Basketball from a fans perspective
On no, not again
In 1985 quarterback Joe Theismann's leg was broken in a game against the New York Giants. It was 2009 before I actually witnessed it, allow me to explain. Every time Theismann film was shown I changed the channel not wanting to see it. My wife and I attended a movie titled The Blind Side, the true story was a semi-biographical account of tackle Michael Oher. For a right-handed throwing quarterback such as Theismann the left side of the line was his "blind-side." The lights dimmed and as soon as the credits ran spliced into the movie was the Theismann injury.
I had no choice but to see it for the first time. An errand for my wife prevented me from seeing the Cavs-Celtics game from the start. Once I returned home I turned on the television and Kevin Harlin and Reggie Miller were discussing the Gordon Hayward injury. Later the television audience was informed Hayward had fracture his left ankle. I'm sure ESPN, TNT and other broadcast networks will run video of this injury for years and years just like the Theismann injury. Larry Laker has not seen it, will not see it and hopes to never see it. On the other hand I will continue to go to the movies. Final score Cavs 102 Celtics 99.
Bits n Pieces
I could say in truth; "What game?" My wife asked me about the Mizzou game being sold out. My mind immediately focused on the Kentucky-Mizzou game which we discussed earlier. Further questioning led me to understand my wife was yours truly referring to the Mizzou- Kansas EXHIBITION game on Sunday. I had completely forgotten about the game because I considered it so insignificant.
One game fails to make a season however I was quite impressed. We could attribute the Warriors loss (122-121) to the Rockets on several issues. The ring and trophy presentation delayed the start of the game......NO that's an excuse the Chris Paul led Rockets provided proof they intend to compete. The Rockets managed to win a thrilling game on the opponents home court, keep in mind I didn't say championship I did say compete.
I've been highly critical of former Louisville Coach Rick Pitino, I have a problem with cheating in whatever form it occurs. Is the Adidas scandal the worst in my basketball memory? Not even close, in 2003 there was a murder involving a Baylor basketball player, was the coach involved you ask? The answer is an emphatic no however he became a part of the story which eventually led to him being fired.
Big Blue Madness
Actress Ashley Judd is passionate about Kentucky basketball however she's an alum, entertainer Drake is just a fan. Big Blue Madness was held recently and a number of outstanding prospects were on hand. Zion Williamson, Bol Bol depending on the site either the number two or three prospect in the nation. Number 15 prospect Darius Garland was also present Also in attendance was 2019 prospect James Wiseman a 6-10 power forward number two and a 5-star athlete. The only comparison to Big Blue Madness might be Late Night at the Phog KU's salute to the start of the college basketball season.
Seen them yet?
If you watched the opening night games you had an opportunity to see the Nike jerseys. They don't look radically different for the Adidas worn by the NBA for years. The negative a torn LeBron jersey opening night. We realize the opposition player grabbed his jersey however I don't remember Adidas jerseys tearing that easy. This is the second incident of a torn jersey so Nike must begin investigating. Truth is we must really see how they hold up during the season before judgment.
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Something you don't see everyday
This past Saturday Coach Cuonzo Martin held "Pro Day 2017". "Mizzou's student-athletes received the opportunity to show off their skills in a normal practice environment." There were 35 NBA personnel from 24 teams in Columbia to watch Mizzou players run through a series of basketball drills. There are many that might dislike this development and find it offensive
A number might see this as a college basketball subjugating itself to the will of the NBA. Let's not kid ourselves for years the NBA has utilized college basketball as a farm system. Roy Williams, John Calipari and others have used this "wink-wink" arrangement for years as they have savor a working relationship with the NBA. Please note I DIDN'T CLAIM these coaches or others have done anything illegal or even unethical by cultivating NBA friendships.
I will wait
The Clippers less Chris Paul will look different this season. Patrick Beverly acquired in the trade becomes the point guard. He will not remind Clipper fans of Paul but will be a better defender. The Clipper page on ESPN.com NBA page contains a interesting note....the depth chart. I've only seen parts of one exhibition game and in that one the announcer explained "Austin Rivers is injured."
Yes that Rivers is listed as the starter at the shooting guard. I've let it be known for quite awhile I believed young Rivers remained in the NBA due to Doc being his coach. My opinion is no shared across the board, for every five letters agreeing with my take I read two or three claiming "Rivers is a quality NBA player." Rather than continue my complaint if true he's the starter I'm going to back off. I will allow his play on the court as a starter determine his value.
Who uses what
We sometimes focus on the shoes but what about the basketball, it's a very visible part of the sport we love. This is a short list of the companies whose basketball's are most visible. Spalding has been in use by the NBA since 1983, it's also utilized by the WNBA and the G-league. Wilson supplies basketballs for the NCAA game both men's and women's division. Rawlings is the official sponsor for AAU basketball while Nike provides the EuroLeague with basketballs. To be clear these are not the only companies producing basketballs however they corner the market in numbers.
This is sad in so many ways
We all want to be paid, that's understandable, that's also the case for disposed Louisville Coach Rick Pitino. This is where it gets interesting Pitino's attorney claims the coach is not fighting over his termination it's money that appears to be in question. According to USA Today Pitino has a contract running through 2026 which would pay $40 million dollars.
What to do, what to do?
If you've been a reader for awhile you might remember the story, I have two Laker jerseys that are not displayed. Andrew Bynum 17 (remember him?) and Steve Nash 10 and the story follows. Bynum after displaying talent "the wheels" fell off the wagon after the Lakers decided to trade him. As for Nash after a HOF career in Dallas and Phoenix he managed but two years in a Laker jersey.
Nash signed a free-agent contract and played 50 games the first year and 15 the following season before retiring. What do I do with the jerseys became the question. Former Lakers Norm Nixon and Rick Fox wore number 10 and 17 respectively, I thought for awhile. Why not display the jerseys with the Lakers name prominently displayed? If questioned I could explain the history but state; "Norm Nixon wore number 10 and Rick Fox number 17 two former Lakers who contributed significantly to the championships of this franchise."
Something you don't see everyday
This past Saturday Coach Cuonzo Martin held "Pro Day 2017". "Mizzou's student-athletes received the opportunity to show off their skills in a normal practice environment." There were 35 NBA personnel from 24 teams in Columbia to watch Mizzou players run through a series of basketball drills. There are many that might dislike this development and find it offensive
A number might see this as a college basketball subjugating itself to the will of the NBA. Let's not kid ourselves for years the NBA has utilized college basketball as a farm system. Roy Williams, John Calipari and others have used this "wink-wink" arrangement for years as they have savor a working relationship with the NBA. Please note I DIDN'T CLAIM these coaches or others have done anything illegal or even unethical by cultivating NBA friendships.
I will wait
The Clippers less Chris Paul will look different this season. Patrick Beverly acquired in the trade becomes the point guard. He will not remind Clipper fans of Paul but will be a better defender. The Clipper page on ESPN.com NBA page contains a interesting note....the depth chart. I've only seen parts of one exhibition game and in that one the announcer explained "Austin Rivers is injured."
Yes that Rivers is listed as the starter at the shooting guard. I've let it be known for quite awhile I believed young Rivers remained in the NBA due to Doc being his coach. My opinion is no shared across the board, for every five letters agreeing with my take I read two or three claiming "Rivers is a quality NBA player." Rather than continue my complaint if true he's the starter I'm going to back off. I will allow his play on the court as a starter determine his value.
Who uses what
We sometimes focus on the shoes but what about the basketball, it's a very visible part of the sport we love. This is a short list of the companies whose basketball's are most visible. Spalding has been in use by the NBA since 1983, it's also utilized by the WNBA and the G-league. Wilson supplies basketballs for the NCAA game both men's and women's division. Rawlings is the official sponsor for AAU basketball while Nike provides the EuroLeague with basketballs. To be clear these are not the only companies producing basketballs however they corner the market in numbers.
This is sad in so many ways
We all want to be paid, that's understandable, that's also the case for disposed Louisville Coach Rick Pitino. This is where it gets interesting Pitino's attorney claims the coach is not fighting over his termination it's money that appears to be in question. According to USA Today Pitino has a contract running through 2026 which would pay $40 million dollars.
What to do, what to do?
If you've been a reader for awhile you might remember the story, I have two Laker jerseys that are not displayed. Andrew Bynum 17 (remember him?) and Steve Nash 10 and the story follows. Bynum after displaying talent "the wheels" fell off the wagon after the Lakers decided to trade him. As for Nash after a HOF career in Dallas and Phoenix he managed but two years in a Laker jersey.
Nash signed a free-agent contract and played 50 games the first year and 15 the following season before retiring. What do I do with the jerseys became the question. Former Lakers Norm Nixon and Rick Fox wore number 10 and 17 respectively, I thought for awhile. Why not display the jerseys with the Lakers name prominently displayed? If questioned I could explain the history but state; "Norm Nixon wore number 10 and Rick Fox number 17 two former Lakers who contributed significantly to the championships of this franchise."
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Almost there
Tonight the NBA which began play in 1946 kicks off the season start. The first two games find the revamped Celtics facing the revamped Cavs in Cleveland. Later in the evening the Chris Paul led Rockets will face the Warriors with no major changes games will be available on TNT.
Sometimes I wonder
Emeka Okafor had a sound NBA career playing for several teams. He last played for the Wizards during the 2012-13 season. He missed the following season due to a herniated disk in his neck, he was cleared to play last May. Okafor is attempting a return to the NBA playing for the Sixers G-League team. Okafor turned 35 last January he's at an age athletes are looking toward retirement unless you are Vince Carter. Is there a message here for someone other than Okafor? Sidebar for many of you this former UConn athlete is a distant cousin of Jahlil Okafor. It's possible there could be two Okafor's on the Sixer roster at some future date.
No name & Little Caesars
Although the arena under construction remains without a name work is progressing. The 17,500 seat arena will be complete this time next year allowing the Bucks to begin play in this state of the art downtown arena. It's not just Bucks basketball the arena will also serve as home for the Big East Conference Marquette Golden Eagles. Two Kansas City based architect firms were involved in the design HNTB and Populous.
As for Detroit the 21,000 seat Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit is open. This arena's architect team HOK sports is also located in Kansas City. The NHL Red Wings played their first game September 23 as for the Pistons the first game was held October 4. In Milwaukee and Detroit these new arenas will serve a variety of entertainment venues other than purely sports.
1957 NCAA Championship Game
The North Carolina Tarheels have won six NCAA Championships over the years. All are significant however the 1957 win stands alone historically. The game was played March 23, 1957 and when the smoke cleared North Carolina won a triple-overtime game 54-53. Even more interesting less than 8,000 were in attendance at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The number in attendance for that game would be a section in a dome stadium of today's NCAA Championship. Carolina came into the game with a 30-0 record while Kansas was 24-1 Frank McGuire a New York guy had a team largely composed of New York City players.
Kansas was led by the incomparable Wilt Chamberlain, the Dipper as he was nicknamed was double and sometimes triple teamed most of the game. Reading this in 2017 you might find it difficult to believe there was limited television coverage and no national broadcast, there was radio however the game was not broadcast across the nation. The first national television broadcast of a college basketball game would not occur until 1968. In 1968 the UCLA Bruins would face the Houston Cougars in the Astrodome (since demolished), the match was dubbed "The Game of the Century." Many believe the Game of the Century had actually been played 12 years earlier.
Bits n Pieces
Louisville's athletic board voted without a single dissenting vote to terminate Rick Pitino's contract, at this time the news is not exactly shocking. The Naismith Hall of Fame is yet to comment on the coaches status in the hall.
He stands 6-11 and checks in at 222 pounds, he glides up and down the court like an antelope. Can he score, last season it was 22.9 ppg on .571 from the floor. His rebound total was nearly nine a game, he dished out 5.4 assists per game. The player we are discussing is Giannis Antetokounmpo the Bucks small forward, what should we expect this upcoming season? The sky is the limit for this athletic young man.
Lonzo Ball says he intends to be in the Laker lineup on Thursday. If you remember Ball was held out of the Lakers final three exhibition games after suffering an ankle injury. Other Laker news Julius Randle will start the season on the bench replaced in the starting lineup by Larry Nance Jr.
Almost there
Tonight the NBA which began play in 1946 kicks off the season start. The first two games find the revamped Celtics facing the revamped Cavs in Cleveland. Later in the evening the Chris Paul led Rockets will face the Warriors with no major changes games will be available on TNT.
Sometimes I wonder
Emeka Okafor had a sound NBA career playing for several teams. He last played for the Wizards during the 2012-13 season. He missed the following season due to a herniated disk in his neck, he was cleared to play last May. Okafor is attempting a return to the NBA playing for the Sixers G-League team. Okafor turned 35 last January he's at an age athletes are looking toward retirement unless you are Vince Carter. Is there a message here for someone other than Okafor? Sidebar for many of you this former UConn athlete is a distant cousin of Jahlil Okafor. It's possible there could be two Okafor's on the Sixer roster at some future date.
No name & Little Caesars
Although the arena under construction remains without a name work is progressing. The 17,500 seat arena will be complete this time next year allowing the Bucks to begin play in this state of the art downtown arena. It's not just Bucks basketball the arena will also serve as home for the Big East Conference Marquette Golden Eagles. Two Kansas City based architect firms were involved in the design HNTB and Populous.
As for Detroit the 21,000 seat Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit is open. This arena's architect team HOK sports is also located in Kansas City. The NHL Red Wings played their first game September 23 as for the Pistons the first game was held October 4. In Milwaukee and Detroit these new arenas will serve a variety of entertainment venues other than purely sports.
1957 NCAA Championship Game
The North Carolina Tarheels have won six NCAA Championships over the years. All are significant however the 1957 win stands alone historically. The game was played March 23, 1957 and when the smoke cleared North Carolina won a triple-overtime game 54-53. Even more interesting less than 8,000 were in attendance at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The number in attendance for that game would be a section in a dome stadium of today's NCAA Championship. Carolina came into the game with a 30-0 record while Kansas was 24-1 Frank McGuire a New York guy had a team largely composed of New York City players.
Kansas was led by the incomparable Wilt Chamberlain, the Dipper as he was nicknamed was double and sometimes triple teamed most of the game. Reading this in 2017 you might find it difficult to believe there was limited television coverage and no national broadcast, there was radio however the game was not broadcast across the nation. The first national television broadcast of a college basketball game would not occur until 1968. In 1968 the UCLA Bruins would face the Houston Cougars in the Astrodome (since demolished), the match was dubbed "The Game of the Century." Many believe the Game of the Century had actually been played 12 years earlier.
Bits n Pieces
Louisville's athletic board voted without a single dissenting vote to terminate Rick Pitino's contract, at this time the news is not exactly shocking. The Naismith Hall of Fame is yet to comment on the coaches status in the hall.
He stands 6-11 and checks in at 222 pounds, he glides up and down the court like an antelope. Can he score, last season it was 22.9 ppg on .571 from the floor. His rebound total was nearly nine a game, he dished out 5.4 assists per game. The player we are discussing is Giannis Antetokounmpo the Bucks small forward, what should we expect this upcoming season? The sky is the limit for this athletic young man.
Lonzo Ball says he intends to be in the Laker lineup on Thursday. If you remember Ball was held out of the Lakers final three exhibition games after suffering an ankle injury. Other Laker news Julius Randle will start the season on the bench replaced in the starting lineup by Larry Nance Jr.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Don't think I'm attending
The prospect of an exciting Mizzou basketball season plus Kentucky basketball can produce astronomical results. For those wanting to attend the February 3rd game a friend sent me a StubHub link. The lowest price ticket is $189.99 and rises steeply to $606.00 for a seat on the baseline. I'm sure those who follow the program expected an increase in ticket prices but did they see this coming?
They did what?
Laker management continues to rebuild its front office however the latest change is different. They hired a 19-year old "basketball insider" as an international scout, this scout is home-based in Turkey and lives in Istanbul. An international scout okay, a 19-year old in the position that's a little different. We have no method of measuring whether this is a good or bad move only the Laker front office can make that determination, this is quite unusual.
First family of broadcasters
The Carey's come to mind anytime a discussion of sports broadcasting families is mentioned. Granddad Harry Carey, his son Skip and grandson Chip come to mind, for the most part the Carey's have been baseball announcers. On the other hand the Albert's are almost always identified with basketball although they too have broadcast other major sports.The eldest of the siblings is Marv Albert who once served as the voice of the Knicks from 1967-2004.
In overlapping time Marv was the voice of the NBA on NBC during the period the network held broadcast right from 1990-2002. In 2005 he worked for the YES Network broadcasting Nets games. Although he's not broadcasting now Marv's younger brother Steve has served as a broadcaster for a number of NBA teams in the past. Another brother Al Albert was the voice of the Indiana Pacers and served in that capacity for other NBA teams. Marv's son and the nephew of Steve and Al 's Kenny is the radio voice of the NHL Rangers but has also broadcast basketball. So there you have it the first family of broadcasters the Albert's.
It occurred again
Five star point guard prospect Immanuel Quickley committed to Kentucky last month. Once again he is attempting to lure undeclared friend buddy Zion Williamson to Kentucky. Quickley tweeted a picture of him and Williamson in Kentucky jerseys. Depending on your source the 6-7 230 pound Williamson is either the 2nd or 3rd highest rated prospect in the Class of 2018.
Will this be his breakout year?
ESPN.com NBA and CBS.com NBA indicate Thon Maker will be the Bucks starting center. he 7-1 223 pound Maker might be a little light in the pants to play center even in a small ball NBA. Drafted in 2016 as the 10th pick in the first round he was brought along slowly for several reasons. If you remember his bio Maker circumvented the draft arriving in the NBA directly from high school. For those who might have forgotten the account Maker born in South Sudan emigrated to Australia and then Louisana and Virginia in the U.S. Maker graduated from a Canadian high school spending an extra year in high school thus he petitioned the NBA for entry. The potential is there, after playing limited minutes in his rookie year is this the year?
Don't think I'm attending
The prospect of an exciting Mizzou basketball season plus Kentucky basketball can produce astronomical results. For those wanting to attend the February 3rd game a friend sent me a StubHub link. The lowest price ticket is $189.99 and rises steeply to $606.00 for a seat on the baseline. I'm sure those who follow the program expected an increase in ticket prices but did they see this coming?
They did what?
Laker management continues to rebuild its front office however the latest change is different. They hired a 19-year old "basketball insider" as an international scout, this scout is home-based in Turkey and lives in Istanbul. An international scout okay, a 19-year old in the position that's a little different. We have no method of measuring whether this is a good or bad move only the Laker front office can make that determination, this is quite unusual.
First family of broadcasters
The Carey's come to mind anytime a discussion of sports broadcasting families is mentioned. Granddad Harry Carey, his son Skip and grandson Chip come to mind, for the most part the Carey's have been baseball announcers. On the other hand the Albert's are almost always identified with basketball although they too have broadcast other major sports.The eldest of the siblings is Marv Albert who once served as the voice of the Knicks from 1967-2004.
In overlapping time Marv was the voice of the NBA on NBC during the period the network held broadcast right from 1990-2002. In 2005 he worked for the YES Network broadcasting Nets games. Although he's not broadcasting now Marv's younger brother Steve has served as a broadcaster for a number of NBA teams in the past. Another brother Al Albert was the voice of the Indiana Pacers and served in that capacity for other NBA teams. Marv's son and the nephew of Steve and Al 's Kenny is the radio voice of the NHL Rangers but has also broadcast basketball. So there you have it the first family of broadcasters the Albert's.
It occurred again
Five star point guard prospect Immanuel Quickley committed to Kentucky last month. Once again he is attempting to lure undeclared friend buddy Zion Williamson to Kentucky. Quickley tweeted a picture of him and Williamson in Kentucky jerseys. Depending on your source the 6-7 230 pound Williamson is either the 2nd or 3rd highest rated prospect in the Class of 2018.
Will this be his breakout year?
ESPN.com NBA and CBS.com NBA indicate Thon Maker will be the Bucks starting center. he 7-1 223 pound Maker might be a little light in the pants to play center even in a small ball NBA. Drafted in 2016 as the 10th pick in the first round he was brought along slowly for several reasons. If you remember his bio Maker circumvented the draft arriving in the NBA directly from high school. For those who might have forgotten the account Maker born in South Sudan emigrated to Australia and then Louisana and Virginia in the U.S. Maker graduated from a Canadian high school spending an extra year in high school thus he petitioned the NBA for entry. The potential is there, after playing limited minutes in his rookie year is this the year?
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
No, no and no!!!!
I almost had my mind made up, despite my anger I was going to attend the Mizzou-KU game next Sunday. I've changed my mind after reading Saturday morning's Kansas City Star. "Does playing an exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Sprint Center to benefit disaster relief mean they will soon play a real basketball game? Bill Self, the KU coach and currently the most influential man of either campus, answered that question directly.
"It doesn't have anything to do with playing Missouri, " he said, "Not one thing with playing Missouri." Okay Bill cut out the double-talk are you sayin' you still mad at Mizzou for leaving the Big 12 Conference? My plan now is to donate the money I intended to pay for the game directly to hurricane relief. I can accomplish this without aiding the pompous attitude of the coach in Lawrence Kansas. LATE UPDATE: I will not be tempted, no television however radio will broadcast the game. Baseball is the only sport I do radio so there you have it.
Why not
A conversation was held on ESPN regarding Kyrie Irving. The question; "Would the Cavs retire Irving's number after he retires?" My response is why not, the Mizzou-KU story above holding a grudge this one is not. Irving was a vital member of the championship Cavs team. He might not have departed in a member pleasing to most Cavs fan but allow me to remind you of Shaquille O'Neal. After three championships Shaq left the Lakers in a public feud with Kobe Bryant. Time does brings about change, Laker jersey number 34 has been permanently retired and hangs in Staples next to a number of Laker greats. There's even a statue of the Big Aristotle outside the building.
Dicky V.
The dawn of every basketball season reminds me of this Dick Vitale story. Vitale is now 78-years old, the former college and NBA coach provides color commentary for ESPN's college basketball telecasts. He's been on the job since he was fired as Pistons coach which dates back to 1979. Several years ago Vitale reduced his schedule on the number of college games. Vitale is one of those broadcasters establishing his own style. His extensive word vocabulary is forever connected with Vitale, diaper dandy, baby and aircraft carrier are just a few. Vitale's over the top excitement of game action is also classic.
Years ago I was viewing a game and my wife walked into the family room on the way to the kitchen. She heard Vitale and asked me in a puzzled voice; "What's wrong with him?" I simply explained that's the manner Vitale broadcast games. Dicky V.'s had a number of critics over the years most connected with the seamy side of basketball. In recent years he's taken a more vocal stance on many issues of the college game. Vitale has been honored by the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. I watched his Naismith HOF induction, the man stood before the audience with no notes and spoke for 20 minutes without repeating little if any portion of the speech.
Eternal Optimist
A friend also a Laker fan asked me the other day what I expected this upcoming season. My response was short, improved play and a very, very slim playoff chance in the Wild Wild West. Laker win totals have been trending upward, 17 three years ago, two years it was 21. Last season they won 27 games. I expect 32-35 wins, any number beyond that total would certainly be a bonus. At the same time I'm a realist any win total less than 27 would be extremely disappointing to me.
Bits n Pieces
I guess we might have a classic center dual if this one proves to be legitimate. This might not be a Chamberlain-Russell match or a Shaq/Hakeem/David Robinson pairing however it still proved interesting. Sixer Joel Embiid and Hassan Whiteside of the Heat faced off against one another in the game held Friday in Kansas City. The battle on the court resulted in tweets back and forth between the two. Center battles hearken back to the hey day of the Big Man, it's not all small ball evidently.
We question why college basketball is sometimes in such a quandary, the NCAA has no clue what's going on. What's even more tragic they have been lost enforcement wise for years. After what seems like an eternity they reported tons off impropriety the North Carolina program was to have committed. Finally when judgment day approaches they render NO VERDICT. The NCAA is impotent as one report indicated, three years of investigation and not even a slap on the wrist for North Carolina. They are leaving it to the school to administer punishment we assume.
No, no and no!!!!
I almost had my mind made up, despite my anger I was going to attend the Mizzou-KU game next Sunday. I've changed my mind after reading Saturday morning's Kansas City Star. "Does playing an exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Sprint Center to benefit disaster relief mean they will soon play a real basketball game? Bill Self, the KU coach and currently the most influential man of either campus, answered that question directly.
"It doesn't have anything to do with playing Missouri, " he said, "Not one thing with playing Missouri." Okay Bill cut out the double-talk are you sayin' you still mad at Mizzou for leaving the Big 12 Conference? My plan now is to donate the money I intended to pay for the game directly to hurricane relief. I can accomplish this without aiding the pompous attitude of the coach in Lawrence Kansas. LATE UPDATE: I will not be tempted, no television however radio will broadcast the game. Baseball is the only sport I do radio so there you have it.
Why not
A conversation was held on ESPN regarding Kyrie Irving. The question; "Would the Cavs retire Irving's number after he retires?" My response is why not, the Mizzou-KU story above holding a grudge this one is not. Irving was a vital member of the championship Cavs team. He might not have departed in a member pleasing to most Cavs fan but allow me to remind you of Shaquille O'Neal. After three championships Shaq left the Lakers in a public feud with Kobe Bryant. Time does brings about change, Laker jersey number 34 has been permanently retired and hangs in Staples next to a number of Laker greats. There's even a statue of the Big Aristotle outside the building.
Dicky V.
The dawn of every basketball season reminds me of this Dick Vitale story. Vitale is now 78-years old, the former college and NBA coach provides color commentary for ESPN's college basketball telecasts. He's been on the job since he was fired as Pistons coach which dates back to 1979. Several years ago Vitale reduced his schedule on the number of college games. Vitale is one of those broadcasters establishing his own style. His extensive word vocabulary is forever connected with Vitale, diaper dandy, baby and aircraft carrier are just a few. Vitale's over the top excitement of game action is also classic.
Years ago I was viewing a game and my wife walked into the family room on the way to the kitchen. She heard Vitale and asked me in a puzzled voice; "What's wrong with him?" I simply explained that's the manner Vitale broadcast games. Dicky V.'s had a number of critics over the years most connected with the seamy side of basketball. In recent years he's taken a more vocal stance on many issues of the college game. Vitale has been honored by the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. I watched his Naismith HOF induction, the man stood before the audience with no notes and spoke for 20 minutes without repeating little if any portion of the speech.
Eternal Optimist
A friend also a Laker fan asked me the other day what I expected this upcoming season. My response was short, improved play and a very, very slim playoff chance in the Wild Wild West. Laker win totals have been trending upward, 17 three years ago, two years it was 21. Last season they won 27 games. I expect 32-35 wins, any number beyond that total would certainly be a bonus. At the same time I'm a realist any win total less than 27 would be extremely disappointing to me.
Bits n Pieces
I guess we might have a classic center dual if this one proves to be legitimate. This might not be a Chamberlain-Russell match or a Shaq/Hakeem/David Robinson pairing however it still proved interesting. Sixer Joel Embiid and Hassan Whiteside of the Heat faced off against one another in the game held Friday in Kansas City. The battle on the court resulted in tweets back and forth between the two. Center battles hearken back to the hey day of the Big Man, it's not all small ball evidently.
We question why college basketball is sometimes in such a quandary, the NCAA has no clue what's going on. What's even more tragic they have been lost enforcement wise for years. After what seems like an eternity they reported tons off impropriety the North Carolina program was to have committed. Finally when judgment day approaches they render NO VERDICT. The NCAA is impotent as one report indicated, three years of investigation and not even a slap on the wrist for North Carolina. They are leaving it to the school to administer punishment we assume.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
I'm irritated
News broke locally Thursday afternoon in Kansas City, for the first time since 2012 KU will face Mizzou on the basketball court. The game will be played at the Sprint Center on Oct 22 at 3:00 p.m. Your eyes are not deceiving you Bill Self claimed he'd never play SEC Mizzou ever again. This rift is based on Mizzou leaving the Big 12 for the SEC which is clearly silly.
If it was just about leaving the conference why has KU scheduled Colorado and Nebraska which left the conference a year prior to Mizzou? This game is an exhibition and revenue will be donated to hurricane relief (a good cause). I'm only left to complain to you the reader and hope you understand. It's a shame KU and Mizzou couldn't schedule to meet under normal circumstances in a regular season game. Oh well it is what it is.
The mystery man
With all the excitement surrounding the Sixers we have a mystery on our hands. Where does number 8 fit in with this new and improved Sixer team? Just in case you forgot the number belongs to center Jahlil Okafor drafted in 2015. Okafor had a decent rookie year although it was cut short due to injury. He seemed to have lost his way with his maturity called into question.
From 17.5 ppg in his rookie year his sophomore year say his scoring slipped to 11.8 his rebounds dropped from 7.8 to 4.8. In fairness Okafor played a reduced number of games his sophomore year. The emergence of center Joel Embiid, the potential of Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz you can see why Okafor has faded into the background. Okafor certainly has talent but it is easy to see why Embiid has moved ahead of him on the depth chart. The Sixers need to trade Okafor and gain depth in an area of need.
The move
If this was 1960 or even 1990 I'd say Tyronn Lue might have a loose screw. Moving Kevin Love to center might be cause for concern however this is 2017. There are not a great number of efficient centers in today's NBA therefore the 6-10 251 pound Love can very easily move to the position. In addition the NBA of today emphasizes small ball so you can see where I'm going with this. Love will only face Western Conference centers twice once at home and once on the road. As for the Eastern Conference he might face a test against Al Horford or Hassan Whiteside and perhaps Dwight Howard. It's likely I've missed a center who might cause Love a problem.
Bits n Pieces
J.J. Redick must love driving, when he located from the Clippers to the Sixers we believed he might land somewhere in Philadelphia. Well that's not the case according to SI.com, sharpshooter Redick lives in Brooklyn but drives I-95 to Philadelphia. According to Google Maps city to city distance indicates this is about 95 miles and 2 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. It's not that great a drive however It's one I wouldn't do two or three times a week if I were him.
Tony Allen was valuable to the Celtics helped them win an NBA Championship, its clear he's been important to the Grizzlies over the years. Allen left over the summer for the Pelicans his number 9 was retired by the Grizzlies. I thought the only time a team did this was after the player retired.
I'm irritated
News broke locally Thursday afternoon in Kansas City, for the first time since 2012 KU will face Mizzou on the basketball court. The game will be played at the Sprint Center on Oct 22 at 3:00 p.m. Your eyes are not deceiving you Bill Self claimed he'd never play SEC Mizzou ever again. This rift is based on Mizzou leaving the Big 12 for the SEC which is clearly silly.
If it was just about leaving the conference why has KU scheduled Colorado and Nebraska which left the conference a year prior to Mizzou? This game is an exhibition and revenue will be donated to hurricane relief (a good cause). I'm only left to complain to you the reader and hope you understand. It's a shame KU and Mizzou couldn't schedule to meet under normal circumstances in a regular season game. Oh well it is what it is.
The mystery man
With all the excitement surrounding the Sixers we have a mystery on our hands. Where does number 8 fit in with this new and improved Sixer team? Just in case you forgot the number belongs to center Jahlil Okafor drafted in 2015. Okafor had a decent rookie year although it was cut short due to injury. He seemed to have lost his way with his maturity called into question.
From 17.5 ppg in his rookie year his sophomore year say his scoring slipped to 11.8 his rebounds dropped from 7.8 to 4.8. In fairness Okafor played a reduced number of games his sophomore year. The emergence of center Joel Embiid, the potential of Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz you can see why Okafor has faded into the background. Okafor certainly has talent but it is easy to see why Embiid has moved ahead of him on the depth chart. The Sixers need to trade Okafor and gain depth in an area of need.
The move
If this was 1960 or even 1990 I'd say Tyronn Lue might have a loose screw. Moving Kevin Love to center might be cause for concern however this is 2017. There are not a great number of efficient centers in today's NBA therefore the 6-10 251 pound Love can very easily move to the position. In addition the NBA of today emphasizes small ball so you can see where I'm going with this. Love will only face Western Conference centers twice once at home and once on the road. As for the Eastern Conference he might face a test against Al Horford or Hassan Whiteside and perhaps Dwight Howard. It's likely I've missed a center who might cause Love a problem.
Bits n Pieces
J.J. Redick must love driving, when he located from the Clippers to the Sixers we believed he might land somewhere in Philadelphia. Well that's not the case according to SI.com, sharpshooter Redick lives in Brooklyn but drives I-95 to Philadelphia. According to Google Maps city to city distance indicates this is about 95 miles and 2 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. It's not that great a drive however It's one I wouldn't do two or three times a week if I were him.
Tony Allen was valuable to the Celtics helped them win an NBA Championship, its clear he's been important to the Grizzlies over the years. Allen left over the summer for the Pelicans his number 9 was retired by the Grizzlies. I thought the only time a team did this was after the player retired.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Banned from Las Vegas
Jerry Lucas would likely be banned from any card game in Las Vegas, the former Ohio State All American and NBA player is a memory expert. With Lucas it is the ability to remember numbers for actress Marilu Henner its hyperthymesia the ability to remember specific details of her life since was a child. In college Lucas led Ohio State to the 1960 NCAA Championship, despite the accolades it was said he really didn't want to play professionally. He signed with the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League due to a player friendly contract originated by George Steinbrenner (Yes that Steinbrenner the late owner of the Yankees).
The team and league would fold before Lucas had a chance to set foot on the court. He then signed with the Cincinnati Royals who held his draft rights where he joined Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and others presenting a formidable team. Lucas was named 1964 ROY with eye popping numbers of 17.7 ppg and 17.2 rebounds. One year while with the the Royals the 6-8 230 pound Lucas averaged 21.5 ppg and 21.1 rebounds outstanding numbers for a player his height. He would go on to play for the Warriors and conclude his NBA career with the Knicks aiding them in winning the 1973 NBA Championship. Lucas is also a double-honoree in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. So there you have it Jerry Lucas another name from the NBA's past you should know.
Secretary ofState Basketball
In light of the Justice Department investigation of NCAA basketball Pres Mark Emmert has formed a commission and appointed former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice to head the panel. "The commission will start in November and present its recommendations on legislative, policy and structural changes to the boards for action in April." I am not nay saying on this effort there are some outstanding persons who will serve the commission.
My question is why now, this is Emmert's statement. "We need to do right by student athletes. I believe we can---and we must---find a way to protect the integrity of college sports by addressing both sides of the coin: fairness and opportunity for college athletes, coupled with the enforcement capability to hold accountable those who undermine the standards of our community." High sounding words by Emmert but wasn't this suppose to be the NCAA all along, wasn't their intent to focus on the best interest of the student-athlete?
Bits n Pieces
It's not just ESPN as we might have surmised, CBS and the CBS Sports Network will broadcast over 270 college games in the 2017-18 season. I was unable to discover the ESPN number however it's larger than the CBS number. The remainder will be broadcast over Fox Sports 1 and affiliates.
22 points in his first game action, the points plus 7 rebounds was the opening act for Joel Embiid and the Sixers in a game against the Nets. You remember Embiid is back in action after playing 31 games last season and demonstrating he clearly is talented. He's been on a restricted work out until recently plus being sidelined for much of the exhibition season. Wednesday nights action certainly should excite Sixer fans.
Sorry if this is a re-visit, I heard someone in the media remind once again. The reporter mentioned the number of trades and free-agent signings in the NBA over the summer. I'm unsure if there is one clear explanation why. More player movement probably exists in the NBA over that of NFL football or Major League Baseball. I haven't compiled any numbers it just seems that way.
Banned from Las Vegas
Jerry Lucas would likely be banned from any card game in Las Vegas, the former Ohio State All American and NBA player is a memory expert. With Lucas it is the ability to remember numbers for actress Marilu Henner its hyperthymesia the ability to remember specific details of her life since was a child. In college Lucas led Ohio State to the 1960 NCAA Championship, despite the accolades it was said he really didn't want to play professionally. He signed with the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League due to a player friendly contract originated by George Steinbrenner (Yes that Steinbrenner the late owner of the Yankees).
The team and league would fold before Lucas had a chance to set foot on the court. He then signed with the Cincinnati Royals who held his draft rights where he joined Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and others presenting a formidable team. Lucas was named 1964 ROY with eye popping numbers of 17.7 ppg and 17.2 rebounds. One year while with the the Royals the 6-8 230 pound Lucas averaged 21.5 ppg and 21.1 rebounds outstanding numbers for a player his height. He would go on to play for the Warriors and conclude his NBA career with the Knicks aiding them in winning the 1973 NBA Championship. Lucas is also a double-honoree in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. So there you have it Jerry Lucas another name from the NBA's past you should know.
Secretary of
In light of the Justice Department investigation of NCAA basketball Pres Mark Emmert has formed a commission and appointed former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice to head the panel. "The commission will start in November and present its recommendations on legislative, policy and structural changes to the boards for action in April." I am not nay saying on this effort there are some outstanding persons who will serve the commission.
My question is why now, this is Emmert's statement. "We need to do right by student athletes. I believe we can---and we must---find a way to protect the integrity of college sports by addressing both sides of the coin: fairness and opportunity for college athletes, coupled with the enforcement capability to hold accountable those who undermine the standards of our community." High sounding words by Emmert but wasn't this suppose to be the NCAA all along, wasn't their intent to focus on the best interest of the student-athlete?
Bits n Pieces
It's not just ESPN as we might have surmised, CBS and the CBS Sports Network will broadcast over 270 college games in the 2017-18 season. I was unable to discover the ESPN number however it's larger than the CBS number. The remainder will be broadcast over Fox Sports 1 and affiliates.
22 points in his first game action, the points plus 7 rebounds was the opening act for Joel Embiid and the Sixers in a game against the Nets. You remember Embiid is back in action after playing 31 games last season and demonstrating he clearly is talented. He's been on a restricted work out until recently plus being sidelined for much of the exhibition season. Wednesday nights action certainly should excite Sixer fans.
Sorry if this is a re-visit, I heard someone in the media remind once again. The reporter mentioned the number of trades and free-agent signings in the NBA over the summer. I'm unsure if there is one clear explanation why. More player movement probably exists in the NBA over that of NFL football or Major League Baseball. I haven't compiled any numbers it just seems that way.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Rookie of the Year????
A number in the NBA held the belief the 2016 NBA draft was not going to be very deep nor very good, unfortunately that view turned out to be correct. Top pick Ben Simmons of the Sixers was injured and missed the entire season, Laker Brandon Ingram struggled through much of the year. Despite the slow start Magic Johnson indicated the Lakers had received several trade inquiries although Magic says "He's a keeper." Joel Embiid drafted in 2014 and sidelined until last season received consideration for ROY.
The Bucks Malcom Brogdon was named ROY with the Sixers Dario Saric finishing second, Embiid finished in third place. The rookie class of 2017-18 is loaded, the Sixers Ben Simmons or the Lakers Lonzo Ball will be named Rookie of the Year in April of 2018. Despite the belief by many there is no guarantee these guys win. Simmons teammate Markelle Fultz has got to be in the mix too. Jayson Tatum of the Celtics or the Suns Josh Jackson will also be under consideration. De'Aaron Fox, Luke Kennard or Malik Monk might slip in and be named Rookie of the Year on the other hand it could be someone else.
The Zags
There is an interesting aspect to Gonzaga basketball, the school has always recruited internationally however the athlete they added last season is from Japan. Rui Hachimura is not the first Japanese athlete to play at a U.S. college. If he manages to play in the NBA he won't even be the first in the NBA either. The honor of being the first belongs to Watura Misaka who was on the 1947 Knicks. As for Rui he stands 6-8 and weighs 225 pounds, his father is from Benin in West Africa and mom is from Japan. NBADraft.net list Rui as an NBA prospect it will be interesting if he continues to develop his game.
The problem
My love of basketball reaches deep, so does my love of education. Every athlete is not a good student a number simply do minimal work to remain eligible. Do to a large number of athletes on the periphery between a solid C and a high D I believe they should miss as few classes as possible. I check out the the sports news and discover a significant number of high profile high school prospects are in Colorado Springs. Why are they in Colorado rather than a local classroom. The youngsters are competing for a spot on the USA Basketball Junior National Team.
Before you begin throwing rocks at me my desire is for the USA team to be successful but at the expense of education? This is the problem, the desire to compete sometimes is over the top most of these students have been in school a little over two months. Note i did not refer to them as basketball players they are students first. It is far too late to change we are too far down the road, there was an old saying. "It's too late to close the barn door after the cow has gotten out", the cow has long been out and sometimes we have idea where to locate it.
The Marathon
For the last nine years ESPN salutes the start of college basketball by telecasting 24-hours of basketball. Early this week the network announced no marathon this season. The timing might appear to be connected to the pending justice department investigation. Decisions involving large expenditures are no neck jerk reaction we can be assured ESPN was exploring the bottom line. As for me I never tuned in to a 3:00 a.m. or 11: p.m. game. A number of the games were plain unwatchable and you might have done what I did. Check the guide to see who was playing at a specific time and then viewing that game. If you were a fan or alumni of that 3:00 a.m. team most likely you set your DVR for it.
Bits n Pieces
Laker fans have given us their view of the upcoming season. According to SI.com from NBC Sports Laker Stubhub sales are up 130% over last season. At the same time season ticket holders renewed at 95% rate prior to the draft. After the draft the remaining 5% were sold which is quite interesting, maybe this is one of the reasons Clippers owner Steve Ballmer wants out of the shadow of the Lakers. Building your own arena will not solve the issue in my view.
Whoa.....Sixers point guard Markelle Fultz is struggling with his shot. The Sixer rookie is suffering from a shoulder injury and has been shooting poorly from the floor. All I can think about is the specter of the Embiid/Simmons hovering over the Sixer franchise. They can draft 'em but they get hurt in their first year , I make that statement as a person who is not superstitious.
Speaking of Joel Embiid how did he strike it rich(er) all of a sudden? His rookie contract was up and the Sixers signed rather than lose him to eventually to free agency. According to reports the 5-year contract has injury provisions. We can rest assured it is likely all contracts have similar clauses however this one might be more extensive than others.
Rookie of the Year????
A number in the NBA held the belief the 2016 NBA draft was not going to be very deep nor very good, unfortunately that view turned out to be correct. Top pick Ben Simmons of the Sixers was injured and missed the entire season, Laker Brandon Ingram struggled through much of the year. Despite the slow start Magic Johnson indicated the Lakers had received several trade inquiries although Magic says "He's a keeper." Joel Embiid drafted in 2014 and sidelined until last season received consideration for ROY.
The Bucks Malcom Brogdon was named ROY with the Sixers Dario Saric finishing second, Embiid finished in third place. The rookie class of 2017-18 is loaded, the Sixers Ben Simmons or the Lakers Lonzo Ball will be named Rookie of the Year in April of 2018. Despite the belief by many there is no guarantee these guys win. Simmons teammate Markelle Fultz has got to be in the mix too. Jayson Tatum of the Celtics or the Suns Josh Jackson will also be under consideration. De'Aaron Fox, Luke Kennard or Malik Monk might slip in and be named Rookie of the Year on the other hand it could be someone else.
The Zags
There is an interesting aspect to Gonzaga basketball, the school has always recruited internationally however the athlete they added last season is from Japan. Rui Hachimura is not the first Japanese athlete to play at a U.S. college. If he manages to play in the NBA he won't even be the first in the NBA either. The honor of being the first belongs to Watura Misaka who was on the 1947 Knicks. As for Rui he stands 6-8 and weighs 225 pounds, his father is from Benin in West Africa and mom is from Japan. NBADraft.net list Rui as an NBA prospect it will be interesting if he continues to develop his game.
The problem
My love of basketball reaches deep, so does my love of education. Every athlete is not a good student a number simply do minimal work to remain eligible. Do to a large number of athletes on the periphery between a solid C and a high D I believe they should miss as few classes as possible. I check out the the sports news and discover a significant number of high profile high school prospects are in Colorado Springs. Why are they in Colorado rather than a local classroom. The youngsters are competing for a spot on the USA Basketball Junior National Team.
Before you begin throwing rocks at me my desire is for the USA team to be successful but at the expense of education? This is the problem, the desire to compete sometimes is over the top most of these students have been in school a little over two months. Note i did not refer to them as basketball players they are students first. It is far too late to change we are too far down the road, there was an old saying. "It's too late to close the barn door after the cow has gotten out", the cow has long been out and sometimes we have idea where to locate it.
The Marathon
For the last nine years ESPN salutes the start of college basketball by telecasting 24-hours of basketball. Early this week the network announced no marathon this season. The timing might appear to be connected to the pending justice department investigation. Decisions involving large expenditures are no neck jerk reaction we can be assured ESPN was exploring the bottom line. As for me I never tuned in to a 3:00 a.m. or 11: p.m. game. A number of the games were plain unwatchable and you might have done what I did. Check the guide to see who was playing at a specific time and then viewing that game. If you were a fan or alumni of that 3:00 a.m. team most likely you set your DVR for it.
Bits n Pieces
Laker fans have given us their view of the upcoming season. According to SI.com from NBC Sports Laker Stubhub sales are up 130% over last season. At the same time season ticket holders renewed at 95% rate prior to the draft. After the draft the remaining 5% were sold which is quite interesting, maybe this is one of the reasons Clippers owner Steve Ballmer wants out of the shadow of the Lakers. Building your own arena will not solve the issue in my view.
Whoa.....Sixers point guard Markelle Fultz is struggling with his shot. The Sixer rookie is suffering from a shoulder injury and has been shooting poorly from the floor. All I can think about is the specter of the Embiid/Simmons hovering over the Sixer franchise. They can draft 'em but they get hurt in their first year , I make that statement as a person who is not superstitious.
Speaking of Joel Embiid how did he strike it rich(er) all of a sudden? His rookie contract was up and the Sixers signed rather than lose him to eventually to free agency. According to reports the 5-year contract has injury provisions. We can rest assured it is likely all contracts have similar clauses however this one might be more extensive than others.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
"Show me the money"
Remember Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) screaming through the telephone at sport agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) in the movie Jerry Maguire? How about Coach Pete Bell (Nick Nolte) in Blue Chips, Neon Boudeaux (Shaq) and Butch McRae (Penny Hardaway) arrived at Bell's college lured by money. Interesting how art often imitates life isn't it? The tip of the iceberg indictments have impacted Arizona, Southern Cal, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Louisville and Miami Before fans, alumni and others get too excited I didn't say anybody was proven guilty yet.
Assistant coaches from several of these schools have been arrested by the FBI. The NCAA with the task of policing college sports was nowhere to be seen, has this organization outlived it's usefulness? As my friend pointed out the "pay for play" might be even more evident in college football. Don't you find it interesting the NCAA which has been so opposed to paying athletes this revelation comes to the forefront without their knowledge? The silence from the NCAA has been deafening.
He can't stay on the court
In 2014 we became acquainted with Dante Exum from Australia. Unlike Ben Simmons who also arrived on these shores from down under both parents of Exum were American. Exum's dad had traveled to Australia to play basketball and that's where son Dante was born. Dante followed in his dad's footsteps picking up the game and excelling at it.
Dante came to the attention of NBA scouts and in 2014 he became the 5th pick in the first round. Exum had an uneventful rookie year and then an injury caused him to miss the entire 2015-16 season. Exum's numbers improved last season and he was looking forward to 2017-18 and it happened once again....injury. a separated shoulder is going to force him to miss another full, at this point we have no idea if the 6-6 Exum can play at the NBA level.
Formidable lineup
Cavs Coach Tyronn Lue announced his opening night starting lineup.
D. Rose-1
D. Wade-2
LeBron-3
Jae Crowder-4
Kevin Love-5
Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Jose Calderson plus others in reserve. you can see they are loaded. Consider I've yet to mention the injured Isaiah Thomas expected to return in January. It's been reported LeBron James complained privately about the lack of quality players surrounding him. Whether they win in 2018 or not LeBron cannot say in truth he's got no help.
He's the OG
By the age of 40 most of us have settled in that occupation that will become our life's work career as for athletes most retire in their middle 30's. There are always exceptions of course and I was reminded of the exception. I was viewing the Lakers-Kings game on Sunday night and on the court was Vince Carter now 40 years old. Kenny Smith's TNT nicknamed him "Half Man-Half Amazing" for his phenomenal dunks.
Frederic Weiss all 7 feet 2 inches of him never appeared in the NBA. In the 2000 Olympics the 6-6 Carter stole the ball and went up and over Weiss with a thunderous dunk which has become a classic. Weiss drafted by the Knicks never appeared in an NBA game he retired as an active player in 2011. Carter is no longer "Half Man" as he continues to play the game he loves. How much longer, only Carter knows for sure. NOTE: OG stands for Old Guy.
Whoa
I have been one in a number praising the small bit of work we've witnessed from Joel Embiid. After the Sixers center was sidelined for much of his early NBA career he's demonstrated his ability if only for a short 31-game period last season. That must have been enough for Sixers management, they signed Embiid to a 5-year $148 million dollar extension. Nothing is done in the dark so the Sixers must believe he's ready to play for the long-haul.
"Show me the money"
Remember Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) screaming through the telephone at sport agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) in the movie Jerry Maguire? How about Coach Pete Bell (Nick Nolte) in Blue Chips, Neon Boudeaux (Shaq) and Butch McRae (Penny Hardaway) arrived at Bell's college lured by money. Interesting how art often imitates life isn't it? The tip of the iceberg indictments have impacted Arizona, Southern Cal, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Louisville and Miami Before fans, alumni and others get too excited I didn't say anybody was proven guilty yet.
Assistant coaches from several of these schools have been arrested by the FBI. The NCAA with the task of policing college sports was nowhere to be seen, has this organization outlived it's usefulness? As my friend pointed out the "pay for play" might be even more evident in college football. Don't you find it interesting the NCAA which has been so opposed to paying athletes this revelation comes to the forefront without their knowledge? The silence from the NCAA has been deafening.
He can't stay on the court
In 2014 we became acquainted with Dante Exum from Australia. Unlike Ben Simmons who also arrived on these shores from down under both parents of Exum were American. Exum's dad had traveled to Australia to play basketball and that's where son Dante was born. Dante followed in his dad's footsteps picking up the game and excelling at it.
Dante came to the attention of NBA scouts and in 2014 he became the 5th pick in the first round. Exum had an uneventful rookie year and then an injury caused him to miss the entire 2015-16 season. Exum's numbers improved last season and he was looking forward to 2017-18 and it happened once again....injury. a separated shoulder is going to force him to miss another full, at this point we have no idea if the 6-6 Exum can play at the NBA level.
Formidable lineup
Cavs Coach Tyronn Lue announced his opening night starting lineup.
D. Rose-1
D. Wade-2
LeBron-3
Jae Crowder-4
Kevin Love-5
Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Jose Calderson plus others in reserve. you can see they are loaded. Consider I've yet to mention the injured Isaiah Thomas expected to return in January. It's been reported LeBron James complained privately about the lack of quality players surrounding him. Whether they win in 2018 or not LeBron cannot say in truth he's got no help.
He's the OG
By the age of 40 most of us have settled in that occupation that will become our life's work career as for athletes most retire in their middle 30's. There are always exceptions of course and I was reminded of the exception. I was viewing the Lakers-Kings game on Sunday night and on the court was Vince Carter now 40 years old. Kenny Smith's TNT nicknamed him "Half Man-Half Amazing" for his phenomenal dunks.
Frederic Weiss all 7 feet 2 inches of him never appeared in the NBA. In the 2000 Olympics the 6-6 Carter stole the ball and went up and over Weiss with a thunderous dunk which has become a classic. Weiss drafted by the Knicks never appeared in an NBA game he retired as an active player in 2011. Carter is no longer "Half Man" as he continues to play the game he loves. How much longer, only Carter knows for sure. NOTE: OG stands for Old Guy.
Whoa
I have been one in a number praising the small bit of work we've witnessed from Joel Embiid. After the Sixers center was sidelined for much of his early NBA career he's demonstrated his ability if only for a short 31-game period last season. That must have been enough for Sixers management, they signed Embiid to a 5-year $148 million dollar extension. Nothing is done in the dark so the Sixers must believe he's ready to play for the long-haul.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
The tip of the iceberg
Does the Louisville Courier-Journal story regarding Rick Pitino have any merit? The newspaper claimed the former coach received 98% of the money ear-marked for the university. The newspaper didn't provide a dollar figure but if true it could be in the millions of dollars. When I wrote of the story David said; " Unfortunately I believe Rick Pitino is but one of thousands of coaches during the same scam across the divisions...and its probably worse in collegiate football." There are less than 400 Division I basketball programs so the number is not quite as high as my friend might suggest.
As much as most of us would like to believe there is no cheating it does exist maybe at a level many of us might find distressing. I hope the justice department gets to the bottom of the cesspool and uncovers all the cheaters. The court is not level, as an example it is impossible for Kentucky Wesleyan to compete for talent with the University of Kentucky. There have been occasions I've complained about the actions of the NCAA, when they are wrong in my eyes I call them out....the same applies for cheating coaches.
Kansas City's NBA connection
I mentioned the coaches who were connected to Kansas City but failed to include Larry Drew. Drew played at Wyandotte HS (KCK) , Mizzou and several NBA teams. He's been a head coach but is currently serves as an assistant with the Cavs. In the broadcast booth for the Bulls is Neil Funk who once served as Kansas City Kings broadcaster. Kevin Calabro can be heard on many TNT broadcasts but once performed the same function for the Kansas City Kings. Kevin Harlin also one of the voices of the NBA on TNT spent time behind the microphone for the Kansas City Kings. The Kings while in Kansas City allowed a number of veterans to begin broadcast careers.
Sorry Myron it ain't happenin'
Myron Medcalf ESPN college basketball writer posed the question in a recent column. "Wichita State and Kansas are both in the Top 10 this season now is the time to begin a rivalry." I can answer the question for Medcalf it ain't happenin' however I must point out this is all conjecture on my part. Bill Self likely believes there is no upside to playing Wichita State, they are suppose to beat them while losing to them is not an option.
Gregg Marshall has been responsible for placing Wichita State back on the basketball map once again. Bill Self is still smarting from the beat-down his Jayhawks suffered in the 2015 NCAA Tournament game, the seven seed Shockers beat the two seed Kansas Jayhawks. Will the game ever be played.....it could but I wouldn't hold my breath. For years Kentucky refused to schedule Louisville until the state legislature stepped in threatening to withhold state funds. I know that sounds crazy but that's what occurred in Kentucky.
Hall of Fame
Rick Pitino has been fired as head coach at Louisville however there is another issue to consider the Hall of Fame. I have long held the belief ACTIVE coaches DON'T BELONG in any Hall of Fame. I'm unsure whether this statement is true others can check the accuracy. I don't believe the NFL or baseball HOF includes active coaches or managers why basketball?
Someone might state there are former players whose off the court issues might be called into question. There is a mandatory time period athletes must wait for HOF entrance why not an across the board change and make the change for every candidate? Will a delay bring about change, will a Rick Pitino be found out before they might be nominated? A delay on HOF entry is not an automatic fix nor a solution. The Naismith and College committees should revise the rules regarding ACTIVE coaches.
Uni-Brow & Boogie
The headline might sound like the title of a movie or something other than actuality, it's Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins of the Pelicans. All the Pelicans need is to sign Nerlens Noel and Karl-Anthony Towns they would have all the Kentucky centers in the NBA minus the Kings Willie Cauley-Stein. Just kidding folks last year it was believed the Pelicans acquired Boogie to trade him....they had Anthony Davis playing center for them. Both Davis & Cousins (now that sounds like a law firm) adjusted to one another so this strange marriage of two bonafide centers just might work.
The further issue for the Pelicans is the balance of the team. Key injuries and poor play at times witnessed them finishing with a 34-48 record. The Pelicans become Rajon Rondo's 4th team in 4 years which says loudly there might be a problem. Rondo remains skillful the concern by me is attitude, this four time All-Star has not played at that level since 2013. The hope is Alvin Gentry can mold this team into a cohesive unit in order to compete.
The tip of the iceberg
Does the Louisville Courier-Journal story regarding Rick Pitino have any merit? The newspaper claimed the former coach received 98% of the money ear-marked for the university. The newspaper didn't provide a dollar figure but if true it could be in the millions of dollars. When I wrote of the story David said; " Unfortunately I believe Rick Pitino is but one of thousands of coaches during the same scam across the divisions...and its probably worse in collegiate football." There are less than 400 Division I basketball programs so the number is not quite as high as my friend might suggest.
As much as most of us would like to believe there is no cheating it does exist maybe at a level many of us might find distressing. I hope the justice department gets to the bottom of the cesspool and uncovers all the cheaters. The court is not level, as an example it is impossible for Kentucky Wesleyan to compete for talent with the University of Kentucky. There have been occasions I've complained about the actions of the NCAA, when they are wrong in my eyes I call them out....the same applies for cheating coaches.
Kansas City's NBA connection
I mentioned the coaches who were connected to Kansas City but failed to include Larry Drew. Drew played at Wyandotte HS (KCK) , Mizzou and several NBA teams. He's been a head coach but is currently serves as an assistant with the Cavs. In the broadcast booth for the Bulls is Neil Funk who once served as Kansas City Kings broadcaster. Kevin Calabro can be heard on many TNT broadcasts but once performed the same function for the Kansas City Kings. Kevin Harlin also one of the voices of the NBA on TNT spent time behind the microphone for the Kansas City Kings. The Kings while in Kansas City allowed a number of veterans to begin broadcast careers.
Sorry Myron it ain't happenin'
Myron Medcalf ESPN college basketball writer posed the question in a recent column. "Wichita State and Kansas are both in the Top 10 this season now is the time to begin a rivalry." I can answer the question for Medcalf it ain't happenin' however I must point out this is all conjecture on my part. Bill Self likely believes there is no upside to playing Wichita State, they are suppose to beat them while losing to them is not an option.
Gregg Marshall has been responsible for placing Wichita State back on the basketball map once again. Bill Self is still smarting from the beat-down his Jayhawks suffered in the 2015 NCAA Tournament game, the seven seed Shockers beat the two seed Kansas Jayhawks. Will the game ever be played.....it could but I wouldn't hold my breath. For years Kentucky refused to schedule Louisville until the state legislature stepped in threatening to withhold state funds. I know that sounds crazy but that's what occurred in Kentucky.
Hall of Fame
Rick Pitino has been fired as head coach at Louisville however there is another issue to consider the Hall of Fame. I have long held the belief ACTIVE coaches DON'T BELONG in any Hall of Fame. I'm unsure whether this statement is true others can check the accuracy. I don't believe the NFL or baseball HOF includes active coaches or managers why basketball?
Someone might state there are former players whose off the court issues might be called into question. There is a mandatory time period athletes must wait for HOF entrance why not an across the board change and make the change for every candidate? Will a delay bring about change, will a Rick Pitino be found out before they might be nominated? A delay on HOF entry is not an automatic fix nor a solution. The Naismith and College committees should revise the rules regarding ACTIVE coaches.
Uni-Brow & Boogie
The headline might sound like the title of a movie or something other than actuality, it's Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins of the Pelicans. All the Pelicans need is to sign Nerlens Noel and Karl-Anthony Towns they would have all the Kentucky centers in the NBA minus the Kings Willie Cauley-Stein. Just kidding folks last year it was believed the Pelicans acquired Boogie to trade him....they had Anthony Davis playing center for them. Both Davis & Cousins (now that sounds like a law firm) adjusted to one another so this strange marriage of two bonafide centers just might work.
The further issue for the Pelicans is the balance of the team. Key injuries and poor play at times witnessed them finishing with a 34-48 record. The Pelicans become Rajon Rondo's 4th team in 4 years which says loudly there might be a problem. Rondo remains skillful the concern by me is attitude, this four time All-Star has not played at that level since 2013. The hope is Alvin Gentry can mold this team into a cohesive unit in order to compete.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Bits n Pieces
The count has been reduced by one, Bol Bol indicates Oregon and Kentucky make his final count. Arizona was eliminated but it might have more to do with pending judgment than anything. If you check earlier accounts the 7-2 Bol had reduced the number to five and Arizona was in the mix. Arizona was included when the number was reduced to three, my theory may be bogus however it is food for thought.
The remark Panthers QB Cam Newton made to a female reporter considered sexist might never occur regarding college or the NBA. It's simple the men's and women's basketball game might be played slightly different but it remains basketball. There are thousands maybe into the millions of women who play the game at a high level over the smaller number who experience touch or tackle football. Just my thought doesn't make it correct or accurate.
Sorry I couldn't help it and I certainly don't intend to take credit for originating it. The 1981 movie classic Escape from New York was connected with Carmelo Anthony's name in several headlines. I've seen Anthony's name connected with the movie on several NBA websites. In any event I think it's funny don't you?
Basketball fans I can't get too excited about the news, Rivals listed their Top 10 candidates for All-American recently. In the age of one and done athletes in my view the selection once considered important holds little if any prestige for me. 20-30 years ago it was quite an honor to be selected an All-American it just falls short in this day on the other hand it could be me.
Pop
It might be his no nonsense look Gregg Popovich IS THE NBA, that's not always been the case for the Spurs coach. I've read "He only wins because of Tim Duncan." Well Timmy is retired and he's still winning, maybe there is no championship to boast of however his resume contains five. Where did it all began you ask......at the Air Force Academy of all places, he played basketball on the academy team as a 6-2 point guard. Popovich fulfilled his five year obligation to the Air Force and left the service in 1970. As for the coaching part it began at the academy were he returned in 1973 as an assistant.
From that point it was Pomona-Pitzer a Division III program as head coach, he would serve a year as a volunteer assistant while Larry Brown was head coach. Pop was assistant at two NBA teams before beginning his tenure at the San Antonio Spurs in 1996. How much longer is the 68-year old Pop going to remain on the job? Only he knows for sure and this Laker fan will be sad the day he decides he no longer is coaching the Spurs. Back in the day it seemed his Spurs were always battling my Lakers for Western Conference supremacy.
Speaking of coaches
Brett Brown has kinda been in the background, Brett who you ask? He's the coach of the Sixers has been since 2013. For a number of reasons more fans outside of Philly were more familiar with former GM Sam Hinkie over that of Brown. The Sixer coach played for Rick Pitino at Boston University from there it was Australia as an assistant for the Melbourne Tigers. Brown would serve with the Spurs on two separate occasions but prior to that he won two National Basketball League Championships as head coach. In 2013 he was hired as the head man for the Sixers.
His resume certainly looks impressive but the knock is he's not been a winner with the Sixers. Perhaps its the view of many the Sixers first began "tanking" with him at the helm. Did his GM insist his teams lose games on purpose to improve the draft position of the team? No one will ever admit it if the conversation occurred. If your team (Sixers) never improve what's the purpose of losing games on purpose? We don't know if this is the year however it appears to be the case if healthy the Sixers should be substantially better. If that should occur maybe we discover how good a coach Brett Brown is.
A conversation
Me: Are you anxious for the start of the NBA season?
Friend 1: We already know who is going to win.
Me: Are you saying the Warriors are champs before the season even begins?
Friend 2: Them are the Cavs.
Me: That's been a prime compliant echoed by many fans the last few years 30 teams but only one or two with a real opportunity to win.
Friend 2: That could be OKC now with George and Melo.
Me: Maybe not enough basketballs to go around.
Friend 1: George could adapt his game as for Melo that might be a different story.
The end
Bits n Pieces
The count has been reduced by one, Bol Bol indicates Oregon and Kentucky make his final count. Arizona was eliminated but it might have more to do with pending judgment than anything. If you check earlier accounts the 7-2 Bol had reduced the number to five and Arizona was in the mix. Arizona was included when the number was reduced to three, my theory may be bogus however it is food for thought.
The remark Panthers QB Cam Newton made to a female reporter considered sexist might never occur regarding college or the NBA. It's simple the men's and women's basketball game might be played slightly different but it remains basketball. There are thousands maybe into the millions of women who play the game at a high level over the smaller number who experience touch or tackle football. Just my thought doesn't make it correct or accurate.
Sorry I couldn't help it and I certainly don't intend to take credit for originating it. The 1981 movie classic Escape from New York was connected with Carmelo Anthony's name in several headlines. I've seen Anthony's name connected with the movie on several NBA websites. In any event I think it's funny don't you?
Basketball fans I can't get too excited about the news, Rivals listed their Top 10 candidates for All-American recently. In the age of one and done athletes in my view the selection once considered important holds little if any prestige for me. 20-30 years ago it was quite an honor to be selected an All-American it just falls short in this day on the other hand it could be me.
Pop
It might be his no nonsense look Gregg Popovich IS THE NBA, that's not always been the case for the Spurs coach. I've read "He only wins because of Tim Duncan." Well Timmy is retired and he's still winning, maybe there is no championship to boast of however his resume contains five. Where did it all began you ask......at the Air Force Academy of all places, he played basketball on the academy team as a 6-2 point guard. Popovich fulfilled his five year obligation to the Air Force and left the service in 1970. As for the coaching part it began at the academy were he returned in 1973 as an assistant.
From that point it was Pomona-Pitzer a Division III program as head coach, he would serve a year as a volunteer assistant while Larry Brown was head coach. Pop was assistant at two NBA teams before beginning his tenure at the San Antonio Spurs in 1996. How much longer is the 68-year old Pop going to remain on the job? Only he knows for sure and this Laker fan will be sad the day he decides he no longer is coaching the Spurs. Back in the day it seemed his Spurs were always battling my Lakers for Western Conference supremacy.
Speaking of coaches
Brett Brown has kinda been in the background, Brett who you ask? He's the coach of the Sixers has been since 2013. For a number of reasons more fans outside of Philly were more familiar with former GM Sam Hinkie over that of Brown. The Sixer coach played for Rick Pitino at Boston University from there it was Australia as an assistant for the Melbourne Tigers. Brown would serve with the Spurs on two separate occasions but prior to that he won two National Basketball League Championships as head coach. In 2013 he was hired as the head man for the Sixers.
His resume certainly looks impressive but the knock is he's not been a winner with the Sixers. Perhaps its the view of many the Sixers first began "tanking" with him at the helm. Did his GM insist his teams lose games on purpose to improve the draft position of the team? No one will ever admit it if the conversation occurred. If your team (Sixers) never improve what's the purpose of losing games on purpose? We don't know if this is the year however it appears to be the case if healthy the Sixers should be substantially better. If that should occur maybe we discover how good a coach Brett Brown is.
A conversation
Me: Are you anxious for the start of the NBA season?
Friend 1: We already know who is going to win.
Me: Are you saying the Warriors are champs before the season even begins?
Friend 2: Them are the Cavs.
Me: That's been a prime compliant echoed by many fans the last few years 30 teams but only one or two with a real opportunity to win.
Friend 2: That could be OKC now with George and Melo.
Me: Maybe not enough basketballs to go around.
Friend 1: George could adapt his game as for Melo that might be a different story.
The end
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
"The Hawk"
Connie Hawkins nicknamed "Hawk" died on Friday, he was 75 years old and said to be in poor health in recent years. He was "Dr. J. before the good doctor arrived on the scene." We never got to see him in his prime, he was a 27 year old rookie who'd was banned from NBA play at one time. Hawk had the misfortune of being tied to a gambler, this association would force him to leave the University of Iowa his scholarship revoked. 1960 American sports was different, it was guilt by association.
Hawk had been given money by the gambler but was never proven to have participated in point shaving were others were actually guilty. After losing his scholarship he would play for the American Basketball League Pittsburgh Rens, Harlem Globetrotters and later the Pittsburg/Minnesota Pipers of the American Basketball Association for the first years of his pro career. Hawk through an attorney would sue the NBA and forced the league to admit him. He stood 6-8 a slim 210 pounds the Hawk would soar often defying gravity. Hawk would often stand on the perimeter holding the ball like a grapefruit in his huge hand.
Despite being banned from the NBA on unsubstantiated charges he never held any animosity toward the NBA. Hawk retired in 1976 a member of the Hawks after playing for the Lakers and the Suns his first NBA team. Hawk was one of a number of outstanding basketball players to emerge from Brooklyn (NY). From Boys High in Brooklyn to the Naismith Hall of Fame R.I.P. Hawk, your soaring grace is now on display in heaven.
Laker ownership
Sports franchises changed ownership quite frequently not so with the Lakers. Over the years the Lakers have probably changed ownership fewer times than the majority of other NBA teams. I believe this to be correct as best my research can determine. Founded in 1947 two Minneapolis businessmen Bob Berger and Morris Chalfen were the first owners
having purchased the Detroit Gems franchise which had disbanded. The two owned the team until 1957 when they sold the team to another Minneapolis businessman Bob Short
The Lakers after championship runs began to trend downward. The team losing games (and money) looked west. Short made the decision to move the team to Los Angeles in 1960. Short retained ownership until 1965 when Canadian businessman Jack Kent Cooke assumed ownership. Kent Cooke eventually sold the team to Dr. Jerry Buss in 1979. When Dr. Buss died in 2013 son Jim would run the franchise until 2017 when sister Jeanie took over the operations in a family feud coup.
Bits n Pieces
Former Coach Kevin McHale dropped a bombshell on NBA-TV recently. McHale stated: "Harden not a leader" referring to guard James Harden. A couple of issues to point out 11.2, that's Harden's per game assist total from last season. McHale coached Harden while head coach of the Rockets. I'm gonna allow you to make up your mind on the McHale comment without any view I might express.
Lonzo Ball and several other rookies need time to adjust to the rigors of the NBA. After but a few games exhibition games we expect him and others to play like grizzled veterans. Sure we could admit he's struggled at times he's also failed to sink his shot. All might be true but how about allowing an adjustment period? There is quite a jump from college basketball to the NBA, few rookies "hit the ground running." If Lonzo is struggling in January then I'd share the same concerns I've heard expressed.
Greed sometimes creates corruption or we could say sometimes corruption creates greed. Either might be the case if a report in the Louisville-Courier Journal is correct. The newspaper claims Louisville's "Rick Pitino took in 98% of the cash the school received in the Adidas shoe deal." I have no idea nor have I read a figure however it's got to be in the millions of dollars don't you think?
"The Hawk"
Connie Hawkins nicknamed "Hawk" died on Friday, he was 75 years old and said to be in poor health in recent years. He was "Dr. J. before the good doctor arrived on the scene." We never got to see him in his prime, he was a 27 year old rookie who'd was banned from NBA play at one time. Hawk had the misfortune of being tied to a gambler, this association would force him to leave the University of Iowa his scholarship revoked. 1960 American sports was different, it was guilt by association.
Hawk had been given money by the gambler but was never proven to have participated in point shaving were others were actually guilty. After losing his scholarship he would play for the American Basketball League Pittsburgh Rens, Harlem Globetrotters and later the Pittsburg/Minnesota Pipers of the American Basketball Association for the first years of his pro career. Hawk through an attorney would sue the NBA and forced the league to admit him. He stood 6-8 a slim 210 pounds the Hawk would soar often defying gravity. Hawk would often stand on the perimeter holding the ball like a grapefruit in his huge hand.
Despite being banned from the NBA on unsubstantiated charges he never held any animosity toward the NBA. Hawk retired in 1976 a member of the Hawks after playing for the Lakers and the Suns his first NBA team. Hawk was one of a number of outstanding basketball players to emerge from Brooklyn (NY). From Boys High in Brooklyn to the Naismith Hall of Fame R.I.P. Hawk, your soaring grace is now on display in heaven.
Laker ownership
Sports franchises changed ownership quite frequently not so with the Lakers. Over the years the Lakers have probably changed ownership fewer times than the majority of other NBA teams. I believe this to be correct as best my research can determine. Founded in 1947 two Minneapolis businessmen Bob Berger and Morris Chalfen were the first owners
having purchased the Detroit Gems franchise which had disbanded. The two owned the team until 1957 when they sold the team to another Minneapolis businessman Bob Short
The Lakers after championship runs began to trend downward. The team losing games (and money) looked west. Short made the decision to move the team to Los Angeles in 1960. Short retained ownership until 1965 when Canadian businessman Jack Kent Cooke assumed ownership. Kent Cooke eventually sold the team to Dr. Jerry Buss in 1979. When Dr. Buss died in 2013 son Jim would run the franchise until 2017 when sister Jeanie took over the operations in a family feud coup.
Bits n Pieces
Former Coach Kevin McHale dropped a bombshell on NBA-TV recently. McHale stated: "Harden not a leader" referring to guard James Harden. A couple of issues to point out 11.2, that's Harden's per game assist total from last season. McHale coached Harden while head coach of the Rockets. I'm gonna allow you to make up your mind on the McHale comment without any view I might express.
Lonzo Ball and several other rookies need time to adjust to the rigors of the NBA. After but a few games exhibition games we expect him and others to play like grizzled veterans. Sure we could admit he's struggled at times he's also failed to sink his shot. All might be true but how about allowing an adjustment period? There is quite a jump from college basketball to the NBA, few rookies "hit the ground running." If Lonzo is struggling in January then I'd share the same concerns I've heard expressed.
Greed sometimes creates corruption or we could say sometimes corruption creates greed. Either might be the case if a report in the Louisville-Courier Journal is correct. The newspaper claims Louisville's "Rick Pitino took in 98% of the cash the school received in the Adidas shoe deal." I have no idea nor have I read a figure however it's got to be in the millions of dollars don't you think?
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
Pay me
I only have my thoughts no grand proposal to place before you. Within 2-3 years Division I players will receive some sort of compensation ok'd by the NCAA. We already
witnessed change in other sports. Once upon a time track and field athletes and others literally starved between Olympic years unable to earn income. They had to retain their amateur status thus they were not allowed an income. The Justice Department revelations to date have been about money. The problem for the most part the money appeared to stop with assistant coaches. No solution for track & field, tennis and swimmers I must call it as I see it, football and basketball generate the dollars allowing the other sports to operate at a school.
The forgotten Jayhawk
Number 32 jersey is retired however a small number of alumni and fans have little familiarity with the name Bill Bridges. Bridges arrived on campus after Wilt Chamberlain and that might be part of the problem. Chamberlain blocked out the sun with his notoriety which even at KU was larger than life for that time period. Bridges was a polar opposite he was a "lunch pail" guy, came to every game prepared to rebound the ball and score when called on. His workman like effort was noteworthy but somehow was lost among succeeding more "visible" Jayhawk players.
16.1 ppg his senior year was his peak scoring but Bridges managed to average 14 rebounds a game during three years at Kansas. The rebound totals might not appear to be outstanding except Bridges stood but 6-6 and 225 pounds. Often in college and later as a pro his opposition was 2-3 inches taller. After college Bridges decided in favor of the American Basketball League over the established NBA. In 1961 Bridges would become a member of the Kansas City Steers in rather than the NBA Chicago Packers. The Chicago franchise would relocate to Baltimore and later Washington D.C. with the Wizards replacing the Bullets name.
The ABL would only last one season closing shop in the middle of year two. Bridges would signed with the Hawks then located in St Louis and move with the franchise to Atlanta. Bridges would play for three other NBA teams before retiring in 1975. During his NBA career his double-double numbers were 11.9 ppg and 11.9 rebounds. Bridges once grabbed 35 rebounds in a playoff game a feat only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Willis Reed who were much taller. Just think "Dennis Rodman" with better scoring ability and little flamboyance, Bridges died in 2015 of cancer at the age of 76.
Could I get a small loan?
Sometimes I wonder how it must be to live the life of those in the one percent bracket. Those are the folks with plenty of disposable income and have no problem and never forced to ask "How much does it cost." Darren Rovell ESPN's finance guy reports the Knicks have a suite in Madison Square Garden along with Tao group a restaurant chain named Suite Sixteen. Once you pay this is the package, two tickets to every Knicks and Ranger game plus concert tickets to Billy Joel and Shakra. A bottle of champagne for every game plus wristbands allowing up to four guests entry. All this can be had for the very small fee of $400,000 wonder if I get a loan?
November 10 is the date
R.J. Barrett the number one prospect on practically every prospect list Class of 2018 is prepared to answer the question. The question of course which school the 6-7 guard will chose. Barrett has removed Arizona from his list so we are down to Duke, Oregon and Kentucky. We have no idea but a guess in order might be Kentucky then Duke with Oregon on the outside. Barrett plays for Montverde Academy in Florida but home is metro Toronto Ontario Canada. He stated he's "going to head home and announce his decision on November 10."
NBA history
In the Bill Bridges story above it was noted Bridges was drafted by the Chicago Packers,
what do we know about the Packers? This is different for several reasons, this expansion team came into being in 1961-62 they would finish that first season 18-62. The team name was a node to the meat packing industry playing in an arena next door to the stockyards. If you've every been around a packing plant the smell can be foul at times. The joke was the Packers "stunk" on the court as much as outside air around the building.
A name change was made the following year when the team moved to another location in Chicago they were re-named Zephyrs. That would be the team's last year in Chicago 1963 witnessed the move to Baltimore where they would become the Bullets after an earlier Baltimore team. The Bullets would remain in Baltimore for 10 years and then move to a Washington D.C. suburb becoming the Capital Bullets and with the move inside the district they changed the name to Washington. In 1997 the former owner thought "Bullets" might promote violence and the team was re-named the Wizards.
Pay me
I only have my thoughts no grand proposal to place before you. Within 2-3 years Division I players will receive some sort of compensation ok'd by the NCAA. We already
witnessed change in other sports. Once upon a time track and field athletes and others literally starved between Olympic years unable to earn income. They had to retain their amateur status thus they were not allowed an income. The Justice Department revelations to date have been about money. The problem for the most part the money appeared to stop with assistant coaches. No solution for track & field, tennis and swimmers I must call it as I see it, football and basketball generate the dollars allowing the other sports to operate at a school.
The forgotten Jayhawk
Number 32 jersey is retired however a small number of alumni and fans have little familiarity with the name Bill Bridges. Bridges arrived on campus after Wilt Chamberlain and that might be part of the problem. Chamberlain blocked out the sun with his notoriety which even at KU was larger than life for that time period. Bridges was a polar opposite he was a "lunch pail" guy, came to every game prepared to rebound the ball and score when called on. His workman like effort was noteworthy but somehow was lost among succeeding more "visible" Jayhawk players.
16.1 ppg his senior year was his peak scoring but Bridges managed to average 14 rebounds a game during three years at Kansas. The rebound totals might not appear to be outstanding except Bridges stood but 6-6 and 225 pounds. Often in college and later as a pro his opposition was 2-3 inches taller. After college Bridges decided in favor of the American Basketball League over the established NBA. In 1961 Bridges would become a member of the Kansas City Steers in rather than the NBA Chicago Packers. The Chicago franchise would relocate to Baltimore and later Washington D.C. with the Wizards replacing the Bullets name.
The ABL would only last one season closing shop in the middle of year two. Bridges would signed with the Hawks then located in St Louis and move with the franchise to Atlanta. Bridges would play for three other NBA teams before retiring in 1975. During his NBA career his double-double numbers were 11.9 ppg and 11.9 rebounds. Bridges once grabbed 35 rebounds in a playoff game a feat only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Willis Reed who were much taller. Just think "Dennis Rodman" with better scoring ability and little flamboyance, Bridges died in 2015 of cancer at the age of 76.
Could I get a small loan?
Sometimes I wonder how it must be to live the life of those in the one percent bracket. Those are the folks with plenty of disposable income and have no problem and never forced to ask "How much does it cost." Darren Rovell ESPN's finance guy reports the Knicks have a suite in Madison Square Garden along with Tao group a restaurant chain named Suite Sixteen. Once you pay this is the package, two tickets to every Knicks and Ranger game plus concert tickets to Billy Joel and Shakra. A bottle of champagne for every game plus wristbands allowing up to four guests entry. All this can be had for the very small fee of $400,000 wonder if I get a loan?
November 10 is the date
R.J. Barrett the number one prospect on practically every prospect list Class of 2018 is prepared to answer the question. The question of course which school the 6-7 guard will chose. Barrett has removed Arizona from his list so we are down to Duke, Oregon and Kentucky. We have no idea but a guess in order might be Kentucky then Duke with Oregon on the outside. Barrett plays for Montverde Academy in Florida but home is metro Toronto Ontario Canada. He stated he's "going to head home and announce his decision on November 10."
NBA history
In the Bill Bridges story above it was noted Bridges was drafted by the Chicago Packers,
what do we know about the Packers? This is different for several reasons, this expansion team came into being in 1961-62 they would finish that first season 18-62. The team name was a node to the meat packing industry playing in an arena next door to the stockyards. If you've every been around a packing plant the smell can be foul at times. The joke was the Packers "stunk" on the court as much as outside air around the building.
A name change was made the following year when the team moved to another location in Chicago they were re-named Zephyrs. That would be the team's last year in Chicago 1963 witnessed the move to Baltimore where they would become the Bullets after an earlier Baltimore team. The Bullets would remain in Baltimore for 10 years and then move to a Washington D.C. suburb becoming the Capital Bullets and with the move inside the district they changed the name to Washington. In 1997 the former owner thought "Bullets" might promote violence and the team was re-named the Wizards.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
A little game
I was checking out the Missouri Valley Conference, my first thought the conference has lost a little of it's MoJo losing Wichita State. Then I came upon a thought "I wonder if I can locate at least one outstanding ABA-NBA player from each of the remaining schools." Here goes, several of the names might not be familiar to you check them out in NBA & ABA Basketball Statistics & History.com:
Bradley University-Chet Walker, Hersey Hawkins
Drake University-Willie Wise
University of Evansville-Jerry Sloan
Illinois State-Doug Collins
Indiana State-LARRY BIRD
Loyola University of Chicago
Missouri State
University of Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois University-WALT FRAZIER
Wichita State-Warren (Jabali) Armstrong, Austin Carr, Xavier McDaniel
Each of the schools had at least one player who was either drafted or played in the NBA. My intent was to provide a list of outstanding ABA-ABA players from the conference. Bird and Frazier are in the Naismith Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall. There you have it a so-called mid-major conference that's produced ABA-NBA talent throughout the years.
Bits n Pieces
I touched on this story last year but believe it is worth repeating. With no NBA team Kansas City is well-represented in the association. In Phoenix leading the Suns is Coach Earl Watson who played high school basketball at Washington HS (Kansas City KS) and moved on to UCLA and then the NBA. Leading the Cavs is Tyronn Lue originally from Mexico (MO) but moved to Raytown and Raytown HS a Kansas City suburb. Lue went on to play his college basketball at Nebraska.
Tacko Fall you remember him don't you? The 7-6 295 pound center from the University of Central Florida game improved significantly between his freshman year and last season. Fall placed his name in the 2017 draft and then withdrew it, we knew despite his height and weight he wasn't ready for the rigors of the NBA. If his junior year becomes a break out year then perhaps he might be ready. ESPN telecast a number of the games last year so maybe I can do some long distance scouting. The youngster from Senegal in West Africa might indeed play in the NBA one day.
For the first time in like forever Joel Embiid was on the court. Embiid participated in a 5 on 5 workout. It's evident the Sixers are bringing him along slowly with the hope Embiid will be ready to start the season. A healthy Embiid has proven imposing especially defensively.
Hope for Houston
The Houston metro was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in August. I'm quite sure no one in the area was thinking NBA basketball then. The arrival of Chris Paul was old news by this time. At the dawn of the season what are the expectations for 2017-18? "The Beard" James Harden moves back to the shooting guard with the arrival of Paul but that is not as bad as it might appear consider last season stats.
Harden had an 8.5 assist per game average while Paul was at 9.9 for the Clippers.
No issue distributing the basketball however there might be questions regarding the remainder of the roster. Starters Clint Capela at center, Ryan Anderson power forward and Trevor Ariza are serviceable but certainly don't strike fear in the heart of opponents. From were I sit it appears Chris Paul badly wanted out because it appears the Rockets are likely to not be much better than the Clippers.
A little game
I was checking out the Missouri Valley Conference, my first thought the conference has lost a little of it's MoJo losing Wichita State. Then I came upon a thought "I wonder if I can locate at least one outstanding ABA-NBA player from each of the remaining schools." Here goes, several of the names might not be familiar to you check them out in NBA & ABA Basketball Statistics & History.com:
Bradley University-Chet Walker, Hersey Hawkins
Drake University-Willie Wise
University of Evansville-Jerry Sloan
Illinois State-Doug Collins
Indiana State-LARRY BIRD
Loyola University of Chicago
Missouri State
University of Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois University-WALT FRAZIER
Wichita State-Warren (Jabali) Armstrong, Austin Carr, Xavier McDaniel
Each of the schools had at least one player who was either drafted or played in the NBA. My intent was to provide a list of outstanding ABA-ABA players from the conference. Bird and Frazier are in the Naismith Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall. There you have it a so-called mid-major conference that's produced ABA-NBA talent throughout the years.
Bits n Pieces
I touched on this story last year but believe it is worth repeating. With no NBA team Kansas City is well-represented in the association. In Phoenix leading the Suns is Coach Earl Watson who played high school basketball at Washington HS (Kansas City KS) and moved on to UCLA and then the NBA. Leading the Cavs is Tyronn Lue originally from Mexico (MO) but moved to Raytown and Raytown HS a Kansas City suburb. Lue went on to play his college basketball at Nebraska.
Tacko Fall you remember him don't you? The 7-6 295 pound center from the University of Central Florida game improved significantly between his freshman year and last season. Fall placed his name in the 2017 draft and then withdrew it, we knew despite his height and weight he wasn't ready for the rigors of the NBA. If his junior year becomes a break out year then perhaps he might be ready. ESPN telecast a number of the games last year so maybe I can do some long distance scouting. The youngster from Senegal in West Africa might indeed play in the NBA one day.
For the first time in like forever Joel Embiid was on the court. Embiid participated in a 5 on 5 workout. It's evident the Sixers are bringing him along slowly with the hope Embiid will be ready to start the season. A healthy Embiid has proven imposing especially defensively.
Hope for Houston
The Houston metro was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in August. I'm quite sure no one in the area was thinking NBA basketball then. The arrival of Chris Paul was old news by this time. At the dawn of the season what are the expectations for 2017-18? "The Beard" James Harden moves back to the shooting guard with the arrival of Paul but that is not as bad as it might appear consider last season stats.
Harden had an 8.5 assist per game average while Paul was at 9.9 for the Clippers.
No issue distributing the basketball however there might be questions regarding the remainder of the roster. Starters Clint Capela at center, Ryan Anderson power forward and Trevor Ariza are serviceable but certainly don't strike fear in the heart of opponents. From were I sit it appears Chris Paul badly wanted out because it appears the Rockets are likely to not be much better than the Clippers.
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Basketball from a fans perspective
The plan all along
Once again I hope this is the last time for me. If you check out Wednesday's ESPN NBA and college basketball page you will note an interesting story. It's titled "How LaVar Ball trolled his way to the top" the story details how LaVar Ball came from virtually nowhere a year or so ago to succeed in receiving more tweets than his family members.
The NBA in China
I cannot do justice to this account only provide my view and what I've read. At the same time this is only a thumbnail sketch and is not reflective of a complete picture. NBA might be more popular in China than any other nation of the world except here. The question might be why and how? A number of Americans assume it is the Yao Ming factor however it goes far beyond him. History says the NBA took the game to China in 1979 the Bullets (Wizards) played games in Beijing and Shanghai which of course is long prior to Yao's arrival.
Chinese television CCTV televised all seven games of the 1994 NBA Championship the first time ever. The NBA has continued viewership through CCTV and satellite feeds throughout the country. Nowhere is Kobe Bryant more popular than in China, he's made several off-season trips there. A number of former NBA players have played in the Chinese Basketball Association including Stephon Marbury, Marbury has a statue erected in his honor. Injuries forced Yao Ming to retire in 2011 however that's had little impact on the growth of the game in China. The Rockets drafted Zhou Qi in 2016 and the 7-1 Zhou was added to the roster this year, will he become the next Yao?
Could it happen again?
A series of events allowed Michael Porter Jr. and younger brother Jontay to arrive at Mizzou rather than the original choice the University of Washington. We might have a repeat of that scenario based on somewhat similar events with Courtney Ramey. Ramey is a 6 foot point guard from Webster Groves (MO) and the number 39 prospect in Rivals Class of 2018 athletes.
Ramey committed to Louisville but once the Justice Department probe reached Louisville the youngster changed his mind and decided to open his recruitment again. The St. Louis area athlete and family met with St. Louis area head coach Cuonzo Martin and staff. Is Ramey headed to Mizzou you ask? Nothing official however don't be surprised if he winds up in Black and Gold, my question remains why couldn't Kim Anderson do the same i.e. recruit St. Louis metro kids?
Play in any era
It could be 1960 or 2017 there are a number of players I believe could play at any period of time. Michael Jordan comes to mind so does LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. We might include Dr. J. and Kareem, there are others I omitted not on purpose but just to give you an idea we might be discussing the best all-time. but you get the idea. Recently I read a list of best all-time NBA point guards and the majority I had no argument with them being included on the list. Truth be told I had no issue with any of the players named in the publication just the order they were placed. Russell Westbrook ranked higher than Gary Payton, how about Bob Cousy in the top 5? Does Kyrie Irving deserve space in an all-time, how about Steph Curry?
Probably haven't heard of them
Their names might be unfamiliar to you, Donald De La Haye UCF kicker and Ryan Trayhan Texas A&M cross country runner. Both got in trouble with the NCAA but not for the reasons you might suspect. Both were profiting off their YouTube videos, so I pose the question. These athletes were likely earning money but nowhere near the projected amount a Melo Ball could earn from a signature shoe. I can already see the future, "LaVar Ball come down heavy on the NCAA claims son Melo will play in China or Europe and then take his talent to the NBA."
The plan all along
Once again I hope this is the last time for me. If you check out Wednesday's ESPN NBA and college basketball page you will note an interesting story. It's titled "How LaVar Ball trolled his way to the top" the story details how LaVar Ball came from virtually nowhere a year or so ago to succeed in receiving more tweets than his family members.
The NBA in China
I cannot do justice to this account only provide my view and what I've read. At the same time this is only a thumbnail sketch and is not reflective of a complete picture. NBA might be more popular in China than any other nation of the world except here. The question might be why and how? A number of Americans assume it is the Yao Ming factor however it goes far beyond him. History says the NBA took the game to China in 1979 the Bullets (Wizards) played games in Beijing and Shanghai which of course is long prior to Yao's arrival.
Chinese television CCTV televised all seven games of the 1994 NBA Championship the first time ever. The NBA has continued viewership through CCTV and satellite feeds throughout the country. Nowhere is Kobe Bryant more popular than in China, he's made several off-season trips there. A number of former NBA players have played in the Chinese Basketball Association including Stephon Marbury, Marbury has a statue erected in his honor. Injuries forced Yao Ming to retire in 2011 however that's had little impact on the growth of the game in China. The Rockets drafted Zhou Qi in 2016 and the 7-1 Zhou was added to the roster this year, will he become the next Yao?
Could it happen again?
A series of events allowed Michael Porter Jr. and younger brother Jontay to arrive at Mizzou rather than the original choice the University of Washington. We might have a repeat of that scenario based on somewhat similar events with Courtney Ramey. Ramey is a 6 foot point guard from Webster Groves (MO) and the number 39 prospect in Rivals Class of 2018 athletes.
Ramey committed to Louisville but once the Justice Department probe reached Louisville the youngster changed his mind and decided to open his recruitment again. The St. Louis area athlete and family met with St. Louis area head coach Cuonzo Martin and staff. Is Ramey headed to Mizzou you ask? Nothing official however don't be surprised if he winds up in Black and Gold, my question remains why couldn't Kim Anderson do the same i.e. recruit St. Louis metro kids?
Play in any era
It could be 1960 or 2017 there are a number of players I believe could play at any period of time. Michael Jordan comes to mind so does LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. We might include Dr. J. and Kareem, there are others I omitted not on purpose but just to give you an idea we might be discussing the best all-time. but you get the idea. Recently I read a list of best all-time NBA point guards and the majority I had no argument with them being included on the list. Truth be told I had no issue with any of the players named in the publication just the order they were placed. Russell Westbrook ranked higher than Gary Payton, how about Bob Cousy in the top 5? Does Kyrie Irving deserve space in an all-time, how about Steph Curry?
Probably haven't heard of them
Their names might be unfamiliar to you, Donald De La Haye UCF kicker and Ryan Trayhan Texas A&M cross country runner. Both got in trouble with the NCAA but not for the reasons you might suspect. Both were profiting off their YouTube videos, so I pose the question. These athletes were likely earning money but nowhere near the projected amount a Melo Ball could earn from a signature shoe. I can already see the future, "LaVar Ball come down heavy on the NCAA claims son Melo will play in China or Europe and then take his talent to the NBA."
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