Epic at the Mecca

Ok, so when Adam Morrison declared for the NBA Draft one of the main reasons I was upset was because, had he stayed, Gonzaga surely would have gotten major exposure on ESPN. I said they would receive the "Duke Treatment" from the World Wide Leader. I was close, but a little off. The Zags won't be getting the Duke Treatment. Even without Morrison next year, the Zags will be getting Duke.

An article today on SI.com announced that Gonzaga and Duke will meet for the first time ever. Not at Cameron, not at the Kennel, but at the Mecca of Sports, Madison Square Garden.

Anyone think this might be televised nationally?


Damn!

Damn!

Damn!

The ultimate showdown between the best "Major" and the best "Mid-Major" programs and we're one year too late! Morrison vs. J.J. Reddick this past season could have been as big as Larry Bird and Indiana State vs. Magic Johnson and Michigan State back in 1979. Either way, Gonzaga can still make a HUGE statement. Following George Mason's Final Four run, a team from the West Coast Conference beating Duke at MSG would solidy "mid-majors" for years to come.

If Morrison had stayed, Gonzaga would probably roll into MSG with at least a top 5 ranking and the opportunity to take out the cream of the "Major" crop. Without him, the Zags are barely a top 25 team. Depending on the development of Josh Heytvelt, they could be good.

The Blue Devils aren't looking too fantastic for next year, either. Depending on freshman coming in and making an immediate impact, Duke might not be the familiar team we're used to seeing in the top 3.

Anyway, this is pretty exciting. Hopefully this game will spawn a home & home series between the two so we can see the Cameron Crazies and Kennel Club in top form.

Somewhere, I think Duke Vitale just exploded.

Curt Schilling, Sure Killing

Even though he took the loss last night against the Yanks, Curt Schilling is still better than everyone not named Roger Clemens. He's the only pitcher in MLB history to have won a World Series game for three different teams.

Respect.

Wii Have Liftoff

At the E3 Convention today in Los Angeles, Nintendo released a lot of interesting info about their upcoming video game console Wii. (Seriously... don't make fun of the name. I like it. It's like Google or Yahoo.)

Titles such as Super Mario Galaxy, Excite Truck, Duck Hunt (!!!), Red Steel and Madden NFL Football 2007 were on display.

The most interesting thing I've read so far involves the Madden game. I cannot wait to see how that enhances the franchise. Football games need a kick in the ass and the new Wii controlls just might be the boot.

Although I haven't had a chance to play it, the boys over at IGN.com have, and they seem elated. They say,

"Although we were very timid to play the game, our hesitations were put to ease as soon as soon as we got to throw the first pass. We found out pretty quickly that the control for this incarnation of Madden football is where the game shines. Made to be as easy as possible, the control scheme never felt contrived or difficult, but rather felt natural and simple to pick up on. Once we started playing the second time around, we found that we were completing passes and finding holes, even if we had to create them ourselves. Madden '07 makes good use of the motion sensor as it is used in nearly ever aspect of the gameplay, from kicking the perfect field goal to making the game winning pass. We can't express enough how much fun the control scheme was; We were elated to put ourselves in the place of the quarterback, only to snap the ball and throw the passes by ourselves. Even the most hardened Madden fans will find something to love with the Nintendo Wii's control scheme."

Awesome. I cannot friggin' wait to play that. Check out their full Wii recap (so far) for more information.

Here's a video of the system's capabilities:



One of the most interesting concepts is that the wireless-controllers will have speakers in them. An example of this is when playing Zelda when you draw the controller back to shoot an arrow, the controller makes a sound effect when you shoot and the television makes a sound when it hits the target. Awesome.

I'm really excited for this system as opposed to Sony's PlayStation 3 and the already available Microsoft XBOX 360. Nintendo seems to be the only company out of the three that isn't just releasing a new processor in some new plastic to make a quick buck. Although Nintendo 64 and GameCube might not have been as commercially successful as their competitors, they are aweosme systems. With all these new inventions, Nintendo is bound to grab a big share of the video game market with Wii.

Video credit: Youtube.com

New Albums 05.09.06

There are a three truly fantastic albums coming out today...

