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Tag: NBA

  • Dirk Nowitzki Helps Mavericks Top Lakers, Cling To Playoff Spot

    The Mavericks are in a constant battle for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and with the help of Dirk Nowitzki in last night’s game, they are now in 7th place. What place will they end up with, if any?

    Following closely behind are the Grizzlies and Suns, and the Mavericks are only a game and a half behind the Warriors as well. As the NBA season is coming to an end soon, several teams are battling to get to the top, and get the best seed possible.

    Defeating the Lakers has been a fairly easy task over the course of the 2013-2014 season, and Dirk Nowitzki took advantage of their weaknesses with his 27 points and nine rebounds, giving the Mavs a 104-95 victory.

    Despite their deficit at the end of the game, the Lakers led the Mavericks 54-52 at halftime. The Lakers have continued to lose all season due to injuries to both of their veterans, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, who are not set to return until next season.

    Nowitzki’s impressive performance also helped him rise to 11th on the all-time scorers list of the NBA, passing Dominique Wilkins, who was known as “The Human Highlight Film.” He has 26,678 points for his career, and is averaging 21.7 points per game this season.

    If Nowitzki stays healthy, he’s likely to move up to seventh on the list next season, passing Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone. This marks the 6th time that he has bumped someone down on the list during this season.

    Speaking about passing Wilkins on the scoring list, Dirk Nowitzki said “It’s been a crazy ride. I used to be a big fan of Dominique. I watched all his dunk contests and the many ways he could score, sometimes missing his own shot and he’d be the person to dunk over two people. He was just so much fun to watch.”

    The Mavericks have been one of the top teams for several years, but this year they are currently clinging to 7th place at the end of the season, and could be lucky to make the playoffs. The Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, and Rockets are still the only teams to clinch the playoffs, and claim the top four spots, respectively.

    With only a handful of games left until the NBA playoffs start, Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks are on a 2-game winning streak, and may have what it takes to make the playoffs after all in an incredibly competitive year for the Western Conference.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dick Bavetta Officiates 2,633 NBA Games Straight

    During the Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks game Wednesday night, NBA referee Dick Bavetta officiated his 2,633rd consecutive regular season game, which beat MLB Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripkin Jr.’s long-standing record for the longest back-to-back participation in an American professional sporting event.

    Richard T. “Dick” Bavetta, 74, got his start as an NBA referee in 1975, and he has never missed an assigned game since. He began officiating after his brother Joe, a ref for the American Basketball Association at the time, convinced him that it would be a good career. Bavetta was a stock broker on Wall Street during those days, and began officiating games between fellow brokers in the Wall Street League, played at New York’s Downtown Athletic Club.

    Bavetta went on to referee high school games, before moving on to the Continental Basketball Association. In the mid-1960s, for nine years straight he was rejected during NBA referee tryouts, mainly due to his small, unimposing stature, though was finally hired on in 1975. His debut was on December 2, 1975 at Madison Square Garden in an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. He soon became seen as a referee of the lowest tier, and led the league in technical fouls and ejections called.

    Bavetta eventually went on to become the highest paid ref in the NBA, raking in about $200,000 a year. His most well-known game was between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics in the 1980’s. Celtics forward Larry Bird and 76ers guard Julius Erving began to strangle each other and were ejected by Bavetta.

    Here’s the clip:

    Commenting on what his record means to him, Bavetta said, “Well it means that I am here and alive and happy. And it doesn’t end here as they say. After tonight there is another game. That is what we do. I am just blessed that the ironman streak has been broken here (at Madison Square Garden), I couldn’t ask for something any better.”

    Regarding any plans for retirement, Bavetta said, “I can’t think of any reason unless it’s an act of God with weather problems and things like that, but I’ve been blessed by the good Lord above with good health. So that has enabled me to stay healthy over the years and I think it’s symbolic of our profession.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Paul Sturgess, The Tallest Guy In Pro Basketball

    One would think being more than seven feet tall would be an advantage in basketball, but Paul Sturgess will tell you it’s more of a disadvantage.

    As center for the NBA Development League’s Texas Legends, Sturgess stands at 7-foot-8, making him the world’s tallest professional basketball player. To give you an idea of his height, the rim is only three feet above his head.

    Again, you’d think he’d have quite the advantage over his colleagues, but that’s not the case.

    Prior to becoming a Texas Legend, Sturgess was a Harlem Globetrotter. As a Globetrotter he was known for his “No Jump Dunk.” Because he was trained to entertain, his conditioning and development to compete wasn’t up to snuff for the NBA.

    Legends’ director of player personnel and assistant coach Travis Blakeley said, “Not to take anything away from Paul’s accomplishments with the Globetrotters, but they didn’t practice, they rehearsed. [The Globetrotters] had zero weight room time, zero performance time.”

    After joining the Legends in November 2013, Blakeley had a long road of work ahead of him. After Sturgess’ feet bled from trying to keep up with his teammates on his first day of practice, Blakeley knew the workout regime would have to change for Sturgess.

    “We were taking on an extremely green athlete and had to scale it way back to the basics,” said Blakeley.

    While Sturgess was in better shape after a few weeks, developing his strength became an issue. His height and weight makes squats and lunges dangerous because they cause stress on knees, hips, and the lower back. A regimen of leg presses were used to help Sturgess develop his lower-body strength.

    One more issue Sturgess faces in the NBA is the verticality rule which “requires referees to call a foul whenever a player does not jump straight up in the air while defending a shot.” A hunch in his neck, back and shoulders from years of slouching makes it difficult for his posture to adhere to the rule.

    To help with his posture, Blakeley has Sturgess perform exercises that open up his neck and shoulders. Blakeley also has Sturgess working on his flexibility in his hips and strengthening his core and inner abs to give him better reaction time. Jumping rope and agility drills are also helping with Sturgess’ reaction time.

    “I’ve been (jumping rope) for a couple months now, and I am already feeling the benefits of how much better I move. It helps me jump quicker and more explosively. I also do a lot of agility exercises and lateral slides, which helps me open up my hips and helps me move,” said Sturgess.

    Though Sturgess’ progress in workouts has Blakeley slowly adding strength-building exercises like squats, the tall guy still gets frustrated, but he focuses on the future. “I never compare myself to other people. Whenever I’m doing an exercise, I never think about how well I’m doing now. If I do it every day, I’m going to get better. I always have that in my mind,” said Sturgess.

    While Sturgess may be tall, his list of accomplishments with the Texas Legends appears to be quite short.

    Fans are wishing the best for the 7-foot-8 pro.

    Image via YouTube.

  • Shaq Under Investigation For Assaulting TNT Co-Worker Robert Williams

    Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal is the subject of an investigation for an attack that occurred last May.

    O’Neal, 42, played for six different teams during his almost two-decade career in the NBA. Originally from Newark, New Jersey, he was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 NBA Draft. The four-time NBA champion and three-time NBA Finals MVP retired in 2011, first making an announcement on Twitter, and then holding a press conference at his home in Orlando. A month later, he announced that he was going to join Turner Network Television (TNT) as an NBA Analyst.

    His TNT co-worker Robert Williams claims that in May of 2013 the seven-foot-one O’Neal tackled him from behind, knocking him down, resulting in neck and back injuries that required surgery. O’Neal claims it was only horseplay. His counsel Dennis Roach adds that there was never any intention to cause injury. Williams’ camp heavily opposes this claim, and says that the permanent injuries sustained were not due to any form of horseplay.

    Williams immediately reported the incident to TNT security, but the company did not file a police report until July last year. The investigation has become more complicated over time, according to Sergeant Greg Lyon, Atlanta P.D. The case was eventually transferred to the departments’ complex case team. Police still cannot tell when the decision will be reached as to whether O’Neal will be prosecuted or not.

    Pending the investigation, O’Neal has continued to appear on TNT’s Inside the NBA.

    In 2005, O’Neal was a witness to an assault. He reported the incident and helped Miami-Dade police track down the offenders. This resulted in the arrest of two suspects for aggravated battery, assault, and a hate crime. In 2006, he participated in a home raid in Virginia. O’Neal had been made an “honorary deputy” by the local sheriff’s department.

    Best of Shaq on TNT

    Image via YouTube

  • Quinton Ross, Former New Jersey Net, Erroneously Reported Dead

    On Monday afternoon, readers and followers of the New York Post were informed that ex-NBA player Quinton Ross had been found dead. The headline claimed that the athlete’s remains were “stuffed into a garbage bag” and buried underneath a shallow grave.

    Unfortunately, it was a different person with the name of Quinton Ross who was discovered dead, and not the former New Jersey Nets guard-forward. The New York Post updated their story about 10 minutes after the erroneous report was released. The victim, who shared his name with the former ball player, was found dead and “hidden in a patch of weeds” in the Far Rockaway beach area.

    Despite The Post’s retraction, the false news was picked up by several other news sites. The new Post headline now includes a disclaimer stating that their initial reports involving Quinton Ross, the basketball player “are incorrect”, according to police authorities. However, The Post has yet to make editing changes to the original story itself.

    Police are currently investigating the gruesome crime.

