All Star Ballots
The NBA is changing its voting for All Stars this year, no longer 2 guards 2 forwards and a center. The new configuration is two guards and “3 front court players.” It’s not likely to occur but you could have an All Star team comprised of 2 guards and 3 forwards. I have mixed feelings on this move, rather than provide my view you decide.

He’s made a decision
Ishmail Wainwright Rivals 4-Star and number 50 prospect in the Class of 2013 has chosen. This 6-6 220 pound forward from Raytown (Kansas City) MO has verbally committed to Baylor and Scott Drew. This is interesting on several levels; Drew appears to assemble a talented group of athletes every year. Baylor teams no matter how talented always seem to underachieve.

Keep the name in mind
Cody Riley is rated the number one prospect in the Class of 2017. 2017 would indicate the youngster is entering the 7th grade.  Riley is from Los Angeles and attends Sierra Canyon, a private school in Chatsworth.  This 12-year old is 6-6 so its likely Riley might grow a few more inches.  Remember the Hornets Anthony Davis.  Davis was 6-3 in high school and is 6-10 now.  You Tube video of Riley in action is available. 

He’s either crazy or stupid!!!
It seems almost evry day I read a comment from an opposing player regarding the new look Laker team, everyone wants to give us their “10 cent” assessment of the team. Metta Word Peace has said; “if we don’t win the NBA championship you can blame me.” He’s made several more similar comments. He said; “the Lakers want to go 73-9,” he furthered stated “We definitely want to beat the Bulls record and go 73-9, that's definitely something that I want to do. “ Of course the 73-9 record would eclipse the Bulls all-time regular season won-lost record of 72-10. Allow me to cover the negatives first, MWP or Ron Artest has certainly slowed. His offensive numbers were sub par last season, his defensive presence continued to erode as well. Personally I don’t believe MWP is either crazy or stupid I believe he knows exactly what he’s doing. This 6-7 260 pound small forward is placing the bull’s-eye squarely on himself. You might note you haven’t heard or read similar comments from any other Laker player. This is my view I believe this is MWP’s method of preparing himself for the upcoming season. MWP is sort of the odd man out, the Lakers will have four perennial All-Pros in the lineup almost game long. You might not believe this but I believe it’s MWP preparing himself to battle Kevin Durant, LeBron James and others.

I couldn’t locate him
Do you remember the story I wrote on Mario Chalmers? He stated he was “in the front end of the top 10 point guards in the NBA.” At the time I questioned if winning an NBA championship had gone to his head or exactly what was the front end of the Top 10? The Sporting News must agree with me, they published their list of Top 10 point guards. Guess whose name was missing from the list? Injured Derrick Rose of the Bulls made the list, so did 38-year old Steve Nash of the Lakers. Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving of the Cavs was also mentioned. Reading this you might think I’m picking on Chalmers, that’s not my intent. I think he fulfills a very important role for the Heat but he’s not a Top 10 NBA point guard.

Got any extra dough laying around the crib
Its four days prior to the Nets home opener, if you are on the east coast you might care to attend the opener in Barclays Center? I might preface by saying you must have plenty of disposable income or a bank loan in mind otherwise forget it. “Tickets to the Nets’ first regular-season game at the new Barclays Center against the crosstown rival Knicks are commanding an average of $800.87 a pop on StubHub and other secondary-market sites. The Nets-Knicks game is running as high as $8,100 for courtside seats normally priced for $1,500, and the cheapest seats were selling for $217.” If you are willing to take the chance you could head there minus a ticket. You might be able to score a couple outside the building however no guarantee on that method of acquiring a ticket. (NY Post)

It was tragic
6-9 220 pound Jabari Parker is on top of the basketball world. Simeon High’s Parker is the number one 2013 prospect for several sites. Parker walks in the shadow of another Simeon athlete, Ben Wilson. Wilson was the first Chicago prospect to be ranked number one in the nation. Many of us are probably too young to remember Ben Wilson; others like me forgot the promise of his talent on the court. At the point a phenomenal athlete (in any sport) comes along a number of adjectives become prevalent. One of the adjectives applied to Wilson, “Magic Johnson with a jump shot.” Wilson was a 6-9 230 pound athlete comfortable playing both guard positions. He was a 5-10 little used point guard as a freshman, over the next three years his game (and height) would rise to unparalleled heights as he excelled on the basketball court. Wilson was tragically murdered in 1984 in a street confrontation with two other youth. The producers stated they wanted to force a tear in the eyes of gang
bangers.  I don't know about them the story brought a tear to my eye.  Wilson's story is profiled in "Benji" an episode of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. There are few basketball movies/documentaries worth viewing in my opinion. This documentary tells a tragic story but is still at the top of my list---see it for yourself.

Report to the Commissioner
Sorry fans another headline of an old movie, seriously Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver has huge shoes to fill. By now you’ve heard the news David Stern will retire in February of 2014 as commissioner of the NBA. Significant events occurred over his nearly 30 years many earth-shattering. He didn’t labor in a closet but many significant changes in the league occurred on his watch. Some of you will say “Larry Laker is retreating on his criticism on Stern!” I’m not retreating just recognizing a number of choice accomplishments. It’s easy to focus on the negatives, “he’s dictatorial, opinionated and other adjectives you could add.” Allow me for just a few moments to focus on the positives. The NBA was in serious trouble in 1984 when David Stern became commissioner. Younger fans would be shocked to discover many of us were forced to view the 1980 NBA Championship at 10:30 p.m. Central Time. It came on the air that late, unlike the World Series or the Super Bowl a championship game was tape-delayed to much of the nation. The game had nearly concluded live before many of us west of St. Louis even witnessed the opening tip. The issues, the NBA had “too many black players, the league had a drug problem was the prevailing view.”

