DeMarcus Cousins kicked out of Kings practice


Oct 19, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Clippers 96-94. Photo via Newscom
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports:Kings rookie center DeMarcus Cousins was kicked out of Monday’s practice.

Cousins slipped to fifth in June’s NBA draft because of questions about his maturity and attitude. He was fined earlier this season after a verbal dispute with the Kings’ strength and conditioning coach.

“It was a necessary move in our continued attempt to help him develop,” said Kings coach Paul Westphal of removing Cousins from practice.

Westphal declined to explain why Cousins made it through only two-thirds of practice.

“I’m not going to get into details,” Westphal said. “He was asked to leave early.”

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Richard Peddie, president/CEO of MLSE (who own Raptors), to retire at end of 2011

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) announced Tuesday that Richard Peddie will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment on December 31, 2011. Peddie will also retire from his position on MLSE’s Board at that time. An executive search committee has been formed by MLSE’s Board of Directors to identify Peddie’s successor with the support of Korn/Ferry International. The search committee will consider both internal and external candidates.

“Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is what it is today due in large measure to the great team that Richard Peddie has built,” said MLSE Chairman Larry Tanenbaum. “His leadership has demonstrated how a company like ours can be a leader in the community. When Richard retires, he will leave a wonderful legacy that is Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.”

“Richard took the helm of a two-team and one venue organization in 1998 with a clear vision of transforming it into a world-class enterprise. His determination guided the company in its evolution into today’s powerhouse with four teams, in three venues, on three networks across three professional sports leagues,” said Neil Petroff, Executive Vice-President and CIO for Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. “We all can thank Richard for his leadership in creating an exceptional sporting landscape that all of Toronto now enjoys.”

Peddie was named MLSE’s inaugural President and CEO in February 1998 after the purchase of the Toronto Raptors and Air Canada Centre by Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd.

Under his leadership, MLSE has expanded its growth and reach to become one of the premier sports and entertainment companies in the world. Peddie’s vision led to the growth of MLSE from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Air Canada Centre to include three digital networks — Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and GOLTV Canada —  two more sports teams — Toronto FC and the Toronto Marlies — and a Toronto destination in Maple Leaf Square. He also led MLSE’s private sector investment and involvement to build BMO Field, which was Canada’s first soccer specific stadium and the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, Toronto’s first community four-pad arena built in 27 years.

In Toronto, Peddie has led MLSE to become a city builder and community leader by making a meaningful contribution that supports creating new urban destinations that have assisted tourism, economic growth and developing vibrant and viable neighbourhoods. Since MLSE’s inception, the organization has invested close to $1 billion in the City of Toronto in building new venues and community facilities, in addition to charitable contributions.

“I’m very proud to have led a company that is arguably one of the finest sports and entertainment companies in the world,” said Peddie. “This is the right decision for me and I felt it was time. The last 13 years at MLSE have been terrific and a lot of fun.”

Peddie added “Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is well-positioned for future success because of the more than 600 dedicated sports and entertainment professionals who work at our organization. I remain committed to leading the organization till the end of 2011, ensuring plans are in place for future initiatives and to support a seamless transition for my successor.”

Kings fan hits halfcourt shot to win car

Ed Fletcher of the Sacramento Bee reports:

On Saturday, a Yuba City man made the halfcourt shot to win a car.

John Guth’s halfcourt basket came two weeks after team owner Joe Maloof tweaked the rules to give an Army lieutenant a new car for making a shot from the free-throw line.

“I wish our players could shoot that well,” Maloof said after Guth’s impressive shot.

Before shooting, Guth told the announced crowd of 13,504 that he intended to “go glass.” Then, he expertly banked it down from half court before erupting into celebration dance that channeled former King Mike Bibby with a little two-fisted Tiger Woods fist pump action thrown in.

“That was just instinct to run around,” said Guth, 27. “It was so exciting. It was surreal.”

The new car is perfect timing, he said. He currently drives a “just get me by” Ford Taurus with no heat and a major crack in its windshield.

Discuss the team on the Sacramento Kings forum.

Kings assign Hassan Whiteside to D-League

The Sacramento Kings have assigned forward/center Hassan Whiteside to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie announced today.

Whiteside was selected by Sacramento with the 33rd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and has made one appearance with team this year, logging two minutes in the season-opening win over Minnesota (10/27/10). He represents the second assignment of a Kings player to the Bighorns, following Donte Greene in 2009.

Raptors recall Ed Davis from D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday rookie forward Ed Davis has been recalled from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.

Davis appeared in two games with the BayHawks, averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 17.5 minutes. He shot .583 percent (7-of-12) from the field.

Davis is expected to rejoin the Raptors for practice Tuesday and be on the active roster for Wednesday’s game versus Washington.

Kings waive Antoine Wright

Kings waive Antoine Wright

The Sacramento Kings today announced that they waived guard Antoine Wright.

