Not much is happening these days in Sun Devil land, as school is out for the summer, and all sports have wrapped up their postseasons.

ASU is being advised by AZCentral.com to check out these 5 recruits...

Kicker Thomas Weber has, once again, been named a Playboy All-American, despite his mediocre 2008 campaign.

Jeff Pendergraph will be playing on the Blazers' summer league team this July in Las Vegas.

Finally, I answered a very long Q&A from Welcome To Loud City, the Oklahoma City Thunder blog here at SBNation. You can read the entire interview about James Harden following the jump.

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Yeah, no ASU sports playing at the moment..unfortunately.. But. Still should be some links out there talking about why that is and whats going on with some of the other sports eh?

• Good news up first. ASU has snagged it's 6th recruit for the class of 2010 in football. Lot of offense so far - TE, RB, RB, QB (6'6), FB, WR.
• A look at the recruits.
• Some scouting reports on the kids.
• A recap of the heartbreak in the CWS.
• Looks like our top four baseball players - Leake, Kipnis, Spence and Ramirez - are all expected to sign. So are two from our recruiting class, second round 3B/C Nolan Arenado and P/1B Jake Barrett 3rd round. There is a look at who is leaving and who is coming back in this story.
• Brent Miller has been hired at Washington as a graduate assistant.
• Finally, Murphy has some VERY nice things to say about Leake. Comparing him to Pedroia and saying this is one of the most special groups he has ever managed.

As CFB starts to gear up we will start profiling the 2009 team, which looks to be awfully good on defense.

More photos » by Charles Dharapak - AP

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On May 13 at 7:00 PM, 8,000 lucky ASU graduates and their families will be on hand at Sun Devil Stadium to hear Barack Obama's commencement speech. The whole ceremony is scheduled to last two and a half hours.

Sounds great, right? I certainly agree. I cannot wait to see President Obama speak at the most important moment of my life. But take a look at these time guidelines set forth by ASU:

Schedule of Arrival for Ticket-holders

Please review the information below to prepare yourself for entry into Sun Devil Stadium. The times listed are when graduates and guests should be in line to clear security, not arrival times at the stadium. You should plan your schedule accordingly to allow plenty of time for travel to the stadium, parking and walking to the security check points. For a list of permitted and prohibited items, please view this announcement.

2:30 p.m. Gates open

2:30 p.m. Sections 4-14 arrive

3:00 p.m. Bachelor's graduates enter through north gate to field along with Sections 201-220 of the upper deck

3:30 p.m. Master's graduates arrive on field along with Sections 23-33 along with the loge

4:00 p.m. J.D. and doctorates arrive on field along with Sections 221-247

4:30 p.m. Other ticket-holders arrive

The amount of time that security has requested, and the vast list of items it has chosen to prohibit, are both burdensome and irritating.

The high temperature in mid-May is usually around 90-96. The sheet that I was given at the ticket booth implies that commencement goers will not be allowed to bring in any water bottles, including clear plastic ones (initially it seems as though they were allowed, but that section has been blacked out).

My favorite: no foods that can be used as projectiles (such as apples, oranges, or pears).

I hope no one has to go to the hospital (or worse) due to these rules. I also hope ASU has many free water facilities inside the stadium. I would like a few bottles of free Dasani, thank you.

All in all, if guests arrive at 2:30 pm like is requested by ASU, they will be on hand for 7 full hours in an unforgiving outdoor arena, with uncomfortable bench seats and very warm weather.

When did security become more important than the safety and comfort of the citizens? I would like a detailed account from ASU President Michael Crow as to why this situation has to be played out in the least enjoyable manner possible.

Busy week for us here as graduation looms large.

Sun Devils had some good news this past week, a nice respite from the bad news that had been streaming our way.

With Fanaika getting drafted, ASU continues the tradition of having walk-on players drafted.

Mike Leake continues to dominate.

Freshman SS Drew Maggi has been a pleasant surprise this year.

ASU Football has some new game day amenities: two new videoboards, a new ribbon board, and pregaming can start 90 minutes earlier outside.

Freshman CB Josh Jordan is a senator for CLAS and has his sights set on much more.

