|
The Woelfel World of Sports
July 2009
Tuesday July 28, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 4:25PM CST on July 28, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL Brandon Jennings is officially in the Milwaukee Bucks' fold. Jennings, the Bucks' No. 1 draft pick and the 10th overall selection in the June NBA draft, signed a contract with the team Tuesday. Jennings, who played in Italy last season after failing to qualify academically at the University of Arizona, impressed Bucks' officials with his stellar play in the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Jennings is expected to immediately challenge veteran Luke Ridnour for the starting point guard, especially if incumbent Ramon Sessions doesn't return with the team. Sessions is a restricted free agent and is being courted by some teams, primarily the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. Bucks general manager John Hammond, on draft night, said the lightning-quick Jennings could be a "special player.'' Hammond didn't reveal the terms of Jennings' contract, but he is expected to be paid around $2.1 million in his rookie season. Monday July 27, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 11:49AM CST on July 27, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL While Krystal Ellis won’t be playing in the WNBA this season, she’ll still be playing for pay. Ellis, the former St. Catherine’s High School and Marquette University standout, has signed a contract to play for Neas Filadelfias-Neas Halkidonas in Athens, Greece. Ellis is Marquette’s all-time leading scorer for both the women’s and men’s programs. Thursday July 23, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 8:44PM CST on July 23, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL Since early in the season, I've advocated the Milwaukee Brewers acquire a top-shelf starting pitcher. Now, just past the midway point of the season, I'm still advocating the Brewers obtain a certifiably legit pitcher. However, the Brewers shouldn't break the bank in doing so. They especially shouldn't mortgage their future and give up a prized prospect like Alcides Escobar for either Messrs Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee. Halladay is 32 years old and has some serious wear and tear on his right arm. He has already pitched 132 innings this season after having pitched in excess of 220 innings in each of the previous three seasons: 246 innings in 2008, 225 1/3 in 2007 and 220 in 2006. As for Lee, he's 30 years old and seemingly still has several good years left in his left arm. But here's the rub: Which Lee would the Brewers be getting? Would they be getting the blue-chip Lee, who in the past two seasons has been magnificent -- he has a 3.17 earned run average this season and had an off-the-charts 22-3 record with a 2.54 ERA in 2008? Or, would the Brewers be getting a run-of-the-mill Lee, who just two seasons ago had a pathetic 6.29 ERA? That came on the heels of a mediocre 4.40 ERA in 2006. Lee or Halladay would certainly be a welcomed addition to a schizophrenic Brewers pitching staff, but only at the right price. Monday July 20, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 8:55PM CST on July 20, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL The pursuit of Ramon Sessions is heating up. Sessions, the Milwaukee Bucks talented young point guard who is a restricted free agent, is drawing intense interest from the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. What’s more, it isn’t out of the realm of possibilities a third team — NBA officials at the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas speculated Oklahoma City — may make a last-minute attempt to land Sessions as well. Officials from the Knicks and Clippers contacted Bucks general manager John Hammond Monday and they discussed Sessions’ situation. Both teams are considering offering Sessions their mid-level exception, which starts at $5.854 million in the first season. The annual salary then can increase each year thereafter by a maximum of eight percent — or $468,000. It is believed James “Chubby’’ Wells, Sessions’ agent, is looking for a five-year deal that would be worth approximately $34.5 million. The Clippers have also tossed out the idea of doing a sign and trade with Milwaukee, dangling their trade exception as part of the deal. Sessions, 23, is regarded as one of the premier young point guards in the NBA. He has already compiled some impressive numbers. To wit: As a rookie two seasons ago, Sessions set a Bucks’ record by recording 24 assists in a game against the Chicago Bulls. Sessions, who was the 56th overall selection in the 2007 NBA draft, averaged 12.4 points, a team-high 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds last season. He compiled those numbers despite averaging only 27.5 minutes a game. It’s no secret the Knicks brass has a high regard for Sessions. The Knicks attempted to trade for Sessions last summer, and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni has told confidants how much he admires Sessions’ game. Likewise, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is a big Sessions fan. Dunleavy has been especially impressed with Sessions’ assist-to-turnover ratio. Sessions was especially impressive in that aspect of the game down the stretch last season. In the Bucks’ final regular-season game, Sessions totaled 12 assists and had just one turnover. In the last 11 games, he totaled 100 assists and had 26 turnovers. While the Knicks and Clippers have also bandied about possible sign-and-trade scenarios with the Bucks for Sessions, there is strong sentiment among league officials that the Bucks will be extremely reluctant to match a five-year mid-level exception deal. These same officials claim the Bucks are in a cost-cutting mode and cite two recent Bucks moves: 1) trading small forward Richard Jefferson and his hefty $29 million contract to San Antonio in a three-team transaction and receiving little in return (power forward Amir Johnson from Detroit), and 2) refusing to extend a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent forward Charlie Villanueva, who then signed a five-year, $35 million deal with Detroit. The Bucks also have two other point guards on their roster: veteran Luke Ridnour, a part-time starter last season, and Brandon Jennings, their top draft pick who played well in the Las Vegas Summer League. Wednesday July 8, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 7:38AM CST on July 8, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL Being the realist he is, Robbie Collum knows he's a long-shot to make the Milwaukee Bucks' roster. But that still hasn't diminished his desire to play well and make a good impression on the Bucks' coaches and scouts. Collum, a Racine native, has been practicing with the Bucks' summer league team in St. Francis. And while he isn't expected to travel with the team later this week to Las Vegas for summer league competition, he's nevertheless thankful the Bucks brass has given him an opportunity to showcase his talents. "I'm very fortunate and grateful to Mr. Hammond, coach Skiles and Dave Babcock,'' Collum said referring to Bucks GM John Hammond, Bucks coach Scott Skiles and Babcock, the Bucks player personnel director. "They let me come in here and work out and show them what I can do.'' Collum, a former Western Michigan star who had played in Mexico the last 2 1/2 years, doesn't have the reputation like Bucks top draft choice Brandon Jennings or veteran Salim Stoudamire, both point guards themselves. But Collum hasn't been intimidated by their reps, either. In fact Collum has matched up reasonably well against both of them. "Every coach would love to have a guy like Robbie on his team,'' Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson said. "He's a very intelligent player. He has a very high basketball IQ. "He's one of those guys who could end up having a nice, 10-year career overseas. He's a great kid. He's someone who you really pull for.'' Collum certainly wouldn't object to making some nice coin abroad. And that's why he's been putting his heart and soul into this camp, hoping that someone will recognize his abilities and put in a kind word for him. "If things don't work out here, fine,'' Collum said. "I"m a realist. I want to use this (camp) as a steppingstone to play overseas or whereever.'' * The Bucks recently played host to restricted free agent Josh Childress, the former Atlanta Hawks small forward who played in Greece last season. Childress is exploring the possibility of returning to the NBA, although the Hawks still retain his playing rights. Childress and Stoudamire are good friends, having spent three seasons together in Atlanta. Stoudamire said he'd love having his buddy as a teammate again. "Not only is he a great player who is willing to do all the little things to help a team win, but he's a good guy, too,'' Stoudamire said. "He's a very honest and caring person. "It would be a blessing if he came here.'' * Stoudamire on Jennings: "I think he can dribble the ball exceptionally well, he can shoot, he's athletic and he's a good passer as well. "The biggest thing for him now is staying focused the wole time he's on the floor.'' * Stoudemire sat out the second practice Tuesday after tweaking his hip flexor. Another guard, Dominic James, the former Marquette University star, also strained his right knee. He is listed as day-to-day. * The Bucks could find out Wednesday whether Ersan Ilyasova will sign with them. Ilyasova, the Bucks' 2005 second-round draft pick, played last season in Spain. A combo forward, Ilyasova is a restricted free agent. "Maybe Wednesday,'' Tolga Tugsavul, Ilyasova's agent, replied when his client might sign a contract. "We'll know his number on the salary cap. Then we can start negotiations.'' Tugsavul said two other NBA teams and three European teams are courting his client. He declined to reveal the teams. * While the Bucks are focusing on re-signing starting point guard Ramon Sessions and Ilyasova, they have checked out several other free agents. Some of those players include Dahntay Jones, who was the Denver Nuggets starting shooting guard last season; swingman Ime Udoka, who started for POrtland three seasons ago and played in 73 agmes for San Antonio last season, and point guard Jannero Pargo, who played six seasons in the NBA before playing for Dynamo Moscow and Olympiacos Piraeuslast season. Jones is expected to sign within a couple of days with another team, while Udoke and Pargo are still being considered by the Bucks. * Former Bucks coach and current Dallas assistant Terry Stotts is drawing consideration for the vacant Minnesota Timberwolves. The T-Wolves are in the preliminary process of finding a coach and have an extensive list of candidates. Some of the others who have been interviewed or are expected to be interviewed are Portland lead assistant coach Dean Demopoulos, Portland assistant coach Monty Williams, ex-NBA star and current television broadcaster Mark Jackson, Houston assistant coach Elston Turner, ex-Detroit Pistons star Bill Laimbeer, Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw and former NBA head coach Mike Fratello.
