Lea Michele and Julianna Margulies shot for red-carpet fashion heights with their statement gowns at Sunday night's Emmy Awards on Fox, but there's something about movie stars that tends to upstage TV stars -- even on TV's biggest night.
Kate Winslet and her red-as-the-carpet, cap-sleeve Elie Saab seemed the understated, sophisticated look until she flashed the significant cleavage on the bust line, and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a black-sequin number by Emilio Pucci, pulled off a belly baring outfit that would have made the new "Charlie's Angels" trio jealous.
Paltrow topped it off with platinum earrings by Neil Lane that boasted 7 carats of black-and-white diamonds, two platinum and diamond bracelets with a total of 100 carats, and a platinum ring with 5 carats of diamonds and black onyx. That's serious wattage.
Margulies took the biggest risk in a strapless Giorgio Armani Prive gown, with a stiff crescent-shaped bustier and embellished with clear oval stones and shimmery paillettes. It's a look that required confidence -- and it's a good thing Margulies, who told E! she picked her dress late last night, has that.
"If you watch the clothes she's worn since coming back to the red carpet with `The Good Wife,' you'll see she makes incredibly sophisticated choices and she doesn't walk around asking 175 people for their opinions," said InStyle's fashion director, Hal Rubenstein, about Margulies. "She always looks like herself. There's something very grown-up and intelligent about her."
The early online buzz was about Michele's sophisticated Marchesa dress: She wore the look of a seasoned star instead of starlet. She wore a plain-front, low draped back with rosette sleeves that really let her work the crowd. She gave fans lined up outside the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles a big wink.
If there were trends to emerge from the Emmy red carpet, it was the many red dresses worn by Michele, Nina Dobrev in Donna Karan and Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang, and the straight-from-the-runway electric blue looks. Claire Danes wore a fully beaded strapless gown in bright blue by Oscar de la Renta, Dianna Agron chose a Roksanda Ilincic and Amy Poehler was in a T-shirt-style iridescent dress by Peter Som.
Katie Holmes, one of the last arrivals, wore a blue, silk-crepe dress with a tank top and cinched waist dress designed by Calvin Klein's Francisco Costa, and Christine Baranski did sleek and chic in Zac Posen's midnight-blue, double lapel gown.
Two "Mad Men" sirens opted for sexy, beaded, head-turning looks, with Elisabeth Moss in a second-skin Marchesa and Christina Hendricks in a Johanna Johannsson with an open V-neck. "It was the only dress. I tried it on and it was perfect," Hendricks said.
Rubenstein said all the best gowns were sleek, formfitting ones. "Virtually every single woman who looked good wore a body-conscious dress," he said, ticking off favorites Winslet, Vergara and Julianne Hough in a champagne and light pink, duchess satin strapless gown by Carolina Herrera. Moss hit a personal best as did Julie Bowen in a beaded, silver lame Oscar de la Renta with a plunging neckline, he said, and the surprise was Kristen Wiig, whose deep V-neck copper gown was courtesy of Zac Posen.
"The man makes an amazing gown," Wiig said on the carpet. "I love the cut. It's comfortable and it's different. "
Some stars have been thinking about their outfits for weeks. Sarah Hyland collaborated with Christian Siriano to create her one-shoulder, coral-colored gown with a jeweled waistband. Heidi Klum trusted Siriano, a "Project Runway" alum, to come up with her mushroom-colored strapless gown with a pouffy, asymmetrical hemline.
"I love him. He's just a wonderful person. ... I like to give my designers some props," said Klum, of her "flirty" dress. "It has an old-fashioned feel but it's glamorous."
Zooey Deschanel did a little prom-queen turn in a pink strapless gown with a dropped waist and red ribbon belt.
Minka Kelly, one of those new "Charlie's Angels," is a red-carpet up-and-comer -- and that meant she got to wear a navy blue-and-black gown with long lace sleeves and a lace inset at the waist by Dior. Rachael Taylor wore a light pink-and-silver beaded column dress by Armani, and Annie Ilonzeh had on a draped, wine-colored strapless goddess gown by Romona Keveza.
Ceremony hostess Jane Lynch showed a preference for purple -- sporting at least three gowns in that shade by David Meister.
A handful of stars did the black thing, with Kaley Cuoco in a one-shoulder gown by Keveza, and Tina Fey in a wool-jersey gown with cap sleeves and an open neck from Tadashi Shoji.
Evan Rachel Woods did black, choosing an all-over beaded boat neck by Elie Saab. Her big bling came from her cuff bracelet, created for her by Fred Leighton, using a 19th-century diamond bow brooch.
Cat Deeley, wearing a metallic strapless Monique Lhuillier gown, wasn't all that eager to give back her $1.4 million in Bulgari jewels.
She told E!'s Ryan Seacrest, "Meet me in Rio tomorrow?"
2011年9月20日星期二
2011年9月19日星期一
2 Broke Girls' review: Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs have intuitive chemistry in gal-pal sitcom
Here's an easy way to pick out the best new sitcoms on TV this fall: Look for the two with "Girl" in the title. And "2 Broke Girls" (Monday at 9:30, CBS) is one of them.
Like many sitcoms, "2 Broke Girls" stretches a little to set up the premise, but once it gets there we're sold, mainly because the two lead actresses are funny and endearing with great chemistry.
Kat Denning plays Max Black, a career waitress at a funky coffee shop in what is described as a slightly dodgy part of Brooklyn.
After her boss, Han Lee (Matthew Moy), fires the diner's other waitress, a Russian hooker, he hires Caroline Channing, played by Beth Behrs.
Caroline is everything Max is not. She's from the upper East Side and was born with enough silver spoons in her mouth to do service for 12 at a place much fancier than this restaurant.
But Caroline's family lost all its money when a Bernie Madoff-type scam was busted, so Caroline had to flee the house "taking just what I could grab - and I grabbed all the wrong things."
For instance, she now finds herself wearing white after Labor Day.
Her friends won't even answer her texts anymore, so now she's just a broke girl - which drops her right into Max's world.
We also soon learn that both Max and Caroline are smart and sharp. Just when we expect they will say or do one thing, they say or do something smarter and sharper.
So they bond quickly and credibly, which lets the show immediately begin setting up story lines.
When Caroline sees that Max bakes a great red velvet cupcake and sells it for what Caroline considers way too low a price, she starts planning how they can open a cupcake shop.
All they need is $250,000, and by the time the first episode ends, they are only $249,613 short.
Money will be a running theme. So will men. We can assume Caroline will meet a different class of men in her new world. As for Max, well, Caroline notices right away that she has self-esteem issues. That's a good start.
Also starting well is the writing, by Whitney Cummings and Michael Patrick King.
Max to an idiot customer: "I wear knit caps because it's cold. You wear them because of Coldplay."
Caroline to Max's rotten but hunky boyfriend: "Back up, Jersey Shore."
Garrett Morris, who plays Earl the cashier, gets the most incorrect lines. When Caroline is fumbling through her first day, he says: "That girl is working harder than Stephen Hawking trying to put on a pair of cufflinks."
A few scenes get excessive - the horse may not work - but Max and Caroline already fit nicely into the female buddy tradition that runs from Lucy and Ethel through Cagney and Lacey up to Rizzoli and Isles.
2011年9月17日星期六
Jury to former NBA star: No discrimination
A federal jury decided in less than 15 minutes of deliberation Friday that a Buckhead tavern did not violate the civil rights of a former professional basketball player and an Atlanta attorney by asking them to give up their seats to two white women and ejecting them when they refused.
Joe Barry Carroll, once an NBA All-Star, and lawyer Joseph Shaw were drinking in the Tavern at Phipps five years ago when they encountered the unwritten policy that men be asked to give up seats to women in exchange for a free round of drinks.
The men, both African-American, refused and were told to leave the restaurant. On those facts all sides agreed, but on not much more.
Carroll and Shaw contended the tavern used the policy to harass black patrons and keep the bar and its patio predominantly white. Greg Greenbaum, CEO of the Tavern Corp., contended the policy was strictly to curry favor with female patrons, who would attract more men and keep the bar tabs high.
The policy, he said, was created by a black bar manager who saw the opportunity in female shoppers burdened with bags.
The two men asked the jury, which was evenly split by gender and comprised seven whites and three blacks, for more than $3 million in damages.
"I'm disappointed in the outcome, but I had to go through the process," Carroll said after the verdict in U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash's Atlanta courtroom Friday. "Their behavior was outrageous."
