John Clay’s Sidelines

Here’s Rajon Rondo hitting a behind-the-backboard shot during Boston’s 105-74 rout of the 76ers last night in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, this scribe at the Bleacher Report is not a Rondo fan.

Here’s video of the Rajon Rondo/Chris Paul confrontation at the end of Sunday night’s Boston-New Orleans game. For one thing, Boston coach Doc Rivers was not happy with his point guard after the game. John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has more on the incident, which the NBA is investigating.

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’

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.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald talks to Danny Ainge about those Rajon Rondo trade rumors.
• Marc Spears of the Boston Globe reports that several scouts say the Celtics have been shopping Rondo.
• USA Today picks up on the Rajon Rondo rumors.
• The Sporting News blog says the trade reports make little sense.
• At Boston.com, Chad Finn wants to know if it’s deal or no deal.
• Frank Delll’Apa of the Boston Globe writes that Ainge is dealing in reality.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger talks to Larry Conley, who doesn’t see UK as a top 10 team without Jodie Meeks.
• The Desert News reports that Meeks worked out for the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
• Cat Scratches reports that ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb is speculating that Meeks could go in the first round to the Lakers.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal writes on former UK commitment Dominique Ferguson.
• Bluegrass State Basketball wonders if there might be a Chinese shooting guard who could replace Meeks.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton reports that UK baseball fans showed some love basketball’s Jodie Meeks.
• CBS 42 in Birmingham reports that UK target Eric Bledsoe will visit Memphis. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• Shandel Richardson of the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel blogs that Miami made a good impression on John Wall.
• Mark Maloney of the H-L reports on Louisville baseball’s 11-2 rout of the Cats.
• Joe B. Hall tells Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger that John Calipari totally understands UK basketball.
• CBS Sportsline draft expert Pete Prisco projects Trevard Lindley as a first-round pick in 2010. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
• Jon Hale of the Kentucky Kernel writes that Meeks is still undecided on his draft plans.
• Hale also writes that UK baseball still holds its own destiny after loss.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Meeks gets some love; Cards whip Cats in baseball’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jennifer Hewlett of the Herald-Leader writes on the death of former UK star Mike Casey.
• Tom Leach writes on Mike Casey.
• The H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes that Nolan Dennis is in no rush to commit.
• Tipton also writes that Daniel Orton is keeping his options open.
• Here is a Herald-Leader page devoted to possible UK recruits.
• Chip Cosby writes that there is strength in UK’s offensive line numbers.
• Mark Story writes that Rajon Rondo and the NBA are a perfect fit.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that John Calipari raises the bar high for the SEC.
• Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes that top recruits are scrambling.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Eric Bledsoe has UK behind Florida on his list.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Mike Casey’s passing; recruiting news’

Rajon Rondo celebrated his 23rd birthday in style Sunday, scoring a career-high 32 points in Boston’s 128-108 win at Phoenix. Some details on the ex-Cat’s day:

• Steve Bulpett writes in the Boston Herald that Rondo knows how to celebrate. Bulpett: ” Rajon Rondo celebrated his 23rd birthday in a most unique fashion yesterday. Candles? He didn’t need no stinking candles. Rajon Rondo blew out the Suns.”

• Frank Dell’Apa writes in the Boston Globe that Rajon is now a running theme for the Celtics. Quote from Paul Pierce: “As Rondo goes, this team goes,” Pierce said. “If he plays as well as he’s playing, there is no way we can lose. He’s doing a great job finding guys and putting the ball in the hole.”

• From the comments section on the Globe story: “I say we get a guy in to hypnotize Rondo before every game and to tell him it’s his birthday! Happy Birthday, Rajon! That was quite some present you gave yourself and us yesterday. Keep on rockin’ and clockin’ those points and you’ll be an All Star one day and a Hall of Famer too! “

• Bob Young has the game story in the Arizona Republic. Young: “The Suns got a little taste of reality and a double dose of Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen from the Boston Celtics on Sunday, falling 128-108 to the defending NBA champions at US Airways Center. Rondo scored a career-high 32 points and added 10 assists and six rebounds, and Allen poured in 31 and Paul Pierce added 26 to lead Boston.”

Surfing the net for UK news:

• Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette writes that Rajon Rondo has gone to the head of the Celtics class, and gets some comments from Rajon on Jodie Meeks’ 54-point performance.
• The H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes that Kentucky and Auburn tell two different stories at the free throw line.
• Mark Story gives out his mid-season awards.
• A Sea of Blue looks at Kentucky’s fast starts and how it affects the rest of the game.
• The Cat Scratches blog gives a UK basketball practice report.
• Tom Leach says the coaches poll shows a lack of respect for the SEC.
• At the Danville Advocate-Messenger, Larry Vaught writes that Auburn could use a junk defense on Jodie Meeks.
• Vaught also writes that Kentucky’s defense impresses Auburn coach Jeff Lebo.
• And Larry also has a notes package that includes Auburn’s Korvotney Barber saying he almost came to UK.
• Brian Eldridge of Kentucky Sports Report says UK football has a commitment from former Iowa State commitment Ryan Mosby.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, Alex Risen writes that the vacation is over for UK men’s tennis.
• The Arizona Daily Star examines ex-UK coach Tubby Smith as a possibility for the open Arizona job.

Rajon Rondo flirted with another triple-double last night, scoring 25 points, grabbing nine rebounds and making eight assists in leading Boston to a 100-91 win over Utah last night.

Some links:

• Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe writes that Rondo’s play bails out the Celtics, which win their 15th straight game.

• Legendary Globe columnist Bob Ryan writes that Rondo is quick to draw his teammates’ compliments.

• At espn.com’s Daily Dime, John Hollinger writes that with the way Rondo is playing, Boston’s “Big Three” might become the “Fantastic Four.”

• Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes on Rondo’s big show.

• In a special to USA Today, Andrew Alberg writes on how in Rondo’s third year the point guard has the Celtics off and running.

• Robert Lee of the Providence Journal examines the Rajon Rondo vs. Chris Paul match-up.

• Mike Fine of the Patriot-Ledger writes that Rondo points the way.