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Sabtu, 31 Januari 2015
Jumat, 30 Januari 2015
Atlanta Hawks Trail Blazers at Hawks has tipped (ESPN)
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basketball stream live DeMarcus Cousins Waited Exactly 5 Years To Send Out This Perfectly Timed Tweet
basketball stream live On Jan. 30, 2010, the University of Kentucky basketball team and its young star Demarcus Cousins played Vanderbilt. During the game, sports writer Clay Travis, a Vanderbilt Law School graduate (who once ate nothing but pudding for at least 27 days), tweeted this about then-controversial Cousins:
Jan. 30, 2015 marks exactly five years since that tweet, and Cousins has not been arrested. In fact, he was just elected to his first All-Star game.
To celebrate, DeMarcus Cousins tweeted this:
Game, set, match.
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Jan. 30, 2015 marks exactly five years since that tweet, and Cousins has not been arrested. In fact, he was just elected to his first All-Star game.
To celebrate, DeMarcus Cousins tweeted this:
Today's the day!! Let's all show him some love!! @ClayTravisBGID http://t.co/t54K0tC6Pn
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) January 30, 2015 Game, set, match.
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basketball stream live The Minnesota Timberwolves Created A Hilariously Rude Welcome-Back Video For Kevin Love
basketball stream live As far as the Minnesota Timberwolves are concerned, former team great Kevin Love doesn't exist.
Well, at least he doesn't exist in this funny video to hype Love's first game back in Minnesota on Saturday since being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Instead of making #TheReturn all about Love, a three-time NBA All-Star, the Timberwolves' video instead focuses on the return of the Cavs' Mike Miller, who played one year in Minnesota over the 2008-2009 season and is currently averaging 2.7 points per game.
Love should be flattered. We know a certain other He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named who's also a formidable rival.
Check out the viral non-tribute above.
H/T Deadspin
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Well, at least he doesn't exist in this funny video to hype Love's first game back in Minnesota on Saturday since being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Instead of making #TheReturn all about Love, a three-time NBA All-Star, the Timberwolves' video instead focuses on the return of the Cavs' Mike Miller, who played one year in Minnesota over the 2008-2009 season and is currently averaging 2.7 points per game.
Love should be flattered. We know a certain other He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named who's also a formidable rival.
Check out the viral non-tribute above.
H/T Deadspin
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basketball stream live How Being A Sports Fan Makes You Happier And Healthier
basketball stream live It's easy to be cynical about professional sports -- especially the NFL. But despite the disturbing headlines the league earned this year, ranging from lax penalties for domestic violence to a growing awareness of the impact of traumatic brain injuries, there will always be at least one silver lining for professional football.
That would be the undisputed, research-supported evidence that there are very real mental health advantages to claiming a sports team as your own. Yes, there are studies that show blood pressure rises during games or testosterone plummets after a loss. But epic fandom is also linked to higher levels of well-being and general happiness with one's social life, as well as lower levels of loneliness and alienation, according to research by sports psychology professor Daniel Wann of Murray State University.
Wann, author of the book Sport Fans: The Psychology And Social Impact Of Spectators, explains that there are two routes to feeling good through sports fandom.
"One would be following a successful team, and the second would simply be identifying with them," Wann told The Huffington Post. "You can get these well-being benefits even if your team doesn't do well; we've found this with historically unsuccessful teams as well," he added.
In the end, said Wann, it all comes down to how community lifts our spirits. Sports fandom is simply another kind of community, much like the community fostered among costumed Star Wars fans or opera season tickets holders.
"The simple fact is that people are looking for ways to identify with something, to feel a sense of belonging-ness with a group of like-minded individuals," said Wann. "People might not understand the sports side of things, but my response to that is: Think of, in your own life, what you care about and what you identify with. Sport is what these fans have chosen." Wann himself closely follows no less than four teams: two college men's basketball teams (the Murray State Racers and Kansas Jayhawks), as well as the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs. And he never misses a Racers home game.
Still, there is one edge that sports has over all those other cultural communities, said Wann.
"You have no idea who's going to win the Super Bowl, and you won't know who's going to win next year's Super Bowl," said Wann. "But if you go see the new Star Wars movie, and then you go to see it twice, I'm pretty sure it's going to be the same ending."
So the next time anyone gives you flack about your epic fandom, just let them know that all the face paint, fantasy leagues, tailgating and game-day viewing parties are crucial to your mental health. Read on to learn more about the benefits of being a die-hard (or even fair-weather) fan.
1. Fandom gives you built-in community
Longtime fan Gary Sargent, 66, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, eats a hotdog at Fenway Park in Boston, September 10, 2014. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
"We've known for years in psychology that feeling connections and affiliations with others is important for well-being," said Wann. "What fandom allows you to do is to gain those connections, which then in turn provides you with social and psychological health."
For instance, doing something as simple as putting on a team baseball cap can have a powerful effect on one's sense of community, said Wann. Say, for instance, that you're wearing a Red Sox cap while walking through Boston. Several passersby will give you a thumbs up, high-five, fist bump or even stop to chat with you about your local team and its prospects.
"All these people are going to be your friends and your comrades, even though you don't know their names, you've never seen them before, and you're probably never going to see them again," said Wann. "But you feel this important sense of connection to the world around you."
2. The community, in turn, boosts your sense of well-being.
Of course, if you watch a game with others, your feelings of loneliness are going to be at least temporarily lower during the event. But Wann's research finds that simply knowing or feeling that you're part of a larger community has long-term positive effects. In fact, sports fans report lower levels of loneliness whether or not the game is on.
"We've gone to people in classrooms. We've gone to dorm rooms. We still still find this general effect," said Wann. "They have this enduring level of connections to others, and lower levels of loneliness and alienation, whether or not they're watching the game."
3. Fandom gives us a common language.
Being a fan of a sports team can also be a deeply rooted heritage that connects you to others across time, transcending the barriers that divide people generationally, adds Professor Alan Pringle, Ph.D. Pringle specializes in mental health nursing at the University of Nottingham and noted that soccer, the U.K.'s most popular sport, gives families a "common currency" that connects family members unlike few other subjects.
"Most granddads were not that interested in the latest computer games, and most grandsons did not really want to hear what it used to be like to work in a coal mine," Pringle wrote in an email to HuffPost. "But the game offered often three generations of a family a shared experience, shared language and shared emotion that is not found in too many other areas of life."
4. Fandom is a safe space.
Pringle also noted that in a culture where men often feel that they have to stifle emotional expressions, sports fandom offers some a safe space to feel, cry, laugh or show signs of affection.
"The classic difficulties British men have with expressing emotion often means that they are limited in their opportunity to externalize emotion and often internalize it," wrote Pringle. "For many of them, football offers a safe space where expressed emotion is acceptable (even crying or hugging other men!)."
In Pringle's research, he examines how following local soccer leagues gave some men a safe way to express identity, reduce their stress and feel a sense of continuity. He quotes one fan of a Mansfield Town soccer club, who said, "When I was a kid I used to go there, when I was married I went, when I was divorced I went, when I was married again I went, when I was divorced again I went, it's the only constant thing in my life."
5. Sports fandom allows others to experience success
Ikaika Woolsey, #11 of the Hawaii Warriors, dumps Gatorade on head coach Norm Chow to celebrate their win after the end of a college football game between the UNLV Rebels and the Hawaii Warriors at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium on November 22, 2014, in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Finally, being a fan of a sport provides some with a rare experience: success. Feeling victorious, even vicariously, is a precious emotion in troubled times, psychology professor Ronald F. Levant of the University of Akron told CantonRep.com.
"Identifying with your sports teams is one of the ways you can vicariously experience success, and in real life, success is hard," Levant said in the 2010 article. "We have ups and downs, a lot of things don't always go our way ... especially in this economy."
And for fans who love the sport enough to play it, that feeling of success is even more crucial. Pringle noted that in his town of Nottingham, hospital services are funding soccer leagues for young men with depression, schizophrenia or drug-related problems to play regularly scheduled matches.
"The interesting thing is that it is one area of their lives where they can experience real success," Pringle wrote to HuffPost. "If you are going to be good at football you have usually developed real skill by around [age] 13 to 14, so lots of these guys struggle badly in many areas of their lives but can play really well, and for the time they are on that field they can engage in an activity [on] which their symptoms can, in many cases, have only a minimal impact."
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That would be the undisputed, research-supported evidence that there are very real mental health advantages to claiming a sports team as your own. Yes, there are studies that show blood pressure rises during games or testosterone plummets after a loss. But epic fandom is also linked to higher levels of well-being and general happiness with one's social life, as well as lower levels of loneliness and alienation, according to research by sports psychology professor Daniel Wann of Murray State University.
Wann, author of the book Sport Fans: The Psychology And Social Impact Of Spectators, explains that there are two routes to feeling good through sports fandom.
"One would be following a successful team, and the second would simply be identifying with them," Wann told The Huffington Post. "You can get these well-being benefits even if your team doesn't do well; we've found this with historically unsuccessful teams as well," he added.
In the end, said Wann, it all comes down to how community lifts our spirits. Sports fandom is simply another kind of community, much like the community fostered among costumed Star Wars fans or opera season tickets holders.
"The simple fact is that people are looking for ways to identify with something, to feel a sense of belonging-ness with a group of like-minded individuals," said Wann. "People might not understand the sports side of things, but my response to that is: Think of, in your own life, what you care about and what you identify with. Sport is what these fans have chosen." Wann himself closely follows no less than four teams: two college men's basketball teams (the Murray State Racers and Kansas Jayhawks), as well as the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs. And he never misses a Racers home game.
Still, there is one edge that sports has over all those other cultural communities, said Wann.
"You have no idea who's going to win the Super Bowl, and you won't know who's going to win next year's Super Bowl," said Wann. "But if you go see the new Star Wars movie, and then you go to see it twice, I'm pretty sure it's going to be the same ending."
So the next time anyone gives you flack about your epic fandom, just let them know that all the face paint, fantasy leagues, tailgating and game-day viewing parties are crucial to your mental health. Read on to learn more about the benefits of being a die-hard (or even fair-weather) fan.
1. Fandom gives you built-in community
"We've known for years in psychology that feeling connections and affiliations with others is important for well-being," said Wann. "What fandom allows you to do is to gain those connections, which then in turn provides you with social and psychological health."
For instance, doing something as simple as putting on a team baseball cap can have a powerful effect on one's sense of community, said Wann. Say, for instance, that you're wearing a Red Sox cap while walking through Boston. Several passersby will give you a thumbs up, high-five, fist bump or even stop to chat with you about your local team and its prospects.
"All these people are going to be your friends and your comrades, even though you don't know their names, you've never seen them before, and you're probably never going to see them again," said Wann. "But you feel this important sense of connection to the world around you."
2. The community, in turn, boosts your sense of well-being.
Of course, if you watch a game with others, your feelings of loneliness are going to be at least temporarily lower during the event. But Wann's research finds that simply knowing or feeling that you're part of a larger community has long-term positive effects. In fact, sports fans report lower levels of loneliness whether or not the game is on.
"We've gone to people in classrooms. We've gone to dorm rooms. We still still find this general effect," said Wann. "They have this enduring level of connections to others, and lower levels of loneliness and alienation, whether or not they're watching the game."
3. Fandom gives us a common language.
Being a fan of a sports team can also be a deeply rooted heritage that connects you to others across time, transcending the barriers that divide people generationally, adds Professor Alan Pringle, Ph.D. Pringle specializes in mental health nursing at the University of Nottingham and noted that soccer, the U.K.'s most popular sport, gives families a "common currency" that connects family members unlike few other subjects.
"Most granddads were not that interested in the latest computer games, and most grandsons did not really want to hear what it used to be like to work in a coal mine," Pringle wrote in an email to HuffPost. "But the game offered often three generations of a family a shared experience, shared language and shared emotion that is not found in too many other areas of life."
4. Fandom is a safe space.
Pringle also noted that in a culture where men often feel that they have to stifle emotional expressions, sports fandom offers some a safe space to feel, cry, laugh or show signs of affection.
"The classic difficulties British men have with expressing emotion often means that they are limited in their opportunity to externalize emotion and often internalize it," wrote Pringle. "For many of them, football offers a safe space where expressed emotion is acceptable (even crying or hugging other men!)."
In Pringle's research, he examines how following local soccer leagues gave some men a safe way to express identity, reduce their stress and feel a sense of continuity. He quotes one fan of a Mansfield Town soccer club, who said, "When I was a kid I used to go there, when I was married I went, when I was divorced I went, when I was married again I went, when I was divorced again I went, it's the only constant thing in my life."
5. Sports fandom allows others to experience success
Finally, being a fan of a sport provides some with a rare experience: success. Feeling victorious, even vicariously, is a precious emotion in troubled times, psychology professor Ronald F. Levant of the University of Akron told CantonRep.com.
"Identifying with your sports teams is one of the ways you can vicariously experience success, and in real life, success is hard," Levant said in the 2010 article. "We have ups and downs, a lot of things don't always go our way ... especially in this economy."
And for fans who love the sport enough to play it, that feeling of success is even more crucial. Pringle noted that in his town of Nottingham, hospital services are funding soccer leagues for young men with depression, schizophrenia or drug-related problems to play regularly scheduled matches.
"The interesting thing is that it is one area of their lives where they can experience real success," Pringle wrote to HuffPost. "If you are going to be good at football you have usually developed real skill by around [age] 13 to 14, so lots of these guys struggle badly in many areas of their lives but can play really well, and for the time they are on that field they can engage in an activity [on] which their symptoms can, in many cases, have only a minimal impact."
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Kamis, 29 Januari 2015
basketball stream live Should Kobe Bryant Just Hang it up?
basketball stream live On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant had successful surgery on his right rotator cuff in which he injured on Jan. 21 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
After undergoing successful surgery, Kobe will miss the rest of the season and be out for nine months. So expect to see the Black Mamba ready to go at full strength in the 2015-16 season. Injuries are seemingly starting to become a common factor for Bryant as he missed 76 games last season due to a knee injury he suffered after coming back from an Achilles injury that he suffered in the 2012-13 season. With all these injuries popping up on the 36-year-old guard from Lower Merion High School, is it time for him to hang it up?
Now when you pose this question to basketball fans, you get a very heated debate on both sides with one side saying the game has simply passed Kobe and the other side saying that Kobe cannot go out this way, he is one of the greatest players of all time. I am on the latter of the two sides; Bryant cannot and will not go out this way. He will go out on his terms which is the right thing to do.
The player, who has not one but five championships, is still the main attraction in Los Angeles, not Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Sorry, Clippers, you might be winning more games than the Lake Show but Kobe is still putting butts in the seats.
Even at 36, Bryant is still playing at a high level despite the Lakers having a record of 12-34. This season, Kobe was averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 34.5 minutes per game. That's ridiculous for a player at Kobe's age to put up that amount points. In comparison to Michael Jordan, at the age of 36, he had already retired. But when he came back at the age of 38 in the 2001-02 season with the Washington Wizards, he only averaged 22.9 points per game.
Finally, in his last season with the Wizards in the 2002-03 season, he only scored 20 points per game. If Jordan can do that at almost 40 years old, why can't Kobe give it a go one more time next season. Yes I know Bryant is owed $25 million next season, in which some people say he should not even make that much. But Gilbert Arenas, who isn't in the league anymore was making $23 million in 2013.
My point is that for people to say that the Mamba needs to hang it up; it's a bunch of malarkey. The guy can still score, put butts in the seats at the Staples Center and has 32,482 career points. Maybe if the front office can put some pieces around him going into the final year of his contract, just maybe we will see Bryant go out on his own terms.
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After undergoing successful surgery, Kobe will miss the rest of the season and be out for nine months. So expect to see the Black Mamba ready to go at full strength in the 2015-16 season. Injuries are seemingly starting to become a common factor for Bryant as he missed 76 games last season due to a knee injury he suffered after coming back from an Achilles injury that he suffered in the 2012-13 season. With all these injuries popping up on the 36-year-old guard from Lower Merion High School, is it time for him to hang it up?
Now when you pose this question to basketball fans, you get a very heated debate on both sides with one side saying the game has simply passed Kobe and the other side saying that Kobe cannot go out this way, he is one of the greatest players of all time. I am on the latter of the two sides; Bryant cannot and will not go out this way. He will go out on his terms which is the right thing to do.
The player, who has not one but five championships, is still the main attraction in Los Angeles, not Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Sorry, Clippers, you might be winning more games than the Lake Show but Kobe is still putting butts in the seats.
Even at 36, Bryant is still playing at a high level despite the Lakers having a record of 12-34. This season, Kobe was averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 34.5 minutes per game. That's ridiculous for a player at Kobe's age to put up that amount points. In comparison to Michael Jordan, at the age of 36, he had already retired. But when he came back at the age of 38 in the 2001-02 season with the Washington Wizards, he only averaged 22.9 points per game.
Finally, in his last season with the Wizards in the 2002-03 season, he only scored 20 points per game. If Jordan can do that at almost 40 years old, why can't Kobe give it a go one more time next season. Yes I know Bryant is owed $25 million next season, in which some people say he should not even make that much. But Gilbert Arenas, who isn't in the league anymore was making $23 million in 2013.
My point is that for people to say that the Mamba needs to hang it up; it's a bunch of malarkey. The guy can still score, put butts in the seats at the Staples Center and has 32,482 career points. Maybe if the front office can put some pieces around him going into the final year of his contract, just maybe we will see Bryant go out on his own terms.
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Rabu, 28 Januari 2015
Atlanta Hawks Nets at Hawks has tipped. Tune to ESPN (ESPN)
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basketball stream live Kobe Bryant Out 9 Months After Surgery
basketball stream live EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Kobe Bryant is officially done for the season after having surgery to repair his torn right rotator cuff Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers also made it official that their superstar doesn't believe his career is finished. Bryant is expected to need nine months to recover from his third straight season-ending injury. If Bryant meets that timetable, he could return to basketball shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season — and the Lakers expect to see him in purple and gold again.
Neal ElAttrache and Steve Lombardo performed the two-hour surgery at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
"I expect Kobe to make a full recovery, and if all goes as expected, he should be ready for the start of the season," ElAttrache said in a statement provided by the Lakers.
The Lakers formally declared Bryant out for the year by acknowledging the expected recovery time from his injury, but also effectively confirmed he won't retire and will attempt to play his 20th season in the fall. Bryant, who will be 37 years old this summer, is the NBA's highest-paid player at $23.5 million this season, and he is under contract for $25 million next year.
"In my mind right now, he's coming back next year, unless he tells me something different," coach Byron Scott said at practice Wednesday.
Scott already had acknowledged Bryant was highly unlikely to play again this season for the flailing Lakers (12-34), who will match their franchise record for futility if they lose their 10th consecutive game when the Chicago Bulls visit Thursday. But if Los Angeles finishes with a top-five draft pick, the club won't have to give its first-round choice to Phoenix until next year to complete its brutal trade for Steve Nash in 2012.
Bryant hurt his right shoulder while dunking last week in New Orleans, deciding on surgery shortly afterward. He is the third-leading scorer in league history and a five-time NBA champion.
Bryant averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35 games, but made a career-worst 37.3 percent of his shots in a wildly inconsistent 19th season. He also passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's career scoring list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
Bryant's popularity hasn't waned during his injury-plagued stretch. He was voted to the All-Star game for the 17th time this month, and he is still the Lakers' public face despite his recent prolonged absences from the court.
Bryant missed the 2013 playoffs after tearing his Achilles tendon late in the regular season, and he played in just six games last season before breaking a bone near his left knee. Although he has played through innumerable injuries in the past, the accumulated wear from nearly two decades in the NBA has caught up to him.
Bryant sat out eight games to rest in the past month, and he played under a strict minutes limit. It wasn't enough to protect him from another major injury.
Bryant joins Nash, first-round pick Julius Randle and swingman Xavier Henry with season-ending injuries already for the Lakers.
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The Los Angeles Lakers also made it official that their superstar doesn't believe his career is finished. Bryant is expected to need nine months to recover from his third straight season-ending injury. If Bryant meets that timetable, he could return to basketball shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season — and the Lakers expect to see him in purple and gold again.
Neal ElAttrache and Steve Lombardo performed the two-hour surgery at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
"I expect Kobe to make a full recovery, and if all goes as expected, he should be ready for the start of the season," ElAttrache said in a statement provided by the Lakers.
The Lakers formally declared Bryant out for the year by acknowledging the expected recovery time from his injury, but also effectively confirmed he won't retire and will attempt to play his 20th season in the fall. Bryant, who will be 37 years old this summer, is the NBA's highest-paid player at $23.5 million this season, and he is under contract for $25 million next year.
"In my mind right now, he's coming back next year, unless he tells me something different," coach Byron Scott said at practice Wednesday.
Scott already had acknowledged Bryant was highly unlikely to play again this season for the flailing Lakers (12-34), who will match their franchise record for futility if they lose their 10th consecutive game when the Chicago Bulls visit Thursday. But if Los Angeles finishes with a top-five draft pick, the club won't have to give its first-round choice to Phoenix until next year to complete its brutal trade for Steve Nash in 2012.
Bryant hurt his right shoulder while dunking last week in New Orleans, deciding on surgery shortly afterward. He is the third-leading scorer in league history and a five-time NBA champion.
Bryant averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35 games, but made a career-worst 37.3 percent of his shots in a wildly inconsistent 19th season. He also passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's career scoring list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
Bryant's popularity hasn't waned during his injury-plagued stretch. He was voted to the All-Star game for the 17th time this month, and he is still the Lakers' public face despite his recent prolonged absences from the court.
Bryant missed the 2013 playoffs after tearing his Achilles tendon late in the regular season, and he played in just six games last season before breaking a bone near his left knee. Although he has played through innumerable injuries in the past, the accumulated wear from nearly two decades in the NBA has caught up to him.
Bryant sat out eight games to rest in the past month, and he played under a strict minutes limit. It wasn't enough to protect him from another major injury.
Bryant joins Nash, first-round pick Julius Randle and swingman Xavier Henry with season-ending injuries already for the Lakers.
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basketball stream live J.R. Smith Just Said Some Stuff Every New Yorker Is Going To Really Relate To
basketball stream live New York City is fun as hell.
Every night you can find somewhere to go, something to drink, someone to meet, some reason to blow more money than you feel comfortable blowing.
But that also means it’s really hard to concentrate on what matters! Like, your homework. Or your work-work. Or professional basketball!
So it’s safe to say that J.R. Smith, who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after roaming the streets of New York as a Knick, was speaking for all New Yorkers when he talked to NBA.com’s David Aldridge about the benefits of finally moving out of the Big Apple.
Below, some thoughts on his new hometown of Cleveland, but, if you read between the lines, you’ll realize he’s really talking about NYC. We’re going to replace the word “basketball” with "work" so it translates for all you non-basketball fans out there:
Ugh, there are so many things to note here. Let’s break it down:
Yes! It really is most important to follow your passions in life.
Wow, yes! It’s really too easy to go out to a bar right after work and stay out until who knows when in New York City, rather than go home to put in some hours on that comic book or whatever it is you really want to do with your life.
Yes!!! J.R. is saying what too many of us know to be true: We used to work harder back in high school, and we’ve sort of slacked off since then.
Yes.
That settles it. I’m moving back to Los Angeles.
H/T Deadspin
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Every night you can find somewhere to go, something to drink, someone to meet, some reason to blow more money than you feel comfortable blowing.
But that also means it’s really hard to concentrate on what matters! Like, your homework. Or your work-work. Or professional basketball!
So it’s safe to say that J.R. Smith, who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after roaming the streets of New York as a Knick, was speaking for all New Yorkers when he talked to NBA.com’s David Aldridge about the benefits of finally moving out of the Big Apple.
Below, some thoughts on his new hometown of Cleveland, but, if you read between the lines, you’ll realize he’s really talking about NYC. We’re going to replace the word “basketball” with "work" so it translates for all you non-basketball fans out there:
I think this is the best situation for me, 'cause there's nothing but [work]. There's nothing you expect but [work]. There's nothing, there's no going out, there's no late nights. There's video games, [work] and [work]. So it's a great thing, 'cause I go back to where I came from. When I grew up, I never, I wasn't allowed to go out. I missed my prom because I went to an AAU tournament, and all that stuff. For me, it was [work], [work], [work]. And then when I got in the situation where I was at an early age, it was more, alright, let me see what this life is about, as opposed to just keep going. So now, I get the chance to get back to my roots.
Ugh, there are so many things to note here. Let’s break it down:
I think this is the best situation for me, 'cause there's nothing but [work]. There's nothing you expect but [work].
Yes! It really is most important to follow your passions in life.
There's nothing, there's no going out, there's no late nights. There's video games, [work] and [work].
Wow, yes! It’s really too easy to go out to a bar right after work and stay out until who knows when in New York City, rather than go home to put in some hours on that comic book or whatever it is you really want to do with your life.
I missed my prom because I went to an AAU tournament, and all that stuff.
Yes!!! J.R. is saying what too many of us know to be true: We used to work harder back in high school, and we’ve sort of slacked off since then.
And then when I got in the situation where I was at an early age, it was more, alright, let me see what this life is about, as opposed to just keep going.
Yes.
So now, I get the chance to get back to my roots.
That settles it. I’m moving back to Los Angeles.
H/T Deadspin
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basketball stream live CBS Sports Analyst Greg Anthony Arrest Documents Released
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Court documents have revealed new details about the prostitution arrest of basketball analyst and former NBA player Greg Anthony in Washington.
Court documents describe the conversation Anthony had with an undercover officer before his arrest Jan. 16 at a Washington hotel. The documents show the undercover officer told Anthony that intercourse would cost $80. Asked if he wanted her to "dress up," he responded "oh yeah," the court documents say.
The documents also explain more about how Anthony wound up in room 805 of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Anthony responded to an escort ad authorities placed in the escort section of the classifieds website Backpage.com, a court document says.
Anthony, 47, was suspended by CBS and Turner Sports following his arrest.
He issued a statement at the time in which he apologized to his wife, family and colleagues, calling his actions a "mistake" and "lapse of judgment."
Before his arrest, Anthony had been scheduled to announce a basketball game between Michigan State and Maryland in College Park, Maryland, which is near Washington. In the NBA, Anthony played 11 seasons with six teams from 1991-92 to 2001-02, including the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. In college he was on the UNLV team that won the 1990 NCAA tournament, with teammates Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon.
Anthony's next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 2. Police say he could face up to 90 days in jail if convicted of the prostitution solicitation charge.
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basketball stream live Former UNC Athlete Says He's Suing School To Protect Athletes' Education
basketball stream live RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — One of two ex-University of North Carolina athletes suing the school and NCAA says the goal is to ensure college athletes receive a quality education.
In a statement posted Tuesday on Twitter, Devon Ramsay says UNC's academic fraud scandal is part of "a national problem." He says athletes must "receive legitimate classes that are worthy of their university," particularly with so few reaching the professional ranks. Ramsay attended UNC from 2007-12 during an injury-plagued football career. He lost most of a season to a later-overturned NCAA charge of academic misconduct.
