1 » Columnist Woody Paige of The Denver Post has taken to calling former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow the Denver Broncos’ next John Elway. You know, the nine-time Pro Bowler who happens to be the best quarterback in the franchise’s history. Colleague Dave Krieger takes issue with Paige’s praise asking, “Seriously, can we just stop? […] Tebow is no Elway. And we will do him and everybody else a favor if we kick the habit of pretending he is.” Read the rest of what Krieger had to say in the Post. For a little more on Tebow’s progress, you can check out this video update from NFL Network.

2 » The Gainesville Sun’s Kevin Brockway put together a nice piece on incoming four-star 2010 power forward commitment Patric Young (Jacksonville, FL). Sure to be a defensive-minded presence for the Gators next season, Young knows what it takes to make an impact. “You can always be selfish on defense,” Young said. “No one is going to complain if you are getting too many rebounds and keep running the floor and that’s primarily what I do. So I’m just going to come out there and play a big role and do whatever I can to help the team.” Even head coach Billy Donovan has taken to comparing him to two former Florida stars – the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford and Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah. “[Young] is a very physical, high-energy, likes-contact guy,” Donovan said. Check out the Sun’s article for more from Young and Donovan.

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls, Denver Broncos, Joakim Noah, John Elway, NBA, NFL, Patric Young, Tim Tebow

1 » With just over two days to go until the start of the 2010 NFL Draft, 17 eligible players have already accepted invitations to join the league for the event at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY. The 18th slot is seemingly reserved for former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, who continues to keep the NFL in limbo in regards to whether or not he will attend. Tebow was supposed to make a decision last Friday but has yet to choose one way or another.

2 » Perhaps one of the reasons Tebow is going back-and-forth on his draft day decision is because he has been keeping busy with speaking engagement and private workouts/interviews. A contingent from the Denver Broncos – including head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders – visited Tebow in Gainesville, FL, Monday in what is believed to be his last meeting of the kind before the big day.

3 » And while Tebow is the subject, who better to give him a ringing endorsement than…ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale? Vitale points out that teams “shouldn’t overlook [Tebow’s] heart and desire” because “people don’t understand what is in the heart of a competitor.” Read the rest of his musings for yourself.

4 » One former Florida football player who will be in attendance at the draft Thursday is cornerback Joe Haden – expected to be a top-15 pick. As Haden moves on to the NFL, his younger brother Josh Haden is still a topic of conversation with Gators fans who hope he chooses UF as his transfer destination out of Boston College. Expect a decision to made shortly after the draft as the attention moves away from Joe. Josh will pick between Florida, Louisville (head coach Charlie Strong) and other undisclosed schools.

5 » Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has been the star of the 2010 NBA Playoffs…that is if special recognition was given to players’ mouths. Noah has been running his plenty recently, calling Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett a “dirty player” and saying quite simply that “Cleveland sucks.” (Noah’s Bulls are playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.) Garnett’s response? “Tell Joakim Noah to keep it in Cleveland and worry about Shaq,” he said. Noahdid back up his tough talk Monday, grabbing a double-double while leading his team in points (25) and rebounds (13). The effort fell short as Chicago is now down two games to none to Cleveland after losing game two 112-102.

6 » Special congratulations to offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, whose son and tight end recruit Louie Addazio announced his commitment to Syracuse to play college football. Louie also had an offer from South Florida but decided to become the Orange’s first commitment of the 2011 recruiting cycle instead.

Tags: Boston Celtics, Brian Xanders, Charlie Strong, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Broncos, Draft, Joakim Noah, Joe Haden, Josh Haden, Josh McDaniels, Kevin Garnett, Louie Addazio, Louisville Cardinals, NBA, NFL, Playoffs, Steve Addazio, Syracuse Orange, Tim Tebow

Now that the 2010 NBA Playoffs are underway, six former Florida Gators are playing important roles on their squad’s active rosters as they compete for a chance appear in the 2010 NBA Finals. OGGOA has put together a comprehensive summary of these players’ performances from game one of the first round.

Continue Reading » Gators in the 2010 NBA Playoffs – Rd. 1, Gm. 1

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Chris Richard, Jason Williams, Joakim Noah, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, NBA, Orlando Magic, Playoffs, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem

With the regular season wrapping up Wednesday night, the participants in the 2010 NBA Playoffs have now been determined. There are six Florida Gators with roles on their squad’s active rosters among the 16 teams competing to appear in the 2010 NBA Finals. OGGOA has put together a comprehensive list of these players.

Continue Reading » Florida Gators in the 2010 NBA Playoffs

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Chris Richard, Jason Williams, Joakim Noah, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, NBA, Orlando Magic, Playoffs, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem

1 » After looking for this for a few days, OGGOA finally found the video of Chicago Bulls forward/center Joakim Noah throwing it down big-time over Jason Maxiell of the Detroit Pistons from a few nights ago.

2 » Though he failed to win the competition, Florida Gators four-star 2010 forward commitment Patric Young (Jacksonville, FL) competed in the McDonald’s All-American Powerade Jam Fest (No. 21). Video of his dunks can be found below:

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Jason Maxiell, Joakim Noah, McDonald's All-Ameircan, Patric Young, Powerade Jam Fest

1 » Former Florida Gators All-American center and NBA first-round draft pick Dwayne Schintzius‘ long battle with leukemia has hopefully come to an end. Schintzius, 41, is the Gators’ fifth all-time leading scorer (1,624 points); the team’s career blocks leader; the only player in SEC history with more than 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 250 assists and 250 blocks; and a nine-year NBA veteran who was drafted No. 24 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 1990. He received a bone marrow transplant on Jan. 12 from his brother Travis, and his family, friends and Gators fans prayed each day that his condition would improve. The Tampa Tribune, which spoke with Schintzius’ father, reports that he is in the process of making a full recovery and has even been released from the hospital. “The doctors are very optimistic,” Ken Schintzius said. “He has been declared leukemia-free. There’s a ways to go before he’s back where he was, but it’s moving in the right direction.”

2 » Though Florida was on his short long list heading into National Signing Day, it is unlikely that five-star 2010 offensive tackle recruit Seantrel Henderson would switch over to the Gators should he be displeased with the NCAA’s investigation into the USC Trojans. Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel confirms a previous OGGOA report that the Miami Hurricanes would be one of the frontrunners for his services.

Extra BIT » Former Florida forward/center Joakim Noah his being held out of action for three more weeks by the Chicago Bulls due to his nagging plantar fasciitis.

Tags: All-American, Chicago Bulls, Dwayne Schintzius, Joakim Noah, Miami Hurricanes, National Signing Day, NBA, NCAA, Seantrel Henderson, USC Trojans

1 » Originally a second-round pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2007 NBA Draft, former Florida Gators forward/center Chris Richard was most recently playing for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. That was until Feb. 5 when he signed a 10-day contract with the NBA‘s Chicago Bulls. In fact, the Bulls have been so impressed with his limited work that they have decided to sign Richard to a second 10-day contract as fellow former Florida F/C Joakim Noah continues to nurse his plantar fasciitis injury. Richard also played for Chicago during the preseason and saw action in six games before being released.

2 » It is tough to question new Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips’ football credentials, seeing as he has coached Division I college football for over 20 years. But when he goes out of his way to call former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow a “goon,” well, OGGOA can certainly question his vocabulary. Asked by CBS if he senses “an opening at Florida with Urban Meyer’s status up in the air,” Phillips responded that the loss of Tebow is the real key. “Obviously, Florida won’t be the same,” he said. “They had a goon at quarterback. Usually the goon is the offensive or defensive lineman. They’ve had a goon at quarterback. That guy is a great leader. He could play anywhere. He’s a coach on the field. He’s one of those guys who rarely comes around. Now with him being gone, you hope that they take a step back. They will, definitely, in leadership.” If you want to get technical, there is a definition of goon (a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents) that fits Phillips’ usage…but it is a stretch to say the least. You could also argue that this BIT is a stretch. Well…so be it.

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Chris Richard, Joakim Noah, Joker Phillips, Kentucky Wildcats, NBA, NBA D-League, Tim Tebow, Tulsa 66ers, Urban Meyer

Former Florida Gators forward/center Chris Richard has signed a 10-day contract with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. Richard, originally a second-round pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2007 NBA Draft, was most recently playing for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Fellow former Florida F/C Joakim Noah is out through the All-Star break with plantar fasciitis; Richard was signed to fill his roster spot on the Bulls. Richard played for Chicago during the preseason and saw action in six games before being released.

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Chris Richard, Joakim Noah, NBA, NBA D-League, Tulsa 66ers