Arroyo Signs with the Heat!!!

Arroyo: Fancy passes or passing fancy?

> Posted by Ira Winderman on October 13, 2009 02:45 PM

The raves came Tuesday, just as they did a year ago at this time.

Last October, the gushing was about Shaun Livingston’s passing, the way the former first-round pick moved the ball during one particular practice. Less than three months later, Livingston was gone, to now meet the Heat as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Wednesday’s exhibition in Tulsa.

Tuesday, the admiration was for Carlos Arroyo, and the way he moved the ball in just his second practice with the Heat since being added Sunday.

“He can pass,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He found guys for easy shots. He’s one of those guys that he makes two or three passes in a session, where you don’t necessarily see it. And he caught some of our guys by surprise. But that’s going to be a good element.

“Carlos has a knack for pick-and-roll basketball and finding guys and getting them in open positions.”

Now, whether one of the most rigid offenses in the league allows for such creativity is another matter. And we’re still not sure how sold management is on Arroyo, who is here on a make-good, non-guaranteed contract.

But it is sort of nice to have a point guard who doesn’t pass from Point A to Point B and then cut to Point C for a potential spot-up jumper.

Sometimes, there has to be more to the offense than give the ball to Dwyane Wade and get the heck out of the way.

“We need to continue to work our system,” Spoelstra said. “But we also need to find easy baskets, and passing guys that have a gift for that helps.”

Hallelujah. You can only watch Hoosiers for so long on this level.

So far, it’s all been good with Arroyo (pictured in a courtesy photo provided by the Heat).

“He’s in phenomenal shape,” Spoelstra said. “He’s an absolute basketball fanatic. I had heard a week ago that he had been playing in city league in Miami, but, also, he’d been playing pick-up ball at the parks.

“I’ve known Carlos pretty well for the last several years and there’s not many more guys who are more of a hoop junkie that he is. He’s always looking to play and keeps himself in great condition.”

There was similar hope last year with Livingston, but never such gushing about Shaun being 100 percent in basketball trim.

No, Arroyo is not a defensive stopper. And yes, he does take a few questionable shots.

But he also can make things happen, which hardly is the worst thing for a team that found that to be a problem both in last season’s playoffs and at the start of this preseason.

“Carlos is a seasoned, clever player,” Spoelstra said. “We did a defensive drill where it was a high pick-and-roll and Carlos, he tests your defense, because he can get in the paint. He’s clever. He sees everything on the floor, but he can also deliver the ball where it’s needed to go.”

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Kirk Gibson still greatest playoff hit I have seen!

Gibson limps off bench, homers

In 1984, The Natural had flickered across movie screens — the climactic scene of Roy Hobbs finding one more home-run swing in his bat, the triumphant trot around the bases, teammates spilling out of the dugout, the crowd roaring. . .

Four years later, Kirk Gibson supplanted Robert Redford in the starring role.

The Oakland Athletics were prohibitive favorites when the 1988 World Series began. Their arsenal included Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, who hit a grand slam in the second inning. Power, it seemed, would propel the A’s to the championship.

Gibson, fierce leader of the Los Angeles Dodgers, had hit two game-winning homers as they beat the New York Mets for the National League pennant. But he also had a pulled left hamstring and a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He walked like Walter Brennan, only more painfully.

Gibson spent the first 81/2 innings of the World Series opener in the trainer’s room. He didn’t even make it onto the field for pregame introductions. He was busy getting a cortisone injection.

Now, with the Dodgers trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Gibson was seated, half-dressed, with an ice pack on the right knee, watching the game on television.

Vin Scully, longtime Dodgers broadcaster, was doing play-by-play for NBC.

“I heard him say on TV that I wasn’t in the dugout, so it looked like I was definitely out,” Gibson said. “I said, “That’s bull—-!’ ”

He told Mitch Poole, a clubhouse attendant, to set up a batting tee and to summon manager Tommy Lasorda. “Tommy came waddling up the tunnel, and I will never forget the sight. He looked as if he had seen a ghost.”

“I said, “Hit (Mike) Davis eighth. I’ll hit for the pitcher.’ Lasorda turned around and headed hell-bent for the dugout. Then he yelled back, “You stay up there until I come and get you!’ ” Dennis Eckersley, Oakland’s superb relief pitcher, retired the first two batters.

Davis pinch hit and Dave Anderson moved to the on-deck circle. Davis walked. Lasorda called Anderson back to the bench.

Gibson limped up the steps to home plate, the fans cheering his appearance. He hadn’t swung a bat in three days.

With Eckersley throwing fastballs, the count went to 2-2. Davis stole second on ball three.

“The words of our advance scout, Mel Didier, rang in my mind,” Gibson said. ” “If Eckersley goes 3 and 2 on you, you’re goin’ to see a backdoor slider. I’ve seen him freeze George Brett with it. I’ve seen him freeze Wade Boggs. If you get him to 3 and 2, get ready to step into it because it will be that backdoor slider.’ ” Eckersley threw a slider. Gibson swung. The ball soared into the night sky and landed in the rightfield seats. The roar of the crowd was deafening.

“It was the most theatrical home run I’ve ever seen,” Scully said. “The only question was whether he could make it around the bases unassisted.”

Gibson hobbled the 360 feet, pistoning his arm in celebration. The Dodgers enveloped him as he stepped on the plate to seal their 5-4 victory.

