NBA
By Matthew Maurer
I recently watched NBA TV’s “NBA Game Time” hosted by Marc Fein and former
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Eric Snow with wife DeShawn
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Tyler Hansbrough may just be the most under appreciated player in the history of college basketball. But maybe it’s partly his own fault. He doesn’t have that jerk swagger with the "yeah I know I’m a star" grin, and athletically he lacks that one real play that defines him as a SportsCenter highlight. For Hansbrough his high point is battling through a barrage of bodies while keeping his balance for the and-one foul. And he’s white. I know, I know, race supposedly has nothing to do with basketball but in the minds of scouts and media I'm not so sure. How many times have you heard a white player complimented on his sheer "will" and how "he out works everyone"? People in the media, please, for the love of all that is right with the game stop using these tired clichés. If I was to take a drink every time an announcer or color commentator said these worn out words I'd have to be treated for alcohol poisoning. To further compound the issues some of the geniuses in the scouting world feel that Hansbrough doesn’t have first round talent. What games are you guys watching? Rafael Araujo, Kris Humphries, Julius Hodge and Shelden Williams are all draft busts that went in the top 20 of the first round, yet certain scouts project Hansbrough in the 20-25 range. How is this when the players mentioned did less? These scouts are lucky they live in the sports world where accountability is a non-factor or else they'd be in the unemployment line.
I have some old school games that I had the opportunity to watch over the holiday. 1991 UNLV versus Arkansas. Man, what a game. We're talking about nine NBA draft picks with seven of them in the first round! Arkansas was armed with Todd Day, Oliver Miller, Isaiah Morris, and Lee Mayberry. Mighty UNLV had Larry
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Anderson Hunt
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Getting back to the game, final score was 112-105, UNLV.
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Wayman Tisdale is the 12 year NBA veteran turned jazz music icon. His battle with cancer led to his recent partial leg amputation, but his encouraging, positive spirit shines through in his recent YouTube video message. View his draft history profile and visit his official website. (video may take a few seconds to load)
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By Mark Goldman
Anyone who contends that sports, and in particular, basketball, is not political is out of their mind. These blind purists must have been asleep when the Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony took place this past weekend. As I sat in my Lazy Boy man chair I tuned in to witness a host of greats get their due.
Two of the best centers in basketball history, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing. Check. NBA scoring guru Adrian Dantley. Check. Super coaches Pat Riley and Cathy Rush. Check. Innovator and world class Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson. Check. Annoying big mouth college basketball announcer Dick Vitale. Huh?
Dick Vitale. What in the hell is going on? Surely this must be wrong. As I halfway calmed myself down, I thought maybe it’s a typo or he’s there to present Bill Davidson (who once hired Vitale as a head coach before quickly firing him). This was my reaction because no Hall of Fame committee with half a brain would choose Dick Vitale over basketball greats Artis Gilmore, Chris Mullin, Bernard King and Don Nelson who are still waiting for their call. The only Hall of Fame Dick Vitale should be hallowed in is Duke's or the American Sportscaster Hall of Fame.
Vitale has been enshrined as a contributor to the game, which is a load of crap when you consider this title is also held by Bill Mokray, Pete Newell, John McLendon and James Naismith to name a few. Not only is Vitale not on par with past Inductees who have been deemed contributors, but his election raises more questions than answers.
For example, how is Howard Cosell not in the football or boxing Hall of Fame? He was every bit revered in his day, but the difference between the two is that Cosell, when he spoke, made sense even if you didn’t like what he had to say. Vitale on the other hand is like my 4 year-old grandson who screams and yells to gain attention. And when Vitale does gain my attention his trademark phrases, ”Awesome babeeey” and “PTPer” are comparable to my grandson’s world famous, “I farted”. But in the end I suppose it’s not really Vitale’s fault - it’s ours. We've allowed shady dealings to take place without action while forgotten players from our segregated and troubled past like Dick Barnett, Travis Grant, Bob Hopkins, and countless others from historically black colleges who will never be honored.
These fading legends don't have the backing of the powerhouse ESPN product, who showboat nationally recognized ex-coaches and players, to pitch for them. They have no friends in high places, like Coach K, to use their pull and influence. In the end those much deserving players will remain hardly noticed before disappearing forever. All while Dick Vitale is immortalized. Yeah, life is hard and mostly unfair, but the politics that gave Vitale a free pass into the Hall of Fame just plain SUCKS.
Anyone who contends that sports, and in particular, basketball, is not political is out of their mind. These blind purists must have been asleep when the Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony took place this past weekend. As I sat in my Lazy Boy man chair I tuned in to witness a host of greats get their due.
Two of the best centers in basketball history, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing. Check. NBA scoring guru Adrian Dantley. Check. Super coaches Pat Riley and Cathy Rush. Check. Innovator and world class Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson. Check. Annoying big mouth college basketball announcer Dick Vitale. Huh?
Dick Vitale. What in the hell is going on? Surely this must be wrong. As I halfway calmed myself down, I thought maybe it’s a typo or he’s there to present Bill Davidson (who once hired Vitale as a head coach before quickly firing him). This was my reaction because no Hall of Fame committee with half a brain would choose Dick Vitale over basketball greats Artis Gilmore, Chris Mullin, Bernard King and Don Nelson who are still waiting for their call. The only Hall of Fame Dick Vitale should be hallowed in is Duke's or the American Sportscaster Hall of Fame.
Vitale has been enshrined as a contributor to the game, which is a load of crap when you consider this title is also held by Bill Mokray, Pete Newell, John McLendon and James Naismith to name a few. Not only is Vitale not on par with past Inductees who have been deemed contributors, but his election raises more questions than answers.
For example, how is Howard Cosell not in the football or boxing Hall of Fame? He was every bit revered in his day, but the difference between the two is that Cosell, when he spoke, made sense even if you didn’t like what he had to say. Vitale on the other hand is like my 4 year-old grandson who screams and yells to gain attention. And when Vitale does gain my attention his trademark phrases, ”Awesome babeeey” and “PTPer” are comparable to my grandson’s world famous, “I farted”. But in the end I suppose it’s not really Vitale’s fault - it’s ours. We've allowed shady dealings to take place without action while forgotten players from our segregated and troubled past like Dick Barnett, Travis Grant, Bob Hopkins, and countless others from historically black colleges who will never be honored.
These fading legends don't have the backing of the powerhouse ESPN product, who showboat nationally recognized ex-coaches and players, to pitch for them. They have no friends in high places, like Coach K, to use their pull and influence. In the end those much deserving players will remain hardly noticed before disappearing forever. All while Dick Vitale is immortalized. Yeah, life is hard and mostly unfair, but the politics that gave Vitale a free pass into the Hall of Fame just plain SUCKS.
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- Written by Mark Goldman
The 2008 Men’s Basketball Team has received more hype and attention, arguably, than any U.S. Basketball Team since the 1992 “Dream Team”. This is because the 2008 roster has more big-name talent than the previous 2 incarnations; both of whom ended up performing below expectations. The 2000 team won Gold (barely), and the 2004 team memorably limped to the Bronze. The 2008 team is expected to win the Gold, and I believe this is for a good reason. While the 2008 team does not measure up to the 1992 team, which is perfectly understandable, it has much more in common with the 1996 team than it does the 2000 and 2004 teams. The 1996 team is certainly good company! It is virtually forgotten now, as it didn’t receive 10% of the hype of the 1992 team, but the ’96 team was nearly as dominant in its run to Olympic Gold. I plan on proving this by giving a brief synopsis of the previous Olympic teams, since 1992, to make it easier to compare those teams to this year’s squad.
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- Written by Matt Bertrand
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