Former FSU coach Bobby Bowden on Tim Tebow: ‘Guy is a winner’

Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden on Tuesday night called former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow 'a winner' during a rare appearance at FSU. Bowden talked about the current Denver Broncos quarterback during remarks at a Tallahassee Quarterback Club function. It was Bowden's first time at Doak Campbell Stadium since the 2009 season. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

During his keynote speech at Tuesday night’s Tallahassee Quarterback Club’s awards dinner, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden gave attendees a glimpse into his still sharp 82-year-old football mind.

In between stories about FSU alum and actor Burt Reynolds wanting to fund a uniform change campaign in the early 1980s, and other tales about how SEC schools tried to woo him away from Tallahassee, Bowden offered his thoughts to a full University Center room on the current state of football, and how it’s now played in between the lines.

In a nutshell, the game he coached in various roles for 57 years … has changed.

“You know, football goes in cycles,” he said. “There will be like 10 years where defense is the dominant thing. … And then you’ll get into an offensive cycle, where nobody can stop anybody. And that’s kind of where we are right now. They’re scoring all kind of points.”

What does he believe is the primary reason why today’s game is vastly different than the one that helped earn him a pair of national championships and international recognition?

The quarterbacks. They’re different now. They run, they throw, they jump-throw, they fake hand-off, they run option packages at higher speeds and in different angles.

Quarterbacks now are bigger than his former Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller, Charlie Ward. They have arms that rival Danny Kanell’s and Chris Weinke’s. They run with flashes of Deion Sanders’ elusivene– OK, who are we kidding? Let’s not get TOO far ahead of ourselves.

Still, the point remains: quarterbacks in the 21st century are different than they were in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Case in point, Bowden said: take current FSU quarterback EJ Manuel and former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. In the NFL with the Denver Broncos, Tebow’s power-running, agile, option quarterback style has proven — recently, at least — to be a winning formula. The Broncos are 8-1 with him starting games. This season alone, with Tebow at the helm, they have won three overtime games.

Bowden doesn’t think that’s a coincidence.

“You know, I got a letter this past summer from some writer up in, oh, gosh, I guess it’s out there where Tebow’s playing ball there. Where is that? Where? Denver? Yeah, Denver,” Bowden said during his speech Tuesday night. “So the writer says, ‘Coach, what is your opinion on Tebow? Do you think he can win? Do you think he can win in this league?’

“I wrote him back and said, ‘Yeah, he can win. The guy is a winner.’”

For all of Tebow’s college career, Bowden had a front-row seat to the flashes of successful brilliance he contends we’re still seeing now. Every year he was at Florida, Tebow’s Gators beat the Seminoles in the annual end-of-season rivalry game. Two separate seasons, Tebow and the Gators even hung 45 points on FSU in back-to-back series wins. Sure, the Seminoles were going through a rough patch those years as Bowden was nearing the end of his coaching days, but Tebow was making his team nationally relevant and national champions. Florida won titles in 2006 and 2008.

“I don’t want to say he’s a great player, but he makes the guys around him better,” Bowden said about Tebow. “Everybody plays better that plays with him.”

Then, speaking to the high school and college athletes in the room who were being honored during the awards dinner, Bowden added: “I mean, some of you young men probably have some of that stuff on you, and dadgum, there’s a quarterback back there that can do that.”

He pointed near the back of the room, where Manuel was sitting.

A 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback Bowden and his then-assistant, current FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher recruited, Manuel led the Seminoles to an 8-4 regular season record during his first full season as FSU’s starting quarterback. He was injured for parts of three games — all losses — and proved just how big an impact his legs, arm and leadership presence had on his team.

During the awards dinner, Manuel, along with FSU safety Lamarcus Joyner, received the Tallahassee Quarterback Club’s Bob Crenshaw Award for leadership and character. A former 175-pound FSU offensive lineman and class president who died in a plane crash at 24. The award goes to the Seminoles player each year who displays “the biggest heart.”

Here’s a little more on what Bowden had to say about Tebow and about the current state of football:

***

You know, football goes in cycles. There will be like 10 years where defense is the dominant thing. Now, LSU and Alabama this year, they’re kind of in a different breed. Their defenses are dominating. But there was a time in football where defense just rules the roost. Scores of 7-6, 14-7, 21-20. No big, high scores.

And then you’ll get into an offensive cycle, where nobody can stop anybody. And that’s kind of where we are right now. They’re scoring all kind of points. When I was coming up — I can’t say, ‘You and I,’ because y’all are so much younger than I am — I mean, gosh. Ballgames were 7-6. If you had a two-touchdown lead you protect it.

Right now, we’re in an offensive cycle and the question here is why? And my thought on it is this: Because something that’s happening now in football that hasn’t happened before. That is, defenses are not used to seeing a passing, running quarterback. They’re not used to seeing a triple-threat quarterback. It used to be, all the quarterback did was hand off and throw. Hand off and throw.

But now they’ll kill you running the doggone football.

So the the linemen will spread everybody out. You don’t have but one guy back there, that’s the quarterback. Well, the defense isn’t going to take that guy (maybe a running back), they take him. They’ll pick him up, but nobody picks up the quarterback.

Tebow’s doing it right now in the NFL. The NFL has never faced an option. And he keeps pulling games in and pulling games out. How long is it going to last? I don’t know.

