World Series of Fictional Basketball Teams

Sports is a funny thing sometimes. We spend so much time and effort debating who is the best team, which player should go to the hall of fame (and whether giving your vote away to Deadspin is ethical), and yet, when it all comes down to it, none of our prognosticating ever really matters. The best teams will win, and the best players will rise to the occasion. No amount of debate over who's elite, who's "next," or who's a real contender ever matters once the whistle blows.

So let's put those arguments to use in something where our predictions actually matter: teams that don't really exist.

It's time once again for the World Series of Fictional Sports Teams: Basketball Edition!

The great thing about debating TV and movies is that there is never a set winner. You either like the product, or you don't. There's no real statistic saying that one thing is better than the other.

That's where you come in: we've taken 16 of the top basketball teams from TV and movies and pitted them against each other in a tournament, and YOU decide the winner.

The bracket is below, but first, a few rules:

1. This is not a debate over the best movie or best actors, it's about the best TEAM, who would win if the two teams went head to head. Don't judge a team by the quality of it's movie. Remember, there are a lot of lousy shows and films about basketball (*cough, Thunderstruck, cough*)
2. The arguments can come from anywhere, but they should also be based within what can be seen in the movie itself. So no pulling characters from other movies into the game (example, Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale in Hoosiers, not Lex Luthor.)
3. Don't base your arguments over what a player did in real life. Shaquille O'Neal played a character in "Blue Chips," he didn't play himself. Form your arguments over what the character would do.
4. The most compelling/entertaining/highest number or reader arguments one way or another will help the team advance to the next round. It isn't enough to just vote one way or another, you have to say why.

Make sure to vote in the comments, or email me at SandbergOnSportsShow@yahoo.com. Please vote for the FIRST ROUND ONLY.

(Click on the team name for more information, if you are not familiar with the team)

#1 Monstars (Space Jam)
vs
#16 Utah Jazz (Celtic Pride)

The Monstars are heavily favored, but can have only played one total game in their careers. The Jazz have Lewis Scott and a bunch of short white guys.


#9 Air Bud
vs
#8 New York Knicks (Eddie)

That dog can shoot, but can he play defense? And do the aging Knicks have enough energy and discipline to keep up?


#4 Beavers (Teen Wolf)
vs
# 13 Washington Huskies (6th Man)

A werewolf versus a Ghost in our supernatural first found matchup.


#12 Wildcats (H.S. Musical)
vs
#5 Lincoln High School (He Got Game)

Intriguing matchup between two high school teams with very different styles of play. Jesus Shuttlesworth is maybe the most talented player in the tournament, but the Wildcats have plenty of rhythm and coordination (I had to say something!)


#2 Tune Squad (Space Jam)
vs
#15 Flint Tropics (Semi-Pro)

Michael Jordan and the Looney Toons are at the top of their game. The Tropics have strange hair. 'Nuff said.


#10 White Men Can't Jump
vs
#7 L.A. Knights (Like Mike)

This is slightly unfair to have a two-man team go up against an NBA team (with magical shoes, no less), but we had to have Harrelson and Snipes in here somewhere.


#3 Hickory Huskers (Hoosiers)
vs
#14 Richmond High School (Coach Carter)

A great coaching matchup in the first round. Huskers have the best shooter in this entire tournament (Jimmy Chitwood), but Richmond has size and is looking for the upset.


#11 Atomic Supermen (Futurama)
vs
#6 Western University Dolphins (Blue Chips)

How do you counter one of the best college recruiting classes in movie history? With a team that has a player with a cannon in his chest. But don't forget that Fry is on the bench for the Supermen.


Make sure to cast your vote for the first round. Leave a comment or email SandbergOnSportsShow@yahoo.com!

What Friends are For

My greatest Gonzaga Basketball memory didn't take place at the McCarthey Athletic Center. It wasn't from a game in the Martin Centre. It didn't even happen on a basketball court.

With time winding down on a late night in the Catherine/Monica dorm room, Gonzaga freshman John Brian Condon attempted a last-second, desperation dunk on a Nerf hoop hooked to a plate glass window. Refusing to dish off to teammates Jacob Andrew or David Ramirez, Brian jumped the length of the carpet, and threw down a vicious slam that threw the house down.

Literally.

I don't know if the scoresheet officially says whether the dunk was good, but as Brian brought the hammer down, he crashed through the window, shattering the glass into large chunks. How he escaped unscathed was a Jesuit miracle: The thick vinyl shades protected him from being sliced into ribbons.

I didn't even see it. I walked in after it all went down.

"Man guys, it's cold in here ... WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED??"

But Brian was OK, David, Jacob and I were doubled over in shock and laughter, and it was one of the best moments of our friendship.

The Zags have had their memorable moments, from buzzer-beaters to Sweet 16s to mop-topped superstars, and a #1 ranking. I’ve sat courtside to see them play memorable postseason games in Las Vegas, Portland and Memphis. They’ve also had their share of heartbreakers, from disappointing losses to questionable decisions to screaming, heartbreaking calls by Gus Johnson. To me, though, what’s been more important has been experiencing them all with my friends.

We watched our first live Zags game together. Saw buzzer beaters and dominant performances. We sat in shock in a dorm room and saw Adam Morrison break down in tears, our first of many times experiencing Bulldog heartbreak. We got posters, debated the players, and criticized the coaching. We  drove around the block twice to get a picture of 7-foot-5-inch Will Foster riding on a skateboard with a small child. And some of us broke windows trying to dunk.

No matter how exhilarating, how sad, how stupid, it always felt like we were a part of something. Bigger schools have football teams and larger populations. At Gonzaga, it felt like all we had was our little quartet and our Bulldog Basketball.

It always hurts to see the Zags come up short. This year is probably more frustrating than most. There’s not a lot to say to cover up the disappointment of watching a number 1 team go down early, in a year that looked like they would finally break through. You can scream, curse, and rant online, but that won’t take it away.

In 2006, it seemed like nothing would ever drown out Gus Johnson’s call of “heartbreak city.” Fast forward seven years, and the first thing that comes to mind about that year is John Brian nearly killing himself dunking through the window

So find your friends today and debate last night’s game. Go grab a beer and discuss next year’s recruiting class. Or just turn off ESPN and play a few games of Super Smash Bros. together. Believe me, years from now you’re going to care less about the outcome of some tournament game, and more about what you and your friends did after it. And hopefully, it will help you forget about it altogether.

Disappointment hurts. But it hurts a little less when you’ve got a good group to share it with.

Stay Classy, Clyde

Clyde Drexler was always "classy."

That's what set him apart from all the other superstars of the late 1980s and early 90s. The way he carried himself both on and off the court, was as a class-act. He never made wild statements to the media, like Charles Barkley. He was never an aggressive pit bull like Karl Malone. He never walked with a swagger or had a personality that controlled a room like Michael Jordan.

He was the player who went about his business, night in and night out. Played hard, was gracious in victory and defeat, and always said the right thing to the media. He was one of the league's most incredible scorers and an athletic dunker, but never threw those facts in anyone's face. He was the basketball equivalent of Barry Sanders flipping the football to the referee after a touchdown.

Trail Blazer and Rocket fans admired him for it. Portland radio announcer Bill Schonely called him "one of the game's true gentleman."

That's why it was so great to see the success Drexler achieved. He was an all-star. Took two teams to the NBA finals. Named to the 1992 Dream Team. Inducted into the Hall of Fame. Clyde showed that it could all be done by being the nice guy.

Which is also why it hurts to hear what he has to say today.

As the 20th anniversary of the Dream Team approaches, writers have been catching up with members of the team to reflect on that monumental roster. In Jack McCallum's new book soon to the published, Clyde shared his thoughts on the selection of Magic Johnson, who had recently been diagnosed with HIV in 1991.

"He couldn't play much by that time. He couldn't guard his shadow...but you have to have to understand what was going on then. Everybody kept waiting for Magic to die. Every time he'd run up the court everybody would feel sorry for the guy, and he'd get all that benefit of the doubt."

Clyde goes on to say that if they had known in 1992 that Magic would live for so long, then Drexler would have been named the MVP of the 1992 all-star game, in which they shared similar stat lines.

It was a shock to read those words coming from Clyde. It was as if decades of being so politically correct caught up to him in one unfortunate interview.

Over the years, Drexler always said the right thing, to a fault. He never criticized anyone. Always wanted to get along. And for as much success as he achieved, he never got to the heights of other NBA superstars of his day, both professionally or in public perception.

He was the league's second best shooting guard behind Michael Jordan, but was perpetually stuck in his shadow. He carried two Trail Blazer teams to the NBA finals (on bad knees), but was never lauded for his enormous efforts.

He was a top scorer on the Dream Team and was responsible for a lion's share of highlights, but the attention went to Magic, Michael, and Larry. Even in the Dream Team's brilliant new documentary, Clyde's major contribution was mentioning how he wanted everyone to get along, and the story of wearing two left shoes at a practice.

Was his classiness to blame? If he had spoken out more, would history remember him as being more than the nice guy?

As Blazer fans, we always wanted a little more for Drexler, but we were still happy with what he achieved. Now it sounds like Clyde always wanted a little more for himself, too.

But I think the most shocking part of that statement - "Everybody kept waiting for Magic to die." - was that it came from Clyde. He had always been so supportive of Magic through the years. Always so willing to put his ego aside for the sake of the team. He may be repeating a thought that was shared by the other members of the Olympic team. But because it was Mr. Nice Guy Clyde Drexler who said it, it becomes magnified. If Barkley had said it, no one would have batted an eyelash.

Fans always admired how The Glide stayed above the fray, but maybe the pressure of staying so classy finally got the best of Clyde Drexler.

Yeah it's great, but...

In a couple of months, the Gonzaga University men's basketball media guide will be released. Inside, there will undoubtedly be a section about "Zags in the NBA," which will feature the words " alumni have included two NBA champions and a Hall-of-Famer."

66 percent of that sentence is strange for me.

Don't get me wrong. I am estatic that Ronny Turiaf has now won a championship ring with the Miami Heat. It was wonderful to see a Zag reach the mountaintop and take the floor for an NBA championship team, especially considering everying Ronny has gone through in his career. I was even happy to see Adam Morrison in street clothes - but on the roster! - for two NBA-champion Los Angeles Laker teams. But there's something ... off, about those accomplishments. Something doesn't seem right. As good as it is to see alumni accomplish success, the way it was done leaves me feeling strange.

It keeps taking me back to the same question: why has it been so hard for Gonzaga Bulldogs to become star players in the NBA?

To date, John Stockton remains the only successful Zag to play in the association. He's a Hall-of-Fame point guard. Member of the 1992 Dream Team. All-time leader is assists and steals. Two Finals appearances. No ring.

In the 30 years since Stockton graduated from GU, and number of other star players have stepped foot in the Martin Center and McCarthey Center. Some have been serviceable role-players. Some helped put Gonzaga in the national spotlight. And a few were considered the best players in the country.

But none have achieved greatness at the next level. Adam Morrison's fall from grace is well-known. Dan Dickau had flashes of promise but ended up with a journeyman career. Ronny Turiaf was felled by his heart condition early in his career and never developed into a star.

As fans, all we want is to see them successful as pros. We want them to win. We want them to show the world how their skills helped put a tiny Jesuit college in the middle of nowhere on the national radar.

It's great to see them win, but we'd always hoped for something ... more.

There isn't really an answer. It is the system they played in at Gonzaga? It it the lack of experience with a power conference? Or it is all just the dumb luck of the draw? Do conferences like the WCC just have the once-in-a-generation player come along (Stockton, Steve Nash)? There's been plenty of examples of NBA players succeeding and failing in all of these circumstances.

Either way, it's something Zag fans are still getting used to.

Congratulations to Ronny. Here's hoping he paves the way for a Zag to someday lead a team to an NBA title.

The JoePacolypse: Takes and Tweets

What a night that was. Fascinating and terrifying at the same time. I couldn't pull myself away from the TV as they showed video of the riots. If this is what happens when a football coach gets fired, what's next?

Takes

•  Bryan Navarro lays out the evolving story in real time, glued to TV and his Twitter feed.
• Former GUTV colleague Nate Coombs, on Facebook: "This PSU thing is like a horrible game of telephone. Everybody played it in first grade, the teacher would whisper, "I have twenty cookies to bake today" and after a dozen odd seven year old's whisper it to each other, it comes out, "I hate reading books let us play". Except this time, the teacher said "There are boys being raped in your locker room" and all the high level state administrators sitting in a circle turned that message into "there might have been some horseplay".
• Coaches at Oregon and SOU react to the news of Paterno's firing. Coach Craig Howard has a very candid take.
• When video emerged showing a news van being tipped by protesters, my friends in the media were shocked. It was a scary moment to see something like that actually happen for something like this.

Immediately after that link appeared, a Web editor in New York took to Twitter and tried to play Journalism Ethics Police, tweeting: "Fellow journalists, it's not our job to judge these Penn State students. Their discontent & gatherings are just another layer to this story."

I'm sorry, but I can't be objective about this. Those students crossed the line by flipping that news van and putting reporters and photogs in danger.

Here's another angle, as students chant "flip it!"

It makes me sick, not to mention scared for the well being of my colleagues. I hope everyone involved gets thrown in jail. They attacked the media and put lives at risk. Don't tell me to be impartial about it.

• Chris Breece, on Facebook: "...PSU students...unbelievable disgusting ridiculous inexcusable mind boggling etc etc etc.

  Tweets

• Ken Tremendous of Fire Joe Morgan - 10:59 p.m.: "You know why these PSU students are protesting Paterno's firing? None of them have kids. If they had kids, they'd have run him out of town."
• Chris Leone - 9:56 p.m: "Has Mike McQueary been fired too? No one's said anything about it."
• Bryan Navarro - 9:44 p.m.: "You say, "We are Penn State." Who is Penn State?"
• Lindsay Joy, reporter for KTWO in Casper, WY -  9:17 p.m. (moments after seeing picture of flipped news van): "This hits home."
• Jim Rome - 9:15 p.m.: "Students reportedly standing on top of an overturned news van yelling "We want Joe." They're more out of touch than Joe is."
• Geoff Ziemer of The Sports Trap - 8:28 p.m.: "OMG, this might get outta control."
• I credit Julian Olivas for coming up with the hashtag #JoePacolypse
• And Ashton Kutcher goes completely bonkers, gets skewered on Twitter.

No sympathy for old men

Do not, for one second, feel sorry for Joe Paterno.

Yes, he has had a long and storied coaching career. He has won national championships. He has helmed a powerhouse for decades. He is one of the most successful, decorated, and venerated college football coaches of all time.

None of that means anything anymore. Not after what we've learned.

Football is a game. It means nothing. The abuse of young children is deplorable and heinous. Punishing those responsible, and preventing it from happening again, means everything.

Children were being raped. Paterno knew about it and did nothing to stop it.

