'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 38

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Nuggets Question Integrity of Game 5
Did the Nuggets lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-94, or were they robbed by referees who gave favorable calls to a marquee franchise that pumps up television ratings? Does the league want to see superstar Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals rather than the tattooed bad boys of Denver?

In an accusation that goes straight to the heart of the sport's integrity, one member of the Nuggets shook his head in disgust after the game, and could not believe how cheap it was for Los Angeles to buy a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals. "The Lakers paid $50,000 to win that game. They got their money's worth," said a Denver player, not wanting to be identified for fear of retribution from the league. "I thought they got the benefit of the whistle," Denver coach George Karl said of the Lakers, suggesting the defense played by Los Angeles that held the Nuggets to 38.6 percent shooting from the floor was an illusion enhanced by how the refs influenced the game.

After the biggest playoff game in Denver pro basketball history ended in a disheartening loss, the angry whisper was that Jackson yanked the NBA with his trademark manipulative tactics, and the refs jumped like puppets on a string. Asked to comment on the referees, Nuggets veteran Kenyon Martin said he wouldn't be able to stop until his words resulted in a fine if he got started. "Don't let the league take your money," Denver teammate Chauncey Billups told Martin.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Jamaro Moon Uncertain of HEAT Return
Restricted free agent Jamario Moon said Tuesday that Heat officials told him ''they are really impressed with me,'' but haven't said if they will re-sign him -- that's in question because of the luxury tax.

Recovering from sports hernia surgery, Moon said he can resume playing in July.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Derrick Rose Tied to NCAA Probe
According to a document obtained by the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, the University of Memphis is responding to NCAA allegations that charge the men's basketball program with major violations, both of which seem to involve current Bull and Simeon grad Derrick Rose.

The player's name is blacked out in the report (a letter from the NCAA to Memphis dated Jan. 16, 2009), but the wording indicates that he only played in the 2007-08 season. Rose is the only Memphis player who meets that criteria.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_12466192

Kiszla: 50 grand buys a playoff win
In an accusation that goes straight to the heart of the sport's integrity, one member of the Nuggets shook his head in disgust after the game, and could not believe how cheap it was for Los Angeles to buy a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals. "The Lakers paid $50,000 to win that game. They got their money's worth," said a Denver player, not wanting to be identified for fear of retribution from the league.

The 16 field-goal attempts the Nuggets missed during the fourth quarter had much more to do with the defeat than any of the 30 personal fouls called against Denver by the referees.

Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson and the Lakers organization were fined $50,000 by the NBA for complaining about the calls in Game 4, won decisively by the upstart Nuggets. Asked prior to Game 5 if he was playing mind games and planting seeds, Jackson laughed and said: "I'm a gardener. I like planting seeds . . . constantly." That's so funny the league office should strongly consider fining Jackson again, for making light of how coaches can influence the calls made by referees.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Thunder to Consider Signing Birdman?
The Birdman will be a free agent as soon as his Denver Nuggets finish, in victory or defeat, their NBA playoff push. Should the Thunder make a play for Chris Andersen?

The Birdman, the 6-foot-10 flying cartoon character of a basketball player, was a Ford Center fan favorite for the first couple of months of the Hornets’ two-year stay in Oklahoma City, before the NBA banned him for drug use.

The Birdman is just what the Thunder needs, an interior defensive presence. But would Thunder general manager Sam Presti take a flier on Birdman? No. Presti would sign Andersen only after the most intense research into the Birdman’s rehabilitation.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketba ... 09.article

Bulls' Derrick Rose tied to NCAA probe of Memphis
According to a document obtained by the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, the University of Memphis is responding to NCAA allegations that charge the men's basketball program with major violations, both of which seem to involve current Bull and Simeon grad Derrick Rose.

The player's name is blacked out in the report (a letter from the NCAA to Memphis dated Jan. 16, 2009), but the wording indicates that he only played in the 2007-08 season. Rose is the only Memphis player who meets that criteria.

The exact wording is as follows: ''It is alleged that [blacked out] prospective men's basketball student-athlete failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standards of honesty and sportsmanship normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics for his knowing fraudulence or misconduct and administration of intercollegiate examination. Specifically, on [blacked out] an unknown individual completed [blacked out] SAT, with [blacked out] knowledge, which was used to obtain his admission into the institution and to certify his NCAA eligibility. [Blacked out] subsequently competed for the men's basketball team through the 2007-08 season, which included his participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.''

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Jazz Must Take Risks in Offseason Moves
If he does shrink, if he embraces the status quo or fumbles around, and the record shows it could go either way, he'll do more than lose games and ground against the West. He'll lose credibility with the people who matter most --his customers, his team's fans.

[nasty daddy]

http://newsok.com/will-birdman-fly-sout ... tory_title

Andersen is the new Dennis Rodman. The young Dennis Rodman. Rodman eventually became a kook and more trouble than he was worth, but the early Rodman was a wonderful, unique player.

