Bits n Pieces
Every time this story occurs I’m surprised, no I retract that statement I’m shocked. Recently Nike re-released the classic red and black Air Jordan shoes. A group of shoppers were doused with mace as the crowd became unruly at a Fort Worth (TX) mall. I’m too old to comprehend why this type of behavior exists.

Kansas City remains connected to the NBA in ever so small a manner. Have you ever noticed the person sitting behind Celtic Coach Doc Rivers? For those who might not recognize him he’s Tyronn Lue who attended Raytown High School (Metro Kansas City). Lue managed an 11 year NBA career before assuming the role of assistant coach with the Celtics.

One of those headlines I wish I originated! Fox Sports reached way back to 1962 for the Monster Nash headline. It was referencing the first Steve Nash game after returning from injury, 12 points 9 assists. Bobby “Boris” Pickett recorded a novelty tune titled the Monster Mash. Google Monster Mash for additional detail if you care.

Former Bulls center Tom Boerwinkle was in Kansas City last night. He’s scouting for the Bulls and most likely was checking South Dakota States Nate Wolters. They played UMKC (University of MO-Kansas City) and won 77-61. Wolters numbers from the floor; 23 points 7 assists 6 rebounds 4 steals and .563 shooting.

Bet you didn’t know this-------Mizzou leads the nation in rebounding with a 47.4 per game average. In addition I hope you don’t think the game tomorrow against Bucknell is easy guess again. ESPN’s Myron Metcalf list Bucknell as his number 4 team in his Top 15 Mid-Majors (I hate the Mid-Major term).

Coach of the Year
Has Vinny Del Negro become the front-runner as NBA Coach of the Year? Interesting because at one point last season rumors were circulating he would be fired. This season is totally different his Clippers are playing at a blazing pace. The criteria for winning Coach of the Year have always been confusing to me. We could be discussing the NBA or collegiate basketball COY. Somebody once made this statement regarding football but it could just as easily be applied in basketball. “A coach receives too much credit when his team wins and too much blame when they lose.” One method of choosing a team should exceed expectations but they may or may not always be true. A writer for CBS Sports.com picked North Carolina’s Roy Williams as preseason Coach of the Year, another chose Mizzou’s Frank Haith. Last season Carolina finished 32-6 while Mizzou was 30-5. Both programs lost players to the NBA but the cupboard isn’t exactly bare at either school. Both should be quite competitive based on their incoming freshman class and transfers. In the NBA the opposite has occurred, Phil Jackson has only won Coach of the Year on one occasion ’95-’96. Jackson coached teams have won 11 NBA championships, his Bulls team hold the all-time regular season win total with 72 yet only one COY award. Checking the list of past winners in the NBA it appears if your team exceeds expectations you become a prime candidate for Coach of the Year. If that’s the case Del Negro is automatically excluded, the Clippers finished second in the Pacific Division last season. Nothing scientific here just an observation, check out past winners for yourself.

I hope I don’t offend
Snowing New Years Eve so the party is at my house. I checked the listings to decide which basketball game to watch. I chose University of New Mexico at St. Louis as the game of choice. My logic, one son is graduate of New Mexico, the other a Mizzou grad although he lives in St. Louis. The Lobos of New Mexico forget there are two half's of a basketball game. The Lobos failed to wake up until the second half of the game eventually losing 60-46. New Mexico entered the game as the number 20 team in the nation although I had difficulty believing the ranking. Folks unfamiliar with either team might have believed SLU was 20 and New Mexico was unranked. Coach Steve Alford was ejected in the second half after confronting one of the game officials.

It just depends
Kansas recently played Colorado at Allen Fieldhouse and beat them but that’s not the real story. Colorado (and Nebraska) left the Big XII two years ago; Colorado is now a Pac-12 member and Nebraska in the Big 10. The significance of the Kansas-Colorado game, do you remember the announcement emanating from Lawrence Kansas? The administration and later Coach Self stating they would no longer play Mizzou. Playing Colorado I would guess the athletic department is only upset with Mizzou. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kansas played Nebraska, Texas A&M or Colorado at some point. In addition Bill Self must have selective memory, he was questioned why they scheduled Colorado but not Mizzou. He made a half-hearted explanation indicating Mizzou had lead the effort to leave the Big XII. I guess old Bill failed to remember Mizzou made its move thinking the conference was falling apart. In addition Nebraska and Colorado (the team he played) left the a year prior to Mizzou.