Monday, December 20, 2010

In The Spotlight

Derrick Rose is proof that you can always go home again. A two-time state champion at Simeon Career Academy, this electrifying point guard returned to the Windy City in 2008 when he was picked first in the NBA draft by the Bulls. He has since led Chicago to back-to-back playoffs and has the team on the brink of its finest season in years. “I'm from Chicago, so it would mean a lot if I would just bring back one championship here,” he says. “It would mean so much to this city. I want to be that guy. I want to be that guy that does that.” Learn more about Rose by clicking here.

Monday, December 13, 2010

In The Spotlight

It’s only a matter of time before Mike Krzyzewski receives his own wing in the Basketball Hall of Fame. This 12-time Coach of the Year has virtually rewritten college basketball’s record books during his tenure at Duke by winning 4 national championships, 11 regional championships, 12 ACC regular season championships, and 12ACC Tournament championships. "Coach K" will have a chance to add to his impressive legacy this season as he attempts to lead the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils back to the Final Four. Learn more about his career by clicking here.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

In The Spotlight

The No. 1 pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, Sam Bradford has gotten the St. Louis Rams off to their best start in four years thanks to his precise passing and heady leadership. “Each week I feel more comfortable,” he says. “I expect for this team to compete for the division.” Learn more about Bradford by clicking here.

Friday, December 3, 2010

In The Spotlight

Rex Ryan is a sportswriter’s dream come true. This exceptionally candid head coach seldom holds back in his press conferences as he gleefully expounds on topics ranging from the New York Jets to his own supersized posterior. “I'm the biggest trash talker there is,” he says. “[But] I don't disrespect anybody else. I just have confidence in our football team." The Jets will need both his brains and his bravado this year if they hope to improve upon last season’s successful 9-7 campaign. Learn more about Ryan by clicking here.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

In The Spotlight

Expectations are at an all-time high in Washington, where the Wizards are banking on newly acquired point guard John Wall to lead them to the playoffs during his first year in the league. It’s a tall task, but one this high-flying rookie feels confident he can accomplish. "I'm a franchise guy that they can start over and rebuild with -- and then add more pieces to it," Wall says. "We got a chance to be good." Learn more about Wall by clicking here.

In The Spotlight

Vinnie Jones is a former professional footballer whose penchant for knocking down opponents and literally crushing their nuts made him a legend in his native England. He has since parlayed his reputation as a remorseless thug into a gig as one of Hollywood’s most bankable brutes in films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Gone in Sixty Seconds, and X-Men: The Last Stand. So, which career does this rough-and-ready brawler prefer? “I love [football and acting], but it's all about the present and I just love what I'm doing now,” he says. “It's a great adventure and it's very exciting for me.” Learn more about Jones by clicking here.