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Wowowin May 03 2017 Full Show Replay
SHOW DESCRIPTION: Wowowin is an upcoming Philippine afternoon-variety show presented by Willie Revillame premiering May 10, 2015 on the Sunday afternoon block of GMA Network. The program will also be broadcast internationally via GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Network's international channel. The program marks the much-awaited comeback of Revillame to Philippine showbiz and television and his return to his original mother network, GMA Network, where he hosted Lunch Date with friend Randy Santiago in the 1980's. Wowowin will be produced by Revillame's WBR Entertainment, serving as a blocktimer on GMA Network and friend Randy Santiago will serve as the program's director.
Source: Wikipedia


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Taylor Swift cast in 'The Giver'
Listen to Taylor Swift on iHeartRadio
Taylor Swift will be sharing screen time with Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges in The Giver. Swift has a supporting role in the movie about a young boy living in a dystopian world based on the 1993 novel of the same name.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the country-pop star will play the role of Rosemary, one of the last teens mentored by the mysterious character known as The Giver, to be played by Jeff Bridges. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites will play Jonas, the young boy at the center of the story. Streep is set to play the Chief Elder of Jonas' community and Katie Holmes and Alexander Skarsgard will play his parents.
Production on The Giver is slated to begin October 7th in Cape Town, South Africa. The film is on track for release next August.


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Barreveld International's home accessories and furnishings marry classic Old European elegance with contemporary design. Based in New York City, the company offers a full range of home and garden accessories — elaborate iron-and-wood chandeliers and other lighting, filigree mirrors with distressed elements, antique-looking birdhouses, upholstered Louis XVI chairs, silvery decanters ... need we go on? — created from natural and traditional materials. For fans of Scandinavian design, company founder Rene Barreveld has created DK Living: an ultra-contemporary collection just as far-ranging and exhaustive as its more established sibling. From sturdy wooden tables and kitchen cabinets to domed serving platters, Barreveld products bring a sense of history to every room of your home.
Accents with retro charm
Bold patterns, rich colors, and historical motifs mark these inspired designs
Put some shine in your design


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Jane's Addiction to play 'Nothing's Shocking' in Vegas
Listen to Jane's Addiction on iHeartRadio
Jane's Addiction's 25th anniversary celebration is leaking over into 2014.
The alt-rock vets' debut album Nothing's Shocking reached the quarter-century milestone last year, but now they've announced plans to bring it back to the stage May 8th through the 10th.
Perry Farrell and the guys will run through the entire record at the new Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, which officially opens in March.
Farrell tells "Rolling Stone" they picked Sin City after performing at a private-party gig there during the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month. He says they had a blast, and decided to come back to celebrate their 25th anniversary one last time.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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LISTEN: Jamie Lynn Spears releases debut single
Jamie Lynn Spears released her first-ever single on Monday.
Called "How Could I Want More," the song is a country track recorded for her debut album.
"Surprise!!!!!! On itunes now!!!! Go get it– RIGHT NOW!!!!! This song means a lot to me… Hope it does to ya'll as well!! Love y'all!!" Spears wrote on Instagram.
The aspiring singer also collaborated with big sister Britney for a track on the pop star's upcoming Britney Jean album.
Listen to "How Could I Want More" below!


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Report: Kris Jenner TV show 'Kris' canceled
Fox is pulling the plug on Kris Jenner's TV talk show, according to an unnamed source.
Fox TV says the network hasn't made a decision yet on the afternoon show. But the gossip website Radar Online quotes a source "close to the production" who says the afternoon talk show arena is a very crowded market, quote, "And Kris didn't do anything to set herself apart from the field."
The high point came in what apparently will be the final episode of the show. Kanye West sat for an hour-long interview that included the first public showing of a picture of West and Kim Kardashian's baby daughter North, who is also Jenner's granddaughter.
For its six-week trial run, the show's ratings were less than 1% of the audience.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Training - Marathon Intermediate
Workout Details
Equipment Type: Treadmill
Intensity Level: 4
Number of Workouts: 47
12 Week Marathon Training Program Train for your next Marathon with our new Marathon Intermediate Training Program. If you already feel comfortable running moderate to long distances, this program is just for you. This program contains a mix of map, time, and distance based workouts. Certain days you will be assigned a specific number of miles to complete, other days you will complete a specific amount of time. The totals at the end of the week will reflect the amount of work you completed both in miles and in minutes. You can learn about the different workouts in the descriptions below. General Aerobic walk/run: General Aerobic walk/run. This is a standard, moderate effort run/walk. The intention of this type of walk/run is to build your overall aerobic conditioning through boosting your training volume. Cross Training: Cross training can be weight training, plyometrics, pilates, yoga, etc. For free daily cross training workouts visit iFit Daily. REST: Sleep, hydration and good nutrition are all key ingredients of the recovery process. The better you recover, the more you will get out of future workouts and the more you will improve. Hill Intervals: Hill intervals are designed to increase power and running economy while improving form. These hills should be completed at 80%-90% effort with a full recovery in between. Speed Intervals: Speed Interval walk/runs improve leg speed and running form. Speed intervals should be done after a thorough warm-up and should be concluded with a thorough cool down. Make sure you are almost completely recovered before you repeat a sprint interval. Tempo Walk/Run: These walk/runs provide a strong stimulus to improve your lactate threshold. Why would you want to do that? By improving your lactate threshold, you increase the body's ability to clear lactic acid from the muscle. This results in improved speed and endurance. A portion of these walk/runs should be performed just below your desired race pace. This run should be "comfortably hard". Recovery Walk/Run: Slow paced recover walk/runs. You should be able to hold a conversation during these workouts. This program was designed by iFit Head Master Trainer, Natalie Vetica.
- Total Distance: false
- Total Elevation Gain: false


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Superautomatic Espresso Machines and Coffee Makers
Too bleary-eyed to grind, tamp and steam your own espresso shot in the morning? Let a superautomatic espresso machine do it for you, saving you time, effort and clean up! At the push of a button, these espresso machines create consistent coffee and espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos.
While the taste of the coffee from these superautomatic espresso machines is similar, the biggest difference is in functionality and programming options. Some are capable of automatic milk frothing and others use a standard steam wand. Some have one-touch profiles for pre-set espresso drinks and others require you to manually enter in your drink selection. Try one, and you too will say, 'Domo Arigato Mister Roboto!'
Learn More about Superautomatic Espresso Machines
DeLonghi PrimaDonna S De Luxe ECAM 28.465.M Superautomatic Espresso MachineHave you ever wished for a machine that will make life a little easier? DeLonghi can help to ease you into morning with the PrimaDonna S De Luxe superautomatic espresso machine. With a patented Instant Frothing Device, you can rest assured the PrimaDonna has what it takes to create a perfect cappuccino, macchiato, or latte every time with a push of a button. Learn More$3,599.95
Out of stock
Miele CM 6310 Coffee System - BlackDesigned with looks for the modern kitchen, the Miele CM6310 Superautomatic Coffee System features an intuitive digital display that marries with one-touch technology. Access descriptive menus and drink features that take the guesswork out of programming your perfect cup. At the touch of a button create frothy cappuccinos or steamy lattes thanks to the integrated brew system and attached milk flask. Save everyone's drink-of-choice by creating up to four unique profiles of their preferences. Keeping true to intuitive technology, the Miele CM6310 will automatically rinse before and after brewing for the freshest cup and a sparkling clean machine every time. miele_cm6310_user_manual Learn More$1,999.00
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DeLonghi Magnifica ECAM 23210B Espresso MachineThe DeLonghi Magnifica ECAM 23210B is one of the most compact superautomatics we have ever seen, but don't let its small size fool you. The Magnifica ECAM 23210B contains many of the features found on much larger and more expensive machines, such as an intuitive interface, removable water tank, automatic three hour shut off and energy saving mode, a professional quality burr grinder and a cup warmer. Learn More$1,199.95
Jura ENA Micro 1 Automatic Coffee CenterThe Jura ENA Micro 1 Automatic Coffee Center is tiny but mighty, delivering a gourmet cup of espresso or coffee with an ultra-compact footprint. Unlike many single cup brewers on the market, the ENA Micro 1 delivers a true bean-to-cup experience by grinding fresh beans right before brewing, eliminating the need for capsules or pods. The intuitive touchscreen interface is simple to operate, allowing you to program three cup sizes and select from two dosage levels depending on how strong you'd like your cup. Learn More$799.00
Jura Impressa XJ9 Professional Espresso MachineThe Jura Impressa XJ9 Professional Espresso Machine is the monster truck of superautomatic machines. With one-touch functionality and supersized tank and revved up bean hopper, it's perfect for small offices (or large households!) that crave convenience and capacity. Learn More$3,599.00
Jura Impressa C60 Automatic Coffee CenterAlways improving and keeping well ahead of the curve, Jura has created a machine that simultaneously mimics and improves on it's predecessor. Meet the Jura Impressa C60! The clear successor to the Impressa C5, this machine offers the same necessary functionality to one-touch your way to the drink of your dreams, all while offering a more convenient process. Learn More$999.00
Krups Barista EA9010 Superautomatic Espresso MachineGlimpse into the future of superautomatics with the Krups Barista One-Touch. The EA9010, an update from its predecessor (the EA9000), brings new meaning to superautomatic with its fully integrated one-touch digital screen and easy to read illustrated options. Customize up to eight different recipes per user profile for volume, temperature, and coffee dosage desired. Or simply start-up the Barista One-Touch and select from one of 17 pre-programmed recipes with just a touch of a button. Learn More$2,999.95
Jura GIGA 5 Automatic Coffee CenterSometimes more is just more, but sometimes more is awesome. Built to brew two drinks at a time and offered in two different colors, the Jura GIGA 5 is a powerhouse superautomatic perfect for a small office environment or high capacity home user. With 18 programmable drink settings, coffee lovers can customize their beverage temperature, water volume, dosage, and milk foam to deliver the perfect latte or ristretto at the touch of a button. Learn More$5,599.00
Jura Impressa A9 One Touch Espresso MachineThe Jura Impressa A9 One Touch with automatic milk and Jura's new touchscreen with slide interface is intuitive and easy to use. The A9 has a compact design that delivers all of your favorite coffee beverages in a small footprint. This would be an excellent alternative to a capsule machine for a small kitchen or apartment space. The Impressa A9 allows you to brew with you favorite bean to help you make the coffee you love. Learn More$1,999.00
Jura J95 Carbon One Touch Automatic Coffee MachineWe're fans of many things, but here are two that top the list: Coffee and items that make us say "Ooooh, pretty!" So it's no surprise that the Jura J95 Carbon had us feeling a bit woozy with caffeinated-excitement when it rolled through the doors. With its striking TFT display, you can easily select and customize drinks to your heart's content (which is no small feat!). But what really set us aflutter? A carbon fiber front panel that gives the J95 Carbon a show-stopping, we-have-to-have-one appearance. A machine after our own hearts! Learn More$3,599.00


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Category Benefits
Staycation IdeasStaycation Ideas Close
With low exchange rates against the pound and airline costs getting higher, it's no wonder many people are choosing to holiday in Britain.
