** ‘Big Mac’ - I was at the Mavs/Heat game on Wednesday night, and like all NBA games, I prefer to show up early to watch assistant coaches working with the young projects on their shots and their moves. (Just like catching batting practice…Just by watching, you receive a ‘true’ private clinic up close.)
Now, I’ve been blessed to watch young phenoms work with NBA vets who depended upon a craft to make things work for them in the NBA. The best have scenes this blogga has witnessed is Kurt Rambis working with Kobe Bryant and Kevin McHale tutoring Kevin Garnett. On Wednesday night, I was blown away by how Miami Heat Assistant Coach, Bob McAdoo worked with the forward and young buck, Jamario Moon on his jumper.
Moon’s ‘J’ is not only a player with one of the worst forms that I’ve seen since former Tar Heel, Jackie Manuel, but Moon also is one of the more distracted players that I’ve seen in terms of spacing out during games. I was stunned by how McAdoo was able to keep his attention through talking and using hand-motion followed by launching consistent swishes from the top of the key like he was throwing paper in a waste basket.
McAdoo has what you think one of the weirdest jumpers. Yet, the height that he was able to obtain with his reach combined with one of the quickest releases that you’ve ever seen makes for one of the more mesmerizing jumpers that you’ll ever see. It’s like watching a cigarette lighter flash…Yes, that quick…And that efficient.
Do your history check, peoples…Check NBA Films, whatever you have to…
Just look at McAdoo’s stats during his 1974-75 NBA MVP year…Just plain red clay bombin’, 34 PPG, 14.5 RPG, almost 3 blocks per game, and 10 defensive boards per game. He was the original ‘Mack’ in this blogga’s book.
His Buffalo Braves teams should have won a title under Dr. Jack Ramsay, who arguably may have been one of the greatest basketball minds in NBA history. The Braves teams were fresh as mangoes with the Ernie ‘Ernie D’ DiGregorgio, Randy Smith, Jim McMillian, Gar Heard, and Marvin ‘Bad News’ Barnes. Don’t forget that Jack Marin was on that team, and he was also an All-Star throughout his career. I’m wondering if the Braves would have won a ring, would they have ever moved into the deep NBA hole of San Diego and Donald Sterling.
Coach Pat Riley landed him in ‘82, and look at the immediate impact that he made in the Lakers’s Championship run in 1982. The best testament to his game is that Riley had him right next to him on the bench during his coaching days with the Knicks and Heat.
This blogga thinks that Mac is probably one of the best assistants in the game. It shouldn’t be a shock why young talent blooms like Dwayne Wade, Udonis Haslem, and others bloom under his tutelage. This blog just hopes that he doesn’t get forced into a head job because he seems perfectly content working as an assistant with the Heat.
Editor’s Note: First pair of suede Ponys were a pair of McAdoo’s…You millennial sneakerheads just don’t know…You’re sleepin’..What’s better yet…He’s a Greensboro, NC native, and he honed his game at the legendary Windsor Center, which was known for years as one of the best indoor court in the state of North Carolina for years…Florida Street still reps ‘Mac’ to this day.
Yes, the night brought another Fantasy Baseball Draft to the IronDog’s lair.
Perhaps, the media keeps pounding the thoughts of picking long-term stable investments in the economy day-after-day. Yet, after learning that vets do really pay well in fantasy formats, I went with a stable strategy in my picks this year, and I think the Jacks are positioned to make a strong run at the Yahoo! bobble-head.
Tough spot to launch from, but we recovered…In a 15 man league, the Jacks had the second-to-last pick with the #14 slot, which revolved the pick between the #14 pick on odd rounds and the #2 pick with the even rounds. Here are the results:
1.) OF - Josh Hamilton - Shockingly, Santana, Sabathia, Berkman, and Utley all went before this pick. However, the shock shouldn’t be too strong because the league is NYC based, which played to my advantage. I think I pulled a gem late in the first round. I’ve followed Hamilton closely since he was a high-schooler. He’s very focused in a contract year. He quit dipping, and I pulled Top 7 value at #14. Look at his stats all last year. He never dumped. I’m thrilled with this pick. 2.) 2B - Dustin Pedroia - Kinsler and Teixiera went right after my pick of Hamilton back-to-back. With Utley, Kinsler, Rollins, and the big guns at SS gone, I had to jump with consistency to fill the middle infield. I usually go with a SP in this round, but I think you can grab the same value in later rounds. Pedroia has started with the pulled oblique, but you know that Bill James has to be right on something this year. Stable 2B all year…Watch.
3.) SP - Dan Haren - Took a chance on grabbing a SP late, and grabbed the best SP left with the #44 pick. Good year, but can he remain healthy? I’m not particulary concerned with an injury here. There are strong options to add in the first two months of the year.
4.) 1B/3B - Kevin Youkilis - Tough start with an ankle injury, but I can’t deny the .390 OBP, 115 RBIs and 29HRs. He’s coming into his prime, and he is a statistical beast with eligibility at both 3B and 1B. Stretch maybe by two picks, but the solidity is there.
5.) SS - Rafael Furcal - Incredible lead-off talent with a .439 OBP. If he stays healthy, I have a gem. If the back falters, I have mud. 6.) SP - Felix Hernandez - I was gun-shy on this one. I didn’t drink the juice over the last two years, but I think he’ll be a stellar #2 starter, especially, in Safeco. The question is who shows up throughout the year. My turn to drink the ayahuasca with Felix.
7.) RP - Bobby Jenks - I like this pick. Scares the hell out of you with walks, but he’s still a horse with value and he’s the White Sox only viable closing option. If he stays healthy, which he should, he’s built like a Clydesdale…This is a very good closer for the 7th round. 8.) RF/OF - Jermaine Dye - Needed an OF, and couldn’t believe that he was still around. The age is long. Yet, he still is going to play steady and every day. Look at the stats…96 Runs, 36 HRs, and 96 RBIs. Not bad for a 2nd OF at all. 9.) SP - Yovanni Gallardo - I’ve owned him the last 2 1/2 years, and I’m thrilled. Last year’s knee injury was devastating. A true sleeper gem, he held Arizona hitless over five innings last week. I know it’s Arizona, but the knee sounds good and he’s strong with his arm without a lot of wear from last year’s Brewer stretch run. Think about it.
10.) 3B - Adrian Beltre - My only ‘dud’ in this class. I wish I could flush…The fact that I have to follow the stench all year by watching his name every day haunts me. I simply waited too long to grab a more adequate 3B. He’s in a contract year. Think positive, three breaths, let’s see what happens. 11.) SP - Clayton Kershaw - Woke up…And I got back on path. After his scintillating finish in September, I think he’s going to be very strong this year. He has a 3.52 ERA, with 14 strikeouts and three walks in 15 1/3 innings this Spring…Run, youngin’, run. 12.) 1B/3B - Carlos Guillen - Surprise here…Look at the guy’s stats and stability, and this is a nice grab. Plus, he plays multiple positions. I think he could be a major sleeper, and without the pressure in Detroit this year for a ring, watch the Tigers soar with him in the mix.
13.) 1B/CF/RF/OF - Nick Swisher - Hit the wall here, and I should have pushed through at this moment. The choice could have been made four rounds later. However, he plays 1B and the OF. You can’t deny the multiple positions, and he should get the time. Can you bank on a ’should’? Disregarding the walks, he was atrocious last year in Chicago.
14.) C - Bengie Molina - I absolutely hate picking catchers…I hate them! I grabbed Molina to be safe after pondering how bad Mike Napoli’s shoulder could be early in the year. I figured that I could gamble on Napoli in the late rounds. Yet, why go through the pain. Molina supposedly will be batting clean-up, and he’s steady…Also, 18HRs last year, can you complain? You could end up with Kenji Johjima here.
