Basketball from a fans perspective

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“Who are those guys?”

All throughout the 1969 western classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, one character or the other would say, “Who are those guys?” Of course, it was a sheriff’s posse chasing the two outlaws who robbed banks and trains. I tuned into the Nets-Lakers game and recognized those on the floor however there was an issue. Missing in action, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Trevor Ariza and others although the television camera caught them on the bench. On the Nets side we saw Kevin Durant and James Hardin seated comfortably on the bench.

When the television camera panned the Nets bench Hardin was easy to spot with his lime-green hoodie. We are unsure if Kyrie Irving was with the team, we didn’t see him. It was all good, seeing NBA teams in action for the first time since June. I am reminded a number of NBA players played more recently in the Olympics but it’s not the same thing. It was tracked but it seemed the entire roster of both teams were on floor during the game. Interesting in that rookie Austin Reaves was the first Laker rookie off the bench. Playing an outstanding first game for the Lakers was Malik Monk with 15 points in 18 minutes of play. Final score read Nets 123 Lakers 97 and thus the first exhibition game is complete.

Include them as well

Reading Off the Dribble over time you realize there are issues with me and those in the media especially who cover basketball. Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless and others are in a separate category, they might have competed in the game, but they talk a better one than play it. This account is based on those who played the game, and the number is large. The media honchos love to hire former players no matter the sport but there is difficulty in that repetition, often there is a failure to communicate effectively.

This has nothing to do with a speech pattern the performance reminds us of Smith & Bayless (sounds like a law firm). Their desire is to shock rather than inform and at the top of my list is Charles Barkley, i.e., the Mouth of the South. We can argue the position who is most annoying Smith or Bayless who is in first place versus second. Anytime we discuss former NBA players turned media members Barkley is the winner by a mile there is no other NBA player close to him. Despite my lack of admiration, the former Round Mound of Rebound has won broadcasting awards over his time with TNT Broadcasting.

Barkley claims he’s grown tired and might retire soon, I have my doubts for two reasons. He loves the camera (radio or print), and he loves the $$$ he’s paid to be controversial. There you have it there should be no separation between who is in first or second, Barkley be included in with the others. Sidebar, former NBA player and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is there as well, at times he’s made asinine statements and he too is there along with the others. It would become Smith, Bayless, Barkley & Perkins now it really sounds like a law firm. I realize it is me as an example my cousin loves him, he’s said on more than one occasion “Barkley will say just about anything.”

The Haters

I’m sure you notice haters abound especially on social media. For purposes here you notice most times its aimed at teams and individuals. A funny thing, most times the hate is aimed at successful persons or teams. Let’s look at the Bluegrass State Kentucky, the school plus John Calipari is near the top of the list of most list. Wonder if part of this hatred has anything to do with 8 NCAA Championships and 4 runner ups, sounds like success to me. In the NBA it’s always been the Lakers although it seemed Magic Johnson was generally loved.

We cannot make the same statement about the late Kobe Bryant or the very present LeBron James. Wonder if part of this hatred has anything to do with 17 NBA Championships. If we check the NFL the same situation exists, considerable vitriol aimed at Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots. Wonder if part of this hatred has anything to do with the 6 Super Bowl wins. How about baseball, the last time the Yankees won a World Series was 2009. Wonder if part of this hatred has anything to do with the 27 World Series won by the Yankees. Did you catch the theme here, it seems as though as much as we crave a winner it only goes so far? Suppose Giannis and the Bucks rip off 5-6 championships over the next 5 to 7 years will they be the darlings they are at present?

Speaking of TV

The headline is an easy method for me to slide into this next story. Television is affecting sports events and probably not in a positive manner depending on where you live. That’s the real problem, Joe Citizen arrives home and wants to eat dinner and enjoy a just wants to enjoy a hockey or basketball game, he’s got no desire to involve himself in the middle of a battle between two giants. The Comcast Cable system is dropping Ranger and Knick games for residents of New Jersey and Connecticut.

This move became effective at the end of September, these are Comcast words not mine, “Almost no one watches them” implying Ranger and Knick games. What’s most interesting this is really a battle between two corporations i.e., Comcast and MSG Network. Comcast is claiming MSG wants too much money while MSG claims it wants a deal on the same order as other carriers. In this instance neither the NHL nor NBA season has begun, do we suppose there might be an 11^th hour agreement. The residents of New Jersey and Connecticut certainly hope that is the case.