Chris Bosh signs with Warner Music Canada

Chris Bosh signs with Warner Music Canada

Chris Bosh, NBA All-Star and six-year veteran of the Toronto Raptors, has entered into an agreement with Warner Music Canada to produce a unique DVD and CD to be released in the fall of 2009. Chris Bosh is also thrilled to announce that he has become the first athlete in the world to launch his own application for iPhone and iPod touch on the Apple App Store.

The material on the as-yet-untitled DVD will be based on the original comedic characters Bosh has developed over the past two years in a series of hilarious video clips posted on the internet. The DVD program will also include a tour of Chris’ life in Dallas (giving fans an insider look at the path that brought him to NBA stardom). The DVD will be executive produced by Max Deal Technologies President Hadi Teherany and Chris Bosh.

“This is exciting,” says Bosh. “Teaming up with Warner to produce my very own CD and DVD, as well as being the first athlete with their very own iPhone and iPod touch application, are just two more ways for fans to get to know me off the court. Entertaining my fans through the use of technology allows me to continue to try and pioneer the digital space for athletes across the world!”

“Chris Bosh is obviously talented on and off the basketball court,” says Steve Kane, President, Warner Music Canada. “We know that nothing like this has ever been tried before with an athlete but we have followed Chris’ incredible viral success with his videos online and we are very excited about the possibilities of this new partnership.”

OKC Thunder getting new scoreboard

Thunder Basketball fans in every seat will enjoy a significant upgrade to their game viewing experience with the addition of a brand new, high quality digital video scoreboard. Designs of the new Ford Center scoreboard were released today. It is scheduled to be in place before the start of the 2009-10 Thunder season.  The new scoreboard is among the many improvements planned for the Ford Center over the next two years.

The scoreboard, manufactured by Daktronics, features a total of ten full-motion video panels as compared to the current four panel scoreboard configuration. This will provide fans with a significantly enhanced video and graphics presentation. The new 10mm video panels are almost three times the size of the main screens on the current 12mm scoreboard. The board also includes an LED ring to display video and text.

“Our goal is to take as many steps as possible to improve the game experience for our fans. The addition of this high quality scoreboard is just one of the many amenities we are improving to accomplish that goal,” said Brian Byrnes, the Thunder’s senior vice president for ticket sales and services. “The high quality video panels will provide higher resolution which means sharper, clearer images and enhanced viewing for every seat in the house.”

The bottom of the scoreboard will also feature two unique tilted 6mm video panels to provide a high quality, easy-to-view presentation for fans sitting courtside and in other lower seating areas.  “This is a feature we requested and it was designed specifically for the Thunder. We feel it will greatly improve the viewing experience for our fans sitting close to the floor,” Byrnes said. Besides live and replayed game action, all ten video panels will be able to display video features, in-game activities, sponsor elements and, of course, the game score.

The 46,000 pound scoreboard will be 35 feet wide and 31 feet tall and will cost $3.9 million. The Thunder worked closely with the City of Oklahoma City to develop the design features.

Funding for the scoreboard and other renovations to the Ford Center comes from a one-cent sales tax approved by voters on March 4, 2008.  The 15-month tax took effect on January 1, 2009 and will expire March 31, 2010.

WNBA teams selling advertising on their uniforms

The New York Times reports: The Phoenix Mercury’s new uniform no longer has the words Phoenix or Mercury. Instead, the W.N.B.A.’s Mercury appears to have been renamed LifeLock, with the 10-inch-by-4-inch name of the identity-theft protection company stretching across the team’s jerseys. A small Mercury logo (the planet, with an M) appears like a badge on the upper left of the jersey. Taking a cue from international sports, where displaying corporate names on jerseys is standard, the Mercury on Monday will announce a three-year deal with Tempe, Ariz.-based LifeLock that is worth at least $1 million annually… During an off-season when one franchise, the Houston Comets, folded and the remaining 13 cut their rosters to 11 players from 13, the W.N.B.A. authorized its teams to let companies place their names on the players’ jerseys as part of broad sponsorship agreements. At least one other team is close to a similar deal.

InsideHoops.com editor says: There isn’t anything surprising or shocking about this, though it’ll still be interesting to see with my own eyes for the first time. Because, while viewing it, I’ll be pondering the obvious: Will NBA teams do this, eventually?

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Guard Shannon Brown sued by woman in Denver

ESPN.com reports: Los Angeles Lakers point guard Shannon Brown is being sued in civil court for an alleged sex-related incident with a woman in Denver, Brown’s agent, Mark Bartelstein confirmed to ESPN’s Shelley Smith on Sunday. Bartelstein said the suit stems from an incident when Brown was playing for the Charlotte Bobcats, who played in Denver on Jan. 30. Brown was traded to the Lakers on Feb. 7. Bartelstein said that within 24-48 hours after the woman filed a police report, Denver police fully investigated her claims and “did not even pursue it. Prosecutors found nothing to pursue.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Remember, folks, always assume these sort of claims are total nonsense, until really, truly proven otherwise. So, until there’s reason to think anything different, Brown didn’t do it.

