Confusing well maybe for some of us
There are times the use of an abbreviation causes little confusion. As an example you might see USA, it could be a company name however most would assume United States of America. This advanced explanation is required based on all the gum flapping I heard here. Wednesday word begin spreading Kansas State was “dropping” the abbreviation K-State. Several of the natives went wild on hearing the news, why oh why would the university do such a thing? It’s well known to those in the Big XII, what about others? A story published in Ohio and K-State is used, is the story regarding Kansas State or Kent State? Another example I live in Georgia and see a report on K-State, is it Kennesaw State or Kansas State? Those two examples might be a reach, I’m unsure if either Kennesaw or Kent locally might be referred to as K-State but I hope you understand where I’m going with this. The school’s administration explained “outside of the region when identifying the school Kansas State would be the term applied for identification purposes.” I understood the why it appears a number of Kansas State alumni and others don’t.

I've got a feeling about him
Don't worry if you are unfamiliar with the name Johnathan Williams III. This 6-8 208 pound power forward from Southwind High School in Memphis is 4-star.  ESPN Recruiting Nation and Rivals award this Class of 2013 prospect that honor. William’s has received offers from seven schools among them Florida, Memphis and Mizzou. I have no inside information just a hunch, I think this Memphis native is headed to Columbia Missouri next fall. If I’m wrong on this one it’s not necessary to call me out----I will do that.

He belongs despite the naysayer’s
Thanks to Fox Sports.com Randy Hall, he provided a fact many of us probably failed to recognize. Now that Ralph Sampson is in the Hall of Fame did you realize Houston’s twin towers are both enshrined now? I’ve read comments from sportswriters and fans questioning Sampson’s inclusion in the Hall, they are off base he belongs. The 7-4 Sampson was drafted in 1983 and was selected Rookie of the Year; the next year Houston again received the number one choice. With that pick they selected 7-0 Hakeem Olajuwon from the University of Houston. Olajuwon had an outstanding rookie year but failed to win Rookie of the Year. In an ordinary year his 20.6 ppg and 11.9 rebounds would have placed him in the forefront of the year’s rookies. The problem, there was guy in Chicago who was also drafted in 1984, a guy by the name of Michael Jordan. Jordan was selected 1984 Rookie of the Year but we know Olajuwon went on to an All-Pro career. Olajuwon capped his outstanding career being selected and enshrined in the Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Pundits said the “twin tower” approach wouldn’t work in the NBA; well it depends on your perspective. The Sampson/Olajuwon Rockets never won an NBA Championship, they did manage to reach the NBA finals in 1986; they lost the championship that year to the Celtics. Injuries would plague Sampson the balance of his NBA career.

Need a job?
Are you searching for a job? The Phoenix Suns just might have one for you. I’ve never been a fan of pro team mascots, I take that statement back. The San Diego Chicken might have been the first pro mascot I remember performing and enjoying. The routine during Padres baseball games was certainly entertaining and innovative for the time. As for other mascots that came after the Chicken they seem to be all clones of him except one. The Gorilla of the Phoenix Suns, he performed amazing feats considering the limited vision the costume provided him. The Gorilla, Phoenix and basketball I never made a connection but I guess it was okay. Word out of Phoenix is the Suns are seeking a new Gorilla. From the posting; “Assist in the creation and maintenance of Go website (www.sunsgorilla.com) and other social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc.); respond to fan mail, emails, and other requests directed to Go. Regularly attend and contribute to department meetings, providing creative input, ideas and brainstorming. “College degree preferred or equivalent experience.” Wonder what the equivalent experience is, high school or college mascot maybe? One other note according to reports there is more than one Gorilla, this position is not the trampoline dunking Gorilla that performs during Suns games. This is the public appearance Gorilla who visits store openings and special events.

I’m not sure how this will ultimately turn out
This is news on several grounds, I‘m sure the name Arslan Kazemi is unfamiliar to most of you. 1. Kazemi just made it known he‘s transferring from Rice to Oregon. 2. Last season this 6-7 forward scored at 12.4 ppg clip while grabbing 10.3 rebounds. 3. Kazemi is an Iranian citizen and is the only Iranian on a D-I roster. 4. Kazemi is attempting to avoid sitting out this season, he’s appealing to the NCAA in order to play this season. 5. It’s always good at the times sport allows us to come together especially nations not always in harmony.

Like father like son (and daughter)
6-7 Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson’s dad is Mychal Thompson, the elder Thompson won two championships while providing valuable play as a reserve for the Lakers. Today Mychal provides color commentary for the radio side of Laker broadcasting. As for Klay after Monta Ellis was traded last year rookie Klay moved into the starting lineup. He averaged 12.5 ppg while shooting 44 % from the floor and is expected to improve in his second year. Klay is not the only athletic off-spring in the family there are two brothers and a sister. Brother Trayce plays AAA baseball, brother Mychel who played at Pepperdine (note the spelling difference between father and son) has been invited to Knicks training camp. 5-10 sister Julia played volleyball at the University of San Francisco.

Store the name in your memory bank
I uncovered a new name for the 2013 NBA Draft, the name of Rudy Gobert.  Gobert is 7-foot 240 pounds and is from Saint-Quenti, Aisne France.  He plays currently for French Pro A league club Cholet.  As with any athlete domestic or foreign I make no projections on their NBA futures.  Video exists and you can locate it on YouTube.  As the mock draft sites below is his projected draft position, any would make him a lottery selection:
nbadraft.net - number 6 
draftexpress.com - number 4 
nbadraft.room - number 9 
draftsite.com - number 5 

You cannot hide; they will find you no matter
I just finished reading a story containing a list of All-American freshman, not collegiate but high school freshman. I have long contended the basketball landscape has changed significantly. College scouts have always beat the bushes checking out talent generally the public didn’t know the names until the prospect committed. AAU basketball certainly has become a contributing factor to this change however there is another area of change. A significant number of colleges and several NBA players conduct basketball camps during the summer. Mizzou made a scholarship offer to Sindarius Thornwell a Class of 2013 prospect. Thornwell is a 4-star rated prospect by Rivals.com. This 6-5 180 pound shooting guard is enrolled at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. I was a little surprised to discover “only 2 or 3 scholarships were available for 2013.” Coach Haith and staff have certainly earned travel miles over the past several months.

