Characters
Nowadays on those occasions we discuss the
American Basketball Association we tend to focus on the players who made the
transition into the NBA, players such as Julius "Dr. J." Erving, Artis Gilmore
and Moses Malone. Right up to the merger with it's older brethren this
"start-up" league contained a cast of unusual characters. Of course that was a
different age when almost anything the players and sometimes the teams did to
attract fans was deemed okay. The characters most of whom didn't make NBA
rosters were almost as colorful as they were controversial. One of those
players was fresh from the streets of Detroit with a brief stop at Toledo
University, his name John Brisker. Brisker was talented but quick-tempered he would begin a fist fight at the slightest
provocation. It was reported he had been kicked off the Toledo University team
because of a fight with one of the coaches. "Brisker's most infamous moment
came against the Denver Rockets. He
was ejected only two minutes into the game for a vicious elbow on the Rockets'
Art Becker. For unknown reasons, he charged
back onto the court three times after Becker before police finally ushered him
to the locker room." This 6-5 210 pound
forward/guard pro career lasted from 1969-75. Brisker played for the ABA
Pittsburg Pipers/Conders from 1969-72 and the NBA Seattle Sonics from
1975-75. The end of his life has become a modern-day mystery, he traveled to
Uganda as a guest of Idi Amin, ruler of that nation. The Amin government was
overthrown by revolutionaries in 1979 and shortly thereafter Brisker
disappeared. "He was declared legally dead in 1985 by the
King County, Washington, medical examiner." (Wikipedia)
Bad Boys part deux
Numbers of our readers are too young to remember
the Pistons "Bad Boy Teams." We could also include the Washington Bullets
"Bruise Brothers" in the tell of this
story. Although it was much later perhaps many
don't remember Pat Riley's Knick's teams. Those teams played "thug" basketball,
that's my best description. The game was "we
might not win the game but we'll certainly win the fight." For the most part
play was physical and aggressive, don't you dare go for a lay-up, most likely
you'd be hit so hard you would see stars. The flagrant foul rules of today
grew out of the rough and tumble play of the '80's and '90's. The culprits were
many, Jeff Ruland and Rick Mahorn of the Bullets, the Bruise Brothers.
I don't remember reading if those Knick teams picked up a nickname however who
could forget Bad Boy Pistons, Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman? While
viewing the Pacers-Heat playoff game we flashed back to the '80's as flagrant
foul after foul was called. Both teams were guilty of over-aggressive
and "thug" basketball in my view. The jury's decision, the Heat's Haslem is
suspended one game, little used Heat reserve Dexter Pittman three games. As for
Pacer Tyler Hansborough his flagrant one becomes a flagrant two. My remaining
question, why wasn't Dwayne Wade suspended for his flagrant in game two?
Don't count me in the
number
Kentucky's John Calipari is not well-liked among
a number of coaches, fans and even some in the media. We realize why the hatred
exists, they say he cheats. Someone once said "check any high
profile program closely, you are bound to locate some shady
actions." Now that's out of the way let's look at Kentucky basketball
2012-13, coach Cal has reloaded. You would think it might be difficult to
produce a competitive team even with high profile freshman. How soon you forget
his freshman dominated NCAA championship team this past April. At this point we
have no idea how smooth the transition from high school to college will be for
these players, one thing for sure Rivals thinks highly of them. The number
behind the name indicates where Rivals think they rate among the nations best
for the Class of 2012.
6-10 200 power forward Nerlens
Noel-number 2
6-8 215 small forward Alex Poythress-number
86-4 181 shooting guard Archie Goodwin-number 14
7-0 225 center Willie Cauley-number 40
The cupboard is not completely bare, the entire
roster is not headed to the NBA although a number are. There were only two
seniors on the NCAA championship team, the 2012-13 team will be comprised
of players who waited their turn to play and this mix of outstanding freshman.
You might ask how Calipari continues to recruit like this, I have no idea
but somehow manages to attract the nations best basketball talent to Lexington.
Late bloomer
Garrett Stutz is a local kid (North Kansas City
High School) by all accounts must be considered a late bloomer. It's always
difficult to access high school 7-footers, often they are so much taller than
most of their opposition. Stutz was a
legitimate 7 feet tall when he enrolled at Wichita State, he must have spent
considerable time in the weight room as he's bulked up to 255 pounds. His numbers rose slowly from his freshman year
up to his senior year, he final collegiate numbers 13.3 ppg and 8.0 rebounds a
game, not outstanding but steady. Most big man are poor to average free-throw shooters not Stutz, he shot an outstanding 82%
from the free throw line. This from the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament:
"Garrett
Stutz was the tallest player measured at the PIT at 6-11 without
shoes, and also has a very nice wingspan at 7-3, which helps explain his solid
rebounding numbers." This background
information is provided because his name is probably not well known and the fact
Wichita State is a mid-major institution. (draftexpress.com)
Coach Snyder
I'm not sure if a decision will be made by the
time this is printed. According to reports the Bobcats have interviewed several
candidates for head coach. Among them are former Laker and current Pacer
assistant Brian Shaw. Several of the reported candidates I'm unfamiliar with,
besides Shaw there is Quin Snyder. Snyder has served the last year as an
assistant for the Lakers under Mike Brown, I have long-standing issues with
Snyder. The mini-scandals surrounding him at Mizzou are not an issue, there is
no proof so the only issues covered will be those we are able to validate.
Snyder served as Mizzou coach from 1999-2006, there were positives under his
leadership, he recruited and brought players to the coach Norm Stewart was
unable to do. "Snyder was the only coach in Missouri history to make
post-season play in every season that he coached the team to the season's end.
During his tenure with Mizzou many allegations surfaced regarding Snyder's
ability to manage the program. Though a long and intense NCAA investigation
revealed that his program committed only a handful of minor violations, Snyder
chose to resign." The team was floundering in February, Snyder choice was
to resign rather than be fired. The team had finished 16-17 in the 2004-05
season and had played poorly up through January of the 2005-06 season. A large
financial settlement was concluded between the school and Snyder was concluded.
I felt then and I still maintain Snyder had an allegiance to those athletes he
recruited, in my view he walked out on them and not Mizzou. I refuse to forgive
him for that and just wonder if he's changed? Perhaps I'm the one who refuses to
forgive maybe Snyder has learned a lesson, maybe? (Wikipedia)
