Basketball from a fan’s perspective

All are equal

Other than Kobe and Gigi Bryant most of us didn’t know or were familiar with the other victims in the helicopter crash on Sunday. A great deal has been written or spoken on Kobe and daughter Gigi over the past 24 hours.  This is just a brief statement to say no life is more important than another, we are sports loving people, but we must stop and recognize pain exists in other areas. There are families besides the Bryant’s who are in agony this morning and we should be mindful of that fact. There is a ripple effect, this is a tragedy for several families let us not forget that fact. Let us be reminded of all the victims of the helicopter crash on Sunday, R.I.P. 😭

Hot seat…not quite yet

My friend asks the question, “Do you think Cuozno (Mizzou coach) is on the hot seat?  I don’t know but I think it’s getting warm.”  This was my response to him, “I think he’s under pressure to win.  Should the season continue at the present pace he could find himself on the hot seat.  I’m unsure the length of his contract and that’s always a consideration, “how much of his salary must we eat to replace him” might be the thought of the athletic department.  I’m not ready to fire Cuozno let’s say as part of Mizzou Nation I’m disappointed.  This his 3^rd year I believed we’d witness an improving team; I don’t suppose anyone seriously believed a Michael Porter Jr. would arrive every fall. 

I can’t speak for anyone else the bar was not set unreasonably high by this fan.  12-7 or 11-8 is in the ballpark for me, barring injuries, academics or something else that team could win 20+ games.  That number and playing in the SEC would almost guarantee an NCAA appearance.  At the present pace (1-5 conference, 9-10 overall) the type of finish which places them in line for an NCAA slot is just a dream.  Recruiting next season looks somewhat bleak, Mizzou has a roster of underclassmen with Reed Nikko the only senior.  With limited ability to recruit you see the dilemma, this scenario only becomes a negative if the airballs, unforced turnovers and the like are cured by next season’s team. 

Octogenarians at work

For those unfamiliar with the term octogenarian it refers to a person 80 to 89 years of age.  Most folks in this age range have long since retired as with anything there are always exceptions.  We have two basketball broadcasters; one covers the NBA exclusively as an analyst while the other performs a similar role for the collegiate game.  Who are they, ESPN/ABC’s Hubie Brown 86-years old and the “youngster” 80-year old Dick Vitale?  Both are long past retirement age and certainly must be financially solvent we might believe. 

The last few years has seen Vitale cut-back on his schedule however like Brown he too continues coast to coast travel providing insight into the game both love.  Naturally these two have extensive basketball resumes, there have served as    head coaches on more than one stop.  Brown was on the sidelines for the Grizzlies as recently as 2005.  For Vitale it’s been quite a bit longer, it was 1979 and the team was the Pistons.  Why force someone to retire just because they reach a certain age, it’s clear both enjoy working behind the microphone. 

What they accomplished

It’s unfair but we often use success in the NBA as the barometer of a successful basketball career.  Several are unable to duplicate their college output.  One of those OG’s was Kentucky State’s Travis “Machine Gun” Grant, his nickname should be a clear indication of his deeds.  Grant could fill up the basket and stat sheet.  In those days Kentucky State played in the NAIA however that should not negate his scoring prowess.  Grant averaged an outstanding 26.6 points per game his freshman year, his sophomore year raised it to 35 points.  

Grant’s scoring average dipped his junior year by 4 points as he averaged 31.2 a game. What did he accomplish as a senior, an outstanding 39.5 points per game?  Did I mention Kentucky State won three consecutive NAIA championships, 1970, 1971 and 1972?  Grant would score a total of 4,045 points (33.4 ppg) during his time at Kentucky State.  He was drafted and played in the NBA but had nothing close to the success he experienced while at Kentucky State.  In 2011 he was enshrined in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, this was fitting, the hall is but 5 blocks from Municipal Auditorium the arena he and his teammates won multiple championships.