Curtis Nolte (yeah that Curtis Nolte!) joins me for a WSB style fantasy football preview. He did prep work. The world is ending.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Michael Roth
National Champion Michael Roth joins me to talk about everything from his experience in the Big League World Series (which starts Tuesday) to his run in Omaha. And yes, his interviews with Erin Andrews.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Is MLS hindering U.S. Soccer
Zac Defrancesca joins me to talk about the MLS blocking Landon Donovan's transfer to Everton and it's potential ramifications on U.S. Soccer.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
LeBron Podcast
Zac DeFrancesca and Paul Gallant join me to talk about the LeBron James decision, fallout, and Comic Sans font. Also the greatest rant ever by Dan Lebetard.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The LeBlog
In 28 hours, the landscape of the NBA for the next 10 years could drastically change. LeBron James will announce his decision on where he will sign his next contract in a 1-hour special on ESPN dubbed "The Decision" by his marketing team and the broadcast giant.
Stuart Scott will host the show (shoot me) while Michael Wilbon and Jon Barry (good and good) will provide the analysis along with I'm sure hits from the Chris Broussards and Ric Buchers of the world (also good).
Jim Gray will get the first interview with LeBron in which he will make the actual announcement of where he will sign (Gray could be boom or bust, sometimes he's great, sometimes I hate him). Wilbon will then get an extended interview with James a la the one he did today on Sportscenter with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
James has caught a lot of flack for making this PR move to "boost his ego" and "enhance his brand". I don't buy it. Call me an oblivious optimist but the guy is giving the proceeds to this thing to charity because he's a good kid. When did LeBron become this guy that everyone hates? In the blog world we live in where everything is stupid and everything sucks, can someone not have pure intentions ever? The cynicism is sickening and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and some props for realizing the magnitude of the coverage, and making something charitable out of it.
Now that that rant is out of the way, let's get to another one before we break down where he could go. If you're tired of the coverage, stop watching. Go outside and shoot some hoops yourself. Go watch CNN and find the latest about the Gulf. If you want other sports coverage, watch MLB TV or NFL Network. You can avoid it if you want to, so quit complaining. I'm sure someone who's complained about it is reading this, a blog from a person with no inside knowledge that isn't published somewhere else. So why are you reading/watching/consuming all things Lebron? Because you want to. It's not cool to admit it, but you want to know the latest details and the nitty gritty just like everyone else. So shut up. Keep reading. And don't whine.
Now down to business. Where is he going?
I'll provide the case for each team, how the lineup would look with Lebron, and any inside scoops or theories I've heard. I have a pretty solid understanding of the NBA salary cap and the other factors going into what can be done, so here it goes. Also these are in alphabetical order. No other "most likely to least likely" kind of thing because let's be honest, nobody, including me, has a clue where he's going.
Cleveland Caveliers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Mo Williams
SG - Anthony Parker
SF - LeBron James
PF - Antawn Jamison
C - Anderson Varejao
Bench - Delonte West (will be traded if LeBron is back), Jamario Moon, Daniel Gibson, JJ Hickson
Why he stays:
Akron is a suburb of Cleveland and Akron is home. Akron means the world to LeBron and he knows that if he leaves he'll break the heart of an entire city and that matters to him. He is also a well documented creature of habit and he likes what is comfortable to him. Cleveland is comfortable. Also despite the playoff regression since the Finals in 2007, the Cavs have been a 60 win team the past two years.
Why he goes:
He signed a contract 3 years ago with an opt out clause (for 2010, which in case you didn't hear, he used) with the promise from Cleveland brass that they'd surround him with the proper parts and make him a winner. They tried but largely over-reacted and over spent on players that were good in the post-season, but flopped in the playoffs. Outside of Shaq who was so far over the hill he was chilling in the valley on the other side, they never got a gritty, proven sidekick with playoff experience. If LeBron has no faith in the Cavs personnel department, you can't really blame him. Their best moves since him are Hickson and Varejao and those are very limited role players even if they are good at what they do.
Inside Info: The closest thing I have to inside stuff on Cleveland is that he's been playing pickup with Cavs teammates the past few days at his camp. These are his good friends, and shouldn't be read much into, but you never know what could be significant. The home angle is the biggest thing here and that's all that matters if he stays.
Chicago Bulls
Potential Lineup:
PG - Derrick Rose
SG - J.J. Redick (sign with mid-level exception, see below)
SF - LeBron James
PF - Carlos Boozer
C - Joakim Noah
Bench - Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson
Why he goes:
Did you see the starting line-up I just posted? If Lebron wants to win now, this is where he goes. Rose is a mini James meaning teams will very rarely have two defenders good enough to stop both guys aka one will always have the potential for a huge night, while Noah and Boozer are perfect compliments. Noah is a true 7-footer and the garbage pick-up man for offensive rebounds while Boozer, who is undersized, has all the offensive skill Noah lacks and is a master big man on the pick and roll which James and Rose love and thrive in having run it at Duke with Jay (then Jason) Williams and in Utah with Deron Williams. That leaves the one need as a shooter and the Bulls have the full $5.5 million mid-level exception to play with. Redick was the Magic's best player for stretches in the playoffs. The more minutes he got, the better he played. On a team like that where all he has to do is be a spot up shooter and defend, he's a perfect role player for that team. He's also got the assassin mentality which means he can hit big shots late in games when LeBron or Rose is doubled.
Why he stays away:
Playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan is a big deal and Lebron would hear about it at mininmum for the next 6 years. MJ has 6 titles, LeBron has none. He'd have to win 7 to be the best player in the franchises history, nevertheless in the history in the league. He's good enough (yeah I said it), but it is certainly a daunting task.
Inside Scoop: This is by far the juiciest story I have and it comes via ESPN's Chad Ford on the B.S. Report with Bill Simmons. After games, MJ would go to Gibson's steakhouse in Chicago and sit at the same table, with the same waiter every time. After LeBron heard about this, when he played in Chicago he would go to Gibson's, and sit at the same table, with the same waiter. When Ford was in Chicago for the NBA pre-draft camp, he went to Gibson's to investigate the story. He found the waiter and asked him if it was true. Not only was it true, but the according to the waiter, Lebron had said "keep my table ready". Does a waiter know what we all want to? Who knows but if nothing else it's a fun story.
Miami Heat
Potential Lineup:
PG -Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwayne Wade
SF - LeBron James
PF - Michael Beasley
C - Chris Bosh
Bench: Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnardo, De'Sean Butler
Why he goes:
Let's be honest: that's a scary starting lineup. Chalmers is still young and if he can improve, he can be a serviceable point guard, especially on defense, while LeBron can handle the point on the offensive end. Beasley is as toxic as any player in the NBA, but if he can turn it around with the high characters of Wade, James, and Bosh (and even Butler) around him, he could be what we thought he could coming out of Kansas State, which is a monster rebounder and solid offensive player. As for those other two guys, Bosh and Wade. Yeah, they're good. In fact, Wade's elite (3rd best player in the world in my opinion behind James (2) and Kobe (1) in my opinion). They're also all great friends and want to play together.
Why he doesn't go:
Let's be honest. The rest of the roster has stink written all over it. I love De'Sean Butler but he's recovering from a blown up knee and won't be 100% until next March. Chalmers and Beasley could be good (as stated above) but they've proven nothing so far in the league. Varnardo is a bean pole who was a monster in college but there's a reason he played at Mississippi State, and Pittman couldn't stay on the floor at Texas because he was so out of shape that he needed a breather every 3 minutes. The rest of the roster will be maybe a mid-level guy (or 2 if they can swing 2 guys into a $5.5 million split) and minimum salary players.
Also there is something to be said about being "The Guy". No matter what, Kobe always wanted to be "The Guy". It probably cost him championships because he ran off Shaq, but that mentality comes with the killer instinct. If LeBron wants to be the one and only alpha-dog on his team, he can't play with Wade. Wade is that guy and Miami is Wade's city. If he swallows his pride and goes and wins a ton of championships, it won't diminish him in my eyes one bit, but its something to be considered.
Inside Scoop: A lot of people are saying the LeBron will join Wade and Bosh in Miami including Chris Broussard who is as close to LeBron as any media member. Wade and Bosh also said they'd consider taking less money to win, which would definitely help the case for LeBron.
New Jersey Nets
Potential Lineup:
PG - Devin Harris
SG - Terrance Williams
SF - LeBron James
PF - Derrick Favors
C - Brooke Lopez
Bench - Courtney Lee, Quinton Ross, Damion James, Kris Humphries
Why he goes:
Sure the Nets stunk last year, but their roster is stacked with young talent. LeBron has proven he can elevate young players' games and Derrick Favors can be what J.J. Hickson was in Cleveland but far better. Lopez and Harris have put up numbers in the past and Williams showed flashes of brilliance last year. The Nets have flexibility to bring in a shooter (Ray Allen, Redick, etc) so the roster is a work in progress. The Nets also provide the coveted New York connection, even if he's not playing in Madison Square Garden, and don't underestimate LeBron's relationship with Jay-Z.
Why he stays away:
The Nets are the Nets not the Knicks, and despite the talent, they did win under 20 games last year. LeBron wants to win now, and the Nets might be a few years away. I like their roster a lot, but he may not. Also the worldwide market LeBron wants is China, not Russia which new owner Mikhail Prokhorov provides.
Inside Scoop: LeBron had 1-on-1 time with Jay-Z after their meeting last week and you know that the Jigga Man offered "The King" a seat next to him on his throne as King of New York.
New York Knicks:
Potential Lineup:
PG - Sergio Rodriguez (They'd sign someone else, because that's not good enough...)
SG - Wilson Chandler
SF - LeBron James
PF - Amare Stoudamire
C - Eddie Curry
Bench: Andy Rautins, Danilo Gallinari, Tony Douglas, Landry Fields, Bill Walker
Why He Goes:
I've been to a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. It was electric. It was mid-season, and the Knicks stunk. Make them good, make it in the playoffs, and make it with those crazy people cheering for LeBron? Who wouldn't want that? Add in the fact that if he goes for the bright lights and the big city, and it works, he is forever the man who saved basketball in New York City. I get it. If he goes, I really can't blame him. He's good enough to win anywhere, and if they can add some pieces around him and Amare (and if Amare's knees don't fall apart) this team could be in title contention in 2-3 years.
I just got back from New York and there's simply no where like it. For God's sake, Al Harrington has his own shoe and billboards outside MSG and in Times Square. If LeBron wants to go to NY for branding, I think that shows he cares as much about business as basketball, which isn't necessarily a negative (who doesn't want to be a billionaire?) but taking a step up for business at the detriment of basketball can't be seen as a positive when you want to be the G.O.A.T.
Why he stays away:
Did you see the roster? Prior to the Amare deal, the Knicks roster probably belonged in the D-League. Sure Gallinari can shoot and Wilson Chandler's a nice player but when losing Chris Duhon is a major loss, that's not good. Eddie Curry will be traded at mid-season, if not sooner, because he is now a commodity (took long enough...*Isiah move cough cough*) as an $11 million expiring contract. This allows the Knicks to add other pieces and/or clear cap space to make a run at a major free agent next summer. All that being said, the Knicks have the worst roster of any of these teams, including Miami, which has 4 players under contract. Yikes.
Inside Scoop: A lot of "little birds" are telling people LeBron is headed to NYC. Chad Ochocinco, Jared Dudley, and Jay Williams, all current or former athletes who like to dab in the media (or in William's case is part of it full time) have all said they've been told LeBron is New York bound.
Los Angeles Clippers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Baron Davis
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - LeBron James
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Chris Kaman
Bench: Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, Willie Warren, Craig Smith
Why He Goes:
I can't believe I'm about to say this but, the Clippers have the best roster of anyone in the LeBron sweepstakes outside of the Bulls, and that's only because the Bulls signed Carlos Boozer. Sure a lot of it is unproven, but no roster in this sweepstakes has more upside then the Clippers, and no team would be more exciting to watch with LeBron than the Clippers. Imagine a fast break where LeBron has the Ball in the middle with Eric Bledsoe on one wing, Blake Griffin on the other, and DeAndre Jordan as a trailer. End result: you're getting dunked on. They'd need a shooter, but they'd be a legitimate playoff team at the least, if not a serious contender.
Why He Stays Away:
It's the Clippers. All the things I just said are dependent on everyone being healthy, which never happens, and some good luck and bounces on the way, which also never happens for LA's other team. Add in the fact that the owner, Donald Sterling, heads one of the most horridly run organizations in sports and there's no way LeBron wants to play under that. Add in the fact that LeBron would under Kobe's shadow on the 2nd best team in his own arena until Kobe retires, and there is no way that LeBron is going to LA.
Inside Scoop: There is none. He's not going there. LeBron spent less than an hour with the Clippers after spending 3+ hours with Chicago, and 2+ with the Knicks, Nets, Cavs, and Heat. He wasn't impressed. He wants no part of them. The roster: potentially insane. The history: insanely bad. This is the one team I'll rule out.
That's it. That's the list.
This should be the part where I tell you where I think he'll go, but I really don't know. Just don't have a clue. If I had to guess (which I won't, but I will) I think the likelihood goes like this:
1. Chicago
2. Miami
3. Cleveland
4. New York
5. New Jersey
If I was LeBron I'd rank my options this way (my priorities are different from LeBrons, but I'm doing this from his perspective so loyalty to Cleveland is taken into considerations):
1. Chicago
2. New Jersey
3. Miami
4. Cleveland
5. New York
I think if LeBron goes to New York he'll be looked at as a sellout who took his brand more seriously than his game. That being said, nothing would surprise me.
9 pm tomorrow can't come soon enough. Whatcha got LeBron? We're all watching.
Stuart Scott will host the show (shoot me) while Michael Wilbon and Jon Barry (good and good) will provide the analysis along with I'm sure hits from the Chris Broussards and Ric Buchers of the world (also good).
Jim Gray will get the first interview with LeBron in which he will make the actual announcement of where he will sign (Gray could be boom or bust, sometimes he's great, sometimes I hate him). Wilbon will then get an extended interview with James a la the one he did today on Sportscenter with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
James has caught a lot of flack for making this PR move to "boost his ego" and "enhance his brand". I don't buy it. Call me an oblivious optimist but the guy is giving the proceeds to this thing to charity because he's a good kid. When did LeBron become this guy that everyone hates? In the blog world we live in where everything is stupid and everything sucks, can someone not have pure intentions ever? The cynicism is sickening and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and some props for realizing the magnitude of the coverage, and making something charitable out of it.
Now that that rant is out of the way, let's get to another one before we break down where he could go. If you're tired of the coverage, stop watching. Go outside and shoot some hoops yourself. Go watch CNN and find the latest about the Gulf. If you want other sports coverage, watch MLB TV or NFL Network. You can avoid it if you want to, so quit complaining. I'm sure someone who's complained about it is reading this, a blog from a person with no inside knowledge that isn't published somewhere else. So why are you reading/watching/consuming all things Lebron? Because you want to. It's not cool to admit it, but you want to know the latest details and the nitty gritty just like everyone else. So shut up. Keep reading. And don't whine.
Now down to business. Where is he going?
I'll provide the case for each team, how the lineup would look with Lebron, and any inside scoops or theories I've heard. I have a pretty solid understanding of the NBA salary cap and the other factors going into what can be done, so here it goes. Also these are in alphabetical order. No other "most likely to least likely" kind of thing because let's be honest, nobody, including me, has a clue where he's going.
Cleveland Caveliers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Mo Williams
SG - Anthony Parker
SF - LeBron James
PF - Antawn Jamison
C - Anderson Varejao
Bench - Delonte West (will be traded if LeBron is back), Jamario Moon, Daniel Gibson, JJ Hickson
Why he stays:
Akron is a suburb of Cleveland and Akron is home. Akron means the world to LeBron and he knows that if he leaves he'll break the heart of an entire city and that matters to him. He is also a well documented creature of habit and he likes what is comfortable to him. Cleveland is comfortable. Also despite the playoff regression since the Finals in 2007, the Cavs have been a 60 win team the past two years.
Why he goes:
He signed a contract 3 years ago with an opt out clause (for 2010, which in case you didn't hear, he used) with the promise from Cleveland brass that they'd surround him with the proper parts and make him a winner. They tried but largely over-reacted and over spent on players that were good in the post-season, but flopped in the playoffs. Outside of Shaq who was so far over the hill he was chilling in the valley on the other side, they never got a gritty, proven sidekick with playoff experience. If LeBron has no faith in the Cavs personnel department, you can't really blame him. Their best moves since him are Hickson and Varejao and those are very limited role players even if they are good at what they do.
Inside Info: The closest thing I have to inside stuff on Cleveland is that he's been playing pickup with Cavs teammates the past few days at his camp. These are his good friends, and shouldn't be read much into, but you never know what could be significant. The home angle is the biggest thing here and that's all that matters if he stays.
Chicago Bulls
Potential Lineup:
PG - Derrick Rose
SG - J.J. Redick (sign with mid-level exception, see below)
SF - LeBron James
PF - Carlos Boozer
C - Joakim Noah
Bench - Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson
Why he goes:
Did you see the starting line-up I just posted? If Lebron wants to win now, this is where he goes. Rose is a mini James meaning teams will very rarely have two defenders good enough to stop both guys aka one will always have the potential for a huge night, while Noah and Boozer are perfect compliments. Noah is a true 7-footer and the garbage pick-up man for offensive rebounds while Boozer, who is undersized, has all the offensive skill Noah lacks and is a master big man on the pick and roll which James and Rose love and thrive in having run it at Duke with Jay (then Jason) Williams and in Utah with Deron Williams. That leaves the one need as a shooter and the Bulls have the full $5.5 million mid-level exception to play with. Redick was the Magic's best player for stretches in the playoffs. The more minutes he got, the better he played. On a team like that where all he has to do is be a spot up shooter and defend, he's a perfect role player for that team. He's also got the assassin mentality which means he can hit big shots late in games when LeBron or Rose is doubled.
Why he stays away:
Playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan is a big deal and Lebron would hear about it at mininmum for the next 6 years. MJ has 6 titles, LeBron has none. He'd have to win 7 to be the best player in the franchises history, nevertheless in the history in the league. He's good enough (yeah I said it), but it is certainly a daunting task.
Inside Scoop: This is by far the juiciest story I have and it comes via ESPN's Chad Ford on the B.S. Report with Bill Simmons. After games, MJ would go to Gibson's steakhouse in Chicago and sit at the same table, with the same waiter every time. After LeBron heard about this, when he played in Chicago he would go to Gibson's, and sit at the same table, with the same waiter. When Ford was in Chicago for the NBA pre-draft camp, he went to Gibson's to investigate the story. He found the waiter and asked him if it was true. Not only was it true, but the according to the waiter, Lebron had said "keep my table ready". Does a waiter know what we all want to? Who knows but if nothing else it's a fun story.
Miami Heat
Potential Lineup:
PG -Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwayne Wade
SF - LeBron James
PF - Michael Beasley
C - Chris Bosh
Bench: Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnardo, De'Sean Butler
Why he goes:
Let's be honest: that's a scary starting lineup. Chalmers is still young and if he can improve, he can be a serviceable point guard, especially on defense, while LeBron can handle the point on the offensive end. Beasley is as toxic as any player in the NBA, but if he can turn it around with the high characters of Wade, James, and Bosh (and even Butler) around him, he could be what we thought he could coming out of Kansas State, which is a monster rebounder and solid offensive player. As for those other two guys, Bosh and Wade. Yeah, they're good. In fact, Wade's elite (3rd best player in the world in my opinion behind James (2) and Kobe (1) in my opinion). They're also all great friends and want to play together.
Why he doesn't go:
Let's be honest. The rest of the roster has stink written all over it. I love De'Sean Butler but he's recovering from a blown up knee and won't be 100% until next March. Chalmers and Beasley could be good (as stated above) but they've proven nothing so far in the league. Varnardo is a bean pole who was a monster in college but there's a reason he played at Mississippi State, and Pittman couldn't stay on the floor at Texas because he was so out of shape that he needed a breather every 3 minutes. The rest of the roster will be maybe a mid-level guy (or 2 if they can swing 2 guys into a $5.5 million split) and minimum salary players.
Also there is something to be said about being "The Guy". No matter what, Kobe always wanted to be "The Guy". It probably cost him championships because he ran off Shaq, but that mentality comes with the killer instinct. If LeBron wants to be the one and only alpha-dog on his team, he can't play with Wade. Wade is that guy and Miami is Wade's city. If he swallows his pride and goes and wins a ton of championships, it won't diminish him in my eyes one bit, but its something to be considered.
Inside Scoop: A lot of people are saying the LeBron will join Wade and Bosh in Miami including Chris Broussard who is as close to LeBron as any media member. Wade and Bosh also said they'd consider taking less money to win, which would definitely help the case for LeBron.
New Jersey Nets
Potential Lineup:
PG - Devin Harris
SG - Terrance Williams
SF - LeBron James
PF - Derrick Favors
C - Brooke Lopez
Bench - Courtney Lee, Quinton Ross, Damion James, Kris Humphries
Why he goes:
Sure the Nets stunk last year, but their roster is stacked with young talent. LeBron has proven he can elevate young players' games and Derrick Favors can be what J.J. Hickson was in Cleveland but far better. Lopez and Harris have put up numbers in the past and Williams showed flashes of brilliance last year. The Nets have flexibility to bring in a shooter (Ray Allen, Redick, etc) so the roster is a work in progress. The Nets also provide the coveted New York connection, even if he's not playing in Madison Square Garden, and don't underestimate LeBron's relationship with Jay-Z.
Why he stays away:
The Nets are the Nets not the Knicks, and despite the talent, they did win under 20 games last year. LeBron wants to win now, and the Nets might be a few years away. I like their roster a lot, but he may not. Also the worldwide market LeBron wants is China, not Russia which new owner Mikhail Prokhorov provides.
Inside Scoop: LeBron had 1-on-1 time with Jay-Z after their meeting last week and you know that the Jigga Man offered "The King" a seat next to him on his throne as King of New York.
New York Knicks:
Potential Lineup:
PG - Sergio Rodriguez (They'd sign someone else, because that's not good enough...)
SG - Wilson Chandler
SF - LeBron James
PF - Amare Stoudamire
C - Eddie Curry
Bench: Andy Rautins, Danilo Gallinari, Tony Douglas, Landry Fields, Bill Walker
Why He Goes:
I've been to a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. It was electric. It was mid-season, and the Knicks stunk. Make them good, make it in the playoffs, and make it with those crazy people cheering for LeBron? Who wouldn't want that? Add in the fact that if he goes for the bright lights and the big city, and it works, he is forever the man who saved basketball in New York City. I get it. If he goes, I really can't blame him. He's good enough to win anywhere, and if they can add some pieces around him and Amare (and if Amare's knees don't fall apart) this team could be in title contention in 2-3 years.
I just got back from New York and there's simply no where like it. For God's sake, Al Harrington has his own shoe and billboards outside MSG and in Times Square. If LeBron wants to go to NY for branding, I think that shows he cares as much about business as basketball, which isn't necessarily a negative (who doesn't want to be a billionaire?) but taking a step up for business at the detriment of basketball can't be seen as a positive when you want to be the G.O.A.T.
Why he stays away:
Did you see the roster? Prior to the Amare deal, the Knicks roster probably belonged in the D-League. Sure Gallinari can shoot and Wilson Chandler's a nice player but when losing Chris Duhon is a major loss, that's not good. Eddie Curry will be traded at mid-season, if not sooner, because he is now a commodity (took long enough...*Isiah move cough cough*) as an $11 million expiring contract. This allows the Knicks to add other pieces and/or clear cap space to make a run at a major free agent next summer. All that being said, the Knicks have the worst roster of any of these teams, including Miami, which has 4 players under contract. Yikes.
Inside Scoop: A lot of "little birds" are telling people LeBron is headed to NYC. Chad Ochocinco, Jared Dudley, and Jay Williams, all current or former athletes who like to dab in the media (or in William's case is part of it full time) have all said they've been told LeBron is New York bound.
Los Angeles Clippers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Baron Davis
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - LeBron James
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Chris Kaman
Bench: Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, Willie Warren, Craig Smith
Why He Goes:
I can't believe I'm about to say this but, the Clippers have the best roster of anyone in the LeBron sweepstakes outside of the Bulls, and that's only because the Bulls signed Carlos Boozer. Sure a lot of it is unproven, but no roster in this sweepstakes has more upside then the Clippers, and no team would be more exciting to watch with LeBron than the Clippers. Imagine a fast break where LeBron has the Ball in the middle with Eric Bledsoe on one wing, Blake Griffin on the other, and DeAndre Jordan as a trailer. End result: you're getting dunked on. They'd need a shooter, but they'd be a legitimate playoff team at the least, if not a serious contender.
Why He Stays Away:
It's the Clippers. All the things I just said are dependent on everyone being healthy, which never happens, and some good luck and bounces on the way, which also never happens for LA's other team. Add in the fact that the owner, Donald Sterling, heads one of the most horridly run organizations in sports and there's no way LeBron wants to play under that. Add in the fact that LeBron would under Kobe's shadow on the 2nd best team in his own arena until Kobe retires, and there is no way that LeBron is going to LA.
Inside Scoop: There is none. He's not going there. LeBron spent less than an hour with the Clippers after spending 3+ hours with Chicago, and 2+ with the Knicks, Nets, Cavs, and Heat. He wasn't impressed. He wants no part of them. The roster: potentially insane. The history: insanely bad. This is the one team I'll rule out.
That's it. That's the list.
This should be the part where I tell you where I think he'll go, but I really don't know. Just don't have a clue. If I had to guess (which I won't, but I will) I think the likelihood goes like this:
1. Chicago
2. Miami
3. Cleveland
4. New York
5. New Jersey
If I was LeBron I'd rank my options this way (my priorities are different from LeBrons, but I'm doing this from his perspective so loyalty to Cleveland is taken into considerations):
1. Chicago
2. New Jersey
3. Miami
4. Cleveland
5. New York
I think if LeBron goes to New York he'll be looked at as a sellout who took his brand more seriously than his game. That being said, nothing would surprise me.
9 pm tomorrow can't come soon enough. Whatcha got LeBron? We're all watching.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
One Big Thing - Oklahoma City Thunder
Craig has completely fallen in love with the new darlings of the NBA despite their loss to his Lakers. He explains in his "One Big Thing"
Remy Zaken - Full Version
Craig talks with his friend Remy Zaken who was in the original cast of Spring Awakening on Broadway with Lea Michelle who is now the star of Glee. Remy is trying out for Glee and needs your help!
Go to myspace.com/gleeauditions and search "Remy" to find her audition.
Go to myspace.com/gleeauditions and search "Remy" to find her audition.
Ryen Russillo 5-1: Playoffs
Craig talks with Ryen Russillo about the NBA Playoffs, the brilliance of Hubie Brown, and the week Ryen had with visits from Nas and Maury Povich.
Intro/Marcellus Wiley
After a few cheapshots at Curtis, Craig starts the show talking to Marcellus Wiley about whether or not athletes should be paid.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Remy Zaken - Top 40 Style
My good friend Remy Zaken joined me to talk about the possibility of joining her Spring Awakening co-star Lea Michelle on the hit show Glee. This is the much shortened version that might get some run on Z89 in Syracuse. Even though I'm not there yet.
Go to http://www.myspace.com/gleeauditions?link=532595556 to vote for her! Do it now!
Go to http://www.myspace.com/gleeauditions?link=532595556 to vote for her! Do it now!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
First Round Mock Draft
Craig and Curtis alternate picks to create a mock version of the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
NBA Playoff Preview
Craig breaks down the first round of the NBA Playoffs with a little help from Curtis. Very, very, very little help!
Alysha Clark - MTSU All-American
Alysha Clark makes her first appearance on the show since she was drafted into the WNBA.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Kurt Coleman #2
Kurt Coleman from Ohio State checks in and talks about the continuing draft process, some teams he'd like to go to, and whether or not Craig did indeed scare him out of running the 40 at the combine!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
One Big Thing - One Shining Moment
In his One Big Thing, Craig "expresses his displeasure" with CBS's coverage of the NCAA Tournament.
Richard Lowe - Gwinnett Braves
WMTS Alumnus Richard Lowe stops by to talk Braves baseball as he now works for their AAA affiliate.
Curtis Phones In-Draft/Masters Talk
Curtis calls in and hears his revenge from the nose joke he collaborated on with Sagan last week.
He also talks draft and what he thinks will happen in the Masters.
He also talks draft and what he thinks will happen in the Masters.
Coach Stockstill
On the morning of the Spring Game, MTSU Head Coach Rick Stockstill stops by to talk about how things are progressing this spring.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Champs! Too Bad I Can't Enjoy It...
At the beginning of the year I thought Duke had no shot of winning their 4th title. At the beginning of the tournament my feelings still held true.
Say what you want but, Duke's path wasn't easy. Looking at an entire bracket at the start of the tournament and going "they have the easiest path" is stupid. You don't play every team in your bracket. Let's examine who the #1 seeds actually had to play.
Kansas: Beat #16 seed then lost to a really good #9 seed in Northern Iowa. They were at least 15 points better than UNI but played a terrible game until the last 2 minutes. They never had to play Ohio State, Georgetown, Maryland, Michigan State, or Tennessee. Simply put, Kansas has no one but themselves to blame for losing.
Kentucky: Beat #16 ETSU, #9 Wake (an under-performing team with a coach who has never won a post-season game), and #12 Cornell. Cornell is good. Very good. But athletically they were no match for Kentucky and really never had a chance. UK beats them 95 out of 100 times. They then lost to West Virginia, a team Duke beat.
Syracuse: You feel a little a worse for Syracuse not because of who they played, but because they lost Onauku. The back line of a 2-3 zone is what makes it work and Syracuse's was completely thrown off because A.O. was out. That being said, they beat #16 Vermont and #8 Gonzaga (who wasn't nearly as good as in years past) before running into a Butler team who was horribly underseeded at a 5, but once again, Duke beat.
Meanwhile Duke, after disposing of the #16 Arkansas Pine-Bluff had to defeat the Pac-10 regular season champs in #8 Cal, who were clearly better than we originally thought after waxing Louisville, who could have been even more problematic for Duke. They then had to beat #4 Purdue, who granted, had no shot without Robbie Hummel, but still put up a good fight. Last but not least was Baylor, a super athletic team with potential to give Duke fits. Duke was victorious again.
In the Final Four Duke then beat West Virginia (which Kentucky failed to do) and Butler (which Syracuse failed to do) so the argument that they were handed the National Title is simply bogus. On paper at the start of the tournament sure they had the easiest path, but we have to readjust to what we're seeing once the tournament starts, and Duke clearly beat some of the best teams in the tourny.
How did they do it? The transformation of a 7'1" waste of space into a rebounding monster. If you had told me Brian Zoubek would be the key to Duke winning a national title at the beginning of the year I would have laughed at you. The senior was supposed to be a place holder until super-frosh Mason Plumlee got healthy. Then all of a sudden mid-season Zoubek became a machine. Against Maryland he pulled down 17 rebounds. He was a prescense in the middle defensively. I was as shocked as anyone.
Most of all though, he was self-less. When he got offensive rebounds he kicked it back out for open 3's. He sets sometimes 5 or more screens in a given possession. He doesn't care about scoring, he cares about winning.
So here's what I ask: stop with the Duke hate. Please.
Yes in the early 90's Christian Laettener was a bit of a prick, but have you ever seen the story of Nolan Smith? Have you ever met Jay Williams? These are the top 2 players of Duke's last two national title teams. Not two "Duke white kids" who think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Two humble African American kids from two very different but very tough upbringings.
Smith is the son of former NBA player Derrick Smith and was raised by his mother and a cast of NBA players after his father passed away at the age of 35. Nolan was crushed, but stuck with the game his father loved and often goes back to his dorm room and cries after games because his dad wasn't there.
Jay is one of the nicest people I've ever met. He's as humble as they come, takes time out for people he's never met, and has had to work for everything he's ever had. Not the entitled Duke kid stereotype.
Yes Christian Laettener played for Duke. Yes Coach K was and still can be a bit arrogant, but he's protecting his players and passed the hard shell has one of the biggest hearts in the game.
Remember, everyone thought Bob Huggins was a hard ass until he sat kneeling, caressing Da'Sean Butler as he writhed in pain too. Now everyone knows why they call him Huggy Bear.
Times change and so do opinions, except for when it comes to that nasty four letter school. Why everyone chooses to hate a school with a coach that graduates his players, recruits high character kids who want to stay in school, and does as much charity work as anyone is and always will be beyond me.
Funny thing is, something else hasn't changed. They're still winning. So I'm sure they don't mind.
Say what you want but, Duke's path wasn't easy. Looking at an entire bracket at the start of the tournament and going "they have the easiest path" is stupid. You don't play every team in your bracket. Let's examine who the #1 seeds actually had to play.
Kansas: Beat #16 seed then lost to a really good #9 seed in Northern Iowa. They were at least 15 points better than UNI but played a terrible game until the last 2 minutes. They never had to play Ohio State, Georgetown, Maryland, Michigan State, or Tennessee. Simply put, Kansas has no one but themselves to blame for losing.
Kentucky: Beat #16 ETSU, #9 Wake (an under-performing team with a coach who has never won a post-season game), and #12 Cornell. Cornell is good. Very good. But athletically they were no match for Kentucky and really never had a chance. UK beats them 95 out of 100 times. They then lost to West Virginia, a team Duke beat.
Syracuse: You feel a little a worse for Syracuse not because of who they played, but because they lost Onauku. The back line of a 2-3 zone is what makes it work and Syracuse's was completely thrown off because A.O. was out. That being said, they beat #16 Vermont and #8 Gonzaga (who wasn't nearly as good as in years past) before running into a Butler team who was horribly underseeded at a 5, but once again, Duke beat.
Meanwhile Duke, after disposing of the #16 Arkansas Pine-Bluff had to defeat the Pac-10 regular season champs in #8 Cal, who were clearly better than we originally thought after waxing Louisville, who could have been even more problematic for Duke. They then had to beat #4 Purdue, who granted, had no shot without Robbie Hummel, but still put up a good fight. Last but not least was Baylor, a super athletic team with potential to give Duke fits. Duke was victorious again.
In the Final Four Duke then beat West Virginia (which Kentucky failed to do) and Butler (which Syracuse failed to do) so the argument that they were handed the National Title is simply bogus. On paper at the start of the tournament sure they had the easiest path, but we have to readjust to what we're seeing once the tournament starts, and Duke clearly beat some of the best teams in the tourny.
How did they do it? The transformation of a 7'1" waste of space into a rebounding monster. If you had told me Brian Zoubek would be the key to Duke winning a national title at the beginning of the year I would have laughed at you. The senior was supposed to be a place holder until super-frosh Mason Plumlee got healthy. Then all of a sudden mid-season Zoubek became a machine. Against Maryland he pulled down 17 rebounds. He was a prescense in the middle defensively. I was as shocked as anyone.
Most of all though, he was self-less. When he got offensive rebounds he kicked it back out for open 3's. He sets sometimes 5 or more screens in a given possession. He doesn't care about scoring, he cares about winning.
So here's what I ask: stop with the Duke hate. Please.
Yes in the early 90's Christian Laettener was a bit of a prick, but have you ever seen the story of Nolan Smith? Have you ever met Jay Williams? These are the top 2 players of Duke's last two national title teams. Not two "Duke white kids" who think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Two humble African American kids from two very different but very tough upbringings.
Smith is the son of former NBA player Derrick Smith and was raised by his mother and a cast of NBA players after his father passed away at the age of 35. Nolan was crushed, but stuck with the game his father loved and often goes back to his dorm room and cries after games because his dad wasn't there.
Jay is one of the nicest people I've ever met. He's as humble as they come, takes time out for people he's never met, and has had to work for everything he's ever had. Not the entitled Duke kid stereotype.
Yes Christian Laettener played for Duke. Yes Coach K was and still can be a bit arrogant, but he's protecting his players and passed the hard shell has one of the biggest hearts in the game.
Remember, everyone thought Bob Huggins was a hard ass until he sat kneeling, caressing Da'Sean Butler as he writhed in pain too. Now everyone knows why they call him Huggy Bear.
Times change and so do opinions, except for when it comes to that nasty four letter school. Why everyone chooses to hate a school with a coach that graduates his players, recruits high character kids who want to stay in school, and does as much charity work as anyone is and always will be beyond me.
Funny thing is, something else hasn't changed. They're still winning. So I'm sure they don't mind.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Kermit Davis - Final Four
MTSU Head Coach Kermit Davis stops by to talk about his new extension and the Final Four.
He also touches on the pending tournament expansion, which he thinks is 100% a good thing.
He also touches on the pending tournament expansion, which he thinks is 100% a good thing.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Ryen Russillo 4-3
Ryen Russillo stops by for his weekly visit talking the top NBA prospects in this weekends Final Four, the top 3 things you need to know as the NBA takes center stage, and a couple other loose odds and ends.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Ferguson Jenkins
Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson "Fergie" Jenkins stops by to talk about the 15th Annual Baseball in Literature and Culture Conference, his new book, and what the one thing he would change about baseball would be if he got the chance.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Before I Go, I Owe a Few Thank You's. 6,000 Words of Them
As I "announced" in part 1 of what has turned out to be the "Craig to Cuse" novella, I will be transferring to Syracuse University in the Fall of 2010.
Throughout this process and my time at MTSU, there have been a lot of people that have helped me. Some of you have probably helped more than you know. And while I'm not dying or going to some far away land where people won't be able to reach me, I do feel it necessary to thank a lot of these people as well as the people who have made my time here at MT memorable.
Some of you might be going wait, is he going soft on us? Nope. I've actually been soft.
Many of you know me as someone who will argue about something till I'm red in the face and saying I'm passionate to a fault may be true, however that passion and emotion isn't something that only goes when I have a disagreement, it is something that I try to show every second of every day in a positive light as well.
Although I do have a hard shell that sometimes may happen to border on arrogance (just maybe though), there is a soft inside that anyone who knows me well can attest to.
With that being said, the thank you's, just as my explanation, could run a little long and thus if you don't feel like reading all of them, if I've tagged you in this note you, or a group you're associated with are mentioned by name, and if you just want to find your name and move on with your life it won't offend me one bit.
And here we go...
Starting anywhere but with my parents would just be stupid. This has been a tough process not just because of the life altering decision at hand but because of all the factors going into it. In case you don't know, Syracuse isn't exactly cheap, so saying to your parents "hey, I know I've already changed my major and lost my in-state tuition doubling what you're paying once, how does a private institution sound?" wasn't exactly the easiest thing to say.
Yet they were open to the idea because at the end of the day they simply wanted what's best for me, and as long as I kept that in mind, hearing the response of "that's fine as long as you get scholarships because your college fund is going to run out if you don't and you're going to be in debt when you graduate" was just fine with me.
Beyond the financial side of things, they were also there many emotional discussions between myself and my parents throughout the last 6 months. The most meaningful to me wasn't even a discussion, it was an email I got from my dad. To be honest I don't even remember when I got it, I just remember what it said.
My dad had really wanted me to transfer since I changed majors, and had sat quietly as the time passed and I don't really even think he fully voiced his opinion once I said I wanted to consider it because he knew it was ultimately my decision. That digression and grace is something that I don't think many people could have exercised. I also think that is the first time I've ever talked about my father, grace, and exercise in the same sentence.
Anyway, the email simply stated that he was proud of me, and that no matter what I ended up doing, he was behind me and thought I was going to be able to do whatever I put my mind to.
I'm not one of those kids who blindly strives for "daddy's love". There are a lot of things my father does that I think are absolutely brilliant while there are other things he does that make me cringe. But he's still my dad. Hearing that meant the world to me and lifted a huge weight off my shoulder while at the same time complicating the decision, knowing that whatever I did was going to turn out ok.
Walking on a nice clean carpet or a path of rusty nails is a pretty easy decision. One is clearly harmless and makes perfect sense while the other is mindless, dangerous, and immensely painful. It's the decisions that have two good outcomes that are the toughest and life and that's what I had to make.
Insert Mom. It was a conversation I had with her a few weeks ago that really sealed the deal with me going to Syracuse. She was able to remind me of how I felt when I left Syracuse, when I had said I felt like it would be a mistake not to go there. She also reminded me how angry and bitter I was with some of the problems I had incurred with MTSU.
It's the ex-girlfriend theory. Sure there is reason why you'd want to get back with her, there is after all a reason you went out with her in the first place. However you also have to remember the reason you broke up.
So to Mom and Dad, thanks and a Facebook note will never be able to express the gratitude I have for all you have done for me so I'll just leave it at that.
The next person I have to thank is also a no brainer. He, above all others, is the reason I am where I am today.
When I came on my visit to MTSU I was greeted by a small black man who we all know and love: Steven Mizell. I was Steven's first recruit to MTSU and thus he kept in touch with me not only throughout my senior year, but also as I came to customs and as throughout my time on campus here at MT.
Not only did he bring me to MT, but he started me in media. Fast forward to about a month ago and the day I told Steven I was considering transferring. I felt awful. Just empty. As soon as I told him I could see the disappointment and emptiness in his eyes.
He wanted me to stay for two reasons: first and foremost we're not an admissions counselor and a student, but Steven is a dear friend, and losing friends just plain sucks. But from a professional standpoint he sees the potential and drive I have and wants to be able to say "That's an MTSU student," and as the only MTSU faculty member to stand up and say that he has my permanent respect.
In the weeks since he's given me a hard time about it, one because that's how we are, and two it was probably his last ditch effort to keep me hear. On Friday I told Steven that I had indeed been accepted and he knew I was gone. That night he sent me a text giving me his blessing and to be honest it's a good thing I didn't fully digest it at the moment I received it. I was on-air and probably wouldn't have been able to keep my focus for the rest of the show.
Steven, I know I told you this on-air a few weeks ago, and I'm sure I'll say it a few more times in person before I head north, but thank you. You've set me on the path to hopefully doing something that I love on the highest level, and for that I hope I can one day repay you.
The last of the "have to be in this order" thank yous go to Zac Defrancesca, Richard Lowe, and Curtis Nolte. I'll go in chronological order between them of them and go with Zac first, then Richard, then Curtis.
I met Zac on Richard's radio show and we instantly clicked. We became friends and started hanging out, and as someone who has been in college since I was I think in middle school, he was able to help me assimilate into college life rather easily.
He also gave me my first opportunities on air and basically told me the same thing I was told at Syracuse: if you're good and you put in your time, you'll get your opportunity. Sure enough I did, and by my second semester I was producing and hosting two shows on TV and was continuing on radio.
He's never let me had anything and still say he's harder to argue than anyone I've ever met, including my mother. This has not only made me a better media member, but a better person. So to you, you stubborn ass, thanks.
Richard really could have put a stop to my broadcasting career before it started. He didn't have to let this little freshman who just showed up one day on his show, but he saw in me before anyone else the talent and drive I had because he has it as well.
Richard was the media czar at MTSU, sports director at WMTS, GM at MTTV, and Sports Editor at Sidelines. A lot of people say about Richard he's there for you when he needs you, but I've never found this to be the case. I just think he thinks most people are relatively worthless and doesn't feel the need to waste his time on them. Yet, he did take the time out for me, and has continued to serve as my mentor in student media and while I haven't talked to him in depth about me transferring yet, I hope that he will continue to serve in this role as I move forward and he continues on in his life and career.
Then there's Curtis. It's not often that your trusty sidekick is older than you, has a degree that you're working towards, and is just plain bigger than you, but Curtis has been able to portray the "Robin" role to my "Batman" better than I could have ever imagined.
In reality this is not the case at all, there is very much equal responsibility in creating the monster that is our radio show. Yes I not only do a lot of the grunt work, in that I send the emails that get the big time guests, make the "ditties" that have made us infamous amongst our friends and listeners (don't take the plural to make it seem like we have a following, I just am confident that we have more than one), and lots of the other "work" that goes into the show, but he is the one who keeps me sane.
Sometimes its by showing me his own insanity and thus I just feel more sane, but that is besides the point.
Either way, Curtis is the one who can look at me and go, "no that's not happening, give it up" or "yeah, let's do this". He has a job and I realize that he can't put in the legwork I can, but I always know he's going to either bring his "A-game" or something that sucks but is hilariously funny, and to be honest either is perfectly good with me. If he could be my radio co-host for life, that'd also be perfectly ok with me.
Quickly though, Heed (a nickname given affectionately due to the size of his enormous melon) is also probably my best friend. I can never remember laughing to the point of tears more with one person than him, and how neither of us have never pissed our pants is quite frankly beyond me. I hope that he'll have time to come and visit next year and that we can wreak a little havoc on Syracuse in the process.
From here this will be pretty much a stream of consciousness work (not that it hasn't been to this point, but now the ideas are present and unorganized so hopefully I won't forget anybody and hopefully I'll do everybody justice).
I guess I'll start first with the two teams here at MT that mean the most to me: the basketball teams.
I've often been told that I'm a loser who's life revolves around sports. I didn't miss a single home game outside of winter break, there were multiple week stretches where I didn't miss a practice, I attended pre-season workouts, so to all those people who said that: you're probably right.
But if you got to hang out and interact with the athletes I get to, you might become a loser too.
First the Lady Raiders. I really got to know the Lady Raiders by doing the basketball special at the beginning of the year. I had gotten to know Chelsia and Alysha a little prior to the special by doing separate interviews, but I have never had more fun on set than I did interviewing those two together.
Chels is the epitome of a leader. She knows how to motivate, is articulate, fiery, passionate, yet is someone who you feel like is your best friend even if you barely know her. No matter what she does in life she will be successful, just as the rest of her teammates, because she knows how to treat people, and is simply one of the finest human beings I have ever met.
Alysha is the same way. She is a superstar on the court and has won every personal accolade imaginable, yet she is as humble a person as I've ever met. There have been many occasions where I've had questions for her, not as a media member, but as a person who loves the game of basketball, and she's always taken the time to answer them. Something else that speaks to her character is the fact that no matter how many times I've congratulated her on her ridiculous on court accomplishments, she's always shown sincere gratitude by saying thank you. It might seem like a small gesture, but how many people do you know that are like that? I hope that if I continue on my current path and my career is able to rival hers as a collegiate athlete I can stay as humble and focused as AC.
The next person I got to know was Jackie Pickel. I did a specific feature on her and thus got to know her a little better off the court than probably any other of the Lady Raiders. JP is someone who is just plain fun to be around and can light up any room with her smile and happy go lucky attitude. As a player she was the hardest working athlete I've ever met. She's completely transformed her game every year she was at MTSU and as she continues on her life as a teacher, I know she'll pass along her work ethic to all the kids she comes in contact with and the world will be a better place for it.
The last player I'll mention by name is Anne Marie Lanning. Although I didn't have as much interaction with Ree as some of the other players, she said something to me on set the night of the shoot that she probably doesn't even remember, but meant a lot to me at the time, and truthfully still does. After watching my feature on JP, she looked at me and said "That was really good. I think you're going to be really good at this. I can tell you just want it."
For someone to recognize your work is one thing, for someone to recognize your work ethic is far more rewarding. One of the things I'm going to miss most about MT is not getting to see Anne Marie's senior year as a Lady Raider and I hope I can keep in touch with her next year as she completely takes over the leadership role. The future of MT basketball is bright, and while next year might have a learning curve, Anne Marie will take every bump and bruise along the way cause like me, she wants it, and there's something to be said for that.
I also quickly want to thank all the Lady Raider coaches. I have never felt more pride in any compliment than a call I received from Coach Insell after the basketball special. It was a simple "You done good" but coming from him it meant a ton. He doesn't hand out praise easily. I've also learned more basketball from that man in the past year than I had in my previous 19 years of being alive. Also thanks to Coach Clark and Coach Head who always greeted me with a warm smile and made me feel like I belonged as opposed to "the enemy" that is usually the media.
And last but not least the managers, specifically Zach and Joe, who I have a lot of fun memories with from various road trips and helped to make this season one I'll never forget.
Then there is the boys team. While there is no group I'll ever be prouder of to have represent me than the Lady Raiders, I never truly felt a part of the team. This is probably because they are indeed the "Lady" Raiders but also there was a certain distance I had to keep at practice and such just because Insell runs a tight ship.
Meanwhile at men's practices I could be found on the sidelines amongst the players, and at games I could be found on the floor talking to Coach Case as my "pre-game ritual". I truly felt like part of the team.
This is the other thing I will most most about MT athletics as this obviously won't be the case at Syracuse where Jim Boeheim not only runs a tight ship, but has a slightly larger program to run that Coach Davis has to worry about here.
There are a few players in particular that made me feel as part of the team. First is Montarrio Haddock. I had a class with Tarrio first semester and even though he knew I was the media, he thought of me as a friend first. I've had many talks with Tarrio about things he sees and does on the court and I never felt like they were him talking to me, it was always a two-way conversation.
The same can be said for Rod Emanuel. I started really talking to Rod after the Tennessee game when I saw some things and was curious if he felt the same way. He told me not only had he noticed those things but the coaches had as well when they looked at the film and from there, like Montarrio, there was a two way flow of conversation. While I'm certainly not trying to take credit for anything Rod or anybody did, there are things he did on the court that we had talked about, and he was able to do them successfully. This gave me confidence in what I was seeing and talking about as a basketball mind and I can't wait to see how his game evolves next year.
Next year could be a big year for big blue and it quite frankly sucks that I'm going to have to watch it from afar. Jimmy Oden and Jason Jones will be eligible after sitting out a year following transfers and I think they will both be special. I also think James Washington will continue to grow as a PG and with another year under their belt, look for James Gallman and JT Sulton to do some special things as well.
I'd be remissed if I didn't also mention Calvin O'Neil and Boogie Yates by name as they also led to the family atmosphere to which I felt a part of and while I know their careers didn't end the way they wanted, they made one hell of a run at it and that counts for something.
Also, even though they probably won't see it, the coaches also deserve some thanks. Letting a student media member hang around your practices on the sidelines probably isn't always a good move, however Kermit Davis and his staff saw that I was there to highlight the good about their team and was a fair and honest reporter. While I don't always agree with some of Coach Davis's on court decisions, he couldn't be a nicer man off the floor.
Also gotta give some props to Mike Scutero, who was the teacher of my basketball class last semester and my "in" to the basketball program. Simply put, Scoot's one cool dude and I hope he gets promoted to a full time assistant so that he can continue doing the coaching that he loves.
Then there's Coach Case. If there's one person I'm dreading telling that I'm transferring it's Win Case. More than anyone else in the athletic program, Coach Case has taken me in as one of his own players if not his own kids when I'm around him. There is more love in that man than any human being I've ever met. I know I'll keep in touch with him and I hope that wherever he winds up as an Assistant or Head Coach moving forward that he is successful.
Outside of the athletic programs there are obviously a ton of people at MT that mean a lot to me. I saved this part for the end to try and think of as many people as possible and even then I know I'm going to forget some people.
I guess I'll start with some of the boys: Micah, Joey, Nate, Claude, Rob, Mikey, Troy (who also deserves credit for putting up with me last semester on radio and thanks for letting me on his show), Zack, and the countless others I'm forgetting that I've hung out with, played ball with, and just genuinely enjoyed the company of over the past two years.
I also feel that If I didn't show some love to Matthew Busman it wouldn't be fair. Although we surprisingly haven't kept in good touch this year, we had some hella good times last year as roommates and well, he put up with me, and that's worth something.
Then there are a few of the girls I've talked to as well throughout this decision to transfer that I think deserve a quick thanks (I realize this is slowly turning into a bad Oscar's speech so I'll try and be quick).
Chronologically first is Savannah Grandey. While I didn't really know her that well at the time, she was in fact the first person at MT that I told I was planning to transfer. We had just started working on a project for our speech class and we were getting to know each other and "why MTSU?" came up which led to me spilling the beans. Since we've finished that class we haven't kept in touch as much as I would like, but she was someone I could talk to in the early stages of this 6 month affair when no one else knew.
Then there's Danielle Hall. Not only is Danielle one of my best friends here at MT, but she is one of the easiest people to talk to I've ever met. I'll never forget when I told her about the idea of transferring, explained to her why, and how hard the decision was. She simply looked at me and said, "So, what are you gonna do?" I looked back at her and said "I have no earthly idea." Since then she's always been there to talk to, and while we haven't gotten to see each other a ton thanks to the fact that News 3 has eaten her alive, I know she's someone that's in the life long friend category and that's good enough for me.
Ashley and Stephanie (no last names needed, now it's less Oscary), have been the voices of reason from afar, and now that Steph's in Australia, really far. I talk to them as much as anybody and they've also been able to talk me through various things as unbiased voices since they have no ties to MT and for that I'm extremely grateful.
Then last but not least, just the rest of the friend I've failed to mention, Crissa, Lindsey, Michelle and Nicki (who will both be stars in their broadcasting careers), Alyssa, Amanda (who has also been able to provide a unique perspective since she's transferring too for which I'm grateful. She's also my MT bucket list partner-in-crime), Raye, and Rebekah.
Then last but not least, there are the few people at Syracuse that helped me when I was up there and have continued to help me in the past few months.
Mike Lefko and David Resnick sealed the deal with me going to Syracuse. They were honest with me and told me that I'd have to work, but if I did that I could get just as far as any student who had been at Syracuse for their full college career.
Then the last of the last but not least's (it's a word, trust me) is Mike Couzens. While I still haven't met Mike in person yet, he's someone that has helped me through this process as much as anyone and has also somewhat become a mentor to me as a media member in the process. He's always given me his honest opinion, whether its as a Syracuse student, a station manager, or just someone with an opinion.
I hope that I can have the pleasure of sitting beside Mike next year on radio but only time will tell and even if we decide to do something otherwise, I'm eternally grateful for all the help he's given me, not to mention his offer to house me and play tour guide next weekend when I go visit Syracuse.
Alright, that's it. To any of you who actually took the time to sit down and read all this, it means a lot, as the people mentioned in here mean a lot to me. I also recommend that you find a hobby.
My ride at MT has been fun and these last five weeks are going to be no different. I can't wait to see what the future has in store and I hope that most of you will be around for it, just like you are in the present.
Throughout this process and my time at MTSU, there have been a lot of people that have helped me. Some of you have probably helped more than you know. And while I'm not dying or going to some far away land where people won't be able to reach me, I do feel it necessary to thank a lot of these people as well as the people who have made my time here at MT memorable.
Some of you might be going wait, is he going soft on us? Nope. I've actually been soft.
Many of you know me as someone who will argue about something till I'm red in the face and saying I'm passionate to a fault may be true, however that passion and emotion isn't something that only goes when I have a disagreement, it is something that I try to show every second of every day in a positive light as well.
Although I do have a hard shell that sometimes may happen to border on arrogance (just maybe though), there is a soft inside that anyone who knows me well can attest to.
With that being said, the thank you's, just as my explanation, could run a little long and thus if you don't feel like reading all of them, if I've tagged you in this note you, or a group you're associated with are mentioned by name, and if you just want to find your name and move on with your life it won't offend me one bit.
And here we go...
Starting anywhere but with my parents would just be stupid. This has been a tough process not just because of the life altering decision at hand but because of all the factors going into it. In case you don't know, Syracuse isn't exactly cheap, so saying to your parents "hey, I know I've already changed my major and lost my in-state tuition doubling what you're paying once, how does a private institution sound?" wasn't exactly the easiest thing to say.
Yet they were open to the idea because at the end of the day they simply wanted what's best for me, and as long as I kept that in mind, hearing the response of "that's fine as long as you get scholarships because your college fund is going to run out if you don't and you're going to be in debt when you graduate" was just fine with me.
Beyond the financial side of things, they were also there many emotional discussions between myself and my parents throughout the last 6 months. The most meaningful to me wasn't even a discussion, it was an email I got from my dad. To be honest I don't even remember when I got it, I just remember what it said.
My dad had really wanted me to transfer since I changed majors, and had sat quietly as the time passed and I don't really even think he fully voiced his opinion once I said I wanted to consider it because he knew it was ultimately my decision. That digression and grace is something that I don't think many people could have exercised. I also think that is the first time I've ever talked about my father, grace, and exercise in the same sentence.
Anyway, the email simply stated that he was proud of me, and that no matter what I ended up doing, he was behind me and thought I was going to be able to do whatever I put my mind to.
I'm not one of those kids who blindly strives for "daddy's love". There are a lot of things my father does that I think are absolutely brilliant while there are other things he does that make me cringe. But he's still my dad. Hearing that meant the world to me and lifted a huge weight off my shoulder while at the same time complicating the decision, knowing that whatever I did was going to turn out ok.
Walking on a nice clean carpet or a path of rusty nails is a pretty easy decision. One is clearly harmless and makes perfect sense while the other is mindless, dangerous, and immensely painful. It's the decisions that have two good outcomes that are the toughest and life and that's what I had to make.
Insert Mom. It was a conversation I had with her a few weeks ago that really sealed the deal with me going to Syracuse. She was able to remind me of how I felt when I left Syracuse, when I had said I felt like it would be a mistake not to go there. She also reminded me how angry and bitter I was with some of the problems I had incurred with MTSU.
It's the ex-girlfriend theory. Sure there is reason why you'd want to get back with her, there is after all a reason you went out with her in the first place. However you also have to remember the reason you broke up.
So to Mom and Dad, thanks and a Facebook note will never be able to express the gratitude I have for all you have done for me so I'll just leave it at that.
The next person I have to thank is also a no brainer. He, above all others, is the reason I am where I am today.
When I came on my visit to MTSU I was greeted by a small black man who we all know and love: Steven Mizell. I was Steven's first recruit to MTSU and thus he kept in touch with me not only throughout my senior year, but also as I came to customs and as throughout my time on campus here at MT.
Not only did he bring me to MT, but he started me in media. Fast forward to about a month ago and the day I told Steven I was considering transferring. I felt awful. Just empty. As soon as I told him I could see the disappointment and emptiness in his eyes.
He wanted me to stay for two reasons: first and foremost we're not an admissions counselor and a student, but Steven is a dear friend, and losing friends just plain sucks. But from a professional standpoint he sees the potential and drive I have and wants to be able to say "That's an MTSU student," and as the only MTSU faculty member to stand up and say that he has my permanent respect.
In the weeks since he's given me a hard time about it, one because that's how we are, and two it was probably his last ditch effort to keep me hear. On Friday I told Steven that I had indeed been accepted and he knew I was gone. That night he sent me a text giving me his blessing and to be honest it's a good thing I didn't fully digest it at the moment I received it. I was on-air and probably wouldn't have been able to keep my focus for the rest of the show.
Steven, I know I told you this on-air a few weeks ago, and I'm sure I'll say it a few more times in person before I head north, but thank you. You've set me on the path to hopefully doing something that I love on the highest level, and for that I hope I can one day repay you.
The last of the "have to be in this order" thank yous go to Zac Defrancesca, Richard Lowe, and Curtis Nolte. I'll go in chronological order between them of them and go with Zac first, then Richard, then Curtis.
I met Zac on Richard's radio show and we instantly clicked. We became friends and started hanging out, and as someone who has been in college since I was I think in middle school, he was able to help me assimilate into college life rather easily.
He also gave me my first opportunities on air and basically told me the same thing I was told at Syracuse: if you're good and you put in your time, you'll get your opportunity. Sure enough I did, and by my second semester I was producing and hosting two shows on TV and was continuing on radio.
He's never let me had anything and still say he's harder to argue than anyone I've ever met, including my mother. This has not only made me a better media member, but a better person. So to you, you stubborn ass, thanks.
Richard really could have put a stop to my broadcasting career before it started. He didn't have to let this little freshman who just showed up one day on his show, but he saw in me before anyone else the talent and drive I had because he has it as well.
Richard was the media czar at MTSU, sports director at WMTS, GM at MTTV, and Sports Editor at Sidelines. A lot of people say about Richard he's there for you when he needs you, but I've never found this to be the case. I just think he thinks most people are relatively worthless and doesn't feel the need to waste his time on them. Yet, he did take the time out for me, and has continued to serve as my mentor in student media and while I haven't talked to him in depth about me transferring yet, I hope that he will continue to serve in this role as I move forward and he continues on in his life and career.
Then there's Curtis. It's not often that your trusty sidekick is older than you, has a degree that you're working towards, and is just plain bigger than you, but Curtis has been able to portray the "Robin" role to my "Batman" better than I could have ever imagined.
In reality this is not the case at all, there is very much equal responsibility in creating the monster that is our radio show. Yes I not only do a lot of the grunt work, in that I send the emails that get the big time guests, make the "ditties" that have made us infamous amongst our friends and listeners (don't take the plural to make it seem like we have a following, I just am confident that we have more than one), and lots of the other "work" that goes into the show, but he is the one who keeps me sane.
Sometimes its by showing me his own insanity and thus I just feel more sane, but that is besides the point.
Either way, Curtis is the one who can look at me and go, "no that's not happening, give it up" or "yeah, let's do this". He has a job and I realize that he can't put in the legwork I can, but I always know he's going to either bring his "A-game" or something that sucks but is hilariously funny, and to be honest either is perfectly good with me. If he could be my radio co-host for life, that'd also be perfectly ok with me.
Quickly though, Heed (a nickname given affectionately due to the size of his enormous melon) is also probably my best friend. I can never remember laughing to the point of tears more with one person than him, and how neither of us have never pissed our pants is quite frankly beyond me. I hope that he'll have time to come and visit next year and that we can wreak a little havoc on Syracuse in the process.
From here this will be pretty much a stream of consciousness work (not that it hasn't been to this point, but now the ideas are present and unorganized so hopefully I won't forget anybody and hopefully I'll do everybody justice).
I guess I'll start first with the two teams here at MT that mean the most to me: the basketball teams.
I've often been told that I'm a loser who's life revolves around sports. I didn't miss a single home game outside of winter break, there were multiple week stretches where I didn't miss a practice, I attended pre-season workouts, so to all those people who said that: you're probably right.
But if you got to hang out and interact with the athletes I get to, you might become a loser too.
First the Lady Raiders. I really got to know the Lady Raiders by doing the basketball special at the beginning of the year. I had gotten to know Chelsia and Alysha a little prior to the special by doing separate interviews, but I have never had more fun on set than I did interviewing those two together.
Chels is the epitome of a leader. She knows how to motivate, is articulate, fiery, passionate, yet is someone who you feel like is your best friend even if you barely know her. No matter what she does in life she will be successful, just as the rest of her teammates, because she knows how to treat people, and is simply one of the finest human beings I have ever met.
Alysha is the same way. She is a superstar on the court and has won every personal accolade imaginable, yet she is as humble a person as I've ever met. There have been many occasions where I've had questions for her, not as a media member, but as a person who loves the game of basketball, and she's always taken the time to answer them. Something else that speaks to her character is the fact that no matter how many times I've congratulated her on her ridiculous on court accomplishments, she's always shown sincere gratitude by saying thank you. It might seem like a small gesture, but how many people do you know that are like that? I hope that if I continue on my current path and my career is able to rival hers as a collegiate athlete I can stay as humble and focused as AC.
The next person I got to know was Jackie Pickel. I did a specific feature on her and thus got to know her a little better off the court than probably any other of the Lady Raiders. JP is someone who is just plain fun to be around and can light up any room with her smile and happy go lucky attitude. As a player she was the hardest working athlete I've ever met. She's completely transformed her game every year she was at MTSU and as she continues on her life as a teacher, I know she'll pass along her work ethic to all the kids she comes in contact with and the world will be a better place for it.
The last player I'll mention by name is Anne Marie Lanning. Although I didn't have as much interaction with Ree as some of the other players, she said something to me on set the night of the shoot that she probably doesn't even remember, but meant a lot to me at the time, and truthfully still does. After watching my feature on JP, she looked at me and said "That was really good. I think you're going to be really good at this. I can tell you just want it."
For someone to recognize your work is one thing, for someone to recognize your work ethic is far more rewarding. One of the things I'm going to miss most about MT is not getting to see Anne Marie's senior year as a Lady Raider and I hope I can keep in touch with her next year as she completely takes over the leadership role. The future of MT basketball is bright, and while next year might have a learning curve, Anne Marie will take every bump and bruise along the way cause like me, she wants it, and there's something to be said for that.
I also quickly want to thank all the Lady Raider coaches. I have never felt more pride in any compliment than a call I received from Coach Insell after the basketball special. It was a simple "You done good" but coming from him it meant a ton. He doesn't hand out praise easily. I've also learned more basketball from that man in the past year than I had in my previous 19 years of being alive. Also thanks to Coach Clark and Coach Head who always greeted me with a warm smile and made me feel like I belonged as opposed to "the enemy" that is usually the media.
And last but not least the managers, specifically Zach and Joe, who I have a lot of fun memories with from various road trips and helped to make this season one I'll never forget.
Then there is the boys team. While there is no group I'll ever be prouder of to have represent me than the Lady Raiders, I never truly felt a part of the team. This is probably because they are indeed the "Lady" Raiders but also there was a certain distance I had to keep at practice and such just because Insell runs a tight ship.
Meanwhile at men's practices I could be found on the sidelines amongst the players, and at games I could be found on the floor talking to Coach Case as my "pre-game ritual". I truly felt like part of the team.
This is the other thing I will most most about MT athletics as this obviously won't be the case at Syracuse where Jim Boeheim not only runs a tight ship, but has a slightly larger program to run that Coach Davis has to worry about here.
There are a few players in particular that made me feel as part of the team. First is Montarrio Haddock. I had a class with Tarrio first semester and even though he knew I was the media, he thought of me as a friend first. I've had many talks with Tarrio about things he sees and does on the court and I never felt like they were him talking to me, it was always a two-way conversation.
The same can be said for Rod Emanuel. I started really talking to Rod after the Tennessee game when I saw some things and was curious if he felt the same way. He told me not only had he noticed those things but the coaches had as well when they looked at the film and from there, like Montarrio, there was a two way flow of conversation. While I'm certainly not trying to take credit for anything Rod or anybody did, there are things he did on the court that we had talked about, and he was able to do them successfully. This gave me confidence in what I was seeing and talking about as a basketball mind and I can't wait to see how his game evolves next year.
Next year could be a big year for big blue and it quite frankly sucks that I'm going to have to watch it from afar. Jimmy Oden and Jason Jones will be eligible after sitting out a year following transfers and I think they will both be special. I also think James Washington will continue to grow as a PG and with another year under their belt, look for James Gallman and JT Sulton to do some special things as well.
I'd be remissed if I didn't also mention Calvin O'Neil and Boogie Yates by name as they also led to the family atmosphere to which I felt a part of and while I know their careers didn't end the way they wanted, they made one hell of a run at it and that counts for something.
Also, even though they probably won't see it, the coaches also deserve some thanks. Letting a student media member hang around your practices on the sidelines probably isn't always a good move, however Kermit Davis and his staff saw that I was there to highlight the good about their team and was a fair and honest reporter. While I don't always agree with some of Coach Davis's on court decisions, he couldn't be a nicer man off the floor.
Also gotta give some props to Mike Scutero, who was the teacher of my basketball class last semester and my "in" to the basketball program. Simply put, Scoot's one cool dude and I hope he gets promoted to a full time assistant so that he can continue doing the coaching that he loves.
Then there's Coach Case. If there's one person I'm dreading telling that I'm transferring it's Win Case. More than anyone else in the athletic program, Coach Case has taken me in as one of his own players if not his own kids when I'm around him. There is more love in that man than any human being I've ever met. I know I'll keep in touch with him and I hope that wherever he winds up as an Assistant or Head Coach moving forward that he is successful.
Outside of the athletic programs there are obviously a ton of people at MT that mean a lot to me. I saved this part for the end to try and think of as many people as possible and even then I know I'm going to forget some people.
I guess I'll start with some of the boys: Micah, Joey, Nate, Claude, Rob, Mikey, Troy (who also deserves credit for putting up with me last semester on radio and thanks for letting me on his show), Zack, and the countless others I'm forgetting that I've hung out with, played ball with, and just genuinely enjoyed the company of over the past two years.
I also feel that If I didn't show some love to Matthew Busman it wouldn't be fair. Although we surprisingly haven't kept in good touch this year, we had some hella good times last year as roommates and well, he put up with me, and that's worth something.
Then there are a few of the girls I've talked to as well throughout this decision to transfer that I think deserve a quick thanks (I realize this is slowly turning into a bad Oscar's speech so I'll try and be quick).
Chronologically first is Savannah Grandey. While I didn't really know her that well at the time, she was in fact the first person at MT that I told I was planning to transfer. We had just started working on a project for our speech class and we were getting to know each other and "why MTSU?" came up which led to me spilling the beans. Since we've finished that class we haven't kept in touch as much as I would like, but she was someone I could talk to in the early stages of this 6 month affair when no one else knew.
Then there's Danielle Hall. Not only is Danielle one of my best friends here at MT, but she is one of the easiest people to talk to I've ever met. I'll never forget when I told her about the idea of transferring, explained to her why, and how hard the decision was. She simply looked at me and said, "So, what are you gonna do?" I looked back at her and said "I have no earthly idea." Since then she's always been there to talk to, and while we haven't gotten to see each other a ton thanks to the fact that News 3 has eaten her alive, I know she's someone that's in the life long friend category and that's good enough for me.
Ashley and Stephanie (no last names needed, now it's less Oscary), have been the voices of reason from afar, and now that Steph's in Australia, really far. I talk to them as much as anybody and they've also been able to talk me through various things as unbiased voices since they have no ties to MT and for that I'm extremely grateful.
Then last but not least, just the rest of the friend I've failed to mention, Crissa, Lindsey, Michelle and Nicki (who will both be stars in their broadcasting careers), Alyssa, Amanda (who has also been able to provide a unique perspective since she's transferring too for which I'm grateful. She's also my MT bucket list partner-in-crime), Raye, and Rebekah.
Then last but not least, there are the few people at Syracuse that helped me when I was up there and have continued to help me in the past few months.
Mike Lefko and David Resnick sealed the deal with me going to Syracuse. They were honest with me and told me that I'd have to work, but if I did that I could get just as far as any student who had been at Syracuse for their full college career.
Then the last of the last but not least's (it's a word, trust me) is Mike Couzens. While I still haven't met Mike in person yet, he's someone that has helped me through this process as much as anyone and has also somewhat become a mentor to me as a media member in the process. He's always given me his honest opinion, whether its as a Syracuse student, a station manager, or just someone with an opinion.
I hope that I can have the pleasure of sitting beside Mike next year on radio but only time will tell and even if we decide to do something otherwise, I'm eternally grateful for all the help he's given me, not to mention his offer to house me and play tour guide next weekend when I go visit Syracuse.
Alright, that's it. To any of you who actually took the time to sit down and read all this, it means a lot, as the people mentioned in here mean a lot to me. I also recommend that you find a hobby.
My ride at MT has been fun and these last five weeks are going to be no different. I can't wait to see what the future has in store and I hope that most of you will be around for it, just like you are in the present.
Why I'm Transferring To Syracuse: Not The Weather
Whether it be for the newspaper, my blog, script, class, or even a 140 character tweet, I write a lot. Often I write quick witted, humorous works, while at other times I write on more serious topics and think out what I'm going to write.
What I'm about to write is something I've quite literally been writing in my head for months. Since September to be exact. Needless to say it's going to be quite lengthy and if you don't want to read it all I don't blame you. If you're tagged you're probably mentioned by name somewhere so if you just want to find your part and read that's fine with me. However I'd be sure to read the following paragraph or so first before you go name hunting.
The decision I finalized Saturday afternoon was absolutely one of the hardest decisions I've made in my young life, and it is one that will shape me for the rest of it. There were a million factors ranging from things as concrete as finances to as intangible as relationships and emotions. There were people pulling me in two directions while at the same time, I knew that either way I decided to go that I would be OK, and would eventually get where I want to be.
I'll elaborate on all this in a moment but first let me get straight to the decision itself:
I have decided to transfer and will be attending Syracuse University starting in the Fall of 2010.
This hasn't been a complete secret and a lot of people around me know, although I know to some of you this might be a surprise. However for those who did know and those who didn't, the logical first question is why?
Anybody that knows me knows that I am ambitious and that I am competitive. I enjoy a challenge and want to be surrounded by and be put up against the best. With that in mind I came to MTSU from South Carolina because it was, and still is, the best in the nation, if not the world, when it comes to the Recording Industry.
Thanks to Steven Mizell (who I will talk much more about later in the "thank you" section of this small book) I got into sports talk radio by hanging out on "The Lowedown" with Richard Lowe (also to be thanked profusely later).
I fell in love with it and 6 weeks into my Freshman year, the ever living battle in my life of sports and music was finally over: sports won. I changed my major officially in December and continued on with my life.
The thought of transferring obviously put forth immediately when I decided to change my major. I came here for a specific reason and that reason was no longer valid, however I decided that I had a lot going for me and the experience I was getting was too good to pass up.
Fast-forward to September 5th, 2009. MTSU's first football game of the season at Clemson. I was on the field for the opening kick-off which CJ Spiller returned for a touchdown for the Tigers and I couldn't believe the atmosphere as 75,000 people were screaming and I quite literally couldn't here what Curtis was saying to me as he stood 3 feet away.
As we walked back up to the press box we talked about how much we wanted an atmosphere like this. This wasn't even a sellout for Clemson and the atmosphere was unbelievable. I wanted that. And I wanted it badly.
I talked to my parents (who were at the game) at halftime and told them how I felt and they said that if I wanted to explore transferring that it was up to me. I started looking at schools as soon as I got back to Murfreesboro.
From the start there was one place I had in mind for obvious reasons.
Syracuse is widely considered to be the best broadcast journalism school in the country. It's also back on the east coast and only 4 hours from a lot of my family.
I've said all along I want to wind up as a final destination in one of three places with my career: Bristol, CT (ESPN Headquarters, New York City, or Los Angeles. While LA is obviously about as far from Syracuse as you can get in the US, the other two locations are within a few hours and the networking is built in when you become a Syracuse student.
Not only does Syracuse have an unmatched pedigree when it comes to producing elite sports broadcasters but their alumni network is also tops in the field.
Having a pedigree means nothing if you can't live up to the expectations and don't have the talent of your predecessors, however if half of upper management at most of the places you want to work for came from a particular school, having a degree from said school is certainly a positive.
Also, getting back to my initial itch of wanting to go to a bigger athletic school, Syracuse packs 30,000+ into the Carrier Dome for basketball games. That is something I absolutely cannot wait for.
After telling people this, the next logical question I get was, "yeah, but you've got so much going for you hear, don't you not wanna lose that?"
Well ideally yes, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I have been able to do a lot here, and there are often days I wake up going "did yesterday really happen?" Whether it be meeting one of my childhood heros in Jay Williams, talking to a guy who I think is one of the best in our field in Ryen Russillo, or even the high I was on for nearly a week after the Lady Raiders won their Sun Belt title, the memories I've had at MT aren't going anywhere.
The problem is that the road hasn't exactly been an easy one when it comes to actually dealing with Middle Tennessee State University. I've had to fight to get into classes I've been kept out of because of administrative errors. I'm now fighting to keep my scholarship because the dean of my department is a Grade A prick, and decided midway through the semester that my volunteer hours spent doing student media weren't good enough anymore.
There has also been the struggle with student media itself. Whether it be a fight over a time slot where I felt completely disregarded and disrespected or having to cancel TV shows after putting in hours upon hours of work simply because people wouldn't show up to work crew, things haven't been as rosy as they may seem from the outside.
I know that at Syracuse everything will not be perfect because that is life, but it will be better. I've seen too many of my friends get screwed over by the EMC department, some of whom had to stay past their scheduled graduation date because of incompetent advising to even think of letting that happen to me. Also a lack of participation in student media will never happen in a place where everyone is trying to do as much as possible to be their best.
Also the lack of games that student media is involved with really really bothered me. Although I am the "go-to" sports guy in student media, until last week I had never called a game in my life. Why?
Because management at MTTV didn't make sports a priority. We could have done upwards of 10 basketball games this year and instead we did 0. The people who needed to pursue it didn't and the people that would have gotten that experience suffered. I'm not necessarily faulting anyone at MTTV, I'm simply saying that it's not a priority and I need to be somewhere where it is.
Also Nelligan sports has exclusive rights to the radio broadcasts of all games, meaning that if I had stayed at MT I would never have gotten to call a basketball game (or any other game) on radio. At Syracuse, every game has a student media call. No fault of any person at MT, just a different world up there.
With all of these things in mind, yet still knowing all the positive I had going for me at MT, I took a trip in October to Syracuse and while the trip didn't start off with the things I wanted to hear, it certainly ended well. I instantly fell in love with the campus at Syracuse.
One of my biggest gripes about MT is that it's not a college town. Everything is commercialized, there are no good, cheap spots that are locally owned that everyone goes to. Sure there is Around the Way Dog and Sir Pizza on Main St but they have nothing on Cosmo's and The Varsity and all of Marshall St. at Syracuse.
By the end of that weekend, as I literally nearly fell asleep in a financial aid meeting, I had a strong gut feeling about what I was going to do, and that was to be wearing Syracuse Orange in the Fall of 2010.
This became more complicated as I came back and became immersed in Middle Tennessee basketball. In part 2 (the thank you's) I'll go more into this, but getting to know the players and coaches and feeling like a part of that family made me want to stay. I also got to spend more time with the people that meant a lot to me here and the decision all of a sudden became difficult again.
I talked about it to various people, including the incompetent Grade A prick that heads the EMC department, Dr. Oneal. (This was before he and I had our disagreement about the scholarship hours).
I walked into his office and said: "Convince me to stay." In essence his answer was "go." A lot of other people pulled me to stay for various reasons and my thanks goes to them far more than it does to anyone who didn't question me and just said "go." If they honestly felt that they, and wanted to challenge me, whatever they're reasoning, I have the utmost respect for them and thank them for giving me their opinion.
However after all the lobbying, there was only one person who's decision it was, and that was mine. I had a lot of input and a lot of things to consider but at the end of the day, the positive of Syracuse outweighed the positive of MTSU.
While none of my friends here are replaceable, I'll keep in touch with those that I want to, and those that want to keep in touch with me will. At the same time I'll meet a whole new group of people and experience life in a whole new part of the country and try not to freeze my ass off.
It is a classic case of being content and staying put vs going for it and wanting more. I know that at MTSU I'm doing really well, but I fear that I have peaked. That nothing that I do is going to top what I'm doing now. Yes I'd continue to learn and get better but because of the monetary limitations of being at a state school in a state with no money, there are just certain things that I would never get to do.
Instead I'm going to take the leap with the hope of not just being good but being great. There is a great risk that I will just become another really good Syracuse kid, however the chance to be great and standout even amongst the best is something I couldn't turn down. If you stay put your whole life because you have a fear of failure you'll never get anywhere.
Instead I use my fear of failure as a driving force to succeed.
This explanation has turned out to be even longer than I imagined so instead of continuing here with the immense amount of thank you's I'd like to give, I'll instead start a new note and do them there. If you've read this far, thanks and if anyone has any questions you are more than welcome to ask. I will answer them honestly and as best I can.
Thanks to all who have supported me through this whole process and I hope you'll continue to support me as I move forward and move north.
What I'm about to write is something I've quite literally been writing in my head for months. Since September to be exact. Needless to say it's going to be quite lengthy and if you don't want to read it all I don't blame you. If you're tagged you're probably mentioned by name somewhere so if you just want to find your part and read that's fine with me. However I'd be sure to read the following paragraph or so first before you go name hunting.
The decision I finalized Saturday afternoon was absolutely one of the hardest decisions I've made in my young life, and it is one that will shape me for the rest of it. There were a million factors ranging from things as concrete as finances to as intangible as relationships and emotions. There were people pulling me in two directions while at the same time, I knew that either way I decided to go that I would be OK, and would eventually get where I want to be.
I'll elaborate on all this in a moment but first let me get straight to the decision itself:
I have decided to transfer and will be attending Syracuse University starting in the Fall of 2010.
This hasn't been a complete secret and a lot of people around me know, although I know to some of you this might be a surprise. However for those who did know and those who didn't, the logical first question is why?
Anybody that knows me knows that I am ambitious and that I am competitive. I enjoy a challenge and want to be surrounded by and be put up against the best. With that in mind I came to MTSU from South Carolina because it was, and still is, the best in the nation, if not the world, when it comes to the Recording Industry.
Thanks to Steven Mizell (who I will talk much more about later in the "thank you" section of this small book) I got into sports talk radio by hanging out on "The Lowedown" with Richard Lowe (also to be thanked profusely later).
I fell in love with it and 6 weeks into my Freshman year, the ever living battle in my life of sports and music was finally over: sports won. I changed my major officially in December and continued on with my life.
The thought of transferring obviously put forth immediately when I decided to change my major. I came here for a specific reason and that reason was no longer valid, however I decided that I had a lot going for me and the experience I was getting was too good to pass up.
Fast-forward to September 5th, 2009. MTSU's first football game of the season at Clemson. I was on the field for the opening kick-off which CJ Spiller returned for a touchdown for the Tigers and I couldn't believe the atmosphere as 75,000 people were screaming and I quite literally couldn't here what Curtis was saying to me as he stood 3 feet away.
As we walked back up to the press box we talked about how much we wanted an atmosphere like this. This wasn't even a sellout for Clemson and the atmosphere was unbelievable. I wanted that. And I wanted it badly.
I talked to my parents (who were at the game) at halftime and told them how I felt and they said that if I wanted to explore transferring that it was up to me. I started looking at schools as soon as I got back to Murfreesboro.
From the start there was one place I had in mind for obvious reasons.
Syracuse is widely considered to be the best broadcast journalism school in the country. It's also back on the east coast and only 4 hours from a lot of my family.
I've said all along I want to wind up as a final destination in one of three places with my career: Bristol, CT (ESPN Headquarters, New York City, or Los Angeles. While LA is obviously about as far from Syracuse as you can get in the US, the other two locations are within a few hours and the networking is built in when you become a Syracuse student.
Not only does Syracuse have an unmatched pedigree when it comes to producing elite sports broadcasters but their alumni network is also tops in the field.
Having a pedigree means nothing if you can't live up to the expectations and don't have the talent of your predecessors, however if half of upper management at most of the places you want to work for came from a particular school, having a degree from said school is certainly a positive.
Also, getting back to my initial itch of wanting to go to a bigger athletic school, Syracuse packs 30,000+ into the Carrier Dome for basketball games. That is something I absolutely cannot wait for.
After telling people this, the next logical question I get was, "yeah, but you've got so much going for you hear, don't you not wanna lose that?"
Well ideally yes, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I have been able to do a lot here, and there are often days I wake up going "did yesterday really happen?" Whether it be meeting one of my childhood heros in Jay Williams, talking to a guy who I think is one of the best in our field in Ryen Russillo, or even the high I was on for nearly a week after the Lady Raiders won their Sun Belt title, the memories I've had at MT aren't going anywhere.
The problem is that the road hasn't exactly been an easy one when it comes to actually dealing with Middle Tennessee State University. I've had to fight to get into classes I've been kept out of because of administrative errors. I'm now fighting to keep my scholarship because the dean of my department is a Grade A prick, and decided midway through the semester that my volunteer hours spent doing student media weren't good enough anymore.
There has also been the struggle with student media itself. Whether it be a fight over a time slot where I felt completely disregarded and disrespected or having to cancel TV shows after putting in hours upon hours of work simply because people wouldn't show up to work crew, things haven't been as rosy as they may seem from the outside.
I know that at Syracuse everything will not be perfect because that is life, but it will be better. I've seen too many of my friends get screwed over by the EMC department, some of whom had to stay past their scheduled graduation date because of incompetent advising to even think of letting that happen to me. Also a lack of participation in student media will never happen in a place where everyone is trying to do as much as possible to be their best.
Also the lack of games that student media is involved with really really bothered me. Although I am the "go-to" sports guy in student media, until last week I had never called a game in my life. Why?
Because management at MTTV didn't make sports a priority. We could have done upwards of 10 basketball games this year and instead we did 0. The people who needed to pursue it didn't and the people that would have gotten that experience suffered. I'm not necessarily faulting anyone at MTTV, I'm simply saying that it's not a priority and I need to be somewhere where it is.
Also Nelligan sports has exclusive rights to the radio broadcasts of all games, meaning that if I had stayed at MT I would never have gotten to call a basketball game (or any other game) on radio. At Syracuse, every game has a student media call. No fault of any person at MT, just a different world up there.
With all of these things in mind, yet still knowing all the positive I had going for me at MT, I took a trip in October to Syracuse and while the trip didn't start off with the things I wanted to hear, it certainly ended well. I instantly fell in love with the campus at Syracuse.
One of my biggest gripes about MT is that it's not a college town. Everything is commercialized, there are no good, cheap spots that are locally owned that everyone goes to. Sure there is Around the Way Dog and Sir Pizza on Main St but they have nothing on Cosmo's and The Varsity and all of Marshall St. at Syracuse.
By the end of that weekend, as I literally nearly fell asleep in a financial aid meeting, I had a strong gut feeling about what I was going to do, and that was to be wearing Syracuse Orange in the Fall of 2010.
This became more complicated as I came back and became immersed in Middle Tennessee basketball. In part 2 (the thank you's) I'll go more into this, but getting to know the players and coaches and feeling like a part of that family made me want to stay. I also got to spend more time with the people that meant a lot to me here and the decision all of a sudden became difficult again.
I talked about it to various people, including the incompetent Grade A prick that heads the EMC department, Dr. Oneal. (This was before he and I had our disagreement about the scholarship hours).
I walked into his office and said: "Convince me to stay." In essence his answer was "go." A lot of other people pulled me to stay for various reasons and my thanks goes to them far more than it does to anyone who didn't question me and just said "go." If they honestly felt that they, and wanted to challenge me, whatever they're reasoning, I have the utmost respect for them and thank them for giving me their opinion.
However after all the lobbying, there was only one person who's decision it was, and that was mine. I had a lot of input and a lot of things to consider but at the end of the day, the positive of Syracuse outweighed the positive of MTSU.
While none of my friends here are replaceable, I'll keep in touch with those that I want to, and those that want to keep in touch with me will. At the same time I'll meet a whole new group of people and experience life in a whole new part of the country and try not to freeze my ass off.
It is a classic case of being content and staying put vs going for it and wanting more. I know that at MTSU I'm doing really well, but I fear that I have peaked. That nothing that I do is going to top what I'm doing now. Yes I'd continue to learn and get better but because of the monetary limitations of being at a state school in a state with no money, there are just certain things that I would never get to do.
Instead I'm going to take the leap with the hope of not just being good but being great. There is a great risk that I will just become another really good Syracuse kid, however the chance to be great and standout even amongst the best is something I couldn't turn down. If you stay put your whole life because you have a fear of failure you'll never get anywhere.
Instead I use my fear of failure as a driving force to succeed.
This explanation has turned out to be even longer than I imagined so instead of continuing here with the immense amount of thank you's I'd like to give, I'll instead start a new note and do them there. If you've read this far, thanks and if anyone has any questions you are more than welcome to ask. I will answer them honestly and as best I can.
Thanks to all who have supported me through this whole process and I hope you'll continue to support me as I move forward and move north.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Ryen Russillo 3-20
We talk with ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo about everything NBA including some of the future NBA Players playing right now in the NCAA Tournaments
The Best Intro Ever
I used to be a Recording Industry Major and I got a 4 on the AP Music Theory exam. I'm also funny.
Curtis can sing well enough for it to not sound like crap. He's also funny.
These are all important facts to the greatest intro ever. Curtis also has a large head. This isn't.
Curtis can sing well enough for it to not sound like crap. He's also funny.
These are all important facts to the greatest intro ever. Curtis also has a large head. This isn't.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Championship by Tweet!
The Lady Raiders won their 3rd conference title in 4 years earlier today and I couldn't have been happier nor prouder to be there courtside.
I've said it a billion times but it is an AMAZING group of girls who knew their potential and thus far have reached it, now having another championship to show for it. Re-live the epic overtime thriller in the final as only I can provide you: 140 characters at a time through my tweets through the game. All of them are unaltered and can be found directly as found below at twitter.com/craighoffman.
The tweets start exactly an hour prior to tip and end roughly 90 minutes after the game at the beginning of our ride back to Middle Tennessee. Enjoy!
They just opened the doors here as we're and the MTSU fans are rolling in! #GoBlue
Some guy next to us is calling Coach Insell an "asshole" and said some1 needs to "light his ass up"..I wanted to deck him square in the face
Just because he said on the record he doesn't think your team is in the tournament doesn't mean that he's a jerk. He's honest w/ the media. (Post-game Insell did say that he thinks both teams are in and that they should be in)
UALR's mens team is here despite the fact that they lost on the first day of the tourney.
UALR media member. He apparently didn't hear all the trash Reed and Sitzman talked RT @jrlind: @craighoffman Surely it's a UALR fan?
UALR fans are talking trash about how we beat easy teams. A) You play who's on the schedule. B) YOU BEAT NEW ORLEANS!!! A D3 school next year!
Just got a wink from AC...she's ready. I know she wants that revenge and she wants to finish a champion. (Apparently I need to go to all of her games from now until she retires from the WNBA to get winked at...48 is a bit ridiculous!)
http://twitpic.com/17ks1h - I say Einsten. Whatcha think? RT @TheycallmeHeed: @craighoffman i think beethoven is conducting the pep band for
Alright less than 15 til tipoff so its storyline watch time: 1) Will MTSU press? They didn't last time vs UALR and it cost them.
The girls said that it got them out of their rhythm. Insell said post-game yesterday that they will press but will disguise it.
2nd storyline: Clark vs Reed. Will Reed get caught up in the matchup and force issue. Also with AC probably guarding her can she avoid fouls
My prediction: yes. Clark is one of the smartest basketball players I've ever met. Also is that going to happen or will Insell get creative?
So happy that WKU fans are gone so they can't mess up our fight song! #GoToHellWestern #GoBlue
Place is electric. I'm startin to get really excited for this. And no it has nothing to do with the UALR dancer. Geez. Gimme a break! (The funny/ironic thing is, I've sinced talked to the UALR dancer and she's gonna be on our radio show when we get back)
I like this...Jackie starting off on Reed. Of course JP is the SBC Defensive Player of the year.
Answer to story line 1: MTSU is in their 2-2-1 press to open. No disguise. Straight pressure.
The problem with JP on Reed is that she's not used to guarding on the post
Pickel got lessons from Lymon on guarding Reed. Go straight up and be in her face. (This was a pure guess and I still don't know if it's true but that's exactly how Chelsia guarded her in Little Rock)
9-7 UALR at the first media timeout. Chelsia Lymon's intensity is insane right now.
MTSU out of the press but they are giving Reed fits. Double teams and face guarding her.
This isn't good. At all. Chelsia Lymon with her 3rd and Kortni Jones is in. Time to shine kid.
Clark starting to heat up offensively. She's got 8. 2 more points and she breaks her own tournament record.
She also just drew a charge on Reed who is beyond frustrated. Jackie is doing an incredible job and is getting great help.
MTSU has gone to "special" on offense. This is the offense they ran yesterday through Annie.
MTSU back to the press after another JP 3.
Great defensive play by Reed as she doubles down and strips Alysha. Resulting in a layup.
22-18 UALR at the under 8 timeout. Clark with 10. MTSU not shooting well from outside. Needs to change.
Only 2-8 from 3 and 7-16 overall.
MTSU is a team built to play from behind in that they press and shoot the 3 but they're not making any 3's. NEED to hit.
If MTSU can keep it within 5 and then get Lymon back that would be huge. Down 8 now.
2:36 left in the first half and UALR is up 30-25. Leading scorer for them is Butler who has 10. Clark has 14 and Pickel has 10.
None from Brown or Lanning is a major issue. Brandi just isn't shooting well. Look to get her on the post and get her going.
Stewart in for Lanning for the final 30 seconds. Can she provide a quick defensive spark?
Reed forces up another shot and misses giving MT the chance to take the lead with 9.1 seconds left after an Insell timeout.
Lymon back in for the possession as is Lanning.
Tie ball game at half. 32-32. Clark with 21 while Reed only has 4 points. Alysha only has 1 more shot than Reed. #ThinkAboutIt
In other news Scarlett Lanning caught two more rubber chickens in a basket on her head to win the halftime competition. She's amazing!
I've said it a billion times but it is an AMAZING group of girls who knew their potential and thus far have reached it, now having another championship to show for it. Re-live the epic overtime thriller in the final as only I can provide you: 140 characters at a time through my tweets through the game. All of them are unaltered and can be found directly as found below at twitter.com/craighoffman.
The tweets start exactly an hour prior to tip and end roughly 90 minutes after the game at the beginning of our ride back to Middle Tennessee. Enjoy!
Championship By Tweet
They just opened the doors here as we're and the MTSU fans are rolling in! #GoBlue
Some guy next to us is calling Coach Insell an "asshole" and said some1 needs to "light his ass up"..I wanted to deck him square in the face
Just because he said on the record he doesn't think your team is in the tournament doesn't mean that he's a jerk. He's honest w/ the media. (Post-game Insell did say that he thinks both teams are in and that they should be in)
UALR's mens team is here despite the fact that they lost on the first day of the tourney.
UALR media member. He apparently didn't hear all the trash Reed and Sitzman talked RT @jrlind: @craighoffman Surely it's a UALR fan?
UALR fans are talking trash about how we beat easy teams. A) You play who's on the schedule. B) YOU BEAT NEW ORLEANS!!! A D3 school next year!
Just got a wink from AC...she's ready. I know she wants that revenge and she wants to finish a champion. (Apparently I need to go to all of her games from now until she retires from the WNBA to get winked at...48 is a bit ridiculous!)
http://twitpic.com/17ks1h - I say Einsten. Whatcha think? RT @TheycallmeHeed: @craighoffman i think beethoven is conducting the pep band for
Alright less than 15 til tipoff so its storyline watch time: 1) Will MTSU press? They didn't last time vs UALR and it cost them.
The girls said that it got them out of their rhythm. Insell said post-game yesterday that they will press but will disguise it.
2nd storyline: Clark vs Reed. Will Reed get caught up in the matchup and force issue. Also with AC probably guarding her can she avoid fouls
My prediction: yes. Clark is one of the smartest basketball players I've ever met. Also is that going to happen or will Insell get creative?
So happy that WKU fans are gone so they can't mess up our fight song! #GoToHellWestern #GoBlue
Place is electric. I'm startin to get really excited for this. And no it has nothing to do with the UALR dancer. Geez. Gimme a break! (The funny/ironic thing is, I've sinced talked to the UALR dancer and she's gonna be on our radio show when we get back)
I like this...Jackie starting off on Reed. Of course JP is the SBC Defensive Player of the year.
Answer to story line 1: MTSU is in their 2-2-1 press to open. No disguise. Straight pressure.
The problem with JP on Reed is that she's not used to guarding on the post
Pickel got lessons from Lymon on guarding Reed. Go straight up and be in her face. (This was a pure guess and I still don't know if it's true but that's exactly how Chelsia guarded her in Little Rock)
9-7 UALR at the first media timeout. Chelsia Lymon's intensity is insane right now.
MTSU out of the press but they are giving Reed fits. Double teams and face guarding her.
This isn't good. At all. Chelsia Lymon with her 3rd and Kortni Jones is in. Time to shine kid.
Clark starting to heat up offensively. She's got 8. 2 more points and she breaks her own tournament record.
She also just drew a charge on Reed who is beyond frustrated. Jackie is doing an incredible job and is getting great help.
MTSU has gone to "special" on offense. This is the offense they ran yesterday through Annie.
MTSU back to the press after another JP 3.
Great defensive play by Reed as she doubles down and strips Alysha. Resulting in a layup.
22-18 UALR at the under 8 timeout. Clark with 10. MTSU not shooting well from outside. Needs to change.
Only 2-8 from 3 and 7-16 overall.
MTSU is a team built to play from behind in that they press and shoot the 3 but they're not making any 3's. NEED to hit.
If MTSU can keep it within 5 and then get Lymon back that would be huge. Down 8 now.
2:36 left in the first half and UALR is up 30-25. Leading scorer for them is Butler who has 10. Clark has 14 and Pickel has 10.
None from Brown or Lanning is a major issue. Brandi just isn't shooting well. Look to get her on the post and get her going.
Stewart in for Lanning for the final 30 seconds. Can she provide a quick defensive spark?
Reed forces up another shot and misses giving MT the chance to take the lead with 9.1 seconds left after an Insell timeout.
Lymon back in for the possession as is Lanning.
Tie ball game at half. 32-32. Clark with 21 while Reed only has 4 points. Alysha only has 1 more shot than Reed. #ThinkAboutIt
In other news Scarlett Lanning caught two more rubber chickens in a basket on her head to win the halftime competition. She's amazing!
She caught 3 in the semifinals and came back and caught 2 in the finals...the other dude didn't even catch 1
In record watch: Alysha Clark has completely blitzed her scoring record for the tournament. She's up to 105 points in 2.5 games.
Me too! RT @crash8130: @craighoffman what a great game. So many story lines. So many great players. Instant classic. Can I get this on DVD?
How many of you would be interested in seeing a post-season interview show similiar to the preseason one i did with the girls? Feedback pls! (I never got any feedback but I've decided to do it anyway...it's going to be elaborate. With sponsors. And an audience. Oooooooh. Aaaaaah)
Things to watch in 2nd: Can we keep Reed down? Can Lymon stay on the floor? Can Brown/Lanning put points in peoples faces? (Boom! Club Trillion reference!)
Pickel just picked up her 3rd foul. Something else to watch.
UALR already has 4 team fouls in this half. MTSU is a great shooting team from the line so they have to continue this aggressive play.
And of course AC misses 1/2 FT's after I say that. 1 point lead for MTSU.
UALR now up 4 as they are doing a better job on Clark. The refs are letting them play incredibly physical down low on her.
Kortni Jones back in for MTSU...interesting substitution. (Kort played great, but I wasn't sure timing wise why Insell took Chels out here...didn't last long)
Lymon coming back in. Clark attempting her 8th and 9th FT's of the game
Clark doing it all!!! She just took a charge on Kursh which was her 4th! She's also up to 28.
Reed now guarding Clark and is beating the tar out of her and the refs aren't calling it. She just swiped her across the head!
Huge 3 by Ree! Back to a 6 point game.
Under 8 media timeout and MTSU is down 6. Clark has 30 and it feels like she's the only one who's scored this half.
Clark has 4 fouls. This is bad. She's not coming out though. (Luckily Alysha is as smart of a basketball player that I've ever met and she didn't foul out.)
Clark scores again. 2 point game.
Tie game! Clark with 38. So nervous.
3:48 left. Tie game. Media timeout. Reed has been guarding Clark down the stretch. Here. We. Go.
Downtown Brandi Brown for threeeee!!!! Her first of the game! Then a steal by Jackie Pickel! 55-52 MTSU and AC to the line for 1-and-1
Alysha makes both and MTSU has a 5 point lead with 3:00 left.
Reset: MTSU 59 UALR 57. UALR ball endline out of bounds. UALR gets 1-and-1, MTSU is in the double bonus.
Overtime! I honestly don't know if I can take this. My heart is racing, I'm weak in the knees, I feel light headed. (This wasn't an exaggeration. I was leaning forward resting my chest on my hand which was on the table and it was pounding. My knees also felt about as sturdy as the Leaning Tower of Pisa looks and my head was as light as a helium balloon)
Team fouls carry over in OT. That could be huge
5 fouls on Kursh. Clark back to the line.
44 points now for Clark, which of course ties yesterdays single game scoring record
Missed layup by Clark, travel by Reed. Fatigue setting in.
Clark misses another chipshot. She's not happy. But she's getting looks.
Foul on Sitzman for over the back on a rebound. Clark back to the line. Love scoring without having to work for it. (Remember the tweet about fouls carrying over being important?)
MTSU up 2 after both go in. Clark with 46
Annie for 3!!!! 5 point lead!
Both go in. 7 point lead with less than 2 left.
Foul on UALR. Lymon to the line for 2.Reset: 51.4 left. 68-66 MTSU. MTSU in double bonus. Their ball. Baseline out of bounds. Can run the baseline
Put time back on the clock. Now 55.4 left
OH MY GOD!!!! BRUTAL CALL ON A FASTBREAK AS JACKIE PICKEL GOT ALL BALL!!!! UALR makes 2 FT's to tie
ALYSHA CLARK!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! SHE PUTS IN ANOTHER DEUCE TO PUT MTSU UP 2 WITH 1.8 LEFT!!!!!
MTSU WINS!!!!!!!! (In all my excitement this is all I could muster. Let's just say that I lost all professionalism on press row and really just didn't care. I put on the fan pants and then took advantage of my media pass and went on the court with my camera and started taking pictures between congratulatory hugs)
Curtis (@theycallmeheed) just dropped "fantastic" in the press conference. What a dope.
On the way out of town passed a cloud 9 park! So appropriate
#nowplaying - "roses" by Outkast...dedicated to Chastity Reed!
I'm going to be posting a series of blogs over the next few days about my thoughts on the tournament, untold stories from the on-court celebration post game, as well as my usual "by the numbers" breakdowns. Stay tuned kids!
Heeeeeey...looky what I found!
Champions!!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Ryen Russillo 2-27
Ryen Russillo from ESPN Radio joins us for what we hope will be the first of many visits. We discuss the NBA trade deadline, who you don't want to see in the playoffs, Steven's hometown Grizzlies, and the fastest player in college football.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Somebody Get Me A Kleenex!
I'm going to cry on Sunday. And I won't be the only one.
Why you ask?
Simply put, it's Senior Day for the Lady Raiders and it is the last time Alysha Clark, Chelsia Lymon, Brandi Brown, Jackie Pickel and Dana Garrett will ever put on an MTSU uniform at the Murphy Center.
The numbers this group have put up are astonishing.
Going into Wednesday's game against Troy, in 11,290 minutes, they have scored 4,667 points on 44.4% shooting, including 35.2% from behind the arc and 75% from the free throw line.
Think about that.
One of every three 3-point shots one of those five seniors has put up over four years, has gone in, as well as three of every four free throws.
They've also taken down 1,584 rebounds and dished out 871 assists, while committing only 810 turnovers. For a player to go 4 years and have a positive assist to turnover ratio is impressive, for 5 players to do it is unreal.
Overall they have won 98 games while only losing 27, and in conference they have won an unreal 91.2% of their games. 62-6, with only one of those losses (in four years!) coming at the Murphy Center.
They've won two Sun Belt regular season and conference tournament titles, winning both in 2007 and 2009, and have two top 10 wins, defeating Number 8 Georgia in 2006 and Number 8 LSU in 2007, not to mention playing number 1 and defending national champion Maryland to a 4 point game to open the 2006 season.
And as impressive as all these numbers are, they could have been even more impressive if Alysha Clark had been here all 4 years instead of spending her first two at Belmont.
Speaking of Clark, she leads the list of accolades for the Senior class. She is the only player in NCAA basketball history (men’s or women’s) to be named the Player of the Year in two different conferences (Atlantic Sun with Belmont in 2006-07 and Sun Belt last year with MTSU).
She is both school's 1,000 point club and her list of accomplishments continues to include a 50 point game at Troy (‘09), the Murphy Center record of 45 points last year versus Western Kentucky, over forty double doubles in a Middle Tennessee uniform, and a third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press as she lead the nation in scoring last season.
Clark's best friend, running mate, and partner in crime, Chelsia Lymon also isn't hurting in the trophy case. After taking over the starting point guard job midway through her sophomore year, Lymon has blossomed into a coach on the floor for Rick Insell, and is the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. She also reigned in a Third-Team All-Conference honor.
Simply put, Lymon is a warrior. She is everything a coach could dream of in a leader. On top of teaching, running the team, and being the vocal leader, Lymon has shown her toughness all season by playing through a severe shoulder injury that will require surgery at season's end.
If Lymon doesn't lose her Defensive Player of the Year crown to Jackie Pickel at the end of the year everyone should start seriously worrying about the whole "2012 apocalypse" dealio. Pickel leads the conference and is fifth nationally in steals and has given elite players such as LSU's Allison Hightower and Tennessee's Angie Bjorklund fits.
On the offensive end Pickel is no slouch either. With an effortless stroke, she racks up 3 point baskets at a higher rate than anyone in the conference. She has also re-vamped her game, adding a mid-range game and the ability to get to the hoop after being known as a shooter her first three years.
Like Lymon, Pickel has the warrior mentality. She had played in every game of each of her 4 seasons (120 straight) until a knee injury kept her out against New Orleans (although she didn’t sit willingly, and could have played if the Raiders needed her). Over the past two years has played nearly every minute of those games, leading the team in minutes since the beginning of her junior year.
If not for Brandi Brown, Jackie might be headed for some of the school's 3 point shooting records, however MTSU’s newest member of the 1,000 point club is also the school’s all-time leading 3 point shooter. On top of her sweet outside stroke, Brown is a polished post player, making her a match-up nightmare for opposing coaches.
Just how good of a shooter is Brown? Through the first 6 games of the season she was shooting a putrid 23%. Now her number is up to 43%. That means since the Raiders came home from Cincinnatti following the loss to Xavier, Brandi Brown has shot 51% from behind the 3 point line.
Yet for all these numbers, statistics, wins, and accolades, the defining aspect of this Senior class is who they are as people, and that’s why there won’t be a dry eye in the glass house Sunday.
They are the “big sisters” on the tightest team any of them say they have ever been on.
Particularly on a women’s athletic team, drama can be a real issue. This team has none. They truly love and care for each other.
In the community the girls are beloved as well. They can commonly be found at the men’s games, taking in the action with their young fans. They can be found after games talking to fans and signing autographs.
It starts at the top with Coach Insell, who, like his players, greets everyone with a warm smile and takes a genuine interest in how the people around him are doing.
That trickles down to his star player in Clark, who as humble a person that walks on planet earth.
Last year after the WKU game, when she set the Murphy Center record with 45 points, she had no idea what she had done. When MTTV sideline reporter Raye McDonald told her in a post-game interview, Clark’s eyes popped and her jaw dropped.
And when I asked Clark what makes her so successful before the season started, she gave all the credit to her coaches and teammates.
Absolutely no mention of her own work ethic which is second to none.
And when I asked Clark if she could trade any of her personal accolades for a single win in the NCAA tournament, not a championship, just a single win, she looked at me like I was absolutely insane. The answer was clearly yes.
Lymon, Pickel, and Brown are the same way. Humble beyond belief, all about the team, all driven to one goal: win. They’ve passed this down to the younger players and as Insell’s first recruiting class graduates and moves on to the next phase of their lives, the future of Middle Tennessee basketball is bright.
However before we move on there is business to take care of. There is a third conference title to win. There is the first NCAA tournament win for this group to harness, and there is the ultimate goal of San Antonio and the Final Four.
But before all of that there is Sunday. Senior day. There will be more emotions than anyone can describe, however no matter what you feel, soak it in. The girls certainly are.
After a recent game Pickel told me, “After the UALR loss, we kinda realized, this is it. We only have so many games left and so much time left with each other. We really started to soak everything in and enjoy it.”
Sunday will be no different. Because after the tears, a ball will be tossed in the air and a game will be played. And at least 5 girls will be having the times of their lives.
Why you ask?
Simply put, it's Senior Day for the Lady Raiders and it is the last time Alysha Clark, Chelsia Lymon, Brandi Brown, Jackie Pickel and Dana Garrett will ever put on an MTSU uniform at the Murphy Center.
The numbers this group have put up are astonishing.
Going into Wednesday's game against Troy, in 11,290 minutes, they have scored 4,667 points on 44.4% shooting, including 35.2% from behind the arc and 75% from the free throw line.
Think about that.
One of every three 3-point shots one of those five seniors has put up over four years, has gone in, as well as three of every four free throws.
They've also taken down 1,584 rebounds and dished out 871 assists, while committing only 810 turnovers. For a player to go 4 years and have a positive assist to turnover ratio is impressive, for 5 players to do it is unreal.
Overall they have won 98 games while only losing 27, and in conference they have won an unreal 91.2% of their games. 62-6, with only one of those losses (in four years!) coming at the Murphy Center.
They've won two Sun Belt regular season and conference tournament titles, winning both in 2007 and 2009, and have two top 10 wins, defeating Number 8 Georgia in 2006 and Number 8 LSU in 2007, not to mention playing number 1 and defending national champion Maryland to a 4 point game to open the 2006 season.
And as impressive as all these numbers are, they could have been even more impressive if Alysha Clark had been here all 4 years instead of spending her first two at Belmont.
Speaking of Clark, she leads the list of accolades for the Senior class. She is the only player in NCAA basketball history (men’s or women’s) to be named the Player of the Year in two different conferences (Atlantic Sun with Belmont in 2006-07 and Sun Belt last year with MTSU).
She is both school's 1,000 point club and her list of accomplishments continues to include a 50 point game at Troy (‘09), the Murphy Center record of 45 points last year versus Western Kentucky, over forty double doubles in a Middle Tennessee uniform, and a third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press as she lead the nation in scoring last season.
Clark's best friend, running mate, and partner in crime, Chelsia Lymon also isn't hurting in the trophy case. After taking over the starting point guard job midway through her sophomore year, Lymon has blossomed into a coach on the floor for Rick Insell, and is the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. She also reigned in a Third-Team All-Conference honor.
Simply put, Lymon is a warrior. She is everything a coach could dream of in a leader. On top of teaching, running the team, and being the vocal leader, Lymon has shown her toughness all season by playing through a severe shoulder injury that will require surgery at season's end.
If Lymon doesn't lose her Defensive Player of the Year crown to Jackie Pickel at the end of the year everyone should start seriously worrying about the whole "2012 apocalypse" dealio. Pickel leads the conference and is fifth nationally in steals and has given elite players such as LSU's Allison Hightower and Tennessee's Angie Bjorklund fits.
On the offensive end Pickel is no slouch either. With an effortless stroke, she racks up 3 point baskets at a higher rate than anyone in the conference. She has also re-vamped her game, adding a mid-range game and the ability to get to the hoop after being known as a shooter her first three years.
Like Lymon, Pickel has the warrior mentality. She had played in every game of each of her 4 seasons (120 straight) until a knee injury kept her out against New Orleans (although she didn’t sit willingly, and could have played if the Raiders needed her). Over the past two years has played nearly every minute of those games, leading the team in minutes since the beginning of her junior year.
If not for Brandi Brown, Jackie might be headed for some of the school's 3 point shooting records, however MTSU’s newest member of the 1,000 point club is also the school’s all-time leading 3 point shooter. On top of her sweet outside stroke, Brown is a polished post player, making her a match-up nightmare for opposing coaches.
Just how good of a shooter is Brown? Through the first 6 games of the season she was shooting a putrid 23%. Now her number is up to 43%. That means since the Raiders came home from Cincinnatti following the loss to Xavier, Brandi Brown has shot 51% from behind the 3 point line.
Yet for all these numbers, statistics, wins, and accolades, the defining aspect of this Senior class is who they are as people, and that’s why there won’t be a dry eye in the glass house Sunday.
They are the “big sisters” on the tightest team any of them say they have ever been on.
Particularly on a women’s athletic team, drama can be a real issue. This team has none. They truly love and care for each other.
In the community the girls are beloved as well. They can commonly be found at the men’s games, taking in the action with their young fans. They can be found after games talking to fans and signing autographs.
It starts at the top with Coach Insell, who, like his players, greets everyone with a warm smile and takes a genuine interest in how the people around him are doing.
That trickles down to his star player in Clark, who as humble a person that walks on planet earth.
Last year after the WKU game, when she set the Murphy Center record with 45 points, she had no idea what she had done. When MTTV sideline reporter Raye McDonald told her in a post-game interview, Clark’s eyes popped and her jaw dropped.
And when I asked Clark what makes her so successful before the season started, she gave all the credit to her coaches and teammates.
Absolutely no mention of her own work ethic which is second to none.
And when I asked Clark if she could trade any of her personal accolades for a single win in the NCAA tournament, not a championship, just a single win, she looked at me like I was absolutely insane. The answer was clearly yes.
Lymon, Pickel, and Brown are the same way. Humble beyond belief, all about the team, all driven to one goal: win. They’ve passed this down to the younger players and as Insell’s first recruiting class graduates and moves on to the next phase of their lives, the future of Middle Tennessee basketball is bright.
However before we move on there is business to take care of. There is a third conference title to win. There is the first NCAA tournament win for this group to harness, and there is the ultimate goal of San Antonio and the Final Four.
But before all of that there is Sunday. Senior day. There will be more emotions than anyone can describe, however no matter what you feel, soak it in. The girls certainly are.
After a recent game Pickel told me, “After the UALR loss, we kinda realized, this is it. We only have so many games left and so much time left with each other. We really started to soak everything in and enjoy it.”
Sunday will be no different. Because after the tears, a ball will be tossed in the air and a game will be played. And at least 5 girls will be having the times of their lives.
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