Rodman averaged 9.0 and 8.8 points and 9.4 and 9.7 rebounds in Detroit’s two championship years, 1988-89 and 1989-90. He was a rebounding demon who played defense and didn’t care if he shot or not, but shot a high percentage when he did. All of which made him a rare NBA player.

Just like Birdman, who is like Rodman in that there’s really no one else like him in the NBA, a player who does one thing better than anyone else in the league and does all the grunt work well. You win titles with players like that.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Do Suns Have Interest in Tyson Chandler?
If Tyson Chandler was on the market in February, wouldn't he be on it again now and wouldn't the Suns have an interest given the type of pick-and-roll defenders they want in that role? He was Bill Cartwright's rising rookie in Chicago. The hang-ups with Chandler for the Suns would be his toe that caused the February deal with Oklahoma City to be rescinded, taking a player with two contract years remaining ($11.85M this season and $12.75 player option for next season) and making a deal that New Orleans would want. The Hornets were looking to cut payroll last time but would adding Shaquille O'Neal in his former college state add intrigue?

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Walton on Odom: Back's Been Killing Him
"I don't care what he says," Luke Walton told the media after the game, "his back his been killing him. Tonight, though, LO overcame the pain and was a monster contributor for the Lakers.

(Said Odom) "I just looked it. I had to suck it up. Couldn't pick the paper up anymore. Didn't want to answer the phone. Couldn't watch ESPN. Couldn't watch TV for a little bit, right? I took it like a man. I just had to. This is my tenth season. Game 6. I haven't been playing well. My back's just to the wall. Put my focus cap on, came out and just went after it."

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Mike James Picks Up His Player Option
Washington Wizards guard Mike James has picked up his player option for the 2009-10 season, agent Bernie Lee just informed me.

James will earn $6.7 million this season. Because it is the final year of his contract, he could very well be included in a package should Wizards try to deal their fifth overall pick in next month's draft.

"Mike greatly enjoyed his time in Washington after the trade in December of last year," said Lee. "The trade was exactly the re-energization that Mike's career needed, and with a summer of preparation and a full training camp, Mike looks forward to an even better season next year, filling whatever role Flip Saunders asks of him."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/playoffs2009/05 ... index.html

Game 4 of Magic-Cavs series sets cable TV record
TNT's exclusive coverage of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference finals Game 4 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic on Tuesday, May 26, set a record as the most watched NBA Playoff game in cable television history in total viewers (10,075,000). The previous record was held by ESPN's Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Game 4 in the 2009 NBA Western Conference finals with 9,883,000 total viewers.

Game 4 garnered a 6.3 US HH (household) rating, marking the highest rated game of the 2009 NBA Playoffs on broadcast or cable to date, as well as the most watched game on broadcast or cable to date. The Orlando Magic won 116-114 in overtime over the Cleveland Cavaliers to lead the series 3-1. Through the first four games of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference finals of the Magic-Cavaliers, TNT is averaging a 5.2 US HH rating, up 27% over last year's Western Conference finals (San Antonio Spurs/L.A. Lakers) on TNT (4.1 US HH rating for four games) and 8,355,000 total viewers, up 34% (6,213,000). TNT is up 30% over last year's Eastern Conference finals (Detroit Pistons/ Boston Celtics) on ESPN (4.0 US HH rating for four games) and up 41% in total viewers (5,940,000).

In addition, TNT has seen significant growth in households and all key demos for four games of its Eastern Conference Finals coverage, including:
HH* +28% (5,942,000 vs.4,629,000)
A18-34 +41% (2,565,000 vs. 1,816,000)
A18-49 +36% (4,738,000 vs.3,477,000)
A25-54 +35% (4,477,000 vs.3,331,000)
M18-34 +39% (1,766,000 vs.1,269,000)
M18-49 +35% (3,205,000 vs.2,376,000)
M25-54 +35% (2,997,000 vs.2,228,000)
* - Households
Through Tuesday, May 26, the 2009 NBA Playoffs on TNT are averaging a 2.9 US HH rating for 41 games, up 12% over last year (2.6 for 40 games) and 4,484,000 total viewers, up 20% over last year (3,735,000). The NBA Playoffs on TNT are up double-digits in households and all key demos:
HH* +16% (3,356,000 vs. 2,892,000)
A18-34 +16% (1,396,000 vs. 1,201,000)
A18-49 +16% (2,593,000 vs. 2,211,000)
A25-54 +19% (2,400,000 vs.2,018,000)
M18-34 +10% (994,000 vs.902,000)
M18-49 +13% (1,804,000 vs. 1,596,000)
M25-54 +18% (1,679,000 vs. 1,422,000)
* - Households

[nasty daddy]

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700037835

Van Gundy was pleased that Howard's Game 4 technical was rescinded by the NBA. Howard now has five postseason techs on his ledger. Seven gets a player a one-game suspension. Van Gundy thinks the officials are keeping a close eye on Howard in the Playoffs. "I thought it was a tough call anyway," Van Gundy said. "I was hoping the would rescind the one in Game 3. He's sort of a marked man right now when it comes to stuff like that. "The play from the last game [Anderson] Varejao hit him hard up around the shoulders and [Dwight] was able to get the ball in the basket and he got excited about it and they called a technical on him."

Still Van Gundy thinks Howard has to watch his Ps & Qs to avoid more Ts. "I don't know if it's a matter of playing looser," Van Gundy said. "He's got to control what he says to the referees anyway. They try very hard to bait him into altercations and double technicals and stuff to their benefit. He has to keep himself under control in those situations. "But that doesn't have anything to do with the plays between the lines."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/05/28/ref. ... index.html

NBA official Violet Palmer to work with college refs
Violet Palmer will become coordinator of women's basketball officials for the West Coast Conference and continue to officiate in the NBA, where she has worked for 12 seasons.

Palmer became the first woman to officiate a major U.S. professional sport when she made her NBA debut on Oct. 31, 1997. She has spent the last 12 seasons in the NBA, and officiated four playoff games and more than 700 regular season games. She also worked in the CBA and WNBA.

Before working in pro basketball, Palmer spent nine seasons officiating in the women's college ranks. She worked five NCAA women's Final Fours, and officiated in the West Coast Conference, Pac-10, WAC, Big Sky and Big West.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090528/S ... no+respect

Pistons
• I think Pistons fans will appreciate this editorial cartoon starring LeBron James and one of his biggest admirers.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090528/S ... no+respect

• Hey! Someone out there sees a scenario where the Pistons land James or Dwyane Wade in the summer of 2010.

[nasty daddy]

http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

•Chad Ford (Insider) with a funny note from the pre-draft combine in Chicago: "A number of NBA executives were comparing notes on interviews late Wednesday night. They were getting chuckles over what seemed to be some serious over-coaching by players' agents. Many agents hire media coaches to help players prepare for interviews. A few executives noted that players represented by the same agent were giving identical answers to questions. My favorite? 'What are your hobbies?' Their answer? 'My hobby is doing community service. That's what I like to do in my spare time.'" Media coaching, to me, is not at all giving people lines to memorize. Can't just about everyone see through that? Oh really, you've been passionate about community service your whole life? I notice very few teenagers are like that, and you haven't done much of it. Real media coaching is getting people to be relaxed, engaging and at their smartest even in the high-pressure situations. Trying to recite lines is like the opposite of that.

[nasty daddy]

http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

•John Salley asked about rough play, by Ariel Herwani of Fanhouse, while with the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons: "(Laughs) I didn't do anything dirty. I'm a clean player (laughs). I never did anything; it wasn't me; I wasn't there; I don't know what you are talking about (laughs)." Salley also says the entire nation has gone soft. Which, of course, is total bunk. (I know he's not talking to Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq, and I know their toughness didn't come from a uniform.) Except ... am I the only guy who thinks it's odd that at some point it became considered gross to sweat while playing basketball? Seriously, a huge chunk of players I know feel sweaty people ought to keep changing shirts so no one gets sweat upon. It's not a bad idea, and actually I do it ... but I'm just saying, when I was a teenager not in a million years did I imagine people playing basketball would be alarmed at the idea that they might get some sweat on them.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090528/S ... es+Pistons

Point guard draft prospect Eric Maynor likes Pistons
Count point guard prospect Eric Maynor as an admirer of the Pistons franchise. And while he has workouts and interviews scheduled with Golden State, Minnesota and Toronto, he said today during interviews at the NBA predraft combine that he will definitely fit in a trip to Detroit before June 25 -- the date of the draft. “I saw (Pistons coach) Mike Curry (Wednesday) and he asked was I coming up there,” said Maynor, who is projected to go in the first round. “I know I’m going up there, but I don’t know the exact date, though.”

Maynor stands 6-feet-3 and during a four-year career at Virginia Commonwealth he was known for making big shots -- including the winner in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Duke his sophomore season. The draft is loaded with point guards so if the Pistons want to go that route with the 15th pick of the first round, Maynor would appear to be a candidate.

And he broke down the situation in Detroit for me. “Honestly, it’ll all boil down to what trades are going to happen,” Maynor said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of change in there. “Mike Curry is a great guy, a great coach, but he just needs guys that are going to be committed to winning.”

[nasty daddy]

http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

•Dan Feldman of PistonPowered, with some real insight into the Allen Iverson/Rip Hamilton problem. It appears it was mainly a problem of both being good, but not together: "Pistons with Iverson and not Hamilton: 6-2 (.750, equivalent to 62 wins during a full season). Pistons with Hamilton and not Iverson: 14-7 (.667, 55 wins). Pistons with both: 18-28 (.391, 32 wins). Pistons with neither: 1-6 (.143, 12 wins)."