HOOPSARCHIVE.COM

THROWBACK : Dominick Young

2008-03-05T14:05:00.005-05:00

About ten years ago, Dominick Young was a really tough point guard playing for the Fresno State University Bulldogs. The Chicago native was a sub-six-foot spitfire and in the Top-10 Assist leaders in the nation as a senior on Jerry Tarkanian's squad of shady ballers. Like many of his Fresno teammates, Young play through a ton of controversy, including several point shaving scandals. The FBI and several local newspaper reporters were hot on the trail of Young and his teammates, however, the mob allegedly wouldn't allow any info to come forward and the story was squashed.

Young left Fresno in 1997. He hoped to join his teammates Rafer "Skip to My Lou" Alston and Chris Herren in the NBA, but he never made the big jump. Directly after college, he went overseas and played in the NIKE Treviso Summer League. He made a stop in Argentina before he began making the rounds in American professional leagues like the ABA and the now defunct (or suspended) IBA and USBL. According to the database site, USBasket.com, Young hasn't played professional ball since he went out for the short-lived Hollywood Fame of the ABA at the start of the 2006-2007 season.

Today on the ABA homepage, Joe Newman announced that Young will be bringing the ABA back to Fresno. A Google search of the name "Dominick Young" produces a slightly more disturbing result.

The site includes links to stories about the point-shaving scandal at Fresno State. Links about Jerry Tarkanian's role in the scandal, as reported by a number of newspapers, as well as a video of him allegedly speaking the truth about the point-shaving allegations that does not appear to exists and if it did would come with a charge of $1.99 per viewing via PayPal. If that's not enough, Young uses his website to peddle everything from a "$1300" Plasma TV to a bunch of Porn for sale at $5 a pop. Probably from Dominick's private collection.

What's in a Trade?

2008-03-02T16:34:00.008-05:00

For years, I've studied the daily sports transactions in newspaper. This tem acquires one guy or his rights, or a bunch of guys and the rights of others. It's a consistent type thing even in the era of players with "no-trade" clauses in their contract. Some trades, like the ones that have recently given new life to the Celtics, stacked the Cavs, improved the Spurs, and kind of confused the Suns are, for obvious reasons, the most visibly successful deals or, the ones the have the most impact.

Other trades are more subtle. Maybe only affecting the guys who have to pack their shit and move to another city. Sitting in front of the TV watching the Knicks for the past few weeks, I feel like the cold night air has got me sentimental. In September, NBA journeyman Dan Dickau was traded by the Blazers to the Knicks in the Zach Randolph trade. Soon after, the Knicks traded Dickau to the Clippers because he'd have a good shot of making the team. The Knicks accepted Jared Jordan in exchange because he'd have a good shot of not making the team and roster space was what they needed.

In the preseason, Jordan struggled and averaged about 1 point and 1 assist in 6 games. He graduated from Marist College a legend but was a long shot to make any NBA roster. He lasted most of the preseason, if I remember, and then signed to play in Lithuania.

Despite the fact that I think Jared Jordan might have been a decent component for the Knicks success. If the Knicks had won ten more games at this point and had Jordan was playing one of Jerome James or Randolph Morris' roles as the Knicks official practice players, I bet seeing the semi-local Jordan, a Hartford native, who lacks the erratic behavior and bad tattoos of Stephon Marbury, might give some folks another reason to cheer for a team that the city didn't really want to begin with.

Then there's Dickau to consider, keeping Dickau meant losing the only other guy that was technically on the Knicks roster over the summer who had any experience at the point guard slot. He's now been traded eight times and played on seven teams, avoiding picking up paychecks in EUROPE and the D-League at that. He'd of been tough for Robinson, Collins and maybe even Marbury in practice. He's been rumored to be working on becoming a Polish citizen so that he can represent them in the Olympic games.

Instead, the Knicks lost games early, Steph got all fucked up in the head and Jared Jordan never played for the Knicks, just a few preaseaon games, ten minutes total. Dan Dickau just went through the motion as the Clippers, who will probably never see a 100% Shaun Livingston, without mentoring anyone considering the Clippers sent Guillermo Diaz back and fourth in to the D-League and now picked up journeyman Andre Barrett finish out the year for Diaz, who's rumored to be signing in Italy.

My point is, the Knicks, who should have known better than to look to Stephon Marbury for leadership, signed a veteran (like Carlos Arroyo, who they narrowly missed at the trade deadline) or decent young point guard somewhere along the way this season and they might have been able to clean up their act enough to at least play hockey and spoil some Eastern Conference playoff hopes. Therefore, trading Dickau left the Knicks without a point guard in their back pocket and waiving Jordan left the Knicks without a feel-good story off the bench, something a team with a 18-41 record could probably use more of.

Biggest Little City Joins Big League's Little League

2008-02-28T00:28:00.005-05:00

This link to a story in the Reno Gazette-Journal made it past me. It says here that Reno will be next stop on the NBA D-League minor league basketball gentrification tour.

Another destination the D-League is dealing with is Portland, Maine. With the resent resurgence of the Boston Celtics, the D-League hope to capitalize on some of the other somewhat-success stories in minor league hoops in New England, the Vermont Frost Heaves and the Manchester (NH) Millrats of the ABA.

My next guess is that the D-League will target the Albany Patroons of the CBA, and rumors circle that the 76ers will look to place a team in Trenton, NJ. Trenton was the home of the short lived Trenton Stars of the original IBL, but now their home court, the Sovereign Bank Arena, however perfect for minor league hoops, remains pretty vacant. However, I can imagine, Reading PA, current home of the Reading Railers of the PBL might make for and obvious choice.

KICK GAME!

2008-02-27T07:22:00.000-05:00

So much for that idea...

THROWBACK: Lawrence Moten

2008-02-27T06:06:00.000-05:00

In Reading, Pa a few months ago, I saw Lawrence Moten coaching a professional basketball game in a grey sewatsute. He was a lot older than the kid with the high-top head and could score in just about every way for the Syracuse Orangemen. He was the type of skinny two-guard, who just had what it took to get the job done. Nicknamed "Poetry in Moten," he left the 'Cuse as the Big East's All-Time leading scorer. It seemed like, in my mind, Moten could be a taller Isiah Thomas. However, the NBA scouts thought otherwise and Moten's pro career took a different path.

The Vancouver Grizzlies (they're playing out of Memphis now, I hear) took Moten in the 2nd round with the 36th pick in 1995. He spent two years with the Grizzlies and then had a cup of coffee with his hometown NBA team with the Washington Wizards. He bounced around overseas places like Greece, Spain, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic and played in the CBA before getting involved with the ABA, where he played for teams in Philly and Maryland. The highlight of his pro career may be the fact that the picture below is all the evidence he'd need to prove he played against Michael Jordan.

When the Maryland Nighthawks bolted from the ABA to form their own league, the PBL, Moten became their head coach. The team features (and featured) Tamir Goodman, Randy "White Chocolate" Gill, as well former AND1 players Baby Shaq and Prime Objective. The Nighthawks have struggled in the PBL standings thus far, but by all reports Moten is working hard as both a coach and a community ambassador for the Nighthawks. I give him a pass for wearing a sweatsuite because, thinking back, he was probably wearing a uniform underneath it in case he had to check himself in to the game.

If you look at his stats, he may appear to be another college star that had a couple of years years in the NBA and then ironed out a career overseas. However, while his team is struggling, he's still doing good work with basketball and from his actions on the sidelines is still passionate about the game. Look for him to get a job in the D-League if they ever come east.

KICK GAME!

2008-02-27T04:17:00.000-05:00

Top Star Mid "SEMI PRO" Edition

LE Uptown Daryl Dawkins "Chocolate Thunder"

My man Andrew Pitagorsky from SLAM get's a tone of cool gear sent to the office. One movement that has a special place in my heart is the return of the PONY line. Spudd Webb, Daryl Dawkins, David Thompson and a ton of other NBA cats rocked back in the day.

Today, PONY is working towards a new movement both in foot fashion and athletic shoes. They signed Wilson Chandler from the Knicks, but since he hasn't played as much as everyone expected, they've had limited reach with him. However, their casual kicks are surely dope and a nice alternative to low-key shoes everyone is already wearing. Their basketball kicks are dope and rumors floating around tell me they are ready to make a big push into the hoops market. I've already gotten good feedback about their PONY QUIX from some of my friends who play serious ball.

Above are some new kicks they are pushing now and have been pushing for a minute.

Marbury Played in This Year's All-Star Game

2008-02-24T22:58:00.010-05:00

Zack (or "Zeck" or "Moses") Marbury and the CBA All-Star game, that is. He's been having what is easily his best year as a pro since leaving the University of Rhode Island too early to try to get drafted. Now he's the point guard of the Atlanta Krunk and don't be surprised to hear he earned a decent contract overseas. By all accounts, his playing in this All-Star game was pretty well earned.

However, something had to be bizarre about the other Marbury's All-Star visit to the exotic and tropical Yakima, Washington. It seems, as evidence of the photos on my man Chuck Miller's private myspace page, Stephen's younger sibling didn't pack his uniform and competed in the All-Star game 3-point contest with an All-Star game t-shirt on. Can you guess what kind of sneakers he was wearing?

Chuck Miller, an Albany resident, was there as the semi-official historian of the CBA. He has devoted a ton of time to the CBA/Eastern league history project. Check out Chuck's website, this is sure to go down in hoops history.

Throwback: Who the F**K is Johnny Sikiric?

2008-02-24T21:29:00.008-05:00

When I was in the 4th grade, I played on the St.Adalbert 5th grade CYO team. I did not play or contribute much more than a few steals, hand full of rebounds and a one single basket. I was the fourth spring shooting guard on a 47-7 team that won the Sectional Championship that season.

Johnny Sikiric was our best player. Shit, he was the best player around for a few miles. He scored well over 1,000 points that year and from what I know, probably more the next year. I literally, to this very moment, remember being on the court and watching him miraculously pass the ball ahead of two guys, run and get it before they turned around, and score a lay-up. We ushered him off our home court after he sank two free throws to win our Christmas tournament. Johnny was kind of quiet, but totally competitive in some ways. I remember watching him play an intense game of paper-maiche table football in the IS 73 cafeteria back in the day.

Basketball was, in fact, in his blood. His father was always around, helping out and giving us pointers. His oldest brother, Andrew, didn't play a lick of high school ball at Archbishop Molloy in four years, but he managed to be named to the All-Star team of the Hudson Valley Athletic Conference at tiny St. Jospeh's College in Brooklyn. As was his brother Steven, who was Molloy's best player as a senior after being cut three years in a row. And then, they had a little cousin that was really nice, naturally.

When it came time for Johnny to go to high school, Molloy was well aware of him. He played on the varsity as a sophomore and seemed like he'd be a D1 player. In the end, he chose to stay close to home and took a full ride to D2 Queens College. Johnny also loved baseball and wanted to be able to play both sports, so Queens was a good fit.

I don't know much about his baseball career, but at one point, Johnny was in the top ten in th country in three-point field goal percentage. He averaged 19.6 points as a senior and was named the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association D2 Player of the year.

I'm not quite sure what he's doing right now. He was always pretty smart and hardworking. I do know that he played some pro ball in Macedonia and Slovenia in 2006.

Once when I was in college, I was up late trading CYO hoops battle stories my friend Danny "Dutch" Warshall.

I said. "I played with this one kid, Johnny Sikiric..."

"Sick Ear Rick," Dutch said.

Somehow, we figured out that the St. Adalbert team that Johnny and I played on lost to Danny's CYO team in the Diocese's Championship game that season. Then I remember thinking "How the heck did he remember that kid's game?" and then "He was just that nice."

The Gift & The Curse

2008-02-24T19:48:00.009-05:00

How does a guy who's team can't win (and often looks content down 20) get any respect when he is having the best year of his career?

I know I'm probably the only one watching tonight as my 17-38 Knicks are down fifteen (in the fourth) to the Raptors. Tonight, Sunday, they are in Toronto and things are not working out. On friday, these two teams played and Jamal Crawford had 43 points in what was an excellent victory for the extremely troubled Knicks.

Granted, Crawford didn't deserve to be an all-star, but he should begin to get credit as being the Knicks best player. If they had ten more wins, he very well should have been in New Oreleans. He's got 23 points so far tonight and he's visibly doing everything he can and can be credited for a good majority of the team's workload.

This link from the New York Newsday had me wanting to defend Crawford, because if I'm the only one watching, I think I owe it to him. I might even say a nice work about Zach Randolph too.

Is Crawford a winner? Yes. Why?

I think if you watch him out there, he is clearly the Knicks most focused player. Deep into this awful season he's the only guy still playing with a playoff-race poker-face and tons of intensity. He's the one player on the Knicks who is staying positive. How does one become a winner in the NBA? Isn't only a testament to the kind of player and kind of character Crawford is that he has helped his team win all of their games in this terrible season while improving, redefining and raising his game to another level?

I'd hate to give Isiah Thomas any credit, but the truth is Crawford beat the system with his help. Many other skinny 2-guards from tough backgrounds with only three years of organized ball behind them upon entering the league have faded into obscurity. Crawford, who only really played two years of high school ball, has really grown as a player in the NBA. It has a lot to do with Thomas because, clearly, Crawford could be his carbon copy. Sometimes, those of us who were alive when Zeke played, will tell you Crawford is a dead ringing for his coach. Fearless and energetic. Possessing an effortless mastery of scoring the basketball. I don't think the Crawford improves as much under Larry Brown and I thought firing him was a least premature, if not totally bad.

Compare him to the other guys who were drafted ahead of him in the 2000 NBA Draft if you need to. Kenyon Martin • Stromile Swift • Darius Miles • Marcus Fizer • Mike Miller • DerMarr Johnson • Chris Mihm • Jamal Crawford. How many of them were better choices than Crawford? How many of them average 20 points? How many times did Marcus Fizer score 52 points in a game?

Crawford also appears to be low-key on and off the court. He wears Reebok's and despite the mild association of Jay-Z and 50 Cent with that brand a few years back, that's a pretty unassuming blue-collar brand that matches his game. His attitude during the games and in post-game chats says a lot about who he is and what kind of player he might be on a team with a few more studs.

The game just ended and the Knicks lost another one. You can't say Crawford didn't show up. He left 26 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds as evidence of his presence in Toronto tonight. Can the same be said for the rest of the guys on what might be the most over-paid group of people in the history of anything?

What's wrong with Knicks is the converse of what's going right for the Raptors. For example the Raptors have a European base that helps them win on and off the court. A formula if you will. You need a formula. The Knicks don't have any kind of formula. It that is not Crawford's fault.

KICK GAME!

2008-02-24T14:34:00.006-05:00

These kicks come from my personal collection. I got them last year right down the block from the SLAM/Harris Pub offices on Broadway on a rain day. To the best of my knowledge they are Nike Aire Force II joints, but that's not for certain. They are supposed to be basketball shoes, but by all account they are more build for lounging. They Adidas/Arenas-style below the ankle, however, I did peep an Asian kid in Crowley Park (Queens) last summer playing ball in them with ease. So check them out, if you're into that.

Switching Uniforms

2008-02-24T11:04:00.003-05:00

<---Recently, these guys all got traded to the Cavs. And this link on ProBasketballNews.com broke it down really well.

Medical Miracle?

2008-02-24T10:39:00.008-05:00

According to the Associated Press, Agent Zero will remain on the bench for some time. With his team holding down semi-solid playoff positioning, it's hard to say if Arenas' absence won't propel the Wizards to another level in a Joe Osteen kinda way.

However, Arenas hasn't been the only Wizard who has missed a number of games this season. Antonio Daniels (^left) is enjoying one of his better seasons (when not in a suite himself). Caron Butler "isn't ready to go," and the trade deadline has come and gone. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Wizards would play a really healthy Orlando team anchored by one of the hottest players in the sport right now. Having watched the Wizards in the last couple of season's playoffs, I've kind of begun to look forward to how they play with their backs against the wall.

My question, which, by evidence of my comment counters, I'm sure, I am only posing to myself is : With a healthy Caron Butler, can the Washington Wizard get out of the first round of the playoffs without Gilbert Arenas?

BASKETBALL MAGAZINE WATCH

2008-02-23T10:01:00.005-05:00

BOUNCE #14:
White Boys

Bounce has been around for a minute now and is like a graffiti magazine about basketball. They always drop knowledge on some dope streetball shit. Check out their newest issue, if you can find it, for an incredible oral history of the white players of the New York City playgrounds.

Not only do they go in-depth on Jack Ryan, Randy "White Chocolate" Gill, Grayson "The Professor" Boucher, but they get into other, almost forgotten white playground ballers like Chris Avignone, Billy Rieser, even Ron Naclerio gets his props.

There is also an interview with Tommy Baker, a ball handling wiz, who runs with the NYC based "Street Godz" crew I wrote about for SLAMONLINE once. As a whole, Street Godz is pretty dope, but Baker is the Bobby Brown of this New Edition to the alternative basketball landscape. I've seen Tommy, who is from the UK, do his thing live and man, he puts on a dope optical scene.

THROWBACK : Bernard King

2008-02-20T18:27:00.007-05:00

Bernard King was nasty. MSG Network in New York has been running this "Vault" series, where they go through old tapes that have been long forgotten, and today, they broke down some old Bernard King tapes. I remembered he'd come back from a terrible injury, but not that he went on to become and All-Star with the Bullets.

It's guys like Bernard King that make it hard to think that athletes aren't role models. Someone like King is a reminder that obstacles are made to be gotten through or around. I hope the kid from the Clippers, Shaun Livingston, can benefit from Bernard King's courage.

I really shouldn't talk about baseball on a basketball blog, so I won't. I also do not want to, in any way, make it seem like I have some dark info on B.K.'s past. But I will say, wouldn't you rather hear Bernard King took steroids to return to an All-Star career or that he used steroids to become an All-Star?

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

Bernard King: He averaged 22.5 points over 16 seasons, but the explosive scorer was at the peak of his powers (32.9 ppg in 1984-85) when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in March 1985. That cost King a whole season and much of his explosiveness, but he adjusted and made a successful comeback with Washington, earning a final All-Star slot in 1991 at age 34. King sat out the 1991-92 season with more knee problems, then played just 20 games for New Jersey the following year. Great career, all things considered? Until King makes it into the Naismith Hall of Fame, it counts among the curtailed.

BASKETBALL MAGAZINE WATCH

2008-02-20T18:09:00.003-05:00

DIME #39:
k.o.b.e.

Interesting that the Dime dudes went with Kobe on their latest cover. I ain't mad at it.

Knuckle-Up Knicks!

2008-02-20T11:33:00.006-05:00

It's a wonder it didn't happen earlier in the season. The overtime antics of Nate Robinson and Zach Randolph is the current example of the team "looking bad." The N-Y-K circus doesn't appear to be coming to an end either, the Knicks have been silent during trade season and have really been forgotten about, or put out of mind, since the NY Giants scored their Superbowl success.
Hard to imagine things getting any worse for the Knicks. They are the forgotten franchise in basketball's greatest city. No one knows when they play, rushes home to catch their tip-offs or spends a penny on their memorabilia. It's really no wonder that the NBA has been trying to move the Nets to Brooklyn. It is so obviously the only way New York could have a winning basketball team.

Somewhere down the line, I hope to pen a SLAMONLINE column entitled "Where are all the NY Basketball Fans"-or something. I am fascinated by how few people really care about the Knicks. It is a pain to believe, or even try to swallow, the fact that more men in New York City were hanging on the edge of their lazyboys watching American Idol than the Knick game.

Somewhere in overtime Nate Robinson and Zach Randolph got into it. It seemed like they were talking shit back and fourth, but then Randolph stepped over the line and gave Nate a cool-down via a cup of water, backwash and all I'm sure. Nate sent a towel flying back at Randolph, which caught Z-BO right in the side of the face.

However silly the two Knicks looked, they managed to spare the few fans paying attention their usual piss-poor effort and ended up actually coming away with a victory, for only the 16th time this year.

KICK GAME!

2008-02-19T21:23:00.009-05:00

A few months back, Sean Malcolm, my former cube-mate at KING magazine, assigned me the sweet task of speaking with both Gilbert Arenas and Chris Paul about their places on the covers of NBA Live '08 and NBA 2K8 respectively. The interviews were eventually published in the November '07 issue of KING and I kind of didn't think much about them after that. Agent Zero has sat out most of the season with an injury and Chris Paul's career couldn't be in more full swing.

Last week, I noticed (quite delayed) that Adidas, Arenas' shoe of choice, made a special NBA LIVE / EA SPORTS version of their Team Signature sneakers in honor of their man's presence on the cover of their magazine. More accurately known as the Men’s TS Lightswitch Low (EA Sports) they seem way more suited for off court than on. However, playing in sneakers below the ankle is an acquired taste. I mentioned my discovery to my esteemed superior editor, Khalid Salaam, who promptly placed a call to the three-stripe folks and had them send me over a pair.

I missed work Friday (flu bug) and made it in to work today, Tuesday, to find a fresh pair of said sneakers (with Khalids name on them) set aside for me to check out. Not only did I check them out, but I rocked them for the majority of the day.

By coincidence, a freelance assignment had me speaking with Chris Paul about his new signature sneaker from Jordan. The kick features the number 61 (in honor of the age his grandfather was when he was murdered) and the name, SKIP, on the inner tongue (to honor his college coach, Skip Prosser, who passed away late last year).

While Adidas promptly put in my request for the kicks pictured above, Jordan brand claimed they lacked the product. So, I doubt I will be able to bring original photos of a pair of Chris Paul Jordan brand kicks to this blog. Their loss!

Westchester Monarchs Sign Rupel

2008-02-13T17:48:00.009-05:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my friend Benny Rupel was rocking k1x gear and some Shirts & Skins shorts that found its way to him from the SLAM Dome in a recent semi pro tryout. Well, Benny did in fact make the 12-man roster and is now a member of the Westchester Monarchs of the National Professional Basketball League, a union of weekend warriors playing for just about gas money. If you're in Elmira, NY, Rockland County, NY, Westchester, NY, Alexandria, VA or Maryland, the NPBL might be worth a look.

This photo was taken from the Monarch's website.

