Big Men staying in college

This year has been refreshing for college basketball. That's because for the first time in what seems like a decade, there are bonafide big men in college basketball. Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, and Greg Oden are the big name big men in college basketball. And not coincidently, they have led their schools to the 2007 Final Four.

College basketball is the minor leagues for the NBA. A place were kids who want to go to the NBA can improve their skills. Noah, Horford, Hibbert and Oden have certainly done that. I credit Oden ever further for saying he needed to stay in college because he's not ready for the NBA. Way to resist the temptation of the money Greg, hopefully Kevin Durant will do the same.

Redskins to meet with Russell

A story broke on ESPN.com Thursday afternoon that said the Washington Redskins have set up a meeting with former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Russell has been taughted as a possible number 1 pick in the draft, which would have him going to the Oakland Raiders.

If the Redskins draft JaMarcus Russell I am going to lose my mind. The Redskins sent three draft to the Denver Broncos in 2005 to acquire Denver's first round pick that year so they could draft Jason Campbell. After starting the last seven games last season, Campbell has been talked about as the long term quarterback for the Redskins. If I were Campbell, I would go to Joe Gibbs right now and tell him if you draft JaMarcus Russell you might as well trade me because I will never play for this franchise again. This is why the skins are constantly at the bottom of the league. They never stick with a certain way of doing things. It's always what can we do as an organization to grab headlines.

The Los Angeles Lakers ended a seven game losing streak on Friday night with a 116-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant's 65 points. Bryant scored 33 of his 65 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

You can't help but notice that injuries have killed the Lakers this season because they started the season 26-13. Part of that was also the improved play of Kobe Bryant. Instead of looking to score, Bryant was also spreading the ball around more, evident by his assists per game going up by 8 assists per game. However, last night the Lakers needed a spark. They needed someone to step up and lead them to victory and Bryant did just that. I know he hasn't won a championship since Shaq went to Miami, but give him a few more years and an injury free season, and I think you will see Kobe Bryant once again raising the NBA championship trophy.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=270316013

VCU not trying to be this year's George Mason

The Virginia Commonwealth Rams defeated Duke on Thursday night to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. With last years Final Four run by George Mason still on people's minds, the comparisons have started. However, VCU sophomore guard Eric Maynor has stated that the Rams don't want to be last years George Mason, they want to be this years VCU.

I think that is the right approach for VCU to take. They have the talent to make a deep tournament run. They have 4 guards, if you count Jamal Shuler, that can score and two big men down low that can play defense and rebound. All the Rams have to do is just play their game and the rest will take care of itself.

http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/16/AR2007031602361.html

The Sacramento Kings have allowed forward Ron Artest to return to the team a week after he was arrested for domestic violence.

This is a sticky situation. This is the first time Artest has gotten into any kind of trouble since he became a member of the Kings. Of course, everyone knows Artest for his brawl with fans in Detriot two years ago. Although he has been good in Sacramento until now, I think the league and the organization should come down hard on Artest considering his past history. The league is doing well now and doesn't need a player that is going to continuously perpetuate a thug image. Artest is a good player and needs to get his personal life in order so he can reach his full potential.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2794038

The NHL suspended New York Islanders forward Chris Simon yesterday for the remainder of this season including the playoffs. Simon was ejected from a game earlier this week for swinging his stick at the head of Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg after Hollweg had finished a check on Simon.

I like that the league has done this, but I would like to see them do more. The evidence is plain as day in this case. Simon swung his stick at Hollweg like he was swinging a baseball bat and Hollwegs head was the ball. Personally, I think Simon should be suspended for all of next season as well. There was defenit intent to hurt in this case, and the league should take a more brutal stance.

http://http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2794638

The Washington Redskins are once again a big player in free-agency. Just two days into the free agent signing period the skins have already signed middle linebacker London Fletcher, and cornerback Fred Smoot. Joe Gibbs says the rest of the free agent signing period will not be a hecktic one for the skins considering their heavy spending last off-season landed them a 5-11 record in 2006. Although that makes me happy, I am still perplexed by one thing. The redskins gave Smoot a five year 25 million dollar contract. If they feel Smoot is that valuable a player then why didn't they gave him that kind of contract two years ago when he was a free agent. They also gave the same contract to London Fletcher, when two years ago they could've given the same kind of contract to now New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce. If the front office would spend big on the players we have instead of the players we don't have, then maybe this team would actually produce headlines in January instead of March and April http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/03/AR2007030300808.html

Mason upsets Hofstra

the George Mason University men's basketball team upset the Hofstra Pride on Saturday Mar. 3 to advance to the semifinals of the CAA tournament. I particularly love this victory because all season long Hofstra has been complaining that they should've been in the Final Four last year and not Mason. Well, they had their chance to prove that last night and they failed. Sorry, boys, looks like you're NIT bound once again.