notable NFL cuts

Here's 10.

Vince Young
Tim Tebow
Matt Leinart
J'Marcus Webb
Dennis Dixon
Brian Banks
Max Starks
Jermaine Cunningham
Michael Robinson
Jimmy Clauson

and a few more

why keep cable TV?

Two words: college football.

It's opening weekend.  Just looking at today's lineup...

FS1 - William & Mary at West Virginia
ESPNU - Purdue at Cincinnati
ESPN2 - Buffalo at Ohio State
ESPNN - Villanova at Boston College
BIGTEN - Massachusetts at Wisconsin
KFVE - Toledo at Florida
FSPT - Florida International at Maryland
ESPN - Rice at Texas A&M (the one I'm tuned to)

ESPN2 - Syracuse vs. Penn State
KHNL - Temple at Notre Dame
ESPNU - Brigham Young at Virginia
KITV - Mississippi State at Oklahoma State
BIGTEN - Central Michigan at Michigan
FS1 - Nicholls State at Oregon
FSPT - La-Lafayette at Arkansas
ESPN - Alabama vs. Virginia Tech
PAC12 - Eestern Washington at Oregon State

ESPNU - Washington State at Auburn
ESPNN - Kentucky at Western Kentucky
FCSA - Old Dominion at East Carolina
CBSSN - Miami (Ohio) at Marshall
FCSC - Wofford at Baylor
KITV - Georgia at Clemson
BIGTEN - Wyoming at Nebraska
ESPN - LSU vs. TCU
FS1 - Boise State at Washington
PAC12 - Nevada at UCLA
ESPN2 - Northwestern at California

(whew)

NFL settles concussion suit for $765 million

The National Football League has agreed to pay $765 million to settle a lawsuit brought by more than 4,500 players and their families, largely closing the legal front in the league’s battle against accusations that it concealed what it knew about the dangers of repeated hits to the head.

The settlement, announced Thursday, will be seen as a victory for the league, which has nearly $10 billion in annual revenue and faced the possibility of billions of dollars in liability payments and a discovery phase that could have proved damaging if the case had moved forward.

The league has changed its rules to make the game safer and modified its medical protocols for concussions as mounting scientific evidence in recent years linked head trauma sustained on the field to long-term cognitive damage. Among the terms of the agreement is that the settlement is not to be regarded as an admission of guilt by the league.

“The settlement seems low considering the number of claimants and the severity of their conditions, but it also shows the uphill climb in proving the league was responsible for the players’ injuries,” said Michael LeRoy, who teaches labor law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “The league is keenly sensitive to its public image. It changes the conversation and really lets the air out of the publicity balloon.”

The case was widely considered a possible reckoning for the N.F.L., which has been criticized in recent years after dozens of former players were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., a degenerative brain disease similar to Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed to be caused only by repeated head trauma. While the settlement closes a legal case for the league, brain trauma among current and former players may continue to vex a sport that embraces violent collisions.

The money would be used for medical exams, concussion-related compensation and a program of medical research for retired players and their families. The money, which may not be distributed for many months, will be available to all retired players with neurological problems, not just the plaintiffs. The N.F.L. also agreed to pay legal fees for the plaintiffs’ lawyers, a sum that could reach tens of millions of dollars.

The pool of beneficiaries could be smaller or larger than the number of plaintiffs in the case, depending on how many retired players with neurological problems come forward. The settlement does not cover current players.

“Rather than litigate literally thousands of complex individual claims over many years, the parties have reached an agreement that, if approved, will provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed,” Layn Phillips, the mediator, said in a statement.

C.T.E. was found in the brain of the former Eagles defensive back Andre Waters after his suicide in 2006. Since then, the disease has been found in nearly every former player whose brain was examined. (C.T.E. can be diagnosed only posthumously.) Most notably, the former N.F.L. linebacker Junior Seau was found to have the disease after he committed suicide last year, and in 2011, Dave Duerson, a former Chicago Bears player, shot himself in the chest, saying in a note that he wanted his brain donated for research. Doctors determined that Duerson had C.T.E.

Street Ball Legends

While some guys get paid millions to ball, legions of unknown street ballers dedicate their free time, sometimes their lives, to the outdoor courts scattered across the globe. For most, pickup basketball is just fun and games, but for some, it’s more than that. For a handful of street ballers, it’s how they’ll be remembered forever. These are the 5 greatest streetball legends of all time.

***

Another 5.

Here's 25.

Elite 24

'Doing It in the Park

Top NBA draft busts

They may be widely known for being “busts,” yet life still goes on for many high NBA draft picks who didn’t realize their potential. In advance of the 2013 NBA Draft on Thursday, we update the current whereabouts of 25 of the most infamous busts in history.

bounce alley-oop(s)

starring Jason Williams, John Wall, Isiah Thomas (and Blake Griffin and Dominique Wilkins, and some other guy).

Kobe and Michael comparison

We’ve shown you something similar before, but here is Part Deux of the Kobe Bryant/Michael Jordan game comparison videos.

What Jordan and Kobe do that is similar — especially in the second half of their careers — is use great footwork to get to their spots on the floor. And for both of them that is the elbow area, as you can see from the video (the both also have strong post games). When they get to their spots they can hit just about any kind of shot, even contested fadeaways. The best way to stop them is to not let them get there, but they are both so good on and off the ball that’s easier said than done.

A-Rod suspended through 2014 (but plays anyway)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Defiant till the end, Alex Rodriguez is intent on evading baseball's most sweeping punishment since the Black Sox scandal.

Rodriguez was suspended through 2014 and All-Stars Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera were banned 50 games apiece Monday when Major League Baseball disciplined 13 players for their relationship to Biogenesis of America, a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

The harshest penalty was reserved for Rodriguez, the New York Yankees slugger, a three-time Most Valuable Player and baseball's highest-paid star. He said he will appeal his suspension, which covers 211 games, by Thursday's deadline. And since arbitrator Fredric Horowitz isn't expected to rule until November or December at the earliest, Rodriguez was free to make his season debut Monday night and play the rest of this year.

Sidelined since hip surgery in January, Rodriguez rejoined the Yankees five hours after the suspension in a series opener at the Chicago White Sox, scheduled to play third base and bat fourth.

''The last seven months has been a nightmare, has been probably the worst time of my life for sure,'' Rodriguez said.

The other 12 players agreed to their 50-game penalties before they were announced, giving them a chance to return for the playoffs.

Ryan Braun's 65-game suspension last month and previous penalties bring to 18 the total number of players sanctioned for their connection with Biogenesis.

aikido anniversary

This year marks Seichi Tabata's 60th anniversary of teaching shin shin toitsu aikido in Hawaii. Tabata, 87, is the last original student of ki aikido founder Koichi Tohei to still actively teach the Japanese martial art here.

This year is also the 60th anniversary of Tohei's introduction of ki aikido to Hawaii and the U.S. mainland in 1953.

"Shin shin" in Japanese refers to the duality of the mind and body. "Toitsu" means "to bind or unify." So "shin shin toitsu aikido" could be translated as "aikido to realize the original oneness of body and mind."

Tohei's teachings also stress being at peace with the "ki" (similar to the Chinese "chi") — or flow — of the universe, so they are also often referred to as "ki aikido."

"Ki is very difficult to master," explained Tabata, a former Wai­alae Iki resident who now lives in a Hawaii Kai retirement community. "There's nothing visible to attach to; it's all emotional. But it's very important for everyday living. When I was doing sales for the Household DeVille discount retail chain on Keeaumoku Street in the '70s, they would send me for aikido training in Japan two or three times a year because they could see how aikido would help in selling and how it was a ‘plus.' It involves a lot of positive thinking, a lot of creativity, and it benefits others as well as yourself. And it's nonaggressive.

"Using aikido principles, I can compete with anyone in sales, and, in fact, I was a top salesman wherever I went."

After spending about 20 years with Household De­Ville, where he rose to become company president, Tabata sold life insurance for 15 years. He retired in 2006.

Born in Lahaina, Tabata was sickly as a child, so his father enrolled him in judo classes when he was 5 years old to strengthen him. Tabata pursued judo until he was 18, when he joined the Army during World War II, becoming a motor pool staff sergeant. Three years later, Tabata returned home to Maui from Japan with a new bride, Emiko, who would be his loyal and hardworking wife for 64 years. (She died four years ago. Tabata now has four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandsons.)

To help out his parents and their family of six boys and three girls, Tabata continued to work at the family grocery store on Lahainaluna Road after the war and started to teach judo classes on the side.

When Tohei was invited to Maui to teach his method of ki aikido in 1953, Tabata started gradually to adopt the ki principles and then to teach them to his own students in lieu of judo.

Tabata moved to Oahu a few years later to open his own dojo in Honolulu.

"For all my classes since the very beginning, I've never charged for my time," he said. "All my instructors have never gotten paid either. If the students pay any dues, all the money goes back to the dojo to pay for the dojo's expenses.

"I could make a lot of money at what I teach, but I want to return it to the community, to help people out."

Internationally, the ki aikido movement has blossomed to numerous schools in 24 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Singapore, Great Britain, Russia and Australia.

The founder's son and president of the Ki Society headquarters in Japan, Shinichi Tohei, will be a special guest at the Honolulu Ki Society's celebration of the 60th anniversary of ki aikido in Hawaii this weekend. There will also be workshops that the public may observe to celebrate Tabata's 60 years of teaching thousands of students in ki aikido in the islands.

"I still teach at the dojo every Saturday, though of course I don't move as well as I used to," he said. "And I've had so many students, I can't remember them all. Recently, a man in his 60s came up to me and introduced himself. … he told me I had taught him judo in Lahaina when he was 12 years old!"

Yao

makes Ralph Sampson look small

I remember Sampson being taller than Kareem, but these recent pictures show them almost the same height.  Maybe he shrunk? (like Hulk Hogan)

[10/11/14] Yao and Shaq.  Looks like Yao grew like 5 inches.  Shaq head comes only up to his chin now whereas he used to only a few inches shorter.

the legend of Llewellyn Smalley

The legend of Llewellyn Smalley grows by the year and the telling. There were the mano-a-mano duels with Anthony Carter. The time he dropped 58 — no, was it 60? How about when Smalley, still in the Army, walked into the gym in his early 20s with little basketball know-how and filled it up, anyway?

The question invariably arises with repeated viewings of College Summer League games: Did you see Llwellyn Smalley play? It's usually said in hushed tones and hinted at as something of a religious experience.

The 6-foot-2 guard's official accomplishments are impressive, true; he set all manner of career records at Hawaii Pacific University en route to NAIA All-America status and a successful European pro career. But here, he's generally celebrated for another set of accolades.

Namely, getting buckets, and getting fans on their feet in a small Manoa gym. People haven't forgotten his inspired, freewheeling play every summer from the mid-'90s through the 2000s.

Ryan Braun suspended for rest of season

Major League Baseball has suspended Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun without pay for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Braun will not contest the suspension, which was meted out for "violations of the Basic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," according to a statement released by MLB.

"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in the statement. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it ... has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization.

