Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

He’s the tallest in the land

We have no idea if Jamarion Sharp can play basketball, this we do know. Standing at a height of 7 foot 5 inches he is the tallest collegiate player in the nation. Sharp is a newcomer at Western Kentucky although he is beginning his junior year, previously he spent two seasons at John A. Logan a junior college in Illinois. Sharp has been working on his conditioning and food intake intending to build muscle, he says he now weighs 237 with a goal in mind of 240 pounds.

With a father standing 6 foot 9 and a mother 6 foot 3 it’s easy to understand where he acquired his height. There certainly will be an adjustment for Sharp from playing junior college ball to Division I, even so it might be worth our time to see Western Kentucky in action this season. If you thought Western Kentucky was the only school with an offer you can forget that thought. Sharp claims Oregon, Baylor, Louisville, West Virginia, South Carolina, San Diego State and others had offers on the table for his services.

Only three

Founded as the Basketball Association of America in 1946 only three teams are still working today. The three are the Boston Celtics, New York Knickerbockers and Philadelphia (Golden State) Warriors. Teams no longer running in the 75^th Anniversary are: 

 

Chicago Stags (1946-50)

Cleveland Rebels (1946-47)

Detroit Falcons (1946-47)

Pittsburg Ironmen (1946-47)

St Louis Bombers (1946-49)

Toronto Huskies (1946-47)

Washington Capitols (1946-49)

 As you note most BAA teams went out of business after one season, therefore teams were needed if the league intended to remain in business. Teams from the National Basketball League which had begun in 1937 merged with the BAA in 1949 becoming today’s NBA. Technically the National Basketball Association began play in 1949 although the earlier date (1946) is considered the leagues beginning. The basis for most of the BAA teams ceasing operations is lost to history.

“Play him at center!”

Just when you think you’ve heard or seen it all there is one more, this is that one more. Bobby Knight was Indiana and Team USA Olympic coach and Michael Jordan played at North Carolina. We are just now hearing the story, the crusty Knight had nothing but praise for the youngster at the time. Knight bubbled when discussing the ability of Jordan and said, “His game is better suited for the NBA.” You’ve heard part of this story previously, draft time in 1984 the Rockets took Akeem Olajuwon (the spelling was later corrected) with the first pick.

The Blazers had the second pick, Knight was reported to have called the Blazers GM and begged him to take Jordan. Knight was informed by the Blazers GM “We need a center” which Knight replied with several profanities, “Draft Jordan and play him at center.” The Blazers would choose Sam Bowie from Kentucky who managed a 10-year NBA career but nowhere near what Jordan experienced. Despite what we might believe there might have been another factor working, the Blazers had drafted Clyde Drexler in 1983. Perhaps they believed they didn’t need two athletes who played the same position. Don’t you find it interesting both Jordan and Drexler are in the Hall of Fame?

You a little gray now

No argument, basketball is a young man’s game. We argue about elderly LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, and they are 36 and 37, respectively. If we mention a little gray now, we are referring to the “old guys” who remain in the game. We have 81-year-old Larry Brown currently an assistant coach with the Memphis Tigers. Brown’s certainly been around the block during his long coaching career, why is he back in the game…because he loves it.

72-year-old Gregg Popovich longtime Spurs head coach is reported to be leaving soon. He is the longest tenured coach in the NBA at the reins since 1996, you count the years if you care. Next up, longtime basketball analyst Bill Raftery, he’s now 78-years old but it’s clear his love of the college game continues. This one-time coach moved behind the microphone over 30 years ago and it appears he’d got no desire to retire. There are others who are collecting social security and likely have their AARP card, they are listed below, the age is behind the name:

Rick Pitino-69

Leonard Hamilton-73  

Coach K.-74

Dan D’Antoni-74

Cliff Ellis-75

Jim Boeheim-76

Jim Calhoun-79

Dick Vitale-82

It’s being reported Vitale is suffering health challenges, it is unclear at this point if he will return to the mic as a college basketball analyst this upcoming season.