majorleaguefuture

[majorleaguefuture]

Sittin’ Fat Down South

Despite the recent success of programs like UCF, elite high school quarterbacks continue to follow each other to a small number of Power 5 programs.

It’s a path that often leads to pine, but on Monday, it led Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa to glory.

Jalen Hurts should be so lucky.

By MLF

Photo courtesy of Rob Tringali via SI.com

[majorleaguefuture]

The Price Is Right

The Big Baller Brand just set the internet on fire. If $50 snapbacks weren’t enough, you can now buy the company’s first signature shoe, the ZO2, for $495! You can also buy Gucci for $495, which is why everyone is going mad.

Yea, the company’s pitchman and product may be questionable, but believe it or not, the price is right.

By charging $495, the Big Baller Brand creates exclusivity, avoids competing with Nike, and puts itself in position to maximize profit. Plus, if the ZO2 sells, the company can use that success to negotiate a licensing agreement in the future.

Or, it can simply wait for Lonzo to become an NBA All-Star. If that happens, demand for the Big Baller Brand will undoubtedly rise, and the company will cash in!

And if Lonzo drops the ball, you already know LiAngelo and LaMelo are ready to chuck from the wing.

By MLF

This post has been edited since its original entry.

[majorleaguefuture]

The Hoop Scoop

In January, Rick Maese of the Washington Post wrote a fantastic, albeit somber piece about college football’s National Signing Day. About the bright future promised to the nation’s top recruits in 2007, and the reality of their lives a decade later.

So in light of the 40th McDonald’s All-American Games, we’re looking back at the 2007 roster to see what became of the country’s best high school basketball players.

It should be noted, over the past decade, social media, NCAA legislation, and the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement have seemingly created a system that favors expectations over achievements. Hello, LaVar Ball.

Fortunately, the 2007 McDonald’s All-American team turned expectations in to glory. The team featured soon-to-be NCAA All-Americans, NBA All-Stars, and the fuzz of a now famous beard.

East Team

#33 Nick Calathes

Commitment: Florida

Calathes was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year and SEC Co-Freshman of the Year at Florida in 2008. In 2009, he was a unanimous First Team All-SEC selection, and subsequently left school to pursue a professional career in Europe. Since then, he’s won a EuroLeague championship, a EuroCup Basketball championship, and a EuroCup Basketball MVP award. He also spent two seasons in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzles. During his time in Memphis, he was suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. In 2015, he returned to the EuroLeague and was named the Greek Basket League’s Best Defender in 2016.

#4 Jonny Flynn

Commitment: Syracuse

Flynn was named Big East Co-Rookie of the Year at Syracuse in 2008. In 2009, he scored 34 points in a historic, six-overtime Big East Tournament victory over Connecticut at Madison Square Garden. Syracuse eventually lost the tournament, but Flynn was still named the 2009 Big East Tournament MVP. After leading Syracuse to an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Flynn decided to go pro. The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him with the 6th pick in the 2009 NBA draft. Flynn was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection following his promising rookie season. However, hip surgery and a sophomore slump essentially ended his NBA career. He bounced from the Timberwolves, to the Rockets, to the Trailblazers, to professional leagues in Australia and Italy before hanging ‘em up in 2014 after just 5 professional seasons.

#3 Austin Freeman

Commitment: Georgetown

Freeman was named to the All-Big East Rookie Team in 2008. He played at Georgetown for four seasons, and was twice an All-Big East selection (Second Team in 2010 & First Team in 2011). Freeman went undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft. He played for the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League in 2013-14, but he’s spent the majority of his professional career playing in Italy and Israel.

#20 Donte Greene

Commitment: Syracuse

In his lone season at Syracuse, Greene earned Second Team All-Big East honors and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team. He was selected 28th overall by the Memphis Grizzles in the 2008 NBA draft, who subsequently traded him to the Rockets, who later traded him to the Kings. Greene played in 253 games as a reserve for the Kings over four seasons. He is currently playing in the Philippine Basketball Association.

#2 J.J. Hickson

Commitment: NC State

Hickson set an ACC freshman scoring record by tallying 31 points in his first collegiate game. He earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors, and was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in his only season on campus. He was drafted 19th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2008 NBA draft. He played for 5 teams in 8 NBA seasons, starting nearly 60% of the games in which he played. He’s currently playing in the Chinese Basketball Association.

