SB Nation User Blog: damir

Rumblings: NBA to stream games live in local markets?

damir — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:14:30 -0000

The NBA is poised to become the first major U.S. sports league to stream live games in local markets, an aggressive offering that will set up a showdown between cable operators and regional sports networks.

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59753

Hopefully the NBA does this, and with today's technology, they can offer HD feeds, too. I'd pay for this over giving money to Comcast any day of the week. Probably cheaper, too.

ESPN Awards Watch

damir — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:59:01 -0000

ESPN Awards Watch

Who will take home the hardware in 2008-09? Glad you asked. We're keeping an eye on each individual award race throughout the season. Check out the debut of our brand-new feature

Oden listed as ROTY. Mac-10 as COTY.

OT: Portland area people, gyms to play basketball at?

damir — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:43:31 -0000

Apologies if this is more appropriate in the "FanShots" area, but it seemed like this question more suited for the "FanPosts" format.

Anyway, a few people that I know and I, have been talking about wanting to play basketball together for a few weeks now. The problem is, we cannot seem to agree upon which gym to play at. The main reason being, is because we really don't know any gyms around the greater Portland area where you can just drop in, pay a fee, and play.

Most gyms that I have looked at had some weird schedule that they always adhere to, like basketball for anyone under 18 years of age is a certain time slot, then over 18 organized basketball is a certain time slot, volleyball another, something for kid's another time, etc.

So, are there any gyms out here that don't adhere to any "organized" stuff, and it's just show up, and if a court is available, then play? Pretty much like an outside court, except, indoors!

I know the big places like 24 Hour Fitness have that type of open format, but not all of us are members, and non-member fees for a day are ridiculously expensive.

Any suggestions would be welcome at this point.

The Return Of Shawn Kemp

damir — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:25:49 -0000

PHILADELPHIA -- The kid was seated on the floor of a gym at Philadelphia University, a few minutes after his first game at the Reebok All-American Camp on Tuesday, when a man in an official camp polo shirt walked by and mistook him for a different high-school senior-to-be. "Dan Jennings?" the man said, but received only a strange look in return.

The man altered his inquiry. "What's your name, kid?"

"Shawn Kemp."

The man's look said B.S. "What's your name?"

"Shawn Kemp."

"You," the man said, slightly annoyed, "ain't Shawn Kemp."

And then the man walked away.

The kid, who was wearing a No. 71 jersey with no name on the back, was not perpetrating a ruse. While he is not the Shawn Kemp of Supersonics fame and paternal infamy, he is Shawn Kemp Jr., the eldest child of the former NBA forward, and one of at least eight kids -- with at least six different mothers -- fathered by the elder Kemp. Out of the Reign Man's scattered DNA has grown another power forward who has played his way onto the national recruiting radar.

Elton Brand To Sign With 76ers

damir — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:17:05 -0000

The Philadelphia 76ers have apparently won the Elton Brand free-agent sweepstakes.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Brand has informed the Sixers that he will accept a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million and spurn what was presumed to be a slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to hook up with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis.

The Sixers cannot formally sign Brand before midnight, with Wednesday serving as the first day that NBA teams can officially complete signings and trades after the lifting of a leaguewide moratorium which began July 1.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3479059

Sergio Expectations

damir — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:10:58 -0000

So, after Sergio continues to presumably, play third string PG on this team, what is Portland to do with him?

Will people still blame Sergio not getting the playing time he "deserves" on Nate McMillan? Jarrett Jack is gone now, Blake will be presumably be gone within a year or twos end, and the question now is Sergio going to be that back-up to challenge Bayless?

Getting Bayless was a pretty huge no-confidence vote against Sergio.

What are your expectations of him and should Portland part with him sooner rather than later?

KP To Shave His Head if Portland Makes Playoffs

damir — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:55:41 -0000

KP just made a bet with John Canzano that if Portland makes the playoffs, he'll shave his head.

Was anyone else listening? It's a pretty good interview.

Although, there are parts that annoy me about the NBA, mainly, what a team can and cannot say.

He referred to Rudy as "hopefully bringing over a certain Spaniard."

So stupid. He actually can't mention them being on Portland's roster, but he can talk about them in generalities at best.

Donaghy blows the whistle: Refs were told not to eject star players

damir — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:22:48 -0000

HOLY CRAP ON A WHOA

Ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy told the feds two refs fixed the outcome of one playoff series - and that officials were told not to eject star players from games for fear of hurting ticket sales.

The bombshell allegations are contained in a court document filed Tuesday by Donaghy's lawyer. It describes the “inner workings" of the NBA in which top league executives used referees to manipulate games.

Donaghy, who pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court to charges of betting on games he officiated, told FBI agents “league officials would tell referees that they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so hurt ticket sales and television ratings," the document said.

Donaghy claims he was told that two refs who were “company men” acting in the interest of the NBA conspired to extend a playoff series in 2002 to a seventh game.

WOW. This is horrible.

Link

Kings - Lakers 2002 WCF?

Greg Oden is a man among manly men

damir — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:40:48 -0000

Before

After:

via media.katu.com

via www.draftexpress.com

Didn't see this posted. Basically, holy cow look at his forearms!

OT: Finals week is kicking my ass. I need about 29 more words to fill this up so that I can post this. It's not just finals, it's the combination of freelance work along with finals. But, mmm, money. Holy crap I need 12 more words?

Gob: [arms crossed] Then there's me. The joker. The goofball. The magician.
[quickly makes a magician's gesture with his hands]
Michael: I thought you were gonna do a little fireball there.
Gob: I was. It didn't go off.

The Finals Will Suck [bitter fan tears ahead]

damir — Sat, 31 May 2008 03:24:06 -0000

Ugh. Screw you Stern.

Am I the only one that cannot stand a single player from either team? If someone said Celtics vs Lakers in the finals, it's something I would tune into... in the 1980s.

Magic, Bird, Kareem, Walton? Hell yeah. Plenty of players to love on those teams.

But now? So many unlikable players on both franchises, and this is supposed to be "good" for the NBA?

Mind you, today is the one-year anniversery of when Kobe demanded to be traded from the Lakers. Not only that, but it was around this time the Celtics were screaming bloody murder after tanking their entire season in disgusting fashion and not getting a top two pick - only to be outdone by the Heat this season.

The influx of bandwagon fans is going to be vomit inducing. The same Boston fans that were chanting "Kobe for MVP" in the Boston arena, will be the same ones yelling "Beat LA" now.

This sucks.

The NBA: Where "all for ratings, all for egoes" happens.