Basketball from a fans perspective

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His vocabulary      

If you lived in the New York Metro you’ve been listening to Knicks broadcaster Walt Frazier for years. For those unfamiliar with the name Frazier played ten seasons for the Knicks and was chosen to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. At the time the NBA selected its all-time Top 50 Players Frazier was one of the honorees. Those outside the metro able to view Knick games on NBA League Pass or NBA TV are familiar with his voice during Knick broadcasts.

During a part of a recent Knicks game Frazier used the word sagacious (suh-gey-shuh s) in a description of game action. I had no idea of the definition, nor do I remember hearing the word in the past. For dummies like me I decided to check the dictionary; “having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd” Only Frazier’s broadcast would have such a word, thus ends today’s teaching moment from Walt Frazier courtesy of Larry Laker. (dictionary.com)

“Houston, we are a go”

The headline above represent the words of astronauts over the generations. Those might also be the words of the University of Houston. This former member of the defunct Southwest Conference and later American Athletic Conference is on the way to the Big XII. From Houston this is a good move in countless ways, they become a member of a Power 5 Conference, that’s number one. Number two, it’s the rivalry. They will have Baylor, Texas Tech and TCU all Texas schools on their schedule every season.

We guess the schools might not have a football game scheduled every season, basketball is a different matter. We are unsure why the decision to add Houston took an inordinate amount of time, on the surface it would appear easy. Number three might be recruiting; Texas still is a hotbed for high school basketball talent. There are other areas it is helpful for Houston to become a Big XII member but the foot dragging was clearly with the Big XII. How do we know there was a delay consider this, the length of time since Mizzou and Texas A&M left for the SEC?

Bits n Pieces 

We have discussed the fact this upcoming season will be the last for Coach K. The coach will leave a tremendous legacy in his retirement. Despite his retirement it’s hoped high profile recruits will manage to find their way to Durham North Carolina. Who knows maybe it’s already begun to occur, on Tuesday Dereck Lively II 7 foot 1 and 220 pounds gave his verbal commitment to Duke? Lively is a 5-star recruit and ranked number three in the Class of 2022 by Rivals. No Coach K., no matter we move on.

A new player in town, Link Prep is a new basketball prep school found in Branson (MO). Many are probably familiar with the city due to the entertainment park Silver Dollar City located there. If you are geographically challenged Branson is 209 miles southeast of Kansas City and 251 miles southwest of St. Louis. The city is in the middle of the Ozark part of the State of Missouri. As for Link the school is only three years old and similar to others is not sanctioned by the state athletic association. Link Prep plays a national schedule and recruits from the entire nation.

This story is really just beginning, since the end of the Sixer season multiple stories have been written and reported regarding Ben Simmons. The point guard went on record saying “I will not report to training camp (on Monday).” We don’t know the full extent of this feud, is Simmons trying to force the Sixers to trade him? He further claims he wants out of Philadelphia, it will be interesting over the next few weeks to see how this matter is eventually resolved. As this was completed came word from Sixers coach Doc Rivers, he claims a desire for Simmons to remain a Sixer. 

My remembrance

Can we say Clippers owner Steve Ballmer might be a little tardy to the party? He was quite vocal in pointing out a desire for his team to play in their own arena, which is okay, the best play dates are the fault of the earlier ownership. It was made known the Lakers would move out of the Forum to Staples Center well before its planned 1999 opening. The Lakers along with the NHL Kings signed contracts early saying they intended to move into the new arena. The Clippers then owned by Donald Sterling played their games at the Pond at Anaheim (now Honda Center) from 1994 through 1999. An account in the Los Angeles Times April 17, 1998, says: “The Clippers, who have never shared in the glamour and the glory of the Lakers and Kings, will now at least get to share their new home. The Clippers have agreed to a six-year lease to play in the downtown Staples Center when it opens in the fall of 1999.”

For reasons unknown then owner Sterling must have decided it would be helpful to play at Staples rather than remain in Anaheim. For owner Ballmer it’s a legacy issue over a building. Until the Clippers win at least a single championship they will remain in second place in the mind of most in Southern California. Want further proof, my wife loves the game show program Wheel of Fortune. The other evening when Pat Sajak discussed a contestants love of Los Angeles sports she named the Rams, Dodgers and Lakers. There was no mention by her of the Clippers who moved to the city in 1984.  Finally, Laker fans haven’t forgotten the Doc River Clipper years and the issue of the banners. Sharing the same arena with the Lakers whenever the Clippers played, he had the retired Laker jerseys concealed. Now think about this a minute, isn’t that silly? Anybody that’s ever been in Staples Center at other times is aware behind the coverings in the rafters are retired Laker jerseys.