Basketball from a fan’s perspective

　
Reality Star----really
In the past I have been highly critical of ESPN especially when the network attempts to entertain rather than inform. I speak specifically of the Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith of First Take; we could also add Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on Mike and Mike. I wish to take an opportunity to salute Scott Van Pelt and ESPN for giving him the freedom to express the thoughts of many regarding Lamar Odom during this critical point in his life.

I’m not going to detail the troubled life of Lamar Odom I’m just going to state he was a talented player. In addition the outpouring of concern by the NBA family indicates he is well liked by a number of his contemporaries. Odom was not a reality star as several news sources first reported the story have claimed. I’m not going to repeat the Van Pelt editorial verbatim check for yourself it’s available on YouTube.

You got a problem
Its clear rapper Master P. doesn’t like Kobe Bryant and that’s okay, he’s used the recent Lamar Odom tragedy to call attention to his feud with Bryant. He stated and I paraphrase just a portion of his commentary; “Where was Kobe when Lamar needed him?” The first question we might pose it appears Master P. had a relationship with Lamar what did you do for him? How do you know what Kobe might have done in the past leading up to last week?

Check this out, Master P. has a brother currently serving a life sentence in prison lets say the relationship between the brothers appears to be strained at this point. We might ask Master P. the same question he’s aimed at Kobe, “What have you done for your brother? “ We really have no idea what Master P. might have done leading up to his brothers’ conviction, the same could be said for Kobe and Lamar we just don‘t know. People living in glass houses should ensure rocks are cleared from the vicinity of their home.

Were number one, were number one
We’ve been hearing fans yell “were number one” for more years than we can count, it’s been used lesser in recent years than it once was. The chant is likely to be heard at two schools; Kentucky and North Carolina. USA Today Top 25 coaches’ poll has both schools (at least for now) at the top of their poll.

Down to five
The Rivals number one prospect in the Class of 2016 is on the way this week. Harry Giles is headed to Kentucky to check out the facilities and the campus. Also on the list for the 6-9 230 pound power forward is Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Just in case you might wonder how Wake made the cut Giles is from Winston-Salem (NC) home for him and Wake Forest.

Rodney Dangerfield
Once again I use the line often used by the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield; “I don’t get no respect.” This time the respect line applies to the Warriors winning the NBA Championship or if they are capable of a repeat. Clipper Coach Doc Rivers announced for the entire world to hear; “The Warriors were lucky they didn’t have to play the Spurs or us. “ Doc conveniently forgot his team would have faced the Warriors if they hadn’t blown 3 games to 1 lead.

Then a number in the media begin a discussion of this subject, they questioned if the Warriors were legitimate champions and capable of defending the championship. I’m a believer now; I will admit I didn’t believe a jump-shooting team could win an NBA Championship. Will the Warriors repeat as champions, I have no idea I do know this. Until a team knocks the Warriors off the pedestal they are NBA Champions, they are despite what Doc Rivers or anyone else says.