Words eye view 

The game from a fan’s perspective

John Chaney

You are forgiven if you don’t recognize the name John Chaney, allow me to make this statement several are anointed the title of legendary, Chaney was a legend all by himself.  Looking at his life’s work in reverse coach is enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame, there are only a few accorded this honor. 

Chaney coached successfully for 24 years at Temple University retiring from the game after the 2006 season.  Coach began his journey at the high school level and later moved up to the college game.  His first collegiate coaching job was Division II Cheney State, his teams won 232 games losing only 56 and the 1978 team won the NCAA Championship.  Overall, he was a winner in 741 games versus 312 losses, Chaney died on Friday at the age of 89. 

At a point in time, he was one of but a small number of black coaches working at a major university.  We can only speculate but his coaching success might have led to other black coaches being hired by universities across the nation.  If you faced a Chaney team better be prepared, his players were taught to play tough hard-nose defense.  John Chaney a basketball legend, R.I.P.

I’m no fan

As this is written the Pelicans have won 6 games and lost 10, we have begun to dissect play this early.  One media scribe pointed out the team (his words) “Have not made progress despite having Zion in the lineup full time.”  There is more than one answer why a team is not productive however there are several factors to consider.  The Pelicans remain a noticeably young team, it’s my belief “bad” NBA teams must learn to win.  Sorry Pelicans Nation I must call it as I see it, they are not good.  Fans of the Raptors should be more concerned than Pelicans fans, the teams have almost identical records. 

Probably the ignored fact is the Pelicans have a new coach, I’m no fan of Stan Van Gundy but the fact is clear.  Van Gundy must be given adequate time to have his system in place and his team buy into it.  It’s a little ridiculous to me for someone to decide after 16 games little if any progress has been accomplished.  A more creditable time frame is to check out the Pelicans in May, by that time they will have played a full season under the coach.  Keep in mind, this is an observation I’ve witnessed only 2 or 3 of the Pelicans games.  It is extremely difficult for fans to wait on a winner but that’s exactly what they must do patience, patience, and more patience. 

This time I stayed awake

My second opportunity to see Charles Bassey in action was more successful than the first.  If you remember the earlier story I intended to “scout” the Big Man from Western Kentucky, I drifted off to sleep and was forced to depend on the internet for game totals.  This time I was wide awake as Western Kentucky beat Middle Tennessee 64-52, Bassey did not disappoint as he filled up the box score in his teams win. 

Bassey’s contribution to the victory, he registered 23 points, 14 rebounds 5 blocked shots and 2 assists.  As for his scoring total it appeared much of it was done without the Hilltoppers running plays for the 6-foot 11 235-pound Bassey.  The play-by-play broadcaster said, “This might be your last time to see him at this level,” the suggestion this college junior is likely headed for the NBA Draft in the spring.  We believe he is NBA bound, at this point we are unsure if he’s an NBA power forward or center. 

Both mock sites I regularly peruse contain his name, one claims he’s a middle of the first-round pick and the other indicates he’s a middle of the second-round choice.  I failed to mention Bassey has 3-point range and shoots in the 70% range from the foul line unusually uncommon in a Big Man’s game.  Over the years there have been several athletes we become enamored with…. Bassey is one of them. 

Dick Enberg 

No one person is ever responsible for the growth of a sport, that certainly rings true with college basketball.  We’ve mentioned in the past college basketball has been broadcast on television since 1940 although the sport didn’t become high profile until the 1960’s.  The late Dick Enberg was the broadcaster of several games that allowed college basketball to move from regional to   national airing.  Einberg was the broadcaster for the Game of the Century, the January 1968 meeting between the number one and number two teams in the nation both undefeated at the time.  The game was played in the Houston Astrodome featured Lew Alcindor of UCLA and Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston. 

This was the first instance of a basketball game played in a baseball/football stadium, there were 100,000 in attendance for the game.  It’s been mentioned at the time college basketball was a regional event however an enterprising entrepreneur owner of the TVS Network set up a national television audience.  Einberg was also behind the mic as Notre Dame upset UCLA’s 88-game winning streak in 1974.  In 1979 Einberg was also responsible for play by play for the NCAA Championship game between Michigan State’s Michigan Johnson and Larry Joe Bird of Indiana State.  Although Einberg was associated with college basketball he broadcast other sports too including several Super Bowl games.  Einberg was among the number of pioneers responsible for expanding the boundaries of sports broadcasting especially college basketball.