Monday saw the passing of a true pioneer in the game of basketball, Coach Will Robinson.  Coach Robinson was the first African American head basketball coach at a NCAA Division 1 school when he stepped into the roll from 1970 - 1975.  He joined the Detroit Pistons as a scout where he stayed for 28 years, finding such talent as Joe Dumars (present GM of the Pistons) and Dennis Rodman.  His achievements also occurred in the court room when he joined with one of his former Pershing High School players, Spencer Haywood, in challenging the NBA on its age restrictions.  The case, which is the grandfather of all law that states that NBA cannot bar underclassmen from seeking employment (why players are allowed to leave college early) is still used today.  Haywood later became an ABA and NBA All-Star.  But Robinson's talent was not just in the world of basketball, he also was a part-time scout for the Detroit Lions, finding Hall of Fameer Lem Barney.  A true pioneer for all people, Coach Robinson will be missed.

While our eyes are correctly focused on the action in the NBA, Stanford University had their eyes correctly focused on choosing their next head coach.  When Trent Johnson left the Elite Eight school for the challenges of LSU, there must have been some head banging in Palo Alto.  "if only we knew, we could have had Mike Montgomery, the school's storied coach who jumped to the Golden State Warriors and was available, but who had just signed the week prior to head its rival, Cal."  A week late and the loss of the most natural fit, the return of the conquering hero, the return of a coach who knows how to recruit to an elite academic school.  Chill out Cardinal, you got the right man for the job.  Johnnie Dawkins, right hand man of Mike K (you try and spell it) of Duke, knows the X's and O's, knows what it is to play and coach at an elite level, and knows about academic requirements.  Long rumored as an "up-and-comer", he is the right fit for Stanford and will give headaches to the rest of the Pac-10, especially Mike Montgomery of Cal.

The NBA is back, the playoffs are as exciting as ever.  Stars and Superstars are everywhere.  There's Lebron, Kobe, Dirk, CP3, Howard, AI (Both of them), Carmello, Duncan, the list goes on and on.  On any given night you can catch a great talent going up against another.  The NBA has guys who play the right way and say the right things, CP3 and Lebron are dreams come true for David "Dutch Boy" Stern.  Just when the hole in the NBA dyke caused by a Ref with a "Gambling Jones" seems to be fixed, in comes Josh Howard, and endorses "Weedees" as part of his off season training regiment. 

PS: Anybody got any extra jumper cables . . . they're for a friend.  Game Over

Mark Jackson . . . He's got the look.

I remember meeting Mark Jackson about ten years ago at the LA Summer Pro League.  I was there to meet another NBA player who I considered a friend.  Upon being introduced I'll will never forget the look he gave me, the look that says, "how dare you stand in my presence" or "I'm Mark Jackson and your nobody".  The real funny things was I had no desire to meet this guy, and didn't really think he was that nice on the court.  At that time Mark was on top of the world and when I saw he and my friend were close, I knew this was the beginning of the end of that friendship.  This look was not new to me.  I've received it from of the best, Kareem, Magic, Salley, Spike, Flavor Flav, Steven A., the list goes on.  I understand and respect the need to keep strangers at a distance, but loose the look.  Ya see when the Game is Over and now you now need ratings, forgiveness, understanding, or simply public approval, it's us in the 'hood that now have our own look.

Should Mark get the head coaching job for the NY Knicks?  The answer is not important for this story and just understand we are happy for the success and opportunities you enjoy.  The Knick job, should you get it, will either be a reward or punishment, there is no gray area at MSG.  Be careful what you wish for.  We wish you all the best, just like I did when you gave the look out in LA ten years ago.

Game Over

Remember . . . We'll be "Looking"

The 2008 Game Over Classic  will be held June 20 - 22 in New York City.  Age groups for the Classic are:

10 and Under; 11 and Under; 12 and Under; 13 and Under; 14 and Under; 15 and Under; 16 and Under; and 17 and Under.

The Entry fee is $425.00 per Team.  Money Orders and Bank Checks accepted (no Personal Checks). 

Please make checks payable to GO Sports, Inc.

Registration Deadline is Friday, June 10, 2008

To print a Registration Form: 2008_game_over_classic_registration_form 

For additional information, please contact: Dana Dingle - 646-773-4878 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Shandue McNeill - 516-924-9921 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Darryl Jones - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Eric Jones - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Be sure to check out all the Game Over Classic action at www.gameovernyc.com.  Click on the Game On tab and then the Game Over Classic button OR http://www.gameovernyc.com/basketball/go-classic 

Donnie Walsh, the new president of the New York Knicks did the only thing he could this evening, he showed Head Coach Isiah Thomas the escalator out of Madison Square Garden in hopes of rebuilding the franchise's image.  It is the only thing in this one essential matter: regardless of where you come out in the debate of Thomas, Walsh has to show a public that prides itself as "the" basketball savvy public that a record tying worst record is not acceptable.  Thomas is being "re-assigned" to other duties in the organization.

So the newest debate begins: who replaces the fallen king?  The sport talk radio heads tell us former Knick Mark Jackson is the leading candidate even though he has no coaching experience in the NBA.  One rumor has the return of Jeff "I'm outta here" Van Gundy.  We're sure we will hear some additional names next week.  Without getting into all the obvious questions regarding his leaving and on what terms, a long look at Van Gundy is warranted.  Unlike all the other names in the hat, Van Gundy has shown himself to be a successful coach, and in New York.  Walsh's hard job is not who will cook the food, but does he have to use old and spoiled food in its preparation?  We'll see.

So here we are, at the end of the NBA season as we, New Yorkers, will know it.  Change has already begun with the hiring of Donnie Walsh as President of the NY Knicks.  We have seen this before during our lifetime.  The list of qualified (and unqualified) individuals are long and storied.

Lets take Walsh's hiring at arms length.  Lets give him, and Garden management, the benefit of the doubt.  There are a lot of issues that Walsh must address in the coming days.  Should Isiah Thomas, the present head coach, stay or go?  If a move is made, who takes the hot seat?  Regarding personnel, does Stephon Marbury have one more life to live in a Knick uniform next year?  And of Eddie Curry, where does he fit in?  Does Zach Randolph have one and out in a Knick uniform, and if so, who is willing to take his contract and attitude?  And who do the Knicks look at in the draft?  That may/will depend upon their selection spot.  Finally, will we get free food for all of next year as the team, in whatever shape, hopes to improve upon a failed 2007-08 campaign?

Walsh has started out with all the proper buzz words.  Patience is what is needed.  After the Scott Layden debacle of trading Pat Ewing for bad contracts/bad players, Walsh is intimating that New Yorkers, after several years of poor performances, understand that it may take a little time to put the pieces back together.  Even if the Knicks could get BOTH Rose and Beasley in the draft, they would be far away from a championship (though in the weak Eastern Conference they would at least compete for a playoff spot).

Finally, we wish the Knicks well.  They are family.  And regardless of how bad they may treat us, we don't abandon our family.  But they can't take that for granted, regardless of what attendance has been (close to sell-outs).  And they are showing that they aren't.  We understand if they let Thomas go in the next few days (and not earlier) as a means to save a few dollars on a lost season.  But then again, isn't that what Herb Williams is for?