Instead, he was a part of the cover-up. Assistant coaches, graduate assistants, Athletic Directors, University Presidents, and yes, the head football coach, all played some role in letting the abuse happen. They all knew what the scandal would do to the program, and that led all of them to do the bare minimum. Saving their skins, but not their souls.

Paterno was part of a larger pyramid of enablers who took the protection of their multi-million dollar footbal program more seriously than protecting innocent kids who were being preyed upon. For years, each man in that program had a chance to step up and do the right thing.

No one did.

Wednesday, Paterno was fired from his position as head football coach. He's had a long career. He has the money. He still has the wins. He'll be fine.

Don't feel sorry for him. Feel sorry for the kids he failed to protect.

They won't ever be fine again.

Legacy, Honor and Scandal at Penn State

 And just like that, the walls of an institution come tumbling down.

I don't know if the allegations against Jerry Sandusky are true. I'm not privy to what Joe Paterno knew, or what he told and who he told it to. I'm unclear about how far up the alleged cover-up went.

All I know is that it makes me feel sick, shocked and jaded.

The Penn State Nitany Lions are one of the most revered programs in all of college football. Even a casual fan knows about the school's storied history. We all know about the legacy of Joe Paterno and his tradition of winning.

All of that means nothing now. Not after something like this. Not while so many questions remain unanswered.

How could no one step up and stop this?
Because of so many selfish reasons. Wanting to protect a friend. Wanting to protect your own skin. Wanting to save a successful football program. And everyone bought into this mentality. From Sandusky for allegedly doing it in the first place, to Paterno for not telling police, to the higher ups at the university for doing nothing once they were told. One by one, the dominoes fell.

How could this happen at Penn State, where they are all about honor and tradition?
Unfortunately, it's becoming clear that those are simply buzz words to bolster recruiting and increase donations to the athletic department. Really, it's all about keeping the money coming, no matter who gets hurt.

Why didn't Paterno go to the police?
Because he's either a selfish football coach wanting to avoid scandal at his program, or because he's a loony old man who didn't know any better. Neither of which excuses what he failed to do. As a leader of young mean, he failed in his responsibility.

It's all coming out how about the hypocrisy of this major football program. All of the accolades, honor, and legacy with that school and team don't mean anything if no one steps up and does the right thing.

It's ironic that it's exactly that honor and legacy that led to this downfall. Paterno was protecting a longtime friend and assistant coach. Paterno, in turn, was having his legacy protected by school administrators who know how important the coach is in college football history. Because these men put so much stock in a tradition of winning and excellence, they completely shut themselves off from the horrible actions that were taking place.

To them, football was more important over whether kids were raped.

And all that honor and integrity allowed it to go unpunished.

Out of Ammo

Adam Morrison was once the greatest college basketball player I had ever seen.

He was also a disappointment, a bust, a heartbreaker and a joke. All in just six years' time.

To really understand, you have to go back to the fall of 2005. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were beginning a new season with high expectations. The team's hopes were pinned to Morrison, the moptopped, sweet-shooting swingman.

As a freshman that year at Gonzaga, I had heard this story before. Like Matt Santangelo, Richie Frahm, Blake Stepp and Dan Dickau before him, Morrison was the latest Great White Zags Hope. Besides, anyone looks good playing against the weak West Coast Conference competition. What was going to be so different?

And then I saw Morrison play.




The buzzer-beater may have hooked me, but it was his sheer ability that kept me around.

I saw him play on TV, and he was incredible. I saw him play live at the McCarthey Athletic Center, and he was phenomenal. I stood in the stands with my jaw hitting the floor, amazed by the absolute ability of this guy.

I didn't think it was possible, but Morrison worked so hard in every game, while simultaneously making it look easy. He could hit shots from 30 feet out. He could go off the dribble and pull up, or power to the basket. He could curl off screens. He could run the fast break.

I had never seen a player like him before, and I have never seen a player like him since.

He could do it all.





That season, Morrison averaged 28 points per game, shot 43 percent on 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds per contest, and was named co-player of the year.

He had five 40-point games and 13 30-point games, all the while hitting shot after shot from every conceivable angle. He carried the Zags through the WCC season and on to the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

--------------------

Fast forward six years. Morrison is now playing basketball in Serbia, getting more press for his ejection that his play. Just six years after that incredible campaign at Gonzaga, during which he was named the best player in the country, he's not even in the country anymore.

Six years ago, it would be hard to fathom that this would be the arc of Morrison's career. Because as the Zags rolled through the NCAA Tournament in 2006, it seemed "Ammo" was destined for greatness.

--------------------

The downfall started, like many do, with teardrops.

In the 2006 Sweet Sixteen, the Bulldogs were up by 17 points against UCLA, and cruising. A curiously shirtsleeved Morrison was leading the Zags in scoring, and the team was looking to move on to the Elite Eight.

Then things fell apart.

The Bruins locked down Morrison in the second half, swarming him and keeping him away from the ball. The rest of the Zags looked lost, and UCLA started to chip away at the lead. Everything was coming unraveled. 

With 14 seconds left and the Zags leading by one, Morrison was swarmed in the backcourt by Bruin defenders. Morrison passed to power forward JP Batista. And in doing so, passed away his career.

Despite point guard Derek Raivio, a 90 percent free throw shooter, being open six feet away, Batista held the ball, which was stolen by UCLA. They got the ball inside for an easy layup, and with two seconds still on the clock, still time, possibly, Morrison collapsed on the court in tears. It was done.

--------------------

Despite the setback, Morrison's talent was never in doubt. I'll admit, I was a member of the Blazers' "Draft the Stache" campaign. I believed in the talent and work ethic I saw at Gonzaga. But his tears during the Sweet Sixteen earned him equal amounts of criticism and praise. He was still considered a good prospect, but now he was becoming equally known as "the guy who cried."

Morrison was taken number 3 overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2006 NBA draft. His rookie season was solid if unspectacular, averaging 11 points per game. For a time, he was briefly in consideration for Rookie of the Year before fading near the end of the season. You could think that, given time and conditioning, he could play at the NBA level.

The next season, the wheels fell off.

A torn ACL ended Morrison's season in 2007, and by the time he returned the next year, he couldn't find a spot in the rotation. His defense was invisible, and he couldn't hit any of the shots he took. His bread-and-butter at Gonzaga was his ability to create his own shot. Now, he lacked that ability. A game that used to come so easy for him now seemed like the most difficult task in the world.

In the 2008-2009 season, he was traded to a contender, the Los Angeles Lakers.

And that's when a former College Player of the Year became a complete joke.

--------------------

Adam Morrison is a two time NBA champion.

He won titles in 2009 and 2010 with the Lakers, coached by Phil Jackson and featuring one of the greatest players ever to pick up a ball, Kobe Bryant. For most players, this would be a crowning achievement for a career. But Adam Morrison didn't receive that luxury.

Yes, Morrison won two championships. No, he didn't play. Morrison was more often inactive, wearing street clothes and sitting on the bench. He didn't play a single minute in either NBA finals.

Years earlier at Gonzaga, we predicted that Morrison could someday have a major impact on a championship contender.

What we didn't expect was that he would have no impact at all.

Instead, he became a joke. Without significant playing time in years (and without significant production when he did play), no one remembered the greatness on the hardwood at Gonzaga, they only remembered the crying during the Sweet Sixteen. The awkwardness on the Laker bench. He became fodder for late night TV shows.

What should have been the two happiest moments of Adam Morrison's career became nothing but a reminder of how far he had fallen.

Morrison has not played a game in the NBA since.

--------------------

Adam Morrison now starts at small forward for KK Crvena zvezda in Serbia. Judging by highlights and my inability to understand Serbian, it seems like he's playing well, with a recent 30-point game.

It's not the worst way to make a living, but it's nothing like what was expected so many years ago.

How did Morrison end up at this point? Was it the level of competition? His defense? His desire? We may not know. The question now is: what's next?

It's easy to laugh at the legions of die-hard Zag fans who still say Adam Morrison got a raw deal. To them it was always the coach's fault, or the injury's fault. Many of them are probably watching Ammo's Euro highlights and thinking "See? He can still do it!"

And deep down, I desperately want them to be right.

Deep down, I want to feel what my freshman self felt in the bleachers six years ago. I want to feel that excitement, that wonder about how a young man can play basketball so well.

We didn't appreciate the phenomenon we were seeing at Gonzaga. It came and went like a gunshot. Too fast. We weren't prepared for it to be so finite. Deep down, we just want to see it one last time.

But the heartbreaking idea no one wants to admit, is that maybe there's no bullets left in the chamber.

Five columns I won't be writing in October

• The genius of Terry Francona 

Muhammad Ali had the rope-a-dope. Terry Francona just makes the rest of Major League Baseball look like dopes.

At first, it wasn't an easy sell to Red Sox management. When team officials and coaches met in the now-legendary closed door meeting on September 4th, the topic was how to gain the most momentum heading into the playoffs. Theo Epstein suggested the starting pitching staff be rested, and Jonathan Papelbon get a few days off to be ready.

At one point, Francona stood up and bellowed to Epstien: "That's what everyone expects us to do."

Francona suggested that, instead of trying to gain momentum, the Red Sox just lull the rest of the American League into a false sense of security, then strike when no one expected it. What he proposed is that the Red Sox would look like they are collapsing - letting a 9-game lead disintegrate, letting pitchers drink beer in the clubhouse, and somehow keeping JD Drew on the roster. When other teams finally let their guards down, the Sox would turn it on and cruise past them.

The result of that clandestine meeting? An American League title.

•  Mayweather vs Merchant: A bout for the ages

Is it possible to be surprised and not surprised at the same time?

After his knockout of Victor Ortiz, Floyd Mayweather had been biding his time before naming his next opponent. Rumors began swirling, as they always do, that he would finally accept a bout against the only boxer left worth fighting: Manny Pacquiao.

 But no surprise, Mayweather ducked him again. But to everyone's surprise, his next opponent will be 80-year-old boxing analyst Larry Merchant.

"Larry doesn't know (expletive) about boxing," Mayweather said at a press conference. "I plan on showing him that firsthand in this fight. By the time it's over, he's going to be eating out of a tube."

"The joke's on him," Merchant cackled in reply. "I already eat out of a tube."

•  Ivy not so green for Fitzpatrick 

He wasn't just Ryan Fitzpatrick, he was "Harvard Graduate Ryan Fitzpatrick." And what a success story it was: a kid who went to one of the best schools in the nation somehow finds success. The odds against him seemed insurmountable.

But there was one thing his Ivy League pedigree couldn't overcome: the fact that it didn't exist.

Turns out, Fitzpatrick had been living a lie. An investigation by Yahoo! Sports revealed that Fitzpatrick had actually created a fake transcript. Not only did he not go to Harvard, he didn't even play football. The closest he came was playing Madden on XBOX live while drunkenly clicking through online classes at the University of Phoenix.

• 'Musical Chairs' declared in College Football

Conferences expanding and contracting. Teams switching sides one week and going back the next. Occasionally a football game breaks out. Finally, the NCAA is embracing it.

Starting in October, the NCAA will play Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter on a week-long loop, while schools travel in a circle across the country. When the music stops, each team needs to rush toward a conference. If you don't have a chair, you're out. And that's how things will be decided on a week-by-week basis.

One week could have Oregon in the SEC, Florida in the Pac-12, and poor little Texas left out, forced to play pickup football in the parking lot.

•  Cubs on a collision course with World Series

Sure, they may have lost 91 games, but somehow I think they've still got a shot.

Bracing for a year without Blazers

For the past two years I have been living in Medford, and it's become harder to follow my beloved Blazers.

Yes, I realize that the tool I am using to write this post is also part of the largest information-gathering resource known to man, the sheer magnitude of which is capable of shrinking the world in which we live. But for a sports fan, somehow, it isn't enough. We can find highlights, game recaps, interviews, commentary, fan discussions and more online. We can subscribe to satellite TV packages to watch our games from hundreds of miles away.

But to me, there is nothing like being in the city of Portland during the Blazers' season.

Getting up in the morning, and hearing the thunk of the Oregonian hitting the kitchen table. Flipping through the oily newspaper to find the sports section and read that day's game preview. Driving near the waterfront and seeing the roof of the Rose Garden rise up over the horizon. Seeing people walk down the street and wear the jerseys of players who joined the team after 1999.

There's nothing like being there.

I'm just a few hundred miles south in Medford, and it's like being on another planet. To people here, a Blazer is something you wear to a dinner party, not something you cheer for (unless you're at a really bizarre dinner party).

Around this time two years ago, I stumbled across an AM radio station here that broadcast Blazer games. It was my lifeline.

As I worked night shifts, I would drive to stories across the Rogue Valley, catching snippets of the games during the trip. In April 2010, I alternated between covering a welcome party for the troops and welcoming back Brandon Roy against the Suns.

I would wrap up an interview, then run back to the car to get an update. I would scream as I approached Grants Pass and the reception turned to a loud buzz, but I would strain to decipher any details through the static. I would linger for an extra few minutes in the parking lot at the end of the night so I wouldn't miss any of the action.

Hearing the sounds of Bill Schonely's voice interrupt the national radio show to introduce the Blazer broadcast was like Christmas morning.

I wonder if I'll ever hear it again?

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The chances of NBA basketball this season are not good. As what would've been the start of the season approaches, I'm suddenly realizing how much I'm going to miss my Blazers.

A few months ago, I wrote about how I would prefer a lockout over a Blazer team that looked unimpressive on paper. I was wrong.

Any Blazer team is better than no Blazer team.

It doesn't matter if they win 50 games or lose 50 games. They're still our team. I once rooted for the Blazers even as they slogged their way to a 21-win season, and I couldn't have been happier. In the end I was still able to root for my team no matter what happened.

This lockout takes that all away.

It could be an entire season without the Blazers. A whole year with no reason to pick up that newspaper. Nothing to keep be lingering in the parking lot. Nothing but static on the AM radio.

It's going to be a long, dark year.

It's still ten feet

I love Hoosiers. I love TV news. Combine the two, and that's something after my heart.

One of my favorite new blogs is TV News Grapevine. It's written by a veteran in the news business who offers a new piece of advice/wisdom each day. As someone now entering his second year in the bid'ness (thank you, Dan Garrity), it has been wonderful to get some perspective about what we go through in this industry.

Today, he takes one of Hoosiers' most iconic scenes and applies it to the TV news industry.

It's still ten feet.

I could not agree more.

It's a strange thing about being in a small, beginner market. The news may seem different than what you will find in a larger city, and certainly it can seem like there's less of it. But TV stations in small markets are sometimes caught in this strange space - they either want to accept the small town aspect and say nothing important ever happens in that city, or go the exact opposite and push back against the small town image, trying to make every story the most important story ever. One week you will do the cat fashion show story, the next week you will be told a school fundraiser isn't "hard news" enough.

The trouble is that you cannot get stuck on one end of the spectrum or the other. It's a delicate balancing act. The end result, however, should be to believe in everything you cover. Have a reason to cover it, then treat it with the respect it deserves.

In the smaller markets, not everything is going to be hard news. But being in a smaller market shouldn't prevent you from taking a serious approach to hard news. The rules for good reporting are the same everywhere.

It's still ten feet.

A few years ago when I wrote for my college newspaper, I spoke to our newspaper staff, and gave a fairly scathing critique of the way the paper covered a more serious University story. Basically, the layout treated it as a joke, practically making it into a cartoon on the front page. I said if we didn't take the story seriously, our readers wouldn't take it seriously.

The editor who designed the layout shot back with "We aren't the New York Times."

"Yes," a fellow editor and I said back. "But that doesn't mean we can't strive to be."

In the years since, as I've watched "small-market" TV news from across the country and read news stories online, I've sensed a feeling from some people working at news outlets - some of their employees think they cannot be the New York Times, simply because of where they are geographically. Not everyone subscribes to that line of thinking, but an attitude like that from just a few people can make a big difference on the whole. I've met people who have shared the thought of "there are six people watching, what does it matter?"

Then let's have some great coverage for those six viewers.

If a small-time mentality takes hold, whether it's a college newspaper or a professional TV station, it can be hard to get out of. But it's still ten feet, no matter where the newsroom is located.

Throw away the key

The NBA is officially locked out.

Look around on NBA.com, and you won't find evidence that the players even exist. Every image has been scrubbed from the Web site. In the place of the usual promotional materials, there are articles adorned with the words "standoff," "issues," and "uncertainty."

Until the owners and players learn to act nice, we're not getting any basketball anytime soon.

Good. Lock them out.

It will spare Blazer fans of another gradual step down before the team had even made it to the top.

It's hard to believe that a team with so much promise during the past four season only peaked with consecutive first-round exits. But here we are, during a time when the team would normally be preparing for the next season, and the team looks no better than when it was struggling to contain Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks in the 2009 playoffs.

Management has imploded, and the team still has no idea what direction to go in. All of the recent wheeling and dealing has just been sound and fury, signifying nothing. When the dust finally settled, the team had taken one giant step ... to the side.

Another year of the Brandon Roy Farewell Tour. He'll have a couple games where we catch glimpses of the amazing player he once was, but then force us to watch as he limps up and down the court, desperately trying to recapture something that isn't there.

Another year of Marcus Camby being a little bit older, a little bit slower.

Another year of relying on third-tier players to help win games, like Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton.

Another season of backup point guard from Jarrett Jack, er... Steve Blake, uh... Sergio Rodriguez, uh...Jerryd Bayless, er...Patty Mills, er... Armon Johnson, er...Nolan Smith.

And of course, another year without Greg Oden.

The excitement has dimmed, and the lockout will save fans another season in which the team slips down another rung on the ladder.

Compare this to the last lockout in 1998-99, when Blazer fans were itching see the team take the court. The Blazers were ready for a full season with Damon Stoudamire, who at that time was still one of the most exciting young point guards in the league. They had Brian Grant on the boards and Rasheed Wallace starting to come into his own. Things were on an upswing after several mediocre years of watching Kenny Anderson and Gary Trent try to lead a middling team to the playoffs (two notable point guards of the era: John Crotty and Rick Brunson). Steps were finally being taken forward.

Who knows? Without a lockout, maybe this Blazer team would've been something. Maybe LaMarcus Aldridge would've elevated his game to an even higher level this season. Maybe Gerald Wallace would suddenly turn into a winner. Maybe Nicolas Batum will decide another year of erratic playing time is the catalyst to turn him into a superstar.

But is this team worth a fifth straight season of "maybe?"

'True Zag Fans' have it backward

Gonzaga has always done a great job with public relations. But this time they have outdone themselves.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs lost their third straight conference game, a 73-71 loss at home to St. Mary's. The Zags are slowly slipping down the WCC ladder, and a loss at home is normally a surefire disappointment. But you wouldn't know it based on the reaction.

"Mark Few knows how to coach!"

"Gonzaga played as good of a game as possible."

"I really like this team."

"Few can coach at any level! He's amazing!"

"We are constantly at the top of the WCC, what is there to complain about?"

This isn't an isolated incident. It happens game-in and game-out. And I finally realized:

The Zags have reverse support.

At least it seems that way. Gonzaga is the only Division-I team I know that sees more optimistic support for coaches and players when they lose than when they win.

After wins, fan commentary and chatter will be about topics ranging from player rotation problems, to strategy, to matchups. But after losses, it's all cheers praising how lucky Gonzaga fans are to have a coach like Mark Few and a team that has seen so much success in the past 10 years.

It's the perfect situation for the program. They can either win games, or use their past wins as a built-in insulation for criticism following losses.

Unfortunately, it's also bred a flock of Zag fans who have become so mindlessly devoted to the team that they forget about the importance of criticism. And it has reached the point where any sign of disappointment from a fan will result in their commitment being questioned.

If you're not with us, you're against us.

After Thursday's loss to St. Mary's, several Zag fans took to the Internet to vent their frustration with the result, and with the choices made by the Gonzaga coaching staff. Those that dared to express dissatisfaction were met with sharp words about whether they "truly" supported the Zags.

"I'm disappointed. Once a Zag, always a Zag."

"Here come the bandwagoners."

"We have the best coaching staff in America."

"We're finding out who the true Zag fans are tonight."

It's that last type of statement that is the most intriguing. The mindset from some is that the Zags' loss will weed out those who support the team and those who are on the bandwagon. Whoever criticizes the team or the coach after the loss, or whoever doubts the postseason resume of the Zags, or whoever says the outlook is bleak, will be exposed as a fraud, not a "true Zag fan"

And that's completely backward.

Since 1999, when the Dan Monson-coached Zags burst on to the scene with an improbable trip to the Elite Eight, Bulldog fans have suffered an inferiority complex, but it only developed through good intentions.

Gonzaga is a small, private Jesuit university tucked away in the Inland Northwest. Its basketball team doesn't belong to a major conference, and doesn't get the major recruits. National pundits and analysts never give teams like that credit, and never say they have a shot at greatness. Even after the Elite Eight run and the subsequent success over the next few years with Dan Dickau and co., Gonzaga was simply viewed as a Cinderella squad that would eventually flame out.

Zag fans took that personally. The small community of supporters rallied around their team, stuck with them, and proudly voiced their love of the team. It didn't matter what those critics in the media said, these were our Zags, and we know how great the really are.

But then the years passed, and the Zags became stuck on a plateau. Win a big game or two during the regular season, win the conference, lose early in the tournament. Year after year after year, since 1999. That's when a small minority of fans started to question why the program couldn't get over the hump to elite status.

But many Zag fans, still so accustomed to protecting their team, jumped all over that. They had seen their small team reach success despite overwhelming odds and plenty of doubters. So the instinct to defend the Zag honor kicked in, even if the people they were defending it from were their fellow fans.

They point to where the program was in the '80s and '90s, and the success it has now achieved. They point to Mark Few's winning percentage. They point to the numerous WCC titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. And all along, they cry "you should be thankful a small school like this can reach these heights! If you are a true fan, you would appreciate what you have!"
Here's the thing about "true Zag fans." They are appreciative of what they have. That's why they want the team to do better, and not be stuck in a 10-year plateau.

Gonzaga has a rabid fan base; some of the most knowledgeable fans in the country. But even the most knowledgeable fans know that criticism is important.

At its very essence, sports is entertainment. And if something is no longer entertaining, or has grown stale, then its OK to wish for changes. It just means you are passionate about it, and want it to reach its highest potential.

But blind, fanatical devotion to that entertainment is not OK, especially when it turns into lashing out against those who disagree with the status quo.

Admitting the Zags won't reach the Sweet 16 this year doesn't make you less of a fan. Commenting that the coaching staff has inadequacies doesn't make you less of a fan.

And at the same time, burying your head in the sand and never acknowledging that things are going wrong doesn't make you a better fan.

It's time for the "true Zag fans" to understand that.

Greg Oden: An epilogue

If nothing else, Greg Oden's career has been good at putting Blazer fans through the emotional wringer.

--------------------

When the Trail Blazers won the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery, and essentially the rights to draft the coveted big man, it was absolute, pure joy in Portland.

We cheered. We danced in our living rooms. We held rallies in downtown Portland to welcome our newest hero and to celebrate the return of Rip City.

It marked the start of a new era, the beginning of great things for the franchise after years of disappointment.

After all this time, Oden was the final piece of the championship puzzle. This was our time.

We all eagerly awaited the future success that seemed just over the horizon.

--------------------

When Oden went down with season-ending surgery before his career even began, we were shocked. How could this have happened? Why now? What does this mean? Fans were in complete disbelief, and angry that all of our optimism would now have to be put on hold as the Blazers try to recover from such a devastating blow.

I remember pounding my fists and cursing. This was supposed to be the beginning of our glory days! It isn't fair to us, the fans! Why do we have to continually suffer?

We just finished going through years of mediocrity. When will this disappointment end?

--------------------

When Oden finally did make his debut in the fall of 2008, our anger turned to frustration.

Briefly during training camp, when it was announced that Oden would finally see the court, we were excited. Finally, it begins now.

But it was our expectations that were to blame when we were so bewildered by the start of Oden's playing career. He could barely run or jump, let alone execute a low-post move. He often looked lost on defense and tried to force things on offense.

This was not the same guy we drafted. We've waited this long, and this is what we get?

Sportswriters called his performance "underwhelming." And fans were left scratching their heads. Was this just the immediate byproduct of his surgery? Does he just need time to recover?

Will we ever see the real Greg Oden?

--------------------

When the fall of 2009 rolled around, fans were ready for anything from Oden.

And suddenly, that joy from 2007 had returned.

Oden was delivering on the basketball court. His points, blocks, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage were all up. Finally healthy, Oden was anxious to show the world what he could do on the basketball court.

For fans, it was a wake up call. This is why the Blazers drafted him, for performances like this. Coming off several injuries and seeing him make this improvement was a sign that he was just starting to tap into his potential as a powerful basketball player. Fans knew that he was only going to get better from here.

But the best laid plans...

--------------------

When a freak injury broke Oden's kneecap and forced him to miss the rest of the season, it was the moment Blazer fans stopped feeling sorry for themselves, and felt sorry for Oden.

We saw what he was capable of. We saw the hard work he put into his return to the court. This latest injury was not this kid's fault, and he did not deserve another setback in the face of all he had done.

Fans started to put aside their petty notions that their fandom was cursed, and faced the realization that this was a young kid going through about a traumatic of a career as you could ever imagine.

Seeing the work of the past months and his inspired early season play derailed like this, it made Oden human in our eyes. This was real. This wasn't TV, or NBA 2k9. This was our brother who was in pain.

Throughout Oden's early career and the injuries and surgeries that accompanied it, Blazer fans always had a sense of "Why us?"

This was the moment were we finally asked "why him?"

--------------------

But when it was announced that Oden would need season-ending surgery again, even before he came back from his previous season-ending surgery, Blazer fans didn't feel sadness.

We don't feel anger, frustration, confused, or scared.

We feel numb.

It's almost as if we have been desensitized to the injuries, the surgeries, the rehabilitation, the apologies, the promises, all of it.

Oden's status has always been the cloud over the Blazers. Sometimes we've seen dashes of sunlight. Other times, when it's rained, it's poured. But Blazer fans don't want to keep looking at the clouds anymore wondering if we're going to get a good day.

Oden's career has given us the highest of highs. I'll never forget the optimism and enthusiasm that followed Draft Day 2007, the feeling of hope. We'll always hand on to that moment.

Oden's career has given us the lowest of lows. Injury after injury after injury, never allowing Greg to fully show what he was capable of.

Greg, the team, the management and the fans all deserve better. Maybe in time, the memories won't seem so bad.

But as of right now, we just don't want it all anymore.

ADAM MORRISON'S DECISION - Live Press Conference Transcript

-MODERATOR: It's been two years of speculation. Two years of waiting. Two years of making the necessary transactions and possibly mortgaging the future of your franchise, but it's all led up to this moment.

Tonight, the wait is over.

We have waited patiently, eagerly grabbing at every morsel thrown our way. Now, we will finally be blessed with the privilege to hear the answer we've all been waiting for. Even the eventual return of Jesus Christ pales in comparison to this highly anticipated moment:

Where will Adam Morrison play basketball next year?

That decision will be made tonight - LIVE on the only station with enough clout to handle such a huge, momentous event in television history - Gonzaga University Television, GUTV.

Now, without further ado, here is the man of the hour - Mr. Adam Morrison!!!

(camera pans to Morrison sitting in front of a backdrop of downtown Spokane)

-MORRISON: Hello, and thank you all for coming.

First off, I want to address a rumor that's been going around the Internet saying that my teammate Jordan Farmar was sleeping with my mom. That's not true. It was only dry-humping. Moving on...

Before we begin, I want to thank GUTV for helping to air this press conference. Thank you for the opportunity and for sacrificing a day's worth of real reporting just to make a cheap buck.

There has been a lot of speculation as to who I will sign with, and it's been a very difficult decision. I mean, some teams have offered to put my face on every billboard in town, others want to give me my own TV show, and one wanted to give me my own private locker room with mirrors on every wall so I can see my reflection every day. I mean, how am I supposed to choose?

But this day has been a long time coming. Sure, I was the one who was delaying it, but whatever, I'm Adam Morrison, damn it...

But in that time, teams have been scrambling to clear the necessary cap space for the Veteran's Minimum Salary to sign me. Teams have given up years of winning and spat on their fans just because of the promise of luring me in this summer. I can't even begin to tell you how it feels to the the subject of such adoration.

...(sniff)...Sorry, I told myself I wasn't going to cry.

Anyhoo, when the Lakers offered me an extension - which I assure you, they did - I hemmed and hawed, and said that I ultimately wanted to wait to make my decision. I am grateful to the Laker organization for giving me an opportunity when no one else would, and helping me become the superstar I am today. Out of that respect, I am making a mockery of their loyalty on national TV. Again, read the nametag.

There were rumors that I would return to Charlotte where I began my career. There were rumors that I would head to the bright lights of the Basketball Mecca of Salt Lake City to play with the Jazz. There have also been rumors that I have been secretly plotting with JJ Redick and Sheldon Williams to form a super-team in Toronto.

But I realize that no matter what decision I make, people will be upset. I either publicly break up with the city that loves me in Los Angeles, or I piss off the entire nation by stringing people along for two years. I lose any way I go in this situation.

But this is about ME. My happiness, my life, my ego.

It's time to put up for shut up.

Today, I, Adam Morrison, am officially announcing that I will be joining ... The Vermont Frost Heaves of the Premier Basketball League.

I will now hold for your applause, and the Twitter overload that is about to occur...

...

...

...

...thank you.

To milk this even further, I officially announce WHAT POSITION I WILL PLAY at a press conference in September. That will also air on GUTV, sponsored by Apple Jacks (takes bite of cereal).

-(Inaudible question from reporter)

-MORRISON: Does this make me a prostitute? Maybe. But you never told me to stop. If you didn't like how I was handling this, why didn't you speak up and tell me to stop? That's right, because I'm a 2-time NBA Champion. So you all can suck it.

