Before Game 5 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, I had the opportunity to catch up with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.  During our brief conversation, I asked him to grade the Knicks overall performance on the season, and to also give his opinion about what the team’s offseason priorities should include as they look to improve. Per ususal, Stephen A. didn’t hold back.  Watch the video to hear his response.

Whoa.  I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t surprised to hear him say that everyone can be shipped to another team, no exceptions.  Although I do agree that the Knicks must undergo a major roster overhaul to improve next season, I don’t agree that no one is safe.  Carmelo Anthony is definitely the foundation of the team, and the Knicks need to focus on surrounding him with talent that complement his game.  Beyond that, the only other player I definitely would like to return is Iman Shumpert.  But I also understand he’s probably our best bargaining chip and we might have to lose him in exchange for some much needed upgrades at other positions.

Regardless, as I mentioned, and to which Stephen A. agreed, Knicks GM, Glen Grunwald, is going to have a very difficult task this summer.  The Knicks salary cap situation is a complete nightmare and will only become more complicated once the new luxury tax fines begin next season.  Looking ahead, the Knicks already have $57 million tied up among Melo ($21.6 mil), Amar’e Stoudemire ($21.4 mil), and Tyson Chandler ($14.1 mil).  Without any roster changes, the team is already capped out at $76 million.  It’s still unknown what the 2013-2014 salary cap will be, but if you base it on the $70.3 million that teams had to work with this season, it’s clear that Grunwald will once again be forced to get creative in order for the Knicks’ season to continue well into June.  Let the roster shakeup commence!

Do you agree with Stephen A. and think it’s important to explore trading everyone, Melo included, or are the Knicks better off than we think?

-@sdotrenee

photo via New York Knicks Memes

The New York Knicks face elimination tonight.  And although they need to take one game at a time, Knicks fans remain hopeful that Melo and crew will defend their homecourt to force a Game 6 on Saturday.  But let’s be honest, hard to please Knicks fans won’t be satisfied unless the team goes on a three-game winning streak to eliminate the Indiana Pacers in seven games.

Last night, the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder fell short of pushing their series to six games, but will the Knicks be more prosperous tonight?  Well, according to history, it’s not an impossibility.  In the league’s history, eight teams have successfully bounced back from being down 3-1 to ultimately win the series, 4-3.  Also, six out of the eight teams benefited from homecourt advantage, something the Knicks secured after beating the Indiana Pacers during the last week of the regular season.

In the spirit of #ThrowbackThursday and encouraging Knicks fans to keep hope alive, here’s a summary of the elite club that the Knicks aim to join, courtesy of Cleveland.com:

• 2006: The Phoenix Suns started the 2006 playoffs by falling behind, 3-1, to the Los Angeles Lakers before winning the series. They won the next round against the Los Angeles Clippers before losing in the conference finals to the Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix (54-28 during the regular season) had the homecourt advantage over the Lakers (45-37). Phoenix star: league MVP Steve Nash.

• 2003: The Detroit Pistons trailed the Orlando Magic, 3-1, but came back to win the Eastern Conference first-round matchup. The Pistons also won in the next round before losing in the conference finals. The Pistons (50-32) enjoyed the homecourt advantage over Orlando (42-40). Detroit defender: NBA defensive player of the year Ben Wallace.

• 1997: The Miami Heat came back to defeat the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but lost in the next round despite a 61-win regular season. Miami (61-21) had the homecourt advantage over New York (57-25). Miami scoring leader: Tim Hardaway.

• 1995: The underdog Houston Rockets rallied to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals, and then went on the win the NBA championship. During the regular season, Phoenix (59-23) was 12 games better than Houston (47-35). Houston starting lineup included current TNT analyst Kenny Smith.

• 1981: The Boston Celtics stormed back to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals en route to the NBA title. Boston and Philadelphia had tied for the best record in the East that year at 62-20, but Boston had the homecourt for Game 7. Boston star: Larry Bird.

• 1979: The Washington Bullets rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the Eastern Conference finals, before losing to the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA finals. Washington (54-28) had the homecourt advantage over San Antonio (48-34). Washington star: Elvin Hayes.

