ERIE VIEW

Section 109: Ferry Shows His EOY Skills in the Playoffs

Daniel — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:55:01 +0000

The Cavs/Bulls series showed us some good and bad things about the Cavs. The bad — when they slack off on defense and stop protecting the lane. The good — when defenders key on LeBron and Antawn Jamison casually drops in 20+ points. The Cavs offensive options must be dizzying for opposing coaches. You double down on LeBron or Shaq, Mo Williams or Jamison are waiting to burn you. Jamison has smoothly integrated his game into the Cavs starting lineup, and as a result the bench is even deeper.

Danny Ferry deserves the Exec of the Year just for the Jamison deal. Passing on Amare Stoudamire might have been tough, but not as tough as giving up JJ Hickson would have been. Abandoning Amare simply meant making a great deal for Jamison, who has enhanced the offensive balance for the Cavs as much as Stoudamire would have. Plus Jamison is more versatile and a better defender than Amare. He might not get the rebounds Stoudamire does, but we have plenty of rebounding. Then you look at what JJ has done since the beginning of the year when they put him in the starting lineup, and especially how he handled the post when Shaq and Z weren’t around, Ferry was way smart not to give Hickson up. Oh yeah, and Ferry traded nothing for Shaq, and got Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker in the middle of a very active free agent market, too.

So why did John Hammond of the Milwaukee Bucks get the EOY trophy instead of Ferry this season? Two big factors: One, Cleveland is blessed with Dan Gilbert, an owner who has plenty of cash and doesn’t care if he pays the luxury tax every year. He’s into winning. That makes it a tad easier for Danny Ferry to take a fat veteran contract off another team or sign a free agent without flinching. Two, Cleveland is blessed with LeBron. Who wouldn’t want to play on his team?

Hammond, on the other hand, is hamstrung attracting free agents to a small-market, cold-weather city, with a salary cap that includes Michael Redd, who is being paid $17 million to rehab yet another season-ending injury and Andrew Bogut, who is a relative bargain at $10 million. But Hammond snagged underrated coach Scott Skiles, then traded for key role players like Villanueva and Delfino. Finally, he picked the best point guard in the draft, Brandon Jennings, who delivered immediately. I know Tyreke Evans is incredible, but he’s really a combo or two guard. While we’re talking great picks, remember all that pre-draft buzz about Ricky Rubio? Heh heh.

Back to Ferry and his GM chops, though. Coming into this season, his clear goals for a playoff run were to get bigger and badder in the post, get bigger wing defenders, and a find good-shooting big man who could spread the floor for LeBron and the guards. Check, check and check. Now that Cavs are rounding into playoff form, you’re starting to see the dividends. Shaq started slow in the Bulls series, but in the last game against Chicago, he tagged fouls on Brad Miller and the other bigs quicker than Joe Tait can say, “DiGiorno!” Then in the first Boston game, we saw him ring up Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis just as easily. Plus, the Cavs have three other post players in Andy, Z and JJ, who can spell O’Neal.

Speaking of our other post players, Let me insert a note here for Mike Brown and his staff, as I know they look to my blog constantly for guidance. When you go small against Boston, why not use a big backcourt tandem? Think about this lineup: C, JJ Hickson; PF, Andy V; SF, Jamison; SG, Jamario Moon and PG, LeBron. Without 7-foot center, you would still have a rebounding, shot-blocking defensive nightmare for the Celtics, and plenty of scoring. You can thank me when it works — but first make sure you thank Danny Ferry for that roster.

Section 109: Victory Is Not Always Sweet

Daniel — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:04:57 +0000

After the Cavs won game 2 against the Bulls, my brother sent me a message that summed up the victory: “That was scary and ugly.” There was so much that was wrong with how Cleveland played, it cast a shadow over the tremendous games by LeBron James and Jamario Moon. Here’s a partial list:

