Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Southwest Minnesota State University - Update given from surgeon on Coach Bigler

According to a press release by Southwest Minnesota State University, "The surgeon for Southwest Minnesota State University head men’s basketball coach Brad Bigler, issued a statement Tuesday afternoon concerning Bigler’s status at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls.

“Brad is recovering well from his injuries and is making good progress,” said surgeon Dr. Michael Bauer.  “It’s important that he be allowed to rest and regain his strength so that he can make a full recovery.”  Bauer also stated that Sharon Schuler, Heather Bigler’s grandmother, is also doing well following surgery and will continue to improve."

Check out the link below for more information. 


Monday, July 30, 2012

TWO FORMER HENRY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS HAVE DIED DUE TO GUN SHOT WOUNDS

Mandela Jackson and Jordan Hughes were both pronounced dead on Wednesday apparently of gun shot wounds. Jackson and Hughes were teammates in high school. They both attended Patrick Henry High School in north Minneapolis.

According to the Star Tribune, “The two men shot to death in St. Paul were good friends who went to high school together, and a family member of the second man who died identified him as a star Minneapolis high school basketball player.

The two were shot about a mile apart, and police Sgt. Paul Paulos said Wednesday afternoon that "neither of the deaths appear to be random and no suspects are being sought at this time" and no one is under arrest.

One man was found shot about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday outside in the 800 block of Fuller Avenue, Paulos said. 

The man died at Regions Hospital.

Shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, another man was found shot in the 400 block of Charles Avenue, Paulos said. That man was dead at the scene and also found outside.

"We are following up on strong leads" about what led to the shootings, he said.

Police say they have preliminary information about the men's identities but were still working to confirm that information.

The man shot Wednesday morning was identified by his brother as Mandela Jackson, 22, who lived with his parents in South St. Paul and was a basketball standout at Patrick Henry High School in north Minneapolis.

In 2007-08, Jackson averaged about 21 points per game as a senior and led his team to the Class 3A State Tournament.

Jibreel Jackson said that his brother and the other man, in his early 20s, both graduated from Henry.

The brother said that he and other family members were at his parents' home Tuesday night when South St. Paul police officers knocked on the door, were let in and ordered all of the occupants out.

The officers asked where Mandela Jackson was and only said that "something had happened," Jibreel Jackson said. He did not say what time that occurred.

Jibreel Jackson said he and another brother were at his sister's house Wednesday morning in the 400 block of Charles Avenue and found Mandela Jackson's body a few doors down, with a gun nearby.

Family members have no clue about what led to the shootings, Jibreel Jackson said.”


TIME TO SAY THANK YOU AND A TIME TO SLOW DOWN TO REFLECT ON THE PAST SEASONS

As I write this so many different thoughts are running through my mind. I want to thank everyone for reading my blog. WAITE I am not giving up my passion for sports and I am NOT quitting blogging for ever.

I just thought that it was a good time for me to slow down and knock out a “thank you” article if you will.

See over the past few seasons I really don't have time to go out and thank my readers and the players that have taking time out of their schedules and lives to share their memories of sporting events that have changed their lives.

I have had people ask me why I keep my blog up and why I do this. The reason is simple. It is for the fans and the players.

I get the joy of watching players play sports and getting to be apart of the the sporting world. I have always watched sports my whole life. I was given a platform to express my thoughts and people have embraced it and had a lot of good things to say about what I have had to say about them or their teams. I know that I do have detractors and people that don't think that I know what I am talking about but to them I say “give me a chance and let me show you that I can be the difference and teach me how to get better.

I have met some wonderful players and parents of players. For every rude crude athletic director, tournament personal or some one that thinks that they know it all when they don't there are 20 more people that are accommodating.

I have seen some great games during my time as a member of the media. With out the support staff at tournaments and local colleges and university's I would not have the chance to get into these games and cover the events that I do.

I would also be re missed if I didn't thank all of my friends in the media. I appreciate all that you have done for me in giving me advise and tips in this complex media world.

I want to again say thank you to all of the players, coaches, Sports Information Directors and tournament personal for supporting me and my mission for giving me the chance to becoming the blogger that I have become. I would like to thank my editor for taking time out of his busy schedule to look over and proof all of my ramblings before I put them up on my site. I would like to thank all of my friends on and off the court for putting up with me when I am tired and driving all around at a frantic pace and put up with my attitudes when I get tired and cranky.

I also want to thank my parents Dennis and Sue and my Step Mom Kris for putting up with me and my sister Anna for all of the support and getting me ready for big games.

Thank you for reading this report. If I have missed anyone I am sorry.

If you have any information you want to know send me email me at  stevenmgr@hotmail.com

Crash kills son of Southwest Minn. State coach - Minneapolis News and Weather KMSP FOX 9

According to KMSP CH 9, "The men's basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University is in critical condition after a crash in western Minnesota that killed his 5-month-old son. The driver of the other vehicle was arrested on suspicion of Felony Criminal Vehicular Homicide, as alcohol was likely involved.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the coach, 33-year-old Brad Bigler, is hospitalized in Sioux Falls, S.D. Five-month-old Drake Phillip Bigler was killed, and two other occupants were injured.

The arrested driver, Dana Schoen, 38, of Starbuck, Minn. is being held in Douglas County Jail at this time (Pope County no longer has a facility). He is being held for Felony Criminal Vehicular Homicide and as a standard protocol there is a 48 hour hold on him."


PAT MADISON MAGIC TOOK ON INFORMATION INVESTORS GROUP IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY SUMMER LEAGUE

The Pat Madison Magic went up against the Information Investors Group in a Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League game.

It took a while for each team to get used to each other as neither team was able to get into a shooting rhythm.

Walley James Ellenson came out gunning as he shot the ball from anywhere on the court that he wanted to. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where they knew that on the floor.

Anthony Tucker for Information Investors did a good job of getting to the basket where he was able to hit shots that he put up. He took shots mostly inside of the three-point circle.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Pat Madison 27 and Information Investors 22.

Both teams continued to hustle and go after rebounds and loose balls in the second quarter.

PJ Hill for Pat Madison was all over the floor. He brought the ball down the court and was able to set his men up and get them into spots where they knew that they could hit shots from.

Pat Madison did a good job of using the shot clock to their advantage. They let the clock wide down and started looking for shots with about 15 seconds left to go.

At halftime the score was Pat Madison 53 and Information Investors 35.

As the third quarter got underway both teams came out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. 

Charles Buggs looked good on the floor for Pat Madison. He had good court awareness. On the defensive end he always knew where his man and the ball was at all times.

Pat Madison continued to hit shots in the third quarter. Investors didn't give up at all. They fought hard the whole quarter.

At the end of the third quarter the score was Pat Madison 76.

The fourth quarter started out on a tear as each team wanted to show quickness as they blew by the other team.

Pat Madison hit shots down the stretch. They were a little quicker the Information Investors and they used that to their advantage. Pat Madison came away with the 102-96 hard fought victory over Information Group.

PAT MADISON MAGIC TOOK ON FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND ATHLETICS IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY SUMMER LEAGUE GAME

Pat Madison took on Fundamentally Sound Athletics in the Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League. The game got off to a quick start as each team traded baskets in the early goings.

Siyani Tahir Chambers was all over the floor on the offensive end. He was able to get his teammates involved in the offense.

The score went back and forth throughout the first quarter. It was a very close and competitive quarter. Each team was able to feel the other team out as they tried to out man the other team.

At the end of the first quarter the score was Pat Madison 29 and Fundamentally Sound Athletics 28.

The score continued to go back and forth in the second quarter. Pat Madison took their time on the offensive end. They did a good job of passing the ball around the three-point line and taking time off the clock while they were looking for their shots.

Kwadzo Ahelegbe took the ball hard to the basket where he was able to hit shots that he put up from everywhere on the floor.

Chambers had some nice moves on the offensive end. He was able to blow by his players that he was guarding and get to the basket and made lay-ups.

At halftime the score was Pat Madison 54 and Fundamentally Sound Athletics 47.

As the third quarter got underway Pat Madison continued to hit shots that they put up.

Chambers continued to get to the basket and hit shots that he put up. There was a huge lack of focus on the defensive end. Fundamentally Sound Athletics had a hard time defending their men.

Players were getting frustrated at some of the calls that were being called and some of the calls that were not being called and they were getting chippy at times.

At the end of the third quarter the score was Pat Madison 90 and Fundamentally Sound Athletics 67.

Walley James Ellenson who played for Fundamentally Sounds Athletics in this game played well He was all over the floor and was able to get his shot going late in the game.

Pat Madison was too much for Fundamentally Sound Athletics to handle. In the end Pat Madison came away with the 113-96.

The leading scorers for Fundamentally Sound Athletics were Joe Coleman with 34 points and Rodney Williams with 26 points.

The leading scorers for Pat Madison were Kwadzo Ahelegbe with 22 points, Ike Udanon with 18 points, Alex Thompson with 16 points and Wally Ellenson with 15 points.

ERROL CARLSTROM PLAYAZ TOOK ON HIGH PERFORMANCE ACADEMY IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY SUMMER LEAGUE

The Errol Carlstrom Playaz went up against the High Performance Academy the Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League. 

The game got off to a quick start as each team traded baskets.  

Tyus Robert Jones ran the High Performance Academy offense. He was able to run the offense and get everyone involved in the plays. Jones had very good court awareness and he knew where everyone was supposed to be on the floor. 

Errol Carlstrom Playaz went to a zone defense because they had a hard time guarding High Performance Academy. 

Cameron Rundles did a good job of guarding Jones. Those two Jones and Rundles battled each other on both ends of the floor. They made it hard for the other guy to shoot the ball. 

At the end of the first quarter the score was High Performance Academy 27 and Errol Carlstrom Playaz 23.

Errol Carlstrom Playaz swung the ball around the three-point line until everyone was in place and then they ran their offense. 

The score remand close throughout the second quarter. Neither team went on a run. 

Jones was able to make some nice lay-ups in the second quarter. If Jones didn't think that he had a good shot he would pass it to one of his teammates so they could make a good shot.  

At halftime the score was Errol Carlstrom Playaz 48 and High Performance Academy 44. 

As the third quarter got underway both teams came out on fire. They were jacking up shots from everywhere on the floor.  

The game was close and hard fought throughout the third quarter. Neither team went on a run. 

Quinton Lee Hooker came up with some nice moves as he and Jones had good chemistry when they were both on the floor at the same time.  They knew where they were on the floor at the same time.

Jefferson Mason came up with some good plays around the basket as he used his length to his advantage as he was taller then everyone so he was able to come up with the rebounds.

At the end of the third quarter the score was High Performance Academy 74 and Errol Carlstrom Playaz 76.

Renard Suggs played hard on both ends of the floor. He took the ball hard to the basket and on the defensive end was able to slow down his man.  

The game came down to the wire as each team traded baskets late in the contest.  

Suggs was able to shoot the ball from anywhere he wanted to on the floor. The other team had a hard time finding him and slowing him down.

Both teams dove on the floor after loose balls and both went after rebounds on both ends. Neither team gave up easy shots. 

The game was played with high intensity and emotion all throughout the game. 

Errol Carlstrom Playaz came away with the 95-94 victory. 

The leading scorers for Errol Carlstrom Playaz were Cameron Rundles with 25 points, Mitch Ohnsted with 18 points and Jefferson Mason with 15 points.  

The leading scorers for High Performance Center were Tyus Robert Jones with 18 points, Jamal Davis and Jake Wright each with 14 points and Renard Suggs with 11 points.  

