Rubio Esta Aqui, But Will He Stay?

Ok, so I cannot sleep. I am surfing the STR posts for a fix, I have watched Rubio's video like 4 times, ok maybe more than that, but if I tell you I might get reported for video stalking. I have gone on several rants over the last two months: First trying to defend the notion that Blake was better than Rubio. Check. Then I went through my own period of Man Crush, followed by denial which was covered up via Jennings bandwagoning. I broke my ankle jumping off that bandwagon after his interview and not because of his comments on the hype surrounding Rubio--but that is another story.

Impressed although frustrated that Rubio's camp was marvelously protecting its prized jewel, I felt like Gollum being denied even the chance to see 'The Precious' with Dan Fegan in his role as Sam worthy of an ESPY.

via www.callofbeauty.com

I began to sour on the notion that our team's future was going to be shaped in part by incomplete player data on several fronts with each PG promising and risky in their own right.

1) A Spanish kid who turned pro at 14 and 4 years later we squint watching pixilated video highlights on Youtube, where he looks like he might merely be in California to audition for the re-make of Taxi with his boyish charms and girl ga-gaing smile factory.

via redriverautographs.files.wordpress.com

2) Jennings body of work shows similar upside but honestly even fewer highlights with that same video camera that even a JV coach at Encina High School wouldn't use to tape practice.

3) Jrue Holiday, who went along with his older brother Justin (did you know he had a brother?) to the N. Hollywood private school Campbell Hall (grades K-12, enrollment 1000) and led his team to the Division IV State Championship. 

He looked like he was going to be it with an average of 25.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 6.9 apg, and 4.8 spg. his senior year and followed up with an impressive showing at the McDonald All Star game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists. VH1 "Where are they now?" Producers would have a field day with this game as it features the likes of  Evans for the East and Jennings, Mullens, Holiday and Derozen for the West. Here is a quick video recap...

In should be noted that Tyreke was the MVP of this game with 21 pts, 10 rbs, and 4 asts, besting Jennings and Holiday in a game that could be an indicator of what to expect by these guys in years to come:

Boxscore for 2008 McDonald All Star Game

Holiday' grade at UCLA is really an Incomplete--despite respectable numbers--as Howland had him playing the two to share the floor with Collison.

4) Tyreke, the only freshman finalist for the US Basketball Writers of America National Players Award, started at PG 11 games into the season and they never lost until the tournament to Missouri. He had better numbers than Jrue overall but also toggled between roles and only has 1 year of college to show his stuff.

5) Jonny Flynn has at least two seasons for us to look at to support his impressive Kings workout the other day and I don't want to restate sroufe's nice write up on Jonny Flynn but concur that I cannot concede he is a better choice than Rubio.

So getting back to Rubio, his interview really drew me back in. I am fighting the man crush cuz I don't want to jinks or be disappointed once again this draft year--my heart cannot take it. I was impressed with how approachable, affable, genuine and confident without coming across cocky.

Most of all I was intrigued by his desire to be on a team that has young guys that he can befriend. NOTE TO PETRIE--Since the Maloof's Gulf Stream is now mothballed can we get a video conference and some Tweets going ASAP to connect Rubio with our Generation Y Club?

Who all is in Sac-town right now? If a part of his criteria is liking our peeps then let's get those Facebook and My Space invites emailed pronto so Rubio can 'confirm' his friendship status. In fact let's tell Stern that Rubio is going to go to the team who has the most Friend Requests between now and Draft day.

Anyway, Ricky sorry I doubted you, and on behalf of the STR contingency, welcome to our cow town. We hope you stay.

In Catalan: Ho sento jo dubtava que vostè i en nom de la STR de contingència, la benvinguda a la nostra ciutat vaca. Esperem que l'estada.

In Spanish: Lo siento yo dudaba de que usted y en nombre de la STR de contingencia, la bienvenida a nuestra ciudad vaca. Esperamos que la estancia.

In Hip Hop: Yo Euro Hoops Gansta R to the U to the B, sorry fo frontin'. Props from my homies and welcome to the heifer hizzouse. Feel fre to kick it my Catalan brutha, aheyet?