Bulletin

The NCAA has ruled (and in this instance I agree). Last Thursday the NCAA ruled no high school games on networks affiliated with schools. This was aimed at the University of Texas and it's Longhorn network. In a developing story I can cease complaining about the Big 12, it appears the conference will soon be non-existent. The Southeastern Conference said thanks but no thanks to Texas A&M for 2012. I doubt if this is the last we hear of this or similar stories. I could be wrong but I think the Big 12 will fold at some point in the future.

Figure this one out
Last spring ESPN, Fox Sports and the Sacramento Bee wrote of the Kings impending move to Anaheim. City officials in Anaheim were diligent in their efforts to land this franchise, the last hurdle in this move was the NBA to approve the move to Southern California. I questioned the prospect of three NBA teams (Lakers, Clips and Kings) in Greater Los Angeles but who knows, it might have worked. A funny thing happened while the Kings were preparing to pack for the journey south. Sacramento officials met with the NBA Board of Governors, they persuaded the governors to grant the city a reprieve. As the Kings won-lost record has suffered in recent years so too has the attendance but that's secondary to the main issue. For the last several years the Maloof brothers owner of the team have complained both publically and privately about Arco Arena and it's lack of suites and other amenities. After last springs effort the arena continues to be a hot button issue with the citizens of Sacramento, many seem to want the team but have no desire to pay for it. Numerous proposals have been turned down over the years and even now there appears no ground swell of approval to float any type of tax or bond issue. The clock is running, the Kings have a March 1st deadline to provide a financial plan or risk losing the franchise. Their former home Kansas City has a 4-year old arena built to NBA specs, who says you can never go home?

I plead guilty
I read a column by Gregg Doyle of CBS Sports.com, the shortened version of Doyle's column, "wake me when the lockout is over." Doyle pointed out some of the rhetoric he heard about both the NFL and NBA lockout. Bottom line I agree with him these doom and gloom stories can only go so far. NBA owner, "I'm prepared to close down for the season." Player, "I going to (insert country) to play basketball." I plead guilty, I began buying into some of the posturing flowing from both sides on the lockout, no more! I will continue to report what I believe are insightful stories on the NBA and basketball minus any stories involving the lockout. If there is positive news naturally that will be reported otherwise............

Consider this

If you read or hear Hall of Fame basketball the first thought is Springfield Mass. Yes, Springfield is the home of the Naismith Hall of Fame and it's inductees come from all all aspects of basketball. Most are probably unfamiliar with the relatively new College Basketball Hall of Fame located in Kansas City MO. The hall was created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to honor the college game, it is not intended to compete with Springfield. The HOF and museum in Kansas City is located next door to Sprint Center, it opened it's doors in 2006. It operates in a similar manner to Springfield, each fall players, coaches or contributors to the game are honored with an induction ceremony. The CBE Basketball Classic is held every November at the Sprint Center, a portion of the gate receipts are utilized for maintenance and upkeep of the HOF. 12 teams are in this years talented field among them are Notre Dame, Cal, Georgia and Missouri. The semi-finals and championship games are scheduled for November 21-22. Take time if you are ever in Kansas City and visit the College Hall of Fame. Below is the link, check it out.

http://www.collegebasketballexperience.com/sponsoropps/display.aspx

Curiosity on my part
The fall of 2012 the Nets will be play basketball permanently in Brooklyn, no more stops here and there. Spike Lee born and bred Brooklynite was asked if he would now consider switching his allegiance to the Nets. Lee echoed the same statement as my friend Gary, "the Knicks are New York's basketball team." The Nets themselves might have been a contributor to the identification problem dating back to their ABA days. Long Island, the Meadowlands and finally Newark, there were probably other stops but those are the locations that first come to mind. Actually the Knicks are partially to blame too, the Nets were originally scheduled to play at the 69th Street Armory in Manhattan, the Knicks filed a lawsuit claiming "territorial rights" and forced the team to look for another location. The team has been on the move since, the stops in New Jersey are a story in itself. I have no way to document this story however a member of the media claimed "he was unable to locate any Nets gear at two sports stores in Manhattan." If true that might provide a clue why the Nets are considered the step child of New York. The Meadowlands and Prudential in Newark are but 20 miles from the city but again I've been told New Yorkers will not travel to New Jersey. You think a new arena might make for a change, maybe. The key to growing the fan base is the product and results on the court, what do you think?

«My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt.»
- Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice.