Charlotte Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan To Be On NBA 2K11 Cover
got my hands up, they playin my song
Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bulls star but current Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan will be on the new cover of NBA 2K11 as well as being a playable character.
2K has been in negotiations with several players, both teammates and opponents, from the Jordan era to appear in “2K11″ to help gamers and history buffs accurately recreate the heated competition between the classic Bulls and rivals like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
I’m not going out on much of limb when I say that this will probably be their highest selling game in the series to date but what about selling the next generation of NBA stars like Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans or Derrick Rose.
Former NBA Player Gives R&B Singing A Shot
Former Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Rudy J’s all time favorite Los Angeles Laker Kareem Rush has decided its time to take his career path into a whole new direction. Rush is stepping away from the NBA court to lend his vocals to the R&B game.
Rush can be found in the recording booths at Felicia Khong Music where he already has recorded his single, “Hold You Down.” His first single has received airtime on 10 R&B stations across the country so far but San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker is not impressed.
Jodeci can just pack up their mics right now as Kareem is about to give the ladies a little adrenaline rush.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Atlanta Hawks and their 43 point loss to the Orlando Magic.
Since March the Hawks have been playing basketball with one foot already set in the NBA off-season and never was that more clear than in Game One of the second round playoffs against the Magic Tuesday night.
The Hawks went scoreless for near six minutes with seven turnovers in the second quarter and down at halftime 53-33. After scoring only 10 points in the second quarter and 11 in the third quarter, the Hawks were looking up from a 46-point deficit at one point.
The loss easily could have been more than 50 had the Magic needed to play their regulars for more than two quarters. All the while Orlando was shaking off the rust after sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the playoffs.
The Hawks where lead in scoring by Josh Smith 14 points and as a team didn’t reach the 50-point mark until Jeff Teague hit a 3-pointer with 8 minutes left in the game.
Hawks coach Mike Woodson said the team come out with “no juice” and that “it was an ugly game for us on both ends of the floor.”
No matter how you try to slice it up, the performance Atlanta displayed on Tuesday was disgusting and a major meltdown. Even the viewers at home watching on TV thought so with the game drawing a 1.9 rating and 3 million viewers on TNT ranking it as the lowest rated NBA Playoff game in two years.
Tim Duncan Makes 2009-10 NBA All-Defensive Team
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, winner of the 2009-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award presented by Kia Motors, and guard Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. By totaling 57 points overall, including 28 First Team votes, Howard edged Rondo (50 points overall and 23 First Team votes) as the leading vote-getter.
Also selected to the All-Defensive First Team are forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (45 points), Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (34 points) and Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (30 points).
Howard became the first player to lead the league in rebounding and blocks (1973-74 was the first season blocks were kept as an official statistic) in consecutive seasons, averaging 13.2 rebounds and 2.78 blocks. He also became only the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding for at least three consecutive seasons. With Howard anchoring the defense, the Magic allowed 95.3 ppg, which ranked fourth in the NBA, and held the opposition to a league-low .438 shooting from the field, including 24 games where opponents shot under .400. Orlando held the opposition to less than 100 points 57 times and to less than 90 points 24 times.
The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of center Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, guards Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Thabo Sefolosha of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and forwards Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Duncan has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive team 13 consecutive seasons.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
Larry Brown Wants Out Of Charlotte?
Never Trust A Man Who Wears A Bow Tie
Now that the Orlando Magic have eliminated the Charlotte Bobcats from the NBA playoffs could coach Larry Brown be on his way back to Philadelphia?
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer the process getting Brown back to the team he coached from 1997-2003 and lead to an NBA Finals appearance in 2001 could very well be in motion. Just a month ago Brown emphatically told reporters that he would only coach for Michael Jordan however the Sixers could have the front office in mind for him instead of the sidelines.
Currently the president and general manager position is still held by Ed Stefanski but that job doesn’t look to be secure. At the end of the season Stefanski fired Eddie Jordan, who he hired, has yet to hear any support come from ownership, publicly or privately. That could very well mean his tenure with the organization be coming to a close, leaving an opening for Brown to return to Philadelphia where he has always stayed in close contact with Comcast CEO Ed Snider.
