Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

I’m back

This is the first post-Thanksgiving edition of Off the Dribble. Thank you for being patient while I celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends. I was not only starving for turkey but the NBA as well, being in Dallas I had the opportunity to see the Mavs in action against the Wizards. In a highly competitive game on Saturday evening, the Wizards managed to overcome a brief lead by the Mavs. This is the neat part, I got to see Luka the Don and Kristaps Porzingis in action and in person for the first time.

For the Wiz it was Kyle Kuzma, Bradley Beal and KCP who was key to the win. For those who might be geographically challenged OKC is closer to Kansas City than Dallas but there is a problem…weather. We have winter in the plains which includes a part of Missouri and Oklahoma. The ability for me to see another NBA game in person is based on the weatherperson’s forecast and my ability to brave the elements. In any event I hope your Thanksgiving was as enjoyable as mine. Sidebar, entertainer Jamie Foxx (movie Ray) was at the game, Foxx was born and raised in Terrell about 32 miles east of Dallas.

Bits in Pieces

Just like the Terminator in the 1984 classic Dickey V. might have uttered the same statement “I’ll be back.” Dick Vitale was given the okay by the medical staff the 82-year-old returned to the game he loved. First diagnosed with lymphoma Vitale is undergoing chemo. He was the color commentator as number one Gonzaga took on number five Duke and his return might have been more important than the Gonzaga-Duke matchup.

As said here often LeBron James doesn’t require me to defend him but I must. Not defend LeBron but question why idiot fans are escorted out of arenas yet can return easily. The latest example occurred last week while the Lakers visited Indiana. We saw the video with LeBron pointing them out to the game official and then asked to leave. There is a line that should never be crossed, that line is involving a players family which its reported this woman manage to carry out.

KU fans you have a good team...much better than last season. Think you have an invite to the NCAA Tourney upcoming? That's certainly true however in the Big XII race the Baylor Bears will be quite good once again. Hold on a moment didn't they lose a bunch of players after last season? Yes they did but early reports indicate they have borrowed the Mark Twain quote, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

How disappointed…wait and read

This is now old news but allow me to rant a moment. I am extremely disappointed in Mizzou’s loss to Wichita State, it wasn’t the loss itself the way it occurred. How is this team going to compete in the competitive SEC with stats they presented last Friday? A team cannot shoot 35% from the floor and 11% from three and expect to win, from the free throw line Wichita State shot poorer than Mizzou. I certainly am not bragging about the 53.8% Mizzou registered from the line. I guess we should have expected as much after first the embarrassing loss to UMKC.

As for the coach Cuonzo Martin is one of my favorites, since he arrived on the scene there have been no academic failings as with past head coaches. In addition, Martin does a capable job of recruiting especially the St. Louis metro region but that makes for another question. If the coach is recruiting the types of players, he wants on his team we need to see results. The issue might be where does Mizzou go from here? Up next is Paul Quinn, then the schedule becomes extremely tough. This is no slam at their programs but if Mizzou cannot remain on the court with UMKC and Wichita State how can they compete against SEC rivals Kentucky, Tennessee and others?

Steeped in tradition

The arena is still in use although it is not the high traffic arena it once was. Wilt Chamberlain played in the building so did Walt Frazier, we could make the same statement about other former greats be they college or the NBA. The arena once held the record (9) for the most NCAA Championships in the nation although its long since been broken as the NCAA has moved the game into football stadiums. The second year (1940) of the NCAA Tournament existence saw the championship game played in the building.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or the NAIA Championship game is played in the building. Willis Reed, Zelmo Beaty, Elmore Smith came to prominence playing for their respective NAIA teams. The list of former greats who played in Municipal Auditorium is far too many to count. The building is part of a larger complex built in 1936 consisting of a Music Hall for plays and concerts and The Little Theatre part of the auditorium holds a ballroom, in addition to basketball the arena has held crowds captivated by circus performances. This symbolic building has continued to serve, the arena is home court for the University of Missouri-Kansas City.