BEVERLY HILLS (MI) — I was gonna entitle this piece “What I Didn’t Do on My Summer Vacation.” Normally at this time of year I always write a “From the Swamp” about playing pickups hoops with the same bunch of geezers at 7:00AM while on vacation in Stone Harbor, NJ. As I mentioned on the MB in a reply to a Bob McHale post, this year I ran full court on Sunday morning and then ended up playing one-on-one with Joel, a thirty-something dude from Reading, PA the rest of the week. Seems the guys that I used to play with have retired from active hooping for the most part.

One thing I did learn while I was there is that this guy is still alive and balling, albeit with a pacemaker:

http://www.flyersports.com/cgi/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EEVypuZEuyyWfHkNAR

I also heard that 1st team HS All-American Elena DelleDonne (who signed with UConn and left Storrs, CT after a month) is going to hoop at Delaware after taking a year off and playing volleyball.

— According to HighMajorHoops.com, 2011 WG Treavon (son of Jimmy) Jackson of Westerville South HS is getting some attention from UD:

http://highmajorscoop.com/2009/08/the-real-jacko/

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t really think that Treavon wants to be referred to as “Jacko.”

— The WeFlyHighBallers.com list of 2011 Michigan prospects shows that Assistant Coach Cornell Mann has been busy north of the border, with Dwuan Anderson, Jordan Myrick and Lee Bailey all listing the Flyers:

http://www.freewebs.com/michiganballers/2011miplayerrankings.htm

— The MaxPreps.com list of the Top 100 in the Class of 2011 shows only 3 kids from Ohio:

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/p51YgYd4Ed6OEwAcxJTdpg/maxpreps-class-of-2011-basketball-top-100.htm

Indiana on the other hand has a total of 9 representatives.

— The cream of the 2011 Ohio crop is Jakaar Sampson from Akron SVSM. According to OhioHSHoops.com, Sampson is hearing from all of the big boys:

http://www.ohshoops.com/2009/08/latest-news_13.html

Notice the lack of love for UD, even with the aforementioned Treavon Jackson.

— Gee, what a surprise! 2010 Louisville recruit Michael Chandler of Indy Lawrence North HS says despite his firm verbal commitment to the Cards, he is still being recruited by Bruce Weber at Illinois:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090814/SPORTS/90814051/LN+recruits+stay+committed+to+Pitino

“Once a weasel, always a weasel” is what I say.

— CBS Sportsline’s list of the top 9 college hoops arenas includes one that the Flyers will visit this season on New Year’s Day:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/12057479

— Coach Cal says that UK fans need to “show restraint” when his squad faces Rick Pitino and Louisville:

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2009-08-13/calipari-says-uk-fans-need-show-respect-pitino

Yeah Coach, I’m sure that’s exactly what is gonna happen.

— Dick “Hoops” Weiss of the New York Daily News joins the rest of us in the “Why is the A-10 shifting its HQ from Philly to Newport News?” club:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/weiss/2009/08/pitino-scandal-the-talk-of-the.html

Has anyone come up with a semi-lucid explanation for this move?

— “Great Sassy Molassy”:

http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=25029

— A YouTube video from the Hometown Coach Mark Adams telling coaches to “play to your strengths”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUZBR2ZTLY

— Who knew? Outlet Malls are not the bargain they appear to be:

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/141858/how_outlet_malls_have_convinced_shoppers_into_thinking_they’re_getting_a_sweet_deal/?page=entire

— Arch with a shout out from Jimmy Buffett:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/throughthearch/entries/2009/08/06/a_shoutout_from_jimmy_buffett.html

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
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