Nick Young Sued For Rape
Not Really A Free Agent Summer
A woman has filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles against recent Philadelphia 76er and now free agent Nick Young, claiming the guard met the woman at a bar, drugged and raped her two years ago, reports CBS 2 in Los Angeles.
The woman is seeking unspecified damages. This is not a criminal complaint against the Los Angeles native who played his college ball at USC and lives in his home town in the offseason.
According to the report, the woman says the two met at the Crown Bar in West Hollywood. The report, cititng the complaint, says that Young bought the woman and her friend a glass of champagne, and the next thing that she remembers she woke up at Young’s home naked and he said they were having intercourse until she passed out, then he stopped. The woman reports she went to the UCLA Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, where tests found GHB, a known date rape drug, in her system.
7-Year-Old Offers Analysis On NBA Teams
It sometimes just takes a pair of fresh eyes to really get to the bottom of things, even if those eyes belong to a 7-year-old. That seems to be the case with a young boy who write about four NBA teams, and was quite accurate in doing so.
WTF: Nick Young
Business In The Front, Party In The Back
Philadelphia 76ers forwardNick Young took to Twitter to show off his new mullet in his attempt to steal the hair spotlight away from teammate Andrew Bynum
Philadelphia DA wants to investigate Andrew Bynum for fraud
Can't Help Club From Tub
The “Philadelphia 76ers center continues to experience swelling in his knee, setting back any progress that had been made to this point.
“I don’t really know if I’ll play this year.” This contradicts February 19′s quote, ”I’ll definitely be back sometime this year.” “I don’t want to play in pain.” “I feel like it’s my life. I’m 25 and I don’t want to have no cartilage.”It was clear that things were getting all too real for the city of Philadelphia and its basketball team when the district attorney, Seth Williams, responded to the news.
“How much is he getting paid? Do I need to launch a grand jury investigation?” Williams tweeted.
Williams later tweeted “It could be fraud, theft of services or robbery. Fans and ticket buyers need to know. 10-9-8-76ers!”
Andrew Bynum new hair do
Very Interesting
While perpetually injured center Andrew Bynum has yet to make an impact on the court for the Philadelphia 76ers this season as he’s been sidelined with knee issues, his many bizarre hairstyles sure have generated a lot of talk, laughter and let’s be honest, abject confusion.
Blake Griffin dunk on Spencer Hawes
Add this one to Blake Griffin’s highlight reel. Griffin in his third game back collected a bounce pass with only Sixers center Spencer Hawes standing between him and the rim but Griffin switched hands and threw down a dunk that even the Philadelphia crowd appreciated.
76ers fan buys 18 tickets to game for .04 Cents apiece
Bargain Shopping
The Philadelphia 76ers fan, who goes by the Twitter handle @mleif, purchased a full row at the Wells Fargo Center, that’s 18 tickets for just $0.04 cents per seat on StubHub. He did get hit with a few service charges, but the whole bill still came out to under 11 dollars. That’s a good thing for this fan, since 17 of those seats remained unoccupied during the Sixers’ 88-69 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Lawsuit claims Andrew Bynum is bad neighbor
Frederick Douglass No More
Center Andrew Bynum, still idled by rehabilitation after knee surgery and yet to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, can’t escape headlines from his time in Los Angeles as a Laker.
Documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court show Bynum has sued, and is being counter-sued by two neighbors, for his behavior as a home owner in the Los Angeles suburb of Westechester.
Bynum filed suit first, on June 1, claiming he was “harassed” by Ramond and Cindy Beckett, “who object” to his “profession, his race, his friends, his cars, and his taste in music.”
The Becketts countersued July 11, writing, “Andrew Bynum is a great basketball player and a terrible neighbor who presumes that being an NBA All Star entitles him to party like a rock star in the otherwise quiet Westchester neighborhood where he lives.”
TMZ Sports first reported on the suits.
The Becketts go on to write: “Bynum has demonstrated open contempt for the Becketts specifically and for the neighborhood generally by blasting loud, profane, and disrespectful music and video games at window-shaking volumes; by letting his dogs run loose through the neighborhood; by apparently engaging in illegal drug use and permitting marijuana smoke to drift into the Becketts’ backyard; by constructing a fence on his property which is not in compliance with the community codes and regulations; by conspicuously brandishing firearms in an attempt to threaten and intimidate the Becketts in retaliation for their legitimate complaints; and, perhaps most seriously, by recklessly racing his luxury cars through the neighborhood at dangerous speeds where children or others could be injured or killed.”
Watch an NBA game on TV with Dennis Rodman for only $59
Low
For the low price of $59, you can attend the “Dennis Rodman Viewing Party Experience” on Dec. 1 in Chicago and watch the Chicago Bulls play the Philadelphia 76ers on TV.
Here’s what you get:
- Two drink tickets
- The right to take part in a halftime Q&A with Rodman
- Free coat check
- The “opportunity” to take a picture with Rodman
- Raffle ticket for a signed Rodman jersey
- Entry into the Dennis Rodman costume contest
“Throw on your biggest and baddest Rodman outfit (the person with the most tried and true threads will win a prize at halftime)”
If that’s not enough, for just $129 you get all of that PLUS a signed Rodman photo and an open bar.
Philadelphia 76ers Unveil Worlds Largest T-Shirt Launcher
Shots Fired
The Philadelphia 76ers put on display the world’s largest t-shirt launcher in their 2012 season opener. The launcher can shoot out 100 shirts in just 60 seconds compared to a regular one that shoots out 20 shirts in the same amount of time. The launcher is caller the Big Bella.
Big Bella weighs 600 pounds and, when firing T-shirts into the upper reaches of the Wells Fargo Center, can be up to 10 feet high. The team commissioned the creation of Big Bella from FX in Motion.
Derrick Rose Says Finding Out ACL Torn Was Like Death
House Of Pain
Derrick Rose says finding out he had a torn ACL was like death. The Chicago Bulls superstar told CSNChicago.com he spent “the whole time praying” during the MRI that he wasn’t seriously injured even though he heard a pop as he crashed to the court in the playoff opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I remember everything,” Rose said. “I remember jumping in the air and coming back down, and just that popping sound. I felt it actually tear when I laid all the way out and it just let go.”
When team physician Dr. Brian Cole confirmed the tear, Rose said, “I couldn’t believe it. That’s the closest thing to death, the closest to death I’ve got to right there, where it just seemed like the wind and everything was taken out (of me).”
Other than a brief YouTube video last month, he had said little publicly since the injury. The interview with CSNChicago.com was conducted last month in Los Angeles, where he was working out at the time, and posted Wednesday.
The torn ACL also put the Bulls in a sort of holding pattern as they wait for their superstar point guard to return to form. Rose is expected to miss most of the season and might not rediscover his old explosive form until the following year, assuming he regains it.
“It’s been hard, definitely been hard. But I’ve been all right,” Rose told CSNChicago.com. “The injury could have been way worse. You’ve got some people that probably feel worse than I am, but I know I’m going to be all right. I believe in God, my spirits are up and I believe in myself, and I know I’m going to be back even stronger.”
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Not A fan Of Andrew Bynum
History Class 38,387
If anyone knows what it takes to be a superstar center in Los Angeles it would be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And the Hall of Famer says Dwight Howard has the goods and Andrew Bynum did not.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Jabbar said of the trade that bought Howard to town and sent Bynum to Philadelphia 76ers as “nothing short of a coup.”
Jabbar said Howard will thrive without changing “his game that much” and that he’s “is very committed to playing and winning. Andrew has been up and down on that issue. There are times he wants to play, do a great job and he goes out and does it. Then there are other times where it seems like he’s not focused.”
Jabbar worked with Bynum for a few years after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted the 7-footer in the first round of the 2005 draft.
“When I first started working with him, he was eager to learn,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “He appreciated me shortening the learning curve. Once he figured he did everything he wanted to do in terms of learning, he didn’t want me to bother him constantly going over the fundamentals.”
Charles Barkley Says He’s Interested In Philadelphia 76ers GM Job
Comfortable In Drag
TNT analyst Charles Barkley has told 94WIP Anthony Gargano that he is interested in the Philadelphia 76ers general manger job. Nothing from the 76ers has said Barkley is candidate for the job but that hasn’t stopped him from saying he wants it.
Gargano asked Barkley if the reports he heard were true and Barkley responded via text message “yes sir.”
Will this turn into the debacle from last month down in Orlando with Shaquille O’Neal interviewing for Magic GM job?
Gar Forman Says Carlos Boozer Part Of Chicago Bulls Core & Won’t Be Waived
Hardwood Ain't The Club
Chicago Bulls fans are down on Carlos Boozer. He just hasn’t played up to the $80 million contract he signed two years ago, and the fans want him waived by using the amnesty provision.
But, apparently, they’re stuck with him. Bulls GM Gar Forman told CBS Sports Radio in Chicago that Boozer remains part of the team’s plans.
“I think Carlos had a very productive year,” Forman said. “You look back, he’s the only guy on our team that played every game and practiced every day on a team that won more games than anybody in the NBA. He was our second leading scorer and our second leading rebounder.
“We’re looking forward to Carlos continuing to make progress. I know the last game clouds it a little bit, but he was very productive in the games before that. Even in that last game, in 27 minutes, he had 13 boards. I anticipate Carlos being with us and having another productive year next season.”
