Basketball from a fans perspective                                                                                         
My disclaimer
From time to time I must apologize if you observe a word or sentence that appears strange. Try as I might with ME, MYSELF and I writing, editing and attempting to proof-read I miss stuff.  I re-check after publishing to ensure the story is clear and error free, my apologies and please continue to read Words eye view.  

Thanks,

Larry Laker

If you believe
I was taking a swipe at Doc Rivers last week consider this fact.  Major League Baseball in only one instance I’m aware (Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s of the 1920‘s) had the manager also been the GM.  Are there any NFL coaches wearing two hats currently?  The GM for the Patriots might be a figurehead but the team has always had one despite winning numerous Super Bowls.  

In this day I believe it is too far a task attempting to coach an NBA team and being the teams’ player personnel director.  Either you succeed at one or fail at the other, there is no winning in both arenas. I have more issues with Doc Rivers other than him being HR Director for the Clippers I believe he’s overrated as a coach.  

This is different
Over a period of time we’ve discussed the attempt by Seattle to return to the NBA, a key for return was an ‘adequate’ NBA ready arena.  Key Arena former home of the Sonics was deemed no longer practical.  A group attempting to secure a franchise was granted the lead by Seattle’s City Council, they would renovate  Key but that presents a problem.  I’m no architect or ever held a position dealing in this area, I believe it might take almost as many dollars to renovate as build anew, Key Arena opened in 1962 as the Washington State Pavilion is to undergo a different proposed renovation route. Key Arena was approved as a historical landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Board last week.  

The city council will vote on this issue and its believed the Oak View Group could then (if approved) receives a $70 million dollar tax credit if the building is declared a Federal Landmark.  There is no guarantee the dominos fall in place however this is certainly a novel approach to renovating the 55-year old arena.  We have a process in America; it seems every ’old’ building must be demolished and a new one built to replace it.  Think about it the number of arenas and stadiums less than 50 years old that have seen the wrecking ball.  The Palace at Auburn Hills opened in 1988; the Pistons have now moved downtown how much longer will the Palace remain open?

I wanna see the other guy
The Kansas Jayhawks view the upcoming season with excitement.  They are projected to be the Big 12 leader once again, talk of Devonte Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk leading the way to victory. The guy I want to see in action is 7 foot 280 pound Udoka Azubuike from the Delta State in the southern portion of Nigeria.  The Big Man arrived on campus and was expected to be a vital part of the continued winning program at Kansas.  A wrist injury and later surgery sidelined Azubuike for the season; will 2017-18 be a break-out year for Azubuike?  We must wait and see the outcome.