Johnny Wins!!!!! -The Answer Needs A Job

Congratulations to Johnny Flynn for winning the starting point guard position for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Flynn won this position because the 2009 5th overall pick Ricky Rubio has decided to stay overseas at least until 2011. Rubio has been dubbed the next Pistol Pete, Steve Nash, Bob Cousey....if he's that great, Rubio should bring his A game around A talent which is the NBA not the Euroleague. Don't get me wrong, there is talent in Europe but the talent does not match-up to the NBA. Just ask the Dream Team or the Redeem Team.

Rodney Stuckey was quoted saying not that the old guys are gone and with the addition of Ben Gordon, the Pistons will become a fast-break team. No disrespect to Will Bynum or Ben Gordon, but this Pistons team is headed to the 2010 NBA Lottery. The old guys (Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess) will still play relevant basketball come late May or early June while Joe Dumars is representing your team in Atlanta hoping to win the John Wall sweepstakes.

Allen Iverson is still a free agent. The Memphis Grizzlies are a potential team for The Answer. If Iverson signs with Memphis, between OJ, Gay, Conley, they need three balls on the floor just to make sure they get their 30 shot attempts per game. Why is the Answer still unemployed? Should he go overseas? I blog you decide

Happy 36th birthday to my sister and God Bless Ted Kennedy

Triple Play - Triple Thoughts

First things first I would like to give props to Phillies second basemen Eric Bruntlett for the unassisted triple play. Job well done. Now to my three topics & views for today.

Derrick Rose - I don't believe every NCAA Division 1 program cheats but I strongly believe in order to get the McDonalds All-Americans, you have to pay for play. These universities make millions of dollars of these kids but yet they're not allowed to profit. I've always had a problem with the S.A.T . because that test is biased for upper class families only. Those that do not come from upper, middle class, or two parent household usually struggle on those test. The only problem here.......Pooh got caught. Derrick Rose is in the NBA now and one of the top point guards in the League.

Allen Iverson - Having a bad reputation will keep you unemployeed (see Stephon Marbury Barry Bonds). I still can't believe this future Hall of Famer still doesn't have a team. Reports over the weekend that The Answer will sign with the Charlotte Bobcats this week. Reuniting with Larry Brown is the only positive out of this. With AI and Ray Felton in the backcourt, Gerald Henderson and DJ Augustine playing time will be cut down. At 33, Allen Iverson should be a mentor to Felton and Augustine but they'll porbably pick up bad habits and become shoot first point guards.

John Calipari - Two schools, two NCAA violations, UMASS, Memphis, two Final Fours. Calipari had an outstanding team during his UMASS days with Marcus Camby and even a better team with Memphis. Now the coach at Kentucky, Calipari has the #1 class led by John Wall whose projected to be the #1 pick in 2010. With his Memphis recruits not Wildcats, I hope his Kentucky program is clean. But if history has taught us anything, it's not.

Summer Hoops in Chicago

Many have claimed New York City is the basketball mecca of the world. Dime Magazine claimed Los Angeles is the new point guard capital of the world. They are wrong on both counts. New York City has the famous Rucker Park tournaments every summer but it reminds me of the And1 Streetball Mixtapes. Chicago has the Pro Amms in IIT and there motto is "Get Exposure of Get Exposed"!!!! That same theory applies to all outside parks in the city of Chicago.

Growing up in Da Chi I've always enjoyed that I can't go 1 mile without finding the nearest pickup games. This summer I've played at Foster Beach, Marquette Park, Hayes Drive, North Ave Beach, 43rd St Beach, and various X-Sports Fitness Centers.

Typical Chicago fashion everybody goes hard at one another (we're sore losers) and everybody wants to run the point. Ball hogs are everywhere but everywhere I played, some guys have talent while other guys had heart. The younger generation are more athletic but they lack fundamentals. The problem is players today are told they're the next coming of Kobe Bryant and they believe their own hype. Once they suffered the loss waiting to be picked up for the next run, they sit the sideline blaming their other teammates for the loss.

This summer players today travel to different parks with other ball players on their own 5. I travel alone just looking to get a good run and throw no look passes. Double rims are the new rims outside meaning this new generation will have a pure jump shot. I'm not a fan of the double rim because it's harder for shot to fall.

As the summer winds down, I'll still continue to play outside until Mother Nature tells us it's time to play indoors. When that time comes, you can find me in Foster Park or an X-Sports Fitness near you.

Mark Jackson Screwed Again - More Offseason Moves

Last week The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis over ESPN - ABC analyst Mark Jackson. Another NBA season gone by another team passing over Mark Jackson. The #2 assist leader of all-time would have been a perfect hire for the Timberwolves for three reasons because:

• Mark Jackson is not that far removed from the game and can relate to today's players
• Jackson would have taught Johnny Flynn or Ricky Rubio how to run the point in the NBA
• Minnesota is a young team that has an uptempo style which was Mark Jackson's style

I have nothing against Kurt Rambis, he'll turn Kevin Love and Al Jefferson into better power forwards but my personal choice is Mark Jackson.

It's good to see Maurice Cheeks back in the NBA this time with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Blazers and Sixers coach has been around the League over 30 years therefore Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook should take serious notes. I also hope this works out for Shaun Livingston, he deserves it.

Quentin Richardson has been traded again to the Miami Heat. The good news is that Q has fellow south side native Dwyane Wade as a teammate.

After learning the power forward game from Kevin Garnett for 2 years, Leon Powe feels he's learned enough and signed with the Clevaland Cavaliers. Still new to the League Powe, Powe will continue his big man education with Professor Shaquille O'Neal and Big Z.

Still two months until preseason I'm stuck watching replays of the 2009 season on NBA TV.

Stay tune as I talk about summer ball in Chicago in my next blog.

Pro Amms 2009

Every summer in Chicago fans could gather to IIT and witness the Chicago Pro Amms. Here fans can witness there favorite local basketball greats past, present, and future play in this hot cramped gym and witness exciting games. NBA players, college players, and high school players participate and put on a great show.

Past participants include Michael Jordan, Horace Grant, Isiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway have all played in the Chicago Pro Amms. I remember back in 2001 when both Allen Iverson and Vince Carter played and put on a clinic.

Today Will Bynum, Sherron Collins, Shannon Brown, Imari Sawyer, Tyrone Kent, Antonie Walker, Bobby Simmons, Shawn Marion, Royce Parren, David Bailey, Pargo Brothers are the stars keeping the Pro Amms alive. The best part is when the crowd starts chanting WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT.....Translation: Destroy your opponent.

This summer, Chicago Pro basketball took place at South Suburban College and I did not attend a single game. When the Pro Amms were being held in IIT, there was never a fee but South Suburban College charged a $4 entry fee.

Next summer I hope the Chicago Pro Amms returns to IIT so we can see the likes of Will Bynum, Sherron Collins, Luther & Crandal Head, Derrick Rose, etc. Three of my favorite moments in the Pro Amms were watching Michael Hermon destroy Kendall Gill & Nick Anderson of crossover dribbles. Another was the the first time I witnessed Sherron Collins & Will Bynum destroy any player attepting to play defense.

I challenge Nike, NBA players, Addias to bring the Chicago Pro Amms back.