From time to time, It Goes to XI will highlight excellent basketball writing, as well as notable writing on other sports and unrelated topics.
Photo apropos of nothing: Denver's Kenneth Faried (35) should show more respect to Kurt Thomas, the oldest player in the league. Photo by Barry Gutierrez (AP), courtesy of @pdxtrailblazers.
Are the Washington Wizards really that close to becoming a contender? Vishnu Parasuraman says yes on Grantland.com.
Is this the same UCLA program that reached the Final Four in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and produced NBA players like Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Aaron Afflalo, Jrue Holiday, and Luc Mbah a Moute? Say it ain’t so! Unfortunately, George Dohrmann of Sports Illustrated says it’s so.
More college basketball trouble in sunny SoCal: Michael McKnight investigates the federal investigation of possible point-shaving at the University of San Diego.
Junior Elena Delle Donne has led Blue Hen women's basketball to new heights this season. Photo courtesy of the University of Delaware.
Frank Deford shines a light on Elena Delle Donne, the leading scorer in women’s Division I college basketball this year.
Sam Amick’s interview of Adam Morrison was featured here; more recently, Amick caught up with Gilbert Arenas, who’s been MIA since he was amnestied by the Magic in the pre-season. Arenas has apparently been playing ball at his local Y. Can you imagine showing up to a pick-up game and getting stuck guarding Agent Zero?
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never seen the Harlem Globetrotters in person, even though they’ve been making regular stops at the Constant Center for several years. I probably won’t catch them this weekend, either; I plan to use my basketball allotment on Virginia Wesleyan’s tournament game on Saturday night. Even so, here is Kim O’Brien Root’s profile of Hampton alum and current Globetrotter Donte “Hammer” Harrison.
In other sports news, pitchers and catchers are reporting, including ageless wonder Jamie Moyer.
Just for frequent commenter Adam K.: Mike Wise holds forth on draft strategy for the Washington Redskins.
Finally, Leap Day news of the weird (and macabre). (Tip of the cap to Michael Kruse.)