Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Hello Free Keon Fans,

As I write this, play is already underway at The Masters, and Tiger’s tee time is not far off. But in the meantime, check out Slammin’ Sam’s Links.

Speaking of the world’s most famous golfer, you knew Nike would unveil a Tiger ad sometime soon. The question was when. Here’s the answer that debuted last night. After you watch the ad, read Richard Sandomir’s column.

While the world calls on Tiger for accountability, Stephen A. Smith (as only he can) charges the Eagles brass with responsibility. No longer can fans point the finger at Donovan McNabb.

Nor can blame be leveled Evan Turner for his actions.

Last, a week remains in the NBA regular season. The Mavs are jockeying for playoff position, and Tyreke Evans eyes the Rookie of the Year award.

As always, thanks for spending part of your day at Free Keon!

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media Links

Happy Thursday, Everyone. Thanks for not giving Slammin’ Sam on Sports Media and Free Keon up for Lent. Today’s links are a little more locally focused for a change. In between, there’s plenty of national sports stories to talk about.

We start with the Olympics, of course.

Speed skater Shani Davis’ path toward gold began in Evanston where club founder Saunders “Sam” Hicks helped Davis ply his trade on the way to Davis’ defeat of Stephen Colbert.

From Shani Davis and Lindsey Vonn, the focus now shifts to a figure skating duel tonight.

On to topic No. 2. With pitchers and catchers reporting to warm baseball locales, White Sox mouthpiece A.J. Pierzynski says the South Siders did everything they could to lure Johnny Damon. Now the baseball’s in Damon’s glove.

While one player may be moving to the Windy City, another appears to be on his way out by this afternoon's NBA trade deadline.

Finally, I couldn’t get away, even if that meant a longer blog than usual, without saying RIP with an update on star recruit Rajaan Bennett. How sad.

Sam Miller/Free Keon

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.

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

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.

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.

Early Thoughts on Da Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are currently sitting at 6-9 and looking at the 8 seed if the season were to end today.  In the Free Keon NBA prediction post, I picked the Bulls to end up with the 3 seed in the Eastern Conferance.  This was clearly a leap of faith, as my predictions are mostly based off what I would like to see happen.  Upon further review, the Bulls are much more pedestrian, and appear to be headed for a low playoff seed and another early playoff exit.

Any Bulls analysis starts at the top with their wunderkind point guard, the player that seems destined to bring the Bulls to the promised land with his tremendous athletisim, ability to break down a defense, and his D-Will-esque passing ability.  ... Kirk Hinrich.

That was Quick

A.I.'s time in Memphis lasted a whole 3 games and came to an abrupt, but not surprising end on Monday when the Grizzlies announced that they were parting ways with Iverson in a "mutual agreement". 

This is likely to be another footnote in the missunderstood, sometimes strange, and always entertaining career of one of the leagues greatest and most unique players.

Your 2009-10 Free Keon NBA Preview: Part II

Like most years, there's really only four or five teams that can vie for the title. This year is no different than last year. Lakers and Spurs in the West. Celtics, Cavs and Magic in the East.

Your 2009-10 Free Keon NBA Preview: Part I

Let's start with the Bulls.

Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Lindsey Hunter are your 2009-10 Chicago Bulls captains. Only one will be a regular starter, and only two will see the floor. Hunter might as well wear a suit and tie. He's not coming off the bench. (I'm guessing he's more of a player/coach, without the playing aspect of the title.) To the players that voted these three into office, the word “captain” does not mean “leader.” The leader, of course, is Derrick Rose.

Mike Miller: Hair Through the Years

I have followed the Mike Miller's career since he was tearin' up for Florida with Teddy Dupay and Donnell Harvey back in 2000 for one of my all-time favorite non-Illini teams. By and large, it has been a disappointingly average career for Miller who was drafted #5 by Orlando after his sophomore year at Florida. His lack of success and fade out of the basketball spotlight has been highlighted by many poor hair choices.