And Then There Was Bill Simmons…..

Greg Oden. Out for the year.

My co-worker and I almost said it simultaneously, but he beat me to the punch. Damn. Not the ‘beat me to the punch part’, but the Greg Oden part. First, I felt bad for the league. The NBA needed the pub, all that’s going on. Okay, draft picks 1 & 2 went to the west coast. They’re in small markets. Oh well. Point is, they’d arrived. Oden and Durant. Durant and Oden. Debate all you want, but they were both in the league and both were selected by teams which should feel damn lucky to get them in the first place. Both of them still are in the league, we just have the debut for one a little bit delayed. Good, Oden and get adjusted to NBA life.

So what did I do when I first heard the news? Check out Henry Abbott’s True Hoop blog of course. Timely, sensible, reasonable, and on-point. And the ‘Grieving with Greg Oden’ entry was not only a first responder, it actually made sense. Go ahead, read for yourself.

But wait Henry…what’s all this “Don’t even talk to me about Sam Bowie” crap? Where’d you get that? I want a name and I want it now. News is so fresh…who’d think, who’d consider? Yea, it would eventually cross all of our minds. But really. Even comment #2 to the blog entry questioned the ‘Beware the Bowie mention, mention’.

And then there was Billy Simmons…..

Checking ESPN.com later that night, there is was in big letters, ‘Sam I Am?’ on the homepage. And who wrote the lead column? Bill Simmons of course. Say it ain’t so.

“It’s one of the saddest stories in recent NBA history…” Really Bill? Really? I would think that the Eddie Griffin story was pretty sad. But a kid with his life still ahead of him? Yes, it’s tough-luck, but sad? No.

Simmons goes on to conveniently use Oden’s injury as support for his Durant for #1 argument. Seems a little early to crow, not to mention unfair to Greg Oden. It’s sad that a knee injury happened to this kid. The burden of the franchise has already been put on his shoulders. It is sad that the media wants to now depreciate the hope of the franchise, and Oden, with Sam Bowie comparisons.

I like Bill Simmons, I really do. He’s extremely readable and writes with distinct logic. He attracts readership by bringing out the inner cynic in all of us. It’s just that in this case, he’s a little quick to turn an unfortunate situation into a decisive judgment on his predictions.

UPDATE:

Henry Abbott supports the 'Greg Oden is Not Sam Bowie' argument here.

Graduation Review - Kanye West

Graduation takes a back seat to Late Registration and College Dropout. Yea, yea...producer rapper, we all know his lyrical repertoire will never live up to the greats, but Yay seems to be digressing. But I'd still rather hear Kanye's egotistical, yet sometimes thought-provoking lyrics than that of what wanna-bes like Juelz Santana and Young Joc. There's a hint of popcorn rap. Is this album more mainstream? Well, Kanye's always been relatively "mainstream" as a rapper. Could be that this more simplistic approach contributes to increased sales and Kanye's fly Malcolm X status...by any jeans necessary. The overall presentation is there. I mean, this is a nice album. The beats are well produced. Kanye has a nice voice and a rhythmic flow to his pitch. Is Graduation better that a lot of crap out there? Definitely. Do I personally feel that Common's Finding Forever is better? Yes. Is Kanye’s third album a disappointment? I would say so, then again, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Good Morning
Not a bad way to start off Graduation....wake up everyone and hear Mr. West. A relaxed beat you can still tap your foot too which eases you into the album. The tightest part is when a Jay-Z verse comes in towards the end....from 'The Ruler's Back' on The Blueprint. This is actually the full line, but Kanye only uses the parts in quotes: Yo, gather round "hustlers that's if you still livin". And "get on down", to that ol' Jig rhythm.
Song Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Champion
Smooth conversion to a nice change of beat....funny that Kanye uses a Steely Dan sample on this track. However, this song doesn't jump out at me as being anything past "generic Kanye" -- he's not impressing anyone with his lyrics, but the catchy-ness makes the song a decent total package.
Song Rating 7 out of 10

Stronger
Club/Workout song that doesn't really get annoying, assuming that it is not played out on MTV. Kanye definitely flaunts his arrogance here -- are people who view his arrogance as unfortunate considered haters? Song also has that cross-over appeal with the 2001 Daft Punk sample.
Song Rating 8 out of 10

I Wonder
Some may think the broken verses he's spitting at the start is annoying...I don't mind them so much. But I think he could've cut it out after the first verse and cut back to normal after the chorus. This is Kanye's quarter-life crisis song.
Song Rating 7 out of 10