Many Brits are choosing to take a staycation as a cheaper alternative to going abroad. Check out our top staycation ideas for some inspiration on how to enjoy a fun and active holiday, right here in the UK.More Info
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Loads of people are turning to 'glamping' as a fun way to enjoy the great outdoors. But what is glamping and why is it becoming so popular?
Glamping is short for 'glamorous camping'. It's basically a way to go camping but with a little added luxury, like heating, electricity, proper beds, and even hot-tubs.
So if you fancy trying camping but don't want to compromise on comfort, glamping might be for you!More Info
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I had the notion for a really good play for Lebron. Maybe you can pass it on to Mike Brown and the boys. See if they can utilize it for this year. Picture this. Gibson at point. Lebron playing 2 or 3. Gibson brings the ball down to either wing. Lebron runs off of a screen in the paint to curl onto the block or the elbow. Lebron is now isolated with Gibson with the ball. 2 man game just like the Lakers did when Kareem was hurt in the Finals and Magic played center. He scored 42 with this play. Gibson passes Lebron the ball. THE OTHER 3 PLAY GARBAGE MEN AND COAST TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURT. Lebron, in isolation has several choices. He can keep his back to the defender and look for passing lanes as 1 of the GARBAGE MEN cut to the basket. Or he can swing and face up on his man. 1 dribble and a step and he can explode to the basket or shoot the short J. He can drive and dish to 1 of the set up GARBAGE MEN or Gibson for a 3. The possibilities could be endless with this play. Old school basketball. Lebron goes to the line about 5-10 times a game.
Well, first off, I think you'd have trouble telling the other guys they were garbage men. Second, the Cavs do run this play. And about 90 percent of the time, LeBron doesn't establish post position and floats out near the 3-point line to receive the "entry" pass, then turns and starts dribbling.
If I had an idea for an Cavaliers/NBA product should I get it patented before I present it to the team/NBA? I think I have something good that will definitely boost season/package ticket sales.
That or e-mail Dan Gilbert at email@example.com, he might buy it off you. Last year he bought the Flashseats idea off a couple of guys from the east suburbs.
Could you break down the Salary cap structure real easily for me? I have a hard time explaining it to my buddies, as I swirl around in monstruos NBA-linguistic terms that don't make sense for them. The Bird clause, trade kicker, mid level exception - those kind of things need a good explaining.
Well, the cap isn't really easy but here goes. The NBA has a so-called soft salary cap, which means it can be exceeded. It can be exceeded, however, under five so-called "exceptions." They are the "Bird" exception, the mid-level exception, the bi-annual exception, an injury exception and a trade exception.
The most important is the "Bird" exception, named for Larry Bird when he was with the Celtics. If a player has been under one contract for at least three years, the team who has the expiring contract -- aka "Bird rights" -- may go over the salary cap and pay the player up to the maximum contract. If a player has been signed for two years, teams have what is called "early Bird" rights. They can exceed the salary cap up to the average player's salary, which is about $5 million right now. The Cavs will have early Bird rights to Daniel Gibson next summer.
The mid-level exception changes every year and can be used to sign one or more free agents. This year it is $5.3 million. All teams over the salary cap, or within $5.3 million of the cap, get the exception. The bi-annual exception must go to one player and can only be used every other year. This year it is worth $1.8 million and the Cavs can use it. These contracts can only be for two years. Trade exceptions are created when trades are unbalanced within the trade rules. Say a player making $10 million gets traded for a player making $7.5 million (which is legal) the team who got the $7.5 million player gets a $2.5 million trade exception. It can be used by itself in another trade. Sometimes teams can just trade salary-cap space for players, creating large exceptions. This is what the Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic did this summer. When a player gets injured and is out for the year, teams can apply to the league for injured player exceptions, which can be used like trade exceptions but can be combined with players. The Milwaukee Bucks used an injured player exception (for Bobby Simmons) to get Earl Boykins last season.
And finally, a trade kicker is a clause in a player's contract that provides a bonus if he's traded. The most it can be for is 15 percent. Eric Snow had a trade kicker in his contract, he got a 15 percent raise when coming to Cleveland. Deep breath.
I have a question on exactly how much owners are dishing out for their respective teams. I realize that to buy a team costs an incredible amount of money, but where does that money go? (I'm guessing it's to the previous owner, but I'm not positive). And once an owner actually purchases a team, do they invest any more money in player salaries, etc.? What exactly is the owner's role financially after purchasing a team? The money goes to the old owner in full or in pieces, depending on the agreement. Most of the time these days, people barrow heavily to buy the team and then service the debt while the equity grows. Just like an interest-only mortgage, eh, Mr. Gilbert? But the NBA requires a significant percentage of cash be brought to the table as well. Then, yes, they must pay for everything including player salaries, etc., etc. Often the operating money for the team comes from the arena, which most teams get the revenue from. The Cavs lost money for years, but the Gund Arena Company made money on concerts and other events. The lease Gilbert got when he bought the Cavs is as valuable as owning the arena outright. Teams without arena deals just don't sell, which is why the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers couldn't sell last year. Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen has since bought the arena, no word on whether Philly owner Comcast would be willing to give up control of the Wachovia Center, before they were not and therefore the Sixers did not sell and were taken off the market.
Brian, we were seeing major trades for the last ten years because of all of the salary issues. Why have all of these trades dried up? The Ray Allen deal was really the only one the last year. Could the Cavs make a major deal before February 2008?
Well there were no big trades during the season, but since the season ended three players with max contracts -- Zach Randolph, Steve Francis and Ray Allen -- have been traded. I think this is pretty active on the blockbuster front. Yes, I believe the Cavs will make a major deal in the coming months. But it is still playing out. Right now there are rumors Kevin Garnett and his $23 million contract and $6.7 million trade kicker are getting traded to Boston.
Tell Dan Fegan that the market is way too full next year just sign Anderson Varejao to a 3 year 18 million dollar deal and go for the big money in 3 years. Mr. Fegan knows the market. His style and history, though, is to get a big deal for his clients and get a big deal now. He'll continue to pursue this avenue.
What's the status on Boykins? I know he's a shoot first point guard, but look at Hughes. I mean is Boykins defense really that bad? I like Earl and I like what he can bring to a game. The Cavs don't think he's a great fit perhaps due to defense, but that could change if he doesn't have a team in six weeks.
Wondering whether LeBron prefers Pepsi or Coke and his favorite tv shows LeBron has a $12 million deal with Coca-Cola to promote Sprite and Powerade. He is a big fan of Sopranos but also likes cartoons.
That's all for the moment, be back later.
LeBron made some pointed comments after the Team USA scrimmage about his love of up tempo basketball. Have you heard anything from the Cavs that indicates an upcoming change in their offensive philosophy? Seems to me that appeasing James might not be a bad idea. I agree LeBron sent a jabbing little message from Vegas. However, my advice to him would be to do it more behind closed doors. Ask Kobe how his public demands have gone. LeBron should want the Cavs to improve, but he needs to do his part as well. He said he had to improve over the offseason, we'll see if he's able to.
Who do you think would be/should be on the CAVS short list in terms of assistant coach addition?
As a beat writer for one team, I don't know every assistant coach in the league and his strengths. I have been led to believe the Cavs want a new and somewhat loud and experienced voice to "evaluate everything they do." That's why they have interviewed men like Dwane Casey, a former head coach with lots of experience.
What is the best way to handle the roster players on the end of the Cavs' bench? Guys like Scot Pollard, David Wesley and Ira Newble. Trade, cut or find a way to use their talents? Is the only answer to leave them sit at the end of the bench and let time take its course. Do you feel that any of the last 5 players on the 15 man roster have anything to offer? Would any non-contract Summer League Players be any better? Could you evaluate by player? I think this is a good question for the dead time of the year, while many of us still want to read about the Cavs.
Pollard probably won't be back, neither will Wesley and if Ira Newble isn't traded by the deadline, he'll probably be bought out. You always need to have veterans who can fill in on the bench. But there are always going to be 3-5 players who don't play, what you want is a mix of developing players and veterans. The Cavs have had that over the last several years.
Whats the latest on the Bibby trade?
Now that Mikki Moore has been signed by Sacramento, I don't see it happening unless a third team gets involved. I believe Kings GM Geoff Petrie has said he doesn't expect to trade him right now. The moment passed.
With Countryside and other mortgage lending companies reporting losses and concerns about future earnings, should we have any concerns about Quicken Loans and Dan Gilbert's willingness to go outside the cap?
Excellent question. Quicken Loans is a private company, so they don't have to release earnings reports. With the housing downturn, there are less loans being processed so it stands to reason there is less business being done. Also, Quicken Loans doesn't service many of their mortgages, they sell them off. They make money in churn, in the volume of them turning over. How the downturn could affect the Cavs is unclear, Dan Gilbert has constantly shown the willingness to spend money and, as a result, he just had the great financial season in team history. I don't see him changing his philosophy. He still has a company turning over billions in loans.
