There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!

-------Larry Laker

I’m extremely disappointed
I didn’t witness the UMKC-Mizzou game in person or on television. I am dissecting the game via the box score which is likely unfair. Kim Anderson’s Mizzou Tigers suffered a “flat tire” as the “new” coach lost his first game. The Tigers had played a couple of exhibition games but this was the first game against a D-1 opponent. The University of Missouri-Kansas City upended the Tigers 69-61, has UMKC under second year coach Kareem Richardson turned the corner? The team finished 8-24 two years ago 10-20 last season under Richardson. Is UMKC on the way up and Mizzou on the way down? That question and others remained to be answered, stay tuned for future developments.

Will he?
Names from the past and at least one from the present day accomplished this feat. Jim Brown, Bo Jackson, Charlie Ward, Donovan McNabb and Jameis Winston are just a few of the individuals. The previously named athletes competed in two sports while enrolled in college. With the exception of Winston who remains in college the skill set of the others may have allowed them to play professionally in another sport. In the ‘30’s and ‘40’s competing in two sports wasn’t that unusual, this trend may have continued up through the ‘50’s.

Increased competition and classroom work made it extremely difficult for athletes to continue this duo pursuit. Where am I going you might ask? You might be unfamiliar with the name Drew Lock, he’s from suburban Lee Summit is headed to Mizzou next fall. Lock is a 6-3 shooting guard rated a 3-star prospect by Rivals. As for the football portion he’s rated a 4-star by the same website and is considered the number one high school quarterback in the State of Missouri. We’ll have no answer on Lock until next year however it appears he intends to play football and basketball.

Hear that?
I’m referring to the yelling, screaming maybe even profanities aimed at John Calipari and Kentucky basketball. Why all the debate is aimed at the two principals mentioned? The early signing period found Kentucky rushing to the head of the class once again in acquiring potentially talented basketball prospects. 6-11 210 pound Skal Labissiere from Cordova (TN) has announced he’s headed for Lexington. He’s the number five prospect in the Class of 2015 by Rivals.com. Labissiere from Haiti came to the U.S. after the devastating 2010 earthquake in the Caribbean nation. Distributing the basketball to Labissiere and other Kentucky players will be 6-3 point guard Isaiah Briscoe. Briscoe is from Newark (NJ), Rivals list Briscoe number nine in its 2015 rankings. ESPN Recruiting Nation now believes Kentucky has gained the top spot among all schools in 2015 recruiting.

I’m pointing the finger
ESPN leads the way however there are others, they remind us daily how terrible the Lakers are. They point fingers at Kobe Bryant, owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak as the source. Perhaps one or more of the individuals are responsible or indirectly responsible for the current plight of the Lakers. I’d like to add one more name a name everyone overlooks.

I’m adding former commissioner David Stern to the list. For all the innovation he brought to the NBA this is certainly one black eye for many Lakers. You remember the story the Lakers traded for Chris Paul and Stern vetoed the trade “in the best interest of the NBA. “ Instead of the Lakers having to trade for the missing Steve Nash the younger Paul would be in place. Its likely Paul Gasol would have been replaced at the power forward position too.