Los Angeles Lakers Blog – Page 114 – NBA Blog

Police to interview Kobe Bryant about sprained wrist of fellow churchgoer

Police said Tuesday they were seeking to interview Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant over allegations he sprained the wrist of a man possibly trying to take his picture at a San Diego church.

The man said Bryant, who has won five NBA championship rings with the Lakers, grabbed his wrist and took his phone away, only to give it back when he found no photos of himself or his wife inside, San Diego Police Detective Gary Hassen told Reuters.

“Detectives have the case and are hoping to talk with Mr. Bryant,” Hassen said of the incident at Carmel Valley Catholic Church on Sunday.

The man, who was not identified by authorities, was treated for a sprained wrist at a local hospital, Hassen said.

— Reuters

Houston lands 2013 NBA All-Star Game

Mark Berman of My Fox Houston reports:

NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports the Houston Rockets and the City of Houston landed the NBA All-Star Game in 2013. The game will be played at Toyota Center on Feb. 17, 2013. NBA All-Star week will be Feb. 15-17. The Rockets and Toyota Center also hosted the game in 2006.

Click2Houston reports:

The entire NBA All-Star Weekend will be in the Bayou City from February 15-17, 2013. Hilton Americas Marketing Director Janice O’Neill-Cox spoke with Local 2 Sports Wednesday afternoon, saying, “We played a key role in working with the league to make sure availability was in place. It’s a big boost for our city to land the game, and we’re excited about it.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: I don’t get why Houston is getting the game again. They just had it in 2006. Meanwhile, other teams haven’t hosted it in a long time. Also, Madison Square Garden renovations will be mostly complete in time. And the new Brooklyn Nets arena will exist by mid 2012. Unusual call to send the big weekend back to Houston so soon.

Charges dropped in alleged kidnapping over Shaq sex tape

The AP reports:

Los Angeles County prosecutors have dropped the case against seven gang members accused of kidnapping a music producer who claimed to have a sex tape of Shaquille O’Neal.

At the prosecution’s request, a judge Tuesday dismissed kidnapping, assault and robbery charges.

District attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison says prosecutors believed Robert Ross was attacked but his credibility as a witness was undermined by some of his own testimony and behaviour outside court. No details were provided.

Video: Magic Johnson likes Larry Bird. Not then, but now

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird weren’t friends in their playing days. Sure, they respected each other — the same way you might respect a tornado flying towards your home and loved ones — but there was a friendly competitive hatred there.

These days, though, with their playing days long behind them, the memories remain, but feelings of dislike have been left in the past.

Here’s a video clip of Magic Johnson, at a Los Angeles Times-related event, talking about liking Larry Bird:

Read fan reaction or discuss your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Jordan Farmar signs in Israel

Euroleague.net reports:

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv moved to shore up its backcourt by signing point guard Jordan Farmar, a two-time NBA champion, to a one-year deal on Wednesday. Farmar (1.88 meters, 24 years old, arrives from New Jersey of the NBA, where he averaged 9.6 points and 5 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. Farmar played the his first four years as a pro with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 while coming off the bench for 18 minutes per game, averaging 6.8 points and 2 assists. His best season statistically with Los Angeles was 2007-08, when he put up 9.1 points and 2.7 assists in 20 minutes per game.

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Lawsuit from Black Fives against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar withdrawn

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times (blog) reports:

Black Fives Inc., owners of trademarked logos commemorating vintage African American basketball teams, has withdrawn a federal lawsuit accusing the film company headed by Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of trademark infringement in connection with his recent documentary, “On the Shoulders of Giants,” according to court records.

Even though Black Fives withdrew the lawsuit without prejudice on July 28, nearly four months after filing the case, owner Claude Johnson stated in an email that the decision stemmed from financial concerns over a lengthy court case. He kept open the possibility that the organization would refile the complaint, stressing that the “matter is not ‘settled.'”

On behalf of Abdul-Jabbar’s film company, Union Productions, business manager Deborah Morales issued a strongly worded statement to The Times that condemned the lawsuit and questioned the validity behind it.

For much more, read here.

Lamar Odom coming to terms with summer tragedies

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times (blog) reports:

Given all the pain and suffering that’s followed Lamar Odom at nearly every turn, he’s still maintained a positive outlook and has drawn inspiration from it.

His mother, Cathy Mercer, died of colon cancer when he was 12. His grandmother Mildred Mercer, who raised him, died in 2004. His son Jayden, at only 7 months old, died of sudden infant death syndrome in his crib in 2006. Yet, Odom has persevered, honored them in pregame rituals and often thinks about them for both guidance and perspective.

The pain struck again this month. Odom attended a funeral in New York for his 24-year-old cousin, who he told The Times’ Broderick Turner was killed. Then he was a passenger in a car that collided with a motorcycle and struck a 15-year-old pedestrian who later died.

“I think the effects of seeing [my cousin] die and then watching this kid die, it beat me down. I consider myself a little weak,” Odom told Turner. “I thought I was breaking down mentally. I’m doing a lot of reflecting.”

Rumor: Kobe Bryant closer to signing in China than Turkey, wants $1.5 million a month if he goes overseas

Marc J. Spears and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo report:

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is engaged in far more substantive contract talks with teams in China than he is Turkish team Besiktas, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman tweeted Sunday that the team made an official offer to Bryant last week and plans to meet with Bryant’s agent in Los Angeles this week. However, a source close to Bryant said he hasn’t had conversations with the Turkish team in two weeks, and labeled Bryant’s chances of playing with Besiktas at “zero percent.”

Bryant, sources said, is still listening to offers to play overseas during the NBA’s lockout, and considers China a more likely option. He has exchanged proposals with Chinese teams, and one source said it’s unlikely Bryant would accept any deal that pays him less than $1.5 million per month. Bryant would be free to rejoin the Lakers as soon as the lockout ends.

Ron Artest should officially become Metta World Peace in late August

TMZ reports:

Long story short — anyone looking to officially change their name in the State of California has to get a public declaration of the name change PRINTED in a local newspaper 4 times — once a week, 4 weeks in a row.

On July 19th, Ron’s LAST declaration to become Metta World Peace was published in the L.A. Daily Commerce — but the name change won’t become official until August 26th … when a judge is scheduled to sign the order.

Read NBA fan opinion and share your own reaction in this forum topic.

Ron Artest plans to remarry former wife Kimsha

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times (blog) reports:

Ron Artest sounded skeptical on appearing on “Dancing With the Stars”: “I haven’t thought about it yet. I like the show. Obviously, you have to dance. I play defense. I don’t know if I dance.”

He apparently is going to remarry his wife, Kimsha: “We’ve been together for 14 years. It doesn’t matter what our status is. We’re together. But we’re going to get married again. We’re planning to get married again. A nice big wedding. We’re good though.”

And in unprompted backstage moments before he was to appear on stage, Artest noted the “great timing” to have a comedy show because of what happened this week.