Is Becky Hammon Becoming An NBA Head Coach?

Becky Hammon already made history as the first full time female assistant coach in NBA history when the San Antonio Spurs hired her in 2014.

Now she's on the verge of making NBA and sporting history again.

The 41 year old Hammon was a six time WNBA All-Star and Olympian with the Russian national team in 2008 and 2012.   She made history on August 5, 2014 when she was hired as an assistant by Gregg Popovich.   Hammon not only became the first full time female head coach in NBA history and second ever, she was the first full time female assistant coach in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues.,

In 2015 she made history again when she was named as the Spurs head coach for the NBA Las Vegas Summer League team.  She made that groundbreaking achievement even more memorable for her by guiding the Spurs to the NBA Las Vegas Summer League championship.

That made her a sought after head coaching hire in the collegiate ranks, and she's one of four Spurs assistant coaches to get opportunities to interview for open NBA head coaching slots

The Milwaukee Bucks fired Jason Kidd and are looking for a new head coach for the 2018-19 season.  They just started their coaching search and announced their intention to give Hammon an interview for their vacant job,

If they follow through on it,  Hammon would become the first woman to interview for a coaching vacancy in the league. 

She's made it clear that she wants to make the history of becoming the first female NBA head coach, and has turned down opportunities to coach at several high profile college basketball programs to make that dream a reality.

Will Hammon get that Bucks job?    I sure hope so because San Antonio is a Houston Rockets division rival and I could easily see her being the Spurs next head coach when Popovich finally retires.

I also want it to happen so that more WNBA players get considered for coaching vacancies in the NBA as well.   A pick and roll or zone defense is the same whether it's executed in the WNBA or NBA, and if a woman is qualified for the job, it's past time to give her a shot at it instead of recycling the same mediocre coaches around the league.

Best of luck to Becky Hammon and hope she gets that interview. 
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Are The Golden State Warriors Declining A White House Champions Visit?

One of the perks that comes with winning a league or collegiate championship here in the United States is getting to visit the White House and hang out with the POTUS,

But since 45 got elected, increasing number of non-white athletes are showing their disapproval of this misadministration by not going to the White House for their ceremonial victory visits

And this news is coming a day after Clemson showed up at the White House for their visit.

The Golden State Warriors are rumored to have just become the first team to decline as a group to go to the White House.  Hours after completing their near perfect 16-1 romp through the NBA playoffs to capture their fifth title as an organization and second in three years, it is being alleged they unanimously voted to not go to the White House if the invite comes.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and David West have also made it clear they don't like Dear Cheeto Leader

When the Warriors won the NBA title in 2015, they proudly showed up to visit the White House when President Obama was living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The team did issue a statement after multiple stories came out stating that they had voted to decline a visit, saying that 'today is all about celebrating our championship' and no invitation had come from the White House yet.  

The statement also said that the organization would make those decisions when an if necessary.

If they don't go, it will continue a pattern that is developing since January of pro athletes not wanting to show up at this White House because of its extremely problematic current occupant.

NBA Sends Warning To Texas GOP About SB 6

After the NFL's Vice President of Communications sent Texas a warning about the unjust SB 6 that passage of it would put an end to Dallas or Houston hosting any Super Bowls or other NFL events, that Gov. Greg Abbott (R) whined about, the NBA has now weighed in with a warning about SB 6, or what I call the Texas Transgender Oppression Bill.

“We consider a wide range of factors when making decisions about host locations for league-wide events like the All-Star Game – foremost among them is ensuring the environment where those who participate and attend are treated fairly and equally" 

-NBA spokesman Mike Bass  

The state of Texas has three NBA franchises in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.  Dallas last hosted the NBA All Star Game at Reunion Arena n 1986, and San Antonio did so at the Alamodome in 1996.   Houston has hosted the NBA All Star Game three times.  It was played in the Astrodome in 1989, and in 2006 and most recently in 2013 at Toyota Center.

The NBA isn't playing with you Texas Republicans either and is now sending the first warning shot to our GOP controlled legislature, GOP governor and GOP lieutenant governor that SB 6 needs to die.  The league after repeated warnings to the state of North Carolina and its repressive GOP controlled legislature that the game was in jeopardy, yanked the 2017 All Star Game out of Charlotte and moved it to New Orleans because of the passage of HB2.  

I repeat.  We have three cities with competitive NBA franchises that this bill would negatively impact along with the convention and tourism business of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

I have to wonder if that is the intention of our predominately white, rural and GOP dominated Texas legislature to out of spite pass laws like SB 6 to intentionally hurt the folks who choose to live in our diverse cities, not realizing they are hurting themselves and this state's economy when they do so..

I ask the question once again.  How far do you want to go Texas Republican Party to prove to your base how badly you want to oppress trans people?  .

NBA Warns NC The 2017 NBA All Star Game Is In Danger

The price of transphobic bigotry keeps getting higher for North Carolina in the wake of the unjust Hate Bill 2 being passed and their refusal to repeal it.

Add the NBA to the list of corporations, conventions, and entertainers who have canceled plans to host events in the Tarheel State or bring jobs to it.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent a warning shot to North Carolina alerting them that the 2017 NBA All-Star Game will be moved from Charlotte if HB 2 is not repealed.

"We've been, I think, crystal clear that a change in the law is necessary to play in the type of environment that we think is appropriate for a celebratory NBA event, said Silver. "But that we did have some time and if the view of the people who were allied with us, in terms of a change, the view of the people on the ground in North Carolina was that the situation would best be served by us not setting a deadline, then we would not set a deadline at this time."

Translation.  Better bust a move North Carolina legislature on repealing Hate Bill 2 or face losing the 2017 NBA All Star Game and the potential millions it will bring your state's economy.

One of the things that has been bugging me in this situation is the silence of Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan concerning the hate bill that has been unleashed upon his home state.  But then again, he was silent during the 1990 Jesse Helms-Harvey Gantt US senate race, so I wasn't expecting any miracles there.

Charlotte homeboy and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry has said more words on the human rights issue than Mute Mike ever has.

We'll stay tuned to see if the NBA backs up the warning with concrete action if the GOP-controlled North Carolina legislature continues to obstinately dig in its heels and refuse to act on Hate Bill 2

Kobe Drops 60 In His NBA Finale

Dayum!  I had an inking after Kobe dropped 35 points on the Rockets Sunday at Toyota Center that he might have a nice final game at Staples Center versus the Utah Jazz, but nice doesn't even begin to describe what I just witnessed in this ESPN telecast of this final NBA game. .

After 20 years in the NBA, Kobe exited the league by summoning one last legendary performance for the ages by putting the team on his back and dropping 60 points on the Jazz to will the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-96 win in the final game of his career.

Not gonna lie, there were moments because the Lakers were an impediment to my Rockets advancing to the NBA Finals for much of his career I didn't like him, but all was forgiven when he put on that USA jersey and was playing for Olympic gold.

And yeah, you gotta give him his props for a Hall of Fame quality career and an amazing night you wouldn't have believed if Hollywood had written this script.

Mamba out indeed.  And he said goodbye in the most spectacular way possible on a night in which was chock full of NBA history.

Adam Silver's Big Decision

In about an hour, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is about to hold a press conference at 1 PM CDT that will shape the perception of his leadership during this first major test of his brief two months in office.

He'll have to make the decision about what to do concerning LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling and  his disgusting racial remarks that have overshadowed the playoffs, pissed off the players in a league that is 70% African-American and sent Clippers advertising partners fleeing for the exits. 

Some of Sterling's fellow owners aren't happy either about the firestorm that has happened over the last few days

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores probably echoed the sentiments of the other 29 team owners watching this PR disaster when he said, "There is no place for prejudice and intolerance in our league, or anywhere else. That's not a debatable point.  It's a first principle." 

Leslie Alexander, the owner of my fave NBA ballers told the Houston Chronicle that while the NBA constitution only allows an owner to be summarily stripped of his franchise for gambling, the Rockets owner does think something needs to be done to ensure "this kind of event never happens again."

But the question in everyone's minds right now is what is that something?  What kind of punishment can you come up with that hurts a multibillionaire who is a serial racist that sticks? 

Silver, like the other major sports league commissioners has 'best interests of the game' powers that do give him some latitude here.  He could declare all of the Clippers players free agents while indefinitely suspending Sterling and assessing him a substantial fine.  He could call for a meeting of the owners that could result in them voting to strip him of the club.  

But the only person that knows what's going to happen is Commissioner Silver.   He is also quite aware that the world is watching and the NBA does have to tread carefully to avoid legal trouble. 

Bottom line is Sterling should have been dealt with by the NBA when the DOJ discrimination suit came down and he paid that hefty fine.   But now that his racist chickens have come home and pooped all over the NBA's porch, they have to deal with it.

