It was late Friday evening when Chicago Bull and former Florida Gator superstar, Joakim Noah was (pa)trolling the streets of Gainesville where he once reigned supreme. At about 1:50 am, a local police officer spotted Noah (hard to miss a seven-footer with a long, flowing mane) carrying a cup which he suspected contained an alcoholic beverage. For those of you unfamiliar with Gainesville, Florida, walking around with an open container is at best discouraged and at the very worst illegal.
After being spotted, Noah ditched the cup, but was later questioned by the police. After finding that the cup did contain alcohol, they took a cooperative Noah to the local annex and found a marijuana cigarette in his possession.
Now, this shouldn’t come as a major surprise to anyone. In fact, I’m actually surprised Noah was never busted for smoking pot while at Florida. Either Billy Donovan ruled with an iron fist, or Noah was shrewd enough to never get caught. Probably somewhere in between.
Look, I’m not going to come down hard on the guy. Noah was a cult icon of near Tebow-like status while playing for the Gators. He, along with his supporting cast, took Florida to the promised land, a feat that will likely never be repeated.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I took drugs while at Florida and was never suspended from anything so it would be hypocritical of me to throw stones. However, walking around downtown Gainesville with an open container and a joint, particularly when you’re a high profile and highly noticeable individual like Noah is just poor judgment.
Fortunately for Noah, he was not arrested and released on his own recognizance after being cooperative. Stern’s NBA does not test for marijuana and it is unclear whether the Bulls organization will slap Noah on the wrist for his actions. Heck, they don’t even have a head coach yet. Considering the amount of NBA players that allegedly smoke weed, it’s unlikely Noah will receive much more than a good ribbing from his teammates.
I suppose it could have been much worse for Noah had the police decided to force the issue. I don’t see this as a case of a hometown hero receiving beneficial treatment from the law. Noah will have to return to appear in front of a judge in June.
But come on, Jo Jo. Young millionaire athletes like Vince Young and Matt Leinhart are currently being blasted for their lack of judgment. I don’t have a problem with your drinking, smoking or trolling your hometown and using your fame and name to find some action. Just do so wisely. Leave the spleef at home and the booze at the bar. Or better yet, next time, order in.
Please recognize this as a plea from a dedicated fan with a critical eye. You’ve spoiled us, Coach. We here at Gator Nation now expect excellence. While we understand that living up to the expectations of the magical last two seasons is probably a touch unfair, your actions this season indicate you too consider this recent campaign a disappointment.
That being said, it’s time to look to the immediate future. While talented, this young team has some glaring issues the coaching staff must address in the off-season to get the program back on track. I’m sure this is nothing new to you, but if it helps, here’s where I see the problems:
Backcourt (Offense): Coach, bottom line is this. No top tier college basketball program in this day and age can compete with two starting guards measuring under six-feet. The media guide generously lists Jai Lucas at 5’11, 185. I think we both know both those figures are tainted. Not only is he not 5’11, but he plays smaller than that. Lucas was a top recruit coming out of high school. He lit it up in Texas. Like his predecessor, Taurean Green, he comes from the NBA family tree. Yet Jai still seemed timid when it came to scoring this season. The lack of a perimeter made it much more difficult on this young team to present a consistent offensive attack. Joakim Noah and Al Horford were dominant in the post the last two seasons, yet much of their success was predicated on opponents having to respect the outside game of Green and Lee Humphrey. If Lucas, or another guard cannot post a consistent offensive threat on the perimeter, the Gators are too easy to shut down. The combination of Lucas-Hodge failed offensively. While Hodge was steady long range from the corner, this year’s team had no consistent outside jump shooters to keep opposing defenses honest.
