The Future for Ron and Lang

Well, Hawk fans it’s time to come to realize that Langston and Ron did not make the cut to play in the NBA. It was a fun ride to watch for all of us from HawkHill to see these guys go after their dreams. SJU fans were pulling for these guys because we all know how much both of these players deserved this opportunity. Though we may not be seeing the former SJU Hawks in any professional uniforms in the upcoming weeks, there is always a chance, a hope that someone will realize and see the potential that both of these guys have. These dreams are not yet done; there is always a chance that we may see one of them in the NBA one day.

As many of us know Langston can shoot, not only can he shoot he can shoot better than a lot of guys in the NBA. We have heard from many coaches and reporters that many NBA scouts thought Lang was actually a better shooter and basketball player then a lot of players on rosters. One team in particular, the Indiana Pacers, said that Langston was a better shooter then 14 of their 15 players. Langston proved several times during both the Summer League and Training Camp, that he can play the game. Langston is the type of player that coaches love, and many think he can help an NBA team, the problem lies in his height. As we all know Langston is too small to play Shooting Guard in the NBA, but he is too much of a shooter to play the Point. Here lies the problem with Langston, where does he fit, what position would he play? In my opinion, it should not matter about his height, if the guy has the ability to play, then he deserves his opportunity.

Ron is a completely different story. Many people, reports, experts, and fans thought that Ronald Roberts Jr. was a no doubter. That he would 100% make the Sixers this season and that he may be playing close to HawkHill. As everyone knows Ron has unbelievable athleticism, and that is the main reason why almost every scout thought he was going to be a Sixer. The problem with Ron was that he got hurt, and you can’t do anything about that. Ron was not able to play up to his potential due to his injury, and when you are trying to make a team this is going to hurt your opportunity. Ron proved in several games whether it be his crazy dunk, or his ability to get rebounds, he can play in the NBA. Roberts has always been an effort player. During the Summer League and preseason, the former number 13 also got bigger to take on NBA talent.

It is said to see their journeys of trying to make their respective NBA teams end. But, that does not mean the NBA dream is over for either guy. Langston and Ron both know that they have the ability to play at the highest level. These two individuals just need to be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy to both coaches and fans. I have a feeling that we will be seeing one of them in an NBA jersey soon enough. 

-Brett

Radio Show: #29 10-24-14 (S3E9)

New Stories

Taking Stock of the Eagles

Lack of National Attention of the World Series

Happy Happenings

Flyers are Average

Chris Wilson - SJU MBB PG Interview


Links:
Ronald Roberts Sixers Dunk

A Giant, Royal Disappointment?

If you are a baseball fan like I am then you know for a fact that this has been some of the best playoff baseball in a long time. Like I said true baseball fans understand that there hasn't been as exciting games like this in a very long time. The games so far have been battles, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. However, with all the great baseball so far there is one thing that now stands out to fans watching the World Series, they are both not large market teams. Though these two teams are the best in the league and have played extremely well they don’t garner the attention that many MLB executives would hope for especially in a season where baseball has lost several fans.

After, watching the Giants dominate the Royals in Game 1 of the World Series, it came apparent to me that there was probably less fans viewing that game than in years past.  This year’s Game 1 of the World Series tv rating was an 8, which has been one of the worst ratings for a Game 1 in the last 20 years. Though this has been the best play so far, sports fans have to be disappointed due to the fact that this is a World Series that if you are not a Giants or Royals fan specifically then you really don’t care. Sports fans like to watch playoff matchups that show people they know and teams they like to see, in the case of the World Series fans would like to see the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, and Dodgers etc… Fans like to know what they are watching and who they are watching, to be honest though I love this World Series match up, the average fan does not appreciate the technical baseball play that has occurred so far. This World Series hopefully will provide excitement that the whole playoffs have had so far to garner it more attention.

With this World Series having some of the worst ratings of all time it will come down to how well the games are played to try to save the series as a whole. It is sad to say, but it seems like baseball is dying in the United States, with less attention on the teams playing in the World Series every year. Baseball is going to have to make great strides towards the future if they want to continue and to become a success in this country once more. But, for right now everyone needs to just sit down and appreciate some great baseball between the Royals and Giants. 

-Brett

Hawk Weaknesses

With the season almost upon us many SJU fans are asking where are the Hawks weakest this season and where can we expect them to fall short. The team unfortunately lacks veteran leadership, perimeter shooting, and the ability to rebound.  

The most apparent area where St. Joe’s falls short is in veteran leadership. The team only has two returning starters for the season in Chris Wilson and DeAndre Bembry. As we all know the team thrived last season from the veteran leadership, it will be big shoes to fill with the team missing Langston, Halill, and Ron. The lack of veteran leadership might force Phil to be more vocal in the locker room. Last year not only the three captains, but all the seniors would speak their mind during half-time. DeAndre Bembry mention that Darius Quarles was vocal at half time during the University of Rhode Island game going into half-time behind. Chris Wilson is an ultimate team player and leads by example. While Chris is always doing the right thing, DeAndre is a player that will lead the team with scoring and performance. Like last year, captains are not the only ones that can make a difference. Look for Aaron Brown to be vocal player. He is another team player, which is evident by his patience after sitting out last year due to transferring and only playing a limited role at WVU. It is also likely that this team may take a few games to play together and run the court as a unit. However, the leadership on this team should bring the team together within a few games.   

Going off of that fact, there is another form of weakness that was created from losing Langston and that is in perimeter shooting. Langston provided the team with a great amount of confidence to shoot the ball from three when it was most needed. The perimeter shooting is going to have to come from Bembry, Wilson, and Miles. Bembry and Miles are the main perimeter possibilities. Wilson is not a consistent perimeter shooter, although he is successful when he is not under pressure. It is simply not likely that the team will be able to recreate last year’s perimeter shooting success. Langston Galloway is one of a kind and is even a better shooter than a majority of NBA players that play the shooting guard position. This upcoming season the Hawks will have to find new and different ways to score points to make up for the missing perimeter shooting. Another weakness the team will face is the fact that they have inexperience underneath the basket.

With the loss of both Halil and Ron, the ability to rebound may have gone out of Hawk Hill with them. This team is going to have real problems rebounding and creating points from underneath. Javon Bauman and Jai Williams will be big men that will have the responsibility of rebounding this upcoming year. This team is a very young and talented team, which has the potential to become outstanding in the near future.

-Brett and Glen 

Radio Show: #28 10-17-14 (S3E8)

Mark Saltveit Author of The Tao of Chip Kelly

Big profile of Chip Kelly:  http://www.philly.com/chip
Twitter:  @taoish
"The  Tao of Chip Kelly"  http://www.chipkelly.tv
Chip Kelly Update, every Friday:  http://fishduck.com/author/mark-saltveit/
New book:  "Controlling Chaos"  (no link yet) ... expected in Spring

Iggles Blitz: http://igglesblitz.com/?s=Mark+Saltveit
Bleeding Green Nation: http://www.sbnation.com/users/Mark%20Saltveit
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Peter King One on One interview with Chip Kellyhttp://mmqb.si.com/2014/07/28/monday-morning-qb-nfl-training-camps/
NFL Sound FX Giants @ Eagles
Omega Wave Machine

Half Hour Hawks - Matt Gifford Writer for Scout.com

Twitter: @HHHardwood
SJUMBB Scout.com

THWND time to Prove the Experts WRONG

VCU, George Washington, Dayton, UMass, Richmond, RIU, LaSalle. Mark those games on your calendars SJU fans, because those are the 7 teams that the “experts” say are better than St. Joe’s. SJU is predicted to finish 8^th in the A-10 this season after their amazing run of winning the A-10 Championship last season. Considering their three most productive players last year are no longer with the team, many believe the experts may have been too kind. Since the team only has two returning starters, there is no doubt that the Hawks are not the same as they were last season. Hopes are not high on HawkHill. No-one, not even the coaches have the expectations of winning the A-10 Championship. That is because this team is building towards the future. The plan is to make a run in a year or two at the A-10 championship and the NCAA tournament. In a couple years, winning the A-10 and entering the NCAA tournament are real possibilities. SJU has the potential to be the number one team in the A-10 in a year or so, but we will have to see growth throughout this season. However, last year the top 6 teams in the A-10 went dancing in the NCAA tournament. So, if the Hawks get in the top 6 of their conference they could be in the tournament two straight years.

As we said in our last article, the most important player this season for the Hawks will be DeAndre Bembry. The team’s chances of making a run will fall on his shoulders. Bembry has condensed his shot and will be taking on the number one scoring role for the Hawks. But the real questions lay in the other players, such as Aaron Brown and Isaiah Miles. These are two players that are coming into the season with a lot of expectations for St. Joe’s. If the Hawks want to compete and move up from being ranked 8^th, they will have to get production from Bembry, Miles, and Brown. Besides Bembry, Miles is expected to take on a larger scoring role as well this season. Since Papa is out for the season, Isaiah has one less person competing against for playing time. Miles is officially the guy. What fans saw from Miles last season was flashes of brilliance and head scratchers. Miles has the potential to score double digits each game. He just needs to become more consistent. Miles’ time has come and SJU coaches are expecting Miles to consistently show that he can consistently score. Aaron Brown, who can be seen as a veteran on this team of young guys, will have to provide both leadership and scoring ability. Brown will have to fill what is missing from Halil. Like Halil, Brown is not afraid to speak his mind. Brown will provide also provide additional athleticism. Miles and Brown are two guys that will have to have an impact on each game this season if the team wants to perform at the highest level.

This is going to be a season of growth and potential. However, the 8^th spot does not give this team justice. DeAndre and Chris proved last season that they could be leaders and now that they have been named captains, expect bigger things from them. This team has the potential to make it to the 5^th spot, if and only if all of their players give them what they need. The pressure will be on this team, but they will strive to become A-10 Champions. REPEAT!

-Brett

Forget about 1985 because Royals fans you are finally in!

Royals fans you no longer have to talk about Bret Saberhagen, Bo Jackson and how great those days were when the Royals won the World Series in 1985. Tears will be falling from the faces of Kansas City fans tonight, because the Royals finally shocked the world. This team is going to the World Series, Big Game James, Moose, and Hosmer have led this team to the promise land. This team has one more step ahead of them and that is to win it all, to win the World Series. If any team can do it, if any team can prove to the world that small market teams can win it all, it is this team. Tonight the Harridge Trophy is in the hands of the Kansas City Royals.

This team had many ups and downs this season, falling in and out of first place, fighting for a playoff spot, and barely getting the Wild Card. This team has been a bunch of fighters all season, they have given it their all and they deserve to be where they are. Don’t get me wrong the Orioles deserve a lot of credit as well, but when it came down to it the Royals wanted it more. The bats of Moose and Hosmer helped carry this team all season and this team proved that speed truly does kill. They beat the Orioles down with their speed and good defense. These will be the keys if this team wants to continue their run towards the World Series Championship.

The Royals are going to the World Series for the first time since 1985 and the city of Kansas City is celebrating. The Royals shocked the world with their amazing speed and defense, as well as the big bats from their big three Hosmer, Moose, and Gordon. This team may have swept the Orioles in amazing fashion but they have more work to get done, and will be facing either a very good Giants or Cardinals team, both have very good pitching staffs. The Royals work is not done. They have one more step before they prove to everyone that a small market team can win it all. But, tonight Royals fans celebrate, cry your eyes out, and party because your wait is over. “These O’s Ain’t Royal”

-Brett

A Year After the Seniors is DeAndre Ready?

It’s officially been one year since the beginning of last season’s amazing run for the SJU Men’s basketball team. One year ago the “big three” of Langston, Halil, and Ron were getting ready for their last season. Well, as all of us SJU fans know those guys truly did make the most of their last season and played their hearts out every single game, whether it was Lang breaking Pat Carroll’s record, or the guys bringing home the A-10 Trophy the season was truly memorable. Last season was truly the first time HawkHill had excitement comparable to the undefeated season. Those points that the “big three” provided us will not be matched again. Well, that season is over and to the students HawkHill does not have that same buzz or excitement for the upcoming season, with an abundance of youth it’s time to begin a new year.  

With the big three gone, the question is who will fill in, who will want the ball at the end of the game. Who will want to take the last shot of the game, and that player will have to be DeAndre Bembry. It is time for DeAndre to become the player we all are expecting him to become, the skills of a future NBA player. Bembry showed strengths last season’s even becoming the A-10 Rookie of the Year. We saw that he has the ability to score and control a game, but he did this while leaning on the shoulders of Langston and Ron, knowing that he did not have to be the true scorer or dominate the game. This off-season DeAndre has been working hard to become the elite player he wants to become. He’s been in the gym working on his shot, because he wants to be the guy that has the ball at the end of the game, he wants to be the elite scorer. DeAndre has the potential to be one of the best players in the A-10.

This season if the SJU Hawks want to be at their best, if they want to compete they will need DeAndre to play at his tops. The team is very young, with their only starting veteran being Chris Wilson. This season there is a lot of question marks with this team, we don’t even know who will be the starting 5 at the beginning of this season. But, if they want to succeed they will need DeAndre to play and score at his peak. DeAndre doesn't have to score 25 a game, as long as this team reaches their potential and plays together. This season may not see another tournament for us Hawks, but it will be a step in the right direction, and I see a March Madness run in the near future.

-Brett

Cleveland, the Best Sports Fans with the Worst Teams

This past show’s Pants’ Power Rankings were about the best sports cities. A team is nothing without their fans. I, Pants (Glen), ranked the cities that have the best fans or the most diehard. Cleveland was ranked number one. Brett did not agree with me one bit. There was a heated debate; I mean argument, between him and me. I had to go off air and end the segment before something happened that we would regret. Brett was so furious at the ranking that he told me off air that he wanted to punch me.

Cleveland’s sports fans are the best in the nation, but they would also be ranked for the most moronic. The rock n’ roll city capital of the world proves that stupidity breeds superior fans. Cleveland’s teams are far from being the best sports teams. They are the most mediocre in the nation. The city is also the unluckiest. Cleveland has not win a title since 1964. The Browns have yet to even play in a Superbowl. The Indians have not won a World Series since 1948. The only thing that fans expect from their team is a below average season. It takes a special and rare breed of fans to follow teams that are not ever above decent. Cleveland’s mediocre teams and terrible luck proves that their fans are not fair-weather and exceptional.

Any mid-western city is passionate about their sports; however Cleveland’s passion is unlike any other city. This is probably the case because there is nothing else to do. The way I look at it is that if you do not live on the coast, you have given up on your life. These fans dream small so there is less disappointment in their lives. If they did have expectations they would be more disappointed than a middle school girl finding out that her crush is not interested in her or a kid finding out that Santa Claus is not real. Sports are Clevelanders’ livelihood. For them, life after sports is non-existent. They enjoy watching overpaid people under-perform catching a ball more than life itself.

 My heart goes out for Cleveland sports fans. Sports gives them hope and meaning in life when they cannot find it anywhere else. As soon as each Cleveland fan enters the gate, nothing else in life matters to them. More fans should be like Cleveland’s. They represent what sports are about.
Cleveland has the best sports fans.

-Glen

Pants' Power Rankings: Sports Cities With Best Fans

Raio Show: #26 10-3-14 (S3E6)

Intro and News Stories


Former Flyer Keith Jones Interview


Pants' Power Rankings: Sports Cities With Best Fans


Phillies Season Recap

Happy Happenings



Eagles McCoy is Overrated and Not Performing