Steve Kerr Introductory Press Conference

source: San Jose Mercury News

It's been 2 weeks since the Golden State Warriors won their first NBA title in 40 years.

Credit former head coach Mark Jackson to assemble the players, but the missing piece was hiring a former player without any head coaching experience.

The coach who would succeed Mark Jackson for the 2014-15 season is former Arizona, TNT analyst, Phoenix Suns General Manager and member of 5 NBA Championship teams (3 with the Chicago Bulls, 2 with the San Antonio Spurs), Steve Kerr.

If you have about 33 minutes, I've attached the video of Coach Kerr's introductory press conference. I find it fascinating to hear the Warriors incredible season come full circle. He transformed a good team into a great one.

Need a condensed version? Forward it to the 4-minute mark and listen for about 2-3 minutes. Listen closely to Kerr's answer as to why he'd want to give up a great gig with TNT to coach in the NBA.

Anyone who's ever left a high paying job to work for less money and deeper fulfillment will understand.

Splash Brothers and their Dads

Top L to R: Mychal Thompson, Dell Curry
Bottom L to R: Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry
source: San Jose Mercury News

Fresh off their NBA Championship and in honor of Father's Day, we hear from proud dads Mychal Thompson and Dell Curry, both former NBA players with prominent careers. Congratulations to the Thompson and Curry families. You done good.

Storm Wipe Out bowling ball

source: Storm Bowling

Yesterday, I fought traffic on 19th Avenue to make a visit to my Inner Richmond pro shop, All-American Bowling and Trophy to order a new ball.

With an almost unused 2-year old $30 All-American gift certificate won in a league banquet raffle, a small raise at work and a birthday in 2 weeks, I decided to reward myself with a new weapon in my league arsenal, a ball from Storm Bowling's Hot Line, a 13-pound Wipe Out.

The Wipe Out will be my second ball from Storm. My first Storm and current strike ball is a blue and orange Tropical Heat, purchased in December 2012.

The coolest feature of Storm bowling balls are their scents. My Tropical Heat had a orange creamsicle scent, the Wipe Out, in spearmint.

This will be my fifth bowling ball since I began league bowling in 2008. My first 2 bowling balls were drilled with a conventional grip. Since 2010 (at Jeff's suggestion) I switched to a fingertip grip. Nearly all experienced players bowl with a fingertip grip.

So what's the difference?
Conventional grip - finger holes are fitted to the second knuckle.
Fingertip grip - finger holes are fitted to the first knuckle.

Think of a fingertip grip in the same way you'd shoot a basketball or throw a softball or baseball - from the fingertips, with a relaxed hold and a snap release.

I'll pick up the ball next week. Like I have whenever I get new bowling balls, I head to the lanes within 24 hours to practice with them.

Basketball 101

source: Wikipedia

Tonight was Game 2 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. As it was in Game 1, it went into overtime. A very physical, bruising game with the Cavaliers emerging with the win, 95-93. And if you weren't a Cavaliers or Warriors fan, I don't blame you if you turned off the TV or changed channels. Because the officiating, or lack thereof, made the game hard to watch. 

So, taking a page from Dummies.com here are 2 non-foul violations not often called during NBA games.

Traveling: Any time a player possessing the ball is not dribbling, he must keep one foot (known as his pivot foot) planted on the floor. He may move the other foot in any direction and as many times as he desires. After a player establishes a pivot foot, he may not move it, or the referee whistles him for traveling.

Three seconds: No part of an offensive player may remain in the free throw lane for more than three consecutive seconds unless the ball is being shot. If the shot hits the rim, the player standing in the lane gets a new three seconds. Thus if you happen to be camping out in the lane for two seconds and the shot hits the rim, you may remain in the lane for another three seconds.

While we're at it, let's reacquaint ourselves with the definition (Breakthrough Basketball) of a personal foul, which is any type of illegal physical contact such as:

• Hitting
• Pushing
• Slapping
• Holding
• Illegal pick/screen -- when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender.

From Wikipedia: players routinely initiate illegal contact to purposely affect the play, hoping it is seen as too minor to be called a foul. The threshold is subjective and varies among officials and from game to game. 

The last sentence is what drew the ire of many viewers in tonight's game.