FanNation - The Republic of Sport

 

As the summer heats up, SIOC thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the nation's top athletic schools and determine who it's all-time best athletes are. Our first stop is lovely Chestnut Hill, Mass., home of the Boston College Eagles. Here's our list:

1. Doug Flutie (football), 1981-84

2. Troy Bell (basketball), 1999-2003

3. David Emma (basketball), 1987-91

4. John Austin (basketball), 1963-66

5. Craig Smith (basketball), 2002-06 

6. Matt Ryan (football), 2004-07

7. Brian Gionta (hockey), 1997-2001

8. Sarah Behn (basketball), 1989-93

9. Art Donovan (football), 1946-49

10. Mike Cloud (football), 1995-98

Now we want to hear from you. Who did we overrate? Underrate?  Forget to rate at all? Give us your take.

 

 
According to NBADraft.net’s latest mock draft, 11 of the 31 first-round picks will be freshmen, including the first seven picks overall. In other words, this is the year of the one-and-done. But which of these players will have the biggest impact in the NBA? At this time last year, most expected Kevin Durant and Greg Oden to make a major impact. Oden missed the season and Durant went onto win Rookie of the Year, but the rest of the freshmen crop had mixed results -- some good (Thaddeus Young, Brandan Wright) and some bad (Javaris Crittendon, Spencer Hawes). Here is how NBADraft.net has the freshman coming out (and which NBA team they’d be heading to):

1. Derrick Rose, Chicago
2. Michael Beasley, Miami
3. O.J. Mayo, Minnesota
4. Jerryd Bayless, Seattle
5.  Kevin Love, Memphis
6.  Anthony Randolph, New York
7.  Eric Gordon, L.A. Clippers
14. DeAndre Jordan, Golden State
18. Donte Green, Washington
24. Kosta Koufos, Seattle
31. J.J. Hickson, Boston

Most scouts have Memphis’ Derrick Rose and Kansas State’s Michael Beasley ruling the rookie roost next season, but after that, it gets a little mirky. We think Eric Gordon will have a better rookie season than O.J. Mayo and Anthony Randolph has little chance to succeed in the bright lights of New York City. Which one-and-done player do you see having a big rookie season and who do you think will be the next Dajuan Wagner?

 

As graduation season winds down, a reader sent us a text of an old Conan O'Brien's commencement speech delivered to graduates of Harvard, his alma mater. Here is the hilarious finale:

So, that's what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over. If it's all right, I'd like to read a little something from just this year: "Somehow, Conan O'Brien has transformed himself into the brightest star in the Late Night firmament. His comedy is the gold standard and Conan himself is not only the quickest and most inventive wit of his generation, but quite possible the greatest host ever."

Ladies and Gentlemen, Class of 2000, I wrote that this morning, as proof that, when all else fails, there's always delusion. I'll go now, to make bigger mistakes and to embarrass this fine institution even more. But let me leave you with one last thought: If you can laugh at yourself loud and hard every time you fall, people will think you're drunk. Thank you.

Is this the funniest graduation speech of all time? One Web site thinks so, but we're not here to judge. We just want to know who gave the best commencement speach you've ever heard. 

 

 

 

The SI Tour Guy just got back from the Collegiate Ultimate Frisbee Championships in Boulder and the big winners were the Wisconsin Hodags, who won their second straight men's championship and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who took home the women's title.

While it's clear that Ultimate has a massive following, it still is not recognized by the NCAA. Our question to you is a simple one: Is it time to make Ultimate an official NCAA sport or is it just a bunch of hippies throwing around a frisbee? What's your take?

 

Commencement season is upon us and as usual, there are some high profile speakers (George W. Bush at Furman University, Al Gore at Carnegie Mellon), some low profile speakers (Allan Houston at Dowling College, Bill Nye at Harvey Mudd College) and some choices that just leave us scratching our heads (Bianca Jagger at Simmons College).

The best commencement speaker we ever heard was Tom Brokaw addressing the graduates of the University of Pennsylvania earlier this decade. However, if we could pick anyone in the world to give a speech it would be the following:

5. Sam Cassell -- It would just be funny to hear him talk for 30 minutes straight. Just ask Kevin Garnett. 

4. Tila Tequila -- We'd love to see what the parents think about the host of a bisexual dating game being the     keynote speaker.

3. Larry Bird -- He might not say much, but his message will be blunt and wise.

2. Jose Canseco -- Who knows which professors have been using performance-enhancing drugs at our school?

1. Larry David -- In all seriousness, we can't think of anyone who'd make a more entertaining speech than LD. Bonus points if Susie Essman introduces him.

Those are our five choices. Who is your dream graduation speaker?