ESPNU recently broadcast portions of the NBA Draft Combine from Chicago. The varied number of skill tests are intriguing and interesting. As an example there is the standing leap, the player stands flat-footed and then jumps as high as he can touching a measured point on a pole. Right-left agility is measured utilizing lighted poles, 3 poles in front of the player 2 on the side. The players agility is measured in this manner and then a measured half-court run to measure the players speed. The balance of drills are standard used by colleges and high schools, the viewing public is not given any hint of what the scouting combine uses as a basis for a players ability.

Former Bulls player Scottie Pippen has created a huge firestorm! He said in a radio interview that "LeBron James may be better than Michael Jordan." I didn't hear it only read it so I'm unsure why he volunteered his opinion but----fans are coming out of the woodworks asking the question why Scottie and why know? Winning an NBA Championship is not the only criteria for judgment, several great players never won an NBA Championship. Elgin Baylor, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone are just a few Hall of Fame players who never won. One of my barometers for greatness is a players ability to will his team to victory, this can be defined as leadership, lock-down defense, scoring and other intangibles. LeBron James has all those qualities just mentioned so he's part way there in my view. Unfortunately a ring or lack there of must enter into the conversation, recent example Kobe Bryant. Although Bryant has been Hall of Fame for a number of years and despite three early championships many said "he rode Shaq's coattails." Every time his greatness was mentioned out came the crew repeating the same statements questioning how he won the first three. Over the last two seasons the talk has ceased as he's won two additional titles. In conclusion LeBron win multiple championships, that will validate your standing as an all-time great.

Mizzou wants to play Missouri Southern in a benefit game in the fall. The game is intended to aid victims of the Joplin tornado but there is a scheduling issue. Missouri Southern is an NCAA Division II school and Division I Mizzou has already scheduled the maximum number of D-II schools allowed. Mizzou has filed an appeal with the NCAA to allow them to play an extra game, no idea if the NCAA will approved the request so stay tuned for an update.

This is one of those stories that causes me to scratch my head in wonderment. It reported several weeks ago the Cavs had secured the number one draft choice (through a trade), in addition they already owned their own number four pick. A story is circulating they are attempting to secure the number two choice, this is supposed to allow them to draft Duke point guard Kyrie Erving and power forward Derrick Williams of Arizona. The second draft choice belongs to the Wolves and because David Kahn is still running the Wolves I don't think anybody would be shocked if some sort of trade is worked out.

"The two most common elements in the world are hydrogen and stupidity!"