Like many of you I sat through the 2010 NBA Dunk Contest in hope that eventually some energy would creep into the contest. I did not scoot to the edge of my couch one time in anticipation that something exciting would happen.
No doubt New York Knick Nate Robinson was the best dunker today, but there are only so many times I can see the little man from Seattle lob the ball and dunk it.
By the end of it all, Twitter kept me entertained as my group of ground bound friends made hilarious comment after hilarious comment after each dunk.
Here is some old footage of former dunk contests that brought some thunder and atmosphere to the arena.
Enjoy as the NBA Dunk Contest is dying a slow death, unless LeBron James, Dwight Howard and maybe Kobe Bryant answer the bell.
This one never gets old - Nique vs MJ
Vince Carter - 2000
Dee Brown - 1991
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Old School Sunday - When Dunk Contests Were Good
Monday, February 8, 2010
New McDonalds Ad
Years ago it was Larry Bird and Michael Jordan playing H-O-R-S-E for a Big Mac and fries for lunch.
Now Gen Y has their go at re-creating the classic commercial. Take a look at the new Lebron James and Dwight Howard version of the McDonald's ad made legendary by the Hall of Famers.
As usual, Larry Legend leaves the winner.
THE OLD
THE NEW
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Pat, Pero, Paul & The Draw
If you did not already know, each team will play each other four times (2 home, 2 away) for a total of 28 games. Once the regular season is completed the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.
I'm a fan of this format as the regular season has some meaning to it. Over the past few seasons, teams that have had very mediocre season's have been rewarded with a birth in the playoffs.
So congrats to the league office for taking a step in the right direction in creating an exciting regular season. We could truly be seeing worthwhile games right to the death.
I'm sensing a 16-12 record should see you reach the playoffs.
While the NBL has been racing against the clock to get a schedule out, there are two clubs that have already made comment on the draw.
I would love to hear from both Townsville Crocodile and Perth Wildcat fans on their feelings about the draw.
Other News
- Pero Cameron re-signs with the Gold Coast Blaze.
I believe Pero is one player that has really underachieved during his NBL career. He has a skill set that should see him contributing more to his team in a Tony Ronaldson type of way.
In saying that, I'm not sure whether his skills have been utilized the best during his time with the New Zealand Breakers and the Blaze to date.
The questions is, will new Blaze Head Coach Joey Wright be the guy to get the most out of the "Rock"?
No doubt time will tell whether Wright can push the right buttons like former New Zealand National Team Coach Tab Baldwin managed to do.
- Former NBL MVP Paul Rogers has decided to remain with the Perth Wildcats for the upcoming season.
My former teammate at Gonzaga has been battling to overcome a knee and back injury that allowed him to play in only two games last season.
If the former second round draft pick of the Los Angles Lakers is healthy, the Wildcats will be a better lineup.
- The Cairns Taipans will "move on" after missing out on prize recruit Mark Worthington.
- It seems that Matt Burston is going to be the big winner with Luke Schenscher deciding to try his luck overseas.
With the lack of depth in the "big man" department, Burston has been a commodity around the NBL.
Sorry Cairns, but I'm expecting Burston to sign with a team that also is home to a WNBL team.
- A new television deal for the NBL is looking the goods.
- DraftExpress - "In the third game of the day, Patty Mills’ very talented team was blown out almost right from the get-go by Nando De Colo’s very French influenced team. Mills made plenty of shots but really struggled to control the pace of the game from the point guard position, not finishing particularly well around the basket and appearing to settle excessively for outside jumpers. His teammate Joe Ingles had somewhat of a nightmare performance, with just 1 point and 3 turnovers in 30 minutes."
- NBAdraft.net - "Overall, his (Pat Mills) performance did very little to slow the dropping of his stock and he will need to show more in the next two days if anything is to change."
- This afternoon is was just surfing the net and tweeting (@johnrillie) some light hearted banter to whoever would listen.
After a few tongue in cheek comments I become a guest on a sports talk radio show in Melbourne.
So, if next Sunday between 12pm and 2pm you have nothing else happening, listen into SportzFan. These guys are laid back and easy to listen to as they cover all sports. You can even tweet them a question. Oh, if you miss them, you can download there podcast.
- Depending on who you ask, but most people seem to think my eldest son is a "chip off the old block". So much so he created his own blog over the weekend. Parents, be careful of what you wish for.
- Shaq's beef with Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard.
- Allen Iverson and Larry Brown to re-unite?
Dwight Howard - vitaminwater AD
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Pat Mills Is In & NBL Has Action
Pat Mills is ready to hang with the NBA guys on a fulltime basis now.
Today Aussie Olympian Pat Mills has told reporters that he will be putting is name into the 2009 NBA Draft.
This is only one topic of many that is making news within basketball as we speak.
- sfgate.com - "In my head, I'm 100 percent in (the draft). There's an opportunity there, and I want to make sure I grab both horns and go for it," Pat Mills said. "I suppose there's always a backup plan, but in my head, there's no backup plan."
- nba.fanhouse.com - "According to several observers who saw the two afternoon workouts, Pittsburgh's Sam Young was the most impressive player. Young, a 6-foot-6 swingman, was in Group 1, and played with/against Luke Harangody (Notre Dame), Joe Ingles (Australia), Damion Jones (Texas), Jeff Pendergraph (Arizone State) and Marcus Thornton (LSU)."
