tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61887498369300082402024-03-15T18:11:18.259-07:00Meschery's Musings on Sports, Literature and LifeTom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-71410035928170719542024-03-08T09:42:00.000-08:002024-03-08T09:42:53.078-08:00THE CORNER THREE<p>The regualar distance of the NBA three point line is 23.9 feet. The distance of the three point line in the corner in 22 feet, one foot and nine inches shorter and still it is valued as 3 points. First of all, this doesn't pass the fair test. Second of all, its existence seems contrived to increase scores. Thirdly, it is a position that is very dificult to guard, given the speed of the game today. Some defensive minded coaches say there are schemes to guard against the shot, but the analytics says differently. More threes are made from the corner than any other place behind the 3 point line. 42.5% makes from the corner compared to 34.9 from the wing three and 38.9 from straight on three. That's a heck of a distance and it provides players who normally might not make a three-point-shot from anywhere on the court the opportunity to call themselves three point shooters. </p><p>IN ADDITON, it makes the game BORING and FRUSTRATING. Furthermore, it damages something that was a very important part of defense as I learned in high school and college and during my years in the BBA: the importance of HELP D, particularly from the weakside. This deserves a quick explanation: players drive to the basket - do they ever these days <i>ad nauseum </i>knowing that the charging foul in the NBA is rarely called. Before the corner three, alert help D often prenvented the easy layup. The kick pass to a waiting wing? Of course, but the shot, if made, would only be valued as a deuce. </p><p>MR. SLILVER TEAR DOWN THAT THREE POINT CORNER SHOT!! </p><p><span style="color: initial;">Let's make the three point shot a REAL three point shot. </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">I would have to do more research, but I'm willing to bet anyone that I'll be able to come up with some names of players who can NOT make threes except from the corner. Why would players who can't make threes from 34.9 feet be rewarded for making corner baby threes? </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">And, perhaps, just maybe, the absence of the corner three will lower the number of head-long-dives into the paint and allow for coaches to strategize shots coming from different spots on the floor, maybe even from midrange, be it ever so humble. I say this with great admiration for DeMar DeRozan who's </span><span style="color: initial;"> made a living off the midrange jumper. </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">i kow so little about hockey, but I do admire the skils it takes to play Canada's national sport. Here's little poem about the game. Just for fun. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> WHY I NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY by Tom Meschery</o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s too fast. I can’t follow
the puck.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m cold even in this padded
uniform.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I feel like I’m in the North
Korean army<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and we’re invading the South,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">then the South is invading
us,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">then we’re back at it. We
will go on<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">like this forever invading
each other<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">on a field of ice. I feel as
if I have a cage<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">over my head. I am ten and
the ice<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">on the pond is cracking under
my skates.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m twenty in the NHL, and I
have no teeth.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: initial;"></span><p></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-85504623604452596312024-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:002024-02-22T09:32:10.198-08:00NBA ALL-STAR HANDSOME TEAM<p> In 2015, my wife Melanie Marchant and i were watching a Warriors' game. It was sometime in the fourth quarter and the game was close. I had to leave for a bathroom break. I told my wife to give me a running play by play account of what I was missing. This is how it sounded: "Steph is bringing the ball up the court; he' passes to Klay who passes to Draymond, Steph cuts off Draymond for a handoff and Harrison Barnes is looking very handsome tonight."</p><p>Melanie is an artist. Before I conviced her to retire, she taught art and art history at Sacrmento City College. She is an eclectic painter and can paint just about anyting from religious icons to landscapes. I am particularly fond of her portraits and there is no questtion she excels as a portrait painter. As I've often told her, she would have made a fortune back in the day when their was not photography. It is this special talent that draws her to examine faces. And as a huge NBA fan, it was only a matter of time until she came up with her favorite faces. </p><p>I tried to talk her into a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd team, but she believes keeping selections without tiers will allow for other portrait painter/NBA fans to subtract and add, which would make for better comments on my Blog. I won't argue with that. Arguing with my wife is usually wasting my breath anyway. She also wants me to explain that handsome can also mean cute or interesting. We're talking bone structure and things of that nature. And she wishes to express her apologies to the guys on the bench who don't play a lot that she hasn't seen, who could make the team had she the opportunity to see them properly. So here goes: Congratulation to all you handsome dudes. </p><p>STEPH CURRY HARRISON BARNES AARON GORDON </p><p>THE THOMPSON TWINS (Count as one face) VICTOR WEMBANYAMA</p><p>JALEN GREEN CHRIS PAUL BISMACK BIYOMBO MYLES TURNER</p><p>JOSH GIDDY DENI AVDIJA KEVIN LOVE TYRESE MAXEY</p><p>GUI SANTOS JEREMY SOCHAN RUI HACHIMURA DE'AARON FOX</p><p><br /></p><p> While the NBA season is starting its sprint to the finish line, I'm reminded that the NHL season is underway. I don't do hockey. I can't follow the puck. But I do admire the sport. And I did write a poem about it in my collection <i>Sweat: New and Selected Poems About Sports. </i></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><i> WHY I NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY By Tom Meschery</i></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">It’s too fast. I can’t follow
the puck.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I’m cold even in this padded
uniform.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I feel like I’m in the North
Korean army<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">and we’re invading the South,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">then the South is invading
us,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">then we’re back at it. We
will go on<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">like this forever invading
each other<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">on a field of ice. I feel as
if I have a cage<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">over my head. I am ten and
the ice<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">on the pond is cracking under
my skates.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I’m twenty in the NHL, and I
have no teeth.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span></i></div><p>
</p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-27062168362511547712024-02-19T08:39:00.000-08:002024-02-19T08:39:47.449-08:00All Star Weekend Ends Badly<p> The NBA must do something about the Sunday All Star Game, as in something that makes it interesting to fans and players. The scoring binge I watched disgusted last night was, in my opinion, the worst performance of many recent years of All Star Sunday performances. </p><p>That said, I completely understand the players refusal to play tough Defense. I believe fans understand this too. If not, they should. To risk hurting themselves in a game that has nothing to do with the regular season is stupid. There is plenty of wringing of hands over this problem. So, what's to be done? But before we tackle this question, let's look at the earlier events.</p><p>The Rising Stars Game on Friday night was okay because the players played enough Defense that the game did not turn into a shooting contest. Drives were somewhat contested. Guys shot with hands in their faces. I like the tournament approach. The final game looked like the teams wanted to win. The winners' celebration looked unscripted. A tournament format would not work for the Sunday All Star Game. If I were the NBA, I'd bring back the Old Timers Game to preface the Rising Stars game. It would be a nice contrast. From the way Rick Barry looks, I bet at close to 80, he still might be able to play some minutes. How about getting Reggie Miller back on the court. For a fun gimmick, how about an old timer vs a new timer free throw shooting contest? </p><p>Moving on to Saturday Night's Extravaganza:</p><p>The skills contest needs to be a more interesting tests of a players' handle, Dribbling around cones, taking layups? There needs to be something along the line of through the legs, spin passes. Look-away passes. Baseball passes full-court to cutters, Think Pistol Pete, White Chocolate. That said, Saturday's contests won the weekend award for most engaging and fun to watch. The Dunk Contest still needs the best NBA dunkers. Where was Jonathon Kuminga, for example. There are other high flyers that don't want to participate. The League needs to figure out how to make it more enticing. So, McClung saved the day. He was once again fabulous. He should be allowed to compete next year for a third try. I don't think other G League guys should be allowed to compete unless they have been signed to an actual NBA roster. The Steph vs Ionescu contest was brilliant. A WNBA vs NBA contest should be a future from now on. Also, how about a free throw shooting contest. Four standards at each end. Who can make the most free throws in a row without a miss. No time limit. Lots of tension as, say, two players have missed and drop out, two remaining shooting, the announcer counting. </p><p>Moving on to Sunday:</p><p>The NBA finally has to admit the Sunday's game is not really a game. There is NO DEFENSE, so it can't be called a competition. No one is competing. It is finally a test of offensive skills, windmill dunks included. Well, then, let's make it more of a strategic shooting test: 1) Create a 4 point line. 2) Create two 5 point boxes where the half-court line meets the sideline. Reduce layup and dunk points to one. How about a running hook shot for three points. Change the concept of Defense for the All Star Game from obstruction to distraction. Also, get back to the quarter point format. I can imagine players practicing running hook shots and five point shots during the summer. I can see coaches thinking about when best to take the five point shot or how best to utilize the layup or dunk as opposed to the higher valued shots. </p><p><span style="color: initial;">As is commonly heard in our conversations these days, "You see what I'm saying?" </span></p><p>Lots of talk these days about injuries and the NBA League's 65 game rule. Here's a old school poem about injuries:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Spit On It By Tom Meschery<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: initial; font-size: 16pt;">The first time he landed
wrong<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">he came up lame and wished
for a miracle<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">that never happened. All
season<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">he limped, but sucked it up
the way<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">the older boys said he must
to be a man<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">and not a pussy, a dictum he
carried<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">with him into other sports
and into life.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Today, he hears on television
that so and so<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">won’t play because of a
bruised knee<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">or a sore shoulder or ankle,
and he hears<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">his high school coach
yelling, “Spit on it!”<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">which never worked. Or did
it? He recalls<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">the passage from the Bible
where Jesus cures<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">blindness by mixing mud with
his saliva<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">and rubbing it into the blind
man’s eyes.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Scientists have proven saliva
contains<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">a healing agent called
histatin. As for mud,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">who knows? So, he does not
complain<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">that his knees throb or his
fingers<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">are arthritic, or raising his
right arm<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">causes him to grit his teeth.
He sucks it up,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">spits and rubs. He says it
seems to help.</span></div><p>
</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-43734208352798122212024-02-09T16:04:00.000-08:002024-02-19T08:45:43.837-08:00TRADE DEADLINE OVERThe trade deadline is over. The Big Dogs went early. So it's time to for a few over all comments. First of all, congratualations to the Warriors for for staying pat and not jumping the gun. With the return of Draymond (playing great at small-ball center and keeping his cool), the Dubs have figured out a solid Starting Five, which allows them all sorts of flexibility off the bench. Don't be surprised if the Warriors SURPRISE by the end of the season. <div><br /></div><div> I was also happy to see the Kings didn't make any big moves, but they should have signed Robin Lopez and waived Lim.I would have liked it if they had gone all in for Alex Caruso and in a pinch if not too costly, for Patrick Beverly. The Kings desperatly need a defensive PRESENCE, atpoint of attack. Caruso, apparently was not available and Beverly was.I guess a little iffy for the GM.
Speaking of Beverly, the Bucks were smart to pick him up. They were mired in defensive quick sand. Beverly is not just an attack dog. He's a decent all around guard, and he'll stir things up, that's for sure. He did it for the TWolves. </div><div><br /></div><div> I like 7 foot Olynyk going to Toronto. Canadian back home, but he is solid off the bench and will suprise the team with plus minutes when they need it.Another well coached Gonzaga player.
Suns helped themselves with Royce O'Neale. I'm still not a big fan of Beal. Nurkic is working out for the Suns. he's not a Jokic, but he's tough and can pass and the suns sure don't need scorers.
Another team that stood pat was Portland. Waiting until the end of the season to see where Grant and Brogdon shake out was smart.They did make a mistake acquiring Ayton who is I've heard is not very stable and a bit of a malcontent.
T</div><div><br /></div><div>he Knicks made a good trade after losing Randle and Annobye to injury. Bojan Bogdanovic shoots 41% from deepm which will help to keep the middle open for Brunson. Burke is solid off the bench and know's Tib's system.If DeVincenzp can keep up the shooting threes? I read Randle will be back. If he can regain his game in time for the playoff, the Knicks are my upset team to win the East
Tillman will help the Celtics.However, Tatum has got to show me he has playoff chops. Now, Brown, on the other hand, does. Cal guy.
