basketball – News Stories About basketball - Page 59

Aug 7, 2007 4:31 AM CDT

Rockets Star Yao Marries

Bride stars in national b'ball team

(Newser) - Gargantuan Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and his Chinese girlfriend—a hoops star in her own right—got hitched in Shanghai yesterday, People magazine reports. The 7'6" Ming and 6'2" Ye Li held the ceremony and reception at the lush Shangri-La hotel with 70 guests—and close to 100 reporters...

As LA Stalls, Kobe Fumes

Aug 6, 2007 5:48 AM CDT

As LA Stalls, Kobe Fumes

Playing with Kidd for Team USA underscores Bryant's mediocre supporting cast

(Newser) - While Kobe Bryant has limited his public outbursts since his May 30 meltdown, Ric Bucher reports that he is angrier than ever at the Lakers, who have not made any major moves this off-season other than re-signings and bringing in an aging Derek Fisher. Bryant has been chafing over the...

Injury Hell Continues for Clips

Aug 4, 2007 6:29 AM CDT

Injury Hell Continues for Clips

Durable franchise PF Brand tears Achilles tendon in workout

(Newser) - Elton Brand, the one figure of stability for the chaotic and generally woeful LA Clippers, ruptured his Achilles tendon in a routine workout. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that Team USA had given him the summer off to nurse recurrent aches and pains. Brand will miss at least...

Boston Builds for Halcyon Year

Aug 2, 2007 4:00 AM CDT

Boston Builds for Halcyon Year

Celts, Sox now Finals favorites with trades for veteran All-Stars

(Newser) - A sudden cascade of talent has catapulted Boston into contention for at least three championships and given its fans, including Globe columnist Dan Shaugnessy, reason to hope again. In the last week, the Celtics handed over a raft of prospects for superstar Kevin Garnett, and the Red Sox beat their...

Celtics About to Punch Ticket

Jul 31, 2007 4:36 AM CDT

Celtics About to Punch Ticket

Boston scores Garnett, will send Big Al, Telfair, Ratliff, and Green to 'Sota

(Newser) - Where the Celtics failed late last month, they now seem to be succeeding in prying 12-year vet and 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from Minnesota. Pending the trade, Boston will have the formidable trio of Garnett, new pickup Ray Allen, and franchise stalwart Paul Pierce; they should become instant contenders to...

Wake Forest Hoops Coach Dead at 56

Jul 27, 2007 7:55 AM CDT

Wake Forest Hoops Coach Dead at 56

Prosser steered Demon Deacons to unprecedented heights

(Newser) - Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser, who led the Demon Deacons to their only top national ranking, died in his office yesterday after apparently suffering a heart attack. The 56-year-old collapsed and couldn't be resuscitated, the News and Observer reports. Praise flowed for the witty, literate Prosser, beloved for his...

Focus on Offense Aids Crooked Refs

Jul 26, 2007 8:03 AM CDT

Focus on Offense Aids Crooked Refs

'Dysfunctional' ref rules partly to blame for Donaghy fiasco

(Newser) - The focus on offense in NBA play, encouraging officials to call more fouls, also paves the way for the current gambling scandal, three former refs charge in USA Today. More free throws and offensive possessions can, in turn, influence the final score. Tim Donaghy, an NBA official for 13 years,...

Stern Forlorn, Upset at 'Betrayal'

Jul 25, 2007 7:30 AM CDT

Stern Forlorn, Upset at 'Betrayal'

NBA commissioner emphasizes rogue ref was an isolated case

(Newser) - A weary David Stern expressed grave disappointment yesterday in referee Tim Donaghy, who the FBI alleges bet on games he officiated. At a somber news conference without the omnipresent NBA logo behind him, the commissioner made clear his belief in Donaghy's guilt, which he likened to treason. Donaghy has not...

Donaghy to Turn Himself In

Jul 24, 2007 6:40 AM CDT

Donaghy to Turn Himself In

Ex-NBA ref will surrender to feds in big-league gambling investigation

(Newser) - The former NBA referee accused of betting on league games will turn himself in to federal authorities, but not until later this week, USA Today reports. The FBI says Tim Donaghy originally came under suspicion during organized-crime investigations, and officials speculate that the 13-year veteran likely wagered on games, including...

FBI Names Rogue NBA Ref

Jul 21, 2007 2:39 PM CDT

FBI Names Rogue NBA Ref

Veteran Tim Donaghy accused of mob ties, illegal bets totaling thousands of dollars

(Newser) - The FBI has officially blown the whistle on an NBA referee accused on illegal gambling. The feds are investigating claims that over the past two years veteran Tim Donaghy officiated a number of games on which he or his associates had placed bets—which might have totaled thousands of dollars....

