Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basketball. Show all posts

January 24, 2016

Israelis Upset By NBA Cavaliers Coach Firing



In this Nov. 2, 2015, AP photo, Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt pats LeBron James on the chest at the end of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia. James’ calculating image wasn’t helped when the Cavaliers stunningly fired Blatt on Friday, Jan. 22, despite Blatt leading the team to the NBA Finals last season and an Eastern Conference-best 30-11 record this season. James has played for three coaches during his two stints in Cleveland.
(AP Photo/Michael Perez, File)

Israelis on Sunday harshly criticised the firing of local hero David Blatt as coach of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, calling him the victim of superstar LeBron James's influence over the team.
One sports commentator even compared Israelis' hate of James to their hate of Islamist movement Hamas, while insulting and racist comments written in Hebrew littered his Instagram account.
The 2014 hiring of Blatt, an Israeli citizen who led powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv to a European title, gave Israelis a jolt of pride. When the Cavaliers played in last year's NBA finals, many stayed up late to watch the games.
But a rift between Blatt and James, the Cavaliers' star player who many rank among the greatest ever, reportedly led to his downfall, with the team announcing Friday that they were firing him despite having one of the league's best records.
"LeBron James is now the most hated person in Israel," Sharon Davidovitch, a sports journalist for Israeli news site Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, told AFP.
He said the decision to move on from Blatt was correct since the players and coach apparently did not get along, but noted that Israeli fans were taking the decision hard.

http://news.yahoo.com/israelis-slam-hero-blatts-firing-cleveland-cavaliers-coach-000958408--nba.html

Israelis slam LeBron James over local hero Blatt's firing
By Mike Smith
Yahoo News
January 24, 2016

January 2, 2016

Two Harlem Globetrotters Pass Away



Meadowlark Lemon

[From article]
Basketball great Meadowlark Lemon passed away aged 83 at his Arizona home on Sunday.
He was one of the greatest and most popular to ever play the game despite never competing in the NBA and instead playing for the Harlem Globetrotters for all 24 years of his professional career.
He was known for making unbelievable half-court shots during games, some from behind his back without ever looking at the hoop.
In addition to his natural skills, he also had a funny side, and his antics during games and the pranks he would pull on opposing teams earned him the nickname 'Clown Prince'.
[. . .]
The advent of the civil rights and black power movements of the 1960s caused some to brand the Globetrotters as minstrel show stereotypes, with much of the criticism falling on Lemon.
'I'm an athlete but athletes are entertainers and entertainers can be comedians,' Lemon told the Los Angeles Times in 2004.
'I'm all of the above.'
Lemon left the Globetrotters in 1979 but returned for 50 games in 1994. He also started three comedy-basketball teams of his own over the years but none caught on like the Globetrotters.
[. . .]
In 2003 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, and cited for making significant contributions to the game.
Lemon was married twice and had 10 children. In 2015 his ex-wife, who he divorced in 1977, and 48-year-old son sued him for $250,000 in child support they said he did not pay.




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3376303/Meadowlark-Lemon-star-Harlem-Globetrotters-dies-83-report.html

Harlem Globetrotters 'Clown Prince' Meadowlark Lemon known for his jaw-dropping half-court shots and game pranks dies aged 83
Meadowlark Lemon passed away at his Arizona home on Sunday aged 83
Arguably the team's best loved player after playing 23 seasons
When he joined in 1954 the team competed against other major opponents, but after the NBA was formed switched to trick plays and antics
Lemon was known for his half-court hook shots and gags like chasing down referees and pouring buckets of glitter over referees' heads
Wilt Chamberlain called him the greatest player of all time
By Reuters
Daily Mail (UK)
Published: 08:24 EST, 28 December 2015 | Updated: 14:46 EST, 28 December 2015



* * *


Gentle giant: Holman's wife said he was peaceful off the court and he later went on to work as a counselor at a children's home.

[From article]
One of basketball's greatest entertainers, 'General' Lee Holman, has died aged 61.
The Harlem Globetrotter, who played for the exhibition team from 1976 to 1982, died on Christmas Day, his wife said.
Holman passed away two days before his former Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon, who died aged 83 on Sunday.
The General, who lived in South Carolina, was regarded as one of the team's great playmakers and was a leader on the court.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3379562/Gentle-giant-former-Harlem-Globetrotter-General-Lee-Holman-dies-aged-61-Christmas-Day.html

Gentle giant and former Harlem Globetrotter 'General' Lee Holman dies aged 61 on Christmas Day - the same week fellow team member Meadowlark Lemon died
'General' Lee Holman died on Christmas Day aged 61, his wife Loula said
Basketball great played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1976 to 1982
He was a leader on the court but a gentle giant back at home, Loula said
The 6ft 8ins star died at hospital, surrounded by his friends and family
Former Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon also died this week, aged 83
By Ollie Gillman For Dailymail.com
Published: 18:27 EST, 30 December 2015 | Updated: 19:30 EST, 30 December 2015

