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Tests and a Failure

Two things are on my mind worth writing about this week.

Early last week, news leaked that Morris Claiborne scored a four of 50 on the Wonderlic test. As soon as the score leaked, Twitter blew up with comments about how Claiborne must be dumb.

For those who do not know, the Wonderlic is 50 questions with a 12-minute time limit. The Wonderlic is not really used to measure intelligence. What the test does, is show how quickly an individual can process information.

Claiborne plays cornerback, so the score is not that important. The Wonderlic is mainly important when discussing quarterbacks, linebackers or centers. Those positions have to process a lot of information in a small amount of time. Cornerback is a reaction position. There is very little pre-snap information to process.

As any teacher can tell you, everyone learns at different rates. Even if Claiborne scored poorly, it does not mean he is not intelligent. If anything, teams might worry about Claiborne's prep. Every agent gives his clients the Wonderlic test before the draft. The main worry is that Claiborne didn't care enough to come to NFL combine prepared for the test.

Also last week, Rick Cleveland was named the new executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Cleveland. I can't think of anyone who would do the job better.

Cleveland's buyout by The Clarion-Ledger's owner Gannett is stunning. I grew up looking forward to Cleveland's columns each day in the paper. His writing style was easy to read, and Cleveland has the ability with his writing to make you feel like your right there with him in each article. Even though I work for the Jackson Free Press, I still seek out Cleveland's columns. He is an award-winning writer, and I personally would put him up against any national writer today. Cleveland is what I hope to become one day as a writer.

It is a sad day in media when a major corporation does not recognize the special talent it has at its disposal. Someone of Cleveland's talent should be given the right to walk away on their own terms and not be forced out in a cost-cutting measure.

I didn't always agree with everything Cleveland wrote (read my last article), but I have the deepest respect for him. I remember the first time I met him, and it was (for me) like getting to hang out with Michael Jordan.

Cleveland's writing will always have a special place in my heart. Too bad his writing didn't move the bean counters at Gannett.

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