Florida Gators thread

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IMO Gators' Urban Meyer is 2 hip 2 B square

Mike Bianchi
SPORTS COMMENTARY
June 22, 2008
GAINESVILLE

His authorized biography is about to hit Amazon.com.

Another best-selling author who chronicles global business leaders wants to write a chapter in his next book about what makes him tick.

TV producers have approached him about doing a reality TV show.

ESPN showed up in town a couple of months ago for his spring football game and provided four hours of televised coverage.

Bill Belichick likes to talk strategy with him.

And, yes, Adam Sandler sent him a congratulatory bottle of wine not long ago.

"I guess that's pretty cool, huh?" Urban Meyer says and laughs.

Cool doesn't begin to describe it.

Urban Meyer is the coolest rockin' daddy in intercollegiate sports. He's the hippest, hottest rock star in college football. He's Hannah Montana with a cockeyed headset. He's Lil Wayne with a big playbook. He's the Pussycat Dolls with an offense that purrs like a kitten.

"He's white-hot right now," says longtime sports writer Buddy Martin, who just finished the soon-to-be-released biography called Urban's Way.

"He's at the peak of his powers," says Chris Fowler, ESPN college football analyst and host of the network's ultra-popular GameDay. "Urban is as dialed in to what makes young people tick as anybody I've ever seen."

If you want to know why Urban Meyer is rich like butter to today's hip-hop generation, then just take a look at today's newly redesigned Orlando Sentinel. It's visual. It's colorful. It's bold and bodacious. It's just cooler than the traditional newspaper.

And that's Urban Meyer. He's just cooler because he has purposely redesigned the traditional college coach. He is reinventing the image of the rumpled, old, outdated football fogy and turning him into a more modern, attractive version that looks phat and fresh on his state-of-the-art Web site CoachUrbanMeyer.com.

In this cat-quick, double-click world we live in, Meyer is all over imaging and presentation. If you Google college football coach, his name should be the first one to pop up. He is, after all, Coach YouTube.

When the Gators open their new $30 million football offices later this summer, the entrance will be filled with huge high-def TVs running endless video loops of Florida's national championships and Southeastern Conference titles. When a recruit walks into his office, all he sees is video and photographs of green grass, full stadiums and pretty girls.

"That's what's appealing to young people," Meyer says. "We spend an inordinate amount of time on presentation. Video is the No. 1 way to do that because that's what recruits respond to. Nowadays it's all about music and video."

Most everything he does or is asked to do by the media is about luring recruits. He will attend the ESPYs next month because he knows recruits will think it's cool to see him chillin' with Justin Timberlake. When Fox Network asked him to be an analyst during the pregame and halftime shows at the BCS National Championship Game, he visualized how many national recruits would be watching the LSU-Ohio State game. The same with ESPN when the network approached him about bringing its GameDay crew to Gainesville in April for four hours of coverage of the Orange and Blue spring scrimmage.

True story: Before televised coverage of the Masters began on that Saturday afternoon in April, hundreds of sports writers sat in the Augusta National media center and watched ESPN's wall-to-wall coverage of UF's spring scrimmage/Tim Tebow Lovefest. It may be the first time in history that a golf writer from the New York Post was introduced to the concept of Mr. TwoBits.

With 60,000 fans flocking to Florida Field and millions watching nationwide, the four hours of ESPN coverage turned into a four-hour recruiting video for the University of Florida. Just like Meyer planned.

"If I'm asked to do something like that, the answer is 'No' unless it can help recruiting," Meyer says. "Let's face it, spring games stink. They're awful. But we decided if we're going to do it, let's put on a show.

"It turned out to be a positive. Now, don't get me wrong, if ESPN had shown some of our rivals playing in their spring game with 12,000 people in the stands, that wouldn't have been a positive; that would have been a negative.

Ah, was that a gratuitous shot at Florida State -- the institution Meyer refers to condescendingly as "that school out west." Or maybe it was meant for Miami, that school down south. And is it just coincidence that both schools have gone younger and cooler in an attempt to keep pace with the Urbanator?

Last year, the 'Canes hired Randy Shannon to replace the older, balder Larry Coker. The Seminoles, too, are in transition, evidenced by their recent naming of Jimbo Fisher as their coach-in-waiting to eventually replace the aging icon Bobby Bowden.

Old-school is out.

New-age is in.

