Friday Links: Will A.J. Green Be The No. 1 Pick?

Friday is here and that means the 'Lady' will take a break from writing about sports, but not before I drop a few interesting links to buffer your morning web wandering.

Could A.J. Green go No. 1?

According to Adam Schefter, a noted NFL Insider, A.J. Green is considered by many to be the "top-rated player in the draft". Does that mean he could go No.1 overall—defying the opinion of some pundits who felt that Julio Jones' great combine, coupled with Green's bizarre pro day, made the former Dawg slip down many a draft board. We shall see what happens with this one, but it sounds to me like Green is still in a very good position.

Domonique Wilkins in brawl.

Apparently someone didn't give this man the memo. Didn't he know that Wilkins is known as the "human highlight reel"? Surely, he didn't think he was going to get a punch in on this former Bulldog great—tsk, tsk. According to this publication, Wilkins was attacked by a former NBA ref seeking to collect a debt of $13,000 from 'Nique.

Jakar Hamilton and Shawn Williams: dueling safeties.

Neither Jakar Hamilton, nor Shawn Williams, were better than true freshman Alec Ogletree last season. Now, on 2011, with Ogletree moving to linebacker, these same two players are hoping to do what they couldn't do last year—win the starting safety job and play it well. I hope that they both are committed to getting the job done, Georgia's options here are relatively slim.


Could the Bulldogs run the table in 2011?

This mailbag question by a college football fan prompted this response from a Rivals writer, "...
even if Georgia did go unbeaten in the regular season, it still would have to play in the SEC championship game, where Alabama or LSU likely would be looming. Your optimism is respected, but I cannot share it." Read the whole response here.

What's next for Auburn after the HBO report?

"The NCAA would need more than just allegations made by these players to bring a case against Auburn. But it’s enough for it to start asking questions." I don't know if the NCAA will ask questions that actually lead them anywhere, but perhaps they'll do their due diligence—you recall how they handled the Cam Newton situation, right? They'll just ask. 'did you cheat'? to which Auburn will reply, 'no'. Okay, carry on then.

Not everyone is convinced Cam Newton will be successful at the next level.

"Newton has only been exposed to basic coverages in the SEC due to the nature of the Tigers' offense, leaving scouts and coaches diligently working to determine his football acumen in workouts and meetings." So, what you're saying is, Newton looks good in person, not on paper? Well...who didn't know that?!?

Oh, I get it now, it's okay for Auburn to pay players—if they did. 

Funny, I don't think this guy would have this opinion if Alabama were the school on the proverbial hot seat for running an elaborate pay-for-play scheme, "...It's time to say, yes, Auburn paid players. And that did everyone else does too." So, as long as everybody else is doing it, Auburn shouldn't be penalized. Well, I'll buy that convenient logic for $1.


Steve Spurrier is unimpressed with his quarterbacks—as usual.

This is hilarious. I love the part where Spurrier says the mediocre play of his quarterbacks is likely why they'll be "running the ball about 50 times a game with Marcus". You hear that, SEC? Focus on the run!

(h/t GamecockAnthemTube)




HBO Roundtable With Rich Rodriguez, Jason Whitlock, etc. 

NBA Rewind, November 7, 1991: The Day The Magic Died in Los Angeles

On November 7, 1991, Erving "Magic" Johnson announced to the world that he was retiring from professional basketball due to HIV.



For many, the news that Johnson was carrying the virus seemed like the end of not only an era, but of a man whom so many came to love for his charismatic attitude, infectious smile, and stellar moves on the basketball court.

It was a sad day for many of his fans because many believed that Johnson would die soon after his admission, after all, that was what happened to people with HIV/AIDS back then—they died.

On the flip side, the fact that Johnson did come forward was also a subtle sign of the progress and education that was yet to come. His admission that he caught the virus by being promiscuous with the opposite sex changed the thought processes of the many who believed that "straight" people were immune to HIV.

