Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Brandon Inge had the under side of both forearms tattooed with the names of his young sons while the Tigers stayed in San Francisco over the weekend to play the Oakland A's.
He has Chase on his left arm, and Tyler on his right arm.
"This guy does tattoos for a lot of major league players and drew them up for me the last time we were in town," Inge said. "He said to sit on it and think about it, and I just loved it the more I looked at it. It's a real unique cursive style.
He has Chase on his left arm, and Tyler on his right arm.
"This guy does tattoos for a lot of major league players and drew them up for me the last time we were in town," Inge said. "He said to sit on it and think about it, and I just loved it the more I looked at it. It's a real unique cursive style.
Friday, August 21, 2009
This guy says it all. No further discussion is necessary.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
1. San Antonio
A well run team who recognized that Duncan and Ginobili are on his their last legs. For two guys who have given the franchise so much its a classy move to spend money to get them help. With other teams shedding salaries and making stupid draft decisions, the Spurs wisely took advantage and landed quality veterans (Jefferson and McDyess) and Lank's fav rookie-to-be DeJuan Blair. The smartest franchise in the league keeps on.
2. Boston
One of my least favorite teams adds one of my favorite players. Personal taste aside, Boston keeps adding intelligent defensive-oriented team players. They have an old-school focus on defense and front-court size (the same winning model that despite claims to the contrary keeps on bringing titles). Plus, they're trying to get depth to ensure that KG is healthy or at least replaceable to the degree that he can be. This is not a dumb strategy.
3. OKC
Mostly for a refusal to overspend like SOME teams (OK, most teams.) It seems NBA GM's just can't wait to overpay the next free agent. OKC is taking it time and looking for good pieces that fit the core they've established with Westbrook/Durant/Green. They've added some solid veterans for cheap long terms contracts and filled in the front court. This is one franchise not looking to rush through their rebuilding process or committing to contracts that undermine it.
4. Houston
Yeesh, with Yao and McGrady out this team faces the biggest handicap in the NBA. They'll be a team of complimentary players who do just a few things well, but I'll bet they're enjoyable to watch and more successful than anticipated. Plus Aaron Brooks is really fun to watch. The knock against them is that they let Von Wafer walk away. Dude, can score and they'll need that.
5. LA Clippers
- They're owner is pretty upfront about being in it for the money. I can appreciate the honesty in comparison to a franchise like Phoenix or New Orleans.
-This franchise has a well chronicled and notorious history with misfortune. The fanbase that deserves better than being the perpetual butt to Laker-fan jokes.
- They've made good moves over the last few months. Being forced into dumping Zach Randolph (because of Blake Griffin) was the best possible move a franchise can make. They also seem to have made savvy moves by adding a decent backup like Rasual Butler plus hunting for a backup point guard to the ever-injured Baron Davis. They haven't sold off Camby or Kaman when they weren't going to get value for them.
-This is a roster with some talent, some youth, some quality veterans. It could work and I'll be rooting for them even though it probably won't.
A well run team who recognized that Duncan and Ginobili are on his their last legs. For two guys who have given the franchise so much its a classy move to spend money to get them help. With other teams shedding salaries and making stupid draft decisions, the Spurs wisely took advantage and landed quality veterans (Jefferson and McDyess) and Lank's fav rookie-to-be DeJuan Blair. The smartest franchise in the league keeps on.
2. Boston
One of my least favorite teams adds one of my favorite players. Personal taste aside, Boston keeps adding intelligent defensive-oriented team players. They have an old-school focus on defense and front-court size (the same winning model that despite claims to the contrary keeps on bringing titles). Plus, they're trying to get depth to ensure that KG is healthy or at least replaceable to the degree that he can be. This is not a dumb strategy.
3. OKC
Mostly for a refusal to overspend like SOME teams (OK, most teams.) It seems NBA GM's just can't wait to overpay the next free agent. OKC is taking it time and looking for good pieces that fit the core they've established with Westbrook/Durant/Green. They've added some solid veterans for cheap long terms contracts and filled in the front court. This is one franchise not looking to rush through their rebuilding process or committing to contracts that undermine it.
4. Houston
Yeesh, with Yao and McGrady out this team faces the biggest handicap in the NBA. They'll be a team of complimentary players who do just a few things well, but I'll bet they're enjoyable to watch and more successful than anticipated. Plus Aaron Brooks is really fun to watch. The knock against them is that they let Von Wafer walk away. Dude, can score and they'll need that.
5. LA Clippers
- They're owner is pretty upfront about being in it for the money. I can appreciate the honesty in comparison to a franchise like Phoenix or New Orleans.
