My Sports News Digest

We know where James Dolan, Mark Cuban, Jerry Buss, and Micky Arison stand. And we certainly know where Dan Gilbert, Robert Sarver, Peter Holt, and Michael Jordan stand. But what about the rest of the NBA ownership? Media reports have been sorely lacking a “whip count” of where the owners land since negotiations have progressed as far as they have in the last few weeks. The Salt Lake Tribune provided a rough one last night, via Twitter: Most important votes are decided by the moderates, the undecideds who choose their side and carry the day. This is no different. We’ve [...]

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While we do have a general rule about not having Colin Cowherd on this blog in any form, it is balanced out by Dikembe Mutombo (and Michelle Beadle). This is a great collection of Mutombo blocks (and it doesn’t even include things like the block of an Andrew Bynum hook shot). What I miss with the NBA gone are the moments that make me smile. That can be the beauty of the extra pass or the fast defensive rotation, but often it’s just to watch someone with the physical ability to do something few if any others can do. Which [...]

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In case you thought sanity might encroach on the NBA labor talks, we bring you this report: A group of hardline NBA players, about 50, participated in a conference call this week behind the back of union leadership, reports both the New York Times and Yahoo. The upshot of the mid-week call is that if the union gives any more on either system issues or percentage of basketball related income, the group will start a drive to decertify the union. Know that this is as much a negotiating tactic as a real threat, and effort to give the union some [...]

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More good stuff from Sports Illustrated’s Zach Lowe: Jamal Crawford is a confounding player. He has a fairly high-profile, takes the sort of difficult crunch-time jumpers that make highlight reels and just looks the part of a dynamic NBA player. LeBron James and LaMarcus Aldridge have both recruited Crawford, an impending free agent, via Twitter the last few days. He’s a popular guy around the league, is thoughtful and honest, and star players are clamoring to be his teammate… …Crawford is, by any measure, a borderline inefficient scorer who gets lost too easily on defense – both on and off [...]

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From the department of “Aw, sad panda” comes this element regarding Wolves forward Michael Beasley. Beasley had organized a charity event in Minnesota, billing it as the “All-Star Classic,” promoting it as including Kevin Durant and Kevin Love along with John Wall and No.2 overall Timberwolves pick Derrick Williams. One problem. They didn’t show. From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Organizers originally priced tickets at between and 0, then changed them to general admission, 0 for VIP reserve and 0 for court seats when it became clear Durant, Love, Wall and No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams wouldn’t play. Net proceeds will [...]

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Paul Allen did not come across very well after all was said and done on Thursday after the NBA negotiations fell apart broke apart blew apart like a soda can with a pound of C4 inside it. One writer outlined Allen’s history of random and reckless spending and decision making, another suggested that Allen may be on the way out and looking to improve his sale price, while also not caring about offending the players. It was Allen who was allegedly brought in to pull the NBA back from the brink of compromise on behalf of the hard-line owners. On [...]

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There are plenty of NBA players doing charity games and youth clinics right now, but this one is a little different. Derrick Rose, Joe Johnson and Al Horford are leading a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour of players that will visit a number of military bases in Hawaii. The group will shoot hoops with guys on the bases, lead some youth clinics and meet with military families. “I am so thankful for the great sacrifices the service members and their families make for our country and it is a truly special opportunity to give back by sharing our love of basketball [...]

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Michael Jordan will talk trash to anyone at any time (see his Hall of Fame acceptance speech). In fact, if you’re not getting trash talked in his company you may want to worry. And if you think his trash talk knows limits, we bring you this. Former President Bill Clinton did an interview with the Wall Street Journal about his golf game and staying healthy, and it included this tidbit (via Eye on Basketball): Clinton loves playing golf with athletes whenever he can. He’s played with Greg Norman, Adam Scott, Luke Donald and Michael Jordan, among others. Jordan coaxed him [...]

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