According to an Associated Press source, 50 games of the penalty were connected to Biogenesis. The additional 15 games stemmed from Braun's actions during the grievance that overturned his positive test from October 2011. The suspension will count as a first violation of the drug program, the source told the AP.

This is not the first time Braun has run afoul of the league's drug-testing policy -- the 29-year-old outfielder tested positive for elevated testosterone levels in 2012. However, he successfully appealed his 50-game suspension.

The penalty was overturned by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das after Braun argued that the collector of his urine samples in the fall of 2011, Dino Laurenzi Jr., did not follow protocol. The case marked the first time a baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.

Puig finishes second

If Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was dejected after missing out on the last All-Star spot Thursday, he sure didn't show it. Especially when Manager Don Mattingly told him he was starting in center field, spurring a happy-go-lucky dance in the clubhouse to blaring reggaeton music.

"Did you see him in there? He would have loved to be at the All-Star game and show off," Mattingly said. "But it's not going to take away from his joy for the game."

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman set a MLB Final Vote record with 19.7 million votes to edge out the Cuban phenom. Toronto Blue Jays reliever Steve Delabar won the AL Final Vote with 9.6 million votes.

Puig's exact vote count was not released, but the 22-year-old passed the previous mark of 15.6 million votes set by Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino in 2009.

"It's not what I had hoped for the fans and the city, but I'm very happy," Puig said. "I don't have my head down at all. Hopefully good things will come out of this."

Heading into the game against the Colorado Rockies, Puig was hitting .394 with eight home runs and 19 runs batted in in 35 games. He has galvanized the Dodgers' latest turnaround, in which they have gone from last place in the National League West when he debuted June 3 to second place, 11/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The result Thursday does not entirely rule out Puig's All-Star chances. Four of the five NL Final Vote candidates last year made the All-Star roster as injury replacements and last-minute substitutes.

*** [7/14/13]

Freeman injured, so Puig gets to play after all.  Right?  Nope, wrong.  Brian McCann gets the call.  It's the old guard conspiracy.  Or maybe it was just Bruce Bochy.

Joey Chestnut sets the world record

The 2013 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest re-crowned two reigning champions — Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas.

Chestnut earned his seventh straight title in the men’s race, scarfing down 69 hot dogs and setting a new world record. He ate 18 more hot dogs than his nearest competitor.

Chestnut, who hails from San Jose, Calif., and earned the nickname “Jaws,” took home $10,000 and a bejeweled mustard-yellow champion’s belt.

Matt Stonie, 21, came in second, devouring 51 hot dogs.

Chestnut’s eating rival, Takeru Kobayashi, did not compete in the 97th  annual competitive hot dog eating event at Coney Island this year. But Chestnut bested Kobayashi’s record of six titles in a row with this year’s win.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Competitive Eating

In the women’s race, Sonya Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., picked up her third consecutive title. The “Black Widow” as she is known ate 36 and three-quarters hot dogs and buns to win the women’s competition.

Juliet Lee was the front runner for much of the race, but Thomas caught up with less than two minutes to go.

When the buzzer sounded, Lee trailed Thomas by just a fraction of a dog.

Murray defeats Djokovic at Wimbledon

LONDON >> From the lawns of Wimbledon to the lochs of Scotland, all of Britain can celebrate.

Andy Murray made it possible Sunday, winning his country's hallowed tennis tournament to become the first British man in 77 years to raise the trophy at the All England Club.

Yes, this was history, and Murray's 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over top-seeded Novak Djokovic was a fitting close to nearly eight decades of British frustration in its own backyard: A straight-setter, yes, but a hard-fought, 3 hour, 9 minute affair filled with long, punishing rallies and a final game that may have felt like another 77 years, with Murray squandering three match points before finally putting it away after four deuces.

On a cloudless, 80-degree day on Centre Court, Murray put his name beside that of Fred Perry, the last British man to win Wimbledon, back in 1936.

That sentence doesn't have to be written again.

The second-seeded Murray beat the best in Djokovic, a six-time Grand Slam winner known for both a mental and physical fitness built to handle what he faced Sunday: A crowd full of 15,000 partisans rooting against him, to say nothing of Murray himself, who, since falling to Roger Federer in the final last year, had shed some baggage by winning the Olympic gold medal on Centre Court, then following that with his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

Anderson Silva caught by Weidman

LAS VEGAS >> Chris Weidman sent a shock wave through mixed martial arts, stopping Anderson Silva in the second round of the main event at UFC 162 to become the new middleweight champion on Saturday night.

Silva talked, taunted and dared Weidman to engage him. When the champion lowered his hands early in the second round, Weidman caught him with a short left that sent the MMA star to the mat. Weidman pounced and landed a few more shots that forced referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at 1:18.

"I felt destined for this," Weidman said. "It was far-fetched, but I imagined it so many times before in my head."

The win put an end to Silva's nearly seven-year reign atop the UFC middleweight division and his 17-fight win streak.

"I worked for this fight, Chris Weidman is the best now. He is the champion," Silva said. "I've had the belt for a long time. I'm tired."

The former champion fell to 33-5 with the loss.

"(Silva) was an idol of mine. I didn't want to mention it in the camp," said Weidman (10-0), who earned knockout of the night award. "I looked up to him for many years."

NBA transactions 2013-2014

2013-2014 trade recap

3/2/14 - Jimmer Fredette signs with Bulls

2/20/14 - Aaron Brooks traded from Houston to Denver for Jordan Hamilton

2/20/14 - Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen traded from Philadelphia to Indiana for Danny Granger and a second-round pick

2/20/14 - Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal traded from Milwaukee to Charlotte for Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien

2/20/14 - Washington acquires Andre Miller from Denver, sends Jan Veseley to Denver, sends Eric Maynor to Philadelphia.  Philadelphia receives 2015 second round pick from Washington and 2016 second round from Denver.  Washington receives 2014 second round pick from Philadelphia.

2/20/14 - Spencer Hawes traded from Philadelphia to Cleveland for Earl Clark, Henry Sims, and two second round picks.

2/19/14 - Nets send Jason Terry and Reggie Evans to Kings for Marcus Thornton

2/19/14 - Steve Blake traded from Lakers to Warriors for MarShon Brooks and Kent Bazemore

2/1/14 - Pacers sign Andrew Bynum

1/7/14 - Chicago trades Luol Deng to Cleveland for Andrew Bynum, a first round pick, two second round picks, and the right to swap 2015 first round picks (lottery protected).  Chicago expected to drop Bynum.

12/9/13 - Toronto trades Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray, Quincy Acy to Sacramento for John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, Chuck Hayes.

10/25/13 - Suns trade Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee, Kendall Marshall to Wizards for Emeka Okafor and a protected first round draft pick

9/25/13 - Paul George signs five-year extension

9/11/13 - Michael Beasley headed back to Miami

8/30/13 - Caron Butler traded from Phoenix to Milwaukee for Ish Smith and Viacheslav Kravstov

8/26/13 - Clippers sign Antawn Jamison after passing on Lamar Odom

8/26/13 - Tracy McGrady announces retirement

8/21/13 - Allen Iverson reportedly to announce retirement

8/16/13 - Nikola Pekovic re-signs with Minnesota for five years, $60 million

8/15/13 - Al Harrington signing with Washington

8/8/13 - Knicks sign Beno Udrih

8/7/13 - Mo Williams signs with Portland for two years, $5.6 million

8/3/13 - Greg Oden will take his talents to South Beach

7/30/13 - Pistons acquire Brandon Jennings from Milwaukee for Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton,
Viacheslav Kravtsov.

7/28/13 - Marcus Camby to sign with Rockets

7/27/13 - Indiana acquires Luis Scola from Phoenix for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a lottery-protected first round pick

7/27/13 - Charlotte resigns Gerald Henderson for 3 years, $18 million

7/24/13 - Mike Miller to return to the Grizzlies

7/23/13 - Golden State signs Jermaine O'Neal for one year, $2 million

7/22/13 - Nuggets to sign Nate Robinson

7/22/13 - Clippers sign Byron Mullens

7/18/13 - Magic reaches deal with Samuel Dalembert

7/18/13 - Orlando signs Jason Maxiel

7/18/13 - Ronny Turiaf signs with Minnesota for two years, $3.2 million (wow, he got above minimum?)

7/18/13 - Warriors sign Toney Douglas

7/17/13 - D.J. Augustin signs with Toronto

7/17/13 - Jordan Farmar returns to the Lakers (from Turkey) / took a pay cut

7/16/13 - Miami amnesties Mike Miller ($6.2 million + $6.6 million)

7/16/13 - Milwaukee amnesties Drew Gooden (two years, $13.4 million)

7/16/13 - Elton Brand signs with the Hawks

7/16/13 - World Peace coming to New York

7/14/13 - Lakers sign Wesley Johnson

7/13/13 - Dwight Howard feels the love in Houston

7/13/13 - Atlanta matches Milwaukee's offer sheet for Jeff Teague

7/12/13 - Monta Ellis signs with Dallas for three years, $28 million (so it's kind of a Mayo for Ellis trade)

7/12/13 - Dallas was an hour away from getting Iguodala

7/11/13 - Nets  sign Andrei Kirilenko

7/11/13 - Lakers sign Nick Young (fun), say good bye to World Peace (reaction, D'Antoni)

7/11/13 - Chauncey Billups returns to Detroit for two years, $5 million

7/10/13 - Minnesota sends Luke Ridnour to Milwaukee for trade exception (to make room for Corey Brewer).

7/10/13 - Andrew Bynum decides to take his talents to Cleveland

7/10/13 - Corey Brewer to sign with Minnesota for 3 years, $15 million

7/10/13 - Bulls waive Richard Hamilton

7/8/13 - Lakers sign Chris Kaman to one year contract for $3.2 million.  Will amnesty Metta World Peace.

7/7/13 - Denver signs J.J. Hickson for three years, $15 million

7/7/13 - Darren Collison signs with Clippers to be Chris Paul's back (again)

7/7/13 - Jarrett Jack headed to Cleveland for four years, $25 million

7/6/13 - Carl Landry signs with Sacramento for four years, $26 million

7/6/13 - Josh Smith signs with Pistons for four years, $56 million

7/5/13 - Mavericks sign Jose Calderon for four years, $28 million

7/5/13 - Dwight Howard has decided to take his talents to Houston.  What now for the Lakers?  / Dwight & Kobe: the conversation / David Aldridge's alternate universe

7/5/13 - Paul Millsap signs with Atlanta for two years, $19 million

7/5/13 - OJ Mayo signs with Milwaukee for three years, $24 million

7/5/13 - Warriors sign Andre Iguodala; send Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, Brandon Rush and multiple draft choices to Jazz for cap space and Kevin Murphy

7/5/13 - Matt Barnes re-signs with Clippers for 3 years, $12 million.

7/4/13 - JR Smith and Pablo Prigioni re-sign with Knicks.

7/4/13 - Sacramento sends Tyreke Evans to New Orleans for Greivis Vasquez.  New Orleans sends Robin Lopez to Portland for Jeff Withy.  Portland sends future draft pick to Sacramento.

7/4/13- Al Jefferson signs with Charlotte for 3-years, $40.5 million.