The Bulls are a mess. They stood pat, probably for the best, but they have no plan that I can see. Every team in the league wants Caruso. Lavine's medical history makes him an iffy trade value.They have to find a direction. Questinable GM as a decision maker.
Rozier was alreay traded to the Heat by deadline and will help Spoelsta a lot come playoff time when the Heat start scaring the pants off teams. Might want to threaten him that if he doesn't play well, they'll send him back to the Hornets. That sould stoke his fire.
I"ve neveer liked "sylish" ball-handlers, that's why I've never been a big fan of Dennis Schroeder, but he is a good defender and will help the Nets. So smart to hold on to Mikal Bridges.
The West has to watch out for Dallas. The Mavs picked up PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, a 4 & a 5 with length and toughness. They had to give up Grant Williams, these two will give the Mavs a power game. </div><div><br /></div><div>Have you ever noticided how players like Doncic and Curry,the great deep shooters' shots always swish?
Big trade winner in my mind is the Detroit Pistons that have been operating on two cylinders. They dumped a bunch of players and completly shored up a woeful bench. Bench strenght is essential. Grimes will definately be a big plus for them. They'll miss Bojan, but you get nothing for nothing. Grimes was a good choice.They might start winning some game finally and will be tons better going into summeer with tradeable players.
Denver stood pat. Right now it's the Clippers and the Nuggets to win the West. Right now does not mean in April or May.The Clips lose either Kawhi or Paul George and they become vunlnerable Jokic will be only better come Playoff. He plays harder the closer he gets to a chance to get home tto his horses.
</div><div><br /></div><div>I had some computor problems and could not post the poem I wanted in honor of the 49ers Christian McCaffrey:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">McCaffrey (With apologies to T.S. Elliot)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="color: initial;">McCaffrey’s the running back</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who’s a mystery to none at all<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He breaks through any D line<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He keeps his fans in awe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He’s the bafflement of tacklers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Defensive coaches’ despair<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For when they look to find him<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">McCaffrey’s not there. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">McCaffrey, McCaffrey,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s no one like McCaffrey,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He breaks the rules of velocity<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His powers of misdirection<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Would make magicians stare<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For when the tacklers look for him<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">McCaffrey’s not there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Defenders seek him running<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or receiving, which is hardly rare<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But they are left with weeping<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Cause McCaffrey’s never there<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
Tom Meschery (49er fan)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
Golden State Warrior, #14 ret.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-58958723530113140272024-01-27T17:19:00.000-08:002024-01-27T17:19:04.917-08:00All Star Teams and Etc<p> This is the first time I can't vote for Steph Curry on my All Star starting five. He's great but struggling, most of it do through no fualt of his own but the lack of a fixed rotation and some of the floundering of players on the the Warriors so far this year. I do see some hope recently as Klay looks to be getting his 3 pts shot back and Jonathon Kuminga playing with more and more confidence. I sure wish Wiggins would get his game back, but it I see only glimpses of 2022. Anyway, it is certainly affecting Steph's game, which in turn will keep him for a starting Five in the West. I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way. So, below is my picks for starting Fives in the West and East:</p><p>WESTERN CONFERENCE: Doncic, Gelgious-Alexander, KD, Jokic, & Antoney Davis. </p><p>EASTERN VONFERENCE: Jalen Brunson, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embid and Antetokounmpo. </p><p><br /></p><p>With a note to say how ridiculous it is that Lillard was picked over Jalen Brunson. Noone who knows basketball would ever do that. Brunson turned the Knicks into a contender. He's as good a pure point guard as there is in the NBA today. This is why fans should not pick All Star teams. It's a love fest instead of a skill fest. </p><p>Watching the 76ers vs Nuggets game and wondering if there are some mind games being played, keeping Embid and Maxey out. Keep the Nuggets thinking to the Great game Emid had vs Jokic. Just wondering. Teams wouldn't do that would they? No? Really? </p><p>Question: Will Doc Rivers be able to get the Bucks back on track. Probably not unless he can find a super defender who can cover up for Damion Lillard's lack of Defensive chops. First the GM who made that God-Awful trade getting rid of one of the finest two-way guards in the NBA as well as losing a young, tough reserve two-way guard in Grayson Allen. Oh, I forgot, they gave up a first round draft choice too. Send the GM packing. </p><p>I think Justin Herbert is going to benefit having Jim Harbaugh as his Coach. A good move for Chargers. Jim Harbaugh is a bit eccentric, but he knows football and he's got energy and charisma, something the Chargers needed badly. </p><p>The 49ers should beat the Lions. Lions have already succeeded making up for the Piston's miserable season. Rumors are that the Pistons are going to trade James Wiseman. I continue to believe the young man could actually become a solid contributor to a team. He should have stayed in the G League for two full years before being allowed to play with the Big Dogs. He was a total baby and had to grow up. Wishing him the best if the trade happens or not. </p><p>No poem to end, but a literature suggestion. Watch this Podcast from Ireland. It is fabulous. And any short story writers out there, you will be particularly impressed by the story called "The Stone." I'm signing up for future podcasts of the Blind Boy. </p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://shows.acast.com/blindboy/episodes/the-lost-irish-tradition-of-lifting-heavy-stones&source=gmail&ust=1706489987096000&usg=AOvVaw0_MQAHMBZa6XmwAOvRt2sB" href="https://shows.acast.com/blindboy/episodes/the-lost-irish-tradition-of-lifting-heavy-stones" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/<wbr style="color: initial;"></wbr>blindboy/episodes/the-lost-<wbr style="color: initial;"></wbr>irish-tradition-of-lifting-<wbr style="color: initial;"></wbr>heavy-stones</a></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-89371245783184323042024-01-17T09:12:00.000-08:002024-01-17T09:12:27.243-08:00FOR THEY WERE JOLLY GOOD FELLOWS<p> The recent ugly loss to the Memphis Griz, lacking their star players, is now being hailed as The Demise of the Dub's Decade. One might have said the same thing the season after the '22 Warrior NBA Championship. <i>Do Not Weep for the Dubs, Argentina!</i> The Warriors have won Four (Count them, 4) NBA Championships since 2015. The Warriors' owners and fans were treated to a lot of great hoops. A new arena was built in San Francisco, bringing the team back to its roots, while remaining Golden. </p><p>As we look at the team right now, things appear pretty grim. It seems that we will have to leave The Dubs to their place in history and begin the process of building a new history. Allow me to humbly suggest that they not panic and start forcing trades before the February deadline. The way some of the tradeable guys are playing, they will never bring back the value the Warriors need to become a contender again. Right now, the Warriors need to start playing DEFENSE. They need to STOP MAKING TURNOVERS and they need to STOP TEAMS FROM GETIING SECOND SHOTS. These are not impossible goals, given that the season is not quite half over. If they accomplish these goals, the offense will flow as it flows historically and organically following energy and toughness. </p><p>Whatever happens by the end of the season will be the responsibility of the players and coaches, but at the end of the season, the Warriors must bite the bullet. Owners and GM must REBUILD. They have some young players that can become the nucleus for a new generation of Dubs. But they must be willing to let go of the past. I will always remember my old coach, Alex Hannum telling me: "Tom, you know I love your game, but I would trade you in a second if I thought it would make the team better." If I sign off my blog with this quote, call it cowardice because the Warriors MUST be willing to trade EVERY SINGLE PLAYER on the team in order to make the transition work for the future of the franchise. That's going to mean withstanding the slings and arrows and an arena of <i>BOOING</i> as the transition takes place. It will mean saying a fond farewell to iconic Warriors' faces. <i>Do not weep for them, Warriors' fans</i>. Their banners will hang in the rafters for you to see and remember with gratitude and joy for four (Count them, 4) NBA Championships in eight years and 7 (Count them, 7) Western Conference Championships.</p><p>I just sent this poem by Richard Hugo to Ron Adams, an assistant coach of the Warriors. He's in the poem and he approves this message.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">MISSOULA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard Hugo<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;">This summer, most friends out of town<br />And no wind playing flash and dazzle<br /> In the cottonwoods, music of the Clark Fork stale,<br />I’ve gone back to the old ways of defeat,<br />The softball field, familiar dust and thud,<br />pitchr winging dips and rises, and wives,<br />The beautifuful wies in the stand, basic, used,<br />Screeching runners home, infants unattended<br />In the dirt. A long triple sails into right center,<br />Two men on. Shouts from dugout, go, Ron, go.<br />Life is better run from. Distance to the fence,<br />Both foul lines and dead center, is displayed.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>I try to steal the tricky manager’s signs.<br />Is hit and run the pulling of the ear?<br />The ump gives pichers too much low inside.<br />Injustce? Fraud? Ancient problems focus<br />In the heat. Bad hop on routine grounder.<br />Close play missed by the team you want to win.<br />Players from first game, high on beer,<br />Ride players in the field. Their laughter<br /> Falls short of the wall. Under lights, the moths<br />Are momentary stars, and wives, the beautiful wives,<br />In the stands now take the interest they once feigned,<br />Oh, long ago, their marriage just begun, years<br />Of helping husbands feel important just begun,<br />The srimping, the anger brought home evenings<br /> From degrading jobs. This poem goes out to them.<br />Is steal-of-home the touching of he heart?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Last pich. A soft fly. A can of corn<br />The players say. Routine, like morning,<br />Like the week. They shake hands on the mound,<br />Nice grab on that shot to left. Good game, Good game.<br />Dust rotates in their headlight beams.<br />The wives, the beautiful wives are with their men.<br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<br /><p></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-71299222046710860502023-12-19T11:50:00.000-08:002023-12-19T11:50:22.950-08:00DREADING BLOGGING ABOUT DRAYMOND<p> It was at the Warriors' Parade following their first NBA Championship in 2015, at a gathering of players and fans, that I told Draymond Green how much I appreciated his game, that what he was doing for the team, the D, the hustle points, the boards, the passing, reminded me of what I was asked to do for the Warriors when I played in the Sixties. Draymond's super-star was and still is Steph Curry; mine was Rick Barry. We deferred to them. We found other ways to help the team. </p><p>Draymond's reaction to my praise was polite. He might have known who I was, but then again. . . My jersey hangs in the rafters of Chase Center. The Warriors are home to me in The City--where I grew up. In retirement I've become a fan. These Dubs have made my old age sparkle. I identifed with Draymond. I did, even when he foolishly fell for Lebron's disrespectful <i>walk-over</i> and struck Lebron in the cajónes. That spontaneous move cost the Warriors the Championship and the historical achievement of four NBA Championships in a row. </p><p>I cut Draymond slack for that because as a young player I might very well have done the same thing. Since then, I have cut Draymond Green a lot of slack for his emotional outbursts, tech fouls and suspensions because, yes, Meschery might have done the same thing. I led the league a couple of times in personal fouls and got into a number of on-court brawls. I even tried punching Wilt Chamberlain once, much to the humor of the fans watching at my flailing attempts that never quite reached Wilt's jaw. </p><p><span style="color: initial;">Basketball was a different game back then. Fights or thrown elbows, or close-line takedowns on drives were often overlooked. </span><i style="color: initial;">Suck it up, get back in the game, or put up your fists and get it on.