That's right, 2-time NBA Champion. That's why you're here, right? Because of my accomplishments? To report on someone who has made a quantifiable impact on basketball?

See, I know there's one other press conference going on today, but I know you're watching my press conference instead. I'm the one you want.

Because I have 2 rings.

What does that other guy have?

Has he even won a game in the finals? TWO RINGS BABY. My towel-waving and high-fiving were more effective than his jump shot.

You just don't want to admit it, but being here, listening to me, actually makes more sense.

As crazy as it sounds, right now, based on everything I've done, I, Adam Morrison, am more deserving of worship and constant adulation than LeBron James.

So I'd like to conclude this press conference with a statement to everyone out there who followed my every move:

You're welcome.

Shock, but no loss for words: fans react to Pritchard firing

In the grand scheme of things, Kevin Pritchard was simply an NBA GM. There are 29 others in the NBA, and in the end, it's only a management position. If the guy puts a talented roster on the floor, then everything's gravy and the fans are focused on the on-court product. If the team is constantly awful, then the guy gets fired.

Kevin Pritchard helped rebuild the Blazers into a solid team on the rise during his tenure as GM, but the way he did it - through a unique sense of openness - endeared him to the fans unlike any other NBA General Manager.

At a rally in downtown Portland after the Blazers selected Greg Oden first overall in the 2007 NBA draft, fans responded to their GM with chants of "Pritchard! Pritchard! Pritchard!" It was a moment you would never expect for a member of the front office, but one that was deserving after the moves that Pritchard has made and the way he had done his job.

But three years later, on Draft Day 2010, Pritchard was given the axe; fired by owner Paul Allen for reasons that are still unclear.

And Blazer fans are, for lack of a better term, pissed.

I've never seen a fan base so taken aback by the dismissal of a front office executive. Tonight, friends of mine have been sharing their thoughts on Pritchard's firing, through Facebook, Twitter, text messages, and more.

The overriding feeling: why did this happen?

-Geoff Ziemer, the author of The 300 Level and my former mentor with the Franklin Post, responded to Facebook with the most disgusted (if slightly hyperbolic) reaction: "THE SKY IS FALLING. KP FIRED. You make me sick Mr. Allen. You better share with the media WHY this came about."

The last part I agree with wholeheartedly. The media cannot let this pass by without doing their job and continuing to ask the right questions.

-Anthony Mcfeters asked what we all have been asking throughout the duration of this mess: "I am so confused.... why is Pritchard fired?! He has without a doubt saved this franchise from a management standpoint."

-My brother Justin Sandberg had to come home from work to this ugly situation: "Leave it to Paul Allen to fuck things up for everyone." His night was probably completely ruined, especially with the trade of Martell Webster.

-Mark Nelson provided the only laugh tonight through this exchange on Twitter:
Me: The Portland media should camp outside Paul Allen's house until we get answers.
Mark Nelson: He'll sick the robotic Richard Simmons on them.

-Kevin O'Brien from Remember '51 gave me perspective on what other fans around the country probably think of the Blazer organization: "The fact that you guys fired a top-10 GM (perhaps even a top-5) shows how big of an ego Paul Allen has." Time will tell just how big of a negative impact this will have.

-Faris Tanyos predicted that Pritchard would be fired after the draft, but never imagined it would happen the day of): "Paul Allen is insane. I'm in complete shock."

-And Bill Christensen could only feel sympathy for the man who lost his job for reasons seemingly unknown: "I'm sorry Kevin Pritchard. I as a devout Blazer fan, I am extremely sad to see you go. THANK YOU for getting this franchise back on its feet and I am sorry that 'someone' lost their minds and let you go."


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Pritchard is gone, and judging on how fans in Portland respected him, I'm sure they won't stop talking about this for a very long time.

Meet Your Longshot NBA Draft Prospect: Matt Bouldin

Matt Bouldin was the unlikely superstar during the latter half of his career at Gonzaga.

During his time as a Zag, there were teammates who scored more, who were faster, who were more emotional, who were better ballhandlers, passers and shooters. Bouldin was not spectacular in any one area. But he was solid in every area.

And as it turned out, that made him the perfect type of player for Mark Few's system of college basketball. When Bouldin's senior season rolled around in 2009 and the more one-dimensional stars had left the Kennel, it allowed Bouldin to take the reigns and utilize his multiple talents as the star.

In the world of Gonzaga basketball, Bouldin was just about as perfect of a player as you could ask for.

Unfortunately, that may end up being his undoing in the NBA Draft.

Bouldin may end up becoming a victim of the same system that made him look great in college. Playing in the WCC, you need a player who has good court awareness, who can control the tempo of the game with the ball in his hands. Teams in the conference aren't overly athletic, but they make up for it with scrapiness and good decision-making. A player like Bouldin can see the openings in systems like that and use his skills to take advantage. He never had to overpower, outshoot, or run past a team on his own; only wait for the openings and operate with a surgeon's precision.

But the NBA is about raw athleticism, which makes up for any lapses and closes those openings quickly. Someone like Steve Nash can take advantage of situations because he is an excellent passer with incredible court vision. Someone like Brandon Roy isn't overly athletic, but he can control the tempo of a game simply because he is a great scorer.

Believe it or not, in the NBA, having one or two great skills can be more effective than having 3 or 4 good skills.

Bouldin is hoping to be the exception to that rule.

For more perspective on the Gonzaga guard's outlook, I've turned to former Gonzaga Bulletin colleague Ben Pearson, who now writes a blog called The Left Coast Bias:

The NBA Draft is all about raw players with potential rather than proven players with experience. In other words, Matt Bouldin gets the short end of the stick at a critical time in his career. After a successful four-year career at Gonzaga, there is a very good chance Bouldin will not hear his name called on June 24th.

There is not a college coach in the country that wouldn’t have wanted Mr. Bouldin on his team. He has a high basketball IQ, good work ethic, and is an unselfish player. He took the traditional path by staying in college all four years with his role increasing each year. He answered by raising his scoring average each season, but that’s not always enough in the eyes on NBA GMs.

Bouldin is an all-around player, but in a way that is his problem. He is skilled in so many areas, but he doesn’t do any one thing great. There are many players who exploit their one superior skill and end up having lengthy NBA careers because of it. Bouldin will need to carve out his niche to last.

Bouldin’s biggest asset to a NBA team would be his vision. He has the size to see over most point guards and has a great feel for the game, always knowing where his teammates are on the floor. Bouldin would play the point in the NBA, a position he never played at GU, but I don’t think the transition would be very difficult for him. He has always possessed the ball handling and passing skills of a point guard, but with Jeremy Pargo playing alongside him for three years, it never made sense to have the offense run through him.

There are people out there who claim that Bouldin can’t play against athletic teams. I was skeptical myself as well. I remember the Duke game in December in which he had more turnovers (5) than points (4) and I can’t forget that he ended his college career going 3-13 against Syracuse. I went back and did some research comparing his performance against BCS schools to how he did against small conference schools.

In 40 career games against BCS schools:
12.38 points, 43 FG %, 4.42 Rebounds, 3.25 assists 2.55 TOs

In 93 career games against non-BCS schools:
12.77 points, 48 FG %, 3.86 rebounds, 3.38 assists, 1.92 TOs

Those differences aren’t that alarming, but a five percent dip in field goal percentage is somewhat significant given the amount of games. Also his assist-turnover ratio is discouraging, especially since he would be handling the ball even more as a point in the NBA.

