ON BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA V

May 31, 2016

 

June 1, 2016

 

As the winds of war were approaching a Category 5 hurricane during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, there were two political camps in our nation:  one favored isolation and the other was anti-isolation.  The isolationists either refused to believe or ignored the atrocities being committed by the Nazis against Jews, Poles, and (soon after) the Russians, and the Japanese against the Koreans, Chinese, and other southeastern Asian people.  It is now widely accepted that this ideology led to the death and suffering of millions of innocent people; earlier intervention could have unquestionably prevented this.  The isolationists chose to look the other way for fear of shedding American blood on foreign soil.  Joining these isolationists was England’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.  However, former Secretary of State Henry Stimson detested the isolationists.  He warned that “lawlessness in the international order did not confine itself to a few spots; if not contained, like fire, it sparked and flared outward until it burned everything around it.”  Few were ready to heed his warning.

 

What subsequently occurred is now history, and it is Winston Churchill (my hands-down selection for Man of the 20th Century) that we now have to thank for both our survival and current way of life.  Keep in mind that we, as a nation, have a past history of ignoring danger, of underestimating evil forces, and of lacking discipline and resolve.

 

When growing up, I was told in school that we can learn a lot from history.  Have our current leaders learned anything from history?  You be the judge.  But, I believe Barack Hussein Obama (BHO) is the second coming of Neville Chamberlain.  Thanks to BHO, with his reckless and insane policies, the world today is fast approaching the equivalent of WWIII.  At a minimum, this supposed man of peace has wrought devastation on the Middle East and Eastern Europe.  Some people simply can’t handle certain jobs.  BHO is one such individual.  One can only hope that his conduct and actions will be corrected in the very near future.

 

But there is more, and that is what this 5th article on BHO is all about.  It seems that anything this guy touches or gets involved with either goes wrong or turns out to be a disaster.  The guy is absolutely uncanny.  And yes, for those who faithfully read this newsletter, there were the 7 articles in 2009-10 detailing that BHO is (1) dumb; (2) lazy; (3) un-American, (4) corrupt; (5) lying; (6) racist; (7) egomaniac; and, believe I could prove in a court of law that (1) – (7) were in fact true.

 

Did I mention that there is more?  Here are some notes from my BHO files since the BHO IV article last year.

 

  1. Bergdahl debacle;
  2. Left equipment in Iraq;
  3. Returned troops to Iraq;
  4. Joe Biden (talk about dumb people) claims victory in Iraq;
  5. ISIS continues to operate;
  6. ISIS continues to expand;
  7. Requires political correctness in military;
  8. Many military feel a sense of betrayal;
  9. Many can’t understand how some serve in the military with BHO at the helm;
  10. The “red line in the sand” comment refuses to go away;
  11. Turned the military into a social experiment;
  12. The dismantling of the military;
  13. Refused to take steps to stop Putin in the Ukraine;
  14. Refused to take steps to stop China in the China Sea;
  15. Signed a nuclear deal that will not prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power;
  16. Provided Iran with 150 billion dollars on a no-strings-attached basis;
  17. Released Guantanimo inmates who reportedly later killed Americans;
  18. How can a supposed constitutional scholar refer to the 57 states?;
  19. How can a supposed constitutional scholar refer to the corps as corpse?;
  20. Continues to miss many daily meetings;
  21. Continues to ignore earlier Black Panther voting violations;
  22. Told O’Reilly there was “not a smidgen of evidence” concerning the IRS/Lois Lerner conduct;
  23. Maintains that health costs will be cheaper;
  24. Maintains you can keep your doctor;
  25. Palled around with the Castros;
  26. Played golf immediately after a recent massacre;
  27. Attended a basketball game after a recent massacre;
  28. Continues to divide our people;
  29. Refuses to condemn the Black Lives Matter conduct and has instead embraced them;
  30. Provided reduced sentences for convicted drug dealers;
  31. Supports sanctuary cities;
  32. Refused to support Kate’s Law;
  33. Opposed to all forms of firearms;
  34. Opposed to all forms of fracking;
  35. Blanket support of economically disastrous climate change policies;
  36. Supports regulations that are crippling small businesses;
  37. Supports regulations that are stifling jobs;
  38. Continues to ignore his rejection of the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Commission report that he requested;
  39. His domestic policies will ultimately allow democracy and the constitution to be slain in the name of democracy and the constitution;
  40. There are problems for those who do not share BHO’s views; and,
  41. Continues to claim that relations with Israel have never been better.

 

Here is a bit more.  Although not totally a fan of Trump, he and O’Reilly have it right claiming the media is corrupt.  Here is an example of what we are fighting.  A recent New York Times article titled, “Eight Years after the Crash” noted that “unemployment is at 5 percent, deficits are down, and the Obama economy is growing”.  Of course unemployment is not at 5 percent, the deficit is approaching 20 trillion dollars, and despite capitalism – where downturns are almost immediately corrected – the economy is still stagnant.

 

My apologies if I’ve overdone it with BHO.

 

Visit the author on his Facebook page at Basketball Coaching 101

 

NEXT POSTINGS:  (tentative):

 

JULY 1:                      On Financial Inequity I

AUGUST 1:                On Financial Inequity II

SEPTEMBER 1:         On the Nesmith Basketball Hall of Fame

OCTOBER 1:             On the OHI Day IV

NOVEMBER 1:         On “THE” Election

DECEMBER 1:          On the 2016-17 Hofstra Basketball Season

JANUARY 1:             One Purely Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts XXIV

 

5 Comments | Barack Obama, Basketball, Education, Politics, Uncategorized | Permalink
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ON HOFSTRA’S 2015-16 MEN’S BASKETBALL: A SUMMARY ANALYSIS

April 1, 2016

April 1, 2016

 

This is the third and last article on Hofstra’s 2015-16 Men’s Basketball team.  Here is a summary report of what took place this season and what to expect for the following year.

 

This was a banner year for the club.  The team basically featured a near dream offense that was unfortunately complemented with a porous defense.  There was the starting five that consisted of Rokas Gustys (C), Denton Koon (PF), Ameen Tanksley (SF), Brian Bernardi (#2), and Juan’ya Green (#1).  Rokas – who I refer to as “The Brute” – came into his own this season and probably should have been behind MVP Green for MVP honors.  Freshman Desure Buie had a decent season.  The club beat Florida State (neutral site), lost to South Carolina at the buzzer (neutral site), and beat St. Bonaventure (at Olean).   The club’s record, prior to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament: 22-8, 14-4.

 

I attended the CAA Tournament in Baltimore in early March where I was treated to 7 thrilling games over a 3-day span.  What a great vacation.  The tournament itself was the culminating event of the Hofstra season.  Without going into details, the team made it to the finals but lost to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) in overtime.  The general consensus of the media following the loss was that Hofstra suffered from “fatigue” and “was running on fumes” while the UNCW defense – particularly against the two Hofstra guards – contributed significantly to the loss.  The season ended with a thrilling but another heartbreaking 2-point loss in the NIT at George Washington; interestingly, GW then went on to decisively win the NIT championship at the Garden.

 

Here is what I had to say earlier in the season:  “This may be Hofstra’s year.  Then again, it may turn out not to be for a host of reasons.  At the top of the list is a porous defense, following by the lack of a backup center, the lack of a shot blocker, and the lack of a great defensive guard.  Furthermore, Coach Mihalich appears constrained by a 5-man rotation due to the loss of Malik Nichols, which could expand to six with the addition of Buie; this might spell disaster in a potential 3-day/3-game tournament in March.  I maintain that 35+ minute players in a high powered offense will unquestionably cheat on defense – and this problem needs to be addressed.”  No one will ever convince me that a 35-40 minute starter will play with the same intensity defensively as a sub who knows his playing time is limited to under 10-12 minutes.

