The Play of 'SneakerPlay'

I'm all about 'SneakerPlay' these days...

What's up with 'SneakerPlay', you ask?

Well, it's a social networking site for sneaker enthusiasts. There are over 10,000 members, and they're all very active. The cool thing is that you have to be invited to the site, which the members are very protective with their invites.

Goes to show you that social networking is shifting into niches much like the same way everything else is going these days. When you think about it, who the hell wants to hang out in the mainstream of MySpace, Friendster, and YouTube any way with all of the other options that are emerging by the week.

I added my Air Rifts from '95 as my first profile 'battle' pic. I'll let you know how the Rifts are rated and how they'll perform in the network...This site is very cool.

As for the Air Rift, here's the scoop on why I think they were a bad-ass shoe that is mad underrated.

First off, they're great for summer runs. Second, they're named after the Rift Valley in Kenya. At the time, the Kenyas were developing dominating runners who would run in packs that mystified the running world. Everyone was trying to dream up any concept that they could conceive of in order to stay competitive with the Kenyans, and this shoe is to resemble barefoot running.

Yes, the Nike Free is the sequel to this concept.

When the Rifts came out, people were terrified of them. My feeling is that the split toe design was too innovative for cats. Yet, that design is what made them dope.

The shoes also came with socks. I still have a couple of pairs laying around. The problem is that they were way too thin.

By '96, Madonna, porn stars, and other cornballs got a hold of them, and they lost the swagger in a almost aqua-sock way.



These are the originals. I picked them up from NikeTown Chicago on their release date back in '95. Rocked them after the Chicago Marathon. I knew they were dope when I ran into a couple of Kenyan runners and serious marathon runners in them during their post-race runs.

Any thing to gain an advantage or a new secret...I like that about footwear. Those are the guys that shoes are made for.

Bangin' shoe...Bangin' site.

Innovation...Catch 'em if you can,
IronDog

AirRift
Nike
Rift
NikeRunning
SneakerPlay

Early Thoughts

I've watched a lot of Tar Heel Basketball over the past week or two. My first thoughts after the Heels 73-66 win in the preseason NIT...

Gregg Marshall is a helluva coach, and Winthrop is a solid team.

So...Where does that leave my opinion?

I'm neither upset with the performance nor the effort in this game. A lack of practice time, rookie moves, and a great shooting first half by a solid opponent. I'm not hating on that game at all.

The Tar Heels are a great, great, great team.

Quick Thoughts:

Brandan Wright - Each and every time that I see the guy whether he's in a pick-up game, practice, or game, he gets better. The guy's a freak...He's what everyone is talking about as the 21st century big-man, long arms, can run the floor, plays both ends. I can't wait until he begins to unveil an outside game with confidence.

Danny Green - 9 Minutes of time...hmmm...Am I the only one who likes this kid's game? Believe me, this kid gets some time and confidence, I really think you could see a very solid and consistent piece to the puzzle. Unfortunately, I think we won't see him bloom until Reyshawn Terry graduates. I still think he hasn't even come close to tapping his potential. Way underrated.

Wayne Ellington - Man, he's a quiet double figure scorer, isn't he? He made some tough turnovers, and Roy stuck with him. Great move. Hopefully, he develops a lot of confidence with that stroke because that's why he's here. He seems to be an untouchable in terms of getting 'yanked', which shows great coaching by Coach Williams.

His long-term development is crucial. This team is going to need his outside shooting.

Reyshawn Terry - He still reminds me of a young Byron Russell. Then again, he disappeared again...And I'm hoping that he develops consistency.

With his stroke and talent, it's tough watching the guy disappear and then wow everyone in the building with a move or with that stroke of his. He's a wonderful 3 man, but I'm hoping that he's not up-and-down this season because I think Green, Ellington, or Ginyard could make up for that slot quickly in other ways. I also don't think a beat would be missed as much as you think...That thought is not shared by many. Nibble if you wish...I still love that guy's stroke.

Deon Thompson - Does anyone realize how valuable this guy could become? I never had a great shot watching him up close until the last two exhibition games. After tonight's game, I am sold on the guy. Buy, buy, buy...early.

That kid is not only a throwback with his moves, but he has a nice touch...(Yess...I know that he did draw all glass with one shot during the Winthrop game.) Yet, this kid is nice-nice. He has great moves, great feet, solid fundamentals, and wonderful timing. 7 minutes isn't going to play...I am expecting this guy to steal some serious tick by mid-year. If not, I'd be very puzzled.

I know it's early for him, but this kid has serious stuff...Stuff that could allow you to play into your mid-30s at a high, high level.

One and One: I couldn't get to the list over the past few...So, here are a few things.

**Just watched the 'Zags play...They're very nice. I'm still crushed watching a couple of those guys on that team from the UCLA loss last season. They have a lot of experience, and I'm very thankful that Micah Downs isn't with that team yet. That would make this next game very interesting for the Heels.

Every year the 'Zags are closer and closer. That program is getting deeper and deeper with their talent. They're building consistency. I'm just saying...They could be a lot like the DePaul teams from the '70s and '80s. Small Catholic basketball program that recruits and nurtures local talent...Those consistent boom seasons are not that far off.

**Late to the game on this one: Yet, great call with William Graves on that redshirt year...I love that kid. G'boro in the House!

Nice J, and more importantly wide eyes and smiles whenever the guy is seen around campus so far. My bet is that he steps into Danny Green's role next year while Green is promoted to Reyshawn Terry's role. Here's to hoping that the pride of Dudley High stays away from the Chick Fill-A at Lenoir Hall.

Tap-Dunk: If Bobby Frasor is not on the floor in either tight situations or at the end of the game, this team is going down, down, down...His floor presence is vastly underrated.

P.S. Don't mess with the Southside Irish.

Garden Party,
IronDog

Nice laugh, but 'Cue' it at the Right Time

Here's an article that has been passed around the Tar Heel nation today...

Check out Gregg Doyel's CBS Sportsline article here.

My opinion is that Gregg Doyel is a "quack"...His basketball articles are below average, and I often wonder if he's ever worn a pair of game shorts.

With this article, Dick Baddour is an easy target to pelt right now. And if you do go after him right now, it's not like you're throwing a beanball at Albert Pujols. It's a softball move...

In this article, Doyel's supporting points are that Baddour bungled the opportunity to interview NFL coordinators, Marvin Lewis or Herm Edwards, at the time of the 2000 hiring of John Bunting.

Yet, people need to realize that the reason why Marvin Lewis was neither hired by the NFL nor an major D-1 program as a head coach stemmed from his behavior off-the-filed. That was the reason he was never hired by anyone to be a head.

I chuckle a lot when I hear the minority card implicated by writers and announcers as to why Lewis wasn't hired. Those critics forget that the undertow in the NFL was that Lewis wasn't hired not because of ability or race, but due to the fact that NFL execs were scared stiff by his potential to live up the high life in Green Bay. I wouldn't be surprised if Baddour knew Lewis's hidden escapades in Green Bay as well.

Now after thinking about someone coming from an NFL staff down to the college ranks, I don't think that people realize how big of a difference between the two levels exists. There are a lot of adjustments to make. Especially, with dealing with recruits and the pressure of boosters who have no idea about how tough establishing a culture is at a program. For every Dave Wannstedt, Bill Callahan, and Chan Gailey, there's Ron Zook, John Bunting, or Al Groh.

For the same amount of reasons that I can see why an NFL coordinator or former head coach can work as a hire, I can also see why an NFL hire doesn't work. I'm on the NFL tip big-time when it comes to a hire, but when people point to cases such as Pete Carroll and Charlie Weis, you have to peer at the few easy reasons of why those hires worked.

For Pete Carroll's case:

A.) From NorCal and understands the USC culture in the state of California. He also sells USC Football, which is very similar to selling UNC or Duke Basketball.
B.) He has a tremendous knack and financial support for recruiting coaches to join his staff. Examples; Norm Chow, Ken Norton Jr.
C.) 'Open' support and "looser" admission requirements to reconstruct the program.
C.) Loves to recruit

For Charlie Weis:

A.) ND Alum, passion for the school, selling Notre Dame, knows his 'O.'
B.) He built a tremendous staff.
C.) "Open" is not even a word to describe the amount of support through facilities and staff funding that ND has given him to resurrect the program.
D.) He loves to recruit.

Does a marriage between UNC and an NFL coordinator like Marvin Lewis or Herman Edwards fit that mold?...Nah. And do NFL or NBA assistants realize how challenging recruiting is without a passion for it? NO.

So, Doyel needs to get off supposed slip-ups of not hiring Lewis or Edwards.

Also, you have to remember the board and the donors have to like the guy as well. With John Bunting as a UNC alum, everyone thought Bunting would be a better hire over Mark Richt because of Bunting's NFL experience and his passion for the alma mater. I'll give Baddour the benefit of the doubt on that one.

As for the call backs, that's a different story...I find it embarrassing that someone in Baddour's position would not reach out to the NFL coaches that were applying for the job, regardless if they're a viable candidate or not.

Especially, when you consider the amount of kids, who by the end of careers are fighting like hell for free-agent slots in NFL camps...You never know when that failed call back hits a kid when he's trying out in the Chiefs camp as a special teams guy...Catch my drift...Now I know it's a small chance, but I can't tell you how many times that I've heard or read stories that players have stuck on a roster because they were a 'Carolina guy.'

Valid points with Doyel's roundhouses...Yet, I'm keeping my faith in Neinas and Baddour.

As for my opinion of the man in the hot seat. I'm right in the middle of the road. The match is tied. This coaching hire is game, set, and match for his legacy. Personally, I don't think he'll mess this one up with Neinas around.

Waiting Patiently,
IronDog

(Note 1: Another example to add to those NFL examples in the future may be that dream of Steve Mariucci and MSU. After watching how well of a fit that he was at Cal years ago, hmmm....Very tasty. Then again, you only have to turn to Al Groh.)

(Note 2: I drafted Rasheed in the fifth round of my 10 team NBA fantasy draft because I think he'll get double eligibility this season and he'll shoot more threes in a more uptempo system...He gets tossed in the first game. Comes back for 18 pts, 2 threes, and 9 boards tonight. I still love the guy.)