The Crazy World of Basketball

If you haven't heard this story yet, let me be the first to tell you, "Reality is stranger than fiction."

If I started to tell you about the second winningest coach in girl's high school basketball, what do you think would be so improbable of that coach to do?

If you guessed "bite a player on the cheek during a game", you are correct!

Doyle Wolverton has been the girl's basketball coach at Leake Academy for 38 years. He has won 15 state championship and seven in a row before last season. Wolverton resigned after the incident but I would say a nearly 40 year legacy is completely down the drain over this incident. The parent's have chosen not to press charges. The only reason the incident was reported is because the hospital had to report to the authorities based on the the young lady's injuries.

I know he may be very well respected in community but as a father, I would have a very difficult time allowing this to pass as a minor laspe in judgement. There are lots of egregious acts in the coaching community as of late such as Mike Rice at Rutgers and Carl Pelini at Florida Atlantic (he witnessed people smoking marijuana). Coaches have an obligation to a higher standard because usually these are young people whom parents have entrusted the well being of their children to.

If the leaders, whether teachers or coaches, of the next generation aren't to be trusted, what hope is there for the future?

See the story here

A Basketball Life: Lamar Odom

Playing sports is such a small part of your life but you may me identified for the rest of your life because of your sports exploits. "Broadway Joe", given the nickname because of his flamboyant style, is most famously known for guaranteeing a victory in a championship game when he played football nearly 45 years ago.

Lamar Odom may be remembered for many things but possibly never a great basketball player. Lamar has a reality TV show with his wife Khloe Kardashian. The NBA has been suspended Lamar multiple times for drug offenses. He recently did a stint in rehab for alleged alcohol abuse. Lamar won a championship with the L.A. Lakers. He is considered to be a great teammate but his basketball life may not be remembered as well as his off-the-court life. Leaving Rhode Island University after one year of college ball, Lamar may not have been equipped for the rigors of NBA travels. He was now a young millionaire. Lamar has done a lot to clean up his image. I know Lamar would love to be remembered as just a basketball player but most may only identify him with his life away from basketball.

Lamar Odom is set to return to the Los Angeles Clippers after finishing rehab. He still has a chance to make a basketball impression in the minds of many but sadly most are unimpressed by a cast member from Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Happy 50th Birthday, Len Bias.

Many of you may not know who he is but growing up just outside of D.C., Len Bias was a living legend. Today would be his 50th birthday. When the Celtics drafted him No.1 overall, Bias was supposed to replace Larry Bird. Yes, that Larry Bird. His life was cut short by a drug overdose just days after he was drafted. It brought such a glaring eye to drugs that President Reagan commented on his death. Bias was supposed to be the next great star from the DC area like Sugar Ray Leonard. Not only did Len Bias' mother have to deal with the death of one son but not long after, her other son, Jay Bias, was senselessly gunned down in DC. If you don't know who Len Bias was, please Google him to watch the highlights. You won't be disappointed.

Happy 50th Birthday, Len Bias.

Ugly Incidents Marring the Beautiful Game of Basketball

Last night the L.A. Clippers played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles. The Clips won the game 111 to 103 but the final score nor Blake Griffin's dunk was the highlight of the game. In the second quarter of last night's game, Griffin got a rebound and was fouled by Serge Ibaka on the shot. As the play ended, Griffin and Ibaka's arms got tangled up. Matt Barnes came to the aid of Griffin by pushing Ibaka. This resulted in a scrum with coaches and officials breaking it up. After a long discussion by the referees and having to listen to Jeff Van Gundy vacillate over the entire situation, the final decision was to eject Ibaka and Barnes, and give Griffin a technical foul. Griffin and Ibaka have history as Ibaka intentionally hit Griffin in a very sensitive area during a game last season. Ibaka was fined but not ejected from the game.

Basketball communities say that Griffin is a little "soft" but he definitely did not back down from this interaction. I don't know if you can call any man who is 6'9" and 250 lbs a little soft but I think some of these players are just showing bravado and have no intention of ever seeing any real conflict.

The worst part of the event was after the game. Barnes tweeted something that given a little time to clear his head, I'm sure he wouldn't have done it. The tweet reads, "I love my teammates like family, but I'm DONE standing up for these n---as! All this s--- does is cost me money. …"

I say to all involved that you are playing the GAME of basketball while being handsomely compensated. Relax, enjoy yourself, and go play the game.