Backcourt (Defense): The Southeastern Conference had a down year by most standards. Regardless, the league will continue to boast quality guard play. On that front, this Florida squad simply can not defend the perimeter. The numbers back that up. Hodge has undoubtedly earned his stripes. However, if Lucas and Hodge are both undersized, they’ll have to make up for it in other ways, i.e., being more physical, playing smarter and tighter, using their quickness. Playing them at the same time was a defensive liability. Tennessee shredded us late in the season in a game there’s no way we should have lost. 6’3” guards such as Chris Lofton can easily shoot over the top of this defense. Adjustments will have to be made.
Overall Defense: I get that this is a young team, but within a full season, they have yet to find a defensive identity. Are they a zone team? Are they a man-to-man team? Are they a pressing team? They’re swift enough to play man, but not strong or physical enough at each position. Rarely in the past two years did ANY team have ANY mismatches against Florida at ANY position. This year it seemed opposing teams were able to exploit mismatches consistently. Teams were able to break presses, rotate the ball effectively and find open looks either inside or out. Against UMass in the NIT semi-finals, the Florida press was ineffective. But it paled in comparison to their porous, transition defense. When Florida was one and done on the offensive end, the Gators were unable to get back to defend the fastbreak. And in the halfcourt zone defense, the Gators defensive rotation was sub par, giving up key shots late in the shot clock. While the Gators could put points on the board, they were 11th in a twelve team conference in points allowed per game. Acquiring some sort of defensive toughness is a must in the off-season.
Free throw shooting: While Florida finished in the middle of the conference in free-throw shooting (70% on the season), it seemed like this team missed free throws when they counted most, either at moments when Florida could have extended or sustained a lead or when they needed points to cut into a deficit. The Gators made 8 of 21 against UMass for 38%. That’s not going to get it done. This team failed to make its possessions count and nowhere was that more evident than at the free throw line.
Nick Calathes: Super frosh Nick Calathes was clearly the highlight of this season. When he (and Marreese Speights) were not on the floor, this team struggled. The plus/minus numbers for when Calathes was on the floor versus on the bench must be staggering. The offense simply sputtered with Nicky out of the game. Someone has to pick up the slack when he goes out for a breather. Additionally, what position will he play next season? For much of the season, he started at small forward, yet with the game on the line, he’s the man handling the basketball. His knack and feel for the game is undeniable, but he can’t start next season at the three-spot. He’s a defensive liability against larger, quicker and more athletic small forwards. He’s probably better suited in the backcourt where he can use his height advantage to break down opposing defenses. It’s time to fully exploit the advantages he presents. But where does that leave both Lucas and Hodge?
The post: Marreese Speights was an absolute monster this year. He had 16 points and 18 boards against UMass, recording a double-double in the first half. Although somewhat inconsistent in his overall effort, he was still Florida’s best, and often sole, offensive weapon. Rumors abound that Speights will leave early. Florida has size with its incoming class and while it would certainly benefit Speights to stay another year, the lure of the NBA is enticing. A big man like Marreese who can score around the basket with both hands is almost certain to be a lottery pick. Is the relationship with Speights healthy enough to encourage him to stay? And with this year’s disappointing season, does it make personal sense for him to return?
Small Forwards: There’s no denying Florida’s young team has talent. But Chandler Parsons, Adam Allen and Alex Tyus, all freshmen, all seem slotted at the same position. As 6-foot-9, Parsons is a slight 205 and could use an extra fifteen pounds of muscle. Allen can score both inside and out and should see increased minutes next season if he can develop into a Matt Bonner type. At 6-foot-8, Alex Tyus probably should fit in at the power forward spot, but his post game is questionable at best. His range is extremely limited and his free throw shooting is horrid. Even as a freshman, Al Horford had a strong post-up game and a knack for defense, positioning and rebounding. Tyus has a lot to work on in the off-season if he wants to contribute in the frontcourt next season on both ends of the floor.
