Category: BASKETBALL
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PG 13 shelved with 25 match ban
At the outset here, it will be admitted that, if one wanted to be 100% factual, PG 8 would have been more appropriate given that thus is Paul George’s squad number with his current employers, the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the experienced forward is as much associated with some would term the unluckiest number of them…
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Falling for the bait of commercialisation in sport
A study of Wexford hurling from perhaps an obscure angle reveals that folk in the Model County have never been afraid to go their own way about things. For better or worse. For example, to the best of my recollection, they were the first county this writer can recall appointing an outside manager when they…
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Sometimes it is as simple as it looks
Shai Gilgouse-Alexander was recently voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NBA for 2024/’25 season. Before said campaign had even tipped off, his coach at the Oklahoma City Thunder, Mark Dagenhault, was the defending holder of the equivalent gong among coaches. With the duo just after masterminding and conducting the Thunder’s annexation of a…
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The curiosities of NBA discipline
Did you ever notice yourself changing and not be able to quite figure out why? For example, when I was younger, the mere smell of things like coleslaw, potato salad or beetroot would have me dry reaching in seconds. Whereas now, any of the above would happily be tore into. With the only slight proviso…
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American Contradictions
Temetrius Jamel ‘Ja’ Morant. If you’re not an aficionado of NBA Basketball, you may not have heard of him, and, if you have, it might not have been in the best of contexts. The Memphis Grizzlies point guard, for those no au fait with the fast-paced, five-a-side action, think midfielder in GAA or soccer or…
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When two sporting worlds collide
A piece like this generally appears in this space around this time every year. Just as the seasons change in farming from the harvest to the plough and sower as the cycle begins again. Flat racing blessedly gives way to the proper stuff (jumps), soccer and rugby make their grand entrances and, of most relevance…
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Harden in a hoop after boss bust-up
James Harden, who some, with justification, would consider to be of equal status to LeBron James and Stephen Curry within the NBA, has found himself in hot soup with the Association’s Brains Trust after articulating his anger about Philadelphia 76ers top cat Daryl Morey abundently clear at a promotional event in China. The player, 34,…
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By all means hail the King but do it with a bit of class
At some stage during last year’s hurling Championship, Pat Horgan of Cork overtook Joe Canning as the leading all time scorer in the sport. The Galway ace having himself usurped none other than Christy Ring (I think). But here’s the thing. ‘Hoggie’ just trotted back to his position. No fanfare, no whooping or hollering. He…
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Ireland squad announced for FIBA U-20 European Championships
Ireland’s U-20 Basketball coach Paudie Fleming has announced his 12-man squad for the forthcoming European U-20 Championships. The event takes place in Tiblisi, Georgia, between July 15th and 24th. There are five uncapped players in the intended travelling party – Samuel Alajiki, Robert Graham, Sean McCarthy, Jamie Muldowney and Jake Verschoyle. Jake is a former…
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No one man is a team
Maurice Fitzgerald and Peter Canavan gave two of the best individual displays the one seeing eye here ever witnessed in All Ireland football finals. Maurice practically steered Kerry past Mayo, Peter and his colleagues were robbed of at least a second chance by an utterly attrocious decision from a referee who considered himself the greatest…