-This franchise has a well chronicled and notorious history with misfortune. The fanbase that deserves better than being the perpetual butt to Laker-fan jokes.
- They've made good moves over the last few months. Being forced into dumping Zach Randolph (because of Blake Griffin) was the best possible move a franchise can make. They also seem to have made savvy moves by adding a decent backup like Rasual Butler plus hunting for a backup point guard to the ever-injured Baron Davis. They haven't sold off Camby or Kaman when they weren't going to get value for them.
-This is a roster with some talent, some youth, some quality veterans. It could work and I'll be rooting for them even though it probably won't.
Poorly run teams whose management is making it worse for the team's true fans.
1. Phoenix
The Shaq trade failed and the response was to give him away to save some money. Emphasis was put on getting and retaining good guys who are likeable to the community (Nash, Frye, Hill). This team is doing the opposite of shooting for a title.
2. Dallas
They got hustled by Otis Smith (Orlando's GM), giving up Brandon Bass while they thought they had Marcin Gortat signed. Surprise, Smith got both players and Dallas was left signing has-beens (Tim Thomas) and idiots (Drew Gooden). Dallas is putting together an excellent fantasy basketball team for 2005 and a roster of guys who can be disliked for a variety of reasons: selfishness (Marion), stupidity (Howard), timidity (Nowitzki), and spousal abuse (Kidd). With the spending, aroggance, indifference to character, and rear-looking mindset the Mavs are challenging the Knicks for the role of being the NBA's Yankees/Cowboys.
3. New Orleans
After a slew of bad signings for past-prime veterans the team is locked into salary shedding mode. They gave away Rasual Butler and downgraded from an injury prone Tyson Chandler to an injury prone Omeka Okafur. They saved several million by doing it but cost themselves in the long term. Its a shame that this franchise is wasting CP3 and David West. For a team/city that Lank wants to root for, as trite as it sounds, this is disappointing. But they're doomed - just move to Seattle already.
4. Miami
They won a title with Wade/Shaq and various hang-ons. It seems like they've had more than their fair share of success. They've been making bad decisions for years and have an expensive and bad roster as a result. Hopefully Dwayne Wade decides to go elsewhere after the seasons and their left with Beasley, Chalmers and nothing more.
5. Detroit
I think Ptera covered this in exhaustive detail.
Note: this list excludes irrelevant/loser franchises like Memphis and Charlotte. Also the New York Knicks get a pass because of the hole dug by previous general managers.
1. Phoenix
The Shaq trade failed and the response was to give him away to save some money. Emphasis was put on getting and retaining good guys who are likeable to the community (Nash, Frye, Hill). This team is doing the opposite of shooting for a title.
2. Dallas
They got hustled by Otis Smith (Orlando's GM), giving up Brandon Bass while they thought they had Marcin Gortat signed. Surprise, Smith got both players and Dallas was left signing has-beens (Tim Thomas) and idiots (Drew Gooden). Dallas is putting together an excellent fantasy basketball team for 2005 and a roster of guys who can be disliked for a variety of reasons: selfishness (Marion), stupidity (Howard), timidity (Nowitzki), and spousal abuse (Kidd). With the spending, aroggance, indifference to character, and rear-looking mindset the Mavs are challenging the Knicks for the role of being the NBA's Yankees/Cowboys.
3. New Orleans
After a slew of bad signings for past-prime veterans the team is locked into salary shedding mode. They gave away Rasual Butler and downgraded from an injury prone Tyson Chandler to an injury prone Omeka Okafur. They saved several million by doing it but cost themselves in the long term. Its a shame that this franchise is wasting CP3 and David West. For a team/city that Lank wants to root for, as trite as it sounds, this is disappointing. But they're doomed - just move to Seattle already.
4. Miami
They won a title with Wade/Shaq and various hang-ons. It seems like they've had more than their fair share of success. They've been making bad decisions for years and have an expensive and bad roster as a result. Hopefully Dwayne Wade decides to go elsewhere after the seasons and their left with Beasley, Chalmers and nothing more.
5. Detroit
I think Ptera covered this in exhaustive detail.
Note: this list excludes irrelevant/loser franchises like Memphis and Charlotte. Also the New York Knicks get a pass because of the hole dug by previous general managers.
Top 5 Bad Acquisitions
1. Hedo Turkoglu (Toronto)
What was a logical choice for a Blazer team looking to make a leap is a stupid decision for a Toronto team trying to make the playoffs. They overpaid for a guy who fits their euro-ball style, but it doesn't get them very far. As a play to retain Chris Bosh, it will backfire. This franchise would be stuck paying all of its salary cap to a core of Calderon/Turkoglu/Bosh/Bargnani. Thats not a title contender and Bosh will be wise to walk away from the mess of bad contracts and no defense.
