Legendary University of Arizona quarterback John “Button” Salmon didn’t just utter the infamous phrase “Bear Down.” He was also a master of bad jokes back in his day – or so we would imagine (just roll with it). JBS cracks wise with Wildcat Nation:

 

@jordanchill43 I think my head just exploded.

— John Button Salmon (@GR8SalmonsGhost) January 18, 2013

@jbamacriner82 Sounds like you need more lotion in your life.

— John Button Salmon (@GR8SalmonsGhost) January 18, 2013

@uofaddison54Dwight IS the new Shaq. I heard he’s filming Shazam II this off-season.

— John Button Salmon (@GR8SalmonsGhost) January 18, 2013

@coachlopez_ii Making Wildcat coffee?

— John Button Salmon (@GR8SalmonsGhost) January 18, 2013

@suns @amazingcomiccon @channing_frye Are all five Aquaman? Or is that just me?

— John Button Salmon (@GR8SalmonsGhost) January 18, 2013

@tbthrows I’d suggest you hire a milk man, but he’d probably skim you on moo-la. (Ugh. That was bad. Even for my low standards).

— John Button Salmon (@GR8SalmonsGhost) January 18, 2013

One barometer for judging the success of a college basketball program is the amount of players a school sends to the NBA. All told, 39 former Wildcats have played in the NBA and ABA. This season, there are 10 ex-‘Cats are competing among the NBA’s best.

GILBERT ARENAS of the Washington Wizards. Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

GILBERT ARENAS

(AKA Agent Zero, the Hibachi)

WILDCAT YEARS: 1999-00 to 2000-2001

15.8 PPG

NBA CAREER: 10th season, 22.7 PPG

Golden State Warriors (2), Washington Wizards (8)

HOW IT ENDED: Loss to Duke in 2001 NCAA Finals

THE SKINNY: When not injured or suspended, the Hibachi — a three-time all-star — can be one of the hottest shooters in the league.

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JERRYD BAYLESS of the New Orleans Hornets. Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

 

JERRYD BAYLESS

WILDCAT YEARS: 2007-08

19.7 PPG

NBA CAREER: 3rd Season, 6.5 PPG

Portland Trailblazers (2)

New Orleans Hornets (1)

HOW IT ENDED: First round exit to West Virginia

THE SKINNY: Sitting behind perennial all-star Chris Paul on the Hornets’ depth chart at guard doesn’t help Bayless’ playing time.

MIKE BIBBY of the Atlanta Hawks. Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

 

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MIKE BIBBY

WILDCAT YEARS: 1996-97 to 1997-98

15.4 PPG

NBA CAREER: 13th season, 15.7 PPG

Vancouver Grizzlies (3)

Sacramento Kings (7)

Atlanta Hawks (4)

HOW IT ENDED: Lost in Elite Eight to Utah

THE SKINNY: Bibby is the Hawks’ starting point guard…for now. Jeff Teague has been challenging him for playing minutes off Atlanta’s bench.

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CHASE BUDINGER of the Houston Rockets. Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

CHASE BUDINGER

WILDCAT YEARS: 2006-07 to 2008-09

18.0 PPG

NBA CAREER: 2nd season, 8.9 PPG

Houston Rockets

HOW IT ENDED: Lost in semifinals to Louisville

THE SKINNY: Budginer fits in nicely with the Rockets lineup adding a scoring touch (close to 9 PPG) and athleticism.

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CHANNING FRYE of the Phoenix Suns. Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic

CHANNING FRYE

WILDCAT YEARS: 2001-02 to 2004-05

13.5 PPG

NBA CAREER: 6th season, 8.8 PPG

New York Knicks (2)

Portland Trailblazers (2)

Phoenix Suns (2)

HOW IT ENDED: Heartbreaking loss to Illinois in Elite Eight.

THE SKINNY: The lanky center has seen his playing minutes drop drastically this season thanks to inconsistent play.

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JORDAN HILL of the Houston Rockets. Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

JORDAN HILL

WILDCAT YEARS: 2006-07 to 2008-09

12.5 PPG

NBA CAREER: 2nd season, 5.1 PPG

New York Knicks (.5)

Houston Rockets (1.5)

HOW IT ENDED: Lost in semifinals to Louisville

THE SKINNY: Being a big man in Houston can be a tough situation. Hill will see more court time should the fragile Yao Ming miss considerable time.

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ANDRE IGUODALA of the Philadelphia 76ers. The News Journal/SUCHAT PEDERSON

ANDRE IGUODALA

(Iggy)

WILDCAT YEARS: 2002-03 to 2003-04

9.6 PPG

NBA CAREER: 7th season, 15.8 PPG

HOW IT ENDED: First round loss to Seton Hall

THE SKINNY: An Achilles injury has slowed Iggy — winner of a gold medal this summer for Team USA at the World Championships — to start the season.

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RICHARD JEFFERSON of the San Antonio Spurs. Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE

RICHARD JEFFERSON

(RJ)

WILDCAT YEARS: 1998-99 to 2000-01

11.2 PPG

NBA CAREER: 10th season, 17.1 PPG

New Jersey Nets (7)

Milwaukee Bucks (1)

San Antonio Spurs (2)

HOW IT ENDED: Lost in Finals to Duke

THE SKINNY: Jefferson is finally showing some signs of fitting into the Spurs offense after an unusual off year in last season.

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JASON TERRY of the Dallas Mavericks. Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

JASON TERRY

(JET)

WILDCAT YEARS: 1995-96 to 1998-99

11.3 PPG

NBA CAREER: 12th season, 16.3 PPG

Atlanta Hawks (5)

Dallas Mavericks (7)

HOW IT ENDED: First round loss to Oklahoma

THE SKINNY: The perennial sixth-man award candidate is off to a fast start this season in the starting role with Roddy Beaubois out with an injury.

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LUKE WALTON of the Los Angeles Lakers. Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

LUKE WALTON

WILDCAT YEARS: 1999-00 to 2002-03

9.1 PPG

NBA CAREER: 8th season, 5.4 PPG

Los Angeles Lakers

HOW IT ENDED: Lost in Elite Eight to Kansas

THE SKINNY: Walton (strained hamstring) saw his first action of the year on Saturday, playing six minutes and scoring no points.

Former University of Arizona athletes are always making news and not always in traditional mediums. We scoured the Internet and found Wildcats online by visiting these lynx

PHOTOS

Kurt Busch during qualifying for the SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

BURNING RUBBER

The NASCAR season has hit its halfway point and former Arizona Wildcat Kurt Busch is riding high and tight.

The ex-Arizona dorm rat’s 2,524 points place him fifth overall in the Sprint Cup points standings after 18 races. His 11 top-10 finishes and $4.413 million in earnings this year allows him to buy more Ramen Noodles than any other driver on the circuit.

This week, Busch will burn rubber at Indianapolis’ fabled Brickyard 400.

TWITTER

“good luck 2 u 2nite I’m prayin for ya either way remember God’s will will be done 4 u man will not determine ur future!”

- Fendi Onobun to former Wildcat teammate Nic Wise on the morning of the June 24’s NBA Draft. Wise, unfortunately, went un-drafted.

“Leaving the Rockets gym, good workout”

- Houston native Wise on July 1. Wise is not listed on any of the NBA summer rosters.

“Heading to neighbor Michael Milken’s 60th birthday party” 

- Annika Sorenstam on the former Wildcat golfer’s evening plans.

“Just saw a guy outrun a cop that was chasing him. Cop just stopped and gave up. He should really think about doing more cardio” 

- Former track ‘Cat Brianna Glenn doling out advice to a boy in blue

“This morning I was attempting handstand push ups. I think I will bring a helmet next time just in case. Hahaha”

- Wildcat and Olympic swim sensation Amanda Beard on her upside down life outside the pool.

“Hurrying off to get my make up done! ESPY’s here we come! Not too shabby of a Date nite for Casey & I! ”

- Wildcat softball legend Jennie Finch

“Lakers in 6 over Boston!!! Got 20k on it. That’s 20k in followers”

- Former Wildcat and recently retired New York Giant Antonio Pierce

Very close, Antonio; Lakers won in seven games

We’re following many current and former Wildcats on Twitter including: Jerryd Bayless, Amanda Beard, Mike Bibby, Jennie Finch, Brianna Glenn, Rob Gronkowski, Natalie Gulbis, Jordan Hill, Lorena Ochoa, Antonio Pierce, Damon Stoudamire, Annika Sorenstam, Jason Terry, Mike Thomas and Bobby Wade.

Add your favorite Wildcats to our list by e-mailing inprogressatpresstime@gmail.com 

FACEBOOK

FACE RACE

Current standings in the race to get 100,000 Facebook fans:

Wildcats 48,643

Sun Devils 42,225

Become a fan at 

“I Bet Arizona Can Find 100,000 Fans Before ASU Can” 

YOUTUBE

Need an inspiring way to start your day? Watch the short trailer from “Between the Water and Wood” every morning. The 2008 documentary tracks the UA Wildcat swim programs as they strive for the school’s elusive first NCAA national title. If the film has a familiar feel, that because it was directed by Patrice and Molly Busch, the wife and daughter respectively of Wildcat head coach Frank Busch.

BLOG

Being a professional athlete comes with many, many perks. Former Wildcat track-and-field star Brianna Glenn documents her life as a world-class athlete in her entertaining blog entitled:

MY SO CALLED FABULOUS LIFE

Glenn’s most recent post examines the depth of American and American athlete’s over-confidence on the world stage.

…

Former University of Arizona athletes are always making news and not always in traditional mediums. We scoured the Internet and found Wildcats online by visiting these lynx

PHOTOS

Frye-ing High

Former Wildcat Channing Frye and his Phoenix Suns teammates finished their sweep of the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. Fyre and company have a few days to rest before Monday's Western Conference Finals Game One against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

TWITTER

“Deviststing to Learn about the death of Erica Blasberg fellow LPGA player.”

- Former UA golfer Natalie Gulbis on the death of ex-Wildcat Erica Blasberg, 25, who died unexpectedly on Sunday in her Henderson, Nev., home.

…

“The LPGA is mourning the loss of Erica Blasberg. She was a popular player and well liked. My thoughts are with her family.”

- Ex-Cat Annika Sorenstam on Blasberg’s passing.

…

“The last 2 6th man of the year are from the 206 now thatz town bizness congrats to my guy JC”

 - Former Wildcat basketball player Jason Terry, congratulating Atlanta Hawk guard Jamal Crawford on winning this year’s NBA Sixth Man Award. Terry, who won the award in 2009, and Crawford both hail from the 206, aka the area code for Seattle.

We’re currently following many former Wildcats and Tucson athletes on Twitter including: Jerryd Bayless, Amanda Beard, Mike Bibby, Jennie Finch, Rob Gronkowski, Natalie Gulbis, Jordan Hill, Ian Kinsler, Lorena Ochoa, Fendi Onobun, Antonio Pierce, Damon Stoudamire, Annika Sorenstam, Jason Terry, and Bobby Wade.

Add your favorite Wildcats to our list by e-mailing inprogressatpresstime@gmail.com.

FACEBOOK

FACE RACE

Current standings in the race to get 100,000 Facebook fans:

Wildcats 43,777

Sun Devils 40,953

Become a fan at 

“I Bet Arizona Can Find 100,000 Fans Before ASU Can”

YOU TUBE

FENDI FOR HIMSELF

The news that the St. Louis Rams selected Fendi Onobun in the sixth round of the NFL draft surely caused some double takes in Wildcat Hoops Nation. After three years playing for the UA basketball team, Onobun transferred to his hometown University of Houston to play for the school’s football team. The gamble paid off. If his sensational special teams play or freakish athleticism wasn’t enough to woo the Rams, then his promotional YouTube.com video surely sealed his future.

The song will lure you in, his skills will keep you watching: Fendis Pro Day

WEB

WHERE’S WILDCAT

I’m a sucker for a well-crafted “where are they now” column. Javier Morales’ recent TucsonCitizen.com post “Update on how former UA players are faring internationally” piqued my interest. Click here to see some of the official team sites of squads that boasts former Wildcats. Warning: you best brush up on your Polish before clicking:

BENNETT DAVISON – Gold Coast Blaze, Australia

DANIEL DILLON – Melbourne Tigers, Australia

RUBEN DOUGLAS – Cajasol Sevilla, Spain

JASON GARDNER – EWE Baskets Oldenburg, Germany

JESUS VERDEJO – Quebradillas Pirates, Puerto Rico

MARCUS WILLIAMS – Austin Toros, Texas

LOREN WOODS – Mahram Sport Club, Israel

MICHAEL WRIGHT – Turow Zgorzelec, Poland

BLOG

ANNIKA CHATS WITH PEOPLE

Annika Sorenstam is settling into a life without the rigors of the LPGA Tour rather effortlessly…somewhat. This week she’s not waxing about the challenges of lob wedges. Instead, she’s offering advice on the trials of motherhood in this week’s People Magazine Celebrity Blog.

“Annika Sorenstam: How golf prepared me for motherhood” 

Stumbled across any Wildcats online? Tell us about it by e-mailing:

InProgressAtPressTime@gmail.com