Spotes Notes, 2.25.08: First Your Rights, Then Your Children; Speaking of the NFL Combine; A Clemens “Misremembered” Quickie; IU-Kelvin Sampson Affair – Bob Knight Lurks?; How ‘Bout Those Phoenix Suns?!

First your rights, then your children

ESPN Radio’s Eric Kuselias says there’s an HGH epidemic. This morning on Mike and Mike in the Morning Kuselias said HGH use has reached epidemic proportions and therefore professional athletes players should give up their rights of privacy and submit to blood tests. Kuselias says he understands the “right to privacy constitutional” side of the argument but when “there’s an epidemic wouldn’t you give up your rights” for a little safety. Further, he said that taking a blood test is a “little thing to ask” for the “privilege to make millions of dollars.”

Co-host Mike Golic indicated that if the owners chose, they could tune the issue into a public relations issue by letting it be known that Gene Upshaw and Donald Fehr, the NFL and MLB union reps “negotiated away” the ability to treat the epidemic.

This hellish conversation is just the sort of talk those who would want to do away with our constitutional rights completely want to hear.

Rating the Latest Flurry of NBA Trades

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. In the coming weeks we will come to understand which GMs were proactive and which were reactive. And in the coming weeks we will know which moves brought their teams greater success and which moves were busts.

It is going to be a very interesting stretch run.

1. The Lakers go —- Pau!

The Los Angeles Lakers trade for Pau Gasol was so good it invited conspiracy theories. It was so good that San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich advocated for the league to have the ability to determine that a trade was “stupid” and have it rescinded.

For Phoenix, 30 Games Until the Truth Is Told

The Los Angeles Lakers were in an unenviable position last night in Phoenix. Win against and you’re supposed to because the Suns are getting acclimated to the Big Philanderer, Shaquille O’Neal. Lose, and Phoenix becomes an instant NBA media darling with O’Neal as a conquering hero.

Fortunately LA won, 130-124, led by Kobe Bryant’s 41 points. And fortunately Shaq’s biggest effect was on the back of Raja Bell’s – a perpetual-motion hack machine – head with a little less than three minutes remaining in the game. (Now for my NBA officiating crew rant…)

Shaquille O’Neal Trapped in a Double-Team of His Own Making

“Shaquille O’Neal’s arrogance is an insult to people who think.”

That amazingly honest public statement was made by Bill Walton Sunday on ESPN’s Sportscenter. Sportscenter show host Chris McKendry – understandably – laughed uncomfortably and tried to verbally wiggle out of and around that damning comment.

I’ve had conversations with people recently about O’Neal and the stunning similarity in his flagging performance in Miami with a similar slippage in conditioning and play in Los Angeles. There were the “injuries” that looked more like laziness. The fully two steps slow moves to the basket that looked more like weight gained from one too many Kraft Macaroni and Cheese dinners (one of Shaq’s admitted favorite “foods”).

There were rumors of shouting matches with head coach Phil Jackson and with Kobe Bryant. There was an indictment of O’Neal by Lakers owner Jerry Buss followed by a trade to Miami.

The Shaquille O’Neal Trade: the Heart of the Matter

“You still think a big man can’t sell? Boom….” Those words are actually from an ESPN commercial with Greg Oden, but that’s also what Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr is hoping is going through Shaquille O’Neal’s mind as he joins Kerr’s team. If O’Neal is somehow the missing link to a ‘Chip, Kerr looks like a genius. If O’Neal acts to gum up Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo style of play and is not the defender the Suns hope he is, D’Antoni will have won a huge battle in his power struggle with Kerr. Oh yeah, and Kerr looks like a complete dunce.What is interesting is that Shawn Marion wanted out of Phoenix. In fact, he wanted out of the Land of the Valley of the Sun as long as three years ago. Marion has contended for all that time that with the arrival of Nash, he was pushed to the side by Phoenix management. And Marion has a point. He was an All-Star before Nash arrived, but the focus of the Suns has been Amare Stoudamire and Nash. But now that Marion is gone, there is talk of his importance:

Quick Notes: Terrelle Pryor Update; Stay Classy, NYG; Seahawks and the Rooney Rule; UConn Upset; Nat’l Signing Day; Pinstripes for Clemens?; Shaq Fact; Vegas Loses on SB XLII

Terrelle Pryor update

The number one high school football player in the country, Terrelle Pryor (pictured at right) of Jeannette High School in Jeanette, Pensylvania said simply that he is not making a decision on a college at the moment. Pryor, a 6’6″, 207-pound quarterback also said that because he led his team to a state championship and was playing basketball two days later, he needed more time to make a decision. Beyond his head coach Ray Reitz, Pryor has also had the benefit of consultation with Pittsburgh Steelers QB, Charlie Batch.

