Mayer: College Athletes Must Play Smart and Bolt for the Pros

Courtesy midwestsportsfan.com

I've had many should "college player A" and "college player B" declare for a professional league debates. The subject comes up as Victor Oladipo is about to announce his decision to forgo his senior season at Indiana to declare for the NBA Draft. Cody Zeller will follow with his own press conference tomorrow. His fate is not as sure, but I fully expect Zeller to make the jump as well. (UPDATE: Oladipo declared for the NBA Draft and multiple reports have Zeller going as well)

There are many IU fans that believe the duo, or at least Zeller, should stay at Indiana to improve their bodies and skill set. To that I would respond, take a walk in their shoes. These two young men have worked their entire lives for the chance to play the game they love professionally. Oladipo's draft stock has absolutely sky rocketed and will never be higher. He is a lottery pick. Over the last month or so Cody Zeller's stock has dropped a bit with pundits pointing out his struggles against larger more powerful opponents. He should still go.

Courtesy espn.com

This is a big deal and fans often forget to realize that an NBA contract gives the player a chance to be set for life if they manage their money properly. Zeller, the Washington native, was once thought of as a top five pick and will still be a first round pick. So what, he'll make a ton of money, develop his skills, and improve his body practicing against NBA players. No team will look at Zeller, or for that matter Oladipo, as a savior. They are young and will have time to develop into even better players.

Oladipo will have his college degree and has been a part of the transformation at Indiana. Zeller will be able to graduate with summer and online classes. He was the first domino to fall allowing the Hoosiers to once again become a dominant recruiting force. They have put their time in and left their legacies. It may have come up short of a championship (or even an Elite 8), but they deserve to move on.

I believe this is the smart path for any college athlete that knows they can make enough money to provide for themselves and their families. If Jake Odum was projected as a first round pick this year, then I would say go pro. There are only so opportunities to play sports professionally and a single play could result in a career ending injury.

Obviously not every college athlete should try and go pro at first chance (Christian Watford made the smart move to not enter the draft last year). It is only a good decision after doing research and understanding the possibility of being drafted and predicted position within the draft.

Courtesy NBA

Personally, I can't stand that basketball players are not allowed to enter the NBA from high school. If a player has the skill set out of high school to play sports professionally and that is his dream, let him go. Fans root for these players as if they were family, so there should be no ill will at the end. When it's time for the bird to leave its nest, don't fault it for flying away.

Mayer: March Madness and What Could Have Been for ISU

The NCAA Tournament has not disappointed. We ask for madness and that is precisely what the greatest tournament in sports has dished out. The first 15 seed in history has reached the Sweet 16, a college version of lob city, while La Salle or Wichita State will be an elite eight team. There has been no lack of "onions" shots (looking at you Aaron Craft). While everyone roots for the underdog, what would the Sweet 16 be without some blue bloods; Hello Kansas, Duke, and Indiana.

Courtesy CBS

The action ramps back up on Thursday and I'm expecting some classics as the tournament moves on. It seems to be a cliche every year when people talk about the field being "wide open", but you have to believe it right now. Louisville may be the overall number one and playing the best ball, but there is nothing close to a 2012 Kentucky.

One thing that has been hard to overlook for folks in the Wabash Valley is some of the names in the Big Dance and what the Sycamores accomplished against those teams. Wichita State is representing the Missouri Valley Conference well in the Sweet 16. If you remember, the Sycamores delivered a drubbing on the road vs the Shockers. That was truly a shock (yes I'm sure no one has ever used that pun before) seeing as how Wichita State had not lost at home in something like 20 years.

Courtesy USA Today

Now head into the memory bank to the tournament in Hawaii. Indiana State beat Miami behind last second Jake Odum magic. Given those were different times way back in December. No one had any idea how good Miami would be and they were playing without big man Reggie Johnson. Although, it seems the same fate has fallen upon the Hurricanes as Johnson will have to miss the Sweet 16 matchup against Marquette.

Gone but not forgotten are the Creighton Blue Jays who won the MVC regular season and tournament. They are off to the new Big East which really makes next season promising for ISU (we'll get there in a second). The Sycamores laid the smackdown on the Blue Jays who were ranked #16 at the time. That game was arguably the best for ISU all season. The Sycamores also took down Ole Miss, a team that won the SEC tournament, beat Wisconsin in the first round, and was a couple of missed shots away from making the Sweet 16.

