Company

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your pleasurable viewing. Have something you think we should see and read about tomorrow? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.

The enigma of Christian Eyenga  as illustrated by the illustrious Brian Windhorst: “The team’s decision to select him in the first round last month was a complete surprise that created a number of questions that turned out to have complex answers. Then over the last week at the Vegas Summer League, Eyenga showed off some tantalizing skills that raised eyebrows everywhere from the Cavs’ staff to European teams who may have their own designs for his immediate future.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

I sometimes wonder what this offensive-minded big man could have been like on a team like the Cavs: “Wilcox was signed as a replacement for Antonio McDyess, who left the team via free agency to sign with the Spurs. Wilcox is an athletic big who, at 26, still has some upside. However, he’s coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. The previous three years, Wilcox averaged a little more than 13 points, but his numbers dipped to 7.2 per game last season in time split between the Thunder and Knicks.” [Chad Ford/ESPN.com]

Following with the NBA theme, think the Magic improved or fell apart this off-season? My thoughts are still up in the air: “The Magic ranked No. 3 in field-goal defense and No. 6 in scoring defense last season, and the arrival of Carter — an unselfish scorer who happens to be an excellent passer — helps Orlando overcome the loss of Hedo Turkoglu and adds firepower to the core of Howard, Nelson and Rashard Lewis. How is any team going to succeed in guarding all of them? The Magic play hard at both ends, they make big shots and they’re thoroughly prepared under coach Stan Van Gundy. Instead of dismissing their recent postseason performance as a fluke, we may find ourselves looking back on their visit to the Finals as the start of a nice run.” [Ian Thomsen/SI.com]

If Terry Pluto expresses optimism from Gary Waters, I have a hard time not believing him: “Waters is still talking 20 wins and competing for a Horizon League title. He insists the outside shooting will improve with Trevon Harmon, Jeremy Montgomery, Charlie Woods, Josh McCoy and junior college transfer Jared Cunningham. He praised Strongsville’s Tim Kamczyc, who played little as a freshman but has impressed the coaches. Waters was 10-21 in his first season with the Vikings, then 47-24 since with NIT and NCAA bids.” [Plain Dealer]

Don’t you love Twitter? Even the great Mark Price (pick up his shirt here, yo) is not free from the instantaneous world of immediate text-posts: [Truth About It]

I always love these articles when columnists try to detail precisely down to the wire what is wrong with a franchise: “The Indians have problems. They have a talent problem, a pitching problem, a usage of the players problem and an economic problem. Lots of problems. Including a ”one of those years” problem. When a team trades for a relief pitcher and said pitcher has done a good job all season but gets blown up in his first appearance with the Indians. . .well, it’s just one of those years.” [Patrick McManamon/Akron Beacon Journal]

One of the possibilities for an upcoming promotion to Akron, Alexander Perez is lighting things up in Single-A: “Perez was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. He was only 17 years old when he signed the deal, so he actually spent that first season in the Dominican Summer league. Alexander throws a fastball, curve, and change. He throws in the low 90’s, but due to a slight frame (he only weighs 156 and is 6’2”) and growth potential there is every reason to think that he will add a few more MPH’s to his pitches. Both secondary pitches would be at home in the major leagues, and as the stats will show he has a great feel for his pitches already:” [Indians Prospect Insider]

The Bowl Championship Series is what got me into sports writing in the first place, but these congressional hearings are a little too much: “Orrin Hatch thinks you’re stupid. I disagree with him, of course. You’re not stupid. Not at all. But if you support Orrin Hatch in his efforts to avenge the undefeated 2008 Utah football team and blow up the BCS, then I take it back. You’re an idiot. Which is exactly what Hatch is counting on. Your idiocy. Because the facts don’t support his case.” [Greg Doyel/CBSSports.com]