Basketball from a fan perspective

Richard Pitino

This is not exasperation aimed at Pitino as much as the system allowing it to take place.  Pitino was hired as head coach at Minnesota in 2013, he was fired March 2021.  What occurred in between time, his won-loss record is an okay 141-123 .534 winning percentage.  Only 4 of his 8 seasons produced a winning record, under Pitino’s leadership Minnesota was on a roller coaster in the win loss department.  I’m unsure if we can point to a single outstanding except his first at the helm, that team was crowned NIT Champions in 2014. 

Now for the tragic portion of this story, can we point to a single crowning achievement Pitino managed to accomplish?   Paul Weir was at the same point, his record wasn’t terrible but there was nothing exciting we can point toward.  Weir’s last season New Mexico finished 6-16 and 2-15 in the Mountain West Conference.  Here we have two coaches neither of whom is terrible however the circumstances still appear strange.  Weir fired and less than 24 hours later Pitino with a losing record at his former post is hired.  Why not an assistant out there giving him the opportunity to coach rather than recycle a coach who really hasn't proven he can win consistently.   

Sad news

Former NBA player Shawn Bradley suffered a tragic accident in January, riding his bicycle near his home Bradley was struck by an automobile and suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury.  News reports indicate he is paralyzed but is going through rehabilitation.  Bradley was the number 2 pick in the 1993 draft by the Sixers, he retired in 2005 as a member of the Mavs.  When drafted at the time Bradley was the tallest player in the NBA until Yao Ming arrived in 2002.  Both players were listed as 7 feet 6 inches in height, as additional updates are provided you will be informed.       

Travelin’ Man

The late Rick Nelson had a 1961 pop tune titled Travelin’ Man, the first stanza of the song goes like this: “I'm a travelin' man and I've made a lot of stops All over the world.”  That could just as easily be sung by Trevor Ariza, the Thunder traded him to the Heat on Wednesday.  The Heat will become the 11^th team he’s played for, let’s do a count of his travels across America.  Ariza’s played for the Rockets twice and the Wizards twice so here goes:

2004-2004 Knicks

2006-2007 Magic

2007-2009 Lakers

2009-2010 Rockets

2010-2012 Hornets

2012-2014 Wizards

2014-2018 Rockets

2018 Suns

2018-2019 Wizards

2019-2020 Kings

2020 Blazers

2021 Heat

As you can see the 6 -foot 8 small forward has traveled the length and breath of the nation, on the other hand it could prove his continued value to the receiving team.  To clear some confusion Ariza was traded to the Thunder on November 27 however he never reported to them or appeared in any games.     

Chicago first  

If you are under age 40 you probably believe the Bulls are Chicago’s only NBA team.  That’s easy to understand, the Bulls especially during the Jordan years dominated the NBA and came close to overshadowing history.  The Bulls were an expansion team that came into existence in 1966 however the city had a preceding team.  The Bulls reflect a second expansion team the first was the Packers, you’ve never heard of them we suppose and there is a reason why. 

That team now is the Washington Wizards but more on that later.  The Chicago Packers won 18 games and lost 62 while playing in the International Amphitheater in the 1961-1962 season, they finished in last place in the Western Division.  Despite having the Rookie of the Year in Walt Bellamy it was said their play stunk as much as the stockyards adjacent to the arena.  The 1962-1963 season witnessed the team moving to the Chicago Coliseum and their won-loss record improved as they changed nicknames. 

Gone was the Packers and memories of the stockyards, the team was rebranded as the Zephyrs.  Terry Dischinger was named Rookie of the Year the same honor Bellamy earned the prior year.  The handwriting was on the wall, this history occurred prior to the explosion of popularity the NBA would later see occur.  Year three of their existence saw the team move to Baltimore where they became the Bullets.  From Baltimore it was the D.C. suburbs and finally in the city.  In 1997 the team’s name was changed to the Wizards and that ends our story.