https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw-8MFg9WIg
https://youtu.be/DO5Saq4QOZM?t=18m52s
In the year New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde was born…
Tupac Shakur was shot and killed at the age of 25.
To this day, people are trying to prove he’s still alive.
AND in the worlds of movies, music and sports…
Happy Gilmore, Swingers, Kingpin, Matilda, 101 Dalmatians, Don’t Be A Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Tin Cup, The Nutty Professor, Bio-Dome, The Cable Guy, Beautiful Girls, The First Wives Club, That Thing You Do, Striptease, Jack, Multiplicity, Kazaam, The Birdcage, Beavis and Butthead Do America, Down Periscope, The Stupids, Black Sheep, Bulletproof, One Fine Day, Spy Hard, Sgt. Bilko AND…
Scream, Independence Day, The Rock, Escape from LA, A Time to Kill, From Dusk Till Dawn, Twister, The Craft, Fear, Eraser, Broken Arrow, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Frighteners, Chain Reaction, Ransom, Executive Decision, The Fan, Last Man Standing, Maximum Risk, AND…
Trainspotting, Jerry Maguire, The English Patient, Romeo + Juliet, Sling Blade, Sleepers, Secrets and Lies, Shine, Michael Collins, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Evita, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Kolya, Bullet, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Jude, Mother Night, Phenomenon, Gotti, Emma, Before and After, The Juror, Fly Away Home, Marvin’s Room, AND…
(The first of 4 nominations for Geoffery Rush. His latest was in 2011 for The King’s Speech)
(Cuba Gooding Jr. won the only time he was nominated)
(Frances McDormand has been nominated 3 other times, most recently for North Country in 2006)
(Juliette Binoche was nominated once more in 2001 for Chocolat)
(The English Patient won 9 of the 12 Oscars it was nominated for, including best Director)
Average: Alex Rodriguez (SEA) – .358
Hits: Lance Johnson (NYM) – 227
Home Runs: Mark McGwire (OAK) – 52
RBI: Andres Galarraga (COL) – 150
OPS: Mark McGwire (STL) – 1.198
Stolen Bases: Kenny Lofton (CLE) – 75
Wins: John Smoltz (ATL) – 24
ERA: Kevin Brown (FLA) – 1.89
Strikeouts: John Smoltz (ATL) – 276
Complete Games: Pat Hentgen (TOR) – 10
Shutouts: Pat Hentgen (TOR) – 3
Saves: Jeff Brantley (CIN) & Todd Worrell (LAD) – 44
AL – Juan Gonzalez (TEX)
NL – Ken Caminiti (SD)
AL – Pat Hentgen (TOR)
NL – John Smoltz (ATL)
AL – Derek Jeter (NYY)
NL – Todd Hollandsworth (LAD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qx-o1m2_HU
Points Per Game: Michael Jordan (CHI) – 30.4
Rebounds Per Game: Dennis Rodman (CHI) – 14.9
Assists Per Game: John Stockton (UTAH) – 11.2
Afernee Hardaway (ORL)
Michael Jordan (CHI)
Karl Malone (UTAH)
Scottie Pippen (CHI)
David Robinson (SA)
Passing Yards: Mark Brunell (JAX) – 4,367
Passing Touchdowns: Brett Favre (GB) – 39
Passer Rating: Steve Young (SF) – 97.2
Rushing Yards: Barry Sanders (DET) – 1,553
Rushing Touchdowns: Terry Allen (WAS) – 21
Receiving Yards: Isaac Bruce (STL) – 1,338
Receiving Touchdowns: Michael Jackson (BAL) & Tony Martin (SD) – 14
Receptions: Jerry Rice (SF) – 108
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T1D_H-vOSA
Goals: Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 69
Assists: Ron Francis (PIT) & Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 92
Points: Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 161
Get your fancy suits and flat-billed team hats ready, it’s NBA Draft Day!
Best suit in NBA Draft history right there. I wonder if Andrew Wiggins kept the hat…
Commissioner Adam Silver, who has yet to give Draft attendees a reason to boo him, is expected to shake the hands of the 2015 draft class and its coveted triumvirate. That group include’s Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell. After that, the field of college basketball’s best and international stars becomes much less predictable. Trade talks have heated up across the league, and it doesn’t appear to be as much smokescreen as it has in the past (Way to blow your cover, George Karl).
