Monday, June 23, 2008

VSL Hotline: (No Subject), Edition

So the SEC football previews have hit newsstands (where is The Sporting News preview?), which means the VSL's crack staff is getting the lay of the land and figuring out how the "experts" are over-looking our beloved Commodores. More on that in the weeks to come...

Some quick, non Commodore news: Bruce Springsteen has announced additional shows when he and the E Street Band return from Europe. The Boss will be playing in Nashville on August 21. Additional shows include:

Date City Venue On Sale

8/15 Jacksonville, FL Veterans Memorial Arena 6/28 10 a.m.
8/16 Charleston, SC North Charleston Coliseum 6/27 10 a.m.
8/18 Richmond, VA Richmond Coliseum 6/27 10 a.m.
8/19 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Stadium On Sale Now
8/21 Nashville, TN Sommet Center 6/28 10 a.m.
8/23 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center 6/28 10 a.m.
8/24 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center 6/28 10 a.m.
8/30 Milwaukee, WI The Roadhouse at the Lakefront On Sale Now

Moving now to Vanderbilt sports, a few quick hits worth checking out:
- Jamie Diaz has a feature on Brandt Snedeker in Golf Digest. As far as I'm concerned, Tiger Woods knee surgery could benefit Vanderbilt's own as much as any pro on tour.

- David Price has been promoted to Double A Montgomery, and David Bonclair has the story in the Tennessean.

- Brett Hait highlight's all the attention Vanderbilt recruit John Jennings is getting after a great performance at the NBA Player's Association Top 100 Camp. That story appears in today's Nashville City Paper.

- Former Vanderbilt tennis standout Bobby Renyolds won his first round match at Wimbeldon after Italy's Filippo Volandri retired in the 3rd set (6-2, 6-2, Retired).
Bobby, OUT

5 comments:

Douglas James said...

Do you guys think Shan will get drafted? Even if he does it seems it will def be in the 2nd round which means his contract is not guaranteed. I dont see how a team can't use a pure shooter off the bench like Shan.

Stanimal said...

Bobby and I were talking about this the other day. Bobby thinks it's unlikely he's going to get drafted and if he does, it'll be by the Hornets in the 2nd round. Chad Ford of ESPN has him going 54the to the Rockets. NBADraft.net doesn't have him going at all.

Shan doesn't have a whole lot else going for him besides his shooting. He can fill it up with the best of them, but he doesn't play great defense and can't take it to the rack as well as others. While I think that it's ridiculous that these teams won't take him for his shooting ability to be a 3-point specialist, I think they are more interested in finding 2nd round steals and development players than they are team needs.

Douglas James said...

While I a freaken pumped about our incoming recruiting class and think Vandy is a legit Top 25 program I can't help but think that we will not be a national title contender till we get some McDonald's All-American type players which I think will always be a struggle for Vandy unless recruits see us sending players to the pros (actually playing not just getting drafted in the 2nd round). I honestly think that if Vandy continues on its progression it could win a NC in b-ball in the next 10 years which I think we be an absolutely amazing story and might cause my head to explode. Also I wanted to kill some time at work before going to watch the Mets suck at Shea tonight

Stanimal said...

To go along with that point, I think we are on the right track to make that kind of step. This teams recruiting pool has increased drastically. Our greater national exposure, the job DeFKA has done with planned improvements of our facilities and keeping our coaches happy, and the job Stallings and his staff have done selling Vanderbilt have complemented our performance on the court nicely. Rivals rankings don't necessarily mean a whole lot, but landing 4 players who were coveted by many of the other top programs in the country is nothing to sneeze at. Rumor has it that John Jenkins' stock is soaring too after his performance at several camps this summer and he is considered one of the elite, if not the most elite, shooter in the nation.

In short, I like the direction recruiting is headed. Our talent pool is growing, which should lead to more wins, which should lead to even more talented players. And remember, it doesn't necessarily take an ridiculous high school manchild to win a National Championship. The starting cast of the Florida team that won two NCs (with the exception of Corey Brewer), were not All-Americans and were not Rivals 5-stars.

I think much sooner than 10 years is reasonable for us to be in the hunt for the NC. I'd go so far as to say maybe even 5.

Anonymous said...

if we are ever a NC in football or basketball i will.......... no idea. what a day that would be.