(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

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Alright, so let me start by saying this: I’m not a college basketball recruiting expert, nor do I play on one on TV.

What a crappy opening sentence, huh? But the point is, that if you saw the headline “Aaron attends AAU event” and thought to yourself, “Crap, that guy seems to be marginally knowledgeable about sports stuff, let me check out this link to see who my favorite team is recruiting,” well, unfortunately, you’ve come to the wrong place.

Yes, I attended this weekend’s Nike EYBL showcase in Los Angeles, an event which featured just about every big-name recruit in the country and was attended by a bajillion college basketball coaches that you know and might possibly love. However, just because I was in attendance, does not mean I know a damn thing about recruiting. ESPN’s Dave Telep knows recruiting. Fox’s Evan Daniels knows recruiting. Me? I know about as much on college basketball recruiting as you do on your kid’s after school activities. And admit it, you don’t know much. Do you, dad???

But while I’m not a recruiting expert, what I am is a Grade A People-Watcher, and after attending the event on Saturday, I’ve got to admit that there might not be a better place for college basketball people-watching than a big-time AAU tournament. Just about every big name in college coaching you can think of was there, from Coach K to Roy Williams, Mark Few, Andy Enfield, Bill Self, Josh Pastner and Tom Izzo and a million other guys too. Shoot, at one point I basically turned into a teenage guy at the Playboy mansion, nearly getting whiplash turning my head so many times.

Anyway, that also brings me to the reality that you’re going to get from this article: If you’re a college basketball fan looking for insight on recruiting, go somewhere else. But if you’re looking for some goofy gossip on your favorite coaches, well then, I’m your man.

Simply put, AAU Tournaments are an awesome way to spend a weekend.

Here are 10 takeaways from attending my first one.

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

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The NFL Draft is now just a week away, and just a few days after UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin joined me on the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast, another prominent draft hopeful called into the show earlier this week.

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That prospect was former Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope, who discussed a number of different topics earlier this week, including his early days at A&M, the arrival of Kevin Sumlin, and what it was like to be labeled a player “lacking elite athleticism” at the NFL Combine.

Ryan was incredibly open in his interview, sharing thoughts on the following:

(Enter Aaron's giveaway with Captain Morgan, to win great prizes including an iPad mini and more!!)

Although you may not be familiar with his name, there isn’t anyone as well-respected in NBA circles than Tim Grover. The famed NBA trainer has been working with, and getting results from some of the league’s best, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade since starting his career over 20 years ago.

Well late last week, I was fortunate enough to welcome Grover onto the Aaron Torres Sports podcast, where we discussed his work with the NBA’s elite, what separates them from everyone else, and his new book “Relentless: From Good, to Great, to Unstoppable.”

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Here are some of the topics we’ve discussed:

Hello everyone!!

So as you probably remember, last week I made an announcement about a really cool giveaway that I’d be running with Captain Morgan.

In it, I’m going to give you a chance to win free prizes, including Captain Morgan gear, and potentially, if you and I can work together, some REALLY COOL prizes, like an iPad mini, Kindle Fire, Beats by Dre Headphones and more.

Yes, I’m being totally 200 percent serious. I am competing against a few other blogs in this contest, and at the end of the week the blog with the most correct answers to the question below will receive one of those epic gifts I mentioned above. There will be three separate contests over the next three weeks, so there is always time to answer later if you can’t today.

Still, you don’t need to wait until Friday for free prizes, since I will start by giving away the first gift today: A FREE Captain Morgan hat and t-shirt. Not a bad way to start things, right?  

For a chance to win the FREE swag and enter yourself to win the bigger prizes, all you’ve to do is two very simple things.

1. Watch the video above.

If you do, you’ll see a video in which Captain Morgan helps a prisoner escape from jail. Next, Captain Morgan and the prisoner then make a getaway on a couple of horses.

2. Next, you need to answer the following riddle, provided to me by the folks at Captain Morgan.

PLEASE NOTE: You need to answer the riddle in the comments section of this post. ONLY answers in the comments section will be accepted.

Anyway, here is the the riddle you need to answer:

In 1668, Morgan sealed the prisoner’s fate. Atop a creature he got away, the number of which you must say.

Yes, that is the riddle and it directly corresponds to the video.

And while the riddle does seem complicated at first glance, it isn’t when you break it all down.