• 1970: The Los Angeles Lakers came back to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals and then advanced to the NBA finals before losing to the New York Knicks. During the regular season, the Lakers (46-36) had a better record than Phoenix (39-43). Laker stars: Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.

• 1968: The Boston Celtics rallied to defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers to win the Eastern Conference finals and then went on to win the NBA championship. The Celtics did this despite having to win Game 7 in Philadelphia. The 76ers (62-20) had a better record than Boston (54-28) during the regular season. Boston stars: Bill Russell and John Havlicek.

As you see, homecourt advantage wasn’t the only benefit.  A few of the teams that made history also had bonafide superstars:  Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Steve Nash, to name a few.  Message being, if the Knicks plan to get it done, Carmelo must dial into Melo Mode and play like his life depends on it.  That Syracuse dominance from ’03 and unstoppable flow that helped him seal the scoring champ title toward the end of the season. Yep, we need that Melo.  It’ll also help if Coach Woodson stops sleepwalking during the playoffs and wakes the hell up!

-@sdotrenee

Props:  Cleveland.com

photo via AP

Last night was ugly. After the Knicks game, I wanted nothing to do with anyone. Truth be told, I still don’t. But since writing tends to be therapeutic at times, I decided to write a quick blog with random thoughts and questions about the Knicks. They’re not in any particular order. My mind doesn’t work like that, lol. Instead, it’s just a brain dump or rambling list of things that have pissed me all the way off about this series.

Let’s dive in.

No. 1

If I had 3 seconds with Mike Woodson, I’d ask, ‘Why doesn’t Chris Copeland get more minutes?’ Because he’s lax on defense? I’m not buying that. Copeland’s contributions in other areas of the game i.e. offense and his willingness/ability to take a charge cannot be overlooked. When he gets minutes, he’s never not efficient. For the second straight game, he came in and knocked down a three. He’s the one player on the team that always manages to be productive regardless of how long he’s been on the bench. With JR Smith hungover from spending late nights with Rihanna, Carmelo desperately needs help on the offensive end. Cope can be that dude. He gets buckets. Give Cope a chance. It’s never a regrettable move. Ever.

No. 2

What happened to Pablo Prigioni? Why did he only log three minutes? Call me crazy, but when Pablo’s on the floor, good things happen. The ball movement is there and dudes get better shots. I don’t understand Woodson’s logic in “rewarding” Jason Kidd with playing time when he’s playing so poorly. Prigioni also has amazing instincts defensively. He should not be buried on the bench behind Jason Kidd who hasn’t scored in three weeks…eight games…384 minutes! Have you seen his game log lately? If you didn’t know any better, and looked strictly at his points column, you’d assume he received a DNP. That’s how terrible he’s been. Offensively, Pablo isn’t pouring on the points either, but at least he’s not afraid to shoot! When Kidd gets the ball, and has an open look, he passes it off quicker than someone playing a game of hot potato (did I just show my age with that reference?). Considering the Knicks are losing the battle of the boards, we need to rely on other ways to create first and second opportunities. Coming up with steals is a viable option, especially given Prigioni’s quickness. Having him on the bench for 45 minutes was a bad Coach’s decision.

No. 3

Speaking of steals, Shump should never ever sit on the bench for as long as he did last night. I don’t care if he was 0-6. During this series, he’s been our best player. Certainly the most consistent. If his knee wasn’t an issue, he should’ve been on the floor. Period.

No. 4

Why hasn’t Woodson been more critical of the referees? It’s clear the refs have a vendetta against the Knicks. They have all season. The players are visibly frustrated on the court because of all of the bullshit calls made against them. Last night, the Pacers had 30 attempts from the stripe compared to the Knicks’ 14. Melo, a superstar, only had 5 FT attempts. During the series, the Pacers have had 25 more free throw attempts than the Knicks (97 – 72). What part of the game is that? I think the most frustrating part about watching the refs make and miss calls is the blatancy. While watching the game at home, I’m ready to throw bows, so I can’t imagine how the players must feel. Keeping your emotions in check is necessary, but I also know it’s a lot easier said than done. Long before last night, Woodson should have taken one for the team, and eaten the fine that Daddy Warbucks Dolan would probably pay anyway. If nothing becomes of it, at least the players and fans know he acknowledged the situation. Speak up!

No. 5

For the record, I’m not a Steve Novak fan. He’s had his moments but lately he’s been a huge disappointment. And for someone with a game as one dimensional as Novak’s, if he’s not knocking down shots, then he’s rendered just as useful as I’d be if I were part of the rotation. However, when nothing else works and the season is on the line, throw (almost) everything against the wall and see if it sticks. And in this case, I would lobby for Novak to get more minutes. For a good portion of the game, the Knicks were within striking distance and a three here or there would’ve gotten them right back in the game. Let’s face it, the Knicks have been struggling offensively. Novak has the ability to be deadly from the three, but it’s impossible to know if he can contribute anything if he’s not given a shot.

No. 6

I get it. Amar’e Stouedmire is more fragile than the leg lamp from A Christmas Story. And defensively, he gets manhandled like a blowup doll. The Pacers have no respect for STAT’s poor excuse for defense. But check this out, since his return on Saturday, he’s looked solid offensively. He’s moving well, playing physical, getting to the basket, and grabbing rebounds. We need all of that. I understand why the Knicks are monitoring his minutes, but right now the Knicks are only guaranteed 48 more minutes this season. I say kick more minutes Amar’e's way, especially since JR Smith isn’t carrying the second unit like we’re used to. If Melo is going to rest, let Amar’e lead. It’s do or die and he’s the $100 million man, let him earn his check for once.

No. 7

Who the hell does Tyson Chandler think he is to criticize the Knicks offense? His barely there defense this series has done nothing but magnify his nonexistent offensive game, especially considering how Roy Hibbert and Paul George have been killing the Knicks on both ends of the court. Before putting up a double-double last night, 12 points, 10 rebounds, he grabbed 3, 4, and 5 rebounds in Games 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Pathetic and inexcusable for someone his size. And generally speaking, he can’t even knock down a 10 ft. jumper. His game has been less than A+ and he’s in no position to come at anyone.

No. 8

Why’d it take JR so long to start driving to the basket again? When Melo was injured and JR carried the team, it wasn’t because of his three point game, it was because he penetrated (pun intended) to the hole. Once he made that adjustment last night, he started to cook. It was a little too late, but maybe/hopefully it’ll give him the confidence he needs going into Game 5. If JR goes out like this, he can kiss that huge payday goodbye.

No. 9

Should Mike Woodson be worried about job security? During the season, I would’ve Johnny Cochran’d anyone who didn’t agree that Woodson should receive Coach of the Year honors. I’m not saying he was the only rightful contender, but he definitely deserved to be in the conversation and by the time I was done with you, I would’ve made you a believer. But now, I can’t even convince myself that he’s worthy. His rotations have been baffling, inexplicable, and indefensible. In a must-win situation, he pulled all the wrong strings. Exhibit A: The Knicks are struggling to score, but he thinks a rotation of Chandler, Kidd, JR, and K. Mart at the same damn time will provide that offensive spark we need. It’s insane. The expectations for the Knicks to advance to the Eastern Conference finals were high. If they are eliminated by the Pacers, 4-1, could Woodson possibly get PJ Carlisimo’d out of NYC? Because my emotions are high and he has a reputation for coaching teams that choke in the playoffs, I would argue that it should be a consideration. But then reality sets in and I think the only coach I would want in New York is Phil Jackson and he said he’s done with coaching, so…*sigh*.

No. 10

Rasheed Wallace, you are truly and deeply missed. Not only could you have given our bench depth, but your intangibles such as toughness and intimidation are invaluable and desperately needed against the Pacers.

I know I can’t be the only Knicks or NBA fan with these thoughts. If you agree, disagree, have your own random thoughts about this series, leave a comment below.

