Basketball from a fan’s perspective

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Meanwhile in Lawrence Kansas
Fallout from Snoop Dogg, the pending NCAA penalty future for Kansas basketball is still emanating as we approach the weekend.  As for hearing all the controversy surrounding his performance at “Midnight Madness this was his comment; “When you pay for Snoop you get Snoop.”  Late in the week Bill Self had to defend himself once again over the forthcoming NCAA penalty. 

“Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self, whose program was charged with five NCAA Level I violations this week, appears in a school-released video walking through a record store to Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice" while wearing a shirt with a large "Adidas Basketball" logo and a chain with a "$" sign to promote the rapper's appearance at Late Night at the Phog.”1 

Self-claims he was not trolling the NCAA despite the attire he wore on the video.  What are your feelings, Self has vigorously defended his basketball program and himself from any improprieties?  If he’s innocent as he claims either he or somebody was clearly not in their right mind when they dreamt up the promotional video for Midnight Madness. 

     1.  Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer

Just for grins
NBA.com ran a poll on the all-time greats for each franchise, I did this once before but decided I’ll do it again.  There is a huge problem choosing 10 players, despite this fact I press on.  These are not in any order of importance; it should also be of note a number of these athletes I never personally witnessed.  I’m depending on accounts of others to compile my list.  LeBron James is not included on my list, it’s got nothing to do with his ability, he’s not been a Laker for a long enough period. 

Magic Johnson
Kobe Bryant
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Wilt Chamberlain
James Worthy
Shaquille O’Neal
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Gail Goodrich
Rudy LaRusso

I hope this is not offensive to some
If you attend Howard University, graduated from the school are part of the administration or just a fan.  My apology upfront before you read this account, this is an unusual circumstance in my estimation.  5-star shooting guard prospect Josh Christopher is rated number 12 in Rivals.com Class of 2020 talent.  Mizzou is recruiting him but so are Kansas, Oregon, Arizona and Kentucky just to give you an idea. 

He’s already visited Mizzou and one other school, next up on his list was Howard University in Washington D.C.  This historically black college has long been a producer of doctors, attorneys, scientist, educators and politicians.  The school fields teams at the Division I level but in the last few years little if any NFL or NBA talent has been produced by the school.  It is a mystery why Christopher a Southern California youngster with no apparent connection to the school or area would include Howard on his list. 

Depends on your perspective
You remember the term “trust the process” coined by the Sixers.  The team used that statement as evidence they were in the process of returning the franchise to a competitive basis.  The other day an NBA television analyst pointed out the statement might not have been valid as presented.  He began by listing players the Sixers drafted and traded over the years. 

One by one he began listing names, he began with Michael Carter-Williams and Andre Iguodala.  Then we have Jrue Holiday Evan Turner, Markieff Morris and Maurice Harkless.  I know your response, other than Holiday and maybe a younger Iguodala you might question the talent level of the other names.  Let’s just state there is no requirement for an NBA All-Pro at each position.  Each of the names mentioned remain in the NBA so they must have a degree of talent.