LeBron James Files Paperwork For Number Change
Where's Bill Russell's Respect?
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is good to his word on changing his number out of respect for Michael Jordan. James has filed the paperwork on the same day the Cavaliers played the New York Knicks and ahead of Wednesday’s league deadline to switch numbers for next season to the No. 6. The number he sported as a member of the U.S. basketball team at the 2008 China and the day his first son was born.
Player do not directly benefit from merchandise sales, however. It goes into a league-wide pool that is distributed to teams and then players based on seniority.
Last fall, James said he wanted to surrender No. 23 out of respect to his hero, the number Jordan wore for nearly his entire Chicago Bulls career excluding the brief period he donned the No. 45.
But as James is changing his name out of respect for Jordan believing the number should be retired across the league I ask what about showing respect to the NBA’s greatest champion and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. This is the touchy subject you get into when you start to proclaim one athlete better than another from different eras and stating Jordan’s number should be league wide retired.
Russell donned the No. 6 through 11 championships in 13 years with the Celtics and on his way to lead him right to the Basketball Hall of Fame after being a 12 time All-Star and a 5 time NBA MVP. Let’s not forget our history.
The number change won’t make much a difference if James lands in a new city this off season.
Tyrus Thomas Traded For Acie Law IV & Ronald Murray
Moving Day
The Chicago Bulls have finally stop talking about trading Tyrus Thomas and done so. Chicago has shipped Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats for Acie Law IV and Ronald Murray.
This is more evidence that Chicago has major intentions of luring one of the marquee free agent prizes this summer, cough Dwyane Wade. Dealing Thomas clears off even more money from the books. For the Bobcats, adding Thomas gives them another front court presence as they try to hang on in the East playoff race.
John Salmons Traded For Joe Alexander & Hakim Warrick
Moving Day
The Chicago Bulls have traded guard John Salmons within their own division to the Milwaukee Bucks for forwards Joe Alexander and Hakim Warrick.
Warrick has played in 48 games for Milwaukee this season, averaging 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Alexander, whom the Bucks took with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 draft, has struggled to make the jump to the NBA and currently is playing for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.
The Bulls have been they’re trying to clear as much cap space as possible and where scared that Salmons would not opt out of his player option next season that stands at $5.8 million. The move brings the Bulls salary commitments next season for just under $32 million. As the contracts of Warrick and Alexander both expire at the end of the season, potentially freeing up space for the Bulls to bid for marquee free agents in the offseason.
For the Bucks, it’s a no-lose. After Michael Redd went down, they needed a 2/3 that could score, and Salmons will probably help in that department. If he opts out, great, more cap-space. If not, he’s a movable expiring they can use to build on what they do this summer.
Another thing to consider is that the Bulls are currently in the eighth spot, but they just traded an offensive weapon to the team in the 9th spot that could knock them out of the playoffs.
Bulls: Losers/Bucks Winners
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.
Former NBA Player Fired From ESPN For Haiti Letter
Disgusting
Former Atlanta Hawks,Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns Paul Shirley has been fired from ESPN for his open letter to the people of Haiti.
Shirley had been an ESPN contributor since 2005 recently wrote arguing against donating to the Haiti relief effort.
In an article published Tuesday on the website flipcollective.com, Shirley bragged that he had not donated a cent to the Haitian relief effort,” and “probably will not” likening Haitians to homeless men on the street and questioning whether “much of the responsibility for the disaster should lie with the victims” of the disaster.
“Dear Haitians – First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded. As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while? Sincerely, The Rest of the World.”
– Paul Shirley
Shirley beliefs rub me the wrong way but he was born and lives in America and that gives him the right to voice his opinion as it does mine it’s just he an American without a soul. Shirley is a sorry excuse for a human being.
NBA Announces Rookie Challenge Participants
Rookie Challenge
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the reigning T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans, the leading scorer among first-year players, lead a list of 18 players selected for the 2010 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam to be held on Friday, Febuary 12 in Dallas during NBA All-Star 2010. San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair will also be making an appearance for the Rookie Team.
