tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38776351343444274442024-02-08T08:28:00.348-08:00Marty Mac's WorldMarty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-24002828399928928592017-08-08T11:41:00.000-07:002017-08-08T11:43:34.969-07:00Top 50 black athletes poll worth a look. ... and a drink<br />
<br />
The first thought when reading The Undefeated’s announcement of the 50 Greatest Black Athletes was who came up with this list.<br />
<br />
Then I learned it was done via polls of more than 10,000 adults by Survey Monkey, an online survey development cloud-based software company in San Mateo, CA.<br />
<br />
Two questions were asked to garner a group of 200 athletes. Next it was pared to 60 and then 50. It’s the result of polls more than a list.<br />
<br />
Hmm, Monkey, huh?<br />
<br />
Then I thought back to the polling results that sent this country into a tailspin last November when I consistently read how there was no way Donald Trump could defeat Hillary Clinton.<br />
<br />
My perception, without a poll but the experience of living in America and yes, as an African-American, Trump very much had a chance to win. Yes, I believed there were enough frustrated and insecure white (and perhaps some Black and Latino) men who couldn’t see turning over the presidency to a woman. I didn't realize there were enough dumb women to vote for a man who'd openly disrespected them.<br />
<br />
Well, you see where we are today.<br />
<br />
Perhaps my next thought was why Gallup, the company long used as the U.S.’s polling staple, never has once called me or anyone I know. OK, this was an online poll. Most people have online capabilities, but this poll did miss a group of those who, 1) don’t go online and 2) won’t take the time to do any type of survey.<br />
<br />
How many times do you respond affirmatively when a company asks you to assess its performance in a brief after-call survey?<br />
<br />
The Undefeated and SurveyMonkey attempted to use data from the census bureau to best compile an accurate depiction of race, gender, age, education and geography from those polled.<br />
<br />
All of those factors are important in determining why people may have voted the way they did.<br />
<br />
The Undefeated took on a nearly impossible task in attempting to establish an accurate and legitimate order. There is little doubt no matter how close I am with 10 of my best and oldest friends, we’d all have different lists.<br />
<br />
Many of the same athletes, if not most, would be our lists, but the orders would be different. In some cases, the orders would be markedly different.<br />
<br />
Enough of the foreplay, I’ll get to The Undefeated/SurveyMonkey poll results. Michael Jordan was chosen as the greatest black athlete in terms of dominance (20%), societal impact (20%), inspiration (20%) and overall rating (40 %).<br />
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Muhammad Ali would have been my No.1, and knowing what I know from knowing MJ, I think he’d agree. I could be wrong, but Ali made it fashionable to be black when American society blatantly was telling us it wasn’t.<br />
<br />
Why do you think James Brown’s hit, “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud,” was so popular? It was like a black national anthem. It didn’t take the place of “Lift every voice and sing,” often referred to as the Negro national anthem, but Brown’s cut was the anthem of the streets.<br />
<br />
It’s important to check out the Undefeated/SurveyMonkey poll. The results lead ESPN’s sports page today. It’s beautifully laid out and the profiles of the top 50 are well-written by Justin Tinsley, Jerry Bembry and Aaron Dodson. I know Bembry well, and I believe Tinsley attended the alma mater, Hampton University (Institute). I don’t know Dodson.<br />
<br />
The poll definitely is worth a look-see, even though I have major disagreements with many rankings. I mean Roberto Clemente at No. 40, Bill Russell at No. 36, Jim Brown at No. 30, LeBron James at No. 29 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at No. 13 means I must shake my damn head. And that’s just to name a few.<br />
<br />
A case could be made for each of those five to be placed in the top 10.<br />
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However, it’ll be interesting to see the racial, gender and age breakdown of those polled. It only makes sense that Ali means more to me than to someone that may not have seen him fight or watched him endure the plight of living in racist society.<br />
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What's crazy is there is no Tiger Woods in the top 50. Sorry, Tiger, who may not roll with being black, but you are, blood. Now, where golfers are athletes can be debated as I've done before with Jordan. But Woods changed the face of an entire sport. I even watched when he played. He should be somewhere, perhaps No. 50, moreso for what he hasn't done than what he has.<br />
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-56036245277335281742016-06-04T07:30:00.002-07:002016-06-04T07:30:38.670-07:00Ali's soul and spirit will live forever<br />
<br />
If there are individual spirits that never die, even when the body is exhausted and cannot go on, Muhammad Ali’s is in the world’s upper echelon.<br />
<br />
Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Arthur Ashe were other international folk to similarly impact me.<br />
<br />
Certainly, there are others who partially shaped my thinking, feelings and direction, but Ali, Dr. King, Ashe and Mandela were so giving of themselves even a dope such as I had to recognize.<br />
<br />
Ashe and Ali, who died June 3 at 74, may have touched me deeper because of their sports affiliations, but in many ways these four black men from different areas, experiences and trials and tribulations are alive inside me.<br />
<br />
Like Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson, Ali reached the masses because of sports, but his true reach was incomparable to any who have the wherewithal and substance to feel.<br />
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Ali brought the noise to America at a time when - the world’s greatest super power, land of the free, home of the brave and all that BS - didn’t want to hear it. Refused to listen and attempted to suppress.<br />
<br />
As a black (yeah, we were just moving away from Negro and hadn’t yet gotten to African-American) child growing up in the 60s, I was trying to figure it out. Who was I, why was I and why does it seem as if a large portion of this country has an issue with me because of my skin color?<br />
<br />
A skin color I quickly realized many racists sought to incorporate into their own bodies. What was this Coppertone stuff for, anyway?<br />
<br />
I grew up in New York City and fell for the okey-doke. At one time, I believed people from the South were ‘country’ and ‘backwards’ and Northerners were more sophisticated and aware.<br />
<br />
Yep, I was that stupid. If nothing else, attending the predominantly black Hampton Institute (now University) in Virginia quickly opened my mind.<br />
<br />
But before then, I was smart enough to quickly realize this young, country, backwards Cassius Clay was something special to watch as a boxer. This was before I really started hearing from him and listening to him.<br />
<br />
Ali’s athletic gifts were beyond belief. His hand and foot speed, to me, were incomparable. Sure, my pops and others told me how fast Sugar Ray Robinson was, but Ali was 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. Robinson was a natural welter-middleweight at most.<br />
<br />
It’s funny now his footwork known as the ‘Ali Shuffle’ really was the ‘Clay Shuffle’ because he didn’t change his name to Muhammad Ali or his religion to Islam until 1964.<br />
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Ali’s black pride was so evident and real, it was impossible for me to ignore. I saw Ali and thought of James Brown’s song, “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.”<br />
<br />
I still do.<br />
<br />
It always was cool to be Ali, but never universally popular. He dealt with an overwhelmingly racist white American media. Many of these media members, I feel safe to say, had little interaction with black people or an inclination to open their minds to a black experience.<br />
<br />
In many ways, like the media didn’t understand who Clay was and how he became who he was, it’s impossible for me to understand how they saw his conversion to Islam and his linkage to a group then known as the ‘Black Muslims.’ Hell, my father, who was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army until the arrival of my sister, didn’t understand and refused to call Ali by his name until years later.<br />
<br />
He couldn’t understand how Ali could refuse induction into the Army or military. Joe Louis was in the Army and the Brown Bomber was his Ali. Louis was the man who sent blacks into Harlem’s streets for the inevitable party after listening on the radio to one of his victories.<br />
<br />
It was years later when my pops relented and began to give Ali the respect of calling him by his adopted name. However, that was after Ali lost his first fight to Joe Frazier and legendary New York Daily News cartoonist Bill Gallo depicted the man known as <br />
‘the Louisville Lip’ with his mouth zippered closed.<br />
<br />
My pops must have purchased 10 copies of that newspaper drawing and placed them all over the house for me to see.<br />
<br />
Ali’s ability to talk a good fight and then fight a better one likely never will be matched. Perhaps former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson had it like that, but I didn’t hear or see him. I lived with Ali’s experience.<br />
<br />
Many times Ali said he was not a saint and did and said things he regretted. He was human. He fashioned some of his braggadocio after wrestler Gorgeous George’s shtick. Ali admittedly took things too far during fight promotions with rival Frazier. He called Frazier and ‘Uncle Tom’ and compared him to a gorilla, unfair denigrations Frazier did not deserve.<br />
<br />
They were depictions one would expect to hear from a hurtful person designed to do just that to another. Ali would come to apologize to Frazier long afterwards, but the damage had been done to the pride-filled Philadelphia champion.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was lucky enough to meet Frazier in a Philadelphia Rite-Aid about 2:30 one morning and never have I been in contact with a nicer brother. Despite us both having a bit of buzz, or perhaps because of it, two strangers chopped it up in the drug store for a few moments talking boxing and more.<br />
<br />
I was fortunate enough to meet Ali briefly at a mosque while covering the release of Mike Tyson from the Indiana Youth Correction Center, a prison in Plainfield, Indiana. There merely was a shake of the hand and a ‘What’s happening, brother.’ But I felt and still feel that I’d been touched by greatness.<br />
<br />
I’d cried like a baby when Ali lost the first of three fights to Frazier. The only other time I remember crying behind a sports event was when Bill Mazeroski homered in the ninth to beat the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series.<br />
<br />
I didn’t know any better. I was 5. However, when Ali lost to Frazier in 1971, once again, I’d fallen for the okey-doke. It was as if Black America had lost even though two Black Americans had fought.<br />
<br />
Damn, that was 45 years ago.<br />
<br />
Ali remains an iconic figure, one whose place in time and indomitable character were so intertwined that he’ll never be matched. He was more than a superb boxer whose career had been unfairly been interrupted in what would have been his prime by a racist American power structure.<br />
<br />
I believe Ali wouldn’t have been defeated by Frazier had his career not been interrupted for 3 and a half years. The fight still would have been a monster, but I believe Ali’s speed and ability to evade punches then would have been combined with his strength and power to make him nearly unbeatable.<br />
<br />
He’d have lost at some point because everyone does. The day Floyd Mayweather truly thinks he was/is better than Ali, he should smack himself and beg for forgiveness.<br />
<br />
There was the relationship with broadcaster Howard Cosell that never will be matched. Cosell also stood strong aside with Ali during the years in which his career was take away. It was a time in which Cosell received little respect for his support of Ali. It was an unpopular approach, but one that at the time Ali needed and respected.<br />
<br />
I can’t think of Ali without thinking of one of my late friends, Ronaldo Heywood, who perhaps was the only person I’ve known who could do the Ali shuffle as well and as fast as Ali.<br />
<br />
To see Ali affected by Parkinson’s Disease was to realize how things and life can change for us all. Ali may have been the best athlete I’ve ever seen, yet it became difficult to see him robbed of his mobility.<br />
<br />
Ali’s simplicity – ‘I ain’t got no problem with them Viet Cong.’ He also said, “They ain’t never called me nigger.’<br />
<br />
His decision to stay away from the Vietnam War was founded in that simplicity. It makes so much sense it must have been too deep for many to comprehend.<br />
<br />
There’ll never be words supple enough to capture this man’s contribution to the world. However, I wish my man, the late Ralph Wiley, was here to break it down like none other.<br />
<br />
Rest In Peace, Ali. The body is gone, but the heart and soul will live forever.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-57855150437610698082015-11-13T14:12:00.002-08:002015-11-13T14:12:54.322-08:00Scotty Stirling: The 5-foot-7 (maybe) Giant<br />
I knew Scotty Stirling for more than 25 years, but only a couple of months ago when I went to visit him in a nearby nursing home, did I learn his given name, Gordon.<br />
<br />
