Site Relocation – TheFYISportsBlog.com
In order to gain some more independence to do different things on the site, I’ve had to leave WordPress.com and take my site to a new domain/host. Because of it, all posts will be at: www.TheFYIsportsblog.com
Not a major change, just the addition of “The”.
If you click over, you’ll see that the site layout, etc has all remained the same. See you there!
New York Times Puts NBA Free Agency Into Proper Perspective
It’s an extremely slow day in the world of sports and entertainment, so as I frequented the sites that I normally go to looking for anything interesting to read, I finally came across a good piece in the New York Times.
The article, written by William Rhoden, does a really good job of putting the free agency period in proper perspective. At least I thought so. Below is an excerpt, and to read the full piece, click here.
Last month in Johannesburg, Bryant was one of the invited guests at the first day of African Fashion Week. He relaxed in an informal viewing area and watched a World Cup match.
He talked briefly about his first trip to Africa. He mentioned the safari he had gone on a day earlier. He excitedly described how the truck he was in had come upon a clan of hyenas that had identified its prey.
What stood out for Bryant was how the hyenas were so focused on the task at hand that they didn’t even glance at the truck of spectators. That’s what impressed Bryant: the pack was locked in, singularly focused on that moment, on that prey. It was as if the truck did not exist.
In that instant, I realized the difference, at this particular time, between Bryant and James: Bryant is focused on championships — now No. 6 — and his legacy in being regarded as the greatest ever.
James, who is expected to make an announcement about his basketball future this week, is multifocused. He wants to be a billionaire, wants to be an icon like Muhammad Ali, and wants to win multiple championships.
NBA Free Agency: Day Five
For all the hype generated over the past couple of years by both the media and the current free agents, this free agency period has been pretty lackluster.
Anyway, here’s the updates as of 2:05 PM (EST) today.
Dwyane Wade has returned to Miami to make his decision in the next couple of days. Speaking of his return to Miami, I read that the Heat organization leaked Wade’s return flight information to fans through the internet, with hopes that they would show up to shower him with praise. Hearing this, the fans went to welcome Wade at the airport and tell him how much they want him back. Unfortunately for them, Wade arrived at Miami International Airport instead of through a private jet as fans had expected. So yeah, they went out there for nothing. Idiots.
LeBron James will make his decision mid to late this week. His decision is down to Cleveland, Chicago, or New Jersey.
Chris Bosh is still tweeting, and still enjoying the whole wooing process.
Amare Stoudemire will likely become a New York Knick, officially, sometime today.
That is all. Check back to see if there are any further updates later in the day.
Stoudemire and D'Antoni's second run together will likely become official today.
Hot Dog Eating Contest Winner Kobayashi Arrested for Crashing Stage, Fighting Police
Apparently, this whole Hot Dog eating contest is serious business.
Takeru Kobayashi, the small Japanese guy who won a whole bunch of these contests before some goofy white dude named Joey Chestnut started pwn’ing him, got arrested for crashing the stage and wrestling with police.
Yeah, this really happened.
Kobayashi was a little jealous of Chestnut’s success, and wanted to compete. He wasn’t registered for the event because of a contract situation that… you know what, I don’t care about the contract details.
Kobayashi crashed the stage, grabbed onto some fence or something while police tried to make him leave. He then got arrested.
Competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut gobbled his way to a fourth consecutive championship Sunday. But he was suddenly upstaged by the surprise appearance of his biggest rival — six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi, who did not compete but crashed the stage after Chestnut’s win and wrestled with police.
“Let him eat! Let him eat!” the crowd chanted as police handcuffed the world’s No. 3 professional eater, dubbed “The Tsunami.”
Um. Could this look any gayer?
NBA Free Agency: Day Four
Happy Independence Day to all of you out there. If you’ve been busy this weekend like most people and wondering what you’ve missed with regards to NBA Free Agency, good news. You haven’t missed much. Here’s a quick recap of what has transpired over the weekend.
Dirk Nowitzki re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks for four years, $80 million. The league’s most unselfish superstar took less money to give the Mavericks more cap flexibility to acquire talent. He could have made as much as $96 million over four years had he demanded a max deal.