#31 Kosta Koufos

Commitment: Ohio State

Koufos earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors, and was named to the league’s All-Freshman Team in 2008. He was also named the MVP of the 2008 National Invitational Tournament, which the Ohio State Buckeyes won. Koufos left Ohio State after his freshman season and was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He’s played 573 NBA games, and is currently the starting power forward for the Kings.

#30 Gani Lawal

Commitment: Georgia Tech

Lawal was a two-time All-ACC Third Team selection in three seasons as a Yellow Jacket, and he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 2nd round of the 2010 NBA draft. However, a torn ACL in his rookie season and the NBA’s 2011 lockout effectively derailed his NBA career. Despite success in the highest-tier basketball leagues in Europe, and multiple runs in the NBA D-League, Lawal has only played in one NBA game.

#32 O.J. Mayo

Commitment: USC

Mayo, like Sebastian Telfair before him, was practically a household name among basketball fans before he even entered high school. Supremely talented, yet often troubled, Mayo chose to attend USC. He earned First Team All-Pac-10 and All-Pac-10 Tournament Team honors during his freshman year. However, USC would later penalize its team by forfeiting its 2007-08 victories in response to allegations that Mayo received improper cash and gifts while in school. Nonetheless, Mayo was selected 3rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2008 NBA draft, and was immediately traded to the Grizzles. In 2016, Mayo was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for violating the terms of the league’s anti-drug program. He’s eligible for re-instatement in 2018. An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, he’s averaged 13.8 points in 547 career games with the Grizzles, Mavericks, and Bucks.

#54 Patrick Patterson

Commitment: Kentucky

Patterson, a high school teammate of O.J. Mayo, had a remarkable 3-year career at the University of Kentucky. As a freshman, Patterson earned Second Team All-SEC honors. He then earned First Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore, and again as a junior. He was also named to the league’s All-Defensive Team as junior, a season in which he helped first-year head coach John Calipari win the SEC regular season title, and the SEC Tournament. Patterson decided to forgo his senior season and was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 14th pick in the 2010 NBA draft. He’s had a productive 9-year NBA career, playing as a backup for three different teams. He’s currently a member of the Raptors.    

#22 Nolan Smith

Commitment: Duke

Smith was one of only 4 players on the 2007 McDonald’s All-American team to play four seasons of college basketball, and it served him very well. As a senior in 2011, Smith was a consensus First Team All-American, the ACC Player of the Year, the ACC Tournament MVP, an ACC All-Defensive Team selection, and the ACC’s leading scorer. He also helped Duke win three consecutive ACC championships (2009-11), and an NCAA championship in 2010. He earned All-Final Four Team honors for the latter. Smith was drafted 21st overall by the Portland Trailblazers in the 2011 NBA draft. After a two-year run in Portland, Smith journeyed to Croatia to play for KK Cedevita of the Croatian League. He was named a 2014 Croatian League All-Star, and helped his team win both the Croatian Cup and the Croatian League championship. In 2016, Smith returned to Duke as an assistant coach.

#24 Corey Stokes

Commitment: Villanova      

Although Stokes earned Third Team All-Big East honors as a senior in 2011, his most memorable moments came as a sophomore in 2009, when Stokes propelled Villanova to the Final Four. He finished his career at Villanova with 1,315 points and 264 made 3s, which ranked 5th all-time. Stokes was also recognized for his efforts off the court, as he was named to the 2011 Big East Academic All-Star team. He went undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft, and less than two weeks later, was arrested for assaulting a man in a bar near his hometown in NJ. Stokes then briefly pursued a professional career in Europe, last playing in 2013. As of last year, he was a special education teacher at Bayonne High School in NJ.

#1 Chris Wright

Commitment: Georgetown

Wright’s career as a Hoya was hampered by injury, but he still managed to earn Third Team All-Big East honors as a senior in 2011, and he finished his career with 442 assists – good for 6th all-time at Georgetown. He went undrafted in 2011, and was sadly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis while playing overseas in 2012. Determined to overcome the disease, Wright returned to America for treatment and signed with the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League shortly thereafter. He went on to become an NBA D-League All-Star in 2013, and was rewarded by the Dallas Mavericks with a 10-day contract. Thus, he became the first known NBA player with Multiple Sclerosis. Although the Mavericks didn’t renew his contract, Wright has used his platform to raise awareness for the disease, and he continues to play professionally overseas. In 2016, he was named to the All-FIBA Europe Cup team.