I wouldn't exactly call this entire scenario a rumor but it has recently been reported that the Cavs were exploring sending Gooden back home to the Warriors, who have a $9M trade exception at their disposal. Could you see something like a three-way deal sending Drew to GS, Ira and Damon and the GS trade exception to Phoenix, and Shawn Marion to the Cavs? It seems like it makes too much sense to actually happen, assuming that Phoenix really wants to dump some salary.
Two reactions here, I think Phoenix has dumped all the salary is it going to. Steve Kerr talked about those moves "keeping the core together." Marion is part of that core. I would not rule out Gooden being traded, however, it will not be for a trade exception unless it is part of a three-way deal. Also, understand the Cavs will not trade Gooden without having a plan in place to replace him in the lineup.
Hey, Brian, I saw that Henry (TrueHoop) mentioned a book that you're working on. Is it true? When will it be available? Terry Pluto and I have written a book on LeBron and the Cavs, a 15-month project we started at the end of the 2005-06 season. It is called The Franchise, and will be coming out at the start of the upcoming season. I believe it is the most inside and detailed piece ever written about LeBron. Part of that is because I'm biased, part of it is because I've read everything ever written on him. Hopefully many of you will check it out, it is due to come out in October.
Brian, Cavs fans tend to view the Cavs' offense as well… well, you know: bad. What's the league wide view of Mike Brown and Danny Ferry in that regard?
Most of the league gives Mike Brown credit for having a great defense and they laugh or shake their heads at his offense. Again, everybody knows they need a point guard, too.
How does your blogging influence your job as a reporter? I remember McInnis stopped talking to you. For example, does Damon Jones laugh when you tease his fashion sense, or does he hold it against you? Does your relationships with individual players even matter any more given how little exclusive access you have? Blogging is just an extension of what I do as a reporter, just a different form of reporting. Unlike some bloggers, who comment from afar, I am on the inside. This is both a positive and a negative. In general, most players do not read stories or blogs but their friends and families do. Some of them read everything. Over the course of a season, five or six times you upset a player, coach or the general manager and have to deal with the fallout. Sometimes you're wrong, sometimes you're right. Part of the job. As Paul Silas said, "ain't nothing going to be a bed of roses."
I think the best question of all directly relates to the first 10 words of this blog entry: Why has this been a quiet summer for Cavs news? This baffles me. This should baffle you. This should baffle everybody.
The Cavs know they need to make changes. Whether or not you agree, they feel like doing it through trade is a better option than this summer's free agent market. They are investigating options. They don't have to have a complete team in July. At some point they will make a deal and there will be plenty to talk about then.
I'm concerned that the Cavs are strapped down by contracts and will remain the same team if/until Lebron has the ability to bolt via free agency. Do you feel the same? For the foreseeable future the Cavs will not have salary cap flexibility. Guess what? Neither do 90 percent of the teams in the league. Of the teams that had cap flexibility this summer only one of them was in the playoffs last year, No. 8 seed Orlando. Now, they are bogged down in contracts. Everybody is strapped down by contracts to a certain extent. The Cavs have a young core and an owner willing to spend, they are in position to contend for titles. As for LeBron's future, it is impossible to predict what the league will look like one year from now, much less three years.
How can we get that "soul patch" shaved off the back of Drew Gooden's head?
Wait for it to go out of style in Oakland.
What about Navarro?
The Wizards want cap relief or draft picks for him. Cavs don't really have either, so I don't think it is a great chance. However, he has to be dealt by the end of the week so his price may drop.
Maybe an odd question but I know the Cleveland Indians are a very tight group with great team chemistry. They play a lot of pranks on each other, they also always have video game tournaments as well. Do the Cavs players pull off any good pranks towards each other or have any weird bonding traditions to maybe better the chemisty?
In general, the Cavs have good team chemistry. To my knowledge, the locker room has been very stable over the last several years. As for pranks, other than small stuff to the rookies, I haven't seen pranks. They do play lots of video games and lots of poker with each other. Like on every team, there are cliques of players who go out together and hang out at each other's houses.
What is goin' on with the Sasha talks? Not much. I think the Cavs like Sasha, but I'm not sure they want to commit to anything long term with Daniel Gibson and Shannon Brown there. I think they'd like to re-sign him to a cheap, short term deal. What is complicated is wings have signed for all over the board this summer, from Jason Kapono and Luke Walton getting near the mid-level while players like DeShawn Stevenson and Morris Petterson getting much less.
What is going on with the Anderson talks? I suspect the Cavs are offering somewhere in the range of 3 years, $18 million. I suspect that Anderson is weighing taking this guarenteed money vs. taking the minimum tender of 1 year, $1.8 million. If he takes the low-ball offer, he is expecting to hit a bigger contract. He is debating whether the guarenteed offer is better than the risk of injury/competing with some of the top NBA players who will be free agents next year.
Anderson's agent, Dan Fegan, has had success in the past by waiting out the summer. Two years ago, he go Erick Dampier a massive deal in late August. Last year, he got Reggie Evans a five-year deal at about the same time. So he'll wait things out. The Cavs have an offer on the table that isn't likely to improve much right now. The only X-factor in place now is whether Andy is feeling pressure to sign to play for Brazil in the FIBA qualifier next month. If he lets that go, it could be September before he makes up his mind.
What do you think the Cavs' biggest need is in order to get a championship? They have some glaring shortcomings in the makeup of their team and I know what I consider to be the biggest one of them all. What I want to know is what you think it is. They play championship quality defense. They have a playoff game-changing star. They don't have championship offense, which a quality point guard could help fix.
Do the Cavs have any interest in Brendon Haywood? Since watching him shut down Z in the playoffs in '06, I've thought he would be a good fit here because he would bring some shot-blocking and some attitude, plus he can run the floor a little. His contract seems somewhat reasonable and I know he's in the coach's doghouse in Washington. If we could get him for the spare parts you talked about earlier that could decrease a team's cap number (i.e., Wesley, Jones, Newble, ect.) and maybe a draft pick I'd do it in a minute. Or maybe they could get haywood and Navarro in a trade for Andy?
I think the Wizards would do that deal, but I don't think the Cavs would. Haywood is what you'd call a "quality big" who has a reasonable contract. However, he's been a problem in the locker room and with the head coach. The Cavs don't like players who are problems.
I've always wondered if there is a resource for NBA player salaries. I'm always currious about the plausability of trade scenarios, but never know where to find out about player salaries that match.
Hoopshype isn't 100 percent accurate, but is pretty close. ESPN and Real GM also have trade checkers. Under the current rules, players salaries have to be within 25 percent plus $100,000 for a deal to win. Teams cannot combine players with trade exceptions in deals.
Is LeBron working on his mid-range jumper with team USA? He looked very bad at the end of the Blue vs. White game where Kobe hit the jumper with 1.6 seconds left. I haven't been with Team USA, so I just don't know the answer to this one.
Why isn't Danny Ferry burning up Seattle's phone lines trying to pry one of their three talented young point guards away? This seems like a no brainer to me. Both Earl Watson and Delonte West play good defense and can make threes when left open. I'm very perplexed.
I am sure Danny talks with Seattle GM Sam Presti, who he is close with, quite often. As for Watson, he isn't that great of a shooter and his contract isn't great. The Cavs have more interest in West, who has been injury prone. I think the Sonics may spend time evaluating their players before trading them, though.
As versatile as our combination of big men are, my impression is that they're "soft". i submit that we need a defensive "MF" type who will cold cock a guy driving the lane. of course, as long we're good, we'll never draft high enough to get that kind of player in the draft. Supposedly that was what Scot Pollard was for. I did notice more of an edge from the Cavs this season compared to last. Varejao and Gooden aren't afraid to hard foul. They'd like to have a guy like that as their fifth big man, we'll see who is available in that spot over the next six weeks.
Is gooden really as much a space cowboy as some accounts hint? for example, in the pistons game where we have a 4 point lead, during the timeout, you can read lebron's lips "don't leave the f-ing floor" - and sure enough rasheed jacks up a 3 point attempt, and gooden LEAVES THE FLOOR in a block attempt - a foul on a 3 point shot being the only way the pistons could tie the game. that and his "YEEE!" gives me the impression he's just a big 6 year old with an attention span to match. as skilled as he is, 4-5 of those types of brain farts a game is what could keep any team from being champions.
Drew is a very smart and thoughtful person. On the court, however, his focus tends to drift. This is partially because he's a very emotional player. He will always have to deal with this and so will any team that has him. Of course, Andy tried making a spin move from 15 feet away in Game 3 of the Finals. All players have pluses and minuses. Could he keep the Cavs from being a champion? I don't know how to answer that one.
Is there any indication on who Lebron wants to bring to Cleveland? It seems that he has the first and final say.
Yes, he'd like Jason Kidd. Then again, so would Kobe Bryant.
Does Danny Ferry think the Cavs can take the next step and win the NBA championship with the same personnel they ended the season with? Also, how possible would it be somehow get Jason Kidd? There seems to be an mutual respect there between he and LeBron which I would think would make the team probable to repeat in the East and an excellent contender for it all. It would also give boobie a couple years to mature into kidd's role. No, Ferry knows they must improve. Right now, it is impossible to trade for Kidd. It is also impossible to trade for LeBron.
Have the cavs made any efforts to go after Mike Connelly? Do you think he will be a good pro? I assume you mean Mike Conley. After talking with Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni at summer league, he looks at Conley as a franchise player. So no, the Cavs won't be getting him. He will have some problems scoring because he's not a good shooter and on defense big guys might bother him, but I think he's got a chance to be a great player. I'm talking Chris Paul, Deron Williams-type great. He's super quick and he can make any pass from anywhere.
Why don't the Cavs trade S. Brown to Bucks for rights to PF L. Ji from China? I hear LeBron is big in China, so maybe they won't object playing with LeBron. We could use more scoring from the big guys. Is there a chance?
Do you mean Yi Jianlian? Why would the Bucks trade him for Shannon Brown? I'm not sure there is a player on the Cavs roster other than LeBron the Bucks would trade Yi for right now.
Z is getting older, but he'll still be a valuable player for a couple years to come. We've noticed he can hit the open jumper from a step inside the 3-line somewhat consistently. Wouldn't it be great if he could work on that shot and maybe extend it back behind the line, since he's becoming less and less effective inside?
Z is pretty good from 15-18 feet, which he's developed for years. He might be a descent 3-point shooter, but that really isn't his game. He gets many of them on pick-and-rolls from the wing. I'm not sure it is a viable option, I'd rather see him continue to develop the hook.
Hey there. Not a Cavs fan, I'm from MPLS (Go Wolves!) but I got your link from Henry Abbott's True Hoop. Anyways, I was wondering about a 4-day NBA camp in Vegas that Craig Smith and Rashad McCants are attending. I was wondering what type of stuff they do there, how common they are and, to throw a little local flavor in, are there any Cavs attending these camps this summer?
I believe you are referring to Tim Grugich's camp, which is a development camp. It is a way for young players and coaches to come together and work on things. Not sure if any Cavs are there. He's been running it for 20 years.
From this point on when is the best time to pickup a player. Dog Days of August? (As contracts are being finaliized) Just prior to Training Camp in September? End of Training Camp when rosters are cut? Early in the Season? Anytime? (All are about the same.) As a fan when can we expect the bulk of the player movement?
The bulk of major player movement has been done. However, every year there are players out there who sign right at the end of the summer who make impacts. Usually guys who are sort of undervalued in the league. A player like Jannero Pargo, Devin Brown or even Earl Boykins might be in this category.
It seems from what I have read and watched that most of the starters are being underutilized being that they are told to fit the system rather than play to their strengths. If this is an accurate assessment, do you believe that Coach Brown should change his approach or should there be new players brought in to fit his system? With that being said, with the current list of players, who would you say would be realistic and helpful for this team? I really appreciate reading your column and hope you keep up the good work, thank you! I wish I knew what Mike Brown's offensive system was. I believe having a better point guard would allow some player's talents to flourish more on offense. Getting any starting quality point guard probably would help a great deal. But you can't get those guys on the street corner.
What could the cavs get for larry hughes?
Bad contracts and/or players who are not as good as him. But that could change down the line.
If u were the GM what would u do???
Well I personally think getting an offensive-minded assistant coach would really help. Danny Ferry and Mike Brown disagree with me on this. That and get any sort of point guard, not just a home run player, because I think it would help. People forget that when Jeff McInnis was playing under control, he really helped the Cavs. He was just a mid-level point guard.
How come Sarunas Jasikevicius can't get any playing time? it seems like he can run an offense and he can shoot, but he's been on two teams and can't get more than 10 minutes a night. he seems like a good fit for the cavs, but is there something i'm missing? is his defense that bad? He has defensive problems, but in Golden State it is more of a numbers issue. There are more talented guys ahead of him. He has an expiring contract, wouldn't surprise me if he was traded again.
Ferry is known for playing his cards close to his chest in his dealing and targeted acquistions. how do you think that is viewed by 1) the press - does it make your job harder? 2) the Cavs organization - does Gilbert look at that as plus? 3) the players - unlike NY, is it benficial not see player names daily in proposed trades 4) the fans - does it give fans the perception that nothing is going on behind the scenes
It doesn't matter what the media thinks, although there are some who think he should be more proactive. Overall, Dan Gilbert is very pleased with how Ferry has performed thus far. The players would all like to play more, score more and be paid more. The fans want the team to improve and want it to happen yesterday while the GM has to think for the long term. In other words, being a GM is a hard job from a perception standpoint.
Are there any trades/players that the Cavs are currently targeting? With all the talk it seems like the Cavs will pass on the MLE unless something catastrophic happens and improve through trade…
The Cavs will use some of the mid-level exception if they need to, but they'd rather re-sign Varejao and Pavlovic and attempt to make a trade. They do need a fifth big man, so it is possible they'll dip into it for that purpose.
What is the news on a true PG? What is your prediction of who and when? I am guessing at the all-star break- what's your thoughts?
I wish I knew. The Magic (Keyon Dooling), Sonics (Watson, West), Rockets (Rafer Alston, John Lucas) and Timberwolves (Troy Hudson) all have spare point guards at the moment. More may become available as the season goes along. I think Ferry would like to acquire a major addition so he may see how certain situations play out before making a move.
Why the hell are we (the Cavs) taking a "flyer" on Brevin Knight? He can't do worse than Eric Snow and he actually has a jump shot that opponents have to factor in when they create their defensive schemes. The dude had over 6 assisteses per game! That's LeBron-esque! It's better to have the ball in his hands than Larry Hughes…what do you think, Brian?
Knight can't shoot and isn't as good of a defender as Snow. So I don't see how he'd help the Cavs. He can distribute, but how does that free up LeBron from double teams? Perhaps if he's out of work in September the Cavs will consider it.
Just wondering if lebron's been working out his game..? his jumper is atrocious and he needs to develop his post game… any update on this? thanks sir..
LeBron is always working, he hinted at the end of the season he was interested in a shooting coach. I have not spoken to him since the end of the season, so I don't know what he's working on. I will ask when I have the chance.
Whatever happened to that young intern you were mentoring, Brian? Did he ever approach any of the Cavs girls?
You are referring to Jordan Zirm, he's starting college at the University of Missouri in the fall.
Maybe someone else already asked this, but I would be interested in some sort of projection/chart of the Cavs salary cap for the next few years, with team options and player options, it is hard to understand what happens when. Particularly, I am wondering if we are going to have any more offseasons with cap space before LeBron can opt out. Thank you. It is hard to predict because no one is sure what Varejao and Pavlovic will sign for. As it stands now, the Cavs potentially could have $15-$20 million in cap space in two years when Snow, Donyell Marshall, Gooden and Damon Jones come off the cap. It's way to early to determine whether that will still be there then. The Cavs are going after a title, not to save that space.
Why is Mike Brown against having an offensive coordinator?
Because he thinks he can coach offense and he thinks he's getting better. He and Danny have told me it is unrealistic because the head coach should be the one calling the plays. It is easier to have a defensive coordinator, they say, because most defensive adjustments take place in timeouts and not on the fly. To me, it doesn't matter who calls the plays. I think the system is what needs some work.
That is all for now. I have some more in my e-mail inbox, I will answer those in the next post.
Since this has been a quiet summer for Cavs news, I figured it might be a good time to have a little forum here. If you have a question about the Cavs or the NBA, send it to me and I'll try to answer it. Want to know about how the salary cap works, how trade exceptions are used, what exactly qualifying offers are, how do you match salaries in a trade, what BRI is, what rumors are true or false, what sort of gum the Cavs have in the locker room, whatever. If I don't know the answer, I'll try my best to find it out.
Send questions to firstname.lastname@example.com or leave them cleanly and respectfully in the comments section. I'll try to post some replies early next week.
Stephon Marbury watched LeBron James host the ESPYs last weekend and apparently was amused. While guest hosting a blog for the New York Post on Friday, Marbury ripped James several different ways, seeming to call him both a bad person and a clown. Here is the quote:
"You want to make me the clown…I'm not the dude on the ESPYs, getting carried on a throne. I'm not him. I'm the good guy, not the bad guy. I don't want to be carried on the throne…I just want to walk among the people."
I believe this goes back to the spring when Marbury got upset at some things LeBron told the New York media before a game with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In brief, when asked whether he would ever have discount shoes like Marbury's year old $15 Starbury line, James pretty much said he and Nike have a higher standard. I remember the interview, I didn't think LeBron was doing it with malice. However, it did come off like he was a taking a cheap shot at what Marbury is trying to do and sounding like a Nike elitist. Which, by the way, he is.
From a public relations standpoint, the Starburys have been a hit. He was just in Cleveland promoting them this week. He says he isn't doing it for the money, although he is surely making some, in addition to his $17 million a year salary.
I do not know Marbury personally. I do know a couple of years ago, he proclaimed himself the best point guard in the NBA. I know he has a reputation around the league of sometimes being selfish. He famously has never been on a good team. Being from New York and playing for his hometown team like James, perhaps he wishes he was more well liked around the league. Perhaps he wished he got them to The Finals. Perhaps he wishes he was on Team USA. Perhaps he wishes it was him hosting the ESPYs and hosting Saturday Night Live. He does like the spotlight of television, he hosts his own show in New York.
Then again, perhaps LeBron did look a bit silly with that ESPY stuff. Marbury made two appearances at Cleveland malls this week, two more promo appearances than LeBron will probably make anywhere in Northeast Ohio this summer. So he is "walking with the people" more. And, obviously, he's not afraid to point that out.
--To start with, the Mike Bibby deal looks to be totally off. While I was confident last week because the talks were ongoing, with the Kings signing Mikki Moore, they likely are no longer interested in Drew Gooden. There are all sorts of rumors flying around the league as to why the deal did not get done last week when it was on the table. I'm not going to relate them here, but let's just say some are weird and wild. The Cavs really liked Luis Scola, who they could've acquired from the Spurs if they were willing to take Jackie Butler after the Bibby talks stopped. They were not, so they didn't get that deal done either. Scola is an excellent pick-and-roll player and a good passer. He should excel in Houston, Rick Adelman's offense needs good passing big men (Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, etc.).
--The Cavs believe the best way for the team to improve is through a trade, not the free agent market. Which is why they have been on the sidelines. Some trades come off in a hurry, some take time. The Cavs have been discussions with many teams. They do not have to make the trade today or even at the start of the season. Because they are so close, what is important is the trade works. Not how fast it is done. That may not be popular truth, but it is reality.