Last week's lawsuit by Ramsay and former women's basketball player Rashanda McCants seeks class-action status. Citing fraud at UNC and elsewhere, it accuses the NCAA of not doing enough to promote academic integrity in college sports.
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In a statement posted Tuesday on Twitter, Devon Ramsay says UNC's academic fraud scandal is part of "a national problem." He says athletes must "receive legitimate classes that are worthy of their university," particularly with so few reaching the professional ranks. Ramsay attended UNC from 2007-12 during an injury-plagued football career. He lost most of a season to a later-overturned NCAA charge of academic misconduct.
Last week's lawsuit by Ramsay and former women's basketball player Rashanda McCants seeks class-action status. Citing fraud at UNC and elsewhere, it accuses the NCAA of not doing enough to promote academic integrity in college sports.
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Selasa, 27 Januari 2015
basketball stream live Ohio State's Russell, Ohio's Ndour Named NetScouts Basketball Players of Week
basketball stream live Freshman D'Angelo Russell had a pair of standout performances this week and proved that he's a legitimate one-and-done prospect. The Louisville, Kentucky native has been named NetScouts Basketball's National Player of the Week for games from January 19th to January 25th.
Russell started the week with a dazzling 33 points, seven rebounds, and six assists against Northwestern while shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 6-of-11 from three-point range. The 6-foot-4 guard scored almost half of his team's 69 points in the win. He followed with an equally impressive 22 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting and a 2-of-7 display from deep in a win over Indiana. Russell averaged 27.5 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game on the week while shooting 65.6 percent (21-of-32) from the floor and 44.4% (8-of-18) from three-point range.
While Russell was a highly touted high school prospect coming into the season, few saw him as a potential lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Although he usually plays off the ball for the Buckeyes, he's shown the ball skills and passing ability that should translate to the lead guard position. Russell will push for a top five selection in this year's NBA draft, likely falling in the 4-8 range.
Elsewhere in Ohio, senior Maurice Daly Ndour led the Ohio Bobcats to a pair of victories. The native of Mbour, Senegal has been named NetScouts Basketball's International Player of the Week for games from January 19th to January 25th.
The 6-foot-9 forward contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in an 82-73 win at Ball State. He was 6-of-10 from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range. Daly Ndour responded with a career-high 31 points, six rebounds, and three blocks including a game-winning dunk in a 63-61 victory against Buffalo. He was 10-of-15 from the field, 10-of-10 from the free throw line, and nailed his only three-point attempt. On the week, he averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 64 percent (16-of-25) from the floor and 2-of-3 from deep.
Daly Ndour has been the star for Ohio this season, averaging team-highs in minutes (33.6), points (16.0), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (2.2) per game. The senior has looked like a talented overseas prospect thus far as he hopes to continue the momentum throughout his senior year.
Carl Berman is Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball.
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Russell started the week with a dazzling 33 points, seven rebounds, and six assists against Northwestern while shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 6-of-11 from three-point range. The 6-foot-4 guard scored almost half of his team's 69 points in the win. He followed with an equally impressive 22 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting and a 2-of-7 display from deep in a win over Indiana. Russell averaged 27.5 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game on the week while shooting 65.6 percent (21-of-32) from the floor and 44.4% (8-of-18) from three-point range.
While Russell was a highly touted high school prospect coming into the season, few saw him as a potential lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Although he usually plays off the ball for the Buckeyes, he's shown the ball skills and passing ability that should translate to the lead guard position. Russell will push for a top five selection in this year's NBA draft, likely falling in the 4-8 range.
Elsewhere in Ohio, senior Maurice Daly Ndour led the Ohio Bobcats to a pair of victories. The native of Mbour, Senegal has been named NetScouts Basketball's International Player of the Week for games from January 19th to January 25th.
The 6-foot-9 forward contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in an 82-73 win at Ball State. He was 6-of-10 from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range. Daly Ndour responded with a career-high 31 points, six rebounds, and three blocks including a game-winning dunk in a 63-61 victory against Buffalo. He was 10-of-15 from the field, 10-of-10 from the free throw line, and nailed his only three-point attempt. On the week, he averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 64 percent (16-of-25) from the floor and 2-of-3 from deep.
Daly Ndour has been the star for Ohio this season, averaging team-highs in minutes (33.6), points (16.0), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (2.2) per game. The senior has looked like a talented overseas prospect thus far as he hopes to continue the momentum throughout his senior year.
Carl Berman is Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball.
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Senin, 26 Januari 2015
basketball stream live From Trauma to Drama: A Perspective on Head Injuries in Football
basketball stream live The game of football is being highly scrutinized and rightfully so. Wait, what? Yes, I think that there should be a national conversation about football and all other activities that could lead to concussions or other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
No, I do not think that high schools should eliminate football from their program offerings. And yes, I would let my child play football when I think it's appropriate.
Since the NFL concussion scandal broke a few years ago, the majority of the public knows that there are inherent risks associated with playing the sport of football, concussions included.
The NCAA has seen its share of lawsuits and inquiries related to concussions. Now, the NCAA is trying to settle a major lawsuit around concussions for $75 million. On the high school level, a legal battle is underway over concussion protocols and management between a former Illinois high school football player via a class action lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association.
As a result, questions about the prevalence of concussions in college, high school and youth football are being asked. But the issue is larger than just one sport.
U.S. emergency rooms treat as many as 173,285 "sports and recreation-related TBIs" a year for "children and adolescents" under 19 years of age, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Both football and girl's soccer account for the highest number of incidences.
In a 2013 study, the National Athletic Trainers Association found that high school football players had a higher incident rate of concussion (11.2 per 10,000 athletic exposures) as compared to college football players (6.3 per 10,000 athletic exposures). Other sports - bicycling, basketball, soccer - and playground activities also contribute to the high number of TBIs.
Research has shown that younger athletes are at a higher risk of concussions because their brains and bodies are still developing.
Keeping our children safe should be everyone's priority, however, we should be rational in our approach.
Football is a collision sport, whereas soccer and basketball are contact sports. In the case of high school athletes, the choice of whether to participate is a family decision based on risk tolerance. We all assume a certain amount of risk everyday in everything that we do.
The NFL, NCAA and high schools have a duty to educate parents, coaches and student-athletes about unsafe practices that are specific to a sport and the potential for injury. By withholding information from its players, the NFL took away the players' ability to weigh the inherent risks associated with playing.
I believe that kids should not be allowed to hit and tackle prior to high school. It is more important to develop the fundamental playing skills (i.e. running routes, throwing the ball, catching the ball and learning plays) rather than to hit and tackle.
Another way to decrease the number of head injuries is to teach our student-athletes a different way of playing through teaching proper technique and also teaching them how to protect themselves on the playing field.
At Francis Parker School, we pride ourselves on educating our student-athletes, parents and coaches on the risks associated with playing football. We've also invested in taking steps to minimize the risk.
Parker is one of the few schools in county with two athletic trainers on staff. They attend all of our football contests, both home and away.
The school also invested in helmets with impact sensor technology that alerts trainers on the sidelines when one a player experiences a high impact collision. During practices all Parker student-athletes wear guardian pads over their helmets to absorb more of the impact.
For the last nine years, Parker players in all contact sports have under gone mandatory baseline testing of their normal cognitive function, during the pre-season. This information gives our athletic trainers better indications of when there may be an injury or impairment based on symptom scores.
Our student-athletes are also active in "Athletes Saving Athletes" campaign that encourages student-athletes to communicate with coaches and athletic trainers about concussion symptoms. The school also adheres to the California Interscholastic Federation's (CIF) mandated concussion training for coaches and the concussion management protocol.
We support rule changes to protect players, such as mandatory concussion training. But some rule changes have negative unintended consequences.
CIF's new rule limiting practice to 18 hours per week is a case in point. Under this rule, sports practice is limited to no more than two hours per day during the offseason. Saturday practices are allowed to go on for four hours and Sunday practices will not be allowed. Sounds good so far, right?
The problem lies in what is defined as "practice." The rule defines practice to include "any school or team or individual activity organized by the coach that is intended to maintain or improve a student-athlete's skill proficiency in a sport; and/or any school team or individual activity that includes skill drills, game situation drills, intersquad scrimmages or games, weight training, chalk talks, film review, meetings outside of school time."
While this rule is good for the majority of sports, I argue that it is not good for football. Limiting the amount of time spent teaching high school football athletes proper techniques and fundamentals does not help prevent concussions.
On the contrary, because of the increased risk of injury inherent in playing football more time should be spent educating and developing players both on and off the playing field. It takes time to teach student-athletes, especially those playing football for the first time, how to play and protect themselves and others from injury.
Coaches and athletic administrators are charged with improving player safety. As written, these time limits restrict them from meeting their legal duty to teach skills and build athletic conditioning that will allow them to play safely and be better prepared for the rigors of the game.
There are other concussion prevention measures that don't sacrifice the ability to teach and prepare the student-athletes.
The rule could be improved by requiring mandatory time during practice to teach proper tackling and hitting techniques to prevent concussions.
Moving forward, my hope is that as a nation we continue the dialogue around concussions in sports and come up with data driven solutions to protect our student-athletes and the game that many of us have grown to love.
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No, I do not think that high schools should eliminate football from their program offerings. And yes, I would let my child play football when I think it's appropriate.
Since the NFL concussion scandal broke a few years ago, the majority of the public knows that there are inherent risks associated with playing the sport of football, concussions included.
The NCAA has seen its share of lawsuits and inquiries related to concussions. Now, the NCAA is trying to settle a major lawsuit around concussions for $75 million. On the high school level, a legal battle is underway over concussion protocols and management between a former Illinois high school football player via a class action lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association.
As a result, questions about the prevalence of concussions in college, high school and youth football are being asked. But the issue is larger than just one sport.
U.S. emergency rooms treat as many as 173,285 "sports and recreation-related TBIs" a year for "children and adolescents" under 19 years of age, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Both football and girl's soccer account for the highest number of incidences.
In a 2013 study, the National Athletic Trainers Association found that high school football players had a higher incident rate of concussion (11.2 per 10,000 athletic exposures) as compared to college football players (6.3 per 10,000 athletic exposures). Other sports - bicycling, basketball, soccer - and playground activities also contribute to the high number of TBIs.
Research has shown that younger athletes are at a higher risk of concussions because their brains and bodies are still developing.
Keeping our children safe should be everyone's priority, however, we should be rational in our approach.
Football is a collision sport, whereas soccer and basketball are contact sports. In the case of high school athletes, the choice of whether to participate is a family decision based on risk tolerance. We all assume a certain amount of risk everyday in everything that we do.
The NFL, NCAA and high schools have a duty to educate parents, coaches and student-athletes about unsafe practices that are specific to a sport and the potential for injury. By withholding information from its players, the NFL took away the players' ability to weigh the inherent risks associated with playing.
I believe that kids should not be allowed to hit and tackle prior to high school. It is more important to develop the fundamental playing skills (i.e. running routes, throwing the ball, catching the ball and learning plays) rather than to hit and tackle.
Another way to decrease the number of head injuries is to teach our student-athletes a different way of playing through teaching proper technique and also teaching them how to protect themselves on the playing field.
At Francis Parker School, we pride ourselves on educating our student-athletes, parents and coaches on the risks associated with playing football. We've also invested in taking steps to minimize the risk.
Parker is one of the few schools in county with two athletic trainers on staff. They attend all of our football contests, both home and away.
The school also invested in helmets with impact sensor technology that alerts trainers on the sidelines when one a player experiences a high impact collision. During practices all Parker student-athletes wear guardian pads over their helmets to absorb more of the impact.
For the last nine years, Parker players in all contact sports have under gone mandatory baseline testing of their normal cognitive function, during the pre-season. This information gives our athletic trainers better indications of when there may be an injury or impairment based on symptom scores.
Our student-athletes are also active in "Athletes Saving Athletes" campaign that encourages student-athletes to communicate with coaches and athletic trainers about concussion symptoms. The school also adheres to the California Interscholastic Federation's (CIF) mandated concussion training for coaches and the concussion management protocol.
We support rule changes to protect players, such as mandatory concussion training. But some rule changes have negative unintended consequences.
CIF's new rule limiting practice to 18 hours per week is a case in point. Under this rule, sports practice is limited to no more than two hours per day during the offseason. Saturday practices are allowed to go on for four hours and Sunday practices will not be allowed. Sounds good so far, right?
The problem lies in what is defined as "practice." The rule defines practice to include "any school or team or individual activity organized by the coach that is intended to maintain or improve a student-athlete's skill proficiency in a sport; and/or any school team or individual activity that includes skill drills, game situation drills, intersquad scrimmages or games, weight training, chalk talks, film review, meetings outside of school time."
While this rule is good for the majority of sports, I argue that it is not good for football. Limiting the amount of time spent teaching high school football athletes proper techniques and fundamentals does not help prevent concussions.
On the contrary, because of the increased risk of injury inherent in playing football more time should be spent educating and developing players both on and off the playing field. It takes time to teach student-athletes, especially those playing football for the first time, how to play and protect themselves and others from injury.
Coaches and athletic administrators are charged with improving player safety. As written, these time limits restrict them from meeting their legal duty to teach skills and build athletic conditioning that will allow them to play safely and be better prepared for the rigors of the game.
There are other concussion prevention measures that don't sacrifice the ability to teach and prepare the student-athletes.
The rule could be improved by requiring mandatory time during practice to teach proper tackling and hitting techniques to prevent concussions.
Moving forward, my hope is that as a nation we continue the dialogue around concussions in sports and come up with data driven solutions to protect our student-athletes and the game that many of us have grown to love.
