September 29, 2011 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Deron Williams 15 points, 9 assists in win for team in Turkey

FIBA.com reports:

Deron Williams captured a gold medal with Team USA at the Beijing Games and no doubt will want to be with the Americans when they try to defend their title next year in London.

A 27-year-old in the prime of his career, Williams is an NBA superstar and one of the best guards in the game.

Unlike his previous seasons as a professional, though, Williams is not in the United States getting ready for the new season.

Instead, he’s in Turkey.

Because of the NBA lockout and the uncertainty of the 2011-12 NBA season, Williams has signed for Besiktas and on Tuesday night, he helped the club move a step closer to playing in the Eurocup.

In the first leg of their Qualifying Round tie with Dexia Mons Hainaut in Istanbul, Williams made just three of his 15 shots from the floor but ended up with 15 points as Besiktas won 78-70.

He also handed out nine assists.

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Ben Wallace faces drunken driving, weapons charges

The Detroit Free Press reports:

Detroit Piston Ben Wallace is facing a 5-year felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon after police found an unloaded pistol in a backpack in his car as they arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving Saturday in Bloomfield Township.

When officers searched his car, they discovered an unloaded pistol in a backpack in the “passenger compartment” of the vehicle, according to a news release issued by the police department today.

Wallace, 37, is expected to appear Oct. 3 for a pre-examination conference in 48th District Court in Bloomfield Township, according to police. He has been arraigned on a 93-day misdemeanor charge of drunken driving and a 5-year felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon, police said, without specifying what day he appeared in court.

ClickOnDetroit reports:

Wallace was arraigned in Bloomfield Township Sept. 24 on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon…

Police said the roadside investigation revealed that Wallace was intoxicated and subsequently taken into custody…

Police said a search of his vehicle revealed an unloaded pistol in a backpack, which was in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

76ers will hire Jeff Capel Sr. as an assistant coach

Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports (via blog):

An NBA source has told the Daily News that the 76ers have hired Jeff Capel Sr. as an assistant coach. Capel, who will turn 58 in January, was the head coach at Old Dominion from 1994 to 2001 and at North Carolina A&T (1993-94) and Fayetteville State (1989-1993).

Capel is the father of Jeff Capel Jr., who starred for Duke from 1993-97. The younger Capel was a teammate of Chris Collins, son of Sixers coach Doug Collins.

Delonte West gets a job at a furniture store

Guard Delonte West, either genuinely lacking money or simply out of boredom to try new things during the NBA lockout, or just being a little out of left field, has gotten a job at a furniture store.

Here’s what he said on Twitter:

“Applied at Regency Furniture, need a 2nd job to stay afloat during the lockout.”

“I am now an official employee of Regency Furniture.”

Here is what Delonte wrote is a photo of him at his first day of work.

And a large photo of his job application.

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Earl Clark returns from China, will be an unrestricted NBA free agent

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Former Orlando Magic forward Earl Clark will be released from his contract with a Chinese Basketball Association team and will be free to sign with an NBA team as an unrestricted free agent whenever the lockout ends, Clark’s agent said.

Happy Walters, who represents Clark, said the 6-foot-10 forward has returned to the United States because Clark’s girlfriend is seven weeks away from giving birth to a baby boy and is having some complications.

“He wanted to be there and was not comfortable being in China with problems happening,” Walters told the Orlando Sentinel via e-mail. “He is bummed, but family comes first.

“The team in China has been very supportive and understanding and they will release him from his contract,” Walters added.

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Reebok to pay $25 million to settle case over toning shoes

Jim Puzzanghera of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Reebok International Ltd. has agreed to pay $25 million in refunds to consumers to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission that the company falsely claimed that its toning shoes and other products strengthened muscles.

“Consumers expected to get a workout, not to get worked over,” David Vladeck, director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in announcing the settlement Wednesday.

Reebok is one of several companies that have marketed special fitness shoes designed to tone muscles. But their popularity has fallen off amid doubts and lawsuits about the health claims.

Vladeck would not say whether the FTC was investigating the claims of other marketers of the products.

The settlement covers several products from Reebok that the company said would provide specific health benefits. They include EasyTone walking shoes and RunTone running shoes that sold for $80 to $100 a pair, and EasyTone flip-flops that sold for $60 a pair.