--Much of what happens in summer league can be thrown out, especially the stats. They are a basis to make some judgments, but more importantly Vegas sort of gives an update on where players are. Last year, for example, Sasha Pavlovic played and was pretty much terrible. Obviously, it wasn't the end for him. That said, Shannon Brown was not especially impressive. He wasn't bad, he did some good things, but there were not signs that he was about to take a big step. He handled the ball a lot and made some nice passes, but he is not a point guard. He did not shoot well from the outside and overall did not execute at a high percentage went going to the basket. He did show some amazing athleticism, which is his best attribute. Based on the way the Cavs currently are put together, I find it hard to believe he will be able to play ahead of Pavlovic, Eric Snow or Daniel Gibson. He is a better defender than Damon Jones, but his shooting issues will make it challenging for him to get major minutes. Several coaches/scouts told me they were underwhelmed by him. So that's the report, it isn't the final one, just the latest.
--Meanwhile, Gibson picked right back up where left off at the end of the season. He missed two games with injury, but for the most part he shot well and let the game come to him. He continues to work on the little floater in the lane, which has the potential to be a nice weapon. The Cavs front office is more convinced than ever that he could be a special player.
--Based on what I saw, the Cavs coaches told me and other scouts and coaches said, there didn't appear to be any other players on the Cavs summer team who are serious candidates to make the team.
--Right now, the Cavs are considering opening the regular season with Larry Hughes at point guard. They are exploring other options to be sure, but in the short term it may very well be the best option if the roster stays intact. Please consider the following:
Here are numbers from the 24 games Hughes started at point guard in the regular season: Record: 17-7 PPG: 99.6 FG pct.: .464 APG: 23.4
In those games, Hughes averaged 15.4 points and 4.1 assists.
Numbers when someone else started: Record: 33-25 PPG: 95.6 FG pct.: .440 APG: 19.8
He may not be the total answer there, but I often think many fans overlook his value because everyone thinks about his contract first. He does not produce at a near-max deal level, that is a reality. He should not be shooting so many jumpers. But he is a quality player and was a big part of many Cavs wins over the last two years.
--The word going around the NBA is that the Spurs are ready to sign defensive wing Ime Udoka, who had a good year in Portland last year. But right now the Spurs are over the luxury-tax threshold and want to get under it to make the deal. The Cavs have David Wesley (cap number $1.8 million, real money owed $250,000) and a $2.2 million trade exception. There may be a deal to be made there, remember the Cavs like third-string point guard Beno Udrih. The Cavs could trade either for Udrih, if the Spurs can part with him for nothing in return, which isn't certain. Although, they just gave away Scola and Butler for no players in return.
Las Vegas -- So the Cavs and Kings are at it again with Mike Bibby. As one of the three writers who was swarming all over UNLV to break this story yesterday, I still am not quite sure why this deal broke down. It certainly looked like it was going to happen when both Damon Jones and Drew Gooden were in the gym with the Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and their entire front office. Let me also pass this along, Danny Ferry really wanted the rights to Luis Scola from the Spurs. I mean really, really, really wanted him. It would also make sense for the Spurs not to hand players to a division rival for nothing but money. Yet, no dice.
The only thing I can think is the Kings just still aren't happy with the package being offered. The Cavs can offer Gooden and expiring contracts (Ira Newble, David Wesley) or they can offer Gooden and a shooter (Jones) or a combination of both. They are still trying to get a third team involved, just as they were for hours and hours back in February, to sweeten the package. With all this talk, my gut tells me this probably gets done at some point in the future. They aren't going to give up now.
On the Anderson Varejao front, one league executive told me yesterday: "This is going to be one to watch." He meant for entertainment value, in a sick, detatched way. Andy's agent, Dan Fegan, is looking for the big score. I'm talking about something like $9-$10 million a year. I believe the Cavs are offering something much closer to $6 million a year. You don't have to be a math major to know that is a wide gap. The Cavs will not pay it and, because Varejao is restricted and no teams who want Varejao have cap space left, they will not have to pay it. They do not have to do a sign-and-trade for it if they don't feel like it, either. Here's the thing, though, Fegan does not like to compromise. He may rather have Andy play out a one-year qualifying offer and become unrestricted next summer.
Now, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. First off, because's a second round pick, his qualifying offer is only $1.3 million. Sasha Pavlovic's, for example, is around $4 million. That means Andy potentially would be leaving $5 million on the table just this season alone. This is a guy who has made just $2.6 million over the last three years combined. He may never make up that money. Second, next summer the free agent market is deeper and there are no teams that will have a bunch of money. So if he leaves the Cavs, it very likely would be just for the mid-level exception, which will be around $5.5 million next year. Does that make sense? No, but it does make a point, which is what Fegan might want to do.
Here's something you need to keep in mind that no one is talking about. Andy really, really wants to play for Brazil in next month's FIBA Americas Tournament. He loves playing for the national team and the Brazilians are fighting for one of the two spots in the Olympics next year. With the Americans and Argentines there, they need their best players. Andy can't risk playing without a contract, remember he blew out his shoulder playing for the national team two years ago. I have not spoken to Andy since the season ended, so maybe his feelings have changed. But he's always expressed to me how he wants to make the basketball team as popular as a the national soccer team, when the whole country shuts down to watch. That is probably unrealistic, but Andy always sounded passionate about it. Anyway, that means the contract has to get done in the next few weeks if he wants to play. We'll see...
Las Vegas -- Greetings from South Nevada, where the temps are hot and the action at the Vegas Summer League is, well, not. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the two headliners, haven't played well so far. No big deal, I've been to five summer leagues and see lots of top picks struggle. It means nothing, really. Durant can't make a shot and Oden keeps fouling, largely because he's using his hands too much. They will both be fine. But here's a few Cavs happenings.
--Anderson Varejao met with the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend in Las Vegas. The Cavs have also met with Varejao's agent, Dan Fegan. Varejao and the Cavs are far apart right now, which is to be somewhat expected. As has been discussed here before, it is hard to put a value on him. That said, there are signs the Grizzlies may present Varejao with an official offer sheet after Wednesday, when free agents may sign. Depending on how aggressive the Grizzlies are, the Cavs will probably have to do some stewing. Danny Ferry has been saying he will match, which follows normal strategy. Fegan has been playing hardball, which follows normal strategy. So we'll see what happens and just how much everybody values Varejao, but things could heat up very soon.
--Daniel Gibson played well the first two games, but couldn't finish either. He had a cut on his face that required stitches in the first game and he sprained his left ankle against the Chinese on Sunday. It isn't bad, but Gibson told me it had swollen a bit. He'd been playing well, scoring 14 points in the first half and often looking like the best player on the floor Sudnay. At this point, he probably was. The Cavs and Gibson himself are not ruling out a return, but it's highly doubtful he'll play again this week. He told me he plans to workout again with John Lucas in Houston for the rest the summer, which is what he did last year. Overall, he just continues to impress and the organization is extremely excited about his future.
--Shannon Brown is playing with more poise than he showed last year. He's put some hard work into developing his mid-range game it seems. He is so very impressive with his aggressive drives to the basket and flashy dunks, which he's had a few of already. He had 26 points against the Chinese as he repeatedly drove to the basket and finished. But they were playing zone and couldn't stop him, so I don't know how to judge it. In the other games, including tonight when he went 5-of-19 against the Suns, he's struggled to hit a high volume of shots. He has been playing point guard some, although he is not one and will not be one probably. He's thrown some great passes but he's dribble happy, often taking too long to get into a move. Overall, he's better and he's still working very hard, he has a chance to make a push for playing time come this fall.
--Dwayne Jones plays very hard and he fights for every rebound. His skills, though, are still very raw. Not sure about his future with the team.
--Darius Rice, a lanky 6-foot-10 shooter from Miami, has been the most impressive non-roster player for the Cavs. He scored 21 points in the win over the Suns and had 19 against the Spurs on Saturday. The man can shoot and can create his shot a little bit for a guy his size. Worth watching some more.
The Cavs have been quiet in free agency thus far, which was to be expected. Without cap space to spend they were never going to be in the market for the big-name players. With restricted second-tier free agents like Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao, the game is going to have to play out for a little bit. Here's some things to chew on:
--The Andres Nocioni watch is in full effect and it involves Anderson Varejao. The Chicago Tribune, which has been all over this story, is reporting the Bulls are still the front-runners to keep Nocioni despite the Memphis Grizzlies' serious sales pitch. Supposedly, the Argentinan media is reporting el Chapu has been offered $46 million over five years by Memphis. That may be in error, because the Tribune says Nocioni may be ready to take a $38 million deal with the Bulls.
There is wide-spread speculation that if the Grizzlies fail to get Nocioni, they will target Varejao. This is probably true. Here is the thing, it would be hard to believe Varejao would get the same offer as Nocioni because he's an energy rebounder, not an offensive threat in addition to a talented defender like Nocioni. Even if Varejao gets a deal that averages $7-$8 million, it seems the Cavs will likely match even if it is a bit of an overpay. That is the life of restricted free agents. By the way, I still stand by my story that Varejao's representation have told people he has an offer (solid or not, on paper or not) over the mid-level exception of around $6 million to start.
--Expect Cavs GM Danny Ferry to let the process play out with Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic. Last year, he waited all summer on Drew Gooden. Gooden didn't get an offer sheet and ended up signing a very reasonable contract. If the Grizzlies don't make Varejao a big offer, he may have to do the same thing so and Ferry may wait. If Memphis or another signs him to a sheet, the Cavs will take their time in thinking about it while other free agents may dry up. As for Sasha, there doesn't seem to be much action at all going on with him right now. In judging the market, I'd say he ends up signing for somewhere between what Matt Carroll (6 years, $27 million) and Jason Kapono (four years, $24 million) signed. Unless he gets an offer sheet, which is a possibility but as yet no major suitors have emerged, his market is probably a deal starting between $3-$4 million per season. Then again, I could be wrong.
--Keep an eye on Juan Carlos Navarro, a Spanish guard who surprised some this week when he cut a deal with his Euro team, FC Barcelona, to come to the NBA. I saw Navarro play last summer in Japan and I was impressed with him as shooter, both from mid and long range. If memory serves, he played shooting guard mostly for Spain because Jose Calderon and Sergio "Spanish Chocolate" Rodriguez were running the point. But he ran the offense at times, I think. Here are the stats.