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Minggu, 25 Januari 2015
Atlanta Hawks Timberwolves at Hawks has tipped (ESPN)
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Jumat, 23 Januari 2015
basketball stream live Ernie Banks, Chicago's 'Mr. Cub,' Dead At 83
basketball stream live Ernie Banks, the legendary Chicago Cubs baseball player and Hall of Famer, died at age 83 on Friday night in Chicago, a spokesperson for his family said.
Ernie Banks poses July 5, 1955 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (AP)
The news of his death was confirmed to the Chicago Sun Times and ABC Chicago.
Known as "Mr. Cub," the ebullient Banks played shortstop and first base for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971, netting 512 home runs and 1,636 RBIs. Known for his smile and always being eager to play, he was often heard saying, "Let's play two!" Former Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of Banks in 2013, “I just remember Ernie was never in a bad mood."
Chicago Cubs Ernie Banks in an undated file photo. (Getty)
Banks first played in the Negro leagues, becoming the first black player to play for the Cubs in 1953. He started out his pro-ball career with a bang, hitting .314 in his first season, and the following year came in second in Rookie of the Year voting. He would spend his whole career with the team, endearing himself to the city. In a Chicago Sun-Times poll conducted in 1969, he was voted the "Greatest Cub Ever."
Banks was honored as an All-Star fourteen times, and was named the National League MVP in 1958 and 1959. He later became the first player to have his number retired by the Cubs. Banks was inducted into the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1977.
In November 2013, Banks was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, the highest honor awarded to civilians, the Sun Times reported.
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hall of Fame baseball player Ernie Banks in the East Room at the White House on November 20, 2013. (Getty)
Ernie Banks acknowledges the fans prior to Game Three of the National League Divisional Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field on October 6, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty)
Banks was born in Dallas in 1931, and had 10 siblings. He would have turned 84 on Saturday.
Ernie Banks throws out the first pitch before the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on May 15, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty)
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts released the following statement Friday night:
More from the Associated Press:
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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The news of his death was confirmed to the Chicago Sun Times and ABC Chicago.
Known as "Mr. Cub," the ebullient Banks played shortstop and first base for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971, netting 512 home runs and 1,636 RBIs. Known for his smile and always being eager to play, he was often heard saying, "Let's play two!" Former Cubs manager Dusty Baker said of Banks in 2013, “I just remember Ernie was never in a bad mood."
Banks first played in the Negro leagues, becoming the first black player to play for the Cubs in 1953. He started out his pro-ball career with a bang, hitting .314 in his first season, and the following year came in second in Rookie of the Year voting. He would spend his whole career with the team, endearing himself to the city. In a Chicago Sun-Times poll conducted in 1969, he was voted the "Greatest Cub Ever."
Banks was honored as an All-Star fourteen times, and was named the National League MVP in 1958 and 1959. He later became the first player to have his number retired by the Cubs. Banks was inducted into the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1977.
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) January 24, 2015 In November 2013, Banks was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, the highest honor awarded to civilians, the Sun Times reported.
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hall of Fame baseball player Ernie Banks in the East Room at the White House on November 20, 2013. (Getty)
Banks was born in Dallas in 1931, and had 10 siblings. He would have turned 84 on Saturday.
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts released the following statement Friday night:
Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time. He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And and more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I’ve ever known. Approachable, ever optimistic and kind hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie’s life in the days ahead.
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— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 24, 2015
More from the Associated Press:
Hall of Fame slugger Ernie Banks, the two-time MVP who never lost his boundless enthusiasm for baseball despite years of playing on losing Chicago Cubs teams, died Friday night. He was 83.
The Cubs announced Banks' death, but did not provide a cause.
"Mr. Cub" hit 512 home runs during his 19-year career, including five seasons with 40 or more. He was fond of saying, "It's a great day for baseball. Let's play two!" That remains a catchphrase at Wrigley Field to this day.
"Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time," Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I've ever known."
"Approachable, ever optimistic and kind hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie's life in the days ahead."
Though he was an 11-time All-Star from 1953-71, Banks never reached the postseason, and the Cubs finished below .500 in all but six of his seasons. Still, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977, the first year he was eligible, and selected to baseball's All-Century team in 1999.
Banks' infectious smile and non-stop good humor despite his team's dismal record endeared him to Chicago fans, who voted him the best player in franchise history. One famous admirer, "Saturday Night Live" star Bill Murray, named his son Homer Banks Murray.
Banks' No. 14 was the first number retired by the Cubs, and hangs from the left-field foul pole at Wrigley Field.
"I'd like to get to the last game of the World Series at Wrigley Field and hit three homers," he once said. "That was what I always wanted to do."
Banks was playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues when the Cubs discovered him in 1953, and purchased his contract for $10,000. He made his major league debut at shortstop on Sept. 17 that year, and three days later hit his first home run.
Tall and thin, Banks didn't look like a typical power hitter. He looked even less so as he stood at the plate, holding his bat high and wiggling it as he waited for pitches. But he had strong wrists and a smooth, quick stroke, and he made hitting balls out of the park look effortless.
When he switched to a lighter bat before the 1955 season, his power quickly became apparent. He hit 44 homers that season, including three against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 4. His five grand slams that year established a major league record that stood for more than 30 years before Don Mattingly hit six in 1987.
Banks' best season came in 1958, when he hit .313 with 47 homers and 129 RBIs. Though the Cubs went 72-82 and finished sixth in the National League, Banks edged Willie Mays and Hank Aaron for his first MVP award. He was the first player from a losing team to win the NL MVP.
Banks won the MVP again in 1959, becoming the first NL player to win it in consecutive years, even though the Cubs had another dismal year. Banks hit .304 with 45 homers and a league-leading 143 RBIs.
He led the NL in homers again in 1960 with 41, his fourth straight season with 40 or more. His 248 homers from 1955-60 were the most in the majors, topping even Aaron and Mays.
Though Banks didn't break the 40-homer barrier again after 1960, he topped the 100-RBI mark three more times, including 1969, his last full season. Then 38, he hit .253 with 23 home runs and 106 RBIs, and was chosen an All-Star for an 11th time.
On May 12, 1970, he hit his 500th home run, becoming only the eighth player at the time to reach the plateau.
Banks retired after the 1971 season. He owned most of the Cubs' career slugging records, some of which still stand today.
Known mostly for his power at the plate, Banks was a solid fielder, too. He is best known as a shortstop, where he won a Gold Glove in 1960, but he switched to first base in 1962. He played 1,259 games at first and 1,125 games at shortstop.
Born and raised in Dallas, Banks would be bribed to play catch by his father, who always wanted him to be a baseball player. Banks grew to love the game and was a standout in high school, along with participating in football, basketball and track and field.
He joined a barnstorming Negro Leagues team at 17 and was spotted by Cool Papa Bell, who signed him to the Monarchs in 1950. Banks played one season before going into the Army. He returned to Kansas City after he was discharged, playing one more season before joining the Cubs.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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basketball stream live Should Black Athletes Attend the University of Michigan?
basketball stream live No.
In November 2006 the voters of Michigan passed a referendum to ban any consideration of race in the admissions processes of the state's public colleges and universities, the most prolific of those being the flagship University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The referendum, officially known as the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative or Proposal 2, passed by a margin of 58 percent to 42 percent. It became law on Dec. 22 of that year. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative was challenged and overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on July 1, 2011. Soon after, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced that he would appeal the ruling. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld its ruling, which prompted Schuette to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. The case was granted certiorari in March 2013, and the Court heard arguments for the case of Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action on Oct. 15 of that year. On April 22, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled by a margin of six to two that Michigan's ban on affirmative action is in fact constitutional.
Michigan is a state with a particularly contentious racial history. For one, Malcom X grew up in the state's capital of Lansing, and the state is home to the nation's most racially segregated city, Detroit. I recently did a fair amount of research into housing segregation in Detroit for a final paper, and what I found -- or, rather, affirmed -- was that the city's housing segregation, and that of the state, was the result of a collusive effort between the racially restrictive housing policies of the Federal Housing Administration and the deliberate and concerted efforts of private individual homeowners. The greater effect of this effort in Detroit and the nation more broadly is best summarized by Melvin L. Oliver and Thomas M. Shapiro in their book Black Wealth/White Wealth, where they state that blacks were "locked out of the greatest mass-based opportunity for wealth accumulation in American history." This is comprehensively analyzed in Ta-Nehisi Coates' article for The Atlantic entitled "The Case for Reparations."
What do I mean to say by all of this? When I was applying to college last year, discussions, both civil and not-so-civil, arose concerning the validity of affirmative action. The most common refutation I would encounter was the argument that we are at a point in our history where affirmative action should ignore race and instead be administered according to one's economic status. So I offer the aforementioned information to demonstrate that while no white resident of the United States can claim they are poor because they are white, black residents can very reasonably attribute their economic condition to their blackness, among other factors, and, as it turns out, this is especially true in the state of Michigan.
In passing the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, the voters of Michigan ignored and effectively denied the notion set forth by Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell in his opinion in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), in which he described the desirability of "the educational benefits that flow from an ethnically diverse student body." That's a bold statement, and it is my belief that statements such as this one should be met with equally bold statements that bring us back to our initial question.
The Wolverines are fresh off a lackluster football season, finishing with a 5-7 record, but they have something to look forward to in the hiring of a shiny new head coach in Jim Harbaugh, straight from the NFL. But as sports fans will certainly attest, winning programs are carried by athletes, and, as it happens, a fair number of the athletes on the university's most lucrative and high-profile sports teams, namely the men's football and basketball teams, happen to be black.
By passing the referendum, Michigan's voters have chosen to deny the role of the state's troubled racial history in the current condition of its black residents and further deny the educational benefits allowed by diversity. The prevailing notion seems to be that the perceived lax admissions standards to which black students were allegedly held were unfair. But there seem to be no such reservations when it comes to the lax academic standards to which athletic recruits are held. Thus, while the people of Michigan have found it intolerable to accommodate the victims of racial discrimination, the effects of which are nearly as profound today as they were in the '60s, they continue to find no issue with the recruitment of black talent to their sports teams in spite of their academic performance or lack thereof. It is thus, in my estimation, appropriate, if not essential, that black athletes pass over the University of Michigan and take their talents to institutions that are committed to the worthy ideals of accountability and racial diversity and value black students as more than muscle and sinew.
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In November 2006 the voters of Michigan passed a referendum to ban any consideration of race in the admissions processes of the state's public colleges and universities, the most prolific of those being the flagship University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The referendum, officially known as the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative or Proposal 2, passed by a margin of 58 percent to 42 percent. It became law on Dec. 22 of that year. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative was challenged and overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on July 1, 2011. Soon after, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced that he would appeal the ruling. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld its ruling, which prompted Schuette to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. The case was granted certiorari in March 2013, and the Court heard arguments for the case of Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action on Oct. 15 of that year. On April 22, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled by a margin of six to two that Michigan's ban on affirmative action is in fact constitutional.
Michigan is a state with a particularly contentious racial history. For one, Malcom X grew up in the state's capital of Lansing, and the state is home to the nation's most racially segregated city, Detroit. I recently did a fair amount of research into housing segregation in Detroit for a final paper, and what I found -- or, rather, affirmed -- was that the city's housing segregation, and that of the state, was the result of a collusive effort between the racially restrictive housing policies of the Federal Housing Administration and the deliberate and concerted efforts of private individual homeowners. The greater effect of this effort in Detroit and the nation more broadly is best summarized by Melvin L. Oliver and Thomas M. Shapiro in their book Black Wealth/White Wealth, where they state that blacks were "locked out of the greatest mass-based opportunity for wealth accumulation in American history." This is comprehensively analyzed in Ta-Nehisi Coates' article for The Atlantic entitled "The Case for Reparations."
What do I mean to say by all of this? When I was applying to college last year, discussions, both civil and not-so-civil, arose concerning the validity of affirmative action. The most common refutation I would encounter was the argument that we are at a point in our history where affirmative action should ignore race and instead be administered according to one's economic status. So I offer the aforementioned information to demonstrate that while no white resident of the United States can claim they are poor because they are white, black residents can very reasonably attribute their economic condition to their blackness, among other factors, and, as it turns out, this is especially true in the state of Michigan.
In passing the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, the voters of Michigan ignored and effectively denied the notion set forth by Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell in his opinion in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), in which he described the desirability of "the educational benefits that flow from an ethnically diverse student body." That's a bold statement, and it is my belief that statements such as this one should be met with equally bold statements that bring us back to our initial question.
The Wolverines are fresh off a lackluster football season, finishing with a 5-7 record, but they have something to look forward to in the hiring of a shiny new head coach in Jim Harbaugh, straight from the NFL. But as sports fans will certainly attest, winning programs are carried by athletes, and, as it happens, a fair number of the athletes on the university's most lucrative and high-profile sports teams, namely the men's football and basketball teams, happen to be black.
By passing the referendum, Michigan's voters have chosen to deny the role of the state's troubled racial history in the current condition of its black residents and further deny the educational benefits allowed by diversity. The prevailing notion seems to be that the perceived lax admissions standards to which black students were allegedly held were unfair. But there seem to be no such reservations when it comes to the lax academic standards to which athletic recruits are held. Thus, while the people of Michigan have found it intolerable to accommodate the victims of racial discrimination, the effects of which are nearly as profound today as they were in the '60s, they continue to find no issue with the recruitment of black talent to their sports teams in spite of their academic performance or lack thereof. It is thus, in my estimation, appropriate, if not essential, that black athletes pass over the University of Michigan and take their talents to institutions that are committed to the worthy ideals of accountability and racial diversity and value black students as more than muscle and sinew.
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basketball stream live Good Riddance, Bud Selig
basketball stream live On January 25, A.H. "Bud" Selig will retire after serving 22 years as commissioner of Major League Baseball.
Selig's legacy is as follows:
When baseball needed a strong commissioner, he was the game's nowhere man. When he did act, it was in the best interests of owners -- and not in the best interests of the game and its fans.
Selig's tenure is second only to that of Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who was baseball's first commissioner. Landis was hired to clean up the game after the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the World Series.
In his 24 years as commissioner, Landis was known by some as a capricious, dictatorial, megalomaniac, grandstanding, racist. But he took care of the gambling problem in baseball. He suspended the accused players from baseball for life.
Shortly after becoming commissioner, Selig learned that baseball had a steroid problem. Under Selig's leadership, and because of his leadership, the problem became a scandal.
Selig could have saved baseball from itself. But he did nothing.
As long as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were hitting home runs, and stadium attendance and television ratings were up, and owners were making money, why do anything?
After the game's reputation had been needlessly shredded, Selig acted in what he called the best interests of the game and suspended players who took steroids. If Selig was really interested in the best interests of the game, he would've suspended himself.
The 2011 All-Star Game was scheduled to be played in Phoenix, Ariz., a state that had passed a virulently anti-immigration law, which encouraged racial profiling and harassment of Latinos by requiring them to carry identification and to present it upon demand or risk arrest.
Selig should have moved the All-Star Game. There was precedent for such a move. In 1993, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue moved the Super Bowl out of Arizona after the state refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.
By moving the All-Star game, Selig would've made a statement on behalf of Latino ballplayers -- who comprise nearly 30 percent of all major league players -- and Latino baseball fans that MLB would not tolerate racial discrimination.
But Selig did nothing, giving implicit support for a law that blatantly discriminates against Latinos. Selig could've reached out a hand to Latinos. Instead, he raised his middle finger.
Selig also has ignored younger fans, who have all but given up on baseball.
Professional football and basketball market their respective sports to kids who are learning to drive, voting for the first time, having their first beer, or turning 30.
Studies conclude that half of the television viewers of the World Series were older than 55. The typical baseball fan, therefore, is a white man in his 50s who has recently had -- or is about to have - his first colonoscopy.
Yes, Selig made a lot of money for baseball, the networks and for owners. But, to do so, he mortgaged the game's future. The baseball fan of yesterday is now a basketball or football fan.
Selig's legacy will be like that of Bowie Kuhn, who as commissioner in the '70s and '80s, was a stooge to owners but did nothing for fans. The great sportswriter Red Smith once wrote the following about the ineffectual Kuhn: "An empty car pulled up and Bowie Kuhn got out."
Selig and his empty train will soon leave the station.
It's almost like he was never here.
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Selig's legacy is as follows:
When baseball needed a strong commissioner, he was the game's nowhere man. When he did act, it was in the best interests of owners -- and not in the best interests of the game and its fans.
Selig's tenure is second only to that of Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who was baseball's first commissioner. Landis was hired to clean up the game after the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the World Series.
In his 24 years as commissioner, Landis was known by some as a capricious, dictatorial, megalomaniac, grandstanding, racist. But he took care of the gambling problem in baseball. He suspended the accused players from baseball for life.
Shortly after becoming commissioner, Selig learned that baseball had a steroid problem. Under Selig's leadership, and because of his leadership, the problem became a scandal.
Selig could have saved baseball from itself. But he did nothing.
As long as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were hitting home runs, and stadium attendance and television ratings were up, and owners were making money, why do anything?
After the game's reputation had been needlessly shredded, Selig acted in what he called the best interests of the game and suspended players who took steroids. If Selig was really interested in the best interests of the game, he would've suspended himself.
The 2011 All-Star Game was scheduled to be played in Phoenix, Ariz., a state that had passed a virulently anti-immigration law, which encouraged racial profiling and harassment of Latinos by requiring them to carry identification and to present it upon demand or risk arrest.
Selig should have moved the All-Star Game. There was precedent for such a move. In 1993, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue moved the Super Bowl out of Arizona after the state refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.
By moving the All-Star game, Selig would've made a statement on behalf of Latino ballplayers -- who comprise nearly 30 percent of all major league players -- and Latino baseball fans that MLB would not tolerate racial discrimination.
But Selig did nothing, giving implicit support for a law that blatantly discriminates against Latinos. Selig could've reached out a hand to Latinos. Instead, he raised his middle finger.
Selig also has ignored younger fans, who have all but given up on baseball.
Professional football and basketball market their respective sports to kids who are learning to drive, voting for the first time, having their first beer, or turning 30.
Studies conclude that half of the television viewers of the World Series were older than 55. The typical baseball fan, therefore, is a white man in his 50s who has recently had -- or is about to have - his first colonoscopy.
Yes, Selig made a lot of money for baseball, the networks and for owners. But, to do so, he mortgaged the game's future. The baseball fan of yesterday is now a basketball or football fan.
Selig's legacy will be like that of Bowie Kuhn, who as commissioner in the '70s and '80s, was a stooge to owners but did nothing for fans. The great sportswriter Red Smith once wrote the following about the ineffectual Kuhn: "An empty car pulled up and Bowie Kuhn got out."
Selig and his empty train will soon leave the station.
It's almost like he was never here.
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basketball stream live Kobe Bryant Almost Certainly Out For The Rest Of The Season
basketball stream live It’s a dark truth that will resonate with Los Angeles Lakers fans everywhere: The best reason left to watch the team this season is Iggy Azalea's boyfriend.
The Lakers expect Kobe Bryant to miss the remainder of the season, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. "It doesn't look good," a source separately told the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan.
Bryant tore the rotator rotator cuff in his right shoulder Wednesday in the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Because he’s Kobe Bryant, he tried to play through it by using his left hand for a little while:
Bryant tweeted a joke earlier on Friday about how the injury is directly related to his passing the ball too much, which is funny because everyone knows Kobe Bryant enjoys shooting the basketball more than he likes passing it:
It’s hard to tell if losing Bryant for the rest of the season will hurt or help the Lakers’ chances of winning more games. Some analysis has found that it’s likely the team actually plays better when he is not on the court.
Bryant is in the second to last year of his contract. Earlier this month he told the Los Angeles Times that retirement has "crossed [his] mind."
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The Lakers expect Kobe Bryant to miss the remainder of the season, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. "It doesn't look good," a source separately told the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan.
Bryant tore the rotator rotator cuff in his right shoulder Wednesday in the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Because he’s Kobe Bryant, he tried to play through it by using his left hand for a little while:
Bryant tweeted a joke earlier on Friday about how the injury is directly related to his passing the ball too much, which is funny because everyone knows Kobe Bryant enjoys shooting the basketball more than he likes passing it:
This is what happens when I pass too much! #ShoulderShock thank u all for ur thoughts and prayers #team @DrinkBODYARMOR @Lakers #oneluv
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 23, 2015 It’s hard to tell if losing Bryant for the rest of the season will hurt or help the Lakers’ chances of winning more games. Some analysis has found that it’s likely the team actually plays better when he is not on the court.
Bryant is in the second to last year of his contract. Earlier this month he told the Los Angeles Times that retirement has "crossed [his] mind."
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basketball stream live NFL Deflation: Too Many Rules or Too Many Miscreants?
basketball stream live Are National Football League referees, in addition to their duties policing a chaotic game of borderline violence, also supposed to serve as grade school hall monitors?
Must our beleaguered zebra-shirted linesmen, judges and umpires also be on the lookout for every kind of petty monkey business, as though the 80,000-seat stadium was a dirt patch playground packed with sneaky 8-year-olds? Do refs really need to keep an eye out so that nobody messes with the inflation level of the balls? Has it come to that?
In a perfect world, in a sport played and coached by perfect gentlemen adhering to the most rigorous standards of ethical behavior, such oversight would be unnecessary.
In a perfect world, the financial services industry could be depended on to follow the Golden Rule, and aggressively self-police should the need ever arise.
One of the few things that coaches, players and fans of nearly every competitive team sport seem to agree on these days is that there are too many rules, too many stoppages and disruptions due to infractions, too much intrusion by officials who we'd prefer to remain more or less invisible. How did that happen?
Let's just say it wasn't an accident. The rulebook for most major sports is as complex and attenuated as the U.S. Tax Code and the language used in the valiant attempt to clarify what's illegal is similarly tortured. This from the NCAA men's basketball rulebook, over 100 pages long: "Continuous motion applies to a try for field goal or free throw, but shall have no significance unless there is a foul by the defense during the interval that begins when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap and ends when the ball is clearly in flight."
The NFL rulebook, 108 pages, includes sections with eye-blurring identifiers like Rule 7, Section 2, Article 7.4, note 2(r). Clauses go to great pains to spell out, in case nobody knew it was wrong, a byzantine array of prohibitions, such as: "grabbing a helmet opening of an opponent and forcibly twisting, turning or pulling his head." One can almost imagine an "unless there is written consent from the opponent" amendment being someday attached.
As with the tax code and financial regulation, a strain of Tea Party-ish, less-government-is-best-government perspective creeps into the discussion. Digger Phelps, the former ESPN commentator and Notre Dame coach, once openly wondered if the sport wasn't better off in simpler times with fewer rules. "Shirts against skins worked pretty well," he said.
Ah, those were the days. But let's get real.
If we have a rampant escalation in the number of laws covering an ever wider range of conceivable concerns -- NFL rules state that the football must be inflated to a pressure measuring between 12.5-13.5 pounds peer square inch, and must be checked by officials two hours and 15 minutes before game time -- it's because hyper-competitive miscreants have become ever more inventive.
And what is the referee's role in all this? It is to do his best to ensure fairness (remember fairness?), even when both sides are deviously angling for an unfair edge.
Why is fairness, or the semblance of it, needed? Because absent a guarantee that maximum effort has been made to achieve fairness, our contest could easily be mistaken for just another form of entertainment, a mere diversion. And if fans of big time TV sports ever begin to faith that the games are ultimately on the level... whoa! Now that would take some air out of the old ball!
Which brings us back to the New England Patriots. Guilty? Innocent? I have no idea.
But there is a corrective to the inflation-deflation problem that should benefit all parties going forward. The overseers of the NFL should legislate the addition of one more official -- there are currently seven assigned -- whose sole responsibility will be to watch over those balls with the determination of a mama grizzly protecting her cub.
Alternatively, the league could revisit a simpler, albeit less profitable, model: shirts vs. skins.
Bob Katz is the author of four books. His latest, The Whistleblower: Rooting for the Ref in the High-Stakes World of College Basketball, will be published Feb. 3.
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Must our beleaguered zebra-shirted linesmen, judges and umpires also be on the lookout for every kind of petty monkey business, as though the 80,000-seat stadium was a dirt patch playground packed with sneaky 8-year-olds? Do refs really need to keep an eye out so that nobody messes with the inflation level of the balls? Has it come to that?
In a perfect world, in a sport played and coached by perfect gentlemen adhering to the most rigorous standards of ethical behavior, such oversight would be unnecessary.
In a perfect world, the financial services industry could be depended on to follow the Golden Rule, and aggressively self-police should the need ever arise.
One of the few things that coaches, players and fans of nearly every competitive team sport seem to agree on these days is that there are too many rules, too many stoppages and disruptions due to infractions, too much intrusion by officials who we'd prefer to remain more or less invisible. How did that happen?
Let's just say it wasn't an accident. The rulebook for most major sports is as complex and attenuated as the U.S. Tax Code and the language used in the valiant attempt to clarify what's illegal is similarly tortured. This from the NCAA men's basketball rulebook, over 100 pages long: "Continuous motion applies to a try for field goal or free throw, but shall have no significance unless there is a foul by the defense during the interval that begins when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap and ends when the ball is clearly in flight."
The NFL rulebook, 108 pages, includes sections with eye-blurring identifiers like Rule 7, Section 2, Article 7.4, note 2(r). Clauses go to great pains to spell out, in case nobody knew it was wrong, a byzantine array of prohibitions, such as: "grabbing a helmet opening of an opponent and forcibly twisting, turning or pulling his head." One can almost imagine an "unless there is written consent from the opponent" amendment being someday attached.
As with the tax code and financial regulation, a strain of Tea Party-ish, less-government-is-best-government perspective creeps into the discussion. Digger Phelps, the former ESPN commentator and Notre Dame coach, once openly wondered if the sport wasn't better off in simpler times with fewer rules. "Shirts against skins worked pretty well," he said.
Ah, those were the days. But let's get real.
If we have a rampant escalation in the number of laws covering an ever wider range of conceivable concerns -- NFL rules state that the football must be inflated to a pressure measuring between 12.5-13.5 pounds peer square inch, and must be checked by officials two hours and 15 minutes before game time -- it's because hyper-competitive miscreants have become ever more inventive.
And what is the referee's role in all this? It is to do his best to ensure fairness (remember fairness?), even when both sides are deviously angling for an unfair edge.
Why is fairness, or the semblance of it, needed? Because absent a guarantee that maximum effort has been made to achieve fairness, our contest could easily be mistaken for just another form of entertainment, a mere diversion. And if fans of big time TV sports ever begin to faith that the games are ultimately on the level... whoa! Now that would take some air out of the old ball!
Which brings us back to the New England Patriots. Guilty? Innocent? I have no idea.
But there is a corrective to the inflation-deflation problem that should benefit all parties going forward. The overseers of the NFL should legislate the addition of one more official -- there are currently seven assigned -- whose sole responsibility will be to watch over those balls with the determination of a mama grizzly protecting her cub.
Alternatively, the league could revisit a simpler, albeit less profitable, model: shirts vs. skins.
Bob Katz is the author of four books. His latest, The Whistleblower: Rooting for the Ref in the High-Stakes World of College Basketball, will be published Feb. 3.
