University of Florida Football Head Coach Urban Meyer, left, is interviewed following the Gators' 56-10 win against the University of Hawaii Warriors in Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Stadium at Florida Field August 30, 2008. Also pictured is UF quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow - (Photo by Harrison Diamond / The Independent Florida Alligator)

Tim Tebow - (Craig ONeal photo)   LaVar Ball shares his thoughts on his all-time NBA team - (Screen shot photo)   Jeannie Buss the owner and the mother of THE LAKERS FAMILY forgot that Hall of Fame former Lakers star Elgin Baylor ever existed - (Screen shot photo)

Back in the day from left Elgin Baylor, Jerry Chambers and Jerry West

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 MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

SPORTS NOTES - ALL TIME IGNORANCE RULES

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

A man's choice should be given his experience on how to do things and with whom. Cooperation and talent is the key to success. They can either have your back or stab it - LaVar Ball is the king of them all… in talk that is. Since talk is cheap who did he choose for his all-time NBA team? - If ignorance were bliss does that make Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeannie Buss the happiest woman in the world? WHY? READ ON… - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Monday June 14, 2021

IT'S A MATTER OF CHOICE!

It was shocking to hear an NFL analyst condemn Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer for taking an interest in one of his former players Tim Tebow while they were together at Florida University. At that time Tebow played quarterback for the University of Florida, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and appeared on BCS National Championship-winning teams during the 2006 and 2008 seasons with Meyer as head coach.

During the 2007 season, he became the first college sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. In 2008, Tebow led Florida to a 13-1 record and its second national championship in three years, and was named the offensive MVP of the national championship game. Tebow went on to have a mediocre professional career as quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

Despite Tebow's shortcoming professional efforts Meyer gave him an invitation to try out for the Jaguars playing end. Meyer's thinking reminded me of what former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden told me that he never selected the best players for his teams but selected the best players he thought that could play together as a team.

In all sports the coach or manager being in charge is a part of a TEAM.

The analyst's outburst was over the top and unfair to someone that has had a stellar college career. Tebow tried his luck playing professional baseball for the New York Mets. The Mets assigned him to their minor league system where he had moderate success but not enough to qualify for a promotion to the major leagues.

Tebow is known for his outspoken Christian faith as well as his athletic prowess. His practice of kneeling in prayer on the football field has become known as "Tebowing". It's that point that we take issue with as being something not resented by some athletes. This analyst blurted out that he had friends that were more worthy of an opportunity to go to tryout camp and try to make the team.

The other point is the analyst is black and Tebow is white. To make this a racist issue is unfair BUT… it is a point to be assessed. The bottom line is if a coach has had previous experience and success with an athlete and knows his skill set and most importantly they respect and cooperate with each other that is the key ingredient that works, RESPECT and EXPERIENCE.

Why should a coach take on a better skilled and experienced player that can be a head case? Harmony is one of the most important ingredients for winning.

Other analyst on the show had looks of disbelief as the angry analyst and former NFL player ranted on. The point being that the NFL Network should choose more intelligent and less emotional individuals to represent their sport. Bottom line….. Give PEACE A CHANCE and give Tim Tebow a chance.

BALLS TO THE WALL

You can say what you want about LaVar Ball but to be clear you can't fault him on how he raised his children to become men and talented enough to play in the NBA and NCAA at UCLA. Since LaMelo signed with the Charlotte Hornets there has been hardly a peep from the loud mouth father. Don't forget he stated that he could beat Michael Jordan the Hornets owner, one on one. Jordan has six NBA titles and Ball has at best a 2 ppg scoring average while he attempted to play college basketball at several schools.

Hey… we like Ball and his theatrical antics. When he's under control he can be funny and entertaining. One thing is for sure… he won't beat Jordan while his son should have a chance should the encounter come about.

But hey… LaVar can still be heard since he has a show on the Internet. We accidently caught a segment where he selected his all time NBA team… as follows:

Point Guard (1): Magic Johnson

Shooting Guard (2): Michael Jordan

Small Forward (3): Larry Bird

Power Forward (4): Tim Duncan

Center (5): Shaquille O'Neal

Now one can't argue that this isn't a good team. A point of fact is that we agree on three players, Magic, Jordan and Bird. The fact that he chose Duncan and O'Neal indicated he is relating to his life experience since he is only 53-years-old. He never saw Elgin Baylor or Bill Russell play.

It is logical that individuals relate more strongly to players they've actually seen play during the observers lifetime. It's not LaVar's fault that he was born in a later era that approached to Sissy Ball Era of NBA play today. Today it's the… don't' touch me, hop, skip and jump with no dribble era. Ohhh... we forgot it's the see the fashion show with tats and neon shoes, crying and complaining, acting and see the three be the three era as well.

LAKERS… DEAD & BURRIED

Well it appears that the Lakers vagabond king LeBron James' shoulders weren't big enough to carry the team to victory without the glue Anthony Davis. As we pointed out last season that Davis is the glue to the Lakers success in winning the (COVID short season) NBA title last season. LeBron is good but it takes a UNIFIED TEAM to win.

Meanwhile Lakers owner Jeannie Buss chose her all time Lakers team. In doing so she showed her ignorance of the true Lakers history. Buss chose as follows: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Coach Phil Jackson.

The inexperienced Lakers history knowledge of the franchise Buss explicitly left out Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Shaquille O'Neal. Shame. Shame on the ex-Miss Pacific Palisades queen for leaving out two of the greatest players in franchise history Baylor and West. Both have set NBA records that stand today.

West and Baylor spent their entire careers as a Laker. Obviously Buss has not welcomed them into today's LAKERS FAMILY as she often refers to the organization. She included James who was in his 3rd season with the club while Jabbar became a Laker winning an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks that included Oscar Robertson.

Baylor was with the squad when they were in Minneapolis. It was he that SAVED THE FRANCHISE given his marquee value to the organization in the move to LA. without Baylor the franchise would be bankrupt.

The Minneapolis Lakers used the No. 1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA draft to select Baylor, then convinced him to skip his senior year at Seattle University and instead join the pro ranks. The team, several years removed from its glory days of George Mikan, was in trouble on the court and at the gate. The year prior to Baylor's arrival, the Lakers finished 19-53 with a squad that was slow, bulky and aging. Baylor, whom the Lakers signed to play for $20,000 per year (equivalent to $180,000 in 2019), was the franchise's last shot at survival.

With his superb athletic talents and all-around game, Baylor was seen as the kind of player who could save a franchise, and he did. According to then Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short in a 1971 interview with the Los Angeles Times: "If he had turned me down then, I would have been out of business. The club would have gone bankrupt.

Although Buss is bubbling just under the big 6 zero, if ignorance is bliss then Buss must be the happiest girl in the world.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

June 14, 1987 The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their fourth NBA title in eight years as they beat Boston 106-93 in Game 6 of the Finals, behind 32 points from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and 16 points and 19 assists from Finals MVP Magic Johnson.

June 14, 1990 The Detroit Pistons defeated the host Portland Trail Blazers 92-90 in Game 5 of the Finals. Vinnie Johnson hit a 14-foot jumper in the final second, helping the Pistons become only the third franchise (joining the Celtics and Lakers) to, successfully defend an NBA title. It was the Pistons’ fifth straight Finals road win, an NBA record later tied by the Chicago Bulls.

June 14, 1992 Chicago set an NBA Finals record by overcoming a 15-point deficit (79-64), after three quarters, scoring 33 points over the final 12 minutes to defeat, Portland 97-93 in Game 6 and clinch its second straight NBA Championship. Michael Jordan, who averaged 35.8 ppg, was named Finals MVP, becoming the first player to win it in consecutive years. Portland’s 21-for-21 performance from the free throw line set an NBA Finals record.

June 14, 1995 The Houston Rockets became the first sixth-seeded playoff team to win an NBA title, following a 113-101 Game 4 triumph over Orlando at The Summit. Houston also became the first NBA team to ever defeat four consecutive opponents (Utah, Phoenix, San Antonio and Orlando) in the playoffs that had won 50 or more games during the regular season. Houston and Orlando combined to set a Finals record for the most three-point field goals made (25), with the Magic sinking 14 long-range shots (led by five each from Anfernee Hardaway and Brian Shaw) and the Rockets hitting 11 (with Mario Elie and Robert Horry collecting four apiece).

June 14, 1998 The Chicago Bulls clinch their sixth NBA Championship in eight seasons in a thrilling 87-86 win played at the Delta Center. Michael Jordan earned himself his record sixth NBA Finals MVP after averaging 33.5 points per game in the series. (The NBA Finals MVP Award debuted in 1969.)

June 14, 2000 After spraining his ankle with seven minutes gone in Game 2 of NBA Finals 2000, Kobe Bryant returned to play Game 4 in Indiana. After Shaquille O’Neal fouled out with 2:33 remaining in overtime, Bryant made four of five shots and scored eight of his team’s 16 points in overtime. He finished with 28 points on 14-for-27 shooting. Remarkably, Bryant had no free throw attempts. By scoring eight of his team’s 16 points in overtime, Bryant came up a point short of the NBA Finals record of nine in overtime, held by three players.

June 14, 2000 Former Long Beach State star Rasul Salahuddin scored 18 points and former South Carolina standout B.J. McKie added 17 to lead the NBA Ambassadors to a 114-99 triumph over the KBL All-Stars of Korea in Seoul, South Korea. The victory improved the Ambassadors’ record to 5-0 in the Asian Basketball Association League. The Ambassadors, coached by NBA legend Nate "Tiny" Archibald, represented the NBA’s new developmental league (the National Basketball Development League), slated to begin play in North America in November 2001.

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