Billy Hunter doubts entire '11-12 season - Players Association executive director Billy Hunter says the 2011-12 NBA season will likely be canceled entirely because the commissioner's negotiating leeway is in danger of being undermined by a group of hard-line owners. "The circumstances have changed among [David Stern's] constituency," Hunter told a group of lawyers Wednesday, as quoted in the Baltimore Sun. "In the last six or seven years, there is a new group of owners to come in who paid a premium for their franchises, and what they're doing is kind of holding his feet to the fire." Hunter told an American Bar Association conference that if he "had to bet on it", he would wager that there will be no NBA season. "We're $800 million apart per year," Hunter said Wednesday, adding, "something has to happen that both of us can use as leverage to save face." READ MORE
Sources: Stern paid less than Goodell, Selig - Two league officials say NBA Commissioner David Stern makes less than baseball's Bud Selig or the NFL's Roger Goodell, leaving his salary far below the more than $20 million that's been reported. Some reports had Stern's salary at $23 million, angering locked-out players being asked to accept pay cuts in a new collective bargaining agreement. READ MORE
ProjectSpurs: Former Spur, Lakers assistant Person talks Spurs - Former San Antonio Spurs shooting ace and new assistant coach under Mike Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, recently spoke in an interview with Mike Trudell of Lakers.com. In the interview, Person tells Trudell that playing in San Antonio made him more of a team player, and his perimeter shooting and team defense were what made him a quality player in the Spurs' system. Indiana was where I had my best individual success, but my best team success was with San Antonio. When you talk about players being pros, you have to be able to fit in with the system, and in San Antonio, I knew I wasn’t going to be the focal point offensively, so I had to be a piece of the puzzle. There were post up guys like David Robinson, so I had to become an outside threat only, and I worked hard on the one thing I really had to do, which was shoot threes. READ MORE
Robinson ranked fourth among NBA’s centers in last three decades - David Robinson is one of the most unique players in NBA history. Superbly gifted athletically, Robinson was one of the fastest and strongest players of his era. His multi-faceted skill set helped him lead the Spurs to a pair of championships, including an emotional title in his final game in 2003. Dennis Velasco of The Basketball Jones.com is analyzing the top 10 players at each position over the past three decades. He pegs Robinson at fourth at center behind Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone. READ MORE
Is an extension coming for Rick Carlisle? - Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has one season remaining on his four-year contract worth $17.5 million. Coming off winning the franchise's first NBA title in six games against the star-laden Miami Heat, Carlisle and the Mavs have not begun discussions on an extension. Shortly after the Finals, owner Mark Cuban and Carlisle declined to discuss his contract status. On Thursday, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Carlisle has nothing to worry about it. READ MORE
NBA Lockout Could Hit Dallas Mavericks Hardest - Before the NBA lockout was instated, Dirk Nowitzki and Co. pulled off what some people felt was unthinkable. Not only did Dallas knock out the fiery threesome in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but they did so in South Beach. Game 6 was an amazing triumph for the aging squad, one that many people were skeptical that the same men would be able to conquer more than once. Then the NBA lockout struck. But, even as fans endure this shifty battle between owners and players, there are some things that will remain the same within the organization. READ MORE
NBA: Josh Smith and Other Stars That Could Give the Houston Rockets Liftoff - The Ming dynasty is officially over in Houston, what's next for Rocket fans? Despite not having Yao all season, the Rockets put together one of the best offenses in the NBA in 2011. However, they failed to make the playoffs. Making a few deals might involve giving away one of their better players like Luis Scola or Kevin Martin, but would put them in a much better position to steal a playoff spot. Houston lacked defense last year overall, giving up 103.7 points a game, so it is apparent they could use a defensive presence. That isn't the only way they could go to build a contender, but anyway you put it there is work to do. Let's look at some possible fuel for the Rockets. READ MORE
What to expect from the Rockets’ upcoming season (if there is one): A breakdown of the point guard position - This NBA off-season is the first in recent memory in which Rockets’ fans aren’t gnawing their collective fingernails to the quick in nervous anticipation. This year, for once, we won’t be mining quotes from team doctors, picking them apart like historians attacking hieroglyphs, digging for subtle clues as to when or how our hopes might return. There can no longer be any hope that a superstar savior (7’6” or otherwise) will return from injury and lead the team into contention. The roster is what it is. There can no longer be any doubt that the process of rebuilding has begun. READ MORE
Rangers winning with new ownership - Early Friday morning marks the one-year anniversary of what could be called the most entertaining, explosive and franchise-altering event in the history of the Texas Rangers. It was on Aug. 4, 2010, that Baseball Express and Radical Pitch squared off in a Fort Worth, Texas, courtroom in an auction to buy the Rangers while the players were in Seattle facing the Mariners. It was early on the morning of Aug. 5 that Baseball Express emerged from the courthouse as the winning bidder for the Rangers. Since then, it has been an interesting year for the franchise and everyone involved in the process. READ MORE
