Adam Morrison Looks Like a Homeless Man…Again!

A few years ago, I posted a picture of Adam Morrison in the stands at a Gonzaga basketball game. He was looking like a shell of himself and probably had a fatty blunt rolled up behind his ear.

Mr. Morrison is back! I now present you with ‘Adam Morrison looks like a homeless guy Part 2’…after the jump.

Let’s do an ‘America’s White Boy Fashion Breakdown’…

He is sporting a goatee that would make Scooby Doo’s Shaggy jealous.
Notice the ‘shit under the jersey’ look made famous by every whiteboy ever.
He looks like he would drink a Four Loko with dinner.
How many cases of dry shampoo does this hippie have in his bathroom?

I can’t bash on Adam Morrison too hard. He is one of the reasons why I named my blog ‘America’s White Boy‘ years ago. He has helped me fill the blog with content…humorous content.

In a perfect world, Adam Morrison would still be playing ‘Halo 2’ against J.J. Redick on Xbox Live. I doubt if Morrison has upgraded his system to an Xbox 360.

Before I go, I just want to let the Brooklyn Nets fans know that this will be the face of your franchise if the team can’t strike a deal with Deron Williams. Let that marinate tonight and see how many gray hairs appear by morning.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NBA Draft – Draft Grades

The 2012 NBA Draft is in the books.

We expected a lot of trades tonight, but only minor trades occurred. The usual drama that surrounds early picks wasn’t there. Overall, this draft was uneventful and fairly boring.

Even if the public deemed this draft to be a bit bland, it doesn’t mean that this draft wasn’t important. Many teams improved their teams by making smart draft picks and some teams left fans scratching their heads.

I go team-by-team and give out draft grades for the entire league. Which teams make the honor roll and which teams are doomed to repeat the year?

Atlanta Hawks – #23 John Jenkins (Vanderbilt) & #43 Mike Scott (Virginia)
Jenkins is the best 3-point shooter in the draft and Scott is one of the most consistent scorers. If the Hawks were looking to improve their offense, they would have had a difficult time beating the duo they picked. Draft Grade: A-

Boston Celtics – #21 Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), #22 Fab Melo (Syracuse), & Kris Joseph (Syracuse)
The Celtics were already the best defensive team in the NBA, but by drafting Sullinger and Melo, they got much better. Sullinger is the best low-post scorer in the draft, but with his size disadvantage, that skill may not translate to the NBA. Joseph doesn’t have a position in the NBA, but he a student of the game. They needed to address their offensive woes in the draft, but only called Sullinger’s name to help. Draft Grade: C+

Brooklyn Nets – #41 Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas), #54 Tornike Shengelia (Georgia) & Ikran Karaman (Turkey)
I am already deducting point for including their first round pick in the trade to rent Gerald Wallace for one-third of a season. Taylor is a nice pick and would be a nice backup point guard behind Deron Williams (if he signs back with Brooklyn). Shengelia and Karaman are nice Euros to stash away. ‘Toko’ Shengelia has the most upside of the pair. Draft Grade: D+

Charlotte Bobcats – #2 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky) & Jeff Taylor (Vanderbilt)
Kidd-Gilchrist is a gifted athlete and a plus defender. Taylor is a gifted athlete and a plus defender. Are you noticing the similarities? I feel like Charlotte came into the draft with a defeatist attitude. They didn’t get the #1 pick and had many opportunities to move out of the #2 position and get more picks to help their team rebuild. Draft Grade: D

Chicago Bulls – #29 Marquis Teague (Kentucky)
The Bulls needed backcourt help and they drafted the best point guard available. They could have opted for a three-point threat here, but with Derrick Rose due to miss a huge chunk of the 2012-13 season, Teague was the smart choice. If he would have stayed in school one more year, he would have been a lottery pick. Draft Grade: A-

Cleveland Cavaliers – #4 Dion Waiters (Syracuse) & #17 Tyler Zeller (North Carolina)…plus Kelenna Azubuike
Cleveland concentrated their talent by trading some late draft picks to Dallas for the rights to Zeller. They also drafted Waiters at #4, even though they were rumored to be in love with North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes. I really like the moves they made. The Cavs could be pretty interesting in a couple seasons with a nucleus of Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Waiters, and Zeller. Draft Grade: A

Dallas Mavericks – #24 Jared Cunningham (Oregon State), #33 Bernard James (Florida State) & Jae Crowder (Marquette)
Dallas turned one draft pick into three draft picks with a trade with Cleveland. They basically traded the rights to Tyler Zeller and Kelenna Azubuike for the three picks. I don’t understand the thought process in picking Cunningham, James, and Crowder. Cunningham could be an elite defensive backcourt stopper, James can play right away, but lacks upside, and Crowder is a 6’5 power forward with no position in the NBA. Dallas needed to fill out their roster, but I believe they missed with this trade. Draft Grade: D-

