ESPN was in its infancy, the internet was a sparkle in Al Gore’s eye, the NBA was an afterthought or not thought of at all, and March had yet to go Mad. When March Went Mad by Seth Davis chronicles an important developmental era of basketball, and more specifically how its marketing and hype machine […]
Preview & Chat: Golden State Warriors
BREAKING NEWS: The Lakers have traded Chris Mihm to the Memphis Grizzlies for a second round pick. The move saves money for the Lakers — the rest of this year’s salary (he is making $2.5 million for the season) plus the full $2.5 against the luxury tax, which is calculated at the end of the […]
The Curious Career of Glen Rice
In 1989 Glen Rice entered the national basketball consciousness by scoring 31 points for the Michigan Wolverines in 1989 NCAA championship game. Rice and Rumeal Robinson would lead the Wolverines to an overtime victory of PJ Carlesimo’s Cinderella Seton Hall team. The shot was pure. The rim was a prop. The net’s movement, or lack […]
Preview and Chat: Toronto Raptors
The Raptors coming in… The Raps are off to a mediocre 8-7 start, 4-4 at home and 4-3 on the road. The are averaging 97.9 points per game while allowing 98.9 points against. The MVP chant… Love it or hate it: As the Staples faithful shower Kobe with the oft used serenade, early season speculation […]
Pete Newell: Basketball Royalty
The Guru, The Godfather, The Teacher… A hall-of-famer who coached teams to an NIT championship, NCAA Championship, and an Olympic gold medal, Pete Newell’s impact on the game we all love should come out of the shadows now that he has passed away. His first success would come coaching the USF Dons when he would […]
Length: An Organizational Philosophy
“The 6’8″ Jackson’s wingspan was so prodigious that Bill Fitch (Jackson’s coach at the University of North Dakota) would often have him show off to NBA scouts with something called “The Car Trick,” in which Jackson would sit in middle of the back seat of a 1950s Buick and open both doors simultaneously.” -Phil Jackson’s […]
Lakerology
In these days where the lobe of our brain that is all things Lakers is like a forlorn castaway on a desert island longing for a sip of fresh water, we can look back on some vids and articles that can fill in the time and simultaneously slake and whet our thirst for even a […]
Lakers I Miss: The Fabulous Forum
“Let there be a new NBA basketball champion ensconced in my fabulous new Fabulous Forum.” –Jack Kent Cooke A building that in its later years seemed dated and cavernous. The place where all the tired Laker fan stereotypes were born. The same ones that were trotted out once again during this years Finals. Fair weather […]
USA Passes Latest Test
Do you think you made other teams fear you with tonight’s performance? Kobe Bryant: “Maybe a little bit because everybody knows what a great team Spain is. I think we sent a pretty strong message tonight.” They did it with defense. This is a team that is not relying on the fact that it is […]
Forum Blue and Olympic Gold
The Original Dream Team: Wilma “La Gazzella Nera” Rudolph and Cassius Clay dominated the headlines when the Olympics returned to Rome. The men’s team that the US sent would be overshadowed by these dynamic characters, but included 10 players that would eventually spend time in the NBA. They would be led by a trio of […]