For starters, Neil Young has his new album, chock full of political rockers, entitled Living with War out today. The album includes the song "Let's Impeach the President" which is an absolutely awesome scathing attack of President Bush and his actions in office.

Everything from the War on Terror, Hurricane Katrina, and the focus on steroids in Major League Baseball is brought up as evidence for impeachment. The song includes snippets from the Commander in Chief himself, with Young shouting "Flip" and "Flop" after every contradiction. Great stuff that proves the "Godfather of Grunge" is still releasing top-shelf work four decades into his career.

The almighty Red Hot Chili Peppers have their latest effort coming out today. Stadium Arcadium is a double-album with "Dani California" as the lead single. Although I didn't like the single, the rest of the album is really great. A lot of Frusciante influence!

One stand out track (out of many, seriously, it's really good) is "She's Only 18." The song contains a funky Flea bassline, crazy Frusciante solo, driving drums from Chad Smith, and crazy Kiedis lyrics. He belts out,

"It's understood you wrap the voodoo right around my neck/ You've got some glitter on your kitty at the discotheque/ I throw my lovin' in your oven and I had to check/ The last I heard from you well you we're screamin' resurrect! "

Pretty much everything you could ever want from the Chili Peppers.

Gnarls Barkley's album, St. Elsewhere, was released today as well. Unfortunately, the three stores I visited today didn't have it displayed in the New Release section. The album is a step in a completely new direction for hip-hop. By now the song I'm feeling the most is "Feng Shui." Check out my recent post on the duo, Gnarls in Charge.

Other new music that comes out today includes stuff like Grandaddy's final album Just Like the Fambly Cat, the U.S. release of Daft Punk's Human After All and new stuff from Snow Patrol.

The award for "Best Name for a Band Releasing an Album Today" goes to Jack Off Jill, which has a best-of out today.

Feel free to let me know if these (or any other albums) are worth checking out!

Sprawl Classic?

"So much for the Hallway Series, huh?"
- Ernie Johnson

"For those of you looking for a Clippers-Lakers series... FORGET ABOUT IT."
- Steve Levy

E.J. and Levy probably made a bunch on 12-year-olds cry by exclaiming that with such enthusiasm. Fortunately, they probably also made ESPN, TNT, Bill Simmons, ABC, Jack Nicholson, Stephen A. Smith, Arash Markazi, Scoop Jackson, Disney, TBS, Ted Turner, Michael Eisner, etc. shed tears as well.

There will be no lucrative showdown between the two Los Angeles teams. Thanks to Phoenix working the Lakers for 48 minutes, we'll get a much less anticipated matchup between the Suns and the Clippers. Looks like all those columns written after Game 4 will be swept under the rug. I only wish I could hear sports talk radio tomorrow in the City of Angels...

Unfortunately for me, I can't sarcastically call the L.A./L.A. showdown the Sprawl Classic. Oh well. Small price to pay!

New Albums 05.02.06

There are a couple albums of interest coming out today...

In case you forgot about Pearl Jam, they've released three outstanding albums since 2000. This new, self-titled record is the first released under the J label. Without question their hardest album to date, Pearl Jam keeps up the reputation as America's leading rock band. Lead by the single, "World Wide Suicide", the album is yet another notch under their belt. I'll have a full review after a couple more spins.

Mobb Deep also has an album coming out today, their first as members of the G-Unit family. The record, Blood Money, is their first proper release since 2004's Amerikaz Nightmare which spawned the club anthem "Got it Twisted." I haven't heard it yet, but anything from the duo that gave the world "Shook Ones Pt. II" has got to be at least decent. Stay tuned for a review.

Other new music that comes out today includes stuff from RJD2, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and, oh yeah, some band named Tool.

Feel free to let me know if these (or any other albums) are worth checking out.

Gibbs Grills Salisbury

Just in time for your beginning of summer BBQ comes a sizzling story about a Hall-of-Famer calling out a talking head.

The other day Washington Redskins Head Coach Joe Gibbs called out ESPN analyst Sean Salisbury for not holding up to his end of a guarantee.

