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| This issue, TSAReport.com caught-up with Terrence Williams, Malcolm Jenkins, and Kemba Walker - three of the top college athletes in today's NCAA basketball. Although all three are athletically gifted in their own right, they all have completely different lives and stories that have lead them to their NCAA common ground. Read who Terrence Williams feels is his toughest component, learn Malcolm Jenkins' weakness, and Kemba Walker’s ultimate dream. Dave K. Far-El gives his input an exciting field of 64 for March Madness 2009. Guest columnist, Michael Partis gives his take on who he feels are the top two NCAA footballer players in both defensive and offensive. Check it out! |
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TERRENCE WILLIAMS-PREPARING FOR A JOURNEY
Words by H.L.
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University of Louisville Cardinals' own Terrence Williams was at the top of his game during the 2009 Big East competition held at Madison Square Garden. Although him and his teammates are excited they've won the Big-East championship and title, the celebration is minimal as they prepare for March Madness. As, the 6-foot-6 forward anxiously awaited and mentally prepared for his ulitmate NCAA showdown before entering the draft, we got a chance to speak to the vibrant, Seattle native.
TSAReport.com- Tell us: how does it feel to have won the Big East Tournament during your last year at as a Louisville Cardinal?
Terrence Williams- I'm speechless and It’s priceless to me because a lot of people said we couldn’t do it. We've only been in the Big East for four years now and to win it our fourth year regular season, it showed a lot about the heart and dedication of the team.
TSAReport.com- At any time were you worried about being eliminated?
TW- I’m not worried about the game until the game is over. It’s two halves to a game. If a team is playing well the first half, they still have to play the second half and a lot of teams get content and get happy with what they did in the first half. With us, we know that until the final buzzer goes off we really cant worry about nothing, we have to continue to play basketball and that’s what we did.
TSAReport.com- Now, March Madness, who would you say may be your teams' biggest competition?
TW- Every team is a competition for us if we don’t play well. If we come ready to play the way I know are capable of playing then it would be hard for me to see any team as competition. That’s why it’s called March Madness - because any given night a number one seed or whatever seed can be upset by another team. That’s why it’s fun and it keeps you on your toes.
TSAReport.com- As a team captain, what do you think about the team’s chemistry this year?
TW- Our chemistry this year is a lot better than it has been in the last three years, because we do a lot more off the court together and when you do more off the court you are more comfortable on the court with each other. I think that me being a captain along with another senior on the team helps out a lot because we are more open. Last year it was only one captain and cliques. Now everybody’s together off the court, it helps us on the court.
TSAReport.com- What is your most memorable game thus far?
TW- Last year in the tournament we played Tennessee. We were projected to lose by 20. They were talking. We were up by 27 or something, then we stopped pressing them and we won by 20. That was a very exciting game from the tip to the end of the game.
TSAReport.com- Who was talking?
TW- All the Smiths. Last year they had like 4 Smiths on the team. The whole team.
TSAReport.com- How has it been living in Louisville, a city very different from Seattle, Washington?
TW- It’s totally different, but since I’ve been here for four years I’ve kind of adapted and got used to it. Its kind of hard coming from Seattle where there a lot of good basketball players there and you can walk down the street and be cool. You walk down the street here, there may be 100 people surrounding you for an autograph or a picture. It’s very different coming from Seattle because they don’t really care like that.
TSAReport.com- I can imagine the fans. University of Louisville Cardinals is the only basketball team in Louisville, Kentucky.
TW- We are the only team in town and Kentucky, our rivals are an hour and a half away.
TSAReport.com- Are there any popular blacktops you’ve played on in either Seattle or Louisville?
TW- Nah, we don’t have a famous black top in Seattle or Louisville, but we have a rec center called Rainier Community Center. When we go home, Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Will Conroy, Brandon Roy, Spencer Hawes, and Martell Webster, when we all go home you can find everybody at Rainier Community Center playing.
TSAReport.com- Out of all your friends in Seattle who is your toughest component?
TW- Out of all my friends in Seattle, my toughest, I would say Nate because it’s hard to score on him because he is so small. I’ve learned how to play against him and use my strength, which is my height against him. He’s so strong and he’s so small and quick.
TSAReport.com- Normally ballplayers are given nicknames by their peers from their neighborhood, were you given one?
TW- My nickname is just T-Will, which is my name. Hopefully I play in the Rucker one day and I get a name.
