SB Nation User Blog: Tydides

Hasiak on Indefinite Leave

Tydides — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:38:12 -0000

Hasiak on Indefinite Leave

Jon Gold reports that he has traveled back to Hawaii and has not been with the team the past couple of games. We don't know what kinds of issues he's going through here so let's please not go too crazy with speculation. Could be something simple; some kids don't handle leaving the islands as well as others. Lots of kids from my graduating class started out at mainland colleges but went home after a year and never came back. I've been through it. It can be a tough transition, especially from there. Hopefully Stan is able to resolve whatever it is and resume his studies. Best of luck to him.

(Yes, I realize what I just did was speculate. Sorry.)

[UPDATES] I Couldn't Hear You With All the Flags Flapping In My Ears

Tydides — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:54:52 -0000

Maybe some of you have seen Uber-Patriot Darren Rovell's hit piece on the winner of the NYC Marathon, Bruin and American citizen Meb Keflezighi. If not, Deadspin has done a great job of listing the Patriotic (TM) talking points from Rovell:

Meb Keflezighi, who won yesterday in New York, is technically American by virtue of him becoming a citizen in 1998, but the fact that he's not American-born takes away from the magnitude of the achievement the headline implies.

[...]

Given our disappointing results, embracing Keflezighi is understandable. But Keflezighi's country of origin is Eritrea, a small country in Africa. He is an American citizen thanks to taking a test and living in our country.

The first point I'd like to make is that Meb did more than just "live" in the country. For the most part, he grew up here. Last time I checked, the University of California, Los Angeles contains three words that identify itself with the United States, so he was educated here. And being a citizen thanks to "taking a test" is no small feat, considering that there are reports circulating that a mere 3.5% of American High School students would be able to pass that same test. I'd like to know if Rovell could pass. I know I have my doubts.

Well, Deadspin, which does a great job of mocking all things stupid in sports and sports reporting, unloads with this gem:

That's right. An American by Scantron. Meb can run around with Old Glory all he wants. Won't change the fact he was born not just in Africa, but in an African country so damn un-American we made Ethiopia bomb the crap out of it for us. So, no, Rovell will not be waving the flag today, thank you very much. He's waiting for an American to win this goddamn race. Someone who really represents these United States of ours. Maybe someone more like that fellow who won way back in 1982, the last time an American broke the tape in New York. Now there was a real American. Guy by the name of Alberto Salazar.

Who was born in Havana.

Let's leave aside the fact that this is a country of immigrants for a second and concede that Rovell does have a point here. Clearly Eritrea is a part of the Axis of Evil (TM), and we should not be embracing this double agent as one of our own. I prefer our heroes to represent American values, like Alberto Salazar, hailing from the great beacon of Democracy (TM) and Freedom (TM); Havana, Cuba. Almost makes you wonder what that whole embargo business is about...

(No, I am not impugning Mr. Salazar's claim to citizenship)

Shamefully, Rovell's stupidity has even been picked up by our own host, SBNation. However, I do suggest clicking through to both and going to the comments where there is more comedy and well reasoned mockery to be had.

I salute Armchair Patriot (TM) Darren Rovell's diligence in bringing this pressing matter to our attention. How could you not trust a man with such an extensive athletic resume:

Rovell doesn't just report, he does. He finished the New York Marathon in 2004, the same year he ate six hot dogs and buns at a hot dog eating qualifier. He finished fifth in the world in the World Championship of Watermelon Seed Spitting in Luling, Texas in 2005, and scored one point in a two-minute stint for the Washington Generals at Madison Square Garden in 2008. He is also on the Green Bay Packers season ticket waiting list, has searched for golf balls in the water of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass and has been tutored by the Dallas Mavericks free throw coach. In February of 2008, when Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns, he gave Shaq the idea to call himself "The Big Cactus."

In case you were wondering, yes, eating hot dogs is on the American Citizenship Test. That makes Takeru Kobayashi (of Tokyo, Japan) one of the greatest Americans to ever live.

UPDATE: (Achilles): I was writing a similar post but Tydides beat me too it.

Does anyone actually think that the U.S. government allowed Meb to become a citizen because he runs fast? Does Revell honestly believe that Meb is a ringer, that citizenship is so cheaply awarded that the United States granted Meb a passport so that the nation could rejoice in him winning a race?

The funny thing is, some of the naturalized citizens that I know are more patriotic and know more about this country than many Americans who were born and raised here. That test that Meb took? It's not given by the DMV. It's tough.

I'm struggling to respond here in the same way one would struggle with someone who said "You know, blank people are cheap." Or "blank people really do like to marry their cousins." Battling ignorance is tough because it forces you down into the muck.

What I'm really wondering what Keeley and Revell would say to the parents and wives and children of dead American soldiers who died in battle defending this country after becoming naturalized citizens. I wonder if they would tell them "Thanks, but it's not as if they were real Americans who were actually born here."

I not only rejoice in Meb's win because we are both Americans. I rejoice that I live in a country that allows great men like Meb to become citizens and then proceeds to treat him no differently than those whose families came over on the Mayflower.

UPDATE II: (N) It looks like CNBC's Darren Rovell has apologized for his insane column today. Yet the damage is already kind of done. Meanwhile, the post on SBN mocking Mebe as "technically" an American is still up. We'd suggest you fill up the comment thread not only demanding an apology from Sean but also his editors for allowing that kind of nonsense to be posted on a network which we are part of. We are also going to communicate to SBN that we expect a retraction or apology from Sean by the end of the day tomorrow.

Sample Tries to Avoid Getting Tagged With Lack of Institutional Control; Quits

Tydides — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:22:21 -0000

Sample Tries to Avoid Getting Tagged With Lack of Institutional Control; Quits

(I actually don't recommend clicking through, as it gives them hits to their website, and it delays their inevitable demise. I've provided the fun stuff here)

Emphasis/Fact Editing Mine:
"Sample's time was marked both by tumult and achievement...(one) national football (championship) and a new basketball arena but also scandals involving academic fraud by athletes; improvements in nearby neighborhoods, along with street crimes against students."

"Why not quit while you're ahead?"

Why indeed...

NBA Opening Night (Bruin Edition)

Tydides — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:56:15 -0000

Frontpaged On SBNation.com. GO BRUINS. -N

When the Cavs and Celtics tip off tonight, the 09-10 NBA season will officially be underway, and I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the Bruins that have made it to the Big Show, and who help ensure the future success of the greatest collegiate basketball program in the country by reminding people across the Southland and nationwide that UCLA is Where Amazing Happens.

In addition to a premiere Eastern Conference matchup mentioned earlier, opening night will also be the night the Los Angeles Lakers receive their championship rings. The World Champions will have a Bruin on their roster this year in Jordan Farmar who will enter his fourth year with many questions to answer about his play. More after the jump.

Last year he suffered a knee injury which caused him to miss a good portion of the regular season. Although he came back to the team earlier than expected, he was still clearly affected by the injury and his confidence and decision making suffered as a result for the remainder of the year. So far in the preseason, Jordan looks like he has made a full recovery and as the only pure point guard on the Lakers roster, he should have a great case for more playing time this year if he continues his solid play and dishes out assists like this:

After being acquired by the Denver Nuggets from the Detroit Pistons, Arron Afflalo enters his third season in the league, and by all accounts is still the same dedicated gym rat we knew in college. The numbers from his first two years have not been spectacular, but he was able to earn the trust of his coaches in Detroit to see action in almost all of their games. Afflalo's strength has always been his defense, and while he hasn't had the same success he had locking down opponents as he did in college, he still routinely draws the toughest perimeter defensive assignments when he is in the game. AA will be asked to replace the departed Dahntay Jones for the Nuggets, and hopefully an increased role in Denver will lead to increased productivity.

The 2006 West Region MVP Ryan Hollins will begin his fourth year in the league on the Minnesota Timberwolves after stops in Charlotte and Dallas. He hasn't been able to firmly establish himself in the rotation in his previous stops and he may find it difficult to find PT in Minnesota with the glut of frontcourt players on the roster. Part of what holds him back is what we saw when he was here at UCLA: He's still thin. He has put on a little weight since joining the league but he still relies largely on his leaping ability and not strength to defend the basket. When he has been in the game, he has been a serviceable (but foul prone) substitute, and hopefully their new coach Kurt Rambis will be able to find a use for him.

Speaking of the Timberwolves, Hollins will be joined in the frontcourt by second year phenom Kevin Love. In his rookie campaign, Love averaged 11 points and 9 rebounds, displaying the knack for the double double that we saw in his all too short career as a Bruin. Although he displayed unusual skill, polish, and smarts for a rookie, he was snubbed from the Rookie Challenge during All Star Weekend, causing a minor stir. That didn't derail him though, as he picked up where he left off in the second half of the season, producing at a steady pace and avoiding the Rookie Wall. All signs point to him continuing his trademark fundamentally sound play and given his high basketball IQ and passing ability, he should be able to earn additional PT by picking up the Triangle Offense that new coach Kurt Rambis will install. Despite his success, it does appear that Kevin is no stranger to snubs and disappointment. Disappointment like his broken hand which will likely sideline him for at least the first month of the season. Snubs like his less than ideal travel conditions as a rookie last year:

Love wasn't the only Bruin rookie that had a highly successful debut last year. Also entering his sophomore campaign in the league is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell "LET'S GO" Westbrook. Entering last season, there were many doubts as to whether Russ would be able to successfully make the move to point guard given that he played off guard alongside Collison in his college years. Russell responded by averaging 15 points and 5 assists (against 3 TOs), putting his name in the conversation for Rookie of the Year and punctuating it with electrifying dunks throughout the season. Although not a pure point guard by any means, Westbrook has found a way to be effective alongside Kevin Durant on one of the league's up and coming teams. In the preseason, he appears to be really focusing on being a distributor and an initiator of the offense, upping his assists to nearly 8 per game. If he can carry that over to the regular season, the Thunder will be that much better for it this year.