Shaq to be Traded to Phoenix for Marion, Banks? It Appears to Be Done; Lakers Handle Nets in Pau’s Debut

Update: Shaquille O’Neal is on his way to Phoenix tonight. If he passes the physical, the trade goes through…. it is done.

Miami Herald writer Barry Jackson reports that the Phoenix suns are in serious trade talks with the Miami Heat. The object of the Suns’ desire is Shaquille O’Neal. According to Jackson Phoenix is willing to swap oft-disgruntled forward Shawn Marion and backup point guard Marcus Banks to the Heat for O’Neal:

Asked for confirmation, one of O’Neal’s representatives said O’Neal has been made aware that discussions with Phoenix are serious and ongoing, but that a deal was not definite.

Dallas also has been mentioned as a potential destination, though the Heat had not immediately informed O’Neal of that possibility.

Spotes Notes, 1.06.08: Tomlin’s Errors Cost His Team; New Orleans is What I Said They Are; June Jones Leaves Rainbows

Jacksonville’s escape

It looks like the New England Patriots will begin their quest for continued perfection with everyone’s darling, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags defeated Pittsburgh for the second time in a month, 31-29. This time, though, the win ended the Steelers season.

Mike Tomlin ended his first season as a head coach with he and his coaching staff making some questionable calls throughout the game. With Jacksonville up 21-7 late in the first half and Pittsburgh at the Jaguars 21, Tomlin called a middle screen that was intercepted by backup linebacker Derek Landri. The call was odd in that the Steelers were just outside the red zone where the field becomes more compact. Coverage is generally tighter and gaps in splits in the defensive front seven shrink. Rather than attack the Jaguars down the field, Roethlisberger attempted to fit a three-yard pass to be dinked just over the head of the linebackers. The play was a disaster. The interception allowed Jacksonville to go into the locker room at the half still up 14 rather than by 11 or only seven.

NBA Power Rankings: The Top 10

Now that I’ve caught up with the happenings in The League, it’s time to lay down my power rankings.

1. Boston, 22-3: Could this pick be any more obvious?  At present the Cees are playing the best team defense and some of the most consistent offense in the NBA. Last season’ debacle in Beantown was a blessing in disguise because it allowed Rajon Rondo to play extended minutes. The experience readied Rondo for this season and he’s all the steadier for it. The only question for Boston is will they develop bench play that won’t relinquish leads or lose touch with opposing teams when they are behind in games. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce have to rest sometime and they need to know all their work won’t go out the window as soon as they hit the pine.

2. San Antonio, 20-7: The injury bug has finally made its way to the Spurs. Tim Duncan (sprained right ankle), Tony Parker (sprained left ankle), and Manu Ginobili (sprained left index finger) have all missed time. Additionally, Francisco Elson is battling a sore foot and Brent Barry’s calf is aching. With enough problems to tax the best of teams, Gregg Popovich and the reserves have managed to hold the team together.  If the Spurs can pull off 20 wins without their big three playing together, just think of what will happen when they’re all healthy.

Los Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns: A Christmas Gift (Grant Hill Gets “Gifted” by Trevor Ariza)

You can’t go under a screen on Steve Nash. You can’t turn your back on the man with the ball in the triangle. Christmas has given us the gift of the attacking style of the Phoenix Suns versus the triangle offense of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Brian Skinner was brought to the Suns to replace Kurt Thomas’ toughness. Grant Hill was brought in to add leadership and scoring off the bench. While both premises are true, Mike D’Antoni’s secretly hoped the addition of these two veterans would also bring added defensive toughness to his team. However, after the Lakers torched the Suns for 62 in the first half of their Christmas Day meeting, we’re still left to wonder whether the few defensive possessions Phoenix does clamp down on its opposition is enough to get them over the hump and into the NBA Finals.