Sports Blog

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Stephane Lasme (pronounced stef-on laz-me), whom the team selected with the 46th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, to a contract, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Lasme, a 6-8 forward, played four seasons at the University of Massachusetts before entering the NBA Draft. As a senior, Lasme was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.09 blocks per game.

Another upgrade for the team which beat Dallas.

Former Miami Heat player James Posey has agreed to plead guilty to reckless driving in connection with an incident in April on Miami Beach, prosecutors said Friday.

He agreed to a deal involving lesser charges. He was originally arrested on drunken-driving charges after Miami Beach police pulled him over for stopping in the middle of a road April 9.

According to the plea agreement, Posey must perform 50 hours of community service and complete six months of probation. He also must pay court costs, a $250 fine, donate $25 to the Ryder Trauma Center and attend DUI School.

The report on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York said Donaghy will provide prosecutors as many as 20 names of other NBA officials and will detail their involvement in some form of gambling, believed to include betting in casinos.

The offenses may not include criminal activity, according to the report, but could violate NBA policy and lead to firings that would decimate the officiating staff. Twenty referees would make up about a third of the league’s roster.

I hope they will scrutinized the NFL also.

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy could face charges in Arizona’s most populous county if investigations by the league and FBI show that he deliberately miscalled two Phoenix Suns playoff games this year, authorities said.

In federal court Wednesday in New York, Donaghy pleaded guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in connection with an NBA betting scandal.

Donaghy faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he’s sentenced for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting waging information through interstate commerce.

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy has pleaded guilty to federal felony conspiracy charges alleging that he passed along inside information on NBA games.

Allegations emerged Wednesday as the disgraced former NBA referee pleaded guilty to two felony charges in a scandal that rocked the league and tarnished the integrity of the sport.

Donaghy, who was released on $250,000 bond, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 9 for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce. He also must pay a $500,000 fine and at least $30,000 in restitution to the government.

The 62-year-old Riley gave up coaching in 2003 then returned two years later — when Stan Van Gundy stepped down in December 2005 — and led Miami to the 2006 NBA title. But the Heat was swept out of this past season’s playoffs by the Chicago Bulls and Riley was noncommittal for months about whether he’d remain on the sideline.

Riley said Monday that he plans to coach the Heat for the three remaining years on his contract, an announcement that ends months of speculation about his immediate future. He’ll remain in the dual role of team president as well.

The Heat probably aren’t capable of pulling off a Boston-esque blockbuster this summer, but Riley still believes they can get better and deeper before training camp.

If I started my blog earlier I should have included this event because it kept me laughing without stop. Charles Barkley was always being teased in TNT for being a 300 pounds.

One of the courtside analysts mentioned about Dick Bevetta, who was an official that day, that he would outrun Charles Barkley despite of his age.

Barkley who was in studio was challenged and the race of the year was set up. This race was held Saturday Night of the All Star break in Las Vegas.

I am adding a new category in my blog, entitled Funny Sports Videos. My first post will be on Charles Barkley.

The NBA’s All Star break last February was one of the most memorable for me not because of Kobe Bryant’s winning the MVP and the great dunkers who judged in the slam dunk contest like Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, and Vince Carter, but the lips-to-lips of Charles Barkley and Dick…
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NBA Playoffs will never be boring depending on who are calling the games. Here are my favorites, all of them in TNT. I’m not discounting ABC’s but they are not that good except for Bill Walton.

Doug Collins and Kevin Harlan. If you want a profound analysis, Doug Collins provides that. Collins was the former coach of Michael Jordan in the Chicago Bulls and in Washington Wizards, and in Detroit Pistons that makes him explain the game in details. Kevin Harlan’s voice is lively and outstanding. It enhances whoever his partner.

Marv Albert and Steve Kerr. The former Chicago Bulls player understands the game and articulates it well. I like the Steve Wonders part of the game. Marv Albert’s play-by-play call creates an atmosphere of excitement.

I prefer TNT, hopefully they will call the NBA Finals so that ratings will soar.

I have been watching NBA telecasts through TNT, ESPN, ABC , and on the NBA channel and I am extremely impress that these outlets bring different levels of enjoyment.

It’s hard to miss TNT games because it is far way entertaining and authoritative in terms of the personnels in the courtside and in the TV studio.

ESPN is always boring. With much respect to Greg Anthony, he talks too much. It looks like his statements are scripted. Or may I guess that he is reading a script on the screen? ESPN’s analysis doesn’t connect to the audience. They criticize enough of other players yet they never have been there in their NBA careers.

The best of ESPN is everytime Bill Walton takes the booth with his resounding play-by-play analysis. At least he can relate what he is commenting because of his NBA experience.

Earnie Johnson, Kenny “the Jet” Smith, and Charles Barkley are the ingredients for a great viewer’s experience in watching NBA games through TNT television. They bring colors in the pre, mid, and post game analysis.

The humors being thrown are exactly the jewels of TNT’s outstanding broadcast especially in the half-time show of a close and tense game. With the inclusion of Magic Johnson and Reggie Miller, the day will be far knowledgable with their deep insights.

I love Doug Collins, Steve Kerr, Marv Albert, and Kevin Harlan. They are the “Voices of NBA”. A blow out game that starts from the first quarter is always alive when at least two of them are calling the game.

TNT connects to the viewers.