Tough Thoughts and Message to Minority Coaches Tap Dancing

Greetings everyone! That was the nice part of my post today. Here comes the bad part. I am really concerned with a few things I have noticed over the past few months concerning the sport we all love and adore.

Lets start with the transition from college or HS to the NBA. Has the transition been a smooth one for most players? Does that NBA Rookie Program really work? Are they monitoring players and those around them carefully? Are players changing for the bad once they enter the NBA? These are interesting questions, but a better one might just be does anyone really care? Does the NBA care about anything other than the product on the floor at the present time? Yea Yea I know about all the good will, and special programs done by both the NBA and the NBA Players Association. But do they really make a difference? Are they putting efforts into making sure players in the league do not waste away or waste the money they earn?

My thoughts on this are based on talking to many people over a 3 month period as well as reading articles about ex NBA players who were rich and now are broke, in jail, or in some cases died way too early. Recently read how Ray Williams, ex toast of NY and a guy who made a lot of money went from living in Englewood Cliffs in a million plus dollar home to living in his car in Florida. Now he has to take some of the blame. But who were his mentors? Who guided him from his rookie time in the NBA? Oddly I remember Ray Williams as  a hard working nice young man growing up in Mount Vernon NY in a loving family. What happened?

How about the 5 time NBA All Star who was an avid Church goer throughout HS growing up in Connecticut. His family was very religious as was he. He even sang in the Church Choir and might have played an instrument or two. This guy was such a great and nice young man! His story? He got caught up in the NBA lifestyle! He went from home to playing at a low D1 college and grew into a first round draft choice. He made over 120 million in his career and now has almost nothing. He went from Church boy to hiring hookers, to blowing one million dollars gambling, to just being out of control. Remember this was a GREAT KID who went to church and more. Did he participate in a rookie development program when entreating the NBA? I am sure he did! But evidently he and others like him needed more.

How about all the bankrupt ex NBA players back living at home with Mommy and Daddy? How about all the great kids who have been swept off their feet by slick agents and groupies? What is in place to stop this from happening?  And agent wise, most are in it as a business and that is OK. What is not OK is the players are treated like cattle or something to use only for a financial gain. Trust me I know many, and the majority of the ones I know have done a lot of illegal stuff to gain introductions and eventually represent the potential first and second round draft choices as well as those destined for large European contracts.

What is really interesting is how they continue to trot out ex players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan as success stories. For every Magic Johnson there are 10 ex players who made money and have very little or nothing to show for it. For every clean cut Larry Bird there are many who suffer from depression, drug habits, and often turn to crime. For every successful Michael Jordan there are many unsuccessful ex Stars working for minimum wage.

Maybe it is time for the NBA to re-think the programs for players. Maybe there should be programs in place for every player with one mandatory session each year at the All Star Break in each NBA City? Maybe the NBA needs better security and a better agent policy? I know for certain the NCAA and NBA need to work better together to control agent activity on college campuses. Maybe there should be an open period for agents and those affiliated with agents to attend games on campuses. Have them sit in a certain section and require them to leave shortly after conclusion of the game. All should be screened by the college athletic department, etc. And to do a contract for a player an agent should be approved by the Players Association and the NBA!

I am so concerned about this based on what  I have read as well as what I have seen. I continue to see ex players walking the streets of America without jobs, careers, money, and often in poor health. I see them using past history to gain favors and even beg for loans, One ex NY NBA darling is known for showing up at HS games that bring out college coaches to beg for money he used for a special habit if you know what I man. And this guy was a great guy who volunteered and coached kids even when he was a College 1st Team All American. We need to fix this system now and not later. It is almost like the Romans and Gladiators in the arena. Great entertainment but at what expense!

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A Message To The Black Coaches Association and Black Coaches who read my Blog.

I am asking everyone to bear with me on this posting that is open to everyone to read. But I must call this group out over recent developments. So nothing personal, just my feelings and thoughts.

Let me start by saying what the heck are you folks doing? What is your purpose? I am not only talking about the BCA, I am talking about Black Coaches in general! Why are you guys so scared to assist those in need?

Let me start with the BCA. it seems to me that there is little or no concern about the large number of coaches losing jobs at colleges all over the country. Do you even care or do you just like having a convention to get away and relax and party while gossiping? How could you guys have an organization and sit back and watch many of your colleagues suffer mentally and financially despite being good and decent people. How come there is not any REAL employment referral system? How come you guys continue to look the other way as many of your colleagues are mistreated and scorned for no apparent reason? I guess the old saying "Give Them Positions and some money and they will be quiet" is real and alive!

It is a great thing to see when a non minority loses his or her position and gets hired by a friend the next week. I look at the ex Seton Hall assistant who was hired by another local D1 school when the SHU Head Coach was fired. Oddly Dermon Player, another SHU Assistant, who just happens to be Black, cannot even get a return phone call from guys in the BCA as well as Black coaches he assisted for years while coaching Riverside Church. What did Dermon do that makes a BCA member not even return his calls?  Dermon needs to have a great memory on this because he will rise again and be around players others want to recruit. You would think he would get at least encouraging words from BCA members who are in position to hire or influence.

How about Todd Boozeman? Out of coaching for 10 years by following the footsteps of others he learned from. No help! No assistance! He had to start coaching AAU to stay in the game. Now he has built a great program a Morgan State, a perennial loser in the MEAC conference and still cannot get a bite from other schools in larger conferences. Are you kidding me? Guy is a winner and made some mistakes. Yet his fellow minority coaches never even bothered to reach out to assist him by offering him a job.

Let me show you the way it should be done. Jim Calhoun is a winner at UConn. he was a winner at Northeastern. He developed kids and built programs. But he had a friend who lost big at Seton Hall because he might not had been right for the job. That friend was fired and attended camps all summer looking for opportunities. What did Jim Calhoun do? He hired George Blaney as an Assistant. Blaney is now the Associate Head Coach at UConn. His friend saved him! And George has become a coaching model others have tried to duplicate.

