Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999-2008
The Seattle Seahawks could be scrutinized in the coming days for a possible violation of NFL policy Thursday night when quarterback Russell Wilson was sent off the field for a concussion check.
The episode occurred midway through the third quarter of the Seahawks’ 22-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals, when Wilson absorbed a hit to the chin from linebacker Karlos Dansby. Wilson did not show any obvious signs of a concussion, but referee Walt Anderson invoked his right to send Wilson off the field for a test.
The NFL concussion policy states that a player believed to have concussion symptoms cannot return to “practice or play” unless a team physician and an independent neurological consultant clear him. Teams can be fined if the league finds they did not follow protocol designed to ensure medical clearance before any player returns to the field.
This season, the league added a blue sideline tent to allow the initial test to be administered in private.
With backup Austin Davis in the game, NBC’s broadcast showed Wilson running to the sideline and then sitting down in the area where the tent would be pulled over him. But Wilson got back up before medical officials had a chance to join him and then replaced Davis after one play.
Wilson was on the field for two more plays before the Seahawks punted. During the change of possession, Wilson again entered the tent and remained there for a longer period of time. He was on the field when the Seahawks regained possession.
The NFL investigates all credible reports of policy violations. Teams can be fined up to $150,000 for a first offense of violating the concussion protocol, according to a policy enacted jointly with the NFL Players Association in 2016. Team employees or medical team members involved would also be required to attend remedial education.
Jimmy Graham is becoming the red zone threat everyone thought he’d be when the Seahawks traded for him in 2015. That 6-yard touchdown was his fifth score in as many games, and it came on a lob from Russell Wilson near the goal line. Seattle entered this game tied for 19th in red-zone efficiency at 50 percent; 1 for 1 today.
FRISCO, Texas — The emergency injunction request by the NFL Players Association on behalf of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was denied by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday.
The ruling means Elliott’s six-game suspension is back on, and he is currently ineligible to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
The next hearing in Elliott’s case is set for Dec. 1. Pending unforeseen legal intervention, he will miss four games — against the Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Redskins — before getting another court date.
The 2nd Circuit Court had stipulated that the NFLPA’s appeal of Thursday’s ruling would be heard on an expedited basis.
Elliott will be placed on the suspended list for the second time in as many weeks. Last week he was granted a temporary administrative stay from the 2nd Circuit after Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied his request for a preliminary injunction in the Southern District. The stay allowed him to play against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Aug. 11, the NFL announced Elliott had been suspended six games for violating the personal conduct policy. The league said it found persuasive evidence that he committed domestic violence against a former girlfriend on multiple occasions in July 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.
That set off legal maneuvering that has kept Elliott on the field for the first eight games of the season. Elliott won a preliminary injunction at a district court in Sherman, Texas, in September, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that court never should have heard Elliott’s case. Polk Failla heard the case in the Southern District last week and denied the request.
Without another successful appeal, Elliott would be out until Dec. 24 against the Seattle Seahawks. His absence would be a blow to the Cowboys, who have won three straight and seen Elliott gain at least 93 yards in the past four games while scoring five rushing touchdowns. Elliott is second in the NFL in rushing with 783 yards in eight games and is tied for the league lead with seven rushing touchdowns.
Elliott, who was not charged by Columbus authorities, has maintained his innocence.
“This is bigger than a suspension,” Elliott said last week. “It’s bigger than football. It’s them trying to make me something I’m not. I’m not an abuser. That’s not who I am. This is my name, and this is my reputation. That’s something that I have to live with beyond football, so every day is worth fighting for.”
Elliott missed Thursday’s practice to be in the courtroom with the hope being his attendance would make a difference. As he did last week, he sat expressionless for the duration of the 30-minute hearing, even when the line of questioning began touching on the details of some of the accusations against him.
The questions from the judges didn’t seem to favor either side. There were many questions about Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement, the issue of Lisa Friel’s and Kia Roberts’ testimonies and why the NFL so desperately needs to keep the suspension in place during the appeal.
Although the league won the battle, the appeals judges took a few shots at the NFL for its handling of the suspension. Circuit Judge Dennis Jacobs told Paul Clement, the NFL’s lawyer, that he found it odd that the issue was “such a frantic emergency that it can’t wait another couple months.”
“This is not just about Elliott and the Cowboys,” Clement responded, noting that 100 players across the league had been suspended for a total of 500 games over the past two seasons.
“Unfortunately, discipline is a fact of life in the NFL,” the lawyer added. “They all have an interest in seeing the same basic rules applied to them.”
Clement said it was important that players not be able to “game the system” by using the courts to delay suspensions until it is convenient for them or their teams.
The news of Elliott’s denial came moments after the Cowboys’ locker room closed to the media.
Wide receiver Dez Bryant had been confident Elliott would continue to be eligible to play.
“All I know is I’ll be running out there besides Zeke on Sunday,” Bryant said. “I know that. That’s what I feel. That’s what I believe. That’s what I’m going to stay with.”
As the Cowboys were preparing for afternoon meetings, word broke that Elliott had lost his request. Per league rules, suspended players cannot have contact with the team’s coaches. He can have contact with the team’s medical staff.
If Elliott does not receive another temporary administrative stay, the next time he can be at The Star will be Dec. 18.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a moment the Cowboys have been preparing for all season. On Aug. 11, the NFL made its initial announcement that Elliott would be suspended for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
A week ago at this time, the Cowboys thought they wouldn’t have Elliott against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now they know they will not have him against the Falcons. It is possible he could play thereafter depending on more legal maneuverings, but that is for another time.
Elliott has 191 carries for 783 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on the season. Morris and Smith have combined for 24 carries for 184 yards on the season. Morris played in one snap against the Chiefs and gained 11 yards. Smith did not have a carry.
Ever since it became possible that the Cowboys would need to rely on a running back or three not named Elliott during the season, the coaches and players have expressed confidence in Morris, Smith and McFadden.
Morris has three 1,000-yard seasons to his credit and two Pro Bowl appearances. McFadden finished as the league’s fourth-leading rusher in 2015 when he ran for 1,089 yards. Smith is the most unknown but could be the running back that ends up getting the most work in Elliott’s absence.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Thursday not much changes with the Cowboys’ running game plan without Elliott. He can say that because of an offensive line that boasts three All-Pro selections: Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin.
Smith, however, has not practiced this week because of a groin injury and he is iffy at best to play Sunday. Dez Bryant said he expects to play against the Falcons after not practicing the last two days because of ankle and knee injuries, but it might not be his call on playing.
So a Cowboys offense that has been rolling over the last five weeks — they have scored at least 28 points in each game — won’t have Elliott, might not have Smith and could have a banged-up Bryant.
Dak Prescott has played better in his second year than he did in his first, but he has not played a full game without Elliott in his career. That will be different no matter what the coaches say.
Without Elliott, defenses will not have to use an extra defender to slow the run, unless the Cowboys can prove their running game can have the same impact with Morris, Smith and McFadden. Without Elliott, Prescott will see tighter windows in which to throw. Without Elliott, the receivers will see extra attention.
Through it all, the Cowboys believe they still will be able to move the ball. Most of McFadden’s 1,089 yards came without Tony Romo at quarterback in 2015. He had Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore at quarterback and still piled up 100-yard games.
It is possible for the Cowboys to still find success, but they will find their margin for error a little slimmer without Elliott on Sunday, if not longer.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have claimed veteran tight end Martellus Bennett off waivers, a league source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bennett, who was waived by the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, played for the Patriots in 2016. He had 55 catches for 701 yards and seven touchdowns, playing an integral role in the team’s Super Bowl championship season.
The Packers waived him with the designation that he failed to disclose a physical condition.
During the Packers’ bye week, Bennett said on social media that he was “pretty sure” he would retire after this season, then was sidelined with a shoulder injury following the first practice after the bye.
The Patriots didn’t re-sign Bennett as a free agent in the offseason, electing instead to trade for tight end Dwayne Allen of the Indianapolis Colts. Allen, however, has not recorded a catch in eight games this season, and in part because of that, the Patriots’ offense has struggled in the red zone.
In claiming Bennett, the Patriots inherit the three-year, $21 million contract that he had signed with the Packers. If the Patriots don’t pick up a $2 million bonus early in the 2018 league year, Bennett would become a free agent again, and the Patriots wouldn’t have any commitments on their salary cap, which also likely contributed to the team claiming him.
To make room for Bennett, the Patriots will waive DE Geneo Grissom, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
Grissom is a third-year player out of Oklahoma whose primary contributions came on special teams. He is eligible to return to the Patriots’ practice squad if he clears waivers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston was fined $12,154 by the NFL for his poke that led to a suspension for teammate Mike Evans, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Winston pushed New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore‘s helmet during an altercation in Sunday’s game. Lattimore shoved Winston in retaliation, leading Evans to hit Lattimore in the back and pounce on the cornerback when he hit the ground. Evans’ actions drew a one-game suspension from the NFL.
The Bucs quarterback said he was sorry Wednesday for his role in the fracas.
“I just want to apologize on behalf of my teammates and Mike Evans for the incident that happened in the Saints game. That’s something I can’t do in the heat of the moment,” Winston said. “My competitive nature [took over]. Obviously I can’t come off the field and make any gesture toward an opponent, let alone touch them. I can’t do that, so I apologize for that.”
Winston, who is expected to miss at least two weeks with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, had said that he expected to be fined.
Information from ESPN’s Jenna Laine and Mike Triplett was used in this report.