Last season when the Redskins were 5 - 6 and looking lost, Salisbury said he would walk naked from Bristol, Connecticut to the District of Columbia if the 'Skins ended up in the playoffs. Well, Washington rolled up five straight victories to find themselves as a Wild Card team in the playoffs. Oddly enough, Sean Salisbury never spoke of his guarantee again.

Maybe he forgot!

Luckily, Joe Gibbs and all of Washington did not. In the media where every word uttered is forgotten in minutes and guarantees are a dime a dozen, it's easy to back away from responsibility. On Sunday during Day 2 of the NFL Draft, Gibbs called out Salisbury on live TV during an interview with Trey Wingo.

Here's the clip...

A-Rod = the Wal-Mart of MLB

There's a great quote in ESPN Page 2 writer Nate Silver's article "Baseball's Most Valuable Players." He suffices his presentation of the #3 spot (behind the Mets David Wright and the Cardinals Albert Pujols) to the New York Yankees third basemen Alex Rodriguez by saying,

Rooting for Alex Rodriguez is a bit like rooting for Wal-Mart, or the Brazilian soccer team, or … well … the New York Yankees.

...or the Evil Empire. Nice work, Nate. Stick it to the man.

Gnarls in Charge

Never heard of Gnarls Barkley?

Then you probably don't live in Western Europe. Don't worry though, you'll definitely get a huge dose of the dynamic duo when they hit stateside.

A collaboration between Danger Mouse (produced Gorillaz Demon Days and Jay-Z/Beatles remix The Grey Album) and Cee-Lo (singer/rapper, daughter was on MTV's Super Sweet 16), their first album will be released in the UK in early May. Their first single, "Crazy", has been an absolute smash in the UK, landing at #1 on the charts based solely on downloads, the first single to ever do so.

The hit song (which is phenomenal), can be heard on the Official website for Gnarls Barkley. Matching the usually slick beats of Danger Mouse with the smooth soul vocals of Cee-Lo, the song will undoubtedly blow up when it hits the US.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Mo Goes Pro

Adam Morrison is forgoing his senior year at Gonzaga and turning pro, much to my displeasure. I remember watching him debut against St. Joe's as a freshman and I thought he could be something special. I never thought he would lead the nation in PPG at 28.1, though. That's absurd. I loved watching every minute of every game when Mo was on the court. He's been my favorite player to watch since Jameer Nelson a few years ago.

Check out the press conference from earlier today, courtesy of youtube.com:

It's definitely in his best interest to enter the NBA Draft since he'll most likely be a top 5 pick. Despite this, it would have been fun to watch him and Gonzaga receive the "Duke treatment" from ESPN next season. They would have had countless games nationally televised and could have made another run at the Final Four. Oh well.

It's been rumored for a while, and with espn.com and Gonzaga's official Atletic site reporting that Mo will sign with an agent it is most definite. Mark Bartelstein will represent Mo, which is nice since he also represents Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp, both Gonzaga graduates. At least he's keeping it in the family.

The loss of both Mo and J.P. Batista next year will be huge. Gonzaga will need Derek Raivio to be more of a scorer and they'll need Josh Heytvelt to really step up his game if they want to be a top 20 team.

I've said before that Gonzaga's NCAA tournament losses have historically been more important than their wins. Losing to Wyoming in '01 (The Zags were upset!), Arizona in '02 (Double overtime thriller), and recently UCLA in '06 (Worked 'em for 35 minutes) have shown that Gonzaga is a legitimate national player. Likewise, by losing Morrison, the Gonzaga program could reap huge benefits. If he's a top 3 pick, makes an immediate impact or if he picks up Rookie of the Year, it would prove that a player can attend Gonzaga (or any mid-major for that matter) and become a NBA star.

Best of luck to Mo.

Breaking up is hard to do...

Oops... you've got a girlfriend.

And not only do you have a girlfriend, she wants you to make something for her. Double whammy!

If you've ever had a girlfriend, then you've reached that point in your "relationship" where she wants you to burn a mix CD for her of your favorite songs. Since this is a fairly common occurrence, there are some rules that a guy should follow when making a mix CD for that special lady friend.

First and foremost, do not include any songs from your favorite artist(s). I cannot stress how important this is. Once the relationship is over, the songs will forever be tarnished because they'll remind you of her. The last thing you would ever want is for some dumb broad to spoil your love for Pearl Jam. Women will come and women will go, but "State of Love and Trust" is forever.

