Michigan vs. Alabama Open Thread

The season is finally upon us! 

Leave us all your thoughts, comments and general what not about the Michigan/Bama game and any other Saturday action you care to discuss.

And because Rigby gave us two great choices for this poster the other day, here's the color version...

Best NBA Point Guard

Rajon Rondo clearly doesn’t lack for confidence. That’s a good thing for him and the Boston Celtics. It’s even better for journalists. Earlier this summer, Rondo said he thinks he’s the best point guard in the NBA today.

Again, I have no problem with him saying that. But it got me thinking…

Who’s the best point guard of all-time?

Magic Johnson?

Magic averaged the most assists per-game over a career, 11.2 APG. He was just as good in the playoffs, where he dished out more assists than anyone else.

John Stockton?

Stockton has the most career assists and steals. The NBA’s iron man, he missed just 22 games in 19 years.

Bob Cousy?

Cousy won the most rings of any point guard, 6. He revolutionized the position.

Oscar Robertson?

Mr. Triple Double, did just about everything except drive the team bus.

Isiah Thomas?

He’d spend the first 40 minutes of every game getting his teammates involved and when it came down to crunch time, he’d take over. Remember Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals?

They each have a great case for the title of greatest point guard of all-time.

But I’m not here to debate exactly where a point guard should be ranked.

The more important question is what makes a great point guard.

Do you value sheer volume of assists? That’s fine. Your top-5 list starts off with Stockton. But it would also have Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson ahead of Magic.

Do you want your point guard to score? The Big O filled it up quite nicely. His 26,710 points ranks him 10^th all-time. Allen Iverson is 2^nd on that list, 17^th most points all-time (yes, I know he was considered a shooting guard as well).

Racking up assists and points are useful qualities but there’s more to the debate than statistics.

What about the rings?

I understand that in team sports, championships can’t be the end-all be-all, but they have to matter. If the point guard is the floor general and running the offense, shouldn’t the final result have an impact on his legacy? You can’t control being drafted onto a terrible team or running up against a dynasty, or even playing with one. But that doesn’t mean you get a hall pass.

Cousy won six championships. Magic is second with five. But that list means Derek Fisheris tied with Magic and with all due respect to Mr. Fisher, I’m not sure he’d make a top-5 point guard list during any year of his career.

So what makes a great point guard?

Merriam-Webster defines the point guard as “a guard in basketball who is chiefly responsible for running the offense.”

To me, the point guard is the quarterback; the starting pitcher; the goalie. He dictates the tempo, controls the rhythm, and more often than not, determines the outcome.

I want my point guard to be able to fill up a box score when his team needs someone take over.

I want my point guard to make his teammates better. Does it look like I could score 10-12 every night with this guy running the show?

Most of all, I want my point guard to be clutch. He doesn’t have to score himself, but he better be the reason his team excels late in the game.

Here’s my all-time top-5 Point Guard list [CLNS Radio Staff Ranking]:

1. Magic Johnson [1st] – 1st in assists per game (11.2), 3 regular season MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs – filled the box score and jewelry box
2. Isiah Thomas [5th] – 5th all-time in assists per game (9.3), raised PPG/APG/RPG in the playoffs – knew exactly when to take over a game.
3. Bob Cousy [4th] – led the NBA in assists 8 straight years – revolutionized the position
4. Oscar Robertson [2nd] – 4th most assists per game (9.5), 9th most points per game (25.7) – averaged a triple-double for five straight seasons.
5. John Stockton [3rd] – Most assists all-time and most steals all-time – has anyone run the pick-and-roll better?

My current top-5 point guards [CLNS Radio Staff Ranking]:

1. Chris Paul [1st] – 3rd highest assists per game average (9.8), led NBA in steals four times – You say he’s never made it past the second round? I say he improves his scoring, rebounding, and assist averages in the playoffs. The best PG at taking over games in crunch time.
2. Rajon Rondo [2nd] – today’s Mr. Triple Double and he lead the league in assists with 11.7 a game in 2011-2012. He can do this. And this.
3. Steve Nash [7th]- 2-time MVP and 4-time member of the 50-40-90 club – Has anyone allowed more players to sign undeserved contracts than Nash? You can’t tell me with a straight face it wouldn’t be more fun to play with him than anyone else.
4. Derrick Rose [3rd]- Youngest MVP in NBA history and the fastest player in the game – his team’s primary (and secondary and third) scoring option
5. Tony Parker [6th] – 3 rings (second only to Fisher) and has evolved from taking a back seat on a champion to being the leader of a team with a top-10 player in NBA history.

more read here http://clnsradio.com/2012/08/31/best-nba-point-guard/

Louisville, Kentucky looking for consistency

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville players talk about the importance of starting the season off with a victory against Kentucky, then almost reluctantly will address the rivalry with their in-state neighbors.

The Wildcat players and coaches have taken a similar approach in secondarily mentioning bragging rights. Kentucky's challenge is getting back to respectability despite a tough schedule that starts with the No. 25 Cardinals, though they say the game reminds them of more unfinished business.

That's not saying taking home the Governor's Cup in Sunday's season opener in Louisville isn't important for both schools. The winner gets to tout ownership, which their fan base will surely flaunt to the other side.

But with the Cardinals and Wildcats each seeking momentum and consistency, both say the season-long big picture has somewhat overshadowed the nearly three-foot-high state trophy.

"Expectations are very high right now,'' Louisville Coach Charlie Strong said. "We're a preseason ranked football team, but we haven't talked about it. I don't even talk to our players about it because I want them to understand that you have to work. It doesn't matter where you start, it's going to be about where we finish.

"That's why we have to finish every play and finish everything we do.''

Louisville is coming off a 7-6 season that included tying for the Big East Conference championship and reaching the Belk Bowl, where North Carolina State exploited the Cardinals' youth. While the underclassmen gained experience - the depth chart features eight sophomore starters - Strong wants the group to show more poise and consistency.

Especially quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who turned a relief appearance for injured Will Stein into a coming-out party against the Wildcats a year ago. He threw for two touchdowns in last year's victory in Lexington en route to earning Big East rookie honors with 2,129 yards and 14 touchdowns on 64.5% passing. Now Bridgewater is expected to be even better.

The same can be said for Louisville's offensive line that wants to prove it's better at pass protection. Who they'll open holes for in the ground game won't be known until kickoff. Strong hasn't announced who will be the starter from the group of front runners for the job: juniors Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright and Senorise Perry.

Bridgewater is confident in each back's ability to help establish the quick tempo that Louisville desires.

"It's very important (to establish the run) because it helps the quarterback and can set up the play-action pass,'' Bridgewater said. "That will be very important for us to come out and play fast.''

That could take some pressure off the Cardinals' special teams, where Strong is prepared to start true freshman Josh Appleby at punter and redshirt freshman John Wallace or sophomore Matthew Nakatani at kicker. There are no concerns about Louisville's defense, which ranked 10th against the run (100.5 yards per game) and returns all-conference junior safety Hakeem Smith.

Kentucky, meanwhile, looks to rebound from consecutive losing seasons with changes on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats want to be more physical with an emphasis on defense, where tackles Mister Cobble and Donte Rumph and end Collins Ukwu are expected to disrupt things.

That's one reason why senior cornerback Martavius Neloms views this as more than a rivalry game. The Wildcats see Louisville as the first of many preparations for a grueling Southeastern Conference schedule, which features mobile quarterbacks similar to Bridgewater.

"I actually think it's a statement game, especially for us, our fans and our season,'' Neloms said. "A win there will bring the fans in and can really jump-start our season.''

Kentucky's offense begins with sophomore quarterback Maxwell Smith, hoping his promising performance late last season can revive one of the nation's worst offenses. Senior running back CoShik Williams will be counted on to set things up for Smith, though.

Strong believes both schools' have more to prove to themselves and that adds more to this showdown. Other than a "(hash)WeAreUK'' billboard strategically placed high above Interstate 65 near the Louisville campus, there has been no trash talk and Cardinals players have found it more amusing than anything.

Louisville enters as a two-touchdown favorite, but that means little in a series Kentucky leads 14-10 with three wins on the Cardinals' turf. Strong views as it two teams seeking the same goal, and if bragging rights ratchet up the focus and intensity, all the better.

