| NFL | |
|
NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
|
| NBA | |
|
Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
|
|
Johnson Shines, Boston Declines By Ron Jumper Joe Johnson, formerly of the Arkansas Razorbacks, is starting to receive some very high praise for his basketball abilities. He is very likely to make the cut for the USA Olympic Basketball Team. To be honest, I thought Joe was a great talent but it never even crossed my mind he would make it to the Olympics.  To hear Coach K talk about Johnson, you would believe he was talking about a much bigger superstar. "I don't know if there can be a more solid player," Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He can play four positions, he shoots, he defends and doesn't say a peep about anything.” He would go on to say, “There's high maintenance, low maintenance and no maintenance. Joe's no maintenance... I think he's a star." That is quite impressive for someone of Coach K’s status to praise him that highly. Johnson has always been that way. He doesn’t complain a whole lot and he never seems to brag about anything either, which is uncommon in today’s sports world. That is something you like to see. With all the bragging and showboating in the game now, a guy who just makes the play and runs back on defense is kind of refreshing. Something I bet you didn’t know is that Johnson is the 26th highest paid player in the NBA. When Johnson left Phoenix to sign with Atlanta, many felt he wasn’t worth that much money and wouldn’t live up to his billing. Johnson proved everyone wrong by averaging 20 ppg and 6.5 apg this last season, placing himself in the upper-echelon of the NBA. Not one time, though, did you hear a peep out of him. No arrogance, no cockiness, just staying humbles and playing ball. There is something to be said for that. When Johnson was traded from Boston during his rookie season, the Celtics must not have realized what they were giving up. The Celtics gave up Johnson, Milt Palacio, Randy Brown, and a first-round pick for only Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk in return. Not only did Joe Johnson turn out to be twice as valuable as Rogers and Delk combined, but that first round pick the Celtics gave up made them miss out on drafting either Tayshaun Prince, Nenad Krstic, or Carlos Boozer who were still available. Imagine the Celtics now with Joe Johnson and any of those three added to the current roster, I can tell you things could be drastically different in Boston. Boston hasn't seemed to be able to get things together in recent seasons. Having Antoine Walker winning a championship this season with the Heat couldn't have been easy for Celtics GM Danny Ainge to take. Paul Pierce, though most people don't realize it, is one of the leagues premier players and is in the prime of his career. It would be great for him to be competing for the NBA championship or at least be making a playoff run on a yearly basis. So don’t sleep on Joe Johnson any more because he is the real deal. He wouldn’t tell you, but that’s what I’m here for. When Johnson is producing big numbers on the USA basketball team, I will be just about the only person who isn’t surprised. July 26, 2006 |
| NCAA Football | |
|
Be Careful What You Wish For
|
| NCAA Basketball | |
|
Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
|