I watched the Lakers and Clippers last night in an exhibition game from Staples.
No Kobe Bryant but there was a World Peace.
The Clippers pulled out the meaningless win 108-103.
But I will say it was very competitive. I liked it. Wish more players would take this approach.
Blake Griffin scored 30 points for the Clippers and Andrew Bynum was impressive with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Bynum will miss the first 5 games of the season, he was suspended without pay because of a flagrant foul against Dallas’ J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Exhibition games in any sports has never done anything for me; But both teams got after it. I’m looking forward to these two clubs meeting each other 3 times in the regular season.
This should turn into a very interesting rivalry.
The Clippers look like they can make some noise this season.
Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Griffin, Caron Butler and DeAndre Jordan give the Clips a solid starting 5.
Jeff Eisneberg of Yahoo Sports on Phil Martelli, a college student-athlete and the NCAA. I posted this situation yesterday and even tweeted about it. This is an interesting story.
Here’s the athlete, Todd O’Brien and his view via SI.com of what is happening.
I met with Coach Martelli to inform him that I would not be returning. I had hoped he would be understanding; just a few weeks before, we had stood next to each other at graduation as my parents snapped photo. Unfortunately, he did not take it well. After calling me a few choice words, he informed me that he would make some calls so that I would be dropped from my summer class and would no longer graduate. He also said that he was going to sue me. When he asked if I still planned on leaving, I was at a loss for words. He calmed down a bit and said we should think this over then meet again in a few days. I left his office angry and worried he would make me drop the classes.
Lynn Zinser of the NY Times on NAIA Paul Quinn College basketball looking for an identity and their recent game vs Baylor.
But Paul Quinn lives on a much different level of the basketball universe than Baylor. Keeley, who has degrees in electrical engineering and sports science, teaches math and physical education classes and can talk of leaving a promising career at Lockheed Martin to pursue coaching. The athletic director, James Summers, known as Zip, is a part-time employee.
The college, however, is thinking big. Its new president, Michael Sorrell, said last month that the goal was to increase its student population to 2,000 by 2020. Keeley said he hoped the basketball team could move up from N.A.I.A. someday, perhaps as high as N.C.A.A. Division II. Playing teams like Baylor and Sam Houston State, which beat Paul Quinn by the respectable score of 66-54 in early December, is all part of that mission.
“We’ll play anybody,” Keeley said. “I don’t care so much about losing a game, but I want people to know who we are, so instead of asking, ‘Who is Paul Quinn,’ saying, ‘We know all about Paul Quinn.’
“We want to be relevant.”
Next time, the score line might not look like a misprint.
Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times on Cameron Dollar’s Seattle University basketball team.
“You planted the seeds, you scheduled the party, and here it is, and you want to see the garden fully grown,” the Seattle University men’s basketball coach said. “But no matter what you do — water it over and over and over, give it more sun, threaten to dig it up and throw the plants out in frustration — they’re only going to grow at their current rate. You have to realize that, and respect the process.”
Tom Van Riper of Forbesmagazine.com on the Top 10 Most Hated NBA Players.
1. Kris Humphries (50 percent dislike)
2. LeBron James (48 percent)
3. Kobe Bryant (45 percent)
4. Tony Parker (37 percent)
5. Metta World Peace (36 percent)
6. Chris Bosh (34 percent)
7. Carmelo Anthony (27 percent)
8. Paul Pierce (25 percent)
9. Dwyane Wade (23 percent)
10. Lamar Odom (21 percent)
North Carolina smacked Texas last night 82-63.
Hartford is now 0-11 after losing in double OT to Marist last night.
During a sports talk radio show from Boston on Thursday morning on WEEI, Bob Ryan, a great sportswriter said Bill Russell is the greatest living basketball player of all-time. When did Michael Jordan pass away?
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The Clippers should punish some teams-can they shake the Clipper mentality of being in the back seat in LA? I have to side with Coach Martinelli, after his career there he wants to play 1 season somewhere else? I know only people within the program know the real deal.
Thanks Pat…
Happy Holidays.