Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

What!

Did we misunderstand the statement or was he misquoted? In this instance we are discussing newly elected Mayor of New York City Eric Adams. We reported a week or so ago mayoral candidate Eric Adams “said” he wanted to lift the mandate allowing Kyrie Irving to play for the Nets. Has there been a change, after the victory on Tuesday we are hearing a slightly different story from Adams? Once again, the question must be asked, did we simply misunderstand the earlier statement or was it a media misquote or something else. I was critical of candidate Adams because it appeared he intended to make an exception for a single citizen which I pointed out as wrong in my view. Now it appears that was not the case as the mayor has changed his mind or did, he?

The passage of time

With the 75^th Anniversary NBA season began we profiled all teams in that inaugural season. On Friday we covered BAA teams beginning play in 1946 the 75^th Anniversary. Further research shows all the teams closed shop on the dates shown. The history why these teams went out of business is still unclear. The Stags are the only team with a history we could uncover. Abe Saperstein owner of the Globetrotters bought the Stags in June 1950. By September, his deal had fallen apart, and Saperstein requested his money be returned. “Podoloff, acting on behest of a group of other NBA owners, “foreclosed” on the Stags due to their inability to repay a $40,000 loan that enabled them to finish 1949-50 season in first place. It marked the end of the NBA in Chicago until the Chicago Packers were joined in 1961.” *  

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)

*Wikipedia

The inconsistency in the NCAA  

Readers of this blog are aware I’ve had issues with the NCAA for a time. Before getting into details allow me to say there is a need for a body to administer procedures for college athletics. The difficulty the NCAA has often appeared haphazard in the manner of their rulings. In addition, it “appears” with basketball punishment is only aimed at smaller profile programs. High profile schools either receive a symbolic penalty or in the case of Kansas basketball it drags on never settled. Naturally if anything here appears incorrect it will be retracted, here goes.

Kofi Cockburn-Sold his Illinois paraphernalia prior to NIL, according to reports reimbursed the school despite this fact the NCAA decided a penalty was needed. Cockburn was suspended by the NCAA for the first three games of the season.

Oklahoma State-Former assistant coach found guilty of improprieties, the incident or series occurred 5 years ago. November 3, 2021, OSU after an appeal received notice the school will be prohibited from post-season play in 2022.

Kansas-The program along with head coach Bill Self were accused by the NCAA of 5 Level 1 violations in September 2019. Level 1 is the most serious of all violations, the NCAA prior to the start of every season announces Kansas basketball will be penalized in the spring. I believe we most are unsure in the spring of what year (century) that might occur.

Creighton-In June 2021, the NCAA found an assistant for the school received unauthorized funds, this incident occurred in 2017. From cbssports.com, “Creighton is not being punished with a postseason ban. Instead, its most severe sanctions are tied to recruiting visits, all of which were self-imposed by the school.” So essentially Creighton and OSU have the same issue before the NCAA, OSU is punished but Creighton escapes.

James Wiseman-Prior to becoming head coach Memphis supporter Penny Hardaway contributed funds allowing Wiseman’s family to move from Nashville to Memphis. The NCAA ruled this gesture a violation, the player was ruled ineligible after a single game until the money was repaid to a charity of choice. The parents of Wiseman must have said “forget that” their son withdrew from school and prepared for the NBA Draft. He was made the number two pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Warriors. 

No place in this report did I state the parties were innocent, in all instances the schools and individuals appear to be guilty as charged by the NCAA. The five examples cited detail a portrait of the inconsistency of the NCAA in its judgement. Am I bias in my reporting, you better bet I am, but I would also say this account is offered with the best research I was able to compile?

Right place and time

Being at the right place and time certainly might apply to Andre Drummond. The LAkers signed him near the middle of last season, we’ll re-visit the period briefly. At the time LeBron was injured and out of the lineup so too was Anthony Davis, it was hoped the lean defensive minded Drummond would bring a degree of stability to the center position. It didn’t work for the LAkers as planned, once AD returned, he said Drummond created a spacing problem between the two. You know the balance of the story the LAkers were not about to sign Drummond to a max contract based on what they had seen.

Fast forward to early November, Drummond now with the Sixers is backup to Joe Embiid but that’s not as bad as might be perceived. Embiid sat out a recent game against the Blazers, starting in Embiids place was Drummond. The Sixer Big Man registered 7 assists, 14 points and 15 rebounds, how about that for the stat sheet. Rest assured he’s not going to experience numbers similar when he faces other NBA teams. Drummond will not have games like this every night, but it does prove when called on he is a producer. As for his time with the LAkers, it was a case of the right place and time which clearly wasn’t the time with the LAkers. UPDATE: With Joel Embiid testing positive for COVID it appears Drummond's on court time will be extensive over the next 10 days.