The Washington Wizards own his rights and have since 2002, but he's a second-round pick and not subject to rookie salary scale. It sounds like this came as a surprise to the Wizards, too. So here is the thing, based on my understanding of the salary cap, if the Wizards want to sign Navarro to something more than the minimum salary (and he's not coming over for $400,000, folks) they will have to use a piece of their mid-level exception. Considering they also want to re-sign DeShawn Stevenson, whom they don't have Bird rights to, it seems hard to believe they can do both. Which is why there are rumors the Wizards are listening to offers to help in the decision. The Cavs may have interest in both Navarro and Wizards' restricted free agent Andray Blatche, whom the Wizards have partial Bird rights to so they won't have to use part of the exception with him. So it wouldn't be surprising if the Cavs and Wizards had some talks over this issue. The Wizards seem to be looking to move Etan Thomas and/or Brendan Haywood. Thomas has a bad contract and good relations with head coach Eddie Jordan while Haywood has a good contract and bad relations. Just stuff to chew on.
I'm the middle of an 18-hour travel day here but I have a few minutes. I gotten some various e-mails on the Anderson Varejao story I wrote for today's paper. Please allow me to elaborate. In it, I quote an NBA executive, and I'll tell you now that is it a general manager but not from the Central Division, who has been told by Varejao's representation that he has an offer above the mid-level exception. I expected the mid-level to be between $5.5-$6 million, so higher to start.
I personally speculated it could've been the Grizzlies, but my source did not tell me that. But this morning I read about new Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace in South America to meet with Andres Nocioni. It may be the Grizzlies after Varejao, it may not be. Maybe it is from a team that wants to do a sign-and-trade with the Cavs. It may be that there is no offer and there's posturing going on. But I know what is being put out there and so I reported it.
Let me just add two points here: Even if it is overpaying a little, were someone actually able to sign Varejao to a deal that averaged $7-$8 million per season, the feel is the Cavs would likely match. Athletic big men are hard to find and Varejao is a potential long-term replacement for Zydrunas Ilgauskas. If it gets to $10 million a season, then it's a different story. Secondly, with Darko Millcic becoming an unrestricted free agent today, the game totally changes. Darko is younger and has more upside, especially on offense, than Varejao. With no restricted status to deal with, he may become more attactive than Varejao all of a sudden.
Also, Darko has the same agent, Marc Cornstein, as Sasha Pavlovic. So with all this stuff going on, and with Cornstein spewing venom at the Magic (and it sounds like he's got a point) Pavlovic is on the back burner for now. It seems having Pavlovic back is a large priority for Danny Ferry, so his contacts of players like Morris Peterson, Matt Carroll and the like are probably backup plans if Sasha talks go poorly.


text:
The situation: Akron's quarterback situation has always been fairly stable. Ever since Charlie Frye won the job his freshman year, Zips fans could count on a proven entity. Even two years ago, when Luke Getsy and Jabari Arthur battled for the position, the prevailing thought was that converting the latter to wide receiver would serve more team needs. Getsy, also, was a BCS recruit who nearly won the starting job at Pitt.
Three signal callers are in play this fall. They are sophomores Carlton Jackson and Chris Jacquemain and freshman Sean Hakes. Although Jackson finished last season as No. 2 behind Getsy, Zips coaches publicly say it's a wide-open job, and it almost certainly will come down to performance during preseason camp, which begins Monday.
The question: Which quarterback fits best into the Zips offensive philosophy?
Discussion: From what I can tell, the talent is not that much different. There are different skills, however. Each player possesses running ability, but in different ways. Jackson is a speedster. Jacquemain has the field vision. Hakes is more physical and doesn't mind trucking over a tackler.
Each can throw the ball, too, but in different ways. Jackson has a strong arm and showed off his deep ball in his only pass last season. Jacquemain appears to be a great fit for a team with a lot of possession receivers. Hakes likes to throw on the run. But like I said, the real question is which quarterback fits in best with the team's strategy, which is to run the ball and rely on the pass defense to keep the game close.
Now you have to factor in an inexperience offensive line. Due to a lack of healthy quarterbacks and a more pressing concern to better the run blocking, J.D. Brookhart focused on moving the ball on the ground during the spring. It appears the line will be able to block at least adequately for Dennis Kennedy and Alex Allen.
The line's progression at pass blocking, however, may very well sway the coaching staff from one quarterback to another. Here's what I'm talking about ... Jackson needs a good line. At only 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, he could be one solid sack from an injury. That isn't so important for Hakes, who is more in the mold of Frye. He will scramble and looks less brittle than Jackson. Jacquemain is strong, too, but prefers pocket passing.
There's also another objective for the Zips' quarterback: Don't screw up. The offense's job isn't to put up 40 points and 400 yards passing. It's to let the running game dominate, but also keep the defense from stacking the box. Hakes has shown a propensity for screw ups. His competition has done a little better, but the preseason practices should wipe the slate clean.
Lastly, look at the other personnel on offense. Without David Harvey, there are few, if any, deep threats. That takes away from Jackson's game.
Prediction: The coaches will use all of these factors to make the decision. The main factor, though, is how the quarterbacks play the next few weeks. Jackson has done nothing to take away his status as the leader at the end of last season. Given the personnel, it might make more sense to have a durable, mistake-free quarterback. If the pass protection falters, that probably works into Hakes' favor.
I'm embarassed to say I have flip-flopped on this for awhile. I went from Jackson to Hakes to Jacquemain to Jackson again. What do you think?
The situation: Akron's defensive line might be one injury away from a catastrophe. Depth certainly is thin this season. Only three d-linemen on the roster, Eric Lively, Jared Cecchetti and Nate Robinson, have some experience.
Robinson, once the No. 1 prospect in the nation, could not keep his job this spring. Sophomore Wallace Pendleton overtook him at nose tackle. In a way, that's good news because Akron coaches believe they have a fourth serviceable defensive lineman.
In the spring, a possible fifth lineman emerged in Shawn Lemon. The freshman worked his way onto the depth chart behind Cecchetti. But he's a lineman closer to the mold of Doug Williams, whom Akron converted to linebacker because he's not bulky enough to play line in the 3-3-5 defense.
The question: Will a sixth or seventh lineman emerge to lighten the load on the starters and lessen the blow on a potential injury? Also, will the 3-3-5 defense last all season?
Discussion: Akron was OK against the run last season, but the Zips defensive linemen totaled just 7.5 sacks all season. Allowing opposing quarterbacks so much time had two negative results. First, at times it made the Zips' secondary look worse than it really was. Second, it allowed mobile quarterbacks time to find gaps to run and crippled Akron on third downs.
Mind you, this was with a defensive line that included two future professionals in Kiki Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs) and Jermaine Reid (CFL). If the line can't affect the game with talented, adequately sized players, how will it fare without them?
That brings me to my whacky idea. Can we please ditch the 3-3-5? It's concealing the true talent on this defense while accentuating a weakness -- interior linemen. With a 4-3 defense, which is pretty standard in any level of football, Williams and Lemon could play defensive end. The team would have depth at defensive tackle, but of course, lose some at end.
Prediction: J.D. Brookhart has sworn allegiance to the 3-3-5, and that's fine. It's not very feasible to switch during camp anyhow. With any luck, one of the true freshmen will show some ability to adapt to college football sooner than expected. Although I'm convinced Akron would be better served without the 3-3-5, the more important goal for camp is to find another lineman who can play. I think the Zips will.
Tomorrow: Who is the quarterback?
Players report for camp on Aug. 5. They begin practice the next day.
In the week heading up to this momentus occasion, I will address the five burning questions that training camp poses. I hope you readers will chime in with your own assessments and predictions.
Here's a look at how the MAC teams are faring according to Rivals.com.
Three players tied for the highest rating in the new NCAA Football video game.
Reggie Corner, Brion Stokes and Jabari Arthur each received an 87 rating.
The lowest is player No. 44 with a rating of 51. Player No. 44 is not listed on the roster.
By the end of the first week of camp, Akron's quarterback situation should be a bit clearer.
The team will narrow the three-candidate race to two by then, J.D. Brookhart said during yesterday's MAC Media Day.
David Lee Morgan's ABJ story also confirms that David Harvey has left the team due to academic reasons.
I found his quote to be somewhat interesting: "It's disappointing not having David, but we all have requirements to take care of,'' Brookhart said. "Unfortunately, that's the way it is, and we're moving on."
It mirrors what he said during spring practice, except I believe he used the word "obligations," rather than "requirements." At the time, it sounded a lot like he was helping a sick family member or something nobler than flunking out.
I will say it again -- and this prediction rests on no inside information -- I don't think we've seen the last of David Harvey.
A few of you asked if I would attend Media Day in Detroit.
It's a lousy city. I have three jobs. Law school is going to make me too broke to hit up the casinos to make the trip worth it.
So no. I did not attend, or even consider it.
But MACReportOnline.com did. Dave Ruthenberg of that site wrote down some notes. Check them out.
Akron will finish third in the seven-team MAC East, according to the annual poll at the conference's media day today.
Ohio and Kent State will take first and second, respectively. Miami, Bowling Green, Temple and Buffalo will round out the division.
Western Michigan will take the West, followed by Central Michigan, Toledo, Ball State, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
Brion Stokes and Jabari Arthur accompanied J.D. Brookhart to this year's media day held in Detroit.
The ABJ's Carol Biliczky wrote a fascinating article about Manuel Nemer and the impending eminent domain battle for his businesses on Exchange Street.
The story suggests Manny wants more than fair market value for his businesses -- Manny's Pub and Aroma Coffee and Tea. He wants to be part of the new stadium complex, or at least nearby.
In the end, the businesses cannot stay. They absolutely are part of the university's stadium complex plan. It probably will come down to UA helping Manny stay on the Zip Strip in a different location, or UA not helping Manny and having to go to court.
If I came to America with $6, I'm pretty sure I'd be pretty strong willed to keep my businesses, too.
Just read the story. Those bastards!
I wonder if Nike would like a new collegiate partner.
