It appears done

Early Saturday morning NBA owners and players came to a tentative agreement. Naturally the players must vote in agreement but I seriously doubt at this stage if Billy Hunter has given his stamp of approval it would be rejected. There are other details to be worked out as well over the next few days. Optimism reigns for NBA fans across the world, there will be NBA basketball this season! Items of note will be forthcoming over the next few days and weeks. Below are just a few highlights.

*NBA training camps will open on December 9th

*Teams can began signing free agents on the same date

*League play will commence on Christmas Day, December 25th

*The NBA regular season will consist of 66-games

On and off-court losses

In addition to losing money on the court many lost it off as well. Power Balance has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Power Balance is the company that manufactures the bracelets you've seen worn by several NBA players. The bracelet is supposed to increase athletic performance and even President Bill Clinton spotted wearing a Power Balance bracelet. This story might not affect the vast majority of folks but it does one Kobe Bean Bryant. Power Balance listed one of it's creditors as Bryant, media reports indicate they owe Bryant $400,000. Blake Griffin is in slightly better shape they only owe him $20,000.

Wonder why

I've often wondered why NBA teams don't reach out to their franchise players, those players who led them to championships seasons. The Knicks Patrick Ewing who didn't led them to a championship but several successful playoff runs. Isiah Thomas and his Bad Boy Piston teams, of course we realize the train wreck Thomas has become so maybe Pistons management knew something we didn't. The 76ers and Julius "Dr. J." Erving never connected for some reason. Erving was hired by his old boss Pat Williams after Williams became President of the Orlando Magic. For reasons unknown Philly never reached out to it's adopted son one who led them to an NBA Championship. A few weeks ago Dr. J. decided to place several items of his memorabilia on the auction block. Once the auction commenced the Sixers stepped in and purchased 18 of these items which will be displayed at the Wells Fargo Center. The CEO of the Sixers also indicated he'd like to hire Erving in some sort of capacity.

I wish I'd said that
How come I can't come up with this type of a snappy line, hopefully you are familiar with the jewelry store Jared. The commercials always announce "you should go to Jared for your jewelry purchase." The SportCenter host going to a commercial break, he advised viewers to remain and his teaser "Ohio State went to Jared (Sullinger)." That evening All-American Sullinger scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against North Florida. Sullinger returned to Ohio State after an outstanding freshman year, I doubt he will remain in school this time if his game continues at this steady growth.

Progress report

If you've read Words in the past you might remember a spring story. In the spring I wrote of my wife's cousin and  the fact he was playing at an Illinois junior college.  Joe has transferred to another junior college, the upside for him he's the starting center at his new school.  I am going on record by no means am I stating Joe is headed to the NBA but at 6-11 and 230 anything is possible. I would say his chances at a pro career are better at 6-11 than if he were 5-11, pro teams are always searching for quality big men. He's got the genes his dad played in the NBA for 3 years, his dad had stops in Israel, Spain and Argentina during the course of his pro career.

"I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you."

Bill Walton, former Blazers center