Alabama Shuns Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson isn’t good enough to coach basketball at University of Alabama? Really?
Although Mizzou Nation is pleased that the Crimson Tide opted not to put a full-course press on Anderson, the apparent rationale for that decision is baffling.
Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News shared a few of them:
- “Sources said that at least one influential Alabama trustee had an issue with the academic state of the UAB program Anderson left behind and the off-court problems experienced by some of his Missouri players.”
- “One source close to UAB said the school’s President Carol Garrison is no fan of Anderson’s and that she made her feelings known to other officials in the university system.”
- “Another in-state source said that the father of a current Alabama player made his feelings known that his son didn’t want to play for Anderson because his ‘fastest 40 minutes’ style of play doesn’t develop many NBA players.”
Anderson did a nice job cleaning up his off-court issues at Mizzou. The program paid a big price for that last season, but it came back with a good character group this season.
There are plenty of solid students on this team. These players represent the school well.
As for the notion that Anderson’s style isn’t conductive to NBA player development, that is absurd. His players are asked to defend aggressively on the ball, jump switch around screens, handle the ball out on the floor and make intelligent passes while playing at top speed.
Nope, the NBA would have no interest in those skills whatsoever.
Georgia sounds ready to give Anderson his opportunity to make Alabama pay for this slight.
If Missouri can lock Anderson in to a new contract extension — and all indications are that boosters want to make that happen — Tiger fans will be glad to have him.
IDIOT FAN OF WEEK
It doesn’t get much dumber than this. After watching the Blue Jackets roll over to the Blues Sunday at home, you wonder those guys no longer feel comfortable playing in Nationwide Arena.
NOT A GOOD WEEK FOR BILLY GILLISPIE
His dream gig turned into a nightmare in just two years. Lots of folks on the Internet are piling on, as you would expect.
KHALIL GREENE WOULD APPRECIATE THIS
He is the most philosophical of all Cardinals. And, as a ballplayer, he has done more than his share of traveling. So this dispatch from the Onion News Network might make him smile.
BASEBALL GROUPIE OF WEEK
That would be Alyssa Milano, who has a new kiss-and-tell book coming out. Several ballplayers are eager to see how this turns out.
SOUNDS LIKE THE GM TURNAROUND PLAN
We’re not sure Michael Vick’s plan to escape bankruptcy will gain much traction. His income projections sound a tad high.
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
- Questions to ponder while wondering if Troy Glaus will ever play for the Cardinals again:
- Can the Cubs win the NL Central with Kevin Gregg closing?
- What will become of Dontrelle Willis? Have you ever heard of a pitcher going on the disabled list with anxiety order?
- Should Cardinals fans worry about all those runs the Cardinals allowed during the past few exhibition games?
- Will Rick Nash have T.J. Oshie nightmares all summer?
- Are Justin Safford and Keith Ramsey are ready to take over for DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons?
CHANGING UP GLAUS’ REHAB
Maybe it’s time to lighten things up in the old weight room. Perhaps that will get Troy off his rehabilitation “plateau.”
BOBBY KNIGHT VS. METALLICA
Only in America would we get this.
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, on Billy Donovan’s allegiance to Florida: “He has everything he could have at Kentucky — without the enormous expectations, meddling boosters and smotheringly doting fan base. At UF, Donovan has job security for life. At UK, he has job security until the next booster club meeting.”
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News: “Jim Calhoun is one of the best coaches of his time in college basketball, and what he has done in Storrs, Conn. - especially considering the program he inherited when he got there from Northeastern - is one of the great construction jobs in college basketball history. But if he is going to talk about this, he has to do better than blame the whole thing on parts of the 508-page NCAA manual he says he skipped.”
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Detroit will play host to the Final Four on April 4-6, and having so many thousands of college basketball fans in town is expected to be a huge boost to one of America’s most economically depressed cities. Particularly if every fan flies in on one-way tickets and they all buy new cars for the drive home. I don’t wanna say the Detroit auto industry is hurting, but, beginning this year, the NFL’s annual Super Bowl MVP will receive a photo of a new Cadillac Escalade.”
