GM Dunleavy Fired; Are L.A. Clippers Positioning For LeBron James?

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Not even a month has transpired since Mike Dunleavy relieved himself of one of his Clippers positions. He stepped down as coach but stayed on as the team’s GM, hoping it would make matters better. It didn’t.The team didn’t pick up its play for interim coach Kim Hughes. They went from seven to 14 games under .500 after the switch and are no where near being respectable, never mind a playoff contender.

On Tuesday, via written statement the team announced it had severed ties with Dunleavy: “The Clippers want to win now,” read the team’s statement. “This transition, in full conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.

Yahoo! Sports reported on Wednesday that the team was informed after its 113-87 road loss in Orlando and Chris Kaman, the team’s center barely shrugged his shoulders.

Leaving aside the rampant speculation that with both coach and GM positions open the team is ripe for the picking, exactly who would want to pick it?

As Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote this morning, it won’t be above some to suggest that LeBron James could sweep into town, choose men to fill the jobs and make LA his personal playground.

The one position that isn’t open and still might be the stumbling block to making any changes to the team is that of owner. But at this point, without someone to blame, Donald Sterling might have left himself exposed to be named as the root of all that is problematic.

No one is left as a buffer. Gone since last year is Elgin Baylor, GM for decades who exited with sad stories to tell about what he characterized as racial discrimination and disrespect for his position. Dunleavy whose tenure with the team extends some seven seasons has been shown the door.

Will anything make a difference in what has been called the Clippers Curse? They have a basis for a good team n place despite Dunleavy’s trade deadline move to dump the league’s best rebounder, Marcus Camby.

To quote Hillel the Elder, if not now, when?

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

© 2010 Sports Climax^TM

LeBron Files For Uniform Number Change

It was reported that Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James filed the necessary paperwork to wear a uniform sporting the No. 6, foregoing the No. 23 that he has worn throughout his NBA career.

Here’s the wrinkle: he only has to ask permission if he stays with the same team. Should he move teams he picks whatever he wants when he reaches his destination.

The report noted that he wants to leave the No. 23 for Michael Jordan’s legacy but of course it fails to explain the timing of it all. So there’s that guessing game going on among Cavalier fans which I’m sure is fascinating.

But, as morning dawns in Los Angeles today, Lakers star Kobe Bryant has now heard the news, the man who switched his number from No. 8 to his old high school No. 24. And he did it after winning three NBA championships, long into his career.

Is he smiling, using that knowing grin he sports when something confirms what he thought would happen? Or is he shaking his head wondering what the heck he’s got to do to keep that distance himself from his fellow super star.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

The Pitiful New Jersey Nets

When is the last time we saw a team in the NBA nearly mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at All-Star break? With an embarrassing 4-48 record, the dreadful New Jersey Nets are almost there.

With 32 games left on their schedule and sitting about 22 games behind the No. 8 seed Miami Heat, the players should be considering dusting off their golf clubs and getting ready for summer.

Nothing like having a record-setting season including owning the worst start in NBA history. The Nets started out 0-16 then fired their head coach Lawrence Frank. That didn’t seem to help much as the team lost their next game to match the worst start in NBA history, 0-17.

Since then the team has continued to struggle to hit the net and have gone 4-31. Yeah I know, that’s about as bad as it can get . . . or is it?

Last night after a storm dumped more than a foot of snow on the Jersey area, only 1,016 fans were able to make it to the IZOD Center to watch their team hit just 39.2% of their shots from the field and drop another one into the loss column.

With just a few rows of seats occupied, the arena had the aura of a high school game being played in an NBA arena and the lack of performance by the Nets didn’t help the scenario much either.

Normally the Bitch-Slaps in this column contain a few backhanders and can be heard in the other room but not wanting to haul off and backhand a franchise when their asses are dragging this far down in the dirt, we’ll deliver a single open-handed SLAP!

And on a final note, hats off to those faithful fans for showing their support to the NBA’s most dreadful show on court.

