GETTING TO THE POINT ABOUT THE LAKERS

It is very clear at this point, that the Los Angeles Lakers fortunes in 2013 depend on the “point.”  If the Lakers are to make a run deep into the playoffs, they need a man who is very “deep” into his career. The man is Steve Nash, a scrambler, who has as many miles as a Nash Rambler.  (Okay, enough of the cutesy word play huh?)

This leads me to a question which has always plagued me. What is so hard about running the “pick and roll”?  Of the thousands of gifted basketball players on this planet, why can’t teams find point guards who can work off a screen and either dish, or pop?  The “pick and roll” is the most beautiful, and simple play there is. 

It goes like this. Big guy sets screen on little guy’s defender. Big guy rolls to basket.  Big guy is now defended by the little guy’s defender who had to switch.   Meanwhile, big guy’s defender is now trying to guard little guy and the big guy’s defender is too big and slow to match up.  Little guy jukes and pulls up and pops, or little guy feeds his big guy who has now rolled to the basket against little guy’s defender.

Easy right?  Then why in the name of Naismith has there been so few great ones over the years who could dominate at the point?  The name Earvin Johnson comes to mind as the best point of all.  He was totally unstoppable.  But he didn’t need the pick and roll so much.  He was a one man pick and roll. 

But let’s just throw out a few shall we?  Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson (181 triple doubles in his career, the record), Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Walt Frazier, Lenny Wilkens, Isiah Thomas, Dave Stockton, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Tony Parker, Steve Nash,  and most recent best, Chris Paul.   All had and have the ability to work off the screen and destroy a defense.

So, in all the years pro basketball has been around, I just picked 12 of the best, if not “the” best point guards.  They are rare aren’t they?

That’s why a 38 year old all time great point, is better than no point at all.   And without a healthy Steve Nash at the helm, the Lakers season is truly pointless in more ways than one.

Costas, Pegs, and Dawgs

And I was hoping Bob Costas would be considered as the host in case they resurrected that television classic, “The American Sportsman.” Older reference lost on younger readers? Too far?

Does the term “square peg, round hole” mean anything to anybody when they consider the cast of characters on the Lakers superstar roster, and the so-called system their new coach brings? Shouldn’t they find a way to put a square peg in a square hole? Too deep?

As a long-suffering Atlanta sports fan, and a Georgia graduate, why do I have such an uneasy feeling about the Falcons? Oh, I know, the Braves and the Bulldogs. This one obvious, correct?

Massengale

OLYMPIC BOXING: IT ISN’T

As a fan, reporter, observer, and accomplished blow by blow announcer of boxing for a couple of decades, allow me to answer this question.

What is wrong with Olympic boxing?  Answer:  it ain’t boxing.

Olympic boxing is a pugilistic version of “tag.”  You know, “tag” as in tag football?  The ridiculous computerized scoring system only counts “touches”.  And touching doesn't win real fights. Apparently, and I haven’t figured this out, only the white part of the glove needs to make a contact with the opponent, and voila’, there’s a “point”.

Well, here’s a point.  If you take away inside fighting, emphasis on power shots, punches that actually “turn” over when the blow is delivered, and effective body shots, well, what you have is “pitty pat.”

 And that’s the real pity.  There are programs around the world who teach this Olympic style of hunt and peck and run away.   They win medals, but they’re not boxing.

 I have researched and I believe this style was fomented by the great Charlie Chaplin in the 1931 movie “City Lights.” Google and check out the boxing scene. Yes, that’s Olympic boxing! Of course I am kidding. Then again, maybe Charlie was, once again, way ahead of his time.

 For the last two years, I was the blow by blow television announcer boxing for the A.I.B.A. in their World Series of Boxing. We had the best amateurs in the world, paid them, took off the headgear and shirts, and fought five three minute rounds with professional three man judges scoring.  The action was incredible. 

 Hopefully, the A.I.B.A., under the direction of Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu, can make inroads with the I.O.C. to knock out the current scoring system.