However, it wouldn't be long before the world knew that Johnson had no intention of disappearing into a corner to live out what little life he was perceived to have left. He planned to live as freely and normally as the everyday person and, unbeknown to many at the time, he would play the game he loved again.

On October 2, 1992, he signed a one-year contract extension with the L.A. Lakers for a record $14.6 million for the 1994-95 basketball season—the sum was payable in full whether he played or not.

The gesture was one that seemed a bit much at the time but, Jerry Buss, the Lakers owner, was more than willing to pay it to Johnson for "all that he'd done" for the franchise. 

Johnson would later make a brief return to his former team, but quickly retired again once it became clear that the NBA players weren't as ready for him as he had hoped.

Although he remained strong, the impact of his disease proved the bigger setback as stars like Karl Malone openly expressed their concerns about his being on the court with them. They felt the risk was just too great.

Magic accepted his fate and decided his interests were best served off the court, away from the game, using the platform his name and face afforded him to spread the word about what HIV really means for those who are carriers.

He became the virus' biggest picture of success and gave many who were already silently living with it a reason to believe they too would be okay.

Nearly 20-years later, Magic Johnson is still fighting the fight, and living the life that he always thought he could—against all odds.

Magic Johnson—Today

LeBron James' New NIKE Commercial Shows He STILL Doesn't Get It (VIDEO)

Have you seen LeBron James' new Nike commercial? You know, the one that is really not about shoes? It's pretty darn cool—must admit—but in it one thing becomes very clear: he still doesn't get it.

Take a look at the commercial below:



The refrain: "what should I do?" resonates well because it's clear that LeBron is asking everyone that very question—Cleveland fans in general. After all, if not for the public backlash he's suffered from his home state, thanks in large part to his decision to do the....well..."decision", he might not need to do any soul-searching at all.

That said, much like "The Decision", LeBron shouldn't have bothered making this commercial because, on its face, it makes him look like a scared kid who really still isn't all that sure he really did the right thing.

The fact of the matter is, he doesn't need to be asking anyone what he should do. He's already done what he did. It's over. The fans of Cleveland won't ever forgive him, the NBA will continue to pimp him and the Heat for their own benefit, Nike will keep paying him ridiculous amounts of money to shill shoes, and he will garner a new set of fans in Miami.

No one will care—take Don Johnson's advice on that one, LeBron: the heat will die down.

What should you do?...Play basketball, Lebron. That's all anyone should expect you to do.

Charles Barkley Calling Out LeBron James????—Pot...Meet Kettle

Charles Barkley didn't much care for LeBron James "Decision" to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami to form, what some people feel, could be the most talented trio in the NBA next season. Barkley also didn't like James' one-hour ESPN special to announce his decision to the world (join the club). Barkley feels the special was a "punk" move on James' part and doesn't agree with his choice to leave Cleveland in favor of Miami.

Everyone knows that LeBron is probably on a lot of hate lists right now. No one likes what he did or how he did it—he's being criticized from all angles by people who are well-respected in the NBA community. James has already voiced his displeasure of the vitriol, and has made it a point to let people know that he's taking "mental notes" of everybody who has had something negative to say.

Well, while I found that last point (posted via Twitter) to be immature and unnecessary, I can definitely understand the place it's coming from. I mean, seriously,  aside from the ridiculously over-the-top television special, what has LeBron done wrong?

He left Cleveland...okay, sucks to be a Cleveland fan, but he had the right to leave Cleveland. Should he have said he was doing so sooner than he did? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that he had the right to leave. He wasn't obligated to remain there just so he could say he stuck it out.

It would have been nice for him to say that he helped lead his team to a title, but was he supposed to just stay there so he could, maybe, say that—someday? I don't care what Charles Barkley or Michael Jordan have to say about their wanting the glory of saying "I won this", the end game is a championship—every player wants a ring.

An NBA legend can have all that stats and accolades he wants but, in the end, they all want a ring. Their career is empty without it—just ask Allen Iverson...hell, ask Charles Barkley.

