New York Knicks Give Jeremy Lin Farewell Card
Hilarious
The New York Knicks are sad to see Jeremy Lin take his talents to the Houston Rockets that a bunch of guys on the team got together and gave him a farewell card. Even team owner James Dolan lent a short message to Lin, however J.R. Smith was absent since he was in China.
Jason Kidd Says Refs Don’t Respect Their Championship Rings
They Don't Respect This?
Winning last season doesn’t guarantee you anything this season. But Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd thinks it should. It took Kidd 18 seasons to be on a title-winning team, and he thinks there should be some residual rewards. His case in point is that the NBA’s defending champions were beat at the free throw line last night by Oklahoma City Thunder, which Kidd blamed on a lack of respect from the officials.
“It’s been like that all year. We don’t get the benefit of the whistle,” Kidd told the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t think we’re looked upon as defending champions. That’s a whole ‘nother story.”
Kidd and his teammates were especially upset with a foul called against Ian Mahinmi in the final minute that led to the game-winning free throws. He also was baffled by Dirk Nowitzki getting to the line for only three shots.
“Dirk, he should live at the line, if they would call it the way it’s supposed to,” Kidd said. “But he doesn’t. We’ve just got to clean up our end of game situations.”
Lamar Odom Apologizes To Dallas Mavericks Teammates
Candyman Can
Lamar Odom, who left the Dallas Mavericks before their Feb. 22 game against the Los Angeles Lakers and did not return until Saturday, apologized to his teammates for his 10-day absence, but did not give a reason for missing four games in a row.
While reports have said he left the team before the All-Star break to be with his ill father, Odom told reporters on Saturday, “It was really personal and it was something I had to tend to. Mark Cuban’s a great owner for understanding. There are times when we have to fix what is going on off the basketball court in order to fix what’s going on on the court.”
After Cuban may have been understanding, but others within the organization—including coach Rick Carlisle and point guard Jason Kidd—were getting frustrated.
Kidd on Friday said that Odom will have to regain his teammates’ trust, according ESPN.com, and Carlisle said the same day on ESPN Radio, “When he comes back, we’re going to find out very quickly where things are at. He’s going to have to show us with his actions and attitude that he’s in.”
Odom was supposed to play in a D-League game on Saturday, but was called up to Dallas because reserve center Brandan Wright could not play because of a concussion. Odom went on to post nine points, five rebounds and three assists over 18 minutes against the Utah Jazz.
“It felt good to be back, playing basketball, doing what I’m so blessed to have done for so long,” Odom said after the game. “I just told (teammates) to stick with me, and that at this point in time in my life I need them,”
“This is by far the most energy he’s played with the entire year and I don’t think it’s close,” Carlisle said. “And I would defy anybody to go against that statement. It’s just clear we need this from him every night. If he can bring this, if he can bring that kind of energy and engagement, it’s going to lift our team to a different level.”
Dirk Nowitzki Now Most Marketable NBA Player
I Like That There Are Sponsors For This
After leading the Dallas Mavericks to the franchise’s first title Dirk Nowitzki has become the NBA’s most marketable player, according to a Nielsen/E-Poll. Miami Heat LeBron James and Dwyane Wade both fell out of the top 10 after the defeat to Nowitzki and the Mavericks.
The N-Score measures name and image awareness, appeal and personality attributes such as sincerity, approachability, experience and influence. Nowitzki topped the survey with an N-Score of 132. Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant was second with a score of 83. James score fell from 131 to 26 and Wade’s dropped from 117 to 34.
Here’s the Top 10 Most Marketable NBA Players
1. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, 132
2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, 83
3. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns, 68
4. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics, 65
5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 51
6. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks, 47
7. Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns, 41
8. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls, 41
9. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, 40
10. Vince Carter, Phoenix Suns, 38
Dallas Mavericks Take Championship Trophy To Club Liv
Champions Get To Do What They Want
Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and others, including owner Mark Cuban went to Club Liv at the Fontainebleau Hotel in South Beach following their series win over the Miami Heat to celebrate. The Mavericks brought along a plus one and it was the Larry O’Brien Trophy.Reports are that Cuban rented out the club and purchased 250 hundred of bottles of champagne.
I guess this isn’t an image Chris Bosh wants to see anytime soon.
Meadowlark Lemon Would Build Team Around Tim Duncan & Jason Kidd
Clown Prince
Longtime Harlem Globetrotters star Meadowlark Lemon admires many current NBA stars but if the Clown Prince of Basketball were building his own NBA team, he’d start by building it around San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan and Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd.
“I’m a fan of Shaq. But Tim Duncan? That’s the man I like, says Lemon.
And Lemon believes Kidd is still the best point guard in the NBA.
“If I was going to build a team around two players, those are the two I would build it around. Jason Kidd is a pure point guard if there is such a thing. And Tim Duncan’s fundamentals? Love them.”
Despite LeBron James saying he’s comfortable with the role of NBA villain after jumping to the Miami Heat from Cleveland Cavaliers, Lemon doesn’t buy it.
“I don’t look at him as being a villain. I look at him as being a young kid who should never have left Cleveland.”
Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd’s New PEAK Commercial
Boston Celtics Ray Allen became the NBA’s all time leader in 3 pointers this week passing former Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller but do you know ranks third? That’s right Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd, the same guy that came into the league and people said he couldn’t shoot and that same guy wants to let everyone know he can still play in his new PEAK commercial.
PEAK Celebrates Chinese New Year
Up and coming athletic shoe company PEAK, which already has a roster of NBA stars like Ron Artest, Shane Battier, Sasha Vujucic, Jason Kidd, Sonny Weems, Jason Richardson, Carl Landry, and Mickael Pietrus, from China wants to wish you a very happy Chinese New Year.
Orlando Magic Hedo Turkoglu Dunk Fail
Late in the fourth quarter of Orlando’s game against Dallas on Tuesday night, Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu had an opportunity to cut the Mavericks lead to four. Turkoglu was blocked by the rim and the Mavericks recovered the defensive rebound. The 31-year-old argued for a foul but didn’t get the call. Dallas went on to win 105-99.
Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd Nails 75 Footer
Dallas point guard Jason Kidd swished a 75-foot shot as time expired in the second quarter of the Mavericks 99-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Amare Stoudemire Says Rather Have Steve Nash On His Team Over Kobe Bryant
Antichrist
Although he signed with the New York Knicks this summer, Amare Stoudemire was back in Phoenix to train and reflected on his old Suns team
“The question ownership asked to me was, ‘Who do I want – Jason Kidd, Steve Nash or Kobe Bryant?’ I said Steve. Over Kobe. At the time, Kobe had a reputation for being selfish and Steve was the ultimate point guard. I felt like that’s what we needed. We had Joe Johnson and Shawn Marion. We just didn’t have a PG to control tempo. Kidd was banged up after microfracture knee surgery.”
Stoudemire explained how things have changed after criticizing Mike D’Antoni for his lack of coaching on the defensive end in 2008.
“It definitely changed,” Stoudemire said. “We communicate more. I’m more mature than I was at 22 or 23. Studying defense over the past couple years helped, and I’m a better defensive player. He’s committed to it, but the main thing is for us as players to commit to it.”
Jason Kidd’s Girlfriend Named Playboy Playmate Of The Year
Playboy is ready to jump off the pages and bring it’s women in 3-D form when it unveils Port Lavaca’s own and Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd’s girlfriend Hope Dworaczyk as Playboy’s 2010 Playmate of the Year.
Dworaczyk was Miss Teen Texas in 2000 and is the the 51st Playmate of the Year. Her Playmate of the Year issue will be on newsstands on Friday with her pictorial feature having several photos in 3-D. Special 3-D glasses will be included.
Whats next up for her career, not sure and don’t care I’m still baffled by her boyfriend being Jason Kidd.
PEAK Shoes Signs Another NBA Superstar
Gotta be honest when I stumbled upon Phoenix Suns Jason Richardson Twitter account and saw his tweet about his new line of shoes with PEAK, I had no idea who PEAK was.
Turns out PEAK is a Chinese shoe company that has within the last year signed up NBA superstars like Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd, Houston Rockets Shane Battier,Los Angeles Lakers Sasha Vujacic and Ron Artest. Richardson is just the latest superstar to jump Nike’s ship for PEAK.
Is PEAK the 2010 version of FILA or And 1, I have no idea. What I do know is that I’m know longer 13 and the power of having someone attached to a shoe line doesn’t drive me when it comes to buying shoes it all comes down to looks and PEAK misses it on Richardson’s pair.
Jerry Stackhouse Reveals Real Feelings On Richard Jefferson
Mind Might Be Elsewhere
Something myself and Rudy J tried to tell the city of San Antonio that Richard Jefferson was a just a mirage of his New Jersey Nets self right after the trade went down with Milwaukee Bucks. Now you can’t find a more hated $14.2 million dollar man in San Antonio.
Apparently we where the only one who saw through the facade of Jefferson talents as fellow NBA player and current Buck Jerry Stackhouse let his true feeling be known during his interview with XM Radio’s Mad Dog channel.
“I just don’t think he’s as good as everybody talked him up to be, to me. I mean, I think he has some talent, he’s an athlete but a lot of the best basketball we’ve seen from Richard Jefferson came when he played with Jason Kidd, when he was just pretty much spoon-fed at the basket and was able to run out and just be an athlete.
“When it comes down to a half-court set and just being able to play half-court basketball I don’t think he’s that special of a player, in my opinion. It’s just one of those things where it’s just not a good fit. It wasn’t a great fit for him in Milwaukee when he was here. He had some big games but really nothing special. He wasn’t a guy that really helped them go to another level as far as wins and losses. And I think they’re finding out in San Antonio that he may not be the right fit for what they want to do. If I know [head coach Gregg] Popovich like I know him I could very easily see him not in a San Antonio uniform next year.”
The rest of the league is taking notice of his play as well and good luck on finding a NBA sucker on willing to trade for to take on Jefferson’s $15 million contract for next year.
Mistakes happen but $29.2 million dollar mistake.
Dallas Mavericks Rick Carlisle Uses Ping Pong Paddle Against Cancer
He Needs You
If your playing in your garage or at your local YMCA, you probably call it ping pong but if your an enthusiast like Rudy J you refer to it as table tennis. Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle also an avid player is using table tennis to raise money to fight a pancreatic cancer.
Carlisle who in the last 12 months watched as he lost two very good friends, former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly, and Indiana Pacers co-owner Melvin Simon succumbed to the disease. Pancreatic cancer is the most under-screened, but most aggressive form of cancer there is. ‘When the director of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, called Carlisle about participating in a fund-raising event, he instantly raised his ping-pong paddle and wanted to do something different from the typical bowling or golf fundraisers.
If you had followed Sports Grind Entertainment for some time you are well aware that the fight against cancer is something that holds deeply to our heart. So if your in the Dallas weekend stop in on the Purple Ping Pong event on Sunday at SMU’s Moody Coliseum from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Ping-pong tables will be set up on the floor of Moody that will include numerous local table-tennis professionals and Olympians taking part in an invitational tournament in the center of the floor.
There will be 16 celebrity teams including J.J. Barea, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Caron Butler. Former Rangers Jim Kern and Jeff Russell will participate, as will Olympic gold-medal winning gymnast Nastia Luiken and Carly Patterson.
Dick Move Or Brilliant Move By Jason Kidd?
Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson did draw a technical in which Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki made the free throw. The game eventually went into overtime where the Mavericks beat the Hawks 111-103.
So was Mavericks guard Jason Kidd’s play a dick move or a brilliant one, I’ll let the opinion be left up to you.
But what ever your opinion is, don’t overlook the stat that Kidd pulled in his 104th career triple-double, by posting 19 points, 17 assists, 16 rebounds. Only three players have ever laid down a 15-15-15. Kidd did it back in 1996 with a 21-16-16 and the other two where Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Dallas Mavericks & Washington Wizards Complete 7 Player Trade
Moving Day
The Washington Wizards completed a blockbuster seven player deal with the Dallas Mavericks. The Wizards sent Caron Butler, Bredan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations to Dallas for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton.
For Dallas this trade gives them hope in of knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. this spring.Butler is a significant upgrade over Howard,who had fallen out of favor with Dallas and struggled this season. Butler’s salary for next season of $10.6 million is pretty reasonable given what he brings to the table. Haywood also gives the Mavs a defensive center who can give Dallas some toughness inside now that Erick Dampier is dealing with some soreness in his knee. Haywood has long been criticized for inconsistent play but is still a starting-quality center that teamed up with Jason Kidd, I think you’ll see Haywood surprise a lot of people. Stevenson helps the Mavericks in depth department.
On the flip side, Wizards’ GM Ernie Grunfeld continues to perplex me. When he was running the Bucks, he was the mastermind behind the disastrous Ray Allen-for-Gary Payton swap, and in the last two years, he signed Gilbert Arenas to an outlandish contract (for a guy coming off of knee surgery) and now, in an effort to “rebuild,” he’s trading away a very good 29-year-old small forward for a decent 29-year-old small forward. For Washington, this is a clear cost-cutting move that will save the Wizards about $13.5 million in salary next season it could be more but I don’t see Ross declining his player option on $1.1 million.
The players physicals were waived, meaning every player should be in their new uniforms right after the All-Star break.
Wizards: Losers/Mavericks: Winners
Toni Braxton Kicks Shannon Brown To Curb & Hooks Up With Ron Artest
Toni Braxton is back to messing around with NBA players but it’s not 1996 and Jason Kidd nor Jim Jackson are not involved. This time the Cougar has her sights set not on any Dallas Mavericks but Shannon Brown and Ron Artest of the Los Angles Lakers.