And you want to know what's strange? Meyer is the ultimate dichotomy. He is actually more of the former, but we think of him as more of the latter.

He's actually a conservative football coach from the cold, gray Rustbelt who grew up idolizing Woody Hayes. Now he's in the warm, blue Sun Belt where he has become the next Steve Spurrier. He's a very private man with a very public persona. He likes his own space, but he scouts MySpace.

He's actually more close-to-the-vest than he is seat-of-the-pants. His image is offensive genius, but he won his only national title with a team specializing in defense and field position. His reputation is space age -- a million miles and a thrust of flames. His roots are stone age -- 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

He's Fergalicious by stature, but he's Margaritaville by nature.

Hip? For crying out loud, his favorite musician is Jimmy Buffet, who hasn't been relevant since the Cheeseburger in Paradise Tour of 30 years ago. And when he met Adam Sandler not long ago, his first response was, "Wait a minute, that's the guy from Saturday Night Live." He had absolutely no idea Sandler made movies and hadn't been on SNL for more than a decade.

That's why best-selling motivational author Alan Deutschman, who has chronicled CEOs such as Microsoft's Bill Gates and Google's Sergey Brin, is considering a chapter about Meyer in his next book. He's intrigued about how Meyer, a psychology major in college, has connected and inspired players from such divergent backgrounds.

"Even though he might have come from a more conservative, homogenized background, he has been able to bridge the gap and speak the language that kids understand," Deutschman says. "He has connected with them and got people from diverse backgrounds to buy in. Doesn't matter what business you're in, if you want to be a leader and influence the marketplace, you have to get people to believe in you."

It should be noted that Deutschman's last book was called Change or Die -- a truism many American businesses, including the newspaper industry, are just coming to realize. It's an edict Meyer learned long ago.

"It's 2008, you have to stay in tune to what's going on," he says, "but at the core, I'm still an old-school traditionalist. That's who I am."

As Hannah Montana sings, he's the "best of both worlds."

He may be the techno-pop, bee-bop, hip-hop coach who likes crunk on MTV.

But, deep down, Urban Meyer still likes that old time rock and roll.


Mike Bianchi's Open Mike blog can be read at OrlandoSentinel.com/openmike, and he can be reached at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.

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Gators back in school


By Kevin Brockway
Sun sports writer



Published: Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 11:58 p.m.

On a sweltering June afternoon, the day before his two final exams, former Gator turned NBA millionaire Al Horford waited on campus for the RTS bus, carrying a black knapsack over his left shoulder.
A few months ago, the 6-foot-10 Horford battled opposing pro big men in the low post, leading the Atlanta Hawks to the playoffs in a season that ended with a runner-up finish to Kevin Durant for the NBA rookie of year.
This May, Horford faced a different adjustment, getting used to life back in the classroom after a full year away from college.
"I was definitely out of sync," Horford said. "In summer school, it's so different than fall. In the fall you slowly get into it. In the summer, they throw everything at you. I was kind of at first (thinking) is this the right decision, but once I started going to class, and I kind of got used to being back in school. I'm OK now."
Horford and Taurean Green recently completed courses in the first summer session at Florida, another step toward a goal of obtaining their Florida degrees. The Florida basketball icons, part of the 2004 class that led the Gators to back-to-back national titles in 2006-07, left for the NBA Draft following their junior seasons prior to graduating.
If both complete their degrees, it will help Florida's Academic Progress Rate score, which like most successful major Division I programs is currently below the NCAA minimum threshold. But Horford and Green didn't return because of coaxing from Florida administration.
Green is attempting to fulfill the wishes of his father, Sidney, who wants to see his son earn his degree. Family also played a role for Horford, who made a promise to his maternal grandfather, Jose Reynoso, that he would graduate.
"He told me ‘Just make sure you finish your degree, that's the only thing I ask of you,’ ” Horford said. "I kind of felt like I had to follow through with it."
So Horford returned to the UF campus, where he enrolled in two classes — Television and American Society and Fundamentals of Production — toward his telecommunications degree. Horford estimates it could take at least two more summers to finish, but he intends to see it through. If the Hawks make a deep run in the playoffs next season, Horford said he would enroll in the second summer session, which starts in late June.
"It works perfect because the last summer (A) classes are during the NBA finals," Horford said. "It would still give me a few weeks to rest."
Horford's interest in studying communications comes from his mother, Arelis Reynoso, who was a sportscaster with her own show in their native Dominican Republic.
"I'm very broad right now," Horford said. "I really like working in television. It's just something I've always kind of wanted to do. I think I could be good at it maybe someday. I'm able to speak Spanish as well, so I just think television is a pretty wide market."
Growing up, Horford tagged along in the studio to watch his mom work.
"I was always with her," Horford said. "I think it was very neat to meet a lot of high-profile people. She was in sports so I got to meet Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou and just a lot of the big-time baseball players in the Dominican Republic."
While back at Florida, Horford also has played pickup games with current Florida basketball players and worked out four times a week at the basketball facility with UF strength and conditioning coach Matt Herring.
"We're doing a lot of movement stuff to improve on quickness and strength," Horford said. "Those are the things we've been focusing on. Every time the coach (Billy Donovan) is in town we try to get in together and get individual work done and work on my game, keep working on my jumper. So those are the different things that I keep working on."
Horford said he was pleased with his rookie season in Atlanta, in which he lived up to his billing as the NBA's third overall draft pick. Horford averaged 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, starting 77 of 81 games in the regular season. In the playoffs, Horford was even more impressive, averaging a double-double (12.6 points, 10.4 rebounds) to help the Hawks push the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to seven games in a first-round series.
"I was very happy with my performance and how the team did," Horford said. "I definitely feel we have a lot of things to improve on which kind of excites me to know that we can get better and I'm really looking forward to next year."
With less students around for the summer session, the return to campus for Horford has been low-key. But some students he runs into on campus still ask to stop for pictures and thank him for helping lead Florida to two national titles.
Horford and Green stay with a friend off campus. Lee Humphrey also is back, taking graduate courses.
"It's been nice," Horford said. "People are very glad to have the Gators back in general. Taurean is here. Lee is here. I'm here. Walking around people are always stopping, saying hello, showing how appreciative they are and everything. It's good to know that people appreciate what we have done for the school."