In addition to Brown’s close contact with the higher ups in the Sixers orginzation his family has remained in the Philadelphia area ever since Brown left the Sixers after the 2002-03 season. Brown is almost 70-years-old and might consider spending far more many nights closer to his family – wife Shelly; son A.J., 15; and daughter Madison, soon to be 13.
Sources are saying that Jordan has given Brown permission to return home if the position involves authority over basketball decisions, something Brown does not have in Charlotte. If the opening in Philadelphia does come available many believe that Charlotte considers the chances of Brown staying as minimal.
“I love my team,” Brown told the Inquirer two weeks ago. “I love coaching. I’m (almost) 70 years old. I want to coach for Michael Jordan. That’s where I’m at. I’m happy here. It’s no fun being away from my family and Shelly. That’s always going to be the case. But I love what I’m doing.”
Only Larry knows what Larry will do, however I do know I abandoned his word meaning anything to me long ago.
San Antonio Spurs Draw Good Ratings On TNT
Amazing Is Belief
TNT NBA Playoffs tripleheader on Sunday drew good numbers for TNT. Headlined by the San Antonio Spurs/Dallas Mavericks matchup.
The Mavericks Game 1 win over the Spurs drew a 2.9 overnight rating on TNT Sunday night, up 7% from Miami Heat/Atlanta Hawks in the same time slot last year (2.7). Last year’s Mavericks/Spurs Game 1, which aired on a Saturday night on ESPN, drew a 2.3 overnight rating. The 2.9 for Sunday’s game was tied as the highest of the weekend for an NBA Playoff game on cable as the Miami Heat/Boston Celtics also drew a 2.9 on ESPN the previous night.
The rest of ESPN’s tripleheader numbers saw the Milwaukee Bucks/Atlanta Hawks game draw a 1.8 overnight rating and later in the night the Utah Jazz/Denver Nuggets saw a 2.4 overnight.
The Charlotte Bobcats/Orlando Magic Game 1 drew a 2.5 overnight rating, up 9% from Philadelphia 76ers/Orlando Magic Game 1 last year (2.3). The night ended with the Portland Trail Blazers Game 1 upset of Phoenix Suns drew a 2.2 overnight and was down 3% from last year’s Game 1 between the New Orleans Hornets and Denver Nuggets (2.3).
Overall, TNT averaged a 2.5 overnight rating for NBA Playoff coverage on Sunday.
Former Bobcats Owner Bob Johnson Has Harsh Words About Charlotte
Oh No You Didn't!
Days after selling the Charlotte Bobcats, Bob Johnson called Charlotte community “arrogant” and “incestuous” and said the city doesn’t do enough for existing and potential minority-owned business.
Johnson, a self-made billionaire who started the Black Entertainment Television cable network and brought the Bobcats to Charlotte, made the remarks at the Urban Leadership Institute
“Charlotte is a very, how would I call it, close-knit, arrogant, sometimes incestuous town. The thing that concerns me is that I’m just surprised that the city doesn’t do more for African-American small businesses. And I don’t really understand that.”
Johnson has criticized Charlotte community before. Two years ago, in an interview with the Observer, he said Charlotte community wasn’t doing enough to support the expansion team.
Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, said he did not want to talk about Johnson’s comments, saying only that “I think Charlotte owes Bob Johnson a debt of gratitude for bringing the NBA back to Charlotte.”
The city of Charlotte didn’t really roll out the carpets for Hornets owner George Shinn either, will Michael Jordan be strike three?
New Charlotte Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan Would Consider Name Change
got my hands up, they playin my song
With the NBA Board of Governors voting unanimously approving the purchase by Michael Jordan to have the majority interest in the Charlotte Bobcats, he now becomes the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team.
One of his first decisions as majority owner might be to change the team name, one that former owner Bob Johnson named after himself. It’s no where close to being a done deal one that is still lingering in the thought process stage however, I admit in being wrong that he would entertain the notion after hearing the cost of such move. Jordan told the Charlotte Observer’s he would consider it.