Also, do not put anything on the mix that she doesn't already love. Women hate new music more than they hate old boyfriends. Fill that sucker exclusively with songs she has heard 10,000 times each.

Another important thing to remember is that women have horrible taste in music. They are solely responsible for the careers of hundreds and hundreds of shitty musicians. It is essential that you don't make a good CD. In fact, the worse you make the CD the more she'll probably enjoy it.

Here is an example of a mix CD to make your special lady friend happy:

• Simple Minds "Don't You Forget About Me"
• Jackson Browne "Somebody's Baby"
• The Beatles "All You Need is Love"
• Eddie Money "Take Me Home Tonight"
• Ben E. King "Stand By Me"
• AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long"
• Gin Blossoms "Hey Jealousy"
  
• Anything by Billy Joel, Coldplay, or the Eagles (BARF!!!)

You have my word that she will absolutely love this CD. If you throw in a few recent hip-hop songs and the theme song to whatever late-night TV show was on when you first hooked up, then she'll fall head over heels for you. Until...

Once the two of you break off your romantic tryst, she'll be stuck with this awful CD. Even if she throws it out she'll still be stuck with bad memories since you've attached yourself to her favorite songs. Meanwhile, you can sit back and relax and still enjoy Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks just like the good old days.

There are just some things that should never go together. Toothpaste and orange juice, ugg boots and mini skirts, and spring weekends and rain all come to mind. At the very top of that list should be girlfriends and favorite songs.

Year of the Beard

I was at a party this past weekend when, to my amazement, I noticed four dudes sporting full beards. Right then it hit me harder than a double shot of Jack Daniels with no chaser.

Beards are incredible.

Not only do they sound like “beers” but they also contain the word “bear.” Does no one else think this is amazing?!

Beards have many benefits. Aside from hiding your ugly mug from the world, they will immediately grant you clout.

Think of all the great men that have sported memorable facial hair over the years: Abraham Lincoln, (drugged out) Jim Morrison, Santa Claus, Chuck Norris, Jesus, etc. I could go on forever. Hell, even the bearded lady was impressive. Beards = Instant respect.

To see the impact of a beard, check out Johnny Damon when he was with the Boston Red Sox and compare him as he is now with the New York Yankees.

Beards are the ultimate masculine characteristic. I’m not exaggerating. (I avoid hyperbole at all costs.) Any one that doesn’t appreciate the greatness of a beard is just upset they can’t grow one themselves. It’s similar to how women get so pissed when guys pee wherever they want when we’re drunk. They’re just insanely jealous they can’t do it.

Shaving sucks. Nobody likes doing it. Another benefit of beards is that they allow you to walk around for weeks without caring for them. You might look like a caveman, but at least you don’t have to shave.

Yet another benefit of facial hair is that it will make you look much older. This is good for two reasons. First, women like the older men. Second, if you’re having trouble getting booze, a beard is an instant access card. Forget a fake ID, grow a beard and no one will ever card you. Actually, come to think of it, that last bit probably isn’t true.

Aside from stumbling into that late-night Irish pub and that time I stole my dad’s Bob Dylan records, growing a beard has been the best decision of my life. Naysayers can say whatever they want, but my bearded brethren and I will be scratching laughing all the way to the bank.

Fellas, if I could offer you only one tip for the future, beards would be it. Beards convey the courageous, non-conformist, counter-culture, “stick-it-the-man” attitude that makes the world go round. If Sally Sucksatlife isn’t feeling your “personality” or social awkwardness, she’ll definitely fall head-over-heels for your grizzly man-beard.

I guarantee it.

All-Lark Team 2004-05

2004-2005 All-Lark NCAA First-Team

#2 Nate Robinson, PG, WASHINGTON Huskies, Junior

• 16.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 spg, 46.3% from field, 38.5% from 3-point, 78.2% from FT line
• Listed at 5'9"
• Probably only 5'7"
• Originally enrolled at UW on football scholarship
• Had 2 interceptions and 34 tackles freshman year
• 2005 Great Alaskan Shootout Most Outstanding Player
• Helped Huskies to 29-6 overall record
• Helped Huskies to 2005 Pac-10 Tournament Championship
• Led Huskies to #1 Seed in NCAA Tournament
• Led Huskies to Sweet 16
• Third-Team All-American
• 2004 & 2005 First-Team All-Pac-10
• Selected 21st overall by Phoenix Suns in 2005 NBA Draft
  

#20 Salim Stoudamire, SG, ARIZONA Wildcats, Senior

• 18.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 50.4% from field, 50.4% from beyond the arc, 91.0% from free-throw line
• Led nation in 3-point field goal percentage
• Scored 32 points and hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating, 3-pointer to beat UCLA
• Helped Wildcats to 30-7 overall record
• 2005 Pac-10 Regular Season Champions
• Helped Wildcats to the Elite Eight
• Second-Team All-American
• Selected 31st overall by Atlanta Hawks
  

#14 Adam Morrison, F, GONZAGA Bulldogs, Sophomore

• 19.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, shot 49.8% from field, 31.1% from downtown, 75.8 % from free throw line
• Type 1 Diabetic
• Favorite band is Rage Against the Machine
• Shot 11-18 and scored 24 points in win over #3 Georgia Tech at the Las Vegas Showdown
• Scored 19 points in win at #3 Oklahoma State
• Scored 28 points, including game-winner with .6 seconds left to defeat San Francisco and clinch at least share of WCC Championship
• Helped Zags to WCC Regular Season Championship
• Helped Zags to WCC Tournament Championship
• 2005 WCC Tournament MVP
• Helped Zags earn #2 Seed in NCAA Tournament
• All-WCC First-Team
• AP All-America, honorable mention
  

#14 Kevin Pittsnogle, F, WEST VIRGINIA Mountaineers, Junior

• 11.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 46.5% from field, 84.6% from free throw line, 42.6% from downtown
• 22 pts and 8 rebs to defeat Texas Tech and send Mountaineers to Elite Eight
• 25 points, 6 of 9 shooting from downtown in loss to Lousiville in Elite Eight
• NCAA Tournament All-Albuquerque Region Team
• Cultural phenom

#35 Deng Gai, F, FAIRFIELD Stags, Senior

• 13.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 5.5 bpg, shot 47.4% from field, 33.3% from three point range, 72.2% from free throw line
• Averaged 4.4 bpg for career
• Tied for sixth all-time in NCAA blocked shots (444)
• Led nation in blocked shots
• Registered 11 double-doubles
• Registered triple-double (19 pts, 11 rebounds, 10 blocks) in win over Loyola (Md.)
• Dropped 28 points in win over Niagara
• Led Fairfield to back-to-back 19 win seasons
• Best player to ever wear Stags uniform
• 2002, 2003 & 2005 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year
• All-MAAC First-Team
  

2004-2005 All-Lark NCAA Second-Team
#5 T.J. Thompson, PG, GEORGE WASHINGTON Colonials, Senior
#11 T.J. Sorrentine, SG, VERMONT Catamounts, Senior
#33 Pat Carrol, F, ST. JOSEPH'S Hawks, Senior
#21 Pops Mensah-Bonsu, PF, GEORGE WASHINGTON Colonials, Junior
#22 Taylor Coppenrath, PF, VERMONT Catamounts, Senior

2004-2005 All-Lark NCAA Preseason Team
#34 Travis Deiner, PG, MARQUETTE Golden Eagles, Senior
#3 Gerry McNamara, SG, SYRACUSE Orange, Junior
#22 Nik Caner-Medley, F, MARYLAND Terrapins, Senior
#1 Ronny Turiaf, PF, GONZAGA Bulldogs, Senior
#35 Deng Gai, C, FAIRFIELD Stags, Senior

All-Lark Team 2003-04

2003-2004 All-Lark NCAA Team

#14 Jameer Nelson, PG, ST. JOSEPH'S Hawks, Senior

• 20.6 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 spg
• St. Joe's All-Time leader in points (2094), assists (714) and steals (256)
• Double-double (20 pts, 10 ast) in win over Gonzaga
• 24 points, 7 assists, 3 steals in win over Wake Forest in Sweet 16
• Led Hawks to undefeated regular season (27-0)
• Led team to Atlantic-10 Regular Season Championship
• Led Hawks to as high as #1 ranking in polls
• Led Hawks to 30-2 recored overall
• Led Hawks to the Elite Eight
• 2004 Wooden Award Winner
• 2004 Naismith Award Winner
• 2004 AP Player of the Year
• 2004 NABC Co-Player of the Year (with Emeka Okafor)
• Received Oscar Robertson Trophy from USBWA
• 2004 AP All-American, unanimous selection
• Selected 20th overall by Denver Nuggets in 2004 NBA Draft

#3 Luis Flores, SG, MANHATTAN Jaspers, Senior

• 24.0 ppg, 1.6 apg, 1.9 spg, 3.9 rpg, 44.2% from field, 86.3% from free throw line
• Dropped 44 points in win at Fairfield in 2003
• Led Jaspers to 25-6 overall record
• Led Jaspers to MAAC Championship
• Led Jaspers to MAAC Tournament Championship
• Led Jaspers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances
• Led Jaspers to NCAA Second Round in 2004
• 2-Time MAAC Player of the Year
• AP All-American, honorable mention
• Drafted 55th overall by Houston Rockets in 2004 NBA Draft

#13 Luke Jackson, F, OREGON Ducks, Senior

• 21.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.3 spg, 48.8% from field, 86.2% from free throw line, 44& from three-point
• All-Time top ten in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals at Oregon
• All-Pac-10, first team
• Drafted 10th overall by Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004 NBA Draft

#1 Ronny Turiaf, F, GONZAGA Bulldogs, Junior

• 15.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.45 bpg, 52.5% from field
• Speaks four languages (English, French, Creole, and Spanish)
• Scored 29 points in win over George Washington in BB&T Final
• BB&T Tournament MVP
• All-WCC First-Team, two years in a row
• Led Zags to 28-3 overall record
• Led Zags to WCC Championship
• Led Zags to WCC Tournament Championship
• Selected 34th overall by Los Angeles Lakers in 2005 NBA Draft
  

#50 Emeka Okafor, C, CONNECTICUT Huskies, Junior

• 17.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 4.1 bpg, shot 59.9% from the field
• Graduated in three years with a 3.8 GPA and a degree in Finance
• Led the nation in blocked shots
• 7th all-time in NCAA blocked shots (441)
• 2004 Big East Tournament Championship
• Won 2004 National Championship
• Double-double (24 points, 12 rebounds) in win over Georgia Tech in the National Championship game
• 2004 NCAA Tournament MVP
• 2004 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• 2004 Big East Player of the Year
• 2004 Big East Defensive Player of the Year
• 2004 NABC Co-Player of the Year (with Jameer Nelson)
• 2003 & 2004 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
• 2004 AP All-American, unanimous selection
• 2004 Academic All-American of the Year
• Drafted 2nd overall by Charlotte Bobcats in 2004 NBA Draft

2003-2004 All-Lark Pre-Season NCAA Team

#14 Jameer Nelson, PG, ST. JOSEPH'S Hawks, Senior
#3 Luis Flores, SG, MANHATTAN Jaspers, Senior
#1 Ronny Turiaf, F, GONZAGA Bulldogs, Junior
#2 Luol Deng, F, DUKE Blue Devils, Freshman
#35 Deng Gai, F, FAIRFIELD Stags, Junior

All-Lark Team 2002-03

2002-2003 All-Lark NCAA Team

#25 Steve Blake, PG, MARYLAND Terrapins, Senior

• 11.6 ppg, 7.1 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 spg.
• Four year starting point guard
• 81.9% Free Throw Shooter senior year, 77.1% for four-year career
• 1st Team All-Acc
• 5th All-Time assist leader in NCAA history
• Hit sick 3-pointer against UNC Wilmington in NCAA first round
• Led Terps to the Sweet 16
• Drafted 38th Overall by Washington Wizards in 2003 NBA Draft.
  

