Monday, July 14, 2008
Bye Bye Billy
Billy Packer has been let go by CBS. And I am...sad. I like the guy. I've said it for years, taken a bunch of crap for it, and stood by him. And I'm not going anywhere now. I would expound on my reasons for liking him, but why repeat what someone else has already said. I'll just say that for people who really like college basketball, and really understand the game, he does as fine a job as any other color commentator in the country. Do I always agree with his stance? No. Does he always present his argument with eloquence and tact? No. But has the man forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know? Without a doubt.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
The Greatest Song of All-Time Part II
http://theblueteam9.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html
No blog posting I have written has generated as much controvery/feedback as the above link to what I deemed "The Greatest Song of All-Time". As you can see from the original posting, as well as the comments, the range of responses has been quite diverse. I have been praised and criticized and all are certainly entitled to their opinion. I do want to clear up two issues as brought up in both blog comments and conversations with friends.
First, my diverse musical taste is not at all limited to "pop". While I agree that many of the artists I mentioned are "mainstream", they would not fall into "pop" music. Of those I mentioned, Three 6 Mafia, Subdudes, The Roots, and Coheed and Cambria most certainly are not pop. You can definitely find them on XM Radio, maybe even on a standard station from time to time. All are on well-known labels as well. But they are not "pop" artists. I mentioned these particular artists to illustrate the diversity of my listening preferences, not the quality. However, they are definitely MY preferences, no one else's. I was not then, and am not presently, trying to push my choices of music onto anyone. I am only critical when someone claims to have a wide-range of musical taste (i.e. "I listen to everything") when they really mean they listen to one single station that claims to play everything (i.e. Top 40). If you listen to alternative independent rock artists only, great. Rap and that's it? Cool. Country and classical, maybe occasional jazz? Interesting combo for sure, but that's fine. Just don't claim to be open to diverse genres of music when you (speaking generally) are not. I personally happen to LIKE all of the artists I mentioned, and many more to boot. Paula Abdul anyone?
Second, my point in selecting "We Are the Champions" as the greatest song of all-time had very little to do with the musical quality of the song itself, the band, or anything besides the impact of the song through sports. That was pretty much my point, a bit tongue-in-cheek if you will. Queen has numerous songs that have been hits, and some of their better tracks were not released as singles for everyone to learn. From a musical standpoint, "We Are the Champions" is not a complex song, nor does it possess complex lyrics. It is very simple, which is part of what makes it impactful from a social/sports standpoint. Queen is also not the most musically talented band of all-time, but they were super successful and well-known. All of that being said, this song's major appeal to me is found in the context for which it is played - everytime a team wins a championship. That's it. I think when someone chooses their personal "Greatest Song of All--Time", it has to have an added meaning to them personally. Sure, songs like "Hey Jude", "Hotel California", and "Thriller" are mentioned by a lot of people (just repeating what I've heard others say), but none of those songs have personal meaning for me. Sports does. And every time any team wins a championship, get ready to hear "We Are the Champions". For someone like myself who loves the celebrations after a title is won, this song has added personal significance.
So, write in. Let's hear some more feedback. I want to know what is your "greatest song of all time" and why. I'll gather the responses and put together some sort of mailbag/reader writers column (or two). You can add your name and location if you're comfortable with that as well. Please identify the song, artist, and put together a brief description of why the song means a lot to you. You can take it as greatest song from a musical standpoint, from a social impact standpoint, or just a personal (as I did) standpoint.
And by the way, I still think Nickelback sucks.
No blog posting I have written has generated as much controvery/feedback as the above link to what I deemed "The Greatest Song of All-Time". As you can see from the original posting, as well as the comments, the range of responses has been quite diverse. I have been praised and criticized and all are certainly entitled to their opinion. I do want to clear up two issues as brought up in both blog comments and conversations with friends.
First, my diverse musical taste is not at all limited to "pop". While I agree that many of the artists I mentioned are "mainstream", they would not fall into "pop" music. Of those I mentioned, Three 6 Mafia, Subdudes, The Roots, and Coheed and Cambria most certainly are not pop. You can definitely find them on XM Radio, maybe even on a standard station from time to time. All are on well-known labels as well. But they are not "pop" artists. I mentioned these particular artists to illustrate the diversity of my listening preferences, not the quality. However, they are definitely MY preferences, no one else's. I was not then, and am not presently, trying to push my choices of music onto anyone. I am only critical when someone claims to have a wide-range of musical taste (i.e. "I listen to everything") when they really mean they listen to one single station that claims to play everything (i.e. Top 40). If you listen to alternative independent rock artists only, great. Rap and that's it? Cool. Country and classical, maybe occasional jazz? Interesting combo for sure, but that's fine. Just don't claim to be open to diverse genres of music when you (speaking generally) are not. I personally happen to LIKE all of the artists I mentioned, and many more to boot. Paula Abdul anyone?
Second, my point in selecting "We Are the Champions" as the greatest song of all-time had very little to do with the musical quality of the song itself, the band, or anything besides the impact of the song through sports. That was pretty much my point, a bit tongue-in-cheek if you will. Queen has numerous songs that have been hits, and some of their better tracks were not released as singles for everyone to learn. From a musical standpoint, "We Are the Champions" is not a complex song, nor does it possess complex lyrics. It is very simple, which is part of what makes it impactful from a social/sports standpoint. Queen is also not the most musically talented band of all-time, but they were super successful and well-known. All of that being said, this song's major appeal to me is found in the context for which it is played - everytime a team wins a championship. That's it. I think when someone chooses their personal "Greatest Song of All--Time", it has to have an added meaning to them personally. Sure, songs like "Hey Jude", "Hotel California", and "Thriller" are mentioned by a lot of people (just repeating what I've heard others say), but none of those songs have personal meaning for me. Sports does. And every time any team wins a championship, get ready to hear "We Are the Champions". For someone like myself who loves the celebrations after a title is won, this song has added personal significance.
So, write in. Let's hear some more feedback. I want to know what is your "greatest song of all time" and why. I'll gather the responses and put together some sort of mailbag/reader writers column (or two). You can add your name and location if you're comfortable with that as well. Please identify the song, artist, and put together a brief description of why the song means a lot to you. You can take it as greatest song from a musical standpoint, from a social impact standpoint, or just a personal (as I did) standpoint.
And by the way, I still think Nickelback sucks.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft is here. Finally. The Chick-Fil-A is hot, the tea is sweet, and the #50 Emeka Okafor Bobcats jersey is on my back. Thoughts as we go:
1. Derrick Rose goes #1. Obvi.
2. Michael Beasley goes #2. Not a big surprise. I felt that Miami would trade the pick if they found good value. Obviously they did not, so they stayed put and took Beasley. I think that's the right move.
3. Ovinton J'Anthony Mayo (!) goes #3. I had no idea his real name. I figured Oscar Jr. or something. J'Anthony? At least Minnesota did the right thing and took the best guy. They'd have kicked themselves for taking Kevin Love here (and yes, I thought they would be that stupid).
4. Russell Westbrook goes to Seattle at #4. It is clear to me that the Supersonics franchise has no interest in being any good any time soon. These guys are going to be patient with this team so that once they move to Oklahoma City (which is going to happen at some point sooner or later), they'll be good enough to make the playoffs. But Westbrook is going to take a lot of time in my opinion. I personally do not like this pick or Westbrook at 4. Westbrook at 14? Sure. But not 4.
5. #5 is Kevin Love to hell...or Memphis. And he claims to be excited.
6. New York takes Gallinari. And Knicks fans boo. Shocking.
I pause to mention that Bill Simmons writes a "running diary" of the NBA Draft every year, which is always a hilarious read. I am predicting these things as being mentioned: A. The fact that Derrick Rose's high school title game footage had a final score of 31-29. B. The look on David Stern's face as he realized he had to say "Danilo Gallinari" on national TV. C. OJ Mayo's name. That's a lock. D. The fact that Gallinari apparently was advised to talk about "winning and New York City" in his interview.
7. Eric Gordon to the Clippers.
8. Joe Alexander to Milwaukee.
9. The Bobcats. Bayless is available. I want him. Gramps predicts we take Brook Lopez. And I agree. With the 9th pick, the Charlotte Bobcats select:
DJ Augustin.
*insert loud expletive of choice here*
(I choose the one that begins with "S" and ends with "hit")
Augustin: he's 5-10. He is inconsistent shooting the ball. He weighs 172 lbs. David Stern is almost as tall as him. He looks 15. Derrick Rose ate his lunch, dinner, and dessert in the NCAA Tournament. Value at 15, but not at 9. On a separate note, Augustin does have on a sharp gray three-piece suit with a magenta shirt and striped tie. So at least he's got that going for him.
So now, is Felton our point guard? Does this mean he might be traded? I doubt it. But maybe pushed for the position at least. I just do not understand how, if they wanted a point guard, the Bobcats passed on Bayless.
Text message conversation -
Gramps: Strange pick
Me: Hang on, I gotta finish my noose
10. Brook Lopez goes at #10 to New Jersey. A solid scoring big man, especially at this spot in the draft. He has to improve his defense and rebounding, but I like him ok. Then again, if the Bobcats had picked him, I'd be threatening to do harm to myself. What? I already did that? Oh yeah, cause we just drafted a dwarf.
Brook Lopez sounds exactly like WWE's The Big Show. Good grief. If he starts choke-slamming guys, then maybe I'll want him on the Bobcats after all. I'd pay him to choke slam our front office right now, that's for sure.
11. Ok, moving past this probable draft disaster, the Pacers take Jerryd Bayless at #11. He has on a white suit, shirt, tie, and shoes. And he's not a Charlotte Bobcat. I may have to take my jersey off. I'd buy an Augustin jersey, but I bet it only comes in kid's sizes.
12. Jason Thompson is taken at #12 by the Kings. Um, what? Jay Bilas says, "a bit of a surprise". I'm mad Stephen A. Smith is doing draftee interviews (and not too well I might add. All he asks is, "what is player's name going to bring to team's name next year?") instead of screaming about this selection. "Horrible!!!" he'd say. I'm befuddled by this pick honestly, even though the Kings do typically find good players in the draft. Looks to me like they may have over-thought this one though.
13. Portland takes Brandon Rush at #13. Terrific pick. Geez, Portland could be flat out sick in three years.
For your information, I have spent 15 minutes trying to research and rack my brain to remember an All-Star point guard who was shorter than 6-0. I can't. Even Nate "Tiny" Archibald was 6-1 according to basketballreference.com.
14. Anthony (not J'Anthony) Randolph at #14 to Golden State. He who weighs 53.4 lbs. The actual total combined weight of Golden State's frontline of the future (Randolph and former Tar Heel Brandan Wright) is 408 lbs, or the equivalent of Oliver Miller. They need to ensure an all-you-can-eat buffet for their team every day on the road.
Dickie V makes his first appearance. We agree on Russell Westbrook and Jason Thompson both being questionable selections.
15. Robin Lopez at #15 to Phoenix.
16. Philadelphia takes Marreese Speights at #16. Good potential here. Another season and he'd have been a mid-lottery pick in my opinion.
17. Toronto drafts Roy Hibbert for Indiana at #17 as part of the Jermaine O'Neal trade. Gramps and I had just finished discussing the Bobcats' upcoming pick at #20 and speculated that Hibbert would be the guy if he is available. I thought he'd go at #18 to Washington. I was off by one pick. And the night just got worse for the Bobcats. Unless they take Arthur or Greene. Knowing this, I'm expecting Alexis Ajinca instead. Go ahead and pull the car into the garage and turn it on for me. I'll close the garage door and stuff the tailpipe in a few minutes.
Fascinating "Miced Up" segment with The Big Show (aka Brook Lopez). He looked shocked when someone told him Lawrence Frank is the coach of the Nets. I do think, however, that Lawrence Frank could post DJ Augustin up though.
18. JaVale McGee goes 18 to Washington. No opinion.
I literally stopped in mid-pee to run back into my TV Lair to hear Ric Bucher's breaking report that Bayless and Diogu are being traded by Indiana to Portland for Jarrett Jack and Brandon Rush. Did I say Portland could be "flat out sick" earlier? How about "flat out mega-sick"? Rush would be a great fit on that team, but Bayless is a significant long-term upgrade over Jack.
The most impressive item in the above paragraph is that I have the bladder control to stop peeing in mid-stream. I said it.
19. Cleveland takes JJ Hickson from Moo U at #19. Good move on his behalf staying in the draft when others said he should wait a year. That means Arthur and Greene are both still available and...
With the Bobcats back on the clock and having finished my sweet tea 20 minutes ago, I am debating beer or liquor.
20. Liquor it is. And I swear on my love for our family dog, Pebbles, that I wrote the previous comment about taking Ajinca before this happened. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the garage.
Breaking news - Josh McRoberts is still in the NBA. He is to be included in the Portland/Indiana deal, going to the Pacers. I thought he was playing in Israel already. Further comment on this trade: I was confused as to why the Pacers would take Bayless when they are already getting TJ Ford and have Jamal Tinsley as well. It makes sense now.
21. New Jersey goes with Ryan Anderson at #21. I like this guy, I think he's going to be a good role player, especially stretching the floor at the 4-spot. It confused me how he was projected as a 2nd round player.
Darrell Arthur needs a hug.
22. Courtney Lee goes at #22 to Orlando. Apparently I am watching the WNBA draft, because Brook, Robin, and Courtney have all been drafted. I'm not surprised though, as I think this is actually the Charlotte Sting drafting instead of the Bobcats.
23. Kosta Koufos to Utah at #23. He looks like Mehmet Okur a bit, plays similarly, and will now be his teammate. A little confusing because Utah will be replicating the 5-spot with Okur and Koufos. However, if you find a successful player in your system, I don't guess it hurts to get a carbon copy of him to be a reserve.
We get a breakdown of the "Anatomy of Indiana's Pick". If this were the anatomy of the Bobcats' picks, they would say "Short" and "French". Sigh.
24. The Oklahoma City Not-Sonics select Serge Ibaka at #24. He is from Congo. Fran Fraschilla says "forget this name for about three or four years". Did I mention that the Sonics DO NOT CARE about winning right now AT ALL?!? This is like tanking over the course of four seasons. Unreal.
Doris Burke interviews a depressed Darrell Arthur. I think he messed up by wearing the green tie with the green shirt. U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi...
25. The Rockets take Nicolas Batum as the #25 selection. He was a supposed lottery pick last year had he come over, but waited, got diagnosed with a medical condition, and fell in the draft a bit.
Tarheelpwin weighs in via the phone on the Bobcats. He is none too happy either. It runs in the family apparently.
A note on the upcoming pick - earlier today, according to ESPN.com, the Spurs sent out a mass email to all NBA GM's stating that the 26th pick was for sale. I wonder now if the price for that pick has increased with Arthur still on the board.
26. The Spurs grab George Hill at #26. IUPUI in the house! I guess that answers my above question. Good for San Antonio, a good backup for Tony Parker. See, this is where you draft a good backup point guard. As opposed to 9th.
27. New Orleans finally ends the insanity and takes Darrell Arthur with the #27 pick. This pick is going to Portland, don't forget. So Portland has landed Ike Diogu, Jerryd Bayless, and Darrell Arthur tonight, along with getting rid of Josh McRoberts. Now that's a good draft night.
They show David Stern clapping as Darrell Arthur walks to the stage. Dad says he's clapping because he only has to do this for three more picks.
Darrell Arthur's mama, Sandra, weighs more than the new Bobcats' point guard and the Golden State frontline combined. But, she's relieved that her baby just got drafted. And I'm legitimately happy for her.
28. Memphis goes with Donte Greene at #28. I honestly forgot my boy was still around. Too bad he's going to Memphis to dwell in obscurity. He could be a great compliment to Rudy Gay in a few years.
29. De-troit Basket-ball selects DJ White with pick #29. Interesting selection considering his knee injuries. But, he's crafty and pretty tough; I'll admit coming around on him this past season.
30. Boston takes JR Giddens at #30, ending the first round. He is tremendously talented, but has some baggage. Stephen Jackson was my comparison earlier today, and not just on the floor. If he settles down, he'll be a terrific player to have gotten at 30.
Adam Silver takes the torch from David Stern and kicks off the lightning round. I'll summarize the first round quickly, then add a bit about the Bobcats' second-rounder and overall performance tonight. Might want to put the kids to bed for that one.
Winners - Portland, New Jersey, Minnesota, San Antonio, & Boston
Losers - Sacramento, Seattle (really, what the heck), The Golden State Welterweights, Darrell Arthur, and...the Bobcats.
Dickie V did just make me feel better by reminding us that North Carolina will have no players drafted tonight (barring Q being selected by the Bobcats. At this point, anything is possible). Rumor has it that the Tar Heels will be pretty good this coming season.
Value players in the second round - Mario Chalmers (I thought he'd be gone before the Cats picked again at #20. He's still around), Chris Douglas-Dash-Roberts, DeAndre Jordan. Think those guys are wishing they stayed in college after all? Seriously, other good values are Bill Walker & Kyle Weaver.
Larry Brown interview: "I'm satisfied I got a job". Great. Note that he did not say "I'm glad we drafted a midget and a foo-foo".
With the #38 pick, the Bobcats select Kyle Weaver. Finally, a good pick. I really like this guy. 6-6, versatile, solid defender and smart player. Good system fit for Larry Brown's system. Not really sure about the glut of shooting guards and small forwards, but he is a valuable asset and adds depth for now.
On a related Bobcats note, the Kings picked Sean Singletary at #42. Singletary is a 5-11.5 point guard. Sound familiar? Look at the stats:
Augustin: 19.2 points/gm, 5.8 assists/gm, 2.1/1 a/t ratio, 43.9 FG%
Singletary: 19.8 points/gm, 6.1 assists/gm, 1.6/1 a/t ratio, 42.6 FG%
So except for their assists-to-turnovers ratio, the numbers are quite similar. And remember Augustin played in an Elite Eight team while Singletary was blessed to play on a Final Four team...of the CBI Tournament. Thus, a talent difference exists. Somehow, one was the 9th pick, the other the 42nd pick.
Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow. But don't bet on it. I'm out of here now, got to go pick up a DJ Augustin jersey for Mini-Me. Holler if you hear me.
1. Derrick Rose goes #1. Obvi.
2. Michael Beasley goes #2. Not a big surprise. I felt that Miami would trade the pick if they found good value. Obviously they did not, so they stayed put and took Beasley. I think that's the right move.
3. Ovinton J'Anthony Mayo (!) goes #3. I had no idea his real name. I figured Oscar Jr. or something. J'Anthony? At least Minnesota did the right thing and took the best guy. They'd have kicked themselves for taking Kevin Love here (and yes, I thought they would be that stupid).
4. Russell Westbrook goes to Seattle at #4. It is clear to me that the Supersonics franchise has no interest in being any good any time soon. These guys are going to be patient with this team so that once they move to Oklahoma City (which is going to happen at some point sooner or later), they'll be good enough to make the playoffs. But Westbrook is going to take a lot of time in my opinion. I personally do not like this pick or Westbrook at 4. Westbrook at 14? Sure. But not 4.
5. #5 is Kevin Love to hell...or Memphis. And he claims to be excited.
6. New York takes Gallinari. And Knicks fans boo. Shocking.
I pause to mention that Bill Simmons writes a "running diary" of the NBA Draft every year, which is always a hilarious read. I am predicting these things as being mentioned: A. The fact that Derrick Rose's high school title game footage had a final score of 31-29. B. The look on David Stern's face as he realized he had to say "Danilo Gallinari" on national TV. C. OJ Mayo's name. That's a lock. D. The fact that Gallinari apparently was advised to talk about "winning and New York City" in his interview.
7. Eric Gordon to the Clippers.
8. Joe Alexander to Milwaukee.
9. The Bobcats. Bayless is available. I want him. Gramps predicts we take Brook Lopez. And I agree. With the 9th pick, the Charlotte Bobcats select:
DJ Augustin.
*insert loud expletive of choice here*
(I choose the one that begins with "S" and ends with "hit")
Augustin: he's 5-10. He is inconsistent shooting the ball. He weighs 172 lbs. David Stern is almost as tall as him. He looks 15. Derrick Rose ate his lunch, dinner, and dessert in the NCAA Tournament. Value at 15, but not at 9. On a separate note, Augustin does have on a sharp gray three-piece suit with a magenta shirt and striped tie. So at least he's got that going for him.
So now, is Felton our point guard? Does this mean he might be traded? I doubt it. But maybe pushed for the position at least. I just do not understand how, if they wanted a point guard, the Bobcats passed on Bayless.
Text message conversation -
Gramps: Strange pick
Me: Hang on, I gotta finish my noose
10. Brook Lopez goes at #10 to New Jersey. A solid scoring big man, especially at this spot in the draft. He has to improve his defense and rebounding, but I like him ok. Then again, if the Bobcats had picked him, I'd be threatening to do harm to myself. What? I already did that? Oh yeah, cause we just drafted a dwarf.
Brook Lopez sounds exactly like WWE's The Big Show. Good grief. If he starts choke-slamming guys, then maybe I'll want him on the Bobcats after all. I'd pay him to choke slam our front office right now, that's for sure.
11. Ok, moving past this probable draft disaster, the Pacers take Jerryd Bayless at #11. He has on a white suit, shirt, tie, and shoes. And he's not a Charlotte Bobcat. I may have to take my jersey off. I'd buy an Augustin jersey, but I bet it only comes in kid's sizes.
12. Jason Thompson is taken at #12 by the Kings. Um, what? Jay Bilas says, "a bit of a surprise". I'm mad Stephen A. Smith is doing draftee interviews (and not too well I might add. All he asks is, "what is player's name going to bring to team's name next year?") instead of screaming about this selection. "Horrible!!!" he'd say. I'm befuddled by this pick honestly, even though the Kings do typically find good players in the draft. Looks to me like they may have over-thought this one though.
13. Portland takes Brandon Rush at #13. Terrific pick. Geez, Portland could be flat out sick in three years.
For your information, I have spent 15 minutes trying to research and rack my brain to remember an All-Star point guard who was shorter than 6-0. I can't. Even Nate "Tiny" Archibald was 6-1 according to basketballreference.com.
14. Anthony (not J'Anthony) Randolph at #14 to Golden State. He who weighs 53.4 lbs. The actual total combined weight of Golden State's frontline of the future (Randolph and former Tar Heel Brandan Wright) is 408 lbs, or the equivalent of Oliver Miller. They need to ensure an all-you-can-eat buffet for their team every day on the road.
Dickie V makes his first appearance. We agree on Russell Westbrook and Jason Thompson both being questionable selections.
15. Robin Lopez at #15 to Phoenix.
16. Philadelphia takes Marreese Speights at #16. Good potential here. Another season and he'd have been a mid-lottery pick in my opinion.
17. Toronto drafts Roy Hibbert for Indiana at #17 as part of the Jermaine O'Neal trade. Gramps and I had just finished discussing the Bobcats' upcoming pick at #20 and speculated that Hibbert would be the guy if he is available. I thought he'd go at #18 to Washington. I was off by one pick. And the night just got worse for the Bobcats. Unless they take Arthur or Greene. Knowing this, I'm expecting Alexis Ajinca instead. Go ahead and pull the car into the garage and turn it on for me. I'll close the garage door and stuff the tailpipe in a few minutes.
Fascinating "Miced Up" segment with The Big Show (aka Brook Lopez). He looked shocked when someone told him Lawrence Frank is the coach of the Nets. I do think, however, that Lawrence Frank could post DJ Augustin up though.
18. JaVale McGee goes 18 to Washington. No opinion.
I literally stopped in mid-pee to run back into my TV Lair to hear Ric Bucher's breaking report that Bayless and Diogu are being traded by Indiana to Portland for Jarrett Jack and Brandon Rush. Did I say Portland could be "flat out sick" earlier? How about "flat out mega-sick"? Rush would be a great fit on that team, but Bayless is a significant long-term upgrade over Jack.
The most impressive item in the above paragraph is that I have the bladder control to stop peeing in mid-stream. I said it.
19. Cleveland takes JJ Hickson from Moo U at #19. Good move on his behalf staying in the draft when others said he should wait a year. That means Arthur and Greene are both still available and...
With the Bobcats back on the clock and having finished my sweet tea 20 minutes ago, I am debating beer or liquor.
20. Liquor it is. And I swear on my love for our family dog, Pebbles, that I wrote the previous comment about taking Ajinca before this happened. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the garage.
Breaking news - Josh McRoberts is still in the NBA. He is to be included in the Portland/Indiana deal, going to the Pacers. I thought he was playing in Israel already. Further comment on this trade: I was confused as to why the Pacers would take Bayless when they are already getting TJ Ford and have Jamal Tinsley as well. It makes sense now.
21. New Jersey goes with Ryan Anderson at #21. I like this guy, I think he's going to be a good role player, especially stretching the floor at the 4-spot. It confused me how he was projected as a 2nd round player.
Darrell Arthur needs a hug.
22. Courtney Lee goes at #22 to Orlando. Apparently I am watching the WNBA draft, because Brook, Robin, and Courtney have all been drafted. I'm not surprised though, as I think this is actually the Charlotte Sting drafting instead of the Bobcats.
23. Kosta Koufos to Utah at #23. He looks like Mehmet Okur a bit, plays similarly, and will now be his teammate. A little confusing because Utah will be replicating the 5-spot with Okur and Koufos. However, if you find a successful player in your system, I don't guess it hurts to get a carbon copy of him to be a reserve.
We get a breakdown of the "Anatomy of Indiana's Pick". If this were the anatomy of the Bobcats' picks, they would say "Short" and "French". Sigh.
24. The Oklahoma City Not-Sonics select Serge Ibaka at #24. He is from Congo. Fran Fraschilla says "forget this name for about three or four years". Did I mention that the Sonics DO NOT CARE about winning right now AT ALL?!? This is like tanking over the course of four seasons. Unreal.
Doris Burke interviews a depressed Darrell Arthur. I think he messed up by wearing the green tie with the green shirt. U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi...
25. The Rockets take Nicolas Batum as the #25 selection. He was a supposed lottery pick last year had he come over, but waited, got diagnosed with a medical condition, and fell in the draft a bit.
Tarheelpwin weighs in via the phone on the Bobcats. He is none too happy either. It runs in the family apparently.
A note on the upcoming pick - earlier today, according to ESPN.com, the Spurs sent out a mass email to all NBA GM's stating that the 26th pick was for sale. I wonder now if the price for that pick has increased with Arthur still on the board.
26. The Spurs grab George Hill at #26. IUPUI in the house! I guess that answers my above question. Good for San Antonio, a good backup for Tony Parker. See, this is where you draft a good backup point guard. As opposed to 9th.
27. New Orleans finally ends the insanity and takes Darrell Arthur with the #27 pick. This pick is going to Portland, don't forget. So Portland has landed Ike Diogu, Jerryd Bayless, and Darrell Arthur tonight, along with getting rid of Josh McRoberts. Now that's a good draft night.
They show David Stern clapping as Darrell Arthur walks to the stage. Dad says he's clapping because he only has to do this for three more picks.
Darrell Arthur's mama, Sandra, weighs more than the new Bobcats' point guard and the Golden State frontline combined. But, she's relieved that her baby just got drafted. And I'm legitimately happy for her.
28. Memphis goes with Donte Greene at #28. I honestly forgot my boy was still around. Too bad he's going to Memphis to dwell in obscurity. He could be a great compliment to Rudy Gay in a few years.
29. De-troit Basket-ball selects DJ White with pick #29. Interesting selection considering his knee injuries. But, he's crafty and pretty tough; I'll admit coming around on him this past season.
30. Boston takes JR Giddens at #30, ending the first round. He is tremendously talented, but has some baggage. Stephen Jackson was my comparison earlier today, and not just on the floor. If he settles down, he'll be a terrific player to have gotten at 30.
Adam Silver takes the torch from David Stern and kicks off the lightning round. I'll summarize the first round quickly, then add a bit about the Bobcats' second-rounder and overall performance tonight. Might want to put the kids to bed for that one.
Winners - Portland, New Jersey, Minnesota, San Antonio, & Boston
Losers - Sacramento, Seattle (really, what the heck), The Golden State Welterweights, Darrell Arthur, and...the Bobcats.
Dickie V did just make me feel better by reminding us that North Carolina will have no players drafted tonight (barring Q being selected by the Bobcats. At this point, anything is possible). Rumor has it that the Tar Heels will be pretty good this coming season.
Value players in the second round - Mario Chalmers (I thought he'd be gone before the Cats picked again at #20. He's still around), Chris Douglas-Dash-Roberts, DeAndre Jordan. Think those guys are wishing they stayed in college after all? Seriously, other good values are Bill Walker & Kyle Weaver.
Larry Brown interview: "I'm satisfied I got a job". Great. Note that he did not say "I'm glad we drafted a midget and a foo-foo".
With the #38 pick, the Bobcats select Kyle Weaver. Finally, a good pick. I really like this guy. 6-6, versatile, solid defender and smart player. Good system fit for Larry Brown's system. Not really sure about the glut of shooting guards and small forwards, but he is a valuable asset and adds depth for now.
On a related Bobcats note, the Kings picked Sean Singletary at #42. Singletary is a 5-11.5 point guard. Sound familiar? Look at the stats:
Augustin: 19.2 points/gm, 5.8 assists/gm, 2.1/1 a/t ratio, 43.9 FG%
Singletary: 19.8 points/gm, 6.1 assists/gm, 1.6/1 a/t ratio, 42.6 FG%
So except for their assists-to-turnovers ratio, the numbers are quite similar. And remember Augustin played in an Elite Eight team while Singletary was blessed to play on a Final Four team...of the CBI Tournament. Thus, a talent difference exists. Somehow, one was the 9th pick, the other the 42nd pick.
Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow. But don't bet on it. I'm out of here now, got to go pick up a DJ Augustin jersey for Mini-Me. Holler if you hear me.
How Dare You Mock My Draft
The Blue Team's NBA Mock Draft, as constructed with the ESPN.com Draft Machine
Quick notes:
Quick notes:
- I am assuming in this version that Miami and Seattle make a trade. Seattle gets the #2 pick (Beasley) and takes on a contract (Mark Blount probably) for the #4 (Mayo after Minnesota chickens out and drafts Kevin Love at #3), the # 24 (where Miami takes Speights), Chris Wilcox, and a future 2nd rounder.
- Also operating off the assumption that the Jermaine O'Neal trade is completed as promised, thereby making Toronto's need for a traditional center and Indiana's need for a point guard that doesn't shoot guns in the air at strip clubs moot.
- The Draft Machine had not yet been updated to reflect Charlotte's pick at #20 or Portland's additional selection at #27.
- In this version, the Bobcats pass on Brook Lopez at #9, taking Augustin instead, and grabbing the other Ms. Lopez at #20 (Robin). I made the point this morning to Andrew that it does not look like a good point guard will be available at #20, but plenty of big men will still be around. Therefore, I could see the Cats reaching a bit to take a point guard with the #9 and waiting on the best available big guy at #20.
Enjoy tonight. And hold my calls.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
This Guy Oozes Upside...He's Long
With the NBA Draft fast approaching (as in this Thursday night), a few passing thoughts on what may or may not go down.
1. The #1 pick - It'll be Derrick Rose. Although Beasley may be a better fit short-term, Rose could turn into a great team leader on a title contender. It seems that a lot of people have criticized Rose's game recently, but I think many are forgetting that he's just 19 years old. His game will improve. Is he as polished as Deron Williams was when he was the #3 pick in 2005? Of course not, Williams had played two additional years in college and worked on his game in that time. So, Rose will get better and, pending good health, be a great NBA point guard for years to come. The bigger issue for Chicago is the rest of the team. Trading Kurt Hinrich now, with his value at its lowest point, would be short-sighted. I think they are still a good player or two away from competing in the East with Boston, Detroit, Orlando, or Cleveland, so playing out the upcoming season with both Hinrich and Rose might be their best option. Let Hinrich play his value back up and then pair him with Nocioni or a re-signed Ben Gordon and try to find a solid low-block player. So, the real impact of drafting Rose remains to be seen over a season or two.
2. The #2 pick - will Miami trade it? ESPN has been reporting this possibility (which has to be annoying to the teams and their decision-makers. Would you want everyone to know your business?) for the past day or so. It seems that they will, and they should if they do not feel that Beasley is the best fit for their team. I question a Mayo/Wade backcourt, but I think that combination might be better than drafting Beasley and trading Marion (or Haslam). If the Heat can figure out a way to draft Mayo and pick up something in return, then this will be a great draft for them. That being said, if Mayo is their guy, then just draft him at #2 as opposed to moving down (such as to #7 in a trade with the Clippers) and settling for another guy.
3. The Lottery - what a jumbled mess the lottery looks right now. I challenge you to find consistency in the experts' Mock Drafts, even a day before the actual draft. Outside of Rose, Beasley, and to a certain extent, Mayo, there is little consensus among GM's, scouts, writers, or fans. I attribute this to the youth of many of these talented players. Imagine looking at half a painting; you would have little clue as to what the finished product will look like. Will it be a $200 piece of art? $2,000? $200,000? Or will it look like I painted it (um, that's not a good thing. Think finger painting from pre-school)? That's what teams are having to try and do with many of these prospects. Some are going to be hits, others misses. Unfortunately, that is just the nature of the draft nowadays.
4. The Upside Guys - unfinished or not, there are some players that might be drafted a bit later that I think could be really good. Donte Greene jumps out at me, the 6-9 forward from Syracuse. Darrell Arthur of Kansas also, but to a lesser extent, at the same position. I like Marreese Speights from Florida as well as Koufos from Ohio State as more low-block guys. Koufos, in the right system, could really be good, a la Mehmet Okur. He could also be the next Primoz Brezec. And just writing Primoz Brezec made me throw up a bit in my mouth. I'm not a huge fan of many of the guards outside of the top 10 or so, but Brandon Rush should be solid. Bill Walker has outstanding talent if he can overcome his injury issues (not that I find that possibility to be particularly promising). Personally, I am a supporter of Kyle Weaver. Again, in the right system, Weaver will serve as a solid backup who contributes some points, but mostly great D, good rebounding for a guard, and smart hustle plays. JR Giddens and James Gist also seem like possible late-second sleepers.
5. The Bobcats - last topic here are my hometown Bobcats. The Bobcats have never been so bad, nor had tremendous draft lottery luck, to gain a top talent in a good draft (although they did trade up to take Okafor in 2004). Okafor, Felton, Morrison, and Wright (traded for Jason Richardson) have been the first selections thus far. Not exactly a homerun, superstar player among that group. Well, this year is not different. Barring an aggressive and expensive move into the top 3, the Bobcats will be forced to select another quality player or two and continue to lack a dominate force on both ends of the floor. No Kobe, no LeBron, no Carmelo...not even a Joe Johnson or Chris Bosh type of second-tier star. Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson are great players, but neither can be the unstoppable force to lead this team to a title. Thus, the Bobcats continue to stockpile young players and hope that land enough assets to make a good trade in a year or two...at least that's what I hope they are doing.
So what do the Cats do Thursday night? Well, drafting #9 and now #20 (added a pick from Denver today for a future protected 1st rounder), the Fightin' Bobs have the chance to fill both their needs in the first round - PG and C. All the talk of Brook Lopez at #9 makes me a bit queasy, but he would fill a team need. I honestly might prefer him on this squad than Kevin Love (a slow 4 man) or Anthony Randolph (he weighs like 87 pounds or something) even though his defense is fairly lacking. But, with good coaching (which it seems the Cats may have in Larry Brown), he could improve greatly. Roy Hibbert has apparently also caught the attention of the Charlotte staff, which I thought was an awful thing last year. However, he could be more ready to contribute now than anyone else taken with our high pick, so grabbing him at number 20 would be ok.
The biggest problem the Bobcats had this past season was defending the other teams with a versatile 4 man. Guys like Bosh, Lewis, Dirk and Marion constantly gave Okafor fits and foul trouble and made our bench guys look bad. Finding a constant low-post scorer that can also guard this position would be ideal, but guys like Arthur and Randolph have seen their stock tumble. I do think finding a backup point guard (or potential starter if Felton is not going to be the guy long-term) is important, but not worth a high selection. All that being said, I'm cool with drafting Lopez at #9 and Donte Greene at #20 or taking Joe Alexander (if he's available) at #9 and Hibbert at #20. Then, they can draft a backup point guard in the second round (Kyle Weaver anyone?).
I'm excited about this draft, but not as much as recent years. I really think this could be a great draft if a lot of these "upside" guys pan out, but it could look like the 2001 draft if they do not. Just a lot of bang or bust potential here. That being said, I'll probably have some immediate thoughts posted after the draft. I doubt it will be a "running diary" per say, but some time-stamped, draft pick-stamped thoughts nonetheless.
Stuntin' like my daddy...
1. The #1 pick - It'll be Derrick Rose. Although Beasley may be a better fit short-term, Rose could turn into a great team leader on a title contender. It seems that a lot of people have criticized Rose's game recently, but I think many are forgetting that he's just 19 years old. His game will improve. Is he as polished as Deron Williams was when he was the #3 pick in 2005? Of course not, Williams had played two additional years in college and worked on his game in that time. So, Rose will get better and, pending good health, be a great NBA point guard for years to come. The bigger issue for Chicago is the rest of the team. Trading Kurt Hinrich now, with his value at its lowest point, would be short-sighted. I think they are still a good player or two away from competing in the East with Boston, Detroit, Orlando, or Cleveland, so playing out the upcoming season with both Hinrich and Rose might be their best option. Let Hinrich play his value back up and then pair him with Nocioni or a re-signed Ben Gordon and try to find a solid low-block player. So, the real impact of drafting Rose remains to be seen over a season or two.
2. The #2 pick - will Miami trade it? ESPN has been reporting this possibility (which has to be annoying to the teams and their decision-makers. Would you want everyone to know your business?) for the past day or so. It seems that they will, and they should if they do not feel that Beasley is the best fit for their team. I question a Mayo/Wade backcourt, but I think that combination might be better than drafting Beasley and trading Marion (or Haslam). If the Heat can figure out a way to draft Mayo and pick up something in return, then this will be a great draft for them. That being said, if Mayo is their guy, then just draft him at #2 as opposed to moving down (such as to #7 in a trade with the Clippers) and settling for another guy.
3. The Lottery - what a jumbled mess the lottery looks right now. I challenge you to find consistency in the experts' Mock Drafts, even a day before the actual draft. Outside of Rose, Beasley, and to a certain extent, Mayo, there is little consensus among GM's, scouts, writers, or fans. I attribute this to the youth of many of these talented players. Imagine looking at half a painting; you would have little clue as to what the finished product will look like. Will it be a $200 piece of art? $2,000? $200,000? Or will it look like I painted it (um, that's not a good thing. Think finger painting from pre-school)? That's what teams are having to try and do with many of these prospects. Some are going to be hits, others misses. Unfortunately, that is just the nature of the draft nowadays.
4. The Upside Guys - unfinished or not, there are some players that might be drafted a bit later that I think could be really good. Donte Greene jumps out at me, the 6-9 forward from Syracuse. Darrell Arthur of Kansas also, but to a lesser extent, at the same position. I like Marreese Speights from Florida as well as Koufos from Ohio State as more low-block guys. Koufos, in the right system, could really be good, a la Mehmet Okur. He could also be the next Primoz Brezec. And just writing Primoz Brezec made me throw up a bit in my mouth. I'm not a huge fan of many of the guards outside of the top 10 or so, but Brandon Rush should be solid. Bill Walker has outstanding talent if he can overcome his injury issues (not that I find that possibility to be particularly promising). Personally, I am a supporter of Kyle Weaver. Again, in the right system, Weaver will serve as a solid backup who contributes some points, but mostly great D, good rebounding for a guard, and smart hustle plays. JR Giddens and James Gist also seem like possible late-second sleepers.
5. The Bobcats - last topic here are my hometown Bobcats. The Bobcats have never been so bad, nor had tremendous draft lottery luck, to gain a top talent in a good draft (although they did trade up to take Okafor in 2004). Okafor, Felton, Morrison, and Wright (traded for Jason Richardson) have been the first selections thus far. Not exactly a homerun, superstar player among that group. Well, this year is not different. Barring an aggressive and expensive move into the top 3, the Bobcats will be forced to select another quality player or two and continue to lack a dominate force on both ends of the floor. No Kobe, no LeBron, no Carmelo...not even a Joe Johnson or Chris Bosh type of second-tier star. Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson are great players, but neither can be the unstoppable force to lead this team to a title. Thus, the Bobcats continue to stockpile young players and hope that land enough assets to make a good trade in a year or two...at least that's what I hope they are doing.
So what do the Cats do Thursday night? Well, drafting #9 and now #20 (added a pick from Denver today for a future protected 1st rounder), the Fightin' Bobs have the chance to fill both their needs in the first round - PG and C. All the talk of Brook Lopez at #9 makes me a bit queasy, but he would fill a team need. I honestly might prefer him on this squad than Kevin Love (a slow 4 man) or Anthony Randolph (he weighs like 87 pounds or something) even though his defense is fairly lacking. But, with good coaching (which it seems the Cats may have in Larry Brown), he could improve greatly. Roy Hibbert has apparently also caught the attention of the Charlotte staff, which I thought was an awful thing last year. However, he could be more ready to contribute now than anyone else taken with our high pick, so grabbing him at number 20 would be ok.
The biggest problem the Bobcats had this past season was defending the other teams with a versatile 4 man. Guys like Bosh, Lewis, Dirk and Marion constantly gave Okafor fits and foul trouble and made our bench guys look bad. Finding a constant low-post scorer that can also guard this position would be ideal, but guys like Arthur and Randolph have seen their stock tumble. I do think finding a backup point guard (or potential starter if Felton is not going to be the guy long-term) is important, but not worth a high selection. All that being said, I'm cool with drafting Lopez at #9 and Donte Greene at #20 or taking Joe Alexander (if he's available) at #9 and Hibbert at #20. Then, they can draft a backup point guard in the second round (Kyle Weaver anyone?).
I'm excited about this draft, but not as much as recent years. I really think this could be a great draft if a lot of these "upside" guys pan out, but it could look like the 2001 draft if they do not. Just a lot of bang or bust potential here. That being said, I'll probably have some immediate thoughts posted after the draft. I doubt it will be a "running diary" per say, but some time-stamped, draft pick-stamped thoughts nonetheless.
Stuntin' like my daddy...
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Enjoy the Ride
"North Carolina is now the overwhelming favorite to win the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament."
"Heels loaded for '09 title bid"
"UNC will be loaded"
"Merry Christmas Tar Heel fans"
Those are just a few of the headlines after rising juniors Tywon Lawson and Wayne Ellington, along with rising senior Danny Green, withdrew from the NBA Draft and retained their eligibility for the 2008-2009 season. All in all, it was a great day for Carolina fans everywhere, as the Tar Heels will now be the pre-season number one team and has a very legitimate shot at their sixth national championship.
So why am I so grouchy? Three reasons: academics, expectations, and enjoyment.
In the official press release from UNC Athletic Communications, there is never a mention of academics. None. Danny Green is returning to (we hope) earn a degree in something. I say something only because tarheelblue.com, the official website of UNC Athletics, does not list his major. Or anyone else's, with the exception of the walk-ons (the Blue Team mind you). Of course they only list the majors of these walk-ons in order to make their bios look a little better. These guys are all student-athletes, a term the NCAA mandates they be referred to as. Any time you listen to a post-game press conference in the tournament, you will always hear the moderator call the players "student-athletes". It is a running joke that the only people who think these guys are actually students is the NCAA. Well, that joke is not funny. It's sad.
I'm not trying to come off as some academia apologist here. Anyone who knows me knows that I love college sports for the competition, work in the business of selling it, and want to see my team win. But, I do think that too many people lose sight of the fact that these athletes are also on campus to earn a degree. It is frustrating when the players (I said players, I know), the head coach, and the communications department all make comments and never once mention academics. Are we to assume then that none of these three players are planning on graduating? Are we to assume that they are here strictly to play ball? For as strong an academic institution as Carolina is, and with the NCAA's new system for measuring academic performance by its teams, one would hope that these guys are planning on working as hard in the classroom as on the basketball court.
*gets off the soapbox*
The expectations for the 2008-2009 edition of the Tar Heels are already through the roof. I never read message boards on any UNC-related website, but I will bet my dog (Pebbles!) that people are talking about things like "Final Four or bust, a perfect season, greatest team ever." One of my buddies told me that people in his office are saying similar things already. I will acknowledge two things here:
1. Carolina will be very, very good this season
2. The NCAA Tournament is the most unpredictable event in sports
Nothing more than that can be stated as close to fact right now. The translation of the above is that even if Carolina is very, very good, it is no where near guaranteed that the Tar Heels will win the national title, or even advance to the Final Four. Ask UNLV, circa 1991, and they were the defending national champs. I am fine with high expectations - I too expect the Heels to be very good (see #1 above). I am fine with being pre-season numero uno. What I am not fine with is people saying things like "National Title or bust." That is ridiculous. I cannot believe that in the original press release yesterday, it led off with "North Carolina is now the overwhelming favorite to win the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament." That's unbelievable to be coming from the school itself. Let ESPN decide that crap, don't promote it on your own.
What's more ridiculous is how everyone will react all season long. I promise you that there are people who really expect this team to go undefeated, who say "this season will not be a success if we do not win the title." Come on. Really? I'll say this: if you really have that high an expectation (not a hope, an expectation) then you don't know jack about college basketball. You cannot seriously expect a team to go undefeated. You cannot say a season is successful based solely on winning a national championship. Do you want that? Sure. But expect it? That's different. As Andrew told me, this is a year that the peripheral fans are going to be talking out their butts about "greatest team ever" and all that crap. I urge you, young reader, do not get caught up in it. Just...
Enjoy it. Keep it all in perspective. I acknowledged yesterday that this will be a tough season to enjoy for many fans, potentially myself included. With the trio returning, suddenly the Heels have gone from "celebrate Tyler Hansbrough, hope the young guys develop, we'll make the tournament, maybe the Sweet 16, anything else is gravy" to "we have to win it all, we have the best team, we're number one". Everyone, as mentioned above, will expect everything from the 08-09 team: sweep Dook, beat State by 50, undefeated in conference play, win the national title. Anytime one of those things does not happen, people are going to freak out. Don't. Just sit back and enjoy this. Celebrate Hansbrough - we'll never see another like him. Cry on his Senior Night when they hang his jersey on the front row of the rafters (right before we beat Dook again...just saying). Enjoy Marcus Ginyard being tougher than most players in our history, sacrificing his stats for the team. Enjoy every stupid joke Bobby Frasor makes and every three-pointer he hits. When Danny Green dribbles it off his foot out of bounds, then makes a big steal and dunk thirty seconds later, enjoy it. As Thompson blocks a shot, tips it to Ty, who zips by three guys down the court, then kicks it to Wayne the Rain for a back-breaking three, enjoy it. As Roy stomps and crouches and yells and nearly passes out, enjoy it (and make sure he's ok). Enjoy every night we hit 100 points and get Bojangles the next day.
There are not going to be many Carolina teams as talented, deep, experienced, or flat out good as what we are about to see this year. Baring a major injury or the team having internal strife over playing time, this will be a special group with a very real shot to hang a big banner during Late Night '09. It'll be the last season for the four seniors, plus Lawson and Ellington if all goes according to plan. So I urge you, beg you, and challenge you to just enjoy this. Once it gets March, sure, it's time to get serious. Put on that lucky shirt, drink a Coke for Roy, and don't let out the good pee. Do your part to make sure the last six games are wins. But during each game, thank God that we're lucky enough to be fans of this squad and get to see a great team play.
I realize this blog posting is a bit of a contrast. On one hand, I'm urging the university and the players to value their academics more. On the other, I'm urging us to all enjoy watching these guys play ball. It's really all the same thing though. Everyone needs to enjoy their college experience, as it is far too short to waste away with expectations and pressure. The saying goes "don't miss the forest for the trees" - do not ignore the big picture. Well, it works in reverse too: don't miss how beautiful each tree can be along the way to finding out what that big picture is. So buckle up Carolina fans, it's going to be a heckuva season; just promise me you’ll enjoy the ride.
"Heels loaded for '09 title bid"
"UNC will be loaded"
"Merry Christmas Tar Heel fans"
Those are just a few of the headlines after rising juniors Tywon Lawson and Wayne Ellington, along with rising senior Danny Green, withdrew from the NBA Draft and retained their eligibility for the 2008-2009 season. All in all, it was a great day for Carolina fans everywhere, as the Tar Heels will now be the pre-season number one team and has a very legitimate shot at their sixth national championship.
So why am I so grouchy? Three reasons: academics, expectations, and enjoyment.
In the official press release from UNC Athletic Communications, there is never a mention of academics. None. Danny Green is returning to (we hope) earn a degree in something. I say something only because tarheelblue.com, the official website of UNC Athletics, does not list his major. Or anyone else's, with the exception of the walk-ons (the Blue Team mind you). Of course they only list the majors of these walk-ons in order to make their bios look a little better. These guys are all student-athletes, a term the NCAA mandates they be referred to as. Any time you listen to a post-game press conference in the tournament, you will always hear the moderator call the players "student-athletes". It is a running joke that the only people who think these guys are actually students is the NCAA. Well, that joke is not funny. It's sad.
I'm not trying to come off as some academia apologist here. Anyone who knows me knows that I love college sports for the competition, work in the business of selling it, and want to see my team win. But, I do think that too many people lose sight of the fact that these athletes are also on campus to earn a degree. It is frustrating when the players (I said players, I know), the head coach, and the communications department all make comments and never once mention academics. Are we to assume then that none of these three players are planning on graduating? Are we to assume that they are here strictly to play ball? For as strong an academic institution as Carolina is, and with the NCAA's new system for measuring academic performance by its teams, one would hope that these guys are planning on working as hard in the classroom as on the basketball court.
*gets off the soapbox*
The expectations for the 2008-2009 edition of the Tar Heels are already through the roof. I never read message boards on any UNC-related website, but I will bet my dog (Pebbles!) that people are talking about things like "Final Four or bust, a perfect season, greatest team ever." One of my buddies told me that people in his office are saying similar things already. I will acknowledge two things here:
1. Carolina will be very, very good this season
2. The NCAA Tournament is the most unpredictable event in sports
Nothing more than that can be stated as close to fact right now. The translation of the above is that even if Carolina is very, very good, it is no where near guaranteed that the Tar Heels will win the national title, or even advance to the Final Four. Ask UNLV, circa 1991, and they were the defending national champs. I am fine with high expectations - I too expect the Heels to be very good (see #1 above). I am fine with being pre-season numero uno. What I am not fine with is people saying things like "National Title or bust." That is ridiculous. I cannot believe that in the original press release yesterday, it led off with "North Carolina is now the overwhelming favorite to win the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament." That's unbelievable to be coming from the school itself. Let ESPN decide that crap, don't promote it on your own.
What's more ridiculous is how everyone will react all season long. I promise you that there are people who really expect this team to go undefeated, who say "this season will not be a success if we do not win the title." Come on. Really? I'll say this: if you really have that high an expectation (not a hope, an expectation) then you don't know jack about college basketball. You cannot seriously expect a team to go undefeated. You cannot say a season is successful based solely on winning a national championship. Do you want that? Sure. But expect it? That's different. As Andrew told me, this is a year that the peripheral fans are going to be talking out their butts about "greatest team ever" and all that crap. I urge you, young reader, do not get caught up in it. Just...
Enjoy it. Keep it all in perspective. I acknowledged yesterday that this will be a tough season to enjoy for many fans, potentially myself included. With the trio returning, suddenly the Heels have gone from "celebrate Tyler Hansbrough, hope the young guys develop, we'll make the tournament, maybe the Sweet 16, anything else is gravy" to "we have to win it all, we have the best team, we're number one". Everyone, as mentioned above, will expect everything from the 08-09 team: sweep Dook, beat State by 50, undefeated in conference play, win the national title. Anytime one of those things does not happen, people are going to freak out. Don't. Just sit back and enjoy this. Celebrate Hansbrough - we'll never see another like him. Cry on his Senior Night when they hang his jersey on the front row of the rafters (right before we beat Dook again...just saying). Enjoy Marcus Ginyard being tougher than most players in our history, sacrificing his stats for the team. Enjoy every stupid joke Bobby Frasor makes and every three-pointer he hits. When Danny Green dribbles it off his foot out of bounds, then makes a big steal and dunk thirty seconds later, enjoy it. As Thompson blocks a shot, tips it to Ty, who zips by three guys down the court, then kicks it to Wayne the Rain for a back-breaking three, enjoy it. As Roy stomps and crouches and yells and nearly passes out, enjoy it (and make sure he's ok). Enjoy every night we hit 100 points and get Bojangles the next day.
There are not going to be many Carolina teams as talented, deep, experienced, or flat out good as what we are about to see this year. Baring a major injury or the team having internal strife over playing time, this will be a special group with a very real shot to hang a big banner during Late Night '09. It'll be the last season for the four seniors, plus Lawson and Ellington if all goes according to plan. So I urge you, beg you, and challenge you to just enjoy this. Once it gets March, sure, it's time to get serious. Put on that lucky shirt, drink a Coke for Roy, and don't let out the good pee. Do your part to make sure the last six games are wins. But during each game, thank God that we're lucky enough to be fans of this squad and get to see a great team play.
I realize this blog posting is a bit of a contrast. On one hand, I'm urging the university and the players to value their academics more. On the other, I'm urging us to all enjoy watching these guys play ball. It's really all the same thing though. Everyone needs to enjoy their college experience, as it is far too short to waste away with expectations and pressure. The saying goes "don't miss the forest for the trees" - do not ignore the big picture. Well, it works in reverse too: don't miss how beautiful each tree can be along the way to finding out what that big picture is. So buckle up Carolina fans, it's going to be a heckuva season; just promise me you’ll enjoy the ride.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Blue Team Live Rundown - NFL Draft
It’s time to get serious. Currently, there are five (5!) sporting events going on that matter: NFL Draft, NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, NASCAR racing at Talladega, and the Yankees vs Indians MLB game. Ok, maybe only four things that matter, who needs the Yankees anyway. It’s time to implement all four of the TVs in my den, including the POOP (Picture-Out-Of-Picture) and put together The Blue Team Live Rundown of the days’ events. Without further adieu:
3:00pm EST – The NFL Draft kicks off, the Raptors/Magic game tips off, the green flag drops at Talladega, and the puck drops in Detroit.
3:03pm: Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
3:04pm: The Fish take Jake Long, OT from Michigan. Shocker. Everyone, of course, loves the selection.
3:07pm: I just got home from the gym, so I’m stretching and trying to rehab myself. Brief distraction already from all these sporting events.
3:11pm: The St. Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia. Howie is excited I’m sure. The Fighting Michael Vicks are on the clock.
3:18pm: The Atlanta Falcons take Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College. So much for that brilliant reporting by the Charlotte Observer that the Panthers “really want to trade up for Matt Ryan.” I guess the price was just too high. Or they were blowing smoke.
3:19pm: The green flag actually just dropped as well for the Nationwide Series race. Got a bit ahead of myself.
3:23pm: Potty break. This segment of The Blue Team Live Rundown is brought to you by EAS AdvantEDGE Protein shakes. Mmmm, strawberry cream.
3:24pm: In case anyone cares, the Magics are leading the Raptors 22-15, and lead the series 2-1. I feel like I should tell you that because I highly doubt anyone has watched more than two minutes of that series besides me. Is an individual an Orlando Magic? A Magics? What’s the singular/plural form for this team? What a stupid nickname. “Go Magic” should only refer to the Hall-of-Fame point guard, not a team in Florida. Then again, it is Disney territory. This is the same company that owns the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Morons.
3:24pm Part II: The Wings and Avs are already squabbling on the ice. These two rivals really hate each other. Some of the best playoff hockey I’ve seen in my life has taken place between these two squads. Wings are on the power play as a result.
3:26pm: Did you know Darren McFadden has two brothers who were in rival gangs? One was a Blood, the other a Crypt. Thankfully he wore neutral colors today; don’t want him to get capped on national TV.
3:27pm: The Blood/Crypt battle will continue in Oak-town. McFadden to the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders at number 4. The Chiefs are on the clock and things should finally get interesting here.
3:28pm: Goal Red Wings. Theodore looks shaky in goal for the Avalanche already. Wonderful. We also have a wreck in the race. Clint Bowyer’s Camping World machine is mashed. Dario Franchitti is carted off on a stretcher.
Pray he is alright, doesn’t look life-threatening or anything, but he seems to be in pain.
3:32pm: We are Under Armour. The future is ouuuurrrr’s! That dude is scary. Someone get him off the ‘roid rage.
3:33pm: All of Canada rejoices as the Raptors make a run to cut the lead to five at the end of the first quarter.
3:34pm: Glenn Dorsey is in tears about something. Waiting with baited breath…
3:35pm: Because he’s going to Kansas City to be a Chief. I’d cry too Glenn. He’s a great player though, a big DT from “national champion” LSU.
3:37pm: J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! New York and its pack of idiot fans are next up. Meanwhile, Stan Van Gundy is being interviewed between quarters. He looks like a pall bearer. Lose the mock Stanley.
3:39pm: I’m picking my nose.
3:41pm: The Jets fans are chanting for Vernon Gholston, the DE from THE Ohio State University. Gag. I hope they pick someone else so we can see a riot on live television. This is my favorite.
3:44pm: Daggum. Gholston is the pick and the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets fans are happy. And cheering. Instead of rioting. Disappointment abound. However, my mother has called to give me the rundown on young Jackson Coffey’s T-ball game this morning. Jackson apparently loves the spotlight, egging the crowd on after each at-bat. What can you say? That's just Jackson being Jackson.
3:49pm: Jason Kapano has nine points already for Toronto. He has also impaled three Magics with his steel-like gelled hair. Correction, twelve points. Dropping three-pointers like nobody’s bidness. Someone guard Kapano, com’on Magics!
3:52pm: Finally! The draft gets exciting. The Patriots traded the seventh pick to the Saints so New Orleans could draft Sedrick Ellis, DT from Southern Cal. Mel Kiper Jr. is hype.
3:54pm: Another trade. The Jaguars have moved up from 23 to 8, trading with the Baltimore Thugs. Mort says they’re going for Derrick Harvey. And I just punched myself in the face. Not that it would be surprising that Harvey is gone before the Pamfuzz pick at 13, but it is still disappointing.
3:56pm: Dwight Howard is shooting free fros for the Magics. Remember when Orlando was debating on choosing Howard or Emeka Okafor first in 2004? Sigh. I wish they had been stupider.
4:00pm: And hour one in the Live Rundown ends with the Jags selecting Derrick Harvey, the DE from Florida. Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Harvey is overrated. I think Mel is overrated. Glad we all agree. He and Chris Berman nearly get into a brawl about the Ravens’ logic here. Mel would annihilate Berman. “Mel hits Boomer, and Berman goes back back back back…gone!”
4:02pm: Cincinnati will select Keith Rivers at number nine. The LB from USC is ecstatic. He had better go ahead and get a mugshot taken, since he’s guaranteed to be arrested at some point as a member of this organization.
4:04pm: There’s an Allstate insurance agent in Blacksburg named Steve Nash. Do you want soft, pretty, Canadian insurance that doesn’t win anything? Call Steve Nash here in Blacksburg!
4:09pm: For the record, Keyshawn Johnson looks like a used-car salesman, circus ringmaster, and Bozo the Clown
all rolled into one. Who dressed him today, Helen Keller? Craig Sager wouldn’t even wear that combination.
4:11pm: This segment of The Blue Team Live Rundown is brought to you by Kroger-brand cashews. Delish. In other news, the Red Wings just scored again. 2-0.
4:13pm: New England just took Jerod Mayo, LB from Tennessee. The Pats fan they show cheering this selection is a 27 year-old-ish brunette who looks very…Boston. Do you think she has any clue who Jerod Mayo is? 1000-1 odds on that. Let-Go-Buff-a-lo is on the clock at number 11.
4:15pm: Talking about New England, Keyshawn eloquently states, “they know what they doin’ with they draft.” Brilliant. Thanks Snoop Dogg.
4:16pm: Goal, Red Wings. 3-0. Flipping the POOP to the baseball game for a bit.
4:18pm: Leodis McKelvin is selected by the Bills, the CB from Troy University. ISP Sports rejoices, congratulations to Bob and Ben, our wonderful staff with the Troy Trojans. On a related note, I think Leodis was the name of a dude who used to pick up our trash when I was a kid. On a more related note, I wanted to be a trashman when I was four because I wanted to ride on the back of the truck. That was my pre-school answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Somehow, I lost myself along the way and ended up in sports marketing.
4:23pm: Denver selects Ryan Clady, the OT from Boise St. Daggum yet again.
4:24pm: The Carolina Panthers are on the clock!!!
4:25pm: Time to focus. Lots of options here, mostly at offensive tackle. Otah and Williams are both here. However, my preview yesterday said that if Harvey is gone, the Panthers should look to trade down to allow a team to grab one of the running backs (Stewart or Mendenhall). I wouldn’t mind taking either of them ourselves, but I really think they could do more with added value later in the first round.
4:27pm: With the 13th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select Jonathan Stewart, running back from Oregon. I think I just threw up in my mouth. I think we could have traded down and still gotten him, but I don’t know if there were any takers. A little disappointed I have to admit. Don’t get me wrong, I like Stewart a lot, but I don’t know if this was the ideal situation for drafting him. Dad is ok with the pick for the most part, considering what was available and citing the need for a big back.
4:31pm: 4-0 Red Wings. And a fight breaks out. Good brawl too. Also, Stephanie Ready with a great sideline report on the NBA game. Stephanie covers the Bobcats as well and does a decent job because she’s always ready for anything. Thank you, two shows on Friday and a matinee on Sunday.
4:33pm: Rashard Mendenhall is waiting, hoping to be selected by Da Bears. His girlfriend is quite…dark. Attractive too. And dark.
4:36pm: Mendenhall is surely disappointed, as Da Bears select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt. On the POOP, Ian Kennedy walks in a run and the Indians take a 1-0 lead. Sac fly makes it 2-0. The dude who bangs his drum in the left field stands is…banging his drum. Go Tribe.
4:42pm: Big wreck at Talladega. 15 cars or so. Nuts and bolts rolling around everywhere. A little judy off the bat of Victor Martinez scores another run, 3-0.
4:43pm: Trade made, Kansas City jumps back up by trading with Detroit. Looks like Branden Albert, the OG from UVA is the guy.
4:44pm: And he is. Way to go Wahoos.
4:45pm – 4:58pm: Phone conversation with Grandpa Nick G, mostly regarding the Tar Heels’ early entries into the NBA Draft. Danny Green is the latest to declare. Gramps speculates that Will Graves and Mike Copeland will join him soon. Then, Chief says, “it is ironic that on this huge day in sports that we’re sitting here discussing Carolina basketball. But, what’s a brotha to do?”
4:55pm: Arizona selects Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee St. Nick says, “um…relying on Mel for this one.”
4:58pm: Gosder Cherilus, OT from Boston College goes to Detroit at 17. Definitely the first dude named Gosder to be selected in the NFL Draft. Big trade going down too, as Baltimore moves back up to grab a QB.
5:02pm: Joe Flacco, QB from Delaware is taken by the Baltimore Thugs. He’s going to look great in a skull cap protecting the house with Ray Lewis. Do you think he took notes on how to properly throw his helmet from Terrell Suggs on Monday Night Football last year? If he throws a football as hard as Suggs threw his helmet, then all those stellar Baltimore receivers had better get some extra padding in their gloves.
5:03pm: On a separate note, Roger Goodell seems more relaxed as the Draft-day chairman than his predecessor, Paul Taguliebueaiaue (spelling anyone?). He even gives the occasional shout-out to a team’s fans as their selection is made. Rog is so money and he don’t even know it.
5:06pm: Baltimore fans rejoice. Other 1-AA quarterbacks selected highly in the draft include Bubby Brister, Neil Lomax, Jonathan Quinn, Giovanni Carmazzi, Josh McCown, and Tarvaris Jackson. Hooray!
5:08pm: So there’s an event in Blacksburg today called Sud Flood. It’s a day-long par-tay downtown, with bands and beer. Now, I know God promised to never end it all again by flood. But was that specific only to water? Because if so, I’m now concerned, as Sud Flood is the most likely event to end the earth by a flood of beer.
5:10pm: I just yelped in amazement, as the Panthers have traded up to number 19 in the first round with the Eagles. Quarterback or O-Linemen?
5:11pm: Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh it is. He’s fat. 6-6, 322. Glad we addressed the need for an offensive linemen, I just hope he’s the right guy and worth whatever we gave up.
5:13pm: A brief ceremony honoring military and fire/rescue/police personnel is talked-over by ESPN’s crew. Great job guys. Maybe if they’d shut up for three seconds we could have enjoyed that segment. When is someone going to rip out Chris Berman’s vocal cords? He makes me puke. Get the bear from Semi-Pro on the phone.
5:16pm: It’s pouring down rain in Blacksburg. I’m worried about the beer suds mixing with the H2O and causing a bigger flood.
5:17pm: Holy poo. We traded our #2, #4, and next year’s #1 to Philadelphia for Otah. That’s steep. I am disenchanted right now. Calling tarheelpwin to vent, but he’s out walking Pebbles and cannot be found. Geez all Pete.
5:20pm: Tampa Bay takes Aquib Talib, CB from Kansas. He is really good, as I saw him in person at the Orange Bowl. He took an interception to the house in first quarter and shut down our passing game throughout the game.
5:22pm: Dad has been located and we’re both pissed. Waaaay too much to give up in our opinion. No one on ESPN has made a big enough deal about this. If it were the Cowboys, they’d have to sedate these analysts. But the Panthers don’t matter enough to warrant a rant from Mel Kiper Jr. It really seems to me that Marty Hurney and John Fox are mortgaging our franchise’s future in order to get “impact players” for this season so they don’t get canned. The idea is that our first rounder next year will not be a good pick, because in their minds, the Panthers will be a playoff squad and pick late in the first round. However, if this pick ends up being high, they’ll be gone anyway, as that would insinuate a terrible season for Carolina that ends with both of them fired. I’m not stupid guys, I know what’s up.
5:28pm: Atlanta trades with Washington to number 21 to draft Sam Baker, OT from USC. Mel Kiper Jr says it’s a reach. The Cowboys are on the clock and everyone in New York is booing. So is everyone in my apartment.
5:32pm: This segment of The Blue Team’s Live Rundown is brought to you by Thin Mints, the best Girl Scout Cookie of them all. Yum. Also brought to you in part by Cheerwine, the nectar of goodness in the South.
5:37pm: Dallas selects Felix Jones, the Arkansas RB over Mendenhall. Yikes. I’m not so sure about that one. He is supposedly a “home-run hitter”. Just remember those guys strike out a lot too.
5:39pm: Orlando defeats Toronto 106-94 to take a 3-1 series lead. Put the fork in Toronto, they are done. Too soft. Next up are the Lakers and Nuggets. Keep an eye on Kobe Bryant. No, not on the court, in his hotel room. Stay away from the Gold Diggers Kobe.
5:44pm: Pittsburgh takes Mendenhall, the Illinois RB, with the 23rd pick. Willie Parker should be challenged a bit by this selection. However, I think it helps him out a lot as well. His longevity will improve vastly by adding an inside runner like Mendenhall. A luxury pick, as it was described by Chris Mortenson.
5:47pm: Kenyon Martin nearly shattered the backboard on the first dunk of the Nuggets/Lakers game. Glad he’s hype. Too bad that’s all Denver is: hype.
5:50pm: Chris Johnson, the RB from East Carolina just got selected by Tennessee at number 24. Um, wow. I’ve seen him in person four times and he is fast and versatile. But in the NFL, the dancing he does in the backfield is going to get him Jacked Up! by someone. Certainly a reach in my opinion. Seattle is on the clock and no one outside of Seattle cares. Although I actually know two Seahawks followers, one from Carolina and another who lifts with me here in Blacksburg. Both of them picked “a team no one else liked” when they were kids. Surprisingly, that adage still holds true.
5:52pm: Talladega is winding down here, 11 laps to go. Want to bet on if there is another caution flag? I say yes.
5:56pm: Sacks packed with Yankees and Hokie Diamond Thugs member Robinson Cano is at the plate. Mrs. Robinson is batting about .167 this season and has found a spot on my bench most days.
5:57pm: Mrs. Robinson strikes out looking. And I stand corrected, Mrs. Robinson is batting .156 on the year. Go HDTs!
5:58pm: Caution on the raceway and I win $100 from…myself.
6:00pm: Dallas and Seattle swap picks 25 & 28 so the Cowboys can select Mike Jenkins, DB from South Florida. Meanwhile, Jorge Posada lines a triple that got by David Dellucci in left field to the wall, clearing the bases. 3-3 ballgame in Cleveland.
6:03pm: Some woman in the crowd in Denver is checking out her puppies as we zoom in on Kobe Bryant. Seriously, she was looking straight down her shirt and re-arranging whatever was down in there. Hopefully Kobe did not see it, cause he might have to buy his wife another $20,000 ring to make up for his “actions”.
6:05pm: Tony Stewart garners his first win at Talladega, fighting off Dale Jr. and others on the last lap.
6:06pm: Houston selects Duane Brown, OT from Virginia Tech. I’ve seen Duane about 30 times, 20 or so in person. He’s solid, big, and quick. Really good in pass protection, ok against the run. His plays with fire and intensity and is a good dude. I was hopeful the Panthers could steal him in the second round, but that clearly could not happen.
6:08pm: ESPN breaks in to report the days’ news. Included in that was that the Charlotte Bobcats fired Sam Vincent. Most people are surprised to learn that the Bobcats even had a head coach last season, much less that Sam Vincent was that coach. More analysis to come on that in The Blue Team’s Bobcats Breakdown, due in at some point next week.
6:10pm: Antoine Cason, DB from Arizona, is selected by San Diego at number 27. I like this guy, he was always making plays for a pretty bad team each time I watched Arizona play. Thankfully, that was not all that often, but he did register in my mind for his big-play tendencies.
6:12pm: The Seahawks are back on the clock. In other news, there’s grass growing outside my house.
6:14pm: 23-20 the Looos Angel-es Lakas at the end of the first quarter. How exactly do you spell Stephen A Smith phonetically? That’s my best attempt. I love that guy. He’s so…Stephen A.
6:15pm: Seattle selects Lawrence Jackson, DE from USC. Welcome, Lawrence, to the land of rain, lattes, Asian people and Reagan North.
6:17pm: TNT’s Craig Sager has on a dark red blazer, pink shirt, and redish/black tie. He is my inspiration.
6:19pm: Kentwan Balmer, DL from North Carolina, goes to San Francisco at number 29. Taaarrr…Heeeeels. Thank you Kentwan for being a great testament to Coach John Blake, the D-Line coach at Carolina. He can now point to Balmer when talking to a recruit and say, “see, there’s a guy I coached up to the NFL.” Balmer is versatile and should play on the edge of the 49ers new 3-4 defense. Good luck Kentwan, enjoy San Francisco.
6:22pm: Green Bay trades pick 30 to the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! More Jets fans! I love it. Of course, ESPN was talking over Commish Goodell when he made the announcement, but judging from the reaction of the draft attendees, it had to involve one of the New York teams.
6:23pm: This portion of The Blue Team’s Live Rundown is brought to you by Miller Lite…good call! But not Kurt Busch…bad call. Boooo Kurt Busch. Hooray beer!
6:25pm: The J-E-T-S fans want either a WR or QB. I hope they choose a fat lineman. A fan holds up a sign that reads, “the J-E-T-S can S-P-E-L-L”. Of course, the handwriting looks like a third grader. I guess no one said they can W-R-I-T-E well.
6:27pm: The pick is in and the J-E-T-S select Dustin Keller, TE from Purdue. Airplane bottles are flying around the draft, the riot is underway. A stunned, young J-E-T-S fan has his hands folded on his head. He’s headed for big things working at a hot dog stand with someone named Vito, constructing mock drafts on the side.
6:30pm: It’s 36-36 all in Denver. I’m wrapping this up at the end of the first round (one more pick), so you’ll have to deal without further commentary on the Lakers/Nuggets game. I know, I know…contain yourselves. I will mention that JR Smith has followed Allen Iverson’s lead on tattoos. The Nuggets might actually lead the NBA in “percentage of total team bodies covered by ink”. Then again, Nene weighs about 400 lbs now, so he is not helping the team’s cause. Neither is Eduardo Najera, who is still the pastiest man of Hispanic descent I have ever seen.
6:35pm: The New York Football Giants take Kenny Phillips, the safety from Miami in a predictable selection. The U is proud.
With that, I believe our time here together is up. I’ve rather enjoyed stealing the running diary idea from Bill Simmons and spending an afternoon on the sofa. So our day currently looks like this:
Red Wings win 5-1
Tony Stewart wins the Nationwide Series race at Talladega
The Magics beat Toronto 106-94
The Panthers mortgage their future for a fat lineman from Pittsburgh. Gooo Otah!
And…wait, what? There’s one more pick in the first round of the draft? Quickly, to the Commish:
With the 32nd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select……
3:00pm EST – The NFL Draft kicks off, the Raptors/Magic game tips off, the green flag drops at Talladega, and the puck drops in Detroit.
3:03pm: Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
3:04pm: The Fish take Jake Long, OT from Michigan. Shocker. Everyone, of course, loves the selection.
3:07pm: I just got home from the gym, so I’m stretching and trying to rehab myself. Brief distraction already from all these sporting events.
3:11pm: The St. Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia. Howie is excited I’m sure. The Fighting Michael Vicks are on the clock.
3:18pm: The Atlanta Falcons take Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College. So much for that brilliant reporting by the Charlotte Observer that the Panthers “really want to trade up for Matt Ryan.” I guess the price was just too high. Or they were blowing smoke.
3:19pm: The green flag actually just dropped as well for the Nationwide Series race. Got a bit ahead of myself.
3:23pm: Potty break. This segment of The Blue Team Live Rundown is brought to you by EAS AdvantEDGE Protein shakes. Mmmm, strawberry cream.
3:24pm: In case anyone cares, the Magics are leading the Raptors 22-15, and lead the series 2-1. I feel like I should tell you that because I highly doubt anyone has watched more than two minutes of that series besides me. Is an individual an Orlando Magic? A Magics? What’s the singular/plural form for this team? What a stupid nickname. “Go Magic” should only refer to the Hall-of-Fame point guard, not a team in Florida. Then again, it is Disney territory. This is the same company that owns the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Morons.
3:24pm Part II: The Wings and Avs are already squabbling on the ice. These two rivals really hate each other. Some of the best playoff hockey I’ve seen in my life has taken place between these two squads. Wings are on the power play as a result.
3:26pm: Did you know Darren McFadden has two brothers who were in rival gangs? One was a Blood, the other a Crypt. Thankfully he wore neutral colors today; don’t want him to get capped on national TV.
3:27pm: The Blood/Crypt battle will continue in Oak-town. McFadden to the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders at number 4. The Chiefs are on the clock and things should finally get interesting here.
3:28pm: Goal Red Wings. Theodore looks shaky in goal for the Avalanche already. Wonderful. We also have a wreck in the race. Clint Bowyer’s Camping World machine is mashed. Dario Franchitti is carted off on a stretcher.
Pray he is alright, doesn’t look life-threatening or anything, but he seems to be in pain.
3:32pm: We are Under Armour. The future is ouuuurrrr’s! That dude is scary. Someone get him off the ‘roid rage.
3:33pm: All of Canada rejoices as the Raptors make a run to cut the lead to five at the end of the first quarter.
3:34pm: Glenn Dorsey is in tears about something. Waiting with baited breath…
3:35pm: Because he’s going to Kansas City to be a Chief. I’d cry too Glenn. He’s a great player though, a big DT from “national champion” LSU.
3:37pm: J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! New York and its pack of idiot fans are next up. Meanwhile, Stan Van Gundy is being interviewed between quarters. He looks like a pall bearer. Lose the mock Stanley.
3:39pm: I’m picking my nose.
3:41pm: The Jets fans are chanting for Vernon Gholston, the DE from THE Ohio State University. Gag. I hope they pick someone else so we can see a riot on live television. This is my favorite.
3:44pm: Daggum. Gholston is the pick and the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets fans are happy. And cheering. Instead of rioting. Disappointment abound. However, my mother has called to give me the rundown on young Jackson Coffey’s T-ball game this morning. Jackson apparently loves the spotlight, egging the crowd on after each at-bat. What can you say? That's just Jackson being Jackson.
3:49pm: Jason Kapano has nine points already for Toronto. He has also impaled three Magics with his steel-like gelled hair. Correction, twelve points. Dropping three-pointers like nobody’s bidness. Someone guard Kapano, com’on Magics!
3:52pm: Finally! The draft gets exciting. The Patriots traded the seventh pick to the Saints so New Orleans could draft Sedrick Ellis, DT from Southern Cal. Mel Kiper Jr. is hype.
3:54pm: Another trade. The Jaguars have moved up from 23 to 8, trading with the Baltimore Thugs. Mort says they’re going for Derrick Harvey. And I just punched myself in the face. Not that it would be surprising that Harvey is gone before the Pamfuzz pick at 13, but it is still disappointing.
3:56pm: Dwight Howard is shooting free fros for the Magics. Remember when Orlando was debating on choosing Howard or Emeka Okafor first in 2004? Sigh. I wish they had been stupider.
4:00pm: And hour one in the Live Rundown ends with the Jags selecting Derrick Harvey, the DE from Florida. Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Harvey is overrated. I think Mel is overrated. Glad we all agree. He and Chris Berman nearly get into a brawl about the Ravens’ logic here. Mel would annihilate Berman. “Mel hits Boomer, and Berman goes back back back back…gone!”
4:02pm: Cincinnati will select Keith Rivers at number nine. The LB from USC is ecstatic. He had better go ahead and get a mugshot taken, since he’s guaranteed to be arrested at some point as a member of this organization.
4:04pm: There’s an Allstate insurance agent in Blacksburg named Steve Nash. Do you want soft, pretty, Canadian insurance that doesn’t win anything? Call Steve Nash here in Blacksburg!
4:09pm: For the record, Keyshawn Johnson looks like a used-car salesman, circus ringmaster, and Bozo the Clown
all rolled into one. Who dressed him today, Helen Keller? Craig Sager wouldn’t even wear that combination.
4:11pm: This segment of The Blue Team Live Rundown is brought to you by Kroger-brand cashews. Delish. In other news, the Red Wings just scored again. 2-0.
4:13pm: New England just took Jerod Mayo, LB from Tennessee. The Pats fan they show cheering this selection is a 27 year-old-ish brunette who looks very…Boston. Do you think she has any clue who Jerod Mayo is? 1000-1 odds on that. Let-Go-Buff-a-lo is on the clock at number 11.
4:15pm: Talking about New England, Keyshawn eloquently states, “they know what they doin’ with they draft.” Brilliant. Thanks Snoop Dogg.
4:16pm: Goal, Red Wings. 3-0. Flipping the POOP to the baseball game for a bit.
4:18pm: Leodis McKelvin is selected by the Bills, the CB from Troy University. ISP Sports rejoices, congratulations to Bob and Ben, our wonderful staff with the Troy Trojans. On a related note, I think Leodis was the name of a dude who used to pick up our trash when I was a kid. On a more related note, I wanted to be a trashman when I was four because I wanted to ride on the back of the truck. That was my pre-school answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Somehow, I lost myself along the way and ended up in sports marketing.
4:23pm: Denver selects Ryan Clady, the OT from Boise St. Daggum yet again.
4:24pm: The Carolina Panthers are on the clock!!!
4:25pm: Time to focus. Lots of options here, mostly at offensive tackle. Otah and Williams are both here. However, my preview yesterday said that if Harvey is gone, the Panthers should look to trade down to allow a team to grab one of the running backs (Stewart or Mendenhall). I wouldn’t mind taking either of them ourselves, but I really think they could do more with added value later in the first round.
4:27pm: With the 13th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select Jonathan Stewart, running back from Oregon. I think I just threw up in my mouth. I think we could have traded down and still gotten him, but I don’t know if there were any takers. A little disappointed I have to admit. Don’t get me wrong, I like Stewart a lot, but I don’t know if this was the ideal situation for drafting him. Dad is ok with the pick for the most part, considering what was available and citing the need for a big back.
4:31pm: 4-0 Red Wings. And a fight breaks out. Good brawl too. Also, Stephanie Ready with a great sideline report on the NBA game. Stephanie covers the Bobcats as well and does a decent job because she’s always ready for anything. Thank you, two shows on Friday and a matinee on Sunday.
4:33pm: Rashard Mendenhall is waiting, hoping to be selected by Da Bears. His girlfriend is quite…dark. Attractive too. And dark.
4:36pm: Mendenhall is surely disappointed, as Da Bears select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt. On the POOP, Ian Kennedy walks in a run and the Indians take a 1-0 lead. Sac fly makes it 2-0. The dude who bangs his drum in the left field stands is…banging his drum. Go Tribe.
4:42pm: Big wreck at Talladega. 15 cars or so. Nuts and bolts rolling around everywhere. A little judy off the bat of Victor Martinez scores another run, 3-0.
4:43pm: Trade made, Kansas City jumps back up by trading with Detroit. Looks like Branden Albert, the OG from UVA is the guy.
4:44pm: And he is. Way to go Wahoos.
4:45pm – 4:58pm: Phone conversation with Grandpa Nick G, mostly regarding the Tar Heels’ early entries into the NBA Draft. Danny Green is the latest to declare. Gramps speculates that Will Graves and Mike Copeland will join him soon. Then, Chief says, “it is ironic that on this huge day in sports that we’re sitting here discussing Carolina basketball. But, what’s a brotha to do?”
4:55pm: Arizona selects Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee St. Nick says, “um…relying on Mel for this one.”
4:58pm: Gosder Cherilus, OT from Boston College goes to Detroit at 17. Definitely the first dude named Gosder to be selected in the NFL Draft. Big trade going down too, as Baltimore moves back up to grab a QB.
5:02pm: Joe Flacco, QB from Delaware is taken by the Baltimore Thugs. He’s going to look great in a skull cap protecting the house with Ray Lewis. Do you think he took notes on how to properly throw his helmet from Terrell Suggs on Monday Night Football last year? If he throws a football as hard as Suggs threw his helmet, then all those stellar Baltimore receivers had better get some extra padding in their gloves.
5:03pm: On a separate note, Roger Goodell seems more relaxed as the Draft-day chairman than his predecessor, Paul Taguliebueaiaue (spelling anyone?). He even gives the occasional shout-out to a team’s fans as their selection is made. Rog is so money and he don’t even know it.
5:06pm: Baltimore fans rejoice. Other 1-AA quarterbacks selected highly in the draft include Bubby Brister, Neil Lomax, Jonathan Quinn, Giovanni Carmazzi, Josh McCown, and Tarvaris Jackson. Hooray!
5:08pm: So there’s an event in Blacksburg today called Sud Flood. It’s a day-long par-tay downtown, with bands and beer. Now, I know God promised to never end it all again by flood. But was that specific only to water? Because if so, I’m now concerned, as Sud Flood is the most likely event to end the earth by a flood of beer.
5:10pm: I just yelped in amazement, as the Panthers have traded up to number 19 in the first round with the Eagles. Quarterback or O-Linemen?
5:11pm: Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh it is. He’s fat. 6-6, 322. Glad we addressed the need for an offensive linemen, I just hope he’s the right guy and worth whatever we gave up.
5:13pm: A brief ceremony honoring military and fire/rescue/police personnel is talked-over by ESPN’s crew. Great job guys. Maybe if they’d shut up for three seconds we could have enjoyed that segment. When is someone going to rip out Chris Berman’s vocal cords? He makes me puke. Get the bear from Semi-Pro on the phone.
5:16pm: It’s pouring down rain in Blacksburg. I’m worried about the beer suds mixing with the H2O and causing a bigger flood.
5:17pm: Holy poo. We traded our #2, #4, and next year’s #1 to Philadelphia for Otah. That’s steep. I am disenchanted right now. Calling tarheelpwin to vent, but he’s out walking Pebbles and cannot be found. Geez all Pete.
5:20pm: Tampa Bay takes Aquib Talib, CB from Kansas. He is really good, as I saw him in person at the Orange Bowl. He took an interception to the house in first quarter and shut down our passing game throughout the game.
5:22pm: Dad has been located and we’re both pissed. Waaaay too much to give up in our opinion. No one on ESPN has made a big enough deal about this. If it were the Cowboys, they’d have to sedate these analysts. But the Panthers don’t matter enough to warrant a rant from Mel Kiper Jr. It really seems to me that Marty Hurney and John Fox are mortgaging our franchise’s future in order to get “impact players” for this season so they don’t get canned. The idea is that our first rounder next year will not be a good pick, because in their minds, the Panthers will be a playoff squad and pick late in the first round. However, if this pick ends up being high, they’ll be gone anyway, as that would insinuate a terrible season for Carolina that ends with both of them fired. I’m not stupid guys, I know what’s up.
5:28pm: Atlanta trades with Washington to number 21 to draft Sam Baker, OT from USC. Mel Kiper Jr says it’s a reach. The Cowboys are on the clock and everyone in New York is booing. So is everyone in my apartment.
5:32pm: This segment of The Blue Team’s Live Rundown is brought to you by Thin Mints, the best Girl Scout Cookie of them all. Yum. Also brought to you in part by Cheerwine, the nectar of goodness in the South.
5:37pm: Dallas selects Felix Jones, the Arkansas RB over Mendenhall. Yikes. I’m not so sure about that one. He is supposedly a “home-run hitter”. Just remember those guys strike out a lot too.
5:39pm: Orlando defeats Toronto 106-94 to take a 3-1 series lead. Put the fork in Toronto, they are done. Too soft. Next up are the Lakers and Nuggets. Keep an eye on Kobe Bryant. No, not on the court, in his hotel room. Stay away from the Gold Diggers Kobe.
5:44pm: Pittsburgh takes Mendenhall, the Illinois RB, with the 23rd pick. Willie Parker should be challenged a bit by this selection. However, I think it helps him out a lot as well. His longevity will improve vastly by adding an inside runner like Mendenhall. A luxury pick, as it was described by Chris Mortenson.
5:47pm: Kenyon Martin nearly shattered the backboard on the first dunk of the Nuggets/Lakers game. Glad he’s hype. Too bad that’s all Denver is: hype.
5:50pm: Chris Johnson, the RB from East Carolina just got selected by Tennessee at number 24. Um, wow. I’ve seen him in person four times and he is fast and versatile. But in the NFL, the dancing he does in the backfield is going to get him Jacked Up! by someone. Certainly a reach in my opinion. Seattle is on the clock and no one outside of Seattle cares. Although I actually know two Seahawks followers, one from Carolina and another who lifts with me here in Blacksburg. Both of them picked “a team no one else liked” when they were kids. Surprisingly, that adage still holds true.
5:52pm: Talladega is winding down here, 11 laps to go. Want to bet on if there is another caution flag? I say yes.
5:56pm: Sacks packed with Yankees and Hokie Diamond Thugs member Robinson Cano is at the plate. Mrs. Robinson is batting about .167 this season and has found a spot on my bench most days.
5:57pm: Mrs. Robinson strikes out looking. And I stand corrected, Mrs. Robinson is batting .156 on the year. Go HDTs!
5:58pm: Caution on the raceway and I win $100 from…myself.
6:00pm: Dallas and Seattle swap picks 25 & 28 so the Cowboys can select Mike Jenkins, DB from South Florida. Meanwhile, Jorge Posada lines a triple that got by David Dellucci in left field to the wall, clearing the bases. 3-3 ballgame in Cleveland.
6:03pm: Some woman in the crowd in Denver is checking out her puppies as we zoom in on Kobe Bryant. Seriously, she was looking straight down her shirt and re-arranging whatever was down in there. Hopefully Kobe did not see it, cause he might have to buy his wife another $20,000 ring to make up for his “actions”.
6:05pm: Tony Stewart garners his first win at Talladega, fighting off Dale Jr. and others on the last lap.
6:06pm: Houston selects Duane Brown, OT from Virginia Tech. I’ve seen Duane about 30 times, 20 or so in person. He’s solid, big, and quick. Really good in pass protection, ok against the run. His plays with fire and intensity and is a good dude. I was hopeful the Panthers could steal him in the second round, but that clearly could not happen.
6:08pm: ESPN breaks in to report the days’ news. Included in that was that the Charlotte Bobcats fired Sam Vincent. Most people are surprised to learn that the Bobcats even had a head coach last season, much less that Sam Vincent was that coach. More analysis to come on that in The Blue Team’s Bobcats Breakdown, due in at some point next week.
6:10pm: Antoine Cason, DB from Arizona, is selected by San Diego at number 27. I like this guy, he was always making plays for a pretty bad team each time I watched Arizona play. Thankfully, that was not all that often, but he did register in my mind for his big-play tendencies.
6:12pm: The Seahawks are back on the clock. In other news, there’s grass growing outside my house.
6:14pm: 23-20 the Looos Angel-es Lakas at the end of the first quarter. How exactly do you spell Stephen A Smith phonetically? That’s my best attempt. I love that guy. He’s so…Stephen A.
6:15pm: Seattle selects Lawrence Jackson, DE from USC. Welcome, Lawrence, to the land of rain, lattes, Asian people and Reagan North.
6:17pm: TNT’s Craig Sager has on a dark red blazer, pink shirt, and redish/black tie. He is my inspiration.
6:19pm: Kentwan Balmer, DL from North Carolina, goes to San Francisco at number 29. Taaarrr…Heeeeels. Thank you Kentwan for being a great testament to Coach John Blake, the D-Line coach at Carolina. He can now point to Balmer when talking to a recruit and say, “see, there’s a guy I coached up to the NFL.” Balmer is versatile and should play on the edge of the 49ers new 3-4 defense. Good luck Kentwan, enjoy San Francisco.
6:22pm: Green Bay trades pick 30 to the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! More Jets fans! I love it. Of course, ESPN was talking over Commish Goodell when he made the announcement, but judging from the reaction of the draft attendees, it had to involve one of the New York teams.
6:23pm: This portion of The Blue Team’s Live Rundown is brought to you by Miller Lite…good call! But not Kurt Busch…bad call. Boooo Kurt Busch. Hooray beer!
6:25pm: The J-E-T-S fans want either a WR or QB. I hope they choose a fat lineman. A fan holds up a sign that reads, “the J-E-T-S can S-P-E-L-L”. Of course, the handwriting looks like a third grader. I guess no one said they can W-R-I-T-E well.
6:27pm: The pick is in and the J-E-T-S select Dustin Keller, TE from Purdue. Airplane bottles are flying around the draft, the riot is underway. A stunned, young J-E-T-S fan has his hands folded on his head. He’s headed for big things working at a hot dog stand with someone named Vito, constructing mock drafts on the side.
6:30pm: It’s 36-36 all in Denver. I’m wrapping this up at the end of the first round (one more pick), so you’ll have to deal without further commentary on the Lakers/Nuggets game. I know, I know…contain yourselves. I will mention that JR Smith has followed Allen Iverson’s lead on tattoos. The Nuggets might actually lead the NBA in “percentage of total team bodies covered by ink”. Then again, Nene weighs about 400 lbs now, so he is not helping the team’s cause. Neither is Eduardo Najera, who is still the pastiest man of Hispanic descent I have ever seen.
6:35pm: The New York Football Giants take Kenny Phillips, the safety from Miami in a predictable selection. The U is proud.
With that, I believe our time here together is up. I’ve rather enjoyed stealing the running diary idea from Bill Simmons and spending an afternoon on the sofa. So our day currently looks like this:
Red Wings win 5-1
Tony Stewart wins the Nationwide Series race at Talladega
The Magics beat Toronto 106-94
The Panthers mortgage their future for a fat lineman from Pittsburgh. Gooo Otah!
And…wait, what? There’s one more pick in the first round of the draft? Quickly, to the Commish:
With the 32nd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select……
Friday, April 25, 2008
With the 13th pick in this year's NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select...
Just over twenty-four hours remain until the beginning of the marathon known as the NFL Draft. Months of coverage and analysis will come to a point tomorrow as the fortunes of thirty NFL teams are changed - for better or worse - for the next few years. The experts have weighed in and everyone's baby mama has compiled a "Mock Draft" (aka, guessing the first round with little actual knowledge of the teams, players, or anything besides what Mel Kiper Jr. thinks). Finally, tomorrow, we will actually find out where these talented, sometimes troubled, and usually overpaid future NFL stars (and busts) will be playing next season.
When I was a youngster, I compiled mock drafts for both the NFL & NBA. In the car, in church, at dinner or wherever I had time, I was ranking prospects and evaluating team needs. If you think I'm lying, come to my house sometime. My mama will cook you dinner, my dog will try to bite you, and I'll show you old mock drafts, as I still have them all. My NFL Drafts were not always the best - too many players I'd never heard of and not enough TVs to have seen them all play. My NBA Drafts, on the other hand, were quite solid for an eight year-old. I distinctly remember counting money with my Dad at church on Wednesday night, June 27, 1990 and informing my Dad's friend Jerry Blanchard that Derrick Coleman was about to go number one in the NBA Draft. Clearly, I was right. I still put together NBA Mock Drafts, as I did this past week for the upcoming June draft. The NFL, however, does not do much for me. I will be watching the draft tomorrow, but only to see the drama unfold and who the Carolina Panthers select.
So why do people love the draft so much? Three reasons: 1) every fan has an opinion and cannot be wrong. This is the same reason people love college recruiting so much. "I love our pick of Ryan Leaf, he's the real deal". It's not until three years later that anyone can tell you differently. Therefore, everyone's an expert and as a fan, you seemingly have equity in the draft because you know exactly what is going on (not). 2) every team does something exciting. "We traded up for the right guy!" "We traded down and got value picks!" "Our youth movement is on!" "Super Bowl or bust baby!" Most fans are excited, no matter what their team does, because someone has convinced them that it is the right thing to do. Of course, some fans are known more for their negativity than others. 3) optimism is abound. Every organization has a positive spin on their selections. The future is bright. Last season is officially last season and next season is now. That fat defensive lineman from Michigan State is the key to Super Bowl success. Then again, so is that slow, undersized receiver from Mississippi Valley State.
