With a heavy heart and much sadness – I am saying goodbye to NBALOUD after two years of writing for this wonderful space. Firstly, I would like to thank the Orble admin guys for putting in the work for NBALOUD, and without you, all of this wouldn’t be possible. Writing about a sport I loved so much proved to be of great catharsis – a wonderful escape from the rest of my life. It truly was a great two years.
I have loved the sport of basketball and this space with a passion. Hopefully, some of my enthusiasm has rubbed off on some of you readers because basketball truly is a great sport.
Sadly, my time is up, for I am unable to dedicate the time and effort necessary to live up to the high standards that I demand from myself. Real life sometimes makes an intrusion to our cyber entities, and I am no exception. The demands of studying law and gaining a new journalism job in an actual magazine have made writing for this page impossible.
However, never fear, Sports Insider and Spennies will more than make up for my absence. Please, give them your support.
Although, I may not be able to write for NBALOUD anymore, you can be sure I’ll still make regular visits.
Whoa, Nelly! What an exhibition of basketball talent this year’s All-Star Game was – it was a mid-season classic in every sense of the word. The Eastern
Is it a bird? Or a plane? No, it's Super-Dwight! (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Conference All-Stars pipped their more illustrious Western Conference brethren, 134-128.
Not only were the East, beasts, but they outperformed their opponents in every facet of the game – from the fundamentals to the highlights. It was an experience to savour.
As exciting as the game was – the conclusion was something else, as LeBron James went Scarface on the West. Reminiscent of his destruction of the Detroit Pistons from a season ago, King James literally rose up to the heavens in the final minute and finished with a dunk that was of such viciousness – Hell has frozen over. To cap off his final minute heroics, Bron-Bron added 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
James got a lot of help from Boston’s Ray Allen, who was a last minute inclusion to the All-Star proceedings, and didn’t he earn it with a 28 point performance? It was an almost inconceivable injustice that Ray-Ray was originally overlooked for the game when his other gangsta teammates were selected.
With today’s exciting victory, the East went a long way in erasing the pasting they got last season when the West beat them handsomely, 153-132.
Do we need to state the bleeding obvious at who received the game MVP nod? Does it need to be spelled out for the world to see? Well, if you do deem it necessary: Gimme an L-E-B-R-O-N…what does it spell? Tuna? No, LeBron!
Although, today’s game was the jewel in the All-Star Weekend crown, Saturday night was also pretty righteous with the skills, 3-point, and dunk competitions to wet the whistles of NBA fanatics.
Starting off with the skills, Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz was the fastest man around the obstacle course, while Jason Kapono showed everyone that he was the fastest gun in the, er, West? Well, let’s stick with that and move along shall we? Jason Kapono was the silkiest shooter when he tied a 22 year old record by scoring 25 points in the final round of the 3-point contest.
However, it is dunks that you’re all interested in – and this year’s contest didn’t disappoint. Continuing with a mini revival of the dunk contest, this year’s version was no exception in the display of innovation from the competitors. Writing a description on each individual dunk would not do the players justice. So, in summary: Dwight Howard won it all – gaining some justice when he was robbed of the title last year.
It’s almost a given that those in entertainment circles want to be athletes; while sportspeople harbour dreams to be performers. So, it is no surprise that the
Who wouldn't want to be bossed around by Alyssa Milano? (Image from cnnsi.com)
kick-off to All-Star festivities sees the twin concepts of sports and celebrity join forces in a star-studded spectacular.
The 2008 All-Star Celebrity game features musicians, actors and actual, for real basketball players, in a game of hoops shoot and giggles.
If past celebrity outings are anything to go by – expect some laughably sub-par basketball, but the occasional unexpected surprise that some of the more famous can actually ball. I mean, who would have thought that Steve Urkel is a great baller? And he is!
So, here is the line-up for this year’s All-Star Celebrity game:
NEW ORLEANS TEAM
Ne-Yo (2008 Grammy for Best Contemp. Album)
Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights)
Taylor Hicks (2006 American Idol Winner)
Seth Gilliam (The Wire)
James Lafferty (One Tree Hill)
Master P (Hip-hop Artist)
Ruth Riley (WNBA All-Star, San Antonio Silver Stars)
AJ Calloway (Extra)
Coach: Gabrielle Union, (Starship Dave)
General Manager: Stephen A. Smith (ESPN)
HORNETS TEAM
Chris Tucker (Rush Hour 3)
Common (2008 Grammy for Best Rap Perf. By a Duo or Group)
James Kyson Lee (Heroes)
Josh Peck (Drake and Josh)
Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris)
Deion Sanders (Two-Time Super Bowl Champion)
Swin Cash (WNBA All-Star, Detroit Shock)
Tony Potts (Access Hollywood)
Coach: Alyssa Milano, (Wisegal, Touch clothing)
General Manager: Bill Walton (NBA Legend and ESPN Analyst)
(Source: NBA.com)
Today’s video is of the Toronto Raptors showing how good he’ll be during this year’s 3-point contest.
First, it was Pau Gasol, then Shaq, and now it’s Jason Kidd who is
Jason Kidd returns to Dallas with intent. (Photo by Ray Amati/NBAE via Getty Images)
heading to new digs – and to a Western Conference powerhouse no less. According to league sources, Kidd will now head back to the Dallas Mavericks, his original NBA home when he first turned pro.
Mark Cuban, who has been apparently been mulling a trade for Kidd in recent weeks, finally pulled the trigger, sacrificing some of his young guns for immediate success. Dallas will have to give up Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, DaSagna Diop, Maurice Ager and $3 million to New Jersey. Needless, to say the Mavs are giving up a lot in order to chase a championship in an increasingly talented conference.
Everyone by now must have heard that the biggest man in the NBA is
Yes, Shaq, you're now a Sun, but what about the Heat? Won't anyone think of Miami?!?!?! (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
now a Phoenix Sun? Outside the celebratory slap on the back and whooping – one thing was failed to be addressed with the trade of Shaquille O’Neal: What is going to happen with the Miami/Atlanta replay?
Due to an error made by a Hawks official, Atlanta and Miami have to replay the final minute of their December 19 game. Anyone who is aware of this news would realise that Shaq is a central figure with the shenanigans of the night, because he was the one that was incorrectly fouled out of the game.
Argh! The 'joys' of moving into a completely new place. Trying to get a phone line, let alone broadband connection is a two week process. Furthermore, being back at work and balancing a social life doesn't help matters at all.
So, as a bailout, here is a NBA N00b, Jamario Moon, the man with the mad hops giving us a preview of what to expect in a couple of weeks time in Nawlins. Enjoy.
Did anyone watch the Portland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks over the weekend? If you did happen to catch that game, you would have seen an exciting contest, and the Knicks actually playing great basketball. Huzzah!
Coincidentally enough, New York were missing a number of key players including, Stephon
Where is the love in New York asks Channing? (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
Marbury from the lineup, and here is the rub: the Knicks played some great basketball.
LeBron James beating the Trail Blazers today with this game basket. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Er, remember the time back in the day when the clutch abilities of LeBron James was constantly questioned, including this space? Well, if you haven’t checked into the NBA lately, things have most definitely changed towards the direction of the King.
Cristiano Ronaldo does it, and apparently, so does Tony Parker: they both get to have relations with some hot women. Oh, wait, they also allegedly fake it, or they like to “simulate” if you’re searching for another term. Yes, not only are Ronaldo and Parker world class athletes, but apparently athletic thespians as well.
The Manchester United winger is a well known actor, but Tony Parker? He’s French! They
Tony Parker is acting like he is sitting on a chair. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
don’t just roll over and surrender! Do they? According to Eva Longoria, who is married to Parker, he often fakes injuries and milks fouls to get more sympathy from officials. This has led to Longoria being confused as to whether or not her hubby is really hurt when on-court, whilst doing the Frenchman no favours in the eyes of NBA refs.
um, do the wizards realise that they're allowed to have goalkeepers on the field? just checking since the world game is a bit confusing to americans haha.
interesting that you should use a public forum to declare your intention of not wanting to fall in love. it isn't a knock on you by any means, but us men are trained to believe in the opposite of the utterances of a female.
during periods of singledom we all have made similar statements to yours. i know i have, but using myself as a test case, deep down i wanted to fall in love because i knew what that felt like to be crazy about someone and have that person feel the same.
i don't doubt your sincerity in being happy single, but there surely must be moments when you wish you had someone to enjoy moments of comfortable silences? someone to text you that they're thinking about you?
humans are social creatures and want to be loved. even during times when they say they don't want to.
ah the human fallacy in which we think we can control our own desires. yes, it is true that an ex is an ex for a reason, but surely you must have found this person attractive once, no? also, we're all sexual beings and if the mood strikes us, we'd go home with gardening tools. how many one night stands have we regretted?
there is no rhyme or reason to our behaviour because we're animals, and engaging in awkward sexual trysts is a hallmark of our baser instincts.
i say we should just embrace it! love the one you're with!
ms. parker is indeed an impressive basketball player. i don't want to get into the debate whether or not women should play in the nba, but i do have an appreciation for the wnba. in fact whenever i can i watch it because i am a hoops junkie.
the skill set of the women are unbelievable and i am always impressed at their abilities. although, i do think, parker is the best female player in the world, i do have a soft spot for lauren jackson because she is australian.
i've officiated in games before and i do have an appreciation for the job. however, it is an imperfect science and making split second decisions without the benefit of replay is exceedingly difficult - and i did this in amateur games. imagine what it would be like being in the pros?
that being said, there have been some awful ones and that brent barry one was pretty bad. if it was kobe shooting that basket you can bet your ass that it would have been called. the lakers have had some good runs though in officiating, most notably against sac-townin the early 2002 when the kings were robbed in game 6.
still, bad calls do have a place - fans always remember the times when they were robbed, rather than the wins.
hey there travis! i'm stan the former writer for this space and i just wanted to thank you for writing for nbaloud! i was getting a tad bit concerned that it was just going to die but am relieved that you're here.
i've read all of your posts and love them.
the paul pierce controversy is an interesting one. as much as he is respected, i don't think he gets a fair shake. there is still a lot of residue when he was stabbed a few years back.
i have also debated kobe's mvp award and being a point guard, i have a soft spot for the little man so my vote would have gone to chris paul. objectively looking at things though, kobe should have been the choice because the lakers weren't seen to be a great team and i myself ripped them before the season started. kobe has made his team better and has finally become the leader the lakers needed. he deserves it.
anyway, stoked that you're on board and will be visiting very regularly once again.
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on Beckham scores 70-yard goal