Signing

The NCAA early signing period runs from November 9-16. Mizzou signed five players who earlier had committed to Coach Haith and staff. The height issue will be fully addressed next season if 6-11 Stefan Jankovic, 6-8 Anthony Criswell and 6-10 Ryan Rosburg have few adjustments to Division One basketball. All three should be able throw their weight around on the boards, Rosburg weighs in at 240 pounds, Criswell 230 and Jankovic 225. Yet to sign is shooting guard Shawn Smith and power forward Quantel Denson. Denson has pending legal problems and might be missing in action next season.

I was wrong
It's difficult to eat crow or backtrack on a statement. The Tar Heels Harrison Barnes fooled me, it appeared his freshman season was going to be a bust and I said as much. In the middle portion of the season this 6-8 small forward begin to produce at the level many thought he was capable of. This former McDonalds All-American passed on the NBA Draft last year and this is interesting in itself. Most of the mock draft sites had him listed as a lottery pick if he'd been drafted. You can see why Carolina fans are so excited about this upcoming season and why most picked North Carolina number one in the nation.

Seems like it was just yesterday
I remember where I was when a co-worker broke the news. This co-worker informed me Magic Johnson had "Aids" of course that portion of her statement would be corrected later. I watched the press conference as Magic announced he'd tested HIV-positive, many of us thought "he's going to die." Of course all of us are going to die eventually but in those days anyone testing positive for the virus was assumed to have a much shorter life span. Magic said he was retiring immediately and would no longer play for the Lakers which left me and others devastated. With his youthful presence I'm sure all of us thought he'd never retire from the game he loved but at age 32 he did. We are 20 years from that press conference and Magic is still here, a combination of drugs has managed to sustain his life. Despite stories you might have read or heard Magic is still HIV positive but thanks to the continuing fight he and others have continued their lives. Focus on this, despite the tragedy, despite his lifestyle he's still here and he's helping others. The Magic Johnson companies that have opened their doors in many inner city neighborhoods providing employment to youth and young adults. In addition the Magic Johnson Foundation "works to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities." Perhaps the gloom of 20 years ago laid the groundwork for a new path for Magic Johnson. (portion from magicjohnson.com)

The name is probably unfamiliar
Ed Macauley died this week, most of you are probably unfamiliar with the name. Other than Red Aurbach "Easy Ed" was probably key to the run of Celtic Championships. This St. Louis native attended St. Louis University High School and later played at St Louis University, his 1948 team won the NIT Championship.  In the pros Macauley played for the defunct St. Louis Bombers in 1949-50, financial problems forced the team to cease operations at the end of the 1950 season. At that point the NBA held a dispersal draft of the teams players, the Celtics selected Macauley. He played in Boston from 1950 through the 1956 season. "Easy Ed" and Cliff Hagen were traded to the St. Louis Hawks for the draft rights to William Felton Russell. Bill Russell certainly contributed to the Celtic mystic however don't short change Macauley. Macauley had a stellar career playing for the Hawks of St. Louis, he was part of the 1958 NBA Championship team and a 7X NBA All-Star. This St. Louis native was 85 years old when he died, R.I.P. "Easy Ed"!

It seems
The list of powerhouse high schools always are the same! Maxpreps released it's list of Top 10 High Schools and the names are familiar. Several of the schools are prep schools which helps them "recruit" the best talent an example Findlay Prep and Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. Others such as St. Anthony's a Catholic School in Jersey City is able to attract kids from the greater New York City area.

"I have a lifetime contract. That means I can't be fired during the third quarter if we're ahead and moving the ball."
Lou Holtz, former Arkansas football coach