7/2/13 - Kevin Martin headed from Oklahoma City to Minnesota for $28 million for four years.

7/2/13 - In a three-team trade, Suns receive Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler, Clippers receive J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley, Bucks receive two second-round draft choices (one from Suns and one from Clippers).  [Wow, I would have thought they would have gotten more for Bledsoe.  The Suns got a steal.]

6/30/13 - Toronto trades Andrea Barnani to Knicks for Steve Novak, Marcus Camby, first round pick and second round pick (subject to league approval)

6/30/13 - Rockets trade Thomas Robinson to Blazers, waive Carlos Delfino and Aaron Brooks to clear cap space

6/27/13 - Garnett waives no-trade clause clearing way for Celtics to trade (in principle) Garnett, Pierce, Terry to Nets for three first round picks, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans. / Garnett had to be convinced by Pierce

6/27/13 - New Orleans drafts Nerlens Noel with the sixth pick and trades him to Philadelphia for a first round pick.  Philadelphia also gets a 2014 first round pick.

6/24/13 - Darko won't return to NBA
6/3/13 - Jason Kidd retires after 19 seasons (then becomes Nets head coach)
6/2/13 - Grant Hill retires

NBA coaching changes 2013

8/12/13 - Philadelphia hires Brett Brown as head coach
7/29/13 - Kurt Rambis returns to Lakers as assistant, Johnny Davis also hired as assistant
7/8/13 - Alvin Gentry returns to Clippers as assistant coach
7/8/13 - Rasheed Wallace to join Pistons staff as assistant coach
7/3/13 - Celtics hire Brad Stevens as new head coach
7/1/13 - Pacers hire Nate McMillen as assistant coach
6/28/13 - Lawrence Frank returns to Nets as assistant under Jason Kidd
6/28/13 - Cleveland hires Bernie Bickerstaff as assistant (rejoining Mike Brown)
6/25/13 - Kings hire head coach's father as (Brendan Malone) as assistant
6/25/13 - Grizzlies promote Dave Joerger to take over for Lionel Hollins
6/24/13 - Denver hires Brian Shaw as head coach
6/23/13 - Boston trades Doc Rivers to Clippers for 2015 first round pick
6/19/13 - Jerry Sloan returns to Jazz as consultant
6/13/13 - Nets hire Jason Kidd Kidd as head coach (replacing P.J. Carlesemo)
6/10/13 - Thibodeau and Williams replace D'Antoni and McMillan on Team USA staff
6/10/13 - Lionel Hollins out as Memphis head coach
6/10/13 - Maurice Cheeks named as Pistons head coach (replacing Lawrence Frank)
6/6/13 - Denver fires George Karl (NBA coach of the year)
6/3/13 - Sacramento names Mike Malone head coach (replacing Keith Smart)
5/31/13 - Milwaukee to hire Larry Drew as head coach (from Atlanta)
5/30/13 - The NBA coaching carousel, part 1
5/29/13 - Mike Budenholzer hired as Atlanta head coach (replacing Larry Drew)
5/28/13 - Jeff Hornacek hired as Phoenix head coach (replacing Lindsey Hunter)
5/27/13 - Steve Clifford hired as Charlotte head coach (replacing Mike Dunlap)
5/21/13 - Vinnie Del Negro out as Clippers coach
4/25/13 - Mike Brown returns to Cleveland (replacing Byron Scott)

2013 NBA prospects / NBA draft

[5/21/13] The top 10 prospects at every position.

DA's Big Board

[6/13/13] Scott Howard-Cooper's Mock Draft 2.0

[6/24/13] Ten players to watch for: C.J. McCollum

[6/24/13] Mock Draft 3.0 by DraftExpress.

[6/25/13] David Aldridge's mock draft (McLemore no. 1?)

[6/27/13] Down to the final hours, and Scott Howard-Cooper is still sticking to Nerlens Noel.

[6/27/13] Here we go...  Apparently there is no consensus no. 1 with the candidates now appearing to be Noel, McLemore, Alex Len.  And even mention of Olidipo.

nbadraft.net has it Len, Oladipo, Porter, Noel, McLemore.
Draft Express has it Noel, Oladipo, Porter, Len, McLemore.
USA Today has it: Len, Noel, Porter, McLemore, Oladipo.
TheSportingNews has it: Len, Noel, Porter, Oladipo, McLemore.
CBS Sports has it: Porter/Noel, McLemore/Burke, Noel/Porter, Len/Len, Oladipo/Oladipo.
Sports Illustrated has it: Noel, McLemore, Porter, Len, Oladipo.
Bleacher Report has it: Len, Oladipo, Porter, Noel, McLemore.
SBNation has it: Noel, McLemore, Porter, Bennett, Oladipo,
HoopsWorld consensus: Noel, Oladipo, Porter, Len, McLemore.

And with the first pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers take Anthony Bennett!  (What?)
With the second pick, the Orlando Magic select Victor Oladipo
With the third pick, the Washington Wizards select Otto Porter
With the fourth pick, the Charlotte Bobcats select Cody Zeller (?)

So the consensus number 1 pick which was Noel or Len has yet to be picked.

With the fifth pick, the Phoenix Suns select Alex Len.
With the sixth pick, the New Orleans Pelicans select Nerlens Noel.
With the seventh pick, the Sacramento King select Ben McLemore.  (they're happy)

OK, that makes the consensus top five, along with Bennett and Zeller.  Who's next?  Trey Burke maybe?

Hey I'm seeing the picks several minutes faster at CBS Sports?  Is it delayed on ESPN?

According to CBS, the Pistons select Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.  (A surprise to him.)

Shane Battier is interviewing all the draft selections.  I'm surprised how tall he looks.  He's quite a bit taller than Caldwell-Pope and not much shorter than Alexn Len.  Maybe he's wearing thick shoes.

What?  Noel to be traded from New Orleans to Philadelphia for Jrue Holiday and a first round pick?  Wait, Philadelphia gets the pick??

With the ninth pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves select Trey Burke.  Despite having Rubio.  Maybe trade bait.  Maybe to Philadelphia?

With the tenth pick, the Portland Trailblazers select C.J. McCollum.

Report now that Burke traded to Utah for the 14th and 21st picks.

With the 11th pick, the Philadelphia 76ers select Michael Carter-Williams.

With the 12th pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder select Steven Adams (pick acquired in the Harden deal)

With the 13th pick, the Dallas Mavericks select Kelly Olynyk.

who is immediately headed to Boston for two second round picks (to not raise their salary cap to go after Dwight Howard).

With the 14th pick, Utah takes (for Minnesota): Shabazz Muhammad.

That's the end of the lottery picks.

With the 15th pick, the Milwaukee Bucks select Giannis Adetokunbo (project from Greece, highlights)

Now they're talking about Andrew Wiggins for next season

With the 16th pick, the Boston Celtics select Lucas Nogueira (7-footer from Brazil with large hair).

With the 17th pick, the Alanta Hawks select Dennis Schroeder (Germany)

With the 18th pick (from the Joe Johnson trade), the Atlanta Hawks Shane Larkin (from Miami)

Mavericks are saying they're getting Shane Larkin and Nogueira to Atlanta.

Cleveland with their second pick of the first round selects Sergey Karasev

Chicago selects Tony Snell, who's not here, but Shabazz Muhammad finally shows up and is interviewed by Battier.  Battier is noticeably taller.

With the 21st pick, Utah selects (unofficially for Minnesota): Gorgui Dieng

With the 22nd pick, the hometown Brooklyn Nets (with reports that Garnett and Pierce may be coming) select Mason Plumlee.

Jason Kidd now being interviewed by the panel (Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, Jay Bilas, Rece Davis)

With the 23rd pick, the Indiana Pacers select Solomon Hill.

Now for the Knicks.  Tim Hardaway, Jr. (to cheers of the crowd including Spike Lee).

With the 25th pick, the Clippers select Reggie Bullock.

Minnesota on the clock with the 26th pick, moving the pick to Golden State, who choose ...

wait, a trade to announce.  The Boston Celtics trade the 16th pick to Dallas, Nogueira, for the rights for Kelly Olynyk, the 13th pick.

And Andre Roberson is the pick for Golden State.

Nuggets on the clock when we come back.

another trade to announce.  Minnesota trades rights to Trey Burke for (rights to) Shabazz Muhammad and Dieng.

Denver selects Rudy Gobert from France (7'2" with a 7'9" wing span the longest ever).

And now for the Spurs at #28: Livio Jean-Charles (French Guiana).  This season he averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds (so a project).  However he was the MVP at the Nike Hoop Summit going 27 and 13.

OKC now picks (in a long complicated trade just announced going to Phoenix): Archie Goodwin.

And now for David Stern's final NBA announcement of a pick

Golden State takes Nemanja Nedovic.

Applause for David Stern.  And now for the next commissioner of the NBA: Adam Silver (who immediately gets boos)

But first David Stern's very first announced draft pick Hakeem Olajuwon.

That's enough.

***

Garnett waives no-trade clause clearing way for Celtics to trade (in principle) Garnett, Pierce, Terry to Nets for three first round picks, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans.

draft day trades

team-by-team report cards

pick-by-pick analysis

the most entertaining draft of all time?

The 2003 draft.  Where are they now?

2014 mock draft already

[1/24/13]  Anthony Bennett, the worst no. 1 pick ever

the Ed O'Bannon case

At first it was just a friend’s son playing a video game, but as he looked closer, Ed O’Bannon took increasing notice of a figure on the screen.

One that O’Bannon said he thought looked remarkably like him.

In fact, it was, from jersey No. 31 to the trademark smooth left-handed jump shot in EA Sports’ “NCAA Basketball” game.

Nearly 14 years after he led UCLA to the 1995 NCAA basketball championship as the most outstanding player of the Final Four, O’Bannon said, “I was flattered initially. My first thought was, ‘That’s pretty cool. I’m on the video game.’ ”

Then, O’Bannon said his friend observed, “‘What’s funny about this whole thing is we paid X amount of dollars for it and you didn’t see one penny of it.’ ” And O’Bannon recalled in a phone interview Tuesday, “My thoughts went from flattery to being upset.”

O’Bannon’s ire eventually took the form of a potentially ground-altering lawsuit against the NCAA, video game giant Electronic Arts and the marketing firm Collegiate Licensing Inc., that goes before federal Judge Claudia Wilken on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Oakland, Calif.

It frames the long overdue question of whether the often heavy-handed NCAA owns the rights to player likenesses and names on game jerseys and other items beyond their college eligibility and into perpetuity.

But it has also come to raise the broader, potentially more explosive issue of whether current players should share in the billions of dollars they help make for the NCAA and member institutions.

O’Bannon, who was joined in the suit by several other former athletes such as NBA Hall of Famers Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson, alleges their names and likenesses were used illegally in video games and other products the NCAA has profited from. The NCAA has denied it has acted illegally.

But the judge, who has so far refused motions to toss the case, has stirred visions of the NCAA’s worst nightmare in January by saying she would hear arguments Thursday whether to allow the case to be rolled into a class action suit. One that could, should a jury find in the plaintiffs’ favor, allow current athletes a share of NCAA revenue, including lucrative TV rights fees, for the first time in the organization’s century-old history.

San Antonio vs. Miami game 6

Miami escapes elimination in overtime
LeBron loses his headband
Ray Allen hits a three with 5 seconds left
The Spurs snuck Tim Duncan back in.
Did Ginobili get fouled?
Did Danny Green get fouled?
Gregg Popovich substitutions second-guessed
Heat fans left early
They brought out the yellow tape

And now for game 7

Bosh says to "fans," don't come back
Duncan being Duncan.
Moment of truth for LeBron

LeBron couldn't sleep
Wade's knee swollen on Wednesday
Suit up Juwan?
Spurs on Heat on their reserve tank
Spurs stick together
Kids keep it in perspective
7 Questions
Relish the moment

***

Two straight for Miami
The road to the title
Five things of note
Basketball gods shine on Battier
LeBron adds another MVP
Duncan devastated / Spurs lament
24-Second Thoughts

***

15 players that could beat LeBron 1-on-1 (some of the time)

Chad Johnson butt pat = jail

Johnson, known as Chad Ochocinco for his jersey number in Spanish during his playing days, had reached a deal with prosecutors calling for community service and counseling instead of jail. Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh said she would tack on an additional three months' probation because Johnson had failed to meet with his probation officer during three previous months.

It was all set until Johnson, when asked by McHugh if he was satisfied with his lawyer Adam Swickle, gave the attorney a light swat on the rear -- as football players routinely do to each other on the field. The courtroom erupted in laughter and at that McHugh said she wouldn't accept the deal.

"I don't know that you're taking this whole thing seriously. I just saw you slap your attorney on the backside. Is there something funny about this?" McHugh said, slapping the plea deal document down on her desk. "The whole courtroom was laughing. I'm not going to accept these plea negotiations. This isn't a joke."

Johnson, 35, tried to apologize and insisted he meant no disrespect. Johnson was on probation after pleading no contest to head-butting his then-wife, TV reality star Evelyn Lozada, during an altercation last August. She quickly filed for divorce after barely a month of marriage and Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, was immediately released by the Miami Dolphins. He didn't play at all last season.

***

Johnson apologizes and is released after seven days

Tim Tebow to Patriots

The New England Patriots are expected to sign quarterback Tim Tebow, according to multiple reports.

ESPN first reported the news, and The Associated Press has confirmed, citing sources, that Tebow will join the Patriots' minicamp on Tuesday and sign with the team, pending a medical exam.

Tebow spent last season with the New York Jets, but only saw limited action. He finished the season with just eight passing attempts for 39 yards and zero touchdowns, and the Jets cut him on April 29.

As weeks went by with Tebow still unemployed, it seemed possible he may never play in the NFL again. Yahoo! Sports reported in May that New England head coach Bill Belichick did not like Tebow and that he said there was "no chance" of Tebow coming to the Patriots.

Belichick later refuted that report, and told ESPNBoston.com that he wouldn't rule out the team signing Tebow.

"I wouldn't get into the probability of us pursuing any free agent," Belichick said. "Every single player has strengths and weaknesses but regardless of that, for anyone to have represented that is the way I feel about Tim Tebow is completely untrue, baseless and irresponsible. It is unfortunate that something so inaccurate was reported."

The Patriots' signing of Tebow will reunite him with Josh McDaniels, New England's offensive coordinator and former head coach of Tebow with the Denver Broncos.

McDaniels and the Broncos drafted Tebow in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, and made him the full-time starter in 2011. Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs and a first-round upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers after an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass in overtime.

Despite the Broncos' playoff run, he was traded to New York the following offseason when Denver signed Peyton Manning. Tebow threw only eight passes for the Jets, completing six, ran 32 times for 102 yards and was used mostly to protect the punter.

''Unfortunately,'' coach Rex Ryan said in a statement when Tebow was released, ''things did not work out the way we all had hoped.''

***

[8/31/13] Tebow cut by Patriots, future in limbo.  Hasn't given up.

Deacon Jones

David "Deacon" Jones, the Hall of Fame defensive end credited with terming the word "sack" for how he knocked down quarterbacks, has died. The Washington Redskins said that Jones died of natural causes at his home in Southern California on Monday night. He was 74.

"Deacon Jones was one of the greatest players in NFL history. Off the field, he was a true giant," said Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, whose father, George, coached Jones with the Los Angeles Rams. "His passion and spirit will continue to inspire those who knew him. He was a cherished member of the Allen family and I will always consider him my big brother."

Because sacks didn't become an official statistic until 1982, Jones' total is uncertain. His impact as a premier pass rusher and team leader is not.

"Even with his fellow Hall of Famers, Deacon Jones held a special status. He was an icon among the icons," commissioner Roger Goodell tweeted Tuesday. "He is warmly regarded by his peers not only as one of the greatest players in history but also for his influence & sense of humor."

Jones was the leader of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome unit from 1961-71 and then played for San Diego for two seasons before finishing his career with the Redskins in 1974. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and made the league's 75th anniversary all-time squad.

"Deacon Jones has been the most inspirational person in my football career," said former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood.

Jones made the Pro Bowl every year from 1964-70 and played in eight overall. He combined with fellow Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy on a defensive line that at times was unblockable.

Olsen died in March 2010 at age 69 and Lundy died in February 2007 at 71. Grier, who is 80, is the only surviving member of the Fearsome Foursome.

George Allen, who coached the Fearsome Foursome, called Jones the "greatest defensive end of modern football." The Allen family had Jones present George Allen for his Hall of Fame induction in 2002.

2012-2013 All-NBA

NEW YORK -- The Miami Heat's LeBron James, the 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and winner of four of the previous five MVP awards, highlights the 2012-13 All-NBA First Team. James was the only player to receive all 119 First Team votes.

