WELCOME TO SPORTSEXTRA: More and more top high school players opting to skip them, often to begin college early. College recruiters usually have all their signings done before the games. Do the East-West games still have any relevance? Should they still be played? Would it be better if state All-Star games were played immediately after each sport's season, like the Shrine Bowl in football?
Or he just doesn't care? Seems odd that Rashad McCants couldn't make the USA Basketball roster, considering his obvious talents. So, was he a little too selfish for Kelvin Sampson's liking or maybe a little too disinterested in playing in this World Young Men tournament in Canada. C'mon, Sean May made it.
Oh, and did he really call Chris Paul the best point guard he ha's ever played with? I'm told he did. Any help in finding the actual quote would be appreciated.
Colleague Todd Graff found this nugget from ESPN.com's Andy Katz:
… Gray was guarding Paul at times, something he's used to in practice. McCants has been running the wing next to Paul plenty, too.
"He's the best point guard I've played with by far, by far," McCants said.
Better than North Carolina's Raymond Felton?
"He's a better point guard," McCants said. "Raymond is more talented. But taking nothing away from Ray, Chris Paul is really talented, too."
Me: That's "by far" TWICE.
Yes, I know cycling's a fringe sports in the United States and yes, I know that cyclists look a bit silly with their skin-tight shorts and elfin shoes. But that doesn't dimish what Lance Armstrong achieved this Sunday when he became the first six-time winner of the Tour de France. And he won all those tours consecutively. And he won five of them in thoroughly dominating fashion. And did we mention he's a cancer survivor?
What does all of this mean?
ABC and ESPN are about to embark on the process of televising most of the Little League World Series. And they'll be bringing in their power graphics and Major League broadcasters, giving the event an air of must-win professionalism. Isn't this too much for 12-year-olds?
Is this good, bad or indifferent for kids and the American youth sports culture?
ESPN has provided the latest fodder for combatants in the ongoing struggle between the Tar Heel and Blue Devil basketball fandoms. In its latest ESPN25 poll, they've rated the best COACHES of the last 25 years -- across all sports. Their "expert panel" has Dean Smith No.1 and Mike Krzyzewski No. 3 (Scotty Bowman is No. 2), while the fan poll has K No. 1 and Dean No. 2.
So Randy Johnson will only accept a trade to the Yankees because they're the only lock to make postseason play. What? Going to the first-place Dodgers of the NL West isn't good enough? Are we to believe Johnson couldn't elevate the Angels to at least the Wild Card in the AL? This is the kind of thing that makes fans resent millionaire athletes.
With this kind of logic, Johnson wouldn't plunk down $1 in PowerBall if you gave him the first five numbers and a hint on the sixth.