No such story with BCA members! Very few Minority coaches who are successful tend to reach out and assist other minority coaches in  trouble. It is a saying that if you make a mistake as a minority coach you could be out for 10 years (Todd Boozman). Make a mistake as a non minority and you land on your feet very quickly through your friends network (Larry Eustacy).  Bob Knight can call people all type of names, throw chairs, and cuss like a sailor at press conferences and his fellow coaches, especially the non minority ones, still embrace him and are proud of him. Let a minority coach do something embarrassing and other minority coaches will run away like they are trying to qualify for the Olympics and hide out like they are on the $10,000,000 version of that new TV show called Basketball Coaches Hide and Seek. It is almost like you guys are scared to be seen or work with people who look like you! I am shocked when I see a minority coach hire two minority assistants.  They hopefully are hiring people who are  the most qualified and Not just friends. And that is the way it should be! But I am still shocked!

Wayne Morgan worked all over the country. He has a tremendous track record of accomplishments. Helped Syracuse get almost every good NYC player they wanted as an Assistant. Went on to become a Head Coach at both Long Beach State and Iowa State. Wayne was out of the business for a while. Not sure if that was his doing or he could not get a sniff. Where were all of his friends from The BCA? He would have been a great candidate to become the Associate Head Coach to many of the so called super minority coaches. He could have been to them what Blaney is to Calhoun. Never happened! Now he is 2nd Assistant at Hofstra and they will benefit from having him there.

How about Ray Haskins the ex LIU Head Coach who took LIU to the NCAA and NIT in back to back years? He cannot get a sniff. Even the MEAC and CIAA schools which are predominantly Black have not accepted him. What did he do but win and develop a program to the point they had to build a new gym/arena to handle the crowds that were attending games. Funny thing is he was hurt by people inside because they wanted his job based on it becoming attractive, which it was not prior to his arrival. LIU has not won since he left! And most likely will not!

I can go on and on about this and the lack of respect Minority Coaches have for each other. I could also give names of some who have really turned their backs on others because they are and have always been tap dancing and  scared of their shadow type individuals who after getting high level positions became paranoid. Heck it is easier for a non minority to get a job at a MEAC or CIAA school than it is for a person of color.

Those that fall into this category, and you know who you are, need to be ashamed of yourself! To NOT return phone calls, to not offer advice, to not help those that look like you and are good at what they do you in your profession gain employment, and to just smile and tap dance as coaches suffer is wrong.

I hope the grass roots people understand what is happening and realize who are really for them and the kids they work with. If anyone reading this wants a list they can contact me at LFBall@aol.com.

Glad To Be back

It has been a long time since I have posted my thoughts. That will change as we get closer to the college and HS basketball season. Those who know and understand me realize I only post when I have something to say. Because I am not a "Real Writer" and this is just a hobby, I tend to not comment much over the summer months. But again we are getting ready to have a great college basketball season in the TRI State area of NY and Pennsylvania. So everyone needs to put on their seat belts for what could finally be a great ride.

Rutgers

I would like to acknowledge Rutgers University and new Coach Mike Rice. I knew Mike Rice years ago when he was a staff member with the Hoop Group. Also remember him playing with a young man I worked with who attended Fordham University at the same time as Coach Rice. That would be Jean Preliou (sp) who was a terrific point guard who played years overseas and now is a D1 Assistant. Just too bad Jean has forgotten his roots according to many. Well none of that this morning but plenty in the future. You folks know me!

Coach Rice was always a hard working and nice guy. My son even remembered him from the days at the Providence Hoop Festival. I am sure Mike Rice does not remember me at all. But one thing for sure, he has left no stone unturned in getting Rutgers back in the positive light with many people who were becoming very non supportive, and yes that included me. I even received a call from an Assistant I always liked who told me the COACHES at Rutgers were not allowed to call or communicate with a certain group of people and I was on that list. Well, it seems Coach Rice has no such list and is making efforts to get RU back on track. And personally I love it, want it, and cannot wait for it to happen! We need Rutgers to be good. They could just develop into a very good program under Coach Rice from what I have heard and witnessed in the past months.

Though I wanted Fran or Skinner for the Job at Rutgers over Coach Rice based on what I felt Rutgers needed, I always felt Rice was capable and a good candidate for the position. Just shows that Rutgers knew what they were doing thus far.  And once Coach Rice was hired, he goes out and gets a great staff that can recruit the entire eastern seaboard. He has a guy who can get in with many people in NYC, and points going north. He has a person who can do well in Washington DC and points south. He has a guy who knows NJ and PA and was loved by EVERYONE for years and now seems back to his old self. He has himself and the many connections he has established over the years. All I can say is RU is heading in the right direction. And they are getting good players to consider and COMMIT!

Now I will do the typical LFBall thing and question the University about commitment to better basketball facilities. FIX UP THE RAC! New floor will be nice but how about better seating, and sound. At least do that!

Seton Hall

Seton Hall excites me beyond believe. I do not care what people say, this team is loaded with talent and toughness. I honestly feel they could beat any team in the Big East. I also feel they will have a rocking good time at the Prudential Center in Newark. That joint will be jumping if the Pirates play hard and together, which is Kevin Willards job to get them to do.

There could be  a problem with multiple guys thinking money contracts and the NBA while playing. If some of them know scouts from NBA teams are watching, and there will be many days of this, it could be problematic unless they realize they have to stay tight as a team. The NBA will be there, but the NBA loves winners. Not too many guys from losing programs are drafted. Especially selfish guys!

The new players along with the returnees make this team one to follow. Honestly I see them in every game they play, no matter who they are playing. This season could be one of the best in Seton Hall history.

Now lets talk recruiting or the lack of it. Seton Hall is doing a very good job. But many kids want to play from the time they step on the court. Looking at the kids in the program, courtesy of Bobby Gonzalez and Demon Player, many would turn down SHU based on feeling the playing time will not be there. Of course the Hall will lose a few starters after this season,  but some of the young players are better than people realize. And the kids being recruited understand this. At Rutgers there is an abundance of playing time available. Thus the early commitments! At Seton Hall the playing time picture is more cloudy.

I still am not thrilled with the coaching staff at SHU. I think Willard will do fine and so will the others who are Assistants. Just do not see that lead recruiter guy who can get after it like guys from other BE schools will. Honestly Shahee Holloway should tear up Northern NJ and NY recruiting wise. Time will tell. The other guys on the SHU staff are very unfamiliar to me. I really think John Morton would have been a great person to get for one of the positions.

This team should do well this season based on WILLARD and his ability to coach talent. And the talent is there to make a huge statement not only locally, but nationally as well.

St. Johns

Many people are sleeping St. Johns, which most likely is fine with Coach Steve Lavin. Based on that, I can see, Coach Lavin walking away with Metro Coach of the Year at the conclusion of this years college basketball season.

The talent, thanks to Norm Roberts, is very good and close to what Seton Hall has. The problem is and has been for a few seasons, consistency in how they compete and play. What St. Johns team will show up? This St. Johns team has some tremendous talent and a very good coaching staff. Not as good as predicted, but very good nonetheless. They have all the bases covered recruiting wise, and a marketing head coach who will generate great interest.

My first prediction on this team is they will sell out many games at Alumni Hall or Louie Arena, or what ever they call where they play in Jamaica Queens. I also predict if they get off to a good start they will have some great Madison Square Garden crowds, especially if they are smart enough to play Seton Hall at The Garden this season.

Recruiting wise I am not impressed. I feel they turned down a good local kid and very good player in Ronald Roberts who will wear an NBA uniform one day after his playing days are over at St. Joe's in Philly. The recruits they have coming in are OK. I always loved what John Chaney told me years ago. He said for him to take a kid from further than 2 hours away from Philly, the Kid had to be a hell of a player! He said he could get decent kids all over the greater Philly area, Delaware and NJ. I agree with that and have yet to see SJU get in on many of the better local guys. If they are getting a kid from California, I question just how much potential he has because if he was that great, UCLA and USC would have road blocks at Airports and on all roads stopping him from leaving. No knock on the kid, just wondering if he will live up to the hype?

But all in All I feel St. Johns is ready to climb back to the top media wise in the NY Metro area. The Seton Hall vs SJU game should be great if they are playing this season. I know the BE has so many teams they might do something different schedule wise.

Other Teams

Monmouth, the mid major sleeping giant went out and recruited the type of players they always have recruited. Nice suburban players similar to those they get from Christian Brothers Academy. Good luck to them because a lot of coaches are following them closely for reasons we all understand. New Arena, great support when they win, great location, very good school. Like I said, sleeping mid major giant!

Binghamton made a very smart move by hiring Ron Brown from FDU. Guy is a true gentleman who will assist Mark Macon on and off the court. Ron is loved by everyone and now has worked in the coaching business for over 20 years including a stint as head coach at Florida A&M University. Tremendous pick-up! Too bad he is not there with Julius Allen because the two of them together would have turned NY and NJ upside down. Funny how when one door closes (FDU) a BETTER ONE OPENS (Binghamton). And if people have never seen a Binghamton game they are missing a treat. Those games sell out and they are everything FDU games should be but are not.

Delaware

All I will say is WHAT HAPPENED? This was the best Mid Major program on the East Coast for years. This is the year or else from what I hear. Same guys watching Monmouth are watching Delaware. Great university, great location, great fan support when they are doing well.

Tidbits

Spoke to a few folks about certain guys not even getting return phone calls when inquiring about open positions. One guy whose name keeps coming up is Dermon Player. Sources tell me he cannot get a single bite. Yet the other Assistant who worked with him at SHU has landed on his feet. I wonder why? I think many are missing the boat with Dermon because he brings a lot to the table. He would be a tremendous asset to many programs. Just funny how he is searching for employment based on feelings about a guy he worked for. Not right in my book! Funny how some guys can get fired and be employed in two weeks by friends who are coaches while others cannot get a sniff, even from people who they assisted years ago. I hope Dermon gets back into the Metro Hawk Program, develop some kids who go on to become Micky D All Americans, and remember the way he was treated and by whom. Honestly, those who have not even returned his calls might just be in trouble because Dermon still has a lot of pull in NYC with the major AAU programs.  He would have been very good at Iona, but they took the HS Assistant instead.

Looks like all that sneaker money from years ago is disappearing. I wonder what happened? Maybe they realized running camps and supplying AAU teams with funding did not necessarily translate to sneaker sales or a guarantee future professionals would wear a certain brand of sneaker. Of course the economy also has played a part in this development.

Well, thats it for now. Look for more thoughts from me on a more regular basis from this point on. I am now on my way to NYC to get some St. Johns tickets. Then it is off to Seton Hall to purchase tickets. And this hurts me to say but...................I will then go to Piscataway to buy a few tickets. Have to squeeze into those tiny hard seats lol.

Just On My mind!

Monday morning and reflecting on the basketball scene as I sip on a nice cup of tea. Lets start with the NBA.

People are saying David Stern should be upset with what Labron James did with the 1 hour special last Thursday. I find that quite funny because what David Stern is upset about is HE DID NOT THINK ABOUT DOING THIS HIMSELF. Trust me in the future the free agent sweepstakes will be on TNT with major sponsors and David Stern himself on the microphone announcing who is going where because in the future David, being the smart guy he is, will have everyone announce on the same day. I am sure he really was all over some of his senior advisers for not thinking about doing this earlier and hates the fact they missed out on a huge revenue day with multiple sponsors.

Back to Lebron James and the others. Lebron had a right to sign where he wished. I for one am very surprised it was with Miami and not back with Cleveland. I guess when you make the money that these guys make, an extra twenty five million is just a drop in the bucket. All those ex NBA players struggling out there must be wondering why they were born so early lol. I would have loved Lebron James and others to give back to a fund for disadvantaged ex players and NBA employees. Maybe they can get the old Maurice Stokes game up and running at a location such as NY or Miami with all proceeds including sponsor money going to a special fund!

Playing wise I commend Lebron, Wade, and Bosh for all making this happen. But I doubt they will be the super power winning 5 NBA titles in 7 years. In fact I doubt they will win one in the next 4 years. They will however be a sell out at arenas across the country with 2 2/3 super stars and a bunch of USDBL type players on the squad. The real winners here are Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer, the ex Duke stand out who is being paid more than anyone would have expected when he came out of college years ago. When the 3 amigos hooked up together it opened the bank vault for others because on a PR tip teams had to do something to prove they were attempting to improve their teams.

Jordan Farmer to the Nets? WOW! Why? They did not get Labron or anyone similar but they got Farmer! Nuff said!

The Knicks have reclaimed the NY metro area with the Amar'e Stoudemire acquisition. Trust me this is huge and many feel he is really better than Bosh! However please note the Knicks took a huge chance on this one, and much because of the PR factor, because not many teams were really interested based on the past condition of his leg. In fact many say the leg could not even be insured so if he goes down the Knicks will just loose the money the paid him. But if that leg holds up he will be a great addition to The Knicks.

Last NBA thought because I really am not a professional basketball fan but had to watch this past year because the local college scene was so dreadful. The Cleveland owner is human as is Labron. He has a right to be upset and express his thoughts any way he wishes. As a person who has experienced discrimination I get upset when guys take what he said and makes it into a racial thing! What he said had nothing to do with race!!!! He would have said the same thing if it was Larry Bird, or the Johnny Rocket the high flying 6 ft 11 forward from Mars who can jump, shoot, pass, and defend. Do not let the green skin fool you. Special announcement about him on TNT hosted by David Stern.

College and HS Basketball

I wonder how The University of Miami feels with all the NBA hoopla in the city? I would bet it will impact attendance. However that impact will be negative because everyone is embracing the Heat. The University of Miami has now moved down to the B Team category from JV. Even Luke will be more involved with the Heat in the future lol. I do think the hoopla will help Miami recruitment wise. All eyes have been on Miami for the past couple of days and the Miami Coaches are most likely milking the situation to the fullest.

Seems all quiet on the St. Johns front. I still say they are going to regret the day they let Ronold Roberts go to St. Joe's in Philly. But we all know St. Johns has returned to the sexy Status in the area they had years ago. With great returning talent, thanks to Norm Roberts, they will be a great team to follow. But thus far I see no headway into the homes of the elite recruits needed for St. Johns to get to the next level of the Big East. Still waiting for that top 20 type guy to commit!

Seton Hall is loaded! Willard could have not planned a better start for himself in his dreams. This team has no excuses. The talent is there thanks to Bobby Gonzales and Dermon Player and the experience factor is in their favor. The marketing department at Seton Hall should be working over time in an attempt to lift that curtain a notch or two this season and attract 13,000 fans to many games. I for one am very interested in seeing what the Pirates do this season. The talent is really in place for a special type of season!

Rutgers seems to have a very good staff in place and willing to work. The question is will Mike Rice be that Ambassador Rutgers needs all over the State of NJ and into NY and Pennsylvania?

Great staff in place with connections from the south to the north. Looking forward to running into Coach Rice this summer somewhere and seeing how approachable he is after watching the ex coach change right in front of our eyes from being a great personable guy to a paranoid person who no one could talk to and a guy who told his assistants who they could and could not speak with. Unfortunately the talent is not there for them to do much. But maybe Coach Rice will make them that special Providence type team Rick Pitino had years ago. Anything is possible. Those Rutgers kids might decide to leave everything on the floor and steal a bunch of games they would normally lose. Nowhere to go but up at Rutgers. Still waiting for the RAC facility improvement plan and really Hope they will do something soon. It is almost a crime what that place has become appearance and attendance wise.

FDU does not renew Associate Coach Ron Browns Contract!Classy guy who deserved better and got it. Ron Brown is now an Assistant at Binghamton University. Shows good guys sometimes land on their feet at better locations than where they were. Ron was hired based on Mark Macon remembering him from his days playing at Temple and Ron always being encouraging to all A10 players while at West Virginia. Ron Brown is CLASS with a capital C.

John Morton to Fordham? GREAT MOVE for everyone involved! I love John Morton and what he brings to the table. This guy is such a winner and will always be a favorite player to me going back to his days playing for Sol Frazier at Walton HS in the Bronx. John was classy then, classy at Seton Hall, and Classy at St. Peters. Go get them John!

Speaking of Fordham. Whats up with the GYM? A10 and a old matchbox gym? Please! That will always stop them from getting the very good A10 recruits. How do they compete for players being right off Fordham Road near the South Bronx Boarder? Yes the academics are GREAT! But kids love facilities more than anything else. how about 4 games a year in Madison Square Garden. How about working with the city to build a 10,000 seat arena in the Bronx for the entire boro to share? Well at least they have a very good coaching staff in place with Tom Picora in charge.

Iona? Iona fans can dog me and anyone else all they wish. As person who has ALWAYS talked about the great benefits of a Iona degree, especially for basketball players, I still feel they are behind the 8 ball and should have put together a better basketball staff. I will however wait until they play before saying anything else about them. But I will say it must be nice to go from HS Assistant to D1 Assistant without ever serving on a D1 staff anywhere. Especially with so many experienced guys looking for employment. Again not as much a knock on the person hired as it is on the process.

Manhattan? Will this be the year Manhattan returns to past glory? Will the Head Coach regret he did not join Steve Lavin at St. Johns? Again I hear the Head Coach at Manhattan is one of THE GREAT GUYS in College Basketball.

Monmouth and its new basketball facility is waiting for a winning team and fans flocking to games in record numbers. Will this be the year? Everyone is watching and many coaches are very interested in a school that has the potential to be the best mid major program on the east coast.

Hofstra? All I can say is they were smart enough to hire Wayne Morgan as an Assistant and that along with Steve Demeo (sp) alone will make them very good. Now Steve will hopefully not bolt to LaSalle which wants him very badly.

HS

Loved the story on Johnny Mathis in NYC Daily News. One of the great guys in NYC basketball and a guy I am proud to have as a friend. I hope he feels the same way about me lol.

Ran into new Rice Head Basketball Coach Dwayne Mitchell at an event on Saturday night. Had a nice talk with him and think we both see some things different. He will be an outstanding Coach and hopefully continue the tradition at Rice HS that has gone on years dating back to Dean The Dream Meminger and Charlie Yelverton and the big guy Lionheart (sp) who attended Georgia.

Thoughts

It has been a while since I have posted. Here are some thoughts on various items that I have thought about.

I said it years ago and people laughed. I said often that Hamady N'diaye of Rutgers would one day be drafted by an NBA team. Well my prediction happened and despite very little fanfare over the years he emerged as a 2nd round draft choice. Like people say as kids "Told You So."

I noticed that the number of International players drafted in the first round is down from years ago. I guess NBA General Managers are now smart enough to know a 18 year old from Europe is not the same as a seasoned USA player in most cases. Glad to see that international trend end!

Scotty Renolds not even drafted? This might just be a blessing to him in the long run. Now he chooses where he wants to go and attempt to make a team. I predict he will play many years in the NBA and some GM will be sorry they did not draft him!

Who is advising all these guys to come out early? Mickey Mouse? Such greed by many so called agents really is hurting the players and college basketball. To be a 2nd round pick is not a guarantee of making a team. Lots of similar players all over summer leagues wishing to this day they had done it different. Hello to both Mr. Cooks, ex NYC Playground Legends.

John Calipari is so interesting. He says this is the greatest day in Kentucky basketball history! Is he kidding or did someone slip something into his diet coke? He should be called on the carpet for two reasons. How do you not win the NCAA Championship with 5 1st round players on your team? He should have been in hiding from embarrassment. Academically the President of The University of Kentucky should be furious with this 1 and done thing Calipari is doing. Kentucky is in horse farm country and that's just what the basketball program is doing, Breeding basketball players using the University of Kentucky facilities. I wonder if anyone cares that those kids might never be able to understand contracts or function as regular folks when careers are done. To have 4 1st year players and 1 Jr. leave at the same time was academically embarrassing. I guess Kentucky only cares about winning and making money! Sad!!!!!!!

I also love the way Calipari uses the media. He is front and center for cameras making statements and gaining photo opts that every HS player in the country will see. Than he makes statements such as "My Wife says he is like a son." Talk about using the media to recruit for you, he is the master! The NCAA should stop this from happening. They are promoting 1 and done and that academics are just not that important. Honestly the HS to NBA rule needs to be looked again. Maybe it is not that bad after all.

Labron James to Knicks? I doubt it! When will they realize that the current coach is so wrong for the Knicks, and for the NY Metropolitan Area? This guy needs to be in the Southwest somewhere. I cannot even imagine LaBron being comfortable talking to this guy.

How could the area teams pass on Lance Stephenson? Who is in charge? oops forgot who is coaching the Knicks.

HS Information

A very good comment on a recent blog post suggested Jerome Smart was not the first choice for the Teaneck HS coaching vacancy. I honestly cannot imagine who would have been a better candidate than Jerome Smart unless Kevin Boyle, Danny Hurley, and Bob Hurley all applied. I did like Donald Osbourne as a future coach but not sure if he was really interested. Jerome brings alot to the table and will continue where Curtis left off while providing more post HS opportunities as well as exposure for his players. This was not a good choice, it was a great choice.

By the way I often thought about Curtis March screaming etc. It bothered me and later I realized how wrong I was! Ever hear the other top coaches in NJ? The top coaches in NYC? They all say things I cannot repeat here. ALL OF THEM! It is the passion they have for coaching and getting players to compete better.

In later years I realized how wrong I was and what an impact he made on the kids. I am so grateful for all Coach March did for my son and many others as a caring coach who took Teaneck to heights not imagined by anyone. He was far from the typical 3 to 5 Bergen County public school coach. I for one am sad to see him go. But at the same time so thankful Jerome Smart will head this great public school program in future years.

Lastly those kids that did not attend Teaneck went other places for reasons other than Curtis. They were pushed by people with no real idea of what they were doing. They were also looking at the grass being greener. Patterson Catholic is nowhere near the academic school Teaneck is, and we understand Teaneck has issues. I doubt Coach Smart will need to recruit as other do because Teaneck is a basketball town with one of the best feeder systems in the state at the Richard Rodda Center which runs youth basketball leagues on two beautiful indoor courts.

Dwayne Mitchell to Coach Rice HS in Manhattan

Coach Mitchell is a no nonsense type guy who rarely seems to smile. However he is destined for coaching greatness because one thing he can do well is COACH! Guy has been a great coach for years even with his younger Gaucho teams. Parents knew their kids were in great hands with him and he would be a responsible and caring person who would keep the kids safe and together as they traveled to various tournaments often playing 3 games in one day. Still remember him at Milbank after his young 13 year old team had played. He had them all sit on the bench together and eat lunch before heading to another part of the city in a semi formation for the next game. no less than 8 future D1 players was on that young team!

However, I do hope Coach Mitchell understands that as quick as he moves up, he could move down. So in the spirit of Moe Hicks, who always acknowledged everyone as if they were long lost friends, he needs to pick up his head and learn to smile and be cordial to those he knew when he was coaching the young kids. Nuff said!

