Sports Notes - Jerry West Builds Memphis - LeBron James & Hubie Brown NBA's Best

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Jerry West Builds Memphis - Hubie Brown NBA Coach of The Year - LeBron James NBA Rookie of The Year - Shaq, Kobe Kiss Up For Title - Hideo Nomo Leads Japanese MLB Players - UCONN Wins NCAA - FIFA TOP 10 & Top Movers - Cambodian Football - NR Mail

Monday April 26, 2004

JERRY WEST BUILDS MEMPHIS

A few months ago Super Dude of yahoo.com wrote berating me for his perception that I was writing negative things about his beloved Los Angeles Lakers. Well... there are always two sides to a story.

Our position is that why be a cheerleader of a team? Why not report what really goes on rather than be in a heard of groupie sheep following the Lakers PR Shepherd. The stance…. leave the BS alone. One story we wrote was about Jerry West being touted by the media as being the best general manager of all-time in the NBA.

The LA media gave West credit for putting together the Show Time team of the eighties that won five NBA championships during the span. We disagreed noting that West did not sign the key players of that squad Kareem Abduhl Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Why? He wasn't the GM at the time of their signings.

Now several years after, West indeed has shown that he is a talented GM buy putting together the Memphis Grizzlies current squad and signing a 70-year-old Hubie Brown to be their coach. The toothless Grizzlies of the past now have bite.

RESULT…. The team competed in the NBA playoffs for the first time in the clubs history and registered a club best 50 win season. Brown was named the NBA's Coach of The Year. Brown won the award 26 years ago when he coached the Atlanta Hawks during the 1977-78 season. West is due his credit for his brilliant decision making.

The LA media has a tendency to be cheerleaders. On occasion they can be callous in their deeds and opinion particularly when it comes to disrespecting mature adults. West was criticized for hiring Brown.

Such disrespect is the case of a LA radio personality that said a few years ago when a then 60-year-old Dick Vermeil was hired to coach the St. Louis Rams that he was too old to coach and questioned why players would listen to such an old man. The result is Vermeil led his team to win a Super Bowl championship.

The defending champion San Antonio Spurs eliminated West's and Brown's Grizzlies in a four game sweep in this seasons NBA playoffs. Their achievement of MAKING IT TO THE PLAYOFFS proves that the elderly (West is in his mid-sixties) have a place in the world and that some young people will listen to their elders and know the meaning of the word RESPECT... contrary to some opinions in media.

The OG's (Old Guys) did the job and deserve their credit.

FIFA RANKING MOVEMENT BEHIND THE TOP THREE - Iran break into Top 20

Qualifying matches for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, coupled with a whole host of friendly matches, lead to considerable changes in the latest FIFA World Ranking. The leading trio of Brazil, France and Spain continue to hold a healthy advantage over a tightly packed chasing group, now led by Mexico (4th, up 1) ahead of Argentina and the Netherlands.

Victory over Belgium boosts the Germans' standing (7th, up 3), whereas England (10th, down 4) lose ground following defeat in Sweden. Just 20 points now separate ten teams - from Mexico in 4th to Cameroon in 13th - but forthcoming events such as EURO 2004 and Copa America are likely to make their mark on these reaches of the ranking.

The new ranking also reveals considerable gains for two teams that have dominated the headlines recently. Iran (17th, up 7) continue their steady progress and now sit proudly in their highest ever position, having also regained the honor of being the highest placed Asian team after a gap of two-and-a-half years.

Korea Republic, Japan and Saudi Arabia are now playing catch up. Venezuela (48th, up 6) are rewarded for their 3-0 victory in Uruguay with a significant jump in terms of points and positions, and also break into the Top 50 for the first time. Once consigned to bringing up the rear in South American football, the Venezuelans are now 7th in the continental standings and hot on the heels of Ecuador and Colombia.

Other notable movers include China PR (67th, up 9), Chile (71st, up 9), Turkmenistan (86th, up 10), Northern Ireland (115th, up 9), and St. Kitts & Nevis (121st, up 9).

FIFA TOP TEN

Rank/Team/Points/Previous Rank/Change

1. Brazil - 840 - 1 - 0

2. France - 821 - 2 - 0

3. Spain - 790 - 3 - 0

4. Mexico - 742 - 5 + 1

5. Netherlands - 740 - 4 - 1

5. Argentina - 740 - 6 + 1

7. Germany - 735 - 10 + 3

8. Turkey - 732 - 9 + 1

9. Czech Republic - 729 - 8 - 1

10. England - 724 - 6 - 4

LeBRON JAMES NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - TOPS CARMELO ANTHONY

I will call them Thick & Thin referring to good buddies LeBron James (Thick) and Carmelo Anthony (Thin) who have shared a lot of experiences. Since their high school days these two friends have gained numerous accolades for their playing skill and participating in numerous all-star games.

They were selected overall 1st & 2nd draft picks in the NBA draft prior to the season. They battled it out till the end with James walking away with the NBA Rookie of The Year honors.

Collectively they received all of the first place votes. James tallied 508 points with 78 first-place votes and Anthony registering 430 points with 40 first place votes.

With a 20.9 per game scoring average James was second in scoring of rookie players. He was second to whom???… Camelo Anthony tallied 21 points per contest.

James entered the league out of high school at 18 years of age. During the season he turned 19 on December 30, 2003. Anthony is a few months older. He attended Syracuse University for one season before entering the draft.

James is the youngest NBA player to score 40 points in a game having done so March 27 when he scored 41 against the New Jersey Nets. He goes down in NBA history with Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as being the only rookies to average more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.

So who's the best? It aint over till its over. Thick & Thin will have many years ahead of them to challenge for the leagues MVP award.

KOBE & SHAQ KISS UP

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal may have their people problems but there is one thing they love to agree on… it's winning an NBA championship.

If they can pull it off this season the word is that Bryant may be headed out of Dodge (LA) and go with a team that will give him his own marbles to play with. With Karl Malone and Gary Payton on the Lakers squad there is lees room for the talented Bryant to spread his wings and be THE leader of a team. Stay tuned….

NR MAIL

I found the NR site looking for info on Keith Closs, the basketball player. Intrigued to see basketball and Cambodia overlapping as interests of the site. I enjoyed the riff on Closs on the Venice Beach Courts.

Re the article of Sihanoukville's beaches: Is a guy named Claude, still operating a bar-restaurant of that same name there? Thank you.

Sincerely, Thomas Beller

JAPANESE PLAYERS IN MLB

Since Hideo Nomo made such an impact in MLB (Major League Baseball) in the 90's the influx of Japanese players is beginning to change the perception of the sport not being a true international sport. Hopefully their success will help erase some of the racist attitudes of some negative American media to the extent of creating fake radio shows.

UCONN WINS NCAA

The University of Connecticut won the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament with a 82-73 win over Georgia Tech University in San Antonio, Texas April 5th.

The win was the second time Jim Calhoun coached the team to win the championship. Calhoun's two championships make him the third active coach to win multiple NCAA championships. Only six other coaches have won twice.

Calhoun joins two other active coaches on the multiple win list. Current Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight won three when he coached at Indiana. Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has also won three. Connecticut defeated Duke 79-78 in the semifinal game.

Former UCLA coach John Wooden won a seemingly unbeatable 10 at UCLA during the 1960's through early 70's including seven in a row. Former Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp ranks second on the all-time win list with four.

CAMBODIAN FOOTBALL

NR MAIL

You may remember that I contacted you last December inquiring about the likelihood of being able to watch a football match in Cambodia during my holiday in May? (I) wondered if you knew any more details of if and when a league season is likely to start? (I will be) in Phnom Penh for Saturday 22nd I imagine. What are my chances do you reckon, although I do realize concrete information is likely to be unavailable?

Many thanks Ian Bruce

NR

The Cambodian Daily reported March 10th that Cambodia was invited to participate in a tournament featuring Asian teams that are struggling to build a program. Countries such as Sri Lanka, East Timor, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Laos and Tajikistan fall into this category. The football Cambodian Football Federation's Tola May knows nothing about the event.

The senior national team has no forthcoming competitions prior to the Tiger Cup to be held in Vietnam and Malaysia in December.

The FA Cup began last week in Phnom Penh. Nine teams are participating including Samart the defending champions of the Premiere League. Games are held every Saturday and Sunday at the Navy Field. Hok Sochetra functions as Samart's player/coach.

The Premiere League has yet to set a start date for its season. Speculation is it will begin after the FA Cup.