Denver Nuggets – #20 Evan Fournier (France), #38 Quincy Miller (Baylor) & #50 Izzet Turkyilmaz (Turkey)
Fournier is a talented shooting guard who could come to the NBA right away or could stay in France to add strength and experience. Miller had ACL surgery before his freshman year and didn’t look like he was healthy all season. He was one of the best players in his high school class, so if he gets healthy, this could be a steal. Draft Grade: B+

Detroit Pistons – #9 Andre Drummond (UConn), #39 Khris Middleton (Texas A&M) & #44 Kim English (Missouri)
Detroit had a need for a dominant big man, mid-range offense, and a three-point scoring threat. I believe Drummond, Middleton, and English fill all those needs. They did the best they could do with those picks, but the Middleton pick concerns me a little with his past injuries. Draft Grade: B

Golden State Warriors – #30 Festus Ezeli (Vanderbilt), #35 Draymond Green (Michigan State) & Ognjen Kuzmic
Golden State picked Ezeli before Green, which is confusing. Green is more of a sure thing than Ezeli and I’m fairly certain that he would have been there at #35. The reason that is important is that first round picks have guaranteed contracts. It is a small error that could come back to do some harm. Draft Grade: D+

Houston Rockets – #12 Jeremy Lamb (UConn), #16 Royce White (Iowa State) & Terrence Jones (Kentucky)
The Rockets have been the most active team since the NBA Lottery. They were trying to get enough assets to acquire Dwight Howard, but fell short. They ended up with three quality draft picks in the middle of the first round and added a ton of talent. Lamb is a proven winner that could turn into a Tayshaun Prince/Rudy Gay type player, White who can do things with the ball in his hands or in the post, and Jones who is a jack of all trades. I love what Houston did in this draft. Draft Grade: A+

Indiana Pacers – #26 Miles Plumlee (Duke) & #36 Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara)
The Pacers will have another big white guy from Duke on their team. They were finally free from them after not re-signing Mike Dunleavy and Josh McRoberts, but apparently there was a void. Plumlee was a reach at #26, but they needed to replace the retired Jeff Foster. They bought the #36 pick from Sacramento and picked a sharp shooter from a small school. Indiana is gathering pieces that could make Danny Granger expendable in the near future. Draft Grade: C-

Los Angeles Clippers – #53 Furkan Aldemir (Turkey)
Aldemir has a lot of potential, but he will need to mature overseas before the Clippers even ponder bringing him over. Draft Grade: Incomplete

Los Angeles Lakers – #55 Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette) & #60 Robert Sacre (Gonzaga)
The L.A. Lakers only had the #60 pick going into the draft and they used it wisely. Sacre is a guy who can make an NBA squad or be assigned to the NBDL for a bit to get some seasoning. The Lakers traded Dallas for the rights to Johnson-Odom after the draft…presumably for the younger Kardashians to marry. DJO is a solid player and a value pick so late in the draft. Draft Grade: B+

Memphis Grizzlies – #25 Tony Wroten Jr. (Washington)
I do not understand Memphis drafting Wroten Jr. He is a pass-first point guard, which is good…but lack any offensive skill past eight-feet. Mike Conley doesn’t have the best skills on offense, so Memphis will not upgrade the position with Wroten Jr. A player can be taught to shoot, but at this point, he is a project that will take time to develop. Draft Grade: D+

Miami Heat – #45 Justin Hamilton (LSU) & a future first-round pick from Philadelphia
Hamilton has a big body the Heat covet. They lack size and the jury is out on Dexter Pittman being a productive big man. The biggest asset the Heat earned in this draft is a future first-round pick from the 76ers. Philadelphia is a volatile team and if they suffer a few key injuries, they are a lottery team. Draft Grade: B-

Milwaukee Bucks – #14 John Henson (North Carolina), #42 Doron Lamb (Kentucky) and Samuel Dalembert via trade
The Bucks rolled the dice with Henson at #14. He is a top-10 talent but has a lot of the same skills as Ekpe Udoh. Henson will need to add muscle for this pick to pay off. I love the Lamb pick in the middle of the second round. He is the second or third best shooter in the draft and will pair nicely with Monta Ellis. Draft Grade: B+

Minnesota Timberwolves – #58 Robbie Hummel (Purdue) & Chase Budinger via trade
I love, love, love Minnesota’s pick here. Hummel was an elite talent at Purdue before he suffered a pair of knee injuries. At #58, there is zero risk by drafting him there. The trade for Budinger was a no brainer for Minnesota. Draft Grade: A

New York Knicks – #48 Kostas Papanikolaou (Greece)
Papanikolaou was my favorite Euro going into the draft. He had an amazing Euroleague Final Four and reminds me of Andrei Kirilenko or Omri Casspi. He could end up being a nice player, but will stay over in Greece for a minimum of one year. Draft Grade: B-

New Orleans Hornets – #1 Anthony Davis (Kentucky), #10 Austin Rivers (Duke) & #46 Darius Miller (Kentucky)
The Hornets did the most in this draft to drastically improve their team. It helped that they had the #1 overall pick, but the picks of Rivers and Miller really made sense for the team. Rivers was the #1 overall talent going into the college season and Miller was the veteran leader on a National Championship team. I love the draft and New Orleans set themselves up to win soon. Draft Grade: A+

Oklahoma City Thunder – #28 Perry Jones III (Baylor)
Jones III was a top-five talent going into the college season, but concerns about his knee and inconsistent play made him fall in the draft. The Thunder know how to draft and this was a no-brainer. PJ3 is a safety net in case OKC can’t re-sign Serge Ibaka. I’m also glad the Thunder didn’t make a hasty move by trading James Harden for a lottery pick. Draft Grade: A

Orlando Magic – #19 Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure) & #49 Kyle O’Quinn (Norfolk State)
Orlando clearly used their picks to attempt to replace Dwight Howard. Nicholson and O’Quinn won’t be able to fill his shoes, but could make the transition a tad easier. Nicholson has a nice shooting touch for a big man and O’Quinn is a hard worker who has some skills in the paint. Neither of these players are freak athletes, but they leave everything on the court. Draft Grade: B-

Philadelphia 76ers – #15 Maurice Harkless (St. John’s) & #27 Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi State)
Philly’s draft strategy was confusing. Harkless has the same skill-set as most of their current players (a slasher who is a tweener). They had to give up a mid-second rounder and a future first round pick for Moultrie. He is a big man with deep range who can rebound the ball well. Draft Grade: C-

Phoenix Suns – Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
Marshall is the contingency plan in case Steve Nash bolts for greener pastures. He could end up as the starting point guard at the beginning of the season. Marshall has plus ball-handling skills with a strong knowledge of the game. I like this pick a lot, but he needs to improve on the defensive end. Draft Grade: B

Portland Trail Blazers – #6 Damian Lillard (Weber State), #11 Meyers Leonard (Illinois) & #40 Will Barton (Memphis)
Portland had a busy draft and they picked up some good players. Lillard was coveted by nearly every team in the back-half of the top-10. Leonard is a legit seven-footer that could turn into something special. Finally, Barton was a top high school talent going into college, but took a little time to develop into a plus scorer. I like what Portland did in the draft, but it lacked the instant star power fans expected from their high picks. Draft Grade: B+

Sacramento Kings – #5 Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
Robinson is my sleeper pick to be next season’s Rookie of the Year. He has an NBA-ready body with skills at the power forward position that no other talent had in this draft. He will pair nicely with DeMarcus Cousins and be a high character guy that franchise needs. Draft Grade: A-

San Antonio Spurs – #59 Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
It is hard to give out a high draft grade to a team that only had the second-to-last pick. The Spurs makes smart picks in the draft, but I expected a ‘draft and stash’ player here. I loved Demon in college and think he was a steal for the Spurs at #59. Draft Grade: B

Toronto Raptors – #8 Terrence Ross (Washington), #37 Quincy Acy (Baylor) & #56 Tomislav Zubcic (Croatia)
Honestly, I have no idea what the hell Toronto was doing here. They drafted Ross about ten spots too high, Acy is a guy who loves to dunk everything with little fundamental skills, and Zubcic will never play in the NBA (at least not for the next four years). Ross is a good shooter and is athletic, but I don’t know how he will pair with DeMar DeRozan. Draft Grade: D

Utah Jazz – #47 Kevin Murphy (Tennessee Tech)
If I said ‘Kevin Murphy’ and you had to guess which team drafted him, without any knowledge of draft position or skill…you would say the Utah Jazz, right? He is a nice college player at a small school. He was a standout there and he can shoot the ball from all over the court. It’s a nice sleeper pick with little to no risk. Draft Grade: C+

Washington Wizards – #3 Bradley Beal (Florida) & #32 Tomas Satoransky (Czech Republic)
Beal has the skills to be an elite player in the NBA. His long-range shooting will help open up lanes for John Wall to drive to the basket. They were very lucky that he fell to them at #3. Satoransky won’t be in the league for a couple years, but he has enough upside that he could have been taken in the first-round. Draft Grade: A-

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Florence + the Machine covers Drake’s "Take Care"

I was in on Florence + the Machine pretty early. I downloaded their “Lungs” album from iTunes mid-2009. I liked it, but I buy a lot of music and it got lost in the shuffle (literally). I didn’t think about them again until I heard “Dog Days Are Over” playing at a bar. That album went on to be a worldwide success and put them on the map.

I was searching YouTube for new cover songs to showcase during our ‘Cover Song Month‘ and I ran across Florence + the Machine’s cover of Drake’s “Take Care”. I am not a big Drake fan, but Florence and the crew made the song their own. I didn’t even recognize the track when they first started playing.