***

Finally, check out this video of Bowden speaking before the awards dinner about his return to FSU for the first time since his 2009 retirement. When asked if he’d come back for other functions, namely being recognized at a game or at least watching an FSU game, Bowden said he would … but “doesn’t know when.”

SOURCE

Read more »

Mavericks working on deal in lieu of Vince transporter

DALLAS -- Vince transporter is close to unification the humankind champion Dallas Mavericks, according to a source with awareness of the negotiations.

The solitary holdup currently is if transporter will be of the same mind to a one-year contract, since the Mavs require to insist their salary cap flexibility in lieu of subsequently summer's free-agent marketplace.

Transporter, a 6-foot-6 advance who turns 35 subsequently month, averaged 13.5 points and shot 42.2 percent in 51 games in lieu of Phoenix only remaining season. The Suns got transporter only remaining Dec. 18 from Orlando, someplace he averaged 15 points in 22 games.

Transporter was a partner of Mavs peak guard Jason Kidd with the New Jersey Nets from 2003-'07.

The Suns waived transporter on Friday surrounded by a 72-hour window with the aim of allows them to reimbursement solitary $4 million of the $18 million he's billed in lieu of 2011-12.

Chandler to Knicks

On the generation Tyson Chandler sure to sign a four-year, $58 million contract with the New York Knicks, Mavericks coach strain Carlisle got back to the firm of basketball.

Such as the Mavs opened training camp Friday, Carlisle unnecessary rebuff stretch let each know could you repeat that? He expects from Brendan Haywood and Ian Mahinmi, only remaining year's second- and third-string centers.

"Haywood's ready to be our starter," Carlisle whispered. "Last time was a crumb of an peculiarity in lieu of his career. But the detail with the aim of we had him near-term rancid the bench was lone of the reasons we had such a strong association, and we'll be strong again this time for the reason that he's a darn capable starter."

Haywood played 18.5 minutes apiece game only remaining season and averaged 4.4 points and 5.2 rebounds.

"Just knowing you're ready to develop more minutes is certainly an added plus," Haywood whispered. "But you state to exit old hat near and complete something with your minutes."

Haywood has career averages of 7.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Chandler's career facts are 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

Wright cryptogram

The Mavs state 11 players under contract subsequent to signing 6-foot-10 power advance Brandan Wright, a ex- lottery pick, to a two-year contract. The back time of the contract is by the Mavs' option.

The solitary player absent Friday was small advance Rudy Fernandez, who was acquired in a draft-day trade with Portland.

Fernandez is having pass problems frustrating to develop old hat of his abode kingdom in Spain, but is likely to be by practice Monday.

The Mavericks lost Caron Butler in released agency, and J.J. Barea is besides likely to leave Dallas.

A just starting out interval

With Mavs released agents result just starting out homes, Shawn Marion whispered it's stretch to circle the bleep.

"Everybody equally participated in selection win this championship only remaining time, and we've got a delivery of guys who came back," Marion whispered. "So we've got to lose sleep vis-а-vis what's in this locker space accurate currently.

"I craving them the greatest of godsend, wherever their destination leads them. But we've got to develop set in lieu of Dallas Mavericks basketball."

Read more »

Chris Paul Trade: David Stern, NBA Face Withering Criticism

New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul reacts during the first day of their NBA basketball training camp in Westwego, La., Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW YORK — NBA teams went back to work Friday, which for Chris Paul meant going back to New Orleans.

And there was disbelief and anger around the league – and a commitment to try again to find him a new home.

Commissioner David Stern killed the Hornets' first attempt at moving their All-Star point guard, but New Orleans general manager Dell Demps is working to put together a new deal.

"Yes. People are still calling," Demps said. "People are still calling and we're calling people, so we're confident we can get a deal."

Paul could have been in Los Angeles on Friday, ready to pair up with Kobe Bryant as the next star in Hollywood. That fell apart Thursday when the league, which owns the Hornets, rejected a three-team trade the club had agreed to for "basketball reasons," denying the decision came about because of pressure on Stern from irate owners.

And instead of the immediate boost the league craved coming out the lockout with free agency and training camps opening, it found itself with another public relations disaster.

"That's the first thing I thought. We just got done arguing for four or five months and everyone just wants to see basketball and now this. Huge controversy, again with NBA owners," said Minnesota forward Anthony Tolliver, the Timberwolves' player representative. "I just hope it doesn't damage everybody and hope it doesn't affect everybody in the whole league, which I think it possibly could. This is a really big deal because it's everywhere, all over ESPN, all over every website, CNN, everything. It's a really big deal."

The 26-year-old Paul was seen walking into New Orleans' training facility Friday wearing a black Hornets practice jersey but did not speak to the media.

"Being a really good friend of mine, like a brother to me, I'm frustrated for him," LeBron James said after the Heat's first practice. "I wish him the best. I know where his heart is and what he wants to do with his career. I support him and hopefully things get resolved, fast, for him and his family."

Though he nixed the deal, Stern has reason for wanting the same teams to work something out. If not, and another team eventually makes a trade that is approved, it will be difficult to shake the perception that the league was dictating where it wanted Paul to go.