While I can’t give away too much about the answer to the riddle, what I would suggest is this: Watch the video a few times, pay attention and carefully analyze the riddle. Most importantly, focus on the word “creature” in the video, and the number of those specific “creatures” you see.

So there it is.

Please remember that to be entered to win any prizes, you must answer the question correctly ONLY in the comments section below. All other entries will not be accepted.

And finally if you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or hit me on Twitter @Aaron_Torres and I will be glad to help you out.

Again, answer the question correctly in the comments section below, and you’re automatically entered to win Captain Morgan swag... with the possible opportunity to win EVEN MORE, including iPad mini’s, Kindle Fire’s, Beats by Dre headphones and much more!

Thanks, and remember I’ll be posting a new one of these giveaways every Monday for the next three weeks!

 

If there’s one random thing you probably don’t know about me (or care to know, honestly) it’s that I don’t generally enjoy sports movies very much. Maybe “don’t generally enjoy” is a bit of strong statement, but at the same time, you’ve got to understand that for me, sports is my life. It’s what I do and who I am. And because of it, it means I’m quite picky in what kind of sports content I consume. In a lot of ways, you could call me a sports snob in that way.

So when a sports movie does come out, inevitably I always go through the same routine in my head. I wonder aloud if checking out the movie will actually be worth my time. If I’ll actually learn or take anything away from it. Or if ultimately I’ll just end up angered by it; because I mean seriously, is there anything more annoying than some Hollywood director taking a great story, and twisting facts strictly for entertainment purposes? Not much, as far as I’m concerned.

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today)

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With the Final Four behind us, it’s now time to turn our attention back to football and ahead to the NFL Draft, which incredibly is now just a few short weeks away. And when it comes to the draft, few players are moving up team’s Big Boards more quickly than former UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin, who was nice enough to join the Aaron Torres Sports podcast earlier this week.

Johnathan had a decorated career at UCLA, and on Wednesday he stopped by to discuss a number of topics, including his time at Westwood, what it was like to play for Jim Mora, and a brief career as a reality TV star.

Here’s what we chatted about:

To listen to the podcast on this website, click the green box above
To download the podcast straight from iTunes, please click here
To subscribe to the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast, please click here
To listen to the podcast on your iPhone or Android please click here

- How a pact amongst high school friends brought Johnathan to UCLA in the first place, and why he came to the school to try and win big there like the Bruins had never won before.  

- His early years at UCLA, which started with an upset victory over Tennessee, but was then followed by so many losses afterward. How did the losses change Johnathan, and how much more enjoyable was his senior season, when the Bruins won nine games, and the Pac-12 South title.  

- Johnathan also discusses the transition into the Jim Mora era, and how things changed with Mora’s arrival. Also, with Mora in place, how bright is the future for the Bruins football program?

- Johnathan expands on what his last couple months of NFL Draft prep have been like. Did playing in the Senior Bowl help him grow as a football player, and most importantly, when he got to the NFL Combine, what kind of weird questions were asked of him by NFL personnel?

- Finally, Johnathan discusses his brief career as a reality TV star in high school (yes, that happened), and wraps up by letting fans know what to expect if their team drafts him.

Folks, I’m going to be blunt: In all my years interviewing college and professional athletes, I have never come across one as intelligent, introspective and unique as Johnathan Franklin. It was a pleasure to interview him, and regardless of whether you’re a UCLA fan or if your NFL team is considering drafting the Bruins running back, this is a podcast you’re going to want to listen to.

And you can listen to this podcast by downloading it straight from iTunes just by searching for “The Aaron Torres Sports Podcast” and you can also subscribe to the Aaron Torres Sports podcast by clicking here.

As always I encourage you to share your thoughts either by commenting below or hitting me up on Twitter @Aaron_Torres or on my newly redesigned Facebook page.

And FINALLY, if you haven’t checked out my giveaway with Captain Morgan, which starts this coming Monday, check it out here. Do so and you'll have the opportunity to win cool prizes, including Captain Morgan swag, tickets to live sporting events and much, MUCH more!

So, quick question: How many of you enjoy consuming alcohol? Given that I’ve hung out with many of you and correspond with many others, the answer is undoubtedly “pretty much everyone who reads this site.” That is also reason No. 2,189 why I love you guys, by the way.