The open door the Cavs provided for Deng, Rose and others in the lane. The Bulls attacked the basket by heading fearlessly down the middle of the Cavs’ defense and often were rewarded with an easy deuce or three-point play.
The lack of response to the Bulls fast break. This is one of the Bulls’ prime offensive weapons, and the Cavs didn’t get back into any organized defense to stop it. At one point I thought the Cavs should burn a couple fouls and knock down a ballhandler on the break, just to stop the Chicago momentum on offense.
The lack of minutes for J.J. Hickson. Shaq and Z were getting outworked by Chicago’s smaller, quicker front line. When those two were not in the Cleveland’s lineup this spring, the Cavs went with a smaller, quicker guy with hops at center. He did a good job, what was his name? Oh yeah, J.J. Hickson. Mike Brown could only find a few seconds of court time for him last night? Andy and J.J. on the court at the same time could have changed the pace of the game.
Mo Williams on Derrick Rose. This is one player (of many) Mo has no effect on whatsoever at the defensive end. To shut down Rose, the Cavs need to pin Delonte West or Jamario Moon to his jersey. Rose reminds me so much of Dwayne Wade, I wonder why people think Chicago is going to go after Wade in free agency.
No offensive plan for zone defense. Zone is the only chance many teams, Chicago included, have to stop LeBron. So why do the Cavs offensive sets always stall and waste clock when opponents throw the zone at them? Brown and his staff need to come up with some reliable zone-breaker plays. It’s no problem when LeBron and Jamario sink a barrage of three-pointers. This strategy works great when the treys are falling in, but let’s be realistic here — even the best shooting teams can’t bank on this every game. Not to mention one of our best three-point shooters, Daniel Gibson, can’t get off the bench. Or that our other high-percentage three-point shooter, Anthony Parker, has been in a five-month shooting slump.
Too much Anthony Parker. I think Parker seems like a great guy, a good team player. As a good team player, he shouldn’t have any problem going to the bench. Local sportswriters always complement his defense, but he’s getting burned constantly by younger, faster guards. I commented earlier in the season that AP is a good defender if his man is stationary on the outside and Parker gets set in front of him. But what usually happens is the opposition runs AP’s man through screens and double-screens and Parker gets picked off and loses his player. Or he simply gets lost in a weave through the lane and is arm’s length behind the guy he’s supposed to be guarding.

I was amazed to find Terry Pluto complementing Parker’s scoring along with Moon and James in his notes on last night’s game. I was there, and I saw Parker hit two three-pointers in the first quarter, then miss two WIDE OPEN treys. He wrapped up the half by making a third three with about two minutes left in the second quarter. That was not only the last shot he made, it was the last attempt. Our starting shooting guard did not attempt a single shot in the second half. I think the Cavs would do just as well starting Jamario Moon at two guard. Even if he doesn’t score, he’ll give the team a massive upgrade in rebounding and defense.

Here’s to another victory on Thursday, but I hope it’s not a scary and ugly one. I hope it’s smooth, coordinated and decisive win.

Section 109: The Writer Is Not The Story

Daniel — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:32:23 +0000

Read the shoddy post at the link below…

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2010/04/if-lebron-stays-in-cleveland-s.html

…and you will learn that Frank Isola believes the following: Brian Windhorst wants Isola’s job with the NY Daily News; hates Cleveland; only wants to cover LeBron in New York; can’t wait to leave Ohio. Anything else, Frank? Any further insights you want to add to your, um, sports blog?

Sure, I’m not a big shot New York sports commentator, but I did go to a respected journalism school and I worked for print media outlets for years. Here’s something I think I learned in, oh, about my sophomore year in college:

The reporter is not the story.

The well-trained and professional writers who report on sports and comment on sports stay objective, and keep their eyes on the playing field, the athletes and the coaches. Isola’s belief that Windhorst hates Cleveland and is supposedly too close to LeBron? Unsupported opinions — not a story, not even worthy of being labeled commentary. He doesn’t even attempt to dredge up an “unnamed source” to support his personal bias.

It doesn’t matter what Isola has determined Brian Windhorst is thinking about his next career move. Although I’m impressed with Isola’s power’s of telepathy — reading Windhorst’s mind from several states away — it’s not a sports story. Does the average sports fan who scours the Daily News, Plain Dealer, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, or any other respectable print or digital outlet care about Isola’s opinions of people he doesn’t respect? I doubt it. They turn to the sports section to read about, you guessed it, sports. It is a disservice to his readers to waste their attention on his subjective views of Windhorst’s motives.

So why does Isola believe his low opinion of Windhorst matters to anyone but Frank himself? Here’s one thought – Frank would like to write something new about LeBron, but he doesn’t have a story. He has nothing to say about LeBron’s impending free agency, and Windhorst does. So instead of trying to maybe pick up a phone and scrape up a some facts from reliable sources, he simply attacks a competing writer. That is classless, low and just plain lazy.