Demps said the team has resumed talks for Paul – to any team – and that he has been given autonomy to make another trade, one he hopes will keep the Hornets competitive now and create a promising future.

"We want to build the team where they're good, they compete at the highest level and also have an opportunity for the future," he said. "We don't want to just put everything into this year. We want to be a good team that competes at the highest level, and we also want to start a developmental program."

Maybe the other owners will like the next trade more.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told a radio station Friday that the league went through the lockout to prevent this very type of deal in which small-market teams lose their superstars. And a letter from Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to Stern clearly showed he, too, objected to the deal.

"I just don't see how we can allow this trade to happen," Gilbert wrote in the letter, which was obtained by Yahoo Sports and The New York Times.

He added: "I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do."

Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby said owners had no say in vetoing the trade, but applauded the move.

"I'm one who likes to see the market and teams that have invested in a player and helped develop a player have an opportunity to have that player be a long-time part of that community," Rigby said. "As a small-market team, it's very important. ... We had a lot of years of success with certain players named John Stockton, Karl Malone, who invested and committed to a community. That community committed back, and we saw a lot of success together."

Hall of Famer Magic Johnson took the opposite stance, writing on Twitter on Friday that it was the "wrong decision" by Stern and the owners.

Stern responded in a statement, saying the Hornets were "better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade."

When James and Chris Bosh left their small-market teams to build a potential powerhouse with Dwyane Wade in Miami, it gave owners even more motivation to seek changes that would limit the big spenders' advantages in the new collective bargaining agreement. Yet the idea of Paul in Los Angeles – on the very day the CBA was being ratified – served to make the entire work stoppage seem like a waste.

"We just had a lockout, and one of the goals of the lockout was to say that small-market teams now have a chance to keep their players, and the rules were designed to give them that opportunity," Cuban told ESPN 103.3 in Dallas. "So to all of a sudden have a league-owned team trade their best player, particularly after having gone out and sold a ton of tickets in that market, that's not the kind of signal you want to send."

Though Paul has never said so, there has long been speculation he would leave New Orleans when he can become a free agent this summer. The Hornets have been working to make sure they get something for him, and the proposed deal Thursday would have netted them some talent in return.

The Hornets would have received Lamar Odom, last year's top sixth man, from the Lakers, as well as forward Luis Scola, shooting guard Kevin Martin, point guard Goran Dragic and a first-round draft choice from the Houston Rockets. And the Lakers' Pau Gasol would have gone to the Rockets.

That's far better than the Hornets may get in another deal, since many teams are hesitant to offer their top players in case Paul intends to only stay one season.

Stern said Friday he also considered the Hornets' business performance when killing the deal.

"Since the NBA purchased the New Orleans Hornets, final responsibility for significant management decisions lies with the Commissioner's office in consultation with team chairman Jac Sperling. All decisions are made on the basis of what is in the best interests of the Hornets," Stern said in the statement. "In the case of the trade proposal that was made to the Hornets for Chris Paul, we decided, free from the influence of other NBA owners, that the team was better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade."

The Lakers' Gasol took it in stride, ready to go back to work. He tweeted: "New day my friends. On my way to El Segundo for the first day of training camp ..."

Scola chose humor, writing that he was on his way to the Toyota Center and that "this is going to be fun. The good thing is that the TC it's on the way to the airport, just in case."

Despite those positive attitudes, Stern's statement generated plenty of anger as players reported to camps throughout the day. Bad feelings remain from the CBA negotiations, during which Stern upset players who knew they'd be making financial concessions with what they considered "take-it-or-leave-it" proposals. Paul was a member of the players' executive committee.

"This is a perfect example of the things that were so alarming during the lockout, that the owners don't want players to have freedom of choice and that doesn't work when you're dealing with the most talented people in the world at their profession," said agent Mark Bartelstein, who didn't have a player in the proposed deal.

"When you look at other entertainers, they get perform where they want. They get to make choices on what they want to do with their careers, what movie they want to be in, what city they want to perform in. Owners are doing everything they can to ratchet down freedom of choice for players."

SOURCE

Read more »

Detroit Pistons set to part ways with Richard Hamilton

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons are set to part ways with Richard Hamilton.
General manager Joe Dumars said Friday night the team has reached a “verbal agreement” and indicated a buyout would be forthcoming. The 33-year-old Hamilton spent the last nine seasons with the Pistons, leading them to the 2004 NBA title.

(Duane Burleson, File/Associated Press) - FILE - In this March 16, 2011, file photo, Detroit Pistons’ Richard Hamilton reacts to the action in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors in Auburn Hills, Mich. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, that the team has decided to part ways with Hamilton, and that terms of a buyout are still being negotiated. Hamilton spent the last nine seasons with the Pistons, leading them to the 2004 NBA title but had a falling out last season with former coach John Kuester and was benched for most of a seven-week stretch.

“We’ve come to a verbal agreement,” Dumars said. “Once it’s official, then I can get more detailed about why buyout instead of amnesty.”

The league’s new amnesty clause allows a team to drop a player without having his salary count against the salary cap and luxury tax, but it doesn’t appear the Pistons will use it while cutting Hamilton.

Hamilton had a falling out last season with coach John Kuester and was benched for most of a seven-week stretch. The two appeared to be on better terms toward the end of the season, but Hamilton averaged only 14.1 points in 2010-11.