15.) SP - Joe Saunders - I loved these next three picks here. Saunders was a innings machine and pumped 17 Ws. His ERA was rocky with a 4.27 and he has low Ks. Yet, he’s a Southern stronghold with his Quality Starts, and he is managed by Mike Sciosia who is the game’s best manager with pitchers. I’ve owned Saunders over the past three years, and I adore this pick. He’s growing into a #2 starter. For a land at #15, not bad a’tall for the Blacksberg Bomber. 16.) SS - Edgar Renteria - Look at his stats throughout his career. He’s terrible in the AL, but he torches the NL. He bombed with the Red Sox, soared with the Cards, played ‘turribly’ with the Tigers, and he’s now back with the Giants. My middle infield is not only set, but also a stable one with experience for the long haul and with competitive teams. Could be a ’sleeper’ pick here. 17.) 1B/OF - Kendry Morales - Maybe a stretch by two rounds. Yet, I’m happy with Sciosia’s reviews upon how he’s hitting. He could be last year’s Juan Rivera. Yet, without Teixiera, he’s the starting 1B. I’m betting huge on his bat and playing time. Yet, where’s the experience? He’s tearing the Cactus League up right now. 18.) LF/OF - Jose Guillen - I needed an OF with LF eligibility right away. I landed perhaps one of the game’s biggest head-cases. He still hits dongs, and I’m riding the Royals for RBIs…I could have gone with Aaron Rowand, but I needed the LF eligibility fast. Hello Jose…I wanted Elijah Dukes, but I have an older model of the modern day Jose Guillen…Yes, that freaky. 19.) C - Jeff Clement - I picked him up because I’m still enamored of the legend of the ‘Marshalltown Marvel’ and his potential out of USC. With playing time, this is a nice pick at this slot in the draft. Yeess, a second catcher…Why, oh why? 20.) RP - Jose Arrendondo - I don’t trust Brian Fuentes, and this guy guns 98-99. They say he’s the second coming of K-Rod. With Sciosia, I’m all on him for middle relief which he showed with 10Ws and a 1.20 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. If Fuentes falls, which is overrated @$$ should, Arrendondo is a great pick for that damned third reliever spot in this league. 21.) SP/RP - Andrew Miller - My Carolina ties pulled me to this pick. However, I adore his potential. Let’s see how he starts off the year. I think he was rushed to the bigs by Detroit and had too much pressure on him last year in Florida. I could have a gem or the next Zack Grienke albeit with a brain. I’m still stunned that the Marlins are calling him a #5 starter at this point. Here’s an update on his spring...This guy was the man three years ago!
22.) RP - Scot Shields - You see what I think of Brian Fuentes, right? Let’s see how the spring and the early part of the year flushes out. Shields could easily be the man. He also could be my first waiver wire slash for Neftali Feliz.
23.) 3B/OF - Dallas McPherson - I jumped on the homer reputation. Yet, his ‘K’ rep destroyed my faith. I made my first waiver wire pick here for Joe Crede who is fully recovered and will probably make White Sox GM, Kenny Williams, bury his head in his towel for not re-signing him on the cheap. Supposedly, Crede is diving all over the place this spring. Yet, he’s only hitting .118 this Spring…Worth a shot.
24.) 2B/MI/OF - Blake DeWitt - Former 1st rounder…I jumped on his utility. He had a great start last year and fizzled with inexperience and a second go-around on teams. This is a good utility player. 25.) RP - Juan Cruz - I love this pick. How the Cubs let this guy roam for the last five years is beyond me? Cruz + Arredondo = 1 Great RP. The ERA, WHIP, and Ws is undeniable. Plus, he’s can fill in the closer role for the Royals in a jam. When he’s on, he’s nice.