-@sdotrenee

photo via Daniel Mears/Detroit News

Over the past week and a half, Titus Young, former Detroit Lions wide receiver, has dominated the headlines for troublesome behavior that led him to getting arrested three times in one week. His rampage first became news last Monday when he was arrested on DUI charges.  Shortly after he was released from jail, he was arrested again for allegedly hopping a fence and trying to steal his car back out of the police impound.  And then as recently as this Friday, Young was arrested a third time on charges of burglary, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer.

Considering Young’s violent past at both Boise State and with the Detroit Lions, many merely dismissed the talented athlete’s recent behavior as Young being Young.  However, Titus’ father, Richard, recently spoke to the Detroit Free Press and offered a different explanation for his son’s behavior.

Richard Young shared that Titus has a brain disorder that worsened as a result of an unreported concussion suffered during his son’s rookie season.  Titus has been prescribed medication but has not been taking it recently, and that may be cause for Titus acting out.

Richard saw Titus hours before his last arrest on Friday.  They sat down together, talked, and enjoyed coffee and donuts.  Richard was optimistic, especially since Titus was scheduled to re-enter a treatment center on Monday.  But suddenly things took a bad turn.  Richard told the Detroit Free Press, “We were really talking, and so I was loving it.  We get home, and he said, ‘Daddy, I left my phone in the car. Can I get my phone?’ ’Cause usually I give my wife the key to hold the key, ’cause he’s not supposed to be driving. And I gave him the key, he sat in the car for a minute, and he took off and we ain’t seen him since.”

A few hours later, Young was locked up for the third time in a week.

Richard went on to say,

I hope they just forgive Titus because this ain’t none of Titus, it wasn’t none of his fault.  I look at my son right now, I don’t see my son. That’s not my son. I know my son. Titus is not the boy I really raised, I’m saying the way he act, the way he intermix in society right now. He shut down, he look through you, it’s like he’s depressed. He don’t like to watch TV, he don’t like to get involved with music that much. And these are the things that you’ve got to know what’s going on in the world. Cause we in the world, you’ve got to have a relationship with the world. You’ve got to deal with people. I don’t know, but we’ve been trying to get him help.

I don’t know exactly how Titus’ brain disorder impacts his decision making but it seems that he was sound enough to successfully lie to his parents so he could return to his car and get away; possibly trying to avoid returning to the treatment center on Monday.  Or, maybe it’s all a cry out for help.  I don’t know.  Regardless, for Titus’ sake, I’m happy that Richard spoke up on his behalf.  As a father, it must’ve been extremely hurtful to see the countless negative headlines and comments regarding his son and look away, especially when he believes what’s being reported and unfolding in the media isn’t the whole story.

Since his last arrest, Titus has been held in the medical ward of the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana, Calif.  For now, that’ll do because it guarantees Titus won’t get arrested again but long term, Titus definitely needs specialized treatment to help him better manage his disorder. Hopefully Titus’ family and friends who have his best interest in mind, remain active in his life and are able to help him before he becomes more damaging to himself and others.

-@sdotrenee

Props:  Detroit Free Press

My brother and I attended Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers.  We were, without exaggeration, seated at the very highest level of the Garden. Talk about nosebleeds.  If we jumped too high, it was quite possible we’d suffer a concussion from hitting our heads on the roof.  But none of that mattered to me because I was one of 18,000 fans who could actually say I witnessed one of the greatest Knicks plays of all time in person.

Because I was seated so high, I stood for most of the game, especially the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.  Regardless of how great your vision is or an arena’s sight lines are, when you’re that high up, the angles are unfavorable.  Every player looks unrecognizable…like an ant.

As the final minutes of the game turned to seconds, and it became a one to two possession game, I was shook.  I could not stomach the moment.  It wasn’t Game 7, but the rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers was so intense that every game mattered.  They were all must wins.  And at this point, the series was tied 1-1.  Prior to Game 3, both games had been won by the slimmest of margins, three points or less.  Game 3 was proving to be no different. With 11.9 seconds remaining, the Pacers led the Knicks by 3 points.  I took a deep breath, shot up a prayer and thought to myself, here we go again.