“The thing is that I’m open for anything. It’s a commitment. We have to go through the league. It’s a process. It’s a financial commitment. Am I willing to look at that and say can we go down that road? Yeah. If I get the understanding from the community, from the public, that we need it and it signifies change, yeah, I would do that. But once again, it’s a process. It’s a $3-million to $10-million investment to do that. I’m not afraid of that, as long as at the backside of that, the public is going to be happy about that, that it’s going to be great for the organization. I think it [could be] a new beginning. Yeah, I would do that. I would consider that.’ “
I thought since the franchise was in a hemorrhaging state financially and being locked in with a good but not overly great core of players for another three years, the name change wouldn’t be a consideration. When the brand new owner is willing to reach out to a community that has always seemed to distance itself from it’s pro team for a new look, I gotta admit I was wrong. Will it happen is a different story though.
Charlotte Flight anyone?
Mess With Spurs Coyote & Get Sweet Chin Music
I know its old but how can you get enough of Randolph High School Ro-Hawks and San Antonio’s own Michael Hickenbottom aka Shawn Michaels The Heartbreak Kid standing up for the Spurs Coyote.
HBK is not a fan of the Charlotte Bobcats mascot messing with the Coyote so he gets a right foot lullaby.
Kobe Bryant Is MacGyver
Kobe Bryant is amazing! I know Charlotte Bobcats Gerald Henderson and Denver Nuggets J.R. Smith still haven’t finish reading “How to Guard Kobe Bryant 101″.
Michael Jordan Will Buy The Charlotte Bobcats
got my hands up, they playin my song
As we told you on February 16 Michael Jordan wanted to buy the Charlotte Bobcats from team owner and BET founder Bob Johnson, whom he named the team after, is getting his wish.
Jordan will still have to get the owners approval but commissioner David “The Goon” Stern sees the process being an expedited approval process to be completed by the end of this month. Jordan and MJ Basketball Holdings LLC. have reached a deal to buy the Charlotte franchise beating out former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the sale price is based on a franchise value of less than $300 million, in the mid to high twos. In the past two years, the team has attempted to save money by doing everything from shedding at least 40 front-office jobs to saving as much as $15,000 a night by hiring cheap halftime entertainment acts. The club has struggled at the turnstiles for years, currently ranking 22nd in the 30-team league in attendance, averaging 15,193 per game, which is roughly 80% of its arena’s capacity.
Zach Randolph Forever Linked To Tyrus Thomas
I’m not your typical NBA fan that is going to rate every NBA dunk as a facial or act like we never seen anything that impressive before. But being an NBA fan you realize that every now and then there comes those million dollar moment for a hoopster and its a rarity to be included on that list on this site.
This season we have seen a few that get that distinction of forever linking one player to another like Derrick Rose to Goran Dragic,Paul Milsap to Carmelo Anthony or like Dwyane Wade being linked on both sides of the spectrum to J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao.
Now we have our latest inclusion of Charlotte Bobcats Tyrus Thomas million dollar moment on Memphis Grizzlies Zach Randolph. That two handed put down with extension is very impressive.
Michael Jordan “Badly” Wants To Buy The Charlotte Bobcats
got my hands up, they playin my song
Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said Monday night that Michael Jordan has told him he’s doing all he can to buy majority control of the Bobcats from owner Bob Johnson.
“He said he’s doing his best to put himself in a position to get the team,” Brown said after practice. “He wants it badly.”
Johnson is eager to sell the unprofitable club, and NBA commissioner David “The Goon” Stern said Saturday he expects a deal to be completed within two months.
Jordan may have some competition from former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos who has made inquiries, and it’s possible if Postolos gets control Jordan would no longer have a role with the team. Postolos has been in talks with Johnson for months.
What’s clear is Johnson is looking to unload the Bobcats. After paying $300 million for the expansion franchise that began play in 2004-05, Johnson has lost tens of millions of dollars each season as the Bobcats have struggled to draw fans and find sponsorships.