“It’s tough to see a guy like that go,” said center Ben Wallace, another member of the 2004 Pistons. “I won a lot of games with him, had a lot of fun with him. ... You hate to see him not be here, but I’m pretty sure Rip, he’s going to bounce back, he’s going to land on his feet.”

Later Friday night, a message appeared on Hamilton’s Twitter account: “Thank u to all my Detroit fans. Love all of u. U will always have a special place in my heart. Yessssssirrrrr”

Kuester was fired after last season and replaced by Lawrence Frank, and the Pistons also have a new owner. Tom Gores purchased the team at the end of last season.

Detroit now needs to figure out how to reshape its roster, and cutting ties with Hamilton is a significant move. Hamilton was one of several players who missed at least part of a shootaround before a game at Philadelphia last season in one of the defining moments of the team’s season. The coaching staff used only six players in a loss that night, sticking with those who were at the full shootaround.

Now Hamilton will have a fresh start and the Pistons won’t have to keep him for the final two seasons of his contract. Tracy McGrady is also gone, having signed with the Atlanta Hawks.

Detroit isn’t moving on from all links to the past, though. The Pistons re-signed Tayshaun Prince.

“We feel like he’s the type of guy who will lead the right way under the right circumstances,” Dumars said. “You can’t just get rid of everybody. ... You’re always going to have to have the right veteran.”

Prince was still a dependable player for Detroit last season, starting 78 games.

“It’s a commitment both on Tayshaun’s part and the organization’s part, that despite some of the issues that occurred over the last couple years, that he still wanted to be a Piston,” Frank said. “We felt that Tayshaun is still a very high-level performer at the small forward position, and plus, can now take it to another level and be a mentor to some of our guys.”

Detroit also re-signed forward Jonas Jerebko, signed draft picks Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin and signed Jake Voskuhl, Kareem Rush, Walker Russell Jr. and Brian Hamilton to the training camp roster.

What’s less clear is whether guard Rodney Stuckey will be back with the Pistons. He’s a restricted free agent.

“He’s going through his first negotiation,” said Dumars, who indicated he would resume talks with Stuckey’s agent late Friday night.

Wallace is back after contemplating retirement at the end of last season.
“I don’t want to leave the game too late, I don’t want to stay too long,” the 37-year-old Wallace said. “If it works out, it works out. If not, I can live with knowing I gave it my best effort.”

SOURCE

Read more »

NBA Free Agency Q&A With Mavs Moneyball: How Much Is Tyson Chandler Really Worth?

Ronald Martinez - Getty Images

Tyson Chandler helped the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 NBA Finals with his defense, but how much is he worth in free agency...for a team like the Golden State Warriors? Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.

When I first contacted LJRotter of SB Nation's Mavs Moneyball about a Tyson Chandler Q&A two days ago, the Golden State Warriors still seemed to have a`realistic chance to sign him.

Barring a minor miracle, that's no longer the case - as most people reading this site probably know by now, Chandler is likely headed to the New York Knicks for $58 million over 4 years and the Warriors have reportedly turned their attention elsewhere.

Nevertheless, in light of a Warriors offer that was considered excessive by some fans before being trumped by the Knicks offer, there might be a lingering question for fans dreaming about what could've been for the Warriors with a true center in the fold: How much is Chandler worth?

LJRotter and her crew from MMB have some interesting insight for fans still wondering whether it would have been worthwhile to offer Chandler more money to make sure he came to the Bay.

MMB split up the questions I sent them between three writers: LJRotter (site manager), andytobo, and Boweman55.

1. GSoM: Let's just get this one out of the way: do you think this man is worth the max?

Boweman55: Sadly, yes, if in the right situation. Offering max contracts to centers who have had two outstanding years surrounded by slight mediocrity seems like the exact reason the NBA went into a lockout. Whether you like it or not, Chandler is a difference maker, a rarity among most pivot men in the NBA. As much as guard play has been heralded with recent rule changes, all the NBA champions of this decade controlled the paint. Chandler does that and he does it well. Plus, have you seen him hedge a ball handler on a pick and roll? It was like the first time I listened to The Beatles.

2. GSoM: Obviously Chandler was a big part of the Mavs' championship success last season, but when the lockout ended, where did re-signing him stand on your list of lockout-shortened "off-season" priorities?

andytobo: I think Tyson is the #1 priority for the Mavs this offseason, though I don't think they'll get him. Put simply: with Tyson the Mavs have a guaranteed chance to repeat as champions while Dirk is still in his prime; without him, they're cast into a world of uncertainty with all signs pointing to their inability to compete again before Dirk is too old to help much.

Also, as my brother pointed out to me earlier today, a Dirk-Deron team with no defense isn't a championship contender. You would be well within your rights to wonder if that combo would be appreciably better than Durant-Westbrook (with Durant being the best scorer of the four and Westbrook by far the least valuable player, though still valuable). That doesn't make Chandler worth 15 million-or more-a year, but it doesn't make him dispensable either.

