The last time a Cleveland pro team led a championship series was 1948. We could be in the end of times, folks. Get your affairs in order.
- LeBron went nova (again), but don't discount Urban Meyer's role in the Cavs' historic victory.
THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. Urban Meyer places a premium on family during his recruiting at Ohio State.
Ezekiel Elliott, a five-star talent on the field, comes from a five-star family. (Seriously, anybody who has met the Elliotts loves them.)
From Dennis Dodd(!?) of CBSSports.com:
"Ezekiel grew up pretty sheltered. He's not an inner city youth. He was a true child … From 7 years old all the way through, he's always in the back of the car. He didn't experience a lot of things like friends dying."
That is Stacy Elliott, Ezekiel's dad. Standing in a walkway watching Ohio State's spring game, he volunteers information that is as new as his son's budding celebrity.
"He had never seen a friend die," Stacy reiterated, "until Kosta [Karageorge] … I saw Ezekiel change when Kosta died. Not only were they teammates, they were friends."
The whole team changed, I think, when we lost Kosta. (R.I.P. big fella.)
Since Ezekiel rampaged through the postseason, you might think his life is on cruise control. This is not so, according to his dad.
"Everywhere he goes, he's known. They mob him …," Stacy said. "He's a nationally known person now.
"Let me say this without going into detail. There is a lot that comes along with fame. The thing that happens with famous people, now Ezekiel has to deal with."
I remember watching Greg Oden get mobbed at Little Bar during the 2012 Purdue game, and I just felt sorry for the guy.
Why do people want to be famous? You don't wan to be famous, especially as a 19-year-old with no wealth.
OL' JON COOPER IS SO DANG GOOD. Reporters raved about Ohio State commit Jonathan Cooper at last weekend's Rivals Challenge in Baltimore.
We now have video proof of his rampage. If you're not familiar with Cooper's work, he's easy to spot:
There's no doubt in my mind Cooper could contribute to OSU this fall. He's clearly on another level even among elite peers.
URBAN TO THE ESPYs. Jim Harbaugh has used gimmicks dashed with controlled doses of clinical insanity to get Michigan back in the headlines. Urban Meyer already has his team there by winning championships, appearing on David Letterman, rallying the Cavs at halftime, etc. etc. etc.
But Meyer's championship media blitz ain't done yet.
Urban Meyer has withdrawn from Marathon Classic Pro-Am on July 15, as scheduled. Will be at ESPYs awards show in Los Angeles.
— Dave Briggs (@DBriggsBlade) June 9, 2015
I'd rather watch a three-hour squeegee infomercial than the ESPYs, but if anybody could save that abomination, it'd be Urban Meyer. (I'm sure he'll be going back to Columbus with a few more trophies too.)
NOT THE ONION. Yes, an Alabama fan threw a tantrum because Michigan signed a two-star LB at its satellite.camp. He also accused Jim Harbaugh of cheating, which I still can't believe didn't cause him to choke on irony on the spot.
From Erik Evans of RollBamaRoll.com:
For opponents of the satellite camp, and I am firmly among them, Johnson's commitment to Michigan also reinforces what a sham we're presently operating under. Attaching one's self to a high school 1300 miles away like a dad-jeaned toadstool is by no stretch a "teaching opportunity," as the camps were so designed. We've said all along these are nothing but recruiting junkets.
[...]
"When I went and visited (with Davis in April) they told me they wanted to evaluate me more," [Dytarius] Johnson recalled. "They wanted me to come to their (satellite) camp (in Prattville), and I guess they liked what they saw (because) they offered me today. So I wanted to commit."
Congratulations, Dytarious Johnson [...] you've practically admitted that Harbaugh and company intended to violate NCAA quiet periods for recruitment. And, to Coach Harbaugh, helluva' start there, buddy. Helluva' start.
Man, that Sugar Bowl knockout went to the depth of Bammer souls.
Their fans were fools to think their team was going to win forever. Ohio State, who will never lose again, is the only team capable of doing that, obviously.
THOSE WMDs. "Black Hole Hunters" On the Event Horizon telescope:... The first Microsoft website... Photo: How two tornadoes developed in one supercell... Romanian firm hires a cat as its Communications Director.... When keepin' it #HotTake goes wrong... ネコだけど犬
