Basketball from a fans perspective

A history

A friend reading the hockey versus basketball in KC offered his view.  Chris said in a few words “Hockey has been more successful than basketball.”  Chris might be correct in a sense we’ve had hockey since 2009, as for basketball it's 2018.  I’ve long believed the two sports play a winter schedule but are not in direct conflict with the other.  I could be wrong, I’ve always believed hockey fans were just that, they are not basketball fans and vice-versa.  

Let’s check the history and this is as accurate as could be found.  In an earlier period, Kansas City had minor league hockey I’m told in the 1940’s and 1950’s although I could locate no evidence.  As for a later time period the NHL arrived in the city in 1972 with the expansion Scouts, they left the city in 1976 first to Colorado and they are now the New Jersey Devils.  The Blades in the International League began play in 1990 and lasted to 2001 when the league folded.  The Outlaws lasted from 2004-2005, the team folded.  The Mavericks of the ECHL began play in 2009 and continue into the 2017-18 season. 

As for professional basketball, the KC Steers of the American Basketball League began play in 1961 and lasted till 1963, the league folded.  In 1972 the NBA Royals moved from Cincinnati and were re-branded the Kings.  1985 witnessed a new owner moving the Kings to Sacramento where they reside presently.  In 2000 the “new” American Basketball Association began play with a Kansas City team with the nickname Knights.  Prior to the 2005-06 season the team suspended operations and never returned.  2018 Kansas City would become home of the Tornados as they began play in a new league, the North American Premier Basketball League.    

Commission on College Basketball

We have yelled and screamed about the problems of college basketball and a commission was formed headed by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was formed.  Ms. Rice committee issued its report to the NCAA on Wednesday, I’m not going to attempt to detail all the findings in just a few sentences.  There is one area I’d like to detail the committee found needed change was players leaving school early for the NBA.  I applaud the committee for their work and diligence in completing the task. 

The committee believes college players who are not drafted should be allowed to return to school.  This is great because we know the failures of those who leave school and fail to be drafted.  If a player through his coach (John Calipari comes to mind) is told he’s going to be drafted that’s confirmation.  If uncle John, cousin Larry or a “friend” with vested interests is informing the player to submit his name that becomes a little suspect. As with any proposal there are kinks in the proposal and whether it could be implemented effectively.  Fully explore the changes and implement those workable the others toss out.    

One down and counting

My Sixers (you notice I said MY) close out the Heat on Tuesday evening.  The final score read 104-91 and the Sixers had balanced scoring attack led by J.J. Redick with 27-points.  Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid both registered double-doubles in scoring and rebounds.  Dwayne Wade was non-committal on his possible retirement but not that of the Sixers future.  Wade had a number of nice things to say about the team his Heat lost the series.

Wade said: "You want to see good things. I mean, these guys are the future of the NBA, and the NBA is in great hands with Ben Simmons and Joe and those guys."  They always say, “A broken clock correct twice a day”, that’s the case with me and Charles Barkley.  Rarely do I agree with several of his statements however we agree on the Sixers.  His argument with his co-host and his statement “The Sixers did not tank, they had players get hurt.  They had the top two picks (Embiid and Simmons) and they missed the season.”

Mizzou’s future

Blake Hinson was supposed to be leaning in another direction and it wasn’t toward Mizzou or at least that was the belief.  The 6-foot 7-inch 230-pound power forward is reported to lack skills in some of the areas Coach Cuonzo considers important.  Nevertheless, reports exist this Class of 2018 prospect remains on Mizzou’s radar.  Hinson is from Daytona Beach (FL) and attends Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita.  No way am I stating Hinson’s moved Mizzou to the top of his list, but it is interesting he wanted to visit Columbia.  How about the team’s future beyond 2018 might be a question?  2020 prospect Josh Christopher has let it be known he’s interested in Mizzou.  The 6-foot 4-inch sophomore shooting guard hails from Lakewood (CA).