Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Saved by the…pandemic?

I like Shaka Smart at Texas, as for the Athletic Department, administration and fans that might be a different story.  CBSSports.com college basketball page claims Smart and several coaches might have been saved by the pandemic. These coaches might have been fired if not for the plague that ravaged the nation.  Over and over I expressed my belief Texas would be a gold mine for Smart. He must recruit no matter the location however basketball rich Texas is likely far easier than Virginia Commonwealth. 

That was my belief back then and it’s not changed except the recruiting appears to be irregular.  Talent arrives in Austin but fails to remain in place, is Smart a tough guy to play for?  I doubt that, he is a 40 something coach which should endear him to a youthful team.  Smart’s record at Texas has never been terrible its just not been great.  This past season Texas finished 9-9 in the Big 12 with a 19-12 record.  The 2020-21 season must show drastic improvement if Smart hopes to remain in Austin. 

Last Dance

It is being reported Last Dance drew 5.9 million viewers over the 10 episodes according to the Nielsen Company.  ESPN says, “That’s easily the highest-rated documentary project ever for the sports network.” *  I am not going to read anything into this news except to note it is interesting.  Now the fall out, everybody is mad now…well not everyone however there has been a negative response in some circles.  

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf is upset in how he was portrayed in Last Dance, Horace Grant is upset how Pippen’s role was portrayed in the documentary. In addition, the claim he (Grant) was the source of the locker room portrayed in the Sam Smith book “The Jordan Rules.”  The rebuttal is simple, right or wrong the story is told from MJ’s perspective.  Was he correct in everything he did and might have later stated?  The answer is of course not but it was Michael Jordan.  Publicly Pippen’s had nothing to say to this point, Reinsdorf is another story, we feel so sorry for him.  Six NBA Championships probably still raking in money by the handfuls, poor Jerry.

*ESPN.com NBA page

Grand Canyon basketball

The Arizona school has only played Division I basketball a short period, in fact they were 15-15 their first season in 2013-14 under Coach Dan Majerle.  The former NBA player moved smoothly into the coaching ranks as his first team finished with a 10-6 record in the Western Athletic Conference.  Majerle’s second team finished with 17 wins, from that point on his teams won at least 20 games until last season. 

The 2019-20 season would see Grand Canyon experience a 13-17 record; March 17 Majerle was fired by the school.  On Tuesday Majerle filed a lawsuit against the school for breach of contract, as for his termination it remains unclear.  One publication indicated the program was regressing despite his overall winning record.  Clearly, it is the decision of the school administration, there will be a follow up on this story as it develops over the next few weeks and months. 

Sonny Hill   

The name might be unfamiliar to most of you, Sonny Hill is 83-years old.  You ask who Hill is, he is Philadelphia basketball whether its high school, college, or the NBA.  Hill comes by his love of the game as a former basketball player, at one point he was a regular analyst at the time the CBS Network held the NBA broadcast rights.  Hill serves as an advisor for the NBA Sixers and is in the Philadelphia Hall of Fame.  There is even a youth basketball league that bears his name. 

If Wilt Chamberlain had lived, he would have turned 84-years old as well, see where I am headed?  Hill grew up in Philadelphia at the same time of Wilt Chamberlain, there were several opportunities for Hill to see the young and budding force Chamberlain would later become Wilt the Stilt and a legend.  Listen to this, Hill says Joel Embiid can become a "young Wilt Chamberlain."  That is a strong statement for Hill and one he claims to have never made regarding any player of the past.