Charles Barkley’s favorite NFL player? Dez Bryant
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
Looks like Charles Barkley has a new favorite NFL player:
Former Oklahoma State receiver and current Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant. Here’s why:
Barkley isn’t the only fan of the former OSU All-American. Dallas tight end Jason Witten had high praise for Bryant.
“He can really change the game,” Witten said after the first day of Cowboys’ OTA. “More than any of the other stuff, he wants to be good, he wants to play, and that’s what you want to see; not all the other crap that you hear about – ‘does he want to play, does he want to get better?’, and he showed that today, I thought.”
And Pro Bowl cornerback Mike Jenkins, who went-one-on-one with Bryant, came away impressed by the rookie.
“He’s going to be great, man,” he said. “I’ve never seen a young guy come in the first day (like that). Usually guys need a day to get into it. I wanted to get a feel for him today. I kind of lined up in his face like I was going to press. He seems like one of those guys who likes to be pressed, likes to be physical.”
Sounds like Barkley is soon to be joined by many others, especially in Dallas, Texas.
Appreciating Tony Allen
By John Helsley
Eddie Sutton is impacting these NBA playoffs.
The former Cowboys coach may be gone from the game, but his dogged defensive mantra has already shifted Eastern Conference supremacy through his one-time pupil Tony Allen.
While not a starter, OSU-ex Allen nightly fills a crucial role as a stopper off the bench for the Celtics. Boston coach Doc Rivers credits Allen’s defense on Miami’s Dwayne Wade and Cleveland’s LeBron James as crucial to series wins. And he’s back at it again as the Celts’ have bolted to a 2-0 advantage in the conference final against Orlando.
Wanna know how the Celtics made James look human? Allen is a large part of the answer.
NBA writers pin Allen’s Boston rebirth on his willingness to focus on defending. But those of us who watched Allen emerge as a dynamic player at OSU know that it’s a skill mined by Sutton, who coaxed great effort — on both ends — from the Chicago playground product.
Of course, Sutton demanded defensive intensity. But while some players obliged begrudgingly, Allen embraced D-ing up and even fed off the added power a big steal or big stop pumped into his game.
With the Celtics, Allen has struggled with injuries and consistency. There was a point this season when he seemed to be a forgotten piece of the puzzle, landing outside Rivers’ rotation.
But Allen forced his way back onto the floor as a top reserve. Through defense.
“Our whole thing with the bench is focus,” Allen told the Boston Herald. “We’re blue-collar guys and we have to come in aggressive, knowing what the schemes are that we have for the team and playing every possession hard like it’s our last.”
Allen isn’t just defending. He’s running the floor and finishing fast breaks on offense and chipping in wherever and whenever he can.
Through 12 playoff games, he’s averaging 18.3 minutes, 7.3 points and 2.3 rebounds, with 17 steals and eight blocked shots (both second among all Celtics) and also eight assists. And he’s shooting 54 percent from the floor.
“At the end of the day, everybody has a role,’’ Allen said after the series-clinching win over Clevaland. “Doc said before the game, ‘Do your role and do your role 100 percent.’ Everybody took that challenge, and we were fortunate enough to get that win.’’
Eddie Sutton would be proud.
Chat Recap: John Helsley
Chat Recap: Brandon Chatmon
Captain Nick
By John HelsleyActually heard a rumor a few weeks back that Nick Sidorakis was leaving the OSU basketball program.
Sounded off. Still, I sniffed around, and as instincts suggested, it was bad information.
Way bad, turns out.
Tuesday, Cowboys coach Travis Ford named Sidorakis a team captain for next season.
“Nick has done an outstanding job since the end of this past season in stepping up as a team leader. He has done a terrific job of leading the team both vocally and in leading by his actions. he has been handed this honor deservedly.”
The Pokes need a leader, after losing James Anderson and Obi Muonelo. Anderson was the silent type who got guys to respond with his work ethic and quest for excellence. Muonelo was never afraid to get in a guy’s grill when necessary.
That tandem carried enough clout to command respect, and got it.
Now, OSU is in transition, with its roster and its leadership. And, frankly, Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim, for now, must prove they can lead themselves, let alone a team.
Sidorakis is a natural. He’s smart. Works hard. A senior. Has an investment, as an Oklahoma kid, in being a Cowboy. It means something to him and he’ll press his teammates to invest as well.
Now, Ford’s attention spins to finding another captain or two to stand alongside Sidorakis.
“We’re looking for someone who holds himself accountable, as well as someone who motivates and holds others accountable,” Ford said. “We’re looking forward to possibly naming one or two others who could show these same qualities.”
Ford has typically pegged seniors to be captains, with Anderson the exception. But Ford isn’t locked into an older guy. So, who then?
Maybe Keiton Page, who came out of his shell some last year. Maybe Ray Penn and/or Fred Gulley, point guards who have exhibited leadership traits.
“The team captain certainly doesn’t have to be a senior,” Ford said. “Nick is a senior, but he has proven to us that he’s willing to not only lead by example, but to speak up and be a solid leader vocally. We need another player to do the same thing and join Nick as a team captain.”
The next great Cowboy RB?
New OSU commit Herschel Sims (Photo courtesy Abilene Reporter-News)
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
Oklahoma State’s 2011 recruiting class is beginning to come into shape. The class features two of Texas’ top players in quarterback J.W. Walsh of Denton (Guyer) Texas and running back Herschel Sims of Abilene (Texas).
Here’s a closer look at Sims, who is considered one of the top running backs in the nation.
Sims looks like a excellent fit for the Cowboys new offense. He’s a slashing runner with superb quickness, vision and patience. You can tell he just has a natural, instinctive ability to run the ball. One thing that sticks out about Sims is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and look comfortable running routes and catching the ball.
That’s what seems to separate Sims from a lot of elite high school running backs. He shows his versatility in catching the ball while at the same time displaying tough running and breakaway ability. It’s easy to see why he’s an elite prospect, Cowboy fans should be doing cartwheels about his commitment.
It may just be the #23 he sports for Abilene, but he reminds me a lot of Ronnie Brown. Here’s a look at Herschel in action so you can decide for yourself.
Chat Recap: John Helsley
Chat Recap: John Helsley
Note: OSU’s scholarship problems don’t relate to any wrongdoing by Holliday or his staff. My blog post was based on information from OSU that has since been revealed as inaccurate. — John Helsley
