Nelson's Extension Gives Life to Jam

The Golden State Warriors have rewarded head coach Don Nelson with a two year contract extension, setting the coach up for an opportunity to not only set a record for wins with the Warriors but also setting up their NBA D-League affiliate with three more seasons of top-round draft picks for development.
Although the Jam are also affiliated with the Orlando Magic and have also been affiliated with the Sacramento Kings during their short history here in Bakersfield, the Warriors have by far been the most productive and supportive of the D-League structure, and the major reason for that is Warriors head coach Don Nelson.
Nelson has an old-school approach of not playing rookies in the NBA. With more and more young players entering the league, Nelson has taken full advantage of the D-League and the Jam to help get those players valuable playing time and NBA experience. Patrick O'Bryant, a top draft pick from a few seasons ago spent a lot of time here in Bakersfield as well as Golden State, he know plays for the defending world champion Boston Celtics.
The Jam have been fortunate to receive the big name picks to suit up here in Bakersfield, taking advantage of their skills to help the franchise while doing their part in developing those players into NBA capable players. The Jam can thank Don Nelson for his contributions the past few seasons. Although it was believed this was going to be his last season with Golden State, the news of the contract extension is good for the D League and the Jam.
This season Bakersfield is looking forward to possibly seeing four of those picks this season, Demarcus Nelson from Duke, Anthony Randolph of LSU, Anthony Morrow from Georgia Tech and Richard Hendrix from Alabama. With the youth of the Warriors, their finish this season could mean more top draft picks in the years to come and more future Jam players for the folks of Bakersfield to check out on their way to the NBA. While Nelson's extension gives the Warriors a chance to build their franchise around a solid head coach, while it gives the Jam peace of mind that their pipeline to NBA talent and big name players will not end anytime soon.

.500 Season Within Sight for CSUB

In just their second season of playing a full NCAA Division I schedule Cal State Bakersfield Volleyball is within four games of securing a .500 record for the season. With nine games remaining four more wins will not only give this team a .500 record or better, but give the University it's first .500 finishing record in any sport during this Division I transition period.
While a .500 season for most programs might not be anything to write home about, the Runners reaching this milestone in just their second full Division I season is nothing short of tremendous. Currently sitting at 13-10 after a win over fellow NCAA Independent Seattle University on the road, CSUB is looking history in the face. Just one year ago this team was 5-17 and showing the pains of making the transition from Division II contender to Division I whipping post. Now a season later the same team is showing that CSUB's time as a whipping post was short lived, winning big-time games over Pacific, Fresno State, and head coach John Price's former school Cal State Northridge.
The volleyball squad's performance is an early indicator of the entire transition process at CSUB. Nobody thought becoming a Division I athletic program would be easy, especially after years of domination and numerous National Championships at the D II level, but it looks like the bumps and bruises may be far less harmful than originally thought. If the volleyball squad can accomplish this milestone, the Runners will be on their way to success at the Division I level.
It's already becoming apparent that CSUB's presence at the Division I level is getting noticed. More teams with national recognition are calling for games, while others are opting out. I guess losing to a Division I transitional squad doesn't sit well with some programs that think they should win games against CSUB. From volleyball to basketball, soccer to the newly formed baseball team, this program is starting to not only win, but carry themselves like winners at the Division I level.
While a .500 record in volleyball might not get the attention it deserves, the legend of this possible accomplishment will ring throughout the halls of Roadrunner athletic history as the first of many winning teams. As the years roll on and this program continues to chalk up wins, land big time recruits and eventually fill the trophy case at the Icardo Center with Division I hardware, we might be looking back at this 2008 volleyball squad with not only pride, but a great deal of thanks for showing us the way.

Carter's signing the first of many to come

Garces senior forward Stephon Carter made it official Thursday: The CSUB Roadrunners are a recruiting threat to be reckoned with. While some find this announcement that the two time Cal Hi preps All-State team member will be staying in Bakersfield next season to play for his hometown Runners, others of us close to the program react with this; "I told you so."
It was only a matter of time before a top Division I local recruit made the call that Stephon did. Weighed his options, looked at other schools and then looked at the program in southwest Bakersfield and said "this feels right." CSUB has already started landing major community college prospects, Jose "Chepe" Lara along with James Albright, both from nearby College of the Sequoias as well as Terrance Johns, the Bakersfield College transfer who two years ago made similar statements that Carter made Thursday, "he wanted to stay close to his support group," and suit up for the 'Runners.
Now it's tine for local high school kids to do the same. When it comes time to make that choice, when the Pac 10 offer is on the table, that CSUB offer will most likely be nearby. There's no formula that makes the bigger teams in Division I basketball better recruiters, their reputations usually proceed them, CSUB is building such a reputation as well, and Stephon Carter's signing is proof of that. But reputations at the Division I level are based on one thing and one thing alone, winning, and that's what the Roadrunners will do in 2008-2009.
With a solid core of your returners as well as previously spoken on transfers, redshirts as well as true freshman, this team is poised to make a decent run this season, a run that will help the recruiting process down the road. There's nothing more alluring to a recruit than knowing he'll be allowed to play on the biggest stage against the best competition, and although CSUB is currently an independent with no conference affiliation, their schedule reads like a lot of top 25 teams in the country. From the Pac 10 to the Big West, the Mt West to the WAC, the WCC to Conference USA, the Roadrunners will face competition from both this season, building that all-important reputation along the way.
Carter's commitment on Thursday was big for this young Division I basketball program, somebody had to be the first, and Carter fits the mold perfectly. He's goal-oriented, level-headed and most importantly excited about what he can do for CSUB and what CSUB can do for college basketball.

