Past few days haven't been good to me on my NBA picks.
Here are my picks for Friday night:
Cleveland @ Orlando -4.5
Atlanta -3.5 @ Charlotte
Toronto +2 @ Detroit
Oklahoma City -3 @ Boston
LA Clippers -2.5 @ Brooklyn
New York -4 @ Houston
San Antonio -4.5 @ Indiana
LA Lakers +4.5 @ Memphis
New Orleans +5.5 @ Phoenix
Golden State +6.5 @ Denver
Sacramento @ Utah -9
Minnesota @ Portland -1.5
Friday, November 23, 2012
Free Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea
Players getting suspended in college athletics is becoming an almost weekly thing. Sometimes its a lengthy investigation by the NCAA, other times it is quick. There are times they get the punishment right and sometimes wrong.
Lately it seems like the NCAA just picks out the punishment randomly.
On November 6th Indiana University found themselves in the cross hairs of the NCAA. Tom Crean and the men's basketball team was notified freshman Peter Jurkin and Hanner Mosquera-Perea were suspended for nine games.
According to a USA Today story, this ended a 18 month investigation that started in May of 2011. Mark Adams, Indiana Elite AAU coach helped out both Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea finacially.
Adams runs a foundation that helps foreign student-athletes make the move to America. Jurkin is originally from South Sudan and moved to North Carolina. Mosquera-Perea moved to North Carlina like Jurkins but came from Columbia .
Adams and the A-HOPE Foundation helped out both athletes but everything they did was legal. Adams was their coach and the A-HOPE is a non-profit foundation. For Mosquera-Perea, Adams was in the process of becoming his legal guardian.
For most people, there isn't a violation of any kind. There were two kids that came to America and had some support.
The NCAA however said a violation happened.
The reason being, Adams under NCAA rules is a booster at IU. The NCAA said he gave $185 from 1986-1992. In the same USA Today article mentioned above, the largest donation at one time was $30. IU hasn't received a donation from Adams since 1992.
Here comes the the dumbest part of the whole story. According to an Indy Star story, Adams didn't even donate the money, his wife did. She did this so she could get a bumper sticker, so everyone would know where she went to school
To add to an already laughable story, both players weren't even born when the money was donated.
Indiana was upfront with the NCAA and even payed a fine. The amount they paid was decided on a scale by the NCAA. IU even said Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea would pay a fine, again decided by a NCAA scale.
The Hoosiers have been appealing but the nine game suspension still stands.
At UCLA the Bruins were also facing issues with one of their freshman, Shabbaz Muhammad. Muhammad had travel and housing paid for on three unofficial visits to two different schools.
Days later the suspension was lifted and Muhammad was cleared to play. He paid $1,600 which is believed to be the how much he accepted.
Then a story comes out in the LA Times about a boyfriend of a NCAA investigator was rumored to be overheard talking. The person claims the boyfriend said his girlfriend (investigator) had been talking in August about how Muhammad would never play a game in college.
While Muhammad on the surface didn't accept as much as Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea is makes no since while they are sitting out.
It is clear to even someone who hates the Hoosiers (me) these two kids should be playing. IU has two kids who had some help as they moved to America. They didn't get paid for their services or even have things provided for them.
The NCAA has a bone to pick with IU, Tom Crean, Adams or somebody. I can't come up with a reason why both of these players are still suspended or even should have in the first place.
Muhammad on the other hand should have been give a few games suspension. It was clear he received benefits and that is against the rules. If all he got was $1,600 then suspend for 5-10 games and then clear him.
The NCAA is understaffed as it is, wasting their time on investigations like IU is only going to make things harder. Do yourself a favor NCAA, clear Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea and look into real things.
*Information gathered from Indy Star, LA Times, ESPN, USA Today, iuhoosiers.com and a-hope.org*
Here comes the the dumbest part of the whole story. According to an Indy Star story, Adams didn't even donate the money, his wife did. She did this so she could get a bumper sticker, so everyone would know where she went to school
To add to an already laughable story, both players weren't even born when the money was donated.
Indiana was upfront with the NCAA and even payed a fine. The amount they paid was decided on a scale by the NCAA. IU even said Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea would pay a fine, again decided by a NCAA scale.
The Hoosiers have been appealing but the nine game suspension still stands.
At UCLA the Bruins were also facing issues with one of their freshman, Shabbaz Muhammad. Muhammad had travel and housing paid for on three unofficial visits to two different schools.
Days later the suspension was lifted and Muhammad was cleared to play. He paid $1,600 which is believed to be the how much he accepted.
Then a story comes out in the LA Times about a boyfriend of a NCAA investigator was rumored to be overheard talking. The person claims the boyfriend said his girlfriend (investigator) had been talking in August about how Muhammad would never play a game in college.
While Muhammad on the surface didn't accept as much as Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea is makes no since while they are sitting out.
It is clear to even someone who hates the Hoosiers (me) these two kids should be playing. IU has two kids who had some help as they moved to America. They didn't get paid for their services or even have things provided for them.
The NCAA has a bone to pick with IU, Tom Crean, Adams or somebody. I can't come up with a reason why both of these players are still suspended or even should have in the first place.
Muhammad on the other hand should have been give a few games suspension. It was clear he received benefits and that is against the rules. If all he got was $1,600 then suspend for 5-10 games and then clear him.
The NCAA is understaffed as it is, wasting their time on investigations like IU is only going to make things harder. Do yourself a favor NCAA, clear Jurkin and Mosquera-Perea and look into real things.
*Information gathered from Indy Star, LA Times, ESPN, USA Today, iuhoosiers.com and a-hope.org*
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Locker Room Rivals
There isn't much love between The Ohio State University and the school up with at times it being a Cold War mentality. Both teams have sent a good amount of players to the NFL which means there are times rivals become teammates. The hatred for the person goes away but not the school which always makes for interesting times when the two teams meet.
At times there have even been friendly bets between teammates. The picture is Tom Brady who had to wear Mike Vrabel's jersey after losing a bet.
You can bet there has probably been some trash talk in locker rooms that have players from each school. After Saturday the trash talk will continue, except only the winner will be talking.
Here is a list of NFL teams that have at least one player from OSU and the school up north. I would hate to be Charles Woodson and Jake Long. Both are outnumbered 3-1. At least with Woodson he can talk about when he played. Long on the other hand doesn't have much room to talk.
New York Giants
At times there have even been friendly bets between teammates. The picture is Tom Brady who had to wear Mike Vrabel's jersey after losing a bet.
You can bet there has probably been some trash talk in locker rooms that have players from each school. After Saturday the trash talk will continue, except only the winner will be talking.
Here is a list of NFL teams that have at least one player from OSU and the school up north. I would hate to be Charles Woodson and Jake Long. Both are outnumbered 3-1. At least with Woodson he can talk about when he played. Long on the other hand doesn't have much room to talk.
New York Giants
- Jim Cordle (OSU)
- David Baas (UM)
- Stevie Brown (UM)
- Kurt Coleman (OSU)
- Jason Avant (UM)
- Brandon Graham (UM)
- Beanie Wells (OSU)
- Jay Feely (UM)
- Ted Ginn (OSU)
- Alex Boone (OSU)
- Larry Grant (OSU)
- Donte Whitner (OSU)
- Mario Manningham (UM)
- Jonathan Goodwin (UM)
Detroit Lions
- Brian Robiskie (OSU)
- Rob Sims (OSU)
- Jeff Backus (UM)
- Brandon Saine (OSU)
- AJ Hawk (OSU)
- Ryan Pickett (OSU)
- Charles Woodson (UM)
- Brian Hartline (OSU)
- Austin Spitler (OSU)
- Anderson Russell (OSU)
- Jake Long (UM)
- Jake Ballard (OSU)
- Nate Ebner (OSU)
- Tom Brady (UM)
- Zoltan Mesko (UM)
- Santonio Holmes (OSU)
- Nick Mangold (OSU)
- David Harris (UM)
- Nate Clements (OSU)
- Mike Nugent (OSU)
- Leon Hall (UM)
- Mike Adams (OSU)
- Cameron Heyward (OSU)
- Will Allen (OSU)
- Larry Foote (UM)
- LaMarr Woodley (UM)
- DeVier Posey (OSU)
- Tim Jamison (UM)
- Michael Brewster (OSU)
- Chad Henne (UM)
***I will be posting other non OSU stories but not this week. This is my favorite week of the year. ***
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
NBA Picks 11-21
Past two days I have been under .500 but I have a chance to fix that....or make it worse. There are 14 games on the schedule tonight, that is the most since the season started.
Here are my picks:
New Orleans +8 @ Indiana
Philly -4 @ Cleveland
Toronto +2.5 @ Charlotte
Detroit @ Orlando -1.5
LA Clippers +4 @ Oklahoma City
Milwaukee @ Miami -9.5
San Antonio @ Boston -1
Washington +9.5 @ Atlanta
Denver -3.5 @ Minnesota
Chicago @ Houston -1
New York -2.5 @ Dallas
Portland +2 @ Phoenix
LA Lakers -5.5 @ Sacromento
Brooklyn +1.5 @ Golden State
Here are my picks:
New Orleans +8 @ Indiana
Philly -4 @ Cleveland
Toronto +2.5 @ Charlotte
Detroit @ Orlando -1.5
LA Clippers +4 @ Oklahoma City
Milwaukee @ Miami -9.5
San Antonio @ Boston -1
Washington +9.5 @ Atlanta
Denver -3.5 @ Minnesota
Chicago @ Houston -1
New York -2.5 @ Dallas
Portland +2 @ Phoenix
LA Lakers -5.5 @ Sacromento
Brooklyn +1.5 @ Golden State
Welcome to the century club
Tuesday night ESPN and other media outlets informed the world of a basketball player by the name of Jack Taylor. Taylor a 5-foot-10 sophomore playing for Division III Grinnell scored 138 points in one game as his team beat Faith Baptist Bible 179-104.
I posted this on my FB page and one of my followers asked to compare Taylor's performance to other great one game performances.
I will first start with Taylor's record breaking game because nobody has scored more than 138 points in one game. In the first two games of the season for Grinnell , Taylor scored 19 and 28. Then last night he shoots the ball 108 times. I'm pretty sure the coach stole his game plan from an episode of Hey Arnold .
In fact both teams employed this game plan. In the game last night David Larson of Faith Baptist scored 70 points. Any other night he is the star and getting all the love. Not last night.
Scoring lots of points for Grinnell isn't something new however. According to a New York Daily News article, they have led the nation in scoring 17 of the last 19 years and 3-point shooting 15 of the last 19.
Other memorable 100 point games:
So what are some of the other great performances in the history of basketball? I will first start with what is the best in my opinion, Wilt Chamberlin.
On March 2, 1962 Chamberlin set the NBA single game record, scoring 100 points against the New York Knicks.
Not only was the 100 points a recrod but he also set records for field goals, free throws, points in the first quarter (31) and at halftime (59). The most amazing part was the free throwing shooting of Chamberlin. According to NBA.com, Chamberlin was .511 from the line in his career.
Chamberlin also gets credit for playing against professional players. Scoring 100 or more is hard no matter where but I give him more credit.
The next player on the list is Clarance Franklin Francis but most called him Bevo Francis. In 1953 he set the scoring record scoring 116 for Rio Grande College (Ohio). In Francis' record setting game, Rio Grande won 150-85 over Ashland College (Kentucky).
In the game Francis made 47 field goals and 22 free throws.
It was initially honored by the NCAA as the new record. Then coaches complained the level of competition they were playing. The NCAA then decided to not count it as a record since Ashland was a Junior College. Rio Grande may have been playing a Junior College but Francis did it again a year later. For a player to score more than a 100 points in a game more than once. Give the man some respect.
The following season he scored 113 against Hillsdale, another Junior College but this time the record was allowed.
There was also one more player who scored 100 that didn't count according to the NCAA. Paul Arizin scored 100 for Villanova but like Francis it was against a Junior College.
There is one player that has scored 100 points at the Division I level.
Frank Selvy scored 100 points for Furhman University against Newberry College. Selvy unlike most of the players mentioned could have gone to a bigger school than Furhman. Selvy grew up in Kentucky and all he wanted to do is play for the Wildcats. There was only one problem, he didn't have an offer from them.
He had an offer from Furhman and he took it. Then he played in All-Star game and Adolph Rupp came calling but it was too late.
Scoring for Selvy his entire college career wasn't anything out of the ordinary. His senior year he averaged 41.7 points per game, a record until a man by the name of Pistol Pete came along. It was also in his senior year that he reached the century mark.
The game against Newberry was memorable for a couple reasons for Selvy.
In the same SI article mentioned earlier Selvy said, "This was the first college game my mother saw me play."
In front of his mom for the first time, all Selvy did was score 100 points. At the end of the first quarter he scored 24 points and was on a good pace. In the second quarter the pace slowed down, only scoring 13 and going to halftime with 37.
Following the Hey Arnold method of passing it to one player, by the end of the third he had 63 points. Selvy continued to catch fire in the fourth but with seconds remaining he was two points shy. He threw up a 40-foot shot, if it goes in 100 points. If it doesn't he ends up with 98, remember no 3-point line at this time.
Since I said he scored 100, you know what happened. Selvy made it and ended the game 41-of-66.
Hitting the century mark has even been done by high school basketball players. The most recent was in 2006 by a female named Epiphanny Prince of Murry Bergtraum High School. Prince ended the game with 113 points, breaking the previous record. That record was 105 points and held by Cheryl Miller.
Prince and any future female is lucky because this record could very easily be untouchable.
Lisa Leslie scored 101 points in the first half. The opponent didn't come out of the locker room after halftime.
The all-time high school record for scoring in one game 135. In 1960 Danny Heater scored 135 as his team won 173-43.
The list of players at every level who have hit the century mark goes on and on. These are just a few but there are many many more.
The question with all this is, should teams really play like this? In most of the games, one team is killing the other.
What is your opinion on should teams keep letting one player score in blowouts?
*information gathered from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Grinnell, New York Times, Yahoo, NBA, YouTube and any other links posted.
I posted this on my FB page and one of my followers asked to compare Taylor's performance to other great one game performances.
I will first start with Taylor's record breaking game because nobody has scored more than 138 points in one game. In the first two games of the season for Grinnell , Taylor scored 19 and 28. Then last night he shoots the ball 108 times. I'm pretty sure the coach stole his game plan from an episode of Hey Arnold .
- Jack Taylor's box score
- Field Goals 52-108
- 3-pointers 27-71
- Free Throws 7-10
In fact both teams employed this game plan. In the game last night David Larson of Faith Baptist scored 70 points. Any other night he is the star and getting all the love. Not last night.
Scoring lots of points for Grinnell isn't something new however. According to a New York Daily News article, they have led the nation in scoring 17 of the last 19 years and 3-point shooting 15 of the last 19.
Other memorable 100 point games:
- Wilt Chamberlin (100)
- Bevo Francis (116,113)
- Paul Arizin (100)
- Frank Selvy (100)
- Epiphanny Prince (113)
- Cheryl Miller (105)
- Lisa Leslie (101)
- Danny Heater (135)
So what are some of the other great performances in the history of basketball? I will first start with what is the best in my opinion, Wilt Chamberlin.
On March 2, 1962 Chamberlin set the NBA single game record, scoring 100 points against the New York Knicks.
