New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season
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Yes Steve. We shall see who has the better record, Nets or Clippers. That's interesting.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Chris Paul elected president of NBA players union....
By W.G. RAMIREZ | The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Chris Paul has already seemingly done the impossible by turning the long-languishing Los Angeles Clippers into a force in the Western Conference. Now he's taken on another big task - rebuilding the reeling NBA players' association.
Paul was elected president of the players' union Wednesday, replacing Derek Fisher and giving an organization cloaked in turmoil some much-needed star power at the top.
The vote by NBA player representatives came six months after the union fired Billy Hunter as executive director, a position that remains vacant and follows about 18 months of in-fighting and drama that occurred during the negotiations for the latest collective bargaining agreement. Hunter countered with a wrongful-termination lawsuit in May, accusing Fisher of conspiring with NBA officials during the 2011 lockout.
''It's not about me as president or the first vice president, it's about the players as a whole,'' Paul said in a conference call Wednesday night.
One of Paul's greatest gifts on the court is an ability to get everyone involved and make his teammates better. Now he'll try to do the same thing with the union. After the lockout ended and the lawsuits started to take hold, there was a feeling among many players and observers that putting a big name in the big chair would help galvanize the group and get star players interested in participating again.
That once was commonplace, with marquee players Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Alex English and Isiah Thomas all serving as union presidents. But Paul, a six-time All-Star who is widely regarded as the best point guard in the league, is the first big star to hold the top spot since Patrick Ewing's run ended in 2001. Role players Michael Curry, Antonio Davis and Fisher, who had been in charge since 2006, followed Ewing.
''That wasn't a requirement, but I think it gives us a little more oomph, I guess, having somebody like him wanting to step up and take on that role,'' Charlotte Bobcats forward Anthony Tolliver said in a phone interview. ''It means a lot.''
Paul served as a vice president for the last four years, so he has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the union, and the trouble that engulfed it recently.
''It was something I saw as a challenge, something I knew I'd be able to handle,'' Paul said. ''It's an unbelievable opportunity, a lot of responsibility comes with this position but I'm very fortunate to have an outstanding of committee guys. The past couple of days have been outstanding, the dialogue we've had as an executive committee also with the players that have come in town, it was amazing.''
The decision to appoint a new executive director to replace Hunter will come at a later date.
''We definitely discussed (hiring an executive director), but there's no rush,'' Paul said. ''For us, it's all about getting our house in order and making sure that everything moves right in that direction.''
In meetings at the Venetian Hotel, Roger Mason Jr. was elected first vice president. He replaced Jerry Stackhouse, who resigned from the office and is expected to take a position within the union.
There are several issues that the league has been waiting to discuss with the union while they searched for new leadership, most notably the possible implementation of testing for HGH. Commissioner David Stern, who is retiring in February and handing the reins over to deputy commissioner Adam Silver, has said multiple times this summer that testing for HGH was a priority.
''Chris is an All-Star player and person and we look forward to working with him,'' Silver said in a statement.
Tolliver, who has long been one of the most devoted player representatives in the league, and Steve Blake were elected vice presidents, filling the executive committee positions vacated by Paul and Mason.
''This is not a position that's about me or one person,'' Paul said. ''It's about the collective group and the players and I think from my experience ... it's about growing the game and expanding our brand and continue to get our players involved as we can and make sure our voice is heard. The guys here just understand it's our union, there's no one person that is bigger than the group.''
Paul said the union needed a ''rebuild,'' and he was looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. Tolliver agreed, saying it was time for a ''fresh start'' after a messy time in the union's history.
''We want to make sure that nothing remotely close that has gone on in the union in the past 12 months or so will ever happen again,'' Tolliver said. ''It's a huge job. It's a huge responsibility. I'm glad to be a part of that.''
Paul's ascension could pave the way for more involvement from the biggest names in the game. LeBron James considered running for the job before deciding against it, and Paul is an All-NBA first team player who has been tight with James for years.
''Since I've been in the NBA the superstars have come to a few meetings here and there, every once in a while, but not very often,'' Tolliver said. ''The fact that (James) even considered doing that lets me know that he's going to be more involved in the future. ... Especially him being the face of our game, we want to have him involved as much as possible. Not only him, we want all the guys that carry our brand to be a part of this.''
By W.G. RAMIREZ | The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Chris Paul has already seemingly done the impossible by turning the long-languishing Los Angeles Clippers into a force in the Western Conference. Now he's taken on another big task - rebuilding the reeling NBA players' association.
Paul was elected president of the players' union Wednesday, replacing Derek Fisher and giving an organization cloaked in turmoil some much-needed star power at the top.