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Green is ready for work with football team


By Edward Aschoff
Special to The Sun



Published: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.

William Green committed to Florida days after making his official visit to Gainesville at the end of January because he said the school felt like the “best” place for him.
Truth is that UF always felt like the right place for the former Hoover (Ala.) Spain Park High School defensive end/linebacker, but he struggled to keep the University of Alabama out of the picture until the very end.
“It just felt like I was trying to force myself to want to go to Alabama more than Florida,” said Green, rated a four-star prospect and the seventh best outside linebacker by Rivals.com. “I had to stop trying to fight it and just go on ahead and go to Florida.
“At one point I was really trying to find a reason to really not like Florida. I couldn't find one, so I was like, 'Maybe this is the place I need to be.'”
Even after he publicly committed to the Gators, rumors of him still being interested in taking a final visit to Alabama swirled around internet message boards.
Green quickly squashed those rumors, stayed true to his commitment and will now report to Gainesville for summer workouts today.
The defensive hybrid spent his senior year playing half the time on the line and the other half at linebacker. Though he was a highly-rated linebacker in high school, Green said he will be primarily used as a defensive end at UF. He is expected to be in line to battle for playing time behind junior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham once he arrives.
Green said he has lowered his 40-yard dash time to 4.65 seconds and has increased his bench press to 295 pounds and is hoping that with the new shape he's in he can start to develop into more of a DeMarcus Ware-type player.
“He can stand up and guard off the edge and then put his hand down and pass rush,” Green said of the Dallas Cowboy linebacker. “I look at him and I'm not as thick as he is, but we probably have the same body frame and he kind of looks like me playing.”
At 217 pounds, the 6-foot-4 Green is a ways away from the 250-plus-pound Ware, but with the way he has taken to UF's offseason workout plan, he's making his goal a little easier to attain.
After receiving UF's weight lifting regimen — sent to all freshmen in order to prepare their bodies for summer arrival — Green said he wasn't too intimidated by it and was actually comfortable with most of the program.
“If anything I've been kind of used to some of the stuff they've been doing,” he said. “(The lifting routine) was really busy. It wasn't so much as complex with stuff you've never seen before.”
While Green is having no problem with the Gators' lifting program, he knows once he gets on campus his comfort level will change. Maybe not so much in the weight room but with the team's rigorous fitness program.
He said he's not nervous about it, but he's not expecting it to come as easy to him as lifting weights.
“I just look at it as you've got to do that type of stuff to be successful,” he said. “It's going to be hard, but anything worth having is not going to be easy.”