FBI Probes Gambling Ref

Jul 20, 2007 8:00 PM CDT

FBI Probes Gambling Ref

Mafia-connected NBA official rigged games and earned big bucks over two seasons

(Newser) - The FBI is investigating an NBA referee accused of manipulating point spreads in games he officiated as part of a wider mob-orchestrated gambling ring, the New York Post reports. The official allegedly both reffed and placed bets on numerous games from 2005 to 2007 in a desperate attempt to pay...

LeBron Will
Host SNL Premier

Jul 19, 2007 5:16 AM CDT

LeBron Will Host SNL Premier

King James will be live from New York

(Newser) - NBA superstar LeBron James will host this September's premier of Saturday Night Live, NBC said yesterday. The 22-year-old, who took the Cleveland Cavaliers to a franchise-first NBA Finals last season, got good reviews recently for co-hosting the ESPYs with comedian Jimmy Kimmel.

Team China, Milwaukee Tussle Over Yi

Jul 18, 2007 7:51 AM CDT

Team China, Milwaukee Tussle Over Yi

Chinese coach claims playing for Bucks would stunt forward's growth

(Newser) - The coach of the Chinese national hoops team has a new reason for Yi Jianlian not to go to the Bucks, who recently drafted him 6th overall: the team's abundance of young frontcourt players would retard his growth as a player. Yi's agent had formerly cited Milwaukee's tiny Chinese-American community...

Zo Sticks It Out for 15th Season

Jul 16, 2007 5:48 AM CDT

Zo Sticks It Out for 15th Season

Miami agrees on $2.75M for 37-year-old's final round

(Newser) - Alonzo Mourning will play his 15h and last NBA season next year, he announced after a charity game yesterday. The 37-year-old will make $2.75 million for his outro with the Heat, a team he thinks will make a strong bid for a 2008 championship. Mourning put up 8.6...

MJ's Other Legacy on the Line

Jul 13, 2007 7:44 AM CDT

MJ's Other Legacy on the Line

Basketball superstar in make-or-break year as Charlotte exec

(Newser) - With the league's lowest salary and a depleted front office, the Bobcats' Michael Jordan has made bold moves this summer, all part of an effort to revive an executive career marked by missteps and rivals' schadenfreude. Charlotte shook off its reputation for stocking up on young, low-earning players to take...

Blazers Buy
Out Francis

Jul 12, 2007 6:23 AM CDT

Blazers Buy Out Francis

Portland gives the faltering guard free agency for $30 million

(Newser) - The Trail Blazers bought out Steve Francis's contract yesterday, handing the guard roughly $30 million of the $33.6 million due for his remaining two years. Portland acquired the 30-year-old former All-Star in a deal with the Knicks, who dished out Francis and Channing Frye for Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau,...

Grizzlies Grab Milicic

Jul 12, 2007 4:17 AM CDT

Grizzlies Grab Milicic

The Orlando free agent will reportedly sign with Memphis for $6-7 million

(Newser) - The Grizzlies will sign Darko Milicic to a three- or four-year deal worth $6-7 million, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. The Serb apparently lost his Magic when the team picked up Seattle free agent Rashard Lewis this week. Milicic, who was the second overall pick in 2003's draft, put up...

Antoine Walker Robbed at Gunpoint

Jul 11, 2007 4:00 AM CDT

Antoine Walker Robbed at Gunpoint

Heat forward tied up, burglarized in his Chicago home

(Newser) - Gregarious Miami role player Antoine Walker was tied up with duct tape and robbed at gunpoint in his Chicago home Monday evening—his second robbery since 2000, both in his hometown. The forward was relieved of cash, jewelry, and his car, which was found abandoned yesterday morning. The police have...

Jury Calls
$260K Foul
on Iverson

Jul 10, 2007 5:38 AM CDT

Jury Calls $260K Foul on Iverson

Nuggets star hit hard for role in '05 nightclub brawl

(Newser) - A federal jury slapped NBA superstar Allen Iverson with $260K in damages yesterday, finding him negligent after failing to prevent his bodyguard from assaulting a man. The plaintiffs accused Iverson's coterie, including bodyguard Jason Kane, of giving them a "vicious, dog-like beating" when the men refused to vacate a...

Stern Assists
on Yi Talks

Jul 9, 2007 4:14 AM CDT

Stern Assists on Yi Talks

Commish wants to keep 7-foot forward—and lots of merchandising yuan—in Milkwaukee

(Newser) - The Bucks are doing everything to secure No. 6 pick Yi Jianlian, including showering him with team merchandise at his Summer League game this Saturday. Now commissioner David Stern is joining the effort. Sports Illustrated reports that as GM Larry Harris and coach Larry Krystkowiak woo the 7-foot Chinese phenom,...