West Team

#45 Cole Aldrich

Commitment: Kansas

Aldrich saw limited action as a freshman, but he was a key contributor to KU’s Final Four victory over North Carolina in 2008. The Jayhawks would go on to win their 3rd National Championship by defeating Memphis in overtime a few days later. Aldrich became a starter in his sophomore year, and earned numerous accolades, including All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team, and Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. After leading KU to its 8th consecutive Big 12 regular season championship and the Big 12 tournament championship in his junior year, Aldrich piled up even more accolades. He repeated as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, was again named All-Big 12 First Team, earned Third Team AP All-American honors, as well as the prestigious distinction of Men’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year. In 3 seasons at KU, Aldrich never lost at Allen Fieldhouse. He was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets with the 11th pick of the 2010 NBA draft, and his rights were immediately traded to the Thunder. Aldrich has played for 6 NBA teams in 8 seasons, primarily as a backup.

#24 James Anderson

Commitment: Oklahoma State

Anderson quietly had a remarkable career at Oklahoma State. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors as a freshman, and was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team. As a sophomore, he was named Second Team All-Big 12, and as a junior, he was the unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year and a Second Team AP All-American. He started 99 of 101 games played during his career, and left OSU ranked fourth all-time with 1,811 points. He was selected 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2010 draft. He played for four teams in 6 NBA seasons. His best season came in 2013-14, when he averaged 10 points per game in a starting role for the 76ers. He is currently playing in the Turkish Basketball Super League.

#32 Jerryd Bayless

Commitment: Arizona

Bayless earned Second Team All-Pac 10, as well as All-Freshman Team honors his only season in college. He was selected 11th overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2008, and was subsequently traded to the Trail Blazers. Prior to his rookie season, Bayless won the NBA Summer League MVP award by averaging nearly 30 points per game. A respected veteran, Bayless has played 513 games for 7 teams in 9 NBA seasons. He’s currently a member of the 76ers, but he missed nearly the entire 2016-17 season due to a wrist injury.

#30 Michael Beasley

Commitment: Kansas State

Beasley was the MVP of the 2007 McDonald’s All-American Game. Rivals ranked him #1 in the Class of 2007, and believe it or not, he exceeded expectations at Kansas State. He was a unanimous First Team All-American, the Big 12 Player of the Year, and the National Freshman of the Year. He led the nation in rebounding (12.4 rpg) and set the record for the most double-doubles (28) ever recorded by a freshman in NCAA history, a feat that included 13 30-point, 10-rebound games. The Miami Heat selected Beasley with the 2nd pick of the 2008 draft, but shortly thereafter, everything began to go downhill. He was fined $50,000 for his role in a suspected drug-related incident at the NBA Rookie Transition Program. He spent time in a Houston rehabilitation facility prior to his second season, and he was then involved in a legal dispute with his former agent regarding improper cash and gifts he received while at Kansas State. Beasley’s also been arrested for marijuana possession and accused of sexual assault. However, a police investigation found no evidence to support that allegation. If not for his prodigious talent, Beasley’s NBA career probably would’ve ended long ago. He played on four teams in 5 seasons before reviving himself in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he was a two-time CBA All-Star MVP and the 2016 CBA International MVP. This season, Beasley’s back in the NBA, averaging nearly 10 points per game in a reserve role for the playoff-bound Bucks.

#22 Eric Gordon

Commitment: Indiana

Gordon was another one-and-done from the Class of 2007. After being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten, and a Third Team AP All-American, he was selected 7th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2008 draft. He earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in his first season with the Clippers, and showed promise over the next two seasons before being traded, among others, for NBA All-Star Chris Paul. Gordon battled numerous, nagging injuries over the next five seasons in New Orleans, but he started 217 0f the 221 games in which he played, averaging 15.3 points. In 2016, Gordon signed with the Rockets, and has become the odds-on favorite to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award at season’s end.  

#15 Blake Griffin

Commitment: Oklahoma

Griffin blossomed from a First Team All-Big 12 selection as a freshman to the consensus National Player of the Year as a sophomore. Additional honors for Griffin’s sophomore season included another First Team All-Big 12 selection, Big 12 Player of the Year, and First Team AP All-America. The Los Angeles Clippers made him the #1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, but his NBA debut was delayed by a year due to a knee injury he suffered during the preseason. Once healthy, Griffin won NBA Rookie of the Year, and instantly became one of the NBA’s most marketable stars after winning the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest. The now 5-time NBA All-Star has endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Kia Motors, and Red Bull to name a few. Those endorsements, along with the 5-year $95 million contract extension he received from the Clippers in 2012, have put Griffin on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes.

