“Show me the money”
Cuba Gooding Jr. (Rod Tidwell) shouted the statement on the telephone with Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire) sports agent in the movie “Jerry Maguire.” The August 9 edition of Words eye view featured a story on the increased value of the 76ers franchise in just a few years. A report on the Warriors franchise from Darren Rovell ESPN business analyst was quite interesting. Rovell said; *“in 2010 the Warriors were acquired by Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber they paid $450 million dollars. The 2013 assessment of the Warriors franchise is $800 million dollars.”
It’s not just one franchise whose value has increased the recent sale of the Kings provides us proof of the entire league. Seattle and Sacramento interest were matched against one another to determine which group would succeed in acquiring the Kings. The Maloof family would sell the franchise to an ownership group represented a group wanting the team to the team to remain in Sacramento; the Kings were sold for a record $535 million dollars. I had written previously and it bears repeating, every time an NBA franchise is for sale prospective owners begin forming a line. Those buyers might well here the phrase “show me the money.”
“You Can’t Go Home Again”
The above was the title of a classic novel by Thomas Wolfe, it was published in 1940. The indication is a person can never return home after experiencing life elsewhere. Once again it’s proven untrue, world known “know it all” Jason Whitlock has returned. He really never left he’s just returning to ESPN.com, you do remember once upon a time they fired him. To briefly refresh your memory he made disparaging remarks about ESPN reporters Scoop Jackson and Mike Lupica. I would leave him alone if he’d cease attempting to convince us he knows basketball. Over the years he’s written few baseball and hockey stories, those sports certainly have had degrees of controversy. It’s my belief he doesn’t write about them because he’s not entirely familiar with the sport. He’s not renowned for his basketball knowledge but thinks there is a requirement to write on the sport while providing little if any insight.
Wait and See
Fox Sports 1 had its official launch on Saturday; it’s intended to compete with the ESPN family of channels. Basketball fans must adopt a wait and see attitude with this new channel. Fox Sports.com offered a preview detailing programming and the basketball appears to be limited; for the upcoming season only Big East basketball would be telecast. As reported earlier the network lured veteran college basketball analyst Bill Rafftery from ESPN, Gus Johnson will offer play by play for the network. As stated earlier basketball fans must wait and discover if Fox Sports 1 really intends to compete with ESPN. ESPN might no longer offer Big East basketball but can provide viewers SEC, Big XII, Big 10 and ACC basketball.
Another Tiger added to the fold
Mizzou received another Class of 2014 commitment over the weekend. 6-8 210 pound forward Jakeenan Gant gave his verbal to become a Tiger after his campus visit. Gant is rated a 4-Star prospect and is the number 44th player in Rivals list of 2014 prospects. ESPNU awards Gant 4-Stars and ranks him the number 37 prospect in the nation. The youngster attends Effingham County High School in Springfield Georgia, the town is located about 30 miles northwest of Savannah. Where is the guy who claimed Mizzou would be unable to recruit in SEC country?
Come to think of it
I’ve long realized my problem with Whitlock is the belief he almost never “informs me of something I don’t know.” He certainly has the ability to express his view on a subject---it just so happens when he moves into basketball he loses even more credibility. I might be incorrect in my observation; there are a number of writers I have admiration for. I’ve discovered for the most part they write on basketball they don’t delve into other sports and then drift back to our sport. I thought why not provide you some of the writers I read regularly. I might add I don’t always agree with their writing however I’ve found them to be informative rather than just opinionated. Mike DeCoursey of the Sporting News, Jay Bilas ESPN, Mike Katz ESPN and Ken Berger CBSSports.com are names that come to mind.