March 2, 2015

Duke University Basketball Coach Suspends Player for Sexual Assault Allegations. First Dismissal in 35 Years



Rasheed Sulaimon was the first player Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski kicked off his team in 35 years.
Photo: AP
[From article]
The Duke Chronicle reported junior guard Rasheed Sulaimon, who became Mike Krzyzewski’s first dismissal in 35 years as coach when Sulaimon was booted from the Blue Devils in late January, twice has been accused of sexual assault — and the basketball program’s honchos knew about it since March 2014.
The report says two female students separately alleged — in front of groups of other students at campus retreats — that they were sexually assaulted by Sulaimon, a 20-year-old Houston native. Neither woman pursued a complaint with the Office of Student Conduct, according to the student newspaper. Because of confidentiality rules, it is unknown whether the university initiated its own probe if administrators became aware of an alleged sexual assault, as legally obligated by Title IX.

http://nypost.com/2015/03/02/coach-k-waited-10-months-to-boot-player-accused-of-2-sex-assaults-report/

Coach K waited 10 months to boot player accused of 2 sex assaults: report
By Jonathan Lehman
New York Post
March 2, 2015 | 9:55am

August 20, 2013

Miami Police Abuse Power For Basketball Player







http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/08/lebron-james-used-a-police-escort-to-beat-concert-traffic-in-miami/
LeBron James used a police escort to beat concert traffic in Miami

It’s good to be the King.
By NICK SCHWARTZ
August 17, 2013 at 1:10pm EDT

June 23, 2012

2012 NBA Playoffs Miami Wins Championship 4-1

NBA Final Playoffs

Tuesday June 12, 2012 9:00 PM ET
Miami Heat 94
Oklahoma Thunder 105 

Thursday June 14, 2012 9:00 PM ET

Miami Heat 100
Oklahoma Thunder 96

Sunday June 17, 2012 8:00 PM ET
Oklahoma Thunder 85
Miami Heat 91

Tuesday June 19, 2012 9:00 PM ET
Oklahoma Thunder 98
Miami Heat 104



Thursday June 21, 2012 9:00 PM ET
Oklahoma Thunder 106
Miami Heat 121 (Miami Wins Series 4-1)
* * *

NBA Semi Finals Playoffs

Miami Heat Won Eastern Conference series 4-3
Oklahoma City Thunder Won Western Conference series 4-2

Sunday May 27, 2012 9:00 PM ET
San Antonio Spurs 101 
Oklahoma City Thunder 98

Monday May 28, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Boston Celtics 79
Miami Heat 93 

Tuesday May 29, 2012 9:00 PM ET
Oklahoma City Thunder 111
San Antonio Spurs 120 

Wednesday May 30, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Boston Celtics 111
Miami Heat 115

Thursday May 31, 2012 9:00 PM ET
San Antonio Spurs 82
Oklahoma City Thunder 102

Friday June 1, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Miami Heat 91
Boston Celtics 101

Saturday June 2, 2012 9:00 PM ET
San Antonio Spurs 103
Oklahoma City Thunder 109

Sunday June 3, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Miami Heat 91
Boston Celtics 93 OT

Monday June 4, 2012 9:00 PM ET
Oklahoma City Thunder 108 
San Antonio Spurs 103

Tuesday June 5, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Boston Celtics 94  
Miami Heat 90

Wednesday June 6, 2012 9:00 PM ET
San Antonio Spurs 99
Oklahoma City Thunder 107 (Won Western Conference series 4-2)

Thursday June 7, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Miami Heat 98 
Boston Celtics 79

Saturday June 9, 2012 8:30 PM ET
Boston Celtics 88
Miami Heat 101   (Won Eastern Conference series tied 4-3)

October 24, 2010

US Education Czar Wants Volunteers

There you have it. It was Duncan's basketball experience at Harvard that led him to reforming education. Or is that where he learned what was needed to improve public school education--more money? Instead of urging students to challenge the government monopoly of public education and to challenge the abuses of teachers' unions that prevent schools from being improved; like the man who appointed him he wants more of the same. Obama did not bring hope and change he brought more of Chicago's corruption to DC, as if there was not enough criminals before he arrived. How many students at Phillips Brooks House know to ignore politicians who ask others to challenge the barriers to improvement instead of doing it themselves, what they are paid to do? Did anyone ask why there is a Department of Education in the US Government? Did anyone ask what it does besides taking taxpayer money and using it to manipulate cities and states for the benefit of the unions?


http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/10/18/duncan-service-students-education/

Arne Duncan Encourages Students to Serve
By Monika L. S. Robbins,
Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Published: Monday, October 18, 2010

January 22, 2010

White Entertainment Basketball?

White Entertainment Basketball?


http://www.ajc.com/news/whites-only-basketball-league-279688.html

‘Whites only' basketball league announced
By Mike Morris
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
January 22, 2010