3 Stooges
I think Coach Buzz Williams of Marquette bears a striking resemblance to Curly Howard of the 3 Stooges? I don’t have ownership so I can’t provide you photos; check out photos of the two on the web.

Good read
While searching for merchandise on the web I came across a Deadspin story. The article was written by Barry Petchesky and its dated January 24, 2013. “A History Lesson for Sacramento: How Kansas City lost the Kings” is the title, Google it. A good read and Petchesky detailed several specifics of the move I’d forgotten. Feel sorry for Sacramento fans, you might sympathize more with Kansas City fans after reading him.

Can you believe this?
I checked several of the NBA mock draft sites after the Nerlens Noel injury. I discovering some very interesting information; Noel’s draft position has only shifted downward slightly. In addition several sites have him at or near the same position he was prior to his injury. Most sites listed the 6-10 215 pound Kentucky power forward number one or number two in the 2013 draft.  One stie dropped Noel all the way to number five.  I caution you these are mock sites and have no actual bearing on the June draft.  I thought it unusual for the first time in memory it's possible a draft pick might spend the year on the injured list.  You say Blake Griffin didn't play his rookie year, you are correct.  The circumstances are different, Griffin was not drafted injured while the possibility exists with Noel.       

I didn’t think about this
One of the biggest critics of Dwight Howard play this season has been me----Larry Laker. Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports had to bring it home for me. I'm paraphrasing a statment Gottlieb made on his radio program; "Dwight Howard is leading the league in rebounding and is 5th in block shots, all by a guy who is not fully healed yet from his shoulder surgery."  Gottlieb went on to state; "with Bynum having season ending surgery who got the best of this trade?"

The mountain
I wrote of the task in front of new University of Missouri-KC Coach Kareem Reed. One bright spot, checking the roster they only lose two players. The 2013-14 season might not be as bad as we might foresee. A new conference (WAC) and a new coach (Reed) will still require adjustments. This is similar to Frank Haith last season at Mizzou, the UMKC roster doesn‘t appear nearly as talented.  Haith was able to convince Mike Anderson recruits to play his style which of course led to a 30-5 season. Don’t wish to confuse you I am simply stating the situation is somewhat similar. Mike Anderson’s last Mizzou team finished 23-11 the UMKC team under fired coach Matt Brown finished 8-24.

I’m repeating myself again
There is no doubt on my part, Kobe Bryant clearly fouled Ricky Rubio. What I fail to understand is why the NBA office announces a day later the officials miss the call.  The NBA stated a foul should have been called on Kobe.  Unless there is an intention to change the outcome of the game is it necessary to announce the oversight?   

I wonder if this coach is in hiding somewhere
Your dad is a Hall of Fame baseball player Barry Larkin, in elementary school your batting tutors are Pete Rose and Tony Perez. When you begin playing little league baseball one of your coaches decides your batting skills are “all-wrong.” This coach causes you to quit baseball and you take up basketball. True story and that’s why Shane Larkin is a standout basketball player rather than baseball the sport of his father. This 5-11 point guard is a key contributor to the rise in Miami basketball this season. He is even getting some buzz as a possible NBA prospect. To think this occurred because a little league coach thought he knew more about hitting a baseball than Rose, Perez and dad Barry. (Wikipedia)

Bits n Pieces
The cavalry rides to the rescue or at least that’s the hope. A third and recently a fourth prospective owner has been added to the ownership mix in Sacramento. We must assume this is an effort to combat the earlier David Stern announcement.  Stern indicated the Sacramento bid to purchase the Kings was below the Seattle group.

In connection with the above story I’ve read several emails in the Seattle Times and Sacramento Bee from folks who identify themselves as Kings fans. The letters contain a general theme; “Seattle is stealing our team. “ Many of these same folks were probably ripe with anticipation for the Kings arrival from Kansas City in 1985.

Duke recruit Semi Ojeleye set an individual high school scoring record for the State of Kansas. The 6-6 215 pound small forward from Ottawa (KS) is now the record holder with 2,554 points scored. Ottawa is about 60 miles from downtown Kansas City Missouri.

Brave soul, I’m referring to Chad Ford of ESPN. He claims “Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel will be a top 5 pick despite the ACL injury.” Let’s assume Orlando or Charlotte win the lottery, as GM of the franchise do you choose Noel?

Ben Howland is history at UCLA; there are a number of successful coaches who could replace him. The question is could they handle the intense heat of coaching UCLA basketball?

Dictionary.com says it’s loo-ee-vil, others say Loooo-vul. Kentuckians claim the city and school are pronounced Louisville (Lewa vule). Over the past week or so we’ve heard varying prounciations of the school.

He’s good
I cannot win arguments in my own domain; a relative of ours is a high school sophomore basketball player. Although the team has a number of upper classmen Larry’s talent has allowed him to become a part-time starter at the guard position. How good, as a part timer he managed to led the team in assists. I said to my wife “if he (Larry) continues to develop I could see him playing at the NAIA or Division II level in college.” She seemingly took offense to my statement without challenging it. I must guess she thought I’d say he was headed to Kansas, Mizzou or another Division I program. At age 15 Larry will continue to grow however unless he does an “Anthony Davis” I think my response is appropriate. Larry is a shade over 5-10 at this point, as for the reference to Davis. He was a 6 foot 3 in his sophomore year of high school and is now 6-10.

I admit it
This is one Mizzou fan willing to admit he’s envious of the success of Bill Self. Don’t misunderstand I have “Faith in Haith!” I have questions regarding his in game coaching as for the recruiting portion Haith is top notch. Back to Bill Self a moment, I’ve written previously many thought this would be a down year for Kansas basketball. Far from it, throw out the middle of the season bump (Oklahoma State and TCU) they won the Big XXII championship for the umpteen time. Self has lambasted, begged, pleaded and conjured his least talented Kansas team (in my view) to a Sweet 16 berth.

I hope this would provide additional players who were omitted
Several weeks back I wrote of the top basketball players who played in the Kansas City metro. A couple of associates mentioned athletes I didn't list, in my view the trio I wrote of earlier had unlimited potential.  They were Warren Jabali who played at Central High School, Wichita State and the ABA. Anthony Peeler, Paseo High School, Mizzou and the NBA. The last mentioned was Jaron Rush who played at Pembroke and UCLA. My list was compiled principally from their high school records, if they managed to play professionally that was secondary. In addition Semi Olejye’s name was omitted; he broke the all-time high school scoring record this season. Ottawa (KS) is nearby but the same fate befalls him and Manning, Ottawa is not considered metro Kansas City. These players could be considered however their talents don’t exceed those mentioned earlier. No NBA All-Pros here but all below managed NBA careers if ever so brief.

Jon Koncak-Center HS, SMU
Larry Drew-Wyandotte HS, Mizzou
Lucius Allen-Wyandotte HS, UCLA
Clay Johnson-Manuel HS, Mizzou
Tyronn Lue-Raytown HS, Nebraska
Earl Watson-Washington HS, UCLA
Kareem Rush-Pembroke HS, Mizzou

Father and son
This is not the first time a father and son have played in the NBA and college at the same time. Don’t remember the last time it occurred or even the players involved. This Former Fab 5 player from Michigan has a son in college. Early this month 40-year old Juwan Howard was added again to the Heat roster. The University of Detroit has Juwan Howard Jr. a 6-6 sophomore on it‘s roster.

They lose and win at the same time
Kentucky failed to make the NCAA field of 68; they were relegated to the NIT. The first NIT game they lose to Robert Morris, is Robert Morris a person or a school? 59-57 was the final score over Kentucky. The next day Julius Randle a 6-9 240 pound power forward chose Kentucky over Kansas, Duke and several other high profile programs. Randle is rated the number two prospect in the Class of 2013 by Rivals. This answers another question---the school of choice for Andrew Wiggin’s number one in the Class of 2013. We know with a degree of certainty he’s not headed to Kentucky with the numbers there. Best guess, injured Nerlens Noel might be the only Wildcat to head for the NBA. There are highly recruited players who could possibly transfer to other schools if that occurs Wiggin’s might be headed to Lexington.

Balance
I don’t write to provoke controversy, I’m opinionated I will grant you that. I refuse to write from that perspective. What ever is written is my opinion, it might not be yours but that’s okay. My favorite basketball “expert” has struck again, Jason Whitlock claims college basketball is out of alignment. He points to Kansas losing to TCU and Duke not playing as Duke. That’s an interesting take from a guy who played football and is only an observer of basketball. Whitlock wants parity in the NFL but criticizes it for college basketball. The one n done athlete has certainly impacted the college game however there are other factors. Good or bad a larger number of kids are playing AAU ball during the summer, a number are “ready” for the NBA after one year. Free enterprise Whitlock champion of individual rights seems to have a problem with an opportunity for a number of athletes to gain employment. Don’t point your finger at me, Whitlock is one the culprits in what’s wrong with college basketball. The NCAA, the one n done athlete and others not mentioned are certainly “warts.” Is the game suffering, only if you tend to believe the Whitlock’s who attempt to be experts on every sport?

Power conference?
I wonder if the Big XII Conference is still touting its prowess as a power conference.  After the first round NCAA tourney games I seriously doubt it.  12 seed Oregon beat 5 seed Oklahoma State.  4 seed Kansas State took it on the chin losing to 13 seed LaSalle.  San Diego State was a higher seed than Oklahoma so they should have won their match.  Kansas and Iowa State were the only Big XII teams left to hold up the conference banner winning their opening matches.  Finally there was only one, Ohio State squeaked by Iowa State leaving Kansas as the remaining Big XII school.  Power conference, we might question that statement. 

Labels Out
A number of you might recognize Labels Out from the Bud Light Beer commercials. For those who might not have seen it, the camera focuses on four guys seated in the stands at an NFL game. Their team must kick what amounts to a game winning field goal. They turn the labels out on their Bud Light, one of the guys ask the question why? There is a detailed explanation why turning the label out works so the question guy turns his label out too. Of course their teams’ field goal kick is successful. Do you have routines or help aids that you believe benefit your team and are you superstitious? The sports world is full of superstitious athletes, in baseball, “it is bad luck to touch the baselines while running off and onto the field between innings.” Basketball, “Bounce the ball before taking a foul shot for good luck or wipe the soles of your sneakers for good luck.” It was reported Pete Maravich wore the same floppy socks for every basketball game he played at LSU. There are others I might have overlooked you might think of others.

I’m unsure if mine is superstition or just plain routine, it started in 1999. That was the first season I wore my Laker gear on game day, that night the Lakers won. I thought “I helped them to win by wearing my logo shirt” I will continue this routine. Since then it’s rare I don’t have some article of Laker clothing on prior to game time. I thought “if this works for the Lakers maybe it will work for Mizzou as well.” I began a habit of wearing Mizzou gear as well on game day; you might ask what occurs on days both play? That’s simple which ever team needs a win the worst that’s the team. This habit (or superstition if you prefer) has been extended to football. I don’t follow the Chiefs or NFL football to any great degree however whenever the Mizzou football team plays I have my stuff on. Laugh at me if you wish this stuff works try it yourself. (factmonster.com)

Does the jersey really matter?
There was conversation at the time Tony Gonzales left the Chiefs to play for the NFL Falcons. The discussion, would this brilliant tight end be enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a Kansas City Chief or Atlanta Falcon? If I remember Joe Montana was inducted in the Hall of Fame as a 49er although his last team was the Chiefs. Is the jersey really important at that particular time? Will Steve Nash wear a Suns jersey or Laker jersey when he’s elected? He could wear a Mavs jersey as well, he played for them too. I posed the question because it’s my belief the jersey issue on the football field or basketball court is probably more important to fans than the athlete.

As for Nash who could have foreseen the HOF career when he was drafted out of Santa Clara. Quickly, how many NBA players can you claim have Santa Clara roots besides Nash and former Laker Kurt Rambis? Didn’t think so, no disrespect intended for the university but it’s not been a hotbed of NBA talent. This 6-3 Canadian by way of South Africa has certainly carved out a niche in the NBA. Nash is 39 now and certainly his skill level has eroded but the guy can still play. I don’t know if he has a nickname however I certainly have one for him. To me he’s the Energizer Bunny he keeps going and going, going all the way to the Hall of Fame.

I write this in advance
This is written in the morning prior to the Thursday night game so I have no idea of the outcome. I wrote it because I thought it might detail the significance of an ages old rivalry. The Mizzou-Kansas rivalry is probably not going away anytime in the future if it follows the established pattern of Louisville-Kentucky. There are key differences; unlike here (Missouri-Kansas) the two schools are located in the same state. In addition they never played in the same conference yet their rivalry is quite evident and intense. Louisville and Kentucky are a little over 2 hour’s drive-time campus to campus, much closer than Lawrence Kansas is to Columbia Missouri.

A local television station sent a crew to Lexington Kentucky to conduct interviews with Kentucky fans. Those interviewed echoed a common theme; they would root for Mizzou should the Tigers win against Colorado State. The win would set-up a Mizzou-Louisville game on Saturday. Interesting they preferred to root for a "new" conference member over an in-state school. A historical note, Kentucky and Louisville refused to schedule the other in basketball for decades. Finally the Kentucky legislature had to step in and force the schools to play one another after a threat to withhold state aid.

Regular season or post season?
A long standing debate has raged on the value of post-season conferences, it will occur again this year.  Liberty University won the Big South post-season tourney, the win was Liberty's 15th of the season.  15 wins to accompany 20 losses, Liberty qualified for the NCAA post-season tourney.   Liberty is not the first team to qualify with a losing record just the latest. Former Jets and Chiefs Coach Herm Edwards once coined a phrase which is now classic; “you play to win the game.” If we use that as a basis no one need be critical of Liberty they did what they were supposed to do, they played and they won the game! They lose to North Carolina A&T 73-72 in their first tourney game so I guess my concern was of little value.

What if ______?
Next month the Lakers will host another jersey retirement ceremony.  This time the prodigal son returns, Shaquille O’ Neal. At the time this was announced last year it probably caught many Laker fans off-guard. Many fans (including this writer) held a grudge against Shaq because of the drama that had been generated over a season. In fairness to him Kobe deserves to share in the criticism too. The impetuous youngster was unwilling or unable to mend the broken relationship between the two. Dr. Buss made the call, he chose to trade the older Shaq and retain the younger Kobe. In the end it was the owner who stated it was appropriate to retire Shaquille O‘Neal‘s number 34 jersey.

It‘s sad Dr. Buss didn’t live long enough to witness the ceremony. I’m sure video of the Jamal Wilkes jersey ceremony was shown to Dr. Buss. The jersey retirement caused me to ponder what if? What if Shaq and Kobe could have co-existed longer? The Shaq we witnessed playing for the Celtics and Cavs had begun to show his age. He was never the best conditioned athlete yet Shaq was in his prime at the time he left for South Beach. Shaq-Kobe won three consecutive championships and played in one championship series they should have won. How many would this combo have won injury free and most critical willing to work as teammates? We can only speculate at this point that “train has long-since departed the station.” Three or four additional championships sound unreasonable?

I’m not psychic
After reading Monday’s edition you might assume I have psychic abilities. I wrote of Andrew Bynum’s injury issues. Monday afternoon the 76ers announced he was having season ending surgery.  Bynum’s free agency status and max contract are certainly even more complicated now.

Who is he?
No apparent shock to anyone around here the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) fired Coach Matt Brown. Don’t know much about Brown but probably neither did most of the Kansas City sports community. Brown recorded a 64-122 record in his six seasons as head coach. He probably knew the hand writing was on the wall in early February when the school announced it was changing conferences. They would leave the Summit League for the higher profile Western Athletic Conference. The WAC is certainly no power conference but has more credibility than that of the Summit. New Mexico State, San Jose State and Louisiana Tech are just a few of the WAC members. UMKC moved rather quickly in hiring Brown’s replacement but who is he? The school hired Kareem Reed from Rick Pitino’s staff at Louisville. Reed is no stranger to UMKC having once served as an assistant coach.  There is a mass of work in front of Reed, chief is hiring a staff and beginning the recruiting process.

Is he a dirty player?
That is the view of Kobe Bryant; I make no call on the matter. Kobe has named Dahntay Jones just that---a dirty player. The two players have history; Jones was flagged with a flagrant foul for once tripping Kobe. He claims it was retaliation in response to Kobe’s actions. There are/have been players over the years that were referred to as dirty and other words I cannot print. There’s always been a difference between an “enforcer” and a dirty player. For many players the line between enforcer and dirty was blurred by many past players. The NBA was once full of enforcers; the late Maurice Lucas was just that, he offered protection for his Blazer teammates. If a teammate received a hard foul from an opposing player the teammates of Lucas knew he always had their back. That opposing player might receive an even harder foul delivered courtesy of Lucas.

Dirty player how about a “dirty team” that was the view of many regarding the Detroit Pistons “Bad Boy” teams. The leader of the pack was center Bill Laimbeer who never ever committed a foul during his entire NBA career. Rick Mahorn (6-10 240 pounds) joined the Pistons after teaming first with Jeff Ruland (also 6-10 and 240) with the Washington Bullets. The two were nicknamed “The Bruise Brothers” by the media. You literally took your life in your hands attempting a lay-up against these brutes. Flamboyant Dennis Rodman learned to play bruising defense while a member of the Pistons, he would later transfer this skill to the Bulls. Rodman gave up both height and weight to Jazz power forward Karl Malone. Malone hated facing “The Worm.” Despite Kobe’s statement there are but a few enforcers or dirty players in today’s NBA. If we compiled a list of present day players most likely Matt Barnes of the Clippers would head the list, as for Dahntay Jones you make the call.

Remember where you first heard it
Charles Barkley might have been the first, you might say “he doesn’t play anymore and he‘s been wrong before.” What about Kenyon Martin, he played for the Clippers? Both have questioned how far the Clippers can go in the playoffs. Barkley referred to them; “soft as tissue.” Martin might be holding a grudge for the teams’ failure to resign him? No doubt this team has talent; they remain a question due to their “Sportscenter/ Lob City reputation.”

Congratulations
Mizzou basketball senior Laurence Bowers has demonstrated his effort on the basketball court and the classroom. This 5-year senior will graduate in May with (1) “An undergraduate degree in sociology and masters in health, education & promotion.” He might never manage an NBA career however his life appears in order. For me it’s always enjoyable to read of student-athletes rather than the one n done player so prevalent in today’s collegiate game. (1.) St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Where is he?
The above is attributed to 76ers Coach Doug Collins and he made the statment regarding Andrew Bynum.  For perhaps the 99th time I detailed how I wasn't thrilled whem my Lakers traded Bynum to the 76ers.  I admitted up front the player had maturity issues but thought he'd eventually grow up.  It appears the change from Los Angeles to Philadelphia has not been beneficial for him. Since the beginning of the season Bynum’s displayed a varying number of different hairstyles while sitting on the bench in street clothes. He’s experienced more activity with his barber than his 76er teammates. I’m not a physician; I must believe him when he claims infirmities are not allowing him on the basketball court. He’s continued to state he’d play this season and I think I believe him. Bynum went through a practice session and Coach Collins pronounced him unfit to play, I’m at a point now Bynum must prove he wants to play. After all remember; “I’m from Missouri Show Me!”

The tourney belongs here
Last week all forms of media alerted Kansas City the Big XII post-season tourney this year would be different. Of course Mizzou fans were aware the Tigers would not appear for the first time ever. Mizzou was playing however they were 555 road miles away in Nashville (TN). Much was made of the fact the tournament was being played in a state with no representative which is true, where else could it been held? At the time the conference expanded to 12 teams (1994) it was suggested by a few athletic directors the tourney should not be played exclusively in Kansas City, it should be rotated among several sites. Omaha was suggested as a possible destination, of course that conversation occurred at the time Nebraska was a conference member.

The tourney has been held in Dallas but there might be too much conflicting events for it to be successful there. The NBA Mavs and NHL Stars and other activities might stretch the sports dollar to its max. Attendance in Dallas certainly has not been what the Big XII hoped. Oklahoma City was also mentioned as a possible destination however a similar situation might exist there, the NBA Thunder call Oklahoma City home. Kansas City has served as host (not continuously) of this tournament since the Big 8 post-season tourney was first played in 1977. Am I arrogant enough to believe there is no other city capable of hosting the tourney, of course not? Despite the fact Missouri no longer has a team in the conference Kansas City remains the top and most experienced host.

The collegiate landscape continues to evolve
Its official as I understand it “Catholic 7” will retain the Big East Conference name. The schools are DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s Seton Hall and Villanova. Additional schools which will be added to balance the numbers. The remaining schools now re-named the American 12 Conference, a few of these schools, Temple, Rutgers and Louisville.

I’ve made up my mind
At a point in time I wasn’t sure which side of the fence I was on. I debated with myself if a conference or league office (NBA) should admit errors of its officials. The recent fiasco in Ames between Iowa State-Kansas caused me to take a position. The Big XII office admitted its officials made two late game errors. I focused on the first Arkansas-Mizzou game played earlier. Arkansas scored the winning basket against Mizzou and the player traveled on his drive to the basket, the official failed to whistle him. Unlike the Big XII office the SEC made no mention of the error.

Reports have circulated the oversight in the Iowa State-Kansas game might cost State an NCAA berth. As an Iowa State fan I’m pissed if my team fails to make the field of 64. The same scenario occurred in the NBA involving the Lakers. Dahnaty Jones committed what should have been a foul on a Kobe Bryant jump shot. The following day the NBA office announced its officials had swallowed their whistles, the NBA indicated a foul should have been called on Jones. My conclusion, don’t point out an error unless you are prepared to overrule the outcome.

It’s remote but could occur
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch pointed out it’s possible for Mizzou and St. Louis University to meet. Interesting since neither team will schedule the other and they lie but 123 miles apart via I-70. One more note, reading the newspapers in St. Louis the rivalry with Kansas only exists on this side of the state. I’ve been told the rivalry on the St. Louis side is with Illinois less than 200 road miles from St. Louis

Did you know? 
Prospective owner Chris Hansen announced the Sonics have begun selling priority seating yesterday.  "Before we sell any new tickets, we would like to highlight that we plan to do our very best to contact all 2007-2008 Sonics season ticket holders and provide them the opportunity to secure their same seat location for the team’s return. However, we’d greatly appreciate it if prior season ticket holders would still fill out the request as it will greatly help us in making sure we have your current contact data.” Naturally there is a disclaimer indicating the ticket sale is based on a favorable ruling by the NBA Board of Governors. (sonicsarena.com)

I made a mistake
Sometimes you create a firestorm without intending, while on one of the social networks that’s exactly what I did. I added a comment to that posted earlier by a Laker fan and friend. An acquaintance of my friend who was no fan of the Lakers made a snide comment. I questioned his comment and he responded; “basketball players are not heroes, police officers and firefighters are true heroes.” Neither my Laker friend nor I made any connection in our messages regarding basketball players and heroes, his response came out of left field for me. This person assumed my life revolved around basketball 24-7. He doesn’t know me and I certainly discovered I didn’t know him either.

As for his statement, sport specifically basketball is just that a sport! We are allowed to focus on a fun thing rather than life problems and concerns. Athletes of the various sports were only heroes to me as a child! As I reached adulthood I probably echoed the Charles Barkley statement long before he ever issued his testimonial. (1.) “In 1993, his argument prompted national news when he wrote the text for his "I am not a role model" Nike commercial. A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?” Words eye view reflects my views and opinions, I have no qualms stating I could be incorrect or even might change my position. (1.) (Wikipedia)

I find it difficult to agree with Bayless
Unfortunately we sometimes discover ourselves agreeing with a Skip Bayless comment. On ESPN’s First Take discussing a DeAndre Jordan dunk Bayless said; “Clipper players lead with their elbow or forearm when dunking the ball!” Although Jordan was the only player mentioned he would have been referring to Blake Griffin as well. I cannot relate the number of times I’ve witnessed Griffin leading with his elbow/forearm when an opposing player attempts to block his dunk.

Best of the best
New York, Los Angeles and Chicago have large metro populations to grow talent, Memphis although smaller than Kansas City also produces a significant amount of players too. With the exception of Memphis Kansas City metro certainly doesn’t have the population of the cities listed. Despite smaller numbers Kansas City metro has produced several outstanding players over its basketball history. I didn’t include Danny Manning of Leavenworth High School, although close the city is not included in the (1.) metro populace. Recently I read a story in the Kansas City Star that made me think “where did the time go?” I thought it had been over 15 years ago when I first became aware of Jaron Rush. His son Sean is a freshman at Barstow School in Kansas City; he’s 6-3 and plays basketball as his dad before him. Shea might never have the basketball skill of his dad but that’s not really that important. There is more to life than sport and from the article it appears Shea is a “grounded” young man, Shea’s dad is JaRon Rush. In order to profile the dad we must journey into the past with a disclaimer right at the beginning. It’s my belief the area has produced three outstanding players however all played in different eras.

I believe those athletes to be Warren Jabali, Anthony Peeler and JaRon Rush. Warren Jabali played at Central High School in Kansas City. Jabali went on to Wichita State however he chose the ABA over the Knicks. To this day it’s my belief he chose the ABA due to Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Frazier had been drafted a year earlier; his ABA career was cut short due to injury. ABA Rookie of the Year and ABA All-Star Game MVP, 4-time ABA All Star game selections. Over the course of his brief 7-year career this 6-2 high-flyer averaged 7 rebounds a game. Anthony Peeler played at Paseo High School; he was a 6-4 and a 208 pound shooting guard. He played baseball growing up and might have played that sport professionally. Peeler dominated basketball headlines in the area; many were surprised no shocked when he chose to attend Mizzou. Peeler playing for legendary Coach Norm Stewart led the Tigers in just about every category going. Consider this, Peeler left Mizzou in 1992 and the assist record he held was just this year eclipsed by Phil Pressey. Peeler was drafted by the Lakers in the 1^st round of the 1992 NBA draft. He had a 13-year NBA career with a number of teams.

The other outstanding player was mentioned earlier. The name is JaRon Rush, Pembroke School however you might be more familiar with the younger brothers. Kareem played at Mizzou and had a 9-year NBA career, younger brother Brandon played at Kansas and is a member of the Warriors, JaRon was the eldest brother. I thought back then and continue to believe JaRon was the best of the bunch; personal demons side tracked him on the way to what many believe would have been an NBA career. The DiRenna Award is the ultimate honor for a basketball player in this area. In the awards history, nearly 60 years JaRon is the only player to win the award three years in a row. This 6-6 205 pound forward had all the tools many believed would lead to an NBA career. JaRon played at UCLA for two years but left early for the NBA and was not drafted. He failed to seek out those with knowledge of the NBA Draft. The road to the NBA was curtailed before it even got off the ground. Metro Sports ran a feature on the elder Rush. The anchor describing the play of Rush; “all I could say was wow!” Seeing this talented youngster play I certainly could concur. (1.) United States Census Bureau

Happy birthday
Harvey Pollack turned 91 on March 9; you might not be familiar Pollack however he is connected to the NBA. Believe it or not at age 91 he is still working; Pollack serves as director of statistical information for the Philadelphia 76ers. “He holds the distinction of being the only individual still working for the NBA since its inaugural 1946-47 season. During the Sixers’ offseason, Pollack analyzes all 1,230 play-by-play sheets from the previous season (every game of the regular season) to produce Harvey Pollack’s NBA Statistical Yearbook, an ever growing book of rare basketball information that takes statistical analysis to a new level. Including stats such as the shot distance of every field goal, who gets their shot blocked the most, and other creative categories like "working-man," which a player has to contribute to every category but no fouls or turnovers, and "trillionare club" which is when player plays in a game and has all zeros across their name.” (Wikipedia)

I cannot figure out the guy
Cynics have continued to question Mizzou’s Frank Haith coaching skills and to a degree I understand why. What I fail to understand why I hear few complaints regarding Baylor’s’ Scott Drew. There is no aurgemnt on his recruiting abilities; Baylor always manages to collect a significant number of 5-star prospects, in fact one from this area is headed to Waco. Ishmail Wainwright a 6-6 small forward from Raytown (MO) is headed to Baylor in the fall. It seems Drew’s teams almost always under achieve despite the talent level. I didn’t bother watching the recent Baylor-Kansas game, I thought in advance Kansas would easily win. That was my thought until I saw the half-time score and was shocked to discover Kansas trailed Baylor 37-28. Needless to say whether it was Drew’s coaching or just plain athletic talent the Bears ran around, through and over the top of the Jayhawks. Maybe because it was a home game for Baylor I dunno, they won the game 81 to 58 forcing Kansas into a first place tie with Kansas State.

Interesting
I’m unsure how you feel but I find it interesting several negative views have been expressed
regarding the 8th playoff slot Lakers.  "There is no need of them (Lakers) making the final spot they will be eliminated in the first round.” I’m confused, are these folks stating the Lakers should just throw in the towel because there is no reason to compete? I would find it extremely difficult to root for a team that plain gave up because the task in front of them looked insurmountable. I always hate to look at this team or any with numbers only, their numbers overall are fairly good. The only area of concern for me is defense, currently the Lakers lie at 26 (101.3). To be fair team defense has improved since the All-Star break so the November to All-Star numbers might be a little misleading. As far as an 8 seed advancing don't think it can't occur, it's difficult but its possible.  (1.)  "The 1994 NBA Playoffs the 8th seed Nuggets (42-40) upset the Sonics who won 63 games and were the number one seed."  It's an extremely rare occurance but don't say it can't happen because it did.  (1.)  NBA.com/history

Worthy of note
I heard this story and resorted to basketball-reference.com for specifics. The recent Clippers win over the Pacers assured them of back to back winning seasons. The last instance of this occurrence goes clear back to the Buffalo Braves days. The 1973-74 season the Braves finished 42-40 and the following season they were 49-33. In 1991-92 the Clippers finished 45-37 and the following season 41-41, close but no cigars. Clippers fans will assume I’m poking fun of the team, my intent is actually opposite. I’m simply pointing out anyone remaining a Braves/Clipper fan throughout the number of losing seasons is to be applauded. (basketball-reference.com)

There are two sides
Mizzou’s Phil Pressey is two athletes, one extremely good. The good Pressey distributes the ball efficiently and runs the offense in the same manner. The good Pressey leads the SEC in assists and was Pre-Season player of the year. The bad Pressey is the one who takes difficult sometimes impossible shots or turns the ball over at critical points. I don‘t think anyone whose seen this team play doubts he is the engine that drives the train but maybe that is the problem. The team is “new“, Laurence Bowers is the only holdover teamate.  A local sports talk radio host even suggested yesterday Pressey might be history after this season.

 I‘ve seen his name on several NBA mock draft sites; my thought would he leave after his junior year if he were assured he’d be drafted? I’ve seen no updated scouting report however I would find it difficult to believe any scout would recommend him at this stage. First of all his shooting percentage is below par and certainly not at the NBA level. He is speedy quick and distributes the ball despite playing out of control at points. Although listed at 5-10 he is certainly short by NBA standards however the Nuggets Ty Lawson is only 1 inch taller. Of course Lawson is a much better shooter at this stage. If Pressey returns he certainly needs to work on his jump shot over the summer, in addition he needs to learn to follow his coaches’ direction.

“Report (of) to the Commissioner”
The above title of a 1975 movie in fact it was Richard Gere’s second movie of his long Hollywood career. I took liberties with the title by inserting the word OF in parenthesis. Last Friday became the Report of the Commissioner as the Commish reported on the plight of the Sacramento Kings. David Stern announced the financial proposal of Sacramento falls short of the one submitted by Chris Hansen/Steve Ballmer group. The commissioners’ press conference raises a significant number of questions; first how short are the finances by comparison to Hansen’s group? Will Sacramento be allowed time to raise additional funds? Are the Kings headed to Seattle for the 2013-14 season? These are but a few questions that surely will be answered over the next several weeks and months. This story has taken on the tenor of a soap opera, it seems almost every other week a new and changing development occurs. (www.imbd.com)

Another story for the haters
This is for Jimmy Kimmel, Jason Whitlock and few others, Kobe Bryant passes the basketball despite the fact he is a shooting guard. They continue to look at the 20-year old Kobe as the basis for their view. If folks bothered to check the NBA Assists Leaders they might be in for a shock, Kobe is averaging 5.6 assist per game, 23rd in the league.  Take a guess the number of position players ahead of Kobe?  I'll save you from racking your brain, only two players small forward LeBron James (7.2) and shooting guard James Harden (5.8). Kobe's per game assist average is above that of Dwayne Wade and Kevin Durant. Funny I never hear complaints about Wade or Durant passing the basketball, how can we conclude Kobe doesn’t pass the ball? My mission in life becomes an over whelming devotion to correct inaccurate portrayals. If you don’t like Kobe I get it but don’t use that as an excuse for making up stuff to validate your feelings. (NBA.com/stats)

Advantage of being drafted by a bad team
There is a distinct advantage in being drafted by a bad team; generally you can play from day one. On perennial playoff teams rookies rarely have the opportunity to play unless they are very, very good. On playoff teams rookies sit at the end of the bench waiting for “garbage time” to play. My research regarding rookies I sometimes come across negative reports. Prior to the 2012 draft we could state reviews on Rivers were certainly very mixed. (1.) “Scouts were much higher on Kobe than they are on Austin now. The reason for the dog pile (sic) on Austin that he hasn't changed his attitude one bit after a season where everyone could see some major limitations.”

To date this scouts assessment might not be too far off base, Rivers has certainly struggled thus far. Playing significant minutes Rivers is at 8.7 ppg while shooting .351 from the floor. His free-throw percentage is 62%, terrible for a guard. You might think the Hornets team may be the problem or the fact Rivers is a rookie. As for the rookie factor it doesn‘t seem to have affected teammate Anthony Davis. I will be honest I haven‘t seen enough of Rivers at this point however he must prove to me he can play at this level. One additional issue to point out, Rivers is listed as a shooting guard; he’s playing behind Eric Gordon. Gordon has made overtures about leaving; if that should occur over the summer perhaps Rivers will have an opportunity to display his talent. This was written prior to Rivers breaking his hand. It’s reported he’s out 4-6 weeks which will probably end his season. Can he play at this level; the jury is certainly still out on that question. (1.) Real GM

Speaking of the draft
The 2013 NBA Draft might be the weakest in several years. The other day the local sports talk radio guys were discussing which player to pick if you had the number one choice. Naturally Ben McLemore of Kansas was first up, one of the other hosts mentioned Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State. Despite his injury Nerlens Noel of Kentucky stock has slid downward very little. Shabazz Muhammad of UCLA must be part of any discussion of top picks. If you were the general manager and had to make the decision who would you chose, McLemore, Noel? Maybe your choice might be someone not even mentioned.

Just in case
Mizzou fans complain loud and long about failure of the team to win on the road. The Tigers have one more road game tomorrow afternoon at Tennessee. Mizzou might not be as bad as some think, of the 14 SEC teams Florida is the only team with a winning road record.

Confusing is the description for this story, former Southern Cal Coach Tim Floyd is reported talking to Southern Cal. Although Floyd was never accused on any wrongdoing officially he left under a cloud of suspension. Floyd claims he’s not discussing coaching---what else could he be talking about---the weather?

NBA Coach of the Year is always given to a coach who raises the play of his team. Why not consider the coach of a good team whose stock has risen over the previous year.  In this case the two leading candidates could be the Spurs Greg Popovich and Heat Erik Spoelstra. Runner up might be Warriors Coach Mark Jackson followed by George Karl of the Nuggets.

Blake Griffin thinks Serge Ibaka was not suspended because the Thunder had an upcoming game with the Lakers. I would hope NBA punishment is dealt with fairly but it appears that is not always the case. Metta World Peace receives a suspension after review of game tape----should we suppose with him its reputation?

He claims his first line of work in television was reporting sports. Regis Philbin will serve as host of a feature program when the Fox Sports Channel launches in August. The 81-year old “retired” from “Live with Regis and Kelly” in 2011. I’m not one to send anyone out to pasture it’s my belief a human should be as active as possible. The question might be how many 30 and 40 year olds will leave ESPN for 81-year old Regis?

This is becoming real silly
I was watching the Tim Brando Show on CBS Sports Network recently and noticed a poll the network had commissioned. The poll question, “which player would you choose LeBron James or Kobe Bryant?” LeBron was the over-whelming winner of this unscientific poll, shocking isn‘t it? Okay let me see if I understand the reasoning; the respondents chose a 28-year old over a 34-year old. Picking the younger player certainly makes more sense, it’s not possible but I’m curious how the poll would turn out if both players were 28 years old?

Step up or shut up time
You can blame Dan Patrick for this one; he mentioned how good the Clippers have played in the regular season. He went on to state it’s now time for them to “step up or shut up” as it relates to the playoffs. For me there are other teams besides the Clippers. I can no longer include the Heat, they will never be a favorite of mine but I cannot deny the fact they won an NBA Championship. No matter how you win it it’s yours and no one can take that away from you. At the top of my “step up” list are the Spurs, surprised you I suppose. They make my list for a far different reason than the other teams. I’ve maligned this highly successful team over the years and the one year (2011-12) I pick them to emerge from the West they fall on their collective faces.

Next up you guessed it, the Lob City Clippers and they make the cut for reasons to numerous to detail. The Thunder took apart my Lakers recently; will Russell Westbrook shot them right out of an opportunity to win an NBA Championship? As for the last team I’m torn between two here; I would be tempted to name the Bulls but cannot do so with no Derrick Rose. My last selection (maybe by default) becomes the Indiana Pacers. They made a great deal of noise last season before eventually succumbing to the NBA Champ Heat, this season they have managed to beat the Heat twice. Is it this the year the Pacers emerge from the East? There I said it my step up or shut list is complete.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold”
Was the phrase uttered by Captain Kirk’s arch enemy Kahn. I discovered the quote did not originate with Star Trek, in addition one of the definitions is; (1.) “Revenge is a kind of wild justice.” Revenge might not have been on Frank Haith’s mind but it certainly was on the mind of the Mizzou faithful. Former Coach Mike Anderson and his Arkansas Razorbacks were in Columbia to play the Tigers. Arkansas had won the first match played in Fayetteville 73-71. (2.) “Despite the fact he coached five largely successful seasons in Columbia, or the fact he helped Missouri move on from the disastrous Quin Snyder era. Apparently, it was the way he left in March 2011 — with no news conference and no explanation — that clearly weighed on the minds of those in attendance.” Everyone can understand his desire to return to Arkansas but in addition to leaving under a cloud he and his staff did little recruiting, he left a senior dominated team which is not a bad thing. A St. Louis fan pointed out the number of talented Missouri players who left the State because Anderson and staff made little effort to recruit them. He named Ben McLemore of Kansas, Otto Porter at Georgetown, Bradley Beal Florida now with the NBA Wizards. Mizzou won the re-match 93-63 and exacted a “kind of wild justice.” (1.)  www.phrases.org   (2.)  KC Star
 
Where is he?
I read of two Canadian brothers who migrated to the U.S. to play basketball. Their parents had immigrated to Canada from India. I lost track of their progress but caught up with the older brother. Sim Bhullar had been ruled ineligible to play although he enrolled at New Mexico State last year. Don’t remember all the details however a number of his high school classes were not accredited by NMSTU. Bhuller is playing as a red shirt freshman this season. He is a giant at 7-5 and 360 pounds but could afford to trim down a bit. NMSTU does not play a fast paced game yet Bhuller appeared to labor up and down the court at times during the game against Missouri State. He looked fairly smooth offensively; he could stand an improvement in his rebound numbers. Bhuller finished the game against Missouri State with a career high 25 points on 9-12 from the floor. His totals, 8 rebounds 3 assists and 2 blocked shots and 0 turnovers.

I wasn’t hatin’
A few might have thought my story regarding Mario Chalmers was hatin‘that was not the case. Students of the game are aware of his value to the 2008 NCAA Championship for Kansas. Chalmers sank a 3-pointer against Memphis with 2.1 seconds left in the game. His basket forced the game into overtime with a Kansas win. Chalmers had ice-water in his veins to take the shot; I certainly don’t wish to shortchange him in that regard. I only take issue with a fan claiming Chalmers belonged on the Top 75 All-Time NCAA team. Does this guy realize what he’s saying, the top players in the 75 year history of this tournament. When you list names such as Russell, Robertson and Alcindor and others and claim Chalmers belongs in their company---well that is quite a stretch.

For me it’s not a Kansas thing either, three Kansas selections were chosen who in my estimation are deserving of the honor. The Number 7 selection on the list was Danny Manning. It was said by many the 1988 Kansas team was only an average team (21-11) headed into tournament play. The media nicknamed the team “Danny and the Miracles” as Manning led his Jayhawk teammates to victory after victory and into the NCAA Championship game. In the final game he scored 31 points snatched down 18 rebounds and stole the ball 5 times while blocking 2 shots which resulted in 83-79 victory over Oklahoma. The number 21 player chosen was Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt Chamberlain nuff said. We venture back to the 1950’s for the number 33 player, Clyde Lovellette. (1.) “Lovellette led the Jayhawks to the 1952 NCAA title, capturing MOP honors and scoring a then-NCAA-record 141 points. A three-time All-America at Kansas, Clyde led the Big Seven in scoring each of his three seasons” At that time period freshman were ineligible for varsity sports, colleges had freshman teams. (1.) Wikipedia

“He did what! “
Joakim Noah’s
triple-double, the Bulls center grabbed 21 rebounds blocked shots 11 shots and scored 23 points. He led his team to a 93-82 victory over the 76ers.

Steph Curry’s Warriors team lost the game against the Knicks 109-105. Curry scored 54 points on 18-28 shooting from the floor, 11-13 from the 3-point line. He also managed to dish out 7 assists and this 6-3 guard pulled down 6 rebounds.

Doug McDermott Creighton forward shot .833 from the floor scoring 41 points and pulled down 6 rebounds along with 3 assists. He led his Bluejay teammates to a 91-79 victory over Wichita State.

Ryan Kelly Duke forward played his first game since January. A foot injury had forced him out of the lineup. Kelly scored 36 points, 10-14 from the floor 7 of 9 from the 3-point line. His Duke team slipped by Miami (FL) 79-76.

Ben McLemore Kansas guard, he’s history (NBA) after his red-shirt freshman year. McLemore was the leading scoring with 36 points as his Jayhawk team subdued West Virginia 91-65.

When Coach K. speaks
In the late 70’s and early 80’s the investment group E.F. Hutton ran a series of television commercials. The tag line of the commercial; “when E.F. Hutton speaks people listen.” We might say that statement could be applied to Coach K, he‘s raised the issue and it‘s become a topic of conversation. I’m unsure when it first began however colleges’ students have been rushing the floor for a long period of time. According to Dan Patrick a number of schools have hard-fast rules prohibiting fans from rushing the court. Earlier this year a student in a wheelchair was almost trampled, a player saw that he’d been displaced from his wheelchair and rush to his aid.

How about the recent Iowa State-Kansas game, a police officer prevented an Iowa State fan from attacking Kansas Coach Self. Patrick went on to point out former Duke player J.J. Reddick was a lighting rod, opposing fans hated the guy. Patrick stated what if a fan had come onto the court and slugged Reddick and the player retaliated he could have faced possible legal issues. This is a non-issue in the NBA, the explanation---jail and fines. The 2004 “Malice in the Palace” began with a player fight on the floor; a few Piston fans came out of the stands and participated in the melee. The fans were arrested and in one instance one of the participants received a lifetime ban from attending Pistons games. We have no idea if the ban is still in place however that was the initial judgment.

What happens now?
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is a man of his word; he announced earlier a potential Kings purchaser would be announced prior to the March 1st deadline.  The individuals plan on building a new arena too.  Of course this causes a number of potential conflicts.  Will the NBA dissaprove the teams' sale to the Hansen group?  Can the Maloof brother be "forced" to sell the team to a local group to remain in Sacramento?  Coud we even begin to speculate on the number of potential lawsuits involving both parties? 

What if they are tied?
This is gonna hurt for a number of Kansas State fans, currently a two way tie exist for first place in the Big XII Conference. Kansas and Kansas State are tied, it the season should conclude in a tie I’m sure State fans will be happy.  If I were a K-State fan I wouldn't get crazy happy, Kansas State lost both games against its Lawrence Kansas neighbor.

The role of an analyst
Over the years many of us have witnessed a significant number of basketball color analyst in the collegiate ranks and the NBA. It’s always been my belief an analyst is to point out elements of the game we might miss or fail to perceive. For this very reason the majority of analysts have been former coaches or players no matter the sport. John Madden provided color for so long a segment of the sports world didn’t realize he once head coach of the NFL Raiders. The same holds true Dickey V., Vitale has worked at ESPN for over 20 years and most are unaware coached at the University of Detroit and the NBA Pistons.

Hubie Brown, Jeff Van Gundy would also be included in the mix. If an analyst remains in the broadcast business too long it could prove detrimental to their coaching career. Once they move to the broadcast side few teams contact them at the time coaching positions open. For example Jeff Van Gundy‘s been interviewed a number of times but is yet to be hired. The rumor mill never mentions his name anymore when there are openings. Coaches Mark Jackson and Kevin McHale are coaches who came from the broadcast side. Even more interesting Jackson had no head coaching experience yet was hired anyway. It should be noted analyst Hubie Brown once left to coach the Grizzlies; health issues forced him to return to broadcasting side.

“We want our team!”
That might be the cry of a number of Kings fans; we certainly can’t say they are giving up without a fight. I don’t think anyone could make that statement as Mayor Kevin Johnson has fought to retain the team in Sacramento. On Tuesday the city council voted 7-2 to negotiate for a new arena in the city. Too little too late might be the story here but at least the effort is there by a number of citizens. Chris Hansen receives a partial pass on this next portion of the story. It’s been reported he grew up in Seattle, was a Sonics fan but no longer lives there. On the other hand Steve Ballmer with Microsoft has been a resident of the metro all along. Did neither of the gentlemen have interest in purchasing the Sonics in 2006 when the team was sold to Clay Bennett? I’m taking no side in this effort; it appears the Sonics might have never gone out of existence and the plight of Kings fans so dire.

Are we guilty of pronouncing greatness too soon?
I admit I am guilty; recently I located video of 6-10 DeAndre Ayton a 200 pound 8th grader.  The youngster moved up and down the court smoothly and appeared to be a superior talent.  At the bottom of the page were several email comments from viewers.  A number of the letters dealt with his weight (200 pounds) but that is a minor issue, he will gain over the next several years. One letter struck a chord with me. A writer said; “why not wait until he’s a high school junior or senior before passing judgment on his ability.”  Was the writer too negative or was his view factual?  I remember several years ago the son of a friend.  The Kansas City Star wrote; "Joe ______is the best 8th grade player in the metro area."  Joe continued to play into high school and was talented enough to become a starter for a very good high school team.  Joe never reached the heights projected by the newspaper, it’s my belief he raised his game but so did others around him.  The superior talent he exhibited in middle school became average at the high school level.

Really????
51 years ago March 2nd Wilt Chamberlain set the modern NBA single game scoring record.  He would total an incrediable 100 point against the New York Knicks.  His Philadelphia Warrior team subdued the Knicks 169-147 before 4,124 spectators.  In the those days team would often "farm" out games and that would occur here.  It was played in Hershey (PA) 100+ miles from downtonw Philadelphia.  The shame of it all no film exist of the game, the only record for posterity purposes is the radio broadcast.  I would understand many fail to realize the significance of the feat.  The NBA of that period contained a smaller number of teams.  In addition the game has changed as well.  Both views and maybe others are valid however 100 points scored is 100 points.  Consider this, since that date the nearest player to even come close was the 81 point game Kobe Bryant had against the Raptors January 22, 2206.  (dates and game information Wikipedia)

Don’t talk about me
The 75th Anniversary of the NCAA Tournament produced a list of the Top 75 athletes in it's history.  There were several players who might have been rated too high while others were probably rated too low.  Keep in mind this team has absolutely no connection to a successful or lack thereof of an NBA career; it’s strictly collegiate accomplishment. It should be noted somewhere out there in the vast wasteland is a delusional Kansas fan. After checking the list he sent an email questioning why Mario Chalmers was not included. This team is comprised of the top NCAA players from 1938 to the present day, sorry fella Chalmers doesn‘t make the cut.