tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67516615892304553252024-02-09T16:59:57.181-05:00High Socks LegendThe Man. The Myth. The HIGH SOCKS LEGEND...The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-48864155091413513562010-05-24T10:20:00.012-04:002010-05-26T00:24:04.182-04:00Yet Unnamed Monday Weekend Sports Re-Kap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60NMiLStrTm21K6VQuXJjsMpOfchkKOeT59pQQCHzJCR236jYIBpV6oobevfqpGDvvDqxLagv1LC7O_i4xtlQj600E_Tye4bq6WvnwkljkD6H7jSrwEVKITEPKZkYnK_0bZMA-tVCcvs/s1600/sunshine.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60NMiLStrTm21K6VQuXJjsMpOfchkKOeT59pQQCHzJCR236jYIBpV6oobevfqpGDvvDqxLagv1LC7O_i4xtlQj600E_Tye4bq6WvnwkljkD6H7jSrwEVKITEPKZkYnK_0bZMA-tVCcvs/s400/sunshine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474876855592447650" border="0" /></a><br />-What would be so wrong with the sports world collectively deciding that we aren't going to mention LeBron James name until the beginning of free agency on July 1st? What is there to possibly say before then? I could really do without such "breaking news" as <span style="font-style: italic;">Obama Thinks LeBron Good Fit with Bulls</span> or the equally fascinating <span style="font-style: italic;">Clippers Fans Launch Website to Lure LeBron</span>. These are not stories. Besides, what's the big deal with this guy anyway? He's a 7-year veteran still lacking a ring and a consistent outside J. Give me a break. I liked LeBron a lot better the first time...when he was called Johnny Newman.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHT-YdMo7kXGEQT1s2cSvZo-Ylemc5Cm1Kk9TYGRCamwJmJV2NRfpavCEztiOkv60XzE-n83nhE4ELrfczEJEAawYYhMQzKzjQCz_O8iU3xMimTnTUV5-DLTm9ObEXAC2ZX8vGiIEgdk/s1600/683957c3-9172-4d3a-98d2-e6bf48e489ab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHT-YdMo7kXGEQT1s2cSvZo-Ylemc5Cm1Kk9TYGRCamwJmJV2NRfpavCEztiOkv60XzE-n83nhE4ELrfczEJEAawYYhMQzKzjQCz_O8iU3xMimTnTUV5-DLTm9ObEXAC2ZX8vGiIEgdk/s320/683957c3-9172-4d3a-98d2-e6bf48e489ab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474876544525438498" border="0" /></a>-I know it has become every Detroit sports fan's favorite cliché this summer, but when it's true, you can't help but echo the sentiment: "The Tigers will not go anywhere this season unless they start getting something from the bottom half of the order." It's been a weakness of the club for a while now, but this year, it has become especially helpless. Brandon Inge is rapidly approaching the Mendoza line with his .217 mark, and is yet to register a multi-hit game in the month of May. Gerald Laird is hitting .155 with no power, and has managed to be especially putrid on the road, registering a .106 BA with exactly zero RBIs. Adam Everett is also struggling mightily and is still looking for his <span style="font-style: italic;">first</span> game of the year with more than one hit. You can get all the production you want from Cabrera, Maggs, and those guys, but with these mooks occupying the bottom part of the order, there is no realistic chance for this team to do anything of note this season. And sadly, it's hard to anticipate these numbers changing to any great degree in the near future.<br /><br />-Caught <span style="font-style: italic;">MacGruber</span> with my buddy BK over the weekend. Not the best flick ever, but certainly not the worst, either. If you're looking for a few smiles and to see Val Kilmer quietly tipping the scales at almost three bills, then fork over your $5 and you'll walk out a happy man.<br /><br />-Absolutely brutal cut over the left eye of Israel Vazquez on Saturday night. Fighting Rafael Marquez for the 4th (and hopefully final) time, Vazquez took quite a bit of punishment in just three short rounds, and the fight was ultimately stopped due to the fact that you could basically see homeboy's <span style="font-style: italic;">brain</span> through that hideous gash. The first three fights were epic, but there was really no reason for this last one. Vazquez had been having so much trouble with the skin over his eyes coming in to the bout that he'd been sparring with a mask over his face. Not just headgear...a <span style="font-style: italic;">mask</span>, too. You'd think that would have maybe told Vazquez that it was time to hang it up, but boxers have never been great at putting their long-term health ahead of their short-term finances.<br /><br />-Good to see the Suns making things interesting out West to at least add some intrigue to the dueling Conference Finals. Seeing as how Rashard Lewis and his crew never bothered showing up against Boston, we can only hope Steve Nash and the boys make it all square in Game 4, giving a little dose of excitement to an NBA Playoffs that has been loaded with series sweeps and 30-point blowouts. The switch to a zone on Sunday night by Alvin Gentry was a series-altering move. It frustrated the Lakers into several key turnovers (17 total) and invited them to hoist a whopping 32 threes, making just 9. Now, it still took career performances from both Amare Stoudemire <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> Robin Lopez to secure the W, so hoping for an eventual Suns series victory seems unlikely. But at least they delivered some drama and a couple of compelling story lines to a postseason that up until now has been depressingly vanilla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwhE31Qda5fjSDXAhkJaQhXryqm_TE2nW-1rNmZBzCRqB2HFYNdo6oqsCcbo_MBgAH43oaevrM3qnKGO0tO-jszdakOhL6ONNVYxbnK4Ysr9HlYrBDqCFAibGEmMsGjWsvk88l5H-pC8/s1600/bbd70d87-2528-4c5f-9d3a-86a01dc4533e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwhE31Qda5fjSDXAhkJaQhXryqm_TE2nW-1rNmZBzCRqB2HFYNdo6oqsCcbo_MBgAH43oaevrM3qnKGO0tO-jszdakOhL6ONNVYxbnK4Ysr9HlYrBDqCFAibGEmMsGjWsvk88l5H-pC8/s320/bbd70d87-2528-4c5f-9d3a-86a01dc4533e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474875712711923042" border="0" /></a>-What in the world has gotten into Carlos Silva? The journeyman right hander improved his record to a sparkling 6-0 on Sunday, giving the Cubbies a much-needed and highly unexpected ace at the back of the rotation. Silva had basically pitched himself out of the big leagues the last couple years in Seattle, going 5 and 18 with a frighteningly high ERA that you don't talk about at parties. The Cubs acquired him over the winter, if for no other reason, than to just rid themselves of the clubhouse virus known as Milton Bradley. There were no expectations for Silva coming into the season. My, how things have changed after just a couple months. Silva has shed a few lbs from that 250-pound frame, his sinker is finally sinking again, and the 31-year-old afterthought is now one of the favorites for the NL Cy Young. If you close your eyes and let yourself go a little bit, you can almost picture the big fella straddling the mound at Wrigley in late October, throwing the first pitch in the 2010 World Series. (Ok, you might have to close your eyes <span style="font-style: italic;">really hard</span> for that one.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6JnSjfvwxF1Kg7ifyY8wyV46A05tIt1Hm7pLCjsJ72Xe9csqZ55Takp0VUwcTm7iSGge1JkuvKWO1q2y6STqvWayWdzyswdTg5WWkPJ2eTbCrRBgAAvwIprJTG7yLbqYTNpKWWsyA_4/s1600/255px-Excitebike_cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6JnSjfvwxF1Kg7ifyY8wyV46A05tIt1Hm7pLCjsJ72Xe9csqZ55Takp0VUwcTm7iSGge1JkuvKWO1q2y6STqvWayWdzyswdTg5WWkPJ2eTbCrRBgAAvwIprJTG7yLbqYTNpKWWsyA_4/s320/255px-Excitebike_cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474875356046717090" border="0" /></a>-I'm having a pretty tough dilemma a couple weeks into this summer's softball season. Last year, I played primarily in shorts and a t-shirt, and paid the price in the process. After a number of ill-advised hook slides into 2nd and dives across the infield, I worked up a pretty nice collection of scars and bruises on the body. So this year, I've decided to play it safe and go long pants-long shirt, protecting my skin from the treacherous Drake Park infield. The only thing is, it can get prittttay, pritttttttay hot out there at 1:00 on a Sunday afternoon. My legs are now protected, but the rest of my body feels like it's overheating like one of those motorcycles on <span style="font-style: italic;">Excitebike</span> when you would push the engine too hard and the guy would just crumple off to the side, needing 3-4 seconds to recover and cool down while the other drivers sped past. I guess I could just wear shorts and refrain from sliding completely, but that seems unlikely. As the great Richie Kotzen said in the song <span style="font-style: italic;">Tobacco Road</span>, "It's the only way I've ever known." Lastly, in a related story, I probably take recreational softball leagues a little too seriously, and without realizing it, have become a true "<a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2009/09/softball-guy-part-one.html">Softball Guy</a>." I'm not proud of myself...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This article is devoted to the great Jose Lima, a Tigers mainstay from the mid-90s and early-2000s, and one of the more memorable characters in the majors over that time. His 21 victories pushed the Astros into the playoffs in 1999, but it was partnership with similarly-named Felipe Lira at the top of the </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">apocalyptic </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tiger rotation in 1995 that will always stick with me. We'll miss ya, Jose.<br /><br />Drop me a line at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-25379930260811927662010-05-11T00:26:00.004-04:002010-05-11T11:18:48.155-04:00Too Good to be True<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6Kmx5rSBt-BKk1tEfzAkMLwg6_4iT-b9k90a0_RN-yR3TUDN3DwEnT54hdnceDZQopCPRThW60pwYYqx9XVw-vMQfRmzj4D69rKzYRnySwXBg_bNpUJt-3b2souoCJH4bDEaoT0Deus/s1600/1136055_baseball_player_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6Kmx5rSBt-BKk1tEfzAkMLwg6_4iT-b9k90a0_RN-yR3TUDN3DwEnT54hdnceDZQopCPRThW60pwYYqx9XVw-vMQfRmzj4D69rKzYRnySwXBg_bNpUJt-3b2souoCJH4bDEaoT0Deus/s400/1136055_baseball_player_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469868749006110162" border="0" /></a><br />Originally, I thought the story had to be some kind of fable. No way it could have <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> happened.<br /><br />It went a little something like this.<br /><br />My dad's Little League team was preparing for a significant game late in the season. He was the ace of the team's pitching staff, and would be counted on to take the hill and shut down the opposition's powerful offense.<br /><br />But a bizarre occurrence happened at school that week. My dad was a gym aide for one of the classes. Everybody was outside practicing various track and field events. The teacher needed a volunteer to display proper high jumping technique, and apparently that was something my dad did well.<br /><br />He sped down the track, readied himself at the last moment, leaped in the air, and cleared the bar by at least two feet. But the landing was not exactly an artistic one. He came down hard and awkwardly, fracturing the radius bone in his left wrist. All of a sudden, his availability for the monumental baseball game was in serious jeopardy. But maybe not...<br /><br />"I don't really need my left hand to throw the ball," my dad thought. "After all, pitching is really a one-handed activity." Could he be serious? Was he really planning on <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> pitching in the game despite having a hard plaster cast attached to one of his arms? He sure was, and he had other ideas, as well.<br /><br />Without a functioning left hand, my dad knew he needed to figure out a way to get the ball back from the catcher following each pitch. The umpire would most definitely not allow the catcher to trot out to the mound after every toss; the game would last six hours. Maybe the catcher could just float the ball back, and my dad would snag it with his unbroken, but bare right hand. Nah, all that would do is potentially injure the other wrist.<br /><br />Finally, they had a solution.<br /><br />After each pitch, the catcher would sling the ball out to the <span style="font-style: italic;">shortstop</span>. He would then take a few steps over to my dad, and hand-deliver the ball. Then his prized right arm would fire that pill towards the trembling batter, and the process would repeat. Poetry in motion.<br /><br />The story always ended the same way. With my dad going the distance, stifling the other squad's attack, and leading his boys to a life-changing victory.<br /><br />I always took the whole thing with a grain of salt. I mean, come on. The high jumping exhibition?? The giant cast extending out past the elbow? The ball being dropped off to him after every pitch like a room service breakfast at a 5-star hotel? This had to be some kind of urban legend, I thought.<br /><br />Then I saw the <span style="font-style: italic;">picture</span>.<br /><br />Right there, clear as day, was my dad out on the pebbled infield, his dirt-stained white and yellow jersey hanging off his paper-thin 11-year-old frame; and enveloping the entire lower portion of his left arm was a <span style="font-weight: bold;">cast</span>. It was all true.<br /><br />Makes Curt Schilling's bloody sock seem like a mechiah.<br /><br />To this day, it remains quite possibly the single greatest pitching performance, pro or amateur, in our game's long and storied history.<br /><br />And he only needed one arm to do it.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Birthday wishes go out today to Doc High Socks, the best one-handed pitching internist in the Metro Detroit area. Drop a b'day word for the Little League legend here, or shoot me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-62781914227859681512010-05-10T01:52:00.009-04:002010-05-10T08:11:31.481-04:00"Sweating Bullets": The Heroic Tale of the Original "Life of the Party"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRZQgroTr_G5ch1n3cFOmso4Vm_4CBa21DL-iCD9n6d6I6WgC8xckaAQqMESkZAQUdbE1E-CzOQy8xAmonQ34cK5_ig0o5HDqNhhbrA9NYGJhgn74syRWaFXpmSDLOlO2dCBxuyGS2Jc/s1600/sweaty-man-cartoon-230x300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRZQgroTr_G5ch1n3cFOmso4Vm_4CBa21DL-iCD9n6d6I6WgC8xckaAQqMESkZAQUdbE1E-CzOQy8xAmonQ34cK5_ig0o5HDqNhhbrA9NYGJhgn74syRWaFXpmSDLOlO2dCBxuyGS2Jc/s400/sweaty-man-cartoon-230x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469515447670247186" border="0" /></a><br /><style>BODY { MARGIN: 8px } .LW-yrriRe { FONT: x-small arial } </style><div goog_docs_charindex="13"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">High Socks</span></strong>: Welcome back to the Big Show, Little Bro. Always a pleasure to have you in the neighborhood. Pretty good weekend, eh? Celts making things interesting versus your Cavs, a perfecto by the anonymous Dallas Braden out in Oakland, and several barbecues/parties surrounding the Mother's Day weekend. But me and you both know that going to a party isn't always such a simple exercise.<br /><div goog_docs_charindex="13"><br />There are many things to take into account heading into the situation: what to wear, what not to wear, what to bring, when to get there. All of these factors must be considered with your full attention. But let's take a moment and focus on a frequent party guest that I know we both hold close to our hearts: "The Guy that Shows Up 100% Willing to Walk Out of the Festivities Three Hours Later Sopping Wet in his Own Sweat." I respect the hell out of this guy...and I know you do, too. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Low Socks</span>: Mind if I skip the introductions? It's late, I've watched a lot of television that I'd like to forget (Men's College Volleyball Finals), and those barbecues you speak of haven't treated me so kindly...if you get my drift. The guy that shows up to a party totally willing to schvitz is a guy I look up to; straight up to.<br /><br />If it was up to "this guy," he would have you write down the athletic activities on the invitation after the "save the date" so he could prepare a change of clothes. But he understands that it's not appropriate to reveal beforehand that the upcoming wedding will be held one floor above a room with a fully-equipped ping pong table. It's true, my man will avoid the oppo-sex after the competition starts. How can you blame 'em? After a 21-18 war, I wouldn't want to be dragged to the dance floor for a round of "Snowballs," either. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1754"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1757"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br />High Socks</span>: Couldn't agree more. There are really two kinds of guys in this world.<br /><br />One is the fella who shows up to a party or get-together simply to do just that...get together. He wants to engage in polite conversation, enjoy a leisurely meal with a couple mature beverages, and generally conduct himself in a perfectly acceptable adult manner. He is ever so careful not to walk too briskly at any point for fear of unleashing the slightest ounce of perspiration on his spotless well-tailored outfit. This guy wouldn't know a driveway game of pickup 3s if hit smacked him upside the head.<br /><br />But then there's the other guy...<i goog_docs_charindex="2389">our guy</i>. This dude comes prepared for anything. Sure, he's decked out in appropriate party attire. And sure, he behaves respectably towards the other guests throughout the evening. But just say the word, and this guy's putting down the tea and crumpets for a Halex Three-Star and a double-elimination pong tourney in the scorching hot unfinished basement. Yeah, he knows there are no females down there. It doesn't concern him. He knows when a game or tournament comes calling at a party, you go. No questions asked. You may come back to the masses 45 minutes later looking like Ethan Hawke at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">Training Day</span>, but that's the breaks of the game. Survival of the Fittest means just that...even if you have to sweat through your grey Old Navy polo in the process. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Low Socks</span>: For me personally, it's all a matter of picking the right battles. Say I walk into a party and haven't introduced myself or been seen by everybody yet. I still look like a normal human, so I'll make my rounds working the room and shake a few more hands. I think I have an internal game clock in my head where a buzzer will sound when I think the party has reached its halfway mark.<br /><br />At this point, I tell myself: <i goog_docs_charindex="3600">"You've been polite...Now make things right." </i>I walk over to the punch bowl, fill up, and find the nearest unfriendly competition: ping pong, 3-on-3, or mini-stick hockey. No looking back now: I'm sweaty and unsightly. You either show me a back way outta this place, or I'm pulling the fire alarm.<br /><br /></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3905"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3908"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">High Socks</span>: Not sure if you could classify mini-stick hockey as a sweat-inducing activity, but I've seen you in action and I'm gonna take your word for it. This whole discussion brings to mind the old "Gym period early in the day" conundrum back in middle school. There was always the ongoing battle between the angel and devil on your shoulders as to how to handle that upcoming 75-minute block of time.<br /><br /></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="4318"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="4321">The Angel would whisper in your ear, "Relax, High Socks. It's early in the day. You showered no less than two hours ago, and you still have five more classes to go after this one. Change into the gym clothes, lollygag your way through a couple go patterns in Air Force Football, and peacefully move on with the rest of your day still resembling a civilized 13-year-old boy. It's the sensible thing to do." </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="4734"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="4737"><br />But the Devil had other ideas. "Look, kid. I know you think it's a risk going full throttle in a gym class this early in the day. You're going to get overheated. You're going to start sweating profusely. And in all honesty, you will be dreadfully uncomfortable for the remainder of the day. And you can forget about putting that hooded sweatshirt back on after this is all over. It's going in your locker until the final bell; strictly "T-shirt or Bust" from this point forward. But it is the world we live in. Nothing good can come without a little suffering along the way. You're gonna go out to that football field and play each down like it's your last. You're gonna count to Five Apples in 2.3 seconds. You're gonna dive head first across the dew-soaked grass for a potentially game-winning bomb even if it means getting up after the play with a scrape job on the knee and a mouthful of sod. You're gonna win the game, trudge into that locker room, and change back into your school clothes that now look much different on you than they did at the beginning of the day. At that moment, you might question your previous hour of activity; the sweat, the tears, the blatantly illegal cut-block you threw to spring a big gain on the final drive. But take a look in the mirror. That's your bloodied face in the reflection; covered in a mound of perspiration, and an even bigger mountain of self respect. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br />Low Socks</span>: Here we go again...I sit down to have a peaceful conversation with you and it immediately takes an ugly turn. Angels? Devils? When did this talk become a forum for the "Good vs. Evil" debate? However, I do like your point and it is my belief that the age-old middle school controversy can be broken down into a simple word: experience. Like I said before, you have to know when to dial it up and when to ease off.<br /><br />Before lunch, it's my opinion that there is <i goog_docs_charindex="6579">way </i>too much school left to be at any peak heart rate.<br /><br />After lunch, but before band class, I can see where one might try and push their luck. I certainly could get away with it as I stood near the back, banging the drums.<br /><br />My advice to those that are unable to make it past lunch without getting sickly in gym: don't bother showing up to class. Neither you or the teacher wants any part of <i goog_docs_charindex="6960">all that</i>. You may think the "cooling down" period will only take 15-20 minutos; but before you know it, you'll be caught in a small group round-table discussion about photosynthesis.<br /><br />And Lord knows it ain't the plants absorbing the energy. It's <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span>...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop a thought to the Socks Crew at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span> </div></div>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-65542978631808147002010-05-03T00:47:00.008-04:002010-05-03T03:56:28.619-04:00A Troika of Thoughts on the Big Winter Swap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmqSo0CbyyiuOUSWj3e-8P6ZZMm617MhLD1iaHzVZ2nzm5R9Ua_shTUGFnI79pGntc4tALgv34HkDFUWRs2VvgqgOS98mJKX8KLJ1Zmwj0bAJUb1JJA9a9m-_QatMOwhwVsgQ54XhjVI/s1600/5ea34df9-3d07-4593-b1d6-0f3b71a597ac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmqSo0CbyyiuOUSWj3e-8P6ZZMm617MhLD1iaHzVZ2nzm5R9Ua_shTUGFnI79pGntc4tALgv34HkDFUWRs2VvgqgOS98mJKX8KLJ1Zmwj0bAJUb1JJA9a9m-_QatMOwhwVsgQ54XhjVI/s400/5ea34df9-3d07-4593-b1d6-0f3b71a597ac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466924165090821282" border="0" /></a><br />1. The baseball season is officially about a month old. Most teams have played about 25 games. And Tigers' rookie center fielder Austin Jackson still has more hits than <span style="font-style: italic;">anybody</span> in the big leagues. The freshman phenom rapped Angels pitching around the yard all weekend, collecting nine safeties in leading the Tigers to a statement-making three-game sweep.<br /><br />Jackson's fearlessness as a first-year player has brought life to the top of the order. Coupled with the old warhorse, Johnny Damon (.326 BA), they present what is quite possibly the most dangerous 1-2 combination in all of baseball.<br /><br />The only troubling stat with young Mr. Jackson is his climbing strikeout total. His 34 punchouts top the American League, and trail only Justin Upton of Arizona for the MLB lead. It is impossible to imagine his production continuing at this level unless he finds a way to start putting the ball in play more often. A player like Jackson, with limited power (1 HR) and tremendous speed, should <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> be in fear of whiffing 100 times in a season. At this rate, he'll be lucky to stay under <span style="font-style: italic;">two hundred</span>.<br /><br />But all told, it has been a truly memorable first month for Jackson, and one that could prove crucial later in the season when the Tigers are duking it out with the Twinkies and Chisox for a place in the postseason.<br /><br />2. While Jackson leads the bigs in hits <span style="font-style: italic;">right now</span>, whether or not he <span style="font-style: italic;">stays</span> there will likely depend on one player: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ichiro</span>. The fleet-footed Mariner has led all of baseball in that category in each of the last four seasons, and he is off to his typically strong start in 2010 (33 hits, .317 BA).<br /><br />But unlike the free-swinging Jackson, Ichiro forces you to make a play in order to record an out. In virtually the same number of ABs, he has fanned just eight times, less than a fourth of Jackson's staggering 'K' number.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKh_9up7INn66RsQH4cLtTQiWsHlRehQotASS0j9E0S_4I_wuUpaCDG87GhginekIokoTfKMDwCiqTaHUycz3YTWVIDoAadiZoOfT6_izBqHO73hLhOtDfBcihAG6A0GzQExgjBVy4kg/s1600/capt.3a76b4d3869343639f5d3a0e74d0c9aa-3a76b4d3869343639f5d3a0e74d0c9aa-0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKh_9up7INn66RsQH4cLtTQiWsHlRehQotASS0j9E0S_4I_wuUpaCDG87GhginekIokoTfKMDwCiqTaHUycz3YTWVIDoAadiZoOfT6_izBqHO73hLhOtDfBcihAG6A0GzQExgjBVy4kg/s320/capt.3a76b4d3869343639f5d3a0e74d0c9aa-3a76b4d3869343639f5d3a0e74d0c9aa-0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466923981749728290" border="0" /></a>3. People have been buzzing about the stellar play of Austin Jackson for the Bengals, the immense struggles of Curtis Granderson for the Bombers, and the brilliance of Dave Dombrowski in pulling off such a mid-winter heist. But take a moment to look at the second tier of players involved in the deal, and you realize this trade might actually be <span style="font-style: italic;">even better</span> than the previous sentence would lead you to believe.<br /><br />Edwin Jackson, who fell off miserably down the stretch in 2009, has picked up right where that season left off. He was absolutely torched by the Cubs at Wrigley yesterday afternoon, allowing eight runs in just four innings, including a 400-foot bomb off the bat of Alfonso Soriano. Amazingly, it was an <span style="font-style: italic;">improvement </span>from his last time out when he surrendered <span style="font-style: italic;">10 runs</span> in just 2.1 innings of work against the Rockies. The Diamondbacks are now 1 and 5 in his starts, with his ERA soaring to a Nate Robertson-esque <span style="font-weight: bold;">8.07</span>.<br /><br />The most disturbing trend of all, perhaps, has been Jackson's diminishing strikeout figures. He picked up just two in the start at Coors, and then failed to strike out a single Cub hitter on Sunday. 22 batters faced, 12 outs recorded, and a big, fat goose-egg in the K department. Not once did Jackson suffer that fate last year in any of his 33 starts. When you lose the ability to miss bats as a major league pitcher, unless your name is Jamie Moyer, you are going to be in some serious trouble. And before you say, "Hey HSL, take it easy...the season is only a month old!", remember that Jackson is now sporting a near-six ERA (5.85) since his perfect inning of work at last year's All-Star game.<br /><br />In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, "Good luck with <span style="font-style: italic;">allll </span>that."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh, and don't forget Phil Coke. The lefty-tossing Soft Drink has vultured a trio of wins (3-0) and has yet to serve up a long ball in his 14 carbonated innings out of the pen. A couple more weeks of Austin's heroics, Granderson's aches and pains, Edwin's meatball sandwiches, and Coke Zero's southpaw reliability, we might have to declare this the "Greatest Trade in Baseball History."<br /><br />Reach me by E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com<br /><br /></span><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back to the High Socks Legend main page</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-20700843607808617302010-04-23T02:37:00.003-04:002010-04-23T09:38:38.710-04:00Socks Brothers Present: "The Bigger Bang Theory." Not your Grandfather's Game of Floor Hockey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7i4oP3EIE2KXUKqeL-LtvlQA2NSYGQNdSQxZiSkKwLEH2m8e7Nw3YsXrhqoEgWcNkiAmtu3WDgDHJeHi3j1dFE1_ZZuz-EjDRkPK_M-aaL7iIu6ZiKaqAFbfhOsAhnw8VUUUJb6GWGE/s1600/EdCarter04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7i4oP3EIE2KXUKqeL-LtvlQA2NSYGQNdSQxZiSkKwLEH2m8e7Nw3YsXrhqoEgWcNkiAmtu3WDgDHJeHi3j1dFE1_ZZuz-EjDRkPK_M-aaL7iIu6ZiKaqAFbfhOsAhnw8VUUUJb6GWGE/s400/EdCarter04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463217646356518418" border="0" /></a><br /><style>BODY { MARGIN: 8px } .LW-yrriRe { FONT: x-small arial } </style> <div goog_docs_charindex="4"><b goog_docs_charindex="5"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);" goog_docs_charindex="6">High Socks</span></b>: Welcome back, Low Socks. It's been a while. The sports world is flying right now with the NBA/NHL playoffs in full swing, the NFL draft kicking off, and early season baseball starting to pick up steam. But I know that you've always held a special place in your heart for the game of <b goog_docs_charindex="308">floor hockey</b>. Care to share with the class?? <b goog_docs_charindex="357"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" goog_docs_charindex="358"><br /><br />Low Socks</span></b>: Thanks, HSL. Glad to be back running the court with you. I do hold a special place in my heart for floor hockey. Not just any floor hockey, mind you: I'm talking about the kind with slippery floors, a tiny gym, and those lightweight <b goog_docs_charindex="599">foam sticks</b>. Get your paws on one of them and you immediately feel powerful...almost like holding a bolt of lightning from Zeus' arsenal. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="742"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="745"><br />Before you call me crazy, let me enlighten you about the history of this earth. Leave it to the high courts to judge the validity of a certain theory of evolution or the story of creation. I think I've got one better for ya. Call it "<i goog_docs_charindex="983">Sam's Theory of Foam Stickitivity</i>." No equations, no relativity, no natural selection; just some good old fashioned foam-on-foam fun. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1124"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1127"><br />Picture this scene.</div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1148"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1564"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1567"><br />Two guys on opposite teams scramble for the loose puck wherein each player tries to take control of it...and <b goog_docs_charindex="1261">WHAM</b>...the blades collide, causing a massive sonic boom resonating throughout the whole place. <b goog_docs_charindex="1359">This</b> is what happened four billion years ago, but has somehow lost support among scholars in recent centuries, which is why you've never heard it before. Is that the answer you were looking for, HSL?<b goog_docs_charindex="1568"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);" goog_docs_charindex="1569"><br /><br />High Socks</span></b>: Let me just start out by saying, "Wow." I've heard a lot of wild conspiracies and theories relating to the beginning of this here world, and none of 'em made as much sense as that one. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1773"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="1776"><br />I am quite familiar with the "Floor Hockey Stick Bash." Every time I am startled from a sound sleep by a loud crash in the middle of the night, my first thought is always, "<b goog_docs_charindex="1951">Foam Stick Face-Off</b>." Then I come to my senses and realize it was probably a big clap of thunder, but I'm still never <i goog_docs_charindex="2072">entirely</i> convinced. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="2096"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="2504"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="2507"><br />The floor hockey games that took place in elementary and middle school were probably the purest form of competition since those epic Gladiator fights-to-the-death in the old Roman Coliseum. If you lost a close game to a buddy on the opposing squad, you didn't talk to that guy for the rest of the day, or maybe even a week. Hell, I'd understand if it meant the <i goog_docs_charindex="2463">end </i>of that relationship completely.<br /><br />It meant <b goog_docs_charindex="2517">that</b> <b goog_docs_charindex="2524">much</b>. <b goog_docs_charindex="2533"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" goog_docs_charindex="2534"><br /><br />Low Socks</span></b>: Well gosh, I've never lost a friend over a battle on the ice, errr, floor, but I'll tell you one thing: if I lose a floor hockey game, don't come and pick me up from school Mom. I'm <b goog_docs_charindex="2734">walkin'</b> home. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="2754"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="2757"><br />I would like to share some insight into the mind of the "guy that plays <i goog_docs_charindex="2830">ice </i>hockey recreationally and for some reason thinks his abilities translate to the <b goog_docs_charindex="2918">floor</b>." I know you have experience handling the <i goog_docs_charindex="2969">puck</i> and operating near the <i goog_docs_charindex="2999">blue line</i>, but that goes right out of the window once you pick up that foam stizznick. You put <b goog_docs_charindex="3099">Sid the Kid</b> out there versus the 7th Grade All-Stars, equip everybody with the styro-stixx, and I can guarantee you the playing field will be level. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3258"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3261"><br />"Oh, hello there, Foam Stick, nice to finally meet you; my name is Wrist Shot and this is my good friend One-Timer." </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3392"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3395"><br />It's no big surprise these guys have <i goog_docs_charindex="3433">never met</i>...</div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3448"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3451"><b goog_docs_charindex="3452"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);" goog_docs_charindex="3453"><br />High Socks</span></b>: Couple things. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3486"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3489"><br />To your earlier point about not getting picked up by Mom after a tough L: I respect the passion there, but don't your feelings change if you know she's waiting in the car with a bag of Honey BBQ Fritos and a cold 20 oz. Cherry Coke? That combo always had its own special way of curing the afternoon blizz-nues. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3810"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3813"><br />To your second point, I remember "Ice Hockey Guy" all too well, and to this day, marvel at his belief that the skillz would translate from pond to playground. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3977"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="3980"><br />You feel like telling this lush, "Look man, it's 4:30 on a Wednesday afternoon. We're playing 3-on-3 floor hockey in a shoebox auxiliary gym with about three fans in attendance. The temperature in here is about 112 degrees. The referee is a guidance counselor that does far too much <i goog_docs_charindex="4267">guiding</i> and far too little <i goog_docs_charindex="4296">counseling</i>. The goalie's "equipment" consists of a couple mangled youth-small shin guards and a horror film mask that doesn't even have eye-holes to see out of. We're just out here to grab a couple smiles and get home safely to our families, so please for the love of all that is good and holy; <i goog_docs_charindex="4593">stop</i> trying to "curve your stick," <i goog_docs_charindex="4630">stop</i> body-checking the 55-pounder on the other team, and last but not least, <i goog_docs_charindex="4711">stop</i> smashing the styrofoam into the ground every single time you want the puck. I <i goog_docs_charindex="4799">see </i>you over there; I'm just <b goog_docs_charindex="4830">not passing it to you</b>." <b goog_docs_charindex="4859"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" goog_docs_charindex="4860"><br /><br />Low Socks</span></b>: I suppose this is a good time to wrap it up. Don't get me wrong, I love talking about floor hockey just as much as the next guy, but your point about shady guidance counselors left me feeling kind of ill. I say let's make like the <b goog_docs_charindex="5108">white cap </b>of a foam stick and break this thing off. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="5164"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="5167"><br />Thanks for the time, HSL. Where's the exit to this place, down the hallway on my left? </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="5263"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="5266"><br />Oh yeah, and one more thing. </div> <div goog_docs_charindex="5298"></div> <div goog_docs_charindex="5301"><br />Is there any way I can get the <i goog_docs_charindex="5333">last hour</i> of my life back? Just wonderin'...</div><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Care to comment on the blog? Drop a comment below, or styro-stick the Sox Bros. an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-21359585878242412212010-04-19T05:35:00.005-04:002011-02-10T02:52:47.067-05:00Once is Special, but Twice is Unforgettable<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgC1qqije-knhmi6ZDxU4lTqoWr-mFFNGIauO3i2COZ4gtN9DB2tlYUnmYcgYSd2FaU9znak3sNh2IFGUKJbjfU8rC2cxmhAozuYnIx4h5Eot4k5Gu8OgZFgiCCRkrtOi95AeqdZbXJk/s1600/1225.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgC1qqije-knhmi6ZDxU4lTqoWr-mFFNGIauO3i2COZ4gtN9DB2tlYUnmYcgYSd2FaU9znak3sNh2IFGUKJbjfU8rC2cxmhAozuYnIx4h5Eot4k5Gu8OgZFgiCCRkrtOi95AeqdZbXJk/s400/1225.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461767792232849282" border="0" /></a><br />I start out watching every baseball game the <span style="font-style: italic;">same way</span>: wishing for a <span style="font-weight: bold;">no-hitter</span>. Sure, a perfect game would be ideal, but I'm not greedy. The no-hitter will do just fine.<br /><br />Now, of course, with this approach comes plenty of disappointment. Inevitably, in the first couple of innings, both teams will erase the zero from their hits column and my dream officially goes up in smoke.<br /><br />But then there are those rare occurrences when everything falls into place. The pitcher has his A+ stuff working, the defense behind him is extraordinary, and the opposing lineup trots out a slew of strikers south of the Mendoza line. This perfect storm of events converged in Atlanta on Saturday night.<br /><br />Ubaldo Jimenez entered the game against the Braves looking for <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>. As a 6-foot-4 flame throwing right hander, the sky has always been the limit for the Rockies' Jimenez. In his rookie year, he went 4 and 4. He came back the next season and finished 12 and 12. Finally, last year, he shed the "Even Steven" label. Jimenez reeled off nine wins after the All-Star break on his way to a 15-12 mark. Still, he wasn't <span style="font-style: italic;">quite</span> on the baseball map.<br /><br />Jimenez took the hill at Turner Field with intentions of announcing himself to the world. Two hours and thirty-one minutes later, his mission was accomplished. The game was over, the Braves had <span style="font-style: italic;">zero</span> hits, and his name would forever be part of baseball lore.<br /><br />But one thing <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> enters my mind as soon as the euphoria of the no-hitter dies down. <span style="font-style: italic;">What happens next</span>??<br /><br />Ubaldo Jimenez will get the ball again in about a week and in all likelihood, the game will be less than memorable. Our hero from just five nights prior will likely allow a hit early in the contest, grind out a workmanlike outing, and watch as the baseball spotlight shifts its focus to the next big thing. Jimenez will have had his moment in the sun, and that will be that.<br /><br />There have been <span style="font-weight: bold;">222 no-hitters</span> twirled since 1900. Of those 222, some were thrown by Hall-of-Famers (Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan) and some were thrown by virtual unknowns (George Culver, Juan Nieves). Some were thrown by cagey veterans (Bret Saberhagen, Dave Stieb) and some were thrown by fresh-faced rookies (Bobo Holloman, Bud Smith). Some completed their no-hitters as part of a <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect game</span> (Kenny Rogers, David Wells) and some finished the job without recording a single strikeout (Ken Holtzman).<br /><br />Scroll your way through the list and you can find just about any type of player you are looking for. The gamut of no-hitter hurlers runs from A to Z. But <span style="font-style: italic;">one man </span>refused to be like the rest. Whereas his fellow mound men took the ball in their <span style="font-style: italic;">next</span> start and simply faded into the sunset, this pitcher <span style="font-weight: bold;">recaptured</span> history just four nights later.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Johnny Vander Meer</span>.<br /><br />To any baseball trivia guy worth a hill o' beans, this name means one thing and one thing only: <span style="font-style: italic;">back-to-back <span style="font-weight: bold;">no-hitters</span>.</span> Vander Meer did what nobody could do before him, and nobody has done since.<br /><br />He threw a no-hitter, took a few nights off, grabbed the rawhide again, and did the <span style="font-weight: bold;">exact same thing</span>. Without question, Vander Meer's accomplishment remains one of the most remarkable and unique records in all of professional sports.<br /><br />Ask a baseball historian to name a particular feat or record that they think will never be matched. Most times, they will point to Cy Young and his astronomical total of <span style="font-style: italic;">511 victories</span>. And yes, I am in complete agreement that this record will never be equaled, passed, or even sniffed by any pitcher ever again. But, with all due respect to Denton True and his otherworldly win total, the current climate of the game simply will not allow for this record to be chased down.<br /><br />From 1890 to 1911, elite pitchers such as Cy Young routinely started more than 50 games a year. Racking up more than 30 W's (he did it five times) was not uncommon and earned you little more than a yawn during salary negotiations for the following season. Roy Halladay is considered to be a modern-day bulldog, refusing to come out of games until they are finished. And he has only pitched 316 times in his <span style="font-style: italic;">entire major league career</span>. He coulda won 'em all and he'd still be about 200 victories short of Mr. Young.<br /><br />The point being made is simple. 511 wins is an unbreakable record, but it is also <span style="font-weight: bold;">literally unreachable</span>. Vander Meer's mark is similarly everlasting, but not because the state of today's game dictates so. The opportunity for a double no-no will always be there for any pitcher with a ball and a glove; it is just <span style="font-style: italic;">very, very, verrrrry</span> difficult to duplicate.<br /><br />Sports trivia hounds remain well aware that not all records are held by the game's legends.<br /><br />-Most consecutive free throws made?? 97 by the onetime Bad Boy, but mostly anonymous <span style="font-weight: bold;">Micheal Williams</span>.<br /><br />-Only NHL goalie to record five straight shutouts?? Journeyman netminder <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brian Boucher</span>.<br /><br />-Most passing yards in an NCAA game by a left handed quarterback?? None other than former Lions signal-caller <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scott Mitchell</span> with 631 for the Utah Utes in 1988.<br /><br />Johnny Vander Meer also belongs on that list. His career win-loss mark reads 119 victories to 121 defeats. He was a part of one World Series champion, but he only contributed three October innings to the cause. By all accounts, his career as a whole was perfectly forgettable.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Except </span>for those two days in June of '38. For those 18 innings, Vander Meer was bulletproof; <span style="font-weight: bold;">you couldn't touch him</span>.<br /><br />Ubaldo Jimenez toed the slab on Saturday night and did something special. He threw a no-hitter. Thursday afternoon in Washington, he will have the opportunity to <span style="font-style: italic;">do it again</span>.<br /><br />Johnny Vander Meer has been alone at the top for 72 years.<br /><br />It's about time he got some company...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reach the High Socks Legend at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 51);">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-52555344068367515352010-04-16T05:41:00.014-04:002010-07-07T23:36:32.091-04:00The High Socks Legend's Second Annual Playoff Preview Extravaganza!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6koSuzS9XHLItJmizLw7GeDVoFfMrn4tDO6wsuapOcwDtpa7mJc-Dz2erXldt_0Ir_DZ96bI1IVNBwPmnPbDWF-jHtQ4fELYkJYldwJCBIy9mMTQLlXkGsAYUoYR7V6Dx2x_4kafxOw/s1600/Foto+Lakers+vs.+Celtics+and+the+NBA+Playoffs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6koSuzS9XHLItJmizLw7GeDVoFfMrn4tDO6wsuapOcwDtpa7mJc-Dz2erXldt_0Ir_DZ96bI1IVNBwPmnPbDWF-jHtQ4fELYkJYldwJCBIy9mMTQLlXkGsAYUoYR7V6Dx2x_4kafxOw/s400/Foto+Lakers+vs.+Celtics+and+the+NBA+Playoffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460666685242536594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matt Bonner's 3-Point Stroke</span></span><br /><br />Does his shooting motion closely resemble that of a middle school girl? Yes.<br /><br />Would your dad have scolded you growing up if you tried shooting the basketball this way? Yes.<br /><br />But, the most important question of all is, "Does the ball go in?" Quite simply, yes, it does.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJlVZAKCzlEfIIbfLYmCvTdIyL_AfUXVEQPPqxeTHYJJMU7UJy4d_ryPB9-wpU18lKPd9Ukvqc8teRJYduNMU0nh6G2RxBM6f_XVSFVCudssSmB-OwwAgiva3x9UYWDlorsw2jcze4l8/s1600/matt-bonner-jumpshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJlVZAKCzlEfIIbfLYmCvTdIyL_AfUXVEQPPqxeTHYJJMU7UJy4d_ryPB9-wpU18lKPd9Ukvqc8teRJYduNMU0nh6G2RxBM6f_XVSFVCudssSmB-OwwAgiva3x9UYWDlorsw2jcze4l8/s320/matt-bonner-jumpshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460665323108300322" border="0" /></a>The "Red Rocket" is a 40% shooter from downtown this year, and has been cashing 'em in at about that same clip throughout his career. Bonner is a true X-factor for the Spurs, capable of stealing a playoff game all by himself on the strength of his unsightly long range release. With Roger Mason having an unusually ineffective year shooting the ball and Richard Jefferson morphing into a sad version of Sean Elliott, it will be more important than ever for awkward Matty Bonner to step up and knock down those shot put treys from 23 feet. Just be sure to cover your eyes when he does.<br /><br />(Sidenote: Is Bonner the "pastiest" NBA player of all time? It's a close call, but I think the list looks something like this.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Steve Kerr</span><br /><br />A whiter version of Steve Blake.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Pat Garrity</span><br /><br />Could shoot the pill from anywhere, but homeboy's complexion was far from "glowing."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Jud Buechler</span><br /><br />Would it have <span style="font-style: italic;">killed </span>Judson to get a <span style="font-style: italic;">little </span>sun back in the day??<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Chris Crawford</span><br /><br />Rumored to have had an affair with head coach Terry Stotts during a very tumultuous 2003-04 Hawks campaign. Crawford never played in the league again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Matt Bonner</span><br /><br />Takes "pasty" to a whole new stratosphere. His official skin color in the San Antonio media guide is listed as "salmon."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The "NBA-TV" Series</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAzDxeoPuM7ygIr-GAmuemAlLW5koSLPifb_UK1Apd43brGuyhjdZAG_ohrZwzO6tNzF3HTcC3vgTRTjb_YfNg3sZyjDAqfhI3bUOjMNtBTT3wvWEt7NLa4KwIBhU6bHlA-CuVxtsRPM/s1600/5158ed9905a4cf4e5aaf3b982466cb97-getty-90044465sd014_atlanta_hawks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAzDxeoPuM7ygIr-GAmuemAlLW5koSLPifb_UK1Apd43brGuyhjdZAG_ohrZwzO6tNzF3HTcC3vgTRTjb_YfNg3sZyjDAqfhI3bUOjMNtBTT3wvWEt7NLa4KwIBhU6bHlA-CuVxtsRPM/s320/5158ed9905a4cf4e5aaf3b982466cb97-getty-90044465sd014_atlanta_hawks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460663861963072962" border="0" /></a>Every year, one first-round playoff series gets treated like the ugly stepchild of the NBA postseason. Its games are scheduled at weird times. The worst referees get sent on the assignment. And Dick Stockton is usually prominently involved. Not surprisingly, this year the honor went to Milwaukee-Atlanta, which begins appropriately enough, at 5:30 Saturday evening. But don't fret, there are still plenty of reasons to get jacked up for this not-so-prime time battle. Here are five of 'em.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Old Guard (Mike Bibby) vs. New Blood (Brandon Jennings).</span><br /><br />If there is any spot on the floor where the Bucks should have a decided advantage, it's at the point. Jennings is super-quick and can scoot by his defender pretty much anytime he wants. Bibby is 32 years old going on 75. His ability to move laterally on D is comparable to a one-legged elephant trying to keep up with a steroid-abusing cheetah that just chugged a case of Red Bull. Al Horford and company better be ready to help <span style="font-style: italic;">at all times</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Can Josh Smith continue to avoid the 3-point line??</span><br /><br />In a recent Sports Illustrated article, Smith talked about his decision this year to completely abandon the long ball and instead focus on using his freakish athleticism to get easy looks around the rim. Smith's quotes regarding the 3-point shot made him sound like a recovering heroin addict trying to stay away from the needle. "I just don't put myself in that situation where I'm tempted to do it, because I probably will. If I find myself dangling around the perimeter, I'll move in a couple of steps." True to his word, Smith attempted just seven treys this season (making zero), most of which were end of quarter heaves in which he had no other choice. It was J-Smoove's best year as a pro, and the Hawks will need his continued long distance sobriety in order to make an extended run through the playoff bracket.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. John Salmons...go-to guy?</span><br /><br />It might sound strange, but it's the truth. After years of toiling away on benches in Philly and Sacramento, Salmons has finally found his true home in Brew City. After rescuing the under appreciated Sal-Muns from Chicago, the Bucks rolled off 12 wins in 13 games and finished the year on a 22-8 tear. And if there is anybody on the Milwaukee roster looking forward to meeting the Hawks, it is Salmons. The three times these clubs met since the trade, he <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">erupted </span>for point totals of <span style="font-weight: bold;">32, 32, and 28</span>. And the unique thing about Salmons is that he doesn't possess the typical off-the-charts athleticism normally displayed by high-scoring NBA shooting guards. Instead, he does it with a clever in-between game, respectable range from 3-point land (38%), and an ability to draw contact and get to the stripe at crunch time. With Andrew Bogut's 16 points a night vanishing after that gruesome boo-boo to his elbow, the pressure on Salmons to light it up will be ratcheted higher than ever come Saturday night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Gunners off the pine.</span><br /><br />Jamal Crawford has been hugely important to the Hawks bench all year, and he will almost assuredly be taking home the 6th Man of the Year award next week. Despite not hearing his name called in the starting lineups once all year, Crawford still poured in 18 a game and hit countless 4th quarter daggers from well beyond the arc. Teaming with Joe Johnson, the Hawks have as good a combination of late-game snipers as any squad in the league. Also featured in this series will be the efforts of 14-year vet Jerry Stackhouse . Regardless of how you feel about Stack's sometimes erratic game, you can't knock the guy's competitive fire. Late in Milwaukee's home loss to Boston last week, Paul Pierce started jawing at Stack. Not one to back down from a challenge regardless of who's issuing it, Stack demanded the ball next time down the floor. He faced up on Pierce, made a quick first step towards the baseline, left his feet just outside the paint, and right when you thought you were witnessing a genuine turn-back-the-clock moment - Stack threw a horrendous cross court pass to nobody in particular that was picked off easily by Rajon Rondo, essentially icing the win for the Celtics. Stack may be light years away from his salad days in Chapel Hill, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's <span style="font-style: italic;">aware </span>of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Mike Woodson is not exactly "familiar" with advancing deep into the playoffs.<br /><br /></span>As a player, Woodson played 11 years in the league, qualified for the playoffs five times, and not once escaped the opening round. As a matter of fact, his teams won just <span>2 of 16 playoff games</span> overall. Bill Russell he is not. As a coach, the story hasn't been all that different. This is Woodson's sixth year at the helm in Atlanta (quietly tied for longest tenured coach in the East with Doc Rivers), and in that time, he has guided the Hawks to exactly one playoff series victory. If there was ever a year for Woody to make a run well into May, this is probably it. His team won 53 games and managed to grab the all-important third seed, which means no LeBron until the conference finals. Still, I think it's two rounds and out for Woodson and his boys, repeating last year's fate. This group remains too perimeter oriented, and needs to add a <span style="font-style: italic;">legitimate </span>veteran big guy for next year to really be considered a championship contender. And no, Joe Smith and Zaza Pachulia do not count.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">No Pistons Allowed</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8ze-Z_8NqaSiC1O1CH7olEw0UVx5WR_GFqjQFocBRi-Uqev2rTrBcdsVPPxVGyivZCFBk2lO8xlQZx_Edzf0FAsyDWJkwgi6ErIRkrocqbfrRPY0jfaTPT90l2z5UGC6aogwT1IDCN4/s1600/nba_g_pistons_576.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8ze-Z_8NqaSiC1O1CH7olEw0UVx5WR_GFqjQFocBRi-Uqev2rTrBcdsVPPxVGyivZCFBk2lO8xlQZx_Edzf0FAsyDWJkwgi6ErIRkrocqbfrRPY0jfaTPT90l2z5UGC6aogwT1IDCN4/s320/nba_g_pistons_576.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460660630838412530" border="0" /></a>In 2001, Chucky Atkins was a jitterbug point guard trying to carve out a niche in the league and Ben Wallace was a powerful young forward just beginning to learn how to put all that strength and energy to good use. The Pistons won 32 games and failed to qualify for the playoffs. The next year, they added a couple pieces, won the Central division, and began a streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances.<br /><br />Well, Chucky and Ben were back this year to try and recreate some of that old magic, but as it turned out, they were just <span style="font-style: italic;">old</span>.<br /><br />With the 'Stones missing out on the postseason festivities for the first time in a long time, let's take a look at the top five reasons why this season turned into the absolute train wreck that it wound up being.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Rip Hamilton quietly transformed into the Tracy McGrady of the North.</span><br /><br />He'd play a few spirited games, turn an ankle, and proceed to sit out for the next month and a half. When he did suit up, he showed some flashes of the old Rip, but for the most part, his effort left a lot to be desired. It is painfully evident that Rip's mind has been elsewhere ever since November 3rd of 2008 when his backcourt mate and best friend Chauncey Billups was unceremoniously shipped off to Denver. Rip has had a tremendous eight seasons in Motown, but the time has come for both parties to move on. Plus, his "wearing a mask all the time" bit got old in like 2006.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. As a unit, the big men for this team were simply atrocious.</span><br /><br />Ben Wallace's offensive game has never looked nastier. Jason Maxiell is about two Cinnabons away from becoming Mike Sweetney. Jonas Jerebko blocked one shot in his final 365 minutes (he's 6-foot-10). Chris Wilcox spent most of the year in street clothes, wearing bizarre sport coats that made you wonder aloud, "Since when did they start putting buttons on shoulders??" And last but not least, Kwame Brown, the former #1 overall pick, is a guy with hands so slippery and unreliable that he probably couldn't even hold on to his you-know-what with a jar of Stickum and last month's issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">Everyday with Rachael Ray</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. The crowds at the Palace were pathetic.</span><br /><br />Most nights, the stands were half-filled, or worse. The fans that did show up were generally comatose. And those were the <span style="font-style: italic;">good </span>ones. In a four-game stretch right around New Year's, the Pistons entertained the worst the Eastern Conference had to offer: Raptors, Knicks, Bulls, and 76ers. A good way to turn the season around with some easy home victories, right?? Umm, not exactly. The Pistons <span style="font-weight: bold;">dropped all four games</span> by an <span style="font-style: italic;">average </span>of <span style="font-weight: bold;">17 points</span>. Oh, and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Clippers </span>won there, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. They were the worst 3-point shooting team in the league.</span><br /><br />That's right, somehow a roster filled with guards, swingmen, and big guys that like to shoot from deep managed to finish <span style="font-style: italic;">dead last</span> (31%) in long range accuracy. And a special Mazel Tov to the not-so-bashful point guard combination of Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum - a tandem that fired 134 threes and converted just 30, good for a season-ending tally of <span style="font-weight: bold;">22 percent</span>. Way to cash 'em in, fellas!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Three words</span>.<br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2010/04/unforgettable-night-for-all-wrong.html">Hooper...On...Crutches.</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Good Doctor (No, not that one)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WslB0FVAh9JPLxTMo5prbCHZO4kl3fSYqcZmmAalskCDwcQVZZHxwFRKoZvKxyVwQuGAFOy5E6eUEUU5m8Lya4Mfqs1UJQM3NEcLa_OsQbEGA9Ty7wB3F8AvemQBNk76Jacu0g8hm4g/s1600/julius-erving_lakers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WslB0FVAh9JPLxTMo5prbCHZO4kl3fSYqcZmmAalskCDwcQVZZHxwFRKoZvKxyVwQuGAFOy5E6eUEUU5m8Lya4Mfqs1UJQM3NEcLa_OsQbEGA9Ty7wB3F8AvemQBNk76Jacu0g8hm4g/s320/julius-erving_lakers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460658609896910050" border="0" /></a>By day, my dad is one of the most respected internists in all of Metro Detroit. By night, he is one of the sharpest basketball minds in the Midwest, analyzing games on League Pass like he would a patient in the exam room with three different shades of yellow fever. Like any Hoops-Head, he's got players he likes, players he hates, and thoughts on everything in between. Here are five popular Doc High Socks comments pertinent to this year's post season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. "I've never seen Stephen Jackson make a shot."</span><br /><br />Now, at first, glance this seems like a ridiculous statement. How can the guy <span style="font-style: italic;">never </span>make a shot when he racked up over 1,600 points this season and is just short of 11,000 for his career? But tell me this. Does Jackson ever make a shot when <span style="font-weight: bold;">you </span>are watching? He seems to be one of those guys that does all this damage and makes all these huge plays in some fantasy world that nobody can see. When you actually get a chance to watch him play for yourself, he throws up a 3-for-14 with six turnovers and lots of angry faces. Ichiro is another great example of this. The guy rips off more than 200 hits every year, but <span style="font-style: italic;">always </span>manages to roll out weakly to short whenever you happen to catch one of his ABs. Stevie Jax's exploits will be on full display when they take on heavily favored Orlando. The only way his club stands a chance is if he hangs a 30-spot every night while maintaining complete sanity throughout. Anything is possible...just as long as my dad's not watching.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. "Dallas just isn't tough enough inside."</span><br /><br />A simple, yet spot-on analysis regarding the hoopers from Dallas and their continued inability each spring to make that final leap and reach the summit. Dirk's been doing his thing for years. Jet Terry is always there to knock down big 3s from the corner. Mark Cuban remains the most passionate owner in professional sports. But one thing about this squad never seems to change; they just <span style="font-style: italic;">aren't big and strong enough</span> inside. Erick Dampier is decent enough, but he's getting to be a little long in the tooth. Hell, the guy was in the Final Four <span style="font-weight: bold;">14 years ago</span>, and he looked like a 40-year-old <span style="font-style: italic;">then</span>. Eddie Najera brings his own brand of toughness to the table, but he's so pesky and bothersome on the court that his own teammates even seem to hate him. Brendan Haywood was added at the trade deadline, but is he really the kind of guy that transforms a contender into a <span style="font-style: italic;">champion</span>? The aforementioned group of bangers are all capable of rebounding and defending, but none of them are really legitimate options in terms of operating on the low block. There's no doubt that the Mavs have the depth, athleticism, and variety of scoring weapons to beat most every team in the league, but it still might be that Achilles heal in the paint that keeps them from achieving their ultimate goal in June.<br /><br />(Sidenote: I think Mavs-Spurs will be the best series in the entire first round, and would not be shocked in the least if Tim Duncan and friends get the job done. In fact, let's mark it down as the official HSL upset selection.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. "You hungry?"</span><br /><br />Getting full enjoyment out of the NBA playoffs is only possible if you know how to work the snack rotation correctly. Now the key is you don't want to peak too early. Going for that bag of chips or scoop of ice cream in the nine o'clock hour could ruin your whole night. See, you have to wait for just the right moment. The first leg of games are winding down. Denver-Utah is about to tip on the West Coast and you start to hear that tummy rumble. Jackpot. Now your options are limitless. Set that toaster oven to broil and get a little hot dog action going. Grab a bowl of Rice Chex just because it feels <span style="font-style: italic;">right</span>. Or go to the freezer and let DiGiorno be your date for the evening. My dad has made a living knowing how and when to make these decisions safely and accurately. If you want to get the most out of your playoff experience, I suggest you do the same.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. "I would just back off LeBron and let him shoot all day."</span><br /><br />Sounds a bit weird when talking about the soon to be back-to-back league MVP, but much truth lies in that statement. No matter how big of a LeBron slappy you may be, it cannot be denied that his inconsistent stroke from the outside (and the FT line as well) has been one of the major hurdles in preventing the King from ever cradling that precious Larry O'Brien trophy. Go back just two weeks ago. The Cavs were in Boston on a Sunday afternoon. It was on national TV. You could tell both teams <span style="font-style: italic;">wanted </span>this game. And as is usually the case in spotlight contests such as this, LeBron <span style="font-style: italic;">went off</span>. 42 points, 9 assists, and 7 boards in 45 pressure-packed minutes. But examine that box score a little deeper. LeBron jacked up nine three-pointers during the game; <span style="font-weight: bold;">he made zero</span>. He got to the line a mind-boggling 22 times; <span style="font-weight: bold;">he made just 14</span>. The Cavs wound up <span style="font-style: italic;">losing </span>by four. Again, I understand and recognize that LeBron is one of the top two or three basketball players on the planet, but can you be the leader on a <span style="font-weight: bold;">championship team</span> shooting 33% from distance and 77 from the stripe? When Michael was winning titles, he was always over 80% on his free throws. Ditto for Kobe. LeBron will continue to be the bridesmaid at the end of the playoff season until he finally learns to master the purest form of basketball skill: <span style="font-style: italic;">shooting the rock</span>. The Good Doctor says it best..."Just let him shoot."<br /><br />(Sidenote: Either LeBron is the most careful player in NBA history or the refs are just terrified to blow the whistle on him. Mr. James played close to three thousand minutes this year. He committed just 119 fouls. Only <span style="font-weight: bold;">eight times</span> in the <span style="font-style: italic;">history </span>of the league has such a foul-free season occurred. Amazingly, LeBron has currently gone 30 straight games spanning almost three months without picking up more than two personal fouls in a night. And in a strange oxymoronic twist, you won't find many players that complain <span style="font-style: italic;">more </span>than #23 in the Wine & Gold. Go figure.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. "I just love the NBA playoffs."</span><br /><br />Ok, so maybe my dad never actually uttered that corny sentiment, but let's be honest; it's the way we all feel. There is high drama on a nightly basis. Young stars (Russell Westbrook) burst on the scene in their first postseason showing while battle-worn vets (Grant Hill, Antonio McDyess) make what could be their <span style="font-style: italic;">final </span>push towards that elusive championship ring. Some matchups will be instant classics (Spurs-Mavs, Jazz-Nugs) while others will end before you realize they started (Thunder-Lakers, Bobcats-Magic). Others (Blazers-Suns, Bucks-Hawks) would have been memorable if not for a couple of ill-timed injuries to vitally important players (Brandon Roy, Andrew Bogut). The other two series' out East (Bulls-Cavs, Heat-Celtics) are simply mandatory warmups leading to a sizzling second round affair.<br /><br />Epic individual battles will play out right in front of our eyes: Chauncey Billups-Deron Williams...Kevin Durant-Kobe Bryant...Dwight Howard-Theo Ratliff...and the showstopping Joe Johnson-John Salmons duel (okay, I'm a little bit obsessed with Milwaukee).<br /><br />Every night, fresh storylines will emerge and new heroes will be crowned. It is truly two months of unbridled joy for all hoop fanatics that adore and cherish Naismith's century-old creation.<br /><br />So for all of you that will go to sleep tonight dreaming about Matt Bonner rainbows from the right elbow extended, know that you are not alone. You're most definitely <span style="font-style: italic;">sick</span>, but you're not alone.<br /><br />Enjoy the playoffs, people.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Drop your own playoff thoughts and predictions here, or reach me by E-mail at </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-71550612712003220472010-04-13T12:33:00.003-04:002010-04-13T12:43:08.271-04:00In Progress: NBA Playoff Preview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzojjkm3x7mOLBezhlMq-59LZ0uqcfiQ0vzpaZ1M6g8KdDubW2oKMbyrb1SnQjuwv9S-ZRtBPnGeCIMNrYgppMUAJJgsq_3Rs89EXmrq0bflmKln75Hod31WmKSkiQoA_5FzAVRx6MBKA/s1600/nba_trophy01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzojjkm3x7mOLBezhlMq-59LZ0uqcfiQ0vzpaZ1M6g8KdDubW2oKMbyrb1SnQjuwv9S-ZRtBPnGeCIMNrYgppMUAJJgsq_3Rs89EXmrq0bflmKln75Hod31WmKSkiQoA_5FzAVRx6MBKA/s400/nba_trophy01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459661524759654786" border="0" /></a><br />The High Socks Legend is busy preparing the annual NBA Playoff Preview. In the meantime, feel free to check out last year's <a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2009/04/first-annual-high-socks-legend-nba.html">encyclopedia-sized rendition</a> or take a look at <a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2009/02/easy-guy-to-root-for.html">Antonio McDyess and his never-ending quest</a> for a championship ring. Or check out any other classic article from the HSL archives. <br /><br />And be sure to come back later in the week for all the playoff shenanigans!The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-88042374810003109982010-04-08T03:59:00.006-04:002010-09-15T18:05:32.853-04:00An Unforgettable Night for All the Wrong Reasons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKDQKn5zV-M4jCKRVhGmduwYxJsWXcOsLzljC1a4nGEy5wKGvPP0e5yhhVHz2WFLkCz6Z5_shqdKtfm1oZWzmX9jm5RbcPgl3_7vXGQ_uqSbp6YXRedbcRHG7bv0HyTazQhqtcIpgJPA/s1600/hooper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKDQKn5zV-M4jCKRVhGmduwYxJsWXcOsLzljC1a4nGEy5wKGvPP0e5yhhVHz2WFLkCz6Z5_shqdKtfm1oZWzmX9jm5RbcPgl3_7vXGQ_uqSbp6YXRedbcRHG7bv0HyTazQhqtcIpgJPA/s400/hooper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457700613590579970" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Everything seemed to be business as usual inside the Palace of Auburn Hills last Wednesday night.<br /><div></div><div><br />The Pistons were getting trounced by the visiting Heat, the stands were half-filled, and Chris Wilcox was taking his customary second quarter snooze over on the bench. My buddy BK and I slumped back in our seats, practically searching for ways to be entertained.</div><br /><div></div><div>We stared at Charlie Villanueva for a while. It appeared as if CV was chomping on some kind of in-game snack. It was the most action he got all night.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div>Watching the huge Jonas Jerebko fan club to our right was mildly amusing until it became clear that JJ was having one of his patented "Look, I was at the club until like 5:00 this morning, so don't expect much from me" kind of games. </div><br /><div></div><div>Pistons' rookie DaJuan Summers got significant minutes in the team's quest to see if they have a real ballplayer on their hands. On one hand, if the rules of the sport drastically change to the point where all you need to do is graze a piece of the rim or backboard in order for a basket to count, Summers would be on the fast track to Springfield. However, if the rules remain as they are now, requiring the ball to go all the way in the rim and down through the net, we are looking at quite possibly the worst NBA player of all time. It really could go either way. </div><br /><div> </div>Like I said, it was a very ordinary night at the Palace.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>Then, things got <em>weird</em>. Really <strong>weird</strong>.</div><br /><div> </div>There was a timeout on the floor. Both teams went to their respective huddles. Music blared over the loud speakers. PA guy John Mason barked about some contest going on in the upper deck. And to the court came <strong>Hooper</strong>, the Pistons mascot.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>Only, Hooper wasn't himself. He was moving at a snail's pace and it looked like he may have enjoyed about a half-dozen Heinekens before entering the building. But then I looked a little closer, and realized ol' Hoop had a reason for the restricted movement and abbreviated pace. Our mascot was on <em>crutches</em>. </div><br /><div> </div>I nudged BK and told him to check it out. He couldn't believe his eyes. An NBA mascot on crutches? Is that even legal?<br /><div> </div><br /><div>We agreed maybe it was just part of a comedy bit. Maybe Hooper was going to feign injury, then a loud bang would go off, he'd fling the crutches aside, and the crowd would eat it up. But no such thing happened. He hobbled his way back to the tunnel and the night continued.</div><br /><div> </div>Midway through the 3rd, it was time for the "T-Shirt Toss," the most stale of all stadium gimmicks. The shirts are fired into the upper reaches of the crowd while throngs of screaming fans throw self-respect completely out the window and proceed to go absolutely berserk in trying to secure the cheap garment. Usually this event is right in Hooper's wheelhouse. He bounces around the court, determines which section is most passionate, and then directs his prizes accordingly. It's basically Mascot Heaven. But this was just...sad.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>Hooper still had his crutches and clearly could not lead this event as is his custom. However, the Palace Patrol had come prepared. They wheeled this bizarre wagon-like contraption over to Hooper, and he struggled on board. </div><br /><div> </div>Just when you think you've seen all this world has to offer, here comes an old, beat up, NBA horse mascot forcing his way onto a makeshift T-shirt tossing machine. A more depressing sight I could not imagine.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>The helpers pushed the ailing Hooper around the court, allowing him to work the cannon and blast the shirts. But the insanity that usually envelops the fans during this scene was absent. Instead, the crowd responded the same way they would if one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby just collapsed on the home stretch with a shattered kneecap. Pure, unadulterated <span style="font-style: italic;">horror</span>.<br /><br />The thing that I haven't been able to wrap my head around is <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span>.<br /><br />I <span style="font-weight: bold;">understand </span>mascots get injured sometimes.<br /><br />They are routinely flying off trampolines, roller skating across the floor, or somersaulting through a ring of fire. Accidents will occur. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />But</span>, if these furry heroes do get hurt, why not get a <span style="font-weight: bold;">healthy </span>replacement? Finding an adequate stand-in for this chronically mediocre mascot over the final few weeks would not have been difficult. Hell, you give me a couple Red Bulls and a few high-quality hallucinogens, and I'd throw on the outfit for a few hours. It ain't rocket science.<br /><br />Or how about just going <span style="font-style: italic;">without</span> a freaking mascot for a few games? Would that really have been the worst thing in the world? Would anybody have gone to a game, watched a couple quarters, and then screamed, "Hey, where has <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Hooper </span>been tonight? I don't think I've seen <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Hooper</span>!"<br /><br /><span>But </span><span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> would have been better than the current model of just sending out the same crippled Hooper night after depressing night.<br /><br />Recently, Hooper and his fellow Piston spirit crew members went out for a community appearance. Hooper, being the honorable mascot that he is, called the event planner Daryl Hawkins ahead of time to let him know about his broken ankle. I love picturing how that conversation transpired.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hooper</span>: "Hey, so I'm uhh, on crutches. I messed up my ankle bad, dude."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hawkins</span>: "You're on crutches?!? But you're supposed to be the life of the party! How are you going to rev up the crowd and do your job if you can't move??"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hooper</span>: "Yeah, I can't answer that, man. I really just called to tell you to make sure there's beer. And some hay. I'm gonna be pretty hungry."<br /><br />This Pistons season has been a nightmare from beginning to end. They've gotten blown out more times than I can remember and are headed for their worst record since the apocalyptic Sean Elliott-Olden Polynice squad in 1993-94. The players have underachieved, the coaches have lost control, and the fans have become disinterested. Our last safe haven was our mascot, and now he has fallen, too.<br /><br />It's been one low point after another this year for the Pistons, but nothing will ever be as downright saddening as the night we saw <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hooper on crutches</span>.<br /><br />Get better soon, big fella. For everybody's sake.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Don't forget to check out </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2010/03/year-in-review-with-coach-john-kuester.html">John Kuester's Year-in-Review</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, or return to the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/">HSL Main Page</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reach the High Socks Legend at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span><br /></div><div> </div>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-49780323657197344302010-04-06T00:38:00.016-04:002010-07-07T23:47:18.096-04:00Ridin' High with the Giraffe Socks Legend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4wPm_QeQFA9xnl7VzZR22Z__eMI29p84wOyGFzW4H8nTgfd5k4xTgyHGIGG1ftwPpgiv6MW5q1oAi6z1EvMuZ2gt0TC8dWnecoxGCZm4IDChK4bEmmEpQjkCSa13gN9Olw5gAFIhm3s/s1600/Safari_Giraffe_car_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4wPm_QeQFA9xnl7VzZR22Z__eMI29p84wOyGFzW4H8nTgfd5k4xTgyHGIGG1ftwPpgiv6MW5q1oAi6z1EvMuZ2gt0TC8dWnecoxGCZm4IDChK4bEmmEpQjkCSa13gN9Olw5gAFIhm3s/s400/Safari_Giraffe_car_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456936059009754354" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li>As if the Pistons season had not become pathetic enough, now we have this weird issue at practice between Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye. Apparently something major went down, but thankfully, both players did the mature thing by posting bizarre messages to their Twitter feeds all afternoon. Villanueva said, "<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">This has been a very fustrating year, it just only got worse 2day, I have never experienced, in my 5 years, what I have experience this year." We learn here that Charlie V is definitely unhappy with his current situation, and also very confused as to when is the appropriate time to use a comma. The rookie Daye tweeted back with, "</span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Sonthin happened to me today that won't every happen again and I'm just venting right now but I'm twisted mad and and gunna b ready 4 r game." Again, we see a not-so-peachy Detroit Piston and a less than stellar mastery of the English language. I like how Villanueva is simply "frustrated" with the incident, while Daye is actually "<span style="font-style: italic;">twisted</span> mad." Sort of a sad representation of their personalities on the court too, isn't it? Villanueva is always floating around the floor, not really caring one way or another what happens. At least Daye seems to have an ounce of emotion in his body, even if he does lack any discernible basketball ability to go with it. Maybe we'll find out in the coming days what this whole fracas revolved around, but I can tell you one thing they were definitely <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> fighting over...a <span style="font-style: italic;">defensive rebound</span>. Bup bup bup.</span></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWwfKTxuv2GGwsR9iqOFk1j8cpfPUV-sAaOiJmX_WrRIIePtscxPsMYpmmLNUOxihnnbEs0vCIn0Qrhj-GV2UkwlXH1MgIZCrB2FGLrjESjIB_Ej2_jZIS6JVmj-JK987QpWPL145hN0/s1600/r2683821917.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWwfKTxuv2GGwsR9iqOFk1j8cpfPUV-sAaOiJmX_WrRIIePtscxPsMYpmmLNUOxihnnbEs0vCIn0Qrhj-GV2UkwlXH1MgIZCrB2FGLrjESjIB_Ej2_jZIS6JVmj-JK987QpWPL145hN0/s320/r2683821917.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456929551637476098" border="0" /></a>I'm not saying Barack Obama has the <span style="font-style: italic;">worst</span> throwing motion of all-time, but let's just say he makes Lori Petty from <span style="font-style: italic;">A League of their Own</span> look like Walter Johnson. That was atrocious, Mr. President, and I think we would all understand if you decided to step down as Commander in Chief, effective immediately. It was <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> bad. Health care, Schmealth Care; real issues take place at 60 feet, 6 inches. And when placed there Monday, Obama, the "Most powerful man in the free world," turned to jelly and looked about as confident as an aging cow at the starting line in the Farm Animal 100-Meter Dash. Absolutely brutal.</li></ul><ul><li>Most times, people are impressed with other people when they are able to come up with an answer to a really tough question or simply display a large amount of knowledge on a particular subject. Well, on Saturday I was wildly impressed with somebody for knowing absolutely nothing at all. At a stoppage during the MSU-Butler game, a few highlights of Geno Auriemma's dominating UCONN team were flashed across the screen. My Dad piped up and casually wondered aloud, "Has the women's tournament started yet?" This is a guy that knows more about the world of sports than 99% of the general public, and yet, he had absolutely no clue that the women's bracket had been unfolding for three weeks and that their Final Four was already set. Such complete unawareness of a particular topic has never been more refreshing.</li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ab5pKcAOfplp4eqahOmfz2SW6WURz1Qf5w7pzCbiVsjV1aLFYYB65IifA84JCzoL3TCbP26ej9CX6RjGlViD-iG8tIvZv-76yvrpj8Z21y1QwEHRldoZWh4eWAPpo7OCOp1ema4gkCw/s1600/b7e8490e-5073-44f4-8bff-c70bfea4d299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ab5pKcAOfplp4eqahOmfz2SW6WURz1Qf5w7pzCbiVsjV1aLFYYB65IifA84JCzoL3TCbP26ej9CX6RjGlViD-iG8tIvZv-76yvrpj8Z21y1QwEHRldoZWh4eWAPpo7OCOp1ema4gkCw/s320/b7e8490e-5073-44f4-8bff-c70bfea4d299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456930026055450722" border="0" /></a>Cameron Maybin got his 2010 campaign off to a rollicking start with an 0-for-4 at the dish, accompanied by a cute little trio of swinging strikeouts each time he faced Johan Santana. Fortunately for "Five Tools" Maybin, the Mets pulled Santana in the 7th with the game in hand, allowing Cameron the privilege of actually putting the ball in play, which he did by bouncing a depressing grounder to short for his final action of the day. I'd be shocked if this guy lasts the year in the big leagues, and if he does, I'd be doubly shocked if he hits above two-fiddy. He's basically like Willie Mays Hayes from <span style="font-style: italic;">Major League</span>, only Maybin never seems to realize he should stop taking big cuts and instead be concentrating on slapping the ball around and using his speed to his advantage. If the Marlins were smart, they'd get Lou Brown on the horn immediately. He knows how to deal with guys like this. Brown would ensure Maybin's success by making sure he does several thousand push-ups while stressing the importance of hitting the ball on the ground.<br /></li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxq7lqMsgMomJoPTva4GPTElaNmwLSFB4McmR_Fu7szz1_qqlnZqVxuIWGdrPzxJAnnlYApB7eRufq4MMcH3SuS1xMXxlVBMcfS5y4AIEJYblj_Bt-CV9KZSipaZusvyeEYsl9R4_dGc/s1600/bear-covering-eyes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxq7lqMsgMomJoPTva4GPTElaNmwLSFB4McmR_Fu7szz1_qqlnZqVxuIWGdrPzxJAnnlYApB7eRufq4MMcH3SuS1xMXxlVBMcfS5y4AIEJYblj_Bt-CV9KZSipaZusvyeEYsl9R4_dGc/s320/bear-covering-eyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456933157730617298" border="0" /></a>That Andrew Bogut injury on Saturday night was quite simply one of the worst things I have ever witnessed. And this is coming from a guy that has seen 5 of 6 movies in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Saw</span> franchise. (If you haven't seen the play, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex2ryik9j9g">click here</a>.) He just went up <span style="font-style: italic;">so high</span>, and came down <span style="font-style: italic;">so hard</span>, with <span style="font-weight: bold;">one-hundred percent</span> of the fall being absorbed by his woefully helpless right elbow. Oy, I cringe just thinking about it. Seriously, try and watch the highlight without audibly gasping or half-covering your eyes when Bogut is about to crash. It's not possible. Just a really tough break for the fightin' Glenn Robinsons. The team surprised everybody this season by overachieving with a weird mix of rookies, veterans, and complete journeymen. This injury, however, forces old warhorse Kurt Thomas into the starting lineup. And let's not forget, this is the same Kurt Thomas that led Division-I in scoring <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifteen years ago</span>. Not exactly the guy you want battling Dwight Howard 40 minutes a night come playoff time. The Bucks are still headed for a spot in the post season, but their chances of putting a scare into somebody were essentially obliterated with the loss of Bogut.<br /><br />(Sidenote: Nobody has really had the guts to call out Amar'e Stoudemire on this play, but I'll do it. I thought it was dirty. Everybody knows that when a guy is either a) about to take off or b) already airborne, you <span style="font-weight: bold;">stay away</span>. Even the slightest bit of contact when a player is at this most vulnerable state can lead to devastating injuries, which was precisely the case here. Stoudemire trailed Bogut all the way, had no chance of stopping the eventual dunk, and should have simply stopped his own momentum and allowed the play to conclude. But instead, he trails closely behind, and when Bogut begins to elevate, places his hand ever so gently on the small of Bogut's back, giving the big fella <span style="font-style: italic;">just enough</span> superfluous momentum to cause the horrific descent to the hardwood. I hate nothing more in basketball than a dirty play that leads to an injury, which is why at some point I will be devoting 12,000 words to Eric Snow sticking his foot under Chauncey's landing spot in the 2003 playoffs, and why I think capital punishment would have been an appropriate consequence in the aftermath of that situation.)<br /></li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdhcWMmGIkpMU7IZplxtyR9rn1QpyRCBheZLp7DmLskyEnsPzrj4HHn8PrP-rJXeWbIpkhRb1OafVU32gcnpHDX1rCJPgYuM-nQ0SEJd6U6dzze7x-ZookL11udGgdzIvCcJnDYG_GuY/s1600/3855f7681f87d2830ddd953b2996a9f0-getty-97637091gf012_philadelphia_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdhcWMmGIkpMU7IZplxtyR9rn1QpyRCBheZLp7DmLskyEnsPzrj4HHn8PrP-rJXeWbIpkhRb1OafVU32gcnpHDX1rCJPgYuM-nQ0SEJd6U6dzze7x-ZookL11udGgdzIvCcJnDYG_GuY/s320/3855f7681f87d2830ddd953b2996a9f0-getty-97637091gf012_philadelphia_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456933647763171474" border="0" /></a>Placido Polanco bombed a grand slam and collected six ribbies for the Phillies on Opening Day. Still confused as to why Tigers' brass viewed Polanco as expendable this past off-season. I know money was an issue, but isn't three years at $6 million per a pretty fair deal for a career .300 hitter that plays Gold Glove defense at second? A lot of people are excited about young Scott Sizemore and the numbers he's put up as a minor leaguer, but forgive me if I'm a bit trepidatious. Frankly, I think I liked Sizemore better the first time he was with the Tigers...you know, when he was called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Warren Morris</span>.</li></ul><ul><li>Dear MLB Extra Innings 'Free Preview Week,'<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />I love you. Like, more than a friend.</span><br /><br />-Yours Truly, High Socks Legend-<br /></li></ul><br /><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/"><span><span>Back to the HSL main page</span></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Drop me a line at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-18906705037487313902010-04-01T02:41:00.001-04:002010-06-28T00:17:37.995-04:00Year in Review with Coach John Kuester<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigeulbdeoQfQxCJVAdwApUbhYec69l6NWpbiJJKPWTVeOK3vhh3E9jundDO-UzA0rB_vBcTukHt6x8T0ZyLEKf64b07sLndb9KIiP1UHWZZaMJn0HseGQd8OS35aQ2DHW8qS-yK93bK0/s1600/Kuester.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigeulbdeoQfQxCJVAdwApUbhYec69l6NWpbiJJKPWTVeOK3vhh3E9jundDO-UzA0rB_vBcTukHt6x8T0ZyLEKf64b07sLndb9KIiP1UHWZZaMJn0HseGQd8OS35aQ2DHW8qS-yK93bK0/s400/Kuester.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454703365888401554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pistons P.R. Guy</span>: I'd like to thank everybody for coming out this afternoon for the 2009-10 Year in Review with our head coach, John Kuester. The coach is here to answer any questions you may have about this past season. Let's begin.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reporter</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Coach, can you explain to us what happened with Ben Gordon this year? Twelve months ago, the guy was on top of the basketball world, leading the Bulls during what was quite possibly the best opening-round playoff series in NBA history. He blew up for 42 one night, 33 in the Game 7 loss, and seemed to have more confidence than anybody on the court. So how is it that in the span of one 82-game schedule, you were able to completely shatter Ben's confidence and also surgically remove any semblance of a soul that he had left?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2SEFBWr_qlNAo__YUqkMpxPTnw1iDTsecnQF2NrhpB3FNipuhSiENR3spogknL-AW-X5XzKP5l7zxrUSZSsDkWbJROeBl_fkTI0tAiVc7q9dCjHG8B-IYEFlkwvYHraECa7IrigUUC4/s1600/ben-gordon-detroit-pistons-d5c694c30a5efa37_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2SEFBWr_qlNAo__YUqkMpxPTnw1iDTsecnQF2NrhpB3FNipuhSiENR3spogknL-AW-X5XzKP5l7zxrUSZSsDkWbJROeBl_fkTI0tAiVc7q9dCjHG8B-IYEFlkwvYHraECa7IrigUUC4/s320/ben-gordon-detroit-pistons-d5c694c30a5efa37_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454535308136390674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach Kuester</span>: Well, it wasn't easy, I'll tell you that. It all starts by making his role as unclear as possible. When Ben walked into the arena this year, he had no idea whether he'd be getting 35 minutes or 13. Maybe I'd throw him in the starting lineup, maybe not. He would have no idea until the game got going. Those things are crucial to removing a player's confidence. Also, I would often give him a quick hook if his first couple shots didn't go down. There is no way a guy will play to the best of his abilities when he's got that nervous feeling in the back of his mind, so that was very important as well. And let's not forget the instrumental contributions from Ben's ankle and groin, which he was able to borrow on loan this year from Joe Theismann and Nomar Garciaparra, respectively. Currently, Gentle Ben has gone <span style="font-weight: bold;">18 straight games</span> without reaching the <span style="font-style: italic;">20 point mark</span>, which is by far a personal best for him after six years in the league. This is a guy that shot over 40% from 3-point land every year of his career; this year he's <span style="font-weight: bold;">below 30</span>. Going forward, we will just try to keep his role completely undefined like it has been all year, and frankly, just continue to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible whenever he steps foot on the court.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reporter</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hey Kue, how important is it for you guys to finish last in the league in free throw shooting? I know you've been dead last for most of the year, and now you sit in 29th, one spot </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ahead</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">of the Cavs for this honor. Wouldn't it be nice for your team to accomplish </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">something</span> this year??<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6fTQozACN_VWDuGFLHyfawEjDK8L8kU2sXiS348RI47YpZ6EEMM2kCqzrHEOQHmbvRdtfCSNAj9fUw8JhQ4LmwDL3kBdUxIPAo_stm6yiKD4Mhg9Qb26MdOMAA49bX_3HO24JisaNXk/s1600/503901196361607.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6fTQozACN_VWDuGFLHyfawEjDK8L8kU2sXiS348RI47YpZ6EEMM2kCqzrHEOQHmbvRdtfCSNAj9fUw8JhQ4LmwDL3kBdUxIPAo_stm6yiKD4Mhg9Qb26MdOMAA49bX_3HO24JisaNXk/s320/503901196361607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454534021607226290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach Kuester</span>: Yes, obviously we are well aware of that race and are doing everything possible to finish the job. Make no mistake about it, we <span style="font-style: italic;">want</span> this record. Haven't you noticed the increased burn for Kwame Brown lately? That's not an accident. The guy is an <span style="font-weight: bold;">atrocious</span> free thrower and that's earned him extended minutes. We aren't even in this race without his 5-for-20 effort in March, and his horrifying 35% on the year. Sometimes it looks like Kwame is trying to see if he can <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> shatter the glass with one of his attempts, and lemme tell you something, I really hope the kid does it. You work that hard at something, you want to see results. One thing that has hurt us is the injury to Ben Wallace. He really had been so painfully bad at the line this year, and we've truly missed that 39% down the stretch. Who can forget the night that Gregg Popovich went to the Hack-a-Ben, and I left him in there to shoot <span style="font-weight: bold;">10 fourth quarter free throws</span>??? You can't pay for memories like that. We just have to keep doing what we're doing, and hope Cleveland starts hitting a few. I mean, who does Antawn Jamison think he is, getting traded to the best team in the East and then transforming into a <span style="font-style: italic;">46 percent foul shooter</span>?? We won't stand for tank jobs like that. It might take putting Jason Maxiell (59%) at point guard and slashing Ben Gordon's (84%) minutes even further, but trust me, when all is said and done, we will be <span style="font-style: italic;">the worst</span> free-throw shooting team in the National Basketball Association. You can quote me on that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE5CM-kANMGaUoSKS9Oatn3iz_55xUZoZL17xjd7YCJy9qj5noKxoDhnyuNdhV66TcMyVn9i6UQTbuOvsW3Q6lhcoJcn0nX1Qbxg4ZZe39t2p1B-zOc7R6u2PaPYpu5k2jpVbViuuZrg/s1600/icon_hoops_narrowweb__300x475,0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE5CM-kANMGaUoSKS9Oatn3iz_55xUZoZL17xjd7YCJy9qj5noKxoDhnyuNdhV66TcMyVn9i6UQTbuOvsW3Q6lhcoJcn0nX1Qbxg4ZZe39t2p1B-zOc7R6u2PaPYpu5k2jpVbViuuZrg/s320/icon_hoops_narrowweb__300x475,0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454552237252723730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reporter</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Pistons' trainer, Mike Abdenour, has been with the team for 31 years. He also happens to look just like the iconic Nintendo character </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mario</span><span style="font-style: italic;">. But that being said, the team has suffered countless injuries this year and rarely has the full lineup been available. At what point do you cut the umbilical cord here, Coach?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach Kuester</span>: It's a very tricky situation with Mr. Abdenour. Putting all our cards on the table here, I will tell you that we have fired Mike after each of the last three seasons. We clean out his office, give him a pink slip, and escort him out of the building. But I'll be darned, when we open training camp the following season, the little fella is right back on the bench, stuffing himself into that Youth Small sweater vest and cleaning Rip Hamilton's face mask. In a few weeks, we will bring in Bowser and Koopa Troopa, remove all mushrooms from the facility, and <span style="font-style: italic;">try </span>to let him go <span style="font-weight: bold;">again</span>, but it likely will not matter. <span style="font-style: italic;">Mario</span> never goes down without a fight.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reporter</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">John, it seemed like Charlie Villanueva was starting to come on a bit of late. He had three straight games scoring in double figures and was finally beginning to display a consistent human pulse. But then you played him just five minutes in Sunday's loss to Chicago. Is there any truth to the rumor that you are planning to install an actual </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">dog house</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> at the end of your bench next season for Charlie V to crawl into when he is not in the game?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0UvJW9-u0qE2R_9-cv4eQxj6a4asFtizJJF9u0Eg_MvH12uJ8HCgomULZ9jJnj2pmS7klhv6oPiwCe5LjnZFSRiFDm5Y8u_9Bq2zJQm6i21mbaOkQotzoh1kztoxYI8F3gbU81G84XU/s1600/cool-cot-dog-house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0UvJW9-u0qE2R_9-cv4eQxj6a4asFtizJJF9u0Eg_MvH12uJ8HCgomULZ9jJnj2pmS7klhv6oPiwCe5LjnZFSRiFDm5Y8u_9Bq2zJQm6i21mbaOkQotzoh1kztoxYI8F3gbU81G84XU/s320/cool-cot-dog-house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454686004400535074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach Kuester</span>: Yes, that is true, and I'll tell ya what, we are very excited about the possibilities with this. Joe Dumars and I have been spending a lot of our free time at IKEA looking at all kinds of different models and designs, and we think Charlie is really going to be happy with the end result. There's one particular dog house that we think will be perfect. It has enough space for a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a little shelf for an alarm clock. That way, Charlie can get some good rest when he's not playing, while also remaining perfectly clueless as to the flow and direction of the game out on the floor. I can call him out of the dog house, throw him in the game, and he can go jack up senseless 25-footers with no real idea of who's winning or how much time is left. It's essentially the same situation we have now; this would just make it official. A win-win for everybody involved.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reporter</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Coach, Rodney Stuckey is about to complete his third NBA season and he is still light years away from being a legitimate NBA point guard. Is there a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, or should we just politely accept the fact that he's never gonna be more than a glorified version of Robert Pack?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndv9YvEgLouHgk2TenUBzs_eXNId9PnSqVqRZ4GZowMzmdgRhf5-iOVMXxEYz7FWZrV2GbYa8Brof3WZQczqVuwff-WgZJD-ebLRcE_0iqyFvRrUWSyHVJUkKG5tRu3khFrnX7AdZBcI/s1600/30538313-81c7-49ba-a5e6-6945967a48a5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndv9YvEgLouHgk2TenUBzs_eXNId9PnSqVqRZ4GZowMzmdgRhf5-iOVMXxEYz7FWZrV2GbYa8Brof3WZQczqVuwff-WgZJD-ebLRcE_0iqyFvRrUWSyHVJUkKG5tRu3khFrnX7AdZBcI/s320/30538313-81c7-49ba-a5e6-6945967a48a5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454702276725776450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coach Kuester</span>: Rodney is really coming along as a point guard, and with a couple more years of tutelage under <span style="font-style: italic;">Chucky Atkins</span>- hold on, I just threw up in my mouth a little- we think he will become one of the top assist guys in the whole league. Here's who Rodney is, in a nutshell. He's at a kid's birthday party at a bowling alley. The last frames are rolled and the pizza is being delivered to the tables over by the Claw Grabber machines. Rodney darts over before anyone else can get there, helps himself to the three largest slices of the pie, and sits down to enjoy his Za. Once he has devoured every last morsel of cheese, sauce, and crust, he will <span style="font-style: italic;">then</span> go find the birthday boy: he will help him scrounge up any remaining grub, refill his glass of Coke, and make sure all the presents are up front and accounted for so the gift opening process can go on without a hitch. His <span style="font-style: italic;">ultimate</span> reaction was all well and good, but it was not his <span style="font-weight: bold;">first reaction</span>. His initial move was to help himself to the pizza, fill up his own belly, and <span style="font-style: italic;">then</span> go forward in helping his buddy out. That's not the behavior of a <span style="font-weight: bold;">true point guard</span>. Steve Nash wants to hook up Amare, Richardson, and everybody else. <span style="font-style: italic;">Then</span> he will look for his own offense; but still, never at the expense of getting his own teammates involved. Unfortunately, we are still teaching Rodney these essential skills, and like I said, <span style="font-style: italic;">Chucky Atkins</span> remains heavily involved in this process. Uhh, you're gonna have to excuse me...I think I'm gonna be <span style="font-style: italic;">sick</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop a thought on Kuester and the Pistons, or send me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-27932471146069778392010-03-25T00:20:00.006-04:002011-03-23T04:16:05.083-04:00MSU Lives, Ashley Judd Cheers, and Omar Samhan Continues to Take Over the World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQbOH0G_LDmqUFDL92jFRIjiBVowgDzvyqKP4Bus4NY_3FSYgnOhMa1oBuxGUau_QvYiDOGHscbHNnWOo1lBKwL5a85ggJsfNCezSQ9NcW1r9sz7I4p_ONl5OXpv6hdPPnJEm8N5KLj8/s1600/lucious.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQbOH0G_LDmqUFDL92jFRIjiBVowgDzvyqKP4Bus4NY_3FSYgnOhMa1oBuxGUau_QvYiDOGHscbHNnWOo1lBKwL5a85ggJsfNCezSQ9NcW1r9sz7I4p_ONl5OXpv6hdPPnJEm8N5KLj8/s400/lucious.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452421096062395042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sparty</span></span><br /><br />I'm not sure I have ever seen a team endure as many highs and lows in the course of one 40-minute basketball game as Michigan State did on Sunday.<br /><br />-(High) The Spartans storm out of the gate, building up a double-digit lead after just ten minutes.<br /><br />-(Low) Kalin Lucas crumples to the floor towards the end of the half. The team would no longer have its leader.<br /><br />-(Low) Maryland begins to chip away in the 2nd half, cutting the lead to just 5.<br /><br />-(High) Durrell Summers to the rescue, scoring 11 points in three minutes. Men in Green by 15.<br /><br />-(High) I enjoy a perfectly toasted egg bagel with a nice glass of C-Milk (Chocolate, for the uninformed).<br /><br />-(Low) ACC Player of the Year Greivis Vasquez will simply not go quietly into the good night. He rips off 10 points in the final 1:54, capped off by a feathery floater with 7 ticks left, putting his Terps up by one.<br /><br />-(Ultimate High) Draymond Green (suddenly a flawless ball handler) dribbles up the floor, and exhibiting as much patience as you will ever see in a last-second, down by one situation, turns and lasers a pass to Korie Lucious at the top of the key. And I think you know what happens next...<br /><br />It was a wild day with an even wilder finish. The Spartans' best player went down, his replacement stepped in, and canned the game-winning trey with nothing but zeros showing on the clock. Spielberg couldn't have scripted it better.<br /><br />But now, reality sets in. Tom Izzo and his merry band of followers must continue their voyage through the bracket <span style="font-style: italic;">without</span> Kalin Lucas. Opposing teams promise to have <span style="font-style: italic;">no</span> sympathy.<br /><br />Fortunately, the team awaiting them is not big, bad, Kansas, the tournament's #1 overall seed. Instead, it is little Northern Iowa, from the little town of Cedar Falls, led by their little point guard Ali Farokhmanesh. But this team is no pushover.<br /><br />They play devastating defense in the half-court, holding high-powered Kansas to just 67 points, its lowest total in 10 games. They start three seniors and a junior, a rarity in today's one-and-done world of college hoops. They bring an actual circus freak off the bench in 6'6" forward Lucas O' Rear. (Rumor has it that O' Rear is the bastard love child of Birdman Andersen and Amy Winehouse.) So this team pretty much has it all. Except one thing became painfully clear in the win over Kansas.<br /><br />This team doesn't like being pressed. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Not one bit</span>.<br /><br />The Panthers had maintained a steady lead throughout the game. They shot better than Kansas, they played better defense than Kansas. They were simply the better team on that day. <span style="font-style: italic;">But</span>, when Bill Self <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> decided to unleash the hounds and attack these guys using all 94 feet of hardwood, the momentum shifted in the blink of an eye. Northern Iowa couldn't get the ball past half court. They threw long cross-court passes that were easily picked off and taken for quick layups. Sometimes, they couldn't even get the ball inbounded at all. Quite honestly, I've never seen a team so <span style="font-style: italic;">spooked</span> to be facing a little full-court pressure.<br /><br />But alas, it was too little, too late. Had Bill Self unveiled this pressure earlier in the contest, would the final result have been different? In all likelihood, <span style="font-weight: bold;">yes</span>.<br /><br />Much like Kansas, Michigan State will have the advantage athletically over the kids from Upper Iowa. After all, we are talking about a top tier Big Ten school against a group from the Missouri Valley Conference. It's not quite apples and oranges, but it's something like it. If guys like Raymar Morgan and Durrell Summers can tap into their superior athletic ability and let loose on Friday night, I don't think the Panthers can keep up.<br /><br />Now, if the game becomes a slogging half-court war of attrition, that's a different story. Kalin Lucas' absence will be spotlighted and the Spartans will struggle mightily to put points on the board. It is imperative that Izzo get his troops to push the pace, pressure the UNI ball handlers, and force the Panthers into an unfamiliar early deficit.<br /><br />The Midwest Regional opened up wider than a clown's mouth at a miniature golf course when the Jayhawks got bounced from the proceedings. Now it's time for Raymar, Durrell, Draymond, and Korie to step on through.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashley</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8_TPiUrVQdAuWLLJJFuJ8Ze2U8cKHPucvxx7axaHlz5NZ2YXyrTWRTqciXsQvvFvyAIHcoWfdf9DLJ8NbMm9p2luKFpGuDUGonnouFKBhoVVpHcydMlDmW-XayoNj6re6pTH3xEk_iQ/s1600/uk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8_TPiUrVQdAuWLLJJFuJ8Ze2U8cKHPucvxx7axaHlz5NZ2YXyrTWRTqciXsQvvFvyAIHcoWfdf9DLJ8NbMm9p2luKFpGuDUGonnouFKBhoVVpHcydMlDmW-XayoNj6re6pTH3xEk_iQ/s320/uk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452322920560200386" border="0" /></a>Everything about the Kentucky Wildcats screams "<span style="font-weight: bold;">sure thing</span>." They have a point guard (John Wall) that is the odds-on favorite to be the #1 overall pick in this summer's NBA Draft. They have another likely lottery pick in 6-foot-11 DeMarcus Cousins, a freakish athlete who could rack up double-doubles in his sleep. There's Eric Bledsoe, the freshman sniper, knocking down 15-of-24 shots in the first two rounds, including a sparkling 9-of-12 from downtown. And just for good measure, they throw in Patrick Patterson, the seasoned veteran of the group, and another player destined for the Association. <span style="font-weight: bold;">But </span>something just doesn't feel quite right. Try and stay with me here.<br /><br />The most famous fan of UK hoops is the lovely and talented Ashley Judd. She has starred in countless movies over the years, one of which was the 2002 military thriller/drama <span style="font-style: italic;">High Crimes</span>. Judd plays an attorney that has her life turned upside-down when her seemingly perfect husband (Jim Caviezel) is taken into custody for the murders of nine innocents that he may or may not have committed as a Sergeant with the U.S. Marines years ago.<br /><br />Caviezel <span style="font-style: italic;">insists</span> that he was not part of the killings, that he <span style="font-style: italic;">did nothing wrong</span>. We are introduced to multiple characters that all seem to be working together to frame this man, and pin the blame on him for something he had nothing to do with. There are conflicting stories, sketchy eyewitnesses, and attempts at a cover-up whenever Judd seems to be getting close to the truth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUwO3R66Y1za4liTzCyYjZCPQ2dUFH0HEer4-M0ZaMnRwS2njMg5RRToV1mlFzy0hyqIC06MR3H2f2nioAAvyHUipM1T-hD2T0lrygQXrt4XGifXlyYSHaF6GcDtCkaExHprWSLRLJIQ/s1600/ashley_judd_High_crimes1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUwO3R66Y1za4liTzCyYjZCPQ2dUFH0HEer4-M0ZaMnRwS2njMg5RRToV1mlFzy0hyqIC06MR3H2f2nioAAvyHUipM1T-hD2T0lrygQXrt4XGifXlyYSHaF6GcDtCkaExHprWSLRLJIQ/s320/ashley_judd_High_crimes1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452323303188852674" border="0" /></a>Finally, with the help of a drunken Morgan Freeman, Judd convinces the jury they have the wrong man and Caviezel is <span style="font-weight: bold;">set free</span>. All is well in the world as Ashley and her man drive off into the sunset.<br /><br />He'd proclaimed his innocence throughout, the loyal wife did all she could to get him off, the final verdict was 100% in their favor, and here they were, just two lovebirds in some remote cabin celebrating the victory. But you just couldn't shake the feeling that <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> was off. It all just seemed <span style="font-style: italic;">too easy</span>. About five minutes later, every one of those suspicions came true.<br /><br />Caviezel pretends he is going out for a bottle of champagne, only to return a minute later with a crazed look in his eye that tells us all we need to know; "<span style="font-weight: bold;">This guy has been <span style="font-style: italic;">guilty </span>the whole time</span>." He turns on Judd and tries to choke her out. Thankfully, he is gunned down during the scrap and our beautiful heroine survives.<br /><br />What this story illustrates is that sometimes things just seem <span style="font-weight: bold;">too perfect</span>. <br /><br />Caviezel was the perfect man with the perfect wife with the perfect alibi. But there was this huge, dark, secret just waiting to be exposed the whole time. In the end, it was.<br /><br />Just like Ashley Judd's <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect</span> 2010 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team. They have the all-world point guard, the silky-smooth 2-man, the Powers of Pain up front, and the slickest coach in the business, John Calipari, leading the troops. Their record sits at a near-flawless 34 and 2, with both losses coming in super-tight road affairs where they were either tied or within one point in the last two minutes of the game. They coasted through their first two tournament games, smashing East Tennessee State by 29 and Wake Forest by 30. There really isn't an obvious chink in the armor.<br /><br />But <span style="font-style: italic;">something's</span> missing. I just don't know exactly what <span style="font-style: italic;">it </span>is. Maybe they rely <span style="font-style: italic;">too much</span> on their freshmen. Maybe they don't have enough threats from three-point land. Maybe Calipari is just snakebit when he gets deep in the tournament.<br /><br />When you have a feeling, sometimes you gotta go with it. And something about this Kentucky squad just feels funny. I'm not saying they'll lose to Cornell, and I'm not even saying they won't make it to the Final Four; but somewhere along the line, just like Jimmy Caviezel at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">High Crimes</span>, the truth will come out and this squad will go down.<br /><br />Ashley Judd just can't catch a break...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Big Fella</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJoPQtbx6aqoqPCdJQ0agD2Sx2Gf0BvhYyTl-fSYxbMQUwej53BFDNX16OlvDNe96Xmivwsb2kFUQqSKiO3UkSaULUQmoi93pBsSJlamclbI8qo4eA6u0LCvZKNdDxqHMUNFPtFbAkZY/s1600/samhan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJoPQtbx6aqoqPCdJQ0agD2Sx2Gf0BvhYyTl-fSYxbMQUwej53BFDNX16OlvDNe96Xmivwsb2kFUQqSKiO3UkSaULUQmoi93pBsSJlamclbI8qo4eA6u0LCvZKNdDxqHMUNFPtFbAkZY/s320/samhan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452416575324936802" border="0" /></a>The most dominant player thus far in the tournament has undoubtedly been man-mountain Omar Samhan, the senior from Saint Mary's. Through just two games, Samhan has tallied an astounding <span style="font-weight: bold;">61 points</span> to go with 19 rebounds. He is relatively nimble for a guy his size (listed 6'11", 260) and has an extremely soft touch around the basket. The free throw line has also become Samhan's friend this year, where he has converted on 74% of his attempts (he was just a 59% shooter as a sophomore). And even though he possesses the foot speed of Babe Ruth and the leaping ability of Ruth Riley, Samhan has still become an almost unstoppable force on the offensive end. But the way opposing coaches have <span style="font-style: italic;">chosen to defend him </span>during the tournament has boggled my mind.<br /><br />In the first two rounds, Samhan and the Saint Mary's Gaels faced off against Richmond and Villanova. Neither team is blessed with a ton of size. One would <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> that this lack of height and bulk would force these coaches to bring plenty of help on Samhan, to double him repeatedly on the catch and then do your best to rotate out to shooters when the ball is kicked out. Yes, one would <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span>. But that is not at all what happened. Instead, both Chris Mooney and Jay Wright gambled that they could handle the big fella one-on-one, thinking that staying home on the shooters was more important. Hmm...I always thought that canning a long 22-footer was more difficult than a near 7-footer popping in little baby hooks from right around the rim, but apparently some coaches disagree. And the funny thing is, I haven't seen Samhan prove that he's a legitimate passer out of a double team.<br /><br />On the rare occasion that one of these teams would bring help to their helpless post defenders, Samhan looked uncomfortable. He telegraphed passes and made silly turnovers. As a matter of fact, through two games, Samhan has attempted 32 shots, taken 18 free throws, but has <span style="font-style: italic;">yet</span> to record a <span style="font-weight: bold;">single assist</span>. In his last eight games, he has a grand total of <span style="font-style: italic;">three</span> helpers. That means teams are not doing a good enough job getting the ball out of his hands and forcing everyone else to beat them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXgipCn6n2Br0dzhYbbltkDubKc1pZMpaWD7GL7RlGYBE41nQZJfSGSiCL6tMrxLxyqALLM-SCNLuhduccJi5UvC0ZJdWFUHWxquQ3KcZ8HL0RJYETnTNLPAOAcppn-mi7veSGN4Y8fM/s1600/a-dream-shake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXgipCn6n2Br0dzhYbbltkDubKc1pZMpaWD7GL7RlGYBE41nQZJfSGSiCL6tMrxLxyqALLM-SCNLuhduccJi5UvC0ZJdWFUHWxquQ3KcZ8HL0RJYETnTNLPAOAcppn-mi7veSGN4Y8fM/s320/a-dream-shake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452417162202877442" border="0" /></a>If you remember, when Hakeem Olajuowon was at his most dominant for the Rockets in the mid-90's on the way to back-to-back titles, it was often guys like Robert Horry, Mario Elie, and Kenny Smith knocking down clutch 3s in the closing minutes. This isn't to suggest that Olajuwon was <span style="font-style: italic;">unable</span> to make big buckets down the stretch. In fact, just the opposite. Teams <span style="font-style: italic;">knew</span> they had no chance of stopping Dream one-on-one, so they did their best to double down, rotate, and hope the shooters missed. It was the only chance they had.<br /><br />Saint Mary's won the West Coast Conference tournament this year, knocking off Gonzaga in the finals. The Zags kept it close for about 35 minutes before Samhan and Co. pulled away late. But at least Mark Few and his staff had the right idea. They surrounded Samhan, whether or not he had the ball. They bothered him throughout the night, and he never got into a good rhythm. He attempted just nine shots, and scored just nine points (the <span style="font-weight: bold;">only</span> time in 33 games he was held to single digits). Unfortunately for Gonzaga, the Gaels' shooters were on fire. They shot nearly 50% from outside the arc and knocked down 10 treys by game's end. It's like a poker hand where you make the right read, but get drawn out on the river. You may have lost some coin, but least you can leave the table knowing you <span style="font-style: italic;">played it right</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reach the High Socks Legend at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-39816373662044981652010-03-22T01:23:00.002-04:002010-03-22T03:23:10.545-04:00It's a Smile...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu777vmg0GqyvuUGjlnlP55qG2o6SqMKyWSDgdJETYQIkaMg63Qn1lgHuu0d-blmdMYJScNOLh_8adkdbWhUFQmqO8kgHi4QiQ-bAWN6XTb4xiR7ygE-c9u9Kroc50RwwQpaqPfcDfdaM/s1600-h/smile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu777vmg0GqyvuUGjlnlP55qG2o6SqMKyWSDgdJETYQIkaMg63Qn1lgHuu0d-blmdMYJScNOLh_8adkdbWhUFQmqO8kgHi4QiQ-bAWN6XTb4xiR7ygE-c9u9Kroc50RwwQpaqPfcDfdaM/s400/smile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451353194989881554" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li>It's good to know that Rip Hamilton has not thrown in the towel and is continuing to keep up the intensity in the face of a disastrous Pistons season. <span style="font-style: italic;">Phhhhhh</span>. Yeah, either that, or the <span style="font-style: italic;">complete opposite</span> of that. Rip was absolutely corpse-like on the court over the weekend, going scoreless (with 3 turnovers) in a loss to Indiana, and then knocking home 1 of 8 in the blowout defeat to the Cavs last night. Your 2009-10 Detroit Pistons, ladies and gentlemen. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Going to Work, Every Night. Well, not <span style="font-style: italic;">Every</span> Night...but at Least Two or Three Times a Month.</span><span>" </span></li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggariJ_P4BdxMvuR6Hx3IgTmC1JcyDBTprARO-D5xzI20BgtKjGk_PV6IZ606pWVdyZJVfqav6wStZWs9G_Vba6YsD7op2xIz3f8-nu0p0sbfTH6WVbea1D7dFuukKgNtRfmqIQ3JytZo/s1600-h/YNnXyKBS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggariJ_P4BdxMvuR6Hx3IgTmC1JcyDBTprARO-D5xzI20BgtKjGk_PV6IZ606pWVdyZJVfqav6wStZWs9G_Vba6YsD7op2xIz3f8-nu0p0sbfTH6WVbea1D7dFuukKgNtRfmqIQ3JytZo/s320/YNnXyKBS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451352270963469442" border="0" /></a>The Joe Nathan injury will not wind up hurting the Twins nearly as much as everyone thinks it will. The closer spot is one of the most interchangeable positions in all of sports. Look at a guy like Ryan Franklin, a journeyman right hander who tried unsuccessfully for years to be a solid major league starter, but wound up getting the ball in the 9th for St. Louis last year, and reeled off 38 saves for a playoff team. Examples like this can be found every year around the league. The Twins will plug in veteran guys like Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain when the 9th inning rolls around, and they will be <span style="font-style: italic;">just fine</span>. And worse comes to worst, they can always go bring Everyday Eddie Guardado back to town. It seems like the big boy's about due for another go-round with the Twinkies, doesn't it?</li></ul><ul><li>Boy, that John Malkovich sure was scary in <span style="font-style: italic;">Con Air</span>. He made Charles Rane from <span style="font-style: italic;">Passenger 57</span> look like an upstanding citizen.</li></ul><ul><li>Fictional Boxer Bio of the Week: <span style="font-weight: bold;">JaSharkus Cummings</span></li></ul>-This fighter has zero idea that he is actually in the ring to "box." He merely smells another human's blood and instinctively attacks. Has two legs and two arms just like your average American male; the only difference with this guy is that he has a moon-shaped fin sticking out of his back. JaSharkus can live above or below water, making him half platypus, half man, and about three-fifths pure psycho. A 5-foot-5 omnivore, this cat will slice you, dice you, marinate you...then he'll go to work on ya. Just watch your back; but don't even dare look at his. Because if you do, and he sees you "checkin' out his fin," you'll have slept your last wink.<br /><ul><li>I get abnormally fired up about 8-second violations in the NBA. Whenever a team is bringing the ball up court, and I see that shot clock start to tick down in the 19-18 range, all bets are off. There is generally screaming involved, and rarely am I able to remain seated until the ball crosses the timeline. This is not just the Pistons, either. Any game, any team, any situation. I just find this whole sequence to be extremely dramatic; and if the violation actually <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> wind up occurring...well, let's just say the biggest mess ain't taking place on the court.</li></ul><ul><li>Defense is purely optional under Don Nelson in Golden State, and most times, it is deemed downright unacceptable. In the month of March alone, the Warriors have surrendered 123 to Memphis, 124 to Kobe and Friends, 127 to the Hawks, 135 to New Orleans, and a scoreboard-bursting <span style="font-weight: bold;">ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN POINTS</span> on Friday night to a middle of the road offensive club in the San Antonio Spurs. I'm fairly certain Geno Auriemma's girls from UCONN could hit the century mark against this squad. Yikes.</li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2StF9nID1FJTwDWzuHWeb0ZccyRWiFfszRrBpImUw4n9s8t15-cu2LhYjmgON7Sn-wXo2l0ePHlbKNYhZ8zRm9DUu0cZYuR5xpZgNvhr5IXl3vAGNRXy5RZjQffXCOdT9Sgc3XCYdxE/s1600-h/baked-macaroni-ct-1585215-x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2StF9nID1FJTwDWzuHWeb0ZccyRWiFfszRrBpImUw4n9s8t15-cu2LhYjmgON7Sn-wXo2l0ePHlbKNYhZ8zRm9DUu0cZYuR5xpZgNvhr5IXl3vAGNRXy5RZjQffXCOdT9Sgc3XCYdxE/s320/baked-macaroni-ct-1585215-x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451351659642157218" border="0" /></a>Is there anything better in life than a real good bowl of macaroni and cheese? The answer to that question would be "No, there is not." It's such a cozy choice, allowing even a little baby like myself to feel like an adult by ordering a grown-up "pasta" dish like all the other sophisticates around the table. I've often had dreams of a restaurant where all they serve is Mac, in various forms with multiple cheese options at your disposal. You tellin' me you wouldn't go to this place a couple times a day, maybe 8-9 times a week? Of course you would. And there's probably a good chance you'd see me there, too.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NCAA Tournament Thoughts and Sweet 16 Predictions Coming Later in the Week. Reach me at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-20819153411010255432010-03-18T01:09:00.011-04:002010-03-31T12:30:41.429-04:00HSL Big Dance Breakdown, Part Four: The Final Predictions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMf0VwmjAVxcVmwth3uNozPgZYMrlml3DD3mqhLQeXgYeebeMJHqQObQLLPD6r7e7DRj-i1axHdogEl6TkEUr-pxYHLh7iPDPIIOdFh0YXiQFd3a1myLPeRfniMMwAcaNYr6yhHyRPIM/s1600-h/crystal-ball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMf0VwmjAVxcVmwth3uNozPgZYMrlml3DD3mqhLQeXgYeebeMJHqQObQLLPD6r7e7DRj-i1axHdogEl6TkEUr-pxYHLh7iPDPIIOdFh0YXiQFd3a1myLPeRfniMMwAcaNYr6yhHyRPIM/s400/crystal-ball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449857355982682114" border="0" /></a><br />Final Predictions for the 2010 NC Double-A Tournament<br /><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfsrXIoHuu9nS_Bq9StvLBDKbVpVgGRCs0gPZniC8wYEZBx6iZB5cFXcQqrHIDFqgXufY7KsSTk4EMgB87OLfs-xriI7_903qPqCUzFW3YC9ASLndZf7ZWbTL4icKwzhHpztvd4jxIu4/s1600-h/large_ohio_state_thad_matta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfsrXIoHuu9nS_Bq9StvLBDKbVpVgGRCs0gPZniC8wYEZBx6iZB5cFXcQqrHIDFqgXufY7KsSTk4EMgB87OLfs-xriI7_903qPqCUzFW3YC9ASLndZf7ZWbTL4icKwzhHpztvd4jxIu4/s320/large_ohio_state_thad_matta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449844628385096786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ohio State</span> emerges as the Final Four entrant from the Midwest Regional. Evan Turner is already well known to college hoops fans across the country, but he's got ample support, too. William Buford has come on strong in the latter part of the year, and possesses a similar type of skill set as the future lottery pick Turner. Jonny Diebler provides the firepower from long range, while space-eater Dallas Lauderdale does his part to keep the Buckeyes from getting overwhelmed inside. The main concern with this club is their extremely short rotation, which could cause them to wear down as the tournament progresses. But I'm a big believer in Thad Matta, and have been impressed with his work ever since he took underdog Xavier to the Elite Eight in 2004 with my good friend Romain Sato leading the way. Columbus rejoices as the Bucks make it to Indianapolis to take on the...</li></ul><ul><li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8gGLCvoCz0R84FIE5KDVXaeZ-fMZ7_XN6kB53-wN5mQaMmwSO0FPqzLYxmw_LhjkrbzkB-93sj5rzE2cIr4zMaBq84x4M88XcFWFgIVmYsgqnS4AHc3YznFnCDLFUDtSSLF3NDI1QSw/s1600-h/default.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8gGLCvoCz0R84FIE5KDVXaeZ-fMZ7_XN6kB53-wN5mQaMmwSO0FPqzLYxmw_LhjkrbzkB-93sj5rzE2cIr4zMaBq84x4M88XcFWFgIVmYsgqnS4AHc3YznFnCDLFUDtSSLF3NDI1QSw/s320/default.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449844025728900674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Butler Bulldogs</span>. Yessiree, the Horizon League champs will <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> make their mark when it counts and turn the West Regional upside-down. Like Ohio State, they will not come at you with a ton of players, but the ones they <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> throw on the court are very, very good. Sophmore Gordon Hayward is already being talked about as a future NBA ballplayer. He's 6-foot-9, can shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor, and is a terror on the glass. Shelvin Mack has hit big shots all year, and seems to get better as the stakes get higher. The main concern with this team is their lack of size. Matt Howard is their best inside player, but he's just 6'8" and wears a giant T-shirt under his jersey to hide the lack of muscle definition underneath. But that being said, this is still your typical Butler squad that plays exceptionally smart, makes plenty of 3s, and forces you into tough shots on the defensive end. With the Final Four being played right at home, it would be the ultimate Cinderella story to have little ol' Butler busting the bracket and dancing all the way to the semifinals. Either <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>, or UTEP is just too physical down low and Butler's on a plane back to campus by 7:00 tonight. Hey, at least I took a shot!</li></ul><ul><li>My brother Sam will express his undying love for Luke Harangody at least 700 times over the course of the tourney, regardless of how many games the Dame plays. He's truly obsessed with the guy, to the point where I worry that one time when I go in his room he's gonna have Gody pictures plastered <span style="font-style: italic;">all over</span> his wall like that psychotic mathematician from <span style="font-style: italic;">A Beautiful Mind</span>. I'm just scared about the possibility of the Irish making a legitimate run through the bracket and Sam's excitement level gradually building to a point that just might be downright <span style="font-style: italic;">unhealthy</span>. Let's all root for Old Dominion to end this thing right away...for everybody's sake.<br /><br /></li><li>Michigan State will not advance past the Sweet 16. Maybe they get by Maryland in round two, but that's as far as they go. It's just not the same Spartan team we saw early in the year. Chris Allen's in trouble, Durrell Summers is in the doghouse, and that Garrick Sherman character gets a little bit whiter every time he steps foot on the court. I would not be surprised in the least if he shows up to the first practice next fall as an actual <span style="font-style: italic;">ghost</span>. The excellent play of Raymar Morgan has been a pleasant surprise, but it just won't be enough to get Izzo's crew to the same heights they reached last April.</li></ul><ul><li>Out of the East, I can't see a scenario where 32-2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kentucky</span> does not float through the bracket and get to Indy. John Calipari's team has been as consistent as any group in the country all year long, and boasts a wealth of young talent from several different spots on the floor. John Wall is the odds-on favorite for #1 overall pick in June's NBA Draft. He's a super-athletic 6-foot-4 point guard that is deadly in the open court. His outside shot still needs plenty of work, but at this level, he can still get by just fine with what he's got. The painted area is also in good hands with this squad. DeMarcus Cousins is a jumping-jack freshman at 6'11", and grizzled junior Patrick Patterson takes care of whatever is left. Calipari has been down this road before, and knows exactly what it takes to navigate through the maze successfully. Don't forget that if Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose hit their free throws a couple years ago, this guy is a former <span style="font-style: italic;">National Championship-winning coach</span>, and not just <span style="font-style: italic;">some guy</span> in a $5,000 suit that looks like he spent the last 2 and a half hours applying mousse to his perfectly maintained lettuce.<br /><br /></li><li>My cousin Mayer will make a flawless prediction at some point in the next three weeks. For instance, last year, when I wrote that Michigan State would have a decided advantage against North Carolina playing <span style="font-style: italic;">at home</span> in Ford Field during the Final Four, and that this edge could quite possibly push the Spartans over the top, Mayer called <span style="font-style: italic;">shenanigans </span>on me and set the story straight. He pointed out that this exact game took place just a couple months prior, and that the Tar Heels made mincemeat of MSU in the very same Ford Field. Mayer turned out to be 150% right as Carolina won that final game by 150 points. Can't wait to see what the wise one has in store for us this time around.<br /><br /></li><li>I hate to say it, but I think this is the year Mike Krzyzewski brings his <span style="font-weight: bold;">Duke </span>Blue Devils back to the Final Four. It's been a good long while since Coach K danced to the final, but the drought ends now. Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer are both fantastic shooters, from the 3-point line and the charity stripe. Nolan Smith has come into his own this year, and is the perfect third banana for the Devils on offense. Duke employs their usual brand of physical, unforgiving defense, and that will be the difference as they waltz through their region unscathed for the first time since 2004.<br /><br /></li><li>As for the semi-finals and the finals (even though it's silly to predict outcomes of games that most likely <span style="font-style: italic;">will not happen</span>), I like Evan Turner to best Gordon Hayward in one half of the bracket, and for Duke to knock off Kentucky on the other side in an epic battle between two powerhouse programs. As for the championship, and it pains me to say this, but I like the Buckeyes. I mean, don't get me wrong, I <span style="font-style: italic;">hate</span> the Buckeyes. But I have been wildly impressed with Evan Turner's overall game and ability to remain poised even as his team faces a late deficit in a hostile setting. He can win the MOP award at the Final Four and ride off into the sunset, where he will almost undoubtedly be one of the first three players selected in the upcoming NBA draft.<br /><br /></li><li>OR, I could be dead wrong about <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span>. That's what makes the NCAA tournament the best event in all of sports. Okay, second best. I <span style="font-style: italic;">really do</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>love that <span style="font-weight: bold;">World Strongman Championship</span>.<br /><br />Enjoy the tournament, people...</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leave your tournament predictions here, or drop me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-19158126372891866592010-03-17T00:38:00.008-04:002011-03-23T15:07:30.604-04:00HSL Big Dance Breakdown, Part Three: The Middle Seeds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir23Wnj_GePHEIS_3mvM0sBkYqhGU8gfCY7TkS13l6556PkYdYcpgZljoT8QrM3dncSXr3LHLSlXedv2Z13FVJ8h4z-xm_Wnvc0zfxVOfuBGny5IHxQAZeyuoSm_U7WtQNk_IKf1Rjn3I/s1600-h/monkey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir23Wnj_GePHEIS_3mvM0sBkYqhGU8gfCY7TkS13l6556PkYdYcpgZljoT8QrM3dncSXr3LHLSlXedv2Z13FVJ8h4z-xm_Wnvc0zfxVOfuBGny5IHxQAZeyuoSm_U7WtQNk_IKf1Rjn3I/s400/monkey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449465558341913122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The 7 vs. 10 Games: Only one 7-seed has advanced all the way to the Final Four; Rick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Carlisle's</span> Virginia Cavaliers in 1984.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >(7) Oklahoma State vs. (10) Georgia Tech</span><br /><br />Like all 7-10 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">matchups</span>, not an easy one to call, but I like the Cowboys. They played in the rough-and-tumble Big 12, were the only team in conference play to knock off Kansas, and feature a high-flying 2-guard in James Anderson that can take over a game all by himself. Georgia Tech has come on strong late in the season, making it to the finals of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ACC</span> Tournament, but starting two freshmen and a sophomore in the Big Dance can sometimes lead to disaster. Look for Glen Rice, Jr. suiting up for the Yellow Jackets. Somehow, despite being the son of one of the best shooters of all-time, Little Rice shoots just 52% from the free throw line. He might have to join the "Jeff Jordan-Jeremiah Rivers Support Group" pretty soon.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(7) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BYU</span> vs. (10) Florida</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" > </span><br /><br />I like the Mormons in this spot. The last three seasons, they've been pegged as an 8-seed, and have come up empty each time. This year, they were rewarded with a 7, and I think they'll finally get it done. Little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jimmer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Fredette</span> is a phenomenal shooter (47% from 3, 88% FT) that poured in <span style="font-weight: bold;">75 points</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BYU's</span> two conference tournament games last weekend. Florida is a squad that just seems to have lacked much punch or energy since the Noah-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Horford</span>-Brewer group won their titles and moved on. This year's attack is spearheaded by 5'8" gunner <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Erving</span> Walker, a player so anxious to hoist from deep that he has actually taken some threes this year without ever possessing the ball. Go with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Cougs</span> in this one, and don't be surprised if they put a little scare into Kansas State in round two.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(7) Clemson vs. (10) Missouri</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjnYhA8sAKB-GlfQR1tW9PKAuMM1A3ThO7gEKlZeKeSnsrR3IQXlgf7MQhCOJ7oRQ-fhXDjTyGTLiUnYDq9c82MyshzGI8mm5hnaXMCvk4lVho6RUxIm4LkYJA-SQQ8j-67-h6GC6OsQ/s1600-h/purnell-oc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjnYhA8sAKB-GlfQR1tW9PKAuMM1A3ThO7gEKlZeKeSnsrR3IQXlgf7MQhCOJ7oRQ-fhXDjTyGTLiUnYDq9c82MyshzGI8mm5hnaXMCvk4lVho6RUxIm4LkYJA-SQQ8j-67-h6GC6OsQ/s320/purnell-oc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449313287435261282" border="0" /></a>History is not exactly on the side of Clemson in this one. The Tigers have not won a game in the NCAA tournament since 1997. Worse, their coach, Oliver <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Purnell</span>, has been coaching Division-I ball for <span style="font-weight: bold;">22 years</span> and is <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> looking for his first tournament victory. <span style="font-style: italic;">But</span>, I think the drought finally ends here. Trevor Booker is a beast inside and Missouri is a finesse team that is lacking in the bulk department. They try to speed their opponents up and make them play their style, but Clemson is also plenty athletic and won't succumb to the frenetic ball pressure. With both teams enduring their fair share of ups and downs throughout the year, I wouldn't expect a prolonged run from either group, but I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Purnell</span> can finally breathe easy after this game and celebrate tourney victory #1.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(7) Richmond vs. (10) Saint Mary's</span><br /><br />This game presents an interesting battle of team strengths. Richmond has two outstanding guards, led by A-10 Player of the Year Kevin Anderson. Saint Mary's boasts the services of mammoth senior center Omar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Samhan</span>, a 260-pound immovable object on the interior. He <span style="font-style: italic;">averaged</span> 21 and 11 on the year, and also had six games where he collected five or more swats. In a game like this, when dominant seniors can be found on both sides, I tend to lean in the direction of the team with the guards. They are the ones controlling the game, and no defensive alignment can keep them from handling the rock on every possession. But with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Samhan</span>, Richmond can junk up their defense, surround him on the block, and make everyone else beat them. In the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">WCC</span> title game, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Samhan</span> got just 9 shot attempts, converting only 3. Richmond scampers on.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The 8 vs. 9 Games: The winner of this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">matchup</span> has taken down the #1 seed in the following round just 12 of 100 times.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(8) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">UNLV</span> vs. (9) Northern Iowa</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nDpz9D041NgtKU_03iENDKdglVycof6TlX9DOIoemB3SJUMP6NBye8S5Nc6mMQZQuntZe6hXsnsx5xmWTjtNlMvy0EyA_FMJUdfpU4bzvGiT41wpcJrghEQjB8yP8TkcyCicxX587dw/s1600-h/mvc-champs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nDpz9D041NgtKU_03iENDKdglVycof6TlX9DOIoemB3SJUMP6NBye8S5Nc6mMQZQuntZe6hXsnsx5xmWTjtNlMvy0EyA_FMJUdfpU4bzvGiT41wpcJrghEQjB8yP8TkcyCicxX587dw/s320/mvc-champs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449327416580497106" border="0" /></a>The Panthers from Northern Iowa are known for their suffocating defense, allowing just 44 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">PPG</span> in their three cakewalk victories through the Missouri Valley Tournament. In the first round of last year's tourney, they gave Purdue all they could handle. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">UNLV</span> on the other hand, is an inexperienced crew led by a coach (Lon Kruger) that has not had a hair out of place since 1997. Plus, Northern Iowa starts three guys with the last names <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Eglseder</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Ahelegbe</span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Farokhmanesh</span>. That spells F-U-N to me. The Hooked on Phonics boys get it done.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(8) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Gonzaga</span> vs. (9) Florida State</span><br /><br />Every March, I fall in love with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Zags</span> and wind up penciling them in all the way to the Final Four and beyond. And it <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> backfires. Adam Morrison, Jeremy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Pargo</span>, Austin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Daye</span>...it <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> works out. So I'm resisting the temptation this year. I'm backing the '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Noles</span>, even if they are one of the most mediocre teams in the entire field. I guess what I'm hoping for is that neither of these teams advances, if there's any way that can be made possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(8) Texas vs. (9) Wake Forest</span><br /><br />Wake Forest enters this game losers of 5 of their last 6, including a 21-point woodshed job in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">ACC</span> tournament at the hands of last-place Miami (FL). Texas also sputtered to the finish line, dropping 3 of 5 down the stretch, each loss by 15 points or more. I think the Longhorns' muscular front line will be the difference, but I wouldn't recommend sending this game tape to Springfield, Mass anytime soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >(8) California vs. (9) Louisville</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aY8RLPG1-6ysaeXRuKo0ge3Bpw4DuvmbTocC_2M9YH_Rkbh-Ov84W3ax18fZ5-z8xh90Bd8_3cxY37khP60ZtczOSeSahpQpsVXKGRH3AYPtMaujXeWFMvydI1321F6AM80D62rwdus/s1600-h/ba_duritz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aY8RLPG1-6ysaeXRuKo0ge3Bpw4DuvmbTocC_2M9YH_Rkbh-Ov84W3ax18fZ5-z8xh90Bd8_3cxY37khP60ZtczOSeSahpQpsVXKGRH3AYPtMaujXeWFMvydI1321F6AM80D62rwdus/s320/ba_duritz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449352780125929906" border="0" /></a>My buddy BK is a pretty hard-core fan of the Cal Bears. The main reason for this being that Adam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Duritz</span>, the front man of his favorite band (Counting Crows), attended Berkeley and has been their biggest celebrity groupie for years. So BK has jumped on board and become a Cal guy himself. More often than not, this obsession turns into disappointment right around mid-March as the Bears get whacked by a better team early in the bracket. I don't see this year being any different. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Pitino</span> tells Mike Montgomery, <span style="font-style: italic;">Goodnight L.A.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The #6 Seeds: I enjoy picking 6-seeds to knock off the #3 in the following round. It's a way of saying, "Hey, I'm willing to get a little crazy; but in a nice, polite way."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Tennessee</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. San Diego State)</span><br /><br />This hasn't been a typical Bruce Pearl year at Tennessee. The Vols were up and down all year long. They had off the court problems and had to dismiss their best player, Tyler Smith. They had nights where they looked unbeatable (knocking off Kansas <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> Kentucky at home), and then nights where they looked absolutely dreadful (getting blasted by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Pac</span>-10 also-ran <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">USC</span>). That being said, I've still seen Pearl do some incredible things come money time, especially during his years at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">UW</span>-Milwaukee. Rocky Top in a squeaker.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Xavier </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Minnesota)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKD_1re_O8po4RZC_hNsWaT0ug6057E5nT01ug2VlyuMnBbI07fmlbxMgrlj2VEcVnCq06BjnDQcxjQIV_ZNZOnZrVMZ2mpAih9QsqUzDKvd6JhJp39jBJr2PQt7Af58fLqem1zlXdIo/s1600-h/20090214_Fordham_001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKD_1re_O8po4RZC_hNsWaT0ug6057E5nT01ug2VlyuMnBbI07fmlbxMgrlj2VEcVnCq06BjnDQcxjQIV_ZNZOnZrVMZ2mpAih9QsqUzDKvd6JhJp39jBJr2PQt7Af58fLqem1zlXdIo/s320/20090214_Fordham_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449458802595284130" border="0" /></a>The Mr. Basketball award in Michigan was won by little Brad Redford in 2008. He decided to take his lethal three-point shot to Xavier. But after a decent freshman year and a solid start to this campaign, he has seen his playing time almost evaporate completely down the stretch. He's shot the long ball at well over 40% in both years, but somehow, he hasn't been able to get consistent time for the Musketeers. It makes you wonder how a guy like John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Beilein</span> that craves outside shooters couldn't convince Redford to stay in-state and jack up countless treys wearing the Maize and Blue for the next four years. You're telling me Redford wouldn't be infinitely more effective than a guy like Laval Lucas-Perry, or even Stu "I make shots once a month" Douglass? Oh well, might end up being a lose-lose for both parties.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Marquette</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Washington)<br /></span><br />Not too high on the Golden Eagles this year, but that being said, I think the winner of this game knocks off 3rd-seeded New Mexico in round two. I just think Washington comes in as the hotter team here, and also, I'm not comfortable backing a head coach named "Buzz."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Notre</span> Dame</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Old Dominion)</span><br /><br />It's the Luke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Harangody</span> show!! Have you ever been more confused at a particular player's dominance? You watch this guy for 10 minutes; he's rumbling awkwardly down the court, he's flicking up mid-range <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Js</span> that make Shawn Marion's delivery look smooth, and he appears to be carrying about an extra 20 or 25 in the tummy region. But <span style="font-style: italic;">somehow</span>, the guy produces night in and night out, often pumping in more than 30 points. I'm just not sure <span style="font-style: italic;">how</span>. I think March might turn into the "Month of '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Gody</span>." Either that, or there is the distinct possibility that I've gone completely out of my mind. I'll take the former on that one.<br /><br /><br />See ya tomorrow for the Madness Preview finale, including Final Four and championship game predictions.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop a bracket-related thought of your own, or float me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-80179798227967298502010-03-16T00:51:00.004-04:002010-03-16T02:25:34.808-04:00HSL Big Dance Breakdown, Part Two: The Cinderellas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIID5EaqjszTi0wTleXJun-6rFZNcKzWkzv-GFcbGAnrPA7XBO4bzUPcJrSc3RwFXEDZFcLukLxrDMQqYJ2wWW02NVa_SWG2kdKY6X8eOQC4CkVjYGXehhn3rZxvpJye0q8y5TIhMZYs/s1600-h/6a00d8341cf11753ef00e54f1dd3e98834-800wi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIID5EaqjszTi0wTleXJun-6rFZNcKzWkzv-GFcbGAnrPA7XBO4bzUPcJrSc3RwFXEDZFcLukLxrDMQqYJ2wWW02NVa_SWG2kdKY6X8eOQC4CkVjYGXehhn3rZxvpJye0q8y5TIhMZYs/s400/6a00d8341cf11753ef00e54f1dd3e98834-800wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449106226175362066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />14: A pesky group of 14s, here. Look out...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >Ohio</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Georgetown)</span><br /><br />Big Ten followers might remember the name Armon Bassett, a 6'2" guard that played two years at Indiana before jumping ship during the Kelvin Sampson fiasco. After being a pretty good complimentary piece during his time in Bloomington, Bassett has now emerged as Mr. Everything for this Bobcats squad. In their four MAC tournament games, Bassett played 165 of a possible 170 minutes, averaged 29 a night, and got to the line almost <span style="font-weight: bold;">15 times per game</span>. Ohio will have their hands full with the streaking Hoyas in this spot, but if Bassett continues to scorch the nets and get to the line like Wilt Chamberlain, anything's possible.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Oakland </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Pittsburgh)</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" > </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtZFG7F_gr2iAQCn31InZABxFAxobrzqrFfW7RbVYMvBgq_2bvpGaPX_Gtss6BYC9joi0Y_Qx8GH7DTWhMTAyejnNqFvGKTS7f3ggY3Ss3p108ITPXixExK3775LXxLtdqsdQroBdx9Q/s1600-h/4658703.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtZFG7F_gr2iAQCn31InZABxFAxobrzqrFfW7RbVYMvBgq_2bvpGaPX_Gtss6BYC9joi0Y_Qx8GH7DTWhMTAyejnNqFvGKTS7f3ggY3Ss3p108ITPXixExK3775LXxLtdqsdQroBdx9Q/s320/4658703.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448952086927290578" border="0" /></a>While Pitt is always a very physical team that will hound you on the defensive end, this is not a terrible draw for Greg Kampe's Golden Grizzlies. They get to play in Milwaukee, which is only a stone's throw from Detroit (okay, about a six-hour drive, but not too bad). And OU's Keith Benson, the Summit League Player of the Year, will be the biggest and baddest guy on the court for either team. Pitt doesn't throw a ton of size at you, and if Benson stays out of foul trouble, he might be able to turn the painted area into his own personal domain on Friday afternoon. Two other players to keep an eye on: Derrick Nelson, a 9th-year Senior forward that exploded for 36 in the conference championship game; and Blake Cushingberry, Oakland's supersized shooting guard. He stands just 6-foot-3, but I'd say he carries at least a solid deuce-seventy in that frame. Well done, sir.