fihsch (anonymous) says...

The news is awesome with a capital A. Both of those players deserved to make money in basketball. I am especially happy for D Jack because I was half expecting him to have a journey man experience through the NBA D Leagues much like those Langford and Miles had been doing. Congratulations!

July 10, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Awesome job, Mario. The risk payed off. We'll miss you at the Fieldhouse, and best of luck. KU fans, speaking of Mario, check out the front page of ESPN, rock the vote and vote right here:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsn...

July 10, 2008 at 2:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Also you can email your KU friends after you vote for the best championship shot ever (follow their link). Ten possible shots. Right now, Laettner is in first, beating Mario by just a few votes, so this can change with 150,000 KU people working together:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsn...

July 10, 2008 at 2:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

carterpatterson (anonymous) says...

I think that this is a win-win for the Heat and Mario. Tear it up at the NBA Mario!

July 10, 2008 at 5:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

K_Easthouse (anonymous) says...

The Miami media has apparently started to respect Chalmers' abilities a little more.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/sto...

Still, seven turnovers isn't a good sign. Glad he was able to salvage the night, but he's got to clean that up before facing the real tests during the regular season.

July 10, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Thanks, 100...just cast my vote.

July 10, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

chuckberry32 (anonymous) says...

Congrats Mario, you deserve it!

July 10, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

17 of 17 from the stripe for MC. Wow!

July 10, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

craigers (anonymous) says...

Congrats Mario. I'm sure you will do well. Don't spend it all in one place!!!

July 10, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

That kind of money for a 2nd rounder after just a couple summer league games seems to indicate Mario will be a starter sooner than later. Marcus Banks has been pegged as the guy whose job it is to lose, but provided Mario keeps producing, that is a foregone conclusion at this point.

Congrats to both D. Jack and Mario!

July 10, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

I only follow the NBA in passing and was amazed at how bush league their draft was. Anybody who could not figure out that Mario was this kind of player, who should have gone higher in the draft, does not deserve much respect.

Good for Miami; they got a steal.

July 10, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Good grief. Where is Rolando Blackman's shot against Oregon State on that ballot? That one even made the cover of SI.

July 10, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

killabees (anonymous) says...

Wow, five KU basketball grads with serious contracts. They deserve it all.

July 10, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

"Good for Miami; they got a steal."

prairie_dog - I was just about to post the same thought when I read yours. This is also incredible news for Mario. He is very deserving. I look forward to seeing him play with Beasley and Wade next season.

July 10, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

BCRavenJHawkfan (anonymous) says...

If any of you have followed the news out of the NBA summer camps this news on Chalmers should not be any big surprise. In a game between Miami and Chicago Chalmers schooled Rose to no end.

I am with prairie-dog on this, Miami got a bargin deal. Truth be know they may have had their eye on Chalmers as his stock fell and knew they could cash in at rock bottom.

July 10, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

I just might be watching some NBA games next year...

congrats.

July 10, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

That's a ton of money right there. I still remember reading an article about Raef LaFrentz where his mother told him how much $1 million was: "If Christ spent $1.30 every day of His life each day through the year 2000, He wouldn't have spent a million."

July 10, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

That's awesome, congrats Mario & Darnell!! You guys definitely deserve it.

KU basketball has always been great but I think we've on another level now with Self. I can't remember when last we've had 5 players drafted in the NBA! With all the recruits that Self is landing, along with his coaching, I'm sure there will be many more good things to come in the future!

July 10, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Chicagohawk: You can't remember the last time KU had 5 players drafted in the NBA because it hasn't happened before. The record is held by UConn, Florida, and now KU.

July 10, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...

kushaw - That's what I thought, that's awesome! I'm sure we'll have 6+ in the near future. Rock Chalk!

July 10, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

Great job Mario and Darrell. Guaranteed money what you need and you both cash in appropriately!

GO HAWKS!

July 10, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

We have yet to see where Chalmers' game will end up. I think he has a lot of room for improvement still, and will probably find his NBA game by the end of that contract. I can't wait.

July 10, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

I think they signed him after just two exhibition games because they knew the price was just going to keep going up.

July 10, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Jacobpaul81 (anonymous) says...

17 of 17 from the stripe tells me there was a lot of fouling going on. Probally attributed to several of those turnovers.

July 10, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Jacobpaul81.....The summer league has some weird rules, such as no foul-outs. So there's no incentive to play great defense. They just foul if their man gets past them.

July 10, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

Bedore et al, you better get on the Big 12 revenue split story. In 2006-2007, KU was the 4th highest in the conference revenue split, behind Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Anybody want to bet that KU will be #1 for 2007-2008?? I can't see any school hauling in more than KU after a national championship and an Orange Bowl victory.

July 10, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jhawkclassof02 (anonymous) says...