NBC introduced Game2 with a motion-picture montage of The Natural and the end of Game1, dissolving back and forth in slow-motion from Redford to Gibson — walking to the plate, taking warmup swings, hitting the ball, rounding the bases. . .

And in the Dodgers clubhouse, coach Mark Cresse scratched Roy Hobbs on a scrap of paper and taped it over Gibson’s nameplate at his locker.

The inspired Dodgers won the World Series in five games.

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Quick fun sample of Pistol Homework!

Pistol Pete doing his quirky spinning the ball routine.

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Awesome Quote!

Show me a man who never failed and I’ll show you a man who never tried anything hard enough. Allen Waimsley

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Canes, Mayweather, and NFL

After watching Jacory Harris last Thursday, I am convinced he has some Tom Brady in him!  He is the best QB I have ever seen at Miami, and that is a big statement.  He cooler than ice!  He also looks as if he can take the Canes to a title before he goes PRO!

Floyd Mayweather recently won another fight after nearly a 2 year layoff and it was impressive.  He is the perfect boxer.  He will be most likely fighting again soon, so if you have any interest to see the best boxer in the world, tune in to Mayweather!  He is now 40-0!!!!

This week, the NFL had some incredible games.  It is amazing how every game is like the playoffs.  As a huge baseball and basketball fan, I will admit that the NFL gives a different meaning to intensity!  It is war with rules!!!

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Have You Ever Done This???

Quick Pointers!

THIS NOT SOME KIND OF BASKETBALL PLAY…

In life, you must always think before you do things and especially before you say things. I have made mistakes in my time by speaking before thinking. When you make that mistake, you do not have a chance to take back your words!

DO you ever think about what your most unslefish acts are during the week? This week, write down your top 5 most unselfish acts!

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Speed Training with Riley Claire and the three goals!!!

I am officially training my wonderful niece Riley.  She has a great attitude and gives her best all of the time.  She aims  to follow the three goals of Courts 1on1 Sports and she succeeds.

Goal 1: We play sports because we want to have fun.

Goal 2: We always try our best and that makes us a winner.

Goal 3: Always be a good sport and have a great attitude!

I am very proud of my niece!!!

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A Story About Humility!

Here is a great story from Buster Olney’s blog on ESPN about Trevor Hoffman, a future MLB Hall of Famer.

Trevor Hoffman’s tour of Memphis

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Milwaukee General Manager Doug Melvin wrote in an e-mail posted here Monday that Trevor Hoffman is the Cal Ripken of pitchers, in the way that he prepares. Melvin also referenced what a great teammate Hoffman has been, and that elicited a story from Chuck Valenches, broadcaster for the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Brewers:

“Earlier this year, Trevor Hoffman did a rehab assignment with Nashville,” Valenches wrote. “Aside from a three-game rehab with Lake Elsinore in 2003, it was the first time he had pitched in the minors since he was a prospect coming up with the Reds when he pitched for the, you guessed it, Nashville Sounds.

“To illustrate just what an incredibly nice guy he is, a quick anecdote: The Sounds played their first road series in New Orleans and then bussed seven hours up to Memphis where Hoffman was going to meet us and be pitching in that series before joining Milwaukee. When the team rolled into Memphis (around midnight) we arrived at The Sleep Inn on Front Street. Not exactly a world class hotel. The rooms were so small that the bathrooms had no room for a tub, just a shower stall and a toilet. There was a Marriott across the street, the Peabody was three blocks away and across the street from the ballpark was a pretty nice Doubletree.

“However, when we arrived, Hoffman was waiting for us. He had ordered pizza and beer for the entire team after the long road trip and was intent on staying with the team, despite having the means to stay at a much nicer place. When somebody suggested that he could find better accommodations, he acted like the person was insane to suggest that he would stay anywhere but where the team was staying.

“He also got to catch up with somebody he hadn’t seen since the 2007 season, Tony Gwynn Jr. The guy he had known as a kid in the Padres clubhouse AND the guy who had helped knock him and the Padres out of the playoffs. He couldn’t have been nicer, even to a AAA broadcaster anxious for an interview.

“When the team finished the series, we got ready for the three-hour bus ride back to Nashville, with a quick detour to drop Hoffman off at the hotel, as he was flying straight to Milwaukee in the morning. Memphis has improved quite a bit over the years, a far cry from the days as the Memphis Chicks when a team rep would come into the clubhouse at Tim McCarver Stadium to address the visiting team and warn them not to walk alone in downtown Memphis at night. Downtown Memphis still has its fair share of homeless people, and late at night, you can still see many of them walking around downtown or sleeping in doorways. We stopped a couple blocks from the hotel to let Hoffman off the bus. He got out with his team bag, looked around, and immediately lay down on the sidewalk.

“The site of the All-Time Saves leader and future Hall-of-Famer curled up on a Memphis sidewalk with a Brewers team bag for a pillow is one I will not soon forget.”

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Great Quote

Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C s. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.

Walt Disney
1901-1966, American Artist, Film Producer

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Pete Maravich

Pistol Pete averaged over 44 points per game in college over three years.  I have been working on the set of drills I learned watching his videos and was curious to see more of him.  This link below will show you an amazing video of Pistol Pete and why he is so incredible!

Click Here to see Pistol Pete Highlights

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