- Chamberlin's box score:
- Field goals 36-63
- Free throws 28-32
Not only was the 100 points a recrod but he also set records for field goals, free throws, points in the first quarter (31) and at halftime (59). The most amazing part was the free throwing shooting of Chamberlin. According to NBA.com, Chamberlin was .511 from the line in his career.
Chamberlin also gets credit for playing against professional players. Scoring 100 or more is hard no matter where but I give him more credit.
The next player on the list is Clarance Franklin Francis but most called him Bevo Francis. In 1953 he set the scoring record scoring 116 for Rio Grande College (Ohio). In Francis' record setting game, Rio Grande won 150-85 over Ashland College (Kentucky).
In the game Francis made 47 field goals and 22 free throws.
It was initially honored by the NCAA as the new record. Then coaches complained the level of competition they were playing. The NCAA then decided to not count it as a record since Ashland was a Junior College. Rio Grande may have been playing a Junior College but Francis did it again a year later. For a player to score more than a 100 points in a game more than once. Give the man some respect.
The following season he scored 113 against Hillsdale, another Junior College but this time the record was allowed.
There was also one more player who scored 100 that didn't count according to the NCAA. Paul Arizin scored 100 for Villanova but like Francis it was against a Junior College.
There is one player that has scored 100 points at the Division I level.
Frank Selvy scored 100 points for Furhman University against Newberry College. Selvy unlike most of the players mentioned could have gone to a bigger school than Furhman. Selvy grew up in Kentucky and all he wanted to do is play for the Wildcats. There was only one problem, he didn't have an offer from them.
He had an offer from Furhman and he took it. Then he played in All-Star game and Adolph Rupp came calling but it was too late.
Scoring for Selvy his entire college career wasn't anything out of the ordinary. His senior year he averaged 41.7 points per game, a record until a man by the name of Pistol Pete came along. It was also in his senior year that he reached the century mark.
The game against Newberry was memorable for a couple reasons for Selvy.
In the same SI article mentioned earlier Selvy said, "This was the first college game my mother saw me play."
In front of his mom for the first time, all Selvy did was score 100 points. At the end of the first quarter he scored 24 points and was on a good pace. In the second quarter the pace slowed down, only scoring 13 and going to halftime with 37.
Following the Hey Arnold method of passing it to one player, by the end of the third he had 63 points. Selvy continued to catch fire in the fourth but with seconds remaining he was two points shy. He threw up a 40-foot shot, if it goes in 100 points. If it doesn't he ends up with 98, remember no 3-point line at this time.
Since I said he scored 100, you know what happened. Selvy made it and ended the game 41-of-66.
Hitting the century mark has even been done by high school basketball players. The most recent was in 2006 by a female named Epiphanny Prince of Murry Bergtraum High School. Prince ended the game with 113 points, breaking the previous record. That record was 105 points and held by Cheryl Miller.
Prince and any future female is lucky because this record could very easily be untouchable.
Lisa Leslie scored 101 points in the first half. The opponent didn't come out of the locker room after halftime.
The all-time high school record for scoring in one game 135. In 1960 Danny Heater scored 135 as his team won 173-43.
The list of players at every level who have hit the century mark goes on and on. These are just a few but there are many many more.
The question with all this is, should teams really play like this? In most of the games, one team is killing the other.
What is your opinion on should teams keep letting one player score in blowouts?
*information gathered from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Grinnell, New York Times, Yahoo, NBA, YouTube and any other links posted.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Video game numbers
Jack Taylor of Division III Grinnell scored 138 points Tuesday night as Grinnell beat Faith Baptist Bible 179-104. I don't care if your opponents name sounds more like a bible study group.
138 points is something people can't put up playing video games.
ESPN needs to just hand him #1 on their Top-10 tomorrow.
138 points is something people can't put up playing video games.
ESPN needs to just hand him #1 on their Top-10 tomorrow.
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