"Kentucky is similar to us in a lot of ways,'' Strong said. "It's a young team, and we're still a young football team. ... When you look at a rival(ry) game, everybody's all excited and everybody gets excited because you look at the (fact) we're an hour away. But it's two good football teams.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/wires/08/31/2060.ap.fbc.t25.louisville.kentucky.preview.1st.ld.writethru.1049/index.html#ixzz25BEJsWF8

Jerry Colangelo wants to return as USA Basketball chairman

In all likelihood, Jerry Colangelo will remain chairman of USA Basketball through the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, even as men's coach Mike Krzyzewski steps down.

• 
  By Joe Toth, US Presswire
  USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo watches a men's London Olympics warmup match vs. Great Britain on July 18 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

By Joe Toth, US Presswire

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo watches a men's London Olympics warmup match vs. Great Britain on July 18 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

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"I've decided I'm going to continue," Colangelo told USATODAY Sports. "I'm committed to our organization during this transition period. I want to make sure, as good as things are, that once the baton is handed over to someone it's in even better shape. That's the plan for these next four years."

Colangelo said his decision was not influenced by a decision from FIBA, international basketball's government body, not to ask the International Olympic Committee to make the men's competition an under-23 event.

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"It didn't have anything to do with my willingness to continue," he said. "I've been encouraged to continue and if somebody didn't want me there, it would take about three seconds for me to walk."

Colangelo was non-committal about his future during the London Olympics and said he came to his decision following downtime after the U.S. men's and women's teams won gold in London three weeks ago.

"I said, 'If I'm healthy and I have the time to do it, it's a passion of mine, then why not?' " Colangelo said.

There is a formal procedure, based on USA Basketball's constitution, which must be followed, though. Colangelo must be nominated for a spot on the board of directors for the 2013-16 quadrennial, on which Colangelo said he has been assured a spot.

USA Basketball's new board of directors is expected to be named by early 2013, and it then will elect a chairman. Given Colangelo's desire to return and the success of the senior and junior programs, it's unlikely someone else is named chairman.

Since Colangelo joined USA Basketball in 2005 following the men's troubling bronze-medal performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the U.S. men are 62-1 with gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 world championship and 2012 London Olympics. The women were in fine shape before Colangelo joined and have continued, winning the past five Olympics gold medals and boasting a 41-game Olympic winning streak.

The USA also is the defending world champion in under-17 and under-18 on the men's side and defending world champion in under-19 and under-17 on the women's side.

"What's important is to maintain the credibility and sustainability of USA Basketball," Colangelo said. "You've got to keep it going. I want to make sure the transition is a seamless transition over a period of time. If someone is there ready to take over after 2016, that's the right timing."

Colangelo, also the chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame, will be in Springfield, Mass., next week for the Hall of Fame inductions and will be in Arizona on Sept. 19-20 for a Hall of Fame golf fundraiser. He said he anticipates discussing the future of USA Basketball with various people at both events.

The first of order of business will be figuring out who will coach the men's team at the 2014 world championship in Spain and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Krzyzewski, who has coached the men's team since 2006, has said he is stepping down as men's coach.

But Colangelo wanted to give Krzyzewski time to think about it after London. Colangelo said he has had one brief phone conversation with Krzyzewski since returning to the USA.

"I want him to come to his own determination one way or the other," Colangelo said. "I don't want to put any pressure on him. I don't want him to feel any pressure. … Once he makes his decision, assuming he won't coach, then there's a position that will be for him with me. I want him alongside me."

more read here http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/basketball/story/2012-08-31/Jerry-Colangelo-USA-Basketball-Mike-Krzyzewski/57489084/1?csp=34sports&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sees positive side to Wayne Rooney's injury

Sir Alex Ferguson has described the thigh injury which could sideline Wayne Rooney until October as a “blessing” and said that the Manchester United forward must use the lay-off to improve his fitness

Although the initial prognosis on Rooney’s injury – a badly gashed thigh sustained against Fulham last Saturday – suggested the 26 year-old could be sidelined for two months, the player could yet be available again within four weeks after scans ruled out serious muscle damage.

But having dropped Rooney to the substitutes’ bench for the game against Fulham, choosing instead to deploy £22 million new signing Robin van Persie as United’s lone striker, Ferguson has conceded that the England forward is still to reach full fitness following his delayed return to pre-season training due to his involvement at Euro 2012.

“I think this [injury] may be a blessing,” Ferguson said. “The fact it’s a gash, not a ligament or muscle injury, means he can do a lot of work in the gymnasium. He will be able to do gym work – he was in the gym yesterday actually – and we will continue that. The minute he starts running, that will also involve the football side of it too.”

While admitting Rooney’s fitness levels were not as high as those of his team-mates, Ferguson also hinted at a new, deeper role for the player by comparing his fitness levels to United’s midfielders.

“He wasn’t as fit [as the other players].” Ferguson said. “He said himself he needs a few games and I wanted to play Van Persie at the start at Old Trafford against Fulham.

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“I knew he wasn’t 100 per cent fit either and I would rather have taken him off with 20 minutes to go, but I couldn’t really start the two of them and I wanted to start with Van Persie.

“Wayne is behind the rest. He’s not as advanced as [Shinji] Kagawa or the other midfield players.” Although Rooney, who returned to pre-season in the final week of July, appeared in friendlies against Valerenga, Barcelona and Hannover, Ferguson insists he did not rack up enough game time before the start of the season.

He said: “Pre-season is about making sure you’ve got enough games before you start the season. That’s why most teams have six or seven games pre-season.”

Ferguson will also be without winger Ashley Young for Sunday’s trip toSouthampton because of a knee injury, which has ruled him out of the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine. Ferguson has hit out at the Football Association for affecting United’s competitive advantage by revealing the problem through naming the squad on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

“It was nice of the FA to let everyone know that Ashley Young is injured.” Ferguson said. “We have a game on Sunday — why should they alert our opponents about who is fit and who is not fit? It won’t happen again. He will be ready for a couple of weeks’ time.”

Ferguson has confirmed that midfielder Darren Fletcher is being considered for United’s Champions League squad after making good progress in his battle against the bowel condition, ulcerative colitis, which has sidelined him for 10 months. “He played for the reserves the other night and did really well. But with the condition he has, and has to deal with, it’s wait and see,” Ferguson said.

more read here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9512588/Manchester-United-manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-sees-positive-side-to-Wayne-Rooneys-injury.html

Why Lance will be just fine

Last week, just after Lance Armstrong announced that he would not contest the USADA proceedings, I did a radio interview in which the interviewer relayed the comments of a marketing expert who suggested that Armstrong was done as spokesman, fundraiser, and endorser. I disagreed, saying (consistent with similar arguments made elsewhere) that Lance would benefit from not participating in the proceeding; he would argue that the proceedings were biased and illegitimate, that he was the wronged party and justified in not participating (and thus giving USADA legitimacy), and that he remains a clean champion cyclist.

Case in point: Armstrong's speech yesterday to the World Cancer Congress, which he began as follows: "My name is Lance Armstrong. I am a cancer survivor . . .  I'm a father of five. And yes, I won the Tour de France seven times." Combined with reports that Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation saw a dramatic uptick in donations last week, it looks like, at least in the short term, my instinct was right--Armstrong is going to come through this just fine.

Arsenal eye up loan move for Chelsea's Michael Essien

Arsenal have made an inquiry for Chelsea’s Michael Essien asArsene Wenger attempts to reinforce his midfield ahead of tonight’s closure of the transfer window.

Essien is yet to start a game for Chelsea so far this season and it is understood that Arsenal’s interest has centred on the possibility of a season-long loan. Chelsea, though, would be mindful of loaning one of their players to a Premier League rival and, despite his previous injury problems, they do regard Essien as potentially useful cover at the base of their midfield.

Wenger does hope to make at least one signing today, withMontpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa another potential target, but there will be no repeat of last year’s deadline day shopping frenzy. Indeed, Wenger launched an impassioned defence of his strategy yesterday as Arsenal again head towards the closure of a transfer window in profit on their player trading.

It has been a familiar pattern for Wenger to at least break even in the transfer market since moving to the Emirates in 2005 and, after the early expenditure for Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, he has since more than covered that outlay by selling Robin van Persie and Alex Song.

Wenger said that he might still spend today if a “top, top player” became available but he also stressed that he regards the squad as sufficiently strong to challenge for major trophies.

“I am relaxed,” said Wenger. “We have enough players, that is for sure, but you want always to improve your squad. We have resources available so if it is not happening now it will happen in December. But we believe strongly that we have the quality in our squad to do very well.

“We bought Cazorla, Podolski and Giroud so you cannot say we have not bought but, when you listen to people, you always have to buy more.”

Asked what could really strengthen the squad, Wenger pointed to the treatment room and the long-awaited returns of Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna and Tomas Rosicky.

“Getting our injured players back is the best way for us to strengthen the squad,” he said. “We do not just want to bring average players in. Spending in itself is not a quality. Buying good players is a quality, better players than you have is a quality.”

Wenger also outlined his confidence that Theo Walcott would still sign a new contract, despite allowing the 23-year-old to enter the final year of his current deal.

“His situation is simple - that he will stay with us and play for us,” said Wenger. “At the moment it is very difficult to predict what we will do. He loves the club, and maybe we can find an agreement at some stage. Theo is 23. He’s English, he basically lives 10 minutes from here. So hopefully we can find an agreement.

“He’s not money obsessed. He does not say, ‘it’s that, or not’. There are little differences in negotiations that can happen. He is developing very well. He is intelligent, a good finisher.”

Walcott has been offered a five year contract worth £75,000-a-week but, mindful of the going rate for comparable England internationals, is hoping for a deal closer to £100,000-a-week. Wenger, though, indicated that there were clear wage boundaries for a player of

Walcott’s age compared to more experienced professionals. “It is of course different for a 29-year-old player than for a 23-year-old player,” he said.

more read here http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/arsenal-eye-up-loan-move-for-chelseas-michael-essien-3216114.html

Champions League Draw 2012: Outlining FC Barcelona's Group G Opponents

The 2012-2013 UEFA Champions League draw has ended. The result is that FC Barcelona is in Group G with Benfica, Spartak Moscow, and Celtic (via UEFA.com).

La Blaugrana will have its first match against Spartak Moscow on September 19 at Camp Nou. While the group is not a difficult one, it will be tough for Barca.

An outline of the Group G opponents for La Blaugrana is in order, starting with the first challenger, Spartak Moscow. The outline will continue in the chronological order of the first encounters between FC Barcelona and its Group G opponents. 

Spartak Moscow

Spartak Moscow is a team of the Russian Premier League (RPL) and has a UEFA ranking of 46.

The RPL team has played 108 matches in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), in which it has 38 wins, 27 draws and 43 losses. Spartak Moscow's last UCL match was against the Turkish team Fenertbahce in the second leg of the playoffs and resulted in a victory by aggregates.

Spartak Moscow has been in the third qualifying round of the UCL two times and the group stage three times recently.

The prominent members of Spartak Moscow are defender Evgeni Makeev and midfielder Diniyar Biyalletdinov. 

Benfica

Benfica and FC Barcelona will face each other on October 2 at the Estadio do SportLisboa e Benfica in Portugal. It is not expected to be an easy match for La Blaugrana, with Benfica enjoying the advantage of playing at home.

Rubin Kazan VS Spartak Moscow
Dmitry Korotayev/Getty Images

Benfica has won the UEFAChampions League two times in the past. The club has played 199 matches in the UCL, winning 93 of them. The Portuguese club also has 46 draws and 60 losses in Champions League play. Benfice is ranked number 14 on the UEFAscale.

Recently, Benfica has been in the group stages of the UCL three times and the quarterfinals twice.

Celtic

Victor Wanyama, a Celtic midfielder, will probably face FC Barcelona's Lionel Messiwhen the two clubs face each other on October 23.

Celtic has won 70, lost 50 and had 24 of its 144 Champions League matches end in draws. Celtic is ranked 63rd in UEFA and has won the UCL title once.

The club, from the Scottish Premier League, has been in the UCL playoffs, group stage and third qualifying rounds once and in the Round of 16 two times within the last few years.

FC Barcelona

La Blaugrana has participated in 233 UCL matches, with 134 victories, 43 losses and 56 draws. Barca has won the UCL four times and is No. 1 in the UEFA rankings.

The club has greats such as Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta, who collaborate with other players to produce victories.

While it remains to be seen what will transpire in the UCL, I am willing to predict thatBarca will advance past the group stages and on to the finals, as always.

more read here http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1317724-fc-barcelona-outlining-their-champions-league-group-g-opponents