Chaney, Temple and the A-10 all dropped the ball

John Chaney was way out of line for what he did in the Temple Owls' game against St. Joseph's last month and what followed in the days after the incident was equally indefensible.

Chaney crossed the line of a head coach that should never be crossed; in the process he disgraced himself, his team, the university, St. Joseph's and the game of college basketball.  He let his emotions get the best of him by not making winning the basketball game his number one priority. 

Instead he ordered a player on his team, Nehemiah Ingram to intentionally hard foul the Hawks' players to send a message to the referees, who were in Chaney's mind allowing the St. Joe's players to continuously set illegal screens.  Chaney could be seen on the sideline illustrating to his player how to commit the foul by throwing hard elbows up near the head area.  This all began in a six-point basketball game with plenty of time for the Owls to still win the game.  However, Chaney put his own personal agenda before that of the team and the integrity of the game suffered.

Nehemiah Ingram followed the coach's request in detail by committing five quick fouls in a four-minute span, with the fifth foul breaking the arm of Hawk, senior forward, John Bryant and ending his college basketball career.  It is despicable that the actions of one man, a supposed leader of young caused the end of another young man's career.

Now nothing can make Bryant play again this year, and no punishment would give him back the last couple games of his college career.

Chaney's suspension through the end of the year, including post-season games was just punishment, but what took so long?

This should have been a no-brainer from the beginning, but it instead took almost a week for the self-imposed, one-game suspension to turn into Chaney not being able to coach the rest of the year.  This had to be the suspension handed down from Temple and/or the Atlantic 10 Conference the very next day after the game, but it was not.  

Both parties were equally afraid to deal with Chaney, choosing rather to coddle him, and in a public statement both Temple and the Atlantic 10 were satisfied with Chaney suspending himself one game.  It was not until public pressure that Temple changed their minds and suspended him the rest of the regular season.  Then it was not till after more public outcry, that Chaney came out with another public statement, stating that he would not coach in the post-season either.

This suspension was sufficient, but it could not have been handled in a worse way.  Temple and the A-10 should be ashamed of themselves and the A-10 commissioner to this day has not stepped in and should relieve herself of her duties, effective immediately.

These issues aside, there are pleas out there for Ingram, the player that actually committed the fouls to suffer some sort of punishment and to that I say no.  Chaney was responsible and Ingram was simply following his coach's orders and had no choice in the matter.

Also there are others who are demanding the resignation or firing of Chaney and this also is not necessary.  Chaney did a terrible thing that directly cost a college athlete the opportunity to finish his career, but being suspended the remainder of the year is enough. 

Chaney has done more good than harm to college basketball, but in this situation he could not have been more wrong and again he, the university and the conference handled the entire situation terribly. 

Might take time for Webber, Sixers

Philadelphia 76ers general manager, Billy King pulled the trigger on a trade that gave this town the shot of adrenalin that it so desperately needed with the acquisition of perennial all-star Chris Webber.

It was like Webber fell out of the sky right into the Sixers lap and nobody could believe the Sixers landed a big man that was averaging over 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game this year.  Even more amazingly they acquired him without losing any of their young talent from their nucleus and only had to give up the likes of Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner. 

Surely, Webber was the missing link for a repeat performance of 2000-2001 with another ride to the NBA Finals in store for this basketball team. 

The players, fans and city a like were all juiced up that Allen Iverson finally had a legitimate second scorer to play along side of, and rightfully so.  Then in Webber's first three games with the team the Sixers only managed one win, with Webber averaging only 13.7 points per game off 17-for 54 shooting, less than two assists and three rebounds per  game and the entire city is panicking.  Relax, Philadelphia and give everybody a chance to catch their breath!

These things take time.  It is unrealistic to expect Webber to step in and immediately make the Sixers the team to beat in the East.  It is just not that simple.  Webber needs to learn a whole new system on both sides of the floor and his new teammates need to get used his game and abilities as well.  Unfortunately the Sixers only had 29 games left in the season when the trade was made and the clock is ticking.

Twenty-eight games (he did not play the night after the trade) may not be enough time for this team to click on all cylinders, but it should be enough time for the Sixers to win enough games to finish atop the Atlantic Division.

The Sixers are a better team now by far then they were before the trade and there is a chance they could make a run at the East this year if all goes well. 

However the real test may have to wait till next year when this group of players has more time playing together with Webber and Rodney Rodgers who was also acquired at the trade deadline.  The Sixers should make the playoffs this season and win the first round, but in the long run the Sixers have at least a two-year window where they have a serious chance to compete for an NBA title.

Phil Martelli, a real class act

There are still good people in college athletics and St. Joseph's head coach Phil Martelli is one of those people.  The John Chaney incident was without question a black eye for college sports, but Martelli handled it with the utmost class from beginning to end.

Martelli refused to reduce himself to Chaney's level and never lashed out with any personal attacks on anybody.  He refrained from calling anybody a "goon" as Chaney did and has let the situation handle itself. 

It would have been so easy for Martelli to demand the firing of Chaney or make any sort of other remarks and nobody would blame him.  Martelli made a decision not to and took the high road throughout the incident.

However that was not the end of it for Martelli, as he had one last special surprise for everyone.  On senior night at the St. Joseph's field house, Martelli started the injured senior John Bryant and the reception he received brought tears to many eyes. 

Bryant only played one minute in the game, but the way he was greeted by the fans is a memory he will have the rest of his life and it is all because of coach Martelli.

Have and questions or comments?Agree/Disagree?Send all responses to blkovack@yahoo.com.