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Terrell Owens didn’t show up for the Buffalo Bills voluntary conditioning camp, but it’s not like he’s not thinking about his new team. He asked the Bills to mail him a photo of coach Dick Jauron, so T.O. will know who to yell at when he doesn’t get enough passes.”
Dwight Perry, Seattle Times: “Bank of America extended its sponsorship with the New York Yankees, and economists immediately hailed it as the ultimate win-win. The team gets much-needed signage for its new ballpark, and the bank gets to borrow money whenever it needs it.”
MEGAPHONE
“It feels good to be back in contention, to feel the rush. It’s been awhile, but God, it felt good.”
Tiger Woods, on being relevant again.
For Mizzou fans Saturday had to be torture. The opportunity was there but this team refused to do some basic, fundamental things the entire season and it finally caught up on Saturday:
1. Absolutely ZERO interior defense. How many lay-ups and dunks did U-Conn get? I lost count.
2. Horrible, absolutely atrocious shot selection. How many times did this team cross half court and just throw up 22 footer? Again, I lost count.
3. Free throw percentage. You have to make the foul shots and this team was inconsistent at best.
Mike Anderson seems like a smart guy so why would he let fundamentals be the downfall of his team?
If Arizona and Kentucky are smart; they are putting a call into Tom Izzo.
The Blues continue to amaze. Really, if this team makes the playoffs, isn’t Murray coach of the year?
Funny as opening day gets closer and teams start to use their regulars more; the Cardinals pitching looks pedestrian all of the sudden.
What is the over/under for the return of Glaus? 4th of July anyone?
“Have you ever heard of a pitcher going on the disabled list with anxiety order”? Yes…Rick Ankiel.
Tiger, its about time you start behaving like you have won a couple of PGA tournaments. A golf course (even a public facility) is no place for those primal screams.
Ha Ha ez, Tiger owns Bayhill in a way no other golfer could ever dream of and he can do whatever he wants there. Those primal screams are what scare your favorites into handing over tourney after tourney to him…… If you like watching golf be prepared to watch him do it for the next 15-20 years.
I would say that ez has never won a tournament with his last putt or never made an electrifying shot to the amazement of all watching. I feel sorry for him because the majority of us flat love to see Tiger play and display true passion for the competition. Oh yeah, maybe go back and watch some archival footage of other golf greats winning. Payne Stewart did a pretty good job of primal screaming after his last big win. I have seen them (the pros) fist pump and jump up and down like school girls winning the prom queen competition. This is sport and sport without passion is just plan boring.
The real story is, Tiger is back and aren’t we lucky he is!
I think the Tigers would be more compelling if they recruited more
white players.They also would make better decisions on the court.
Ok, Alabama is in full saving face mode here. While fans/insiders of Mizzou acknowledged that Anderson could go to Alabama, most thought it a remote possibility from the start. How many reports and different people did we here from on the Alabama side claiming that it was all but a done deal for Anderson to come home to Alabama? Football, sure, Alabama is king, or close to it, but basketball? Alabama is several steps below Mizzou here and Coach Anderson, being a very smart guy, knew it as well, and when he didn’t show Alabama much interest, it became obvious that Alabama needed to go into damage control mode. That’s what we’re seeing.
Recruiting more white players, what is this 1955? This Mizzou team has got great character, plays hard not dirty and wins with class. The only reason they give up so many dunks and layups is their style of play. When you press and double team all the time, good teams will take advantage and on occasion players will be unguarded in the paint. This style of defense is a risk reward system and it obviously paid great dividends with an Elite 8 team. It also makes for a more entertaining brand of hoops. ( have you seen Wisconsin slow it down every possession, like watching paint dry). I say congrats to Mike Anderson and the team on a great season!
We have too many lazy “players”. They would rather be eating chicken
than playing defense.
S.W.,
You don’t know anything about basketball and you are a racist idiot.
Shut Up.
SW–It’s time for you to do some self reflection. You are on a public forum making racist comments. The negative nature of your comments suggests you may be depressed. This forum eventually will have to put an end to offensive comments like yours. Please think about and stop.