The vote by NBA player representatives came six months after the union fired Billy Hunter as executive director, a position that remains vacant and follows about 18 months of in-fighting and drama that occurred during the negotiations for the latest collective bargaining agreement. Hunter countered with a wrongful-termination lawsuit in May, accusing Fisher of conspiring with NBA officials during the 2011 lockout.
''It's not about me as president or the first vice president, it's about the players as a whole,'' Paul said in a conference call Wednesday night.
One of Paul's greatest gifts on the court is an ability to get everyone involved and make his teammates better. Now he'll try to do the same thing with the union. After the lockout ended and the lawsuits started to take hold, there was a feeling among many players and observers that putting a big name in the big chair would help galvanize the group and get star players interested in participating again.
That once was commonplace, with marquee players Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Alex English and Isiah Thomas all serving as union presidents. But Paul, a six-time All-Star who is widely regarded as the best point guard in the league, is the first big star to hold the top spot since Patrick Ewing's run ended in 2001. Role players Michael Curry, Antonio Davis and Fisher, who had been in charge since 2006, followed Ewing.
''That wasn't a requirement, but I think it gives us a little more oomph, I guess, having somebody like him wanting to step up and take on that role,'' Charlotte Bobcats forward Anthony Tolliver said in a phone interview. ''It means a lot.''
Paul served as a vice president for the last four years, so he has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the union, and the trouble that engulfed it recently.
''It was something I saw as a challenge, something I knew I'd be able to handle,'' Paul said. ''It's an unbelievable opportunity, a lot of responsibility comes with this position but I'm very fortunate to have an outstanding of committee guys. The past couple of days have been outstanding, the dialogue we've had as an executive committee also with the players that have come in town, it was amazing.''
The decision to appoint a new executive director to replace Hunter will come at a later date.
''We definitely discussed (hiring an executive director), but there's no rush,'' Paul said. ''For us, it's all about getting our house in order and making sure that everything moves right in that direction.''
In meetings at the Venetian Hotel, Roger Mason Jr. was elected first vice president. He replaced Jerry Stackhouse, who resigned from the office and is expected to take a position within the union.
There are several issues that the league has been waiting to discuss with the union while they searched for new leadership, most notably the possible implementation of testing for HGH. Commissioner David Stern, who is retiring in February and handing the reins over to deputy commissioner Adam Silver, has said multiple times this summer that testing for HGH was a priority.
''Chris is an All-Star player and person and we look forward to working with him,'' Silver said in a statement.
Tolliver, who has long been one of the most devoted player representatives in the league, and Steve Blake were elected vice presidents, filling the executive committee positions vacated by Paul and Mason.
''This is not a position that's about me or one person,'' Paul said. ''It's about the collective group and the players and I think from my experience ... it's about growing the game and expanding our brand and continue to get our players involved as we can and make sure our voice is heard. The guys here just understand it's our union, there's no one person that is bigger than the group.''
Paul said the union needed a ''rebuild,'' and he was looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. Tolliver agreed, saying it was time for a ''fresh start'' after a messy time in the union's history.
''We want to make sure that nothing remotely close that has gone on in the union in the past 12 months or so will ever happen again,'' Tolliver said. ''It's a huge job. It's a huge responsibility. I'm glad to be a part of that.''
Paul's ascension could pave the way for more involvement from the biggest names in the game. LeBron James considered running for the job before deciding against it, and Paul is an All-NBA first team player who has been tight with James for years.
''Since I've been in the NBA the superstars have come to a few meetings here and there, every once in a while, but not very often,'' Tolliver said. ''The fact that (James) even considered doing that lets me know that he's going to be more involved in the future. ... Especially him being the face of our game, we want to have him involved as much as possible. Not only him, we want all the guys that carry our brand to be a part of this.''
Has anybody seen Hibbert's latest pics? He has bulked up so much he looks like young Shaq. He dwarfs The Big Fundamental and What's a Mahinmi! 
Has anybody seen Hibbert's latest pics? He has bulked up so much he looks like young Shaq. He dwarfs The Big Fundamental and What's a Mahinmi!
Maybe Hibbert is preparing for the center duel with Greg Oden.
Now that Larry Bird is back running things, Pacers ought to improve this season, and hopefully Luis Scola can contribute. He's a gutsy player who has very little fear.
What I can't wait for the season to start is because there are ex-Celtics all over the league.
Doc Rivers , KG and Pierce, Larry Bird, and one Walter McCarthy. So I'll be happy watching the Clippers, Nets, Pacers, and ummm, Celtics win games, but the first 3 have a chance at the title.
Yeah, you have to call him Big Roy...
View attachment 11379
Roy's been working with Joe Dowdell, a well respected sports performance coach that I know at Peak Performance in NYC.
Well, Roy's chest looks like if you throw a flying forearm tackle at him, you will break your forearm.
Well, Roy's chest looks like if you throw a flying forearm tackle at him, you will break your forearm.
He started working with Joe during the strike season.
If this were true, it would explain why he always looked 'lost' with Dallas and the Clippers.
TMZ report: Lamar Odom has had a drug problem for the last two years
Brett Pollakoff
Aug 24, 2013, 12:40 AM EDT
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....he-last-two-years/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
TMZ report: Lamar Odom has had a drug problem for the last two years
Brett Pollakoff
Aug 24, 2013, 12:40 AM EDT
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....he-last-two-years/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
Today is Knick-killer Reggie Miller's 48th birthday.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Reggie's memorable plays in my books:
Pushing MJ, getting an inbound pass, and hitting a long shot with time running down.
Putting a choke sign in front of Spike Lee.
Of course, the now famous 8 points in 9 minutes against the Knicks.
Pushing MJ, getting an inbound pass, and hitting a long shot with time running down.
Putting a choke sign in front of Spike Lee.
Of course, the now famous 8 points in 9 minutes against the Knicks.
Very sad news if true.
http://gawker.com/report-lamar-odom..._source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
http://gawker.com/report-lamar-odom..._source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
I find a lot of items in the news these days that make me sad. A college baseball player out for a run who is gunned down by three teenagers because they're bored. An 88 year old World War II veteran who is beaten to death by two teens for no apparent reason. These stories make me very, very sad. But, a multi millionaire basketball player who has been handed everything and anything since the time he was 16 years old and is now addicted to crack cocaine is not something I would waste one second being sad about.
Looking to the future, I should say I agree with this guy.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/boston-celtics-four-reasons-rajon-rondo-traded-180000110.html
Boston Celtics: Four Reasons Rajon Rondo Should Be Traded
Yahoo! Contributor Network
Justin Haskins 6 hours ago BasketballBoston CelticsNational Basketball Association
Boston Celtics: Four Reasons Rajon Rondo Should Be Traded
.
View gallery
Rajon Rondo. Photo by Keith Allison.
COMMENTARY | Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo is one of the most entertaining players in the NBA. But now that the Celtics' chances of a championship in the near future are slim, the time to cut ties between Boston and Rondo has come.
The following five reasons, in no particular order, outline the most important advantages to dealing one of the league's most enigmatic stars:
1. The Celtics have no chance of winning in the near future
After six seasons of competitive basketball, Boston is no longer a powerhouse team with a legitimate chance of winning a title. The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls all are significantly better than the Celtics (and that's just in the Eastern Conference). If there is no chance of winning a title, it makes more sense to trade Rondo as he is coming into his prime so that Boston can get the most out of a deal for him without having to worry about jeopardizing its own season.
2. Losing Rondo makes the Celtics one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference
An entire season without Rondo will surely make Boston one of the worst teams in the NBA, which may very well be a positive spot for the Celtics to be in. Boston has nine first-round picks in the next five drafts, including three first-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and another first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015 that they received for relinquishing rights to former coach Doc Rivers.
Unfortunately, because the Clippers and Nets are both teams on the rise, it's unlikely any of these picks, except possibly the 2018 pick, will be lower than the 20th spot in the draft.
The Celtics' best chance of getting a top spot in the draft will be from their own picks and is heavily dependent on the team's win-loss record. This actually presents an amazing problem for the Celtics: The better the team plays, the worse off the team will be in terms of the draft and rebuilding for the future. While it may upset some fans to hear it, the best decision the team could make for the future is to lose now in order to win later, a strategy that will likely only be successful without Rondo on the floor.
3. His contract is almost up
The more time left on Rondo's current contract, the more the Celtics can expect to get in return in trade. If Boston waits to make a deal too close to the end of 2014-2015 season, when his contract expires, then the team must also worry about finding a trade partner who can negotiate with Rondo over a new contract immediately. Trading Rondo now avoids this problem completely.
Additionally, because Rondo's contract is back-loaded, which means his salary increases each season, it is actually easier to trade him this year when a team only has to worry about matching an $11.9 million salary compared to next season when the contract jumps to $12.9 million. This may seem like an insignificant difference, but the complexity of the NBA salary cap makes every penny count in trade talks.
4. Rondo is not worth a max contract
The alternative to trading Rondo is signing him to a maximum salary contract over at least four seasons. As good as Rondo is, he is not worth that kind of financial commitment in a league where a few bad contracts can hinder a team's ability to make changes for several years.
Yes, Rondo makes everyone else on the floor better, he is capable of outstanding defense, and he creates offensive opportunities on fastbreaks better than anyone. But if he is given a maximum contract, he would likely be the worst scorer of any max-contract guard in recent memory. It cannot be understated: Giving a guard a maximum salary who has career averages of 11.1 points per game, a 3-point average of 24.1 percent and a career free-throw success rate of 62.1 percent would be unheard of and should be avoided at all costs.
