Seeing is Believing

First off, as a precursor to this blog, I ask that you read Jon Greenberg's recent article detailing the basketball comeback of Jon Scheyer. I know two articles in one sitting is some hefty reading, but I promise I would never recommend any supplementary readings unless I found them to be worth your while.

Perhaps I'm biased because we are "friends" on Facebook. Or maybe I'm a tad impartial because I've shook his hand on a few occasions, but I see myself to be a considerably large Jon Scheyer fan. Nonetheless, he did end my high school basketball career prematurely in 2006, so it hasn't been all popcorn and Prince singles between him and I. Still, I have always found myself pulling for his success. If at this point you're thinking I'm one of those garbage eaters you knew in high school who obnoxiously championed Duke's success for no reasons other than that they were A)always good, and B)always on television, that's not me. And furthermore, if you think I don't despise Glenbrook North like the rest of 21st century America, you're wrong again. I do, and with conviction. And lastly, if you think I am holding this viewpoint simply because I am Jewish, that makes 3 wrongs. I'm not.

But the native son of Northbrook has always presented himself as the consummate class act. Ever since he was conducting interviews before he was legally allowed to swallow an Accutane tablet as a 7th grader, he mastered the art of thanking one's teammates and complimenting the other team--a skill that most professionals still haven't learned. In short, he has always presented himself as a likable guy despite wearing two of the most polarizing uniforms I can possibly imagine in succession. Don't get me wrong, he had his fair share of detractors at every level. During GBN's state title run in 2005, their opponents consistently opted to employ man-to-man principles in accounting for a kid who was scoring more regularly than the cast of Glory Daze. In college, it was his athleticism, then his physical strength, then his ball handling--you name it. He again made them eat their words like those word munchers games you played on those vibrantly colored Macs in grade school.

As it turns out, the only thing that could slow down Scheyer's path to the highest platform in the basketball profession was an errant swipe of an opponent's finger. All of it could have been gone--transpired into some once-upon-a-time fable that could serve as the sequel to 'The Pistol-The Birth of a Legend'. After swallowing the sorrow seeds of unemployment for a few months while tirelessly working out to give himself another shot at the NBA (essentially we were doing the same thing), Scheyer has been signed. Not by the Nets, or the Clippers, or even the lowly Toronto Raptors (I honestly might rather be in the D-League)...but by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA-Developmental League. So if you're charting his journey with thumbtacks on a world map in your household den, he surfaced on the shores of the ritzy shops and $8.00 bagel sandwiches of Northbrook,IL, then voyaged eastward and conquered the babes of the Bible Belt in just 4 short years. Now, he finds himself amongst the vast plains and 10-gallon heads of Hidalgo, Texas, just a border jump away from the Mexican countryside.

The only remnants of his eye injury that remain today are a pair of protective goggles he must wear that were once popularized by James Worthy, Kareem and Kurt Rambis (Yea, they had 3 guys on 1 squad with goggles--MAN'S GAME). If I know Scheyer like I think I do, and I absolutely don't, he won't care about the buffoonery he takes from fans on the road about his choice of protective eyewear. As of February 17, 2011, the phrase "Scheyerface" returned 15,746 results from Google Images. Do you really think he cares? And if you think he's going to rot in the D-League, pile on the pasta and change vocations to a high school P.E. teacher like Kevin Pittsnogle or the Pulse Man, you have another thing coming. Not to say that the D-League isn't loaded with the college talent of our yesterdays (A few of my favorites: Raivio-Gonzaga, Kramer-Purdue, J.R. Giddens-New Mexico, Salim Stoudamire-Zona, Jerel McNeal-Marquette), but I would think Scheyer will rise to the big league in no time once he gets to %100. He was a 1st team All-American and a unanimous 1st team All-ACC performer, what has Sasha Vujacic ever done?

As for Pick of the Day, the Pulse Man covered the over in the Bulls/Bobcats game Tuesday night with MJ and Scottie on hand to take it all in. For tonight, the Pulse Man likes Iowa, yes Iowa, getting 9 points at Welsh-Ryan Arena tonight against Northwestern. On Iowa!

Pick of the Day: Iowa (+9) @ Northwestern- IOWA

Record:(55-39-0)

Now I'm done. Rack me

Frost

Can't get much scHEYER than this

Jon Scheyer was not your typical Illinois Mr. Basketball. He wasn't your prototypical NCAA Champion point guard, and he won't be Pat Riley's first choice to be coming off the bench in big situations for the Miami Heat's eminent roster next spring, but I somehow believe that is exactly what he will be doing.


For Scheyer, it started when he reached a level of transcendence in Illinois High School Basketball nearly five years ago. Dropping double nickels on suburban and city opponents alike while somehow managing to promote Judaism in the process. He and his teammates became the first all-jewish starting five to win in Peoria in the history of Illinois High School Basketball, while running through a stiff bracket like Lindsay Lohan runs through blow. Scheyer instantly became the most popular player in Illinois. Oh, the ever-marketable tall, emaciated, shooting guard had Northbrook soccer moms in his personal space like he was pedaling Arbonne hand creme. Still, people always doubted his play at the next level, especially at Duke. Critics said ACC defenders would chew him up and spit him out like bad matzah. Still, Scheyer persevered leaving a spoor of detractors left confused behind him. He has forever left his stamp on Illinois High School Basketball. For instance:

• If you drop 49 in a Super-Sectional or have 25 points in less than 2 minutes, you Scheyered your opposition.



• If kids on the North Shore run around and tell stories about how their 5'8'' brother on Deerfield got to guard you for 3 posessions, you're the new Scheyer.



• If your picture is on the front page of the Daily Herald and you look like you're at the dentist about to get one of those wooden mallets shoved down your throat, you got Scheyered. (this needed two links: Scheyerface, 3 for good measure)

In college, Scheyer took his fame from the North Shore to the Bible Belt and even got himself featured on the "This is Why Duke Sucks" Music Video by grammy nominated recording artist Peter "PMD" Rosenberg (If you haven't seen this video, watch it). He made the decision to shun Illinois and chose the most polarizing college of all which caused a plethera of people to root against the Caucasian-laden, country club that is Duke Basketball (Yea, that guy plays for Duke). A school whose starting 5 looks like they're cast from the set of a dockers commercial.

Now, he finds hinmself on the summer league roster (Heat) with a team that has stirred up more hatred in the NBA since Bill Laimbeer and Rodman bloodied up the Bulls while Aha was still making hit records in the late 80's. Even if he does make the squad in late October, his first official conversation with Pat Riley will revolve around him either A) picking up LeBron his Jamba Juice before practice. B) Categorizing and color-coordinating D Wade's fedora collection. or C) trimming Bosh's dreadlocks with gardening shears.

After all, Scheyer could very well become Illinois High School Champion (2005), NCAA National Champion (2010) and NBA Finals Champ (2011??) All in the past 6 years...pretty impressive. Maybe if they win the new big 3 will carry him off the court on a chair like at his wedding.

Also, I'm 1-0 with my betting picks after the All-Star Game so I suggest you start to "fade" me as soon as possible. Pick for today....I like the UNDER (8.5) in the White Sox/Twins series opener.

PICK: UNDER (8.5) -115 in Chicago White Sox@ Minnesota Twins.

RECORD:(1-0-0)