on the inside and outside of Mayweather's mouth. Referee Joe Cortez immediately called timeout and docked Ortiz a point for the blatant foul. Frankly, he would have been right to take two points. Ortiz seemed apologetic and even hugged and kissed Mayweather, who did not seem at all interested in forgiving him in the heat of the moment. Would you be if you had just had your face rammed by somebody's head in blatant rules violation?
Cortez motioned the fighters back together to resume the fight. Although he was looking away from the fighters, the fight was back on. Yet Ortiz was still trying to touch gloves with Mayweather, who instead unloaded a left and right to knock Ortiz out. Ortiz broke the cardinal rule of boxing protect yourself at all times. Mayweather, who took heat for a supposed sucker punch, did nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong. Time was in, fight is on. This ain't checkers or golf. Ortiz made a rookie mistake and paid for it. It was his fault, not Mayweather's, and too bad for him. It would have never happened if Ortiz had not intentionally butted Mayweather, the action that led directly to the fight having to be stopped then restarted. Would it have been nice to see Mayweather perhaps show a little more sportsmanship? Sure, but boxing is a combat sport and he broke no rules. He won it fair and square and picked up his seventh world title covering five weight classes. Mayweather is often not that likeable (his rant against HBO's Larry Merchant after the fight was disgraceful and uncalled for), but he won the fight with legal punches. Period. He's back and, hopefully, won't go into another long layoff. And, hopefully, he will finally fight Pacquiao next if Pacquiao beats Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12. Whomever Mayweather fights next best be warned to keep their freakin' hands up.
But few gave Ortiz, of Ventura, Calif., a serious chance to win unless the layoff and age had caught up to Mayweather, who was fighting in his adopted hometown, as usual.
Mayweather's age and the layoff did not show up at all. He was, as usual, brilliant. Put all the flamboyance, bragging, the flashing of money and jewels and tiresome rhetoric aside and Mayweather remains the best fighter in the world not named Manny Pacquiao, the one fighter Mayweather needs to face to secure his ultimate legacy. But on this night he was facing Ortiz, whom Mayweather had sat ringside to watch get knocked down twice by Berto but win. Mayweather then picked him to fight and, after a drama-filled promotion (at least on Mayweather's side, just watch HBO's "24/7") they met before 14,687 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mayweather's regular venue. It was an Ortiz house, however, with most of the fans turning out to support the Mexican-American on the weekend of Mexican Independence Day.
It was clear from the outset that Ortiz was not on Mayweather's level. Mayweather used his speed, skills and a very accurate right hand to tag Ortiz repeatedly. Mayweather seemed in total control through three rounds and it looked as if he was on his way to yet another easy victory. Then things turned wild in the fourth round. Ortiz began to have his best success, landing a few shots and stinging Mayweather before bulling him into the corner. Then the fight devolved.
Ortiz rammed Mayweather in the face with an intentional head-butt, busting open a cut on the inside and outside of Mayweather's mouth. Referee Joe Cortez immediately called timeout and docked Ortiz a point for the blatant foul. Frankly, he would have been right to take two points. Ortiz seemed apologetic and even hugged and kissed Mayweather, who did not seem at all interested in forgiving him in the heat of the moment. Would you be if you had just had your face rammed by somebody's head in blatant rules violation?
Cortez motioned the fighters back together to resume the fight. Although he was looking away from the fighters, the fight was back on. Yet Ortiz was still trying to touch gloves with Mayweather, who instead unloaded a left and right to knock Ortiz out. Ortiz broke the cardinal rule of boxing protect yourself at all times. Mayweather, who took heat for a supposed sucker punch, did nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong. Time was in, fight is on. This ain't checkers or golf. Ortiz made a rookie mistake and paid for it. It was his fault, not Mayweather's, and too bad for him. It would have never happened if Ortiz had not intentionally butted Mayweather, the action that led directly to the fight having to be stopped then restarted. Would it have been nice to see Mayweather perhaps show a little more sportsmanship? Sure, but boxing is a combat sport and he broke no rules. He won it fair and square and picked up his seventh world title covering five weight classes. Mayweather is often not that likeable (his rant against HBO's Larry Merchant after the fight was disgraceful and uncalled for), but he won the fight with legal punches. Period. He's back and, hopefully, won't go into another long layoff. And, hopefully, he will finally fight Pacquiao next if Pacquiao beats Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12. Whomever Mayweather fights next best be warned to keep their freakin' hands up.
Oklahoma gives Bob Stoops extension
Two days after winning one of the college football season's early marquee games, Bob Stoops was rewarded Monday with a new contract extension that could keep him as the coach of top-ranked Oklahoma through 2018 and pay him $34.5 million over the next seven years.
Oklahoma's board of regents voted to give Stoops a $75,000 bump in his annual salary and a handful of bonuses that will reward him for staying in Norman each June after the coaching carousel has usually run its course.
"I don't think I need to add anything to the proof that he gave to the national viewing audience that there's no better football coach in the country than he is," university president David Boren said before recommending approval of Stoops' new contract.
The deal calls for Stoops' paydays to grow over the years, topping out at $5.15 million in salary and bonuses over the final three years. He was already one of the highest-paid coaches in the country, making $30 million over the course of a previous seven-year deal approved in 2009.
The extension made no changes to his salary for this year, when he is set to make $4.875 million, including an $800,000 bonus he received on Jan. 1.
"In my opinion, he does not have a peer in college coaching either in terms of his strategic abilities as a coach, but also in terms of his example as a role model," Boren told The Associated Press. "The quality of the players on our team as people is just extraordinary. They are caring people, they set very high standards for themselves, they are very modest and generous to others and that doesn't happen unless you have a coach who sets a very powerful example for them."
Stoops' Sooners won 23-13 at fifth-ranked Florida State on Saturday night, moving his record 100 games over .500 at 131-31.
Regents also gave athletic director Joe Castiglione a three-year contract extension through June 2017, including an annual raise of $165,000 and an annual bonus of $110,000 each Oct. 1 starting in 2013. His total salary this year will be $915,000 without bonuses.