David Stern Projects NBA $400 Milli In Losses
Goon
David “The Goon” Stern said Saturday the NBA is projecting league-wide losses of about $400 million this season and has lost hundreds of millions in each previous year of the current collective bargaining agreement.
The commissioner said it has shown the players’ association those numbers in hopes of demonstrating why the league feels it needs “significant changes” in the next deal.
“The right adjectives were thrown around, and our proposal appropriately denounced. Our response is, ‘You can denounce it, tear it up, you can burn it, you can jump up and down on it, as long as you understand that it reflects the financial realities of where we are,”‘ Stern said during his annual All-Star press conference.
“And if you would like to have your own proposal, as long as it comes back and deals with our financial realities, that’s OK with us. That’s fine with us. In fact, that’s what we would like to do.”
Stern criticized the union’s behavior at the session, saying it earned “high marks on the list of theatrical negotiations.”
He revealed that the players’ side brought in a lawyer who threatened that the union would be decertified, making negotiating more difficult.
The recent economic downturn has been seen as a reason for the league’s financial woes, but Stern denied that things will improve just because the economy does.
Stern also predicted the Charlotte Bobcats would be sold in about two months.
Super Bowl Hangover Hits Washington Wizards Antawan Jamison
No Blame For Wanting An Extra Day Away From Flip
The Super Bowl hangover doesn’t effect only the working man it even hits NBA superstars like Antawn Jamison who missed his team practice because he was still in Miami.
Jamison was unable to meet up with his team who was in Orlando for it’s practice today. Jamison had a suite at Sun Life Stadium to watch the New Orleans Saints but couldn’t find other means to get from Miami to Orlando, like say a rental car. He did call the team to inform them of his problems and plans on joining the team in Charlotte later in the afternoon where the Wizards will play the Bobcats on Tuesday.
The Wizards who have had what head coach Flip Saunders called “a mini-all-star break before the all-star break,” with the snow in Washington DC keeping them stranded in Orlando over the weekend which caused their home game against the Atlanta Hawks to be postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, March 11.
NBA Announces All-Star Reserves
February 14, 2010
The NBA is set to announce the All-Star reserves during tonight’s TNT games but Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski got a hold of a leaked list of the 2010 NBA All-Star reserves
Eastern Conference Reserves:
Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
Chris Bosh – Toronto Raptors
Gerald Wallace – Charlotte Bobcats
Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford – Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference Reserves:
Deron Williams – Utah Jazz
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
Zach Randolph – Memphis Grizzlies
Brandon Roy – Portland Blazers
It will be the All-Star debuts for seven players: Williams of Utah, Chicago’s Rose, Boston’s Rondo, Charlotte’s Wallace, Memphis Randolph, Atlanta’s Horford and Oklahoma City’s Durant.
Among the notable candidates left off the team are the Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman, New York Knicks David Lee and Denver Nuggets Chauncey Billups.
NBA Announces Slam Dunk Partipants
Will It Be The Year Of The Little Man Again?
The NBA has announced it’s participants for its Slam Dunk contest on February 13, held during All-Star weekend this year at Jerry World’s. One notable absence is that of Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James.
Those who will participate are Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown, New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson and Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace. A fourth player will be determined through a “dunk-off” between Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon and Toronto Raptors forward DeMar DeRozan.
Robinson won the event last season and in 2006.
I care to see “TNT Legs” Brown win it but I’m going to put my money down on Wallace of Charlotte.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Acie Law IV
Danilo Gallinari, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-DaJuan Summers
Gerald Wallace, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
It’s Over!!! The New Jersey Nets Finally Post Their 1st Win
Still Hold The Record For Worst Start
The streak is over and Kiki is the hero. Finally is what every NBA fan is thinking as the New Jersey Nets got to experience what a win exactly feels like.
The Nets won for the first time this season and their first win since April 13, ending the worst start in NBA history at 18 losses by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 97-91.
Brook Lopez and Courtney Lee where the stars as Lopez had 31 points and 14 rebounds and Lee scored a career-high 27 points in his return to the starting lineup for the Nets in their first game under Kiki Vandeweghe, their general manager who will coach the rest of the season.
