1. He ain't bad...and he keeps surprising people. He didn't play varsity basketball in high school til his senior year then took off, becoming one of the West Coast's top recruiting prizes at center. He played sparingly in his first two years at Cal, then his junior year, after Leon Powe went down, he took off again, averaging 14 and 7 for Cal. He has six double-doubles that season, third in the Pac-10, behind Ike Diogu of ASU and Matt Haryasz of Stanford and tied with Channing Frye of Arizona. Among those behind him were Hassan Adams of Arizona, Bobby Jones of Washington, and Brandon Roy of Washington. He was expected to be a big part of Cal's program the next season, but tore his meniscus and fractured his foot. He was cut by Austin in the D-League after 13 games, then was picked up by the Dakota Wizards. He averaged 10 and 8 as a sixth man over the next 36. In overtime of the D-League Championship, he scored the go-ahead basket to help win it for Dakota. He finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in the game, again coming off the bench.2. He is very smart. He scored 1300 on his SAT's and had a 3.2 GPA in high school, winning Governors Scholar and Golden State Scholar awards. He was recruited by several Ivy League schools, but decided to stay out west. His high school coach, a former Division 1 college assistant and head coach, said you never needed to tell him something twice...he got it the first time. Then, despite playing both basketball and volleyball at the college level, he was able to graduate Cal Berkeley, one of the country's best schools, with a degree in political science...and in the alloted four years. For all his joking around, he is serious on the court. He is politically active, supporting Barack Obama for President.3. He is a volleyball player. He played varsity volleyball in high school before he played varsity basketball and was recognized as one of the top volleyballers in southern California, being offered scholarships in both sports. He was a middle blocker at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego and at Cal, where he helped lead the Golden Bears to the No. 1 ranking in the national club team rankings. His skills at the volleyball net are the same as those needed under the rim: quick leaping ability and shot blocking.4. He is tall and athletic. He listed at 6'10" on the NBA webside but his D-League coach said he is 6'11" and his college volleyball team listed him at 6'10 1/2". He barely weighs 230 pounds however. A lifetime of milk shakes have barely moved the scale. He makes up for his lack of physical strength with his athleticism and a nice mid-range shot. His D-League coach said that even though he is 6'11", he runs the floor like he is 6'1".5. He is younger than you would expect for a kid more than a year out of college. He is only 22, six weeks older than Josh Boone, four months younger than Mile Ilic. Being so young, he was still growing while at Cal which might be a reason for his leg injuries. That youth thing is over now. 6. He can talk...and he is highly quotable. In fact, he talked so much to the media before key Cal games that he became a prime source of bulletin board quotes for other Pac-10 teams. So much so that Cal's sports information director stopped letting him talk to the media. A word of warning to Gary Sussman is appropriate.7. He is happy to be in Nets' training camp and claims he just might be related to Jason Kidd, who also played at Cal, albeit at a bit higher level. He swears his grandmother's maiden name was Kidd. Good Luck with that one, kid...or Kidd. The Cal connection alone should be enough to get you a few alley-oops from the Cuz.8. He models himself after Kevin Garnett who he describes as "filthy rich" while describing himself as "dirty broke".9. He is currently living in New Jersey at a hotel near the Meadowlands and the Nets' practice facility. He lists his address on his MySpace page as "East Coast...Wow". 10. He has this blog...toomuchrodbenson.com...that he started this summer because "I had just been cut from Sacramento’s summer league roster, then dumped by my girlfriend the next day. I needed something to keep my mind busy." Just go there. You'll see.
Such a funny guy. I really want to see him do well but at the same time I don't want time taken away from Williams and Boone.</p>
I much prefer seeing a Rod Benson get a chance to succeed than awarding a roster spot to some 36-year-old retread who scored six points a game for some playoff-bound club eight years ago.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>I much prefer seeing a Rod Benson get a chance to succeed than awarding a roster spot to some 36-year-old retread who scored six points a game for some playoff-bound club eight years ago.</div></p> </p> Exactly.</p> </p>
With our current financial situation I think whoever, if anyone at all, gets that final bigman spot will definately earn it as I don't think the Nets would be all too thrilled just handing money over if the guy doesn't have a good chance at contributing for us with a third string PG still on the "to get" list as Cleaves is basically training camp fodder. I am excited to see him play with our Marcus led second unit in training camp, possibly even seeing a Williams/Benson combination in garbage time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (reganomics813)</div><div class='quotemain'>With our current financial situation I think whoever, if anyone at all, gets that final bigman spot will definately earn it as I don't think the Nets would be all too thrilled just handing money over if the guy doesn't have a good chance at contributing for us with a third string PG still on the "to get" list as Cleaves is basically training camp fodder. I am excited to see him play with our Marcus led second unit in training camp, possibly even seeing a Williams/Benson combination in garbage time.</div></p> </p> The operative word in your post is "current". And note this: so far we know of four training camp players--those with either non guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts--Hite, Allen, Cleaves and Benson (if all reports are accurate). All the others have NBA experience. Nets must see something in this kid. I am NOT saying he is going to make the team. I doubt that very much...but this year and last year, the team has gone to vets almost exclusively. Last year, the team brought in Walsh (a cup of coffee with the Heat, like Hite) Storey, Ham, Jay Williams (NBA vets) and Bowman, who I guess is closest to Benson. But Benson has proven himself in the D-League and Bowman ain't 6'11". </p> </p>
Anyone else flinch when they read living in a hotel?</p> Of course Rod seems to not have several demons haunting him</p>
sounds like a great guy. he seems real, down to earth, and i like that as a person. other than that...he seems like he'd be a good player and teammate. i'd love to see him on the nets roster. </p> and what's this about Jumaine Jones on netsdaily?:</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Nets will work out 6'-8" Jumaine Jones next week.</div></p> from the site...</p> http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...lZUVFeXk2</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome)</div><div class='quotemain'>Cpawfan is referring to the ghost of Eddie Griffin.</div> RIP</p> But the wedding party story still cracks me up</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>What's the wedding party story?</div> Nets sign Griffin, but keep him on injured list....put him up in a hotel at the Meadowlands (Sheraton I think). He gets drunk on room service drinksand finds a wedding reception. He tries to pick up lady, gets into it with the groomwho he follows to the bridal suite. Groom calls the cops. It gets in the papers. Houston DA sees the story, goes to court, gets his bail revoked. He goes to jail. Nets drop him. </p> But that wasjust part of the story. He was drunk most of the time at the hotel, showed up at breakfastdrunk before a urine test required by theteam...twice the legal limit for driving.</p> </p>