 

Here is a comment from afar from two fans on this season.  Bob Hausner:  “The Pride lived up to expectations.  The CAA proved to be competitive and Hofstra was in the mix.  They came down to the wire and lost heartbreakers in the tournament final game and the NIT first round.  Their starting five was the equal of any other team in the CAA.  Green lived up to all preseason expectations.  Unfortunately, the loss of Nichols, the 6th man, was devastating and hurt the team.  The short bench resulted in their running out of gas in the last game.”  Ed Borenstein:  “As a former alumni and long-time Hofstra basketball fan, I was very excited that Hofstra finally won the CAA conference plus had the CAA player of the year in Jaun’ya Green.  Although it was disappointing that they lost the championship game in the CAA Tournament, they played hard and got into the NIT.  I’m looking forward to next year and have confidence that Joe will build on the progress they made.”

 

Next season?   Assuming Rokas and Buie will not transfer, the club should have a reasonable chance to again be in the hunt for top honors.  With only minimal improvement, I would expect Rokas to contend for MVP honors the next two years.  Three point specialist Bernardi should be set for another good season.  Buie is the wild card.  He could make the Hofstra faithful forget about the great guards of yesteryear – Speedy, Charles Jenkins, Moore, Green, etc.  He too could become part of the MVP picture during the next three years.  He should improve dramatically in the future but what I love most about this skinny impersonator for a basketball player is his great defense.  Remember what I stated in my book Basketball Coaching 101:    “In reality, defense has recently emerged as the name of the game.  The author has repeatedly told basketball aficionados that defense is 50% of the game.  And every individual has responded with something to the effect: “of course, I (or we) know that”.  But really?  Who believes them?  After all, from the first day a player is introduced to basketball, defense has almost always been an afterthought…  It is great guards that get a team to a championship game, but it is great defensive guards that win championships.  It is their ability to create havoc on the opponent’s offense that makes the difference.  Bottom line:  defense doesn’t get the credit it deserves in the role it can play in determining the outcome of a game.”

 

All in all, it should be another very good year, particularly if the team exceeds the minimum requisite defense DNA.

 

Here is a comment from afar from an avid fan on next year’s season (Bob Bernstein):  “This will obviously be a very difficult season with the loss of Green, Tanksley, Koon and Nichols.  But there is some good news: two notable additions are 6’8” Oceanside transfer (from Tufts) Hunter Sabety, and guard Deron Powers from Hampton College.  Notable returns, in addition to Rokas and Bernardi, are 6’10” Andre Walker and small forward Jamail Robinson.  There are a lot of positives.”
Here is some personal information on the three seniors as the spotlight dims and they ride off to a new way of life – perhaps never to be heard from again.

 

  1. Kenton Koon, the graduate transfer from Princeton University. I dubbed Kenton the most underrated player on the team, primarily because of his court savvy.  He was also the only player on the starting five who didn’t look for his shot.  He was my type of contributor – a true team player.

 

  1. We are all hoping that Green will be drafted (by the NBA) sometime in the coming months. He has a legitimate shot because of his great passing, excellent foul shooting, and tremendous court presence.  Shooting, speed, and defense may be questioned by some interested teams.  From a personal perspective, I would draft him because great one (#1) guards have always been close to my heart.  Perhaps Speedy Claxton can help.
  2. Ameen Tanksley probably hopes to make it in Europe and he has a reasonable shot to succeed. He had a great CAA Tournament.  The main problem is that he is a “tweener”, i.e., too small for a small forward (#3) and not possessing the qualities for a #2 guard.  But he is all heart and tough as nails.  His four years with Coach Mihalich is obviously a plus.

 

Baseball has arrived.   As my father often put it:  Let’s go Mets.  But it will be a while before this Hofstra basketball season leaves some of us.  But nonetheless, Coach Mihalich, his assistant coaches, Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway, and all the players need to be congratulated.  Thank you all for an exciting season.  It was also a memorable year in that Tom Yaeger, the CAA Commissioner since its inception 31 years ago, announced that he was retiring.   He and his wife plan to remain at their lake home in Virginia.  Congratulations, good luck and good health to Tom.

 

I close with a poetic executive summary of the 2015-16 season.  My thoughts often turn to the passage of time which, in turn, are reminders of sayings involving the orbiting of the sun that have withstood the test of time.  Here is a sampling.

 

Henry David Thoreau

Walden. I, Economy

To him whose elastic and vigorous thought

keeps pace with the sun

the day is a perpetual morning.

 

Minot Judson Savage

Things Not Done

There comes an hour of sadness

With the setting of the sun,

Not for the sins committed,

But the things I have not done.

 

Edward Young

Night Thoughts

Like our shadows,

Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.

 

How does the above relate to this narrative?  Darkness is now approaching for the two kids from Philly who provided two years of immense basketball talent as they prepare to ride off into the sunset, awaiting a new beginning.  But then, having stepped out of the darkness and experienced the early morning rays of light upon the darkened sky, Buie now awaits his day in the sun.  Perhaps Scarlett O’Hara (Vivian Leigh) said it best when the curtain descended on Margaret Mitchell’s classic “Gone with the Wind” “After all, tomorrow is another day.” (perhaps drawn from Miguel de Cervantes’s Don Quixode – tomorrow will be a new day?).

 Visit the author on his Facebook page at Basketball Coaching 101

 

NEXT POSTINGS:  (tentative):

 

MAY 1:                       On the 2016 East Williston School District Budget Vote

JUNE 1:                      On Barack Hussein Obama V

JULY 1:                      On Financial Inequity

1 Comment | Basketball, Education, Sports, Uncategorized, Views from Others | Permalink
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ON PURELY CHASTE, PRISTINE AND RANDOM THOUGHTS XXIII

February 27, 2016

 

This a unique one.  Rather than to provide 25-30 one-liners, I’ve decided to do something different for this 23rd edition of the “random” series.  This one contains a short paragraph on topics of interest to me.  Here is a dozen.

 

  1. The Hill. I open with Hillary Clinton.  Here is my description of the Clintons:  They are two thoroughly rotten human beings: lying, manipulating, deceiving, exploiting, etc. have become a way of life for both of them.  Her laugh and cackling are totally artificial.  Polls seen to indicate that young women voters are rejecting her.

 

  1. Hofstra Men’s Basketball (2015-16). This may be Hofstra’s year.  Then again, it may turn out not to be for a host of reasons.  At the top of the list is a porous defense, followed by the lack of a backup center, the lack of a shot blocker, and the lack of a great defensive guard.  Furthermore, Coach Mihalich appears committed to a five-man rotation due to the loss of Malik Nichols, which could expand to six with the addition of Buie; this might spell disaster in a potential three-day/three-game tournament in March.  I maintain that 35+ minute players in a high powered offense will unquestionably cheat on defense – and this problem needs to be addressed.  Nonetheless, it’s been a great year and they have a solid, exciting club.

 

  1. Basketball Coaching 101. My Basketball Coaching 101 (436-page) book is still out in the marketplace at either Amazon.com or createspace.com for $17.95.

 

  1. Society needs to come to grips with the reality that environmentalists and their supporters are probably the greatest threat to society.  They are a frightening group that is fanatical.  This group will do anything – lie, manipulate, deceive, etc. – to achieve its misguided goals, including saving Mother Earth from itself.  Most of my colleagues in the field and I have separated ourselves from these sickos.