The video of Florence + the Machine’s live performance of “Take Care” is after the jump…

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NBA Draft: Best Undrafted Players

Not everyone can be selected in the NBA Draft. Many undrafted players will go into NBA Summer League hoping to land a camp invite or deal with a team. Most of these players will either sign with a NBA D-League team or go onto Europe and play. Their dream of playing the NBA one day is not dead, they will just need to work even harder and hope that a team takes a chance on them.

This list of undrafted players is filled with players who were once future first-round picks but fell to injury, unknown talent came out of nowhere, and established players who lack upside.

Who went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft? Who do you pick to make an NBA team or stand out in NBA’s D-League this upcoming season?

Scott Machado – Point Guard – Iona
Terrell Stoglin – Shooting Guard – Maryland
Kevin Jones – Power Forward – West Virginia
Drew Gordon – Power Forward – New Mexico
Henry Sims – Center – Georgetown
Garrett Stutz – Center – Wichita State
Hollis Thompson – Small Forward – Georgetown
Eric Griffin – Power Forward – Campbell
William Buford – Shooting Guard – Ohio State
J’Covan Brown – Point Guard – Texas
Kostas Sloukas – Point Guard – Greece
Tony Mitchell – Shooting Guard – Alabama
Tu Holloway – Point Guard – Xavier
JaMychal Green – Power Forward – Alabama
Alex Young – Shooting Guard – IUPUI
Casper Ware – Point Guard – Long Beach State
Cameron Moore – Power Forward – UAB
Ricardo Ratliffe – Power Forward – Missouri
Jordan Taylor – Point Guard – Wisconsin
John Shurna – Small Forward – Northwestern
Yancy Gates – Power Forward – Stanford
Xavier Gibson – Power Forward – Florida State
Gus Gilchrist – Center – South Florida
Toure’ Murry – Shooting Guard – Wichita State
Herb Pope – Power Forward – Seton Hall
Bradford Burgess – Shooting Guard – VCU
Jet Chang – Shooting Guard – BYU Hawaii
Ashton Gibbs – Point Guard – Pittsburgh
Dario Hunt – Power Forward – Nevada
Ralph Sampson III – Center – Minnesota
Maalik Wayns – Point Guard – Villanova
Wesley Witherspoon – Small Forward – Memphis
Dee Bost – Point Guard – Mississippi State
Devoe Joseph – Shooting Guard – Oregon

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Analysis

The first round is over and lacked surprises. All of the players expected to be drafted, were drafted. Most of the selections were underclassmen whose upside warranted a high selection. Teams will hit and miss by using that methodology in their draft strategy. NBA teams have to take a few risks to keep up with the rest of the league.

You can make the playoffs by selecting blue chip prospects in the first round, but you win championships by having a deep bench. You will find those guys in the second round.

The last few years have seen all of the established players who spent all four years in college. Teams can draft players who can contribute right away. I give my analysis for each pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft.

31. Charlotte Bobcats – Jeffrey Taylor (Vanderbilt) – He’s a 6’7 small forward who is a catch and shoot player. What sets him apart is the ability to guard a point guard. Taylor was a four year player at Vandy and Charlotte is looking for guys who can contribute right away. I like this pick because the Bobcats need guys who are NBA ready.

32. Washington Wizards – Tomas Satoransky (Czech Republic) – Santoransky is a close friend of Jan Veseley who was drafted last year. He will be stashed for at least two seasons overseas and could end up being a 6’7 point guard when he arrives in Washington. He has great ball-handling skills and makes things happen when the ball is in his hands.

33. Cleveland Cavaliers (traded to Dallas) – Bernard James (Florida State) – A former member of the Air Force who served multiple tours in Iraq. He is 27 years old and can contribute right away. His best attribute is his ability to block and rebound. This is low risk as a second-round pick, but his presence in the locker room is worth it.

34. Cleveland Cavaliers (traded to Dallas) – Jae Crowder (Marquette) – The Big East Player of the Year who played four years at Marquette. Dallas seems to be focused on guys who can contribute right away and leaving the projects for the rest of the league. He is explosive and impressed me by standing out in a loaded Big East conference.

35. Golden State Warriors – Draymond Green (Michigan State) – He is a high volume rebounder who has the versatility to play both forward positions. He is a bit undersized to play a lot of minutes atthe power forward position. He is a proven winner which is always an underrated trait in the NBA.

36. Sacramento Kings (traded to Indiana) – Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara) – He’s a mature pure scorer who is his school’s all-time leading scorer. If the Kings kept this pick, it would have been confusing since they have a lot of players with range. The Pacers need a guy like Johnson, so it all makes sense.

37. Toronto Raptors – Quincy Acy (Baylor) – I am surprised that he fell this far in the draft. He is super athletic and can come in and be an energy guy. He just works the entire time he’s on the floor. Every team needs a guy like Acy on their team.

38. Denver Nuggets – Quincy Miller (Baylor) – I like this Quincy even more than Quincy Acy. He came out after his freshman year and Denver can afford to let him sit. He can put up some points, which fits Denver’s offensive style.

39. Detroit Pistons – Khris Middleton (Texas A&M) – He is a late-blooming prospect. He has a soft touch with a consistent 22-foot jumper. He will be a project for Detroit but he could be worth the time in the long run.

40. Portland Trail Blazers – Will Barton (Memphis) – He has first-round talent but didn’t completely put it together in college. He could benefit from a season in the NBDL to get some seasoning.

41. Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Brooklyn Nets) – Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas) – He is a proven winner with above average skills. He could be a very nice backup point guard in the NBA.

42. Milwaukee Bucks – Doron Lamb (Kentucky) – He can light up the floor with his deep range. He is efficient with nearly 50% from downtown. He has some ball-handling skills if needed. He is a Michael Redd clone, so Milwaukee knows all about that.

43. Atlanta Hawks – Mike Scott (Virginia) – He is a fifth year season who has ankle concerns. He was first-team all ACC with great scoring ability. He is hard to cover and will be a nice bench scorer starting out in the NBA.

44. Detroit Pistons – Kim English (Missouri) – He is a gym rat who is a hard worker. He is only 6’6 and he played power forward last year. He is a pure shooting guard with unbelievable range behind the arc.

45. Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Miami) – Justin Hamilton (LSU) – He is a big guy that could help Miami’s need of size in the paint. He isn’t very athletic, but can rebound and take up space in the paint.

46. New Orleans Hornets – Darius Miller (Kentucky) – He is the lone senior on Kentucky who was the leader on a National Championship squad. He is a mature player who can contribute right away. He can help with the development of Anthony Davis, who he played with for one season.

47. Utah Jazz – Kevin Murphy (Tennessee Tech) – He is the only player to score 50+ points in D-1 college basketball last season. He is a pure shooter with skills to get to the free throw line. He didn’t face elite talent, but stood out in his conference.

48. New York Knicks – Kostas Papanikolaou (Greece) – This is a value pick at #48. He won’t be in the NBA for a couple years, but he was great in Greek League. He was the best player during the Euro League Final last season.

49. Orlando Magic – Kyle O’Quinn (Norfolk State) – He was the nation’s top mid-major player this season. He’s a big guy (6’10 242 lbs.) and has a wingspan of 7’5. He might surprise some people and make Orlando’s squad.

50. Denver Nuggets – Izzet Turkyilmaz (Turkey) – He’s a 6’11 thin power forward who may never play in the NBA. This is an extreme reach, but at #50, it’s worth a shot in the dark.

51. Boston Celtics – Kris Joseph (Syracuse) – A good stand-still 3-point shooter. He could help fill the void if Ray Allen leaves via free agency. He already has something in common with Allen…he isn’t a good defender.

52. Golden State Warriors – Ognjen Kuzmic (Bosnia And Herzegovina) – He’s a 7’0 center with only one year of high-level competition. He may never make it to the NBA, but once again, teams use late second-round picks on players worth taking a flyer on.

53. Los Angeles Clippers – Furkan Aldemir (Turkey) – He’s 20 years old with major rebounding skills aat only 6’9. He averaged 15 rebounds per game in an under-20 tournament.

54. Philadelphia 76ers – Tornike Shengelia (Georgia) – He is a scorer who attacks the basket. He lacks a good jumper who will be overseas for a few seasons. He goes by the nickname ‘Toko’.

55. Dallas Mavericks – Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette) – He has a 40-inch vertical who can drive in the paint. He is a hard worker who can make an NBA team.

56. Toronto Raptors – Tomislav Zubcic (Croatia) – He’s a big project who will stay oversears (surprise, surprise). He has average rebounding skills and Toronto hopes that he improves and can bring him to the NBA in a few years.

57. Brooklyn Nets – Ilkan Karaman (Turkey) – Another Turkish player drafted in the second round of this year’s draft. He is an undersized power forward who will either be a big hit or a big miss.

58. Minnesota Timberwolves – Robbie Hummel (Purdue) – He was once a projected first-round draft pick, but was derailed by serious knee injuries. He is a two-time All-American and can really help Minnesota. This could be a huge steal if he can overcome his past knee problems.

59. San Antonio Spurs – Marcus Denman (Missouri) – I love this pick. He is an undersized guard who isn’t afraid to take big shots. He impressed me in many games this season and along with Hummel could surprise a lot of people by making the team and earning playing time.

60. Los Angeles Lakers – Robert Sacre (Gonzaga) – 7’0 260 lbs…he’s a big guy with ball skills. He is a good rebounder, but lacks shot blocking ability. The last three picks all have the ability to make their respective teams.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NBA Draft: First Round Diary

David Stern is about to me busy shaking hands and calling out draft picks’ names…don’t expect him to give out 30 ‘bro hugs’ like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

I am keeping a running diary of the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft tonight. You should expect pick and trade analysis, fashion critiques of draft suits (I’m hoping for some hideous suits), and a lot of snarky comments throughout the night.

I’m expecting a lot of trades tonight with many teams owning multiple top 40 draft picks. Cleveland, Houston, and Boston could shake things up if they can unload their draft picks for a big return.

My running diary begins after the jump… Continue reading →

Latest NBA Draft Rumors

I have been glued to the internet and television today trying to glean all the last-minute rumors concerning the 2012 NBA Draft. A lot of trade rumors are swirling about contenders trying to jump into the Lottery by trading either an expiring contract or an expendable player.

I’m sure a lot of the rumors going around are teams just trying to throw teams off their scent, but some are real. For example, I do believe the Memphis Grizzlies are trying to trade Zach Randolph for Pau Gasol or basically anything they can get for him. He has a lot of money coming to him and his knee doesn’t look good. The Los Angeles Lakers immediately shot down the proposal, but are rumored to be shopping Gasol.

Here are the latest NBA rumors floating around about tonight’s NBA Draft…

– The Golden State Warriors are interested in San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair. The Spurs need to open up a roster spot for Erazem Lorbek. The Warriors have four draft picks and the Spurs would probably use the picks received to select a “draft and stash” player.

– The Minnesota Timberwolves are offering last year’s #2 overall pick Derrick Williams for a lottery pick (reported by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com).

– Kansas Jayhawks point guard Tyshawn Taylor could be selected #29 by the Chicago Bulls. Vin Parise of NBC Sports Network reported the Bulls intentions earlier today.

– The Cleveland Cavaliers could pick Turkish forward Furkan Aldemir with one of their early second-round picks. They own the #33 & #34 picks and will most likely use one of them on a “draft and stash” player.

– Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham could end up sneaking into the first-round tonight. He is an excellent defender and a team like the Miami Heat could use him.

– Kostas Papanikolaou’s stock is rising and could find himself selected late in the first-round. He wouldn’t be able to play until the 2013-14 season, since he wouldn’t have a reasonable buyout until then. He is currently playing in Greece with Olympiakos.

– North Carolina center Tyler Zeller is #1 on the Milwaukee Bucks ‘want list’ tonight. They own the #14 pick and Zeller is expected to be drafted before #14. The other players on their ‘want list’ include UConn’s Jeremy Lamb, Washington’s Terrence Ross, Kentucky’s Terrence Jones, and Meyers Leonard of Illinois.

– North Carolina forward John Henson is rumored to be going #9 to the Detroit Pistons. They would draft UConn’s Andre Drummond ahead of Henson, but he is not expected to fall that far in the draft.

– If the Cavaliers are unable to trade the Charlotte Bobcats for the #2 overall pick to select Florida’s Bradley Beal, they are expected to draft Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Syracuse’s Dion Waiters.

– If Weber State’s Damian Lillard is there at #6, the Portland Trailblazers may opt to pass over him and select a less risky player. He played at a small school and doesn’t project to be a point guard in the NBA.

– If Thomas Robinson of Kansas is available at #5, the Sacramento Kings are set to take him. They are rumored to like him over UConn’s Andre Drummond.

– The Houston Rockets are still trying to trade the Kings for the #5 pick and possibly Tyreke Evans, but there is no word if this is anything more than a rumor.

– The Cleveland Cavaliers are dangling Anderson Varejao out there to see if anyone offers something substantial.

– The Oklahoma City Thunder are NOT moving James Harden for the #2 overall pick. They do like Bradley Beal, but not that much.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Mumford & Sons covers The National’s "England"

There are only a few more songs left in ‘Cover Song Month‘ and I wanted to post a song that relates to two of my favorite bands…Mumford & Sons and The National.

“England” is off of The National’s last album “High Violet”. The entire album is great and you can find nearly every song covered all over YouTube. Mumford & Sons did a great job with it and really made it their own.

I expect both of these bands to release something later this year.

The YouTube video of “England” is after the jump…

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Drunk Athlete: Tyler Hansbrough

It is rare that I come across a photo that represents everything this site is about…then Deadspin smacks me in the face with it.

I give you Tyler Hansbrough drinking a 40oz. at a bar…yes, THAT Tyler Hansbrough. I’m sure the Indiana Pacers PR department will have fun with this one.

Two photos of Hansbrough schwasted are after the jump…

Tyler, keepin’ it hood with the paper bag…that’s how we do, son!

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Will Anthony Rizzo Save the Chicago Cubs?

The Chicago Cubs currently have the worst record in all of baseball (24-48) and are trying to build for the future. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein has stated that nearly every player is on the trading block. Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Bryan LaHair, and Alfonso Soriano are all expected to be traded by the end of July. The one ray of hope occurred over the weekend, the Cubs called up their #1 prospect Anthony Rizzo.

The Cubs received Rizzo when they traded Andrew Cashner to the San Diego Padres this off-season. Epstein drafted Rizzo when he was the Boston Red Sox GM and wanted him on the Cubs.

Will Rizzo make his Chicago debut tonight against Johan Santana and the New York Mets or will they hold off his debut until they face Dillon Gee or Jonathon Niese later in the series?

Rizzo has all the tools to be a dominant hitter in the Majors. He has crushed the ball in the minors with Triple-A slash line of .337/.406/.673. In 69 games this season with Iowa (PCL) he has 23 homers, 62 RBI, and a .345 batting average.

To put his numbers into prospective and be realistic, Bryan LaHair’s 2011 Triple-A numbers were 38 homers, 109 RBI, with a .331 average through 129 games. LaHair has done well this year, but could end up being a 4-A player at the end of the day.

Rizzo had more than a cup of coffee with the Padres last season. He had a slash line of .141/.281/.242 with one homer in 128 at-bats. You could factor in that PETCO Park, San Diego’s home park, wasn’t suited for Rizzo’s skill-set, but he didn’t play every game at home.

Chicago could have started out the season with Rizzo as their starting first baseman, but they were smart by having him get his confidence back. He has a hot bat and Chicago could use it at the moment.

I doubt Rizzo will start in tonight’s game against Santana, but he could be used to pinch-hit later in the game. The smart money is that he will start on Tuesday and Wednesday. Chicago has been using LaHair in the outfield lately and should be in the lineup when a right-hander is on the mound.

I warn Cubs fans to lower expectations at the beginning. We don’t want another Felix Pie, Jerome Walton, Dwight Smith…(I could go on and on, but I don’t want to cry this morning). He will be batting near the middle of the order with Soriano and Geovany Soto sandwiching him. He will be protected to start out (well, as much as you can in an anemic batting order.

Rizzo will not save the season, but if he can show that he can hit MLB pitching and give the fans something to build on, he will do very well at the Friendly Confines.

…let the “Grease” nicknames begin. I’ll start, how about Anthony “Greased Lightning” Rizzo?

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Fleet Foxes covers Bob Dylan’s "It Ain’t Me Babe"

I wasn’t much of a Bob Dylan fan until I started collecting vinyl records. I bought a few Dylan records at a Salvation Army and once I put the needle on the record, I was hooked. I’m not a fan of his work after “Blonde On Blonde”, but his early stuff is amazing.

Fleet Foxes is a talented indie folk band that released a fantastic album last year, “Helplessness Blues”. If you have never heard of them, I highly suggest you check them out.

‘Cover Song Month‘ is almost over, but if you want to check out the other songs I’ve posted, click the the beginning of this sentence.

The YouTube video for Fleet Foxes cover of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” is after the jump…

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II – Final Results

UFC 147 was supposed to be a clash of the titans, but Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II couldn’t happen. The fight was supposed to take place at a soccer stadium in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The second attempt at a mega main event card was to pair Vitor Belfort against Anderson Silva, but Belfort went down with an injury. That fight was going to be held at 60,000 seat Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The third and final attempt at a big main event put Wanderlei Silva against Rick Franklin for the second time. It wasn’t the marquee fight the UFC wanted, but both of these veterans are fighting for their careers. It will be tough for the loser of this fight to keep going.

Here are the live results for UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II…

Felipe Arantes vs. Melton Vieira
This featherweight bout was action packed. A lot of offense with a lot of clean blocks. Vieira narrowly missed being put in an armbar in the first and won the round. In the second round, Vieira landed a spinning kick and Arantes looked hurt; the round is tough to call. The third round had a lot of offense with Vieira being the agressor. Arantes countered his offense and easily won the third round. Felipe Arantes and Milton Vieira fight to a split draw (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

Marcos Vinicius “Vina” vs. Wagner “Galeto” Campos
Each fighter came out looking to end the fight early. Campos nearly hooked an arm-triangle choke, but Vinicius escaped. Campos appeared to win the opening round. Campos once against nearly had a submission hold (kimura), but he escaped. The second round was slow with each trying to just gain control and clearly physically spent from exurting a lot of energy in the first round. I would give Campos the second round, because he had the most control and offense. The third round started out with a front kick that landed on the chin of Campos. Vinicius continued with a knee and pinned Campos against the cage. Herb Dean stopped the fight. Marcos Cinicius def. Wagner Campos via TKO – Round 3.

