Henderson gets James’ attention
What up y’all?”
That was how Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson greeted the media Thursday during his team’s NCAA Tournament news conference.
A polarizing player who no doubt has annoyed plenty of people with his taunting, jersey-popping and chest-pounding — which was on full display Friday during the No. 12 Rebels’ 57-46 upset of No. 5 Wisconsin — the Southeastern Conference’s leading scorer makes for a colorful interview.
On Gator-chomping Florida fans when Ole Miss won the SEC tournament, Henderson said he meant no harm.
“I was just clapping,” he said. “Really wide.”
On whether his antics are calculated, Henderson appeared confused.
“I guess. I don’t know. I’m not real good at math,” he said. “Other than two plus three. I know that one well.”
On not getting paid for his performance, he said, “I’m trying to get paid here soon because I’m tired of doing all this stuff for free. And this is where you make your money, the NCAA Tournament.”
Henderson wasn’t making any money for himself or Ole Miss bettors in Friday’s first half, when he finished 1-for-11 from the field for two points.
But the brash gunner turned it around in the second half, sinking 5 of 10 shots, including three 3-pointers, for 17 points.
Charles Barkley did an impersonation of Henderson doing the rooster and agreed with LeBron James, who tweeted, “Man that dude Henderson from Ol Miss got the greenest light in basketball history!! Hahaha.”
Said Barkley: “I have never had a problem with a guy having supreme confidence … but he has to back it up.”
Henderson relished being the center of attention, tweeting, “I SUCK AND GET A LEBRON TWEET!!! HAHAHAHA I DON’T WANNA HEAR NOBODY SAY NOTHIN, I’VE MADE IT!!!”
Ole Miss might not make it much further, but Henderson already has clinched the title of “Most hated college basketball player of the year.”
■ BABY BRIBE — Offering a teammate something in exchange for his uniform number is nothing new, but New England Patriots safety Adrian Wilson recently came up with a fresh proposal for Kyle Arrington, who wears his coveted No. 24.
“I told him I know he just had a new baby,” Wilson said. “I know he signed a new contract, but I offered him a year’s supply of Pampers. Hopefully he gets back to me.”
Arrington wrote via Twitter that Wilson “may have to throw some formula in there, too,” but he might have meant a mathematical one.
It was reported Arrington chose 24 because it was the reverse of his first NFL number, 42, and a symbol that — though it is half as large — his prosperity has since doubled. Funny, but we always believed 21 was half of 42.
Maybe Wilson should offer Arrington a calculator — and give one to Henderson, too.
■ TIGER BAIT — Elin Nordegren’s new boyfriend, billionaire coal magnate Chris Cline, has a bigger one than Tiger Woods, her ex-husband.
Cline parked his 164-foot yacht — aptly named “Mine Games” — directly in front of Wood’s 155-foot yacht, “Privacy,” this week on Florida’s Jupiter Island.
COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
