BrendanHaywood - Yardbarker Blogs

The Real Crime is Stupidity!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:36:19 -0500

What’s up Yard?! It’s ya boy B-wood! I’m chilling here on a chilly, rainy day in DC getting ready to play the Detroit Pistons tonight. The season hasn’t gotten off to the start that Wiz fans anticipated or would have liked but we’re going to turn it around! Tonight we get a big lift with Mike Miller coming back and we were hoping to get Antawn Jamison back but that may not be the case (because of illness). Whether we’re shorthanded or not, we definitely need the win and I’m expecting a great effort from everyone wearing a Wizards’ uniform.

You know your boy likes to stay current and one article that just caught my eye was a crime of sheer stupidity. This crime was committed by three members of the Tennessee Volunteers football team (safety Janzen Jackson, receiver Nu’Keese Richardson and defensive back Mike Edwards). These idiots decided it was a good idea to rob some other students at a campus convenience store while wearing their Tennessee Volunteers sweat suits! The first thing that popped in my mind when I was reading this was – WHAT IN THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?! By doing this, they bought embarrassment to themselves, their families and the university that they represent. Not only that, they probably effectively ended their careers at the university before they even got started because most of these individuals were freshmen.

Last but not least, how much money did they think they were going to get by robbing other college students? I know that when I was in college, I never had more than $50 in my pocket (if that)! And since there were three of them, they were going to have to split that $50 three ways. My question to them is: what were they doing this for – gas money?! This obviously wasn’t a well thought out scheme or plan. And to top it off, marijuana was also found in their possession. So with a plan this dumb, did anyone ever doubt that drugs were involved?!

I hope these guys’ real story comes out in the media because I’m dying to know why three young college athletes with bright futures would throw it all away on a crime this stupid. I’m all for defending athletes, especially young black athletes, but even the late Johnny Cochrane couldn’t defend these guys. I hope they learn from their mistakes and even bounce back to have successful football careers. But until all that happens, this remains a crime of sheer stupidity.

Aight Yard, I'm gone!

B-wood

The Return of Agent Zero

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:02:36 -0500

What’s up Yard?! It's ya boy B-Wood! I’m chilling here in Atlanta watching some film in preparation for our game tonight against the Hawks and my matchup with Al Horford (who’s started off the season playing fantastic). As I prepare for the game, I can’t help but reflect back to our last game against Dallas and how well we played in the 4th quarter against an obvious playoff contender. Yeah, we have a new coach staff and new players but the thing that made the biggest difference was an old familiar face that the folks in DC haven’t seen in a long time – it was the return of Agent Zero (Gilbert Arenas)!

Gil finished with 29 points on 10-21 shooting and dropped 9 dimes – so much for the myth that he can’t pass! He looked explosive down the lane, his mid-range game looked better than ever and he continuously put pressure on the Dallas defense all night long. While some fans and media have been critical of Agent Zero lately, I’m glad to have the guy back and glad that he looks almost 100%! Like I said, it’s just one game but here’s hoping the Wizards and Agent Zero have a great year!

Shout out to EA Sports again for sponsoring my blog! I’m gaming as much as I can in my spare time and perfecting my skills on NBA Live 10!

Aight Yard, I’m gone!

B

Some Things Are 'Better Left Unsaid'

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:08:45 -0500

What’s up Yard?! Its ya boy B-wood! I’m here in Chicago getting ready for our last preseason game against the Bulls. I’m looking forward to coming out and having a good showing and building on that for the regular season (which starts next week)! While in Chicago, I’ve been intrigued by a particular topic involving one of my idols – the great Magic Johnson.

Magic has recently released a new book in which he takes Isiah Thomas to task. Magic accuses Isiah of spreading rumors about him being a homosexual when he announced that he was HIV positive and then goes on to say that Michael Jordan wasn’t the only guy who didn’t want Isiah on the Olympic Dream Team. He said that several guys played a part in black-balling Isiah and that no one really wanted him on that team.

When I first read these comments, I thought that Magic and Isiah were good friends, especially after that NBA Finals kissing episode. I also thought that Isiah was instrumental in getting Magic into his last NBA All-Star game when a lot of other players were scared to play with him because he was HIV positive. Isiah was one of the players who really stood up for Magic. Now, while I don’t know what has gone on with these two over the past couple of years that led to these negative comments on both sides, I do think that some things are “better left unsaid.”