Ernest Greer, a lawyer for the tavern, told the jury it was Carroll and Shaw who injected race into the policy, which he said had been applied evenly at the restaurant, open for at least two decades.
“This incident didn't happen because they were black," Greer said. "This incident happened because Mr. Carroll and Mr. Shaw wanted to be treated better than anyone else."
He quoted Kathleen Cleaver, an Emory University law professor, who testified that a humiliated Carroll told her shortly after the incident that he wasn't giving up his seat for two "scantily clad white women."
But, Greer said, "when he was asked on the witness stand, would he if they were black? He said, ‘I might have.”'
Jeffrey Bramlett, lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, dismissed the restaurant's contention that the policy was just "good manners" or "Southern hospitality." He quoted two former employees who said Greenbaum feared that if the tavern attracted too many young blacks or a hip-hop crowd, it would ruin the business because it would turn off white people.
“Southern Hospitality did not apply equally to blacks and whites," he said. “The Tavern doesn’t cater to blacks.”
The controversy started on Aug. 11, 2006, when Carroll, who was taken first overall in the 1980 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors and is now an investment adviser, met Shaw at the Tavern's bar and ordered drinks and appetizers.
Two white women walked up to the bar and the bartender asked Carroll and Shaw to relinquish their seats to the female patrons. Carroll and Shaw declined, saying they were not ready to leave.
The bar management then offered to get the men a table but they refused.
The Tavern's operating partner, Heather Dennis, called an off-duty Atlanta police officer who provided security and had Carroll and Shaw escorted out. Carroll and Shaw contend they were removed from the bar because they were black, constituting a civil rights violation of public accommodations laws.
Greer acknowledged Dennis could have been more diplomatic during the confrontation, but he reminded jurors that only two former employees contended the restaurant's strategy was to keep the crowds white. He noted other former employees disputed that assertion and that no other patrons testified they had suffered discrimination.
“Everybody has testified to you that it was a racially mixed environment,” Greer told jurors. “This is a race case. They have to prove to you they were asked to get up from their seat and made to leave the bar because of their race.”
Joe Barry Carroll, once an NBA All-Star, and lawyer Joseph Shaw were drinking in the Tavern at Phipps five years ago when they encountered the unwritten policy that men be asked to give up seats to women in exchange for a free round of drinks.
The men, both African-American, refused and were told to leave the restaurant. On those facts all sides agreed, but on not much more.
Carroll and Shaw contended the tavern used the policy to harass black patrons and keep the bar and its patio predominantly white. Greg Greenbaum, CEO of the Tavern Corp., contended the policy was strictly to curry favor with female patrons, who would attract more men and keep the bar tabs high.
The policy, he said, was created by a black bar manager who saw the opportunity in female shoppers burdened with bags.
The two men asked the jury, which was evenly split by gender and comprised seven whites and three blacks, for more than $3 million in damages.
"I'm disappointed in the outcome, but I had to go through the process," Carroll said after the verdict in U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash's Atlanta courtroom Friday. "Their behavior was outrageous."
Ernest Greer, a lawyer for the tavern, told the jury it was Carroll and Shaw who injected race into the policy, which he said had been applied evenly at the restaurant, open for at least two decades.
“This incident didn't happen because they were black," Greer said. "This incident happened because Mr. Carroll and Mr. Shaw wanted to be treated better than anyone else."
He quoted Kathleen Cleaver, an Emory University law professor, who testified that a humiliated Carroll told her shortly after the incident that he wasn't giving up his seat for two "scantily clad white women."
But, Greer said, "when he was asked on the witness stand, would he if they were black? He said, ‘I might have.”'
Jeffrey Bramlett, lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, dismissed the restaurant's contention that the policy was just "good manners" or "Southern hospitality." He quoted two former employees who said Greenbaum feared that if the tavern attracted too many young blacks or a hip-hop crowd, it would ruin the business because it would turn off white people.
“Southern Hospitality did not apply equally to blacks and whites," he said. “The Tavern doesn’t cater to blacks.”
The controversy started on Aug. 11, 2006, when Carroll, who was taken first overall in the 1980 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors and is now an investment adviser, met Shaw at the Tavern's bar and ordered drinks and appetizers.
Two white women walked up to the bar and the bartender asked Carroll and Shaw to relinquish their seats to the female patrons. Carroll and Shaw declined, saying they were not ready to leave.
The bar management then offered to get the men a table but they refused.
The Tavern's operating partner, Heather Dennis, called an off-duty Atlanta police officer who provided security and had Carroll and Shaw escorted out. Carroll and Shaw contend they were removed from the bar because they were black, constituting a civil rights violation of public accommodations laws.
Greer acknowledged Dennis could have been more diplomatic during the confrontation, but he reminded jurors that only two former employees contended the restaurant's strategy was to keep the crowds white. He noted other former employees disputed that assertion and that no other patrons testified they had suffered discrimination.
“Everybody has testified to you that it was a racially mixed environment,” Greer told jurors. “This is a race case. They have to prove to you they were asked to get up from their seat and made to leave the bar because of their race.”
2011年9月9日星期五
Rodgers throws 3 TDs, Packers outlast Saints in NFL opener
On the day that Peyton Manning may have seen his season, and possibly even his career, come to an end, Aaron Rodgers strengthened his case to take his place among the NFL's elite level quarterbacks.
anning had occupied a spot beside Drew Brees and Tom Brady atop the quarterback version of Mount Rushmore the last few years, but it might be time to start carving a spot out for Rodgers.
Rodgers outlasted Brees in a shootout between the last two Super Bowl MVPs Thursday night as the world champion Green Bay Packers edged the New Orleans Saints 42-34 to kick off the 2011 regular season.
The game, which some believe could be a preview of the NFC championship, was a high-octane affair featuring two of the league's top passing attacks.
anning had occupied a spot beside Drew Brees and Tom Brady atop the quarterback version of Mount Rushmore the last few years, but it might be time to start carving a spot out for Rodgers.
Rodgers outlasted Brees in a shootout between the last two Super Bowl MVPs Thursday night as the world champion Green Bay Packers edged the New Orleans Saints 42-34 to kick off the 2011 regular season.
The game, which some believe could be a preview of the NFC championship, was a high-octane affair featuring two of the league's top passing attacks.
2011年9月8日星期四
Bills are NFL's best looking team
The study looked at five offensive and five defensive players from each team and also threw in two of the most photographed personalities on any team: the owner and the head coach.
To measure each subject's attractiveness, the researchers analyzed their photograph with a computer program that measures facial symmetry, or how closely the two halves of a person's face match up. Research suggests this is a reliable measure of how attractive a person is perceived to be. It also suggests that looks are a fair predictor of a person's career success. A 1994 study found that more attractive "symmetrical" people are paid about five percent more than the average person, while more homely "asymmetrical" people earn up to 10 percent less.
Jennifer VanGilder, a professor of business economics at Ursinus who oversaw the research, said the lure of hiring pretty faces is unconscious. "People are drawn to more symmetrical objects."
The most attractive sample of NFL players, with an average facial symmetry rating of 99.47, was one of the worst teams in the league: the Bills. Their record last season was a woeful 4-12. The least attractive team, the Chiefs, won its division last season and made it to the playoffs.
The research also found that the vast majority of NFL players rank 10 percent higher in facial symmetry than the average Joe. They also seem to be better looking than other athletes. VanGilder also measured the NBA's All-Star team and found it was less attractive than its sample of NFL players.
Another surprising finding: NFL quarterbacks are not the most attractive players. According to this sample, the most attractive position in the NFL is the kicker. The symmetry score for kickers beat the score for quarterbacks by .16 percent.
The least attractive position of the ones studied was wide receiver. But with a score of 97.04, these men were still vastly more attractive than average people, who score in the high 80s, VanGilder said.
2011年9月7日星期三
Best NBA players from the University of Illinois
To date, some 35 players from the University of Illinois have gone on to play in the NBA. One of those players, Andy Phillip, is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Deron Williams
Wikimedia Commons
Phillip played in the early days of the NBA, and led the league in assists per game from 1950 to 1952. Phillip is not on this list though, because he only averaged 9.1 points per game. To make this list a player had to average at least 13.0 points per game in the NBA.
Two of the players on this list, including the top player, have played for my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets. One of those players is active, and we Nets fans are very happy to have him on the team, as he is one of the best point guards in the NBA today.