It looks like the Heat made out like bandits with both of their picks. Beasley is already showing very clearly that he'll be a presence in the NBA, and so is Mario. Its a very good sign that Mario was given a first round style contract and not one year at the league minimum. Pat Riley knows what he's doing and the Heat may have wound up with the best first and second round picks of any team in the league. Also I'm so happy for Darnell. He's been my absolute favorite player all year long, a true workhorse. I'm actually really glad that Julian Wright left so that Darnell was able to step up and grow into the player he is today. The way most GMs in the league act these days I think it really says something that one of 'em is giving a behind the scenes role player like Darnell a pretty decent contract. He must've really impressed. I'm looking forward to a D-Block follow up article sometime very soon.

July 10, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KUFan90 (anonymous) says...

I'm happy for my man Mario C, cuttin it up on the turntable, but I'm even happier for D Jack. Talk about hard work paying off...what an incredible story.

July 10, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hawkitup (anonymous) says...

That's great news for the both of these guys. Has anybody heard anything about Simien getting a contract offer? I would really like to see that guy sign on with somebody.

July 10, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kutravis (anonymous) says...

D-Jack with a guranteed contract!
If anyone could use that money is definitely Jackson and his family. This definitely puts an exclamation on a fantastic year for Kansas Basketball.

July 10, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...

"Wow, five KU basketball grads with serious contracts."

Lets not get carried away, Arthur, Rush and Chalmers didnt graduate. But they are going to make more money than any of us.

July 10, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

About Miami getting a steal... everyone of course is absolutely right. But him slipping to the 2nd round had nothing to do with them. They had him pegged 12th (or somewhere close to that) on their draft board. They can't feel the least bit guilty about paying him so generously when they surely would have paid him much more if they had happened to have an additional first round pick and used it on Mario. They may have had the best draft EVER, in the NBA. An elite superstar and possibly a long-term quality starter and potential all-star.

I don't believe there was much risk, in Mario's part. There would be risk if he wasn't a great defender. There would be risk if he wasn't a consistent clutch shooter. There would be risk if he wasn't already unselfish and deadly at the same time (a hard combo to achieve). There would be risk if he wasn't the player he is.

In my opinion, there was absolutely zero risk on his part as far as his talent and ability to earn a contract was concerned.

The only real risk was if he were to get injured first.

That's the same risk he runs by returning to college for another year... so does that really count?

July 10, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

"Chalmers was eligible to receive as little as the rookie minimum of $442,114 for one season"

Wish my company had this as the minimum...

Good luck in the NBA hawks!!!

July 10, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Great BBoys reference, KUFan90!

July 10, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

smitty33 (anonymous) says...

Is it just me or I thought DBlock was in Miami as well???? When did he get to Cleveland?? Please educate me.

July 10, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Jacobpaul81 (anonymous) says...

Hey KU,

Yea, I've read that. I suspect that leads to some pretty sloppy play. I'd mark those turnovers up as that. Mario never exactly had the best assist to turnover ratio, but I think 6 ast to 7 turnovers is pretty high. I'll chalk it up to the fouls.

Smitty,

Dblock got traded the day after the draft. Cleveland wanted him "real bad"! I'm not sure why, but they were trying to get him from miami the moment he was picked. Not sure what the trade was, but I think it involved a future second round pick.

July 10, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Jacobpaul... Mario's ast/to was actually quite good last year. I won't get into the stats, but his was among the highest of any starters in the conference.

That said, if Mario is going to be playing primarily the point, it's going to require more assertive effort to make plays, and I'd expect some growing pains and additional turnovers just because he's handling the ball so much more.

July 10, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

I'm so happy for Darnell and Mario. Way to go guys!

July 10, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

In case you missed it: post a vote for mario's shot on ESPN's basketball page. Right now he's barely getting beat by Duke (Laetnner)

July 10, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kellermi25 (anonymous) says...

this is awesome!!! can't say much more than that

July 10, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oldboy (anonymous) says...

Cavs.com Beat Writer, Joe Gabriele barely mentions Darnell in his July 9 articles but does say that GM Ferry will get a chance to see Darnell and first round draft choice working in the low post together starting Monday in their summer league games.

Gabriele only mentions Simien and where he has played which is no more than what he says about Billy Thomas.

Maybe the biggest competition for Darnell for that spot will be Robert (Tractor) Traylor. Remember him? He has been out of the League for three years and is trying to come back.

Garbriele is talking about next week's games and Jackson has already made the team, it seems. That is great. He just has too much to offer pros not to have made it big in spite of being drafted so low. I think that LeBron is going to love D Block and what he can do for LeBron's game.

July 10, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

smitty33 (anonymous) says...

Mario's Deal = $2.3 Million

Minus 1 Million - Instant Taxes
Minus 700K - Condo in Miami
Minus 400K - Place for Parents
Minus 100K - new wheels in Miami
Minus 20K - a few nights out in South Beach
Minus 75K - loan to buddy Sherron Collins
Minus 5K - trips back to Lawrence to help the new guys

Be careful Mario! 2.3 can go fast!!

July 10, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Lebowski - great points as usual. Also, Mario will have a little tougher time handling the ball just because the defense in the League is so much more intense.

