Finally Stephon is Gone

The title of this post could not have anymore appropriate for the way I feel about the artist formely known as Starbury. I was a huge fan of this guy even when he started his college career at Georgia Tech. So I'm sure you can imagine how great I felt when he came to my beloved New York Knicks. He became part of a star studded backcourt when he was paired with Steve "Franchise" Francis. Needless to say that didn't pan out. Then again neither did Marbury's relationship with Mark D'Antoni when he landed the head job in New York.

Personally I thought Stephon would have flourished under D'Antoni's run-n-gun system. But for whatever reason the coach felt otherwise and gave most of the point guard minutes to Nate Robinson. Don't get me wrong, Nate is my guy and is a great fit under his coaching style, but utilizing Marbury would have given the team more depth.

My respect for Stephon went out the door when he was reportedly given the call from D'Antoni to enter a game and refused to get his muti-million dollar butt off the bench. That type of behavior is simply unacceptable. It doesn't matter whether you're a professional athlete or a high school player. You don't let down your teammates or your coach under any circumstance. Marbury's actions that day led to further frustrations and escalated the animosity that already existed between him and his teammates. He suddenly became the thorn in the side of the Knicks. And for that reason, I was ready to get Stephon out of The Big Apple at all costs. I got my wish as he finally had his contract bought out and signed with the Celtics. Thank the lord!

This transaction actually worked out well for both clubs. Marbury is now reunited with his former Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Kevin Garnett. Those two were phenomenal together in Minnesota and should produce just the same in Boston even if Stephon comes off the bench. Not to mention Marbury is also joining the defending champions of the NBA that stars Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Marbury is also eligible for the playoffs this year despite not playing this entire regular season. And with the Knicks trailing the lead by more than 20 games in the standings, and no one in the Celtics' rear view mirror, they are a shoe-in for a possible showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers when it comes down to the Eastern Conference Finals.

As for the Knicks, freeing up the money on the team's salary capby getting rid of Marbury, the table is set to lure LeBron James away from Cleveland and acquire him in 2010. Seeing as how he's my favorite player in the league, I can't wait for this to happen. "King" James would be the best addition to the organization since Patrick Ewing and would without a shadow of a doubt make my Knicks the KING of the NBA....

Congrats on Your 800th Jim Calhoun

I can promise you this post will be short winded. I'm a die hard Louisville Cardinals fandishing out props here to rival Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. So let me express my bitterness before due respect is given. UConn may be the better basketball program this year and Huskie fans could even argue the better program for the last ten years. But I can assure you that the University of Louisville has more historic prestige in college hoops to this day. At the end of the day, sports teams, college or professional, will be judged on the number of championships they've captured, not the acheivements accumulated in a 10 year time span. For the sake of Cardinal nation I hope Calhoun"s squad crashes and burnes in the final games of the regular season. I want a #1 seed damnit! Sorry, had to get that off of my chest. Thanks for staying with the post. Please read on.



Congrats Jim. You've now joined some of the elite coaches of the past, and in some cases present, by becoming the seventh coach in Division I college basketball to reach 800 wins. Some notable names on this short list include the likes of Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith and Bob Knight. And so now, Jim, welcome to the company of coaching geniuses. You'll be pressed by fans, alumni and faculty alike to perform at the highest level of coaching. You've raised the bar for yourself and your program. If that bar wasn't set before your celebratory win last night over Marquette, it will certainly be seeen bright and shining right in front of your very eyes.



Oh, Jim. By the way. GO CARDS!!!

Forget the Combine, Crabtree will be a Star

Although former Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree has declined to be a part of the NFL combine before this year's draft, mark it down, he will be a Sunday-star at the next level. As a matter of fact, I think by not participating it's one of the better moves a college athlete can make. I mean think about it. Have you ever seen the coverage of that multi-day event?! The drills those guys are told to simulate are absolutely ridiculous. Are the players showcasing talent? Or are they doing what is asked of them just to show they belong in the NFL and are attempting to increase their draft status?

This Indianapolis-based event might be the make-or-break chance of a lifetime for incoming rookies, but Mr. Crabtree does not need to impress any team or any scout. I'm a fan and don't be surprised to see him on my fantasy roster by the end of the summer. Sure the combine can be fun to watch and to day dream what it would be like to have that amazing athlete who runs the 40 yard dash with blazing speed and could potentially be lining up in your favorite team's backfield. But the combine, in my opinion, is a hyped up creation by the NFL to highlight the could-be stars of next season or seasons to come. This event is geared towards players who know they are going to be late 1st round picks all the way down to guys who are just trying to make a spot on any team's roster, waterboy included. I agree its fun to watch the drama unfold between two or three quarterbacks who are definite top ten overall picks battle head-to-head and see who can out-sling the other. But let's be clear about one thing, do you recall seeing Tom Brady at the combine after playing at Michigan? Didn't think so. His super bowl rings tell me he could have rookies at the combine bowing down at his feet if he wanted to. Now I'm not a Brady fan by a long-shot so don't get the wrong idea. Just stating fact here.

Crabtree is heads above the rest when it comes to wide receivers in the draft this year and rightfully so after he showed in college what it takes to be successful on the grid iron. After all, #5 in the red and black Under-Armor attire posted NCAA record setting totals as a freshman in Lubbock, Texas. How many NFL greats that you know of have those kind of accolades on their resume'?! He is a definite #1 overall pick at the wide receiver position this year and does not need to prove himself. Just ask any of the former Big 12 Conference defensive backs who had the luxury of covering Crabtree and they'll tell you: I'm right on the money.

In closing, let me make a bold prediction that he will be one of the best receivers the game has ever seen. Someone in Canton, Ohio should be molding his face as I'm writing this blog for the sculpture that will be on display at the Hall of Fame. This is a guy who has the size, speed and route running of Jerry Rice. Their catching abilities mirror each other as well. So a word of advice to NFL teams' War Rooms on draft day: don't pass on Michael Crabtree if you desperately need a wide receiver come April. I don't care if he's skipping the combine due to a doctor's diagnosis of a stress fracture. If anyone thinks he is a risk, just take into consideration one of the most talented yet risk-based wide receivers still in the league today who just happened to be selected as the 22nd overall pick some 10 years ago...Randy Moss. Need I say more?