Magic has always been a class act and first rate human being and there’s no need for him to stop now. These kinds of comments can only spark controversy, especially when you put them in a book. I’m not trying to criticize Magic like that because he is a Hall-of-famer and one of the all-time greats, I just believe that if you have a problem with someone, you take it to them, handle it man-to-man and say it to their face. And if you feel the need to put it in a book, at least have the courtesy to let the person know what’s being said so that they (and their family) are not blindsided by it when it comes out.

That being said, Magic is still of one of my favorite players of all time and I love him to death. I just don’t agree with him on this one. And like I said before, some things are “better left unsaid.”

Oh and thanks again to EA for supporting my blog. I’m still enjoying playing the new NBA Live 10 game they sent me and it's hot! I'm still waiting for any and all online challengers! (Reminder: my game tag is: brhay33)

Aight yard, I’m gone!
B

Why the NFL Should JUST SAY NO TO RUSH LIMBAUGH!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:30:08 -0500

What’s up Yard?! It’s ya boy B-wood! I’m chilling in Grand Rapids, Michigan getting ready for our preseason game tonight against the Detroit Pistons where hopefully we can back on track after losing 2 of our first 3 preseason games!

Since we’ve been on our recent road trip, I’ve been able to take some time to surf the web. One of the stories that caught my eye was a story about controversial radio show host Rush Limbaugh being a potential buyer of the St. Louis Rams. I find it interesting that he wants to own a piece of the Rams seeing as how the NFL is a 70% African American league and in the past he hasn’t spoken too kindly about African Americans on his show. Not only has he been outspoken about African Americans in general on the show but also the ones in the NFL. He was quoted as saying that Donovan McNabb gets too much credit for his team’s success because of the media’s desire to have a black quarterback do well. He was also quoted as saying that "the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons."

Limbaugh was once a commentator for ESPN’s NFL pregame show but was pressured to resign because of his comments about race. If he wasn’t fit to be a commentator, what makes him fit to be a team owner? Since Roger Goodell has taken over as NFL commissioner, he’s been all about preserving the NFL’s image and I believe that just saying no to Rush Limbaugh would be another step in the right direction.

I also think that in the end, it would be a good move for St. Louis because let’s be honest, it’s going to be hard to attract African American free agents with an openly racist owner. While some guys will still come there because “money does talk,” I feel that at the end of the day this move will hurt the Rams’ creditability across the league and definitely damage the reputation of the league itself. So here’s hoping that Goodell JUST SAYS NO TO LIMBAUGH!

On a lighter note, thanks to the folks at EA who are sponsoring my blog. I’ve been playing NBA Live 10 and if you haven’t done so already, you have to go get your copy! The game is hot and I love it! The game-play is even more improved than last year’s game and its fantastic!

Aight Yard! I’m gone!
B-Wood

Hoping “The Answer” Answers His Critics!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:32:58 -0500

What’s up Yard?! I know I’ve been gone for way too long but training camp is upon us and I’ve been real busy! Camp is actually coming to an end and I’ve got my first preseason game tomorrow as my Wizards face the Memphis Grizzlies (who recently signed Allen Iverson aka the Answer)! Since we’re playing against the Answer tomorrow, one issue that my team has brought up is the blatant disrespect that’s been given to him since the end of last season.

I’ve read article after article trashing the Answer. There was one article in which ex-GM Billy King states that the Answer has lost a step and has a questionable jump-shot at best! Upon reading this I was like – “what is he talking about?” Anyone who plays in the NBA knows that the Answer has still got it. If he lost a step, somewhere along the way he found it! I don’t even understand how someone with good basketball intelligence can say that. By the end of the 07-08 season, he averaged over 26 points per game. His season came to an end in May of that year with Denver. What his critics want you to believe is that from then until the end of the 08-09 season, he lost a step? I don’t even think that’s physically possible! What I’m trying to tell you Yard is that in a few months, the Answer did not lose a step, he simply got traded into a less than desirable situation in Detroit. And even then, he didn’t have a great year by his own standards but I don’t think that the 19 points and 7 assists he averaged is something to turn your nose up at!

