Class of 2012: Andre Drummond to Be Class of 2011 at UCONN
Top 1 or 2 recruit, depending on website, 6′-10″ 275 lbs Andre Drummond annouced via Twitter that he’s going to UCONN. This guy is a beast and is already better than Hasheem Thabeet.
Archive for August, 2011
HoopSmack Podcast: Episode 34 – Lockout, Hall of Fame, and…T-Shirts?
We are back after a month long hiatus to discuss whats been going on (or what hasn’t been going on) with the NBA Lockout, the 2011 HOF class, Brandon Jennings’ hair, and the arrival of the official HoopSmack t-shirt.
Music Featured:
Knowledge – Heisman Pose
Lil Wayne – She Will feat Drake
Download Episode 34 on iTunes, Zune Marketplace, SlapDash Radio, Stitcher Radio, Podomatic or right-click here to save to your machine. Leave us feedback on the iTunes store, send us an email at feedback@hoopsmack.com or hit us on Twitter.
You can also leave us a voicemail message at (509) 795-1858.*
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The Lady Vol We’ll Never Forget
Always gone but never hard to find
And since you can’t escape me, do I ever cross your mind?
Because all this $#!+ is new to me, I’m learning to behave,
And still spending every dollar they encourage me to save, but I’m good
I know that n!&&@s would kill for this lifestyle,
I’m looking forward to the memories of right now
Never forgettin’ from where I came,
And no matter where I’m headed, I promise to stay the same
Unforgettable by Drake ft. Young Jeezy (2010)
All-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. Eight NCAA national championships. Seven NCAA Coach of the Year Awards. Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century and Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2000). A .841 winning percentage in 36 seasons as head coach. When it comes to the coaching box, Pat Summitt ain’t somebody you wanna mess with! She is basketball brilliance in human form. A pillar to the basketball community! Worshipped by many and respected by anyone who could even care an ounce about the game.
Lockout Impact: No NBA Season Doesn’t Mean No League
Today marks Day 56 of the thickheaded deliberation over the next NBA collective bargaining agreement. Oh wait, in order to deliberate you must communicate. Owners and players aren’t even doing that! So I started this article in error… Allow me to start over… Take #2:
Today marks Day 56 of needless stagnation over whose balls are bigger than the others. The bout of David Stern vs. Billy Hunter. Owners and the Players Union continue to wait to meet for another try at negotiating after each side proposed deals knowing the other party would not deem it satisfactory. And as time continuously passes by, the window for the NBA 2011-12 season beginning on time (Nov. 1st) is steadily closing. As a result, there’s a frenzy of players bolting for overseas contract. Some are just toying with speculation, many are waiting on deals that include an NBA-out clause and others are training just as they would be- business as usual.
Many players find themselves working out at one of the premier basketball training sites in the world, Impact Basketball in Las Vegas & Los Angeles. Impact Basketball will be starting its own league next month that is reportedly going to include around 70 NBA players. It has not yet been confirmed who will play in the league, but here is a list of players who train at Impact Basketball:
Kevin Garnett (Celtics), Rudy Gay (Grizzlies), Baron Davis (Cavaliers), Rajon Rondo (Celtics), Tayshaun Prince (Pistons), Monta Ellis (Warriors), Tyreke Evans (Kings), Mo Williams (Clippers), Josh Smith (Hawks), Ron Artest (Lakers), Yi Jianlian (Wizards), Glen Davis (Celtics), Sebastian Telfair (Timberwolves), Al Thornton (Warriors), Chauncey Billups (Knicks), John Wall (Wizards), Paul Pierce (Celtics), Al Harrington (Nuggets), Corey Maggette (Bobcats), Kyle Lowry (Rockets), Paul George (Pacers), J.J. Hickson (Kings), Austin Daye (Pistons), Jared Dudley (Suns), Dahntay Jones (Pacers), Jermaine O’Neal (Celtics), Craig Brackins (Sixers), Marreese Speights (Sixers), Eric Bledsoe (Clippers), Matt Barnes (Lakers) and Manny Harris (Cavaliers).
How much you wanna bet Doc Rivers gets fined by the league for coming to “watch” KG, Pierce, Rondo, Big Baby & J. O’Neal’s game?!? You know they’re gonna run on the same squad!
Police Search Zach Randolph’s Home
After leading his Memphis Grizzlies to a surprising deep playoff run, star Zach Randolph finds himself in the news for all the wrong reasons.
According to the Associated Press, Clackamas (pronounced KLAK’-uh-muhs) Police have searched Randolph’s Oregon home to investigate the alleged assault of a man selling the sweetest cheeba aka marijuana. The alleged victim told the police that Randolph WAS NOT involved in the beating. The police were also told that he went to the home of Z-Bo to sell marijuana. At least three people beat him using a pool cue following a dispute over the price of said marijuana (for whatever reason i just got the visual of LL Cool J in the movie “In Too Deep”…yikes). Clackamas County Sheriff Sgt. James Rhodes told the press that the victim has been treated for head and face injuries and released from the hospital.
Randolph was in the house at the time of the beating but was engaged in a close game of NBA2K11 (speculation). Attempts to reach Randolph have been unsuccessful and the Grizzlies themselves declined to comment. Wouldn’t want to catch a fine or anything…
Overseas Isn’t the Only Option, There’s Movies & Home Depot
If you are what you say you are, a superstar
Then have no fear, the camera is here
And the microphones
And they wanna know oh oh oh oh (the return)
If you are what you say you are, a superstar
Then have no fear, the crowd is here
And the lights are on
And they wanna show oh oh oh oh, yeah
–Superstar by Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos (2007)
In light of this ridiculous lockout, there have been a swarm of stories about NBA players ditching the States to take their respective talents to Europe or Asia (Deron Williams- signed w/Besiktas of Turkey. Kobe Bryant- rumored to play in Turkey or China. Dwyane Wade- rumored to play in China for $2M/month… just to name a few). While others have shielded off any thoughts of playing overseas during this lockout (Jeff Green being one for whatever reason). But playing basketball for income isn’t the only job skill for others!
Sneaker Droppings: 8/20/2011 Jordan V – Black/Black-Metallic Silver – $150
Get your funds settled, a Jordan classic is a coming back (again)! Being a huge Jordan fan growing up, there’s only a couple of Jordan’s that I actually really like and this is one of them. I’ve never been the type of consumer who had to buy something and was satisfied with it just cause it was a certain brand/style. Just because they’re Jordan’s, doesn’t mean its a nice shoe. There’s quite a few awful looking designs. But to each his own. I’m pretty confident in saying that this is a shoe that everyone can agree with is a classic. From the clear netting, clear soles, 3M tongue, and even the lace locks. Everything just works. The Grape V’s were the very first Jordan’s that I ever had back in 1990. I knew when I was school shopping at JC Penneys that I had to have them. Luckily, my parents allowed them to grace my feet and created the sneaker monster I have become. Why must I want all these shoes!!!! Can you believe at one time JC Penneys use to stock Jordans? Strolling to the mall to find out what shoes were out instead of knowing months in advance, those were the days. Back to the shoes.
So Jordan Brand has decided to re-re-re-release this shoe again. By my account this is the 4th time this shoe will be released. Though the first two releases didn’t have the 23 stitched on the side, it’s still basically the same shoe! The most recent release was January 2007 and retail was $135. So Nike/Jordan decided that the same shoe should cost $15 dollars more in the 4 years that have passed? Damn you Nike/Jordan, damn you. But I have the 2007 version, so I will be skipping this release. Though one of my all time favorite shoes, I have no feelings on doubling up on this shoe. Back in 2007, this was a shoe I was anticipating for months and had to have. I had my secret spot for a while and got them from there. Can’t give up my source, I might have to go there for future releases! I can definitely say that hype was a lot bigger in ’07 than it seems now. I love this shoe and it’s a shoe that I find is consistently in my shoe rotation. They’re a little beat, but I think that has more to do with the crappy materials and construction used by Jordan Brand these days. It’s still a classic sneaker that every basketball fan and sneakerhead should own. One last outgoing thought: ROCK YOUR KICKS!!! Coming from a Chinese guy, don’t be afraid of a little yellow on the sole (unless you play for the Georgetown Hoyas.) Some outgoing pics of my pair:
NBA Beef?!? We Really Need a Season!
Most of the basketball fanatics dread the thoughts of a missing NBA season. The emptiness of no SportsCenter highlights, the missing box scores, no buzzer beaters…. It’s going to be a miserable winter if there are no hoops. But equally as enjoyable is the drama within the league. The subplots that thicken throughout the year. I’m sure we all remember the LeBron vs. DeShawn Stevenson beef a few years back. Or how about when Shaq called Chris Bosh the “Rupaul of Big Men”?!? Even last season we witnessed Kevin Durant call Bosh a “fake thug” (Shots fired on Bosh!) and lasting beef between former NBA star/ESPN NBA Analyst Jalen Rose and Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill (former rivals from their college days) simmered last season! Generally speaking, players get along. But just like any corporate, there’s always that someone you just don’t vibe with!
Milwaukee Bucks point guard, Brandon Jennings teamed up with his endorser Under Armor to take a shot at Laker superstar Kobe Bryant & his endorser Nike after KB24 showed out at the Drew League scoring 45pts including a game-winner over OKC Thunder guard James Harden. It should be noted that B. Jennings did his thing in his visit to the Drew also.
At this point, I think it’s simply a publicity stunt to gain the attention of supporters, haters, followers etc of Kobe, Nike, Brandon Jennings and/or Under Armor. Which is a stroke of marketing genius! But what if this ignited a true beef?!? This certainly wouldn’t be Kobe’s first rodeo! Of course there’s the Shaq vs. Kobe beef. Kobe being snuffed by Chris Childs! Kobe and George Hill butting heads. Kobe at church. He’s a target for scrutiny (some self-inflicting) so this isn’t anything new. What if the challenge birthed from summer league output bled into Lakers vs. Bucks games? Could you imagine how popular & vital these ProAm leagues would now become on a mainstream level? This could be the start of something special! Or maybe I’m just so desperate for NBA action that I’m completely delusional and overreacting… either way, I know Kobe will take mental note of this B. Jennings/Under Armor stunt, publicly deny ever seeing the picture (let alone its effectiveness on motivation for him during their regular season match-ups), and try to single-handedly embarrass the Milwaukee Bucks in trigger-happy, teammate-alienating fashion. But just remember, in case Kobe’s feelin’ a little extra froggy, Stephen Jackson’s a member of the Bucks now and he ain’t takin’ no $#!+!!! LOL
BTW, I have never owned a piece of Under Armor apparel in my life, but I have to cop that shirt!