2. Ben Gordon (Pistons)
On the bright side, the Pistons now aspire to a first round exit as entertaining as Chicago's last season.
3. Zach Randolph (Memphis)
The only reason this isn't #1 is that Memphis was already so bad, it hardly matters.
4. Brandon Bass (Orlando)
Orlando doesn't need a rebounding power forward. He was a decent role player on the cheap but paying $4M for a guy who messes up your ability to create mismatches at the 4 spot was a mistake. They would have been better off keeping Ryan Anderson as a backup to playing Rashard Lewis at the 4. Instead, they'll go conventional and regress.
Its not that Bass is a bad contract, just that its a waste of time and detracts from what the team could be (and was).
5. Dahntay Jones (Indiana)
Bordering on irrelevancy, but nonetheless the Jones signing (4 years at nearly $3M per) is so pointless it has to be mentioned. Besides Danny Granger, the only player Indiana has signed through 2011 is Jones. Why waste cap space and damage roster flexibility on a replacement level player? Adding a defensive role player makes sense for a title contender, but not for a team looking to rebuild.
1. Hedo Turkoglu (Toronto)
What was a logical choice for a Blazer team looking to make a leap is a stupid decision for a Toronto team trying to make the playoffs. They overpaid for a guy who fits their euro-ball style, but it doesn't get them very far. As a play to retain Chris Bosh, it will backfire. This franchise would be stuck paying all of its salary cap to a core of Calderon/Turkoglu/Bosh/Bargnani. Thats not a title contender and Bosh will be wise to walk away from the mess of bad contracts and no defense.
2. Ben Gordon (Pistons)
On the bright side, the Pistons now aspire to a first round exit as entertaining as Chicago's last season.
3. Zach Randolph (Memphis)
The only reason this isn't #1 is that Memphis was already so bad, it hardly matters.
4. Brandon Bass (Orlando)
Orlando doesn't need a rebounding power forward. He was a decent role player on the cheap but paying $4M for a guy who messes up your ability to create mismatches at the 4 spot was a mistake. They would have been better off keeping Ryan Anderson as a backup to playing Rashard Lewis at the 4. Instead, they'll go conventional and regress.
Its not that Bass is a bad contract, just that its a waste of time and detracts from what the team could be (and was).
5. Dahntay Jones (Indiana)
Bordering on irrelevancy, but nonetheless the Jones signing (4 years at nearly $3M per) is so pointless it has to be mentioned. Besides Danny Granger, the only player Indiana has signed through 2011 is Jones. Why waste cap space and damage roster flexibility on a replacement level player? Adding a defensive role player makes sense for a title contender, but not for a team looking to rebuild.
Monday, August 10, 2009
John Hollinger ranks the East:
Detroit: Are we sure Joe Dumars is still the one calling the shots over here? Trading Chauncey Billups? Extending Richard Hamilton? Signing Kwame Brown and Chris Wilcox? Trading in coaches like they're eligible for the "cash for clunkers" program? Does this sound like the guy who was two steps ahead of everybody else in the league for half a decade?
The Pistons have four guards who can score and none who can pass. They have two centers who might not shoot .800 from the line … combined. Their starters at the 2, 3 and 4 would have trouble bench-pressing my laptop. They have another new coach, and maybe he'll make this all work somehow, but I'm not holding my breath.
Detroit: Are we sure Joe Dumars is still the one calling the shots over here? Trading Chauncey Billups? Extending Richard Hamilton? Signing Kwame Brown and Chris Wilcox? Trading in coaches like they're eligible for the "cash for clunkers" program? Does this sound like the guy who was two steps ahead of everybody else in the league for half a decade?
The Pistons have four guards who can score and none who can pass. They have two centers who might not shoot .800 from the line … combined. Their starters at the 2, 3 and 4 would have trouble bench-pressing my laptop. They have another new coach, and maybe he'll make this all work somehow, but I'm not holding my breath.
Friday, August 7, 2009
For all his flaws theres no questioning he has a knack for acquiring talent.
Dominique Ferguson, rated the No. 8 rising senior in the ESPN 100, gave a verbal commitment to Florida International on Friday...The Indianapolis native was considering Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana and UCLA.
In a short time, Thomas already has made inroads on the recruiting trail. He already received a verbal commitment from point guard Phil Taylor, a rising senior from Georgia, and Chris Coleman, the No. 5-rated center in the class of 2011.
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