Archive for August, 2011

When you think of summer what comes to mind? The beach? Grilling? Cold beer? How about Matt Barnes busting out his pimp hand on unsuspecting folks at a summer league game? Perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of those warm months during the year. None the less Barnes’ summer league antics are quickly becoming tradition. As you’ll recall, last summer Barnes made his first headlines as a Laker by slapping an assistant coach during a summer league contest. Not one to rest on his laurels, Barnes upped the ante by reportedly punching an opposing [...]

What happens to a dream deferred? Though Trey Johnson might not be Langston Hughes, he too ponders the same question. Johnson is the absolute portrait of the collateral damage caused by the NBA lockout. While Kobe Bryant and Deron Williams can use their overseas options as a means to stay in shape, guys like Johnson need Europe to remain employed. Like many NBA players Trey Johnson had to consider playing overseas during the work stoppage. Recently he agreed to a one-year deal with Italian club Teramo. Unlike a lot of other NBA players Johnson’s contract does not have an opt-out [...]

As Kobe Bryant mulls his options during the lockout another NBAer has decided to take the overseas plunge. Former Laker, UCLA alum and Taft High grad Jordan Farmar has signed a deal to play professionally in Israel. Farmar’s deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv shouldn’t come as too big a surprise. Given his Jewish heritage and Farmar’s offseason activities in Israel it seems natural he would play there professionally. Naturally Jordan’s deal has an NBA opt-out clause because should the lockout end he’ll have a job waiting for him in New Jersey. Which is more than can be said for his [...]

If Phil Jackson were to mediate between the feuding sides in the NBA lockout he would probably offer this sage Buddhist wisdom – do nothing. Sometimes in life we simply try too hard. We force the action somehow confusing our efforts for progress. There is something to be said for sitting back and simply allowing nature to take its course. Zen teachings aside, it would appear as if nothing good will come of negotiations between the NBA and the player’s association at this point in time. Recently I’ve been begging the two sides to get in the same room. Now [...]

As if he didn’t already have millions of groupies eager to come to his defense, LeBron James can now count on Kobe Bryant to have his back as well. In an interview with the Sun Sentinel Bryant opened up about all the LeBron hate that boiled over thanks to the King’s 4th quarter disappearing act in the Finals. “I think people need to lay off that kid, that’s what I think. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well, playing with the Olympic team, and I think they just need to back off him and just let him play and let [...]

The NBA Lockout isn’t so far gone that Kobe Bryant is making plans to play in Europe. That’s not to say Bryant has ruled out a Euro trip all together. He’s just not as eager to go D-Will and have a Plan B in place this early in the labor process. After weeks of speculation, conjecture and apparently false reports, KB24 gave the Besiktas talks a dose of reality. Bryant may well play in Turkey at some point in his life. However the chances of Besiktas being the team that secures his services are becoming dimmer by the day. Apparently [...]