Easier to stop Chris Paul than get an interview with World Wide Wes

For a hot minute Wednesday, I had thoughts of snatching an interview with NBA juice-meister William Wesley.

Then reality smacked me like an old girlfriend's right hand.

Wes, as I was introduced to him by former Kings forward Lionel Simmons about 17-18 years ago, might as well be the NBA's deputy commissioner. That's if you believe he's responsible for half of the occurrences with which he's been linked.

I'll keep referring to him as Wes. This whole World Wide Wes thing is relatively new to me. Reportedly, my man Jalen Rose, now an ESPN analyst, claims to have given him that moniker. And it does fit since when you are on the NBA beat, there's no city in which the brother might not be found.

I've heard him referred to as Uncle Wes. Call him what you want, but Wes is known in Commissioner David Stern's office, Michael Jordan's inner circles and as being the right-hand man of such NBA stars as LeBron James, Chris Paul and most recently, Carmelo Anthony.

In fact, one of the goals for contacting Wes Wednesday was to find out what role, if any, he was playing in Anthony's current travails with the Denver Nuggets.

Anthony is represented by agent Leon Rose and the powerful Creative Artists Agency. Rose and Wes have been linked since they both grew up in South Jersey.

There were reports earlier this year Wes had filed to become certified as an agent. If he did, he says that has not yet happened.

"I'm not an agent," Wes said Wednesday.

Wes is a cat whom has more hookups than Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile put together.

He's also a dude who consistently keeps his cards close to the vest.

"Man, I don't want to do any interviews," he said Wednesday as he's told me before. "I see so much crazy stuff out there that ain't hardly correct."

Wes is a mystery to 99 percent of the world. Clearly, he wants it like that and it's likely why so many athletes are comfortable with him. They know their business won't be in the street.

It's also why many of those who don't know him question his motives and duties. Then again, I don't know him in any depth, but I've seen no reason or proof to think he's done any dirt.

This is a dude who once had to move out of the way on the Dallas Cowboys sidelines while players gave then coach Jimmy Johnson a Super Bowl dousing.

That's juice and we ain't talking Gatorade.

Quick story: I'm in the visitor's locker room at Arco Arena a couple of years ago talking to then New Orleans head coach Byron Scott, assistant Paul Pressey and I think Kenny Gattison also was there. Somehow the conversation turned to Wes, and in walks Paul.

I think we'd been talking about how Wes seemed to be everywhere and how everybody knew him.

Said Paul, "Y'all talking bout Uncle Wes?"

We just started laughing as the point was made. Paul, now entering his sixth NBA season, still was a serious young boy at the time.

However, Paul, 25, said he'd known Wes for years. Paul also is represented by Rose and CAA, which also reportedly represents big ballers like Oprah and Will Smith. Rose also represents Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi.

Wes said he had to do a quick dash off the phone, so I never got to ask him anything about 'Melo's situation.

I think it's safe to say I probably ended up with the same information I would have gotten had the questions been asked.

However, I'll trade any and all stories I can do on Wes, for the book deal. My man is a success story of the highest and most unique order.

Once again, I may have better odds at hitting a lottery than getting Wes for a tell-all.

However, right now I'll settle for a tell-some. Dos Equis might want to re-check their most interesting man in the world commercial.


Since I went to the 'Melo concept, imagine how nice life is when you are 26, have a standing offer of three years for $64 million from the Nuggets, and things are so sugary, you can just leave it there for some reason.

Now that's 'Melo.

I also talked Wednesday with former Kings draft choice Anthony Johnson, who played the past two seasons with the Orlando Magic.

Johnson, the 39th pick of the 1997 draft out of the College of Charleston has played with eight teams. Johnson, who will turn 36 Oct. 2, was not re-signed by the Magic but still wants to play.

"I'm working out, staying in shape and waiting to see what happens," Johnson said. "I want to try and go out on my own terms. I know that doesn't happen for everybody, but I still want to play before I shut it down. I'd like to go into coaching as an assistant if nothing comes up."

The NBA currently is going around the league and airing what it calls "NBA Real Training Camp" where practices are televised.

One of the teams featured is the New York Knicks so obviously success is not a prerequisite.

Vice President of Media Relations/Basketball Operations Troy Hanson said NBA Entertainment has plans to feature Evans, Casspi and first-round pick DeMarcus Cousins.

Kings look to Cousins, then Monroe. Could move No. 33

The Sacramento Kings aren't sure which players will be available today following the NBA's draft four picks, but they believe either DeMarcus Cousins or Greg Monroe will be there for the taking with their selection, the fifth overall.

According to sources, the Kings would love it if Cousins was available. They apparently have the gumption to believe Cousins is an immediate impact player and their organization has what it takes to help him unveil the greatness of which his talent is capable.

