The 2009 draft was believed to be one of the weakest draft in NBA history but it turns out there are a lot of diamonds in the rough slowly emerging as good prospects slowly showing there incandescent glitter as we close the season.

The Sleepers
Blake Griffin – His rookie season still has not started yet because of a stress fracture on his left knee the first overall pick will have to play next year when his knees are fully recovered.
Hasheem Thabeet – The number 2 overall draft pick had a slumping year averaging only 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 points per game. He was the former NABC Defensive player of the year (2008) and Big East Player of the year (2009) but the Memphis send Thabeet to the D-league making him the highest drafted player ever to play in the developmental league. It was already mind boggling when the Memphis Grizzlies drafted him considering the number of 7-footers on their lineup including their starting center Marc Gasol.
Jordan Hill – He was very promising when he played 5 games in the summer league averaging almost a double-double with 14 points per game and 8.2 rebounds but Mike D’Antoni seldom used the 6-foot-10 forward playing only 24 games averaging 4 ppg and 2.5 rebounds before he was traded to Houston for Mcgrady. The Knicks had all intentions in drafting Stephen Curry but Golden State went for the steal. They went for the next big thing available unfortunately they forgot about Brandon Jennings and went for Jordan Hill in the end.
Special Mentions: Ricky Rubio, Terrence Williams and Earl Clark

The Overachievers
Darren Collison – the 21st overall pick Darren averages almost 12 points and 6 assists per game. When Chris Paul got injured he took Chris’s role and handed out a Hornets record of 18 assists with 17 points last January then broke his own record with 20 assists against Golden State. I wonder why it took him to number 21.
Omri Casspi – It was understandable to see an Israel born player slid down to number 23 in fact it’s already a feat to see an unheard of player like Casspi to be drafted in the first round. At 6-foot-9 Casspi is a decent three point shooter who reminds me more of Rudy Fernandez he has good defense and is a good passer. His 12.1 points and 5 rebounds per game are definitely enough to get him notice.
Rodrique Beaubois- Nobody expected Rodrique to excel this season having a healthy Jason Kidd and backup point guard Jose Barea there is hardly enough room for him to squeeze some playing time. I thought he will be a D-league player this season but when Rick Carlisle gave Rodrique some confidence it converted to instant offense and some nifty assists. Last March 27 Beaubois scored a career-high of 40 points with 9 out of 11 from beyond the arc.
DeJuan Blair-He stands among a number of second round draft picks this season having some double-double nights and standing his ground among the best power forwards in the NBA today. A good steal from the Spurs and still has a lot more coming from the 6-foot-7, 277 lbs. forward.
Special Mentions: Jonas Jerebko, Chase Budinger, Tony Douglas, Ty Lawson,Taj Gibson and James Johnson.

The Rookie Of the Year
Tyreke Evans – At first teams were doubtful on drafting Evans because he was not natural on his position having played small forward in highschool then went to shooting guard in college then converted to point guard until he was drafted. But when he single-handedly outscored the Bulls in the 4th quarter during their December 21st meeting being down by 35 points Evans answered all the doubters and made him an instant Rookie of the year candidate. His first career triple-double against Toronto isn’t a fluke actually Evans has been going at it since his college days. What gives Evans an edge on all ROY candidates is that he has the consistency.
Brandon Jennings- He has the confidence and the right arsenal to be a scoring point guard in the league. He scored 55 points against Golden State and became the second rookie to score 55 points behind Earl Monroe’s 56 points way back in 1968. He may be erratic at times and had problem with consistency. The only dilemma Jennings is facing after scoring that much is that every game people expect him to be dominant. He is the clear definition of an unpolished rock give him two to three years and will see a diamond in the making.
Stephen Curry- He shoots like his dad but he is far more talented than his father. I describe Stephen as the younger version of Steve Nash. He shoots the ball well and he passes the ball well. He is slowly turning into a perennial point guard in the NBA.
Special Mentions: DeMar Derozan, James Harden and Jonny Flynn

He looks like Mike Tyson and he have been knocking out oppositions from 122-126 lbs. Joan Guzman is a skilled boxer fighter who has speed but going up in weight he lost touch with his power. He has been groomed to fight marquee fighters such as Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez but he does things to further complicate his chances. When Nate Campbell offered Guzman to fight his three titles namely the IBF, WBA and WBO belts in the lightweight division Guzman came in 3.5 pounds overweight for the 135lb. limit they were force to cancel out the fight when Guzman is dehydrated and had to go to the hospital the night before they supposedly fight. Last March 27 Guzman had the chance to fight for a rematch against Ali Funeka for the vacant IBF lightweight title but instead went to the scales 9 pounds overweight which is unprecedented and unlikely for a boxer claiming lost glory. I don’t know if his promoter will still consent Guzman’s unprofessionalism even though he’s still undefeated in 31 fights but at age 33, everything seems to go downhill for Joan.
The split decision win against Funeka gave Guzman confidence and is contemplating in fighting in the light welterweight division.” I want to get revenge for my Dominican and I want to fight Maidana,” said Guzman as stated in fighthype.com. The only problem is Marcos Maidana is a power boxer who had 28 wins with 27 by way of knockouts he fought mainly in the light welterweight division and had one fight as a welterweight knocking out Luis Sosa in the first round and at 150 on a unanimous decision win against Daniel Carriqueo. The question would be how much could a former 122 pound knockout artist withstand a legitimate light welterweight power’s onslaught. After dismantling Golden Boy’s hot prospect Victor Ortiz in the 6th round it might be one big reason that Amir Khan chose to fight the feather fisted Paulie Malignaggi instead of the interim champion Maidana. Joan Guzman barely escapes against Funeka despite being 9 pounds over and I don’t think Maidana will give him any room for a decision win. Soon all his unprofessionalism will somehow caught up with him… Be careful what you wish for Joan.

As David Stern holds the microphone everybody on the draft knows that Blake Griffin would be the first round overall number 1 pick but the second pick would be a free for all and within the crowd of draftees DeJuan Blair awaits his name as one by one teams drafted their prospective rookies. First there was his Co-Big East Player of the year Hasheem Thabeet then James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio then the list goes on and on. Everybody thought Blair would be somewhere between the top 20 and it turned out nobody wanted to draft him in the first round.
It was just years ago when Blair led his team to a 57-0 record and led his team to a state championship. He was named associated press player of the state and made first team all state during his junior and senior year. In spite having a series of surgeries that left him without an ACL or anterior cruciate ligaments on his knees he was still heavily recruited in college. The ACL’s job is to be one of the knee stabilizers in the anterior-posterior direction, that is preventing the tibia or shin bone from sliding frontwards or backwards in relation to the femur or thigh bone. So in short this is needed for knee stability and important for quick stops and starts which is highly required for athletes like Blair.
I don’t know of any athlete that played without an ACL but drafting Blair would be a high risk for any team especially for teams which are rebuilding. Blair never felt any adverse effects on having no ACL but eventually without anything to tear other issues would soon resurface cutting his career short in the long run.
The San Antonio Spurs eventually drafted the 20 year old Blair as their 2nd round 37th overall draft. He was undersized as a 6-foot-7 power forward/center but that doesn’t stop him from becoming the only Spurs rookie who had 20-20 since Tim Duncan and the only rookie who had a 20-20 game in the Rookie challenge setting a record for rebounds. Blair has been in a constant challenge trying to prove everybody wrong playing with his big heart. We could never tell how far his young knees would take him but we can never discount Blair’s resiliency. No wonder that despite his injuries in highschool a lot of colleges want him on their team. If someone ask me what will be the effect of people playing without an ACL I would say just look at how far DeJuan Blair has achieved. As US actress Gloria Swanson said “Never say never, for if you live long enough, chances are you will not be able to abide by its restrictions. Never is a long, undependable time, and life is too full of rich possibilities to have restrictions placed upon it.” Need I say more?

His 27 wins with no defeat with all wins coming from knockouts is very impressive and Edwin Valero’s aggression didn’t stop in the ring. Last year he also had a physical confrontation with his mother and sister which resulted to his arrest but the charges were later dropped. The recent news is Valero’s wife was taken to the hospital in Los Andes Venezuela due to an alleged physical assault by Valero which resulted to several injuries including a collapse lung and multiple bruises. He can knockout all those patsies and “Tuktuk” drivers in the ring but I condemned him for making his mother, sister and wife as punching bags. How can they ever defend themselves when trained boxers couldn’t even stop his aggression in the ring. He needs counselling or better yet Bob Arum should put Valero on a five fight schedule to make his year busy and to get those inner demons out in the ring.
That’s why boxers hands are license because it is treated as a deadly weapon and Edwin should put that in mind when he started beating his wife.
Boxers have also reputations to consider they have to be a role model to their fans much as all the athletes in sports and being abusive don’t help Valero in any way. A quote from Samuel Grisworld Goodrich “Abuse is the weapon of the vulgar”. He gets his act together before it’s too late. “El dinamita” doesn’t have to explode every time right?

