A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

It appears he is okay  

Wemby was having a typical Wemby game, 31 points 13 rebounds and 1 block shot along with 83% shooting from the floor. He was a +17 for the game, the Knicks had led for the most part but thanks to a ferocious comeback led by Wemby and Julian Champagnie the Spurs were in it to win it. As for Spurs forward Champagnie he scored 36 points and was 64.7% from the floor and understand this…64.7% from the three line. 

Champagnie was 11 for 11 from three as he broke the Spurs single game record established by Chuck Person, in addition Champagnie’s scoring total was accomplished without him attempting a single two-point basket. Everyone held their breath at a point when Wemby went up for a rebound and then came down awkwardly and crumpled to the floor. He would limp off the court and I am sure everyone had the same thought I did but kept it to themselves. The game was still in doubt when Wemby returned from the locker room walking normally. A Thursday morning report indicated Wemby had hyperextended his left knee but there was no indication of damage. A follow up check would be made later in the day, warrior that he is Wemby said “I expect to be back the next game.” 

That would not be the case, he will not be available for tonight's game and Saturday is questionable as well. The question for you is Wemby too aggressive at times during games? I love his aggressiveness however he cannot block every opposition shot or grab every missed rebound. It seems at times he appears out of position yet attempts to impact the game . The final score read Spurs 134 Knicks 132, the Spurs continue to provide us proof they are ready to compete with the best teams in the NBA.  

Shame on me

I owe the Los Angeles Clippers an apology and that will be explained at the end. If we return to the past the NBA draft was not as concise as it would later become. In 1996 Jerry West GM of the Los Angeles Lakers had brought Kobe Bryant in for a workout. He was excited about the talent this high school player had demonstrated but it was impossible for the Lakers to draft him. The Lakers had pick number 24 and it was believed Kobe would be gone by the time it would become their turn. Sure enough the Charlotte Hornets made Kobe the number 13 pick in 1996, later his draft rights were traded to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac, the balance of the story is NBA history.

Fast forward to the 2018 NBA draft, with pick 11 the Charlotte Hornets selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander however his draft rights were later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. SGA spent the 2018-19 season on the Clippers roster, he started 73 games his rookie season with a modest 10.8 points per game average. Over the summer SGA and others were sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the balance of his story is NBA history too. Charlotte drafted one hall of fame player and possibly a future hall of famer and neither ever wore a jersey for the team. The apology is extended to the Clippers, I had written several accounts critical of them for trading SGA. My indignation should have been aimed at Charlotte who traded his draft rights to the Clippers. Of course we could use the fallback line, the draft is a crap shot and its difficult to project future stardom.

The television numbers

It’s long been the understanding of most in the nation the NFL is king of the television broadcast market. There really is no effective manner to gauge the popularity for a sport that schedules and plays games once a week (NFL) versus the NBA that  schedules and plays its games any one of 7 days during a week.  It’s been pointed out that the NFL with Thanksgiving to itself believed it might be good to move a share of its league games to Christmas December 25. Because I’m an NBA fan I can refer to this move by the NFL as encroachment.

As for the broadcast numbers for the date this is what was revealed recently, “The NFL averaged 22.9 million viewers across its three Christmas games (Cowboys-Commanders, Lions-Vikings, Chiefs-Broncos). The NBA averaged 5.5 million viewers across its five Christmas games (Knicks-Cavs, Spurs-Thunder, Mavs-Warriors, Rockets-Lakers, Wolves-Nuggets).” Does the information provided substantiate anything, in my personal view, not really? A well-informed NFL or NBA enthusiast, when asked on December 24 or at any point prior to game day, could likely forecast the outcome of the broadcast, although they may not be able to provide precise viewership figures.

The Harvard of the South

It’s my understanding Vanderbilt doesn’t like the title I used as a headline. It is understandable this Nashville institution is more known for academics over sports but what I’ve read the school desires a separate identity from Ivy League Harvard. So in a true attempt to paint a different pictures sports is the emphasis of this look see at Vanderbilt. The Commodores will play in the Reliquest Bowl against Iowa as this is written. Regardless of the outcome they will finish the season with 10 or 11 wins versus 2 or 3 losses which is impressive. How about the basketball, that is up as well.

The end of the year has the men’s team headed into January with a 13-0 record. As you can see all Commodore sports are on a steady incline upwards. Head coach Mark Byington is in his second year after he spent the last four seasons at James Madison serving in the same capacity. There is likely no single answer as to why the stepping up of the major sports teams (football & basketball) at Vanderbilt has occurred. Checking the record the football team has never won more than 9 games since its first season in 1901. As for the basketball the path has been a roller-coaster, the Commodores have been winners in the past however there was no consistency from season to season. Have both programs turned the corner, it’s too early to make that determination however this is a good time for Vanderbilt in the tough SEC.