Tuesday July 7, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 2:34PM CST on July 7, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL Don't tell Tony Romo that Brett Favre should stay in retirement. Romo, the Dallas Cowboys pro bowl quarterback, believes Favre still has plenty in his tank to compete at a high level. "He's still a good quarterback,'' Romo said before the start of the Tony Romo Football camp in Burlington Tuesday. "When you get to his level, perfection is all that people expect. "So anything less almost becomes a bad year. "Tiger (Woods) hasn't won a major (this season); He's terrible all of a sudden. Well, is he really? Or is it that specific year, or that specific day he didn't play as well as in the past? "Talking to Brett, he just loves to play the game. I'm sure he was disappointed the way it was handled around here as I'm sure Green Bay was disappointed.'' Favre, who turns 40 on Oct. 10, has twice announced his retirement. But after retiring from Green Bay, he was traded to the New York Jets. Now, after retiring from the Jets after last season, Favre is seriously contemplating another return, most likely with the Minnesota Vikings. "If you're good enough to do it -- and obviously he is or otherwise teams wouldn't go after him,'' Romo said. "I mean that tells you a lot. "Obviously, they (other teams) think he did something right last year. I think they (the Vikings) become a very dangerous team if they get him -- even though they are already.'' While Favre could elevate the Vikings to a Super Bowl-caliber team, and be a potential roadblock for the Cowboys in their quest of a championship, Romo sees a silver lining in a possible Favre comeback. Quipped Romo: "It would take some media coverage off the Cowboys and that's a good thing.'' Wednesday July 1, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 6:48PM CST on July 1, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL Just one day after the commencement of NBA free agency, the Milwaukee Bucks will entertain one of their targeted players. Jim Tanner, the agent for Josh Childress, said he and his client will arrive in Milwaukee Thursday to meet with Bucks officials. The 6-foot-8 Childress played his first four pro seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. averaging 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. However, last summer Childress stunned NBA observers by rejecting a $36 million offer from the Hawks and signing instead with Olympiacos Piraeus of the Euroleague. Childress signed a lucrative three-year, $20 million contract with Olympiacos, the largest pact ever bestowed on an Euroleague player. Childress' contract included a clause that allows him to opt-out after every season. "He is exporing whatever opportunities that are available to him in the NBA,'' Tanner said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "We've received a number of calls about him from NBA teams.'' Childress, who has the versatility to play shooting guard as well, is certain to command a hefty salary. The most money the Bucks probably could give Childress is $5.8 million -- or the amount of their mid-level exception. Childress, who attended Stanford University, was the sixth overall selection in the 2004 NBA draft. In his first NBA season, Childress ranked third to only Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard among rookies with double-doubles. Childress, 26, averaged in double figures in every season with the Hawks, including a career-high 13 points during the 2006-2007 season. Childress is also regarded as a top-notch defender. While the Bucks are keenly interested in Childress, Tanner said another of his clients, Atlanta big man Zaza Pachulia, is not being courted by the Bucks. * As expected, Bucks point guard Ramon Sessions is drawing considerable interest as a free agent. James "Chubby'' Wells, Sessions' agent, said his client received four calls within a half hour of the start of free agency. One of them was from Bucks general manager John Hammond. "There were between 10 and 12 teams that contacted me today,'' Wells said. "And I still have two other teams that I know who are interested in Ramon that will be contacting me.'' Sessions is a restricted free agent. As such, the Bucks can match any offer made to him and retain his services. * Larry Harris will be taking on a new job. Harris, the former Bucks general manager who served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors last season, will now serve as a regional scout for the team.
* Jodie Meeks, who went through the entire draft process without an agent, has one now. Meeks, the former Kentucky standout shooting guard whom the Bucks drafted in the second round, has signed with David A. Bauman. Among Bauman's clients are Bucks center Andrew Bogut.
|
About This Blog
  1 rating(s)
Older Posts
Current Entries
November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007
Latest Entries
Loading...
 |
Leave a Message
Leave a Comment
Request a Friend
