Basketball from a fans perspective
Shocker news
It’s likely this is news to those of us in the Kansas-Missouri region rather than other portions of the nation. Former Wichita State guard Fred VanFleet secured a multi-year contract with the Raptors. VanFleet was by-passed in the 2016 draft but managed to sign with the Raptors summer league team. His play must have been sound enough to warrant the team signing him as a backup point guard. VanFleet becomes one of those rare players who managed to play four years of college basketball.
On the same team again
Jalen Rose and Chris Webber were teammates at Michigan. Both enjoy success on the basketball court; in the NBA we could conclude Webber had more accomplishment at the NBA level than Rose. They are both on the same team once again this time its television, one at TNT, NBA TV and the other ESPN. Rose actually began at TNT in 2006 as a sideline reporter but moved on to ESPN where his broadcast career has blossomed. Rose has branched out co-hosting his on program Jalen & Jacoby. He’s journeyed quite a distant from Southwestern High School in Detroit.
Webber upon retirement became an analyst for NBA TV Gametime. He also performs duties on TNT’s Tuesday Night Fan Night. Webber’s move from behind the desk to the broadcast booth serving as play-by-play analyst for a number of TNT telecast. Both former Wolverines have involved themselves in philanthropy extensively. Webber, Rose along with Jimmie King, Juwan Howard and Ray Jackson set a freshmen winning standard never before seen. No one believed a coach play five freshmen and attain success. Years later Kentucky would duplicate the success with a bevy of freshmen too however the Fab Five of Michigan did it first.
There is an explanation
Several stories have been printed indicating Steph Curry is not well liked around the NBA. I have no method to determine the accuracy of these accounts however it’s my belief ESPN might be partially responsible. If you checked ESPN’s NBA page there was a column titled; “Nothin’ but Steph”.
If you click on the link you are guided to a page full of stories regarding Curry. This is not the first ESPN has done this while LeBron was a member of the Heat there was a column “Heat Check” or something similar. There is no argument on my part both players are extremely talented but when you cite them in this manner opposing players might grow to be resentful.
“Skinny Legs and all”
Now that it’s warm and in some portions of the nation downright hot I have begun wearing shorts again. I discovered my legs are skinny, how did I come to this revelation you ask? We have a mirror resting on the floor at thigh level I‘m going to mount it on the wall. Every time I walk into the family room I notice my skinny legs. Then I thought a moment, the only time I witnessed Kobe Bryant in person I thought; “Boy his legs are skinny“.
His legs don’t appear quite as skinny on television as they do in person. Unless you are a student of ‘60’s R&B or blues you might not be familiar with the song or the artist for that matter. In 1967 the late Joe Tex released a single titled; “Skinny Legs and all” a comical offering about a lady with skinny legs. “Who will take the woman with the skinny legs” was one of the lyrics of the tune. I believe if we were choosing sides for a basketball team we’d select a young Kobe “Skinny legs and all.” By the way the video for Skinny Legs and all is available on YouTube.