</i><span style="color: initial;"> The fines were miniscule. Worth every penny if I landed a good one on Clyde Lovelette. Today, the way players fly through the air, the NBA is absolutely right enforcing flagrant fouls, with huge fines and suspensions. Players dropping from such heights could die. </span></p><p>I use the examples of the "old days" because Coach Kerr alluded to them, comparing Draymond's actions on the court in the early stages of his career to no more than what went on for most of the pre-21st century NBA. I get it, and I suspect any NBA coach who played or coached back then understands what Steve Kerr was talking about. In those days, before the league suspended a player, a terrible foul had to be committed.. I'm thinking of the punch suffered by Rudy Tomjanovich that shattered his face. </p><p>For the league, and particularly Joe Dumars (A member of the most notorious PISTONS' "Bad Boys") to state that the accumulations of bad behavior is at the root of Draymond's recent suspensions is HYPOCRITICAL. That said, this current, particular lengthy suspension is based on Draymond's past action; not the past-perfect ones, but the ones that began with him punching his teammate Jordan Poole in practice, followed by the "Stomp," the "Chokehold" and finally the whirling backhand punch to Nurkic's head. </p><p>It would be fair to say that all the earlier violence prior to "The Punch" were symptoms of a progressive increase in violence. Fair, but that was not my experience. Like Draymond, I was called upon to be the "enforcer." But unlike Draymond, there was a limit to my aggression, as there were to the aggression of other so called "enforcers." </p><p>Unfortunately, Draymond's lack of control is, to my way of thinking, a sign of a serious anger-management problem, one that as a retired teacher I saw plenty of teaching high school. Sadly, for the Warriors, it is my experience there is only one way to treat such behavior and that is as mental illness. </p><p>Draymond needs long-term counseling. The length of that counseling must be determined by professionals, not by the team. The Warriors may have to lose Draymond for this season. For his own welfare, and I dare say for their own. In the state Draymond is today, he is no value to the team. Allowing him to play after only a brief suspension with lack of adequate counseling, Draymond will only cause more team chaos. It is sad and at the same time, it is the reality. </p><p>For my closing poem, here is a Haiku.</p><p><i>ROOKIE TROUGH THE WINDOW</i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>On a branch, two Crows<br />Outside seated on a branch <br />Watching him practice. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> Tom Meschery<br /></i> </div>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-26981893877533067682023-12-08T08:16:00.000-08:002023-12-08T08:16:27.781-08:00COURTS OF MANY COLORS<p> With apologies to the Old Testament, the NBA has managed to bring forward the Biblical story to the 21st century in spades. Then added glimmer and shimmer and primary colors and in the process made seeing the basketball on TV nearly impossible. And as one fan at the Lakers/Pelicans game in Las Vegas put it, I was there to watch players, but some of those wonderful moves had to compete with the damn court. </p><p>What is the answer? It seems obvious.</p><p>Aside from the awful courts, the tournament was a resounding success. It brought life to the early part of the NBA season, which has been, except for dedicated hoop nerds, the ho-hum part of the season when teams are trying to figure things out. </p><p>Out of this tournament came a surprisingly interesting Finals matchup: The Big Market Los Angeles Lakers vs the Small Market,<span color="initial"> Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are led by a young upcoming Super Star, Tyreese Haliburton, and the Lakers will, of course, be led by the "Old" Mega Super Star Lebron James. Let's hope that the NBA League has the foresight to promote this market matchup. And not feel sorry for themselves that it was not Antetokounmpo vs James. </span></p><p>Speaking of Tyreese Haliburton, he is one of the most unique players I've seen come into the NBA in a long time, a true point guard who dishes out double digit assists and also scores and plays defense. This is Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson territory. I wonder if the Kings fans will forever wonder what the best duo would have been: Sabonis/Fox or Sabonis/Halliburton? </p><p>I don't mean to leave on a negative note, but does anyone object to the double screen while watching players shoot freethrows on TV, that the NBA gives the larger screen to the commercial and the small screen to the player shooting? I'm getting pretty darn sick of all the advertising on TV interfering with content. I understand the league needs the ads to pay for the content, but do we have to be constantly reminded to bow at the altar of consumerism? </p><p>Here's a poem to make up for my last littel rant. Morton Marcus was my mentor poet and coached high school basketball in San Francisco in the '60s. His memorial annual poetry reading was just held in Santa Cruz in November. </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A Literary Memoir<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Morton Marcus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: initial; font-size: 12pt;">Is this where poetry starts,
Mort,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">with a jab and a right cross,
uncle<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">in your corner, trainer and
cut-man,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jewish Mafia gunned down,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and all the intervening year<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">you tell me about fighting
with words?<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Some wins, some draws, few
losses<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">but enough to cost you
friends and family.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have no problem seeing you
in the ring,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a welter weight with quick
hands,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">jabs that keep your opponents
off balance,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">no dancing, moving straight
forward,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">accepting two punches for
one,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">what you believe it takes to
write.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You got to get bloody, you
say.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We are sitting together a
month<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">before your death. We have
done this before<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">talking late about sports and
poetry,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">sometimes forgetting there’s
a difference,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">your punches, my hook shots,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a game I played that you
admired,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a poem you wrote that knocked
me out.</span></div>
<br /><p></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-92145953853116610752023-11-18T11:46:00.000-08:002023-11-18T11:46:00.355-08:00<p> CLUES SO FAR</p><p>No question that it's too early to make definitive predication except which teams will be at the top and which team will be at the bottom. <i>The Athletic</i>, a truly dandy source for sports, has said it all, so I'm not going to rehash the obvious Celtics/Nugget etc. </p><p>What comes to mind this early? <b>The Tournamen</b>t. Fans are all over the place on this topic, ranging from <i>Who Cares</i> to <i>Wow!</i> The airplane landing stipes motif down the middle of the court is well done. As I said to a lot of friends and commented on <i>The Athletic</i>, the dark colors are difficult for TV viewers because it is hard to see the ball well, so it becomes a distraction. This is an easy fix: all teams use pastels as some already have. The NBA needed something to pump up interest in the early part of the season and going to the soccer tradition of tournaments was a good idea. Fans need to give it some time to get used to until it too, like soccer, becomes a tradition. One idea the NBA should consider to up the competitiveness is redesign the uniforms by state, instead of team city by team city, ie: California Clippers; California Warriors, etc. And add another bunch of money to sponsor each winning states Civic Education, God knows we need emphasis in this area the way things are in today's anti-Democracy climate. Imagine the championship in Vegas being between the Colorado Nuggets vs the Florida Heat. Governors would be making side bets. Of course there would have to be group chnages next season to make sure this kind of state competion would happen. It can be done. </p><p>I was really disappointed in my Warrior, Draymond Green putting a chokc hold on Rudy Gobert. It's pretty <i>deja vue all over again</i>, when Draymond gets in a rage, but choke holds are super dangerous. As a black man, Draymond should know better. Males of his race have been terrorized by choke holds for a long time. Connected but unconnected, I thought Gobert's sanctimonious response disingenuous as I remember a few years back the Frenchman giving his teammates COVID as a JOKE. Un BLAGUE, vous est fou? Draymond, we need you on the court. As a retired English teacher, may I suggest an anger management class. </p><p>I'm high on the Warriors two draft choices this year, Point guard Brandin Podzinski and Power Forward, Trace Davis. One thing though, Podzinski, dude, you got to stop with the tongue thing. MJ did that already. And, you're not that good yet. </p><p>I appreciate players who don't do a whole lot of screaming after every good play they make. It's satisfying to watch professionalism without the Look at Me, Look at Me B.S. High on my list of grownups is Keegan Murry of the Sacramento Kings who saves his celebrations for when they are really special. I think Trace-Davis of the Warriors has that grown up attitude toward celebrating on the court. Curry did too, but I've noticed the last couple of years, Steph doing a little drama, but if you're Curry most of the stuff you do is dramatic. </p><p>I want to readers to consider what players in the pro basketball changed the game. I'm not talking improved a position. I mean basketball was never played the same way again type of thing. Who was the first to popularize the jump shot; who made the league a Big Man's League? I believe one can say that the NBA was never the same after Joe Fulks who popularized the jump shot or never the same after Miken, never the same after Wilt, and never the same after Steph Curry. i'll let you all argue about all the rest from the Cousys to the Doctors to the Birds and the Shaqs. I'm thinkng of adding Jokic to my list of game changers. What do you think. Will the NBA game in a few years be a game of Bigs who can shoot threes and have handles? Will players under, say, 6'6" be possible? Will the NBA become a league of Brobdingnagians?</p><p>I am always impressed with the Miami Heat? They build around two core guys, Adebayo and Jimmy Buckets. And if they lose good players along the way, they always manage to find the correct replacements. They lose Straus and Vincent. They get Jaime Jaquez in the first round. A couple of other thoughts about teams. Imagine the Orlando Magic with a real point guard. Is Jrue Holiday the best point guard in the NBA? No apologies. needed to Step Curry who's the best All-Around guard in the NBA. Has OKC finally decided to play for keeps, no more first round draft choice gathering like a squirrel for winter? How long will it be before Zion is injured? 6'5" at 280 lbs is untenable. How long befor Kyrie goes off the farm? Big shout out for Tyrese Maxie, proving the 76ers don't need James the Selfish. A similar shout out to De'Aaron Fox for continuing to improve his game. Got to be in cosideration for the Paris Olympics. Is there a faster player in the league than Fox?' If the Knicks get a consistent 3 pt floor spacer they could be spoilers in the East. Clippers are old and slow. Why is Lakers' <span style="color: initial;">AD so inconsistent? Is he out of shape? </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">Here I am reading my ode to cable cars at a San Francisco event introducing the Warriors new jersey honoring the Cable Car and he first jersey with San Fransisco on its front. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhDwH2WkKPuq1oJ00LFEV5C4NEWzDjLSlY3XeuRGjKq3wsMyWl7yPhK5MIrpm6i7VtfGXytwjtGiMjvJpnZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-13968132427210601442023-10-22T09:48:00.014-07:002023-11-08T08:49:40.663-08:00FOLLOWING UP <p> The pre-season has ended, so I need to follow up on my team evaluations. I'll be brief. Let's start with the East. Jrue went to Boston, which makes them my pick to win the Eastern Conference. Buck come in a disappointing second because the Damion/Giannis combo does not prove as effective in the playoffs when Big D counts. It is always interesting to see what rabbit the Heat pull out of their top hats. Because of this, I pick them coming in third unless Morey gets off his duff and get something meaningful for Hardin. Is Harden the worst teammate in the history of the NBA? The rest of the East is generally very average.</p><p>The Western Conference is the focus of most of the talking heads attention. And rightly so as there has been a lot of good players from the East go West Young Men. So what are my picks for the West? Let me get my loyalty-pick out of the way first. The Warriors will make into the top four playoff slots. They will be the surprise team in the NBA this coming season. I base my opinion on a lot of factors such as; The CP3 addition is going to work out well; the bench is vastly improved; Wiggins is back for a full season; Klay will regain his shooting touch; Dario Saric is a much better version of Belijca of their championship seaon in '22. The Poole incident is behind them; Kuminga looks like the player they drafted for finally; and their two draft choices look like they might actully provide rotation minutes along with a more confident and season Moses Moddy and do well. and of course there is Steph Curry.</p><p>But, realistically, if anybody is counting out the Nuggest to win the West, they do so at their own risk. They have all their starters back, and it is my belief that they will not miss Brown and Green as much as everybody is predicting. <span color="initial"> </span></p><p>I like Smart with the Griz, but do not trust Ja. Still, I believe in the story of the Prodigal Son, so I wish Ja the best maturity. The Twolve will make the playoffs, but so might the Sacramento Kings, especially if they stay as healthy as they did last season. </p><p>It's going to be a battle ti the West, that's for sure. </p><p>For three of the talking head favorites in the West, the success will depends entirely on the health of their players. The Suns could be great, but only if Durant stays healthy. The Lakers could be great, but only if AD stays healthy. The Clippers could be a force as long as Leonard and/or George stay healthy. God help them if they lose Mann and get Hardin. Hardin is the Kiss of Death. </p><p>Forget Dallas as long as they have Kyrie, However I must admit I'm being subjective. Kyrie's racism gets in the way of any objectivity on my part. And, why do I think Donic is still carrying around his baby fat?</p><p>I would mention the Pelicans, and I wish I could, but is anyone willing to predict Zion will make it through the season without a major injury? 6'5" at 280 lbs is untenable. </p><p>Etc:</p><p>I wonder if anybody in Duck land is wondering what's up with their head coach, Dan Lanning? Why does he take such risks? They would have gone to the Rose Bowl last season had he not called for an onside kick, and this year the Ducks would never have lost to the Huskies if the Coach had punted and trusted his Defense. If I were the Ducks' Defensive Coordinator, I'd be truly pissed. </p><p>I'm also pissed. Why? Take a look at the college football standings: The PAC 12 has two teams in the top ten, the Trojans and the Ducks, and three other PAC 12 teams in the top 25 and the doofuses who ran the PAC12 couldn't get a good TV contract? Give me a break! </p><p>Just so I'm not ignoring baseball's World Series entirely, here's an interesting and add poem about the sport, I wish I knew who wrote it.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">STELAE Anonymous</p>