WEEKEND TIDBITS

Lakers Win

Great win for the LA Lakers over the Boston Celtics. However it still amazes me how people use the "We" when describing NBA teams they follow. We have to win the next game or We will pull it out, etc. Great being a fan but where is the real affiliation? Do these fans actually think those NBA or NFL players really care about representing them as citizens of that city on the front of their uniforms?

Heck Nate Robinson looked like a 5 year Celtic the way he was into the games and that is OK. All the players put alot into the game performance and play with pride. But we should never get it twisted, they are professionals playing for dollars and not good old state university, area high school, or really the city on the front of their uniform. Pick a team to enjoy. Follow the team. Enjoy the game. But keep in mind they represent an organization and owner more than the city.

That brings me to college fans. I fully understand people taking pride by becoming die hard fans. Just attending a college for two semesters gives you a history and a base to support and follow. Graduate and it is really your school playing. This is what is great about college athletics. In the NY area all the schools seem to have sincere and very knowledgeable fans. I would bet many coaches sometimes wish the fans were not as knowledgeable. A great fan to many coaches is that person who worships the coach and sees him as a person who can do no wrong. I would bet most college coaches, especially the younger coaches, read the Internet daily including message boards and blogs. I know for a fact many read this blog and some have even called me on occasion to complain or at the least had someone else call. If it was up to many, there would be no message boards or bloggers.

The true fans are what makes college sports so special. Though many student athletes get perks that we know about but look the other way, most people look at them as amateur's playing for good ole state u. Just young kids competing and representing the University!

However to the University it is big business. It is not as much about developing young men and young ladies as it is about winning and making money for non revenue sports, the new science building and university advertising. It is the reason the transfer rules are ridiculous. Schools need to hold on to certain players they feel will benefit them. They would let a bench warmer on scholarship transfer to a rival down the street. But a star player needs to get a Presidential Pardon to change schools. Thus the case at Monmouth University.

Though I feel kids need to be loyal to schools that give them an opportunity when they were not highly recruited, they should not be held hostage in a program that seems not to care or willing to accept being average at best. I look at the Monmouth situation two ways. For the transferring player the grass might look greener than it really is and he could wind up playing far less minutes and having a much smaller role at the school he transfers to. What happened to staying with who gave you an opportunity when you were not well thought of as a player. Now all of a sudden everyone wants you. On the other hand what is going on at Monmouth for this kid to run like he is doing. What made a kid who loves basketball just walk away from the sport to play intramural frisbee at a D3 school? Very interesting! Maybe it is just a coincidence.

It seems to me no one is really watching what is going on at Monmouth. Waine Szoke where are you? I continue to say Monmouth should be one of the top mid major programs in America. No excuses because they have all the ingredients. Great facilities, great campus, beach nearby, great academics, great college area, outstanding fan base when they do well. So what has happened?

Seems from the outside looking in no one is under pressure to win or achieve. I am sure the Coach knows his stuff, But in no way should they be what they have been for the past few years. Does the President know they have a team? I know that has been the case at FDU for many years. Never figured Monmouth was the same. Why build the new arena if you do not care or expect to win? Just build a huge Rec Center for intramural sports. Make it state of the art, etc. After all, with what they are putting on the floor they could not fill half of the old building and that building was really not that bad. I would bet Rider would love to send special trucks to lift the old Monmouth Facility and transfer it to the Rider campus.

Well, enough on Monmouth. Stevie Wonder can see that they need to change some things. Or maybe Stevie is the actual President.

Kids Visiting Area Colleges

Still waiting for the big bang at local colleges recruiting wise. Will the kids now stay home? Will any stud type players turn down the perks at some of those other places, if you know what I mean, to attend school locally? Or a better question might be will some area schools find ways to offer perks if they have not done so in the past? Lets see what happens. We are watching and listening.

Best Teams in Area next Season

1. Seton Hall

2. St. Johns

3. Hofstra

4. Rutgers

5. Fordham

6. Manhattan

7. Iona

8.

9.

10.

I really think both Seton Hall and St. Johns will be best Big East Teams in NY, NJ, and Connecticut. I feel they will beat both Syracuse and UConn this season. Bobby and Norm sure did not leave the programs without very good talent.

Iona at number 7? We are watching Iona very closely lol. Have some thoughts but will wait to share after watching more closely.

Teaneck HS Basketball Coach

I have gotten at least 5 emails from various people asking me my thoughts on Jerome Smart being named Head Coach at Teaneck HS.

I have known Jerome for many years from a distance. Never had much to say to him since Jimmy Solmon was my real contact and a person I spoke with often. But from what I have seen Coach Smart is very impressive. I never even considered him as a candidate when we were trying to figure out who would get the position. We thought it would be the ex Bloomfield Tech guy and that excited many of us. We thought it would be Donald Osbourne the Dwight Morrow girls coach and that also was an exciting thought because this guy will be legendary one day. We even felt the job could go to a college assistant. But no one even thought about Jerome Smart.

One thing we all wanted was a guy who could continue and expand on what Curtis March did at Teaneck. He made Teaneck HS a state wide name and one that college recruiter respected. Teaneck, a middle class community was the first school district in America to voluntarily integrate it's school district many years ago, always had good teams. When Coach March took over they became a GOOD PROGRAM with many kids going to D1 and D2 schools after Teaneck. They also won State and sectional titles and were regulars on state top 20 lists. We were scared that Teaneck would just name a care taker of the program, or someone who would not put time and effort into keeping the program on at least the level it is currently on.

To our surprise Jerome Smart is named the Head Coach. And WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE IT WAS. I say it was an OUTSTANDING CHOICE, and Teaneck really hit a home run with this. Yes a Home run!!!!!!!! Jerome will do all that Curtis did and maybe more based on college contacts, AAU contacts, style of play, level of competition, schedule they eventually play, and placement of kids in college. I am so excited I might have to move back and get my grandson Logan to enroll in 14 years since Danny Hurley is no longer at St. Benedict's.