#13 James Harden

Commitment: Arizona State

Harden was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection at ASU, as well as the Pac-10 Player of the Year, and a First Team AP All-American in 2009. That summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him 3rd overall in the NBA draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award just two seasons later. As his game grew, so did his now famous beard. Harden won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics, before joining the Rockets for the 2012-13 season. He’s been named an All-Star 5 times since joining the Rockets, and like Griffin, has become one of the league’s most marketable stars. His beard, which has it’s own Twitter account, has helped him land endorsements with Adidas, Beats by Dre, NBA 2K, and so on. Thus, he also joins Griffin on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes. Harden’s currently having a season for the ages; he’s second in the NBA in scoring, and first in assists – a feat that’s only been accomplished by three others in the history of the league.

#31 Taylor King

Commitment: UCLA/Duke

King is considered the cautionary tale from the 2007 McDonald’s All-American team. At 14, he became the youngest player ever to commit to a Division 1 school. He excelled publically over the next few years, but privately, the burden of expectation began to trouble him. He flipped his commitment from UCLA to Duke before graduating from high school, and failed his first drug test within months of arriving on Duke’s campus. Still, he had an impact on the court as a freshman, scoring a season high 27 points versus Eastern Kentucky in an early season matchup. At season’s end, however, King decided to transfer to Villanova. Again, he showed promise on the court, but failed two drug tests as a Wildcat, and was ultimately dismissed from the team. He attempted to transfer to USC, but eventually landed at Concordia University in the NAIA. At Concordia, King became a First Team NAIA Division 1 All-American. But, he rarely attended class, and was dismissed from the school prior to earning his degree. Because of his checkered past, King went undrafted in 2011, so he pursued a professional career in the National Basketball League of Canada. A short run in the NBL, and successive runs in states like Taiwan, eventually led King to the British Basketball League, which is the premiere league in the United Kingdom. King has stated that parental pressure, premature notoriety, and poor decisions stole his NBA future. He’s admitted the athletic and financial success of his former McDonald’s All-American teammates contributed to continued drug use and depression. But he’s also stated that he wouldn’t change his path. At 28, he’s finally bounced back. He’s happy now. And less than two weeks ago, his current team, the Leicester Riders, won the 2017 British Basketball League Trophy, and he was named the BBL Trophy Finals MVP.

#42 Kevin Love

Commitment: UCLA

Michael Beasley was Rivals’ #1 ranked recruit in the Class of 2007, but Love, the son of a former NBA big, was ESPN’s #1 recruit. Love attended UCLA, where he became only the second freshman in history to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year. In addition to that honor, Love was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, earned First Team All-Conference honors, and was a consensus First Team All-American. The Bruins, powered by Love’s scoring and rebounding, won the 2008 Pac-10 regular season championship, the 2008 Pac-10 tournament, and advanced to the Final Four of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Predictably, Love entered the 2008 NBA draft and was selected 5th overall by the Memphis Grizzles. After his selection, he was traded to the Timberwolves for McDonald’s All-American mate O.J. Mayo. In his 3rd season with the Wolves, Love recorded the most consecutive double-doubles (53) since the ABA and NBA merged in 1976. He earned his first All-Star selection that season, and was also named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. In the summer of 2012, Love won a gold medal alongside James Harden at the London Olympics. As a one-man wrecking crew on the Timberwolves, Love would play in a total of 3 All-Star games before being traded to the Cavs in the summer of 2014. In Cleveland, Love joined Kyrie Irving and LeBron James to form the NBA’s latest Big 3. However, he endured a tumultuous first season with the Cavs that ended in injury during his first career playoff series. He bounced back in 2015-16 though, and helped the Cavs become the first team in NBA Finals history to overcome a 3-1 deficit. The Cavs delivered Cleveland its first professional sports championship in 52 years by defeating the record-breaking Warriors in incredible fashion. Love has used his on-court success to create numerous off-court opportunities for himself, including the amusing role of Lil’ Kev. In 2016, Love inked a deal with Banana Republic to become its inaugural style ambassador, adding to a portfolio that put him on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes.

#5 Jai Lucas

Commitment: Florida

Lucas, the youngest son of former #1 overall pick and current NBA assistant coach John Lucas II, started all 36 games for Florida in his only season as a Gator, and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He transferred to the University of Texas in the spring of 2009, and played in 58 career games for the Longhorns with one start. After earning a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication, Lucas pursued a professional career in Latvia. He played for Valmiera Ordo in the Baltic Basketball League for one season, before returning to the US to play in the D-League. After two respectable D-League seasons, Lucas accepted a position as a Special Assistant with the University of Texas Basketball program. In 2016, he was promoted to Men’s Basketball Director of Operations.