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Montana </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. New Mexico)</span><br /><br />Wouldn't be the worst spot to pick an upset. Anthony Johnson for Montana is an unstoppable force on the offensive end, going off for 42 in the Big Sky title game. And doesn't it just seem a little bit strange to see <span style="font-style: italic;">New Mexico</span> as a <span style="font-weight: bold;">3-seed</span>? Something doesn't feel right here.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Sam Houston State</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Baylor)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDckPNi4hdTpnnHbGV30hgVYrC5T70-Z7IXaONlzPBqAHl5gZLSCEHpDx4bOkYu2RVJowh8z7DGx71AE-VsKjYnn215uTGQRtw3DteP8Nrqe3Mnq-jVnP_I2YBEWtPZ4Y0mNb4DfMO75k/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDckPNi4hdTpnnHbGV30hgVYrC5T70-Z7IXaONlzPBqAHl5gZLSCEHpDx4bOkYu2RVJowh8z7DGx71AE-VsKjYnn215uTGQRtw3DteP8Nrqe3Mnq-jVnP_I2YBEWtPZ4Y0mNb4DfMO75k/s320/01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448950127849459682" border="0" /></a>There's some bad karma at play with this club. First of all, their nickname: the Bearkats. You read that correctly. Bearkat, with a <span style="font-weight: bold;">K</span>. I know Sam Houston State is not exactly the Harvard of the South, but you figure they could have at least brought in some knowledgeable middle-schoolers to aid with this spelling. And in an even worse slice of karma, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sam Houston</span>, the fun-loving wrestler from the mid to late 80's, is now serving a ten-year prison sentence for multiple DUI arrests. And right before that, his house was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. But yeah, <span style="font-style: italic;">besides all that</span>, I really like their chances against Baylor. Phhhhhh.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">13: We're the 13-seeds. And we're about to break your heart.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Houston</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Maryland)</span><br /><br />This contest will feature one of the best individual matchups of the opening round with Houston's Aubrey Coleman facing off against Maryland's Greivis Vasquez. Both are senior guards that most definitely do not require an invitation to shoot. Coleman led the nation in scoring with 26 a game, while Vasquez took home Player of the Year honors in the ACC. The winner of this one will most likely find Michigan State waiting in round two.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Murray State </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Vanderbilt)</span><br /><br />A unique team. <span style="font-style: italic;">Six players</span> average between 9.5 and 10.6 PPG. Their tournament MVP was a freshman...that comes <span style="font-style: italic;">off the bench</span>. The Racers also racked up a highly impressive 30-4 mark on the year, although it did come against a cupcake schedule that included back-to-back matchups in late December against a Deering High squad led by Anthony Anderson and Coach Dick Butkus. And the best they could do was split.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Wofford</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Wisconsin)</span><br /><br />The kids from Wofford are making the school's first ever trip to the Big Dance, and history tells us it might be a very short visit. See, earlier this year, Wofford got wasted at Illinois by 14. And in Illinois' regular season finale, Wisconsin trampled <span style="font-style: italic;">them</span> by 15. Combine those two results, and we discover that Wisconsin is 29 points better than Wofford. Simple math.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Siena</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Purdue)</span><br /><br />Dear CBS,<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Please do not stick us with regional coverage of this game. Really. We understand it is a Big Ten team, and that we should be interested. But we're not. Please show us something else. We thank you for your expected cooperation in this matter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Signed, The Entire State of Michigan</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">12: Mister Twelve has won 5 of the last 8 meetings with his annual rival, Dr. Five-Seed.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >New Mexico State</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Michigan State)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxlJ6oACLZH5_QQVgx47JYxd-AvcEWI2TPub7WARUnBov5SCMsMF8_ckK-vYH4PjnsLJaFOxkLfDiYEJo1c5A0J9HBZ2IxpvylZM5elYXoM028a5breOvnw_Jb5EVbNs6lipBe6lIwzE/s1600-h/340x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxlJ6oACLZH5_QQVgx47JYxd-AvcEWI2TPub7WARUnBov5SCMsMF8_ckK-vYH4PjnsLJaFOxkLfDiYEJo1c5A0J9HBZ2IxpvylZM5elYXoM028a5breOvnw_Jb5EVbNs6lipBe6lIwzE/s320/340x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448990517405220786" border="0" /></a>The surprise WAC tournament champion enters their matchup with Michigan State riding a wave of momentum, but the buck will stop here. The Aggies rely on their duo of high-scoring guards, Jahmar Young (right) and Jonathan Gibson. But this team is not overly physical and lacks consistent effort on the defensive end; not a great recipe for success heading into a bullfight with Tom Izzo and Co. A quick glance at New Mexico State's non-conference schedule reveals some pretty significant cracks in their armor. They played on the road against Saint Mary's and UCLA, and dropped both games by identical <span style="font-weight: bold;">100 to 68</span> scores. They played archrival New Mexico twice and lost each time by double digits. They took on fellow tournament qualifier UTEP <span style="font-style: italic;">at home</span>, and got rolled by 21. When this team steps up in competition, it doesn't generally turn out very well. And it won't here, either.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >UTEP </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Butler)</span><br /><br />An interesting battle between two clubs that absolutely dominated their respective leagues during the regular season. UTEP went 15-1 in Conference USA, while Butler did them one better in their spotless 18-0 jaunt through the Horizon. It should be a competitive game, but Butler just plays too smart and is too experienced to get knocked off this early in the proceedings.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Cornell</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Temple)<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgO1yz8vN9dYHaoiZ-Mf75SlMetvv1981ZiXNYyPAPx-Fv-SgNqpnmQaFSd99ej6_lsZrb3W8dTF4INj4FfeFrgOQWpjwWAVAY5u3tcVYK_XmbHFOoim2RmCdqRKHopen8ORFriMkcOo/s1600-h/cornell.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgO1yz8vN9dYHaoiZ-Mf75SlMetvv1981ZiXNYyPAPx-Fv-SgNqpnmQaFSd99ej6_lsZrb3W8dTF4INj4FfeFrgOQWpjwWAVAY5u3tcVYK_XmbHFOoim2RmCdqRKHopen8ORFriMkcOo/s320/cornell.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448989765360804514" border="0" /></a>I know this is the "<span style="font-style: italic;">hot</span>" upset pick, and everybody and their brother are jumping on the Big Red bandwagon, and that this is typically the death-knell for an upset-minded team, but I say screw it: make room for one more guy on the Cornell train. These guys absolutely throttled the competition in the Ivy League, and lost by just five points in Lawrence against the Jayhawks. Ryan Wittman (son of Randy) is one of the best shooters in the country, and 7-footer Jeff Foote is a present-day Jon Koncak. Their opponent, Temple, makes the game extremely ugly and keeps the score low, but look for the experienced crew from Ithaca to advance into the round of 32.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Utah State</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Texas A & M)</span><br /><br />Hey, it's the <span style="font-style: italic;">Aggies</span> versus the <span style="font-style: italic;">Aggies</span>. Cue lame play-by-play guy right before tipoff..."Well Jim, we should be in for a good one today, and I might be goin' out on a limb here, but I think the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aggies</span> are gonna take this one!!" Bup, bup, bup...that's hilarious, dude. You here all week??<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11: Two of the 6 vs. 11 matchups last year were decided by <span style="font-style: italic;">one point</span>.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" >San Diego State</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (vs. Tennessee)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-4QtIcYILoiZ_SGxdLjOaQlm6NN9oHFsJdrBKlYQBHLo1Al8UAzOsEbtwWwbq_-AIeXrsEuhLsVUzEL73BbKFPC8hfjBgbe3tJPuA33HiLWk-B9XtuK2QW5ZIdDWPmI4SkG1Ibt85yM/s1600-h/ncb_a_fisher_400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-4QtIcYILoiZ_SGxdLjOaQlm6NN9oHFsJdrBKlYQBHLo1Al8UAzOsEbtwWwbq_-AIeXrsEuhLsVUzEL73BbKFPC8hfjBgbe3tJPuA33HiLWk-B9XtuK2QW5ZIdDWPmI4SkG1Ibt85yM/s320/ncb_a_fisher_400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449096891522765330" border="0" /></a>In both 1992 and 1993, Steve Fisher took his Fab Fivers and advanced all the way to the National Championship game. The following year, Chris Webber jumped ship, but Fisher still led the Wolverines to the Elite Eight. That's 13 NCAA victories in a three year span. It's been <span style="font-weight: bold;">sixteen years</span> since, and Fisher is <span style="font-style: italic;">yet</span> to win another game in the tournament. But as Nicolas Cage said of his beloved Nets in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Family Man</span>, "The Nets? Are you kidding? <span style="font-weight: bold;">They suck</span>. But they're due. <span style="font-style: italic;">They're certainly due</span>..."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Minnesota </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Xavier)</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span><br /><br />Simple postseason rule for 2010: if you <span style="font-weight: bold;">drop two games to Michigan</span> during the year, and one of those losses is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">28-point thrashing</span> at near-dormant Crisler Arena, then you are not going <span style="font-style: italic;">anywhere</span> in the NCAA Tournament. As Kevin Bacon coldly stated in <span style="font-style: italic;">A Few Good Men</span>, "These are the facts; and they are indisputable."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Washington </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Marquette)</span><br /><br />This game has first-round classic written all over it. The Huskies are led by a lightning-quick guard named Isaiah Thomas. But unlike the original Zeke, this one is left handed, stands just 5-foot-9, and basically shoots the ball every time he touches it. U-Dub by 1 in a mini-upset.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Old Dominion </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(vs. Notre Dame)</span><br /><br />One of those quirky 12:25 starts on Thursday afternoon where the arena is half-empty, the players are still waking up, and midway through the first half, the score is 11-10 with both teams combining for a zillion turnovers. First team to 35 wins this one.<br /><br /><br />Two more days till the Madness officially commences.<br /><br />See ya tomorrow for Part Three.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop a bracket-related thought of your own, or float me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-91038763529277839252010-03-15T01:37:00.006-04:002010-03-15T12:43:05.039-04:00HSL Big Dance Breakdown, Part One: The Little Guys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LyURiixRyIe8Le-Ha2Jto9oTdEUR7nDKbVtWSSFZPpy_V0wCusinM_zweYo-auUlf54vKNpH_njVZSJrt3yLC0B2nXuYv4a0eRJM2UczIeMWIvifPVLsnSizttmoAFlBq_XW11BnJcI/s1600-h/n243044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LyURiixRyIe8Le-Ha2Jto9oTdEUR7nDKbVtWSSFZPpy_V0wCusinM_zweYo-auUlf54vKNpH_njVZSJrt3yLC0B2nXuYv4a0eRJM2UczIeMWIvifPVLsnSizttmoAFlBq_XW11BnJcI/s400/n243044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448736245232364178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">16: A team with this seed has NEVER won a game in the tourney...and probably never will.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Lehigh</span> (vs. Kansas)<br /><br />The Mountain Hawks lost a game this year to a horrendous Columbia squad from the Ivy League, and also dropped one to Navy, who I'd always thought shut down their basketball program when David Robinson graduated. I'm pretty sure Kansas could send out a starting five consisting of all walk-ons with a few male cheerleaders providing support off the bench, and they'd still roll over the boys from Lehigh by half a hundo.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Vermont </span>(vs. Syracuse)<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span><br /><br />Pulled a major upset over Syracuse a few years ago on the back of sharpshooter T.J. Sorrentine, but the odds of a repeat result in this one are somewhere between slim and none. And slim just walked out the door. And got run over by a double-decker bus. And got dragged for a few miles after that. In other words, it ain't happenin' for the Catamounts. And no, I do not know what a Catamount is. And I kinda hope I never find out.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">East Tennessee State </span>(vs. Kentucky)<br /><br />They qualified for The Dance by winning the Atlantic Sun, a conference occupied by a bunch of schools with fictional names that make you genuinely wonder if any of these "teams" actually exist. Seriously, have you ever heard of "Campbell?" How about "Kennesaw State?" And most ridiculous of all, there is "Florida Gulf Coast" and something called "USC Upstate," two places <span style="font-style: italic;"></span> that sound much more like maximum-security prisons than respected academic institutions. Bizarre conference.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Play-In Game: Arkansas Pine Bluff or Winthrop</span> (vs. Duke)<br /><br />Ahh yes, the annual Tuesday night tournament play-in game. This easily qualifies on the HSL's list of "Most Depressing Games to Watch During the Year in Any Sport." Also on that list, in no particular order: the Pro Bowl, Sunday afternoon regular season Raptors telecasts on CBC, any college hockey game, more than one half inning of Spring Training baseball, and finally, the World Strongman Championships (when you realize after a couple events that this particular show is one that you have already seen before...and not just once).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">15: One of these teams will generally get a little frisky every six or seven years. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">UC Santa Barbara</span> (vs. Ohio State) <br /><br />If the Gauchos are to have any chance of taking out heavily favored Ohio State, they will need a superhuman effort from their star two-guard Orlando Johnson, Player of the Year in the Big West Conference. But weird as it sounds, I don't think he is capable. Somehow, Johnson was able to <span style="font-style: italic;">average</span> 18 points a game this season without ever scoring more than 28 in any one contest (and <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> scoring below 10). Normally, if you average close to 20 a game, there are some dynamic performances (35-40 pts) mixed in with some clunkers (single digit games) and that's that. But Santa Barbara's Johnson hums to a different tune. That might be all well and good playing against mooks at Long Beach State and Cal Poly, but if the O-Dog has visions of dancing into the second round, he better hit that 30-point mark on Friday night.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">North Texas</span> (vs. Kansas State)<br /><br />The team with the coolest nickname in the tournament. The North Texas <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mean Green</span>. Coooool, right??? And don't sleep on these fellas, either. They haven't lost since January and they are playing 2nd-seeded Kansas State, a school that has always been more at home on the gridiron than the hardwood.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Morgan State</span> (vs. West Virginia)<br /><br />Two years ago, the Bears drew Virginia Tech in the opening round of the NIT and got housed by <span style="font-style: italic;">32</span>. Last year, they made it to the big tournament, met Oklahoma, but this time only got smoked by <span style="font-style: italic;">28</span>. At this rate, in about seven years, Morgan State will officially emerge as a force to be reckoned with. Until then, it still might be a little hard to watch.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Robert Morris</span> (vs. Villanova)<br /><br />Seeing this school in the tournament just makes me miss my former "Favorite school named after a random guy nobody has ever heard of," <span style="font-style: italic;">Morris Brown College</span>. The 'Mo Brown' academy was always a crowd-pleaser until they encountered some financial troubles in the early part of the decade, causing the once-storied athletic department to go belly-up. I always got a kick out of seeing the school on TV because I just assumed it was named for the Morris Brown that lived in my neighborhood. "Wow!" I thought, "Mo Brown is such a legend that he got his own <span style="font-weight: bold;">school</span> named after him!!" But I come to find out years later that the college in question was in fact a historically black school. The Morris Brown we knew was <span style="font-style: italic;">straight vanilla</span>. It was a disappointing revelation, but all good things have to come to an end at some point. Just like this article.<br /><br />See ya tomorrow for Part II.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop a thought on the 15-16 seeds here, or float me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com<br /></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-70164245124611631762010-03-11T00:37:00.024-05:002011-03-23T04:38:26.172-04:00On Guard! The 11 Dribblers, Passers, and Shooters to Keep an Eye On During the Big Ten Tournament<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hWCQuanGQA37zFhjwZkSbd3e1UdQ9DjRYi-OVz1DhfL1yS-6AsE0FG3KnLYJH-ktJGMwJ_N5oSFqGzO3v7UNsWPGyLVNKGOmHyX0y_lIwJ6Fjdbu7mcokiiuu98mUkCoyqsiCqdiRZU/s1600-h/basketball-ball-handling_phixr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hWCQuanGQA37zFhjwZkSbd3e1UdQ9DjRYi-OVz1DhfL1yS-6AsE0FG3KnLYJH-ktJGMwJ_N5oSFqGzO3v7UNsWPGyLVNKGOmHyX0y_lIwJ6Fjdbu7mcokiiuu98mUkCoyqsiCqdiRZU/s400/basketball-ball-handling_phixr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447305091229523330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />1. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Durrell</span> Summers</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Michigan State</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6JpVVd9cKXXkaadauTkfhifwBoVKFPfllvmERfusAaEx0gaOMoxRSZovc2QAcDl8i0hSTpnG3SSD9w-QvKzjSa7L4nHEr8aUlSVG_8f8xb9yHip6Nj00-NF2SNW7IDeNbsoWnt204D8/s1600-h/durrell-summers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6JpVVd9cKXXkaadauTkfhifwBoVKFPfllvmERfusAaEx0gaOMoxRSZovc2QAcDl8i0hSTpnG3SSD9w-QvKzjSa7L4nHEr8aUlSVG_8f8xb9yHip6Nj00-NF2SNW7IDeNbsoWnt204D8/s320/durrell-summers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447304943593486322" border="0" /></a>With Chris Allen's status in jeopardy, the pressure is on the multi-talented Summers to step up and assert himself on the offensive end. Throughout the year, it has kind of been his M.O. to play terrific ball against the weaker teams and struggle mightily against the good ones. He averaged over 20 points per game against Northwestern, while contributing a paltry 5 per night against Purdue. His effort will need to be much more consistent in order for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sparty</span> to make an extended run in this tourney, and then the big one next week.<br /><br />(Weird Stat: In Summers' freshman season, he knocked down 50% of his shots from long range. In his sophomore year, with many more attempts, his percentage went down, but still checked in at a very respectable 38.5%. This year, when Summers was <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed</span> to be flourishing and putting it all together, his stroke often deserted him, with his 3-point accuracy dwindling to 29.8%. <span style="font-style: italic;">Now</span> would be a good time to start finding your stroke, sir.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">2. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Michael "Juice" Thompson</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Northwestern</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bXEqjuZ3JpN5p0dLjhs59sddBg4QU9WrE-5yWZIH-Cwe8k2smMQj-K0IeNWYy0Of_VlKt4Mzzs1PDTl13rgc_0pzANWhejNImBFZWGkVijn54hizp7iO9AVuJ5_yu13I2dF44RgTy_g/s1600-h/3472261831.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bXEqjuZ3JpN5p0dLjhs59sddBg4QU9WrE-5yWZIH-Cwe8k2smMQj-K0IeNWYy0Of_VlKt4Mzzs1PDTl13rgc_0pzANWhejNImBFZWGkVijn54hizp7iO9AVuJ5_yu13I2dF44RgTy_g/s320/3472261831.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447395994870714386" border="0" /></a>First off, isn't it always more fun when there is an athlete named "Juice" involved in the proceedings? Why even bother with the "Michael"?? If we have an option to call you <span style="font-style: italic;">Juice</span>, we are taking it...no questions asked. And in addition to this 5'10" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">guard's</span> sweet alias, he's also got a little game to go with it. He runs the point for the Wildcats, and is often the one taking and making big shots down the stretch. It's been a career year for the Juicer. However, with this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">newfound</span> confidence, our friend has also managed to lose any semblance of a conscience when it comes to shot selection. In their season-ending heart breaker at Indiana, Thompson jacked up an eye-popping <span style="font-style: italic;">16 shots from beyond the arc</span>. Just two games prior, in a loss to Penn State, he hoisted another <span style="font-style: italic;">11 threes</span>. I'm not saying these shots are necessarily ill-advised (he's over 40% for his career), but generally you would like for your point guard to be doing a little more distributing and a little less launching. But hey, when your name is "Juice," you can pretty much do whatever the hell you want. That's just a fact of life...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">3. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Jeff Jordan</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Illinois</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fENzZxHyz4ba8MGP3eKR00Ly3YmBp510PecDkAZCJjA5T_Ugqqcn-RQ-MLc8aeothr-E2JQrIMOdAyzuztmA9at3hyphenhyphendEyfQXcJzUb62BZqbHTRJY7JWmBJ6U8xrOqewpVoGnxTFXJkE/s1600-h/jeffrey-jordan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fENzZxHyz4ba8MGP3eKR00Ly3YmBp510PecDkAZCJjA5T_Ugqqcn-RQ-MLc8aeothr-E2JQrIMOdAyzuztmA9at3hyphenhyphendEyfQXcJzUb62BZqbHTRJY7JWmBJ6U8xrOqewpVoGnxTFXJkE/s320/jeffrey-jordan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447304573669901106" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">C'mon</span>, just tell us the truth already, Jeff. You're not <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> Michael Jordan's son, are you? I mean, we've all seen you play, and it just doesn't seem <span style="font-weight: bold;">possible</span>.<br /><br />Your dad was the <span style="font-style: italic;">greatest of all time</span>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Y</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ou</span></span> have made <span style="font-weight: bold;">one basket</span> in your last <span style="font-weight: bold;">seven games</span>.<br /><br />Your dad won six NBA championships, and was named MVP in every single one.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You</span> are a 55.8% free throw shooter for your career.<br /><br />Your dad was an NCAA tournament legend, knocking down the game-winner for North Carolina to take the 1982 title.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You</span> consider it a minor miracle if you are simply able to play more than 10 minutes in a game without committing a costly turnover or embarrassing your family.<br />(Most likely, both of these things will happen.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">4. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Blake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hoffarber</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Minnesota</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br />Midway through the conference season, the sharpshooter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hoffarber</span> was absolutely killing it and providing the Gophers with a reliable long-range threat on a nightly basis. He poured in a season-high 27 in a home thrashing over Ohio State. But in the latter part of the season, the lefty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hoffarber</span> has been a complete non-factor. He's gone five straight games without registering in double figures (he averages close to 11/game), and his playing time has been reduced in the process. For Tubby Smith's crew to have any shot of dancing come tourney time, they will need a good showing this weekend, and that means getting their funny-named sniper back in business.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">5. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Jeremiah Rivers</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Indiana</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqZmgOx19tGSi416lI_XhDO7fQH88thh79_iFhPFEBPDZPiP_G7c5mBC2b_ppHR8LhfoNUaJh-IMT96tJrvLG8wbGT121Vb984LPbtw0jjBoa9NvHMtEt9ddJcIlKvC32HLNSkxLpGfM/s1600-h/show.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqZmgOx19tGSi416lI_XhDO7fQH88thh79_iFhPFEBPDZPiP_G7c5mBC2b_ppHR8LhfoNUaJh-IMT96tJrvLG8wbGT121Vb984LPbtw0jjBoa9NvHMtEt9ddJcIlKvC32HLNSkxLpGfM/s320/show.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447303074569284098" border="0" /></a>Another former NBA player's son (Doc Rivers) that basically manages to disappoint his father every time he steps foot on the floor. Jeremiah has been playing in college for approximately seven years (his first six were at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">G'town</span>) and somehow, he is still just a junior. In his spare time, he likes to hang out with friends, take long walks on the beach, and turn the ball over as much as humanly possible. For a guy who isn't much of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">playmaker</span> to begin with, there is <span style="font-style: italic;">no excuse</span> for him to turn the rock over as much as he does. In his time at Georgetown, he collected 65 assists while committing <span style="font-style: italic;">64 turnovers</span>. That's not the ratio you're <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">lookin</span>' for in a guard. This year, Jeremiah decided to step it up a notch. In the Hoosiers' first 8 games of the year, he notched at least 3 turnovers in <span style="font-style: italic;">every single one</span>. In fact, Rivers appeared in all 30 games for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">IU</span> this year, and defying the odds, was able to commit a turnover in <span style="font-weight: bold;">all 30</span>. What a (sick) streak!!<br /><br />(Hey, at least the kid can shoot, right?? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ummm</span>. Try this on for size. Rivers is sub-40% from the field, sub-60 from the stripe, and a sparkling zero-for-five from downtown. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Yama</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Hama</span>, it's Fright Night in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Bloomington</span>!!)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />6. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Trevon</span> Hughes</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Wisconsin</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvedjaNQrQHydIDUbCtSuL-PVWLM0moADOujf4RzzitvVrOIoW9XnmYpJSSlzY5Cv7shrH-NJZGy_G5jS7bNmssRCIXiW8LDu2pRO0vyPYUcdPL6ucOvdoZfonuE2SHA5iFMIfY2slOA/s1600-h/resized_b7df2142_51fd_4a79_b5b8_75163876d9da.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvedjaNQrQHydIDUbCtSuL-PVWLM0moADOujf4RzzitvVrOIoW9XnmYpJSSlzY5Cv7shrH-NJZGy_G5jS7bNmssRCIXiW8LDu2pRO0vyPYUcdPL6ucOvdoZfonuE2SHA5iFMIfY2slOA/s320/resized_b7df2142_51fd_4a79_b5b8_75163876d9da.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447396624843216706" border="0" /></a>The 6-footer from Queens has improved in each of his four seasons in Madison, and now looks to lead the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">smokin</span>'-hot Badgers to their second tournament championship in the last three years. In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Wiscy's</span> trio of wins to finish off the season, they trounced Indiana by 32, Iowa by 27, and Illinois (in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Champaign</span>) by 15, due in no small part to the vast contributions of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Trevon</span> Hughes. When this guy and Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Bohannon</span> are both hitting shots, Bo Ryan's club becomes almost unbeatable. Even if you hate the Badgers (as many Spartan and Wolverine fans do), you have to respect any player that plays with as much passion as Hughes. In their finale against Illinois, despite being saddled with foul trouble all day long, the little guy scored 14 points and hauled down <span style="font-weight: bold;">11 rebounds</span> in just 22 minutes of play. Eleven boards in 22 minutes...for a 6-foot guard?? I haven't seen a stat line like that since 1985 when feisty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Scotty</span> Howard was "wolfing out" for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Beacontown</span> High Beavers. Moving on...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">7. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Talor</span> Battle</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Penn State</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br />Talk about a lack of a supporting cast. Battle spent the majority of the year torching opposing defenses while his teammates looked on and...well, yea, they pretty much just <span style="font-style: italic;">looked on</span>. Even with some spirited efforts down the stretch, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Nittany</span> Lions still won just 3 of 18 conference games. Battle is really the only guy worth mentioning on this squad, and it makes me miss the days when the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Nittanys</span> were semi-relevant in the hoops world with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Crispin</span> brothers bombing away from 35 feet with regularity. I know those guys weren't twins, but they sure seemed like it. Chances are, if you can correctly identify which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Crispin</span> is which (Jon or Joe) just by looking at their faces, you are either<br />A) the boys' mother, or<br />B) someone that had a bit of a gambling problem from 1999-2001.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">8. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Chris Kramer</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Purdue</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJClzZt8kMUkn984_aqMohnEwLsPxE65OBpNSXRRsz_fk4NeCLpOscu0uCYYyEdVwC0IvJ3EYuONMLgG45MNSglBl9ypCe7R1S1D8sK2BXZPgUBjoELhtqgTCHrdNIxdcgSP9XTHQ7I6s/s1600-h/Chris_Kramer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJClzZt8kMUkn984_aqMohnEwLsPxE65OBpNSXRRsz_fk4NeCLpOscu0uCYYyEdVwC0IvJ3EYuONMLgG45MNSglBl9ypCe7R1S1D8sK2BXZPgUBjoELhtqgTCHrdNIxdcgSP9XTHQ7I6s/s320/Chris_Kramer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447304200286890274" border="0" /></a>I can't stand this guy. Hate his incessant flopping (yeah, I said it). Hate his broken jump shot (28% from 3). Hate the way every single announcer feels the need to laud this guy's <span style="font-style: italic;">effort</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">toughness</span> as if he is the first basketball player ever to exhibit any passion or energy during a game. My brother Sam loves the guy, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Kramer is like a mini college version of Anderson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Varejão</span>. That's fun to root for?? Why don't you just go ahead and cheer for the Yankees, the Celtics, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">unbuttered</span> popcorn while you're at it?<br /><br />(Prediction: Purdue will not get to the final of this tournament. Assuming they get by Juice or Jeremiah in Round 2, I see the Boilers bowing out to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Sparty</span> quietly in the semis. Robbie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Hummel</span> just meant too much to this team. His loss cannot be underestimated.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">9. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Diebler</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Ohio State</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br />Everyone remembers that Florida team from a few years ago that cruised to back-to-back championships under William Donovan. They had future <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">NBA'ers</span> like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Joakim</span> Noah, Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Horford</span>, and Corey Brewer. But more often than not, it was little Lee Humphrey taking his position outside the arc and hitting big shot after big shot to keep his team advancing in the bracket. He wasn't a superstar and he never got a ton of headlines, but his role was critical, and they likely don't win either championship without him. Well, if Ohio State plans on reaching that same apex of the college basketball world, they will need a similar performance from <span style="font-style: italic;">their</span> Lee Humphrey...Mr. Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Diebler</span>. The Buckeye guard runs hot and cold, though. In the final game of the season, he banged home 7 triples in 14 tries. But in the two contests prior, he had connected on just 3 of 17 from long range. This team has all the components. Evan Turner, the do-it-all superstar. William Buford and David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Lighty</span>, the supporting actors. And appropriately-named Dallas <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Lauderdale</span> holding down the fort inside. But it might be the streaky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Diebler</span> that decides just how far this team can go.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">10. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Darius Morris</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Michigan</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fwew0D8NiNu8Jg7UgC7lV2EaHOxlRKz4wYUwExGmrC4mGZk9XUvXXQ3QgZsYiWClGLwHGOn9CSvv3IChwjHZO2OrZNFdd8Ci6Snt1MWyTOFCJUHU31mIuD4p8_qbQXYgtfWn_d4GEXs/s1600-h/sjw.BKC_.ArkansasPineBluff.12-05-09.109.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fwew0D8NiNu8Jg7UgC7lV2EaHOxlRKz4wYUwExGmrC4mGZk9XUvXXQ3QgZsYiWClGLwHGOn9CSvv3IChwjHZO2OrZNFdd8Ci6Snt1MWyTOFCJUHU31mIuD4p8_qbQXYgtfWn_d4GEXs/s320/sjw.BKC_.ArkansasPineBluff.12-05-09.109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447303871891557314" border="0" /></a>John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Beilein</span> has taken the reigns off Morris down the stretch, pushing the freshman point <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">guard's</span> minutes into the 30s and letting him dictate the tempo of the game. It hasn't exactly translated into W's in the standings, but this team is so lacking in athleticism from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">backcourt</span> that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Beilein</span> has had no other choice but to throw the kid into the fire. Morris still has many obvious holes in his game (7 for 37 from downtown...yikes), but with the yearlong struggles of guys like Stu Douglass and Laval Lucas-Perry, it only makes sense to let Morris run the team, make the occasional highlight play in the open court, and go on generally looking like the black version of former Tigers hurler Don <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Mossi</span>. (Look him up if you have to...these guys were definitely born with the same set of alien-ears.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">11. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Devan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Bawinkel</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Iowa</span><span style="font-size:130%;">)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v0aakLg54sogIxNzU-Ep0CNnq328VJHHLmez9WtpxhCAZFqzRx2RdXdVFvVZinQVSIXZsklgeXRMmvqZrM8fC78lMlLfeyQzhatT84TQwJhwop1P83BswRYoFfVu-mVE5n1IE2OZcSE/s1600-h/_40530937_3_point_area.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v0aakLg54sogIxNzU-Ep0CNnq328VJHHLmez9WtpxhCAZFqzRx2RdXdVFvVZinQVSIXZsklgeXRMmvqZrM8fC78lMlLfeyQzhatT84TQwJhwop1P83BswRYoFfVu-mVE5n1IE2OZcSE/s320/_40530937_3_point_area.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447303453839804754" border="0" /></a>A hero to gunners everywhere that fear the paint and adore the long line.<br /><br />83 Shots Attempted this Season.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Every single one</span> taken from beyond the arc.<br /><br />One more two-less game and history will be made.<br /><br />I can't wait...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop a comment on Summers, Juice, or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Bawinkel</span>...or reach me by E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-26143212120566706252010-03-08T02:04:00.008-05:002010-03-08T09:42:34.696-05:00The Best Mom in the NBA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFLu7GpmIdZoOipclGJeH5WuyhGiaoD2VwC81un7u8oJrkPbH349IFfdziFRlOxQcTtS3oM15APthvZiN8_8lG4hGOHKt0TuJodwjVLhMKNtFYWa76kSktam8JBW4dNyKpc4rqjImiqo/s1600-h/preg+mill+eat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFLu7GpmIdZoOipclGJeH5WuyhGiaoD2VwC81un7u8oJrkPbH349IFfdziFRlOxQcTtS3oM15APthvZiN8_8lG4hGOHKt0TuJodwjVLhMKNtFYWa76kSktam8JBW4dNyKpc4rqjImiqo/s400/preg+mill+eat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446157854937556290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Earlier this season, the Pistons paid a visit to D.C. to take on the Washington Wizards. During that game, a shocking discovery came to light, and frankly, I haven't been the same since. Let's take a look back on that unforgettable night...<br /><br /></span>The Pistons and Wizards were getting set to tip-off. The players took the floor, the referees got in position, and the coaches took their seats. Everything seemed perfectly fine and normal...then I saw <i>it</i>.<br /><br /><i>It</i> was an uncomfortable sight to see.<br /><br />No, scratch that...<i>it</i> was a startling, nightmare-inducing sight to see.<br /><br />No, no, no, scratch that, too...it was the single worst thing I had ever seen in my life.<br /><br />The <i>it</i> I refer to is none other than the starting shooting guard for the Washington Wizards on this night, Mike Miller. I don't know how else to say this, so I'll just come right out with it.<br /><br />He...looked...<i style="font-weight: bold;">pregnant</i>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyfudPF1EmoVYIRFiB9cO6W8ovzOoGlk0B9AGZ4MP8dZauEuvpwvoecqeVtlrBb_xmfiQjR2SUzVM3YdbX1b7uG532_li-8LjroKok5DFijgRKZ6W2My29Xc0ViXhyphenhyphenBHZBO2v-mwX7uo/s1600-h/preg+mill+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyfudPF1EmoVYIRFiB9cO6W8ovzOoGlk0B9AGZ4MP8dZauEuvpwvoecqeVtlrBb_xmfiQjR2SUzVM3YdbX1b7uG532_li-8LjroKok5DFijgRKZ6W2My29Xc0ViXhyphenhyphenBHZBO2v-mwX7uo/s320/preg+mill+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446158165972209634" border="0" /></a>The signs were all there. He was heavy. He was bloated. Looked like he hadn't showered since training camp. He was wearing a giant shoulder/torso contraption underneath his jersey, undoubtedly a tool he picked up in Lamaze class to assist with breathing when the big day arrives.<br /><br />His hair, typically well-coiffed and styled, now looked unwashed and grimy. It was excessively long, had strawberry blond highlights mixed throughout, and then in the back, Miller had fashioned some kind of dirty mock-ponytail deal that made him look like a cross between Mario Batali and the chunky middle school version of D.J. Tanner. Almost makes you shiver just thinking about it. I mean, Miller was never Mr. America or anything, but at least when he was at Florida and early in his NBA career, he kept his hair clean and short, even if it did make him look exactly like Hilary Swank's character from <i>Boys Don't Cry</i>.<br /><br />In the early moments of this game, maybe the second or third possession, a whistle blew and there was a short stoppage in play. The camera panned to a clearly exhausted Miller, bent over with hands on knees, and desperately gasping for air. Pistons' play-by-play man Mark Champion tried justifying Miller's fatigue by saying something like, "Well, that's what happens when you miss a couple of weeks. It takes time to get readjusted to the speed of the game."<br /><br />Nice try, Mark.<br /><br />Miller was most definitely panting and wheezing, but it had nothing to do with missed time. It had to do with the fact that he was carrying another human life <b>inside his belly</b>.<br /><br />Whenever Rodney Stuckey or Ben Gordon would start to make a move off the dribble to steam past Miller, you couldn't help but feel a tinge of sympathy. The poor man obviously had no chance of keeping up and would usually wind up grabbing an arm or piece of the jersey as they sped by. But it didn't end there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBNZedrMXh_ZoigxneqJV-5TSbzhMmsNs_ZDsbNFBneVZfggGFkBqEx1BkHZjqZYKHSBg27_L2E2H298LxSQfcnVoIEsBE3Eghjin8n1stQqRaX1FRqMtV9U54uHks3ZR6wHBRhbrdFg6/s1600/preg+mill+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBNZedrMXh_ZoigxneqJV-5TSbzhMmsNs_ZDsbNFBneVZfggGFkBqEx1BkHZjqZYKHSBg27_L2E2H298LxSQfcnVoIEsBE3Eghjin8n1stQqRaX1FRqMtV9U54uHks3ZR6wHBRhbrdFg6/s320/preg+mill+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404583716201246898" border="0" /></a>See, pregnant women are known to be moody and irritable. Miller was no exception.<br /><br />Each time the referee saddled him with another foul, Miller would lose it. He made ugly faces. He whined incessantly. He had a look in his eye that said, "I need a big jar of pickles and a quart of chocolate ice cream...IMMEDIATELY!"<br /><br />At one point, a Piston slipped on a wet spot in the paint and the ballboy went to clean it up. Ninety-nine percent of the time in this situation, you assume it's just a player's sweat that dripped onto the floor, making it slippery. However, when Mama Miller is roamin' the hardwood, you really have to consider the possibility that homeboy's water just broke with serious contractions not far behind.<br /><br />The question is, how are Flip Saunders and Co. going to keep their expectant shooting guard safe as the year progresses and he enters his third trimester?? Your guess is as good as mine, but let's just hope that opposing defenses know better than to foul Miller hard as he enters the lane.<br /><br />There's a bun in that oven...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leave a comment or thought below, or feel free to shoot me an E-mail at<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span><br /><br /><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/">Click here to go back to the HSL main page</a>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-2365648848987789692010-03-05T05:18:00.011-05:002011-03-23T16:00:05.063-04:005 Things Joe Dumars Must Have Forgotten about Charlie Villanueva when he Signed him for $35 Million Dollars Last Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGTXwf9J0UcPXthkSlgKA7uN3O74Wy-b9TS04HrJVZ5u_60wsoWGcRxD4wW1JqnNwxL2Yekhf5Y-svRPa-rR-1L6LVwjEiJDoIvF43xIKSzRK2DfltQ954FOO5LV7Ybnn3mClNNzM_Qg/s1600-h/Charlie_Villanueva_20090930-5521.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGTXwf9J0UcPXthkSlgKA7uN3O74Wy-b9TS04HrJVZ5u_60wsoWGcRxD4wW1JqnNwxL2Yekhf5Y-svRPa-rR-1L6LVwjEiJDoIvF43xIKSzRK2DfltQ954FOO5LV7Ybnn3mClNNzM_Qg/s400/Charlie_Villanueva_20090930-5521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445108651356675586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. He's a big man who likes to shoot 3s...only, he ain't a good 3-point shooter</span>.<br /><br />See, as Pistons fans, we have seen this act quite a bit the last few years (see: Rasheed Wallace), and lemme tell you, it is even less fun the second time around. Charlie Villanueva is 6-foot-11, but you wouldn't know it from his game. This man just loves to shoot the long ball. In a home loss to Portland last month, Charlie V jacked up 9 from long range...he made 1. In the tight loss to the Celtics earlier this week, he hoisted 4 from distance...he made none. For the year, he is shooting 32% on 3s, which is pretty much right at his career average (.326). It's not like the guy is just <span style="font-style: italic;">struggling</span> with his outside shot; it was just never that good to begin with.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. He's not in the best shape, he's not in the worst shape. He's just kind of..."doughy."</span><br /><br />Simply put, <span style="font-style: italic;">doughy</span> is never a good adjective to have placed on you as a professional athlete. Its meaning is exactly what you think. While other NBA power forwards have toned bodies composed of lean muscle mass, Villanueva's main core is composed of actual cookie dough. Homeboy is <span style="font-style: italic;">soft</span>, with a capital S. When you think of the word <span style="font-style: italic;">doughy</span>, it conjures up memories of guys like Chris Gatling and George McCloud. They weren't necessarily in terrible physical condition, but it doesn't mean it would have been a pleasant experience to see them shirtless in the locker room after a game. At least with a guy like Rasheed, he was <span style="font-style: italic;">somewhat</span> sculpted early in his career. Charlie V is only 25, and he's already starting to look like Terry Mills. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Doughy</span> might be an understatement three years from now...yikes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. He's got a little bit of funk in his post-up game...just don't expect the ball <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> to be kicked out once he gets his mit<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ts on it.</span></span></span><br /><br />I made the joke earlier this year that in watching Villanueva play, it almost seems like he literally is not aware that when he receives the ball in the post, he still possesses the <span style="font-style: italic;">option</span> to either shoot <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> pass. I really think that he is just unaware of the rules of the game and thinks that when he is delivered the ball on the block, he <span style="font-weight: bold;">has to shoot</span>, or the ball is turned over to the other team. That's the only explanation for the way he plays. Don't get me wrong, Villanueva is a semi-capable scorer down near the paint. He's got a nice little arsenal of jump hooks and awkward turnarounds. But he is definitely a "black hole." Meaning, once the ball goes in, it ain't comin' back out. You could double-team him, you could triple-team him...hell, you could send your entire roster and your coaching staff out on the floor to surround him in the post, and he would <span style="font-weight: bold;">still</span> send the ball towards the rim before it's all said and done. Watch an old tape of Hakeem in the Finals in '94 and '95. He was downright filthy on the block, scoring at will against whoever was guarding him. However, when help came, he was always willing to dish out to Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, Mario Elie, or whoever was open out on the perimeter. It's a mandatory skill for any guy that wants to get the ball in the post on a regular basis. Apparently Charlie V never got that memo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Defense Optional</span><br /><br />There is a lot wrong with Mr. Villanueva's work on the defensive side of the ball. And I think it starts with that funny body of his. He's almost 7 feet tall, but still lacks the necessary bulk to match up with beefy power forwards like Carlos Boozer. And if you want to free him up from all that banging and have him defend the 3-man, now it's his absence of foot speed and athleticism that makes the matchup a nightmare. There's really <span style="font-style: italic;">nowhere </span>to hide him. One time this year, Al Harrington of the Knicks backed Villanueva all the way down for a layup. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a big deal. Except that Harrington started his voyage at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">3-point line</span>. It may have been the first 22-foot post-up in NBA history. No coincidence that it involved our boy Charlie, a true NBA sieve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Dude's attitude is prittttay, prittttay, shaky.</span><br /><br />It's always been a concern for the Villanueva followers throughout his basketball career. Does the guy really <span style="font-style: italic;">care</span> enough to be a top NBA player, or is he pretty much fine with sailing through his 8-10 years, making his money, and not breaking too much of a sweat in the process? I hate to say it, but I think it's clearly the latter. I just don't see much desire from Charlie. There have been rare moments this year when he gets fired up during a game. In an upset home win over Boston during the season's 1st half, it was Villanueva who kept knocking down big shots in the final minutes. After his final dagger trey, followed by a Celts timeout, Villanueva came bounding over to the Pistons bench, smile as wide as could be, high-fiving teammates and receiving a standing O from the crowd. It was the first real proof we had that this guy might actually be a force on the court, instead of the oversized human equivalent to rice pilaf that he often appeared to be. But alas, those moments have been few and far between. Just recently, John Kuester gave Villanueva his own personal quarters in the doghouse, playing him just 3 minutes in a loss to Orlando, and saying things like, "Charlie will be a good player for us down the road. We just got to make sure he's on the page of what we want to get accomplished." Hmmm, he will be a good player "down the road"?? It's his <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifth year</span> in the league...exactly when is the light going to flick on? And is there a bigger red flag than the coach saying that a certain player "needs to be on the same page" of what the team is trying to accomplish? One would safely assume the team's goals are winning and playing together. After <span style="font-weight: bold;">61 games</span>, if Villanueva is still struggling to understand this, then we've got big problems.<br /><br />Charlie Villanueva. Under contract for <span style="font-weight: bold;">four more seasons</span>.<br /><br />Don't worry...I just got the chills, too.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reach the High Socks Legend at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com, or leave your own thoughts on Charlie V in the comments section below.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/">Click here to jump back to the HSL main page</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Or check out some other High Socks NBA articles of the past couple weeks...<br /><br /><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2010/02/elusive-curly-fries.html">A Triple Double for a Couple Curly Fries</a><br /><br /><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/2010/02/you-said-who-scored-how-many.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Night Shareef Abdur-Rahim Broke my Heart</span></a><br /></span></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-19094023344526489892010-03-01T01:40:00.009-05:002010-03-01T23:57:10.158-05:00Yet Unnamed Monday Weekend Sports Re-Kap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DII2jYpO90kwsoJwLtpVZ22LqZHDrtkrroTXAISEPhWZ5OkKIHTTKOZ7ZgsqT0iv0IC-VUmkBLAag0AI0Dg-JR5X2ov-T5ANkqWrQ2o71W8O09Zx7YATCqYP_ua68gg8H7vTfmO1v94/s1600-h/display_image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DII2jYpO90kwsoJwLtpVZ22LqZHDrtkrroTXAISEPhWZ5OkKIHTTKOZ7ZgsqT0iv0IC-VUmkBLAag0AI0Dg-JR5X2ov-T5ANkqWrQ2o71W8O09Zx7YATCqYP_ua68gg8H7vTfmO1v94/s400/display_image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443564767664083970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">H</span>ey, did ya hear the great news!?!? According to numerous reports, <span style="font-style: italic;">Joel Zumaya</span> is <span style="font-weight: bold;">feeling great</span> and firing BBs with regularity down in Lakeland.<br /><br />Oh, righhhhhht, I forgot about that.<br /><br />And in related "I think I've seen this story before" news...<br /><br />-<i>Jeremy Bonderman</i> is perfecting his changeup and looking forward to a big bounce-back season. You can search the various newspaper archives and find this exact same story written in 2005, '06, '07...well, you get the idea. Wake me up when this guy displays a working pulse or registers a season ERA under four. (Neither of which have ever happened.)<br /><br />-<i>Carlos Guillen</i> is disgruntled over his diminishing role, ignoring the fact that he unofficially jumped the shark a few years ago and that his right shoulder is now composed of 50% solid muscle tissue and 50% Bisquick Pancake Mix.<br /><br />-<i>Bobby Seay</i> looks to continue baffling AL sluggers as the Tigers' designated late-inning lefty specialist, even as his bulbous head seemingly increases by 4-5 inches every spring. Seriously, at what point are the team trainers just going to remove his oversized noggin and replace it with an actual pumpkin??<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26DGM4a_AIJVvGXDjEiIIzlNhNis-WA7T4x2MoQgi_mvv7zN2zR6Em9Eg2R6HYf9gWgTjrfqh_Os1XBmZfJatZVBjFuz_Sf7-NMo_aNXd_1ya9kMgIfPTfuVlavigFjZspfutBzIngd8/s1600-h/20090307_lightning_storm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26DGM4a_AIJVvGXDjEiIIzlNhNis-WA7T4x2MoQgi_mvv7zN2zR6Em9Eg2R6HYf9gWgTjrfqh_Os1XBmZfJatZVBjFuz_Sf7-NMo_aNXd_1ya9kMgIfPTfuVlavigFjZspfutBzIngd8/s320/20090307_lightning_storm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443563382920183634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">C</span>lutch performance of the weekend goes out to our longtime friend here at the HSL, Aubrey. With the Sunday morning b-ball squad only having four available regulars, Aub got the call and stepped in admirably as has become tradition (his lifetime subbing record now stands at 3 and 0).<br /><br />Combining gritty D and his usual rock-steady game on O, it was a good day all around for the man that has always been known simply as "Electric."<br /><br />Now if we all can agree to just forget about that last-minute free throw that went Montross-ing off the backboard, I think we will all sleep a little better tonight.<br /><br />Big ups, Aub. I see another call-up in the future, possibly to the <i>real thing</i> in Auburn Hills. Couldn't be any worse than...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOSSe2HXVYg3eIQ4d7omegLnCg_LMr54HW9DdgShIwGdYoR_FjufWFLXJzVQhbqNWKeGRCE_-_32nWT9XOPsWb6_rvMERvPvEDWYfrsaIPDZSlAxB-MyifHD4VLH2PItXQfwm0EwCDPU/s1600-h/Pile-of-Bricks-by-Shi-Yali--asiastockimages-com-qpps_738852598854696.LG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOSSe2HXVYg3eIQ4d7omegLnCg_LMr54HW9DdgShIwGdYoR_FjufWFLXJzVQhbqNWKeGRCE_-_32nWT9XOPsWb6_rvMERvPvEDWYfrsaIPDZSlAxB-MyifHD4VLH2PItXQfwm0EwCDPU/s320/Pile-of-Bricks-by-Shi-Yali--asiastockimages-com-qpps_738852598854696.LG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443562724270632274" border="0" /></a><b>Ben Wallace</b>.<br /><br />I've pretty much had it with this cat. The Pistons just finished up a jaunt out West that saw them drop 3 of 4 games to some of the worst teams that conference has to offer. All of the losses were tight contests that could have went either way down the stretch.<br /><br />And there's our boy Ben, going to the line 15 times over the four games...and knocking down <b>TWO</b>.<br /><br />Two for mother-f$^&ing fifteen, including a homicide-inducing 1 of 9 effort in the loss to G-State to wrap up the trip!<br /><br />Hey Coach Kue, perhaps in these last twenty-something games, when the final quarter is about to begin, you can go kneel down by Ben, slowly untie his shoes, remove them from his feet, and hurl them into the upper deck.<br /><br />Without the proper footwear, you would no longer feel the temptation to put the big fella back on the court.<br /><br />There.<br /><br />Problem solved.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7GIQOz6-8qd1J0GEq8P4lS7_UPvVK1Aqmyejg0TCug_6AlfQK-2FY0UROPhBmRNqmKBFmOseFRIyPPtACmXypNMMYoWXQdtPRBLsVEAd3yb23ZVuR6J2fhuNElV3PYRZMSBYWyEN2LU/s1600-h/twinkies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7GIQOz6-8qd1J0GEq8P4lS7_UPvVK1Aqmyejg0TCug_6AlfQK-2FY0UROPhBmRNqmKBFmOseFRIyPPtACmXypNMMYoWXQdtPRBLsVEAd3yb23ZVuR6J2fhuNElV3PYRZMSBYWyEN2LU/s320/twinkies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443561891296451346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">C</span>an we get some kind of ruling here on the infant-sized jersey Big Baby Davis has been rockin' this season?<br /><br />Let's call a spade a spade, people. This man is very big.<br /><br />And I don't mean tall.<br /><br />Just <span style="font-style: italic;">wide</span>.<br /><br />Either call in a tailor and have him readjust this thing to make Baby look presentable, or create some kind of Celtics-styled Snuggie he can wear during games to help hide the excess fat and jelly rolls now spilling out of his green uni on a nightly basis.<br /><br />I'm not a Davis fan by any means, but that doesn't mean I want the guy to suffocate to death on the court. If there isn't some kind of alteration made to his get-up though, that's exactly where we're headed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzrMmgl3VSk7BrHS9CDY4mYLOSllRTSNbmQB_9VgVCaA_8o3W5EBZRFDkbXUyUuREkWnMAcvWERW6iT1wVtN_KS5Yt1LTHrKmGMCIWLtnAG_LrdAlVuvMIwo_d4s6IZXdnVtCaE8S3bk/s1600-h/a1002eba-aa5b-424f-9aed-187d018fba1f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzrMmgl3VSk7BrHS9CDY4mYLOSllRTSNbmQB_9VgVCaA_8o3W5EBZRFDkbXUyUuREkWnMAcvWERW6iT1wVtN_KS5Yt1LTHrKmGMCIWLtnAG_LrdAlVuvMIwo_d4s6IZXdnVtCaE8S3bk/s320/a1002eba-aa5b-424f-9aed-187d018fba1f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443560491850200898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>our straight double figure games for Jerry Stackhouse off the Milwaukee pine. Good for you, Stack.<br /><br />Even though the Bucks finally had their six-game winning streak snapped Sunday with an OT loss in Atlanta, Jerry still got his 20. But maybe he ought to put the safety on the trigger just a little more often when he's on the court.<br /><br />In his 28 minutes of play, he hoisted 14 times, picked up just one assist, and turned the rock over four times.<br /><br />Wait a second...that's Rip Hamilton's stat line!!<br /><br />Get your own material, Stack!!