Hoosier basketball
Zeller brothers especially Cody. I’m going to make it a mission this upcoming season, my mission to ensure I managed to see Cody Zeller in person or as a last resort a televised game. Zeller is a 6-11 230 pound PF/C Indiana University sophomore year. He provided valuable leadership as the Hoosiers went 27-9 last season, his frosh numbers, 15.6 ppg and 6.6 rebounds. NBA scouts have certainly taken note of this talent; nbadraft.net list him as their number one pick should he leave school for the 2013 NBA Draft.

He placed UConn on the basketball map
UConn’s Jim Calhoun retires after 40 years coaching and 26 years coaching the UConn men’s team. Calhoun retires with 873 wins and a plethora of talent funneled into the NBA. Of the current active coaches only Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim have won more games than the 866 of Calhoun. Not surprising Calhoun was enshrined in in the Naismith Hall of Fame (Springfield MA) in 2005. A year later the same honor was accorded him in the Collegiate Hall of Fame (Kansas City MO). From “Jesus Shuttlesworth” a.k.a. Ray Allen to Donyell Marshall continuing to Emeka Okafor and concluding with Kemba Walker. Those former players are but a few of his former players who played or continue to play in the NBA. Calhoun was personally responsible for the national imprint UConn has now, prior to 1986 most folks other than New England residents probably had no idea where the school or even the state was located. Calhoun’s health issues might have been more a contributing factor to his retirement than the academic issues of the athletic department. Coach K. leads an even smaller group of active coaches with NCAA championships (4); right behind is Jim Calhoun with 3 the most recent in 2011. It will be difficult for Kevin Ollie to take over as head coach; he will discover the difficulty of replacing a modern legend. The late Gene Bartow faced a similar situation in 1975 when he replaced John Wooden at UCLA. After a sparkling 52-9 record Bartow left UCLA after a brief two years to build the basketball program at University of Alabama Birmingham. Coach Kevin Ollie will face the large looming shadow of Calhoun; hopefully he is up to the task of following the legend Calhoun was to become.

The LSU sharpshooter
Kareem Abdul Jabbar holds the record for all-time points scored in the NBA. What about Pete Maravich the LSU sharpshooter and Hall of Fame NBA player? Maravich had no opportunity in college and only the last year of his 12-year NBA did he even have an opportunity to shoot a
3-pointer. What a shooter he was especially in college, he played for his dad at LSU. Press Maravich allowed his son the green light to shoot almost “all the time.” As for Maravich on defense remember the Bill Murray line in Space Jam? “Whoa hoa hoa! I don't play defense” Maravich wasn’t quite that bad but was never a defensive wizard. I’m sure you’ve read or heard stories of defensive standouts like Dennis Rodman; they would “rest” when the team was on offense. This was done to conserve energy to give the maximum effort on the defensive end of the floor. Maravich was just the opposite, I’m not saying he didn’t play any defense let’s say it was limited. In that day freshman were ineligible to play varsity, they played on freshman teams. The only exception to the rule was NAIA schools, memory says freshman were always eligible.  In any event the numbers of Maravich only reflect his sophomore through senior year.  The Maravich scoring average his sophomore year was a blistering 43.8 ppg, but he would do even better his junior year.  He raised his scoring average to 44.2 and even higher his senior year 44.5. In 83 college games Maravich scored 3,367 points a NCAA Division One record; this 6-5 guard averaged 44.2 ppg and 6.5 rebounds. 

“His long-distance shooting skill thus produced far fewer points than would have been the case in a later era. Years later, former LSU head basketball coach Dale Brown charted every college game Maravich played, taking into consideration all shots he took. Brown calculated that at the NCAA rule of a three-point line at 19-foot (5.8 m), 9-inches from the rim, Maravich would have averaged thirteen 3-point scores per game, lifting the player's career average to 57 points per game.” Naturally no NBA coach would allow Maravich the free reign his daddy did at LSU. Modifying his game for the NBA he still managed to score 24.2 ppg playing principally for the Hawks and New Orleans Jazz. Nagging Injuries forced his eventual retirement from the game he loved at age of 33. His 12 year career resulted in a 24.2 ppg average and 15,948 points scored. This Hall of Fame player died in 1988 of a heart attack while playing in a pick up game. One additional note, Maravich was ahead of his time in the passing department, the behind the back pass or between the legs was common place for him. Naturally he toned down that portion of his game for the NBA, the passing skills he learned as a youth would be continued by Magic Johnson and others to follow. (statistical history; basketball.reference.com & wikipedia)

Perhaps the “real” St. Louis Blues
I read an article on TV households in America. It was no surprise to note the Metro St. Louis population is substantially larger than Metro Kansas City. Every time I read or hear of movement in the NBA Kansas City is almost always mentioned, few identify St. Louis as a possible destination, why? The Hawks once called St. Louis home prior to leaving for Atlanta in 1968. Might the arrival of the Blues been a contributing factor in their departure? The playing seasons are roughly the same, the NHL and NBA play their games November to early spring. Before going further a history stop, I once mentioned St. Louis wasn’t the Hawks original home the franchise was founded in Buffalo (N.Y.) as the Bisons and played there the 1946 season. They became the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the fall of 1946 and remained in the Tri-Cities until 1951. The Tri-Cities franchise represented the cities of Moline and Rock Island (Ill) plus Davenport (IA).