    Quinton Ross, the player, is a native of Dallas, Texas and earned a degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University. He started his professional basketball career with Belgian basketball team Telindus Oostende, while his career in the NBA began in 2004 with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 32-year-old player then signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008 and stayed there for a year. Ross then moved to the Dallas Mavericks in July 2009, but was traded to the Washington Wizards in February 2010. In July of the same year, Ross was traded for Chinese player Yi Jianlian and cash to the New Jersey Jets. He played a total of 36 games with the franchise.

    After Ross’ release by the New Jersey Nets in 2011, he went on to play for the Developmental League in France.

    Image via YouTube

  • NBA Standings 2014: Playoffs Are Approaching, Teams Start To Clinch Spots

    The NBA the playoffs are quickly approaching, and as teams continue to rise, and fall, the fates of each team will soon be known. There should be no surprise with who the top teams are toward the end of the year, but teams have been moving around slightly.

    The San Antonio Spurs continue to rule the NBA, and are currently on a thirteen-game win streak. The Spurs have been one of the top teams for several years, and made it to the NBA championship last year before losing to the Miami Heat.

    Following the Spurs’ first place spot are the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and the Indiana Pacers to round out the top five.

    The Miami Heat, who won last year’s NBA championship, follows closely behind in sixth place. They were in fifth last week, but lost recently, and have been showing signs of struggle.

    It is no surprise to see that the West is dominating, although when comparing overall records, the Pacers are third overall, and were ranked third in the power rankings last week. The full NBA standings, showing their rankings in the conference can be seen here.

    The Heat and Pacers are the two teams that have already clinched in the East, but due to tougher competition in the Western Conference, the only team that has clinched is the Spurs. The Mavericks just slipped from 8 to 10, and the Suns have risen from 11 to 9, placing them only one game behind the Mavericks.

    Even the Brooklyn Nets, who looked amazing on paper to start the season, but struggled earlier, are on a four-game winning streak, and are likely to gain the fourth seed in the playoffs. Another surprise in the Eastern Conference in 2014 is the Toronto Raptors, who are currently in third place, although they are only half of a game ahead of the Bulls.

    It is unclear where every team will land, and who they will each be paired with, but as the NBA season comes to an end, some teams have been improving, while others are falling. The Pacers are in first in the East, while the Spurs lead the way in the west. They almost met in the NBA finals last year before the Heat edged the Pacers out, could it happen this year?

    Image via Twittter

  • Jason Collins Says He Has Been Taunted With Gay Insults From One NBA Player

    After receiving tons of positive support following his coming out, it seems that Jason Collins is still feeling negativity from at least one person. He is the first openly gay player in the NBA, and is a center for the Brooklyn Nets.

    Another player in the NBA, from an opposing team, has reportedly been taunting Jason Collins because of his sexuality, something that people may have feared, but others might not expect at this time.

    Collins recently revealed that he has received negative comments from another player during a game. He has not let it get to him during the game, and will not reveal who it is, but it is not something that he should have to tolerate as a player.

    He said that he chose not to retaliate during the game when it happened because he is entitled to his opinion, and he did not want to let it ruin his focus on the game. Collins is a 13-year veteran in the NBA, but had been a free agent until the Nets signed him just over a month ago.

    The NBA veteran should feel at home with the Nets since coach Jason Kidd is a former teammate of his on the Nets several seasons ago, and he also played with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett on the Celtics.

    In a recent interview with ESPN, Jason Collins explained the situation when saying “In the flow of the game, you have emotions going. It goes back to controlling what I can control — having self control and having the discipline to recognize it for what it is and keep the focus on the game.”

    He did reiterate that he has received positive support overall, and after facing over 100 players and coaches, he was bound to interact with at least one player who would choose to act in a negative way toward him.

    Due to his courage as an athlete, and fans who want to support him, his jersey has been a top seller on NBAstore.com since he signed with the team. The Brooklyn Nets are currently 36-31, and in 6th place in the Eastern Conference.

    He originally explained the situation to the New York Daily News, and said ““He’s a knucklehead. So I just let it go. Again, that goes back to controlling what you can control. That’s how I conduct myself just being professional.”

    Jason Collins signed a second 10-day deal after his first one expired, and on March 15, he was signed for the remainder of the season. Since joining the Brooklyn Nets, he has played in 10 games, averaging only 8.4 minutes.

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  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Wants to Own the Bucks

    The Milwaukee Bucks are 13-55, which makes them 37 games out of first place. The record is also good for worst in the NBA. The team is not constructed well and Larry Sanders, who was supposed to be a beacon of hope on the court, will miss the remainder of the season with injury.

    Rumors are spreading around the internet and beyond that owner Herb Kohl, who has toyed with the idea of selling the team for the past several years, is now seriously considering offers to hand off the troubled franchise to someone else. One of the most intriguing names out there is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It actually makes perfect sense. The Bucks drafted the NBA legend back in 1969, and the seven-foot center was the main contributor to the team’s only NBA Championship in 1971.

