Month: August 2013

Pau Gasol to be Madrid spokesman for 2020 Olympic bid

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol will sit out of the FIBA EuroBasket Championships in September in hopes of fully rehabbing his knees, but the Lakers forward plans to help his native Spain in a different way.

Madrid’s 2020 Olympic bid committee has appointed Gasol as one of its spokesman and will address International Olympic Committee during Madrid’s final presentation in Buenos Aires next month. Gasol provided an impassioned statement and indirectly suggested how hosting the Summer Games would provide a significant financial boost to Spain, which has battled a recession for most of the past four years and has a 26.3 percent unemployment rate.

“The Olympic Games are more than sport – I know this personally as an Olympian. Spanish sport and the people of Madrid need the boost the Olympic Games would provide, and Madrid is ready to face this challenge,” Gasol said in a statement. “But Madrid will also give something back to the Olympic Movement – we are a city that is prepared with a responsible bid plan that will help develop sport far into the future.”

Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra addresses the Seattle Seahawks

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra addresses the Seattle Seahawks

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra clearly has the football bug. He apparently also carries a message that resonates beyond basketball.

Three weeks after attending practice and then addressing the University of Tennessee football team in Knoxville as a favor to friend and Volunteers coach Butch Jones, Spoelstra was in Renton, Wash., on Tuesday, addressing the Seattle Seahawks.

“Just having him here in front of the team and just having him in meetings with us and having him out here in practice is an unbelievable experience for everybody,” quarterback Russell Wilson said after Tuesday’s practice. “For him to be able to talk about how his basketball team was successful and the way that they went about their business in terms of sacrificing . . . just that whole idea of sacrificing everything, the players, LeBron [James] coming to Miami, and Dwyane Wade sacrificing all that, all that type of sacrifice that it takes to be great and to be great so often, is kind of what he talked about for the most part. And having that discipline, as well, too, is something that he talked about, and just working hard, continuing to work hard, continuing to believe in yourselves and ignore the noise.

“That’s the main message he gave. And it clicked right with us.”

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Indiana Pacers season ticket sales up 30 percent from last year

The Indiana Pacers’ long playoff run this spring is making it easier for the team’s front office to sell tickets.

Todd Taylor, the team’s vice president of sales and marketing, said Tuesday that sales of season-ticket packages are up nearly 30 percent from this time last year. Packages are considered anything 11 games or more because they give the buyer a guarantee to purchase playoff tickets, he said.

Per club policy, the Pacers do not reveal total number of season tickets. But Taylor said the 30 percent bump includes about 1,200 new ticket holders.

Reported by Michael Pointer of the Indianapolis Star

Prosecutors will not file assault charges against Scottie Pippen

Prosecutors have slapped down allegations that retired hoopster Scottie Pippen assaulted an autograph seeker outside a Malibu restaurant last June.

The Los Angeles District Attorney said Tuesday it will not press charges against the former Chicago Bull because the man who claims he was roughed up was legally drunk at the time, may have been the aggressor and did not have injuries consistent with the beatdown he claimed he suffered.

An investigator also found that while alleged victim Camran Shafighi complained of severe pain to his ankle and demanded a splint after the incident, staff at UCLA Medical Center later saw him walk without a limp.

The emergency room staff also said Shafighi faked seizures that would mysteriously disappear when a doctor ordered him to “stop it,” a DA filing obtained by the Daily News states.

Reported by Nancy Dillon of the New York Daily News

Chicago Bulls name Jennifer Swanson Director of Sports Performance

Bulls

The Chicago Bulls announced today that Jennifer Swanson has been named the team’s Director of Sports Performance.

Swanson will be responsible for overseeing the athletic training and strength and conditioning departments, as well as massage therapy, chiropractic care, nutritional support and any auxiliary services.

A native of Gilroy, Calif., Swanson spent the past five years as a Performance Physical Therapy Manager at Athletes’ Performance in Los Angeles, Calif. She was responsible for working with professional athletes from the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB, as well as a variety of international, collegiate and high school athletes. Prior to her tenure at Athletes’ Performance, Swanson completed a Sports Physical Therapy Residency at the University of Pittsburgh/Centers for Rehab Services, where she also spent time working as an intern with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Swanson earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Duke University (2004) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis (2001). She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports and Orthopedics, as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Swanson is also an accomplished track athlete, as she is a six-time NCAA Division II All-American and was the National Indoor Pole Vault Champion in 2000.

Antawn Jamison to sign with L.A. Clippers

antawn jamison

Antawn Jamison may have improved his odds of winning a first NBA title by moving to a team with zero championships.

The veteran free agent agreed to a one-year contract with the Clippers on Monday for the veteran’s minimum of about $1.4 million, bolstering a bench that last season was among the best in the league.

“Happy to stay in LA. But with the @LAClippers!” Jamison tweeted.

Jamison, a 15-year veteran who spent last season with the Lakers on another minimum deal, has stated his desire to play for a title contender at this point in his career. He has never reached the conference finals in previous stints with the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers and Lakers.

Reported by Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times

Tracy McGrady has retired from NBA

Tracy McGrady retires from NBA

Seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady announced his retirement from the NBA on Monday.

McGrady, who won two scoring titles, told ESPN that it was time to move on.

“It’s been 16 years playing the game I love,” he said. “I’ve had a great run, but it’s time for it to come to an end.”

McGrady, 34, played in China last season before signing with the San Antonio Spurs during the playoffs. He played six postseason games for San Antonio.

McGrady was the ninth pick in the 1997 draft out of high school and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award winner in 2001.

Reported by the Sports Xchange 

Whether he was pouring in 13 points in 35 seconds for Houston in 2004 or sitting on the bench and watching the San Antonio Spurs win another playoff game in June without needing him, that cool expression rarely changed. It all looked almost too easy for McGrady, even if it rarely was.

McGrady announced his retirement from the NBA on Monday, ending a 16-year career that included two scoring titles, seven All-Star appearances, injuries to his knee and back and zero playoff series wins while he was leading the way. The straight-from-high school project who blossomed into a dominant, two-way superstar will always be remembered, too, as a player who struggled with injuries.

”Thank all of you who have supported me over 16 NBA seasons, 7 All-Stars, and countless exciting moments,” McGrady tweeted on Monday morning. ”Retiring from NBA. Stay tuned.”

McGrady didn’t rule out continuing his career overseas, perhaps in China where he played last season.

Reported by Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press

“Officially retired from the NBA. Door’s still open,” replied McGrady, who played for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2012-13 season before his last NBA hurrah with the Spurs.

Often bracketed with Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter as the best players of his generation, McGrady played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and the Spurs during his NBA career.

A six-foot nine-inch shooting guard who could shoot or pass with devastating effect, he was the league’s scoring champion in 2003 and 2004 and an All-Star for seven consecutive years, from 2001 to 2007.

Reported by Reuters

Golden State Warriors announce upgrades to their arena

Warriors

The Golden State Warriors announced today a variety of upgrades to Oracle Arena, the Warriors ground for all home games. This summer the Warriors are adding new theater boxes, a second row of floor seats and a new VIP Club.

“We are committed to continuing to invest in Oracle Arena and improve the game day experience for our fans,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. “The new theater boxes, floor seats and VIP Club are a great way for more fans to have a first-class experience at our games.”

During the offseason, the following additions and upgrades to Oracle Arena are being made:

– Theater Boxes – The 16 new Theater Boxes at Oracle Arena feature four (4) seats for all regular season Golden State Warriors games, world-class concerts and family shows, providing fans with a fantastic view for both basketball and concert events in a more intimate and private setting. Located on the south side of the Mezzanine Suite Level, the new suites include a private Chef’s table dining experience with concierge, bartender and personal service attendant, complimentary food and beverage, enhanced technologies including iPads and charging stations, access to the exclusive Courtside and Sideline Clubs and more.

– Floor Seats – The Warriors have sold out their inventory of floor seats for the past five (5) years and in order to increase premium seating options for fans, have created a second row of floor seats (114 seats). The second row of floor seats is directly behind the first row with fans still having the opportunity to have their feet on the hardwood as it has been extended past the second row of floor seats. There are now a total of 264 floor seats. Floor seat holders receive a personalized parking spot, name plates on their seat and exclusive access to the brand new VIP Club.

– VIP Club – To further enhance the experience of our floor seat holders, a new VIP Club space is being created. Floor seat holders can park in their personalized parking space and enter straight into the new 3,000 sq. ft. space located on the South side of the Event Level. The VIP Club, which features 11 high-definition flat screen televisions, will be open pregame and throughout the game serving complimentary food and beverage.

Jason Kidd has a statistical goal for Deron Williams

Deron Williams

On Sunday, the rookie coach revealed a statistical goal for Williams. It concerns passing, not surprisingly.

“I’m going to push him. I want the best for him,” Kidd said after signing autographs at the Nets’ merchandise store in Coney Island. “When we sit down and talk about goals, team goals and also individual goals, I’m going to push him and I want to get him back to double-digit assists.”

Williams hasn’t averaged at least 10 assists since 2010-11, which represented the fourth straight season he eclipsed that mark. Last season’s 7.7 assists per game was Williams’ lowest output since he was a rookie. And as the assist numbers dipped in the last two seasons, so did Williams’ shooting percentage.

But there was a tangible turning point, which Kidd referenced Sunday. After undergoing multiple procedures to his inflamed ankles during the All-Star break, Williams dropped about 15 pounds by changing his diet and exercise routine.

He was again spry and without ankle pain, capable of pulling off a reverse double-pump dunk after failing to record a single jam for the first five months of last season.

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Blog)