Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas to all readers, family, friends, and the troops overseas. Have a safe and happy holiday 

An All Sports Wish List

In the spirit of Christmas, this is what I think what players, coaches, teams, and organizations will be wishing for under the Christmas tree.

Another year for Michigan's Rich Rodriguez so he can finally get some progress going in Ann Arbor. But they still won't call off the dogs.

For Greg Robinson, another job where he can run his own scheme and not have one forced upon him where he couldn't succeed.

For Jim Leyland, another bat in the lineup that can go for .280, 20 homers and 80 rbi's. Also another starter that can win 10-15 games and eat some innings. Brad Penny anyone?

For Joe Dumars, a new owner so he can take the handcuffs off and rebuild the Pistons and Jared Sullinger

For the Detroit Lions, a referee that can interpret the rules properly.

For North Carolina's Butch Davis, a wish for the NCAA to stop digging up more allegations against his program.

For Tom Izzo and Michigan State, a win against an elite, top level opponent.

For John Beilein and Michigan, a win over Michigan State and to truly close the gap on the Spartans.

For Houston Cougars basketball, a return to their glory years.

For John Pelphrey, another year so he can see his best recruiting class pay off.

For Virginia Tech basketball, an NCAA bid.

For the Detroit Red Wings, an injury free season.

For the San Jose Sharks, to breakthrough and win a Stanley Cup

For the Miami Heat, a strong bench to complement Miami Thrice

For Carmelo Anthony, a home in New York City

For the New York Yankees, another top shelf pitcher

Sacramento Has To Remember Cousins Is Still A Kid

Whether the brass in the Sacramento Kings' organization like it or not, rookie center DeMarcus Cousins is still a kid. Now don't get my words twisted. He's still a kid in a sense that he still has to grow up mentally. He's going to give you headaches now and it's going to take a year or five for him to get his head straight. Maybe he's a lot like Zach Randolph, who now looks like a model citizen. Yes, insert joke there.

Last night Cousins' immaturity was on display when he made a choking motion to Golden State's Reggie Williams after he missed a late game free throw. Coach Paul Westphal wasn't too happy with Cousins and fined him and removed him from the starting lineup. Of course Cousins says the only reason why he's being punished is because they lost. No DeMarcus. It's because your a jackass.

Unlike Tyreke Evans, whose problems have come off the court, all Cousins' problems will come on the court. He'll be more of a headache to coaches and teammates during a game than being a royal pain off of it. I only say that because I personally haven't heard of any off court problems when he was in high school or at Kentucky. I'm not saying you treat him with kid gloves or coddle him. He has to become a man, since he's now in a grown man's world. Give him a few years to grow up and if he doesn't then trade him. If you don't want to wait that long trade him now and cut your losses. I do think he has the potential to be a coach killer if he can't demonstrate the ability to mature.  

Start Tanking For Sullinger

I don't like to advocate losing intentionally, or tanking for a lack of a better term. But hey, it worked for the Houston Rockets back in the day when they "won" the right to draft Ralph Sampson, so I'm not against trying to get a few more ping pong balls in the hopper.

If I'm Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars, I facilitate trades for Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince and let the losing begin. I know Joe has a lot of pride so he'll never go for this idea. I don't think a lot of people that read this would like this idea. But like I said, it worked for Houston so why not give it a try. The player I've fallen in love with in this short college basketball season is Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.

Being from Michigan, I haven't liked many Buckeyes. That goes for football and basketball. Save for Jay Burson and Dennis Hopson I don't root for many. But Sullinger is different. I know the Pistons lack an elite level point guard and as much as I hate to say it Duke's Kyrie Irving could be used here in the Motor City. I could be wrong, but I feel Sullinger is a guaranteed can't miss. Put Sullinger next to Greg Monroe, and they might form a nice combo on the front line. Jared is a beast down low. He has a good back to the basket game and can actually hit a midrnge shot, even though you prefer he doesn't take that shot frequently. He's a strong rebounder and if he can stay out of foul trouble he could step right in and be a force. He knows his range so you don't have to worry about him straying out to the three point line. If you question what I'm saying, just check his stat line from the Florida game (26 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals). He is DeMarcus Cousins without the attitude. He averages a double double and shoots 59 percent. I'm still waiting to see what he does once the Big Ten season starts, but right now he would be number one on my draft board right now.

I know Joe Dumars doesn't have much room to operate and there may not be a season next year, but drafting Sullinger is a must. This would be the certified home run draft pick he needs to keep the bullets off his back regarding his shaky draft record. Just make the trades and let lottopalooza start and let the ping pong balls rack up. Just remeber, it got Houston into that epic coin flip that landed them Ralph Sampson. Like I said earlier, Dumars has too much pride to let that happen. Let's not kid ourselves. This team is going nowhere except lotteryland so why not try to maximize the potential to get the best draft position.