That's why Gary Payton and Karl Malone signed with the Lakers in 2003.

Payton could have remained in Seattle to give it one more try but he didn't. He wanted a ring. Karl Malone was still putting up nice numbers in Utah in 2002, and might have continued to languish there in pursuit of his first title, but he accepted the Lakers overtures and decided to go where his chances of a championship were most favorable.

I don't recall anyone skewering either of them for leaving their respective teams.
Was that because LeBron didn't put in enough time in Cleveland? I mean, he was there for seven seasons, was he supposed to stay for seven more before he bolted—wait until he's near the end of his career before he goes to a hot team to chase a ring?

Please. 

Charles, of all people, should understand the mentality of a man looking for a good situation. As I recall, he made a big stink in Philadelphia once he realized they weren't headed in a championship direction—he wanted out. He wanted to go somewhere that he could be a perennial playoff staple and contend for a title.

Remember that, Charles? You actually likened Philly to...what was the word..."purgatory"? Yeah, that was it—purgatory.

Why didn't you stay in purgatory, Charles? Why didn't you stick it out there and lead your franchise to a title? Hmmmm?  Not only that, what do you call that forced trade to Houston in 1996? Didn't you go there for your one last shot at a title? Didn't you join Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler's team—relinquishing your mantle as "the man"?

Did that make you a "punk"?...just a question.

Listen, I do not condone the actions of LeBron James. I think he did a silly thing turning a simple matter of changing locations into a major press extravaganza. He alienated a lot of people by doing the special and he showed a total lack of respect to his fans and the Cleveland Cavaliers organization.

That said, he still had the right to leave. His reasons may not satisfy his NBA peers or the lot of us who think that his move was classless, but it was still his decision to make. So, Charles Barkley needs to sit down, shut-up, and look at himself before he starts calling LeBron to the carpet because, on the real, he sounds a bit like a hypocrite.

Pot...meet Kettle—indeed.

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• Charles Barkley: LeBron James A 'Punk' (huffingtonpost.com)

Dwyane Wade's (Heat)ed Comments Spark Major Controversy

Late Sunday evening, Fanhouse Senior NBA Writer, Tim Potvak, published a story on the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade.  In the story, which can be found here, Wade discusses the massive expectations being placed on his team now that both Chris Bosh and LeBron James have joined him in South Beach.

The story itself was nothing extraordinary except for this quote, which appeared near the end of the article, If we lose a couple in a row this season, it will be like the World Trade Center is coming down again."

Stop. Rewind. What?

Did he seriously just compare losing basketball games to the tragedy of 9/11? Tell me he didn't just do that because if he did, he just became one of the biggest douchebags of the year—hell, the decade!

Well, alas, Fanhouse came clean and alerted the disturbed public—which included this author—that the goof was not Wade's but their own and attributed the misquote of Wade to a "transcription error" by their editorial staff.

Phew, tragedy averted, right?...well, not exactly. The clarified quote is a touch less inflammatory but still leaves a somewhat bitter taste in your mouth:

"...there's going to be times when we lose 2-3 games in a row, and it seems like the world has crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade is coming down again, but it's not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games."

Uh-huh.

See, here's the problem, I get what Wade was trying to say but it's still utterly insensitive to reference 9/11 when discussing something as unimportant as a "couple basketball games." 9/11 was one of the greatest tragedies to have ever taken place on American soil and there are plenty who live with the reality of those losses on a daily basis.

It's not a trivial reference to make and when it is made, there should be a lot more respect and sensitvity given to its importance.

I think the spectacle and the glamour of being a part of one of the most anticipated lineups of the 2010 NBA season has made Mr. Wade forget that he is just a basketball player, and the Miami Heat are just a basketball team.

They are no more important than the L.A. Lakers or the Boston Celtics—just prettier on paper.

It's impossible to know how much of a hit Wade's public persona will take as a result of this misguided statement but, one thing is certain, that match-up with the New York Knicks certainly got a little more interesting.