LAWRENCE, Kan.
Marouane Fellaini Manchester Jersey . -- The story that will accompany Andrew Wiggins first game at Kansas, an impromptu
exhibition during coach Bill Selfs summer camp, has already taken on a decidedly
Paul Bunyan-esque quality. Those who were in the gym last week, and the
thousands of people who have seen video of the game, know the real story. But
when is reality as much fun as folklore? And the play that Wiggins made in the
first couple of minutes against current and former Jayhawks lends itself to a
tall tale. Whats fact is that the top high school prospect in the country, the
odds-on No. 1 pick in next years NBA draft -- the Canadian LeBron James, as hes
been called -- found himself in the open court with the ball in his hands and
only NBA centre Cole Aldrich standing in his way. From there, the folk-hero
version goes like this: Wiggins elevated from beyond the 3-point arc, posed
midair for a couple of photos, autographed the ball and then slammed it down.
The truth: Aldrich stepped aside and watched as Wiggins effortlessly dunked it.
Either way, the play was enough to send Jayhawks fans into a tizzy, light up
Internet message boards and burnish the almost mythical aura that already
accompanies the 6-foot-7 swingman. "I let loose of all my nerves," the rising
star from Vaughan, Ont., said, "so I felt good after that dunk. I just let my
game come to me. Thats what happened. Thats what the fans wanted to see." Theyll
want to see plenty more of it this season. Wiggins is arguably the most talented
player to arrive in Kansas since Danny Manning in the 80s, and Self wonders
whether anybody has created as much hysteria since Wilt Chamberlain. He has
prototypical NBA size and athletic ability, a game already far more advanced
than his peers, and an uncanny ability to make the most difficult plays seem
pedestrian. He also has the unmistakable swagger, modest though he may be, of a
player who simply knows that hes good. Its little surprise that autograph
seekers already have descended on Lawrence, hoping to snag Wiggins John Hancock
on a ball or a photo four months before his first real game. "Its kind of weird
to me because weve recruited other good players before, but weve never had
anybody with this kind of attention," Self said. "I kind of feel for him. Hes
going to have to be able to tell people no, and we have to make it easier for
him." Good luck with that. There are only a handful of college basketball
programs in the country that can rival Kansas for pure passion, not to mention
history or success. There are five banners hanging in the end zone of Allen
Fieldhouse to represent the Jayhawks national championships, and dozens more
herald more modest triumphs such as conference titles. Students often camp out
for days in advance of a big game, and the raucous environment is one of the
most intimidating in college sports. It was the environment that in part helped
convince Wiggins to pick Kansas over a list of suitors that included North
Carolina and Kentucky, a couple more tradition-drenched blue bloods. "Everyone
here is really loving, friendly, so its good," Wiggins said. "Im getting to know
people. Theyve been showing me around, so Ive been comfortable." Wiggins comfort
level could be critical to the Jayhawks success this season. They lost all five
starters from last years team to graduation or the draft, and return just a
couple of reserves who played meaningful minutes. Self restocked with a
recruiting class that included five-star recruit Wayne Selden and several other
high-profile targets, but the low-key announcement that Wiggins would be joining
them stole every headline across the state. It also turned some heads in the Big
12. "He brings so much athleticism to any place he plays," said West Virginia
coach Bob Huggins, who often saw Wiggins play just up the road from Morgantown
at Huntington Prep last season. "When everybody says youre the best player in
the country, youre obviously pretty good." Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said
Wiggins was "as advertised," while Texas coach Rick Barnes let slip that even as
a ninth-grader the lanky forwards game resembled that of Kevin Durant. "Believe
the hype. Hes that good a player, a special player," Barnes said. "I think it
speaks volumes about our league with the kind of players weve had come in
through the years. Hes another one. He is a terrific, terrific talent and a
very, very special player." Evidently, rival coaches arent afraid to build upon
Wiggins near-superhero status. Self has been busy trying to tamp down those
out-of-this-world expectations, pointing out whenever possible that Wiggins is
just a freshman. But while he argues that Wiggins is "going to go through ups
and downs like everybody else" in one breath, he adds in the next that "hes as
talented as any player in the country, because from a raw athletic ability
standpoint, he can do some things that Ive never had a player be able to do
physically." So far, Wiggins has handled the attention with aplomb. He refused
to make his signing news conference into a televised event. Hes often said that
he prefers to keep a close inner circle of friends and family -- his brother,
Nick Wiggins, plays just down the road at Wichita State. And he comes off as
unfailingly polite and quietly unassuming when a camera is stuck in his face,
answering questions directly and succinctly. When asked whether all the
expectations might be too much, Wiggins just shakes his head. "Its an experience
I can enjoy," he said. "A lot of former players always say that college was
their greatest basketball experience, all the fans and going to school and being
on campus. Its just a great vibe. Thats what Im looking forward to."
Morgan Schneiderlin Manchester Jersey . An offseason trade acquisition from Kansas City, Greinkes National League debut was
delayed by a non-baseball injury in the spring, and he was 0-1 after dropping an
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Sergio Romero Manchester Jersey . "[People] keep asking that question and its not a legit question because we dont have that
right, we havent arrived yet," Casey responded. "Weve got to take each game at a
time, each possession at a time and look at it that way.HALLE, Germany -- Roger
Federer won the Gerry Weber open for the seventh time by defeating Alejandro
Falla 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) in the final on Sunday. Federer fired five aces and saved
three of the five break points he faced to win in 1 hour, 28 minutes. It was the
32-year-olds 14th title on grass and 79th overall. The seven-time Wimbledon
champion improved his record to 46-5 in 12 appearances at the tournament where
he made his debut 14 years ago.
Daley Blind Jersey. It was also Federers seventh win from seven meetings with Falla. The 69th-ranked Falla was the first
Colombian to reach the final of a grass-court tournament. He was playing his
second on tour after he finished runner-up to Ivo Karlovic at Bogota in 2013.
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