All said, other than Beltre and the Swisher reach, I’m very satisfied with the roster and the draft for this year’s Division St. Jacks. Let’s see how the line-up plays out. Will Kendry Morales start? Will Carlos Guillen be the ’sleeper’ of the year? Does Jermaine Dye have another run in his tank?…Will Josh Hamilton and Kevin Youkilis save the day for the Jacks….?
Stay tuned viewers for updates and for the best comment award this month, you’ll receive a free offer of NBA socks which I’m giving away after one wear…They’re perhaps the worst and most disappointing product that I’ve seen in years. One wear and you have holes and a enough lint to make a Snuggie no matter the color.
Keep it up peoples, see you in the “New Comiskey/’The Cell’ often this year.
The shocking part of his death is that he passed at the early age of 61. He not only has been one of the more popular television sports personalities of late with his off-beat bow-ties and dissenting opinions on Comcast’s Chicago sports shows, but also he has been one of the more accessible Chicago sports legends around town. He was often easily found at Pizano’s on State Street where he enjoyed his cigars, talked ’70s hoops, and would discuss any sports topic that emerged on one of the sharp HD screens.
In fact, personally, this blogga has hung-out with Norm over the past four months at least a dozen times and talked straight-up hoops, movies, his hometown of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Rush Street days, the personalities of the Irish, and ’70s Bulls days.
What a treat each conversation was, and I’m more than upset at myself when I look at his cell phone number on the back of a business card that was meant for me to call him and watch the Bulls at Pizano’s during a Bulls road game. I missed out…on a lot.
Norm Van Lier was Chicago, and he would talk openly about how the famed 1973 Bulls-Lakers series that should have been won by the Bulls and their famed line-up of Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, and Bob “Butterbean” Love. What life was like on Rush Street in the ’70s when Bill Wirtz was running the Bulls and letting Norm run the town. He would then talk about how to guard Gail Goodrich, Calvin Murphy, Archie Clark, Mike Newlin, and Jo-Jo White, (You would be shocked who he said was soft and who was a beast to keep.) and in the same conversation teach you at the bar how to play real ‘Aliquippa’ defense by sticking a forearm in your chest and saying ‘You have to dictate the game!”
One of the better conversations that I had with Norm was about how proud he was about his daughter working in Hollywood and his wife who was ‘Irish, tough, and keeps me in line.’ I liked that one…The best advice is that he consistently told me that ‘You have to come to the game ready to bust someone’s ass.’
This is a tough loss Chicago…
The shame is that few people realize what a helluva an athlete Van Lier was. He not only dominated Pennsylvania high-school football, but also he was a unbelievable defender at a small size. (Seriously, check out Photo #5 for a testament to his athleticism.)He did mention he was upset that his number ‘2′ was never retired by the Bulls. The bigger shame is that we had to lose him to probably have his number raised to the rafters.
May the pride of Aliquippa, who self-proclaimed that was a better Quarterback than Joe Namath ride on. State Street and old-time basketball in Chicago may not be the same with his passing, but the memories that one of the coolest and smoothest players will always run forever.
What a buckle will do…In this case what a broken buckle will do…
When you lose the use of a good bag that went through five years of serious partnership, you have to understand that you’re up for major shifting mode, which is why I entered pure panic mode when the main buckle of my long-time Chrome ‘Bomb Box’ bag splintered into plastic pieces in the Detroit airport last month.
I immediately called and emailed Chrome Bags for info on the buckle and bag. However, I was stunned by the lack of customer service that was given out of their San Francisco headquarters. And I’m telling you people…I tried and tried several times reaching them to no avail, but I guess the classic messenger snobbery has just infiltrated into their customer service…Just horrible service over the phone and complete radio silence via email…Good riddance.
What a shame because the ‘Bomb Box’ bag that I went to war with over the past six years in San Francisco, two grad degrees in Chapel Hill, and a stints in New York City and Chicago has passed on due to buckle wear.
Yet, don’t fret for the Midnight Rider…I shifted to InCase’s nylon backpack that has incredibly raised the bag play to a whole new level.