Heart: Early on, I never questioned this young team’s desire. Far be it from me to question the heart of ANY Billy Donovan coached team. However, they gave up some STOUT leads all season long. Not only did they give up healthy leads, they often ended up getting blown out in those games. Florida led UMass by nine at halftime and lost by twelve. They were blowing out SEC champion Tennessee and lost that game. They were down by twenty-five to Alabama in a must-win game. This team must learn HOW to win. While the expectations placed on Florida’s incoming class are high, it’s not like you don’t hear Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton’s name mentioned in the same breath as the current UCLA class, who despite losing to Florida that last two seasons once again find themselves in the Final Four. Think those kids don’t feel the pressure of history?
Recruiting Gaps: Why did this Florida team feature largely freshmen and sophomores? Where was the transition? Other than Walter Hodge and to a much lesser extent Dan Werner, this team featured NO player from the championship teams of years past. Where was the junior shooting guard? Where were the carryover players? Sure, Brewer, Noah and Horford left a year early. But Lee Humphrey was a senior. There should have been a guard that could have stepped in to give the Gators a consistent outside threat AND veteran leadership. Walter Hodge was not that guy. Next year’s incoming freshman class ranks among the top in the nation, but Florida will still boast a young team next season. And the SEC is bound to back from a down year. Can Florida compete?
Recommendations: Both Lucas and Hodge can’t start at the 1-2 next season. Defenses will continue to exploit that mismatch. Lucas must emerge as the point guard of this team and that doesn’t mean only dribbling the basketball. He must also put the biscuit in the basket. In the words of Dave Chappelle as Prince "Shoot the J! Shoot it!" When last year’s team needed a bucket, Taurean Green was good for it. Lucas must develop that confidence. Calathes should probably start at the two-guard spot, which doesn’t exclude him from playing the point or even small forward at times. Parsons should bulk up, as should the entire team, and settle into the small forward position. Adding a post-game to his repertoire would certainly help open things up offensively. Assuming Speights returns, he should clearly be the focal point of the offense with Werner and the incoming size serving as satellites and rotating at the power forward positions.
We have complete faith in you, Coach. Good luck. You’re gonna need it.
Joakim Noah is not walking through that door any time soon. And if he were, he’d be the only one allowed to wear orange and blue.
Disappointed by his team’s recent sub-par performance, Coach Billy Donovan has taken drastic measures. Picture it now. Wet behind the ear freshmen, clad in Gator gear, probably still not realizing how irate their coach is with them, arrive to practice somewhat gleefully to their multi-million dollar practice facility, a place where the previous two national championship teams once reigned, only to find the doors padlocked shut.
Since the Gators, losers of their last four and seven of their last eleven, now find themselves NIT-bound for the first time in over a decade, Coach Billy has punished them harshly, yet deservedly. Not only has Donovan stated openly that he doesn’t look forward to coaching this team next season, this week he went a step further to illustrate his point. The upstart Gators have been banned from their practice facility until he deems them worthy. Furthermore, Coach has disallowed any of his players to don anything that bears the school name. This move mimics what his colleague Urban Meyer did several years ago when the Florida football team failed to meet the standards set by the coaching staff. It worked for Coach Meyer as they won a national championship shortly thereafter. Only time will tell whether it will work for Donovan’s freshman class.
Towards the end of the season, the Gators had several chances to earn an NCAA tournament bid. One can only assume the committee would have looked favorably upon the two-time defending champions had they been able to beat either Mississippi State, Tennessee, Kentucky or Alabama in any of their final games. Yet the team fell drastically short. The Gators were defeated by MSU by nine in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicates. They got off to a torrid, shooting start against #2 seed Tennessee only to see that lead dwindle into a debilitating loss. Kentucky was finally able to end a seven-game losing streak against Florida. And the loss to Alabama in the first round of the SEC tournament was so embarrassing, Florida at one point in the contest was actually down 41-14, the same score in which they defeated Ohio State’s football team in the national championship game two years ago.
One need not look far to find flaws with Florida’s freshmen. On the season, Florida finished 10th in the conference in field goal defense, 10th in 3-point field goal defense, and 9th in defensive rebounding. Often these statistics were emblematic of the effort put forth on the floor. While it may be unfair to compare this young team to the two that preceded it, such comparisons are ultimately inevitable, despite the fact that these teams could not be any farther apart, in record or in mindset.
Many have criticized Donovan’s techniques as too harsh, that his young kids might not respond favorably. In the opening round conference game, starting center Marreese Speights saw as much bench time as he did playing time in the second half because of Donovan’s displeasure with his effort. Only time will tell if Donvan's punishment will generate the desired response. Jim Rome recently joked that if he could, Donovan would have his team ‘suit up’ in a shirts vs. skins match-up in their opening round NIT game against San Diego State, coached by former Michigan head coach Steve Fisher.
Either way, Florida’s newbies definitely have some soul-searching to do. If they lose their fifth straight, they might want to stay away from the coach, which shouldn’t be all that difficult since they still won’t be allowed in the building.
Youth. Oh, to be young again. It is through our numerous life experiences that we grow, mature and learn. Well, this young Florida Gator basketball team has LOTS of learning to do. In a must-win home game, their final one of the season, the Gators led by as many as 16 points against the #4 ranked Tennessee Volunteers, only to end up losing by three and likely watch their tournament hopes evaporate into the thin, Gainesville air.
The Gators, led initially by the hot-shooting Walter Hodge jumped out to a torrid 9-for-9 start. The O’Connell Center came alive and the Gators looked as if they came to play. They led by thirteen at the half and were shooting over 60% from the floor. Their defensive efforts, however, remained questionable.
Enter JaJuan Smith and Chris Lofton, the odds-on favorite to win SEC player of the year. Smith finished with 23 points and Lofton added 21 as they both hit late jump shots to seal Gator fate and very possibly keep the defending national champions out of the tournament for the first time in ten years. With the victory, Tennessee (27-3) clinched the SEC title outright, as well as a likely number one seed in the NCAA tournament.
Despite the game’s many ebbs and flows (both teams had double-digit leads), a key Florida gaffe came late, when on a missed free throw, Dan Werner failed to box out Tyler Smith who grabbed the rebound, then scored to give the Vols the eventual victory. Nick Calathes, who had previously tied the game with a deep three-pointer, missed an off-balance attempt to send the game into overtime. The Gators, now 21-9 and 8-7 in conference, may very well have had their bubble burst. With only one quality victory on the season, no quality road wins and an unimpressive strength of schedule, even a victory in their lone remaining, regular season game against Kentucky might not be enough to impress the voters. The way Florida has been playing lately, a victory at Rupp is also unlikely, considering the Wildcats, who been playing well of late, have lost seven straight to Florida and have been eagerly awaiting their return.
Although the season is not over (the Southeastern Conference tournament is next weekend) Billy Donovan has some questions to answer entering next season. Neither of his starting guards is over six-feet tall. In the SEC, teams simply cannot afford to be that small on the perimeter. As seen last night, guards like Chris Lofton can create space and just shoot right over the top of the defender. Nor is freshman point guard Jai Lucas any sort of offensive threat. Florida essentially has two players opponents have to guard: Nick Calathes and Marreese Speights. Jai Lucas was 1-4 from the floor last night. Perhaps this is an unfair comparison, but at least Taurean Green kept you honest. It’s not enough to be simply a passer. The highly recruited Lucas, who averaged 20+ points in high school, MUST become more aggressive on the offensive end in his sophomore season.
The Gators do have size coming in next year to help Speights out on the blocks, but the guard situation will have to be addressed. I can easily see Donovan moving Calathes, who currently starts at the small forward position, to two-guard since Calathes already does the bulk of the ball-handling in the half-court set anyway. Calathes, however, will have to shore up his defense. The kid can fill up a stat sheet, and may be on his way to winning SEC freshman of the year, but was taken off the dribble consistently last night.
After the loss, someone reminded me that the previous two Gator basketball teams were tough, both physically and mentally. Noah, Horford and Brewer backed down to no challenges. This young Gator team will have to develop that same attitude if they want to come close to emerging from the shadow of those that preceded them.
The following article will be published in the April issue of Campus Talk, a magazine local to Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee. If you're a local, pick one up and increase their circulation. They also have lots of pictures of pretty girls for extra motivation.
Most sports fans recognize March as the most entertaining time of the year. The NBA is in full swing, baseball is about to begin, most of us are still talking about the Super Bowl, and the NFL draft is right around the corner. But more importantly, March brings what can be argued as the purest form of competition today: the NCAA tournament!!! No BCS, just a single-elimination, gut-wrenching basketball tournament, buzzer-beaters and heartbreakers, first to six games wins. All others go home with only promises of next year.
Tens of millions of Americans enter basketball pools annually with the hopes of accurately predicting the most games. However, you are more likely to win the lottery than you are to guess every winner. That doesn’t mean that you can’t effectively run a pool and have tons of fun in the meantime.
What follows is how to run a successful basketball pool (this assumes you can’t fly to Las Vegas for the first weekend and parlay as many underdogs moneyline as possible):
1) Abandon all responsibility for three weeks. Running a pool with even 20-30 entries requires time and effort. If you have classes, blow them off, particularly on the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament. It is on these two days where most of the games are played. Nobody in their right mind can be expected to work under these conditions. You will be glued to your television set and all other obligations should understand that. Ensure you have enough food and beverage for that first weekend. There will be limited time for anything other than analyzing basketball match-ups and kicking yourself for not picking that first-round 4-13 upset.
2) Brackets are announced on Sunday evening. Games begin at noon that following Thursday. Immediately surf the internet for a clean bracket to print and distribute. This will be your template. Remember, you’ll want to choose one with pertinent information only, i.e., school names, team records & venues. Graphics that clutter the form are unnecessary.
3) Establish rules and point values, being careful not to put in writing any reference to prize money. Sure, it’s March but there’s no reason to be sent to prison. Award points geometrically per round or allot more for picking an upset. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
4) Clear off a wall in your living room and design a life-size bracket for all to see. Those in the pool need to know you’re serious about your commitment. After all, your home will become bracket central for three weeks. Your wife or girlfriend might not appreciate this, but college roommates should understand. If not, it’s time to find new ones.
5) Ensure all entries are collected by tip-off Thursday.
6) Participants will likely have made a copy of their own selections. A successful pool manager should distribute pool-wide picks, then update them throughout the tourney. This makes it much more fun for those participating. Just be sure you’ve done so accurately. The last thing you want is for someone to find flaws in your masterpiece.
7) Prize money should be distributed according to pool size. If you’re hardcore, you can establish a winner-take-all payout, but it’s more enjoyable if most participants think they have a shot to finish in the money. It’s tradition for the last place finisher to receive his money back, then be publicly ridiculed.
8) Remember, this is all in fun. You are about to dedicate the next three weeks of your life watching college athletes give their all for the chance to be etched in history. Enjoy it. Gainesville certainly has the past two years.
The last two seasons of Florida basketball, led by Coach Billy Donovan, dominated the college landscape as the Gators captured back-to-back national championships. The departure of current NBA players and Florida legends, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green, ushered in a new era that must now flourish in the huge shadow cast by its predecessors. The future looks promising, however, as Donovan has once again recruited top-notch talent.
The young, upstart Gators, led by freshman Nick Calathes and sophomore, Marreese Speights, are off to an impressive and unexpected start and once again appear to be tournament bound come March. With early losses to Florida State, Ohio State and Ole Miss, the Gators hover around the bottom rung of the Top 25. Despite impressive victories at Alabama and home to Vanderbilt and Kentucky (marking their seventh consecutive victory over the Big Blue), the Gators have still struggled against superior teams. The Gators got trounced by an experienced Arkansas team and Tennessee scored 60 points against them in the second half of a nationally-televised game.
Still, though, much of this was to be expected from a team comprised of ten freshmen and sophomores. Who is this younger generation of Gators, you ask?
Nick Calathes, guard/forward from Casselberry, is a two-time Florida Mr. Basketball, and is perhaps the best pure passer to play for Donovan since Jason Williams. Fans are bound to ooooh and aaaah while watching Calathes, who seems to have eyes in the back of his head. Calathes leads the team in points and assists and should be a lock for the SEC All-Freshman team.
Marreese Speights, center from Saint Petersburg, is Florida’s man down low. With big shoes to fill, Speights may actually have a better pure post-up game than either Al Horford or Joakim Noah. He averages 14 points and 8 rebounds and is a defensive presence for the undersized Gator front court. When Florida’s offense is clicking, the ball runs through Marreese. At 6-foot-10, several NBA scouts have labeled him a potential lottery pick.
Walter Hodge, guard from Guaynabo, PR, is the lone remaining player from the back-to-back national championship teams. Hodge, who came off the bench in previous years, now starts at shooting guard and is averaging double-digits in points.
Jai Lucas, guard from Bellaire, Texas is another one of Coach Donovan’s highly touted freshmen. Although undersized, Lucas, similar to Noah, Horford and Green, comes from an athletic family. His father, John Lucas, played and coached in the NBA. Jai led his high school to three district championships and was a McDonald’s All-American.
Dan Werner, sophomore forward from Middletown, NJ, is the type of player that does it all for Florida. He’s their enforcer. On an undersized team, it is Werner’s strength and determination that Florida needs to compete. Werner is the team’s second-leading rebounder and is third on the team in steals.
The Florida bench features Chandler Parsons, Adam Allen and Alex Tyus, all freshmen who log considerable minutes. The lanky Parsons, who played high school basketball with Calathes, can light it up from outside, as can Adam Allen. Alex Tyus promises to be a beast on the board in future years.
The youth movement in Gainesville is doing its best to find its identity and at 18-5, Billy Donovan may be doing his best coaching job to date. Only time will tell if this incoming class can match the success of the two previous seasons. One thing is for certain, however. This team will leave it on the floor trying to do so.
The once proud University of Kentucky basketball program (7-9) is now mired in mediocrity. While traditional powerhouses such as UCLA, North Carolina and Duke still manage to field national-championship contenders, for some reason, Kentucky has failed to keep up with the joneses. And nowhere is this frustration more evident than their current seven-game losing streak to the Florida Gators.
Last night, Kentucky, after tying the game on a last-second three-pointer by Ramel Bradley, allowed Florida to score 20 points in overtime to keep Kentucky’s dubious losing streak alive. Only one other school, Notre Dame, can match a seven-game winning streak against the Wildcats. UF will have a chance to make it eight in a row in Lexington on March 9.
After attending last night’s game in person, one thing is clear. Despite being considerably younger (the Gators boast ten freshmen and sophomores on their roster), the Gators are once again the better team. Despite doing nearly everything possible to give the game away (Florida was up by twelve points late in the second half), the Gators still managed to eke out a victory, going 10-for-10 from the free throw line in overtime, after missing seven of nine late in the second half.
Far be it from be to pretend to know UK basketball like the rabid Kentucky natives, however, I can present an outsider’s perspective. Neutral observers still feel Tubby Smith got a raw deal and was never truly appreciated for what he brought to the program, which included a national championship, several conference titles, ten 20-win seasons, an NCAA tournament appearance every year and an undefeated conference schedule in 2002-03. Tubby is currently 12-4 at the University of Minnesota, while his successor is under .500.
It remains to be seen whether Billy Gillispie is the answer Lexington is looking for. It will also be interesting to see how long a leash they give him. Wildcat fans still must salivate with Billy-envy when they see Coach Donovan patrolling the sidelines of the two-time national champion Florida Gators.
Back in the late 1980s and ‘90s, it was not uncommon to see Gainesville’s O’Connell Center awash with rambunctious, blue-clad Wildcat fans heckling a program once lesser than theirs. Kentucky fans have been known to travel like no other fans. Last night, however, the Wildcats, while still present, we’re not quite as boisterous or numerous as in years past. Perhaps the horrible weather kept ‘Cats away from the not-so-friendly confines of the O’Dome. Maybe the free blue Gator t-shirts left for all fans washed out the Big Blue fans, but I think it’s safe to say, Kentucky fans, while still among the most proud fans in the nation, aren’t nearly as confident about the state of their program as they have been in years past.
Others that are better versed in the current Kentucky program can surely tell you about the state of high school basketball and the level of talent about to come out in the next few years. Lexington, after all, did steal away Patrick Patterson from Florida last year, and trust me… Patterson heard it from the Florida fans last night every time he touched the ball.
Perhaps Florida should thank Kentucky. After all, as probably our biggest conference basketball rival (now succeeded by Tennessee??), for decades, many orange and blue faithful learned about college basketball tradition from watching how much Kentucky cared about their program. And we do boast a former coach of theirs as our leader, along with having former UK standout John Pelphrey assisting Billy the Kid way back in the day.
One thing remains clear, however, Florida basketball, despite losing so much talent to the NBA last year, remains strong. And the fans remain rowdy. With players like Nick Calathes, Marreese Speights, Chandler Parsons, Adam Allen, Jai Lucas and Alex Tyus, the future looks bright. And unless Coach Gillispie can get his players to match the passion, connectivity, determination, and confidence showed by the youthful Gators, the streak may very well continue until next season.
If you’re fortunate enough among life’s incredible and educational journey, you end up meeting people who are simply special… kind, caring, and exceptional individuals. The advent of the internet has dramatically increased our global reach and very often, we come to know people, become friends with and confide in someone we’ve never even met in person. I have recently shared just such an experience and accordingly, I’d like to dedicate this blog to a very special person, one who’s served as an inspiration to me and many others on this very site.
I, for one, would like to take a moment to congratulate BluegrassLady. I remember back in March 2007 when I wrote a blog blasting the University of Kentucky for courting Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan while his quest for a repeat championship was still ongoing. In that blog, I called out the Kentucky program for being full of itself and a shell of it’s former self (I promised Bluegrass I wouldn’t bring up Gillespie’s 7-8 record since the ‘Cats visit Gainesville this weekend). Well along came this feisty, great-looking brunette from Lexington, a former point guard, who started dishing out the criticism on my blog like she used to distribute the ball on the court. The banter between us never got out of hand or hit below the belt (not our styles) but was rather constructive and positive.
Not long thereafter, Frank Irizarry began hosting his Foxblogger webcast and Bluegrass and I became regulars. I later found out that it was my Donovan post that inspired her to contribute to Foxsports.com. Apparently I ruffled some feathers on Catspause.com. Well, I can tell you, as many of you already know, Bluegrass ended up inspiring me and becoming my partner in several He Said/She Said debates (all her idea). I was flattered to be selected as her partner as she and I ended up debating hot topics including Pete Rose, Bobby Knight, Emmitt vs Barry, the designated hitter rule, the rookie salary cap, cheating in sports, baseball’s all-star game, the projected outcome of the 2007-8 Boston Celtics and whether fans should even watch professional sports. It was all in good fun. I began looking forward to those weekly contributions.
During a period of recent, personal hardship, Bluegrass called me and e-mailed me consistently to see how I was doing. Again, this is a person I’ve never actually met.
Well recently, BluegrassLady, con####uous by her recent absence to the Fox blogosphere, has landed a job writing for the Williamson Daily News and I, for one, couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s once again doing what she loves to do, writing for a living, and I commend her for that. She’s been feeling under the weather lately (nothing to do with the 7-8 record, I’m sure), so I wanted (all of us here) to wish her a speedy recovery and to also let her know she has friends here at Foxsports.com.
So, Pam, we’ve all got nothing but love for you, beautiful. Whether you realize it or not, you’re an inspiration to us all.
There is in air of anticipation in Gainesville, Florida this week. And it’s not because football season is only two months away. The University of Florida’s athletic program once again looks to go where no school has gone before.
In Thursday night’s NBA Draft, Florida has the potential to see three of its brightest stars get selected within the top ten picks. No collegiate basketball program has ever experienced such good fortune before. Not Kentucky. Not North Carolina. Not Indiana, Duke, Kansas or UCLA. If the Big Three (Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer) all get drafted in the top 10, it will be the first time EVER three players from the same school have all been drafted so early.
Some programs have come close. The 1976 Indiana Hoosiers team, coincidentally the last college basketball team to finish the season undefeated, had three players chosen in the Top 11 picks: Scott May went second to the Bulls, Quinn Buckner went seventh to the Bucks, and Bob Wilkerson went eleventh to the Sonics.
Similarly the 2005 national champion North Carolina Tar Heels had four players selected in the top 14 picks. Marvin Williams was selected second by the Hawks, Raymond Felton selected fifth by Charlotte, Sean May thirteenth also by Charlotte and Rashad McCants selected 14th by Minnesota.
This is not the University of Florida’s first brush with draft greatness. The school has had a total of six first round draft picks in their history, most notably Mike Miller who was selected fifth by the Orlando Magic. Neal Walk remains U.F.’s highest drafted basketball prospect, selected second overall in 1969, one spot behind Lew Alcindor. Dwayne Schintzius (1990), Jason Williams (1998), Donnell Harvey (2000) and David Lee (2005) were also selected within the first thirty picks in their respective drafts.
Power forward Al Horford is projected to go as high as third to the Atlanta Hawks with former teammates Noah and Brewer probably following not too far behind him. Many thought Noah would have been the first player taken in last year’s draft had he left Florida as a sophomore, but he and his teammates opted to return for the junior seasons for another shot at a national title. Although Noah’s stock may have dropped, he’ll always have that extra championship ring to polish.
The possibility of this team once again making history through the draft should once again indicate how special this group of players was as once again, the Florida Gators stand on the verge of making history.
As I flip through the channels not even one full week after the NBA Finals have reached their anti-climactic conclusion, I’ve begun looking for some other quality source of entertainment. Sure, we have the upcoming NBA Draft and potential blockbuster off-season trades to analyze. But if I’m force fed one more reality, dancing, talent, cooking, tattoo and plastic surgery elimination tv show, I may very well cancel my cable altogether.
For those sports fan still scorned by the last baseball work stoppage, there’s absolutely nothing to watch until football season starts. My ESPNews marathons no longer have the same flair. Woe is me. I must consult my basketball jones, blogging brethren Hoffman, Mr Showtime and GR8UN54 to see how they’re coping in the off-season.
For me, the two weeks after basketball season ends have always been a difficult adjustment period. So for those who suffer the same summer doldrums, I thought I’d offer some suggestions to make these next few months fly by. Feel free to help me out, because like you, I’m impatiently counting down the days until September 1st.
1) Watch the WNBA (just joking)
2) Watch Major League Baseball (again… just joking)
3) Read a book
4) Satisfy your bloodlust by becoming a UFC fan
5) Monitor the inevitable off-season Kobe drama by posting a life-size timeline on your living room wall detailing negotiations between Bryant, Buss, Kupchak, Jackson and West (I know some of you have already done this)
6) Help Pac Man Jones open up his own strip club
7) Count down the days until ESPN airs their first full-length Terrell Owens interview
8) Blog to your little hearts content
9) Actually spend time with friends and family
10) Wonder if anyone other than the University of Florida will ever win another national championship in any major sport
11) Discover a newfound hatred for the New York Yankees
12) Hunt down Brady Anderson: the real key to the steroid scandal in major league baseball
“Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out. Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about. Well the names have all changed since you hung around, But those dreams have remained and they’re turned around.
Who’d have thought they’d lead ya (Who’d have thought they’d lead ya) Back here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot cause we’ve got him on the spot, Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.”
