Money Players

Blame agents and everyone else

Like most top college basketball freshman, Arizona's Jerryd Bayless has made himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft. He has also signed with a sports agent, which means he can't "test the waters" and return to college if he is dissatisfied with where he might go in the draft. Mock drafts currently have Bayless being selected anywhere from the 3rd to 5th pick.

Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson is apparently displeased that Bayless decided to leave, and is also upset that he was not consulted. Olson reportedly told ESPN's Andy Katz (ESPN Insider subscription required): "I don't think it was very intelligent on Jerryd's part, but his parents felt he should do it [and sign with an agent]."

Not intelligent? Wow. To me, it would be hard for anyone to find fault with Jerryd's decision. When these decisions are being contemplated I typically invoke legendary UNC coach Dean Smith, who generally advised players projected to be top 10 picks to come out early primarily because they could secure their financial future.

Olson is especially angry with basketball agent Jeff Schwartz, whom Bayless signed with. Said Olson,  "The agent never was in contact with us and never called anyone in the Arizona office to indicate that they would be signing Jerryd. We'll make sure that agent doesn't represent any of our players in the future as long as I'm here."

Perhaps Olson used his leave of absence to brush up on the Arizona's Uniform Athlete Agent Act (UAAA).

The University of Arizona athletic department's student-athlete handbook makes the law chillingly clear:

"You become immediately ineligible if you agree (orally or in writing) to have a person represent you in future negotiations involving your athletics abilities or worth. Be aware that Arizona State Law requires notification of your institution's athletic director within 72 hours if such an agreement is made with an agent. Civil or criminal action could result from non-compliance. You become ineligible at once if you or your family or friends accept anything (inducements) from an agent or their emissaries."

Olson may have wanted to be involved in the decision process, but Jerryd and his advisers didn't do so. That's their right. If Olson wanted to talk to Jerryd, then he should have reached out earlier. Complaining to Katz about what he thinks transpired is petty. And let's not forget that Olson, who recruited Bayless to play for him, presumably didn't consult with Bayless about his decision to not coach the team this past year.

--Marc Isenberg

Sex, Lies & NFL interrogations

According to NFL draft prospect Jerod Mayo, an NFL team asked him: "When's the last time you cheated on your girlfriend?" The logical follow up question by this Javert-type had to then be, "And when did you stop beating her?"

I understand the need for NFL teams to do background checks on draft prospects, but this question assumes guilt. Mayo handled the situation very well: "They didn't even ask me, 'Did you cheat on your girlfriend?' I told them I didn't cheat on my girlfriend."

This reminds me of the great story then-free agent Jayson Williams told about how the Chicago Bulls put him through several hours of psychological testing and questioning. The Bulls then signed the ultimate headcase, Dennis Rodman. On the other hand, Rodman never shot anyone to death, so perhaps Jerry Krause knew what he was doing. 

25th Aniversary of the best rant ever

Chicago Cub manager Lee Elia going off on the Wrigley Field bums is the most poetic rant of all time As a kid growing up in Chicago, I could recite the Pledge of Allegiance and this:

They are really behind you around here. My f------ a--. What the f--- am I supposed to do? Go out there and let my f------ players get destroyed everyday? And be quiet about it? For the nickel dime people that show up.  The mother f------ don't even work. That's why they are out at the f------- game. They outta go out and get a f------- job and find out what it's like to go and earn a f------ living. 85% of the f------ world is world is working. The other 15% come out here.

Warning: This is the version without 10,000 bleeps.

Lee Elia is an underrated orator. Perhaps lost in the torrent of F bomb is some very skillfully delivered arguments."Right now, we have more losses than we have wins. The f------- changes that have happened in the Cubs organization are multifold. Alright, they don't show because we're 5-14. Unfortunately, that's the criteria [pronounced criterier] of them dumb 15 mother------- percent that come out to day baseball."

Beyond the F bombs, Elia had a pretty simple, sound view of baseball: "The name of the game is hit the ball, catch the ball and get the f----- job done."

UPDATE: Chicago Trib writer Teddy Greenstein looks back, including a great Sportsphone reference...as a kid I would call that 976# every 15 minutes to get score updates, much to my mother's chagrin. Jeff Davis, a good friend who wrote detailed biographies of Pete Rozelle and Papa Bear, was then Channel 5's sports producer. Davis recalls: "I never heard anyone go off like that with that kind of language. And I was in the Navy."

Kobe's incredible fete of feets

If you haven't seen, this is must-see.

I'm pretty sure the car was behind Kobe, but this is still pretty amazing.

I have no doubt Kobe could jump over a speeding Astin Martin, but it's all timing. If Kobe mis-times his jump, his career would be over. Instantly.

Credit Nike for yet-another brilliant marketing concept. It looks low-budget, but it's incredibly well conceived. Best viral marketing involving NBA star this side of Chris Bosh.