Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
Tomorrow night it begins for real
Fans of Clipper and Laker Nation have been anxious since July for this first meeting. The opening encounter between the re-tooled Clippers and the revamped Lakers occurs Tuesday evening as the NBA kicks off its 73rd year. The Battle of Los Angeles begins in earnest for fans in Southern California the nation and world. I maintain it’s a single game it decides nothing no matter who wins on Tuesday.
One team will end the night with a
win and the other with a loss, fans of the winning team might feel entitled but
players from both teams might feel differently.
It’s game one there are 81 more plus the playoffs. There is pressure on
both teams to win this season however it might hold more meaning for the
Clippers. A pack of GM’s have picked the
Clippers to win the NBA championship, so they are under pressure to
succeed.
This is interesting
Mizzou was recruiting Rivals 4-star and Class of 2020 prospect Jalen Terry, notice I said was until the Flint Michigan prospect verbally committed to Michigan State, case closed. That might have been the prevailing thought however this would not be the end of the Jalen Terry story and Mizzou recruiting.
Mizzou was recruiting Rivals 4-star and Class of 2020 prospect Jalen Terry, notice I said was until the Flint Michigan prospect verbally committed to Michigan State, case closed. That might have been the prevailing thought however this would not be the end of the Jalen Terry story and Mizzou recruiting.
Last week the 5-foot 11-point guard
evidently changed his mind on Michigan State as he withdrew his verbal
commitment. It would appear Terry has
decided his college path lies elsewhere; will Mizzou be able to secure his
services since he’s opened recruiting once again? That question and others certainly cannot be
answered at this point, it is an interesting question and a story I certainly
intend to follow. It should also be of
note Michigan was also recruiting him, do we suppose it might be Juwan Howard
and Michigan?
Must watch TV
College basketball will be must watch TV this upcoming season. Despite our sometimes preoccupation with the pro game many fit here. We’ve heard conversation stating; “I don’t watch the NBA, but I love the college game.” It’s must watch TV because we must view most of these teams play on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports and other outlets.
College basketball will be must watch TV this upcoming season. Despite our sometimes preoccupation with the pro game many fit here. We’ve heard conversation stating; “I don’t watch the NBA, but I love the college game.” It’s must watch TV because we must view most of these teams play on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports and other outlets.
Our first stop on this journey is
Memphis Tennessee, Penny Hardaway alumnus and head coach has built a champion
contender in year two at the helm. The Tigers should compete successfully in
the American Athletic Conference.
Houston, Cincinnati and UCF will also be contending for conference
leadership. The SEC’s focus once was
primarily football despite producing some outstanding basketball talent. It was once Kentucky and everybody else, now
its Tennessee, Auburn, LSU.
The Goat
He became a basketball legend having never played in the NBA. Although he stood 6-foot 1 inch it’s reported he could touch the top of the backboard although this was never confirmed. Just in case you had forgotten the top is 12 feet off the floor. He was a spectacular dunk artist in the late 1950’s. His name was Earl Manigault and there are several urban tales how he picked up the nickname “Goat.” In any event he was an outstanding talent once scoring 57 points in a middle school game, a New York City record.
He became a basketball legend having never played in the NBA. Although he stood 6-foot 1 inch it’s reported he could touch the top of the backboard although this was never confirmed. Just in case you had forgotten the top is 12 feet off the floor. He was a spectacular dunk artist in the late 1950’s. His name was Earl Manigault and there are several urban tales how he picked up the nickname “Goat.” In any event he was an outstanding talent once scoring 57 points in a middle school game, a New York City record.
Drugs and skipping classes caused
Manigault to be expelled from high school.
He did manage to eventually graduate high school and enrolled at Johnson
C. Smith University, he left after one semester due to a falling out with the
coach. He returned to Harlem and fell
deeper into drugs eventually spending 16 months in prison. There was a tryout with the Utah Stars of the
ABA however they failed to sign him.
Once again, the drug problem would surface, this resulted in him serving
two years in prison for attempted robbery.
It’s said the money in the robbery was
to buy drugs. The last years of
Manigault’s life was spent drug counseling for young people, he wanted to keep
them from going down the path that impacted his life. In 1998 Manigault died of congestive heart
failure at the age of 54. Kareem Abdul
Jabbar was once asked who the greatest player he’d played against or with, he
said Manigault. This is just a thumbnail
sketch of this great playground legend of Rucker Park. There are several books detailing his life
story in addition the 1996 HBO movie “The Legend of Earl “The Goat” Manigault available on DVD.
Number 99
NBA basketball players have generally worn lower digit numbers. 0 out to 54 is usually the numbers we see on jerseys number 99 is highly unusual, only three players in NBA history wore 99. Certainly, the most famous is George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers. Retired player Darko Milicic wore the number, the only active player wearing 99 is Jae Crowder of the Grizzlies. It’s possible there might be an addition, should Tacko Fall earn a roster position he will be added to the list. Tacko is currently wearing 99 in the Celtics training camp.
NBA basketball players have generally worn lower digit numbers. 0 out to 54 is usually the numbers we see on jerseys number 99 is highly unusual, only three players in NBA history wore 99. Certainly, the most famous is George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers. Retired player Darko Milicic wore the number, the only active player wearing 99 is Jae Crowder of the Grizzlies. It’s possible there might be an addition, should Tacko Fall earn a roster position he will be added to the list. Tacko is currently wearing 99 in the Celtics training camp.
