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      Shawn Marion (a.k.a. “The Matrix”) chats with The Scores Report

      October 15, 2009 /

      shawnmarion1-cropped

      Shawn Marion is a four-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA performer. He is one of the league’s most athletic and versatile players, which is why TNT’s Kenny Smith nicknamed him “The Matrix” early in his rookie season. As a testament to his versatility, he has led the league in steals twice and has finished in the top 10 in rebounding six times.

      The peak of Marion’s career came in Phoenix, as he thrived in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system. But Marion was an All-Star before D’Antoni took over in Phoenix. The guy can flat out play.

      After spending last season in Miami and Toronto, Marion is now with the Dallas Mavericks, joining Jason Kidd, Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki for what owner Mark Cuban hopes will be a title run. Marion sat down with The Scores Report to talk about his new team, his prowess on the offensive glass, and why the Suns traded him away.

      TSR: Thanks for chatting with The Scores Report, Shawn. We just spoke with your former teammate, Dwyane Wade, a couple of weeks ago. He seems like a really nice guy.

      SM: Yeah, he’s my man.

      TSR: I’d first like to ask you about joining the Dallas Mavericks. How do you think you’ll fit in?

      SM: I think I’ll fit in very well.

      TSR: What made you pick the Mavs?

      SM: J-Kidd and Dirk tried to get me down there for like over a year now. But I wasn’t able to go directly to them, so they had to make some maneuvers and work out a sign and trade. That’s what it was.

      TSR: How do you think the team will change now that you’re a Mav? Dallas was in the middle of the pack in terms of pace last season – do you see the team pushing the ball more to best utilize your skills?

      SM: I think we’ll do a little bit of everything. I’m just going to come in and try to help the team in every aspect of the game, and that’s it really. That sums it up.

      Continue reading »

      Interviews, NBA

      Limbaugh lashes out after Checketts drops him from Rams bid

      October 15, 2009 /

      Well, you knew Rush Limbaugh wasn’t going to go quietly into the night after St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts dropped him from the group bidding to become the next owner of the Rams.

      From FOXSports.com:

      He also said Checketts assured him his involvement as a minority investor had been vetted by the National Football League.
      NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Colts owner Jim Irsay both expressed misgivings this week about Limbaugh’s involvement. Late Wednesday, Checketts said Limbaugh had been dropped from the bid.

      Limbaugh says he believes he has been made an example by a players’ union seeking leverage in talks over a new collective bargaining agreement. And he says he believes what happened to him was an illustration of “Obama’s America on full display.”

      People can put a racial spin on this situation if they want, but the bottom line is that Limbaugh was dropped because he is a controversial figure. Whether it’s far to Limbaugh or not, the NFL ultimately didn’t want to open Pandora’s box by allowing Rush to become an owner.

      But Limbaugh’s comments regarding the players’ union are interesting. The NFL is heading into an uncapped 2010, but would like to renew with the union at some point so that football doesn’t become like baseball where the teams with the most money sign the best players. It’s not impossible to think that the NFL made this decision based on being able to sign a new collective bargaining agreement.

      Another interesting debate that is developing is whether or not the NFL is being hypocritical by not allowing Limbaugh to become an owner. After all, Michael Vick, Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Leonard Little and a host of other players have gotten into controversial situations off the field and have still been allowed to participate in the league. But Limbaugh can’t because of his controversial political views?

      I get that allowing Limbaugh into the league is a deicer situation than suspending a player and then allowing him to return, but the debate is interesting nonetheless.

      NFL

      Pujols in no hurry to sign an extension with the Cardinals

      October 15, 2009 /

      According to ESPN.com, Albert Pujols has no interest in signing a contract extension with the Cardinals this offseason.

      “I’m not desperate to sign a contract extension. I still have one year remaining in my contract for 2010 and a club option for 2011. I leave the rest in God’s hands,” Pujols told a Dominican radio station (CDN 92.5 FM) Wednesday during an interview on the sports program “Manana Deportiva.”

      Pujols signed a seven-year contract for $100 million after the 2003 season, but the two-time MVP said money will not be the central issue in his next contract.

      “We have not sat down to talk about contracts yet. Last week, the GM [John Mozeliak] called me and I told them to talk to my lawyer. But I reiterate that money is not everything, it’s better to have a competitive team that can go to the postseason,” he added.

      Pujols, 29, hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBIs this season for the Cardinals, and is a heavy favorite to win the NL MVP.

      St. Louis would obviously love to make Pujols a Cardinal for life, but it makes sense that he doesn’t want to rush the process when he doesn’t have to. He’s basically under contract for the next two years (the Cardinals will pick him his option in 2011) and therefore doesn’t have to think about his pending free agency for a while.

      I don’t read this as Pujols hinting that he doesn’t want to be a Cardinal. I just think he wants to take things one year at a time, especially when he still has at least two more years left in St. Louis.

      MLB

      Don’t count on Gruden winding up at Louisville

      October 15, 2009 /

      According to the National Football Post, Jon Gruden is Louisville’s No. 1 choice to be the school’s next head football coach if Steve Kragthorpe is fired. Gruden has been a hot name of late, as Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was also rumored to be interested in the former Bucs head coach earlier this week.

      A Gruden-to-Louisville marriage seems highly unlikely. While he did start at the collegiate level when he first got started in coaching (he was a graduate assistant at Tennessee, a quarterbacks coach at Southeast Missouri State and a wide receivers coach at University of Pacific), most of Gruden’s experience is in the NFL. In fact, he’s been in the NFL since 1990 and runs the West Coast Offense, which is predominately a pro-style system. Plus, Gruden has little to no experience recruiting, which is obviously a huge factor in building a collegiate program.

      There are always head coaching vacancies in the NFL and teams will no doubt pursue Gruden in the offseason seeing as how he’s won a Super Bowl. If Gruden had his choice between staying in the NFL and going back to the college ranks, why would he choose college when he’s so familiar with the NFL? It just doesn’t make sense.

      The only reason I could see Gruden winding up at Louisville is if the money was too good to pass up. But if the rumors are true that Snyder is interested in his services, than Gruden won’t have any problems making money.

      NFL

      FOX apologizes for mocking Jessica Simpson’s weight in cartoon

      October 15, 2009 /

      Burger King and the FOX network have apologized for a cartoon skit which aired last Sunday during a pregame show that mocked Jessica Simpson for her supposed weight gain.

      From the Dallas Morning News:

      In the commercial, the cartoon version of Marion Barber says, “Man, I still can’t believe Tony dated Jessica Simpson, even after she blew up bigger than Flozell Adams!”

      The cartoon version of Jason Witten says, “Unlike Tony, at least Jessica comes up big when it counts!”

      And the cartoon version of coach Wade Phillips adds, “Say Tony, is Jessica around? We could use a defensive tackle!”

      Fox issued a statement saying, “Burger King did not have any editorial input in the creation of the animation that ran last Sunday, and no one from Burger King Corp., approved it before it aired.

      “Upon reflection, our poor attempt at humor was insensitive, and we deeply apologize to anyone who might have been offended.”

      FOX is right – the commercial was insensitive. I’d also add stupid, unnecessary and cruel in some respects.

      As my esteemed colleague John Paulsen recently said, we don’t need to give any more young women complexes about their weight. FOX should have apologized for their lack in judgment.

      NFL

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