Trading Rondo sets up the Celtics for the future
If Boston fails to trade Rondo in the near future, the trade rumors will persist, the team will be forced to either let him go to free agency in two seasons or pay him a max contract -- and the Celtics will miss out on an opportunity to bring in a key young player they would likely be able to attain in return for Rondo. It may not be easy for Boston's front office, but the right move for the organization going forward is to trade Rondo as soon as he can prove he is healthy.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/boston-celtics-four-reasons-rajon-rondo-traded-180000110.html
Boston Celtics: Four Reasons Rajon Rondo Should Be Traded
Yahoo! Contributor Network
Justin Haskins 6 hours ago BasketballBoston CelticsNational Basketball Association
Boston Celtics: Four Reasons Rajon Rondo Should Be Traded
.
View gallery
Rajon Rondo. Photo by Keith Allison.
COMMENTARY | Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo is one of the most entertaining players in the NBA. But now that the Celtics' chances of a championship in the near future are slim, the time to cut ties between Boston and Rondo has come.
The following five reasons, in no particular order, outline the most important advantages to dealing one of the league's most enigmatic stars:
1. The Celtics have no chance of winning in the near future
After six seasons of competitive basketball, Boston is no longer a powerhouse team with a legitimate chance of winning a title. The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls all are significantly better than the Celtics (and that's just in the Eastern Conference). If there is no chance of winning a title, it makes more sense to trade Rondo as he is coming into his prime so that Boston can get the most out of a deal for him without having to worry about jeopardizing its own season.
2. Losing Rondo makes the Celtics one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference
An entire season without Rondo will surely make Boston one of the worst teams in the NBA, which may very well be a positive spot for the Celtics to be in. Boston has nine first-round picks in the next five drafts, including three first-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and another first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015 that they received for relinquishing rights to former coach Doc Rivers.
Unfortunately, because the Clippers and Nets are both teams on the rise, it's unlikely any of these picks, except possibly the 2018 pick, will be lower than the 20th spot in the draft.
The Celtics' best chance of getting a top spot in the draft will be from their own picks and is heavily dependent on the team's win-loss record. This actually presents an amazing problem for the Celtics: The better the team plays, the worse off the team will be in terms of the draft and rebuilding for the future. While it may upset some fans to hear it, the best decision the team could make for the future is to lose now in order to win later, a strategy that will likely only be successful without Rondo on the floor.
3. His contract is almost up
The more time left on Rondo's current contract, the more the Celtics can expect to get in return in trade. If Boston waits to make a deal too close to the end of 2014-2015 season, when his contract expires, then the team must also worry about finding a trade partner who can negotiate with Rondo over a new contract immediately. Trading Rondo now avoids this problem completely.
Additionally, because Rondo's contract is back-loaded, which means his salary increases each season, it is actually easier to trade him this year when a team only has to worry about matching an $11.9 million salary compared to next season when the contract jumps to $12.9 million. This may seem like an insignificant difference, but the complexity of the NBA salary cap makes every penny count in trade talks.
4. Rondo is not worth a max contract
The alternative to trading Rondo is signing him to a maximum salary contract over at least four seasons. As good as Rondo is, he is not worth that kind of financial commitment in a league where a few bad contracts can hinder a team's ability to make changes for several years.
Yes, Rondo makes everyone else on the floor better, he is capable of outstanding defense, and he creates offensive opportunities on fastbreaks better than anyone. But if he is given a maximum contract, he would likely be the worst scorer of any max-contract guard in recent memory. It cannot be understated: Giving a guard a maximum salary who has career averages of 11.1 points per game, a 3-point average of 24.1 percent and a career free-throw success rate of 62.1 percent would be unheard of and should be avoided at all costs.
Trading Rondo sets up the Celtics for the future
If Boston fails to trade Rondo in the near future, the trade rumors will persist, the team will be forced to either let him go to free agency in two seasons or pay him a max contract -- and the Celtics will miss out on an opportunity to bring in a key young player they would likely be able to attain in return for Rondo. It may not be easy for Boston's front office, but the right move for the organization going forward is to trade Rondo as soon as he can prove he is healthy.
Why would an athlete performing at such as high level put this **** in their body?
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/db7B2?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nba
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/db7B2?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nba
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Lamar Odom arrested early this AM for DUI
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lamar-odom-arrested-dui-20130830,0,3202129.story
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lamar-odom-arrested-dui-20130830,0,3202129.story
what a downturn in the last 2 years of odom. from a champion and sixth man of the year in 2011 to this...what is he not happy about?
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