Welcome to The Opus, the most comprehensive view of the wide landscape of college basketball. The Opus is not a preview, it’s an awakening — not to what could happen in the game, but what will happen. The Opus removes all mystery and intrigue. The accuracy of The Opus is beyond pinpoint. The Opus is not a road map to be unfolded at a gas station by the side of the road. The Opus is more accurate than GPS and is both celestial and terrestrial.
The power behind The Opus is the supreme basketball knowledge of The Bilastrator’s gray matter, the most awesome force in the game’s history — The Bilastrator’s brain. His supercharged cranium can measure and sort data for its predictive accuracy and rapidly quantify exactly how covariates might determine each individual outcome. In short, The Bilastrator knows his %&@#. After reading this masterstroke, so will you. As always, you’re welcome.
Despite the negative publicity that has hit college basketball in the past month, this will be a great season. There is wonderful young talent and some fabulously experienced teams to challenge that young talent and create a magnificent contrast. This, too, will be the Year of the Big Man. There is tremendous size and backboard-dominating talent coming into the game. One thing is certain (other than the supremacy of The Bilastrator’s basketball judgment): You had better be able to get the ball off the glass or you will give up second shots to the size in the game this season.
The Bilastrator’s plan to remedy the NCAA’s colossal, self-inflicted problems
College basketball has taken some well-publicized hits over the past month, and it seems that most of it has come as a surprise to those working in the NCAA office in Indianapolis. Certainly, the involvement of the FBI and U.S. Attorney and the weaponizing of NCAA rules through federal charges against 10 individuals came as a surprise to all, but the underlying conduct should come as a surprise to no rational professional who is paying any attention.
Of course, in the wake of this news, the NCAA did what it does best — outside of making money. It formed a committee.
NCAA president Mark Emmert decided to release polling data to demonstrate public confidence in the NCAA has eroded, that most Americans believe the NCAA is more interested in money than in its athletes. Well, The Bilastrator could have saved Emmert the money he spent on such polling. There is no public confidence in the NCAA, and that has been the case for years. And the NCAA has demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that it is more interested in money than it is in its athletes. When the NCAA invented the term “student-athlete,” it was not to benefit the athlete, but to ensure the NCAA would not have to pay workers’ compensation. Everything the NCAA does is about money. There is nothing wrong with an athletic association having a primary focus on athletics and money, but the NCAA and its literati should admit it.
It is not at all surprising that Mark Emmert is using this “crisis” to forward an agenda. He has never let a good crisis go to waste before, so there is no indication he will let this one go to waste. But his rhetoric in the wake of this crisis is absolutely galling. To suggest that there is a code of silence in basketball that kept the NCAA in the dark is absurd. The NCAA and its people had as much knowledge of the basketball landscape and culture as anyone else. In fact, the NCAA had knowledge of Pittsburgh-based financial adviser Martin Blazer back in 2010 as part of the North Carolina investigation, but the NCAA decided to focus seven years of an investigation into a non-case against North Carolina instead. At the close of the North Carolina case, Emmert had the chutzpah to claim the Committee on Infractions was “hamstrung” by NCAA rules. What? It took seven years to determine the rules did not allow a prosecution of North Carolina? That is not just disingenuous, it is simply false.
The NCAA is in dire need of an overhaul, but not just because of the current climate around college basketball and football. The Bilastrator has been telling the NCAA it was in dire need of an overhaul for well over a decade, and the NCAA didn’t listen. Well, the NCAA should have listened, and should listen now.
Here is The Bilastrator’s handy Opus guide to a complete and healthy overhaul of the deeply flawed and troubled NCAA and its antiquated and overly complicated rule book. As always, you’re welcome.
College basketball needs a commissioner Basketball is the NCAA’s biggest (really, only) revenue generator. In 1984, college football effectively broke away from NCAA control to operate separately from the NCAA office in Indianapolis. Therefore, since basketball is the NCAA’s only real cash cow, basketball should have its own, separate governance structure. College basketball is a multibillion-dollar industry and should be governed in such a fashion.
The NCAA needs to appoint a commissioner of college basketball and confer upon the commissioner the appropriate power and authority to govern the game such that it can pivot and adapt to a changing landscape. There should be a small college basketball board of governors to whom the commissioner should answer, and the rest of the NCAA presidents should stay in their own lanes and run their own schools. The commissioner and board will govern only Division I basketball, and all other divisions can remain under the current structure or develop their own governance structure. Only Division I generates revenue and the resulting problems, and only Division I needs to be addressed in a special manner.
New rule book for basketball This is not to be confused with rules of play. The commissioner and board of Division I need to formulate a rule book specifically for Division I basketball. It will not be difficult; it will be simple. Throw out the old rule book and allow only rules that are important to the overall health and welfare of the enterprise. The rest need to go.
Division I basketball must contract No reasonable person can possibly believe that Division I is not far too big. There are 351 Division I teams in men’s college basketball, and that is ridiculous. Division I should be reduced to approximately 120 teams. With a smaller number of Division I teams, there will be more quality players spread out over fewer units. Teams will have greater depth, talent and roster and lineup flexibility. With more talent spread out over fewer units, there will be more money spread out over fewer units, too. It is a no-brainer. Those not making the cut may certainly play in their own division and govern it the way they want. Division I can still invite lower-division teams to participate in its postseason tournament, but they would not play during the regular season.
Reformed adjudication system The current “collegial” system does not work, and it has never worked. Not long after Emmert became NCAA president in 2010, he and I met to discuss issues facing college sports, specifically basketball, and he asked me about my feelings on certain infractions cases. When I said the system was in dire need of change, he disputed that and said he and the membership believe the system works quite well. Well, he was wrong then, and he is wrong now.
The NCAA needs an adversarial system of dispute resolution. The NCAA can and should have an enforcement arm, but that arm should investigate and bring cases, not decide cases. Both the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have their disputes resolved before the American Arbitration Association. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for the NCAA. That way, schools, coaches and administrators can defend themselves against charges brought, and all cases can be adjudicated by a panel of independent arbitrators agreed upon by the parties. It would be simple, fast, consistent, authoritative and trustworthy. Right now, it is none of those things.
Exit the eligibility business The NCAA is an athletic association and does a great job running tournaments and championships, and it does an extraordinary job of making money. It does not, however, do a very good job of determining eligibility of incoming players or current players. Those decisions should be up to each institution, just as the admission and education of each student is up to each institution. This is where the NCAA’s high-minded rhetoric and moralizing have brought nothing but trouble. Having the NCAA regulate academics and academic eligibility is like having the NFL regulate medical practices at area hospitals in NFL cities. Each school is responsible for the admission and education of every non-athlete student with no oversight outside of accreditation. They can be trusted to do the same with athletes. NCAA involvement in eligibility, initial and otherwise, is costly, controversial and of very little value. There is no legitimate reason to continue. If conferences wish to perform such a function, knock yourselves out.
Dump amateurism Mark Emmert falls all over himself to state that students cannot be employees, or else why should they even go to school? That is nonsense, and NCAA policy and the schools themselves prove it. All non-athlete students are allowed to work for the university they attend, and such employment has no bearing on their status as full-time students. Similarly, all non-athlete students are allowed to be employees of outside entities, and such employment has no bearing on their status as full-time students. The idea that students cannot be employed while enrolled is a lie. It always has been a lie. Similarly, athletes are allowed by NCAA rules to have jobs while in school (as long as those jobs are not based upon their athletic reputations). Therefore, there is no impediment to any athlete being employed while in school and playing a sport. The NCAA is lying when it states that students cannot be employed.
There is no legitimate reason to limit athletes from working for or contracting with outside entities for services, name, likeness or publicity rights. It is past time for athletes to be allowed to realize upon their value in the marketplace. Right now, the FBI probe and resulting federal charges are due not to federal law, but NCAA policy. For the alleged actions NOT to be crimes, federal law does not have to change, only NCAA rules have to change. That speaks volumes about how ridiculous these rules can be and are.
Money and education are not mutually exclusive. That is proven by the fact that non-athlete students are not prohibited from earning money from the school or outside the school while at the same time being full-time students.
Players should be allowed to sign contracts with agents. The NCAA can certify agents just like the professional leagues do and regulate their behavior. It is not that difficult.
The Olympics dumped amateurism 30 years ago. It is time for the NCAA to do the same.
Immediate resignation of Mark Emmert This last reform is not suggested lightly. This is not about the person, but about the position and the results achieved by the position. Mark Emmert is a nice person and a person of goodwill with good intentions. He has been, however, a poor leader who has achieved poor results. He should resign immediately and allow the NCAA to move forward with better leadership.
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan on Jimmy Carter: Is the NCAA better off now than it was when Mark Emmert took over as president? The answer is clearly no, and Emmert’s recently released polling data proves it. The NCAA has never been held in lower esteem, has never had more scandal and has never been more out of touch. On Emmert’s watch, the NCAA had the fiasco of Penn State, and absolute silence and inaction with regard to Dr. Larry Nassar. The NCAA has had the Miami scandal for which Emmert had to hire Kenneth Wainstein (who investigated North Carolina) to investigate the NCAA; then Emmert fired Julie Roe Lach, whom Emmert himself hired to run enforcement. The Miami scandal happened right down the hall from Emmert’s office.
Then, when the current FBI probe became public, Emmert expressed surprise that there was cheating in the game, and he stated for the first time that the system was broken. After all, Emmert defended the system and never said or implied prior that the system was broken. He defended the enforcement system and never said or implied it was broken. In fact, he defended both under oath in the O’Bannon trial. He is, at best, out of touch on such issues. Such a flip-flop on a vital issue shows a total lack of understating of the enterprise.
