Newsletter #16 – November 2024
Warm greetings to you all! I am Manos Karousos and I welcome you to the sixteenth newsletter of the blog! November is in the history books and oh my! What a month it was! Before I continue, I would like to let you know that there will be another article with the 2024 Recap before the December newsletter, featuring the most important posts of the year as well as a Christmas gift! So stay tuned!
As we begin with this month’s updates, I have some great news to share with you! In the last newsletters, I had announced that I would have some of my academic texts published in scientific journals in the meantime. Now the time has come! The first text will be published by Routledge. You can find more details here.
Next, Kendrick Lamar released a new album titled “GNX” and many associate this title with the 1987 Buick Grand National Regal GNX muscle car. It’s also the year Kdot was born. I highly recommend you listen to the entire album if you have not already. I personally like many of the songs such as “reincarnated” and “the heart pt.6” Last but not least “squabble up” as the references remind me of my teenage years. Check out the video clip for the latter song too! Truly, a masterpiece!
Once again, I want to thank you for supporting my blog and I hope you enjoy my content. Do not forget to subscribe, share, comment and suggest new topics for discussion.
Moment of the Month!
Vince Carter jersey retirement — Life do justice! And so it is with Vince Carter, whose jersey was retired by the Toronto Raptors. The soon-to-be Hall of Famer has announced his retirement from the league in 2020 after 22 seasons. He was the 5th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and was selected by the Golden State Warriors, but he was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he stayed until 2004 before going to the New Jersey Nets until 2009.
Other stops included the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and the Atlanta Hawks. During his illustrious career, he was named an NBA All-Star 8 times, was Rookie of the Year in 1999, and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.
Carter is the first Raptor to have his jersey retired, and he’s the only player to have played in four different decades. However, the blessings seem to have no end for Vince Carter, as the Brooklyn Nets also plan to retire Carter’s jersey in January 2025.
It is nothing new that not only ultras but also casual fans all over the world like to take a stand on social issues. The nature of sports gives people the right to express themselves through numerous means such as banners or T-shirts with messages.
I will not reproduce the pictures or videos of the clash between the PSG and Maccabi Tel-Aviv ultras. Those of you who follow this blog regularly should know that I do not condone violence and will not comment on similar content.
This month in the Writer’s Corner, I would like to highlight the need for a ceasefire. There is no lower point of humanity than seeing children die in war. And a quick note on the world of sports: we have seen double standards in these situations. If you know, you know...
Let us hope this madness comes to an end soon. Click here, here and here to delve deeper into the topic.
Around the WNBA!
WNBA coaches arrivals — In terms of coaching news in the WNBA, a lot has happened this month. As I reported to you last month, there were seven head coaching vacancies. Well, four of them have already been filled. More specifically, the Indiana Fever had reached an agreement with Stephanie White, a rumor that has finally come to fruition.
The Chicago Sky has reached an agreement with Tyler Marsh, the former assistant coach and director of player development for the Las Vegas Aces for the past three years. Marsh also spent 2020-2022 with the Indiana Pacers under head coaches Rick Carlisle and Nate Bjorkgren and 2019 with the Toronto Raptors under head coach Nick Nurse.
“Marsh also coached in the NBA D League — now the G League — with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants from 2016-17, Bakersfield Jam from 2014-15 (currently the Motor City Cruise), Iowa Energy from 2013-14 (currently the Iowa Wolves) and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers from 2012-13”. He had won the 2019 NBA title and both the 2022 and 2023 WNBA titles with the Las Vegas Aces.
The Atlanta Dream has signed Karl Smesko, the former head coach of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). During his 23-year tenure in NCAA DI women's basketball, Smesko had scored 611W and 110L. “His teams have won 14 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) regular season titles, 11 ASUN tournament championships, and progressed to the NCAA tournament 10 times. Smesko has led FGCU to 25-wins in 14 straight seasons, an accomplishment only matched by UConn.”
Last on the list, but not least, are the Los Angeles Sparks, who have agreed to terms with Lynne Roberts, who also comes from college basketball. She most recently coached the University of Utah from 2015 to 2024, leading them to the Sweet Sixteen in 2023 and winning the Pac-12 regular-season championship.
We should emphasize the fact that the Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Dallas Wings do not yet have a new head coach. It seems that the next few months will also draw attention as the Unrivaled is underway and it’s quite possible that a WNBA team will choose a coach from that league.
Cleveland to bid for a WNBA team — Will Cleveland be the 16th city to host a WNBA team? Only time will tell, but for now, it looks like things are looking up for the women’s league and its expansion plans. More specifically, Rock Entertainment Group and Dan Gilbert (owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers) have plans to bring women’s basketball to Cleveland. This further supports WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s plans to create a 16-team league by 2028.
“It has long been woven into our mission to utilize our platform to unite our community in ways that drive equal opportunities across the board…To that end, we are actively pursuing bringing a WNBA expansion team to Cleveland. Cleveland’s vibrant ecosystem of world-class assets, passionate and engaged sports fans, coupled with a culture that has allowed professional sports to thrive, make our Team and city uniquely positioned to provide an ideal home for the W’s next franchise.”
Nic Barlage, CEO of the Cavs, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
For those of you who don’t know: The Cleveland Rockers were part of the WNBA from 1997-2003. Let’s hope the city of Cleveland will have the opportunity to return to the league with its unique franchise. Until then, please let me know what you think of the former team's logo you see above!
What’s New NBA?
Giannis Antetokounmpo founds BYL Ventures and invests in the Unrivaled League — The Greek Freak has done it again! After founding his media company Improbable in January 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo is now ready to expand his business horizons by launching a new fund.
As we read on the official website of the project: “The Build Your Legacy Fund is built on Giannis’ established network and his track record of driving business growth. The Milwaukee Bucks' valuation skyrocketed from $312 million to $3.5 billion during his tenure, illustrating his powerful impact. His recent climb to the 4th spot on SportsPro’s list of most marketable athletes underscores his growing appeal among fans and brands, driven by his brand strength, global reach, and economic influence…Giannis doesn’t just inspire as an athlete; he extends his influence through companies like BYL Group., which manages his global portfolio, partnerships, and investment assets, and Improbable Media, a next-generation media company focusing on sports, entertainment, and cultural impact. These ventures highlight his dedication to building lasting, meaningful partnerships and his strategic vision for growth and influence.”
In addition to the Unrivaled League, the BYLV portfolio also includes the Candy Funhouse “…a confectionery platform specializing in small-batch, original candies crafted for influencers”. And finally, Giannis and Mariah are expecting their fourth child, which naturally makes the family very happy! Hallelujah!
Trae Young joins the Jordan brand — A dream comes true, a moment in which his life comes full circle! The Atlanta Hawks superstar guard joins his favorite brand, after spending 6 years with Adidas and releasing three signature shoes. Among the initiatives Young will take after signing with the Jordan Brand is not only working on the release of the Air Jordan 39 (the brand’s flagship annual game shoe, with his own player exclusive themed colorways potentially arriving during the second half of the NBA season), but also the brand’s involvement in the Oklahoma community by donating sneakers to young Oklahomans, starting an AAU team and creating a platform that provides opportunities and space for young talent to flourish.
“To have the opportunity to join a brand that has a history of greatness is surreal. To me, it’s about setting the bar for the people that come after you. I’m grateful MJ did that for people like myself, and my goal is to try and continue that legacy for the young kids, including my brother, that are coming up after me.”
Trae Young
Russell Westbrook reaches 200 triple-doubles in his career — Which player comes to mind when you hear the term “Mr. Triple-Double”? Russell Westbrook, the veteran guard for the Denver Nuggets, has reached another milestone: he is the first player to record 200 triple-doubles in his career.
Westbrook, who broke the previous record (Oscar Robertson with 181) in 2021, had 12 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds in the Denver Nuggets’ 122-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Let’s not forget that he recorded 42 triple-doubles in the 2016/2017 season, more than any other player in a single season. Despite being accused of being a stat-pader and not leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a title, Russell Westbrook has managed to win the 2017 NBA MVP Award.
The other active players on the list are Nikola Jokić (4th with 136), LeBron James (5th with 117), James Harden (7th with 78), Luka Dončić (9th with 77) and Domantas Sabonis (10th with 61). You can see the full list here.
So what do you think? What’s next for Russell Westbrook?
NCAA?…Here We Go!
Geno Auriemma becomes the winningest coach in NCAA history — What seemed impossible for Geno Auriemma in 1985 when he took the job as head coach of the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team is now a reality. With 1,217 wins, he is the winningest coach in Division I basketball history. The Connecticut Huskies defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 85-41 at Gampel Pavilion, surpassing the record of Stanford legend Tara VanDerveer, who has since retired. Auriemma is the only active coach in the top ten winningest coaches in NCAAW basketball. The big night was attended by over 60 of his former players who have made it to the league, while some of them also gave speeches about his accomplishments.
Along with UConn assistant coach Geno Auriemma, Chris Dailey, who is also in her 40th season with the Huskies, was celebrated as the duo received a special ladder from Nike. “Auriemma also received a sign from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont reading, “Welcome to Connecticut, home of the winningest coach in basketball history,” and his current team gave him a framed jersey with 1,217 on it.” That’s the kind of story we like to read here! Congratulations, Coaches, the sky’s the limit!
All my life I had to fight…
The family of Malcolm X is suing the CIA, FBI, and NYPD for $100 million for their role in the assassination of the political activist in 1965 — A lengthy lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court by Malcolm X’s family members, along with Malcolm X’s estate, alleges that authorities knew of the plan to kill the activist and failed to protect him. The allegations also include the removal of security on the night of the murder, the active encouragement and facilitation of the murder, the failure of on-duty personnel to intervene, and efforts to conceal or cover up the crime after the fact.
Malcolm X, who was born Malcolm Little and changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz after his visit to Mecca, was assassinated on February 21, 1965, during a speech at the Audubon Ballroom on West 165th Street in Manhattan.
Three members of the Nation of Islam, Talmadge Hayer (also known as Thomas Hagan), Norman 3X Butler (also known as Muhammad Abdul Aziz), and Thomas 15X Johnson (also known as Khalil Islam), were identified as the shooters. All three were convicted of the murder of Malcolm X. Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson maintained their innocence and were exonerated in 2021. If you would like to learn more about the story of the three, I recommend the Netflix documentary entitled: “Who killed Malcolm X?”.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump represents the family. The FBI, CIA, and NYPD have not yet commented on the matter.
In case you didn’t know…
Choices…
Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring — I know many of you will say that his fight against Jake Paul was a joke and that he was only in it for the money. I can’t completely disagree with that, but did you see how the crowd reacted at Tyson’s ring entrance? We’re talking about the youngest heavyweight champion and this is for a fighter who hasn’t fought professionally since 2005! I could go on and on about how disappointed he looked when he got in the ring, or how he stopped himself from hurting Jake Paul in the early rounds, but I prefer to look on the bright side of life.
Manos Karousos