Archive for February, 2009

Upon further review, Billy Knight wasn’t that bad. He actually was pretty good. The Hawks are using several of those “long and athletic” players that he acquired as general manager to soar higher than they have in more than a decade.

It sounds like somebody deserves an apology. Either that, or a hug and maybe a whispered, “Thank you.”

Knight paused over the phone from his Atlanta-area home before saying, “Well, I’m not really getting into talking about the team and things of that nature. You guys can write it however you want to, but I’m not commenting on the team or the players I put in place or anything like that.”

Then Knight said after a longer pause, “I’m just choosing not to say anything at all about it.”

So I will. Knight was better than we thought during his five years with the Hawks, but with an asterisk.

There was his aversion for the longest time to gifted point guards (Did he really pass on Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the draft?). He also urged Hawks ownership …

Continue reading Silent Knight on Hawks progress »

When Asher Allen announced he was skipping his senior season at Georgia with thoughts of becoming a top pick at defensive back in the April NFL draft, folks rolled their eyes. He spent much of last season playing with a broken hand. His junior season was inferior to his previous one, including zero interceptions.

Then along came Allen’s time on Tuesday in Indianapolis during the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

Not good. “I ran a 4.47. That’s the time the NFL Network gave me, and, wow. That’s the slowest I’ve ever run in my life” said Allen, a former Tucker High School star, who nevertheless is on the verge of something good. He also knows as much, which is why he added, “After seeing myself [at the combine] with these other guys, I feel a tad bit better, actually, with my decision to make this jump.”

In other words, this strikingly bright owner of charisma and politeness isn’t exactly agonizing over missing another crack at Florida next season. Trust me. Better yet, trust the …

Continue reading Allen prefers pros to Dogs »

  Well, I just finished reading this story by our Ken Sugiura on how those involved with the men’s swimming team at Georgia Tech have become the latest to make their sport an absolute joke these days.

  Have you heard? It’s not about the swimmer anymore. It’s about the suits they wear . . . or don’t wear.

  It’s about the Speedo LZR Racer suit that carried Michael Phelps to his Olympic fame this summer in Beijing. According to Ken’s story, 79 of the 108 world records broken in 2008 were reportedly set by swimmers wearing these suits.

  Hello! Two things here: High-tech suits such as the LZR Racer should be banned by the NCAA, especially since only a few schools can afford them in this tough economy at $550 a pop. Second, schools should do the right thing in the meantime and refuse to wear them.

  So much for daydreaming. According to Ken’s reporting, those involved with the Tech men’s team are so obsessed with wearing these suits/trying to win an ACC championship …

Continue reading Fancy (and expensive) swimwear? Disgusting »

It’s bad, and it’s getting worse for Georgia Tech basketball coach Paul Hewitt. Still, there is light in this darkness, and that light isn’t just named Derrick Favors. Much of that light involves the consistency of Hewitt, which is to say he hasn’t gone from skillful to numbskull when it comes to X’s and O’s and everything else.

We’ll start by getting the bleak stuff out of the way, but cover your eyes if you’re allergic to sloppiness.

With Hewitt’s Yellow Jackets dropping to 10-16 overall and 1-12 in the ACC on Sunday at home, you’d have thought there were orange paws along 10th Street leading to Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Nearly a third of the 8,339 in attendance were Clemson fans. They even did the unthinkable by infiltrating the Tech student sections with loud voices.

In the end, when Clemson surged to an 81-73 victory, the only thing missing was the Tech pep band playing “Tiger Rag.”

“You had to notice [all the Clemson fans], but it’s …

Continue reading Jackets still have hope with Hewitt »