Emmert spoke of the COI feeling “hamstrung” by the rules, rules he supported as president and as a university president. His enforcement staff had better things to do than chase a case it knew it could not win against North Carolina, at the expense of dealing with the issues that later were addressed by the FBI and U.S. Attorney. Again, the NCAA was fully aware of Martin Blazer in 2010 in the North Carolina case, yet chose not to pursue it. Emmert was NCAA president at the time and, with all due respect, was either willfully blind or clueless on the importance of the issue.
On his watch, the NCAA has been exposed as dysfunctional and ineffective, and his leadership has brought us to this low point in the NCAA’s history. Nobody should take pleasure in asking for someone to move on and find other employment, but it is time for Mark Emmert to go. If the same accountability of athletic leaders is applied to Emmert, his leadership clearly did not lead to positive outcomes. He said the NCAA has to “own” where it is right now. Well, Emmert, too, has to own where he has guided this ship, which is right onto the rocks.
Duke Blue Devils: Mike Krzyzewski has the most talented roster in the nation for the second straight season. But this uber-talented roster has a true point guard, Trevon Duval. With a true point, Grayson Allen will average more than 20 points per game and be back in the Wooden Award discussion. If healthy, which was last year’s biggest hurdle, Duke will be in San Antonio for the Final Four.
Arizona Wildcats: Sean Miller has both experience and talent. The Wildcats’ talent is equal to any team’s outside of Duke. The key will be the play of Parker Jackson-Cartwright at the point. Allonzo Trier will have continuity after missing most of last season and will be among the nation’s best players.
Kansas Jayhawks: Bill Self has size again and more experience than some of the Jayhawks’ past few teams. If Bell Self had 14 fingers, he could wear all of his Big 12 title rings at one time.
Kentucky Wildcats: Supreme talent, very little experience. But nobody is better at bringing along youth than John Calipari. Watch freshman Kevin Knox. That dude can really play.
Wichita State Shockers: Gregg Marshall has done a masterful job with this program. In Landry Shamet, the Shockers have a legit leader. Rock solid at every position, Wichita State will fight any team to the last tick of the clock. Let’s hope the selection committee treats the Shockers right this year.
Villanova Wildcats: Jay Wright built a magnificent culture at Villanova and has a blend of depth, talent, youth and experience that could cut the nets down in San Antonio. Phil Booth is back after missing last season with an injury. Both Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges are ready to take off as stars.
The Bilastrator’s Final Four favorites
North Carolina Tar Heels: Sure, the Tar Heels lost a ton of production to the NBA draft, but there is plenty coming back and really good talent among the newcomers. When Joel Berry II returns from his injury (he broke his hand after a video-game loss), Carolina will be second-weekend good.
Louisville Cardinals: Despite losing Rick Pitino, who was dismissed following the initial wave of the FBI investigation and revelations, this team has the talent to challenge for it all. If Louisville stays together, the Cardinals can beat almost anyone.
USC Trojans: Athletic, big and talented, the Trojans are the class of the Pac-12 (after Arizona). Bennie Boatwright is a star. People need to take notice.
Florida Gators: Mike White has done a great job of rebuilding the Florida program into a national contender, just where Billy Donovan had it. With KeVaughn Allen, Chris Chiozza and Kevarrius Hayes returning, and John Egbunu healthy again, Florida should challenge in the SEC and beyond.
Seton Hall Pirates: This is Kevin Willard’s best team. With Khadeen Carrington and Angel Delgado, the Pirates have a great inside-outside combo. Carrington is capable of having a special season. He is one of the more underrated stars in the college game.
Cincinnati Bearcats:Jacob Evans, Gary Clark and Kyle Washington return, and the Bearcats will be among the hardest-playing teams in the nation — again. Mick Cronin’s past few teams could score instead of relying upon defense and rebounding to make up for lack of offensive production. Cincinnati is for real.
Saint Mary’s Gaels: Randy Bennett has shooters and a great big man, Jock Landale. The only issue will be overall athleticism. Is Saint Mary’s athletic enough to stay with the best teams in the country? The Bilastrator believes the Gaels can stay with anyone.
UConn vs. Syracuse (6 OT), 2009 Big East tournament The Bilastrator will never forget Sean McDonough saying, “Overtime number six!” and Bill Raftery saying, “What time do the bars close?”
Illinois vs. Arizona, 2005 Elite Eight An amazing comeback by the Illini, and amazing that The Bilastrator had to go up to the concourse to find a restroom at halftime. Unforgettable in so many ways.
Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas A cathedral of basketball that has a soul. The history of the game flows over you while you are there. The Bilastrator played in Cameron Indoor Stadium, so he knows of what he speaks.
Best game to watch in any arena
Duke vs. North Carolina Simply put, it always delivers. Always.
Best practice The Bilastrator ever watched
Marquette (2003) The Bilastrator has watched a ton of practices over the years and has seen magnificent teachers of the game in their classrooms. In 2003, Marquette’s practices stood out by just a hair. Tom Crean had a Final Four team and had Dwyane Wade. Those practices were better than most of the games The Bilastrator watched that year.