Charlie Ward inbounded the ball to Larry Johnson and the Pacers almost came up with the steal.  I began to implode emotionally.  My nerves kicked into overdrive and everything around me slowed down.  LJ, however, maintained possession and his cool.    Antonio Davis was playing LJ real tight. As the seconds ticked away, I thought is LJ going to be able to even get off a shot? If he did, would it be a good shot? I never even fathomed the idea of a four point play being an option.  In my mind, he’d either tie the game and send it to overtime, or miss the shot and ruin the night of every Knicks fan everywhere.

We all know what happened next.

LJ launched the three and it seemed like an eternity between the release of the ball and the made shot. As you’ll see in the video, when 18K fans realized LJ knocked down the shot to tie the game, it was if someone pressed an eject button.  All at once, we jumped to our feet, exploding with excitement and disbelief.  The high fives and hugs among strangers were never-ending.  I yelled so loudly that I became dizzy and had visions of stars.  Eventually, we all managed to settle down so LJ could concentrate on his free throw.  But when it was clear that LJ nailed the game winning foul shot, every inch of MSG began to rock again with fans super charged from the greatest adrenaline rush one could ever experience.  Whatever feeling you’re imagining right now, it was that times a million.

Here’s footage from one of the most dramatic moments in Knicks playoffs history.

Whenever I visit the Garden or see Larry Johnson, I think about this play.  For me, it’s definitely a top five sports moment.  Without a doubt.

-@sdotrenee

Last night, A-listers and some not so A-listers, attended the 2013 Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  This year’s theme, Punk: From Chaos to Couture, was cause for celebrities to push the envelope and tap into their inner rocker chic with bold eye makeup, short hemlines, loud patterns, and hard and soft embellishments.  As usual, there were a lot of hits and, of course, some major misses on the red carpet.

Just like last year, I bring you a roundup of the athletes and celebrities who represented the sports world.  This year’s list included Mrs. Shawn Carter, Lala Anthony, Lindsey Vonn, Tiger Woods, and many more.

Click the pictures below to view the slideshow and see the sports world’s biggest fashion winners and losers from last night.

For more photos, head over to People.com.

See you next year!

-@sdotrenee

photos via Getty Images

image via getty

Over the weekend, it was announced that LeBron James was voted Most Valuable Player for the 2012-2013 NBA season.  The news wasn’t surprising at all as LeBron was undoubtedly the most consistent and dominant player of the season.  While there were many other strong candidates, such as Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant, also up for consideration, the majority of fans and NBA insiders agreed that LeBron deserved the award.  But when news broke that one voter out of 121, was responsible for LeBron not being a unanimous pick everyone wondered who could or would do such a thing.

Well, as it turns out, and this was a shock to everyone, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, ironically, was the lone voter to go against LeBron.  After many people falsely accused the New York media for voting for Carmelo Anthony, Washburn outed himself in his column and explained how Melo earned his vote.  Here’s part of what he wrote,

Anthony led the league in scoring average and basically carried an old Knicks team to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Amar’e Stoudemire missed most of the season with knee issues, Raymond Felton missed six weeks, and Tyson Chandler dealt with nagging injuries, leaving Anthony, J.R. Smith, and a bunch of lottery picks from the mid-1990s to win 54 games and beat the Miami Heat three times….So my vote had more to do with Anthony and less to do with the dominance of LeBron. If you were to take Anthony off the Knicks, they are a lottery team. James plays with two other All-Stars, the league’s all-time 3-point leader, a defensive stalwart, and a fearless point guard. The Heat are loaded….And the fact that Anthony is struggling in the playoffs, three weeks after I cast my vote, is a serious case of Wednesday morning quarterbacking. Anthony scored 50 points at Miami April 2 and averaged 36.9 points in April when the Knicks were trying to lock down the Atlantic Division and the No. 2 seed.

I  can’t argue with LeBron winning MVP this season.  However, Washburn certainly makes some valid points regarding Melo.  Melo not only carried the Knicks team all season long, but he carried them to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.  At the beginning of the season, many of the same sportswriters who voted for LeBron set low expectations for the Knicks.  Opinions were mixed about whether the Knicks were even capable of being one of the Top 4 teams in the Eastern Conference.  Hell, many incorrectly predicted the Brooklyn Nets would have a more successful season than the Knicks.  The Knicks were labeled old, and it was largely believed that the oldest team in the league would limp into the playoffs.  Sure, the Knicks suffered many injuries and casualties along the way, but Melo put the team on his back and played lights out down the stretch, when it counted most.