SLAM & CAPUTO PRESENT...S K I L L Z

2008-02-13T10:15:00.006-05:00

Last week, SLAM in-house video wiz, Matt Sheridan, and I took a ride up to ritzy Fairfield County to produce a ball handling video for SLAM Online. Fairfield U Assistant Coach, Aki Collins, is a cool cat and was happy to have two of his junior guards, Jon Han and Herbie Allen, break down some basic ball handling drills for our audience.

While Matt and I were going over the film after the shoot, Ben Osborne brought the fact that SLAM, the magazine, once featured a section called "Skillz" to my attention. I hadn't exactly ironed out a name for the series yet. I was leaning toward "Drill Tips," for some perverse reason. I think it's best to go with "Skillz" because it was already a part of the magazine. With the addition of the video element, it's totally just a fresh take on an old trick.

I've got some other teams lined up to lend us a hand in the development of these flicks. It's cool beacause, since the videos are free in both cost of viewing and of a sponsor (i.e. Strength Shoes or Wonder Rim) everyone with access to a computer can benefit from checking out these drills. See you in the park.

THEN AND NOW: SHAQ

2008-02-08T14:12:00.001-05:00

Shaq O'Neal is on the move once again, out west (again), to prove his legs aren't as rusty as they have appeared throughout this season (also, again). It's unclear how he will fit into the Suns run and gun mentality. Someone told me they imagine he will be three plays behind the rest of his team on every play.

Starting with his role in the Nick Nolte-classic Blue Chips, Shaq became an instant celebrity and grew into one of the most dominant players ever to come into the NBA. Certainly the most dominant big man. His foot work was long underrated and, although he couldn't sink a free throw to save his life, how the hell can you argue with the four championships rings he earned?
I don't know if Shaq makes the SUNS a championship squad, or even a better team at all. The Heat certainly got the youth out of the deal. It leaves the question of if O'Neal doesn't get win a title this year, will he ever win another one?

Since it's, kinda, political season, O'Neal is starting to remind me of our of our ex-presidents. Much like former country czar, Bill Clinton, O'Neal is pressing his luck by claiming to want four more championshp rings to create an even six. He's won his titles, earned his respect, and probably should have ended his career when the Heat took home the title two years ago. He was on top of the world; he'd won a world championship with the Heat, practically by himself.

Now Shaq faces the challenge of continuing to play in the later years and, so he says, still trying to win championships? Doesn't Shaq realize he doesn't need to prove anything?

Legend in Two Games

2008-02-08T11:38:00.001-05:00

Dual Citizen:

Too Real for The League

Pee Wee Kirkland turned down a whole bunch of money from the Lakers to stay in New York and hustle that shit. Today, he's turned his life around and gives clinics around the city. Although he'll live in infamy as a street icon of the back blocks, Kirkland's legacy as a blacktop legend has brought out the best in who he is.

I found this link to a new article about Pee Wee on ESPN.COM's Page 2

VIDEO LINK

2008-02-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

SLAM TV:
Who is Wilson Chandler?

At my day-job with SLAM, I've been working on building video content for our website with our in-house director, Matt Sheridan. I've been trying to produce videos that may be a little off-beat and/or helpful to players. For our first video, we kept it simple and drove up to Westchester to hang with Knicks rookie Wilson Chandler for the day. Chandler was real cool about kicking it with us, we passed by the courts of my old college and went with him to get his dome clipped. Hopefully, he'll make it off the bench a little more in the second half of the season.

As a Knick fan and producer of the video, I know who Chandler (left) is from seeing him play in the seven games he has appeared in. However, The identity of the other guy in the photo above remains a mystery.

BASKETBALL MAGAZINE WATCH

2008-02-07T13:24:00.001-05:00

SLAM #116:
Lebron Trio

Newest issue of SLAM features a dope story on Isiah "JR" Rider. Also a dope Baron Davis poster, cool story on Chris Paul and an awesome SLAM Classsic section dedicated to Converse and it's gigantic impact on the history of hoops.

KICK GAME!

2008-02-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

K1X:
Originals

Last week, while making the rounds through this busy city I came across a pair of k1x cheifgliders. I can't say where I got them, but I can say I've wanted a pair of these things for years. Here is a quick look at these cult classic kicks. Peep the old-school "Naismith-era" basketball on the side. chiefgliders, Rucker Edition. As my sources say, they are very hard to come by in the U.S. and are unlawful to ship into the country.

These kicks date back to when Zach Marbury, Steph's little brother, was one of the German brand's first endorsers. Since then, Ron Artest and rapper Joel Ortiz has rocked k1x and more recently street ball king Corey "Homicide" Williams.

Random Hoops Photo

2008-02-07T12:06:00.001-05:00

NPBL TRYOUT:

snapshot

After a long hiatus, I'm hoping to resurrect HoopsArchive.com. It's a passion project I have surely missed. Writing about random happenings in hoops is something very dear to me. I want to try and document the games I go to, practices and tryouts I visit, and sneakers and roundballs I encounter. While I already blog, and write features for SLAM ONLINE, Hoops Archive is a place I'd like to store random basketball related things that might night exactly fit into the context of a story. You'll find stories about small time hoops, links to other stories, pictures of sneakers and courts I've seen. If you're really into hoops, this may be a cool place to keep coming to.

For instance, this photo is over a recent tryout of the National Professional Basketball League. Pictures (in the black tank top) is Ben Rupel, my college buddy. In this picture, Benny rocks a jersey fron k1x and some Shirts & Skins shorts he got from me. Benny, who does a lot of promo work for us at SLAM, is attempting to make a semi-pro club called the "Westchester Monarchs."

I wish him luck.

2007-05-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

Been Trying to Tell Ya:
Study Shows Signs of Favortism in NBA

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/sports/basketball/02refs.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The New York Times, and the Associated Press, reported that a team of Ivy Leaguers conducted a study in which they concluded that there is a race bias in the refereeing of NBA games. Nice work guys, addressing race in the NBA is interesting and a totally valid point for conversation. But, my question is, with all the diversity and different ethnicities represented in the game does the NBA have a race problem or an image problem? Did the NBA have a race problem before this article came out? I'd love to hear from anyone who might be reading.

2007-04-28T20:16:00.001-05:00

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE GILBERT ARNEAS?:
Zero GP for Zero in the Playoffs

What happened here? The WIZARDS were great at the start of the season but, with the loss of Caron Bulter and Gilbert Arenas Washington has fallen behind three games to none against Cleveland. The loss of both Arenas and Butler from the playoffs not only lead to a preeminent sweep but took a ton of thunder out of the CAVS-WIZARDS first-round rematch from last year.

Antawn Jamison had 38 points and 11 rebounds in nearly every minute of the six-point loss to Cleveland. LeBron James and his 30 points, 9 dimes and six boards. I feel like a win today would have given the Wiz a second chance to fight back and/or tease the audience. Jamison is a guy who never lacked talent, I'm sure the Lakers and the Raptors would love to have him right now.

Another bright spot is Antonio Daniels, who might be relying less on his leaping abilities, has proving his worth. His numbers went up in each of the three games and in the third game, today, he left 20 points and 13 assists, 4 boards, 1 block, 1 steal and only one turnover behind. That's a nearly game, truly great point guard numbers. It's been his play in the playoffs that have earned Antonio Daniels nice contracts, he's got the ring with the Spurs to prove it. I could only see Daniels playing better or in a more complimentary capacity when Arenas was healthy. With no sign of return from "Zero to Hero," hey "There is always next year.

1 2 3 4 T
Cleveland 26 35 16 21 98
Washington 22 22 31 17 92

2007-04-27T12:41:00.000-05:00

Devin "James" Brown:
R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Nice to see hard work pay off.

**FROM NBA.COM**
Hornets Swarm into Salina
Hornets guard Devin Brown's jersey to be retired by USBL team

Oklahoma City - The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that guard Devin Brown and members of the Honeybees dance team will make a special appearance at a United States Basketball League (USBL) game in Salina, Kansas on Friday, April 27.The Kansas Cagerz of the USBL will retire Brown's number 14 jersey to honor his career with the team. In 2002 he was named the USBL Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.3 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Cagerz.

"This is a real honor for me," said Brown, who was then named MVP of the NBA Development League one year later. "The USBL played a huge role in my professional development and the experience I gained there helped me to become the player I am today."

In addition to Brown's jersey retirement, the Honeybees will be in attendance performing throughout the game and at halftime, and will be available for a pre-game autograph session.

2007-04-27T12:12:00.000-05:00

KOBE BRYANT:
BENDING OVER BACKWARDS

Despite only scoring 15 points in game 2, Kobe Bryant has put the L.A. LAKERS on his back, and last night he got his second wind. His 45 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds gave the LAKERS their first playoff win against a SUNS team that had been blazing hot. With all the hype surrounding Lebron, Josh Howard and Kevin Durrant and Greg Oden, it's hard to ignore what K/O/B/E has done for a team that doesn't even have a solid point guard, let alone a second option. Withot a true center and a true second scorer, the LAKERS will have to relay on getting the ball to Kobe and scoring on every easy basket they can. Jordan Farmer can't be held responsible for the ball control troubles, neither can Smush Parker, they're both back-ups in this league. Matter of fact, I don't see either of them starting in the league. Farmer and Smush can only hope to stay in the league. You can't bank on the LAKERS making it to the finals. The west is just too deep for the LAKERS to get past, but I wonder if Kobe see this series as a moment of truth, a chance to prove he's a champion in his own right?

Shaq proved he could get to the NBA finals again and, in fact, he proved he could win. I hate Kobe and I posted on him twice in a short span. You can't deny his talent but, what is it that holds him back from his very own personal chip?

2007-04-24T10:36:00.000-05:00

SEBASTION TELFAIR:
Blame Him Too

I know I should be talking about the playoffs but just so you know, with all that's wrong in the world, it's ok to give hip-hop a break. Sure, rappers appear to promote all kinds of negativity with their music, but what about when well paid athletes revert to acting like street-thugs. I mean, I hate to point Telfair out, but it's about time. He's been given everything. He was on the covers of SLAM and Sports Illustrated way before he was drafted into the NBA. He's a relative of Stephon Marbury and was given the best the basketball world had to offer before he was a pro. However, the Boston Celtics reserve point guard was arrested in New York for having a gun in his car. This, if I am correct, is the second time since coming into the league that Sebastion has caught a gun charge. He was also allegedly involved in an altercation with fellow-Brooklynite and rapper Fabolous. Some reports about the weekends arrest, which may not be accurate, say Telfair's car smelled like weed, making it seem as if Telfair was celebrating 420 (April 20= Stoner's New Years). I just want to step out and say that NBA guys should stick to basketball and stay out of trouble.

Message to NBA players: You're not so hood, street or gangster. The fact that you made it as far as the NBA proves that someone guided you, someone saw something in you and wanted you to make the right decisions. Furthermore, it shows you made smart choices. Why does a kid who has been a millionaire since he was 18-years-old need to have a gun at all? Hire body guards, travel in numbers - don't hold gats!

If you've read my previous posts and article on ProBasketballNews.com, you'll learn that there is an entire lost generation of would-have been superstars that fucked-up their chances at the NBA. As a New Yorker, I pray Telfair will have what it takes to stay in the NBA 10-years.

Hey Sebastion: Read the short sports blurbs in the Post, Daily News or Boston Globe, guys fall out of the NBA everyday. Try not to lose your spot. I'm not trying to wrongfully blame the NBA or hip-hop for that matter for the V-Tech shootings or anything. I don't really see the relationship there. But I do know that there are enough bad influences in the world for kids, NBA players don't need to add to those poor influences.

2007-04-22T18:55:00.000-05:00

WELCOME TO THE PARTY GREG!:
Now that the dancing is done, is Greg Oden ready for the draft?

After claiming ignorance in egard to his draft status since he after the NCAA National Championship, Greg Oden is going to the NBA. While some though he might test his morals and return to Columbus, Oden is opting for the sure thing and entering the draft. With Red Sox season is in full swing, Boston fans can start getting wet about the possibility of Oden resurrecting a Boston CELTICS franchise that seems to have lost it's way. Hope he can handle the pressure, luckily for him girls from Boston aren't good dancers either.

2007-04-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

NBA PLAYOFFS '07:
SUNS burn LAKERS, but Kobe rapes competition

SUNS 95
LAKERS 87
SUNS LEAD 1-0

Kobe Bryant's LAKERS looked a bit sluggish against the SUNS today. It's clear that Kobe Bryant is the go-getter for the showtime-less lake show, 39 points and a double-double from Lamar Odom Couldn't keep Phil Jackson's squad in it. Jared Farmar and Smush Parker have to be the worst two options at point guard in the NBA. Bryant's career is under a microscope, but really, if he can lead his LAKERS past the ultra-offensive SUNS they NBA should have a holiday for him.

CAVS 97
WIZARDS 82
Cavs lead 1-0

For a minute, the Antwan Jamison and Jarvis Hayes really had me thinking that the Wizards could pull out an upset and set the pace for a hard fought series that they would probably loose. But midway through the third quarter they came apart. Antonio Daniels, who John Thompson couldn't give enough pats on the back, left 11 assists on the floor and quarterbacked a Wizards team that was missing their biggest guns, Arenas and Butler. Lebron James and Larry Hughes combined for 50 points and 14 rebounds while powering a young Cavs team past a depleted line-up.

2007-04-22T08:49:00.000-05:00

2007 D-LEAGUE EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS:
Dakota Wizards

Homicide's text let me know that the only team that stood in front of his Dakota Wizards were the Sioux Falls SkyForce. Well, they didn't stand in the way for too long.

2007-04-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

UTAH COULD NEVER BE COOL:
Utah Clash?

How unoriginal. It's soo not gangster to name a minor league hoops team, let alone a D-League team, after the old San Diego MLS team dropped "The Clash" for "The EarthQuakes." I was feeling "The Clash" the first time, I'll admit, but it was original then. The Utah Clash should revert to the logo-less format the league was founded with. Possibly just the D-League logo and the name, Utah. Why not just name the team the "The Bad Ideas."

2007-04-16T19:57:00.000-05:00

ALBANY PATROONS (BACK-UP) MASCOT:
Inactive List

R.Fiore is the back-up mascot for the Albany Patroons of the CBA and USBL. A lot of guys on this site, guys featured in the videos are outside the NBA. Fiore, for example, is one of the true raw talents who with the right kind of exposure could have an impact in the league. It's hard to say if we'll see him parading the stands of Madison Square Garden or The Staples Center, but for now he's inspiring an entire generation of new fans in Albany. When the regular mascot has a cold that is.

2007-04-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

USBL:
OPEN SEASON

****From the ALBANY TIMES-UNION****

Patroons' situation is a comedy
Albany wins subplot extravaganza

By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Saturday, April 14, 2007

ALBANY -- A half-hour before game time, the Albany Patroons' uniforms hadn't arrived at Washington Avenue Armory.

Their opponents for the United States Basketball League opener, the New Jersey Meteors, didn't have enough players. Oh, they also didn't have a coach.

Before the game started, the Patroons allowed the Meteors to borrow one of their players, Darius Mattear. But only for the night.

The Patroons' USBL debut could have been a pilot for a situation comedy.

With so many crazy subplots, the outcome was predictable.

The Patroons rolled over the Meteors 128-70 in front of about 350 people. The Patroons did not release a crowd figure nor did they supply a full box score.

"I don't think it was bad at all considering everything," said Jim Coyne, the Patroons' general manager. "This was a good workout for us."

Marvin Phillips led the Patroons with 21 points and Shamon Antrum had 19 points. Former Siena standout Antoine Jordan had 17 and former Syracuse center Craig Forth from East Greenbush had nine points.

The New Jersey franchise originally was supposed to play in Boston but the ownership pulled out at the last minute. Their new home is Monmouth, N.J., but they came to Albany without a coach and without enough players.

The Patroons not only lent them Mattear but also gave the Meteors three players they cut from their roster on Thursday night: A.J. Danzy, Prince Jackson of Schenectady and Aquawasi St. Hillaire, who played at the University at Albany.

"We wanted to help them out," said Albany coach Patrick O'Herron.

If he hadn't, there would have been no game.

Right after the game started, the Meteors' roster swelled to eight when two former Albany High players, Lloyd Johnson and Makael Brace, came running out of the New Jersey locker room to join their team for the night.

And to make things even more bizarre, the coach of the Meteors was Dennis Truax, the director of operations for the Continental Basketball Association. Truax said he wasn't coaching, just doing a favor for USBL commissioner Dan Meisenheimer. Truax worked for the USBL from 1999-2004.

Walter Brand, who was acting assistant coach, said Truax was the head coach for the night.

"I was just on the bench after a request from the USBL," Truax said. "I'm just going to sit there and make sure chaos doesn't break out."

With the ragtag bunch the New Jersey team assembled, it might not have mattered if Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach and Adolph Rupp were coaching the Meteors.

Despite looking more like a preseason scrimmage, there were die-hard Patroons fans at the Armory who said they enjoyed themselves and would come back.

"I'll be back," said Tracy Moroney of Latham, who has season tickets. "This is still good basketball. They all want to play."

Albany's Tom Towsley, who has had courtside seats since the early 1980s when the Patroons first played here, considers himself a rabid fan of the CBA Patroons.

He was not going to pass judgment on the quality of play in one game. He'll be in his same seat Saturday night when the Patroons play their second of 15 USBL home games. The opponent is the Brooklyn Kings.

"This was a game between the Patroons we kept against the team we didn't keep," Towsley said. "This team is a work in progress. They'll be all right."

2007-04-14T13:12:00.000-05:00

KEITH CLOSS:
You Got Served

Keith Closs lead the country in blocked shots while at Central Connecticut State University. He left school after only two years, played in the tiny Atlantic Basketball Association and was later brought into the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers via the FILA Summer League. Here, on a fast break, Closs gets caught trying to block a fierce leaper in Antonio Daniels. If anything, this dunk says something about Antonio, Closs is clearly trying.

Keith Mitchell Closs (born April 3, 1976 in Hartford, Connecticut) is notorious for his assorted hairstyles. The 7-foot 3-inch Closs played three years with the Los Angeles Clippers from 1997 to 2000. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game during his career. After logging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals during the 1999-2000 NBA season, Closs's NBA career ended as unassumingly as it began.

He's moved around, joining for the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs of the USBL in 2003, the Gary Stealheads, Rockford Lightining and Detroit, SoCal, and Orange Country in the ABA. He has also played in Italy, Mexico and the old-IBL. As of January 14, 2007 Closs was the leading shot blocker in the CBA at 2.9 blocks per game with the Butte Daredevils.In January 2007, He signed with the Buffalo Silverbacks of the ABA. Above Antonio Daniels makes him look real silly and below an angry mob beats his ass.

* Closs was once caught on film participating in a violent fistfight after an altercation at a Los Angeles-area nightclub. [1]

* Closs led the nation in blocks his first two years in college. After his second year, he left Central Connecticut State for the NBA.

* Holds the Clippers' record for most Blocked Shots per 48 minutes (4.7505).

2007-04-14T08:07:00.000-05:00

SHAWN BRADLEY:
Gets Dunked On By Everyone

This highlight video shows my favorite Morman, Shawn Bradley, being dunked on by some of the best dunkers in the league. Oh yeah, George Muresan too. What a waste of height.

*I can't totally hate on him.

2007-04-14T04:01:00.000-05:00

INTRODUCING:
TEAM K1X

Homicide hit me on the text tonight. He's got a full line of gear coming from K1X, the Homicide Collection. Here are the ballers who have been behind their ads for a few years now.

2007-04-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

NIKE FREESTYLE COMMERCIAL:
EXTENDED PLAY

2007-04-13T15:24:00.000-05:00

NBA D-League MVP:
Randy Livingston, Idaho Stampede

**FROM NBA.COM**

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 12, 2007 – Guard Randy Livingston has been named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2006-07 season. Livingston, who was signed by the Seattle Sonics on April 11 from the Idaho Stampede, was selected by a vote of the D-League’s head coaches.

Livingston signed to the Seattle SuperSonics at the end of the D-League season. At the time he became the 21st Gatorade Call-Up of the season, Livingston, 6-4, 210, was leading the D-League in assists per game at 10.6, while averaging 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 39.3 minutes in 46 games. His 488 assists are a new D-League single-season record. The Stampede was 29-17 with Livingston in the lineup.

"From a coaching standpoint, Randy was the most valuable player to any team in this league. We would not be where we are without him, " said Idaho coach Bryan Gates, who was named the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year on April 11. "From a friendship standpoint, I couldn't be happier for Randy. There is no one more deserving."

Named to the 2006-07 All-NBA Development League Gatorade First Team, Livingston dished out double-digit assists in 26 games this season, recording 16 double-doubles and two triple-doubles. His 20 assists against Anaheim on March 3 are good enough to share the league single-game record with Cedric Bozeman (Albuquerque) and Will Conroy (Tulsa, now Los Angeles Clippers). He was also selected to play in the inaugural Gillette D-League All-Star Game in association with 24 Hour Fitness in Las Vegas, but was forced to sit out the game due to injury.

“Randy Livingston enjoyed a superlative season this year,” said D-League Vice-President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert. “His leadership, court vision, passing ability, unselfishness, and competitiveness are some of the key reasons for Idaho's tremendous season.

“Our coaches recognize that Randy's contributions to his team's success go far beyond his ability to score points,” said Alpert. “He sets the tone for the Stampede on the offensive and defensive end of the floor, as well as in the lockerroom.”

Livingston joins Ansu Sesay (Greenville, 2002) current NOK Hornet Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2003), Tierre Brown (Charleston, 2004), current Charlotte Bobcat Matt Carroll (Roanoke, 2005) and Marcus Fizer (2006) as winners of the D-League Most Valuable Player Award.

2007-04-13T13:10:00.000-05:00

SPRINGS STREET:
I STOLE THIS FROM DIMEMAG.TV, DEAL WITH IT!

Check out the kid Springs. See what they hype is about.

2007-04-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

CBA ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS:
THIRD STRING ALL-STARS

While many believe the CBA (Continental Basketball Association) perished after Isiah Thomas bought the league and then bolted to the NBA when he couldn't make things work. This is false! While the current CBA really has no connection to the "CBA" that had sixty years of history to leave behind, it is the reincarnation of the IBA, a league that existed between 1995 and 2001. While the IBA did draw a number of talented players like Garth Joseph and Damon Jones who went onto the NBA, it also featured cats like Arthur Agee, of HOOP DREAMS fame, and even Ed "Booger" Smith who never saw their pro basketball dreams fullfilled. The CBA is, in fact, still playing games. While the level of competition of this CBA has not reach that of it's predecessor (not one player was called up from the CBA to the NBA this year) it still features some of the better players outside the NBA and even an racial-slurring Michael Ray Richardson.

FROM CBA HOOPS ONLINE
Albany, NY, April 11, 2007 – The Continental Basketball Association today announced their annual All-League selections. These selections are voted upon by the seven member head coaches.

To be eligible, players must have played in 24 games (1/2 of the 48 game schedule) and be in good standing with the CBA. Coaches could not vote for their own players.

FIRST TEAM

Galen Young - Yakama Sun Kings
Young has proved himself as the go-to guy for the CBA champion Yakama Sun Kings all season long. Young’s 6.6 assists per game led the CBA this season. He also averaged 15.6 points per game and 7.3 rebounds in 46 contests, and compiled a 1.57 assist-to-turnover ratio. Young is the tallest player, 6-7, to ever lead the CBA in assists. For these accomplishments, Young was awarded the Most Valuable Player earlier in the post-season.

Young earned three of the CBA’s six triple-doubles this season, including back-to-back triple-doubles on December 8th and 10th that earned him Player of the Week Honors. This was the first time a player had back-to-back triple-doubles since former Sun King David Vanderpool achieved this in the 2001 season. Young was named to the 2007 CBA All-Star Team, and has proven to be a leader and role model both on and off the court for the Sun Kings.

Jamario Moon - Albany Patroons
Moon averaged 2.4 blocks and 1.9 steals a game in his 44 games for the Patroons, finishing with 107 blocks and 86 steals on the season. The 2.4 blocks a game was good for second overall and the 1.9 steals a game was good for third in the CBA this season. The 6-8, 210-pound forward finished with the season with 18.8 points, and 7.5 rebounds per game for the American Conference Champions. Moon, an all-time crowd favorite in Albany for his amazing dunking ability, was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year award for his steller play this season.

Shaun Fountain - Indiana Alleycats
Fountain, a 2001 graduate from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, distinguished himself as the Alley Cats' top statistical powerhouse. He finished the season as the league's leading scorer, with 23.0 points per contest; he also led the CBA in steals (2.5 spg); only Galen Young surpassed Fountain's 5.9 assists per game this season.

A member of the 2007 American Conference CBA All-Star Team, Fountain had two season-high games of 8 steals, on December 10th and December 31st. He was also named Player of the Week on March 5th, 2007, averaging 33.3 points that week. Fountain was also awarded the Newcomer of the Year award.

Ralph Holmes - Yakama Sun Kings
Holmes averaged 19.7 points, and 6.2 rebounds for the champion Sun Kings. Holmes was a member of the 2006 All-Rookie team and was named the 2007 CBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player for his 25 point perfromance in a 134-131 overtime victory. Holmes was also named to the All-Defensive squad, helping the Sun Kings in allowing a CBA low 94.4 points a game this season. Holmes had 1.8 steals a game, good for fourth in the CBA this season.

Desmond Ferguson - Minot Skyrockets
Ferguson led the CBA in both free throw percentage (88.5%) and three point field goal percentage (47.7 %), the first time ever in CBA history that this was accomplished. Ferguson also led the CBA in three pointers made, 168, good for second all-time. Ferguson averaged 20.6 points a game for the Skyrockets as they finished with a 31-17 record, good for second in the American Conference. Ferguson was also a member of the 2007 American Conference All-Star team.

SECOND TEAM

Ray Cunningham - Minot Skyrockets
Cunningham made quite the impression on CBA head coaches in his inaugural season in the CBA. Cunningham averaged 17.4 points and 7.4 rebounds a game for the Skyrockets. Cunningham has a member of the 2007 American Conference All-Star team, who found himself guarding multiple positions every night for Minot. Cunningham also 2.5 offensive rebounds a game for the Skyrockets.

Nick VanderLaan - Butte Daredevils
The Concordia-Irvine product led the CBA in rebounds this season, pulling down 11.7 a game. VanderLaan also led the league ion offensive rebounds with 3.6 a game. Known for his hustle and tenacity on both ends of the court, VanderLaan pulled down a league high 25 rebounds in a single game this season. VanderLaan was also a member of the National Conference All-Star team, where he pulled down 16 rebounds in the contest.

Odell Bradley - Butte Daredevils
Bradley showed his unique game to the CBA fans for the first time and they were not disappointed. Bradley 18.9 points and 3.7 rebounds a game for the Daredevils. Bradley was able to score a majority of baskets on the block, different for a player only 6-4. Bradley also averaged a steal per game for Butte.

Carl Edwards - Indiana Alleycats
Edwards was part of a dynamic duo of guards with first team selection Shaun Fountain. Edwards averaged 22.1 points a game, good for second overall in the CBA this season. The high flying Edwards twice made 17 field goals in a game, best in the CBA. Edwards started the season slowly as he was felled by various injuries, but over the last 20 games, he averaged 29 points a game.

Jamar Howard - Great Falls Explorers
Howard was a steady hand all season long for the Explorers. Able to do all the little things that sometimes don't show up in a box score, Howard still managed to average 13.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 steals a game in Great Falls. Howard was also considered one of the best on the ball defenders in the CBA this season.

2007-04-13T09:57:00.000-05:00

HOOK PLUG:
"Hook" Mitchell.

At work this morning I decided to throw in the HOOKED DVD, about the legendary California-bred highriser who was said to have been better than all of his Oakland peers, including Gary Payton, Brian Shaw, Antonio Davis, Brian Shaw and Jeff Foster. His career, ending at a Contra Costa (CA) Community College was totally derailed by drugs. He endured years of highs, lows and prison stints while wasting away what everyone thought was can't miss NBA talent. Even at 5-foot-9 he was one of the best leapers the game of basketball has ever seen. Anybody who really likes basketball should see the DVD.

*P.S. I'm working on an essay on the basketball asthetic. Hold on to your seats!

2007-04-12T12:29:00.000-05:00

MARCO BELINELLI:
TAKE THAT TOO!

He's the next best thing since the next best guy from overseas.

2007-04-12T12:01:00.000-05:00

MARCO BELINELLI:
Italian Kobe

Here is a guy from Europe that scored when I saw him play. And even though I had to wake up early, watching him play didn't require any travel. Not even to leave my bedroom thanks to last summers World Championships.

2007-04-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

NBA BROKEN ANKLE REPORT

That Yinka Dare sucked in ball, but he can put together sone tight basketball videos.

2007-04-11T22:35:00.000-05:00

NIKE BATTLEGROUNDS DUNK CONTEST:
Belgium

2007-04-11T22:27:00.000-05:00

GOD SHAMMGOD:
Right Past You

This clip almost does Shammgod Justice. Did everyone check the new SLAM feature on him? Alan Paul, the writer, lives in china where his wife was transferred to work with the Wall Srteet Journal. He might very well be my favorite hoops writer of all time. Get the new issue with the SUNS trio on the cover.

2007-04-11T15:56:00.000-05:00

PAUL McPHERSON:
Frequent Flyer

McPherson, of NIKE Battlegrounds and the first Down Low: D-League TV show, played brielfy with the SUNS and WARRIORS in he NBA. He's probably one of the most deadly players walking the streets. Check this f*cker out.

2007-04-11T15:20:00.000-05:00

1986 CBA ALL-STAR GAME:
MILLION DOLLAR BASKET

Two, very 1980's, CBA fans shoot deep jumpers for One Million Dollars.

2007-04-11T15:01:00.000-05:00

2006-2007 ABA CHAMPION:
Vermont Frost Heaves

So I don't know how the ABA playoff boiled down, it's always something with that league. This year, the Vermond Frost Heaves took the title from the Texas Tycoons and captured the league title in their first season. Kevin Mickens, who played for my brother at George Mason, got a lot of minutes for Vermont this year. If you check on previous posts, you'll notice I saw them play twice this year. Hopefully, the few quality franchises that operate outside the D-League (Albany Patroons, Vermont Frost Heaves and the Rodchester RazorSharks) will step up into down low soon.

2007-04-11T11:47:00.000-05:00

STREETBALL:
Almost That Time of Year Again

I have laced up my sneakers and donned shorts every day this week and I've been dissapointed. The courts are cold and there aren't ever enough guys shooting around to even play 2-on-2. Those in the shoort around are wear long pants and sleeves at that, so, no real game could even be played. I think of this cover ever time I think of playground ball. Booger Smith was something like a shooting star who missed his window to be great, or get his chance at being great. Maybe I'll throw some videos of Boogs doing his thing up a little later, but for now, use the cover as inspiration to pull your basketball kids from the trunk and wash your only shorts.

2007-04-11T11:25:00.000-05:00

2007 USBL DRAFT

ROUND 1
# TEAM NAME POS SCHOOL
1 (ALB) Michael Haddix C Siena
2 (GARY) Chris Richard F/C Florida
3 (DEL) Troy Roundtree F Delaware State
4 (JAX) Trey Johnson G Jackson State
5 (NJ) Kevin Kruger G UNLV
6 (KAN) Cartier Martin G/F Kansas State
7 (LI) Loren Stokes G Hofstra
8 (BRK) Justin Marshall F Iona
9 (DC) Joel Anthony C UNLV
10 (OK) Nate Carter G/F Oklahoma

ROUND 2
# TEAM NAME POS SCHOOL
1 (GARY) James Hughes C N. Illinois
2 (DEL) Will Sheridan F Villanova
3 (JAX) Delvin Thompson G Alcorn State
4 (NJ) Darryl Watkins C Syracuse
5 (KAN) Oliver Lafayette G Houston
6 (LI) James Smith F/C Marist
7 (BRK) Carl Elliott G George Washington
8 (DC) Rashad Jones-Jennings F Arkansas
9 (OK) Gary Nunez F N.W. Oklahoma State
10 (ALB) Jamar Wilson G Albany

ROUND 3
# TEAM NAME POS SCHOOL
1 (DEL) Christian Burns C Philadelphia
2 (JAX) Stephane Lasme F UMASS
3 (NJ) Russell Carter G Notre Dame
4 (KAN) Darnell Lazare F LSU
5 (LI) Aaron Spears F St. John's
6 (BRK) Bashir Mason G Drexel
7 (DC) Caleb Green F Oral Roberts
8 (OK) Mario Boggan F Oklahoma State
9 (ALB) Rashaun Freeman C UMASS
10 (GARY) Courtney Sims C Michigan

ROUND 4
# TEAM NAME POS SCHOOL
1 (JAX) Alan Wiggins F Univ. San Franscico
2 (NJ) Marquis Webb G Rutgers
3 (KAN) Marcus Faubion G Kansas Wesleyan
4 (LI) Keston Roberts G Youngstown State
5 (BRK) Clayton Morgan F Longwood
6 (DC) Levi Stukes G Georgia
7 (OK) Charles Ramsdell F/C Tulsa
8 (ALB) Jared Jordan G Marist
9 (GARY) Colin Falls G Notre Dame
10 (DEL) Chaz Crawford C Drexel

2007-04-11T11:18:00.000-05:00

KENNY ANDERSON:
The King of Queens

Ben Osborne from SLAM has Mark Jackson, I guess I have Kenny Anderson. A natural lefty, who started out games going to his right hand, Kenny A could take anyone off the dribble. He reminds John Stockton of that right here. Too bad his talentless wife Tami, from Mtv THE REAL WORLD, took all his money. Hope we don't catch him playing in the USBL for the $250 dollars a week.

2007-04-11T09:55:00.000-05:00

KOBE BRYANT:
MR.40/40, And I Ain't Talking Jose Canseco

With all the scoring Kobe has done lately, keeping the Lakers a valid team, it's time HoopsArchive pays him a little tribute. Seeing as Phil Jackson feels like the Lakers can gain enough momentum to carry themselves deep in the playoffs, it's nice to be reminded of Kobe at his best.

2007-04-11T09:48:00.000-05:00

PRINCETON 43 UCLA 41:
Royal Ivy Upset from the Past

I was looking for a video to compliment the post I did on former Princeton Tigers point guard Brian Earl, but I thought this cool clip was worth a look for anyone who likes to see a good upset. Simply put, hard work pays off.

2007-04-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

STEVE FRANCIS:
21 minutes, 4 points, 2 technical fouls

Last night with the Knicks ahead only 3 points and behind 5 players, Steve Francis caught himself a double technical foul and essentially took the Knicks down and out of the game. It's sad because Francis never popped-off in the league like he was supposed to. A few good seasons were followed by a few not so good seasons and now a irregular role with the Knicks, where he averages just 10 points. He had a cold and deadly game that could hurt you early and break you down the entire game. Braving an injury by taking the court, his 4 points and tough play was over shadowed by late game stupidity. Francis' Double-T proved cold and deadly for a deleted Knicks squad, who are all but totally erased from the playoff forecast.

2007-04-10T09:29:00.000-05:00

CHAUNCEY BILLUPS:
NO Turnovers!

Last night, playing a whole lots of minutes for the Detroit Pistons against the Knicks at Madison Square Gadren, Chauncey Billups did not turn the ball over once! Coaching kids, you see the little guys all trying to be Steve Nash and since the Starbury craze, Steph, but the names John Stockton and Kevin Johnson have been lost in the history books. Instilling a healthy turnover rules in a young point guard should be put in an as serious as a context as not talking to strangers, "Just Say(ing) no and always using protection. While I commend Mardy Collins for his excellent play for the Knicks in the last 5 games, there is little margin for error, he must be just a bit more careful with the ball. It's early to see where the Knicks will go this summer, but it looks like Collins will earn himself a pention. Games are won and lost by deciding factors and turnovers are the most common of said factors.

2007-04-09T15:09:00.000-05:00

Turkish Hoops Magazine:
Corona, Queens / Where Half of my crew be @

Wanted to throw this joint on the site. This is some Turkish hoops magazine, Henry "Antoine" Dobie, who played at Msrg.McClancy in East Elmhurst, Queens, later at LIU-Brooklyn and now with the Brooklyn Kings when in the states. Dobie and I are tight and we go back and forth on myspace sometimes. Be on the lookout for Dobie all summer in NYC.

2007-04-09T14:59:00.000-05:00

Dr.J:
G.O.A.T.

This one is for all the wack basketball website ya'll are, painfully, obviously going to instead of this site.

2007-04-09T14:13:00.000-05:00

Pee Wee Kirkland:
Pimp Game

I boughted "Hooked," the documentary about Hook Mitchell from the West Coast and was wanting to introduce Pee Wee Kirkland to the site. Doing a quick look around YouTube. This nice segment about Pee Wee does the trick

2007-04-09T07:42:00.000-05:00

EDDIE CURRY:
They Robbed Him in Vegas

Who says Eddie Curry isn't an All-Star? ...And now to return to the phrase that we love so dearly here in New York "There is always next year."

2007-04-07T12:10:00.000-05:00

RICKY RUBIO:
Young Stunna!

Take this as a post that will last you all-weekend. Ricky Rubio, 16-year-old Spanish basketball boy-wonder, drops 51 points against Russia or Someplace in the European Cahmpionship. This is that game in its entirety.

2007-04-06T11:17:00.000-05:00

MARDY COLLINS:
KNICKS BRAWL

He's proving he runs the point as well as he takes a punch from and a national champion and NBA All-Star (see Carmelo Anthony).

2007-04-06T11:03:00.000-05:00

NATE ROBINSON:
Get Big, Little Man!

The Knicks have been utilizing Nate Robinson down the stretch. They need him to get big tonight against the T-WOLVES. KG better look out.

2007-04-06T09:07:00.001-05:00

COVER SHOT:
DIME NO.32

Kevin Durant and Greg Oden will both be NBA franchise players if they choose to declare open season on their draft status. Nice to see Durant get a good look, Oden has been getting them for a few years.

2007-04-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

1992 NBA SLAM DUNK CONTEST

Larry Johnson, John Starks, Cedric Ceballos and a few others. Ceballos wears a blindfold.

2007-04-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

Gilbert Arenas:
Zero Substitutions

Hard to see what the Washington Wizards will do with Gilbert Arenas injured. Where will the magic come from?

2007-04-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

RON ARTEST:
Abuser

If this is really what Ron Artest does to women, what do you think he'll be doing to all the bitches that show up to play team K1X in the street this summer?

2007-04-04T15:23:00.000-05:00

Violence on the Basketball Court:
Exhibit B

From the Far East to the Far South.

2007-04-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

Michael Jordan from Isiah Thomas:
no-look off the glass

Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas working together is a beautiful thing. Here, two of the best combine for an All-Star play.

2007-04-04T12:54:00.000-05:00

John Starks Dunks on Michael Jordan:
Rewind

Here is that classic dunk, the only thing Chicago Bulls fans can never dispute.

2007-04-04T07:46:00.000-05:00

KOBE BRYANT and Ali G:
Interview

They both are pretty funny cats.

2007-04-03T21:43:00.000-05:00

Earv "I'll Be Right Back" Opong:
Where you going?

Like I said, I'd be right back. Here Earv "I'll Be Right Back" Opong played at Sullivan Community College and at the University of Albany (NY) befor blowing up on the AND1 streetball joint. If any one knows if he is still playing, please post a comment about it.

2007-03-30T06:23:00.000-05:00

ANTONIO DANIELS:
DON'T SLEEP THOUGH

Even though AI caught A.Daniels, you can't turn your head on this kid.

2007-03-30T06:21:00.000-05:00

ALLEN IVERSON:
Paralized

Caught this one on my way out the door. Allen Iverson, still on the 76ers, absolutely cripples Washington Wizards glue guy Antonio Daniels.

2007-03-30T06:08:00.000-05:00

DAVID LEE:
Delieverence

Going to Florida until Tuesday. My cousin Joe, a high school hoops coach, is getting married. I was going to drop a million posts before I left to keep you busy, instead, just keep watching this one over and over. Big changes to the site next week. We're moving up!

2007-03-29T15:55:00.000-05:00

COREY "HOMICIDE" WILLIAMS:
187

Since his photo was pretty tough, his fast frame game is even more intense. TEAM K1X coming to NYC this summer. In this video, he talks about dropping 26 on Ron Artest and destroying Alimoe. Exciting considering Ron Ron and Homo' will be running together this summer.

2007-03-29T15:34:00.000-05:00

PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
Homicide - Life in the D-League

2007-03-29T14:02:00.000-05:00

GLOBAL LEADER:
Blame it on the NBA

Being that America is the most influential country in the world, it's not unusual to see the influence of the greatest basketball league on earth is having a global impact.

See: Knicks/Nuggets, Pistons/Pacers

2007-03-29T12:10:00.000-05:00

COVER SHOT:
SLAM .108

2007-03-29T10:54:00.000-05:00

JAI LEWIS:
Home Video

This is for all the NCAA heads who missed George Mason in the NCAA tourney this year. Jai Lewis, who was drafted into the D-League and tried out for the New York Giants, had either his girlfriend or his mother video tape this dope dunk during a game in Isreal. Check it out.

2007-03-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

Rafer "Skip to My Lou" Alston:
Demonstration

Here, Rafer Alston shows us why point guards are best when they are lower to the ground. From the best kid in the park, to at least top 12 in the league.

2007-03-28T15:24:00.000-05:00

1990 NBA SLAM DUNK CONTEST:
High Times

2007-03-27T15:31:00.000-05:00

RASHEED WALLACE:
FULL SURFACE

Late night closing the new issue of KING and sleeping in early to make up for it explains why I missed this one. Peace 'sheed!

2007-03-27T14:05:00.000-05:00

GOD SHAMMGOD:
HE WILL CRACK YOU

Found this old video of God ShamMgod busting ankles during tournement time. He's been on my mind for a while. Every year around tourney time I think of five guys I totally forget the rest of the year. Shammgod is different though. I remember his moves off the dribble so vividly. My boss, Jermaine Hall, went to high school with Shamm at La Salle for a minute. Alan Paul, big contributor to SLAM over the years, wrote about the former Providence point guard's post-NBA journey for the SLAM website:

http://slamonline.com/online/2006/11/chinese-hoops-report/

Shammgod is overseas now but, he signed with the Portland team in the IBL, a new American pro spring league. Last summer he showed up at KINGDOME and a thick crowd cheered on as the Brooklyn native took few prisoners. He is a full-blown playground legend.

2007-03-26T21:35:00.000-05:00

KEITH SMART:
QUICK RELEASE

Long day. I've got a few seconds before my eyes are closed and about 2 hours before I pick myself off the floor from falling from this computer chair. Throwing this one up for the NCAA heads, big shout out to Caoch Chris Caputo and George Mason, there is always next year!

This was always a favorite of mine!

2007-03-25T23:08:00.000-05:00

MARKO MILIC:
KID'S GOT HOPS

Believe it or not, a good number of guys from Europe don't stick in the NBA. Marko Milic, for example, is one of those guys. Though the 76ers took him in the second round of the 1997 draft and he has the hang time of a hawk, he played in only 44 games over two years in the NBA, career average of 2.5 points. I think he's playing in Spain right now. This is a dope clip of his skills.

2007-03-24T21:13:00.000-05:00

COREY "HOMICIDE" WILLIAMS:
KILLA SEASON IS COMING

Corey "Homicide" Williams was in touch with me. Seems like he will be running with Ron Artest at KINGDOME with TEAM K1X this summer. Considering Homo dropped 26 on Artest right after he was named NBA Defensive player of the year, they might be worth checking out. He's with the Dakota Wizards [D-League] now and will be in NYC all summer. K1X will be dropping his first sneaker at the Down-Low championship. Here he talks smack about Alimoe.

2007-01-27T08:22:00.000-05:00

Jamal Crawford exploded for 52 points in my sleep. The Knicks were ahead and I'd been working hard all week at my new magazine internship. I was supposed to go to the movies, but the trip to moviefone.com come was just too much for me and I fell into a deep slumber with the Knicks safely ahead by 20. Checking Yahoo! Sports this morning for a Woj column, I saw the box score and was psyched to see Crawford went nut on the Heat.

