EVERYTHING CHICAGO BULLS by Docksquad

The Chicago Bulls season ended yet again with another hard fought first round playoff exit. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah played great again, and they did all they could vs. the Cavs in this year’s first round playoff exit. But just like last year, they came up short on advancing into the second round. Two years in a row, the Bulls played as well as they could, but they couldn’t even get into the second round of the playoffs. All I can say about that is that it is depressing foo! I guess the big question remains…is this going to become a recurring theme for the Chicago Bulls for the next few years to come, or will Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls get back to NBA relevancy again, starting next year? I want to talk about that question and then take a look at some other topics concerning the Bulls in this post. Sorry if the post is all over the place, but when it comes to the Bulls, I have a lot on my mind, so here goes…


The Golden Age


Just to recap really quickly about how I became a Bulls fan and how being a Bulls fan changed my life. I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was 1986 and I was in grade school at Peterson school when I first became a Bulls fan. Until then, the Bears were my only love, and I would watch or read about the Bulls on and off in my free time. But then things changed in 1986. I got a chance to watch MJ play on a little more of a consistent basis, and it was sick. All I can say is that he was amazing and so much fun to watch. I found myself trying to read the paper as much as I could about the Bulls, and trying to ask my parents to let me watch the Bulls play after I was done with my homework. One of my fondest memories from that time is that I still remember my buddy Jimmy and me talking about Jordan’s 63 point performance against the Celtics when it happened. I was hooked after ’86, and I’ve never looked back…I’ve said this before, but looking back at the past, I can truly say that MJ changed my life. I fell in love with basketball and after we got Pip and became a dynasty, all I could think about was basketball. I would say now that it is honestly because of basketball and Jordan/Pippen/and Da Bulls title teams, that I am who I am today. Without the Bulls, I probably would not have grown up loving Basketball or Sports in general. I wouldn't have played basketball in grade school (Peterson), in HS (Von), at the parks (Hollywood and Peterson mostly), in leagues, at College (Marquette), or in IPB(Indo-Pak Basketball). I wouldn’t have stayed out of trouble all those years. Come to think of it, basketball has been a common bound for me with pretty much all of my best friends in life right now. Lastly, I probably wouldn't even have started this blog without Jordan/ Pip and the Bulls. I wonder if anyone else’s life is like this, or maybe I am just that much of an obsessed loser?!?!


The Dark Ages


Before I answer that main question I posted, let’s first go back in time to the worst days to when the Gods shined down upon us again. Here is a quick summary of a time I like to call the Dark Ages…After the Dynasty was broken up, the Bulls went from owning the NBA, to becoming one of its laughingstocks. We went from the Golden Ages to the Dark Ages. During the Dark Ages, true Bulls fans like myself, suffered immensely. What’s sad was that we still ended up watching every Bulls game in the Dark Ages, even though the Bulls put out an inferior product onto the court. But we couldn’t help it; we still had to watch every game, because we were addicted. All true Bulls fans were. Call the addiction the Championship Hangover, call it the Jordan effect, call it being a loser, but every new year we had hope that somehow our organization would do something to make us better! There was always some glimmer of hope that they would get the Bulls back to relevance! That hope would always disappear 20 games into the season when we would be in last in the Central. I still remember watching all these players, coaches, and teams with my dad like it were yesterday. The Bulls went through coaches and players that were just plain twang. Bulls fans, you may remember names such as Corey Benjamin, Kornel David, Dalibor Bagaric, Dragan Tarlac, Dickey Simpkins, Eddie Robinson, Jake Voskuhl, washed up John Starks, Khalid El-Amin, Luke Schenscher, Mike Ruffin, Paul Shirley, Rusty LaRue, Eddy Curry, Marcus Fizer, Ron Mercer, and A.J. Guyton, to name a few…Yes I watched pretty much every game that all these guys were apart of with the Bulls. I’m sure I’m missing a few names, but this is all I can think of right now, without thinking about all the time and money I wasted on these teams and without blowing a gasket! I forgot to mention the times when we had money to sign people and we signed players like Ron Mercer and Eddie Robinson! Remember when Grant Hill, Tim Duncan, and TMac were free agents and we sent Benny the Bull to pick them up at the airport?!?! And then on top of it, we signed Eddie Robinson and his crook shot?!?! How can we forget…AHHHH!!!

Anyways, this went on for a long time, until the Bulls got back to the level of respectability with the BGeezy, Hinirch, Deng squads, coached by Scotty Skiles. Bulls fans were happy with those squads, because the Bulls finally made the playoffs, and that gave us some hope! The Bulls went from a laughingstock, to mediocre, but since we had been so bad for so long, we took it and overhyped our team at that point. We were just happy to be in the playoffs again. Even GM John Paxson bought into the hype and drank the Kool-Aid, pretty much never trading away the assets that we had assembled. In the end, it all crumbled again. That run came to an end with the Bulls not making the playoffs after a couple of good seasons, and Skiles being fired on Christmas Day. During that stretch, Paxson made a ton of bone headed moves which notably included over paying for Ben Wallace and trading Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas. And you have to ask yourself, after all those lottery picks, why did the Bulls have not one All Star? Yes, Pax brought us back to respectability, but should that alleviate him from us ridiculing him for not getting one Star player after all those years of bad seasons? In the end we were left with another lottery team, and Jim Boylan as our Coach. The worst part about all of this was that all this time, Bulls management knew we were addicted to the Bulls, and they did what they do best. They strung us along nicely and collected money from the cash cow that Jordan built. In the end, the fans played right into their hands. The Chicago Bulls continued to put out garbage, but they knew we were spoiled while growing up, so we couldn’t stop watching. Bulls fans still watched every game, and went to the stadium, come rain or shine. We prayed every night to God and to MJ’s ghost to help the Bulls get some players that could make a difference and make us relevant again. And on May 20th 2008, all our prayers were answered!


PING PONG BALLS


I still remember that day in May like it was yesterday. I was at the XSport in Pipers Alley working out with my then bash brother Sanket. We stopped working out to watch the draft order. He’s a Pistons fan, so he at the time, he was hating like usual. But even he started getting nervous when they didn’t call the Bulls name when it was supposed to be called. Slowly by slowly the Bulls crept up in the Draft, and slowly by slowly everyone started gathering around the TV. Finally they pulled the Bulls logo card for the first pick, and everyone at the gym went nuts. I was running around the gym and jumping around like a little kid! Sanket was salty and hating like usual. And I still remember the look on Steve Schanwald’s face too. It was like he had just literally won the lottery, it was the funniest/greatest thing ever. The Bulls destiny finally changed after the ping pong balls bounced our way, because we got Derrick Rose with the Number 1 pick two years ago. Really the fate of our organization changed that day, with the Chicago Bulls finally getting their first Star since the Jordan years, someone that they could build their franchise around. And if we don’t get Derrick Rose, then we probably don’t make the playoffs the last two years. If we don’t get Derrick Rose, then we probably aren’t even in the talks to get one of the big Free Agents this year. Yes, those ping pong balls literally changed NBA history!

On a quick side note, I don’t care what anyone says, but Derrick Rose is going to be a star in this League. DRose is humble, a hard worker, and more importantly, he’s a winner. Winning is all he cares about and he puts in the work to get better everyday. DRose was already faster and stronger than most point guards in the league when he came in, but he has somehow gotten better and more exciting every time I watch him play. Even his shot has improved, and last year you could see that he extended his range a little bit, even popping some 3’s towards the end of the year. Yes, his defense needs work, but that’s what Coach Tom T is for! We all know he is going to work hard, so I can’t wait to see just how good he is going to be next year! And for real, DRose has already has excited me more in these past two seasons, then pretty much anytime when I was watching the Bulls during the Dark Ages. Making Andre Miller fall, everything he did during the Celtics series, dunking on Dragic, and shaking Lebron everytime Lebron guarded him in the playoffs this year are some memories that immediately come to mind. On top of that, Derrick Rose became the first All Star the Bulls had since the Jordan years. Sorry, but if for those people who don’t think this kid is special, just keep watching, he will prove it to you soon.


