John Clay's Sidelines

Patrick Towles (AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• UK signee Towles wins Mr. Football award, reports AP.
• Chuck Hayes undergoing more health tests, reports Sacramento Bee.
• Chattanooga coach expects a sharp UK, writes Jerry Tipton of H-L.
• Mocs bring a 3-7 record to Rupp, writes Brendan Quinn of nooga.com.
• UK signee Poythress makes Naismith list, reports H-L.
• Terrence Jones has room to improve, writes Kyle Tucker of C-J.
• Cat Scratches has television information for UK-Chattanooga.
• Daniel Orton not ready, says Brian Schmitz of Orlando Sentinel.
• Paul deal is good for Bledsoe, says Jeff Sentell of Birmingham News.
• Rondo most hated player in NBA, reports Tom Curran of Celtics Town.

Shaquille O’Neal is full of it.

In his new book, the erstwhile Shaq claims that President Obama ruined Rajon Rondo’s confidence by making a joke at the expense of the former Kentucky guard when Rondo was with the president at a fund-raiser.

Excerpt:

“In early March some of the guys went to the museum of Fine Arts for a fund-raiser and got to hang with President Barack Obama. Everyone was a little bit in awe. The President turns to Ray, points at Rondo, and says, “Hey, Ray, why don’t you teach this kid how to shoot?” Everyone starts laughing.

KG told me he saw the look on Rondo’s face and the kid was devastated, embarrassed. Dissed by the President, even though I’m sure Obama didn’t mean any harm. Rondo smiled and went along with all of it, but KG told me he could see it in his eyes. It bothered Rondo. It killed him.

The next day Rondo shot the ball horribly. He stopped taking shots after that. He’s so sensitive. I think it was a real jolt to hear the outside perception of a basketball fan who happens to be the President of the United States. It messed with his mind. I’m sure of it.”

The next day Rondo shot the ball horribly? Please. Rajon Rondo is a great basketball player. He is one of the best guards in the NBA. He is artistic, can create shots for his teammates. But Rondo is not a good shooter. Never has been. He’s a career 24.2 percent shooter from three-point range, and shot 23.3 percent last year.  I don’t think the president had much to do with that.

I’m starting to think maybe Kobe was right.

Rajon Rondo and Nazr Mohammed talk to media after losing to the Dominicans in Tuesday’s exhibition game.

DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo talk about coming back to Rupp.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• DeAndre Liggins decides to keep his name in the NBA draft, says H-L report.
• Vandy rallies to take two of three from UK baseball, reports Mark Maloney.
• Liggins earned good reviews in pro workouts, reports the C-J.
• Lockout was big factor in Terrence Jones’ decision, reports Oregonian.
• NBA is bullish on Brandon Knight’s prospects, says Sporting News.
• Liggins gambling he can beat the odds, writes Larry Vaught.
• Kentucky Kernel takes a look at next year’s possible lineups.
• Liggins may be making right decision, says Eric Lindsey.
• A few football recruiting updates from Bleed Blue Kentucky.
• Rajon Rondo is set to give it a try for Celtics, reports Boston Globe.

New York coach Mike D’Antoni made an unflattering remark about Rajon Rondo as the Knicks were on their way to being swept by the Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Here are Rondo’s stats for the series.

(AP photo)

Thanks to an alert blog reader who isn’t suffering from the post-Christmas blahs. He gets credit for an assist for sending along this link to an interesting New York Times story on the Mark Price Shooting Lab. Price is the former Georgia Tech and NBA guard known for his sweet stroke. Price calls his lab the “A.A. of shooting.” He’s there to help any player who has lost touch with the rim. And Price has opened up his toolbox to work on some famous clients.

An excerpt:

The lab’s most renowned problem case was Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, whose transcendent 2009-10 season was in small part a result of Price’s handiwork. Rondo arrived with a host of maladies – a flying elbow, which he neglected to keep tucked in; imbalance because of poor foot placement; and a habit of bringing the ball too far back before launching.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Morgan Newton is trying to be patient as Kentucky’s backup, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• No time to toughen Kentucky’s football schedule, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
• Doubt is what Kentucky’s Randall Cobb is all about, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• A dozen Louisville high school football players will be at UK-Akron, reports Jody Demling of the C-J.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause gives a scouting report for Kentucky-Akron.
• Akron’s Jeremy LaFrance knows about adversity, writes Tom Gaffney of the Akron Beacon-Journal.
• John Pennington of Mr. SEC looks at John Calipari and plausible deniability.
• Kentucky’s offense is becoming more diverse, writes Will Graves of the Associated Press.
• Joker Phillips expects Mike Hartline to block, too, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Getting ready for Saturday’s Cats vs. Zips’

Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports talks to Rajon Rondo, who offers this opinion on LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh:

“They should be good, but they ain’t done nothing yet,” Rondo said after a recent practice during Team USA’s minicamp. “They ain’t done nothing.”

And this:

“What is there to be nervous for?” he said. “I’m worried about L.A. That’s the team we need to beat. Miami looks really good on paper, and I’m sure they’re going to be really good. But they still have to come together as a team. I’m not saying they won’t, but who knows if those guys can jell?”

Rondo is in Las Vegas as part of the Team USA mini-camp.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Kentucky’s recruits help U.S. take FIBA title: “University of Kentucky commitment Michael Gilchrist scored 18 points, and the United States won FIBA’s Under-17 championship with a 111-80 victory over Poland on Sunday. Fellow UK commitment Marquis Teague chipped in eight points and eight assists for the U.S. (8-0), which won its games by an average of 34.8 points.”

• Chris Tomasson of AOL FanHouse on Rajon Rondo being added to USA roster: “USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in an interview Sunday with FanHouse that Boston star Rajon Rondo has committed to Team USA, hoping to be part of the team that will play later this summer in the World Championships. Colangelo said he spoke to Rondo on Saturday, and he confirmed his desire to participate. Rondo previously had begged off this summer due a family commitment.“

• Matt Middleton of the Augusta Chronicle on Peach Jam: “The event will be held at the USC Aiken Convocation Center, the USC Aiken Student Activities Center and Aiken Tech. The 17-and-under Southern Kings, for example, feature several members of the Richmond Academy team that advanced to the state semifinals, as well as former Evans big man Jaleel Roberts, now of Greensboro Day School in North Carolina. The Peach Jam, without a local presence, still holds the national talent edge, with the three top players in the country set to attend: Kentucky recruits Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague, and point guard Austin Rivers, son of Doc Rivers.”

• AP report on John Wall’s summer league debut: “The 19-year-old Wall had a team-high 24 points and eight assists for the Washington Wizards during their 84-79 victory over the Golden State Warriors in an NBA Summer League game on Sunday. But the guard also led all players with eight turnovers, including three in the first quarter before a standing-room crowd at Cox Pavilion.”

• Michael Lee of Washington Post says Wall overcame a shaky start: “John Wall’s summer league debut was mostly predictable and somewhat surprising, with the 19-year-old rookie making hurried mistakes in the early going before settling into a commanding floor general before the buzzer sounded. He made mistakes – some were eye-covering, others were laughable – but his speed, athleticism and instincts will help him adjust to this league pretty quickly until he eventually figures out what he’s doing.”

• Video highlights of Wall’s game:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Michael Gilchrist, Marquis Teague shine overseas’