3. GSoM: Many people have talked about how Chandler "changed the culture" of the Mavs defensively. But as someone who followed the Mavs pre-Chandler, what kinds of things really stand out to you as concrete examples of that "change"?

andytobo: I think calling Tyson Chandler a "culture changer" is a handy way for clueless sports columnists to explain what they don't understand. To suggest that Dirk, Terry and Kidd were unwilling to do whatever they could to win before Chandler got here is to never have watched a Mavericks game. What Tyson is, actually, is a "defense changer." That is, his lateral quickness made up for the slow feet of the Mavs' perimeter defenders. Add that to Marion's ability to cover wings of all description, and Kidd's ability to handle big guards and you've got a defense. Without that, you've got a leaky sieve of a defense that gets burned by fast guards. It's math, not magic. But it sure is necessary.

4. GSoM: Chandler has obviously been lauded for his defensive prowess, but he's not exactly known for his offensive ability. In the one season you spent watching him closely with the Mavs, was there anything about his game offensively that surprised you or changed your previous impression of him (or that might surprise fans of whatever team he lands with who think they know exactly what they're getting)?

Boweman55: If there were any surprises, it was definitely Chandler's touch on his shot. I always knew Chandler was a beast barreling toward the rim with full speed ahead, dunking the ball at will when in the right position, but I was far more impressed by his ability to finish on non-dunk plays. Despite usually only being in a position to finish at the rim, Chandler finished only two of five seasons in Chicago shooting over 50 percent, an alarming number. Once he established himself in New Orleans, Chandler has regularly finished in the high 50s and low 60s. But what changed in Dallas?

His free throw percentage skyrocketed, shooting 73 percent (this shooting uptrend actually started with the Bobcats, where he shot over 70 percent from the stripe as well in his last season with them). Chandler's free throw stroke looks smooth and it wouldn't be ridiculous for him to shoot close to 80 percent. Also, he shot 48 percent on mid-range jumpers, which -quite frankly - is terrifying. He only took less than one per game, but Dallas every now and then sprang a play for Chandler to hit a jumper at either elbow and Chandler finished those plays surprisingly well.

But know this: The two best offensive seasons for Chandler? Playing with Chris Paul and Jason Kidd. Better tell Steph Curry to sharpen his alley-oop lobs (which might be moot if Paul lands in Golden State).

5. GSoM: Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas has reported that Dallas' goal is to let players like Chandler go so they can make a run at All-Stars like Dwight Howard next season. But it seems like some Mavs fans - and Stephen A. Smith! - would rather keep Chandler in Dallas. Which direction would you be happier with?

LJRotter: I am of the opinion that letting Chandler go is a Catch-22 of sorts. If we keep him, we severely limit the amount of money we have to spend on the crazy free agent class of 2012. Even if we let everyone else go this year, we still handicap ourselves immensely. However, if we let him go, we lose a centerpiece of this team's ability to attract the members of the crazy free agent class of 2012. So it comes down to whether you're of the opinion that the Mavericks can repeat with their same team from last year.

As you can see even from the above authors' varying opinions, it's difficult to truly determine the worth of Chandler. I, personally, am a firm believer in chemistry, and having seen the way this championship team worked together, I would rather see Chandler stick around.

6. GSoM: I saw a comment on Mavs Moneyball that called Chandler a "one-and-done superhero"; other people believe that Chandler - along with a point guard like Chris Paul - could lead a lottery team to the playoffs. Which perspective do you feel yourself leaning toward right now?

LJRotter: Aw, you read our site :) Chandler isn't one and done by any means. His limits come only from his ability to stay healthy, and he proved quite handily that he can last season. He is the type of player who can both create his own offense and benefit from the offense of his teammates.

Dallas is a group-focused team, as we all saw in the playoffs last year, that simply thrived on the presence of Chandler in the post. Would he be capable of joining up with Paul and leading just about anyone into the post-season? If he's healthy, sure. But as you all saw from the Mavs, it takes more than two to tango in basketball. And more than three, for that matter.

SOURCE

Read more »

Lamar Odom in 'disbelief' after nearly being traded to Hornets

Lamar Odom is still a Laker, but he doesn't sound completely thrilled about it.

Odom admitted that he was “shocked” and “surprised” when told Thursday afternoon that the Lakers agreed to trade him to the New Orleans Hornets as part of a deal for point guard Chris Paul. But this evening when he heard that the NBA had killed the trade, Odom said he was in “total disbelief” over these new developments.

Odom and Pau Gasol had been part of a three-team deal: Paul was coming to the Lakers, Odom was going to the Hornets and Gasol was going to the Houston Rockets, who were going to send Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic and draft picks to the Hornets.

But NBA commissioner David Stern, reportedly under pressure from the same owners that just ratified the new collective bargaining agreement, killed the deal. The Hornets are owned by the NBA; the league said they rejected the Paul "trade for basketball reasons."

“I guess that means I’m a Laker if the trade didn’t go through,” a somber Odom said in a phone interview with The Times. “I don’t know what to do for the Lakers. I’m even weirded out by the league doing what they did. I don’t know what to do.”

Odom said he thought it was “a lie” when he was first told about the trade to New Orleans.

“And then it doesn’t go through,” Odom said. “Oh, lord. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll pray about it.”

The Lakers open training camp Friday at their facility in El Segundo.

“Maybe I’ll see you there tomorrow [at practice],” Odom said. “But I doubt it. You don’t want to go to no place you’re not wanted. I’ll try to give them what they want as much as possible.”