EL-AMIN FISH HOUSE WENT UP AGAINST THE INFORMATION INVESTORS IN THE HOWARD PULLEY PRO CITY LEAGUE

El-Amin Fish House went up against Information Investors Group in the Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League.

The game got out to a quick start as each team traded baskets back and forth. Kaalid El-Amin for Fish House came off the bench and gave his team an emotional lift.

The pace of the game slowed down as the quarter went on. After each team figured out what the other team was doing both teams seemed to play relaxed.

Both teams took their time on the offensive end used a lot of time off of the shot clock to get the shots that they wanted to get.

At the end of the first quarter the score was El Amin Fish House 22 and Information Investors 20.

As the second quarter got underway both teams seemed to be relaxed on the floor. Information Investors started out the second quarter at a slow pace. They were not able to hit shots from within the three-point range. They were able to keep shooting though.

Both teams went at each other throughout the second quarter.

The score was tied at 43.


As the third quarter got underway both teams traded baskets to start the quarter El-Amin Fish House was able to string some baskets together and get a 56-49 lead with 6:30 left in the third quarter.


El-Amin Fish House didn't give up easy baskets. They made Information Investors work hard for every shot that they put up.

Khalid El-Amin did a good job of getting his team involved in the offense. He took his time with the ball and passed the ball around the three-point line to make sure that his guys were set up. He was able to get the ball to Kevin Thompson and Thompson did a good job of making sure he had a good shot before he took it.

El-Amin Fish House went on a run late in the third quarter. Information Investors had a difficult time hitting shots that they put up.

At the end of the third quarter the score was El-Amin Fish House 78 and Information Investors 60.


El-Amin Fish House continued to pour in jump shots and rebounds in the fourth quarter. Joe Coleman who plays basketball at the University of Minnesota came up with some nice slam dunks that kept the crowd into the game.

In a game that got out of hand in the third quarter. El-Amin Fish House came away with the 113-96 victory over the Information Investors.

The leading scorers for Information Investors were Anthony Tuckman with 30 points and Al Richter with 18 points.


The leading scorers for El-Amin Fish House were Kevin Thompson with 34 points, Bruce Price with 29 points and Dan Coleman with 24 points.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Joseph signs overseas contract

According to Matt Prehm: "Former Oregon shooting guard Devoe Joseph has signed a pro basketball contract with Ukranian superleague club Khimik-OPZ Yunzy Friday. 

Joseph played in the NBA's summer league last week with the Toronto Raptors but has decided to skip trying to land a camp roster spot and play overseas. 

In five games in Las Vegas Joseph averaged 7.6 points per game in 16 minutes off the bench. He shot 52-percent from the field and 50-percent from three. 

Joseph scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-of-2 from three in his first game in the Las Vegas Summer League. 

At Oregon Joseph averaged 16.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in 35 minutes a game. His one season at Oregon Joseph was named a first-team Pac-12 member in 2012." 

Watch Olympics Coverage at the Lake Harriet Band Shell

According to the Minneapolis Park Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Xfinity are teaming up to present KARE 11’s coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games at the iconic Lake Harriet Band Shell. Coverage will run six nights per week from July 28 through Aug. 11. The band shell is located at 4135 Lake Harriet Parkway. 

Olympics coverage will air from 9:30 to 11 p.m. each evening at the band shell, immediately following the renowned Music in the Parks series, and will be televised on a 25’ x 13’ jumbo screen. Cheer on your favorite athletes as they go for gold in London! Pack a late night snack or come down early and grab a treat from Bread & Pickle restaurant. It’s a fun-filled evening of great music and action-packed Olympics excitement for the entire family!

For more details, visit www.mplsmusicandmovies.com.

3 Browerville High athletes charged in sexual assaults - Minneapolis News and Weather KMSP FOX 9

According to KMSP FOX 9, " A lengthy series of criminal charges were filed Thursday against two former Browerville High School athletes and one senior accused in the alleged sexual assaults of multiple teammates.

Seth Joseph Kellen, 18, faces 20 separate criminal counts ranging from sexual penetration and groping to lewd conduct and exposure.

Connor Steven Burns, 18, is charged with six criminal counts. Some stem from aiding Kellen in the alleged sexual assault of a teammate, and others accuse Burns of partaking in the criminal behavior. 

The senior, who is not being identified because he is still a minor, is also facing six charges".

Thursday, July 26, 2012

KHALID EL-AMIN HAS SIGNED WITH LE MANS BASKETBALL TEAM


According to Eurobasket.com Khalid El-Amin has signed with Le Means basketball team. “Le Mans announced signing of experienced point guard Khalid El-Amin (178-G-79, college: Connecticut) for 2012/13. The American led Cibona Zagreb to Croatian league title last season. He joined them in December averaging 8.6 points, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds for 20 games in domestic championship. The player also added 5.3 ppg, 2.8 apg and 1.8 rpg for 12 games in Adriatic league. Khalid El-Amin played for Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in 2010/11 season. He had 12.1 ppg, 3.3 apg and 1.9 rpg for 15 Eurolague games with them. Before Rytas, El-Amin played for Budivelnyk Kyiv, Turk Telekom and Azovmash. In 2008, he won the Turkish Cup with Turk Telekom and was named MVP of the final tournament. In 2007 and 2010 Khalid El-Amin was Eurobasket.com All-Ukrainian Superleague Player of the Year. In 2004 and 2005 he was Eurobasket.com All-Turkish League Player of the Year. He played for Besiktas at that time. El-Amin won two Ukrainian league titles and two Cup trophies in his career. The player spent some time with SIG Strasbourg back in 2001/02 season.”

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

TUBBY'S DEAL WILL BE A BOOST TO RECRUITING

According to Amelia Rayno from the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "The extension should help reassure potential players of the coach's intent to remain at the U.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith got his wish, but he didn't get a raise.

Smith said Tuesday that his contract extension will keep his pay the same: $1.75 million a year in base salary plus supplemental compensation throughout the life of the new deal, which added three years to the two remaining on his previous contract, keeping him with the Gophers through the 2016-17 season. Other terms of the contract, including his buyout, are yet unknown because they haven't been released by the university.

Regardless, the extension was near the top of Smith's wish list.

"It's just one less thing people can use against you. You know, that's what happens in recruiting," Smith said. "I can genuinely say, 'Look fellas, I'm here.' For kids we sign this year or next year, I'll be here. Nobody knows whether you'll be here for certain or not because a lot of things can happen. But you expect to be here because you have a contract extension."

Smith declined to get into the specifics of what held up the extension -- which had been anticipated for more than a year -- but noted that administration changes have played a role. Athletic director Norwood Teague had been in his new job only a month when the extension was announced Monday, showing a clear sign of commitment, for now, on the part of the new regime.

"We've had our issues as far as winning or losing, so we haven't reached our potential, we just haven't done it," Smith said. "An extension is just another weapon we have in our arsenal to recruit."

A new deal now becomes one less thing to worry about going into a season filled with expectations. A young Gophers team found its stride at the end of last season using a guard-heavy offense, reached the NIT championship game and finished the season 23-15. Also returning to that lineup will be big men Trevor Mbakwe, who is still rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in November, and Mo Walker, who is returning from right knee surgery and a broken left foot.

Smith said Walker, a 6-10, 289-pound redshirt sophomore, broke a bone in his left foot in the final practice of last season. The day before the NIT final against Stanford, the Gophers were doing a walk-through, when Walker took a soft lob near the basket and came down hard on Elliott Eliason's foot.

Walker had surgery on the foot in May and has rehabbed completely, Smith said. Walker's right knee -- on which he had reconstructive surgery after the 2010-11 season -- is also completely healed and the big man is running and playing to full contact, Smith said.

"He's going to be a real key for us because he's very talented," Smith said of Walker. "If we can just get him healthy, now we do have the size and the bulk that we have. We like the way Elliott plays. We like the way Andre Ingram is healthy. We've got Oto [Osenieks] back. So we've got some size and some beef that we planned to have."

Mbakwe has not practiced yet, but his recovery is on schedule, according to his doctors and trainers, Smith said.

"They say he's doing well and he's right where they want him to be," Smith said. When asked whether Mbakwe would be ready to start at the beginning of the season, Smith said: "I would think so."

Still, Smith emphasized that Mbakwe is a bonus -- after the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility in March and the 6-8 forward announced about one month later he would return to the Gophers -- and not someone the team was relying on for success. Mbakwe averaged 14 points and 9.1 rebounds in seven games before his injury.

"Obviously, Trevor has been with us for two years, and we had one of the worst seasons we've ever had his junior year," Smith said. "Even though he led the league in rebounding, it was still a tough, tough year for us as a team. ... He'll certainly add some depth to our program but we weren't expecting Trevor back anyway, he was a senior last year. So we recruited as if he wasn't going to be here this year to start with. So we feel comfortable and excited about the guys we have returning."

Smith also said he and Teague have continued to discuss the possibility of a new practice facility, something long desired by the Gophers coach. Right now, it's only conversation.

"He knows that's something we need," Smith said. "And [they] did it at VCU, so he understands how important that is."

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

TUBBY SMITH AGREES TO CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH THE 2016-2017 BASKETBALL SEASON

The following is from a media release from the University of Minnesota regarding the signing of Tubby Smith's contract extension.

"University of Minnesota director of athletics Norwood Teague announced today that head men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith has agreed to terms on a contract extension through the 2016-17 season.

“I am pleased to announce that Coach Smith and Gopher Athletics have agreed on a contract extension,” Teague said. “Tubby took over our program at a difficult time and quickly got it headed back in the right direction, both athletically and academically. Since then, Gopher basketball has continued to make strides under his leadership with four postseason appearances, including last year’s exciting run to the NIT tile game. I look forward to working with Coach Smith into the future to help lift Gopher basketball to even greater heights.”

Smith and the Gophers are coming off of a 23-win season and an appearance in the 2012 NIT Championship game.  The 23 wins are the most at Minnesota since the 1989-90 team also won 23 games.

“We are excited about the extension and know that the University of Minnesota is the right place for us,” said Smith. “I believe that we can get the job done here. The commitment from the university is there to continue to grow the program and I am looking forward to being a part of that. I appreciate the faith that Norwood Teague and President Kaler have in our staff and what we are trying to accomplish here. I am focused on reaching our full potential as a program. That is why we came here five years ago and it is still our goal.”

Smith, who has led Minnesota to two NCAA berths and two NIT appearances his five seasons, will enter the 2012-13 season with a record of 103-68 and currently sits with the fourth-highest winning percentage in program history. His 103 victories are the most in the first five years of a coaching tenure in school history. He won his 100th game in Gold Country against La Salle in the opening round of the NIT to become one of only eight coaches in Minnesota history to amass 100 wins.

Smith’s overall record in 21 seasons as a head men’s basketball coach is 490-213."

H.S. Hoops Star Lofton Hopes To Keep Rising « CBS Minnesota

According to Mike Max of WCCO  Zach Lofton is a basketball talent – he just needs to get on track since leaving Columbia Heights High School in 2011.

He now has a plan, and he also has game.

“I need to do a little bit of everything,” he said. “I don’t think I do anything great, but I do some things OK.”

Lofton’s had a stop at a prep school in Iowa, and spent this summer in the Howard Pulley League here in the metro area.

He’s trying to jump start his career that was filled with so much potential. Next stop? A high profile junior college in Houston, Texas.

“I could have gone Division-I,” Lofton said. “There were a lot of opportunities, but I thought I’d be better going off to a junior college for a year, and see if I get some major offers.”
 
It would be a shame if Lofton didn’t take his talent somewhere. Talent like his doesn’t come around often.

“If I do well at the universities; if pro scouts come, they come,” he said. “If overseas scouts come, they come.”

Says coach Antwan Harris, “The sky is the limit for this kid. He’s a tremendous talent.

Check out the report below for more on Zach Lofton.


MN B-Ball Player Returns From Overseas Action To Hone Skills « CBS Minnesota

According to Mike Max from WCCO The annual Howard Pulley Summer basketball league is a time to catch up with local products who have gone on to play somewhere. 

Mike Max caught up with one playing overseas and hoping to climb the basketball ladder: Kwadzo Ahelegbe.

Monday, July 23, 2012

NCAA FINES PENN STATE UNIVERSITY $60 MILLION

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Penn State football was all but leveled Monday by an NCAA ruling that wiped away 14 years of coach Joe Paterno's victories and imposed a mountain of fines and penalties, crippling a program whose pedophile assistant coach spent uncounted years molesting children, sometimes on university property.

The sanctions by the governing body of college sports, which capped eight months of turmoil on the central Pennsylvania campus, stopped short of delivering the "death penalty" of shutting down the sport. But the NCAA hit Penn State with $60 million in fines, ordered it out of the postseason for four years, and will cap scholarships at 20 below the normal limit for four years. The school also will be on probation for five years.

Any current or incoming football players are free to immediately transfer and compete at another school.
"Football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting young people," NCAA President Mark Emmert said as he announced the penalties at a news conference in Indianapolis.

The sanctions all stem from the case of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted last month of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years. An investigation commissioned by the school and released July 12 found that Paterno, who died in January, and several other top officials at Penn State stayed quiet about accusations against Sandusky in 1998 and 2001.

The NCAA ruling holds the entire school community accountable for failing to protect children.

"Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement. "With today's announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward."

The Big Ten announced that Penn State would not be allowed to share in the conference's bowl revenue during the NCAA's postseason ban, an estimated loss of about $13 million. And the NCAA reserved the right to add additional penalties.

Emmert fast-tracked penalties rather than go through the usual circuitous series of investigations and hearings. The NCAA said the $60 million is equivalent to the annual gross revenue of the football program. The money must be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at Penn State.

"The sanctions needed to reflect our goals of providing cultural change," Emmert said.

By vacating 112 Penn State victories from 1998-2011, the sanctions cost Paterno 111 wins. Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden will now hold the top spot in the NCAA record book with 377 major-college wins. Paterno, who was fired days after Sandusky was charged, will be credited with 298 wins.

The scholarship reductions mean Penn State's roster will be capped at 65 scholarship players beginning in 2014. The normal scholarship limit for major college football programs is 85. Playing with 20 less is devastating to a program that tries to compete at the highest level of the sport.

In comparison, the harsh NCAA sanctions placed upon USC several years ago left the Trojans with only 75 scholarships per year over a three-year period.

The postseason ban is the longest handed out by the NCAA since it gave a four-year ban to Indiana football in 1960.

Bill O'Brien, who was hired to replace Paterno, now faces the daunting task of building future teams with severe limitations, and trying to keep current players from fleeing to other schools. Star players such as tailback Silas Redd and linebacker Gerald Hodges are now essentially free agents.

"I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead," O'Brien said. "But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes."

Players left a team meeting on campus in State College, Pa., without talking to reporters. Penn State's season starts Sept. 1 at home against Ohio University.

The sanctions came a day after the school took down the statue of Paterno that stood outside Beaver Stadium and was a rallying point for the coaches' supporters throughout the scandal.

At a student union on campus, several dozen alumni and students gasped, groaned and whistled as they watched Emmert's news conference.

"It was kind of just like a head shaker," said Matt Bray, an 18-year-old freshman from West Chester, Pa. "You knew it was coming, but it was hard to hear."

Emmert had earlier said he had "never seen anything as egregious" as the horrific crimes of Sandusky and the cover-up by Paterno and others at the university, including former Penn State President Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley.

The Penn State investigation headed by former FBI Director Louis Freeh said school officials kept what they knew from police and other authorities for years, enabling the abuse to go on.

There had been calls across the nation for Penn State to receive the "death penalty," and Emmert had not ruled out that possibility as late as last week - though Penn State did not fit the criteria for it. That punishment is for teams that commit a major violation while already being sanctioned.

"This case is obviously incredibly unprecedented in every aspect of it," Emmert said, "as are these actions that we're taking today."

Penn State football under Paterno was built on - and thrived upon - the premise that it did things the right way. That it was not a football factory where only wins and losses determined success. Every major college football program tries to send that message, but Penn State built its brand on it.

Paterno's "Grand Experiment" was about winning with integrity, graduating players and sending men into the world ready to succeed in life, not just football. But he still won a lot - a record-setting 409 victories.

The NCAA had never sanctioned, or seriously investigated Penn State. Few, if any, national powers could make that claim.

Southern California, Ohio State, Alabama, all have run afoul of the NCAA. Even Notre Dame went on probation for two years after a booster lavished gifts on players in the 1990s.
 
The harshest penalty handed down to a football program came in the `80s, when the NCAA shut down SMU's team for a year. SMU football has never gotten back to the level of success it had before the "death penalty.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/07/23/penn-state-sanctions.ap/index.html#ixzz21SnQRPvS

NCAA Hands out severe punishment for Penn State

Sunday, July 22, 2012

NCAA to levy harsh sanctions against Penn St. – USATODAY.com

 According to Eric Prisbell, of the USA TODAY:

The NCAA appears poised to levy harsh sanctions against Penn State on Monday, when it plans to formally address a case unlike any it has dealt with in its history.

Check out the link below for the full report.