All of this points to one thing: the Sycamores are a talented basketball team. They proved capable of beating some very good squads in three conferences. We can also analyze some of Indiana State's bad losses and will come out with a puzzled look. A team with no seniors often showed their youth. One game the Sycamores would look like a team that could win the MVC, the next like a squad destined to never win again.

Courtesy Indiana State

The main point to come away with is ISU will return their entire starting roster next year, although Rhett Smith seems to be on his way out. Mike Samuels, the 6'1" center who was out all season will be back. We saw the maturation of Devonte Brown, Justin Gant, Khristian Smith, and a late season emergence from Brandon Burnett.


MVC heavyweight Creighton is gone. Jackie Carmichael of Illinois State and and Colt Ryan of Evansville are gone. Jake Odum is still here and he is only getting better. Put it this way, Sycamores fans are going to have high hopes next year. Instead of an NIT loss, they could be celebrating an NCAA win.

Mayer: World Baseball Classic Displays Unique Baseball Cultures

Courtesy worldbaseballclassic.com

I think there will come a time when the World Baseball Classic grows significantly and baseball fans across this country come to look forward to the event. There are true baseball junkies that have already enjoyed the tournament which is approaching the championship round in San Francisco. (Japan and the Netherlands punched their tickets already with the Dominican Republic joining them after a win yesterday. USA and Puerto Rico will battle for the last spot tonight.)

There are a ton of reasons to love the World Baseball Classic and as we have seen, there are definitely flaws to the tournament. Let's remember that the WBC is still in its infancy, this is only the third time it has been played. Most complaints revolve around the best American players staying with their teams in Spring Training, but that's not what I want to talk about.

While the mere fact that highly competitive baseball is being played in March is enough to get me excited, one of the best aspects of the WBC is seeing the different cultures of baseball. We view baseball solely through the MLB prism, but as the sport grows in other countries it has taken on different forms.

Courtesy: Getty Images

Many complained about the high energy Dominicans who jump out of the dugout after every big hit and show no fear in gazing at home runs or gesticulating on the mound. In the MLB all of this would be perceived as a slight towards the opposition. The DR has no intention of showing anyone up, they are just having fun. The DR fans are the same way; standing for extended periods, constantly chanting, and blowing horns and a vast array of other instruments. They are a group of free swingers and hard throwers. Homers, stolen bases, and strikeouts oh my!

Puerto Rico may not be as demonstrative as the Dominican Republic, but they are on the field having fun. The passion from Latino fans is undisputed and brings the feel of a big soccer match to baseball. The Netherlands is one of the most interesting countries. Baseball has really gained traction for the Dutch. They play an American style and have a similar demeanor. With word of a multi-million dollar baseball facility being built, the Netherlands could become a surprising hotbed for international talent.

Take a look at the Italians who kiss each other on the cheek as part of celebrations after scoring runs. I mean, how is that not cool. The Godfather has finally made its way into baseball. It seems like this group is a full roster of Nick Puntos and Marco Scutaros. They aren't the most talented or athletic, but they might very well play the hardest willing to sacrifice their bodies and make the extra hustle plays to win.

Courtesy: Bleacher Report

On the other hand, the Asian countries including Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei attack the competition with a fierce competitiveness not often seen. They are all business and play the game all small ball all the time. Pitchers are more about breaking pitches then attempting to blow hitters away. Obviously their style works well, Japan has won both WBCs (beating Korea last year in the finals) and are in the championship round again this year.

Then there are the Americans, who play and are run exactly as you would expect. USA is stacked with talent and has a great deal of national pride, but are understated in their play. They essentially play and operate as a top MLB squad would. More then any other team, the Americans put emphasis on getting all players work and protecting them from injury to ensure that no MLB team has any qualms. Capitalism and politics at its finest.

I'll be honest, concerning the culture of baseball, I'm pretty old school. I don't think that celebrating every run with near dog piles, noise makers, showboating, cheek kissing, illegal undercover scouting (looking at you Chinese Taipei) have any place in the MLB. I love the dignity and respect that must be shown in major league baseball, it's one of the reasons the league is so great. Tradition. If you messed with a Dodger or showed someone up, Don Drysdale was putting one in the next hitters' ribs. Cole Hamels will do the same today.

