The NBA's love for storylines dents their armor of credibility...

There have been many ways to describe the National Basketball Association for decades and the one word that consistently shows up in discussion...conspiracy. It dates back to the Jordan days when the rumors were flying around about his gambling problems and how David Stern asked him to step away from the game for a while. "Go play baseball or something to stay in shape and come back in a few years" was what we all imagined took place. Then we had the ref problem. Many fans thought then and still think that the NBA had fixed games with the refs to assure the correct matchups and storylines took place. Teams sweeping others in the playoffs? Bad for business and ratings. So when the Donaghy scandal surfaced in the early part of this century, we all saw it coming again. The NBA involved in more conspiracy's that lit up message boards across the country questioning the credibility of the league and their main man, David Stern.

Well, lets add one more to the list of devilish deeds by the commish...the NBA Draft. In the wake of the Timberwolves losing out to another number 1 draft pick even NBA owners and GM's are talking conspiracy. Or how did Kahn put it? "The league has a habit, and I'm just going to say habit, of producing some incredible storylines". I'm surprised he even used a word with "credible" in his statement. Not since 2004 when the Magic selected Howard has the team with the worst record won the lottery of the draft. Why not you may ask? Because again of storylines. This year we saw the Cleveland Cavs win the lottery with the owners son creating the storyline that will be in print for weeks to come. I am not a hater, nor would I ever discount what that young man has been through with his disease and all but come on, Stern, we all saw this coming. As soon as I saw who was representing the Cavs at the draft I called my friend to see what Vegas had put out as the line for the lottery winner, because I was sure it would be the Cavs on this day. They went through The Decision last summer, had a huge dip in victories (including a league worst 26 game losing streak), and then the kid shows up. Easy money.

And what about last year? Washington, riding the coat-tales of a widow owner found themselves with 2010 NBA draft winning ticket. The Clippers won in 2009 thanks to having to share an arena with the Lakers and their winning ways. In 2009, the consensus for the first pick was D. Rose who, surprisingly, was a hometown hero of Chicago...and they received the pick. I could go on and on with this "habit" if you will but find it tiresome...and predictable.

The joke continues throughout the NBA and their storylines/conspiracy's. I guess Stern will come out soon to defend his league and defend the way they choose, excuse me, draw for lottery winners but it won't change the "habit". My prediction for next years draft will be that Sacramento will get the first pick for keeping the team in its' city, unless of course someone else passes away of high magnitude where they must give, again excuse me, draw the pick for them. In the meantime I would like to give this suggestion to Minnesota's GM Kahn. If you want to finally win the draft lottery you need to create a storyline for yourself next year, and you may find yourself within the leagues "habit" of lottery winners. Until then, get used to picking behind the coveted #1 spot because, as we all know, your storyline currently just ain't selling enough attention.

Yeah, go ahead...Fire Tom Crean already!

The 2010-2011 Indiana Basketball season has officially come to a close, though some would suggest the season ended a few months ago. It was another difficult season for IU fans. What was supposed to be the season that began the "turn around" for the Hoosiers ended with the question "Is Tom Crean the right coach for this school?". Let's take a look...

I began my research by reading numerous blogs, news articles, and opinions of fans to find out exactly where the overall consensus was leaning. What I discovered was frightening. Tom Crean will not survive at Indiana. How can he? He was the wrong hire to begin with. One writer noted (his name will remain nameless for copyright reasons but will be known as the "source") that Indiana Basketball deserved an accomplished coach, one with championship experience upon being hired. I couldn't agree more! Indiana should've hired a coach with a ring to take them back to the promise land. Easy right? Except for the fact that no coach in history has ever won a national basketball championship at two different schools. I had a hard time reading the rest of his article. (As a side note, I did send a question to this so called accomplished writer asking "what other schools have won a title by hiring a coach who had already won one?", he didn't reply...and didn't need to)

So right from the start, Coach Crean failed. He was unable to win a championship at Marquette, therefore, should never been granted the opportunity at Indiana. Indiana should have went after Izzo, Coach K, Pitino, or any other coach with a ring because obviously, like the "source" stated, you need a coach with a ring to win another. Then, the "source" brought up Creans past at Marquette and how he never did anything there. He discounted the final four appearance because D. Wade was on the roster, but forgot to mention that Crean recruited the kid and talked him in to attending Marquette instead of Duke or Michigan. Yeah, I guess that counts for nothing. Kids were turning down big schools all the time back then to attend Marquette.

Let's move on to what Crean has been doing since being hired. We have to start with the record, 6-25 after year one, 10-21 in year two, and 12-20 after this season. What garbage! I mean, a collective record of 28-66 after three seasons? 8-46 in the Big Ten/Eleven/Twelve...I can't keep up with what they will call themselves each year... is terrible! Where are all the recruits he promised? Where are the banners? He hasn't accomplished anything. Who cares that he took over a program that was left in shambles from Kelvin Sampson. Who cares that Indiana had lost 2 scholarships a season for the first 3 years Crean has been there. Lets not worry ourselves that there was a post-season ban for those 3 years as well (although the post season ban was lifted during a 2008 hearing). It should have been easy to get the top recruits during that time knowing they were going to be playing for nothing at the end of each season, and with no help of incoming scholarships. It astonishes me that Crean still has his job. How he has made it through 3 losing seasons is beyond me, and many others as well.

It seems that Indiana needs to get rid of him sooner than later. We have to realize that if they wait any longer, the basketball program will continue to decline. I mean, where is the cavalry? Crean has only signed two members to the 2011 class; Cody Zeller (5-star by scouts.com) and Austin Etherington (4-star by scouts.com). Are these guys really capable of bringing relevancy back to our program? And what about the year after? Ok, so he has commits from 5 recruits so far for the 2012 class, big deal. Who are they you might ask? Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (5-star by scouts.com), Hanner Perea (5-star by scouts.com), Jeremy Hollowell (5-star by scouts.com, signed today), Ron Patterson (4-star by scouts.com), and Peter Jurkin (no stars but with a name like that, who needs one). Why is he still employed?! This 2012 class ranks a mere #4 in the country, why couldn't he get in the top 3 spots?

It's obvious that the direction of the program is in question under Crean and the seat he sits on these days is extremely hot. With his lack of accomplishments at Marquette (2003 final four appearance), adding the lack of anything so far at Indiana (taking over a program sanctioned by the NCAA), and combined with the recruits coming in the next 2 seasons I can't imagine Crean being around much longer. So I say, finally, let him go. Pay him his buyout of the 13 year contract he signed last year and move on. From what I have been reading and hearing he hasn't accomplished anything so far, and with what he has coming in soon, there is no way he accomplishes anything in the future...not with that talent.

So yeah, go ahead...and fire Tom Crean already! (I dare you)

The first pick in the 2087 NBA Draft is...LOUISVILLE!

Recently local attorney/NBA fisherman, J. Bruce Miller has been spending the $89,000 that the city has given him to land an NBA franchise in Louisville. Miller is charging the city $125 an hour for his innate ability to do tasks such as "'Googling' and reading 'in depth' team information, performing Lexis-Nexis searches and preparing to-do lists." His recent conclusion is that Louisville "has a long way to go." Thanks for the breaking news. You know J. Bruce, I do the exact same tasks when I'm setting my fantasy football lineup or installing crown molding.

It all sounds fishy to me. Who is holding this guy accountable for that money? From my seat, the guy is in a win-win-win situation. If he somehow lands an NBA team (1) he will be the hero, if that doesn't happen, then (2) "oh well" we are just a small time player, and (3) he writes another book about how close we were to getting a team. The city said that's it, the $89K is all the money they are willing to spend...yeah right. When Miller turns up the heat, the check book will open.

Two "red herrings" jump out to me immediately in a sea of fish. The idea of where the team will play and this line Miller is selling about a billionaire investor.

Miller says he met with NBA commish David Stern recently and had a great chat about Louisville's future in the NBA. How is that even possible when the words "Freedom Hall" came out of Miller's mouth. It's unfathomable and I love the old gal. Freedom Hall is a great place to watch hoops but she really shows her age when compared to the KFC Yum! Center. Miller is selling the idea of an $80 million dollar renovation to the Hall. Where is that money coming from J.? Don't forget Rupp Arena is due for a major overhaul or a new building in the coming years. Maybe it will come from the man behind the curtain...his foreign billionaire.

Word is recently that Miller has obtained a "no shopping" agreement from an ownership interest looking to obtain a franchise and bring it to Louisville. Miller also said he has a billionaire investor on board, one of the richest people in the world, that has thrown his support behind the effort. Miller isn't releasing any of his investors and I can understand that. It's big business. But how odd does he sound when he's throwing words around like "foreign," "billionaire," and "richest man in the world?" It's more James Bond than Lebron James. It sounds intriguing...intriguing enough that I'd bet the city will throw more money at him. How could a billionaire think moving an NBA team to Louisville to play in a 60 year old arena a good idea? Maybe the billionaire is Kim-Jong il. He makes sound decisions.

The bottom line is that it's not a good idea. Not until (1) the secrecy is gone, (2) a deal is reached to play in the Yum! Center, and (3) the local media spares us the Rick Pitino soundbites.