#25 Derrick Rose

Commitment: Memphis

Rose led the Memphis Tigers to the 2008 National Championship Game. Although the Tigers fell short, losing to Kansas in overtime, Rose received numerous accolades following the season, including Conference USA Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Conference USA, and Third Team AP All-America. The NCAA would later rule, however, that Rose had been academically ineligible during the season due to an invalid SAT score, and it forced Memphis to vacate its entire season. Rose entered the 2008 NBA draft and was selected first overall by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year and an NBA All-Star in back to back seasons. In his third season, he led the Bulls to 62 victories and became the youngest player in history to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. The Bulls rewarded Rose with a 5-year, $95 million contract extension. That, plus a 13-year, $185 million contract with Adidas, made Rose an annual fixture on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes. Rose’s MVP campaign was followed by another All-Star season, which unfortunately ended with a torn ACL. Over the next three seasons, Rose missed 195 games due to successive knee injuries - the torn ACL, and two meniscus tears. The Bulls decided to part ways with Rose in the summer of 2016, and traded him to the Knicks for a 2nd round pick and three role players. Rose then dealt with a highly publicized criminal charge of sexual battery for his alleged role in the gang-rape of a former girlfriend. However, a federal jury found him not liable in a civil trial just before the 2016-17 season. Rose experienced a modicum of personal success in his first year with the Knicks, averaging better than 18 points and 4 assists for the first time in 3 seasons. Unluckily, his season ended with yet another meniscus tear.

#33 Kyle Singler

Commitment: Duke

Singler, like McDonald’s All-American mate Nolan Smith, spent four fantastic seasons at Duke. He was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2008, and also earned Third Team All-ACC honors. As a sophomore, he helped Duke win its first of three consecutive ACC tournament championships. He also earned his first of three consecutive ACC All-Tournament First Team honors. The following year, Duke added an ACC regular season championship to its résumé before winning the ACC Tournament, and its 4th NCAA Tournament. Singler was named First Team All-ACC, ACC Tournament MVP, and NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Despite his enormous success, he opted to return to Duke for his senior season instead of entering the 2010 NBA draft. The Blue Devils would be eliminated in the Sweet 16 a year later, but Singler was again named First Team All-ACC. He finished his career at Duke with the record for most games played (tied at 148), and ranked 2nd in ACC history for games won (125). He was also just the 9th player in ACC history to score 2,000 career points and grab 1,000 career rebounds. The Detroit Pistons then selected him in the 2nd round of the 2011 NBA draft. However, because of the NBA’s 2011 lockout, Singler decided to begin his professional career in Spain. He won the 2012 Kings Cup with Real Madrid, before returning to the Pistons following the lockout. He earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors, and started 150 of 218 games played for Detroit, before being traded to the Thunder in 2015. He’s primarily a backup in Oklahoma City, but is currently signed to a multi-year contract that doesn’t expire until 2020.

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win...

That’s 100 Ws. Uninterrupted. A feat worthy of never-ending praise. Congratulations, girls! You deserve it.

Photo courtesy of ESPN W.

[majorleaguefuture]

D is for Dyn-o-mite!

To the casual fan, the D-League is a pathetic version of the NBA. It’s wannabes, chasing hoop dreams, in discrete gyms across America. Little do they know, 135 NBA players on opening night rosters in 2016 had D-League experience. And, 80 NBA players, including 14 2016 1st-round NBA Draft picks, have been assigned to the D-League at some point this season.

As a basketball enthusiast, I eagerly attended my first D-League game earlier this week, and as expected, it was fantastic! I paid $15 for a general admission ticket and joined approximately 1,500 fans in the Barclays Center to watch the Long Island Nets take on the Greensboro Swarm.

Typically, $15 is good for a nosebleed seat when the Brooklyn Nets play a lottery team. But for the Long Island Nets, I sat in the 3rd row, at midcourt, surrounded by fun-loving kids!

At tipoff, I saw familiar faces, like Perry Ellis of Rock Chalk Jayhawk fame, and one of the Harrison twins from Kentucky! In fact, I saw 5 former McDonald’s All-Americans, 4 FIBA gold medalists, and 3 1st-round NBA Draft picks, each playing for their life. For $15!

So whether you’re a casual fan, a basketball junkie, or a father of three looking for family entertainment, the D-League is the best ticket in town. Hands down!

By MLF

Photo of Long Island Nets F Trahson Burrell courtesy of Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

[majorleaguefuture]

The Thin Red Line

From 2002 to 2008, USC reigned supreme. They registered an FBS record seven consecutive 11-win seasons. Seven consecutive Pac-10 titles. An FBS record seven consecutive BCS bowl games. Plus, seven consecutive Top-5 finishes. 32 1st-team All-Americans, 3 Heisman Trophy winners[1], and 2 national titles. Their exploits attracted five-star recruits and A-list celebrities alike. And, despite their heartbreaking loss to Texas in 2006, the Trojans seemed destined to win forever. Much like ‘Bama today.

However, a coaching carousel, too much sauce[2], and NCAA penalties led USC to an era of mediocrity[3][4].

So that begs the question, will the above-mentioned Tide continue to roll, or will their run atop the FBS soon come to an end?

‘Bama’s résumé[5], and its tendency to reload says, “Roll Tide!” But its shocking loss to Clemson[6], piled upon the departure of I refuse to stay in my Lane Kiffin, piled upon the transfer of three Under Armour All-American quarterbacks[7], piled upon the arrest of multiple players in 2016, may ultimately crack the foundation.

Can you imagine ‘Bama back in the Independence Bowl? Ha! Over Nick Saban’s dead body.

By MLF

Photo courtesy of USCTROJANS.COM Photo Center

__________________    

[1] Improper benefits didn’t prevent Mike, Will, or Sam from tackling Reggie Bush in 2005. Thus, Major League Future will always acknowledge Reggie as the rightful recipient of the 2005 Heisman Memorial Trophy.

[2] At the beginning of the 2007 season, USC had 5 five-star running backs, 4 four-star running backs, and one 3-star running back on its roster. That’s too much sauce.

[3] From 2009 to 2015, USC finished its season unranked 3 times, and only cracked the Top-10 once. However, they climbed the mountain in 2016, beat Penn State 52-49 in an epic Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked 3rd in the final AP poll. Fight On!

[4] Lost in USC’s era of mediocrity is Matt Barkley. The ballyhooed schoolboy finished his career as USC’s Career Passing Leader (Most Passes Completed: 1,001 {Pac-12 record}; Most Yards Gained Passing: 12,327; Most 400-yard Passing Games: 4; Most 300-yard Passing Games: 15; and Most TD Passes Thrown: 116 {Pac-12 record}) and as USC’s Career Total Offense Leader (Most Yards in Total Offense: 12,214; Most Seasons with 2,500 Yards in Total Offense: 4 {Pac-12 record}; Most Touchdowns Responsible for: 122 {Pac-12 record}).  Plus he bagged a Wuerffel Trophy. So put some respeck on it!    

[5] Since 2009: 5 SEC titles. 4 National Championships, including an FBS record 3 BCS National Championships. 2 Heisman Trophy winners, and 35 1st-team All-Americans.

[6] Ben Boulware is somewhere, still lit!

[7] Nine quarterbacks have transferred from Alabama under Nick Saban, including 3 Under Armour All-Americans (Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman, & David Cornwell) in 2016 alone.

[majorleaguefuture]

On to the Next One

73-9? Been there. The NBA’s first unanimous MVP? Done that. The Golden State Warriors have been re-writing the record books for the better part of three seasons. Even, as some may point out, when they lose.

So what’s next?

Well, the 2016-17 Warriors have already been branded as the best offensive team ever. They boast the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history in Steph Curry, one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history in Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson recently scored 60 points in 29 minutes. Yikes! With that much firepower, the Warriors have a legitimate chance to break the NBA’s single-game scoring record, which is 186 points by the 1983-84 Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons, then led by Isiah Thomas, amassed those 186 points in a triple-overtime victory over Kiki Vandeweghe and the Denver Nuggets. Remarkably, the Warriors have already scored 149 points in a game this season without overtime, and with none of their All-Stars playing more than 30 minutes. So, if the Warriors ever get in to an overtime shootout like the Pistons, fuggedaboutit!

It’s worth mentioning, the most points scored in an NBA game without overtime in the modern era (1979<) is 173 by the 1990-91 Phoenix Suns. The Warriors seem poised to break this record as well, considering the Suns scored those 173 points without making a single three-pointer. And, seemingly, without any defenders on the court!

