Recent Rumblings: @TheClassical, @TheBallerBall, & @RushtheCourt

While Langston took care of last Saturday's SEC post, our blog's been reduced to a weekly football caption over the last month. However, that doesn't mean we haven't been writing elsewhere recently. Check out the links below, and we promise to diversify our portfolio here in the coming days (especially now that basketball is truly upon us).

Just make me look good guys, and I promise to give you all the credit. 

I wrote my second piece for The Classical this past week. The subject was the absence and return of the Oklahoma City Thunder's two superstars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. You can read it here. Also, in the two pieces I've written for the site this Fall, I've learned a tremendous amount about technique and purpose from David Roth. He's been both patient and honest about my writing, and it's been helpful. I don't think any writer can underestimate the importance of feedback from those who are better or more experienced at something than one's self. I'm thankful and, as always, trying to learn and get better.

Other writings, I've enjoyed at The Classical recently:

• Ian Levy's personal testimony about liking San Antonio, "The Spurs and the Process", speaks to my earlier point about trying to improve one's self in a particular area. Having a system that promotes a discipline in action isn't a context for predictable boredom but for a sustained methodology that gives an individual confidence in making changes. Most of us are not Tim Duncans or Kobe Bryants, but we can, with the right belief system, become Danny Greens, Tiago Splitters, and perhaps even Boris Diaws. And that's not such a bad thing to have happen. 
• I also enjoyed Dingeldein's "Credit where Credit's Due" because she wrote a piece about the scandal at the University of North Carolina that seemed more about finding a solution than about placing blame. Everyone knows that the balance between athletics and academics is out of whack. More articles that point fingers are not necessarily what's needed now. Articles, however, that try to find how and where this problem exists, while also looking for a different path of collaboration between these two very different needs and value systems, are needed. Earlier in the Fall,  Charles P. Pierce wrote an article for Grantland that articulates a similar argument. 

Not to brag, but I've been doing very, very, extremety important cultural and literary work at The Baller Ball recently. Click here to read "Bennett & Wiggins are Sort of Dead." It's sort of like Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead", only not. 

Also, check out Jason Gallagher's brilliant analysis of Scott Brooks' strategy adjustments in light of Kevin Durant's glorious return to the Thunder's lineup. This is a must if you're at all interested in the x's and o's of basketball.

Then consider the question: "Is Jakarr Sampson a Winner?" After all, I know Samuel Metivier is not the only person asking this. 

Brendan Brody (@Berndon) is putting in work at RTC. He's been a longtime contributor here as well. He's also a longtime friend. You can read his takes on college basketball here.