IT’S A DONE DEAL
The Sterling saga is officially over; Steve Ballmer has taken over as owner, if we didn’t know already the NBA has attorneys too. In response to Sterling’s antitrust lawsuit the NBA filed a counterclaim stating he caused “devastating and incaluable harm to the league.” No monetary amount was listed by the NBA in its suit. Poor, poor Donald Sterling he’s got to suffer with a $1 billion dollar payoff for a team he paid $12.5 million to acquire. As I attempted to point in previous accounts this is more than a TMZ tape although it certainly played a role. For reasons none of us will ever know Donald Sterling has the worst won-loss record as an owner in NBA history. A portion of this is based on his longevity as an owner. Read the Wikipedia page on Donald Sterling for complete details.

Just a portion reads; “At his introductory news conference in San Diego, (the franchise later moved to Los Angeles) Sterling vowed to "spend unlimited sums" to build the Clippers into a contender and he embarked on a county-wide marketing campaign featuring his smiling face on billboards and the backs of buses. The ads read: "My Promise: I will make you proud of the Clippers". Unlike Buss' instant success with the Lakers (including winning an NBA championship in his first season as owner, 1979–80), Sterling and his Clippers struggled through many lackluster seasons, and they did not have their first winning season until the 1991–92 season, eleven years into his ownership. In Sterling's 33 years of owning the Clippers through 2013–14, the Clippers lost 50 or more games 22 times, 60 or more on eight occasions, and 70 games once. Their 9–41 record in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season projected to another 60-loss season.”

Why?
Greg Oden was arrested and jailed on a felony battery charge. The record says he physically assaulted a former girl friend and the question remains why? Physical violence is certainly not the manner to resolve disputes. We have no idea the weight and height of the victim; we have Oden’s numbers however. He stands seven feet tall and weighs a hefty 273 pounds; in a basketball contest he could find himself over matched against a woman that might be a far different case. Surely there is a better method for Ray Rice and Greg Oden to resolve disputes other than using their fists.

“The elephant in the room”
I believe the time is now to discuss the “elephant in the room.” The elephant is Douglas Richard McDermott or simply Doug McDermott. Maybe he’s known to you by his pseudonym; “Doug McBuckets.” You’ve heard the stories; “he can play in college but he’s too slow for the NBA.” The other report; “he’s strictly a shooter or McDermott plays at a mid-major school” or the most blatant statement of all, “The NBA needs another great white hope.” Others have compared him to Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison who was never able to play at the level he exhibited in college.

As for the mid-major proclamation they might have forgotten Larry Bird played at Indiana State. Let’s just say this 6-8 225 pound small forward can play at the NBA level. The Nuggets drafted him with the number 11 pick and traded him to the Bulls. One of the best defensive teams in the NBA the Bulls often lack scoring punch especially with Derrick Rose missing. There will be an adjustment period for him, we don’t know if McDermott is a starter or coming off the bench he should address the scoring issues suffered at times last season by the Bulls.

Playing at home
I’m watching the Royals-White Sox home opener on television. The White Sox batter rolls out to the second baseman that makes a toss to first for the out the Kansas City crowd cheers. It got me to thinking what’s the most difficult sport for an opposing team to play on the road? I offer no proof and you are free to formulate your own opinion. I believe the opposition college basketball court may be the most difficult for opponents. Imagine a visiting team at Rupp Arena, the Dean Dome or Allen Fieldhouse?

I believe a tie might exist between NHL hockey and the NBA followed by college football, NFL and Major League Baseball concludes our unscientific poll. All sports require efficient skill play but I believe baseball played on enemy turf causes less stress for the opposition than any of the other sports mentioned. College basketball is by far the most difficult on an opposing court. Envision 9,000 screaming fans packed inside tiny Cameron Indoor Stadium screaming for Duke or 8,000 boisterous patrons inside Philadelphia’s Palestra rooting for St. Joseph, Temple or Villanova.