ASU Golf finishes 3rd in the pac-10.

Brandon Thompson's scouting profile has been completed. The results are good.

Grade 90 = April, 2009: Brandon is an under-the-radar true combo guard who brings a ton of versatility to the court. He's capable of running a team and setting others up or scoring the ball himself. Brandon has excellent court vision and is a precise passer. Thompson also possesses high end speed which allows him to score in a variety of ways. His quickness gets him to the rim but he can also find open spots behind the arc and knock down three's. He's also a hard working defender who can guard either the one or the two. Overall, Brandon's a tough minded, all-around guard who truly understands when to take over a game. He knows when to get his teammates involved or score if his team needs it. The Arizona State coaches love his versatility and mental toughness. They'll also like him because he does whatever is asked of him.

Nice pick-up Sendek.

The Women's coach Turner Thorne will help coach Team USA for the girls.

That about does it for now, more content en route.

Pat Tillman as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

View full size photo uploaded April 17, 2009

One of the greatest traditions at Arizona State, Pat's Run, kicks off tomorrow morning at 7 AM. Over 10,000 people have preregistered, and that's not including all of the race day sign ups that are sure to happen.

Pat's Run is a great experience. There are a lot of free goodies, and this year's shirt is maroon and will be a workout staple for many participants. But no one does Pat's Run for the free stuff.

This is about the memory of a great American whose life was cut tragically short by friendly fire on April 22, 2004.

Wikipedia:

Patrick Daniel Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was an American football player who left his professional sports career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002. He joined the United States Army Rangers and served multiple tours in combat before he was killed by "friendly fire" in the mountains of Afghanistan. Details about the circumstances surrounding his death have been the subject of controversy and military investigations.

This is a man we can all model ourselves after, taking his courage, self-sacrifice, and patriotism and applying it to our lives. That is the best way to honor his memory.

Go Devils!

More photos » by ROY DABNER - AP

2 months ago: FILE - In this Nov. 27, 1999, file photo, Arizona State coach Bruce Snyder leaves the playing field following Arizona State's 42-27 victory over Arizona in Tempe, Ariz. Snyder, whose 20-year career as a college football coach included an unbeaten regular season at Arizona State, died at his Phoenix home Monday, April 13, 2009, after a 10-month fight against cancer, the university said. He coached the Sun Devils from 1992 to 2000. (AP Photo/Roy Dabner, File)

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So, quite a somber week of news around the Valley.

I've been avoiding it, but might as well get it all out of the way.

• Coach Bruce Snyder died, as we all know. 69 is too young, and he paid for his years of service in the desert before a lot was known about UV rays.
• Some great ASU related voices sounding off on Coach Synder's career as a coach and how great of a guy he was.
• Offense is starting to look sharp in football spring drills. Sullivan looks like the 1. Gerrell Robinson has been getting some good reps. Ryan Bass has a tweaked ankle, Dmitri Nance has some undisclosed injury and Shaun DeWitty seems to be ineligible due to academics. Those freshman RBs might get more action this season than we originally thought.
• Natyazhko chooses UA.
• Josh Spence dominated WSU. 10Ks gives him double digit strikeouts in 5/8 starts.
• ESPN/Seattle Mariners prospect guru Jason A. Churchill weighs in on some ASU players.
  

BTW, ASUBoyd, I did see ASU last weekend.

Saw Leake at Safeco on Friday, Spence Saturday.

Leake wasnt sharp, but he's good. Better than some seem to think. Not sure I don't prefer Leake over Gibson or Oliver to be honest.

The only difference between Gibson and Leake right now is Gibson's size, which means so much less for a 21 year old college junior than for a 17-18 year old prep arm.

Spence was sitting 85-87 but threw strikes with his curve and change all day long. I think UW swung and missed 21 times when I stopped counting.

• ASU vs. UA basketball breakdown.
• A look at what each ASU QB brings to the table.
• ASU scrimmage: 1 offense/2 defense vs. 1 defense/2 offense.
• ASU's Kerry Taylor might have had the best catch of the spring.

