Basketball from a fans perspective
Name change
If you planned on a trip to Washington D.C. and the Verizon Center it no longer exists. My prior statement is not quite correct the building still remains however it’s no longer operating under that name the arena is now the Capital One Arena. I believe this to be correct, I think this might be the first instance a stadium/arena moved from one corporate name to another.
We believe this to be fact this name change will lead to more $$$$ for the owner. Ted Leonsis Monumental Sports owns the building the NBA and NHL teams. Get this…..are you ready the NHL Capitals will now be playing in the Capital inside the Capital of the nation. You can’t make this stuff up that is funny.
Interesting but somewhat confusing
The NCAA released attendance figures for 2016-17 and there were a few surprises. They indicate a drop in attendance during the season although NCAA Tournament numbers were up. To no one’s surprise Kentucky, Syracuse and Louisville led the way with all three averaging over 20,000 per game.
One of the surprises Creighton University in Omaha was in 5th place with slightly over 17,000 a game. I don’t know about you but when I think Nebraska and sports it’s usually football, the school finished in the 11th slot attendance wise. Someone pointed to the fact Pinnacle Bank Arena might be responsible but that is a little difficult to believe the building opened in 2013. Nebraska finished last year with a 12-19 regular season record.
Promise unfulfilled
The ESPN headline read; “Knicks sign journeyman Beasley to a 1-year deal” which is quite interesting. At the time Michael Beasley declared for the NBA draft star was written on his forehead. He would become the 2nd pick of the 2008 draft by the Heat. Beasley was a first team All American that year and it’s easy to see why he left Kansas State after his freshman year. Since that fateful draft night Beasley’s NBA journey including the Knicks totals 8 teams.
In addition Beasley on separate occasions played for the Shanghai Sharks and Shandong Golden Stars of the Chinese Basketball Association. If we checked the number of off-court incidences perhaps that is a contributing factor to his constant movement throughout the basketball world. Kansas State is a Big 12 school those of us in the metro witnessed the play of Beasley numerous times. I seriously doubt anyone besides yours truly would believe he’d wind up a well paid but journeyman player.
Bits n Pieces
I have not subscribed to NBA League Pass for the last three years. The reason is simple the Lakers stunk; I saw no reason to ‘throw-away‘ money viewing a bad product. Guess what fans I’m going to spend money this winter and buy it once again. The prospect of Ball, KCP, Ingram and company is exciting to me. I’m not sure of the teams’ final record however I believe I’m ready once again to ‘pay‘ to watch the Lakers.
Many believe LSU basketball began with “Pistol” Pete Maravich. At the time Maravich was enrolled LSU was considered a ‘football‘ school. They forget Bob Pettit after retirement from the NBA was a Tiger from 1951-54. In 1972 Dale Brown was hired and he managed to recruit a number of talented players before he eventually retired in 1997. Although they didn’t advance very far one his LSU teams contained the likes of Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) Shaquille O’Neal and Stanley Roberts (look him up).
Has UMKC turned a corner, I speak of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. This is Coach Kareem Richardson’s 5th year at the helm and last season the Kangaroos finished 18-17, 8-6 in the WAC. For the first time in the school’s history they played in a post-season tournament the CBI. I know what you are thinking 18-17 and you believe the program is on the rise. Consider the previous season they finished 12-19, the year prior 14-19. In the coaches first year they were 10-20. It’s been slow but steady improvement since Richardson’s arrival, look upward.
