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Sports & Pop Culture for the Arkansas Man

Archive for March 24th, 2010

Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow May Have Broken Up

Posted by Adam Butler on March 24, 2010

"You're *my* 'Real Quarterback'".

but the Urban Meyer/Tim Tebow Man Love remains.

It seems Urb didn’t like it when a Orlando Sentinel reporter quoted Florida WR Deonte Thompson this week regarding his thoughts on Tebow. 

In fact, Meyer, the heartbroken current/former/current Florida Head Coach, impliedly threatened the reporter. (Stating, per the reporter: “If that was my son, we’d be going at it right now,”)

Here’s the Thompson  quote which, although less than flattering for College Football Baby Jesus, also happens to be true.

“You never know with Tim,” Thompson said. “You can bolt, you think he’s running but he’ll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback.”

I can understand Urb’s frustration.  I mean, Tebow has never really been able to catch a break from the media, particularly the Florida media—and ESPN. :)

Posted in Commentary | 5 Comments »

BlogHawgs Top 10 Players in NBA History

Posted by Adam Butler on March 24, 2010

Editor’s Note: This List does not necessarily represent the opinion of BlogHawgs Nation.  In fact, I , AB, do NOT think Kobe is one of the 10 best NBA Players of all time.
 

Kobe in the All-Time NBA's Top 10? Maybe. #1 Alleged Rapist/Hooper in NBA History? Undoubtedly.

 Special to BlogHawgs.com from BlogHawgs.com Movie Correspondent and NBA aficionado, Jim Gooch
 
In honor of basketball fever I decided to post on a much-debated topic among Bloghawgers - Ten Greatest Players of All Time (and whether Kobe belongs).  In making this list, which differs very little from the list most NBA diehards would probably make, I took into consideration not only career statistics but also number of championships won and PER (player efficiency rating). 
When evaluating the list and cursing the name of Kobe, please keep in mind that although three of Kobe’s championships came while he was playing with Shaq, virtually everyone else on the list also played with another superstar during their championship years (i.e. Magic and Kareem).   
 
 
10.  Oscar Robertson
Won two championships (on the downside of his career), but maybe the best stat guy of all time.  Famously averaged a triple double for the 1962-63 season (and did it four more times if you round up).  And these weren’t Jason Kidd (I can barely shoot) triple doubles; the Big O was averaging 30 points per game during those seasons.  Friggin ridiculous (I don’t care if it was the 60s).  Oscar’s career numbers are almost 26 pts, 7.5 boards, and 9.5 assists, shooting over 48%.  Career PER: 23.2 (20th all-time).  Only one MVP year, but he played in the Chamberlain/Russel era. 
 
9.  Hakeem Olajuwon
Two championships.  The league’s all-tme leader in blocked shots, The Dream averaged 22 pts, 11 rebounds, and over 3 blocks per game for his career.  In 1989-1990 season, he averaged over 24 pts, 14 boards, and an astounding 4.6 blocks per game.  His career PER is 23.6 (number 16 all-time).  Probably the most athletically gifted big man of all time.  In my mind the only thing that keeps him out of the top five is that his two championships came during Jordan’s baseball career. 
 
8.  Bill Russell
Eleven Championships (only played 13 seasons).  Five MVPs.  Only averaged 15 pts per game for his career (never averaging more than 18.9 for any single season), but he averaged a whopping 22.5 boards for his career (number 2 all-tme behind Wilt), along with 4.3 assists.  However, Russell’s defense changed the game (they literally invented goal-tending because of him) and he would almost certainly be the all-time blocks leader had they kept track of them in his day.  His shooting was poor for a center, at only 44% for his career, and his career PER is only 18.9 (which is 95th all time).  But he was the most dominant defender ever and the league’s greatest winner.  
 
7.  Shaquille O’Neal
Four championships (three of course were while playing with Kobe.  Second most dominant big man ever (behind Wilt).  Averaged around 24 pts, 11 boards, and 2.5 blocks for his career, and shot 58% from the field (4 percentage points better than Wilt).  Truly unguardable for nearly decade.  Would have easily averaged over 30 per game for his career (and been number 2 on this list) had he been able to shoot over 60% from the foul line.  Astounding career PER of 26.60 (third all time and first among big men).
 
6.  Kobe Bryant
Kobe has four championships.  One MVP award.  PER is 23.6 (18th).  Career per game stats of over 25 pts, 5 rebounds, and nearly 5 assists.  Bryant is the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history (a history that includes Magic, Kareem, Shaq, West, Baylor, and Wilt).  In 2007, an ESPN poll of sportswriters voted him the second best shooting guard of all time (behind Jordan).  Named NBA player of the decade (2000-09) by the Sporting News and TNT.  Scored 81 points in a single game in 2006 (which is second only to Wilt’s 100) (Jordan never scored more than 60 something).  Has scored 40 or more points 104 times (3rd all-time behind Wilt and Jordan, respectively).  Kobe is the youngest player to reach the 25,000 points mark and he is currently 16th all-time for points scored (with at least 3 great seasons ahead of him, he could easily end up number 3 all-time).  Kobe is also one of the most tenacious defenders in league history (voted All-Defensive 1st Team seven times).  But even more importantly, Kobe is clutch.  He’s a killer in the fourth quarter.  When the final seconds of the game are ticking away and your looking for a big shot, he’s the guy you want taking it (and in that situation, I’m not sure I would trade Kobe for anyone).  I look for him to be securely in the top five by the time it’s all said and done. 
 
5.  Larry Bird
Three championships.  Thrice the league’s MVP.  Career PER of 23.50 (19th best, higher than Big O, lower than Kobe).  The Hick from French Lick averaged 24 pts, 10 boards, and over 6 dimes for his career.  He made 49% of his shots for his career, an astonishing percentage for a small foward.  He is the best small foward in league history, and although Lebron will easily surpass him statistically in the near future, James will never be the winner or the competitor that Larry Legend was.  (No, I do not believe James will win three titles, ever.)         
 
4.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Six championships (one with Oscar, five with Magic).  At over 38,000, he has the most points of all time, plus he’s number 3 for most blocks all time (played for 20 years however).  He has also won more MVP awards than anyone else (six).  Averaged around 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks for his career (shooting at 55%).  However, he had a few seasons in the early 70s where he averaged over 30 pts, over 16 rebounds, and nearly 5 assists.  Career PER of 24.58 (11th). 
 
3.  Magic Johnson
Five championships alongside Kareem.  Averaged almost 20 pts, over 7 rebounds and over 11 assists per game for his career.  He is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists per game.  Career PER is 24.11 (12th all time).  A triple double machine, which is always nice.  Magic is the best passer in league history, although Steve Nash might have something to say about that if he ever wins a championship, which is doubtful. 
 
2.  Wilt Chamberlain
Only two championships for this Nixon-loving Republican, but he averaged 30 pts, 23 rebounds (most ever), and over 4 assists for his career.  Career PER is 26.13 (5th).  He averaged over 50 points a game one season, and led the league in assists another season.  Most dominant big man of all time.  Gets my number 2 spot despite playing in a lesser era and despite being a Republican (100 points is still 100 points).  On a related note, 20,000 women is still 20,000 women.
 
1.  Michael Jordaon
Not necessary to explain.  Six championships.  Highest career PER of all time at 27.91.  The end-all-be-all of his sport.   
Notable Omissions: Jerry West, Tim Duncan, Bob Petitt, Bob Cousey, Karl Malone, Elgin Baylor, John Stockton, Dr. J, Charles Barkley, John Havlicek, Moses Malone. 
 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________     
Interesting Esoteric Statistic
Basketball-Reference.com has a stat called the Hall of Fame Probability.  It takes into consideration the follwing factors:
  1. height (in inches)
  2. last season indicator (1 if 1959-60 or before, 0 otherwise)
  3. NBA points per game
  4. NBA rebounds per game
  5. NBA assists per game
  6. NBA All-Star game selections
  7. NBA MVP award shares
  8. NBA championships won
Here are the top ten players of all time most likely to enter the Hall of Fame:
1. Michael Jordan* 1.0000
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 1.0000
3. Bill Russell* 1.0000
4. Wilt Chamberlain* 1.0000
5. Larry Bird* 1.0000
6. Magic Johnson* 1.0000
7. Shaquille O’Neal 1.0000
8. Tim Duncan 1.0000
9. Karl Malone 1.0000
10. Kobe Bryant 1.0000

Posted in Commentary | 19 Comments »

Teen With Autism Has a Perfect NCAA Tourney Bracket Going

Posted by Adam Butler on March 24, 2010

I wonder if there are 13,460,000 dimples on a basketball. I'm not good at math, but I doubt it.

I don’t see what the big deal is about this.  I mean, the odds of anyone doing that are only one in 13, 460,000.

Posted in Commentary | 3 Comments »

Coulter Cancelled in Ottawa

Posted by Jeff on March 24, 2010

Keith Olbermann's secret crush

Conservative Wingnut Ann Coulter cancelled a speech at the University of Ottawa due to a large protest outside of the venue. Unless I mis-read this item, there were 2000 people outside protesting and 100 inside waiting to hear her hate speech.

Coulter is already spinning this as a liberal intimidation thing but I really think that she realized she had to walk/drive past 2000 protesters to speak to 100 Koolaid drinkers.  That stat is amazing and hilarious.  If I believed even for a second that “threats” were her only concern, I’d actually feel bad about the situation.  Regardless of how little I respect her I don’t believe she should feel threatened for her stupid opinions.

UPDATE: The Hateress is complaining about becoming the hated. Oh, the Ironery.

Posted in Commentary | 9 Comments »

More Proof That American Idol is on Its Last Leg

Posted by Jeff on March 24, 2010

I'm famous because of my dad's mullet.

Last night on American Idol, the guest “mentor” was 17 year old Tween Queen Miley Cyrus.  Miley of course is the daughter of country music’s Billy Ray Cyrus.  She also stars in a show called Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel.  I’ve seen one episode of Hannah and it made me desperate for more cleverly written sitcoms like Saved By The Bell and Family Matters.  What does that tell you?

Anyway, with all due respect, Miley Cyrus cannot sing.  Anyone who does not already know this will find out tonight when she has to sing live on the results show.

American Idol is fading fast this season.  Simon Cowell has announced that he is not returning. And he probably decided this after surveying the weak talent this year.  The men are really bad, save for Big Mike.  The women are better but the best two are a little freaky.  Siobhan Magnus is my favorite but she’s got a little Adam Lambert in her which is starting to bug me.  Crystal is very good but I can almost smell her patouli oil through my TV.  Not sure how either could become a big star… not that that happens a lot in Idol land.  (Carrie and Kelly excepted of course.)

Posted in Commentary | 4 Comments »