Basketball from a
fans perspective
Play on words
At times play by play announcers and even analysts make statements during broadcast that are funny, sometimes for just that moment in time. Others such as Dick Vitale or Mark Jackson provide us with sentences that become classic. This is certainly not to become classic although it is funny. This was applied to the Hornets Dwayne Bacon with a particularly good summer league game. I don’t know who to give credit because I’ve watched quite a few games over ESPN and NBA TV. This play by play man describing Bacon’s outstanding shooting game said, “Bacon is really sizzling.”
I hate(ed) Danny
Ainge
Ainge played for the Celtics, me being a Laker fan was enough to inspire my loathing for the man. My hatred had nothing to do with his play on the court, he played for those hated Celtics back in the day. Everything must end at a point in time, so does my hatred toward Ainge. Since his retirement I’ve gained an appreciation for the feisty former Celtic guard. As president and general manager of the Celtics he’s been a keen evaluator of collegiate talent. In addition, he’s been quite skillful in trades and acquiring free-agents for the Celtics.
Ainge played for the Celtics, me being a Laker fan was enough to inspire my loathing for the man. My hatred had nothing to do with his play on the court, he played for those hated Celtics back in the day. Everything must end at a point in time, so does my hatred toward Ainge. Since his retirement I’ve gained an appreciation for the feisty former Celtic guard. As president and general manager of the Celtics he’s been a keen evaluator of collegiate talent. In addition, he’s been quite skillful in trades and acquiring free-agents for the Celtics.
It was Ainge who brought Kevin Garnett and Ray
Allen to join Paul Pierce. The trio beat
my Lakers in 2009 for the NBA championship however we managed to return the
favor the following season. He “stole”
Brad Stevens from Butler, the track record for college coaches in the NBA was
not good. Ainge managed to prove his
critics wrong here, Stevens has arrived as one of the best in the NBA at his
craft. As for Ainge I’ve mellowed, wish
nothing but the best for him and his Celtics……. unless they are matched against
my Lakers.
Tournament play
The 2018-19 college basketball season kicks off with tournament play, I didn’t see the Hall of Fame Classic listed so I decided to check the website. The scheduled date is November 19-20, with the championship game played on the evening of the 20th. The field is quite a mix of conferences, we have Missouri State of the Missouri Valley, Big 10 Nebraska, Texas Tech of the Big 12 and from the Pac-12 Southern Cal. The tournament will commence the evening after the College Hall of Fame inductions. The location is the Sprint Center in Kansas City Missouri.
Tournament play
The 2018-19 college basketball season kicks off with tournament play, I didn’t see the Hall of Fame Classic listed so I decided to check the website. The scheduled date is November 19-20, with the championship game played on the evening of the 20th. The field is quite a mix of conferences, we have Missouri State of the Missouri Valley, Big 10 Nebraska, Texas Tech of the Big 12 and from the Pac-12 Southern Cal. The tournament will commence the evening after the College Hall of Fame inductions. The location is the Sprint Center in Kansas City Missouri.
The First Family
The McGee family rather than LaVar Ball and his off-spring is the first family of basketball. With the Ball’s it appears to this point Lonzo might be the only family member to play professional basketball. I don’t count the few months the younger brothers played in Lithuania. How about the McGee family father, wife and the two children all played the game? Dad George Montgomery played in college and overseas, mom Pamela McGee once played in the WNBA. Son JaVale is now a member of the NBA Lakers, his half-sister Imani plays for the WNBA Dream.
The McGee family rather than LaVar Ball and his off-spring is the first family of basketball. With the Ball’s it appears to this point Lonzo might be the only family member to play professional basketball. I don’t count the few months the younger brothers played in Lithuania. How about the McGee family father, wife and the two children all played the game? Dad George Montgomery played in college and overseas, mom Pamela McGee once played in the WNBA. Son JaVale is now a member of the NBA Lakers, his half-sister Imani plays for the WNBA Dream.
They laughed at his
movies
They laughed at Kazaam and Steel, they especially laughed at Shaquille O'Neal's acting skills. Nobody is laughing any longer at the big man. These days he's laughing on his way to the bank to deposit large sums of money. This account is prompted by a Shaq commercial one of the many products he can be seen endorsing daily on television. Shaq's hands are in so many projects it's totally amazing. Although he claims to frugal now that's not always been the case. Shaq once spent $70,000 in a single Walmart visit. He said, "I'd been traded from Miami to Phoenix and my apartment had nothing in it." What did Shaq do, he went shopping at a close by Walmart and made a $70,000 purchase in a single visit. At the check-out counter American Express would not approve the purchase. It's not every day the store witnessed a single sale totaling $70,000.
AmEx refused to approve the sale, Shaq talked to the rep and was informed "Mr. O'Neal someone must have stolen your card." He cleared up the issue verifying it was his purchase. Shaq claims (unproven) his purchase is the largest single done day purchase in Walmart history. This larger than life character had his mind on the day he'd no longer be able to play basketball. He began building his portfolio in several areas outside of basketball. These business investments have provided him and family a lucrative lifestyle, how much is he worth you ask? It's estimated in May 2018 his net worth was $400 million. Before you get the impression he's self absorbed please note this. Shaq's philanthropy is well known throughout the nation especially his connection with the Boys and Girls club and his Shaq-a-Claus during the Christmas season.
