Michael Jordan has done well with the ball in his hands BUT NOW he has BALLS ON HIS HANDS! - (All Pro reels photo)

LaMello's papa LaVar Ball - Screen shot - photo)   Can Michael Jordan handle being caught in the middle of the Ball's inferno? - (US GOV - photo)   Hair ye, hair ye, hair ye LaMello Ball is in the NBA house - (NBA - photo)

Football is in mourning after one of the sport’s most prodigious talents, Diego Maradona, passed away at the age of 60 - (FIFA photo)

Boston Celtics player Tom Heinsohn (#15), catching the ball during a game v. Philadelphia. At background, teammate Bob Cousy (#14) - (circa 1962 -Unknown author- photo)

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain exemplified how to play the game without Showtime hot-dogging. The two battled for over a decade during the 60's. Since that time no NBA center could compare to their brute talent - (Library of Congress photo) NR's All-time NBA's GREATEST TEAM

SPORTS NOTES - MICHAEL JORDAN'S BALLS TO THE WALL

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

The question is WHY did Michael Jordan green light the drafting on LaMello Ball since he comes with the baggage of his overzealous father LaVar Ball? Can the raging inferno that occurred with the Lakers signing of Lonzo Ball repeat itself and disrupt the chemistry of the Charlotte Hornets organization OR.. PUT A SPARK IN IT? - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS TEAM

Monday November 30, 2020

BASKET BALLED

OK, OK… LISTEN UP… the second edition of the LaVar Ball show is about to return to the airwaves. The reason why Michael Jordan's Charlotte Hornets is has drafted the 18-year-old guard. If history repeats itself it may also bring back the return of the Big Baller show aka LaMello's father. The show is primarily about I, ME and MY, aka the Magic Johnson disease, and how his boys can be the answer to all things to all people in the NBA.

The LA Lakers experienced LaVar's rants and advice on how to run an NBA franchise. One of his quips was that all three of his sons are good enough to be signed by an NBA team. Thus far LaVar has made good on two out of three with LaMello and Lonzo. The problem is at this stage, is that LaVar feels that ALL THREE should be signed by an NBA team in order to win an NBA championship and that was preferably intended for the Lakers. Hmmmmmmmmm.

The question now is can the Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan handle being caught in the middle of the Ball's inferno? Will this be too much heat for the NBA legend to take, can he keep his hand in the fire? Are LaVar's rants too much for any team? To be honest, we miss the LaVar Ball show since it most certainly beats the Donald (DUCKS TAXES) Trump show.

There's something magical about the Ball's in the NBA. Lonzo was too weak to deal with an 82 game regular season schedule. His shot had some issues as being too weird and had no 3 point threat potential. If a team is totally successful it adds another minimum 16 playoff games to the schedule.

The point being is that LaMello is very thing, thinner than Lonzo, and needs to beef up to take the physical drain of the NBA game. Tat raises the questions are how long will it take for LaMello to strengthen up and how long can the Hornets wait?

Another factor in the Ball road show is that in the past LaVar claimed that he could beat Jordan in basketball playing in a one on one game. Now that comment raised a lot of eyes in the sports journalism world. Another question it raises is will LaVar goad Jordan into challenging him in a game?

The facts are Jordan has led the NBA in scoring several times while LaVar has a disjointed history at the college level resulting in a 2 point per game average. Who are you betting on should this match occur?

TO his credit LaVar has raised three sons that are proficient at the game of basketball. He currently has two signed to the NBA while LeAngelo will be honing his craft by playing in the NBA G League.

When all is said and done the BALLS are for ALL to enjoy.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

November saw two great athletes pass away. Diego Maradona is internationally most recognized, he will be remembered as one of the greatest international footballers of all time.

The NBA lost former Boston Celtic forward Tommy Heinsohn. Heinsohn is everything Boston and the Celtics. I never meet a see Maradona play but his reputation and exploits speaks for itself.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid a personal tribute: "Today is an unbelievably sad day. Our Diego left us. Our hearts - of all of us who loved him for how he was, and for what he represented - have stopped beating for a moment. Our silence, our tears, our pain is the only thing we are feeling deep inside us at this time.

"I always said it and I can just repeat it now, more convinced than ever: What Diego has done for football, for making all of us fall in love with this beautiful game, is unique. It is, as he is, simply immense... Diego deserves our eternal gratitude for that, for having amazed us with his incredible talent and yes, for having been so unique: for having been Diego Armando Maradona, a legend, a hero, and… a man," he added.

"Diego may be eternal now, but for forever, Diego will also have a most prominent place in the incredible story of all football fairy tales. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends at this difficult time. Rest in peace, dear Diego. We love you."

Heinsohn was more closer to home for me. He was one of the cornerstones of the beginning of the Celtics dynasty that almost became unbeatable for 15 years. I saw him play from the beginning of his NBA career. He was an instrumental element of the dynasty that began in 1956 with Bill Russell and Bb Cousy. As a player he was a member of seven NBA title winning teams. He later became the teams coach for seven seasons. In the process he coached them to two NBA titles (1975 & 1976). Overall he had a coaching record of 467-263 regular in the regular season and 47-33 in the playoffs.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement regarding the passing of Tommy Heinsohn: "Tommy Heinsohn's remarkable contributions to our game bridged generations and personified the Boston Celtics for more than 60 years. He was synonymous with success, winning eight NBA championships in nine seasons with Boston as a player and two more as its coach, which led to his rare distinction of Hall of Fame status in both capacities.

Tommy was equally renowned as an NBA broadcaster who made his mark on both the national and local stage. Celtics games will not be the same without Tommy, and he will be dearly missed by those who share his fervor for basketball. We extend our deepest sympathies to Tommy's family, his friends and the Celtics organization."

"This is a devastating loss,'' the Celtic team's owners said in the statement. "Tommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy's advice and insights and have reveled in his hundreds of stories about Red Auerbach, Bill Russell and how the Celtics became a dynasty. He will be remembered forever.''

Heinsohn was a salty dog (in a good way) with a gritty but engaging personality. I later interviewed him when he was an analyst for the Celtics broadcast team. He agreed while we walked from the court to the press room. Half way there he motioned to cut it short.

To me there was no offense since broadcast analysts have a responsibility to give follow up game reports to their broadcast relationships. What I got out of it was the salty verbal warmth of a fellow New Jersey guy.

As an aside, when I first relocated from the east coast to California I was questioned about my brusque attitude. I was asked why I was so uptight. I wasn't uptight. The answer is that's the way those of us from the east coast inner city metropolitan areas talk.

Westerners have more of a laid back quiet demeanor. Fortunately we east coasters have something that can't be taught it has to be lived and Heinsohn exemplified that. He was a gutsy player and a gutsy man that will be missed, Heinsohn was 86 when he passed away.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

November 30, 1977 Lenny Wilkens replaced Bob Hopkins as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, who at that time had a 5-17 record. Under Wilkens, the Sonics went 42-18 for the rest of the season and made it all the way to the NBA Finals, where they lost in seven games to the Washington Bullets.

November 30, 1990 Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird scored his 20,000th career point in the Celtics’ 123-95 win over Washington at the Garden. At the time, Bird became only the fifth player in league history (along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West) to gather 20,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists in his playing career.

November 30, 1996 Michael Jordan became the 10th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points after scoring 35 in the Bulls 97-88 win at the Spurs. Jordan reached 25,000 in 782 games, faster than any other player but Wilt Chamberlain (691).

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