 

  1. Global Warming. Environmentalists justify their conduct by arguing that over 90% of the technical community supports their position on global warming.  But nearly all of the 90% they refer to have vested interests in their being this catastrophic problem facing society.  If there is no problem, most of these so-called experts will be out of a job.  At a minimum, there will be no tenure, no promotions, no articles, no consulting, no books, no government grants and contracts, etc.  And, the environmental organizations that also support this scam will have greater difficulty in generating funding, donations, and government support.  Finally, nearly all my colleagues in this field do not support the environmentalists’ claims.

 

  1. Killeen’s Tavern. It has been 60 years since the birth of the Killeen’s Tavern basketball team.  The relentless passage of time has taken its toll on the group.  However, here is how Ron Roel described the Boys of Killeen’s in a feature Newsday front-page article (May 12, 2005) titled “Pivotal Friendships”:  “They teamed up 50 years ago on a tavern basketball squad and their connections still have bounce.  When the boys of Killeen’s Tavern gather to remember the times they spent as a tough and talented street basketball team decades ago, the rules are quickly evident, even to newcomers:  you’d better duck… From the moment you enter their company, the wisecracks whiz by, sometimes from unexpected quarters, like a behind-the-back pass.  But, by most standards, this team has shown remarkable resilience and continuity, meeting once or twice a year, socializing in smaller groups, attending the weddings of each other’s children, occasionally vacationing together, and watching TV sporting events like ‘March Madness.’  A number of the men have died.   And while most of the remaining team members still live in the metropolitan area, a few come from Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to attend the reunions.”

 

  1. Eli Manning. The New York Giants are toast.  There is no hope for the next season and any other season if Manning is quarterback.  He is definitely the most overrated and luckiest quarterback of all time.  Their only hope is to draft a quarterback and start anew.

 

  1. The Factor. It’s primarily the main non-sports show that I watch.  I don’t read papers.  I definitely don’t read The New York Times; the same applies to Newsday.  I don’t read magazines.  I don’t watch any news programs on TV.  I have come to intensely dislike Megan Kelly (Fox) who I earlier immediately described as a phony.  Bill O’Reilly’s (BOR) Factor is all I need for news.  Our nation should be grateful to BOR for providing, unlike most news sources, fair and balanced news coverage.  Nonetheless, I’m still annoyed that BOR has failed to acknowledge my dedication to him in one of my recent books.

 

  1. Great Eats. There have been several requests for a follow-up on an earlier article entitled “Great Eats.  It would not be feasible to address all the various ethnic restaurants but will limit it to Italian for this short paragraph.  The best pizza remains Vincent’s (Albertson).  For dinner, I recommend Angelina’s (Williston Park), Vincent’s Clam bar (Carle Place), and Umberto’s (off Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park).

 

  1. As noted some time back, people are now finally coming to grips with the corruption within the NCAA.  The recent findings of the phantom programs, inflated grades, no-show courses at the University of North Carolina for the past 20 years are just the tip of the iceberg.  Violations are popping up at nearly all the schools with major basketball and football programs.   The reality is that nearly all the programs (if not all) are cheating in some manner or form.  The only difference is the degree of cheating.

 

  1. Man of the Century? I have Obama in the running for Idiot, Boob, and Traitor of the Century.  I have Hill and Bill as the two most rotten individuals of the Century.  But the Man of the Century? Or is it woman? That has yet to be decided.

 

  1. Barack Hussein Obama. The reincarnation of Neville Chamberlain.  Where does one start? Or is it end?  I believe that a fair, intelligent, and objective individual – after examining all of BHO’s actions, policies, background, appointments, and comments – would have to conclude that he has served as a major liability to our great nation.  I just can’t see it any other way.   Has he knowingly and deliberately attempted to hurt us?  Perhaps Dick Cheney said it best:  “If you had somebody as president who wanted to take America down, who wanted to fundamentally weaken our position in the world and reduce our capacity to influence events, turn our back on allies and encourage our adversaries, it would look exactly like what Barack Obama’s doing.”

 

I’ll return in 8-10 months to the usual format with a couple of dozen one-liners.  Hopefully, they will engage (or perhaps enrage) the reader.

 

Visit the author  on his Facebook page at Basketball Coaching 101

 

NEXT POSTINGS:  (tentative):

 

APRIL 1:                    On the Basketball Hall of Fame

MAY 1:                       On the 2016 East Williston School District Budget Vote

JUNE 1:                      On Barack Hussein Obama V

JULY 1:                      On Financial Inequity

Leave a Comment » | Barack Obama, Basketball, East Williston, Education, Politics, Uncategorized | Permalink
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ON HOFSTRA MEN’S BASKETBALL 2015-16 SEASON: HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

November 29, 2015

December 1, 2015

Thanksgiving is now a near distant memory.  It is now December.  Christmas and the New Year are around the corner.  What’s the significance?  It primarily means one thing for basketball buffs in the Nassau County area:  the 2015-16 Hofstra basketball season has arrived.

Every year, at about this time (December 1), I introduce the reader to Hofstra’s Men’s Basketball Team and start the prediction process for the coming season.  This year is no different – so here goes…

I begin with some comments about last year’s team.  There were concerns, hopes, and expectations; second year Coach Joe Mihalich (he has my vote for second-best coach in the NCAA) had inherited a team in disarray the previous season, but the 2014-15 season team featured Juan ‘ya Green and Ameen Tanksley – the two Niagara University transfers and Brian Bernardi, plus returnees Jamail Robinson/Malik Nichols and two first-year centers.  So what happened?  They had a good season finishing 5th in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) with a decent record of 20-14, 10-8.  The group started off strong, went into a tailspin after Tanksley scored 30+ points at the Barkley Center, and came back strong at the end of the season.  The CAA tournament was up for grabs and I felt they had a chance to win it and earn a berth in the NCAA tournament.

It would be appropriate to also mention last year’s Hofstra/William & Mary (H/W&M) CAA Tournament semi-final game.  This may sound like sour grapes but Hofstra was the best team in the tournament and the best team lost because of poor officiating (a CAA official effectively said the same thing to me).  The H/W&M foul ratio was an unbelievable 2/1.  The refs called “touch” or “phantom” fouls near the end of the game that put W&M in a position to win.  As a former basketball ref, and the reader can check this with any other ref, you simply don’t make this class of call at the end of a game.  These three officials shouldn’t get another playoff game in the future.  If you think I’m nuts, check the near perfect quality of the officiating the next night in the finals. (P.S. I mailed these thoughts to my friend, CAA Commissioner Tom Yaeger.)

Here’s what I’ve got on this year’s team.  Hofstra has extended Coach Mihalick’s contract.  Most of the players are returning; key losses include center Kone and off-guard Nesmith.  There’s a few additions, the most noteworthy of which is 6-8 Denton Koon, a Princeton graduate student transfer with one year of eligibility and freshman guards Justin Wrights-Foreman and Desure Buie.

Here’s my analysis:  The team looks pretty solid.  Are there any concerns?  Of course.  The loss of Kone may be problematic if the two centers – Gustys and Walker – do not improve.  The departure of Nesmith is a bigger concern since the club’s roster seems to be light on one (point) guards with experience.  I have repeatedly claimed that it is great guards that get a team to a championship games, but it is great defensive guards that get you to the Promised Land; i.e., win a championship.  Nesmith filled that role and I’m not sure that Mihalick has a satisfactory replacement.  Green is a solid scorer and a great passer but he has yet to convince me that he is a great defensive player, which he will have to demonstrate in order to move on to the next level.

This may be Hofstra’s year.  Then again, it may turn out not to be for a host of reasons.  At the top of the list is a porous defense, followed by the lack of a backup center, the lack of a shot blocker, and the lack of a great defensive guard.  Furthermore, Coach Mihalich appears committed to six-man rotation which could expand to seven with the addition of Buie; this might spell disaster in a potential four-day/four-game tournament in March.  I maintain that 35+ minutes players in a high powered offense will unquestionably cheat on defense—and this problem needs to be addressed if the club is to go all the way.

A note on the aforementioned Freshman guard Desure Buie.  He may turn out to be the heir to a long list of great guards who have performed at Mack Arena.  I think this baby-faced under six foot 120 pounder (he can’t be six feet tall and weigh 150 pounds as reported) will bring fame and fortune to the program after Green and Tanksley leave at the end of the season.  He’s the real deal in my estimation.

The team’s record at the time of the posting of this article was 3-2.  Three home games remain in December, including their league opener against Delaware at 1:00 PM on the day of New Year’s Eve.  There are also 9 home league games during January and February.  The CAA Tournament is scheduled for March 4 – 7 at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.

As noted on numerous times in the past, attending Hofstra games still remains the best sports buy in the New York Metropolitan area.  There is ample free parking, the concession stands are not a rip-off, there isn’t a bad seat in the house and its $6 for seniors and children.

*************************************************************************

In the meantime, my Basketball Coaching 101 (436-page) book is still out in the marketplace at either amazon.com or createspace.com for $17.95.  I gave it my best shot and know the book will win no prizes.  Despite rave reviews, sales are sluggish; it is not available in stores and there has been no signings in bookshops.  The explanation provided to me is that it is now a word-of-mouth book, i.e., via personal recommendation of one reader to another, the media, press, many authorities, etc., have essentially overlooked the book.

I thank those of you who have read it cover-to-cover and have had nothing but positive things to say about it.  It’s been great for my ego.  So … the readers’ help is required if meaningful sales are to materialize.  Nonetheless, thanks to those who are pushing the book.  I ask others to consider contacting their circle of friends and inform them of the book, and further recommend they contact their circle of friends, etc.  Details on the book are available on my Facebook page: Basketball Coaching 101.

Consider buying the book – I really do need the royalty money to help subsidize my gambling habits.

NEXT POSTINGS  (tentative):

 

JANUARY 1:             On Climate Change II

FEBRUARY 1:          On How to Write a Book

MARCH 1:                 On Random Thoughts XXIII

APRIL 1:                    On Financial Inequity

MAY 1:                       On the 2016 East Williston School District Budget Vote

Leave a Comment » | Basketball, East Williston, Education, Politics, School Board, Sports, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON PAYING STUDENT-ATHLETES (S-A) IV

October 31, 2015

 This is the fourth article dealing with the need to pay college basketball student-athletes.  It is important for the reader to understand, as noted in earlier articles, that college basketball is no longer a sport in the traditional Hellenic sense.  It is, pure and simple, a big business that is in the business of providing entertainment in order to make money.  A small group of individuals provide the entertainment and, contrary to American democratic principles and capitalism, are essentially deprived of fair compensation.  Most of these entertainers in basketball get little to nothing in terms of monetary salaries.  A handful are later provided significant financial rewards; it is almost strictly a matter if the entertainers make the NBA.  First round draft choices are guaranteed a million dollars a year for three years.  Second round draft choices get nothing unless they make the team.

The S-A problem is still alive and doing well – at least for now.  It could have been avoided.  But the NCAA, some conferences, some schools, and many school presidents/athletic directors/coaches all got greedy.  The NCAA’s attempts in the future to stop the process to pay S-As will fall flat on its face.  Instead, I predict that the NCAA will make some token overtures in the near future to correct their abuses of the past, but unfortunately for the NCAA, it will be too late to close the barn door; in effect, the train will have already left the station.  The NCAA “concept” that the college players are students, or student-athletes, will have outlived its time.

The position of the NCAA and their so-called institutions of higher learning seems illegal, unprofessional, unethical, etc.  On top of that, it seems to be un-American; it violates the true spirit of free enterprise.  After all, why can the author sell his talents (did the author mention he was a salaried chemical engineering professor for 50 years?) and these kids can’t?  In the meantime, the NCAA, along with most college and university presidents, continue to deny student-athletes contracts, potential endorsements, a percentage of gate and TV receipts, or part of the lucrative NCAA pot.  They argue that concessions of this nature will corrupt the S-A and destroy the status of amateur athletics.

The NCAA has argued in the past that, in effect, their rules are in the interest of collegiate sports, maintaining core values in amateurism, and in providing an integrated experience of academics and athletics.  Does anybody in the reading audience believe the NCAA horse manure?  The NCAA has never mentioned the collaborative/cooperative actions of its member schools which has deprived individuals of their rights in a democratic capitalistic system.  It seems to the author that the NCAA has been involved in a price fixing scandal.

What can presently be said regarding the corruption of major collegiate sports, i.e., basketball and football?  Multi-billion dollar TV deals attest to the economic incentive to provide the very best in entertainment.  But what about the athletes, or the more inappropriately referred-to student-athletes (in most cases)?  What’s their compensation?  Essentially, it is peanuts, and the powers to be want to keep it that way.

One can only wonder if S-As give thought to what they have given to society.  One can only wonder if the NCAA has ever given thought to the S-As’ role in society.  The author believes the suits at the NCAA rarely give thought to the aspirations and the future of the unsuccessful S-s, who would more appropriately be referred to as USAs.

Even after high school, the main problem with many of the S-As is that no one has taught them how to be a star in college.  There is television, radio, crowds, press conferences, interviews, etc.  Some of these activities are often embarrassing.  The main problem with the successful basketball S-As (in this case, that means reaching the NBA) is that no one, once again, has taught them how to be a star.   But what about those S-As who are not successful, i.e., the aforementioned unsuccessful S-As (or USAs).  Once the (senior) season is over; the artificial stage of their college life has ended, and the USA’s glamorous world is gone.  Kaput!  It’s an irreversible happening that will never return.

What happens then?  The USA returns to the real world … his home, his city, and in some cases, his country.  He is effectively alone within a day.  Some do return to their institution and keep in touch with their teammates, and occasionally their coaches, but the contact is inevitably limited.   The ending comes quickly, as earlier social and professional contacts decrease at an exponential rate.

The former intimacy with both teammates and coaches also dissolves as the USA retreats into another world and is, once again, simply part of the masses.  No longer is everything taken care of by other people – the servants who prepare his meals, outfit him, and provide travel arrangements are now history.  And even worse, no one has forewarned him, and no one has taught him to adjust to a new lifestyle.

Is there a solution?  Neal Gillen has offered his thoughts in my recent book “Basketball Coaching 101 (amazon.com or createspace.com, 450 pages, $17.95)”.  Here is an outline of Gillen’s solution.  “The issue must be addressed on three separate fronts: (A) An enforceable contract between the school and the student-athlete, (B) changing NCAA eligibility rules, and (C) professional leagues agreeing not to sign collegiate players until they or their class have graduated.  I have also included provisions for player travel expenses and a monthly stipend to be determined.  I did not include a provision for a student-athlete to participate in the proceeds of the sale of jerseys, T-shirts, or other memorabilia, but were I to do so, any such payments would not be forthcoming until the athlete or his or her class has graduated.   There could be antitrust issues, but should the changes I propose be made and upheld, the game would change once more for the better.”  Details on (A), (B) and (C) are available in my book.

