Syracuse Orangemen Basketball

http://www.bluediamondsportsnut.com/register/ is for a dream trip for two to Hawaii to the Kapalua LPGA classic in Maui, Hawaii.http://www.kretschmardeli.com/promotions_sis.aspx is for a trip to St. Louis for the "2009 midsummer game" plus hotel and 1,500 cash.http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/bts/?partnerId=ed-2361489-77955122&source=ed-2361489-77955122 win ONE MILLION DOLLARS from Burger King and MLB simply by logging in every day and picking a player who you think will get a hit that day. ... The first person to get 57 straight days, wins the money.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/lance_sweeps_form.jsp is for fans of minor league baseball from Lance Snacks and MiLB baseball. The winner will receive a trip and tickets to two minor league games of your choosing plus some spending money as well. https://www.winafishingweekend.com/index.aspx is for you outdoors types who would want to go fishing with a pro.more>>

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/04/13/packers-looking-at-duke-basketball-player/Central New York high school All-American Greg Paulus, who passed on his football career to play basketball for the Duke Blue Devils is apparently considering football again. I guess he saw Matt Cassel never play in college and become effective and wanted to one up him by changing sports to play in the NFL. Was Greg Paulus really on anyone's radar as far as draft picks? And, is Green Bay so hard up for players... they are trying out basketball players? Remember Greg, they don't take kindly to flopping in the NFL.Maybe he is tired of being used as a hurdle:more>>

Like every single other Syracuse fan in the world, today was a very sad day for me. I learned of the news that Jonny Flynn was going to sign with an agent while eating lunch around 1 o'clock, after I received a text from KShaw. My first reaction, before doing anything else at all: well, it was an expletive. However, unlike many other of these "so-called" Orange fans, another reaction quickly developed: a big smile on my face.Now, that might sound crazy to some of you reading, but let me... explain myself. I was not smiling because I was happy with Jonny's departure (God no), but rather it was a smile followed by a shaking of the head, almost like I was saying, "Yeah, I knew him staying would be too good to be true."Think about it for a second: Syracuse is listed in the Top 3 in the country for nearly every outlet's (very) early college basketball rankings. The one catch that entire time? That JONNY FLYNN comes back. This goes beyond Paul and Eric, which we will cover in our season recap podcast later this week. For now, we are just focusing on Jonny and the unfair vilification that he has been quietly yet steadily receiving all day.Now, I am as big of an SU fan as they come. Next year had me already psyched out of my mind for the type of team that we might have had. As long as we had our stud Jonny, we'd be fine, regardless of anyone else who came back. I had been holding out hope he would stick to his word and return for his Junior year, as he mentioned a few weeks ago. This is the one move I can't fully defend Jonny on, because if he really did not know his future at the time, he should have avoided the question differently. But I can understand his anxiety to get the question out of the way, however, as I would probably do the same thing if people bombarded me with it one hundred times every single day.So you can imagine how tough it was for me to hear he had finally declared for good. However, you would be sorely mistaken to think I was surprised. I had been saying from the middle of the year that Jonny would declare for the draft, simply because of two things: 1. He had become a household name and seen his stock rise every week2. The overall weakness of this year's draft comapred to the previous couple of yearsThis isn't Donte Greene coming out in a LOADED freshman class, this is Jonny Flynn coming out as one of the best point guard's in the country of a weaker draft. Yes, he may be out of the lottery, but this kid is a top 20 pick. That's saying something.Look at the picture of Jonny I posted at the top of the page. Taken just about 2 years ago, he is simply a very good senior basketball player from Niagara Falls, New York, trying to accomplish his dream of playing basketball in college and beyond. I know the feeling, because two years ago I was in the same exact position as a high school senior. I've loved basketball my entire life, and if I had been as talented as Jonny or some of these other guys my age, making the NBA still would have seemed like a dream to me.Flash forward two years. Jonny still has the same aspirations and goals that he had when he was just an ordinary kid from Western New York, only now, he has accomplished a little more. A sweet 16 run, countless highlights, countless records for Freshmen and Sophomores in the Syracuse record books, an amazing summer playing the likes of LeBron and Chris Paul. Jonny went from relative unknown, simply a "packaged deal" so Syracuse could sign "superstar" Paul Harris, to one of the best point guards in the entire country.Take a step back and answer, what would you do? No, don't think like a selfish Syracuse fan for one second and put yourself in Jonny's shoes back as a senior in high school. This is your dream from the day you begin playing basketball. This is what you've worked for your entire life, a chance to get drafted in the National basketball association, in the top 15 no less!Unless you are somewhat mentally challenged, you're declaring for the draft too.When I read these posts on Jonny's facebook wall, I have to stop myself from getting legitimately angry at some of these people. The way they're berating Jonny, talking about "how good we could have been," or questioning "why go now when you could be number 1 next year," makes me absolutely sick. Who are any of you people to tell Jonny Freaking Flynn what to do with his life? If someone offers you millions to take your wildest dream job, with the caveat of quitting your current job, are you going to do that? ABSOLUTELY!Syracuse fans need to really evaluate their priorities in life if spending their time questioning a 20 year old kid is the only thing they have to do with their time. Could Jonny have handled the entire "I'm coming back thing" a little differently? Sure. Do we as fans have a right to be disappointed with how quickly our "2010 Championship Squad" fell apart in just a week? You bet. But does anyone in their right mind have the privledge to question a college Sophomore on a decision that not only sets up his family for life, but at the same time accomplishes one of his life long dreams? Not even close.Good luck in the NBA Jonny, and thanks for all the memories these past few years. It's been a pleasure to watch you; I, along with any SU fan being true to themselves, respects your decision. Tear up the NBA, we'll be watching.- Jake the Snakemore>>