In 1951 the franchise moved to Milwaukee and renamed the Hawks where they remained until 1955. The franchise moved to St. Louis in 1955 until the Atlanta move. I first thought the arrival of the Blues might have been a contributing factor to the departure of the Hawks. Not so according to my buddy, the one friend I can say is an NHL and NBA fan. Dave says unlike him they are actually two sets of fans, those of the NHL and NBA. Rarely do fans follow both sports as he does. One other note, the Blues arrived as an expansion team in 1967, the Hawks left the following year. The Blues would not have impacted the Hawks in such a short period of time, they left in 1968. The final question could the Gateway City support both the Blues and an NBA franchise? (dates, Wikipedia) 

(Jerry's) going to need a bigger (boat)!
Excuse me for using the Roy Sheider line from the movie Jaws as a headline, I couldn't help it.  The 2013 NBA All-Star game will be held in Houston Texas. The All-Star game will see a brand new state of the art video board in the Toyota Center. The new video board will be the largest indoor center-hung scoreboard in the United States. “The new board is the centerpiece of a sweeping arena-wide improvement project that was announced today and also includes the installation of new HD flat panel screens throughout the concourses, upgraded Wi-Fi connectivity options, new concessions point-of-sale systems and other upgrades for Toyota Center patrons.” Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones likes to brag about the fact they have the largest video board in the nation. The Rockets will counter his claim by pointing out Cowboys Stadium is located outdoors. (probasketball.com)

It’s herrrrreee!!
By the time most of you read this the deed will have already been done. The the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening (to my knowledge) the first $1 billion dollar arena in history.  After years of construction delays, architectural re-design, court fights and citizen complaints Barclays Center is open. The home of the Brooklyn Nets, the plan (ownership) is they become New York City‘s basketball team. I don’t suppose Spike Lee will show up for the ribbon cutting, for sure he’ll be at Barclays for the first regular season game against his Knicks on November 1. The New York Post claims the Jay Z designed suites have a starting price of $550,000 a season.  Thought that bit of information might be important to some of you.

The ever changing broadcast landscape
The issue of televised sports might be even more critical in this age. We are so accustom to seeing our favorite team play, the formation of new networks call for new carriage agreements.  This story might change by the time it’s printed but currently the new Pac-12 Network has no agreement with DirecTV. I have no idea of missing numbers but would you not want your product and advertising dollars on the maximum number of television sets. For Laker fans they too will experience change. Airing soon will be Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes, broadcasting in English and Spanish. Laker games will be available on Time Warner Cable only, KCAL-Channel 9 will no local broadcast Laker games. Discussions are being conducted with satellite, cable and telco companies in the Lakers broadcast territory. As for us in the Kansas City area it appears Metro Sports our local sports channel will continue to telecast Mizzou basketball games. The thought by many with the move to the SEC Metro Sports might forsake the Tigers. Of course the games of exception would be those broadcast by ESPN/ABC/CBS.

Philly phantic
I’ve been a long-time Doug Collins fan; I’m a fan of his despite bumpy finishes at several NBA stops I believe the guy can teach the game. I’m anxious to see how his 76ers perform this season. The team under his direction is taking baby steps in an effort to become a quality NBA team. After sinking to a 27-55 season in 2010 the next year under Collins they finished at 41-41. This past season despite the Lockout the team finished 35-31 and made the playoffs for the second straight year. Then the big trade, “do-everything” small forward Andre Iguodala was traded to the Nuggets. In comes 7-1 285 pound Andrew Bynum who scored at nearly 19 ppg and grabbed almost 12 rebounds. In addition they received in trade 6-6 veteran shooting guard Jason Richardson, after a down year it’s hoped he’ll return near his 17.5 ppg career numbers. The NBA draft brought 6-9 small forward Maurice Harkless from St. Johns, freshman Harkless surprised and NBA scouts deemed him “ready” for the NBA. The roster contains only three players over the age of 30, Kwame Brown, Royal Ivy and Jason Richardson. A youthful team requires a teaching coach Collins fits that role. Given time and with little injuries this team will compete not this season but maybe 2014 or 2015 for the Eastern Conference Championship.

Just when you think you’ve heard everything
Are you a dedicated fan of a college or NBA team? What ever you might say I’d bet money
(if I were a betting person) you can’t top this Kentucky fan. The fan lost his left eye in an accident last year and doctors replaced it with a glass eye. Recently he swamped his glass eye for one with the UK logo in place of the pupil. Now that’s what you call real fan devotion.      
　

And you thought I was bad with my veiled movie references
Last night during NBA TV’s telecast host Vince Cellini produced a gem. As he went to commercial break he said we have an upcoming story on New Orleans and Austin Rivers. He said; “stay tuned as Austin Powers (Rivers) up!” He even did the Mike Meyers (Austin Powers) voice as the screen faded to black.

Outstanding news to see him return
There are personalities we have a love/hate relationship with. On the one hand you locate 25 people who state they dislike the guy but you’ll find 25 who loudly proclaim they love the same person. I’ve often heard that view expressed regarding ESPN’s Dick Vitale. Years ago my wife walked through the family room while I was viewing a game. Hearing Vitale and him probably saying something like: “he’s a PTPer tonight or baby he‘s a diaper dandy!” It might have been; “it was flat out scary, baby or “he’s awesome baby with a capital A.” Note the number of times he uses the word baby to describe something or someone. She turned toward me and said “what’s wrong with that guy?” I’m unsure his broadcast skills caused her to question me, I don’t remember my response I do remember laughing at her question. 

I could make the same statement for former NBA player and broadcaster Bill Walton. Very serious health issues plagued him forcing him to quit broadcasting. Now fully healed Walton will return to broadcasting for the first time in two years. He will work for ESPN but will also perform similar duties for the new Pac-12 Network. I cannot wait for the first gem to fall from Walton’s lips. An example; “that was one of the worst passes I've ever seen, and certainly the worst pass in the history of the San Antonio Spurs. He said; "John Stockton is one of the true marvels, not just of basketball, or in America, but in the history of Western Civilization!” I guess his over the top hyperbole is what I enjoy so much about his broadcasts. (bleacherreport.com & wikipedia)

On the recruiting trail
Mizzou’s received another commitment from a Rivals Top 100 player. Wesley Clark a 6-foot 175 pound point guard has verbally committed to Mizzou. Clark is a Class of 2013 prospect and Rivals awards him 4-stars. I remember reading a Kansas fan stating “Mizzou would have difficulty recruiting in the SEC.” Clark is from Romulus (MI) about 30 miles from downtown Detroit. Hold on there a minute, 6-0 point guard Travis Jorgenson committed last year. Are the Tigers planning a return to small ball in 2013-14? Hardly, Clark is more a combo guard a shooter while Jorgenson is a traditional point guard. There are other factors to consider first being they both might not be on the floor at the same time. In addition were talking next year starter Flip Pressey’s senior year should he remain in school. Pressey is 5-11 however the remaining four guards on the roster next year are 6-4 or taller. The frontcourt will consist of five players who measure 6-9 or taller. During the 2011-12 season there were only two players over 6-8 and only one of them played major minutes. Despite what might appear to be the case it’s untrue. Will this infusion of new talent play at the level the coaching staff and Mizzou fans expect? I’m warning myself regarding expectations.