Here’s the real situation – the Answer has always been a player to go against the establishment and when he finally slipped off his pedestal, everyone that had a problem with him decided to bombard him all at once. Saying things from “he’s a bad teammate” to “he’s not a leader” and things like that. I read one article that said that the Answer was the only thing holding the 76ers back from being a championship level team! From what I saw, he was the only thing holding them back from being a lottery team! He won every award possible from All-Star MVP and scoring champ to league MVP. Somewhere between all of these articles this seems to have been forgotten and left out. I’m hoping that the Answer returns to form and shuts up all of his critics so he can get the proper respect that a future Hall of Famer deserves!

Before I go, I’d like you to know that my blog if officially sponsored by EA Sports now! If you didn’t know, NBA Live 10 comes out tomorrow and I can’t wait to play it! I’m an avid gamer and play Madden more than anything but love NBA Live as well! If you ever go online and want to play me in Madden or NBA Live, my game tag is brhay33!

Aight Yard, I’m out!

B

My Thoughts on Obama’s Back-to-School Address

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:12:26 -0500

What’s up Yard?! It’s ya boy B-wood! I’m still here in Charlotte and have been playing some intense pickup games lately to get ready for the season. You probably wouldn’t guess it but Charlotte has become a hotbed for pro basketball talent. A lot of guys live and work out here during the summertime. Guys like Raymond Felton, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Marrow, Darius Songalia, Stephen Curry, Gerald Wallace, Nazr Muhommed, Gerald Henderson and Brevin Knight to name a few. We’ve all been working out hard and playing games and I’m sure it will help us get ready for training camp.

While I was getting ready to exit the gym after today’s games, I had an interesting conversation with Brevin Knight. We were both shocked at the number of people who were opposed to President Obama’s Back-to-School address! When did it become wrong for the President to tell the children that they are the future and that they need to stay in school? I feel that our kids should be honored that our President took the time out of his busy schedule to address them in a speech. This shows how important that they are to our country. This is something that parents should be proud to let their kids watch and I don’t understand how anyone could feel differently. So let me get this right, some parents don’t want their kids watching Obama’s Address but will let their kids watch HBO, MTV and VH1? I don’t understand how this can be seen as negative. This is nothing but positive! Him speaking to our children should be celebrated and not shunned or looked on negatively.

I actually read his full speech and thought it was well put together, well thought out and should be an inspiration for tomorrow’s youth. I understand that some people might not like some of Obama’s policies, may not like him as a person or may not like him for some other reason (I don’t like to throw the race card out too quickly). Like it or not, hate it or love it, Obama is the leader of our country and should be addressed as such.

What do you think? I would love to get your opinion on this one?!

Aight Yard, I’m gone!

B-Wood

I Just Want to be Successful

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:59:55 -0500

What's up yard? Its ya boy B-Haywood checking in with you! As promised, I'm presenting my first "Vlog" for your viewing pleasure! These are two short video clips to give you a glimpse of how I've been working hard all Summer to prepare for my upcoming NBA season.

The first video takes you through some of the strength training and conditioning exercises that I've been doing with one of the best athletic trainers in Charlotte, Jeff George. The second video lets you see some of the basketball drills that I've been doing with top basketball skills trainer, Idan Ravin, to improve my on-the-court skills.

Here's the First Video:

And Here's the Second Video:

Enjoy!

B-Haywood

My Apology

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:58:04 -0500

What’s up yard?! I know I’ve been gone for about two weeks but my last blog and radio interview sparked a little controversy so I wanted to come on here and quelch it! My last blog about some of Stephon Marbury’s actions, combined with a radio interview that I did, have been misinterpreted by some as speaking out against homosexuality. I’ve received some comments and so have the Wizards about it. I just wanted to take a time out and let you know that no disrespect was intended. I was just trying to have fun with a crazy situation. I don’t support or condemn homosexuality and I believe in everyone making choices for themselves. If it doesn’t affect me, I don’t really care. I hope no one was offended because I wasn’t trying to come off like Tim Hardaway.