Joe Johnson has officially accepted a 5 year, $119 million dollar deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Overpaid? Very much so. Johnson will now try to convince other free agents to join him. Good luck with that.
Amare Stoudemire and New York Knicks head coach, Mike D’Antoni met over the weekend for a brunch. They resolved any issues they had from the past and look to be on the same page moving forward in New York. Lord knows, both of them need each other. Stoudemire should have a deal finalized for 5 years and $100 million in the next day, maybe two.
Stoudemire has reached out to Carmelo Anthony on the possibility of joining him in New York. Anthony is on the trading block since Denver has figured that they will not be able to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent next season. Anthony has reportedly put his house up for sale in Denver.
The Tony Parker to New York rumors still have some legs, and if New York should fail to land LeBron James, they will quickly turn to try to add the veteran point guard who would flourish under D’Antoni’s run-and-gun system.
Dwyane Wade will make his decision by the end of the weekend (I don’t know if that means tonight or the Monday holiday). Either way, he has the Miami Heat biting their fingernails, as he abruptly decided to meet with Chicago and ponder leaving the Heat after recruiting players to Miami for the past several weeks.
Lastly, have you noticed how the LeBron James rumors have died down quite a bit over recent days? Wondering why? It probably has to do with the fact that the LBJ camp/inner circle has booted “Worldwide” Wes (NBA power broker). The speculation that has gained some momentum as of recent days is that James might re-sign with Cleveland. That would be a huge surprise to me, as I still think he’s headed for Chicago. He should have a decision made Wednesday or Thursday, sources say.
LeBron James’ Facebook Feed
Wondering what LeBron James facebook feed looks like? See below. Pretty hilarious.
NBA Free Agency Updates: Day 2
UPDATE
8:43 PM (EST)
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Steve Blake to a 4 year contract between 18 and 20 million.
5:51 PM (EST)
Accoring to yahoo sports’ Adrian Wojo’s twitter: Wade, Chicago meeting for second time on Friday as Wade becomes further intrigued with Bulls — and possible LBJ partnership. link coming.
web • 7/2/10 5:43 PM
WOW.
1:44 PM (EST)
The LeBron camp is getting a little testy with Dwyane Wade. Wade has been talking about “summits” and getting together for the past month or so publically (probably longer than that privately). Yet with everyone ready to move, Wade is visiting several teams and having meetings of his own. That’s fine and well, but it’s a little two-faced to say, “Come to Miami”, when you haven’t given any solid indication that you are planning to return yourself. An official from the LeBron camp had this to say:
“If D-Wade wants to make this big play happen in Miami, he needs to stop taking meetings and commit to Heat.”
Wade’s indecision has given a very real possibility to Bosh playing in Chicago or Houston, as well as LeBron probably honing in on Chicago or New Jersey.
The New York Knicks have reached out and offered Amare Stoudemire a five year deal in the $100 mil range with ALL five years guaranteed (no team options). The Phoenix Suns offered five years at $96 million, but with the last two years being options years. Stoudemire would have to meet certain stipulations, basically have played a certain number of games in the first three years of the contract, to be able to be given money in years four and five.
Meanwhile, the Suns are expecting Stoudemire to be gone so they are moving forward with a replacement. Who? Hakim Warrick. Four years and $18 million is on the table.
9:49 AM (EST)
Paul Pierce, as expected, has reached agreement on a new contract to remain with the Boston Celtics. I had heard late last night that he wasn’t even fielding calls from anyone else. This was just a financial decision to get more guaranteed years by opting out of his final season of $21.5 million.
I’ve heard a couple of things about what the New York Knicks pitched to LeBron. Donnie Walsh presented James with two options: Option 1) Take the max salary and the team will attempt to surround him with as much talent as fiscally possible or Option 2) Take $11.6 mil a year (not the max), and the Knicks will deliver both Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire.
Also, they Knicks pitched that if James were to play with the Knicks, he would have a 50% chance of making $1 billion in his career. The chances in other cities were less than 5%. They used a marketing ploy based off of variables and statistics to back up their research. James has made it clear in the past that he wants to be a billion dollar athlete.
It lasted two hours, and the major themes were New York’s endless energy — and the chance for “The King” to reap as much as $1.94 billion in salary (from a five-year max deal) plus endorsements if he bolts Cleveland and finishes his career with the Knicks. That astonishing number comes from a study commissioned by the Knicks from the marketing consultant Interbrand. New York Post
In their quest to land either of the top two free-agent power forwards – Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire – the Houston Rockets have been offering Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier and free agent Luis Scola in potential sign-and-trade packages, league sources said. Scola obviously would have to agree to a sign-and-trade because he’s a free agent. If the Rockets can’t get either Bosh or Stoudemire, they will push forward in negotiations to re-sign Scola. Yahoo! Sports
San Diego Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson Suspended Three Games
San Diego Chargers’ Wide Receiver, Vincent Jackson, has been suspended by the NFL for three games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He was convicted of his second DUI in February.
Jackson is on the trading block with a number of teams, including the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks, interested in acquiring him. Jackson is a restricted free agent. The San Diego Chargers will look to receive something similar to what Denver got back in return for Brandon Marshall (two second round picks).
The wide receiver is currently in Phoenix, Arizona working out with Donovan McNabb.
Jackson’s suspension will most likely be reduced to one game, or at the most two, after an appeal from the NFL Players Union.
Jackson won't suit up his first game of the season, regardless of who he plays for.
NBA Free Agency Updates
I’ll be keeping a running blog throughout the next couple of days for any free agency news/updates, so check back as often as you’d like.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
10:35 PM (EST)
The Los Angeles Lakers have offered Mike Miller a five year, $30 million dollar deal. He has a deadline of tonight to sign.
I like Miller, but I don’t really understand the need for another forward. Would have much rather seen Raja Bell or Anthony Morrow help at the guard spot.
5:13 PM (EST)
Phil Jackson will return to the Lakers for a final season. Through his release, he said, “”It will be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one.”
4:50 PM (EST)
Richard Jefferson is looking to go back to the NY/NJ area. He would rather play for the Knicks OR Nets for $8-10 mil per season rather than with the Spurs. He doesn’t feel like he is a good fit for San Antonio’s system. Neither do I.
3:28 PM (EST)
Rudy Gay has signed a max deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Stoudemire is now in the mix of free-agent power forwards being pursued by the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks. The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors also are looking at potential sign-and-trade scenarios that could land Stoudemire. Heat president Pat Riley met with Stoudemire last night and pitched Stoudemire on joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade with the Heat, a source said. ESPN.com
12:01 PM (EST)
From Briand Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer regarding LeBron:
Knicks just sent over their luggage/computers for presentation with an advance team. Folks, I can’t make this stuff up. 5 minutes ago
Nets have bigger banners, bigger ads in papers in NYC and now they have a bigger jet. Knicks came in a G4, Prokhorov showed up in G5. 11 minutes ago via web
11:42 AM (EST)
LeBron James is currently meeting with the New Jersey Nets. The Nets brass will fly to Chicago following their meeting with NJ.
9:36 AM (EST)
Joe Johnson was officially offered a 6 year, $119 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. He will almost certainly accept the deal. There is no way he deserves that much money, and he probably knows it. But it’s the Atlanta Hawks, and they do stupid things, so this sort of makes sense. Also, the current owners of the Hawks will be selling the team before the six year contract is up, so they don’t care as much about the future state of the team.
Chris Bosh is being courted by the Houston Rockets. The Rockets already have a good core and are doing their best to bring the power forward/center to Texas. At this point, I still think Bosh is going to be in Miami but he is basking in the extra attention he is getting.
LeBron James has told teams that he wants to have his decision made by July 5th.
NBA Free Agency Almost Here
UPDATE 11:22PM
Not much has changed except the Houston Rockets are in the running for Amare Stoudemire.
More news on Richard Jefferson opting out of $15.2 mil. He would rather make less than be miserable – and Pop hated him.
Again – LBJ-Bosh-Wade is NOT happening. Bosh to Miami is very likely. The Heat are also looking at Boozer.
Joe Johnson to meet with the New York Knicks in Los Angeles in 35 minutes.
UPDATE 9:33PM
Dream Three of LBJ-Wade-Bosh WILL NOT happen. Bosh will go for a max wherever he can get it. Wade is back with Miami alongside Bosh or Boozer and LBJ will re-sign with Cleveland for three years, according to Ric Bucher.
UPDATE 8:15PM
Amare Stoudemire has opted out. His twitter account posted: @Amareisreal: I opted out of my contract with PHX. Can’t wait to see what lies ahead. I had a blast with my teammates last season. What’s Next !!
UPDATE: 8:04PM
Richard Jefferson of the San Antonio Spurs has opted out of his contract. My hunch is he has a sign and trade in place.
As much as I knocked the hype, we are almost here. NBA free agency is hours away and here is the latest from what I’ve read/heard/gathered:
Chicago wanted to work a sign and trade with Toronto for Chris Bosh but Toronto had no interest in Luol Deng or his lengthy contract.
Bosh to Miami as a “lock” has been rumored. There is no chance for a sign and trade however, because Miami gutted their roster to get cap space. A sign and trade would have given Bosh and extra guaranteed year and money.
Joe Johnson will be offered a max deal from Atlanta. Again, current team gets to offer the most years/money so don’t be surprised if Johnson re-signs – despite the awful ending to last season.
The Knicks will try to sign Johnson ASAP to have something to lure LeBron with. Right now, he is sort of their number one target and will meet him at midnight.
No word on LBJ, though oddsmakers have Miami as the favorite for what that is worth.
Dwyane Wade will be back with Miami barring something crazy.
The Heat are keeping their options open by talking with Carlos Boozer.
Pau Pierce will likely be the last to sign, as he will let the chips fall first giving him leverage with Boston if a shut out team pursues him as consolation. Still, I feel he will be back with Boston, especially with Doc Rivers back for one more year.
Amare Stoudemire had good talks with Phoenix but will test the market. Keep an eye on New York.
Dirk Nowitski will also test the market but I expect him back in Dallas.
Lastly, the New Jersey Nets feel they are the favorites to land LBJ. In other news, I feel I am the favorite to wife Shakira.
Check back for updates – they will be frequent.
Paul Pierce to Opt Out, Vick Could Be in Trouble, NFL Player Arrested for Assault, , and Yankees Fan Gets Pelted in the Face (Video)
Paul Pierce to Leave? Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce will be opting out of his contract and throwing his name into the free agency hat. By opting out, he will forfeit the $21.5 million guaranteed to him for next season. Pierce will be looking for a 4 year deal with the Celtics in the $85-90 million range. The maximum he can receive from other teams is $93 million. His decision to stay will be largely influenced by the return or departure of head coach Doc Rivers and teammate Ray Allen.
Michael Vick Present During Shootings, reportedly: It looks like Michael Vick might have lied about not being present during the shooting that took place outside of where his birthday bash was held last week. When news broke of one of his co-defendants from the dogfighting trial, Quanis Phillips, being shot three times in the early morning hours following Vick’s party, the disgraced quarterback’s attorney came out to say that he had left around 11:30 PM, and was not present.
Well, surveillance cameras show something different, according to the Philadelphia Daily News report.
“A spokesman for the Virginia Beach, Va., restaurant/bar where a 30th birthday party was held for Eagles quarterback Michael Vick said the establishment has surveillance video that conflicts with the account of Vick’s attorney of the moments before a shooting early Friday morning.
A man identified in media reports as Quanis Phillips was shot in the leg as the party was breaking up. Vick’s attorney, Larry Woodward, said Phillips, a co-defendant of Vick’s during his 2007 dogfighting case, was an uninvited guest who was thrown out of the party before the shooting. Woodward has said Vick was gone long before the shooting.
Allen Fabijan, a spokesman for the bar-restaurant, the Guadalajara, told the Daily Press, of the Newport News-Hampton area, that the video was turned over to Virginia Beach police yesterday morning. Fabijan told the newspaper that Vick “and his entourage” were in two cars that left the front of the restaurant at 2:07 a.m. He said shots rang out 3 minutes later.
“I’m not saying that Michael Vick did the shooting. But he did not leave [long] before,” Fabijan said.”
Another Bengal Arrested: Cedric Benson is at it again. Following a career year and rejuvination with the Cincinnati Bengals last season, Benson has been arrested in Texas for an assault from a month ago. Benson, allegedly, punched a bar employee in the face when they removed him from the establishment. Outside, he was heard telling people that, “all these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out.”
Yeah…I’m sure that a bunch of white boys decided that they wanted to gang up on an NFL player. I’m sure it had nothing to do with Benson being drunk or acting like an ass – the way many players do in venues that serve alcohol. I gave this guy the benefit of the doubt once before; not this time.
Yankees Fan Pwned: You know what you shouldn’t do when you see a ball coming in your direction at a New York Yankees baseball game? Stay on your cell phone and try to catch the baseball with one hand. Why? Because you’ll get hit in the face and look like a douche. VIDEO courtesy of Deadspin.
Some people just don't learn.
NBA Free Agent Summit Actually Happened
I’m getting a little over saturated with this constant news surrounding the NBA Free Agent class of 2010, but it is news so I have to write something on it.
That summit that was talked about earlier, then denied, actually happened this past weekend. LeBron James, Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh did meet, and they did discuss their futures. Big whoop.
“A modified version of the ballyhooed free-agent summit that was initially suggested and then downplayed by Dwyane Wade has indeed taken place, ESPN.com has learned.
Sources close to the situation said Monday night that three of the biggest names in basketball — Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James — met over the weekend in Miami to seriously discuss their futures, with a focus on the increasingly plausible possibility of those three teaming up with Wade’s Heat.
Yet sources with knowledge of the meeting stressed to ESPN.com that James, while clearly intrigued by the possibility of forming a star-studded Miami trio with Wade and Bosh, has not yet committed to leaving his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for South Beach.” ESPN
Whatever.
Is it just me or is there a ton of hype around three guys who have combined to win one championship in seven years.
Chris Bosh is a vastly overrated player who never reached any sort of success in Toronto.
Dwyane Wade is a stud but let’s be real – he wasn’t going to beat the Mavericks in the NBA Finals without a ridiculous amount of one-sided calls from the referees.
LeBron James has reached the NBA Finals once, and got swept. The last two years, his team was upset despite being the number one seed and winning 60+ regular season games.
So yeah, it’d be one thing if Kobe, Duncan, and Chauncey Billups were deciding to play together five years ago. That would be a combination of winners.
This, for all I care, is a combination of one winner and two losers.
First to Go? New York Knicks Will Go Hard After Joe Johnson
Per NBA sources, it appears that the New York Knicks will be offering a max contract on July 1st to Joe Johnson. The Knicks will meet with Johnson in Los Angeles before anyone else. They hope to leave their meeting with a deal in place.
Some of you might be confused as to why the Knicks are pursuing Johnson first, ahead of, you know, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. The answer is simple.
Right now, the Heat can assure free agents that Wade will be on the roster. The Bulls can assure free agents that Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah will be on the roster. The Nets can assure free agents that Devin Harris and Brook Lopez will be on the roster. The Knicks have Eddy Curry.
By signing Joe Johnson right off the bat, the Knicks can tell LeBron, “Look, we have an all star guard in place. Come join us.”
Will it be enough? Time will tell. I doubt it, but you never know.
First to go?
Landon Donovan Knocks Up British Woman; Divorce With Wife Still Pending
Grant Wahl of SI.com reported over the weekend that a British tabloid will break a story of United States soccer star, Landon Donovan, impregnating a British woman. Donovan is married to actress Bianca Kajlich, but the two have been separated for nearly a year. When asked about the report, Donovan responded:
“I was informed of the possibility during the World Cup, and if I need to take responsibility, then I will provide the appropriate support,” Donovan told SI.com. “This is a private matter and I will refrain from further comment at this time.”
Donovan following the USA World Cup loss.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Evan Longoria, BJ Upton Fight in Dugout
Following what was a lackadaisical effort by BJ Upton to run down a fly ball, Evan Longoria had something to say when the two returned to the dugout. Whatever it was, it set off Upton and the two had to be restrained – mostly Upton.
I don’t care much for the Rays, being a Yankees fan and all, but it was entertaining to see regardless. I side with Longoria on this. Half-ass efforts should always be called out. Why Upton reacted so boisterously is strange to me.
Shaun Ahmad