They'd have no problem selecting Monroe, who is a versatile offensive performer. Monroe is comfortable handling the ball in most situations. That's a great quality for any player, particularly a 6-foot-11, 250-pounder.

Monroe has been compared to former Kings center Spencer Hawes because both are excellent passers, yet I don't see it. Monroe plays inside far more willingly and comfortably than did Hawes.

Monroe, I've been told, also has a right-handed jump hook in addition to his natural lefty jump hook. As a lover of post play, that's a beautiful thing.

One more thing on Cousins for which he rarely receives credit is egolessly handling the attention directed towards his teammate John Wall.

Wall was the man expected by observers very early to become the draft's No. 1 choice and often had the ball in his hands. Cousins had enough maturity to handle not being the offense's focal point.

The Kings research indicated Cousins was well liked by his teammates. Whereas the nay-sayers question - even before his selection - wonder if his NBA teammates will respect him. Now, those folks are scary and uninformed how the process works.

If the Kings choose Cousins, it becomes their organization's job to work with Cousins firmly, intelligently and consistently. Coach Paul Westphal will have to show more toughness from the get-go and show the young player who is controlling the situation.

Westphal has to learn how to get the most out of Cousins and how to manage the 19-year-old he'll be watching grow up and mature before his eyes. In fact, the Kings organization - ownership, front office, coaching staff and players - will become part of Cousins' maturation.

If the Kings are fortunate enough to choose Cousins, the ability to walk his way through reaching his potential could become franchise-altering.

It's rare for Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie to give up any hint of information, but Tuesday he said his team "had the 33rd pick at this point."

Petrie chooses his words thoughtfully, always to a fault of the reporter probing for information, but the inclusion of 'at this point' seemed to indicate he certainly be open to moving up to get a player surprisingly available or moving back and possibly getting two second-rounders for one.

One never knows when it comes to that Petrie brain other than to know it's usually working.

During our conversation Tuesday, Petrie called and asked my opinion, saying it wouldn't be a draft if I didn't tell him what he should do with the pick.

That's a running joke between us because in 1998, he allowed me, then the Sacramento Bee beat writer, to watch Jason Williams work out. I was so impressed with Williams' athletic, ballhandling and passing ability, the next day I wrote Williams should be the choice.

Petrie would rather that had not been written and not so coincidentally, I've not seen an entire player workout since. Heaven forbid, I would be able to see every player's workout. That won't happen again, I don't think.

Now if he really wanted my opinion, he'd allow me see the workout,s then, more importantly, let me sit in the players interviews. The easy part is analyzing talent. It's checking out the mindset that will be handling the pressure and immediate financial windfall a first-rounder receives.

And after talking with Petrie, it hit me I'd been played - again. He'd gotten more opinion from me than I'd gotten from him.

They call him Worldwide or Uncle

It's freaking me out how much attention William Wesley is receiving these days. He's called Worldwide (allegedly given to him by Jalen Rose) or Uncle (that's by the current generation of players), but back in the day, he was just Wes.

The guy was everywhere. During the course of covering the Kings during the season, he'd pop up in Philadelphia or Detroit or Golden State or New York. Even then he had enough sense not to go to New Jersey since nobody else was either.

And we're talking 20 years ago, Wes had all types of hook-ups. He had more juice than Minute Maid and on a number of different fronts. He's comical but chill.

The low-low (staying out of the main frame) was Wes' forte.

And now, during these days of Media Gone Wild, there are folks who act like he's the pilot for the most interesting man in the world. Surely, he's the most mysterious man around the NBA.

However, until Wes finds Bin Laden or halts next year's expected lockout, he has some things to show me.

And no, I don't know exactly how Wes earns his living. Yes, I asked numerous times, and if memory serves me er what he said when it really didn't mean anything to me, he just said, "he knows a lot of people."

The only reason I asked Wes what he did was I was curious how my man got all over the country. I knew I had to write a couple of stories a day to have my airfare and hotel paid for by a newspaper.

But I'd never heard of Wes in any trouble, so not knowing what he did was no big thing. There are a couple of cats like Wes around the league. They'd just be everywhere without discernible reason for being there.

However, those guys have come and gone and Wes remains in the cut.

Check out ESPN's 30-for-30 on Escobars

If you don't like soccer, then make it a point to watch the 30-for-30 presentation on Pablo and Andres Escobar and there respective connections with Columbian soccer. Not only are their stories enthralling, but the soccer footage is amazing.

Quick hitters

Did Cleveland's Mo Williams really tweet he was on his knees begging the Cavs not to trade him?

Would that make you try to trade his butt faster, like it would me?

Chris Paul recently said he was open to being traded by New Orleans.

That's good because he couldn't prevent the Hornets from trading him, anyway.

When did things change to the point where players believe they should have their situations orchestrated to win a title instead of working through the process each year. If it was good enough for Michael Jordan, Jerry West and the rest, it seems like it should be good enough for these young boys.