We're not entirely sure Orlando Magic forward Brandon Bass is helping or hurting the players' cause in this NBA lockout with the video he's put online to help promote his song, "Billion Dollar Dreams."
In the slightly NSFW clip (there are a few blue words tossed in, but nothing over the top), Bass lounges around his apparent mansion before driving around downtown Orlando in a Maserati with his brights on. Can't say I'm a fan of either the song, nor driving with brights on. But the sentiment ("all I do is ball") is pure, and something we can get behind.
MIAMI (AP)—A design for LeBron James latest signature sneaker was inspired by the U.S. Air Force.
Nike calls it “The Cannon” edition of the LeBron 9. The military-green theme is a nod to the Miami Heat having their first training camp since James joined the team last season at Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base.
Those installations in Florida’s Panhandle hosted the Heat for about a week, and players interacted with military personnel during that camp.
Nike says that edition of the shoe will be released first in South Florida starting at midnight Sunday “as a sign of appreciation and respect for LeBron’s South Florida fans and community.”
Miami Heat All-Star andformer high school wide receiverLeBron James might be available for NFL teams to sign this season, as the lockout drones on and on. Or, he might just be curious as to whether or not other available and unsigned players (Terrell Owens? Matt Suhey?) could legally make an NFL roster five weeks into the season. You make the call.
Now, this could be a flight of fancy, an actual query, or just a musing regarding the potential for James' beloved Dallas Cowboys (because James grew up in Akron, Ohio; and lives in Miami, so ...) to add to their depth chart. If you're a jerk, you can call LeBron a narcissist for wondering on record. If you have half a sense of humor, you can get that it's just another lame NBA lockout joke, one we've all made 2200 times since last June.
Levity aside, let's all be thankful that Pat Riley doesn't have a Twitter account.
After the news about the first two weeks of the NBA being officially canceled.
It’s safe to say the frustration is starting to build up for basketball fans as the 2011-12 season continues to be in jeopardy. While David Stern’s meeting with the NBAPA was one of the
biggest stories on Monday, it was the fight that escalated between two cameramen over coverage of the event that is becoming quite the popular topic on Tuesday.
The folks at BroBible.com were kind enough to provide this video of two cameramen squaring off against each other in the middle of the street outside of the hotel where the meetings took place. According to the video description, the two cameramen from different companies were fighting over space for the chance to interview Derek Fisher–the NBAPA president–and decided the best way to settle things was through fighting.
This can only mean one thing–the NBA lockout needs to come to an end so future fights like this can be prevented. For those of you depressed about the future of the NBA season this year–at least this will provide you with some laughs about the situation.
Sun Sports is reporting that, after some prodding, Caron Butler admitted that he wouldconsider a return to the Heat.Butler’s Mavericks defeated the Heat in the NBA Finals and won their first title. Unfortunately for Butler, he was again hampered by injuries and unable to play.
Butler’s (31 years old) name seems to be mentioned, every season, as a candidate to land in Boston around the trade deadline. Obviously, that deal has never materialized. Butler said their are many teams he may be interested in joining, however, he was unable to “throw no (other) teams out there. But I (Butler) am open to any suggestions.”
Though Caron is past his prime and injury prone, I do believe he would be a welcome addition to the Heat roster who are devoid of capable big-men (please don’t mention Bosh and capable in the same sentence).
Butler’s comments to Fox Sports, and cited by, Chris Tomasson on Sun Sports were interesting. Here is a run down of the interview…
“It’d be interesting,” Butler said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida about the prospect of returning to the Heat.
Asked whether Miami is on his list, Butler eventually said, “Yes.” But he didn’t want to talk too much about the Heat, which is understandable.
Butler, 31, remains loyal to Dallas, which wants him back after a season in which Butler went down with a ruptured right patellar tendon Jan. 1 and could only watch as the Mavericks beat the Heat for the NBA title last June. And he has no idea what the new rules might be in the NBA.
“I love Dallas, what that organization, the fans, what they did for me when I went down and got injured,” said Butler, who went scoreless in 12 minutes in the South Florida All-Star Classic on Saturday night, an event put on at Florida International University by Heat stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. “They supported me and stood by my side. Winning a championship there and being part of that there, that’s always special. So I just don’t know what it’s going to end up like. You got to see how stuff is structured with the new deal, the new collective bargaining agreement.”
Butler said Mavericks officials told him before the lockout started July 1 they want to re-sign him. But it’s unclear what type of salary Butler, who made $10.56 million last season, might be able to command.
“They definitely told me they wanted me back,” Butler said. “I’m grateful for the organization. We’ll see what happens. I love Dallas. I like a lot of other places. But I really love Dallas.”
So where else does Butler like?
“That’s pretty much it,” Butler said of not wanting to mention any teams other than Dallas and Miami. “I don’t want to throw no (other) teams out there. But I am open to any suggestions.”
Perhaps Wade, who played with Butler with the Heat in 2003-04, will suggest Butler might want to return to Miami once free agency gets under way.
“Me and Dwyane, we always talk about a lot of things. So anything can happen,” said Butler, who said the two have yet to talk about the forward’s free agency…
bSir Charles Barkley finally comments on Shaq joining TNT as his newest co-worker…Shaq and Barkley definitely have history together, but it’s nice to see Charles welcoming the Big Analyst with open arms.
