Mr. Smith Goes To The Hall Of Fame

New York Jets wide reciever Brad Smith will be one of six inductees into the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame. Not to knock Smith's athletic endeavors, but this will be the only Hall of Fame he'll get to. Nonetheless, it's a remarkable acheivment for Smith, who'll do plenty more athletically than I'll ever do.

Smith had a very good career as a quarterback for Missouri. He broke 69 school, Big 12 and NCAA records while leading the Tigers. Smith was also the first quarterback in Division I-A to throw for more than 8,000 yards and run for more than 4,000 yards and finished his career fourth in total offense with 13,088 yards. He also won a Heisman and a national championship for me on the Playstation. I just had to throw that in there because he was unstoppable in that game.

I hate the fact that Smith never got a shot at quarterback in the NFL. But he has a career, so I don't feel too bad for him.

The Clay Matthews Tour

To the victor goes the spoils. That's what they say. The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl and Clay Matthews seems to be loving it. Matthews has a little victory tour going on. There was Jay Leno, then WWE Smackdown, Ellen Degeneres. Next stop the Grammys.

Matthews will be presenting an award at the upcoming Grammy awards ceremony. There is no word on what category he'll be presenting in. I might watch just to see who he gives an award to. I wonder where the next stop will be on the Clay Matthews victory tour.

Nolan Smith May Be The Most Underrated Player In College Basketball

If you've read any of my previous postings that mention Duke basketball, you'll know that I pretty much despise the program. So when I decided to retire for the night last night and saw North Carolina up on Duke at the half by 14, I thought maybe the Heels will get them at home. I went to bed with a slight smirk on my face.

Much to my surprise, well maybe not, Duke came back for a 79-73 win led by Nolan Smith's 34 points. A great showing in his final home against their blood rival. Another thought came to my mind when I saw the score and highlights. Nolan Smith is underrated. I know Duke gets a lot of publicity and when they get a player that doesn't live up to the hype, that player still gets a ton of hype. But Smith has somehow seemed to be under the radar for sometime now. I feel that if it wasn't for Smith Duke might not have won the national championship last year. let alone compete for it. Sure they had Jon Scheyer for 12 years and Kyle Singler always got the hype, but Smith has been a solid player since he's been there.

When the year began all you heard was how Duke had an improved backcourt with Seth Curry and Kyrie Irving coming in.You hear about the incoming McDonald's All Americans, but not much about Smith. In fact the Irving one and done machine was in full effect until he had a foot injury. If there is no Nolan Smith this might be a team that would have about 5 or 6 losses. I'm not saying they're not good, they wouldn't be as good. You didn't hear Smith's name on many player of the year lists. Now he's getting that kind of recognition. To me he's Duke's most important player, just ask Baylor. He has an insatiable will to win and won't let them lose. As much as I don't like Duke, I do have respect for Nolan Smith and his game. 

The Knicks Would Be Wise To Wait On Melo

I was talking with one of my co-workers yesterday and we were talking about the neverending Carmelo Anthony rumors. More specifically about the Lakers trade rumor. The question was why the New York Knicks were trying so hard to land Anthony. I can understand the Lakers trying to pry him out of Denver. They could bridge the gap between Kobe Bryant's eventual decline and pass the torch to Melo. I can dig it. The Knicks, not so much.

I read a post from a fellow blogger whose site name escapes me right now where he put together a three team trade involving the Lakers, Nuggets, and Knicks where all three help themselves in the process. It's too much to explain so please excuse me for not breaking it down. My problem rests with New York. Melo wants to be there and the Knicks want him. It's a match. Everyone knows why Anthony wants to get out of Denver as soon as possible. It's simple, he wants to get paid before the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement). I can understand that. He'll only sign an extension with the Knicks. If I'm Donnie Walsh I just wait until the offseason to sign him and give up nothing. I know the Knicks want out of Eddy Curry's contract and can get rid of it in a trade. But why give up Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari? I know the Knicks would like to get rid of Anthony Randolph, which would be good because maybe they recoup a first round pick in the process. Getting rid of Randolph makes the most sense since there is a logjam at his current position. I wouldn't be in a hurry to include Chandler or Gallinari. They've shown me something this year and if Melo comes to New York one of them would be a major player off the bench, something you always need in the NBA. The Knicks would also boast one of the better frontlines in the league.

I don't see why the Knicks are in such a to make this trade. I would wait to sign him and not give up a thing. I just don't see why they would want to give up a few core young players to get one in return. It's not like they would be a threat to win the title this year with him.The only way I make this trade is if this is the first step in some kind of master plan where the Knicks somehow get Chris Paul out of the Bayou or some other major player. Other than that, save your chips and play them elsewhere. It may get you more than you think.

I'm Sorry

Too bad there aren't many professional athletes like the Pittsburgh Penguins' Mike Rupp. I don't know him personally but I have to give him some credit for how he repaid a fan.

The Penguins forward was warming up for a game and hit the boards, accidentally knocking over a fan's beer. Instead of being a jerk he gave the fan a puck and some cash to pay for the beer.

"Mike felt terrible about it, so he asked the trainer to grab $10 out of Rupp’s wallet," Rupp’s agent Allan Walsh told the Toronto Sun.


"He then wrote an apology on a puck, signed it and taped the $10 bill around it. He went over to the glass, got the guy’s attention and tossed the puck over to him."

I'm sure Rupp has a fan for life.

Roy Says He's Ready To Return

Brandon Roy wants to return to the basketball court. I say he should shut it down. Portland Trailblazers head coach Nate McMillan says he wants to see Roy in practice before he ok's the decision. I say there is no decision. Roy has to stop trying to br courageous and chalk this season up as a loss. But what do I know, I just watch sports.

Roy was dragging around on one leg like Horace Pinker before he went on the shelf, what makes you think it'll be any different after a few games. He's practically bone on bone which is even more reason he should sit out the rest of the season. Remember when he returned against Phoenix in game four of their first round playoff series, which was rushed. Now he wants to make another quick comeback. Take it easy, sit down and take a break young man. This is your career you're putting at stake.

"I can't really predict the future, but right now they (the knees) feel good," Roy said. "The biggest thing is once I start playing I have to keep them at a level where I feel good about going out there and helping this team."


Those knees are shot and hanging by a thread. The best thing Roy can do is let the season play on without him. The Blazers are 16-10 without Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge has flourished with the offense going through him. Roy has already pouted about Andre Miller, how would he feel not being the focal point of the offense? Roy's heart, pride, and ego won't allow him to sit out the rest of the season, maybe his head and McMillan will tell him otherwise.

Super Bowl Prediction

This is a pretty difficult decision to make for this year's Super Bowl. Green Bay and Pittsburgh are pretty evenly matched. They both have good quarterback play, strong defenses, and good coaching. It'll be a close game and there will be a lot of back and forth.

I feel the team that brings it defensively will win. I think Aaron Rodgers has the capability to pick on the Steelers' secondary if he's given enough time. Key word is if. The Packers' offensive line is suspectible to giving up sacks, so that matchup will be key. Same goes for the Steelers' offensive line. I hate to sound cliche-ish but this game will be won in the trenches. The loss of Maurkice Pouncey is a big one for Pittsburgh.

After all that, my pick is Pittsburgh 21-17.