R.I.P. (Wesley Johnson’s
ankles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLjC7q6Xlh4
Bits n Pieces
Monday evening Larry
Nance Jr. scored 22 points in the Cavs game versus the Pistons. He joined a unique and unusual group. His father Larry Nance Sr. had scored 20 or
more points several times while playing for the Cavs. Interesting there are four other fathers and
sons who accomplished this.
Steve Kerr said:
“College players who don’t get drafted should be allowed to return to
school.” Makes sense to me, we desire
athletes to remain in college for four years yet won’t allow them to return if
they wish. What about the money, the
only possible money exchange is that with an agent and even that might be
questionable. Kinda seems as though the
lines are blurred, hmmmm that might be a good title for a pop tune…. what do
you think?
After seeing the
Blazers Damian Lillard torch my Lakers for 39 points I wondered how many NBA
players are from Weber State University. What’s
your guess, 10 maybe 15 from this Ogden Utah school? How about 8 including Lillard who I can state
without reservation is the best from Weber State.
He should be in the
middle of his senior year of high school instead he’s enrolled as a freshman in
college. Mizzou’s game against Arkansas
was supposed to be the return of Michael Porter Jr. to the basketball
court. Instead it was “little brother” Jontay
Porter with a second outstanding game.
The 6-foot 11-inch 240-pound Jontay was named SEC Player of the Week for
his two outstanding games against Vanderbilt and Arkansas last week.
I didn’t check
The State of
Missouri specifically the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City might serve as host for the most basketball tournaments in the nation. The Missouri Valley Tournament or Arch
Madness has long been played in St. Louis, this year the SEC Tournament was
added. Both tournaments are held at the
Scottrade Center. In Kansas City the
Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association comprised of NCAA Division II
teams plays here as does the NAIA Tournament.
Both are played in the Municipal Auditorium; the Big 12 Tournament will
be held in the Sprint Center. I didn’t
check however I’ve concluded if Missouri is not in first the state has got to
be at least second in the number of post-season tournaments.
King of speculation
Shooting guard Mark
Smith was selected Mr. Basketball in the State of Illinois for 2017. The 6-foot 4-inch Smith was expected to add firepower
to Brad Underwood’s first team at Illinois.
He indicated his experience at the school did not turn out as he hoped
and is transferring. Illinois will release him allowing him to transfer to
another school. It should be of note Smith
first committed to Mizzou as a pitcher before hurting his arm and then decommitting.
Time for a change
LeBron James has
joined the conversation I first believed voiced by Pistons Coach Stan Van Gundy. LeBron interviewed referred to the NCAA as a “Corrupt organization and
the NBA should provide an alternative.”
Check and double check, if you’ve read Words eye view any length of time you realize the following. I have long believed the NCAA continues to
administrate college sports like it did in 1950. The world has turned over four times in the
intervening years, the NCAA cannot continue to function in a “business as
usual” manner. Just the other day I
heard a radio interview with Ed O’Bannon.
For those unfamiliar O’Bannon was the plaintiff in a class-action
lawsuit filed against the NCAA.
The simple
explanation the organization used his image and others for commercial purposes,
no one received funds from this venture apart from the NCAA. In 2014 the court found in favor of O’Bannon,
his portion of compensation, $0. Kids
need money even on scholarship, do we pay athletes? We are there already it’s done in a hidden
manner, I remember reading Kansas basketball was placed on probation once. The story goes Larry Brown then head coach
provided one of his players ticket money for a flight home, the player had an
emergency at home and didn’t have the financial means to fly home. College athletics require an administrator
however this task must be accomplished in a different manner, there are far too
many colleges and universities for the NCAA to continue operating with a 1950 mentality.
