Kansas City's NHL21 group continues to live in a dream world. Sprint Center announced the Los Angeles Kings (AEG owned) and Pittsburg Penguins will play a pre-season game September 27 at Sprint. The NHL21 group is as a grass roots hockey group, they continue to "believe" the NHL will eventually award a franchise to Kansas City. What's even more unbelievable AEG president Tim Leiweke sits on the NHL executive committee. Let's see if I understand this correctly, AEG owns Sprint Center, the president of AEG is on the NHL executive committee. In addition Sprint Center is one of the busiest concert venues in the nation and hockey would tie up 40 some calendar dates, ain't happening. I can make this statement without any hesitation, nobody in the NHL has played Kansas City like the NHL.

This next story I'm unsure who to credit. The article I read was an NBC Sports story quoting Jazz Coach Ty Corbin, a respondent claimed Corbin received his information from stock exchange.com. This story is actually part of a barber shop argument and I thought it was worth discussing, AAU basketball. Several customers in the barber shop saw nothing wrong with "The Decision" others thought LeBron was wrong. For those who thought the decision was wrong it was mentioned Bird, Johnson and others would have never "joined" their competitors team unless it was through trade. Corbin places the blame (or credit) for the Miami Heat squarely on the shoulders of AAU basketball. Corbin states “Just thinking back in the day when I was younger in the league, superstar guys wanted to have their own show. It’s changed,” Corbin said. “These kids they grew up in AAU, being on all-star teams, and they’re used to playing with superstar guys. And they want that kind of team because … they have a chance to win big every night. They want to win championships and not have to be the only guy getting it done." We might not agree with Corbin but he might be on to something. Many older retired players had difficulty with "the decision" same with many fans. Corbin certainly gives us food for thought.

KFAN radio has reported the Wolves "have secured a deal with Rickey Rubio to play in the NBA next season." Kevin Love tweeted "he'd believe it when he saw it", Love must be from Missouri rather than Oregon. In any event if he has signed he might have been prompted by the current collective bargaining agreement. Rubio and other rookies had a May 31 deadline for the contract to be honored under the current agreement. From all indications rookie contracts in the future will not be nearly as lucrative as in those of the past. NBA owners want a hard-salary cap to replace the current agreement, the players are opposed. A hard-salary cap would not allow a team such as Miami to dump players and salary to sign a Chris Bosh and LeBron James.

Shaquille O'Neal announced by Twitter he was retiring, this larger than life personality failed to notify the Celtics first but that's not surprising for him. I first remember remember reading about him as a San Antonio high school prep player it seems such a short time ago. I remember seeing him play for 3 seasons for Dale Brown's LSU Tigers. Shaq is now 39 years old and just completed his 19 year in the NBA, where has the time gone? In the latter stage of his NBA career I became critical as he moved from team to team orchestrating each of the moves in an attempt to acquire another championship ring. There is no doubt Shaquille O'Neal is headed to Springfield Mass and the Hall of Fame. Early this evening the Lakers announced they will retire number 34 at some future date, I can proudly display my Shaq jersey along with the others.


Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.
Mary McLeod Bethune