Kentucky Wildcats: More Than Just "Wild"

Kentucky Wildcats: More Than Just "Wild"

By Paige Costantino

Although Kentucky basketball coach, John Calipari, has yet to win a championship with the Wildcats, under Calipari's coaching they have had an impressive record of 90-13 (0.874)  since 2009. In addition to this impressive record, the Wildcats have not lost a single home game since 2009 (Stat Sheet). Not only has he had an impressive record but he also has a history of recruiting elite players that have been #1 picks in the draft. Players such as Derrick Rose(played for Calipari when he coached at Memphis), John Wall and Brandon Knight are just some of the NBA players that played under Calipari. This year Kentucky is ranked the #1 team in the nation and they certainly have the type of play and stats to prove they are.

The Wildcats are 27-1 overall and 13-o in their conference, they have the best record overall. Their one loss came on December 10th when they played #24 Indiana the score was 73-72, the Wildcats lost on a buzzer beater. Since then the Wildcats have not lost a single game and are certainly contenders for a #1 seed.

So what are the players that are making this #1 seed possible? Anthony Davis, a freshman, has already proved he is more than just wild. Davis has 274 rebounds and averages 9.8 rebounds per game. He has the SEC freshmen record for blocks having 133, surpassing the famous Shaquille O'Neal. Davis also averages the most points per game (13.8). Other major contributors to the Wildcats' success include Doron Lamb (13.7 ppg), Terrence Jones (12.2 ppg), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (12.2 ppg), Darius Miller (10.0 ppg) and Marquis Teague (9.6 ppg, also has the most assists at 4.7) (ESPN). These players are all major contributors to the Wildcats' success, and they are certainly all responsible for their opportunity as a #1 seed going into the playoffs. Since their loss to Indiana, the Wildcats have proven to be unstoppable and definitely are contenders for the NCAA Championship, Calapiri is overdue for one. In addition, Davis, along with some of his fellow teammates are projected to be in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft. There are only three more games left in the regular season for Kentucky and then comes the post season with a continuation of their team work as well as hard work, they are going to go all the way this year!

Allen Iverson.. A Soccer Superstar?

Allen Iverson.. A NBA  Soccer Superstar?

By Paige Costantino

Allen Iverson, former NBA superstar, has recently been in headlines not because of the numbers he's put up in the league, including NBA scoring champion four times, but because of the numbers he's dished out of his pocket. Iverson, has blown through most of his money including the $150 million he made playing in the NBA, that is not including endorsements and has $850,000 in jewelery debt. So now what does he do?

Iverson was in the league for 14 years and spent most of his career with the Phildelphia 76ers including the 2009-2010 season. His last contribution to basketball was in Turkey where he played the 2010-2011 season. During his career he won many accalades including 11 time NBA All-Star and MVP in 2001. In 2001, he led the 76ers to the NBA finals but lost to the Lakers in a 7 games series. The 76ers won their first game against the Lakers, Iverson scored 48 points but the Lakers went on to win the next 4 games and came out the victorious team although the games were close, including an overtime game. Iverson has not played for the NBA this 2011-2012 season but his recent incident has got him scrambling for options. Rumors say he wants to go to the D-League and hopefully be able to get back to the NBA. However, at the age of 36, its hard to still be a professional basketball player competing with players fresh out of college and it is also difficult to maintain the numbers he had as a 22 year old. But the NBA isn't the only rumor out there. Look out NBA fans, we have the next...  Lionel Messi?

Yes, I am aware that Messi is a soccer player. However, recent discussions have revealed that Iverson has gotten an offer from an indoor soccer team, the Rochester Lancers which is part of the MISL or the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Lancers are offering to pay him $20,000 a game and with that would come bonuses depending on the amount of goals scored and his performance. But he's never played soccer before, even in high school he played football and basketball. So why did this offer come out of nowhere? Since his financial fallout, Iverson has been trying to find any opportunity to make money. Also, there has been many questions because of his athletic ability and quickness, if he could of been one of the best soccer players in his prime athletic years. One of the biggest reasons for this offer is to benefit the Lancers. Having an elite and famous athlete compete on their team, no matter what sport their speciality is, leads to more publicity and if he signs could generate more money not only to the team but to the MISL (Yahoo! Sports). Desperate times call for desperate measure though. Could Iverson strap on the cleats and shinguards and take the court field?

Source: All-Star MVP

Peyton or First Pick?

Peyton or First Pick?

By Paige Costantino

So as we know little brother Eli was named Superbowl MVP this 2011-2012 season and led the Giants to their second Superbowl victory against Tom Brady and the Patriots. But what about big brother Peyton? The Indianapolis Colts struggled this season without their star quarterback Peyton Manning. Just 6 years ago the Colts won a Superbowl Championship under the wing of Peyton Manning. In 2010, Manning led the Colts to a 10-7 run, making an appearance in the playoffs. After the 2009-2010 season Peyton underwent neck surgery that pronounced him inactive for the entire 2010-2011 season. The 2010-2011 season was a very upsetting one for the Colts franchise The Colts were just 2-14 with wins over the Titans and the Texans (ESPN). This left the franchise in turmoil, firing former head coach Jim Caldwell and many other members of the Colts staff. But now what happens with Peyton?
Manning's doctors have cleared him to play but the question is can he preform at the level he played at two seasons ago? Manning has been working diligently to be at the same level he was, although he does not feel 100%. There is a possibility that the Colts could trade Manning considering on March 8th he is due a $28 million option bonus that activates the final four years of his five year contract. Peyton has stated that he prefers not to be traded because his career began with the Colts and he wants it to end with the Colts. Recently, an article has been published that Irsay, owner of the Colts, has told Peyton that it is his decision whether he wants to stay with the Colts or not. However, they must renegotiate the contract that he has for the $28 million option bonus because Manning's future is uncertain.
However, the Colt's have another option to save their 2012-2013 season, a first round draft pick. With Manning. at the age of 35, with an uncertain future, maybe the Colt's best option is to draft a quarterback that will be with the franchise for many years in the future. This year in college football we have seen some quarterbacks do amazing things. Quarterbacks such as Robert Griffin III aka RGIII from Baylor and Andrew Luck from Standford are two potential quarterbacks that could do great things in the upcoming years for the franchise. This is not to say that if they become the starting quarterback they are going to win the Superbowl their first season but these quarterbacks are definitely reliable for the upcoming season.
 RGIII was the recipant of the Hesiman Trophy, one of the biggest honors in college football. He lead the Baylor Bears to a 10-3 record and defeated Washington (7-6) in the Valero Alamo Bowl 67-56. His college career started in 2008 with 160 completions and 15 touchdowns and is now endings with 291 completions and 37 touchdowns (ESPN). Not impressed? Along with being the winning of the 2012 Heisman Trophy award, RGIII was also an All-American, Davey O'Brien Awards winner, Manning Award winner, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist, Waler Camp Award Finalist, Wuerfeel Trophy Finalist, Maxwell Award Semifinalist and part of the 2011 All State AFCA Good Works Team (Baylor Bears Athletic Site).
So what's the dirt on Andrew Luck? Luck is a senior at Standford leading the Cardinals to an 11-2 record however, fell to Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 38-41. Luck started his season with the Cardinals in 2009 with 162 completions and 13 touchdowns while in his senior season he completed 288 passes and went for 37 touchdowns (ESPN). Despite the loss, Luck is projected to be the first round draft. pick.
A prediction of the draft was recently published by ESPN Insider Mel Kiper Jr. predicting that the first round draft pick which belongs to the Colt's will allow them to acquire Luck, while Robert Griffin III will be the fourth pick which belongs to the Cleveland Browns (ESPN Insider on NFL Draft). This is only a prediction and since the Colts do have the first pick, they can pick either of these quarterbacks or any other quarterback they feel will mold with their team and style of play well. Both of these quarterbacks have tremendous talents and are very versatile. With the draft a little more than two months away, and Peyton's option bonus less than a month away, the Colts need to make a major decision. What will it be?

Career Interest

Career Interest

By Paige Costantino

My career interest area is undecided at the moment however, I am leaning towards marketing. My dream job would be opening up my own sporting good store or athletic facility. I think that would be a very interesting job and if I was to open my own athletic facility because it would be cool to watch elite athletes train. I would like to work in either New York or North Carolina but as long as I get a job opportunity I would be very happy.

Jeremy Lin: Pre-"Linsane"

Jeremy Lin: Pre-"Linsane"

By Paige Costantino

When you think of the New York Knicks what players come to mind, Carmelo Anthony? Amare Stoudemire? Or what about the newest sensation number 17 Jeremy Lin? Jeremy Lin has been the biggest talk of the previous week with outstanding performances against the Nets, Jazz, Wizards, Lakers and Timberwolves and a game winning three pointer against the Toronto Raptors . Jeremy Lin was the missing piece to the Knick's franchise averaging

27.2 points in the last five games. Previously, during the whole month of December, Lin played in a total of 5 games averaging just 8.2 minutes per game. He has set a record for most points in his first career three starts as a professional since the ABA merged into the NBA in 1976-77 season (ESPN). So where did this prolific player come from?

Source: Jeremy Lin as a New York Knick

Source: Jeremy Lin as a Harvard Crimson

Lin was a 2010 graduate from the famous Harvard University. In his senior season at Harvard, Lin averaged the most points on his team (16.4) and had a winning record for the Crimson (21-8) (ESPN). However, Lin faced much adversity just getting into a Division I college when Bill Holden, who is a top assistant at Harvard, told Lin's high school coach he is only at the level of a Division III player. However, after Holden saw Lin play for a second time, Holden became re-interested in Lin's style of play and suddenly Lin became Holden's biggest interest. At Harvard, Lin had a tremendous work ethic taking extra shots and training outside of practice (Daily News). The work ethic of an elite athlete. After Lin graduated in 2010, he bounced around the NBA and the D-League, undrafted, with an uncertain future. Lin was placed on the Golden State Warriors roster for the 2010-2011 season where he was rarely seen on the court, to be exact 29 times and averaged 9.8 minutes per game (ESPN). Lin was soon demoted to the D-league where he was released when the lockout ended in December. Soon after he was tossed to the Rockets but was released before the Rockets' first game. Lin was moved 3 times in his short career. It seemed that his dream of being a professional basketball player would be cut short, however there was still hope for number 17. This past January, Lin was sent once again to the D-League by yes, the Knicks, but a few days later after a triple-double performance was brought back to New York (CBS Sports) . Was this his chance to finally show what he was about? On February 4th, Lin finally got his chance. He played 36 minutes against the Nets and boy, was that 36 minutes unforgettable for not only Knicks fans but the entire sports community. Lin was 10-19 scoring 25 points which by the way was a team high. The Knick's prevailed beating the Nets 99-92 and this was only the beginning (ESPN). Lin has gone on to receive a starting position and since his debut the Knicks are on a 5-0 run. Has Lin found a permanent home for himself with the Knicks? How long will the "Linsanity" continue for? Has he proved himself yet? Well my friends, only time will tell.