Hts121

Embiid's agent has confirmed that he has a foot injury. Speculation is that it might be a fracture and that it was discovered by the CCF doctors while he was doing his evaluation here in Cleveland. If true, looks like Rizzo's "sources" were better than all the rest of the "experts" who claimed there were no issues.

^Exactly. That is what I meant by the dumbing down of the rationale. The Fighting Irish? Really? Over the past few months, I have asked several Irish people whether they are offended by the name or the logo. Not one said yes. One guy, an immigrant from Ireland, actually took offense that I bothered to ask. He said that he had heard that suggestion before and didn't understand it in the least. How about we try to find a comparable where offense truly is taken. No matter where you come down on this issue, you can't possibly suggest that there is a large segment who legitimately find Chief Wahoo to be offensive and hurtful.

Yeah. The name isn't the issue. It's Chief Wahoo. I get why people are offended.... even if it is a vocal minority, it is a sizeable enogh chunk of the Native American community to just let it go. No biggie. Judging by the devolving nature of the debate and the dumbing down of the rationale, I can only infer that a similarly sizeable chunk of the Chief Wahoo "supporters" are actually supportive mostly for the offensive elements of the logo and aren't truly invested beyond that. BTW, the move by the trademark office, whoever thought that up, brilliant. For or against it, you gotta give them credit for that move

Tony Rizzo mentioned last week that his "sources" said that there were enough red flags with Embiid's physical (maybe not limited to his back) that the Cavs were going to pass. Numerous other reports have said the opposite. If there are no issues, the Cavs might have to take him. He is a superior prospect to both Jonas V., Drummond, and Noel, the top center prospects from the past 3 drafts the Cavs had the opportunity to take but passed on. He is a legit 7'1, with a 7'6 wingspan and 9'5 standing reach (the latter being the most important measurement in basketball IMO). He finishes well at the rim and he can shoot from the outside. Unlike Drummond, he is good enough of a FT shooter that you don't have to pull him at the end of games. He has a bit of a nasty streak, which I think is essential, and he has only been playing the game for 4 years. He is going to get a lot better, contingent on staying healthy. All that said, my focus is on next year and making sure we don't bungle another #1 pick (although I'm not ready to write off AB as some are)...... with that in mind, Jabari is my guy. He is about as safe a bet to become an all-star as any wing player who has come into the league since Durant. He might never be MVP, but he will be a perennial all-star and the sure-fire ROY

^That's not necessarily the case for the 'top talent' these companies are trying to attract. Sure, you can get you run of the mill college grad to sign on no matter where your offices are. But I do believe there are studies showing that, when presented with options, the millennials will choose an office in an urban setting

I will understand if the pick is Embiid, but I'm a huge Jabari Parker fan. When scouting basketball prospects, I look for fluidity in movement above all else...... the fluidity you see in nearly all great NBA players, but not all great athletes. Wiggins is a fantastic athlete, but he doesn't seem to have the basketball skills he should. He is not some newbie to the game a la Embiid. He has been playing since he was 4. Still can't dribble or finish with his left. His shot looks quirky. No thanks. I can't remember the last superstar wing player who developed those skills once he got into the league. "Raw" and "undeveloped" and "just tapping into his potential" are not terms I want attached to a wing player my team is taking #1 overall in a loaded draft

Sorry, but you're wrong. Don't feel bad. It's unfortunate that me expressing my opinion on the topic, including my opinion on your factual representations, is an insult to you and your family. I don't feel bad about it. Every person and family has their own demons..... that certainly applies to me and my family even if I don't choose to share so in depth. I'm sure Josh has his own. I suggest we not personalize the issue. It's a worthy topic of discussion as it applies to this situation, the NFL, the Browns, and Gordon..... and there is a lot of room to have it. This happens to be an issue I feel very strongly about. Specific to the topic, do you have any firm evidence that Josh has smoked weed since the summer of 2011 (i.e. 3 years ago)?

^^The issue with Gordon is a HUGE story concerning the Browns. It has nearly trumped Johnny mania (at least locally) and that ain't easy to do. ^Agreed on the THC levels..... and especially considering how many times he has been tested over the past two years. I just can't help but wonder what kind of butterfly effect him being in that car at Taco Bell had on his life.

That's the great thing about this country. People are welcome to their opinions even if they didn't earn them. I have no idea what that means. But I do know there is a difference between expressing an opinion, which is given absolute protection under the first amendment, and turning your own opinion (whether 'earned' or not, whatever that might mean) into a statement of fact, which does not have the same protection. So if you say that, in your opinion, Gordon is an addict, that's perfectly fair. To represent it as fact with the limited information you have is not fair...... In my opinion

Thanks for pointing that out. I'll try not to get too down on myself. Josh is an "addict" and we must put our personal opinions aside to accept what you are strongly inferring is an indisputable fact.

