Shawn Kemp's Kids
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Shawn Kemp's Kids
Ricky Rubio & A Few Other Rookies Are Turning Heads In The NBA
Could Ricky Rubio be headlining the best class of rookies in NBA history? Put simply, yes. Rubio is the real deal and he has completely revitalized the previously moribund Minnesota Timberwolves franchise. Fans interested in sports betting online can now get better championship odds on the Wolves than perennial powers like Phoenix and Utah.
LeBron, Melo, DWade and Bosh might feel differently, but don't be surprised if Rubio, MarShon Brooks, Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Derrick Williams, Iman Shumpert, Kemba Walker & Co. prove to be nearly as good when it's all said and done.
Sure, the 2003 draft class led by James has been superb. However, Rubio is playing like a combination of John Stockton and Pistol Pete Maravich right now. In addition, Irving has shown flashes of Derrick Rose, Shumpert has been positively Wade-esque in Madison Square Garden and Brooks appears to be the second coming of Kobe Bryant.
While the season is only a couple of weeks old, it's clear this class of rookies is intent to make its mark immediately. Are we getting carried away with the aforementioned hyperbolic comparisons?
Perhaps, but come April and May the race for Rookie of the Year might be as compelling as the playoff race.
At this point it's Rubio's award to lose. However, we fully expect Irving, Williams and Brooks to make the electrifying Spaniard earn it. A decade from now when league historians look back at the all-time best draft classes, we have no doubt this is going to be one of them.
Archie Manning Unplugged: Papa Manning Talks Andrew Luck, Chicken, Cars & Fashion
Both Archie and Peyton Manning seem to have a lot to say these days about the hapless Colts drafting Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Earlier today Archie appeared on several radio shows and pontificated about what the Colts should and shouldn't do as it relates to Luck.
"I don’t think it'd necessarily be great for either one," Manning told Fox Sports Radio. "I think Andrew's the type of mature player ... he can walk right in. I mean, these other three or four (rookie passers) that are playing this year, (if) they can walk in and contribute, Andrew can, too.
"Peyton's also tried to help Andrew and kind of be a friend. I doubt if either one want to play on the same team."
Here are a few more of Archie's observations:"I doubt Peyton and Andrew Luck would want to share a chicken because they both like the white meat. I spoke with Andrew several times, and I know my son. It really wouldn't make sense for them to both order the chicken."
"Andrew would be wise to wear his green trousers on Thursday. Peyton's worn green trousers many times in the past to great success. Andrew is a very mature person, but he can still learn from those that have been there. That's what we teach him when he comes to our camp in the summer."
"My son drives a Mercedes, and if Andrew Luck tries to drive a Mercedes, I see it becoming a problem. It's sort of like when Ryan Leaf wanted to drive a Mercedes. I'm not saying that Andrew will have the career Ryan did, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Plea To Dean Spanos: Please Fire Norv & A.J.
Dear Dean,
Barring a minor miracle in which the San Diego Chargers run the table, win the division and a playoff game or two it is imperative that you fire both Norv Turner & A.J. Smith at the end of the season. On February 15, 2012 they should be spending time putting their possessions on the online classifieds instead of further damaging a once proud franchise.
These two men have literally sucked the air out of America's Finest City. The team is unwatchable right now and it's due to the utter incompetence of the general manager and head coach. Have you noticed how poorly Mr. Smith has drafted the past few years?
Here is a list of the Chargers top draft picks from 2007 to 2010:
Ryan Matthews
Donald Butler
Larry English
Louis Vasquez
Antoine Cason
Jacob Hester
Craig Davis
Eric Weddle
Anthony Waters
Do you know Weddle is one of the three highest paid safeties in the league thanks to the 5-yr $40 million deal Smith bestowed upon him this past summer? This decision was utterly preposterous. Weddle is not a star player. He is an average tackler and possesses below average speed for an NFL defensive back.
Other than inking Weddle to a ridiculous pay raise, Smith's other major free agent acquisitions over the summer were Bob Sanders (one of the most injury-prone players in NFL history and already waived from the team), Takeo Spikes (hasn't been productive in nearly a half-decade) and Travis LaBoy (who?).
Norv Turner's head coaching record prior to joining the Chargers was 58-82-1...a terrible rate of success. The man is simply not a leader. He doesn't inspire and his teams are notoriously soft. Last season's special teams atrocities were unprecedented in the annals of NFL history. This season is just one listless and uninspired game after the next.
A complete overhaul of the team is needed and that begins at the top. A.J. and Norv must go and the sooner this is done the better off your team will be.
Rivers May Have Fumbled Chargers Season Away
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been a shell of his former self this season. Even Matt Moore and Curtis Painter think Rivers has been terrible.
The absolute nadir was reached Halloween night in Kansas City late in the 4th quarter of a 20-20 game. Rivers led the Bolts down the field and all he had to do was take the snap, lunge to his left and fall down to set up a game winning field goal from Nick Novak. However, Rivers fumbled the snap and the Chargers went on to lose in overtime 23-20.
Rivers can say it's only one play and one game but deep down he knows it's over for San Diego this year. Instead of being 5-2 with sole possession of the division lead, the Chargers are now in a three way tie at the top of the division at 4-3 with the undefeated Green Bay Packers coming to town tomorrow afternoon.
Anyone who has watched the Chargers this season knows they have been abysmal on both offense (especially in the red zone) and defense. Although actual figures are not known, it's estimated that Charger fans have incurred property damage losses of close to $5 million simply by watching the team play. It's reported that most of this damage has been caused by hurling remote controls at televisions, overturning bar stools and kicking in walls.
Now that they're entering the difficult part of the schedule it would be a minor miracle if San Diego finishes the year at 10-6. What a disaster. So much talent has been wasted the past few years that it's hard to comprehend.
Rivers may be the face of the franchise but right now he is not even playing as well as an average NFL starting quarterback. If this doesn't change over the course of the next eight weeks then he could find himself on another roster next year.
Shabazz Muhammed Is About To Become A Household Name
Based on yesterday's events in New York, there will be no NBA basketball until 2012 barring a last minute miracle. However, college games will be in full swing in a few short weeks. There will also be high school hoops and here are six of the top seniors (courtesy of SKK correspondent Ernie Graham):
Demetrius Birdlong
Jabari Parker
Ishmael Wainwright
BeeJay Anya
Parker Cartwright
and the one and only...
Shabazz Muhammad
You just don't see names like that on the golf and tennis tours do you?
Sounding Off: Bryant Gumbel, David Stern, NBA Hoops, Rex Ryan, Carson Palmer & A Topless Lake Bell (Video)
Peter King has his Ten Things I Think I Think gimmick. Over here at Shawn Kemp's Kids I just blog about things I know. Here are five of them:
1. Despite what Bryant Gumbel says, David Stern does not have the "mentality of a plantation overseer." The NBA commissioner is definitely an arrogant and egotistical bully/tyrant but he's no slave owner. I'm not entirely certain, but the average annual NBA salary is probably close to $5 million.
2. I consider myself to be a 2nd tier NBA junkie. While I don't live and die with The Association, I follow the sport closely and enjoy watching both regular season and playoff games. Having said that, I really don't care if there aren't any NBA basketball games until January or February. There are just too many other things to watch and do. Here is a column by someone else who feels exactly the same way.
3. Nine out of ten times I see Lake Bell I wonder how she continues to get movie and television work. Her acting is atrocious and she just doesn't appear to be very attractive. However, after watching the latest episode of How To Make It In America I have officially boarded the Bell Bandwagon. Click here to see why...Oh My! (NSFW)
4. Carson Palmer will be the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders this Sunday. While a broken down Palmer is still better than Kyle Boller, it would be shocking if he makes it through the rest of the season. Palmer appeared to be washed up two years ago and unless he has found the fountain of youth, something tells me this isn't going to end well.
5. I love Rex Ryan. Sure he's bombastic and a bit of a blowhard. However, the man speaks the truth. Earlier today he said the following about the San Diego Chargers:
“I think I would have had a couple of rings,” said Ryan, who interviewed for the job Turner got after the 2006 season. “I’m telling you, those teams were loaded. There’s no question about it.”
Amen. Norv Turner should be ashamed of the job he has done during the past few years coaching the Chargers.
1. Despite what Bryant Gumbel says, David Stern does not have the "mentality of a plantation overseer." The NBA commissioner is definitely an arrogant and egotistical bully/tyrant but he's no slave owner. I'm not entirely certain, but the average annual NBA salary is probably close to $5 million.
2. I consider myself to be a 2nd tier NBA junkie. While I don't live and die with The Association, I follow the sport closely and enjoy watching both regular season and playoff games. Having said that, I really don't care if there aren't any NBA basketball games until January or February. There are just too many other things to watch and do. Here is a column by someone else who feels exactly the same way.
3. Nine out of ten times I see Lake Bell I wonder how she continues to get movie and television work. Her acting is atrocious and she just doesn't appear to be very attractive. However, after watching the latest episode of How To Make It In America I have officially boarded the Bell Bandwagon. Click here to see why...Oh My! (NSFW)
4. Carson Palmer will be the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders this Sunday. While a broken down Palmer is still better than Kyle Boller, it would be shocking if he makes it through the rest of the season. Palmer appeared to be washed up two years ago and unless he has found the fountain of youth, something tells me this isn't going to end well.
5. I love Rex Ryan. Sure he's bombastic and a bit of a blowhard. However, the man speaks the truth. Earlier today he said the following about the San Diego Chargers:
“I think I would have had a couple of rings,” said Ryan, who interviewed for the job Turner got after the 2006 season. “I’m telling you, those teams were loaded. There’s no question about it.”
Amen. Norv Turner should be ashamed of the job he has done during the past few years coaching the Chargers.
Can The Seattle Seahawks Make The Playoffs Again This Season?
Tarvaris Jackson! Charlie Whitehurst! Just those two names alone should make you want to drop what you're doing and immediately order some Seattle Seahawks tickets.
Seahawks fever is sweeping the nation and people literally can't stop talking about the two headed monster of Jackson and Whitehurst at quarterback. Oh wait. On second thought, maybe they aren't talking about it at all.
Actually, most NFL insiders think Pete Carroll's Seahawks will be one of the ten worst teams in the league. Us? We don't think so. We believe the Seahawks actually will finish with a better record than last year and make the playoffs once again.
Why? Well, first of all, they play in the worst division in professional sports. 8-8 will likely be good enough to win the putrid NFC West again this year.
The Seahawks also play in front of one of the best crowds in the league. Despite years of ineptitude, fans in the Pacific Northwest love their Seahawks and Seattle possesses an undeniable home field advantage at Qwest Field. Don't believe us? Just ask the New Orleans Saints.
While we wouldn't be surprised if the St. Louis Rams eke out a better record and win the division, Pete Carroll should be able to find a way to get the job done again this season. In fact, if we're not mistaken it sounds like we can hear Seattle fans chanting Tar-Var-Is...Tar-Var-Is...Tar-Var-Is...all the way done in San Diego.
Fantasy Focus: These Seven Guys Are Definitely A Pain In The Ass
1. Dez "Questionable" Bryant – It’s a thigh bruise. Suck it up, practice and play.
2. Michael Vick – Just can’t stay healthy/finish games and isn’t playing all that well when he is on the field.
3. Steven Jackson – Can be a beast but always seems to battling nagging injuries
4. Frank Gore – Another guy with a very low pain threshold. Pain In The Ass poster child.
5. Antonio Gates – Although he’s a Hall Of Fame caliber tight end, Gates is a shell of his former self due to ongoing foot issues
6. Chris Johnson - Currently filming a movie called Take The Money and Run Very Poorly. Although he was a top three pick in almost all fantasy drafts, Johnson has been abysmal so far this season.
7. Arian Foster - Evidently, he has fully recovered from his hamstring injury and will return to former glory. I'll believe it when I see it.
Sounding Off On James Spader, The Office, Community, Ashton Kutcher, Whitney & The Dilemma...
Robert California - The Office has been running on fumes for several years now and the arrival of James Spader should breathe some much needed life into the show. The first episode of the new season was uneven but Spader's character Robert California shined. I have been an unabashed Spader fan for a quarter century and can only think of one or two roles in which he hasn't been superb. While The Office has been hit or miss with me since 2007 I'll certainly be watching as long as Robert California is around.
Community - Omar, say it ain't so. John Goodman might be a welcome addition to the cast but Michael Kenneth Williams just seems out of place as the Biology teacher. Although I'll always enjoy Abed & Alison Brie, this show has just become too quirky and gimmicky for me.
The Dilemma - Generally speaking, I like Vince Vaughn, Ron Howard, Winona Ryder and everyone else who was associated with this movie. However, the finished product was simply a hot mess. Skip it.
Ashton Kutcher - Although it has been one of the most popular shows for nearly a decade, I've never watched more than 10 minutes of Two and a Half Men. However, I was one of the 27 million people who recorded and/or watched the first episode of the new season with Ashton Kutcher. Sorry Mr. Moore, it was a mostly forgettable half hour of television and I won't be tuning in again.
Whitney - I liked her brash and raunchy jokes on a few of the Comedy Central Roasts but once is enough as far as this show is concerned. I'm officially out. I doubt Whitney will make it to season two, but if it does the laugh track definitely needs to be jettisoned.
Sebastian Janikowski, Larry David, Perrey Reeves & Novak Djokovic Deserve Standing Ovations
All of Kemp's Kids are standing right now to honor the following people:
Sebastian Janikowski - Kicking a field goal from your own 47-yard line? Even if it took place in the Mile High City that's just wrong.
Novak Djokovic - Winning 3 majors in one year is quite an accomplishment. The new King Of The Tennis World.
Larry David - Bravo...bravo, Mr. David. That had to be the best season of Curb yet. Although there may have been a clunker or two, there were at least four or five all-time classic episodes. Palestinian Chicken may have been the best 30 minutes in television history.
Louis C.K. - I missed the finale on Thursday due to the SoCal blackout but most of this season's episodes have been stellar (if not completely cringe-worthy)
Adrian Wojnarowski - This column was a complete evisceration of Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn
Cam Newton - I don't care if it came in a loss against the Cardinals...422 yards passing? I've always loved Newton's athleticism but thought it might take 2 1/2 games for him to eclipse 400 yards passing in the NFL.
Mrs. Ari Gold - Perrey Reeves...who knew? Quite a nice final scene in Entourage. Where has that red bikini been all these years?