Unfortunately, the S-A problem is still alive and well.

*******************************************

Was my book “Basketball Coaching 101” mentioned above?  One chapter of the book was entitled “Crunch Time Management”; it was primarily concerned with the development of a procedure that would already be in place for time clock management at or near the end of a game.  As a Giant fan, I had contacted John Mara and Steve Tisch along with Jerry Reese in 2013 regarding applying my simple procedure to football.  The letter was ignored.

So what happened this football season?  The Giants lost their first two games because of poor crunch time decisions.  The first game was an absolute embarrassment that demonstrated the incompetence of Coughlin and his staff.  This could have been avoided had they applied my recommendations.

*******************************************

I would be remiss not to mention that this past Wednesday, October 28th,  marked the 75th Anniversary of  OHI Day.  OHI is the Greek word for NO!   This day commemorates when then Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’ courageously refused the Fascist and Nazi demand to occupy Greece during World War II. Against far superior military powers and all odds, the Greek nation, with their faith in God, resisted the Axis Powers, delaying their advance and ultimately changing the tide of the War.

The Washington OHI Day Foundation video is a powerful and inspirational tribute, both commemorating the day and inspiring all society to be courageous and virtuous during a time of crisis.. Here’s the link”

http://www.oxidayfoundation.org/video-world-leaders-praise-greek-courage/

Enjoy this great moment in history.  Additional details are available in earlier postings in The Theodore Newsletter.

NEXT POSTINGS:  (tentative)

 

DECEMBER 1:          On Hofstra Men’s Basketball: 2015-16 Season

JANUARY 1:             On How to Write a Book

FEBRUARY 1:          On Climate Change II

MARCH 1:                 On Random Thoughts XXIII

APRIL 1:                    On Financial Inequity

MAY 1:                       On the 2016 East Williston School District Budget Vote

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Basketball Coaching 101

June 30, 2015

Since my eight-first birthday is a fleeting memory, what has become apparent is that a good part of my life is now limited to writing and basketball. That being the case, what would be more natural than for me to write a book on basketball, something I’ve dreamed about doing for years. After all, I’ve written over one hundred technical books (all of which have one thing in common–they don’t sell) and also recently launched my monthly newsletter (www.theodorenewsletter.com) that probably has an audience that, at last count, is approaching a dozen readers. In addition, I have been involved with basketball for over seventy years, part of which time involved playing, coaching, officiating, recruiting, and announcing as well as covering Hofstra men’s basketball the last nine years. In effect, all the ingredients were in place for the writing of a book on basketball coaching.

Since I have never played, coached or officiated basketball at the college or pro level, critics may claim that I am not qualified to write a book on coaching. They may be right. But I did serve as the coach of a local bar team–Killeen’s Tavern (I was part owner)–during the mid-1950’s to the mid 1960’s. Several of my players later played in the NBA, and some of them went on to successful coaching careers at the collegiate and pro levels.

Regarding the book, I was able to contact university presidents, athletic directors, coaches, officials (referees), announcers, journalists, recruiters, players, and yes, even fans, in my quest to write an authoritative book on basketball. Each was asked to detail their thoughts on the qualities a coach should possess to develop a winning and successful program. Hopefully, this approach either reduced or eliminated, or both, some of the trepidations of others regarding the quality of the book.

This is clearly not a book of fiction prepared by an author with an agenda; it is primarily a product of the aforementioned experts, written by these insiders with something more than firsthand experience. Their contributions helped make my dream of writing an informative book on coaching basketball a reality. And the title? You got it – BASKETBALL COACHING 101.

And who were these experts referred to above? The reader is introduced to each of the experts in the book. I categorized the experts into ten sets – starting with presidents and ending with fans. A separate chapter in the book is devoted to each of the above categories. Contacts with these so-called experts, e.g., Louie Carnesecca, Rollie Massemino, Bob Hurley, Sr., Mickey Crowley, Wally Rooney, Ray Lumpp, Vince Boryla, Danny Doyle, Jack Powers, Jay Bilas, Bill Raferty, Howie Garfinkel, Bob McKillop, etc., to name a few, were conducted via e-mail or phone or a face-to-face meeting, or some combination of these three information technology communication processes.

This is a very unique book in many respects because I made a decision to include more than just basketball coaching in the book. The book has it all: coaching hints/strategies to employ to achieve a successful and winning program, history of the game, reliving the fabulous 1950’s and 60’s, the aforementioned Killeen’s Tavern’s basketball team, the dark corrupt side of the NCAA, the disgraceful Joe Paterno saga, the future of the game, etc. And, there are also dozens of stories never told before, many of which I believe are hilarious.

Back to basketball coaching. If there were to be a summary analysis of important qualities a coach should possess, it would be–based on the contributions of the aforementioned experts–the following:

1. ability to recruit and retain top players;
2. superior organizational skills;
3. ability to develop team chemistry;
4. hire super assistant coaches;
5. knowledge of game;
6. dedicated work ethic;
7. a great motivator and a great communicator;
8. love of the game;
9. social/people skills;
10. leadership qualities;
11. ability to work with school administrators and the media;
12. concern for the players’ education and future;
13. ability to accept losses;
14. being a role model; and,
15. character builder.

Ranking the above in terms of importance can vary with the coach, the academic integrity of the school, the level of (Division) play, etc. However, I would rank the first ten qualities as the most important, particularly the first four. Details provided by the experts on these qualities and how a coach can help achieve these qualities are discussed in the book.

Below is a sample quote from Chapter 23, Part II, titled “On Paying Student-Athletes:

“In any event, here is the “paying S-A” situation as it exists today. At the college level, the coaches get paid millions and the players get paid nothing. At the next level, the coaches get paid millions but the players get paid many more millions. Intelligent and objective readers/fans should attempt to explain this dichotomy. This author provides the answer with four letters: NCAA.”

Finally, a few of the early reviews are already in.

1. Jack Powers (Former Executive Director, NIT): “The basketball world can now formally welcome to their midst one of the game’s brilliant strategist. His name is Dr. Lou Theodore, and his new book – Basketball Coaching 101 – has established him as one of the premier authorities in the game.”
2. Danny Doyle (Belmont Abbey/Detroit Pistons): “The annoying little creep first asked me to write a Foreword. Now he wants a review. Here’s my review: Don’t buy the book – he’d just lose any royalty money betting on horses. Yet, it is special and unique from my perspective. This basketball book is written by a legitimate authority without pulling any punches. It is a book for the basketball know-it-alls who are interested in coaching and/or coaching strategies. The back end of the book was touching and brought back yesterday’s memories of our guys.”
3. Louie Carnesecca (Retired coach): “This is an excellent and informative book on coaching strategies, written for all basketball coaches and fans.”
4. Bob McKillop (Basketball coach): “The numerous contributions from authorities in the field (including the author) on coaching strategies make this an invaluable resource for coaches.”
5. Marty Bunce (Former Executive Director, Boy’s Club of New York): “It’s a great basketball coaching book. I lived the Killeen’s era. But the key feature of the book is the NCAA material and the future of the sport. Lou is right. The NCAA‘s reign will soon be over. Their only hope of surviving is to accept that their cheating, lying and exploitation will end. I suggest that the NCAA hire Louie, Neal Gillen, Jay Bilas, and Jon Wagner to develop a solution to the SA problem that will make everybody even richer using Louie’s Delphi Panel Approach.”
6. Wally Rooney (Former NBA basketball official): “Basketball has come a long way. But Lou has somehow managed to capture both the history and the present state of the game. Kudos, Lou. This is a gem. An absolute delight. Beautifully written. Easy to read. Full of basketball information. Entertaining. Unique (an inverted triangle and two defense?). Funny. A winner in every respect.”
7. Jackie Ferrara (NYC cab driver, sports buff): “This is the book for the individual who wants to become an intelligent basketball fan and get a glimpse of the dark side of the NCAA. It took guts to provide a no-holds-barred discussion of the shameful marriage of convenience of Dean Smith, Boeheim, Izzo, Donovan, Pitino, Calipari, Valvano, etc., with the corrupt NCAA.”
8. Dr. John J. McKenna: “(Pres., ETS International): “A very funny book. This is definitely the best basketball book I have ever read. There is a decent chance that it is the best basketball book ever written.”
9. Robert Sansavarino (Mathematical Advisor, Checks & Balances, Inc.): “The book is no bargain. The basketball coaching stuff is OK but it needs more on the gambling aspect of the game.”
10. Alex Zouncourides (Former minor league baseball umpire, teamster rep): “The technical stuff wowed me. Every coach should read this book – it is loaded with information. Plus, I couldn’t stop laughing in spots.”
11. Rita D’Aquino (Former CEP senior editor): “An extraordinary work written basketball works will be judged.”

The book recently came off the press and is available for your scrutiny and possible reading pleasure/enjoyment(?). It costs $17.95 and can be purchased online at Amazon.com or Createspace.com.

NEXT POSTINGS: (tentative)
AUGUST 1: On Environmental Matters
SEPTEMBER 1: On Purely Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts XXII
OCTOBER 1: On Barack Hussein Obama Update V
NOVEMBER 1: On Paying Student-Athletes III
DECEMBER 1: On Hofstra Men’s Basketball: 2015-16 Season

Note: The East Williston Recreation Committee hosted a book signing for Basketball Coaching 101 in the Village Hall on Wednesday, June 17 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. The packed house was well attended by family, friends, basketball aficionados, well-wishers, and many of the contributors to the book. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to talk about basketball and get their books signed. They also had the opportunity to imbibe in the refreshments that were served through the generosity of the E.W. Recreation Committee. Our thanks go to Caroline Debenedittis for all her help.

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Hofstra Men’s Basketball: There is Hope on the Horizon

November 30, 2014

December 1, 2014
One of my articles last December was entitled: “Hofstra Men’s Basketball: Is There Hope on the Horizon?” Well, December has arrived and that can only mean one thing: it’s time for Hofstra Men’s Basketball. And this year, the title is “There is Hope on the Horizon.”

Gone is Hofstra’s lifetime superstar Charles Jenkins. Gone are Mike Moore and shot blocker Greg Washington. What’s left? Let’s find out about the present squad.

First, and perhaps foremost, is the 2nd year coach, Joe Mihalich who I ranked in my upcoming book, “Basketball Coaching 101” as the 2nd best coach in the county. (However, my colleagues claim that the statement is based on the fact that Mihalich is the only coach who talks to me.) And who is Joe Mihalich? Credit is due to Hofstra’s outstanding Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway who somehow managed to convince Mihalich to leave Niagara University and resettle at Hofstra. Hofstra now has a Men’s Basketball roster comprised of student-athletes who under Mihalich’s direction, have been as equally focused on their schoolwork as on Mihalich’s playbook, and managing to stay out of trouble. So in a very real sense, Hathaway will deserve credit if and when there is a turnaround in the basketball program.

Second, are the players. There are, relatively speaking, massive changes here. The returnees include Dion Nesmith (who was shockingly granted an additional year of eligibility), Jamail Robinson – who I predict will be a big surprise this year, and Moussa Kone – who may have difficulty getting playing time at center. The new additions are the wild card. Included here are transfers Juan’ya Green and Ameen Tanksley–transfers from Niagara, SMU transfer Brian Bernardi, redshirt freshman guard Eliel Gonzalez, Rokas Gustys from Oak Hill Academy, transfer Malik Nichols, and freshman center Andre Walker. This is truly a quality group.

The third factor is the Conference itself, the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association). The quality of both the conference and players have been decreased with power teams transferring out of the Conference and player graduation. It boils down to this: Hofstra is loaded and has a reasonable chance to win the tournament championship and (yes!) move on to the NCAA Tournament.

There is a fourth factor. I believe that the route to basketball championships is through the backcourt. Hofstra definitely will have the best backcourt in the CAA with Jaran’ya Green and Dion Nesmith. These two could probably start for many teams in the country. If the “bigs” can hold their own, my NCAA prediction will very likely become a reality. And don’t forget my sleeper Jamail Robinson.

But there’s more on the fourth factor. As noted, it is the backcourt that usually determines the level of success of a team. But most importantly is the defensive capability of the backcourt. How important is defense? Here is a case and point. Stevie Mejia served as the point (or I) guard for the 2012-13 Hofstra team. Colleagues in press row commented on several occasions that Stevie wasn’t playing at his full potential. What they were referring to was his scoring. Yet, during the season, Stevie stopped the star guards Scott Machado and Michael Alvarado of Iona and Manhattan College, respectively, Cold!, and each were projected first round and second round picks, respectively. I am sure there have been better defensive guards, but he is the best little guard I have ever seen. Furthermore, Hofstra lost three games during the 2013-14 season because of an inability to stop the star guard of the opposing team.

The reality is that defense doesn’t get the credit it deserves in the roll it can play in determining the outcome of a game. The reader should never forget that defense is 50% of the game. DEFENSE IS AS IMPORTANT AS OFFENSE. You can never lose a game if your five starters have the capabilities of shutting down their opponents. However, you can lose a game even if your five starters have the capability of scoring at will.

So, what’s the bottom line? There is indeed hope on the horizon this season despite the 10 wins record last year. The sun will not be setting on the horizon…it will be rising as the strangers on the squad get better acquainted and the freshmen centers mature. I believe that this is going to be an exciting year that may (and hopefully) extend deep into March. Only time will tell whether the hope is real or whether it is just another adjustment year.

Finally, folks do yourselves a favor and consider attending one of the games. Attending Hofstra games still remains the best sports buy in the New York Metropolitan area; it’s even cheaper than going to the movies. There is ample free parking, easy access in and out of the Sports Complex, the concession stands are not a rip-off ($3.25 for a dog, $1.50 for a soda, etc.), and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Did I mention that its $5 for seniors and children, and the whole exciting atmosphere is conducive to family attendance? I suggest sharing it with someone you care about. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Note: The above article was written in early November. The team’s record at the time of posting this article (November 28) was 3-2.

Lou Theodore

NEXT POSTINGS: (tentative)

JANUARY 1: On Football Boxes
FEBRUARY 1: On Great Eats
MARCH 1: On the Sats
APRIL 1: On Paying Student Athletes III
MAY 1: On School Taxes

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On Paying Student-Athletes II

November 3, 2014

November 1, 2014
The author penned an “As I See It” article titled “On Student-Athletes” near the turn of the century. This was followed by the author’s “As I See It” article nearly 10 years ago titled “On Paying Student-Athletes”. This article is a follow-up to these two papers.

As noted earlier, it is important for the reader to understand that college sports is no longer a sport in the traditional Hellenic sense. It is, pure and simple, a big business that is in the business of providing entertainment in order to make money. Sports is no longer a term that applies at the professional level and most major collegiate programs. Sports has become big business and capitulated to excesses with the corruption that often accompanies uncontrolled capitalism. Bottom line: it has been converted to entertainment. A small group of individuals provide the entertainment and, contrary to American democratic principles and capitalism, are essentially deprived of fair compensation. Most of these entertainers get little to nothing in terms of monetary salaries. A handful are later provided significant financial rewards; it is almost strictly a matter if the entertainers make the pros. In basketball, first round draft choices are guaranteed a millions dollars a year for three years. Second round draft choices get nothing unless they make the team.

Some simplistic individuals continue to view sports and/or athletic events in the classic tradition of the Olympics. It was 500 BC when a handful of Spartan warriors routed the invading Persians at the Plains of Marathon, located approximately 25 miles from Athens. Immediately following the victory, the Olympics were born. The Olympics continued to flourish as a “pure” sport until politics, and more recently, money was introduced into the mix.

Make no mistake about it, the sole purpose of colleges and universities in the old days was to provide quality education. In recent years, these institutions of higher learning have moved into the business of making money. I speak from firsthand personal experience.

And what do we have today? Professional sports are run by the owners, commissioners, and networks in a manner that provides the best in entertainment in order to maximize its profits. Even the officiating is geared toward this end. (Fortunately, the athletes at the professional level have become rich, being appropriately compensated).

Here is what James Michener (my favorite author) had to say in 1990:

“It is still reprehensible for colleges to glean huge profits from their football and basketball teams, while giving their student players no share. I believe that, before the next century, colleges will pay their athletes, and I recommend a system in which a high school graduate who is awarded a scholarship will be allowed 10 years in which to use it. This will enable him to move into the pros while still young and useful, yet obtain his college degree when he is waived out of the league.”

I would go significantly beyond Michener’s position. These athletes, most of whom are anything but students, should be paid. They need representation, just like professional athletes, if they are to receive their fair share. Otherwise, their coaches and individuals like Myles Brand of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will continue to deny them endorsements, gate receipts, TV contracts, etc., on the grounds that such “remuneration will corrupt sports and the amateur ideal.”

One can only wonder if student-athletes (SAs) give thought to what they have given to society. One can only wonder if the NCAA has ever given thought to the SAs role in society. The author believes the suits at the NCAA rarely give thought to the aspirations and the future of the Unsuccessful SAs who would more appropriately be referred to as USAs.

Even after high school, the main problem with many of the SAs is that no one has taught them how to be a star in college. There is television, radio, crowds, press conferences, interviews, etc. Some of these activities are often embarrassing. The main problem with the successful SAs (in this case that means reaching the pros) is that no one, once again, has taught them how to be a star. But what about those SAs who are unsuccessful, i.e., USAs. Once the (senior) season is over, the artificial stage of their college life has ended, and the USAs glamorous world is gone. Kaput! An irreversible happening that will never return.

What happens then? The USA returns to the real world…his home, his city, and in some cases, his country. He is effectively alone within a day. Some do return to their institution and keep in touch with their teammates, and occasionally their coaches, but the contact is inevitably limited. The ending comes quickly as earlier social and professional contacts decrease at an exponential rate.

The former intimacy with both players and coaches dissolves as the USA retreats into another world and is once again simply part of the masses. No longer is everything taken care of by other people; the servants who prepare his meals, outfit him, and provide travel arrangements are now history. And even worse, no one has forewarned him, and no one has taught him to adjust to a new lifestyle.

On March 25th (Greek Independence Day) 2014, a regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Northwestern University football players are entitled to unionize. Even though authorities appear to be in agreement that this decision will almost certainly be upheld by the national (full) NLRB, lines have been drawn and the NCAA is certain to litigate the decision. This decision could significantly impact the whole spectrum of labor law – including minimum wage, health benefits, social security provisions, unemployment insurance, etc. If upheld, as expected, this decision will (not could) bring the long awaited and justified demise of part – if not all – of the NCAA. I believe that the NCAA will be so crippled by changes that the NCAA, as it is known today, will either disappear or take on a completely different role in college athletics in the future.

There is so much money involved that the sport of college basketball and football will survive. The above court decision will no doubt lead to salaries plus benefits for the athletes, many of whom will no longer be viewed as students. In effect, the term student-athlete will disappear from the dictionary. How, where, and why revenues will be distributed to college athletes – many of whom will be categorized as employees – will be determined by business decisions in the relatively near future.

A colleague and former adversary (on the basketball court) Neal Gillen, a Washington, D.C. based attorney, offered the following “solution” to the SA problem for my soon-to-be-published book titled “Basketball Coaching 101”:

“The issue must be addressed on three separate fronts:
A. An enforceable contract between the school and the student-athlete
B. Changing NCAA eligibility rules
C. Professional leagues agreeing not to sign collegiate players until they or their class have graduated
I have also included provisions for player travel expenses and a monthly stipend to be determined. I did not include a provision for a student athlete to participate in the proceeds of the sale of jerseys, T-shirts, or other memorabilia, but were I to do so, any such payment would not be forthcoming until the athlete or his or her class has graduated. There could be antitrust issues, but should the changes I propose be made and upheld, the game would change once more for the better.

A. Contract between Student Athlete and Educational Institution
The student athlete agrees that in consideration for he or she receiving from the academic institution a four year scholarship that includes tuition, books, tutoring, room, meal, laundry, cleaning, and reasonable travel expenses to and from home at the beginning and ending of each semester, in addition to a monthly stipend during his or her athletic and academic eligibility, said stipend to be determined pursuant to a national agreement between this and other academic institutions and the NCAA, that said student will strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of this academic institution and its athletic department, endeavor to maintain good study habits, participate in all scheduled classes unless otherwise excused because of ill health or playing commitment, will make up any such classes missed, complete all research papers assigned submitting only original research conducted by him or herself, will comport him or herself in a proper moral manner at all times and will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, using narcotics, gambling or providing information about the team’s or a player’s status to known gamblers. Said athlete also agrees that he or she is contractually bound to this agreement, and a breach thereof will require that liquidated damages be paid to the education institution should the player fail to complete the 4-year commitment. Said damages to be determined by arbitration conducted pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

B. NCAA Athlete Participation Standards
Effective on a certain date, student athletes in all NCAA Divisions shall be ineligible to participate in varsity sports until their sophomore year, provided they have achieved a minimum 2.5 cumulative average and have successfully completed course work in 32 credit hours. (Author’s comment: This Provision could go a long way toward reducing or eliminating the NCAA academic abuses)

C. United States Professional Athletic Leagues and/or Associations
Players shall not be eligible to contract signatories obligating them to play the professional sport overseen by the governing league and/or association to which a team is a member of and is governed by until his or her college class has graduated unless prior to that date the player in question has earned the necessary credit hours to graduate.”

It all boils down to this: As a former professor, I was paid for chemical engineering education services that were provided to an institution that made money because of the services provided. A SA is not paid for services that are provided to an institution that makes money because of the services the SA provides. Why was I paid and the SA not paid? Isn’t this country a democracy that operates with an economic system based on capitalism? The NCAA apparently does not believe that James Madison’s Constitution applies equally to all – only to some of us.

Folks, Hamlet was right. Something is rotten, terribly rotten.

Perhaps Alex Karras, Detroit Lions defensive end said it best about his scholastic days: “I never graduated from Iowa. I was there for only two terms – Truman’s and Eisenhower’s.”