The ballistic nylon is incredibly light. The bag has mesh pockets, easy-to-stash pockets, and 2 main compartments, and I’m able to fit a 15″ laptop in a plush lined faux-fur compartment along with two SIs, a Wired and a hardcover book.
The bonus is that the strap is heavily padded and light enough to maneuver when cruising through airports and in-and-out of taxis. To top off the features, the bag has a clean enough look to bring into meetings and do your thing.
I’m thrilled…
Incase bags and products are often found in Apple stores. However, I discovered this bag at the incredibly chic travel store, Flight 001, on State Street in Chicago. (If you travel a ton, and you’re in Berkeley, SF, Chicago, the LA, NYC, or the BK, you’re in luck. This store has a lot of cool travel products that ooze with cool and class.)
I was at a Sunday lunch talking about the best ESPN commercials of all-time, and I immediately thought of the Kevin Garnett/Stephon Marbury classic “Tastefully Done” video. However, I didn’t think that the Celtics would try to go for a reunion in 2009 a day later.
How can anyone in right mind justify how bad Marbury has torn NBA franchises from his beginning years with the Minnesota TimberWolves?
Just look at the Wolves, Nets, Suns, and Knicks, and how each team actually was destroyed by Marbury’s presence and developed into something when he left. And now you’re going to add him to a Championship team that is on the brink of collapse…Who can justify this move?
Yet, if Stephon Marbury is given a shot with the Celtics, you not only have to wonder how many chances that today’s modern athlete will be given for God-given talent, but also how low in terms of long-term cohesion do you really consider for your organization when you bring an absolute proven ‘tumor’ into a drive for a common goal. What kind of message are you sending?
All that said, the only thing that I can think of as good in Stephon Marbury’s career is the classic ESPN ‘The Mag’ commercial. As for the rest, take a look at the tattoo on his head and think twice…
Keep it up “KG”…Hopefully, this won’t happen. You went through enough in Minnesota.
The article addresses the topic launched by Charles Barkley’s molten lava-hot question of ‘why there are few black college football coaches’ after his alma mater, Auburn University, hired Iowa State’s Head Coach, Gene Chizik, who manned a 2-8 season record while developing Iowa State’s rebuilding project when a more viable, strong, emerging and successful coaching candidate, University of Buffalo coach, Turner Gill was up for the taking on the college football coaching carousel.
Before everyone starts throwing darts at administrators of national universities (And perhaps Chuck will have more time to ponder the question over wondering what the hell he was doing sharing BearClaws with ‘Urkel’,) I thought Ford made a great point around the topic of considering coaches regardless of their color black or white are considered for elite university positions.
“Maybe the black coordinators and assistant coaches can make the right moves on the field but aren’t learning to make the right moves with the boosters. If that’s the case, and if blacks aren’t being mentored, nurtured, and prepared to take the helm when they’re working in entry-level assistant positions, then the problem isn’t really the hiring decisions for head coaching positions—it’s much more diffuse, and much harder to zero in on.”
Coaching positions in college football involve more than just satisfying administration qualifications. With the short turnaround demands of today’s programs, a coach not only has to recruit and win quickly, but also has to develop deep ties with boosters and the local media in order to insulate himself from the pressures of big-time college football.
With that said, the answer of driving assistant coaches into head coaching positions would be longevity within a program and nurturing the ties to push-up within. However, the coaching turnover and the short-term tenures of college coaches are destroying the cultivation process of the assistants. New coaches and are not going to take players from past tenures, and they will be bringing in their own staffs that they’re able to trust and work with.
The shame of today’s quick turnover rate of not just college football programs but in all major college sports is that the longevity isn’t there to support young black coaches who can build a resume and nurture the ties with boosters and the local media.
The need is for coaches to further their ties within the programs in which they played. Randy Shannon is a great example at Miami. Turner Gill could have been a great example at Nebraska if he hadn’t left for Buffalo in order to gain head coaching experience.
