More Surgery for Oden, Not as Much Chillin for Bosh

Two recent NBA headlines irked me this week and from different sides of the country. First, from Portland, news came across that center Greg Oden will miss another season, his second since he was drafted in 2007 after one season at Ohio State. His college career was so short that maybe some forgot how dominant and promising he looked. He came into Thad Matta's program along with high school teammate Mike Conley and wingman Daequan Cook. The three led the Buckeyes all the way to the championship game down in Atlanta before falling to Florida. In his lone season in Columbus Oden averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds and was named a First Team All-American at season's end.

The Trail Blazers owned the first pick in 2007 and worked out Oden and Kevin Durant and, after weeks of mulling it over, Portland selected Oden with their pick. Oden missed his first season because of knee surgery and through 2010 has only played 82 games for the Blazers. To put that in perspective, after this season the Blazers will have played 328 games since drafting Oden. What makes it even more painful is that Durant, who was selected second, is a legitimate star for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was the scoring champion last season and has played for USA Basketball. Oden meanwhile has gone through a couple knee surgeries and instead of being labeled as a future star he is now considered a guy that could just "contribute" and be a good "role player" for the Blazers.

It is sad to see because for some reason we all love Greg Oden. He's not a punk or an idiot and he hasn't been involved in any off-the-court issues. Yet now I'm beginning to worry we may never get to see his talents unfold before us in the NBA.

On the other coast, down in South Beach, the Heat have won a few games lately and on Wednesday night they demolished the Suns 123-96. Chris Bosh, quiet for much of this young season and basically a non factor for the Heat, put up 35 points in the win. After the game Bosh was asked about coach Erik Spoelstra and he said the Heat played better because they went back to work in practice. "We got back to getting after it again; I guess [Spoelstra] felt he was loosening up a little bit too much," Bosh said. "He knows he has to meet us halfway. He wants to work; we want to chill."

What did he just say????

The players want to chill. Chill as in not practice too hard and just have a few days off. Sorry Bosh, but that aint the way this whole thing works. I never heard Michael Jordan say he just wanted to chill. Kobe Bryant never seems to have a problem meeting his coach halfway. Don't forget Bosh plays alongside LeBron James who earlier this year criticized Spoelstra because he "played too many minutes." The Celtics put together three all-stars and won a championship right away and that's because those guys worked. The Heat will not win a championship if the stars don't figure out what it takes. Remember, only Dwyane Wade has won a championship and he was with Shaq that year. These guys still have alot to figure out before we anoint them the kings of the NBA.

Assembling the All-Time NBA Team

Just for fun let's discuss the All-Time NBA team. So much debate goes into who is the best player to ever play the game (it's Michael Jordan for anybody who needs to know) and as I tried to assemble this team no position came easy. Who is your center??? Bill Russell? Kareem? Wilt? You can hardly cut one of those guys, but that's what has to be done to do this. What I did was make a 12-man roster like an NBA team uses today. There are no active players on this roster. All players must be in the Hall of Fame to be eligible for the team. I note the starters and then the bench players and then picked my coaches. So here it goes...the NBA's All-Time Team:

Point Guard: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996)

Magic led the Showtime Lakers of the 80's and helped the franchise to six titles during that time. Magic was named to the All-Star team 11 times and was the league MVP three times along with three Finals MVP awards. At 6'8" Magic was taller than most guards, yet he handled the ball so well, dishing out 11 assists per game for his career.

Career Stats: Points- 19.2    Rebounds- 7.2     Assists- 11.2     Steals- 1.9

Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (1984-1998), Washington Wizards (2001-2003)

MJ's storied career with the Bulls is highlighted by the two 3-peats in the 90's along with Scottie Pippen and he is considered by many the greatest player of all time. Jordan collected five MVPs, six Finals MVP's, was a 14-time All-Star, and was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times. Jordan was an offensive force but also a defensive stopper. He averaged over two steals per game and was named to NBA All-Defensive Team ten times over his career.

Career Stats: Points- 30.1     Rebounds- 6.2     Assists- 5.3     Steals- 2.3

Small Forward: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics (1979-1992)

The Hick from French Lick went up against Magic's Lakers several times during the glory days of the 80's and Bird's Celtics won three championships in that time. Bird was the Finals MVP twice to go with his three league MVP awards. Bird's shooting was unmatched, especially from behind the arc. His defense also was recognized as he was named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team three times. He was also a 12-time All-Star.

