Yardbarker: Prince28

Michael Phelps and Brian Williams both Lil' Wayne fans

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:08:35 -0500

On NBC Nightly News Brian Williams did a interview with Michael Phelps. In the end of the interview they talk about Weezy. The conversation starts when Michael is talking about what he listens to before a swim. Sorry about the video being so long just fast foward to the end that is where it starts.

Better Athlete, Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt?

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:40:23 -0500

As good as Michael Phelps was in the Olympics, is it possible that he isn't even the best athlete? In my opinion, that answer is yes. I feel that the best athlete in the Olympics is Usain "Lightning" Bolt from Jamaica. Bolt is now the world's fastest man as he ran the 100 meter in 9.69 seconds. That's a world record. The crazy part is, Bolt celebrated the last 20 meters. If not for that, he would have destroyed his previous record of 9.71. But many people would say that Phelps has 8 gold medals while Bolt only has 1. Well I'm sure if they had a bunch of different running techniques from the same distance that Bolt would win all of those. Heck, we already know he would beat everyone pounding his chest and high stepping his way to the finish line.

Reebok Fantasy File Videos are back

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:54:29 -0500

I did a post about these videos last year asking you guys if you thought these were real or fake. I wasn't going to post about them again because I didn't think Reebok would make them again. But I couldn't help myself, they are way too solid this year. Here are a few of my favorites.

Hawks' Smith signs Grizzlies' 5-year, $58M offer sheet

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:47:45 -0500

Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith has signed a five-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday. The Hawks will have seven days to match the offer, which the report said came unexpectedly from the Grizzlies. Atlanta has said it would match any offer for the 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward, despite offseason overtures from the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers, neither of which panned out. Smith quickly took advantage of his restricted free-agent status, spending July 2 visiting the 76ers, a day after teams could start negotiations with free agents. The 22-year-old Smith toured the city and visited the Wachovia Center with team officials. But the 76ers opted to sign restricted free-agent Elton Brand, and the Clippers made a trade with the Denver Nuggets for Marcus Camby. Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said shortly after the season he was committed to keeping Smith. Smith's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last year and helped the Hawks make the playoffs.

Prospects to watch

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:15:43 -0500

One of the biggest factors in all of baseball is prospects. Now that we are entering August, we should start seeing lots of them called up who could make big impacts on their clubs for years to come. Here are my top ten prospects and while some won't be called up this year, they will all be factors in the bigs. David Price Pitcher Rays: Price was the first pick in the draft last year and has the stuff to be called up to the majors this year. With the Rays in contention for 1st place and the team's first ever playoff appearance, look for for Price to be called up from double A and possibly help the Rays in the bullpen. Matt LaPorta OF Indians: LaPorta isn't the best defensive player, but he is arguably the best offensive player out of any prospect. Before being traded, LaPorta was hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBI's in Double A. Now he is in the Indians farm system where he is adjusting to the pitching but should be back to normal by the end of the year. Matt Wieters C Orioles: Wieters is the best offensive catcher prospect that scouts have seen since Joe Mauer. Wieters is batting .345 with 15 homers and 40 RBI's. He might have a big impact on the Orioles in a few years. Andrew McCutchen OF Pirates: McCutchen has the potential to be a 5 tool player. He has the tools to hit for a high average, is developing power and has solid defense. McCutchen also has great speed as he has 27 steals. Don't be surprised if McCutchen is called up by the end of the year. Dexter Fowler OF Rockies: Fowler like McCutchen, has the potential to be a 5 tool player. He hits for average and has the potential to hit for power in Coors Field. He also has great range in center field and has the potential to be a very good player for years to come. Fernando Martinez OF Mets: Martinez is a very raw prospect at only 20 years old. He has a lanky frame and has the potential to be a very good player on offense and defense. Look for Martinez to make an impact for the Mets as soon as next year. Rick Porcello Pitcher Tigers: At 19 years old, Porcello has loads of potential. He has very good command and has great pitches with his fastball and curveball. Porcello could have a very big impact on the Tigers next year. Michael Burgess OF Nationals: Burgess has the potential to be a very good player. He has excellent bat speed but has shown some trouble with his swing. He also has great arm strength and could become a force in right field. Look for Burgess to become an elite player in the next few years. Tim Beckham SS Rays: Beckham was the first pick in the most recent MLB draft and has loads of potential. He has lots of speed and has the potential to hit for speed and power. Plus, Beckham is only 18 years old so the future looks very bright. Cameron Maybin OF Marlins: Maybin has all the tools teams look for in a 5 tool player. He is improving on offense and plays a great centerfield. The main problem as of now is his strikeout total and overtime, that will improve. Maybin should be in the majors in the next year or two.

Al Davis talked Raiders WR Walker out of retiring

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:30:13 -0500

Oakland Raiders receiver Javon Walker, struggling with his performance during training camp, told the team Thursday he intended to retire and offered to return his $11 million signing bonus. According to a source, Raiders owner Al Davis persuaded Walker to remain with the team. Walker signed a six-year, $55 million deal with Oakland in the offseason after a trying 2007 marked by knee injury. Walker also was reportedly abducted, beaten and robbed near the Las Vegas Strip in June. According to police, Walker was found unconscious on a side street shortly after dawn June 16. He was hospitalized for two days with facial injuries and a concussion and told investigators that about $3,000 in cash and $100,000 worth of jewelry were taken. Police released a grainy surveillance videotape June 24, identifying a man in it as a second suspect after the arrest of a first suspect. In 72 career games during six seasons with the Packers and Broncos, Walker has 252 receptions for 3,815 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Reggie Williams reinjures knee in training camp

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:37:46 -0500

Reggie Williams of the Jacksonville Jaguars re injured his knee Tuesday night, hours after being activated. The injury happened when Williams made a spin move, after that he was limping to the sidelines. Reggie was placed on the unable to perform list. Williams missed the first three days of training camp. This injury makes Mike Walker, a second year player out of UCF the 1 or 2 receiver with the injury of Jerry Porter.

Ron Artest traded to Rockets

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:56:05 -0500

Ron Artest didn't opt out then doubted his decision. It looks like that might be a moot point. Multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday that the Sacramento Kings had agreed to trade the forward to the Rockets. The Houston Chronicle reported that the Kings would receive Bobby Jackson, a No. 1 draft pick in 2009 and another player that the newspaper's source could not identify. KRIV television in Houston reported that the Kings will also receive cash. "Yes, it has been tentatively agreed upon," said Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, according to KRIV. "Now it has to be confirmed by the league office and until that is done, it's not official." Two weeks ago, Artest told ESPN.com that he was unhappy with himself for not opting out of his deal and becoming a free agent before the July 1 deadline. He hoped to be traded to "a team out there that can be more committed than Sacramento to me." In Houston, Artest would team with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming to form one of the toughest trios in the NBA. With Yao injured much of the season, the Rockets finished 55-27 last season, good for third in the Southwest Division. They lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz in six games. When told of the deal, McGrady was ecstatic. "I couldn't be more happy," McGrady said, according to KRIV. "Pleased at how the organization is trying to improve this team, get the help that Yao and myself really need to really get to where we want to be and that's one of the elite teams in this league. "If this is true, this is definitely what I have been waiting on for 11 years in my career, for a team to really improve and put the talent [on the floor] that I feel that we can compete with the best." Injuries held Artest to only 57 games last season, but he averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game for the 38-44 Kings. Sacramento traded point guard Mike Bibby during the season last year and dealing Artest shows that the team is in full rebuilding mode under second-year coach Reggie Theus. "He brings a mental and physical toughness" McGrady said, according to KRIV. "He brings a guy that competes at a high level on the basketball court. Defensively, he's tough. Offensively, he is a force to be reckoned with. He's probably one of the most difficult guys to guard on the perimeter because of his size, because of his strength." Jackson, who split his time between New Orleans and Houston last season, averaged 7.7 points per game. This would be his second stint with the Kings where he had his most productive years of his career from 2000 to 2005.

Mark Teixeira traded to Angels

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:00:18 -0500

Last July, the Angels were the runner-up in the bidding for Mark Teixeira. This year, they finally got their man. On Tuesday, the Angels made the kind of deadline blockbuster they're often accused of never making when they traded first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Stephen Marek to Atlanta for the right to run Teixeira out there as their first baseman for the next two months. "Hopefully I can just go over there and be one more piece of the puzzle," Teixeira said before the Braves hosted St. Louis. Initially, according to a source, the Braves asked for Kotchman, top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart and a third player in exchange for Teixeira. But the Angels told Atlanta that although they might be willing to talk about, essentially, a Kotchman-for-Teixeira swap even-up, they were not willing to open a hole in their club for either 2008 or 2009. The clubs then compromised Tuesday afternoon by agreeing on Marek, a 24-year-old Double-A right-hander who wasn't regarded as one of the Angels' premier prospects. The Braves also had talked to the Diamondbacks, Rays and Red Sox about Teixeira, and the Yankees and Dodgers also had checked in peripherally. But the Angels surprised the baseball world by bearing down hard on that middle-of-the-order bat that now transforms them into the official 2008 Best Team in Baseball. "Our goal is to win a world championship," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "The team is playing well at this point, but being able to add a player like Mark Teixeira just makes us that much better." The Angels already have the best record in the game (65-40). But their offense ranks just ninth in the American League in runs scored and 11th in on-base percentage. And their .399 team slugging percentage ranks 10th in the AL and 22nd in baseball. Now they can slot Teixeira, a 28-year-old switch-hitter with Gold Glove defensive skills, into their lineup to hit behind Vladimir Guerrero. They also get a player who is familiar with life in the AL West from his four-plus seasons in Texas. And they get an offensive force who has averaged about 35 homers and close to 40 doubles per full season since 2004, with a .291 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, .546 slugging percentage and .927 OPS. "They have the best team in baseball. I'm not going to go over there and make them any different, other than just hopefully add a few more runs. They have all the pitching they need, they have great defense," Teixeira said. He added: "It's a little bittersweet. I really enjoyed my time here. I had a great year here. I love this team. I love this organization. I love this city. It's tough to leave. But at the same time I have a great opportunity in Anaheim, and I'm looking forward to it. The last couple days I knew it was coming, so I prepared for it." The Angels didn't ask for a window to negotiate an extension with Teixeira. But they're expected to make a massive effort to sign him to a long-term deal, now that they've traded their everyday first baseman and a player they were especially fond of in Kotchman. But Teixeira is a Scott Boras client. And early rumblings are that his initial asking price will be in the neighborhood of 10 years, $230 million. The Braves, meanwhile, prioritized getting back a first baseman to replace Teixeira. And although they weren't able to get the larger package they'd hoped for -- or one that even approached the five players they gave up for Teixeira last year -- they did get a first baseman who can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season. They'll lose power production, because Kotchman has hit only 31 homers in 1,137 big league at-bats and owns just a .426 career slugging percentage. But the Angels believed he would develop power as he progressed. And his home run ratio away from home (one every 31.9 at-bats) was much better than his ratio in Anaheim (one every 44.3 at-bats). He'd already hit a career-high 12 home runs this season. Atlanta acquired Teixeira last July 31 at the trading deadline in a seven-player deal that sent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Texas. Beset by injuries, the Braves have struggled below .500 this year and fallen to the fringe of the NL East race. "This is obviously not the way we wanted the season to end and go forward. We look at it as building for the future," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. In his 157 games in Atlanta, Teixeira hit 37 home runs and drove in more runs (134) than any player in the major leagues except Ryan Howard. Kotchman had been in the Angels lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Red Sox, batting second and playing first base. He was replaced at first by Robb Quinlan, who batted eighth in the Angels' 6-2 win. Within a few days, Teixeira will be occupying that spot for the Angels. He said his family planned to stay in the California guest house of Boras for the time being. Teixeira said there was time when he would've signed a deal with Atlanta and bypassed the possibility of free agency. "I was always open for it. This whole year I was open for it. But that's business. It just didn't work out," he said. "I loved it here. I really did. I wanted to stay here for the rest of my career. But business is business. Sometimes you have to move on and I'm looking forward to moving on to LA." Wren said the team was rebuffed in spring training when it offered Teixeira a deal that would have made him "one of the highest-paid players in the game." There were no further contract discussions between Wren and Boras. "We offered him a very aggressive, multiyear contract," Wren said. "When he didn't take that, we knew we wouldn't be able to re-sign him." Teixeira said the negotiations with the Braves were nothing more than "one phone call." "Then we moved on," he said. "I've always been a player who believes if I go out and do my job on the field, contracts will take care of themselves. That's my plan." Marek was a 40th-round draft pick of the Angels in 2004. He was a starter in his first three pro seasons. But the Angels were using him in middle relief at Arkansas, where he was 2-6 with a 3.66 ERA and an impressive 57 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings.

Eagles DE Clemons taken to hospital for dehydration

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:21:48 -0500

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Clemons has been taken to a hospital after suffering dehydration. Clemons left the field at Lehigh University in Bethlehem about two hours into practice on Tuesday morning. About an hour after that, he was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. He was sitting up and alert as he was loaded into the ambulance. The National Weather Service monitoring station in nearby Allentown is reporting temperatures around 80 degrees under sunny skies. Clemons signed a five-year contract with the Eagles in the offseason. He will be part of a four-man rotation at defensive end and is filling a spot vacated by former Pro Bowl defensive end Jevon Kearse.

Guillen wants out of K.C.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:06:23 -0500

Left fielder Jose Guillen wants out of Kansas City pronto, according to a source who spoke to ESPNdeportes.com on condition of anonymity. Guillen feels the Royals have not kept the promises made when he signed for three years and $36 million during the offseason, said the source. But the main reason he is in "living hell in Kansas City" is a foul relationship with manager Trey Hillman. "Guillen and Hillman are not on speaking terms, they don't talk," said the source. "Guillen is definitely not happy, he's not comfortable and he would do anything he can in economic terms to ease his way out of Kansas City." When Guillen signed with Kansas City he knew the team wouldn't be a contender in 2008, but he was promised that moves would be made to build a winning team in 2009, said the source. The 32-year-old is leading the Royals with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs, but he has been nursing a groin injury that kept him out of the lineup on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Guillen's bat could help a number of teams in the race for the postseason, but Kansas City has not shown any interest in trading him. The source said Guillen is ready to defer his salary for 2009 and 2010 if it helps increase his value on the trading block.