David Stern would be aided by a crop of incoming good guys; Johnson, Bird and Jordan were just a few of the names. The NBA faced the issue of drugs upfront, the league worked with health facilities. A 3-strike rule was implemented for repeat offenders of the league drug policy. Sadly several repeat players talented were to receive life-time bans. Instead of running away from the racial issues detailed Stern faced them head on. He implored owners to hire qualified players as head coaches, general managers and other front office positions. The NBA was the first pro league to hire female officials for its games. Baseball made news this year when Magic Johnson became an owner with the baseball Dodgers. The Denver franchise had African American owners in 1989; the Bobcats were first owned by Bob Johnson but are now owned by Michael Jordan. The

Cavs, Wizards, Grizzlies, 76ers and Nets all have African American partial owners. The television broadcast world has changed too. At the time Stern first became commissioner the NBA had million dollar television contracts today thanks to Stern they have become billion dollar contracts. NBA basketball is now on ESPN/ABC, TNT and the leagues own NBA-TV. David Stern exported the game to Europe, Asia and Africa, prior to his tenure the NBA was an American game. I once read there are 100 nations of the world who telecast the NBA finals. On second thought perhaps Adam Silver might have it slightly better than David Stern had in 1984. Silver has to continue sailing the ship in the direction Stern laid out.

Giant of a man
At 6-5 and over 300 pounds Michael Clark Duncan was an imposing figure on the movie screen. He was probably unknown to most of us prior to his breakout role in the movie; The Green Mile. His role as John Coffey earned him an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination, prior to Hollywood there was basketball. Due to his large imposing figure I thought “he must have played football.” Back in the day Duncan was nearly the same height however he was a slim 205 pound basketball player. He was the starting center at Kankakee Community College (Ill) where he played from 1979-81. He later played at Alcorn State (MS) but left prior to graduation. His mother’s illness caused him to leave school to care for her. Retired Kankakee Community College basketball coach Denny Lehnus said Duncan was special to the college long before he became a movie star in Hollywood. “He had such a positive attitude. He was such a hard worker, but always had a smile,” Lehnus said. After being hospitalized in July Duncan succumbed to a fatal heart attack on September 3. (chicago.cbslocal.com)

If you said Marv Albert
Your first thought is Knicks, Nets and TNT NBA broadcaster. This veteran has done play by play for Super Bowls, Stanley Cups, Wimbledon Tennis and other sports. Unlike a number of others in his field it’s NBA basketball that’s identifies him. Albert was behind the microphone as the Knicks broadcaster for 37 years. One other interesting note Albert grew up in Brooklyn, even worked as a teen for the Dodgers. It‘s easy to understand TNT‘s choice of him to broadcast the first regular season home game of the Brooklyn Nets November 1.  Albert’s customary Yeeesssss will ring out in Barclays for the first time on that date.

Out with old, in with the new
This is one of those “in case you missed it” stories. The move by Mizzou to the SEC resulted in new uniforms for the football and basketball teams. Use your imagination because I ‘m unable to provide you photos. At this point I’m unsure which uniforms are home and which ones are road. The basketball team will now have a choice of three different changes. A black jersey with gold surrounding the black lettering. They have the option of a gold uniform with black lettering; finally a white uniform with black lettering.

He “brow-beat” them
The Hornets lost their game against the Mavs; Anthony Davis only scored 6 points on 2-12 shooting.  Davis owner of the unibrow snatched 17 rebounds.  By the way Davis has filed trademarks for all unibrow phrases, how bout that?

Baby brother
Just like the cavalry of western lore Jeff Van Gundy is riding to rescue his big brother. If you are not familiar with the story ESPN announced there were to hire Stan Van Gundy as an NBA analyst. Later they announced a change and in a statement indicated brother Stan was no longer under consideration. Brother Jeff rides to the rescue spouting critical comments regarding ESPN. There is a segment of the basketball universe that is fond of the brothers Jeff and Stan. That’s okay if you like them, as for me and several others we don’t enjoy the twin whining brothers. If I were Jeff I’d be a little careful about public statements regarding my employer. Jeff might find himself on the outside looking in as well.

No more crying and moaning from me 
I don’t wish to rain on the happy dance in Seattle but I have a question?  Chris Hansen has become a knight in shining armor riding to the rescue of Sonic fans. Where was Hansen 5 years ago when the Sonic franchise was for sale? I guess sometimes buyers or potential buyers can emerge out from the shadows. With that said allow me to explain why no more crying from me. David Stern became commissioner in 1984; the Kings left Kansas City in 1985 for Sacramento. Because he’d only been on the job a year I believed him when he said “the league would look at Kansas City at a future date.”

The date has never come and Sacramento has actually been home to the Kings longer than the franchise existed here. We don’t have near the number of Fortune 500 companies a city like Chicago or New York might have. We do have a number of high rollers in this metro area but few willing to step up to the plate as the late Ewing Kauffman did when he purchased the Royals. The hope that Kansas City return to the NBA will not occur in my lifetime. That is the basis for no more crying and moaning from me. The NBA of 2012 and into the future is far different from the 1985 NBA. The franchise was sold to Sacramento interests for a little over $11 million dollars; into today’s dollars that is salary of one super star player. I’ll just root for my Lakers and others relaxing in my man-cave or those rare occasions I might travel to an NBA city.

A very good start
I need help to refrain from becoming too excited about last Sunday’s game. Sure the Lakers lost the game to the Kings BUT! I was anxious to see Dwight Howard in action for the first time post-surgery. I haven’t heard or read his comments yet but these are mine. He moved pretty smooth on the court had at least two lob slams I witnessed. He did have 5 turnovers which could be attributed to having not played since last spring. Howard finished the evening with 19 points 12 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in 33 minutes. I lost count the number of shots he forced the Kings to miss due to intimidation around the rim. At this point we are unsure who might be elected president; Howard should be given consideration for “Secretary of Defense” which ever candidate wins.

The flip side of the story
I’ve been rather critical of Phil Knight and Nike for marketing shoes out of the range of the average youth. There are lesser priced shoes but the question becomes do they appeal to young people? I have no figures to back up this statement, I would venture a guess youth between the ages of 14-19 purchase the majority of athletic shoes. Retailers such as K-Mart, Sears and Walmart offer less prices shoes endorsed by NBA players. Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson and Rodger Mason Jr. are with the Protégé line of shoes available at K-Mart and Sears. The Protégé brand ranges in price from $29.99 up to $49.99. Shaquille O’ Neal and his Dunkman brand are available once again after going on hiatus for a period. His signature shoe is available on line, retail prices for his footwear range from $20 to $30 for children’s, and $25 to $40 for men’s. Former NBA player Stephon Marbury also had a shoe several years ago the Starbury. The $20.00 shoe was sold at Steve & Barry’s stores which are now closed. The shoes are still available on-line; the web sites I checked indicate the shoes range in the $40.00 to $50.00 range. As you can see even at $50.00 it’s considerably less than a $100 pair of Nike Air Jordan’s.

To Live and Die in L.A.
News from Los Angeles is not good, highly touted freshman Shabazz Muhammad might not play. This is a developing story and no decision has been reached by the NCAA. The number one (or two depending on the website) prospect in the Class of 2012 will remain on the sidelines. The investigation is far too involved for me to detail here but points the finger clearly at the NBA. Why waste time (and money) for an athlete who will be history after his freshman year. The NBA should change its policy and allow high school athletes to be drafted once again. We don’t know the outcome at UCLA as I indicated but just don’t act surprised to hear Muhammad’s name announced by David Stern in June 2013.

Is the conference on its death bed?
Earlier I’d written Football is the culprit when detailing conference changes across the nation. No where was this change more evident than in the Big East conference? If you said Big East even casual sports fans probably would conclude you were not pointing out a direction. They knew you were referring to the first conference with basketball as its foundation.  This conference begun in 1979 was dominant for years, successful programs at Georgetown, Villanova, Syracuse and St. John’s provided a solid footprint on the basketball landscape.  In succeding years schools with rich basketball traditions were added, among them Marquette, Louisville and Cincinnati. The landscape began a change several years ago, schools began moving or hinting at moves. The BCS issues and football bowl games were a driving force behind change. As an example West Virginia left the conference, on the way out the door are Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pitt. There is no method of future predicting future events, we certainly are unsure if the conference will survive. One fact, the conference will probably never dominate the basketball landscape as it once did

He got another one
Mizzou picked up its 4th commit from the Class of 2013, Torren Jones.  Jones is a 6-8 215 pound power forward descibed as a banger.  Every team needs a banger who might be limited athletically but know how to "lay a body" on an opposing player.  Jones from LaPorte Indiana is awarded 3-stars by Rivals.  "Mizzou will be unable to recruit in the SEC" was the proncouncement made by one of the Kansas faithful last summer.  The scorecard for Haith reads 4 commits for 2013 and 1 for 2014.  

I could see this
A rumor is circulating the Hornets will play Anthony Davis at the small forward. Think about this for a moment, Davis is 6-10 but weighs 220 pounds. Unless he plays with a weighted vest 220 pounds makes him a lightweight power forward. The downside to this move is Davis’s shot; to date he only appears to be an okay shooter. His shoot blocking and rebounding is on par and actually might exceed a number of NBA regulars. In any event if this should come to fruition I think it might work, what do you think?

You’ve got to believe
John Calapari will sign every single blue-chip prospect out there. Well not quite but it sure seems he does. Last week Kentucky received a commitment from Marcus Lee a 6-9 200 pound power forward. Rivals list him as the number 16 prospect in the Class of 2013. Just a reminder of Kentucky events over the last three weeks. Coach Cal's received commits from the Rivals number 3, 4 and 9th prospects along with the number 16 in the nation.       

Who owns the building?
The Lakers and the Clippers are in a different situation than the New York teams. The MSG Corporation owns the Knicks and the team plays in Madison Square Garden. As for the Brooklyn Nets they will play in brand new Barclays Center. In Los Angeles the Clippers are playing in the Lakers building, how did I come to that conclusion? AEG owns Staples Center however they also own 40% of the Lakers. Technically speaking that equates to the Clippers being the lessee and the Lakers being the lesser.

He can’t shoot!
This is strange, a life-long Laker fan writing a story on a Celtic and a complementary one at that. Do you remember when Rajon Rondo was drafted out of Kentucky? He became the 21st pick in the first round of the 2006 draft, although talented the prevailing thought was "he couldn't shoot."  After his weak .418 his rookie the lowester percentage he's shot was a respectable .488 last season.  In fact he finished the '09-'10 season at .508 his highest to date.  The Celtics don't pay Rondo to shoot that's secondary to running the team's offense, his assist total the last two seasons 11.2 and 11.7 per game.  This lithe 6-1 186 pound guard can hit the boards when required based on the number of triple-doubles heIn fact he's produced.     

He’s working too
In the SEC Kentucky’s John Calipari and Florida’s Billy Donovan dominate the conference headlines. It’s justified, both coaches have winning programs but they just might have some company. Building a program to compete in the SEC is Mizzou’s Frank Haith. Yesterday Mizzou received a commitment from Rivals 4-star prospect Johnathan Williams III.  The Memphis (TN) native is a 6-9 210 pound power forward, he's rated number 35 in ESPN's Top 100 for 2013.  Williams becomes the schools 3rd commit for 2013; in addition ESPN rates the 2013 class the 16th best in the nation. 

Garden party
Madison Square Garden or simply the Garden bills itself as “the world’s most famous arena.” Of course this building is home to the Knicks of New York. It’s being remodeled but that‘s the issue in addition to being the most famous it might be the busiest hosting about 320 events a year. With the significant number of events you can understand why renovations have taken place between sports seasons. Although the Knicks and NHL Rangers completed their regular season the same cannot be said for the WNBA Liberty. The Liberty had to relocate to the Prudential Center in Newark (NJ). The Garden first opened in 1968 has undergone several renovations over the years. The main entrance, team locker rooms and the main concourse are a few of the areas undergoing transformation. This $200 million dollar project is intended to be completed in time for the Knicks and Rangers 2013-14 season. (history & dates; Wikipedia)

Basketball 101
Oak Hill Academy located in Mouth of Wilson Virginia is a name familiar to many. Oak Hill is co-educational boarding school grades 8-12; its enrollment is about 150 students. The school was founded in 1878 long before Dr. Naismith invented the game of basketball. Oak Hill fields teams in soccer, tennis and baseball but its basketball that’s put the school on the map. Over the years the schools become a basketball magnet attracting talent from across the nation and world-wide as well. A distinguished list of former Oak Hill athletes have honed their skills at the school and later filled the ranks of NBA teams. The short list includes the names of Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Durant and Josh Smith.