Joining James on the First Team are Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. For Bryant, his 11th First Team nod ties him with Hall of Famer Karl Malone for the most such selections. Bryant had been tied at 10 with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit and Jerry West.

Pacing the Heat to a league-best and franchise-record 66-16 mark, James was the only player in the NBA to lead his team in scoring (26.8 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg) and assists (7.3 apg). He shot a career high from the field (.565) and from three-point range (.406). Additionally, James led the NBA in score differential (+9.5) and player impact estimate (22.1 percent), according to NBA.com/Stats, in the process becoming the youngest player in NBA history to post eight different 2,000-point seasons, and the youngest player to reach the 20,000-point plateau.

Bryant, an All-NBA First Team selection for the eighth straight season, scored 2,133 points, averaging 27.3 points. This season, he moved past Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
Additionally, Bryant eclipsed the 2,000-point mark in a single season for the eighth time in his 17-year NBA career, in the process becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in a season at age 34 or older, joining Alex English, Jordan and Malone, each of whom did so twice.

Duncan earns his 10th First Team selection and first since 2006-07. In his 16th NBA campaign, Duncan averaged 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.65 blocks, ranking third overall in the latter. He shot .502 from the floor and a career-best .817 from the free throw line.

In earning his fourth All-NBA First Team selection, Durant averaged 28.1 points while shooting .510 from the field, .416 from distance and .905 from the free throw line. With those percentages, Durant became just the second player in NBA history (Larry Bird; 1986-87) to average 28-plus points while going .500/.400/.900 during the year. Additionally, Durant's field goal and free throw percentages represented career bests.

Paul, an All-NBA First Team selection for the third time, had a league-best 4.26 assist-to-turnover ratio; he had 13 games in which he dished at least 11 assists while committing no more than one turnover. The 2013 All-Star Game MVP, Paul averaged 16.9 points, ranked second in assists with 9.7 apg and paced the league in steals with 2.41 spg.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Tony Parker of the Spurs and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder, forwards Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Blake Griffin of the Clippers, and center Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The All-NBA Third Team includes the Houston Rockets' James Harden and the Heat's Dwyane Wade at guard, the Indiana Pacers' Paul George and the Golden State Warriors' David Lee at forward, and the Lakers' Dwight Howard at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 119 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

***

and here's the real All-Star team..

the latest (and greatest?) dynamic duo

They were dubbed the Dynamic Duo, and that they were. Anthony Carter and Alika Smith established themselves as the most recognizable tandem in the history of University of Hawaii sports. The starting backcourt in 1996-97 and '97-98 led UH to the NIT both years, with wins over Indiana and Kansas highlighting the overall 42-17 ledger.

Carter went on to a long NBA career, and Smith coached his alma mater, Kalaheo High, to a state championship this year.

Now, 15 years after, there's another UH athletic pairing in a different sport putting the finishing touches on careers even more impressive than those of Carter and Smith.

I say more impressive because softball center fielder Kelly Majam and shortstop Jessica Iwata have produced excellence consistently for four seasons, from the time they were freshmen in 2010 and led the Wahine to the College World Series. Carter and Smith combined for just two seasons.

Some will still consider Carter and Smith the better duo because men's basketball is a revenue sport and higher profile than women's softball. Maybe there's room at the very top for both. But I give the Wahine the nod because of their incredible durability despite some serious physical challenges.

MAJAM HAS STARTED in all 225 UH softball games since the beginning of the 2010 season after a knee injury forced her to redshirt in 2009. And 159 of those games came after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer prior to her sophomore season of 2011.

Iwata missed just two games early in her freshman season. She has played in every game since, with a 223 total despite dealing with a painful shoulder injury this year that requires surgery.

During their four years, UH has posted a 171-54 record for a .760 winning percentage.

Both are at the top or near it in numerous career batting statistics, both are over .300 in career batting average and are outstanding defensively. Majam has 72 career homers and Iwata 55. Their regular season concludes with a three-game series at Pacific starting with a doubleheader today.

Other notable duos in UH sports history:

» Pitchers Gerald Ako and Derek Tatsuno intersected for just one season (1977), but the pitchers from Aiea were nearly unhittable.

» Gary Allen and David Toloumu played together four seasons (1978-81) with speed, power and versatility, when running backs were the focal point of the offense.

» Lily Kahumoku (1999-2003) and Kim Willoughby (2000-03) were two of the more talented players in Wahine volleyball history and combined forces for three final four appearances.

» The Timmy Chang (1999-2004) to Chad Owens (2000-04) connection led to all-time passing records for Chang and All-American status for Owens.

» Linebackers Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard (2005-08) were the heart of the underrated defense during UH's football glory years. Elimimian finished as the school's career tackles leader.

Reach Dave Reardon at <@Tagline -- email1>dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783 or on Twitter as @dave_reardon.

Top Ten Unrestricted Free Agents

Only eight teams remain in the playoffs, meaning the fans of 22 other teams have turned much of their attention to the offseason and the free-agent summer of 2013 in particular.

We will encounter a familiar name there, one Dwight David Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers, who along with Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, will be at the center of all things come July 1 (when free agency kicks off in all of its usual craziness).

There are a dozen teams, most notably Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Utah, Cleveland, New Orleans, Detroit, Charlotte and Washington, with the cash to spend and the flexibility to significantly tweak, and, in some cases, totally remake their rosters. All these teams need is a free agent willing to give them a chance to make the proper sales pitch.

For the top-level free agents — and this summer that list it two truly elite players deep, Howard and Paul — the list of potential suitors will be exclusive.