Kimbo, Former NFLers Headline This Season's "The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights"

By: Brook “Heavy Hands” Taylor

The most highly anticipated season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) premiers this Wednesday at 10 PM on Spike TV and features an all-star line-up of Heavyweight fighters. The roster includes former IFL champion, Roy "Big Country" Nelson, 4 former NFL players and of course the street fighting internet sensation, Kimbo Slice.

As many know, just a year ago, Kimbo was branded as the ‘baddest man alive’ by the half-ass MMA promotion Elite XC. After Kimbo was KO’d by a UFC wash out, the promotion folded and Kimbo was left without a home. It was either return to Florida, start banging on the streets for YouTube hits and working as enforcer for a porn king again (all true), or step up. UFC President Dana White has had more negative thing to say about Kimbo than anyone but he always maintained that if Kimbo wanted to fight in the UFC, he had to go through The Ultimate Fighter. Well Kimbo stepped up and now we’ll find out if he is more sensation or savage in a real fight.

With all heavyweights, this season is going to be explosive. Seen here is a short promo from former NFL defensive end and now mixed martial artist, Marcus Jones. This is why we love MMA!!!


Still As Real As It Gets

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Obama To Find Replacement For Tom Izzo

It appears President Barack Obama is not done yet in the state of Michigan. On the heels of Michigan State's lackluster performance in last night's NCAA Men's National Championship Game against the University of North Carolina, the President has announced plans to find a replacement for longtime head coach Tom Izzo.

The Spartans, coached by Izzo, fell to North Carolina by a lopsided score of 89-72 in what had been billed as a boost for the spirit of the state of Michigan, still reeling over the struggles of the auto industry. Apparently the loss was too much for Obama- who recently replaced General Motors Head Rick Wagoner- to handle. In a White House speech, Obama said that college basketball teams and Michigan State in particular, must stand on their own, not as "wards of the state" supported by tax dollars.

Michigan State University Board of Trustees had assembled various plans to get the school back on proper footing including but not limited to: increased recruiting, unveiling yet another alternate uniform, and using Magic Johnson by any means necessary. These plans were all summarily rejected by the White House leaving Obama to again step in and find a replacement.

With this announcement the coaching carousel continues to turn that has recently seen John Calipari take over at Kentucky and Sean Miller at Arizona. No replacement for Izzo has yet to be named, but according to a source within the White House, the following pool of candidates are being considered: Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino, Isiah Thomas, and 98 year old John Wooden.

When questioned at his White House speech exactly what he is doing interfering with college basketball, Obama shot back, "Have you seen my bracket? I had UNC winning this whole thing, don't you watch ESPN?

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

HHR Talks With McDonald's All-Americans and UNC-Bound David & Travis Wear

The McDonald’s All American Games are about more than just the Games themselves. It’s truly an experience – it’s about being a good person on and off the court, and succeeding through other avenues like giving back. In addition to McDonald’s All American Game striving to teach its players through its Advisory Council which features the likes of Alonzo Mourning, Dwight Howard and Candace Parker, the Game is played for Charity (Ronald McDonald House Charities), where most other prep games aren’t.

The Games will go down this week down in Miami, Florida. The men's game features the best of the best divided into East and West squads, takes place Wednesday night at 8pm est at the University of Miami. It airs Wednesday night on ESPN2 at 11:30pm EST.

HHR had a chance to catch up with two members of the West squad. David and Travis Wear, twins out of Huntington Beach, California (Mater Dei High School), both of whom are headed to the University of North Carolina.


David was named the Orange County Register’s player of the year and Travis was right there with him on the All-County First Team.


David Wear
Height/Weight: 6'10", 220 lbs.
Position: F
PPG: 16.2
RPG: 7.4
College: Committed to North Carolina

HuggingHaroldReynolds: What has the whole McDonald’s All-American Game experience been like thus far?

David Wear: It’s a great experience. I flew in two days ago and ever since I got here we have been running around. It’s a lot of fun. It’s really hectic hanging out with all these guys, all the media and how busy we are, the practicing, but its a lot of fun, we’re pretty busy.

HHR: What was your reaction to being named to the team?

DW: Every high school player, one of their goals is to make this team. I feel great to have this opportunity to play with some of the best, play on TV in front of everybody, and show what we got.

HHR: You were also named to the team with your brother Travis, that must be a great feeling?

DW: It was a great thing. I didn’t know we were both going to be named. I was hoping one of us would be named. That was one of our goals. When we found out we both made, it we were really excited. Some of our goals growing up were to be at the same college and to make the McDonald’s All-American team, and we have gotten to do both.

