Kevin Durant's Jersey Retired....really?

No more #35 for the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team, since that number is now retired from a one-and-done player.

What a shame!

When I first heard the story about Kevin Durant's jersey being retired my first thought was, wow! What a great topic to argue about for the next few days, maybe it will get our minds off of steroids for a bit.

It amazes me that they are retiring a jersey from a player who went one year. It shows the standard the Texas has. Do you want your future prospects to see the fame they get from a university just for showing up freshman year? It makes retiring jerseys seem like a weekly award. Now listen, I have nothing against Kevin Durant and I am a big fan and think he is a great basketball player and he is for real in the NBA as well. But the fact of the matter is, he is not a "hang your jersey up in the rafters" kind of player. He only stayed one year and got his team to the Sweet Sixteen.

Let another Longhorn #35 do the same, don't ruin a good number.

I guess next will be A.J. Abrams #3 if we are going at this speed.

-J.J.

Recent Releases could make "Free" Agency interesting

Well we only have a couple of days until free agency finally starts and it looks like it could be a pretty interesting period. There are quite a few established (and recently released) veterans hitting the market and the only questions with a lot of them will be age.

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The recently released:

RB

Warrick Dunn: He will be a veteran back who knows how to hit the hole but I think he hasn't been the Dunn of old in several years. 

Fred Taylor: If the Bills end up with Taylor, and they are rumored to, this will be a good acquisition. He doesn't have the normal wear and tear because of the rest he has had based on injuries and Mojo Drew sharing carries. 

Deuce McAllister: In the right situation (a shared backfield), I think that he could be a good pick up. I think the release is more of a situation of Pierre Thomas being a cheaper, younger replacement than McAllister hitting the 30 year old wall.

WR

Marvin Harrison: He deserves his own paragraph. This man definitely hasn't been the same since the injury. But if I was a coach looking to make the next step offensively I would pick him up and move him to the slot. With decent receivers on the outside I think he would be a great spread offense option on quick slants. Not going to break it for much more than 10 yards but who needs that in a dink and dunk system.

Joey Galloway: Galloway seems to have lost a step with Bryant being the bigger receiver last year. Is that really him losing the step or the lack of offense to back him?

Laveranues Coles: Kind of in the same boat as Galloway.

Mike Furrey: Great number three wideout.

LB

Cato June: I think that the person with the most upside is LB Cato June. The former Colts standout didn't quite fit in with the Bucs and I think that if he could find the right situation he could really surprise some people.

Derrick Brooks: Derrick Brooks is interesting here. I think that he has a lot to give to the team that goes after him. He may not be a game changer but I think he will be a solid player.

CB

Dre' Bly: This may just be the product of a new administration in town (they cut five other defensive players already). Even with some years in the tank I think that Bly wouldn't be a bad number two corner.

Chris McAlister: My question is how bad was the injury? This might not be worth the risk.

S

Gibril Wilson: Poor guy was the MVP of the Raiders defense last year and gets cut. He will make some defensive coordinator really happy. Update: Dolphins just signed Wilson.

- D-Rae

Manning to Harri....Nope, Not Anymore

It was just released today that the Colts have released WR Marvin Harrison, who is second all-time with 1,102 catches.

Harrison wanted out, and he got his wish. I have to admit that it will be weird seeing #88 no longer in the blue and white, catching bombs from Manning. But we all realized that with every year Reggie Wayne was becoming the Colts #1 guy, and after the Harrison controversy with the shooting outside his Philadelphia bar, there needed to be some change.

The biggest question that we now have to answer is...where will Harrison go? Many think Philadelphia, where Mcnabb has been begging for a number one receiver, which could be found with Harrison. It a perfect match. Harrison does not have a big personality, (which we saw the problems Mcnabb had with big personalities...T.O. to say the least) He doesn't complain when he doesn't get enough throws (yet again, T.O.). And last but not least Deshaun Jackson looks like a string bean, the kid is tiny!

I personally would love to see #88 with the Eagles, I think it would make the NFC East THAT much better, it would bring the Eagles to a point with no more excuses about losing the big game. Last but not least it would be more exciting football.

It is a bitter sweet goodbye for Marvin Harrison, but it will be a great story to see where he lands this next season.

-J.J.

