ARTICLE FROM denverpost.com (Full story click here)

The other day I was looking for articles for posting on “Sports Inner City Online” and found this very interesting article regarding my home town Seattle and Denver when it comes to producing NBA players.

For you sports fans who do not know, the Seattle area has produced a lot of NBA players the last ten or so years like my Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Jason “The Jet” Terry and Brandon Roy to name a few. It is amazing how many NBA players are in the NBA from here in Seattle.

When you ask folks why this is happening they point to better AAU leagues and better coaching starting when kids are as young as ten or eleven. And cats like Crawford and Terry are also giving back to the community by sponsoring youth basketball camps and teams.

These kids here in Seattle see their idols on TV from their city like Crawford and Terry and Spencer Hawes and Rodney Stuckey and they want to be just like them. You see kids all over the “inner city” walking and bouncing their basketball heading to the gym or park.

Sorry to say young African American kids in the Seattle/Tacoma, Washington area are playing basketball and not baseball. They are playing football but for some reason are not producing NFL players.

People in other cities like Denver are wondering what in the hell is going on with all these players from Seattle and hardly any from their city. What is going on?

Look out for more NBA Seattle/Tacoma area players like Isaiah Thomas and Tony Wroten Jr. and others. Their will be more players in the NBA from the hot bed of producing NBA players, Seattle, Washington.    Gordon Curvey

Please listen to “SPORTS INNER CITY RADIO” podcasts right here on the only urban sports website on the Internet from the Northwest ‘SPORTS INNER CITY ONLINE”

Covering urban sports news and issues PLUS exclusive sports interviews, classic soul and new and recent hip-hop and r&b music and a news feature SMOOTH JAZZ! Hosted by Gordon Curvey.

“Sports Inner City Radio” podcast hosted by Gordon Curvey. Urban sports news and issues PLUS classic soul, new and recent hip-hop and r&b, smooth jazz and exclusive sports interviews.

“One Man’s Opinion” by Gordon Curvey

Seattle Mariner third baseman Chone Figgins is Seattle’s “whipping boy” at the moment. And I think things are going over the line.

Sports radio jock Mike Salk of 710 ESPN here in Seattle is telling his listeners to boo Figgins over the air. This is just plain WRONG!!

I think things are going towards this word….racism when it comes to African American player Chone Figgins.

Why would Salk tell his listeners to boo Figgins and would he do this to a white player who is getting a lot of cash and is not playing well like Figgins? I don’t think so readers. Might of fact I know so.

Keep in mind readers on Seattle’s sports radio scene their are a grand total of ZERO African Americans on the air 24/7. So when a black guy is getting torn apart by all white hosts, it stands out like two left shoes in my opinion. Dave Mahler of KJR here in Seattle called Figgins “a common criminal” over the air for goodness sake!! That for sure was racist and went over the line.

You can criticize Figgins etc over the air but to call him a “common criminal” and telling Mariner fans to boo him over the air is terrible. Problem is the program directors at the KJR and 710 here in Seattle allow their hosts to bash African Americans at will and say anything without punishment.

I just wish Chone Figgins can start playing well in the field and at the plate so he can get the Seattle sports media of his damn back. A few hits or a great play in the field will help the brotha. Yes he is getting BIG money and he is not producing. But if I was a fan at Safeco Field, I would NOT boo him. I would continue to support Figgins and hope he will do better. It is not to late.   Gordon Curvey

ARTICLE FROM nbadraft.net (Full draft coverage click here)

I am a NBA junky. Not only that I am a basketball junky. I love the game of basketball. I can watch a high school game, college game, WNBA game, D-League game and of course the NBA.

For me to watch the entire 2011 NBA Draft, myself and every NBA fan had to be a true NBA and basketball fan and that is for sure. I stayed all the way until the final pick which was #60.

The final pick was from here in Seattle and the University Of Washington’s own Isaiah Thomas who was the very last pick. We are very glad he got picked by the Kings. But I still think he should have stayed at the UW for his last season.

The ratings was huge for the NBA Draft. So the question is will #1 pick Kyrie Irving be a NBA star or just a average player. He is only 19 years old so we will see how the Cavs will use him. Remember the Cavshave Baron Davis at the point guard righ now.

Irving is a very intelligent young man. He only played 11 games at Duke so a lot of basketball fans really do not know how good of a player he is. Again, we will see.

One thing for sure, their was plenty of foreign players drafted. And a lot of fans are asking why? Some say the players overseas are “smarter” and know the game better than American players. Some are saying a little racism is coming into play when the discussion of overseas players comes up compared to American players.

Anyway let’s hope their is a NBA season and we do not have a lockout. Right now the season does not look look good. We will keep you informed right here on “Sports Inner City Online”  Gordon Curvey

“Sports Inner City Radio” podcast for 6-22-2011. Featuring urban sports news and issues, classic soul, exclusive interviews and public service announcements. Including a exclusive interview with “Mr. October” Hall Of Famer Reggie Jackson from Safeco Field in Seattle.