"We have excellent leadership in Joe Castiglione. He has brought to the university I think across the board the strongest group of coaches that we've ever had," Boren told the AP.
"I feel really blessed," he added. "I just would put our total athletics program up against any in the United States, and I don't think anybody exceeds our standards."
Oklahoma's board of regents voted to give Stoops a $75,000 bump in his annual salary and a handful of bonuses that will reward him for staying in Norman each June after the coaching carousel has usually run its course.
"I don't think I need to add anything to the proof that he gave to the national viewing audience that there's no better football coach in the country than he is," university president David Boren said before recommending approval of Stoops' new contract.
The deal calls for Stoops' paydays to grow over the years, topping out at $5.15 million in salary and bonuses over the final three years. He was already one of the highest-paid coaches in the country, making $30 million over the course of a previous seven-year deal approved in 2009.
The extension made no changes to his salary for this year, when he is set to make $4.875 million, including an $800,000 bonus he received on Jan. 1.
"In my opinion, he does not have a peer in college coaching either in terms of his strategic abilities as a coach, but also in terms of his example as a role model," Boren told The Associated Press. "The quality of the players on our team as people is just extraordinary. They are caring people, they set very high standards for themselves, they are very modest and generous to others and that doesn't happen unless you have a coach who sets a very powerful example for them."
Stoops' Sooners won 23-13 at fifth-ranked Florida State on Saturday night, moving his record 100 games over .500 at 131-31.
Regents also gave athletic director Joe Castiglione a three-year contract extension through June 2017, including an annual raise of $165,000 and an annual bonus of $110,000 each Oct. 1 starting in 2013. His total salary this year will be $915,000 without bonuses.
"We have excellent leadership in Joe Castiglione. He has brought to the university I think across the board the strongest group of coaches that we've ever had," Boren told the AP.
"I feel really blessed," he added. "I just would put our total athletics program up against any in the United States, and I don't think anybody exceeds our standards."
Friday, September 9, 2011
If you remember that the NFL threatened to fine Peyton Manning for wearing high-top cleats to honor the late Johnny Unitas after Unitas passed away on Sept. 11, 2002, you know that the league takes its uniform rules very, very seriously. Manning was threatened with a $25,000 fine if he wore the cleats in a game because he had formally been denied permission to do so by the NFL. In the end, Manning took a pass, though Baltimore Ravens quarterback Chris Redman flew in the face of authority and got popped with a $5,000 fine for his trouble.
Related: 9/11 remembered 10 years later
It was a callous move by the NFL, but if what we're hearing about what players want to wear to honor the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is true, you haven't seen anything yet. According to the tweets of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, the penalties for players wearing specific 9/11 tribute gear could be fairly steep.
Reebok great job on these gloves and shoes..looks like I'm getting fined this week. Lol! By far the best fine I will ever have to pay. Thanks…Fines for gloves could be as much as 5k..the shoes 8-10k I think. not 100% on the shoe fine.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles added his own thoughts:
I Have some commemorative 9/11 gloves & cleats for the weekend game.. That #reebok made me. I never forget.
But wait there's more! Christy Cooley, the wife of Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, tweeted up the gear her husband got, which you can see just to the left.
The picture of the shoes at the top of this piece came from the Twitter account of Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes). It's also worth noting that this is the last year of Reebok's 10-year contract with the NFL as the league's official outfitter; Nike will have that honor starting in 2012.
To add to the intrigue, we hear from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that several Chargers players received the gear, and at least one player is ready to write a check for wearing it. The unnamed player said that he expected to be fined $5,000
Players expressed confusion over why the NFL would deny them the chance to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by wearing different cleats when the league provides pink apparel (including shoes) to be worn by teams to promote breast cancer awareness each October.
According to Acee, the current plan is for sideline personnel to wear commemorative pins, and for players to wear a red, white, and blue patch below their jersey collars in a shape of a ribbon. League spokesman Greg Aiello told Acee that there are no plans to allow players to make unauthorized changes to their uniforms in tribute this Sunday, but if the Manning story we told you a bit earlier is any indication, we wouldn't bet on the NFL bending at all on this point.
The NFL is planning to honor the fallen with several different gameday events, and the NFL and NFLPA will donate $1 million to related charities and memorials. That's all very wonderful, but if the league is actually going to fine its own players for choosing to remember in their own way … isn't this the most glaring case for an exception to the uniform rule? None of the players choosing to wear this gear and take the automatic fine are looking to draw attention to themselves — this isn't a Hall of Fame jacket on the sideline or a Sharpie in the end zone.
These are players choosing to remember, and in the cases of Briggs, Hasselbeck, and many other NFL veterans, remember their own time in the NFL during and right after the attacks happened.
We haven't heard from the NFL either way on this, but the league would be very wise to step away from this issue, let the players wear the specific gear (the league can always pop those players looking to add to the authorized apparel with their own pieces of flair), and move on to something that won't be a PR nightmare.
It's a simple and honorable gesture. Not a fineable offense.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Fake hoops school drew teens from abroad, stranded them
Despite rising unemployment and skyrocketing credit card debt for many Americans, the "American dream" is still alive and well. While the faith in possible upward mobility among those in this country may occasionally waver, the prospect of being richly rewarded for hard work continues to strike a powerful chord with hopeful emigrants, particularly those who harbor dreams of a future in professional sports.
Unfortunately, a handful of foreign prospects and some from closer to home were served a sordid slice of American pie by a South Charleston, W.Va., academy which purported to be a landing pad of top basketball talent. Many officials are now claiming that the West Virginia Prep Academy, which was scheduled to open on Tuesday after permits had been filed by former college basketball player Daniel Hicks, who is pictured at right, was nothing more than a fraudulent enterprise aimed at generating quick cash for Hicks himself.
Read more about the disturbing conditions in which the teenagers were forced to live in a Prep Rally interview with one of the players here.