Regardless, it’s because of our mutual love of sports and alcohol (not necessarily in that order), that I am VERY happy to announce that Aaron Torres Sports will partner with Captain Morgan for a VERY fun contest and giveaway in the coming days and weeks.

Details on the contest are below, but just know this: By participating, you have the chance to win a bunch of really cool prizes, including Captain Morgan swag (hats, t-shirts etc.)... and, if we end up winning this whole damn contest, it could net you some REALLY cool prizes, such as tickets to professional sporting events in your area.

Not too shabby, right? Either way, here are the details:

Staring next Monday, April 15, Captain Morgan will provide me a video in their “Perfect Getaway” campaign. The video is quick and short, but each each week a new “challenge” will come out of the video that the readers of Aaron Torres Sports have to answer.

Your job is to watch the video and provide the correct answer to the challenge. Please note: You HAVE to provide the correct answer in the comments section of the post ONLY. Answers via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, Instagram or by carrier pigeon, while appreciated, will not be accepted.

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

Don’t worry, this isn’t intended to be a super-long post on Louisville’s title game victory over Michigan on Monday night. With nearly 24 hours since the confetti fell and 23 hours and 59 minutes since Rick Pitino nearly had a heart attack on the way to shake John Beilein’s hand, I understand you’re probably tired of coverage of this game. I get that.

That’s also why I’m not going to waste anyone’s time regurgitating story lines you already know.  You don’t need me to tell you that with the win, Pitino became the first head coach to lead two separate programs to a national title. You already know that Spike Albrecht became the first player yet to hit puberty to ever score 17 points in one half of a National Championship game. You’re plenty aware of Kevin Ware’s ‘One Shining Moment’ and that most of Michigan’s roster is more likely to collect NBA paychecks in six months than renew their scholarship papers.

With the NCAA Tournament now in the books, it’s time to announce the winners of the Aaron Torres Sports Tourney Challenge!

Before we get to the winners, I just want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to fill out a bracket and enter the tournament challenge. As always, it was a great time, and something I look forward to doing again next year!

Anyway, let’s get to the victors. Below are the winners and prizes, determined prior to the NCAA Tournament! If you see your name on this list, feel free to e-mail me your address, and I’ll get your prize out ASAP!

Winner: Shayne’s 15th Bracket (Prize: $50 Amazon.com Gift Card)

2nd Place: 15 Seconds of Glory (Prize: $25 Amazon.com Gift Card)

3rd Place: Cr1spy’s Picks (Prize: Copy of Jay Bilas’ new book, ‘Toughness’)

Best Name: Joe’s Bracket Rescue (Prize: Copy of Bobby Knight’s new book ‘The Power of Negative Thinking’)

Most Total Points after Round 1: Shayne’s 15th Bracket (Prize: Copy of Bobby Knight’s new book ‘The Power of Negative Thinking’)

Most Total Points after the second weekend of the tournament: Josh Wilson of 4FanSports.com (Prize: Copy of Bobby Knight’s new book ‘The Power of Negative Thinking’)
 

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

After thinking about Monday night's championship game for way too long, here are a bunch of different random thoughts I have on the match-up we're getting courtesy of Louisville-Michigan.

A little bit of luck goes a long way

So they say a little bit of luck goes a long way, and before we can start talking about Monday night’s game, we first have to go back and say this: Louisville was lucky to survive Wichita State and advance to this title game, in the same way that Michigan needed a prayer, a miracle and a Presidential pardon to get by Kansas in the Sweet 16. I’m still not sure how the Wolverines won that game, and as it pertains to the Cards on Saturday, I’m still not sure how they came out on top either.

I mean seriously, think about it. Louisville didn’t get what anyone would consider a “good” game from a single key player (Russ Smith had his worst game of the tournament, Peyton Siva finished the night 1 for 9 from the field, and other than that huge block in the closing seconds, what did Gorgui Dieng do?). The Cardinals also forced just 10 turnovers (a number which might be good for some teams, but is a tournament low for Louisville) and were outrebounded 35-32 overall on the night by Wichita State (more on that coming). They also got a huge spark from named Tim Henderson, someone who I’m pretty sure Rick Pitino hadn’t even heard of five days ago, let alone you or I.

Yet despite all that, here we are, with Louisville now just 40 minutes away from claiming the school’s third National Championship.