As Washburn intimated, the hot-handed Melo that the Knicks rode throughout the season is currently MIA.  He’s struggled mightily in the playoffs.  However, Melo’s recent struggles do not make his regular season heroics insignificant.  As a Knicks fan, I just hope Melo’s able to remind everyone why he was a strong contender for MVP in the first place.  And quickly.

Come on, Melo. Don’t make a liar out of the one sportswriter who had your back.

To read the article in its entirety, go here.

-@sdotrenee

Narrating the #QuickAintFair spot to the beat of his track, Goldie, A$AP tells us about the mythical Quick family who dominated the competition due to the unfair advantage that lived in their shoes.

This spot had me at Goldie, one of my favorite tracks off Long.Live.A$AP.  But beyond that, watching the three young stars of the NBA stunt and demonstrate their quick footwork, spin moves, and crossovers are pretty nice payoffs too.

The CrazyQuick dropped yesterday and is available in five colorways:  Metallic Silver, Electricity/White, Collegiate Royal/White, Running White, and Medium Lead/White.  They retail for $140.

-@sdotrenee

photo via Kwaku Alston/SI

So, yesterday it happened.  A male athlete, Jason Collins, of a major American professional sport announced that he’s gay in a cover story for Sports Illustrated.  The reactions have been pouring in nonstop.  Here’s my obligatory response.

Honestly, it bothers me that this is a thing. That gay athletes feel they must hide who they are from the world for fear of losing their jobs or fans, being considered less than a man, being rejected by close-minded athletes or being attacked by spiritual quacks who hide behind the bible to disguise their own ignorance.  I strongly dislike that in 2013, Collins felt it necessary to share his secret with a major media sports outlet instead of having the right to keep his personal life private, without judgement or backlash.  I know Collins coming out was partially due to his willingness to become involved in many of the pressing issues surrounding the gay community, and I applaud that.  But I know his public announcement also had to do with him being fearful of having his life exposed.

I didn’t announce my heterosexuality to friends, family, or coworkers. However, homosexual athletes and other public figures are held to different standards and are expected to.  And if they don’t publicize their sexual orientation, they’re labeled as “closeted” or accused of being ashamed of their “lifestyle”.  If, prior to his announcement, Collins one day decided he wanted to carryout normal, everyday tasks, accompanied by his partner, and cameras “caught” them, his life would’ve been scrutinized by every print, online, or TV outlet.  Collins, or any gay person, should feel comfortable to live privately without it being assumed that they’re hiding something.

Personally, I’ve always maintained a private dating life.  It’s been over a decade since my family has met anyone I’ve dated.  And when I am dating someone, they have no idea.  Does that mean I’m hiding something?  No.  It just means that I’d rather protect the personal details of my relationships and wait to introduce my family to that special someone.  Once I know it’s meaningful and worthy of their attention, then I’ll blow the lid off.  And there’s no harm in that because it’s my prerogative and I live my life according to my own rules.  I would never allow anyone else’s values, judgements or beliefs dictate how I live my life.  However, as a straight woman, I recognize that’s a privilege, and I have a problem with that.  Why aren’t gays entitled to the same privacy rights without their motives being questioned or probed?

They are not plucked from some land far, far away and planted here.  They emerge from the same society as straight people.  So, yes, if you go to church, there’s a HUGE chance you worship with gay people.  If you workout at a fitness club, chances are you too are sharing a locker room with a gay person.  If you ride the subway daily, you’re commuting with gay people regularly.   Your doctor, dentist, accountant, lawyer, mailman, or even your favorite athlete might be gay.  Get over it. Who they love has no bearing on their character or how effective they are at their jobs.

Now that Collins has broken the barrier, I hope our society will become more progressive and accepting.  Instead of asking who will be Gay Athlete #2, we must focus on engaging in dialogue and taking actions to shape a society that truly allows all Americans to share in the freedoms that our country claims to offer all of its citizens.

