Basketball from a fans perspective

Todd Marinovich
Perhaps you’ve read as me, there are societies that believe instead of an upward plain we are in a circle.  Maybe that’s where the phrase, “What goes around comes around” might have originated.  I’ve always took the expression to mean whatever is done might come back to eventually bite you in the butt.  I thought about LaVar Ball and my belief he’s ruining his son’s despite his claim this is all done because he loves his son’s.  I don’t doubt he loves them however you can go overboard in this effort.  That might have been the case for Todd Marinovich as well, his father Marv a former football player was going to create this super football athlete.     

He began training his son at a very young age and the condensed version Marinovich never made it.  In an out of legal struggles through most of his adult life, he played briefly for the NFL Raiders, but it was the Canadian Football League and a series of teams.  At the age of 49 Marinovich is playing for the SoCal Coyotes a developmental team.  We cannot state point blank his father was responsible for his less than stellar career.  Todd Marinovich often made the choice and it turned out to be the wrong one.  I wonder if LaVar Ball has ever heard of Marv Marinovich?  If not, somebody needs to clue him in, protect your children, guide them but don’t overpower them.  We need look no further than Todd Marinovich as evidence. 

Voice of authority
Perhaps referring to J.J. Redick as the voice of authority might be an overstatement.  At the same time, he was front and center to “Lob City” while a member of the Clippers.  Redick claims locker room issues prevented the team from ever reaching the level many predicted.  Not the first-time ego played a part in a team not winning a championship.  In 2003 the Lakers added future Hall of Fame player Karl Malone to the roster.  He was joined by Gary “The Glove” Payton one of the all-time best point guards in NBA history. 

These two became part of a Laker team comprised of Shaq and Kobe, no way should this team ever lose.  Imagine three future Hall of Fame players in the same lineup yet they lost an NBA championship.  Sure, Malone was injured and missed the series however the Pistons still won 4 games to 1 and were crowned 2004 NBA champions.  The Pistons were a good team, they had to be in order to play for the championship.  On paper the Lakers were more than a good team they were a great team.  Oh well, as they often say, “You don’t play games on paper” just ask the Lakers. 

UCLA basketball
If you make a statement “UCLA” the first thought is likely winning basketball, the school is mentioned in the same breath as North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Kansas.  Interesting in that UCLA (probably due to history) is considered a blue-blood basketball program.  Consider this bit of information, UCLA has not won an NCAA championship since 1995.  Each of the programs mentioned have won since then in fact Duke and North Carolina have won at least two championships in the intervening years. 

UCLA has continued to attract talent, their record this past season was (21-12).  Fans, alumni and others expect more and perhaps this might be the year.  I’m not stating an NCAA Championship is in the future, but certainly improved play is expected, in fact the Bruins are projected to win the Pac-12 conference.  5-star prospect Moses Brown arrived from New York City, the 7-foot center is expected to move into the center position.  6-foot 10-inch Shareef O’ Neal son of Shaquille changed his mind regarding Arizona and decided in favor of UCLA.  

Playing for several years  
The Amateur Athletic Union or AAU traces its origin to 1888, play began at the high school level that same year.  The date mentioned is certainly long before we might first believe, we might have been familiar with AAU basketball at the collegiate or pro level.  As for high school it’s   probably the last 20 or so years we’ve witnessed the explosion of AAU basketball at the high school level.  How important is it you ask, depends on who you discuss the issue with?  It’s been said college coaches hate AAU basketball because they claim there is so little teaching. 

“AAU is killing high school basketball,” says Marcus Stout, a former standout at Fordham University who briefly played overseas and now teaches basketball fundamentals to youth. “It’s a necessary evil though. It’s good because it provides opportunities to players who might otherwise be overlooked, but it’s de-emphasizing the essence of the sport of basketball.”

In a Netflix documentary a father indicated “It was more important for his son to play AAU basketball over that of high school.”  Sounds strange, we’ve done almost a flip-flop but allow a further explanation.  A college assistant or head coach can scout only one player at a time in high school.  Attendance at selected AAU tournaments might allow a coaching staff to scout multiple numbers of players.  As the old folks once said, “It’s too late to lock the barn door after the animals’ escape.” With all the negatives associated with AAU basketball it is certainly here to stay. 

complex.sport.com/sports