From the Chicago Tribune: “The Bulls have no picks in the June 28 NBA draft, but that didn’t stop them from bringing perimeter players Mike Bell, Drake Diener, Jackie Manuel and Rawle Marshall to the Berto Center on Wednesday. “Management wants to get a handle on some players who may go undrafted and could fill the summer-league roster and/or be invited to October’s training camp.”
We were walking toward Ted’s Montana Grill in Durham to partake of some bison, and we see some tall fellows walking toward us. I think one of them looks like Marvin Williams, so I stare until I figure out that it is him. Nice guy that he is, he even moved out of the way as I wandered blankly by, gawking. After we get into the restaurant, Lorrie points out that he was with Sean May and Wes Miller. (Who looked taller in person than he does with the rest of the team.) You know, it’s not like I really need more proof that my brain isn’t exactly agile when surprised. There go my dreams of being Sherlock Holmes. :) ...
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Coach “Big House” Gaines. Photo courtesy of the WSSU Archives and NARA Clarence “Big House” Gaines, who spent 47 seasons coaching men’s basketball at Winston-Salem State University, passed away yesterday. He was 81. When he retired, he had won more men’s basketball games than anyone except Adolph Rupp. A few coaches passed him since then, including Dean Smith, but he was at WSSU long enough for 828 wins and entrance to the Hall of Fame. ...
So Mitch Albom just made up significant portions of a column on Michigan State’s Final Four game, and now there’s a debate about whether he should be fired. Personally, although I don’t want to, I can’t help but think sports journalists have to meet lower standards of reporting than someone who is reporting “hard news.” After all, sports reporting has had a long history of colorful characters and colorful writing that didn’t always come close to the facts. ...
We went to the UNC Men’s Basketball awards ceremony, along with a bunch of other fans. It was good.
Draftcity.com on Jackie Manuel at the Portsmouth Invitational: Manuel really looked like a sore thumb on the roster sheet that was handed out where all the players stats are listed from this past season. The reason for that is obvious, as he played for the team that won the National Championship and let others focusing on scoring while he did all the little things to help his team out. That wasnt the case here at Portsmouth, where he showed off some offensive skills that no one (except maybe his teammates) knew he had in him beforehand. He was probably the most athletic player at this tournament, or at least the player that showed off the most athleticism in every thing he did. Manuel probably earned himself an invite to Chicago, but hell have to work on his stroke in the next two months to show that he can play in the NBA as a SG. ...
More from the Portsmouth Invitational: Jackie Manuel: Continued his impressive week in Portsmouth with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Jawad Williams’ team. Manuel was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line and 3-of-7 from the field. Jawad Williams: Totaled 20 points – the second highest scoring total in the game – and added 10 rebounds and two blocks. Williams shot 9-of-17 from the field and 2-of-3 at the line. He got a game-high 35 minutes of playing time. ...
Former star defender at UNC turns into offensive powerhouse for the night at the Pre-NBA Draft Portsmouth Invitational: Was the star of the early evening contest, with a game-high 22 points for Beach Barton Ford in an 86-81 losing effort. Manuel filled up the stat line shooting 10-of-12 from the field, 2-of-3 at the free throw line and posting 6 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal. Jawad Williams is playing as well, but it sounds like Wake Forest’s Taron Downey had the better night last night. ...
"…This is your time." Jackie Manuel #5 Jawad Williams #21 Melvin Scott #1 Images courtesy of Inside Carolina
First, The Jackie Manuel Experience. Second, that “other” Carolina wins that “other” national championship. Go, Dave Odom!