The "Phil to Knicks" story has begun. Phil Jackson had made it clear at the beginning of the season, win or lose this was his last season coaching. The picture tube on my television had barely cooled and the stories began circulating. Most of them have Phil sitting out this upcoming year (D'Antoni is under contract for another year) then riding in like the cavalry to rescue the franchise. I didn't realize it but he'd interviewed for the job back in '05 but decided to return to the Lakers helm. Two of the thirteen championship rings he owns came as a player for the Knicks. Thirteen is an unlucky number.

Now that Phil is "gone" the hunt begins for a new Laker coach. Unfortunately there are two names mentioned which cause me to lay awake at night with worry. I hope neither is the final choice of Dr. Buss. Drum roll please, Rick Adelman late of the Houston Rockets and Jeff Van Gundy TNT analyst. Adelman has been a winner everywhere he's coached however my image of him is that of a whiner! As for Mr. Van Gundy based on the last several years of listening to his views of the NBA and life period I'm skeptical of his coaching ability. One writer stated "the only coach the Lakers need is Jerry Sloan." You remember Sloan don't you, the tough hard-nosed coach who prowled the sidelines for years as Jazz coach? Yes, I think Sloan would work if Laker management can somehow coax him back to the game. Sloan's always farms in the off-season, how bout "growing" some Laker stock Mr. Farmer?

At times I've missed historical NBA games, recent example the triple overtime playoff game between the Grizz and Thunder. The Thunder won 133-123, 3 hours and 52 minutes the majority of which was strictly offensive basketball. I could have seen the game, I was actually watching it when my wife walked into the bedroom. Dummy me I informed her "no distractions at the bowling alley or anytime now that the Lakers are out!" Within five minutes of my statement she called from the family room---"want to watch Hawaii 50 with me?"

The Wizards held a news conference last week to unveil their new uniforms. "What is old becomes new," at least with these uniforms. These unis look strangely like the old Washington Bullets jerseys of the Wes Unseld days. Just in case you don't remember the top link is next years, the bottom link is the old school uniforms. While we are covering this issue someone might question how the Bullets became the Wizards. The late Abe Pollin former owner was concerned about the growing incidence of violence in the nation's capital, in addition he was a close friend of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who was murdered by a hand gun. Pollin thought a name change would was appropriate, the team held a contest and the name Wizards was chosen and went into effect for the 1998-99 season.

http://www.nba.com/wizards/intro_newlogo.html

http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/resources/team-jerseys/washington-bullet.html

A story you might have missed the University of Maryland hiring Mark Turgeon as head coach. Long time Coach Gary Williams retired after 22 seasons at the helm and will assume the position of assistant athletic director. As for Turgeon each coaching move has been a move upward for this former Jayhawk from Topeka Kansas. After graduating from KU he served as assistant coach at Kansas, Oregon and with the 76ers. He was hired as head coach at Jacksonville State and from there to Wichita State. The Wichita State job led him to Texas A&M and finally to Maryland in the highly competitive ACC.


"Don't hate, it's too big a burden to bear."
Martin Luther King, Jr.