Arizona State's Kerry Taylor Makes an Amazing Catch (via ASUAthletics)

That does it for now. Baseball recaps en route.

View full size photo uploaded April 12, 2009

I have yet to mention this on the site, but since it a slow weekend for ASU sports, I find it pertinent to bring up the most important ASU-related story of the month, an issue that is partisan and requires a bit of tact (yet will not receive any in this space).

Last week, the university announced that it would not be awarding Barack Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at the spring 2009 commencement on May 13th in Sun Devil Stadium, despite the huge buzz in town about his imminent arrival in Tempe.

When I read this, I was baffled and awestruck. My graduating class is receiving their commencement speech from the current president of the United States of America. Not only that, but he is the first black president in the history of our great country.

His accomplishments are unrivaled, and whether you are republican or democrat, hearing him speak will be a huge honor.

Yet, the quote I read angered me immensely.

University spokeswoman Sharon Keeler told The Associated Press on Wednesday that ASU's practice was to give honorary degrees to people who had a body of work and had been in their positions for a long time. "His body of work is yet to come. That's why we're not recognizing him with a degree at the beginning of his presidency," Keeler said.

His body of work is yet to come. He's not good enough to receive an ASU honorary degree? Being elected senator of Illinois isn't good enough? Being elected president of the United States isn't impressive enough?

Do NOT come out and say things that are not based in reality. Obama's accomplishments certainly warrant an honorary degree.

Now, Michael Crow comes out and says that the university does not award degrees to sitting politicans, citing the need for ASU to remain politically androgynous  in this "complex state."

This state certainly is complex. We have a sheriff who disregards human rights (and the constitution itself) running amok in Maricopa County.

The feds are after Joe [Arpaio] for real. If you haven't heard yet, feast your eyes on the letter from the Justice Department to Arpaio dated March 10, informing our corrupt top constable that Eric Holder's DOJ will be looking into his operation, investigating, "alleged patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures conducted by the MCSO, and...allegations of national origins discrimination..."

We are a conservative state that is being tested by the influx of "free thinking" liberal youth and the large swath of illegal immigrants coming across the border. Boy, this state is complex.

I don't necessarily believe that the university is obligated by any ethical or moral code to give Barack Obama an honorary degree; that should be a decision made by the university itself.

The university's smug attitude regarding the situation is what angers me. This story should have held a positive connotation, announcing that Obama would be honored with a scholarship program. Frankly, all along the university has acted as though they are right and the backlash is wrong.

Mr. Crow, you are stuck eating crow right now. You are the president of a college that naturally has liberal tendencies. Do not insult your constituents by being smug about the most important man in the world who is honoring your graduates by speaking at the commencement. Your spokespersons didn't give you good PR regarding this momentous issue.

The same week you slap your students with a $1,200 "surcharge" for "economic recovery," you slap them again by insulting their prevailing political views.

While I am on that subject, what kind of phrase is "economic recovery surcharge"? It certainly isn't any kind of economic recovery for the students. Raising tuition, slapping on extra charges while continuing to muddle down the student base by accepting every single applicant: welcome to the New American University.

Go sit in a class, Mr. Crow. See how many kids are surfing the internet on their laptops, reading Facebook or texting on their phones. See how many of them are 20 minutes late to class, Starbucks latte in hand. See how the teachers have no control over a seminar hall's behavior. Thank you for allowing this kind of abomination to build itself.

Give Barack Obama the honors he deserves as our president, and our nation's leader in the midst of an economic crisis.

Happy Wednesday.

• Bye James.
• Josh Spence dominated the Huskies, striking out 14 and Pat Murphy got his 600th win.
• Erickson insists the QB job is still up for grabs. Sullivan is getting the most reps though.
• ASU baseball #1?
• Dennis Erickson likes burgers and the Rose Bowl.
• Natyazhko's top teams changed from 5 to 4, and ASU and Arizona seem to be at the top...
• ASU Football signed a TE for next year - looks solid.
• Not a ton of in-state talent at this point for football recruiting.
• We are leading the pack to get this top QB recruit.
• This guy is into us too.

So, not a ton going on news-wise, but some interesting recruitng stuff to keep an eye on.