Okafor, Bobcats agree to 6-year, $72 million deal

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:51:28 -0500

The Charlotte Bobcats have agreed in principle on a six-year contract worth at least $72 million with restricted free agent Emeka Okafor. General manager Rod Higgins confirmed the agreement Tuesday to local reporters, saying that he expects the contract to be completed "in the next few days" after an ESPN.com report said the sides had made significant progress in the past week and were on the verge of a deal. The agreement with Okafor by far represents Charlotte's biggest expenditure on one player as the club readies for its fifth season. Okafor turned down a five-year deal with a similar $12 million annual average before last season, preferring to wait for restricted free agency. "It was very important for us to get a deal done," Higgins told The Associated Press. "He creates a sense of security around the basket for us. He's a guy that I think his skills are still developing in a lot of ways. Having Larry [Brown] as our head coach now, Emeka will benefit having a great coach to teach him." Okafor was the Bobcats' first-ever draft choice with the No. 2 overall pick in 2004 and was widely viewed around the league as a prime sign-and-trade candidate, on the premise that the Bobcats wouldn't spend to keep him. Charlotte raised questions about its own interest in retaining the 25-year-old Okafor by making what sources say was a five-year contract offer starting at the $5.6 million mid-level exception to veteran center DeSagana Diop early in free agency. But Diop elected to take a similar deal from the Dallas Mavericks, while the Bobcats -- most notably new coach Brown -- kept publicly proclaiming their intention to resist any sign-and-trade interest in Okafor and eventually come to terms with their most accomplished interior force defensively. Several top restricted free agents have endured slow-moving negotiations with their teams -- Atlanta's Josh Smith, Chicago's Luol Deng and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala chief among them -- in a marketplace where only the Memphis Grizzlies have the salary-cap space to extend a lucrative offer sheet to Okafor and his peers in the restricted class. But Memphis has made it clear that it prefers to save its cap room for next summer. The only other ways for top restricted free agents to create leverage -- to either secure the level of compensation they desire or force a sign-and-trade -- are by threatening to sign a one-year qualifying offer that would lead to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2009 or by entertaining lucrative interest from overseas, as Atlanta's Josh Childress did and ultimately accepted from Greek giants Olympiacos. It's believed that Okafor, because his salary on a one-year qualifying basis would still be a healthy $7.1 million, convinced the Bobcats he was serious about going that route. The Bobcats then could have lost Okafor without compensation next summer once he became an unrestricted free agent. Okafor averaged 13.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last season in 33.2 minutes per game but never clicked with coach Sam Vincent, who was fired by team president and former teammate Michael Jordan after just one season. Okafor has already played for Brown on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and has generated plenty of praise from the bench veteran lately. "I hope that it works out because I was with him a little while and he's a terrific kid," Brown said earlier this month. "He plays a position that's very hard to find. And he's the second pick in the draft. I'm sure we'll do what's right. Hopefully he'll be here." Although he was limited to 26 games in his second NBA season because of a persistent ankle injury, Okafor played all 82 games last season and has averaged a double-double in each of his four seasons in the league. An annual salary of $12 million would be in line with the contract extension 2005's No. 1 overall pick Andrew Bogut received from the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month. Bogut signed a five-year deal for $60 million with hard-to-reach incentives that, if realized, could take the overall worth of the contract past $70 million. "It's unfortunate when people criticize our ownership," Higgins told the AP, referring to Bobcats owner Bob Johnson and suggestions that the team wouldn't spend what it took to lock up Okafor. "Bob has been very supportive of what we want to do. Last year we brought in Jason Richardson and signed [Gerald] Wallace]. We're continuing to bring in very good talent. Securing Emeka just shows that our ownership and Bob are committed."

Memphis Grizzlies 2006-2007 dunks

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:57:35 -0500

With Rudy Gay,Hakim Warrick and Stromile Swift these guys can throw it down with anyone. Now with a bunch of young point guards there should be even more highlights next year.

Rudy Gay Highlight Reel

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:12:42 -0500

Rudy Gay is turning into a great player in the NBA. So here is a highlight reel of Rudy Gay. Enjoy!

Josh Smith Highlight Reel

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:52:24 -0500

If you don't know who Josh Smith is you might want to know. He is one of the best dunkers in the league. He also get's blocks. He is also an amazing fantasy basketball player. He has amazing talent that is all I can say.