Posts Tagged ‘Kobe Bryant’

One of the new buttons Coach Jerry Slocum has to press this year is named Blake Allen.  The Blake Allen button is versatile in the sense that it can start, come off the bench, shoot, score, pass, rebound, and play defense.  Just a sophomore, Allen has been turning heads as YSU’s most consistent scorer over the past couple of weeks.  He has a good attitude, is enjoying the college experience, and can hoop with the best of them.  Along with his roommates Devonte Maymon, DuShawn Brooks, and Tre Brewer, the future looks a little brighter than the past for Youngstown State fans.

Paneech: Last year this team was harder to watch.  With only three returning players, it is almost a whole new group.  You guys are, for the most part, competitive.  What’s the team feeling these days?

Allen: I think we gel as a team.  Guys genuinely like each other on and off of the court.  That has been a big part of this group and an important part of building the trust factor within this group.

Paneech: What factors have given you more minutes, and what have you done to maximize the opportunity?

Allen: I just tried to always work hard at practice and to take advantage of any opportunity that I was given.  I try to stay at the gym as much as possible.  It was difficult early on to adjust to the Division-I style, but I think I have come along and am playing as hard as I can trying to help the team win.

Paneech: Familiarize the Youngstown State fans with Blake Allen, tell everyone how you got here.

Allen: Out of high school, I went to a prep school in Virginia and last year I went to a community college in Oklahoma.  I am from Tampa, Florida.  (Laughs)  I’m still adjusting to this weather.  Virginia and Oklahoma were both colder than what I was use to, but it snows a little more out here.  I try to stay bundled up.

Paneech: You have had an array of coaches throughout your upbringing to get to this point.  Have you ever had one like Coach Slocum?

Allen: He is definitely a very good coach.  He has a very sophisticated offense that gets our guys as many shots and opportunities as possible.  The offense is very well set to make plays.  I have really enjoyed playing for him so far.  He definitely has a sense of humor, but when the game is going, he only cares about getting 40 solid minutes from the team.

Paneech: How do you like Youngstown the community, and Youngstown State the college?

Allen: I like the area and the people have treated me really well.  The school part is very challenging.  It is a lot to keep up with all of the schoolwork, especially during the season with practices, traveling, and distractions.  I think I have been able to adjust to that as well, I was satisfied with my first semester and hope I can maintain that over the time that I am here.  It gets tough, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I’m an accounting major.  I like numbers and my aunt is an accountant, so I’m interested.

Paneech: Who are you closest with and what do you guys do when you get some spare time?

Allen: I’m really close with all of my roommates – Devonte [Maymon], DB [DuShawn Brooks], and Tre [Brewer].  We hang out quite a bit, and I am pretty good friends with all three.

Paneech: What goes through your head when you hit the floor at North Carolina State?

Allen: That game was a memorable one for me because it was actually my first start.  I was a little bit nervous, but I just told myself to go out there and play as hard as I possibly can and to let everything that I have done for preparation up to that point take over.  It was definitely the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of.  I had thoughts like “wow” early in the game, but once you get out there and start playing, it’s just basketball and they are humans, just like we are.

Paneech: Do you have a favorite team or player?

Allen: I love the Los Angeles Lakers, I am a huge Kobe Bryant fan.  Being from Florida, I kind of grew up an Orlando Magic fan.  The whole Shaq and Penny thing was going on when I was a kid, but I switched over to LA.  I also watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and I watch tennis sometimes.

One Word Answers

Favorite TV Show: The Game.

Favorite Movie Ever: American Gangster.

Your Order At Taco Bell: Five crunchy tacos and a Baja Blast.

Favorite All-Time Football Player: Mike Alstott.

Favorite Drink: Hawaiian Punch.

Song On Your ipod That People Wouldn’t Think: My Gospel tracks.

What’s Worse, Doctor or Dentist? Dentist.

Favorite Cartoon Character: Scooby Doo.

Toppings On a Pizza: Pepperoni.

Name The Other Cast Members Besides Scooby: (laughs) Fred, Shaggy, Velma, and the other one…  Daffney I think?

If this YSU group that Slocum has assembled can stay together for the next few years, expect more wins and dare I say competing for championships.  Blake Allen has the mindset to be a key component in the development of a very young team and has some fire power around him to ride the wave of the ascent.

Everyone reading this knows who the guy in the middle is.  The other two guys are probably the best at what they do in Youngstown.  The man on the right is Dana Balash, WFMJ Sports.  Dana has been covering Youngstown area sports for a long time and people will not get sick of him because he has an obvious passion for what he is doing.  Balash is the go to guy for area sports.  Maybe I am biased because of his longevity, but to sit in a press conference when he is present is like going to school.  He asks the right questions. 

The gentleman on the left is Joe Scalzo, who I have stolen (and credited) information from concerning Kelly Pavlik on this website.  Scalzo recently ran in the Peace Race this past Sunday and finished 11th in his age bracket.  Sitting next to Scalzo at a few Scrappers games has been rewarding in many ways.  He is the most genuine person I have met in all media so far.  Joe has a firm grip on the boxing beat, but his true colors shine in Thursday editions of The Vindicator when he does his high school footbal rap.  Scalzo’s style is so genuine because he uses real life situations such as stories about his wife, personal texts he has received from a coach for not picking the local team to win, or just raving about a bands halftime performance from an obscure Columbiana County school. 

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• Vindy.com publshed Scalzo’s rendition of running the race Sunday, going back to run the last mile with his wife, and being satisfied with a reputable finish.  If you read this you will know why I am such a big fan of Joe Scalzo.
• Josh Q. Public draws a unique comparison of what it feels like for a Packers fan to watch Brett Favre as a Viking against what it felt like for Red Sox fans to watch Roger Clemens pitch for the Yankees.
• Detroit4Lyfe has video of Pistons rookie Austin Daye hustling back on defense to block a shot of D Wade’s in what should have been an easy lay-up.
• The Cage Doctors present 11 of the bloodiest MMA photos I have ever seen.
• PSAMP has visual proof that the WWE Divas looked pretty good in Steeler stuff on RAW last night.
• Buster Sports tracks the recruitment of college basketball star-to-be Harrison Barnes with neat plane tracking graphics.
• Not Qualified To Comment found some pretty cool footage of Johnny Knox returning a kickoff for a TD Sunday.  Watch the video closely as the ballboy keeps up with Knox for several yards.
• NESW Sports has video of Kobe Bryant shutting up Derek Rose. 
• Babes Love Baseball writer Sooze is going to the Twins vs Tigers one game playoff today in Minnesota.  Sooze writes about why 162 games are just not enough.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are scrambling desperately to plug the holes that prevented them from winning it all last year.  Anthony Parker, currently with the Toronto Raptors, is the next guy down on Danny Ferry‘s wish list.

Shaquille O’Neal, in my opinion, was a good signing.  Leadership and experience go a long way in the NBA and Shaq has plenty of both to offer.

I am glad that Ron Artest signed with Los Angeles.  Artest is a head case and will have problems with Phil Jackson and/or Kobe Bryant while he is in a Lakers uniform.  Thanks Mitch Kupchak, we owe you one.  Then they turn around and give Trevor Ariza to Houston.  Who will be worse next year?  Houston or Oklahoma City?

Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon probably wanted to play together like they did at UConn a few years ago.  I want to play kickball at recess again too, but it probably can’t happen.  Joe Dumars isn’t seeing the big picture in Motown.  Rasheed Wallace is going to be gone, Allen Iverson has been used entirely wrong since they got him, and Rip Hamilton is unhappy.  Bringing in Avery Johnson to handle this dog and pony show wont be enough.

I wish the Cavs would just go after Chris Bosh and get it over with.  Bosh will be in a Cavs uniform next season, mark my words.

It looks like I will be covering the Mahoning Valley Scrappers this season.  I am excited for this opportunity and cant wait to cover the Cleveland Indians-affiliated group in Niles.  Remember, there have been some pretty solid guys who played for the Scrappers.  How about CC Sabathia, Ryan Church, and Victor Martinez, for starters.  I am encouraging everyone in the area to get to a Scrappers game this year to see the couple of guys who will be big-league stars someday.  I am also covering the Thunder and will opt to go to their game tonight instead of the Scrappers opener.  They only have a couple of games left and have been good to me.  The beauty of covering both is that the Scrappers play so many more games, so I will make my share after this hectic week.

That being said, here are some other great stories from around the blogosphere:

• SBC Blogging has the story of some trash talking between Mike Golic and Ocho Cinco on Twitter which results in Golic saying he wants to fight Chad Johnson.
• Yanks Go Yard gives a testemonial on Sammy Sosa and whether or not we should even care about steroids.
• Zoner Sports found an interesting picture of a kid wearing a Sammy Sosa jersey with some alterations.  Check it out.
• Major League Jerk composed a steroid opinion poll, which I voted in and my results are in his article.  Pretty interesting answers to read here.
• Josh Q. Public takes a look at the reason Colorado has caught fire – Jim Tracy, he also assesses the performance of Joe Morgan with the Red Sox.
• Gunaxin has compiled an interesting list on the Top Ten athletes with illegitimate kids.
• Fansided analyzes the rebuilding process in sports.  The Pirates should check this out as they have been rebuilding for 17 years.
• Detroit4lyfe looks at Dontrelle Willis as a head case.  Willis has just been put on the DL for anxiety disorder.
• NESW Sports posted a music video which pays tribute to all Pittsburgh sports teams called Pittsburgh Sports Teams Rock.
• Style Points submitted an article of a school teacher diving in to save Tom Brady when he kayak spilled.
• Bootlegger Sports reports that Jose Canseco has filed a class action lawsuit against MLB and the players association.
• Lake Show Life found Lamar Odom giving his fellow Lakers a customized bottle of Crown Royal XR as a gift for winning the NBA Championship.
• PSAMP found Max Talbot writing about how it feels to win the Stanley Cup on his blog.
• Steady Burn compiled a list of stories from fellow bloggers about what their earliest memories are in relation to sports.
• PacMan Jonesin’ posts that the UFL ran a suprise draft.
• Sports Rubbish has video of Kobe Bryant appearing on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

Pirate fans, meet Andrew McCutchen.  McCutchen has been the Pirates #1 offensive prospect over the past couple of seasons.  His time is now.  With the departing of Nate McLouth, McCutchen will have a chance to play every day in the Pittsburgh OF.  Here are some stories from other great sites:

•  Major League Jerk takes a look at the upcoming MLB Draft titled Bud Selig Wants You!
•  Steady Burn pumps the new Lil’ Wayne single called, “Kobe Bryant”.
•  Ballerblogger previews the NBA Finals.
•  A Stern Warning has found the new Vitamin Water commercial starring Dwight Howard. Intentional Foul offers another post on the Dwight Howard Vitamin Water commercial.
•  My Sports Rumors debuts a new feature called the Twitter files, in which some tweets are featured from around the twitter world.
•  Rootzoo posts a great interview clip with Darryl Strawberry speaking about Pete Rose and steroid abuse in the majors.
•  Zoner Sports gives us the scoop on Sammy Sosa saying he will soon formally announce his retirement from baseball.
•  PSAMP invites us to watch a Pittsburgh created dinosaur chow down on an octopus before game 3.
•  Josh Q. Public brings a video clip of Randy Orton wigging out and swearing at a Mexican wrestling commentator.
•  Hugging Harold Reynolds shows us the warning signs that you need to look for to know you need to take a few days off.
•  Pacman Jonesin’ finds the tension between Janice Dickinson and John Salley on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
•  NESW Sports Thursday version of The Interweb: Featuring a funny video of how Shaq is paying for his MMA lessons.
•  Detroit4lyfe found Matthew Stafford decked out in Tiger gear in the broadcast booth at the Tigers vs Red Sox game Wednesday.
•  Total Pro Sports writes about how Floyd Mayweather has no idea who David Beckham is.
•  Sports Rubbish brings us a fight between two Russian womens handball teams.

Hopefully you were not sitting behind home plate at this game.  Lots to get to today.  Here are some great stories from other sites.

• Steady Burn has an early Belmont Stakes list of odds with Mine That Bird the favorite.  I don’t think anything will stop this horse from winning this time.
• Yogi Berra speake his own language sometimes.  Zoner Sports has dug into the archives and pulled out a couple of classic Yogi Berra commercials worth seeing.
• Sergio Garcia voted prom queen: let the catcalls begin. In Game Now has posted a picture you have to see!! 
• Detroit4lyfe has removed the Penguins from their Bloguin website and replaced them with an octopus to patronize the Red Wings rather than the Penguins in the upcoming Stanley Cup Finals.
• NESW Sports posted a cartoon video of How Lebron James carried the Cavaliers on his back through Game 5.  There is even a cartoon Anderson Varajeo, hehehe.
• Intentional Foul has found another Lebron and Kobe Muppet sighting.  In this clip, they are the anchors on Sportscenter ~ pretty entertaining to watch.
• With Brett Myers ailing, My Sports Rumors poses the question, Where do the Phillies go from here?
• Sharapova’s Thigh takes a good look at how pitching woes and a rash of injuries are killing teams like Tampa Bay.
• Juan Pierre is loving life without Manny in LA.  Josh Q. Public reveals how the resurgent outfielder is playing like he is 21 again and why.
• Talk Hoops takes an in-depth look at the Cavs vs Magic Game 5.
• John Calipari Is In Trouble and has some explaining to do from Moondog Sports.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are making things better for me considering that The Cavs gave Game 1 to Orlando.  Geno Malkin’s hat trick proves both he and Sidney Crosby are big game players.  A bit of Youngstown nostalgia in the above picture.  Harry Arroyo was briefly in the national spotlight as a boxing champion.  Arroyo still lives is Youngstown.  Here are some great stories to check out!

Top Internet Era Drunken Moments At The Indy 500 * Busted Coverage
Drew Barrymore Was Loaded At The Lakers-Nuggets Game * Steady Burn
Is Anderson Silva The Best Athlete Alive? * Fansided
What Were These Celebrities Really Thinking At The Lakers Game? * The World Of Isaac
Random Retro Baseball Player: Mark Gubicza * Sharapova’s Thigh
Steelers Visit White House, Give Hands-On Help To Troops * PSAMP
The Top-10 Movies About Baseball * In Game Now
Giants Lineman David Diehl Makes Comedy Debut, Makes Fun Of Brett Favre * Sports Rubbish
9 Classic Floyd Mayweather Moments * Hail Mary Jane
Yet Another New Kobe And Lebron Nike Commercial * Docksquad Sports
Jake Peavy Uses No-Trade Clause, Refuses White Sox Deal * FOX Sports
Dunks That Have Caused Some Damage * A Stern Warning
Akron Aeros Jeanmar Gomez Throws Perfect Game * Tribe Daily
Interleague Play Q & A * Baseball Reflections
Lakers vs Nuggets Game 2 Recap * Talk Hoops
Brian Kenny vs Floyd Mayweather Spunky Interviews * Zoner Sports
Penguins vs Hurricanes Game 2 Highlights * The Program

Here are some stories from other sites worth checking out!

Never-Say-Die Red Sox * Josh Q. Public
Did The Hornets Give Up On Chris Paul? * Talkhoops
The Steelers Love Fake Super Bowl Celebrations * PSAMP
Mike Golic of Mike And Mike Waxed – ESPN Video * NESW Sports
President Obama Shoots Some Hoops With UConn Women * Total Pro Sports
Tales Of March Madness And Vegas * Sharapova’s Thigh
Charles Barkley Drunk, Calling Kevin Garnett * Hoop Doctors
Surfers Make Documentary In Ireland.. In The Dead Of Winter * Steady Burn
Romanian Soccer Coach Beats Up One Of His Players * Sports Rubbish
Ron Artest Says Brandon Roy Is Better Than Kobe * Lakeshow Life
A-Rod Could Be Back With Yankees In Ten Days * FOX Sports
Kentucky Derby Picks * Joe Cool & The Outfield
Garnett’s Attitude Sucks * A Stern Warning
Did Rasheed Wallace Ask For A Buyout To Join The Cavs? * Motown String Music
Jacoby Ellsbury Steals Home * The World Of Isaac

Enjoy All Of These Great Stories!

Busy week and more to come!  Here are some great stories from friends to help catch you up!

Kevin Garnett: Got The Ring, Still No Class * PippenAintEasy
Pad Harrington Uses Happy Gilmore Swing For Better Drive * Total Pro Sports
Matthew Stafford Top Ten From David Letterman * Sports Rubbish
Even The Ref Can’t Stop Kobe From Scoring * Hoop Doctors
Who Is Currently The Best Player In Baseball And Can He Be An All-Time Great * Sports2Debate
Lebron And Kobe New Vitamin Water Commercial * Docksquad Sports
Lebron For Pope * The Legend of Cecilio Guante
John Salley Is Calling Technology His Crack * NESW Sports
Arizona Cardinals Cut Edgerrin James * FOX Sports
Rowdy Roddy Piper Shockproof Vests Are In Style * Hugging Harold Reynolds
Ryan Braun Still Mad About Getting Hit With A Pitch * True Blue Brew Blog
Paul Pierce Finally Shows Up * Josh Q. Public
Mr. Irrelevance is Gaining Revelance * Moondog Sports
Eric Wedge Really Should Bite Someone * Tribe Daily
DVD Review: Fever Pitch * Baseball Reflections
Why Does Everyone Seem To Love Ned Colletti? * Sharapova’s Thigh
Videos Before Bedtime: NHL Highlights * The Program

Thanks for checking in!

Thanks for stopping by!  The Jack Loew interview should be up by weeks end, I am really excited to put it on my site because he gave me some great answers and discussed the Pavlik-Hopkins fight, Arthur Abraham, Joe Calzaghe, and what a new gym is like to run.  I hope you folks will all check it out!

In the meantime, here are some stories I really liked from some great bloggers!

Kevin Garnett: The Man Who Saved Boston Hockey * Josh Q. Public
Bill Murray Hits Woman With Golf Ball At Outback Pro-Am * Sports Rubbish
NBA Mock Draft 2009 Top Ten * Hoop Doctors
UFC 97 Preview And Predictions * Total Pro Sports
1987 Pete Rose Tegrin Commercial … And His Wife * NESW Sports
Tribe Must Rebuild From Within * FOX Sports
John Madden Tribute * Midwest Sports Fans
Reds Looking For Results In 2009 * Baseball Reflections
Hockey Power Rankings * The Program
NBA ROY & MVP Balloting * Pippenainteasy

Check out these great stories!