If you watch Coach Smart coach his all star 17 and under Playaz teams you will notice a fairness and loyalty factor. You will see a bunch of kids who respect him and want to play for him. It will be no different at Teaneck. This guy is loved but more importantly admired. The days of kids running off to the Catholic schools could be over. Teaneck will continue in the great tradition of Curtis March and remain a serious state contender.

Random Thoughts

I guess this summer basketball thing is just getting too large for the average fans. I still remember going to events that were held at the same location all day long for 3 days. The younger players would stay and watch the older players and dream. Now it is about expansion and the dollar, or at least it seems this way.

People have turned what used to be a commitment to assisting our youth into full time careers and profit making ventures. I am not complaining, just explaining. At one time many people worked hard at jobs during the day and in the evening and on weekends they worked for free mentoring young men and women in sports activities. All of a sudden much of this became big business or at the least big ego's.

Teams went from having local players who had tee shirts as uniforms to now having kids from all over a 200 mile radius who are outfitted with the best uniforms with matching sneakers and even over coats. I have even seen some higher profile teams play games with the parents on the side line with matching sneakers because that particular travel team had so many good players the sneaker companies funded them at a level better than high schools. These sneaker companies at one time paid some travel team coaches more than regular high school coaches earn to coach sports. I do have to say some of the travel team guys were head and shoulders better than many HS guys I have watched coach based on passion for the game alone.

In recent weeks we have heard about ticket scalping ventures at Kansas and other places. Not sure if the allegations are true. But the rumors of those type of activities across the country with travel team involvement has been out there for years. These activities were in addition to the old exhibition game opportunities provided to various travel team programs to play against good ole U as a reward for past or even future assistance. Many did not know some of those travel teams received thousands of dollars to play and lose by 40 points with washed up ex players, many supplied by the host school.

All this is part of what I have referred to earlier in this post. The money involved in amateur sports is something right out of a book that could be entitled "Making Money while Assisting Kids." This goes back to comparing the way youth sports were, and the way they are now.

Some examples:

Average at best players and parents are paying thousands to personal basketball trainers in the hope of getting the player better. Huge business!

Kids with limited ability are paying lots of money for all star camps where they think they will be discovered. Funny thing is most of the better players do not even pay to attend camps or at the very least pay a very small administrative fee. I used to watch various rising seniors pay large amounts in hope of being discovered by the many large D1 programs organizers promised would be in attendance. Diving and playing hard often with no one even watching.

How about the kids who pay to play on travel teams? They pay in the hope of being discovered. Funny thing is no one even watches if you are not playing for a team recognized for having very good players and a history of sending players to the D1 and D2 level. Check out the next event you attend. The court with the known players will be packed and the court with The Bronx Barracudas vs the Staten Island Cyclones will be empty except for the parents who are watching.

Speaking about tournaments this brings me full circle to the way tournaments are now as compared to the past. As I mentioned it was a great thing playing and watching tournaments in the same location. About 15 years ago this started to change when tournament directors decided to expand as much as possible. Even in Vegas the "Big Time " went to what seemed like 400 teams using every HS in Vegas. Than there was a Nike event held on the campus of UNLV. Than there was another event a week after the "Big Time" event. Than there was a tournament at Disney World sponsored by Nike. It goes on and on. Nothing wrong with inclusion if it is for the right reason and not just to make more money by having more teams and not providing a positive experience for young men and women.

This brings me to the Rumble in The Bronx. I need help. This is an event I attended every year until it got so big and confusing. Maybe I have gotten slower thinking and processing wise since becoming a member of AARP. But figuring these games out and where to go is so confusing. They have at least 6 sites from Fordham to what seems like Albany lol. Manhattan College back to Fordham over to some HS and than back to Manhattan. This is as bad as when my son played on the LI Panthers and we traveled 65 miles in Vegas looking for the gym only to find out we were at the wrong place and when we found the correct location they had lost on forfeit. The Panthers had one of the best Travel Teams ever assembled at that time. Over 250 college coaches were in the stands waiting for the game as The Panthers were lost in the desert lol.

Where do I start at The Rumble? What an adventure folks will have from Friday to Sunday. I guess I need to pack supplies and a map. Wow, AAU/Travel Team/Rec basketball. You have to love it!!!

Back At It

It has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog. I wonder if anyone noticed? Well I am back and hope to share my thoughts throughout the summer months.

Lets start with some random thoughts.

Justin Sofman walks away from basketball and a scholarship saying he will put the basketball down for good. I guess he will at least play intramural ball at his new school Ramapo. I honestly hope for the best for this FINE YOUNG MAN who has always exhibited class on and off the court. I also hope he decides to continue playing at Ramapo which has a strong D3 program. Funny thing is Ramapo might just beat Monmouth if they played them. At least they would be competitive based on past seasons history. And people should never knock this young man for going after what he wanted basketball wise. In the end he most likely will be extremely successful in life and his future career.

So FDU gets a transfer from an A10 school. Melquan Bolding who is one of the few Mount Vernon NY kids to not attend Mt. Vernon HS. What has always made Mt. Vernon so good was the fact the kids did not opt to attend NYC and Westchester Catholic High Schools. This young man was an exception. So now he attends FDU where he will play for Coach Gary Vetrone. Well that is what he said his name is lol. I thought it was Greg Vetrone, a person I coached as a wonderful young man from Queens NY who attended Bergen Community College in NJ and was a very good player there and later CW Post on Long Island. Well Mr. Bolding also said he feels he can trust Gary Vetrone. Interesting and hopefully true. One thing for sure is FDU will be better next season and seasons to come because this young man can really play and might just dominate that conference.

Well it is a new era at Rutgers University. Craig Carter is now at Siena. Jimmy Carr remains at Rutgers in the same capacity (a good thing). I am sure Dennis Gregory will wind up somewhere decent based on connections. At the least he will be with the Hoop Group because Rob Kennedy is loyal and smart. Dennis is great at the camp and youth basketball thing. That brings me to Darren Savino who believe it or not I have always liked and been impressed with. If Fran F would have been named Head Coach at Rutgers he would still be there. Now? My bet is he ends up at FDU where he has been spotted recently. He would be a very good addition to the staff there.

If Savino goes to FDU who will he replace? oops I forgot to mention that Ron Brown has not been retained by Coach Vetrone. Funny how this basketball thing works. Vetrone could not get a sniff for many years after prior jobs at UNLV and other locations. Tom Green brings him back to FDU where he had previously served as a Assistant Coach. Tom, who deserved better, is fired by an Athletic Director who was hoodwinked by certain power brokers who are now even more famous, and all of a sudden the Associate Head Coach Ron Brown who had experience as a BE Assistant, and as a Head Coach on the D1 level is passed over as the intrim Head Coach in favor of Greg Vetrone or should I say Gary Vetrone. Fast forward and Coach Vetrone hires a HS Coach from California as an Assistant to work with the staff on hand. California HS Coach? What favor was he paying back lol?

Now Greg Vetrone who is really a hard worker and will go the extra yard to be successful, gets the permanent job over a few OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES. His first order of business? Not retain Ron Brown who is one of he real good guys in the coaching fraternity. Rumor is he wanted a younger staff which is grounds for ......... Enter Savino who could be outstanding at FDU. But so was Brown who loyally served under Green and helped keep FDU going strong for a number of years and everyone knows this. Maybe Ron needed some California or West Coast connections. Read my blog going back about 9 months and see if what I said is not what is happening based on recent articles about ticket scalping etc. Good luck to FDU but I do have to wonder where is the diversity staff wise? Before I discuss this more I need to further examine and trust me I will! Oddly the AD at FDU is a minority and hopefully he will make sure things are done correctly and appropriately.

Speaking about diversity I am still wondering why IONA would hire a HS Assistant Coach as a Assistant College Coach? I have never ever seen this. I have seen HS Assistants hired as Managers, Adm Assistants, Video Coordinators, and even DOBO's. But never as a Full-time Assistant on a level as high as the MAAC. This is not a knock on the person hired as much is it a question about thoughts of a head coach to fill a position on his staff with a qualified person of color which we know most D1 programs have. Just makes you wonder!

Rumble in The Bronx starts on Friday at Fordham University. I think I will attend........oops I forgot it is now at multiple locations many miles apart. I need to re-think this even though I do love going to purchase those great chicken wings outside the gym.

Speaking of Fordham I am convinced even if Digger Phelps returned with a staff of Mark Jackson, Hubie Brown, and Tom Konchalski, they would still be a middle of the pack team until they tear down that ancient gym and replace it with a 7,000 seat facility good for the entire Bronx area. Kids who would make a huge difference just will not attend despite it being a great academic school with wonderful alumni contacts. Being right off Fordham Road certainly does not help either. The Staff in place is a very good one but it is now time for a real facility with a practice gym attached. I am not even sure the Fordham program is on par with Hofstra at this time. Good luck Coach Picora! Another outstanding person who just happens to be a basketball Coach.

Speaking of Hofsra. Are you kidding me. They turn down a proven winner and very good Coach who grew up 10 miles from the campus to hire a guy who was his Assistant? I am sure when they told the BC Assistant he was the choice he thought he was being punked. I have never seen a Assistant, especially one NO ONE KNOWS, beat out his boss for a position the boss wanted. Never ever! I look for Hofstra to slide back to the days of Dick Berg, a nice guy who could not get it going. Turn Down Al Skinner for his Assistant! I still cannot believe this. Maybe Al decided he did not want the position.

Is it me or does the NCAA play games with folks by looking the other way at violations right in front of them? talk about an old boy network?

UConn had two coaches resign? So Calhoun really was surprised at what the two Assistants were doing? Yes right! So on their own they went out and broke the rules because they just wanted to help UConn? I would bet both have great positions in Hartford in the very near future. Wonder if hose guys realize how hard it will be to get another job in basketball on the D1 level?

As good as Mike Rice will be at Rutgers, and time will certainly tell. He needs to allow his staff the freedom to talk to outsiders and not be paranoid. Rutgers will have a hard enough time getting very good players based on not cheating in the past decade or the future. They will never purchase kids as other schools often do and we all know who does this and has done this for many years.

Mike Rice will be a very good Coach and bring good stuff to the table. The recruiting connections could be outstanding with Van Macon in NYC and NJ, and other guy Cox in DC and Virginia, with Mike having tons of Pa. Connections. Question is what will Rutgers do to support him? When is the practice facility being built? Where are the plans? What about the refurbished RAC? Very hard to compete for kids when you do not cheat nor do you have great facilities. I am not for cheating but the facilities must improve.

OK here we go again with Seton Hall. GREAT TALENT coming back. If Gonzo was still there would they win? ABSOLUTELY! Will Coach Willard win with Gonzo's talent? ABSOLUTELY because he really is a very good Coach and one who will excel. I really think anything other than an NCAA bid would be a disappointing season. This is the year based on returning and new talent. The Rock will be rocking and the place to be.

I say the same thing about St, Johns. Very good talent coming back with very good coaches aboard especially if Dunlap is there to help with X and O's. But I still think Norm Roberts would have won next year. Looking at all those very good players returning I question if St. Johns really wanted him to stay and win which would have meant keeping him for more years. With the talent they have I could lead them to the NCAA tournament and the last championship team I coached was in Teaneck Biddy Basketball with a very good team including my son and David West the current NBA star. One thing for sure there is a buzz about St. Johns all over NYC and kids are looking hard at them. The Garden attendance is key for future success.