With that said, don’t worry about having to push Turner Gill into an elite position, he will be at a major school within the next 18 months, if not sooner, (Iowa?). Auburn is also probably not the best place for him to shine at this point. He would not only have had incredible pressure as the first black coach at Auburn, but also jumping into arguably the most pressurized position that holds the most ridiculous expectations in college football…Keep in mind that Tommy Tuberville went 13-0 just four years ago and was National Coach of the Year.
The shots to run the top programs are coming in due time. All things take time…The same argument came on board with the NFL a decade ago, and two years ago, we saw Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy coaching against each other in the Super Bowl.
Successful staffs breed great assistants…The question should be how can we retain black or white talent and push them from post-player stage through apprentice stages within a great program. The push-up seems to be coming too much from the outside. 1-2,
My favorite time for shoes is unquestionably the running styles that emerged from ’70s. The color, the simplicity, the funk…It’s all there. Despite the lack of technology, in terms of simplicity, you have to respect the game.
Which is why I’m highly impressed to see SneakerFreaker bring back the beat with an interview with Nike Vintage Running shoe collector, Lindy Darrell, who has a strong love for rubber tongues and Japanese Gorilla glue. Check out the SneakerFreaker interview here.
Unlike most collectors, who put their shoes on ice and wear for fashion, Darrell was a true runner when running was an emerging sport, and his collection delves heavily into that time with flats, spikes, and trainers. What’s cool in the article is that he gives love to Pre’s archrival, Lasse Viren, who undoubtedly was the best runner of the ’70s.
Although I don’t share his opinion that the Waffle Racer IIs weren’t a cool reissue from Nike. I do enjoy his tastes on the Nike ‘76 Verdun. Here’s to hoping a return will come…That’s a summer look just waiting to pop.
Maybe it was the crisp cool of the Halloween week. Yet, I went the mellow route this weekend, and I picked up a smooth classic from one of the prides of Sergio Mendes’ Brasil ‘65, Wanda de Sah, and I was left with nothing but the smooth.
What happened to the cool voices of smooth crooners? Well, they should rest in your mind with a fine tan, blonde hair, and colorful shawls…Damn, that’s a dream, right? I have a feeling that her voice is going to be a staple through the winter months. All you have to do is queue up “Sweet Happy Life” and “With Feeling”, and you’ll agree.
The tough part is that the album is a short one. Yet, there are plenty of jewels to keep those mornings warm.
Old Chicago is passing on day-by-day, but the one thread that kept us loosely tied was Louis ‘Studs’ Turkel.
With his passing today, one only has to look at how Division Street has changed with the Jewel, Kinko’s, Blockbuster, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, but that’s a story that has been hammered down for years.
“It was on “Studs’ Place,” which was set in a tavern, that large numbers of people discovered what Terkel did best–talk and listen. Terkel, arms waving, words exploding in bursts, leaning close to his talking companions, didn’t merely conduct interviews. He engaged in conversations. He was interested in what he was talking about and who he was talking to.”
Few people realize that BugHouse Square was the classroom for ‘Studs.’ The beauty of BugHouse Square is that the park remains one of the few public spaces that you’ll truly find all walks of life residing or should I say resting on the benches in the park.
With all of the tour buses starting to park in front of my window, I’m hoping that all find the essence of ‘Studs’ this evening…Start a conversation.
Well, this blogga is finally back in the mix and settled in the Windy. There will be some content changes and a few new flavor whops for you to dig into for your blog enjoyment. So, put this feed back into the list. Some good posts are coming your way.
Now, I could start back with a flashy post upon the wacky costumes that are starting to appear out my window on Division Street or throw out a wacky product review, but that wouldn’t give you true justice.
I’m still hooked by any lesson of Wooden after reading “Wooden On Leadership.” My true suggestion is to do yourself a favor…Pick up that read. It’s a 5-star primo.
Yeah, I’m that gushy about the return…Good to see you here. We’re back on…Let’s run.
