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Jimmy Traina at SI.com’s Hot Clicks and Larry Brown of LarryBrownSports.com have the details on an unfortunate oversight during the Los Angeles Lakers ring ceremony Tuesday night.
(Standing next to Kareem a hazard when getting your bling)
As Laker staffers were being announced to the Staples Center crowd - and a national television audience - one team official was completely skipped. Read more…
Today the Lakers announced that Magic Johnson was selling his 4.5% ownership stake in the franchise.
(If Magic Joins Pistons, Izzo’s down)
Johnson has owned shares of the team for over 10 years, so why is he formally breaking from the only NBA team he’s ever been associated with?
Three months ago Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com reported that Johnson had been part of a group that had recently attempted to buy the Golden State Warriors. That opportunity fell through, but had Johnson’s partners been able to secure ownership of the team, Howard-Cooper reported, “Johnson would have sold what is believed to be a five-percent stake in the Lakers for a larger, but unknown portion, in Golden State.”
Johnson also made it known on the record at that time that he was very interested in joining the Detroit Pistons organization if it meant a significant front office position combined with a possible ownership stake. (The Pistons are up for sale by Karen Davidson, wife of the late Bill Davidson.)
Here’s Johnson back in August on the opportunity to return to his home state to help oversee the Pistons: Read more…
As we’ve chronicled here, it was an eventful summer for Matt Barnes.
During a summer league game in San Francisco in August, Barnes slapped an opposing coach - an offense he later acknowledged but did not apologize for.
Then last month, Barnes was arrested in Sacramento and charged with felony domestic assault after an altercation with his former fiancee Gloria Govan. Barnes is scheduled to appear in court about the case on Oct. 18.
So with that going for him, along with his previous reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the NBA, the Lakers shouldn’t have been surprised at Barnes forcefully throwing an opponent directly on top of a Laker Girl cheerleader during a preseason game in Vegas this week.
Read more…
Kevin Ding of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER recently reported on the longest shot likely to be attempted by a Laker this season.
(Doesn’t dude know what this could do to his rap career?)
No, not Kobe launching a last second three-ball against the Raptors.
Ding noted from Lakers training camp on Saturday that Ron Artest is claiming he’s officially quit alcohol and marijuana for the season, if not permanently.
Matt Barnes was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Sacramento and charged with felony domestic assault after an altercation with his former fiancee and current live-in girlfriend Gloria Govan.
After his arrest, Barnes sent a text to ABC affiliate News 10 in Sacramento that read, “U know any domestic violence situation 9 outa 10 times the man gets arrested. That’s the case here I was the victim but still got arrested. No matter what I say people are gonna think what they want…”
More from News 10:
Deputies responded to a 911 call from the home on the 8100 block of Sunset Avenue in Fair Oaks around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Curran said.
Investigators determined the two had been involved in a “physical confrontation” and that Barnes prevented the woman from talking with 911 operators, Curran said.
Both Barnes and the woman had visible injuries, according to the deputies.
Barnes was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on the felony charges of domestic violence and maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line, Curran said.
Barnes will be arraigned Monday after posting $50,000 bond on Wednesday night. Read more…
Many moons ago Lakers’ 2010 second-round draft pick Derrick Caracter, a 6-9, 280-poundish power forward, was the top-rated high school basketball prospect in the country. But the trappings of fame apparently swallowed up Caracter, who authored an uneventful college career at Louisville and UTEP. (Actually, he swallowed it.)
(Caracter: Fades of Benoit Benjamin)
Caracter, who played well above 300 pounds in college, ballooned as high as 320 before he was signed by IMG before the NBA draft and put through an eight-week workout ringer. Thanks to a Star Jones-esque (though non-surgical) transformation, he was taken 58th overall by the Lakers. Even then, Caracter needed a strong summer league to earn himself a two-year contract with the club worth $473,000 the first season.
Then there’s the weighty matter of Caracter actually guaranteeing half of that cash. Read more…
L.A.-area congresswoman Grace Napolitano is the sponsor of a federal bill (HR 2531) which aims to establish a law that “provides for comprehensive school mental health programs that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and age appropriate.”
(Of course he is)
Introduced well over a year ago, the bill hasn’t gotten much traction since being referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
That lack of political action apparently is what led to Ron Artest’s first post-championship endorsement deal. (Sorry Wheaties!)
Read more…
Lakers Owner Jerry Buss to the ASSOCIATED PRESS this week:
(Okay, you can stay)
“Some time ago, talking to some people, they wanted a bonus if the Lakers made the playoffs. I said, `Bonus? If we don’t make the playoffs, you don’t work here anymore.”’
Buss also opined on the derision borne of LeBron James‘ recent decision:
Given the devastating affect James’ decision had on the team and the city, Buss had “mixed emotions” about James’ departure and felt he “let down a lot of people and it seemed kind of sad.”
More snips: Read more…
Heres a couple photos sent to me by a reader today:
(Full size version of photo here)
The photos include NBA players Kareem Rush, Richard Jefferson, former Univ. of Missouri basketball player and son of Nuggets Owner Josh Kroenke and Luke Walton and two other men sharing a drink and a banana boat.
The photos were taken on a cruise earlier this summer. Read more…
Fansnap.com reports from the bleeding edge of insanity ticketing technology that the average ticket price for the Miami Heat home opener against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 29 is $805:
