Sez Me …
Obviously, there’s a lot I don’t get. But this one is so far beyond me, it might as well be shining in the Constellation Orion.
It just won’t stop happening. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 class of inductees, and once again has bounced Steve Fisher out of the gym like a well-dribbled Wilson.
And that’s if the voters, in fact, allowed him on the floor to have his name called in the first place.
The former Michigan and San Diego State coach, simply put, has been slighted by the hall.
Now, we have no idea who votes for this. The inductees are named by two anonymous “Honors” committees. We don’t know the people. We don’t know the process. We don’t know squat — except that the committees’ doors must have “CLUELESS” printed on them.
This year’s class included one coach, Billy Donovan, which is difficult to dispute. He won back-to-back men’s NCAA championships at Florida. I would think it hard to place a modern coach who hasn’t won a title.
Well, Steve Fisher, the 2011 Naismith National Coach of the Year, won what has to be the most unlikely NCAA title in history.
In 1989, he was Bill Frieder’s assistant at Michigan, which had reached the Tournament. But Frieder accepted the head coaching position at Arizona State, and furious Wolverines AD Bo Schembechler fired him. Famously saying that “A Michigan man will coach Michigan,” he named Fisher as Frieder’s replacement, and Fisher coached the team to the title.
Then came the “Fab Five” freshmen, who changed the very face of college basketball, even the way players dressed. There were NCAA rules violations there, but in the end the governing body completely exonerated Fisher from wrongdoing (and the Hall isn’t connected to the NCAA, anyway).
Clippers star and former San Diego State basketball player Kawhi Leonard puts his arm around former Aztecs basketball coach Steve Fisher during a halftime ceremony to retire Leonard’s jersey at the Viejas Arena on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 in San Diego, California.
Fired for the wrong reason, in 1999, Steve took over quite possibly the worst program in America — San Diego State. And what he did here is legendary, turning the Aztecs into a national power. I can’t imagine any other program that has risen from the bottom to the top (and without much money) and turned a city into a basketball town. His assistant and successor, Brian Dutcher, has kept the Aztecs rolling since Fisher retired in 2017.
I’m a fan of George Raveling, who recently passed away. He was very important to college basketball. But so was Steve Fisher, one of 10 coaches to win NCAA and NIT titles. George never won a title. Didn’t come close. But he’s in the Hall.
I can’t comprehend this.
Steve Fisher is important here and nationally. And also one of the finest men I’ve known. …
Mountainous Joe Alt, playing his first game at left tackle in the pros, threw a perfect game for the Judases vs. the Chiefs in Brazil. A Himalaya vs. shoals. …
John Harbaugh the Raven has blown 17 double-digit second-half leads. Baltimore’s probability of beating the Bills in the fourth quarter was 99.1%. Pre-Jim Harbaugh Chargeresque. …
Super Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs had 10 catches for 31 yards vs. the Packers, which is impossible. But true. Lowest yardage ever in a 10-catch game. …
Both the Ravens and Bills defenses allowed 40 points. Remain on deck of the Good Ship Buffalo, but do not go overboard. …
The Steelers. Another franchise that (on reputation) has had a great defense for a half-century, and this one was to be tremendous. Their defense vs. the Jets stunk. …
Costco sample sizes. JJ McCarthy, as dear old dad would say, has to eat a few beans yet. So has Caleb Williams. John Elway lined up behind a guard here in his rookie year. No QB has been better. …
There has not been a season since 2000 when, at some point, the Ravens haven’t been the best team in the eyes of the gushers. Josh Allen threw for 269 yards on them in the fourth quarter. …
Cris Collinsworth somehow managed to out-Cris Collinsworth himself. Sugar, sugar. …
If I knew a change in offensive coordinators was going to turn a team into sad sacks, I sure wouldn’t have picked Detroit to win a ring. The Lions are not a dink-and-dunk team. Two yards per run, 3 per pass? Detroit? …
The more I watch modern football, the more I’m convinced the best coaches are the ones whose teams have the fewest pre-snap penalties. Preparation. Discipline. …
Aaron Rodgers had a wooden steakhouse stick in him. “Well Done.” Four touchdown passes in win over the Jets. Greatness is hard to cook
CBS? San Diego is not a Rams town and never has been a Rams town. Show the most intriguing game. …
The Texans’ DeMeco Ryans may be the only coach at any level who smiles like he really wants to during useless sideline interviews (which coaches, rightly, really despise). What’s wrong with him? …
UNLV has become everything San Diego State wants to be when it grows up. One of the most remarkable turnarounds in the history of college football. …
Just think, in basketball, Vegas was everything State wanted to be when it grew up. Now it’s the other way around. …
If Sean Lewis doesn’t regret his own playcalling, he should find a playcaller who does. …
UCLA will need a massive change in recruiting philosophy to make it as a Big Ten football school. The Bruins’ current DNA won’t allow it. Gave New Mexico a $1.2 million payout to get beat 35-10. …
Said it long ago. UCLA never should be bad at anything. New Mexico? Albuquerque High?…
Disappointment of the year? Clemson. …
Going into Saturday’s games, the SEC had 11 teams in the AP top-25 poll. I may be an idiot, but I’m not stupid. …
Ryan Clark calling out Peter Schrager for never playing the game was totally inexcusable. So tired. So stupid. You don’t have to be a justice to cover the Supreme Court. …
The Chiefs have little danger at receiver, so rumors have them trying to get a return visit from Tyreek Hill, who’s just been accused of domestic violence by his ex. Meanwhile, reporters ask him how he feels about not catching a 30-yard-plus pass in a year. …
Of course, from what I’m hearing out of D.C., domestic violence may not even be a crime. …
We have people in power in this country, from local on up, who are about as qualified to have their positions as I am to run the Fed. Honest truth. …
Bicycle Mayor and Ham & Eggers/Nickel & Dimers: This is a destination city. How the hell are visitors supposed to know how close they can park to a corner? How can all residents know? It’s a money trap. Use some red paint. …
I don’t care if presidents are men, women, Republicans or Democrats. They should stay away from major sporting events. All they do is cause chaos and distractions. …
A Detroit sportswriter asked Ben Johnson if he considered the feelings of Lions fans when he accepted the Bears job. This is why I love my profession. …
I get booed when I walk into a restaurant — especially from those who haven’t eaten yet. …
Know what 250,000 represents? The approximate number of Americans who died fighting the Nazis in World War II.