Wright totaled two points and three rebounds in seven appearances this season.

The Kings roster now stands at 13.

For his NBA career, which began with the New Jersey Nets in the 2005-06 season, Wright has averaged 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.2 minutes per game. He’s also played for the Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I think another team will sign Wright in the near future, likely for the league minimum. He certainly has lacked staying power, being bounced the league around like a pinball. But I think Wright is good enough to stick around.

McGrady says LeBron, Wade do not mesh


Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, forward Chris Bosh and forward LeBron James (L-R) wait at the scorer's table during a timeout in the third quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Massachusetts October 26, 2010. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Can LeBron James and Dwyane Wade learn to play together and make each other and their other teammates better? Maybe, but in the opinion of Tracy McGrady, himself once a superstar, the two don’t mesh well.

Chris Iott of Booth Newspapers reports:

“It’s what I expected,” Tracy McGrady said of the Heat’s struggles Sunday after the Pistons suffered a double-overtime loss to the Knicks. “You’ve got two guys (James and Wade) that really don’t mix. I mean, they’re the same type of player. They just don’t complement each other.”

Some predicted that the Heat would win 70-plus games in the regular season and be the favorites to win the NBA title. But McGrady said he is not surprised they have struggled the way they have early this season.

“Not at all,” he said. “It’s tough to get that chemistry. You can’t just go somewhere and create that type of chemistry. (James) had that in Cleveland. He had everything going for him. Great energy in the building. He created a great atmosphere. I enjoyed going to Cleveland because the atmosphere was just unbelievable.

“The chemistry he had with his teammates was unbelievable,” McGrady continued. “You can’t just go somewhere and create that. You can see it on his face. He’s not having fun. I’m so used to him doing all his antics on the basketball court, and he’s not doing that. You can see that something is just not right.”

Hornets unveil gold Mardi Gras alternate uniforms

hornets gold jerseys

The New Orleans Hornets unveiled their new gold alternate uniforms today at an event at the New Orleans Arena prior to the Hornets home game against the San Antonio Spurs that featured five lucky fans who found a golden ticket as part of the Hornets “Hunt for Gold” scavenger hunt.  The five winners were given the opportunity to help launch the uniforms by being the first to own and wear the new gold jerseys and debut their photos and comments about the uniforms on their personal social networking sites.

“Our Mardi Gras gold uniforms proudly pay tribute to our hometown of New Orleans by not only displaying NOLA across the chest of the jersey, but also wearing one of our signature colors that represents the culture, heritage and celebration that makes up our great city,” said Hornets President Hugh Weber.  “It was important for us to allow our fans to be the first to debut these uniforms because they play such an important role in our team’s success on and off the court.”

hornets gold jerseys

The alternate uniforms will be worn for the first time on Friday, Dec. 10 as the Hornets host the Oklahoma City Thunder and again at home on Sunday, Dec. 26 as the Hornets take on the Atlanta Hawks.  The Hornets will also sport their Mardi Gras gold uniforms for every Saturday game throughout the rest of the season.

The Hornets’ Mardi Gras gold uniforms also feature purple and Creole blue pinstripes and trim on the sides.  NOLA is written in Creole blue across the front of the jersey and each player’s name is in purple across the top back.  The Fleur de Bee logo adorns the top neck of the jersey and is featured on either side of the shorts.

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After heart attack, Jim Petersen back behind microphone

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

Timberwolves television broadcaster Jim Petersen returned to work Saturday night, three days after suffering a heart attack he said was nowhere near the “mild” one the team reported he had after Wednesday morning’s shootaround.

Petersen credits a telephone call to team physician Sheldon Burns with saving his life. Burns urged him to call paramedics immediately rather than wait for his wife to arrive home after he went from experiencing slight discomfort in his chest to a crushing pain in a matter of minutes.

Within 50 minutes after calling for help, Petersen rested in the hospital with a stent in his heart to open what he called a 100 percent blockage.

David Lee returns; Dorell Wright hits 9 three-pointers


Toronto Raptors Linas Kleiza goes to the basket against Golden State Warriors David Lee (L) during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, November 8, 2010. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)
Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

David Lee wasn’t sure how his body would respond in his return from an eight-game layoff because of an infected elbow.

But it was pretty clear how his teammates were going to respond.

Even before Saturday’s game against Minnesota, the Warriors’ locker room had a different buzz than in the past two weeks. It showed on the court to the tune of a 104-94 victory over the Timberwolves at the Target Center.

“I’m no savior,” Lee said. “The biggest thing I’m trying to bring is a positive attitude. Everybody gets down from time to time. Our morale is a little down right now. We need a little pick-me-up. That’s what I’m trying to do.” …

Dorell Wright had a franchise-record nine three-pointers and a career-high 30 points, Ellis and Curry combined for 46 points on 16-for-30 shooting and 17 assists, and Biedrins had 12 rebounds in 24 minutes.