As first investigated by the Charleston Gazette, the purported school, West Virginia Prep Academy, received $500 enrollment fees from just seven students, but 20 were found to be living together in a tiny, three-bedroom apartment in South Charleston when officials discovered them. At the time, South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said that the students were living in cramped conditions without mattresses and hadn't been fed in at least two days.
"When I got there we had to stay in a three-room apartment, but we were promised to get beds, get fed three times a day, have our clothes washed," Baltimore teenager Corey Saunders, the first player at the school to speak publicly, told Prep Rally. "None of that happened. We were left at the gym three hours a day, had to get food for ourselves.
"A lot of players there didn't have a lot of money. We had to spend our own money for food. It was just bad. Once we got there we were finding out more things about his background. He had gone to jail for fraud, drugs. He had brought in coaches that he thought could land big players, but was telling them things on fraud."
After the teenagers were found in the apartment, the teens were put up at the nearby Ramada hotel you see below after city officials reached out to the hotel's owner and explained the predicament the basketball players were in.
"We're out now trying to take care of these kids who are here, even from overseas France and Africa that are under the impression they're going to a prep academy to get an education and play basketball," Mullens told the Gazette.
While all 20 teens who were affiliated with the program have now left South Charleston, the investigation into the West Virginia Prep Academy is just beginning. The Gazette and the Associated Press reported that local police forces and the FBI were in the process of opening up investigations into Hicks.
"This is very complex and we're just breaking the iceberg on a lot of it," South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart told the Gazette. "We've spoken with the on-duty prosecutor. This could be a federal issue, or a state issue, and that's something we're trying to determine.
"They're good kids. I put about seven of them on the bus last night and a couple of them hugged me goodbye. They felt cheated, like they got scammed and let down -- they put their trust in [Hicks]."
For his part, Hicks continues to insist that his goal was always to bring a new, positive academic and basketball setting to South Charleston. Rather, the new school's leader claimed most of the students in the apartment had not paid his academy's enrollment fee and were simply brought by a coach from Oklahoma who had planned to coach one of the school's forthcoming basketball teams.
"Some of those kids are 20 years old, with no birth certificates," said Hicks, who played college basketball at New Mexico State and Concord. "How could I put them in my school?"
Regardless of where the students in the apartment came from, it's clear that Hicks had yet to follow through on the kind of planning that is needed for any new high school basketball team, let alone an entire school. Matthew Moyer, who coordinates events for Lexington, Ky.-based Bleid Sports, told a Prep Rally source that Hicks had reached out to him with interest of placing four teams from his school in Bleid-run tournaments during the 2010-11 school year.
"He called me and asked me to put his four teams [three mens, one womens] in as many games as possible," Moyer told the Prep Rally source via Facebook. "We worked out a deal for 20 games in our showcases. He told me he had a church that supported his team and he would have a cashiers check sent to me. Never heard from him again. I imagine he used our schedule to promote false games for recruiting.
"He called me through our website and dropped a few former U.K. players' names to me. He asked me to stop through a team practice on my way back from Durham, N.C. I stopped into the gym at the time he requested and there was Zumba going on. The gym administrator laughed when I asked where the practice was going on. That was the last time I even tried to touch base with him."
It's clear that federal officials will want to talk with Hicks at length now, as will the parents of the 20 teens he duped into traveling to West Virginia to be part of a basketball academy that never was, and never would be.
"They didn't have just your average basketball players," South Charleston City Manager Carlton Lee told the Gazette. "I watched them play and the kids from France and Africa are NBA material.
"[The mother of the player from France is] torn up, because she had to make a decision whether to send her son on with the coach from Oklahoma or fly them back to France."
Unfortunately, a handful of foreign prospects and some from closer to home were served a sordid slice of American pie by a South Charleston, W.Va., academy which purported to be a landing pad of top basketball talent. Many officials are now claiming that the West Virginia Prep Academy, which was scheduled to open on Tuesday after permits had been filed by former college basketball player Daniel Hicks, who is pictured at right, was nothing more than a fraudulent enterprise aimed at generating quick cash for Hicks himself.
Read more about the disturbing conditions in which the teenagers were forced to live in a Prep Rally interview with one of the players here.
As first investigated by the Charleston Gazette, the purported school, West Virginia Prep Academy, received $500 enrollment fees from just seven students, but 20 were found to be living together in a tiny, three-bedroom apartment in South Charleston when officials discovered them. At the time, South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said that the students were living in cramped conditions without mattresses and hadn't been fed in at least two days.
"When I got there we had to stay in a three-room apartment, but we were promised to get beds, get fed three times a day, have our clothes washed," Baltimore teenager Corey Saunders, the first player at the school to speak publicly, told Prep Rally. "None of that happened. We were left at the gym three hours a day, had to get food for ourselves.
"A lot of players there didn't have a lot of money. We had to spend our own money for food. It was just bad. Once we got there we were finding out more things about his background. He had gone to jail for fraud, drugs. He had brought in coaches that he thought could land big players, but was telling them things on fraud."
After the teenagers were found in the apartment, the teens were put up at the nearby Ramada hotel you see below after city officials reached out to the hotel's owner and explained the predicament the basketball players were in.
"We're out now trying to take care of these kids who are here, even from overseas France and Africa that are under the impression they're going to a prep academy to get an education and play basketball," Mullens told the Gazette.
While all 20 teens who were affiliated with the program have now left South Charleston, the investigation into the West Virginia Prep Academy is just beginning. The Gazette and the Associated Press reported that local police forces and the FBI were in the process of opening up investigations into Hicks.
"This is very complex and we're just breaking the iceberg on a lot of it," South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart told the Gazette. "We've spoken with the on-duty prosecutor. This could be a federal issue, or a state issue, and that's something we're trying to determine.
"They're good kids. I put about seven of them on the bus last night and a couple of them hugged me goodbye. They felt cheated, like they got scammed and let down -- they put their trust in [Hicks]."