Courtesy: Fox Sports

But this is not the MLB, this is the World Baseball Classic. It's not about the American way, which is the original way. The WBC is about sharing and embracing all baseball cultures and all styles of play. Once Americans and baseball junkies all over the World accept this and embrace the tournament it will only become more successful and meaningful.

Mayer: Why I'm Picking Rockville to Win It All

Courtesy MaxPreps

I can't say I went out on a limb by picking the Rockville Rox to win the Class 1A State Championship. After all, Rockville is currently 23-0. Not to mention the Rox were runner ups in Class 1A last year and won the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic Tournament this year. With those facts alone you can probably say Rockville is a solid choice as favorite to take the 1A crown.

While the above paragraph definitely plays a part in my pick there are many other reasons as well. Start with who the Rox have beaten this year. They went through a demanding tournament having to beat four competitive teams; Casey-Westfield, Marshall, Sullivan, and Robinson. The golden Arrows and Maroons in particular are extremely talented squads that could just not find a way to keep up with the Rox. Add in a gutty effort in a hostile environment at Terre Haute North and a victory of Terre Haute South this season.

Here is the main reason I'm picking Rockville to end the season cutting down the nets at bankers life Fieldhouse. Have you watched this team play? Even during their 61-40 sectional victory on Tuesday against Riverton Parke, a game coach Dave Mahurin and star Lane Mahurin described as sloppy and poorly played, the Rox displayed excellent team basketball with players perfectly suited for certain rules.

Courtesy highschoolhoopsreport.com

Rockville has a star and go to scorer Lane Mahurin who will be attending Indiana Weslyn next year. Mahurin has the size to control the post, quickness to drive, and touch to make a shot from anywhere on the floor. Not to mention, he is selfless with little care for individual statistics. At the same time, Mahurin has displayed the tenacity to take over when needed.

Gary Ulrich is next on my list. Some of the shots this kid makes make you do a double take. There are only so many basketball players that can make a contested three pointer without setting. Ulrich is a machine from deep, but he always plays bigger then his size. Ulrich will mix it up in the paint and has sneaky good speed.

Next I'll focus on Jordan McFall who gets them to fall often as I like to saying during my Rockville highlights. McFall has the ability to light up the scoreboard as exemplified by his 22 points in Rockville's first sectional game. He's an all around guy with the ability to hit from deep and match up with similar sized players down low. He's extremely valuable in the rebound game especially when Mahurin is getting boxed out by two opposing players.

Courtesy tribstar.com

Finally, to Kiontre Wilkey who displays the same superb speed and shiftiness on the hardwood as the gridiron during football season. Wilkey is a point guard to the very definition. He controls the tempo and is always looking to pass. Wilkey also plays fantastic defense often pressuring the other guards. Wilkey does have the ability to hit key jumpers, as he did against Riverton Parke, but it's never his primary concern.

The bench is deep and will always put in productive minutes when called upon. This became necessary after suspension, due to a violation of team rules, robbed the Rox of multiple players including a key contributor.

The cherry on top is head coach Dave Mahurin who is in his 23rd year coaching and 10th at Rockville. Mahurin has his squad playing team basketball to perfection. There are no egos on this team and nothing but excellence is accepted.

I'm sure Rockville will run into some greats teams. Immediately, I think about Barr-Reeve (21-1), defending champion Loogootee, and North Daviess not to mention many teams I don't even know about. This prediction is all about the Rox though. I've seen this team play enough to believe they have all the elements to take home a championship. The journey continues tomorrow when the Rox face off against Turkey Run. If they win, Rockville plays the winner of Covington and Attica in the sectional championship.

Mayer: Colin Cowherd Blames Poor Pacers Attendance on Racism

In case you missed "The Herd" yesterday, well, let's just say host Colin Cowherd stirred things up. Speaking about the Pacers poor attendance numbers despite the team thriving on the court, Cowherd asserted that racism was one of the main factors keeping spectators away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Courtesy aviewfrommyseat.com

Obviously, this is a pretty controversial comment, especially with the certainty Cowherd expressed in saying it. I'll start with this. I think Colin Cowherd is a solid sports media personality, radio host, etc. I watch The Herd almost every day while eating lunch and genuinely enjoy the banter. While I don't always agree with what the host has to say, I still respect him. Cowherd genuinely believes and makes solid arguments about the topic, as opposed to a Skip Bayless type who simply tries to incite drama and controversy.

Back to the topic. I disagree with Cowherd on this subject. There are many reasons the Pacers are failing to draw (26th in attendance averaging 14,433 per game) despite Indiana playing so well (1st place in the Central Division and 3rd best record in the East). Is racism the reason? I really don't think so. Is it a factor? I can't definitively say it is not. However, if race is a factor I think it is such a small percentile that it really is not significant. The Malice in the Palace ended some fans relationship with the Pacers forever and could be a reason that some believe racism is an issue in attendance numbers. Makes some sense, but the brawl was almost a decade ago.

Cowherd continually dismissed the notion that Indianapolis is not a pro sports town by using the Reggie Miller days and the support Indy showed for those teams as an example. Great support for the Colts was also brought up.

Courtesy ihsaa.org

I disagree. Indianapolis is not a professional sports town and Indiana is not a professional sports state. That's not to say that pro sports don't have a place, but they are not the focal point. College and high school athletics, especially in basketball, rule the Hoosier state. One of the main reasons the Pacers are not drawing well is simple: Indiana University is back and taking the nation by storm while Butler has developed into a perennial contender. Those two schools are taking fans away. This is a down year for Purdue but it is a rarity and fans in West Lafayette would much rather support the Boilers then travel to Indy for an NBA game.

To further that point, many callers talked about how basketball fans in Indiana enjoy the team first, sharing the ball philosophy which distances the die hards from the superstar driven NBA. Cowherd retorted that is exactly how the Pacers play, so why wouldn't the basketball lovers in "the basketball state" want to see a pro team built in that image. Other callers said that the Pacers don't have a true super star which effects attendance and Cowherd came back with essentially the same argument: people want team basketball but then complain about not having a star.

It is true that basketball lovers in Indiana hate star driven selfish basketball. But it doesn't matter what kind of style the Pacers play because these are the fans that would choose a high school or college basketball game over an NBA game no matter what. So, the lack of a superstar does hurt because the younger generation (many who may not even be huge NBA fans) wait for Lebron or Kobe to hit the Bankers Life Fieldhouse floor.

Courtesy indyhiphop.com

Reggie Miller was a superstar the city and state fell in love with. The Pacers were also massively successful for a number of years. That is why those teams drew well. No one went to Colts games until Peyton Manning came along, became a superstar, and led the Colts to the playoffs every year.  That goodwill has carried over with another budding superstar in Andrew Luck and was not terribly hurt by only one bad year in between.

The Pacers have not had a superstar since Miller and were not particularly successful until recently. From 2006-2011 Indiana was never above .500. Fan bases simply don't have a light bulb go on as soon as the team in their city starts to play well. If Indiana is able to sustain their winning ways and Paul George becomes the player many think he will be, the fans will return. Indianapolis is not a pro sports town, it takes a certain combination of factors for professional teams to keep the turnstiles clicking every year. Are some fans racist and refuse to support non Caucasian athletes? Sure, but that is a truth for every team in every city. Even if the Pacers do draw well in the next couple of years, Indianapolis will always be a small town, underdog, sports city that prefers high school and college athletics.

Courtesy 1070thefan.com

Mayer: A Beautiful Day for Baseball

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Pitchers and catchers are reporting and spring training is about to start. Baseball is about to return which means I am once again a whole person.

Courtesy MLB

I love spring training for two main reasons. The first is obvious and essentially stated above. Baseball is back and I love baseball...a lot. The Great American Pastime is the sport I follow closest, played my entire life, and really is the source of my passion for sports. I love the history, the strategy, and the grind. Baseball is the best.

Spring training is a time when every fan can have hope (except the Astros, that is honestly going to be one hell of a dumpster fire). But even Houston fans can salivate during spring training analyzing their young prospects who soon will be counted on to reinvigorate the franchise. The lead up to the season gives fans a chance to dream of championships, get to know new acquisitions, study the depth of the entire farm system.

We argue back and fourth about who should grab the last bench spot, if the non roster invitee or the kid who only got to double A last season should be the last man in the bullpen, and what is the most efficient way to set a lineup. We play owner, general manager, and manager during spring training, even if it's only through debate with friends.

Courtesy MLB

The lead up to the season is fun and I look forward to reading and probably writing predictions of division standings, playoff outcomes, award winners, and all that good stuff. However, the second reason I love spring training gets to the heart of the matter. It's a time where we can step back from professional baseball and look at the MLB through a different lens. That was kind of vague, I know, but allow me to explain.

While I love the MLB and love my Dodgers, that is not why I fell in love with baseball. It is why I fell in love with football for instance. My introduction to football was Brett Favre and the Packers. But with baseball, the sport at a grassroots level is what drew me in. When I think about baseball, the first image that comes to my mind is the final scene in "The Natural." Roy Hobbs in a field playing catch with his son; a majestic sunset as a backdrop. THAT is baseball.

While spring training is still corporate and still about preparation for the MLB season, at no other time are fans able to look at professional players in that way. You can go to a spring training site and watch superstars mingle with unknowns and washed up veterans, then get a picture, autograph, and have a chat with all three as they come off the field. I'm sure people who are not big baseball fans couldn't care less about spring raining. For me and my baseball brethren, it's magical.

Courtesy The Natural

National Signing Day in The Wabash Valley

We'll update as the day goes along, but here is a list of the Indiana State Football signings and high school athletes from across the Wabash Valley that are making their college choices today. It's a very exciting day for student athletes and Sycamores across The Valley.

  Terre Haute South Braves:
  Danny Etling: Purdue Football- Quarterback
  Logan Hambrock: Indiana State Track
  Tyler Seibert: Indiana State Track
  Alex Davis: Indiana University Diving

  Terre Haute North Patriots
  Calvin Blank: Ball State Football
  Austin Lewis: Western Michigan Football
  Lee Davis: Army Football
  Chanli Mundy: Indiana University Cross Country

                  

                         Linton-Stockton Miners:
                         Clayton French: Marian Univeristy Golf

South Knox Spartans:
Adam Elkins: University of Saint Franics Soccer





                                                    

Vincennes Lincoln:
                                                    
 Gannon Brochin:  Georgian Court Soccer
 Eric Ramirez: University of Southern Indiana Soccer





  




  Indiana State Football:
  (Courtesy of ISU Athletics: http://tinyurl.com/a2sxkzt)

Name Pos. Height Weight Class Hometown/Previous School Highlight Video Matt Adam QB 6-1 210 Fr. Camino Capistrano, Calif./Tesoro HS Highlights Justice Berry WR 6-2 205 Jr. Coffeyville CC Highlights Zach Borens OL 6-8 350 Fr. Marion, Iowa/Marion HS Highlights Antonio Broadus DE 6-3 230 Fr. Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS Highlights Lonnell Brown DB 5-7 155 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Juice Davis WR 5-10 185 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Rhys Felton P 6-3 210 Jr. Melbourne, Australia/John Curtin HS/Grossmont CC Highlights Kyani Harris WR 5-10 170 Jr. Daly City, Calif./Jefferson HS/San Francisco City College Highlights Jordan Jackson LB 6-1 230 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central HS Highlights Miguel Johns WR 5-11 185 Jr. Newton, Kan./Newton HS/Hutchinson CC Highlights Aaron Killebrew DB/KR 5-10 165 Fr. Evansville, Ind./Harrison HS Highlights Dejuan Lang CB 5-9 180 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Tyler Lee CB 6-2 180 Fr. Xenia, Ohio/Xenia HS Highlights Sampson Levingston WR 6-1 200 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS Highlights Weston Painter DT 6-3 260 Fr. New Haven, Ind./Snider HS Highlights Braxton Shirley TE 6-3 245 Fr. Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo HS Highlights Dimitri Taylor RB 5-10 190 Fr. Wheaton, Ill./Montini Catholic Highlights Jameer Thurman DB 6-0 195 Fr. Hillside, Ill./Proviso West HS Highlights T.J. Tuuu OLB 6-2 215 Jr. Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Monterey Peninsula College Highlights