Hoop Dreams Update

Hoop Dreams is easily my favorite basketball movie of all time. I still recall soaking in the film during its public launch back in '94. As a predisposed fan of the underdog, I quietly rooted for Arthur Agee throughout the seemingly never ending documentary and later during his stints at Arkansas State and the IBA.

While William Gates didn't have it easy himself, he always appeared to be more grounded and focused than Arthur. So it's not a real surprise - or a happy one either - to learn about Arthur's current situation. I came across a Hoop Dreams reunion article in the Chicago Tribune by Sara Oklon who recently caught up with the films' co-stars:

"Gates, the reserved one, has become an authoritative force who leads a church in Chicago. He is married with four kids. Agee, a spirited charmer, doesn't have a regular job but is launching a line of "Hoop Dreams" apparel. He has five kids by five women." Talk about a "spirited charmer" or a point guard that could really take it to the hole. That's Shawn Kemp status.

The article also states that Agee added a slogan to the Hoop Dreams apparel, "Control Your Destiny." Is that a typo? I don't get it. Logically, it should read "Control Your Hormones." Then a trip to the ever-reliable Wikipedia summed it up. Check out the caption underneath Agee's photo. He's been playing way too much SlamBall.

Check out "Gunnin' for that #1 Spot" if you'd like to see the latter day version of Hoop Dreams.

I've been there, now listen to me...

JJ Redick knows all too much about holding the lead role on college basketball's large center stage.

That's why he offers this advice to the new face of college basketball - Tyler Hansbrough - even though he plays for that other team:

“Be selfish, I’m serious about that. You have to condition yourself to be a little more selfish than you’re used to. Be selfish with your time," Redick said. “Be selfish with your emotions. You can only give so much to other people.”

Be selfish...OK...that's understandable. But wishing ample success on a Tar Heel?

“As weird as this may sound to ACC fans, I hope Tyler has a fantastic senior year,” Redick said. “I can’t think of a better guy to hold the ACC scoring record. He’s always played the game the right way. He invests himself in what he does. He competes. I have a lot of respect for what he’s been able to accomplish."**

Here comes the asterisk explanation:

** “Obviously I’m not hoping Carolina wins a national title,” Redick said. “I will never hope that. But I hope Tyler has a great year.”

Whew! I thought the Orlando sun was starting to take its toll on the former Dukie.

New EBC at Rucker Park site coming soon...

If you've stopped by our site recently - www.ebcsports.com - you may have noticed it's under construction. Don't worry, the overhaul will completed shortly...and the wait will be well worth it. I'll let you know when the relaunch is live.

Pass the turkey, pass the torch

Happy Thanksgiving all!

After consuming an excessive amount of traditional holiday fare today, I browsed the NYT online sports section and came across a brief, but solid article on the sons of two coaching legends, Pat Knight (The General's offspring) and Tony Bennett (disciple of Dick Bennett).

Serving as stewards for powerful basketball surnames is no easy challenge; so it does not come as a surprise that the pair of head coaching newbies find it conducive to seek out dad's advice from time to time. Having wisdom and experience that close to your ear is the gravy on the turkey.

Hoosiers get slapped by NCAA and St. Joseph's

The aftereffects of Kelvin Sampson's sketchy recruiting activity is rearing it's ugly head for new coach Tom Crean. With only one scholarship player on IU's Big Ten roster, the Hoosiers endured an 80-54 spanking by a humbling Joseph's squad in the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The publicly televised loss serves as a valuable lesson for other coaches who are tempted to succumb to shortcuts in meeting the lofty demands of running a major college basketball program.

Since IU self-imposed some recruiting restrictions and voluntarily forfeited a scholarship, the NCAA only (using this word very loosely) gave Indiana a hard slap on the wrist. Here's an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune online: "Citing the school's previously clean record of more than 50 years...Indiana received...three years probation and increased monitoring, but no postseason ban, no television limitations and no additional loss of scholarships."

Crean's outlook remains optimisitic: "This is what gutting a program and starting over looks like," Crean said. "It's a relief that the NCAA felt the self-punishment steps we took were sufficient, and I'm grateful to the university and [the law firm] who worked so hard to make that happen. The system worked.

"We didn't want to lose postseason, we didn't want to lose television and we didn't want to lose scholarships, and we didn't. Now we can move forward without all the 'what-ifs' that have been out there. Now it's up to us to get the program back to where we deserve that support and that respect, and we will."

Mid-major NCAA team to watch

Last year Davidson, Siena and Western Kentucky emerged on the national scene. Could the Cal State Northridge Matadors make some mid-major noise? Check out my analysis on The Mag.

Pickup game at Madison Square Garden

Yesterday - thanks to the kind folks at MSG/2K Sports/The Gazelle Group - I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a pickup game at The World's Most Famous Arena. The game tipped-off at 8am sharp and I had not played in about 6 months, so my body is feeling the consequences today.

Here's how it went down. I arrived at The Garden at a quarter-after-seven in the morning and was able to get checked in before our larger group was escorted up to the floor at 7:45. Lord knew I needed that time to do stretch properly before running full court...only, I wouldn't be so lucky. The executive staff at MSG had control of the gym before us and they were in their third and final run of the day before a guy took a finger nail in the eyelid, opening up a nice-sized gash.

MSG Sports President, Scott O'Neil, looked over at the sideline where I was standing and said "Hey, we need another one." Without a warm-up shot, I entered the game in a heated 9-9 contest (game was to 11) and was charged to guard the biggest dude on the floor. Defensively, I was headed for trouble, but on the offensive end I also had a clear advantage.

On our 2nd trip down the floor, I caught a pass on the baseline and decided to take the big man to the rack. As the help defense shifted over to recover I pulled out a move that was slightly better looking than a Billy Hoyle ball fake - but not as aesthetic as the Dream Shake - and used the rim to protect a reverse layup from getting thrown into the empty bleachers. The ball dropped through the net without even grazing the rim and my first shot was a goodie. We won the game 11-9 and I had the confidence - but not the wind - to carry over into our run.

For the next hour-and-a-half we ran 5-on-5 (2K Sports vs. Dime/Bounce Magazine) with fairly quick substitutions. It turned out that I wasn't the only out of shape ball player on the court. Though I was a step slower than usual and did catch three 3-pointers from Bobbito Garcia, I thought I played rather well. It was a great opportunity no matter which way you look at it.

USA Basketball moves to Glendale, AZ

Jerry Colangelo's sphere of influence is impressive. USA Basketball's headquarters and training center is picking up and moving closer to him (to Glendale, Arizona). The incumbent Chairman also intends to integrate all of amateur basketball under USA Basketball: "It's a big undertaking, but why not?...The beacon will be on Glendale for amateur basketball in this country," Colangelo said.

I think he just may be the right person for the tall task.

Oversized venues detracting from college hoops?

I recently blogged about the NBA All-Star Game taking place at the soon-to-be built Dallas Cowboy Stadium in 2010. Now the NCAA tournament is following in its footsteps for 2014. Jacob Osterhout - of the College Sports Examiner - takes a look at the downside of using a football stadium to host college basketball games. Yes, more people see (I use this word loosely) the action...but does it subtract from the intimacy that makes college basketball so enticing? Osterhout thinks so:

"Do you know what it's like to watch a college basketball game in an enormous football stadium? It is the equivalent of watching a ping pong match in an airplane hangar...Last March, I was at Ford Field in Detroit -- capacity 80,000 -- covering the NCAA Midwest Regional Games for CBS College Sports. Sitting in press row, I had a great view of the action. So did LeBron James, who was sitting one row behind me. But as I looked around, I couldn't help but notice that the arena felt different, like all this space had killed the vibe. The student section barely existed. The band's music got lost in the cavernous space. And most of the fans were so far away from the court, they looked like dots."

Q + A with Coach Rick Torbett of the acclaimed Better Basketball videos

Rick Torbett is the lead instructor on the Better Basketball videos, and is often regarded among the best teachers of the game of basketball in the world today. He has received honors from prestigious organizations including ESPN and The Atlanta Tip-Off Club - the group that annually presents the James Naismith Awards.

The foremost quality that makes Coach Torbett special is his ability to take advanced techniques and explain them in an engaging way that even young players can understand. In fact, his system is studied and used at all levels of basketball. Even NBA and ULEB coaches have admitted to picking up new techniques from the Better Basketball DVDs. But Coach Torbett explains his concepts in such a simple and entertaining manner that even kids are able to learn and apply the skills on the Better Basketball videos!

Coach Torbett earned his reputation as a successful high school coach for 24 years, compiling an overall winning percentage of over 70% at four different schools, and helping countless players earn scholarships to premier collegiate basketball programs. Before entering the coaching profession, Torbett starred at Cleveland State and Bryan College, graduating with a math degree and a 3.5 GPA in 1979. He finished his stellar collegiate career shooting 48.8% from the field, with an outstanding free throw percentage of 88%.

Rick Torbett has become a household name in the basketball world. Please tell us a little bit about your early passion for the game and how translated into a career for you. Who inspired you along the way and what keeps you going?

COACH TORBETT: Regarding my early passion for the game, I don’t think that I was much different than anyone else who loved to play. I simply wanted to play and to play competitively as long as possible, which for me was through college. My passion was to get better every time I was on the court. Loving the game and wanting to be around it led me into coaching. I was not an instant success, which meant I had to approach coaching the same way I did as a player: try to get better every time I step on the court.

There were plenty who inspired me along the way; too many to list, some whom you’ve heard of, and some whom you probably haven’t. My high school coach, Jim Cornwall, made a huge impression along with his assistant Mike Hodge. But when I look back over the years, the underlying current that keeps me going and inspires me to get better every day must be credited to my father. There was something that he put in me as a youth that said, “The road to getting better (in any area of my life) is always under construction. The day you put those tools away will be the day you die.” And that competition has been and will continue to be with myself, not with other people.

How did your relationship with Better Basketball begin and what is on the horizon for the brand?

COACH TORBETT: Better Basketball began as the brainchild of a former assistant coach of mine. Therefore my relationship with Better Basketball can be summed up with my relationship with him. We found through our coaching relationship that we shared the same passion for helping players to improve. So Better Basketball was a natural fit for both of us.

The future of Better Basketball is as broad as it is long, being closely tied to our company goal: To do whatever we can to help players improve and to equip coaches at all levels to succeed.

As a coach who has been invited to numerous camps and clinics all over the world to speak about a variety of topics related to basketball, what do you consider to be your signature speech topic? Or, what is the common denominator in the vast majority of your speeches?

COACH TORBETT: The most common topic right now is the offensive system I developed about 5 years ago and recently released a DVD series on, The Read & React Offense. Of course, player development subjects such as Shooting, One-on-One, etc are also popular. But the common denominator with all of the topics is TEACHING PROGRESSION. There’s very little in the game that’s “new under the sun”. So the most common question for any topic is HOW do you break the subject down to it’s simplest parts and build up the player or the offense in a logical step-by-step method that’s easy to teach and easy to understand and cuts to the natural instincts of the players.

Please describe the Read and React Offense in a nutshell. What makes it so effective? And what teams – that you know of – have successfully implemented the offense in their game plans?

COACH TORBETT: Describing the Read & React Offense in twenty-five words or less is a difficult if not impossible task. Here’s a pretty big nutshell: If a team runs set plays, then the team has 5-player-coordination, but very little “Principled basketball” that can take advantage of the chaos that makes up a real game. A Motion offense has plenty of “Principled basketball” but usually it results in very little 5-player-coordination. The Read & React Offense is BOTH principled offense (in terms of its freedom and flexibility) and yet always results in 5-player-coordination. There are no requirements for types of players or style of play and it can be used in any formation against a man or zone defense.

Unless you think that this is some fancy form of free-lance basketball, let me explain it this way: When 5 players do what each think is best, mass confusion results and spacing is compromised. To eliminate the confusion and create 5-player-coordination, I gave each player without the ball one and only one reaction to the ballhandler. This simplifies playing without the ball because the players without the ball need only to read the ballhandler and no one else. The players without the ball are not required to read their other teammates or even the defense (that comes later). Sticking to this formula means I could always insure that the team is coordinated in terms of spacing and movement. This also meant that I could drill the reactionary habits into each player and I could do it with very simple 2 or 3-player drills. With this being the case, the offense could even be built in the off-season and help solve some of the time-crunch problems that are part-and-parcel to every coach’s season.

There are lots of reasons that the Read & React Offense is effective; it cuts to the players’ natural instincts, it allows great players to coordinate with “less developed” players, and the sequence of actions can come in any order. But its effectiveness can be summed up with the following: (1) Player Movement, (2) Spacing, (3) Ball Movement, and (4) the Inability to be Scouted.

On our website www.betterbasketball.com you’ll find a section for the Read & React Offense where you can hear from coaches who have successfully implemented the R&R, and learn a lot more about it. In addition to youth programs and high schools, there are also current college teams on all levels, NAIA, NCAA division 1, both men and women, who are enjoying success with the system. In addition to the United States, I’m receiving fantastic feedback from teams in Canada, Norway, UK, Malaysia, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, etc. It seems that the Read & React Offensive System is filling a common need in our basketball community all over the world!

What does the future hold for Coach Rick Torbett? Is there a possibility that we'll we see you on the sidelines again or are you fully content on conveying your knowledge via video and at camps/clinics?

COACH TORBETT: Like any coach, I miss the relationships with the players, the laboratory of each practice, and the competition of each game. But what I’ve gained in the relationship with coaches at all levels, all over the world through the medium of Better Basketball, has more than made up for it. I get as much pleasure out of helping other coaches and watching them succeed as I would if it was my own team. What can’t be measured is how much I learn from other coaches on a daily basis. It would be hard to give that up. If I can pass that knowledge on via video and clinics, then I feel like I’m making a difference. I see so much more that can be done and that makes the future exciting!

Pete Newell passes away at 93

On Monday, November 17, 2008, Pete Newell passed away and left behind a legacy as one of the greatest basketball teachers and coaches in the history of the game. Newell was the first coach to ever win the NCAA, NIT and Olympic gold medal. Over 15 years on the sidelines he compiled a 234-123 record at the University of San Francisco, Michigan State University and Cal Berkeley. His lessons have been etched in the minds of all of his successors, particularly Bobby Knight:

"In all of sport, I think Pete is the least-known outstanding figure there is," Knight said. "He was at his best at a time when media coverage was nothing like it is now. Just imagine if he won the NCAA title today, went back to the title game the following year, then coached the Olympic team. He'd be at the forefront of everything. And he's so unusual, he has no animosities, no regrets whatsoever about leaving coaching when he did. You never hear, 'Boy, I wish I could have. . . . ' He is more at peace with himself and what he's done than any person I've known in my life."

Interview with Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love

(photo courtesy of Stanley Lumax)

Manhattan, NYC native DJ Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love is Bounce Magazine’s Editor In Chief, and the critically acclaimed author of Where’d You Get Those? NYC’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books). He performs basketball tricks at NBA halftime shows with Project Playground. In recent years, he has reported for MSG-TV during NY Knicks broadcasts, voiced NBA 2K video games, and hosted ESPN’s It’s the Shoes series. In ’07, he designed seven signature Nike Air Force 1 25th Anniversary shoes. Currently, he co-anchors MSG’s Summerball weekly program, and is the Elite 24 HS All-American Game play-by-play commentator.

You may wonder when Bobbito has time to breathe, but in the last 20 years he has been relentlessly pursuing his passions in music and basketball. After playing Puerto Rico pro ball in ’87 then graduating from Wesleyan University (CT) in ’88, he began working at Def Jam Records. He met DJ Stretch Armstrong there, and in ’90 the two started their on-air program at WKCR 89.9 fm. By ’98, the Source Magazine voted them the “Best Hip Hop Radio Show of All Time,” introducing the world to unsigned acts like Nas, Jay Z, Big Pun, Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, and many others that would go on to change the face of the industry.

Although Bobbito a.k.a. Kool Bob Love is a bonafide Hip Hop legend, any former reader of his Vibe column would know that his musical passion goes way beyond just Rap. As a club DJ, crowds worldwide from China to South Africa have celebrated his unique blend of Rare Funk, Latin, Afro-Beat, Soul, Jazz, House, and Ballads. He’s opened up concerts for Latin Music legend Eddie Palmieri (5-time Grammy Award Winner), Afro-Funk progenitor Tony Allen (formerly Fela Kuti's drummer), Jazz-Funk legend Roy Ayers, and Soul singer D'Angelo.

For more info visit:
www.bouncemag.com
www.myspace.com/bobbitogarcia
www.youtube.com/user/bobbitogarcia

Bobbito, bring us back a bit. When did you start playing ball and who influenced you (players, coaches or other) to keep after it over the years?

First and foremost, all praise to my pops, God bless the dead. He came yay close to going pro in Puerto Rico before he had to move with his moms to NYC. He was the first to put a ball in my hand when I was 7 in 1973. My brother Ray played for the Guachos around that time, and helped me with my game. I lived in the same building on 97th St. with brothers Mario and Clark Elie. Mario became All-City at Power Memorial HS and would go on to win three NBA championships. He’s always been an influence. All-time legend Earl “The Goat” Manigualt ran the tournament across the street on 99th in PS 163 playground. He was always there to watch us little dudes play, and is an eternal Yoda type character in my life, no doubt. Kelsey “Kidd” Stevens was the first summerball coach I ran with when he put me down with Douglass Project in Holcombe Rucker Memorial Juniors Division. Ray Diaz was the one who spotted me at the Goat and told me I was ready to play pro in Puerto Rico, fulfilling my own and my father’s dream of repping the homeland. I played one season, which was a crowning moment in my life. I had been cut from Wesleyan University, a small D3 school, three years in a row, and there I was being scouted on the street and signing a pro contract. Kind of insane and out of a dream, but I never let go of my passion. Still not to this day. That’s the early years. There are so many others to mention in that time frame and then a ba-jillion more for the last 20 years where I’ve been able to play in games throughout Puerto Rico, Japan, Spain, and most happily New York.