The best laid plains don’t often work out
The Rockets had a two-stage plan this past summer. They would clear cap space by releasing or trading several players on the roster. Free agent signings would fetch them Jeremy Lin in addition they hoped to sign Dwight Howard or trade for Pau Gasol. So of the major moves they only accomplish one, they signed Lin. Questions remain on Lin and his ability after his brief but splashy debut with the Knicks. The Rockets hope is he’s no one-hit wonder and can play extensively at the NBA level. The verdict on the Lin signing will be undetermined until the season begins. As for the balance of off-season moves there are a number of unanswered questions. They drafted three players in the first round to add to the roster to the roster, in addition they signed free agent Carlos Delfino from the Bucks. Veteran Kevin Martin remains on the team as well. Coach McHale might have his work cut out for him more this season than a year ago, the Rockets have a number of pieces but it will be up to McHale to fit the puzzle together.

Shame on Nike & LeBron
Nike is now reporting the LeBron X retailing at $270 dollars rather than the $315 originally reported. I guess the $45 dollar price difference is supposed to defray a portion of the criticism aimed at Nike and LeBron. In case you were unfamiliar the shoe is hi-tech providing the wearer info on his leaping ability and other techno information.  At the time Nike announced the shoe and the $300 price tag a fan’s response was classic. He said; “could a 16-year old LeBron afford those shoes?” As a single parent Gloria James certainly would have been unable to afford those shoes for LeBron. To take this one step further are parents who would purchase these shoes for Junior prepared for the potential risks? There might be an even greater danger for Junior to wear them.  Think Nike really cares, probably not based on this from Darren Rovell.  ESPN’s Sports Business reporter Rovell states; “between its Nike, Jordan and Converse Brands, Nike owns roughly 95 percent of the United States' basketball shoe market.” Just a few thoughts from an old guy, check out the other Nike story below.

I understand his frustration
I’m in the middle on this story; I’m on Kareem’s side he should have been paid, I also understand the Lakers position on the statue. Last year Kareem Abdul Jabbar complained loudly to all within hearing range how the Lakers had disrespected him. After tutoring Andrew Bynum and performing other tasks he felt the team treated him poorly in addition to not receiving playoff shares while serving as a coach. As for the statue he might have been okay if not for the Magic Johnson statue. He probably understood why statues of legendary Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn and Jerry West were erected prior. Hearn served as Laker broadcaster from 1961 through 2002. Jerry West the player, general manager and president of the Lakers. West in his front office position was the architect of several championship Laker teams.

West is sometimes nicknamed “The Logo” since he’s actually the model for the NBA logo. In 2004 a statue honoring Magic Johnson was unveiled at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Times indicates a statue of Kareem will be erected at some point this upcoming season. I’m in the middle on this story because I’ve been a long-time fan since his days at Power Memorial High School and UCLA. Kareem has certainly caused a number of his problems, as a young adult he had an aloof sometimes unfriendly attitude toward the media and others. On the other hand his teammate Magic Johnson was a media darling always easy to converse, always ready to be interviewed. Kareem is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points scored, “he won five of his six NBA titles and three of his six league MVPs with the Lakers.” (latimes.com)

Does this Knight deserve a crown?
I own a pair of Nike Air basketball shoes; I also own a pair of Converse Pro Stars and a pair of Converse All Stars. The balance of shoes is divided between Adidas and Reebok brands. I wanted to provide you a disclaimer before continuing further with this story. As you are aware every September a new class is inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Former players, coaches and contributors to the game are enshrined. This time I was caught off guard with the selection of Phil Knight. As most of you are aware Knight is co-founder and chairperson of Nike. My view doesn’t amount to a hill of beans so this really all moot just an observation. If we just looked at the financial empire Knight has built I would say he should be congratulated or building the business. In the ‘70’s and ‘80’s Converse ruled the shoe world, Dr. J., Magic and Bird wore Converse as did others.

Once Michael Jordan signed with Nike and became a superstar the basketball shoe world changed dramatically. Converse and others attempted to compete but couldn’t maintain adequate market share, Converse later was forced into bankruptcy and purchased by Nike. LeBron, Kobe, and Durant you name ’em, the majority of high profile players in the NBA wear the Nike or Jordan brand. One other issue is the Asian labor used to produce the shoes. Underpaid, overworked and poor working conditions were reported to be commonplace. All that is supposed to have changed according to the public relations department of Nike Corporation. I have no issue with Knight making money but the lingering question remains, what has done as a contributor to the game other than market shoes?

King of the world
If you don’t think you are the best nobody else will either! That’s the story for Heat point guard Mario Chalmers as he makes his case. I've tried to avoid being drawn into arguments where someone is arguing player B is better than player A. In this instance comments of the players have caused me to enter the debate. In a recent interview Chalmers placed himself “in the front end of the top 10 point guards in the NBA.” The front end of the top 10, exactly what is Chalmers saying? Is he stating he’s a top 5 guard or belongs someplace in the top 10? An NBA championship must have gone to his head or maybe he bumped his head! Someone pointed out Derek Fisher has 5 championship rings; does that make Fisher a top 10 guard? Checking the numbers Chalmers scored 10.0 ppg on a .420 shooting percentage while dishing out 4.9 assists per game. His .367 3-point field goal percentage failed to make the top 50 list this past season. Without placing them in any order if I’m picking a point guard I would chose any of the players before Chalmers. Keep in mind we are not choosing All-Pro players just the best of the best, what do you think?

Russell Westbrook, Thunder Steve Nash, Lakers Rajon Rondo, Celtics Chris Paul, Clippers
Derrick Rose, Bulls (healthy) Deron Williams, Nets Tony Parker, Spurs
Mike Conley Jr., Grizzlies John Wall, Wizards Ty Lawson, Nuggets Raymond Felton, Knicks Devin Harris, Hawks

This season will be significant for a number of collegiate basketball coaches. Several might be on the hot seat while others are attempting to make their mark in the coaching ranks. Others might be seeking to move from a mid-major school to one with a higher profile. The first coach well look at is Larry Brown Southern Methodist University‘s “new” coach. Brown is 71 years old; he begged and pleaded for an opportunity to return to the coaching ranks. SMU basketball has been in the basement for eons it seems, can Brown provide a spark to set the program on the correct path? The bull’s eye is on the back of Mizzou’s Frank Haith, new conference (SEC) and basically a revised roster. After a so-so coaching career is he the real deal or do his 30 wins make him a one-hit wonder?

VCU’s Shaka Smart has won 27, 28 and 29 games over the past three seasons. Sorry VCU fans and alums but how much longer can he continue to turn down major coaching offers? With the turmoil in the rear view mirror, Shabazz Muhammad and company on the Westwood campus can Ben Howland reverse the sinking UCLA ship? Kentucky’s John Calipari has another crop of talented frosh; can he coach, cajole and plead with them to play half as good as last years class? Finally there’s Bill Self at Kansas, will his teams continue to dominate the changed Big XII landscape? From a distance Ohio State’s Thad Matta’s teams always perform at their peak during regular season. Last season they made the final four is this the year he coaxes his Buckeyes to play for the national championship? I realize there are other coaches I’ve missed, feel free to add them to the list.

Celebrity owners are often just that--celebrities who own a percentage of an NFL or NBA team. I’m unsure if we should consider Dodger owner Magic Johnson a celebrity. He first became prominent playing basketball rather than singing or acting as did most of the celebrity owners. Most celebrities appear to be satisfied with just the fact they own a percentage of a professional team. Most often they take a back-seat to the day to day operations of the team. That statement certainly doesn’t apply to Shawn Corey Carter. Carter better known Jay Z is one celebrity owner who places labor behind his name as an owner. It’s reported Jay Z paid $4.5 million for his share of ownership but has since become the public face of the Brooklyn Nets.

Folks know Mikhail Prokhorov is the majority owner of the Nets; he purchased majority ownership from Bruce Ratner several years back. Don’t misunderstand operations basketball people run the day to day team activities, general manager Billy King and staff drafts players, make trades and sign free agents. Jay Z has become a prime director of many of the marketing activities of the Nets. He was the driving force behind the move to Brooklyn the borough of his childhood. Have you checked out the new uniforms of the Brooklyn Nets? Jay Z is responsible for design of the Nets jerseys. He had to seek approval from the NBA offices for the black and white jerseys. It was reported the NBA office had to be sold on the color and design. The Vault at Barclays Center is another Jay Z inspired addition. The Vault at Barclays is 11 executive luxury suites spread through the arena, if you must ask the cost to lease a suite you probably might not be able to afford it anyway.

The news on the other side of the state is not good! Saint Louis University coach Rick Majerus announced health issues will prevent him from coaching the Billikens this season. This is certainly devastating news coming off a 26-8 season, 12-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Over the course of his coaching career Majerus has been one of those guys who’s managed to fly beneath the radar despite compiling a 517-215 lifetime record. Assistant coach Jim Crews will coach the team this upcoming season but that might present a problem too. I certainly don’t wish to be a doom and gloom guy, remember the ’95-’96 season when coach K. missed most of the season. Duke went from a 28-6 record to 13-18; they bounced back the next year with coach K.’s return finishing 18-13.   

The “San Francisco” Warriors have taken another step toward returning across the bay. Ellerbe Becket an AECOM Company is the design firm chosen for this sports and entertainment complex, so states the San Francisco Examiner. The Warriors are in the final stages of negotiating the contract with AECOM. The location of the arena should it be secured is south of the Bay Bridge on Piers 30-32 a few blocks from the Giants ballpark. There is no rush to complete this project; the Warriors are under contract at Oracle Arena through 2017. Owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber seem committed to revitalizing the franchise. It’s interesting most NBA fans have no memory of the team playing anywhere aside from Oakland. The Warriors last season in San Francisco was the 1970-71 season, the only exception was their NBA championship year. The team was thought to be out of the playoff picture, a decision was made to release future Coliseum dates.  Due to this decision the 1975 championship series was played at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. The Warriors played in the Cow Palace from 1962-1964 and again from 1966-1971, the Cow Palace opened in 1941 is still in use today.   (dates; Wikipedia)

The Nets site on nba.com reads; “FIRST HOME GAME SINCE 1957. “ Of course that’s the year the Dodgers packed and headed west to Los Angeles. A construction cam has allowed me (and others) to follow the building progress of the Barclays Center. The only problem construction cams are not often placed in the interior portion of a building. The public often must wait for occasional photos to be exhibited.  The Nets site contains 11 photos and a 45 second video of the interior. Basketball will begin October 15^th with a pre-season game. The Nets will host the Wizards for the inauguration of NBA basketball at Barclays Center on that date. (nba.com)

Years ago I was employed by one of the cable systems serving the KC metro, at the time the company didn’t offer NFL Network. I remember hearing almost daily complaints before and during football season; “when are you going to offer the NFL Network?” That was nearly four years ago and the network is still unavailable. NBA fans certainly don’t share that concern in fact I’ve read comments almost opposite of those following the NFL. The latest figures I uncovered leave many to the conclusion there might be too many NBA games available. I found it interesting this from Wikipedia; “despite the problems in the early-to-mid-2000s, the NBA's regular season ratings average was (and is) on par with Major League Baseball’s, and ratings for the finals continue to outdraw competing events that occur during the same month, such as golf's U.S. Open and the Stanley Cup Finals. Since 2007, NBA ratings have steadily risen, thanks to the resurgence of nationally recognized NBA teams, their star power, and their annual presence in the NBA Finals.”

