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Articles & Opinion
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Written by David Friedman
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Sunday, 05 October 2008 03:11 |
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 "A young musician who longed to create beautiful music once asked Mozart how to become a great composer. 'It is first necessary to play an instrument well,' said Mozart. 'Of course, one must also learn the basic rules of composing and be familiar with the work of all the great composers of the past.' 'But you were only six when you began to write music!' interjected the young musician. Mozart replied: 'That's true, but I never thought to ask anyone as you're doing now.''" Story told by Grandmaster Pal Benko and reprinted in Compose Like Mozart.
A true genius can make the most difficult and intricate task seem ridiculously simple. Think of a healthy Tiger Woods. Think of Michael Jordan. Think of Prince producing, composing and writing albums while also playing multiple instruments and providing multiple vocals. Think of Bobby Fischer sweeping aside other Grandmasters as if they were children who had just learned how the pieces move. Think of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who committed to memory thousands upon thousands of words when he composed his books while in Soviet prison camps; most people can barely remember a grocery shopping list but he wrote and then memorized a stark and eloquent account of the brutality of the "Gulag Archipelago."
On the other hand, those who are not geniuses can make the easiest and most straightforward task seem impossibly difficult. Rather than single out "non-geniuses" by name, think of a football team that cannot get the proper 11 players on the field at the same time and then cannot get those 11 players to act in unison before and/or after the snap. Think of a basketball player who forgets the play between the time he leaves the huddle and the time that the ball is inbounded. Think of a golfer who cannot make a simple putt or who could win a tournament by making straightforward shots but instead inexplicably takes unnecessary risks and whose path around the course transforms from a victory lap to a bizarre safari. Think of a writer who cannot get simple facts straight, let alone use proper grammar or communicate in an engaging, lively manner.
Stephon Marbury is no Mozart of the hardwood. Marbury possesses certain obvious physical talents--speed, ballhandling skills, shooting ability, good strength for his size--but he neither instinctively makes the right play nor has he--paraphrasing Mozart from the above story--sufficiently familiarized himself with the work of the great composers (playmaking guards) of the past. Mozart never had to think in conventional terms about becoming a composer because he understood how to apply his talent in a way that synthesized and then expanded upon the work of previous great composers. Marbury has tried to take the same "shortcut" but without the benefit of being a basketball visionary genius. Magic Johnson passed the ball the way that Mozart composed music; like Mozart, Magic did not have to think about all of the intermediary steps in his development. A great chess player once said that his philosophy was to do things as they must be done and then see what happens--but this presupposes having the vision/talent/training necessary to see what must be done; it used to be said of Fischer that he could throw a piece in the air and it would land on the best square. For Magic, that meant seeing that his teammate would become open before even that teammate realized it and then delivering the ball through the hapless defense in such a manner that the teammate could not only catch the pass but also attempt a shot that he had a good chance of making based on his skill set.
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Articles & Opinion
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Written by David Friedman
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Friday, 19 September 2008 12:40 |
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 With Adrian Dantley there are always more questions than answers. How did a 6-5 player consistently score in the paint against bigger, stronger and taller defenders? Why did several teams trade Dantley even though he was very productive? Why did a player who averaged 24.3 ppg on .540 field goal shooting during a 15 year NBA career have to wait more than a decade to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Adrian Dantley is the mystery man: his game wasn't flashy and he didn't do anything to attract undue attention to himself. All he did, year after year, is score. A lot of guys talk about "getting buckets" but few players in pro basketball history have been as mind-numbingly consistent at "getting buckets" as Dantley was during his prime. This line from an old Zander Hollander Complete Pro Basketball Handbook (if you've never heard of this yearly classic, look for some old copies on eBay) summed it up best: "The sun rises in the East and Adrian Dantley averages 30 ppg." Here are Dantley's scoring averages from 1981-1984: 30.7, 30.3, 30.7 (played only 22 games due to injury), 30.6. In 1980, he averaged 28.0 ppg and in 1985 he "slumped" to 26.6 ppg before bouncing back to 29.8 ppg in 1986. Thus, from 1980-86, Dantley scored 13,635 points in 461 games for a 29.6 ppg average. During that remarkable run, he captured two scoring titles (1981, 1984), led the league in minutes played per game in 1981 (42.7 mpg) and never shot worse than .531 from the field; in six of those seasons he shot at least .558 from the field. Dantley was also outstanding at drawing fouls and he took advantage of that skill by shooting .818 from the free throw line during his career. He led the NBA in free throws made five times, including four times from 1980-86. Dantley played for Utah during those seven seasons but prior to that he played for three teams in his first three seasons in the NBA and after his stint with the Jazz he played for three teams in his final five seasons.
There were two constants throughout Dantley's career, no matter the locale or the competition: he was always an undersized inside player and he could always score. Although Dantley never played on an NBA championship team it would be foolish to characterize him as anything other than a winner. Under the tutelage of the legendary Morgan Wootten, Dantley led DeMatha High School to a 57-2 record and earned High School All-America honors. During Dantley's three years at Notre Dame (1974-76), he averaged 25.8 ppg and 9.8 rpg while shooting .562 from the field as the Fighting Irish went 26-3, 19-10 and 23-6. In 1974, Dantley and Notre Dame ended UCLA's record 88 game winning streak. In 1974 and 1975, Dantley made the NCAA Tournament All-Regional teams and he received First Team All-America recognition in 1975 and 1976. The U.S. Basketball Writers Association voted him the National Player of the Year in 1976 after he ranked fourth in the NCAA in scoring (28.6 ppg) while shooting .588 from the field and averaging 10.1 rpg. Dantley led Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in 1976, ranking first on the squad in scoring (19.3 ppg). Select Read More to see the rest of this article |
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Television News
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Written by Maury Brown
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Wednesday, 17 September 2008 00:50 |
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 File this one under, "Snap!"
In a continued effort to educate Americans one bottle cap at a time, Snapple offers New York Knicks reporter Jill Martin a side job for the off-season: Snapple Cap Fact Writer. In a recent interview, Martin failed to answer several trivia questions about her own team - including a question about the years in which the Knicks have won the NBA Championship.
To help Martin become more informed about the Knicks, Snapple invites her to write five Knicks-focused Snapple cap facts. In addition to gaining crucial knowledge about the team, Martin will receive $1,000 for each cap fact. Snapple will provide any and all resources needed to research these facts, including: Internet access, direct contact with devout followers of NY sports and the email address of the president of the Patrick Ewing Fan Club.
The job offer expires on the NBA's opening night October 29, 2008.
"Snapple, in no way, wants to interfere with Martin's full-time job," said Bryan Mazur, vice president of marketing for Snapple. "However, this is a wonderful opportunity to engage a talented young reporter - and Snapple is more than happy to help!"
To respond, Snapple says, "Martin can contact the Snapple consumer line at 1-800-762-7753." Ouch! Source: Snapple
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network. Don't forget to register and log in on The Biz of Basketball site to get updates via your in-box, and see information only logged in members can see. |
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NBA News
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Written by Maury Brown
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Tuesday, 16 September 2008 04:54 |
 The team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics, and now the Oklahoma City Thunder have sold all season tickets for the upcoming 2008-2009 season in just five days, and have started a waiting list for games at the Ford Center. Controlling owner Clay Bennett reports that as of Friday, approx. 13,000 season tickets had been sold. The franchise is withholding 4,000 seats for single game sales. "This is a testament to Oklahoma's commitment to the Thunder. We are thrilled and extremely appreciative of the fans and corporate supporters,'' said Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett in a statement on the team’s website. "This kind of support means so much to our players, coaches and staff. We are humbled and excited." Team owners made it clear that they believed that they could have sold out the entire schedule with season tickets, but opted not to. "We did not want to sell out the Ford Center with season tickets. We want to be able to offer a wide variety of fans access to Thunder basketball games, so we will have single-game tickets and group sales opportunities available for every game,'' Thunder spokesman Dan Mahoney said. Single-game tickets for the first half of the season will go on sale in October. Source: Oklahoma City Thunder
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network. Don't forget to register and log in on The Biz of Basketball site to get updates via your in-box, and see information only logged in members can see. |
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Articles & Opinion
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Written by David Friedman
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Wednesday, 10 September 2008 21:00 |
 Here are some great links about my all-time favorite player, the one and only Julius "Dr. J" Erving:
The Net-Ripping, Backboard-Shaking, Mind-Blowing Dr. J (Sports Illustrated, December 11, 1972)
Not even two months into Erving's second season, Peter Carry writes, "One school holds that he is already the best forward ever to play the game, another claims he needs a year or two more to polish up his defense and outside shot before he inevitably becomes the best."
Big Julie is Doing Nicely--Nicely (Sports Illustrated, January 14, 1974)
Peter Carry writes, "Julius Erving has brought his Dr. Nicely-Nicely routine back home to Long Island . He has done nicely on the floor, where he has led the youngest starting lineup in the pros—average age 22.6 years—back from a skitterish start and into title contention. He has done nicely off it as well, charming the clergy, his employers, the recently re-elected Nassau County Executive (whom he endorsed after extracting pledges for recreational programs for his hometown of Roosevelt), and even the Madison Avenue types who are after some endorsements of their own. Naturally enough, Dr. J. now spiels for Dr. Pepper."
The Doctor Opens His Medicine Bag (Sports Illustrated, May 17, 1976)
Pat Putnam offers this tribute to Erving's stellar play in the first four games of the 1976 ABA Finals (Erving's Nets went on to win in six games, claiming the final ABA title):
"Too bad, America, but you missed one of the greatest basketball shows on Earth. Or, rather, one just a few feet off the Earth. That was Julius Erving last week, launching himself from various points on courts in Denver and New York, soaring and scoring, passing, rebounding, blocking and stealing—all in the undeserved obscurity of the ABA championship finals. By Saturday night Erving and his underdog New York Nets had Denver down three games to one, which is what can happen when humans go five-on-one with a helicopter.
The games were not nationally televised, but they should have been. Dr. J's heroics merited more than just local exposure. In the first four games he scored 158 points, pulled down 51 rebounds, had 22 assists, blocked seven shots and had eight steals. Most of them came with the Identified Flying Object's feet well off the ground, his body twisting and turning. Even the Nuggets felt like applauding."
"I'll Never Play the Same Old Riff" (Sports Illustrated, May 17, 1976)
Erving tells John Papanek, "I can get a rebound and go. I'll give it off or, if I want, I'll go all the way myself. Once I get into the lane it's history. I'm like a jazzman. When it's my turn to solo, I'm not about to play the same old riff."
The Best the Game Offers (Time, May 24, 1982)
Tom Callahan writes, "It used to be said of Bill Russell, 'He improves every player on the floor.' Now it is said of Bird. And it should be said also of Erving, at 32 the other sublime forward in the game. Dr. J concurs with Bird that the pass means more than the shot and only gives the impression that the 'move' means most of all. Bird recalls Robertson's impeccability; Erving reprises Elgin Baylor's flamboyance. But the subtler moves of Dr. J are the ones the players note and appreciate."
Dr. J is Flying Away (Time, December 22, 1986)
Callahan again strikes the perfect notes, opening this great piece with the following lines: "On the playground, where the move counts as much as the basket, 'winners' out' is the rule. Score the hoop, keep the ball. Win the game, maintain the court. Hold out until dark if you can, or at least until twilight. Julius ("Dr. J") Erving, the most watchable basketball player of the past 16 years, has begun to say goodbye to cities: Portland, Seattle, Oakland, Phoenix. At final stops along the Philadelphia 76ers' way, home teams have been introducing their own players first in order to build a crescendo for Dr. J, the National Basketball Association star who plays for everyone."
Dr. J and Pistol Pete on the Same Team (Basketball Digest, October 2004; reprinted at 20 Second Timeout, November 9, 2006)
I have had the good fortune to interview numerous Hall of Famers, members of the 50 Greatest Players List and other legends but the opportunity to talk hoops with Erving will always be at the top of the list for me--and one of the many highlights of that conversation was when Erving told me the story of the brief time that he was Pete Maravich's teammate with the Atlanta Hawks. I knew the bare bones story before talking with Erving but when I asked him about it he delivered the heart and soul, starting with the earnest statement, "It really was one of the joys of my life to play with Pete, to be in training camp with him."
