Basketball from a fans perspective
And why not?
Adam Silver announced the NBA
was looking toward establishing a G-League team in Mexico City, NBA games in the city have been well-attended. The commissioner points out this possible
move could be a barometer toward eventually landing an NBA franchise. One of the first responses indicates the
economic impact is not valid in my view.
Ticket prices for a G-League team are going to be nowhere near those of
an NBA team. Should Mexico City
eventually be granted a franchise economic consideration are going to be fully
explored far in advance of placing a team in the city. A basketball academy will be placed in Mexico
to grow the game in Latin America.
Undefeated
This is written late Thursday
evening, after Kansas lost to Washington there are 9 teams yet to taste defeat. Among the number are two of the usual cast of
characters Duke and Villanova. For me
the major surprise on December 7 is Mississippi State followed by Arizona State
and Florida State all without a blemish.
Before the alum and fans of the programs mentioned get upset I didn’t
say they were not good programs it’s just unexpected they would have no losses near
the middle of December.
Characters
I worked with a guy who claimed
baseballs’ popularity existed to a degree by the number of characters who
played or were involved in the game. Basketball never had or
will have the characters of baseball but there have been a few. The difference in the 21st Century
the humor often comes by way of a tweet, this fits Sixer center now Joel Embiid
perfectly he is a character. An example
after the trade of Jahlil Okafor said: “Love you….I’m gonna kick your a%@.” We could add former NBA player
turned broadcaster Charles Barkley to the list as well
If you close your eyes and listen to Billy Tubbs conversation you’d think it was actor Jack Nicholson, that's not made Tubbs a character it was the other things. In a 1989 game against Mizzou the Oklahoma crowd became upset with the officiating. The fans began tossing objects on the court disrupting play and Tubbs was asked to address the crowd "The referees request regardless of how terrible the officiating is to not throw objects on the floor." Tubbs received technicals for his
action and I believe was ejected.
Norm Stewart long-time Mizzou coach hated Kansas and Kansas
basketball at the time Mizzou was in the Big 8 (later Big 12). Lawrence Kansas is less than 200 miles from
Columbia Missouri, Stewart didn’t believe in spending a dime in Kansas. The Mizzou basketball team would stay in a
Kansas City (MO) hotel the night before the game and then take a charter the 40
some miles to Lawrence.
Norm Stewart was once asked if Mizzou had any McDonald’s All
Americans on the team. Stewart said; “No
but we eat at McDonald’s.”
“You’ve got to believe in
yourself. Hell, I believe I’m the best-looking
guy in the world and I might be right.”
Charles Barkley
“A team should be an extension
of the coach’s personality. My teams are
arrogant and obnoxious.”
Al McGuire former Marquette coach
“This year we plan to run and
shoot. Next season we hope to run and
score.”
Billy Tubbs former Oklahoma coach.
“I hate it. It looks like a stick-up at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in
the air.”
Norm Sloan former North Carolina State coach describing zone defence
Upward bound
Despite problems with turnovers,
fouls and losing Michael Porter Jr. Mizzou’s stock is trending upward. Joe Lunardi ESPN’s
guru on the NCAA Tournament places Mizzou in the tournament. Both Utah and West Virginia losses were to
teams returning several starters and aid Mizzou’s RPI number, we are 2017 but
what about 2018 and beyond? There are
three SG commits and one SF commit for 2018, two four-star prospect point
guards are considering Mizzou. Being a realist
Mizzou is not going to get all those point guards considering the present
roster makeup.
If only three arrive on campus
next fall that still bodes well for a team that is likely to lose only three
seniors. So, there you have it in a
small condensed package the future from Columbia. NOTE: As this report was being completed freshman
point guard C.J. Roberts dad announced he was leaving Mizzou. Former Coach Kim Anderson recruited Roberts but
decided to remain after Cuonzo Martin became the coach. Prior to the beginning of the basketball
season Roberts was red-shirted so that might be one of the reasons for his
departure.
