Basketball from a fans perspective
Tick….tick….tick
That’s the clock ticking the countdown to the end of Rick Pitino’s coaching career. Trust me his career is over this time around. As this is written I’ve read nothing official however this latest revelation becomes Pitino’s strike three…..and he’s out. Louisville announced Pitino is suspended but that's usually the first indication an employee will eventually be fired. First a number of you might remember me complaining about coaches being elected to the Hall of Fame prior to their retirement. NBA players must wait a minimum of four years I believe while a number of active coaches (including Pitino are already in the HOF). Pitino was enshrined in the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Pitino or anybody else cannot continue to “dance with the devil” without eventually suffering some form of punishment. Strike 1, the blackmail plot involving Pitino, it was confirmed the coach had sex with a woman in the restroom of a restaurant who later attempted to blackmail him. .
Strike 2, A Louisville assistant coach arranged for prostitutes to lure potential athletes to Louisville by hosting a party for the prospects. Strike 3 occurred on Monday with the revelation of alleged bribes by an assistant coach and the school receives a black eye. I believe myself to be one of the most forgiving people around however Pitino has reached the point he needs to remove himself from college basketball. I’m sure in time a professional team somewhere will offer him a job. Pitiono’s days coaching at the amateur level are over I believe. As for the Big Picture as a basketball fan I’m extremely disappointed. We realize schools must compete for talent; there are always winners and losers in this regard. To gain an advantage by paying is plain old fashion cheating. Winning by cheating is NEVER acceptable no matter if its Mizzou or one of the other 351 Division I programs across the nation.
Rose makes sense
Former NBA player turned broadcaster Jalen Rose makes sense. Rose says; “The only way LeBron leaves Cleveland is for a super team.” If we adopt the Rose view that means he ain’t leaving for the Lakers. Laker fans (including me) certainly desire the team to return to the championship level. LeBron could raise team play but not to that level in addition the downside. You really think Luke Walton is gonna sit down LeBron to play Brandon Ingram?
That’s been my issue all along adding veterans delaying the succession of several youngsters on the roster. We have no method to determine the intentions of LeBron until July 1, 2018, shopping for schools is certainly no key to his objective. He could easily move his family to Los Angeles and continue to play in Cleveland or elsewhere. If the truth were known he might not have made up his mind either.
It’s difficult to understand
Perhaps it was the time period Artis Gilmore played, The 7 foot 2 inch center emerged from Jacksonville State in 1971. Number 53 had a decision he could choose the ABA and Kentucky Colonels or the NBA and Chicago Bulls. Gilmore would prefer the ABA and was named ROY. Gilmore would go on to have several outstanding seasons with the Colonels and then came the merger.
The Colonels franchise was dissolved and he would move to the Bulls in 1976 and play with them for six years before being traded to the Spurs in 1982. After an 18 year career spent with the ABA Colonels and NBA Bulls and Spurs he retired from the Arimo Bologna in the Italian League. Number 53 was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
A difference
Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith share a common trait; both are big mouths and just love to force their opinions on the public. Both are bullies behind their microphones, Barkley uses his bully pulpit on NBA games on Turner Network Television; Smith’s pulpit is on the First Take program on ESPN.
Key differences Barkley had a long career as a player in the league and later would become a broadcaster. On the other Smith played college basketball but unlike Barkley had no career beyond Winston-Salem State University, Smith would turn to journalism for his employment. Both certainly are entitled to their opinions however despite the position each takes I have the opportunity to disagree with one or both of them.