Odom also felt bad for Gasol.

“Imagine how Pau feels,” Odom said. “Pau came to the Lakers and played here for four years, went to the Finals and lost, won two NBA championships and then got swept [by the Dallas Mavericks this year]. Wow! Imagine how he must feel.

“Man, I’m just in total disbelief about all of this,” Odom continued. “They don’t want my services, for whatever reason. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I was proud to be a Laker, so I’ll try to help them in the process as much as possible."

SOURCE

Read more »

Angels Lure Pujols With 10-Year Contract

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The World Series champion Cardinals will be without Manager Tony La Russa, left, and Albert Pujols next season.

By TYLER KEPNER Published: December 8, 2011

DALLAS — The Los Angeles Angels rattled the baseball world on Thursday by reaching agreement on a 10-year contract with Albert Pujols, the premier player in the game.

 

Pujols has spent his 11-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals, leading them to World Series titles in 2006 and this season. He is a three-time National League most valuable player with a .328 career average — the best among active players — and 445 home runs. 

“It’s certainly very interesting now, and a positive move for the Angels,” said Jack Zduriencik, the general manager of the Seattle Mariners, an American League West rival. “I feel bad for the St. Louis fans who have been such loyal fans and have grown up with this guy.” 

Various reports said the Angels would pay Pujols at least $250 million in the new deal, which was not their only move of the morning. The agent for pitcher C.J. Wilson told ESPN that his client had signed with the Angels for five years and $77.5 million. Jerry DiPoto, the Angels’ general manager, has a news conference scheduled here for late Thursday morning. 

The Angels reached the playoffs six times in eight seasons before falling behind the division-champion Texas Rangers the last two years. Their slide was marked by near-misses on several free agents, including Mark Teixeira and Carl Crawford. 

Early this week, as Pujols negotiated seriously with the Cardinals and the Miami Marlins, the Angels were mentioned as a so-called mystery team, but not portrayed as a serious contender. The Marlins dropped out on Wednesday, and Pujols’s side seemed to be working on details of the Cardinals’ latest proposal, which was said to be an improvement from their nine-year, $198 million offer in January. 

News of the Angels’ agreement circulated through the winter meetings hotel, the Hilton Anatole, at about 9 a.m. local time, during the Rule 5 draft. Officials from all teams — from presidents and general managers on down — were gathered in a ballroom to choose minor league players. The Cardinals’ contingent had come without General Manager John Mozeliak, and expected to meet him back in their suite. 

But Mozeliakleft the hotel for the airport without telling his staff or speaking to reporters.

“It’s a significant deal,” said Walt Jocketty, the Cincinnati Reds’ general manager and Mozeliak’s predecessor in St. Louis. “I’ll miss seeing him, but we won’t miss facing him. If Albert’s not the best hitter in the game today, I don’t know who is. He’ll go down in history as one of the best hitters of all-time. 

“This probably makes sense, with the length of the contract, that he’s going to the American League,” Jocketty added. “He can play first base, and maybe at some point do some D.H.ing.” 

The Rangers held Pujols to a .240 average in the World Series, but they gave up three homers to him in Game 3 and intentionally walked him five times in their seven-game loss. Thad Levine, the Rangers’ assistant general manager, said he did not expect Pujols to go to the Angels, who seemed to be well-covered at first base and designated hitter. 

The incumbent Angels’ first baseman, Mark Trumbo, just finished second in the voting for American League rookie of the year. Trumbo’s predecessor, Kendrys Morales, has missed a year and a half with a significant leg injury, but is expected back. And Bobby Abreu should see time at designated hitter. 

“Lo and behold, they added another guy you could view as a tick above those players,” Levine said.

The Rangers could counter by signing the other premier free agent first baseman, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder, although Levine said, “We’re not a group that’s reactive.” 

Zduriencik, who brought Fielder into professional baseball when he worked for the Brewers, also said he would not feel more pressure to pursue Fielder. “I think all these deals are deals that have their own individuality to them,” Zduriencik said. “Anaheim fans should be happy.” 

And while the Cardinals could also pursue Fielder, or perhaps shortstop Jimmy Rollins from the Philadelphia Phillies, their fans will be saddened. 

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily bad for the game,” Jocketty said. “It’s a good question. I would say it’s bad in the sense that a player of that stature didn’t take the opportunity to play for the same team his entire career. On the other hand, it’s the way the game is today.” 

Sandy Alderson, the Mets’ general manager, said he was happy to see Pujols leave the National League. He did not spend much time pondering Pujols’s destination — the Mets did not pursue him — but he was not surprised by his departure from St. Louis. 

“Nothing surprises me,” Alderson said. “I would have thought he might go back, but when money starts getting thrown around, anything can happen.” 

SOURCE

Read more »

Mark Buehrle joins migration to Miami while Albert Pujols’ destination still not certain

DALLAS — Mark Buehrle joined Heath Bell and Jose Reyes in baseball’s Miami migration as the Marlins got tired of waiting for Albert Pujols and pulled their offer.

Dominating the market under art dealer-owner Jeffrey Loria, the Marlins increased their spending spree to $191 million in less than a week, agreeing Wednesday to a $58 million, four-year contract with Buehrle just hours after completing a deal with All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes.

