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Wednesday 21 May 2008
Tags: deandre, jordan
Michael Beasley isn't as dominant as you think
Michael Beasley to the Knicks?
Editor’s note: The following is the second in a two-part wrap-up from the Tribeca ESPN Sports Film Festival. For part one, click here.
NEW YORK CITY — They’re laughing at Michael Beasley.
It seemed like a good idea. The Kansas state frosh, the mile-a-minute talker expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft next month, would ditch his suit for a sweatshirt to play a little game before a bunch of Hollywood hipsters. But now these glittery girls and Johnny Square Pockets who know the name and saw his game simply can’t believe their eyes as Beasley, wide-eyed and sweaty, flaps his arms like a rat on Red Bull, misfires on moon balls, commits other mind-boggling errors and — perhaps for the first time in his life — gets whupped.
One girl, who I’m told is a former Vogue cover model, even boos. And that’s that. Beasley’s had enough. He’s got to explain himself.
“I can’t play to save my life. I suck at pingpong.”
No kidding. If Beasley declared for the USA Table Tennis League draft, he’d be selected somewhere between, oh, never and forget about it. And that was clear before he was officially eliminated by Texas A&M frosh DeAndre Jordan — who plays a bit less poorly — at a pingpong tourney on the top floor of a Tribeca penthouse at the exclusive after-party for the premiere of “Gunnin’ for that #1 Spot.”
The documentary from Beastie Boys founding member Adam Yauch (aka MCA) chronicles the first annual Elite 24 prep all-star game held in 2006 at Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park. Included are profiles on then-preps/now-studs like Beasley, Kevin Love (UCLA), Jerryd Bayless (Arizona), Kyle Singler (Duke) and others in the face of street-court heat. As Beasley can now testify, however, pingpong — and this strange new Hollywood thing — are different games altogether.
Tags: deandre, jordan
Friday 16 May 2008