I know my cause is hopeless, I continue to believe there is a "Ewing Kaufmann" type somewhere in the metro or in the nation. I can hear him or her say emphatically "Kansas City needs NBA basketball again!" When will this event occur, it will occur in 2??? I think! Hopefully it will occur sometime in my lifetime so I can once again enjoy rooting for an NBA team with Kansas City on it's jersey. I'm not be the only one former Kings center Sam Lacey is emphatic in his view Kansas City can support an NBA team. Check the link courtesy of KCTV5, Kansas City. The key problem the NBA has been rather unkind to cities it's left in the past. The cities that comprised the league in the '40s and '50s were little more than minor league stops. Cities such as Rochester (N.Y.), Sheboygan Wisconsin and Fort Wayne (Indiana) just to name a few. The cities I referenced are ones the NBA has left in more recent years, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City. The series of events that caused each of these cities to lose it's franchise is probably as diverse as the people in the cities. The only city to lose a franchise and gain another within a short period is Charlotte. After the Hornets left in 2002 for New Orleans the NBA seemed to be anxious to replace the franchise, in three short years the expansion Bobcats came into existence.

http://www.kctv5.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4655220

Collegiate players without agents can withdraw their names (no agent hired) from the draft by May 8th and still maintain their eligibility in the fall. The list is extensive however some of the names thought to leave have remained in school players such as Harrison Barnes of North Carolina and Baylor's Perry Jones. This should be considered no prediction of success but the Morris twins game will probably translate easily to the NBA, they are physical players. The gigantic question mark is point guard Josh Selby, his freshman year was a little bizarre. The NCAA ruled him ineligible for the first nine games, his first collegiate game he was to score the winning basket. From that point on his season was like a roller coaster with several highs but a like number of lows. I'm sure those who saw him play assumed he'd return for his sophomore year, another year of coaching might have been beneficial to him. Is he going to be drafted, it appears that will be the case but where is a mystery?

Many of you know my affinity for all things NBA especially Laker stuff. This time I'm not researching Laker gear it's Kansas City Kings apparel. Maybe I've become nostalgic but I couldn't have purchased any of this stuff back in the day. It seems (maybe my imagination) NBA team wear was limited to non-existent. Memory says baseball caps containing team logos might have been the first apparel available. In any event should you have any Kansas City Kings apparel in the back of your closet contact me and we can discuss a business arrangement.

Over the years all of us have read AAU stories good and bad, I was never able to gain firsthand knowledge until this year. Numerous AAU players have gone on to NBA and pro careers in Europe and Asia. This AAU story is close to home, one of my grandsons has been selected to play on an AAU team in Texas, yes I said grandson. In June the family will journey to Wichita to watch him display his basketball prowess. Years from now when he makes it to the NBA he'll ensure his Paw Paw is living in the best nursing home in Kansas City. In any event I will keep you apprised of his progress.


I don't know why people question the academic training of an athlete. Fifty percent of the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their classes.
Al McGuire