The NBA mafia will look after them:head coach PJ Carlesimo

Eddie Jordan and PJ Carlesimo deserved better. The former was fired on Monday after Washington opened the season 1-10 without their best player and starting centre. The latter's tenure in Oklahoma City ended messily when he was dismissed late last Friday night after a league-worst 1-12 start. Head coaching is a ruthless business. Failure, at some point, is the only certainty, outside of taxes and death. Barely a month of the NBA season has gone. They will not be the last victims.

For Carlesimo, an exit from the newly-monikered Thunder was nigh on inevitable. He came into a horrible situation when he was named as head coach of the then Seattle Sonics, 16 months ago, a franchise riddled with uncertainty off the court ahead of its relocation to Oklahoma, and underpinned by youth rather than experience on it.

Having served as an assistant in San Antonio for five years - as close as the transitory world of the NBA comes to stability - Carlesimo could have taken the easy option and remained at Gregg Popovich's right hand, rather than leaping into the abyss for a third crack at the (usually) thankless task of being The Man rather than just a No2.

Jordan, despite leading the Wizards to four consecutive playoffs (and making them relevant again in DC), was a mere victim of misfortune. Having to rely on kids to fill-in for grown-ups, he should have had more time. But there are no rules in this side of the game.

But don't weep for PJ or Eddie. Don't fear for their future or lose sleep, worrying that they might not recover. They won't rest idle long. The next pay cheque will arrive, sooner rather than later. Because, inevitably, the NBA famiglia takes care of its own.

In this club, once you're in, and have acquired some semblance of lustre, there'll be a welcome, some place. The basketball bench business is a nepotistic world where informal dynasties are spawned, mentors look out for their pupils, debts are accumulated and favours called in.

Of the 28 (non-interim) head coaching incumbents, only 10 are enjoying their first crack at the top job. The same number are having their second shot at the gig and Larry Brown, somewhat greedily, is on his ninth. Plenty of discarded chiefs are awaiting the carousel's next spin.

So Jordan could be reunited with former cohort Byron Scott in New Orleans once the terms of his separation are finalised. And even if Popovich cannot create a vacancy to bring Carlesimo back, Mike Brown – another Pop disciple – may find some room. If not in Cleveland, the door will open. It always does.

And so it should for Carlesimo, one of the finest instructors in the game, someone who visibly enjoys instilling knowledge as much as its acquisition. He's always been approachable, even just to explain a minor point or emphasis. Maybe that's his problem. Put him in charge, and he evolves from a teacher into a tyrant, and the listening stops.

Yet in truth, no-one – not a Red or a Phil or a Riles – could have done much more than him in Oklahoma City. The Thunder's three core performers are all under 22, proficient offensively but not quite there yet at the other end. They've had to pack their trunks and relocate from a city that exemplifies the future of America to one associated with its wild past. Times have been tough but someone has to be accountable for their lethargy thus far. It costs less to pay off one than 15.

Carlesimo isn't the first to find that the firing line is an uncomfortable situ. There's a gulf between being the one with the job of helping it happen and the responsibility of making it happen. For every Phil Jackson, there's a Jim Cleamons. For each Hubie Brown, a Ron Rothstein. Even with Sir Alex, a Brian Kidd. There is no such thing as greatness acquired by association.

Looking around the NBA, plenty of hot seats remain. Remember last year, when Marc Iavaroni was the most prized assistant to step up, leaving Mike D'Antoni's staff to move to Memphis? As the Grizzlies stumbled, there was talk he wouldn't survive the summer. He still might not make it to Christmas. If that happens, a summons to the Knicks may be the best Yuletide gift he could wish for.

Like Carlesimo and Jordan, he can feel confident of keeping a roof over his head. It's rare that there's no second chance. Or third. Or more. John Calipari, Tim Floyd and Leonard Hamilton all came out of the college ranks and were summarily dispatched back with reputation sullied. Jerry Tarkanian, who took UNLV to a college championship, lasted just 20 games with San Antonio and was done with the NBA. Their crime? No prior connections on the inside of the mafia, no-one to put in a word.

Jordan will be high on the interview list next time a head coaching vacancy arises. Carlesimo, having had previously messy exits from Portland and Golden State, may not be in such demand. If nothing else, he is better off away from the Thunder. The ranks will close protectively around him and eventually offer him a seat on a bench more OK than OKC.

sfortsnew.blogspot.com: symonds did not in anyway provoke this situation."

sfortsnew.blogspot.com: symonds did not in anyway provoke this situation."

symonds did not in anyway provoke this situation."

The Normanby Hotel has denied that Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was at fault in any way during an alleged incident he was involved in with a member of the public at the establishment on the weekend.

According to a representative from the hotel, Symonds was no more than a victim of the antics of an overzealous fan.

The patron in question apparently tried to hug and take a photo of Symonds with both attempts being declined by the 33-year-old Queenslander.

Following Symonds' refusal, the patron reportedly continued to harass the recently recalled Test all-rounder before being asked to leave by security for what it deemed to be inappropriate behaviour.

Symonds verified this version of events in a statement on Monday evening.

A member of the public acted unreasonably towards me while I was with friends at which time I took steps to remove myself from the situation," said Symonds.