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
 David Friedman is a weekly contributor to The Biz of Basketball. To read more of his basketball articles, just take a 20 Second Timeout. His general sports commentary can be found at Best Ever Sports Talk, where “2008 NFL Preview,” “Monday Night Football Quick Hits,” “Truth is Once Again the First Casualty in the Latest Example of ‘Ready, Shoot, Aim’ Reporting” and “Natalie du Toit Embodies the Essence of the Olympic Spirit” are among the subjects that have been recently discussed.
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NBA News
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Written by Bill Johnson
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Tuesday, 09 September 2008 21:13 |
 The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have agreed on the terms of a contract extension with coach Maurice Cheeks. As reported on NBA.com, the terms were not disclosed, but the deal extends the current agreement signed in February 2008. The action locks up the services of a head coach who finished fourth in the balloting for NBA Coach of the Year last season, and who has notched a 113-133 record (along with a career 275-272 mark) since taking the job in May 2005. Cheeks was pleased with the commitment from the team, saying, "I just want to thank the 76ers organization, particularly Mr. Snider, Peter Luukko and Ed Stefanski, for continuing to provide this team with everything necessary to compete and achieve our goals. My focus remains the same as it was when I first arrived - to do whatever it takes to help us win basketball games.” Stefanski, President and General Manager, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Over the course of my time here, Coach Cheeks and I have developed an excellent working relationship, one which I look forward to continuing with him as we move forward in an effort to achieve our collective goals.” Cheeks’ 15-season playing career, including eleven years in Philadelphia, included five selections to the NBA All-Defensive Team and four appearances in the All-Star game. He retired to the bench in 1993, leaving a legacy as the league’s all-time steals leader and in the top five on the all-time assist list. He was also a member of Philadelphia’s 1983 NBA Championship team.
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Bill Johnson is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network |
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NCAA Basketball News
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Written by Bill Johnson
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 12:36 |
 The city of San Antonio enjoyed not only a memorable ‘Final Four’ culmination of the 2008 NCAA Division I Basketball championship tournament, but is also basking in that warm feeling that often comes after pocketing over $47 million in total economic benefit for the three-day weekend. As reported by the Associated Press, a recently-released NCAA survey corroborated the estimate in revealing that nearly 57,000 people visited the city for the Saturday/Monday games, and each visitor stayed an average of 3 nights, and spent approximately $223 per day. The gross income figures, the study noted, include neither spending by San Antonio organizing groups nor tickets sold to local residents. Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategies, said, "Year after year, the continued success of the men's Final Four demonstrates it is one of America's great events. The support from our corporate champions and corporate partners for the men's Final Four and all 88 NCAA championships is strong and growing." According to the survey, 97 percent of the fans who attended the games were from out of town.
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Bill Johnson is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network |
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NBA News
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Written by Maury Brown
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 03:49 |
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Tonight, the team formerly known as the SuperSonics were renamed the Thunder in their new relocation home of Oklahoma City. The new name, one of the worst kept secrets in the NBA, has been rumored to be the selection for almost six weeks. "It's hard to keep a secret," said controlling owner Clay Bennett at the team’s offices in downtown OKC. As reported by The AP, the logos and merchandise had been trickling out in advance leading up today. To unveil the logo, six children joined players Desmond Mason and Damien Wilkins to pull down a curtain as the AC/DC song "Thunderstruck" blared over the loudspeaker. What was revealed was a large blue banner with the logo in the middle, and splashes of yellow at the top and reddish-orange at the bottom. Bennett said the light blue color coincides with the state flag to represent the inclusion of all Oklahomans, the yellow refers to the sun and  the reddish-orange color to the sunset. With the University of Oklahoma featuring crimson as its primary color, and Oklahoma State using orange, Bennett said it was "not too red and not too orange."
Almost immediately, the NBA Store started selling Thunder merchandise. Shirt and pants apparel dominate the new offerings, with luggage and duffel bags adorned with the new logo being offered, as well. To date, no caps or other head gear with the logo is available.
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK |
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D-League News
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Written by Bill Johnson
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Wednesday, 03 September 2008 18:55 |
 The NBA has released the tentative team affiliations between Development League (D-League) organizations and NBA franchises. As reported on NBA.Com, the D-League has expanded to sixteen teams to begin the eighth season of play, so each development team will be limited to affiliation with a maximum of two NBA squads. Dan Reed, D-League president, observed, “Three years into the assignment system, we are thrilled with the way NBA teams have embraced the opportunity to develop their players in our league. An impressive 27 NBA teams have assigned 76 players to their NBA D-League affiliate…which not only benefits the teams and the players, but gives fans an opportunity to watch top prospects play and improve their games. We expect these numbers to grow as the relationships between NBA teams and their NBA D-League affiliates continue to flourish.” Cleveland Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry, affiliated with the Erie BayHawks, also noted that, "Having our fans be able to watch games with some of the young players we may happen to have with the Erie BayHawks from our team, we can create an even greater fan base. From a basketball standpoint, we'll be able to come and watch games and support the guys we have here and also be able to scout players. Other than the NBA, this is probably the most scouted professional league in the world." 2008-09 NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TEAM AFFILIATIONS
(Current eligible players for assignment listed) Albuquerque Thunderbirds - Dallas Mavericks
- Miami Heat
Anaheim Arsenal - Atlanta Hawks
- Los Angeles Clippers
Austin Toros Bakersfield Jam - Golden State Warriors
- Orlando Magic
Colorado 14ers (Broomfield) - Denver Nuggets
- New Jersey Nets
Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, ND) - Memphis Grizzlies
- Washington Wizards
Erie BayHawks - Cleveland Cavaliers
- Philadelphia 76ers
Fort Wayne Mad Ants - Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Idaho Stampede (Boise) - Portland Trail Blazers
- Toronto Raptors
Iowa Energy (Des Moines) - Chicago Bulls
- Phoenix Suns
Los Angeles D-Fenders Reno Bighorns (NV) - New York Knicks
- Sacramento Kings
Rio Grande Valley Vipers (TX) - Houston Rockets
- New Orleans Hornets
Sioux Falls Skyforce (SD) - Charlotte Bobcats
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Tulsa 66ers Utah Flash (Orem)
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
Bill Johnson is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network |
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NBA News
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Written by Maury Brown
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Sunday, 31 August 2008 15:04 |
 The former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics has dropped his lawsuit against the current owner of the team, thus ending an attempt to keep them in Seattle. Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks Corp., and the former owner of the Sonics who sold the team to Clay Bennett has dropped his suit. As reported by The AP: "As a result of these developments, our legal team and I no longer believe we can be successful with this litigation," Schultz wrote in a letter to former members of his ownership group, the Basketball Club of Seattle. In a statement Friday from Oklahoma City, Bennett said, "We are pleased to now be able to move on. We look forward to an exciting future of NBA basketball in Oklahoma City." Last week, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman ruled in Seattle that the NBA could intervene in the lawsuit. She also denied Schultz's motion to split the trial into two separate phases: a liability phase and, if needed, a remedy phase. The trial was scheduled for June 15.
Schultz went on to say that the city of Seattle’s settlement with the team, which allowed them to relocate to Oklahoma City, hindered his case. Schultz also believed that a long and protracted case would most likely anger the league, and interfere with efforts for the return of the NBA to Seattle.
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- Instant Replay Arrives. Here’s a Recap of How it Came to Be - The Biz of Baseball
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- NFL To Increase Number of Regular Season Games by as Early as 2010 - The Biz of Football
- Local Official: NFL to Return to Los Angeles in 2009 - The Biz of Football
- Sat, 3PM ET: Maury Brown Talks Giants and Jets PSLs, MLBAM, ESPN and the Big Ten Network, and More on Sports Business Radio - The Biz of Football
- NFL Reinstates Adam "Pacman" Jones - The Biz of Football
- Jets Release PSL Program, Cost Between $4,000 and $25,000 - The Biz of Football
- Time Warner Cable, Big Ten Network Reach Carriage Agreement - The Biz of Football
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- NHL Releases 2008-2009 Pre-Season Schedule - The Biz of Hockey
- Get Your Hockey Fix On - Register and Get Updates - The Biz of Hockey
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