For his part, Hicks continues to insist that his goal was always to bring a new, positive academic and basketball setting to South Charleston. Rather, the new school's leader claimed most of the students in the apartment had not paid his academy's enrollment fee and were simply brought by a coach from Oklahoma who had planned to coach one of the school's forthcoming basketball teams.
"Some of those kids are 20 years old, with no birth certificates," said Hicks, who played college basketball at New Mexico State and Concord. "How could I put them in my school?"
Regardless of where the students in the apartment came from, it's clear that Hicks had yet to follow through on the kind of planning that is needed for any new high school basketball team, let alone an entire school. Matthew Moyer, who coordinates events for Lexington, Ky.-based Bleid Sports, told a Prep Rally source that Hicks had reached out to him with interest of placing four teams from his school in Bleid-run tournaments during the 2010-11 school year.
"He called me and asked me to put his four teams [three mens, one womens] in as many games as possible," Moyer told the Prep Rally source via Facebook. "We worked out a deal for 20 games in our showcases. He told me he had a church that supported his team and he would have a cashiers check sent to me. Never heard from him again. I imagine he used our schedule to promote false games for recruiting.
"He called me through our website and dropped a few former U.K. players' names to me. He asked me to stop through a team practice on my way back from Durham, N.C. I stopped into the gym at the time he requested and there was Zumba going on. The gym administrator laughed when I asked where the practice was going on. That was the last time I even tried to touch base with him."
It's clear that federal officials will want to talk with Hicks at length now, as will the parents of the 20 teens he duped into traveling to West Virginia to be part of a basketball academy that never was, and never would be.
"They didn't have just your average basketball players," South Charleston City Manager Carlton Lee told the Gazette. "I watched them play and the kids from France and Africa are NBA material.
"[The mother of the player from France is] torn up, because she had to make a decision whether to send her son on with the coach from Oklahoma or fly them back to France."
RUCKER ON WOOD! 2014 & 2015 RECAP!
RUCKER ON WOOD (CLASS OF 2014 SESSION)
Many of the following players are familiar names and faces. Additionally one of the things that separates this class into "promising territory" is the fact that over 20 of the Top 40 crabs were on varsity this past season. Woo-wee, that means experience is plentiful in 2014. Let's take a look at the players who caught the eyes of the members of the ranking panel as well as myself on Sunday. This list is not to be confused or interpreted as a rankings list (because it's not). This is merely guys who stood out consensusly on this particular afternoon.
2014 GUARDS!
BRANDON Etienne 5'10 North Shore HS - guided Team 5 to the championship. He proved that he can indeed excel and rise to the top without the help of referees. Mid range game may be one of the tops in the city in comparison to his classmates.
DAMIEN Day 6'1 Marshall HS - This kid must've had this day circled on his calendar for quite some time. He was putting in work from start to finish. It didn't hurt that he played alongside Etienne on the championship Team 5.
JALIN Hart 5'9 North Shore HS - Had a great day at the office while leading Team 7 to three consecutive wins in pool play. However, they were upset in first round. Jalin was working guys from the right perimeter.
JAMAL Williams 6'2 Episcopal HS - The ex Kempner varsity star had his motor on high most of the afternoon. He mixed it up well and hit the boards hard. Should make an immediate impact at Episcopal HS this season alongside Ken Williams.
JUSTIN Jackson 6'6 HCYA - Many All Americans would have found 100 excuses to bypass the chance to allow his peers an opportunity to make a name for themselves at his expense. Although Justin was in cruise control, he still had enough good moments and made enough plays to validate himself as one of the Top 8 guards of the day.
WILLIAM West 6'1 Clear Lake HS - Probably the most surprising sophomore of the day. This kid was balling and attacking the rim from all angles. A huge reason why Team 3 advanced to the finals.
SHANE Moran 6'0 The Woodlands HS - It's always refreshing to see suburban white kids come down and flat out take care of business in these types of physcial settings. Whether he was knocking down jumpers or complimenting Jalin Hart, this young man always appeared to be at the right place at the right time.
THOMAS Josey 6'1 Angleton HS - A blue collar styled hooper who hustled on both sides of the ball. He has a strong build which certainly was an asset on this day. Managed to get to the rim and finish a couple times.
2014 FORWARDS!
BRANDON Jones 6'4 Westbury Christian - Nicknamed "BJ". Was extremely aggressive all day long. Almost to the point where he nearly hurt himself more than helped. Difference is the fact that many of his shots went in and for every one he missed - he'd haul in a rebound moments later to make up for it.
JC Washington 6'6 Yates HS - No big guy in this class works the baselines better than this strong young man. Very solid when he's facing up in mid range territory. Rebounding was a piece of cake for him as well.
JUSTIN Hollins 6'9 Cy Woods HS - He's long and pretty much regulated on the glass. One sure fire way to tell if you're performing above average is justified by the amount of summer coaches who flirts with you throughout the afternoon. Trust me when I tell you they were creating "bumps" with this kid every where he went between games.
KHADEEM Lattin 6'9 (Homeschooled) - Nobody had more fun on the court than Khadeem. He used this setting to remind his peers that he can and will reverse or alter anything that comes his way on defense. Ability to catch and finish in transition (without traveling) is highly impressive.
KELLY OUBRE 6'6 Bush HS - Although his legs were a bit wobbly from participating in a camp earlier in the day, Kelly was as smooth as it gets with the left hand while attacking the rim. From time to time, he camped out near the top of the key and even made about one per game. But surely he's twice as good when finding seams and creating the high percentage look.
MELVIN Swift 6'7 Yates HS - Safe to say, Melvin had more dunks than anyone on the afternoon. But more impressive was how much his all around game is improving before our very eyes. His conditioning is pretty good, but that is expected from any of the players in Yates' system.
TJ Avery 6'4 Galveston Ball HS - In additon to sporting the long dreads (a la Terran Petteway), TJ has a game that somewhat resembles the ex G-Ball star as well. Plus, his motor is much higher as a sophomore. Could easily be a candidate for Newcomer of the Year in district 24-4A.