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Kamis, 22 Januari 2015
basketball stream live Huddles: In Football, Business and Hospitals
basketball stream live Last week, we were awestruck watching the last three minutes of the National Football Conference Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers. My son, 15, and I watched Russell Wilson score a touchdown and get a two-point conversion to take the lead. But then Aaron Rodgers and Mason Crosby countered with a field goal only to have Wilson throw a game-winning touchdown in overtime for the Seahawks.
Football is not just a game of strategy, but it is counterstrategy, execution, recovery, calibration, recalibration and then again strategy and execution -- all in 24-second cycles.
So what makes this possible? We pondered, why is football so different from other team sports like soccer, baseball or basketball.
We believe it has to do with one transformative activity, the huddle. Only in football, does a team, every 24 seconds, gather to plot their offensive attack. The offensive team has short-term goals, the first down line; the long term goal, the touchdown; and reach goals, a game-winning strategy. The defensive team prepares for the counter.
The plotting is done in the huddle, in a brief five to ten seconds, with players looking each other in the eye and their leader, the quarterback, taking signals from the sideline, providing instructions and an execution plan. In the huddle there is no time for a conversation, deep reflection and discussion.
Businesses too have taken on the concept of the huddle. Donavan Roberson, a business consultant, in his blog writes, "The huddle is a key element ... that speaks to importance of the team by communicating vision, providing clarity and demonstrating unity."
Even hospitals have taken on the concept of the huddle. Since 2013, Advocate Health Care, one of the largest U.S. health systems, has banned 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. meetings, allowing time instead for 15-minute team huddles. This has allowed them to identify 40 percent more patient safety concerns. On the floor, nursing teams gather and discuss safety and quality issues that may have occurred in the past 24 hours and which may occur in the next 24.
In the surgical suite there is no need for a huddle. The surgeon, the scrub nurse and the anesthesiologist are in a constant huddle over the operative field, with the patient draped underneath. So hospitals has adopted another sports strategy, the time out.
In nearly every hospital in the country, a "time out" is taken immediately before starting the procedure to perform a final check to make sure that the correct patient is about to undergo the correct procedure, on the correct site. Studies have shown that a timeout reduces wrong-side surgeries and improves the communication among the surgeon, anesthesiologist, the scrub nurse and the assistants.
The huddle is successful for many reasons. First and foremost it is direct personal human-to-human, eye-to-eye contact. It is a powerful way to unite a group of people. It is instructive with each team member knowing his or her role and how to follow through with it. And if one fails, he or she is held accountable by a face-to-face in the next huddle.
Now, it's ironic, in football, how the "no-huddle" itself has become a new strategy, to catch the defense off guard and not allow them to plot a counter strategy. A plan decided in the preceding huddle by the offensive team.
Let's see what strategies the Seahawks and Patriots come up with in the Super Bowl which is sure to be exciting as 100 million Americans look on, and see the power of the huddle.
By Manoj Jain with Rishab Jain (Sophomore at Lausanne Collegiate School www.rishjain.com)
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Football is not just a game of strategy, but it is counterstrategy, execution, recovery, calibration, recalibration and then again strategy and execution -- all in 24-second cycles.
So what makes this possible? We pondered, why is football so different from other team sports like soccer, baseball or basketball.
We believe it has to do with one transformative activity, the huddle. Only in football, does a team, every 24 seconds, gather to plot their offensive attack. The offensive team has short-term goals, the first down line; the long term goal, the touchdown; and reach goals, a game-winning strategy. The defensive team prepares for the counter.
The plotting is done in the huddle, in a brief five to ten seconds, with players looking each other in the eye and their leader, the quarterback, taking signals from the sideline, providing instructions and an execution plan. In the huddle there is no time for a conversation, deep reflection and discussion.
Businesses too have taken on the concept of the huddle. Donavan Roberson, a business consultant, in his blog writes, "The huddle is a key element ... that speaks to importance of the team by communicating vision, providing clarity and demonstrating unity."
Even hospitals have taken on the concept of the huddle. Since 2013, Advocate Health Care, one of the largest U.S. health systems, has banned 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. meetings, allowing time instead for 15-minute team huddles. This has allowed them to identify 40 percent more patient safety concerns. On the floor, nursing teams gather and discuss safety and quality issues that may have occurred in the past 24 hours and which may occur in the next 24.
In the surgical suite there is no need for a huddle. The surgeon, the scrub nurse and the anesthesiologist are in a constant huddle over the operative field, with the patient draped underneath. So hospitals has adopted another sports strategy, the time out.
In nearly every hospital in the country, a "time out" is taken immediately before starting the procedure to perform a final check to make sure that the correct patient is about to undergo the correct procedure, on the correct site. Studies have shown that a timeout reduces wrong-side surgeries and improves the communication among the surgeon, anesthesiologist, the scrub nurse and the assistants.
The huddle is successful for many reasons. First and foremost it is direct personal human-to-human, eye-to-eye contact. It is a powerful way to unite a group of people. It is instructive with each team member knowing his or her role and how to follow through with it. And if one fails, he or she is held accountable by a face-to-face in the next huddle.
Now, it's ironic, in football, how the "no-huddle" itself has become a new strategy, to catch the defense off guard and not allow them to plot a counter strategy. A plan decided in the preceding huddle by the offensive team.
Let's see what strategies the Seahawks and Patriots come up with in the Super Bowl which is sure to be exciting as 100 million Americans look on, and see the power of the huddle.
By Manoj Jain with Rishab Jain (Sophomore at Lausanne Collegiate School www.rishjain.com)
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basketball stream live 2 Ex-UNC Athletes Sue School, NCAA Over Academic Failures
basketball stream live DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Two former University of North Carolina athletes have filed a lawsuit against the school and the NCAA, saying neither is doing enough to ensure athletes receive a quality education.
The lawsuit names former women's basketball player Rashanda McCants and former football player Devon Ramsay as plaintiffs but seeks class-action status. It was filed Thursday afternoon in Durham County court, making it the second lawsuit to emerge in the wake of UNC's long-running academic fraud scandal that heavily involved athletes. The first was filed by former football player Michael McAdoo in November in U.S. District Court in Charlotte against the school. This one, however, expands the scope beyond the Chapel Hill campus to include the governing body for major college sports.
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The lawsuit names former women's basketball player Rashanda McCants and former football player Devon Ramsay as plaintiffs but seeks class-action status. It was filed Thursday afternoon in Durham County court, making it the second lawsuit to emerge in the wake of UNC's long-running academic fraud scandal that heavily involved athletes. The first was filed by former football player Michael McAdoo in November in U.S. District Court in Charlotte against the school. This one, however, expands the scope beyond the Chapel Hill campus to include the governing body for major college sports.
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basketball stream live Kanye West May Design Washington Wizards' Uniforms, But We Think He Could Change A Lot More
basketball stream live In some of the most unexpected style news as of late, Kanye West might be designing NBA jerseys sometime soon. Kanye's friend, Wale, who, according to Vanity Fair is a "creative liaison" for the Washington Wizards, recently stirred up rumors that West would help design the Wizards new basketball uniforms. Say what?!
Sure, West has style cred to his name: he's appeared on the cover of Vogue, redone Kim's wardrobe a few times and starred in Balmain's Spring/Summer 2015 campaign. The man even showed his own fashion line at Paris Fashion Week, to not much fanfare.
So if the rumors are true, we're envisioning Kanye's got big changes in mind, such as:
Better jerseys What's that jersey, Margiela? It is now. We predict that with Kanye's designer connections (think Balmain, Giuseppi Zanotti) the new jerseys will be fly as f*** and probably look something like this:
New sneaks Obviously, everyone will wear Yeezy's Red Octobers even though they might be a little heavy to play in. Put your Jordans away!
New warmup sweats: Sweats MUST look good in warmups when you're trying to intimidate another team, so a nice, neutral gray is a good way to get your game face on. Gold chain optional.
Sweeter socks: Most athletes like to wear Nike Elite socks, as they're known for their comfort and support level during matches. But with Kanye's Kardashian connects, we predict the Washington Wizards will be wearing Arthur George aka Rob Kardashian's upscale sock line.
Mandatory hair cuts: Hair is yet another way to intimidate opponents in the NBA (think Dennis Rodman). Why not try shocking other players with a new cut? "Hey LeBron, look at MY hairline."
Wearing face masks If they work in football to intimidate opponents, they can do the same for basketball. Plus it looks red -- team colors y'all!
A cooler court-side presence Let's get Jay and Bey at every game. EVERY GAME.
Oh... and Kim too.
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Sure, West has style cred to his name: he's appeared on the cover of Vogue, redone Kim's wardrobe a few times and starred in Balmain's Spring/Summer 2015 campaign. The man even showed his own fashion line at Paris Fashion Week, to not much fanfare.
So if the rumors are true, we're envisioning Kanye's got big changes in mind, such as:
Better jerseys What's that jersey, Margiela? It is now. We predict that with Kanye's designer connections (think Balmain, Giuseppi Zanotti) the new jerseys will be fly as f*** and probably look something like this:
New sneaks Obviously, everyone will wear Yeezy's Red Octobers even though they might be a little heavy to play in. Put your Jordans away!
New warmup sweats: Sweats MUST look good in warmups when you're trying to intimidate another team, so a nice, neutral gray is a good way to get your game face on. Gold chain optional.
Sweeter socks: Most athletes like to wear Nike Elite socks, as they're known for their comfort and support level during matches. But with Kanye's Kardashian connects, we predict the Washington Wizards will be wearing Arthur George aka Rob Kardashian's upscale sock line.
Mandatory hair cuts: Hair is yet another way to intimidate opponents in the NBA (think Dennis Rodman). Why not try shocking other players with a new cut? "Hey LeBron, look at MY hairline."
Wearing face masks If they work in football to intimidate opponents, they can do the same for basketball. Plus it looks red -- team colors y'all!
A cooler court-side presence Let's get Jay and Bey at every game. EVERY GAME.
Oh... and Kim too.
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basketball stream live Pennyslvania Student Likely Died From Chewing Gum In Her Sleep
basketball stream live CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania university student and basketball player likely inhaled chewing gum into her lungs while asleep before being found dead in her dormitory over the weekend.
The Washington County coroner's office said 21-year-old Shanice Clark of Toronto was found unresponsive at about 3 a.m. Sunday at California University of Pennsylvania.
University officials said they were "deeply saddened" by the death of the 6-foot senior forward, who was redshirting after playing two dozen games for the Vulcans last season.
California borough police say a preliminary report from medical personnel indicated that the death appeared to be accidental.
An autopsy was conducted Monday.
Although the coroner didn't immediately release the results, police say medical personnel indicated Clark aspirated the chewing gum while sleeping.
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The Washington County coroner's office said 21-year-old Shanice Clark of Toronto was found unresponsive at about 3 a.m. Sunday at California University of Pennsylvania.
University officials said they were "deeply saddened" by the death of the 6-foot senior forward, who was redshirting after playing two dozen games for the Vulcans last season.
California borough police say a preliminary report from medical personnel indicated that the death appeared to be accidental.
An autopsy was conducted Monday.
Although the coroner didn't immediately release the results, police say medical personnel indicated Clark aspirated the chewing gum while sleeping.
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basketball stream live The New Edge in Sports Performance and Results
basketball stream live The year was 1976 and the film Rocky made its debut on cinema screens all over America. The movie quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Thousands of kids and young adults were instantly inspired to try drinking a few raw eggs and getting up before dawn to run to get in shape like the great Rocky Balboa. Little did we know it at the time but the fitness and workout craze in America was being born, and by 1981 a cover of TIME magazine was devoted to this movement. In a few short years the fitness industry had become a multibillion-dollar industry with no signs of slowing down.
Improved muscle mass, leaner bodies and intense physical conditioning was the first big movement in the evolution of the modern day athlete. Thus began a trend in sports to find new ways to stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge. While the fitness trend lasted, by the late '80s and early '90s the new buzz was all about sports psychology. Focus, visualization, routine and mental preparation were being introduced and accepted by many at the highest levels of sports. By the late '90s as the money and allure of a professional sports career grew, many of the biggest college and professional athletes had sports psychologists in tow as part of their traveling support staff.
The decade of the 2000s brought with it incredible advances in technology. From the training equipment used to the astonishing advancements in video technology and software analytics, it allowed athletes and their coaches to study body movement down to the minutest detail. In frame-by-frame analysis, they could now see exactly where their body was either in or out of position and to the exact degree. They could compare video of themselves with any professional athlete with the simplest of ease. Computer modeled scenarios were also predicting play calling and projecting the outcomes of games. Whether in baseball, football, basketball or golf, technology was ruling the day and the left side of the brain for many athletes and teams searching for the key to success.
The trend in recent years has been on several new things. There has been a major focus on staying on a strict diet as athletes are more conscious of what they eat. There has been a big focus on applied kinesiology and biomechanics, which is the study and application of the physics of the body's movements and how to get the most out of one's physical nature. And of course there has been the use of sabermetrics, the sophisticated use of data analysis made famous recently by the book and then movie about the Oakland A's called Moneyball.
Each of these continuing evolutions of thought, awareness and understanding have certainly been impactful and have allowed many athletes and teams to stay competitive and at the top of the game in terms of their performance and results for years. But has sports gone too far to the left side of the brain?
Over the last 15 years, the money has gotten exponentially bigger for athletes and organizations. As a result there has there been an increase in the pressure to find an edge in order to stay on top. At times the desire became so intense that many athletes succumbed to the temptation of using performance-enhancing drugs to achieve superior results. An issue that still is being dealt with today.
