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Barry Richardson Moves Across Missouri, Signs With St. Louis Rams

2012-05-16T13:49:59Z

In one sense, Barry Richardson has a few solid points that should have earned him some attention in NFL Free Agency. At the same time, few players have taken the public hits that Richardson has taken as the Kansas City Chiefs right tackle over the last two years. According to Pro Football Focus, Richardson has been among the worst offensive linemen in the NFL in the last year and that quote has been spread again and again as the Chiefs upgraded to Eric Winston. Now Richardson is getting a new start with the St. Louis Rams.

The flip side of the coin is that few offensive linemen hit the open market at age 26 with two complete seasons of starting experience. For a team in need of depth along the line, Richardson can definitely help. While the Chiefs definitely needed an upgrade, Richardson also needed a new start. Going across the state to the Rams will provide him with one.

Mike MacDougal Still Hanging On, Signs Minor League Deal With Chicago Cubs

2012-05-15T16:38:14Z

Just when you think a veteran like Mike MacDougal might just hang it up, he continues to catch on with another team. This time it's the Chicago Cubs who are taking a flier on the steady reliever after being let go by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Why wouldn't they, however, when MacDougal is only one season removed from a very impressive year?

Cubs sign ex-sox reliever MacDougal to minor league deal.
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) May 15, 2012

MacDougal can help a Cubs pen beset by injuries to guys like Carlos Marmol, although it's a mystery why MacDougal's early season performance with LA was so poor. Last season, the former Royals reliever had a 2.05 ERA through 69 games. This year, he has a 7.94 ERA through 7 games. In 2010, MacDougal lasted only 17 games with the Cardinals for another 7+ ERA. In short, MacDougal's career shows why signing relievers long-term is such a mixed bag since results vary so often.

MacDougal saved 50 games in his KC career from 2001 to 2006.

NBA Rookie Of Year: Josh Selby Actually Garners Single Vote

2012-05-15T15:06:11Z

While Kyrie Irving should and will be celebrated for his incredible rookie season as the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard by winning the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year, a look at the complete voting results reveals something else that warrants notice. Josh Selby earned a vote. Yes, that Josh Selby.

The unveiling of the full voting results of any award typically reveals some anomalies, some homer-isms and definitely some head-scratchers. But Josh Selby's own mother would not have voted for him this season. Coming into the NBA as a second round pick from Kansas to the Memphis Grizzlies, Selby did absolutely nothing to garner any attention at all, let alone be one of 12 players to earn a RoY vote.

Selby averaged 2.3 points, 1.1 assists and 0.5 rebounds. Someone is clearly using their RoY vote as a joke, since Selby hardly played in the second half of the season and only played in 28 games total.

Former Kansas State LB Emmanuel Lamur Signs With Cincinnati Bengals

2012-05-14T18:16:11Z

Former Kansas State linebacker Emmanuel Lamur has joined the Cincinnati Bengals after a successful tryout on Sunday. Lamur went undrafted and was invited to the Bengals workout just for a spot on an NFL roster.

As the Cincy Jungle reported, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was especially impressed with Lamur and Morgan State full back Jourdan Brooks, who Cincinnati also signed.

Bengals sign Morgan State FB Jourdan Brooks & Kansas State LB Emmanuel Lamur, club announces. Each tried out this weekend.
— Mike Wilkening (@mikewilkening) May 14, 2012

When asked if Lamur is an outside linebacker this is what Lewis said:

"Linebackers are pretty much linebackers, for the most part. If you don't run out there with the first group, you better play everything that you can play."

Lamur, at 6 foot 4 inches and 225 pounds, has pretty good size and versatility. He also played some time at defensive back while at Kansas State. Landing on an NFL roster is good for a player with not a lot of buzz coming out of K-State. Let's see if he gets on the field with the Bengals.