Howard scores 40, Magic beat Cavs, advance to Finals

The AP reports: Overlooked and begging for respect all season, the Orlando Magic can no longer be ignored. After 14 frustrating years, they’ve returned to the NBA finals. Dwight Howard dominated inside for 40 points, Rashard Lewis added 18 and the Magic, a team that can make 3-pointers drop from thin air, hit 12 in a 103-90 victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night. The Magic will be making their first finals appearance since 1995, one year before Shaquille O’Neal bolted as a free agent for Los Angeles, leaving this Florida franchise in ruins… James scored 25 in his worst game of the series, but the 24-year-old was magnificent for most of it, adding to a legacy still in its infancy. But the league MVP had to do most of it alone, as Mo Williams lost his shooting touch and Cleveland’s bench was badly outplayed by Orlando’s reserves. Delonte West added 22 and Williams 17 for Cleveland, which went 0-5 in Orlando.

Nene has broken arm

The Denver Post reports: With a cast covering his left forearm, Nene had a hard time getting dressed after the game. The Nuggets center fractured his arm late in the fourth quarter and left the game with 6:13 to play. Afterward, the Brazilian would not talk to the media about the injury or how it happened.

InsideHoops.com editor says: It obviously must be awful to get eliminated while also getting injured. After Nene has a few days to relax and cool off, I hope he realizes how proud of himself he should be, coming back from illness, rising up to improve as a basketball player, and having a terrific season.

Bryant leads Lakers past Nuggets, back to finals

The AP reports: Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 10 assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers back to the NBA finals with a 119-92 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals on Friday night. Bryant got plenty of scoring help from Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as the Lakers shot 57.3 percent from the field to avoid having to play a Game 7 back at the Staples Center.

InsideHoops.com notes: The Lakers outscored the Nuggets by 5 in the first quarter, 8 in the second, 3 in the third and 11 in the fourth. Los Angeles shot 57.3% for the game, Denver 43.8%. Both teams were hot from three-point range, but the Lakers were awesome, nailing 9-of-16 from outside the arc. Trevor Ariza had three of those 3-pointers.

For the Lakers, Bryant had 35 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists (just 1 turnover). Pau Gasol (8-of-12) had 20 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Lamar Odom had 20 points and 8 rebounds. Trevor Ariza (awesome 7-of-9) scored 17. And Luke Walton (5-of-7) scored 10.

The Lakers hit a perfect 24-of-24 free throws, and outrebounded the Nuggets 38-27.

For the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony (6-of-17, 12-of-15 free throws) had 25 points but little else. J.R. Smith (10-of-17, 4-of-9 threes) had 24 and little else. Kenyon Martin had a quiet 13 points and 5 rebounds. Chauncey Billups got shut down, shooting just 2-of-9 for 10 points and 9 assists (but 5 turnovers). Dahntay Jones, Nene and Chris Andersen did little, though the Birdman blocked 3 shots.

Eddie Jordan to be new Philadelphia 76ers coach

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that Eddie Jordan has agreed in principle to become the next head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The rumor is that it’s a three-year deal. More info later today.

“I saw first-hand the immense impact Eddie Jordan had in helping the Nets reach two NBA Finals and as the head coach in Washington, he consistently put his teams in a position to win on a nightly basis,” Stefanski said.  “He embodies all the qualities I was looking for in the next head coach of the Sixers and we are very excited to have him in Philadelphia.”

In June of 2003, Jordan was named the head coach of the Wizards.  Under his leadership, Washington made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons from 2005 through 2008.  During that four-year span, the Wizards posted a combined regular season winning percentage of .521.  In 2005, Jordan guided Washington to a first-round upset of the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Jordan has been a head coach in the NBA for over 500 games across eight seasons with Washington and Sacramento.  His first stint as a head coach came with the Kings at the tail end of the 1996-97 season.  Following his time with Sacramento, Jordan served as the lead assistant coach for New Jersey, helping the Nets capture back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships in 2002 and 2003.

As a collegian, Jordan led Rutgers to the 1976 NCAA Final Four in his Junior year, and was named East Regional MVP. In his senior season, he was named honorable mention All-America, while setting Rutgers all-time career records in assists and steals.  Jordan went on to play seven seasons in the NBA, averaging 8.1 points, 3.8 assists and 1.82 steals and was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers Championship team in 1982.

Steve Blake has right shoulder surgery

Steve Blake has right shoulder surgery

Trail Blazers guard Steve Blake underwent successful arthroscopic shoulder surgery, the Portland Trail Blazers announced today. His recovery time is expected to be 6-8 weeks.

Blake separated his right shoulder trying to fight through a screen in the second quarter of Portland’s game at Philadelphia on January 14, sidelining the guard for five games.  He returned to action on January 26 at the Los Angeles Clippers and re-aggravated the injury in the second quarter, forcing him to miss an additional eight games.

Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

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Mark Cuban suing the SEC

The Dallas Morning News (Brendan W. Case) reports: Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Mark Cuban. Now Mark Cuban is suing the SEC.   The billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks is seeking a court order to make the nation’s securities cop turn over documents related to its insider-trading investigation of him. Cuban filed a request for the records in December under the Freedom of Information Act.