There is a distinction between lack of talent and lack of effort!
-------Larry Laker

The “Dean” is no longer with us
Early Sunday we received word Dean Smith had died, although he’s been retired since 1997 anytime North Carolina basketball is mentioned his name invariability becomes part of the conversation. Few realize he’s one the keys to North Carolina’s place on the basketball map. Some might say that’s an exaggerated on my part after all the 1957 team coached by Frank McGuire won the NCAA championship over a Kansas team led by Wilt Chamberlain. Dean a Kansas native honed his skill playing for Phog Allen and was a member of the 1952 NCAA champion Kansas team. He was born in Emporia Kansas in 1931 and grew up in Topeka. Smith coached at North Carolina for 36-years and had only one losing season his first during his tenure.

Smith recruited guard Charley Scott the first African-American to play in the ACC. The coach was personally responsible for integrating the conference. Smith holds the distinction of being a member of two halls of fames, the Naismith Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall. In addition to turning out a number of NBA players and his Carolina team twice won the NCAA championship. This is but a brief account and fails to adequately cover many of the innovations pioneered by this native of Kansas. It’s short on purpose because Smith never sought glory or wanted the spotlight to shine on him. Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Sam Perkins and Phil Ford is just a few of the outstanding players Smith coached.

Black history moment
Despite continuing racial problems American is nothing like it was in 1944; segregation and Jim Crow laws were in place especially in southern portions of the nation. The policies that forbid the races mixing existed in sports too. Rarely did white and black teams play one another except in one noteworthy instance. In March 1944 white Duke University played black North Carolina Central University in a basketball game.

The game was a well-kept secret; curtains covered the windows to prohibit outsiders from knowing the game was even being played. The athletes and all participants were sworn to secrecy considering they were breaking the law by even playing the game. North Carolina Central playing an up tempo offense won the match 88-44. The participants maintain their silence regarding this little know history fact until 1996.

Bits n Pieces
I’d written an account last season on the Spurs Greg Popovich. I’m sure a discussion of great NBA coaches it’s likely his name will probably be omitted. Popovich reached a significant milestone on Monday, 1,000 NBA victories. He becomes just the ninth coach in NBA history to accomplish the number. We could state “It’s not where you start it’s where you finish;” he began his coaching career as an Air Force assistant coach and later head coach at D-III Pomona-Pitzer. This is not a slam at either institution however you wouldn’t have expected such a successful career from these schools.

A couple of folks asked me if I thought Kobe Bryant should retire after this latest injury. I repeated what I wrote a few weeks back he should retire but he won’t. I said; “He’s got 25,000,000 reasons why he won’t.” Of course the reference was to his reported salary. The Lakers are not going to win a championship in the time left for him. The Lakers experienced two sub-par years and I don’t believe he wants to retire with losing records on his resume. Just my belief I could be off-base.

They don’t stand alone
This first weekend in February the Kentucky Wildcats remain undefeated. They managed to survive a scare from upset minded Florida winning a close game 68-61. Last night the same as they barely won over LSU 71-69.  Kentucky’s record is 24-0 however they are not the only undefeated team in the nation. As far as I can determine there is one other men's team Marietta College, Marietta who you might ask? Well it’s a NCAA Division III school located in Marietta Ohio. The Marietta Pioneers current record in 21-0 and the city is located approximately 124 miles south and east of Columbus.

“Show me the money”
Do you remember the scene, Jerry McGuire (Tom Cruise) is on the telephone with Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.)? The agent is trying to convince the football player to sign with him. The player says to the agent “Show me the money” and the agent response was bland. Tidwell said; “say it like you mean it, (screaming in the phone) show me the money.”

McGuire responded by screaming into the telephone at “Show me the money.” Diana Tarusi of the WNBA Mecury might not be screaming but she’s making the same type of statement. Tarusi is “sitting out” the WNBA season after her Russian team requested, they are paying her 3X her Mercury salary. Britney Griner might soon be making the same type of commitment. The Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China are paying Griner 12X her WNBA salary.