NBA owners and players reached a tentative agreement early Saturday to end the 149-day lockout and hope to begin the delayed season on Christmas Day.
Neither side provided many specifics but said the only words players and fans wanted to hear.
"We want to play basketball," Commissioner David Stern said.
After a secret meeting earlier this week, the sides met for more than 15 hours Friday, working to try to save the season. This handshake deal, however, still must be ratified by both owners and players.
Stern said it was "subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations, but we're optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin Dec. 25."
Barring a change in scheduling, the 2011-12 season will open with the Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, followed by Miami at Dallas in an NBA finals rematch before MVP Derrick Rose and Chicago close the tripleheader against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
The league plans a 66-game season and aims to open training camps Dec. 9, with free agency opening at the same time. Stern has said it would take about 30 days from an agreement to playing the first game.
"All I feel right now is `finally,"' Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade told The Associated Press.
A majority on each side is needed to approve the agreement. The NBA needs votes from 15 of 29 owners. (The league owns the New Orleans Hornets.) Stern said the labor committee plans to discuss the agreement later Saturday and expects them to endorse it and recommend to the full board.
The union needs a simple majority of its 430-plus members. That process is a bit more complicated after the players dissolved the union Nov. 14. Now, they must drop their antitrust lawsuit in Minnesota and reform the union before voting on the deal.
Because the union disbanded, a new collective bargaining agreement can only be completed once the union has reformed. Drug testing and other issues still must be negotiated between the league and the players.
"We're very pleased we've come this far," Stern said. "There's still a lot of work to be done."
[12/8/11] NBA basketball is back, and Commissioner David Stern insists better than before.
Maybe it won’t be noticed right away, but Stern said the “tortured journey” of this 161-day lockout will prove to be worth it.
Stern announced that owners and players ratified a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, the final step to ending the five-month lockout and paving the way for training camps and free agency to open Friday.
Together with an expanded revenue sharing program, Stern said teams and fans will see an improved league in coming years.
“It’s a new beginning in a way,” he said. “It’s going to take a couple of years to work its way out, but we’re very excited about its prospects.”
The 10-year deal promises owners savings of perhaps a quarter billion dollars a year but largely leaves intact the soft salary cap system that the players fought hard to maintain.
Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver announced the deal during a press conference, putting an end to nearly two years of difficult negotiations that resulted in the second shortened season in NBA history. A 66-game schedule will begin on Christmas and run through April 26, forcing every team to play on three straight nights at least once.
Owners approved the deal, which allows either side to opt out after six years, by a 25-5 vote. The players’ association said 86 percent of the more than 200 players who voted electronically approved the deal.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Justin Verlander MVP
NEW YORK (AP)—Justin Verlander(notes) figured time had run out on his chance to become the first starting pitcher in a quarter-century to be voted Most Valuable Player.
Last Tuesday, he found out about 12:40 p.m. that he was a unanimous winner of the AL Cy Young Award. It was closing in on 1 p.m. Monday, and he still hadn’t gotten word on the MVP.
“I had told myself that it wasn’t going to happen,” he said. “I figured somebody else got the call.”
Not to worry, there was just a slight delay because Verlander didn’t give the Baseball Writers’ Association of America his telephone number, forcing the BBWAA to relay the news through Brian Britten, the Detroit Tigers’ director of media relations.
Britten telephoned Verlander at 12:56 p.m., about one hour before the announcement.
“It was just a weight off my shoulders,” Verlander said, “and pure elation, really.”
After winning the AL’s pitching triple crown by going 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts, Verlander received 13 of 28 first-place votes and 280 points. He became the first pitcher voted MVP since Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and the first starting pitcher since Boston’s Roger Clemens in 1986.
“Obviously pitchers are not just written off all of a sudden because they’re pitchers,” Verlander said.
Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) was second with four firsts and 242 points, followed by Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista(notes) with five firsts and 231 points, Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson(notes) with 215 and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera(notes) with 193.
Recent history has been against pitchers. Since Eckersley’s win, only once had a pitcher finished as high as second.
In 1999, Boston’s Pedro Martinez(notes) was 13 points behind Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez(notes) after going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. Martinez had eight first-place votes to seven for Rodriguez, but La Velle Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and George King of the New York Post left Martinez off their ballots.
Last Tuesday, he found out about 12:40 p.m. that he was a unanimous winner of the AL Cy Young Award. It was closing in on 1 p.m. Monday, and he still hadn’t gotten word on the MVP.
“I had told myself that it wasn’t going to happen,” he said. “I figured somebody else got the call.”
Not to worry, there was just a slight delay because Verlander didn’t give the Baseball Writers’ Association of America his telephone number, forcing the BBWAA to relay the news through Brian Britten, the Detroit Tigers’ director of media relations.
Britten telephoned Verlander at 12:56 p.m., about one hour before the announcement.
“It was just a weight off my shoulders,” Verlander said, “and pure elation, really.”
After winning the AL’s pitching triple crown by going 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts, Verlander received 13 of 28 first-place votes and 280 points. He became the first pitcher voted MVP since Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and the first starting pitcher since Boston’s Roger Clemens in 1986.
“Obviously pitchers are not just written off all of a sudden because they’re pitchers,” Verlander said.
Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) was second with four firsts and 242 points, followed by Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista(notes) with five firsts and 231 points, Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson(notes) with 215 and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera(notes) with 193.
Recent history has been against pitchers. Since Eckersley’s win, only once had a pitcher finished as high as second.
In 1999, Boston’s Pedro Martinez(notes) was 13 points behind Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez(notes) after going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. Martinez had eight first-place votes to seven for Rodriguez, but La Velle Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and George King of the New York Post left Martinez off their ballots.
Monday, November 14, 2011
NBA players to decertify union, season in jeopardy
NEW YORK (AP)—NBA players rejected the league’s latest offer Monday and began disbanding the union, likely jeopardizing the season.
“We’re prepared to file this antitrust action against the NBA,” union executive director Billy Hunter said. “That’s the best situation where players can get their due process.”
And that’s a tragedy as far as NBA Commissioner David Stern is concerned.
“It looks like the 2011-12 season is really in jeopardy,” Stern said in an interview aired on ESPN. “It’s just a big charade. To do it now, the union is ratcheting up I guess to see if they can scare the NBA owners or something. That’s not happening.”
Hunter said players were not prepared to agree to Stern’s ultimatum to accept the current proposal or face a worse one, saying they thought it was “extremely unfair.” And they’re aware what this battle might cost them.
“We understand the consequences of potentially missing the season; we understand the consequences that players could potentially face if things don’t go our way, but it’s a risk worth taking,” union vice president Maurice Evans(notes) said. “It’s the right move to do.”
But it’s risky. The league already has filed a pre-emptive lawsuit seeking to prove the lockout is legal and contends that without a union that collectively bargained them, the players’ guaranteed contracts could legally be voided.
During oral arguments on Nov. 2, the NBA asked U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe to decide the legality of its lockout, but he was reluctant to wade into the league’s labor mess. Gardephe has yet to issue a ruling.
Stern, who is a lawyer, had urged players to take the deal on the table, saying it’s the best the NBA could offer and advised that decertification is not a winning strategy.
Players ignored that warning, choosing instead to dissolve its union, giving them a chance to win several billion dollars in triple damages in an antitrust lawsuit.
“This is the best decision for the players,” union president Derek Fisher(notes) said. “I want to reiterate that point, that a lot of individual players have a lot of things personally at stake in terms of their careers and where they stand. And right now they feel it’s important—we all feel it’s important to all our players, not just the ones in this room, but our entire group—that we not only try to get a deal done for today but for the body of NBA players that will come into this league over the next decade and beyond.”