"Minus 20K - a few nights out in South Beach"

I can attest to this, going to the Orange Bowl back in January. Funny stuff, smitty33.

July 10, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

clarification: more intense in the sense the guards in the League are the best of the best on-ball defenders.

July 10, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kltbadboyz (anonymous) says...

Damn thats like winning the lottery! You can watch the heat vs oklahoma city on nba.com tonight, they have a live web cast. Mario vs Russell Westbrook should be a good game.

July 10, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

afilmer (anonymous) says...

hey - a little help -
my buddy said that sasha was playing in cleveland summer games - and that it sounded like he was going to sign with the cavs. i know he's got major money and a contract in russia, so does anybody know if there is any truth to that rumor?

July 10, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

trich424 (anonymous) says...

No, he already signed with Russia. No NBA for atleast 2 years.

July 10, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

trich424,

Read Herb Cohen. Everything is negotiable.

July 10, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Smitty33?

What do you make a year? Do you buy Miami whores with your money? You pegged Mario with a 100k ride and a bunch of materialistic crap.

That's you. Not Mario. So...

Go back to your pimp dreams. Mario has never had anything to do with that. Go away Smitty.

-K

July 10, 2008 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

J-Hawks have been dominating the front page of ESPN basketball last couple days. Yesterday the Mario shot (with Bill Self interview) as the headline(s). Today, same video to go along side picture of... Michael Lee (shot that would've won it in 2003).

By the way, for those math majors/ or non math majors going back to the root of the equation: 5 Jayhawks were drafted (1st and 2nd rounds). Russel Robinson signed a summer contract (#6). Padgett, who wore a Jayhawk uniform for a year, signed a summer contract (#7). And Giddens, a Jayhawk who wore the jersey for 2 years at KU, also would've been part of this national championship had he not decided to leave after the bad learning experience to put it nicely, was drafted in the first round (#8). Had he stayed after getting cut up, he would have red-shirted and this would have been his senior season.

In short, it's pretty amazing to think of all the temporary and full time Jayhawks who just signed with the NBA who just left college: Eight. That's right: Eight (8). Had Julian stayed an extra year, we would be talking about NINE (9).

July 10, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

KGphoto,

Give Smitty33 a break!

A. He figures Mario's overhead conservatively.

B. He warns Mario to look after his doe.

C. You ask him if he buys Miami whores.

Do you see the logical disconnect?

Remember: too much Camp Lazslo makes KGphoto a disordered boy.

July 11, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...

everyone make sure to go to espy.tv to vote for ku as the "best team" and "best game!" voting closes the 12th so everyone get on it!

July 11, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

jaybate,

I think Mario understands a little more about money than you give him credit for. The guy is solid. His dad is a coach on the team. They don't need a new 400k house. If Ronnie Chalmers found out that Mario was buying ridiculous wheels and makin it rain in Miami hotspots, he'd be down there pulling him out of those clubs by the ear.

Let's make a bet. At the end of the year, we'll see what kind of lifestyle Mario has. We'll see if he's spent his entire 3 year contract in a week. Or if he buys a conservative place, and wheels, and focuses on winning games. That's my bet.

Besides, he's going to get all sorts of money thrown at him for commercials, shoes, restaurants, car dealers. Do you think he's not going to capitalize on that shot? He's probably going to make more from promos than his contract.

You and smitty should quit watching "Cribs". And I've always preferred Fear and Loathing for my disorders.

July 11, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"Minus 75K - loan to buddy Sherron Collins"

That's funny!

KG, I don't think anyone, including smitty, seriously believes that Mario is going to squander his money. When I look at your reactions, one phrase comes to mind: "taking things WAY too seriously."

July 11, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Let me attempt to respond to the above quote a la KG:

Smitty, you're nuts. There's no way that Mario could loan 75K to Sherron. If he did that, that would be a clear NCAA violation and KU could get in a whole heap of trouble.

July 11, 2008 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

KGphoto,

You made a lot of sense in your last post. Thanks for dropping the logical disconnect about buying whores. It didn't work.

There's always two sides to a story and on a second try you make a case a prudent man can follow...not necessarily agree with but follow.

Re Cribs: you reveal more about your own viewing habits than mine. I've never seen or heard of it. Is it for DIYers making baby beds? Ha! :-)

I look forward to more of your pithy, validly reasoned posts.

July 11, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Cribs isn't my viewing habit, I avoid it like the plague, which it is. But I'm aware of it. It's a show about celebrity consumerism and household lifestyles. It's a putrid MTV joint, usually centered in Miami or L.A.. (hence, the reference)

Not sure about DIYers. But you can't comment on my viewing habits if you're watching Cartoon Network. Heh. ;)

July 11, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

you guys are hilarious, sort of... :D I am so happy for each of these Hawks, and especially Darnell Jackson. WOW!

July 12, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

I knew it!

You are "aware" of Camp Lazlo and CN, too.

My kid watches Lazlo and CN.

What's your excuse?

Rock (chalk) on!

July 13, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )