| GameNight's Big 5 Selections for July 11 | |
| 5. | |
| 4. | |
| 3. | |
| 2. | What's the Matta with Xavier? |
| 1. |
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No. 5: We're Number 32! We're Number 32!
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| Japan's favorite son rises in Houston. |
Matsui ousts other notable American League studs like Travis Hafner of Cleveland with his .314 average, his 10 HRs and his 59 RBIs and rookie Lew Ford of the Twins with his .311 average, 9 HR and 42 RBIs. Abreu nudged out the Dodgers Adrian Beltre, who goes into the break touting a .315 average, 22 HRs and 56 RBIs. Let's also not forget Lyle Overbay of the Brewers with a .339 average, 9 HR and 61 RBIs.
For those who like to argue about players who were 'snubbed' by the All-Star team, please remember . . . you voted and only have yourself to blame.
No. 4: There's no place like home
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| This marriage never came to pass. |
After taking the holiday weekend to think, and emphasize his significance in college basketball, Mike Krzyzewski is staying at Duke, ending talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about becoming their coach. Krzyzewski, who has won three national titles at Duke, said the timing of the Lakers' offer, reported by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith as a five-year, $40 million deal, and their prominence as one of professional sports' most famous franchises made the chance to coach them tempting. But he never got to the point of being ready to leave.
Krzyzewski said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, a UNC grad, who did call the Tar Heels' Roy Williams before calling Coach K, first made his interest in hiring Krzyzewski clear during conversations the two had around the time of the NBA draft. Kupchak met with Krzyzewski in North Carolina last Thursday to discuss the job. With Coach K remaining in Durham the Lakers were forced to settle for their third choice . . .
No. 3: You were our first choice . . . right after the two other guys
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| Rudy T. |
No. 2: Uh . . . on second thought!
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| Matta |
Matta takes over a team shaken by the sudden firing of coach Jim O'Brien for giving money to a recruit and a program under NCAA investigation.
Ohio State went 14-16 a year ago and finished ninth in the Big Ten with a 6-10 record, missing the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. The NCAA is looking into allegations of improper payments, contact with agents and academic fraud by players.
Geiger received permission to talk to Matta more than two weeks ago. Matta said last week that he had no interest in the job. He returned to Columbus early Wednesday morning to meet with the informal search committee, Geiger and Holbrook, and was offered the job early that evening.
Matta, who turns 37 Sunday, is a Hoopeston, Ill., native who is 102-31 in four years as a head coach. He went 24-8 in 2000-2001 at his alma mater, Butler, before jumping to Xavier where his teams went 26-6, 26-6 and 26-11. The Musketeers advanced to the NCAA regional finals in March -- the school's best NCAA showing. All four of Matta's teams have played in the NCAA Tournament. Matta is expected to bring Xavier assistant coaches John Groce and Alan Major to Ohio State. He will not bring Xavier assistant Sean Miller, who was promoted to the top spot even before Matta was announced at Ohio State.
No. 1: Shaq's leaving L-A to go back to F-L-A
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| OK, fellas. Time to switch jerseys. |
According to Shaquille O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, "All parties have agreed to the deal" that would send the Diesel to Miami for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and Brian Grant and a future draft pick (2006 or LATER). Also, the Los Angeles Times, citing team and league sources, reported on its Web site Saturday night that the Lakers have in agreed in principle to the deal. Now, the deal cannot be finalized until Wednesday, so you know what that means? More drama. Miami is one of five cities that O'Neal had told the Lakers would be acceptable to him. ESPN.com's Marc Stein has reported that Kobe Bryant may nix the deal if he doesn't like what the Lakers are getting in return. Marc Stein is NOT reporting that Kobe Bryant will replace Laker GM Mitch Kupchak, but that is the impression we here at GameNight are getting. Reviewing the soap opera that has been the Los Angeles Lakers . . . Phil Jackson took his Zen books and went home. Shaq and Kobe don't exactly get together for family barbecues. Kobe Bryant is openly flirting with the cross-arena Clippers and Denver Nuggets, but still has the power to sabotage any deals the Lakers try to complete in their attempts to keep someone of value. And let's not forget the pending court case in Eagle, Colorado! Keep it locked to ESPN Radio for the latest . . .
Material from ESPN news services used by Ray Necci and GameNight staff in compiling Big 5 text