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Drop me a comment or question at </span>highsockslegend@gmail.com<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/">Return to the HSL main page</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-47467723715561915082010-02-26T00:54:00.013-05:002010-02-26T02:11:58.568-05:00Scary Free Throws, Frisky Bucks, and Another Lottery Dud: It's the HSL Friday 3-Man Weave<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAV0zhdeMVtMRKYDHZiaemeGVbZqnZ1jfIcE6G_DRo6KYDdiAe8oYkOfyL3pRVV4S9LDogyqN6-Ehok2vgyf2B8_Nfw7IiSG8YdHtfNWqKnXanCWCW6KCH7BIU-Nh-fyHupLbsyqesUn8/s1600-h/1801808834_da831ceaa8_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAV0zhdeMVtMRKYDHZiaemeGVbZqnZ1jfIcE6G_DRo6KYDdiAe8oYkOfyL3pRVV4S9LDogyqN6-Ehok2vgyf2B8_Nfw7IiSG8YdHtfNWqKnXanCWCW6KCH7BIU-Nh-fyHupLbsyqesUn8/s400/1801808834_da831ceaa8_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442436339443091394" border="0" /></a><br />1. While Ben Wallace continues to rank <span style="font-style: italic;">dead last</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> all-time</span> in free throw shooting accuracy, there is another brick-throwing NBA center that is making a real push for the <span style="font-style: italic;">single season</span> record for charity stripe proficiency. Andris Biedrins, the athletic Latvian for the Warriors, has been nothing short of <span style="font-weight: bold;">horrrrrendous</span> at the line this year. Try and swallow this stat box with your morning coffee. On the season, Biedrins is a stomach-churning <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 for 25</span> from the land of free. FOUR FOR TWENTY-FIVE!! This comes out to a robust <span style="font-weight: bold;">16 friggin' percent</span>. Yiiiiiiikes. The single season record is held by the Celtics' Garfield Smith in '72, and he still managed to knock home 19%. Practically automatic compared to our boy Andris, who if you haven't seen it, basically goes with some kind of fractured soccer style throw-in when trying to cash in his attempts. Don Nelson tried bringing in Rick Barry (career 90%) to teach his underhand method to Biedrins, but the big fella was not cooperative. Not "cool" enough, apparently. But if this sick display continues for a couple more months, Biedrins might find out what "cool" really is next year...when he's suiting up alongside Billy Owens and Mr. Cooper for the Brotherhood II chapter in the downtown Oakland B'nai B'rith League for retired Jewish foot doctors and former NBA washouts. If I were you, I'd start hittin' some free throws, Andris...<span style="font-style: italic;">immediately</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1c2-3_qEx_XndA3FC_hhX6JlJyvBJZ3LUkr5YYalF2YjENR_SUDK6IY2C6gzdc06nBsbUDbcBdQiucrO3Tp-yCgQHgxG-4fql0_6-JAcXS1IGyh97s5K-yONqZIkyOwjChyphenhyphenoDFtX7QY/s1600-h/1e456616-3e85-406a-977c-2a6e11ccaaa7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1c2-3_qEx_XndA3FC_hhX6JlJyvBJZ3LUkr5YYalF2YjENR_SUDK6IY2C6gzdc06nBsbUDbcBdQiucrO3Tp-yCgQHgxG-4fql0_6-JAcXS1IGyh97s5K-yONqZIkyOwjChyphenhyphenoDFtX7QY/s320/1e456616-3e85-406a-977c-2a6e11ccaaa7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442419046450272530" border="0" /></a>2. The Milwaukee Bucks emerged from the All-Star break as a sub-.500 squad searching for some kind of identity. They sputtered badly in their first game back, suffering a 28-point home thrashing at the hands of the Rockets. Things weren't looking good for Scott Skiles and company. Fortunately for the Bucks, their next game was at the Palace against the Pistons, a team that plays with passion approximately two to three times a month. They got the much-needed road W and haven't lost since. After last night's escape job in Indy, the Milwaukee winning streak has now reached five and they are over .500 (29-28) for the first time in three months. It's not a glamorous group by any means, but they're getting the job done. Andrew Bogut has been a monster of late, and for the first time in his career, is actually starting to provide some justification for being #1 overall selection in 2005. John Salmons has been superb since coming over from Chicago at the trade deadline, and rumor has it that he might finally be considering making the "L" in his last name silent. The old dog Jerry Stackhouse has been a splash of sunshine off the bench, mixing in his usual batch of post-ups with an improved stroke from downtown. And lucky Luke Ridnour just might be the best backup point guard in the league. Even though Brandon Jennings hit the rookie wall about 35 games ago and Carlos Delfino takes the word "streaky" to a whole new stratosphere, this is still a fun little squad and I look forward to watching them come playoff time. And no, I cannot figure out how this unique batch of journeymen and young guys are fighting for the 6th spot in the East, while the Pistons continue to lose double-digit leads to the LA Clippers of the world. When's that draft lottery, again??<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrfRxvOYdklFQZCHN5i3gYt52n0QUW15hnm4Dik3ycfrPV7zvGyHRlUaO4RMhRZrRee9svj_j6gKvN1h3AaCl20XCfK67SWIL0g8FdsRMuOWjZFsJKucghQeAFJ1IsY_e1OZeVsVCK4s/s1600-h/93470252.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrfRxvOYdklFQZCHN5i3gYt52n0QUW15hnm4Dik3ycfrPV7zvGyHRlUaO4RMhRZrRee9svj_j6gKvN1h3AaCl20XCfK67SWIL0g8FdsRMuOWjZFsJKucghQeAFJ1IsY_e1OZeVsVCK4s/s320/93470252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442433025209030514" border="0" /></a>3. Not everyday in the Association that you see the second overall pick demoted to the D-League, but that's exactly what happened yesterday as the Memphis Grizzlies sent Hasheem Thabeet packing to the "Dakota" Wizards. Not North Dakota. Not South Dakota. Just <span style="font-style: italic;">Dakota</span>...a real hotbed for hoops. Nice pick, Grizz. On draft night, maybe you shoulda looked past the fact that your boy was eight feet tall and instead concentrated on the fact that he never made a shot outside of eight feet in his entire career at UCONN. You can get away with that kinda thing in college. Hang out near the rim, get a lot of dunks, shoot over guys half a foot shorter. But in the NBA, you usually need to possess some semblance of actual basketball skill in order to succeed. Sadly, Thabeet is sorely lacking in that department, and has fallen on such hard times that he has now been replaced in the Memphis lineup by an actual Iranian, Hamed Haddadi, the only such player in league history. I think it's safe to say that if the organization chooses to play a guy that may or may not be friends with Osama Bin Laden <span style="font-style: italic;">over you</span>, then your days in the league are most likely coming to an end very soon. Enjoy "Dakota," Hasheem, and give my best to Mount Rushmore. You never know...one day you might find yourself on a monument just like it dedicated to the tallest lottery busts in history, along with Robert Swift, Vitaly Potapenko (taken right before Kobe Bryant), Sharone Wright, and the wildly overhyped Ricky Roe.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reach the High Socks Legend at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/"><span>Back to the HSL Main Page</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-62581157701679677862010-02-23T01:46:00.006-05:002011-01-18T00:10:21.956-05:00Pistons 2010: Where Even the Wins Feel like Losses<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs0Tw9w5KW9nF8U_0XLaEEroYrkBCZHKgxdxJu5cZikxWb3kcxXU6b6Bdxg-7rQeRHB-88rKW_W8a8dhBc3hNAsbrRJeYAd8g9WE06pil2XCv65GiNrKVVDlRD_6KgYlMnK9Vli2zs50/s1600-h/7d8ff5cef45e1330913291135442ff38-getty-90043668ae011pistons_spurs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs0Tw9w5KW9nF8U_0XLaEEroYrkBCZHKgxdxJu5cZikxWb3kcxXU6b6Bdxg-7rQeRHB-88rKW_W8a8dhBc3hNAsbrRJeYAd8g9WE06pil2XCv65GiNrKVVDlRD_6KgYlMnK9Vli2zs50/s400/7d8ff5cef45e1330913291135442ff38-getty-90043668ae011pistons_spurs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441336462525536034" border="0" /></a><br />The clock ticked under four minutes to play. The Pistons were leading the perennial Western powerhouse Spurs by 11 points. Tim Duncan wiggled free for a layup and the lead was cut to nine.<br /><br />At that moment, Gregg Popovich had a revelation.<br /><br />"Hey, this team we're playing has the <span style="font-style: italic;">worst free throw shooter in NBA history</span> on their team. And he is on the court right now. GO FOUL HIM!!!"<br /><br />And so they did. Again, and again, and again, and again.<br /><br />In the span of just one minute and twenty seconds, Ben Wallace was ordered to the line a staggering <span style="font-weight: bold;">ten times</span>.<br /><br />His shots were flying every which way. Some clanged off the side of the rim, some boomeranged off the backboard, and a few even managed to find their way through the hoop (four to be exact).<br /><br />And throughout the whole ordeal, John Kuester did <span style="font-style: italic;">nothing</span>. Sat on the bench, folded his arms, and <span style="font-style: italic;">watched</span>.<br /><br />Finally, with 2:05 on the clock and fearing the Spurs would get one more hack in before the rules would prohibit them from doing so (under 2 minutes), Kuester summoned Wallace to the bench.<br /><br />The big fella angrily made his way to the sideline, took a seat, and fired his headband halfway to Livonia. This was clearly a very unhappy man. But <span style="font-style: italic;">who</span> were his frustrations directed towards??<br /><br />Sifting through Wallace's post game comments, that's pretty tough to judge.<br /><br />A reporter asked Ben what he thought of the Hack-a-Ben strategy.<br />---<span style="font-weight: bold;">"It's garbage."</span><br /><br />Another reporter asked how he felt about Kuester showing confidence in him by leaving him in the game and not pulling him when the shenanigans started.<br />---<span style="font-weight: bold;">"That's garbage, too."</span><br /><br />Good luck figuring that one out.<br /><br />But I will never understand why the frustration in this type of situation is always directed at the team enacting the strategy. Why is Ben not looking inward and putting the responsibility on his own shoulders, where it belongs?<br /><br />Competition in any sport essentially comes down to this.<br /><br />1. Search for your opponent's weakness.<br />2. Once identified, exploit that weakness as early and often as possible in order to emerge victorious.<br /><br />It's as simple as that.<br /><br />Gregg Popovich saw a glaring weakness on the other side of the court, and decided, understandably, to take advantage of it. And remember, it is not as if we are just talking about any old struggling charity tosser here.<br /><br />Ben Wallace is <span style="font-style: italic;">literally</span> the <span style="font-weight: bold;">worst free throw shooter in NBA history</span>.<br /><br />Of the fourteen-hundred and six ballplayers that qualify (min. 500 career attempts), Ben Wallace ranks <span style="font-weight: bold;">dead last</span> in terms of free throw accuracy. And it's not even close.<br /><br />1404. Eric Montross (.478)<br />1405. Chris Dudley (.458)<br />1406. Ben Wallace (<span style="font-weight: bold;">.419</span>)<br /><br />(Sidenote: #33 on that list is Jason Maxiell at 56%. #47 is Kwame Brown at just under 58%. That's right...the Pistons currently suit up 3 of the worst 47 free-throwers in the history of the NBA. Don't let anyone tell you this isn't the most depressing season in franchise history.)<br /><br />Richard Hamilton talked after the game how the Hack-a-Ben routine "was not basketball," and pondered possible rule changes in the future.<br /><br />Gimme a break.<br /><br />How is this any different than a football team continually attacking a weak cornerback by throwing in his direction on every play?<br /><br />Or a team in the Little League World Series drag bunting down the first base line in every at-bat because the hefty 11-year-old hurler for the Venezuelan squad is easily pushing three bills ,and seems to have some kind of salsa dripping from the brim of his hat??<br /><br />That's the way sports work. Do <span style="font-style: italic;">whatever it takes</span> to win the game. This is multiplied by a million when you are talking about games at the professional level, when too many digits in the loss column typically end up costing you your paycheck.<br /><br />And by the way, this thing could have ended in the blink of an eye...if Ben were able to MAKE A FREE THROW.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br />But what was John Kuester thinking throughout all of this?? He had the key to the castle the whole time, and chose to keep it hidden in his back pocket.<br /><br />After the very first hack, he should have screamed for Charlie Villanueva and physically escorted him onto the court to replace Ben.<br /><br />Now, I know that Villanueva has been living comfortably in Kuester's doghouse the last couple weeks, and that you'd be losing a lot on D by making the switch, but this was absolutely a move that <span style="font-style: italic;">had to</span> be made. You put Charlie in for Ben, and now the Spurs have to D up for 15-20 seconds each time down. With a nine point lead and just a few minutes to play, every second becomes precious. That's what made their fouling strategy so valuable.<br /><br />It's not just that they were forcing Ben to the line, where the Pistons would likely score 0 or 1 point. It's the fact that no time was elapsing in between their offensive possessions.<br /><br />It's like one of those old bonus rounds on Super Mario Bros. where you could just go collect a million coins, but you had no risk of losing a life in the process. You're basically playing with house money.<br /><br />Same thing here. For that 80 seconds, the Spurs had a chance to score as many points as they could knowing the number on the other side of the scoreboard would remain virtually the same. And most importantly, really no time was coming off the clock in the process.<br /><br />For that minute and twenty seconds where they were hacking Ben, Tim Duncan and Co. went on offense a whopping <span style="font-weight: bold;">six times</span>. Remember, an NBA shot clock is 24 ticks. So typically, in 80 seconds of game time, each team will get two possessions, maybe three if the pace is really quick. They got <span style="font-weight: bold;">SIX</span>.<br /><br />(Showing an immense amount of personal restraint, I did not fire a single projectile in the direction of the TV during these proceedings.)<br /><br />Just to make sure the final outcome of the game does not get lost in the shuffle completely, I will point out that the Pistons did battle hard in overtime to come away with the mildly impressive home W over a Tony Parker-less Spurs squad. But to me, the story was that minute and twenty seconds where Wallace and Kuester both embarrassed themselves, each in their own unique way.<br /><br />To me, Kuester is starting to look more and more like Michael Curry every day. Towards the end of Curry's reign, I realized that even though he had no chance to win with the roster he inherited, his clock management and in-game strategy were simply not good enough to be running a team at the highest level. He lacked certain essentials like how to handle timeouts at the end of games and which players to insert at critical moments. And maybe most importantly, he failed to assert himself as someone the players had to respect. He would rather be their buddy than their boss. Ultimately, it led to his dismissal after just one season at the helm.<br /><br />I'm beginning to have these same feelings about "Kue." He was presented with a decision on Sunday night.<br /><br />He could remove Ben after that first foul. This was certainly the right choice and the one that would have served the <span style="font-style: italic;">team </span>best in securing the win with ease in regulation. <span style="font-style: italic;">But</span>, this option might have also resulted in Diva Wallace turning against him and pouting his way through the rest of the season, like he has done to other coaches (Carlisle, Saunders) before.<br /><br />Sadly, Kuester went the other way. He chose to play it safe. Or, as some like to say, "show confidence in his player." It's one thing for football coaches to punt late in a game to put the onus on their stout defense to finish things off. That confidence comes with reason. This particular form of confidence is, as Ben would like to say, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">garbage</span>." There was no mystery with this result. Ben was <span style="font-style: italic;">going to miss</span> free throws. Many of them. But Kuester went the Mike Curry route, and turned catatonic.<br /><br />As for Ben, it's the same old story, and one that I've rehashed several times on this site. Free throw shooting was his bugaboo entering the league, and he has not improved even the slightest in this department during his 14 years of service. I don't discount the fact that he has devoted huge chunks of time in the weight room throughout his career. It is admirable, and his work ethic in that regard is one to be replicated. But that does not take away from the giant elephant in the room; Ben has not done <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> to improve his one major weakness, free throw shooting.<br /><br />He has always loved to cry to the media and demand more touches on offense, but he <span style="font-weight: bold;">never</span> accompanies the words with the actions. Going to the gym in the summer and shooting 1,000 free throws might not be as glamorous or exhilarating as lifting 500+ pounds of metal with music blaring all around you. But the great ones fight through the boredom and do whatever it takes to change. But Ben just returns to training camp each year with that same ridiculous, fading away, high-arcing stroke that's about as graceful as a Tim Tebow spiral. And there is no excuse for it.<br /><br />Go figure that on a night the Pistons win, I still find myself highly frustrated, writing this short novel at 1:47 AM more than 24 hours after the game ended.<br /><br />It's been a <span style="font-style: italic;">long</span> 55 games, but I think I can stick it out for the final 27.<br /><br />Just please don't put Ben on that line anymore.<br /><br />I can't take much more of that...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Share your thoughts on Hack-a-Ben, or shoot me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span><span><br /><br /><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/">Back to the HSL main page</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br /></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-64370991935662373862010-02-22T00:55:00.021-05:002010-02-23T02:43:31.953-05:00Socks Brothers Present: The Semi-Intelligent, Somewhat Coherent, but Always Entertaining Sunday Evening Chat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplL4UX6Bwn6GCC6IkZa9037c7FFT2MXK8wGo8yQyh-JX8wy1N7ynf7u2sgBi-7B2jZIxtiu7JEjNugplJY4eb3YFc7lk1Pl09Jyd6BBh9E-UEM4dV8bhC55wgvgYacds46rlTV_HUyLE/s1600-h/conversation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplL4UX6Bwn6GCC6IkZa9037c7FFT2MXK8wGo8yQyh-JX8wy1N7ynf7u2sgBi-7B2jZIxtiu7JEjNugplJY4eb3YFc7lk1Pl09Jyd6BBh9E-UEM4dV8bhC55wgvgYacds46rlTV_HUyLE/s400/conversation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440951444384496642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span><span dir="ltr" id=":4i">Nice game this morning, little bro. Feels pretty good being 5-0, don't it?!?!</span><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kp"><br /></div></div><div dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Socks</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":4j">It was a nice game. Undefeated at the All-Star break is quite an accomplishment.</span></div></div><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":6c">Sure is. And not to brag, man, but hasn't my 3-point stroke been especially lethal this season? What's going through your mind when I'm spotting up from deep?</span></div></div><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Socks</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":6b">Yes, you probably lead the league in three pointers made. But you might also have the edge in the attempts column as well. So, as you're spotting up for three, all I can think about is Antoine Walker and his "prowess" from behind the arc. I must add that in this image, I am your teammate, Paul Pierce...</span></div></div><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":6a">Yeah, I can see that; only, if Paul Pierce were a 6'2" left handed Jew who was known to chug Kiwi-Strawberry flavored Propel while trying to work for position on the low block. Seriously, is that stuff just running through your veins at this point?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Socks</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":69">You could say that. In fact, I was scratched after a reach-in foul during the first half and started to bleed a little. The referee called for an official timeout to make sure my DNA was not grape flavored. It wasn't...and the game continued.</span></div></div><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":11e">Ya, I thought I saw somethin' like that. In all honesty, John Beilein could use both of us on the floor this year. When you and me go to the gym and do rounds of 25 threes from all around the arc, we rarely make anything less than 17 or 18. On Saturday, in that HORRIFIC loss to the fighting Paterno's, the four guards (Douglass, Novak, Morris, Lucas-Perry) combined to shoot TWO for EIGHTEEN from downtown. Do you think we should check to see if Beilein wants to have us come in for an impromptu try-out prior to the Big Ten tourney??</span></div></div><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Socks</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":yp">We can dream. I've got a few years of eligibility left and I'd be more than happy to camp out around the long line for Big Blue. You can single out this loss against the worst team in the conference as a poor display of shooting, but it has been the theme the entire season. Lack of confidence, bad looks at the basket...how can recruited "shooters" lose sight of the rim??? This is the same team that made the tourney last year and beat Clemson in the first round, right?</span></div></div><div dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":yq">I thought so. I guess maybe they just overachieved a bit last year in a mediocre conference, and everybody got a little too excited. At least Manny Harris continues to improve, though...phhhhh<wbr>hh. I notice you've been watchin' a fair amount of Olympics. What up with that woman curler from Canada being pregnant? Can it really be considered a sport when you are able to compete at the highest level in the world even as you enter your third trimester?!?</span></div></div><div dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Socks</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":yr">Hmm, I was totally unaware that there is a pregnant competitor in the Olympics. Although, quite honestly, it doesn't surprise me that such an athlete can compete harboring a developing fetus. After our nine o'clock b-ball game this morning, I decided to relax a bit and catch up on the day's top news stories: so I flipped on the Mixed Doubles PBA event for a brief hour-fifteen. Mind you, Wes Malott is the most dominant bowler in the field; but the guy honestly looked to be carrying his first child. God bless.</span></div></div><div dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":ys">Malott did look a little heavy today, didn't he? I mean, I know they call him "Big Nasty," but how about mixing in the occasional piece of fruit between all those triple cheese Baconators from Wendy's?? It seemed to affect his performance too, didn't it? Even when he struck out in that tenth to save a little face, a couple of those were real cheapies that he only got with help from the messenger. I don't think he looks like the same guy as last year, when he seemed to always be the #1 guy in the step-ladder tourney format. Wait, am I supposed to be saying this stuff out loud?</span></div></div><div dir="" class="kq" role="chatMessage" live="polite"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low Socks</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":3u">Wow, High Socks. When you invited me into this, you told me to keep it G-rated. That last comment was not for kids...or adults, for that matter. I believe we are all dumber after having heard that...I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr"> </span><span dir="ltr" id=":ye">No, but SERIOUSLY, it does strike me as odd that Malott, after having captured the Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award last year with his dominant performance in the Scorpion Championship, has somewhat faded out of the picture with only two TV finals this season.</span></div></div><div dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HSL</span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":103">Got to agree with ya, Bro. I hate to say it, but maybe Malott just got TOO big. Even in a sport like bowling, where your scores generally increase with each slice of snack bar 'Za that you destroy, there's got to be some kind of concern for your physical appearance where you finally stop and say to yourself, "Hey, I might be on national TV a dozen times this year in front of millions of fans...maybe I ought to hold off on this 17th plate of Van de Kamp's Fish Sticks." But on that note, Chief, I say we call it a night. A real f$^&ked up night...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Throw in your own two cents on the various bowling/Olympic events of the weekend, or shoot me an E-mail at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com</span><br /></span></div></div>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6751661589230455325.post-36138204633622291702010-02-17T04:13:00.007-05:002010-04-28T03:13:16.020-04:00The Elusive Curly Fries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcNpJOAOY6oAmNf-NWSxITXU_-qS490lHgYsF8gpUrwpv6WvfFUEm7jDHWilW5nwxu_Dt9eJBstwc45EmYvdymvKFFKtRE7RjeI9vtJOsEO9flMWpchVUEoMYRFRV4EAK1ymTt0O16wo/s1600-h/Picture_1_2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcNpJOAOY6oAmNf-NWSxITXU_-qS490lHgYsF8gpUrwpv6WvfFUEm7jDHWilW5nwxu_Dt9eJBstwc45EmYvdymvKFFKtRE7RjeI9vtJOsEO9flMWpchVUEoMYRFRV4EAK1ymTt0O16wo/s400/Picture_1_2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439150352627104850" border="0" /></a><br />Who are the Pistons kidding with this Arby's "Triple Double" promotion?<br /><br />Really, is this some kind of sick joke??<br /><br />If you haven't watched much Piston ball this year, here's the deal. "Every time a Piston player records a triple double, you are entitled to a free small curly fry at your local Arby's."<br /><br />Wait a second, did they just say "<span style="font-weight: bold;">every time</span>???" "Every time" makes it seem like this is a semi-regular occurrence; not one that has about 0.00003 chance of ever coming to fruition.<br /><br />And let's just say for the sake of argument that this does happen once this year. You're telling me all we get is a free small curly fry?!?!? That's like telling your 4-year-old that if he sleeps in his own bed for 75 straight nights, you will take him to rent one new book from the library. Whoaaa...what an incentive!! Thanks Dad...ya lush!<br /><br />You make the qualifications near-impossible, and on top of that, fail to include the words "roast" or "beef" anywhere in the prize package.<br /><br />Honestly, who on the Stones is even capable of going off for a trip-dubb this year? Here are the only possibilities I see...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Charlie Villanueva</span>: 19 points, 11 rebounds, and <span style="font-style: italic;">14 defensive possessions where his man backs him down from outside the arc to directly under the rim in just 3 dribbles</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rip Hamilton</span>: 26 points, 10 assists, and <span style="font-style: italic;">11 occasions where he leaves his feet in traffic with nowhere to go, resulting in another maddening turnover and easy run-out the other way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ben Wallace</span>: 19 rebounds, 12 blocked shots, and <span style="font-style: italic;">13 missed free throws (6 of which don't even hit rim), making all Pistons fans wonder, "Has this guy spent even the slightest bit of time over the last 10 years trying to improve this horrid aspect of his game?" Long story short; no, he hasn't. </span><br /><br />(Sidenote: I hate to harp on it, but Ben has been in the league for <span style="font-style: italic;">14 years</span> and has <span style="font-weight: bold;">never </span>averaged even 50% at the line in any of those seasons. Just to put that mind-blowing statistic in perspective, Shaquille O'Neal has averaged better than 50% in 12 of his 18 seasons. There's just no excuse for never improving even the slightest in this area, Ben. None at all.)<br /><br />The Detroit Tigers teamed up with Arby's this past summer in a similar fashion, only their promotion was quite realistic. The Tigers needed to jack three dingers in a home game and every fan with a copy of the box score was entitled to some free roast beef. This was a fair deal, and the Tigers obliged with the trio of round-trippers on more than a few occasions.<br /><br />You'd think the Pistons could have come up with something in that vein.<br /><br />Like, if they score over 110 points, every fan gets a free chicken finger basket.<br /><br />Or, every time the Pistons win three straight games, you can go pick up a free vanilla shake.<br /><br />They could even think outside the box and give each fan their very own Arby's franchise every time Kwame Brown catches the ball cleanly in the post and then follows it up with a legal pivot move that does not result in all-out disaster or major world catastrophe. (Trust me, the Arby's people would have nothing to worry about with this one.)<br /><br />You made a one-sided deal, fellas, and it makes ya look cheap. Next time, come at us with something we can excited about. Otherwise, just keep it to yourself.<br /><br />Shame on you, Pistons/Arby's. A 19 and 33 record is hard enough without depriving us of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">one simple pleasure</span> we can always count on in this mile-a-minute, upside-down world: <span style="font-style: italic;">curly fries</span>.<br /><br />Something tells me this is going to be a <span style="font-style: italic;">very long</span> second half of the season.<br /><br />And sadly, we won't be needing any ketchup along the way.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The High Socks Legend can be reached (sans curly fries), at </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">highsockslegend@gmail.com<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://highsockslegend.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Return to the HSL main page</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>The Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00178504223942949011noreply@blogger.com5