Friday, July 20, 2012

TYUS ROBERT JONES PICKS UP KENTUCKY OFFER

“According to Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com, John Calipari offered 2014 point guard Tyus Jones. Jones is a 6'2 175 lbs. prospect from Apple Valley High School in Minnesota. He is ranked the 3rd best player in the 2014 class by ESPN.com and the best point guard in his class by Scout.com. He has offers from Duke, Minnesota, Arizona, Michigan State, Ohio State, Baylor and several other schools. He recently helped win the gold medal for the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team.

At the Nike Peach Jam event he told Zagoria about his Kentucky offer, "Oh, yeah, most definitely I’m considering them,” he added. “They got a great system. Coach Calipari’s a phenomenal coach. He’s always had great point guards and he knows how to coach point guards so that’s definitely a positive.”

For the complete article from Zagsblog.com go check out his thoughts. 

ESPN says of the highly recruited point guard, "Tyus is an extremely mature and poised basketball player. He has the unique ability to make the players around him better."

STEVEN'S SPORTS REPORT TO COVER THE MINNESOTA PUMP N RUN BEST BUY SUMMER CLASSIC

Steven's Sports Report will be covering the 2012 Minnesota Pump N Run Best Buy Summer Classic in Bloomington the weekend of July 19-22, 2012.

Games will take place at Bloomington Jefferson and Bloomington Kennedy High Schools.

Here are the links to the 15U, 16U and the17 U schedules.

Bloomington Jefferson is located at
4001 West 102nd Street, Bloomington, MN 55437

Bloomington Kennedy is located at
9701 Nicollet Ave S Bloomington, MN 55420

Tournament headquarters will be located at Bloomington Jefferson High School.

THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES COME UP SHORT AGAINST THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

According to Mark Remme Wolves Editor/Writer for Timberwolves.com, “Two main components factored into the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 81-78 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday: The Bobcats pressed all night, and Byron Mullens hardly missed.

Mullens scored 33 points on 13-of-24 shooting, stretching the floor with his 3-point game (he was 3-of-5 from beyond the arc) while connecting with equal efficiency in the paint. He tacked on eight rebounds, three on the offensive end, and gave Minnesota fits all night with his play.

He was a big part of Charlotte’s 36-26 points in the paint advantage.

“He can really shoot it, use his left or his right hand, really athletic,” Wolves forward Derrick Williams said. “We’re not too big on the inside there, but at the same time he had a great game.”

Both teams struggled to control the tempo all night. Minnesota alone committed 22 turnovers that led to 25 Bobcats points. But while Charlotte made their runs, the Wolves continued to respond. When Charlotte opened up a 10-point lead in the second, Minnesota went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 33-30. When the Bobcats extended the lead back to 10 in the fourth, Minnesota responded again and, with 30 seconds left, cut the lead to 77-76.

That fourth quarter burst had a lot to do with guard/forward Wes Johnson, who exploded for 14 points in the frame and finished the game with 24 overall. He got hot, nailing shots from the perimeter and also penetrating to the basket, keeping the Wolves within striking distance down the stretch.

“I got in a groove,” Johnson said. “I think I was in a little bit of a rush at the beginning of the game, so I just had to slow down and let the game come to me. In the fourth quarter I guess I started heating up.”

But Charlotte hit its free throws down the stretch, led by a pair by Kemba Walker with 20.7 left. Minnesota got one last look, a 3-pointer by Johnson that rimmed out, and the Bobcats iced the game at the line.

Williams had 17 points and seven rebounds on the night, Zabian Dowdell had 11 points and Paulo Prestes had 10 for the Wolves. Other notables off Minnesota’s bench were Robbie Hummel with six points and Corey Fisher and Coby Karl with three apiece.

For the Bobcats, Mullens led the way with 33 points and Walker added 15 of his own. Othello Hunter had 12 points off the bench.

Built Ford Tough Leader of the Pack

Wes Johnson had a breakout game on Tuesday against the Bobcats, pouring in 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He finished off the game with 14 points in the fourth quarter—connecting on 6-of-10 shots including a string of four in a row down the stretch that helped keep the Wolves close. Charlotte tried to pull away late and held a 10-point lead midway through the fourth, but Johnson’s collection of drives to the hoop and perimeter shooting kept the Wolves within striking distance, including a 3-pointer with less than a minute left that brought Minnesota within one at 77-76.

Highlight of the Game

With the Wolves down by two early in the third quarter, guard Zabian Dowdell lobbed a pass to Derrick Williams who was mid-air near the basket. Williams tried to lay the ball in, only to watch it rim out. But center Paulo Prestes, collecting one of his four offensive rebounds on the night, was there for the put-back lay-up that tied the game at 37-37. Prestes has 15 rebounds in his two Summer League games, eight of which have come on the offensive end. He finished with 10 points and seven boards on the night.

The Numbers Game

It was not a pretty game for either team when it comes to controlling the basketball or keeping the opposition off the line. The Timberwolves (22) and Bobcats (18) combined for 40 turnovers in the game, and Charlotte capitalized on Minnesota’s miscues to the tune of 25 points off turnovers. Additionally, the teams committed a combined 54 fouls (Wolves 28, Bobcats 26) on the night. The main beneficiaries of those Bobcats fouls were Derrick Williams and Wes Johnson. Williams was 7-of-12 from the line, while Johnson was a perfect 5-for-5 from the stripe.

Wolves Summer League coach Shawn Respert said many of those miscues have to do with the team needing to be composed while the Bobcats rolled out its full-court press.

“I think our guys just have to understand that when they have one turnover, and all teams are going to have bad plays, try not to stack it on top of each other,” Respert said. “We have one, try not to have two or three consecutive bad plays. I thought we did a good job of limiting the times we had 2-3 bad possessions in a row. We had a few times and they made their runs, but we answered back by chipping away with small plays.”

