Kirk Snyder sentenced

Former NBA-er and Nevada basketballer Kirk Snyder received his sentence today -- go here.

Sunday's links from late Saturday night

This will probably spoil having something for you tomorrow but here goes anyway -- we're back late after watching some youth basketball -- 14, 15, 16 year olds -- at the Olympic Club in downtown San Francisco (don't worry, we came through the garage entrance so as not to upset the high and mighty) and figured we might as well post what we currently see on-line. Man, we're living the high life -- out and about two of the last three nights.

Jared Eborn blogs that a junior college shooting guard is checking out USU.

Here is something from the athletics site at the young man's college.

Here is the young man's Twitter page.

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Tony Jones offers an update on Stephen Rogers -- based on nothing tangible, we still say he'll land at BYU.

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Here is a Dan Hinxman interview with Kirk Snyder's wife. It provides the background necessary to understand Snyder's current situation.

Here is a letter of apology from former Wolf Packer Kirk Snyder.
The victim of Snyder's attack suffered painful injuries, no ifs, ands or buts. While making no attempt to minimize broken body parts as a result of the horrific attack, Snyder was clearly in the grips of psychosis when he perpetrated the beating. It serves no purpose for him to be incarcerated as his actions weren't willful. He needs treatment and that is best served outside of any house of detention. And yes, as 'cheap' as it sounds or as impossible as it may seem to truly calculate, we would feel the same even if we were the recipient of the blows.

There but for...

Why Snyder? Why not me?

Jealousy runs amok and surely someone was thinking the thoughts above when Kirk Snyder landed a basketball scholarship with Nevada and then made in to the Big Show with a number of NBA teams.

But the same questions can also be asked involving Snyder's latest hurdle. It's not something someone chooses -- it just happens for no rhyme or reason, striking the large and the small, the rich and the poor.

May Kirk Snyder get and remain healthy.

Kirk Snyder: A life unraveled
After earning nearly $6.7 million as an NBA player, Snyder could face 18 years behind bars.
Ross Siler
The Salt Lake Tribune
12/20/2009

Mason, Ohio - The alleged attack happened March 30 among the red brick and white columns of the Beacon Hill Townhomes, a development so new it's not easily found on maps of this town that bills itself as "Cincinnati's Top Suburb."

At 3:36 a.m., former Jazz first-round draft pick Kirk Snyder allegedly broke into the home of his neighbors, Bradley and Eugenia Roberts, and beat a sleeping Bradley with both his fists and an alarm clock, according to police reports.

The assault was as violent as it was brief. Snyder allegedly fled the home minutes later as Eugenia Roberts came to her husband's aid. Police quickly identified him and arrested him at gunpoint, then booked him into the Warren County Jail in bloodstained clothes.

"There's parts of the county that this is common," Warren County assistant prosecutor Matt Nolan said, "but in that subdivision, I can't remember another case coming out of it of this nature."

The same could almost be said about Synder's strange, sad tale. An impossibly gifted athlete, he was the No. 16 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, taken ahead of players such as Josh Smith, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson, Kevin Martin, Anderson Varejao and Trevor Ariza . Snyder earned nearly $6.7 million in his career.

Go here for the remainder.

Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times also has a piece on Snyder.

Game reports from last night's contests

Chris Murray leads us off with his game report on the Wolf Pack falling short against BYU.

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Travis Mason-Bushman offers his take on Idaho's surprising fall to Portland. This TM-B tweet says it all: "If there was something positive to report, I'd gladly report it. I've looked at the box score — there isn't."

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Utah State dispatched Cal State Fullerton with ease. For game reporst, here is Jared Eborn's, Shawn Harrison's and Tony Jones'. Jones also reports that Nate Bendall will not be available for the game against Weber State.

Anyone know why Bryce Webster never played for USU? Jared Eborn has some background here.

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Hawaii got the better of College of Charleston per Dayton Morinaga and will now face Hip Hop U, er, Salsa Tango State, no make that UNLV, next. Brian McInnis provides his report plus those on the other games in the Diamond Head Classic Tournament.

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Louisiana Tech bopped Texas Pan-American, adding to the Bulldogs' fine record. Here's the game report from the LA TECH athletics site.

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Jason Groves goes inside with Wendell McKines in this article.

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Here is Sam Wasson with his weekly Marvin Menzies interview.

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This goes way beyond the residual partisanship of fan-dom -- anyone who doesn't feel empathy for Kirk Snyder is a "Wizard of Oz" Tin Man --is lacking any sort of a heart. Chris Murray provides an overview of Kirk Snyder's decline and fall.

Chris Murray on a couple of former Wolf Packers

Here's your updates on Nick Fazekas and Kirk Snyder, courtesy of Chris Murray. Plus, he has tidbits on Kevinn Pinkney (and others). Pinkney isn't an NBA talent but is still doing quite well for himself -- he played a very important role in Nevada's success during his time there.

Former Wolf Pack players in same situation
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
August 16, 2008

Kirk Snyder and Nick Fazekas find themselves in relatively similar positions these days.

The former Nevada Wolf Pack basketball teammates both have NBA experience and both have been working out for NBA teams. But both have yet to sign a contract for next season....

Go here for the remainder.

Chris Murray features Kirk Snyder

Kirk Snyder kicked off the renaissance of the Nevada Wolf Pack program (well he didn't play one-on-five but his collegiate success and entry into the NBA provided the initial gravitas for the Reno program) and he was recently back in town. Chris Murray caught up with him and Snyder offers some keen insight:

Snyder weighs in on McGee's early departure
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
June 12, 2008

Kirk Snyder, who we featured in Thursday's edition, was the first in the latest wave of Wolf Pack players to reach the NBA. He has since been followed by Kevinn Pinkney, Ramon Sessions and Nick Fazekas and will soon be joined by JaVale McGee and potentially Marcelus Kemp. Snyder left Nevada after his junior season and said Wednesday that with hindsight he regretted the decision to leave school early. So what would he have told McGee if the sophomore asked for his advice about leaving school early? Snyder would have told him to stay in school and continue to develop as a player and person.

Snyder said he underestimated the huge jump in play from college to the NBA as well as the emotional and physical maturation needed to succeed professionally. He said he was "saddened" when he heard that McGee was leaving school early, especially considering all of the support the university gives it players. He said he wasn't necessarily disappointed with McGee's decision, but felt bad for Wolf Pack fans...

Go here for the remainder.