HOOPS4THESOUL!

July 16, 1979 – The Passing of Robert Douglas

More likely to know about abolitionist Frederick Douglass, today’s students, especially those with an insatiable craving for learning more about the history of race relations and sport in the United States, would be well suited to read up on Robert Douglas, the founder of the powerful New York Rens and a visionary and pioneer for African Americans in the game of basketball during the early 20th century.

July 15, 1989 – Not a Bad Boy but a Rich Boy

While hardly fitting the image of a Bad Boy, former NBA center Jon Koncak was certainly a happy boy when the Atlanta Hawks matched a 6-year, $13-million offer sheet from the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons on this day 19 years ago. Coming off a 1988-89 campaign in which he only averaged 4.7 points per game, Koncak would amazingly earn more than Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird during the first season of an economically stimulating New Deal that even FDR wouldn't have envisioned.

From the Archives – May 2003 – Wheeling for Respect

Two years ago today, Canada defeated the United States by eight points in the Wheelchair Basketball World Championship for Women? Who cares, you say. While this author may have once shared a similar view and still does not follow the sport of wheelchair basketball religiously, I got a first-hand account of how hard these athletes work while writing a feature story on the highly accomplished University of Illinois’ women’s team five years ago for an undergraduate broadcast journalism class.

30 Years, 3 Referees & 134 Reported Phone Calls

Approximately 30 years ago to the day, the NBA announced that it would add a third referee to games on an experimental basis that has now become the norm. With that said, it is unknown whether such expansion so diluted the quality of officiating in the league that it would have to later accept third-tier officials like Tim Donaghy, whose saga, in all seriousness, took another strange turn earlier today.

Packer Packs His Bags, Kellogg Stuffs His Stat Sheets

While one Packer – Brett Favre – asked for his release today, another Packer – Billy – amicably parted ways with CBS Sports after being the network’s lead college basketball analyst for what seemed like forever but was actually 27 years. Replacing the often irritable yet highly knowledgeable Packer will be the stat-sheet stuffer himself, Clark Kellogg, who will be paired with Jim Natz during the 2009 Final Four.

July 14, 2004 – Lakers Bids Adieu to Shaq Fu

While the summer of 1996 was one of love for the Los Angeles Lakers, the summer of 2004 was one of separation for the franchise as team owner Jerry Buss decided that he would rather have this Staples Center menu feature Kobe beef over the next decade rather than a rack of Shaq and a fill of Phil.

Similarities Abound for Dunkers of Different Statures

While David “Skywalker” Thompson and Anthony “Spud” Webb may share the same birth date and alma mater in North Carolina State University, the names of these players most often conjure up images of the most powerful act in the sport of basketball – the slam dunk – which would actually come as a surprise to anyone who stood these guys back-to-back during the prime of their professional careers and compared their physical attributes.

Lessons Still Being Taught from Davidson & Goliath

A little more than three months ago, Davidson College – a small liberal arts school near Charlotte, North Carolina – took America on an unforgettable ride in the NCAA tournament, slaying some of the most successful basketball programs in recent memory before coming within a last-second, missed three-pointer of defeating eventual national champion Kansas in the Elite Eight. Any fan who fell in love with Davidson’s selfless style of ball and its lifer coach Bob McKillop will want to catch up on these articles from the weekend detailing the current whereabouts of Davidson’s outstanding backcourt, silky-smooth shooting guard Stephen Curry and very steady and underrated point man Jason Richards.

July 13, 1981 – Magic’s $25 Million Contract for 25 Years

In what was an unprecedented deal at the time, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Magic Johnson to a $25 million contract for 25 years – not bad in terms of today’s slumping economy but quite farcical for the NBA's current financial climate, considering that the average salary for the 2007-2008 season was $5.2 million.

July 12, 1943 – Lebron’s First NBA Coach is Born

As Los Angeles Clippers fans and General Manager Mike Dunleavy have been respectively complaining this week that they got “Carlos Boozered” or “Falked” by Elton Brand and his agent David Falk when the free agent big man signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and allegedly reneged on indications that he was coming back to the Clip Show, Paul Silas -- who turns 65 today and was Lebron James’ first coach in the NBA -- had even more stinging comments after Boozer turned his back on a deal to stay with the Cavs and then signed for more money with the Utah Jazz in the summer of 2004.