Deadspin: Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah Is Already Making Friends

Leitch — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:05:35 EDT

Of all the funny love connections that came out of last night's NBA Draft, the one we were most tickled by was the match of Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls. Seriously. Look at that guy. He looks like that before comes into the sanitarium that is the NBA. In six years, he's going to have physically erased all his facial features, or maybe just have joined the Nation of Islam. What an odd duck. David Stern seemed too bewildered to even be angry.

He's already causing a stir on Bulls boards, and some Bulls fans seem resigned to figuring out how to root for him. We still prefer what Shoals said last night in the live blog: ""Noah... YOU LOOK LIKE EVERY SINGLE BATMAN VILLAIN ROLLED UP INTO ONE."

Your Newest Chicago Bull [Blog A Bull]
How Can You Hate This Man? [Tremendous Upside Potential]

Joakin Noah, Gleefully Making No Sense

Leitch — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:00:54 EDT

Thanks to Every Day Should Be Saturday, we have the bizarre interview with Joakim Noah after the Gators' win last night which confirms, if you had any doubt, that nobody has the foggiest idea of what Joakim Noah's talking about.

You Have No Idea What He's Talking About [Every Day Should Be Saturday]

Looking To The Past To Overcome The Present

Leitch — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:15:44 EDT

Now that Florida has won its second national title in a row, everybody's an amateur historian — which is good, because sports would be no fun if it has professional historians. The big question: Are the Gators one of the best teams ever? The answer of course is that there is no answer, which is why we ask the question; there aren't any more games to watch for a while, so we have to discuss theoreticals.

Another reason we need to lean on hypotheticals the day after the national championship game? The title game was like the rest of the tournament; uninspired and never much in doubt. Watching the "One Shining Moment" video, we realized that the most memorable moments of the tournament were Greg Oden's monster non-slam in the Final Four against Georgetown ... and Joakim Noah's weird Officer And A Gentleman deal with his mom after the victory. (Seriously, man ... we're all for loving your mom, but, well, we dunno ... seemed like a bit much.) The biggest upset was VCU over a weak Duke team, and we never had that true epic game.

So we talk about history, and context, and then we look forward to next year, thinking that maybe having a George Mason around isn't so bad after all.

Florida: Best. Team. Ever. (But I'll Settle for "Best of '07") [DanShanoff.com]

The Final Four Open Thread

mjdeadspin — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EDT

I'm afraid I won't be with you for tonight's basketball festivities — I decided to try actually watching a game without a keyboard in front of me. I don't know what that's going to be like, but I've heard it's wild.

I wouldn't even know where to start with a preview... there are so many personalities and angles and storylines that this can't help but be a memorable night. Joakim Noah's constant battle against the haters, the stifling defense of UCLA against the immeasurable talent of the Gators, and Hibbert vs. Oden, which I think should be subtitled "The H is O." Also, The Rookie is on ABC.

I'll leave you with two YouTube videos... one Joakim Noah video that's a little mean, but very chuckle-worthy, and then this Billy Packer admission that won't surprise you at all.

More Fun With Joakim Noah

Leitch — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:00:50 EDT

Because Saturday's Final Four matchup between Florida and UCLA is a rematch of last year's national championship game, some bad blood is still stewing, or boiling, or whatever bad blood does, and UCLA fans are wanting revenge. And how does today fan fire himself for revenge? Funny PhotoShops!

This Joakim Noah-as-geisha-girl creation is one of many at this Bruins fan site. They got tons of 'em, including Joakim as Michael Jackson, an Osmond and as the Lord of the Dance. PhotoShop is fun.

Florida Fans, Do NOT Read This Thread [BruinReportOnline]

Dick Vitale, Not Surprisingly, Can't Figure Out His Phone

Leitch — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:45:50 EST

It is perhaps not surprising that MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER Dick Vitale would have trouble using basic cellular technology, but it is surprising that Vitale might actually say something off-camera that could be construed as "controversial." Or, for that matter, that he would say anything; we always assumed they just pushed a button on the back of his neck once the camera light came on.

Anyway, Vitale was doing a radio interview yesterday and was talking to someone in the room and forgot he was on the air. He ends up trashing Joakim Noah a bit and telling some off-record Billy Donovan info that we doubt the intense Florida coach would particularly enjoy.

The best thing is that this happens twice; we imagine Vitale just trying to figure out where the "SEND TELEGRAM" button on his phone is. For some big fun, you can hear the audio here and here.

Dickie Vitale Reveals Billy Dononvan Comments.....Oops and Oh Shit [Loser With Socks]

Vanderbilt Was Determined To Deny Joakim Noah The Ball

mjdeadspin — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 15:45:00 EST

Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings isn't like most coaches. A lot of guys will tell their team to protect the ball, but won't practice what they preach. Kevin Stallings not only will protect the ball, but he'll put a body on Joakim Noah, too.

Get Those Pom Poms Out Of Joakim Noah's Face

Leitch — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:01:28 EST

There are certain things you should probably expect from a guy who would wear this. One of those might involve trying to punch a cheerleader.

If you missed it over the weekend, Florida won again at Kentucky. Early in the game, the Gators' Joakim Noah drove toward the basket and ended up in the face of a Wildcats cheerleader, who tossed her pom poms — not a euphemism — at Noah. His response? Swipe, baby, swipe! Rowwwrrrr ... get those pom poms out of Joakim Noah's face!

A thorough rundown of the incident can be found right here, and it includes the rather telling phrase, "Take a look at this girl on girl catfight. Is this over some boyfriend poaching incident?"

Geightor Versus The Kentucky Cheerleader [Loser With Socks]
Pom Pom Gate [The Fanhouse]

You Will See More Of Joakim Noah

mjdeadspin — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 15:39:44 EDT

Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Al Horford have made known their intentions to return to Florida next season. There was some speculation that one or all of them would make themselves available for the NBA draft, but the precocious and talented youngsters want to have another go at the national title.

That kinda seems like a long shot. It's nothing against the Gators, of course. I'd have them preseason #1, and there's no reason that they shouldn't be the best team in the country, however... none of that seems to have a whole lot to do with who actually wins the national title. The way the tournament is now, it's seems highly unlikely that any team gets through the minefield two years in a row.

Not that this isn't good news. It will give Dick Vitale someone other than UNC and Duke to talk about between now and next season. So I applaud their decision, all three of them could use another year of seasoning in terms of NBA readiness, and it'll make next year's college basketball season a little bit more fun for all of us. So hooray, Gators. High fives all around. Unless, of course, you're a fan of another team in the SEC, or Steve Irwin.

Noah: 'Let it be done' [GoUpstate.com]
"I'll Have Him Secured Any Minute Now." [Deadspin]