    However, it’s no slam dunk for Kareem, who will have to compete with other suitors. Yes, the Bucks are dreadful. Yes, they play in an antiquated arena. Nevertheless, the intrigue of owning an NBA franchise is a very appealing option to the select few who can afford it. The Bucks are considered the least valuable franchise in the league, Forbes estimates their value at $405 million.

    A source told The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Tuesday. “There’s a lot of interest in the NBA and this is the only team on the market. There is a considerable amount of interest. It’s safe to say that anybody with the means and interest in the NBA has inquired. A lot of phone calls from around the country.”

    There have been no confirmed reports of who Kohl has spoken with and whether he would give up the whole team or sell off parts to minority owners. He has stood firm that the only way he would consider selling the team is if the buyer or buyers agree to keep the squad in Milwaukee.

    Kareem has put his name out there as an interested partner. “The team is probably going to change hands soon, I don’t know what’s going to happen specifically, but I’m keeping an eye on it. I might possibly try to be involved, it would be great to be able to help the franchise where, that I worked for, get back to the top. They deserve it, the Wisconsin sports fans are incredible, and they deserve a first-rate team.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • LeBron James Sits Out Boston Game Due To Back Spasms

    It’s been a tough night for the Heat’s star player LeBron James as he was forced to sit and watch his teammates face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. It would have been harder were he to play, considering the back spasms he has been experiencing.

    Prior to this, James had missed two games in the past four months due to injury. The first was the Heat’s 108-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in December when he had a groin muscle injury, and the second was their 93-79 victory over the Chicago Bulls when he had a broken nose.

    On a positive note, James sitting out Wednesday’s game means he would have two full days of rest before the Heat face the Grizzlies on their home court this Friday. In their game the previous night versus Cleveland, he scored 43 points to take the Heat to victory 100-96. He also finished with four assists, two steals, three blocks, and six rebounds. This season, he has been averaging 27 points, 6.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 6.9 rebounds per game.

    There’s less than a month to go in the league’s regular season, and in light of the coming postseason games, Miami could be ramping up its player sit-out strategy to conserve their energy for the games where they will be needed more.

    Aside from James, center Greg Oden also took the night off for precautionary rest. Taking their places were Michael Beasley for James and Udonis Haslem for Oden.

    The Miami team is currently in a fierce competition with Indiana for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are attempting to advance to four consecutive NBA Finals like the 1980s Celtics while also attempting to win three straight championships like the Lakers back in the early 2000s and the Chicago Bulls of the 90s era.

    Lebron James Breaks His Nose


    Image via YouTube

  • Greg Oden’s Starting Position On The Miami Heat May Be Permanent

    The Miami Heat has consistently been one of the top teams in the NBA for the past several seasons since gaining Lebron James on their roster. However, Greg Oden has eased himself into the starting lineup recently, and may be keeping that position.

    Greg Oden has been plagued with injuries throughout most of his NBA career, which has been spent mostly with the Portland Trailblazers. He joined the Heat over the off-season last year, and made his debut with the team last October.

    Lebron James has been forced to carry the team on his shoulders for much of the season due to another injury to Dwyane Wade, playing in a limited number of games in the 2013-2014 season. The Indiana Pacers have remained in first place throughout the season, and are currently 3 games ahead of Miami.

    It was just the beginning of October when Greg Oden had his first practice in four years, but may be working his way into the starting lineup shortly. He started against the Houston Rockets last weekend in order to have a better match-up against their big man, Dwight Howard, and then again in Cleveland.

    However, according to Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, the decision to start Oden may not have just been based on the situation. After the game, he said “I’ve stressed that to our team, that last year’s blueprint was for last year, and the more we tried to pigeonhole ourselves into that blueprint, we might not be opening ourselves up to a more successful or necessary blueprint for this year, as the competition has changed.”

    Starting Greg Oden is certainly a dramatic change from the regular Heat lineup that features smaller figures such as Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, and even Chris Anderson, all players that do not have much size to them, but are much better shooters than someone like Oden.

    Lineups with Bosh and Oden have been less successful overall when compared to the way that Bosh and Anderson play together, but the template is there for for the Heat to succeed with two functional big men on the floor at the same time.

    Greg Oden may be starting right now, but he continues to heal from his injury, and his playing time could be limited going forward. The Miami Heat have already clinched a spot in the playoffs, and currently have a record of 46-19.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Phil Jackson Reportedly Headed Back to the Knicks

    Phil Jackson left the NBA in 2011. Since that time numerous teams have tried to entice the 11-time coaching champion out of his retirement home in Montana and back to the game of basketball. Now, it appears that the New York Knicks have succeeded in netting the 68-year-old.