A-Rod and Combine Comments

(same pic, new news)

Ok, I retract my statements about T.O. following A-Rod to regain favor. With more information coming out about A-Rod I definitely don't think his image will make a comeback anytime soon. Taking drugs that were illegal even in the Dominican Republic and working with trainers that were banned by the league are just a couple of the new things that have come out about the former golden child.

On a side note, QB Matthew Stafford won't throw at the combine and WR Crabtree won't run either. I hate when these guys don't perform at the combine or even at their pro days. I know that some of these things are pointless but I think that it is all part of the process. I think that both are making financially good decisions because I don't think that Stafford will put on a show and I really am starting to question how fast Crabtree is in straight line speed. He's a fantastic player but I won't be surprised to see a +4.5 40 which would definitely hurt his stock.

-D-Rae

Back to the Good ol' Days....

So it has been a few years....like 9 (I believe) since we have seen Ken Griffey Jr. in a Mariners uniform.

And I have to say, it feels nice.

Amongst all the other baseball news I have to say this is my favorite headline. I'm sick of roids, I'm sick of A-Fraud, I'm sick of Bonds, and the Steroid era. This is what baseball needs. For all of you Mariners fans this is a time to rejoice, even though he may win you a difference of 10 games. That's not the point, the point is, Griffey is back in Seattle!!

It brings many back to their kid in them, back when they were 10 and watching Griffey pop some over the fence. It is exactly what Seattle needs. In fact, more sports need to respect their legends and if they have a good opportunity... sign them. It will put for rears in the seats.

Plain and Simple.

p.s. Tyson Chandler trade was reverses, he didn't pass his physical.

J.J.

I know how to get T.O. some love again

Ever since his falling out with McNabb(not quite a saint either), T.O. has never been the same. Even though he is a reporters best friend when he speaks his mind, he can't seem to find any press singing him praises. He hasn't done anything negative towards his team in quite some time but everyone still thinks of him as a negative influence. I personally think that T.O. is just fine and am quite happy to have him on America's Team. But in order to bolster his awful reputation I've figured out how to fix things.

Just follow Alex Rodriguez or as he was starting to be called A-Fraud. The man was thought of as a fraud by his teammates and his former manager Torre and also cheated on his wife with Madonna. People were starting to tear this man apart for his lack of clutch performances(equal to T.O.'s lack of rings) and this rep downers. What'd A-Rod go and do? He had Sports Illustrated release information about him using steroids.

Ok, the steroids aren't helping his reputation but he is being supported by his teammates in the media. This is the most support they have shown for him since they were all 'excited' to see him come to the Big Apple. Other players have publicly ripped on A-Rod and steroids (Pujols and Big Papi) but you're opponents aren't supposed to love you and this hate will only help the victim image in the media. On down the road A-Rod will be seen as the man who owned up to the steroids when Clemens and Bonds are still fighting against the truth. This will undoubtedly create a much better public image for the man that was about to be known as A-Fraud.

Back to T.O., all he has to do is have a steroids scandal. I don't want to see performance enhancing drugs tear apart the NFL too (god knows that they all use them here if they do is girly baseball). But T.O. needs to get himself into some trouble (steroids) admit to it early on and then recover from being young and stupid and he'll be safe on his way to some media love.

I know it seems backwards but just watch. We will all love A-Rod again and T.O. should take note.

-D-Rae

Chandler to the Thunder...... That's like Cookies without the Milk

It is reported by the mother ship (ESPN) that the New Orleans Hornets are shipping away Tyson Chandler in return for Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith from the Thunder.

WHY?!?!?!

When I read this story I automatically felt a bad feeling in my stomach like I'm about to throw up my chicken-bacon-ranch five dollar foot long. I know that the Hornets are getting a couple of descent ball players but they are sending their top defender. Let alone Chris Paul's recipient for the alley-oop.

I don't like this trade for New Orleans because I think that Tyson Chandler met more to the organization than just a big guy who could swat balls. I think he was a cornerstone of their team and played great alongside Paul and West. I remember the good ol' days when players that fans liked were able to stay in their city.

We are reaching a point to where this is strictly more of a business then entertainment, but the thousands of fans watching the games are there to be entertained, not to wonder how the payroll is doing for their favorite team.

-J.J.