Inside Hoops – Page 2045 – NBA Blog

Madison Square Garden, Anheuser-Busch extend their partnership

Press Release — Madison Square Garden and Anheuser-Busch announced today a long-term extension of their longstanding marketing partnership. The new marketing deal makes Anheuser-Busch a “Signature Partner” of Madison Square Garden with exposure across MSG’s unrivaled set of assets, including its professional sports teams (New York Knicks and New York Rangers), television networks (MSG and MSG Plus), digital platforms, in-arena signage and an expanded presence in the transformed Madison Square Garden.

The renewed marketing partnership keeps MSG in Anheuser-Busch’s stable of industry-leading sports and entertainment sponsorship properties and is highlighted by the entitlement of the Budweiser Fan Deck to be developed in the transformed Madison Square Garden. The Budweiser Fan Deck is a 10,000-square foot space that will be located in the upper bowl and serve as a unique gathering space for fans with direct views into the arena bowl.

With Budweiser and Bud Light continuing as the official beer sponsor of the Knicks and Rangers respectively, the agreement provides for additional fan focused initiatives, including brand-sponsored Knicks and Rangers viewing parties.

“Our relationship with Madison Square Garden represents one of the longest tenured partnerships in our portfolio,” said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports and entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “Budweiser and Bud Light’s renewed support of the Knicks and Rangers is symbolic of a larger and continued investment in sports and we look forward to expanding our presence in The World’s Most Famous Arena as the transformation is completed.”

“We are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Anheuser-Busch, and make them a ‘Signature Partner’ with an integrated presence across our sports and media properties,” said Hank Ratner, president and CEO, Madison Square Garden. “One of the exciting new cornerstone elements of the partnership is their expanded presence in the transformed Madison Square Garden with our new fan deck. The Budweiser Fan Deck will provide fans with a unique new space in the arena to socialize and experience games and concerts, truly enhancing the fan experience.”

Added Scott O’Neil, president, MSG Sports: “There is no brand more fitting for The World’s Most Famous Arena than the King of Beers. Anheuser-Busch and Madison Square Garden are storied companies each with well over a century old connection to New York City. This is an exciting new era of our partnership and on behalf of the millions of fans that attend our more than 400 events annually – we look forward to building on the great history our companies have together.”

Suns waive Taylor Griffin

The Phoenix Suns have waived forward Taylor Griffin, the team announced today.

Griffin appeared in just eight games for the Suns as a rookie in 2009-10, averaging 1.3 points in 4.0 minutes.

Taylor is the brother of forward Blake Griffin, who was selected #1 by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009.

Nets name Bobby Marks assistant general manager

The New Jersey Nets have named Bobby Marks as assistant general manager, General Manager Billy King announced today. Marks was promoted from his previous position of vice president of basketball operations.

“Bobby has been a well-respected member of this department for an extended period of time,” said King. “He is very deserving of this promotion, and his expertise will be invaluable as we look to re-build the Nets into a championship-caliber team.”

In his new role, Marks will assist King in the areas of salary cap management, scouting, player personnel and the day to day business of basketball operations. A member of the department for 15 seasons, Marks served as the team’s vice president of basketball operations for the past four years. After originally joining the Nets as a public relations intern in the spring of 1995, Marks was hired in January of 1996 as a basketball operations assistant. He is currently the longest tenured member of the department.

A graduate of Marist College, where he was a member of the football team, Marks received his B.A. in communications in 1995. The Little Falls, NJ native currently resides in West Orange, New Jersey with his wife, Michelle, and sons, Jake and Cooper.

Pacers have done nothing this summer

The Indiana Pacers seem to be on a 300-year rebuilding plan.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports (via blog):

Pacers officials weren’t lying when they said they were going to take their time when it came to making a roster move.

We’re in the last week of July and the only additions the Pacers have made so far have been three draft picks in what was supposed to be the “Summer of Dangling Expiring Contracts.”

In fact, somebody in the league recently mentioned to me that the Pacers’ biggest offseason move so far has been naming Clark Kellogg the vice president of player relations.

Until something changes, Pacers star Danny Granger still lacks the teammates to really compete in the East.

Former Mavericks forward Shawne Williams arrested

The AP reports:

Former University of Memphis basketball players Shawne Williams and Kareem Cooper have been arrested after police found marijuana and a loaded gun in the car they were traveling in.

Williams played 15 games with the Mavericks in the 2008-09 season and averaged 2.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Memphis police say they pulled over the Dodge Charger on Friday because Williams wasn’t wearing a seat belt. He was charged with driving on a suspended license.

InsideHoops.com says: This guy appears to be a lost cause. Oh well.

Karl Malone surprise Hall of Fame presenter pick is Willis Reed

Jody Genessy of the Deseret News reports:

You can bet John Stockton and Jerry Sloan will be at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony next month when Karl Malone and the original Dream Team are among the inductees.

Surprisingly, though, neither of them will be presenting The Mailman on his big night.

Per Malone’s request, that honor has been bestowed upon a fellow Louisiana legend.

“Willis Reed is presenting me at the Hall of Fame, which I think is pretty cool,” Malone said Friday night while visiting with Utah media at his auto dealership.

Though many people thought either Stockton or Sloan would be chosen as his presenter — a privilege only current Hall of Famers are allowed to do — Malone went back to his youth to make the selection.

Reed, who’s 21 years older than the 47-year-old birthday boy Malone, grew up in the town of Bernice, La.

Derrick Rose thinks Tracy McGrady would help Bulls

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

With the recent addition of Kurt Thomas, the Bulls have 11 players locked up and will be looking to add one more player — preferably a guard — to the roster in the next week or so.

Derrick Rose made it clear Friday he hopes that player is Tracy McGrady.

”I think that if he comes along he can help our team,” Rose said after the Team USA workout at the Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. ”A player like him, with his experience and how he plays, I think he’ll help us.”

That depends on the health of McGrady, who has had multiple surgeries on his left knee, including microfracture surgery about a year and a half ago.

Tyreke Evans sentenced to informal probation for reckless driving

Cathy Locke of the Sacramento Bee reports:

Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans pleaded no contest Friday to reckless driving.

Tyreke Evans sentenced to informal probation for reckless driving

Evans, 20, was ordered to serve three years’ informal probation and 80 hours of alternative sentencing, Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully said in a written announcement. His driver’s license also was suspended for 30 days, and he was ordered to participate in two California Highway Patrol Start Smart Driving programs, educational programs targeting teenage drivers.

Evans was driving his black Mercedes S550 shortly before 7 p.m. May 31, when a Highway Patrol flight officer in a CHP Cessna airplane spotted the vehicle traveling more than 100 mph while crossing lanes on westbound Interstate 80. The vehicle at times reached speeds of up to 130 mph and continued at high speeds for several miles while passing vehicles in Memorial Day weekend traffic, Scully said.

Can Austin Daye be NBA shooting guard?

Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press reports:

Can Austin Daye play shooting guard in the NBA?

He certainly would be a matchup problem at 6-feet-11 — he’s taller than fellow second-year players Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers. Daye spent plenty of time at the position last week during the Pistons’ Summer League in Las Vegas as the staff experimented with him at different positions.

He has the height of a power forward, the body of a small forward and the shooting range of a shooting guard, but at 22, he has plenty of room to grow physically and mentally.

The lanky shooter has the perimeter game to play the position, but whether he has the quickness to guard smaller shooting guards and the commitment to handle the defensive aspects of the position are yet to be determined.

Playing multiple positions would get him more time on the floor during the regular season.

WNBA: Tina Charles rocking the boards

The AP reports:

Tina Charles, who helped UConn win consecutive NCAA championships with undefeated records in her last two seasons, entered the weekend averaging 16.0 points and a league-best 12.0 rebounds. If she keeps it up, the 6-foot-4 center could top Chamique Holdsclaw’s single-season record average of 11.6 rebounds, set in 2002.

“The rebounding part has been the dominant part,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “It’s been better than I expected. I knew she was a good rebounder but she has been relentless about getting the ball.”

Charles also has 15 double-doubles in Connecticut’s 21 games this season, two behind the rookie record shared by Yolanda Griffith (1999) and Candace Parker (2008), and four behind the league mark set by Natalie Williams (2000).