HHR: What is the process for even making this team?

DW: You get nominated, I think it is a 100 person group in each region, and then they go through process of cutting it down and narrowing it down to the final team. My coach told me about a week before that we were both selected for the west team, we were very excited.

HHR: You played with your brother in high school at Mater Dei in California, now again on this team and in the future in college how are you two different on the court?

DW: I think I’m more comfortable playing in the post, he is more comfortable putting the ball on the ground, shooting the ball, but we can both rebound and run the court so I don’t see too many other differences.

HHR: So when you two match up one on one, who usually wins?

DW: Half the time we don’t finish our games, they end up in a fight (laughs), but I’d say it would be me winning.

HHR: You are both headed to the North Carolina, how did that recruitment process work, did you bill yourselves as a package deal?

DW: We basically told everyone that we are going to the same school, we knew we wanted to go to the same school, going to separate schools was never an option. Everyone just recruited us as players they both wanted and North Carolina happened to offer both of us.

HHR: North Carolina is now headed back to the Final Four after this past weekend’s action, you must feel even better about your decision now.

DW: I’m really happy, I’m really comfortable in my decision, and maybe I’ll be in the Final Four next year.

HHR: Finally, what do you hope to take away from this whole McDonald’s All-American Game experience?

DW: Just to enjoy my last high school game, meet new people, take it all in, the whole media session, even the game being on TV, I know its an all star game, but its always good fun, I just want to enjoy my last high school game.


Travis Wear
Height/Weight: 6' 10", 230 lbs.
Position: G, F
PPG: 15
RPG: 6.4
College: Committed to North Carolina

HuggingHaroldReynolds: What has been like to be named to this team?

Travis Wear: It’s a great honor being able to come out here and play with all the good players in the country. It's a lot of fun to come out here.

HHR: You were both picked for the squad, was that a surprise at all?

TW: I think I knew, if one of us was to get it, that we would both get it. To be out here competing against guys I grew up playing against, it’s really cool.

HHR: Outside of basketball what else have you done on this trip?

TW: We went over to a Ronald McDonald house and played with the kids, and we also went over to the Sea Aquarium and got to swim with the dolphins. Actually, we haven’t really been on the court all that much.

HHR: Do you look at other great brother combos like the Griffin brothers at Oklahoma or the Lopez brothers at Stanford and how they play as you get set to enter college?

TW: No, not really. I watch them to see how they interact on the court. I don’t look it how they play they game, I like looking how they interact on the court (as brothers).

HHR: For someone that doesn’t know your game, how would you describe it?

TW: I am pretty versatile, outside and inside, good court vision, I can pass the ball very well, I can bring the ball up the court, and I just play hard all the time.

HHR: You are both headed to UNC next year, they are headed to another Final Four you have to be pretty excited about your college choice?

TW: Yeah definitely. The expectations next year will be high. They have a pretty good recruiting class coming in, and hopefully with the guys that are there we could get back to the Final Four.

HHR: Lastly, what do you take away from this whole experience of being a McDonald’s All-American?

TW: It’s an opportunity to see how you do against better competition. Also, it’s not only basketball, but charity work. It is just good to give back to the community, and just a good experience all around.

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

Hansbrough Haters Mock Tar Heel's Signature Move on Wikipedia

Click to enlarge the Wiki screen cap below and you'll get the following clarification: "Traveling is sometimes also called "walking" or "steps." The North Carolina Tar Heel's very own Tyler Hansbrough's best known basketball move is Traveling."


H/T GTHC via "Lord Ash" on the DBR bulletin board.

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Did UNC, Williams Violate NCAA Rules With Obama Stunt?

Rusty brought up an interesting point commenting in the chief's post, "Obama's Pick-Up Game." Did UNC violate NCAA rules with Coach Williams being present at a team "pick-up" game?"

You decide...

