See it
ESPN is a multi-billion dollar corporation they need no promotional help from me. At the same time I believe I voiced my share of complaints regarding the “World Wide Leader.” Why not toss a few kudos in their direction for a worth while production. I believe the latest 30 for 30 project directed by actor Michael Rapaport deserves praise. The documentary is titled When the Garden was Eden a look at the championship run of the 1970 Knicks.  The program is worth an hour and a half of your time; check it out if you have an opportunity. .

It’s over
Just in case you haven’t heard the details late Thursday evening the Steve Nash era came to an official end. It’s been determined a back injury will sideline him for the 2014-15 season. Several have stated Nash should have retired four or five years ago that’s up for debate. What’s really sad this two-time MVP is going out with a whimper unable to retire on his own terms? A series of continuing injuries have forced retirement on him although it’s not yet official. Nash hasn’t hung up his basketball shoes however its unlikely he’ll return to the game he loves at age 41.

Nash will be elected to the Hall of Fame just as soon as he’s eligible. Since I’m a glass half full guy this could be a blessing in disguise. Jeremy Lin will now move into the starting lineup he will be backed up by veteran Ronnie Price. In all likelihood Jordan Clarkson was going to make the final cut anyway, he can now become the back up at the point or shooting guard. In addition one of the young guards currently in camp might also make the final cut. Will the Lakers suffer at the point most likely but consider this Nash was never the speediest guy in the NBA or a great defender.

Mind-boggling
If you are a certain age you realize cheating in a variety of forms occurs in college football and basketball programs across the nation. The result of an investigation at North Carolina is staggering. Over 3,000 students received A’s or B’s in a sham class, it appeared the only requirement was a single term paper. The report indicated 1,000 or so of the number were non-athletes. Last spring former Tarheel basketball player Rashard McCants brought out into the open the impropriety of UNC basketball.

McCants claimed the coaching staff was aware of these issues. I expressed skepticism at the time MCCants news first surfaced because I believe in basketball Coach Roy Williams. I’m less familiar with the football coach who’s no longer at Carolina. I’m going to stick strictly to the basketball issue; UNC won two NCAA Championships during this 10-year period. Should the championships be vacated by the university or the NCAA? That’s the question for you and others to answer.

Is this worth debating?
Who was better player Steve Patterson or Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar)? The first question might be who in the world is Patterson? He was the back-up to Alcindor and would become the starting center after Alcindor graduated. Patterson had limited success in the NBA mostly as a back-up; you may ask where am I going with this story? With Steve Nash lost for the season and Allen Iverson retired my two “favorite” media guys were debating which player had the greater NBA career.

As for Patterson and Alcindor it’s quite clear on the collegiate and NBA level which was the more talented player and had the greater level of success on the basketball court. As for Iverson and Nash why is this even an issue to be debated? Both players had outstanding NBA careers; it’s likely both will be elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Both were able to provide leadership that allowed their teams to play at a higher level. Finally why is this an issue even to be debated?

Reason #4 why I love college basketball
I love college basketball for its historical reasons. Do you realize at one point in time the college game held a higher position with fans than the pro game? College basketball was “big-time” in the 1940’s and 1950’s; the pro game by the fledgling National Basketball League (founded in 1937) and the Basketball Association of American (founded in 1946) were on the level of today’s D-League. Madison Square Garden was the capital of college basketball serving as host of the first post-season National Invitation Tournament in 1938.