Jonny Flynn's departure from Syracuse to the NBA comes with a sense of deja vu to Orange fans everywhere. For the second season in a row, Jim Boeheim is going to lose his leading scorer to the ranks of the NBA.But why is the fan reaction so much different this season than last? The same people that wished nothing but the worst for Sacramento Kings rookie and former Syracuse guard Donte Greene are praising Flynn on his decision and wishing him nothing but the best of luck.Donte Greene's legacy... at Syracuse will be remembered as that of blowing a 20+ point lead to UMass at home in the NIT, and saying that he was leaving Syracuse because of him losing shots with Rautins and Devendorf coming back for the following season. Jonny Flynn? You think six overtimes, sweet sixteen, and best point guard in the best conference in the nation. Greene will be remembered by Syracuse fans for his lazy defense, and Flynn his massive amount of minutes logged for the Orange.Regardless of memories, points, hype, or rankings, there is one stat that will always stand out to Syracuse fans when thinking of the two.And that number is zero.Zero Big-East Championships. Zero National Championships. Zero first team all Big-East selections. Zero All-American selections (disregarding Flynn's honorable mention). While Flynn's legacy may end up being cemented in to one six-overtime game, Greene's legacy is all but forgotten at Syracuse.What do you think? Why is Flynn's decision more widely accepted overall than Greene's? How will Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene be remembered at Syracuse? Leave your comments below!-KShawmore>>

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGEStandout Syracuse sophomore Jonny Flynn has signed with an agent.Only a week after declaring himself for the draft, Jonny Flynn has signed with agent Leon Rose according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.The news is crushing to Syracuse fans, who will most likely lose juniors Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris to the draft as well. Syracuse was predicted to be a top five team next season with five returning starters.They will now in all likelihood return only two.What... does this mean for Syracuse fans? In all honesty, the preseason top five should be forgotten. Without Jonny Flynn at point guard, Syracuse will have to rely on the backs of red-shirt sophomore Scoop Jardine who is coming off of injury, and incoming freshman Brandon Triche out of Jamesville-Dewitt high school in the Syracuse area.Prior to Flynn, Devendorf, and Harris leaving, Syracuse was dealing with roster issues as it had issued one more scholarship than it was allowed. With the three starters leaving, Syracuse will now have two open scholarships.Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, nor Flynn, Devendorf, or Harris have released any statements regarding the situation and have been unable to be reached for comment to the Post-Standard.Flynn was most recently projected to be taken by the 15th pick to the Detroit Pistons according to www.draftexpress.com. Flynn will leave Syracuse ranked 38th all-time in school history for scoring, and as an AP All-American honorable mention selection.-KShawmore>>

