Diaries

I'm sure it's old news that Big Robert "Tractor" Traylor is trying to make it back to the NBA, but am I the only person to learn from wikipedia just how big of an underachiever he was:

"Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor (born February 1, 1977 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player.

Traylor was a McDonald's All-American the same year as Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce. He attended the University of Michigan. Standing 6 feet 8 inches and packing 325 pounds, he joined a formidable front court for the Wolverines that included Maurice Taylor and Maceo Baston. That year he broke a backboard while dunking in a game against Ball State and also broke his arm in a car accident while out with teammates and potential recruit Mateen Cleaves (who ended up attending Michigan State). Traylor helped lead the Wolverines to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament title, and was named the tournament's most valuable player. His junior year was his best, as he averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds while leading his team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a four seed.

Traylor was one of the former Michigan players whose ties to booster Ed Martin roiled the program.

Due to NCAA violations connected to the case (principally the compromising of Traylor's amateur status), Michigan withdrew from consideration for the 2003 NCAA tournament, lost scholarships and was placed on probation. The school also forfeited every game in which Traylor played and scrubbed his records from its record book. Traylor also had to surrender his MVP award for the 1997 NIT, as well as his MVP award in the 1998 Big Ten tournament. Murray-Wright High School in Detroit, where Traylor played high school basketball, voluntarily forfeited its entire 1994-95 season (Traylor's senior season). "

He was a McDonalds all American with KG, VC, Paul Pierce, Stephon Marbury, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Chauncey Billips, and Antawn Jamison. Unbelieveable.

Tractor Traylor was good in his days at Michigan but its a little hard to believe that A, it's possible his talent was seen to be even close to those guys, B, he went 6th in the 1998 NBA Draft, and C, he was traded for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki. Even if you take Dirk out, the trade is still a steal for the Mavericks. Wow.

His life sucks. Good luck backing that thang up the Second Go-Round.

Just a sidenote, SI.com has him at #16 in all-time NBA busts. At least he's no Sam Bowie, ha.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Traylor

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And the comments are well indented.

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IMO, starting this year, and continuing with the new coaching staff, we will beging to see Michigan winning more of their bad weather/bad field type games.  couple reasons why i think this is going to happen.

#1  Michigans offense will be able to play the same way regardless of playing conditions.  A zone read is a zone read, short quick passes are weather resistent for the most part.  Weather never effects runners like it does defenders trying to stop the runner.  A runner is able to anticipate cuts, and make moves on a slick track, while defenders have to adjust and react effecting their ability to stay with an offense.

#2 Lighter better conditioned athletes are able to have lighter feet for longer periods of time.  getting your cleats up and down with quick motions is the best way to play in bad weather.  Lighter better conditoned athletes are in better balance, and have the abilbity to sustain that ballance for an entire game.  Michigans recomitment to s and c  will pay huge dividends in nasty weahter.

#3  Better fundamentals on defense, coupled with faster players means that the Michigan defense will be in positions to make plays quicker, and without waisted steps.  The least amount of false steps in bad weather the better your chances of not slipping and sliding.  I anticipate seeing michigan players look faster on defense becasue of the commitment of coach shafer and his staff to the starts/stants/foot progressions/read step/ fundamentals of defensive football.

Maybe its just wishfull thinking, but its been my experience in bad weather that defense is hurt the most, allong with deep throws, and that there is more premium on fundamentals. 

As the news from the negotiations came out this morning I felt a great sense of relief... as the next few days pass we will hear  all kinds of theories, fantasies and BULL SH*T about what is going on and why it happened and "how come the president and AD did not testify?" Who cares how it went down? IT'S DOWN! It may leave a small pin sized bruise on the program, but come late August the next chapter will be written (and written well I might say). The W's and L's (or just showing that they are improving every week), and the Grady thing are much more crucial to setting the tone of the program as they move forward... as far as I AM CONCERNED this is now water under the bridge. Let us play some BALL!

I am so looking forward to seeing this new program mature this season. I feel that all of this stuff about Rich Rod, and players leaving, and the experts thinking that the cupboard is empty, and on and on... will ultimately fuel these players and coaches! NO ONE CAN MEASURE HEART and DETERMINATION...

I leave you with this - "NOTHING WORTH WHILE IS EVER EASY."

(IN THE LONG RUN WE WILL SEE ALL OF THIS WAS/IS WORTHWHILE)

I know Brian hates this, but I think its fun to talk about the best player to wear a number.

My best 52...

Rod Payne, C, All American 1996