One Month Into 2018

It's tough to stay current about sports when you're coughing every two seconds, this damnable respiratory flu getting in the way of my sports. Fie! The flu ended a week ago, and like Jack Nicholson's homicidal character Jack Torrence said in The Shining, "I'm baaaaaaak!"

Current news: Pelican's DeMarcus Cousin's rupturing his Achilles' tendon makes me want to rail against the injustice of Irony, one of the principals, to my way of thinking, that governs the actions of mankind. While I always recognized Cousin's talent (He is/was a force of nature), when he was a Sacramento King, I thought he was childish, melodramatic and a bad teammate. His presence on the on the Kings was disruptive and depressing. But, in New Orleans, it seemed as if the young man was getting his act together: less conflicts with refs, more unselfish play, better attitude. Just when things were changing for the better, irony asserted its presence. Sometimes irony stinks. I wish Boogie a quick and complete recovery.

The increasing contentiousness of players towards referees in the NBA has prompted Commissioner Silver to set up a meeting during All Star break for both sides to air their grievances and suggest solutions. Five to one, it won't work. The problem rests with the NBA office. There needs to be more intense training of officials, and I'm talking INTENSE, with plenty of self criticism as Mao was won't to say from time to time. The refs need to watch tons of game film and to study the moves of players, so on the court they understand what a player is up to.  

They do, they do, they really do watch film, says the league office. 

Balderdash! Referees, I reasonably certain refs do not work as hard honing their refereeing skills as the players do honing their basketball skills. Here's one example of referee error that should have been fixed eons ago, but has persisted in the league, since, horrors, this old dude was playing: Lack of Consistency of Calls. Ask any player who plays or every played in the NBA if this is not true. I capitalize to show how important fixing this single problem would be toward making things better between players and refs. If all players knew how all refs were going to call specific infractions (granted you have to give refs some wiggle room), the players would be less likely to complain. For example, how the hell do refs (the league) interpret a block or a legal screen? I sure can't figure it out. In the world of NBA's pick and roll offense, this needs to be clarified if nothing else is. As far as the players go, they have GOT TO STOP whining about every single frigging call. From the Refs' point of view, its got to be like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, after a while the complaints no longer are believable. So lighten up player, vent only when it's truly called for. And what's with all the hand waving and disgusted smirks. Grow up! Okay, so I used to smirk a little when I played.

Is there a better all around power forward in the NBA than Draymond Green? Not a chance. So glad to see all four of our starters selected as All-Stars.

Speaking of All Star Games, I'm repeating a previous blog where I explained how the NBA could liven up a game that, lacking significant defense, is boring beyond belief. Here's what should happen in my humble opinion, or not so humble one: Create a four point line. Create a five point box four feet by four feet in each of the mid-court corners.

Blake Griffen trade could make the Pistons a serious Eastern Conference Finals contender this season. The Pistons have enough left after Tobias Harris and a player I like very much, Avery Bradly depart. Clippers going more to the perimeter game, that's for sure.

You have to agree with Magic Johnson that any coach, professor, administrator at Michigan State University who had the slightest knowledge of Doctor Nassar's abuse or of any other sexual abuse by any other athletic team members and associates and didn't report it need to be fired, yesterday. Hushed up since 2010, can you believe it? The state of Michigan better gird its loins for the law suits that are going to be filed against it. 

Here's a poem about Magic.

Magic by Tom Meschery

It's a joy watching film of Magic dribbling
the ball or zipping a pass. I'm reminded
of the playgrounds where there was nothing
riding on our games except bragging rights,
the wind in our faces, the wind at our backs ,
sun on asphalt, sweat in our eyes,
a cold beer waiting for us. No regrets
win or loose. Before money and contracts.
I turn to my wife and say look at that smile.
Yes, she says, like a candelabra.