Back to the future
The title of several Michael J. Fox movies in the mid to late 1980’s was Back to the Future, we might apply that tag to the Charlotte Bobcats. Next season they will become the Hornets with a name change. Of course Hornets was the name of the franchise but the team and name left the city for New Orleans in 2002. Two years later an expansion NBA team began play in Charlotte. As for New Orleans a new ownership group wanted a name more closely identified with the city and state. The owner chose Pelicans the State Bird of Louisiana to replace the Hornet name. Once this was done the Charlotte franchise under Michael Jordan applied to the NBA to claim the Hornet team name. In addition to a name change there will be uniform color change. The Bobcats color would be replaced by the teal and purple jersey of the 1988 Charlotte Hornets. In addition three secondary jersey colors will also be worn, what was old has become new again.

We didn’t want to hear this news
I didn’t see the game but discovered Friday evening Derrick Rose was injured. He sustained the injury during the Bulls game against the Blazers and we waited for further news. Saturday afternoon the team announced their star point guard would require surgery. He sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee, no timetable on his return. I know Bulls fans are zapped but I feel worse for Rose. He sat out last season due to a torn ligament in his left knee. It sickens me to see an athlete in any sport sustain a major injury; hopefully Rose will be able to return to the game he loves.

It’s more than a learning curve
Early in the NBA season the Nets on the court resembled a fine tuned orchestra it was not to last, in recent days the notes played have become quite sour. Naturally the finger of blame has been pointed at rookie coach Jason Kidd. It’s rather unusual for an athlete to retire and to be hired immediately as a head coach however it’s more than Kidd. After the summer blockbuster trade (Garnett, Pierce and Terry) this Nets team was pronounced a contender for an Eastern Conference Crown. Ownership believed the team they assembled would play successful basketball throughout the season. Although an older team limiting minutes during the regular season would prepare them for a long playoff run.

The Three Amigos playing fewer minutes would be ready for playoff basketball; the key it was hoped no back to back games in the playoffs. The recent problems of this team are more than Captain Kidd steering the ship, 1st mate Deron Williams has been injured. Center Brook Lopez has been injured so has Andre Kirilenko who was expected to contribute off the bench. The Nets roster is more prepared for a doctor’s visit than a visiting team. As this is written the team with the largest payroll in the NBA is 3-9, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The health of the big three plus Williams, Lopez and Kirilenko will improve, it’s hoped the ship will regain its buoyancy and be able to mount a run and secure a playoff spot.

The story has no “legs”
Younger readers may not be familiar with the title of this story. The “no legs” reference simply states a portion might be true there is no evidence of a continuing report due. As a member of the media Peter Vecsey can write whatever he wishes. My problem is lack of credibility with this writer. He sent out a tweet indicating Steve Nash was considering retirement due to his continuing injury issues. There is no doubt at age 39 Nash is near the end of his career however it appears Vecsey has “created” a story. Denials to the Vecsey tweet emerged from all directions including Laker management.

As for my creditability issues I had to research the one issue which caused me to take Vecsey information with a grain of salt.  He was part of the studio crew at the time the NBA was on NBC. Jeff Van Gundy was coaching the Knicks in 1999. Prior to the telecast of the weekly game Vecsey reported; “Van Gundy will be fired before halftime.” The firing never occurred in fact Van Gundy lasted almost two years before resigning after 19 games in the 2001-2002 season. Vescey claimed he received the firing story from a lunch meeting with a Knick executive, who do we believe Vescey or the source of his information? In any event Vescey worked for the New York Post but left in 2012. Vescey’s subject Steve Nash finally made reference to the story; “I have no idea of retiring I have 18 months of basketball left. “