Joe Bo’s Draft Preview: Where Will The Quarterbacks Go?

Daniel — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:51:58 +0000

NFL Draft Will Have Usual Surprises, But What About the Browns?

Browns fans will remember all the cutaways of Brady Quinn sitting in the green room waiting for his name to be called until he was surprisingly picked by the Browns with the 22nd pick of the first round. Browns fans may also forget how they felt when Tim Couch was announced as the number one pick of the 1999 draft.

Boos and cheers will greet some picks and “expert analysis” by the likes of Mel “Bulletproof Hair” Kiper and Todd McShay will fill the airwaves and internet.

Most experts feel that the Rams will make Sam Bradford the number one pick. I watched his workout and he was crisp and clean. He demonstrated flawless technique, quick accurate release, good arm strength and footwork. Tim Tebow should study it. The workout, however, was very controlled and was right in his wheelhouse.

Colt McCoy also put on a show, demonstrating all the same skills as Bradford. His workout was much more challenging, demanding more versatility. He worked well under center, making seven and three step drops cleanly, rolling out and showing he can throw in play action.

McCoy’s skill set would be ideal for a West Coast offense with a little play action or option “is he gonna run?” flavor.

Both quarterbacks proved there is no need for concern over their injured shoulders.

I watched Tony Pike several times this season with Cincinnati, including the amazing game in the snow with Pitt. Pike is an NFL style quarterback, but his passes seem to lack the zip of Bradford, McCoy, and Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan. Pike reminds me of Todd Boeckman, Ohio State’s tackling dummy for USC’s pass rushers. Pike also seems slow afoot and is not a running threat as is McCoy, who actually was Texas’ leading rusher.

I also got to see LeFevour put on a show several times last season. His arm strength and accuracy are superb and he will make a great later round pick for some team, perhaps even the Browns. This guy after round four is a huge get. Central Michigan is not a national presence so this is why he is a hidden talent.

Jimmy Clausen did not impress me, as he played in Charlie Weis’s quarterback-friendly offense. This has a tendency of overvaluing his quarterbacks and perhaps may partially explain Quinn’s struggles. The Browns do not seem high on him either, but, remember, smoke screens are part of the gamesmanship on

draft day. Experts say Clausen will go to the Redskins at four, but should he not, he could fall like Quinn did but I pray the Browns just watch him fly downward at number seven and maybe even passed by McCoy.

Tim Tebow’s mechanics are subject of much scrutiny and deservedly so. As far as being an NFL quarterback, he did not learn anything about proper mechanics at Florida. He still holds the ball too low, has to wind up to throw, and in the NFL the speed of the defenses will eat him up. This is not to say some team will take a gamble, and I feel it will be a team with versatile unconventional offenses such

as Miami or New Orleans. New Orleans, picking at 32, may just find a way to use Tebow’s skills in Sean Payton’s world.

So, should the Browns take a quarterback in the first round? In my opinion, no. It is important to upgrade on both sides of the ball. There is no point in taking a highly rated prospect to hold a clipboard watching a dysfunctional offense. Just ask Brady Quinn.

Round three could be an interesting situation for the Browns. Should McCoy last until then he would be worth a gamble, but he will likely go in late round one or two. I would consider him in round two depending on who’s left, but LeFevour may actually go later and would be a great gamble in round four or five. Remember, Tom Brady was a sixth round pick and that kinda worked out. Round three is a great place to fill needs, and usually quarterback is not one of them.

The wild card in all this, of course, is the wacky world of draft day trades. The Browns have eleven picks and have hinted they may want more. Holmgren and Heckert are serious when they say “rebuilding”. They’re starting with the foundation, not remodeling.

There are some very good players that may be available to the Browns at number seven. Likely Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Eric Berry, Derrick Morgan will be gone, but perhaps DE and fierce pass rusher Jason Pierre Paul of South Florida will be available. This would be a solid pick, as would Florida CB Joe Haden, the name mentioned most going to the Browns in mock drafts. Safety Earl Thomas of Texas will also likely be there, but a CB or DE would be a better choice at this high pick. There are also some good OTs but the Browns did well by Joe Thomas and as much as he could use some help, adding Alex Mack was a positive. Now the defense needs some anchors, especially if Shaun Rogers is traded, which seems like a distinct possibility not based on anything I know, just what I have read.

One intriguing player is Alabama’s defensive leader LB Rolando McClain, who really was an on-field coach with the Crimson Tide. He was impressive recognizing formations and barking out assignments to his teammates. The Browns, however, seem to have addressed this position with the acquisition of one of my favourite players, Scott Fujita from New Orleans. They are also rumoured to be targeting an Eagles linebacker in a trade. This is smart since a solid linebacking corps would allow the d-line and d-backs to take a year or two to be in place, which is why I feel DE and CB will be the higher picks for the Browns.

So what do I predict for the Browns in the first round? A trade. They will not trade out of the first round unless something unforeseen happens, but they may trade down to mid first round or surprise us by trading up to get a player they have targeted. This is a pretty deep draft, especially on defense, and picking later in the round should be fine. On the other hand, I predict somebody is going to

trade up to number two to get the beast that is Ndamukong Suh, who tossed Colt McCoy around like a rag doll in the Texas-Nebraska game.

Get ready for some very interesting Paul Tagliabue podium visits; this is going to be fun.

NFL Draft Will Have Usual Surprises, But What About the Browns?
By Joe Bodolai © 2010 All rights reserved
Browns fans will remember all the cutaways of Brady Quinn sitting in the green room waiting for his name to be called until he was surprisingly picked by the Browns with the 22nd pick of the first round. Browns fans may also forget how they felt when Tim Couch was announced as the number one pick of the 1999 draft.
Boos and cheers will greet some picks and “expert analysis” by the likes of Mel “Bulletproof Hair” Kiper and Todd McShay will fill the airwaves and internet.
Most experts feel that the Rams will make Sam Bradford the number one pick. I watched his workout and he was crisp and clean. He demonstrated flawless technique, quick accurate release, good arm strength and footwork. Tim Tebow should study it. The workout, however, was very controlled and was right in his wheelhouse.
Colt McCoy also put on a show, demonstrating all the same skills as Bradford. His workout, however, was much more challenging with more versatility demanded of him. He worked well under center, making seven and three step drops cleanly, rolling out and showing he can throw in play action. McCoy’s skill set would be ideal for a West Coast offense with a little play action or option “is he gonna run?” flavor.
Both quarterbacks proved there is no need for concern over their injured shoulders.
I watched Tony Pike several times this season with Cincinnati, including the amazing game in the snow with Pitt. Pike is an NFL style quarterback, but his passes seem to lack the zip of Bradford, McCoy, and Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan. Pike reminds me of Todd Boeckman, Ohio State’s tackling dummy for USC’s pass rushers. Pike also seems slow afoot and is not a running threat as is McCoy, who actually was Texas’ leading rusher.
I also got to see LeFevour put on a show several times last season. His arm strength and accuracy are superb and he will make a great later round pick for some team, perhaps even the Browns. This guy after round four is a huge get. Central Michigan is not a national presence so this is why he is a hidden talent.
Jimmy Clausen did not impress me, as he played in Charlie Weis’s quarterback-friendly offense. This has a tendency of overvaluing his quarterbacks and perhaps may partially explain Quinn’s struggles. The Browns do not seem high on him either, but, remember, smoke screens are part of the gamesmanship ondraft day. Experts say Clausen will go to the Redskins at four, but should he not, he could fall like Quinn did but I pray the Browns just watch him fly downward at number seven and maybe even passed by McCoy.
Tim Tebow’s mechanics are subject of much scrutiny and deservedly so. As far as being an NFL quarterback, he did not learn anything about proper mechanics at Florida. He still holds the ball too low, has to wind up to throw, and in the NFL the speed of the defenses will eat him up. This is not to say some team will take a gamble, and I feel it will be a team with versatile unconventional offenses suchas Miami or New Orleans. New Orleans, picking at 32, may just find a way to use Tebow’s skills in Sean Payton’s world.
So, should the Browns take a quarterback in the first round? In my opinion, no. It is important to upgrade on both sides of the ball. There is no point in taking a highly rated prospect to hold a clipboard watching a dysfunctional offense. Just ask Brady Quinn.
Round three could be an interesting situation for the Browns. Should McCoy last until then he would be worth a gamble, but he will likely go in late round one or two. I would consider him in round two depending on who’s left, but LeFevour may actually go later and would be a great gamble in round four or five. Remember, Tom Brady was a sixth round pick and that kinda worked out. Round three is a great place to fill needs, and usually quarterback is not one of them.
The wild card in all this, of course, is the wacky world of draft day trades. The Browns have eleven picks and have hinted they may want more. Holmgren and Heckert are serious when they say “rebuilding”. They’re starting with the foundation, not remodeling.
There are some very good players that may be available to the Browns at number seven. Likely Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Eric Berry, Derrick Morgan will be gone, but perhaps DE and fierce pass rusher Jason Pierre Paul of South Florida will be available. This would be a solid pick, as would Florida CB Joe Haden, the name mentioned most going to the Browns in mock drafts. Safety Earl Thomas of Texas will also likely be there, but a CB or DE would be a better choice at this high pick. There are also some good OTs but the Browns did well by Joe Thomas and as much as he could use some help, adding Alex Mack was a positive. Now the defense needs some anchors, especially if Shaun Rogers is traded, which seems like a distinct possibility not based on anything I know, just what I have read.
One intriguing player is Alabama’s defensive leader LB Rolando McClain, who really was an on-field coach with the Crimson Tide. He was impressive recognizing formations and barking out assignments to his teammates. The Browns, however, seem to have addressed this position with the acquisition of one of my favourite players, Scott Fujita from New Orleans. They are also rumoured to be targeting an Eagles linebacker in a trade. This is smart since a solid linebacking corps would allow the d-line and d-backs to take a year or two to be in place, which is why I feel DE and CB will be the higher picks for the Browns.
So what do I predict for the Browns in the first round? A trade. They will not trade out of the first round unless something unforeseen happens, but they may trade down to mid first round or surprise us by trading up to get a player they have targeted. This is a pretty deep draft, especially on defense, and picking later in the round should be fine. On the other hand, I predict somebody is going to trade up to number two to get the beast that is Ndamukong Suh, who tossed Colt McCoy around like a rag doll in the Texas-Nebraska game.
Get ready for some very interesting Paul Tagliabue podium visits; this is going to be fun.

Section 109: Can the Celtics even get home court in the first round?

Daniel — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:12:18 +0000

The Boston Celtics lost two games in a row this week and dropped into a tie with Atlanta for the third-best record in the conference. If Boston keeps playing at their current .500 pace, and Milwaukee keeps winning, The Celtics could lose home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Even if there’s a tiebreaker, the Bucks are only two wins behind Boston in conference record.

Whose home court would the Celtics likely end up playing on, if they slipped to fifth place? Milwaukee, where the Bucks have won 21 of 30 games so far this season.

Why the turnaround this season? A lot of factors, but two basic equations: When Andrew Bogut is good, the Bucks are good. When Kevin Garnett is bad, the Celtics are bad.

Has Garnett really fallen off that much statistically? He’s down almost two points per game, 14.2, and one rebound per game, 7.5, from last year. Compare that to his last season in Minnesota (06-07), when he averaged 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds. Or his first season in Boston (07-08), when put up 18.8 ppg and 9.2rpg. His blocks, steals and assists are about the same. The numbers are declining, but not terrible The biggest difference you see is the lack of speed and mobility when Garnett guards the lane or the baseline. Without a more intimidating Garnett, Kendrick Perkins suffers defensively as well.

Bogut, on the other hand, got over a nagging back injury that slowed him all last year. A number one draft pick, a lot of people got on him because he was not the game changer they expected immediately in his first year. Some players take longer to get the pro game, though, and experts will tell you centers take longer to develop in the NBA. Bogut, only 25 this year, lost half a season last year to injury, appearing in only 36 games. This year, he’s averaging 16.2 points per game and shooting 53%. He’s shooting free throws at 66%, the highest in his career. He’s also setting career highs in scoring, total rebounds and offensive rebounds.

Bogut and Garnett aren’t a true head-to-head matchup. But it’s interesting to see how the gradual decline and ascent of these two is reflected in their team’s play.

Both teams have played 63 games as of today. Of the last 19 games, both play 8 against likely playoff teams. Boston plays Cleveland twice; Houston, Dallas, and Utah on the road; Denver and San Antonio. The Bucks get Utah, Denver, Atlanta, Memphis, Cleveland and Phoenix. Milwaukee also gets five likely wins, playing the Sixers twice, the Clippers, and the Nets.

So the home court advantage for these two could come down to the last few games of the season. Including game 80, which is Boston at Milwaukee, and game 82, which is Milwaukee at Boston.

Derek Anderson Thinks He Knows Frustration

Daniel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:11:29 +0000

According to the News-Herald, Derek Anderson seems to think he was owed more than the money and the chances he got from the Browns. Quotes from an email he sent to the New-Herald’s Jeff Schudel include these three:

“The fans are ruthless and don’t deserve a winner, I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured..”

“I know at times I wasn’t great. I hope and pray I’m playing when my team comes to town and (we) roll them.”

“I never heard from anyone until today,” Anderson said of the end of the 09-10 season. “Nobody ever tried to reach out to me, which is fine.”

Wahhhh. Screw you, Anderson. You think Browns fans are ruthless? I hope you get to play in New York or Chicago. See how much love your game earns you there. Or Philadelphia, where they boo Donovan McNabb, a tough, proven starting quarterback.
BTW, Derek, My take is the fans weren’t cheering your injury in 2008. They were cheering because that blow forced the coaching staff to put in another quarterback. Crennel and Company didn’t seem to be in a hurry to sub for you before that injury. But you weren’t getting it done, and the fans were tired of watching you.

Nobody contacted you? What did you expect, a testimonial dinner hosted by Randy Lerner? How about a video showing highlights of your one good season and your four undistinguished ones? Probably one reason you didn’t hear from the team was you left town long before Holmgren and Reckert unpacked the trophies in their new offices. You said at the time you didn’t think that the Browns would pay your upcoming roster bonus. You were right, but you didn’t act like a guy that wanted to have a conversation with someone from the Browns. Maybe Holmgren should have called you a month ago and said, “Derek, we’re going to release you in a month, but I wanted to call you and thank you for your years of service.” Was there a more appropriate time for them to make a comment about your career in Cleveland than when your release was made official?

Derek Anderson was caught in a bad situation for the last couple years here, I’ll admit that. He played under two coaching staffs that didn’t have full confidence in him as a starter. Whether that assessment was fair, or whether Anderson’s success was sabotaged by a weak running game, or a dodgy offensive line, he didn’t get much of a chance to disprove the coaches’ assessment once Quinn arrived. That must have been frustrating. When he did get a chance, the result was OK, but not overwhelming.

Being a backup NFL quarterback is a frustrating position. The modern NFL team is structured around a particular quarterback, and the backup has to wait and wait for a slim chance to prove what he can do. If the second-stringer gets in a game, it usually means things aren’t going well already. As the focal point of the offense, the QB gets the blame even though the fault may actually lie with the offensive game plan, a weak line, subpar running backs, inexperienced receivers, or other factors. In the case of the Browns, the turnover in coaching, lack of quality players, indecision in quarterback assignments had to add to the frustration. However, it seems clear that if Anderson performed head and shoulders above his rivals, the Browns coaches wouldn’t have hesitated to hand him the ball. What did they have to lose?

If Anderson is frustrated, he should be able to relate to the frustration of the Browns fans, who he claims cheered his injury. The fans have put up with mediocre ownership in the Modell years, the loss of the team, and more years of futility since the Browns have returned to Cleveland. They weren’t cheering you getting hurt; they were cheering an end to a plan that wasn’t working. They were cheering a chance to move on and try something new. Instead of hurling insults, maybe that’s what you should be doing now, too, Derek.

Joe Bo, Investigative Reporter, Nails USC

Daniel — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:37:43 +0000

Folks, you have to check out the fantastic stuff Joe Bodolai dug up on the USC/Reggie Bush fiasco. It’s on his web site:

Reggie Bush’s Paper Trail Isn’t Pretty

Don’t pass this up if you are a college football follower.

Section 109: Numbers Trivia

Daniel — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:30:46 +0000

A couple posts coming today to get caught up.

Let’s start with the really, really important stuff first. LeBron applied to change his uni number for next year, apparently a tribute to Michael Jordan. The league will rapidly approve this change so they and the player’s association can cash in on royalties from the avalanche of new t-shirt and jersey sales. Instead of number six, I think LeBron should have picked a more distinctive number. There are many players great and good who have worn number 6, including guys named Julius Erving and Bill Russell, both of whom deserve a tribute for affecting the game of basketball as much as Michael Jordan has.

In NBA history, 177 players have worn Number 6, including 22 current players. A partial list of notables:

Julius Erving
Bill Russell
Gene Shue
Larry Nance
Danny Manning
Avery Johnson
Orlando Woolridge
Ben Wallace
Juwan Howard
Walter Davis
Larry Costello
Patrick Ewing (1 season)

If LeBron had asked me — and he didn’t — I would have suggested a much less common number that he could make his own. One that isn’t associated with a lot of players, and here it is: 37. Only three players in NBA history have worn 37, each for only one season.

Jack Smiley – 1949
Nick Van Exel – 2004
Ron Artest – 2010 (switched to 37 when he moved to the Lakers this year.)

So there it is, LeBron. If you like my idea, you can probably get the league office to make a quick edit on your application. I’m sure they would do it, even if you asked to switch to the greek letter Pi.

Joe Bo: NCAA Rushes to Judgement on Michigan But Takes Five Years to Investigate USC

Daniel — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:51:48 +0000

Rules Violations Pale Compared to USC’s Litany of Wrong

The troubled Michigan football program has been once again sabotaged by head coach Rich Rodriguez. The program was called onto the carpet for serious violations including hiring five too many ”quality control“ coaches and enforcing more practice time and workouts than the NCAA allows.

This came less than a year after the charges were made public by an article in the Detroit Free Press.

USC, on the other hand, has been scot-free for five years after the much publicized circumstances surrounding Reggie Bush and his acceptance of gifts and cash amounting to well over $300,000 including a house for his parents to live rent free.

Head coach Pete Carroll left coincidentally after his worst season at the school and just months before the NCAA finally held a hearing on the Bush matter and other improprieties. Lane ”Secondary Violation“ Kiffin returns now as head coach and immediately poached recruits from his one year stint as head coach at Tennessee. He is reviled in that state where he repeatedly ran afoul of the NCAA and other SEC coaches. His recruiting buddy Ed ”Oh we’re clean“ Orgeron joins him, with his stellar recruiting record.

Michigan may face loss of scholarships or perhaps merely loss of wins, although they really have only eight in two seasons under Rodriguez. There is little likelihood of them actually having to give up a bowl appearance, but they may just lose that big win over Division II Delaware State. Who knew there was a Delaware State? Not even people in Delaware.

USC, on the other hand, is clearly running scared. They sacrificed their basketball program to appear to be ”shocked“ by improprieties and to make the NCAA look unfair if they impose harsh sanctions. The losers so far are the student-athletes in the basketball program, while the former coach Tim Floyd and the bribery-recruited athlete O.J. Mayo are free from any punishment. Mayo, of course, plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, so he’s just fine.

This mess does affect Ohio State indirectly. The nation’s number one recruit, Seantrel Henderson, a 6-8 300-some pound offensive tackle, verbally committed to USC but has put off signing his letter of intent pending the results of the investigation. Henderson was reportedly favoring Ohio State and if USC looks as if they will be hit, he may reconsider, with the Buckeyes and Miami (another storied violation program) being his next choices. Henderson’s father thought coach Jim Tressel’s recruiting approach was ”boring“. I’ll tell you what’s boring Seantrel. Watching Ohio State in a bowl game and in the running for a national championship again instead of playing. Oh, and USC is picked to finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the PAC-10. How’s the Emerald Bowl sound to you?

As much as I am a Buckeyes fan, I need Michigan to be good again. This hearing isn’t going to speed up that process. While Rich Rodriguez has been a godsend to Ohio State fans, he may just be gone after this season. Anybody got Les Miles on speed dial?

Too Many Coaches, Too Much Practice Time Violations Pale Compared to USC’s Litany of Wrong
By Joe Bodolai © 2010, All rights reserved
The troubled Michigan football program has been once again sabotaged by head coach Rich Rodriguez. The program was called onto the carpet for serious violations including hiring five too many ”quality control“ coaches and enforcing more practice time and workouts than the NCAA allows.
This came less than a year after the charges were made public by an article in the Detroit Free Press.
USC, on the other hand, has been scot-free for five years after the much publicized circumstances surrounding Reggie Bush and his acceptance of gifts and cash amounting to well over $300,000 including a house for his parents to live rent free.
Head coach Pete Carroll left coincidentally after his worst season at the school and just months before the NCAA finally held a hearing on the Bush matter and other improprieties. Lane ”Secondary Violation“ Kiffin returns now as head coach and immediately poached recruits from his one year stint as head coach at Tennessee. He is reviled in that state where he repeatedly ran afoul of the NCAA and other SEC coaches. His recruiting buddy Ed ”Oh we’re clean“ Orgeron joins him, with his stellar recruiting record.
Michigan may face loss of scholarships or perhaps merely loss of wins, although they really have only eight in two seasons under Rodriguez. There is little likelihood of them actually having to give up a bowl appearance, but they may just lose that big win over Division II Delaware State. Who knew there was a Delaware State? Not even people in Delaware.
USC, on the other hand, is clearly running scared. They sacrificed their basketball program to appear to be ”shocked“ by improprieties and to make the NCAA look unfair if they impose harsh sanctions. The losers so far are the student-athletes in the basketball program, while the former coach Tim Floyd and the bribery-recruited athlete O.J. Mayo are free from any punishment. Mayo, of course, plays for the Memphis Grizzlies so he’s just fine. Except for playing for the Grizzlies.
This mess does affect Ohio State indirectly. The nation’s number one recruit, Seantrel Henderson, a 6-8 300-some pound offensive tackle, verbally committed to USC but has put off signing his letter of intent pending the results of the investigation. Henderson was reportedly favoring Ohio State and if USC looks as if they will be hit, he may reconsider, with the Buckeyes and Miami (another storied violation program) being his next choices. Henderson’s father thought coach Jim Tressel’s recruiting approach was ”boring“. I’ll tell you what’s boring Seantrel. Watching Ohio State in a bowl game and in the running for a national championship again instead of playing. Oh, and USC is picked to finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the PAC-10. How’s the Emerald Bowl sound to you?
As much as I am a Buckeyes fan, I need Michigan to be good again. This hearing isn’t going to speed up that process. While Rich Rodriguez has been a godsend to Ohio State fans, he may just be gone after this season. Anybody got Les Miles on speed dial?

Section 109: Radio Pat Adds His Two Cents

Daniel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:44:14 +0000

Thoughts from Radio Pat, who felt the need to unburden himself on the Erie View masses (I call him Radio Pat because he used to work in sports radio and some names on this blog are changed to protect the innocent, as Joe Friday used to say).

Radio Pat: The only thing worse than losing to the Magic is having Van Gundy and Mark Jackson announce it.

Me: Amen. I thought basketball broadcasting would improve greatly after Bill Walton retired, and it did. Now it’s being dragged down by Jeff Van Gundy, who seems to have a clause in his contract that pays him more when he tries to be funny.

I used to respect Jackson, but he totally lost the little respect I had left with his harping about Varejao flopping. While watching a slow-motion replay of Dwight Howard clearing out Andy with a forearm to the face, Jackson said, “That wasn’t a foul.” I have to check the video, but I swear I could see the mark on Andy’s cheek after the play.

RP: Andy does not want to play center and this could be the real X factor here. That Shaq/Z thing was pretty cool to watch.

Me: Maybe Z is not the player he was a few years ago, but he’s still 7-3, 12-year veteran who can fill the lane and hit outside shots. No one in the league had a better center rotation. Andy is much better when he can roam around more. Pray for a buyout, everyone.

RP: I know both sides can always say this, but the officiating was brutal to the Cavs today.

Me: I mentioned Howard trying to take Andy’s head off. How about the elbow he landed on LeBron? Or the screwup with the shot clock when the Cavs had one second on a baseline inbounds? Some of these refs need to be locked out.

RP: The guards need to score. Parker needs to get better or sit. Mo needs to heal or sit. West….well. Hate to say it, but the team played better with LeBron at the point. I really hate to say that.

Me: Parker has worried me for weeks now. He can’t score and he’s not defending any of the big wings they hoped he could control. Mo will come around, he has to get shots during game time. West has looked rusty the last three games, but he had some good moments in the third quarter against the Magic. Mo, Delonte or Gibson are adequate point guards, but none will make me forget Mark Price or Andre Miller.

RP: Even though it’s only Z that’s gone, how come I feel like the bench is a lot weaker now? I’ll bet it’s because the JJ and Jawad (nice name), AV at center, and Gibson and West doesn’t seem like a lineup that can score.

Me: Not having that Z+Andy dynamic changes the whole unit. Until they get Z back, I think they have to play Jamison with Andy, just to get some front line scoring. JJ can stay with the easy feeds from LeBron and Shaq. Jawad has cooled off offensively, and remember we used to have Jamario Moon? Whatever happened to that guy?