Whoever wins the quarterback job will have high expectations, according to CollegeFootballNews.com.
Akron's passer is the third-most important position to fill in the MAC, the site says. The writer expects Ohio and a resurgent Miami to battle for the East crown, although he mentions Akron as a solid program not to be counted out.
I'm a bit surprised not many fans have discussed who they would like to see as the starting quarterback. It's the biggest position battle the team has seen in two years when Luke Getsy took the job over Jabari Arthur.
In Carlton Jackson, you have a total athlete with a great arm. (In fact, recruiting sites listed him as an athlete, not a quarterback, coming out of Pompano Beach, Fla.) But you have some character concerns, as Jackson was suspended last season.
In Chris Jacquemain, you have a good option-running quarterback who won't lose the game for you, but probably won't win it either.
In Sean Hakes, you have a combination of the two, with the added bonus of an extra year of eligibility in front of him. He has struggled, however, to limit interceptions in practice.
Who do you guys like?
Defensive end Kyle Roddenberry from Crystal River, Fla., committed recently to play for Akron.
Neither Rivals.com or Scout.com rank the 6-foot-2, 218-pound prospect very highly. The Zips were his only scholarship offer. His high school team is pretty awful, too.
Still, Akron always will need serviceable defensive ends, and Roddenberry appears he could be one. It helps that his high school plays the same scheme as J.D. Brookhart -- the 3-3-5 formation.
I appreciate all the feedback on the stadium. It justified all the hassle the university gave me in acquiring the rendering.
Here are some of my thoughts...
(Click to enlarge)
My first words were, "Holy crap. That stadium looks absolutely breathtaking." Your thoughts?
For more than a month, the university has fed me semi-truths as to why I cannot have the stadium plan.
First, it was, "They aren't complete, so you can't have them." Then, it was, "The board of trustees hasn't seen them, so neither can you." Last, it was, "It doesn't constitute a public record."
During this battle, I was fully aware of the real reason: UA wants a big party in early August where fans can feast their eyes upon the new stadium for the first time.
Finally, the university admitted to me today that the entire stadium plan is mine if I want it. UA also said that it has big plans to "surprise" people on Aug. 1 with some exciting details about the stadium.
Because there is no real journalistic purpose in spoiling a surprise, I had no problem with a compromise. I will have one new rendering for you in the coming days (possibly today).
I suppose it would've been nice to be taken seriously before I threatened legal action.
The new open-air stadium has potential for conversion to a dome, the Buchtelite's Adam Ferrise reports.
His story also provides a timeline for the construction.
UA could break ground on the stadium, which Mack Rhoades says will rival the nation's best facilities, by next spring. Standing in the way is the acquisition of all the land, but the university has six months to complete that while construction plans are drafted.
It's too early to say with absolutely certainty that wide receivers Jermaine Lindsey and David Harvey will not play in 2007.
The university has not said anything about their eligibility. However, a big indication of the future is that neither has participated during the offseason program. Harvey has been AWOL since the spring. Lindsey hasn't been around since June.
So where does that leave the team in terms of receivers? From what I'm hearing, juniors Stephon Fuqua and Brandon Williams are having strong summers. They appear to be the No. 2 and 3 receivers respectively, unless a true freshman can earn playing time (cough, Vince Hill).
As far as the quarterback situation goes, Carlton Jackson probably still has the advantage. I'm starting to remember the feeling in the stands during CJ's debut at the Rubber Bowl. A tangible buzz filled the air. That feeling was on the sidelines, too, according to a player I spoke with.
This summer, many true freshman have participated in the offseason program. One is quarterback Matt Rodgers. From what I hear, this guy is a real talent. He possesses a great arm and surprising maturity and intelligence for a freshman.
A new offer...
Men's basketball
The Las Vegas Summer League is complete, and Romeo Travis barely had a chance to prove he deserves an invitation to Cavaliers camp.
He played in three of the six games, averaging 2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7 minutes per contest.
Travis probably will join Rob Preston to begin his professional career overseas. You certainly have not heard the last from him in the United States, in my opinion.
I'm still making progress with getting you the stadium plans.
In the mean time, here are two more scholarship offers...
Isn't it fascinating how ESPN all of the sudden starts putting AFL highlights on SportsCenter after the Worldwide Leader signs a contract to carry arena games?
ESPN really can't avoid these conflicts of interest which put a new spin on journalism ethics.
Anyhow, with the buzz the AFL has received lately, I decided to check how many MAC players compete in the 12-team league. There are eight...
VanDelaySports.com says Akron will win the MAC East with a record of 8-4 and 6-2 in the MAC.
The site also picks Chris Kemme as a first-team preseason choice. Dennis Kennedy is the lone second-teamer.
To have just two preseason all-conference players, yet still lose two games, says a lot about Akron's all-around team.
A record of 8-4 might be stretching it, however. Although the schedule only shows two guaranteed losses (@ Ohio State, @ Western Michigan), my prediction stands at 6-6 until the defensive line proves it can stop some of the excellent rushers it will face, at least three serviceable wide receivers work into the rotation and one quarterback emerges.
I'm still banging my head against the wall to get the stadium renderings.
In the mean time, here are some details...
Men's basketball
Slam Online put out some interesting notes from the LeBron James Skills Academy.
It's fascinating to hear the center of the basketball world is just down at Rhodes Arena, although the author of this post was not so kind to the city.
Miami nabbed the nation's No. 22 quarterback, Zac Dysert, to whom Akron also offered a scholarship.
This could end up as the MAC's best recruit for 2008.
Akron has one commitment so far: quarterback Jordan Miller.
The Zips are about in the same position as this time last year, when the team only had one verbal commitment -- wide receiver Jerome Royal.
Here is how the other MAC schools are doing, according to Rivals.com...
Men's basketball
New concepts in basketball are rare.
I have one.
Try to pay attention as I explain, because I told my friends about it during a Cavs game and they looked at me as if I was speaking Swahili.
OK. In the final possession of a quarter (or half), one team typically has the ball with the strict orders to run down the shot clock and get the last shot. Let's call them Team A.
Now, over the course of a game in basketball -- college or pro -- the amount of points scored roughly equals the amount of possessions. In other words, you average about 1 point per opportunity to score. When sent to the foul line, that amount jumps to about 1.35 points per possession (if you assume the foul shooter averages a middling 67 percent at the stripe).
Back to Team A. They have the ball with 20 seconds left. Their coach says, "Run down the clock, then shoot." My revolutionary concept comes as my role of Team B's coach. If I am Team B's coach, I tell one of my players to foul Team A before the clock ticks lower than 14 seconds, which is adequate time for my team to run an effective play after Team A shoots foul shots.
This plan runs in stark contrast to the end of each NBA and NCAA period I have ever seen.
Now let me explain why it works...
With 20 seconds left on the half's final possession, Team A statistically will average about 1 point. That means Team A will finish the half scoring 1 point more than Team B had with 20 seconds left. It doesn't have to be that way.
My plan says to foul Team A, putting them on the foul line, giving them an average of 1.35 points. Oh well. Swallow it for now, Team B. You get the ball with 14 seconds left. And you will average 1 point in that final possession of the game.
When the buzzer sounds, Team A will have an advantage of 0.35 points, rather than 1 point -- which it would have enjoyed under the conventional wisdom of today. (Where do I get 0.35 points? It's Team A's 1.35 points from free throws minus Team B's 1 point from the final possession) That is a net gain of 0.65 points -- my plan versus the typical plan.
Of course, there are caveats. First, you don't want one of your most foul-prone players putting the squeeze on the ball handler -- especially in college where players are afforded just five whistles before ejection. Second, it's best to foul once the ball reaches a non-jump shooter, working under the assumption that good field-goal shooters also are successful at free throws.
However, even if you foul Mark Price, you're giving up 1.81 points. But you'll get back 1 point after he's done at the line. With the best foul shooter of all time, you still have a net gain of 0.19 points per execution of my plan, rather than the conventional plan.
You can always make the argument that offensive rebounds are possible on missed foul shots. That would give Team A an even larger advantage. However, that risk is outweighed, in my opinion, by the frequency that Team B's foul will be their seventh, eighth or ninth of the half -- making it a one-and-one shooting situation. The one-and-one is exclusive to college basketball, of course.
A final caveat should go without saying, but this plan is conceived on a macro level, much like almost all baseball statistics. A lefty-lefty matchup works most of the time for the Indians. When it doesn't, you have to shrug it off and keep plugging in the best matchups, by the numbers.
I hear you saying, "So what?" This scenario only occurs once a game in college, three times for the pros. In those scenarios, your team will be Team B just half the time. Still, if a college coach chooses my strategy, his team will average 0.33 more points per game over the course of a season than otherwise. For an NBA coach, that total jumps to a full point.
Is 0.33 points or 1 point per game a huge deal? Not really. Could it make the difference in one game over a 35- or 82-game season? Absolutely.
I've really been itching to debate this with someone, because no one seems to understand the theory. I should just see what Keith Dambrot thinks about it. For now, I'd appreciate some fan feedback. I could be completely, totally out of my mind. Or someone could steal this idea and write a book about it.
A short, dull book.
Men's basketball
Andy Katz of ESPN.com spoke with West Virginia's Bob Huggins, who said his trip to Akron for the LeBron James Skills Academy has been pleasant.
Contrast that with an earlier trip to Cincinnati, where Hugs felt uncomfortable.
Some of his colleagues, however, have chided him about the "Coaches Corner" mural at Rhodes Arena.
This academy is mostly a festival for the big boys. Only nine of the 154 coaches who checked into the event came from mid-majors. Katz does not list Akron's Keith Dambrot as one of the participants, although I can't imagine him being away from the action in his back yard.
Men's basketball
You would think having 80 of the nation's top high school players on campus would be a good thing.
Andy Katz from ESPN.com disagrees, saying most players at the LeBron James Skills Academy are out of the Zips' league or traditional geographical recruiting area.
Kiel Fleming kicked off the annual "Bash Whatever KSU's Slogan Is" contest. I posted a sample of his work below.
Since I can't upload everyone's posters, I suggested that he start a thread on ZipsNation.org.
Those of you with hodophobia (fear of road travel) should rest a little easier tonight.
Three more Zips away games will be televised, albeit on hard-to-find networks.
Akron will play Ohio State and Indiana on the Big Ten Network. The Connecticut game is an ESPN regional telecast. That is in addition to the two games on ESPN2 and two on ESPNU.
The universities also agreed on start times for each game. The only odd time is 11 a.m. at the Rubber Bowl against Central Michigan on Nov. 23 -- the day after Thanksgiving. (That is some early, early tailgating.)
The inaugural Patriot Bowl will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 1 against Army at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Men's basketball
Romeo Travis played 2 minutes and 40 seconds tonight, grabbing one rebound and not attempting a shot.
The Cavaliers lost 85-84 at the buzzer to Team China after Yi Jianlian dropped a game-winning jump shot.
Cleveland will play Phoenix Monday at 10:30 p.m. in game three of the Las Vegas Summer League.
For what it's worth, former Buckeyes center Terrence Dials is not playing much either.
Men's basketball
With a few good big men ahead of him on the depth chart, Romeo Travis will have to struggle for playing time during the summer league, which began Saturday night.
The Cavaliers beat San Antonio, but the former Zips' star did not play.
The forwards ahead of Travis, Darius Rice and Dijon Thompson, combined for 28 points and 14 rebounds. Cleveland will play the second of five games tonight against Team China at 8 p.m. in Las Vegas.
A new offer...
Derek Carter, safety, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Offers: Akron, Wisconsin, Central Michigan, Florida Atlantic and Louisiana-Lafayette Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 205 Speed: 4.55 Notes: Rivals said Carter emerged as a sleeper during a camp at Rutgers. He is the third prospect from Ft. Lauderdale to whom Akron has offered a scholarship. Likelihood: If one of these three commits (the other two are linebacker David Williams and cornerback Stephen Atkinson), it could help in swaying the others.
UA is still stalling on presenting me with the $2 million stadium plan.
A week ago, the university gave me a computer-generated rendering that the media already published. That won't cut it.
The general counsel, or possibly the president's office, is concerned that the public will see the details and believe it's the finished product.
First of all, I told the university officials that I will add a big, fat disclaimer: THIS IS NOT THE FINISHED PRODUCT. And even if I didn't write that, is the public going to see too few luxury boxes and start picketing on Buchtel Common?
Second, if this plan is so far from final -- and let's pretend it is -- why would UA spend $2 million of taxpayer money on a rough draft?
Third, it's illegal to withhold the plan from me or any citizen, according to Ohio's open records laws. Basically anything a public university does is open to the public (because, ya know, we actually pay for it).
In my four years of working for the Buchtelite, I noticed a couple things about the administration. First, they're genuinely good people -- very friendly. Second, they aren't used to dealing with a college newspaper that knows what it's doing. Even routine police reports became a hassle because administrators had never really dealt with students who knew the laws.
So here I sit, pressed between dozens of fans who are anxious to see what their taxes produced for their favorite football team, and between an administration that doesn't want to budge for a lowly blogger without a legal department.
Well, the blogger is in the process of developing a legal department. Stay tuned.
Men's basketball
As anyone could have guessed, Romeo Travis will get a shot at the NBA with the Cavs.
Unfortunately for him, this roster is pretty stacked.
Of the big men, Kevin Pittsnogle, Darius Rice and Terence Dials each have proven more in their careers than Travis.
Cavs fans should pay attention to the position Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson play. I'm sure Mike Brown wants one of them to get some minutes at point guard.
Akron has offered a scholarship to each of these prospects...
Cleveland-based analyst Phil Steele includes few Zips in his All-MAC preseason teams.
ESPN.com's Pat Forde talks about the method to Steele's madness.
ESPN also says three of Akron's nonconference opponents will play some of the easiest schedules in the nation.
Head coach: Jeff Genyk
Last season: Football Truth No. 1: You won't win games scoring fewer than 14 points per game. The Eagles' 13.9 scoring average was worst in the MAC and fifth-worst in the nation. The defense was pretty awful, too, giving up more than 200 yards per game rushing, which was fourth-worst in the nation. If there was one bright point, it was the completion percentage of the quarterbacks of 58.6. But the trio of passers still threw 16 picks compared to seven touchdowns. Five of the touchdowns went to star receiver Eric Deslosiers.
Best returning player: Junior linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw
Offense: Football Truth No. 2: Losing your five of your best players from a 1-11 team won't yield much better results. Sophomore Andy Schmitt has some upside as the starting quarterback, but he's recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The Eagles return their top three running backs, each of which could be decent. They also will need to catch some passes, as Deslosiers will be hard to replace. The offensive line returns three starters, but it will be difficult for EMU to establish a running game with an offense devoid of established receivers and a mistake-prone quarterback.
Defense: The defense returns nine starters, including Holtzclaw, who led the MAC in tackles. The two graduating starters were strong in stopping the run, so that should be an even larger question than last season (if that's possible). Senior lineman Jason Jones, an all-MAC preseason choice, is a force inside, though. He registered 18 tackles for loss last season.
Season outlook: Looking at the schedule, the only winnable games appear to be at home versus Ball State and Bowling Green. The Eagles absolutely must have some young players step up at receiver. Schmitt also needs to cut down on miscues, and inexperienced route runners probably won't help his cause. A young team like this needs confidence, and a win in the MAC opener could do that.
Crucial game: Sept. 8 vs. Ball State
Predicted record: 1-11 (including a loss versus Ball State)
Head coach: Tom Amstutz
Last season: How much you wanna bet Toledo could've won more games last year? Oops. Nevermind. Looking at the stats, the Rockets are about middle of the pack in every category in the MAC. They beat Kansas and McNeese State at home before losing four straight conference games. They finished at 5-7. Rising above the mediocrity were junior running back Jalen Parmele and freshman safety Barry Church. Parmele trailed only Garrett Wolfe for rushing yards in the conference. Church registered 71 tackles and four sacks en route to a First Team All-MAC selection. Clint Cochran and Aaron Opelt shared time at quarterback and played OK.
Best returning player: Senior running back Jalen Parmele
Offense: Amstutz said Opelt and Cochran will start fresh this fall. The better player will win the job. Toledo is inexperienced at receiver, but they will bring back All-MAC tight end Chris Hopkins, who scored seven touchdowns last season. The offensive line appears to be steady, led by All-MAC left tackle John Greco.
Defense: Toledo has depth and experience at every position. They will have to display better results this season, however, if Toledo is to challenge Central and Western Michigan. It couldn't hurt to get more pressure on the quarterback. As much as the media guide props up his linebackers and defensive line, that shouldn't be a problem.
Season outlook: This schedule is a real gem. Toledo opens the season playing Purdue at home, and I think they'll win. Then they return last year's game at Kansas and at home against Iowa State. The only losses I can see are at Central Michigan and at Kansas. Toledo's record should be much better, even if the talent isn't.
Crucial game: vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 29
Predicted record: 10-2 (including a win vs. WMU)
Head coach: Brady Hoke
Last season: The Cardinals played three Big 10 teams tough, including a nail biter at No. 2 Michigan that almost made "The Game of the Century" against Ohio State irrelevant. Ball State won three of four MAC games down the stretch to finish at 5-7 and 5-3 in the MAC. Its offense found a surge behind stud freshman quarterback Nate Davis. The Cardinals led the MAC in passing. The defense -- worst in the MAC against the pass, third-worst against the run -- is why the team only won five games.
Best returning player:
Offense: Davis' two favorite targets, tight end Darius Hill and receiver Dante Love, are good ones. But that's basically it. They need to find a deep threat at receiver. Both Hill and Love are possession receivers. Incoming running back MiQuale Lewis averaged 5.8 yards in limited action last season. Coach Hoke said he needs to find a fifth lineman, as well.
Defense: When asked about this unit's progress, Hoke talked about teaching defensive concepts during spring practice. That's coachspeak for: "We don't have much talent, but we're working to make bad players into serviceable contributors." The Cardinals do have a few good pieces. Defensive end Cortlan Booker registered 14 tackles for loss last season. Hoke is excited about linebacker Bryant Haines. They also boast one of the nation's best punters in Chris Miller. He will be a pro in two years.
Season outlook: They will open their renovated stadium during Week One versus Miami. They will lose at Nebraska and Army. If the Cardinals, however, can win one of two midseason games against Illinois and Indiana, they could be bowl eligible. They lucked out with crossover games against Buffalo and Miami.
Crucial game: Nov. 13 vs. Toledo (on ESPN2). Both teams will be looking for bowl eligibility at this point. With the national spotlight, it should be a great game.
Predicted record: 5-7 (including a win versus Toledo)
In the annual Captain Kangaroo vs. Mike Rasor softball matchup, I was made to look foolish.
The ZipsNation.org moderator pounded several hits. I was 0-4 with an error in the field.
What really matters? My team won, 10-7.
Men's basketball
The Zips announced their 14-game nonconference schedule.
It includes home games against Temple and Wyoming, trips to Dayton and Winthrop and a three-game tournament in Alaska.
For the second-straight year, it does not include any big boys. Some people think it's worthless to play an ACC or Big 10 team on the road. I disagree. I think even a loss accomplishes important objectives, such as learning to play in a hostile environment, which the Zips will have to do during league play at Ohio and Kent State. I see it as a win-win situation, because even if you get your brains beat in, it's good to have your weaknesses exposed early in the season, rather than later. Also, it obviously improves your strength of schedule.
That said, Akron's schedule isn't all bad. I love the deals with Winthrop and Dayton. Playing eight home games almost guarantees Keith Dambrot his third-straight 20-win season. The favorable draw in the Top of the World Classic prevents the possibilty that the Zips are rusty in the opener, like against Arkansas-Little Rock last season.
The schedule strength isn't where it needs to be for at-large consideration. But the MAC is a one-bid league, so the season easily could come down to another Cedrick Middleton free throw.