Shot clock turns golden
An eclectic group of NBA personalities sat in the bleachers of a 20-minute high school exhibition game in Syracuse 50 years ago this week, observing the birth of the 24-second clock.
Danny Biasone, owner of the Syracuse Nationals and one of the NBA’s founding members, had been lobbying for a shot clock and had planned a demonstration at the high school.
In the group he had invited to watch the game were the Nationals’ star player, Dolph Schayes; Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach, Madison Square Garden’s Ned Irish, Philadelphia Warriors coach Eddie Gottlieb and the Baltimore Bullets’ Clair Bee.
“There wasn’t really a clock,” Schayes, 76, told The Associated Press. “There was a guy on the sideline, keeping time with his watch and yelling out, `20, 10, 5, 4, 3 … ‘ None of us at the time realized the significance of it. Arguably, it can be said it’s been the most important rule change in the history of the game.”
The 24-second shot clock made its NBA debut on Oct. 30, 1954, with the Rochester Royals defeating the Boston Celtics, 98-95.
According to NBA records, scoring jumped that first year from 79.5 points per game per team to 93.1.
Why 24? Biasone came up with 24 seconds. In a 1992 interview with The Associated Press, he explained why.
At the time, an average of 120 shots were taken during a 48-minute NBA game. There are 2,880 seconds in 48 minutes, so Biasone divided 2,880 by 120 to come up with 24.
Don’t take me literally
These observations from Bud Geracie, of the San Jose Mercury News:
“Tim Brown on the Raiders (said), ‘I wouldn’t say I’ve literally given my heart and soul to this organization.’ Good thing, or he’d be dead.
•One question about the ‘celebratory gunfire’ that broke out in Baghdad after Iraq’s stunning soccer victory over Portugal on Thursday: How was it distinguishable from the other gunfire?
•Nomar Garciaparra looks like a new man — his old self — since leaving the Red Sox.
•Robert Traylor said he’s excited to play for Paul Silas again. Now if he could just play like Silas for once.
•Ken Griffey, out for the season (again) because of a torn hamstring, should consider a return to the designated hitter league.”
I’m down with that…
Former NFL offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy, appearing in an Oakland Raiders uniform at the recent L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission’s “NFL 101 and 201” seminar, explained why his jersey was so tight.
“You don’t want to give a defensive player anything to grab on to,” he said. “We even tape our jerseys to our pads.
“Kids may like baggy clothes, but in the NFL it is the opposite. We like everything tight.”
They said it
Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times reports there’s a rumor circulating that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde tested positive for Geritol.
Said Geracie: “With Vinny Testaverde, Eddie George and Keyshawn Johnson in camp, the Cowboys have replaced their stop-watches with sun dials.”
•Golf commentator Gary McCord said Whistling Straits course, which is hosting the PGA Championship, looked so hellish he “could smell Satan’s breath.”