Basketball from a fans perspective
Don’t get it twisted
The slang dictionary says the definition of don’t get it twisted states “don't be mistaken.” That’s me and my earlier statement about the Spurs Becky Hammon. I‘m certainly not saying Hammon is prepared to become an NBA head coach right now. She is still to be commended for leading the Spurs to the NBA Summer League Championship. As for her future and others the question of the first female coach can only be answered by an NBA owner willing to take a chance. That’s not likely to occur in 2015, there is no time table however I believe it will occur. Someone pointed to the fact the first female head coach will occur in the NBA before football or baseball because its basketball.
A change
NBA League Pass has been available to NBA fans since the 1993-94 season. NBA fans have the opportunity to view all out of market games except those nationally televised. As for the future Instead of paying $199 for a season package we’ll be able to pick and chose which games to view. Your next question how much is this going to cost me? Single games will cost you $6.99, I don’t know about you but I always enjoy opportunity to choose what I want. You must be a customer of DirecTV, Dish, AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner and Cox in order to receive NBA League Pass. You can view the games on broadband for computers, tablets and mobile devices. Although League Pass is available world-wide this program will only be accessible in the U.S.
Life imitating art imitating life
You’ve heard the old saying; “Life imitating life” I’ve changed the adage and continue reading and you will discover why. Those of you reading this remember the 1986 movie Hoosiers? Gene Hackman starred as basketball coach Norman Dale; his tiny high school would face a large urban high school for the state basketball championship. The movie was fiction based on fact the 1954 Indiana State Championship. At that time Milan had a student enrollment of 161 and faced off against Muncie Central with its 1,600 students. I suppose you might ask where I am going with this account.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hoosiers MGM studios and the Pacers have come to an agreement. Throughout this upcoming season the Pacers will wear replica Hickory uniforms for selected games. It should be of note high school championships in the State of Indiana are now divided by student enrollment. There are four divisions which have been in place since 1997-1998. As for my attempt to link the events it’s Life (1954 Milan) imitating art (1986 Hoosiers movie) imitating life (2015-16 Pacers). I know it’s a stretch but just work with me on this one.
This may be his last stop
For all his talent Lance Stephenson has become somewhat of a cartoon character, this capable but outlandish at times athlete is now on his third NBA team. He wore out his welcome in Indiana after four seasons. Do you remember seeing the game or the photo of Stephenson blowing in LeBron’s ear while both were on the free-throw line? The Pacers became disenchanted with his immaturity and traded him to the Hornets last season. After a regressing season in Charlotte the Hornets too decided in favor of change.
Stephenson is on to his third team as he was traded to the Clippers. If Larry Bird and Michael Jordan couldn’t get through to him you think Doc Rivers can? Reports indicate a number of Chris Paul’s teammates detest his yelling at them. You think Stephenson going to take Paul’s comments after all wasn’t that suppose to be one of the reasons DeAndre Jordan was leaving? To his detriment he reminds me a little of Ron Artest who finally managed to tame his talent. Maybe this will be Stephenson‘s last stop and maturity will finally set in after all he‘s still young (25 in September).
He’s done it again
I must applaud LeBron James once again; it’s not for his exploits on the court rather it’s the boardroom. His company has signed a deal with Warner Brothers Studios with plans for development of television and film projects. This is the latest business coup Maverick Carter and company has produced for LeBron. Carter and others are childhood friends of LeBron, at the time he hired Carter to run his financial empire many questioned the move. How much is LeBron’s net worth you ask? One site claims his net worth is $300 million while another pegs it even higher at $425 million.
He is the NBA
Once upon a time I believed Marv Albert to be “The voice of the NBA,” the long-time former Knicks broadcaster and TNT play by play man. Albert has been replaced in my view by Ernie Johnson Jr.; even more interesting Johnson’s accomplished the task without ever conducting play by play in an NBA game. Don’t believe Johnson couldn’t perform the task if required to do so. From 1993 to 1996 he called games of the baseball Braves, in addition he’s been behind the mike for other sporting events including golf. One of the more interesting facts he is the son of a former major league baseball pitcher Ernie Johnson Sr.
Johnson Jr. was believed to have a career in the sport of his father. A funny thing happened on the way to his planned baseball profession he discovered he wasn’t very good. In fact Johnson Jr. played freshman baseball at Georgia but wasn’t good enough to qualify as a sophomore. The enterprising Johnson Jr. turned to the broadcast field his father’s second career after Sr. retired from baseball. Jr. has received a number of Emmys and other broadcast awards over the years but none paint a true portrait of the man. I certainly cannot due him justice in this short piece however I now believe Johnson is the NBA.
