Report Says Warriors Offered Monta Ellis For Dwight Howard

According to a report/tweet from Jonathan Givony from DraftExpress the Golden State Warriors mad a play for the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, offereing up Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Andris Biendris. A pretty good package but not one that's going to land Howard.

If this is indeed true, teams thinking about lining up to trade for the big man will have to give up plenty in order to land him. So Laker fans don't get too enthusiastic about the big guy coming to Los Angeles.

Also, if the Warriors weren't going to trade Ellis, why were they alledgedly offering him in a package. it looks like Golden State is still intent on unloading Ellis no matter what their front office is saying.   

It's Time For Full Blown Rebuilding In Pistonland

Now thats it's been a few weeks since "Beverly Hills Billy", Tom Gores has taken over control of the Detroit Pistons , it's time for Joe Dumars and company to get down to business in rebuilding this team. Gores taking over was step one in trying to get the Pistons back to the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. The second step was firing coach John Kuester.

Kuester wasn't a bad guy or a bad coach, he just wasn't a good fit with this edition of Pistons. He inherited a losing situation and the veterans on the team (namely 2004 holdovers) weren't showing Kuester any respect.

Now they have to make a good hire at the coaching position. At this point they have listed Lawrence Frank, Kelvin Sampson, Mike Woodson, and Dwane Casey as favorites, even though Casey might be scratched off the list. Personally, I would like to see Woodson or Frank get the job, but that's not my decision to make. I say that because those are the only proven commodities I really know. If they hire an unproven coach they'll have to unload some veterans that aren't cut out for rebuilding. Dumars has shown impatience with coaches so he must be dead on with this hire. Which leads to this.

Get rid of the 2004 holdovers. It's over, gone and done with. It's time to get rid of Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince and the only reason I would let Ben Wallace come back is to be a mentor to the younger players. Prince is a free agent so I would let him walk. Unless I knew I could get something for him then I would do a sign and trade and Dumars is so loyal to Prince that he wants him back. I dont know what you can get for Hamilton at this point. He has a bad contract and is on the wrong side of 30 so you won't get much for him. Maybe Dumars can get the handgun and panty hose and pull off another robbery in trade. Probably won't happen, so Piston fans don't start those dream trade scenarios. It's not gonna happen.  

Draft a point guard. If the Pistons could be lucky enough to have Kemba Walker fall into their laps, take him. I don't think that'll happen, but they do need a floor general. The Pistons don't have a point guard and I'm tired of seeing Rodney Stuckey masquerade as one and Will Bynum come off the bench as a welfare version of Jason Terry. They likely won't find one in this draft since Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, and Walker will be off the board when it's their turn at pick number eight. If that is indeed the case go big. There's been talk of one of the Eurobigs ( Jan Vesely, Bismack Biyombo, or Jonas Valanciunas). All are boom or bust picks but you never know. Biyombo would give you defense and rebounding, something non existent with the current roster. Vesely looks to be the most proven and Valanciunas may have the most upside. If they go there I would also take Purdue's JaJuan Johnson in the second round if he's still on the board. Johnson does need to bulk up, but he played in the rugged Big Ten which scores points with me. Oakland's Keith Benson, Georgia's Trey Thompkins, and Jeremy Tyler could all be possibilities since the Pistons have two picks in the second round.

No more forays into free agency. The last free agent signings produced Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. I still like the Gordon signing as I think he wasn't used properly and had a few injury problems. Villanueva on the other hand, I still don't like it. He's allergic to defense and rebounding. And that's why I named all the possibilties in the second round of next week's draft. If Charlie V. continues on like this, he'll find himself chained to the bench. The best hope for him is that he shows enough to be traded. This is far fetched but I'd call Golden State to see if they would take him for Andris Biendris. Won't happen, but one can dream can't they.                

Gores has said that Dumars has three years to right the ship, so this year's draft and coaching choice will be critical in seeing that the ball gets rolling in a positive direction.

Pennington To Recharge Himself

After his latest injury, a self inflicted injury playing pickup basketball, NFL quarterback Chad Pennington will be taking time off to work for Fox Sports.  Pennington will work with Fox's Sam Rosen as an NFL analyst, provided the the players and owners can come to an agreement to save the season.