February 26, 2007 Shaun Livingston the 6-foot-7 guard was on his way to the basket on the first quarter of the game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Shaun run all the way on to a fast break like a jet plane on a free way the only problem was his landing gear didn’t came out and it resulted on the worst basketball injury ever happened in recent memory. It was so graphic that it landed on extreme sports and hardcore videos about sports disasters. A dislocated knee cap, resulting on the snapping of the left leg laterally a tearing of the ACL, posterior cruciate ligament, lateral meniscus, spraining of the medial collateral ligament and dislocation of his patella and tibia-femoral joint in layman’s term Shaun injured every part of his knee. The 4th overall pick of the 2004 draft the 24 year old Livingston find himself rehabilitating for the later part of his career. He bounce back and forth playing small minutes in Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies then in the NBDL with the Tulsa 66ers then the Oklahoma Thunders and the last one was with the Wizards signing two 10-day contracts before Washington offered him to sign the remainder of the season. Shaun got the height and skills but because of the injury he is still a high risk player to sign in. There are only a handful of players that got back from a very serious injury but there are only a diminutive of players that were successful on their careers. Shaun in his own ways is trying to get by his injury the injury that cost his athleticism and a bright career. He takes every opportunity like his life depends on because he values every minute every ounce of second he plays on the court because at age 24 is still far from over.
On the first quarter of their game against the Los Angeles Lakers Shaun was brought back to his first home the Staples center the home that was shared together with his first team the LA Clippers. Wearing the customary blue Wizards uniform shooting guard Mike Miller shove a pass to Shaun on the sideline. He dribbled the ball and found himself open. There was no hesitation about passing the ball there wasn’t even an inclination about shooting it from the distance Shaun knew this is his chance as he drove to the basket amidst the stretch arms of Pau Gasol Shaun doubled clutch the ball and went for a dunk. It made it to the top 5 plays of the day and Shaun couldn’t even believe what he just done with the basket it was so surreal for him and even Pau felt good to see Shaun doing it posterizing him in front of his own crowd. Shaun is far from being back but we are glad to see him do little steps in getting to what he was before. It just feels good to see him dunk the rim like that because after what he has been through it’s nice to see him soaring even for just a few seconds.

A tale of two opposite personalities but are born equal in talent and showmanship. This is such a feel good documentary about an on court rivalry between Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird. They revolutionized the NBA to what it is now and their animosity towards each other made them really good friends in the end. From their college wars to the rookie of the year award all the way to the finals they’ve been going against each other not knowing they are slowly developing a special bond.
Years forward when Magic was diagnosed of HIV, Larry Bird supported Magic throughout the whole ordeal which brought tears to Magic when he was talking about it in the documentary.
Bird’s continuous nagging back brought him to his senses it made him retire which could have been done a couple of years back. But with their last hoorah Bird and Magic played once again not as rivals but as teammates and good friends on the Barcelona Olympics. This is a must see movie and once again HBO captured our hearts… Just click the image to download much thanks to the uploader

Manny Pacquiao arrived in Manila with his trademark smile holding his wife Jinkee with their cute kids as Manny talk with the reporters around him. Years before Manny learn to lace up his gloves it wasn’t like that at all. Mommy Dionesia had to find a living to cater to her growing family as Manny’s father leave them to escape his responsibility to his wife and children. She had to carry her family and act as a mother and father to all of them. Manny promised Mommy Dionesia that one day he’s gonna make their lives better and after 7 divisional weight championships later Manny had given more than enough to his family and to his mother Dionesia. After every Pacquiao victory reporters would always ask mother Dionesia what she wants from Manny but this time mommy Dionesia’s plea has been louder more than ever as she wants her son to retire. Manny shrug the possibility out when he fought Miguel Cotto and landed him a busted eardrum and after the Clottey fight it looks like Manny is inclining in hanging up his gloves for good. His mother doesn’t want him to fight anymore and she would go down on her knees and ask Manny to stop fighting. She wants her son to enjoy the fruits of his labor and Freddie Roach couldn’t agree more seeing Ali and himself having the effects of their brutal wars in Parkinson’s disease. Manny doesn’t want to talk any about Mosley or Mayweather for now he is focus on his campaign for a congressional seat in Sarangani province he has enough of Mayweather’s silly trash talks “He needs me to bolster his career. I am open to him fighting me anytime he wants to.” said Pacquiao.
“I came this far in my boxing career without Mayweather, so I see no need to call him out,”
The fact is Manny Pacquiao has already achieved what no one has ever achieved in boxing there is no need for him to prove his already remarkable legacy. Some critics will continue to haunt Manny on the PEDs and Steroids issue but he has already proven himself by passing every drug test the commission ask him and a dedicated work ethic that is legendary while he was in training camp. I feel that Manny is tired of proving everybody’s dirty mind wrong that he simply doesn’t care anymore. Mayweather can brag about cleaning the sport and he can talk about Manny not taking the test but we can never deny it that Floyd has never had any proof about his accusations and many supported Manny and in spite of all of that because people still continues to embrace Manny as the best pound per pound boxer in the world.
It looks like a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is becoming dim and if Manny wins the congressional seat it maybe the end of Manny’s career. He has given us never ending battle in the past and he has given his family a good life I think now is the time he give himself a taste of a good life and rip the fruits of his hard work. Mothers know best but we all hope Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come to his senses.

ESPN’s stellar documentary series 30 for 30 featured one of my favorite basketball player the trigger man Reggie Miller. This is one of the best basketball documentary I’ve seen in awhile with the exception of Lebron’s More than a game. The movie featured Miller’s memorable battle with the Knicks and his never ending trash talk with the guys. It’s funny and entertaining with Miller the most hated Pacer at that time going toe to toe with the equally rugged New York Knicks… Click the image to download… Enjoy!

In Phil Jackson’s book “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul” it featured four superstar players Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’neal and Kobe Bryant. It was the 2003-04 season that ended without a championship ring despite having four future Hall of famers. Shaquille blamed Kobe for the fall out then Phil delivered the final blow when he wrote that Kobe was uncoachable. Kobe remained mum the whole time deciding not to exchange verbal jabs. He made a mistake when he went toe to toe with Shaq further damaging his reputation in return.
Phil Jackson always has a way of making people developed to their full potential and he had to do it for Kobe’s wake up call. Phil knew how good Kobe was he just wants him to develop his trust on his teammates rather than taking all the shots. Before Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player of all time he was also the number one ball hog player lacing up a Chicago Bulls uniform from his rookie years. Phil and Tex Winters develop the triangle offense so that Michael will learn how to pass and trust his teammates more and the result ended with 6 championship rings and Jordan’s 5 MVP awards from that troubled season Kobe bounce back gracefully earning his first MVP award and a championship ring last year.
Pau Gasol was very vocal lately with Kobe not passing the ball often going to the media and making unlikely comments. It wasn’t Kobe’s fault when he had to share the post with a healthy Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. It wasn’t his fault either when he continued to bail them out for the 7th time this season. Kobe was just doing things to help them get the W. Kobe shrug the issue and instead praise Gasol saying the team needs him. Kobe won’t make the same mistake he had done before and logically the Lakers need Gasol more than anything. Kobe is just focused in winning he could have reprimanded Gasol when he was soft in defending the paint. He could have said something when Pau had his off nights but not a word. The maturity goes beyond experience Kobe is chasing his fifth, sixth or seventh ring and with a clear goal on his mind he is now playing with a deep purpose… You cannot please everybody and Kobe knows that pretty well.

A 16 year old Manny Pacquiao had to put stones and steels on his pocket just to get to the weight limit of 105 pounds and years after who would have thought the lanky kid from General Santos Philippines is now campaigning in the Welterweight division some 42 pounds up on his very first professional fight way back in 1995. Years back we would laugh on a Pacquiao-Cotto or Pacquiao-De la Hoya matchup it’s an utterly mismatch with the smaller Manny. There is no way a former flyweight could conquer the household welterweight fighters who are bigger and stronger than Manny no one has ever done that. But Manny prove us all wrong he dominated Oscar De La Hoya and made him retire then he drop the light welterweight kingpin Ricky Hatton in just two rounds, dominated Miguel Cotto in TKO win then last Saturday displayed a masterful performance against a bigger welterweight in Joshua Clottey.
There is only one logical opponent left for Manny and that would be the winner of the Mayweather-Mosley fight this May 1. Manny has two fights left before retiring and others suggested if a Mosley or Mayweather fight doesn’t materialize then better go one division higher against Yuri Foreman granting Yuri wins his fight with the Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto gunning for a record of 8 divisional titles. But that would be a case of biting more than Manny could chew. You see Manny’s three fights in the welterweight division with Oscar, Cotto and Clottey is an indication that he had reached his ultimate limit in weight. He had to go 8 rounds against a dehydrated De La Hoya, 12 rounds against a 145lb. catch weight on Cotto and 12 full rounds on a heavier and stronger welterweight in Joshua Clottey. Manny’s original fighting weight would definitely be on the light welterweight limit but his power and speed can take him to bigger levels. The only problem is that how much can Pacquiao take all those heavier punches from bigger oppositions. He had a busted eardrum after the Cotto fight and even on his dominating fight with Clottey his eyes were swelled and looks like he had been beaten but of course it was the other way around. There was no one punch knockout that we are accustomed in seeing Manny while he was still campaigning in the lower weights instead it took him accumulated power punches to dominate his opponent. What makes Manny successful while moving up in weight is that he retained his speed and power enough to make legitimate welterweights fear for the storm of punches coming on their way.
An 8th divisional title won’t be farfetched further making boxing history but a fight with Mosley or Mayweather is not all about cementing legacies it’s all about pursuing higher greatness. He already made history by winning his 7th divisional title all Manny had to do is settle the score with either Mosley or Mayweather for the greatest boxer of our generation.No doubt about it after all he proved us wrong years ago.