But you knew that already, right?
Some links and stuff to sort out…
FROM the K-State sports information office: “Former K-State forward Michael Beasley has been nominated for the ESPY for ‘Best Male College Athlete,’ as the organization announced the nominees for the 16th annual ESPY Awards presented by HUMMER on Tuesday.
The recent No. 2 pick by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft, Beasley was one of three players nominated for the award, along with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow of Florida and Wooden and Naismith Award winner Tyler Hansbrough of UNC.
Fans can help Beasley win the ESPN by voting online at www.espys.tv starting today.”
- IN case you missed it, here’s my story over the weekend on draft night for Mr. Beasley.
- WHY isn’t K-State involved in this? Harvard? Really? Half of the Big 12, including Kansas? This is a travesty.
- PROPS to former K-State runner Christian Smith, who will representing our country in Beijing after finishing third Monday in the 800 at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Check out the reaction of his one of his coaches at K-State immediately afterwards.
- HEARD a great story in the time I’ve been away. It’s football-related, and it took place last August. Some of the Wildcats were apparently taking a jujitsu class, and somehow, through someone who knows someone else, etc., former heavyweight boxer Ross Purity, who trains aspiring pugilists here in Wichita, was invited to participate in a contact exercise with the team.
Here’s the rest from Mr. Purity, who once broke Tommy Morrison’s jaw and beat Vladimir Klitschko by technical knockout:
“Coach (Prince) said, ‘Let’s see how tough these guys are.’ The drill was they had to tackle us and control us without us punching them. We had to wear gloves, and all we could do was punch. We had to punch them before they grabbed us. Our job was to punch before being grabbed… We were wearing shorts and T-shirts. They had mouthpieces.
Now, they knew my credentials. They had about 40 guys in the class, all on a volunteer basis. About 15 guys stepped up to do this. Josh Freeman was one of the guys, one of the first to step into the line. He was like, ‘Let’s go.’
After being hit, he was pissed.
Their job was to run in and grab us… Jujitsu doesn’t have much to do with football. The guys said after doing the drill, it raises your skill level. It gives you a better mentality of what a fighter goes through. Out there, you’re on your own. A couple of guys had busted lips and eyes… The point is, you’re on your own.
A lot of the guys were really tough, especially Josh. Usually, you’d expect the quarterback to be one of the weakest guys. I didn’t even know who he was. I thought he was a linebacker. I hit him and he wanted to go again…
(President Jon) Wefald brought us out for a game, let us watch from his box. We were hanging out with the players. I saw Josh, and that’s when he let me know he didn’t like me. He was still upset at getting hit.”
Imagine how peeved he is at his linemen…