Quote of the Night

This is the Wesley Johnson we wanted to see consistently last year. The thing about this summer is he has to play through mistakes, not put pressure on himself to play spectacularly flawless games. His game is going to have some mistakes because of some of the skill sets he has to continue to improve on. But we liked that he’s being aggressive. He’s been aggressive all Summer League, and we want him to continue to be aggressive and take the ball to the basket. And when he has the chance to take his time on those perimeter shots, we want him to take them and feel confident taking them.” --Wolves Summer League coach Shawn Respert

Next Up

The Timberwolves have their first off day of the Summer League schedule on Wednesday before returning to the court on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. Cleveland has played before Minnesota each of the past two nights, beating the NBA D-League Select squad on Monday and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.”

EDNIA'S REGINALD JOSEPH LYNCH IS GETTING NOTICED FROM COLLEGE BASKETBALL PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY

Edina’s basketball forward Reginald Joseph Lynch has been getting a lot of attention this summer on the AAU recruiting waters. According to Rivals.com Lynch has picked up basketball scholarship offers from La Salle and Northwestern. Some other schools that have shown interest in Lynch are Albany, Cent. Michigan, Creighton, Fordham, Holy Cross, La Salle, Lehigh, Northeastern, Washington St.,Yale .

Lynch is expected to receive more offers as the summer goes on and into next season.

Lynch will graduate from Edina in June of 2013. 

HOWARD PULLEY COMES UP SHORT IN THE SECOND GAME OF THE PEACH JAM

The Howard Pulley Panthers came up short against the Characteristics Inspiring Achievement (CIA) Bounce out of Canada. CIA Bounce came away with the 83-69 over Howard Pulley.

CIA Bounce was lead in scoring by Andrew Wiggins with 22 points, Xavier Rathan-Mayes with 17 points and Tyler Ennis with 13 Points.

Over all CIA Bounce shot 30-73 from the field that included going 9-24 from behind the three-point line. They shot 14-17 from the free throw line. CIA Bounce brought down a total of 43 rebounds 24 of them on the defensive end.

Howard Pulley was lead in scoring by Tyus Robert Jones with 30 points, Anders Broman with 17 points and Jake Wright with 12 points. As a team Pulley shot 23-53 from the field that included going 10-24 from behind the three-point line. Pulley was 13-16 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 34 rebounds 26 of them on them on the defensive end. 

THE HOWARD PULLEY PANTHERS BEAT MAC IRVIN FIRE IN THE PEACH JAM

The Howard Pulley Panthers are playing in the Peach Jam in Augusta SC. In Pulley's first game they came away an 84-69 victory over Mac Irvin Fire.

The leading scorers for Howard Pulley were Anders Broman with 20 points, Jake Wright with 18 points, Tyus Robert Jones with 15 points and Quinton Lee Hooker with 14 points.

Jones was 4-6 from the field that included going 1-2 from behind the three-point line. He was 6-6 from the free throw line. Jones had 5 assists and 4 turnovers.

Overall Pulley shot 24-48 from the field that included going 13-30 from behind the three-point line. Pulley was 23-25 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 27 rebounds 22 of them on the defensive end.

Mac Irvin Fire was lead in scoring by Kyle Davis with 20 points. As a team Mac Irvin Fire shot 29-68 from the field that included going 3-21 from behind the three-point line. The old adage holds true in this game, “live by the three or die by the three”. They were 8-17 from the free throw line. Fire brought down 44 rebounds including 20 on the defensive end.

Howard Pulley has played 19 games as of Jun 06, 2012. They had a record of 11-9 overall.

As of June 06, 2012 Tyus Robert Jones played in 14 games and has averaged 18.0 points per game. 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Release: Mayor Coleman applauds Council action adopting budget for Lowertown ballpark

SAINT PAUL – The City Council today unanimously adopted a formal budget for a Lowertown Regional Ballpark. Last week, Saint Paul applied for $27 million from the fund allocated to DEED in the 2012 bonding bill, the same amount Governor Dayton recommended in his original bonding bill proposal.

“With today’s council action, we are nearing the final step in building what will become a centerpiece in our community,” Mayor Chris Coleman said. “This ballpark will bring thousands of visitors to downtown yearly, will add millions of dollars to our local economy, will create hundreds of jobs, and will support youth sporting leagues from across Minnesota. Rarely do we come across a project that combines economy, community and jobs so seamlessly.”

Check out the link below for more information. 


Gophers' McDonald takes a circuitous route home

Article by: PHIL MILLER , Star Tribune

Staying put and playing for the Gophers became the best decision for former Hopkins star Andre McDonald. With the help of others, he had already overcome so much to lay down roots.

Andre McDonald vividly remembers the day it began to sink in that Minnesota, and the Gophers football team, might be the best home for him. How could he forget? It was the day he told Jerry Kill that he planned to play somewhere else.

The Hopkins wide receiver, considered by many to be the best raw football talent in the state, committed to Kill 16 months before he graduated high school. But four months later, he called back to say he preferred Vanderbilt.

"It was hard. I didn't know what to say. I don't like disappointing people," McDonald said. And how did Kill and his staff react? "They stayed in contact, kept calling, not to say, 'Oh, we've got to have you back,' but just to talk," he said. "They told me ... that no matter where I went, they just wanted me to be a good person, a young man and a student first, and a football player later."

Eight months later, McDonald signed a letter of intent not with the Commodores but with the Gophers -- and is one of the jewels of Kill's 2012 recruiting class.

"Give the kid credit," said Kill's offensive coordinator, Matt Limegrover. "When it came down to it, it was simple. This is his home."

McDonald can be forgiven for needing some time to figure that out. See, it's not the first time he has had to search for a home.

Jenny Blomgren was a single mother at 28 back in 2009, working two jobs -- as a mortgage broker and owner of a cleaning service -- to support herself and her son Tyrell, then 11. One night, the mother of one of Tyrell's basketball teammates invited her out to dinner, but Blomgren didn't have a babysitter. That's OK, the friend said; I know a great kid who can watch them both.