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

All Work Is Easy Work

At some point, to improve their life, most adults realize they need to improve their thinking. An article in The Oprah Magazine or an episode of The Tim Ferriss Show assures them their thoughts create their actions, and their actions create their reality. So, with inspiration in hand, they vow to transform their thinking. They will master themselves and conquer the world! Or at least get a job. 

And yet, most people fail to appreciate Floyd Mayweather’s mastery of self. They think he’s arrogant and materialistic. They allow the money, cars, and clothes to turn them away from Floyd’s greatest indulgence: the power of positive thinking.

If you’ve ever seen Floyd in an episode of All-Access, you know he likes to talk, and talk, and talk. But if you’re paying attention, you soon realize that 90% of what Floyd says is an affirmation. He understands his thoughts (“No athlete works harder than Floyd Mayweather!”) determine his actions (taking on grueling workouts), and in turn, his actions determine his reality (undefeated world champion). 

So before ordering one of the 423,452 self-help books on Amazon, those seeking guidance on the subject should find an old episode of All-Access, watch it, and take notes. Floyd will tell you everything you need to know.

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

The Next MJ

An infamous sportswriter once spent 1,500 words trying to convince football fans Vince Young would become the Michael Jordan of football. Comparisons to Randall Cunningham be damned!

In hindsight, that prediction is both comical and disrespectful. Somebody owes Mr. Cunningham, the two-time NFL MVP, an apology.

But Vince Young accomplished more in the NFL than you might think.

In 2006, he led the league in game-winning drives and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After battling a knee injury in 2008, he won 8 of his 10 starts in 2009 and was subsequently named Sporting News’ Comeback Player of the Year. He also played in the Pro Bowl, twice.

Unfortunately, interceptions and immaturity prevented Vince Young from realizing his potential. Never mind becoming Michael Jordan. Who knows? Perhaps he was blinded by the Rose Bowl confetti and never had a chance.

After all, playing quarterback in the NFL is a difficult job and fame is a monster.

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

No Scholly For You!

Dell Curry was an All-American at Virginia Tech. In fact, he was so good, the university retired his jersey before his last home game.

So twenty years later, when Dell’s eldest son Stephen was trying to play ‘ball in college, Virginia Tech was the first choice. However, despite his father’s lofty status at the university, Stephen, then a three-star recruit, was not offered a scholarship. So he went to Davidson instead.

Fast forward ten years. Stephen Curry is now referred to simply as Steph, or sometimes, Chef! He is the two-time reigning NBA MVP and without a doubt the best shooter in NBA history.

So who was the Virginia Tech coach who stiff-armed Steph in high school, and what happened to him?

Well, his name is Seth Greenberg, and he’s no longer a coach. 

However, whiffing on Steph didn’t necessarily derail his career. Greenberg was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2008; the same year Steph was named SoCon Player of the Year at Davidson. But Greenberg must’ve whiffed on multiple recruits (e.g., Seth Curry), because it was a string of five mediocre seasons that ultimately led to his dismissal at Virginia Tech. He now works for ESPN as a college basketball analyst.

Go figure.

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

TBE

Although he only laced ‘em up eleven times for the Blue Devils, Kyrie Irving is still a Dukie. He bleeds blue like Duke’s forty-two All-Americans. He may not be revered on Tobacco Road quite like those guys, but following his sensational performance in the 2016 NBA Finals, it’s clear he’s the best Dukie to ever lace ‘em up in the League. So the question is, who’s second-best?

To answer that, we have to consider a ton of players. Duke, unsurprisingly, has had fifty-three of its players drafted since 1980. 

Elton Brand, who was drafted first overall in 1999, is a strong candidate. He has NBA Rookie of the Year, an All-NBA honor, and two All-Star appearances on his resume. Jahlil Okafor, who was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team last season, and who’s already averaging 17 & 7, might challenge Kyrie someday too. 

However, the second-best Dukie, without question, is Grant Hill! Over nineteen seasons, Grant Hill accumulated seven All-Star appearances, five All-NBA honors, and most properly, three NBA Sportsmanship Awards. 

If not for injury…

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

The Future Is Now

What does a Tony Romo-led football team guarantee? At best, a Divisional Round defeat. In Romo’s eight seasons as a full-time NFL starter, the Cowboys have only won two playoff games. Even current Cowboys’ back-up quarterback and media punching bag, Mark Sanchez, has more postseason Ws than Romo.

So what does a Dak Prescott-led football team guarantee? We don’t know. Maybe Dak will falter as the season progresses, or maybe he’ll continue to roll.

