Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Kansas-Missouri
Kansas and Missouri share an east-west border based on which side of the line you lie in, on Friday the two basketball programs from the two-share news of a similar nature. In Kansas Silvio De Sousa announced he is declaring for the NBA draft. De Sousa was suspended during the 2018-19 season due to improprieties regarding his eligibility. De Sousa’s name was revealed during the Adidas trial. It should be pointed out the finger was pointed at De Sousa’s guardian and not the athlete himself.
In Missouri Jontay
Porter like De Sousa missed the 2018-19 season, Porter’s was due to an ACL tear
in practice. Last month he re-injured the
same ACL after beginning an unauthorized workout. Would Porter return to Mizzou after being
listed on several NBA mock draft sites?
On Friday it was made clear, Porter too declared for the 2019
draft. So, there you have it, two
athletes missing the past season for different reasons. Both could certainly return and in the
instance of De Sousa Kansas indicates they are appealing his suspension to the
NCAA. As for Porter he could sit out
the 2019-20 season at Mizzou but likely wants to be paid.
“We all stand on the
shoulders of those who came before us”
I’m unsure who made the statement above but it’s true. The millions of dollars earned by Wilt, Dr. J., and those who came later all owe a debt of thanks to the late Chuck Cooper. Who was Cooper you ask; he wasn’t the first African-American to play in the NBA but he was the first drafted? Cooper played a semester at West Virginia State 1944-1945 and was then drafted during the late stage of World War II. After the war he enrolled at Duquesne University where he played for four years.
I’m unsure who made the statement above but it’s true. The millions of dollars earned by Wilt, Dr. J., and those who came later all owe a debt of thanks to the late Chuck Cooper. Who was Cooper you ask; he wasn’t the first African-American to play in the NBA but he was the first drafted? Cooper played a semester at West Virginia State 1944-1945 and was then drafted during the late stage of World War II. After the war he enrolled at Duquesne University where he played for four years.
Cooper a 6-foot 5-inch
guard/small forward was drafted in 1950 by the Celtics, he played for the
Celtics and Hawks concluding his career with the Fort Wayne Pistons in
1956. It’s said an automobile accident
was a contributing factor in his early retirement. In 1984 he died of cancer at the age of 57,
if we just check his numbers, they don’t appear all that impressive. The inspiring part of his story is the trials
and tribulations Cooper underwent to play in the NBA of that era. September 2019 along with several others Cooper
will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Chuck Cooper a
basketball name you should know.
Is he on the way?
Whom might we be speaking, how about Anthony Davis power forward/center extraordinaire of the Pelicans? Remember all the talk during the middle of winter, Davis wanted out of New Orleans the Lakers were supposed to ransom almost their entire team to acquire him. The Pelicans said no deal, Magic Johnson resigned I just tossed in the bit about Magic he left much later. In any event ESPN’s NBA Jump displayed Davis $$$ on the screen. Davis claims he wants out but could earn far more remaining a member of the Pelicans.
Whom might we be speaking, how about Anthony Davis power forward/center extraordinaire of the Pelicans? Remember all the talk during the middle of winter, Davis wanted out of New Orleans the Lakers were supposed to ransom almost their entire team to acquire him. The Pelicans said no deal, Magic Johnson resigned I just tossed in the bit about Magic he left much later. In any event ESPN’s NBA Jump displayed Davis $$$ on the screen. Davis claims he wants out but could earn far more remaining a member of the Pelicans.
There is another
piece to the puzzle, Tracy McGrady said “He
wants to win a championship, he can’t
do that we a team forced to build.”
The Lakers CANNOT trade for him without gutting their
roster. Davis can make no commitment
currently however this is the proposal of Larry Laker. Davis remains with the Pelicans and in 2020
becomes an unrestricted free-agent. July
2020, he signs with the LeBron Lakers, the holdover roster plus draft choices and
additional free-agent(s). Can you say
road to an NBA championship? Certainly
not guaranteed but far better than the current situation.
No more
Covered earlier was Jack Sikma being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in September. His alma mater Illinois Wesleyan is an NCAA Division III school. At the time the 6-foot 11-inch Sikma played at the school they competed at the NAIA level which is the basis for this account. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA holds a distinct record. The annual championship tournament pre-dates the NCAA Division I tournament, few college basketball fans realize that fact. Several factors saw the NAIA light dim over the years while the NCAA grew and grew and grew. Below is just a small list of schools who once played in the NAIA, all now Division I or II schools.
Covered earlier was Jack Sikma being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in September. His alma mater Illinois Wesleyan is an NCAA Division III school. At the time the 6-foot 11-inch Sikma played at the school they competed at the NAIA level which is the basis for this account. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA holds a distinct record. The annual championship tournament pre-dates the NCAA Division I tournament, few college basketball fans realize that fact. Several factors saw the NAIA light dim over the years while the NCAA grew and grew and grew. Below is just a small list of schools who once played in the NAIA, all now Division I or II schools.
San Diego State
Southeast Missouri State
Missouri State
Southern Illinois University
Marshall University
Louisville
Southeast Missouri State
Missouri State
Southern Illinois University
Marshall University
Louisville
Side bar note,
Louisville is the only school to hold an NAIA and NCAA Division I championship.