Best NBA Players from the University of Illinois
1. Deron Williams(notes) - 17.2 points per game
Deron Williams averaged 11.0 points and 5.9 points per game at the University of Illinois from 2003 to 2005. He led the Fighting Illini to the 2005 NCAA Championship game, which they lost to the University of North Carolina. Williams was then taken with the third overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.
After playing the better part of six seasons with the Jazz, Deron was traded to my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets, on February 23, 2011, for two first round draft picks, and Derrick Favors(notes) and Devin Harris(notes). Over his first six seasons, Deron Williams has career averages of 17.2 points and 9.2 assists per game. Deron's 9.2 assists per game average is the sixth best in NBA history.
If there is a season in 2011-12, Nets fans like myself are confident Deron Williams will lead us to the playoffs, and maybe even to our first NBA Championship. If there is no season, Deron will play this year in Turkey for $5 million.
2. Eddie Johnson - 16.0
Eddie Johnson averaged 14.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game at Illinois from 1978 to 1981. He was then taken with the 29th overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Kansas City Kings. Johnson played 17 years in the NBA, and averaged 16.0 points per game. Despite scoring 19,202 points in the NBA, Johnson was never selected as an all-star. He was NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1989.
3. Don Ohl - 15.9
Don Ohl averaged 19.6 points per game as a senior at Illinois in 1958. He was then taken with the 36th overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. Ohl never played for the Warriors, and did not play in the NBA until 1960. He then played 10 years in the NBA, and averaged 15.9 points per game. Don Ohl was a five time all-star.
4. Nick Anderson - 14.4
Nick Anderson averaged 17.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game at Illinois over two seasons in 1988 and 1989. He was then taken with the 11th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Anderson played 13 years in the NBA, and averaged 14.4 points per game.
5. Red Kerr - 13.8
Red Kerr averaged 18.6 points per game at the University of Illinois from 1952 to 1954. He was then taken with the sixth overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft by the Syracuse Nationals. Red Kerr played 12 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Kerr was a three time all-star, and won a championship with the Nationals in 1955.
6. Ken Norman - 13.5
Ken Norman averaged 15.1 points (20.7 as a senior) and 6.9 rebounds (9.8 as a senior) at Illinois from 1985 to 1987. He was then taken with the 19th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Ken Norman played 10 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
7. Kendall Gill - 13.4
Kendall Gill averaged 12.0 points (20.0 as a senior) per game at the University of Illinois from 1987 to 1990. He was then taken with the 5th overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Gill played 15 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.4 points per game.
Kendall Gill played almost six seasons with my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets. On April 3, 1999, Kendall had 11 steals in a game for us vs the Miami Heat. That is tied with Larry Kenon for most steals all-time in an NBA game.
8. Derek Harper - 13.3
Derek Harper averaged 10.9 points and 4.7 assists per game at Illinois from 1981 to 1983. He was then taken with the 11th overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Harper played 16 years in the NBA, and averaged 13.3 points and 5.5 assists per game.
2011年9月5日星期一
Does Brian Waters give Patriots NFL's best O-line?
WR Chad Ochocinco and DL Albert Haynesworth have been the Patriots' most high-profile summer acquisitions, but new G Brian Waters may prove the best.
After surprisingly parting with the Chiefs in July, Waters signed in New England over the weekend. He could take over at right guard, a position that's become an injury black hole for the team.
"Brian has a good level of experience. I think his playing style is one that we feel like -- the way that he plays the position is kind of the way we feel like we would want it played," said coach Bill Belichick on Monday.
"We've gone up against him a number of times. I have a lot of respect for Brian: his play, his professionalism, what he brings to the team."
He brings 11 years of NFL experience. Waters, LT Matt Light and LG Logan Mankins were all Pro Bowlers in 2010 who have been first-team all-pros during their careers.
"I've been a fan of Brian's for quite a while now," said Mankins. "He's a good player and a good guy so we're happy to have him."
C Dan Koppen is a former Pro Bowler, RT Sebastian Vollmer is a rising star and first-round LT Nate Solder is waiting in the wings.
It adds up to what could be the best line in the league in 2011, which would be just fine with MVP QB Tom Brady, who's been under siege in New England's last three playoff games, all losses.
"It was just about finding a situation that was best for me," said Waters, a five-time Pro Bowler. "It's a great organization, so why not? The record speaks for itself. It's a football team that's a contender year in and year out."
2011年9月3日星期六
Wide receiver still hopes for NFL
Andy Fantuz isn't giving up his NFL dream after being cut by the Chicago Bears on Friday.
The wide receiver from Chatham hopes to hear from other teams before he has to return to the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“I'm on waivers for 24 hours and then after that I have a 10-day window to sign with another club before I have to report back to the CFL to Saskatchewan,” he said Friday night in a video on his website (andyfantuz.com). “That's my understanding of it anyways. I'll go from there.”
Fantuz, 27, signed a two-year, reserve-future contract with the Bears in February after starring for five seasons with the Roughriders.
He worked out for six NFL teams after the 2010 CFL season.
“I'm excited to see if any other team wants to take a chance and bring me in and see what I've got,” he said in his video. “But, either way, I'm ready to get rolling and get playing.”
He was chosen the CFL's most outstanding Canadian in 2010 after making a career-high 87 receptions for a league-best 1,380 yards and six touchdowns.
He was in the option year of his CFL contract, so he was allowed to sign with an NFL team until Feb. 15. If he didn't sign, then he would have gone back to the Roughriders.
The six-foot-four, 220-pound Fantuz said after signing that the Bears wanted him to fill their need for a big receiver.
However, the McGregor graduate was used sparingly in the pre-season. He made two catches for 19 yards in four exhibition games.
Fantuz was among 14 players waived by the Bears on Friday. Another 13 must be released by 5 p.m. Saturday to reach the NFL's 53-man roster limit.
“Can't say it was a huge surprise,” Fantuz said in his video. “It's been a frustrating pre-season.
“Haven't really got too much playing time in the games and limited reps in practice. It seemed like they (were) pretty committed with the guys they had and the guys they wanted to keep.
“That didn't include me, so unfortunately, whether it was bad timing or just a bad situation, whatever it is, it's nothing I could control. It's just unfortunate.”
Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant has mixed emotions about the possible return of the 2005 Hec Crighton Trophy winner.
“As a friend I'm disappointed,” Durant said to the Regina Leader-Post. “I know how much he really wanted that opportunity, so as a friend I feel really bad. For this team, we really need him. He's a big part of what we do. We'll see what happens.”
The Roughriders have a 1-7 record, worst in the CFL.
They went to three Grey Cups in four years (2007, '09 and '10) with Fantuz. He was the game's outstanding Canadian in 2007 when they won the trophy.
Fantuz has 276 catches for 4,136 yards and 23 touchdowns in 73 regular-season games.
2011年8月31日星期三
Flyers extend young star Van Riemsdyk: Fan reaction
The Philadelphia Flyers spent a lot of time overhauling their roster in the offseason. The Flyers parted ways with several key players while signing several from other teams. After a calm period for the team, the Flyers made headlines once again. The team reached a deal with James Van Riemsdyk(notes) that will pay him $25.5 million over the next six seasons. As a fan of the Flyers, I'm excited about this new deal. JVR is a vital piece of the puzzle for the Flyers. Locking him up was one important step toward the team continuing to drive for the Stanley Cup.
JVR came alive in the 2011 playoffs. Some Flyers fans might wonder if giving him a long term deal based off of a few games is a smart move. But those fans should take a look at the way JVR has grown over the past season. He is a budding star and should rank among the best players in the NHL fairly soon. By signing him now, the Flyers probably saved a fortune. They are getting a player that is already at the level of Mike Richards(notes) and Jeff Carter(notes) for a much smaller price. I am pleased that the Flyers committed to the young star.
The signing of JVR does raise some questions. At 22, he is clearly an important part of the future. But so is Claude Giroux(notes). With his new contact, JVR will make more in terms of annual salary than Giroux for the upcoming season. I'm not sure if that is really fair. But on the other hand, this is how sports work. Giroux will soon have his day at the contract negotiation table. At that point, he will be rewarded like the All-Star that he is.
When the Flyers made all of their changes, many looked at this as a rebuilding year. After all, they jettisoned two of their best offensive players in recent memory. But this is anything but a rebuilding year. The Flyers are ready to win now and ready to win for a long time. The commitment to JVR is evidence of that. If anyone is a critic of the deal now, they are going to be eating their words in a year or two. This was another smart move by a franchise that is closing in on a championship.
2011年8月30日星期二
Can Peyton Hillis Survive the Madden Curse?
Electronic Arts has a long history of selecting some of the highest-performing and best- known players to feature on the cover of its iconic football video game, Madden NFL. It also has an eerie history of featuring players on its cover that then go on to have seasons ranging from the sub-par to the career-ending. The “Madden Curse” is so well-known that players like LaDanian Tomlinson have even turned down the opportunity to be on the cover, fearing its repercussions. Can Madden NFL 12’s cover boy, Peyton Hillis, escape unscathed?
Hillis, a 25-year-old running back for the Cleveland Browns, isn’t what you would call a “superstar.” He rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010, good enough for 11th and 6th places, respectively, among NFL running backs. He’s good, certainly, but there’s a long line of guys who ought to be on that cover before Hillis.
Hillis made the cover in a very Stephen Colbert-ian way: he won a not-exactly-representative fan vote. He was part of a bracket-style vote that had him beat Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, Ravens RB Ray Rice, and a series of higher-profile players, including Eagles QB Mike Vick in the finals. Support for Hillis came from all over the Web, especially from sites like ClevelandBrowns.com and a series of Hillis-for-the-cover websites that cropped up during the vote. He became an Internet favorite, and the vote tipped his way.
Hillis’ lack of superstar status might make him less prone to the Madden Curse: there’s not as far to fall, and he’s not in the mold of the traditional cover-gracing NFL athlete.
But history is history, and if history has anything to say about it the Madden Curse is very real. We’ve looked at the numbers, and we’ve found that video games really can predict the future. Or at least that Madden covers can predict NFL players’ demises. If the 14 guys in the slideshow are any indication, it’s time to dump Peyton Hillis from your fantasy team.
2011年8月26日星期五
NBA star Kevin Love learns quickly how tough beach volleyball can be
Put Kevin Love on the sand and beach volleyball gets instant attention.
That's what Jose Cuervo wanted. That's what Jose Cuervo got.
Hans Stolfus understands. He's a former regular on the AVP Tour who won a silver medal in the 2007 Pan Am Games.
Sean Scott and John Hyden also understand. They're a very, very good beach volleyball team. Just days ago they won in Hermosa Beach. This week they're the No. 1 seed in the Manhattan Beach Open, which is part of the three-stop Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series.
"There's no resentment," Hyden said about all the cameras pointed at Love, a mere novice on the beach. "He brings attention to the sport that the sport needs."
"AVP let the sport down (when it shut down mid-tour last summer)," Stolfus said. "This is good for beach volleyball."
How much attention became clear to Stolfus, who played with Love, when he began to hear from old buddies back in Iowa.
"I played in AVP for five years," he said. "I never got one message. My old friends thought it was just a fun thing."
It did not calculate in the cornfields that Stolfus was a professional athlete.
"Now I'm getting messages from all the guys I knew in high school that say, `You're playing with Kevin Love!"' he said.
The Manhattan Beach Open got off to a, well,
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interesting start Thursday morning with Love-Stolfus playing Scott-Hyden. The score was 21-16, 21-15. Yes, Scott and Hyden won. Of course Scott and Hyden won.
Love exhaled when it was over, looked at a friend and said, "I'm just so happy."
He did not finish the sentence. It does not take a lot of imagination to add, "that I was not humiliated."
A shot of humility never hurts.
Love is a world-class athlete, the NBA double-double machine for the Minnesota Timberwolves. That's double-digit points and double-digit rebounds in a game. He's an NBA All-Star and a member of the U.S. FIBA 2010 world championship team.
Those who are into instant analysis no matter how little they know will quickly tell the world Love is much better than Shaquille O'Neal and probably ranks with Wilt Chamberlain, the most famous NBA star who had a run in the sand.
No contest between Love and Shaq. After only four weeks of training Love is far better.
Think about it. Four weeks. That's not a lot of time to pick up the nuances of where to go, when to go, how to pass, blocking, spiking and timing, among other things.
"When they serve the ball, it curves down," Love said. "It can be a knuckleball. It's difficult to handle."
Love, a month short of his 23rd birthday, also passes Chamberlain, who was somewhere between 35 and 40 when he first played on the beach. Wilt, a wise man, generally limited his play in tournaments to the six-man game.
But Love is not close to premier level in the two-man game. He can check with his father, Stan, a former Laker who grew up in Inglewood and was a basketball star at Morningside High. And, yes, he played volleyball at the beach.
Pop will tell him about Keith Erickson and Greg Lee.
Erickson is by far the best basketball-volleyball player of all time. He starred on John Wooden's first two NCAA championship teams at UCLA and was on a Lakers NBA championship team. He was a U.S. indoor volleyball Olympian with a minimum of indoor experience.
"Keith would win the paddleboard race from Catalina and then beat everyone on the beach in volleyball or football, whatever we were playing," said Mike O'Hara, winner of the first five Manhattan Beach Opens with Mike Bright.
Lee was a starter on two UCLA NCAA basketball championship teams who played a handful of games in the ABA and NBA. He's a two-time Manhattan Open champion with Jim Menges.
Not to be forgotten is Mike Dodd, a five-time Manhattan Beach winner, all with Tim Hovland. Dodd won silver in beach volleyball at the Olympics. A basketball star at Mira Costa High and San Diego State, he was a late cut by the Clippers. He ranks No. 2 on the basketball-beach volleyball list.
Truth be told, it might have been a humiliation Thursday had Scott and Hyden not been on cruise control. They've got a long, hard weekend ahead of them. There was absolutely no reason to work up a sweat.
Plus, the officiating was relaxed to make life a little easier on Love.
He'd probably scratch his head if told that and say something about how easy could it have been when in about 50 minutes he was sweating as if he had just finished playing for two or three hours in a hot gym with his summer workout partners Russell Westbrook (Leuzinger High, UCLA) and Derrick Rose.
The degree of difficulty of the assignment he accepted - he was the last seed in the tournament - was summed up by Stolfus, who had not played in two years (neck injury) until a recent tournament in Oregon.
"This is like two beach volleyball guys going to Rucker Park in Harlem and playing Kobe and LeBron in a 2-on-2 basketball game," he said.
Love may be in the best shape of his life during the early stages of the NBA lockout. Along with taking a class at UCLA with Trevor Ariza (Westchester High), Baron Davis and Westbrook, he's playing basketball six days a week, working with a trainer four days a week and doing yoga two to three times a week. His weight is down from the mid-260s to 240.
"I've slimmed down," he said proudly.
He moved better than expected. His hand-eye coordination is good. That's not unexpected. Thank you basketball, as well as tennis. He is athletic. Very athletic for a big man listed at 6-foot-10 but closer to 6-8 .
Not as athletic as the 6-5 Erickson, who had the skill set to play shortstop in baseball at El Segundo High, forcing his teammate Bobby Floyd, who would be a middle infielder in the major leagues, to play third base.
Love gets it.
"It wasn't easy," he said. "Those guys are tremendous."
He laughed.
"I've got my 10,000 hours playing basketball and they've got their 10,000 hours playing volleyball," he said.
He laughed some more.
"This gave me an excuse to go to the beach," he said.
2011年8月25日星期四
Can't blame Titans' Johnson for trying to get paid
Chris Johnson has said this is where he wants to be. And on Wednesday he was indeed with Titans officials in Nashville.
But he's no closer to wearing the uniform now than he was before arriving in the city Tuesday night.
At this point, the Titans and Johnson have fundamental disagreements, significant ones at that, on just about every aspect of a potential new contract. The worst sign, at this point, might be that the feeling coming out of the meeting seemed to be one of resignation, not resentment. The two sides want their partnership to continue. They just can't make it work.
The Titans are on the record as saying they'd be willing to make Johnson the NFL's highest paid back. Trouble is, the numbers for Steven Jackson and DeAngelo Williams, the two players atop the market at the position, sit between $8 million and $9 million per year. And Larry Fitzgerald, who's about as valuable a skill-position player who doesn't take snaps can be, just checked in with a new deal at $15 million per.
Johnson has taken to being classified as a "playmaker" rather than a running back, and Fitzgerald's payday gave him every reason to stick to his feeling on that one.
But an even stronger motivator could be the position he plays.
Ten of the top 20 rushers on the all-time list came post-Emmitt Smith. Of that group, only Curtis Martin had more than eight 1,000-yard seasons, with 10. Fred Taylor, Edgerrin James, Marshall Faulk, Corey Dillon and Ricky Watters all had seven, while Warrick Dunn and Shaun Alexander had just five.
