Hello all. This is my first ever blog post so I hope it turns out well. On to sports:
Off the Wall
With his performance against a quality UCONN team last week, John Wall solidified himself not only as the nation’s best freshman, but arguably the most dynamic player in the country. Wall took over a hotly contested game at MSG and scored 12 of his team’s final 15 points. Wall iced the game on a driving layup which encompassed all of the things that make him so special: speed and an uncanny ability to finish around the rim. He could be for Kentucky what Carmelo Anthony was for Syracuse. Any non-Kentucky fan will be glad to see him move on to the NBA after this season.
Ingram takes the Heisman
After watching him gauge through the “vaunted” Florida defense in the SEC Championship Game, I feel this award was well deserved. All the respect in the world to Toby Gerhart, who had an unbelievable season in his own right, Ingram did it in the SEC and set the Alabama record for rushing yards in a season. He also seems like a model citizen, and I am rooting for him to do well both next year at ‘bama and in the NFL.
Pursuit of Perfection
Mercury Morris may want to start buying some housewarming gifts because the Colts and Saints are officially “in his neighborhood.” I can’t wait to see him on sportscenter in the upcoming weeks as he tries to maintain his dignity. It is always a pleasure to watch. Anyway, the Colts managed to beat a good Broncos team despite losing the turnover battle and allowing Brandon Marshall to snag and NFL record 21 balls to go along with 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. It is almost unfathomable to believe that the Broncos lost under those circumstances. Based on that and all of the Saints good fortune, I would be shocked to see any other team at the super bowl. (It’s ok Sean Suisham. The rest of the league will eventually forgive you for missing that 23 yard field goal and maitaining the Saints run. Seriously though, how much did they pay you to miss it? Was it worth being cut over? I have friends who would have made that kick.)
Out of the Woods?
So, news leaked today that Elin Nordegren is leaving Tiger and heading back to Sweden. Good for her. It shows she has a legitimate sense of reality. Tiger is clearly a bigger idiot than we all thought. But, does this new development mean Tiger might revoke the whole “I am taking an indefinite leave from the game of golf to improve my family life” thing? The golf tournaments and advertisers are certainly hoping that is the case because no individual means more to his/her sport than Tiger. I have never particularly cared for golf, but if Tiger was in his final round on a major sunday, I would be glued to the TV. Now what? Phil Mickelson is good, but is he going to make me watch golf? NO. There are people out there who watch golf only to see Tiger dominate. Plain and simple. Here’s to hoping “indefinite” does not last too long.
So, this concludes my first post ever. I am open to comments and suggestions because this is all new to me. I hope you all continue to read this in future.
Tags: harrison, harrison small, small, sports
December 15, 2009 at 1:15 am |
This is so cool…I think I might do this as well since i do want to become a journalism student and all. But anyways I’d Like to hear Hsmall Bball opinions…I wanna hear you speak baby!
December 15, 2009 at 3:29 am |
Love your blog, but you left off the biggest sports news of the week…Kellen Clemens coming off the bench to lead the Jets to an impressive win against the mighty bucs. That makes 3 wins in a row for the Jets, Jets, Jets against some of the leagues toughest competition…Panthers, Bills and Bucs. The Jets snap the Colts win streak in two weeks when they faceoff at Shea, whoops I mean Giants Stadium. No, I’m not kidding, in fact I guarantee it. Feely hits three field goals and TJ scores the Jets only touchdown while Rex “Buddy” Ryan’s defense holds the Colts powerfull offense to a garbage time TD. Final Score: Jets: 16 Colts 7 and Mark Sanchez, gimpy knees and all trots off the field with arm raised giving the number one salute. And the world is right again. (Who knows this could lead to good things for the Knicks and Mets…although no guarantees on that one.)
December 15, 2009 at 6:26 am |
Tpyical Tri-State homer blog! Not one word about the Boston Red Sox picking up John Lackey and Mike Cameron. I can hear you laughing right now, Cameron was a horrific left fielder who wanted to play center field for the Mets not long ago! I remember watching a nasty collision involving Cameron on Sports Center when played with the Mets.
By the bye, Congrats to the Yankees for buying a world series! Even with all the moves the Sox or the Phillies make during the hot stove or spring season, the Bombers should repeat. Grandison is a perfect fit in center with Melky shifting over to left while Swish grazes in right. This will allow Damon to be a DH with Jorge. Damn, I still hate Johnny Damon!!!
By the bye again, you (the Jets) can have Randy Moss and Adalius Thomas. Thomas won’t play another down for the Pats this or any other season! Looked like the Giants could have used Randy Moss against the Eagles last night! Like the guys says in the beer commercial, that was the most interesting game in the world!!!!!!!
On a collegiate note, have you finished your applications yet? Your rubberhead of a cousin is still laboring on them. Speaking of laboring, how about those Knicks? or is it the Nets?
December 16, 2009 at 1:11 am |
Great to hear from you! In terms of the bean town free agent signings, I promise I will write a hot stove edition analyzing all the major moves. The jets will gladly take Thomas off your hands and reunite him with rex ryan. We will even give you a 5th rounder for him. In terms of college, I am 99% done now I am just waiting to get in somewhere. Wish matt luck for me and say hello to everyone.
December 15, 2009 at 1:10 pm |
Harrison, great job. When will I see you on ESPN’s Outside the Lines?
December 15, 2009 at 3:10 pm |
I think your comments about Wall need to be put into context, yes he had a great Uconn game. However in his next game against a young Indiana team. A team that played 7 freshman in its rotation throughout the game his play except for one dunk was non existent. He had a bad game in comparison to his Uconn game. In this now society we live in today I am not ready to annoint him as Mr. calipari’s secong coming of Derrick Rose, I need to see more. Conference play night in and night out will be a good judge though Is the SEC strong this year?
December 15, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
Michael,
I hear what you’re saying and I agree that it is too early to tell what his impact will be as the season progresses. But, he clearly can dominate a team when he wants to. He is the single reason they beat unc earlier in the year and also why they beat uconn. He has his freshman moments but part of that can be attributed to the fact that most of his teammates are freshmen as well. I feel they are holding him back at times. Overall once the team begins to gel, I think we will see Wall’s best.
December 15, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
Ingram may be a model citizen but his daddy sure is not!! Great job Harrison, love the blog.
December 15, 2009 at 8:45 pm |
HARRISON, I DIDN’T READ THE BLOG CAUSE I’M REALL BUSY AT WORK, YA KNOW YEAR END STUFF, ANY HOW I HOPE YOU WROTE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL GIANTS !!!!!!!!!
GO GIANTS GO GIANTS GO GIANTS
December 17, 2009 at 4:38 am |
hi har , i enjoyed your blog,good luck with college choice, say hi to all
December 18, 2009 at 4:10 pm |
harrison, exactly you have made the point for me on Mr. Wall and let me quote you,
“he clearly can dominate a team when he wants to ,” it is unfortunate that we give cudo’s to players who can dominate when they want to, but players like from UNC championship team’s TYler H. who comes to play everyplay, everyday, practice or game for 4 years. Give me 12 Tylers you can keep calipari’s Wall and Rose!!!!!
December 18, 2009 at 4:44 pm |
Michael,
Trust me I would rather have tyler also. But, kentucky would be nothing without wall. Granted, he is at his best at the beginning and ends of games but not great in the middle. They wouldn’t sniff the top 5 without him. He is leading all freshman with over 7 assists per game. Let’s also take into consideration that it wasn’t his choice to go to college. If it were up to him, he would be in the NBA right now. I can’t totally blame him if he is not locked in 100 percent of the time because he should be getting paid. I know you’re going to hate that sort of attitude but it is the reality of the situation.
December 18, 2009 at 7:55 pm |
Nothing on the Mets signing of the Japanese set-up man? When I managed in Japan my guys hated facing him — real nasty stuff. To date, this is the most underrated move of the winter.
December 19, 2009 at 7:55 pm |
If the reality of the situation is that it is ok to “not to be great in the middle” because you don’t try. All I can say is humbug!!!! As well, as the rules preventing him from going straight to the NBA, it is he who chooses that choice of leaving early and rejecting an opportunity for an education in areas such as academics, life, and finally basketball. Bad Choice in my opinion!!!!! Go Mr. Wall with my blessings, college basketball as a whole does not need you, only Kentucky basketball needs you!
December 20, 2009 at 5:32 pm |
Speaking of the same subject, Harrison Listwn to what Coach Bob Knight said about this some what related subject:
That included this gem of a quote about first-year Kentucky head coach, John Calipari:
“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching. You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky (John Calipari), who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”
“And very few people know this, but a kid can play the first semester as a freshman, pass six hours of anything and play in the NCAA tournament without ever attending a class in the second semester. I don’t think that’s right.”
The second part of Knight’s quote is precisely what was running through my mind as I sat in Calipari’s postgame press conference last Saturday and listened to him talk about John Wall as if he was a Rhodes Scholar.
This is not so much a problem specifically with Wall, Calipari or Kentucky, but it speaks more to what the one-and-done rule is doing to college basketball. The NBA is using the NCAA as a de facto minor league system.
Take Wall for example: He’s much more valuable to the league from a publicity standpoint after a year at a storied program like Kentucky than he would have been coming straight to the NBA from Raleigh. He’s the story of college basketball and will now come into the NBA as a marketable, known commodity.
If what Knight hypothesizes about a kid only taking six hours first semester and never going to class second semester is true, and I’m sure it is, perhaps the NCAA is due for some soul searching to define the true meaning of ’student-athlete.’
You can keep Wall, Rose, Memphis, Kentucky, and the former IU coaach Kelvin Sampson
January 13, 2010 at 10:53 pm |
And David (College of Charleston) put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine (UNC) on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. (full quote)
January 14, 2010 at 12:32 am |
As a UNC fan, it was quite disappointing, but it can happen to any team on any given night. By the way Michael, how about robbie hummel’s first half last night against Ohio St.? I am sure we can both agree it was pretty amazing. Also, I would be curious to hear your thoughts on Evan Turner’s NBA potential.
January 14, 2010 at 9:32 pm |
I love Robbie Hummel, even though he plays for Purdue. He understands the following:
“I’ve seeN you guys can shoot, but there’s more to the game than shooting. There’s fundamentals and defense.” Robbie Hummel is A unique player in this day and age, you are asking yourself why I just said that he is a great college player becaUse he loves playing for his teamates. So unique in this day and age. He would have been a great pro on the Celtics or Knicks of the 60′s and 70′s. If he tries to go to the NBA it will have to be with the the right team or right guard play.
As far as Evan Turner he has the prototypical NBA body for today’s game and will be a good pro. Id he would to dedicate himself he has the tools to be great. 6 ft 7in, great speed, can go with both hands, great jumps and I think if he would go into the wight room he becomes a monster AND WOULD ONLY NEED TO WORK ON THE OUTSIDE GAME TO BE A SIMILIAR GUARD TYPE TO LEBRON.