Wilt 100 at 50; Dismissal Reports

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, held at Hershey, Pennsylvania in 1962 between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks. Chamberlain scored 100 of the 169 points the Warriors had in a 22-point victory over the Knicks, and to this day, it remains the highest-scoring game by a player in NBA history. Happy anniversary to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

'Til We Meet Again: Flip Saunders

In my previous post, the Washington Wizards needed a coaching change after an 0-8 start and even considered forfeiting all 66 games in protest instead of hiring a new coach. Well, they did win two of the next nine, but the continued spate of losses eventually cost Flip Saunders his job and assistant Randy Wittman took over from there. Wittman did help avoid the Wizards from sinking even further, something Paul Silas and the Charlotte Bobcats were unable to prevent after a 16-game losing streak. Michael Jordan, time to act now and fire Silas.

'Til We Meet Again: Ron Wilson

In Toronto, the ship is also sinking for the Maple Leafs. After a promising start to the season that rewarded a contract extension for coach Ron Wilson, the Leafs went on a freefall, going 1-9-1 for much of February, ultimately costing Wilson his job, a choice general manager Brian Burke said was 'difficult', considering his mutual friendship with Wilson. He then hired another friend of his in former Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, who was fired two months ago after the Ducks endured slow start. Burke and Carlyle worked together in the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup title run.

Randy Carlyle: We Met Again

After John Stevens briefly worked the sidelines for the Los Angeles Kings, Darryl Sutter was hired by the Kings on a permanent basis on December 17, 2011. Randy Cunneyworth's job in Montreal is on an interim basis, so expect the Habs to hire a permanent coach in the offseason soon. 

It's the final five weeks of the NHL season, so every game is expected to be competitive and tough as the race for the playoffs begin. Good luck.

NBA Midseason Report (Part 6)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 

Sacramento Kings

The 11-22 record the Kings carry is an indication of the turmoil that continues to ravage Sacramento and its fans. A coaching change, inconsistent play, and lack of faith from the city has been a cause of concern for the Kings. Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, better grow up fast.

San Antonio Spurs

Old what? The Spurs showed that they still have enough fuel left, as seen in their Southwest-leading 24-10 record at the midway point. Tony Parker has emerged as the de facto leader with Tim Duncan entering the twilight zone. But Manu Ginobili's health will be a big concern. It remains to be seen whether their aging legs will be up to the task in the playoffs.

Toronto Raptors

Perhaps they need Jose Bautista and Phil Kessel to resurrect the team. The Raptors are stuck at 10-23 and not even their new 3-D court would please their fans. Enough of that. It will be another rebuilding year for Bargnani, DeRozan and company.

Utah Jazz

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap were underrated stars in a city famous for raising the decibel levels during home games. They may not be in the mold of Karl Malone, but they aren't bad either in holding court inside. The Jazz, with a 15-17 mark, hope to ride the shoulders of their two main cogs if they were to return to the playoffs. 

Washington Wizards

Do we need explanations for their 7-26 record? Whether it was the 0-8 record to begin with, the Flip Saunders dismissal, the Andray Blatche Twitter bash, or the lack of chemistry, the Wizards are so darn bad. Period. Trade Blatche, please?

So there you have it. We've wrapped up the first half. Now we'll see how teams respond, improve, and sustain their level of performance in the second half, in the hopes of a better finish. Good luck.

Two Jordans

Michael Jordan just celebrated his 49th birthday yesterday. Even at this age his look remains recognizably the same, from the shaved head to the trademark 'Gene Simmons' tongue that exudes confidence in every play. But what was different is the success level he had achieved as a basketball player and then as an executive.

Jordan the player has been known for his crowd-pleasing dunks, scoring exploits, clutch moments, defense and all-around leadership. That blend produced five MVP awards, six NBA championships, six Finals MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year award, ten scoring titles, 14 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA team berths, nine All-Defensive team berths, a Rookie of the Year award, and three All-Star Game MVP awards. This Jordan introduced the baggies, the shaved head look, and even his sneakers which had become popular and synonymous with him.

Jordan the executive, however, has been more of a failure when it comes to managing the daily operations of a team. As Wizards president, he drafted a bust in Kwame Brown in 2001, and then as the majority owner of the Bobcats, his lack of pursuit towards big-name talent as well as failed attempts at rebuilding has cost the Bobcats games and fans as well. Jordan's post-playing career has been rather decent at best, compared to his success on the hardwood.

Now it seems better that Michael Jordan will be remembered more for his playing exploits than his front-office duties. Well let's hope that His Airness would find a way to improve in his front office job, in order to add to his legend.