The last game to which Forman is referring is Boozer’s 1-for-11, three-point performance when the Bulls were eliminated in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Boozer averaged 13.5 points, on 42.2 percent shooting, and 9.8 rebounds over the six-game series; and 15.0 points, on 53.2 percent shooting, and 8.5 rebounds during the regular season.
Amnestying Boozer though does not mean that the Bulls can sign another player to fit into his $15-16 million annual salary slot. They’d be over the salary cap and would only be able to use provisions such the midlevel exception or minimum salary exception to sign free agents.
“We’re happy Carlos Boozer is here and we like the core of the team that we have under contract,” Forman said.
Philadelphia 76ers Fan Shows Off His Belly
Throughout the 2012 NBA season this Philadelphia 76ers fan has been trying to distract the opposing team on their free attempts by showing off his stomach. Bit now we are in the playoffs and that means the bright lights of the big stage are on and his belly roll went viral as TNT cameras caught him in action.
Jerry Colangelo Says Team USA Reconsidering Olympic Approach
USA! USA! USA!
Derrick Rose’s torn ACL has caused USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo to rethink his stance of not expanding the list of candidates for the U.S. squad that will compete at the London Olympics.
Colangelo said last week that despite injuries to Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chauncey Billups as well as Lamar Odom being eliminated from consideration the 12-man Team USA roster would be selected from the 16 candidates remaining from the original list of 20. Rose’s season-ending injury brings the number of finalists down to 15.
“What I said (previously) was that we didn’t plan to do any additions, but we had to continue to monitor the injury situation,” Colangelo. “Obviously (Rose) is a big loss. (Point guard) seems to be, at this point, still a pretty strong position. But at this stage, quite honestly, I think all bets are off.”
Three point guards remain on the current list: Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook. The team is also thin at center—Tyson Chandler is the only true ‘five’ left among the candidates.
Colangelo said that the original plan to announce the final roster on June 1 has been changed. June 18 is the deadline for teams to set rosters with the Olympic Committee, and Colangelo said USA Basketball will wait as late as possible before making its decisions.
“I think now we’re going to wait until the very last moment to pick the team, because it seems ridiculous with a lot of playoff games to play that we would select a team,” Colangelo said. “We might as well keep the options open as long as we can, and continue to monitor the situation.”
Colengelo will meet with Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff Monday and Tuesday in Las Vegas.
The current Team USA finalists are Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks, Chris Bosh Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers, Chandler New York Knicks, Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder, Rudy Gay Memphis Grizzlies, Eric Gordon New Orleans Hornets, Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers, Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers, LeBron James Miami Heat, Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves, Paul Los Angeles Clippers, Dwyane Wade Miami Heat, Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder and Williams New Jersey Nets.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Tells Brooklyn Bound Nets Good Riddance
The New Jersey Nets played their last game in the garden state, which they have called home since their ABA days, as they head to Brooklyn starting next NBA season.
After 35 years of being a state staple Governor Chris Christie made it clear he will not be shedding any tears over the team’s departure.Speaking at a bill signing Monday in Newark, the outspoken Christie had a simple message for the Nets: “Good riddance. See you later.”
“My message to the Nets is goodbye,” Christie said. “You don’t want to stay here, we don’t want you. I’m not going to be in the business of begging people to stay here.”
A few hours later, the Nets lost their final home game in the Prudential Center 105-87 to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets close their fifth consecutive losing season Thursday at the Toronto Raptors.
The Nets have played the last two years in the Prudential Center Arena in Newark built in 2007
Will Smith Congratulates Doug Collins On 400th Win
Over the weekend, Doug Collins won his 400th game as a coach and was pretty excited. Just not excited as Philly native and Philadelphia Sixers co-owner Will Smith who was extra jazzy about the milestone because it came against the rival Boston Celtics. The Fresh Prince even went so far to say that “Larry Bird ruined my childhood.” Thank god he was sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their wealthy Bel Air mansion to salvage his life.
DeSean Jackson & Lou Williams Rap With Gillie Da Kid
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson and Philadelphia 76ers forward Lou Williams dropped a few bars with rapper Gillie Da Kid’s on the song “On My Dip.” Here is the music video of Philly’s finest.
NSFW
Allen Iverson Bought New Clothes On Road Trips So Not To Have To Carry Luggage
Fallen
In a recent Forbes magazine article about former NBA star Allen Iverson they take a look into the news the he’s gone broke. Forbes examines how he was to waste over $180 million. From the well publicized divorce to his casino debts and one not so known detail.