Good Life
This is the one and only song that I really don't care for -- and part of it may involve ESPN blasting it all over the Monday Night Football debut the night before the album dropped, among pretty much every other ESPN show. I just don't feel comfortable with Linda Cohn introducing the song using words like "fresh" while it plays over Phil Mickelson and Dale Jr. highlights and thinking, 'hey, this kinda fits'. No, that is not what I want from a Kanye West track. I also expect more from the beat here. Funny that DJ Toomp (works with a lot of ATL rappers, mostly T.I. – check out ‘Heavy Chevys’ & ‘Motivation’ by T.I. and ‘Two Miles an Hour’ by Ludacris, three of his best) and Mike Dean (works with Texas artists like Scarface & Devin the Dude) collabo on the production...doesn't sound like anything they've had their hands on before. Maybe I just don’t feel T-Pain either.
Song Rating 5 out of 10

Can’t Tell Me Nothing
I was feeling this song when it came out….and I still do. Can rarely say that for the first single to drop for other albums. It just has a good, soulful rhythm. This is one of Kanye’s best flows on the whole album, probably because it comes most from the heart. Yay’s emotions are definitely on his sleeve here. Gotta dig Young Jeezy hollerin’ in the background. DJ Toomp also assists with the production. Well done, creative video also.
Song Rating 9 out of 10

Barry Bonds
This one is actually co-produced by Kanye with Nottz getting the head credit. Nottz doesn't have the longest resume, but I do know ‘Keep Me Down’ by Scarface, ‘Tooken Back’ by Ghostface, and ‘Get Out!’ by Busta Rhymes are decent tracks. But back to the song, you easily notice the difference in the beat. It's less “soulful” and hits a little harder. I actually like the change of pace, but something’s not right with the package. Lil’ Wayne seems to have a hard time adjusting his flow to the beat, so his effort comes out as sub-par.
Song Rating 6.5 out of 10

UPDATE: I've really grown to like the song...up the rating to 7.5.

Drunk and Hot Girls
Man, I go through too much shit to mess with this hot mess chorus. If I could describe it in one word: cumbersome. Sure the concept is fine. We all know how privileged drunk and hot girls think they are. But it's not just the chorus, I feel like the beat is tripping over itself. Then again, I find myself listening to the song and kinda feeling the flow. Guess that's how Kanye can toy with us.
Song Rating 4.5 out of 10

Flashing Lights
This is one of my favs. Nice combo of smooth, deriving from the chorus of Eric Hudson and Connie Mitchell, and pace….the perfect stripper song. And hey, what do you know….from the lyrics, it seems like it’s about a stripper, or at least a girl who loves herself as much as Kanye loves himself. One can only assume when someone likes to show off and mirrors are involved.
Song Rating 8.5 out of 10

UPDATE: Ok...my boy told me this song is really about the chick from MTV that Kanye used to date...until she decided to put her relationship diary on MySpace.

Everything I Am
A sentimental favorite…..actually, just about anyone can get sentimental about themselves and where they are in their own lives just by chilling out to the beat. It seems like Kanye most touches on those who knock his ego in this song. Yea, he admits how he comes across, and maybe it’s just to make a buck; relatively harmless when you consider the many ways people compromise themselves to get that money. Thing is, here, and maybe just here, Kanye realizes that while he is big, there are things bigger than him in this world. And to be honest, while the Louis Vuitton Don's love for himself is ever-present, it's not that big of a deal in my mind.
Song Rating 9 out of 10

The Glory
Not a bad song, not great. Kinda catchy, it just seems to fall in line. Again, Kanye’s mediocrity (in production) is still better than a lot out there.
Song Rating 7 out of 10

Homecoming
The required Chi-town anthem. This one definitely doesn’t touch the ‘My Way Home’ minute forty-four snippet featuring Common on Late Registration. Not sure if this one was really recorded live, but the background gives the track some ambiance nonetheless. Lyrics transforming an object (or city) to the female gender is a little cliché….still a feel good hit complimented by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Song Rating 7 out of 10

Big Brother
This song had to take some guts to make. I can hear some ‘hater’ right now talking about how Yay is all over Jay’s D. This song was produced by DJ Toomp, but has that smooth Kanye feel. The guitar riffs provide some nice balance. The beat is definitely there to match the mood of the whole track. This is something people can, and should, feel. But damn Jay, why didn’t you at least leave your mans a ticket?
Song Rating 8.5 out of 10

Good Night
There’s not too much to this song. I usually skip past it and move on to other things because there’s not much offered. Al Be does not impress with his verse. I guess you gotta end with good night after beginning with good morning. Mundane.
Song Rating 6 out of 10

University of Tennessee Volunteer Criminals

Has anyone every wondered what they put in the water at the University of Tennessee?