TSAReport.com- So what’s happens next?
TW- Preparing to take a journey to a national championship. I plan to take it one day and one practice at a time.
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MALCOLM JENKINS- DRIVEN BY ENTHUSIASM
Words by H.L.
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Malcolm Jenkins has accomplished so much during his four years as a cornerback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In addition to being consensus first-team All-Big Ten during his sophomore and junior years, he also won the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior in 2008 for being the nation’s best defensive back. The New Jersey native’s great instincts and natural abilities as a defensive player have earned him recognition as one of, if not the best cornerback prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft. We caught up with Jenkins and he had a lot to say about his successful journey as a Buckeye.
TSAReport.com- Hello Malcolm, what would you say is the drive behind your success?
Malcolm Jenkins- I think my success, for me at least, is solely based on my coaching, my teammates and the hard work I put in. A lot of people have been in the same situation I have and may not have been as successful as I’ve been because they didn’t work as hard. My coaches have done a great job, since I got here as a freshmen, of coaching me and making sure that I do all the things right, make sure I work hard and push myself. My teammates have been there for me when I didn’t necessarily want to be here and work as hard; they always made me push myself. My biggest thing is my leadership that my coaches and teammates also helped me with. Being a leader and being accountable for all my actions, when you put all of that into the fold and mix that with some God-given talents, that automatically breeds the best. I think that’s the main thing that has helped me out since I have been here.
TSAReport.com- Are there any reasons as to why you’ve decided not to enter the draft?
MJ- For several reasons. It is an experience that not many people get to go through. Senior year here at Ohio State is a lot different than the junior, sophomore or freshman experience. There’s a lot of things that you go through that you realize that makes it that much more special to you. Being a captain especially is a huge honor for me. I really didn’t feel like I was at the top of my game or accomplished all of the things that I wanted to - The Thorpe Award being one of them - luckily I got that one this year. I really wasn’t ready to make football a job. I just love the game so much, and love playing it; money really wasn’t a big issue for me. My teammates I came in with, we have a chance to all leave at the same time and I didn’t want to miss out on that just because of some money.
TSAReport.com- Do you plan on staying in school to get your degree and if so what do you plan on getting your degree in?
MJ- I am going to try to the best of my ability to get my degree in strategic communication.
TSAReport.com- Normally athletes set personal and team goals, what were yours and do you believe you have achieved them?
MJ- I always try to make modest goals, most of the time team orientated. When I set my individual goal it was to win the Thorpe Award , to get better, and be a great leader for the team. At the time, I didn’t want to think too much about myself or my own goals, but my coach gave some suggestions, stating that individuals goals such as to be in the first round, or be one of the top ten draft picks, or have a better season than last year are important too. I have accomplished my goal of getting better, I got the Thorpe Award, the next goal I wont figure that out until the draft. As a team, you always want to win a national championship, although we didn’t win that we still had a successful season winning the Big Ten.
TSAReport.com- Is there anything you would have done differently?
MJ- My goals went pretty well. I cant say that I would change anything.
TSAReport.com- You seem to have football down pat, being able to play so many positions and being good at them. Is there any other sport that you are just as good at?
MJ- No, not really. The only other sport I have ever participated in was track. I ran here at Ohio State for one season.
TSAReport.com- What athlete would you say you look up to and admire and why?
MJ- Ray Lewis. I’m someone who drives off of enthusiasm, never considering football work or a burden. Just watching how Ray Lewis plays and the enthusiasm that he plays with is contagious not only to his teammates but to the crowd. I’ve imitated his game by having enthusiasm for everything that I do.
TSAReport.com- Outside of sports, what are some of the things you find yourself doing or listening to? For example, must see television shows, hobbies, secret addictions, music, etc?
MJ- One show that I cant stop watching once it comes on is CSI. I have an addiction to ice-cream and Kool-Aid. Ice-cream, any flavor and I would completely abuse Kool-Aid. My favorite flavor is grape, but I’d have any kind of flavor. If there is Kool-Aid in my house I’m going to drink it, I’d drink a gallon a day if it’s in my house. That’s one thing that I try to keep out of my refrigerator.
TSAReport.com- [Laughs] Any special mixes?
MJ- I’ll mix any flavor with lemonade. You can mix any flavor with the lemonade and it will still taste right.
