"You can't tell the players without a program!"

The above statement was the cry of vendors selling programs in the golden age of major league baseball. Even more interesting a smaller number of teams meant most fans probably knew the names anyway. A dissimilar problem exists today for me regarding the NBA Lockout as much as I'd like to follow Euro basketball or the NBA-D League I don't know the players. Thus I revert to the old statement, "I can't tell the players without a program." I think a number of you face the same dilemma I do, simply stated the NBAPA, NBA owners and David Stern need to resolve this. I don't think either side realizes the damage being done, casual fans will leave the sport as they did in '98-'99 and this time might never return. I knew as sure as I'm sitting here typing this the NFL would resolve it's labor issues. Owners and players realized there would be rioting in the streets if there was no Sunday afternoon or Monday Night Football in America. Note, according to CNBC last Tuesday would have been payday they estimate the average player salary lost was $220,000.

On second thought

The media (and maybe fans) have over-hyped the term franchise player. I would guess a franchise player is a player whose shear presence is able to impose his will on a team. His leadership skills and presence will often allow a team a deep into the playoffs. Fox Sports ran a story on the top 10 free agents for 2011, if there is a season. Their list contains not one player we could consider a franchise changer or leader. They selected Nene Hilario Nuggets center as their top pick, number two was Tyson Chandler Mavs center. Don't misunderstand me, both players are serviceable and exhibit skills however they are not players who will lead your team to an NBA championship. I realize Chandler played on last year's Championship Mavs team but tell me if you think he was key in them winning the NBA Championship? I could state with a degree of comfort Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry or J.J. Barea might have played more crucial roles. Perhaps this might be a key to a portion of the NBA's problem, a bidding frenzy for average to slightly above average players. These players are often signed for monetary amounts far beyond their value to a team.

I can't begin to imagine

The recruiting frenzy that exists for a number of high profile prep athletes, once upon a time a prospects mail box was bombarded with scholarship offers. Coaches would schedule home visits with the prospects parents or guardians. The old fashioned manner of recruiting still exists but in this day we tweet, text and Facebook our intentions to sign with __________ university. In addition to the internet and magazines ESPNU telecasts a national signing day program running two hours. I watched the program and during a portion the host contacted Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad is a 6-6 small forward rated number one in the class of 2012 by ESPN Recruiting Nation, Rivals, Maxpreps and every other scouting venue in the nation. The national spotlight shines on most of these kids at such an early age no wonder several have gone off course. In Muhammad's defense he responded to all the questions in a professional manner and quite eloquent too. I guess in this age it's probably imperative a young man learn how to conduct himself during an interview. A note to Kansas City Chiefs fans, Muhammad's uncle is Stephone Paige wide receiver who played from 1983-1991.

Television note

One of the benefits of the lockout mentioned before is enhanced programming on NBA TV. NBA Roundtable features a panel of former NBA players discussing their team, teammates and other stories. Several NBA teams are featured but I thoroughly enjoyed the Laker feature the most. Lakers were Magic Johnson, Jerry West, James Worthy Bob McAdoo, Byron Scott and Kurt Rambis. The most interesting feature, these guys really seemed to enjoy each others company after all these years. If NBA TV is available by your cable system or satellite see it the program is well worth your time.

Priorities, priorities
A friend called me, informed me he was entering a ticket contest at work. The winner would receive tickets to the Mizzou-Mercer game later in the week.  The friend indicated he would give me the tickets if he won, he knew he wouldn't be able to attend the game. I hesitated for a minute then remembered I had a conflict, I'd scheduled a very important meeting which wouldn't allow me to attend the game. The day before game day one of the meeting participants contacted us indicating they had to cancel, a conflict had emerged on her calendar. With that late development the meeting was rescheduled for another date. All was not lost, I was able to view the game in it's entirety on television of course I would have preferred it be in person. "Sometimes you get the bear sometimes the bear gets you."

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser."
Late Vince Lombardi, former Packers coach