    Several reports are circulating that the Knicks and Jackson have reached a deal in principle that will bring Jackson into the front office. Although an official announcement is not expected until the end of the week, a source has confirmed the agreement. “Everything is pretty much done. There are just some little things here and there that need to be worked out, but the Knicks are very confident that this is essentially done.”

    Neither Jackson or the Knicks has commented on the speculation. But if the deal goes through as expected, then it will be a reunion for Jackson and the organization where he got his start. In fact, Jackson played on the last Knicks’ championship team way back in 1973.

    Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who will become a free agent after this season, spoke of the front office move, “Have I heard? Yeah, I’ve heard that he will be coming on board. It’s not official yet. You can always use Phil Jackson’s insight on whatever … his philosophy, his mindset, his resume, what he brings to the game, what he brings to a team or organization. That goes without even saying, so we’ll see how that plays out.”

    It doesn’t appear that Jackson’s signing will have a big impact on Anthony’s free agency plans. “It wasn’t something that was do-or-die based on my decision. Them guys was going to make that decision regardless of what I said.” He added, “I don’t think it’ll have any effect on me, just as far as what I’m thinking or my decision or anything like that.”

    After a promising 54 wins last season, the Knicks thought that they could be championship-bound this year. However, they are currently 25-40. But even with the abysmal record, the team is only 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final eighth playoff spot.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Phil Jackson Seriously Considering Offer To Join New York Knicks’ Front Office

    An important league source reports that former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson is close to accepting an important position at the New York Knicks’ front office. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says that the exact job title remains unclear, but that it would entail “more than just consulting” responsibilities.

    The addition of the Hall of Fame head coach to the struggling New York team might finally turn the tables for them.

    The struggling Knicks team has been pursuing the Hall of Fame head coach for a while, in hopes of recovering from their dismal standing in the current season. According the same source, while there is no final answer from Jackson as of yet, the Knicks “have a sense of what’s going to happen” – and that is Jackson deciding to join the team.

    New York Daily News’ Frank Isola reported that Jackson recently met with New York Knicks owner James Dolan to discuss a potential union with the franchise. Dolan initially approached the idea of a coaching gig for Jackson, but Jackson did not seem keen on the idea of going back to the sideline at his age of 68.

    Jackson has not coached in the NBA since 2011, but rumor has it that the coaching legend is interested in going back to the basketball world. News of Jackson possibly joining the Knicks surfaced in 2012, when Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times reported that the team made a $50 million offer for Jackson to coach for four years. ESPN’s Smith reinforced those rumors when he reported that New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills had met with Jackson to introduce the possibility of him taking over the coaching position in New York City.

    Jackson is expected to give an official answer within the next few days. Although he has been clear about not coaching the team, Knicks guard J.R. Smith thinks that his involvement in the team’s basketball operations will benefit them greatly.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Chicago Bulls Edge Miami Heat 95-88 In OT

    Chicago Bulls Edge Miami Heat 95-88 In OT

    While some teams seem to be in free fall mode, losing at a wild rate, the Chicago Bulls seem to continue to do whatever it takes to win. Their latest challenge was the second-best Miami Heat, who they defeated in overtime.

    The Bulls are the one team that continue to give the Miami Heat trouble, and are certainly a team that they do not want to see during the 2014 playoffs. In another intense Sunday afternoon battle, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Heat with a final score of 95-88.

    Miami was previously beaten by the Bulls by a total of 20 points on December 5th, and for some reason, they just cannot seem to beat the Bulls. Chicago is not likely to win the NBA championship, but anything could happen once the playoffs start, right?

    It is no surprise that these two teams have had troubles with one another in recent years, and they each continue to show their hatred toward each other. An incident occurred during a game last year that resulted in the ejected of veteran Nazr Mohammed when he shoved Lebron James. Yesterday’s game was no different, as James was kicked, and abused again.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SowvPA4lIo

    Joakim Noah further explained his hatred for the Heat in a post-game interview, and said “Those guys (the Heat), they’ve ended our seasons a lot (twice in three seasons). That’s where the hate comes from. It’s not, ‘Oh, I hate this guy.’ It’s that these guys ended it – I want what they have. I want a championship, and I know to get there one day, we’re going to have to get through those guys. So that’s the hatred.”

    The Chicago Bulls are on quite a roll right now, but due to the significant injuries that they have faced this season, particularly Derrick Rose, they struggled during much of the earlier part of the season. They have relied on other players since, and are rising toward the top as a force to be reckoned with.

    Since the departure of Derrick Rose from the lineup, Joakim Noah has been forced to step up, and has been a major contributor in the past few months. He has given big numbers, continues to work well with his teammates, and was even one of the biggest stars for the Eastern Conference in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.

    The Chicago Bulls have been giving their best effort in multiple games lately, but always seem to perform at another level when it comes time to play Lebron James and the Miami Heat. The Heat are currently stuck at second place, but if the Pacers continue to lose, they may be able to claim the top spot before the playoffs start.

    On the other hand, the Bulls are 35-28, and in fourth place in the conference, which would have them matched up against the Washington Wizards if the playoffs were to start right now.

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  • Republican Politician is Slammed Following Racist NBA Tweet

    Pat Garofalo, a Republican politician and member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives, came under fire over the weekend after making what was perceived to be a racist tweet about the NBA.

    The relatively unknown politician–until now–said that the only noticeable side effect from most NBA teams folding would be an increase in street crime. Since the majority of NBA players are black–according to a 2013 report, 76.3 percent of all NBA players are black–it didn’t take much to put two and two together. After being ridiculed on Twitter for the comment, Garofalo released a statement apologizing.

    While many politicians would delete a comment that received such criticism, Garofalo has left it up for the world to see. Check out the representative’s tweet below.

    Even though Garofalo’s comment received hundreds of “favorites,” the state representative received many tweets slamming him for the statement.

    After receiving a lot of negative feedback, Garofalo issued a statement on the Minnesota House of Representatives website and apologized to those he offended.

    In the last 24 hours, I’ve had the opportunity to re-learn one of life’s lessons: whenever any of us are offering opinions, it is best to refer to people as individuals as opposed to groups. Last night, I publicly commented on the NBA and I sincerely apologize to those who I unfairly categorized. The NBA has many examples of players and owners who are role models for our communities and for our country. Those individuals did not deserve that criticism and I apologize. In addition, it’s been brought to my attention that I was mistaken and the NBA policy on drug enforcement is stronger than I previously believed. Again, I offer my sincere apologies for my comments.

    Garofalo also apologized on Twitter.

    Even though Garofalo apologized, the state representative maintains that his comment had nothing to do with race. “I was talking about the NBA’s high arrest rate and that they are the only major pro league that testing positive for marijuana is not a substance abuse violation,” Garofalo said. The politician also said that he had the typical NBA player’s attitude in mind when making the statement.

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  • Joakim Noah Leads Bulls In Overtime Win Over Heat

    Joakim Noah scored 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 blocks for the Chicago Bulls in Sunday’s game versus Miami Heat. Noah filled up his team’s stats and led them through an overtime victory with a final score of 95-88.

    The Miami Heat are the two-time defending champions and have eliminated the Bulls twice during the last three seasons, making Sunday’s game a special treat for the center. Noah is on his seventh year in the league and has just made the All-Star team for the second consecutive year.

    Noah says his hate for the Heat isn’t personal, and stems more from wanting what the other team has: “I want a championship,” he says, and he knows that to get there, his team has to beat the Heat first. “I want everyone who wears a Bulls jersey to work. We’re going for one thing. That’s the championship,” he says with conviction.

    Noah took the reins with the absence of Derrick Rose, who is sitting out the season to recover from his knee surgery. Rose was the team’s dominant scorer, and without him, the Bulls have had to win games by playing good defense, something that Noah says they work on every day.

    “Defense is all about repetition, having trust in your teammates,” he says. He gives credit to the Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau for his drilling in the defensive aspect of the game.

    The Bulls have a lot of strong opponents to face in the coming weeks, including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Noah keeps his eye on the prize—the championship. “One day, I want to party in Chicago and I want to see what that feels like.”

    Shooting guard Jimmy Butler, who scored 16 points during the game and guarded the Heat’s star player LeBron James, was all praises for his teammate, saying that Noah was a great leader who “puts the team on his back every night.”

    Joakim Noah’s Top 10

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  • James Harden And Evan Turner Receive Technical Fouls Following Shoving Match [Video]

    Throughout James Harden’s career, he has performed at a high level in terms of offense, and has also never been afraid to show how tough he is. Last night, he got into a scuffle with Evan Turner, and things escalated quickly.

    The two star players exchanged some words, and were soon engaging in a shoving match that resulted in technical fouls for each of them. James Harden and Evan Turner were removed from one another by referees and players from both teams before things could get any worse.

    Some fans who may have been out of the loop for a while could even be wondering what Evan Turner is doing in a Pacers uniform. He was recently traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Pacers in exchange for Danny Granger.

    The Houston Rockets were hosting the Indiana Pacers, and with the third-best team in the western conference hosting the best team in the eastern conference, the game clearly could have gone either way in an intense battle.