Alright Yard, just had to get that off my chest. Stay tuned because my next blog is actually going to be a vlog showing my preparation and what I’m doing workout wise to get ready for the upcoming season.

I’m gone!
B-Wood

Radio Show Debut and My thoughts on Marbury

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:55:17 -0500

What’s up Yard?! Its ya boy B-Haywood checking in with you! I’m still in NC working out and getting ready for next season but will be in DC this weekend. I’ve got the debut of my new radio show on WJFK 106.7 “The Fan” (http://www.cbssports.com/local/dc) this Friday night from 7-10 pm ET. For all of you that follow me here on my blog, I would love for yal to tune in and listen to what I have to say. You can also call in at 703.218.5111 and ask me any questions or make comments about the show. I would love to hear what you have to say and have your support on this. I think this will be something fun because I’ve done a lot of TV appearances but never anything like this on live radio. I’m going to have a good time with it and want yal to listen and have a good time with me. It’s going to be a great experience. We’ll be discussing the hottest sports topics of the day. All fans are encouraged to call in and voice their opinions.

Speaking of voicing opinions, it wouldn’t be a B-Haywood blog without me voicing mine! Can anyone answer me this one question? What the HELL is wrong with Stephon Marbury?!!! Over the past week, he’s released some of the strangest and most disturbing videos I’ve ever seen (from his 24 hours of Marbury TV Marathon). In one clip he cries uncontrollably for 5 straight minutes with no shirt on while his homeboy rubs his shoulders – why, I don’t know?! In another clip, he eats Vaseline, claiming his throat is sore and that this would solve the problem. Not to be outdone, he has another clip where he dances to a song called “Barbie Doll!” That was very disturbing. If I was on his team, there’s no way I’m getting undressed in front of him after watching that…

Last but not least, there’s the “Stephon Marbury Dance” clip. The more you watch, the more you want to ask if Steph has been drug tested lately? And if so, did he pass? Will someone who knows Steph please let me know what’s going on and why he’s doing all of this craziness? This guy was once an All-Star with Hall of Fame talent – there’s no way he should be doing these cheap publicity stunts. Only way these clips make sense is if he plans on retiring from the NBA and planning on starring in a VH1 reality TV show… And to close things out, I’ve selected some of my favorite clips for your viewing pleasure:

Barbie Song Dance 

Crying 

Steph Dance

 Noxzema MJ Dance

I’m gone!
B-Haywood

Brendan Haywood's Four Keys for Pro-Athletes to Avoid Going Broke

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:06:16 -0500

What’s up Yard?! It’s ya boy B-Haywood finally back on the East Coast and checking in. I recently spent a little time at the NBA’s Summer League out in Las Vegas working out with our new coaching staff and some of my veteran teammates like Mike Miller, Antawn Jamison, Mike James, etc. Two things jumped out at me while I was there.

First, we’ve got some great young players coming into the league this year. While I was there working out, I was able to watch some of the summer league games. Based on what I saw, my top-five pre-rookie of the year picks are: Blake Griffin, Johnny Flynn, Tyreke Evans, DeJuan Summers and Stephen Curry.

Besides that, another thing that jumped out at me was a disturbing article that I read about ex-NBA star Antoine Walker being arrested for writing a million dollars worth of bad checks to Las Vegas casinos. That article kind of caught me off guard because he was a premiere player in this league and made so much money that for him to turn around and lose it seems crazy to me. But unfortunately, this offseason, ex-pro athletes and especially ex-NBA players having financial difficulty has become a common theme. Guys such as Randy Brown and Bernie Kosar have had to file for bankruptcy and Eddy Curry, Vin Baker and Latrell Sprewell have all had homes foreclosed on.

This led one of my good friends to ask me one question, where the hell has the money gone?! As I sat there and pondered the question myself, I came up with four reasons why current and former pro-athletes lose their millions as quickly as they make them. I decided to share my list with you guys and hopefully any young athletes reading this will take heed to what I’m saying.

