“I want to believe”
The title above was the repeated theme of the ’90’s sci-fi television series The X-Files. (1.) “This television series follows the adventures and lives of FBI agents investigating those cases that involve the paranormal or previously unsolved (especially by conventional means).” In this instance I want to believe Chris Hansen when he announces they have received an astronomical 44,000 season tickets applications for Sonics basketball next season. Reading the number of emails sent to ESPN.com in response to the story a significant number of you don’t believe the Hansen statement. I admit I know very little about Chris Hansen however is there a basis for disbelief in his credibility? Better yet what would be the purpose for misleading Seattle fans and the sports world? We do know he has deep pockets (money) and his partner in the venture (Microsoft) has deep pockets. (1.) (www.imdb.com)

Retro active
Last week LeBron James complained about the hard foul the Bulls Taj Gibson laid on him, this week the NBA issues a flagrant foul on Gibson. This is either the third or fourth time I’ve written of my disdain for “after the fact” penalties. We acknowledge the speed and athletic ability of athletes often causes officials to “miss” calls. That’s been the history of basketball that probably dates back to the Naismith days. Officials are awarded grades during the course of the season those receiving too many D or F grades are not asked to return.         

Bits n Pieces
Metta World Peace suffered a torn lateral meniscus, until the injury he’d been the only starter in the lineup for every game. I don’t remember a Laker team suffering as many injuries to key players as the 2012-13 team. This is not an age issue just a series of events that defy explanation.

We are in agreement me and Andy Katz ESPN reporter, he complained about basketball played in dome stadiums. I understand the reasoning, a greater amount of butts in the seats translate to a greater amount of revenue. That’s the only basis for playing basketball in Cowboys Stadium.

The agreement to build an arena in Sacramento isn’t worth the paper it’s written on! That might sound like a strong statement however there is an explanation. According to the Sacramento Bee newspaper the Maloof family must accept the bid from Sacramento, interesting isn‘t it?

The celebrities on the court rather than in the stands, this one caught my eye so I decided to bring it to your attention. This is an old story now; I came across a photo of actor Richard Gere and his son at the Nets-Knicks game November 26 at the Barclays Center. Gere has a Nets cap on however his 13-year old son has a Knicks cap adorning his head.

It’s not my desire to catch errors (I’m sure I’ve made several as well). J.A. Adande ESPN in a discussion on retired jerseys said; “the Lakers wait until a player is in the Hall of Fame before they retire his number that’s why it took Jamaal Wilkes so long.” Adande made his statement the day Shaquille O’ Neal’s Laker jersey was retired. Adande was not totally correct; Wilkes is in the Hall of Fame. The recently retired Shaq is not eligible for election until 2017.

Was he smiling when he said it?
I’m referring to Mavs owner Mark Cuban and his recent statement. He said “his team might draft Baylor’s Brittney Griner in the second round.” At 6-8 Griner has dominated the women’s collegiate game, according to Wikipedia Griner weighs in at a slim 207 pounds, contrast that to 6-8 265 pound LeBron James. I checked several NBA rosters and Griner will be a loser in the weight department to any NBA male small forward. How do you argue against the silliness of this issue without sounding chauvinistic? This is no knock at her ability; she is talented certainly above average for the women’s game. It’s my belief women cannot compete with men where strength and speed are necessary. Sports that don’t require S&S women can and should be able to contend. It‘s not just me, legendary UConn Coach Geno Auriemma stated as much. As many women’s teams as he’s coached I think I’d take stock in his view. Competing against men night after night is a totally different matter; then again this whole matter might be an attention grabbing Mark Cuban.