Thursday, September 2, 2010
LOVE THAT RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Just like that, we have fallen into a new season and we did it with an exclamation point. Have you noticed? This is a historic day for sure. On this Thursday, the AL Central pennant chasing Twins and Super Bowl wanna-be Vikings are playing home games at the same time, one mile apart. Yes indeed, there are plenty of choices for you when you also consider that the Gophers are opening their season on the road in Tennessee. Oh and to add to the downtown traffic snafu that awaits, Wicked is outstanding and it’s still playing at the historic Orpheum.
Lost in the shuffle is basketball. This past week I’ve been night-owling it, off for NBA TV to get my dose of games Off the Radar Hoop. It’s known as the FIBA Basketball Championships.
I find it hard to wait for the games. I love this basketball even though it’s clearly off the radar here. I like it because hard working T’Wolves standout Kevin Love is a strong contributor. I like it because it’s not the Dream Team, it’s not the Miami-3 (or whatever the heck they call themselves this week) but it’s some of the NBA’s youngest talent trying to do what most “experts” say they won’t. Get some more Gold.
I have a ton of new respect for Kevin Durant. I liked his collegiate game at Texas and he stood out after being drafted by the Seattle Super Sonics (#2 behind Greg Oden of Portland). But ever since the Sonics were Art Modell’d out of the Emerald City to Oklahoma, I have had little or NO time for that franchise (that whole thing has the same taste as baseball’s contraction did for Twins fans).
But watching Durant save the American’s bacon against Brazil the other night, I called it a night while being deeply impressed. I love USA basketball and the fact that Durant and his generation cares like the original Dream Team or other past Olympic Gold medal teams.
Let’s be honest, this USA combination is a pack that won’t likely win an Olympic Gold. However, this team does not deserve some of the harsh criticism it’s getting nor does it need to be ignored. Yes, there’s no Rondo. No Lebron or Kobe, No Diesel or D-Wade for that matter. But there is a proud, hard playing group of American basketball players who are trying to rule the world once again. No better time than now to give them a run and I’m one who’s delighted that if there was a time to test the younger elite players, now IS the time.
It’s no secret; the world is catching up to the Americans on the court. Brazil was tough and better than the two point loss they suffered to the Americans this week. Team USA broke out in the second half by shooting nearly 60%. Then, just the other night, one of the strangest match-ups for Americans was staged. Team USA played Iran. Yeh, THAT Iran.
Players and coaches from both sides of the court told reporters that it felt like “just another game”, a “normal” game. It wasn’t. It was one-sided, it showcased an American team that was still struggling with its offense and it made American’s like me a bit nervous watching. It was watching the old cold war games between the USA and the Soviets, whether it was basketball or hockey. These games have more significance because of, well, it’s USA against everyone else.
This was the first time that the two politically volatile countries played on the World championship stage. 88-51 was the final score but people who watched there or on TV will remember how the players all got along and how their politicians do not. By the way, K-Love delivered big time too by scoring 13-points and Durant had 12.
Team USA is now a perfect 5-and-0. The weekend then belongs to the lads for some much needed rest and then it’s back for a Monday game. I’ll be watching.
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE:
Hey, if you are headed to the Great Minnesota get-together, don’t forget to vote. Head over to the T’Wolves booth and place your vote for which old school uniform the Wolves wear this season.
This season, the league will honor the 35th anniversary of the 1976 merger of the NBA and ABA. The Wolves will be one of many NBA teams that will don the unique ABA uniforms. The Wolves, since they have no actual history in the ABA, will honor a pre-Wolves Minnesota basketball team. There were the Muskies and Pipers who were ABA teams that briefly called Minnesota home.
Those two American Basketball Association (ABA) franchises were playing here in the turbulent late 1960’s. What many people don’t know is that Minnesota has a rich and involved history with the ABA. The ABA’s initial headquarters were located in Minneapolis as the league selected George Mikan, the former Minneapolis Lakers great, as its commissioner. The Minnesota Muskies were charter members of the ABA back in 1967; they went 50-and-28 but were off the fan’s radar. That great team couldn’t draw anyone to the newly built Sports Arena built next to the Old Met and thus the Muskies spent only one season here. The Muskies later became the Floridians (of Miami). The very next year, the Pittsburgh Pipers moved to Minnesota and that franchise lasted only season here. The Pipers wound up back to Pittsburgh.
So the T’Wolves will tip the 22nd season in the NBA with changes in their main uniforms, they’ll add an alternate third uniform and have this Hardwood Classic from ABA lore. So, don’t forget, cast your uniform ballot in person at the Wolves kiosks located at the Wolves booth in the Fan Central Building (corner of Underwood St. and Dan Patch Ave.).
CONGRATS MO:
Good news for Lynx guard-forward Monica Wright. She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. Wright, along with Connecticut's Tina Charles, led all players in voting with 11 votes.
Monica had a great season on a team that struggled. Wright was selected second overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Lynx, finished among the top three rookies in scoring @ 11 points per game, third in rebounding, third in assists and her 32 made three-point field goals led all rookies. Wright played 25 minutes a night and in all 34 games for the Lynx, starting 24. Her best night served up a rookie-high for the season with 32 points in a 92-82 win over the Phoenix Mercury on June 1. The 32 points is the top mark by a reserve in Lynx history, and the third-highest total in WNBA history.
If you like good shows on TV, get ready to catch the third season of SPORTS FINAL. Retooled, energetic and packed as always with the top players and sports newsmakers in our region, Sports Final will soon be back on regional TV in just weeks. Sports Final gets you inside your favorite teams, including the T'Wolves, with exclusive interviews, team notes and as always, offering you the best guests and a full interactive website. We couldn't be more excited about the Vikings upcoming season and as you read every week, my love of the T’Wolves and all the possibilities surrounding the Wolves in this new NBA season. Here’s to the coming fall season and all it offers!