“Gordon?” I thought, “Who knew?” <br />
<br />
Little did I know that visiting Gordon, as I kidded him, was the beginning of my education about Scotty Stirling, who at the age of 86 died Tuesday morning at UC Davis Medical Center.<br />
<br />
Stirling, who may have stood 5-foot-7 on a good day, nevertheless was a giant of versatility. As you read about him, feel comfortable that you are like the rest of us.<br />
<br />
If you live to be 100, you’ll never do as much as this humorous, witty, sarcastic and multi-talented man got in for a life’s work.<br />
<br />
Consider he was the general manager of the Oakland Raiders, the New York Knicks and the American Basketball Association’s Oakland Oaks. He was an assistant to the President of the Golden State Warriors and the NBA Vice President for basketball operations.<br />
<br />
For longtime NBA followers, he was Rod Thorn before Rod Thorn. Stirling joined the Kings organization and held a number of positions in the scouting department for more than 25 years.<br />
<br />
Stirling also was a newspaper reporter for the Oakland Tribune, at a time in which he’s credited for helping start fantasy football. He also had one of, if not, the first sports talk shows in the Bay Area.<br />
<br />
I was talking with Stirling one day during the World Series when a technical problem temporarily halted the game. Television briefly lost its feed and there was no means for the replay system for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
I remarked to Stirling it reminded me of the ‘Heidi game’ between the Raiders and New York. The Raiders scored two touchdowns in the final minute to overcome a 32-29 Jets lead. I watched that game in New York with my father, at least until the NBC telecast was halted and replaced by the television film, Heidi.<br />
<br />
I thought for a second and said to Stirling, ‘”You probably were at that game, huh?” Stirling said, “Yeah, I was doing color commentary on the radio with (the late and legendary) Bill King.”<br />
<br />
I’d never met anyone who was at the game, much less doing radio commentary.<br />
<br />
Sounds like he did quite a bit, huh? Well, here’s former Portland Trail Blazers and Kings scout Keith Drum to add an intriguing piece of the pie.<br />
<br />
“Scotty said he was in the military (Army) during the Korean War, but he never left the States,” Drum said. “His job was to accompany the bodies of those killed to their families.<br />
<br />
“So on one occasion he had to go to Louisiana and notify a family about their loved one’s death. He said he was very apprehensive about going. He didn’t know where he was going and what he was walking into.<br />
<br />
“He said he got there and didn’t know what to expect. He said the family was so nice and appreciative that he’d came personally with the body. They treated him so well he stayed for a couple of days.” <br />
<br />
Drum gave Stirling’s overall description of the job. “He said he cried almost every time he had to do it.”<br />
<br />
Drum told the story about how Stirling had to ‘babysit’ Hall of Fame wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff in order to allow Oakland to sign him and keep the NFL away when the league was battling the AFL for talent.<br />
<br />
Stirling was described as hard working and honest by former Kings Vice President Geoff Petrie.<br />
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“He used to cover the Maui Invitational and the pre-season college basketball matchups in Anchorage every year,” Petrie said. “He covered the summer league in Las Vegas and had his own seat. Everybody knew it was Scotty’s seat. It didn’t really matter because he always got there before everyone else anyhow.”<br />
<br />
Kings Broadcaster Jerry Reynolds said of Stirling, “I used to call him the Grand Puba. I’d kid him and say any young scout had to come by and kiss his ring if they really wanted to be a scout. He had his own seat because nobody else would be there to see every minute of every game.”<br />
<br />
Reynolds said of Stirling, “He was just a real pro who loved basketball. He had a really diverse background and always was happy to do what he did. Everybody can’t do that.”<br />
<br />
Stirling had the ability to appreciate life more so than most.<br />
<br />
Petrie said of Stirling, “The guy had a great run. Everybody only could wish to have such a run.”<br />
<br />
Stirling also found time to earn a B.S. from the University of San Francisco and an M.A. in Sports Management from Adelphi University in New York.<br />
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Stirling is survived by his wife Pam, sons Gordon, Donald and Kevin, Sister Helen Boak, brother Archie, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-78479066421913769472015-11-12T09:34:00.001-08:002015-11-12T09:34:09.317-08:00Kings, Cousins have work to do, but should be fun<br />
<br />
Man, I hope DeMarcus Cousins reads this. The Kings should e-mail it to his address. Tape a copy to his locker. Make sure his partner Andrew Rogers gets it to him. <br />
<br />
It’s just some real for his butt to read.<br />
<br />
It only was one game Wednesday night, between the Detroit Pistons and the Kings, but the pre-game tension was palpable.<br />
<br />
In the end, talk that Cousins and Coach George Karl hate each other might be true, but didn’t make a difference. Cousins scored a game-high 33 points and dropped four of five three-point attempts. Rudy Gay had a breakout 19-point first half on the way to 26 points.<br />
<br />
Add point guard Rajon Rondo’s 48-minute triple-double of 14 points, 11 rebound and 15 assist performance and there was a group of Kings that played its best defensive game of the season and led close from start to finish during a 101-92 victory<br />
<br />
Many of the folks who comprised the announced crowd of 17,317 at Sleep Train Arena were anxious. Those folks unknowingly felt just like former Kings center Vlade Divac, who doubles as Vice President and General Manager.<br />
<br />
“I’ve never felt better after one win,’ Divac said as he walked with fellow team executive Mike Bratz to the team’s locker room just after the breathe-easy victory.<br />
<br />
For once, the team he played a major role in assembling performed admirably. The drama that accompanied his crew on the court and the fans into the Arena mattered not for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
Certainly, it may soon matter again. Neither Karl nor Cousins spoke to the specifics that led the center to go off on his coach after Monday’s loss to San Antonio.<br />
<br />
I’d really like to know how a cat plays his first game in a week following an injury, makes five of 20 field-goal attempts, gets 15 free-throw attempts and then REPORTEDLY cusses out the coach.<br />
<br />
Say what? Much was made about it occurring in front of the team. Would it have been better if Cousins did behind closed doors in a room with Karl? No. He REPORTEDLY cussed out his coach. It’s not supposed to work like that in the NBA or any other business.<br />
<br />
In no business, should an employee be permitted to cuss out one of his bosses. In my opinion, those bosses shouldn’t be allowed to cuss out an employee.<br />
<br />
However, that’s not the real world. The NBA is a different version of the real world. Both sides have been known to release frustration upon each other. REPORTEDLY, Karl wanted to suspend Cousins for a couple of games and was not permitted to do. REPORTEDLY, Karl has attempted to trade Cousins. Yeah, if I ‘m Cousins, I’d forgive him for that, but never forget.<br />
<br />
Personally, I believe the coach should have been allowed to suspend his player as long as the collective bargaining agreement permits.<br />
<br />
The Kings didn’t refute reports that Cousins verbally boogied his way down cuss word alley against the coach. The Kings opted not to speak on it. Nevertheless, I’d like to know how it actually went down. To me, it seems like Cousins cussed out the entire team, not just Karl. Did any of the players say anything to his temporarily uncontrollable ass? <br />
<br />
Did the organization punish this 25-year-old, who REPOREDLY has cussed out at least three prior coaches? It damn sure should have.<br />
<br />
Yet, while watching the game, I noted I wouldn’t trade him. He could cuss me out everyday if that’s what floated his boat. But there would be repercussions.<br />
<br />
We’d be the NBA’s best conditioned squad because the team is running suicides every time he pulled disrespectful behavior. But that’s only if no player actually steps to Cousins and socks his big ass in the eye.<br />
<br />
He’s big as hell, but who knows if he actually can fight or even will fight? REPORTEDLY, he and former Kings forward Donte Greene threw hands, but I remain unconvinced. Homeboy may not have had a real fight since the fourth grade, for all I know.<br />
<br />
Now these thoughts were with me before Cousins included me last night. A simple “What’s up, Dawg,” from me turned into him saying, “I ain’t your dawg”, or something like that. I didn’t hear exactly what he said so I asked him what he said. He repeated it, I believe, with a few cuss words included.<br />
<br />
Cousins and I have cussed at each other before. Probably virtually every time we’ve spoken. One, because there’s no way his mouth could be a foul as mine. He’s too young to be on my level of cuss-ability. And yes, I made up that word, so what?<br />
<br />
So he talks trash to me and I talk trash to him. No biggie. I wrote a story on him for the Sacramento News and Review after he signed his current contract. Per normal, I didn’t write the headline, “$64 million-dollar baby.” <br />
<br />
Cousins’ big, sensitive ass, who I’m guessing did not read the entire story, soon thereafter told me he wasn’t (messing) with me anymore. Yeah, so what? I went more than year covering the Kings, seeing Olden Polynice every freakn day, and walking past each other. If someone doesn’t speak to me, I don’t speak to them. <br />
<br />
Cousins and I also went more than a year without speaking. Life goes on. I see him at a Sac High game one night and he walks up to me, extends his hand for some dap and laughs. We dap up and I say, “Oh, so you are (messing) me now?” We laughed again and that was that.<br />
<br />
Silly me, I thought we were good before he started talking garbage last night. He said some funny stuff as he often does and I said some funny stuff as I often do. Yes, most of it included cuss words and it was our customary conversation.<br />
<br />
Cousins wants to be a hard guy, but he isn’t. Like many big dudes, he can try to punk you. Still, he hasn’t realized I’m un-punkable. (That’s right I made up another word). He’s not going to scare me with words. He’s not going to whup my ass, 1) because he’s not stupid and 2) I’d take that whuppin because my family would be set forever.<br />
<br />
Cousins likely is unaware I’ve been dealing with Karl five years longer than the youngster has been alive. I’ve see Karl do things he may not even remember. I’ve seen Karl do things Cousins never could imagine. But just like Cousins is on the way to becoming a star (he’s not there yet), Karl, and his issues, is employed because he’s won 1,144 games.<br />
<br />
Cousins said before the season he was going to the NBA’s best big men. He has that ability. All he needs is consistency. The league’s best produce nightly, AND they lead their respective teams to victory.<br />
<br />
At 25, he’s not nearly a finished product and shouldn’t be. He’s not yet reached his prime. Yet, once he proclaimed that would be the best big, now it’s time to prove it. Part of that is leading. It’s a big part and Cousins needs to understand what that entails. <br />
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-49377783833958632632015-10-28T08:49:00.001-07:002015-10-28T08:49:41.496-07:00Kings are improved and we'll soon see how much<br />
It seems like it has taken a long time for the Kings Season Opener to get here, but really it’s just another opener.<br />
<br />
So that it is a remodeled squad playing its final season supported by a fan base filled with hope before moving into a sparkling new downtown arena will have nothing to do with tonight’s outcome against the Los Angeles Clippers at Sleep Train Arena.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is this is one game after which 81 will follow. And regardless of what anyone and everyone thinks and feels and think it knows, we must wait and see what this team becomes.<br />
<br />
No need to listen to me. Check out Coach George Karl, who by the way will start his first full season at the helm. He was asked if these Kings are similar to any of his previous squads.<br />
<br />
“It’s tough right now,” he said. “I think it’s a team whose personality is evolving. I’m hoping I’ve got enough of it where I can coach’em and win some games. I think 20 games into the season; we’re still going to be evolving. It’s gonna be fun. It’s gonna be fun to see (Rajon) Rondo and (Darren) Collison together.”<br />
<br />
Listening to Karl, and he and I go back to Golden State in 1986, can be very interesting. He usually tells you something more even when it is not the focal point of his comment. No doubt, the Kings you’ll see tonight likely won’t be the same crew a month or two months.<br />
<br />
It’s a team that first has to learn what IT is about before it can figure out how to get what it wants. Unquestionably, with nine players who weren’t on last season’s roster, the Kings must see how individuals react to certain situations and each other. Under game pressure, they may find their early thoughts were exactly right, totally wrong or somewhere in between.<br />
<br />
Yet, when Karl spoke of the Rondo-Collison combo, it likely means that pair, at least early, will get consistent time together. And it makes sense. Both are smart and athletic enough to make plays at each end of the floor, although neither is a prototypical shooting guard. The game always has been about making plays. Good teams make key plays to win games. Struggling teams make them to lose games.<br />