- cougcenter.com - "Anyway, a little surprising (Aussie Aron) Baynes didn't want to see if he could catch on somewhere in the NBA this summer and fall, but good on the big fella for continuing his career. He's joining a good team that has qualified for the first division Euroleague in the upcoming season."
- The Canadian Press - "Representatives from 20 NBA teams attended, while Omri Casspi (Israel), Eric Devendorf (Syracuse), Danny Green (North Carolina), Daniel Hackett (Southern California), B.J. Mullens (Ohio State) and Luke Nevill (Utah) moved around the court in the morning. Another half-dozen were due in the afternoon, with more workouts scheduled throughout the week."
- FoxSports - "Perth Wildcats have confirmed forward Alex Loughton will not return to the NBL club for the upcoming season."
- Brisbane Times - "Centre Julian Khazzouh and forward Matthew Knight, both of who played under (Head Coach Rob) Beveridge at the Sydney Spirit last season, also informed their former coach they were Europe-bound and would not join him at the Cats."
- WAToday - "Perth Wildcats' scoring machine Shawn Redhage is staying at the club for at least the next year - and new coach Rob Beveridge has also launched an ambitious bid to bring fellow Boomer Mark Worthington back to his home state."
- Blaze website - "(Gold Coast) Blaze young gun Tyson Demos and towering centre Greg Vanderjagt will line up for their second seasons on the Gold Coast alongside former Brisbane Bullet and Perth Wildcats guard Chris Goulding."
- NBL.com.au - "After all the players and the club have had to endure over the past six months with the uncertainty of the league, it is good news to have Russell Hinder back as a Croc."
- NBL.com.au - “It has been an absolute pleasure being a part of the NBL for the past 13 years,” (Ben) Melmeth said. “Winning a gold medal at the Under 23 World championships, suiting up with Andrew Gaze at the world senior championships in Athens and winning an NBL championship with the Sydney Kings will be my three fondest memories I take from my time playing professional basketball."
Dwight Howard Interrupts Nike Puppet Commericals
Monday, June 1, 2009
Superman Beats The King & Sir Charles @ It Again
- Adelaide 36ers license transfer is a done deal.
- The New Zealand National Basketball League has its six teams for this season's playoffs.
- Tell'em their dreamin. Melbourne Tigers Chris Anstey comments on the chances of both Joe Ingles and Mark Worthington joining him at the Tigers.
- RotoRob has Aussie Pat Mills going as high as thirteen to the Indiana Pacers in this year's NBA Draft.
- Orlando Magic have have advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 14 years. They comfortably defeated the Cleveland LeBrons 4-2.
- "Big Ben" Wallace is thinking of retirement.
- Eddie Jordan has been introduced as the new Philadelphia 76ers head coach.
- Top 5 European Draft Prospects
Sir Charles is at it again. Refers to Kenny Smith as a 'numbnut" and his producer a "p***y"!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Something For Everyone
Could Florida guard Nick Calathes skip the NBA for Europe?
Episode 31 of "The OT" is in the books, so as soon as my partner in crime DJ Rod is finished in the chop shop, iTunes will experience a downloading epidemic.
In the meantime I'm sure you can find a link below to your liking.
- Oscar Robertson can see that LeBron James needs help if he wants to win a title. History shows there is merit in this argument. Julius "Dr J" Erving never won until Moses Malone showed up in Philadelphia.
- Respect is building momentum. Everyone is talking about a Kobe/LeBron Final. Spare a thought for the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets.
- If you are an ABA team in Australia and looking to add an import to the mix, one of these guys may just be the tonic to advance your team into the playoff picture.
My personal opinion is these guys would be of a good standard for our second tier league.
- Former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams is in trouble with the law again.
- WWE boss Vince McMahon has a dig at Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke.
- Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant and Candace Parker have this cyber thing down.
- You will find Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in court today.
- Former NBA great Dave Bing has been sworn in as Mayor of Detroit. Good luck with that Dave.
- NBA and tattoos, just something we have to get used to.
- I have found myself at this site a few times over the past week. The Ridiculous Upside takes a look back at the 2002 second round draft picks.
- Former Florida guard Nick Calathes seems destined to play in his homeland of Greece. There is a lot of speculation that the point guard has already signed with Europe powerhouse Panathinaikos.
- 730 foreign hoopers have applied to tryout for the 20 available import roster spots in the Korean Basketball League.
- Adelaide 36ers lodge their license agreement, but there are "conditions".
- Boti Nagy shows his feelings about Wednesday's press conference in Melbourne.
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Latest For Crocs Fans
Townsville Crocodile fans, this is the latest. I hijacked this press release from the Crocs website from earlier today.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Smashing Good Time
For the people that missed it, Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard put a halt to today's Eastern Conference Final for a short period of time. Howard beasted the backboard on a dunk which resulted in the shot clock collapsing.
Check out Howard's work but I have dug up some old footage of other assaults on the glass.
Shaq shows Howard how to really do a number on the backboard.
I will always remember this Jerome Lane finish. It was 1988 and I would stay up late at night to catch Al Michael's and his Sports Machine Highlights.
And who could forget Chocolate Thunder, Darryl Dawkins.
This is no average high schooler folks. Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love smashes a backboard on a break away dunk.