John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Friday:

• Alabama basketball picks up two commitments for 2011, reports Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News wonders if Alabama quarterback Star Jackson will have to jump through transfer hoops, a la basketball player Justin Knox.

• Florida wins big game at South Carolina 3-2, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

• Chris Bahn of Arkansas Sports 360 on Razorbacks’ quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Will Alabama treat its transfers equally?’

With Terrence Jones joining the UK fold, thought it might be a good time to chat it up live. We’ll start tonight at 8.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

(AP photo)

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader on Terrence Jones coming to Kentucky:

Jones led Jefferson High School to an unprecedented three straight Oregon Class 5A state championships. He averaged 32 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and three steals during his senior season. Brick Oettinger, a longtime analyst for the Prep Stars recruiting service, considered UK’s incoming class to be outstanding even before the addition of Jones.

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times on UK’s glitz and glamour that lured Jones to Lexington:

Kentucky 2, Washington 0. The Wildcats reached across the country and into the Pacific Northwest, snatching yet another heralded recruit away from the Huskies. Last month it was Turkish-born Enes Kanter, the five-star prospect, who verbally committed to UW in November. On Wednesday, it was multiskilled Terrence Jones, the 6-foot-9 McDonald’s All-American forward from Portland’s Jefferson High, who pledged his loyalty to the Huskies on April 30 during a news conference at his school.

Nick Daschle of the Oregonian on the Jones’ 95 percent commitment to Kentucky:

But Jones indicated that he is “95 percent certain” he’ll stick with the Wildcats, saying coach John Calipari leaving the school is the only reason he would back out. Calipari has been rumored to be in the mix for several NBA coaching jobs, most notably Chicago. Unlike a letter of intent, which binds the player to the school, Jones is free to sign a financial aid agreement with other schools, if offered. Asked if there was a chance he might sign one with Washington, Jones said “it could be possible, but it’s not likely.”

Sporting News recruiting blog ranks Kentucky’s class at No. 3 with Jones:

3. Kentucky. The Wildcats got a late bump when Jones decided he’d play at Kentucky. Though not as strong a class as the Wildcats’ 2009 group stacked with one-and-done stars, Jones highlights a group that includes PF Enes Kanter and G Brandon Knight.

My column saying kids like Knight and Jones are doing the smart thing:

I haven’t seen enough of the Fort Lauderdale guard’s game to judge his basketball IQ, but I know Knight is smart. Not from what he’s done, but what he did not do. He didn’t sign a letter of intent. After committing to play for Calipari and Kentucky, Knight bypassed the traditional letter to instead ink a financial-aid agreement. That’s a non-binding agreement. It means Kentucky must provide Knight with a full scholarship next season. It does not mean Knight has to attend UK. Ditto for Jones.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Terrence Jones to Kentucky links roundup’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia gets a coup with the pickup of Marcus Thornton.

• Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun reports on key Florida-South Carolina baseball series.

• The stakes are high for Florida and South Carolina, writes Ron Morris in The State.

• Are Florida’s football coaches overpaid? asks Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.

• Chris Low of espn.com lists 10 true freshmen who could see early SEC football action.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Georgia gets Thornton; Baseball cranks up’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Terrence Jones tells Nick Daschle of the Oregonian that he will definitely sign a letter today with either Washington or Kentucky.

• Jones’ high school coach tells Percy Allen of the Seattle Times he thinks Washington will be the choice.

• Patrick Patterson tells Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader that he’s confident John Calipari will return next season.

• Paducah Tilghman wide receiver Josh Forrest has committed to Kentucky, reports Mike Fields of the H-L.

• Mark Tupper of the Decatur Herald-Review on Illinois assistant Jerrance Howard and the UK opening. (Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog)

• Mark Heisler of the Los Angeles Times writes that the Wizards can start rebuilding with John Wall.

• While in Bevery Hills, John Wall talks to ESPN’s Andy Katz about the possibility of being the top pick.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Coach says Terrence Jones to Washington (again)’

Jackie Sherill

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Auburn basketball has signed a Georgia point guard.

• Looks like Murphy Holloway will end up at South Carolina, reports Seth Emerson of The State.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that maybe the Big Ten won’t blow up the world after all.

• Ex-Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill is continuing to battle the NCAA, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.

• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun remembers a friend and mentor in Jack Hairston.

• Lane Kiffin not worth his reported salary, writes Tennessean columnist David Climer.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Murphy Holloway to end up at South Carolina’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Florida basketball signee Patric Young looks to start with a bang, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News thinks Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant needs to get a better grasp on the state’s pipeline.

• It’s getting harder for John Cohen to find bright spots at Mississippi State, reports Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily News.

• Tony Barnhart of the AJC asks whether Georgia Tech would say yes to an invitation from the SEC?

• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register on Jim Delaney and Mike Slive.

• John Pennington of Mr. SEC says if SEC is going to act in expansion, it should act boldly.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida’s Patric Young ready to make impact’

World Wide Wes sat in front row of end zone in front of Kentucky cheering section. (Photo by John Clay)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes that John Calipari and rumors are a package deal: “Yet on Monday, UK fans awoke to find that both The Chicago Tribune and New York’s Newsday were reporting that the ubiquitous basketball power broker William Wesley – Worldwide Wes – was working back channels to facilitate a LeBron James/Calipari package deal to NBA franchises in financial position to bid on the Cleveland Cavaliers star.”

Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal reports that Arizona’s Book Richardson is one of three candidates for UK’s assistant coach opening.

Coach tells Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger Darnell Dodson will return to UK: “Darnell Dodson will be back at Kentucky for his junior season. Matt Eisele, the head coach at Miami Dade College, says his former player “will be back” with the Wildcats next season even though UK coach John Calipari proclaimed several times in the last month that UK would have only four players back off this year’s team.”

Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago thinks Jerrance Howard will remain at Illinois: “Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber would rather Kentucky hadn’t recently tried to sway away Illini assistant Jerrance Howard, but Weber does realize there was significance to it. ‘In a way, it’s a compliment to our program and him,’ Weber said on Monday night. ‘If we’re struggling and not doing a good job recruiting, they wouldn’t contact him. He’s very loyal to the Illini and appreciates everything. At the same time, you always listen to things and see what’s out there.’” (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Charles Pierce writes for Slate on Rajon Rondo: “Under Rivers’ guidance, Rondo has become the most unstoppable point guard in the NBA and, in the postseason, very likely the best one. The only one still with an argument is Steve Nash in Phoenix, and Nash has proved himself completely incapable of guarding Rondo at all. There will be people who will argue for New Orleans’ Chris Paul, who shoots better, and Utah’s Deron Williams, who is bigger and stronger, but neither of them have done what Rondo has done when games truly begin to count.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Book Richardson newest name on UK assistant list’

Daily Randoms for a Monday:

Back from the Preakness, where there were numerous interesting sites. A couple happened back at the Pimlico Stakes Barn, just an hour before the race. There was Bob Baffert talking to gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn. The two had been introduced by Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden. Then there was Baffert trying to find a photographer to get his son Bode’s picture taken with Vonn. A few minutes later, you could hear the buzz of planes overhead. First was a plane carrying a “Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club: Free admission w/race tix” banner. Then came a “Millstream Inn/millstreamgirls.com: Free drink with race ticket” banner. Both circled the infield. They obviously new their target audience.

During the post-race press conference, a rambunctious Bode Baffert ran up to the head table, grabbed a reporter’s microphone and ran off. “Bode, you can’t do that,” said his dad Bob, laughing. But Bode did. And no one stopped him, either.

Check out the Herald-Leader photo slide show.

As for the Belmont, seems the Boston Herald has the right headline.

Those persistent Calipari-NBA rumors. John Calipari tweeted this morning “Now do I have to respond to these rumors too?” Answer: No. He doesn’t have to tweet either. Or keep talking to the national press. But he does, because he’s Cal. And because he’s Cal, and because of LeBron’s connections to WWW and Leon Rose, these rumors are not going to die. Not anytime soon. Doesn’t matter what Calipari says or tweets. He’s a coach. When it comes to coaches, we have learned to take anything they say with regards to jobs with a large bag of salt.

As for LeBron, a (small) part of me wonders about all the fuss. What exactly has LeBron done? He’s been one to NBA finals, where his team was swept. It lost in the conference finals last year, and semifinals this year. It has underachieved. I know LBJ doesn’t have the Lakers supporting cast, but doesn’t some of that fall back on him, especially the way his effort flat-lined at end of Boston series? And it’s just May 17 and I’m already sick of the free agent angle.

Continue reading ‘Preakness, Cal, Boss sings Journey, and more randoms’

This morning brings the happy news that this humble blog is among the finalists for a national award.

John Clay’s Sidelines is up for an EPpy Award, given by Editor and Publisher annually to the best in digital media.

(Apparently, E & P likes spreadsheets.)

Or let’s just let E & P explain it:

Web sites and blogs affiliated with newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, online-only enterprises, universities and cable TV will contend for an EPpy Award in the 15th annual competition for the best of the best among digital media offerings. Finalists in the competition were announced Monday. The EPpy Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the 21st annual Editor & Publisher Interactive Media Conference & Trade Show June 16-17 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

This blog is one of four finalists for Best Sports Blog:

Best Sports Blog
• Brewers Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Christopher L. Gasper Blog, Boston Globe
• John Clay’s Sidelines, Kentucky.com/Lexington Herald-Leader
• Packers Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

You can read the story and a list of all finalists in all categories here.

Thanks to everyone who made this possible, including first of all this blog’s loyal readers, those who post comments, those who send me e-mails, those who have made suggestions, those who have passed along links, and those who have promoted this blog by sending out links. This blog wouldn’t be possible without its readers.

Thanks again.