    Although it was not the monstrous beat-down that the Clippers delivered to the Lakers just the night before, with the help of James Harden, the Rockets had no problem beating the top-ranked Pacers, and the game ended with a final score of 112-86.

    The completely lopsided game finally saw a bit of acting midway through the third quarter when Harden and Turner got into each other’s faces for seemingly good reason. At the time of the interaction, the Rockets were up 73-50, and Turner prepared to shoot a lay-up in transition during a dead ball, as the Rockets had already been called for a foul.

    Harden acted as if he were going to block the shot, and then Turner decided to simply hold the ball instead. While the game could have simply moved on from there, the two players were shown exchanging words with one another, and Evan Turner then made the first move when he pushed James Harden backwards with a right hand to the chest.

    By the time the incident finally ended, and the game carried on, the Rockets went on to seal an easy victory. James Harden led all scorers with 28 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Turner had only five points and one rebound in the disappointing loss.

    Following the conclusion of the game, Houston improved to 43-19 with its fourth straight win. Indiana dropped to 46-16 with its third straight loss.

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  • Los Angeles Lakers Suffer Worst Loss In Franchise History

    Things just seem to be getting even worse for the Los Angeles Lakers with another tragic loss to their hometown rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers are one of the worst teams in the league, and continue to lose, with no sign of improvement.

    The Clippers delivered the Lakers their worst loss in franchise history last night, and the embarrassment in their season continues. The game ended with a final score of 142-94, in an unlikely score that puts their embarrassment at a whole new level.

    Following their blowout loss, Lakers center Pau Gasol said “We did not create plays for each other, and that is how it started to fall apart. But you can’t dwell on this game or it will really get you down.”

    Pau Gasol was rumored to be traded earlier this year, and continues to deal with the struggle of being on a team that is unable to win.

    The Los Angeles Lakers have been without two of their veteran players for much of this season, and most notably Kobe Bryant, who has spent his entire career with the Lakers, as one of the best players to play the game.

    As if matters could not get any worse, it was announced recently that the return of either Kobe Bryant or Steve Nash is unlikely. Bryant has missed most of the team’s games since the 2012-2013 season, although he was still voted to the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, and shortly beforehand, the team revealed that he would not be able to play, which everyone had already expected.

    With the tragic loss that the Lakers suffered last night, losing that way to the Clippers makes things even worse. With the way that the Lakers have performed recently, and the rise to power of the Clippers, it is showing that there is a new team that rules Los Angeles.

    It is hard to know what will finally be able to turn this Los Angeles Lakers team around that has gone downhill to such a degree in recent years, as the veterans are plagued with injuries, and the younger guys are unable to compete with the other teams. The Lakers are currently in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 21-41.

    The Lakers only have six weeks left in the season, and clearly have no chance of making the playoffs anymore. They will certainly need to take a look at their roster, and analyze what to do with their veteran players when heading into the 2014-2015 season. The Lakers are also in danger of finishing with their worst record since moving to L.A. from Minneapolis in 1959.

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  • Kobe Bryant And Steve Nash Could Be Out Until Next Season

    Everyone paying attention to the NBA in the past year will know that Kobe Bryant has been constantly struggling with an injury, and has not been able to play much.

    Steve Nash has also been forced to sit out for several games, and it may simply be a sign that the two veterans are getting to the point where they are unable to compete with all of the young talented stars of today. It is unlikely that they will be able to return during the 2013-2014 season.

    Bryant and Nash have both had successful careers, but with the news that neither of them could return to the court by the end of the season, it is unclear what the future will hold for the two NBA stars.

    Kobe Bryant has still not be cleared medically due to his knee injury, and Nash continues to battle with chronic back problems. Bryant was nominated to the All-Star team again this year of course, but was forced to sit out due to his continuing injury problems.

    Without two of the veteran guards in the NBA, among other injuries, the Lakers have had trouble winning all year, and currently have a record of 20-39. Their awful record puts them in a 3-way tie for last place in the conference, along with the Utah Jazz and the Sacramento Kings.

    The Lakers only have six weeks left in their season with no chance of making the playoffs, and Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash have combined for a total of 16 games during the season. Some may argue that if he were to play, it could help them, but as an aging player, it is best not to risk it.

    Coach Mike D’Antoni was recently quoted when speaking about Steve Nash, but the statement could apply to Bryant as well. He spoke of his veteran when saying “I don’t know what to tell you. What’s the endgame? We’ve talked about it. He’s not completely healthy. We have 23 games left. We’re not going to make the playoffs. So what’s his objective in taking minutes away from the young guys that we’re trying to develop?”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGbte77VtlI

    With Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash both out, and a younger team that continues to lose, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to reevaluate what they want to do with their roster heading into the 2014-2015 season.

