Bits n Pieces
Rivals 3-star prospect and point guard Shane Rector provided Mizzou a verbal commitment on April 20. This is a thumbs up moment for Haith and staff, additional help at the point guard. Haith could choose among three players for the position, 6-4 Tulsa transfer Jordan Clark, freshman Rivals 4-star prospect Wesley Clark or Rector.
The end of the NBA season brought about a name change. Earlier in the year it was announced the New Orleans Hornets would be renamed the Pelicans next season. New in addition to the name change a new color scheme. Sadly taps has played for Hugo the Hornet the teams’ mascot. I’m okay with the name change but I cannot imagine someone in a pelican suit.
The NBA announced the anti-flopping rules for the playoffs, the serious side player fines are in place. The funny side, a number of NBA players could have been nominated for an Academy Award or Emmy this past season. No new categories are required just utilize those already in use----Best Actor or maybe Visual Effects.
Skip Bayless called out Jemele Hill on ESPN‘s First Take last Friday. Hill had stated “the Spurs would beat the Lakers in their series.” Not surprising, Bayless reminded her (and viewers) she had stated over and over during the season the “Lakers wouldn’t make the playoffs.” We get it Jemele you don’t like the Lakers, that’s okay.
As this is written the Seattle-Sacramento issue remains in limbo. There will be a new arena in either city depending on the decision of NBA Board of Governors, both have plans in place. On the clock is San Francisco and Milwaukee, both will open new buildings in 2017.
“They are hired to be fired”
I cannot remember when I first heard the term above applied to a coach in any sport. It’s simple, you don’t win or your team under achieves a coach is often shown the door. It’s April 18, there may be additional coaches fired but here is the list to date. The Cavs fired Byron Scott, the 76ers Doug Collins resigned (before he was fired). The Pistons relieved Lawrence Frank of his duties. The Temptations once recorded a hit tune titles “Standing on Shaky Ground.” Shaky ground term could apply to the earth beneath the feet of Keith Smart Kings, Lindsey Hunter of the Suns and Dwane Casey of the Raptors.
He decided to go big-time
Unlike his fellow coaches Shaka Smart of VCU and Brad Stevens at Butler Andy Enfield leaped at the opportunity. Smart and Stevens burst on the national scene during the NCAA tourney after being relatively unknown coaches. After their teams had successful runs their names were dropped every time a head coaching position opened. For personal reasons both chose to remain at VCU and Butler respectively. Enfield was an unknown as well until his until his Florida Gulf Coast made its run in the NCAA. Unlike Smart and Stevens at the time Southern Cal came calling he leaped at the opportunity. Andy Enfield will be prowling the sidelines at Southern Cal in the fall.
I’m not a hater
There was no attempt on my part to be a hater---my point was meant to be humorous. You must be a long-time Mizzou fan to recognize the name Monte Hardge. Hardge played for two years at Mizzou 1997-1999, this mountain of a man stood 6-11 and weighed in at 335 pounds. I‘m sure Hardge was a nice enough guy just not a very good collegiate player. A former Mizzou player posted his photo on a social network and said; “the closet Mizzou had to Shaq.” With a 7.1 point per game average and 5.8 rebounds I said “it was his size must have been the basis for the comparison. “ I’m guessing a teammate or high school buddy claimed “I was hatin’ on Hardge. Another detailed the Hardge impact in high school and on the the playground. In this Facebook/Twitter/Linkeden/web world you certainly must be careful how you comment on anything.
