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I have a confession to make.
I never used to watch hockey until the Blackhawks changed their image and began to stir up some excitement in the last two years.
But I never miss the Stanley Cup playoffs. No matter who is playing--Avs, Blues, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Flyers, Rangers, Red Wings, Sharks, Penguins--I prefer the Stanley Cup to the NBA playoff, the Final Four, the World Series or the Super Bowl.
It is non-stop, end-to-end action, no television timeouts, no fighting, no seventh-inning stretch, just serious hockey and great skating. No time to go to the refrigerator for a late snack.
I guess that's what disappoints me about basketball. In my view, the game isn't as good as it used to be. It's all about athleticism and aggressiveness, not fundamentals and finesse. If you can't take my word for it, ask John Wooden.
Athleticism means trying to dunk on every possession or driving to the hoop and bull-dozing over your opponent along the way. It's all about creating a highlight film and getting prime time on ESPN's SportsCenter.
It is a byproduct of summer or AAU basketball where kids run up and down the floor with reckless abandon and with little or no supervision. Shooting skills, from the free throw line and mid-range, are a lost art. Defense is evaluated by blocked shots and steals, not positioning and footwork.
Coaches confess they can't do anything about it, that kids want to run and that's the way the game is played today. They don't want to be harnessed. They don't want to be instructed to play a half-court game. Fans don't, either. They prefer the NBA style, whatever that is. I prefer a good book or "Frasier" re-runs.
I guess I'm spoiled. I've covered and observed high school basketball since the 1950s and I prefer watching two outstanding high school teams--or even one great one such as Thornridge 1972 or Quincy 1981 or Collinsville 1961 or Simeon 2007 or Marshall 1958 or Peoria Manual 1997--that demonstrate fundamentals and teamwork and utilize their quickness and discipline, even their athleticism.
This year's Warren/Waukegan game was a classic. The Class 4A final between Whitney Young and Waukegan was a tape worth saving, too. Today, however, those type of quality games seem to be too few and too far between.
It was so much more exciting in the old days...Phillips vs. Du Sable in the 1970s, King vs. Robeson in the 1980s, Westinghouse vs. Marshall in the 1980s, Thornridge vs. Bloom and Thornton in the 1970s, East Aurora vs. West Aurora, St. Joseph vs. St. Patrick, Proviso East vs. Lyons, New Trier vs. Evanston.
And the players? They argue that these things are cyclical, that there are good times and bad times and if you are patient and wait long enough, the good times will return. But, with the notable exception of Derrick Rose, have you noticed that it has been a long time since the Chicago area produced as many college All-Americans and NBA stars as it did in the 1970s and 1980s?
Just asking.
Cell Phone Alerts
GREAT POINT, THE SCHOOLS AREN'T WHAT THEY USE TO BE EITHER
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL IS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE, NOW YOU
HAVE SPECIALIST AND SPECIALIST WANT TO PLAY FOR A SPECIAL
COACH AND SCHOOL, YESTERYEAR IS GONE, CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE
IN, NOW YOU SEE DRISCOLL HIGH SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO CLOSE,
A GREAT SCHOOL, A POWER IN FOOTBALL AND OTHER SPORTS!
AAU BALL IN SOME REGARDS IS LACKLUSTER, BUT THE HIGH
PROFILE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO FLOURISH, AND THEY GET GREAT
COVERAGE NATIONWIDE!
I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT AAU BALL, BUT IT IS HERE TO STAY,
AND SOME OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND LADIES ARE DOING A GREAT
JOB, LOOK AT THE ILLINOIS WOLVES AND ILLINOIS HUSTLE
PROGRAMS THEY CONTINUE TO TURN OUT GREAT ATHLETES WHO
CONTINUE TO PLAY AT ALL LEVELS ON THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL!
AS LONG AS SOME MEN PLAYERS DECIDE NOT TO ACHIEVE IN THE
CLASSROOM, THE JUCO PROGRAMS WILL ALWAYS BE IN BUSINESS,
JUST THINK A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP IS WAITING ON YOU TO
MAKE A NECESSARY TEST SCORE AND GPA AND THE PLAYER
DECIDES TO CUT CLASS OR NOT DO HOMEWORK, OR LEARN THE
NECESSARY BASICS TO ACQUIRE THE SCHOLARSHIP!
WHERE AAU BALL LOOKS TACKY IS WHEN A PLAYER TRANSFERS
FROM ONE SCHOOL TO PLAY FOR HIS AAU COACH AT ANOTHER,
THAT LOOKS VERY BAD!
ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM IN THE CPS IS VARIATIONS IN COACHING
AT EACH SCHOOL, ONE SCHOOL MAY HAVE A GREAT HOUSEHOLD
NAME COACH, BUT ANOTHER IS LEARNING THE ROPES, THE CPS
IS FULL OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, SOME ARE DOING WELL LIKE
NLCP AND SOME OTHERS, BUT SOME ARE TREADING WATER!
I SAY MANDATORY CAMPS FOR NOVICE COACHES, OR GIVE UP THE
JOB, I RAN INTO A COACH THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW WHERE
HE WAS GOING, YEP U OF I, TO A COACHING CLINIC, HE IS
TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS, I WISH EVERYONE WOULD!
Taylor surprisingly for you I agree with you. Basketball is not the same as it used to be especially on the pro level. I go to sleep trying to watch an NBA game these days. I guess I am spoiled by the 80's also. High School ball yes the fundamentals and mid range game are gone. I guess that's why I watch more womens college and WNBA than anything. The coaches I notice are terrible and everybody saying how good a kid is at age 10 doesn't help. There are some exceptions though Derrick Rose, Jereme Richmond for a couple. For me Richmond's all around talent is what catches my eye with him not the athleticism which is not like a lot of kids. His skill set is very high. My thing is if coaches actually COACH the kids instead of trying to sell them to a particular university and make money off him the game would be better.
Another great article Taylor. I'm a big fan and couldn't agree with you more. Granted I am from the "new school" of thought but having watched tape and various other clips it seems as if today's teams would have trouble keeping up with the legends. Sidenote, how good was CPS ball' in the 1980's? Was that the peak era? Obviously the King teams are legendary but how good was that 84' Simeon team? Also, how come I never hear ANYTHING about that 1980 Manley team? Manley seems to have been dominant in the late 1970's and early 1980's but has since vanished from the face of the earth. I figured if anyone knew anything about that team it'd be you. Anyhow, keep up the good work and I look forward to your next entry.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE HAVE A STAR IN BLOOMING, MARCARI
BROOKS FROM RICH SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL IS THE REAL DEAL,
TAYLOR KEEP YOUR EYE ON MR. BROOKS, HE IS SOMETHING
SPECIAL, HE MAY BE THE BEST ATHLETE TO PLAY BASKETBALL
AT RICH SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL AND YES THAT INCLUDES CRANDALL
HEAD!
HE IS PLAYING FOR THE ILLINOIS ICE AAU PROGRAM, WORD ON
THE STREET IS, MARCARI HAS DEVELOPED A JUMP SHOT TO GO
ALONG WITH THE REST OF HIS ARSENAL, MARCARI BROOKS A STAR
IN THE MAKING, SCOT RITTER IS HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH AT
SOUTH!
BIG TIME TALENT SIGHTING, MR. BROOKS IS FOR REAL!
Basketball is no longer played the way it was originally intended. The aggressiveness is absolutely ridiculous. It started in the pro game and has filtered its way all the way down into youth basketball. It may be true that the NBA, which set the trend for physical basketball, may now be cleaning up their act somewhat while the NCAA and HS game continues to resemble football. I hate that the finesse is gone. At one time, generally speaking, universities sought skill with some athleticism with the idea that they would strengthen the player they recruited. Today, it is quite the opposite. Recruit the most athletic and strongest kids and then develop their skill once they get into the program. For the traditionalist, this makes for some very ugly basketball.
Speaking of tradition, I know Taylor has been covering HS basketball for a long time. Besides observing many great HS games from the late 60's on, I grew up reading TB's articles about the great Illinois HS rivalries over the years. In fact, I still have some of the old publications that were specifically written on HS basketball across the state. I believe Taylor was the head guy. (chief editor?) Sadly, so much of the excitement is gone. I know there are many reasons, but give 4 class basketball 5 more years in Illinois and the lack of excitement today will seem much like the “good ole days” (see Indiana).
Yesteryear-Be strong or go home.
Today-It's ok. The road has been paved.
I THINK SOME OF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO TIGHT SHORTS AND
PEACH BASKET, IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!
THE GREATEST COACH NOT TO RECEIVE ALL THE ACCOLADES HE
DESERVES IS JOHN MCCLENDON, HE WAS A DISCIPLE OF JAMES
NAISMITH, BUT HE TOOK THE GAME TO HEIGHTS NOT EVEN JAMES
NAISMITH ENVISIONED, BASKETBALL IS A GAME OF MOVEMENT,
NOT STANDING AROUND, THAT'S WHY DOROTHY GATERS AT MARSHALL
HAS BEEN SO EFFECTIVE, SHE IS A STUDENT OF JOHN MCCLENDON
WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY BLACK MAGIC AND YOU WILL SEE HOW
BASKETBALL SHOULD BE PLAYED, AND HOW IT ALWAYS WAS MEANT
TO BE PLAYED, IF YOUR TEAM IS OUT OF SHAPE, YOU WILL LOSE
BIGTIME, YOU WILL GET RUN OUT OF THE GYM!
THAT'S WHY TO BE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL THAT GETS PLAYING
TIME YOU MUST BE AN ATHLETE FIRST AND THEN A BASKETBALL
PLAYER!
LEBRON JAMES, KOBE BRYANT, ARE SECOND GENERATION OF
MICHAEL JORDAN, WHO WAS BEHIND DR. J AND JERRY WEST,
AND ELGIN BAYLOR, AND THE BIG O, BASKETBALL AS ALL OF YOU
SAW AT THE FINAL FOUR, MEN'S AND WOMEN ARE BEING PLAYED
BY GREAT ATHLETES, U-CONN ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE AND
NORTH CAROLINA ON THE MEN'S SIDE ARE FULL OF BIGTIME
ATHLETES, THEY HAVE BEEN ON A MISSION FROM GRADE SCHOOL
AND HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER!
IT IS A SHAME THAT RONNIE FIELDS NEVER GOT A SHOT IN THE
NBA, BUT IT IS A REMINDER THAT ALL WILL NOT MAKE IT TO
THE LEAGUE, NEITHER DID RASHARD GRIFFIN, OR JAMIE BRANDON
YOU HAVE TO BE GREAT AND LUCKY AT THE SAME TIME!
FINALLY LOOK FOR NORTHWESTERN TO MAKE THE TOURNAMENT NEXT
SEASON, DREW CRAWFORD JUST PUT THEM OVER THE TOP!
Nothing new there. Successful basketball has always been about being in the best shape possible. Even in the Hebron era this was found to be true. Look back to the late 60's and through the 70's check out Ernie Kivisto. No teams have ever been in better shape than those East Aurora squads. In fact, Ernie used to practice before and after school and his kids totally bought it. No doubt we can do without the short shorts, just don't sell old school basketball short. I agree that today's game is much more about athleticism and I realize there is no going back nor would we want to. However, when I watched the NCAA men's championship game and observed Hansbrough go up for a baseline J and get completely blown up with no call or Lawson getting hammered on the arm every time he took the ball to the hoop I just cringed. Referees need to take some of the game back instead of just turning their back on obvious calls. I'm just saying clean up the game so it once again resembles basketball.