 “Now how about three more?” new manager Ozzie Guillen said. “Hey, you shoot for the moon, just in case.”
Quite a turnabout for a team that had the major leagues’ lowest payroll in 2006.

“The minnows have become Marlins,” agent Scott Boras said.

With Pujols unwilling to accept their $200 million-plus proposal, the Marlins turned their attention to pitching in an effort to get off to a quick start in April at their $515 million, retractable-roof stadium. It has never been clear that the three-time NL MVP, coming off his second World Series title in six seasons, would be willing to leave the St. Louis Cardinals. The Los Angeles Angels may still be bidding.

“I’m hoping they keep the other animal in St. Louis,” said former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, now skipper of the NL East rival Atlanta Braves.

Marlins president David Samson said the team had withdrawn its offer to Pujols. And while the first baseman still had not announced a decision, there were other moves on the third day of the four-day session.
Colorado traded closer Huston Street to San Diego for a player to be named and cash, Minnesota finalized a $4.75 million deal with closer Matt Capps and Pittsburgh completed agreements with left-hander Eric Bedard ($4.5 million) and outfielder Nate McLouth ($1.75 million). The Pirates also acquired infielder Yamaico Navarro from the Kansas City Royals for a pair of minor leaguers.

San Francisco finalized a trade to obtain outfielder Angel Pagan and a player to be named or cash from the New York Mets for outfielder Andres Torres and right-hander Ramon Ramirez.

The New York Yankees, unusually quiet at the annual gathering, won negotiating rights to shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of the Seibu Lions in Japan’s Pacific League. If they sign him within 30 days, they would pay the Lions a posting fee of $2.5 million.

In the evening, three free agents returned to their former clubs by accepting the salary arbitration offers made last month: Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, Milwaukee reliever Francisco Rodriguez and Toronto second baseman Kelly Johnson. And just before midnight, the Houston Astros hired Jeff Luhnow as general manager. Luhnow, who had been the Cardinals’ vice president of scouting and player development, is the seventh new GM in the majors since the end of the season.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels sounded resigned to losing ace C.J. Wilson, another pitcher Miami had pursued.
“I haven’t received a call to say he’s chosen to go elsewhere, but we’re prepared for that call,” Daniels said.
After winning the 2003 World Series and then dismantling the roster because of a lack of revenue, Loria is collecting free agents like old masterpieces, trying to build a Miami machine with the funds provided by the new stadium and an expected boost in attendance.

Guillen and Buehrle were together on the Chicago White Sox this season, when the 32-year-old left-hander went 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA and won his third straight Gold Glove.

“This kid is special,” Guillen said. “He pitched in the big scenarios, big moments, very tough city to pitch. When people love you in Chicago that means something.”

Buehrle’s deal is subject to a physical, which the sides were arranging.
Reyes, a four-time All-Star, finalized a $106 million, six-year contract, two days after Bell completed a $27 million, three-year deal. Wanting to get started with talks right away, Loria and Marlins officials met Reyes and his agent just past midnight on Nov. 3, the start of the signing period, at a table outside Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle hotel in New York.

“12:01. Those guys are crazy,” Reyes said. “They showed me a lot of love.”

The cash-strapped Mets, who signed him when he was 16, never made a formal offer.
“If you’re asking whether I should have sent him a box of chocolates, perhaps I should have done that,” general manager Sandy Alderson said. “But on the other hand, the box of chocolates would have cost $106 million.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SOURCE

Read more »

John Lennon’s Death Marked, 31 Years Later

Harry Benson, Getty Images

John Lennon would have turned 71 years old this past October, but as we all know, his life was tragically cut short by four bullets from an assassin’s gun. John Lennon died 31 years ago today (Dec. 8).

In these days of instant gratification, instant fame and disposable heroes, it seems almost quaint to acknowledge someone like John Lennon. Real in an unreal world, despite the insane heights of fame he reached, he never seemed like anyone but John Lennon. Sure, that definition may have changed a bit over the years. Certainly the Lennon of 1980 was a somewhat different figure from the Lennon of 1972 or 1964, but through all his life, he was still John.

Musician, singer, songwriter, author, artist, activist … what can be said about the man that hasn’t been said a million times over? From humble and troubled beginnings, Lennon would go on to literally change the world with his music, words, wit and his often open-wound approach to living life.

He and Paul McCartney became the most succesful songwriting team of the 20th century. The two wrote songs that became standards of a generation or two, and though other artists would over time sell more records and play to larger stadiums of fans, no one will ever match the impact of the Beatles. It was a time and place never to happen again. Not bad for a bunch of kids who simply loved playing and writing rock ‘n’ roll songs.

Their constant desire to write better songs, to find new sounds and new ways of doing things moved rock and roll music (and pop culture) in directions no one at the dawn of the 1960′s could have ever imagined. From ‘She Loves You’ to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ in just over 3 years? Incredible! For that matter, the Beatles entire career was there and gone in the time it now takes most bands to release a second album.

Married at a young age, he and his first wife Cynthis had one son, Julain, but due to the explosion of the Beatles, he was gone for much of Julian’s childhood. In 1968, he met the woman who would become his second wife, Yoko Ono. The two were famously inseperable. John always seemed to follow his heart both  musically and personally. His solo catalogue drives like a car on a bumpy road. Some incredible highlights and some highly questionable lows, yet anything but dull.

