Sorry I haven’t updated in a minute but look for some new stuff on Monday….
A fallen sports hero
I wanted to once again steer away from my normal “locker room” talk and discuss Bary Bonds, our fallen baseball hero. Bonds has at times been vilified in the press. His recent indictment on counts of perjury and obstruction of justice there is even more reason to call him a villain. Bonds has always had a shaky relationship with the press and even his fans so some might not classify him as a fallen hero but as a villain who simply got caught.
This is the second time in months that a African American athlete has been indicted charges of perjury and placed under the suspicion of using steroids. Bonds will always remain in the history books, such as Marion Jones is but now there will be an asterisk next to their names. Bonds may or may not have used steroids but Marion Jones has admitted to usgage and because of their dishonesty a cloud of suspicion is now under all our African American athletes.
There has been good news and bad news
The good news is that the rebels are 2-0 to start the season. The first game for the team was a little rough team after they blew a 14 point lead. They looked sloppy at time and they made bad decisions. The positive from that game was it was the first game and they won 76-65 over Montana State.
Then over the weekend we got news that Emmanuel Adeife was dismissed from the team due to conflict over playing time. I’m trying to follow up on this story as we speak but without a doubt this event left a big hole in the middle. Now the team is left without a true center and Matt Shaw normally a power forward, will have to fill the role. On another note the rebels won against Dixie State on Tuesday.
Aww the memories
Its funny how the most random thoughts will trigger certain memories. I was watching Sports Center one night and it was a highlight from the Laker’s game. The ball had bounced off the backboard and into the basket inadvertently. This reminded me of the good old times from the FIBA tournament and how my life flashed before my eyes thanks to LeBron James. Team USA was playing and it was about almost half time. My co-worker and I were hurrying to the scorers table to retrieve the half-time stats. I was following behind him as we walked quickly down the row. Then LeBron launched about a 50 ft shot to end the quarter. The ball sailed through the air hit the backboard and headed our direction. We both weren’t paying too much attention to the play but I heard the buzzing of the clock and saw the ball coming our direction I pulled my co-work towards me to block the ball and it hit him dead in the head. The whole arena gasped. It was both sad and funny all at once. I called that moment him getting some sense knocked into him.
Unfortunately for myself he was the lucky one to end up in the trainers room after the game. Next to him getting taped up was the man himself , LeBron James. My co-worker jokingly turned to the trainer and said, “Can I be mad at LeBron for hitting me in the head?” LeBron then said, “I didn’t hit you in the head the ball did.”
UNLV and the NBA
So now we are up to four current NBA players that were former running rebels. As i had mentioned in a previous post , Joel Anthony was trying out for the Miami Heat. Well I have good news to announce. He has offically made the team. He had a strong coming out in pre-season and got some playing time. We should all expect big things from him. So Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks, Lou Amundson, and Joel Anthony make the list of current rebels active in the NBA.
Sight and sound
Early Saturday morning about a 600 loyal runnin rebel fans piled into the Thomas and Mack Center to get a chance to see the team practice and meet the players. I am not typically a morning person but I managed to leave the comforts of my warm bed to spend a morning with the players and rebel basketball fans. As I walked into the arena it was like a semi-game as one side was filled with fans. The band even made a partial appearance along with the rebel girls and the cheerleaders. People were wearing red or decked out in the UNLV gear. The chanting of “Rebels” could be heard, getting everyone pumped for the season. There was a lot of potential little rebels, eager and excited to meet the team. It was especially a great experience to see these young ones get a chance to interact with the players. One young girl looked like she was on the verge of tears as she got a chance to hug player Corey Bailey, who is in his senior year.
The team looked confident and chemistry seemed to be there as all the players were interacting with each other. There was a lot of laughter and joking going on. One thing I learned briefly from my observation during the scrimmage, they are lacking in a consistent outside shooter. It is still early on and plenty of time for someone to step up. One thing for sure, the team is a confident bunch and ready to go this season.
Good news for the Rebels
We can all let out a sigh of relief as news has spread that Beas Hamga has been re-en stated by the NCAA on the condition that he sits out this season. He will be allowed to practice with the team and will be able to keep his scholarship. He will be allowed to play next season on the condition that he proves that he can meet academic requirements. So we might have to wait till next year to get a look at his potential but its good to know there is something for the future to look forward. Especially as we take those necessary steps as a team to improve.
Its not just a sport but its a business
So here is one of my favorite topics, Kobe Bryant. Jerry Buss, the owner of the Lakers, says if the right deal comes along he may trade Kobe and thoughts run through my mind. How in the world could you even possibly consider trading the best player in the world? Well you do if he has two years left on his contract until he can opt-out of a remaining four year deal. Then he has a option of playing for any team of his choice and then you get nothing in return for him. That’s the sad reality of the situation is that basketball is not only a sport but a business also. As a owner it’s understandable that you have to protect your business options.
What I question is why would you say that in the media after all the hype has slowed down..this only raises more questions. There is no reason why Jerry Buss would release this information. I don’t believe it was a wise decision on his part after Kobe said that he is ready for war this season. He is here to play and you do not stir up bad feelings. I believe you don’t wake a sleeping dragon…you let it sleep as long as possible.
A little off topic…
After years of speculation, Marion Jones has finally admitted using performance enhancing drugs. News from The Associated Press is reporting that Marion Jones has accepted a two- year ban from track and field and has a agreed to return the five medals she won at the Sydney Olympic games in 2000. She pleaded guilty on Friday to lying to federal investigators about using these performance enhancing drugs. For years Jones has denied using but recently she said that she was under the impression that the substance given to her was flaxseed oil. Actually it was a substance called “clear”. Jones can face up to 5 years in prison.
Note: Added Commentary
It is sad to see our heroes are not always who they turn out to be. Marion Jones was hailed as an Olympic hero and one of the greatest athletes of our time. Now she seen as liar and a disgrace to all sports and on top of all this she has nothing to show for it. Once a millionaire, Jones is now broke.
Exempt from the rest
I walked up and down the rows filled with students that occupied the computers in the library. On this particular Tuesday it seemed as if the library was extra crowded and filled with students eagerly typing away on the keyboards. Small chatter and the constant clicking of the keyboard was the only sounds on the floor. With no hope of me ever finding a seat on the normally accessible first floor. I patiently waited for the elevator, and made my way up to the fourth floor, the quiet floor in the library.
This time I had no problem locating a computer to occupy and better yet I found two next to each other. I placed my bag in the chair next to me and began my own clicking and typing away at the computer. I looked at my watch. He said he would be here at 4 pm it was now 10 minutes after four. I remained patient and continued my Internet surfing.“Hey is this seat taken?” “Yes it is,” I replied. People looked irritated by my book bag, as it was soon occupying the only free computer on that floor.
I looked at the clock on the computer screen..it now read 20 minutes after 4. Wow I thought to myself, if he doesn’t hurry up. Suddenly my phone begans to vibrate loudly. I raced to pick it up as heads began to turn around me and everyone was looking to see whose phone that was vibrating. “Hello.” It was him and about time I thought to myself. “Im on the fourth floor”…”OK I’m on my way up.” Athletes seem to walk with a swagger different from the rest.You couldn’t miss him as this tall 6 foot 10 inches male smoothly breezes into the room and now fills the once empty space next to me.
“‘I’m sorry I’m late. We had to stay late and lift weights.“
“Oh OK, I replied, “how’s that going. He lifted up his shirt and shows off his abs. “I’m a lil’ sore, look at my abs but besides that its good.”
And by the looks of his abs things certainly were good.
“So tell me more about school how is everything going,” I asked.
He looks at me and began tapping a pencil as though he was really contemplating a good answer. He describe how the coaches were really clamping down on the team and ensuring that there wasn’t going to be any missed practices. Then he said something that really astounded me.
“Man you don’t know how hard it is to play basketball and go to class.”
All I can think of was “are you serious” but he sat there with a completely serious face.
“They are really getting down on us and making us go to class. Then if we miss class we don’t practice and if we don’t practice we don’t play.”
“Naw… really I thought to myself”… This is the sad example of some athlete coming to college to play a sport and not to learn anything while they are here. This incident sheds a light on how some athletes in college think they are exempt from the rules we all usually follow like going to class…
Note: Link to article on athletes in school from the University of New Mexico newspaper The Daily Lobo added.