Lou Theodore

NEXT POSTINGS: (tentative)

DECEMBER 1: On Hofstra Men’s Basketball: 2014-15 Season
JANUARY 1: On Football Boxes
FEBRUARY 1: On Great Eats

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HOFSTRA MEN’S BASKETBALL 2013 – 14: THERE IS HOPE, I THINK

February 16, 2014

February 15, 2014

The Hofstra men’s basketball season is better than 2/3 over, so it’s time to revisit an earlier article entitled, “….Is There Hope on the Horizon?” Their current record is 8-17 overall, and 4-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CCAA), including a thrilling come-from-behind (15 point) victory this past Saturday over UNCW. So, is there hope? The answer is a qualified “yes.” Here is the basis for this assessment.

The team’s record is not a true measure of the capability of the team. Remember, this is/was supposed to be a “recovery” and/or “rebuilding” year under new coach Joe Mihalich. It also turns out that several of the losses could have gone the other way; here’s my call on why they didn’t.

1. There has been a commitment to an 8-man rotation that primarily involves 6 players. Injuries to two starters – Nesmeth and Allen (still out) – has exasperated the rotation scheme.
2. There was an inability to effectively stop the inside offensive game of several of their opponents. Hofstra’s three big men have done an adequate job but have been outmanned during a few of the games.
3. An inability to stop the premier point guard of some of their opponents added to the team’s woes. Last year, Stevie Mejia (the best defensive point guard I’ve ever seen) put Machado of Iona College and Massenat of Drexel in his hip pocket. Machado had a field day this year that resulted in a loss. Perhaps a box-and-one or a triangle-and-two would help at crunch time.
4. There was a failure to get back on defense to prevent (easy) fast-break points during several games. This effectively provides the opponents with layup practice. As I’ve always said: you can’t beat taking layups. Players need to understand the need to run back – not walk or jog – when there is a change of possession.
5. An occasional porous defense existed when playing zone. Although there are times when a zone is the defense of choice, I’ve always maintained that your grandmother can guard you in a zone. Since one can relax defensively in a zone, coach Mihalich may have opted for some zone because of his short bench.

Overall, coach Mihalich has done an excellent job with the hand he has been dealt. In addition, the team has played with intensity on both offense and defense. Seniors Upshaw (perhaps the most outstanding player in the CAA) and Nesmith are the team’s two best players. Freshman Jamall Robinson has been Rookie of the Week on several occasions and will no doubt emerge as the team’s star the next three years.

Finally, I need to pass judgment on the upcoming CAA Tournament Championship during March 7-10. It is a 4-game playoff over 4 days where anything can happen. And, the winner of the CAA Tournament gets an automatic invitation to the NCAA Tournament starting in mid-March. Hofstra’s only hope to land in the NCAA field is to win the tournament outright. But, winning the tournament – which is not totally out of reach because of the present parity in the CAA – will require playing and winning games on four consecutive days. That probability will be reduced because of a strained manpower that will arise playing with a 7-man rotation. Nevertheless…..anything can happen.

As noted on numerous times in the past, attending Hofstra games still remains the best sports buy in the New York Metropolitan area. There is ample free parking, the concession stands are not a rip-off, there isn’t a bad seat in the house and its $5 for seniors and children. Three home games remain: Delaware, 2/19, 7:00PM, Drexel 2/22, 7:00PM, and James Madison (homecoming), 3/1, 7:00PM.

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2013-14 HOFSTRA MEN’S BASKETBALL: IS THERE HOPE ON THE HORIZON?

December 1, 2013

December 1, 2013

December has essentially arrived. That can only mean one thing: it’s time for Hofstra men’s basketball. Gone is their once-in-a-lifetime superstar Charles Jenkins. Gone are Mike Moore and shot blocker Greg Washington. Gone are Mo Cassera and several of his recruits. What’s left? Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway told me that this is supposed to be a rebuilding year for Hofstra. Let’s find out about the present squad.

First, and perhaps foremost, is the new coach, Joe Mihalich (former Hofstra great Speedy Claxton will serve as one of Joe’s assistant coaches). I have always and consistently ranked Davidson’s Bob McKillop (of Lutheran High fame) as the top coach in the country. But, given Joe’s credentials and past performance at Niagara, he may be the second best. I need to note that several of my colleagues claim that these comments are based on the fact that these are the only two coaches who talk to me.

Landing Joe has to be Athletic Director’s Jeff Hathaway’s major coup. Joe brings an awful lot to the table, including a great sense of humor. At one of the press conferences, Joe indicated that Louisville might be favored in their upcoming game, and then reminisced how his Niagara team had lost to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament at the buzzer by 40 points.

Regarding the team, the key returnees are forward Jordan Allen, and forward/centers Moussa Kone and Steve Nwankoni. I expect a big year from Allen, a multifaceted underrated soph, to play an important role. The new additions include Chris Jenkins (no relation to Charles), and transfers Dion Nesmith and Zeke Upshaw (both terrific finds). Freshman Jamell Robinson and walk-on Adam Savion appear to be pleasant additions. Allen, Kone, and Nesmith are presently starters.

The team is off to a 2-4 start, with losses to Monmouth, Louisville, Richmond and Belmont. However, the team’s record is certain to improve as they go deeper into the season and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play begins.

The team may have to reinvent themselves before moving toward the next level, and that will not happen overnight. With some many new faces, team chemistry will take time. The biggest question mark will no doubt center on finding a consistent scoring threat who may turn out to be Upshaw. I think there may also be a lot of building for the future. But, the building blocks are in place, with two outstanding transfers who are ineligible this season.

Entering the 2013-14 season, the team will be looking to turn the page on last season’s disasters. The Pride will welcome back just four players who saw action last season so Joe may rely heavily on the aforementioned newcomers (Upshore’s 37 vs. Louisville and Nesmith’s 27 vs. Hartford), including players that sat out last season.

I believe this year represents an excellent opportunity for the team. It’s a young team with a lot of new players, a new coach, and a group that should get better as the season goes on. Remember, there 9 teams left in their conference – the CAA. If they are playing above-average by the end of the season, things may change – and only for the better. Anything can happen. And, the winner of the CAA Tournament in early March gets an automatic invitation to the Big Dance.

The bottom line: I offer this to the fans in the reading audience relative to the question raised in the title to this piece. There may be hope for this season. Only time will tell whether the hope is real or whether it is indeed just an adjustment year.

Finally, folks do yourselves a favor and attend one of the games. The past enthusiastic support of the Hofstra student body at the games is contagious. For me, attending Hofstra games still remains the best sports buy in the New York Metropolitan area; it’s even cheaper than going to the movies. There is ample free parking, easy access in and out of the Sports Complex, the concession stands are not a rip-off ($3.25 for a dog, $1.50 for a soda, etc.), and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Did I mention that its $5 for seniors and children, and the whole exciting atmosphere is conducive to family attendance? Share it with someone you care about. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Lou Theodore

Earlier articles:

June 1: On the School Budget Results
July 1: On the New New York Racing Association
August 1: On the New Cooper Union
September 1: On Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts XIX
October 1: On the Barack Hussein Obama Legacy II
November 1: On the OHI Day
December 1: 2013-14 Hofstra Basketball: Is There Hope on the Horizon?

On the Calendar:

January 1: Revisiting the East Williston School District
February 1: On the New York Times
March 1: On Chaste, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XX
April 1: On the Barack Hussein Obama Update III

MAILBOX:
Hi Lou,
I just got a computer and learned how to congratulate you for a splendid OHI reminder to readers of the Garden City News. Good work as always. You are and always will be tops in my memory as will Greece and all Greeks.
Corrinne

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