Former Buckeye Greg Oden Arrested (Per Report)

It is being reported this morning that Greg Oden was arrested early this morning and charged with battery. Details are sketchy right now but it sounds like it happened in his hometown of Lawrence, Indiana. Here is what is being reported right now…

New details from the Indy Star…

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. in the 7200 block of Maple Bluff Place, according to a Lawrence Police Department report.

Officers arrived at the home to find the victim crying and lying across a bed holding her face, police said. A woman described as the victim’s best friend first told officers what happened, police said.

“He punched her in the face,” the witness said, according to the report.

The victim initially was “uncooperative,” police said.

The victim’s best friend, police said, told the woman, “There isn’t that much love in the world. You need to tell that he punched you in the face.”

Police “observed blood, swelling to the nose, lacerations to the forehead and nose area of the victim’s face,” according to the report. They also “observed blood on the sofa and floor in the sitting area. (They) observed (blood) on the living room carpet (and) dirt from a flower pot that was knocked over.

The house belongs to Oden’s mother.

Oden was “calm, apologetic and cooperative” when officers spoke with him, police said.

“I was wrong, and I know what has to happen,” Oden told police, according to the report.

A Farewell to Chris Jent

It’s been over a month since Chris Jent left Ohio State’s coaching staff to join his friend Mike Malone in Sacramento. I have a fondness for Chris Jent. I remember watching him play for the Buckeye’s basketball team from 1988-1992. Jent wasn’t one of the best players to put on the Scarlet and Gray but he was one of mine (and I’m sure countless other fan’s) favorite Buckeye’s. Chris played in 123 games averaged 8.2 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists while playing almost 23 minutes each game. His last game was in the Elite Eight game in 1992. The only time the “Fab Five” beat OSU that season. Jent left his mark on fans with his hustle, diving all over the floor for loose balls. As I watched Aaron Craft this past postseason he reminded me of Jent during his tenure.

In 1993 he won Gold in 1993 playing for the United States in the FIBA Wold Championship. Chris went on to play three seasons in the NBA winning a ring with the Houston Rockets in 1994. He played 3 regular season games for the Rockets that year then played the same amount of games for the New York Knicks in the 96-97 season. Chris played more games in the postseason for the Rockets (11 games) than his whole regular season career.

Jent coaching career includes stops in Philadelphia in 2003-2004 as an assistant coach for the 76ers. The following season he was an assistant for Orlando but was put in as a interim head coach replacing Johnny Davis for the final 18 games. Before Chris’ return back to the Buckeye’s bench he made a stop in Cleveland as an assistant coach/player developer having helped a player you might have heard of in Lebron James. He served as LBJ’s personal shooting coach. June 29th,2011 Thad Matta introduced Jent as his new assistant coach and was awarded by Chris helping lead the team to the Final Four in 2012.

June 10th, 2013 Mike Malone welcomed his friend Chris Jent to Sacramento becoming an assistant coach for the Kings. Malone and Jent have been friends since they were 16 meeting at a basketball camp that year. They played AAU ball against each other. Both served as assistants on the Cavs staff from 2006-2010. They both had a dream that they would work together being in charge of a team someday. That dream happened when Malone was hired as the Kings head coach and Jent was happy to join his friend.

I have no ill will for Chris Jent and his decision to leave the Buckeye’s bench and joining his long time friend. I will always remember all the positive that he did while being a player and or as a coach. Chris will always be a member of the Scarlet and Gray. It is with a sad heart that I bid Chris farwell from the Buckeye’s bench but wish him nothing but success in his future in Sacramento (unless he is going against my Cavaliers). Chris you will always be my favorite. I along with Buckeye Nation say Thank You and godspeed.

In Case You Missed It

Buckeyes begin league play vs. TTUN

The inaugural season of Big 10 men’s ice hockey kicks off with a humdinger of a game as the Buckeyes travel up north to take on a certain team up there. In addition to playing in a whole new league, the Buckeyes will also be guided under new head coach Steve Rohlik.

Mike Conley is the difference for the Grizzlies in Game 2

Many people doubted Mike Conley going into the NBA draft, after all he was mostly overshadowed by teammate Greg Oden. However, any doubts about this value were erased in game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. Conley hit the go-ahead jumper with 1:04 left in the game to put the Grizzlies up 94-90. Conley also had 10 rebounds and 9 assists on his way to 26 total points. Many now see Conley as an upcoming star in the league.

Dave Perkins is transferring

Perkins who is most famous for laying out Brutus a month ago has decided to transfer from Ohio State. The news comes rather abruptly and where he might end up is anyone’s guess.

Recruiting updates

Buckeyes have sent out a slew of offers this week. First up is Detric Dukes and Kirk Tucker a pair of LBs out of Georgia. Justus Reed a 3* defensive end from Florida and finally Deandre Goolsby a tight-end from Kansas rounds out the offers this week.

Ex-Clevelanders Can’t Jump

If you haven’t heard, Ohio Governor John Kasich issued a resolution on Monday that honors the NBA-champion Dallas Mavericks as “Honorary Ohioans.”