The Chicago Bulls, for the time being, appear to be staying put in the 22nd spot and that’s not a bad thing. In recent years, Vice President John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman have found “diamonds in the rough” late in the first round after selecting Taj Gibson 26th in 2009 and All-Star Jimmy Butler 30th in 2011. They flipped 28th overall pick Norris Cole and 2nd rounder Malcolm Lee for Nikola Mirotic, who was selected 23rd by Houston before making his way to Minnesota via trade, also in the 2011 draft. Tony Snell, selected 20th overall in 2013, made strides as an athletic scorer last season. However, Marquis Teague (29th overall in 2012) may or may not have changed professions after being traded to Brooklyn in 2014 for Tornike Shengelia (we hardly knew thee…No, we never thee at all). Hitting on four out of five picks is still a nice batting average though…
While it’s nice to have a lottery choice in the draft, picking between the 20 and 30 spots is still significantly valuable. The players available are older, better developed for specific roles, and ready to contribute right away. They are also nearly 20% the price of a the Top 3 draft picks. In 2013, frenchman Rudy Gobert was selected 27th by the Utah Jazz. Gobert was 11 blocked shots behind Anthony Davis for the league lead this past season and earned $1.1 million. 1st overall 2013 pick Anthony Bennett has averaged just 4.7 points per game, is on his second team in as many years (and back on the trading block), and made $5.6 million last season.
So who will be there for the Bulls after the Dallas Mavericks make their choice at 21? Let’s take a look at who fits their needs and can realistically be available.
Son of former NBA forward Harvey Grant and nephew of four-time NBA Champion Horace Grant, Jerian Grant may be the best fit. Backcourt depth was a glaring issue for the Bulls, especially in the playoffs, and Grant is one of the best point guard prospects in this draft. His size and ball handling allows Grant to play both 1 and 2 guard spots, making him a flexible option for new head coach Fred Hoiberg to pair with either Derrick Rose or Butler. With an ability to create his own shot and excel in transition, Grant can also be utilized in small lineups in case Hoiberg wants to play him with both Rose and Butler. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his senior season while also shooting over 57% from 2-point range. Being older, Grant can contribute right away for a Bulls team that wants to win now…and he can certainly finish at the rim.
The Bulls lacked dependable scoring off the bench in the postseason last year. Rashad Vaughn is an “instant offense” pure scorer who has shown he can generate scoring in bunches. Averaging 17.8 points per game, Vaughn is a natural scorer and played his best in catch-and-shoot opportunities. He can create off the dribble in isolation situations and is athletic enough to be a decent defender. Vaughn’s freshman season was ended prematurely due to a meniscus tear against Fresno State in February, which has contributed to his slide in draft projections.
During March Madness this year, the country was made aware (if they weren’t already) of RJ Hunter as he knocked out #3 Baylor from the tournament…and his coach/dad out of his chair.
As 3-star recruit from Indianapolis, Hunter passed on much bigger programs than Georgia State so he could play for his father and led the Panthers to 25+ victory seasons. Hunter provides two things the Bulls are in need of…scoring and 3-point shooting. As they wait and see who Doug McDermott is in Hoiberg’s system, adding Hunter’s 19.7 points per game and 51% shooting from the field doesn’t hurt either.
Had he not been on the same team as Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles would be a much higher prospect in this draft. Lyles was forced to play out of position at small forward with Alex Poythress going down to injury, but it allowed him to showcase how skilled he is off the dribble. Lyles is one of the best well-rounded forwards in the 2015 class and would bolster a very thin front court rotation for the Bulls. With Joakim Noah playing on one leg and Gibson out recovering from ankle surgery, Lyles provides a post up game that the Bulls don’t have with either Pau Gasol or Mirotic.
It is probably a stretch to think Sam Dekker would fall to the Bulls at 22, but his projections for tonight’s draft have varied from 8th overall to 25th. Like Hunter, Dekker provides scoring and range beyond the arc, but he is more polished and has done it against better competition. Dekker’s versatility on both ends of the floor and athleticism make him more than a role player off the bench. He can defend multiple positions, can play the 4 in small lineup scenarios, and is better prepared to play right away.
Although it was just 4 years ago, 2011 still qualifies as a Throwback Thursday material
Bridesmaids, Paul, Hangover II, No Strings Attached, Friends With Benefits, Hall Pass, Horrible Bosses, Crazy, Stupid, Love., Your Highness, 30 Minutes or Less, Bad Teacher, Zookeeper, Midnight in Paris, Larry Crowne, Tower Heist, Arthur, The Sitter, Take Me Home Tonight, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, 50/50, The Big Year, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Bernie, AND…
Captain America: The First Avenger, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class, Unknown, Hanna, Limitless, Fast Five, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – Part 2, Source Code, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Headhunters, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Wrecked, The Raid: Redemption, Immortals, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Haywire, Sanctum, The Skin I Live In, Elephant White, In Time, The Adjustment Bureau, The Ledge, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Devil’s Double, Season of the Witch, The Roommate, Drive Angry, I Am Number Four, Contagion, Priest, Killer Elite, AND…
The Artist, The Descendants, The Tree of Life, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Ides of March, Warrior, Water For Elephants, The Help, Warhorse, One Day, The Separation, Detachment, Like Crazy, My Week With Marilyn, Carnage, Another Earth, Beastly, United, Jane Eyre, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Albert Nobbs, Shame, Too Big To Fail, 1911, Win Win, W.E., J. Edgar, Wreckers, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, AND…
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Cars 2, Puss in Boots, Rio, Kung Fu Panda 2, Arthur Christmas, Gnomeo & Juliet, Winnie the Pooh, Hop, The Smurfs, AND…
1. “Rolling In The Deep” – Adele
2. “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO
3. “Firework” – Katy Perry
4. “E.T.” – Katy Perry featuring Kanye West
5. “Give Me Everything” – Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo
6. “Grenade” – Bruno Mars
7. “F**K You” – Cee Lo Green
8. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj
9. “Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera
10. “Just Can’t Get Enough” – The Black Eyed Peas
11. “On the Floor” – Jennifer Lopez featuring Pit Bull
12. “S&M” – Rihanna
13. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster the People
14. “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” – Katy Perry
15. “Just The Way You Are” – Bruno Mars
16. “Tonight (I’m Loving You)” – Enrique Iglesias
17. “Raise Your Glass” – Pink
18. “Born This Way” – Lady Gaga
19. “F**k’n Perfect” – Pink
20. “What’s My Name” – Rihanna featuring Drake
21. “Look at Me Now” – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes
22. “Down On Me” – Jeremih featuring 50 Cent
23. “How To Love” – Lil Wayne
24. “Someone Like You” – Adele
25. “Good Life” – OneRepublic
Average: Miguel Cabrera (DET) – .344
Hits: Michael Young (TEX) & Adrian Gonzalez (BOS) – 213
Home Runs: Jose Bautista (TOR) – 43
RBI: Matt Kemp (LAD) – 126
OPS: Jose Bautista (TOR) – 1.056
Stolen Bases: Michael Bourn (HOU & ATL) – 61
Wins: Justin Verlander (DET) – 24
ERA: Clayton Kershaw (LAD) – 2.28
Strikeouts: Justin Verlander (DET) – 250
Complete Games: James Shields (TB) – 11
Shutouts: Cliff Lee (PHI) – 6
Saves: Jose Valverde (DET) – 49
AL – Justin Verlander (DET)
NL – Ryan Braun (MIL)
AL – Justin Verlander (DET)
NL – Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
AL – Jeremy Hellickson (TB)
NL – Craig Kimbrell (ATL)
(3) UConn, (11) VCU, (4) Kentucky, and (8) Butler
(3) UConn over (8) Butler 53-41
Points Per Game: Kevin Durant (OKC) – 27.7
Rebounds Per Game: Kevin Love (MIN) – 15.2
Assists Per Game: Steve Nash (PHX) – 11.4
Kobe Bryant (LAL)
Kevin Garnett (BOS)
Dwight Howard (ORL)
LeBron James (MIA)
Derrick Rose (CHI)
Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Alabama over LSU 21-0
Passing Yards: Drew Brees (NO) – 5,476
Passing Touchdowns: Drew Brees (NO) – 46
Passer Rating: Aaron Rodgers (GB) – 122.5
Rushing Yards: Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) – 1,606
Rushing Touchdowns: LeSean McCoy (PHI) – 17
Receiving Yards: Calvin Johnson (DET) – 1,681
Receiving Touchdowns: Rob Gronkowski (NE) – 17
Receptions: Wes Welker – 122
Aaron Rodgers (GB)
New York Giants over the New England Patriots 21-17
Goals: Corey Perry (ANA) – 50
Assists: Henrik Sedin (VAN) – 75
Points: Daniel Sedin (VAN) – 104
Corey Perry (ANA)
Boston Bruins over Vancouver Cannucks (4-3)
Two years before Y2K, yet everyone was talking about it…and these things.
And this is what we saw in the worlds of Movies, Music and Sports!
The Truman Show, There’s Something About Mary, Rushmore, Can’t Hardly Wait, Patch Adams, You’ve Got Mail, Dr. Dolittle, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Baseketball, Night at the Roxbury, Almost Heroes, Waking Ned Devine, Bulworth, Sliding Doors, Blues Brothers 2000, How Stella Got Her Groove Back AND…
Ronin, Enemy of the State, Fallen, U.S. Marshals, The Negotiator, Mercury Rising, Lethal Weapon 4, Wild Things, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Godzilla, Rush Hour, The Siege, Psycho, Snake Eyes, The Faculty, A Perfect Murder, Out of Sight, The X-Files, Hard Rain, Lost in Space, The Mask of Zorro, Dark City, Sphere, Small Soldiers, John Carpenter’s Vampires, The Big Hit, Phantoms, Black Dog, Halloween: H20, Desperate Measures, Blade, Deep Impact AND…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZDKbRWGqTw
Saving Private Ryan, American History X, Meet Joe Black, What Dreams May Come, Elizabeth, A Civil Action, The Thin Red Line, City of Angels, Shakespeare In Love, Ever After, Another Day in Paradise, 54, Rounders, He Got Game, Stepmom, Les Miserables, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Great Expectations AND…
Mulan, The Prince of Egypt, The Rugrats Movie, Antz, AND…
Nick Nolte, Affliction
Edward Norton, American History X
Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan
Ian McKellen, Gods and Monsters
Roberto Benigni, Life Is Beautiful – Winner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y9aKqawdUQ
Robert Duvall, A Civil Action
Ed Harris, The Truman Show
Geoffery Rush, Shakespeare in Love
Billy Bob Thornton, A Simple Plan
James Coburn, Affliction – Winner
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth
Fernanda Montenegro, Central Station
Meryl Streep, One True Thing
Emily Watson, Hilary and Jackie
Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakespeare in Love – Winner
Lynn, Redgrave, Gods and Monsters
Kathy Bates, Primary Colors
Brenda Blethyn, Little Voice
Rachel Griffiths, Hilary and Jackie
Judie Dench, Shakespeare in Love – Winner
Elizabeth
Life is Beautiful
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
Shakespeare in Love – Winner
Average: Larry Walker (COL) – .363
Hits: Dante Bichette (COL) – 219
Home Runs: Mark McGwire (STL) – 70
RBI: Sammy Sosa (CHC) – 158
OPS: Mark McGwire (STL) – 1.222
Stolen Bases: Rickey Henderson (OAK) – 66
Wins: Roger Clemens (TOR), Rick Helling (TEX), David Cone (NYY), Tom Glavine (ATL) – 20
ERA: Greg Maddux (ATL) – 2.22
Strikeouts: Randy Johnson (SEA/HOU) – 329
Complete Games: Curt Schilling (PHI) – 15
Shutouts: Randy Johnson – 6
Saves: Trevor Hoffman (SD) – 53
AL: Juan Gonzalez (TEX)
NL: Sammy Sosa (CHC)
AL: Roger Clemens (TOR)
NL: Tom Glavine (ATL)
AL: Ben Grieve (OAK)
NL: Kerry Wood (CHC)
(2) Kentucky, (3) Utah, (3) Stanford, and (1) North Carolina
(2) Kentucky over (3) Utah 78-69
Points Per Game: Michael Jordan (CHI) – 28.7
Rebounds Per Game: Dennis Rodman (CHI) – 15.0
Assists Per Game: Rod Strickland (WAS) – 10.5
Tim Duncan (SA)
Michael Jordan (CHI)
Karl Malone (UTAH)
Shaquille O’Neal (LAL)
Gary Payton (SEA)
Ricky Williams, University of Texas
Tennessee over Florida State (23-16) in the Fiesta Bowl
Passing Yards: Brett Favre (GB) – 4,212
Passing Touchdowns: Steve Young (SF) – 36
Passer Rating: Randall Cunningham (MIN) – 106.0
Rushing Yards: Terrell Davis (DEN) – 2,008
Rushing Touchdowns: Terrell Davis (DEN) – 21
Receptions: O.J. McDuffie (MIA) – 90
Receiving Yards: Antonio Freeman (GB) – 1,424
Receiving Touchdowns: Randy Moss (MIN) – 17
Terrell Davis (DEN)
Denver Broncos over Atlanta Falcons (34-19)
John Elway
Goals: Peter Bondra (WSH) & Teemu Selanne (ANA) – 52
Assists: Wayne Gretzky (NYR) & Jaromir Jagr (PIT) – 67
Points: Jaromir Jagr (PIT) – 102
Dominik Hasek (BUF)
Detroit Redwings over Washington Capitals (4-0)
https://youtu.be/DG833HxX-xA?t=9m58s
Did you have high expectations for the 2014-15 Fighting Illini?
John Groce did. He had to. He’s the coach.
The team and fan base probably did. And why not? What’s the point of playing or being a fan without some belief?
I did not. While the team didn’t have much turnover from 2013-14 (just graduating Joseph Bertrand and Jon Ekey), they didn’t add much either to a squad that only reached the 2nd round of the NIT. Yes, the roster gained a year of experience, and that showed in Big Ten breakout Malcolm Hill. However it did not show in leading scorer Rayvonte Rice, who found himself suspended from the team following extended time out with a broken left hand.
Would the 2014-15 Illini won more games with Rice on the floor? Probably. Would a handful of extra wins put them in the NCAA tourney? In this year’s Big Ten…certainly. It wasn’t about THIS year for the Illini, though. As difficult as it is for anyone with vested interest in Illini basketball to hear it, success was a luxury rather than a necessity. That is because the incoming class will make or break the Groce era.
Ranked 15th by ESPN, 10th by 247 (CBS), and 16th by Rivals (Yahoo! Sports), the 2015 class will be Illinois’ best recruiting class in years. Having covered 3 of the 4 commits in person, I can tell you the Illini will add scoring and a lot of it. Local Chicago area stars DJ Williams (ranked 63rd in the nation on Rivals) 6’7 from Simeon High School and Aaron Jordan (ranked 83rd) are long and athletic players with range and a knack for attacking the paint. Jordan is more of a jump shooter, passive compared to Williams, but knows how to get to the free throw line when it’s needed. Williams, amazingly, has been able to shine on a Simeon squad full of D1 talent and that bodes well when it comes to meshing with his new Illini teammates.
Jalen Coleman, a 6’3 shooting guard from La Porte, IN (Indianapolis area), is the real catch and not based on his rankings alone. Playing against some of the country’s best in AAU, Coleman proved to be a prolific scorer. He made half of his 92 three-point attempts leading up to the NIKE EYBL Peach Jam Championship tournament in Augusta, South Carolina last summer. He can run the floor when asked to, but has the ability to take over a game by himself…a huge difference when it comes to college basketball.
The Illini will also be adding Darius Paul, who technically was already a member of the team but was suspended for 2014 because of a failed drug test and underage drinking. He is the younger brother of former Illinois star Brandon Paul, a 6’8 power forward from Gurnee, IL, and played this season at Lamar State junior college in Texas. Illinois will need all the size they can get after Nnanna Egwu graduates this year and Paul has the opportunity to contribute in a big way with his 2 years of eligibility.
After missing the year due to injury, senior Tracy Abrams will have another year of eligibility. Abrams tore his ACL last September, but spent the season providing much needed leadership for the team this season, leadership that will hopefully translate to hardwood next Fall. Hill will be depended on to replace the scoring after Rice graduates, much like he did during the injury and suspension.
The big knock on Groce and the Illinois program in recent years has been their inability to keep highly touted recruits in-state. Duke’s Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young HS, Chicago) and Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky (Benet Academy, Lisle, IL) were this year’s NCAA All-American headliners. The nation’s top point guard recruit Jalen Brunson (Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL) chose Villanova. Catholic League star Charles Matthews (St. Rita, Chicago) selected Kentucky a year ago. And Illinois Top-10 players like Glynn Watson (St. Joseph), Ed Morrow (Simeon) and Brandon Hutton (De La Salle) all chose other Big Ten schools to take their talents to.
If Illinois basketball proves they can win with the in-state talent they committed already, the program will become more attractive to recruits in the Chicagoland area. If they win big games on national television, step up in the Big Ten conference, play well in the NCAA tournament, and put players in the NBA, more talent will stay in-state. That’s a lot of “ifs”, but it is plausible. And because it is plausible, that means no excuses in the 2015-16 season…year 4 of the Groce era.
michaelpiff 