So here's the point. Say Johnson does play out his five-year rookie contract. Say he posts two more huge seasons. At that point, he'll have exceeded quadruple digits five times. That's great, unless you're the team where he's seeking a long-term commitment. That club would have to be responsible and look at the above history in considering extending him. Then, the franchise tag could come into play in decision making.
You get the idea. Johnson's value will likely never be greater than it is right now, unless you count last season, when he was coming off a 2,000-yard campaign.
"CJ's the best back in the game," Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said. "He makes everybody's job that much easier. You go out there, you just have to get in front of your guy, get a good connection with your guy, and he's gone. Everybody's seen it around the nation."
Chances the Titans can bank on him being that guy for another three or four years? Pretty good. Chances they'll be able to count on him doing it for another three or four years in 2013, after his current deal expires, when he's going on 28 and has another 600-700 carries on his legs? Not nearly as good.
That's the key. To fork over $30-35 million guaranteed, it's important for a team that a player remain productive through three or four seasons, at the very least, and it's still very reasonable for the Titans to believe they'll get that much out of Johnson now, much moreso than it will be in 2013. So, as such, Johnson has to go get that now, which is what he's in the process of trying to do.
Every player's reason to hold out is different, of course. But it's difficult to blame a tailback for wanting to get paid. For most, the big set-yourself-up-for-life contract is the second one -- when the player is still young enough for the team to invest long-term, but old enough to have a track record.
Johnson has a track record of having asserted himself as a unique talent, with the ability to cover 40 yards in 4.24 seconds and transfer that speed and make it functional at a very high level on the field.
But also, given his position, it's easy to surmise that he's got a short shelf life.
That explains his commitment to get this thing done now, rather than later, and also his toying with the idea of holding out in 2010, before Tennessee agreed to throw incentives into the existing deal.
It's hard to blame Johnson. And, as such, it's just as hard to see an end in sight to this whole affair.
2011年6月1日星期三
Dwyane Wade’s big finish in Game 1 could be his needed spark
Moments before tip-off of his second NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade took some time to gaze at the championship banner hanging high over the east side of the AmericanAirlines Arena.
Just seconds later, he jogged to the opposite baseline to give his mother an extended hug, much to the delight of the cheering crowd around them.
As he prepared for his second Finals appearance against the Dallas Mavericks, and possibly on his way to a second championship, all appeared right in Wade’s world.
And then the game started.
And then he again became the “who is that?” player we saw for most of the Eastern Conference finals.
The player who matched a Heat franchise-high with nine turnovers in that dramatic Game 5 win against Chicago reappeared to start this series. A 1-of-5 shooting performance in the first quarter. Three turnovers in the second quarter.
By the end of the first half of a game that was sloppy on both sides, Wade was the sloppiest. Unfamiliar. Rhythmless.
This was the Wade we saw against the Bulls and assumed was injured. He spent four days insisting he wasn’t, but he would’ve had to face another round of those same questions if this is how he continued to perform.
Then came the fourth quarter, and apparently with it a reminder that it was the Finals and he was playing the Mavericks and he has quite a history in this exact scenario. He recovered, confidently taking jump shots and making jump shots.
It is what the Heat is going to need to continue its success in this series after a Game 1 win. More of the self-assured Wade. More of the player who knows he can take Jason Kidd or DeShawn Stevenson or Jason Terry or even Shawn Marion at will.
Because these Finals are, already, begging for vintage Wade.
Back in 2006, he murdered the Mavs with his mid-range game. He carved through the Dallas zone with ease. He got to the foul line so often Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reportedly insisted the NBA was rigged.
Granted, this Heat team doesn’t require Wade to do all of those things. But he is equipped to do them. Without all of those things, this Mavericks defense can force LeBron James into three-pointers. Three-pointers he made Tuesday, yes, but not exactly a reasonable plan of attack.
Without all of those things, the Mavs defense can turn Chris Bosh into an hesitant shooter and clumsy driver. Without all of those things, Mario Chalmers becomes a volume shooter and a critical contributor.
We’ve seen this from Wade before, an extended slump that made everyone assume he was hurting and not telling anyone.
That was back in November, though, when the excuse was simple: He hadn’t played at all in the preseason and was, at the time, largely unfamiliar with what it felt like to play James and Bosh.
But this time, there didn’t seem to be any legitimate reason for it. Yes, it was fair to credit a strong Bulls defense. But it didn’t explain why Wade had abandoned certain parts of his game. It didn’t explain why he missed dunks and layups he would normally make blindfolded.
It was so evident in the first half Tuesday that Wade was passing up good mid-range looks that it even drew an impatient groan from the crowd that adores him.
Even after he hit a couple of shots in the third quarter, he followed that up by passing on a jumper and handing it instead to Bosh for a desperate attempt just before the shot-clock buzzer.
It didn’t seem like the Wade we’ve grown accustomed to, nor did it look like the Wade we expected to see after his subpar series against the Bulls.
The 2006 Finals was playing all day leading up to Tuesday’s rematch. And in that series, Wade wasn’t passing up any opportunities. Nor should he in this series, as the fourth quarter confirmed.
When the Heat’s at its best, Wade is free to think “score first.” He did it against the Sixers. He did it against Boston. He tried against the Bulls, until the missed shots and the turnovers began to pile up in the last two games. And it appeared those miscues might’ve affected his confidence. Because it wasn’t until the second half of Game 1 that he began to assert himself and look like the familiar Wade.
Maybe those 15 second-half points will reignite Wade. Maybe that fourth quarter will reset Wade to championship mode. Maybe that blocked shot followed by a step-back three that gave the Heat an 82-73 lead will erase those memories of the Bulls series. And maybe that lob pass to LeBron for the exclamation dunk will push Wade back into 2006 form.
“Maybe this will be something that can spark him,” Erik Spoelstra said of Wade’s fourth quarter. “All I know is he made a lot of winning plays.
“I’m not going to overanalyze his first half.”
Clearly, he doesn’t absolutely have to be at his best to beat these Mavericks. But it certainly will make it a lot easier. And it certainly would make all things right in Wade’s world once again.
Just seconds later, he jogged to the opposite baseline to give his mother an extended hug, much to the delight of the cheering crowd around them.
As he prepared for his second Finals appearance against the Dallas Mavericks, and possibly on his way to a second championship, all appeared right in Wade’s world.
And then the game started.
And then he again became the “who is that?” player we saw for most of the Eastern Conference finals.
The player who matched a Heat franchise-high with nine turnovers in that dramatic Game 5 win against Chicago reappeared to start this series. A 1-of-5 shooting performance in the first quarter. Three turnovers in the second quarter.
By the end of the first half of a game that was sloppy on both sides, Wade was the sloppiest. Unfamiliar. Rhythmless.
This was the Wade we saw against the Bulls and assumed was injured. He spent four days insisting he wasn’t, but he would’ve had to face another round of those same questions if this is how he continued to perform.
Then came the fourth quarter, and apparently with it a reminder that it was the Finals and he was playing the Mavericks and he has quite a history in this exact scenario. He recovered, confidently taking jump shots and making jump shots.
It is what the Heat is going to need to continue its success in this series after a Game 1 win. More of the self-assured Wade. More of the player who knows he can take Jason Kidd or DeShawn Stevenson or Jason Terry or even Shawn Marion at will.
Because these Finals are, already, begging for vintage Wade.
Back in 2006, he murdered the Mavs with his mid-range game. He carved through the Dallas zone with ease. He got to the foul line so often Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reportedly insisted the NBA was rigged.
Granted, this Heat team doesn’t require Wade to do all of those things. But he is equipped to do them. Without all of those things, this Mavericks defense can force LeBron James into three-pointers. Three-pointers he made Tuesday, yes, but not exactly a reasonable plan of attack.
Without all of those things, the Mavs defense can turn Chris Bosh into an hesitant shooter and clumsy driver. Without all of those things, Mario Chalmers becomes a volume shooter and a critical contributor.
We’ve seen this from Wade before, an extended slump that made everyone assume he was hurting and not telling anyone.
That was back in November, though, when the excuse was simple: He hadn’t played at all in the preseason and was, at the time, largely unfamiliar with what it felt like to play James and Bosh.
But this time, there didn’t seem to be any legitimate reason for it. Yes, it was fair to credit a strong Bulls defense. But it didn’t explain why Wade had abandoned certain parts of his game. It didn’t explain why he missed dunks and layups he would normally make blindfolded.
It was so evident in the first half Tuesday that Wade was passing up good mid-range looks that it even drew an impatient groan from the crowd that adores him.
