Basketball from a fan perspective

We know your name

The Thursday evening Laker-Clipper game was close, only a put back shot by LeBron prevented an OT.  We mentioned the players missing in action but its more than that.  We know your name, media folks who were on the Laker bandwagon until this tight win.  We heard you, “They (Clippers) barely lost and (Montrez) Harrell and (Lou) Williams didn’t play.”  The statement is certainly true, no argument here.  We have no idea what unfolds for the balance of the season and into the playoffs. 

This we know, the Lakers will miss Avery Bradley no doubt, they will miss Rajon Rondo.  Can these bandwagon media types say with certainty that Markieff Morris, J.R. Smith or Dion Waiters might be able to offset Harrell and Williams?  We do not know at this point; we must wait for the championship to be completed.  We know your name, media members extolling the virtues of the Lakers one minute and changing your tune the next all based on a close win.  Question, it wasn't a loss was it?   

Should the name be changed?

For those reading this in foreign lands or Americans unclear on the history of the nation.  Removal of Confederate statues, monuments, symbols, and name changes have been in the news.  These symbols represent the American Civil War concluded 155 years ago.  What about more recent times, those which include the nation’s segregation past?  That is where our portion of the story begins, Adolph Rupp and Kentucky basketball. 

From 1930-1972 Rupp’s Kentucky Wildcats dominated college basketball like UCLA in the late 1960’s through the middle of the 1970’s.  Kentucky like Missouri was a slave state but failed to succeed from the union however the state and many of its residents held on to its segregationist past.  An arena was opened in 1972 in downtown Lexington and Adolph Rupp’s name was placed on the building.  Fast forward to 2020, a group of the University of Kentucky faculty are desiring a name change for the arena.  They claim Rupp was racist and that is the basis for their request. 

Sidebar here, the SEC was the last major conference to begin recruiting black athletes. 

Prior to his 1972 retirement Rupp did recruit and add one black player to the roster.  A recording made prior to Rupp’s death in 1977 he makes the claim he tried to recruit Wes Unseld and Butch Beard two outstanding black Kentucky talents at the time.  Do you view the request for a name change to the arena valid or do you take the position Rupp reflected the segregationist south of the period?      

I wonder why

Former point guard and coach Mark Jackson and his family are likely not suffering financially, we guess he is compensated adequately by ABC/ESPN working as a color analyst.  If he saved just a portion of his NBA salary as a player money should not be a question.  Most reading this might have forgotten or maybe did not realize he once served as head coach of the Warriors.  Jackson was fired in 2014 after leading the Warriors to three consecutive playoff appearances, this was something not experienced by the team in 20 years. 

As for the present it seems every time an NBA head coaching job opens, we hear several names mentioned, we are accustomed to Jackson’s name to be among the missing.  Assistant coaches, previously fired coaches are always given an opportunity to coach…not Jackson.  I happen to believe Tom Thibodeau is a good coach, but the guy was hired by the Knicks after being fired by the Bulls and Wolves.  He is not the only example, how about Luke Walton.  Fired by the Lakers without missing a beat Walton was hired as head coach by the Kings.  Whatever Jackson did while at Golden State must be serious or is, he being blackballed for some reason?