The sitter was McDonald, and he connected with Tyrell immediately. Blomgren hired him a couple more times, then noticed McDonald, despite being four years older, was there every weekend, playing hoops, throwing the football, and staying for dinner. And one Friday night, Blomgren received a phone call from the teenager, who was clearly upset.

"He said his mom had kicked him out of the house, and he asked if he could stay at our house," Blomgren said. "I said OK, that's fine, but I need to talk to your mom. ... She said she didn't care. So he came to the house. And he never left."

• • •

Blomgren never meant to unofficially adopt a second son, and feared she wasn't ready to parent a teenager.

But she quickly realized she didn't have much choice; McDonald needed her. He needed support, discipline and love.

"I never got any of that at home," said McDonald, who lived with his mom and stepfather. "I had a mom that had her own troubles, too much to pay attention to me."

McDonald said he still experiences a strong, instinctive response to being yelled at, a product of being constantly berated. He also dealt with other forms of abuse, he said -- including simple neglect.

Blomgren cared. She just wasn't sure what she was getting into. As it became clear her house guest's stay would last longer than a few days, Blomgren discovered McDonald's troubled home life had manifested itself in several ways. He is unusually serious for a teenager, and not especially comfortable teasing and being teased by friends. He is also particularly eager to please, which made recruiting a burden because saying "no" to a coach was excruciating.

"Sometimes in recruiting, you almost have to be rude, because some of these recruiters are pretty pushy," Hopkins football coach John DenHartog said. "And being rude, that's just not Andre."

Being a good student wasn't Andre either, at the time. One year into high school, McDonald's grade-point average was below 1.0, he was already falling several credits behind a graduation track. Though McDonald was one of the most athletically gifted freshmen in the metro area, his future was far from certain.

Soon after McDonald moved into her house, Blomgren went to DenHartog for advice. "The first thing he said to me was, 'Andre has the potential to go all the way,'" Blomgren said, meaning graduate, play college football, even earn a scholarship, " 'but he's never going to make it.' "

Blomgren insisted upon changes. "I said, 'All right, if you're going to stay here, we're going to make sure you graduate. I don't care about football, but we're going to make you a good student,'" said Blomgren, who drove both boys to and from their schools every day. By his junior year, McDonald was bringing home report cards with nothing but A's and B's.

And he was still bringing them to Blomgren's house, an informal arrangement that essentially became permanent eight months after he left home, when McDonald's mother called him to say she was moving to Atlanta that afternoon. When he texted that information to Blomgren, she became frantic, because she had no legal standing as the teenager's guardian. The next day, officials at Hopkins arranged a conference call, with counselors and teachers gathered as witnesses, in which McDonald's mother verbally gave her consent for Blomgren to make decisions regarding his schooling, health care and other situations.

Just like that, Blomgren's two-person family was a trio.

"That's when I realized, well, I guess I'm keeping him. But by that point, I loved him like he was my own child. He's Tyrell's brother, in my eyes," Blomgren said.

"I'm really happy with how things are," said McDonald, whose mother and biological father are both in the Twin Cities now but remain on the fringes of his life. "This is what I've always wanted -- someone to be there when I do good things and correct me when I don't. It's nice to have somebody who cares."

• • •

Actually, plenty of people care when you can play football like McDonald.

He is tall and fast, and DenHartog says he is unusually nimble. Though few defensive backs could cover him downfield, the Royals frequently ran a jailbreak screen play for their all-state wideout, allowing him to pick his way upfield behind a phalanx of blockers. "A 6-3 kid, that's not a kid you typically throw a screen pass to," DenHartog said, "but he's got scat-guy moves."

McDonald scored 39 touchdowns during his Hopkins career, and recruiters flocked; every school in the Big Ten, and several more around the country, at least contacted McDonald -- which isn't as much fun as it sounds. "It wasn't what I expected at all, actually," McDonald said. "It was a lot of stress. I thought I could handle it myself, but I really couldn't."

Some recruiters, too, backed away over concerns about McDonald's overall grades -- and the perception that he showboated too much after big plays.

When Kill hired Limegrover a few days after being hired himself, the coordinator sat down to evaluate tapes of potential local recruits. McDonald's was the first one he watched.

"I just loved him on film. He's got the potential to be special," Limegrover said of McDonald, who could play as a true freshman for the Gophers, a team in need of playmaking wide receivers. "But as we dug into his story, what was neat was, Andre was a kid who at first just slid by doing the bare minimum. But at some point, a light bulb went on and finally he realized -- and Jenny had a lot to do with this -- that he was going to squander it all if he doesn't get himself turned around."

Kill was impressed that, rather than decline to run a 40-yard dash for coaches, as highly rated recruits sometimes do, McDonald ran it repeatedly, "just trying to beat his time." McDonald was impressed with Kill and his staff, too, and said yes right away. But then he visited Iowa and then Vanderbilt, and wanted to commit to both. Finally, he chose Vandy, deciding that he felt comfortable in Nashville. But when his primary recruiter, Chris Beatty, accepted a job at Illinois, McDonald backed away.

As he reconsidered, he realized the Gophers staff had never given up on him. Blomgren and DenHartog allowed McDonald to make up his own mind but quietly hoped he would choose Minnesota. "He needs structure in his life. He needs to be held accountable. Look at what a big difference it's made in his life already -- I don't think I've ever seen a kid come this far, and I've been teaching for 21 years," DenHartog said. "Coach Kill and his coaches, they're exactly what he needs."

It took a while, but McDonald eventually reached the same conclusion. A week before National Signing Day, the Hopkins star told Kill he was coming to Minnesota, and made a promise to himself: "I don't want to fumble the ball, not one time," he said.

He feels like he didn't fumble his most important decision.

"I didn't always have a stable support system. It's something I crave. I need it," he said. "I'll get it with Coach Kill."

That's Kill's thinking, too. "Jenny's done a tremendous job with Andre. She's passing him to us, and now we go to work to help the young man be successful," Kill said. "You know, football has saved a lot of people's lives."