Linking Laconically is Having Press Conference Flashbacks

John L. Smith is back and better than ever, as displayed on the second morning of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama. Among his quotable moments: "AM I STUPID? Wait, don't answer that."

Izzo is feeling good about this year's team, which is a good sign based on last year. Leadership is his concern.

Izzo (and everyone else) likes Indiana this year and expects three Spartan freshmen to get a lot of minutes. Let the redshirt speculation begin.

A cheesy but enjoyable video from the Golden State Warriors featuring Draymond Green and teammate Charles Jenkins. Apparently Green's multifaceted skillset includes 'personal assistant'.

The great Arthur Ray story continues as he is honored at a Detroit Tigers game for his courage award. He is coming back for Michigan State this year and wants to play.

Breslin Center favorite Anthony Ianni has been appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to the newly created Michigan Autism Council. Ianni was himself diagnosed as a child with an autism-spectrum disorder and will use his experience to help and inspire others with these disorders.

MSU target and top-ranked 2013 player Jabari Parker injured his heel and may miss the rest of the July evaluation period in AAU ball. There are rumblings that this could cost him the top spot in the rankings, but Parker's family doesn't care about that and neither should we.

Andy Staples continues his thought experiments with the first round of a mock draft in which schools pick players from each other's rosters. Staples has Dantonio going for LB Dion Bailey of USC. Interesting choice.

Not surprisingly MSU does not fare well in Brian Bennett's ranking of the B1G quarterback units, coming in at number 10, ahead of only Indiana and Penn State. Purdue is a somewhat surprising choice as number one.

TOC's own Chris Vannini had a recent article on the formation of the Detroit City Football Club and its Michigan State ties. Here Andrew Lewellen of The Classical takes an in-depth look at the club.

There's been a lot of recent talk about the rise in college baskeball transfers. Luke Winn takes a look at a new and possibly troubling aspect of this: the "up-transfer" of players from smaller schools to more prestigious programs.

An absolutely fantastic look at where rebounds in the NBA are made depending on where on the floor the shot is taken. Plenty of amazing interactive graphics, best enjoyed on a Flash-friendly (non-Apple) device.