<div style="text-align: left;">There are stelae at Palenque<br />that are nothing but names and numbers.<br />Homeruns, strikeouts, and stolen bases<br />for Hunahpa and Hunahpu<br />who played the sacred game back when<br />you had to claw for every run<br />not like today. The losing manager<br />got disemboweled on the mounds<br />by the knife of the morning star.<br />I grow older, hombre, or the beardless<br />mozus striding for the plate grows young.<br />At 40 I played in Jalatlaco<br />place name meaning “sandy ball court.”<br />The Zapotec lefty decked me<br />i como se dice beanball en espanol?<br />And then for once in my mortal<br /> vagabond middle-infielder career<br />I got good wood on the pelota.<br />It sailed toward the sacred ring<br />reached the ancient wall on a bounce.<br />Hunahpa and Hunahpu<br />played ball against the Gods<br />in Xibalba. They lost.<br />They got their heads cut off<br />and turned them into baseball<br />and stuck them on a tree.<br />A girl ate them. She had babies<br />Hunahpa and Hunahpu.<br />They finished second two years running.<br />They smoked the candles of the underworld.<br />They used a mosquito in centerfield<br />for steal signs. They stole them blind.<br />They sacrificed, they had the long ball.<br />They had defensive magic. They grew<br />the changes; they threw the split-finger.<br />You remember the sequence from Game Six.<br />The Mayans carved the standings<br />into statistics of heaven,<br />these cyclic fratals of the endless game. </div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-8344111610600082012023-10-01T10:02:00.000-07:002023-10-01T10:02:08.761-07:00NBA , A New Season & etc<p> Let's get my rant over with first: It's more than time for writers and talking heads to STOP calling professional athletes PIECES as if (oh, such cunning use of symbols) we/they are chess pieces. Who pray tell are he Queens or shall we not speculate? The rooks? The pawns? Stop it, you sound ignorant.</p><p>Every season, it seems, I begin by saying that the coming season will be terrific. I'm an optimist. Last year was awful for my Dubs, marvelous for the Denver Nuggets and frustrating for the Celtics and the 76ers. It will continue to be frustraing for the 76ers this season until they solve their Hardin problem. Is this guy for real? How many times can a player feels he's been chateded or lied to before he becomes the boy who cried wolf? </p><p>There a number of BIG IFS as this season starts their training camps. They will dictate whether I should be optimistic about 2023/24 or not: 1) Will the Porsingis trade work out? 2) Will the Lillard/Antetokounpo combo create the dynamic offensive improvement it's supposed to or will Lillard's lack of defensive chops hurt the Bucks come playoff time? 3) How will the Chris Paul acquisition by the Warriors improve the team? And HOW, that is the question? 3) Will the Suns KD, and the Clippers Kawhi and George stay healthy? 4) Can the Heat survive the loss of Vincent and Straus? 5) The Kat healthy now, will the Gobbert duo be effective? I don't buy it. 6) Will the Pelicans ever get a healthy season out of Zion, the Pillsbury Dough boy look-alike? Let's see what his weight is at the start of training camp. If it's over 250 at 6'6" I wouldn't put any money on the Pelicans this year. 7) The Lakers look terrific on paper, but their success will be dictated by the same health issues that govern the success or failure of the Suns and Clippers. An injury to Davis or Lebron at or near playoff time and it's curtains for the Lakers. 8) Some might ask if the lose of a key player such as Brown negatively affect the Nuggets. I'll add it to my list, but I don't believe so. Christian Braun, based on his performance in the playoffs last year, should fill in nicely. While the talking heads are going ga ga over the Bucks, they seem to have forgotten the Nuggets and Jokic. </p><p>Acquisitions contenders that I like by team: 1) The Suns brought in shooter Grayson Allen, two way Nassir Little and center Nurkic who might be a better fit at the post than Ayton, although the health issue comes up again with the Serb. 2) The Warriors have acquired Dario Saric, Paul, & Corey Joseph. Saric will be essential to the Warrior's succes this season. And don't count out Joseph to provide important minutes; he is one of the best below-the-radar point-guards and defenders in the league. Just ask yourself, have you ever seen Joseph have a bad game? 3) Lakers made a smart move signing Vincent. 4) The Cavs made an equally smart move by signing Straus who will improve the team's much needed bench strength. 5) The Kings sing Euro League MVP power forward 6'8" Sasha Vezenkov and shooter Chis Duarte. I wonder if the media is not taking the Kings seriously enough. Check out their roster, as they say, all the boxes seem to be filled nicely with strong players at every position. </p><p>This is as far as I'm willing to go with observations for next season without some preseason games and I suspect a few more trades in the wind, where Jrue Holiday will land for example. Thus, for the fist time in years I will withhold my optimism and say wait for coming attractions. I have a feeling their are stil some player movement surprises ahead. </p><p>Etc:</p><p>Two HOO WAHS! To Joe Lacob for bringing a WNBA team to Chase Arena. Bay Area fans are going to support the team big time. Kuddos also to the formation of a women's pro volleyball league for next year. Not sure, however, about Madison, WI for one of it's teams? </p><p>How about the Chiefs and the 49ers for the NFL championship this season? With apologies to the Eagles. In college football, how about the Ducks this year for the championship? My wife is a Duck, so is it wishful thinking? The Ducks toasted Stanford last night. And Bo Nix looks like a Heisman candidate. How do you miss with two players named Bo and Bucky? </p><p>Finally, with 5 teams in the PAC 12 ranked in college football's top 20, 3 in the top 10, how is it that the PAC 12 couldn't get a lucrative TV contract and stay in business? These gigantic cross-country leagues are going to implode. Because as Yeats wrote, "The center will not hold." I'd bet on the collapse. No PAC 12, no true Rose Bowl? Pitiful. We're living in a time of Greed rather than class. </p><p>NBA season starting, NFL already on its way, here's a poem for the hardest workers at the games.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">VENDER <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You
think that banner belongs to you?<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
me tell you guys something, it belongs<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to
us just as much, hustling these aisles <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">for a few extra bucks. In my case, to save<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">for
my son to go to camps, become great,<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">perhaps
someday win a ring like ya’ all.<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m
thinking wouldn’t it be dope to be like<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Stephen
Curry’s dad watching his kid hit<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">those
silky jump shots, or Klay Thompson’s dad.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the
time Klay scored 50 point, 34 in one quarter.<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Or
Durant’s mom, how proud I’d be to be<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">that
proud of my son, and him proud of me.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
I am hawking frozen ice cream bars,<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">counting
up in my head how much I can make<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">this season to send my son to camp.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Only
ten years old but, damn, he’s hot already.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Heck,
isn’t this what fathers dream for their sons?<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Like
little boys dream of going to games<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">sitting
with their dads, eating cotton candy<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and
watching the Dubs win an NBA Championship</span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">or the Chief another ring and waving to the vender</span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">for an ice cream bar, and the vender not his pop? </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b> Tom Meschery</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b> </b></span></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-47075720446922452322023-09-22T10:01:00.000-07:002023-09-22T10:01:09.899-07:00Thursday Night Football & The NBA's Players Rest Management<p> TNF football viewing on Amazon Prime Video SUCKS. I watched my 49ers play last evening on Amazon Prime Video for which my wife and I are paying additional $ above our normal Xfinity bill and missed two crucial touchdowns to 5 minutes of fa TV rozen screen, which came on the heels of several less lengthy earlier frozen screens. This problem of glitch-pauses in action were present last season, that at the start of this season's TNF games I assumed must have been corrected. One would assume that, wouldn't one? It obviously has not. Consequently, I will stop watching NFL's Thursday Night Football until I have been informed that the powers that be have solved this problem. This is totally unprofessional. Amazon and the NFL should be hanging their heads in shame.<span style="color: initial;"> Anyone out there who feels as I do, don't hesitate to let your feelings be known. </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">Resting the stars in the NBA has been a growing problem. New rules by the NBA are now in place for next season. I believe they will help a little, but it seems to me that resting starts so they are ready for the last part of the season is so logical, all teams with any intelligence will look to continue the practice one way or another.. As an ex player I'm not against resting stars or managing a player's minutes. But what I've consistently been concerned with is how this affects loyal fans who pay very high ticket prices to see their teams and particularly their stars. Many of these ticket buyers can only afford two such games per season. How to help them is the single most important problem the NBA should be concerned with. One way to help is for the league to have specific rules about rest management that from the start of the season, fans can calculate whether or not they should spend their money on a game. For example: 1) Teams are allowed to rest their star players on the second day of back to back games. 2) Teams can rest a star player coming off an injury for a time not to exceed 2 weeks. (In this case it is already allowable to manage playing minutes.) 3) Any team that rests a star player other than for documented injury after the All Star break will be fined. I can imagine a number of other possible specific rules, but you get the picture. What's important about specifics from the beginning of the season is that it allows fans to make better choices about which games they spend their hard earned money on. They may not always guess correctly, but it will improve their chances. For those fans who guess wrong and buy tickets for a game in which they do not get to see the best players, may I suggest some way of refunding some portion of the ticket to make up for the lass. Not the entire amount, mind you, because they still got to see NBA hoops that 's fun on any level and whoever is on the court.</span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">Back to TNF Here's a poem I wrote that sums up my feelings about the 49ers. My next poem will be about Nick Bosa.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>McCaffrey (With apologies to T.S. Elliot)<span style="color: initial;"> </span></b></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>McCaffrey’s the running back<br />Who’s a mystery to none at all<br />He breaks through any D line<br />He keeps his fans in awe<br />He’s the bafflement of tacklers<br />Defensive coaches’ despair<br />For when they look to find him<br />McCaffrey’s not there.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p>McCaffrey, McCaffrey,<br />There’s no one like McCaffrey,<br />He breaks the rules of velocity<br />His powers of misdirection<br />Would make magicians stare<br />For when the tacklers look for him<br />McCaffrey’s not there.