What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is his defensive performance against these BCS schools. While Bouldin has some speed off the dribble, his lack of agility and lateral quickness is what will probably end up keeping him out of the draft. With Gonzaga match-up zone, Bouldin’s sub par one-on-one defense never was really exploited. But could you imagine Bouldin trying to stay in front of Derrick Rose or Rajon Rondo?

I think Bouldin could be a solid backup point guard in the right system. For example, I think he would be a great fit in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense (Jordan Farmar is a free agent). That being said, there are too many teams that would not have room on their roster for a player like Bouldin. His lack of athleticism, paired with the fact that he has never exclusively played the point, don’t bode well for him.

My thanks to Ben for helping me out. Go check out The Left Coast Bias, where Ben is doing some NBA Draft Previews of his own.

For Bouldin, it may have been the system at Gonzaga making him look like a superstar, but that's what you want for your team and star player - a perfect fit. While on the surface, Bouldin may not look like the ideal NBA player, under the right coach and the right system, he might just end up finding a place in the league after all.


For last season's installments of Meet Your Longshot NBA Draft Prospect, click here.

Paul Allen's fall from grace

Billionaire Paul Allen bought the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988, and it clicked right from the start.

The Blazers were a team with a strong nucleus of talent who had been on the verge of breaking out for several years. Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and company were an exciting bunch coached by newcomer Rick Adelman, but they were a team that had been in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference. They just needed a little something extra to put them over the top.

Enter Mr. Allen.

He had the deep pockets to purchase the talent that the team needed. He had the business savvy to make the right moves on the basketball and management side of things. And he had the passion and the knowledge to continue to push the organization toward new heights beyond its tiny northwest borders.

And immediately it paid off. The Blazers went to the NBA finals twice, and were one of the NBA's elite teams.

And Paul Allen was there along for the wild ride. He was a billionaire software developer, but there he was in the front row, sporting a blazer sweatshirt and hat, cheering his head off for his team.

He was a fan who had the money and the means to make his favorite team better.

In other words, the most powerful man in the room.

Somewhere along the line, that turned out not to be the case anymore.

The Paul Allen that runs the Trail Blazers now is a different man than the Paul Allen from years past. He still has the money, still has the courtside seat, still has the power, but his actions - and inactions - have made him seem like a shadow of his former self. And what he has been apart of over the past few months is the bitter climax of his downfall from the man he once was.

His sudden and bizarre treatment of Kevin Pritchard over the past few months have surprised and confused many, while offering solid answers to no one. Pritchard may soon be out of a job, and no one really seems to know why.

I'm not even sure if Paul Allen does.

For the past few days, speculation has run rampant that Kevin Pritchard will be fired as Blazers GM - surprising, considering what he has done for the team over the past few years.

When he was hired on as GM, Pritchard spent the next several years molding the team and the organization into something the city could be proud of. Through a series of shrewd moves that GM's across the league still envy, Pritchard was able to piece together a solid young roster of budding stars, while jettisoning horrible contracts and players with bad character. Through it all, Pritchard did it with amazing charisma, and did it with a complete openness toward the fans and the media. Nothing was off limits. Pritchard wanted people to see how this organization was being turned around from the inside.

In the metamorphosis from Jail Blazers to the "Rip City Uprise," Pritchard was the one who built the organization's chrysalis.

Now Paul Allen wants to fire that man.

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This is not the same Paul Allen that Portland has known. Through the years, he has always tried to build up the organization.

Sometimes he would make moves that were unpopular, but they were always for the best. When the Clyde Drexler-led teams of the early 90s started to show their age and slip into mediocrity, Allen blew the team up, in order to get some slight return and begin anew.

He loved his team, and wanted what was best for them.

At some point, something changed. Maybe his multiple business ventures began to be too much for him. Maybe being the owner of a basketball team no longer excited him. Maybe the rise of Apple drove him insane. Regardless, he was a changed man.

In the mid-2000s, he began making moves like a man who didn't know his organization anymore.

He hired two men in Steve Patterson and John Nash to clean up the franchise. They only succeeded in driving it further into the ground.

He handed out monstrous contracts to Zach Randolph (a ball-hog only concerned with himself), Theo Ratliff (an aging center who blocked a few shots in a contract year) and Darius Miles (a lazy head-case who berated his own coach).

And after all this, he tried to convince the city of Portland that the Blazers were losing hundreds of millions of dollars and needed to be bailed out, or else.

His disinterest was costing him the team he used to love so much.

That's when whatever was left of Paul-Allen-The-Fan woke up inside. He saw the mess he had created with his own team, and vowed that this was not the way things should be done.

Paul Allen was going to save the Portland Trail Blazers. And everyone would realize just how much he cared, after all.

So he went about building the team back up again. He brought in his own company, Vulcan Sports & Entertainment, to help him run the organization, which would show that he was willing to be hands-on with the team. He personally bought the Rose Garden Arena in 2007 to prevent it from being sold and to protect the "long-term health of the franchise."

And after the debacle that Patterson and Nash caused, Allen promoted an upstart employee named Kevin Pritchard to General Manager. Pritchard had proven his talent at scouting and immediately built the Blazers into a young, promising team on the rise.

All was finally well with the Portland Trail Blazers. And as Paul Allen finally rested, he basked in how he had saved the franchise. The fans, he thought, would embrace him as a hero.

But as Paul Allen sat in his ivory tower reflecting on his own ingenuity, the fans found their own hero in Kevin Pritchard.

He was the golden boy, the face of the franchise. And why not? It was his moves that netted the Blazers Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge in the same draft. It was his call to draft Greg Oden with the number 1 pick. And it was his skill that landed the team veteran influence with Andre Miller and Marcus Camby. The fans idolized Pritchard, chanted his name at rallies, and left messages on his office voice mail (Author's note: Guilty). Pritchard sat courtside with his pink good-luck-tie, pumped his fist, and cheered his team on.

The way Paul Allen used to.

And as this was happening, Allen and his Vulcan flunkies sat and stewed. "After everything I've done, why should Pritchard get all the admiration?" Allen wondered.

The Vulcan yes-men, brought in to run the company, only compounded these thoughts of egocentrism and self-pity, showering Allen with false priase as he sat isolated in Seattle. "Boss, you're the best owner there is. That's why we work for you. If anyone deserves the credit, it's you." Like Wormtongue whispering into a powerless Theoden's ear, the Vulcans fed Allen's ego, telling him exactly what he wanted to hear.

Allen knew what he needed to do. He needed to take the reigns again. How dare Pritchard take credit for this? Allen was determined to do something.

He wanted to be the hero. Again.

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So shockingly, maddeningly, the rumors arose that Pritchard was on his way out. There were assistants fired. Rumors of massive egos and botched moves. Houses being sold. Headhunting organizations being hired.

Allen's jealousy is palpable. He doesn't just want Pritchard out, he wants to humiliate him. As the rumors continue to swirl, Allen will neither cut Pritchard lose, or give him his confidence.

And as he hangs his once-golden GM out to dry, Allen is putting his hands in his pockets and pretending his is innocent of the whole thing.

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We may never get a true answer from Allen as to why he is doing this.

Short of an Al Davis-like tirade about his fired employee, Allen looks like he wants to control the flow of information. Nothing will be allowed to come out that could be potentially damaging to Allen's image or ego.

But soon Pritchard will be gone, and everything he built along with it. And sometime in the future the team will begin another rebuilding effort aimed at convincing fans that the organization is committed to success.

And Allen will once again be at the top of it all, sitting at his desk with an empty smile, believing with all his heart that his actions have made him what he has always aspired to be.

A hero.