I wish Collins all of the best both professionally and personally.  Although he’s a free agent, he expressed that he’d like to continue to live out his dream and remain in the NBA.  I hope he’s given that opportunity.  I also hope that he’s able to build upon that dream and one day get married and have a family of his own, since that’s something he’d also like to achieve.

If you haven’t read Collins’ courageous Sports Illustrated essay for yourself, I suggest you take the time to do so.

-@sdotrenee

photo via Adam Hunger/Reuters

Entering tonight’s NFL Draft, I had few expectations for the New York Jets. I barely followed any mock draft analysis because I always consider it to be useless. Aside from the first three picks, and that’s a stretch, it’s extremely rare that NFL insiders, experts, pundits or whomever, accurately predict how the chips will fall. And the GMs never ever ever get it right either, so again, I consider it a waste of time. And despite the Jets hiring a new general manager, John Idzik, my confidence in the front office remains shaky because Rex Ryan and Woody Johnson are still calling the shots. And based on the outcome of tonight’s draft, it appears that my skepticism in the Jets ability to draft responsibly wasn’t only warranted, but also the popular approach.

For the most part, Jets fans, me included, were supportive of the Dee Milliner pick. He’s a cornerback. The Jets need a cornerback after trading away the best corner in the league. It’s a sensible choice. But any optimism from Jets fans, me included, quickly faded four picks later when Roger Goodell announced Sheldon Richardson would be the newest Jet. It’s an extremely questionable move because the Jets are stacked at this position and drafted defensive ends, Quinton Coples and Muhammad Wilkerson, in 2012 and 2011. Head scratching indeed. The general consensus is that the Jets need to add some offensive weapons to the roster because if you recall, that’s where we’re most deficient. Last season, the Jets were ranked 30th in offense. There are 32 teams in the league. You do the math.

Anyway, on to the tweets. Here are a few, from experts and random fans, that sum up the feelings from the majority of Jets Nation.

I don’t believe this. #Jets

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 26, 2013

 

You can’t make it up. Just can’t. Awful. #jets

— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) April 26, 2013

So the #Jets pick two defensive players, ignoring their offense, ranked 30th in scoring.

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 26, 2013

 

Richardson wasn’t a terrible pick because he’s not good. He was a terrible pick because he’s not a position of need for the #Jets. #NFL

— Jeff Capellini (@GreenLanternJet) April 26, 2013

Sheldon Richardson only met with the #Jets once: at the combine. Met w/ Rex and the defensive coaches. Said they joked & it went well. #nyj

— Mike Vorkunov (@Mike_Vorkunov) April 26, 2013

 

#Jets fans have every right to be surprised and disappointed with tonight….feels like something I have typed many times

— Joe Caporoso (@TurnOnTheJets) April 26, 2013

 

before u complain about the Richardson pick heres a good scouting report bit.ly/14gEY4R #jets #nyjets

— Dan Rosenblum (@sharkbiotech) April 26, 2013

Overall, give the #jets draft a C. Don’t mind the Milner pick. HATE the Richardson pick.

— Brendan McQuillan (@brendanwvu2) April 26, 2013

 

It’s cool that the #Jets first pick was at 9 because that will be our points per game next year because we have 32 D linemen and 23 Corners

— Zach Heaberlin (@Zach_OutLoud) April 26, 2013

As of now, i envision #Jets games to go like this:3 and out. Punt.Stop. Repeat. Repeat. Opposing team FG. Punt. Opposing team Td. Game

— jamie stuart (@N12jamiestuart) April 26, 2013

The good news is the Jets have two more days and six more picks remaining. And there are a lot of decent offensive players — Geno Smith, QB; Matt Barkley, QB; Ryan Nassib, QB; Keenan Allen, WR; Eddie Lacy, RB; Zach Ertz, TE; still available. The bad news is we’re talking about the Jets, who have proven time and time again that they’re not to be trusted with such decisions. Oh, and to make matters worse, the New England Patriots picked up four additional draft picks in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, bringing their total draft picks to eight. Awesome.

-@sdotrenee