Basketball from a fans perspective
Craig Sager
The man with the colorful blazers has died, veteran Turner reporter Craig Sager died on Thursday at age 65. He’d been battling cancer over the years but refused to succumb to the dreaded disease which eventually took his life. Know for his flamboyant outfits on the sidelines Sager was the definition of professional at the time he interviewed players and coaches. His half-time interviews with Coach Pop have become legendary.
Although Sager was more closely identified with the NBA he covered a number of other sports over his 40-year broadcast career. Sager as a 22-year old was on the field after Hank Aaron hit his 715 home run breaking Babe Ruth’s record. Prior to going to work for Turner Sports Sager spent time in Kansas City working for the local ABC affiliate. The NBA family has been unanimous in its sorrow at the passing of a friend and one who’s left us far too soon.
He might be correct
This is written ahead of the Heat-Clipper game so I don’t know who won. I doubt if Hassan Whiteside and DeAndre Jordan will be exchanging Christmas cards or any pleasantries in the future. His game was compared to Jordan which we assume displeased him; “I do a lot all he does (Jordan) is catch lobs.”
It seems Whiteside might have a point clearly he’s displayed a more rounded offensive game, if Jordan has any advantage he might be a better defender but that might even be called into question. Check the stats for rebounds and blocked shots; they indicate Whiteside’s numbers are a cut above those of Jordan. Its evident Whiteside and Jordan might appear similar but closer inspection reveals a difference in their game.
Pronounce his name
Thanks to Basketball-Reference.com we learn the correct pronunciation of his name, I‘m referring to the all everything Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks. I state all everything because I’m not sure if he’s a small forward, power forward or point guard. It’s rare to make that statement about an athlete who stands nearly 7-feet tall.
We’ve witnessed his scoring average rise annually now in his fourth year he’s at 22.3 ppg nearly 8 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Basketball remains a team game adding Jabari Parker, Andre Drummond and Michael Brogdon plus Thon Maker this young team is on the way up. They have a new arena in the works so can we say everything is looking up in Milwaukee. As for young Mr. Antetokounmpo I’m going to spell it phonetically it is “\YAHN-is ah-deh-toh-KOON-boh\”. I dare you to try and pronounce it.
Confused, no more
I don’t know about you sometimes the time of honors and historical events confuse me. That’s what occurred with the late John McClendon’s second induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Among his list of accomplishments was being the first black coach hired at a predominately white school when Cleveland State hired him in 1967. Later I would read the late Will Robinson was the first black coach at a white school?
Closer examination uncovered these facts; Cleveland State did not move to Division I until 1972 after McClendon left the school. In 1970 Illinois State hired Robinson the school had previously been a Division I program. After coaching Doug Collins among others Robinson retired in 1975 and would become a scout for the Pistons. It’s reported he was responsible for the Pistons drafting Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman. There you are basketball history (and maybe a trivia question) for today.
