Basketball from a fans perspective
Okay and your next move……..
You remember the Mitchell Robinson story don’t you? If not here is a quick update, the 7 foot 5 star prospect was signed, sealed and delivered for Western Kentucky. Just prior to the start of classes came word he didn’t want to be there. Robinson would leave Western Kentucky indicating he intended to transfer to another school.
A short time later it was reported; “He’s going to sit out the year and wait for the NBA draft.” That story has changed once again he’s returned to Western Kentucky and is likely to play for the Hilltoppers this season. Are you confused by the chain of events, I don’t know about you but I certainly am. We can safely conclude there was no method for Robinson to be eligible to play this season if he transferred.
This is interesting
It seems the majority of LeBron fans I’ve come into contact with applauded his moves from Cleveland to Miami and back to Cleveland. These same folks criticized Kevin Durant on his move from the Thunder to the Warriors. One of them made this statement to me; “He (Durant) signs with the team that just beat his team, I can’t forgive him for that.” Although I was surprised at the time I cannot be critical of Durant he was just following the lead established earlier by LeBron……..attempting to win an NBA Championship.
He’s the coach
Jud Heathcote died on Monday at the age of 90. Heathcote began his coaching career as a high school coach in 1950 later he would serve at the University of Montana for five seasons prior to becoming head man at Michigan State in 1976. Coach was more than one game however there is one basketball historians know fully, the game would set the stage for an NBA rivalry of epic proportions.
In 1979 Heathcote’s MSU team led on the court by Magic Johnson and Greg Kelzer would beat Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamore team for the NCAA Championship. At his retirement Heathcote left the game with an overall record of 419-274. The coaching tree is quite extensive; Tom Izzo present MSU head coach was an assistant under Heathcote. We can add Tom Crean, Kelvin Sampson, Mark Montgomery, Scott Skiles and several others. In 2009 the coach was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame, R.I.P.
Cleveland problems
I’m not referring to the Kyrie trade or LeBron probably unhappy this is a brick and mortar issue involving Quicken Loans Arena. The home of the Cavs is now 22-years old and the team was attempting to refurbish a portion of the building, they ran into a problem……..the people. The figure announced for the work totaled $140 million dollars and taxpayers were to provide half of the funding. The usual argument by the Cavs meant to advance the cause mentioned jobs and additional income. This ploy didn’t work as there was opposition to the plan the Cavs decided to withdraw from the project.
Microsoft’s NBA Connection
You know the story of Microsoft the technology company however you might not have realized the NBA connection to the business. Others of you probably were aware but hadn’t thought much about the connection. We begin with Paul Allen; he was co-founder of Microsoft along with Bill Gates. Allen purchased the Portland Trailblazers in 1988; in 2007 Allen acquired the Moda Center (former Rose Garden) in 2007. In Los Angeles the owner of the Clippers is Steve Ballmer.
The world must have gasp loudly when Steve Ballmer purchased the Clippers for a reported $2 billion dollars. To date this sale has been the largest price tag placed on an NBA franchise to date. Ballmer is connected to Microsoft as the former chief executive office of the corporation. In Portland Allen purchased an existing arena and in Los Angeles Ballmer is attempting to build an arena through the City of Inglewood. So far Microsoft co-found Bill Gates has shown no desire to own an NBA franchise. Gates is either the first or second richest individual in the world so there's no question can he afford to own a team.