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Defenders seeks him running<br />Or receiving, which is hardly rare<br />But they are left with weeping<br />‘Cause McCaffrey’s never there<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tom Meschery</b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><span style="color: initial;"></span><p></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-24383761999113969002023-09-14T08:58:00.000-07:002023-09-14T08:58:23.211-07:00A Little Bit of This & a Little Bit of That<p> A Little Bit of This:</p><p>I was reading about Aaron Rodgers' torn Achilles tendon injury in relationship to his dislike of his offensive linemen cut-blocking the defensive line. I've only decided to write a little about football, mostly about the NFL this year, so I haven't paid much attention to the lesser known details of the sport, cut blocks being one of them. As it was explained, the offensive lineman throws himself at that legs of the in-charging defensive end or tackle to stop him from getting to the QB. Rodgers' complaint is that if the this particular block doesn't work, the D lineman is far more apt to get to the QB quickly, which means that if a team offensive coordinator likes the idea of cut-blocking, the QB must get the ball out of his hands quickly. Rodgers claims this does not allow him or other QB to improvise. I had to visulaze the action for a while before I could see that I agreed with Rodgers. I think what bothered me the most about this strategy was the part about the offensive lineman "throwing himself" at the legs of the defensive lineman. Yes, this is a QB issue, but it seems to me it is a defensive linemen's issue. I was under the impression that cut-blocking was not allowed in the NFL any more. It seems to me any aggressive attack against the legs from the knees down is a receipe for serious injury. Ancles, Knees. Danger, right/ Am I wrong? Besides, I don't see the point of limiting your QB by forcing him to throw until he is ready. Most great QBs get the ball out of their hands efficiently. Efficiantly does not mean "hurry up." So, what is the point of cut-blocking? Seems anti-QB to me. </p><p>A Little Bit of That:</p><p>Has anybody noticed there is no longer any off season for basketball, the pros and international ball especially? Looking back to the end of the NBA season, I'll bet there hasn't been a week where hasn't been some game or some important issue or event relating to basketball. This morning I read that there has been a two game match between NBA team Ignite and a Aussie Perth pro team. Soon to come,t here will be more games feature many of the 2024 NBA draft choice. Yes, you heard me, 2024. These wannabes don't show up on my calender until a year from now, but there I was reading about these kids and that the NBA scouts were at the games evaluating. This is closing in on mid September. NbA training camp is about two weeks away. Then it's full on hoops. Am I complaining? I can watch hoops any chance I get, but I worry about overplaying can lead to voer injury. The body must have time to rest, to heal, even if there is no injury, the body, like the mind, needs times of peace. It is not quite the same analogy, but I recall that baseball coaches do not teach youngsters to throw curveballs until well into high school. </p><p>And more of That:</p><p>Will somebody explain to me why whenever I change channels to avoid looking at a commercial, that channel is also showing a commercial? On a related note, watching sports and the channel goes to a split screen, why does the commercial get the larger screen? One of these days we're going to wind up simpley watching commercials, no content, just auto insurance, beer and car ads and of course the ubiquitous drug commercials with all the weird names. Where have all our contents gone, (like the flowers and the soldiers) we'll ask each other, and scratch our heads because we've forgotten. </p><p><b>Here's a Haiku about football</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>A perfect spiral<br />Cut the air in flight , I watched it<br />Laying on my back. </b></div>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-34815189138567803252023-09-10T14:07:00.001-07:002023-09-10T14:07:23.250-07:00Back Bloging. Books First<p>I always feel guilty when I forget to blog. I apologize, but I had a good reason. I've been finishing the 3rd novel in my Brovelli Brothers Mystery series: The Case of the Volkswagen Hippie Bus. Oh, by the way, the second in the series: The Case of the '66 Ford Mustang will launch this coming October. So, apologies and excuses done with, let's begin, starting in reverse order: Literature and Life first, sports second.</p><p>This morning on my walk, I was greeted with "Love that T-shirt" by four fellow-walkers. As a retired English teacher, (that was my career after 10 years playing in the NBA.) this made me happy. My T- shirt is black with white lettering. On the front is a picture of a cartoon smiley face book. The caption reads: Ban the Fascist, Save Our Books. If you haven't noticed, there are many Republican governors and Republican state legislators who are passing legislation banning books of all types from school libraries and county libraries state wide. I will leave for another blog, Texas closing high school libraies in Houston and converting them into disciplinary centers. OMG! I taught high school AP senior English for 24 years in Reno High School. Nevada is by no means a liberal state. So, from time to time, as a teacher I encountered conservative flare-ups from some school board members. In one such case I had included Toni Morrison's <i>Song of Solomon</i> on my summer reading list for incoming seniors. The novel is, i grant you, a tough read, but I felt it was touching and profoundly important for students heading to college as most of mine were. Within hours of my distributing the list, my principal got calls from parents who did not want their children to read a story with a good deal of explicit sexual content. These were conservative and religious parents. What was the result of these calls? Well, the governor of Nevada didn't go ballistic and begin banning books, I can assure you, and I my family were not threatened as teachers and librarians are being threatened today. What did we do? We simply provided an alternative book for the kids to read, one that satisfied parents and me. In this case alternative novel was Earnest Hemingway's <i>For Whom the Bell Tolls.</i> Look, I'm not using this platform to na na parents who overly oversee their children's book choices, even though I feel strongly that by the last years of high school, such scrutiny interferes with their children's ability to understand the society they are about to become a part of as adults. My point is BANNING BOOKS IS WRONG AND A SLIPPY SLOPE TO A FACIST CONTROLED SOCIETY. I believe absolutely that people of good will can solve problems, even the hardest problems. We did in Reno. It can happen throughout the country. </p><p>Now, back to sports:</p><p>Congratulations to Co Co Gauf for winning her first U.S. Open title. There has been some fabulous tennis being played this year. Hopefully, you didn't miss the 20 year old Ben Shelton defeating a more seasoned Francis Tiafoe to make it to the Semi Finals. He lost to the incredible Novak Djkovic, but was not blown away. I was happy to see that the USTA allowed Russian and Belarussian players to compete while not allowing them to play under their national flag in protest of Putin's invasion of the Ukraine.</p><p> Given how well our young American players performed, it looks like America is back in the pro tennis scene. I was sorry to see the young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz lose. It will be the Russian Medvedev facing Djokovic in the finals. It is hard for me to cheer for Djokovic after his refusal to take his COVID shots. </p><p><span style="color: initial;">I'm not sure I can be enthusiastic about America's international basketball prospects. Our FIBA team will not bring back any medals this year. Germany and Lithuania smashed us on the boards and made our defense look pathetic. Canada beat us yesterday for the Bronze. Of course, this should not have surprised anyone as we were not playing with our best pros but with a cast of young upcoming NBA stars. As long as we don't play with our best players in the FIBA World Cup, we can look forward to more losing seasons in international competition. The world has generally caught up to us in basketball. That's good thing. </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">I like to think I played some part in tje growth of basketball overseas. KC Jones, John Havlicek and I were the second group of American basketball players to travel to West Africa to promote the game back in 1964. The year before Bill Russell and Bob Cousy went. In 1965, again I returned with Si Green and in 1985 I spent 4 months by myself touring West Africa coaching. African players are now playing all over Europe and players of African decent are common in the NBA. The way things are going with International basketball, I would not be surprised in a few years down the line, there will no longer be an NBA but an IBA, the International Basketball Association, comprised of 4 Conferences: Asian, European, African, and Americas. </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">Here is a poem I wrote about tennis. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Tennis Tournament in
Chinatown<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b> For Peter Sears</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">His first serve slices pencil
thin<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">over the net and drops like a
broken elbow,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">skittering to the side out of
reach,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and after his next serve
curves like a new moon<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to my forehand, then changes
direction<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">like a scythe to my
back-hand, I know<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m in trouble. Forty-love,
the first game<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">his, won on a squirrelly shot
that, were it not<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a ball, might well have been
a squirrel.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My service, a hard one with
top-spin<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">comes just in time to save me
from disgrace,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">or so I think. In the split
second I see it<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">catch the corner, a certain
winner, it returns<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to me as a butterfly
attaching itself to the silk<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">thread of the net, as
delicate as a brushstroke,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">before fluttering off where I
can’t touch it.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m thinking this is not
tennis but an ancient<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">form of art, disguised as
tennis for the purpose<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of torture, invented in the
court of the Sung<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Dynasty, and it is the sly
Emperor Hui-Tang<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">himself on the other side of
the net.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He is staring at me,
crouched, his whites<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">gleaming in the sun, racket
spinning in his hand,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">waiting for me to decide how
to paint<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the rising peacock. Will I
paint the left leg<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">or the right leg first?
Meanwhile I’ve two balls<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">in my hand, confused,
wondering which one<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to serve and which one to
place in my pocket.</span><br /></b></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-47638298126434826282023-08-10T09:47:00.000-07:002023-08-10T09:47:01.669-07:00Congratulations Coach Pop & etc<p> San Antonio's, already legendary coach, Greg Popovich will be inducted into Basketball's Hall of Fame this Saturday. I just finished reading a lengthy and well written article in <i>The Athletic</i> that sums up Coach Pop's life and career. It's great read. It begins with Pop's motto as a coach and human being: <i>Get Over Yourself.</i> As a retired high school teacher, it is an aphorism that should be engraved above he entrance of every high school in the nation and above the entrance to the White House. It should be part of every wedding ceremony and opening statement of every CEO at the beginning of every board meeting. It should be every minister's first words to his or her congregation. And very mornings whisper as one rises in the morning to start one's day. </p><p>Coach Popovich goes into the BAsketball Hall of Fame having long ago gotten over himself. But those of us who have enjoyed watching his teams will never get over him and what he has meant to basketball and his county. </p><p>ETC</p><p>Can anybody be mor petty than Donald Trump Tweeting or whatever he doe about how happy he was that our women's national soccer team lost in the FIFA World Cup? And why was that? Because the team includes Megan Rapinoe, a lesbian and a hero of previous teams who has been critical of Trump while he was president. Trump could certainly benefit from Popovich's advice to get over himself. </p><p>Trump's motto is: <i>If you go after me, I'll come after you</i>. Living with that motto, it's no wonder his soul is so dark. </p><p>ETC</p><p>From Trump to a much happier subject: Congrats to Eric Bieniemy, starting his firs season as the Jets Offensive Coordinator. My guess is the Chiefs are going to miss his presence. I'm not sure if I'm correct, but I'd bet Coach Eric's last name Bieniemy originated from the French, bien ami, perhaps somewhere around Lousiana. Bien Ami means beloved friend. Stuff like that doesn't translate to the rough and tumble of NFL football, but I've always imagined Coach Andy Reed and Erica Bieniemy after retiring sitting in rocking chairs side by side on a front porch with a cold brew in their hands and a plate of pork ribs balanced on their large bellies, talking football and remembering their good old days together. </p><p>Onward and downward: Long time QB of the Packers and now the QB of the Jets, Aaron Rodgers, could stand getting over himself. I still can't get over his anti-vax stance, which in my opinion was all about how his health was more important than his teammates' health. </p><p>Onward and upward: Jimmy G, new QB of the Raiders, wins the first game against his old team the 49ers. You read it first here. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">POPOVITCH HAIKU by Tom Meschery<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>One thousand
wins<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b> And one loss keeps you awake<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p><b><span style="color: initial; font-size: 12pt;">Staring into
the abyss</span><span style="color: initial;"> </span></b></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-91639940063932475732023-07-31T08:05:00.000-07:002023-07-31T08:05:57.734-07:00The NFL, My Second Effort and ETC<p> Let's begin with ETC: Part of etc in the future is going to be about FANTABULOUS names in all sports. i'm not talking about the players as athletes but the players' actual names. Yesterday's blog contained my first effort and a great one it was, it will reign supreme, numero uno, until I find one to surpass it. This name will not, but it is definitely Fantabulous: 49er cornerback. <i>Drum roll, please</i>: DEOMMODORE LENOIR. Brandon Aiyuk calls him, "his dog." <span style="color: initial;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">Is Brock Purdy the answer to the 49er QB question mark. Last season was certainly a Brock Purdy coming-out party, but referring to a sport I know best, it's always the <i>second year</i> that tests whether a player can sustain and grow. Lot's of talk abuot Trey Lance being traded. Giving up on an athlete like that sounds dumb to me. What might he look like after a couple of seasons without an injury? </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">I would have added Aiyuk to my Fantabulous names' list, but Brandon just takes the edge off Aiyuk. It's got to be first, last, and middle if possible to earn a sport on Meschery's Fantabulous Names List. </span></p><p><span style="color: initial;">Here's a Haiku about football</span></p><p><span style="color: initial;"><b>QB #1 By Tom Meschery</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: initial;">Watch the rabbit run,<br /></span>Escaping the coyote<br />Mahomes evading tackles.</b></div><p><span style="color: initial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: initial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: initial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: initial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: initial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: initial;"><br /></span></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-11704632378474225812023-07-27T10:39:00.000-07:002023-07-27T10:39:33.571-07:00Beware NBA & etc<p>This morning I read an Athletic article about options for the Knicks looking to fill out their rosters. The title started out: "Cheap options for the Knicks." I didn't need to read further. I've been thinking about this since reading how writers were congratulating Sun's GM, Jone for his acumen finding chepa players to surround his Big Three, assuming he doesn't consider Ayton, which would make it the Big Four. In the recent past, Teams over the cap apron(s) have been faced with the same problems as the Suns. Take the Golden State Warriors, for example, finding vets they can sing for vet minimums. In 2022 in worked out beautifully; in 2023, the Dubs were not so lucky. Just not the same caliber vets, excpet for Donte DiVincenzo. Here's my worry. As the money rises teams can offer, I can foresee the bulk of it going to the super stars and a great deal less of it distributed among the solid rotation players. I don't believe vet rotation players and their agents would deny that NBA championship teams are built around their Super Stars and those stars, like great film stars, deserve top salaries, However, if the difference between Star contracts begin to infringe upon the contracts of the rest of the team, thing couls get a bit dicey around the league. Without getting into politics, this possibility in the NBA could at some point in the future begin to look like the disaprity betwee wealth in this country where most of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of the upper 2% of the population. </p><p>ETC</p><p>After Basketball season ends, I blog less. I watch baseball, but baseball on television is a game for people who love statistics. Not that there isn't action. Watching pitchers is very satisfying, but I can only do it for so long. as pitching takes up over half of he time of the game. Whenever there's a homerun, I hear the voice of my dearly departed friend, Bill King, one time Voice of the Athletics: <i>"It's going, it's gone, Holy Toledo! </i>I've had the game explained to me by Larry Colton, one time Philly pitcher and now writer of great books. Read <i>Counting Coups,</i> you'll love the story of a Native American girls basketball team on it's way to a state championship. Even with Larry's tutelage, I know I'm not getting half the nuance of baseball. So I don't blog about it much. </p><p>Of course there are so many sports I can write about. Presently, we have America's women competing for the FIFA World Championships. And I'll always have my eye out for tennis. And I try not to miss major track and field events. I know too little about winter sports such as skiing and iceskating that there's not interesting I could say about it, unless there is a rekated human interest narrative involved.</p><p> This all leads upt to the following:</p><p>Why not blog about the NFL and college football? Even though i recognize the sports' violence, I still enjoy watching football, especially the NFL, I guess because I prefer seeing sports played on the highest level. The only reason I can think of why I don't blog about football is simply that there are too many players to be taken into consideration to do a credible job. Twenty-two in all and most in positions I know little about except when pointed out to me by a color-commentator. <i>Did you see what the left guard did to open up the hole for the running back?</i> I did not, sorry Troy. </p><p>But I have decided this season to go against my better judgement and write more about the NFL </p><p>Allow me to begin: Hurrah, foe Justin Herbert for earning a five year contract worth $265.2 million. Note please that I didn't round up and kept the.2, which is about the total amount a teacher earns in ten years and probably less in a state like Mississippi. Ah, well. My wife is on board with this contract as she is an Oregon Duck and so is Justin. And she points out he went the full four years and graduated with a 4 GPA degree in science with an emphais in biology. Now we're talking roll model. </p><p>Not to be upstaged by Herbert, Andrew Thomas, offensive tackle for the New York Giants has signed a contract worth $217.5 million. We're talking lineman here, I know zero about offensive tackles so i felt it would be a good start mentioning him. Well, I do know the job of offensive tackles is to clear a path for rurnning backs and to protect quaterbacks from getting crushed by defensive tackles. </p><p>I'm a 49er fan. I go back as far a YA Tittle. I used to also be a fan of the Raiders, but when the team domped Oakland, I stopped. Vegas can have them. Although, I must say, if any city might carry on the raucous tradition of the Oakland fans it's Glitter City. Back to the 49ers: Nick Bosa has not showed up for training camp as his agent is working on the details of a new extended contract. I can't wait to see the numbers. I am a fan of Bosa, not only because he is a fabulous end rusher but because my wife's grandson,Jaxon, has named his cat Bosa. </p><p>I don't think I'll push the envelope mush frurther for my first foray into football blogging, excpet for one last shot: The Winner of the All Time Name for an Athlete in any sport - Drum foll, please - is Amon-Ra-St. Brown. Like Wilt Champerlain's 100 point game, I doubt this will ever be surpassed.</p><p><span style="color: initial;"> I leave you with this interesting factoid about football: In England in the 18th century, Rugby, the grandpa of American Football, along with Cricket, was the sport of the upper classes, while Football, which in America we call soccer, was thought of as the sport for the lower classes? </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>HEAPS ON HEAPS</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>And now both bands in close embraces met,<br /></i></b><b><i>Now foot to foot, and breast to breast was set.<br /></i></b><b><i>Now all impatient grapple round the ball,<br /></i></b><b><i>And heaps on heaps in wild disorder fall.<br /></i></b><b><i> Matthew Concanen</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i> from A Match at Football<br /></i></b><b><i> (1721)</i></b><i><br /></i></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-14025721795517244002023-07-25T07:43:00.001-07:002023-07-25T07:43:21.166-07:00The Temp is Rising <p>I read this morning in The Athletic about the Sun working to establish a G League team for next season. Good for them. Sometimes I make comments at the end of articles. I wasn't going to, until a I read a comment about this article posted by a reader. It was not about basketball, but climate change. He questioned if in the future there would be a Suns team to write about, given that with climate change, the heat in AZ would be intolerable. That made me think of all the other cities in the NBA that are going to be massively affected by climate change: <span style="color: initial;">San Antonio, Houston, Orlando, etc. The City of Miami is going to be flooded. The Sun's new owner Matt Ishbia might want to consider moving his team to the Northwest and let KD finish his career where he started in cool and beautiful Seattle. </span></p><p>Today's 7.25.;23 Athletic had a marvelous, touching story about how Charlie Villanueva has helped rookie Celtic draft choice Jordan Walsh deal with their mutual condition, Alopecia, a disease that keeps hair from growing and lightens ones skin. According to one of the comments following the article, when Villanueva was playing, Kevin Garnett said to him that he looked like he had cancer, a mean and childish thing to say. I had never thought of KG as a knucklehead. To bad, he was one heck of a player. If he hasn't done it already, let me suggest that he apologize publicly to Charlie and meet Jordan Walsh who is a Celtic draft choice and embrace Walsh, also publicly. Of course, he doesn't have to. He can continue being a childish knucklehead. But one day, God forbid, KG might get cancer and then he'll have to look in the mirror. </p><p>Just thinking: Anybody out there just a wee bit tired of hearing: Ya Know, bottom line, at the end of the day? And as much as I admire Leborn James, I could stand to open a sport page and not see his name for a few days. </p><p>Women's soccer players are finally going to be paid the dame as the men's team. About frigging time. </p><p>I just watched SLAM BALL. Holy Hops! They have finaly come up with the perfect sport for people suffering from hyper active disorder. Major sponsor Red Bull? </p><p>While the super sports are going on, the fishermen are out abong the streasm and lakes, among them, my two son-in-laws. Here's a fishing poem for all the fishermen.</p><p class="MsoNormal">CATCH </p><div style="text-align: left;">I imagine us dancing, a Mexican ballroom somewhere<br />(anything instead of fishing)<br />In faded, pre-war elegance, tropically flowered wallpaper<br />(jigs, flies, speckled lures and mr. twisters)<br />Drooping lushly like the evening sea-breeze<br />(damn the wind, they won’t bite now)<br />And you in sailor whites – tuxedo, if I blur my eyes<br />(black, shiny, slimy leeches, grubs, chubs, fathead. . . )<br />The band plays 40’s swing, a dark man croons “Darling”<br />(I’m a rapid oxidizer,” you announce, sweat streaming down
your nose)<br />“Darling, Take My Heart. . . “<br />(walleye, pike, sunstroke, crappies)<br />And my red dress spins faster as you lift me off he floor<br />9jesus Christ, a four pounder!)<br />Its ruffled hem streaming round my knees<br />(landed)<br />Like a school of tiny iridescent fish<br />(darling, take my heart)<br />You sing at last.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p> Ethna
McKiernan<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-81339671192521948422023-07-19T07:32:00.000-07:002023-07-19T07:32:22.828-07:00This & That July 19th<p> I was struck this morning with Sam Amick's article in <i>The Athletic</i> about Joel Embid in which he sude the term RINGZ CULTURE. What a shame it has come to that. Historically it minimizes so many great NBA teams that reached the Finals and lost. I'm thinking of th great Utah Jazz teams of Stockton and Malone, and Charles Barkley's and Kevin Johnson's fabulous Suns' teams. To them I add my marvelous 1967 San Francisco Warriors team with Nate "The Great" Thurmond and Rick Barry. We lost to Wilt's 76ers, which was a great team even when with Moses Malone at center they later lost to Walton's Trailblazers. I never wore diamonds on my finger, but what shines most is in my heart. Ringz are finally just glitter. </p><p>Let's hear it for Sabrina Ionescu, the WNBA player who shot lights out 37 pts in the recent 3 pts shooting contest at the WNBA All-Star Game. There's a lot of talk already about a NBA vs WNBA shoot out between Steph Curry and Sabrina. Advertisers are lining up. So are Vegas odds makers. Aside from her miraculaous performance, there is a point to be made here. When you see shooting like this and watch the recent WNBA games, I don't think it is too farfetched to believe that someday there will be a female who can make it on to an NBA team. Okay, not in any of the power positions, but how about as a point guard who can shoot like Ianescu? Of course, she'd have to have the body and strength of Serena Williams, but is that so hard to visualize? I wrote a novel called <i>She's Got Game</i> about a female college All-Star who forgoes the WNBA to try out for the NBA. It's in manuscript and waiting for an agent. Any agents out there, I'm listening. </p><p>Hurrah for Carlos Alcaraz for defeating Novak Djokovic for the singles mens' championship at Wimbledon. A worthy young champion. Spain should be proud. One takeaway from the presentation at the end of the match. Ever since COVID, I stopped cheering for Djokovic when he refused to be inoculated. I don't do <i>selfish</i> well. So, I was thrilled the young Spaniard defeated him. But Novak's concession speech made me change my mind about him. It was so honest, I couldn't help to believe he's a much better person that I thought. Yes, he's still wrong about COVID, but he understand what it takes to be an athlete, to be gracious in a loss. I still won't cheer for him, but I will not bad-mouth him either. </p><p>Here's a poem I wrote after watching the Wimbledon. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>RACKET</b> by Tom Meschery</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>To his astonishment,<br />his shot goes wide<br />its fault he seems<br />to be assigning<br />to the racket<br />staring up at him<br />out of his hand,<br />not to any misjudgment<br />on his part.<br /> Fingering the stings<br />he speaks to it<br />as he might speak<br /> to an enemy<br /> Perhaps a change<br />of rackets<br />will be all it takes.<br />He threatens or cajoles<br />while in the stands<br />we wait for service,<br />his rage to end<br />and the match to continue,<br />down 40 love. <br /></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-10741202067875273382023-07-01T13:14:00.001-07:002023-07-01T13:14:38.408-07:00Was Blazer GM Telling Dame Lillard the Truth?<p> It is my belief that the Portland Trailblazer's General Mgr. Joe Cronin was lying to Damian Lillard. He had no intention of building around Lillard, That was made very clear to me when after drafting Scoot Henderson, he didn't instantly try to trade him for veteran players to help Damian achieve his goal to legitimately compete for a ring. (There are plenty of teams in desperate need of a poing guard od Scoots caliber/potential. Scoot was the only asset for which Cronin had a chance to find the value he needed to convince Damian he spoke the truth instead of speaking out of the wrong side of his mouth and waiting for Damian to realize that he was stalling. Frightened, probably to take responsibility for initiating the trade of one of Portland's beloved sports figures. Lillard deserved better. Let's see if Cronin can do the right thing now and find a place for Damian on a contender. It can be done, if Cronin really cares. </p><p>A few comments about free agency. There are a lot of new multi-millionaires today. Good for them. It's going to be interesting to see what the Rockets do now that they have VanVleet as their point guard. I was happy to see Draymond did not depart and the Warriors resigned him. He got stability with a 4 year contract, and the Warriors got a financial savings to help them avoid the punitive new CBA rules. Some folks I know who hated Draymond's "Punch" asked me why not trade him? My answer to that is it would be like a wheel trying to turn without a hub. All in all bringing in Chris Paul and moving Jordan Poole to the Wiz where he can start over is best for Jordan while Paul will be best for the Warriors. People are asking how does a pick and roll expert like Paul fit into the motion offense that the Warriors run. Don't worry. Coach Kerr is smart. Paul has a high basketball IQ. They'll figure it out much to the amazement and regret of the rest of the league. I'm also getting my head around the Warriors' two draft choices and liking the choices much better. My old team has not finished filling out their roster, so more on the Warriors to come. </p><p>I think the Boston Celtics will regret trading Marcus Smart. I think the Grizzlies improved their team greatly by acquiring Smart. Brooks is gone and Steven Adams will be back, so now the Griz will have two adults in the room to tone down the Ja Morant weirdness when he returns. Smart is the kind of tough and honest dude who I believe might be able to influence Ja, show the kid (for truly Ja is still a kid) how to be a real pro.</p><p>Are the Celtics a better team with Porzingis? Only if he can stay healthy and have the same year he had last year with the Wizards. If so, it's not going to be easy beating Boston in the paint. </p><p>The Lakers helped themselves by obtaining Gabe Vincent. They better hustle and sign Reeves. There is still an AD problem to figure out, or a problem with energy and toughness AD himself needs to figure out. He's like a part of his core game is missing, but it is essential. </p><p>What's happening with Hardin? Only the Gods know. No loyalty on his part and not on GM Morey's part either. Hardin took less money last year with the expectation he'd be rewarded this season. Not happening. Perhaps here's the opportunity for a three way trade of some kind to bring Damian Lillard to the 76ers. Just thinking. </p><p>Does the Beale trade make sense for the Suns? Absolutely. They gave up nothing and got one heck of a basketball player with a high IQ in return. I don't like their bench, but they have the rest of the summer to figure out how to find solid vets to fill in around the core of Booker, Beale, KD and Ayton. I've heard a lot of grumbling about Ayton, but he's still young and still 7 feet and can still rim run and block shots. Does he really have to do more with the other three around? Let's all cross our fingers KD stays healthy. </p><p>Do I really care about Kyrie? Not a wink of sleep will I lose over the fate of that Knucklehead. And as the old cliche goes, Leopards don't change their spots, I predict that Kyrie will do something stupid this coming season. I do believe that the Mavericks may have finally found their center. And I applaud them for bringing back Seth Curry. The more space they can create for Doncic the better. Seth can shoot the three. </p><p>Denver lost Brown. They'll miss him. The Pacers will love him. Brown is a hooper. I wouldn't be surprised if Donte DiVincenzo winds up back with the Bucks. They resigned Middleton and now must, MUST, sign Lopez. And Giannis MUST spend all summer perfecting his mid-range jumper. </p><p>That's all dear readers, for the moment. Lot's of trades and deals to come I'm sure. Congrats to the Warriors' nee GM, Donleavy. He's stepping into some big shoes. So with Myers on my mind, I offer a poem I wrote for him after he departed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>THE GROUT IN THE WARRIORS’ MOSAIC</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i> for
Bob Myers, GM of the Golden State Warriors</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><i> </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It's impossible when reading this </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Not to see the function of the man as glue.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Or see that, were it not for him,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Each tile would find it’s way to waywardness.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve been a Warrior and a Warrior fan<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And know the function of each player<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On a team, to a man, must stick together.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s how a team succeeds, how teams win.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s like the writer says, mosaic,<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On their own, as a wall, or ceiling<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Beaufiful as they are, can not survive<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a season. They need grout applied<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">by a steady hand. The craftsman<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">but much more, an artisan who sees<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">an angle butts well against the square,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the square against the trapezoid.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And when fit together into a portrait<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Or a landscape or in the case, less anyone,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Not recognize the subject of this poem,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Bob Myers, stands back and observes<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">With satisfaction of a job well done.<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></div><p>
</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-29907371630190912992023-06-26T17:32:00.000-07:002023-06-26T17:32:10.104-07:00Tommy Smith & John Carlos & etc about the NBA<p> John Carlos, Tommy Smith, Dr Kenneth Noel & Dr. Harry Edwards were honored by inducting the four men into the California Hawaii Legacy Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Sacramento, CA, the city in which I now live. Over the years since Smith and Carlos made history in the 1968 Olympics by raising their black gloved fists on the winners podium as the "Star Spangled Banner "was being played, the two sprinters have gone from national pariahs to heroes of the Civil Rights movement. This is only one of many such awards Smith and Carlos have received, since our country has long ago come to acknowledge the bravery of what they did in 1968. I'm writing this blog to not only remind people of Carlos and Smith, but to remind my readers that their was a third brave soul on the podium that afternoon during the medal ceremony. Below is a poem I wrote in this person's honor;</p><p><b>DOCUMENTARY</b></p><p><b> for Peter Norman (42 -2006)</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I'm reading about fires raging in Australia<br />dark, particle filled smoke hovering over xitiesw and towns<br />images of kangaroos leaping before the rushing flames,<br />eucalyptus trees burning like torches.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>North of th3e fire, my friend's son is working to save lives</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>He writes his parents he is in no danger but Australia is in flames.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Somewhere I read that the continent of Australia </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>contains eleven out of the twelve most poisonous spieces of reptiles on earth.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Their coastal waters teeming with sharks.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>In the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City,</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Peter Norman, an Australian, having won the silver medal</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>stood on the podium with with Americans Tommy Smith and John Carlos</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>when they raised their black gloved fists int the air</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Norman, a white man, wore a badge of solidarity.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Australian Olympic Committee</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>never forgave him for that one act of bravery.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The call them fire storms. The Ausstrains are praying for rain.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Australian Olympic Committee never allowed Norman to run for his country again. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">ETC ABOUT THE NBA</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been thinking about the Golden State Warriors draft and trade. I'm not sure why so many of the talking heads still believe Draymond Green is entertaining leaving the Warriors, if he ever did. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Draymond is going out with the horses he came in with. Jordan Poole is gone replaced by Chris Paul.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Warriors drafted the hot 3 point shooter from Santa Clara University, Brandin Podzienski. The young talented but raw Baldwin II has joined Poole in Washington. In his place the Warriors drafted the 6'9" power forward 22 year old Trace Jackson Davis, the son of Indiana Pacer's power forward Dale Davis. Trace comes in with a grown man's body and can already board and bang. He's got the genes. Podzienski by all accounts sizzle from the 3. And then, we have 18 year NBA All Star Chris Paul coming off the bench to lead a second unit in which these two draft choices will certainly be a part. </div><div style="text-align: left;">If all of the Warriors remain healthy, are the Golden State Warriors a stronger team than last years. </div><div style="text-align: left;">And if you think they are, can they win another championship. I leave you with that question unanswered. Be thoughtful. Do not stress over the lost of a talent like Poole. Remember Monte Ellis who Warrior fans adored was traded and what was the result of that trade? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-41146697134634724632023-06-19T20:05:00.001-07:002023-06-19T20:05:56.508-07:00Dream Whisperer<p> Back in the day in a Warriors vs Lakers' game in Los Angeles, we were ahead of the Lakers by 2 points going into the final seconds of the 4th quarter. Lakers' ball. The ball was in the hands of LA's point guard Dick Barnett. <i>(actually no one called guards points or shooters in those days, just guards)</i> Dick would become legendary years later as a New York Knick and member of the Knicks' two NBA Championship teams. Back to the story. So, there was Dick dribbling the ball up the court, hippity-hop, which was sort of his style of dribbling. He could really "handle" the ball. <i>Modern day translation: Dick Barnett possessed a great handle. </i>With only seconds left on the clock, Dick was moving at a fast pace. I was watching this action unfolding from my position defending Rudy LaRusso standing on LA's baseline. I could see Dick was not going to pass the ball. Dick was being guarded by Al Attles, no slouch on D. Barnett made it as far as midcourt on the corner nearest the announcers' table and within hearing distance of their great play by play broadcaster, Chick Hearn. I thought Al had trapped in that corner. Seconds left, Barnett rose up for a jumper. Dick's jumper was mechanically perfect from the waist up and an awkward hilariously funny kick back looking thing from the waist down. All of us, players, coaches, fans, and ushers saw what happened next. The ball rose back-spinning into the air. It reached it's apex and descended. It is at this point, Dick Barnett turned to Chick Hearn and said. "Baby, we ah in ovahtime." The ball hit nothing but net. We were tied and had to play a 5 minute overtime period. This is one of Chick's favorite stories part of which is also part of my story that I tell in my forthcoming Memoir: <i>They Called Me The Mad Manchurian.</i> I have long forgotten if we won the game in overtime or not. It doesn't matter who won. In my mind Dick Barnett won the game with that shot. There's probably a stat sheet somewhere that would answer the question who won, but who really cares. </p><p>Why am I relating this tale? I just finished watching <i>The Dream Whisperer</i>, the story of Dr. Dick Barnett's successful 9 year quest to get his Tennessee A&I University teams that won 3 consecutive national championships inducted as a team into the Basketball Hall of Fame. It's one hell of a story of determination. And on this Juneteeth day honoring the end of slavery in the United States profoundly appropriate. </p><p>One closing remark. Dick and I are about the same age. I'm 85. I watched Doctor Barnett on the TV screen walking, sort of hunched over with a little hop to his hip in his step. And at first thought Dickie, your getting old, but then realized that's the way Dickie Barnett always walked. He was growing old while he was growing young. Dick Barnett, great shooter, funny man, intelligent and honorable,. Thanks for the memory and memories. </p><p>I never wrote a poem about Dick. I probably should have, but I did write one for his friend and teammate Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. Here it is.</p><p class="MsoNormal">EARL THE PEARL By Tom Meschery</p><p class="MsoNormal"> For Earl Monroe</p><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: initial;"><b>In the rec leagues<br /></b></i><i><b>they called me Black
Jesus.<br /></b></i><i><b>When I walked onto the
court<br /></b></i><i><b>the crowd parted like
the Red Sea.<br /></b></i><i><b>In college, someone
found a rhyme<br /></b></i><i><b>and I became a pearl.<br /></b></i><i><b>I guess I’ve been a
mixed<br /></b></i><i><b>metaphor ever since.<br /></b></i><i><b>Today, when I back a
player<br /></b></i><i><b>down toward the paint<br /></b></i><i><b>and spin into my shot,<br /></b></i><i><b>I know before the ball
leaves<br /></b></i><i><b>my fingers it’s going
in.<br /></b></i><i><b>At that moment I can
heal<br /></b></i><i><b>lepers, raise the dead. </b></i><br /></div>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-30641249754068636312023-06-13T20:43:00.000-07:002023-06-13T20:43:06.040-07:00Good for the Nugget & etc<p> I've always had a warm spot in my heart for the city of Denver. It was there, playing in the AAU basketball tournaments in 1957 as a high school player and during my four years of college, that I demonstrated the skills as a forward that led to my being selected in the first round of the 1961 NBA lottery by the Philadelphia Warriors. In high school I'd played center. No pro team had any use for a 6'6" center. In Denver, I played for the San Francisco Olympic Club that had a 6'10 center, so I played the forward position. It was, as they say these days, huge in my life. So I had no problem, once the Golden State Warriors were eliminated, deciding who I was going to cheer for to win the the 2003 NBA Championship. I was not disappointed. The Nuggets reign as the NBA's champs for 2003. They deserved it.</p><p>Better writers than me have already filled the internet with detailed accounts about how the Denver Nuggets did it, and who the best players were, their attributes, and their best moments. So, I'm not going to rehash old news. Let's leave it that I agree with most of the writers that this Denver team if they keep their core in tact, should compete for the Finals for years to come. All the accolades the players received by the press, I agree, were well deserved. I will not go so far as to agree that Jokic is the greatest player in the NBA today. That he is the greatest center in the NBA today, of course I agree. Greatest player is too broad, just as G.O.A.T is too broad that I can't think in those terms. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time. Michael Jordan was the greatest 1 thru 3 of all time, John Stockton was the greatest point guard of all time. Am I getting my point across? One can say that the Joker is the best passing center of all time, but then I remember one and a half years that Bill Walton played for the Portland Trailblazers and I say to myself, well what if Bill had not injured himself and had a long NBA career? I can say with confidence that Jokic is the best 3 pt shooting center to every play in the NBA so far. </p><p>Since I brought up Bill Walton, I just finished watching ESPN'S 30/30 about Walton called <i>The Luckiest Man in the World.</i> It was an enormously moving film about one of the most fascinating and complicated basketball players that every put on an NBA uniform. Unquestionably Bill was one of the greatest high school and college basketball player that ever played. For the 1976/77 and half of the 1977/78 seasons Bill was the best all-around center in the NBA. I was Lenny Wilkens' assistant coach for Bill's first two years as a Blazer. In both those seasons Bill was injured, so it was all potential until he started paying better attention to his body and getting NBA healthy, which is a whole lot more difficult than just being generally healthy. Lenny and I were fired. Jack Ramsey took over the head coaching job and Bill lead the Blazers to an NBA Championship. If you are a basketball fan, this 30/30 about Walton is a must see. Let me repeat myself about how great a basketball center Bill Walton was, just so it's clear I'm on record. For one and half seasons, Bill Walton was the BEST ALL AROUND center to ever play the NBA. He checked off every skill set that a center should possess to be great. If you watch <i>The Luckiest Man in the World</i>, I'm reasonably sure you'll come away convinced that I'm right. </p><p>Back to the Nuggets for a last word. Keep your team together. Sign Brown. Don't lose the dude, he's a winner. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">T<b>HE SHOT by Tom Meschery</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember the first time you
knew for sure you were the one.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s say <i>the one</i> is all of us in our own way, in
our own time.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It could have been a
playground or a gym, probably a gym.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You shot the ball and watched
its certain flight. How certain?<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You could have turned your
back on it before it fell and shouted,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Like a player I knew, once in
a game did with seconds left<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And down by two let fly and
cried out, “Baby we’re in overtime.”<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He was a star in the NBA
before all of you stars were born.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It wasn’t arrogance. The
words were like an announcement<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Shooters know, don’t they,
when the ball will drop, or not<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s something in the finger
and the eye called <i>touch</i> and <i>sight.<br /></i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Tell me that I’m not right,
that I’m a liar. Tell me the game<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Doesn’t turn magical in that
moment of arch and backspin<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And I’ll stop writing. I know
you can’t, Curry, wearing<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The magician’s hat in The
Garden the night of fifty points.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I watched him through my
crystal ball sail one jumper<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After another over the heads
of the disbelieving fans. </span><br /></b></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></p><p><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-53767530468816056582023-06-08T09:18:00.000-07:002023-06-08T09:18:46.299-07:00Why is No One Talking About About Saudi Murderers Anymore?<p>Monnohan commisioner of the PGA, when the LIV was formed, reminded the Golf World of the murderous history of the Saudi who financially supported the LIV. After the merger Mr. Monohan says he understands that some players will call him a hypocrite. No calling, you ARE a HYPOCRITE. Someone, I dare say, should investigate Commisioner Monohan's bank account. It seems that GREED has won. This is the Pandora's Box Donald Trump opened with his presidency that has consumed our nation that heretofore was able to keep that box if not entiely closed, relatively closed, so that greed and pure self interest did not consume society. The American people must show their patriotism and support of the families of the victims of 9/11 by not watching this new incarnation of professional golf. And product advitisors such a Rolex and Mercedes Benz should withdraw their support of this new league. </p><p>A few quick observations about the NBA:</p><p>What schmuck on The Athletic, yesterday wrote the headline: Joker or Choker? Are you stupid or just thrilled by one liners?</p><p>As great as the Murry and Jokic pick and roll duo is, I'd like to remind writers that Stockton and Malone maintained their greatness over a dozen years I'd also like to remind such writers quick to laud the duo as the reason the Nuggets defeated the Heat last night that the Nuggets would not have won, no matter how great the dynamic duo was, without Bruan and Brown. This pair provided the off the bench scoring, defense and most importantly the GRIT that was lacking in the Nugget lost in the second game in Denver. </p><p>I read that the Suns are thinking of waving or renegotiating the contract of Chris Paul. Smart, given Paul's history lately of injuries, the hardest ones to deal with coming at the crucial time at the end of the seasons when his leadership is most needed. Waiving him is stupid, so renegotiate. The Suns will not find a better point guard in free agency if they are trying to max out the KD/Booker combo before KD starts loosing skills. But, as our present President Joe Biden likes to say, Here's the Deal. Have the Suns done what they can to help Paul reduce his chances of injuries? As a player in the NBA I played through my entire ten year career with groin pulls. There were things we did so that I could play though the pain, But assuming Pual's injury is more serious than mine were, has the Sun's medical staff done everything it can to minimize Paul's tendency to muscle injuries? I'm bettting Paul has less than 8% body fat, which make him vulnerable to such injuries. There is science, but there is also thinking outside the box. Perhaps a little creativity might uncover something that would help Chris Paul. For example, what kind of fitness regimen do ballet dancers employ? Just thinking. </p><p>Not exactly a poem, but an appropriate metaphor for the best Pick and Roll duo of the NBA</p><p>Stockton licks the stamp</p><p> places it on the envelope</p><p>and he Mailman delivers.. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <span> </span> </p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-72176655512002735362023-06-07T07:58:00.000-07:002023-06-07T07:58:00.220-07:00PGA HYPOCRISY & NBA FINALS<p>Yesterday on television, I watched the primo director of the PGA talking about the newly formed LIV sometime after it started and had convinced some ot the PGA's elite players to jump ship. For Big Bucks, needless to say as every sports fan knows. (Phil Mickelson received $200 million, Dustin Johnson, $97 million and Bruce Koepka $69 million dollars.) He didn't waste time to remind the golfing world that this league - the LIV - was solely sponsored by the Saudi government, a government that supported the twin towers bombers and routinely murders its own people. He didn't say it but the message was clear, the money these players were receiving was stained by blood. The league itself was bloody. I remember back then how appreciative the World Trade Center survivors and victims' families were for the PGA's stance.</p><p>Yesterday, those same survivors and victims' families were betrayed. The PGA announced that it would be merging with the LIV. which is to say they will be partners with terrorists and killers. Phil Mickelson stated joyously that it was an amazing day. Yes, Phil, amazing it is that GREED ounce again triumphs over honor, but it is by no means joyful. It is sad and dishonest and unpatriotic. And you have the audacity to call it joyous. Just as the past president our country Donald Trump has the audacity to allow Saudi sponsored golf to be played on his golf courses. Just as the PGA now has the audacity to provide the Saudi government with a world public relations coup. Shame on the PGA. </p><p>Let's be clear, I have no problem with competing leagues. That's fair business practice and we've seen it happen often in the United States. What I object to strenuously is with a league owned by the Saudi government. As most Americans did, on 9/11/2001, I watched Saudi nurtured pilots steer their deadly planes into the Twin Towers in the heart of New York City. Unless the Saudi government divests its entire ownership interests in the LIV, I will never watch PGA golf again. I would hope all Americans to similarly pledge. </p><p>THE NBA FINAL. Now to something truly joyous: basketball. The Heat and the Nuggest are tied. This is a surprise to me. I would have thought the Nuggets would have dominated on the Mile High home court. As it turned out the Heat had other plans. I do recall for responding to some Athletic Writers that the only chance the Heat have lies not with their two stars, Butler and Adebayo but with Vincent, Straus and Martin. I like being right. I do, however, add that Adebayo played the last two games like he was better than Anthony Davis, not a less talented version of AD. He played the entire 50 by 90 feet of the court and Jokic, as great as he is, and his help D, had trouble finding him. I still believe the Nuggets will win, but it is possible it will take 7 games. Here, however, in closing, is a question to ponder. Are these two games of Adebayo an aberration or a new norm? The Heat's centers inconsistent offensive highs and lows have alwasys mystified me. What Heat fans can hope for is that this is the year, in these Finals, that Bam finally internalizes how talented he truly is.</p><p>In honor of the NBA Finals, I offer this poem I wrote about my beloved Dubs.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Ode to the Golden State Warriors 2015 by Tom Meschery<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <br /></span></b><b style="color: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One small change and the line begins: Good luck,</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>timing and the stars. This morning, I'm still seeing<br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Curry’s three float through the sky of the arena</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">reminding me of a lesson in geometry:</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">An arc is a segment of the circumference</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of the circle – from foot (the flat plane of release)</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">that travels in silent degrees over the moon.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That it drops into the hoop is a matter</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">both of mathematics and imagination.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am watching this arc with my arm in a sling</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">having had my shoulder replaced with titanium,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a science of a lesser degree than the one</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Curry, and his teammate, Thompson,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">use to turn mathamatics into a sport.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As far as my titanium shoulder will allow,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I raise my arm to salute the Splash Brothers</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and their teammates, three out of five,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Bogut, Barnes, and Green</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and all the other players off the bench,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">no small part of the equation called teammates.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And raise it up again through pain</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to honor the others: players and coaches,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Gentry, Adams, and Kerr for his coaching</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">that were it not intense, looks much like joy.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Something so old inside me called desire</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">yearns to play again, to shake off years,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">travel through the television screen</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and be six-six again, called undersized</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">like Draymond Green snatching rebounds,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">playing beyond our skills because we will it,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">because we know that timing gives us wings.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And wherever they are, the old Warriors,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Nate and Rick, Al and Jeff, I wonder, if like me,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">they’re watching these new Warriors, Dubs,</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">seeing how luck, timing, and the stars triangulate.</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></i><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">timing, and the stars. This morning I’m still seeing<br /></span></b></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Tom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.com0