Pennington last played for the Miami Dolphins and was rehabbing a shoulder injury that cost him last season. While he should've been taking time off and dedicating it to rehab, Pennington tore his ACL playing pickup basketball. I'm not calling the guy brittle but he's only played two full season's since coming into the league, 2006 and 2008. So this is a good decision to take the time off and re-evaluate himself.

"I'm actually going to take this year off, get healthy and do some work for Fox Sports," said Pennington, the NFL's only two-time Comeback Player of the Year.

"I'm going to evaluate things and see where I am physically."

No one knows if Pennington will attempt a comeback, but if he does I think he'll make a good mentor to a young quarterback.

Biyombo Has High Hopes

I don't know a lot about Bismack Biyombo. I do know that he's from the Congo, he's an NBA draft prospect that will get drafted in the first round, he's played less than a full 2010-11 season in Spain's ACB, regarded by many as the second-best league in the world, and he's not lacking for confidence.

I don't scoff at anyone that is confident in their abilities. It's just that when you're going to wind up playing against the best basketball players in the world and have nothing on your resume' except a few showings except America's top high schoolers and playing in Spain. But if you don't have confidence in yourself, who will.

In an interview with NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper, Biyombo believes he can lead the NBA in blocks and rebounds.   

“In the NBA, I’m sure that I can block a lot of shots, more than I do in the ACB. I can get a lot of rebounds than I do here in the ACB. Why? The reason is, in the NBA there is a lot of one-on-one. A lot of times I watch games, they’re trying to force stuff. They’re trying to go just one-on-one and get the basket. I can say for myself the best block shots are not with your man. It’s when you’re going to help someone.”



So, do you believe you will lead the NBA in blocks?


“I do.”


Will you lead the NBA in blocks?


“Yes.”

Can you lead the NBA in rebounding?


“Yes, I will.”

You will lead the NBA in rebounding?


“Yes. Of course. Hundred percent.”

Some mighty blod words for someone that hasn't played an NBA game and doesn't have a strong body of work. From what I hear he is offensively challenged, but is a strong defender and rebounder. If he can be a good role player and parlay  some of those rebounds into some easy buckets he might live up to his lofty standards.   

Arnoux Reclaims Stolen Ring

During Memorial Day weekend New Orleans Saints linebacker Stanley Arnoux lost his Super Bowl ring in Miami in what had to be one of the dumbest things ever done, since he he left it in the console of his car. It wasn't really lost, it was stolen. The story now has a happy ending. 

The thief has been caught and Arnoux has his ring back. A South Florida hotel worker is a suspect in the case.


On Memorial Day, a customer reportedly walked into Kendale Jewelry, a pawn shop on Southwest 72nd Street and 152nd Avenue in Southwest Miami-Dade, with the championship ring. "It was a very distinctive ring. I was actually very surprised that he was selling the ring instead of pawning it," said Alberto Iturrey of Kendale Jewelry.


The ring was from the 2008 NFL season, when the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts and won the Super Bowl championship title. Arnoux's ring is valued at over $30,000. However, Iturrey only offered $1,200 to the customer who brought the ring to the pawn shop, since the ring's gold was worth that amount. Iturrey said, "A couple days later, he came back to the store and he asked what we were going to do with the ring. I found that odd. I found that very odd."


Iturrey called police and investigators determined Gil Ulloa, a valet manger at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach, stole the Super Bowl ring. During Memorial Day weekend, Arnoux attended a party at the Fontainebleau. Miami-Dade Police Detective Javier Baez said, "He ransacked the vehicle, opened up the glove box, stole $200 as well as the Super Bowl ring."

Iturrey said he had to contact Arnoux via Twitter to give him his ring back.


"His eyes watered when I gave him back the ring," said Iturrey. "He told me, his exact words were, "'Man, I feel like I am receiving it again for the first time.'"

Ulloa has been charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property. He has been released on $20,000 bond.