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Team USA passes on Mike Miller


By Kevin Brockway
Sun sports writer



Published: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 4:14 p.m.

Former Florida forward Mike Miller did not make the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team.
Miller was part of a USA Team that last summer went unbeaten to win the FIBA America's Championship. But men's basketball team coaches and organizers opted to choose Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd instead of Miller as the top perimeter threat off the bench.
Miller was attempting to become the first men's basketball player from Florida to compete in the Olympics. An eight-year NBA player currently with the Memphis Grizzlies, Miller left Florida in 2000 after helping guide the Gators to the NCAA title game in his sophomore season.

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UF football gets commit from heralded guard


By Brandon Zimmerman
Sun sports writer



Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 9:24 p.m.


Florida picked up a significant verbal commitment Tuesday when Naples High offensive guard Nick Alajajian committed to the Gators.
At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, Alajajian is ranked as the No. 3 guard in the Class of 2009 by rivals.com, which reported the commitment.
Alajajian helped lead Naples to a 15-0 record and a Class 3A state title as a junior. Naples coach Bill Kramer was out of town Tuesday and could not return a message left on his cell phone.
Alajajian is the sixth commitment for the Class of '09 and the second offensive lineman.
But while Florida is gaining a player in its 2009 class, it may have also lost a player from this year's class. Highly touted safety Dee Finley did not qualify academically and will attend Milford Academy in New York, rivals.com also reported. Finley would be eligible to return to Florida in the spring.
Finley, who was the sixth-ranked safety in the country while at Auburn High in Auburn, Ala., could not be reached for comment. Auburn High coach Tim Carter did not return a message left for him at the school Tuesday.
Florida's depth at safety could become a concern after some recent loses earlier this year. Jamar Hornsby was dismissed from the team following his arrest on charges of credit card theft while Jerimy Finch transferred.

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Gators rank well in preseason


By Brandon Zimmerman
Sun sports writer



Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

It's official: Florida is No. 1.
Or, rather, No. 9.
Or is it No. 6?
That depends on what preseason college football magazine you're reading.
The final batch of summer preview magazines hit newsstands Tuesday with the Sporting News listing Florida at No. 9 in its preseason top 25 while Phil Steele gave the Gators a No. 1 ranking.
Two other magazines were released earlier this month. Athlon had Florida at No. 1 while Lindy's gave the Gators a No. 6 ranking.
Interestingly, the two magazines that did not give Florida a No. 1 ranking — Sporting News and Lindy's — each had Georgia at No. 1.
And although the Sporting News had Florida at No. 9, they did predict the Gators would play in the Sugar Bowl, something Florida hasn't done since the 2000 season.
Last season Florida finished 9-4 with a final ranking of No. 13.
FLORIDA'S PRESEASON RANKING LISTED BY MAGAZINE:
Sporting News
No. 1 Georgia
No. 2 Ohio State
No. 3 USC
No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 5 LSU
No. 6 Missouri
No. 7 Clemson
No. 8 West Virginia
No. 9 Florida
No. 10 Illinois
Phil Steele
No. 1 Florida
No. 2 Ohio State
No. 3 Oklahoma
No. 4 USC
No. 5 Clemson
No. 6 West Virginia
No. 7 Missouri
No. 8 South Florida
No. 9 Georgia
No. 10 Penn St.
Lindy's
No. 1 Georgia
No. 2 USC
No. 3 Ohio State
No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 5 Missouri
No. 6 Florida
No. 7 LSU
No. 8 Texas
No. 9 Clemson
No. 10 West Virginia
Athlon
No. 1 Florida
No. 2 Ohio State
No. 3 Oklahoma
No. 4 USC
No. 5 Georgia
No. 6 Missouri
No. 7 West Virginia
No. 8 Auburn
No. 9 LSU
No. 10 Clemson

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Sizing up Marreese Speights


By Kevin Brockway
Sun sports writer



Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.

As the NBA Draft approaches Thursday, it appears center Marreese Speights will follow a line of recent former Florida big men picked in the first round.
Most analysts have the 6-foot-10 Speights projected as a mid first-round pick, as high as 15th overall to the Phoenix Suns.
"He's a first-rounder," ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas said. "I don't see any scenario where he doesn't end up in the first round. I have him rated as the 15th best prospect in the draft, ahead of (Stanford big man) Robin Lopez."
That Speights is being regarded so highly is surprising to those who watched him endure some growing pains in his only season as a starter at Florida.
Speights finished the season averaging 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds. While the numbers were impressive, Speights had issues with defense and conditioning that affected Florida's ability to win consistently. As a result, the Gators failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998 in his only season as starting center.
"The NBA Draft is not about rewarding someone for a great college season," Bilas said. "It's about projection, how high is your ceiling as a player.
"I watched a lot of tape on him in the SEC. He didn't dominate anyone but he didn't get dominated either. He can step outside and shoot the basketball. He not only has good size but he has good hands and quick feet and his body is an NBA body."
Jonathan Givony, who runs the Web site draftexpress.com., currently has Speights going 21st overall to the New Jersey Nets.
"Teams like his size, just his tools in general," Givony said. "His skill level, he's a lot more skilled than what he showed at Florida. His shooting ability has helped in the workouts."
NBA director of scouting services Marty Blake, a former general manager with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, also expects Speights to get picked in the first round.
"He's got nice spring in his legs and is ideal for the power forward position," Blake said. "He's going to be a surprise player. People weren't excited when Chris Paul was first picked and now three years later, he's a superstar. Keep in mind, it's a two, three-year process."
Speights put his name in the draft without an agent last April and kept his name in last week. He had another workout with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, a team that may target Speights with the 16th overall pick. NBAdraft.net has Speights going 19th to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"He's had some good workouts and some bad workouts," said Givony, who watched Speights work out for an NBA team two weeks ago. "As far as (Philadelphia), I could see him going there because he really fits what they are looking for. I'd say he's going to go in the 16-23 range because there are a lot of teams in that area looking for big men."
While conditioning was an issue early in his sophomore season, Speights reported to workouts in excellent shape. Speights, whose playing weight at Florida ranged from 255-245 pounds, is down to 240 pounds with 7 percent body fat.
"I think he improved in that area as the season went on," Bilas said. "I'd be much more alarmed if he were a guy that needed to lose 75 pounds to get into playing shape. I think the big question for him remains his motor, how hard can he go for an extended period of time, but if you take a look at his points per minute, his rebounds per minute, he's a productive player."
If Speights goes were he's projected, he would become the fourth Florida power forward/center picked in the first round in the past three years. David Lee (2005 draft) was taken 30th overall in the first round by the New York Knicks and has emerged as a solid role player in New York. Al Horford (third overall, 2007 draft) finished his rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks as runner-up to Kevin Durant for NBA rookie of the year. Joakim Noah was taken ninth overall in the first round by Chicago in the 2007 draft.
NBA first-round draft picks receive guaranteed two-year contracts, with a team option for a third year. Second round picks must negotiate for guaranteed money.

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Tebow named SEC Male Athlete of Year


By Brandon Zimmerman
Sun sports writer



Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.


Add another trophy to Tim Tebow's mantle.
Florida's quarterback was named the 2007-08 Southeastern Conference Male Athlete of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. Tebow joins fellow quarterback Danny Wuerffel (1996 and ’97) and swimmer Ryan Lochte (’05) as the only Gators to win the award.
Tebow is coming off one of the finest seasons ever by a sophomore. Tebow was the recipient of the Heisman Trophy, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Maxwell Trophy and the Sullivan Award.
Tebow became the first player in college football history to run and pass for 20 touchdowns and set an SEC record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 23.
Tebow won the award from a talented field of nominees which included: Michael Thompson, Alabama (golf); Darren McFadden, Arkansas (football); Cesar Cielo, Auburn (swimming); Gordon Beckham, Georgia (baseball); Rashaud Scott, Kentucky (track & field); Glenn Dorsey, LSU (football); Erling Tveit, Ole Miss (tennis); Jamil Hubbard, Mississippi State (track & field); Jason Richardson, South Carolina (track & field); Chris Lofton, Tennessee (basketball); Shan Foster, Vanderbilt (basketball).
Tennessee basketball standout Candace Parker was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
The SEC's athletes of the year award has been given out every year since 1976 for men and 1984 for women.

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Donovan looks at his players' lot at next level


By Pat Dooley
Sun sports columnist



Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.

It's a statistic that will hardly surprise you, but it's another one that shows the impact that Billy Donovan has had on the Florida basketball program.

I know, like this is earth-shattering news. But I still think it's interesting.

Tonight, Donovan will have his 12th player drafted and I think it's safe to assume Marreese Speights will be drafted somewhere, even if it's not in the first round.

In the pre-Donovan Era, Florida had 18 players drafted. But 12 of those were drafted in rounds that no longer exist.

In other words, after this draft the number of players who have been picked in the first two rounds will have doubled since Donovan became the Florida coach. (Let's not forget we are not including Kwame Brown on this list because he never started school at UF.)

“We've had some really good players,” Donovan said. It speaks not only to his recruiting but to his player development. And I think that players who come to Florida know that when it comes time to make a decision, they are going to be armed with all of the information Donovan can possibly get for them. It doesn't mean they will always make the right decisions.

In the case of Speights, I think he could have used another year, but I also think he was a guy who has spent his entire time at Florida with an eye on the NBA. How he'll do at the next level is a mystery to me.

Donovan isn't really sure, either. In fact, I asked the Florida coach about each of the players he has had drafted and some that were not, about what he expected them to do at the next level when they left UF. And at the end of the conversation, he brought up Brent Wright.
“That's one guy I really thought would play in the NBA because he had the size and the skills,” he said. “He had the foot injury in his last year here and never quite got over it.”
Jason Williams, 1998, First round: “I thought he had a chance to be really, really good because he had such great speed and quickness. I think it really helped that he went where he did (to Sacramento) where he was allowed to just play.”
Donnell Harvey, 2000, First round: “I was worried about him because he had some deficiencies and if you have deficiencies you're not going to play long in the NBA.” Donovan said it has been about a year since he talked to Harvey, who played
sparingly for five NBA teams and is now playing in Turkey.
Mike Miller, 2000, First round: “I thought Mike would be really good because he could do so many things. He had the size and the perimeter game.”
Matt Bonner, 2003, Second round: “To be honest, I thought he would be exactly what he is — a role guy who can come in and give a team some good minutes, but not a frontline starter.”
Christian Drejer, 2004, Second round: “He had all of the talent to be a
great NBA player. I just don't know if his game translated to here. I'll
tell you this, he may have been as versatile as any guy I have ever coached
at Florida. He could play the point at 6-foot-9 or just about anywhere else
on the court.”
David Lee, 2005, First round: “I felt like David would have to kind of carve out his own niche and he has done that with the
Knicks.”
Al Horford, 2007, First round: “I thought Al would be good. I
really thought he should have been rookie of the year. No offense to Kevin
Durant, but you look at how Al impacted winning. Durant didn't do
that.”
Joakim Noah, 2007, First round: “I think you will see Jo make a big
jump this year. It will be a lot like he did in college when he made that
huge jump between his first and second years. That's what I expect to
happen again.”
Corey Brewer, 2007, First round: “He's an interesting guy
in that this will be a big year for Corey. I always felt like he was an NBA
defender, but he has to get stronger and shoot the ball better and I think
he will.”
Chris Richard, 2007, Second round: “Chris, being an older guy, the big
thing for him is whether or not he can get to his next contract. I think he
can, being a backup for a post player.”
Taurean Green, 2007, Second round: “Taurean, I believe, is an NBA guard, but he has to be in the right situation. You look at Rajon Rondo. Look how Taurean played against him in SEC games. Now Rondo is the starting point guard for the NBA champs because they spent all of their money on the other guys. That's the kind of
situation I'd like to see Taurean get into.”
Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson, 2005, Undrafted: “I still think both of those guys can play in the NBA if they are put in certain roles. But when you go undrafted, it puts a label on you and it's hard to make it. Some guys do, but more guys
don't.”
Udonis Haslem, 2002, Undrafted: “I have strong feelings about Udonis because I never dreamed he'd be a starting power forward in the NBA. Udonis didn't fall into the mold of what they are looking for as far as height and length goes. But he is a perfect example of a guy who, you can't measure his competitiveness.”

Tonight, it's Speights' turn and Donovan is not concerned that his 6-10 center will make it to his next contract. “Udonis didn't have the dimensions they were looking for, but Marreese has them all,” he said. “Stamina is always going to be an issue. He has come a long way, but he has a long way to go. The hardest part for these guys is
the day after the draft because then the teams have you and they can do anything with you.”

Again, it's a mystery. I don't think Speights will be an impact player as a rookie. He has amazing skills but, well, you saw it all season. Sometimes he was there and sometimes he was invisible. He didn't have the wind to play a college season let alone an 82-game NBA season.

But it's his decision. It's his life. And Gator fans will wish him well.

Because in the end, there is one overlooked truth about Donovan's career at Florida — he sure has made the NBA more interesting for us to watch.

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Speights to reward his mom


By Kevin Brockway
Sun sports writer



Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 9:59 p.m.

The name, in black letters, is tattooed on the right arm of former Florida center Marreese Speights, just below his shoulder.

R-e-g-i-n-a.

When Speights, a projected first-round pick, waits to hear his name called in tonight's NBA Draft in New York City, he will be in his native St. Petersburg with the woman who drove him to football and baseball practices and prepared his favorite dish, baked beans with bits of hamburger meat.

Regina Glenn-Speights raised her son Marreese, the youngest of four children, as a single mother on a modest salary. Following tonight, Speights will have a chance to give back for the sacrifices she made.

"After the (NBA team) workouts, he would send me text messages, saying, ‘Mom, I'm going to take care of you,’ ” said Glenn-Speights, a teacher's associate at Azalea Elementary school. "He doesn't want me to work anymore, but I'm still going to work, because I love my job."

There were leaner times. On a single income, Glenn-Speights said she needed to be resourceful.

"Having four kids, financially, with school, clothes, the whole nine yards, it was difficult," Glenn-Speights said. "Sometimes, Marreese had to accept hand-me-downs from his older brothers."

Glenn-Speights has served a dual role because Speights' father, Wilbur, has spent much of his adult life in and out of prison. Wilbur Speights is serving a 15-year sentence at the Sumter (County) Correctional Institution after being convicted in 2001 on charges of grand theft, petit theft, attempted robbery with a gun and possession of cocaine. He can be released as early as May of 2009 based on time served.

Speights' mother said Marreese keeps in contact with his father by writing letters. (At an NBA workout Wednesday, Speights could not be reached for comment.)

"He (Wilbur) was a great athlete," Glenn-Speights said. "He had a chance to go on and do some things before he ran into trouble."

Glenn-Speights said she never ran into any disciplinary issues with Marreese, whom she described as shy growing up.

"He was always very quiet," Glenn-Speights said. "The teachers would come to me and ask, ‘Why is he so quiet?’ I think a lot of it had to do with his height. I'm tall (6-foot-2) so I know sometimes you can get teased in school."

Glenn-Speights said her youngest son always was big and athletic for his age. She found that out when she took Marreese one day to the St. Petersburg youth football fields to watch his older brother play.

"He was five or six at the time and all of the coaches thought he was older," Glenn-Speights said. "They wanted him to try out for the team."

In middle school, Speights excelled more in baseball and football than in basketball (he was cut from his middle school basketball team). But between his freshman and sophomore year in high school, Speights sprouted five inches to 6-foot-10 and made the varsity basketball team.

Glenn-Speights said she felt like it was a blessing that Marreese ended up at Florida, where she could watch most of the home games.

"It was nice, especially after he had to go away to Virginia (Hargrave Military Academy) one year for prep school," Glenn-Speights said. "We're going to miss Gainesville. I give the coaches and staff there all the praise for the way they treated us."

Glenn-Speights said she's anxiously awaiting tonight, which will serve as another step toward her youngest son growing into manhood.

"I'm just numb right now," Glenn-Speights said. "It doesn't seem real. How far he's come, I'm just very proud of him."

[azuquita8]

Marreese Speights selected 16th by Sixers in NBA Draft


By Kevin Brockway
Sun staff writer



Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.

Former Florida center Marreese Speights has found a new home in Philadelphia.
The 76ers took Speights with the 16th overall pick in the first round of Thursday night's NBA Draft.
Speights averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in his sophomore season at UF before declaring for the draft last April without an agent. He kept his name in the draft a couple of weeks ago after the feedback he received from team workouts projected him as a mid-to-late first-round pick.
"It's a great city," Speights said by phone Thursday night. "I feel like I fit in well. I'm another young big (guy) that can play and get up and down the floor. They had a good season last season, so I'm excited."
Speights had multiple workouts with Philadelphia leading up to the draft.
"As soon as I got off the airplane, I had a good feeling," Speights said. "It felt like home."
Philadelphia 76ers senior vice president assistant/general manager Tony DiLeo said the organization liked Speights' versatility, thinking he'll develop into a player that could play both power forward and center at the NBA level.
"We feel he's a great fit for our team," DiLeo said. "First of all, we're a running team and we think he's one of the better running big men in the draft. ... He's a post player who can not only score inside, but can score outside."
Speights (6-foot-10, 240 pounds) is the 10th player in Florida history to get picked in the first round of the NBA draft and the eighth to have played under current coach Billy Donovan.
"I'm elated for Marreese and
his family," Donovan said. "I know this is a special moment for him and I'm extremely proud of Marreese. He's joining a fantastic organization, and I wish him all the best as he continues his playing career at the next level."
Speights acknowledged it was difficult to leave Florida. He leaves as the seventh-highest player picked in school history.
"It was just something in my heart that told me I was ready to play at the next level," Speights said.
Last year, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah were taken within the first nine picks in the NBA Draft. It was the first time ever three players from the same college were taken within the first nine selections.
Speights said he received phone calls from former UF teammates and current NBA players Taurean Green and Chris Richard shortly after he was picked.
"They just welcomed me and told me that I was going to be good, to keep playing hard," Speights said.

[azuquita8]

Ex-Gator Miller traded for third pick O.J. Mayo


Associated Press



Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded No. 3 pick O.J. Mayo to the Memphis Grizzlies for former Gator Mike Miller and Kevin Love in an eight-player, late-night blockbuster long after the NBA draft concluded.
A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed it to The Associated Press, speaking on the condition on anonymity because the trade had yet to be officially announced.
The Timberwolves also received frontcourt retreads Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins from Memphis in exchange for the draft rights to Mayo, forward Antoine Walker and guards Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.
The deal allows the Timberwolves to dump Walker, who was unhappy riding the bench on a young team, and Jaric's contract, which has three years and more than $21 million remaining.
Miller also fills a huge hole on the team as a perimeter shooter and gives them Love, a player who can play down low next to Al Jefferson on a formidable young front line.
The Grizzlies, in turn, get a dynamic guard in Mayo who was widely rated the third-best player in the draft behind Memphis guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who went first and second, respectively.
Timberwolves fans will likely be reminded of another lottery-swapping move two years ago, when Minnesota selected Brandon Roy, then traded him to Portland for Randy Foye and cash.
Roy went on to become rookie of the year in 2006-07 and an All-Star last season, while Foye has struggled with injuries while showing promise as a floor leader and playmaking perimeter threat.
With Foye and Rashad McCants — two smallish scoring guards — already on the roster, the Wolves started their evening by drafting the 6-foot-5 Mayo out of USC with the third pick.
Memphis took Love, a fundamentally sound 6-foot-10 power forward from UCLA, with the fifth overall pick.
Despite the apparent similarities between Mayo, Foye and Rashad McCants, assistant GM Fred Hoiberg told hundreds of fans gathered at Target Center for a draft party that he thought Mayo would fit in just fine with the guard-heavy Timberwolves.
"We thought there was a realistic chance Miami would take him at No. 2," Hoiberg said of the Heat, who chose Kansas State forward Michael Beasley. "We think that he'll come in and be able to help us out right away."
Hoiberg raved about Mayo's outside shooting and competitive spirit, calling him "a complete player, a complete person" and someone who can "come in and be able to help us out right away."
It turns out that Mayo helped them for about four hours.
McHale and the Wolves brass sat sequestered in the team's draft room for more than two hours after the draft concluded, hammering out the particulars of the deal.
Collins only has one year left on his contract, making him a hot commodity on the NBA trade market. Cardinal has two years left, while Miller is the outside shooter the team has been craving for years.
Miller averaged 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds a game and, most attractive the Wolves, shot 43 percent on 3-pointers last season.
Love set UCLA freshman records for scoring and rebounding on his way to being named conference player of the year in his only season with the Bruins. The Timberwolves were impressed by his passing, shooting range and knack for coming up with rebounds in traffic.
In Walker and Buckner, the Grizzlies get two veterans whose best days are long behind them and a guard/forward in Jaric that never fulfilled the promise McHale had for him when he traded Sam Cassell and a first-round draft choice for Jaric in 2005.
Memphis also traded the rights to Syracuse forward Donte Greene, the No. 28 pick, in exchange for the rights to Darrell Arthur, who was picked 27th and traded three times. New Orleans dealt his rights to Portland, which then traded him to Houston. The Rockets then traded his rights to Memphis early Friday morning.