Caitlin ClarK broke the WNBA single-season assist record - (John Mac photo) CAITLAN CLARK & ANGEL REESE ROCK WNBA

Then Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan had to plan how to deal with the Detroit Pistons BAD BOY'S HIT SQUAD MICHAEL JORDAN'S TOUGHEST OPPONENT

At 37 Lionel Messi continues to amaze - (Hossein Zohrevand photo) MESSI MAGIC - BUILDING A FRANCHISE

LeBRON JAMES HOLDS THE CARDS - (Erik Drost photo) The LeBRON - BRONNY JAMES EPIC

NBA ALL-STAR Jayson Tatum = at # 3 overall = the right choice - (Erik Drost photo) CELTICS have the Right Stuff?

NBA Hall of Fame player Bob Pettit was as tough as they come. Not only could he score but he demanded respect in the lane and a blast from his cast could make you a believer. There was no SISSY BALL during the Pettit era - (The Sporting News Archives - photo) NBA's NEW SISSY BALL ERA

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN

SPORTS NOTES - RACISM WORKS BOTH WAYS

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Why make an issue of a well deserved honor to a white player while comparing them with a subjective opinion that persons of color are more deserving? - OUTTA POCKET - Key Dates - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Wednesday December 18, 2024

LET IT BE

A report caught my eye regarding the owner of the WNBA's Washington Mystics being annoyed that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had received the Athlete of the Year award from TIME Magazine. The question was who is that owner?

As it turns out it is Sheila Johnson the ex-wife of Bob Johnson the founder of BET and became the former owner of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets when he sold it to Michael Jordan.

The report was incorrect since Johnson is a vice chairman and partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, a professional sports holding company which manages the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA).

Her point was that Clark wasn't worthy of being portrayed as the reason the WNBA has such a successful season. 75-year-old billionaire complained on CNN that the league had other reasons for its success and mentioned Clark's rival Angel Reese and other black players in the league. Johnson claimed that the leagues success can't be attributed to just one player.

Clark was the leagues number one draft pick this past season. She went on the set rookie assist records as well as being named the leagues Rookie of the Year. She was such a box office draw that the Fever were selling out games, some tickets were selling for over $1,000. Even the Mystics had to change their home court to a larger capacity venue when the Fever came to play. Clark was responsible for one in six tickets sold in the WNBA in 2024.

Multiple teams, including the Mystics and Las Vegas Aces, moved their games from their smaller arenas to NBA -size venues for Fever games throughout the season. The Fever played the Mystics in the final game of the regular season at the home of the NBA's Washington Wizards (quadruple the size of the Mystics' home arena) and set a single-game attendance record of 20,744.

Clark averaged 19.2 points, a WNBA high 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.33 steals and 35.4 minutes, leading rookies in all five of those per-game categories except rebounding (third). Clark set a WNBA single-season record with 337 assists. She also established WNBA single-season rookie records of 769 points and 122 three-pointers made.

She led the league in three-pointers made and finished six behind the WNBA single-season record of 128 set by New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu last season. She also had the second-highest free throw percentage in the WNBA (90.6%).

Clark's pro success helped spruce up an Indiana Fever squad to make the playoffs after a much improved 20 win 20 loss seasons. They were knocked out in the first round.

On the personal side, Clark's rivalry with Reese goes back to their competitions against each other with Clark's Iowa team verses Reese at LSU. Reese has one on Clark when LSU defeated Iowa in an NCAA tournament semifinal and went on to win the title. Clark and Iowa were not as fortunate.

Their personalities are a main contrast. Reese comes off with a snooty arrogant attitude. Clark is low profile, on the quiet side and lets her talent do the talking.

Clark is deserving of the Time Magazine honor. This reverse racism problem is something that has resonated with me throughout my life.

What was strange is within 24 hours of reading Johnson's dissatisfaction with the Time honor a 60 Minute TV show report on former NBA player Rumeal Robinson aired on American Greed. It revealed how after winning an NCAA title with the 1990 Michigan team he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The American Greed show revealed how a 10-year-old homeless Robinson was taken in by a woman who raised him. She clothed, fed and sheltered him until he was recruited by Michigan University. An NBA career followed. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and made a considerable amount of money. The problem was he didn't handle his success well.

The NBA player went wild spending his money of strippers, cars and other extravagances. He bounced around the league with short stints with the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

After his playing career was over, Robinson moved to Miami and attempted to become a property developer in his native Jamaica. He planned to build a 25,000 acre resort in his hometown called Harmony Cove. As part of his bid to attract investors, he persuaded his adoptive mother to take out a second mortgage on her house and lend it to him as seed money. He promised to cover all the payments, and promised to give her $500,000 once the project was finished. He told her not to worry about anything.

He failed to make the payments and she was evicted from her home of 30 years. That was his way of thanking her from taking him in to feed and shelter from the time he was 10.

He went on to make other scams until the law caught up with him. He was sentenced to 72 months in prison. His arrogant attitude remained. Regarding a street being name after him in the town he was raised, his response was so what.

Yes he is black.

Another black man that made the cover of Sports Illustrated came to our attention during that same 24 hour period. We were scanning through our files and up his story jumped… he is Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders.

I've met both of these individuals. Our Robinson experience was a turnoff. Deion was laughable in a positive way. He is deserving of his talent and success… as is Clark.

Much too often comments are made that reek a tone of color imbalance. We don't know Johnson. I'm not saying she's a racist, just putting my subjective twist on the matter. I've dealt with her ex-husband Bob on several occasions. Her opinions are worthy but suspect. The players she named that she believes made the league a success DON'T SELL TICKETS. THEY ARE NOT A BOX-OFFICE DRAW!

The point being let it be. Why make an issue of a well deserved honor to a white player while comparing them with a subjective opinion that persons of color are more deserving.

Clark is worthy, she's white, so what… LET IT BE.

RUMEAL ROBINSON - AMERICAN GREED PREVIEW

March Sadness

American Greed American Greed takes a look at some of the most notorious scams to happen in the sporting industry. 00:00 Intro 2:30 Peggy Fulford 10:36 William Boots Del Biaggio 18:28 Rumeal Robinson Watch more American Greed: https://www.nbc.com/american-greed » Subscribe to CNBC Prime: http://cnb.cx/yt » Find Your Local CNBC Channel: https://www.cnbc ...

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=rumeal+robinson+AMERICAN+GREED+wiki#id=11&vid=69df0d0be9f6536b0db521c306f92acf&action=view

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards fined

December 9, 2024 NEW YORK

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $25,000 for using profane language during a media interview, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

Edward’s comments came during postgame media availability following the Timberwolves’ 107-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 6 at Chase Center.

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Spurs’ Zach Collins fined

December 7, 2024 NEW YORK

San Antonio Spurs forward-center Zach Collins has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court following his ejection, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 140-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 6 at Frost Bank Center.

Key Dates

" Dec. 19-22: NBA G League Winter Showcase

" Dec. 25: Christmas Day (12 p.m. ET: Spurs at Knicks, ESPN; 2:30 p.m. ET: Timberwolves at Mavericks, ABC/ESPN; 5 p.m. ET: Sixers at Celtics, ABC/ESPN; 8 p.m. ET: Lakers at Warriors, ABC/ESPN; 10:30 p.m. ET: Nuggets at Suns, ESPN) "

Dec. 27: NBA G League 34-game regular season begins

2025

" Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (12 p.m. ET: Mavericks at Hornets, NBA TV; 2:30 p.m. ET: Timberwolves at Grizzlies, TNT; 5 p.m. ET: Celtics at Warriors, TNT)

" Jan. 21-25: NBA Rivals Week

" Jan. 23 & Jan. 25: NBA Paris Games 2025 (Spurs vs. Pacers | Paris, France - Jan. 23, 2 p.m. ET; Jan. 25, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN) " Feb. 6: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

December 18, 1984 The Washington Bullets beat the New Jersey Nets 104-95 to give Gene Shue his 700th NBA career coaching victory. Shue became only the third coach to reach that plateau at the time, joining Red Auerbach and Jack Ramsay.