San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 62 – NBA Blog

Pacers guard George Hill to play Texas Fuel ABA exhibition game during lockout

The ABA Texas Fuel today announced that George Hill, the former San Antonio Spurs guard recently traded to the Indiana Pacers, is scheduled to play for the Texas Fuel pending the NBA lockout.

It appears that Hill, so far, has only agreed to play in one exhibition game. Not for the actual ABA season.

The Texas Fuel will open its pre-season on Sunday, October 16th vs. the West Texas Whirlwind at Manual Garza B. Gymnasium at the University of Texas at Brownsville, TX and Texas Southwest College.

“We are very pleased to have George as part of the Texas Fuel while the NBA lockout continues,” stated Marlon Minifee, Texas Fuel GM. “He is a great player and a terrific young man who has done so much for the community; I know we will miss seeing him play for the San Antonio Spurs, but we are excited about his being able to return home to Indianapolis when the NBA resumes play. For now, he will add so very much to our team.with his skills and leadership.”

The exhibition game will start at 6pm; adult tickets are $10, kids under 13 are $5.

Alonzo Gee signs in Poland

Asseco Prokom added another weapon to its new-look backcourt with the signing of Alonzo Gee. The move comes on the heels of the additions of fellow newcomers Leroy Nobles and Jerrel Blassingame, all of whom can make their Euroleague debuts this season. Gee (1.98 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Cleveland of the NBA, where he averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games last season. He has also played for Washington and San Antonio in the NBA, as well as for Austin in the NBA D-League after finishing his college career at the University of Alabama (NCAA).

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Spurs hire Matt Herring as Director of Athletic Performance

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Matt Herring has joined the organization as the team’s Director of Athletic Performance.

Herring comes to San Antonio after spending the past five years as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the University of Florida men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf programs. He was an integral part of the Gators back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Prior to his stint in Gainesville, he helped the Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball program reach the 2004 Final Four. He arrived at Oklahoma State University after spending two years as an intern at the University of Texas.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt Herring to the Spurs family to serve as our Director of Athletic Performance,” President of Sports Franchises R.C. Buford said. “Coming from one of the premier programs in college basketball led by Billy Donovan at Florida, Matt brings championship credentials with him and we look forward to the contributions he will bring to our team.”

Herring earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise sports science from Southwest Texas in 1994. He achieved his M.Ed. in kinesiology from the University of Texas in May of 2002. He is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and USA Weightlifting. He also is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Sports Performance Coach.

Prior to joining the strength and conditioning field, the Austin native was a teacher in the Schertz school district from 1994-99.

Dennis Rodman to arrive at Basketball Hall of Fame induction by helicopter

Dennis Rodman likes to do fun things. Here’s more info on how he plans to arrive at the Hall of Fame ceremonies:

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:

Aventura’s Dennis Rodman told us Tuesday he will arrive at his Basketball Hall of Fame induction Friday by helicopter. He wanted to enter the Hall on a colorful float, “but they wouldn’t let me block off the street” in Springfield, Mass.

He said he will hire acrobats to perform and “a couple of my outfits will be ‘out there.’ Whatever might be too zany is not too zany.” His marketing agent, Floyd Ragland, said Rodman is spending $60,000 to fly in Penny Marshall, Howard Stern and other friends. Phil Jackson is Rodman’s presenter.

I think this is a cover-up, and he’ll arrive via spaceship. With martians on board, partying. We’ll see.

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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.

Spurs draft pick Cory Joseph joins Canadian national team

The Canadian Press reports:

The Canadian men’s national basketball team got an infusion of talent Wednesday.

Cory Joseph, a first-round pick at this year’s NBA draft, has announced he will join the squad ahead of 2011 FIBA Americas men’s championship in Argentina.

“It’s an honour to play for your country and I’m excited to get on the floor and represent Canada as best as I can,” said Joseph, who was taken 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in June. “I know we have a young, great group, with Joel (Anthony), (Carl) English and (Andy) Rautins coming in.

“Hopefully we come back with the gold, but if not, qualify for the Olympics.”

Former NBA player Samaki Walker arrested on drug charges

Dave Hawkins of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports:

Arizona authorities allege former NBA basketball player Samaki Walker tried to eat marijuana as a Department of Public Safety officer approached his 2002 Mercedes-Benz following a routine traffic stop in Kingman on Thursday.

Officials said about 10 grams of marijuana was seized from the vehicle along with some prescription drugs and eight bottles of liquid steroids.

Police Sgt. Jamie Clark, the supervisor of a narcotics task force, said Walker was cooperative when interviewed by officers at the Mohave County Jail. He said Walker indicated that he uses the steroids to enhance his athletic ability as he still plays professionally in Syria.

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Dwayne Schintzius thinks his mullet got him traded

Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News (blog) reports:

Dwayne Schintzius was one of the original characters in the history of the Spurs franchise.

Old-school fans still remember his mullet haircut and his free-throw shooting woes during his brief one-season stint with the team. He was the Spurs’ No. 1 choice in the 1990 draft, but played only 42 games with the team before he was swapped to Sacramento after his rookie season.

Schintzius believes his mullet-style lobster haircut he wore during his season with the team was the major reason for the trade.

It seems that then-Spurs general manager Bob Bass didn’t like the haircut and wanted his prized rookie to trim his locks.

“He told me to cut it,” Schintzius told old friend Joey Johnson of the Tampa Tribune (hat tip Project Spurs.com). “So I got it cut and sent him the shavings in an envelope. I’m not sure he appreciated that. And then, away I went.”

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NBA Rookie Transition Program postponed

The NBA Rookie Transition Program, scheduled for August 9-11, has been postponed. The program, which provides first-year players with the skills and information necessary for a successful transition to the NBA, is run jointly by the NBA and the Players Association.

“Without a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players’ union, we will be unable to hold RTP as originally scheduled,” NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said. “This is an important educational program for our incoming players, and it will be rescheduled once the parties agree on a CBA.”

Billy Hunter tells InsideHoops that NBA lockout meetings may not resume until August

By Jeff Lenchiner

Wednesday evening in New York City I paid a visit to Dyckman Park for some streetball action. It was a big matchup of some top teams that has been anticipated for weeks, so the park was packed. Included in the crowd were rapper Jadakiss, Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington, and the head of the NBA Players Union, Billy Hunter, among others.

Before the game, Hunter, bravely attempting to communicate as some top-notch rap music blasted from the park’s booming speakers at full volume, gave InsideHoops.com a very quick update on the current NBA lockout situation:

InsideHoops.com: What’s the latest?

Billy Hunter: We’re trying to find some way to re-open the negotiations. We’re not making very much progress. It looks like we’re going to be where we are, I would assume probably [until] August before we actually end up getting back together.

InsideHoops.com: How long might the lockout last?

Hunter: It’s unpredictable. It’s hard to say how long it’s going to go.

It sounds like NBA fans should not hold their breath waiting for positive developments just yet.