And it will be interesting to see just how that happens.

TransGriot Update:  Commissioner Silver dropped the hammer.   Slapped Sterling with a lifetime ban from the sport and a $2.5 million fine. The meeting will be held soon with the owners to get the authorization to force the sale of the team.

Clippers Players Protest Racist Owner

Kudos to the Los Angeles Clipper players who in the midst of the firestorm of criticism headed their owner's way over his racist comments, are trying to handle this difficult situation the best way they can. 

Before yesterday's 118-97 playoff loss to the Golden State Warriors that deadlocked their series at 2-2,  the Clipper players held a meeting to decide if they were even going to play the game..

They decided to do so, but wore their warmup jersey shirts inside out to hide the Clipper logo.  They wore their normal game uniforms, but with black socks and armbands.  

They along with their NBA brethren have been vocal about the disgusting comments from serial bigot and longtime LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling that are threatening to overshadow the NBA playoffs.  They are also causing a major PR headache for the team, the league and new commissioner Adam Silver.

Tuesday Game 5 in LA should be very interesting.

Houston Rockets Start 2013-14 NBA Season Tonight

Since the Texans are having a less than stellar season and the Dynamo don't start their MLS playoff run until tomorrow night,  the eyes of Houston's sports fans are turning toward Toyota Center and what we are anticipating to be a very successful and entertaining season in the wake of the signing of Dwight Howard from the LA Fakers Lakers.

So are the networks who cover the NBA, because the Rockets are scheduled for 20 national telecasts this year.

Y'all can keep on hatin' LA.  He's on our end of I-10 not yours.  And yeah, he does look good in a Rockets uniform.

This highly anticipated season for my fave NBA ballers gets launched later tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats.  We're not expecting to make it to the NBA Finals a few months form now but if they get 55 wins, a top 4 seed in the Western Conference and out of the first round of the NBA Western Conference playoffs we'll consider it a success.   It they exceed that, even better.

And yeah Laker fans, we're looking forward to November 7, when your NBA franchise has to bring their butts to Toyota Center.
 
TransGriot Update:  Dwight Howard sure did look good scoring 17 points and yanking down 26 rebounds as the Rockets won their season opener 96-83 over the Charlotte Bobcats

Shaq, You And 'Errbody' Else In LA Need To Stop Hatin' On Houston

Shaquille O'Neal opened his mouth and inserted his size 22 foot in it by joining in the chorus of Los Angeles sour graping after Dwight Howard let the world know he's taking his basketball talents to our end of I-10 next NBA season.

The peeps in LA are hatin' because it's the first time in their franchise history a superstar player in his prime left Los Angeles to play ball elsewhere. 

The fact he's leaving LA for Houston and about to sign a contract with the Rockets was a blow to their massive civic basketball egos in addition to the fact they were in the position of having to beg Howard to stay there in the first place. 

The Rockets at times have been an NBA thorn in the side of the Lakers.  In the four appearances the Rockets have made in the NBA finals (1981, 1986, 1994 and 1995) the 1981 and 1986 NBA Finals ones were at the Lakers expense.  

The 1981 one was embarrassingly so as a 40-42 Rockets team that barely qualified for the NBA playoffs knocked them out in the first round powered by Moses Malone and Calvin Murphy.  The 1986 one was a 4-1 Western Conference Finals domination courtesy of Hakeem and Ralph Sampson that was deliciously satisfying to all of us who packed The Summit and sports bars around the city to yell "Beat LA!" at the top of our lungs. 

And what was even more satisfying for Houston Rocket fans was that the 1981 and 1986 Rocket playoff knockouts of the Lakers kept them from repeating as NBA champions.  

Now Dwight Howard has left La La land for H-town.

Shaq knows about the '95 Rocket NBA title run since he watched us get the trophy in H-town at his and the Orlando Magic's expense and repeat as NBA champions. 

Shaq got his Two Minute Hate on for Howard's departure from the LA Fakers Lakers by not only saying he couldn't handle the bright lights of LA, but dissed Houston by calling us a 'little town.'

Dude, you once owned a house in the Houston 'burb of Sugar Land.  And isn't the mother of one of your kids a Houstonian?

Yeah, we're a 'little town' of 2.2 million people you probably still have your hate on for because your Orlando Magic got swept by the Rockets in 1995 and Hakeem Olajuwon pwned your behind in that series.

And I never will forget Yao Ming's 2003 rookie year and that first game y'all played against each other at Toyota Center.  Yao stuffed your first three shots attempts in a game the Rockets eventually won 108-104 despite the 31 points you scored. 


But let me school you on a few more things about my hometown that you should already know since you played two years of high school ball in San Antonio and won the 1989 state title at 3A Cole High. 

It is at 600 square miles larger than Los Angeles which is only a measly 469 square miles in size, not including Lake Houston which adds another 28 square miles.  It is the fourth largest city in the United States, the county seat of Harris County and the largest in Texas.  It is as your ESPN and TBS employers will tell you the tenth largest TV market in the country.

Houston is also like LA considered a global city with a diverse population.  Only New York City has more Fortune 500 companies headquartered here than Houston does.  There are 92 foreign consulates here in metro Houston, of which only two other cities have more.

And I'll also point out my 'little town' is home to the Texas Medical Center, the world largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions along with NASA's Johnson Space Center, which ensure the first words spoken by a human being from the moon in 1969 wasn't LA.

I could point of the long list of people like Beyonce, Dan Rather, Tony winning actress Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green, Michael Strahan, Michael Dell of Dell computers, Isaiah Washington, Loretta Devine, Jaclyn Smith, Yolanda Adams, Randy and Dennis Quaid, AJ Foyt, NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler and Rep. Barbara Jordan who were born or raised here including our current mayor Annise Parker. 

I could go on but I'd need another post to detail all the notable peeps who were born and raised in my little town' of Houston.

And by the way DL Hughley, these are just some of the centers who have donned a Rocket uniform, Hall of Famers Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon for starters and Yao Ming, Ralph Sampson and Otis Thorpe who was on the 1994 championship squad.   

So Shaq, you and 'errbody' else in LA need to stop hatin on Houston.   Even Stevie Wonder could see that Dwight Howard was a bad fit offensively and chemistry wise for the Lakers like you were when you got traded to Phoenix by the Miami Heat.

I have far more ammo to use to slam LA with than you ever could come up with to diss Houston.  

Brittney Griner To The NBA?

While I'm disappointed my Houston homegirl won't be playing for another NCAA women's title this weekend in New Orleans, I'm keenly aware of the fact that Ms. Griner will be the number one draft pick in the WNBA draft and the Phoenix Mercury can't wait until April 15 to call her name.

Interesting news out of Dallas is that Mark Cuban is considering drafting her in the second round for his Dallas Mavericks and if he doesn't,. giving her a tryout for the Mavericks summer league team to see if she can play ball at the professional level with the NBA fellas

"If she is the best on the board, I will take her," Cuban said before the Mavs Tuesday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers. "I've thought about it. I've thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it's not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it."





Brittney's intrigued by the idea. "I would hold my own! Lets do it." she wrote on Twitter Tuesday night in response to the Cuban NBA chatter.

You all know of Brittney's awesomeness in the NCAA women's ranks.  She finished as the second all time scorer in the women's collegiate ranks with 3,283 points, blocked 748 shots and threw down 18 dunks with 11 of them happening during her senior year.   She would be the second woman after Ann Meyers to get an NBA tryout.  Meyers was a women's hoops star at UCLA and got a tryout with the Indiana Pacers in 1979.

Can Brittney play with the NBA boys?   And will she hear her name called in the WNBA and NBA drafts?

LeBron Addresses Haters-Makes More

Hey LeBron don't get mad at us.  You were the one who took your talents to South Beach and left them there.   The NBA champion Dallas Mavericks and their fans in the 214 thank you for doing so.

Oh yeah, sure was funny that a man y'all claimed was faking an illness lit y'all up with an MVP level performance that made the Heat and the city of Miami sick.

Sprechen sie Deutsch, LeBron?    The NBA Finals MVP does.

All the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today. They have the same personal problems they had today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that. So they can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy about not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal. But they got to get back to the real world at some point."

Hey LeBron, as a resident of the real world, I'd like to point out I have the same number of NBA championship rings you do:  zero.

When you flap your gums and claim you're going to win X amount of championships, you better deliver on that boasting or you'll leave yourself open to jokes such as this.

Q. Why did LeBron skip the college ranks and go directly to the NBA?
A.  Because he never shows up for the Finals.


But seriously, if you're going to get any love from basketball fans besides the times you put on the Team USA jersey, you're damned sure going to need a good media consultant that will work on those communication skills.   At the rate you're going you're making haters at the same clip as Florida GOP governor Rick Scott.