^That's pretty much all that is covered by that thread. But performers from Ohio is a separate and distinct category I guess

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=833.0

At best, it is an unfortunate string of circumstances. He was initially 'popped' for being in a teammate's car who had some weed. He then fails two (presumably) drug tests in the summer of 2011, the timing of which lends itself to the suggestion that the positive tests could have been from the same smoke session. Baylor, a Baptist university, and Utah, which is in...well, Utah, were probably not the best choices of schools for this kid. Nothing in 2012. Then in 2013, he tests positive for codeine and was suspended 4 games, with the suspension reduced to 2 games due to mitigating circumstances. Then in late 2013, he tests positive for (reportedly) trace amounts of marijuana. So, at best, for all we know, the kid has not taken a puff of the wacky tobacci since the summer of 2011. Again.... at best.

Unfortunately, Gordon was put in the substance abuse program when he entered the league due to the failed tests in college. Gordon has been randomly tested for the past two years (up to 10 times per month over the last year since being moved to stage 3) and, if the reports are true, the only positive marijuana test was at a THC level that wouldn't have registered under the world anti-doping agency standards because it would be indicative of second hand smoke. Remember, his suspension last year had nothing to do with weed and the reduction in the length of his suspension suggests the offense was not even intentional.

Five positive tests for weed between the ages of 18-23. It's a problem from the standpoint that the NFL and NCAA rules for football players and pot are outdated. It hasn't seemed to be much of a problem in Josh's development as a player or teammate. To me, the problem is in the rules. Feel free to roll your eyes all you want. We'll see who's rolling their eyes at this whole situation/trajedy in 10 years. The whole issue is viewed very differently from how it was in your heyday.....

You sure the codeine wasn't from "purple drank"? Nobody can be sure, but it is unfair for everyone to continue to suggest it was absent the slightest shred of evidence suggesting the same other than some cultural prejudices. Josh's story was that he was diagnosed with strep throat and was prescribed a cough medicine that had codeine in it. The NFL has a very strict policy on unintentional indigestion of any banned substances, so he couldn't be totally let off, but I think the reduction in the suspension strongly suggested that Josh had all of his ducks in a row with that argument - i.e. doctor's affidavit, rx papers, pharmacy records, insurance EOB's, etc. Yes, I know the whole angle with Josh's pot 'problems' just being a gateway to bigger issues, but there is nothing to suggest he's went that route. He's certainly no Lawrence Taylor. Hell.... he's not even Ben Roethlisberger or Justin Blackmon in terms of being a substance abuser. With those last two, at least someone else was potentially affected

Pretty much my entire family, both sides, live in Philly. When I was growing up here in Cleveland, I had no grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. close enough to have a very strong relationship with. Although my dad has relocated, my mom and her husband and my brother are still here, and one of my sisters moved back home after 15+ years away. I love the experience my kids are getting being raised around so much family. Even if I hated Cleveland, I wouldn't move.

^If the rumors are true about the THC levels in his system being lower than what is allowable under the world anti-doping agency, I can see it being the impetus for a change in the rules. But I don't think that the changes would be retroactively applied..... and any changes would need to be collectively bargained. I would expect the league is going to want some quid pro quo for any changes, such as a better system for HGH testing, which the NFLPA will not want to agree to. Just a general comment here, but I am starting to get a little weary of all this talk of the "Seattle model." Yes, Seattle won the SB on great defense and adequate offense. Now everyone wants to model their team after them. It reminds me of the "Baltimore model" or the "Tampa Bay model." It happens every now and then that a team wins the SB on great defense and a ball control offense...... but it is AT LEAST as common that a team wins with a balanced team, without the heavy emphasis on one unit over another. Those Seattle/TB/Baltimore defenses are exceedingly rare...... and keep in mind that none of those teams won more than one using that model.

I think there is a substanital signing bonus on top of that, no? Very excited Joe will continue to be a part of this team. Just as excited that he will continue to be a part of our city. I can't remember a more involved athlete

Urban Cowboy? Are Sissy and Bud on the staff? If there is an attacjed retaraunt or bar, he should call it The Electric Horseman

Mayday - next time you are in the courthouse, you should take some shots of the main courtroom..... south side of the building above the atrium. The woodwork is outstanding. The other appellate courtrooms have some interesting decor as well

It's so easy for professional criminals to make people see what they want to see

Might as well continue the carousel and bring back BScott!

I was just about to post that. Shocker. I'm not mad about it, but definitely surprised. Griffin is staying on as GM. That's a good move and I assume he had the final say on Mike Brown. I wonder if Griffin's former ties to the Suns gets us in the Steve Kerr sweepstakes.

My comment was related to the Browns (and other cities with chronically bad teams) as being perennial losers. Not the cities themselves. Reading is fundamental.:roll: So is writing. Maybe you should revise your post