<br />
Karl sounded as if he believes it will be hard to keep Collison off the court.<br />
<br />
“I think people forget Darren Collison had a great year last year before he got hurt,” said Karl, who was named Kings coach 10 days after the guard began missing games with a core muscle injury. “He’s had probably the best camp of anybody. He had one bad game in Phoenix.”<br />
<br />
The coach said the team’s new personnel have changed the team’s personality changed.<br />
<br />
“Kosta (Koufos) and Marco Belinelli, Willie Cauley (Stein) add personality to a team that needed more personality,” he said. “And then you’ve got Rudy (Gay) and (DeMarcus Cousins), who I think are searching to be winners and all-stars. We need them to have the best years of their careers.<br />
<br />
Karl was asked if being winners and all-stars was something he has focused on with Cousins.<br />
<br />
“I’m not a big fan of all-stars,” Karl said. “I’m a big fan of winners. For me, the game of basketball is fun when you’re on a winning team. The best coach in basketball is a winning team. And losing is the exact opposite. Losing is heavy. Losing is frustrating (and) difficult. <br />
<br />
“I think Rudy and DeMarcus want to move on from what has been here the last three years and put it in a better place. I thought they had a little bit of a nightmarish year because of injuries and the way the flow of the season was last year. I’m hoping they can let that go and (kind of) start fresh and ready.” <br />
<br />
There is no doubt one of the keys to any success Sacramento has this season is the performance of Rondo.<br />
<br />
Monday I was part of a group of reporters interviewing Rondo after practice. It was the first time I’d spent any time speaking to and listening to him. It was enjoyable. The first impression is he’s smart enough to know how smart he is without telling you.<br />
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He’s a natural leader who understands the game. For a team that basically has been rudderless, Rondo is in a perfect position. It’ll be interesting to see if this team is mature enough to handle what he can bring.<br />
<br />
He was the point guard on the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics and the 2009 crew that lost to the L.A. Lakers in the Finals. Rondo knows winning and knows a team’s path to winning begins at the defensive end.<br />
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“I don’t think offense will be a problem,” the pass-first point guard said.” Obviously, you win championships with defensive stops. So our communication as a team has to get better. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to progress during the season and (start with) our transition defense running back.”<br />
<br />
Rondo wants his teammates to become more vocal, but said he likes where the team’s collective head is – now.<br />
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“I think we have a positive vibe. A lot of guys are pretty positive people. A lot of (them) are quiet as well, but for the most part we continue to encourage each other and play for one another.” <br />
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Rondo, who will turn 30 in February, is an unabashed motor-mouth. Cousins joked Tuesday Rondo talked so much sometimes he wants to tell him to shut up. The center added though Rondo’s constant talking is a good thing for the team.<br />
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“I talk the most on the team by far,” Rondo said. “I try to make it contagious and I’m trying to talk positive… (Keeping) after my teammates, letting guys know where they should be on the floor, both offensively and defensively. I’m trying to get big Cuz to talk because he’s the back line of our defense, him and Kosta. If we can continue (to talk) we’ll be a better team.”<br />
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Rondo said he feels fine after having his first training camp in two years. Gone are any remnants of a January 2013 ACL injury.<br />
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“I was 26 years old when I tore my knee up,” he said. “I’m 29, about to turn 30, so it was a while back and I don’t actually think about my knee.”<br />
<br />
Rondo was asked about his defensive abilities after the knee injury, among others.<br />
<br />
“I was a decent defensive player,” said the two-time first-team and two-time second team all defensive selection. “It was our (Boston) team concept. We were all for one another and if I can get our team to buy in and believe that, they are going to make me a better defensive player and vice versa.”<br />
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I have no idea how many wins the Kings will get this season. I’ll wait to see what the team looks like in good times and bad before projecting what it will become.<br />
<br />
The Kings clearly are more talented than last season’s edition. How that translates into wins and losses will be revealed. Barring major injury, I believe they’ll contend for a playoff berth. That’s saying a mouthful for a 29-win team last season.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-28947371190498691002015-10-09T07:27:00.002-07:002015-10-09T07:27:23.956-07:00Kings, Rondo use preseason as learning experience<br />
<br />
After watching NBA training camps and preseason games for more than 30 years, it remains a struggle to totally capture the true value of this annual exercise.<br />
<br />
Surely, the major goal for all teams, first and foremost is to survive with good health. The comes season preparation on both mental and physical levels. However, a breakdown of those goals are different for players and franchises.<br />
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Players want to find and develop a rhythm to their individual games, while coaches basically hope to find upon whom they can depend to perform in given situations. That can mean who will execute offensively and defensively. The preseason also provides opportunities to learn how close a team's off-season player projections are to the ability to perform in a given system.<br />
<br />
Thursday night at Sleep Train Arena, in the first of only two home preseason games, veteran Kings coach George Karl used 12 players in a 95-92 victory over the representatives of the San Antonio Spurs.<br />
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The Spurs were playing their first preseason game and were without Boris Diaw, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and coach Gregg Popovich. The players reportedly remained in San Antonio for rehabilitation and rest.<br />
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These guys must have had exemplary off seasons.<br />
<br />
Three games into the six-game preseason schedule, Karl likely knows to whom he'll turn in the regular season. He used 10 of those last night and also gave a little run to David (son of John) Stockton and Seth (brother of Stephen, son of Dell) Curry.<br />
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Given the option, Karl would take the performance levels of Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins, Darren Collison, Marco Belinelli right now. Each appears on schedule to provide consistent production.<br />
<br />
If point guard Rajon Rondo consistently provides anything close to the eight-point, eight-rebound, 10-assist, two-steal, 25-minute night he had Thursday, Karl and the organization will feel exceptionally well about paying him less than $10 million this season,<br />
<br />
Rondo is a natural playmaker and I'm interested in watching him on a nightly basis in part because of where he's been, what he's gone through and what has been said about him in the media.<br />
<br />
While covering the NBA since 1978, Rondo is the only player, much less an integral piece on a championship team, to my knowledge about whom it's been said he played selfishly to build his assist total. I didn't believe it then and don't believe it now.<br />
<br />
Rondo has a knack for getting to the basket and helping to create shots for players. His penetration draws defensive attention and his first thought is to pass to the open man.<br />
<br />
Rondo tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Jan. 25 in 2013. So we're talking less than two years since the surgery. Only now is he likely approaching whatever his peak physical condition will become.<br />
<br />
At his best, Rondo thrived on quickness and his ability to disrupt defensively. If he can approach that form, the Kings will have a steal.<br />
<br />
In the minds of many, Rondo must overcome last season's stink. He was traded to Dallas and then sent away from the Mavs after two playoff games and a beef with coach Rick Carlisle. I haven't yet spoken to Rondo about the situation, however, I'm not as high on the coach as most. I believe he's lacking in the player relation category.<br />
<br />
Like Rondo, many facets of the Kings must be developed and learned. The educational process should be quite enlightening one way or the other. <br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-19491729174047806812015-08-19T22:44:00.001-07:002015-08-19T23:36:11.675-07:00Twitter: A mind-altering experience<br />
<br />
The Twitter world has opened my eyes to people, places, scenarios and situations I could never have imagined.<br />
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It's a tremendous information tool I treasure after initially avoiding in-depth use like I would a viral infection. Now, it's one of the first sites I check daily. And that's after seriously only using it since late April.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the most revealing facet of Twitter has been an exposure to an amazingly passionate group of Sacramento Kings fans, whose mpact constantly shocks and surprises.<br />
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It may just have been my naivete or focus, rather than sheer blindness or stupidity. Yet, I was so unaware of the depth and involvement the community has with this team. And that's after covering the team 24/7 and virtually 10 months a year for more than 14 years.<br />
<br />
In retrospect, I admit I took for granted seeing ticket-holders in their seats when I entered what now is called Sleep Train Arena. It'll always will be Arco Arena in my mind. I knew folks were 'riding and dying' with the team's fortunes, but I had no idea of the true scope.<br />
<br />
I was fortunate enough to cover the team exclusively from 1992 thru 2005. I saw the Kings struggle, become competitive enough to make the playoffs, again fall by the wayside and then execute an amazing transformation into an NBA title contender before beginning a slide from which they've not yet recovered.<br />
<br />
There were three ownership changes, numerous coaching/player transactions and the legitimate possibility of franchise moves to Anaheim and Seattle. It's apparent the constant surrounding the Kings has been an undying, unyielding dedication and love. Yet, I again admit I truly hadn't felt the pulse of the fans until I committed to Twitter.<br />
<br />
It almost has been akin to a religious experience where I now can feel the passion and desire of the fans to see the Kings win a championship. I can feel the never-ending quest for national respect, as a franchise, as well as a city. The satisfaction derived from knowing a world-class entertainment center is being constructed in downtown Sacramento for their team is palpable.<br />
<br />
However, the most surprising and intriguing characteristic Twitter has uncovered is the number and intensity supplied by female fans. The knowledge, dedication and fire these ladies bring to the dance inspires smiles as well as a feeling of an unbelievable personal awakening and awareness.<br />
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This female fan group takes nary a backseat to any comparable faction of Kings fans. They are passionate and as defensive and protective as any group of males, if not more so. They possess a sensitivity born of a team, franchise and city that has withstood repeated body blows and still stands strong.<br />
<br />
They aggressively promote their belief the Kings finally are headed on a path to respectability with the ability to compete with the NBA's best. They refuse to listen to any position suggesting otherwise.<br />
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Once again, that stance results in a smile in my belief and confidence of a mind opened and exposed to new horizons. All this was a result of taking advantage of Twitter for more than merely alerting the masses of another blog written.<br />
<br />
So I thank Twitter for providing the vessel I have used to learn, touch and internalize emotion, commitment and passion I once missed, overlooked and took for granted. It will not happen again.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-45497145426927729712015-06-25T08:15:00.000-07:002015-06-25T08:15:04.089-07:00Kings must start at the beginning - Karl and BoogieWhen Kings front office personnel walk into the office today for the 2015 NBA draft - assuming they didn't sleep there Wednesday night - first on the list should be figuring out if they are building a team specifically designed to win as soon as possible?<br />
<br />
Or is this group attempting to build a team sustainable for the foreseeable future?<br />
<br />
The decision maker also is in question. Owner Vivek Ranadive says he has entrusted former Kings center Vlade Divac to run the show, but that hasn't seemed to be the case.<br />
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Ranedive, instead of deferring questions regarding the team's on-court future to Divac, has been in the forefront with comments regarding the questionable future of the team's best player, center DeMarcus (Boogie) Cousins.<br />
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Ranadive owns the team and can run it anyway he likes. However, he can't have it both ways if he wants the success he claims.<br />
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Any question pertaining to Cousins also includes coach George Karl and herein lies the rub. Whether it's Ranadive (and it shouldn't be) or Divac (which it should be, according to Ranadive's words) or a combination of the two, a decision has to be made ascertaining whether Karl and Cousins can successfully co-exist. And it needs to be made now, today, before the draft.<br />
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There have been reports all over the lot. Cousins wants to be traded. Cousins never publically has said he wants to be traded. To the contrary, he's always maintained he loves playing and living in Sacramento. His outstanding community commitments have echoed that stance.<br />
<br />
Yet, there is his agent Dan Fegan, a known attempted manipulator of a franchise's circumstances. Fegan is believed determined to get the Kings to trade Cousins, perhaps to the Los Angeles Lakers. Fegan also represents Dwight Howard and his Orlando-L.A.Houston circus trip should be remembered.<br />
<br />
Then there are reports Karl, who was hired Feb. 17, wants Cousins traded and has gone to the extent of talking to other players about it as well as talking to the front office to try to get it done. And that's despite knowing Ranadive has been totally against the trade concept.<br />
<br />
We have no idea if all or any of these reports are true. However, Ranadive and Divac, know. Unquestionably, this stuff didn't materialize out of the sky. Fegan and Karl have history.<br />
<br />
And just as the owner has said one thing and acted another, Cousins and his people seem to have done the same. Then throw Karl's espionage into the mix and it's little wonder the team's name should be 'The Confusion.'<br />
<br />
It was Karl who noted every player can be traded. And he's right. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earl Monroe, Oscar Robertson, just to name three Hall of Famers who were traded. Better players than Cousins have been traded.<br />
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It's also true some of the NBA's best coaches have been fired. Just last season, Karl became the team's third coach in four months. Better coaches than Karl has been fired. It could be argued the Kings can't fire yet another coach.<br />
<br />
Oh, yes they can. That is, if they have the heart to admit they believe they've made a mistake. Three or four, what's the big difference? There isn't one.<br />
<br />
If there is anyone who has seemed to hold the Kings hostage, it would be Karl. He has been here just four months, only has a three-year contract and allegedly already wants to trade the team's best player? What the hell was discussed before he was hired? Three years also is how long Cousins, 25 in August, is under contract. <br />
<br />
Once again, the Kings must put their feelings aside and make a cold-blooded decision about this pairing. The bottom line is getting it right. Nothing else matters. It's not about the spectre of the new arena, it's about getting it right in terms of directing their future.<br />
<br />
If they want to hitch their wagon to this combination being successful, then you don't trade Cousins, who might be the NBA's best center now.<br />
<br />
Or he could become the NBA's best center as soon as this season. He also has been the best player on a team that hasn't won jack in recent memory. There are observers who believe the Kings nor any other team can win with Cousins as a centerpiece, as its leader. He can be a difficult guy with whom to play.<br />
<br />
Yet last season, he averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds, and there aren't many players who have done that. And he's 25 in August. It figures he has not yet reached his prime.<br />
<br />
So if in fact, Divac is permitted to run the show, as Ranadive has said on the record, there is an amazing amount of pressure to get this right. Other executives are trying to figure out which player to draft. Divac has to determine what to do with his best player and his coach.<br />
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However, pressure is relative. Divac's family and friends have lived through what used to be war-torn Yugoslavia.<br />
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That's pressure. And then there is the draft. Good luck Vlade.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-76423526845154889132015-06-10T07:05:00.000-07:002015-06-10T12:30:32.116-07:00Warriors face nut-cutting timeIt's difficult to fathom the Cleveland Cavs doing what we've seen them do in the past week.<br />
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It's even more difficult to comprehend how the Golden State Warriors have performed. They had the NBA's best regular-season record and believed to have an incredible depth advantage. And that was before the Cavs lost all-star guard Kyrie Irving.<br />
<br />
However, that depth only counts and works when players are performing to their capabilities. And right now, I think only Leandro Barbosa, Andre Iquodala and David Lee are doing that.<br />
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Golden State is confused and dispirited. Starters Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and MVP Steph Curry are playing tentatively and amazingly at times appear hesitant to take shots they've taken and made all season.<br />
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Now they are facing the biggest game of their lives. Game 4 of the NBA Finals, trailing 2 games to 1. Coach Steve Kerr has preached how difficut it is to earn an NBA championship. Now his team should realize he wasn't just blowing smoke up their you-know-whats.<br />
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TI repeat. The Warriors are down two games to one. Moreover, they are playing from behind in each game and that's not an advantageous position.<br />
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Cleveland has tested the Warriors resolve and won. Now we get to see how much they have.<br />
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I was told last night by my boy Sean Cunningham of News 10, anytime you can quote former Sacramento Kings forward Lionel Simmons, it's a good thing.<br />
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Simmons' career was cut short by bad knees, but played with as much heart as anyone. He used to love describing tense, game-detrmining or in this case, series-determining situations as 'nut-cutting time.' Former Kings guard Randy Brown, now a Chicago Bulls executive, during their heyday used to bring them out yelling, 'What time is it?'<br />
<br />
Well, it's nut-cutting time and we'll see how Golden State responds. Cleveland knows well it has an opportunity to put its feet on the Warriors throats. Golden State is not facing a win or go home game Thursday night, but a loss takes away all wiggle room. The Warriors have to win just to climb out of a hole and give themselves a legitimate chance for victory.<br />
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We'll soon see what's up.<br />
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-59490934179209421572015-06-04T07:11:00.001-07:002015-06-04T07:11:21.123-07:00Golden State in seven, but keep your money in your pocket<br />
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I have no clue who will win the 2015 NBA Finals besides knowing it either will be the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers.<br />
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My prediction is Golden State in seven, which indicates how close a matchup I see.<br />
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I can guarantee it will be one of those two, but beyond that I see this best-of-seven series as a matchup between teams both equally capable of winning.<br />
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They'll do it differently, yet there are similarities with both teams relying on underrated defenses.<br />
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Both teams are star-led. Cleveland has LeBron James, who is as close to a superstar as there is in any sport. Golden State has Stephen Curry, this season's Most Valuable Player, and a guy I've touted over the past couple of months who deserves to be mentioned with James among the NBA's best.<br />
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In terms of game impact, Curry's mercurial offensive skills can take over a game as quickly as a mosquito's sting. Curry's handle combined with deep, deep and accurate shooting range can make him seem unstoppable at times.<br />
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His lone offensive weakness is a sometimes casual approach to making simple passes. And as good as he is, in Kyrie Irving, the Cavs have a guard similarly skilled. However, Irving has been hobbled by knee tendinitis and his availability for a potential seven-game series is questionable.<br />
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Being a New York City native and lover of handle, I believe these two are the NBA's best ballhandlers. Not only can they handle, they do it with a flair and cockiness that allow them to go where they are going exclusive of any single defender.<br />
<br />
However, then there is LeBron, whom at 6-8 and approximately 250 pounds, is as dazzling a ballhandler and perhaps the league's best passer. I rememberin 1967-68, the late Wilt Chamberlain decided he was going to lead the NBA in assists and then did so. Chamberlain didn't lead the league in assists per game, but finished ahead of Oscar Robertson in total assists.<br />
<br />
James, I believe, could pull off the same feat. It's amazing there is an entire generation of folks who never saw Magic Johnson live, but James is the closest thing to him. James is more scoring oriented, but I haven't seen Johnson's Lakers' teammates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or James Worthy lineup with LeBron.<br />
<br />
James, in any game, is capable of grabbing 15 rebounds or passing for 15 assists or scoring 35 points. I believe he nearly averaged a triple-double in the four-game sweep of the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.<br />
<br />
And as much as he physically dominates games, James' leadership qualities never have been more evident than this season. The Cavs, with the additions of Timofey Mosgov, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, are a team thrown together in this calendar year that has coalesced into a diverse and talented squad.<br />
<br />
Then there is the increased playing time for power forward-center Tristan Thompson because of the season-ending shoulder injury suffered by Kevin Love. Thompson has been a beast around the basket offensively and defensively. He provides many timely second chances for the Cavs. And we know how difficult those opportunities are to defend.<br />
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Not many folks can spell Matthew Dellavedova, but if they've been paying attention, this guy has brought feistiness, competitiveness and competence to the Cavs. Don't sleep James Jones, who comes off the bench and immediately hits three-pointers with accuracy.<br />
<br />
I'm not fixated on David Blatt, who is in his first season as an NBA coach. Coaches rarely win or lose series and rightly so. It's a players game and that's who will decide this deal.<br />
<br />
And it's Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, Andre Iquodala, Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli and even former all-star David Lee, who ultimately could determine the series outcome. I believe Golden State has the depth advantage.<br />
<br />
Thompson and Barnes have had stretches when they have disappeared, but also are capable <br />
of timely production. There's no reason to believe they'll be any different now.<br />
<br />
Green is Golden State's do-everything guy. In terms of getting underneath the skin, he's a bigger, darker more talented Dellavedova. Guys who play so hard they piss off opponents. Green is the heart of this team and his ability to defend, rebound, score and never back down will play a major role.<br />
<br />
Before it's all over we'll see Green on James, James on Curry and all types of intriguing individual matchups. Golden State coach Steve Kerr also is in his first season and brings a calming influence similar to Blatt's.<br />
<br />
I'm picking Golden State but I'm a little nervous about so many other observers believing Cleveland has no chance. I never trust reporters. If both teams perform at the levels that got them here, it'll be a great series that could include multiple games decided in the last minute.<br />
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Oh, yeah, about that money. I did find a sucker in my former roommate Derryl Zimmerman, who believes the Warriors will sweep. I'm putting up three bucks to his one that his anti-James feelings will cost him. A sweep I don't see. Thanks, Mr. Zimmerman, maybe I'll put that easy money towards a lottery ticke. If I win, you'll get your buck back with tremendous interest.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-22340942565629376432015-03-17T05:01:00.000-07:002015-03-17T05:04:07.930-07:00A Nigger experience<br />
It's 2:30 a.m. and finally, I have been compelled to write about the word Nigger.<br />
<br />
And in the spirit of the late, great way-way-way ahead of his time, comedian Richard Pryor, I say, "Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger."<br />
<br />
Now what? So what?<br />
<br />
I said it. I say it often. I grew up saying it in my St. Albans, Queens, N.Y. neighborhood. I said it at my predominantly black college, Hampton Institute, now Hampton University in Virginia.<br />
<br />
My friends said it, my family said it, and that's right, niggers in the parks in which I played basketball, baseball and football, said it,. too.<br />
<br />
As a black man, I never, ever, not once, you get it, freaked out or was offended by its use until it the topic of whether or not it should be used became news.<br />
<br />
What made me write this was a CNN discussion Monday night moderated by Don Lemon. The panelists were Ben Ferguson, a white man unbeknownst to me until about 15 minutes ago; Marc Hill, a black professor at Atlanta's Morehouse College, a predominantly black institution; and Trinidad Jame, a black rapper, whom I'd never heard before 15 minutes ago.<br />
<br />
I didn't see the CNN discussion, although I wanted to, but I was watching basketball, tending to our five dogs and searching the internet for jobs. I watched a clip on the CNN website and that four-minute segment was enough for me. I'm glad brother Hill and James were there to represent and combat the lunacy of Ferguson (the idiot, not the city).<br />
<br />
I'm so glad I didn't see the entire piece because less than two minutes of this so-called educated idiotic Ferguson would have so disappointed me.<br />
<br />
He had the audacity to say that James' of the word, Nigger (yeah I said it, so what?) was the reason the rapper was on the show. There are so many derogatory words I'd like to use to Ferguson (in these days and times an ironic name and geographic location), but I'll resist.<br />
<br />
I am so tired of white people saying the word, Nigger, should be dropped. In fact, there are some African-Americans who believe the word somehow should be removed from society's lexicon, as if it doesn't exist or never existed.<br />
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First of all, in my opinion, Mr. Ferguson (boy, it almost hurt to give this sucker that much respect), and those black people who want the word's existence deleted, the word Nigger never will disappear. So forget about that concept.<br />
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It's a part of black culture, and if my thinking is correct, African-American people never will let it die. For many of us, it's often a term of endearment. It's a word whose versatility allows it to be used in many contexts.<br />
<br />
I grew up, hearing people, including my late father, Chalmers McNeal, say, "That's my nigger." Even more times, he'd say to me, "You're always my horse, if you never win a race."<br />
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I've heard brothers say, "Nigger, if you don't quit fouling me, I'm gonna (sp) whip your ass."<br />
<br />
I had one prominant white NBA executive say to me, "what's up, Nig?"<br />
<br />
He surprised the hell out of me. Quickly, I said to the brother (you know, there are whites to whom we afford the love and respect calling them brothers, "What did you say? Where did you get that shit from?"<br />
<br />
He told me and he'd heard one of our friends often say it, and clearly he felt comfortable enough with me to say it. But I told him not to say it again. And he never did in that context, which initially was one of love.<br />
<br />
But the same brother, who grew up in a white, often racist neighborhood, but played mega-ball with blacks, recalled a conversation, as a young NBA player, he'd had with his father.<br />
<br />
I'm sure this wasn't the entire conversation, but his pops, whom I met before he died, said, "Bleep the Niggers."<br />
<br />
Basically his pops was saying, 'Forget all the dumb stuff, play your game and stop playing scared.'<br />
<br />
The names in that conversation aren't important, but if I used them, some knucklehead would use them against this brother.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of whites who never have spent any true significant time inside black society, so they have no concept of how we think, much less why we think what we think. Some, probably don't think we think. But ultimately I can't be concerned with that level of ignorance.<br />
<br />
I know it's there, but who has the time to go there?<br />
<br />
The fact is, as black folk, most of us probably know considerably more about whites than they do about us. Shoot, we had to climb mountains to get a damned month (Black History Month), and is it a coincidence that it's the year's shortest? Hell, if I know.<br />
<br />
But as Arsenio Hall used to say, it's one of those things that make you say, "Hmmm."<br />
<br />
I could write all day about race and the word Nigger (yeah, I said it.) I don't know about other black folk, but one of my first thoughts about white society and the word Nigger was, "Damn, you want to take the word away from us? What, as a race we haven't given up enough? Now you're snatching words? Kiss my ass. There are three words for you. You want those, too? They are all yours."<br />
<br />
It's important to realize, I grew up in the '60's and '70's. One of the first albums (for you young folk, DJ's use them to scratch and the discs were precursors to today's CD's)I bought in my life (1970) was by The Last Poets.<br />
<br />
It featured cuts such as, "When the revolution comes"; "New York, New York, the big apple"; "Wake up, Niggers"; "Run, Nigger"; "Niggers are scared of revolution"; "Black Thighs"; and On the Subway."<br />
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The Last Poets were rappers before the legendary Sugar Hill Gang. I was a music major, a vocal major who sang in Borough-Wide and All-City Chorus back in the day. At the same time I was listening to the spoken word, I was singing, listening and trying to play songs with music by Bach and Beethoven.<br />
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At the same time, I was reading newspapers distributed by the Black Panther Party and Muhammad Speaks, which was written by members of a group often called the 'Black Muslims.'<br />
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My high school, Andrew Jackson (now Campus Magnet) was undergoing a radical racial population shift. There were race riots and days off because of bomb threats supposedly made by a group called 'the Weathermen.' They were an offshoot of what was described as a radical group called Students for a Democratic America.<br />
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My exposures were diverse and unique. I had black friends like Bernard Kellam, Lennie Carlisle, the late Ronald Heyward, one of the best athletes and alto sax players I've ever seen and heard). Then were my friends friends like Seth Figman and David (Bobo) Berlinsky. There were days when I'd sport yarmulkes in solidarity with their Jewish heritage.<br />
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I had friends like Cardlin Martin and Michael Kornegay, who got caught up and used heroin, and Leon and Gregory Guthrie, whose pops moved the family from our block on 193rd Street in St. Albans to North Carolina, so they didn't caught up.<br />
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Cardlin Martin's father was a black man from St. Louis, who was another father figure for me, even though my pops was right there. Martin's mother was white, born in France, I believe and a sweet, sweet woman. I spent the night over their house on weekends almost as much as I lived at home.<br />
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Cardlin was confused as hell, but brighter than bright and was my Dr. Doolittle. The guy had a talent and love of animals and should have become a veterinarian. However, he has spent much of his life in prison. I don't know if he's dead or alive.<br />
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All of this to say, there are many experiences and exposures that shape us and make us who we are.<br />
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And if I want to call my friends, my Niggers, or my Niggas, that's what I'm gonna do. And nobody, certainly not this Ben Ferguson fraud or Ben Carson or Bennie and the Jets is going to change that. And whether it has 'ers' or 'as' or 'az' at the end doesn't mean a damned thing to me.<br />
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It's not the word, it is the feeling and the sentiment behind the word. Just like all the rest of the words.<br />
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And if I have one word of advice for white folk, don't ever call an African-American, Nigger.<br />
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That's our word, whether some people like it or not. Nigger, Nigger, Nigger, Nigger. Nigger.<br />
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Yeah I said it again. RIP Mr. Pryor.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-65407117880972770642015-02-08T11:04:00.001-08:002015-08-20T05:55:29.545-07:00Dean Smith: A great amongst greatnessWhen former University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith passed away Saturday night at the age of 83, the world lost a true legend.<br />
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Unquestionably, Smith was an innovative coach. His use of the four-corners offense was a stroke of genius made famous when Phil Ford handled the ball and used his quickness, speed and dribbling ability to terrorize defenses and create shots for teammates.<br />
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Smith’s teams were incredibly disciplined and just as classy. I can not remember the North Carolina team under Smith ever getting into a scrap with another team.<br />
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However, in the 60’s, blacks were ignored, overlooked, disrespected and refused opportunities to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC was a pillar of racism, but Smith would have none of it. It came honestly.<br />
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The New York Times reported Smith’s father, Alfred, put Paul Terry, a black player on the 1933-34 state championship winning high school team, even though Kansas state officials refused to allow Terry to play in the tournament.<br />
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Perhaps my first knowledge of Smith was his decision to make Charlie Scott, a kid from Harlem, who attended the prestigious New York City Stuyvesant High School before going to Laurinberg Prep in North Carolina, the first black scholarship player at North Carolina.<br />
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As a kid approaching his teenage years, it was impactful for me to see Scott, the lone African-American player dominating amongst a sea of whites. Scott was a star and helped lead the Tar Heels to a couple of Final Four appearances, but never truly received the accolades his play deserved. There was one season when Scott likely should have been the ACC player of the year, but lost out to John Roche, an excellent white player at South Carolina.<br />
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It wasn’t so much that Roche got the nod, but five writers refused to vote for Scott, clearly one of the country’s best players. It has been reported Smith, upon learning of the approach taken by the writers, went directly to them and chastised them for the bigotry that led to the decision and said such mentality had to change.<br />
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Now, that was approximately 50 years ago, so clearly Smith was ahead of his time. Smith, a couple years later recruited another star from New York, forward Bill Chamberlain, from Long Island Lutheran. There weren’t many black students at his high school, so he was somewhat prepared to be one of the few African-Americans in yet another situation.<br />
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Smith was fearless in his quest to lead North Carolina to NCAA prominence, so bringing Chamberlain into the fold helped made it comfortable for other coaches to recruit black players. Smith never proclaimed superiority of humanity. He only lived a level of sensitivity that few of us can approach.<br />
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I was fortunate enough to cover a few North Carolina games and Smith always was beyond respectful and accepting. The man was all class. While entering the predominantly white sports journalism field, it always became apparent to me, which coaches seemed to go out of their way to make a then neophyte reporter feel comfortable. The coaching names that came to mind early in my career were Georgetown’s John Thompson (who maybe not so coincidentally enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Smith), then Tulsa coach Nolan Richardson, former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca, TV commentator and former Seton Hall coach Bill Raftery and Smith.<br />
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Perhaps the most impressive testimonials were ones that weren’t intentionally provided. Conversations with former Smith players such as Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Kenny Smith and Adrian Dantley, who played on the Dean Smith-coached 1976 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team, revealed a warm, honest respectful reverence for a man who seemed to live life as only a champion would.<br />
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Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-28021443222480974472014-08-19T12:58:00.004-07:002014-08-19T12:58:58.018-07:00Kings take back seat to Ferguson
Aug. 19, 2014
I’m a firm believer that things happen the way they should when they should and really we have little to no control over how.
Monday, I spent much of the day working on a few things but mostly it seems as if at least an equal time was spent listening to folks explain how I needed to blog and why it was important for me to do so.
Different folks of different genders and backgrounds and careers and jobs with seemingly no common agendas as it pertained to me other than harassing me about blogging or communicating as the case may be.
So it was a day when Pierce Welch explained that he was going to an Oak Park outing under the name “Indivizible,” billed as an African-American assembly”. My man Brian Bedford had opened my eyes to the concept a couple of months ago, but I’d slept on attending until Monday.
When I decided to go, I was unaware the speaker would be author and entrepreneur John Hope Bryant, who grabbed the terms powerful, poignant and relevant and made them his when he touched the crowd at The Guild in Oak Park.
Nor did I know Mayor Johnson would bring in Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr., a pastor from Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Faifield. And I didn’t know Dr. Lea was Pierce Welch’s cousin. Welch and I were supposed to go to the gathering together but a communication gaffe prevented that from happening. And Welch didn’t know Dr. Lea would be there until Mayor Johnson introduced him.
When I approached the theatre, immediately I saw Mayor Johnson walking inside and then brother Larry Lee from the Sacramento Observer. Quickly, there was a feeling this would be a different night.
I’d already planned to blog about the Kings and how they’d made more than a few moves this summer I viewed as questionable. Omri Casspi’s name came to mind immediately.
Yet, the Kings quickly took a back seat on this night when topics such as Michael Brown and Ferguson, Mo., and the images of impact brought to mind by the words of Bryant and the pictures of CNN.
The situation in Ferguson is so overwhelming it is almost beyond belief. We have an unarmed 18-year-old with no previous record walking down the street during the late Saturday morning hours suddenly murdered by a policeman.
We come to find out the policeman is white, the 18-year-old is black and the town of Ferguson (which I’d never heard of before last week) is predominantly black, while the police force is predominantly white.
What roles any or all of those factors played in the situation’s outcome no one truly knows. We all can speculate. I just know the Ferguson deal became even more real when I was told that one of my son’s better friends currently is working on a house in the same neighborhood of the killing and the subsequent turmoil.
The fact that I was an 18-year-old African-American male and that my now 23-year-old African-American male son walks around the neighborhood going from point A to point B adds relevance to the story.
The fact my son’s friend who is working in Ferguson is white also clouds the situation because who knows how all of this is affecting him.
It makes me wonder if whites ever wonder or imagine what it is like to be black and vice versa.
Hands up – Don’t shoot.
I'd never heard the phrase before the past couple of weeks. However, I’ll never forget its significance.
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-41728838549973518312014-05-30T09:12:00.003-07:002014-05-30T09:12:38.927-07:00The night of Brandon Gonzales' lifeMay 30, 2014
Super middleweight Brandon Gonzales can't envision losing Saturday night against James DeGale. The fighters will meet in front of an expected crowd of 80,000 at London's Wembley Stadium on the undercard of an title fight between Carl Froch and George Groves.
Why would Gonzales (18-0-1, 11 KO's) consider losing? As his professional record attests, Gonzales never has experienced defeat. The winner of Gonzales-DeGale in the IBF World Super Middleweight title eliminator bout is expected to face the winner of Froch-Groves.
Gonzales, who lives in Sacramento and operates the Flawless Boxing and Fitness gym on T street in downtown Sacramento, has the opportunity against DeGale to put himself in line for a long-awaited title shot.
Boxing is one of the world's toughest professions. When boxers train and/or practice to improve in their craft, they can take punishment sparring on a daily basis. Few people go to work and put their bodies and faces on their line every day.
Gonzales spars with former Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, now viewed as one of the sport's best boxers. Gonzales is trained by Virgil Hunter, considered to be one of the world's best.
"I've been working with Virgil for the past three years and I've known him for almost a decade," Gonzales said. "I've always wanted to work with him but we couldn't work it out schedule-wise."
Gonzales said he and many others believed he defeated Thomas Oosthuizen in the one draw on his record. However, we all know boxing is a crazy sport where questionable scoring is prevalent.
Gonzales is considered the underdog when fighting in London against the hometown DeGale (18-1, 12 KO's). Gonzales switched promoters recently from Terry and Tommy Lane, the sons of longtime referee Mills Lane. Gonzales changed promoters to Gary Shaw and Antonio Leonard because he believed Shaw and Leonard could put him in position for a title shot.
And Saturday night in London, it will be on Gonzales' fists to take the next step toward a title with a victory over DeGale.
The Froch-Groves bout can be seen on HBO Saturday.
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-57299678999852373362013-12-11T11:13:00.001-08:002013-12-11T11:13:29.285-08:00Predicting the future is one of the most difficult things to do in sports. And that’s doing so with all types of information at hand.
So you look at the 2013-14 Sacramento Kings and recognize the team is undergoing a mini-makeover on the fly. Owner Vivek Ranadive, advisor Chris Mullin and general manager Pete D’Alessandro are attempting to remake the squad with quickness.
Mullin and D’Alessandro couldn’t bring in Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy, Aaron Gray and Derrick Williams without Ranadive’s resources and desire.
Just Monday night we saw the best Williams has to offer. He scored a career-high 31 points on 12 of 16 field-goal shooting (three of five from three-point range).
Moreover, Williams had a career-high five steals in a 35-minute performance during a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas, by the way, had won 15 of its previous 16 games against Sacramento.
Now it would be foolish for us to expect Williams to consistently perform at such a high level. However, the concept of combining the athleticism with that of Gay’s exceptional ability to run and jump looms as the mark of an entirely new type of Kings. Yes, as Ranadive says, a new-era Kings.
We’re talking about a first-year coach in Michael Malone with a relatively remade squad, including a key piece in Gay, who we’ve yet to see and it’s clear none of us, not even those running the joint, know what we’re about to see.
The easiest change to make was the insertion of Isaiah Thomas into the starting lineup. The five-foot-nine point guard clearly has the talent, will and skill to be a player of impact. Before the recent acquisitions, the Kings were in the position of needing Thomas to perform at an extremely high level merely for a chance at victory.
Thomas, as well as DeMarcus Cousins, appear in position to not feel they have to carry the weight of the world every game. The previously offense-challenged squad now has the potential to present threats at every starting position.
It’ll be interesting to see how well Gay ad Williams perform together. The new NBA doesn’t command the need for a prototypical power forward. Neither of them fit that mold, but both can qualify as “stretch fours (power forwards).
Look around the NBA. Virtually everything is wacky. The Kings (6-13) should not believe they are incapable of defeating any team. Yet, team-wide consistency, particularly at the defensive end, is what the Kings must establish.
One Western Conference coach said he believes Cousins in the league’s best center. And that’s in a league where few centers perform as centers as we once knew them.
The Kings will have to establish themselves the hard way. They are 4-8 at home. Following tonight’s home game against Utah, the Kings play seven of their next 10 games on the road. They’ll play those 10 games before the New Year.
The Kings front-office likely has not made its final personnel move, but the immediate future should be interesting.
It’s nice to see the Kings making moves that aren’t designed just to save a few bucks.
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-26247342593882140442012-11-09T10:22:00.003-08:002012-11-09T10:29:12.857-08:00Kings need to share the ball - NOW!
It’s early in the NBA season, but not too early to be embarrassed.
The Kings need to recognize right now they will not become winners playing like they are.
The Kings are 30th in assists with 15.6 per game. That’s last in the league. That’s embarrassing.
That statistic indicates a couple of factors.
The most glaring indicator is that the Kings stink at moving the ball and hitting the open man. Some, if not all of their coaches believe the players are playing selfishly.
Ranking last in assists suggests they don’t understand that sharing the ball is the gateway to offensive success, easier shot attempts, more pressure on opposing defenses.
Moreover, if the Kings want to have individual success, acclaim and respect, it will come by playing as a team.
Head coach Keith Smart points to the number of open shots his players are missing. There is a modicum of truth there.
However, too many of those shots are off balance or forced. These often are attempts that can be improved by exhibiting more patience and faith that the next man will make the shot.
Sacramento is tied with Detroit at 24th in scoring at 92.8. The Kings are 5th in field-goal attempts at 87.6 per game, but rank 25th in field-goal percentage at .411.
Hitting the open man is a selfless concept the Kings soon need to make part of their repertoire. It’s more contagious than the flu.
And it has to start with their primary scorers. DeMarcus Cousins, Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans are most prominent when it comes to forcing shots. Each consistently draws a lot of defensive attention and can make plays for others.
They have shown the ability and desire to do so. Now they do it more often.
And to say players are performing selfishly does not mean they are selfish. Yes, there is some of that, but to me it’s more of a sign, that they don’t see the big picture. They don’t truly trust their brothers.
Until they do, offensive mediocrity will be their calling card.
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-72246369998779283652012-11-07T11:39:00.001-08:002012-11-07T11:39:59.929-08:00Kings defend as team, play offense as individuals
Four games into the 2012-13 NBA season, we can at least say, the Kings are defending with unity, intent and focus.
It has been years – perhaps back to the 2002-03 team led by Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Bobby Jackson, Jimmy Jackson, Keon Clark and Scot Pollard – since we could look at Kings team and say they gave a freak about truly defending as a team.
However, head coach Keith Smart made defending the main priority for his squad. With the help of assistant coaches Alex English, Clifford Ray, Bobby Jackson and Jim Eyen, the Kings have begun to defend as a team.
That is the only way for an NBA team to have defensive success. Rarely does an individual slow a top scorer. NBA scorers are too good for that to happen on a nightly basis.
It’s always easy to pick out weaknesses. However, the Kings, at this early juncture, have shown the desire and dedication to limit penetration, the disease of all defenses...
The Kings have challenged a higher percentage of field-goal attempts. Their increased athleticism has led to the NBA’s lowest percentage of made three-pointers by their opponents.
Sacramento’s .defensive field-goal percentage against is second in the league. Before you say it’s just four games into the season, consider their percentage could be second to worst.
Only Indiana has scored more than 93 points and its 106 came during a double-overtime victory. The Kings are playing hard and that’s nothing at which to sneeze.
Now, all teams have strengths and weaknesses and struggles (see: Lakers and the Thunder. The Kings offense is ugly. Sacramento has yet to score 100 points.
Sacramento often has little ball movement, patience or creativity. Certainly, the ability to make shots would make things look better. But Sacramento’s poor shot selection leads to poor shooting.
Smart said the team has not yet worked consistently on its offense. Well, it would be even worse had this product been the effects of offensive focus.
Ultimately, teams, particularly those without a star to lead them, usually need to have five or six players scoring at a consistently high level. The Kings are no exception if they want nightly success.
Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-43282092472180347632012-03-30T17:08:00.006-07:002012-04-05T11:45:27.743-07:00On and off the Kings court, questions aboundOne by one, opposing teams come into Power Balance Arena (it is still Arco to me) with personnel believing Sacramento's new arena is a done deal.<br /><br />That's what reports would lead many folks to believe.<br /><br />I'm not one of those folks - yet. <br /><br />First, there is no construction underway on this new facility. That dirt turning would go a long way towards passing the eye test.<br /><br />Now, during this economic state, we've seen many a project start and then stop. So even the dirt flip wouldn't be the final step.<br /><br />Granted, the planned constuction has come a long way from one year ago when most signs pointed to the Kings moving to Southern California or somewhere else.<br /><br />So, things remain in a positive condition for a person like myself who believes a new facility will do wonders for downtown economic growth.<br /><br />There are no guarantees, of course, but virtually all recently built sports facilities have inspired financial growth in the surrounding neighborhood.<br /><br />Admittedly, I'm a cynic. Thst's fueled by 34 years in the journalism world with people telling untruths as part of their jobs.<br /><br />Yet, the major reason for my cynicism on this project are the numbers of entities/people with their hands in the facility stew.<br /><br />Mayor Kevin Johnson, the Sacramento City Council, the Maloof family, the AEG corporation that will operate the arena, NBA commissioner David Stern and perhaps, most importantly, their respective legal representatives.<br /><br />If it was just one entity putting up the cash and another responsible for construction and arena operation, there would be fewer potential obstacles.<br /><br />It's not like that here, though, and I still believe there are many egos to subjugate before this facility becomes reality.<br /><br />It'a clear trust is not running amuck between all parties concerned. It'll be interesting to see if these folk can get their collective heads together.<br /><br />And it wont be too long before Stern takes a more public, prominent role. Stern usually attempts to avoid embarrassment at all costs, particularly when it is pointed in his direction.<br /><br />Currently, embarrassment is circling Sacramento, the Maloofs and the NBA like a group of hungry buzzards.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-78415293990087508342012-03-22T08:34:00.007-07:002012-03-22T12:18:34.613-07:00There was none better than Lacy Banks - RIPWe lost a champion Wednesday when former Chicago Sun-Times writer Reverend Lacy J. Banks died.<br /><br />Banks, 68, battled prostate cancer, a brain tumor and heart disease over the past few years.<br /><br />However, nothing could steal his spirit. Not even the fact that few blacks covering sports, particularly major beats, when he hooked up with the Sun-Times in 1972.<br /><br />He'd greet you - everyone, that is - with a smile that clearly came from the joy in his heart.<br /><br />Banks was a minister, which separated him immediately from a heathen like myself.<br /><br />He never attempted to pressure me to look towards his beliefs. He could put down a persuasive argument on any subject, but rarely did he try to work me.<br /><br />That is, after the first time we met.<br /><br />That was way back. I'm guessing it was the 1986-87 NBA season. We were in the old Chicago Stadium, the arena that preceded the current-day United Center.<br /><br />I was covering the Dallas Mavericks while Rev. Banks was covering da Bulls.<br /><br />I believe it was the third quarter when this young dude - Michael Jordan - goes down with a sprained ankle and writhes around in pain on the floor.<br /><br />I was on deadline, which rapidly was approaching while MJ flopped on the court.<br /><br />So I say out loud to anyone who can hear, "Yo, I don't care who this dude is. Either help him on his feet or get him a stretcher and take his ass off the floor."<br /><br />Immediately, Reverend Banks says across the hockey press box where reporters sat for games, "My brother, my brother," speaking to me although we'd never met.<br /><br />"That brother laying on the court is the future of the NBA," Banks said of Jordan. "So let him lay there until he's ready to get up." <br /><br />It didn't make a difference to Banks that he didn't know me. He delivered his message with a smile.<br /><br />I'd been aware of Jordan's talents since before his freshman year at Carolina, thanks to Mark Gonzales, now covering the Chicago White Sox for the Tribune.<br /><br />So I knew he was a bad boy long before most, thanks to Gonzales, whom I'm sure remains a Carolina freak.<br /><br />However, Banks' portrayal of Jordan as "the future of league" couldn't have been more accurate.<br /><br />Remember, this was four seasons before the Bulls' first championship and long before observers began referring to Jordan as the greatest in NBA history.<br /><br />I recounted that story long time ago for Boston Herald reporter Steve Bulpett and every time we saw each other, including last Friday, Bulpett would say, 'Give me a little Lacy.' and I'd know what he meant.<br /><br />Just Tuesday, for some reason, I was telling the story in the company of NBA.com columnist Scott Howard-Cooper and Memphis Commercial-Appeal beat writer Ron Tillery.<br /><br />A day later, Brother Banks is gone.<br /><br />If I had it like that, I'd get a comment from Jordan. I'd love to hear his recollections. Banks actually watched him grow up, whether Jordan would admit or not.<br /><br />And when you cover a team daily, a reporter gets as close as a player lets him. Jordan used to love talking trash to Banks, perhaps if only to show he didn't just like to go at defenders.<br /><br />It was all love, if I can speak for MJ.<br /><br />I've been trying to think of someone who was more loved than Banks.<br /><br />I'm still thinking.<br /><br />Jordan's got his championships, but he's no more a champ than Reverend Lacy J. Banks ever was.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-25460229230947065242012-03-20T11:14:00.007-07:002012-03-20T15:27:12.438-07:00Ego, idiocy mar Mullin jersey retirement in OaktownHad to check out Monday night's Chris Mullin Golden State Warriors jersey retirement ceremony in Oakland.<br /><br />I've been watching the mercurial, soulful lefty since his pre-St. John's University days on jaunts through Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.<br /><br />And those experiences provided quite a few indelible memories.<br /><br />Yet, nothing prepared me for the amazingly, shocking, rude, disrespectful behavior exhibited by a large portion of the sellout crowd at Oracle Arena.<br /><br />Allegedly, those folks were there, in part, to celebrate the classy and determined excellence nightly displayed by Mullin.<br /><br />Instead, some morons used the occasion to boo Golden State majority owner Joe Lacob during the ceremony.<br /><br />Eventually, Mullin and former W's great Rick Barry had to come onto the floor and attempt to calm the restless natives.<br /><br />For a little perspective, back in the day, Mullin was playing in a tournament I was covering at New York's Madison Square Boys Club. His teammates were some of the best high-school hoopers had to offer. One was Easy Ed Pinckney, who went on to help engineer Villanova's 1985 national championship victory over highly-favored Georgetown and then an 11-year NBA career.<br /><br />Pinckney, now a Chicago Bulls assistant coach, along with Freddy Brown (later of Georgetown University) and a solid defensive small forward named Clarence Moss all played for the public school champion squad Stevenson.<br /><br />Mullin and Pinckney's squad was doing work, as usual, but throughout the game, Moss was engaged in conversation with some one in the stands. It didn't seem to be a big thing. During games in NYC (and many other locales at various venues, it's common place for people in the stands to talk trash.<br /><br />It's not common place to see Moss run up in the stands, deliver a karate kick to the body of the trash-talker. Moss came right back on the court and tried to keep hooping until the referees stopped him.<br /><br />It's still one of the funniest, most surprising things I've ever seen in life.<br /><br />Yet, the Oracle Boo Squad attacking Lacob was even more shocking because it came out of nowhere. Did the crowd boo because the Warriors last week traded Monta Ellis? Did they boo Lacob because upon buying the team he proclaimed they'd make the playoffs - this season?<br /><br />Did they boo because the Warriors have made just one playoff appearance in 18 seasons?<br /><br />Did they boo because they are idiots and didn't care that they were dogging Mullin's night more so than going at Lacob?<br /><br />The owner clearly is a bit egotistical and couldn't understand that he did his job by retiring the jersey. He should have just sat there.<br /><br />The Warriors main representative should have been Al Attles, who has been with the organization for 50 years.<br /><br />The organizers never should have allowed Lacob to take the floor, particularly not toward the end of the festivities.<br /><br />Shoot, they'd have been better off having me pump up Mullin. I covered the kid at his first press conference with the W's. I've been with him off and on throughout his adult life. I knew his late pops and moms, one of the world's sweetest ladies.<br /><br />I watched him hurt his knee in the first round in the 1991 upset of the San Antonio Spurs, miss the first game of the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers and then make something like his first 15 or 16 shots (nearly all jumpers) en route to a 41-point road performance.<br /><br />Golden State, unfortunately, will look back on the retirement ceremony remembering the portion that bombed so hard, Barry, who is in the Hard-To-Get-Along-With Hall of Fame, felt moved to come to Lacob's aid.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-29616877129653305522012-01-03T12:24:00.000-08:002012-01-03T16:16:14.480-08:00Cousins-Westphal combo needs Divorce CourtJan. 2, 2012<br /><br />If Kings coach Paul Westphal and his young center DeMarcus Cousins were married, it would be time for a divorce.<br /><br />Since they aren't married, maybe it's time for Cousins to be traded or Westphal to go - or both.<br /><br />Better players than Cousins have been traded and better coaches than Westphal have been fired.<br /><br />Clearly the grounds exist for a quick separation on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.<br /><br />Even Rodney King would agree, "We all can't get along."<br /><br />It's one thing to be in love with each other, but that doesn't mean you can live comfortably with each other.<br /><br />They've each basically accused each other of lying. Westphal said, in an unusual press release, that Cousins twice demanded to be traded. Cousins denies that.<br /><br />I found it interesting that the coach used the word, 'demanded', as opposed to 'requested' or 'asked.'<br /><br />Westphal knew that particular word usage would put Cousins, 21, in a terrible light. Now, if Westphal was being direct and accurate in his assessment of what Cousins said, so be it.<br /><br />Westphal says Cousins first said he wanted to be traded on Dec. 24. That day there should have been a meeting between management, Westphal, Cousins and his agent, John Greig.<br /><br />That's before the season's first game.<br /><br />I've been covering the NBA since 1978, 12 years before Cousins was born and six years after Westphal's rookie season with the Boston Celtics.<br /><br />I've seen two players (together) on a championship-contending team walk, not knowing a reporter was there, into a coach's office after a game and tell him they wanted to be traded to his team.<br /><br />Granted, the times of today have changed over the years. The NBA is comprised of much younger and lesser-prepared players.<br /><br />Cousins is legally an adult, but two years ago, homeboy was in high school. In terms of being capable of merging his physical and mental components, I dont' see it, yet. Nor should he be, considering his basketball inexperience.<br /><br />He's got to learn his craft during on-the-job training. And there is no way I believe Westphal knew what he really was in for when the Kings decided to draft Cousins.<br /><br />Cousins' inability to get along with some authority figures in high school, one year of college and one year of NBA action have been well-documented.<br /><br />Yet, Westphal has his own history with stubborn, forceful and talented performers as Gary Payton and former Kings guard Vernon Maxwell.<br /><br />During the past few days, it has been suggested the coach may be incapable of mentally reaching these young players of today.<br /><br />If that's true, it wouldn't be the first time. And not just for Westphal.<br /><br />Sometimes I feel incapable of truly reaching my son, two months younger and 14 inches shorter than Cousins.<br /><br />Kings President Geoff Petrie said Tuesday he wouldn't truly divulge every one of his thoughts when it was suggested the best move for all would be divorce court.<br /><br />"If I was to believe that or say that...," he said, "what we're trying to do is put this thing together and make it work."<br /><br />Greig, of course, is supportive of his client and said Tuesday Cousins has been unfairly singled out.<br /><br />The situation that led to Cousins missing Sunday evening's victory over New Orleans began after Saturday night's loss to the New York Knicks. The agent said Westphal called Cousins 'selfish' and said he was the team's problem.<br /><br />Clearly, Cousins is a problem, not 'the' problem.<br /><br />Cousins later went into the coach's office, Greig said, and asked Westphal why he singled him out.<br /><br />Greig said Westphal told Cousins, "I don't have time to talk to you about this."<br /><br />If all this is true, it speaks to why these two need to be separated permanently.<br /><br />And a Happy New Year to you.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-4069631887200316212011-12-26T12:26:00.000-08:002011-12-29T13:08:10.218-08:00Everyone has to wait to see who these Kings areDec. 28, 2011<br /><br />Predicting what to expect from the Sacramento Kings at this juncture of an abbreviated NBA season is a sucker's fantasy.<br /><br />An improved product is not too much to expect from a young, talented squad led by head coach Paul Westphal. The Kings finished the 2010-11 season with a 24-68 record for a .293 winning percentage.<br /><br />Westphal admits he doesn't know what to expect from his young squad. His assistant coaches say the team has worked and played hard, but how that translates to the regular season is an unknown.<br /><br />Initially, the Kings have to create an identity. Who are they? On what are they going to hang their hats? They talk of establishing a defensive focus, but that comes possession by possession, not sentence by sentence.<br /><br />Heading into tonight's home game against the Chicago Bulls, the Kings (1-1) have shown that improved defensive focus. Actually, the Kings scrambled offense againat Portland Tuesday night consistently put the defense into a trick bag.<br /><br />Certainly, the re-acquisition of veteran strongman and leader Chuck Hayes has helped.<br /><br />Hayes brings an understanding of the game's nuances. He has a willingness and know-how to do all the little things most young players will not.<br /><br />Kings center/forward DeMarcus Cousins said before Hayes had returned that the veteran had begun to support the defense by talking and helping the younger players recognize the need for improved communication.<br /><br />As much as defense represents an individual devotion to slow your personal assignment, ultimately it's about a team-wide ability and commitment to protect the basket and contest shots.<br /><br />Currently, the Kings have shown they'll play hard. Now, can a young team also play smart? One without the other breeds inconsistency.<br /><br />Westphal said Wednesday his team's offensive woes stemmed from a lack of patience and a failure to execute the offense's second and third options. It seems simple to move the ball from one side of the floor to other.<br /><br />However, teams, not only the Kings, consistently fall prey to defensive pressure early in the possession and quickly jack up shots. Good offenses make opposing defenses work to guard.<br /><br />Yes, the Kings are virtual neophytes, but back when Sacramento was hanging out atop the Western Conference and had one of the league's most potent offenses, former coach Rick Adelmsn's major lament was his team's offensive impatience and unwillingness to move the ball from side to side.<br /><br />That was a veteran crew known for its team-wide ball movement. Today's edition is exactly the opposite - young and without an established offensive presence.<br /><br />These Kings, like their predecessors, play without a traditional pass-first point guard. The two starting guards, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton, are more scorers than playmakers.<br /><br />However, more of the league's teams have gone that route in recent years. There is more than one way to run an offensive attack.<br /><br />In order for the Kings to quickly approach their potential, moving the ball to the open man must become an offensive staple. Everybody can get their shots - and good ones, at that - without selfish play.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-53054692894697481062011-12-20T11:05:00.000-08:002011-12-20T15:33:03.865-08:00It's more than preseason game at the No-Name ArenaDec. 20, 2011<br /><br />The Sacramento Kings meet the visiting Golden State Warriors tonight at the No-Name Arena, also formerly known as Arco Arena and never truly known as Power Balance Pavilion.<br /><br />Yet, the lone Kings' preseason home game likely will be different than any other. This will be the first time Kings fans return to the No-Name Arena since many of them left following the final home game of the 2010-11 season believing the franchise was headed to Anaheim.<br /><br />Thanks to the efforts of many, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, the City is attempting to land financing for the construction of a new downtown arena to house the Kings.<br /><br />That proposition remains a work in progress. However, the Kings are here for the moment and their fan base likely will be highly enthusiastic (read: wild as hell) for tonight's contest as well as next Monday's season and home opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.<br /><br />The Kings are attempting to fast-forward the compilation of their team in the midst of the makeshift post-lockout training camp and preseason.<br /><br />Sacramento's plans took a major hit this week when free-agent signee Chuck Hayes failed his physical due to a heart abnormality. The Kings subsequently voided his reported four-year/$21 million contract.<br /><br />Said President Geoff Petrie, "(Monday) morning, in one of the most heartbreaking moments of my professional or personal life, Chuck Hayes was notified that he failed his physical exam with the Sacramento Kings. Subsequent to that, the contract signed on Dec. 9 has been voided. At Chuck's request, we will have no further comment at this time."<br /><br />Management informed the team of the situation following Monday afternoon's practice. Coach Paul Westphal's eyes displayed the hurt he felt by the loss of more than just another player.<br /><br />Hayes, a beast of a man at 6-foot-6, 238 pounds, was expected to bring mental and physical toughness as he had for six seasons with the Houston Rockets. Hayes already had taken a leadership role during his brief time with the Kings.<br /><br />Westphal said, 'Hayes already had established himself as what you are looking for a man who would give everything of himself for the team and of himself.<br /><br />The Kings likely will pursue free-agent center Samuel Dalembert in hopes of having him rejoin the crew and provide support in the middle. Suffice to say acquiring Dalembert has become more important and costly with Hayes' inability to play.<br /><br />Most importantly, Hayes, who had signed the most lucrative deal of his career, now has neither the contract nor a job. Now, he has the questions of how to deal with the heart abnormality and an uncertain athletic future.<br /><br />All that in a week. Let's hope this serves as a massive lesson to a group of primarily young group of young Kings how fragile their careers and lives are.<br /><br />Most of the Kings are so young, they did not get the opportunity to play with former Kings shooter extraordinaire Peja Stojakovic.<br /><br />Stojakovic retired Monday primarily because of back and neck problems at 34. He'd still be, if healthy, the best shooter on most teams.<br /><br />Stojakovic answered his phone Monday and said, "I feel good physically and about my decision."<br /><br />He and his family are living in New Orleans, "because the kids really like the area and we're comfortable here."<br /><br />Stojakovic easily was one of the easiest guys to cover during my stints working the league. He was honest and always available for a comment. As a journalist, one can't ask for more.<br /><br />Jimmer Fredette looks capable of one day challenging Stojakovic, Eddie Johnson, Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson as one of the Kings' best shooters. What an immediate review of Fredette's game shows is a need to stop leaving his feet 35-to-40 from the basket.<br /><br />Fredette appears to be the real deal because of his shooting prowess, ballhandling and toughness. We'll see.<br /><br />Westphal said Monday rookie guards Fredette and Isaiah Thomas are two of the more heady players on the team.<br /><br />High praise for two players a week into their professional careers.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-29540310200057200402011-12-09T11:22:00.001-08:002011-12-09T11:35:41.067-08:00NBA Comissioner Stern goes too far: Time to goDec. 9, 2011<br /><br />NBA Commissioner David Stern’s ludicrous decision to veto Thursday’s three-team trade between New Orleans, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets is the most bodacious, outrageous, egotistical and ridiculous move in league’s history.<br /><br />It’s time for Stern to say goodbye. Retire. He’s always ruled with a heavy hand. He’s always been as close to a bully as a brilliant strategist. He’ll probably go down as the best league leader in professional sports.<br /><br />But for a New York City native, this smacks of stuff we’d hear about the Mafia. It’s like this the National Basketball Association of David Stern.<br /><br />It’s time to see and hear Stern say, “I was wrong.”<br /><br />This decision was so unfair in many different ways.All-Star point guard Chris Paul was slated to join the Lakers. L.A. would have sent all-star power forward Pau Gasol to Houston and valuable sixth man Lamar Odom was headed to New Orleans.<br /><br />The Hornets also would have received guard Kevin Martin, forward Luis Scola, guard Goran Dragic and a 2012 first-round draft choice Houston had acquired from the New York Knicks.<br /><br />The league said the trade was knocked down because of ‘basketball reasons.”<br /><br />Presumably, that’s opposed to volleyball or curling reasons. That’s it? Basketball reasons?<br /><br />No one knows what that means, but there have been perhaps 100(conservative estimate) worse trades consummated in the league’s history. Shoot, maybe since the turn of the century.<br /><br />Certainly, when the NBA last season took control of New Orleans franchise ownership, the potential for all types of trouble became possible.<br /><br />The Hornets then were placed into a different category than every other franchise.<br /><br />The details of that arrangement between the league and Hornets are unknown to the general public.<br /><br />Moreover, who knows who knows, if anyone knows.<br /><br />Hornets general manager Dell Demps seemed to have made a pro-emptive strike to prevent Paul, who can become a free-agent following this season, from opting out of his deal and leaving the team with no compensation.<br /><br />It would seem the league told Demps he couldn’t do his job and did so, after he did his job well.<br /><br />Looking forward, one wonders where David Stern’s iron fist stops. There were rumors that small-market owners applied pressure on Stern to crush the deal.<br /><br />So is Demps now incapable of making a trade with any team or just a team Stern and/or the other owners OK.<br /><br />Stern said Paul was more valuable in New Orleans. Stern omitted to mention to whom this increased value belongs.Stern has made enough money over the years to shut it down, say goodbye and look back at how the league has grown under his management.<br /><br />Yo, my man, let it go. It’s time.<br /><br />From this view, it appears he’s lost it. At least, back in the day, he’d have couched his decision with a real explanation.<br /><br />Basketball reasons?<br /><br />Really, Dave?Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877635134344427444.post-38873315301685281002011-07-08T12:46:00.000-07:002011-07-09T00:56:32.875-07:00Maddbacker Celebrity Basketball GameOne of the most difficult tasks in today's sports environment is putting together a celebrity basketball game.<br /><br />Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Adrian Ross continues to try to raise money for local Sacramento-area charity causes such as Shriners Hospital; The Center for Fathers and Families; Roberts Family Development Center and the True Grit Sports Academy.<br /><br />Ross, an Elk Grove High School graduate and San Jose native, is hosting his Maddbacker seventh celebrity contest July 9th at the Capital Christian Center beginning at 5 p.m.<br /><br />Tickets are $10 with all of the proceeds going towards helping the local charities and causes his Maddbacker Foundation supports.<br /><br />Quite naturally, Ross' NFL background suggests a heavily-weighted cast of hoopers from the football realm.<br /><br />NFL wide receivers and defensive backs often also performed at elite levels on the basketball court. Stevie Johnson of the Buffalo Bills and Lavelle Hawkins of the Tennessee Titans are expected to play as well as Arizona linebackers Joey Porter and Clark Haggans.<br /><br />Other NFLers who prepped in SacTown expected to display their hoop skills are Tampa Bay's Sammie Stroughter and Washington's Brandyn Thompson. Former NFL all-star running back Corey Dillon and offensive lineman Ephraim Salaam are slated to throw down.<br /><br />Ross said Miami Dolphins wide receiver Marlon Moore will enter the contest of the mindset to score 40 points. He'll also be going against former Florin High star and current filmaker/producer Deon Taylor and entertainers Rick Ross and BSmoove.<br /><br />Tickets can be purchased online at www.maddbackercelebritygame.com.Marty Mac's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185623245648827017noreply@blogger.com1