TSAReport.com- Tell me something that you would never leave home without?
MJ- I guess my cell phone. I think that’s everybody. You can’t function without your cell phone. I think that’s something I would never leave home without. I have a blackberry, e-mails, texts, Internet, all of that. I definitely can’t leave home without that.
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Former Rice H.S. guard Kemba Walker, has definitely proven his worth as a Huskie. Working his way into regular rotation, Walker has proved to be an invaluable piece in UConn's title hope puzzle.
A key to Walker's success now, is where he came from. Long active on the playgrounds and tournaments in his native New York City, he earned the name Easy Pass. This nickname is no misnomer. As Walker has proven time and again on courts ranging from the rubber and asphalt of Rucker Park, to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, when he's on his way to the hoop, he makes it look easy.
Playing in the Big East, which most experts say is the toughest conference in the nation this year, Kemba credits his previous experience and good fortune with helping him adjust: "Rice was great for me. I was able to stay focused and receive a scholarship to UConn. Going to an all-boys high school was best for me. As far as girls, they came."
With his success so far, we cannot forget that he is only 19 years old and less than a year removed from high school. When asked about his prom, he states simply, "It was fun. I didn’t take anyone. Rice is an all boys high school but we had our prom with a local all girl school." And though he does spend a large portion of his time focused on basketball, he does take his down time. "When I’m not playing basketball, I like to hang out with my friends and I go to the movies for fun."
Kemba Walker definitely has the tools and the drive to take elevate his game. With the high-level experience he is receiving now, and when no longer in the shadow of starter A.J. Price, many expect Walker to be able to make a positive contribution to Connecticut. Hopefully for him, he'll also have a place on a team at the next level. " My dream is to go into the NBA, it doesn’t matter what team as long as I’m in there."
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For the first time in quite a few years in NCAA college basketball, there does not appear to be any dominant number one team. Of course, as we speak Louisville is ranked #1 but they too are flawed; and then there are perennial favorites like Duke, North Carolina, UConn and Memphis. But this year, teams like Florida State, Michigan State, Villanova and Wake Forest are more than making their case to join the field of 64 come tournament time as top seeds. The disparity among the college field meant some exciting basketball this season. For instance, Syracuse and UConn staged one of the greatest Big East tournament games ever with a 6 overtime affair that Syracuse finally won. Florida State knocked off North Carolina to get to the ACC championship, Butler knocked off Davidson to win their tournament title and join the field of 64. Even teams like Temple and Cornell University will join the tourney playing brackets.
If there is one conference that looks as if it may dominate the seeding come bracket time it is the Big East. Yes, the Big East has at least 5 teams that may sneak in the tourney, maybe even 6. That would be top seeds Pitt, Villanova, or UConn; Louisville which won the Big East tournament; or Syracuse. It’s going to be tough when it comes time to decide which Big East team will NOT make it to the field of 64.
Of course, we have the individuals who may be literally “one and done” in the tourney like Memphis' probable NBA lottery pick Tyreke Evens, or even UConn’s Kimba Walker. There was a time when basketball purists claimed that the early entries into the NBA would hurt the college game. For a few years the detractors were correct, but what has happened since then is the 2nd level of talented kids have had the opportunity to hone their skills, and now it’s difficult to tell the difference between who would be a lottery pick and who may not. Yes, NCAA college basketball is back and better than ever. I don’t know about you all, but I am going to sit back and enjoy this year’s 2009 NCAA college basketball tournament because this is about as good as it gets. HAPPY MARCH MADNESS!
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“The Playmakers”
Percy Harvin and Jeremy Maclin
If there's one thing the 21st century has shown the NFL, it’s that playmakers at the skill positions don’t change the game – they dictate the game.
NFL defenses, kick coverage, and punt cover units: Percy Harvin and Jeremy Maclin will take it to the next level.
Harvin and Maclin play the game at video-game speed. Harvin translates these physical gifts into the skills that give defenses nightmares: acceleration; change of direction; and moves that were central to the offense of the national champion Florida Gators. Maclin put up big numbers (setting NCAA records in all-purpose yards and touchdowns), and dazzling performances (a 75-yard punt return TD and game-winning TD reception in the 2009 Alamo Bowl). One YouTube search gives you all you need to know about Maclin’s big-play ability.