Well, I don't either....but UT football player names involved in legal issues started to ring a bell after remembering that Travis Henry played football there. So, I did a little research.

Let's go for the run down from worst to first.

#8) Peyton Manning - QB - Indianapolis Colts

While at UT, Rocket Arm's failed pass attempt at a young female trainer led to two separate six-figure sexual harassment settlements. Who knew that dropping your pants while being treated would result in "Moon-Gate '96"? Peyton then went on to star in every commercial ever and has a snotty little brother who went to Ole Miss.

#7) Jamal Lewis - RB - Cleveland Browns

After insisting on his innocence in helping broker a cocaine deal for one of his childhood homies in 2000, Jamal pleaded guilty and served 4 months in prison in 2005. Just another example of someone needing to cut ties with the old neighborhood. Luckily, his plea helped him avoid conspiracy charges which could've landed him in court for 10-plus.

#6) Travis Henry - RB - Denver Broncos

Who dat now? That's just my nine-time baby daddy! But Travis has thoughtfully spread out his assets. He and all nine different mothers get to dedicate time to the babies without any direct sibling rivalries to worry about. Who's daddy's favorite? All of them! Or none of them considering that he's dodging collection agencies and borrowing money to make past child support payments. But hey, at least he uses his bad checks to try to buy expensive jewelry according to one collection service.

#5) Jason Witten - TE - Dallas Cowboys

Currently plays for the Cowboys. 'Nuff said.

#4) Frank Weary - G - Houston Texans

This UT defensive standout was recently involved in a fight at a nightclub in Houston. Perhaps he was still fuming from being pulled over by the cops in November '06. One afternoon, Weary was pulled over for suspicious behavior. He allegedly was making improper lanes changes, did not have proper plates on his Impala, and was "suspiciously" looking at the police while still driving. Not surprising that he was pulled over. Upon refusing to give his license a couple times and upon reaching into his console, was asked to step out of the car. The rest involved him being belligerent, slapping a cop's hands away from him and then Weary getting tasered by the Po-Pos. Look, you can question the justification over the traffic stop, you can cry racial profiling all you want....but the fact is that if you are pulled over and are not smart enough to cooperate with the police, you are asking for trouble. White, Black, Asian, Choctaw.

#3) Albert Haynesworth - DT - Tennessee Titans

Where to begin with Albert?....easy, bullet points.

• At UT, Temper-Tantrum Al was kicked out of practice by Phillip Fulmer for fighting with a teammate. He later had to be restrained from resuming the fight when he returned with a large pole....guess he wanted a gentlemen's jousting match.


• He's kicked a Titans teammate in the chest....not sure if he was kicking a man down, or showing him his Bruce Lee impression.

Off the field, Al has had arrest warrants issued because of "Road Rage"

• But Haynesworth's most famous incident (to date) occurred in October of '06. After being scored upon by the Cowboys, Al decided it would be best to pull the helmet off of opposing center, Andre Gurode, and stomp on his head with his cleats. After a whiff on the first attempt, he got Gurode in the forehead good, narrowly missing his eye. Gurode needed 30 stitches, but it gets better. Al was not immediately ejected from the game, rather given a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty. It took his polite protest of removing his helmet and throwing a fit to get him kicked out the game. He was suspended for 5 games and Gurode is still medically affected to this day.

#2) Leonard Little - DE - St. Louis Rams

Leonard Who? Well, this former UT standout came into the NFL in 1998. He celebrated his pro arrival, and birthday, one night by elevating his blood alcohol level to 0.19. He then got into a wreck and killed a woman. At least he waited out his 90 day jail sentence, 4 years of probation, and 1,000 hours of community service, (actually, he waited a whole 6 years), before he got pulled over for speeding and drunk driving again. A judged ordered him to never consume alcohol again.

#1) Dwayne Goodrich - Former CB - Dallas Cowboys

This UT '98 National Championship team member is currently serving a 12 year prison sentence for trying to one-up Leonard Little. No word on whether Goodrich was drunk or not... In 2003, Goodrich was speeding down the highway in his BMW when he hit three people on the side of the road. The people were trying to help a man from a burning car...so no, not exactly a couple of drifters in the dark. Well, the two of people died and there weren't even skid-marks on the scene to indicate that Dwayne might have slowed down. And maybe it was totally an innocent mistake that one of those who died was dragged 155 feet by Dwayne's sedan. He was also arrested for disorderly conduct while at UT, but hey, who hasn't been?