Career Stats: Points- 24.3     Rebounds- 10.0     Assists- 6.3     Steals- 1.7

Power Forward: Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics (1980-1993)

After much debate McHale gets the starting job for the power forward position. Statistically speaking he is not as good as others but what sets him apart is his rings and the fact that he played on one of the greatest teams ever. McHale was with Bird for the three championships and won two Sixth Man of the Year awards. He was also selected to the All-Defensive First team three times.

Career Stats: Points- 17.9     Rebounds- 7.3     Assists- 1.7     Blocks- 1.7

Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975), Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989)

The center position was the hardest to pick but Kareem is the best. He dominated the floor on both ends and won championships while doing it. He won one championship with the Bucks and five with the Lakers. Kareem won six MVP awards and was the Finals MVP twice. He also was named to 18 All-Star games and won the Rookie of the Year award in 69-70.

Career Stats: Points- 24.1     Rebounds- 10.9     Assists- 3.5     Steals- 1.0     Blocks- 2.6

Off the Bench

Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics (1950-1963), Cincinnati Royals (1969-70)

Career Stats: Points- 19.0     Rebounds- 5.1     Assists- 7.9

Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970), Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974)

Career Stats: Points- 25.7     Rebounds- 7.5     Assists- 9.5     Steals- 1.1

Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers (1976-1987)

Career Stats: Points- 23.1     Rebounds- 7.0     Assists- 4.0     Steals- 1.9     Blocks- 1.6

Karl Malone, Utah Jazz (1985-2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-2004)

Career Stats: Points- 25.0     Rebounds- 10.1     Assists- 3.6     Steals- 1.4

Wilt Chamberlain, PHI/SF Warriors (1959-1965), Philadelphia 76ers (64-68), LA Lakers (70-73)

Career Stats: Points- 30.1     Rebounds- 22.9     Assists- 4.4

Bill Russell, Boston Celtics (1956-1969)

Career Stats: Points- 15.1    Rebounds- 22.5     Assists- 4.3

Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974)

Career Stats: Points- 27.0     Rebounds- 5.8     Assists- 6.7     Steals- 2.6

Coach: Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls (1989-1998), Los Angeles Lakers (1999-Present)

Alright so I made an exception on the whole "gotta be retired" thing with the coach but that's because Phil Jackson is that good. He has coached the Bulls in the Jordan-era, the Lakers in the Shaq and Kobe-era and is now working on another 3-peat with the Kobe-led Lakers. He has been able to mesh superstars with each other and has won three titles in a row three times.

Career Stats: 11 NBA Championships (6 with Bulls, 5 with Lakers)

Picking this team was, by no means, an easy task. When comparing statistics it's amazing how close some players are to one another. Truth is, you could take five guys off that bench and put them as the starters and you might have just as good or a better team. Also, picking only 12 guys is just not fair. Where is Elgin Baylor, Elvin Hayes, and Moses Malone? What about Isiah and Walt Frazier? Bob Pettit at power forward maybe? The list goes on and on but it's so hard to narrow it down to twelve players. These are the 12 I would take and the five I would put out on the floor to start the game. Let me hear who you would start though. Let the debate begin...

Not You Cam Newton

Everyone knows the story of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton by now. A Florida recruit who was kicked out for troubles with the law, Newton dominated at Blinn Junior College before coming to Auburn this season and making SEC defenses look silly. Newton has run all over the field and shown off his arm as well, leading the Tigers to an undefeated record and number 1 ranking. His name has come up in all the Heisman talk and as of now he is the frontrunner for college football's most prestigious award.

Yet, as soon as Newton's name came up in the Heisman talk, so did a whirlwind of talk that Newton's father, a minister in Georgia demanded money for his son's commitment. The Newtons deny any wrongdoing but the latest report is that Cecil Newton wanted six figures for his son's commitment to Mississippi State. Surely, there will be an investigation into the matter but it is truly a shame that this talk didn't come up until Cam Newton's finest hour.

I want to believe that Newton didn't do anything wrong. I want to believe that there is a player out there who has a clean record and actually is a good role model. Reggie Bush handed his trophy back in earlier this year, baseball players keep getting caught using steroids, college recruits accept money from agents then lie about it and Gilbert Arenas keeps guns in his locker. What's wrong with athletes? Is the fame just too much for them? It seems hard to find somebody with star status that hasn't done something stupid off the field and just when the nation gets fired up about Cam Newton these allegations come in. For once I would like to believe that the athlete is really a good guy with a clean record. Don't let us down Cam.

The World of Wadley College Basketball Preseason Top 25

1. Duke Blue Devils (ACC)- The defending champs return key pieces in Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith and the Plumlee brothers but what could be the difference maker is transfer Seth Curry (younger brother of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry) and freshman Kyrie Irving.

2. Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten)- After a Final Four appearance last year the Spartans want a title in 2011. Point guard Kalin Lucas will run the show again while Durrell Summers will be on the wing. Draymond Green and Delvon Roe should play larger roles this season.

3. Kansas Jayhawks (Big 12)- The Morris twins are back along with Tyshawn Taylor. Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed and Travis Releford will provide scoring but the Jayhawks season really depends on whether or not Josh Selby will be eligible.

4. Syracuse Orange (Big East)- No more Wes Johnson but Scoop Jardine, Rick Jackson and Kris Joseph is a pretty good core. Stud 7-foot freshman, Fab Melo, should see significant minutes.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten)- Jared Sullinger is the real deal and the Buckeyes could ride the freshman big man all the way to Houston. William Buford turned in a good sophomore campaign but will be relied on even more now that Evan Turner is gone. Reliable seniors Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale and David Lighty are back as well.

6. Pittsburgh Panthers (Big East)- Four starters return for the Panthers who are always a tough, grind-it-out team. Sharpshooter Ashton Gibbs was voted the Big East's Most Improved Player last season after averaging 15.7 ppg and is back as a junior along with three key players in the frontcourt: Dante Taylor, Gary McGhee and Nasir Robinson.

7. Kansas State Wildcats (Big 12)- The beard is back! Jacob Pullen that is, the senior guard who averaged 19.3 points and 3.4 assists per game last year as K-State made it to the Elite 8 before falling to Butler. Pullen, along with forwards Curtis Kelly and Wally Judge, hope for a return trip to the Elite 8 and possibly a trip to Houston.

8. Kentucky Wildcats (SEC)- John Calipari is basically starting over after five of his players were drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft but he has a solid squad assembled for this year's run. Like Kansas, Kentucky's success will largely be based on whether or not freshman Enes Kanter is eligible. Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb are the backcourt of the future.

9. Villanova Wildcats (Big East)- Scottie Reynolds is gone but there is so much left at Nova that the Cats should have another deep tourney run come March. There is an abundance of talent at the guard spot, similar to the Final Four team from a few years back so it may come down to how well big men Mouphtaou Yarou and JayVaughn Pinkston play.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten)- This may be a little bit high but the Illini have all the pieces for a tremendous season. If the veterans (Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis) can mesh with the super sophomores (Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson) and the stud freshmen (Jereme Richmond, Crandall Head and Meyers Leonard) then this could be a season like '05.

11. North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC)- Harrison Barnes is the scorer the Heels needed last season and he should light up Chapel Hill right away. Tyler Zeller needs to stay healthy and John Henson should be improved as a sophomore. UNC needs a reliable ball handler to have success.

12. Missouri Tigers (Big 12)- Mizzou will once again wreak havoc with their high pressure defense which should produce easy buckets for the backcourt duo of Marcus Denmon and Kim English. Michael Dixon, Laurence Bowers and Justin Safford all return as well but freshmen Phil Pressey and Tony Mitchell need to play well for the Tigers to go deep into March.

13. Florida Gators (SEC)- Five starters returning is never a bad thing and the Gators should challenge Kentucky for the SEC East crown. The backcourt duo of Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker is arguably the best in the conference. In the frontcourt the Gators have Vernon Macklin, Alex Tyus and Chandler Parsons.

14. Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC)- It's all about sophomore Elias Harris in Spokane. As a freshman he averaged 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. We're accustomed to seeing Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and this year shouldn't be any different.

15. Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten)- Yes, losing Robbie Hummel was a killer to a team that was going to contend for the national title but JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore won't go down easy. Johnson put up numbers of 15.5 points and 7.1 boards per game while Moore averaged 16.4 points.

16. Baylor Bears (Big 12)- The Bears were a great story last year but now it's time to show they are for real and not just a one year act. If LaceDarius Dunn is allowed to play then Baylor should challenge for the Big 12 title. Like last year, the frontcourt is scary with all the length. Freshman Perry Jones will have an immediate impact playing next to Quincy Acy and Anthony Jones.

17. Memphis Tigers (C-USA)- The Tigers return Wesley Witherspoon and Will Coleman, two upperclassmen who will need to gel with a host of incoming freshmen. It will be interesting to see how coach Josh Pastner does with a roster that he can truly say is his.

18. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten)- Bo Ryan always gets the most out of his players and this year will be no different. Jon Leuer posted numbers of 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds while Jordan Taylor was a solid point guard (10 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.6 apg). Keaton Nankivil is also back and freshman Ben Brust can fill it up.

19. Georgetown Hoyas (Big East)- Had Greg Monroe returned the Hoyas would be significantly higher but four starters return so the cupboard is not bare for John Thompson III. Austin Freeman, Chris Wright and Jason Clark all averaged double figures while Julian Vaughn started 34 games.

20. Butler Bulldogs (Horizon)- Last year was magical and this year could have been a repeat if Gordon Hayward had chosen to stay. However, Hayward is on the Jazz and the Bulldogs are adjusting to life without him. Matt Howard will man the post while Ronald Nored and Shelvin Mack will team up in the backcourt.

21. Washington Huskies (Pac 10)- The Huskies will run away with the Pac 10 and are the only team from the conference that will even be mentioned on the national scene. The conference is that bad but the Huskies actually do have some talent behind Abdul Gaddy and Isaiah Thomas.

22. Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC)- Malcolm Delaney chose to come back for his senior year and that meant the Hokies could make some noise in March. Delaney averaged 20.2 points per game along with 4.5 assists. Jeff Allen and Dorenzo Hudson are good complimentary pieces.

23. Tennessee Volunteers (SEC)- Who knows what will come of the Bruce Pearl situation but the Vols do have talent down in Knoxville. Scotty Hopson, Cameron Tatum and Renaldo Woolridge welcome the addition of elite recruit Tobias Harris.

24. Temple Owls (Atlantic 10)- The Owls have talent all over the floor but the two key pieces for a fourth straight NCAA bid are Juan Fernandez and Lavoy Allen. Fernandez averaged 12 points and 3 assists while Allen averaged a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

25. Texas Longhorns (Big 12)- The Horns had a terrible collapse last season after earning their first number 1 ranking in January. Hopefully some players have matured and the team can play consistent ball this year. J'Covan Brown and Jordan Hamilton are two players to keep an eye on.

Randy Moss Just Doesn't Get It

Since NFL Draft Day back in 1998 Randy Moss, new wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, has had a label that follows him around wherever he goes: Problem Guy. Randy Moss is a problem guy for whatever team he is on and has been since he began his career for the Minnesota Vikings 12 years ago. Nothing has changed for Moss, who was released by the Vikings last week for several reasons, one being lack of production on the field and another being an outburst directed towards a local restauranteur. Moss reportably walked up to the buffet, waved his arms and said, "I wouldn't feed this s--- to my dogs." A number of Vikings scolded Moss and not long after coach Brad Childress waived him. Moss also had an outburst at the media saying that he wouldn't answer any more questions this year.

This is the Randy Moss we're used to seeing. I almost thought he was a changed man in New England because I hardly heard from him unless it was something on the field. However, as soon as Moss was away from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick we were reminded of the true Randy Moss. The Randy Moss who wasn't allowed into Florida State because of a failed drug test, the Randy Moss who "plays when he wants to play" and the Randy Moss who hit a police officer with his car and then was busted for possession of marijuana.

Some guys just don't get it. You can give them a million chances but they will screw up time and time again. No doubt Moss is one of the best, if not thee best, wide receiver of this generation but his off the field antics overshadow his play at times. He is nearing the end of his career and it would be nice to see him go out in a good way but then again...this is Randy Moss we're talking about here.