Vandeweghe was given the position Tuesday, two days after the Nets fired Lawrence Frank. Assistant Tom Barrise guided the team for the previous two losses so Vandeweghe could bask in the glory when the team had one of it’s best chances to turn the page.
But they still are the Nets and gaffes still occur in East Rutherford as Vandeweghe first coaching decision was to inset Lee for Trenton Hassell in the starting lineup. Apparently though nobody told the personal announcer as he announced Hassell doing starting lineup introductions.
The game included some eire side notes as the Nets last victory was in April and against the Bobcats. In addition Bobcats coach Larry Brown once coached the Nets in 1981-82 and ’82-’83. Brown also coached Vandeweghe for a year at UCLA and again for the Los Angeles Clippers at the end of his pro career.
The krispy kreme is finally no more but let’s not forget the history still holds this New Jersey Nets team photo as the worst to ever start an NBA season,0-18.
Kevin Garnett Gets Ready For Spurs By Flexing On A Former Spur
Before flying to San Antonio to play the Spurs tonight, Boston Celtic forward Kevin Garnett went ahead and flexed on former Spur and current Charlotte Bobcat Nazr Mohammed.
Not an uncommon sight for Spurs fans when it comes to KG.
Kiki Vandeweghe & Del Harris Take Over As Nets Head Coach
KIKI
I always heard the stories of how Kiki Vandeweghe was a baller at UCLA but I missed out on that time and unforunatley saw A LOT of his pro career, for some stupid reason I thought the name Kiki was one of the coolest I had ever heard.
Now it seems I’ll be seeing more of Kiki as he has decided that no one else can right the sinking ship in New Jersey but himself, yeah good luck. The Nets have chosen him as the replacement for fired coach Lawrence Frank for the rest of the season.
It also seems that Kiki is going to lug around some old baggage as he has agreed to bring in longtime NBA coach Del Harris as a co-coach. That sounds wonderful to anyone who is not a Nets fan.
Nets assistant coach Tom Barrise coached the team against the Lakers on Sunday night in Los Angeles and will be in charge Wednesday against Dallas at home when New Jersey goes 0-18, which would represent the worst start to a season in NBA history. Kiki will take over after the name Vandeweghe does not appear in the record books and will get the team ready to play Charlotte on Friday.
Kiki and Harris worked together as assistants in Dallas on Don Nelson’s staff and developed a close bond during that time.
Spurs Tim Duncan Named NBA Western Conference Player Of The Week
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
The San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan today was named the Western Conference Player of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 29.
Duncan led San Antonio to a 4-0 week, posting three double-doubles along the way. Duncan averaged 21.8 points on .583 shooting, to go with 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 blocks. With 21 points in the Spurs’ 92-84 win over the Rockets on Nov. 27, Duncan passed Terry Cummings (19,460) for 39th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Here is a recap of the week for Duncan:
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Nov. 23 vs. Milwaukee: Tallied 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 112-98 win over the Bucks.
Nov. 25 vs. Golden State: Posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in a 118-104 win over the Warriors.
Nov. 27 @ Houston: Collected 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks during a 92-84 win over the Rockets.
Nov. 29 vs. Philadelphia: Recorded 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 97-89 win over the 76ers.
Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week
NBA Stars Amare Stoudemire & Tyson Chandler Fined For Tweeting During Games
$7,500 Fingers
The NBA has fined Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire and Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler for using Twitter to make in-game tweets
Stoudemire and Chandler each received $7,500 fines each for posting messages on their Twitter accounts during their games on Wednesday November 25, which is a violation of NBA rules. In September the league revealed their move to block players from tweeting during games, after the social network site grew in popularity over the last year.
“You want to make sure that pop culture doesn’t intrude on what brought us here, which is the game, and that we show the right respect for the game,” NBA commissioner David “The Goon” Stern said. “We just need to make sure when it’s OK to tweet and when it’s not OK to tweet, so it, at least, focuses around the game.
Tweets were posted on Stoudemire’s account (@amareisreal) during the Suns win over Memphis, while Chandler updated his Twitter account (@Tysonchandler) during the Bobcats victory over Toronto.
