Back to School

Cribbing off of FD's Days of NBA Lives series, Jay Caspian Kang presents College Basketball Tweets: Future Lotto Picks Edition. Read Jay’s latest work over at The Awl as he tries to answer the question: Who is the Greatest Diva of the Past Twenty-Five Years? Follow Jay at @maxpower51.

Kemba Walker UCONN: lol my teacher don't speak English lol

Kyle Singler DUKE: Anyone know what time the duke lacrosse team plays today?

John Henson UNC: oh lord she's drawing cards of peoples name in the class to answer the questions...lol.. I have a feeling my card is coming soon =|

Perry Jones BAYLOR: i see these new snacks at wal-mart, Mcdade cream pies lol

Josh Selby KANSAS: Done with class, that's was an exciting class. Happy to be at ku.

Kyrie Irving DUKE: RT: jhairston15 On The bus with @kyrieirving heading to the first class of the day...Intro to Acting! Should be fun...

Leave Me at the Bank

My eyebrows are in one time zone, my legs are in the last one, and my torso shut off. I also don't think I got much sleep. So apologies if I don't give these bullets points the lengthy treatment they deserve.

-Amar'e, Amar'e, and more Amar'e. At the Awl, I turn the looking glass back on myself. I somehow neglected to mention the issue of conversion, something Eric Freeman and my brother have raised previously. They point to the convert's over-enthusiasm for ritual and all else that belongs in Judaism for Dummies, much like what we see with Stoudemire (albeit less cryptically). As well they should; it's their job. Here's the thing: conversion is a process, a course by which one arrives at the right to call himself a Jew. Amar'e ignored that part—the whole humility, learning and growing part—and has gone right off the deep end. So no, not the same thing.

-Yesterday, Henry brought up his year abroad in Tibet, and suggested we view Amar'e's summer fun in the same developmental light. Since, after all, Amar'e never went to college and had a chance to grow. Now, I don't see any one-and-dones taking a semester abroad, or necessarily getting all they can from the college experience. But certainly, some guys—Kevin Durant, for instance—have shown enthusiasm for their courses, mixing with students, and just generally getting something out of a year on campus. Jay Caspian Kang would like to nominate John Henson for this honor.

-Speaking of Jay, rumor has it he will be in attendance at Rafe Bartholomew's reading in the Bay tonight:

Pacific Rims reading and book signing
Tuesday, August 3, 6:30 pm
Eastwind Books of Berkeley
2066 University Avenue, Berkeley, Calif.

Don't forget, Pacific Rims is the basketball book of the year, and Rafe seems like quite a hoot in his videos. I can also attest to his skills as an email correspondent. Show up or regret it forever!