The Missing Links

It’s so conflicting. This is one of the best times on the calendar for a sports fan, and for this particular writer/editor/commentator/analyst/moron, it is often one of the worst.

I love the games, love the busy market of professional and collegiate sports, I love having great stuff to cover and write about… I just wish there wasn’t SO much of it at once. Two of my primary topics of professional focus have overlapped. Believe it or not, it is still golf season (the PGA Tour runs on through mid-November… if the horrific economy can do anything of positive worth, it should force the folks running professional golf to take it easy on sponsors and contract the schedule).

And as the locals can attest…

… it’s football season.

Thus my lack of attention for the site of late, and my sincere apologies for letting it sit this long (I am working on a solution that will insure you all get the basketball coverage you deserve… we won’t let my NFL and PGA callings ruin the oncoming NBA season for the Mile High faithful).

Let’s catch up and hit some links, including one special note of serious intrigue and importance.

If you haven’t noticed the Nuggets have upgraded their own web presence for the coming season. Several of the teams in the NBA are following suit as well. Say what you will about the state of professional sports… the NBA sets the pace when it comes to grasping, accepting, and appreciating the rise of technology and how it helps your business connect with fans and supporters of the product.

To help your cause, the Nuggets are providing updates from camp on the new site (to be honest, it may not be updated as often as you might like… this coming from a man that missed The Dunk for nearly 10 days).

Aaron Lopez also checks in on the official home with a review of James White.

Received an email from the media relations department at the Worldwide Leader reporting Lisa Salters, one of more talented correspondents for the network, is in the process of a new feature for E:60, ESPN’s first multi-themed newsmagazine programs. Hosted by Jeremy Schaap (son of Dick Schaap, truly one of the best sports writers the world has ever known and a man I count as a hero and inspiration), E:60 turns a spotlight to various stories from the sports world that may or may not stand in the direct line of sight for the casual fan, often taking an investigative turn on the headlines and personalities of the games.

The episode featuring Salters’ new special was set to run this evening. And her topic…

… Carmelo.

(Moment of truth… sincerely doubt that video clip works. You should be watching a trailer of the Melo special from the ESPN media services but it was not in a format we’ve used before. If it’s not there, you can hit THIS LINK RIGHT HERE and check it out.)

Per ESPN’s press release:

Anthony’s off the court life often receives more attention than his playing. Incidents ranging from fights to drugs to his involvement in a “Stop Snitchin’” DVD have kept the public’s attention off of his skills and on what he calls “knucklehead” behavior. But Anthony says he has moved beyond his mistakes and is now ready to lead the Denver Nuggets to an NBA Championship. He opened up about his past in a candid interview with E:60’s Lisa Salters and tells his side of the controversies that have followed him, from defending his fiancé’s honor to the disappointing 2004 Olympics and his explanation for the 2006 brawl between the Nuggets and the Knicks. E:60 interviewed Anthony’s coaches, his mother and his friend, LeBron James, about who Anthony is and how he’s perceived by the public as he tries to put his past behind him.

The trailer is promising and Salters always does a quality job in presenting these stories. I had the DVR set to record the show but returned home late to find a conflict prevented that from happening. I’m set to try it again on the 26th and, if necessary, we’ll comment on it then. I would bet Melo is happy to discuss his new-found maturity, his desire to take the Nuggies to the next level, how his move to family life has changed him both on and off the court. It is fairly predictable but I enjoy the work ESPN puts in and I’ll watch Melo do just about anything.

Like this…

Chauncey certainly thinks Melo has turned the corner, and others are taking note as well.

Speaking of Melo, the Nugg Doctor continues to keep you up to date on the latest from the preseason slate, including this review of Melo’s 45-point performance against the Indy Pacers.

Ben Hochman from the Denver Post turned his attentions to the ever-growing world of statistical analysis and how it may be changing the game of basketball. Nuggets fans, you’ll enjoy this… an in-depth look at Dean Oliver, stat guru for the Nuggies, as well as some fantastic insights on Ty Lawson and where Oliver views his direction moving forward.

The folks at SBNation are all set for the basketball season to start and more than a few of their spots are taking a look at the Nuggets, including…

- Andrew Feinstein’s comparison between then (”then” being the 1985-86 season) and now.

- Nate Timmons’ thoughts on the evolution of the Denver jersey.

- Timmons coming back with thoughts on the most recent addition for your Denver Nuggets, Joey Graham.

- An interview-style session with the Examiner’s Boston Celtics correspondent Mark Rawden (also includes Jeremy from the Roundball Mining Company) to discuss the season ahead.

- Feinstein’s Fantasy Preview.

- Some insightful thoughts on comments recently made by Nuggets GM (they call him “vice president of basketball operations”… we call him a general manager) Mark Markentien.

- And finally, a review of tonight’s preseason “battle” with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Since we mentioned him above, you are likely to enjoy this chat between Jeremy with Roundball Mining and John Hollinger.

This is Kenyon. He wants you to buy some energy drinks.

If you are like me and branch into books for reading entertainment, you know Malcolm Gladwell. Here’s a decent piece he put up for the New Yorker on the mentality of football players and a comparison to dog fighting. Normally we would heap praise at Gladwell, but this one left a bit of trouble… Malcolm, dogs don’t CHOOSE to fight.

Another solid offering of hope from the Nugg Doctor.

Chris Bosh is looking to lend a helping hand to Melo and some other Nuggets.

Denver Post blogger Chris Dempsey reports things in Denver basketball are going well… possibly as well as ever.

Courtney Zierk from the Bleacher Report thinks Denver can win it all.

Tripped across this post on Kurt Looby, an awkward name you might have noticed on the Denver roster in tonight’s preseason hook-up with the Twolves. This blog, The Chris Andersen Files, is a new one for us. We’ll be keeping tabs.

And on behalf of the mothership, here is the latest from my good friend Larry Yocum, tasked with Northwest reports from Fanball.

One last note. In case you were wondering…

… Dikembe continues to set the bar high, to represent the NBA (and his former Nuggets) with dignity, and to make the world better for us all.

And that’s all I’ve got. The season is nearly here and we’ll be ramping it up to meet the cause (honest… no more of the one post every 10 days stuff).

Thanks for stopping in.