Ubaldo set to debut for Tribe vs. Rangers - Ubaldo Jimenez will make his much-anticipated debut with the Indians on Friday, when the Tribe begins a three-game set with the Rangers in Arlington. And though Jimenez will have quite the test, moving from the National League and immediately facing the American League's third-best offense as far as scoring goes -- in baseball's most hitter-friendly park -- he's looking forward to simply pitching. "I'm ready for it," Jimenez said. "I know it's difficult, because you're going to have to face nine guys instead of eight and a pitcher. It's probably a little bit different. But at the same time, if you think about it, you don't have to be hitting. You don't have to be running the bases and thinking about doing so many things you have to do as a pitcher in the National League. You only have to focus on pitching here." READ MORE
The Brew Crew Returns - I gotta say, I was pretty floored when the Astros won their first series against the homer-happy Reds this season, not just because they had traded away their two best options in the lineup before the three game stretch against last season’s NL Central champs, but also because they hit Brian Bogusevic third one night, Dontrelle Willis hit a home run while giving up only 2 ER on another, and Brandon Phillips made a million diving plays on line drives…every night. But that’s why baseball is baseball, a sport you should never bet on. Anyway, it made me so giddy that I decided to do a series preview. That it’s against the mighty Brewers made me snap out of my delirium, but we can all hope…right? READ MORE
Astros rookie J.D. Martinez offers insight into what lights his fire to succeed - Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez experienced the thrilling sensation of taking over and dominating a big league game as an up-and-coming rookie on Wednesday night in Houston's 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Minute Maid Park. The soon-to-be 24-year-old Martinez blasted his first career home run -- a two-run shot in the first -- off Reds left-hander Dontrelle Willis. He later recorded a two-run, go-ahead double and finished the night tied with 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto for a game-high three hits. Martinez evolved into a top-tier prospect after being selected out of Nova Southeastern in the 20th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. READ MORE
Sources: Growth hormone test added to NFL deal - Quarterback Donovan McNabb eagerly bounded onto the practice field with his Minnesota Vikings teammates in Mankato, Minn., on Thursday afternoon, before being told he and other NFL players with new contracts still needed to be patient. And then, shortly before 5 p.m. EDT, the good news came: The wait was over. The NFL officially was back in business, CBA and all. That 4½-month lockout? A thing of the past in every way. "Were we going to have the opportunity to step on the field today? Was this thing going to linger?" McNabb said, explaining his thoughts while on hold for word of a completed collective bargaining agreement. "Good thing we got this thing settled. And now here we are." READ MORE
Texans go full pads, get free agents back on busy day - It was an eventful Thursday at the Methodist Training Center. The Texans practiced in full pads in the morning for the first time in their 2011 training camp. Three key players – Andre Johnson, DeMeco Ryans and Antonio Smith – sat out because they restructured their contracts with the team, making them ineligible to practice until the ratification of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The CBA was ratified by the NFL Players Association in the afternoon. That cleared the way for those three players – and the Texans’ 12 free agents – to join their teammates on the practice field for a 30-minute walkthrough. READ MORE
Ryan's going to be great, just ask him - The Cowboys certainly hired an opinionated coach when they named Rob Ryan their defensive coordinator in January. The 48-year-old already made waves with a verbal jab he took at the Philadelphia Eagles last week. It's rare for Ryan to provide a dull moment when being interviewed, and his latest question and answer session was no different. Ryan, who pointed out that he learned from the best — his father, Buddy, and New England's Bill Belichick — is eager for his opportunity to become a head coach. READ MORE
'New' Tony Romo gives Cowboys a betting chance - This is not about my admitted Romosexuality. This is also not about knocking sense into that loud vocal minority of Cowsheep who have the not-now-not-ever attitude on Tony Romo when it comes to a quarterback who can return the Cowboys to what once was considered the franchise's personal promised land. I don't know if the Cowboys will ever again win a Super Bowl. But here in early August, we all know they've got a much better shot at it for 2011 than a Seattle, a Carolina, a Washington, a Minnesota, maybe a Detroit and maybe a Chicago. Over a third of the entire NFC is already eliminated because of quarterback issues. READ MORE
After tough choices, Oleksiak ready to play hockey - Now that the decision has been made to leave Northeastern University and join the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League for the 2011-12 season, defenseman Jamieson Oleksiak would just like to focus on what he does best -- play hockey. Oleksiak, taken by the Dallas Stars with the 14th pick of the 2011 Entry Draft, didn't at all appear uncomfortable discussing his decision that was certainly a hot topic when made back on July 25. He was focused and straightforward and is obviously excited to be invited to the Canadian National Junior development camp this week. Having a shot at wearing the maple leaf logo on his jersey is something he couldn't really put into words. READ MORE
Eager Jerrard follows Gulutzan to Dallas as assistant - New head coach Glen Gulutzan isn’t the only new face on the Dallas Stars coaching staff for the 2011-12 season, as he opted to hire as an assistant coach the man who held that position for him at AHL Texas the past two years, Paul Jerrard. The 46-year-old Jerrard, who was officially hired on June 28, joins his first NHL staff after having served the Stars organization for five of the past six years as an assistant with their top minor league affiliates. He initially joined Gulutzan in 2009 when the Stars’ AHL expansion squad, located in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park, enjoyed immediate success, advancing to the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. Following another impressive AHL season that ended with a first-round playoff loss, Gulutzan was promoted to the parent club on June 17, and Jerrard was happy to follow him to Dallas 11 days later. READ MORE
---Staff and Wire Reports contributed to this story
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment