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Vince Young stock to drop?After reading the newest edition of the Sporting News, they published a mock-draft article.  They mentioned Young’s poor decision to participate in a college QB all-star challenge, where he was not very impressive.  My personal opinion is that Young’s showing should not diminish his stock; sometimes teams put too much emphasis on combines, 40 yard dash times, and silly obstacle course tests, but not of actual game footage.  Let’s not forgot how impressive he has been throughout his career at Texas as a whole.

Sporting News had Young falling all the way down to the 10th spot, in the Arizona Cardinals lap.  This would definitely make Coach Dennis Green happy.  This mock draft didn’t even have Young as the first Texas Longhorn picked; they had S Michael Huff going ninth to the Detroit Lions.  Well that throws the logic of some people’s thinking right out the door.  Conversely, the Sporting News likes to publish some of e-mails fans send, and one Vince Young fan points out “If you want to win games, pick Reggie Bush in the NFL draft.  If you want to win championships, pick Vince Young.  Use your own judgment and common sense on draft day, and hope your team’s GM makes the right decision.


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Gilbert Arenas an All-starGilbert Arenas will no longer have the distinction of being an All-Star snub.  Thanks to NBA commissioner David Stern’s decision, Arenas will be heading to Houston for All-Star weekend.  Arenas has been a scoring machine this season, averaging 28.2 PPG.  Arenas will make back to back all-star appearances.  Having the backing and support of Washington fans probably did not hurt, Arenas is known to give away his jersey to a lucky fan every home game.  Arenas is taking Jermaine O’Neal’s spot, who will sit out due to injury.


Chris Paul, Hornets in painNBA fans across the nation have to have some pity for the New Orleans Hornets, first off they started off the season without a home court.  Now that we are midway through the season, fan favorite Chris Anderson has been suspended by the league for drugs even though he was just a first-time offender.  It must have been a serious issue for the league to be so harsh.  The All-Star reserves were just named, and Chris Paul was snubbed.  Chris Paul is day-to-day with some nagging injuries, some bruised ribs, a torn ligament in his right thumb, and a bruised tailbone.  To top it off, their uniforms make them look like a high school team, dad agrees.  I had to tell him who was on the team because he didn’t recognize anyone, he was looking for Jamal Mashburn and Baron Davis, and he seemed indifferent after watching the young fellas playing under Byron Scott, but his vein did start bulging at the sight of P.J. Brown.  P.J. will forever be known in our household as the guy who tried to give Charlie Ward a power-bomb, because Ward was trying to box him out for a rebound during the closing seconds of a blow-out playoff game causing a huge fight and suspensions.


All-Star Reserves Named The fans voted in the starters for the all-star games, and the coaches voted in the reserves.  For the Eastern Conference, four Detroit Piston players were named, the only Piston starter not named was Tayshaun Prince.  The other Eastern Conference reserves are Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.

The Western All-stars are Ray Allen from the Seattle Supersonics, San Antonio’s Tony Parker, Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns.  Marion has been critical of the All-Star selection process and has felt he has been slighted in years past. 

Players having great seasons that have been omitted are Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards for the Eastern Conference.  One of which will probably make the team as a replacement due to Jermaine O’Neal’s injury.  The Western Conference omissions are Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and rookie Chris Paul of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.


Oswald the Rabbit is traded to ESPN for Al MichaelsSo it is getting to the point in sports, where TV stations are now trading sports announcers?  Monday Night Football will next season air on ESPN, and Sunday Night games will move to NBC.  When hearing of the MNF team consisting of Joe Theisman, and Pardon the Interruption’s,  Tony Kornheiser, Michaels made it clear he did not want to work with Theismann. 

NBC gave up quite a bit for Al Michaels services, ESPN will be receiving: a broader access to the Olympics aired on NBC, the rights to re-air NBC coverage, the rights to broadcast the Ryder Cup (golf), Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.  The final piece that brought this deal together was the rights to a cartoon rabbit named Oswald, who goes back to the Disney/ ESPN family, which somehow over the years Walt Disney lost the rights to.  Oswald was a character Disney made back in 1927, prior to Mickey Mouse.


Al Davis still searching for a head coachAfter interviewing with Oakland Raider owner Al Davis, Whisenhunt decided to stay put in the comfortable surroundings of the Pittsburgh organization and to attempt to repeat as champions.  Oakland may turn to one of their ex-coaches, Art Shell.  Whisenhunt who is the creative mastermind of Pittsburgh’s “gadget play”, which is a ridiculous name by the way - it’s a trick play people.  Why was there a sudden urge by all the announcers to call a trick plays to gadget plays all of the sudden?  The Raiders opening is the final NFL head coach vacancy.


Pat Riley throws his two cents on Phil Jackson vs Mark Cuban
After the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, L.A. coach Phil Jackson had some choice words for the officiating crew.  To sum up coach Jackson’s thoughts, he believes the referees are reluctant to make controversial calls while playing in Dallas’ home court because the referees suffer from the criticism of Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban.  Subsequently, Cuban is normally later fined by the NBA, very costly fines I might add.  Coach Pat Riley who is a bitter rival with Phil Jackson from the old New York Knicks/ Chicago Bulls days, was stated saying: “Phil has always been one of the great complainers of all time.  I think he does it from a coaching standpoint. He definitely wants to get a mindset out there [if] in fact he ever plays [the Mavericks] in the playoffs.”


Wayne Gretzky in trouble?The Great One could be in great trouble as the gambling ring investigation continues.  So far, Gretzky is at least guilty of trying to cover things up for his wife, as he is has been heard on audio wiretaps.  He was heard speaking to Rick Tocchet about how his wife, Janet Jones Gretzky could avoid being implicated.  Gretzky could be subpoenaed to testify before a New Jersey grand jury because this case may have links to organized crime.  So far Phoenix Coyote assistant coach, Rick Tocchet has been suspended indefinitely by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.  This gambling ring is being called Operation Slap Shot and the investigation has discovered over 1,000 wagers, exceeding $1.7 million over several weeks, on professional and college sports, mostly football and basketball.


Read More | ESPN


New York Knicks woes Not trying to kick a team while they are down, but I was at the Garden last night to witness the newest Knick debacle.  With the Atlanta Hawks somehow defeating the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks now own the second worse record in the entire league, topping only the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.

Interesting game notes:  The Garden’s only moment of true fan excitement when Nate Robinson made a steal and a lay-up to end the second quarter.  Isiah Thomas was not seen watching the game at his normal standing place right by the outskirt of the tunnel.

Here are a couple of articles from Sports Illustrated and former NBA player Steve Kerr, who has some interesting ideas to help fix the Knicks woes.


Read More | Yahoo! Sports
Read More | Sports Illustrated


New York Jets GM Terry Bradway resigns  During the Super Bowl, when all the former MVP’s came out and presented themselves to the fans (except for Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana) I had a good feeling when I saw something in particular.  When Super Bowl III MVP, Broadway Joe Namath came out of the tunnel, he flashed the inside flap of his suit jacket and showed the New York Jets stitching to us Jets fans, as if to say: ‘Hey guys, hang in there, things will get better.’  It might not have been much, but hey it could have been a good omen of things to come.

Terry Bradway, who has been criticized heavily for many of his personnel moves (especially on draft day,) has stepped down.  The only true standout Bradway has drafted has been Jonathan Vilma in 2004, which was the obvious choice for the Jets to pick at that time.  He will be replaced by Assistant general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who has close ties to new coach Eric Mangini.


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