Reaction to Jose Canseco's "Last Shot" on A&E

Jose Canseco's "Last Shot" aired on A&E this week, a short documentary about the man known as "The Godfather of Steroids," in Major League Baseball and his quest to kick the 'roids after over 20 years of use.

First segment reaction:
Canseco spends a good amount of time recollecting the events that led him to become an elite player in baseball and how steroids helped that cause. Fast forward to the present and that man is gone. All is left is an broke, aging, slow-pitch coed softball player who's been reduced to playing on the municipal diamonds of Fullerton, just nine miles from Angels Stadium where he once roamed the outfield during his 16 year career with 7 different teams. I can't imagine a fall from grace like that. Slow pitch softball? Don't get me wrong, I love the game, but I'm ME, he's played in all the great ballparks in America, and a shabby muni field is as close to the action the first player ever to hit 40 homeruns and steal 40 bases in one season can get. He's ready to kick the 'roids...fade to commercial.

Second Segment reaction:
I respect Canseco's decision to try and quit steroids after 25 years on the stuff, I think this is mostly coming from his girlfriend however who has laid down the "roids or me" ultimatum. At this point in his life I don't think Canseco can afford to lose anything else, especially a stable girlfriend. Canseco also takes the camera crew on a tour of his foreclosed multi million dollar home, he goes into the backyard that was once something out of the movies, now and algae filled pool is all that's left. It's as if Julius Cesar were still alive and he was looking over the ruins of the fallen Roman Empire, you can't help but feel sorry for the man, but then again, this was all self-inflicted. I wonder how someone who made of 43 million dollars in his career can now be foreclosed upon, living check-to-check with no stable form of income. Several divorces and bad investments later and the man who I idolized growing up, is worth less than I am, unbelievable.
Third Segment Reaction
Canseco's home life is jacked up. He's a father to one daughter Josie from a previous marriage, but refuses to be a father figure to his live-in girlfriend's seven-year old because of guilt. Canseco claims he doesn't see his daughter enough so he doesn't want to have a relationship with another child because it makes his think of his kid. What? I know this guy has a few neutrons missing because of drug abuse but come on, seriously? I don't think I would be able to imagine a more selfish and dastardly position. Why his girlfriend hasn't left him is beyond me, I think she knows he's in a fragile state and leaving would only make it worse, but he needs help outside of steroids, he's got emotional scars that are adding to the baggage, and it starts with his family. I respect the fact that he loves his real daughter so much, but how about spreading the love a little, I think it's one thing that might help him through this difficult journey.
Fourth Segment Reaction:
That didn't take long, his girlfriend and he have split up, he prepaid a years rent on his third residence in the last 5 months. He returns to baseball to watch the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League, a team he played for but didn't finish his contract. He can't get tickets to a big league game because he's not welcome so he goes to watch the Armada where fans line up to take pictures and get his autograph, but the team serves him with papers. Can this dude's life get any more messed up? Just when things are looking up, he gets sued again. In Jose's words "I can do no right." You just said a mouthful.
Fifth segment reaction:
"This is the worst time of my life," says Canseco as the documentary winds down. "But I believe I can beat it, but I've got to fight." Say what you want about Jose Canseco, and Lord knows I have, I can't help admire the hell out of the guy for sticking it out. He points out that all his life he's fought against the odds, granted he took a few shortcuts along the way, shortcuts he's still feeling the effects of, but I admire his willingness to move forward, it's all any of us can do. The mention of his recent detention by federal authorities at the Mexican border for possessing an drug to restore testosterone without a prescription, is mentioned at the end of the piece. Just one more thing he has to deal with. Without a job, without his livelihood (baseball), without any real money to speak of, he's digging in one more time in the proverbial batters box, and staring down one more pitcher, no doubt another curve ball is on the way.

Welcome To My Blog

So this is it. The official blog of "Home Turf" on ESPN Radio 1230. It's kind of nice to also be able to share my thoughts on the web as well as on the air. I started as a sports writer before making the jump to radio years ago so its good to be published in some form again. I'll update this bad boy several times a week to help expand on some of the ideas shared on the show. Your comments are always welcome and I will hit the biggest topics both locally and nationally on a regular basis and take suggestions from you the listeners of the show and readers of this blog. Enjoy.

Corey Costelloe