ESPN telecasts 90 regular season games with an additional 15 available on ABC. The TNT Network telecasts another 40+ games annually. The network owned NBA TV Network has continued to increase its number of broadcasts each season. 90 games are now available on the network; NBA TV unlike the other networks employs no broadcasters but picks up the feed of the home team. The NBA has an equivalent to the NFL Network, NBA League Pass. League Pass is a pay-per-view option available to a number of cable and satellite systems, it allows fans to view an entire season’s worth of NBA games. A regular season evening’s worth of games could begin at 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, west coast games begin at 10:00 or 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time Zone. The last area to mention is League Pass Broadband, the NBA on your desktop computer. This has been especially fruitful for the growing world-wide audience of the NBA. As for the NFL Network, it’s now nearly four years later and it’s still unavailable. (Wikipedia)

Laker haters this is an advance warning you can skip this; as for those who are neutral or fans this statement by me; former Lakers remain Lakers into infinity. That was the case for Shaquille O’ Neal, despite the Shaq/Kobe feud and all the drama I kept my number 34 jersey. I never trashed it or stored it away; it remained prominently displayed prior to my man-cave makeover. Because I retained the jersey I can now display it along with my other Laker stuff. The Bynum jersey will be replaced by a Steve Nash’s number 10 jersey. As for the Bynum jersey I’ll store it away in the back of the closet. He’ll probably never return to the Lakers but unlike Shaq his number will never hang on the wall at Staples Center. 

The next purchase to be added to my man-cave is Dwight Howard’s number 12. I know I made several unkind statements about him during the drama of “Dwightmare.” You never heard me state he couldn’t play, I just felt and still do Bynum has offensive skills Dwight does not possess. The report (if true) that he’ll work with Kareem Abdul Jabbar is good. Any offense additions he could tutor Dwight in would be a good thing. I’ve always admired his skill on the court the same for Steve Nash, never swift of foot always running the break with the Mavs or Suns. As for his shot I never thought much of his shooting until he delivered a 3-pointer at a critical stage of a game. All the bullet pinpoint passes I’ve seen him deliver it sure will be great they will now go to Kobe, Howard, Gasol or Metta.

I read a recent Kansas City Star article on Tyshawn Taylor. For those who might be unfamiliar with his name Taylor is a Nets rookie and former Kansas point guard. I thought it interesting he was drafted by the Nets; he grew up in Hoboken (NJ) about 20 miles from downtown Brooklyn. We might consider this second round draft choice a “home-grown” pick. In any event I managed to view a number of Nets Summer League games and Taylor was quite impressive. This was Summer League so that fact alone must be taken into consideration; in addition this is no claim by me Taylor will become a star. The Nets depth chart has Deron Williams as the starter backed up by C.J. Watson and then Taylor. Playing time most likely will be limited his rookie year however his future could be bright with the Nets or some other NBA team.

New York City is beset with panic; citizens were spotted running through the streets running amok screaming “NO, NO, not again please NO!”  Have any idea what might have created panic in the streets? It wasn’t a Wall Street collapse or any other natural catastrophe. The panic was brought on by an Isiah Thomas sighting in Manhattan. Not only was he spotted he and Knicks owner James Dolan were seen eating lunch. For reasons truly unknown Dolan has remained friendly toward Thomas despite the train wreck the team became under the leadership of Thomas. In 2010 Dolan had attempted to hire Thomas as a “consultant” while he was still head coach at Florida International. The NBA stepped in and informed Dolan he couldn’t hire him. Earlier this year FIU fired Thomas after a 26-65 record in three seasons. Thomas has gone on record on several occasions stating his desire to get back in basketball. Its public knowledge Scott O’ Neil was stepping down as president of MSG, the position most likely covers all aspects of operations at the Garden. I would guess it has no impact on the day to day operations of the Knicks. If that is indeed the case I’m sure the vast majority of Knick fans would have no problem with the hire. The minute Thomas ventures into basketball operations all hell could break loose. “Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats, living together! Mass hysteria!” My apologies I’ve always wanted to use that Bill Murray line from Ghostbusters, we are talking New York City here.

I’m unsure the origin of the Isiah Thomas story, the account of his exclusion from the 1992 Dream Team. Jack McCallum former SI NBA writer had to school this certain national reporter once again. A couple of articles back I mentioned McCallum had written a book on the 1992 Dream Team. Prior to interviewing McCallum the reporter went on record indicating his friendship with Thomas. The friend has unusual logic applied here; he claims to be the defender of Magic and his Laker legacy. The flip side he is critical of Magic and especially Michael Jordan for requesting Thomas be excluded from the team. I will offer a view the friend of Isiah hadn’t considered. The late Chuck Daley served as head coach for the Dream Team and was Isiah’s Pistons coach; Daley might have been left with only two choices. Option one, Daley could have insisted Thomas be added to the roster and face the resentment of Magic and Michael. Option two leave Thomas off the team and deal with it later as the Piston coach. One other concern to point out, team USA had been embarrassed in the 1988 Olympics winning bronze and a 3^rd place finish. Although he never expressed an view to my knowledge Daley might have felt extreme pressure to return USA basketball to the prominence many in this nation thought. Isiah Thomas was the superior all-around athlete over John Stockton, but Stockton was the choice. Do you wonder why Stockton over Thomas? Daley died in 2009 so his portion of the story will remain forever unanswered. This is my belief; if coach Daley truly wanted Thomas on the team he would have insisted his name be included.