“Defense Wins Games”
Aaron Curry and James Laurinatis
Scouts, experts, and die-hard fans alike agree that linebacker is by far the premier in this year’s draft. I put Aaron Curry and James Laurinatis at the top of the list.
Curry brings the physical gifts combine junkies drool over: agility, speed, and raw strength. With a four-year career marked by rapid improvement, and an outstanding senior year, Curry is poised to make a big impact on the NFL stage. Many pundits project him as the number one draft for 2009.
Laurinatis is not the prototypical award-laden, media-hyped Ohio State product. Tune in to the Buckeyes any Saturday the past four years, and Laurinatis’ leadership is impossible to miss. Heart and soul distinguishes the good NFL player from the great one. Laurinatis has the make-up of a great one.
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TSA BLURBS
I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT
University of Southern Mississippi running back Damion Fletcher, a former Conference USA offensive player of the year, was sentenced to six months probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. Fletcher plead guilty to firing a handgun within city limits, said Hattiesburg city prosecutor Sally O’Flynn. If he completes probation and 40 hours of community service, his record can be wiped clean. Feb. 15 Fletcher fired a handgun outside the apartments where many athletes live. He initially plead not guilty. • Lawyers for Roger Clemens asked a federal judge to reconsider his decision dismissing most of a defamation suit the pitcher filed against his former personal trainer over allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison dropped most of Clemens’ lawsuit against Brian McNamee on Feb. 12, saying statements McNamee made to baseball investigator George Mitchell were protected. McNamee told federal agents, Mitchell and a House of Representatives committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-2001. Clemens lawyers also want Ellison to reconsider whether the court has jurisdiction over the claims arising from what Clemens insists were McNamee's false statements to Mitchell and to Sports Illustrated's Web site.
DID YOU KNOW
The widow of slain Carolina Panthers running back Fred Lane walked out of prison after serving nearly six years for his shotgun death. Deidra Lane plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003, three years after her estranged husband was found fatally shot inside their home. Fred Lane played for the Carolina Panthers for three years and had been traded to the Indianapolis Colts before his death. Prosecutors at her sentencing described Deidra Lane as an abusive woman who killed her husband for insurance money. Defense attorneys called her a battered wife who killed in self-defense. • President Barack Obama has selected Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland, turning to a lifelong Republican who provided the Democrat critical campaign support during his White House race. The 76-year-old Rooney endorsed Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton during Pennsylvania’s contentious Democratic primary; Clinton won the contest last April. Rooney later campaigned for him in Steelers country in western Pennsylvania, and Obama went on to win the state last November. Rooney in the 1970s helped found the American Ireland Fund, an organization that has raised millions for advocacy of peace and education in Ireland. In announcing the nomination on St. Patrick’s Day, Obama called Rooney “an unwavering supporter of Irish peace, culture and education.” • Buffalo Bills running back, Marshawn Lynch met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who will decide whether the Buffalo Bills running back will be disciplined after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. Lynch faces league fines and suspension without pay from regular-season games for violating the NFL's player personal conduct policy after his arrest near Los Angeles on Feb. 11. In searching a parked car carrying Lynch, Culver City police found a 9mm semiautomatic handgun inside a backpack in the trunk. Police said they also found four marijuana cigarettes in the car, but no drug charges were filed. After pleading guilty to having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, Lynch was sentenced this month to 80 hours community service and three years' probation. This is Lynch's second brush with the law in less than a year, which is expected to factor into Goodell’s decision. Last June, Lynch pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted driving off after striking a female pedestrian with his car near Buffalo’s downtown bar district May 31.
SPORTS BIZ
Los Angeles City Council members unanimously approved a proposal for a pro football stadium intended to lure a team back to the Los Angeles area. The vote helped clear the way for developers of the $800 million venue to begin talks with NFL teams about a possible move to the industrial and warehousing city 15 miles east of Los Angeles. Majestic Real Estate Co. managing partner John Semcken said the company would begin shopping for a team on April 1, the deadline for opponents of the project to file a lawsuit. At least eight franchises, including the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings, have been identified as possible targets for relocation, he said. • The Hawaii Tourism Authority board voted 9-1 on to accept the NFL’s offer to return to the islands. The board rejected two previous proposals, but under mounting pressure reconsidered its latest refusal to pay the NFL $4 million a year to host the all-star game at Aloha Stadium in 2011 and 2012.
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