Burn a jersey---I don’t think so
I am unwilling to burn any NBA jersey, remember back four years ago when angry Cavs fans took to the streets setting fire to LeBron jerseys? NBA jerseys vary in price; youth jerseys can be a low $39.00 while you could pay several thousand dollars for an autographed Jerry West or Kareem Abdul Jabbar jersey. I have an Andrew Bynum Laker jersey which now is permanently in my closet; I no longer display it with my other Laker gear.  I certainly have no desire to discard a $79.00 jersey.  If your favorite player leaves by free agency or trade I would suggest you follow my lead just don’t display it. A fan at Cleveland’s Progressive Field was photographed last weekend with a LeBron jersey. The damaged jersey featured a quite prominent hole beneath the number 23. We must guess he either burned or cut-out a hole in the jersey four years ago. If I’m upset because the player was a free-agent and left or simply traded that’s the end of the story. I don’t know about you however I have no desire to waste my money intentionally destroying an item or items I’ve purchased.

Are rings a barometer?
I hope in the past I’ve not utilized the argument of rings won as a basis for who is the greatest. The discussion of rings has most often been conducted among the media, on other occasions we’ve heard from former players. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard from a Hall of Fame player discuss this matter. The other day I listened to Julius “Dr. J. Erving expound on this issue, he was questioned about Michael Jordan and his six championship rings. I’m paraphrasing his commentary this is not word for word; “Nobody is going to touch Bill Russell‘s 11 championship rings.”

He went on to mention among others Celtic John Havlicek with more than 6 rings. “You cannot simply state Russell and others played in a different era. There are 30 teams in the NBA at present there were only 8 during much of the ’50’s and ’60’s. The talent is actually diluted by the NBA containing even more teams.” Robert Horry won a number of rings playing for several NBA teams; in addition he played in the modern era. Is Horry more valuable than Jordan due to his ring count? Forget about the ring argument it’s not valid as measurement of a players true value.

He can be egregious too
I wanted to use the word egregious in the headline as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith loves to utilize the word. Definition is; “Outstandingly bad; shocking.” Allow me to use the word egregious in a sentence. “Stephen A. Smith can certainly be egregious at times.” Sports broadcasting has changed, it’s now driven by social media as much as events. In addition the roles have morphed into something else as well. We have sports analysis and sports commentary, the difficulty is separating analysis from commentary. Does the report contain actual fact or just opinion? Whoa Larry are you stating Smith and others are not entitled to their opinion?

Of course their opinions are valid my issue is there is almost always two sides to the story. Often they (me too sometimes) attempt to persuade you to their view providing little if any evidence. For me the chief complaint is the omnipotent observation. “I’m getting paid to report this stuff so I’ve got to have a better handle on what’s going on than you.” We could use LeBron James as the most egregious story out there, it seemed ESPN had its staff making hourly reports on the destination of LeBron. Don’t know about you but shortly after his decision almost all reported “they were aware he (LeBron) was headed back to Northern Ohio.”

Heat fans beware
I’m requesting Heat fans be careful reading this, consider this fact I’m the same guy who believed last years Laker team would be “okay.” Of course a portion of my belief was based on Kobe Bryant returning in December or January healthy and available the balance of the season. As you are aware this scenario was not to be the Lakers had the very worst season in their 66 year history. As for the Heat Luol Deng will replace LeBron James in the starting lineup; he certainly is nowhere near the level of LeBron but should be adequate. Wade and Bosh return to starters’ role, as one media member said; “They are not rebuilding, they are reloading.”

Veterans Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger will provide relief in a reserve role.  Although both are a year older veteran “Birdman” and Udonis Haslem return as well.  Mario Chalmers also returns at the point however Shabazz Napier and Norris Cole will push him for playing time. This is but a thumbnail sketch of the 2014-15 Heat, in closing I can state with a degree of comfort. This Heat team will not bottom out as the Cavs did post-LeBron. The last question and maybe key is coaching, I can concur with the media in this issue. Spolestra changed and failed to changed his lineup at strange times during the season and post-season. I might add the lineup changes were not always a result of injuries or illness. 

Oh for the good ole days
Dan Patrick was lamenting the demise of the Big East, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin and Pearl Washington. I can agree with Patrick the former Big East was intended to be a powerhouse basketball conference. That is indeed what it became, there were bitter battles between Georgetown and Syracuse. I can’t say ya or nay but Patrick claims football is the basis for the demise of Big East basketball.

One of the points worth mentioning Patrick said; “Ewing stayed for four years, in this day how many years would he have stayed one year perhaps two?” He’s correct in this regard there will never be another conference founded strictly on the basis of basketball. That was the original intent of Conference USA when it was founded we can debate if it ever reached the expected level. ACC basketball is the “it” conference at present, many who follow the Big XII want to lay claim to the crown. Kansas has dominated the Big XII however other members of the conference have not had much of a national presence.

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