The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.
At halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, the Los Angeles Clippers Eric Gordon and the Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan will compete in the first NBA All-Star Slam Dunk-In, a single-round slam dunk competition. Fans will be able to vote via text message and at NBA.com to determine who will advance to the Sprite Slam Dunk the following night.
The Sophomore Team:
| Player (Team) | Position | Height | School |
| Michael Beasley (Heat) | F | 6-9 | Kansas State |
| Marc Gasol (Grizzlies) | C | 7-1 | Spain |
| Danilo Gallinari (Knicks) | G-F | 6-10 | Italy |
| Eric Gordon (Clippers) | G | 6-3 | Indiana |
| Brook Lopez (Nets) | C | 7-0 | Stanford |
| Kevin Love (Timberwolves) | F-C | 6-10 | UCLA |
| O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) | G | 6-4 | USC |
| Derrick Rose (Bulls) | G | 6-3 | Memphis |
| Russell Westbrook (Thunder) | G | 6-3 | UCLA |
The Rookie Team:
| Player (Team) | Position | Height | School |
| Omri Casspi (Kings) | F | 6-9 | Israel |
| DeJuan Blair (Spurs) | F-C | 6-7 | Pittsburgh |
| Stephen Curry (Warriors) | G | 6-3 | Davidson |
| Tyreke Evans (Kings) | G | 6-6 | Memphis |
| Jonny Flynn (Timberwolves) | G | 6-0 | Syracuse |
| Taj Gibson (Bulls) | F | 6-9 | USC |
| James Harden (Thunder) | G | 6-5 | Arizona State |
| Brandon Jennings (Bucks) | G | 6-1 | Lottomatica Roma Italy |
| Jonas Jerebko (Pistons) | F | 6-10 | Sweden |
Goran Dragic Forever Linked To Derrick Rose
Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose forever made Phoenix Suns Goran Dragic a part of NBA history.
NBA’s Best-Selling Jerseys
#1
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant is once again the top selling jersey in the NBA like he did in 2008-09 season. Here is the complete list of top sellers compiled from the NBA Store in New York City and NBAStore.com,
Top 15 NBA Jerseys
1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
2. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Dwight Howard- Orlando Magic
4. Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
5. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
6. Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
7. Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
8. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
9. Shaquille O’Neal – Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
11. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
12. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
13. David Lee – New York Knicks
14. Allen Iverson – Philadelphia 76ers
15. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
I understand the New York fan needing a jersey to represent their team but isn’t it shocking to see David Lee in the top 15 but not a single San Antonio Spur. I guess Tim Duncans time has passed but your telling me Tony Parker cant crack the United States 15?
Scottie Pippen Beaten Up By Midgets & Releases Statement Over It
“Given the recent controversy surrounding Gary Coleman, the fact that I’ve been repeatedly asked questions about my small part in the movie ‘Midgets vs. Mascots,’ and a related video posted online which shows me being assaulted by a group of Little People, I want to clear up any misunderstandings.
“In 2008, I agreed to play a cameo role in a movie titled ‘A Tribute to Big Red’ (now titled ‘Midgets vs. Mascots’). My role was scripted, and the first two scenes went off without any problems. During the third scene, I was told that four Little People, along with actor Gary Coleman, were going to become angry with something I said and storm off as the scene ends. Instead, they basically attacked me, with Gary Coleman apparently climbing on a chair behind me to hit me over the head with a phone (twice).
“A short fight ensued before I heard the film’s director yell ‘cut.’ As I recall, some of the Little People were laughing as the director explained that the scene was ’sort of like an episode of the TV show Punk’d.’ At that point, I left quickly without a clear understanding of what was going on.
“As for the Little Person who claims he was injured in the attack, I really don’t think I caused the injury or can be held to blame. To the best of my knowledge, there is no action being taken against me, nor am I pursuing any action. For the record, I have never seen the movie and, in hindsight, wish I’d not been involved with it. I simply wanted to make clear my role and position as I understand the movie is coming out soon. I will not be answering any further questions regarding the film.”
I want to see this movie now.
WTF: Derrick Rose
I Like Your Style
Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose recently took to a GQ photo shoot and came off looking pretty fly except for this picture where he goes all teenage Myspace girl and tugs his t-shirt down to show a little nip.
Ron Artest Admits He Drank Hennessy At Halftime
U Crazy
Ron Artest gave in depth interview to Sporting News for an upcoming issue and in it he admitted that he drank alcohol during games as a member of the Chicago Bulls.
“I used to drink Hennessy … at halftime,” said Artest, who played with the Bulls from 1999-2002 and now is with the Los Angeles Lakers. “I (kept it) in my locker. I’d just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it.”
And that’s not all.
Artest speaks openly in the interview on many other sensitive topics, including his life as a St. John’s college basketball star “I was a single pimp!”.
His feeling towards The Brawl’s instigator Ben Wallace “I’m always in the mood to fight him”.
As Well his plans to become a professional boxer(“In four years, I’m going to try to have my first fight”.
Artest is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite athletes. I love this guy.
NBA Attendance Only Down 2% Despite Economy
Est. 1946
It’s fairly earlier so don’t shoot the messenger but the numbers are out for early attendance in the NBA and despite the economy and the earliness of the season they are only down 2% from this point last year. Also the statistic is skewed by two teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies, who are drawing less than 70 percent.
The 76ers averaged 15,802 in 2008-’09, in five home games this season they’ve averaged 11,377, and are down more than 20 percent of capacity from last year. The Memphis Grizzlies ranked 29th in attendance last year only filling 70 percent of their arena are now only filling 66 percent, only outdrawing the 76ers. The Detroit Pistons have cause for concern, dropping from first in average attendance to 16th, falling 19.6 percent. The Spurs, a team retooled and trying to avenge their first round playoff exit rank 12th but are down 8%
Not all is doom and gloom as the Chicago Bulls are up over 100 percent of capacity after filling 97.7 percent of the United Center last season. The Cleveland Cavilers are in a similar boat, selling out each home game so far after drawing 97.3 percent last season. The Atlanta Hawks have seen significant gains, rising from 89.4 to 95.4 percent. Even the Minnesota Timberwolves fans are showing support no that Kevin McHale is ruining their team by filling their stadium by 8% more than last season.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal
Average attendances and percentage for each team:
| Rank | Team | Average Attendance | % (+/-) from year prior |
| 1 | Chicago | 21,111 | +3.3% |
| 2 | Cleveland | 20,562 | +2.7% |
| 3 | Portland | 20,350 | -.8% |
| 4 | Dallas | 19,823 | -1.4% |
| 5 | New York | 19,625 | +1.7% |
| 6 | Utah | 19,611 | -1.5% |
| 7 | LA Lakers | 18,997 | (no chg) |
| 8 | Boston | 18,624 | (no chg) |
| 9 | Toronto | 18,131 | -3.2% |
| 10 | Denver | 18,039 | +4.3% |
| 11 | Washington | 17,975 | +6.7% |
| 12 | San Antonio | 17,957 | -.8% |
| 13 | Oklahoma City | 17,882 | +.5% |
| 14 | Atlanta | 17,862 | +6% |
| 15 | Golden State | 17,827 | -5.7% |
| 16 | Detroit | 17,541 | -19.6% |
| 17 | Orlando | 17,541 | +2.4% |
| 18 | Miami | 17,421 | -4.1% |
| 19 | Houston | 17,130 | -2% |
| 20 | Phoenix | 16,771 | -9% |
| 21 | Minnesota | 16,088 | +8.2% |
| 22 | New Orleans | 15,156 | -10.5% |
| 23 | New Jersey | 14,919 | -1.4% |
| 24 | LA Clippers | 14,748 | -7.4% |
| 25 | Milwaukee | 14,636 | -4% |
| 26 | Charlotte | 14,633 | +.4% |
| 27 | Indiana | 14,439 | +1.4% |
| 28 | Sacramento | 12,422 | -.9% |
| 29 | Memphis | 12,095 | -3.5% |
| 30 | Philadelphia | 11,377 | -23.7% |
Sideshow Bob Forever Linked To Future Chicago Bull Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat Dwyane Wade went porn star on Cleveland Cavaliers Anderson Varejao.
Dwyane Wade Next Pitchman For Jordan’s
Two Of The Best Chicago Bulls Ever
This is the 25 anniversary of the Air Jordan. Tinker Hatfield (Vice President of Special Projects/Design for Nike) and Mark Smith (Creative Director for Jordan Brand) collaborated with Michael Jordan on the Air Jordan 2010. The Air Jordan 2010 takes a look back at the history of MJ’s career.
So who would be the next man to be the first pitchman for Air Jordan since Michael himself? Enter your next Chicago Bull and Chicago native Dwyane Wade.
“Mike says he wants to see the shoe in the air, and not on the floor,” recalled Wade laughing. That shouldn’t be a problem.
Wade will wear them for the first time in a game during All-Star Weekend.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Chauncey Billups
Derrick Rose, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Order Your Chicago Bulls Totally 80’s Album
Last season the Chicago Bulls started the trend, to much success, of Name That Tune during timeouts on their JumboTron. This year their back but with an album full of 80’s hits that can be yours by just calling fat ass Stacey King, who I swear it looks like he ate Timberland.
Chicago Bulls Tyrus Thomas Hurt Doing Pull-Ups Exercise
Hoopster
Terrible news for Tyrus Thomas and the Chicago Bulls as he suffered a fracture to his left forearm while doing pull-ups today during a team weightlifting session.
The Bulls are saying that Thomas will undergo surgery tomorrow to repair the fractured radius in his forearm and will most likely be out 4-6 weeks, about 20 games. In four games this season, the Louisiana State product has averaged 8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.75 bpg in 21.0 mpg.
As a fan of Thomas this a huge setback, the guy blocks shots and goes boarding every night and he has come out strong this season, backing up his own proclamations in the off-season that he was going to assert himself more this season.
Can we keep NBA guys out of the locker room for a while or at least away from exercise balls and any upper body apparatus.
NBA Stays Steady After Opening Week With 2.1 Million Viewers
Est. 1946
Friday’s Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics game drew 1.5 million viewers on ESPN and the Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers nightcap drew 2.1 million viewers.
ESPN averaged 1.6 million viewers for its four NBA telecasts last week. Overall ESPN and TNT averaged 2.1 million viewers for NBA telecasts during NBA Tip-Off Week.
NBA Opening Night On TNT Sees Highest Viewed Since ‘96
Where Amazing Happens
TNT tipped off the 2009-10 season with its most-watched doubleheader since Feb. 2, 1996 with nearly 3.7 million total viewers. The previous record is held by a doubleheader featuring the Phoenix Suns at Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers.
In addition, the doubleheader ranks as Turner’s most-watched opening night in its 26 years of airing NBA basketball. TNT, which has enjoyed back-to-back years of ratings increases for its regular season and NBA Playoffs, last night earned a 2.3 U.S. household rating.
The Celtics/Cavaliers game delivered a 2.6 U.S. household rating, 4,021,000 total viewers. The match-up earned a 20.0 rating in the Cleveland market and an 8.3 rating in the Boston market.
The Clippers/Lakers game delivered a 2.1 U.S. household rating, 3,358,000 total viewers. The match-up earned a 6.2 rating in the Los Angeles market.
The Moment The Game Changed Is For Sale
Limited Edition
Retro jerseys aren’t hot as they were six years ago, but there’s one player that still remains a hot seller.
This Monday, retro jersey specialist Mitchell & Ness will release a limited edition of Michael Jordan’s rookie Bulls jersey. The launch date, Oct. 26, is the 25th anniversary of Jordan’s first NBA game. The $375 collection features an authentic reproduction of Jordan’s 1984 Bulls white home jersey.
It comes in a black wooden box. The jersey is limited to 1,264 pieces, representing one jersey for the games he played in his 15-year NBA career. Each jersey is individually numbered and comes with a silver plated recap of the particular game that corresponds to that jersey’s number.
To honor Jordan, the NBA Store in Manhattan will stay open an hour later, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., coinciding with the tip-off time of Jordan’s first game. NBA TV is also airing Jordan’s first game on Monday.
One of Jordan’s real rookie jerseys (an away red) sold for $66,000 in a Grey Flannel Auction in September.
Rasheed Wallace Says Celtics Can Win 73 Games
Green Is Always Good
Rasheed Wallace, is setting new goals for his new team and he thinks they are totally attainable. He thinks they can make a run at the Chicago Bulls’ 72-win season.
Wallace: Oh definitely. Definitely, playing with those three other guys, also combining that with the guys we have on the bench, I think we definitely can. Me personally, I think we can get that Bulls record. You know we have the talent for it. We have the will for it and … I think we have the defense for it.
Reporter Thomas Halzack wanted to make sure he heard right and wasn’t maybe just a joke so he asked Wallace: Do you want me to use that?
That’s when he responded with all seriousness: You can. Because honestly, I really do feel that. That was a good team. They had some HOFs on there, but we have a few on this team, too.
Has he been watching Kevin Garnett’s Harley Davidson kick start to every time he’s gotta get up court? I’ll go with 58 wins.
San Antonio Spurs Iron Man Bruce Bowen Retires
Lock Down
The No. 12 should one day hang in the rafters of the AT&T Center for former San Antonio Spur small forward Bruce Bowen. Bowen was an integral part of the Spurs winning three NBA championships in his tenure with the team and established himself as the premier perimeter defenders of the decade,is retiring at 38.
After going undrafted Bowen set out on his journey to be an everyday player in the NBA. He first made stops overseas playing for French teams Le Havre and Evreux, then back to the United States for the Rockford Lighting of the CBA and back to France to play with Besancon. Bowens first taste of the NBA came with the Miami Heat in 1997 when he signed a 10-day contract and he was in the NBA to stay.
In the 1997-98 NBA season Bowen was playing for the Boston Celtics appearing in 61 games, he’d stay in Boston until the 1999-00 season.That year he signed with the Philadelphia 76erd,then was traded to the Chicago Bulls and immediately waived,once he cleared waivers he was reclaimed by the Heat. In that season, he wore jersey #12 instead of #30 and appeared in 69 games.
In the summer of the the 2001-02 NBA season Bowen found his home, with the San Antonio Spurs. Bowen established himself as a starter, an accomplishment he would hold onto for 500 consecutive games between February 28, 2002 and March 12, 2008. The Spurs won ballgames because Bowen frustrated, upset, hurt or angered the opponents top scorer every night. He just played tough, physical defense, that wasn’t afraid to get in someones grill.
Bowen made the NBA all-defensive first team five times, from 2003-04 through 2007-08, and was a three-time second-team selection from 2000-01 through 2002-03. Bowen ends his career with 5,290 points, 1,089 assists and 712 steals in 873 games. He was a career 39.3 percent 3-point shooter and led the league in 3-point field goal percentage in 2002-03.
On June 23, 2009, Bowen was traded along with Kurt Thomas to the Milwaukee Bucks for Richard Jefferson and was eventually released on July 31, 2009. But he will forever be a San Antonio Spur, a defensive stopper, and a smile on the sidelines.
Phil Jackson Gets His Own Line Of Sneakers
Phil Jackson Artillery
Adidas is producing 15 pairs of kicks for the Los Angeles Lakers coach called the Phil Jackson Artillery shoe and it will come in two colorways. Purple and gold for the Lakers and red and black for the Bulls. The shoes also will sport an “X”, which represents the number of titles Jackson has won.
