lakersintensity5

EDSBS Roundtable

Since I'm one of the few that have to work today and with no real work to do what better time to do another Roundtable, this one from EDSBS. I'll discuss the Lakers signing of Vladimir Radmanovic later in the week.

1. Education. List the region of the country you were born in, what universities you attended and at least one other you would have attended if your alma mater didn’t exist.

I was born and raised in Southern California and I attended the University of Michigan. I never really liked the local schools, except UCLA, but I knew I'd live in So Cal for the rest of my life so I wanted to experience something different for college. If Michigan didn't exist I probably would have ended up at North Carolina or Texas.

2. Sports Affiliations. List your top 10 favorite teams in all of sports in decending order. For instance, your alma mater’s football team may be number 1, but perhaps there is a professional team that squeezes in before you get to your alma mater’s lacrosse team.

1a. Michigan Football
1b. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Michigan Basketball
3. Michigan Hockey
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Oakland Raiders
6. North Carolina Basketball
7. UCLA Basketball
8. Los Angeles Kings
9. Whoever is playing Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, Nebraska or Tennessee
10. Georgia/Texas/UCLA Football

3. Movies. List the movie you’ve watched the most, your favorite sports related movie, the movie you secretly love but don’t like to admit it (possibly a chick flick or b film), and the movie you were (or still are) most looking forward to from this summer’s season.

Not really a movie person but the movie I've watched the most would probably be The Mighty Ducks. Growing up I was really big into hockey with Gretzky in LA and watched the movie so much that I ended up memorizing the entire script since I watched it so much.

Favorite sports related movie would probably be Rocky IV or Friday Night Lights.

Movie I love but don't like to admit: Can't Hardly Wait

Movie I was looking forward to: Nacho Libre, and it met my expectations.

4. Music. List your favorite band from middle school, high school, college and today. Also, as with the movies, include the song you secretly love but don’t like to admit. If Nickleback is involved in any of these responses, please give a detailed explanation as to why, god, why.

Middle School: Boyz II Men, Hootie and the Blowfish, Bryan Adams

High School: Tupac, Gangstarr, Wu-Tang Clan, Brian McKnight

College: DJ Quik, Tupac, The Roots, Jay-Z

Song I secretly love but don't like to admit: O-Town - "All or Nothing"

5. Books. Favorite book you’ve finished, worst book you’ve finished and the book you really should read but haven’t gotten around to it.

Favorite Books: "Holla If Ya Hear Me" a book on Tupac and "Fab Five"
Worst Book: anything I had to read for school
Book I should read: the GMAT Prep books that are sitting at home

6. Travel. Favorite city you’ve every been to and the one place you still must visit before you shuffle off this mortal coil.

Vancouver/Victoria Island, I think that's what it was called, went there a long time ago with my family but it was real nice.

Place I must go: Brazil, I second EDSBS's statement.

7. What do you love most about college football in 20 words or less?

The connection with my school, the unparalleled highs and lows that no other sport can match.

Last night, dividing attention between Fox Sports Detroit on the ...

Last night, dividing attention between Fox Sports Detroit on the TV screen and McCullough's book on Affect Phobia, I found myself really enjoying watching young Curtis Granderson's play for the Detroit Tigers in their contest with the Oakland Athletics. Granderson has been batting leadoff for the Tigers so far this season, and doing pretty well, I might add. The numbers back it up (though we have an admittedly small sample size at this point in the season) to the tune of a .293 batting average, .369 on base percentage, and .534 slugging percentage. Throw in a pair of stolen bases for good measure. He had a couple of hits and a walk last night and I was also impressed by the range and grace he displayed in patrolling centerfield, making one particularly good catch while running into the wall on a deep fly ball. It's been too long since the Tigers both drafted and developed a young player that became a really good everyday major league player, so I've got high hopes for Curtis Granderson. Keep up the good work, son.

Additionally, last night was the final night of the NBA regular season, and the Pistons lost again to avoid taxing their all-important starting five prior to the playoffs, when they will kickoff their quest for a second championship in the past three seasons. More on that in a future blog entry. Right now, I will name the Turn Up the Sun NBA Fantasy Basketball Dream Team (that's TUTSNBAFBDT, for short) for the 2005-06 season, to conclude a disappointing fantasy season for yours truly, finishing 6th in one 12 team league, and 4th in an 8 team league. Ah, mediocrity. To be a fantasy basketball dream teamer, you have to be anything but mediocre, you have to put up numbers, and you have to put up numbers in a lot of games - so good health and well-rounded production are the keys to making this squad.

PG: Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
13 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 three-pointers made per game, 80% free throws

SG: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes, 45% on field goals, 85% on free throws

G: Ray Allen, Seattle Supersonics
25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 4 threes, 45% shooting, 90% at the line

SF: Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns
22 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 three, 53% shooting, 81% from the line

PF: Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
25 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 53% shooting, 78% from the line

F: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
31 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 threes, 48% shooting from the field

C: Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons
15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 threes

C: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
7 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 51% field goals

Util: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
22 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 53% field goals, 81% free throws

Util: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
27 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 three, 48% shooting, 90% at the line

Bench: Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
29 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 threes, 45% shooting, 82% free throws

Bench: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
19 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 2 threes, 89% from the line

Bench: Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 46% shooting

Random unrelated useless information:

In class yesterday, someone was giving a presentation and kept saying the word cerebellum. Every time I heard it, I started hearing the song "Clarabella" in my head (a song which, according to album liner notes, was "in the Beatles' set list since 1960, this obscure favourite of Paul's was originally recorded in 1956 by the Jodimars - refugees from Bill Haley's Comets"), and so a portion of my class time was spent listening to my internal jukebox and it went a little something like this:

"Well I've got a baby, that's crazy for me. Yeah, I've got a baby, who won't let me be."

You probably had to be there, but it was fab and really cool, now dig this, here's Paul whistling Clarabella.

Did You Know?

That Bill Haley, ringleader of the Comets, had a Billboard #1 hit in 1955 called Rock Around the Clock credited with announcing the arrival of rock 'n' roll as the dominant force in popular music, was born in Highland Park, Michigan, on 6 July 1925. Coincidentally, Mr. Haley passed away the day before my birth, which means he most likely passed the torch of rock 'n' roll on to ME.

The Daily Roundup: Wednesday

The BEST ACC Sports Coverage!!!

PHOTO: Throw it down, big fella!!!

Because we care:

Jim Cramer's MAD MONEY and RADIO recap

Duke based initial gang-rape reactions on campus officer who eavesdropped on call: "A March 14 Duke Police Department report that downplayed gang-rape allegations against the school's lacrosse team stemmed from what a Duke officer overheard while listening to a Durham Police Department sergeant's cell phone conversation, City Manager Patrick Baker said Tuesday." Not good.....

NASCAR pioneer sees few follow up: "Crowd gathers at track to mark 30-year anniversary."

Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer- Teammate just theory for Kobe: "Does anybody still think Kobe Bryant is NBA MVP? Oh yeah? Well did you see Phoenix pound Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs?"

A-10 offers little satisfaction to 49ers

Young draws 50-game penalty: "Fifty games without pay. That's the punishment International League president Randy Mobley gave Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young on Tuesday. Young has been on indefinite suspension since throwing a bat that hit a plate umpire during an April 26 game at Pawtucket."

Bonds and Ruth

Free throws are easy? Tell it to Shaq: "In every basketball gymnasium and on every playground there's one fundamental distance that denies no one -- 15 feet of universal freedom. The concept of a free throw is a beautiful thing."

Curry, S. Smith, Bilas team up

The Headlines:

McRoberts, Thomas give Duke hope for next season: "Duke basketball rarely takes a back seat to anything in these parts, but it has over the last month."

Tech player triumphs over tragedy: "Coleman Collins accomplished his goal of graduating from college early. His only regret is that his father didn't get to celebrate with him."

AD's quest nets Lowe: "Coaching search kept Fowler busy."

Grant's residency hearing put off: "Federal officials agreed Tuesday to postpone a hearing scheduled to help determine the immigration status of N.C. State basketball player Gavin Grant, the Wolfpack sophomore's lawyer said."

Men's basketball coaching changes: Nice stuff!

News from the Association:

A RARE GEM: Bristow not surprised by Paul's success

ACC Football News from the Footblog:

Gators’ recruitment of Spiller was on up and up: "Clemson RB’s talks with Tebow found to follow prior friendship."

On the run: "For Dave Odom and Tommy Bowden, a daily jog provides much more than escape and exercise."

Ex-'Nole may get $40M from Broncos: "Former Seminole Javon Walker is set to sign a five-year extension worth more than $40 million with the Denver Broncos, who acquired the wide receiver in a draft-day deal." Good for him....I thought his QB really screwed him last year while he was trying to negotiate his contract. Glad he's back from the injury and all appears to be well.

Warrick no longer 'The Man': "Peter Warrick thought his lifeless career was about to be jump-started - just as he had hoped months before at the Super Bowl."

Jackets cash in on visit by Irish: "The AJC's Terence Moore says the Notre Dame opener provides a rare gate opportunity."

Auburn QB transferring to Tech

More from Birkel in the PM.....

Bozeman To Play For Hawks This Summer Instead

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA Bruin Cedric Bozeman was expected to play in the Summer Pro League for the Los Angeles Lakers beginning this weekend in Long Beach; however, he'll be in Salt Lake City wearing a Hawks uniform instead.

The Atlanta Hawks have signed the 6'6 Bozeman to play on their summer league squad which will compete in the Rocky Mountain Revue from July 14-21 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bozeman will be joined by NBA All-Rookie second team member Marvin Williams and fellow second-year Hawks Salim Stoudamire, as well as recent draftees Shelden Williams and Solomon Jones.

The former Mater Dei star and McDonald's All-American, Bozeman will be competing over the summer for a spot on the Hawks regular season roster.

Despite an injury plagued senior season at UCLA, which included a torn labrum, Bozeman still played in 31 of 39 games last season. He averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 50% from the field including 40% on three-pointers.

But it is Bozeman's superb defensive skills and ability to handle the ball which may intrigue NBA teams.

During this last offseason, UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland has been busy on the telephone contacting NBA teams on behalf of Bozeman as well as for other NBA-bound Bruin players - and his efforts have apparently paid off.

Last week, Jordan Farmar was selected in the first-round by the Los Angeles Lakers and Ryan Hollins was picked by the Charlotte Hornets in the second-round. In addition, Bruin center Michael Fey found a spot on the Lakers' summer league team.

(BruinBasketballReport.com)

Historical Glimpses: John “Spider” Salley

(FortCollins-CO) This installment of Historical Glimpses focuses on one of the NBA’s finest stars on and off the court. A player of such caliber knew what it took to be a winner. Whether he was a main component of a championship campaign or just a role player, John “Spider” Salley knew what dynamics to bring to a true team concept by understanding his role in any given situation. As a result, he was the first player to win NBA championships with three different teams, including back-to-back rings with the Detroit “Bad-Boy” Pistons, the best regular season record setting Chicago Bulls, and the Los Angeles Lakers until Robert Horry joined him in that category just recently. Known for his long reach and jumping ability, John “Spider” Salley is the recipient of this installment of Historical Glimpses.

Salley was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended legendary Canarsie High School. After his high school days were over, John took his game to the Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech. What he accomplished at Georgia Tech was nothing short of spectacular. John Salley would finish his career with the Yellow Jackets as the All-Time leading shot blocker in school history, while having averages of 33.6 minutes per game played, field goal percentage of 58.7%, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 12.7 points. In conclusion of his years at Georgia Tech, the institution honored Salley by raising his number 22 to the rafters, enshrining his accomplishments forever.

With the eleventh pick in the 1986 NBA Draft the Detroit Pistons selected Spider to a team that would set the all-time standard in what it meant to be tough. Two years after finishing the regular season 46-36 and drafting the “Spider“, Salley and a tremendous supporting cast were finishing the regular season 63-19 and were poised to win the NBA Championship in a legendary battle with the Los Angeles Lakers. At this point, the Pistons had created a name for themselves by playing some of the most tenacious defense the league had ever seen, or has seen since. Aptly dubbed the, “Detroit Bad Boys”, they squared off against Magic and Kareem of the Los Angeles Lakers after sweeping their way to the Finals. After the previous season’s heartbreak against the Lakers in game seven of the Finals, the Pistons were not going to be denied. The “Bad Boys” swept the Lakers and ruined Kareem’s farewell tour. That concluded a playoff run of sweeping three different ball clubs and only losing two games in total to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. No Piston player finished in the top 20 in scoring, or top ten in free throw percentage, steals, blocked shots, or three-point field goals made. It was truly a team concept and its no surprise that John Salley was an intricate part of something as such.

Next year would be only slightly different, but with the same end result for Spider and the Pistons. The Pistons still didn’t have any player post in the top five of any statistical category, except for Joe Dumars in free-throw percentage. But would still win the NBA Championship at the season‘s conclusion, with their only true test being the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. Not many players in NBA history are part of back-to-back championships with the same team. Salley was now in that elite category in only his third year in the league. Salley would continue to play for the Pistons for two more years and at the time of his trade to the Miami Heat he was fourth on the Pistons All-Time blocks list.

Salley played three seasons for the Heat and would leave the franchise in similar fashion to how he departed the Pistons. Only this time he would finish third on the franchise All-Time s blocks list as he was traded in the expansion draft to the Toronto Raptors in 1995.

Maybe spiders don’t like the cold, or that the Chicago Bulls knew that Salley was just the team player that they needed to win 72 games in 1996, but John only stayed up north for 25 games before the Bulls acquired him on their way to the NBA Championship. Salley now had three rings on his resume and retired after the 1996 season. He had been player representative for the NBA’s Player Association while with the Pistons, Heat, and Raptors, a consistent winner, and tremendous teammate while fulfilling different roles with different teams. A story book career indeed, but Salley’s story wouldn’t be complete without some tangled webbing, remember he is the Spider…

After dabbling in the entertainment industry and taking a three year hiatus from basketball, Salley returned to the league at the midway point with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that he had once played a part in defeating, to embody the concept of team. His role with the Lakers can be summed up by his newest moniker with the team. Referred to as, “Sensei”, because of his wisdom and success. He would teach the Lakers what it takes to be the NBA Champions. Salley had now won his fourth ring, with three different teams, and had been the first player to ever do so.

Named, “Best Interview in the NBA”, three consecutive years by the Associated Press is no surprise either. John has been an effective communicator on a team level his entire career and it is no surprise that he is continued his success in the world of entertainment. Since his second retirement, John “Spider” Salley has been a co-host on the Fox Sports Net show, “The Best Damn Sports Show Period”, and has continued to be a hot commodity for cameos on other television shows and movies. Salley is also a motivational speaker and an inspiration for young people all over the world. There is not a destination too far for the Spider to speak at, and if there is a positive influence to be made he is always there. His career resume reads like this: Four NBA championships with averages of seven points per game, 1.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. He finished his career with 983 blocks and will always be remembered for his long reach swatting balls into the first, second, and third row of seats. Salley was a winner. He knew what it took to win and knew how to execute and lead his team with an often times silent confidence rarely duplicated. A player with many talents is why John “Spider” Salley is this installment of Historical Glimpses.