Living Large
Have you seen any photos of the Wildcat Coal Lodge? For those who might be unfamiliar with the Lodge it’s the new 3-story campus building at the University of Kentucky. The dorm has a chef assigned and each student room contains a flat screen television. In the video tour of the building coach Calipari says; “the rooms are built for a 7-footer.” After reading this you said; “I thought NCAA rules prohibit athletic dorms?” Well you are correct; the school skirts the rule by housing a number of non-athletic male students in Wildcat Coal Lodge.  Wonder if there are chefs assigned to any of the other dorms on the Kentucky campus?

The NBA in China
Contrary to what you might think I talk very little basketball to my wife.  She asks few basketball questions with a few exceptions.  An example might be a conversation the other night.  I turned on NBA TV at 11:30 p.m. Central Time, the Heat and Clippers were on.  My wife asked "why is this game on so late?"  I explained the teams were playing pre-season games in China.  Basketball especially the NBA version is very popular in China; I'd venture to say it might be more popular in China than any European nation.  Just a guess on my part no facts, football or soccer would appear to be the sport of first choice in Europe.  Sure there are a number of very good basketball teams in Europe along with a significant number of fans.  As for China the NBA has a venture planned.  "The NBA Center---a basketball extravaganza that will include a gym and an NBA-themed cafe, a restaurant and a store as well as an interactive gaming area and a children's zone--will be placed at the center of a $1.5 billion, 800-hectare, or 2,000-acre, property development being built by a Chinese company.  The NBA declined to say how much it was investing in the center but said it would be the first of several it planned to set up throughout China."  (New York Times) 

The jokes will flow all year long
I read the AP headline and then read it again to ensure I read it was correctly. The Kings announced a multi-year naming rights deal on Power Balance Arena. The Sleep Train Mattress Company will assume naming rights. Several fans were way ahead of me, take note I didn’t think these up. The Kings new slogan: "We lose, you snooze.” "The Sacramento Kings, your ticket to a better nights sleep."

Is he serious?
I thought the ESPN headline was unusual, I’m not an insider therefore I was unable to read the story. “Battle at SF looming for the Lakers” the headline reads. Mike Brown’s choice might not be the correct one but it’s more important than my choice---he’s still the coach. The battle if there is one is partially based on the off-season acquisitions of Howard and Nash. Holdovers Kobe and Pau has caused many (including this writer) to assume small forward Metta World Peace might no longer be a starter. The writer must attempt to point out someone will replace World Peace in the lineup, I wonder who? The roster contains a number of small forwards however all fall short of the skills of World Peace. Devin Ebanks is more athletic and younger but certainly not the defender of MWP. Newly acquired Earl Clark is taller (6-10) but his shot appears no better than World Peace. Do you seriously do you think UCLA rookie Reeves Nelson will supplant him? Antawn Jamison has the best shooting skills of all however he was acquired strictly to upgrade the bench. The projected lineup is ideal for World Peace, he‘ll have the opportunity for even more open shots, of course he‘s got to sink a significant number of those open shots. MWP has slowed defensively at age 32 but picture this Kevin Durant slips by him and is met at the rim by Dwight Howard or Pau Gasol.

Football is the culprit
Words eye view is a blog dedicated to basketball however football has affected collegiate basketball across the nation.  Nearest to us in Kansas City if the Big XII conference, Texas A&M and Mizzou both left the Big XII for the SEC last season. The prior year two other Big XII schools left, Colorado for the Pac 12 and Nebraska for the Big 10. Of course by now you are aware West Virginia and Texas Christian University were added as replacements for the loss of the aforementioned schools. The Big XII conference is 12 in name only; there are 10 schools in the conference currently. There was talk of adding Notre Dame prior to its move. South Bend Indiana is nowhere near the Atlantic Ocean; this failed to deter Notre Dame from joining the Atlantic Coast Conference with the exception of football and hockey. Boise State and San Diego State in the Pacific Time Zone are joining the Big East Conference (Eastern Time Zone) for football only. The idea of conference teams playing in the same time zone has been kicked out of the front door.

Much love!
I have much love for Derek Fisher, especially the toughness and the locker room leadership. For me those elements made up for his shortcoming as a shooter and ball distributor. With the positives out of the way it’s been pointed out the Lakers could immediately re-sign Fisher. It was originally assumed this was not possible until next season however this is not true. The Lakers don’t need 38-year old Fisher, there I said it.

Will his junior year be a true breakout year?
Two years ago we knew very little about Phil “Flip” Pressey. We were more familiar with the father Paul Pressey. The elder Pressey had a successful NBA career and became the leagues first point forward. The father was 6-5 while the son might not be 5-11 the height listed on the Mizzou roster. After a slow start as a freshman many (including me) thought he might have been headed to Arkansas. Mike Anderson who recruited Pressey left but Pressey stayed. He blossomed under new coach Frank Haith his sophomore year. He raised his per game assist total to 6.4 and 223 total which placed him 1st in the Big XII and 9th in the nation.  Mizzou doesn't depend on Pressey for offense he still managed to raise that as well.  He increased his field goal percentage .387 to .428 while raising his scoring average from 6.5 to 10.3 ppg.  Those scoring numbers are not going to wow anyone however you must see the speedy Flip in action.  When you have an opportunity to see him you will understand why he's been selected pre-season All-American by CBS Sports.     

Mr. Irrelevant
Is the title that’s been bestowed on rookie Laker center Robert Sacre. He was the number 60 and last pick in the 2012 NBA draft. The injury to Dwight Howard has proven beneficial to Sacre he's had an opportunity to demonstrate his skill.  Mike Brown designated Sacre to be the starter at center in all three of the Lakers pre-season games. He’s demonstrated ability beyond the scouting report, with that said there is no guarantee he’ll make the final cut. If Howard is unable to answer the bell at the start of the season Gasol will slid into the center position. If Sacre fails to make the final cut he could wind up as the starter for the Los Angeles Defenders.

Basketball returns to the Emerald City????
This is no slam dunk until the signatures are on the paperwork but it appears there is harmony in place. With revisions settled investor Chris Hansen and the City of Seattle are ready to move forward. On the table is an agreement to build a $420 million dollar arena to replace Key Arena. If you remember at the time the Sonics left Commissioner Stern indicated the NBA would look at Seattle again after adequate facilities were available. Even if the arena is built there is no guarantee the NBA will return to the Emerald City but a return would be likely. The NBA is not in the expansion mode so who might become the “new” Seattle Sonics? The Kings must be considered the prime candidate with the number of location stories ever-present. The moving vans had been contacted for a move to Anaheim until Sacramento was granted a last-minute reprieve. Las Vegas, San Jose and Virginia Beach all have been mentioned as potential destinations for the franchise. There are at least two additional shaky franchises however the Kings must be at the top of the list even if the Maloof brothers remain as owners.

This is very, very interesting
Bobcats’ owner Michael Jordan has given the keys to general manager Rich Cho. If reports are true Jordan is going to allow Cho to drive the “automobile!” The Charlotte Bobcats have been one of the worst run franchises in the NBA, bad draft choices and maybe even worst free agent signings. Many thought the fortunes of the team would change with Jordan purchasing the team from its original owner Bob Johnson. Jordan proved to be as bad an owner in Charlotte as he was in Washington with the Wizards, remember him drafting Kwame Brown? The “greatest ever” proved once again the great part only extended to Michael Jordan the player. Michael Jordan the owner was a completely different story, remember Adam Morrison. Do you think I’m picking on MJ maybe but I could make a similar case for his buddy Magic Johnson? Johnson was a terrible coach who might have thought his presence alone would translate to a better Laker team. Super star players believe they can translate the success on the court to success in the front office or as a coach. The areas are completely separate and require differences of operation. Back to Cho, his track record as a general manager is great at two stops Oklahoma City and Portland. The only questions will Jordan truly back away and allow Cho to build this team?

The rich continue to get richer
How does Calipari manage to do it? Last week the Harrison twins (Rivals 3 & 4) committed to Kentucky. This week 6-6 210 pound James Young announced he too was headed to Lexington. Young is a shooting guard and the number 8 prospect in the Class of 2013. Number one prospect in the Class of 2013 6-9 Julius Randle is yet to chose a school, wanna guess which of several schools is on his wish list?

The shoes are not expensive as first announced
It was reported LeBron James was aware of the criticism regarding the price of his new shoe. “We have a wide range of shoes that range from $300 all the way down to $160, $180," he told the Florida Sun-Sentinel.  Of course the lower price would place the shoe in a more competitive price range.   

Welcome to hard times
 On the subject of Big XII basketball the conference welcomes two new schools. At this stage about the only sure thing we know about West Virginia basketball is Bob Huggins. Huggins has always been a winner; he proved he can coach in the Big XII the one year he was at Kansas State. As for the other new member Texas Christian University or TCU they are an enigma. The football program has been quite good over the last several years; the same statement cannot be made for the schools basketball program. TCU’s record over the last five seasons is 70-89 with last seasons 18-15 being the single mark above .500. Texas A&M and Mizzou are history however the remaining schools might provide a rude welcome for TCU to Big XII basketball.

Who did he disrespect?
We are all left to speculate what Patrick Ewing must have done, it must have been terrible. Why else would the Knicks treat their all-time leading scorer in such an inconsiderate manner? The Knicks have changed head coaches several times over the years but never offered the job to Ewing. Recently they did make an offer, they asked Patrick Ewing to fill the role of head coach for their D-League affiliate Erie Bayhawks. He turned it down; Ewing has served as an assistant coach in the NBA for a number of teams and stated he “prefers to remain in the NBA.” See if you comprehend this scenario, Isiah Thomas almost single-handily wrecked the Knick franchise. Knicks owner James Dolan continues to search for a means to re-hire Thomas in some capacity. Ewing’s numbers, 24,815 (21.0 ppg) while grabbing 11,617 (9.8 rpg) and 2,894 blocked shots (2.4 bpg). (wikipedia)

Enough already
Okay I’m just a fan too but I’m unsure about others. The first pre-season game the Lakers lost badly. A fan wrote bench still a big issue. The Laker bench might indeed be an issue but to come to this conclusion after but one game is absolutely amazing. First of all Bryant and Gasol each played 19 minutes and Nash 15. Each will play a minimum of 30 minutes in the regular season. Antwan Jamison played 17 minutes while Jordan Hill played 20 neither reserve will play that number of minutes during a regular season game.  The Lakers played 19 players even regular season blow out games 14 is probably the most who will play. The last point no Dwight Howard, my message to this fan and others cool it. If this was the last regular pre-season game there might be some concern on my part.

The list is reduced
Jabari Parker 6-8 220 pound small forward from Chicago narrowed his choice of schools to five. Parker attends Simeon Career Academy and is the number one prospect in the Class of 2013 on several websites. Parker’s revised list and not in any order of preference are Brigham Young, Duke, Florida, Michigan State and Stanford. In all this we might have missed Parker dropped DePaul (Chicago) from his list.

Basketball played in football stadium
Will the NCAA eventually review its dome policy? The next Final Fours are scheduled for the Georgia Dome, Cowboys Stadium, Lucas Oil and Reliant Stadium in Indianapolis and Houston respectively. The common factor all four are football stadiums which will be reconfigured to host NCAA championship game. My view falls on deaf ears but I have long held the belief basketball belongs in basketball arenas not football stadiums. I’m a realist; I think all realize this is revenue generating issue. Upwards of 70,000 fans can be accomodated in a football stadium; contrast that with 25,000 capacity in the largest indoor current indoor arena.   

Interesting view
Hornets GM Dell Demps was interviewed at the Hornets training camp on NBA TV. Analyst Steve Smith asked Demps about the team drafting Austin Rivers last June. Smith said “why did the Hornets chose to draft Rivers he’s the same player as Eric Gordon.” Both players are nearly the same size, both are essentially shooters. Neither player is a point guard, the only true point guard on the roster is rookie Chris Wright. Demps said; “we had the ball in his (Gordon) hands last year, we think they can play in the same backcourt.” The term combo-guard certainly applies here for both players.

