Sports Then and Now

The Nets have been unable to get started this season opening with a record 18-straight losses.

With a 117-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the New Jersey Nets have set a new NBA record for futility at the start of the season.

Their 18th straight loss to open the season breaks the previous mark set by the Miami Heat in 1988-89 and matched by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999.

What isn’t particularly encouraging as the Nets look to try to end their run sometime before Christmas (or more preferably before Chanukah) is that few of the losses have been all that close.

The margin of defeat by the Nets has been under-10 points only five times all season. Their most recent single digit loss was on November 21 when the New York Knicks defeated the Nets 98-91 for one of their four victories on the season.

As it turns out, their best chance at victory was actually in the season opener against the nearly as awful Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nets led by 19 points in that game before the Wolves rallied to win in the final seconds. Minnesota went on to lose their next 15 games.

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Rick Barry

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month was not only one of professional basketball’s most prolific scorers of his era, he also is the father of four boys who all went on to play college and professional basketball.

From the day Rick Barry joined the NBA with the San Francisco Warriors following his college career with the Miami Hurricanes, there was little doubt that he was a special player. As a rookie during the 1965-66 season, Barry averaged 25.7 points to rank fourth in the league in scoring and earn league Rookie of the Year honors.

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Power and Greed seem to be running rampant in sports.

In a week in which the New York Yankees claimed the World Series title it seems fitting to look at greed and power in the world of sports. Unfortunately, it isn’t very hard to find, even in the case of college athletics.

It’s All In The Shoes

Given that his father is synonymous with the company, it is likely that Marcus Jordan had a Nike swoosh on his pacifier as a baby and certainly grew up wearing shoes and clothes designed by the famous sports apparel company.

Now a freshman basketball player at the University of Central Florida (UCF), the young Jordan has become a central figure in a “shoe war” even before playing his first college game.

Seems that UCF has a long-term relationship with adidas and recently agreed on a new 6-year, $3-million deal that called for all UCF athletic teams to wear adidas apparel and equipment.

Evidently, at the time Jordan was being recruited to UCF, he asked if he would be able to wear a Nike shoe endorsed by his father instead of the adidas shoes provided to the school. According to all accounts from UCF, the regional adidas representative gave approval for Marcus to wear Nike shoes during games. I’m willing to bet it was an important component of why he ultimately chose UCF.

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BJ Armstrong made an appearance in Chicago as part of the HP Windows 7 promotion.

HP, Windows 7 and Best Buy have teamed with the NBA to give fans a chance to win two tickets to a 2010 NBA Playoff Game or one of seven HP computers equipped with Windows 7 Home Premium being offered each week during this seven week contest.

The promotion kicked off in Washington with an appearance by Eric “Sleepy” Floyd and then last week in Chicago as former Chicago Bulls guard BJ Armstrong made an appearance at a local Best Buy store promoting the products.

Sports Then and Now Chicago Bulls correspondent Scott Ottersen had a chance to interview Armstrong during the event. Check out Scott’s interview with the former NBA superstar.

As part of the promotion, former NBA superstars will be appearing at Best Buy stores across the country promoting HP and Windows 7.

You can register to win here.

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Eastern Conference:

Eastern Division

Boston Celtics 62-20 (2)

If the Celts win more than 65, I start to get nervous. I’d almost rather 55. They will deal with an above average number of injuries, but the injuries are minor. The key word is management.

Toronto Raptors 46-36 (4)

Can Turkoglu do for Bosh what he did for Howard? I think this team gels, Calderon takes the next step, Turkoglu continues to be a killer in the pick and roll, and Bosh has his best year. This team will be a tough out.

Philadelphia 76ers 39-43 (8)

If Elton Brand stays healthy, the Sixers can sneak back into the playoffs…where they get swept by the LeBrons.

New York Knicks 32-50 (12)

They are a team of scrubs and role players. But they play D’Antoni ball so that makes them better than the Nets.

New Jersey Nets 21-61 (15)

Two words: Yi Jianlian. Watch out for the Russian mob.

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Happy 99th Birthday to John Wooden, the greatest coach of all-time.

Today marks the 99th birthday of coaching legend John Wooden. Unlike some current coaching greats, Wooden knew when it was time to walk away. It is a legacy that others may want to consider emulating.

When Wooden announced following an emotional 75-74 victory over former assistant Denny Crum and the Louisville Cardinals in the semifinals of the 1975 NCAA Tournament that the upcoming championship game would be his last on the bench, it caught most people by surprise.

But, sure enough, after the Bruins defeated Kentucky for their 10th title in 12 years, Wooden walked away with his legacy secure.

In the ensuing 34 years, the legend of the “Wizard of Westwood” has grown in stature as no coach has come close to matching Wooden’s amazing resume of success.

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