Month: July 2008 (Page 15 of 39)

      Warriors acquire Marcus Williams

      July 22, 2008 /

      So far, Marcus Williams has been a bust. The former first-round pick (#22 overall) clearly hasn’t panned out, as he’s averaging just 6.4 points and 3.0 assists and shooting 38.9% from the field in his brief career. That didn’t stop Golden State from trading a future first round pick for him.

      The trade will be announced later today.

      The pick is lottery protected for 2011, so the Nets get it if the Warriors are in the playoffs. If it goes to 2012, the pick is protected 1-11. It’s protected 1-10 for 2013.

      If it is not conveyed by 2013, the Nets get second-round picks in 2013 and 2015.

      When he came into the league, Williams was supposed to be a pass-first point guard, but he now has a rep for firing up a lot of bad shots. It will be interesting to see if Don Nelson and his staff can turn him into a legitimate NBA point guard. The pick is lottery protected, so there’s limited downside for the Warriors.

      As for the Nets, with the acquisition of Keyon Dooling and last year’s trade for Devin Harris, the writing was on the wall for Williams. Sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery.

      NBA, NBA Draft, Rumors & Gossip

      Bears fans rejoice: Brian Urlacher gets restructured contract

      July 22, 2008 /

      The Chicago Bears and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher have reached an agreement on a restructured contract according to ESPN.com.

      Urlacher, 30, had four years and approximately $25.5 million remaining on his contract. Under the terms of the upgraded deal, Urlacher will receive a $6 million signing bonus along with a $1 million bump in salary each of the next four years. The sides also have agreed to extend the pact into 2012, at a salary of $7.5 million. Urlacher can earn an additional $500,000 in a workout bonus in 2012.
      That’s a total of roughly $43.5 million over the next five years, with $18 million in new money for the six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All Pro.

      Boy, the Bears certainly go about things the hard way sometimes, but they’ve made their star players happy (of late). Lance Briggs got a new contract at the start of the 2007 season and now Urlacher is set to go until 2012.

      Even though he was hampered by nagging injuries last year, there’s no denying Urlacher is still Chicago’s best option at middle linebacker in their Tampa 2 defense. With how important the position is in that type of defense, the Bears could ill afford not to pay Urlacher and have him back on the field in 2008.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Former USC Trojan Carson Palmer rips Ohio State

      July 22, 2008 /

      Former USC Trojan and current Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Carson Palmer had some choice words for the Ohio State football program in a recent interview with a Los Angeles radio station.

      I cannot stand the Buckeyes. It’s amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the crap I gotta put up with being back there.

      I just can’t wait for two years from now when SC comes to the ‘Shoe and hopefully we’ll have a home game that weekend, and I can go up there and watch us pound on them in their own turf.

      I’m really getting sick of it, and I just can’t wait for this game to get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin’ and go back to the Big Ten.

      Shortly afterwards, Palmer did his best defensive back impersonation and backpedaled:

      “I’m a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good fans will do. But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are passionate, too. I hope they all understand I’m just looking forward to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a real rivalry unless both sides are great teams.”

      In the immortal words of White Goodman (Ben Stiller) from Dodgeball: You don’t crap where you eat, Palmer. You might be a Trojan through and through, but you make your earning in the state that Woody Hayes built. Better choose your words carefully.

      Actually, I love what Palmer said (pre-backpedal). Current and former USC players should hate Ohio State and vice versa. Rivalries are part of what college football is all about.

      College Football

      MLB trade rumors heat up

      July 22, 2008 /

      The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching and as usual, rumors are flying. The Brewers have already made one huge acquisition (C.C. Sabathia) and one to beef up their bench (Ray Durham). Are they done? Will the Pirates become huge sellers? Will the Blue Jays successfully unload A.J. Burnett? Tampa is finally in contention – will they become buyers?

      THE FANTASY SPORTS FORUM takes a look at some of these questions.

      The Tampa Bay Rays have made it no secret that they would like to add another bat, preferably a right handed bat that can play right field. The players most associated with the Rays so far are Xavier Nady and Jason Bay of Pittsburgh. Tampa has a very strong farm system and would have whatever chips are necessary to add any bats they need. The question is if they choose to go that route. Tampa is in new territory at this season’s trade deadline, as this is the first season in their existence that they are in contention for a playoff spot…

      Toronto would love to trade A. J. Burnett, but his contract makes that highly unlikely. He has a player option for two years and 24 million or become a free agent at the end of this season. So, if he pitches well the last two months for a contender, he can exercise said option and become a free agent, and if he pitches poorly he can just stay with you for 12 million a year for two years. Don’t see many teams lining up for him…

      Things have to be frustrating in Pittsburgh. They have some sporadic position talent and young pitching in Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny (optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in early July), but it just hasn’t developed. Now they appear to be sellers again and the sad cycle continues.

      And I agree with the guys at TFSF – no team is touching Burnett with a 10-foot pole.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Eight Fastest College Football Players

      July 22, 2008 /

      THE LOVE OF SPORTS have compiled an eight-count of the fastest players in college football, complete with YouTube.com videos.

      1. Jahvid Best, RB, Soph, California
      Best was used sparingly as a freshman, but was still one of the …. uhh … best freshman in the country. He once ran a 10.31 in the 100 meters in high school. Despite the fact he’s currently recovering from a hip injury, he’s one to watch in ‘08.

      2. Noel Devine, RB, Soph, West Virginia
      Warrick Dunn, Part Duex. A 10.40 (100m) and 21.3 (200m) sprinter in high school, Devine averaged 8.6 yards per rush as a freshman and will be a major part of the West Virginia offense now that Steve Slaton’s gone. The clip below also introduces the term “eye balls on his feet,” which, when you think about it, is absurd. FYI, Deion Sanders is his “mentor.”

      Where does West Virginia find these guys? Steve Slaton, Pat White, Noel Devine – these boys can run. Man, I can’t wait for football season to start.

      College Football, Video

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