"The member of the public was subsequently removed from the premises as a result of his actions."

"I was sharing some drinks with other players and close friends and did not in anyway provoke this situation. Cricket Australia confirmed that it was still investigating the incident.

"At the moment we're gathering more information, we want to better understand the situation," a CA spokesman said.

"As we understand it, the member of the public approached Andrew and there was an altercation after which the member was ejected by hotel security."

"Andrew was back at the team hotel by 9.30 or 10.00. Some other Australian cricketers were at the bar and we need to speak to those players to gather more information.

Robertson's accomplishments remain timeless as ever

"As I write this, basketball has entered a strange new century," Robertson writes. "The game has become international; it has become computerized and wireless and fiber-optic. Nobody knows what the next five years will look like, what heights players will be capable of reaching, how brightly they will shine. Whatever happens to the sport, I hope that the men who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to build the league will be remembered. I hope that people will never forget that when any man reaches for previously unattainable heights, he does so only because he stands on shoulders of those who came before.

Robertson wrote those words when he was 65 years old and 29 years removed from his final game as an NBA player and it's not difficult to understand his concern. When he called it quits after the 1973-74 season, Robertson held the NBA record for assists (9,887), was second only to Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list (26,710) and was one of the top 20 rebounders with 7,804. Now, Robertson's fourth in career assists, eighth in scoring and barely hanging in the top 60 for rebounds.

But Robertson, born 70 years ago today on a snowy Thanksgiving Day in Charlotte, Tenn., shouldn't worry about fading away.

In fact, in the five years since he penned that paragraph, Robertson's stature has only grown. Thanks to the all-around excellence of players from today's generation such as Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Robertson's Hall of Fame accomplishments have become that much more magnificent.

From his days at Indianapolis' Crispus Attucks High School to when he retired from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1974, Robertson's playing career could best be described as a great river: a steady and consistent confluence of excellence flowed from him.

Robertson wasn't flashy like Bob Cousy and was as fundamentally sound as any player before or since. When asked how he accumulated so many assists in his career, Robertson was said to reply: "I passed it to the open man."

Therein lay Robertson's genius. He made playing the point guard position seem simple.

And at the time, there was no precedence for what Robertson was doing: leading the first all-black team to an Indiana state high school title, averaging 33.8 points per game and winning National College Player of the Year in each of his three season at the University of Cincinnati.

He lead a veritable All-Star team to gold in Rome in 1960, and then notched a triple-double during the 1961-62 season (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists) for the Cincinnati Royals.

At the time, not even Robertson had known what he had done.

"There's a story attributed to baseball legend Willie Mays," Robertson wrote. "When Jose Canseco was honored in the 1980s for being the first man to hit forty home runs and steal forty bases in one season, Mays said, 'If I'd known that would be such a big deal, I would have done it a few times myself.'

"That comes close to expressing the bemusement I feel about all the attention on my triple-double season."

Imagine our bemusement, then, to know now that Robertson averaged a triple-double for the first five NBA seasons with 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game in 384 games. Stick that in your trophy case for a moment and gawk at it: 30, 10 and 10, every season for five years.

Could you imagine what ESPN would do with Oscar if he played today? They'd probably give him his own channel. He would own Nike ... and adidas. In this Internet world of today, how huge Robertson would be in Europe or China?

But that sustained excellence hadn't earned Robertson a title. Boston or Philadelphia always stood in Cincinnati's way. Then, in 1971, he teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Milwaukee.

"I was very aware of Oscar's overall excellence," Abdul-Jabbar said, remembering the trade that brought Robertson to Milwaukee from Cincinnati. "I just didn't know how he'd fit in with our team. I should have known better. There was nothing to be apprehensive about. He was a great overall player and a great leader. He pushed us. He'd get on our case if we didn't do our assignments. Having that kind of leadership is a key element to any team."

The Bucks went 66-16 in the regular season, became the first team to shoot better than .500 from the field (.509), cruised through the postseason at 12-2 and capped that incredible run by sweeping the Bullets in the Finals.

"I think that was an exceptional season," Abdul-Jabbar said. "In terms of efficiency in the playoffs, that was one of the best teams that ever played. A lot of people don't remember that very accurately because of the way things happened with the Knicks and Lakers in the mix."

Robertson would make one more trip with the Bucks to The Finals in 1974 before retiring at the age of 35.

It was then one could see what the river of Robertson's career had carved: basketball's Grand Canyon. You could not help but be stunned by the depth, breadth and the sheer beauty and excellence of it all.

"I think Oscar was really special because of his ability to do so many different aspects of the game well," Abdul-Jabbar said. "There are very few people who have the ability to score, set people up to score, rebound and defend. He was a complete player."

When Kidd adds to his career triple-double total of 101 (still 80 shy of Robertson's career mark) or James finishes the season with 30 points, seven-plus rebounds and seven assists per game, they're like tourists who spend a couple days, take some photos and leave, gobsmacked by what they have seen.

And only by getting as close as they do to Robertson's excellence do Kidd and James know how much they have left to accomplish.

So, on this day, 70 years after that snowy Thanksgiving Day when Robertson was born, let us give thanks for Oscar Robertson.

Because of him we know what true greatness looks like.