Basketball
from a fan’s perspective
Show me the money
The legendary
Bill Russell spent all his 13-years as a member of the Celtics. Elgin Baylor spent an equal number of years
playing for the Lakers first in Minneapolis and later Los Angeles. Jerry West was a Laker for 14 seasons, the
top player he brought to the Lakers Kobe Bryant spent 20 years in purple and
gold. The athletes mentioned and several
others are a rare breed now, players who spend their entire career with one
team. NBA players moved from team to team
even back in the day through trade.
That’s nothing
like free agency which has witnessed players such as Kevin Durant now with his second
team through free agency. Others such as
Charles Barkley drafted by the Sixers made several moves during his career most
through free agency. Does it appear I’m
critical of the practice, far from it I appreciate the ability of athletes to travel
to the money. At one time free agency
concerned me but no more. Despite the
fact players move from team to team we continue to read and hear from fans “Why
did__________leave, I thought he liked his teammates and the city etc.” That might well be true however he
appreciated the fact another team will willing to pay him more to perform for
them.
I couldn’t save his
job
Despite my published
effort to save David Fizdale the Knicks decided to fire the coach in early
December. This action was taken after
less than two full years on the job, at this level who says things must be fair. The coaching search has begun but we find it
interesting the only name mentioned thus far is ESPN/ABC analyst Mark
Jackson. That’s not to say Jackson a Brooklyn
guy might be interested in returning home to manage the team he grew up
watching.
As for the
coaching search it is interesting, we are hearing no names mentioned. In any event it’s
been reported the sign above the door of Steve Mills office the one reading president
has been removed. In addition, we
reported Knick fans were chanting for owner James Dolan to sell the team. What does the vindictive Mills do, he has
security remove a teenage youngster who was participating in the chant? It turns out the
mom of this young man has been a 20-year season ticket owner, way to go Dolan.
We cannot omit Dolan’s
public feud with former Knick Charles Oakley barring him from the Garden. The franchise of Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Walt
“Clyde” Frazier and Bill Bradley has been sliding downward for years. The chief problem nobody appears capable of
slowing the descent. Would you want the
job? NOTE: It’s being reported the Knicks are interested
in Masai Ujiri taking over operations.
Ujiri is the architect behind revitalizing the Nuggets and the Raptors
to their 2019 NBA championship.
How high is the
mountain?
This account is
not actually a basketball account but could relate in a sense, allow an
explanation. We read and hear all the
time about small market teams competing with the Big Boys for talent for the
most part in attracting free agents. Smaller
metro’s like Kansas City, Portland, Cleveland and New Orleans often come up
short in the $$ department competing with the Yankees, Dodgers, Lakers or Cowboys.
We can safely
conclude ownership with deep pockets aid any teams cause but even small market
teams assembling talent and being competitive can provide keys to success
too. We could safely make that statement
about my hometown; despite the fact we have no NBA team. Kansas City has experienced three world championships
in 7 years with 2013 Sporting Kansas City, 2015 Royals & 2020 Chiefs. That could indicate the mountain isn't as
steep as many in the media claim. 🤔
