SBNation.com User Blog: polotown

The Predictive Power of the NBA Draft Combine

polotown — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:42:53 -0000

The Predictive Power of the NBA Draft Combine

Great series of articles by Kevin Hetrick, looking at the importance of size and athleticism broken down by position and offense/defense. Several very important points, including the relative unimportance of size for a NBA point guard (in other words, stop talking about how IT is too short).

Gorgui Dieng: Projected mid-first round center from Louisville

polotown — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:55:54 -0000

Gorgui Dieng: Projected mid-first round center from Louisville

Great article. Includes a lesson that DMC should learn:

"Toughness is not fighting on the court or shoving people," Dieng said. "Toughness is helping your team win. Toughness is when my teammates are down, helping them up. If I see Chane (Behanan) didn't have a good game, I talk to him and try to bring him back into the game. I don't think toughness is fighting on the court, talking trash, nothing like that. I think you are tough when you can help your team win and stop your opponent. Taking charges is toughness, blocking shots, rebounding the ball, stuff like that. Talking trash has nothing to do with toughness. When I am playing against someone and he is on the floor, I can help him up. He is not going to change the score. It is a thing people need to understand. People have the wrong idea of being tough."

A diversion: Help me pick a Derby horse

polotown — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:51:09 -0000

Every year on the first Saturday in May, I dress up, put on a hat, walk several miles in high heels and join 150,000 other people at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

I have been handicapping horse races all my life. While in college, I worked at the track. I own and ride horses. Because I fully understand the vagaries of horse racing, while I enjoy picking winners, I rarely place bets. OTOH, I always buy a few tickets at the Derby.

There is no race that is more difficult to pick than the Kentucky Derby. The "experts" are usually wrong and the betting favorite rarely wins.

Since you, my fine friends at StR, are probably not horse racing experts and likely haven't put a bet on the favorite, you are more likely to pick a Derby winner than I am. So, I am asking you for help. Below is a list of the expected 20 horse field for the Derby.

Verrazano

Orb

Goldencents

Revolutionary

Normandy Invasion

Itsmyluckyday

Java's War

Overanalyze

Vyjack

Govenor Charlie

Palace Malice

Will Take Charge

Charming Kitten

Frac Daddy

Lines of Battle

Mylute

Oxbow

Black Onyx

Falling Sky

Titletown Five

Pick a name and say why you like it. If you want to actually see what the horses look like, or their owners/trainers/jockeys, or the colors of the silks, go to this site: Daily Racing Form Derby top 20

I'd really appreciate it if you would pick a 1-2-3 finish because I will be making some 50 cent trifecta bets.

Thanks!

Every year on the first Saturday in May, I dress up, put on a hat, walk several miles in high heels and join 150,000 other people at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

There is no race that is more difficult to pick than the Kentucky Derby. The "experts" are usually wrong and the betting favorite rarely wins.

Verrazano

Orb

Goldencents

Revolutionary

Normandy Invasion

Itsmyluckyday

Java's War

Overanalyze

Vyjack

Govenor Charlie

Palace Malice

Will Take Charge

Charming Kitten

Frac Daddy

Lines of Battle

Mylute

Oxbow

Black Onyx

Falling Sky

Titletown Five

I'd really appreciate it if you would pick a 1-2-3 finish because I will be making some 50 cent trifecta bets.

Thanks!

SI - Chris Ballard: Sacramento fans rejoice

polotown — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:34:58 -0000

SI - Chris Ballard: Sacramento fans rejoice

Not usually a SI fan, but this article rocks!

Adrienne used to look just like George

polotown — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:55:48 -0000

I know it's a cheap shot, but it's about a Maloof, so what the heck. Star magazine came out with a picture of Adrienne at 15, before what must have been 100's of plastic surgeries to look like plastic now.

IT in Rising Star game

polotown — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:55:43 -0000

IT in Rising Star game

IT selected by Team Chuck!

Show support for a NEW ownership group...Here We Buy

polotown — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:41:58 -0000

Show support for a NEW ownership group...Here We Buy

Looking at the Kings salary in the next few seasons.

polotown — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:18:13 -0000

Looking at the Kings salary in the next few seasons.

From evilcowtown, an excellent analysis of the Kings' roster and salary commitments.

Cisco carries Dominican Republic to upset win in Olympics Qualifier

polotown — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 01:07:06 -0000

Cisco carries Dominican Republic to upset win in Olympics Qualifier

Nice to see.

Ball Don't Lie - Watch Sacramento Kings rookie Thomas Robinson, as he’s greeted by Kings fans (VIDEO)

polotown — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:07:28 -0000

Ball Don't Lie - Watch Sacramento Kings rookie Thomas Robinson, as he’s greeted by Kings fans (VIDEO)

A shout out to Kings fans:

The Sacramento Kings may have ranked 28th out of 30 NBA teams in attendance during the 2011-12 season, but a couple of factors need to be considered as we judge that particular statistic. For one, the Kings stunk — starting off the season with an embarrassing battle of wills between ex-coach Paul Westphal and starting center DeMarcus Cousins, one that eventually led to Westphal's dismissal. The team only won a third of its games, and the raw attendance figures don't take into account that the team still nearly filled up its relatively small home arena even as the team's owners were criticized for pulling a fast one on Sacramento civic leaders in their unending attempts at taking the team away from the state capital.

So when Kings fans hear the good news of a great player and great person, in the form of Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, being added to the team's roster? They come out in droves. Real droves — like, filling the second floor of a mall droves. Watch the video:

Dominican Republic (Cisco) beats Korea in Olympics Qualifier

polotown — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:56:06 -0000

Dominican Republic (Cisco) beats Korea in Olympics Qualifier

Next up, AK47 and Russia

AEG selected as new manager for Louisville Yum! Center

polotown — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 05:15:12 -0000

AEG selected as new manager for Louisville Yum! Center

For informational purposes only. I don't believe that Louisville is in the running for the Kings, but I have seen it mentioned several times on StR.

Terrific T-Will interview

polotown — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:46:10 -0000

Terrific T-Will interview

Interesting stuff especially regarding finding Jimmer and the origin of T-Will's underhand pass.

Professional Athletes' Big-League Tax Bills

polotown — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:10:55 -0000

Professional Athletes' Big-League Tax Bills

Interesting read on "jock tax"

Unleashed DeMarcus Cousins Carrying Kings Back From Dead

polotown — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:13:45 -0000

Unleashed DeMarcus Cousins Carrying Kings Back From Dead

TZ wrote a terrific article for SB Nation

Dally talks to Jonathan Feigen about Haiti earthquake

polotown — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:29:46 -0000

Dally talks to Jonathan Feigen about Haiti earthquake

Nice article about Dalembert's work to help the recovery in Haiti

Draft - Video of Terrence Williams workout with Raptors

polotown — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:22:45 -0000

Draft - Video of Terrence Williams workout with Raptors

Francisco Garcia a leader

polotown — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:32:51 -0000

Francisco Garcia a leader

Sosa rejoices after his game winning shot...Sosa punctuated that shot by punching his right fist and turning to shout at a visitor sitting in the first row across from the U of L bench -- former Cardinal Francisco Garcia

Francisco Garcia at University of Louisville (alma mater) vs. University of Kentucky game Sunday...

polotown — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:18:01 -0000

Francisco Garcia at University of Louisville (alma mater) vs. University of Kentucky game Sunday January 4, 2009. He helped a good player who was fighting a slump.