Crosstown Clash

Reyvonte Rice capped Centennial's 57-54 victory off with two free throws and almost no time left on the clock. However, when it mattered most Rice was nowhere to be found Friday night. 

Where was he during the fever pitch final minutes of the game? It gives me great pleasure to say that he was being hounded by mini-Bubba Nate Chisholm. Not only did Rice fail to get to the basket down the stretch, he was rendered relatively harmless (18 points) throughout the whole game. Surprisingly, Lavin had no response to the box-and-one put on Rice, even though it was possibly the smallest, whitest player in the area matched up on him. 

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Things are getting dicey here at Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media today!

First, forget being weary. Teams ranked No. 1 in college basketball are not looking so hot atop the hoops’ landscape. Villanova, watch out. Opportunity is at the door, thanks to your fine play. If the Wildcats sit in the prime position next, they better be wary.

Meanwhile, Lexington’s paper on the scene examines the regrouping process for the other Cats and the nation’s prior No. 1 team.

Now that the golf scene starring Tiger Woods is on hold, Phil Mickelson is the sport’s brightest star. What will Lefty do under the beams?

Speaking of golf, blogging hub Technorati bestowed a Top 100 golf badge on Free Keon. Many thanks to FK’s Steve in particular for his faithful posts on this beat. By the way, if you want to see more golf coverage or anything else on the site, let us know.

I digress. Carrying on with golf, LA Times columnist Bill Dwyre wrote a links piece on whom else, but John Wooden? Reading about the “Wizard of Westwood” never gets old.

Finally, our Olympics link update puts IOC President Jacques Rogge on the spot. Wouldn’t want to be in his spot, either.

Thanks for spending part of your Thursday at Free Keon!

Sam Miller/Free Keon

With the NBA Trade Deadline Looming it’s a Buyer’s Market

For what seems like at least 20 years, every basketball analyst has pointed to the 2010 NBA offseason as the pinnacle of free-agent market history with the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and a slew of “second tier” marquee players all being available for acquisition. This, of course, has meant that every mildly struggling team (that means EVERY team in NBA lingo) has strongly considered, and taken multiple steps towards, clearing out any “dead weight” on their roster in order to make room for the eventual franchise savior that will surely fall their way.

Herschel Walker

I was inspired today. As I was running on the treadmill this afternoon dreading the shoveling and plowing I will be asked to do later tonight, I saw Herschel Walker for Five Good Minutes on PTI. Obviously, this was a name I was familiar with. I could have told you he was a Pro Bowl caliber running back for the Cowboys in the '80's and '90's, but not much beyond that. However, my curiosity about this character peaked after his impressive showing with Sammy's boys on ESPN.

Back to School with Bill Russell and K.C. Jones

It’s amazing what you can find at the library. You know, that place that most college students would only darken the night before an exam? Well, I did some exploring and came up with a real humdinger – “The Dandy Dons” by James W. Johnson.

Scarface: The Soccer Version

Charlie Davies is healing well ahead of schedule after his car accident last October, and might be ready for the upcoming World Cup in June, according to an ESPN article.

This is an enormous deal to the present and future of US soccer, and I have some reasons that you should care.

This Week in Golf

PGA Tour – The Farmers Insurance Open rolls into San Diego this week to play the breathtaking Torrey Pines Golf Course. Phil Mickelson will make his 2K10 debut at his hometown event, and he will serve as my pick to win.

Bizzaro Rush Hour

Here is some rare financial advice, go buy some Starbury stock.   There are some shoes 'bout to be sold.  The man himself is headed to China. 

A Bright Spot

The Illini dropped another game on Tuesday against Purdue to drop to 12-7 on the season.  The good news is that at least we beat Penn State this year.  And Demitri's new tattoos have turned out really nice.  That is all. 

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Hey Everybody, it’s that time again. Tonight is the latest chapter in the Kobe-LeBron rivalry, and The Plain Dealer has an early look for comparison sake.

Batting second in today’s order, a more localized update on Gordon Beckham’s adjustment to playing second base for the White Sox.

Continuing with a couple of ongoing subjects, here is an Olympic story on skater Sasha Cohen.

Rounding out the lineup card is a pair of sports stories on those affected by Haiti.

Thanks for making the Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media Links Edition part of your day!

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Update on Calhoun

Little did I know when I decided yesterday to write on Calhoun's motivational book that he would be near the center of sports news tonight. Turns out Calhoun is taking a medical leave of absence. Here's hoping the coach overcomes whatever is ailing him soon and that we will see the UCONN leader warring on the sidelines again soon.

Sam Miller/Free Keon

This Week in Golf

European Tour – The best field in golf this week is in the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Geoff Ogilvy, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas, and more top notch golfers will play the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Calhoun Has Passion to Lead: Who's with Him?

The University of Connecticut men’s basketball team is struggling. After the Huskies opened the season with a No. 12 ranking, Coach Jim Calhoun’s squad twice rose as high as No. 10 in the country. Jan. 2 marked the last contest that the team ascended that high. Less than three weeks later now seems like three months ago.

The perennial power has lost three straight contests and must be thankful for a home date Wednesday against St. John’s. What does all this have to do with sports books, sports media and so on? Well, I came across Calhoun’s book, “A Passion to Lead,” and I said to myself, “I wonder how well his team and how the audience in general is following his ‘Seven Leadership Secrets for Success in Business, Sports and Life’?”

Slammin' Sam Links Edition

“Should I stay or should I go now?” Lane Kiffin made his decision. The Internet blogosphere is not so sure it wants to let go of this topic.

On the day Kiffin was officially introduced (not that an introduction was necessary), the LA Times’ T.J. Simers buckled up and is ready for wherever the Kiffin mobile takes him.

Those left in the lurch in Tennessee are looking ahead, not blaming their former coach.

One obvious bright spot not too far from Rocky Top is Titans honoree Chris Johnson. Though take this as a warning: Johnson’s Offensive Player of the Year honors may be the iceberg, not the tip of the frozen body. Gary Estwick from The Tennessean has that story.

Fourth, Olympic stories are starting to come in, less than a month before Vancouver takes center stage. Here’s one on figure skaters who are both roommates and rivals.

Last, a sporting angle on the Haitian tragedy.

Sam Miller/Free Keon

This Week in Golf

PGA Tour – The best golfers in the world stay in the state of Hawaii this week for the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

Round 2: NBA Hoops from a Different Angle

Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA. Could you pack any more explosive words into that title? I think not. Keep the matches out of reach too.

Hollywood Gone Gridiron

With the kickoff of the NFL Playoffs and Bears fans on the outside looking, I figured I would give all you football fans something to read about. When I was in high school, a buddy of mine and I created a team on that year's Madden game made up of fitting movie characters. The only rule was that the characters couldn't be football players in sports movies. Today I unveil that team to you (or as close to memory as I can get it). Feel free to post your own amendments to the lineup. 

He's His Mother's Son

Jumpman Jr. got his first collegiate start on Tuesday against Iowa.  The result for Jeff was his typical 4 boards, 5 assists, a steal and 0 points in 23 minutes of play.  Before I go any further I have two crackpot theories for why Bruce Weber chose to start Jeff.

1).  Jeff and his lack of offensive skill and hustle reminds Bruce of his adopted son Chester Frazier, and Bruce desperately misses Chester and is seeking to fill the emotional void by giving Jeff more minutes.

2).  There is a kid named Roger who told Bruce that Jeff "had an angel with him"

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Congratulates Andre Dawson!

Good afternoon, all! As I sit here compiling the Thursday Edition of Slammin’ Sam, snowflakes continue to frolic hither and thither with no destination in particular. And just like snowflakes, each athlete comes to play with different characteristics, hoping that he or she can add to the beautiful sporting landscape.

Looking at NBA Hoops in a Different Light

It’s the first Tuesday of 2010 and that means a new year of Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media and Free Keon. Thanks for stopping by during the first full week of the new decade! The next couple Tuesdays, Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media brings you a pair of non-traditional hoops books.

This Week in Golf

PGA Tour - The 2K10 season, as the Golf Channel insists we call it, begins this week with the annual winner's only event in Hawaii. Only players with victories in 2009 are invited to play Kapalua's Plantation Course for the SBS Championship. Two notable 2009 champions, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, are not in the field, though. They rarely play the opening event anymore. Kapalua is a course that you must go low at to win, and I believe Steve Stricker is the man to beat. His great short game will be favored here on the long par-5's and short par-4's. The former Illini also looked great during his unofficial win a few weeks ago with Jerry Kelly at the Shark Shootout. My sleeper pick in Hawaii will be Nick Watney. I am still impressed by his victory last year at Torrey Pines. He did not have a very strong showing in China during the World Cup in December, but this event can serve as a positive, fresh start. The Golf Channel will broadcast all four rounds from this beautiful tropical destination.