Phi Slama Jama
Sports teams have
been given nicknames over the years, a few for basketball are Showtime
(Lakers), Bad Boys (Pistons) or The Dream Team (1992 U.S. Olympic Team). The Houston Cougars in 1982-83 were nicknamed
Phi Slama Jama, the name was a reference to the numerous dunks registered by
the Cougars during their games. With the
likes of Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and Akeem Olajuwon and company they once recorded
13 dunks in a game.
Olajuwon would later
correct the spelling of his first name to Hakeem. All the starters plus several reserves were a
fast-break high wire act. We are unsure
to this day if the team ran any plays.
As good as this team was top to bottom they would be losers in the 1983
NCAA Championship game. They lost to
North Carolina State 54-52 in what must be considered one of the biggest upsets
in NCAA Championship history, see for yourself, paste the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubCybJk-IAY&t=39s
Turrrible
I realize the word
is spelled T E R R I B L E, on the occasions Charles Barkley says it
sounds as though he’s saying: turrrible.
Mizzou’s game against Ole Miss on Tuesday was turrrible I should have
figured it might turn out like this. Ole
Miss losers of like six games or something in a row, head coach stepped down
the day prior. Mizzou was ripe for an
upset, I lost count of how many shots taken early in the game Mizzou
missed.
Most were not bad
shots they just couldn’t locate the basket.
In the second half after allowing Ole Miss a large lead Mizzou came
roaring back only to allow them to tie the game and win it in OT. Did I mention the turnovers oh well can’t
cover the whole thing? This loss sucked
big time, although the score was close (90-87) I'd almost prefer to get blown out than lose an ugly game like this....oh well it is what it is.
Jacksonville Who?
That was the title
of a documentary telecast by NBA TV, it’s focus was the championship run by the
1970 Jacksonville University team. The school
had two 7-foot players in the starting lineup at the same time. 7-foot 2-inch Artis Gilmore was at the center
position along with 7-foot Pembrook Burrows playing power forward. I wasn’t sure, the documentary confirmed my
belief this was the first twin-tower combo in basketball history. Jacksonville would face UCLA for the NCAA
Championship that year.
Jacksonville lost
the 1970 championship game 80-69 but finished the season with a 27 and 2
record. Rather than detail any
additional information see it for yourself, it’s worth 90 minutes of your time. As for a couple of the participants Gilmore
went on to a Hall of Fame career playing for several ABA-NBA teams. Burrows drafted by the Sonics in the third
round didn’t make the team and passed on playing in Europe. Instead his career was spent in law
enforcement, he would go on to become the tallest Florida Highway Patrolman in
their history.
Slow news day
One of the local
hosts on 610 Sports Radio who never, ever discusses the NBA chose to relate an NBA story. I didn’t listen to the conversation from the beginning, so I have no
idea how it began. He “appeared”
critical of Warriors Coach Steve Kerr for allowing players to coach the team at
a point. Even stranger he takes this one
step further indicating this arrangement would not work in the NFL. Although not present in today’s baseball
there have been playing managers, same for the NBA. Despite appearing to take an adversarial view
of the Kerr move he contradicted his argument……. really strange.
