Le Basketbawl

We are going through a time of great change on our planet as we reach the end of the first decade since the new millennium. Here in the USA we have crossed a great threshold as we now have the first African-American President in our history.

The entire world is shuddering collectively as we face the worst economic situation in most of of our lifetimes. We have nations coming apart at the seams in some places and in others we have seen some of the first signs of stability. For good or for bad we are at a point in the history of humanity that change is happening even as I write this column. 

Way down on the totem pole of life we are also seeing a revolutionary change occurring in the sports world. One situation that is just starting to garner some attention has the potential to radically alter the game of basketball. The situation at hand would effect high schools, colleges as well as the NBA. And once again for good or for bad this evolution is taking place even as you read this.

Jeremy Tyler is a name you are most likely to become very familiar with over the next few months and years. If you do not recognize the name young Jeremy was a junior at San Diego High School. Notice I wrote the word was, the reason being is he no longer attends classes there. Jeremy is a 6′11″ basketball player; and no he did not leave San Diego High to go to another high school program. That sort of stuff has been going on for years, this is on a far grander scale.

Young Mr. Tyler will be home schooled  next year as he moves over to Europe to play Professional Basketball. “USA Today“ has reported that the athlete has been advised by long time former shoe rep Sonny Vaccaro to skip his senior year of high school and to play the next two years in the Euro-leagues. Tyler would then declare for the NBA Draft in 2011.

Vaccaro is a guy that has a lot of connections and has been around the game for a lot of years. He was an executive with some of the biggest shoe companies on the planet, but he is now on his own as an adviser to young athletes.

Sonny is not a big fan of the current NCAA system; he has called it “purgatory” and referred to it as “servitude” for the players. Vacacaro believes that more and more basketball players will choose to go to Europe rather than going the traditional route and heading to college. He envisions at least one or two players per year will eschew college for Europe.

If reading this is giving you an unexplained feeling of deja-vu it may be because you are remembering Brandon Jennings. Jennings last Summer decided that rather than go to college he would sign a three year contract with Italian power house Lottomatica Virtus Roma. He averaged 7.6 points per contest for the Italian team and is expected to be selected within the first 10 picks of the NBA Draft in June. Jennings had earlier signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Arizona. However he was not sure if he would have the academic requirements to attend the school.

NCAA President Myles Brand had hoped that Jennings would be a fluke; a one time situation that he would not have to deal with again. Brand told reporters last year “I don’t know what’s going to happen in terms of other people. But I would hope and expect that most would want to go to college, not just to play basketball but to get an education.”

President Brand was either being extremely naive, or just engaging in spin. The truth is that most collegiate players will never be paid for playing hoops. These young men are our future accountants, dentists, and leaders of industry. But the players that do have the skills to play professionally in most cases, are there for the exposure that playing in the NCAA will give them. If you are “one and done” in other words just going to college for the required one year, an education is not your priority.

The cynical side of me (which seems to come out more often the older I get) says Brand just does not want to see an end to the revenue that the NCAA gets from having future NBA stars even for just a year. College basketball is a huge revenue stream for the NCAA, they don’t want any changes from the status quo.

How did NBA Commissioner David Stern react to Jennings decision to play in Italy? Stern said “I actually think it’s a pretty cool thing for a kid to do what he’s doing! There’s a big world out there. If you want to play for Rome as opposed to Arizona, go ahead and do what you think is best. It’s a positive development for kids and for the NBA scouts.”

I am sure the NBA Commissioner’s statements did not make Brand feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The NCAA has always been the feeding pool for the NBA, now there is competition for those athletes. And that competitor basically has the Association’s seal of approval.

Stern was the driving force behind raising the age requirement to play in the Association. It turns out he has no qualms about high school players going directly to playing professionally. He just does not want them in the NBA. But he has no qualms what so ever about them cutting their teeth in the Euro-leagues.

Jennings who was raised in Compton, California when he announced his intentions said “I think it’s going to change the game a lot. If they don’t change the rule, I think you’re going to see more kids test the waters and try to make a name for themselves overseas.”

Jeremy Tyler has now taken Jennings’ example and went even further with it; deciding to be home schooled and skip his senior year of high school in the USA. How Tyler will come out of this experience remains to be seen. But if he succeeds the young man could end up being a trend setter by playing in the Euro-League.

The Association and the NBAPA in their last collective bargaining agreement stopped players from going directly from high school to the NBA. What has resulted in many cases, are players who just go to college for one year, and then go into the NBA Draft. Jennings and now Tyler are pioneers, the question now becomes how many other players will follow their lead starting this Summer or next year? Will the new rallying cry for basketball players be “Go East Young Man, Go East?”

Growing up I had two sets of friends; the guys who were into sports and the guys who were into music. I was the only kid who hung out with both groups. Forty years later I am basically the same person; I am still incredibly passionate about sports and music. And anytime I can meld those two interests together it is an incredible experience!

I have had that pleasure recently after meeting a Boston area rapper who records under the name of Father Abraham.  He is releasing a CD on May 7, featuring a rap that he has entitled Dirge Nowitzki and yes it has an awful lot to do with the Dallas Mavericks All-Star forward. The rap envisions Nowitzki dead and then reanimated and creating havoc. Their is also a Latino element to the piece with a Spanish guitar and a story told from the view point of former Memphis Grizzlies player Juan Carlos Navarro.

I had a chance to sit down with Father Abraham aka Abraham Kinkopf recently to talk about the inspiration behind Dirge Nowitzki, his upcoming album and his interests as a sports fan. I found a very cool guy and I am sure you are going to enjoy meeting him as well!

Le Basketbawl: So what was the inspiration behind the creation of  Dirge Nowitzki?

Father Abraham: I have no special affinity for Dirk Nowitzki (nothing against him, either), and didn’t really set out to make a song about him. It just so happened that I was fiddling around with one of my synths when I came up with that lead line that runs through the first part of the song. I convinced myself that it sounded like a dirge, made the leap to Dirge Nowitzki, and just went for it. Jesse (from the Young Dads) had showed me the Pau Gasol song a few months back, and I thought they might sound good together. I asked him to record it and fly me the tracks, and I married the two songs together. It just so happened that I released this song right before the playoffs, which is great timing.

The song itself is part of a year-long project called 52pickup. I’m producing and releasing one song per week for all of 2009 and releasing them at http://52pickup.us. The release format has been done before – mostly by singer-songwriter types – but I’m not familiar with anyone who has tried to do something this involved. I spend anywhere between 40 and 60 hours on each track and support myself pushing paper in a cubicle three days a week. It’s not glamorous. I had a beer at a bar the other night. It was the first time in 9 months, I think. I spent all of ‘08 working on a full-length record entitled I Am Not a Sailor I Am the Captain, which I am releasing on May 7.

L B: So you are not a Dallas Mavericks fan then? Where do your NBA loyalties go to?

F A: Sports-wise, I’m a Cleveland fan, through and through. I’m a Cleveland fan, and a LeBron fan, and no, the Cavaliers did not exist in my universe until he came along. I’m fine with that. It’d be nice to see the Cavaliers do it this year. I’ll take it. I think that if they can win one during the next two years, their chances of retaining LBJ (already high, I think) get much better. It’d be nice to see someone stick with the city for once. I spent my formative years in Cleveland with a baseball team unlike the city had ever seen (1994-2000), so my heart, unfortunately, will forever belong to the Indians.

As for the playoffs: The Cavaliers have a fun team, and I’m not sure they can be beaten at home. They have a pretty good track record of improving their game when the playoffs come – they had no business being in the finals in ‘07 and were one bounce/call/play away from the finals last year. I would like to say that this is the year, but I’m not sure it would be good for my health. I was sick for almost two weeks after the Indians blew the ‘07 ALCS. I’m going to try my best to stay calm and enjoy the fact that Cleveland has a good team and at least one more year of LBJ. Gotta learn to be grateful.

L B: So you have spent time in two of my favorite cities Cleveland and Boston. Tell us a little more about your background

F A: I’m a product of the Midwest. I was born in North Dakota and my family jumped from there to Detroit and then to Minneapolis before finally settling in Cleveland, my dad’s hometown. I consider Cleveland my hometown, too.

**My dad was a sports reporter for a good while, too. He wrote features for the Free Press and was a columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press before becoming the sports editor at the Akron Beacon-Journal. Name of Eric Kinkopf. Don’t know if you two ever crossed paths. He was out of newspapers by around ‘94, I think.**

L B: Did you play any sports growing up?

F A: I never played basketball myself. Grew up playing hockey. I played for around fourteen years. Did time in juniors in Canada and walked on for two years of DI in college. Scored a goal in the consolation game of the Beanpot, which was cool. I’m not sure if this is common knowledge, but hockey players are horrific at basketball. I only made the team my freshman year because the coaches had this insanely stupid idea that we could build team unity by doing basketball drills in the preseason while the ice was still down. The third string goalie completely demolished a forward’s ankle, a spot opened up on the practice squad, and the rest is history. The goalie and I went on to become good friends.

L B: Well we thank you for stopping by and best of luck on the project! Once again the name of the album is I Am Not a Sailor I Am the Captain and it’s release  date is 5/07/09.

I just had a flash back to the early 1970’s when your correspondent was still in high school. Do you remember the smell of your high school Gym locker? If it smelled anything like mine you certainly do! The odor that emanated from my locker would peel bark off trees, would make dogs keel over. If the CIA could have bottled that aroma they most likely would have used it as a weapon of torture during the previous administration.

With that being said; why would anybody pay money to acquire a used locker? Now granted the locker did belong to Basketball Hall of Fame member Michael Jordan during his glory days with the Bulls. The “Associated Press” has reported that M.J.’s old locker during his tenure with the Chicago franchise was auctioned off last Saturday for $23,000 (you knew the number 23 had to be worked in there somewhere, right?)

The locker is a wood paneled model; wood is a porous material which means it maintains odor. My locker was made of metal and I’m sure 30 years later it probably still reeks! So why would you want this smelly cabinet anywhere near you?

I totally understand collecting sports memorabilia! I myself have a pretty good collection of bobble-heads. But none of them smell! I have never quite grasped the concept of fans wanting a game worn jersey; or even worse game worn sneakers! Yet every year in Cleveland fans of the Cavaliers clamor to get these jerseys as prizes on “Fan Appreciation Night.”

Have you ever stood next to a seven foot tall man who has just come off an NBA court before he showers? I have, it is not a scent that I want lingering in my nostrils! If I was a fan who was “fortunate” enough to win a LeBron James jersey right off his back after playing in a game I would ask for it to be put in a plastic bag before it was given to me. That jersey would not see the inside of my house until it paid a visit to the dry cleaners first. 

So to that lucky fan who paid 23 grand for Jordan’s locker congratulations! However please do not invite me over to your home to visit your prized possession. Not at least until you have it properly sanitized!

Okay Knickerbockers Fan tell me now why your team is going to end up with LeBron James in 2010? You not only have another terrible season coming to an end you have a pretty lousy roster. You have two players who have the potential to be very good in Wilson Chandler and David Lee. You have another player in Chris Duhon who shows some potential to be a solid player.

Your number one pick in the 2008 NBA Draft “The Rooster” Danilo Gallinari had to hear torrents of boos from the faithful the night he was selected. He has not done much to win friends and influence people since. The rookie has been hurt almost continuously since training camp. He has played in 28 games this season. The rest of your roster consists of a bunch of players who are interested in their own numbers and their own minutes.

Now contrast that if you will to The Chosen One’s situation in Cleveland. LBJ will unless the planet stops rotating get his first NBA MVP this season. There is also a very good possibility that the Cavaliers may break the curse that has gripped the Metropolis of Cleveland since 1964 this June by winning it all. If they do not they are most likely to last deep into the Playoffs. And the team is still young; so explain to me please why he is destined to make that move?

Seriously why would any big name free agent want to go play for the Knickerbockers? Yes I realize it’s New York City; the capital of the Universe. However the Knickerbockers do not have the cache of the Yankees or the Giants. The Knickerbockers had one good era almost 40 years ago; most of today’s NBA fan barely knows who Willis Reed and Walt Frazier are!

There are two teams in the Association that the casual fan cares about the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The 1980’s rivalry was not between Bernard King and Magic Johnson; and Eddy Curry did not play in the highest rated NBA Finals in years last June.

Do you think your management team will attract them? James Dolan may be the worst team owner in the Association and there are some bad ones. Team President Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D’Antoni have certainly not done anything to enhance their reputations this year.

Knickerbockers Fan there will be no quick fix for your team. Your franchise has made a series of very bad moves since the start of the decade. It is going to take quite a while to see the light again.

When my guy Don from With Malice asks for me to participate in one of his projects, I always answer the call. Don has declared April 5, 2009 as NBA Unsung Hero Day.  The idea behind this global event is to give thanks to the guys who are not house hold names in casual NBA fans lives. The day is to commemorate the guys in the trenches, who do the little things that helps a team become a contender.

After giving careful consideration we have decided that Chicago Bulls forward John Salmons will represent Le Basketbawl as the recipient of this honor. Given the season he is having this just may be the last season that Salmons could accurately described as an unsung hero.

Salmons started getting attention last season playing for the Sacramento Kings. The forward now playing in his seventh NBA campaign started getting extra minutes when teammate Kevin Martin was injured. Salmons opened a lot of eyes with his fill in duty and impressed a lot of folks. One of those he impressed was Chicago Bulls General Manager John Paxson who brought him to the Bulls before the trading deadline. The move has helped Chicago big time as they fight for a Playoff slot in the Eastern Conference.

Salmons has averaged 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists this season. His scoring average is more than double his career average of 8.7 points per game. Salmons has become a starter for Chicago and along with rookie Derrick Rose and guard Ben Gordon has helped the Bulls become a legitimate force in their division and their conference.

Many have opportunities handed to them, however only some can take advantage of them. John Salmons has been given a chance and performed. Soon Salmons will start to enjoy the fruits of his labors. April 5, 2009 Salmons has earned the honor of representing our site as an NBA Unsung Hero.