If you’re a certain age the name Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes is probably unknown to most of you. He was nicknamed silk because he was so smooth on the court, 2012 is a monumental year for this former Laker. The team will retire his jersey 52 and raise it to the rafters at Staples Center on December 28. On September 7 he was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012. Often numbers don’t paint a clear picture of a players worth, so it is with Wilkes. The Warriors made him the 11^th pick in the first round of the 1974 NBA draft. This UCLA product became the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1975. He would play two more seasons for the Warriors prior to signing a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He would play nine more years as a member of the Lakers a defensive and offensive stalwart for them. The 6-6 190 forward/guard was a four-time NBA champion and three-time NBA All-Star. Wilkes had one of the most unorthodox shots I‘ve ever seen. He would shoot the ball over his head, it was nearly impossible to block. His explanation for the shot was simple, as a youngster he played against taller and older players. They would block his shot, shooting the ball in this manner avoided the fate of a blocked shot. See if you can locate game tape of him on YouTube. Wilkes ended his career scoring 14,644 points and a 17.7 point per game average. The late Chick Hearn long-time Laker broadcaster would refer to Wilkes shot from the corner as a “20-foot lay-up.” Wilkes was a distance shooter who managed a .499 lifetime shooting percentage.

Viewing NBA TV a thought crossed my mine as co-host Dennis Scott detailed his visit to NBA rookie orientation. Have you ever considered the fact there are 60 or so players drafted every year? Generally 1^st round choices make a team’s final roster cut, it’s more difficult for 2^nd round picks and free agents to earn an NBA roster position. The number is sometimes fluid however the roster of most NBA teams contains 14 players.  See where I’m going with this math problem?  Let’s assume Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers both gain roster spots with the Hornets, the 13^th and 14^th player on last seasons roster might be history. The 13^th and 14^th players are left scrambling for a job; they have 
options available however none guaranteed.  

They might attempt to latch on with a Euro or Asian team. They can also chose to hook up with an NBA D-League or one of the other minor leagues in existence. This scenario repeats every year at the end of training camps throughout the NBA. Basketball is a pyramid; at the bottom of the pyramid are the thousands of high school and AAU players of the world. In the middle portion are collegiate players; near the top are professional players in leagues spread about the world. At the pinnacle of the pyramid are NBA players, the journeyman and the super star player included all have managed the climb to the top and demonstrated talent beyond others. Those who manage to reach the top are deemed the best of the best. Next time you have one of those discussions and someone says to you how “easy” it is to make an NBA roster counter with these points.

I took the opportunity to view the Under Armour Elite 24 3-point shoot out and slam dunk on ESPNU. I was impressed with Conner Frankamp’s 3-point shooting; the most impressive part for me was it took place on an outdoor court. If you’ve played on any outdoor court you must adjust your shot based on wind conditions. Although it wasn’t extremely windy Frankamp was clearly the best participant in the contest. For those who might not be familiar with the prospect he’s a 6-0 155 pound guard from Wichita (KS).

ESPN’s Top 100 Class of 2013 prospects they list him number 36. This has been a basketball filled summer for Frankamp. On July 7 he verbally committed to Kansas, he then went out the next day and won a gold medal. “Wichita North senior guard and Kansas recruit Conner Frankamp scored 22 points to lead the United States to a 95-62 win over Australia in the gold medal game of the FIBA U17 World Championships on Sunday at Kaunas, Lithuania.” There is no question, he can shoot---can he tailor his game to that of a point guard once he arrives on the campus at the University of Kansas? (varsitykansas.com)

I’ve written a number of stories regarding high school and in some instances collegiate prospects; of course any prospect comes with a disclaimer especially those out of high school. I think he exhibits highly developed game skills and should he continue to improve should become a talent. Okay let’s discuss Karl Towns Jr. Towns Jr. is a Class of 2015 prospect from Metuchen New Jersey; he stands 6-11 and weighs 235 pounds. A number of athletes his height and taller their movement on the court and around the basket is sometimes mechanical. I certainly would not make that statement regarding Towns Jr. he is one smooth operator, in addition he has developed range on his jump shot. He’s received offers from seven schools but made no commitment yet. I don’t attempt to compare players but in this instance I’ll go out on a limb, Towns Jr. game appears to be tailored close to Kevin Durant or Dirk Nowitzki.

　

 

The Lakers first practice is scheduled for October 2, a little more than 3 weeks away. A short-time until the start of the NBA season. I don’t know about you but I’m only a casual NFL/College Football fan. I have little interest in baseball or other sports so you see where my heart lies.

I once mentioned everyone probably has a favorite team(s), you root for them passionately and those times they lose your mental state is thrown off-balance. You skip SportsCenter or NBA TV not wanting to be reminded of the final score. Losing streaks make it even worse; your mental quagmire lasts much longer than you hoped. My NBA favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers, collegiality it’s the Mizzou Tigers. I informed you I had no secondary teams although I did admit I followed the Knicks of New York. I had no team at the time I wrote the story but all that’s changed now. I think I’ve found a secondary NBA team, it’s the Brooklyn Nets. A number of news events have drawn me like a magnet. One of those events is the significance of Brooklyn on the road jerseys. It was 1957 the Dodgers had left the borough for the sunshine of California and Los Angeles; I didn’t realize how badly residents wanted a team they might claim fan identity. I thought the residents had latched on to the Knicks; some might have while others appeared to be unaffiliated. Other than Brooklyn’s Spike Lee it appears a number of Brooklyn residents already identify with the new team. The $1 billion dollar Barclays Center, resigning Deron Williams and the trade for Joe Johnson. They missed on Dwight Howard but certainly made an effort. The upcoming event is the pending “Battle of New York City!” I expect no conflict for me on Thursday November 1^st; TNT will be in the house to telecast the first regular season game in Barclays Center between these two city teams.

I’m amused by comments regarding the Lakers off-season moves. First it was James Harden and Kevin Durant on the Letterman Show; they were followed by a Chauncey Billups interview in the Detroit Free Press. Next up was Chris Paul on the Dan Patrick Show. The latest to chime in on Laker moves is David Robinson former Spurs center. “Lakers still a few moves from challenging the Spurs” so stated The Admiral. If I were anywhere near Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood I would enjoy stopping by for a brief discussion. First of all I would ask him what happened to the Spurs last season; they fooled all of us twice. Going into the season we figured the team was on life-support and not expected to recover, they exceeded all expectations. In the Lockout shortened season the Spurs managed to win 50 games the most of any NBA team. Then comes the true test the NBA playoffs, I figured no-way would the young Thunder team be able to circumvent the wily veteran Spurs. I was wrong, the Thunder ran around and through the “tough” Spurs defense on the way to a 4-2 series win. I’m always the voice of moderation as it pertains to wins and losses; I refuse to believe the Lakers have a clear path in front of them to an NBA championship. My point, I think the Spurs have as much of a challenge in front of them as that other team on the left coast. After this diatribe by me I wonder if I’d be welcome in “Mr. Robinsons Neighborhood? “ Would he sing for me and others; it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, it's a beautiful day for a neighbor, would you be mine? (www.imdb.com)

Often in my attempt to provide stories I might write a story and not print it. I searched for the name Tai Webster but remain unsure if I’d written about him previously. In any event allow me to introduce Webster to many of you; he’s a 6-3 combo guard according to ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla. Webster from Auckland New Zealand is another of the growing number of international prospects headed to the U.S. to play ball. After fielding several offers Webster has provided Nebraska a verbal commitment for fall 2013. Can he play; “he averaged 13.5 points and shot 52.5 percent from the field (62.5 percent from 3-point range) against veteran professional players from around the world.” The University of Nebraska has always been a basketball wasteland. Over the years the school’s produced a number of outstanding players and teams. The problem the school never seems to sustain competitive over successive years, maybe this might be the beginning of a change in fortune for the basketball program. (aol.sportingnews.com)

I thought the summer moves of the Laker front office would call a halt to Pau Gasol trade talk. Yet there is one more unsatisfied Laker fan, he wrote; “I still think the Lakers should have traded Gasol for Josh (Hawks) Smith.” The writer provides us with a basis for the trade; I won’t go into detail however he closed his comment by stating “Smith is a better rebounder.” Another fan researched the statement and uncovered the truth, every year since the 2008-09 season Gasol has out rebounded Smith. The difference totals between the two haven’t been massive but Gasol’s numbers are superior. Nobody is going to convince this Laker fan but I wish he’d check stats before making untrue statements. This is the 99^th story I written defending Gasol. Quick, name me a player whose game has no need of improvement in any area? They look at Gasol, 7-0 250 pounds he should be “more physical or he should be able to ______ or he needs to ______.” You can fill in the blanks based on the stories you’ve read and heard about Gasol. A number of Lakers have played the power forward position over the years, in my view Gasol ranks among the best.

Several weeks ago I informed you three mock draft sites I routinely check listed Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel as the number one pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Jason Greenberg a writer for Rant Sports disagrees, he claims Noel is overrated. He’s come to this conclusion based on witnessing the youngster play in one tournament, the Adidas Nations event August 2-6. Greenberg states freshmen Baylor’s Isaiah Austin and Pitts Steven Adams outplayed Noel. I don’t doubt his report what I take issue with is the statement that Noel is over rated after seeing him play but one game and an all-star game at that. He says Noel’s offensive game is raw. I wonder if Greenberg is comparing him with his predecessor Anthony Davis. It might be pointed out Davis’s offensive game is also limited and he’s in the NBA now. Davis was a 6-3 high school guard four years ago, he’s grown to 6-10 and playing center he’s probably had to adjust his offensive game to the new position. I haven’t read anything but let’s suppose that might be the case with Noel too. As for the one and done question that’s in the hands of coach Calipari. I’m sure he will provide Noel his best advice whether to remain at Kentucky or submit his name for the 2013 NBA draft.

It’s that time of year again, a story surfaces indicating a possible destination of the Sacramento Kings. Reports have surfaced the Maloofs are discussing a move to Virginia Beach (VA) although they have denied it. The team that once called Kansas City home is preparing to move once again. You might think this is joyful news for me rumors of the team moving once again? Not so, I sympathize with many who have written letters in the Sacramento Bee. Residents appear to be resigned to the fact the Kings will eventually move somewhere. The first stories had them moving to Anaheim, and then it was Seattle and the latest Virginia Beach. It seems such a short time ago the Kings were battling the Lakers for Western Conference supremacy. It sounds so shallow but I feel the pain of Sacramento fans; they see the handwriting on the wall. They need to look no further than Kansas City to realize once the Kings leave there will never be NBA basketball in Sacramento again. Kansas City has an NBA ready arena however it’s void of a team. David Stern once stated the NBA is not looking to expand so unless an existing team wants to locate there Sacramento’s days as an NBA city are drawing to a close.

Most of you like me probably forgot the Hawks didn’t originally draft Joe Johnson. It’s clearly understandable it seems he was most closely associated with the franchise until the summer trade. The Celtics actually drafted this 6-7 shooting guard in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft. His days with them only lasted to February 2002; he was traded to the Suns in a package of players. In 2005 Johnson was traded to the Hawks where he remained until the July trade. There’s never been a question on Johnson’s shooting the question has always remained did he make his team better? In any event maybe a change of scenery was due for this sharpshooter. It’s time for Johnson to really shine, new city, new team and new arena. Certainly that’s the hope of Brooklyn Nets fans.

The basketball landscape pre-season is historically full of tournaments. As late fall weather turns cold schools search for a warm weather climate to prepare for their conference seasons. The only exception to the search for warm weather is The Great Alaska Shootout. The tournament is held in Anchorage Alaska with an average high temperature of 30 degrees and low of 15 degrees. Added to the comfort factor the city averages 13 snow days during the month of November. The Battle 4 Atlantis is a new tournament first played in 2011. It’s held at the Atlantis Resorts on Paradise Island in Nassau Bahamas. Wikipedia claims it’s the richest basketball pre-season tournament paying each school $2 million each. This year the tourney is scheduled November 22-24, and the field is quite impressive. Participating schools are; Louisville, Stanford, Duke, Memphis, Minnesota, VCU, Northern Iowa and Mizzou. Tourney games will be broadcast on AXS TV and NBC Sports Network, check game times as we get closer. Recently I wrote a story discussing interest in secondary teams.