It's kind of heartwarming that Arnoux was able to get his ring back. Super Bowl rings are hard to come by and I bet he'll keep his in a safe deposit box for now on. A dumb mistake compounded by a dumb crime makes a happy ending. In a strange way two wrongs do make a right. 

University Of Detroit To Name Court After Dick Vitale

Dick Vitale is known so much for his candor during college basketball games on ESPN it's hard to remember that he was actually a coach before going into broadcasting. 
The University of Detroit remembered and are now naming their court at Calihan Hall after him.

Vitale coached at Detroit from 1973-1977 and also served as the athletic director before taking the coaching reins of the Detroit Pistons. Those were the Titans' glory years as Vitale has the highest winning percentage (78-30,.722) at Uof D. He led them to the NCAA tournament back when it was much harder to get in. Back then he had the likes of NBA standouts John Long, Terry Duerod, Terry Tyler, and Earl Cureton.

The court will be dedicated during Detroit's home game against St. John's on ESPN2 on December 5, 2011, which also will be his 32nd year calling college games for ESPN and the date of his first broacast (Wisconsin vs. DePaul).

The ever enthusiastic Vitale was grateful for the honor.

"When (athletic director) Keri (Gaither) called me and told me they were going to name the court after me at Calihan Hall, I was absolutely taken," Vitale said. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. It should be a special, special moment. It will probably move me to tears. To all the people that made this happen, you're awesome, baby!"




Congratulations Dick! Hopefully you won't be at a loss for words during the ceremony.




  

NFL Players Deny Involvement With XXX Event

When it comes to events of the "extracurricular" variety, sports figures always seem to get involved. No matter if it's at a strip club or a rapper's ball, they'll be there. The players always talk about it and take scores of pictures. Remember that's what got Marvin Austin and company suspended from North Carolina.   

All that leads to this. A handful of NFL players have denied involvement with an event after their names and images were used to advertise it. The event they claim to have no involvement with: Exxxotica Expo.

Now I don't know if this violates any rule in the NFL code of conduct but I'm sure team officials from the repective teams the players will be playing for aren't too happy about it. One of the players, Chicago Bears safety Major Wright   is the most identifiable player in the ad and was very upset with what went down.

"I authorized my name and likeness to be used in conjunction with other NFL players at a party which (was) to be hosted by other NFL players," he said in a statement. "I had no knowledge and never would have given authority for my name or likeness to be associated with Erotica Expo 2011. I am deeply disappointed that my name and likeness was manipulated by the promoters of this event. The use of my picture in a Chicago Bear uniform was never discussed or approved.


"It is unfortunate that this incident has occurred and I would like to let the Bears organization, our fans, my teammates, family and friends know that I am truly sorry. I have learned a valuable lesson and will use more prudent judgment with people I associate myself with in the future."


The next Exxxotica Expo opens in Rosemont, Ill., July 8, and Wright said on Twitter he is not promoting that event.


"FYI... I have NOTHING to do with the Exotic Expo @ the Rosemont!" Wright tweeted.

Wright, along with Corey Liuget (San Diego Chargers), Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry (Kansas City Chiefs), Jacoby Ford (Oakland Raiders), Kareem Jackson (Houston Texans) and Daniel Thomas (Miami Dolphins) were also shown on the ad in their team uniforms. Liuget and Thomas are both rookies.

Every player said they didn't know what that their names and likenesses would be invloved with advertising the Exxxotica Expo.

Jackson released a statement apologizing for not being aware for what he was signing up for.

“I wanted to clarify an event that took place on May 20th at Club Play in Florida. I authorized my name to be used at that club with the understanding that it was going to be a party hosted by NFL Players. It was never explained to me or did I ever authorize my name or likeness to be associated with Exxxotica Expo 2011. I am appalled that my name and likeness were used in that capacity. In addition, I never authorized the use of my likeness or picture in my NFL uniform. I apologize to the Houston Texans, their fans and family if I caused any embarrassment. I am sincerely sorry.”

If you check a Brandon Flowers tweet  (click here) it tells a different story.



I think the aforementioned planned to attend but when their images were used in an ad they wanted to sever any ties with the event whatsoever.