The off season is a perfect opportunity to try out new things…Big Baby takes to the Maine ocean and rubs elbows with Maine lobster-man…I know there’s a deadliest catch joke in here somewhere
Gilbert Arenas is a real jokester…The dude spends most of his free time tweeting and planking…Agent Zero decided to have a little fun with his Twitter profile pic…He tweets, “if u wanna see funny offensive avi pics u came to the rt place..if u dont like them umm blah blah blah..find a sense of humor..” This is one of those optical illusion pics…you know like the young woman old lady….but perverted
Remember that dude, you know the one who got escorted out of the Indians game for wearing a LeBron Heat jersey…This was shortly after the decision, and the threats kept on coming for Matthew Bellamy…Here’s the scoop: ” According to the report, witnesses told police that Bellamy and three females had just left the bar when Robert Horton, 23, pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of his vehicle. The witnesses say that Horton began punching Bellamy from behind and knocked him to the ground, at which time Horton continued punching Bellamy in the face.” Hate or Love LeBron, this ain’t right. Thanks to Dan Jovic of Fox 8 Cleveland for sending me the story
Brian Shaw had Kobe Bryant's support, among others, to become the Los Angeles Lakers coach upon Phil Jackson's retirement.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT
Not when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers. Get the latest offseason buzz:
The Lakers bypassed their longtime assistant and went with Mike Brown. Shaw has moved on in a reunion of sorts.
The Indiana Pacers introduced Shaw on as their new associate head coach Tuesday. He will work alongside Pacers coach Frank Vogel, a man he knows from their days on Los Angeles' staff together during the 2005-06 season.
''We really established a special connection back then,'' Shaw said. ''A good friendship. We stayed in touch over the years.''
Shaw was considered a head coaching candidate during his time with the Lakers, and Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Derek Fisher publicly supported his bid to become Jackson's successor. Shaw said he tempered his expectations.
''I understood all along that nothing was a slam dunk,'' he said. ''I didn't expect for anything to be handed to me or given to me. I was very appreciative of the comments and the support that I got from our players during and after the season.''
Shaw is fine with the way things played out.
''I don't have any hard feelings at all because things are changing there, and there's an opportunity here that I'm excited about,'' he said.
Shaw isn't sure what his new title entails, but he appreciates it and considers it confirmation that he's nearing his goal of becoming a head coach.
''I'm getting close, so I guess it's a stamp that says I'm just about ready,'' he said. ''But to me, I'm just another assistant coach.''
Vogel said Shaw is more than that.
''He's a guy that, quite frankly, I didn't think I was going to be able to get,'' he said. ''He's a guy that's been in line to be a head coach for a number of years. I view him as having almost like a second head coach with me.''
Vogel said the hiring shows that the Pacers are moving in the right direction.
''There was interest in him around the league, and he chose to come to Indiana,'' he said. ''It's indicative of what we're building here. People want to be a part of this team and this city right now. It's going to be a special era.''
Shaw said Indiana's fans are knowledgeable, and he likes the idea of coaching in a place where basketball is the key attraction.
''A lot of time, the fans in L.A., and it's not a knock against them, but it was a lot of celebrities, and people come to see who they can see and who's at the game instead of what's going on in the game,'' he said.
As an assistant for Jackson, Shaw said he learned from the best.
''One of the things that I really admire and respect about the time that I was able to spend with him was how he dealt with his personnel, different egos, and unified them and made them all one,'' he said.
Pacers at a glance
Looking for the latest on the Pacers? Get the inside slant, stats, scores, schedules and more scoops right here. Shaw wants to display Jackson's demeanor.
''I've never seen not just a coach, but a man, so patient,'' Shaw said. ''You could be down 20, you could be in Game 7 of the Finals and need a critical play out of one of your players, and he was always on an even keel. That's what I hope rubbed off on me and I will be able to imitate it at some point.''
Vogel said Shaw's collection of experiences — he won three NBA titles as a player and two as an assistant coach — help make him an ideal addition.
''There's guys that are special and guys that are qualified,'' Vogel said. ''We've got a special candidate here.''
The Pacers also retained Dan Burke from the previous staff and look to add a third assistant soon.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nate Robinson said back in October that he would like to pursue a career in football if a lockout occurs in the NBA. That lockout has indeed occurred, and Robinson is sticking to his word. The former Celtic told SLAM Magazine that he is considering trying out for NFL teams if the NBA lockout consumes the entire season.
"I might go play football," Robinson said. "Do something that nobody"s tried to do. ... I've been doing a little bit of training."
Before quitting football to focus exclusively on basketball, Robinson put together an impressive resume on the gridiron. He was named Washington 3A Player of the Year as a running back/wide receiver his senior year of high school, amassing 1,200 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, and originally attended the University of Washington on a football scholarship as a cornerback before switching to basketball after his freshman year.
If he does make a run at the NFL, Robinson would like to return to the offensive side of the ball, where he believes his true talents lie.
"I honestly think if I'd have played my natural position, running back [in college], I would have still been playing football today," Robinson told the Boston Globe back in October.
The current NFL lockout seems to be -- hopefully -- nearing an end, but Robinson said that on the rare chance that both leagues lose their seasons, or if a football career doesn't pan out, he will join the ever-growing group of NBA stars planning to play basketball overseas.
