Donald Sterling
A year after the fact I continue to read letters from fans defending former Clippers owner Donald Sterling. They have a common theme “His team was taken from him illegally” or
“How can they use a hidden recording against him?” I was researching a story and came across a bit of information on Sterling I believed worth sharing. Due to the nature of the article I wanted to double and triple check it, do so at your leisure. I have no idea if a teams coaching staff is covered by a blanket policy or if coaches and the like are responsible individually. Without any spin former Clippers assistant coach Kim Hughes was diagnosed with prostrate cancer in 2004. 1. “In September 2004, while he was a Clippers assistant, Hughes was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was premed at Wisconsin, so he had an idea what he was up against. His doctor told him that he could wait a few months for surgery, but the team was preparing for training camp and he didn’t want to miss a chunk of the season recuperating. So Hughes went for a second opinion and found a doctor that would do the surgery a week later.
But he wasn’t covered under my insurance plan,” Hughes told ESPNLosAngeles.com.
“We had a certain group of doctors we could go to. So if I elected to use him, it’d be out of my pocket. “[The Clippers] didn’t talk to me directly about it. They told, I believe my agent, that the reason they couldn’t pay for the surgery is if they paid for mine, if anybody else had a problem — head coach, secretary, assistant coach — if they paid for mine, the onus would be on them for everybody else. I said, ‘That’s fine. I choose to try and save my life, and if I have to pay for it myself, I will.'” Then Coach Mike Dunleavy, who had recommended the new doctor, mentioned Hughes’ plight to some players. Several players on that team — including Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Marko Jaric — offered to help” Were Sterling and the Clippers correct in saying NO, if an exception was made would others come forward with requests for aid? In this instance surgery was reported to be $70,000 dollars.
1. Outside the Beltway March 15, 2011
Roll Tide
We’ve heard plenty of discussion regarding coaches who left the collegiate ranks for the NBA, how about the opposite? Avery Johnson with several NBA coaching stops surfaced in April at the University of Alabama. How quickly could Johnson adapt to this new endeavor? No question regarding his knowledge of the X’s and O’s of the game however recruiting is key to a successful college basketball program. How would coach adapt to this phase of the game? Well it seems he’s hit the ground running, Johnson hired in April received his first commit the following month. Kobie Eubanks a 4-star 2015 prospect committed in May and indicated Johnson was key to his decision.
Imagine the surprise later this football school and a basketball power both vying for the same athlete and that athlete chooses Alabama over Kansas. Terrance Ferguson a 6-6 180 pound shooting guard is Rivals number 11 and a 5-star prospect in 2016. The Kansas City Star report indicates the Kansas coaching staff believed they were in the lead and Ferguson would commit to Kansas. It’s a long way to 2016 Ferguson can always de-commit but if I were among the Kansas faithful I wouldn’t hold my breath. The seismic shock we experienced was Alabama accomplishing an end run on Kansas a feat unthinkable in the past but now becomes reality at least for now.
The Zen Master at work
Knick fans have done a continuous boil since June 25 when Commissioner Silver announced; “With the fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft the Knicks chose Kristaps Porzingas of Latvia.” The New York media laid in on Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony was also reported to be displeased with the draft. Since that evening in June bits and pieces of commentary have come forth from media and fans. I searched for a comment from resident celebrity fan Spike Lee but was unable to locate one. Should we suppose Lee is okay with the choice? In any event Phil Jackson continues to stir the pot of controversy with his tidbits of information. The latest regarding 1st round pick Kristaps Porzingas.
“Like Shawn Bradley, who was nevertheless a good player, KP almost might be too tall for the game. What I mean is his core strength might never be good enough, and that might not be able to get low enough to get himself into prime defensive to body power rebounders or drivers.” Porzingas is a slim 220 pounds and will gain weight in a manner similar to Bradley but it might not be enough based on his growth pattern. Reports indicate Porzingas is continuing to grow and currently he‘s listed as 7-1. This is all Knick fans needed to hear in order to create chaos once again. I cannot address other media however it certainly became a topic of discussion on ESPN’s Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption program. Indications are Porzingas is more skilled offensively than Bradley but certainly must prove he can play at the NBA level.
“Money to burn”
Those unfamiliar with the term it’s simply states you have no need to worry about finances. You can spend and spend and spend with no concern of the outcome to your lifestyle, should we suppose this tune might apply to the 76ers? Darren Rovell ESPN’s finance guy claims Oden has cost the 76er’s $9 million dollars in the two years he’s failed to appear on the basketball court. Unfortunately Embiid appears to be following a trail blazed earlier by another 7-footer Greg Oden. Following the leader is not good in this instance because its keeps Embiid off the court for the second consecutive basketball season.
Embiid and Oden were first round draft choices, Embiid number one in 2014 by the 76ers and Oden the number three pick by the Blazers in 2007. In a manner similar to Oden the promise of Embiid appeared to be cut above ordinary. Oden had shown promise in high school, with little basketball history nobody had an idea he would develop so quickly. He would displace starting center Tarik Black, hopefully this latest surgery will allow Embiid to return to the basketball court and fulfill the promise he exhibited in college.