NBA News: Oden Admits Taking Nude Photos, Crittenton’s Gun Plea

There are nude photos circulating on the Internet that purport to be taken by Greg Oden and feature the Portland Trailblazers’ injured star in all his manly glory.

When the photos first made their way into the media, Oden’s management company promised legal action against any sites that displayed the pictures. That made me think there was a pretty good chance they were real.

Since then, Oden has stepped up to the mic and apologized admitting the photos are of him and taken 1 1/2 years ago with his cell phone and sent to a former girlfriend. 

“I would like to apologize to everybody: Portland, the fans, the organization,” said Oden. ”It was very embarrassing.”

It appears to be another big week in NBA-land and we’re only a few days in. On Monday, Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton accepted a plea bargain in the gun case that surrounded the team and its star Gilbert Arenas.

Crittendon agreed to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of a firearm unlike Arenas who was tagged with a felony count and probable incarceration.

The case got interesting when it was revealed by Mike Wise of the Washington Post that Crittenton pulled out his own weapon in the team’s locker room in response to Arenas displaying four hand guns.

Wise reported that multiple sources told him Crittenton loaded the gun while engaging in banter with Arenas. But the prosecution’s court filing said they couldn’t confirm those facts. Thus, a judge agreed with the prosecution’s recommendation of one year unsupervised probation, a small fine and community service, specifically mentoring children in the District of Columbia.

The significant difference between the two situations that might have led authorities to recommend probation after a plea to one misdemeanor count rather than the harsher penalty for Arenas is Crittenton’s absence of prior gun offenses.

As was reported at the time of Arenas’ court appearance, he already had one strike against him on that front after a 2003 misdemeanor plea to gun possession in California. Crittenton might want to take note that the second time around, should there be one, will come with more than probation .

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles.

 

NBA Announces Starting All-Star Rosters

NEW YORK - The results of the fan balloting are in for the NBA All-Star game and this year like most other years reminds us how the best or most deserving players do not always make it to the game.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson was voted to start for the Eastern Conference alongside Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. Garnett has missed a good portion of the season and A.I. well, we know all about A.I.

He’s only played in 19 games and is having the worst season in his career averaging just 14.8 point a game for the 76ers.

“I just want to thank everybody for their support this season and it’s an honor that the fans have voted me into the All-Star Game as a starter,” said Iverson. “The fans are who make us and make the NBA so popular. This year is even more special because I’ll be representing a city and fans that I love and a team that has been such a big part of my life throughout my career.”

Other starters for the East are Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James.

James became the first player to obtain 2.5 million votes three times and will start for the East for the sixth time in his career.

“The fans still love and see what I do every night and they appreciate it, and I appreciate them for electing me as an All-Star starter,” said James. “It’s still special.”

Steve Nash and Tim Duncan also earned enough votes to gain starting positions for the Western Conference. They will be joined by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, Phoenix center Amare Stoudemire and Denver forward Carmelo Anthony.

The reserves will be chosen by votes from the head coaches in each conference and will be announced on Thursday.

The game will be played on Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium where a record crowd of 80,000 are expected to see the game.

Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax

NBA Player Arenas Pleads Guilty To Felony Gun Charge

WASHINGTON - Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty Friday for carrying a pistol without a license in D.C. That charge is a felony and the player awaits to see what effect the felony conviction will have on his personal life and NBA career.

In December, Arenas admitted to storing guns in his locker at the Verizon Center and an incident occurred with teammate Javaris Crittenton around that same time.

NBA commissioner David Stern has suspended Arenas indefinitely after the player made a sarcastic gun gesture before a game in Philadelphia while he was awaiting the investigation to be completed.

Arenas’ defense attorney Kenneth Wainstein said that prosecutors agreed not to seek a sentence longer than the low end of sentencing guidelines which indicates Arenas would spend no more than six months in jail.

The three-time All-Star said the guns were in his locker to keep them away from his children and went on to say he was not aware it was a violation of D.C.’s gun laws.

According to earlier reports, Arenas and Crittenton had an ongoing conflict concerning a gambling debt. Their dispute escalated to the point Arenas pulled the weapons out while in the locker room and displayed them for Crittenton to see. Some reports said Arena left a note that said, “Pick One” for his teammate to see.

If Arenas avoids jail, this incident and conviction is sure to jeopardize his NBA career at least in the short run. There is speculation that the Wizards may attempt to skate out of the $111 million contract they signed with Arenas recently.

Related Articles:

Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week Arenas & His Guns - Sports Climax

Stern Suspends Arenas Indefinitely - Sports Climax

Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax

NBA Commissioner Stern Suspends Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Arenas should stick to basketball and leave his comedy routine off the court because he and NBA Commissioner David Stern clearly have a different opinion on what is funny and what is not.

While on the court prior to a game in Philadelphia, Arenas pointed his fingers at his teammates like they were pistols, making reference to the attention that has been given to him since he pulled an unloaded weapon out of his locker during a dispute with another teammate.

That theatrical move raised a few eyebrows including Stern’s who took offense to the Washington Wizards players’ gun gestures and suspended the player indefinitely while the federal authorities continue to investigate the player for an incident involving gun possession.

Stern originally said he intended to wait for the federal and local investigations to be completed before taking action, and requested the Wizards organization to do the same. He suddenly changed his mind after the incident in Philadelphia and levied the suspension.

“The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us,” Stern said in a statement released by the league. “I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal investigation. For the same reason, I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action. Mr. Arenas’ ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.”

After hearing of the suspension, reality set in and Arenas was quick to apologize.

“While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humor showed terrible judgment. I take full responsibility for my conduct. Earlier today, I called Commissioner Stern to apologize, and I hope we will be able to talk soon.”

Related Articles:

ESPN - Arenas Suspended Indefinitely

Sports Climax - Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week Gilbert and His Gun

Copyright © 2010 – Sports Climax

Gilbert Arenas & His Gun

The Washington Wizards of the NBA recently awarded star player Gilbert Arenas with a $111 million contract, trusting and expecting the player to lead the team back into contention for an NBA title.

Instead, the troubled player has his team sitting in the cellar of the Southeast Division with a dismal 10-20 record, four teams away from the nearest playoff spot.

To make matters a whole lot worse, Arenas interviews this week will be including law enforcement officials.

The New York Post report that Arenas had a confrontation in the Wizards’ locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton that led to both players having guns in their hands has been confirmed by a league source. According to that source, the incident may have involved a debt of $25,000 that Arenas owed Crittenton.

NBA VP of communications Tim Frank released a statement Friday confirming that law enforcement is involved. “There is an active investigation by D.C. law enforcement authorities, which we are monitoring closely. We are not taking any independent action at this time.”

Anyone reading this must certainly be wondering what cave Arenas was hiding in during all the media coverage of the Plaxico Burress incident. How Plaxico, an NFL star, was charged with a felony, prosecuted and sentenced to serve time. How that series of events involving a handgun had squashed the man’s career and more importantly, his life.

Arenas certainly must know as much or more detail about the Plaxico event than most of us yet he still felt above the law, stored a weapon in his locker and made the decision to pull it out in view of others in the room.

Slllaaaaaaaappp!!!!!!

That was the sound of a Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week.

Sllaaaappp! And there’s another, your team isn’t called the Washington Bullets anymore!  (Washington changed the team name from the Bullets to the Wizards in 1997 because the owner didn’t like the violent overtones of the name ‘Bullets’.)

There comes a point and time where the general public, fans and the media stop feeling sorry for some of these players and this may be that time. If Arenas is found to have broken laws and is prosecuted for this asinine ordeal, the Wizards could come out big winners.

The first word you go to the team’s website is the word “character”. Imagine how much “character” the organization can buy with the $100 million of cash that would be freed up if Arenas ends up out of the league, down the same path as Plaxico.

Sllaapp! Had to throw an extra one in there on this one.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax

Ex-Con/NBA Ref Book Publication Cancelled

Random House has cancelled the publicationof ex-NBA referee and convict Tim Donaghy’s book, “Blowing the Whistle.”

The FBI investigation that rocked the NBA and sent Donaghy to prison found that he had acted alone yet Donaghy proclaims in his book that several referees were involved in side-betting before and during NBA contests.

Random House stated Donaghy can now shop for another home for his project but most expect that to be a difficult task for the convict who humiliated himself and the league since many readers may find it difficult to believe a man with Donaghy’s past.

Deadspin.com published several excerpts said to be from the book including this:

“To have a little fun at the expense of the worst troublemakers, the referees working the game would sometimes make a modest friendly wager amongst themselves: first ref to give one of the bad boys a technical foul wouldn’t have to tip the ball boy that night. In the NBA, ball boys set up the referees’ locker room and keep it stocked with food and beer for the postgame meal.

We usually ran the kid ragged with a variety of personal requests and then slipped him a $20 bill. Technically, the winner of the bet won twice - he didn’t have to pay the kid and he got to call a T on Mr. Foul-Mouthed Big-Shot Du Jour.

After the opening tip, it was hilarious as the three of us immediately focused our full attention on the intended victim, waiting for something, anything, to justify a technical foul. If the guy so much as looked at one of us and mumbled, we rang him up. Later in the referees’ locker room, we would down a couple of brews, eat some chicken wings, and laugh like hell.”

To see more from the Deadspin.com story, go here.

Related Articles:

Stern Spars With Whistle-Blowing Ref

NBA Refs Face Lockout-Will We Notice the Difference?

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

NBA Refs Face Lockout–Will We Notice the Difference?

CHICAGO - NBA referees let the league know what they thought of the latest contract offer when they voted 57-0 against it at their meeting in the Windy City Wednesday night.

That vote led to further discussions but after those hit a brick wall, the referees were sent home and both sides went to impasse.

NBA referees being sent home. What an awesome concept! How many times have we fantasized about that.

If this group of zebras are sent packing during the start of the season would we even notice the difference?

NBA refs have become notorious for calling fouls on anyone who gets within arm’s length of stars like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James and they appear willing to extend their summer to fight for their cause.

OK, the term ‘arm’s length’ is an exaggeration, well sort of; depends what tape or highlight reel you choose to look at and fighting for a cause is usually a strong, admirable characteristic depends on the details.

It appears the major disagreement stems around some retirement issues. I guess ex-referee and whistle-blower Tim Donaghy’s living conditions in jail are not quite up to par with the union’s idea of retirement. Donaghy is in jail where he belongs after fixing several NBA games over a several year period.

The performance of the zebras in all major sports have caused fans and media to scream “Fix!” but none as often as the NBA who many times end up with playoff match-ups that supply the best ratings.

After NFL referee Ed Hochuli blew a call in the final seconds of a game last year, he ‘manned up’ and admitted he made a mistake. When highlight reels are burning up the airways with questionable NBA calls that determine a crucial game’s outcome, the league’s officials and refs normally go about their business and withhold comments or admissions of any kind.

This same group of officials are certainly speaking out loud and clear now though; with that lopsided vote of 57-0.

Lead union negotiator Lamell McMorris sounded pessimistic concerning any quick resolution. “It looks like a lockout is both imminent and unavoidable,” McMorris said. “We have suspended dialogue again today. We’ve been in constant communication, but it’s not going to happen.” The union also presented a memo showing how statistically the number of fines and suspensions did increase the last time fill-in refs were used. 

“I am not optimistic,” lead NBA negotiator Rich Buchanan added.

A lockout appears likely at this point but how bad would the league and fans actually suffer with fill-in referees in NBA games? Would the quality of the officiating suffer or even be noticeable?

Before you answer, check out a last-minute Lebron gift granted by the referees, ponder it over a last-minute freebie handed to Dywane Wade then make your decision.

Other Stories:

NBA Refs Demonstrate Why a Lock-out Could Be Disastrous

NBA Ref Donaghy Indicted

NFL Ref Hochuli Admits Blowing Call Late in Game

Copyright © 2009 – Sports Climax

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