By “Nunnie” Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
I don’t normally emphasize our Florida Panthers since hockey is relatively low on the South Florida sports scene hierarchy, but this team deserves our attention and appreciation. One series victory away from another Stanley Cup run, there is something positive about winning the first game in a series, especially on the road against the equally talented New York Rangers. After losing the next 2 games in overtime, one in MSG and one at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, even dominating in shots on goal, the esprit de corps, effusive play and outstanding players give me reason to be believe that the Panthers are capable of overcoming the present 2-1 deficit, winning the Eastern Conference and even the Cup. Let’s go Panthers.
Bill Walton’s sudden death from cancer has been felt throughout the sports world, particularly basketball. I followed his entire Hall of Fame career from UCLA to Portland to Boston and finally as an analyst. He truly was one of a kind and will certainly be missed. How much better would our world be if more people embraced his love for humanity, his enthusiasm for life, and his desire to make this universe a better place for all.
Amateur athletics has truly become a relic of the past. First, the NCAA, saddled with numerous lawsuits, agreed to a settlement that permits athletes to be paid by the colleges and universities they play for. The agreement with so-called Power 5 conferences, in a class action lawsuit known as House vs. NCAA, stipulates a payout in a two-part settlement: distributing some $2.75 billion to athletes who competed before July 2021, when the NCAA first allowed athletes to earn money from their Name, Image and Likeness rights and creating a future revenue-sharing model in which schools could each distribute around $20 million per year directly to athletes.
A Federal judge has to approve agreement which is not imminent.
If you are shocked by these decisions, you will be flabbergasted by a Florida High Activities Association decision to explore the likelihood of including high school athletes in a pay for play system that takes advantage of NIL deals based on the athletes’ talent. Many questions will arise surrounding these mechinations. Now that the floodgates are wide open, I predict that an ungovernable state of affairs will ensue.
If Dallas is able to close out Minnesota as Boston did Indiana- a 4-0 sweep – it will be historic in the annals of the NBA.
One final note: a Celtics/Mavs final guarantees a Black head coach leading a team to a NBA championship. Here’s a question for the readers: Who was the first Black head coach to lead a team to a NBA title?
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