Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Who takes the lead?

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you are aware there’s been limited coverage of the women’s game. Nowhere is this more apparent than with me, this was not done intentionally. It borders on one key fact, I haven’t followed the game with the fervor I have for the men’s game. The exploits of Caitlan Clark and to a degree Angel Reese has made games they play as must-see basketball whether in person or on television. I posed the question recently and intend to revisit it, both women are headed for the WNBA, what does the future hold for women’s basketball at all levels?

There is a vital element here I believe that’s been overlooked by much of the public, the WNBA. The WNBA has certainly experienced growing pains over the years, I offer you no proof of my next statement. I’ve read (and believe) the NBA has propped up many WNBA teams because most have not maintained strong financial success. Let’s back up and look at the college game. We had two talented dynamic personalities who made us sit up and take notice of the college game, the WNBA is another matter. The next portion you will read is fact, Brittney Griner wasn’t in Russia because she wanted to play over there. Salaries in the WNBA are far below that of NBA players, Griner and others have utilized playing on foreign shores to supplement their earnings. She’s not the only WNBA player forced to play overseas due to unequal pay, well back to the subject at hand and the key question for me and you to respond.  Who takes on the responsibility for maintaining the game in the forefront for much of the public?

Will someone or somebody take on the responsibility of following Clark and Reese into the WNBA and aiding us in “seeing them” as we are able to do so with a number of players who move into the NBA. Going forward it’s my intention to follow the game both college and the WNBA much closer than in the past however I’m only a party of one. I’m sure many reading this blog over the years have been followers of the women’s game be it college or the WNBA. In closing I pose the question once again, who takes over the responsibility for maintaining the growth we’ve seen in the women’s game at least at the collegiate level? Final score University of South Carolina 87 University of Iowa 75, congrats are due coach Dawn Staley plus Caitlan Clark.

Where you end is more important than where it begins

Former Laker Michael Cooper of the Showtime Lakers is to be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in August. The headline of this story certainly reflects the journey of Cooper. After high school he began play at Pasadena Community College before he completed his final years at the University of New Mexico. How about this additional part of his journey, after New Mexico he was made the 60th pick in the 3rd round of the 1978 NBA draft, imagine this 59 players being chosen ahead of hearing your name announced. Much later, in fact it would be 1989 a measure was passed reducing the NBA draft to only two rounds.

Your next statement might be, with numbers such as “8.9 ppg, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals how the heck could he qualify for the Naismith Hall,” I’m pleased you asked the question. You do, I do everyone looks at scoring as a decider on a players value, for Cooper it was his defensive prowess. NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1987), 5 times All Defensive First Team and 3 times All Defensive Second Team. Did I mention Cooper was an NBA Champion 5 times? You think the 6-foot 7 170-pound Cooper was a good defender, ask Celtic Larry Bird. Bird claims Cooper played him tougher than anyone else he faced during his NBA career. Cooper will now join Dennis Rodman in the Hall, he too was known for rebounding and defense over scoring the basketball.

This was unknown to me

Wow imagine this, it was my belief there was no Magic Johnson story that was unfamiliar to me. Then I discovered this account which caused me to go REALLY! Magic says after his freshman year at Michigan State KC Kings GM Joe Axelson had him flown to Kansas City, in a meeting Magic indicated the Kings were prepared to draft him in June 1978. The Kings were prepared to offer him a $600,000 3-year contract and Magic says he was ready to sign. “I’d been broke all my life and was ready” until the hallway conference with his father. He says his father suggested he should return to Michigan State for his sophomore year so he declined the Kings offer. The balance of this story is familiar to the majority of you regarding Magic Johnson’s Laker career.

Todd Marinovich

Father Marv Marinovich was a lineman for Southern Cal, his bio indicates he failed to earn a position in the NFL. Based on this fact alone he was determined to create a “bionic” son, prior to Todd’s birth Marv had his wife placed on a restrictive diet all intended to aid their son after birth. Skipping ahead Todd became a particularly good football player good enough to also play at his dad’s school Southern Cal. The younger Marinovich would be drafted by the Raiders in 1991, he would not last in the NFL. It was on to the Canadian Football League, and he closed out his career in the Arena Football League.

There were substance abuse issues throughout his professional career, might he have been a better player without those issues…perhaps. The point I am attempting to make if you have all the training in the world, it cannot aid you if you are injury prone or lacking in talent. That is the mix bag we have for the sons of LaVar Ball, injury and talent issues. Middle son LiAngelo apparently lacks talent to play in the NBA. Not a terrible issue everyone is not good enough to play at this level. Oldest brother Lonzo and baby brother LaMelo have continuing injury issues which have seriously impacted their NBA careers. This is not an intent to trash the players or the father, it simply points out no amount of training can prepare you for injury or lack of talent.