“Perhaps the telltale indicator of Iverson’s divorce from financial reality, however, was an anecdote I received via a former teammate of Iverson’s from his days with the Philadelphia 76ers. This player, raised on a far higher standard of fiduciary responsibility, was amused and stunned by “A.I.’s” money habits. He related how on many road trips Iverson refused to carry baggage, evidently seeking to remain as unencumbered from physical things as he was of basketball defenders. Because of this habit, Iverson would buy a full selection of new clothes, shoes, and other expensive items at each new destination with rolls of cash he carried on his person. Moreover, upon departure, he would leave all those goodies behind in his hotel room or just give them away.”
Andre Iguodala Compares Jeremy Lin To Black Hockey Player
Ball So Hard
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr caused a stir earlier this week when he said all the hype surrounding New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin was because he was Asian. Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala listens to the Sports Grind Entertainment on iHeart Radio and went one further than Calvin Casey’s explanation of the Williams sisters to the tennis game and said Lin is like a black hockey player.
“Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise,” Mayweather wrote.
Iguodala agreed Lin’s race, as he is the first Asian-American to start an NBA game, has factored in the attention he is receiving, but did not want to detract from what the former Harvard star was achieving on the court.
“When you see the majority doing it you say, ‘Ah, he’s been doing it since he was a kid. It’s in his blood, whatever.You see Lin doing it and you say, ‘You’re serious?’ It’s kind of like seeing a black hockey player doing well. Race does play a role in it but at the same time you have to respect it, that’s how I feel. You have to respect it whether you like it or not. It’s a feel-good story.”
Lin hit a game-winning three with less than a second on the clock against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday and then added a career high 13 assists against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
His No. 17 jersey has become the league’s top seller, while Madison Square Garden Co.’s share price has soared to an all-time high.
Iguodala said the interesting thing will be seeing if Lin can maintain his success long-term.
“He’s only six games in the league. Game 30, game 40, that’s where you can kind of see where a guy’s at,” he said.
Kobe Bryant Becomes 5th On NBA All-Time Scoring List
Got 5 On It
Philadelphia 76ers Lou Williams nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer, scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and spoiled Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant’s record-setting night in leading his team to a 95-90 victory.
However Lakers Bryant passed former teammate Shaquille O’Neal to become fifth on the all-time scoring list as he scored 24 of his 28 points in the first half. He stumbled down the stretch though of the game and missed nine of his 10 shots in the fourth.
For the record setter, Bryant cut toward the top of the 3-point arc, and took a Matt Barnes pass to hit the 23-footer. Originally called a 3 but Bryant had his foot on the line, it still was enough to pass O’Neal.
The 76ers chose not to acknowledge the achievement.
The relationship between Philly fans and Bryant has been strained since the 2001 NBA finals against the 76ers, when he proclaimed he was “coming to Philly to cut their hearts out.” That began an unforgiving attitude from fans that continues to this day. When commissioner David Stern presented Bryant with the All-Star game MVP trophy in 2002 in Philadelphia, the boos were long and loud, and he later admitted he was hurt.
Philadelphia 76ers Bid Farewell To Mascot Hip Hop
Hip Hop Is Dead
The Philadelphia 76ers fans have spoken and the team has reacted. This morning, the 76ers announced they have retained Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and Raymond Entertainment Group to develop the team’s next mascot. That means the team’s old mascot, Hip Hop, is out.
“It was an easy decision,” CEO Adam Aron said. “Before we bought the team – in one of my first meetings in August with managing owner Josh Harris – we were comparing notes about our reactions to everything Philadelphia 76ers. Both of us, independently, came to the same conclusion: Hip Hop wasn’t the right image for the team we wanted to create and the product we wanted to offer 76ers fans.”
Aron then explained that there was “no fan support for the Hip Hop mascot,” and that the “interest in this issue was considerable.” Aron appeared on WIP radio and the first question was basically when can Hip Hop go away? Then the Philadelphia Inquirer held an on-line poll asking fans if they wanted Hip Hop to remain as the team’s mascot. Only 1 in 7 Philadelphia sports fans supported Hip Hop.
Will Smith Buys The Philadelphia 76ers
Parents Just Dont Understand
The city of Philadelphia can now officially welcome a new ownership group for the Philadelphia 76ers as billionaire Joshua Harris put together a group that includes West Philly’s own Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. This would be the first time someone from West Philly, born and raised would be an owner in the NBA.
The new ownership group includes actor announced that single-game ticket prices will be far more affordable if and when the lockout ends.
“I’m announcing today that going forward, we are slashing and I mean slashing ticket prices on individual game tickets on just under 9,000 seats at the Wells Fargo Center for each and every Sixers home game,” New CEO Adam Aron said.
“Price will not be an obstacle in preventing Philadelphia sports fans from being able to enjoy NBA basketball in person,” Aron said as the new ownership group held its first press conference. “Our house is now your house.”