Mike Krzyzewski Set To Retire As Coach Of U.S. Men's Basketball Team After 2012 Olympics

2012-05-14T17:49:42Z

It's been a long, incredible coaching career for Mike Krzyzewski, the storied head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team affectionately known as Coach K. But while his college career will still go on, his Olympics career is coming to an end.

At Olympic press conference in Dallas, Coach K announces that "this is the last time" he plans to coach Team USA in international comp
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 14, 2012

Several of the Oklahoma City Thunder will possibly be on this team with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are all finalists to make the team. Coach K won the gold medal in 2008 in Beijing and has served as a head coach or assistant coach since 1979. In short, few people -- player or coach -- is as synonymous with USA basketball as Mike Krzyzewski.

The complete list of finalists reads from the USA basketball site:

Finalists for the 2012 USA National Team include: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (University of Kentucky);Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets);Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).

Big 12 Ranks Third In Men's Basketball Average Attendance

2012-05-12T21:11:15Z

The final figures have been tallied and released by the NCAA, and the Big 12 has come in strong in yet another year in overall attendane for its men’s basketball programs. It is a mark that shows that if a product is good, fans will definitely support it.

From the release, “Kansas led the Big 12 with an average of 16,445 fans, placing No. 10 nationally. The Jayhawks were followed by Iowa State at No. 24, Kansas State at No. 25 and Texas at No. 30. Rounding out the league rankings were Missouri (32), Oklahoma State (43), Texas Tech (49), Oklahoma (53), Baylor (62) and Texas A&M (71).”

It’s surprising to see a team like Baylor which was ranked in the top ten most of the season to end up so low in the rankings. The same can be said for Missouri, who featured a top five squad for much of the year yet placed lower among national rankings. That said, nothing beats men’s basketball in Lawrence and KU’s showing continues to make Allen Fieldhouse among the top places to play in the country.

For The Last 8 Years The Winner Of The MVP Didn't Win The NBA Title, This Is Good For Kevin Durant

2012-05-12T19:56:31Z

There are many of you who are disappointed that Kevin Durant didn't win the MVP this season instead of LeBron James. While James hoisted up the Maurice Podoloff on Saturday, lets be real clear about what the ultimate objective is for both superstars.

That MVP trophy isn't the one that either player or the teams they play for ultimately want. The trophy they want can only be received in June, not May.

What you might find intriguing about the NBA's most valuable player award and its recipient over the last 8 years isn't a good one for fans of the Miami Heat. Yep, you see that the winner of the MVP over the last 8 years hasn't brought home the NBA title. Nope. That distinction was last held by Tim Duncan and the 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs.

Does this bode well for the Oklahoma City Thunder? I bet Kevin Durant hopes so.

2002-03: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (Won NBA Finals)

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2003-04: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves (Lost Western Conference Finals)
2004-05: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (Lost Western Conference Finals)
2005-06: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (Lost Western Conference Finals)
2006-07: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (Lost Western Conference 1st Round)
2007-08: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (Lost NBA Finals)
2008-09: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (Lost Eastern Conference Finals)
2009-10: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals)
2010-11: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls (Lost Eastern Conference Finals)
2011-12: LeBron James, Miami Heat (TBD)

Nick Wright Leaving KCSP For Houston Morning Show

2012-05-12T14:38:34Z

As Nick Wright's contract came closer to expiring in recent days, the Kansas City sports talk show host was hinting that a change was on the horizon. The word is now out that Wright will helm a new show in Houston as he leaves for a bigger market and, presumably, greener pastures.

"Turnover is part of any business, including radio," KCSP program director Ryan Maguire said. "But turnover is only a bad thing if you don't use it as an opportunity to get better, which is exactly what we plan on doing, as is the case any time we make a change. This is not the first time we've had a very talented host we were very high on leave. Nick is not first to have stars in eyes and big-city dreams."

Wright's new stint will take him from hosting "What's Wright" on 610 AM to co-hosting duties in Houston on the same frequency. In the process, he will move to the morning to co-host with John Lopez. Wright was a recent guest on SBNKC's Chop Talk.