John Clay’s Sidelines

Technically, I’m on vacation this week, but I’ll be checking in on the blog from time-to-time.

Here are some early responses to the request for John Calipari photos. If you’ve had your picture taken with the new UK coach, send them along to me at jclay@herald-leader.com and I’ll post them on the blog.

Above is a Twitpic of John Calipari, Joe B. Hall and friends at Kentucky Speedway.

Earlier this week, Big Blue Uncensored posted some great pictures of UK coach John Calipari, and others, taken at the Calipari Father and Son camp.

I know that plenty of people around the state have already had their pictures taken with UK’s new basketball coach since he’s been in Lexington.

Send me your pics and I’ll post them on the blog.

E-mail them to me at jclay@herald-leader.com.

At SportsIllustrated.com, Luke Winn writes that when he entered Madison Square Garden for last night’s NBA draft, he noticed the seating arrangement had new UK coach John Calipari sitting directly behind U of L coach, and rival, Rick Pitino.

Winn said he never saw Cal sit in that seat, however.

Excerpt:

The ego-cramping in that scenario would’ve rivaled the physical cramping that occurred when the NBA seated Shawn Bradley and Manute Bol back-to-back at the 2004 draft. Pitino eventually sat in his seat while Calipari — at least while I was in the room — avoided his, which meant no awkward photos, and no opportunity for Kentucky fans to create Photoshops of him putting his feet in Pitino’s hair.

Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.

Danny Ainge at press conference Tuesday to discuss draft. (AP Photo/Eric J. Shelton)

Steve Moss over at WKY-TV sent an interesting tweet reporting that Rajon Rondo, torrid subject of the NBA rumor mill the past few days, is working Larry O’Bannon’s camp in his hometown of Louisville.

Moss reports that Rondo declined interviews, explaining he had been instructed by his agent not to talk to the media.

Rondo’s agent is Bill Duffy, who is not overly thrilled with Boston Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge at the moment. There are those reports the 2008 champs are shopping their point guard, plus Ainge’s comment this week that while has no intentions of trading No. 9, Rondo needed to “mature” after showing up late for a playoff game.

When asked by the Boston Herald if the relationship between Rondo and the Celtics needed repairing, Duffy said, “That remains to be seen.”

Continue reading ‘Rajon Rondo and Celtics have some making up to do’

Ok, now here are seven players who were taken this decade after the 41st selection in the NBA Draft:

Here’s a chart of the last 10 players taken at No. 41 in the NBA Draft:

An on-line poll on the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website appears to indicate that Bucks’ fans are pleased with the selections of Brandon Jennings (first round) and UK’s Jodie Meeks (second round).

At 2:20, I checked and it was running 68-32 in favor of the picks.

Over 3,400 had voted.

Here’s the link.

And here’s the Bucks’ roster:

Joe Alexander F 6-8 230 12/26/1986 West Virginia 1
Malik Allen F 6-10 255 06/27/1978 Villanova 8
Charlie Bell G 6-3 200 03/12/1979 Michigan State 5
Keith Bogans G-F 6-5 215 05/12/1980 Kentucky 6
Andrew Bogut C 7-0 260 11/28/1984 Utah 4
Bruce Bowen F 6-7 200 06/14/1971 Cal State Fullerton 12
Francisco Elson C-F 7-0 235 02/28/1976 California 6
Dan Gadzuric C 6-11 245 02/02/1978 UCLA 7
Brandon Jennings ** G 6-1 169 09/23/1989 R
Amir Johnson F 6-9 210 05/01/1987 Westchester HS (Los Angeles, CA) 3
Damon Jones G 6-3 195 08/25/1976 Houston 11
Luc Mbah a Moute F 6-8 230 09/09/1986 UCLA 1
Jodie Meeks ** G 6-4 208 08/21/1987 Kentucky R
Michael Redd G 6-6 215 08/24/1979 Ohio State 9
Luke Ridnour G 6-2 175 02/13/1981 Oregon 6
Ramon Sessions G 6-3 190 04/11/1986 Nevada-Reno 2
Salim Stoudamire G 6-1 175 10/11/1982 Arizona 3
Kurt Thomas F 6-9 235 10/04/1972 Texas Christian 13
Charlie Villanueva F 6-11 232 08/24/1984 Connecticut

Jodie Meeks

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• James Pennington of the Herald-Leader reports on Jodie Meeks going to Milwaukee as the 41st pick in the NBA draft.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports on UK picking up a tight end transfer from Colorado.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Ryan Wallace is glad to be joining UK.
• Charles Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes on the Bucks taking Meeks.
• Bucks Diary compares Meeks to Shaun Respert.
• The Journal-Times writes on Milwaukee’s selection of Meeks.
• Inner Circle looks at the Meeks decision now.
• A Sea of Blue has four critical questions for UK basketball in 2009-10.
• ESPN reports that Rajon Rondo’s agent has fired back at Danny Ainge.
• Bluegrass State Basketball writes on Doron Lamb.
• Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal writes on ex-Cards honoring the late Marvin Stone, who also played at UK.

SEC links for Friday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that NCAA has delayed interviews in case of Mississippi State basketball recruit Renardo Sidney.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that LSU coach Paul Mainieri shares CWS title with family and friends.
• Gainesville Sun reports Timberwolves could pay $500,000 buyout to get Nick Calathes out of his Greek contract.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that a massive clean-up project awaits ex-Tennessee coach Kevin O’Neill at Southern Cal.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News on whether Nick Saban deserves a new deal.
• Joe Person of The State writes that a new conditioning coach has brought a different approach to South Carolina.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Interviews delayed in case of MSU’s Sidney’