The Carrier Classic is a great idea but is it also a publicity stunt?  On November 11, (Veteran's Day), North Carolina will take on Michigan State on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the San Diego Bay in the first annual Carrier Classic.  Next year UConn is signed on, with it's opponent to be determined.

The Carl Vinson was the aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean that saw to the burial at sea of Osama bin Laden. 

We understand that any small thing we can do to honor, assist, and make life a little easier for those that put their lives on the line for every American to be secure is just a small token.  But with only 7,000 stadium seats for servicemen and women and their families, isn't there a better venue that could serve the same function?

The NBA lockout is entering its third month and October is just around the corner.  Instead of players, coaches, and executives getting ready for the upcoming season, players are quickly taking lessons on Rosetta Stone and learning a foreign language (for those that are not European players) as they seek employment elsewhere.  There has been no outward sign of negotiations and most likely the public will not see or hear anything for another two weeks.  Then the usual bashing by each side will take place, with threats of a lengthy work stoppage, until they kiss and make up.  All that is really happening is older player get to rest their tired legs for a while longer and the price of our NBA Package will go down (yeah, right) with them showing us fewer games.  Good thing the NCAA can't have a lock out or strike.

The NBA Players Association just lost a card to play in their battle with the NBA owners for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.  The Chinese Basketball League has barred its teams from contracting with players who are presently under contract with NBA teams.  Those players that are free agents may sign with a Chinese team.

This is a set back for players that were looking for the opportunity to play while the negotiations continue and NBA season gets pushed back or possibly wiped out by the lockout by the owners.  While some players have contracted with teams in Europe, including out clauses that allow them to escape once the NBA season begins, European teams are only permitted to sign two foreign players each.  Opportunities are scarce and the barring of signing with Chinese teams is a small victory for the owners.

Registration for the 2011 Royal Ivey Skills Clinic is now available.

The 3 day Clinic for boys and girls 8 - 13 years old runs Thursday and Friday, August 25th and 26th, from 3 PM to 7 PM and Saturday, August 27th from 10 AM to 3 PM at the I.S. 192 Hollis Playground in Hollis, Queens, New York.

To register, click here 2011 Registration/ Waiver to print form.

This is Game Over's third year being involved with the prestigious Royal Ivey Skills Clinic.  Each day participants will not just learn the fundamentals of basketball from some of the top coaches and players from the metropolitan area, but will also learn life skills and participate in other academic and art classes. 

Each participant will receive an exclusive Game Over T-shirt made just for the clinic.  Game Over trophies will also be distributed to those individuals that demonstrate superior skills.

Most of us, in fact we would say all of us, never participate in an event with the intention or thought of suffering a debilitating injury.  Most that would happen is some bumps and bruises, a charlie horse or other pulled muscles, nothing some icy-hot couldn't remedy.

But the truth is every time we take the court there is always the potential for injury.  There is always the potential for a freak injury, something that is out of the blue (though truth is, if we never anticipate an injury occurring what makes one an "injury" and another a "freak injury" goes by us - an injury, no matter how it occurs or its severity is still an injury).

To this we bring the recent sad news of Notre Dame University basketball recruit Eric Katenda.  While attending a college in Maryland to gain additional credits so that he would be eligible this coming season, he played in a pick-up game.  While going for a rebound, the 6'9" power forward came in contact with another player..  The contact resulted in a detached optic nerve in Katenda's left eye, leaving him permanently blind in that eye.

Accidents will happen.  We never anticipate them.  We try to take every precaution against them - training, learning the proper skill sets, (and hoping our opponents have the proper skill sets as well).  And yet for this young man a freak accident has cost him his sight in one eye, and most likely his career as a ball player.

After the recent Big East dinner held this past week, there is talk that the Big East may trim its members by as much as 4.  In order to operate more efficiently, the conference may consider dropping schools that do not have football as a revenue generating sport.

Therefore, schools such as Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, and DePaul may find themselves on the outside looking in.  St. John's and Georgetown, while not football schools, would be safe because of their command in their local television marketplace.

In order to challenge ESPN to cable tv sport supremacy, NBC's Versus Network (showcase of the NHL) will change its name on January 2 to NBC Sports Network.

Among its strategies is to re-air previous games shown on NBC as well as challenge ESPN for the rights of Big East Conference sports.

Our question is: how will this effect our cable bill?

Unlike the recently settled NFL lockout, the NBA lockout looks to interfere with the upcoming season.  On Tuesday the league filed two lawsuits against the players union that includes an unfair labor practice.

Spokesmen from both sides site the gulf between the parties on issues such as salary cap and revenue sharing.

There are numerous reports of several players seeking contracts in Europe (with escape clauses should there be a settlement) and China.   Concern would be of injuries that are suffered during play overseas and its effect on contracts.