MY FOUR KEYS FOR PRO-ATHLETES TO AVOID GOING BROKE

1. Don’t Give In to Overindulgence: A lot of times, guys in sports figure that the money will keep pouring in for years to come. Even if you have success in the NBA, you’re looking at 10 good years but the average is more like 5. Don’t try to do too much too fast. I’m not saying deprive yourself of the things that your heart desires but just know that you have to do everything in moderation. If you’re a guy who likes jewelry, there’s nothing wrong with buying that nice watch or necklace but there’s no need to buy 10 of them! You can only wear one at a time! And remember that the value of jewelry goes down pretty quickly. I would also stay away from purchasing lots of vehicles at one time. There’s nothing wrong with buying 2-3 cars that you always dreamed of having but if you look in your garage and it looks like you have a fleet of vehicles, you’re overdoing it!

2. Everyone Can’t Live Like You: This is one of the hardest things for athletes to grasp because when you get fame and wealth, you want to share your success with family and friends. You can hook them up a little bit but they can’t live your same lifestyle. I’m not saying don’t buy your mom her dream house, because she definitely deserves it. But don’t buy your cousins and homeboys the same stuff you have and allow them to live off of you. At some point this will put a stress on you financially. The hardest thing for a pro-athlete to do is say no to money requests from family and friends especially when they know you have it. What I’m trying to say is that it’s hard to say no to lending money to family and friends because if you say yes, the requests will never stop because they’ll see that you’re weak and keep asking for more.

3. Don’t Make Bad Investments: This is the common theme and one of the quickest ways for ex-pro-athletes to go broke. So many guys try to get rich twice. You have to realize that an investment is nothing more than gambling. I learned a long time ago to never gamble what you’re not prepared to lose. So if you invest your money, you’d better be prepared to lose it all. And if you can’t lose it all and live the same lifestyle as before then that’s probably not the investment for you. Also, you need to do your homework on all investment deals brought to you. Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it is and normally if it sounds too good to be true, it is. I have investment deals brought to me every day and two things I like to stay away from are deals that involve me putting up a lot of capital up front and deals that people say are “can’t miss” opportunities. These are two red flags. If these two things come up in a potential business deal, pro-athletes should run for the hills! In this economy, there’s no such thing as a “can’t miss” opportunity and if someone wants you to put a lot of money up front on an investment, it means they don’t have the proper funding and that’s why they’re coming to you. Those are good signs that you shouldn’t be doing business with them.

4. Get a Prenuptial Agreement /Avoid Messy Divorces: My last rule is arguably the biggest of them all – get a prenuptial agreement (prenup)! If you’re a pro-athlete or if you’ve achieved a lot of wealth before you met your mate, don’t get married without a prenup. One of the quickest ways for pro-athletes to go broke is through a messy divorce. I know a lot of folks say it sounds cold-blooded but I don’t care! You have to remember that you worked hard to get to this point and you don’t want anything to take away from the opportunity you have to live a nice lifestyle well into your twilight years. A prenup is nothing but insurance. I don’t believe I’m going to get into a car accident, but I have car insurance! I don’t believe that my house is going to burn down, but I have house insurance! I don’t believe that I’m going to die anytime soon, but I have life insurance! So for all of my fellow pro-athletes, please sign up for “marriage insurance” and get a prenup!

So for all of my pro-athletes, if you follow these four rules, you’re guaranteed a life of wealth and happiness. And if anyone bumps into Evander Holyfield anytime soon, be sure to pass these on to him.

It’s your boy B-Haywood – I’m gone!

B

My Response to Chantelle

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:19:15 -0500

What’s up Yard?! I don’t normally do this but had to hit yal with the remix! I recently read Chantelle Anderson’s blog entitled “I don’t agree at all, but I understand.” After reading it, I don’t agree with her and I don’t understand!

In her article, she professes that “In professional athlete circles (and other circles of famous men I’m sure) the girlfriend(s) in addition to the wife is a given; not only accepted but expected and flaunted.” Not only that but she goes on to defend and sympathize with their mistresses by stating “Women get all the negative societal repercussions of the extra-marital affair (despite not being the married one in the situation) and the men get none. Ho, gold-digger, groupie, home wrecker; these are all terms used to describe the women powerful (married) men cheat with. And what do people say about the guys? “Sucks he got caught”, or the mildly disapproving, “that’s just not right.”

