Basketball from a fans perspective
A rare accomplishment
The Warriors Draymon Green had a game for the ages on Friday and considering he only scored 4 points you might wonder why, I‘m glad you asked. In the Warriors game against the Grizzlies Green registered 12 rebounds 10 assists and 10 steals, the 6-7 power forward also had 5 steals. There is no truth he filled in at one of the concession stations and the ticket booth.
He is Kansas basketball!
Surprise, surprise this is not about Josh Jackson, Frank Mason III or even Bill Self. This is about the man who set the stage for what basketball at Lawrence has become. I’m not referring to the “inventor” of basketball his teams had a losing record? The reference of course is Dr. James A. Naismith. Beginning in 1898 up through the 1907 season Naismith served as the first basketball coach at Kansas, his record 55-60. The Kansas faithful brag about having Naismith as their first coach and it is noteworthy.
Most of today’s students trot into the arena week after week; they say “Beware of the Phog”. It's likely many have no idea who Phog Allen was. Allen served as basketball coach at Kansas from 1919 to 1956 an amazing 37 years at the helm of the Jayhawk program. Alumni probably didn’t know this fact either; as much as he’s been associated with Kansas Allen was actually born in Missouri. His birthplace Jamesport is located about 80 miles northeast of Kansas City (MO). Allen coached at Independence High School (now William Chrisman) and Warrensburg Teachers College (now the University of Central Missouri) so you see there was a Missouri connection. Allen’s been one of the few enshrined in the Missouri and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Allen recruited Wilt Chamberlain but never had the opportunity to coach him. At that time period freshmen were ineligible to play varsity level. Chamberlain played on the Kansas freshman team and as he prepared for his sophomore year mandatory retirement forced Allen to the sidelines. The legendary coach died in 1974 at the age of 88. Next time you hear “Beware of the Phog” you’ll fully understand appreciate the legend of Forrest Clare “Phog” Allen the man actually responsible for placing Kansas basketball on the map.
The conclusion
I’m not going to detail owner James Dolan’s words; I’m not going to do that because it’s only his side of the story. As this is written Oakley’s version is yet to be reported. As for now this is the end result of the recent altercation. Former Knicks player Charles Oakley has been banned from MSG indefinitely. In a sweeping move the chief of security at The Garden was terminated. Unless there is another development I will put this “baby to bed.”
Your opinion please
The political comments by Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank rubbed Under Armour rep Steph Curry the wrong way. Frank Isola NY Daily News posed the question; “Where were all these folks when Nike was accused of poor working conditions overseas.” Curry the most high profile Under Armour agent was not particularly pleased with Plank’s commentary regarding the new president. As for Isola he raised a valid point, for years we read and heard complaints regarding “sweat shop” conditions in factories where Nike products were manufactured. Nothing is ever equal but here’s my spin on the story. We don’t know for sure but believe conditions have improved for Nike workers overseas.
