Who is he?

Larry Coon is probably a name few identify with the NBA, Coon is a 49 year old computer scientist and Information Technology Director with the University of California, Irvine. He's probably the best known expert on the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement around. Coon breaks down differences between the 2005 agreement and the 2011 version which is yet to be signed. If you want to know all there is to know on Collective Bargaining Agreement Coon is the one to read. Check him out on the ESPN.com NBA page for specifics.

A compliment

Despite what might seem like a plethora of negative comments from me there are several in the print media I do enjoy reading. One journalist in particular loves to delve into the world of basketball be it NBA or college. The problem he has little credibility with me due to his attempt to always focus on the scandalous, sleazy issues. Oh sure he can write about what he sees but he fails to provide any insight into the game. Mike DeCoursey of The Sporting News is one journalist who I think is the real deal. DeCoursey offers concise and accurate information on the college game down to the X's and O's. Do I agree with everything he writes or states in radio interviews--of course not but I respect his view of the game. It's sad in one respect there are so few in the media who cover the game as he does. Check him out, the best collegiate writer in the nation from my perspective.

 

Hmmmmmm!

Dr. Buss has never called me or sent me an email requesting I met with him. The thought of me replacing Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak only exists in my mind. It's always been fun for me to sit in Kupchak's seat selecting players to be drafted, signing or trading players. Over they years I've always assessed players either in college or playing for other NBA teams and said, "I'd sure would like to see what he could do for the Lakers." I did this regarding Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace, friends will remember me making the statement two years prior to the Lakers actually signing him. I looked at his hard-nose defense first his shooting secondary, I thought the Lakers could use his type of defense. Sure enough he helped them win a championship and it certainly wasn't his fault they failed to defend it last year. With the amnesty issue Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko's name is floating about, the rumors say he wants to play in Southern California for the Clippers or Lakers. Allow me to pose the question, why in the world would he want to play for the Clips (other than financial). The Lakers would be the better fit and besides the fact I've always liked his defense on Kobe Bryant. Kireilenlko just turned 30 so he certainly might have a few more quality years left. It ain't probably gonna happen but I certainly would be okay with him becoming a Laker.

 

Location, location location

The headline read: "Area's Big 3 making mark in college hoops." It was printed in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The headline was a reference to the fast start of St. Louis University, Mizzou and Illinois. On the eastern side of the state the headline makes perfect sense but not in western Missouri. St. Louis University of course is located inside it's city limits and metro St. Louis extends across the Mississippi River into Illinois. In addition Champaign Illinois home to the University of Illinois lies but 180 miles from St. Louis. On the western side of the state we know SLU exists it's just not on our radar. The only time we recognize Illinois are the occasions when Mizzou is matched against them on the football field or basketball court. I'm sure there are other areas of the nation that have similar issues.

 

Did you hear this

Former Dukee Kyle Singler will not be playing in the NBA----at least for this season! Singler was the 33rd pick in the 2011 June draft but will play for Real Madrid in Spain rather than the Detroit Pistons. In my imagination Singler might have had this conversation with Singler. "Okay I've got a choice, do I play for Real Madrid and have the opportunity to travel Europe? Maybe I should remain stateside with the rebuilding Detroit Pistons,------after pausing Singler says-------"I think I'll choose Madrid at least for now."

 

Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball.~Phil Jackson