ZACH Haney 6'8 Atascocita HS - Turn on your "Sleeper Meters". This guy is long
2015 GUARDS!
CHARLES Simmons 6'2 Westbury Christian - nicknamed "CJ" but it also could be "Beep Beep" as in long lasting road-runner. Has that wiry frame and played with a high motor all day long. Was a very huge reason Team 3 won the championship.
JORDAN Hunter 5'7 Beaumont Ozen HS - He was without question the closest thing to having the complete package of all point / floor generals in attendance. Got plenty lift and can go up above the rim if he needs to (did you notice how tall he is?). Jordan did not talk a whole lot, but didn't have to because his game spoke volumes. Lost in the championship vs Team 3 (dbl OT).
JOSEPH Anderson 6'1 Yates HS - Nicknamed "JoJo". Played alongside Hunter on Team 8. Considering this was a structured street ball setting, JoJo displayed a high hoop IQ. He also showcased some solid pg tendencies, and that made him appealing once you factored in his size advantage over most other ball handlers out there.
NICHOLAS Garth 5'11 Cy Lakes HS - Also played on that cohesive Team 8 group. For anyone who saw this team knows it would have been a crime to have forgot about Slick Nick. He's more of a combo with a scorers mentality, and when you're playing short games, his style of play is critical.
MICHAEL Gonzalez 5'8 Humble HS - This Hispanic floor general was easily the most communicative person in the building. That gets you noticed. Then he proceeded to get others involved, and just flat out make plays on both ends of the court. Michael played with a lot of intensity that proved how much he wanted to win.
TYLER Howard 5'6 Summer Creek HS - He fits in that mold of the Ray Penn / TMG style of point guard who can get buckets in bunches. Guided Team 3 to the championship. One thing that always wins my favor is point guards who know how to get "Ws".
2015 FORWARDS!
DORIAN Chatman 6'6 Port Arthur Memorial HS - Hands down the most effective defensive performer in this class. He blocked shots, rebounded, and just flat out went after it. With so much energy directed on the defensive end of the court, heck by the time he reached half court it was time to turn back around and repeat the process.
ETORRIAN Wilridge 6'4 Beaumont Central HS - His Team 8 was so talented with guard play, that he appeared to be cruising right along. This kid is talented and played with a swagger. I'd be surprised if he's not making an impact on varsity this season.
LAURYNCE Andrus 6'2 Sharpstown HS - A solid banger who rebounded and proved to be one of the best athletes in the building. Has that Ron Artest type swagger to his game - and that ain't a bad thing because Ron-Ron has a pretty good resume, including a ring.
PAUL Thomas 6'7 Summer Creek HS - This young man was impressive from beginning to end when he helped guide Team 3 to the championship. Even took his game out to the perimeter and created a few scoring opportunities off the dribble.
SAMIR Sehic 6'8 Cy Woods HS - Nicknamed "Big Bos". The uptempo open gym setting often was a bit out of his comfort zone, but whenever he got hands on the rock there was no debating his skill set - which is a premium package compared to his peers. The key word was premium, as in super unleaded.
TRE Johnson 6'5 Spring HS - If there was one front court guy who had his mind made up that he was giving 100% and wanted to be noticed, then Tre is dat dude. No big man played harder, and it proved to be worth something because the reward of winning is exposure. Helped guide Team 8 to the finals.
Many of the following players are familiar names and faces. Additionally one of the things that separates this class into "promising territory" is the fact that over 20 of the Top 40 crabs were on varsity this past season. Woo-wee, that means experience is plentiful in 2014. Let's take a look at the players who caught the eyes of the members of the ranking panel as well as myself on Sunday. This list is not to be confused or interpreted as a rankings list (because it's not). This is merely guys who stood out consensusly on this particular afternoon.
2014 GUARDS!
BRANDON Etienne 5'10 North Shore HS - guided Team 5 to the championship. He proved that he can indeed excel and rise to the top without the help of referees. Mid range game may be one of the tops in the city in comparison to his classmates.
DAMIEN Day 6'1 Marshall HS - This kid must've had this day circled on his calendar for quite some time. He was putting in work from start to finish. It didn't hurt that he played alongside Etienne on the championship Team 5.
JALIN Hart 5'9 North Shore HS - Had a great day at the office while leading Team 7 to three consecutive wins in pool play. However, they were upset in first round. Jalin was working guys from the right perimeter.
JAMAL Williams 6'2 Episcopal HS - The ex Kempner varsity star had his motor on high most of the afternoon. He mixed it up well and hit the boards hard. Should make an immediate impact at Episcopal HS this season alongside Ken Williams.
JUSTIN Jackson 6'6 HCYA - Many All Americans would have found 100 excuses to bypass the chance to allow his peers an opportunity to make a name for themselves at his expense. Although Justin was in cruise control, he still had enough good moments and made enough plays to validate himself as one of the Top 8 guards of the day.
WILLIAM West 6'1 Clear Lake HS - Probably the most surprising sophomore of the day. This kid was balling and attacking the rim from all angles. A huge reason why Team 3 advanced to the finals.
SHANE Moran 6'0 The Woodlands HS - It's always refreshing to see suburban white kids come down and flat out take care of business in these types of physcial settings. Whether he was knocking down jumpers or complimenting Jalin Hart, this young man always appeared to be at the right place at the right time.
THOMAS Josey 6'1 Angleton HS - A blue collar styled hooper who hustled on both sides of the ball. He has a strong build which certainly was an asset on this day. Managed to get to the rim and finish a couple times.
2014 FORWARDS!
BRANDON Jones 6'4 Westbury Christian - Nicknamed "BJ". Was extremely aggressive all day long. Almost to the point where he nearly hurt himself more than helped. Difference is the fact that many of his shots went in and for every one he missed - he'd haul in a rebound moments later to make up for it.
JC Washington 6'6 Yates HS - No big guy in this class works the baselines better than this strong young man. Very solid when he's facing up in mid range territory. Rebounding was a piece of cake for him as well.
JUSTIN Hollins 6'9 Cy Woods HS - He's long and pretty much regulated on the glass. One sure fire way to tell if you're performing above average is justified by the amount of summer coaches who flirts with you throughout the afternoon. Trust me when I tell you they were creating "bumps" with this kid every where he went between games.
KHADEEM Lattin 6'9 (Homeschooled) - Nobody had more fun on the court than Khadeem. He used this setting to remind his peers that he can and will reverse or alter anything that comes his way on defense. Ability to catch and finish in transition (without traveling) is highly impressive.
KELLY OUBRE 6'6 Bush HS - Although his legs were a bit wobbly from participating in a camp earlier in the day, Kelly was as smooth as it gets with the left hand while attacking the rim. From time to time, he camped out near the top of the key and even made about one per game. But surely he's twice as good when finding seams and creating the high percentage look.
MELVIN Swift 6'7 Yates HS - Safe to say, Melvin had more dunks than anyone on the afternoon. But more impressive was how much his all around game is improving before our very eyes. His conditioning is pretty good, but that is expected from any of the players in Yates' system.
TJ Avery 6'4 Galveston Ball HS - In additon to sporting the long dreads (a la Terran Petteway), TJ has a game that somewhat resembles the ex G-Ball star as well. Plus, his motor is much higher as a sophomore. Could easily be a candidate for Newcomer of the Year in district 24-4A.
ZACH Haney 6'8 Atascocita HS - Turn on your "Sleeper Meters". This guy is long
2015 GUARDS!
CHARLES Simmons 6'2 Westbury Christian - nicknamed "CJ" but it also could be "Beep Beep" as in long lasting road-runner. Has that wiry frame and played with a high motor all day long. Was a very huge reason Team 3 won the championship.
JORDAN Hunter 5'7 Beaumont Ozen HS - He was without question the closest thing to having the complete package of all point / floor generals in attendance. Got plenty lift and can go up above the rim if he needs to (did you notice how tall he is?). Jordan did not talk a whole lot, but didn't have to because his game spoke volumes. Lost in the championship vs Team 3 (dbl OT).
JOSEPH Anderson 6'1 Yates HS - Nicknamed "JoJo". Played alongside Hunter on Team 8. Considering this was a structured street ball setting, JoJo displayed a high hoop IQ. He also showcased some solid pg tendencies, and that made him appealing once you factored in his size advantage over most other ball handlers out there.
NICHOLAS Garth 5'11 Cy Lakes HS - Also played on that cohesive Team 8 group. For anyone who saw this team knows it would have been a crime to have forgot about Slick Nick. He's more of a combo with a scorers mentality, and when you're playing short games, his style of play is critical.
MICHAEL Gonzalez 5'8 Humble HS - This Hispanic floor general was easily the most communicative person in the building. That gets you noticed. Then he proceeded to get others involved, and just flat out make plays on both ends of the court. Michael played with a lot of intensity that proved how much he wanted to win.
TYLER Howard 5'6 Summer Creek HS - He fits in that mold of the Ray Penn / TMG style of point guard who can get buckets in bunches. Guided Team 3 to the championship. One thing that always wins my favor is point guards who know how to get "Ws".
2015 FORWARDS!
DORIAN Chatman 6'6 Port Arthur Memorial HS - Hands down the most effective defensive performer in this class. He blocked shots, rebounded, and just flat out went after it. With so much energy directed on the defensive end of the court, heck by the time he reached half court it was time to turn back around and repeat the process.
ETORRIAN Wilridge 6'4 Beaumont Central HS - His Team 8 was so talented with guard play, that he appeared to be cruising right along. This kid is talented and played with a swagger. I'd be surprised if he's not making an impact on varsity this season.
LAURYNCE Andrus 6'2 Sharpstown HS - A solid banger who rebounded and proved to be one of the best athletes in the building. Has that Ron Artest type swagger to his game - and that ain't a bad thing because Ron-Ron has a pretty good resume, including a ring.
PAUL Thomas 6'7 Summer Creek HS - This young man was impressive from beginning to end when he helped guide Team 3 to the championship. Even took his game out to the perimeter and created a few scoring opportunities off the dribble.
SAMIR Sehic 6'8 Cy Woods HS - Nicknamed "Big Bos". The uptempo open gym setting often was a bit out of his comfort zone, but whenever he got hands on the rock there was no debating his skill set - which is a premium package compared to his peers. The key word was premium, as in super unleaded.
TRE Johnson 6'5 Spring HS - If there was one front court guy who had his mind made up that he was giving 100% and wanted to be noticed, then Tre is dat dude. No big man played harder, and it proved to be worth something because the reward of winning is exposure. Helped guide Team 8 to the finals.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Flacco, Kitna the best QBs for the buck
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna began his pro football career in Europe after a college career at middling Central Washington University left him undrafted by the NFL in 1995. He caught on in the NFL two years later when the Seattle Seahawks signed him as a free agent, the onset of a long career that saw him hold starting jobs on and off in Seattle, Cincinnati and Detroit.
Last season, the Cowboys dealt for the 38-year-old Kitna to back up starter Tony Romo. He gave them a lot more than expected, when Romo went down with a broken collarbone, Kitna stepped in and started nine games. All he did was complete 66 percent of his passes for over 2,300 yards and 16 touchdowns, good enough for a passer rating of 88.9, slightly better than the NFL average. The disappointing Cowboys, 6-10 last year, were a more respectable 4-5 when Kitna started.
Given Kitna’s relatively paltry $2 million salary, part of a five-year, $12 contract he signed with Detroit in 2009, no QB in the league gave his club more or the money last year. Coming closest: Baltimore’s third-year man, Joe Flacco, who turned in a slightly better QB rating (93.6) for 35 percent more money ($2.7 million). Flacco, a mid-first round pick out of the University of Delaware in 2008, has steadily improved over his three seasons while leading the Ravens to a 32-16 record and three straight playoff berths. Flacco’s five-year deal was commensurate with his draft status no top-10 money here but he’s clearly on a pace to strike it rich by 2013. For now, the Ravens are enjoying the bargain.
Quarterback rating, the yardstick by which the position is primarily measured, is figured by a statistical formula that works in completion percentage, touchdown passes and interceptions per attempt, along with yardage per attempt.
The top-rated passer in the league last year, New England’s Tom Brady(111.0 rating), earned a relatively modest $6.5 million as he played out the final year of a long term contract. That’s good enough to make him the seventh best quarterback for the buck for 2010. Brady has since cashed in with a four-year, $72 million extension, a deal that briefly made him the league’s highest-paid player until the Colts’ Peyton Manning topped it with an extension of his own a few months later (Manning’s $15 million salary and 91.9 passer rating left him off the 2010 best for the buck list).
Like Brady, the Eagles’ Michael Vick took a turn on the Best of the Buck list before cashing in big time this season. After taking over the starting job early in early 2010, Vick turned in a 100.2 QB rating for just $5.5 million (and rushed for 676 yards to boot). He was rewarded initially with a $15.7 million tender for this season, and then with an all-in $100 million extension.
Others delivering above their pay grade: Oakland’s Jason Campbell($3.25 million; 84.5 rating), who led the Raiders to their best season in eight years after coming over from Washington, and Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman($5 million; 95.9), a second-year man who threw for 25 TDs last year as the Bucs improved to 10-6 from 3-13 in 2009.
And finally sometimes big trades do work out for both teams. In 2009, the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos decided to swap quarterbacks, with Jay Cutler going to Chicago and Kyle Orton(notes) to Denver. By 2010, both of them, making relatively modest salaries, rated among the 10 best QBs for the buck.
Last season, the Cowboys dealt for the 38-year-old Kitna to back up starter Tony Romo. He gave them a lot more than expected, when Romo went down with a broken collarbone, Kitna stepped in and started nine games. All he did was complete 66 percent of his passes for over 2,300 yards and 16 touchdowns, good enough for a passer rating of 88.9, slightly better than the NFL average. The disappointing Cowboys, 6-10 last year, were a more respectable 4-5 when Kitna started.
Given Kitna’s relatively paltry $2 million salary, part of a five-year, $12 contract he signed with Detroit in 2009, no QB in the league gave his club more or the money last year. Coming closest: Baltimore’s third-year man, Joe Flacco, who turned in a slightly better QB rating (93.6) for 35 percent more money ($2.7 million). Flacco, a mid-first round pick out of the University of Delaware in 2008, has steadily improved over his three seasons while leading the Ravens to a 32-16 record and three straight playoff berths. Flacco’s five-year deal was commensurate with his draft status no top-10 money here but he’s clearly on a pace to strike it rich by 2013. For now, the Ravens are enjoying the bargain.
Quarterback rating, the yardstick by which the position is primarily measured, is figured by a statistical formula that works in completion percentage, touchdown passes and interceptions per attempt, along with yardage per attempt.
The top-rated passer in the league last year, New England’s Tom Brady(111.0 rating), earned a relatively modest $6.5 million as he played out the final year of a long term contract. That’s good enough to make him the seventh best quarterback for the buck for 2010. Brady has since cashed in with a four-year, $72 million extension, a deal that briefly made him the league’s highest-paid player until the Colts’ Peyton Manning topped it with an extension of his own a few months later (Manning’s $15 million salary and 91.9 passer rating left him off the 2010 best for the buck list).
Like Brady, the Eagles’ Michael Vick took a turn on the Best of the Buck list before cashing in big time this season. After taking over the starting job early in early 2010, Vick turned in a 100.2 QB rating for just $5.5 million (and rushed for 676 yards to boot). He was rewarded initially with a $15.7 million tender for this season, and then with an all-in $100 million extension.
Others delivering above their pay grade: Oakland’s Jason Campbell($3.25 million; 84.5 rating), who led the Raiders to their best season in eight years after coming over from Washington, and Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman($5 million; 95.9), a second-year man who threw for 25 TDs last year as the Bucs improved to 10-6 from 3-13 in 2009.
And finally sometimes big trades do work out for both teams. In 2009, the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos decided to swap quarterbacks, with Jay Cutler going to Chicago and Kyle Orton(notes) to Denver. By 2010, both of them, making relatively modest salaries, rated among the 10 best QBs for the buck.
Titans’ Johnson agrees to four-year, $53.5M extension with $30M guaranteed
All is well in Tennessee, Chris Johnson's holdout is officially over. As first reported by Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean, the star running back has agreed to a four-year, $53.5 million contract extension with $30 million guaranteed.
The deal puts Johnson in the elite category he preferred, and Wyatt was the first with the terms: $13.375 million per year in the new four years of the contract, and $9.21 million per year over the life of the deal (including the two remaining years left on Johnson's rookie contract).
Negations between Johnson and the Titans had intensified over the last week after a seeming impasse in which Johnson wouldn't visit the facility until he received an offer that was in his ballpark.
The Titans responded by saying that if Johnson and his representatives came in to negotiate, they would make him the NFL's highest-paid running back. Johnson preferred to be paid like one of the league's best players, regardless of position.
Tennessee's first-round pick in 2008, Johnson ran for 2,006 yards and gained 2,509 yards from scrimmage in 2009 and followed up that campaign with a great 2010 1,364 rushing yards and 1,609 yards from scrimmage. He has never gained less than 1,228 rushing yards in a season, and he did that in his rookie year.
With the team's quarterback situation very much under construction reps will most likely be split between veteran Matt Hasselbeck(notes) and rookie Jake Locker through the 2011 season Johnson will be relied upon more than ever, as new head coach Mike Munchak tries to get a rebuild going.
Johnson had been set to earn an $800,000 base salary in 2011, with a bump to $2.21 million in 2012 in the last year of a rookie deal that was slightly expanded after his explosive second year. The extension has him contracted with the Titans through the 2016 season.
On Wednesday, Johnson had a little Twitter flap with some of his "fake fans," but we're assuming that everyone's a lot happier now.
The deal puts Johnson in the elite category he preferred, and Wyatt was the first with the terms: $13.375 million per year in the new four years of the contract, and $9.21 million per year over the life of the deal (including the two remaining years left on Johnson's rookie contract).
Negations between Johnson and the Titans had intensified over the last week after a seeming impasse in which Johnson wouldn't visit the facility until he received an offer that was in his ballpark.
The Titans responded by saying that if Johnson and his representatives came in to negotiate, they would make him the NFL's highest-paid running back. Johnson preferred to be paid like one of the league's best players, regardless of position.
Tennessee's first-round pick in 2008, Johnson ran for 2,006 yards and gained 2,509 yards from scrimmage in 2009 and followed up that campaign with a great 2010 1,364 rushing yards and 1,609 yards from scrimmage. He has never gained less than 1,228 rushing yards in a season, and he did that in his rookie year.
With the team's quarterback situation very much under construction reps will most likely be split between veteran Matt Hasselbeck(notes) and rookie Jake Locker through the 2011 season Johnson will be relied upon more than ever, as new head coach Mike Munchak tries to get a rebuild going.
Johnson had been set to earn an $800,000 base salary in 2011, with a bump to $2.21 million in 2012 in the last year of a rookie deal that was slightly expanded after his explosive second year. The extension has him contracted with the Titans through the 2016 season.
On Wednesday, Johnson had a little Twitter flap with some of his "fake fans," but we're assuming that everyone's a lot happier now.
As Venus Williams Bows Out of U.S. Open, Little-Known Disease Takes Center Court
Venus Williams' surprising withdrawal from the U.S. Open on Wednesday has shifted the spotlight from the tennis star's daunting serve to her diagnosis with a little-known disease known as Sjogren's syndrome.
Williams, 31, said the disease has diminished her energy level and caused joint pain, curtailing her ability to continue in the tournament.
More than 4 million Americans have the chronic autoimmune disease, which also causes dry mouth and dry eyes. Ninety percent of those with the disease are women.
Sjogren's syndrome "targets and destroys over time the exocrine glands responsible for tear production and saliva and is characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes," said Dr. Michael Belmont, an associate professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at NYU Langone Medical Center and medical director for Hospital for Joint Diseases. Less commonly, it can cause severe arthritis involving joint deformity and impaired function, he noted.
The publicity surrounding Williams' announcement is expected to increase awareness of the systemic disease, potentially leading to better diagnostic and treatment options.
"Sjogren's syndrome can occur as a primary disorder or secondary to other autoimmune diseases, principally rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus [lupus]," Belmont said. Multiple organs, including the kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels and the central nervous system, can also be involved.
When Sjogren's progresses to a multi-organ disease, treatment becomes complex, said Dr. Victoria Shanmugam, a rheumatologist at Georgetown University Medical Center.
"Treatment for Sjogren's ranges from therapies to alleviate symptoms, such as topical therapies for dry eyes and dry mouth, to drugs that suppress the immune system, including hydroxychloroque, methotrexate and steroids," said Shanmugam, who is not involved in Williams' care. "We also use medications that help fight fatigue and fibromyalgia symptoms."
Fibromyalgia is another chronic autoimmune disease.
Sjogren's, first identified in 1933, affects virtually every racial and ethnic group, according to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation. It is difficult to diagnose because symptoms mimic other diseases. It takes nearly seven years, on average, for a diagnosis.
How the disease will play out for Williams is unclear. Symptoms can remain mild, worsen or, occasionally, go into remission, Belmont said.
While the exact cause of Sjogren's syndrome is not known, Belmont said genetic factors appear to be involved. "An as-yet unidentified environmental factor likely plays a role, as observation finds that identical twins with the same DNA do not always share the illness," he said.
However, it is found more commonly in families that have members with other autoimmune illnesses, he said, noting this supports the genetic theory.
"Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important they may prevent serious complications and greatly improve a patient's quality of life," he said.
Williams, 31, said the disease has diminished her energy level and caused joint pain, curtailing her ability to continue in the tournament.
More than 4 million Americans have the chronic autoimmune disease, which also causes dry mouth and dry eyes. Ninety percent of those with the disease are women.
Sjogren's syndrome "targets and destroys over time the exocrine glands responsible for tear production and saliva and is characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes," said Dr. Michael Belmont, an associate professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at NYU Langone Medical Center and medical director for Hospital for Joint Diseases. Less commonly, it can cause severe arthritis involving joint deformity and impaired function, he noted.
The publicity surrounding Williams' announcement is expected to increase awareness of the systemic disease, potentially leading to better diagnostic and treatment options.
"Sjogren's syndrome can occur as a primary disorder or secondary to other autoimmune diseases, principally rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus [lupus]," Belmont said. Multiple organs, including the kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels and the central nervous system, can also be involved.
When Sjogren's progresses to a multi-organ disease, treatment becomes complex, said Dr. Victoria Shanmugam, a rheumatologist at Georgetown University Medical Center.
"Treatment for Sjogren's ranges from therapies to alleviate symptoms, such as topical therapies for dry eyes and dry mouth, to drugs that suppress the immune system, including hydroxychloroque, methotrexate and steroids," said Shanmugam, who is not involved in Williams' care. "We also use medications that help fight fatigue and fibromyalgia symptoms."
Fibromyalgia is another chronic autoimmune disease.
Sjogren's, first identified in 1933, affects virtually every racial and ethnic group, according to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation. It is difficult to diagnose because symptoms mimic other diseases. It takes nearly seven years, on average, for a diagnosis.
How the disease will play out for Williams is unclear. Symptoms can remain mild, worsen or, occasionally, go into remission, Belmont said.
While the exact cause of Sjogren's syndrome is not known, Belmont said genetic factors appear to be involved. "An as-yet unidentified environmental factor likely plays a role, as observation finds that identical twins with the same DNA do not always share the illness," he said.
However, it is found more commonly in families that have members with other autoimmune illnesses, he said, noting this supports the genetic theory.
"Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important they may prevent serious complications and greatly improve a patient's quality of life," he said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)