As if his overshadowing of Carmelo Anthony was not enough for an Orange fan, now his fascination with Jonny Flynn has cost us Flynn. The Post Standard reported today that he has in fact hired the same agent Lebron James was trying to get him to sign with, Leon Rose, which you can find out more from the guys who broke the news here http://blog.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2009/04/syracuse_universitys_jonny_fly.html .So your being the big man on high school campus taking away ESPN airtime and... all your hype about being the biggest name the sport has ever seen wasn't enough when Carmelo was on the scene. Now you swoop in with your big endorsement deals and steal one of our best players who was a major reason the Orange were ranked top 5 for next season. Maybe it's simply because Lebron wants the best point guard on his Cavs team to finally get over that hump to win championships (which he won't this year because Kobe will take care of that). Or quite possibly his agent was drooling because of his play this season as well as his play at Lebron's camp. Whatever his reason, his mere presence in the situation just made me a huge fan of the Magic, the Celtics, the Lakers, the Mavs, the Nuggets and any other team that can beat his Cavs. Unless Flynn is drafted by the Cavs, then I have to root for them damn it because frankly, I refuse to deny the success of an Orange player because of my disdain for someone else.more>>

So as we all know, the great Waffle, Kristof Ongenaet, is a senior (and we wish him the best with his future endeavours) and so goes our favorite nickname from the team. And after re-reading a post on TNIAAM about team names in other countries, which you can find here,http://www.nunesmagician.com/2009/4/10/829766/lots-of-employment-options-out , jokingly I added a comment about AO fitting one of the names but then it came to me, this must be his new nickname. Rick Jackson already has "Action"... attached to his so why not label the other big man.You have to agree "The Tender Juicy Giant" is one of the greatest names in the world and we could have that name for our big man. Sure, we use his initials (mostly because it's quick and you don't chance mispronouncing his name haha) but this is so much more fun to say. Imagine hearing Dick Vitale, or better yet Jay Bilas, after a big play with the words, "And a monster dunk by the Tender Juicy Giant" for the Orange" and you know you would spit out your drink the first time he did too.So what other nicknames should we look forward to for next season? Come on, you all know you love the nicknames for our favorite players and if AO goes pro one day, you can say you supported The Tender Juicy Giant back when he first earned that name. And you have that personal touch with the players as well as our own code names for our favorites. Let me know your favorite as well as any past ones you miss.more>>

I have always had this idea for a screenplay (though I have no idea how to write one) about an average guy who gets a chance to be the NHL commissioner for a month after always hounding the guy about the bad choices he has made in the last year because he thinks they should be more popular. It would lead to a variety of marketing experiment and fun moments for a fan to encounter along the way. The process got me to thinking the other day about Syracuse. I hear many of us, and I have done it as... well, second guessing decisions Dr. Daryl Gross often so why not ponder what we would do in his shoes and you could be the Athletic Director for a month?I know the idea sound radical and in the idea for the screenplay, the character learns that it's not as easy as he thinks. So jumping all over Dr. Gross's every move saying I would do the exact opposite, probably would not be the best move. I have a lot of respect for that position because it's not just about the football or basketball or even the lacrosse but all athletic activities that fall under the Syracuse banner.My first order of business would be an exploratory commission to research what resources are available to establish a baseball and hockey program. As I noted before, I know the hurdles and maybe it's because I love the sports so much but I would have to know that I exhausted all means before declaring it a dead issue. Reaching out to potential sponsors, alumni, and respected authorities of the particular sports to ask what all would be needed to facilitate a top notch program. I would also attempt to find sports to counter the Title IX limitations and what they would take to get started. My hope is that there is enough information to help at least get one of the programs started and then decide which one was the most viable option for the university if I could not do both.Next, I would attempt to speak with media and coaches about getting some publicity and air time for the other sports as well. Maybe a deal with Time Warner or something to establish an all Orange sports channel so people could see there is more to SU then just three sports. Maybe get CitrusTV shows on there as well to help gain exposure for the potential they have in the Newhouse School in the hopes of getting it to attract more people too. I would also see about using corporate sponsors to help pay for http://www.suathletics.com/index.aspx to allow people who are out of state but want to follow the action to be able to do so, free of charge but maybe with commercials to help cover the cost. I do not personally have a membership because money has been tight over the last couple years so I can't watch and I know others who would do the same for free. I know it's not too awfully expensive but it's more then I can afford right now. The more publicity this school can get, the better we can become. I mean damn, we have one of the greatest players to ever play lacrosse coaching the women's team and why is it that we see so little about it?Next, I would paint everything orange and live the experience. That's right, every building on campus and even the Dome would be orange. Maybe hook up a corporate sponsor (that's right, I am not ashamed to be a sponsor whore if it benefits program) like Powerade to make it the official drink to help cover the costs or even place banners on the building stating, "Orange Powerade, Paint Your Place Orange Too". I would make Orange-Outs a more regular event sponsored by the university with obvious exceptions to business attire. I would make that campus so orange friendly that people would know why we are called the Orange.And last but not least, that's right, I would Restore 44. I have done posts on this issue previously and why I think it's actually the tradition of wearing it that honors those who wore it before you that is more powerful then hanging a banner. 44 is Syracuse and I want it out there so that every time someone wearing that number reaches a milestone or accomplishes something, we can be reminded of the power of that number, not have to look up at the sky to remember, or if your watching on television, maybe getting a quick peek on a camera shot to kill some down time in action. Watch the movie "The Express" and you will see why I feel it should remain a tradition as they show Mr. Brown passing it down to Mr. Davis who later passes it on to Mr. Little and that is what we should be honoring, their memories as well as the tradition. I understand how teams love to fly banners and jerseys to symbolize their accomplishments and how big of an honor it is but that is not Syracuse with 44 nor should it be. Restore 44 and end the controversy once and for all.So those are a few of the things I would do if I could be the Syracuse AD for a month. I am sure I could think of more but for now, those are some things I would enjoy trying to make happen. So what would you do if you could be the Syracuse AD?more>>

WOW.So Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf, and Paul Harris have all declared themselves eligible for the NBA draft. As a Syracuse fan, you are probably thinking two things (at least this is what I thought):1) Jonny Flynn OK, but why would the other two leave college early to NOT play in the NBA?2) Where do we go from here?We sort of had a feeling that this was coming from Paul Harris, seeing as how he was back home in Niagara Falls playing pickup games at Niagara University the last week instead of... going to class. But I must say, Eric Devendorf threw a curve ball at me. I actually had this discussion with a buddy of mine while driving back from New York following the Big East Tournament. The argument was brought up of "Hey he has his degree, what does he have left to do at Syracuse now?", and I guess I see that point. But at the same time, why would you give up your dream of playing in the NBA when you can still take a shot at it? With one more year of eligibility left you would think he would return to Syracuse, be in the national spotlight every week as a top 5 team, and get some publicity and sharpen your image for next years draft. Apparently Eric and myself are on a different wavelength. But in Eric's defense, at least he is going to have a degree from Syracuse University. The same can not be said for Paul Harris. Let me be the first person to say that I love Paul Harris' hustle and ability to do the small things for this team. Having said that, Paul Harris is not ready to play in the NBA. Not only is Paul Harris not ready to play in the NBA, but he has no college degree to fall back on if is professional career does not work out. Jonny Flynn will make millions playing basketball. Paul Harris more than likely will not. And when that is over, then what is he going to do? Call me a guidance counselor/old man, but Paul Harris' future could be potentially screwed if he does not get this degree. Playing in Europe can only be so fun for so long. In terms of the player that I feel most comfortable about coming back next year, he is coincidentally the one with the highest NBA stock right now. Jonny Flynn could very easily be a lottery pick this draft, but for some reason I still think he will be back next year to lead this team. Granted I did say the same thing about Paul Harris, but I think I'm right about this one. Now, there still is the possibility of all three of them coming back. The Syracuse Athletics press release yesterday stated that Flynn did not sign with an agent, but did not specify about the other two. This definitely hints that we are losing Harris and Devendorf, but it is not official since no players have said ANYTHING since all of this went down.Now Syracuse basketball fans, where do we go from here? The possibility of losing Paul Harris sucks, but is manageable without him. Devendorf? That's kind of a punch in the gut considering he is 14th on the list of Syracuse all time scorers (also noting that if he averaged 17 points a game over a 35 game schedule he would pass Lawrence Moten for SU's all time leading scorer), especially since he is leaving to more than likely not make an NBA roster. His shooting and scoring ability will definitely hurt the 'Cuse next year. But I think it is safe to say that all of Syracuse are awaiting the decision of Jonny Flynn. To be blunt: Syracuse is a top 10 team with Flynn, and a #20-25 team without him. No pressure though, Jonny. -KShawmore>>