Ostensibly Hoops

[Jungle Rat]

I'll agree with that

[Bklyn]

I think Jalen stayed the most logical and composed on the show...but Stephen A and Skip Bayless are on First Take for a reason. Their idiocy draws viewers, regardless of whether they are right, wrong or just plain mean with their commentary. ESPN likes that. That's why they changed the format of the show. It used to be more "newsy" with that chick hosting it. Whenever Skip and Stephen A started their general fuckery, the Twitterverse would pick up steam and comments on their ESPN clips would pick up. They sell soap.

As a result, Stephen A will still attack players unnecessarily and Skip Bayless will still use "Bosh Spice" or "Prince James" monikers when talking about players. ESPN is running a business. The Jon Barrys and Jalen Roses of the world can do pregame and halftime shows...because those venues only buttress the entertainment. First Take is trying to be it.

[Jungle Rat]

So its back to white guy vs. black guy?

[Bklyn]

Huh?

[T Dot O Dot]

I think Jalen stayed the most logical and composed on the show...

most definitely

if this was a scored debate Rose wins in a landslide

I especially love the point, that as a 10 year scrub, Kwame Brown has risen up & climbed over more competition than most professionals will ever face in their lifetime

[T Dot O Dot]

So its back to white guy vs. black guy?

ex-player turned analyst vs. career journalist

Jalen vs Stephen A & Bayless

[Bklyn]

Yeah, if that's what you meant Rat, it was more along the lines of "back to white guy and black guy vs. black guy."

[T Dot O Dot]

still not sure why Skip decided to tweet his exaggerated HS feats, dumb move

you can't throw shyt out on the twittersphere like that, especially with sites like deadspin & the big lead out there

[THE_WIZARD_]

"...black guys help the white guys...

[Bklyn]

Nerlens to UK...

[eCat]

worked out for us. Kid seems excited to be here.

Wish we could have had Shabazz. The IU/UK game will be a battle next year.

[BigRedMan]

so Baylor gets 3 years probation for excessive texts and calls.

what did Indiana get for Kelvin Sampson?

watching Butler go to back to back final fours?

That made me chuckle you rat bastard.

[eCat]

This is disappointing

"MIAMI -- Count two-time Olympian and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade among those who believe NBA players should be paid for playing with Team USA in the London Olympics.

Wade, the leading scorer on the 2008 national team that won a gold medal in China, said he agreed with Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen that players should be compensated for their time participating in the Summer Games. Allen first addressed the issue Tuesday night in an interview with FoxSports.com before the Celtics beat the Heat in Miami.


Allen, 36, is nearing the end of a playing career that included a stint with the national team that won the gold medal during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. But Wade, 30, remains in a pool of players on Team USA's current roster that will compete at this summer's Olympics.

"It's a lot of things you do for the Olympics -- a lot of jerseys you sell," Wade said after the Heat's practice on Wednesday in advance of Thursday's game against Chicago. "We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated. Just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it's not there. But I think it should be something, you know, there for it."

Wade said he hasn't thought about how much players should be paid for their time. But he said there is a demanding schedule that comes with a commitment to the national team. This summer, NBA players whose teams advance deep into the playoffs could have only a couple of weeks of downtime before the start of Team USA's training camp in late July."

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Probably the reason we never went with professional athletes early on is because of the concern over this attitude.

I remember Allen Iverson talking about it being an honor to represent America and was ashamed of fellow athletes who didn't want to go post 9/11 because of the fear of terrorists. I don't know, he may now be one of the voices expecting to get paid but I'd like to think he got it.

[sardis]

Dwyane, no one is forcing you to go...

[eCat]

There is a line of logic that says if Teague and or Lamb return to UK and can move into the top 10 next year, they would end up making $3m more than if they go this year.

Of course I"m not sure that Teague or Lamb would jump to top 10 given both are probably playing the best they can at the college level now, but I hope they think about it.

[Bklyn]

This is the highest their stock will go. They need to make a move. Lamb had a great Finals. Eff the gamble on the 3M.

yep @ sardis

[eCat]

yea, I'm afraid you are right. I hate to lose Lamb though. Kid was crazy good at scoring.

[Bklyn]

Wade backs off the comp talk...

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/78055 ... n-olympics

[Bklyn]

Maybe Teague should file but not pick up an agent. I worry that he could slip farther than he even wants to. He can afford to gamble on coming back...so maybe I'll hedge my original thought on both of them leaving.

[Saint]

by eCat » Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:21 am

if you go by the talking heads as of this morning

Shabazz to UCLA, Nerlens to UK. The UConn big man is getting a strong push by UK as well

I hate to lose Shabazz but if he isn't going to UK, I'd prefer him disappear on the west coast

I do, too. UK and Dook both miss out on the No. 1 player is good for me. Although ESPN changed its rankings and made him No. 2 behind Noel now. Recruiting rankings are crap anyway. if Harrison Barnes is any indication, I'd rather UNC not get any more top-rated recruits. Just get the No. 1 PG each year or every other year and let the rest fall into place.