The scouting report on Eastwood is far from perfect.
First, there's that genetic defect in one of his legs, which could limit his leaping ability, at least until surgery is performed.
He also has a problem with watery eyes, not good for depth perception on three-point shots.
But Detroit Pistons Coach Stan Van Gundy isn't comparing Eastwood, a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever mix and the family's newest pet, to the likes of Air Bud, the basketball-playing golden retriever who starred in the 1997 movie about a dog with amazing basketball skills.
He is, however, amazed by the publicity Eastwood has received since the Van Gundy family adopted him from an animal shelter in Harbor Springs, Mich.
Even as Van Gundy left the NBA Draft Combine on Friday in Chicago, the first questions were about Eastwood, not the two-legged talent he had just evaluated.
"It's been crazy," Van Gundy said.
ABC News two nights in a row, People magazine online, and the Daily Mirror in London have all been on the story about how the Van Gundy family traveled across the state and took home Eastwood after 2,000 dogs and cats were adopted at a recent event.
The Van Gundys didn't attend the adoption event, but when they heard about the plight of Eastwood, they opened their house to him.
A Twitter account called EastwoodVG has been set up and as of Saturday morning, had more than 1,600 followers.
Van Gundy, an astute talent evaluator, said Eastwood has a ways to go.
"He gets around fine, but you can see it," Van Gundy said. "That's the reason he wasn't adopted because they were honest with people, it's going to cost money."
Playing 2 for 2
The New York Yankees will play a rare doubleheader -- when fans get to watch two games for the price of one today -- after rain washed out Saturday's scheduled single game against the Houston Astros.
The 2-for-1 special coincides with a planned ceremony to retire Derek Jeter's No. 2 jersey.
Jeter spent his 20-year career with the Yankees, had a hand in five World Championships, and ranks at the top of the Yankees' all-time list in hits, singles, doubles, stolen bases, hit-by-pitches, at-bats and games played. His 3,465 career hits rank sixth in major league history, including eight seasons with at least 200.
Tickets for Saturday's rained-out game will not be honored today but can be exchanged for any regular-season game at the stadium through the end of the 2018 season, subject to availability. The Yankees said today's game, with the Jeter ceremony, was sold out.
QUIZ
When the New Yankees retire Derek Jeter's No. 2 tonight, there will be one single-digit number remaining for future Yankees players to wear, even though it has never been used. The number?
ANSWER
No. 0.
Sports on 05/14/2017