So, on to the only part that The Blue Team cares about: the Carolina Panthers. I have had a few draft-related discussions on the Panthers and their options, mostly with Rhino and Whitney. In those discussions, inevitably, we relive some good picks by the Panthers, some bad picks by the Panthers, and the worst selection of all-time.
Of course, the Charlotte Observer has been covering the draft for a month. After much analysis & consternation, the paper finally came to the same conclusion I've been at for over a month: draft Derrick Harvey, the defensive end from Florida, if he's available. Unfortunately, much like Patrick Willis last season, I do not think Harvey will last until the Panthers' selection. Therefore, sitting at number 13 does not look fun to me. The need for a great pass rusher on the side opposite The Artist Formerly Known As Julius Peppers is clear and must be addressed somewhere in this draft. Of course, there are not a lot of great players at that position outside of the first round, so I think it is very important to draft an impact guy early. If Harvey is gone, Phillip Merling from Clemson and Calais Campbell from Miami are the next best available DEs. Merling was not spectacular in his time as a Tiger, but he was solid. Campbell has all of the physical "freak" measureables, but never really brought it every down in college at The U. Also note that if Vernon Gholston or Sedrick Ellis slipped down to number 13, the Panthers would poop their silver britches and grab either off the board immediately.
Offensive lineman galore in this draft's first round, and the Panthers would like to have a good one. As Rhino and I discussed, picking up a late first-rounder to grab an o-lineman would be nice. Anyone else for the fat guy from Boston College? Here here.
As for the two glamour positions the Charlotte Observer has been blabbering about for a month, the Panthers would like to select a running back at some point and would also like to add a quarterback to the roster for training camp. I wouldn't be shocked if Jonathan Stewart from Oregon or Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois became the 13th pick if Harvey is gone. However, drafting a running back that high would really make me question the team's confidence in DeAngelo Williams. I was not a huge fan of that selection when it was made, so I'm not arguing (even though I now own a DeAngelo jersey. Hey, it was $29.99 and Ma & Pa bought it for me). I'm of the opinion that waiting until one of our third round picks to draft a running back would be a good idea. For the record, I think Kevin Smith could be a problem waiting to happen, or feel he gets slighted in the draft and play pissed off for twelve years. Can you say boom or bust?
On the quarterback side, if the Panthers love Matt Ryan that much, then go get him. I mean it. When a team likes a player so much, then be aggressive, b-e aggressive and make sure he ends up on your squad. He does not fit the need for next year, he will not win games in 2008, but he might be the long-term QB answer after Delhomme. Just be ready for the catcalls and boo-birds that come with a quarterback-in-waiting situation. Remember, this is the same fanbase that thought David Carr was The Second Coming and wanted Delhomme benched for him. How'd that work out? Anyway, taking a QB later in the 3rd or 4th round is fine and quite frankly expected.
Ultimately, I think the Panthers take Ryan Clady from Boise St or trade down after Harvey is already gone before pick 13. Someone will make a nice offer in order to get to Stewart or Mendenhall, so options will arise.
Everyone keep in mind that the NFL Draft starts at 3:00pm this year, not 12:00pm as in the past. So enjoy the extra hours of sleep and get ready for a marathon of Mel Kiper Jr (good) & Chris Berman (bad).
So I let her lick the rapper...
When I was a youngster, I compiled mock drafts for both the NFL & NBA. In the car, in church, at dinner or wherever I had time, I was ranking prospects and evaluating team needs. If you think I'm lying, come to my house sometime. My mama will cook you dinner, my dog will try to bite you, and I'll show you old mock drafts, as I still have them all. My NFL Drafts were not always the best - too many players I'd never heard of and not enough TVs to have seen them all play. My NBA Drafts, on the other hand, were quite solid for an eight year-old. I distinctly remember counting money with my Dad at church on Wednesday night, June 27, 1990 and informing my Dad's friend Jerry Blanchard that Derrick Coleman was about to go number one in the NBA Draft. Clearly, I was right. I still put together NBA Mock Drafts, as I did this past week for the upcoming June draft. The NFL, however, does not do much for me. I will be watching the draft tomorrow, but only to see the drama unfold and who the Carolina Panthers select.
So why do people love the draft so much? Three reasons: 1) every fan has an opinion and cannot be wrong. This is the same reason people love college recruiting so much. "I love our pick of Ryan Leaf, he's the real deal". It's not until three years later that anyone can tell you differently. Therefore, everyone's an expert and as a fan, you seemingly have equity in the draft because you know exactly what is going on (not). 2) every team does something exciting. "We traded up for the right guy!" "We traded down and got value picks!" "Our youth movement is on!" "Super Bowl or bust baby!" Most fans are excited, no matter what their team does, because someone has convinced them that it is the right thing to do. Of course, some fans are known more for their negativity than others. 3) optimism is abound. Every organization has a positive spin on their selections. The future is bright. Last season is officially last season and next season is now. That fat defensive lineman from Michigan State is the key to Super Bowl success. Then again, so is that slow, undersized receiver from Mississippi Valley State.
So, on to the only part that The Blue Team cares about: the Carolina Panthers. I have had a few draft-related discussions on the Panthers and their options, mostly with Rhino and Whitney. In those discussions, inevitably, we relive some good picks by the Panthers, some bad picks by the Panthers, and the worst selection of all-time.
Of course, the Charlotte Observer has been covering the draft for a month. After much analysis & consternation, the paper finally came to the same conclusion I've been at for over a month: draft Derrick Harvey, the defensive end from Florida, if he's available. Unfortunately, much like Patrick Willis last season, I do not think Harvey will last until the Panthers' selection. Therefore, sitting at number 13 does not look fun to me. The need for a great pass rusher on the side opposite The Artist Formerly Known As Julius Peppers is clear and must be addressed somewhere in this draft. Of course, there are not a lot of great players at that position outside of the first round, so I think it is very important to draft an impact guy early. If Harvey is gone, Phillip Merling from Clemson and Calais Campbell from Miami are the next best available DEs. Merling was not spectacular in his time as a Tiger, but he was solid. Campbell has all of the physical "freak" measureables, but never really brought it every down in college at The U. Also note that if Vernon Gholston or Sedrick Ellis slipped down to number 13, the Panthers would poop their silver britches and grab either off the board immediately.
Offensive lineman galore in this draft's first round, and the Panthers would like to have a good one. As Rhino and I discussed, picking up a late first-rounder to grab an o-lineman would be nice. Anyone else for the fat guy from Boston College? Here here.
As for the two glamour positions the Charlotte Observer has been blabbering about for a month, the Panthers would like to select a running back at some point and would also like to add a quarterback to the roster for training camp. I wouldn't be shocked if Jonathan Stewart from Oregon or Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois became the 13th pick if Harvey is gone. However, drafting a running back that high would really make me question the team's confidence in DeAngelo Williams. I was not a huge fan of that selection when it was made, so I'm not arguing (even though I now own a DeAngelo jersey. Hey, it was $29.99 and Ma & Pa bought it for me). I'm of the opinion that waiting until one of our third round picks to draft a running back would be a good idea. For the record, I think Kevin Smith could be a problem waiting to happen, or feel he gets slighted in the draft and play pissed off for twelve years. Can you say boom or bust?
On the quarterback side, if the Panthers love Matt Ryan that much, then go get him. I mean it. When a team likes a player so much, then be aggressive, b-e aggressive and make sure he ends up on your squad. He does not fit the need for next year, he will not win games in 2008, but he might be the long-term QB answer after Delhomme. Just be ready for the catcalls and boo-birds that come with a quarterback-in-waiting situation. Remember, this is the same fanbase that thought David Carr was The Second Coming and wanted Delhomme benched for him. How'd that work out? Anyway, taking a QB later in the 3rd or 4th round is fine and quite frankly expected.
Ultimately, I think the Panthers take Ryan Clady from Boise St or trade down after Harvey is already gone before pick 13. Someone will make a nice offer in order to get to Stewart or Mendenhall, so options will arise.
Everyone keep in mind that the NFL Draft starts at 3:00pm this year, not 12:00pm as in the past. So enjoy the extra hours of sleep and get ready for a marathon of Mel Kiper Jr (good) & Chris Berman (bad).
So I let her lick the rapper...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
It's Faaaantastic
As has been mentioned in this web space for the past three years, I love the NBA. I am one of the few remaining NBA fans who actually watches the regular season. Kings vs Sonics? I'm in, Kevin Martin can play and the Sonics have some dude named Durant that I kind of like. Hawks vs Bucks? Got to see Marvin Williams play. Bobcats vs Your Mom? Of course, the 'Cats are the home team. Heat vs Knicks? Alright, you finally got me. That's only shown in a certain section of Hades I'm afraid.
So why do I like the NBA? If you care, it's mainly because I stinkin' love basketball. Does it have its problems? Sure. But the NBA also has the best players in the world, making the best plays in the world. When Kobe Bryant drops 60 on someone in the playoffs, I want to see it. When K.G. finally gets his first NBA Championship, I want to see him hold the trophy and cry his eyes out. When LeBron soars over two defenders and throws down a tomahawk dunk, I want to see it, rewind my DVR, and watch it again. Even though my home team, the aforementioned Bobcats, are not good, I pull for them and dream of the day that an NBA Championship will come to Charlotte...and that people will actually care.
On a more personal level, I also think my affection for the NBA stems from growing up during the Charlotte Hornets' heyday in the Queen City. My dad and I sat in Section 218 Row P Seats 15 & 16 from 1988 - 2000. We saw Larry Johnson, Mugsy Bouges, Alonzo Mourning, and Dell Curry in the 1993 playoffs. We saw Anthony Mason, Vlade Divac, Eddie Jones, Glen Rice, Baron Davis, and PJ Brown. But we also saw Michael Horton, Dave Hoppen, Tony Bennett, and Rex Chapman. I have a picture with Tim Kempton (Who? Exactly. But it was one of the happiest moments of my Charlotte Hornets childhood).
Yes, the Hornets' tenure in Charlotte ended ugly. Yes, it hurt a lot. And yes, I'm going to write about it on this blog in detail sometime soon. But the NBA was, and still is, in my heart. A little overdramatic maybe, but it is true.
The NBA regular season may be a little too long. The games are not always great. But in the playoffs, everyone comes to play. The teams work better together and the individual players focus harder. Everything happens at a higher level because the intensity rises with so much at stake. And I love it.
For those that do not know, the 2007-2008 NBA season has been terrific. The Western Conference playoff race was tremendous. The Boston Celtics have gone from cellar-dweller to Finals favorite. Chris Paul has led the New Orleans Hornets to the second-best record in the West. The MVP race between Paul, Kobe, Garnett, and LeBron is going to be very close. And the playoffs are going to be NCAA Tournament-esque, as there are at least nine teams with legitimate championship aspirations.
So tune in and enjoy it. Give the NBA a chance and you might be surprised. I honestly have no idea who will win. And I'm ok with that. All I know is that I will be watching.
So why do I like the NBA? If you care, it's mainly because I stinkin' love basketball. Does it have its problems? Sure. But the NBA also has the best players in the world, making the best plays in the world. When Kobe Bryant drops 60 on someone in the playoffs, I want to see it. When K.G. finally gets his first NBA Championship, I want to see him hold the trophy and cry his eyes out. When LeBron soars over two defenders and throws down a tomahawk dunk, I want to see it, rewind my DVR, and watch it again. Even though my home team, the aforementioned Bobcats, are not good, I pull for them and dream of the day that an NBA Championship will come to Charlotte...and that people will actually care.
On a more personal level, I also think my affection for the NBA stems from growing up during the Charlotte Hornets' heyday in the Queen City. My dad and I sat in Section 218 Row P Seats 15 & 16 from 1988 - 2000. We saw Larry Johnson, Mugsy Bouges, Alonzo Mourning, and Dell Curry in the 1993 playoffs. We saw Anthony Mason, Vlade Divac, Eddie Jones, Glen Rice, Baron Davis, and PJ Brown. But we also saw Michael Horton, Dave Hoppen, Tony Bennett, and Rex Chapman. I have a picture with Tim Kempton (Who? Exactly. But it was one of the happiest moments of my Charlotte Hornets childhood).
Yes, the Hornets' tenure in Charlotte ended ugly. Yes, it hurt a lot. And yes, I'm going to write about it on this blog in detail sometime soon. But the NBA was, and still is, in my heart. A little overdramatic maybe, but it is true.
The NBA regular season may be a little too long. The games are not always great. But in the playoffs, everyone comes to play. The teams work better together and the individual players focus harder. Everything happens at a higher level because the intensity rises with so much at stake. And I love it.
For those that do not know, the 2007-2008 NBA season has been terrific. The Western Conference playoff race was tremendous. The Boston Celtics have gone from cellar-dweller to Finals favorite. Chris Paul has led the New Orleans Hornets to the second-best record in the West. The MVP race between Paul, Kobe, Garnett, and LeBron is going to be very close. And the playoffs are going to be NCAA Tournament-esque, as there are at least nine teams with legitimate championship aspirations.
So tune in and enjoy it. Give the NBA a chance and you might be surprised. I honestly have no idea who will win. And I'm ok with that. All I know is that I will be watching.
Monday, April 14, 2008
To Be Updated...
Sorry The Blue Team has been on hiatus the last month. Unfortunately, that will continue for a bit longer. Topics to be addressed upon return: NCAA Tournament, the ending to Carolina's quest for a National Championship, the fast-approaching NBA Playoffs, the NFL Draft, hip-hop music, the Charlotte Hornets (yes, Hornets), and other such greatness. But for now, I bid adieu.
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