Yardbarker: Craig Smith

Clippers 104 - Detroit 96: The Rollercoaster Continues

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:54:43 -0500

If there is a pattern so far in this disconcerting Clippers campaign; it's that the team has found ways to bounce back after soul crushing losses. In a perverse sense, the players and coaches deserve some credit for not throwing in the towel and pointing fingers at one another (like in Golden State and Washington). After the inexcusable loss to a depleted Indiana squad on Wednesday, you get the sense that the team was ...

Head Shots

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:37:00 -0500

Really good article by MSU-M beat writer Shane Frederick on head shots in the WCHA.

Already this season there have been three notable high or blindside hits.

Wisconsin’s Craig Smith got a game-disqualification and an additional one-game suspension from his school for a frightening check from behind into the boards that knocked Geoff Irwin out of commission for two games with a shoulder injury.

Alaska-Anchorage’s Jade Portwood broke Minnesota freshman Nick Leddy’s jaw with a shoulder check, putting Leddy out for six weeks. There was no penalty on the hit, and Portwood was not suspended, despite Gophers coach Don Lucia’s plea for punishment.

And then there was the check from behind that St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin laid on North Dakota’s Chay Genoway. Genoway was knocked out for at least three games, and Marvin was suspended one game by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the hit, which has been replayed over and over again on YouTube.

“It still happens and it’s a mystery to me,” WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod told the Associated Press last week. “We’ve beefed up that rule and our officials know to always err on the side of safety. They are doing the best they possibly can ... We’re trying to emphasize that there’s no tolerance for it, but it hasn’t stopped it from happening.”
[Mankato Free Press]

I can’t believe that Bruce McLeod would actually make that stupid statement. McLeod can’t be that oblivious to the situation, he and his officials are part of the problem. The reason players are still hitting other players in the head and they don’t respect their opponents and your disciplinary system is a joke. There is no real repercussion or any meaningful discipline for the leagues hockey players that hits another player with questionable and egregious hit.

Let me break this further, if you’re a player in the WCHA what’s stopping you from taking a run at a top player like Jordan Schroeder. What are the consequences if you hit another player with a hit to the head and injure him? Seriously! All you’re going to get is a one game suspension max, isn’t that really a zero sum gain?

Clippers vs. Denver - Game Preview

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:57:41 -0500

More photos » by Garrett Ellwood - NBAE/Getty Images Browse more photos » 2009/2010 NBA Regular Season vs. 4-98-3 Staples Center November 19th, 2009, 7:30 PM FSN Prime Ticket, 980 AM Probable starters: Baron Davis PG Chauncey Billups Rasual Butler SG Arron Afflalo Al Thornton SF Carmelo Anthony Marcus Camby PF Kenyon Martin Chris Kaman ...

WCHA coming down on CFB's?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:27:00 -0500

It would appear that the WCHA is going to be cracking down even harder on the checking from behind infractions this season. Wisconsin's forward Craig Smith got an additional game suspension on top of his game disqualification that he received from last Saturday night's game against the Mavericks when Smith checked Mavericks player Geoff Irwin from behind, because of the check from behind the Mavericks forwards is out with the dreaded undisclosed upper body injury.

Smith originally received a major penalty and game disqualification for checking from behind against Minnesota State-Mankato Oct. 24. That meant Smith would have to sit out Friday's series opener.

But Eaves said he was notified by the WCHA that Smith has had another game added to that punishment. Eaves didn't disagree with the action because Smith didn't appear to slow down when he crosschecked Mankato left winger Geoff Irwin into the boards in the third period of a 3-2 loss.
[Madison.Com]

Playa Vista, Clippers October 27 - Griffin and Dunleavy talk about the Injury

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:51:32 -0500

More photos » by Chris Pizzello - AP Look on the bright side: more minutes for Craig Smith. Browse more photos » I just left a press availability with MDsr and Blake Griffin a few moments ago. Or as I quipped with the ClipperWidow as I left the house, a 'depress availability.' But it turned out not to be quite as depressing as I thought. There is also a new release from the Clilppers o...

Clippers Club Optimism Special Report

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:28:27 -0500

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP Hey Clipper Curse, is that all you got? A stress fracture? Browse more photos » The President of Club Optimism, Citizen Zhiv left an extensive comment on the Blake Griffin injury post. He chose not to put it on the Front Page in order to avoid bumping things like game and season previews down. He was wrong. This is much more important than that othe...

Catching Up - Clippers - Jazz and Clippers - Lakers

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:13:18 -0500

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP Craig Smith was by far the most effective Clipper against the Lakers. Browse more photos » Saturdays of course, I tend to be Coach Steve instead of ClipperSteve, coaching the offspring on their AYSO teams. ClipperMax's team remains undefeated after a rousing 4-1 victory in Huntington Beach, while ClipperZoe and her teammates battled valiantly against the firs...

Thoughts in Advance of the Weekend Games

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:22:44 -0500

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP Blake will likely get another start against the Jazz. Browse more photos » I stopped by Playa Vista today and got to watch a fair amount of the Clippers' practice. Unfortunately, I also got to see Craig Smith sort of roll onto Marcus Camby's ankle and watch Camby hobble off the court. (I guess my iPod touch wasn't connected to the Wi-Fi after all, beca...

Introducing the TimberClippers

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:45:48 -0500

More photos » by Chris Pizzello - AP Craig Smith used to destroy the Clippers. He thinks it's the warm weather. Browse more photos » So, as you may know already, I was at the press availability with the newest Clippers, Craig Smith, Sebastian Telfair and Mark Madsen today. MDsr also answered some questions for the press. The videos are available at the Clippers YouTube Channel, and were lin...

Craig Smith Summer Movie Reviews

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:26:21 -0500

Forget Ebert and Roeper, Wolves forward Craig Smith will get you ready for the blockbuster movies this summer. The Rhino also discusses offseason workouts and the NBA playoffs.

Timberwolves-Cavaliers Lines Preview

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:27:59 -0500

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Quicken Loans Arena. Oddsmakers currently have the Cavaliers listed as 14-point favorites versus the Timberwolves, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Timberwolves were defeated 96-88 by the 76ers last time out, as 10-point underdogs. That game's combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total of 200.5. Rodney Carney netted 21 points, and Cra...

Thunder-Timberwolves Odds Preview

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:20:38 -0500

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Target Center. Oddsmakers currently have the Thunder listed as 1-point favorites versus the Timberwolves, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Kevin Durant paced Oklahoma City with 24 points and 12 rebounds in its 101-94 loss to Utah on Friday night. Utah covered as 5-point road favorites as the game played under the 200-point total posted by oddsmakers. C...

Boston College Does It Again

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:57:14 -0500

First Boston College beats North Carolina. Then Boston College loses to Harvard. Then Boston College beats Duke.

Boston College's Flex Motion Offense

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:43:12 -0500

Al Skinner has used the flex motion to great success leading the Eagles to five-straight NCAA tournament berths, not an easy feat given they competed in the Big East and more recently the ACC power conferences. Players like Craig Smith and Jared Dudley have been perfect for this system.