Basketball from a fan’s perspective

“Show me the money”

The headline is the phrase receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) uttered in the movie Jerry Maguire. Tidwell wanted sports agent Maguire (Tom Cruise) to prove his worth. UConn’s Dan Hurley is making no such statement although he might as well based on developments. Reports are he turned down a 6-year $70 million contract from the Lakers, how much is he being paid by UConn. According to an article in USA Today from March 13, 2024, Hurley is number 7 on the list of highest paid college basketball coaches. Your question might be who can be ahead of Hurley at this point in time

Hurley is the 7th highest paid coach behind Scott Drew, Rick Barnes, Bruce Pearl, Tom Izzo, John Calipari and Bill Self at number 1. Don't agree with my take on this, how about this? Hurley's UConn team is coming off a Back-to-Back NCAA championship, the last time this occurred was 2006-07. Florida under Billy Donovan accomplished the deed. In addition with the huge contract the Lakers offered him surely the regents are thinking "We've got to increase this guy's salary." Just wait and see if it doesn't occur before summers over. UConn will announce an extension to Hurley's existing contract. According to figures provided by CBS Sports College Hurley was working under a 6-year contract paying him $32.1 million, as mentioned at the beginning the Laker offer was reported to be 6-years at $70 million.. 

She could play and talk the game

Unlike another ESPN co-worker Doris Burke could actually hoop. The other one claims an injury forced him from the game and ended his basketball trek. Now he can only concoct tales of his basketball exploits, that’s unnecessary for Burke because she played the game at a high skill level. While enrolled at Providence she averaged 17.6 ppg along with 7.2 assists, she finished as the school’s all-time assist leader and as of 2012 ranked second in that category.

Burke began her broadcast career in 1990 as an analyst for the woman’s team at her alma mater. She is now a play-by-play analyst for the NBA Finals, she becomes the first female in that capacity. I have read a few negative comments about Burke over the past few years and none have anything to do with her ability to analyze the game. For some men it becomes a beauty contest over anything else. Someone once made this statement, "How come we always hear the first this or the first that?" My response is one of straightforwardness, if the field had always been level in the first place Doris Burke and others would have been serving in roles now open to them years and years ago.

The NBA help build his business career

Junior Bridgeman was a valued basketball player, he played his college basketball at Louisville. He would be drafted by the Lakers with the 8th pick although he never played for them. Three weeks after the 1975 NBA draft Bridgeman was included in a package deal and a trade to the Bucks that sent the Lakers Kareem Abdul Jabbar. You are somewhat familiar with how the trade worked out for one team but not the other, how about the Bucks? Bridgeman had a 12-year NBA career most of it spent wearing a Bucks jersey. When his NBA career ended the Bucks honored him retiring jersey number 2. With his departure came a second successful career this time in the business sector.

The media has focused on the business prowess of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James but Bridgeman is largely overlooked. The others are billionaires, Bridgeman is not there yet, his net worth is projected to be $600 million. That’s a large number of zero’s considering the most he earned while playing was $350,000 a season. There was a post basketball plan in place which led to the purchase over time of 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s Restaurants. Much later Bridgman would purchase a Coca-Cola distributorship which has since been sold. Bridgeman’s portfolio contains a number of diverse types of businesses. This is just a brief look at former NBA player Junior Bridgeman, his resume details a rich life A.D., after basketball.

The college basketball season

We don’t know what to expect, the world of college basketball has been chaotic the past few years. Why should the 2024-25 season be any different? As for the NBA a number of players have chosen to return to college while others such as USC’s Bronny James and Johnny Furphy of Kansas have chosen to remain draft eligible. Not only the players the movement includes conference affiliation as well, the Pac-12 apparently will cease to operate. The Big XII conference will now include 45 teams (just kidding) although a conference name change might be appropriate.

We saw a large number of new coaches in new locations, probably the biggest name is John Calipari who left Kentucky for Arkansas. Eric Musselman left Arkansas for Southern Cal, Musselman is there because Andy Enfield departed for SMU, got all that? The transfer portal will also see a large number of players who decided they preferred to play another year. As for the number that is an unknown quantity, let’s say a large contingent exists. Despite the upheaval and turmoil of college basketball the excitement of college basketball continues to endure for me and others as I look forward to the season. Can number one prospect Cooper Flagg make the “Grand Canyon” leap from HS to Duke, what about Mizzou’s Annor Boateng, both are reported to ready to play at a high skill level on arrival.