Walker Smith

I’ve thought Darryn Peterson needed to share his story. People would understand if they knew what really happened. On Friday, I got him to share about the day he ended up in the hospital and how that’s hung over his time at KU. His story (free to read): nytimes.com/athletic/71274…

Do MLB teams take the World Baseball Classic seriously enough? @Russell___Smith and @WalkerrTR discuss...

19 years ago, a high school basketball coach put his team manager into a game for the final four minutes. The kid had never played a single minute of competitive basketball in his life. He scored 20 points. Jason McElwain was diagnosed with severe autism at age two. He didn’t speak until he was five. He couldn’t chew solid food until he was six. He wore a nappy for most of his early childhood. As a baby, he was rigid, wouldn’t make eye contact, and hid in corners away from other children. He tried out for his school basketball team every year and got cut every time. Too small. Too slight. Barely 5’6 and about 54 kilograms. But he loved the game so much that his mum called the school and asked if there was any way he could be involved. The coach created a team manager role for him. For three years, McElwain showed up to every practice and every game. He wore a shirt and tie on match days. He ran drills, handed out water, kept stats, and cheered every basket like he’d scored it himself. On 15 February 2006, the last home game of his final school year, the coach let him suit up in a proper jersey and sit on the bench. With four minutes left and a comfortable lead, the coach sent him in. His first shot missed. His second missed. Then something shifted. He hit a three-pointer. Then another. Then another. His teammates stopped shooting entirely and just kept passing him the ball. He hit six three-pointers and a two-pointer. 20 points in four minutes. The highest scorer in the game. When the final buzzer went, the entire crowd rushed the court and lifted him onto their shoulders. His mum tapped the coach on the shoulder, in tears. “This is the nicest gift you could have ever given my son.” McElwain won the ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports that year, beating out some of the biggest names in professional sport. He’s 36 now. He works at a local supermarket, coaches basketball, has run 17 marathons including five Boston Marathons, and travels the country speaking about never giving up. When asked about that night, his coach still gets emotional. “For him to come in and seize the moment like he did was certainly more than I ever expected. I was an emotional wreck.”

Baseball is not America’s sport. And it hasn’t been for some time

Cinema

"The worst group of fans we have on Twitter are overly passionate Kobe Bryant fans" - @BFW on people diminishing Bam Adebayo's 83 points last night

Wes Rucker loved to celebrate the Cubbies with a good “Go Cubs. Go America.” Thank you, @Cubs 🫡

"Amari Evans is better than we thought he could be" - @Russell___Smith after Evan's performance in Tennessee Basketball's loss to Vanderbilt 📺youtube.com/watch?v=tq3PII…

After six weeks with a jarring lack of help from X Support (@Support), I have fired up a new account. Hopefully, I get my old account, but couldn't stay away with March Madness nearing. For anyone new, plenty of Tennessee basketball, baseball and football coverage here!

My last ASU game as a student was one to remember taking down #14 Kansas 📸

Arizona State’s win tonight over Kansas was a microcosm of its tenure under Bobby Hurley. Not as talented or trendy as a blue blood, but hard nosed regardless of the competition. Guy has done a really good job the last 11 years at a power conference job with limited resources.

Bobby Hurley said he believes his players "see the writing on the wall" with his situation at ASU. Moe Odum does, but went to bat for Hurley: "He is the greatest coach that's ever coached me. I'd go to war with him anytime... I don't care what anybody says." @SunDevilSource

Consider Arizona State

✍️ @WalkerrTR fanrunradio.com/sports/the-clo…

AVAILABILITY UPDATE— Nate Ament will not play tomorrow night at South Carolina. Ament is out due to a right leg injury sustained Saturday against Alabama. The timetable for his return is to be determined and he will continue to be evaluated.

"Josh Heupel is going to be carrying the weight of all of it." @TheHoundBB says about Tennessee Athletics 🎥youtube.com/watch?v=83_Xin…

Should Nate Ament play before the SEC Tournament? @benmckee14 weighs in on The Drive 🎥youtube.com/watch?v=83_Xin…

How Former Tennessee Football Players Did at the NFL Combine ✍️ @WalkerrTR fanrunradio.com/sports/how-all…

Great conversations on today’s show about Vol Hoops and the Vol Baseball’s new super-power…give us a listen!