Lost in all of this competitive pressure has been the natural creativity and intuitive part of the equation. The passion and the vital "love of the game" has been squeezed out by the pressure to win. Add to this the mass amount of information that has been fed into the minds of coaches, managers and athletes and it can have a negative effect on performance. This pressure has caused many to do what they "think" they should do or what the fear of falling behind has driven them to do rather than what they intuitively "know" they can do that produces results. This has caused many to lose their vital presence of mind or what is called mindfulness.
In many ways, sports is a microcosm of life. We have been assaulted by data and a consistent stream of information that keeps us on the left side of the brain for most of our day. The left side of the brain is where the logical and reasoning side of our processing is located. It's no wonder meditation and yoga have been talked about more in recent years as a helpful exercise for the quality of our lives. The right side, the intuitive and creative side of the brain, has been neglected for far too long. The world is looking for balance. Athletes are craving the very same thing and the relief from the pressure and disharmony that this unbalanced state of mind brings.
So the big question is, "What's next?"
The next big and powerful edge in sports is about a mindful and self-aware athlete. Self-awareness or mindfulness is very simply about being more conscious about how our thoughts, feelings, energy and actions create the conditions and probabilities for what we will create and experience next. It is about the understanding of how our beliefs regarding who we truly believe that we are, directly affect and are connected to our experiences. The result of which leads to a more mindful, connected, intuitive and empowered athlete.
The elegance of life can be found in the perfection of the process of life. The organization, team or individuals with the strongest will, belief, actions and demonstrated faith in who they are are the ones that win championships and have a shot at becoming legendary. This requires a heightened state of awareness. There are no shortcuts and there is no such thing as an overnight success. However, for those dedicated to the process and those willing to look at the truth (no small feat) and believe in something greater for themselves each day, there is a whole new realm of possibilities to be experienced. To some athletes this state comes naturally, for others it must be learned.
Years ago, the tennis legend Billie Jean King said, "I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion."
It is not just talent alone that produces success. Talent without heart or a strong enough desire to succeed will simply languish and go unfulfilled. It is also not just money that leads to wins. You can't buy a championship. If this were true the Yankees or Dodgers would win a world championship every year. The key to increasing the probabilities of success and the experience of true potential realized, relates to an expanded awareness or consciousness regarding how success materializes. The player, coach or organization looking to thrive must be willing to see things from a new perspective. More specifically it is a new awareness regarding how our energy works to shape what unfolds next for us. Your deepest thoughts and the resulting state of mind is either working for you and your dreams, or working against you. This is the new powerful state of awareness and knowledge for today's superior athlete.
I have worked with hundreds of top executives and college and professional athletes and coaches over the past 5 years. The number one factor that keeps any one of them from realizing more of their potential has to do with mindset. It is about being more connected to the way they think, act and respond to circumstance or challenges. As soon as an athlete's or coaches state of mind shifts and they become more present to the truth of the moment, the changes begin instantaneously. The real magic is in the faith to make the authentic change and trust it. Just going through the motions without committing 100 percent to the process is a spiritually dead behavior. When a powerful new authentic belief and understanding is added to action and a whole new creative energy is released that was never experienced before. This process is detailed in two books I authored on the subject, I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are and Time in a Bottle: Mastering the Experience of Life.
In many of the cases of those I have worked with the athlete or coaching staff was doing eight or nine out of the 10 most important things that lead to results. It was only the last piece regarding a new awareness or understanding that had the power to shift the energy and make the critical difference. These tiny shifts in the way they processed information or responded to circumstance translated into huge experiential differences on the field of play! That is how vitally important a new awareness regarding what is possible can be. It defines who you are and exactly how life responds back to you in terms of what happens next.
What works best in terms of performance and results is constantly changing and evolving with each new generation. Those who desire to succeed at the highest levels are always searching for a greater understanding about how this is accomplished. The Seattle Seahawks are a great example of this new mindset in professional sports. Pete Carroll has been instituting this mindfulness work with the Seahawks since 2011 with great results as this year the Seahawks will be playing in their second consecutive Super Bowl.
Presence of mind is powerful because it begins with a greater understanding of oneself and what is possible. This leads to being more intuitive about what works in the moment. As this awareness expands so do the positive results. The great Kung Fu master Bruce Lee once said, "Fear comes from uncertainty; we can eliminate the fear within us when we know ourselves better. As the great Sun Tzu said, 'When you know yourself and your opponent, you will win every time. When you know yourself but not your opponent you will win one and lose one. However, when you do not know yourself or your opponent, you will be imperiled every time.'"
The ability to evolve and change is vital to the survival of all things. This is the same whether it is in nature, in human relationships or in business and sports. Life is constantly nudging us to open to new possibility. While past methods to achieve success in sports will continue to play a significant role and be helpful to future success, it is those individuals that seek to stretch their current mindset and trust in a new understanding of the way life works at a deeper and more mindful level that will separate themselves from the rest. It is the more mindful, present, and self-aware athlete that will gain the powerful edge in today's highly competitive and driven world.
More about my work with athletes, executives, and individuals can be found at www.HowardFalco.com
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1JcY8JK
via basketball stream live
Improved muscle mass, leaner bodies and intense physical conditioning was the first big movement in the evolution of the modern day athlete. Thus began a trend in sports to find new ways to stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge. While the fitness trend lasted, by the late '80s and early '90s the new buzz was all about sports psychology. Focus, visualization, routine and mental preparation were being introduced and accepted by many at the highest levels of sports. By the late '90s as the money and allure of a professional sports career grew, many of the biggest college and professional athletes had sports psychologists in tow as part of their traveling support staff.
The decade of the 2000s brought with it incredible advances in technology. From the training equipment used to the astonishing advancements in video technology and software analytics, it allowed athletes and their coaches to study body movement down to the minutest detail. In frame-by-frame analysis, they could now see exactly where their body was either in or out of position and to the exact degree. They could compare video of themselves with any professional athlete with the simplest of ease. Computer modeled scenarios were also predicting play calling and projecting the outcomes of games. Whether in baseball, football, basketball or golf, technology was ruling the day and the left side of the brain for many athletes and teams searching for the key to success.
The trend in recent years has been on several new things. There has been a major focus on staying on a strict diet as athletes are more conscious of what they eat. There has been a big focus on applied kinesiology and biomechanics, which is the study and application of the physics of the body's movements and how to get the most out of one's physical nature. And of course there has been the use of sabermetrics, the sophisticated use of data analysis made famous recently by the book and then movie about the Oakland A's called Moneyball.
Each of these continuing evolutions of thought, awareness and understanding have certainly been impactful and have allowed many athletes and teams to stay competitive and at the top of the game in terms of their performance and results for years. But has sports gone too far to the left side of the brain?
Over the last 15 years, the money has gotten exponentially bigger for athletes and organizations. As a result there has there been an increase in the pressure to find an edge in order to stay on top. At times the desire became so intense that many athletes succumbed to the temptation of using performance-enhancing drugs to achieve superior results. An issue that still is being dealt with today.
Lost in all of this competitive pressure has been the natural creativity and intuitive part of the equation. The passion and the vital "love of the game" has been squeezed out by the pressure to win. Add to this the mass amount of information that has been fed into the minds of coaches, managers and athletes and it can have a negative effect on performance. This pressure has caused many to do what they "think" they should do or what the fear of falling behind has driven them to do rather than what they intuitively "know" they can do that produces results. This has caused many to lose their vital presence of mind or what is called mindfulness.
In many ways, sports is a microcosm of life. We have been assaulted by data and a consistent stream of information that keeps us on the left side of the brain for most of our day. The left side of the brain is where the logical and reasoning side of our processing is located. It's no wonder meditation and yoga have been talked about more in recent years as a helpful exercise for the quality of our lives. The right side, the intuitive and creative side of the brain, has been neglected for far too long. The world is looking for balance. Athletes are craving the very same thing and the relief from the pressure and disharmony that this unbalanced state of mind brings.
So the big question is, "What's next?"
The next big and powerful edge in sports is about a mindful and self-aware athlete. Self-awareness or mindfulness is very simply about being more conscious about how our thoughts, feelings, energy and actions create the conditions and probabilities for what we will create and experience next. It is about the understanding of how our beliefs regarding who we truly believe that we are, directly affect and are connected to our experiences. The result of which leads to a more mindful, connected, intuitive and empowered athlete.
The elegance of life can be found in the perfection of the process of life. The organization, team or individuals with the strongest will, belief, actions and demonstrated faith in who they are are the ones that win championships and have a shot at becoming legendary. This requires a heightened state of awareness. There are no shortcuts and there is no such thing as an overnight success. However, for those dedicated to the process and those willing to look at the truth (no small feat) and believe in something greater for themselves each day, there is a whole new realm of possibilities to be experienced. To some athletes this state comes naturally, for others it must be learned.
Years ago, the tennis legend Billie Jean King said, "I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion."
It is not just talent alone that produces success. Talent without heart or a strong enough desire to succeed will simply languish and go unfulfilled. It is also not just money that leads to wins. You can't buy a championship. If this were true the Yankees or Dodgers would win a world championship every year. The key to increasing the probabilities of success and the experience of true potential realized, relates to an expanded awareness or consciousness regarding how success materializes. The player, coach or organization looking to thrive must be willing to see things from a new perspective. More specifically it is a new awareness regarding how our energy works to shape what unfolds next for us. Your deepest thoughts and the resulting state of mind is either working for you and your dreams, or working against you. This is the new powerful state of awareness and knowledge for today's superior athlete.
I have worked with hundreds of top executives and college and professional athletes and coaches over the past 5 years. The number one factor that keeps any one of them from realizing more of their potential has to do with mindset. It is about being more connected to the way they think, act and respond to circumstance or challenges. As soon as an athlete's or coaches state of mind shifts and they become more present to the truth of the moment, the changes begin instantaneously. The real magic is in the faith to make the authentic change and trust it. Just going through the motions without committing 100 percent to the process is a spiritually dead behavior. When a powerful new authentic belief and understanding is added to action and a whole new creative energy is released that was never experienced before. This process is detailed in two books I authored on the subject, I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are and Time in a Bottle: Mastering the Experience of Life.
In many of the cases of those I have worked with the athlete or coaching staff was doing eight or nine out of the 10 most important things that lead to results. It was only the last piece regarding a new awareness or understanding that had the power to shift the energy and make the critical difference. These tiny shifts in the way they processed information or responded to circumstance translated into huge experiential differences on the field of play! That is how vitally important a new awareness regarding what is possible can be. It defines who you are and exactly how life responds back to you in terms of what happens next.
What works best in terms of performance and results is constantly changing and evolving with each new generation. Those who desire to succeed at the highest levels are always searching for a greater understanding about how this is accomplished. The Seattle Seahawks are a great example of this new mindset in professional sports. Pete Carroll has been instituting this mindfulness work with the Seahawks since 2011 with great results as this year the Seahawks will be playing in their second consecutive Super Bowl.
Presence of mind is powerful because it begins with a greater understanding of oneself and what is possible. This leads to being more intuitive about what works in the moment. As this awareness expands so do the positive results. The great Kung Fu master Bruce Lee once said, "Fear comes from uncertainty; we can eliminate the fear within us when we know ourselves better. As the great Sun Tzu said, 'When you know yourself and your opponent, you will win every time. When you know yourself but not your opponent you will win one and lose one. However, when you do not know yourself or your opponent, you will be imperiled every time.'"
The ability to evolve and change is vital to the survival of all things. This is the same whether it is in nature, in human relationships or in business and sports. Life is constantly nudging us to open to new possibility. While past methods to achieve success in sports will continue to play a significant role and be helpful to future success, it is those individuals that seek to stretch their current mindset and trust in a new understanding of the way life works at a deeper and more mindful level that will separate themselves from the rest. It is the more mindful, present, and self-aware athlete that will gain the powerful edge in today's highly competitive and driven world.
More about my work with athletes, executives, and individuals can be found at www.HowardFalco.com
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1JcY8JK
via basketball stream live
Rabu, 21 Januari 2015
Atlanta Hawks Pacers at Hawks has tipped (ESPN)
Welcome to our Atlanta Hawks NBA from ESPN. You can watch live streaming about basketball http://ift.tt/1EtrQrj
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
basketball stream live Mike Budenholzer Transforming Hawks Into NBA Title Contenders
basketball stream live The recent stigma of the NBA is that it consists of a bunch of extremely-talented offensive players who couldn't care less about defense. Haters of the league claim that the college game is much more enjoyable to watch due to an increased sense of defensive effort as a whole. However, the Atlanta Hawks are doing their best to break that point of view, putting an emphasis on the defensive end of the court. As a result, the Hawks are on a 13-game winning streak and have the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 34-8.
Let's first touch on the great success Atlanta has had this season. They've gone a dominant 24-6 against Eastern Conference teams, 17-3 at home, and an NBA-best 17-5 on the road. Only the Warriors have a better home record, at 18-1, and overall record, at 33-6. On the offensive side of the court, they rank 2nd in the NBA in assists per game, with 26.0, and points per game, with 103.1.
However, it's their effort on defense, emphasized by coach Mike Budenholzer, that has tipped this talented bunch over the edge and into an elite squad. They lead the NBA in points allowed per game, giving up just 96.3. In a very, very offensive-minded league, they're performing at an impressive clip, as indicated by the following numbers...
They've allowed a field goal percentage of 43.5% (4th in NBA), three-point field goal percentage of 33.4% (6th in NBA), average 9.0 steals per game (5th in NBA), force 15.4 turnovers per game (7th in NBA), and rank 2nd in the NBA in point differential at +6.8.
Not a "sexy" hire by any means, Budenholzer spent 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs organization, including 17 as an assistant under coach Gregg Popovich. His strong defensive mind and emphasis was likely one of the reasons why he appealed to Hawks general manager Danny Ferry in the hiring process.
It looks like sometimes "sexy" isn't always the way to go.
It's evident through the first half of the season that Hawks players have completely bought in to Budenholzer's system on both ends of the court. They have an uncanny commitment to the offense down to the end of the shot clock. Players play within a stringent system, but are still able to improvise and make smart decisions with the basketball. Each player has a role. Jeff Teague has emerged into one of the NBA's most up-and-coming point guards, Kyle Korver has shot the three-pointer at a higher percentage than any other player through this point of the season in NBA history, and Paul Millsap and Al Horford have performed at All-Star levels.
It's an organization that has had talented pieces, but the pieces never really fit together. Budenholzer has fit each piece into the puzzle, and is on track to make a playoff run, barring any major injuries.
Perhaps most impressively, Budenholzer has created a positive, drama-free atmosphere in his first season in Atlanta, which is very difficult to do (I'm thinking of you, David Blatt). By watching two minutes of a Hawks game, it's evident that this team is completely cohesive on both ends of the court, they genuinely play team basketball, and they enjoy playing together. All these factors make the team especially dangerous, considering they're playing in a weak Eastern Conference.
It will be pretty interesting to see if Budenholzer can transform the Hawks into the Spurs of the Eastern Conference. This is an example of a former Gregg Popovich disciple taking what he learned under the legendary coach and applying it with his own tweaks here and there.
Hawks fans certainly have a lot to smile about right now, and likely will for seasons to come under the direction of their new head coach.
Play daily NBA prediction contests on Tradesports.com!
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1sZrAz7
via basketball stream live
Let's first touch on the great success Atlanta has had this season. They've gone a dominant 24-6 against Eastern Conference teams, 17-3 at home, and an NBA-best 17-5 on the road. Only the Warriors have a better home record, at 18-1, and overall record, at 33-6. On the offensive side of the court, they rank 2nd in the NBA in assists per game, with 26.0, and points per game, with 103.1.
However, it's their effort on defense, emphasized by coach Mike Budenholzer, that has tipped this talented bunch over the edge and into an elite squad. They lead the NBA in points allowed per game, giving up just 96.3. In a very, very offensive-minded league, they're performing at an impressive clip, as indicated by the following numbers...
They've allowed a field goal percentage of 43.5% (4th in NBA), three-point field goal percentage of 33.4% (6th in NBA), average 9.0 steals per game (5th in NBA), force 15.4 turnovers per game (7th in NBA), and rank 2nd in the NBA in point differential at +6.8.
Not a "sexy" hire by any means, Budenholzer spent 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs organization, including 17 as an assistant under coach Gregg Popovich. His strong defensive mind and emphasis was likely one of the reasons why he appealed to Hawks general manager Danny Ferry in the hiring process.
It looks like sometimes "sexy" isn't always the way to go.
It's evident through the first half of the season that Hawks players have completely bought in to Budenholzer's system on both ends of the court. They have an uncanny commitment to the offense down to the end of the shot clock. Players play within a stringent system, but are still able to improvise and make smart decisions with the basketball. Each player has a role. Jeff Teague has emerged into one of the NBA's most up-and-coming point guards, Kyle Korver has shot the three-pointer at a higher percentage than any other player through this point of the season in NBA history, and Paul Millsap and Al Horford have performed at All-Star levels.
It's an organization that has had talented pieces, but the pieces never really fit together. Budenholzer has fit each piece into the puzzle, and is on track to make a playoff run, barring any major injuries.
Perhaps most impressively, Budenholzer has created a positive, drama-free atmosphere in his first season in Atlanta, which is very difficult to do (I'm thinking of you, David Blatt). By watching two minutes of a Hawks game, it's evident that this team is completely cohesive on both ends of the court, they genuinely play team basketball, and they enjoy playing together. All these factors make the team especially dangerous, considering they're playing in a weak Eastern Conference.
It will be pretty interesting to see if Budenholzer can transform the Hawks into the Spurs of the Eastern Conference. This is an example of a former Gregg Popovich disciple taking what he learned under the legendary coach and applying it with his own tweaks here and there.
Hawks fans certainly have a lot to smile about right now, and likely will for seasons to come under the direction of their new head coach.
Play daily NBA prediction contests on Tradesports.com!
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1sZrAz7
via basketball stream live
basketball stream live Let's Put Our Money Where It Matters to Our Daughters
basketball stream live I don't pretend to know the answer to the NCAA's mess regarding the big money that men's college basketball and football bring to a plethora of universities across the country. But I do know that, nearly four decades since I started college, women's athletic programs are still underfunded and undervalued.
My daughter, a recent college graduate recruited to play Division I women's soccer, recently revealed to me the existence of a funding gap between her team and the school's sole men's DI program. Her school is small, so there's no big money to drive decision-making, but still, it appears the teams aren't treated the same. The women receive one pair of cleats for the entire season (August to April), two pairs of practice gear, including socks, shorts and shirts, and a pair of shin guards every other year. Come game time, they are issued socks and uniforms to use for the day. At season-end, the program reclaims these items. The men's game day jerseys carry each player's name, which means they get to keep their jerseys and don't have to share game day gear. In addition, even accounting for the fact that the men's season is longer and their sports equipment more expensive, some details don't quite add up. I wonder, for example, about the discrepancy in travel per diems for the two teams and the more generous budget for the men's gear and equipment needs. These details may seem minor, but they rankle.
I hadn't heard until last week my daughter's lament of what transpired her junior year, when her team reached the NCAA tournament, playing their first round game in slushy ice and snow on a field that was running with water, with cleats that had no spikes. Why no spikes? Because the school never provided them. Imagine having achieved your goal of making it for the first time ever to the NCAA tournament, and your school not taking care of you in such an easy, fundamental way. Imagine all the work that you've put in, only to have to start from such an easily addressed disadvantage.
I am not one to cry over spilt milk or to make excuses for poor performance, but when I hear stories like this, I see red. What is it about our culture that repeatedly justifies and allows sports administrators to focus on the men and the money and forget about the educational experience they are bound, legally, to provide -- equal access to a high quality education? I won't detail here the lessons that athletes absorb from their competitive engagement or enumerate the statistics that illustrate the correlation between sports participation and life success, but they are plentiful and overwhelmingly compelling, and why these advantages should be conferred mostly to men in the 21st century in America, confounds me.
And now, we have the newest example, much more public, thank goodness, than my daughter's experience, but much, much more deeply troubling. University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach Shannon Miller, who's spent the past sixteen years building her program into a nationally ranked one, is leaving her position, forced out by an administration that cannot get its act together to follow federal law. The university is claiming budget constraints, but an examination of the details suggests otherwise.
What is it about our collective attitude to our nation's colleges and universities that, more than forty years into the Title IX era, we still allow these premier programs to give our women's athletic programs such short shrift, we still ignore the reality that our tax dollars help fund these educational institutions and we still tolerate such egregious behavior? Why is it so hard to do the right thing, to provide every student athlete with parallel opportunities, to reward success equitably, to cheer every team on with vigor and respect?
Why are we are more wedded to the status quo than fairness? Our universities aren't going to change unless we demand change. And maybe merely voicing our concern isn't enough.
What are we waiting for? Here's my suggestion: let's put our money where it can make a difference to our daughters. Any financial gift you make to your child's college, regardless of amount, tie it to an explicit expectation that all women's sports programs will be treated commensurately with the existing men's programs. Ask for proof from the administration, and verify with the athletes. They may not be speaking up, thinking no one cares, but if you ask, they'll discover that's not the case. Imagine the lesson you'll be teaching them. I sure wish I had asked my daughter when she was in college about her experience. A missed opportunity for her and her team, but, if parents get in the money game, maybe future female college athletes will benefit.
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1sYyTH9
via basketball stream live
My daughter, a recent college graduate recruited to play Division I women's soccer, recently revealed to me the existence of a funding gap between her team and the school's sole men's DI program. Her school is small, so there's no big money to drive decision-making, but still, it appears the teams aren't treated the same. The women receive one pair of cleats for the entire season (August to April), two pairs of practice gear, including socks, shorts and shirts, and a pair of shin guards every other year. Come game time, they are issued socks and uniforms to use for the day. At season-end, the program reclaims these items. The men's game day jerseys carry each player's name, which means they get to keep their jerseys and don't have to share game day gear. In addition, even accounting for the fact that the men's season is longer and their sports equipment more expensive, some details don't quite add up. I wonder, for example, about the discrepancy in travel per diems for the two teams and the more generous budget for the men's gear and equipment needs. These details may seem minor, but they rankle.
I hadn't heard until last week my daughter's lament of what transpired her junior year, when her team reached the NCAA tournament, playing their first round game in slushy ice and snow on a field that was running with water, with cleats that had no spikes. Why no spikes? Because the school never provided them. Imagine having achieved your goal of making it for the first time ever to the NCAA tournament, and your school not taking care of you in such an easy, fundamental way. Imagine all the work that you've put in, only to have to start from such an easily addressed disadvantage.
I am not one to cry over spilt milk or to make excuses for poor performance, but when I hear stories like this, I see red. What is it about our culture that repeatedly justifies and allows sports administrators to focus on the men and the money and forget about the educational experience they are bound, legally, to provide -- equal access to a high quality education? I won't detail here the lessons that athletes absorb from their competitive engagement or enumerate the statistics that illustrate the correlation between sports participation and life success, but they are plentiful and overwhelmingly compelling, and why these advantages should be conferred mostly to men in the 21st century in America, confounds me.
And now, we have the newest example, much more public, thank goodness, than my daughter's experience, but much, much more deeply troubling. University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach Shannon Miller, who's spent the past sixteen years building her program into a nationally ranked one, is leaving her position, forced out by an administration that cannot get its act together to follow federal law. The university is claiming budget constraints, but an examination of the details suggests otherwise.
What is it about our collective attitude to our nation's colleges and universities that, more than forty years into the Title IX era, we still allow these premier programs to give our women's athletic programs such short shrift, we still ignore the reality that our tax dollars help fund these educational institutions and we still tolerate such egregious behavior? Why is it so hard to do the right thing, to provide every student athlete with parallel opportunities, to reward success equitably, to cheer every team on with vigor and respect?
Why are we are more wedded to the status quo than fairness? Our universities aren't going to change unless we demand change. And maybe merely voicing our concern isn't enough.
What are we waiting for? Here's my suggestion: let's put our money where it can make a difference to our daughters. Any financial gift you make to your child's college, regardless of amount, tie it to an explicit expectation that all women's sports programs will be treated commensurately with the existing men's programs. Ask for proof from the administration, and verify with the athletes. They may not be speaking up, thinking no one cares, but if you ask, they'll discover that's not the case. Imagine the lesson you'll be teaching them. I sure wish I had asked my daughter when she was in college about her experience. A missed opportunity for her and her team, but, if parents get in the money game, maybe future female college athletes will benefit.
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1sYyTH9
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basketball stream live 29 Things Stephen Curry Can Do With A Basketball That You Can't
basketball stream live Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is one of the best players in the NBA. In fact, by some fancy statistical measures, he's the very best. But what makes Curry so special is that he can be so statistically dominant while truly amazing you.
Like he does here:
Curry is so good he doesn’t even need to watch his shots go in.
And he's really good at making people look like fools.
We aren't joking.
He can even make the best point guards in the league look silly.
Poor Steve Nash, for example.
Big men aren’t safe from Curry's wrath either.
Nor are the best teams.
In fact, Stephen Curry can still do Stephen Curry things even when the entire opposing team is made of some of the best players in the world.
That's because he's never afraid, particularly when it comes to shooting.
Seriously, the guy could shoot at any moment from anywhere in the world.
Honestly, it can be difficult to tell what he’s going to do next.
And if you stop paying attention for even a second, you might miss something great.
Or you might lose track of the ball.
Or you might fall over.
A lot of people fall over.
You thought we were exaggerating?
It just seems really hard to defend Stephen Curry.
Sometimes you just feel bad for the guys who have to try.
How does he contort his body like that? Nobody knows.
Did you even see what he did there?
Or there?
Most players are really good at dribbling or shooting. But Curry is good at both.
He can even make the best of a bad situation.
See what we mean?
Curry’s play is so contagious, even his center gets in on the fun.
Oh, you thought he could only shoot with his right hand?
Sometimes, when you’re Stephen Curry, you just have to give yourself a challenge.
Because, basically, Stephen Curry can do anything.
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1Be5Hwd
via basketball stream live
Like he does here:
Curry is so good he doesn’t even need to watch his shots go in.
And he's really good at making people look like fools.
We aren't joking.
He can even make the best point guards in the league look silly.
Poor Steve Nash, for example.
Big men aren’t safe from Curry's wrath either.
Nor are the best teams.
In fact, Stephen Curry can still do Stephen Curry things even when the entire opposing team is made of some of the best players in the world.
That's because he's never afraid, particularly when it comes to shooting.
Seriously, the guy could shoot at any moment from anywhere in the world.
Honestly, it can be difficult to tell what he’s going to do next.
And if you stop paying attention for even a second, you might miss something great.
Or you might lose track of the ball.
Or you might fall over.
A lot of people fall over.
You thought we were exaggerating?
It just seems really hard to defend Stephen Curry.
Sometimes you just feel bad for the guys who have to try.
How does he contort his body like that? Nobody knows.
Did you even see what he did there?
Or there?
Most players are really good at dribbling or shooting. But Curry is good at both.
He can even make the best of a bad situation.
See what we mean?
Curry’s play is so contagious, even his center gets in on the fun.
Oh, you thought he could only shoot with his right hand?
Sometimes, when you’re Stephen Curry, you just have to give yourself a challenge.
Because, basically, Stephen Curry can do anything.
from Sports - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1Be5Hwd
via basketball stream live
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