Basketball from a fans perspective
What next?
First it was corporate names attached to stadiums and arenas across the country. We’ve now moved to another level corporately, the NBA approved ads on jerseys beginning in the 2017-18 season. Euro teams have embraced this concept for a number of years but I think it’s cheesy. You question me by stating the Nike Swoosh and Adidas name is clearly visible on jersey. The commish claims the league will earn $100 million in annual revenue so as we can see this all about the financial reward.
Trust me
Any time someone says trust me you immediately become suspicious. That’s the case here I’m asking for you to trust me. Orlando “Tubby” Smith has left Texas Tech to accept the vacated head coaching position at Memphis. Why you might ask so I’ll speculate the Big 12 is one of the strongest basketball conferences in the nation however Texas Tech is on the bottom rung of schools and not a destination for high profile prospects. Sorry Red Raider fans but sometimes the truth hurts.
After inheriting a program headed “south” Smith was able to secure an NCAA bid in his third season in Red Raider country with a 19-13 record. The previous two years the team had finished below .500. Although Smith is leaving after a short period of time Memphis will allow him to compete in the American Conference with a greater degree of success. The conference has several competitive teams; UConn, SMU, Temple and Tulsa to name a few. Memphis has a rich basketball tradition unlike Texas Tech which should bode well for Smith in recruiting. Trust me I believe the hire of Smith is good for Memphis.
Can you say dominos?
Don’t unpack your suitcase might be Chris Beard’s adage. He left his Arkansas-Little Rock job after one year when the head coaching position opened at UNLV. After being on the job at UNLV exactly two weeks his suitcase is packed again this time he’s headed for Texas Tech. Tubby Smith leaving for Memphis is a partial cause of the movement. Seven years ago Beard served as an assistant at Tech in addition Beard has family in Lubbock (TX).
Nobody is watching
“Nobody is watching the NBA” is the speech uttered at times. Last season the association set an all-time attendance record. The record set last season was eclipsed this year, 21 million chose to attend games in ‘15 and that figure rose to 22 million in ‘16. I haven’t seen television viewer numbers however I must believe they too may have increased.
Oil and water
I’ve never attempted to mix oil with water because there was no ocassion. On television I’ve witnessed off-shore oil spills it appears the oil simply lies on top of the water, it doesn‘t mix. George Karl is oil and Boogie Cousins is water or vice-versa, the Kings front office should have been aware of the coaches history with many of his players. As I pointed out the front office is just as much to blame for the mess the Kings have become. Imagine Karl’s surprise boarding a flight and discovering Cousins and Rondo were not aboard. Neither player was injured; the front office excused both from the road trip without consulting the coach.
