Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Did it occur because its Kansas City?
810 Sports radio hired a replacement for their drive-time guy.  You might remember hearing or reading the firestorm this former employee created one afternoon discussing Chiefs coach Andy Reid and the manner he instructs his players.  The radio guys termination occurred due to him including the coach’s family in his assessment of the Chiefs.  It got me to thinking, radio and television personalities have gotten in trouble since like forever.  Most recently Jemele Hill was first suspended and later resigned at ESPN.  Perhaps the size of our metro might have been a contributing factor. 

The KC Metro population is 2.2 million folks, that’s small by comparison to Los Angeles, New York or Chicago.  No longer an NBA city there are professional sports here in the form of football, baseball and soccer (football) so the metro is not exactly devoid of sports.  I’d had issues with this radio guy for years regarding incendiary comments he’d made about basketball especially the NBA, players and coaches.  Did he deserved to be fired, not my call however I don’t pay his salary.  It’s clear although he was one of the owners the majority owners must have felt it was time for him to go.  Would this radio guy have been fired anywhere else in the country?

Chicago a basketball mecca
Not my words those of newly acquired Laker power forward Anthony Davis, 6-foot 10-inch Davis was born in Chicago, attended Perspectives Charter in the city.  Is his view of basketball in the Windy City true?  How about comprising a team of Chicago only players, this does not include those from the metro?

Center
George Mikan
Johnny Kerr
Power forward
Anthony Davis
Antoine Walker
Small forward
Juwan Howard
Quentin Richardson
Mark Aguirre 
Point guard
Isiah Thomas
Derrick Rose
Tim Hardaway
Shooting guard
Dwayne Wade  
Nick Anderson
Reserves
Doc Rivers
Quinn Buckner
Jabari Parker
Patrick Beverly

You might be surprised; this list is far from complete for several reasons.  A number have been retired while others may be unknown to you.  It simply reinforces the statement made by Anthony Davis Chicago’s produced several talented basketball players over the decades. 

“It’s gotta be the shoes”
Those are the words of Mars Blackmon a.k.a. Spike Lee, he is asking Michael Jordan the question regarding MJ's ability to “fly”.  During a series of television commercials, a television audience was introduced to the Air Jordan brand, since that time period several NBA athletes have chosen the brand, Nike, Adidas or some other shoe.  What about Zion Williamson you ask? 

For one thing the highly touted rookie is yet to sign with any brand.  If you remember the “exploding shoe” story Zion wore Nike’s while enrolled at Duke.  According to TMZ Sports Puma is making a valiant run at signing the highly touted rookie.  Whatever shoe company manages to secure Zion’s signature on the dotted line will pay large sums of money, the youngster will likely be set for life.    

Duke’s a winner…. again
You’ve heard the account previously, the rich keep getting richer or similar words.  In checking Rivals.com we discover the Durham North Carolina university has the number one recruiting Class for 2020.  Several of you proclaim when is Duke not at or near the top in recruiting, Duke has two Top 20 (21) prospects in the class.  Jalen Johnson 6-foot 8-inch small forward number 5, Jeremy Roach 6-foot point guard and number 21 are the names.  It doesn’t end there, in checking a few of the undecided prospects in the Top 10, guess which university is included in their possible choices?