Even after he hit a couple of shots in the third quarter, he followed that up by passing on a jumper and handing it instead to Bosh for a desperate attempt just before the shot-clock buzzer.
It didn’t seem like the Wade we’ve grown accustomed to, nor did it look like the Wade we expected to see after his subpar series against the Bulls.
The 2006 Finals was playing all day leading up to Tuesday’s rematch. And in that series, Wade wasn’t passing up any opportunities. Nor should he in this series, as the fourth quarter confirmed.
When the Heat’s at its best, Wade is free to think “score first.” He did it against the Sixers. He did it against Boston. He tried against the Bulls, until the missed shots and the turnovers began to pile up in the last two games. And it appeared those miscues might’ve affected his confidence. Because it wasn’t until the second half of Game 1 that he began to assert himself and look like the familiar Wade.
Maybe those 15 second-half points will reignite Wade. Maybe that fourth quarter will reset Wade to championship mode. Maybe that blocked shot followed by a step-back three that gave the Heat an 82-73 lead will erase those memories of the Bulls series. And maybe that lob pass to LeBron for the exclamation dunk will push Wade back into 2006 form.
“Maybe this will be something that can spark him,” Erik Spoelstra said of Wade’s fourth quarter. “All I know is he made a lot of winning plays.
“I’m not going to overanalyze his first half.”
Clearly, he doesn’t absolutely have to be at his best to beat these Mavericks. But it certainly will make it a lot easier. And it certainly would make all things right in Wade’s world once again.
2011年5月31日星期二
Jax and the Jazz
You can hear Emery's post-workout comments along with those of Jazz head coach Ty Corbin by clicking on the audio links in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the right.
Emery covered much of the same ground he went over with me in our Monday evening interview, reiterating his intentions to explore professional basketball options overseas.
"(The NBA) is kind of a long shot right now," said Emery. "The biggest reason is there is no summer league. For guys like me, I kind of need a summer league to show what I am capable of doing. A lot of these workouts are based on draft picks, so I'm fortunate to get this one and maybe a couple others. But for right now, I'm kind of just doing this to build my basketball resume, and hopefully just get out in the open so guys get familiar with me."
Asked is he is likely headed to Europe, Emery said "this year at least, I think so. Obviously if there's an opportunity here I'll pursue it to the fullest, but realistically, I know it's probably going to be overseas."
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Emery said Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor has a "pretty good relationship with Coach Rose, and hopefully Coach Rose kind of got me in here to get a look. There's good talent that comes out of BYU, so I think they want to establish a good relationship with them. It's just good to have local talent compete against these guys from around the country."
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On the workout with Michael Stockton (Westminster College), Mustapha Farrakhan (Virginia) and Brady Morningstar (Kansas), Emery said it was "good; I mean that's tough. It was a hard 40, 45 minutes right there. You're going up and down the floor, you're trying to show them what you can do when you're tired, they push you...and as well, the three-point line is a little farther back, I guess it's 'Jimmer Range,' right?"
Jazz head coach Ty Corbin was asked for his feedback on Emery's workout and said "he's a shooter; he can really step up and make shots. He can spot up in different ways, get open and make shots and that's one thing that will be an asset going forward, that he can make shots."
About Dave Rose and his BYU program, Corbin says "I think he's doing a tremendous job; he's getting good talent in there, and the guys get better every year they're there...he's doing a good job."
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On what he is going to need to work on in his transition from the college to the pro game, Emery sais "being a 6'3" shooting guard, you're a little undersized, and they like you to be a mixture of a point and shooting guard, so I need to improve my ball-handling; I've worked extremely hard at that the past month. Then obviously become a better shooter even, more so--you've got to improve your shooting range and be even more consistent."
At the same time, BYU's alltime steals leader and the MWC Defensive Player of the Year says "defense is kind of what puts me on the radar."
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Emery says Fredette was "really excited about" his performance at the NBA Draft Combine; he thought he did really well and that his stock went up, but he knows that with these workouts coming up that maybe it raises the bar a little more as far as expectations."
"I haven't seen (Jimmer) work this hard in a long time," said Emery. "People are doubting him; saying he can't do this, or can't do that, and he knows that. I think Jimmer's going to open a lot of eyes."
Asked if he hopes Fredette ends up with the Jazz, Emery said "it would be great for the state of Utah and for the Utah Jazz. Jimmer's a great player and he's a kid that's always going to work hard. You're never going to question his work ethic."
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2011年5月30日星期一
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Amidst the NBA Prospects Lurks an Intriguing Dark Horse
There is a chasm that every superb athlete hopes to surmount on their way to greatness. It is the one that separates maturity from talent.
There is a reason that almost every sport sees their best and brightest peak at the wonderful age of 27. That is the time when maturity and mentality finally catch-up to physical ability.
Some players are so great that they can shine well before they truly grasp the game, and what it means to be a leader. Other players are still suffering from lapses in judgement when their skill was not nearly enough to deliver at the next level.
MUST READ: A Final Report Card for All 30 NBA Teams
Jeremy Tyler thought the world of himself. It may be the reason he skipped his senior year in high school to go pro in Israel. His immaturity saw him struggle on the court as well as fail to make it to practices on time.
Perhaps all he needed was a kick in the ego for him to get on board. He may have learned his lesson, that is if you believe what scouts are saying.
Tyler will finally get his chance to play in the NBA. After disastrous results overseas, he gets his chance in the NBA in 2011.
He may still lack a consistent scoring presence, but it is hard to knock a player of his size and leaping ability. This is the new NBA. It demands big men that can jump out of the building and run. Think JaVale McGee and DeAndre Jordan.
Tyler is of the same ilk. He may now have the presence to boot. He has been exceptional in interviews. He explained to Sean Devaney from the SportingNews all about the growth he enjoyed in Israel.
I was definitely immature when I got there. Obviously, it was my first year being a professional. They’re all asking me about it. They’re (Scouts) asking how it was for me and what happened over there. I tell them, I learned to grow up. The basketball part, that will take care of itself, I was still learning and staying in good shape. But it was all the off-the-court stuff and being a good teammate, that was stuff I needed to learn. And I have.
Jeremy Tyler has loads of talent. That has never been the issue. His one glaring problem was with himself. If he has indeed learned to ready himself for the next level, Tyler could be the steal of the draft.
2011年5月29日星期日
Couch Slouch: Everything you need to know about the NBA Finals
so, will Pat Riley regain his rank as smartest hair-and-tan in sports? Or will Mark Cuban — a.k.a. “When I Die, I Want To Come Back As Me,” a.k.a. Smarmy Is As Smarmy Does, a.k.a. Greed Is Good — finally get the crowning achievement of his post-pubescent life?
The Heat-Mavericks NBA Finals are here. We are also here to tell you about them:
The games are on ABC, in the capable hands of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. A generation ago, Dick Enberg, Billy Packer and Al McGuire set the standard for a three-man basketball booth. As much as I miss McGuire — an American original — this grouping is superior. Breen is a solid play-by-play voice, with a playful sensibility. Jackson and Van Gundy each would be good alone, and each makes the other better. I never invite anyone into my home to watch games with me — my sultry wife Toni, in fact, usually leaves to seek safe harbor elsewhere — but any of these gents is welcome anytime.
I should take a moment out here to give a nod to TNT’s Marv Albert. I love Mike Breen, but it seems like a crime against basketball nature that Albert doesn’t call the NBA Finals. Albert, who will turn 70 in June, still delivers as smart and measured a call of any basketball broadcaster ever. Unlike some of his younger, juiced-up peers such as serial screamers Gus Johnson and Kevin Harlan, Albert understands precisely when to raise the level of his voice.
Either the Heat’s LeBron James, in his eighth NBA season, or the Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, in his 13th NBA season, will win his first title. Talk about a couple of losers, huh? And this Nowitzki fellow played pro ball in Germany with DJK Wurzburg for four years before coming to America and didn’t win any titles there, either. What good is a 7-footer who shots 50 percent from the field, 40 percent on threes and 90 percent from the line if he can’t bring home the bratwurst?
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Actually, Dirk Nowitzki probably has been underappreciated by nincompoops like Couch Slouch. How do you overlook and underrate a former league MVP and 10-time all-star? Simple — you live on Stupid Street, my home since 1984. In these playoffs, Nowitzki has been spectacular and sublime.
Who is J.J. Barea and who let him onto the court? The Mavericks’ backup point guard is listed at 6 feet tall. Please. I ran into him a couple of weeks ago at the Santa Monica Pier amusement park, and he wasn’t even tall enough to ride the Frog Hopper. Then again, I saw him run a pick-and-roll at the video arcade to perfection. He’s a dribbling whirling dervish.
If the Heat wins, will it finally shut up the LeBron haters? No. You can never shut up The Haters in Sports Nation. Of late, hating is the engine that drives our culture. People wake up, look around and think, “Who am I gonna hate on today?” Sports radio and the Internet were invented for hating. Heck, if microwave ovens had a setting for “hating,” they’d sell twice as many.
Well, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Three-on-five cannot win a championship. Yes, the Heat have the Three Tenors – LeBron, Dwyane Wade and the other guy. And who else? And who else? Go ahead, I challenge you to name, say, three other Heat players. (To be honest, some of you don’t even know who “the other guy” is.) The other Heat players don’t even have their names stitched to the back of their uniforms; rather, it just says, “HEAT TEMP.”
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Some of you may recall that I have loudly said LeBron’s Heat would not win an NBA title. The key to effective prognostication, I’ve always believed, is to repeat your errant predictions early and often. Before the NBA season began, I stated the Heat would not win the championship, and I reiterated this same notion as the NBA playoffs began. It appears I might end up being incorrect, which raises the question — how many times can I be wrong in a single lifetime?
In for a dime, in for a dollar: I guess I’ve got to take the Mavericks in seven games. Of course, I could be mistaken.
2011年5月27日星期五
U-M's Darius Morris trying to work his way into NBA first round
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/default.htm
Former Michigan point guard Darius Morris, who decided to enter the NBA draft after his sophomore season, is making his way up many draft boards.
At 6-foot-4, Morris impressed many scouts with his size and ball-handling, and is predicted by be drafted in the first round, after initial uncertainty when he declared for the draft last month.
NBADraft.net predicts that the Knicks will draft Morris with the No. 17 pick and thehoopsreport.com has him going to the Trail Blazers at No. 21. ESPN.com's Chad Ford thinks that Morris is just outside the first round, but one of the "next five" to be selected.
Morris participated in a three-on-three workout with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse, along with Purdue forward/center JaJuan Johnson, Georgetown point guard Chris Wright, Kansas guard Josh Selby, Richmond power forward Justin Harper and Villanova point guard Corey Fisher.
In a video interview on Pacers.com, Morris was confident about Thursday's workout for the Pacers, who have the No. 15 pick in the first round and 12th pick (No. 42) in the second round.
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"I feel like I did well. We've been working out hard all that time and you expect to do well out here. Everybody here belongs here and you just have to go out there and practice hard every day," Morris said. "I have to show that I can come in and provide a different look at the point-guard position, being tall and lengthy and also being able to get in there and my passing ability is a plus on my side. They already have two great guards here, but I can just add a different look."
Morris knows the importance of showing scouts and coaches his skills in individual workouts as teams to prepare for the June 23 draft
"You have to focus on each workout coming up. For a lot of us, it was a combine and now it's each individual one — you can't overlook any one," Morris said on
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the video. "You have to cherish that moment and take advantage of it. Before you know it, you'll look up and the draft will already be here."
He said teams have expectations — as he does — for prospects in the workout process.
"(They expect) you to work hard every day and take advantage of the opportunity of being on the NBA level. You can't take it for granted. It's my dream and I'm going to push at it and go hard every day. I expect that they believe I'm going to get better," Morris said.
Former Michigan point guard Darius Morris, who decided to enter the NBA draft after his sophomore season, is making his way up many draft boards.
At 6-foot-4, Morris impressed many scouts with his size and ball-handling, and is predicted by be drafted in the first round, after initial uncertainty when he declared for the draft last month.
NBADraft.net predicts that the Knicks will draft Morris with the No. 17 pick and thehoopsreport.com has him going to the Trail Blazers at No. 21. ESPN.com's Chad Ford thinks that Morris is just outside the first round, but one of the "next five" to be selected.
Morris participated in a three-on-three workout with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse, along with Purdue forward/center JaJuan Johnson, Georgetown point guard Chris Wright, Kansas guard Josh Selby, Richmond power forward Justin Harper and Villanova point guard Corey Fisher.
In a video interview on Pacers.com, Morris was confident about Thursday's workout for the Pacers, who have the No. 15 pick in the first round and 12th pick (No. 42) in the second round.
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"I feel like I did well. We've been working out hard all that time and you expect to do well out here. Everybody here belongs here and you just have to go out there and practice hard every day," Morris said. "I have to show that I can come in and provide a different look at the point-guard position, being tall and lengthy and also being able to get in there and my passing ability is a plus on my side. They already have two great guards here, but I can just add a different look."
Morris knows the importance of showing scouts and coaches his skills in individual workouts as teams to prepare for the June 23 draft
"You have to focus on each workout coming up. For a lot of us, it was a combine and now it's each individual one — you can't overlook any one," Morris said on
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the video. "You have to cherish that moment and take advantage of it. Before you know it, you'll look up and the draft will already be here."
He said teams have expectations — as he does — for prospects in the workout process.
"(They expect) you to work hard every day and take advantage of the opportunity of being on the NBA level. You can't take it for granted. It's my dream and I'm going to push at it and go hard every day. I expect that they believe I'm going to get better," Morris said.
2011年5月26日星期四
You might hate to hear it, but Heat playing the right way Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/122626913.html?cmpid=15585797#ixzz1NVi2om00 Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else
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PHILADELPHIA IS NOT an NBA town. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a million times. The Sixers' annual struggle with attendance is about the product more than the people, I am repeatedly told, and that includes the now trite use of pyrotechnics and general loudness that attack the senses far more than anything that happens once the ball is jumped.
Philadelphia is a basketball town, I am told. Big 5, Palestra, Catholic League, Sonny Hill on Sunday mornings talking about back in the day. Philadelphia is about playing the game right, about team defense and selflessness and giving up the ball. Some of the city's most revered stars played by these staples and leagues and buildings are named for them.
All this is a way of introducing an appreciation of the Miami Heat, which, after a season in which their stars spent too much time holding the door open for one another, are slamming it on the fingers of their Eastern Conference contenders, to the consternation of decent, hardworking NBA fans everywhere.
But why, really? Because the Heat took advantage of the rules last summer, stacked the deck by adding two superstars to the existing one? Kind of the way the Los Angeles Lakers somehow managed to pick first twice in the late 1970s and early '80s, adding Magic Johnson and James Worthy to a team that already had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Or kind of the way the Boston Celtics acquired Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish inside the same time frame?
At least one of those teams appeared in every NBA Finals of the 1980s.
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end. Right? These two teams reclaimed the NBA, swatted away teams that dared to compete against them with just one star: the Knicks with Bernard King, the Hawks with Dominique Wilkins, the Bulls with a young and still unsavvy Michael Jordan.
The Lakers were "Showtime," the Celtics liked to beat you up, and the rest of the league tried to measure up. The Sixers added Moses Malone and won a championship. The Bad Boy Pistons became the Celtics' bastard child. The Rockets drafted Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon in consecutive years.
How did that happen?
The point: For those who think what the Heat did last summer was distasteful, immoral or some other haughty description, well, it's nothing new. For those who will never forgive LeBron for that televised announcement or the Heat for an over-the-top ticket-selling event, well, you might not have liked Magic's act too much back in the day. Or that of Jabbar, who asked to be traded out of Milwaukee because it did not fit his cultural needs.
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What can't be overlooked is this: After that uneven regular season, Miami's three musketeers are playing inspired, unselfish and tough-as-hell basketball. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are every bit the unselfish superstars that made watching those dynasties of the '80s so much fun. They defend, especially in big spots. They hit big shots. They grind, they persevere, they demand your respect.
In Game 2 of the Eastern finals, they win a fourth quarter against a Bulls team known for its defense, 14-10. They survive Tuesday night's Game 4 with big stops at big times, with Wade searching for his shot, with James bullying Bulls star Derrick Rose into a scoreless final 17 minutes.
"I love the situations like that, where we're tested and we have to overcome something," Bosh said after the Heat prevailed, 101-93, to take a 3-1 lead into tonight's Game 5. "Because it's not easy staying in the game when you're having a bad one."
Said Rose, "Everybody on their team - well, all the stars on their team - are playing at the same time."
Someday Rose may have the kind of cast the Heat does now, may be able to win despite an 8-for-27 shooting night.
Right now, though, he's feeling real Bernard King-like.
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Like 'em, hate 'em, the Heat has created a fresh Kobe-less story line that the public is consuming at a greater rate than in recent springs. Ratings for the postseason are up 30 percent, almost all of that increase attributable to Miami's presence. The Heat entertains. It dazzles and gets dirty.
The reason most often given why a town with basketball in its DNA rejects the NBA is that it's not basketball, not the way it's been taught and nurtured here. Well, what the Heat is putting out there is. Three stars, unselfish, smart, driven.
Remember that as you root against them tonight. Hate the way they were assembled, envy them even, but at least appreciate the way they play.
The right way.
The Philadelphia way.
PHILADELPHIA IS NOT an NBA town. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a million times. The Sixers' annual struggle with attendance is about the product more than the people, I am repeatedly told, and that includes the now trite use of pyrotechnics and general loudness that attack the senses far more than anything that happens once the ball is jumped.
Philadelphia is a basketball town, I am told. Big 5, Palestra, Catholic League, Sonny Hill on Sunday mornings talking about back in the day. Philadelphia is about playing the game right, about team defense and selflessness and giving up the ball. Some of the city's most revered stars played by these staples and leagues and buildings are named for them.
All this is a way of introducing an appreciation of the Miami Heat, which, after a season in which their stars spent too much time holding the door open for one another, are slamming it on the fingers of their Eastern Conference contenders, to the consternation of decent, hardworking NBA fans everywhere.
But why, really? Because the Heat took advantage of the rules last summer, stacked the deck by adding two superstars to the existing one? Kind of the way the Los Angeles Lakers somehow managed to pick first twice in the late 1970s and early '80s, adding Magic Johnson and James Worthy to a team that already had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Or kind of the way the Boston Celtics acquired Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish inside the same time frame?
At least one of those teams appeared in every NBA Finals of the 1980s.
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end. Right? These two teams reclaimed the NBA, swatted away teams that dared to compete against them with just one star: the Knicks with Bernard King, the Hawks with Dominique Wilkins, the Bulls with a young and still unsavvy Michael Jordan.
The Lakers were "Showtime," the Celtics liked to beat you up, and the rest of the league tried to measure up. The Sixers added Moses Malone and won a championship. The Bad Boy Pistons became the Celtics' bastard child. The Rockets drafted Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon in consecutive years.
How did that happen?
The point: For those who think what the Heat did last summer was distasteful, immoral or some other haughty description, well, it's nothing new. For those who will never forgive LeBron for that televised announcement or the Heat for an over-the-top ticket-selling event, well, you might not have liked Magic's act too much back in the day. Or that of Jabbar, who asked to be traded out of Milwaukee because it did not fit his cultural needs.
cheap custom jerseys
What can't be overlooked is this: After that uneven regular season, Miami's three musketeers are playing inspired, unselfish and tough-as-hell basketball. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are every bit the unselfish superstars that made watching those dynasties of the '80s so much fun. They defend, especially in big spots. They hit big shots. They grind, they persevere, they demand your respect.
In Game 2 of the Eastern finals, they win a fourth quarter against a Bulls team known for its defense, 14-10. They survive Tuesday night's Game 4 with big stops at big times, with Wade searching for his shot, with James bullying Bulls star Derrick Rose into a scoreless final 17 minutes.
"I love the situations like that, where we're tested and we have to overcome something," Bosh said after the Heat prevailed, 101-93, to take a 3-1 lead into tonight's Game 5. "Because it's not easy staying in the game when you're having a bad one."
Said Rose, "Everybody on their team - well, all the stars on their team - are playing at the same time."
Someday Rose may have the kind of cast the Heat does now, may be able to win despite an 8-for-27 shooting night.
Right now, though, he's feeling real Bernard King-like.
custom nba jerseys
Like 'em, hate 'em, the Heat has created a fresh Kobe-less story line that the public is consuming at a greater rate than in recent springs. Ratings for the postseason are up 30 percent, almost all of that increase attributable to Miami's presence. The Heat entertains. It dazzles and gets dirty.
The reason most often given why a town with basketball in its DNA rejects the NBA is that it's not basketball, not the way it's been taught and nurtured here. Well, what the Heat is putting out there is. Three stars, unselfish, smart, driven.
Remember that as you root against them tonight. Hate the way they were assembled, envy them even, but at least appreciate the way they play.
The right way.
The Philadelphia way.
2011年5月25日星期三
NBA players, it's time to stop dragging the words
Three and counting. It is the perfect execution of days without NBA players screaming anti-gay insult in the game At least one was caught by television cameras. Good work, guys.
For now, have probably heard that was the Sunday Joakim Noah Chicago of the same band used two alliterative words against homosexuals as Kobe Bryant at the beginning of this year. Noah says one fan. I told Kobe, an arbitrator.
Now we know that the referee is twice as big as a fan, because Kobe was fined $ 100,000 and $ 50,000 from Noah.
The message that is sent to me as an innocent bystander, is that the league is not so serious stamping operations, as they appear.
After the application of Kobe, the league campaign to the horrors of anti-gay actions show started and we can all take this as a time to learn and change.
The fact that the second instance, he has is to pay a fine of less than the first, unclear. It should not be any worse?
Why not increase the fine of $ 50,000 each time happened? Noah fine, $ 150,000, and the guy next door with an insult to homosexuals (which I imagine will be sometime in the next four or five days) you will pay $ 200,000, and so on.
For now it's about $ 500,000 to clean up his act, the players and switch to a new epithet to throw around them.
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Maybe Fred Sanford large model would be safer.
Seriously, I can not help but be frustrated by this problem. At that time, the fact is that it is not shameful or address.
You probably do not speak the ads in the NBA playoffs, that promote waste, saw the word gay as a derogatory term. Not good, not creative, says the ad.
Take it from the biggest stars of the league can be annoying in trade Grant Hill and Jared Dudley, the Suns.
This is another indication that the league is not even serious. Why not LeBron, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant or anyone in an All-Star in the last ten years?
No offense to Hill and Dudley, but if you are a fan of impressionable young for the NBA, like Kobe Bryant or Jared Dudley act?
The best is to come all this that the longer runs, the more they talked about the pathetic.
Here's the interesting part. I do not think Kobe or Noah, or the majority of people to say things like that are not necessarily homophobic.
The problem is that NBA players, and society as a whole at a point where the use of an insult to homosexuals are still often an automatic reflex.
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The term comes from the mouth of the players like an instinct, not as an indication of the philosophy of their belief system. The second I said, I'm sorry.
Slowly, but surely that will change.
An example of an NBA player Steve Nash as it goes.
He has just a commercial for the inclusion of gay marriage on Monday. A follower on Twitter Suns said, very disappointing Nash would be an announcement in favor of gay marriage. Steve, what should I know?
Nash A. Yes, tolerance.
2011年5月24日星期二
NBA travel independently
A year ago I had the opportunity to Amadou Gallo Fall, the Office of the NBA Africa in Johannesburg heads had interview from South Africa, the commitment of the federal transfer the popularity of basketball across the continent. I wanted to develop a series of interviews in which he interviews people running the offices of the NBA around the world that I am here to speak with Akash Jain, Senior Director, Business Development and Partnerships for the NBA in India.
It is not an official NBA office in India C, full-time employees on the construction of the sport's popularity is founded in the league office in New York. But as the game was adopted is not entirely clear. Jain noted that the participation followed in the league of NBA basketball in India are increasing by 25-30 percent this year, with a maximum of 600 teams in various leagues and tournaments. Efforts to popularize the league of basketball in a country obsessed with cricket was good for the league to have a presence there only three years. Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), HP, Spalding and local TV channels Ten Sports has been supported by his skills challenge, which introduced this year to 100 C schools in five cities Bangalore, Chennai conducted, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune.
The NBA announced in December 2010 reached a new multi-year partnership with Taj Television and Multi Screen Media (MSM) to transmit live games, replays in prime time and original programs from the NBA. Two regular season games per week were transferred in ten sports every Thursday and Saturday with repeats every game in prime time. Thirty-six episodes of a reality show called weekly half-hour real NBA shot him a look behind the scenes of Major League history to air on Ten Sports and some of the most important channels of Zee Network regional dialects. Other original programming, such as the NBA and the NBA debuted in Action 30 in PIX, an English movie channel is part of the MSM.
Karan Madhok, operating at the BFI communication and writing this website and the website of the NBA in India, said India NBAS strategy worked.
I spoke at length with Jain on the efforts of others in the NBA has to imagine in a country of 1.15 million people.
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