Fisher, flanked at a press conference by dozens of players including Kobe Bryant(notes) and Carmelo Anthony(notes), said the decision was unanimous. But there were surely players throughout the league who would have preferred union leadership put the proposal to a vote of the full membership instead.
Hunter said the NBPA was in the process of converting to a trade association and that all players will be represented in a class-action suit against the NBA by attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and David Boies—who were on opposite sides of the NFL labor dispute, Kessler working for the players, Boise for the league.
“The fact that the two biggest legal adversaries in the NFL players dispute over the NFL lockout both agree that the NBA lockout is now illegal and subject to triple damages speaks for itself,” Kessler said in an email to The Associated Press. “I am delighted to work together with David Boies on behalf of the NBA players.”
Stern was not impressed with his legal adversaries.
“Mr. Kessler got his way, and we’re about to go into the nuclear winter of the NBA,” he told ESPN. “If I were a player … I would be wondering what it is that Billy Hunter just did.”
The sides still can negotiate during the legal process, so players didn’t want to write off the season just yet.
“I don’t want to make any assumptions,” union VP Keyon Dooling(notes) said. “I believe we’ll continue to try to get a deal done or let this process play out. I don’t know what to expect from this process.”
Hunter said the NBPA’s “notice of disclaimer” was filed with Stern’s office about an hour before the news conference announcing the move.
Hunter said the bargaining process had “completely broken down.” Players and owners have been talking for some two years but couldn’t reach a deal, with players feeling the league’s desires to improve competitive balance would hurt their free agency options.
And beyond that, the owners’ desire for a 50-50 split of basketball-related income, after players were guaranteed 57 percent under the old deal, meant players were shifting at least $280 million per year to the owners.
“This deal could have been done. It should have been done,” Hunter said. “We’ve given and given and given, and they got to the place where they just reached for too much and the players decided to push back.”
Over the weekend, Stern said he would not cancel the season this week.
Regardless, damage already has been done, in many ways.
Financially, both sides have lost hundreds of millions because of the games missed and the countless more that will be wiped out before play resumes. Team employees are losing money, and in some cases, jobs. And both the NBA and NBPA eventually must regain the loyalty of an angered fan base that wonders how the league reached this low point after such a strong 2010-11 season.
***
NBA Labor Central
An interview with Kevin Murphy
“We’re prepared to file this antitrust action against the NBA,” union executive director Billy Hunter said. “That’s the best situation where players can get their due process.”
And that’s a tragedy as far as NBA Commissioner David Stern is concerned.
“It looks like the 2011-12 season is really in jeopardy,” Stern said in an interview aired on ESPN. “It’s just a big charade. To do it now, the union is ratcheting up I guess to see if they can scare the NBA owners or something. That’s not happening.”
Hunter said players were not prepared to agree to Stern’s ultimatum to accept the current proposal or face a worse one, saying they thought it was “extremely unfair.” And they’re aware what this battle might cost them.
“We understand the consequences of potentially missing the season; we understand the consequences that players could potentially face if things don’t go our way, but it’s a risk worth taking,” union vice president Maurice Evans(notes) said. “It’s the right move to do.”
But it’s risky. The league already has filed a pre-emptive lawsuit seeking to prove the lockout is legal and contends that without a union that collectively bargained them, the players’ guaranteed contracts could legally be voided.
During oral arguments on Nov. 2, the NBA asked U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe to decide the legality of its lockout, but he was reluctant to wade into the league’s labor mess. Gardephe has yet to issue a ruling.
Stern, who is a lawyer, had urged players to take the deal on the table, saying it’s the best the NBA could offer and advised that decertification is not a winning strategy.
Players ignored that warning, choosing instead to dissolve its union, giving them a chance to win several billion dollars in triple damages in an antitrust lawsuit.
“This is the best decision for the players,” union president Derek Fisher(notes) said. “I want to reiterate that point, that a lot of individual players have a lot of things personally at stake in terms of their careers and where they stand. And right now they feel it’s important—we all feel it’s important to all our players, not just the ones in this room, but our entire group—that we not only try to get a deal done for today but for the body of NBA players that will come into this league over the next decade and beyond.”
Fisher, flanked at a press conference by dozens of players including Kobe Bryant(notes) and Carmelo Anthony(notes), said the decision was unanimous. But there were surely players throughout the league who would have preferred union leadership put the proposal to a vote of the full membership instead.
Hunter said the NBPA was in the process of converting to a trade association and that all players will be represented in a class-action suit against the NBA by attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and David Boies—who were on opposite sides of the NFL labor dispute, Kessler working for the players, Boise for the league.
“The fact that the two biggest legal adversaries in the NFL players dispute over the NFL lockout both agree that the NBA lockout is now illegal and subject to triple damages speaks for itself,” Kessler said in an email to The Associated Press. “I am delighted to work together with David Boies on behalf of the NBA players.”
Stern was not impressed with his legal adversaries.
“Mr. Kessler got his way, and we’re about to go into the nuclear winter of the NBA,” he told ESPN. “If I were a player … I would be wondering what it is that Billy Hunter just did.”
The sides still can negotiate during the legal process, so players didn’t want to write off the season just yet.
“I don’t want to make any assumptions,” union VP Keyon Dooling(notes) said. “I believe we’ll continue to try to get a deal done or let this process play out. I don’t know what to expect from this process.”
Hunter said the NBPA’s “notice of disclaimer” was filed with Stern’s office about an hour before the news conference announcing the move.
Hunter said the bargaining process had “completely broken down.” Players and owners have been talking for some two years but couldn’t reach a deal, with players feeling the league’s desires to improve competitive balance would hurt their free agency options.
And beyond that, the owners’ desire for a 50-50 split of basketball-related income, after players were guaranteed 57 percent under the old deal, meant players were shifting at least $280 million per year to the owners.
“This deal could have been done. It should have been done,” Hunter said. “We’ve given and given and given, and they got to the place where they just reached for too much and the players decided to push back.”
Over the weekend, Stern said he would not cancel the season this week.
Regardless, damage already has been done, in many ways.
Financially, both sides have lost hundreds of millions because of the games missed and the countless more that will be wiped out before play resumes. Team employees are losing money, and in some cases, jobs. And both the NBA and NBPA eventually must regain the loyalty of an angered fan base that wonders how the league reached this low point after such a strong 2010-11 season.
***
NBA Labor Central
An interview with Kevin Murphy
Predicting Hawaii's 2011 season
Here’s how Bobby Curran sees the UH football season playing out:
Sept. 3: UH 31, Colorado 24 Both teams will have opening night jitters, but UH has the 5,000-yard passer, a veteran coaching staff and more impact players on defense. [34-17, 1-0, 1-0]
Sept. 10: UW 27, UH 20 It’s hard to play in Husky Stadium, the Dogs return 15 starters including eight on defense and three of four in the secondary. If UH can pull an upset here, it could mean that Hawaii fans are in for an extra special year. They have to win the turnover battle in this one. [32-40, 1-1, 2-0]
Sept. 17: UH 56, UNLV 10 The Rebels don’t have much this year and Hawaii treats this like a home game. It will only be close for a quarter. [20-40, 1-2, 2-1]
Sept. 24: UH 45, UC Davis 14 Davis, physically overmatched, will need to maintain their composure to keep this respectable. [56-14, 2-2, 3-1]
Oct. 1: La Tech 28, UH 24 I’ve been worried about this game since the schedule came out. The Bulldogs are always athletic and give Hawaii headaches in Ruston. Lennon Creer is big, strong and fast and the best running back at La Tech since Ryan Moats. [44-26, 3-2, 3-2]
Oct 14: UH 45, San Jose State 20 The Spartans should at least double their win total this year that’s not saying much since they went 1-12 last year. The good news is they have all 11 starters starters back on defense. The bad news is they were horrible on defense. [27-28, 3-3, 3-3]
Oct. 22: UH 51, New Mexico State 10 Hawaii is way too much for these Aggies, who have never won in the 50th state. Tough homecoming for Andrew Manley. [45-34, 4-3, 4-3]
Oct. 29: UH 38, Idaho 17 The Vandals are rebuilding and will be challenged on offense with only four starters returning. A winning record would be a major accomplishment for Robb Akey this year. [16-14, 5-3, 5-3]
Nov. 5: UH 31, Utah State 14 The Aggies have nine starters back on offense but none of them are QB Diondre Borel. RB Robert Turbin is a load. [31-35, 5-4, 5-4]
Nov. 12: UH 28, Nevada 24 Reno is a tough place to play, but I like Hawaii here. Nevada loses too many good players and there is no reasonable facsimile of Colin Kaeprenick. [28-42, 5-5, 5-5]
Nov. 19: UH, 35 Fresno State 24 Hawaii seems to have the Bulldogs’ number of late, winning four of five and scoring lots of points. Hawaii scores quickly and Fresno State has trouble in a track meet.
Nov. 26: UH 41, Tulane 24 The Warriors owe the Green Wave one after a bitter bowl defeat in 2002. UH should be fine here if they don’t get caught looking ahead. Tulane struggles against good passing teams.
Dec. 3: UH 49, BYU 45 This should be fun. BYU has 10 starters back on offense and will score points. They have only five starters back on defense and should give up points. It might come down to who has the ball last. The game should be a sellout, and the home crowd will put Hawaii over the top.
There you have it: 11-2 and a trip to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. SMU vs. Hawaii, anyone?
[and here's Bob Hogue's predictions]
Sept. 3: UH 31, Colorado 24 Both teams will have opening night jitters, but UH has the 5,000-yard passer, a veteran coaching staff and more impact players on defense. [34-17, 1-0, 1-0]
Sept. 10: UW 27, UH 20 It’s hard to play in Husky Stadium, the Dogs return 15 starters including eight on defense and three of four in the secondary. If UH can pull an upset here, it could mean that Hawaii fans are in for an extra special year. They have to win the turnover battle in this one. [32-40, 1-1, 2-0]
Sept. 17: UH 56, UNLV 10 The Rebels don’t have much this year and Hawaii treats this like a home game. It will only be close for a quarter. [20-40, 1-2, 2-1]
Sept. 24: UH 45, UC Davis 14 Davis, physically overmatched, will need to maintain their composure to keep this respectable. [56-14, 2-2, 3-1]
Oct. 1: La Tech 28, UH 24 I’ve been worried about this game since the schedule came out. The Bulldogs are always athletic and give Hawaii headaches in Ruston. Lennon Creer is big, strong and fast and the best running back at La Tech since Ryan Moats. [44-26, 3-2, 3-2]
Oct 14: UH 45, San Jose State 20 The Spartans should at least double their win total this year that’s not saying much since they went 1-12 last year. The good news is they have all 11 starters starters back on defense. The bad news is they were horrible on defense. [27-28, 3-3, 3-3]
Oct. 22: UH 51, New Mexico State 10 Hawaii is way too much for these Aggies, who have never won in the 50th state. Tough homecoming for Andrew Manley. [45-34, 4-3, 4-3]
Oct. 29: UH 38, Idaho 17 The Vandals are rebuilding and will be challenged on offense with only four starters returning. A winning record would be a major accomplishment for Robb Akey this year. [16-14, 5-3, 5-3]
Nov. 5: UH 31, Utah State 14 The Aggies have nine starters back on offense but none of them are QB Diondre Borel. RB Robert Turbin is a load. [31-35, 5-4, 5-4]
Nov. 12: UH 28, Nevada 24 Reno is a tough place to play, but I like Hawaii here. Nevada loses too many good players and there is no reasonable facsimile of Colin Kaeprenick. [28-42, 5-5, 5-5]
Nov. 19: UH, 35 Fresno State 24 Hawaii seems to have the Bulldogs’ number of late, winning four of five and scoring lots of points. Hawaii scores quickly and Fresno State has trouble in a track meet.
Nov. 26: UH 41, Tulane 24 The Warriors owe the Green Wave one after a bitter bowl defeat in 2002. UH should be fine here if they don’t get caught looking ahead. Tulane struggles against good passing teams.
Dec. 3: UH 49, BYU 45 This should be fun. BYU has 10 starters back on offense and will score points. They have only five starters back on defense and should give up points. It might come down to who has the ball last. The game should be a sellout, and the home crowd will put Hawaii over the top.
There you have it: 11-2 and a trip to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. SMU vs. Hawaii, anyone?
[and here's Bob Hogue's predictions]
NBA looks to the NHL
The league that James Naismith gave birth to is a second-tier member of the U.S. Big Four. Football obviously rules the roost and Major League Baseball still pulls in 50 million in attendance in tough economic times. The NBA is now on par with the National Hockey League in terms of attendance, and owners are looking at that league, and not the NFL, as a source of economic inspiration.
In 2005 the NHL adopted a scorched earth policy that cost the struggling league an entire season and forced it from its cozy ESPN contract and onto Versus, more commonly known as the what-channel-is-that-on? network. It was a desperate move for a league that was too big and whose Third World distribution of wealth put the NHL on the verge of economic collapse. Ratings and attendance suffered upon its return, but what emerged was a league finally able to operate within its means. The players are still handsomely rewarded, though not as much as before, and the salary cap created competitive parity, which generated greater fan interest and a firmer financial footing for the owners.
Six of those NHL owners own NBA teams, and their experience is pushing the current negotiations.
The league claims 22 of the 30 teams lost money. Faced with similar inequalities, the NHL managed to overcome the disparity by establishing a more equitable split of revenue between players and owners, and by instituting a salary cap. The NBA’s “flex cap” has been a disaster and has only created more wealth for the already wealthy. It needs to be hardened. The current 57-43 revenue split between players and owners has not kept up with rising player salaries and a more equal split is necessary.
Both sides have dug in and each is waiting for the other to blink. That is not going to happen anytime soon, but with a successful example at the ready, the question is will the NBA follow the NHL over the cliff before it realizes Gary Bettman actually got this one right.
In 2005 the NHL adopted a scorched earth policy that cost the struggling league an entire season and forced it from its cozy ESPN contract and onto Versus, more commonly known as the what-channel-is-that-on? network. It was a desperate move for a league that was too big and whose Third World distribution of wealth put the NHL on the verge of economic collapse. Ratings and attendance suffered upon its return, but what emerged was a league finally able to operate within its means. The players are still handsomely rewarded, though not as much as before, and the salary cap created competitive parity, which generated greater fan interest and a firmer financial footing for the owners.
Six of those NHL owners own NBA teams, and their experience is pushing the current negotiations.
The league claims 22 of the 30 teams lost money. Faced with similar inequalities, the NHL managed to overcome the disparity by establishing a more equitable split of revenue between players and owners, and by instituting a salary cap. The NBA’s “flex cap” has been a disaster and has only created more wealth for the already wealthy. It needs to be hardened. The current 57-43 revenue split between players and owners has not kept up with rising player salaries and a more equal split is necessary.
Both sides have dug in and each is waiting for the other to blink. That is not going to happen anytime soon, but with a successful example at the ready, the question is will the NBA follow the NHL over the cliff before it realizes Gary Bettman actually got this one right.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Top 10 2012 NBA prospects
Harrison Barnes will draw much of the attention when top-ranked North Carolina makes its season debut against Michigan State atop the USS Vinson on Friday night. The sophomore swingman is arguably the top player in college basketball and a preseason All-America selection for the second straight year.
But do NBA scouts adore Barnes just as much? Or, is their focus on a couple of freshmen big men in Connecticut’s Andre Drummond and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis?
The consensus is that Barnes, Drummond and Davis are the top three prospects right now with the order varying, depending on the scout who’s ranking them. With the college basketball season starting, NBA talent evaluators will be busy assessing what a longtime scout described as potentially one of the deepest drafts in the past 10 years.
“Since a lot of guys stayed in school [after last season], this is a very, very strong draft,” the scout said. “There will be guys selected [from Nos.] 15-25 that can come in and be contributors right away. Next year will be a very, very strong and deep draft.”
Here’s Yahoo! Sports’ top 10 college NBA draft prospects:
1. Andre Drummond, Connecticut, C, Fresh., 6-11, 251 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He’s the first legitimate center prospect since Greg Oden(notes). He’s got the physical tools of an everyday center in our league. Haven’t seen him a whole lot, but he’s big, raw and physical. You have to take him first.”
2. Anthony Davis, Kentucky, PF, Fresh., 6-10, 220 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He was intriguing because he was a shooting guard for most of his high school career before he blew up to his height. His versatility at his size stands out. He continues to get better and better.”
3. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, G-F, Soph., 6-8, 210 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He is the most prolific scorer in the draft and can be a big scorer in the NBA. But can you be instrumental on just one end of the floor? What can he do to make a team better? He deserves an argument for No. 1, but you always pick size.”
4. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, PF, Soph., 6-8, 250 pounds – Scout’s comment: “The only thing you can question about him is weight and lack of athleticism. He has to prove consistently that length won’t bother him. Undersized guys have to prove that. But he’s physical, he knows how to use his body. A thoughtful post player who knows his limitations and makes up for them.”
5. Perry Jones, Baylor, PF, Soph., 6-11, 220 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He has the potential to be better than everyone ahead of him on this list. However, the term I won’t use with him is ‘aggressive.’ He’s content on being a perimeter guy instead of more versatile with his back to the basket. Guys like that are often saying, ‘I’m so gifted I will do what I want instead of taking advantage of mismatches.’ ”
6. Terrence Jones, Kentucky, SF-PF, Soph., 6-8, 244 pounds – Scout’s comment: “Versatile. Can really handle the ball for a guy his size with good vision. He can get to spots he wants with the ball because of his skill set. Big men won’t want to guard him on the perimeter. He has the mentality to post smaller players and take bigger players on the perimeter.”
7. Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut, SG, Soph., 6-5, 185 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He really came on late last season. The reason why they won it last year was because he was the second option and took pressure off Kemba Walker(notes). He played the role of Robin real well. But can he play the role of Batman? They need a guy to be Batman this year. We’ll see.”
8. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, PF-C, 6-11, 240 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He’s the most skilled big man in the country. He’s a better athlete than given credit for. He’s coachable and comes from an elite program, so pressure is nothing. He’s experienced and will be a guy who can play in the league for 10 to 12 years. Haven’t seen him back down to anyone.”
9. Marquis Teague, Kentucky, PG, 6-2, 189 pounds – Scout’s comment: “They say he’s better than his brother [Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague(notes)] right now. He knows the game. He understands when to score and set people up. He has pretty good size for a young guy. He’s a big point guard. He won championships in high school so he’s a winner.”
10. John Henson, North Carolina, PF, 6-10, 205 pounds – Scout’s comment: “I love his versatility. It’s taken him a while to really get used to his body. He was gangly and awkward. I love his defense. He’s a decent rebounder. They are trying to make him a wing, but he doesn’t have the skill set.”
Honorable Mention: Vanderbilt C Festus Ezeli (Sr.); Kentucky G Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Fr.); Vanderbilt SG John Jenkins (Jr.); North Carolina F James McAdoo (Fr.); Baylor SF Quincy Miller (Fr.); Duke SG Austin Rivers (Fr.); Kansas SF-PF Thomas Robinson (Jr.).
But do NBA scouts adore Barnes just as much? Or, is their focus on a couple of freshmen big men in Connecticut’s Andre Drummond and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis?
The consensus is that Barnes, Drummond and Davis are the top three prospects right now with the order varying, depending on the scout who’s ranking them. With the college basketball season starting, NBA talent evaluators will be busy assessing what a longtime scout described as potentially one of the deepest drafts in the past 10 years.
“Since a lot of guys stayed in school [after last season], this is a very, very strong draft,” the scout said. “There will be guys selected [from Nos.] 15-25 that can come in and be contributors right away. Next year will be a very, very strong and deep draft.”
Here’s Yahoo! Sports’ top 10 college NBA draft prospects:
1. Andre Drummond, Connecticut, C, Fresh., 6-11, 251 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He’s the first legitimate center prospect since Greg Oden(notes). He’s got the physical tools of an everyday center in our league. Haven’t seen him a whole lot, but he’s big, raw and physical. You have to take him first.”
2. Anthony Davis, Kentucky, PF, Fresh., 6-10, 220 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He was intriguing because he was a shooting guard for most of his high school career before he blew up to his height. His versatility at his size stands out. He continues to get better and better.”
3. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, G-F, Soph., 6-8, 210 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He is the most prolific scorer in the draft and can be a big scorer in the NBA. But can you be instrumental on just one end of the floor? What can he do to make a team better? He deserves an argument for No. 1, but you always pick size.”
4. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, PF, Soph., 6-8, 250 pounds – Scout’s comment: “The only thing you can question about him is weight and lack of athleticism. He has to prove consistently that length won’t bother him. Undersized guys have to prove that. But he’s physical, he knows how to use his body. A thoughtful post player who knows his limitations and makes up for them.”
5. Perry Jones, Baylor, PF, Soph., 6-11, 220 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He has the potential to be better than everyone ahead of him on this list. However, the term I won’t use with him is ‘aggressive.’ He’s content on being a perimeter guy instead of more versatile with his back to the basket. Guys like that are often saying, ‘I’m so gifted I will do what I want instead of taking advantage of mismatches.’ ”
6. Terrence Jones, Kentucky, SF-PF, Soph., 6-8, 244 pounds – Scout’s comment: “Versatile. Can really handle the ball for a guy his size with good vision. He can get to spots he wants with the ball because of his skill set. Big men won’t want to guard him on the perimeter. He has the mentality to post smaller players and take bigger players on the perimeter.”
7. Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut, SG, Soph., 6-5, 185 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He really came on late last season. The reason why they won it last year was because he was the second option and took pressure off Kemba Walker(notes). He played the role of Robin real well. But can he play the role of Batman? They need a guy to be Batman this year. We’ll see.”
8. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, PF-C, 6-11, 240 pounds – Scout’s comment: “He’s the most skilled big man in the country. He’s a better athlete than given credit for. He’s coachable and comes from an elite program, so pressure is nothing. He’s experienced and will be a guy who can play in the league for 10 to 12 years. Haven’t seen him back down to anyone.”
9. Marquis Teague, Kentucky, PG, 6-2, 189 pounds – Scout’s comment: “They say he’s better than his brother [Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague(notes)] right now. He knows the game. He understands when to score and set people up. He has pretty good size for a young guy. He’s a big point guard. He won championships in high school so he’s a winner.”
10. John Henson, North Carolina, PF, 6-10, 205 pounds – Scout’s comment: “I love his versatility. It’s taken him a while to really get used to his body. He was gangly and awkward. I love his defense. He’s a decent rebounder. They are trying to make him a wing, but he doesn’t have the skill set.”
Honorable Mention: Vanderbilt C Festus Ezeli (Sr.); Kentucky G Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Fr.); Vanderbilt SG John Jenkins (Jr.); North Carolina F James McAdoo (Fr.); Baylor SF Quincy Miller (Fr.); Duke SG Austin Rivers (Fr.); Kansas SF-PF Thomas Robinson (Jr.).
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
best nba undergraduates
Still waiting for the lockout to end, so I have to be satisfied with articles like this rating the NBA's best rookies, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
In summary,
The five best seniors are (in reverse order): Eric Gordon, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose.
Juniors: Ty Lawson, Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry
Sophomores: Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, John Wall, Blake Griffin
Freshmen: ?, ?, ?, Derrick Williams, Kyrie Irving
??? Not sure who third, fourth, five place freshman are. Tristan Thompson was voted first by one writer, but wasn't even mentioned by the other four. So give him 5 points. Enes Kanter had 1 second place vote and 1 third place vote. So give him 7 points. Bismack Biyombo had 1 second place vote and 1 fourth place votes. 6 points. Kemba Walker has 1 third place vote, and 2 fifth place votes. So that's 5 points. But Walker is the only other player besides Irving and Williams to be chosen by three writers. Lemme make a table.
In summary,
The five best seniors are (in reverse order): Eric Gordon, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose.
Juniors: Ty Lawson, Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry
Sophomores: Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, John Wall, Blake Griffin
Freshmen: ?, ?, ?, Derrick Williams, Kyrie Irving
??? Not sure who third, fourth, five place freshman are. Tristan Thompson was voted first by one writer, but wasn't even mentioned by the other four. So give him 5 points. Enes Kanter had 1 second place vote and 1 third place vote. So give him 7 points. Bismack Biyombo had 1 second place vote and 1 fourth place votes. 6 points. Kemba Walker has 1 third place vote, and 2 fifth place votes. So that's 5 points. But Walker is the only other player besides Irving and Williams to be chosen by three writers. Lemme make a table.
5 4 3 2 1 points
Kyrie Irving 1 1 1 2 19
Derrick Williams 1 1 2 15
Enes Kanter 1 1 7
Bismack Biyombo 1 1 6
Kemba Walker 2 1 5
Tristan Thompson 1 5
Kawhi Leonard 1 1 4
Ricky Rubio 1 4
Alec Burks 1 3
Jan Vaseley 1 2
Kenneth Faried 1 2
Marcus Morris 1 2
Iman Shumpert 1 1
Joe Paterno fired
Joe Paterno, the Penn State football coach who preached success with honor for half a century but whose legend was shattered by a child sex abuse scandal, said Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season.
Paterno said he was “absolutely devastated” by the case, in which his onetime heir apparent, Jerry Sandusky, has been charged with molesting eight boys in 15 years, including at the Penn State football complex.
He said he hoped the team could finish its season with “dignity and determination.”
The 84-year-old Paterno has been engulfed by outrage that he did not take more action after a graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, came to him in 2002 and reported seeing Sandusky in the Penn State showers with a 10-year-old boy. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice president, Gary Schultz.
Curley and Schultz have since been charged with failing to report the incident to the authorities. Paterno hasn’t been accused of legal wrongdoing. But he has been assailed, in what the state police commissioner called a lapse of “moral responsibility,” for not doing more to stop Sandusky.
“This is a tragedy,” Paterno said in a statement. “It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”
***
Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.
The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season.
But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore.
Speaking at his house to a couple of dozen students, Paterno said, “Right now, I’m not the football coach. And I’ve got to get used to that. After 61 years, I’ve got to get used to it. I appreciate it. Let me think it through.”
He shook hands with many of the students, some of whom were crying.
Other students were upset. A large crowd descended on the administration building, shouting “We want Joe back!” then headed to Beaver Stadium.
***
[1/6/12] STATE COLLEGE, Pa. >> New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will be Penn State's first new head football coach in nearly a half-century, according to multiple reports.
ESPN, citing unnamed sources, first reported Thursday night that an official announcement would be made Saturday, and that O'Brien would continue as an assistant with the Patriots the rest of the postseason.
O'Brien has no apparent ties to Penn State, which has rocked by a scandal that also led to the departure of school President Graham Spanier.
***
Paterno speaks
Paterno said he was “absolutely devastated” by the case, in which his onetime heir apparent, Jerry Sandusky, has been charged with molesting eight boys in 15 years, including at the Penn State football complex.
He said he hoped the team could finish its season with “dignity and determination.”
The 84-year-old Paterno has been engulfed by outrage that he did not take more action after a graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, came to him in 2002 and reported seeing Sandusky in the Penn State showers with a 10-year-old boy. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice president, Gary Schultz.
Curley and Schultz have since been charged with failing to report the incident to the authorities. Paterno hasn’t been accused of legal wrongdoing. But he has been assailed, in what the state police commissioner called a lapse of “moral responsibility,” for not doing more to stop Sandusky.
“This is a tragedy,” Paterno said in a statement. “It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”
***
Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.
The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season.
But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore.
Speaking at his house to a couple of dozen students, Paterno said, “Right now, I’m not the football coach. And I’ve got to get used to that. After 61 years, I’ve got to get used to it. I appreciate it. Let me think it through.”
He shook hands with many of the students, some of whom were crying.
Other students were upset. A large crowd descended on the administration building, shouting “We want Joe back!” then headed to Beaver Stadium.
***
[1/6/12] STATE COLLEGE, Pa. >> New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will be Penn State's first new head football coach in nearly a half-century, according to multiple reports.
ESPN, citing unnamed sources, first reported Thursday night that an official announcement would be made Saturday, and that O'Brien would continue as an assistant with the Patriots the rest of the postseason.
O'Brien has no apparent ties to Penn State, which has rocked by a scandal that also led to the departure of school President Graham Spanier.
***
Paterno speaks
Monday, November 07, 2011
Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier, the heavyweight boxing champion who in 1971 became the first fighter to defeat Muhammad Ali, then lost two epic rematches including a ferocious battle known as the "Thrilla in Manila," died Monday night. He was 67.
Smokin' Joe, as he was known, died in Philadelphia, said his manager, Leslie Wolff. He had liver cancer.
It was a golden age of heavyweight boxing in the 1970s, when fight fans filled massive arenas and boosted the sport's television ratings to watch the likes of Ali and Frazier and George Foreman, Jerry Quarry and Ken Norton.
In his 37 professional fights, Frazier won 32 times — 27 by knockout — and lost only four, with one draw. But he never really accepted his 1-2 record against Ali.
"I whupped him three times," Frazier said many times over the years.
They met for the first time on March 8, 1971, in New York's Madison Square Garden, with each fighter guaranteed $2.5 million. Ali, then 31-0, had been stripped of his heavyweight titles when, as Cassius Clay, he refused to be inducted into the military after being drafted for the Vietnam War. Frazier, at 26-0, had captured the title of undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970 with a technical knockout of Jimmy Ellis.
It was a brutal battle, rated by many as the "fight of the century" and considered the best boxing match of all time at any weight. When Frazier knocked Ali down in the 15th and final round and won on points, both received rave reviews for their performances. Both also went immediately to the hospital.
Before they could be paired again in the ring, Frazier defended his title four times, most notably on Jan. 22, 1973, against Foreman in Kingston, Jamaica.
Even the burly, fearsome-looking Foreman, who was 4 inches taller, admitted that the thought of getting into the ring with the brawling fireplug Frazier frightened him.
"Every time he swung at me," Foreman said, "it scared five years out of my life."
Nevertheless, in the second round, Foreman caught Frazier with a right uppercut that sent the fighter from Philadelphia to the canvas.
Sitting ringside for the boxing telecast was announcer Howard Cosell, by now internationally known for his boisterous and opinionated broadcast style. When Frazier, the champion, hit the deck, Cosell stole the moment and the show with his dramatic bellowing of the call:
"DOWN GOES FRAZIER! DOWN GOES FRAZIER! DOWN GOES FRAZIER!"
It was as if he was calling an airplane crash rather than a boxing match. It not only stuck with Frazier, who got to his feet too late to avoid being counted out, but it is a mocking call to this day among boxing fans for all such spectacular knockdowns.
After Foreman took Frazier's title away, Frazier fought Ali twice more, losing in a more subdued battle in the Garden in 1974, when Ali kept Frazier away more effectively with holding and clinching, and a year later, after Ali had gotten his title back by beating Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).
It was for this third match, on Oct. 1, 1975, in Quezon City, the Philippines, that Ali predicted he would have an easy time with Frazier. In the pre-fight promotions for what was dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila," Ali called Frazier an "Uncle Tom" and a "gorilla" and repeatedly ridiculed him. The fight was anything but easy, and Ali later likened it to being "the closest thing to dying." By the 14th round, both having hit and been hit too many times to count, Frazier's eyes were nearly swollen shut and he couldn't see Ali's punches, even though he had stood in and flailed away for several rounds right through his near-blindness.
Finally, after the 14th round, his veteran trainer, Eddie Futch, over loud protests from Frazier, threw in the towel to end the fight.
"Sit down, son," Futch told Frazier. "It's all over. Nobody will ever forget what you did here today."
Frazier and Ali had fought 41 rounds and served up a boxing trilogy for the ages.
Smokin' Joe, as he was known, died in Philadelphia, said his manager, Leslie Wolff. He had liver cancer.
It was a golden age of heavyweight boxing in the 1970s, when fight fans filled massive arenas and boosted the sport's television ratings to watch the likes of Ali and Frazier and George Foreman, Jerry Quarry and Ken Norton.
In his 37 professional fights, Frazier won 32 times — 27 by knockout — and lost only four, with one draw. But he never really accepted his 1-2 record against Ali.
"I whupped him three times," Frazier said many times over the years.
They met for the first time on March 8, 1971, in New York's Madison Square Garden, with each fighter guaranteed $2.5 million. Ali, then 31-0, had been stripped of his heavyweight titles when, as Cassius Clay, he refused to be inducted into the military after being drafted for the Vietnam War. Frazier, at 26-0, had captured the title of undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970 with a technical knockout of Jimmy Ellis.
It was a brutal battle, rated by many as the "fight of the century" and considered the best boxing match of all time at any weight. When Frazier knocked Ali down in the 15th and final round and won on points, both received rave reviews for their performances. Both also went immediately to the hospital.
Before they could be paired again in the ring, Frazier defended his title four times, most notably on Jan. 22, 1973, against Foreman in Kingston, Jamaica.
Even the burly, fearsome-looking Foreman, who was 4 inches taller, admitted that the thought of getting into the ring with the brawling fireplug Frazier frightened him.
"Every time he swung at me," Foreman said, "it scared five years out of my life."
Nevertheless, in the second round, Foreman caught Frazier with a right uppercut that sent the fighter from Philadelphia to the canvas.
Sitting ringside for the boxing telecast was announcer Howard Cosell, by now internationally known for his boisterous and opinionated broadcast style. When Frazier, the champion, hit the deck, Cosell stole the moment and the show with his dramatic bellowing of the call:
"DOWN GOES FRAZIER! DOWN GOES FRAZIER! DOWN GOES FRAZIER!"
It was as if he was calling an airplane crash rather than a boxing match. It not only stuck with Frazier, who got to his feet too late to avoid being counted out, but it is a mocking call to this day among boxing fans for all such spectacular knockdowns.
After Foreman took Frazier's title away, Frazier fought Ali twice more, losing in a more subdued battle in the Garden in 1974, when Ali kept Frazier away more effectively with holding and clinching, and a year later, after Ali had gotten his title back by beating Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).
It was for this third match, on Oct. 1, 1975, in Quezon City, the Philippines, that Ali predicted he would have an easy time with Frazier. In the pre-fight promotions for what was dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila," Ali called Frazier an "Uncle Tom" and a "gorilla" and repeatedly ridiculed him. The fight was anything but easy, and Ali later likened it to being "the closest thing to dying." By the 14th round, both having hit and been hit too many times to count, Frazier's eyes were nearly swollen shut and he couldn't see Ali's punches, even though he had stood in and flailed away for several rounds right through his near-blindness.
Finally, after the 14th round, his veteran trainer, Eddie Futch, over loud protests from Frazier, threw in the towel to end the fight.
"Sit down, son," Futch told Frazier. "It's all over. Nobody will ever forget what you did here today."
Frazier and Ali had fought 41 rounds and served up a boxing trilogy for the ages.
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Case Keenum
[10/27/11] HOUSTON -- Houston quarterback Case Keenum has set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career touchdown passes.
Keenum Breaks FBS Record
With his nine touchdown passes against Rice Thursday night, Houston quarterback Case Keenum passed Graham Harrell for the most career touchdown passes in FBS history.
Player TD passes School
Case Keenum* 139 Houston (07-11)
Graham Harrell 134 Texas Tech (05-08)
Colt Brennan 131 Hawaii (05-07)
Kellen Moore* 123 Boise State (08-11)
Ty Detmer 121 BYU (88-91)
*Active
-- ESPN Stats & Information
Keenum entered Thursday's game with 130 and found Charles Sims on a 41-yard pass in the third quarter for his 135th touchdown to set the record and put Houston (No. 17 BCS, No. 18 AP) ahead of Rice 45-20.
He hit Patrick Edwards on a 57-yard pass for his first touchdown at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Tyron Carrier caught one for 21 yards and Edwards grabbed the third one for 64 yards. Justin Johnson's 18-yard reception just before halftime tied the record.
Keenum, who became the FBS career leader in total offense last week, moved ahead of former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell for the record for TD passes.
*** [11/5/11]
Case Keenum's season just keeps getting better.
A near-perfect passing game, another NCAA record and the first 9-0 start in school history are the latest entries on the senior's season of milestones.
"I'm having a blast playing football right now," Keenum said after he threw for 407 yards to become the most prolific passer in NCAA history and lead Houston (No. 13 BCS, No. 14 AP) past UAB 56-13 on Saturday night.
Keenum Breaks NCAA Passing Record
Houston quarterback Case Keenum passed Timmy Chang on Saturday to set the NCAA record for most career passing yards.
NCAA Career Passing Leaders
Player School Yards
Case Keenum* Houston 17,212
Timmy Chang Hawaii 17,072
Graham Harrell Texas Tech 15,793
Ty Detmer BYU 15,031
*Active
-- ESPN Stats & Information
Keenum, a sixth-year senior who was granted an extra year of eligibility after a knee injury last season, passed Timmy Chang's career record of 17,072 yards passing for Hawaii from 2000-04. Keenum finished the game with 17,212 yards passing.
"It has been a very special season and we still have a lot of special things out in front of us," said Keenum, who had his first two rushing touchdowns of the season.
Houston (9-0 overall, 5-0 Conference USA) has won its first nine games for the first time in school history. It also was 8-0 in 1979 and 1990.
Keenum completed 39 of 44 passes with two touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks. The senior completed a 16-yard pass to Justin Johnson in the third quarter to pass Chang's mark. Keenum tied Chang's record with a 26-yard pass to Johnson on the previous play.
"I don't take any of these things lightly, and I know for a fact that this is a very special honor," Keenum said. "I'm not going to fully enjoy it and celebrate it until after the season. Hopefully, I will have a lot more to celebrate after the season than just the records."
Keenum, who threw nine TD passes against Rice last week, completed his first 11 passes against UAB (1-8, 1-5). He began the night 267 yards away from matching Chang's mark.
The quarterback, being pushed by Houston for Heisman Trophy consideration, extended his NCAA career records for TD passes (141) and total offense (18,101). He has passed for more than 400 yards in five games this season. He has passed for 34 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
*** 4/29/12
As if waiting through a three-day slog of 252 picks without seeing his name called wasn't torture enough, the Indianapolis Colts decided to add one last kick in the nuts to Case Keenum's 2012 NFL Draft experience.
With the 253rd and last pick in the draft, the Colts selected another quarterback. Just not the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
Instead Indy went with Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, a Mid-American Conference QB who played against Arkansas State in his bowl game. Keenum if you don't remember — and no NFL personnel men seem to — spent his bowl game, carving up Penn State's defense.
For less than an hour after Harnish's name was called, Keenum had agreed to a free-agent deal with the hometown Houston Texans, where he'll get to learn the pro game under Gary Kubiak, one of the most gifted quarterback teachers in football.
Keenum Breaks FBS Record
With his nine touchdown passes against Rice Thursday night, Houston quarterback Case Keenum passed Graham Harrell for the most career touchdown passes in FBS history.
Player TD passes School
Case Keenum* 139 Houston (07-11)
Graham Harrell 134 Texas Tech (05-08)
Colt Brennan 131 Hawaii (05-07)
Kellen Moore* 123 Boise State (08-11)
Ty Detmer 121 BYU (88-91)
*Active
-- ESPN Stats & Information
Keenum entered Thursday's game with 130 and found Charles Sims on a 41-yard pass in the third quarter for his 135th touchdown to set the record and put Houston (No. 17 BCS, No. 18 AP) ahead of Rice 45-20.
He hit Patrick Edwards on a 57-yard pass for his first touchdown at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Tyron Carrier caught one for 21 yards and Edwards grabbed the third one for 64 yards. Justin Johnson's 18-yard reception just before halftime tied the record.
Keenum, who became the FBS career leader in total offense last week, moved ahead of former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell for the record for TD passes.
*** [11/5/11]
Case Keenum's season just keeps getting better.
A near-perfect passing game, another NCAA record and the first 9-0 start in school history are the latest entries on the senior's season of milestones.
"I'm having a blast playing football right now," Keenum said after he threw for 407 yards to become the most prolific passer in NCAA history and lead Houston (No. 13 BCS, No. 14 AP) past UAB 56-13 on Saturday night.
Keenum Breaks NCAA Passing Record
Houston quarterback Case Keenum passed Timmy Chang on Saturday to set the NCAA record for most career passing yards.
NCAA Career Passing Leaders
Player School Yards
Case Keenum* Houston 17,212
Timmy Chang Hawaii 17,072
Graham Harrell Texas Tech 15,793
Ty Detmer BYU 15,031
*Active
-- ESPN Stats & Information
Keenum, a sixth-year senior who was granted an extra year of eligibility after a knee injury last season, passed Timmy Chang's career record of 17,072 yards passing for Hawaii from 2000-04. Keenum finished the game with 17,212 yards passing.
"It has been a very special season and we still have a lot of special things out in front of us," said Keenum, who had his first two rushing touchdowns of the season.
Houston (9-0 overall, 5-0 Conference USA) has won its first nine games for the first time in school history. It also was 8-0 in 1979 and 1990.
Keenum completed 39 of 44 passes with two touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks. The senior completed a 16-yard pass to Justin Johnson in the third quarter to pass Chang's mark. Keenum tied Chang's record with a 26-yard pass to Johnson on the previous play.
"I don't take any of these things lightly, and I know for a fact that this is a very special honor," Keenum said. "I'm not going to fully enjoy it and celebrate it until after the season. Hopefully, I will have a lot more to celebrate after the season than just the records."
Keenum, who threw nine TD passes against Rice last week, completed his first 11 passes against UAB (1-8, 1-5). He began the night 267 yards away from matching Chang's mark.
The quarterback, being pushed by Houston for Heisman Trophy consideration, extended his NCAA career records for TD passes (141) and total offense (18,101). He has passed for more than 400 yards in five games this season. He has passed for 34 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
*** 4/29/12
As if waiting through a three-day slog of 252 picks without seeing his name called wasn't torture enough, the Indianapolis Colts decided to add one last kick in the nuts to Case Keenum's 2012 NFL Draft experience.
With the 253rd and last pick in the draft, the Colts selected another quarterback. Just not the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
Instead Indy went with Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, a Mid-American Conference QB who played against Arkansas State in his bowl game. Keenum if you don't remember — and no NFL personnel men seem to — spent his bowl game, carving up Penn State's defense.
For less than an hour after Harnish's name was called, Keenum had agreed to a free-agent deal with the hometown Houston Texans, where he'll get to learn the pro game under Gary Kubiak, one of the most gifted quarterback teachers in football.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
The NBA Players on Yahoo's database
With the start of the season supposed to be today, I'm missing keeping track of my teams stats every day. So instead I decided to see who's hiding in the list of Yahoo players, starting with no. 1..
1 - Alaa Abdelnaby
2 - Mark Acres
3 - Michael Adams
4 - Mark Aguirre
5 - Danny Ainge
Already some interesting names. This could go on a while.
[11/5/11]
6 - Mark Alarie
7 - Steve Alford
8 - Greg Anderson
9 - Nick Anderson
10 - Ron Anderson
Yep, this could take a while. Let me look up some notable names instead, starting with the Dream Team
20 - Charles Barkley
89 - Clyde Drexler
27 - Larry Bird
106 - Patrick Ewing
170 - Magic Johnson
175 - Michael Jordan
837 - Christian Laettner
213 - Karl Malone
238 - Chris Mullin
268 - Scottie Pippen
288 - David Robinson
326 - John Stockton
And a few more..
143 - Tim Hardaway
163 - Mark Jackson
191 - Bill Laimbeer
214 - Moses Malone
226 - Kevin McHale
231 - Reggie Miller
235 - Sidney Moncrief
250 - Hakeem Olajuwon
256 - Robert Parish
265 - Drazen Petrovic
283 - Mitch Richmond
291 - Dennis Rodman
295 - Ralph Sampson
303 - Dennis Scott
316 - Kenny Smith
435 - Steve Smith
333 - Isiah Thomas
366 - Dominique Wilkins
387 - James Worthy
And a few more recent/current players (OK, more than a few)
847 - Shaquille O'Neal (1992)
845 - Alonzo Mourning
1272 - Chris Webber (1993)
1273 - Shawn Bradley
1274 - Penny Hardaway
2624 - Glenn Robinson (1994)
2625 - Jason Kidd
2626 - Grant Hill
3003 - Joe Smith (1995)
3004 - Antonio McDyess
3005 - Jerry Stackhouse
3007 - Kevin Garnett
3094 - Allen Iverson (1996)
3084 - Marcus Camby
3099 - Stephon Marbury
3080 - Ray Allen
3118 - Kobe Bryant
3173 - Tim Duncan (1997)
3169 - Keith Van Horn
3174 - Chauncey Billups
3179 - Tracy McGrady
3244 - Michael Olowokandi (1998)
3245 - Mike Bibby
3246 - Raef LaFrentz
3247 - Antawn Jamison
3248 - Vince Carter
3252 - Dirk Nowitzki
3253 - Paul Pierce
3324 - Elton Brand (1999)
3325 - Steve Francis
3326 - Baron Davis
3327 - Lamar Odom
3339 - Ron Artest
3400 - Kenyon Martin (2000)
3401 - Stromile Swift
3402 - Darius Miles
3511 - Kwame Brown (2001)
3512 - Tyson Chandler
3513 - Pau Gasol
3514 - Eddy Curry
3515 - Jason Richardson
3516 - Shane Battier
3520 - Joe Johnson
3531 - Zach Randolph
3527 - Tony Parker
3599 - Yao Ming (2002)
3600 - Jay Williams
3601 - Mike Dunleavy
3602 - Drew Gooden
3607 - Amare Stoudemire
3704 - LeBron James (2003)
3705 - Darko Milicic
3706 - Carmelo Anthony
3707 - Chris Bosh
3708 - Dwyane Wade
3721 - David West
3818 - Dwight Howard (2004)
3819 - Emeka Okafor
3820 - Ben Gordon
3826 - Andre Iguodala
3831 - Kris Humphries
3832 - Al Jefferson
3834 - Josh Smith
3837 - Jameer Nelson
3843 - Kevin Martin
3927 - Andrew Bogut (2005)
3928 - Marvin Williams
3929 - Deron Williams
3930 - Chris Paul
3931 - Raymond Felton
3936 - Andrew Bynum
3943 - Danny Granger
3956 - David Lee
4129 - Andre Bargnani (2006)
4130 - LaMarcus Aldridge
4131 - Adam Morrison
4134 - Brandon Roy
4136 - Rudy Gay
4139 - J.J. Redick
4149 - Rajon Rondo
4243 - Greg Oden (2007)
4244 - Kevin Durant
4245 - Al Horford
4287 - Joakim Noah
4387 - Derrick Rose (2008)
4388 - Michael Beasley
4389 - O.J. Mayo
4390 - Russell Westbrook
4391 - Kevin Love
4468 - Danilo Gallinari
4469 - Eric Gordon
4472 - Brook Lopez
4561 - Blake Griffin (2009)
4562 - Hasheem Thabeet
4563 - James Harden
4564 - Tyreke Evans
4610 - Ricky Rubio
4612 - Stephen Curry
4615 - Brandon Jennings
4716 - John Wall (2010)
4717 - Evan Turner
4718 - Derrick Favors
4720 - DeMarcus Cousins
4722 - Greg Monroe
4840 - Kyrie Irving (2011)
4883 - Derrick Williams
4899 - Enes Kanter
4888 - Bismack Biyombo
4889 - Brandon Knight
4890 - Kemba Walker
4891 - Jimmer Fredette
1 - Alaa Abdelnaby
2 - Mark Acres
3 - Michael Adams
4 - Mark Aguirre
5 - Danny Ainge
Already some interesting names. This could go on a while.
[11/5/11]
6 - Mark Alarie
7 - Steve Alford
8 - Greg Anderson
9 - Nick Anderson
10 - Ron Anderson
Yep, this could take a while. Let me look up some notable names instead, starting with the Dream Team
20 - Charles Barkley
89 - Clyde Drexler
27 - Larry Bird
106 - Patrick Ewing
170 - Magic Johnson
175 - Michael Jordan
837 - Christian Laettner
213 - Karl Malone
238 - Chris Mullin
268 - Scottie Pippen
288 - David Robinson
326 - John Stockton
And a few more..
143 - Tim Hardaway
163 - Mark Jackson
191 - Bill Laimbeer
214 - Moses Malone
226 - Kevin McHale
231 - Reggie Miller
235 - Sidney Moncrief
250 - Hakeem Olajuwon
256 - Robert Parish
265 - Drazen Petrovic
283 - Mitch Richmond
291 - Dennis Rodman
295 - Ralph Sampson
303 - Dennis Scott
316 - Kenny Smith
435 - Steve Smith
333 - Isiah Thomas
366 - Dominique Wilkins
387 - James Worthy
And a few more recent/current players (OK, more than a few)
847 - Shaquille O'Neal (1992)
845 - Alonzo Mourning
1272 - Chris Webber (1993)
1273 - Shawn Bradley
1274 - Penny Hardaway
2624 - Glenn Robinson (1994)
2625 - Jason Kidd
2626 - Grant Hill
3003 - Joe Smith (1995)
3004 - Antonio McDyess
3005 - Jerry Stackhouse
3007 - Kevin Garnett
3094 - Allen Iverson (1996)
3084 - Marcus Camby
3099 - Stephon Marbury
3080 - Ray Allen
3118 - Kobe Bryant
3173 - Tim Duncan (1997)
3169 - Keith Van Horn
3174 - Chauncey Billups
3179 - Tracy McGrady
3244 - Michael Olowokandi (1998)
3245 - Mike Bibby
3246 - Raef LaFrentz
3247 - Antawn Jamison
3248 - Vince Carter
3252 - Dirk Nowitzki
3253 - Paul Pierce
3324 - Elton Brand (1999)
3325 - Steve Francis
3326 - Baron Davis
3327 - Lamar Odom
3339 - Ron Artest
3400 - Kenyon Martin (2000)
3401 - Stromile Swift
3402 - Darius Miles
3511 - Kwame Brown (2001)
3512 - Tyson Chandler
3513 - Pau Gasol
3514 - Eddy Curry
3515 - Jason Richardson
3516 - Shane Battier
3520 - Joe Johnson
3531 - Zach Randolph
3527 - Tony Parker
3599 - Yao Ming (2002)
3600 - Jay Williams
3601 - Mike Dunleavy
3602 - Drew Gooden
3607 - Amare Stoudemire
3704 - LeBron James (2003)
3705 - Darko Milicic
3706 - Carmelo Anthony
3707 - Chris Bosh
3708 - Dwyane Wade
3721 - David West
3818 - Dwight Howard (2004)
3819 - Emeka Okafor
3820 - Ben Gordon
3826 - Andre Iguodala
3831 - Kris Humphries
3832 - Al Jefferson
3834 - Josh Smith
3837 - Jameer Nelson
3843 - Kevin Martin
3927 - Andrew Bogut (2005)
3928 - Marvin Williams
3929 - Deron Williams
3930 - Chris Paul
3931 - Raymond Felton
3936 - Andrew Bynum
3943 - Danny Granger
3956 - David Lee
4129 - Andre Bargnani (2006)
4130 - LaMarcus Aldridge
4131 - Adam Morrison
4134 - Brandon Roy
4136 - Rudy Gay
4139 - J.J. Redick
4149 - Rajon Rondo
4243 - Greg Oden (2007)
4244 - Kevin Durant
4245 - Al Horford
4287 - Joakim Noah
4387 - Derrick Rose (2008)
4388 - Michael Beasley
4389 - O.J. Mayo
4390 - Russell Westbrook
4391 - Kevin Love
4468 - Danilo Gallinari
4469 - Eric Gordon
4472 - Brook Lopez
4561 - Blake Griffin (2009)
4562 - Hasheem Thabeet
4563 - James Harden
4564 - Tyreke Evans
4610 - Ricky Rubio
4612 - Stephen Curry
4615 - Brandon Jennings
4716 - John Wall (2010)
4717 - Evan Turner
4718 - Derrick Favors
4720 - DeMarcus Cousins
4722 - Greg Monroe
4840 - Kyrie Irving (2011)
4883 - Derrick Williams
4899 - Enes Kanter
4888 - Bismack Biyombo
4889 - Brandon Knight
4890 - Kemba Walker
4891 - Jimmer Fredette
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