Best coaches The Bilastrator ever watched in practice
Bob Knight Mike Krzyzewski Mike Montgomery Gary Williams Skip Prosser Tom Izzo John Beilein Jim Calhoun Lon Kruger Rick Pitino Brad Stevens Jay Wright Thad Matta Dana Altman Dr. Tom Davis John Calipari Bob Huggins Rick Majerus Bo Ryan Bill Self Roy Williams Tom Crean Lute Olson Mike Brey Tubby Smith John Chaney Geno Auriemma Pat Summitt C. Vivian Stringer
Best pre-practice lecture The Bilastrator ever watched
John Chaney, Temple Owls Nobody gave a better pre-practice speech than Chaney. He would hold a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup in his hand and give a presentation worthy of climbing the steps to see the Maharishi. “A blind man has no business at the circus,” was one of the statements The Bilastrator wrote down. Of course, all of this was at 5:45 a.m., when Chaney held practices.
Best freshman The Bilastrator ever saw
Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse Orange, and Anthony Davis, Kentucky Wildcats To say both were beyond their years is to undersell how freaking good they were, and at such a young age. Amazing.
Most fun The Bilastrator ever had
Atlantic 10 (1997-2001) The Bilastrator’s main beat in the late 1990s was the A-10, and it was an absolute blast. Whether it was Skip Prosser’s Xavier teams at the Cincinnati Gardens with Lenny Brown and Gary Lumpkin, John Chaney’s Temple teams with Mark Karcher, Lamont Barnes, Quincy Wadley and Lynn Greer, Al Skinner’s Rhode Island teams with Tyson Wheeler and Cuttino Mobley or George Washington with Shawnta Rogers, it was a fabulous league of fun. Nobody took themselves too seriously, and the quality of coaching and playing was fantastic. Driving in a snowstorm from Olean, New York, to the airport in Buffalo is still the second-most-harrowing experience of The Bilastrator’s life, just after listening to Digger Phelps recount his best season at Fordham.
Best individual performance The Bilastrator ever saw (season)
Kemba Walker (2010-11) No player The Bilastrator covered took a team on his back like Walker did in 2010-11. From Maui to Houston, he was simply magnificent.
Best individual performance The Bilastrator ever saw (game)
Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison scored 43 points on Michigan State in a 109-106, three-overtime win over the Spartans in November 2005. Maurice Ager had 36 points for Michigan State. And, afterward, drinks with Bill Raftery to rehash such an amazing game.
Toughest game-day shootaround The Bilastrator ever saw
Xavier Musketeer (1998) Coached by Skip Prosser, the Musketeers had Lenny Brown, Gary Lumpkin, James Posey, Darnell Williams and Torraye Braggs, and when they hit the floor, it was bloody. And this was a game-day shootaround! The Bilastrator asked Prosser why they would go to war right before the game, and Presser said, “If we’re going to lace ’em up, we’re going to go full-blast.” Well, it was a blast to watch that team work. What fun.
Best prediction The Bilastrator ever heard a coach make
At a Maryland practice in the late 1990s, The Bilastrator asked Hall of Famer Gary Williams who the little, skinny redshirt was shooting on a side hoop. Williams told The Bilastrator, “Who is that skinny kid? I’ll tell you who. That’s Juan Dixon, and he’s Johnny Dawkins. You don’t know him now, but you will. Everybody will.” The Bilastrator never forgot that moment, and The Bilastrator will never forget Juan Dixon.
Best coaches with whom to have a postgame libation (win or lose)
Jay Wright, Villanova Wildcats Mark Few, Gonzaga Bulldogs Mike Brey, Notre Dame Fighting Irish Mark Fox, Georgia Bulldogs Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans (milk) Jimmy Patsos, Siena Saints
INDIANAPOLIS — The drama surrounding the Indianapolis Colts and cornerback Vontae Davis has come to an end with his release, the team announced Thursday.
Releasing Davis, who was scheduled to be a free agent after the season, prevents any further distraction in what has been a bizarre six days between him the Colts. The Colts will have to pay the remaining portion of Davis’ $9 million base salary this season if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
A source had confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday night that Davis, after seeking second medical opinions, made the choice to undergo season-ending groin surgery.
The recommendation that Davis undergo surgery was first reported by the Indianapolis Star.
Earlier Wednesday, Davis said he felt disrespected by how the Colts handled his being left behind for last weekend’s game at Houston.
The Colts sent out an announcement Saturday saying that Davis would not make the trip for their game against the Texans the next day. The email said Davis’ situation was “non-injury related.” Coach Chuck Pagano repeated several times after the game that leaving Davis behind was a coach’s decision.
Davis had a different version of events. Davis said he hasn’t played well this season because he’s still dealing with the groin injury he suffered against Pittsburgh in the third preseason game, which caused him to miss the first three weeks of the regular season.
“I had a groin tear that I dealt with,” Davis said. “I got different opinions on it. One doctor said I should have had surgery, other doctor told me to let it heal. I took the let-it-heal approach. I came back, and probably came back a little too early, and in the process I probably hurt my teammates.”
When asked why Pagano said it was a non-injury situation, Davis said, “I can’t really control what Coach P said.”
Davis made his comments inside the locker room after Pagano had already addressed the media Wednesday.
Davis has been listed on the injury report just twice since Week 4, both days listed as “rest days.”
Pierre Desir started in Davis’ place against the Texans and is expected to continue to start with Rashaan Melvin at cornerback.
Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino and defensive backs coach Greg Williams — not Pagano — told Davis last week that he was being demoted.
“It’s a disagreement because I feel like I was demoted because of my health instead of my ability,” Davis said. “The agreement is I take full responsibility. I’m not myself. I’m not Vontae Davis. Obviously I know what level I can play at. I’ve been working trying to get back like with previous injuries, but it’s not working.”
The Colts failed to trade Davis, a two-time Pro Bowler, prior to the trade deadline last week. He has only 16 solo tackles with just two passes defended this season.
In 120 career games spanning nine seasons with the Colts and Dolphins, Davis made 112 starts with 399 tackles and 22 interceptions.
BOSTON — As the Boston Celtics were trying to fend off one final charge from the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s rivalry game at TD Garden, a booming voice could be heard crystal clear over the game broadcast.
“Stop standing around and watching Kyrie!” the voice screamed.
It seems a good bet it was the voice of Celtics coach Brad Stevens. After a dazzling first quarter filled with slick moves, the shorthanded Celtics got a bit stagnant, watched a 21-point evaporate and spent much of the night looking at Irving to bail out a clunky offense.
And who, besides Stevens, could really blame them for being transfixed by Irving?
Boston’s slick-dribbling point guard had a few sequences of utter ridiculousness Wednesday, seemingly dribbling through the entire Lakers team picture for a layup in the first quarter. Irving finished with 19 points on 7-of-21 shooting with six rebounds and five assists over 33 minutes as Boston ultimately gritted out a 107-96 triumph.
“I think that some of the plays that we were making earlier, it was unbelievable,” Irving said. But he acknowledged that Boston got a little too fancy at times after that. “Ten million dollar move with a five-cent finish at times, and it caught up with us.”
Still, there was one sequence in the first quarter in which Irving showed why he’s regarded as maybe the best ballhandling guard in the league. It started with a hard push by Marcus Morris up the right side of the floor following a Lakers turnover. Irving caught the ball near the midcourt stripe and immediately surveyed the defenders in front of him.
Dribbling hard across the 3-point stripe, he charged at two Lakers defenders, including Lonzo Ball. Irving effortlessly went behind his back with his dribble three times, and, when Brandon Ingram swiped at the ball, Irving seemed to briefly lose control and the ball trickled toward the free throw line.
Unfazed, Irving charged at the ball and managed to punch it away as Brook Lopez reached down to corral it. Irving regained control above the 3-point arc on the left side of the floor, and Ball rushed over to help Lopez with hopes of preventing another Irving drive attempt. Irving crossed over to his right hand, then went back quick to his left as Lopez stumbled into Ball. Irving took one hard dribble to his left, then Eurostepped past Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, before finishing a left-hand layup off the glass.
Boston’s bench lost its collective mind watching Irving turn what seemed like a surefire turnover into a layup.
“The way he has the ball on a string is just, it’s unbelievable,” said backup point guard Shane Larkin, one of the most excited players on Boston’s bench after the sequence. “It’s the best I’ve ever seen. Like, it looks like he’s losing it, but he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s literally going horizontally across the court and he’s tapping [the ball] so guys can’t get it. Then when he finally has that opening, he gets back in control, and he makes another over and another move and he’s at the basket laying it up.
“It’s nothing I’ve seen before, and it’s something that you can’t really teach. You can go out there and try to imitate him as much as you want to, it’s just something that’s now becomes natural for him. I’ve played with some good guards but never anybody who has it on a string like that.”
Larkin said he knows how good Irving can be from trying to defend him in past seasons. He has ultimately decided that he’ll never bite on one of Irving’s moves but admits it’s just as easy for Irving to blow right past a defender. There’s a reason Irving is nicknamed the Ankletaker.
As mesmerizing as Irving was — and he had another dancing sequence in the third quarter that ended with a beautiful drop-off pass to Aron Baynes for an and-one layup — the Celtics had to really grind at the end of Wednesday’s game.
Boston, which was already playing without All-Stars Gordon Hayward (season-ending ankle injury) and Al Horford (concussion), lost rookie Jayson Tatum to right ankle soreness in the second quarter.
Baynes stepped up big and carried the Celtics’ offense at times by putting on his hard hat in the post. Baynes tied his career high with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. But he heaped a lot of praise on Irving for the way he opened things up for his teammates.
“That’s what [Irving] does,” Baynes said. “He’s such a great creator offensively, and he draws so much attention that I just try to set him a screen and give him as much space as I can to do what he does. The exciting thing about it is, we can get so much better with that as well. Myself and him together working, I know there’s a lot of improvement. He just draws so much attention from the defense that he gets us so wide open and makes our job that much easier.”
The Celtics, winners of 10 straight, must now battle through these injuries in hopes of keeping their momentum going.
“We’re just trying to do our best to stay healthy, man. That’s it,” Irving said. “Hopefully everything’s all right with Jayson, hope everything is all right with Al. We pick up the pieces and keep on trucking. That’s the best way I know how.”
But Wednesday was a friendly reminder that, no matter what that first-quarter sequence suggests, Irving can’t do this alone.
BOSTON — Booed from the moment he touched the ball to the end of his first NBA game in Boston, Lonzo Ball admitted that he mentally struggled through another tough shooting night on Wednesday, while his brother LiAngelo Ball remains in China following his release on bail after his recent arrest for allegedly shoplifting.
After the Celtics remained the league’s hottest team with a 107-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers for their 10th consecutive win, Ball said he has yet to talk to LiAngelo or his family, as both of his parents and his youngest brother, LaMelo, are in China, where LiAngelo’s UCLA squad is preparing for Friday’s matchup with Georgia Tech.
Asked if he was able to block out the situation in China, where his brother and two other UCLA freshmen remain confined in a luxury hotel in Hangzhou, Ball admitted, “I mean, it’s still my little brother. But I got to come out here and play.”
Ball shot just 4-for-15, including 1-of-5 from 3-point range, against the Celtics, but he finished with nine points, six assists, five rebounds and a career-high four blocks, including one rejection that came after he chased Kyrie Irving from behind from end to end.
Before the game, Ball said he knew his family is “all over there in China taking care of it, so I will talk to them when they get back.” He tried to maintain that the situation would not be a distraction.
Lakers coach Luke Walton said he talked to Ball before the game, and the rookie said and looked like he would be fine.
Then Ball played his first game in the most storied rivalry in the NBA. From the tip, Boston fans booed the Lakers point guard, who chose not to work out for the Celtics when they had the top overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. Boston then traded the first pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, acquired the third pick and took Jayson Tatum. The Sixers took Markelle Fultz, and Ball went to the Lakers with the second overall pick.
While Tatum — who played just nine minutes on Wednesday due to ankle soreness and finished with five points — has impressed early this season, Ball has struggled with his shot. The Lakers point guard has shot just 39-for-132 (29.5 percent) and 12-for-52 (23.1 percent) from 3-point range thus far this season.
According to NBA tracking service Second Spectrum, Ball is shooting 34.4 percent in the paint this season, worst in the NBA. He’s shooting 25 percent from outside the paint. The rookie has tried to be aggressive with his offense, as the Lakers want him to push the tempo and keep defenses honest.
Ball said he and the Lakers coaches have been working on his balance when shooting, but his missed shots are taking a toll mentally.
“It’s just in my head, to be honest,” Ball said. “I know I can [shoot] … It’s a long season. Just got to stay positive and keep putting in work. And then it is going to show for itself.”
“Obviously, right now, I am making no shots, but [just got to] keep shooting,” he added.
Irving — who missed all seven of his 3-point attempts but finished with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists — came away impressed by aspects of Ball’s game.
“He’s 6-[foot]-6, unbelievable in transition,” Irving said. “Understanding that he wants to get his teammates involved. Can you really put a position on him, particularly right now?… He does a great job of running that team. When he started to get comfortable and the pace started to pick up, that’s where he starts to flourish.”
“Defensively, he’s going to be challenged every single night,” Irving continued. “So those are signs that you can see he wants to go out there and compete. That’s something that you want to see out of a highly touted rookie such as Lonzo is that just to go out there and play with the best of them.”
Boston’s Marcus Morris said “everybody knows” Ball is a “good kid, just his dad has a big mouth,” and that is not a bad thing.
“He’s just a supporting father, man,” Irving said of LaVar Ball. “Some guys are in the front line speaking for their kids. Some parents are on the back line. It’s just like the loud parent at the graduation clapping unbelievably loud. You know, we all have different styles of parents. I think everybody just needs to appreciate their own.”
Ball said he heard the boos from the start of the contest in Boston, but he also hears them every time he plays away from Los Angeles.
“It’s their home,” Ball said. “I’d boo too if I was a fan … I have been getting booed every time we go away, so.”
Ball enjoyed his first game against Irving.
“He is a great player,” Ball said of Irving. “I said it before the game: one of the best players in the league. Tough challenge having to stay in front of him.”
On Thursday, Ball and the Lakers will face John Wall and the Washington Wizards for the second time this season.