Chantelle, I have much respect for you and usually love your blogs but in this situation I had to come out with a blog of my own to let you know that I think you’re dead wrong on this one. First of all, to say that most pro athletes cheat and have girlfriends on the side is very damaging and a blanket statement. Although I’ve played with guys like the ones you’re referring to, I’ve also played with guys who live the right way and have wives and families that they are faithful to. To say that most men of power and pro athletes cheat and flaunt their affairs in public is insulting and reckless and those who are living the right way should take offense.

Last but not least, what was up with the paragraph dedicated to the defense of the mistress?! You stated “Ho, gold-digger, groupie, home wrecker; these are all terms used to describe the women powerful (married) men cheat with.” Well, I’ve got to call a spade a spade – if you’re having sex with someone to get rent money or to make a car payment, what does that make you?! These women should have respect for themselves and then the public will respect them too…

Sorry I had to get all willy nilly on yal but I had to get that off my chest! Sorry Chantelle, I still got love for you but had to light that a$$ on fire. I’m out!

B

Rest in Peace MJ

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:18:57 -0500

What’s up Yard?! I know I’ve been gone for a minute but ya boy B-Wood is back to give you a quick update about what’s been going on in my world.

I’ve been continuing to work out hard and have been picking up my conditioning. I’ve been working out here in Charlotte with Jason Richardson (of the Phoenix Suns) and NBA rookie Stephen Curry, who was recently drafted by the Golden State Warriors. We’ve been going hard to make sure our skills are up to par and ready for the upcoming season. And for all of you who don’t know, Steph’s jumper is phenomenal and he doesn’t miss many shots…

On a sadder note, while I’ve got yal here, I’d like to pay my respects to the late great Michael Jackson. He was often misunderstood and highly under appreciated while he was here. I definitely appreciate all that he did for the music industry but also what he did for African-Americans as a whole. He came along at a time when African-Americans weren’t accepted in the main stream media and forced society to look at us differently. Without Michael Jackson, there may not have been a Michael Jordan. He, along with guys like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali are true pioneers who broke down racial barriers and allowed young African-American entertainers to be as successful as they are today. Again, I appreciate everything that you’ve done for our people – REST IN PEACE.

B

Wizards on the Right Track

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:08:37 -0500

What’s up Yard?! Once again, it’s ya boy B. Haywood checking in to let you know what’s on my mind…

This week is one of the most exciting in the NBA: NBA Draft week! You never know what’s going to go down. You have teams trying to move up in the draft and teams that are trying to move down. You’ve got teams trading players and swapping draft picks.

This year, my team is no exception as we’re making a great deal to help us move forward to a great future. In case you’re not a Wizards’ fan or haven’t heard, the Wizards are trading the 5th pick in this year’s draft along with Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Randy Foye.

I think this trade should cause our fans to be very excited. Mike and Randy both fill huge needs for us. Mike Miller is one of the best shooters in the NBA and has proved to be highly accurate from behind the 3-point arc consistently throughout his career. He’s a high IQ player and most importantly understands the importance of ball movement.

Randy is also a great young player with a lot of potential. He’s a guy who averaged a little over 16 points and over 4 assists per game last year and has the ability to play both guard spots very well. He can carry the load for a team if needed and will provide a great insurance policy for us in case Gilbert Arenas happens to go down again.

A great deal was made here by our GM Ernie Grunfeld, who has a history of pulling off these types of deals. Let’s not forget how he brought in All-Star Antawn Jamison for an aging Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse. He was also responsible for bringing in All-Star Caron Butler for Kwame Brown. This is just another great trade to move our franchise in the right direction. I think it will produce great dividends right away. I can see us winning the Southwest Division, especially if Hedo Turkoglu leaves the Orlando Magic via free agency!

So NBA GMs, if you’re listening, please offer Hedo a big contract so that he leaves Orlando because I’m not trying to see him and Dwight Howard doing any more pick and rolls! It was lethal!

On a sad note, we’re sad to see Darius Songaila leave our team. He’s a true professional and did way more than he was asked to for our team, especially last year with all of our injuries. He’s a good friend of mine and I’ll miss him as well as the Washington staff and fans - we wish him luck!

I’m out!

B

Balling in Blue Heaven and Another League Legal Injustice

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:52:12 -0500

What’s up Yard?! Its ya boy B-Wood just checking in with you.

It’s been a great week for me so far because I’ve been in Chapel Hill working out working out and playing a lot of ball. Lots of current and past UNC players are in town for Coach Williams’ annual basketball camp. If you’re a Tar Heel fan and could have made it to the Smith Center any night this week, you’d have been in Heaven! Guys like Raymond Felton, Sean May, Jawad Williams, Dante Calabria, Shammond Williams, Danny Green, Jerry Stackhouse and I have all been in the building (not to mention the current UNC players and incoming freshman as well). We’ve been working out and playing in some great pickup games.

It’s been amazing watching Shammond Williams and Raymond Felton go head-to-head all week and battling hard! They’ve both looked great. It seems like Jawad Williams never missed a jump-shot the entire time either. And for all of you Tar Heel fans who want to know how this year’s team will look, let me be the first to tell you that they are very talented and we’re going to be in great shape.

Incoming freshman Dexter Strickland looked great. I loved the way he took command of whatever team was on when we played. Freshman John Henson is really going to be special too. He’s NBA lottery pick material after he finds 20 more pounds. His skill level is phenomenal – he’s going to be a beast!

Sophomore Ed Davis looked very impressive as well as the rest of the current Tar Heels out there. So look out for another banner year Heels fans because these boys are stacked once again!

While I was watching Sports Center with some of the guys, we were all shocked to see the story about NFL player Donte’ Stallworth pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter and being sentenced to 30-days in jail and 1000 hours of community service. For me, this really hits home because my mother and I were hit by a drunk driver earlier this year. So let me get this straight, Michael Vick gets two years in jail for killing dogs and Stallworth gets only 30 days for killing someone? Now they say that justice is blind, but even Stevie Wonder can see that more than 30 days in jail was needed here. I think this was a terrible injustice. This is why so many people look at pro athletes with disgust and disdain. I was thoroughly disappointed.

Get at me Yard and let me know what you’re thinking…

B

No More Age Limit

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:28:16 -0500

What’s up Yard?! I know I’ve been away for a minute but I’M BACK! I’ve been working out hard and traveling a little bit. I went to DC for a few days to work out and meet my new coaching staff. For all of my Wizards’ fans out there, I hear Gilbert Arenas has lost 20 pounds since the end of the season and is in phenomenal shape –playoffs here we come!

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk about what’s really piqued my interest in the news lately. A lot of attention has gone to the fact that USC coach Tim Floyd has resigned due to the allegations that he gave improper benefits to OJ Mayo. While I don’t know if it’s true and if it’s true it’s definitely wrong, that’s not the real issue to me. The question is – why was he in college anyways? This is a guy whose life-long dream was to play in the NBA and was only in college because of the age limit rule forcing him to go. I think situations like this would be less likely to happen if guys didn’t have to do a year in college or be 19 to play in the NBA. Personally, I think it’s wrong and they should be allowed to play. No one says anything when tennis stars go pro and start making millions of dollars as teenagers.

I don’t think the age limit should be enforced because it also has the potential to take millions of dollars out of these kids’ pockets, especially if an injury is sustained at the college level. Along with Mayo, there’s some controversy over Derrick Rose’s SAT scores. He’s another kid who I don’t think should’ve been in college at all. Even though he had a great NCAA run with Memphis, let’s be honest, we all know he shouldn’t have been playing college basketball – he should’ve been allowed to do what he’s doing now – becoming an NBA star.

Since high school players can’t go straight to the pros and are having a hard time with SAT scores and gaining college eligibility, you have cases like Brandon Jennings where he decided to go millions of miles away to play basketball in Italy instead of playing college basketball at Arizona. This is all due to the age limit – he should’ve been playing in the NBA last season if he was good enough. And now you have a player named Jeremy Tyler who is 17 years old and leaving high school early to go play basketball overseas. This kid is supposed to have the potential to be a number 1 pick in the draft but feels he has to skip his senior year in high school and go millions of miles away to fulfill his dream of playing professional basketball because of the age limit.

The main reason why most people go to college is position themselves to get a good high-paying job. I’m not sure if there’s a better high-paying job out there for a young basketball player than playing in the NBA. Holla at me Yard and let me know what you think!

B