Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

The National Football League

There is no mistake despite the headline, this remains a basketball blog although the early portion of this account is focused on the NFL. The NFL has been in the news lately since they are part of a lawsuit wrapped around hiring practices and other stuff. If you follow the sport, you are aware the NFL, put in place the Rooney Rule in 2003. The purpose was to ensure at hiring time teams would interview minority and black candidates for head coaching positions, this rule would allow additional hiring, or would it?

What’s even more interesting at the time the Rooney Rule was adopted there were three black head coaches in 2003, at the beginning of the 2020 NFL season there were three and now Mike Tomlin is the lone black coach in the NFL. Let us take a look at some numbers to clarify the picture a bit. There are 32 NFL teams, with only Tomlin serving as a head coach, so a league with 71% of its players black can say 3% of its coaches are black. As for the NBA it contains 30 teams, there are 12 black head coaches which figures at 43% of the league’s coaches, black athletes in the NBA represent 74.2% of the total number.

Don’t confuse the intention, white guys need jobs too, there is no obligation for every head coaching position in the NFL or NBA for that matter to be held by a black person. The field (or court) must be at the same level so that ALL qualified candidates are given an equal opportunity to coach. As for the NBA it’s objectives have been much clearer than that of the NFL, can we state there is no racism existing in NBA front offices? That’s impossible to determine without providing proof, let’s just conclude by stating the field is not as muddy in the NBA versus the NFL.

Finally

It’s taken me till February to figure out the major puzzle for this Mizzou Tiger team. After watching them lose against Florida 66-65 on Wednesday afternoon the issue has been in front of me all along. Kobe Brown has played well in spots, but he is not a point guard. Amari Davis, Boogie Coleman and others have played well however there is NO LEADER. Usually that leader is a point guard, but it could be anyone on the court able to take over the game at a crucial time.

That leader is the coach on the floor and is able to help his team in sustaining a lead or taking a makable shot at the end of the game. That’s also been a problem, Mizzou had a chance at the end of the game with Florida however can you say…difficult shot? After witnessing this team lose 55-54 to number one Auburn on January 25^th its clear, in both instances Mizzou was ahead yet managed to squander a lead which led to a loss. The games we profiled stand out however looking back there have been several games Mizzou could have won if only someone, anyone could have taken charge.

Do you know him

A report claimed few know of former athlete Rick Barry, he was the second pick in the 1965 NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors. There was star written on his forehead, NBA Rookie of the Year 1966 the world was his, but he wanted more. In 1968 he left the Warriors for the ABA Oakland Oaks, the team would later move to Washington D.C., he would move to the ABA New York Nets. In 1972 Barry returned to the Warriors and finished his NBA career as a member of the Rockets in 1980. 

Between 1966-1980 he might have been one of the most prolific players in professional basketball history but there is an issue. The years in the ABA might have tarnished his legacy although Barry would never compromise. He co-wrote a book with Bill Libby titled Confessions of a Basketball Gypsy: The Rick Barry Story. When the NBA announced its 50^th and 75^th Anniversary team Barry was selected a member on both teams. He’s been honored by his selection to the Naismith and College Basketball Halls of Fame. If you are unfamiliar with the name Rick Barry that’s okay, this short account certainly doesn’t do him justice. Check out his book or better yet see him in action on YouTube.

I could be wrong

Fathers should always have the best interest of their athletic son’s at heart. Despite this statement there is a concern about the role of fathers, we hope to detail that. The father of Emoni Bates has been quoted on the status of his son regarding the latest injury. There are rumors not associated we believe with the father that says Emoni might not remain at Memphis. We are unsure if Elgin was contacted by the media, or the father made himself available on the status of his son. We are reminded of the unpleasant setting LaVar Ball presented over the last 5-6 years to various NBA teams.

Defend your son to the max we say but do it in private, there is no basis for a public feud if the issue is with the Memphis coaching staff. Just an opinion, you might see this matter in a completely different light and that’s okay. There remains time but it appears Bates might not be the talent we believed he would become. You remember those glowing reports as a high school sophomore “He’d be ready for the NBA by the time he graduated high school.” That is far from present day reality, he just might not be able to attain the level those scouts projected 5 years or so ago.

Upon further review

I’m quite sure there are times one reading this blog might believe I have a problem with sports media. Believe me there are a small number of folks I have issues. This is the primary reason; they offer you an opinion on a particular subject. Often, it’s THEIR opinion and they often appear unreceptive to any critical counter remarks. With that said allow me to introduce to some, Mike DeCoursey of The Sporting News. DeCoursey has been reporting on college basketball for over 20 years. During the time I’ve been a reader I’ve found him to be opinionated without being overbearing. He follows the college game with the same enthusiasm of a fan and that makes him a pleasure to read. On occasion he can be seen on television or heard on sports talk radio discussing the game in detail.