#03 Dwyane Wade, SG, MARQUETTE Golden Eagles, Junior

• 21.5 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.15 spg, 6.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg, shot 50.1% from the floor during junior year.
• 5-Time Conference USA Player of the Week
• C-USA Player of the Year
• Scored in double-figures in 31 of 33 games
• Dropped 35 points in win over Tulane
• Dropped 29 points in win at #9 Louisville
• Triple-fucking-double (29 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds) to win the Midwest Regional, snapping #1 seed Kentucky's 26-game winning streak. It was only the third triple-double in NCAA Tournament history.
• 2003 Midwest Regional Outstanding Player
• Led Marquette to the Final Four
• Led Marquette to 27-6 overall record
• AP 1st-Team All-American
• Wooden Award All-American
• Drafted 5th Overall by Miami Heat in 2003 NBA Draft
  

#15 Carmelo Anthony, F, SYRACUSE Orange, Freshman

• From Baltimore, Maryland
• 22.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 spg, shot 45.3% from the floor and 33.7% from beyond the arc during freshman year.
• 10-Time Big East Rookie of the Week
• Posted double-doubles in 22 of 35 games
• First-Team All Big East
• Big East Rookie of the Year
• Dropped 33 points in win over Texas in the Final Four
• Won 2003 National Championship
• NCAA East Regional MVP
• NCAA Final Four MVP
• AP Second-Team All-American
• Drafted 3rd Overall by Denver Nuggets in 2003 NBA Draft
  

#25 Kyle Korver, F, CREIGHTON Bluejays, Junior

• 17.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg, shot 46.8% from the floor and 48.0% from beyond the arc.
• Shot 90.8% from the free-throw line
• Led team to a 29-5 record overall
• Led team to MVC Tournament Championship
• Back-to-back MVC Tournament MVP
• Two time MVC Player of the Year
• 2nd Team All-American
• Drafted 51st Overall by New Jersey Nets in 2003 NBA Draft
  

#34 Michael Sweetney, PF, GEORGETOWN Hoyas, Junior

• 22.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 1.5 spg, 1.9 apg. Shot 54.7% from the field.
• All-Big East 1st Team, unanimous selection
• Drafted 9th overall by New York Knicks in 2003 NBA Draft

All-Lark Team 2001-02

All-Lark NCAA Team 2001-02

#21 Dan Dickau, PG, GONZAGA Bulldogs, Senior

• 3.40 GPA
• Dropped 29 points in win over #16 Fresno St.
• Dropped 39 points in win over Portland
• Double-double in win over New Mexico St (19 pts, 10 ast)
• Led Zags to WCC Championship
• Led Zags to WCC Tournament Championship
• Led Zags as high as #6 ranking in the nation
• Led Zags to a 29-4 overall record
• 2002 WCC Player of the Year
• 2002 WCC Male-Scholar Athlete of the Year
• Top Five Wooden All-American, 2002
• Notable quote: Interviewer asks, "Which nickname do you prefer, the official one (Bulldogs) or the unofficial one (Zags), and why?" Dickau responds with "Zags. There are a lot of different Bulldogs across the country. Zags relates more to the program. We call each other Zags."
• Drafted 28th Overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks.

Dickau Steals Show with His Wit by Elizabeth A. Davis

#03 Juan Dixon, SG, MARYLAND Terrapins, Senior

• Maryland's All-Time leading scorer
• All-ACC First Team three years in a row
• Scored 33 points in win over Kansas in Final Four
• Double-doubles in wins over Florida St and at Georgia Tech
• Lead team to back-to-back Final Fours
• Led team to 2002 ACC Championship
• Won 2002 National Championship
• Led Terps to 33-4 overall record
• 2002 ACC Player of the Year
• 2002 NCAA Tournament MVP
• Top Five Wooden All-American, 2002
• Notable quote, "Basketball saved me."
• Drafted 17th Overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.
  

#35 Lonny Baxter, F, MARYLAND Terrapins, Senior

• From Silver Spring, Maryland
• Scored 29 points against UConn in East Regional Final
• Won 2002 National Championship
• 2002 NCAA Tournament East Region MVP
• 2002 All-American
• Drafted 44th Overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.
  

#0 Drew Gooden, F, KANSAS Jayhawks, Junior

• Led Jayhawks to Final Four
• Averaged a double-double for the season (19.8 points, 11.4 rebounds)
• Top Five Wooden All-American, 2002
• Drafted 4th Overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.

#1 Jared Jefferies, F, INDIANA Hoosiers, Sophomore

• Chicago Tribune's 2002 Silver Basketball Winner (Big 10 MVP)
• 2002 National Runner-Ups
• 2002 All-American
• Drafted 11th Overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.

Heineken: Premuim Light

In the world of light beers, Heineken Light places right smack dab in the middle of its competition. Neither as tasty as Sam Adams Light or as watery as Bud or Corona Light, the lager does nothing to change my opinion on light beers.

Upon popping off the cap and pouring the Lager into a glass, it is immediately recognizable as a close relative to Heineken. The look and smell are very similar to its bigger brother and the overall "blandness" is reminiscint of other light beers. Unfortunately, it has the same skunked taste, only more wattered down.

Unfortunately, it will probably sell because of the Heinenken name and recognizable green bottle. The official website tells me to succumb to the smooth taste, but succumbing to the wattery taste would be more accurate.

Heineken Light is better than most American Light beers, but that's not saying much. Try it for yourself!

Samuel Adams: White Ale

One of Samuel Adams many interesting beers, White Ale sticks out for incredible taste combined with drinkability. One of the five seasonal brews from the Boston Beer Company (Double Bock, Summer, Oktoberfest, Winter Lager being the others), this ale is a treat for beer consumers.

The beer pours a very cloudy color that immediately signals a think and lasting froth on the glass. It even looks like a great beer.

The label on the bottle reads, "An intricate blend of unusual spices creates its distinctive and refreshing taste" and it really couldn't be said any better. The taste is very fruity and won me over after a few sips.

Another treat fromt he Boston Beer Compnay. Make sure to pick up some when it runs from January to March. Highly recommended.

Samuel Adams: Hefeweizen

Sam Adams Hefeweizen pours a tan color with an average head. The beer is a little cloudy, but not as much as the White Ale. It leaves thick foam until the last gulp.

The label reads, "This crisp, fruity wheat ale is cloudy because the yeast has not been filtered out. Bavarian Spalt hops give the ale a crisp elegance that is not bitter and leaves a clean aftertaste."

The beer tastes good, but doesn't exactly set the world on fire. I can taste a little lemon in there, ad it gives the beer an overall fruity taste.

Sam Adams Hefeweizen might not be the best offering from the Boston Beer Company, but it is a good tasting beer made in the style of true German Hefes. I would recommend it to anyone looking to try new and different beers, but for the average fan I would not.

Sam Adams has many more beers that are a better pick up than this.

New England Brewing Company: Atlantic Amber & Elm City Lager

The New England Brewing Company is a small brewery located just outside New Haven, Connecticut. The brewery produces three beers, Atlantic Amber, Elm City Lager and a special brew called Gold Stock Ale that is brewed not necessarily every year.

The Atlantic Amber is a steam style brewed with lager yeasts at an ale temperature. This style originated in San Francisco and is indigenous to the United States. It pours an amber color with a huge, tan head. This smooth and malty beer goes down easy and leaves a lot of froth in your mug.

The Elm City Lager is a German style pilsner that pays homage to the town of New Haven. It pours a clear yellow style with a large head of foam. It finishes with a crisp taste and is very easy to drink.

Both of these beers are incredibly easy to drink and perfect for summer days on the docks or beach. Since they only come in can form and look remarkably like Coke and Sprite cans, they can be taken just about anywhere.

Highly recommended.

Deschute's Brewery Cinder Cone Seasonal Red Ale

Coming straight out of Bend, Oregon, is Deschutes Brewery’s Seasonal Red Ale, Cinder Cone. The label says the color is reddish because of the caramel malt and roasted barley, but it seems more of a dark ruby hue. At first, the beer has a strong aroma and with the first sip, the beer reveals its fruity, citrus flavor. The ale goes down smoothly and taste sticks around for a while. I could definitely throw back a couple of these in one sitting.

Sam Adams' Scotch Ale

One of Samuel Adams’ many brews, Scotch Ale is dark in color complete with a smoky smell and taste. The taste is powerful at first but doesn’t linger too long. I could probably only handle drinking one or two of these in a sitting.

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