Published Monday thru Friday    

Basketball from a fans perspective

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best”      

Tim Duncan   

I’m totally embarrassed

The headline statement is made for more than one reason, allow a further explanation. Yesterday I wrote LeBron James was about to become a member of the 20-year club. This club consisted of NBA players with 20+ years on their resumes, the names were printed but in the middle of the day I realized there was a gigantic error made on my part. Despite the error I decided the admission would not be buried somewhere half-hidden in this publication.

It would be pointed out because I want most of all for you the reader to have all the facts. We might differ on a variety of issues but records are certainly not an area of disagreement. The error, two Lakers were omitted from the list and should have been included, the names were Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I lay claim to the fact of being the number one Laker fan in Kansas City and I left two of my favorite Lakers off the list. There are 7 players with 20+years of play in the NBA, when the season begins next week LeBron James will become number 8. 

Allow me to introduce myself

This story popped up on my news feed about one year ago, I thought it worthy to be repeated for those who might have missed it. This is another account of the legend of Wilt Chamberlain and his prowess on the basketball court. When challenged he could do almost anything he set his mind to. “In 1961 a new star Walt Bellamy came into the league. Bellamy was 6 foot 11 and was scoring 30 points a game. The first time they played against each other they met at half court.

“Hello Mr. Chamberlain. I’m Walter Bellamy. Chamberlain reached for Bellamy’s hand and said, “Hello, Walter. You won’t get a shot off in the first half.” Chamberlain then blocked Bellamy’s first nine shots. At the start of the second half Chamberlain said to Bellamy, “Okay, Walter. Now you can play.” If you are unfamiliar with the late Walt Bellamy allow me to inform you of this, he’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. Bellamy was one of a number of great centers from that era who was overshadowed by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bob Lanier and others.

I’m remain upset

There is no reason to visit the decision on Mizzou’s move to the SEC, that ship sailed a long time ago. In the State of Missouri residents are acquainted with Eli Drinkwitz and Dennis Gates. They are aware Drinkwitz is the football coach and Gates is the basketball coach at Mizzou. If you live in the Kansas City metro you probably have little knowledge of the two and there is a clear reason. I cannot remember back to 2012 but it seems media coverage was balanced, sure Kansas was 40 some miles up the road but that seems to have changed or maybe it’s my imagination.

I can remember Gary Pinkel (2001-2015) and Mike Anderson (2006-2011) former football and basketball coach’s time with Mizzou. There once existed the Gary Pinkel-Mike Anderson Program, they were half hour interview programs in the Kansas City market. After the SEC move these weekly programs disappeared…why? The university was still located in Columbia only the conference affiliation changed. Now for the “Meat and Potatoes”, both sports at Mizzou under previous coaches suffered on the field and court. In between time I’m unsure if it was the SEC move or just the fact Kansas basketball began to dominate the media in Kansas City. Mizzou basketball went through a period where the basketball was up and down, truth is more down than up.

I’m going to shorten this by stating Dennis Gates has revitalized a basketball program that needed it badly. After a 25-win season an unexpected NCAA appearance and a number one recruiting class (2024) I thought media change might occur. I’m still holding my breath waiting for elements of the Kansas City media to recognize the fact Columbia MO is closer to Kansas City than Fort Worth (TCU) or Stillwater OK (OSU). This is the part I find most interesting, I’ve been informed there’s been no change in media coverage on the St. Louis side of the state.  

Bevo Francis award

I came across the Bevo Francis award while researching, it’s an honor probably little known presented to the outstanding small college basketball player. There’s a bunch of criteria necessary for one to qualify for the award but I was more curious who was honored in this manner. Checking the list past winners who have either played at the Division II level or NAIA. Clarence “Bevo” Francis was born September 4, 1932, in Hammonsville Ohio. Bevo played his college basketball at Rio Grande College (now the University of Rio Grande) from 1952-1954. In 1953 the 6 foot 9 Bevo averaged an amazing 48.3 points a game, the notes indicate he actually scored 50.1 points a game.  

The NCAA excluded some of the games because they were played against junior college teams. We can only guess scheduling of that type was not uncommon for small colleges at the time. The following season Bevo averaged 48 points including a single game scoring record of 113 points. That total remained the highest in NCAA history until 2012 when Jack Taylor of Grinnell scored 138 points in a game. Bevo was Third Team All-American in 1953 and the following year he was named second Team All-American. The portion I find most interesting is his basketball post college, he signed with the Boston Whirlwinds a barnstorming team matched against the Harlem Globetrotters. Bevo was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors but must have decided he wanted no part of the NBA. Life after basketball was work at an Ohio steel mill, he worked there 20 years and was six months from his pension when the plant closed. Bevo died in 2015 at the age of 82, Bevo Francis is a basketball name few are familiar with but you are.