In the early 1970′s, John & Yoko had moved to New York City, a place he very muched loved. During this era, his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam war and the Nixon administration, led Nixon to attempt to slience him under the watchful eyes of the FBI, ultimately leading to him facing deportation. John dropped out of music altogether when his son Sean was born in 1975, famously playing the role of house husband for five years until the spark to make music struck again in 1980. The resulting album, ‘Double Fantasy’, was released barely a month before he was killed.

In 2011, Lennon’s music lives on stronger than ever. His music, solo and Beatles, is still heard everywhere. It has taken on new life forms and shape-shifted it’s way into the hearts and minds of younger generations along the way. It would be hard to tell someone where to start on a journey through Lennon’s music, but putting your ears to albums like ‘Help,’ ‘Revolver,’ The White Album, ‘Plastic Ono Band’ or ‘Imagine’ certainly wouldn’t be a bad launch pad.

For those of us of, ahem, a certain age, it’s impossible to imagine a world without Lennon or the Beatles. They’ve just always been there as part of our DNA. It’s easy to state that the world would be a much different place had Lennon, McCartney, Harrison & Starr never existed. Hell, I wouldn’t be typing this and chances are, there wouldn’t even be a website like this! It’s almost impossible to overstate their impact on the world at large, let alone the music world.

It’s hard to believe that it has been 31 years since John Lennon was murdered. Murdered, in cold blood on the streets of his favorite city, by a so-called fan. There is still no way to wrap your head around the insanity of that act, but there are plenty of ways to wrap our heads around the joy and excitement Lennon and his music has given the world over the years. And that’s what we choose to remember on this December 8th.

SOURCE

Read more »

Detroit native Harry Morgan starred in 'M.A.S.H.' and 'Dragnet'

LOS ANGELES -- Emmy Award-winning actor Harry Morgan, who played Col. Sherman T. Potter in the classic sitcom "M.A.S.H." and hard-nosed Officer Bill Gannon in the iconic TV cop show "Dragnet," died Wednesday. He was 96.

Morgan, a Detroit native, died at his home in Los Angeles after a bout with pneumonia, his daughter-in-law, Beth Morgan, told the Associated Press.

Morgan's eight-year run on "M.A.S.H.," the pinnacle of his seven-decade acting career, began when he was 60 and had already appeared on Broadway and in dozens of TV shows and more than 50 films.

Three years after it debuted, he joined the show in 1975 as the new commanding officer of the unorthodox 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which patched together the wounded during the Korean War.When the show's two-hour finale aired in 1983, 77% of the people watching television were tuned in, making it the most widely watched show in history.

Shortly before the final episode was broadcast, Morgan told the Los Angeles Times, "There'll never be another 'M.A.S.H.' There's nothing in the way of doing your best work on this set. Absolutely nothing." Although his character was a traditional Army man, Morgan fit right into the free-wheeling spirit of the show.

"He was an imp," said Mike Farrell, who starred as B.J. Hunnicutt and worked with Morgan and Alan Alda. "As Alan once said, there's not an un-adorable bone in the man's body. He was full of fun, and he was smart as a whip."

Although he set out to be a lawyer, Morgan fell into acting and stayed. The son of an auto mechanic, he was born Harry Bratsberg in Detroit on April 10, 1915. He grew up in Muskegon, where he played high school football and was a member of the champion debate team.

Morgan attended the University of Chicago but left in the 1930s to sell office equipment in Washington, D.C. As a salesman during the Depression, he had free time, so he joined a theater group. In fall 1937, he went to New York City and appeared in several Broadway productions, using the name Harry Bratsburg. In 1941, he and his actress wife, Eileen, headed for Hollywood. Within months, he was offered a contract with 20th Century Fox and, going by Henry Morgan, promptly made six movies, starting with "To the Shores of Tripoli."

Morgan went on to appear in "High Noon" (1953), "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Support Your Local Sheriff!" (1969) and his personal favorite, 1943's "The Ox-Bow Incident."

One of his early TV credits was "December Bride," in which he played Pete Porter, the wry-humored, henpecked neighbor who cracked jokes about his wife, the never-seen Gladys. At this time, he started using Harry as his first name to avoid being confused with television comic Henry Morgan.

After seven years on "December Bride," Morgan appeared opposite Cara Williams in an early 1960s spinoff, "Pete and Gladys." Until "M.A.S.H.," Morgan was best-known for his role as Gannon in "Dragnet," a show that he had first appeared on in the 1940s on the radio. In 1967, he replaced Ben Alexander as the partner of Jack Webb's Sgt. Joe Friday. He remained a fixture for four seasons.

The role of Colonel Potter came along after McLean Stevenson left "M.A.S.H." in 1975. It was not Morgan's first appearance on the antiwar comedy, based on the hit 1970 film -- his portrayal of a demented general had earned him an Emmy nomination the same year he joined the series.

Even so, Morgan was nervous about replacing Stevenson's Lt. Col. Henry Blake, a popular -- and goofy -- character. Morgan's Potter was much more spit-and-polish, yet he had a sentimental side. He received eight Emmy nominations for the role and won once, in 1980.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

SOURCE

Read more »