Maybe they better check to see who left the back doors open
A number of Kansas fans have predicted doom and gloom for Mizzou’s basketball program due to its SEC move. The claim by this small number of Kansas fans is Mizzou would have difficulty recruiting in Kansas City (MO) because it‘s (a.) Kansas territory and (b.) the area would remain loyal to the Big XII. This view was expressed despite Mizzou’s campus is a little over 150 miles from Kansas City. It might be more advisable for Kansas fans to worry about closing their borders rather than concern themselves with Mizzou. Semi Ojeleye recently committed to Duke, Ojelye is a 6-6 215 pound small forward from Ottawa (KS). Rivals awards him 4-stars and he’s rated the number 30 prospect in the Class of 2013. Mizzou had an offer on the table but so did Kansas, by the way Ottawa is a short 30-mile drive from the Lawrence campus. Bill Self’s program will be fine however Ojeleye becomes the second high profile player to leave the state. Willie Cauley a 4-star recruit from the Class of 2012 committed last year to Kentucky. Cauley is a 7 foot 225 pound power forward from Olathe (KS). Olathe is about the same distance, 30 miles from Lawrence.

NBA owner
You might have been aware the Grizzlies soon have a new majority owner. Wireless networking entrepreneur Robert Pera is being vetted currently. Pera has rounded up several celebrity minor partners. Earlier it was reported one of the new owners would be singer/entertainer and Memphis native Justin Timberlake. Joining this owners group will be former NBA player and Memphis native Penny Hardaway. Denver Broncos quarterback and former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning and wife will join the group. A fan said; “Manning played 300 miles away in Knoxville and grew up in New Orleans.” The writer was unaware Manning’s wife is originally from Memphis.

Royce White
White played at Iowa State in the Big XII so I had an opportunity to view him play on several occasions last season.  I was impressed a 6-8 260 pound power forward who was a throw-back in style.  The guy was able to handle the ball in the backcourt, good shooter and excellent big-man passer. The only downside was shooting free-throws, not uncommon for many big men. The announcer mentioned without detail White had anxiety issues. Come draft time the mental health issues might have caused several teams to bypass this talented player. The Rockets took a chance and made him the 16th pick in the 1st round of the 2013 draft.  Fast forward to training camp and White is yet to report, he‘s indicated a problem with flying. White indicates he wants to take a bus trip on several of the of the Rockets extensive road trips.  Anybody remember former Raiders coach and long-time broadcaster John Madden? Madden had a problem with flying too, he resolved the issue by acquiring a customized bus which was driven city to city. Key difference, NFL games are only played once a week. A repeat would appear difficult in the NBA playing in Orlando one evening and the following night in Portland as an example.  The ultimate decision of course is in the hands of the Rockets, I hope White is able to resolve his issues with flying he is a talent. 

Excellent news from Minnesota
The Wolves Ricky Rubio indicates he likely will return to action before Christmas. Hopefully he will return to action 100%, a torn ACL in his left knee short circuited his rookie year. After being drafted in 2009 he chose to remain in Spain rather than begin an NBA career. I remember reading various sources indicated Rubio’s game had actually regressed after he was drafted. Many (including me) had no idea what to expect with his arrival. His shooting percentage was relatively low however his other numbers were relatively good for a rookie. In any event he wasn’t drafted for his shooting and the belief was eventually his shooting percentage would improve. As for the balance of his numbers in 41 games he managed a 10.6 ppg average and dished out 8.2 assists. Although his season was cut short 8.2 assists ranked 6th in the NBA, Rubio didn't qualify due to the limited number of game played his 2.2 steals would have placed him 3rd in the NBA.  In addition he shot an outstanding .8703 from the free-throw line.       

The “human” volcano returns
38-year old Rasheed Wallace has returned to the NBA, he’s come out of retirement to play for the Knicks. Without checking the record book it might be safe to state Wallace is the all-time NBA leader in technical fouls. He’s still the only player in memory who received a technical foul without making a comment or gyration. This is not a “he can’t play” scenario, it’s a there is “no youth movement” either on the Knicks. Even more interesting I heard a comment from a reporter the Lakers are older. He said; “these guys are coming off the bench while the Lakers age 30 players are in the starting line-up.” The Knicks roster is 39-year old Jason Kidd, 38-year old Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas also 39. The Knicks 13-man roster will be the oldest in NBA history averaging almost 33 years of age.

The real Superman
By now I’m sure you’ve heard or read the comments by Shaq regarding Dwight Howard. The statement regarding Brook Lopez and Andrew Bynum is a little strange. No argument on my part the duo Shaq discussed might be more traditional centers but better than Howard?  These are career numbers for them 17.4 ppg and 7.5 rebounds for Lopez and Bynum is 11.7 ppg and 7.8 rebounds. Howard is 18.4 ppg and 13 rebounds and the one negative his poor free throw shooting. As for the bad free-throw shooting I'm sure Shaq can relate.  A key difference between Howard and the others his motor is superior! I think we can consider Howard a high energy guy a knack Bynum doesn’t possess.  Haven't seen enough of Lopez to make the same statement about his game.  I know what your saying, “after touting the skills of Bynum all-summer you’ve decided Howard’s the better player!”  Rebounding and speed up and down the court Howard is clearly the superior player.  Come on Shaq give it up, if I can see this with my amatuer eyes surely you can.

There are two of them
Once upon a time I introduced many of you to the Collegiate Hall of Fame or its second name The College Basketball Experience. This Hall opened in 2006 is similar to Springfield except it only represents those players, coaches and broadcasters of the college game. At its 2006 opening a HOF class was chosen but since that time a new class is enshrined every November just like Naismith does in September. The Hall of Fame is located in an adjacent building to the Sprint Center in Kansas City (MO). Despite the fact many of us thought the CBE had a national reputation it must be unfamiliar to some folks. I thought the nation was aware of this Hall but I found out otherwise. The recent enshrinement at Naismith caused a .com columnist to write; “give me a professional hall of Fame and a college hall of fame.” A reader pointed out the CBE in Kansas City however he never acknowledged his error. I guess when you write nationally you have no obligation to correct.

They do it too 
I’m always apologizing to you for sometimes using portions of movie scripts in many
stories. I’ve discovered I am not the only guilty party ESPN does it as well. The NBA page on ESPN contained a photo of the projected starters for the Brooklyn Nets, beneath the photo were the words Brooklyn’s Finest. A 2009 movie with Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke as the main characters was titled Brooklyn’s Finest. For those who might not have seen the movie this from imdb.com. “Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.”

Number 10
The Sporting News released its list of Top 25 college teams for the 2012-13 season. I was somewhat surprised the publication selected the Mizzou Tigers the number 10 team in the nation. You gotta prove it on the court and I often say nobody wins anything on paper. The Tigers have much work to do in front of them. One thing for sure, I don‘t remember any Mizzou team rated this high in any poll at the beginning of the season. It might have occurred at some point in the past I just don’t remember it.

They belong in the Hall
I was pleased to see Pacer Mel Daniels enshrined in the Hall of Fame. In his acceptance speech he covered a neglected area of the Hall. Daniels said “there are a number of ABA players who should be considered for enshrinement.” Hearing this I thought about Dr. J., Moses Malone, Artis Gilmore and George Gervin all in the Hall of Fame. I’m sure Daniels acknowledges the outstanding career of those four but he was referring to ABA players who spent their entire career in the ABA. He tossed out several names he considered Hall of Fame worthy. The old adage that states “timing is everything” was true for them. The players mentioned were younger than Daniels and played beyond the ABA-NBA merger. In his acceptance speech Daniels mentioned the innovations originated by the ABA which were incorporated by the NBA, the 3-point basket as an example. Red Aurbach legendary Celtic coach was one voice who took exception to the 3-point basket. There is no argument for a number of years the overall play in the NBA was superior to that of the ABA. The ABA began play in 1967 and it’s difficult to place a number but at some point prior to the 1976 merger skilled athletes and play existed in both leagues.

He might have made a few enemies
The prospect of chasing a ring or living in South Beach might not be as important as we might thinks. That’s certainly the case at least with Marcus Camby; interviewed he stated he had no interest in playing for the Heat. Camby was a free agent pursued by a number of teams over the summer, the Heat being one of the teams. Camby eventually returned to New York City and signed with the Knicks. Camby said; “I knew that it would have been very hard for me to put on that Miami Heat uniform, especially all the battles we used to have back in the days with Houston and those guys. I’m happy things worked out.” Heat fans will say no big deal, Camby is 38-years old and over the hill anyway. “The statement might be partially correct; despite winning an NBA championship the Heat must have felt vulnerable at the center position. It should also be noted unlike others he passed on an opportunity to perhaps win an NBA championship. His Knicks are improving but are light years from a championship, the Heat certainly are nearer to contention. (Newsday)

The mystery of Billy Gillispie
I almost missed this development, after checking into the Mayo Clinic for health issues. Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie returned to College Station (TX) and resigned as head coach. Verbal abuse of his players had been rampant in the news. I will not go into detail; you can find all you need to Sportscenter and elsewhere. Gillispie in my view is a winner, he’s won every place he’s coach but he’s “wrapped” to tight. He needs to step away from coaching for a few years and get his life in order

Marketing + The Product = revenue
Last year an announcement was mad the Lakers were hooking up with Time Warner Cable soon.  They were dropping Fox Sports and local KCAL television in this new direction.  Like most I thought this move would only impact folks in Laker Land.  This change would not affect those of us in the land of snow and ice or at least that's what we thought.  Laker fan websites have been bombarded with complaints and praise with the change.  Naturally the negative concerns were expressed from those without Time Warner Cable service.  Time Warner Cable is one of the providers in Kansas City and I'm a customer.  On Monday October 1st I was channel surfing and noticed a new channel it read: TWC Sports Net HD.  Although the screen was black it contained the ususal notice: "To receive this channel, call Customer Care at (816) xxxxxxx."  I said to myself I wonder if I can add the channel to my service?  The channel was added the next day and I've been enjoying Laker basketball since then.  I understand the move, the Lakers are the Yankees millions of fans outside of Los Angeles love them.  There are haters out there however I know several fans here in Kansas City.  Offer the sport channel nation-wide and individuals like me are crazy enough to spend extra dollars to view their favorite team.  Boy I cannot wait for the season to start; I'm a kid in a candy store.    

I’m disappointed
After all the hype and well kept secret (perhaps) the Brooklyn Nets jerseys were unveiled. To be perfectly honest I’m not impressed, I thought with Jay-Z’s implied fashion sense we’d see something different. There’s not a great deal of innovation you can do with a jersey however it can be varied in design. The old school Denver Nuggets jerseys with the multi-colored Rocky Mountain imprint. We could also check out one variant of the San Francisco Warriors. The jersey certainly is considered a classic, the name on the front of the jersey contained neither San Francisco or Warriors. The front of the jersey contained the words The City, below that a representation of the Golden Gage Bridge inside a circle that contained the players number. Back to the Nets, sorry sports fans the jerseys look almost exactly like the Spurs, the only difference they have Brooklyn on the front. No Nets lettering for the home jerseys, home and road spell out Brooklyn. Could the franchise eventually drop Nets as a team name? Owner Mikhail Prokhorov has hinted as much.

Help is on the way
I’m far more comfortable with these hires than Brown’s initial staff. This coaching staff will provide more coaching input than the departed members. The Laker front office announced the hiring of Eddie Jordan, Bernie Bickerstaff and Steve Clifford to complete the staff. I’m familiar with all the hires excepting Clifford who was an assistant with the Magic. I would guess they hired Clifford due to his familiarity with Dwight Howard. Jordan’s expertise is the Princeton offense which at this stage it appears the Lakers will adopt. The 68-year old Bickerstaff brings a veteran presence to the Lakers. He’s served as a head coach at several NBA stops. I’d mentioned previously I was unsure about Mike Brown as a head coach; I was even less sure regarding the coaching staff. I ‘m guaranteeing nothing but I certainly am more confident with this staff.

No retreat
"Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you” this quote from the legendary KC Monarchs pitcher Satchel Paige. The statement is utilized here to remind Mizzou fans and friends you cannot focus on past decisions. The choices are in your rear view mirror, you are heading in the opposite direction. This is to defray messages from our well intentioned friends west of the Missouri State line. The Big XII offices secured a 13-year $2.6 billion dollar contract with ESPN and Fox Sports. The agreement should run through the 2024-25 season. The declaration should put to rest the stability rumors of the conference. I’m anxiously waiting for the first Kansas fan to say; “I told you so!” to a Mizzou fan. To that Kansas fan and others I don’t believe in looking back only forward; Mizzou has become a member of an older more established and secure conference. As for the Big XII applause is due however it’s too bad the leadership was so slow to react at the time many of the schools began complaining about the impropriety of the television contract. The Big XII office allowed Colorado, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Mizzou to leave the conference by inaction.

Say what!
We must add Justin Timberlake’s name to the list of celebrity owners. ESPN and the Memphis Commercial-Appeal are reporting new Grizzlies owner Robert Pera owner has reached out to Timberlake. On more than one occasion television cameras would often spot Timberlake at Staples Center. Probably like most folks I never thought much of his appearance at Laker games; routinely television cameras locate celebrities at Staples and Madison Square Garden in particular. Placing the type of money down to even purchase 1% of a team is a commitment far beyond that of a fan. I guess no more rooting for the Lakers now for Timberlake! The report also indicated rapper Nelly is no longer a Bobcat owner, when Michael Jordan purchased the team he bought out Nelly as well.

“The more things change the more they remain the same"
I expected a real change, the Knicks unveiled their new uniforms and from my view they haven’t changed very much. In fact they changed so little I had to check a side by side comparison photo between last season and the 2012-13 uniform. My best guess the primary reason there was little change in the jersey is due to the team. Storied NBA franchises (Celtics, Lakers and Knicks) only make subtle uniform changes. The Celtics have basically retained the same uniform. The standard green uniform with white lettering and uniform with green lettering has only been changed slightly. They have added to the mix a green with black lettering and a green uniform with bronze lettering. As for the Lakers the uniforms from their early years in Los Angeles were actually the same ones worn in Minneapolis. The uniforms were white with blue lettering and blue with white lettering. The purple and gold home and road uniform were added later and remained a staple until they added Sunday white. The Lakers added a white uniform with purple lettering for Sunday home games only.

I don’t understand
Why is it necessary to rip somebody off, can‘t you create your own? I’m referring to the logo for the Miami Spice of the Bikini Basketball League. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of the league or team both are new. I hope owners of the Spice were not dumb enough to pay a graphic artist for a logo already in use. The team’s logo is an exact copy of the Seattle Sonics. I know many of you are saying “the Sonics don’t exist anymore so this is no big deal?” It is a big deal, instead of an original the owners must have thought it okay to copy a logo in existence, and there is a minor difference. The logos are different colors, check out cbssportsline.com and see for yourself.

“Lord of the Rings”
The Hall of Fame inductions remind me of a conversation I held several years ago with a friend. He asked; “do you think Dennis Rodman will ever make the Hall of Fame?” My quick response was no, I said “he (Rodman) was a great rebounder for his size and very good defensive player, maybe his off-court antics might keep him out. I went on to explain I thought as good as Rodman was he was a one dimensional player.” Of course you realize my assessment was incorrect, Rodman was enshrined in the Hall last year. I began hearing and reading comments even earlier saying Robert Horry should be in the Hall. You remember Horry don’t you? Horry the 3-point specialist who possess 7 championship rings. Horry was only a starter early in his NBA career.

His ring count, 2 with the Rockets, 3 with the Lakers and his final 2 he gained as a member of the Spurs. See you might have thought MJ/Michael Jordan might have the most championship rings, its Robert Horry. The career numbers for this 6-10 SF/PF. 7.0 ppg, 4.8 rebounds per game less than spectacular to say the least. Who can forget game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals? The Lakers and Kings matched against each other and the Kings having the upper hand in this crucial game. “The Lakers trailed 99-97 with 11.8 seconds left in the game. Kobe and Shaq missed consecutive shots and Kings center Vlade Divac knocked the ball away from the basket. The ball bounced to Horry and he hit a 3-point basket as time expired, Lakers 100 Kings 99.” (Wikipedia)

What a wise decision at the time
I attempted to cover this once upon a time, it was far too complex for me to devote but a few paragraphs to the narrative. A little background, in 1977 as the ABA-NBA merger was completed a specified number of ABA teams would be disbanded among them the St. Louis Spirits. The remaining ABA teams, Nets, Spurs, Pacers and Nuggets would be absorbed into the NBA. A financial agreement was concluded with owners of the Spirit, the agreement contained no expiration date and remains in place today. The NBA and the Spirit are in court this month due to a disagreement on revenue return. I located a great read by Harlan Scrieber of hoopsanaylist.com; it’s rather lengthy but certainly informative. Read when you have an opportunity:
http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=345

I ain’t headed to Sprint Center
NBA basketball is special for me; it’s become more important without the opportunity to see the games live and in person. I have satisfied myself with the annual Kansas City game each year. Last year with the Lockout the game was cancelled, this season I'm cancelling the October 24th game myself.  The Wizards John Wall is out and indications are he will be out at least 8 weeks; he will not play in Kansas City. On the Heat side Dwayne Wade is recouping from surgery and probably will play limited minutes in the pre-season. I just read LeBron James indicates he will “sit-out” selected pre-season games. Sorry NBA, I cannot justify paying the price of an NBA ticket for game I know in advance Wall’s out, in addition the prospect of Wade and James not playing are highly probable. 

Think he might be a little covetous?
Mark Cuban also lent his voice to the chorus providing an assessment of the 2012-13 Lakers. He reminded a gathering of season ticket holders the 2003-04 Laker team, of course that team lost the ‘04 championship to the Pistons. “It takes great chemistry, like coach (Rick Carlisle) alluded to, it takes guys wanting to be there — I don’t know if all their guys want to be there — it’s going to be interesting.” Cuban went on and on about chemistry or the lack of it. While discussing chemistry we might discuss the acquisition of eight (8) new Mavs players. In fact the Mavs might have undergone as many personnel changes as the Laker team he questions chemistry. One question for Mark, when are you going to get over “my dad can beat up your dad mentality?” (sportingnews.com)

I hate to repeat myself
Allow me to introduce a number of you to Cody Riley, this 6-7 athlete is the number one player in the Class of 2017. If he’s number one in 2017 that would indicate he's just begun his 8th grade year.  The Los Angeles resident attends Sierre Canyon a private school in Chatsworth.  This reminds me of a 60 Minutes television segment years ago, a feature story focused on an 8th grade player too.  This 8th grader was actually entering high school if I remember the story correctly, the young athlete turned out to be Knicks center Tyson Chandler.  Scouts and coaches will discover you no matter where you play, it's impossible to "hide you talent" anymore.  (prospectcentral.com)