http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nba/ en-us Mon, 7 Dec 2009 19:50:05 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402253/posts NEW YORK (CBS) --Audrey Johnson Was Longtime Companion Of Former Sixers Star World B. Free The longtime companion of a former NBA star was killed in Brooklyn while trying to stop an assault outside her family's home. The shooting happened right in front of 149 Clifton Place in Bed-Stuy. Police said 51-year-old Audrey Johnson had just come back home when she heard about a confrontation on the sidewalk in front of her home. She came outside to see what what happening. Her niece, Jeromeka Johnson, told CBS 2HD that the victim, who lives in East Orange, N.J., had returned to... WCBS.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402253/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 19:50:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401678/posts White American players are less visible, and arguably less prominent, than at any time in the NBA's 63-year history ESPN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401678/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 22:13:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2400217/posts 60 Minutes: Disgraced Ref Talks About Betting Scandal, The Mob, And How He Got Caught: (CBS): Winning bets on pro basketball games using insider knowledge only he as an NBA referee would know was "euphoria" says now-disgraced ex-ref Tim Donaghy - that is, he says, until the mob got its hooks in him and threatened his family. Donaghy talks to 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon about how he says he based his bets on other refs' biases, his mafia involvement and the subsequent jail time he received in his first interview to be broadcast this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. Donaghy... cbsnews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2400217/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 15:39:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398734/posts Some athletes drink Gatorade, others prefer water. Ron Artest once had his own unique halftime beverage of choice."I used to drink Hennessy at halftime," Artest says in the interview. "I(kept it)in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it." In addition to the drinking revelation, Artest — who also called himself "one of the best defenders to ever play basketball" — opened up on a wide variety of topics, including past alcohol and marijuana use while in college at St. John's, the infamous brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004, why... FOXSports http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2398734/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 21:18:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2392971/posts They don't all need glasses. But if you always suspected basketball referees are biased — well, you're right... Refs favor the home team... They're big on "make-up" calls. They make more calls against teams in the lead, and the discrepancy grows if the game is on national TV. The professors studied 365 college games during the 2004-05 season and found that refs had a terrific knack for keeping the foul count even, regardless of which team was more aggressive. Exhibit A: The 2005 Final Four meeting between Illinois and Louisville. The Illini, known for being more aggressive defensively, got whistled... Journal of Sports Sciences http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2392971/posts#comment Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:09:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391753/posts LOS ANGELES -- Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith were suspended one game by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi. Lawler and Smith made their off-the-cuff comments about the Iranian-born center during Wednesday night's telecast from Memphis. The on-air banter offended a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391753/posts#comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:35:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2385200/posts DETROIT -- The key to survival in tough times is to surround yourself with as many comforts as possible. That's why the office is decorated with basketball memories. They soothe and give the warmth and energy needed to deal with yet another round of social and political uppercuts. There's a leather Wilson basketball on the shelf behind the desk, commemorating the 18,000th point scored in a wonderful career. A framed Pistons jersey hangs on a wall. A group picture with fellow members of the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team is on another wall. Crystal trophies and awards are tucked away neatly... NBA NEWS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2385200/posts#comment Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:42:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2383113/posts NEW YORK (AP) -- Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being treated for a rare form of leukemia, and he said his prognosis is encouraging. The NBA's all-time leading scorer was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia, he told The Associated Press on Monday. The 62-year-old Abdul-Jabbar said his doctor didn't give any guarantees, but informed him: "You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle." Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease. He is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which makes... thegrio.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2383113/posts#comment Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:45:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2383377/posts NEW YORK (CBS) ― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being treated for a rare form of leukemia, and the basketball great said his prognosis is encouraging. The NBA's all-time leading scorer was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia, he told The Associated Press on Monday. The 62-year-old Abdul-Jabbar said his doctor didn't give any guarantees, but informed him: "You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle." Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease. He is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which... WCBSTV.COM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2383377/posts#comment Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:59:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2382830/posts NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a rare form of leukemia, but the Lakers legend says his long-term prognosis is very good. Abdul-Jabbar, 62, revealed during an interview Monday that he has Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that produces cancerous blood cells. LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2382830/posts#comment Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:04:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381813/posts Jack Spillane column: A cup of joe with a guy named Steve (Pagliuca, that is)By Jack Spillane November 08, 2009 12:00 AM He's actually better in person than his ads. I'm talking about Steve Pagliuca, the venture capitalist and Celtics co-owner who's running for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. In the wake of my initial column about Pagliuca, I had the opportunity to sit down with him for a short interview this week. He had toured a New Bedford scallop company — which must have been in between his cutting TV ads. (I don't need to tell you, of course, that... South Coast Today http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381813/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:55:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373784/posts The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read We've obtained a copy of Tim Donaghy's book, Blowing the Whistle, which purports to expose the NBA's "culture of fraud" and which Random House was set to publish next month — until, a source says, the league threatened to sue... Excerpts From The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read As promised earlier, here are a handful of excerpts from David Stern's favorite book, Blowing the Whistle, by Tim Donaghy... Deadspin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373784/posts#comment Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:15:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373040/posts In 12 years, Antoine Walker(notes) made more than $110 million playing professional basketball moderately well. Take away taxes, throw in some adidas endorsement money and a "NBA Live 99" cover, and he's left with, what, $60-to-65 million? Whatever the details, it was a big chunk of change, which, amazingly, wasn't enough. "[Walker] liked to move in an outsized entourage; his mother estimates that, during his playing days, he was supporting 70 friends and family members in one way or another. And speaking of his mother, he built her a mansion in the Chicago suburbs, complete with an indoor pool, 10... Yahoo Sports http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2373040/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:25:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2368834/posts In a recent interview with Maxim.com, Cavaliers superstar LeBron James(notes), who was in fact dunking on a regulation rim before the age of one, was asked who he would most like to be able to posterize. His answer was a little surprising: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2368834/posts#comment Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2356730/posts San Francisco is asking basketball superstar Michael Jordan to snuff out the cigars, after he was caught on the front page of The Chronicle's Sporting Green breaking the city's ban on smoking on public golf courses. City officials sprang into action after seeing the full-color photo Tuesday of the NBA Hall of Famer enjoying a good cigar while teeing off at Harding Park's 14th hole during a Presidents Cup practice round.In an interview with PGATour.com, Jordan was asked how many cigars he planned to smoke during this week's tournament. "Well," Jordan replied, "that depends, because I heard this is a... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2356730/posts#comment Wed, 7 Oct 2009 14:57:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2349515/posts You may have never thought you could get this political insight from a sports commentator, but former NBA Detroit Pistons star-turned-host of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Network John Salley has defied expectations. Salley recently appeared on September 23 edition of "The Adam Carolla" podcast and asked Carolla a very pointed and insightful question. "I have a question - do you hate Obama?" Salley asked. "Why are so many people who now hate him after just 266 days they loved him? All of white America. Not all of ‘em but the majority." Check out the link... Newsbusters.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2349515/posts#comment Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:19:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2349396/posts for anyone interested.. yahoo league..click join custom league, league ID is 156061, password is "starters" 2-g 2-f 1-c 5-bn Auto-draft Line-up changes daily Serious players only please Me http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2349396/posts#comment Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:11:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2348528/posts for anyone interested.. yahoo league..click join custom league, league ID is 156061, password is "starters" 2-g 2-f 1-c 5-bn Auto-draft Line-up changes daily Me http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2348528/posts#comment Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:37:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2348477/posts You may have never thought you could get this political insight from a sports commentator, but former NBA Detroit Pistons star-turned-host of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Network John Salley has defied expectations. Salley recently appeared on September 23 edition of "The Adam Carolla" podcast and asked Carolla a very pointed and insightful question. "I have a question - do you hate Obama?" Salley asked. "Why are so many people who now hate him after just 266 days they loved him? All of white America. Not all of ‘em but the majority." Newsbusters.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2348477/posts#comment Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:03:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2348440/posts And now, here’s your Brooklyn Nyets! As this paper went to press, it was announced that Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov will take over as majority owner of the NBA’s Nets team from Forest City Ratner as the franchise readies for their controversial move to the Atlantic/Flatbush avenues intersection in Brooklyn. Prokhorov, an avid sportsman, and his company Onexim Group made their fortune primarily through gold, metals and mining in Russia. Under the agreement, Onexim will invest $200 million and make certain contingent funding commitments to acquire 45 percent of the arena project and 80 percent of the NBA team, and... The New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2348440/posts#comment Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:55:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2347708/posts for anyone interested.. yahoo league..click join custom league, league ID is 156061, password is "starters" 2-g 2-f 1-c 5-bn Auto-draft Line-up changes daily Me http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2347708/posts#comment Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:45:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343294/posts NEW YORK (Reuters) – The NBA moved ahead with plans to train replacement referees on Friday after the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) rejected its final contract offer. "The proposals we have made to the NBRA are extraordinarily fair and reasonable, given the current economic circumstances," said Rick Buchanan, the NBA's executive vice president in a statement on the league's website (www.nba.com). "It is extremely disappointing that the NBRA has ignored the economic realities, rejected our offer, and left us with no choice but to begin using replacement referees." The NBA said its offer would have maintained current salary levels... Yahoo! via rooters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343294/posts#comment Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2339761/posts Steve Pagliuca, co-owner of the Boston Celtics, is weighing taking a shot at the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s seat, according to a source close to the Weston resident. Pagliuca, who has also been considering buying the struggling Boston Globe, would join a heavily populated Democratic field that includes Attorney General Martha Coakley. Pagliuca declined comment when reached by a Herald reporter this afternoon, but a source close to the Bain Capital managing director confirmed the 54-year-old is thinking about joining the race. His candidacy is far from a slam dunk, but the well-financed candidate is expected to shake... Boston Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2339761/posts#comment Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:14:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2328640/posts 1. Wilt Chamberlain 2. Bill Russell 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4. George Mikan 5. Shaquille O’Neal 6. Hakeem Olajuwon 7. Moses Malone 8. David Robinson 9. Bill Walton 10. Patrick Ewing San Antonio Express-News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2328640/posts#comment Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:35:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328577/posts SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Attorneys for Jayson Williams say the retired NBA star's convictions related to a fatal shooting should be thrown out because those who prosecuted him were racially biased. Williams was convicted of four counts of covering up the shooting of a hired driver at his central New Jersey mansion more than seven years ago. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328577/posts#comment Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:20:10 GMT