17.5.2.2 Prohibited Activities. Prior to the start of on-court preseason basketball practice per Bylaw 17.5.2, members of the institution’s coaching staff may not be involved with one or more team members at any location in any of the following activities except as permitted in Bylaws 17.1.6.2.2 and 17.5.6: (Revised: 1/10/90 effective 8/1/92, 1/11/94, 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)

(a) Setting up offensive or defensive alignments;
(b) Chalk talks;
(c) Discussions of game strategy;
(d) Reviewing game films or videotapes;
(e) Activities using basketball equipment; or
(f ) Observing student-athletes in any basketball activities even if such activities are not arranged by the institution’s coach. (Revised: 9/23/05)

17.5.2.2.1 Exception—Team Promotional Activities. Team promotional activities (e.g., autograph sessions, fan picture sessions, meeting with fans) per Bylaw 12.5.1 are permissible prior to the start of on-court preseason basketball practice per Bylaw 17.5.2, provided these promotional arrangements do not involve any of the practice activities prohibited under the provisions of Bylaw 17.5.2.2. (Revised: 1/11/94, 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)

17.5.2.2.2 Exception—Officiating Clinic. Prior to the start of on-court preseason basketball practice per Bylaw 17.5.2, student-athletes may observe an officiating clinic related to playing rules that is conducted by video conference, provided no student-athlete misses class time to observe the clinic. (Adopted: 1/9/96; Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)

17.5.3 First Contest. A member institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in basketball prior to the second Friday of November (see Figure 17-2). (Revised: 4/27/06 effective 8/1/06; contracts signed before 1/8/06 for events scheduled to occur prior to the second Friday in November may be honored.)

17.5.3.1 Exceptions. The following basketball contests (games or scrimmages) are permitted prior to the first contest dates specified under Bylaw 17.5.3:

(a) Practice Scrimmages. Informal practice scrimmages with outside competition, provided they are conducted in privacy without publicity or official scoring. Individuals other than athletics department staff members and those necessary to conduct a basketball practice scrimmage against outside competition may not be present during such a scrimmage. The institution shall ensure that the scrimmage is free from public view; (Revised: 10/27/98 effective 8/1/99, 5/12/05)

Obama's Pick-Up Game

We've seen door to door campaigning this election year, but this is one of the few full-court presses. Presidential candidate Barack Obama played a quick pick-up game with the UNC Tarheels.




At the one minute mark, you see him drive the lane and put up a nifty finger roll, that rolls out. Suck on that, hope/change.

According to the article,

After about six to seven minutes of play, Obama took a seat near Williams. Reporters weren't allowed close enough to hear what they discussed.

We think that he and Williams probably just talked bball and the Kansas game. And farm subsidies. Williams is well known as the team's policy wonk. Always with his head in one of those darn book-learning things!

via Tom M & his insistance on reading Duke Basketball Report

Hansbrough Likes it Texas Style

Oh thank God UNC and Duke are finally going at it. The countdown clock on the World Wide Leader was a bit much. As was the repeating profile on SI cover boy Tyler Hansbrough. Here "Psycho T" talks about a painful sport he invented that involves having balls slapped against his chest. Yeah, it's as hetro as it sounds.

March: More Than Just Madness

March is National Kidney Month. While to many this may seem irrelevant, to some of our writers it is very special.

Just about all of our staff has the pleasure to be friends with Priscilla VanderVeer, a transplant recipient, who teamed up with our buddy Illuminati at phillyBurbs to tell her story.

This is even more relevant to Ariel and I, who, in addition to being close with Priscilla, lost a young family member not far back. Our family made the decision to donate our lost loved one's organs through the New Jersey Sharing Network. Then, in lieu of wedding presents, we made a donation to the Network.

Coincidentally, around this time last year, the University of North Carolina mascot Jason Ray tragically lost his life in, also coincidentally, New Jersey, at the NCAA East Regionals.

Last fall, ESPN's E:60 spotlighted Jason's story, and the impact his decision to donate his organs had on their recipients. Once more, coincidence set in. The New Jersey Sharing Network facilitated the donations, and worked with ESPN to tell the story.

Below is that story. Caution, tears may ensue.

Focus, Roy, Focus

Are you threatening me?

Now, Rusty usually lets the Rev handle college hoops, but when it comes to the mecca of college bball, Tobacco Road, ole Rusty can hang with the best of them.

Williams irked by Coach K

So, apparently, looks like Roy Williams is having a fit about something the venerable Coach K said on a radio show.

"[He] has been dealing with that since -- and unlike other schools we don't release our injuries -- so I thought he played a strong game tonight," Krzyzewski said.

That nine-word aside about "other schools" was, Williams said on Tuesday, "aimed toward us."

Seriously? Doesn't he have a top ranked team he needs to coach? Isn't he going into the hostile RBC Center tonight to play Carolina's real in-state rival (sorry national fans, but for us NC folks, Duke is Mayonaise, the real rivalry is State Carolina)?

Just seems like a bunch of hooey to me. But maybe if he worried about his own ball club more, he wouldn't be fainting on the sidelines so often. Just a thought.

-posted by Rusty

Separated at Birth: Tyler Cornholio

Are you threatening me?