THE PAST TWO YEARS


I know there are going to be some people out there that don’t think the past two years were important for the Bulls, because they are going to say, well you lost in the first round, who cares? But to me, the past two years is exactly what the Bulls needed. The past two years pretty much set the ground work for the future of our franchise. You now know that you have a perennial All Star in Derrick Rose. You know after the last two years now, that Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah are the guys you need to build your team around. The experience these two got during the last two playoffs series is invaluable, to say the least. The experience has made them better players and now this experience will make them better players going into the future. Hinrich, BGeezy, and Deng were all good players and nice guys that did help us get back to respectability, but we all know that those teams led by them were never going to lead us to a championship. Getting rid of Hinrich and BGeezy, and even Tyrus and Salmons I’m sure was hard for the organization and us, the fans, but it was something that needed to be done. I also have to give a quick shout out to Gar F for making the moves that he did. I may not be a big fan of the GarPaxDorf triumvirate, but they have made some decent moves recently, if you think about the long term picture of things. The recent moves now give us a chance to be in contention for one of the biggest Free Agent classes in the history of the NBA. And during the past two years we were able to stay competitive by making the playoffs, we were able to get Rose and Noah some playoff experience and we were able to shed big money to now hopefully bolster our team with some free agents with max money to offer. Not many of the other teams out there can say that. Let’s see if Jerry will shell out the big bucks now if we do get some of the big Free Agents. Lastly, I truly do believe that with Noah and Rose, the Bulls really do have two guys that other big names want to play with already in place. I think they showed people something in the playoffs the last couple of seasons, especially Lebron James.


HEAD COACH


Good riddance VDN! I won’t waste much time here bashing VDN in this post. The guy did the best he could and he did take us to the playoffs for the past two years, but it is what it is. Fine, I will take a couple of quick jabs. VDN was terrible! Why did VDN always call the same play at the end of games? Or why was it that we all knew that the Bulls would turn the ball over at the end of a game after a timeout? Why did VDN call Kirk Hinrich, “Kurt”? How can you be a good coach if you don’t even know your own players names? I have literally 11938 other questions, but I’m going to have to move on here. In the end, to me, the Bulls won despite VDN’s coaching debacles over the past two seasons. Ok I’m done with VDN. Anyways we all knew his firing was coming sooner or later, so again, good riddance VDN!

So now onto our new Coach, Tom Thibodeau! WHAT A GREAT HIRE! I am elated that the Bulls got Coach Tom T, because I’ve actually been talking about him for a couple of years now. He is definitely the right man for the job, and I’m excited to see him Coach starting next year. Ok, here are a couple of quick reasons why I think he is going to do well…

1. He is a players Coach. Coach Tom T is pretty much loved by every single player he has ever Coached. The Celtics big Three and the rest of their team have literally gone out of their way to talk about Coach T and how much he has helped their games. I can’t wait to see him get to work with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. They are going to improve so much under his tutelage, that’s for sure. DRose’s one weakness is defense, so can you imagine how good he is going to be after learning from the best next year?

2. His work ethic. The guy lives and breathes basketball. Look up Coach T and pretty much every story about him will talk about his work ethic and about how hard he prepares. He is usually the first one in the gym and the last one out of it. He prepares by himself and with the players. All those articles you read will talk about how much film he watches and how much homework he does before games. How much he will work with the individual players and help them understand concepts and gameplans. I love it! I don’t know about you, but if I am going to hire someone to Coach my team, then I want someone like this.

3. His defensive philosophy. Have you guys seen the players and teams his defenses have stopped through the past few years? I mean it is incredible. Kobe, Wade, Lebron are pretty much the three best players in the game, and Coach T has stopped them all. The Celtics beat all of the best teams in the east because of their defense! You might say it was the Celtics players who stopped them, but if you ask all the Celtics about who spearheaded their defense, they won’t tell you it was KG, they will all say Coach T! Even Kobe Bryant said Coach T was the reason the Celts won that title a couple of years ago. His defensive game plans are second to none. The Bulls were already a pretty good defensive and rebounding team, can you imagine how much better they are going to get next year?

Some people have brought up the point that his defense might be solid, but what about his offensive philosophies? First off, can any offense be worse than the one VDN employed? Anyways, if you listen to the Coaches and players who have surrounded Coach T through his previous gigs, then you will hear a lot about Coach T and his offensive ideas/philosophies. His D gets the most props, so it is out there more in the media, but Coach T has been credited for a lot of offensive improvements for his teams and players. The biggest name I can think of and the one example of this I will give is Yao Ming. Coach T worked with Yao non stop and it showed on the court. That was the year that Yao was a beast in the league and was a MVP contender.

Some people also bring up Coach T’s lack of experience, and point towards the VDN hiring to prove how terrible no experience can be. To them, again I say you are wrong. This isn’t just someone who we brought out of the front office to Coach our team. This someone who has been in the League as an assistant for almost three decades! He also was a Head Coach in College. He has been coaching since 1981! Coach T spent a lot of time being an assistant for Coach Jeff Van Gundy, who I respect a lot as a Coach. If you ask JVG about Coach T, he can’t stop raving about him.

I guess in conclusion, I’m hyped about this Coach T hire. And I’m really glad we ended up with him and not Lawrence Frank!


Free Agents


I have no clue how to get all my thoughts together on this year’s free agent class, but I will try my best, so here goes….

The Big Guns I Want:

Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Dirk

If the Bulls get any of these guys, I will be ecstatic. Can you just imagine the possibilities with any of these guys on the Bulls? They will become legit contenders to win the East overnight, even if we do just get one of them. I truly do believe that the Bulls core is really that good right now, and they are the most READY team to pair up with a Superstar right now. Also, if the Bulls actually do pull off the steal of the century and somehow get two of these above listed guys, then it’s a wrap. Records will be shattered, and banners will be hung. Every other city will cry, while we rejoice! If that somehow does happen, honestly there is nothing more to say about that!

Now some people have told me they don’t want Lebron or Wade here because of how they are on and off the court, or how they will hinder DRose’s game. First of all, even with all the Lebron hate that I spew, even I’m not that dumb. The Bulls come first to me and if you can get some of the best players in the game on your team, and can improve your team, then you do that in a heartbeat. With any one of these guys, your offense and defense improves automatically. Also, did you guys not see DRose get trapped up top during everytime the Bulls ran the pick and roll, or pretty much did anything for that matter? Teams started to double DRose, and unless you get him some help, just like anyone else, he can’t do it alone. No one can in the NBA now. But out of the two points above, my first point is more important, but I just wanted to throw that second one in there as well.

I also disagree with those people that say Rose won’t be able to play with Wade or Lebron because they all need the Basketball. I watched Wade play in College, and Travis D ran point then and Wade was off the ball a lot in those games. But, he was still highly effective, playing out of this world Basketball and taking us to the Final Four! If anything, DRose lets players like Wade and Lebron pick and choose when they want to go off in a game, and conserve their energy. Also can you imagine teams having to come up with gameplans to defend both DROSE and Lebron or Wade? Also, if you watch the All Star game or even the Olympics, you can see how all of these guys can co exist if they need to, share the ball, and still win games.

I also do think Bosh or Dirk would fit perfectly with Derrick Rose’s game. And I think both would be much better alongside Rose than Boozer or Amare. They would also fit perfectly next to Joakim Noah who can take care of the defensive side of things, while these guys do work on offense. Can you imagine the pick and pop with these guys? Honestly, if we don’t get Wade or Lebron, but get Dirk or Bosh, I would be happy. More so Bosh, than Dirk for me, because I would love to see Rose, Bosh, and Noah grow together and become the next big three Celtics style. And if you can get Bosh and even a shooter like Ray Ray or Morrow, we would be money! Anyways…

Next Three I Prefer:

Amare, Joe Johnson, David Lee

If the Bulls fail with the big four, then I really think they need to go after 2 of the guys I listed above. I know Joe J had a terrible playoff run, but he is still the best 2 guard available in Free Agency, not named DWade. I don’t think he is worth max money, but if he would take less to sign with a solid team, then that would be fine with me. Amare has knee concerns and struggles with rebounding and defense, but he is still a beast on offense. If the Bulls are running, Amare and DRose should be able to fill it up like the Suns did back with Nash and Amare. David Lee is someone who has really improved recently in my eyes. I’ve seen him get better year after year, and I really do think he will be effective next to Noah downlow, if we pair them up together. He will give us the points we need downlow on the offensive side of the ball.

I guess all of the possible combinations are endless, so I don’t know if I can go through all of them here right now. So here it is in a nutshell. If we can get two of the first four listed, then print the banners. Otherwise, if we can get any combination of players from these first two tiers that I have listed, then I still think we have put our team into contention for the Title in the immediate future. The East’s beasts, the Celtics, are going to either all breakdown, or that team is going to break up. The Heat will probably be strong with their signings, but I don’t see the Knicks or Heat having as much depth as us and being able to contend immediately if we get the right combination. The Magic will be the team to beat, but we will be able to contend with them, that’s for sure.

Players I don’t want if it's just them and no one else…

Boozer, Gay, Pierce, Ray Ray

If the Bulls end up just signing just one of these guys, then I really might either commit suicide, or goto jail because I will be throwing tomatoes at the Berto Center and at GarPaxDorf’s cars! Also, please don’t give me just Carlos Boozer! We have already seen how he struggles vs length, and I highly doubt that he is going to play as many games as he did last year! I also just can’t forgive him for what he did to the Cavs a few years ago, even though I hate the CAVS MAN! The only way I am cool with Boozer is if we get Lebron or Wade, or if we can get some shooters along with him, then sign away. Pierce and Ray are awesome, but they are too old for me to scoop. PP will be 33 and Ray Ray is 35. Please do not give them big, long term money. But here is my only disclaimer with Ray…if they can get a Ray Allen after getting someone on the first tier, then give me that, but please don’t sign just him, or anyone listed on the list above and then tell me that we are going to win a championship soon!

Others I would Like To Get:

Anthony Morrow, JJ Reddick, Scola, Brad Miller, Korver, Kleiza, Wes Matthews, Travis Outlaw, Haslem

I’d love to grab some of these other guys to fill out our roster if possible. The only thing is, I doubt any of these guys will take less money to sign. My own quick breakdown of these guys…

Anthony Morrow’s J is so wet! I don’t know why, but I love Morrow…probably more than most people. I think his shot is so money, and a shooter is definitely something we have been lacking since BGeezy left. He can space the floor for Rose, Lebron, or Bosh perfectly. Same can go for Reddick. I’d love to have Brad Miller back too, if he doesn’t mind signing for cheap. Scola’s always been a nice reliable big man to have downlow, so that can’t hurt at all. Wes Matthews – MU REPRESENT! The kid was great last year, and he can really help the Bulls at the 2. He’s a strong, big guard, who can shoot and play defense. Korver's one of the best shooters in the game...DRose would love him for sure.  Haslem’s always been a hart hat guy, and I think having someone like him around can really help guys like Noah and Taj Gibson. Outlaw’s always been one of my favorite DL ballers in the League. I really feel like he can excel in the right setting, and that can definitely be with the Bulls.

Now that all that is done, where will they go? I don’t think anyone really knows what any of the Big Guns are going to do right now. Everyone is breaking news and is claiming to have an insider or a source, but I think everyone is just poohing (bs’ing) right now. And I think that is exactly what makes this particular Free Agent bonanza even crazier than any other one in the past. Anyways, I’ll take my shot at some of the big names below…

DWADE – I think he stays in Miami. He won a chip with them there, so he will show his loyalty to the city and to Pat Riley. They will also be able to pay him the most amount of money and give him the most amount of years. Since DWade is older, to me this will be his last HUGE contract, so he has to take the biggest and best one of them all. They will also give him someone to play with like a Bosh or Amare. Other random reasons why include South Beach and it’s hunnies, there is no state tax in Miami, and him and his wife are beefing and she lives in Chicago!

Lebron James – I think the King will stay in Cleveland, but with a clause. I think he will sign a huge max money deal, but have an opt out clause in it. This way he can get the most money and the longest years, but then he also has the opt out if things are going bad. He can then say that he tried his best, and people will understand if he leaves. I also think he will do this because in 3 years the Nets move to Brooklyn, so he can go there. This deal with the Cavs also works for him because even if the NBA has a lockout, he got paid! Also if it doesn’t have a lock out, by then the billionaire will probably have scooped up CP3, have built a sick new stadium, and then Jay Z, Lebron, the Russian, and CP3 can rule the world.

Bosh – I really hate to say this, but I think Bosh goes to Miami to play with DWade. Same Agent, plus South Beach, big money, and him and DWade are buddies.

Dirk – I think Dirk stays in Dallas. I think he opted out to give them some flexibility to at least get him and the Mavs some help.

In the end I don’t see the Bulls getting any of the big four, but I really hope I am wrong. I do think that if the Bulls do somehow get Lebron, that Joe Johnson, and not Chris Bosh will come to the Bulls. I also don’t see anyway that Wade, Bosh, and Lebron play together. I just don’t see LeBoshAde happening, no matter what the hype. You all remember the look on Lebron’s face when Wade got that MVP in the ASG this past year? Yes, no way that trio is happening! GWS baby!

One other thing some people have brought up is the fact that if we use all our money to get 1 or 2 big guys, that we won’t have any money left over to fill up the rest of our roster. Again, to those people I say you got to go out and get the best players you can first, and then you figure out those other things later. If you can get the big guns, you still have guys like James Johnson and Taj Gibson on the bench. You still got guys like D Byars or Mo Almond on the summer league squad that you can bring up as cheap, backup 2guards. And I’m telling you, they are pretty good. I really see one of those two making the team and hopefully even contributing like Wes Matthews did this year in Utah. You also still got big man Omer Asik coming from Europe next year to backup Noah. So don’t forget about him. And you have to remember, if you get some of the biggest free agents in the game, you will get some veteran players who have never won a ring or who want to win a ring, signing with your team for smaller contracts. We have seen this in the past, so it can definitely happen. So to all those people worried about money that will be leftover, I say don’t worry about it. Our cupboard isn’t that bare afterwards as you might think it is.

THE END

Will the Bulls get back to NBA relevancy again starting next year? And by NBA relevancy, I mean actually having a team that has a chance to win the Chip. Making the playoffs are tight, but if you are going to have a team that just makes the playoffs and loses in the first round every year like the 90’s Cavs, is that really being relevant? Is that all you want from the team you love? Or will the Bulls finally get some star players to go along with their young core they have now and become legit title contenders next year? GWS (Guess we’ll see)…One thing is for sure, I can’t wait until Free Agency and the beginning of next season. I will either be one of the happiest people in Chicago or I will be DEPRESSED FOO! I will either be running around downtown in my wifebeater yelling DA BALLS, or I will be throwing tomatoes at the Berto Center (someone please come bail me out of jail if this happens). I guess all we can do now is play the waiting game. Let’s see what happens…GO BULLS!!!

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TODAY IN SPORTS...

June 30th

Eddie Murray joined the 3,000 hit club 15 years ago with a single to right field off Minnesota pitcher Mike Trombley, June 30, 1995.

Though best known as a Baltimore Oriole, Murray garnered hit number 3,000 playing for Cleveland, thus becoming the third man to reach the 3,000-hit plateau while wearing an Indians uniform (Nap Lajoie and Tris Speaker are the other two). Murray also joined Pete Rose as the only switch-hitters in the Club.
reference

Happy 44th Birthday to Iron Mike Tyson

Tyson 80's Knockout compilation...

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MARK'S KADDY KORNER - Rochester NY - Wegman's LPGA Championship - by Mark Huber

 

Rochester, NY has hosted major tournaments for years. There have been Ryder Cups, U.S. Opens, a Senior PGA held at Oak Hill and now the first LPGA major at Locust Hill. Wegmans grocery chain has sponsored the event for years but it wasn’t declared a major until this year after McDonalds dropped their support of the LPGA Championship. The old course was the perfect venue for a major.

Naturally, they brought the long rough in, narrowed the fairways, firmed up the greens and lengthened the track quite a bit. It was tough but very fair. Most everyone had no major complaints except for the lack of practice time. For some reason pro-ams were scheduled Monday and Tuesday plus the practice area was set up for an amateur putting competition keeping the pros from fine tuning their short game. Christie Kerr, the eventual champion was especially miffed and let the tournament coordinators know.

Locust Hill, located just east of Rochester, has hosted an LPGA event for over thirty years and the crowds are tremendous. They braved the winds and rain, lined the fairways everyday and you could sense the community support everywhere. Stopping in the local pub, Thirsty’s, one afternoon the locals immediately started talking golf even though Wimbledon’s longest match was on the big screen, tennis was a distraction golf seemed to be their life. They wanted to know everything about the tournament, our lifestyle, the LPGA pros, and the bartender, who had been there for 31 years, gave us a little history lesson about Rochester golf. We were only there for an hour but left with some new friends and wonderful memories.

My brother, Dan, booked us a room at the DorKat Motel, a “quaint” mom and pop motel managed by a rather rotund lady, Peggy. She ran the joint with a loving iron fist from her chair behind the counter and enjoyed jousting with the caddies all week. They took could care of us, grilled up some Henrietta Red Hots, a cross between a hot dog and a brat, one night and did our laundry. Their unique hospitality is always remembered throughout the years and stories were told that stretch back to the first event, some of the guys had been staying here that long.

The local bowling alley sponsored a caddie/player tournament Tuesday evening. It was mainly caddies, a few players, and the new LPGA commissioner. My hip kept me on the sidelines but all had a good time. I hooked up with an old friend Russ Holden, Bernard Langer’s old caddy, who is the CEO for Caddy for a Cure. He auctions off caddy experiences with PGA and LPGA professionals for cancer charity and this week Natalie Gulbis was the host professional. It’s a great cause and a lot of fun, check out their web site for more info.

I’m avoiding talking about the golf because it wasn’t pretty. Caddying for an 81 is not fun and it snowballed on us. After doubling the first hole we managed a few scrambling pars but then the bogey train started. We didn’t hit a green in regulation until our 17^th hole, three-putted, and then birdied the last hole. Sometimes you try a little humor, sometimes you just go about normal conversation between shots, but mostly the quiet is intense and there isn’t a lot you can do. We had a case of the pulls going and the bounces went the wrong direction every time. When the cold rains came on the 16^th hole delaying play for about a half hour we huddled under the umbrella, stayed dry and laughed a bit. It was probably the only fun we had all day.

We played late Friday in a twosome because Lisolette Neuman withdrew after her 86 Thursday. Good news we weren’t the high round in our group and we managed a couple over. To her credit Rachel never gave up, only got feisty a couple of deserved times, and was very pleasant after the round. She’s not sure when she’s playing again so I hooked up with a young Korean girl Misun Cho for the next few weeks. “Bully” an old Hawaiian caddy set me up during the bowling tournament.

That bowling tournament was probably the most productive night of the week, glad I went. The rest of the week was a bit blurry and easy to forget. Oh, one last thing. Rachel had dinner at Oak Hill Thursday evening and Tiger’s pictures are no longer on the clubhouse wall. All the other golf greats adorn the walls but for some reason his are missing. There’s a great golf tradition here, I guess someone was quite offended and looking to protect golf’s great name.

Mark Huber is a semi-retired PGA Tour caddy doing a little writing. You can contact him at markskaddykorner@gmail.com or check outwww.MarksKaddyKorner.com for more stories about golf and life. He's caddied twenty-one years on every tour for over fifty players mainly Bob Murphy, Ray Floyd, Doug Tewell, and worked for Tom Watson twice in 2009. Mark grew up in Havana, IL attended Illinois State on a baseball scholarship and played semi-pro ball with the Eau Claire Cavaliers after spring training with the White Sox way back when. He is a die-hard Cubs fan.


Mark has freelanced for many sites, including ESPN. He will now be contributing his insights to Docksquad Sports...

 

 

 

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TODAY IN SPORTS...

June 29th

52 years ago today, Pele made his World Cup Final debut and Brazil won the first of five World Cups, beating Sweden 5-2 in the 6th World Cup at Stockholm.

The Final holds many records in World Cup history. Pele became the youngest player to play a World Cup Finals, the youngest scorer in a World Cup Final and the youngest player to win a World Cup Winner's Medal. Also, Nils Liedholm became the oldest player to score in a World Cup Final (35 years, 263 Days). Moreover, this final had the highest number of goals scored by a winning team (5), the highest number of total goals scored (7), together with the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1998, it also had the greatest victory margin (3).

For both teams who took part this was a classic Final. Sweden played its first and only World Cup Final, the best performance by the Sweden team in a World Cup. Brazil won its first World Cup Final and as Pele himself as he believes that the match between Sweden and Brazil must be considered as the most classic World Cup final in history.1

Pele's famous bicycle kick

Check out the Finals recap video below, it shows all the goals, including Pele's goals.


26 years ago today, Pete Rose broke Carl Yastrzemski's MLB record for most games played, recording his 3,309th game.

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TODAY IN SPORTS...

June 28th

Happy 39th Birthday to Duke Legend, Bobby Hurley

Hurley led the Blue Devils to three Final Four appearances, including back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992, and was awarded the Final Four MVP in 1992. He still remains the D-1 NCAA all-time leader in career assists with 1,076.

Bobby Hurley Youtube clip with cheesy music

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TODAY IN SPORTS...

June 25th
(The streak lives on)

22 years ago today, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 1,000th consecutive game . 7 years later in 1995, he would go on to break Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played.
reference

Happy 44th Birthday to NBA legend, Dikembe Mutombo

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2010 NBA MOCK DRAFT - by Docksquad

The NBA Draft is definitely one of my favorite times of the year, so I had to dust off my keyboard, and come out of semi-retirement for this post.  I'm particularly excited about this Draft because I feel like this is one of the deeper Drafts that we have seen in a very long time.  I honestly believe that when we look back on this Draft 3 years from now, that we will be able to say that this Draft produced a ton of quality players.  I'm also excited to see what the Bulls do, as well.  On top of that, tonight's Draft is probably going to be wild because it will have a lot of trades with teams trying to free up cap room for this year's prized Free Agent class. Can't wait!  Anyways, here is what I got, so check it out and let me know what you think...


1 - Wizards - John Wall - My colleagues here at DSS pretty much covered everything about why Wall over Turner, or anyone else in this Draft for that matter, is pretty much a no-brainer in their Mocks.  The size and speed combination that Wall possesses, coupled with his passing ability, should give the Wiz a solid PG that they can build around for the future.

2 - Sixers - Evan Turner - People always throw out BRoy, Grant Hill, or even DWade as comparisons for Evan Turner's game.  Unfortunately, I just don't see it.  Do these people even remember how explosive those three guys were in College?  I'm not trying to hate on Turner, who I think will be a solid contributor for a team for years to come, but he just does not have the NBA Athleticism or explosion in his game that warrants the number 2 pick.  His handles and J are suspect too.  But, to give him a little bit of credit, he is a crafty player who can score in different ways, and do a lot of different things on the court, whether it be rebound, pass, or play defense.  And for now, he is ready to come in and contribute right away, and is not a long term project like some of the other players are, and that is what I am sure Coach Dough Collins is looking for in Philly.   So unless there is a trade, look for Turner to go 2.

3 - Nets - Derrick Favors - There is a lot of talk right now about the Nets trading out of this spot.  Trade or not, I think Favors is the best pick for them at this spot.  Their frontcourt will be good for years, if Favors pans out, because I see Favors being able to play next to Lopez nicely.  He is an explosive athlete with an insane wingspan.  He also runs the floor well and will be solid on the defensive end. And the scariest part is, he still hasn't even filled out his body yet. 

4 - Timberwolves - Wes Johnson - While the Twolves look like they are shopping Al Jefferson, and they might need a big to take his place, I don't think they can pass up on Wes Johnson with this pick.  He is an athletic small forward,  who can score in many ways.  In my eyes, the TWolves desperately need this kind of player.  Let's see if they go big here, if they do, then say bye bye to Al Jefferson Wolves fans.  BTW, how did Al Jefferson go from being one of the most coveted young, low block players, to someone who is pretty much going to be given away for pebbles sometime soon? 

5 - Kings - DeMarcus Cousins - This kid's potential is off the charts.  He has the perfect blend of size and athleticism to be a big man that changes the game for years to come.  And the guy is a statistical machine, when it comes to rebounding as well.  But, he also has a lot of red flags.  When reading the SI story about him, I couldn't help myself from thinking about the Washington Post story I read about Beasley a couple of years ago.  Character issues, temper issues, and possible weight concerns are all things that are stopping Cousins from going higher in this draft.  People know that if Cousins busts, he might turn into the next Eddy Curry, and that is scary.  But on the flip side, the kid's upside is insane, and I don't see him falling past the Kings at five here.  Tyreke, Casspi, Thompson, and Cousins give the Kings a nice core of young players to move forward with.

6 - Warriors - Ekpe Udoh - You would think that the Warriors would take Monroe here, and I kind of hope they do, because I don't see the point of taking another athletic big like Udoh in this spot.  But with that being said, these are the Warriors we are talking about.  He's an athletic, shot blocking big man, with a crazy wingspan. The Warriors are in love with these kinds of bigs, so look for them to add another one here.

7 - Pistons - Greg Monroe - I think the Pistons will be really excited if Monroe falls to them in this spot, because we all know that they need a big badly.  And, I don't think they want to choose between Ed Davis and Udoh here, because those two guys can not provide what Monroe can on the offensive side of the floor.  The rest of the Pistons bigs suck, and they have a ton of the same players at the Guard spot, so no matter which big is left on the board, look for them to grab one of them.  Monroe will give them a solid big man that they can run their offense through. He can play with his back to the basket, or face up.  He's an excellent passer, and he will finally give the Pistons a different dimension on offense than the one they have right now. The one where BGeezy and all his clones just jack up shots. 

8 - Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu - Aminu fits perfectly for the Clippers. He is a solid SF who will cause matchup problems for opponents on the offensive side of the ball.  He is a freak of an athlete, and will fit in well with the Clip show.  A lineup of BDiddy, Gordon, Aminu, Griff, and Kaman is pretty sweet too for the future.

9 - Jazz - Luke Babbitt - Babbitt has shot up the Draft boards a lot recently.  The Jazz need a big or a solid shooting wing, and I see them going with Babbitt here.  He can space the floor well and will knock down wide open jumpers he gets as a product of DWill and the Jazz system. 

10 - Pacers - Ed Davis - The Pacers are trying to deal this pick badly and trade down, so let's see what happens.  I don't think they want to take local home town hero Hayward here at this spot, and they also have bigger needs like a PG or a big.  Look for them to maybe work something out with the Thunder so they can move down and still get Hayward later. But if they do stick here, I think they have to go with Ed Davis. Just a year ago, people were talking about Ed Davis going top five in the Draft.  He's the best big left, with the most potential, so I see them taking Davis here.

11 - Hornets - Paul George - I know the Hornets need a shooter, so they may go with someone like Henry, but I don't see them passing up on the potential of George at this pick.  A lot of people are calling him the next TMac or Danny Granger.  CP3/DC at the 1, Thorton at the 2, and George at the three is pretty money if you ask me.  Then throw in bigs like West and Okafor, and the Hornets roster looks pretty nice.  In the end, who really knows what will happen with CP3 and West? 

12 - Grizzlies - Patrick Patterson - Who knows how ZBo is going to come back and play next year?  Patterson is one of those hard hat kind of guys who you know what you are going to get from his game. His potential might not be as great as Orton or Whiteside, but at least he will work hard and help your team.  Nabbing Patterson here is the right move for the Grizzlies.  Gasol/ Patterson will give you tough interior prescence for years to come.  

13 - Raptors - Cole Aldrich - The Raps need help badly on defense and on the boards, and Aldrich fits the bill perfectly for these two things.  I know this isn't the sexy pick Rap fans were looking for, but I do think if they are going to draft for need, then they have to take Aldrich here. He is the best available big in my opinion.

14 - Rockets - Daniel Orton - With Yao Ming's health always a concern, look for the Rockets to nab a big with this pick. They also already have a nice PG/SG/SF trio, so there is no point for them to take one of those positions.  Orton is a little bit of a project, but he is still the best big available.  He will definitely help the Rockets out defensively and on the boards in spurts, and is a good back up plan if Yao can't stay healthy in the future.

15 - Bucks - Xavier Henry - I don't think the Bucks trade for CDR or CM will change their draft plan here.  I'm a fan of the Bucks GM now. He has proven to me he can turn things around, and drafting a long term solution at SG is a good move here.  Even if Henry is one dimensional, he fits in well next to Young Money.

16 - Timberwolves - Avery Bradley - Bradley is rising up the Draft boards from everything I read.  I saw him play a few times in College, and the kid can light up the score board.  He might be 6'3 but he plays larger than that.  He is also a very good defender.  I think if the Wolves walk away with Wes and Avery in this Draft at these positions, this Draft will have been a good one for them.

17 - Bulls -  James Anderson - We all know that the Bulls need a shooter to space the floor for Derrick Rose. Ever since BGeezy left, we have been trying to fill this void.  Coach Tom T might want to go with another guard like Elliot Williams or Avery Bradley because of their defense, but I see them going for a shooter to space the floor for Rose. Even if we do end up getting Bosh or Lebron, we will still need a shooter on the squad. Anderson is also a big guard, which should make Scottie Pippen happy because he hates when teams have midgets in the backcourt like the former Hinrich/Bgeezy Bulls combo.  One other thing I like about Anderson is that he is a very good pick and roll player. 

18 - Thunder - Gordon Hayward - Rumors are flying that the Thunder want Hayward!  I know a lot of people don't think he will be good in the League, but to me the kid is a Basketball Player. I don't know if that even makes sense, but there are just some people that are good at the game, even if they are not the fastest or tallest or most athletic of the bunch.  I see Hayward as one of those people, and that is why I see him finding a way to contribute in the league for a while.   If they do get him, he will give them another nice shooter than can space the floor for Westbrook.  He might also be a better long term fit for the team instead of Jeff Green.  I still think the Pacers will find a way to nab him if the Thunder don't. 

19 - Celtics - Eric Bledsoe - Solid combo guard who can attack the basket and a crazy leaper. Plays bigger than his size.  He is a solid pick for the Celts here, as I see him built as more of a combo guard. I think he will get the proper guidance he needs from Rondo too to become a better player.

20 - Spurs - Craig Brackins - A lot of people are calling Brackins the sleeper of this Draft. I've seen his name all over the place from the first to even late second round on a ton of Mock Drafts, so let's see where he goes.  He can post up or face up and play inside or outside. This is huge for the Spurs and that is why I think they nab him here. He is more of a system fit than any of the other bigs that are left out there, and I don't think they want to deal with the bust potential that Whiteside has.  Larry Sanders is another possibility at this spot.

21 - Thunder - Kevin Seraphin - Internation Prospect that either the Thunder or the Blazers will nab.  He is still developing his game, but a lot of people like his potential.  He is known for his huge frame, big hands, and is said to be a monster dunker. I have never seen him play, but a lot of sites are saying he is a first rounder guaranteed.  Larry Sanders again is another possibility at this spot.

22 - Blazers - Elliot Williams - If the Blazers do not nab Seraphin, look for them to take Williams here. He is a bulldog on the defensive side of the ball, and he will give the Blazers some toughness.  With Blake probably gone for the squad, this pick would make sense for them.

23 - Timberwolves - Larry Sanders - If the Wolves get Sanders here, I think it's a steal for them. He is a hard working big man who is going to get better and who wants to get better.  Wolves are in full future building mode, so this is a nice pick for them at this spot.

24 - Hawks - Hassan Whiteside - Whiteside is one of the most intriguing players in this Draft.  People say Whiteside can be the next big thing or the next big bust in this draft. A lot of people compare his game to Camby/ Chandler type game.  If the Hawks can pair him up with Horford, and he pans out, that is a really nice front court they have for the future. 

25 - Grizzlies - Damion James - I really like James' game. The guy is a tough competitor, and he can be a good replacement for Gay if he leaves.  I see him dropping a little bit because he is kind of a tweener. 

26 - Thunder - Tibor Pleiss - I doubt the Thunder keep all their picks in this Draft.  Even if they do, this is a good pick for them because it gives them size, and they can stash him away in Europe if they need to.

27 - Nets - Jordan Crawford - Crawford is rising up Draft boards fast from everything that I have read. He can go anywhere from 16-27, which is pretty good considering he was thought of as a 2nd rounder just a few months ago.  Everyone knows him for dunking on Lebron James, where Lebron confiscated the tapes, but people forget that he was a pretty sick player in College. He led Xavier to the tourny and he put on a show while doing it. He's a nice slashing high flyer, and he will fit in well with the Nets.

28 - Grizzlies - Solomon Alabi - A big man who is long and athletic that can give them help in the front court. To me, he is still a project, who will need some time. Lucky for the Grizz, they have other good bigs already.

29 - Magic - Dominique Jones - This guy is a flat out scorer, which means he will fit in perfectly with the Magic who love to score.  His size is the only thing that hurts him, but he's a good fit for the Magic.

30 - Wizards - Greivis Vasquez - I see this as a good fit for both parties involved here.  The hometown hero gets to stay in town, and the Wizards get a solid combo guard who can score. I see this pick coming down to Vasquez vs Lance Stephenson.  BTW, when will players stop getting bad advice from people?  Please tell me who advised Lance to declare for the Draft this year?  Only if he stayed in school one more year....

P.S. Good luck to Marquette's finest, Lazar H!!! I hope he gets drafted, and I wish him all the best! MU will miss you!

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Bye-Bye Buff by Vish

It has begun. Our Stanley Cup Hawks are dismantling pieces and preparing for the future. Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, and Ben Eager are being sent to Atlanta, along with prospect, Akim Aliu. In return, we get two draft picks, center Marty Reasoner, and prospect Jeremy Morin.

All I can say is that it's a good thing I am not a GM for the Blackhawks. There is no way I could part with the Big Buff after his heroics in the playoffs. He wasn't as big a force during the regular season, so it will be a challenge for the Thrashers to get him to perform this high level throughout the regular season too. This move, while sad, is actually very good for the Hawks, because it keeps them under the salary cap and gives them potentially $6 million to shop around. The draft picks will give them a chance to invest in the future too.

For the Thrashers, they get some significant upgrades and added toughness. It's an immediate effect for Atlanta, while a investment into the future for Chicago. The Hawks will miss his presence, and the fans will always love him. Big Buff, thanks for a wonderful Stanley Cup run.... you will be missed.

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TODAY IN SPORTS...

June 24th

Happy 23rd Birthday to Lionel Messi.
Check out this compilation of Messi's Top 50 goals with sweet techno music


Lionel Messi promises to put Oasis back together for Ravi

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LANDON DONOVAN'S GAME WINNING GOAL VS ALGERIA - 2010 WORLD CUP

Congrats to the USA Soccer team for winning today and on advancing!  I also wanted to take a quick second to man up, and apologize to Landon Donovan.  For the past 4 years I've been riding on Donovan, saying that he sucks, never comes through in the clutch, and that he is overrated.  Well after seeing how he played in the past two games, and after the game winner today, I can happily say that I was wrong!  Sorry again Donovan and GO TEAM USA!!!

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NBA MOCK DRAFT - by Suman V

1. Wizards - John Wall

As much as I want to retaliate against WBT for his Buckeye bashing he is right...I don’t think the Wizards can pass on Wall for Evan Turner. Wall has better court vision and as good if not better athleticism as the previous Calipari guards (and they are both stars).  He has high-end athleticism that MVPs are made of that I don’t think Evan Turner possesses.  And thats what separates them. If Gilbert Arenas can ever get his sh*t together, this will be a real nice back court for the next few years.

2. Sixers - Evan Turner

I think the Sixers traded Sam Dalembert to give the full time starting gig to Mareese Speights, not so they can draft another big. It may seem like a log jam with ET joining Iguodala, Lou Williams, and Jrue Holiday in the backcourt, but I think ET is so versatile that he can blend in.  Remember, this kid played 3-4 positions for the Buckeyes.  This past year he was the pg for god’s sake!  He needs to work on his handle, but he can bring the ball up and create in the NBA.  He needs to work on his 3 point shooting, but he is able to create his own shot which is a must for a G/F drafted this high.  I don’t think the turnover issue is a big deal because he won’t be a full-time pg in the NBA.  Like I said above, I don’t believe he has that extra gear that separates MVPs from all-stars.  So I would take John Wall over him 10/10 times.  But he’s a good kid, has a good head on his shoulders, and I think he’ll make it in the league.  A Jrue-AI2-ET backcourt will be nice and long (pause).  The one caveat here is that I think the Sixers would be more than willing to trade this pick if someone is willing to take Elton Brand’s contract off their hands.

3. Nets - Derrick Favors

Although I think that Demarcus Cousins will end up being the better pro, Favors makes more sense for the Nets since they already have a paint-eater in Brook Lopez.  This kid comes from the Dwight Howard School for Manly Shoulders (pause)... i.e. he has an NBA body already.  I think he needs to develop that Horace Grant jumpshot, and the Nets might actually be onto something here.

4. Timberwolves - Wesley Johnson

If I were the Wolves I would draft Demarcus Cousins and ship Al Jefferson outta town for a wing player instead of drafting Wes Johnson.  The Jefferson/Love combo worked as well as the idea of eating Chipotle before the club...it sounds good on paper, but it could really backfire...literally.  The Wolves need a wing so I guess they take Wes here. Blah.  I’m not sold on the kid.  He seems like one of those Wayne Ellington/Rashad McCants types that gets drafted to Minnesota and you never hear from again.  And with rumors that mav Demarcus won’t even go to Minnesota for a workout, I think they are out of options here.

5. Kings - Demarcus Cousins

The Kings have a couple of needs...a 2 guard that can run with Tyreke and a another big (they have Dalembert, Jason Thompson, and Carl Landry but those all some skinny ass dudes). If Wes Johnson is there, I think they take him.  But I see them taking Demarcus Cousins here.  Adds some beef to their front line.  Xavier Henry is a sleeper choice.

6. Warriors - Ekpe Udoh

This team has 93 guards it seems like.  They need someone that can finish what Steph Curry creates so I see them going big here.  They have Anthony Randolph and Brandon Wright (who may be the same human), but Udoh offers more bulk.  This kid is a beast.  I think Greg Monroe is the safer pick, but the Warriors seem to love these type of athletic freaks.

7. Pistons - Greg Monroe

The Pistons will take whoever is leftover from the Cousins/Udoh/Monroe trio, and if this scenario plays out I’m sure they wouldn’t mind picking up Monroe.  He reminds some people of Lamar Odom.  I think he’s a little too stiff, and not a good enough of a ball handler for that comparison, but he’s probably got the best skill set of any big in this draft.  This will help them make up for all the busts and twigs they signed last year.

8. Clippers - Paul George

The Clips are set up front with DeAndre Jordan, Kaman, the underrated Craig Smith, and the unused Blake Griffin.  Added to Eric Gordon and Baron Davis, that’s a nice core.  I think they have to either look for a guard that can replace Baron soon, or get some help on the wing. That leads to Al-Farouq Aminu or Paul George (a guy I have never seen play but is a late riser according to the sites I read).  Eeeny Meeny Miney Mo...

9. Jazz - Xavier Henry

With Carlos Boozer most likely gone the Jazz need someone else who can shoulder the scoring load with D-Will.  They have Paul Millsap to take over most of Boozer’s minutes so I don’t think they go big here....Although a white player like Babbitt or Heyward are probably more likely with this being Utah and all, I don’t think they can pass on the value of the X-man here.

10. Pacers - Ed Davis

It’ll be enticing for them to take the hometown kid Gordon Heyward, but I don’t see it happening when they need a big man who plays above the rim.  Point guard is also a position of need, but there are none that should be taken this high.

11. Hornets - Luke Babbitt

The one time Ohio State signee provides the Hornets with another shooter for CP3. Peja is falling off.

12. Grizzlies - Patrick Patterson

The Grizz don’t really have a strong need so they should take the best player available.  But with the chance that Zebo spends his remaining days locked up, they may have a need a PF.  So I see them taking Patterson here, who shows flashes of being a dominator at times, but often fades to the back at others.  Should be a good fit in Memphis where we will never hear of him again.

13. Raptors - Hassan Whiteside

With Chris Bosh most likely leaving, and Andrea Bargnani not really being a center I think the Raptors have to go big here.  So its a toss up between this beast and my boy Cole Aldrich. Aldrich only measured in at 6’9’’ in the predraft camp, so I think they go big(ger) here.

14. Rockers - Al-Farouq Aminu

You know the Rockets will take the best value available with their master GM Daryl Morey still running things.  But they have a logjam at the 2/3 position with Ariza, Budinger, Shane Battier, and Kevin Martin.  With Yao hopefully coming back I don’t think they’ll want to go big here.  They could use a pg or a backup pg. I think this a prime pick to be traded, so I’ll go with value here and say the Rockets take Aminu whom they will somehow package during the draft.

15. Bucks - Cole Aldrich

16. Timberwolves - Kevin Seraphin

17. Bulls - James Anderson

18. Heat - Daniel Orton

19. Celtics - Craig Brackins

20. Spurs - Devin Ebanks

21. Thunder - Damion James

22. Blazers - Avery Bradley

23. Timberwolves - Gordon Heyward

24. Atlanta - Eric Bledsoe

25. Grizzlies - Eliot Williams

26. Thunder - Solomon Alabi

27. Nets - Lance Stephenson

28. Grizzlies - Tiny Gallon

29. Magic - Dominique Jones

30. Wizards - Larry Sanders

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NBA MOCK DRAFT - by WBT

1.  Wizards - John Wall, PG, Kentucky, FR

Shut up and sit down Ohio State fans, Wall has the pedigree to be a top 10 PG in his first season.  And if you doubt him, do you doubt John Calipari who has had 2 other top 10 PGs drafted in the last 2 years?  Wall is better than Tyreke and D-Rose, and he is certainly better than Evan Turner.

2.  76ers – Evan Turner, SG/SF, Ohio State, JR

Still stay seated OSU fans, no one wants to hear from you.  Lots of people are comparing Turner to D-Wade, but he will never reach the same numbers that Wade has put up.  The biggest thing that I see missing is that quick twitch ability that Wade has to close at the hoop.  People love the comparison because Turner put up numbers across the board like Wade, but OSU only played 6 guys on a regular basis, someone was bound to get the numbers.

3.  Nets – Derrick Favors, PF/C, Georgia Tech, FR

If the 1-and-done rule wasn’t in effect, Favors may have well been the number draft pick last year.  This guy has an NBA-body and NBA game.  He should go well with Lopez up front, and expect the Nets to win 20 more games than last year.

4.  Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson, SF/PF, Syracuse, JR

It seemed like Minnesota drafted about 5 PGs last year and they have a logjam up front with Jefferson and Love.  Look for them to go with a SF, and Johnson is the real deal.  IT takes a lot to go straight from JUCO and become the best player on a top seeded team in the NCAA tourney.  Johnson is a legit scorer and Timberwolves fans should be happy.

5.  Kings – DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky, FR

Cousins may be a bigger body than Favors, but he has had some issues in interviews.  Based straight off of basketball skill, Cousins may be better than Favors, but Cousins could be the next Michael Beasley (too early on calling Beasley a bust?  Whatever, sit down OSU fans)

6.  Warriors – Greg Monroe, C, Georgetown, SO

Yes! Yes! Yes!  Monroe would be an AWESOME fit with the Warriors offense.  HE is an athletic big man who is an excellent passer.  Golden State had no one upfront last year, and Monroe is an instant upgrade.  Not that the team will be any better, but he will put up a nice stat line every night.

7.  Pistons – Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina, SO

Pistons need a big man that can score.  Jason Maxiell is too small, Ben Wallace sucks and Rasheed Wallace ain’t coming back.  Davis gives them size and skill down low, and again, he would have been a Top 3 pick if he came out last year.  Pistons need a lot of help, look for them to pick in the top 3 next year.

8.  Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu, SF/PF, Georgia Tech, SO

I feel like the Clippers would be better off with Paul George, but I doubt that they would risk losing Aminu if he were on the board.  It would give them a frontcourt of Aminu-Griffin-Kaman, which would be awesome if Baron Davis learns to finally pass the ball more (he won’t).

9.  Jazz – Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas, JR

Though I think they may take Luke Babbitt, I can’t resist the fact that they would take another large, white center from Kansas to follow in the footsteps of Greg Ostertag.  That, and along with the impending loss of Boozer could open a spot along the frontline for Aldrich.  He is the wrong pick for one reason, you never draft an American white guy in the lottery.

10.  Pacers – Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler, SO

If he is still available here, Larry Bird will need to consult a doctor for having an erection lasting longer than 4 hours.  Season ticket sales and jersey sales would be off the charts on Friday.  Unlike the Hansborough pick, Hayward is the real deal, and would be a nice complementary scorer to Danny Granger.

11.  Hornets – Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada, SO

They need someone to step in for Peja and Babbitt may be the best pure shooter in the draft.  It may not be the sexiest pick in the draft, but it is the right move for the Hornets who depend on their shooters to open up the floor for their PG (not necessarily CP3) to drive and kick.

12.  Grizzlies – Paul George, SF, Fresno St., SO

If Rudy Gay leaves, George would be a great fit for Memphis.  They are set up front with Gasol and Randolph, and I am not sure they are ready to give up on Conley yet at the point.  All roads lead to George.

13.  Raptors – Ekpe Udoh, C, Baylor, JR

The Raptors need someone to fill Bosh’s shoes, and Ekpe is already a better defender than Bosh.  Also, this would be a great pick for Toronto seeing that Bargnani and Hedo are not getting picked to the 6^th Team All-Defensive team anytime soon.

14.  Rockets – Solomon Alibi, C, Florida St., SR

Houston NEEDS height, I mean they started Chuck Hayes, who is 6’6”, at center for over 20 games last year.  CHUCK HAYES!!!  Alibi is not the most talented big man in the draft, but he plays solid defense and IF, that’s a HUGE IF, Yao is back this year, Alibi would allow Houston to ease Yao back in.

15. Bucks – Xavier Henry, SG, FR

16. Timberwolves – Avery Bradley, SG, Texas, FR

17. Bulls – James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma St., JR

18. Heat – Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky, FR

19. Celtics – Larry Sanders, PF, VCU, JR

20. Spurs – Kevin Seraphin, C, Internatoinal

21. Thunder – Daniel Orton, PF, Kentucky, FR

22. Trailblazers – Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall, FR

23. Timberwolves – Damion James, PF, Texas, SR

24.  Atlanta – Lance Stephenson, SF, Cincinnati, FR

25. Grizzlies – Elliot Williams, SG, Memphis, SO

26. Thunder – Greivis Vasquez, PG/SG, Maryland, SR

27. Nets – Jordan Crawford, SG, Xavier, SO

28. Grizzlies – Tibor Pleiss, C, International

29. Magic – Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington, SR

30. Wizards – Willie Warren, SG, Oklahoma, SO

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NEW KOBE BRYANT VITAMIN WATER COMMECIAL - THE "KLOSER Part Duex"

I know this is O N (old news) now, but still wanted to post it...

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TODAY IN SPORTS...

June 23rd

Happy 85th Birthday to former Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens owner, Art Modell.
Right now, Art holds the title as "The Most Hated Man in Cleveland Sports History" but this could change if LeBron decides to leave.
Art has his own dedicated death page already.... Modell Death Watch Website



Happy 31st Birthday to LaDainian Tomlinson
If you can't beat em, join em. Shonn Greene and LaDainian will make for one of the best 2-headed RB monsters in the league next season.

Check out the Hard Knocks trailer. Can't wait for it to start. I think Rex lost over 100 lbs.

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The New Golden Boy - by Sean S

In decades past, Andre Ward would be a household name.  An Olympic gold medalist, undefeated in the pros, and owner of a major belt, Ward would have been selling out the Garden and doing Seven Up commercials.  From Cassius Clay and George Foreman through Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya, a gold medal was a shortcut to big fights and big money, and those who proved their mettle in the pro ranks became superstars.  And like Sugar Ray and Oscar, Andre is handsome, well spoken, and seems like a swell guy.  (His only downfall is his nickname, S.O.G., for Son of God.  But other than the nickname, he doesn't go overboard demonstrating his piety; thankfully no Holyfield redux here: just a quick thanks to the Lord in his post-fight interviews.)

Today, with boxing's decline in the national consciousness (outside of the occasional hyped-up superfight) and amateur boxing success being less and less predictive of a future professional career (due to rule and scoring changes and the erosion of youth and amateur programs), Andre Ward is unknown to the casual fan.  Ward won the light heavyweight Olympic gold medal in 2004 at Athens, and then made his pro debut by the end of the year, smartly dropping down and fighting at super middleweight.  He slowly but surely worked his way through a host of journeymen and young prospects in six and eight round bouts, then moved up to ten rounders. 

Ward did what he was supposed to in starting his career, but I still had concerns.  He had some shaky moments and he was showing little power, his TKO's coming via accumulation of punches against weak opponents.  Despite showing flashes of speed, power, and ring generalship, he often looked tentative and fought in a safety-first style.  I felt Ward was in danger of becoming the worst type of fighter possible: boring. 

Then a funny thing happened.  As his level of competition improved, so did Ward.  Whether he merely became more comfortable in the ring with experience, or whether he fights up (or down) to the level of his opponent, Ward has dominated his recent fights.  His first fight against a legitimate contender was a virtual shutout of hard-hitting Edison "Pantera" Miranda.  In addition to his speed, for which Miranda had no answer, Ward also used effective inside fighting to stifle Miranda's power.

After a stay busy fight, Ward took on Mikkel Kessler, the WBA champion from Denmark.  It was the first bout in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, a round robin tournament featuring the best 168 pounders in the world (with a couple notable but not egregious absences) including the pre-tournament favorite Arthur Abraham, WBC belt-holder Carl Froch, and former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.  Kessler was more than a 2-1 favorite against Ward, and I agreed- I saw Kessler pounding out a unanimous decision with his classic 1-2 (jab- straight right) style.  But the underdog didn't agree with the pundits, absolutely destroying Kessler in route to an 11th round stoppage on cuts that saved Kessler from going out on a stretcher.  Ward showed impressive ring savvy and versatility, not only getting off first in every exchange and showing a stiff jab on the outside, but also dominating inside and denying the Dane the space or time to mount his own attack.  Ward took the WBA belt in emphatic fashion, joining the ranks of gold medalists turned professional world champions.

Saturday, in his second match of the tournament and in his hometown of Oakland, Ward made his first title defense against Allen Green.  Green was a replacement for Jermain Taylor, who withdrew from the tourney (and hopefully retires) after getting KO'd by Abraham.  Green is a tough, cocky, strong-punching contender who was getting his first title shot after years in the game.  Ward was a big favorite, and he didn't disappoint, winning every round.  But again, it was the way he fought that impressed.  Rather than merely using his superior speed to jab and counter from the outside, Ward took the fight to Green, pressuring him to the ropes then completely smothering him inside.  Round after round, Ward got Green against the ropes and then stuck his head in Green's chest and went to work.  The taller, rangier challenger couldn't find the room to utilize his vaunted power, while Ward used sharp, quick hooks and uppercuts to systematically break down the bigger man. 

Ward has established himself as the favorite in the Super Six tournament and arguably the top supermiddleweight in the world, and is a bona fide draw in the Bay Area.  26 years old and just coming into his prime, it's just a matter of time before the rest of the world takes notice as well.

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