How about Da'Sean Butler?

That's right. He got drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of last Thursday's NBA draft. He was the 42nd pick and quite possibly this year's biggest steal.

Quite honestly, many didn't expect Da' to be drafted. After he completely ruined his knee against Duke in this year's Final Four, his draft stock plummeted. He was originally projected as a late first round pick, but had dropped off of almost every team's draft board. With every pick, I began to doubt more and more that he'd get his chance. That changed rather quickly, however.

At the time, my focus wasn't on Da'Sean. It was on his Mountaineer teammate, Devin Ebanks. He was due to be chosen and I was just hoping his name would be called. To my satisfaction, however, the Miami Heat selected Da'Sean out of nowhere... a total surprise. Both my wife and I celebrated like the dude hit a game winning shot (he's prone to do that, ya know).

Some are crediting this piece on Da'Sean done by ESPN's Outside the Lines for his being drafted. LINK It shows just how great of an attitude this guy has. It had to have an impact on NBA general managers.

Whatever it was, though, it's apparent his hard work paid off. The guy is an inspirational story. He's smart. He's a good kid and he deserved this chance. Two thumbs up to Da'Sean Butler!

BTW... Devin Ebanks was drafted by the LA Lakers with the very next pick.

Reactions to the USA's Game Winning Goal

Happy West Virginia Day!

Celebrate your roots a little bit and watch this video. "This is My Home" is performed by Mountain Stage's Larry Groce and some random person took the pictures and edited the video. I thought it was pretty solid given today is West Virginia Day.

This is my Home - West Virginia @ Yahoo! Video

Festivall Charleston West Side Wiener Dog Race 2010.

Every year as a part of FestivAll Charleston, the city's West Side (Best Side) plays host to the wild and wonderful wiener dog races. Yesterday the wife and I decided to attend because it's only about a half a mile from our house and we have a love for four legged friends. We made the jaunt down to the track and got there just in time for the costume contest. A wiener dog dressed as Ricky Bobby from the movie Talladega Nights was crowned the winner. Immediately after the dogs were undressed and participated in the races. There were seven or eight heats, and a winner was finally crowned. It didn't really matter, though. They all looked the same without the costumes.

Here's video of the event: Link

Wordless Wednesday

Old Bluebeard of Quiet Dell, WV

I mentioned in a past post that I was helping a friend film a movie about a serial killer from West Virginia. Here's the first trailer for the film. It was made earlier this year, but I think a new one is being cut. I'll post it when it's finalized.

And here's the film's website...

http://www.romeomusthang.com/

John Wooden Quotes

Here is some wisdom from quite possibly the greatest coach of all time...

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

"Be prepared and be honest."

"Be quick, but don't hurry."

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player."

"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character."

"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."

"I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent."

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."

"It isn't what you do, but how you do it."

"Ability is a poor man's wealth."

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be."

"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings and the feelings of others before your own rights."

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."

"It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it."

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."

"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

"Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

I'm pretty sure my favorite is "Be quick, but don't hurry."