Regardless, Romo shouldn’t take the reins again. In a league that’s had nine different champions in the past ten seasons, the future is now. How ‘bout them Cowboys are doing just fine with Dak leading the charge.

By MLF

Photo courtesy of DallasCowboys.com           

[majorleaguefuture]

SLAMMED

Earlier today, SLAM named Melo the 15th best player in the NBA ahead of the 2016 season. Melo responded to the ranking on social media by playfully bullying the mag.

Honestly, Melo should be thankful for his SLAM ranking. He hasn’t been named 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-team All-NBA in 3 seasons. So 15th is actually generous.

Melo’s also failed to lead the Knicks to the playoffs in 3 seasons, so we now praise him for stuff that doesn’t matter, like joining Gennadi Volnov and Sergei Belov as the most decorated men’s Olympic basketball players of all-time. You’ve never heard of Gennadi and Sergei? Me neither.

We love Melo because he delivered the ‘Cuse its first and only national championship as a freshman. We love Melo because he resonated with the ‘hood like AI did before him. We love Melo because he’s forever linked to his draftmates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

In fact, it’s those draftmates Melo was speaking of last season when he questioned his place in the league. “I do look at my peers and say, ‘Damn, what am I doing wrong? I should be there.’”

Melo’s greatest strength has always been his ability to score. He gets buckets! But even in that category, he’s fallen short of greatness.

The truth is, Melo’s overrated. He always has been, and as SLAM demonstrated today, he probably always will be.

By MLF

Artwork by Caroline Blanchet for RareInk

[majorleaguefuture]

They Shootin’

If my nephew gets killed by a police officer today, his life matters. People will gather in Union Square tomorrow to protest. But if my nephew gets killed by one of his young, black, and so-called reckless peers, his life somehow doesn't matter. People will still gather in Union Square tomorrow, but they'll gather to watch a street performance, not to protest the senseless killing of another black boy.

Why is that?

It seems graduates of Private U, not Rand U, are most appalled by the recent incidents involving police. For those with the means to control their environment, or which school their child attends, street violence isn't really a threat. Therefore, the killing of someone like Tyshawn Lee isn't upsetting. But since police don't ask if you live in Cobble Hill or Brownsville before they pull the trigger these days, graduates of Private U now feel threatened. The media fans their fears, and they feel the need to protest. Black Lives Matter!

Just not all black lives.

By MLF

[majorleaguefuture]

Gunnin' For That #1 Spot

I didn’t watch the VMAs, but it seems like Beyonce stole Rihanna’s shine. That’s a shame. The public’s infatuation with Beyonce is misplaced. There are too many bees in the Beyhive. Since 2010, Beyonce has put 26 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100. Rihanna has posted 29. Peanuts, you say. Well, not really. Beyonce’s only produced 2 Top-10 songs in that timeframe, while Rihanna’s produced 13, including 7 Number 1s! As Beyonce’s husband once said, “men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.” So continue to worship Beyonce if you wish, but as far as I’m concerned, she’s been dethroned.

By MLF  

[majorleaguefuture]

Get Up, Stand Up...

Colin Kaepernick is entitled to sit during the national anthem. But if he’s truly concerned about oppression in America, he should stand up. Sitting may have been an effective form of protest in 1964, but the game has changed. Protesting in 2016 looks like Warrick Dunn, who created Home for the Holidays, which will place its 150th disadvantaged, single-parent family in a new home this year. It looks like Jalen Rose, who opened a public charter school in northwest Detroit to empower youth in that community. And it looks like LeBron James, who’s committed to send 2,000 kids from Akron Public Schools to college for free. So Colin Kaepernick should definitely stand up. He should stand up and do something!

By MLF 

[majorleaguefuture]

So long, Slim.

You know the story by now.  Kevin Durant left 1 All-Star and a 55-win team in OKC to join 3 All-Stars and a 73-win team in Golden State.

Just weeks earlier, Durant led OKC to a 3-1 lead over Golden State in the Western Conference Finals.  Then he choked.  3 for 10 in the 4th quarter of Game 5.  1 for 8 from beyond the arc in Game 6.  Too little, too late in Game 7.

He couldn’t beat Golden State, so he joined ‘em.

Durant won 4 scoring titles and an MVP award during his run in OKC.  If his career ended tomorrow, he’d surely be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.  However, his departure from OKC will always seem a bit cowardly, and if he wins a ring in Golden State, I imagine it’ll turn green.

By MLF