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  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Interested In Rejoining Bucks

    NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has made it known that he would be interested in rejoining the Milwaukee Bucks franchise if he was to get a call from them.

    ”If I get a call, I will definitely offer my services,” said Abdul-Jabbar. ”There’s nothing on the table right now. A couple of people have asked me and if I had the chance to be part of this franchise again, I would take it.”

    Adbul-Jabbar was the franchise’s career leading scorer with 14,211 points. He was the number one overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and was drafted to the Bucks’ team. During the 1974-1975 season, Adbul Jabbar requested a trade, seeking another contender. In 1975, he was traded to the Lakers.

    ”They appreciated that and they appreciated that I kept my mouth shut about it,” he said. ”I gave them the opportunity to approach other teams and they figured out the best deal they could make for themselves.”

    Former Sen. Herb Kohl announced the he would be seeking minority investors in the team, in December. Kohl has been the owner of the team since 1985. The team currently has the leagues worse record, and Kohl is trying to draw in a larger crowd.

    ”They have to get their business model right,” Abdul-Jabbar said, during an interview on Monday. ”I hope that the Bucks are able to sort it all out and get on a good footing. You can’t win it all unless you get the right players and you can’t get the right players unless you’re really in a good position as a business.”

    Adbul-Jabbar has also shown interest in possibly coaching in the NBA. He has worked as a special assistant with the Clippers and the Lakers.

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  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Interested In Owning Milwaukee Bucks

    Former NBA star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, has showed interest in owning the Milwaukee Bucks – one of the teams he played for in his basketball career.

    Abdul-Jabbar started playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 when he was chosen No. 1 in the draft. He continued to play for the team for six seasons, and holds the record for being the franchise’s biggest scorer with 14,211 points under his belt.

    The Hall of Famer was in town for the promotion of a tourism ad and he answered questions from the reporters just before the Milwaukee Bucks vs. the Utah Jazz game started at the Bradley Center.

    Rich Kirchen of the Milwaukee Business Journal interviewed Abdul-Jabbar and the basketball legend says that he would take the chance to be part of the Bucks if they need his services. However, there is no offer on the table as of now. Abdul-Jabbar has expressed his interest in getting back to the NBA as a coach. He has already worked as a special assistant for the Lakers and Clippers.

    In December, Milwaukee Bucks owner and former Senator Herb Kohl stated that he is seeking minor investors for the franchise in order to keep them in Wisconsin. The team has been in an all-time low with an 11-46 record. In addition to that, Forbes has recently reported that the Milwaukee Bucks was the least valuable franchise with an estimated value of $405 million.

    Bringing Abdul-Jabbar to the team may be one way to get the Bucks out of their slump, but there has yet to be a discussion between Abdul-Jabbar and Kohl.

    Despite of this, Abdul-Jabbar still sees the team as a viable market in the NBA. He says that the team has to have the right business model in order to be in a good position and attract the right players.

    Abdul-Jabbar Promotes Wisconsin Tourism

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  • Michael Jordan Earns $90M, Highest-Grossing Retired Athlete

    Michael Jordan hasn’t been on the court in over ten years, but that doesn’t mean the former athlete has stopped making money. According to Forbes, the famous Chicago Bulls player made $90 million last year, making him the highest paid retired athlete. Among current athletes, Jordan still comes in second place, right behind Floyd Mayweather. And it’s all thanks to his trademark shoe, the Air Jordan, for making his bank account grow.

    Last year, the Air Jordan earned Nike $2.25 billion in revenue (compared the LeBron James’ $300 million shoe line). Just this weekend the Air Jordan 10 “Powder Blue” sneaker went on sale; selling $35 million in its first day. Forbes says that Jordan’s $90 million is more than he’s ever made any year playing basketball – he peaked in 1997 at $80 million. Now, as one in every two basketball shoes sold in the US are Air Jordans, the Nike partnership with Jordan looks to only keep growing.

    Forbes estimates that Jordan’s cut from Nike was around $75 million; the other $15 million come from his other endorsements with brands such as Gatorade, Hanes, Upper Deck, and his ownership of seven restaurants, a car dealership, and 80% of the Charlotte Bobcats.

    Jordan began his career over three decades ago, after playing for the North Carolina Tarheels and gaining national attention with his game-winning 3-point shots. Immediately Nike saw his potential, and after Jordan was drafted to the Bulls, he signed a five-year contract with the brand worth half a million per year. In 1984, Michael hit the court in the first ever pair of Air Jordans – in a classic Bulls red and black. Twenty years later, the shoe brand is stronger than ever, and Michael still proves to be a dominant figure in the sports industry.

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