Bounce Magazine is blowing up, more and more so, each and every year. How did this concept begin and how do you foresee its continued growth?

Me, Jesse Washington and Sean Couch founded Bounce in my living room in 2003, Justin Leonard joined us shortly after. We came out with one issue that year, two the following, then in 2006 we partnered with Dime Magazine who have since really stepped up our distribution and circulation. We now come out five times a year as a print publication, with an online version www.bouncemag.com that gets updated daily. Slam was doing an annual Streetball issue, and EBC would do their annual mag, but no one was doing it year round and consistently, so we thought to fill that void and not just cover NYC or the US, but the world. Luckily for me, I’ve traveled extensively with DJ gigs, and have always kept contact with the various ballplayers I’ve encountered. So when I became Editor In Chief, the first thing I did was have a report from South Africa, Toronto, etc. The readers embraced it, and we do the same online with guestbloggers from Spain, London, etc.

As for growth, we only cover the playground, pick-up, tournaments, AAU, camps, entertainment ball, sneaker culture, etc. so I think there is a limit as to how far we can grow because we stay out the range of mass media topics like the NBA, college, and high school, which we’re completely fine with because there are enough outlets that pay those areas respect. When I come up with concepts for articles, I always think, “Who else would dare to cover this?” and when I answer is no one, then I know we got a green light. Look at our covers—Hook Mitchell in ‘04 before his documentary came out, Homicide, Lance and Brandon Jennings in ‘06 before they became nationally recognized, etc. etc. I do believe we can continue to reach a new audience as they realize how interesting our world is, but it is ultimately a defined community and not for everyone.

Who's the best ball player that you ever went head-to-head with, but that you got the best of? Describe the situation.

Wow. I don’t know, man. I don’t think I’ve ever got the “best” of anyone who I thought was stupid nice, but I can say that I’ve earned the respect of a lot of ballplayers worldwide. People confuse things and try calling me a legend, but I’m always real quick to correct them. At age 42 I’m a veteran who is still playing daily. I have had some nice moves or little highlights here and there, but I am and never been no where near the level of a Dancing Doogie, Speedy Williams, Term, on and on. I’ve played with all of them and feel honored to say that. In my entire career, I’ve made 25 people fall with my handle. Only two, maybe three, were NBA level, and both outscored me plus their teams beat mine in the games that I caught the little moment of satisfaction. So what does it mean? Nothing really. I have beat a number of incredible shooters in 3 point contests, including Nike Battleground ‘02 Champion Mike Campbell, former Laker Randolph Keys, and ESPN City Slam Nat’l 3 point Champion Jack Ryan, although I’ve never beaten him when there has been a prize in the mix, only in our personal gym battles! When there is money on the line, Jack hits a different gear! Every time I’ve scored 30+, it’s been in lower level leagues that the top level comp don’t really play in. In ‘05-’06, I got voted to the Pelham Fritz 38 and Over League All-Star Game by my peers which included Kevin “Will Power” Williams, Rod Strickland, Mike Bantom, Gus Williams, “Disco” Fred Brown, “Dancing Doogie,” Wes Correa, “Master Rob,” Dedrick Erving, Wendell Alexis, Leroy Shaw . . . I mean I was looking at the lay up line in awe! These were some of the players I looked up to as a kid, and now I was on the same court with them. I sat on the ball during one possesion and gave this freak pass that the crowd gave me a big ‘ooh’ for, and I was good!

Everyone that knows you, knows you love sneakers. What's your favorite pair of kicks of all-time?

Read my book Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 on Testify Books for all the answers!

You have been featured in video games; you have DJ'd all over the world; you've written a book on sneaker culture; you've hosted a radio show on WKCR and have hosted ESPN's It's the Shoes, MSG's SummerBall and "Hot Minute at the Half"; You've consulted to sneaker companies and you've started your own magazine. What haven't you done yet that we can expect to see from Bobbito Garcia in the near future?

Man, at some point I’m hoping to have a kid! I’ve done everything in my professional life I could’ve hoped for, and a ton more I could have never dreamed to even touch or imagine. The thing that’s important to me and others is that I’ve always maintained a standard in whatever I do. There are club heads that have no idea that I play ball, but they come to hear me spin everytime I’m in there country. There are opponents of mine that have no idea I’ve been on TV, Radio, Films, video games, DVDs, and magazines that they’ve peeped inside and out, but they respect my game when I walk off the court, at least I hope. I always show respect to everyone. I think that’s what keeps my doors open for the future, cuz people always want to look out for me. I’ve done a lot for the community. The love goes ‘round.

Big Bird, small nest

The bleacher report issued a list of the Greatest NBA Players to NOT Play for a Major College Team. In my own personal opinion, Larry Bird's impact at ISU and on the game of college basketball as a whole (think '79 NCAA Championship) thrusts him to the top of this unranked list. Check out the song Thomas Montgomery dedicated to Indiana's changing of the state Bird. Yes, he was that transformative:

Indiana Has a New State Bird"
Wherever Hoosiers gather, they no longer talk of weather.
Indiana has a new state bird!
His claim to fame is just the way he plays the game.
Indiana has a new state bird!
It's not the Cardinal now. Hey, Larry, take a bow.
Indiana has a new state bird!
He came from old French Lick on up to ISU.
He came to play some basketball.
Now, no one knows a thing of what the future will bring.
But, for now, we're gonna spread the word...
The fightin' Sycamores are rackin' up the scores,
And Indiana has a new state bird!
Indiana has a new state bird!

Paul Shirley, Mr. Congeniality

If you haven't read Can I Keep My Jersey by Paul Shirley, do yourself a favor and pick it up online. I had the unique, but fortunate opportunity to plow through its pages - filled with sarcasm and frank opinion - on my honeymoon this past June. Don't judge me just yet. We spent a good portion of our trip on long Eurail rides throughout eastern Europe and visiting my wife's family in Zagreb, Croatia--where my seven word vocabulary curbed my involvement in any meaningful conversations. Rather than ruining a five-year family reunion in-the-making, I laughed my way through Shirley's experiences as a basketball vagabond. You can even check out some of Shirley's musings archived on ESPN.

Angola seeks larger hoops presence in the States

Angola - the African continent's fixture in FIBA-qualified basketball competitions - is ramping up its investment to send young hoops stars to the U.S. for academic and basketball training. It's safe to assume that Charles Barkley's dream elbow did not sever basketball ties with Angolan sports ministry. This just in from China View media:

"After meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Angola Dan Mozena, the Angolan sports minister told reporters that they both discussed the possibility of regular training of Angolan sports players, particularly basketball players in the United States.

According to the minister, they also analyzed the possibility of holding seminars for Angolan national competition teams in the United States, including the training of Angolan youths in U.S. academic and sports schools."

Basketball CVs for those not named Kobe or LeBron

This lead from Elliot Hannon drew me right in: "I'm guessing that Kobe Bryant has never suffered the indignity of typing up an "Honors & Awards" section or had to remember to put the good paper in the laser printer before running off a dozen copies of his CV." Ha!

All D-III players lusting for a pro basketball gig should check out this article.

USA Basketball retains its chairman

This AP article (reprinted courtesy of ESPN) put a smile on my face this morning. Jerry Colangelo will continue at the helm of USA Basketball's Board of Directors for the 2009-12 term. That includes overseeing stints at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, U.K.

With a redeeming gold medal now in hindsight, Colangelo seems to be up to the task: "I'm honored to have this opportunity and I look forward to serving USA Basketball over the next four years," Colangelo said in a statement. "There's a great legacy at USA Basketball and my goal is to continue to grow our game on every level."

The General reports back to the booth

Much like myself, Bobby Knight cannot get enough of the game. This time around, the 68-year old Hall of Famer will assume "an expanded role as a basketball analyst" with the Worldwide Leader. Knight's role augmentation will include Thursday night game commentaries with Brent Musberger and appearances on College GameDay. Is he ready?

"I just spent 42 years figuring out instantly what the (heck) was going on out there," he said. "What I'm trying to do during the course of a broadcast of a game is going to be exactly what I tried to do when I was coaching: What is happening? Why is it happening? We don't like that happening — how can we change it?"

If that's not convincing enough, check out Knight's first appearance on Nov. 18 when Kentucky battles number one ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Atlanta Hawks are still undefeated

I cant explain it, but I tried to write about it. Check out my latest article at ESPN The Mag online.

Interview with Wake Forest Assistant Coach, Mike Muse

Mike Muse begins his third season on the Wake Forest basketball staff in 2008-09 and his second as an assistant coach. Muse is certainly no stranger to Demon Deacon basketball. A legendary high school coach in Winston-Salem for more than 20 years, Muse joined the Wake Forest basketball coaching staff in June 2006 as Director of Basketball Operations. He has been involved with Forsyth County athletics for more than 20 years, serving in a variety of capacities at both Reynolds and North Forsyth High Schools. He has worked as a head clinician and national talent evaluator for Bob Gibbons All-Star Sports as well as serving as a coach and clinician on the international level.

As a head coach, he has accumulated a record of 236-116 and has been named Metro 4A Conference Coach of the Year six times. His teams have won six conference regular season championships and seven tournament titles. Muse coached his teams to two sectional championships, one regional title, and in 1996, his North Forsyth girls team played in the state 4A championship game. Nominated to coach in the 2004 McDonald's High School All-American Game, Muse's teams advanced to the state tournament in 12 of the past 14 years.

Mr. Muse, Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic schedule to share your background, knowledge and experience. Please provide our readers with a background of your coaching career. Who/m inspired you to pursue the coaching profession?

I was a gym rat from the time I was able to walk. My Dad was a head high school coach for 35 yrs at Parkland High School. He now assists my brother Andy at Mt. Tabor high school here in Winston-Salem; this will be his 49th year on the bench. Other big influences on my coaching career have been my high school coaches, Gray Cartwright and Olon Shuler, along with Bob Light, Bobby Cremins, and Kevin Cantwell at Appalachian State, and of course Skip Prosser here at Wake Forest. I started out as a part-time assistant at App. State with Kevin Cantwell back in 1984-86. From there I went to R. J. Reynolds High school in Winston-Salem where I coached football, basketball and baseball as an assistant. In 1990 I moved to North Forsyth where I was the Head girls coach for 8 seasons, and the Head Boys coach for 6 seasons. I also was the head softball coach for 15 seasons. In 2007 Coach Prosser hired me as the Director of Basketball Operations. After Coach Prosser’s tragic death I was fortunate enough to be elevated to the floor by Coach Dino Gaudio. I have been blessed to have so many great coaches throughout my life impact me as a person and a professional.

You have achieved a lot of success during your tenure as a high school basketball coach in Winston Salem, NC. Describe the transition of now being on the sidelines of a major Division I (ACC) basketball program?

Coaching is coaching. The x’s and o’s and drill work is not that much different. Players still want to be coached and have success. The biggest transition was the weekends. There are none. The number of events that monopolize your personal time is much more. You have to find ways to manage your day rather than letting your day manage you.
What has been the most memorable moment in your coaching career thus far?

It has to be the tragic loss of Coach Skip Prosser. That event taught me how to value relationships on a daily basis. It taught me that being a college coach and doing it the right way is still possible. Coach was a teacher- and so am I. Coach lived his dream and so am I--thanks to him. He represented all that is good in college athletics and in general, and that’s what I aim to do.

What advice would you give to recent college graduates that want break into coaching college basketball?

Work summer camps and go to coaching clinics. Visit college practices and take good notes. Learn from videos. Read good books on leadership and teamwork. Coach the team that you have to the best of your ability regardless of what level it is. Don’t worry about your next job, just make sure to do the best you can with the job that you have. And most importantly, remember you are in the business of helping kids become better players and better people first, not to feed your ego and pad your record.

What can we expect from the Demon Deacons when they take the floor in the '08-09? And what is the ultimate goal for Coach Mike Muse?

We should be a team in which everyone is stronger athletically and personally after dealing with last year’s tragic event. We are still young but we have the pieces in place and enough experience to have a good season. We have a group of talented players returning and we added three very talented freshmen so we should have more depth than last season. The ultimate goal for Mike Muse is to be the best teacher, coach, mentor, and friend that I can be today. To appreciate the blessings and relationships in my life on a daily basis and to choose to live a life that matters. If I do that, good things will continue to happen around me and I will be successful.

Gamblers akin to lawyers?

This morning I received a Google News Alert (keyword "basketball") that cropped up an article on the profitability of player injuries in sports gambling. And you thought lawyers were greasy:

"Injuries are a simple fact in all sports, and they can be a goldmine for the savvy bettor. The latest NBA star to head to the list of walking wounded is San Antonio guard Tony Parker who will miss the next month with an ankle sprain. With the Spurs off to a dismal 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS start, look for the odds to start to swing in their favor while George Hill takes to the floor for San Antonio."

Converse brands Elton, EB1

The obligatory Penney's trip with mom may now prove fruitful for kids. After she antagonizes your sinuses at the cheap perfume counter, drag her over to the sneaker section to pick up a "Brand" new pair of EB1's. That's right kiddies. Elton Brand has signed a long term partnership with the century old sneaker manufacturer, Converse...and he seems rather blithe about it:

"I am excited to begin a partnership with one of the premier performance basketball shoe companies in the world," said Elton Brand. "Converse represents both tradition, originality, and is in position to change the game in performance basketball footwear. The EB1 is a durable, but fast and versatile performance shoe, which is perfect for my style of play. With the EB1 sold nationwide at JCPenney, kids can have a cool, affordable shoe that looks fly when they wear it to school, and then they can get on the court and put in some work."

LeBron making his MVP candidacy known early

Kobe Bryant snatched away MVP honors in '07-08, but with a healthy Andrew Bynum back in the lineup KB24's offensive productivity needn't be so outlandish for the Lakers to win in '08-09. Conversely, in order for the Cleveland Cavaliers to have any shot at contending, LeBron James will need to consistently fill up the box scores. And so far he's doing just that.

Lauded as player of the week (for the week ending Nov. 9), "James posted a league-high 34.5 points per game as the Cavs finished the week a perfect 4-0, including two 41-point efforts in a pair of wins over Chicago. On November 3 against Dallas, the six-year pro picked up a steal which made him the youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 points, 2,500 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 700 steals and 300 blocks."

Allan Houston joins Knicks front office

The nostalgia was short, but sweet. Allan Houston's attempt at a comeback did not culminate in securing a roster spot with the Knicks, however it was respectable enough to launch him into an executive role in their front office. Houston was named "assistant to the president" on Friday and will work alongside the newly installed President, Donny Walsh. Whether or not that's a sweet stroke of luck is still to be determined by the Knicks progress (or lack thereof).

Interview with Brian McCormick, basketball author / trainer / coach

Brian McCormick is the Performance Director for Train for Hoops and the creator of 180 Shooter. He is a coach, trainer and author who penned Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development. McCormick has coached professionally in Sweden and Ireland, and coached and trained youth, high school and college teams and players in the United States. He currently advises clubs, schools and federations on their development systems and coach education programs. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM). McCormick writes the free, weekly Hard2Guard Player Development Newsletters; to subscribe, email hard2guardinc@yahoo.com.

1) Please tell our readers a little bit about your playing, coaching and training background?

My playing career did not amount to much. I ended up in Nassjo, Sweden as an exchange student when I was 19 and played on a Second Division team there and coached an u-15 team. When I got to college the following year, I coached Special Olympics. Then I moved to girls' CYO basketball and volleyball and eventually an AAU team then high school, college and finally back to Sweden as a Head Coach of a women's pro team when I was 25. Since Sweden, I've worked as an individual trainer, Head Coach in Ireland and a high school coach. I've directed clinics all over the world. I pretty much work with anyone who calls me, from a guy trying to get in shape to play in an over-50 league for his 50th birthday to 10-year-old beginners to pro and national team players.

2) Discuss the The Crossover Movement and what prompted you to write the book?

The book started as a guide to help players with their own development, but meandered in several different directions, much of which is avilable for free on the Internet now. I wrote the book as a response to what I saw when I helped friends coach, went out recruiting, worked with players, etc. Having experience in different countries, and a varied background through studying physiology and exercise science to finish my Master's degree and get certified as a strength coach, and being a fan of multiple sports, I felt that the way we approach youth basketball was and is flawed and rather than being another critic, like the reactionary press when the U.S. lost in 2004 and 2006, I wanted to search for solutions. I wanted to provide an answer when another writer wrote about the lack of fundamentals or criticized AAU players or whatever the case may be. I started writing articles on the subject in 2001, before Team USA lost. Only after Team USA lost a couple games did some people start to agree with my writing and actually look at the U.S. system. Even in 2004, everyone just blamed Marbury for being selfish and Larry Brown for not being able to work with the players. But, even to this day, nobody wants to look at the way players develop before they get to be NBA players and how youth basketball shapes their development. If you read any literature on skill acquisition or motor learning, the important years are the early years, from 8-13 depending on the skill/sport, yet nobody wants to address this age group. We think that better coaching at the college, NBA or National Team level solves all the problems. However, 13 is the peak age for sports participation. We are turning kids away from sports at an early age because we already look at youth sports as a pre-professional proving ground, rather than preparation for a lifetime of health and fitness.

3) You wrote an excellent article as well on the economics of youth basketball. Referencing that article, what problems still exist in youth basketball today that need to be addressed effectively?

In the United States, we spend a fortune on basketball. NBA teams are worth billions of dollars and generate billions in revenue worldwide. The NCAA generates billions in revenue. However, none of that money filters to the youth players. NBA and NCAA teams have no incentive to spend money or focus on development because they do not benfit directly. The NBA needs an infux of 30-40 players, tops, each year and it can scour the planet looking for those players. It does not need to invest in a process for developing those players. Therefore, without the money and leadership, someone has to fill the void. Shoe companies and individual entrepreneurs have filled the void and neither is focused on developing better basketball systems. They are businessmen. They want to maximize the exposure for their shoes and sell more merchandise or create businesses which maximize revenue. The easiest way to make money in basketball at a grassroots level is through running tournaments or being involved with the recruiting in some way.

When I was in Canada recently, Mike MacKay, Canada's Coaching Director, told me that when they run tournaments, they can find sponsors. But, if you run a training session, nobody wants to sponsor it. Businesses see value in an event like a tournament; they understand it. It's what they see on television. However, even if there are the same number of players involved in a tournament and a training session, businesses do not understand the training session. It's hard to market that you are the official sponsor of a basketball practice. But, you can market yourself as the official sponsor of the Toronto Basketball Classic.

In the article, I say that if parents want to change the system, they have to do so with their wallets. When people's money demands change, that is when change will happen. As long as parents and coaches pay for bigger and better tournaments every weekend, and ignore practice time, why should the businesses change their approach?

4) If you could wave a magic wand and create a structure for optimal development in youth basketball, what would it look like?

Creating an overall development program in the U.S. is problematic because it is so big and there are so many entrenched programs. However, I would get rid of the NBA age limit. I would make the NBDL a more useful and attractive option - I do not think colleges should be a one-year stopover for pre-professionals. I think it de-values the college education. Let the kids who are disinterested in school go to the NBA or NBDL, just like with minor league baseball. Maybe, many will decide that college is a better option than the NBDL because it's more fun to be in a big time college atmosphere than a minor league atmosphere. That'd be great. But, I think the option should be the player's.

I'd like to see each NBA and NBDL team sponsor a local development program. Now, that would ignore a big slice of the population, but, with the enormity of the population and geography, there is not a 100% perfect solution. I'd like to see the top players skip high school ball and play with the development programs, much like the top soccer players skip high school soccer to play club soccer. I think this would do two things:
1. Create a more managable schedule for elite players, as they'd play with one team with one schedule and train with similarly talented players
2. It would open more opportunities on high school teams for players who get cut in today's system.

At the lower levels, I'd like to see a greater emphasis on long term development and not a win-now mentality. I'd like to see more opportunities for real coaches education programs, not the Nike clinics where coaches can scribble down more plays to run with their kids. I'd like to see a greater emphasis on play for play's sake rather than every practice and game being a carefully orchestrated path to a college scholarship or professional career.

5) For all of the young readers out there in junior high and high school, what type of off-season regimen/training do you recommend (i.e. teaching camps like Five-Star, individual workouts, AAU)?

I'm not a fan of camps. Most camps use a template which promotes quick performance improvements, but not long term retention or development. I worked dozens and dozens of camps and while some did some good things and some had great coaches, I do not believe they are effective ways to improve. For players in areas without other good players, going away to a camp can have value from a competitive standpoint, but I'm just not sold on camps from a development perspective. I'm actually completing some work on my new company that hopefully will assist camps with improving their ability to offer true learning and development, but we'll see what happens.

I think the best means for development is a combination of individual workouts and group training/pick-up games. Individual workouts can help introduce technique and skills, but if there is no progression from individual workouts to pick-up games or group training before playing real games, learning and development suffer. I see a lot of kids who work really hard and pay a lot of money for well-intentioned trainers, and they simply do not develop. In basketball, especially, we have a poor understanding of motor learning and skill transfer and the system perpetuates itself. The best way to improve is to play against players slightly better than yourself and to get accurate feedback now and then on your performance. Use the feedback and the experience in the games to define your personal workouts, whether you need to get faster, shoot better, get stronger, etc.

AAU has a role, but I don't think high school players need to play 35 in-season high school games, then immediately start AAU tournaments, high school summer league, etc. Some off-season games are good, especially when the best players get the opportunity to play the other best players. But, I don't understand these high school teams that play 80 games a year now in local leagues primarily against the same teams over and over again, and have players playing 60-80 more games with an AAU team for exposure. There has to be a better balance so kids can enjoy the experience and maximize their training.

6) Which coach or coaches do you admire and feel best exemplifies how basketball should be taught, viewed and played?

I like Ben Howland. UCLA is not aesthetically pleasing, but I don't think another college coach does as good a job identifying talent, developing players and preparing for games. Vance Walberg gets a lot of attention for the Dribble-Drive-Motion, but he's a great practice coach, very detail-oriented. I like Greg Popovich and Jerry Sloan. The Hornets are probably the most fun team to watch right now because of Chris Paul, but as a coach, I watch Pop and Sloan.

7) Last question: What does the future hold for Brian McCormick? What is your ultimate goal in the sport of basketball?

Competitively, I want another chance to coach in Europe. For whatever reason, people look at my resume and consider me for jobs there, whereas it's much harder to get the same respect for a college or NBA job here. Just because of the way the development systems are, my ultimate goal would be to coach with a team in Spain, France or Greece and work with the club's junior players. I almost had an opportunity to take over a country's basketball development system as its Technical Director for the Federation, and an opportunity like that would interest me greatly.

Short of that, I am focused on using my book and my business, trainforhoops.com, to change the way we look at youth basketball and basketball development one player, one coach, one camp or one league at a time. My goal is simply to create better programs for youth players which combine scientific research with field experience to change the way we approach youth basketball and talent development.

The Sporting News nominates Steve Blake as....

This thought may have crossed your mind before: "Wow, I can't believe Steve Blake made it to the League and has been asked to stick around for a while." I mean he was a solid college ball player and all, but I didn't think he had the necessary tools to hold down a roster spot on the talented Blazers squad. The Sporting News clarified this notion for us and they framed it a little bit more bluntly: He's the worst point guard in the league.

Kevin Johnson for mayor? A done deal

For an undersized NBA point guard, Kevin Johnson used to soar to the rack; just ask newly minted HOF'er Hakeem Olajuwon. Last Tuesday, Johnson ascended to a new plane in the political arena by becoming the first African American Mayor of Sacramento, California.

The LA Times reports: "After a star-studded campaign with the likes of Magic Johnson and Michael Bloomberg, the 42-year-old Sacramento-area native beat two-term incumbent Heather Fargo by a 15-point margin."

Jordan seeks majority ownership in Charlotte

The Canadian Press quoted a Jordan comment in the Charlotte Observer that alludes to the former superstar's interest in acquiring majority ownership of the struggling franchise. After five years of declining ticket sales and fan support, in addition to not making the playoffs, this transaction may come sooner than we think.

"When Bob wants to step aside, I have no problem stepping in and saying, 'Hey, look, I'd love to take control of this franchise,"' Jordan said in a story on the newspaper's website. "But Bob, he's not at that point now. He still enjoys owning the basketball team."

Fantasy basketball remastered

In our increasingly sensitive world, it has been decided that even fantasy basketball players should have some rights. Nwaneri's new fantasy game - Mock GM - provides athletes with bargaining power through the integration of agents who negotiate contracts on the athletes' behalf. Nwaneri, an MIT grad in computer science and electrical engineering, decided that fantasy basketball needed to be remastered to reflect the actual complexities that a GM must face on a daily basis. Below is a brief description of Nwaneri's adaptations to the game and here is the link to the full article in yesterday's WSJ:

"Mr. Nwaneri has created a game that more closely simulates the management of a team than anything before it. Some salary cap games had surfaced previously, but Mock GM took front office work a step further. Imagine going to your league's waiver wire to add Washington's Andray Blatche. Instead of simply dropping another player, you get an instant message saying Mr. Blatche wants a two-year contract. Meanwhile, the agent of the player you wanted to drop hears of the move and sends you an e-mail lobbying to keep him on the roster. He attaches newspaper quotes from coaches saying he'll play more and Excel spreadsheets showing an upward trend in minutes and scoring."

Obama and a full court coming 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

The UK's TimesOnline reports that Barack Obama will have a basketball court constructed at the White House just in case a public official takes a swipe at his game.

Interview with CEO of EBC, Greg Marius

I guest blog at Bouncemag.com, a grassroots basketball magazine that is run by Bobbito Garcia, the former host of ESPN's It's the Shoes and author of Where’d You Get Those?: New York City’s Sneaker Culture 1960-1987. Please show support and comment on my latest post, an interview with Greg Marius-- founder and CEO of the EBC at Rucker Park. Hope you enjoy the micro-history lesson.

Barack finishes in the clutch

Basketball is therapeutic. Just ask President-elect, Barack Obama, who chose to shoot hoops today at the Attack Athletics Center in Chicago while fellow Americans casted enough votes to propel the southpaw to victory. Pick-up runs in D.C. just got more interesting. I smell a trip to Berry Farms in '09. Look at the dribble protection on the drive.

Indiana State University Honors the Woodens

The Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden, and his deceased wife Nellie will have their names inscribed on the home basketball court of Indiana State University on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Before establishing a dynasty at UCLA that included 10 national championships, Wooden served as head men's basketball coach (44-15 after 2 seasons), baseball coach and athletic director of the ISU Sycamores athletic department. As my all-time favorite coach, I biasedly consider this to be a well deserved tribute and I'm sure Wooden will be even more humbled to see Nellie's name next to his.

Largest NBA Crowd Ever?

If all goes according to plan, the 2009 NBA All-Star game will host more than 100,000 fans, a feat that would more than double the existing record of 44,735 attendees at the 1989 NBA All-Star game. The game will be held at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium and is being planned in conjunction with the Cowboys executive staff. Will such a historic venue mend the rift between David Stern and Mark Cuban? Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

The Obama Effect at OSU

OSU head basketball Coach Craig Robinson - brother of potential future first lady (Michelle Obama) - has recognized that his familial relationship with Barack Obama has bolstered the visibility of his men's basketball program. Back in August at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Robinson donned a black and orange suit and gave a huge "Go Beavs" shoutout in front of thousands of attendees and millions watching from the comfort of their own homes--including prospective recruits.

Robinson understands that "elite recruits aren't going to choose Oregon State for a chance to meet the president of the United States," but they will become more intrigued by his near-celebrity status and the possibility of him putting OSU in a much larger spotlight. The Beavers open up their schedule this year against Howard University in Washington, DC. Go figure, right?

Join the Entertainer's Basketball Classic Group on LinkedIn

If you can't make it to Harlem in the summer, now you can join the Entertainer's Basketball Classic Group on LinkedIn to connect with fellow fans and EBC Management alike. Please also utilize the discussion forum to let us know what YOU would like to see in 2009.

If you have never seen or felt the energy at the Rucker, check out these clips to give you a better idea of what you're missing out on. Chris Brown, along with his lady Rhianna, even stopped by in 2008 to check out the action; Chris even blessed the crowd with an appearance in the backcourt.