Outside Looking In
On, then off
Several basketball fans from Minneota and a couple of friends of mine from visiting schools have asked me over the course of the season why Minneota's scoreboard flashes on and off during a game.
Since I hadn't really paid attention while in attendance or watching online, I wasn't certain what they meant until I started paying attention. When keeping notes of the game, I would check the scoreboard in order to write down how much time was left. Because I was now aware of the scoreboard's defunct on-off switch, it became annoying.
I informed Minneota Superintendent Scott Monson about the problem and he had the electronics checked before the boys' basketball game against Yellow Medicine East on Thursday night. The problem was a loose connection.
The scoreboard never once flashed on and off that night.
Problem solved.
Movie sequel
For those of you who have had the pleasure of watching the 1975 Academy Award winning movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and also witnessed the Minneota boys' basketball game against Southwest Minnesota Christian last Monday, you might have noticed a few similarities.
The movie is one of only two films (Silence of the Lambs was the other) to win all five major categories (Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Director and Screenplay). The film, starring Jack Nicholson, takes place in a mental institution. Nicholson's character, Randle McMurphy, befriends a deaf-mute American Indian played by Will Sampson, whom he refers to as "Chief".
"Chief" towers over everyone else in the institution so McMurphy recruits him to play on his pickup basketball team. "Chief" Bromden has never played the sport, so McMurphy eventually has him just stand under the basket and throws passes to him. "Chief" then simply turns around and drops the ball in the basket time and time again.
Fast-forward to the Minneota game where Southwest Minnesota Christian's 6-foot-7 post Jarrett Kuipers scored 41 points in the Eagles' win. All 14 of Kuiper's field goals came within three feet or less of the basket. He also made 11 of 13 free throws, indicating he is a also good shot away from the hoop, but since he towered over the Minneota defenders with his height and wing span, he camped around the lane.
Minneota is a talented but vertically challenged team so Kuipers appeared as though he was "Chief" Bromden, taking passes from his teammates and laying the ball in the basket without much interference.
Even though "Chief" was supposed to appear to be 7-foot tall in the film, the late Will Sampson was actually 6-foot-7 in real life; the same height as Kuipers.
The Greatest?
The ongoing debate of whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the greatest player in NBA history is getting increasingly annoying. Time after time, a writer, broadcaster, or former or current player gives his opinion on which player is the GOAT.
With James breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record, Tuesday night, he has declared himself the GOAT, something Jordan never did during his playing days, nor since his retirement.
Truth be told, it's virtually impossible to determine who the best player is, especially since they never went head-to-head or played against the same competition. Just because one player has the most points in NBA history, has more championship rings or had a longer career simply doesn't determine who the best player is. Maybe the best player is someone who isn't among the scoring leaders or maybe never won a ring because he played on less talented teams.
It takes more than one person to make up a team. Playing with a good supporting cast will make an individual a better player.
Was Wayne Gretzky a better NHL player than Gordie Howe just because he scored more goals and notched more assists? Maybe, but maybe not. They were completely different types of players.
Is Babe Ruth the best baseball player of all time? Is Tom Brady the best football player of all time? It's just too hard to compare different players who play different position in different eras. But the debate continues.
Being elected to the Hall of Fame should be good enough for these players. It is absolutely impossible to determine which player is better than all others. Instead, let's just enjoy each individual's greatness and leave it at that.
Athlete of Week
As a reminder, I only select a student-athlete to be chosen for our Athlete or Performer of the Week once per sport, per season.
To be fair, I also try to spread out the honors to each of the sports as much as possible. So far, there have been three student-athletes chosen in girls' basketball, three in boys' basketball and three in wrestling.