Thiago “Bodao” Perpetuo vs. Leonardo “Macarrao” Mafra
This is the first fight on FX tonight. Perpetuo and Mafra exchange early blows. Perpetuo is trying to work the body, but Mafra is countering. Mafra landed multiple combinations and wins the first round. Perpetuo dominates the second round by having control throughout the round. Mafra didn’t look good at all throughout the second. Perpetuo won the second and started the third with a big hook…Mafra never recovered. Thiago Perpetuo def. Leonardo Mafra via TKO (punches) – Round 3.

John “Macapa” Teixeira vs. Hugo “Wolverine” Viana
This is a catchweight fight with each fight coming in around 150 pounds. Viana lands a few big rights early on, but Teixeira is well enough to exchange a furry of punches. The first round was pretty even, but I’d give the edge to Viana. The second round was slow and spent mostly on the mat. Teixeira had the most offense that round. Teixeira and Viana are both tired going into the third and Teixeira takes the fight to the mat. Viana keeps getting back up. I would give the third round to Viana just because he showed preserverance. Hugo Viana def. John Teixeira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Francisco “Massaranduba” Drinaldo vs. Delson “Pe De Chumbo” Heleno
Here’s Herb Dean again to referee this middleweight contest. Drinaldo had control of this fight the entire time. Heleno looks like he bit off more than he can chew. Drinaldo gets Heleno to the mat and nails him with a batch of hammerfists. Heleno couldn’t get up and Dean calls the fight. Francisco Drinaldo def. Delson Heleno via TKO (punches) – Round 1.

Rodrigo Damm vs. Anistavio “Gasparzinho” Medeiros
Medeiros and Damm exchange punches, but neither of them do any damage early. Medeiros misses a leaping knee and Damm gets back control on the mat. It took a few seconds, but Damm gets his rear-naked choke in and Medeiros taps. Rodrigo Damm def. Anistavio Medeiros via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1.

Yuri Alcantara vs. Hacran Dias
This is the first fight of the pay-per-view. Dias is on the offense with Alcantara scrambling. Dias looks like the better fighter early on. He landed big knees and controls Alcantara’s back. Dias locks in a kimura in a late, but Alcantara is saved by the bell. I would give the first round to Dias. The secound round is more like the first, but with Dias having control throughout the second round. Dias keeps rolling and coasts in the third and this contest goes the distance, but with Dias looking dominant. Hacran Dias def. Yuri Alcantara via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).

Mike Russow vs. Fabricio Werdum
This heavyweight fight will definitely be a good one. Werdum starts off with blows to Russow’s face. His face is as red as a cherry. Russow already looks done and then Werdum lands an uppercut that sends Russow to the mat. Werdum continues with rapid-fire punches and the match is called. Fabricio Werdum def. Mike Russow via TKO (punches) – Round 1.

Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra vs. Godofredo “Pepey” De Oliveira
This is the featherweight final of the Ultimate Fighter. The first round was used to feel each other out. Jason scored an early takedown, but Pepey reversed it and controlled most of the first round. I would score the first round for Pepey. The second round was used to catch their breath, but Jason landed a leaping left and barely won the second round. The third round was ugly, but Jason had control after Pepey was clipped by a knee early in the round. There were attempts at submission holds, but none of them were ever hooked. I would give the third round to Jason, but it was pretty even. Rony Mariano Bezerra def. Godofredo De Oliveira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira vs. Sergio “Serginho” Moraes
This fight is for the Ultimate Fighter Middleweight winner. This fight had its fair share of low blows and eye pokes. The first round was sloppy, but Ferreira wins the round, even with a blatant low-blow. The second round has more weirdness with unsportsmanlike conduct. The crowd is confused at who to root for, since the fight is so dirty. The third round is fairly even with each fighter having their moments. When the bell rings, they want to fight some more. Each fighter climbs the cage thinking they have won this decision. This could be the fight of the night. Cezar Ferreira def. Sergio Moraes via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).

Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin
The crowd went crazy when Silva makes his way to the octagon. This is the first time he has fought in his home country (Brazil) in twelve years. He is looking to avenge his loss to Franklin in Germany a few years ago. The first round was even, but Silva did connect with a high leg kick to the left side of Franklin’s face. I would give the first round to Silva. The second round started out very slow. Franklin connected with a hard kick to the body, but Silva connected with a huge leg and followed it by a barrage of punches. The referee did not stop the fight and Franklin survived the second round…barely. In the third round, Silva expends a lot of energy and looks gassed. Franklin connects with a leg and gains half-guard. Franklin drops a lot of elbows and win the third round. The fourth round was uneventful until Silva connected with a brutal low kick with a minute left in the fourth (don’t YouTube or stream this video, it will make your stomach hurt). I would give this round to Franklin, barely. These fighters are saving it all for the fifth round. The fighters waste most of the round saving energy. Silva lands with a few big rights and the last 25 seconds were a tornado. Franklin got a lot of blows in and even landed a straight as the final bell rang that sent Silva to one knee. This fight will be close in the cards. Rich “Ace” Franklin def. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.