BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE

Boo-hoo 
“Sorry if I don’t shed crocodile tears for you” is my response to the KC Star article, by the time you read this it will be old news.  The first few lines in the story read “Kansas missed out on a third No. 1-rated basketball recruit in the last five years Tuesday as DeAndre Ayton picked Arizona over KU and Kentucky.”  What’s wrong with this picture you might ask?  Is this true Kansas basketball losing out on players what happens next?  

“Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria” sorry Bill Murray.  I hope you understand my intent so Kansas didn’t get Ayton to commit is the program going to fall apart?  I seriously doubt the last statement because even Bill Self’s replacement (if he ever leaves) has a built in recruiting tool---Kansas basketball.  Please no more doom and gloom headlines unless it’s a serious matter.  

The schedule
Mizzou is on probation however I’m checking out the non-conference schedule.  Just cause there is no post-season fails to take into account Mizzou or any team must continue to play at a productive level.  November 17 Xavier and the next day either Clemson or Davidson.  Then it’s Western Kentucky, Miami (OH), Arizona and finally the Braggin Rights game versus Illinois.   

Those appear to be the toughest of the tough, as for the balance of the pre-season Mizzou could just as easily be winners as losers depending on how quickly the team gels.  Can you say improvement is expected by me---I deem this a pivotal year for Coach Kim Anderson and the Tiger program?  I’ll repeat an earlier thought he was dealt a “bad hand” when replacing Frank Haith.  The instability in the Athletic Department hasn’t helped either. 

Bits n Pieces 
South Beach is probably a desired vacation destination.  You are the Miami Heat located there already, where do you travel for training camp?  You head to the Bahamas more specifically the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau.  It seems this is not the first time the team has held training camp there.  According to Slam.com the Heat first traveled to the Bahamas prior to the 2013-14 season.  

Isiah Thomas and Isaiah Thomas two NBA players with differently spelled first names.  The 5-9 Isaiah arrived in the NBA in 2011, Isiah last played in the NBA in 1994.  I wondered if Isaiah was named after Isiah and I discovered that is the case.  Dad was a fan; mom had no issue except she wanted her son’s name as it is in the Bible.  

Tom Izzo “never left the State of Michigan in a sense.”  He was born in Iron Mountain (MI). Played his high school basketball in the state served as an assistant at Northern Michigan then Michigan State first as an assistant and later head coach.  He’s been head coach at Michigan State since 1995; in 2000 his team won the NCAA Tournament.  September 9, 2016 “Izzo left the State of Michigan” to be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Wonder why?
Six years ago LeBron James left the Cavs for the Heat.  I complained loudly at the time but came to the conclusion it was LeBron’s decision whether I liked it or not.  At the same time my wife’s cousin had no problem he was okay with LeBron making the move, he offered me his reasons for view.  Then a funny thing occurred two years this same cousin became a Cavs fan again after LeBron returned to Northern Ohio.  Fast forward to July 4th 2016 this same cousin was complaining to me about Kevin Durant leaving the Thunder for the Warriors.  I was tempted to ask the question why one move is okay and the other not?