This weekend I was able to travel to Göreme in the Neveshir Province of Turkey to visit the Cappadocia region.

Cappadocia is known for it’s cave homes above ground and underground. They where used to hide people over 2000 years ago from protection during war  and for religion purposes. It is said that many Christians  hid themselves among these caves and where able to live and escape Roman persecution. In many of the caves beautiful religious paintings cover the walls.

The underground caves were hard to trek through but you got a real sense of how people formed homes underneath the mountains. They had sections set off as living rooms, bedrooms. It was kind of scary but at the same time it did provide a sense of protection and security.   I was to tall for the caves but I was still  able to make my way down a couple of floors.

I really had a wonderful trip and the drive down was great. Turkey is a very beautiful country .Driving through the mountains in beautiful weather just made me appreciate God’s creation even more. Cappadocia is an amazing, beautiful, and eccentric place. So if your ever in Turkey it’s a must see destination.

Slicing throught two defenders scoring with the funky reverse!

I know that Tyreke Evans has a football player’s type body at a pt guard position.  Evans  6’6” and 220lbs/98kg   is going to pose a lot of problems for defenders in years to come in the NBA. He is leading rookies in points per game and everyone has already labeled him ROY (rookie of the year).

I like watching him play and no one can stop him going to the basket. He has an uncanny talent to make very difficult reverse lay-ups. He will make it sideways, straight on, behind the basket, simultaneously between two defenders. He has that razzle dazzle  that will make him a star. He doesn’t have a good 3pt shot,  but he averages 20pts and  almost 6 assist and 6 rebounds a game. I like his game  and he is playing good basketball.The media is saying that he is the 2010 ROY, but I have someone else in mind.

Calcutlating whether to shoot, pass or penetrate and finish!

My pick for NBA ROY is Stephen Curry of the Golden States Warriors. This guy  isn’t playing good but great basketball. Stephen Curry in comparison to Evans is only 6’3” and 185 lbs/83kg currently averaging 16pts and almost 6 assist and 5 rebounds a game. I love watching him play. He doesn’t razzle and dazzle you but he does surprise you. He will shoot the 3ball with accuracy, penetrate and find or just simple finish, he sees the entire floor and calculates his every move. He is a Smartie Arty on the court that you can never leave open.(never ever ever ever ever)

I just watched his game against the Lakers last night.. If  he hadn’t got in foul trouble I would like to think the Warriors might have won. Don Nelson his coach says ” that as a rookie he’s  perfect, he shoots well, defends, rebounds, works hard and is a professional”. How perfect would it be he ends up getting Rookie of the Year!

So message to the voters out there, both players are very very good.  It’s happened before and  I say it should happen again NBA  Co-Rookie’s of the Year in 2010!

In 1995 my first year in college I  watched as Rebecca Lobo and company gave UConn their first perfect season to go along with their National Title.  A perfect 35-0 in front of a sellout Final Four crowd. UConn  has been dominating the women’s game every since. They have had two more perfect seasons and 6 Final Fours, They totally dominate the Big East Conference.

So some are saying this isn’t good for women’s basketball. Really? If UConn’s women’s basketball program isn’t good for women’s basketball then what is?  UConn to me is elevating the women’s game and paving the way for women’s basketball to become stronger across the board.

There is nothing wrong with women basketball players dominating the college game the way they do.

Please fans of the game of basketball stop comparing the women’s game to the men’s game whether it’s college or pros. Men play the game above the rim and women play below it that’s about as far as comparisons should go.

To try and downplay what the UConn women are doing saying it’s only because it’s women’s basketball is just not right.  If the NBA wasn’t in existence and colleges could get some great recruiting classes like  the Fab Five of Michigan. Or  even the class from the UNLV running rebels  to play in college for four years. We might have had some of the same dominance that UCLA showed between 1971 and 74. (Okay no comparisons but i’m just saying it for those who want to compare)

In women’s sports no one is leaving early to go pro, so if your lucky to get that great class along with a great coach  great things can happen. It takes alot of focus, talent, great coaching, alittle luck to have a good season much less a perfect one.

I spoke with one of the great UConn talents here in Turkey. Actually she was a part of the 1995 team that started the perfect season  phenomenon. Check out what Nykesha Sales had to say.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNi8CzQLpPc