To get an idea of the kind of talent we lost after our last Final Four run in 2008, consider that not only did we lose the previous two players who were obviously impact rookies, but we also lost the next one: The Prince, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Luc made his impact for the Milwaukee Bucks in a reserve role in his rookie year, and for him, the stats do not tell the whole story. His ridiculous athleticism for a player his size translated to instant defensive impact; exactly what you would expect from a three year Ben Howland product. Much like Afflalo, he routinely drew tough defensive assignments like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, even drawing specific praise from the latter for his tough defense. If the Bucks get more of the same from him this year, I'm sure they will be quite satisfied with that.

After wandering in the basketball wilderness that is New York and playing a reserve role for Orlando, Trevor Ariza reintroduced himself to his hometown of Los Angeles after being traded to the Lakers and subsequently became the X Factor that helped his hometown team to the 2009 NBA title. So enamored were the fans of their native son that there was much grumbling in the offseason from Laker fans when he was essentially swapped in the offseason for Ron Artest. Since joining the league, Ariza has been known as a high flier on both ends of the court, but in his short stint as a Laker, he began to develop a more well rounded game that included a suddenly deadly three point shot. Now entering his sixth season, he was able to earn his payday with the Houston Rockets. Ariza's newly developed game will be put to the test, as he will be heavily relied upon on both ends of the floor in Houston with the departure of Artest, the injury to Yao Ming, and the unreliability of Tracy McGrady. Ariza will have every opportunity in Houston to prove himself, and hopefully he is up for the challenge because his role will be drastically different than it was in Los Angeles.

Taken with the 17th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Jrue Holiday will enter his rookie season after his one year at UCLA. He will have to be patient though, as the Sixers recognize that they have drafted a project. The good news for Jrue is that Andre Miller is no longer in Philadelphia, and he won't have to go through both Miller and Lou Williams for minutes. The bad news for Jrue is that Andre Miller is no longer in Philadelphia, and the wisdom and experience he brings could have significantly lowered the learning curve for Jrue. So long as Philly fans don't expect production out of Jrue right away, he should find a low pressure environment to...who am I kidding, it's Philly. They boo and throw snowballs at Santa Claus. Please practice hard and realize that potential Jrue, for your sake and ours.

If you were to pick one player we've had thus far to define the Ben Howland era, I defy you to find a better pick than the New Orleans Hornets' draft pick at #21: Darren Collison. DC has been to three Final Fours and has had four years of running the point for CBH as well as four years in the defensive crucible that Ben Howland demands. All of this will serve Collison well in finding playing time in his rookie campaign, especially behind a world class point guard like Chris Paul. Darren will have the opportunity to learn from the best, and given that Paul's minutes were a major concern for the Hornets last year entering the playoffs, the situation seems ripe for DC to make an immediate impact. Hornets coach Byron Scott has on multiple occasions expressed confidence in Collison's abilities. It remains to be seen how this will translate to the regular season, but look for Collison to struggle less than your average rookie due to his experience, maturity, and a demonstrated ability to perform under pressure:

Had enough yet? Those were just the Ben Ball Warriors. Of course we haven't forgotten about the old guard, a group of players that deserved a real coach, but were able to persevere despite not having one in college, and have each found their niche in the league.

Entering his 9th year in the league on his sixth team; Earl Watson will run the point for the Indiana Pacers this year. Throughout all of his years in the league, Watson has been a solid player, alternating main and reserve roles as his teams have seen fit. At this point in his career, he still has what it takes to be a contributor, but the shift to the younger generation has begun and Watson will increasingly rely on his veteran savvy to school the young kids in the league. While TJ Ford will be the starter for Indiana, expect Watson to assume his familiar role of the solid backup.

Another Bruin playing the solid backup role will be Luc's teammate on the Bucks: Dan Gadzuric. Now entering his 8th season, all with the Bucks, he will back up Andrew Bogut. While he may see reduced playing time as Bogut develops, Gadzuric seems to now be a Milwaukee fixture, and is another player that the Bucks will keep around for his defensive presence and experience. Serviceable backup centers are hard to come by in the NBA, and that's exactly what Dan is.

Quick, name all the teams Matt Barnes has played for. Did you get them all? You did? Liar. Now entering his 8th season, Matt will play for the defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic, after previously playing for the Suns, Warriors, Knicks, Sixers, Kings, and Clippers. He was a prominent part of the 8 seed Golden State team that took down the 1 seed Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs and has always been a fantastic utility player. He's the guy who can do a little of everything, even if he doesn't do them spectacularly, a box score filler. In a way I can see why he hasn't been able to find firm footing in the league for one team, because his style of play tends to make GMs think they can find better players, but this is rarely the case, as Barnes is one of the great utility glue guys. If the Magic are smart, they'll keep him around for at least a couple of years.

Joining Jrue Holiday in Philadelphia is 7th year veteran Jason Kapono. One of the things Jrue needs to develop as a guard in the league is range and consistency on his jumper. If I were Jrue, I might stick around Jason a little bit. Why? Well the guy is a two time Three Point Shootout champion and he once shot 51%...from three point range...for an entire season. He's the only player I know that shoots better from 3 point distance than his overall FG% for his career. There are few players that will be able to spread the floor more effectively than Jason, as an opponent would be foolish to leave him open on the perimeter. I think this video will more than adequately prove this point:

Last but certainly not least. The King of the pre Ben Ball Warriors, or should I say, the Baron. Yes, Baron Davis is still around and he's still kicking. He struggled with injuries last season, which isn't particularly unusual for him over his career, but he's back in his hometown of Los Angeles for the second year now, hoping to lead the Clippers out of the wilderness with their #1 draft pick Blake Griffin. This will be his tenth season, and while he doesn't have the quickness or the hops he once had, he still has more than enough for 90% of the league and he hasn't declined in those respects nearly as much as some other players with his mileage. There is no doubting Baron's abilities as a leader, but the question for the Clippers is whether he will be able to restrain himself from trying to get too aggressive. He has been on teams that have needed his creativity his entire career. This may be the first year that he won't need to do that for the team to succeed, and it may require some adjustment for Baron. If he can pick and choose his spots to assert himself offensively while getting his teammates involved for the rest of the game, the Clippers have a chance to make some noise in the Western Conference.

Other Bruins of note:

Josh Shipp: Signed with Bornova Belediyespor (Turkey)

Lorenzo Mata-Real: Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico), Mexican National Team

Dijon Thompson: Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)

Cedric Bozeman: Anaheim Arsenal (D-League)

I don't know if you all can tell, but I love seeing Bruins on the big stage. Even if you aren't fans of the NBA or any of its teams, I think it's important to realize that sustained success at this level is important for sustained success in Pauley, which we can all agree is a good thing. To all the recruits, please take note: UCLA is not only Where Amazing Happens, it is also Where Amazing Begins.

Mark Sanchez Needs Carson Palmer's Marketing People

Tydides — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:00:55 -0000

Mark Sanchez Needs Carson Palmer's Marketing People

For those that didn't see it, Jets QB Mark Sanchez was caught eating a hot dog on the sidelines during his game with the Raiders this past Sunday. The problem isn't so much that Sanchez got the munchies during the game, it's that you don't give that endorsement power away for free, Mark! Just ask your fellow trOJan Carson Palmer how much money sucking down wieners can make you!

Shakira Changed Name And Wore Disguise For UCLA Class

Tydides — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:54:32 -0000

Shakira Changed Name And Wore Disguise For UCLA Class

How did Shakira manage to take a summer history class at UCLA in 2007 and not make headlines until after the course was over?

The Colombian-bred international pop star revealed her successful game plan in a recent interview with the UK's The Guardian.

"I used to wear a cap and a big backpack," Shakira explained. "I looked like a boy. I didn't get recognized."

KLove Breaks Hand

Tydides — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:56:45 -0000

KLove Breaks Hand

Will likely miss six weeks for the Twolves. Hope Kevin can recover quickly and resume his thus far solid NBA career.

I feel for you Sheldon...You were wronged on this one.

Tydides — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:33:17 -0000

I feel for you Sheldon...You were wronged on this one.

More of Timmeh's Dirty Laundry

Tydides — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:37:53 -0000

More of Timmeh's Dirty Laundry

Stay classy, SUC.

The Internet Turns 40 Tomorrow (9/2/2009)

Tydides — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:20:35 -0000

The Internet Turns 40 Tomorrow (9/2/2009)

Given the medium through which you're reading this message, it seems like appropriate celebration. But why is this Bruin related?

"Few were paying attention back on Sept. 2, 1969, when about 20 people gathered in Kleinrock’s lab at the University of California, Los Angeles, to watch as two bulky computers passed meaningless test data through a 15-foot gray cable.

That was the beginning of the fledgling Arpanet network. Stanford Research Institute joined a month later, and UC Santa Barbara and the University of Utah did by year’s end."