NCAA Basketball 2007/08 Superstars

After watching ESPN’s College Gameday preview show for the 2007/08 basketball season, three freshmen players were highlighted as potential superstars. The three players have all been given their own labels – the new Kobe, the new D-Wade….even the new Jordan. Let’s see what all the fuss is about…
 

Derrick Rose

Stats
Height: 6’4″
College: Memphis
Position: Guard
Comparison: Jason Kidd

Rose’s highlight videos have him doing a wide range of dunks, but his true value is in his lightning speed and foresight, able to dish in seemingly impossible situations. He’s a true playmaker, who also has the ability and fearlessness to drive to the basket at will. His perimeter shooting, once seen as his weak-spot, has been a strength in his opening pair of matches for Memphis – shooting 58% and carrying his new team to the semi-finals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic (to be played on the 15th November).
 

OJ Mayo

Stats
Height: 6’5″
College: Univeristy of South California (USC)
Position: Guard
Comparison: Kobe Bryant

The hoops hype machine has been working overtime for Mayo, largely due to issues off the court. In January, after being ejected from a high-school game he allegedly assaulted one of the officials, earning himself a two game suspension. This ban was overturned after video evidence seemed to suggest the referee overreacted to what little contact there was between them.More controversy followed in March, when Mayo was ticketed by police for posession of marijuana. This charge was dropped when a (very rich in the future?) friend claimed responsibility for the weed, which had been found in a car that Mayo was riding in.On the court, Mayo is a monster. He has speed, great hands, size, vision and inside strength.
 

Kevin Love

Stats
Height: 6’10″
College: UCLA
Position: Center
Comparison: Dirk Nowitzki

Kevin Love makes the job of headline writers easy. Not just because of his name (marketability: A+), but because of the raw materials that he puts to good use every time he steps onto the floor. He’s a big (270lbs) centre with an eye for inch perfect, court-length outlet passes and a soft touch from the 3-point line. He is known as an NBA historian, and has grown up with some serious pedigree (his father, a former NBA player, had him watch videos of the Showtime Lakers as a child). His biggest weakness was seen to be that he was, at times, slightly sluggish, however he has cut down for the start of his college career and is now a danger both inside and out.Love was awarded High School Athlete of the Year in his final year, and he has started his college life the same way – with 22 points (two shy of a freshman record) and 13 boards (breaking the previous record of 12) in his first game for UCLA.

Fear

So I just got home, it’s about 4am, and the door to one of my flatmate’s room is open. Strange. Then I hear ‘See you later Oli! Take care man!’. Alcohol. I think I need to start thinking about the future, eg next year. Yikes. Had a basketball game tonight and we lost. And I played average. And I’m ill. Shit.

Terrorvision

‘I feel like shit and look like plastic’ – hmmm Middleman? Had a long coffee with Hayuna today, really really nice to see her, not nice to get abused by her best friend for being a ‘fuck up’. Ouch. It only hurts when it’s true people.
In other news there’s a basketball match tonight, i’ve never felt less motivated, however this may mean that I don’t feel sick for the 4 hours before the game. We’ll see. SORT YOUR LIFE OUT.

Have an affair, act like an adult for once

Had a good chat with an old friend (flame ;) ) tonight…was real nice to catch up…I wonder if I will ever be able to chit chat with Yve again? Hope so…

Got a wicked album Jay-Z v Jadakiss…some good stuff (see the title)…Basketball today was cool…lots of guys were there, me and Ubonge lit it up as usual (being 1 foot taller than everyone else) but it’s all good. No pain in the ankle (although I haven’t dared take off my shoe yet to look to see if it’s swollen)…Oh yeah sorted my phone problems out as well, new sim card on the way, back to Vodafone for me!!! FREE ANSWERPHONE!!! YEAH BABY!!!

Pornturkey.co.uk – He bought the domain too? He rules…Porn genius…
World Trade Center architects aim high – Geddit?! Aim…High….!!!! BBC journos rule…

Not Impressed

Sometimes I am stupid. Today is a good example. SO I go along to play basketball at 3 o’clock after waking up especially…nobody there. Actually I lie, there are 3 or 4 people there pkaying 5 a side football.
*Walk away* my subconscious screamed (but of course you can’t listen to your subconscious or it would be conscious) so I just go down and say hello to the guys coz I knew 2 of them. ‘You want to join in?’ says Amir, a Malaysian guy…

++++++++++++++++++++++
I DID NOT WANT TO JOIN IN
++++++++++++++++++++++

So why did I? After spraining my ankle 4 days before playing basketball, why would I play football, a game that I don’t even like playing….anyway I played, I didn’t hurt myself again, basketball is at 5pm not 3 (thanks Ubonge) but seriously I am an idiot.

Word

So last night I tried to add an entry to Oliworld and was *rejected*…some problem with Blogger.com or something I don’t know but anyway that means I’ll never be able to put back what I typed last night which is a nightmare….not really. It was pretty boring as I remember…

Today played bball against the Korean posse (who don’t hate me as much as I thought…great) and my ankle didn’t hurt too much which was ace (although it did ache afterwards so I might not play tomorrow (although tomorrow is probably my last day of playing ball (oh no actually Wednesday is) ) ). In other news Yvette texted me for the first time since I texted her (duh – response!) but actually first time since holidays so it’s good to know she’s still aorund…we’ll probably meet up before I leave for home (IN A CAR IN A CAR IN A CAR!!!)

Just watched Like Mike with Bow Wow in it…It was good fun (especially for basketball fans) with loads of stars getting whipped by the kid. Hahaha. Also last night after morning prayers in Dubai (to continue with the basketball theme) I saw Love and Basketball which was also good but not a-m-a-z-i-n-g…as Yaotun put it ‘The main guy sucked at basketball’…

NBA

Aaaagh we played ball today which was a welcome break from doing nothing, and as usual it was me v J so it was a workout (trans: beating) but whatever it was fun. The Warwick team has been challenged to a basketball game by the Hong Kong team which could be a classic…Thursday at 7pm…

Ming Dynasty

Fuck didn’t sleep till 5am, woke up 1.30pm again (something must happen at this time every day to wake me up…) and had already missed playing basketball. Shiiiit. Hope J didn’t go and get hustled by Yao Ming’s cousin.

+++One Text Later+++
Basketball at 4pm instead…the old school posse will be there…yikes…