Sometimes that happens, someone goes nut and drops an insane amount of points. Not that 52 is the most ever scored in a game, but is surely is an insane number. Guys like Antonio Daniels, David Lee, and Jose Calderon all wish they'd get a 50+ game, just one; for sure the next contracts they sign would be triple the previous.

There are a few instances that come to mind from when I was younger and guys I knew would score a bunch of points out of the blue. The first time was a kid named Brandon McBeth, who had a twin brother Brian, when he was a senior in high school. He didn't play with me, but he was my brother's teammate through junior-high into high school where they were teammates on the varsity at Archbishop Molloy. One night a ragged Bayonne High School made the trip from North Jersey out to what is called Jack Curran Gymnasium at Molloy now, it was not yet then.

Bayonne, to their credit, played hard every minute. They did however allow the JV players who'd played in the game before come up to the varsity level to deepen their bench. It didn't matter. Brandon dropped 29 in three quarters and Bayonne left Queens winless that night and the victims of a romping at the hands of the Stanners. Macbeth just seemed to be making every shot count. I'd seen the kid play 100+ times in my life and that one night he'd really been the best player on the court. Even with all of Molloy's D1 talent that year Reggie Brown who went to Richmond, big Uka Agbai who played at Boston College, point guard Justin Wilson who played at U. Maryland-Baltimore County and a few other guys who went to D2 and 3 schools, Brandon Macbeth still scored more in one single game than anyone on the team. Brandon Macbeth went on to spend four years, with his brother, on the basketball team at Wesleyan University after high school. I hear they're doing well.

The second time, well I'll get to the second time in a minute, but the third time was rather recently. As Assistant Coach to head Coach Jimmy "Belly" Bellington of the St. Pancras Cougars CYO 7th grade team, we see a lot of good teams, but we feel like we really have some good players. We're like 9-1 and haven't lost since the first week of the season. We've got a kid, Andrew "ICE" Winters who is scoring in double figures every game and, more impressively, is scoring 10 points or more in a single quarter almost every game. If he makes the right decisions he'll be a really good player in the CHSAA in a year our two. Then there is Chris "Speedy Morman," a quick/smart point guard that already has a ton of playing time under his belt, Timmy Bellington who is a guard who has some potential, little Nicholas "Niko" Ebert a first-year back-up point guard who is really athletic and then, Chucky Meyers.

Chucky came off the bench against Ridgewood-Glendale area rival Our Lady of Miraculous Medal. Aside from an early effort by O.L.M.M. we lead the entire way en route to a nearly 30-point blowout. Chuck, a second year forward, went off like and animal making every try he throw, slapped, pushed or hammered toward the basket in the second half. He'd rarely scored 10 in the previous games, if ever, and playing out the entire second half he finished with 26 points, freezing Ice’s previous high of 20.

To leave myself for last, my best game of all time might have been against a few future college players, one D1 player who had the biggest ego I'd ever seen, the summer I was going into the 9th grade. It was Jack Curran's Basketball Camp at Molloy; I'd decided to go at the last minute, pretty much because I wasn't going there for high school, another story. Fran Leary was my coach and we were in a league that featured Kevin Hamilton, who played at Holy Cross U., Wendell Gibson who played at Hofstra if I remember right, a kid named Giles Jackson who went on to Molloy and then Bishop Loughlin who was just a killer and the MVP of camp that week, a bunch of other kids who would play high school and college ball. My team was a little less stacked in terms of future college players but in the first two camp games I scored 29 and 23 respectively. While I scored in double digits the rest of the week, I can still score too (laugh now), but even though I never really played serious organized ball again, I still chase those 52 point days.

2007-01-15T00:59:00.000-05:00

THE
SMARTEST
POINT GUARD
EVER!

Pictured here is Brian Earl: The smartest point guard in organized basketball history. Earl played in every minute of 34 college games in the backcourt for the Princeton Tigers and was the point man in more winning games than any other player in Princeton or Ivy League history. Playing in a league of smart kid schools, Earl was the most dominant player in the Ivy of his time. He finished 1st all-time in 3-Point-Shooting, 5th in scoring, 6th in assists and 7th in steals and took home the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1998-1999.

He had decent help though, Princeton’s coach for 3 of Earl’s 4-years was Bill Carmody guided his non-scholarship squad to a 26-9 record against teams that offered scholarships during that time. The Tigers went 27-2 and were ranked as high as #7, with big wins over Georgetown, Wake Forrest, UNLV and Rutgers during Earl’s junior year in 1997-98. Earl was the backbone, an Ivy League standout of national fame with a game every million dollar banker or oil man could safely tell their sons to model after while they’re busy robbing the middle class. However as many 6’2 college guards come to know, size and speed are the substance of the next level.

On the pro side of things, Earl was less lucky. Drafted into the USBL by the old-Atlantic City Seaguls, Earl played in the little-known EBA with the Harrisburg Horizon. There he allegedly helped the team win the league title before signing to play professionally in the UK. In mid-season, his club, the Manchester Jets folded and Earl has been off the radar ever since.

2007-01-06T14:29:00.000-05:00

Italians Dressing in the NBA

Before Andrea Bargnani was officially taken as the first pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, only a few Italian players had ever made it to the NBA. Despite the growing popularity of basketball as a global phenomenon, Italy has rarely made hoop headlines. Despite a 12th place finish in the 2006 FIBA World Championships, many of the Italian players impressed both spectators and scouts alike.

Bargnani is going through his growing ups and downs with the Raptors who are, as of press time, holding down the second spot in the Atlantic. Bargnani is averaging a respectable 10 points, and less impressively only 3.4 boards his Italian predecessors weren’t as successful. Here is a list of Italians in the NBA before they were being imported into the NBA with the first pick in the draft.

Hank Biasatti / Toronto Huskies 1946-1947

Born in Beano, Italy, Henry Arcado Biasatti stood 5-feet-11 inches tall and played his college ball at Long Island University in Brooklyn. He was taken by the Boston Celtics in the 1947 BAA draft but played in only 6 games in one season for the Toronto Huskies. Biasatti also went on to play for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1949 and batted 0.83 in 24 at-bats. He died in 1996 in Dearborn, Michigan.

Vincenzo Esposito / Toronto Raptors 1995-1996

Born in Caserta, Campania, Italy in 1969, Esposito played in 30 games for the Raptors in his only season in the NBA. Isaih Thomas made him the first player ever signed to the then brand-new Toronto Raptors. He was already 27 years old and averaged just below four points and nearly one assist for the Raptors who finished 21-61 in their first season. Since leaving the league, Esposito has been a mainstay on mostly Italian pro-teams.

Stefano Rusconi / Phoenix Suns 1995-1996

Rusconi, a 6’9 power forward, also made his NBA debut at 27-years-old. Drafted by the Cavs in the 2nd round of the 1990 draft, he didn’t suite up in the league until 1995-1996 with the Suns. In seven games, Rusconi averaged an anorexic 1.1 points-per-game and nearly averaged a lone rebound. Though he was never thought of to be a great NBA prospect he was an effective center in Europe with the Bennetton team that featured Toni Kukoc.

2006-12-09T18:10:00.000-05:00

WANTED: NBA CONTRACT

Low Down "Majic" Dorsey Aims For NBA

Ok so, pictured above, Daryl “Majic” Dorsey looks like he’s posing for a Marietta Police Department mug shot rather than a photo for the local minor league team. Though he was once falsely accused of murder, Majic Dorsey has turned his life around and is making his best in hopes of landing a shot in the league. ESPN mag cover boy Dorsey first came to my attention in SLAM magazine. He was being called the best junior college player in the country and no division one team would touch him really. He’s a tough, but totally humble and cool, Baltimore cat I had the chance to interview this summer for ProBasketballNews.com. He had finished up in the WBA this past spring and was playing in the Mexican pro league. While he was playing and working out south of the bored he emailed me several times letting me know of his progress, recently a professor of his from juco emailed me wondering where he was and if she could tell him how proud she was. He signed to Southern Indiana, a D2 school, but dropped out before the season started to sign with the Las Vegas Rattlers of the ABA. He bounced around and recovered from an injury before signing this fall with the Anaheim Arsenal of the D-League.

This is part of an email he sent me not long after the D-League Draft:

“MATT WHAT’S GOOD? I WAS THE ONLY POINT GUARD THAT WAS DRAFTED TO THE ANAHEIM TEAM. THE COACH TOLD ME ITS MY SHOW WHEN I GET THERE AND RUN THE TEAM GOOD. AND HE WANTS ME TO SCORE ALSO. ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID IS THAT WHEN HE ASK AROUND FOR A POINT GUARD PEOPLE SAID I WAS THE BEST POINT NOT IN THE NBA. AND THATS THANKS TO YOU AND THE ARTICLE YOU DID. I GOT SO MUCH EXSPOSURE OFF OF THAT…….I’M GOING GET TO THE LEAGUE, TRUST ME. LARRY SMITH IS GIVING ME THE GREEN LIGHT TO RUN THE TEAM. NOW I JUST NEED THE POLITICS ON MY SIDE AS WELL….AND YOU CAN HAVE A TEE SHIRT ANY DAY. AND IF YOU HELP ME OFF THE COURT TO GET THERE. LOTS OF OTHER THINGS WILL FOLLOW” –Majic Dorsey

Majic is proving he can play right now in the D-League. He’s averaging 13 points and 2.5 assists starting 5 of 8 games for Anaheim. Right now, Majic would benefit from some really solid showings in over the next month and boost his numbers. I think there is a chance somewhere down the line a team like the Boston Celtics, who always test a lot of point guards, or Raptors or maybe to one of Anaheim’s affiliate teams like the Blazers or Orlando Magic might give him a call. Maybe even the 76ers now that Louis Williams is in the down low and that Iverson might be on his way out. He’s got to prove, like Corey “Homicide” Williams too, that he can play the true point guard. Majic lead the Arsenal charge with 22 points and 3 assits against the Austin Toros on Dec 1.

"Interview w/ Daryl Dorsey: MaJic' Dorsey keeping pro hoop dreams alive"

http://www.probasketballnews.com/caputo_0727.html

ALSO IN
THE
DOWN-LOW:

<--E.Rob The Return!

.......Two players making professional comebacks after injury couldn’t have been more popular in their time in the league. Eddie Robinson, who played for the old-Charlotte Hornets and for the Chicago Bulls, signed to play with the long time CBA Idaho Stampede who are making their debut in the D-League this season. Robinson has been out of the league since 2003-2004. He averages 7 points and 2+ rebounds as a hardworking role player from a D2. He’s working on either getting back to the league or moving on to Europe……….Also Ex-Duke point guard Jay Williams signed with the Austin Toros. The NJ-native was cut from the Nets after not being 100% in the preseason. But while they’re at the top of the division, the Continental Airlines Arena looked pretty empty and the local kid could fill a few seats down the road....Also, word out of the league is that both the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavs to have D-League teams in town to boost the attraction at their venues on off nights. This would be after the Lakers have already placed their "D-Fenders" in the Staples Center.....

2006-12-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

SLAMONLINE.COM: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CHRIS SANDY

Ben Osborne worked with me to produce this piece on Chris Sandy for SLAM Online, the website of SLAM magazine. I contacted many people about this and a good number of people got back to me. I feel like this, being that I knew Chris, being that I knew his teammates, that if I'd went to public school I'd of went to Newtown, I felt I needed to get out there and put something down about his life and put things in a proper perspective. I'm just so glad SLAM Online jumped at the chance to do it, because, when things like this happen it's usually some small AP story. I refused to let Chris's life be reduced to a few paragraphs. As the editors will tell you, I didn't.

http://slamonline.com/online/2006/12/the-life-and-death-of-a-true-globetrotter/

2006-12-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

<---SORRY I MISSED YOU MIKE!

ABA LIVE'06
Strong Island Sound 104 Vermont Frost Heaves 98
I couldn't figure out why the hell the Long Island ABA team plays their games way out in Suffolk County. I hopped on the LIE in Queens and seemed to be driving for hours. After a while I began to realize that they put it there because it would make them the only show in town. There is no minor league baseball out there in the winter, except for Hofstra there are no division one college sports to speak of, the Islanders are alright but who likes hockey anymore?

Seeing my first ABA game couldn't have been for a more terrible reason. I was there doing more research on the life of Chris Sandy, a story I hope will run someplace. Suffolk Community College was tucked up, in and under a corner in the darkest part of anywehre I'd ever been. Exit 62 could have very well been Vermont, where the visting team was coming from. It's important to say that I left the city at 5 o'clock on Friday to make a 6pm door opening, however traffic had it's way and I arrived about five minutes until tip-off for a 7:30 game.

A pretty smooth put together tickett booth/gift stand in what is an above average gym, considering the Long Island Primtime of the USBL played in the dusty-old Elmcore Center in Corona, Queens. However there were no hot dogs, just pure-sugar snacks like Starburst and Skittles, and logo glittered boxer shorts in their place.

As typical, the most entertaining part of the evening was the basketball. The Sound didn't seem to be trying too many tricks. Which might be bad. The ABA and USBL seem to be about even when it comes to attendance. It was a mostly vacant crowd except for friends, family, staff, some white trash kids and a few alcoholic grandfathers.

The game started off tight and competitive. The only player I'd ever heard of on the Vermont team was Kevin Mickens, who played for my brother at George Mason, who played very well but didn't start. For the New York team, Tommie Eddie and Raphael Edwards really stood out for the Sound. Eddie, a massive power forward, nailed a few 3-pointers from out on the wing.

The game started off competitive and then the Sound maitained a ten point lead pretty much the entire game. No real outstanding performers, other than Eddie or Edwards, who worked quietly. It was a really competitive game and I can honestly say the ABA could have picked off the USBL a few years ago if they'd run their league in the Spring.

I think true hoops fans, who know their local players (especially the New York teams) would love the ABA. If you can except the teams on a basketball basis, instead of as "the future stars of tomorrow's NBA," then you'll enjoy the close games and tremendously talented players that exist outside the NBA like: Daryl Dorsey, Homicide Williams, Chris Sandy RIP, Anthony Glover, Mike Campbell (who, pictured above, signed with a team in Belgium on Monday and left the Sound before I saw them) Louis White (who is a really talented guy from Baltimore playing outside the league) Brian Chase, and Garnett Tompson, most of these guys spent time in the ABA. The problem isn't the players, it never has been, but selling a minor league basketball league to the public has been very tough over the years. Now that there are 3 winter leagues and 3 spring leagues it will be interesting to see who remains at the end of the day.

At the half the Sound were up by 10 and up by as many as 19 in the second half. Somehow the Frost Heaves managed to fight back and send the game into overtime. The drama of those last few minutes couldn't be duplicated or replaced by celebrity guest players, coaches or special rules. I mean, for God's sake, one of the cheerleaders was celebrating their 18th birthday. So, Note to Joe Newman: Teach Your teams how to recruit and promote! You've got something here! Stick with the basketball product, market that, and make sure you have hot dogs!

<--- I got to speak with Alex Wolf the owner of the Vermont Frost Heaves. He writes a regular column for Sports Illustrated's website, SI.COM, about his experiences as the owner/operator of the team called "Alex in Wonderland." He was sitting right in the stands and was a really nice dude.

2006-11-26T01:20:00.000-05:00

There and Back: Dajuan Wagner's Return Bought Out

It was just a few months ago that Ben Osborne, then Senior Editor of King magazine, told me that my pitch was in fact too late and that he had a writer tracking Wagner for a larger feature for a few months. The piece, published in this their DEC’06/JAN’07 issue of King, is a three page spread about the Wagner’s career, illness and recovery, and his return to the NBA with the Golden State Warrior.

A good deal has changed since then, both for the better and for the worse. On the good side of things, Ben Osborne, a longtime member of the SLAM family, has return to that magazine as it’s editor-in-chief. If you know his work and his ideas, you know that SLAM is going to be a little different this time out. Ryan Jones brought a great deal of NBA coverage to the magazine that was unlike any other outlets viewpoint. That says a lot, considering, coming from my hip-hop journalism background, I feel like NBA basketball players are so much more protected than any other people in the public eye. Mr.Osborne is sure to lay down some really compelling stories of the basketball world at-large, which I think is his specialty. But I’m dragging….

The bad has to be Wagner’s release from the Warriors less than a month into the season. The team chose to buyout the remained of the Camden High School legends contract and move on. Wagner, unlike Jay Williams from Duke who didn’t make the Nets roster after returning from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, did play in one game for the Warriors and racked 4 points and an assist in seven minutes. However it was uncertain how his body would hold up throughout the year. Rumors around the web said that the Sonics were interested, but it’s hard to tell what a guy who has returned to the league after overcoming injury and surgery will do in the long run.

It’s clear though, that the NBA likes him and that will make him stick somewhere if he ever returns to normal. ESPN.com noted that he fell out with Don Nelson, but it was a bad enough situation. The Warriors didn’t exactly have room for him anyway. He was competing for time with Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis and Anthony Roberson, none of whom had missed any time, definitely not most of the last two seasons recovering from getting their colon removed.

It would be in the league’s best interest if he spent a year in the D-League and work it all out. It would keep him close to home and maybe afford the league a big name to help attract fans. He played well in the limited time he was given to play. Two-year-contract aside it was unclear how long Wagner was really going to stay with Golden State. Even if he doesn’t make it back to the NBA this season or next, I think if his goal was to prove he could still play pro ball, then he certainly did.

Wagner is the same kid who grew up the son of a former pro ball player. Wagner is, colon or no colon, the same kid who scored 100 points in a high school game. He is the same Dajuan Wager who kids in the park huddling around his feature spread in SLAM would claim to be related to. The same kid who played one year at the University of Memphis and was then snatched-up early by the lowly Cavs with the 6th pick in the draft. He’s still the same Dajuan Wagner who averaged a solid 13.4 points in his first and only year in the league. He got sick and now he’s better, in fact, he made it back to the NBA. Don’t be surprised if he shows up again.

2006-11-25T23:34:00.000-05:00

R.I.P. CHRIS SANDY

The death of Chris Sandy came as a total shock to me. While writing the piece on the Brooklyn Kings, which appears at the very beginning of this blog, I observed Chris and his teammates rather closely. As one of maybe three members of the press who regularly attended home games you couldn’t help but get up close. One of my fondest memories of Chris, besides his almost effortless ability from three-point-land, is of him coming out to sign autographs, shoot-around with and chat with kids after the North East Pennsylvania Breakers failed to show for yet another road game.

It’s painful to write about the death of someone who was so full of life. As a sucker for a good undersized scoring guard, especially ones from New York City, it’s hard for me to believe a guy like Chris could die. His USBL opponents sometimes seemed unworthy. I can say, from watching him play, basketball made him very happy. The world has lost a really good ball player.

It’s too early to tell very detail of his life, I’m going to push his to get his story out on a larger scale. As for what the Associated Press said:

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) -- Chris Sandy, a former Fresno State and Harlem Globetrotters players, died Thursday in a car accident in southeastern Finland, police said. He was 27.

Sandy, from New York, lost control of his car and collided with another vehicle going in the opposite direction, police said.
Sandy, in his first season in Europe, played for one of the top Finnish teams, Kouvot of Kouvola. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 18 points and was third in the league with 3.9 assists per game

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to his family and teammates. He is in my prayers now and for always.

2006-11-13T09:14:00.000-05:00

"X Was It - Stomped by the Bulls, Imortalized by Crowe"

At one time, Xavier McDaniel was one of the NBA's most popular and explosive players. He had a bit apperance in the Cameron Crowe film "Singles" and had his face on t-shirts. A 6'7 small-forward from Wichita State, McDaniel was named to the NBA ALL ROOKIE Team, as well as the Co-Rookie of The Year (along w/Patrick Ewing) by Basketball Digest, as a member of the Seattle Supersonices in 1985-86. He was an All Star and regularly averaged double figures, his best season being 1987 when he averaged 23 points and 8 boards over 82 games Eventually, the Sonics ushered in a new era by drafting and building around both Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. McDaniel was traded to The Suns in 1991.

McDaniels signed as a free agent to the Knicks in '92. Before a contract dispute would end his career in New York, "X-Man" averaged 13-plus and 5-plus rebounds and intimidated the shit out of Scottie Pippen in the eastern conference playoffs. However, as history goes, Pat Riley's Knicks would lose to the Bulls in seven games. This, effectivly, marked the begining of the end for McDaniels career.
He spent three seasons with the Celtics and them pursued a pro career in Europe. After a pair of lackluster seasons with the New Jersey Nets, X-Man hung'em up for good in 1998.

2006-11-12T22:01:00.000-05:00

"SPANISH FLY: This Foreign Kid Can Really Play! "

As a Knicks' fan, working out possible trades in your head is much more exciting than watching them trail by ten. While I can't think of anyone the Toronto Raptors would be so interested in acquiring in exchange (maybe Frye and Collins?), Jose Calderon somehow sits atop of my recent list of favorite players. When I spoke to Raptors Assistant Jim Todd this summer for ProBasketballNews.com, which is now fed from Better Basketball Online, and there was a sense that Toronto was really high on Calderon. In his second season in the league we're beginning to see his potential blossom.

In the FIBA World Championship Calderon stepped up and helped Spain take the title with 7.2 ppg, 3.2 apg and less than one assist per game. When the NBA resumed, Calderon played big minutes in the preseason. His best game probably being the 19 PT, 7 AST game he had against the Celtics. He got to show his natural floor generalship, ever-improving passing skills and surprisingly good rebounding tools. He's a natural point guard that can score and moves the ball well. In 5 games this year he's at 8.2 ppg, 3.2 apg in just under 16 minutes. While he needs to keep a handle on his turnovers his shooting ability shouldn't be slept on. He shot 50% from three in the preseason and has shot 2-5 from behind the arch in thus far this season.

WHO ELSE WOULD I WANT IF I COULD GET THE KNICKS A BACK-UP POINT GUARD?

-Earl Watson , Seattle Supersonics
Watson is someone the Knicks could actually go after and probably not have to give up too much to get. His 8.9 ppg and 4 assists last year are solid numbers for a real point guard.

-Rafer Alston , Houston Rockets
"Skip-to-My-Lou's" 12 ppg and 6.7 apg should be something the Knicks should go after. He's a NYC guy and a once considered a problem, but he's a big a basketball star as any on the roster right now.