Lucas not first ‘coach’ exasperated by Russell

After overcoming his own substance-abuse problems, John Lucas has dedicated his post-NBA life to coaching and mentoring young athletes.

Lucas has seemingly never met a challenge he wasn't willing to take on.

But according to a Yahoo! Sports report, Lucas has finally admitted failure, giving up on his latest project, former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Lucas has reportedly decided he can no longer work with the 25-year-old No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Apparently, Russell initially worked hard after he began his relationship with his so-called "life coach" in September, but his ambition quickly faded.

This could be the end of the line for Russell, who had two workouts with NFL teams last season after being cut by the Raiders in May. He showed up to work out for the Washington Redskins on Nov. 2 weighing 288 pounds and the Miami Dolphins two weeks later at 292.

It had to be difficult for Lucas to admit defeat to a power far greater than any drug or obstacle previously known to man: JaMarcus Russell's lousy work ethic.

■ THE CRYING GAME -- Baltimore Orioles pitcher Justin Duchscherer discusses his struggle with clinical depression in an interview with Men's Journal for the issue that hit newsstands Friday.

Duchscherer, on the disabled list since spring training, said even success on the field has never made him feel better about himself.

"My problem is I'm a soft guy in a profession of hard guys. I'd prefer to be playing tennis," the two-time All-Star told the magazine. "People think if you're rich, you must be happy. They can't understand why you're not. I feel guilty making so much money playing a game.

"If I pitch a shutout, it doesn't make me happy. I think of the guys I struck out, how they're going home, depressed, to their families."

Duchscherer should be feeling just fine these days. He has one career shutout and has struck out only 18 batters since 2008.

■ RATIONAL RESPONSE -- A Russian college teacher allegedly stabbed and killed his friend in his apartment after an argument broke out about who would win a hypothetical boxing matchup between Mike Tyson and either of the Klitschko brothers, Vitali or Wladimir.

"(Nikolai) Makeyev said that Tyson would come out as winner, but his guest accused him of a lack of patriotism. The host did not like that, and he fatally stabbed the victim several times in the back," read a statement from the regional investigating committee.

Alcohol might have been a factor.

Apparently, the gentlemen didn't have the video game Fight Night 4 or they could have simulated the bout.

All they really had to do was go to YouTube, where there are many videos of Tyson vs. a Klitschko from the game.

On a side note, promoters Don King and Bob Arum were spotted flying to Siberia upon learning there is still somewhere in the world where people care about boxing.

COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL