Tidbits From the Bizzare Sports World
Zach Turner
A sports writer is typically not one dimensional, which means not limited to one sport.
Sure you have the major league sports writers that cover the local professional team, but they can still weigh in on other sports.
The thoughts and storylines in sports are endless.
Which is the same point of the column as well, but don’t worry, it will have an end.
Amare Stoudemire’s Idiotic Injury
The Knicks All-Star forward punched a fire extinguisher Monday after 10-point loss to the Miami Heat in the second game of the series. Smooth move.
Stoudemire’s frustration could be that he only took nine shots because that would make any player with his ego mad, but perhaps it is because the Knicks are better without him.
Remember the Linsanity era?
Amare did not play in the first five games that Lin started.
When Carmelo Anthony logged his second-career triple-double late in the season versus the Celtics?
Amare was on the bench with an injury.
With the Knicks down 2-0 to the reigning Eastern Conference Champions and the series not looking any better for the blue and orange, it seems like Amare’s days of calling Madison Square Garden could be numbered.
That is after he gets his $100 million contract paid in full, though.
2013 NFL Draft
Yes, I realize the 2012 NFL Draft just ended, but it is not against the law to look forward to next year’s draft.
Depending on who is picking first, Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley will be the first quarterback taken.
Also Tyrann Mathieu, let the Honey Badger jokes begin, will be the first defensive back taken, though he is very undersized at just 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. You can’t underestimate a nose for the ball.
However, Arkansas will be well represented in the first round if the Hogs continue to win games in 2012 like they have the past two seasons.
Tyler Wilson will be the second quarterback taken, while running back Knile Davis will be the second running back taken if he plays in all the Razorbacks games during the 2012 season.
If Cobi Hamilton puts up impressive numbers, similar to Vikings draftee Jarius Wright in 2011, he, too, will be a first-rounder.
Hogs Football Success in 2012
Staying on the topic of Arkansas football, now would be a good time for a pre-summer prediction of the Hogs’ record in the first and more-than-likely only season of the John L. Smith era.
Until a coach can prove to beat Alabama by actually doing it, I will continue to pick Saban’s team over anyone.
Same goes for LSU, even though Bobby Petrino was 2-2 against the Bayou Bengals. Arkansas will lose to both Southeastern Conference juggernauts and end 2012 with another Cotton Bowl victory, this time over TCU.
Razorback Basketball Comes Up Short
This will be the headline in mid-March when Arkansas fails to make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season.
The Hogs are on the brink, but will be ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s favorite bubble team on all his SportsCenter segments coming down to Selection Sunday.
The reason?
Just like last season, zero significant wins against teams away from Bud Walton Arena.
Though coach Mike Anderson might finish his 2012 recruiting class with a bit of steam, it is still lacking.
However, the former Nolan Richardson assistant will load up a top 10 2013 class and have the hoop Hogs in the midst come March Madness that season.
Closing Thought
No, I will not have a column in next week’s Arkansas Traveler.
There is no Traveler next week and this is my last column.
Zach Turner is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday. Follow him on Twitter @zwturner.