In particular, he recognized MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who “chose to keep his talents in Dallas by renewing his contract with the Mavericks in 2010 and foregoing free agency.”

Oof.

In response, LeBron issued a statement that said, “John, I don’t mean to brag, but I’m the greatest!”

Gov Kasich then responded “You still putting up bricks? What is this a masons convention? Clang!! Clang!! You need a welding torch to play in this league. Let’s stop right now and gather up all these bricks and build a shelter for the homeless so that your mother will have a place to live!!”

 

In all seriousness, though, LeBron deserves credit for attempting to make good on his good-natured $1 wager with a Cleveland fan over the outcome of the finals. When confronted to pay up, he gave the fan 75 cents and sheepishly declared, “Sorry, I don’t have a fourth quarter.”

Cavs eyeing Conley?

According to the Dispatch:

Two players believed to be on the radar are former Ohio State star Mike Conley and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ramon Sessions.

Also, via the Dispatch, Player of the Year Evan Turner has signed with the 76ers. He’s guaranteed $8M over the first two years. Congrats to ET for a well-deserved pay day.

This and that

As the sportsMonkey and I were headed to see the second half of the USA/Algeria World Cup game, he remembered that one of his first posts here at MotSaG was about the 2006 World Cup (ironically after another bouncing at the hands of Ghana). That reminded me that we recently turned four years old around these parts. So Happy Belated Birthday to us, I guess. But moreso, thanks to all of you guys and gals who have been with us from the beginning, or anytime hence.

I realized why I can’t get into soccer. I tried, I really did. For the two years I lived in Spain, I really wanted to like soccer. I married into a “soccer family.” I can’t put my finger on exactly why, though. Maybe it’s the time commitment. Watch 90+ minutes of a sport that can end up being all for nothing. After Ghana scored its first goal against the US moments into the game, the game could have ended there. Finito. Five minutes into the game it potentially could have been over. But you invest your time, hoping, and there is always the possibility that your team never gets another chance on goal. For the next eighty-five minutes you are a prisoner with nothing more than the faintest glimmer of hope for escape.

It was at that point I had an moment of clarity while the inevitable was happening during the USA/Ghana WC game: This must be what if feels like to play against Jim Tressel. There’s no hope for you. You will not be getting another chance. The endzone? You’re not allowed in there! All the while, fans (and coaches (and players)) are thinking, “Seriously? He’s punting again? What the?! Great, we now have the ball on the three yard line!” “Where does he get these man-beasts for his defensive line?” “Come on man, another running play up the middle?” (That last one was from his own fans)

And so it goes.

A few odds and ends since our last post.

First and foremost, we didn’t get a chance to congratulate the #2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, Evan Turner (who will be sporting the #12 in this upcoming season). After the unfortunate events of the LBJ Exodus, I’m guessing a lot of Central Ohio former Cavs fans will be rooting for the 76ers this season. (NB: the outcome will be the same, rooting for the 2010-11 Cavs or 76ers).

Speaking of Philadelphia, there were murmurings early this week that, in wake of the Michael Vick situation (the shooting one), that the Eagles were looking at Troy Smith as a backup. After the arrival of Marc Bulger to the Ravens, I think it’s about time someone starts the rally cry: “Free Troy Smith!”

I know most of us knew this would happen after USC released him from his LOI, but Seantrel Henderson has chosen to attend the U. (At least Daddy has decided that Seantrel will be going to Miami. It appears that Seantrel is incapable of talking for himself)

No. I’m sure of it, I hate him.

 
Finally, I updated the Twittering Buckeyes page with ten new Buckeyes. Obviously Seantrel will not be one of them.

Coming up next: We start our preseason position previews.

Not a good week to be a Buckeye

basketball_icon… if you play basketball, that is.

Evan Turner went down in Ohio State’s spanking of Eastern Michigan. Turner will miss eight weeks after fracturing his second and third lumbar vertebrae. That sounds a lot worse than just a two month injury. That sounds career-threatening. Here’s to hoping Evan has a speedy and full recovery, just in time for the heart of the Buckeyes’ Big Ten schedule.

Greg Oden was carted off the court against the Houston Rockets after fracturing his knee cap and is likely to miss the season. Which is a shame, because this year was really looking good for both Oden and the Trailblazers.

It’s a good thing Michael Redd is already injured for today’s game against the Cavs. Who knows how that would have turned out.

Buckeye Hoops in the Real World

basketball_iconTaking a break from the football season for a minute, let’s talk a little baloncesto. (That’s basketball if you didn’t already know). The NBA season is just around the corner. While I’m wondering how the Cavs are going to do this season, I’ve also been wondering what’s going on with all the former Buckeyes in the NBA. Luckily, the Buckeye Ballers Blog has us covered. A snippet:

It is Greg Oden’s world, and we are all just living in it. Well, maybe not yet. But if summer reports from Columbus & Las Vegas, as well as the recent reports from the Blazers training camp are any indication..Oden is going to quiet a lot of doubters this upcoming season. The big man is slimmer, more agile, light on his feet, and overall more comfortable on the floor.

Buckeye Ballers is also faithfully following ex-Buckeyes that are playing overseas, mostly in Europe. Another snippet:

29 Year old Brent Darby will play for Limoges CSP Elite of the France Pro B league this season. Like Penn & Johnson, Darby has also enjoyed a very solid european career. He played for Eldo Castera in Italy last season.

There’s always next …

I started a post on Friday during the Cavs/Celtics game, when the Cavs were down, saying how I was actually going to feel relieved if the Cavs lost Game Six. I wouldn’t have to go through the pain and agony of a close Game Seven.

Of course, I’m a fan of a Cleveland team, which means I am doomed to suffer the maximum amount of pain. This fact accounts for the close game, up until the very bitter end, this afternoon. LeBron provided an LeBronian effort, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough.

In the end, I guess I can take a bit of bittersweet solace that Kevin Garnett has proven, yet again, that he can not win the big game. For all his mean-face, chest-thumping bravado, he faded like he always does. And that makes me happy. This was all Paul Pierce. Turns out the “Big Three” is really “Paul Pierce and that really skinny guy who can’t win the big one and that dude who was in that movie with Denzel”. Hopefully we can put talk of “The Big Three” to rest. It isn’t even the “Big Two Featuring Ray Allen“.

So now it’s total boredom for the next three months. Great. I’m going back to GTA IV.

Ohio – Year of the #2

2007 was the year of the “Almost!!” for teams that hail from the State of Ohio.

There were eight sports teams from Ohio that either lost a championship game or had the coveted #1 ranking elude them in 2007. Never before have so many teams from a single state reached within inches of the promised land, only to fail at accomplishing the utmost feat.

The following teams from Ohio finished #2 in their respective sports in 2007:


OSU Football Ohio State Buckeyes Football – BCS Title Game
On Janurary 8, 2007, one of the best OSU teams in history waltzed into the BCS title game cocky and overconfident. The Buckeyes had breezed undefeated through their schedule, including playing in two #1 vs #2 games and winning both convincingly.

History shows that the team never took its BCS opponent seriously, and after a 50-day layoff came to the stadium overweight, flat, and uninspired – and was promptly dispatched by a tough Florida team that had grown weary of hearing about its underdog status.


OSU Logo Ohio State Buckeyes Men’s Basketball – NCAA Title Game
In some ways, the men’s basketball team was the antithesis to their counterparts who played in the ‘Shoe. Where Tressel had a team loaded with experienced seniors and veterans, Thad Matta would have to work with a group of highly-rated young freshmen and first-year starters, including the superstar Greg Oden, who was unavailable for the first half of the season.

The Buckeyes survived a tough playoff bracket and matched up against Florida in the championship game. Despite a career game for Oden, the Buckeyes simply couldn’t match up with a Gator team full of talented, experienced veterans.


Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers – NBA Finals
In June, the Cavs made it to the NBA finals for the first time in franchise history. Down by two games in the semifinals, LeBron James led the Cavs to four straight wins and a berth in the championship series against the Spurs.

San Antonio then swept the series, 4-0.


Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers – ArenaBowl XXI
The Columbus Destroyers were the AFL’s Cinderella story in 2007. The Destroyers made it to the ArenaBowl with momentous upsets of Dallas and Georgia in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

They lost the championship to the San Jose Sabercats, 55-33.


Columbus Comets Football – NWFA Championship Game
What? You’ve never heard of them? Too bad. Columbus’ own women’s professional football franchise (full-contact, none of this powder-puff stuff) dominated the competition in 2007.

The women won the Southern Conference and made it to the NWFA Championship game — where they were beaten 32-0 by the Pittsburgh Passion.


Indians Cleveland Indians – American League Championship Series
The Indians capped a fine regular season by tying Boston for the best record in baseball. Behind Cy Young winner CC Sebathia, they upset the Yankees in the AL division series in four games.

Cleveland then took a 3-1 lead against Boston in the ALCS, but then lost the pennant with three straight losses to the Red Sox.


Football Saint Xavier Bombers – HS Final Rankings
Cincinnati’s legendary Saint X squad made it to 15-0 and the state title, but was given the #2 spot in the final national high school composite rankings.

The Bombers came in only four points behind Northwestern of Miami Florida. The two did not play against one another.


Ohio State Buckeyes Men’s Soccer – NCAA Title Game
OSU entered the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Playing as a five seed, they outworked their opponents though the playoffs, and met Wake Forest in the championship game.

The Buckeyes played a dominant first half, but Wake Forest came from behind late in the game on a controversial goal. The Demon Deacons went on to win.


So, what say you? Is this list an example of Ohio superiority in athletics, or weakness?

2008 starts off well, with another Ohio team competing for a championship as the football Buckeyes get a chance to redeem themselves in the Bourbon Bowl. Let’s hope that this pattern of #2 ends on January 7th.