Rumbling, Bumbling, Stumbling, Tumbling

A Few Random Thoughts

First, a quick NBA draft roundup:

- As we all concluded exactly 0.05 seconds after he was selected and got a big ol’ wet, impassioned kiss from his ridiculously tall and fairly attractive girlfriend, Jan Vesely is the fucking man. Then he provided the cherry on top by declaring Blake Griffin “the American Jan Vesely.” Just phenomenal. Furthermore, I’ve been told by some of my Czech friends (disclaimer: I have no Czech friends) that “Vesely” is Czech for “swag.” Good to know.

- The Sixers ended up taking Nikola Vucevic, and, as I alluded to in my draft preview, I like the pick. He’s a legit center who’s fundamentally sound, can shoot the rock, help spread the floor, and open up the lane for everyone else. Also, if you take a minute and think about it, we all should have seen this coming. Vucevic’s game has been compared to that of Nenad Krstic. You know who drafted Krstic? Rod Thorn, current President of the Sixers, when he held the same position with the Nets. Supposedly Vucevic and Doug Collins hit it off immediately, and if the first round pick’s introductory press conference is any indication, the two forged a ~~homoerotic~~ close relationship even before the Sixers made their selection. I can’t stress enough how much I like the fact that Vucevic came over from Europe (Montenegro, to be exact) to play college basketball in the States because he, by his own admission, wanted to get tougher and adjust to the style of the North American game. That kind of willingness to adapt and do whatever it takes to become a better basketball player should bode well for his future in the NBA. I love what I’ve read (this is just one example) about Vucevic and am eagerly looking forward to seeing how he progresses at the pro level.

- I couldn’t be more peeved at the fact that Norris Cole will be joining the Heat. Son of a bitch. I was really looking forward to rooting for him in the NBA. Oh, well, so it goes. I think D-Wade, Lebron, and friends are going to find out very quickly that this guy can play. He and Mario Chalmers makes for a pretty sweet point guard tandem down in Miami.

- My favorite moment in the draft? Picks 56-58, and it’s not even close:

#56 (Lakers): Chukwudiebere Maduabum - SF - Nigeria

Last played for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBADL.

#57 (Mavericks): Tanguy Ngombo - SF - Congo

Last played for Al Rayyan in Qatar. Yes, apparently there’s “professional” basketball in fucking Qatar.

#58 (Lakers): Ater Majok - C - Sudan

Last played for the Gold Coast Blaze in Australia.

Brilliant, right? Try to pronounce their names. You can’t. Adam Silver sure as fuck couldn’t, and it was highly entertaining to hear him try upon announcing the selections.

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How bout some NFL ruminations? Because, you know, we ARE going to have a season.

- Here’s a cheap, low risk/high reward free agent a team that runs a 4-3 defense should look at: Andre Carter, most recently of the Washington Redskins. Yeah, he’s 32 and had a bad 2010, but remember that the Skins switched to a 3-4 scheme and tried Carter out as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. The experiment failed, miserably. That said, the year before Carter put up Pro Bowl caliber numbers (62 total tackles, 11 sacks, 3 forced fumbles) as a defensive end in Greg Blache’s 4-3 defense. I specifically remember him because he was particularly disruptive both times the Skins played my Eagles that season. I say give Carter a chance to regain his 2009 form, as I have a hard time believing he’ll demand or receive a lucrative contract. So, Joe, Howie, and Andy, I hope you’re listening (well, reading)… this type of signing is precisely the kind you guys LOVE to make. After all, this team is in dire need of another capable defensive end.

I lied when I made “rumination” plural. There will be only one rumination today, but certainly more will follow in the future as a new labor deal continues to get ironed out.

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I’m leaving for Guatemala on Friday, presumably to take part in the fight being waged against the ruthless, bloodthirsty drug lords (spilling over from Mexico) in the northern region of the country. At least that’s what my itinerary says. I’ll probably visit Tikal, too. I won’t be doing any writing during my time there and will be returning to the States on July 10, assuming I’m not kidnapped and/or murdered.