Last Updated on Saturday, 24 January 2009 03:31 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 03:31
NEW YORK — Steve Nash stood in the corner of the visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden, his whispered tone barely audible after another inexplicable defeat. Moments later, Shaquille O’Neal sat in front of his locker and provided his typically blunt brand of Shaq-analysis.
On the other side of the room, Amare Stoudemire adjusted his cufflinks and brushed lint off his snazzy vest while delivering what qualified as the most forthright indictment of the Phoenix Suns’ downfall. Stoudemire marveled at the freewheeling play of Wednesday night’s opponent, Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks, and seemed to be longing for the days when the Suns had that much fun playing basketball.
Those days appear to be over. The sun may be dipping below the horizon on Phoenix’s four-year run of near-greatness.
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| Amare Stoudemire’s Suns are barely in the West playoff picture. (Getty Images) |
“You want to play free,” Stoudemire was saying after the listless Suns succumbed to the Knicks 114-109, their fourth loss in five games. “You want to play organized basketball, but you do want to have some type of playground atmosphere — the type of attitude where guys can’t stop you and everybody’s having fun. That type of attitude is what we’re looking for and what we need.”
A week ago, the Suns had won three straight — including impressive victories over Dallas and Atlanta — and were beginning to feel good about themselves for the first time since the latest foundation-shaking trade that sent D’Antoni mainstays Boris Diaw and Raja Bell to Charlotte for Jason Richardson.
Until their current slide, which includes consecutive road losses to the Celtics and Knicks and a home loss to the lowly Timberwolves, there was unanimity within the organization to ride through the rest of the season with the roster intact and resist the urge to make any more major changes. But the recent trend is so disturbing that rival executives believe the Suns have quickly changed course and are “re-evaluating” that position.
At various times this season, the Suns have conveyed a willingness to move backup point guard Leandro Barbosa — another D’Antoni favorite — if the right deal came along. Given Phoenix’s lackluster play of late, CBSSports.com has learned that the organization might now be open to considering a much bigger deal — one involving Stoudemire.
Having played five games in seven nights including two sets of back-to-backs, the Suns’ elder statesmen — Shaq, Nash and Grant Hill — wouldn’t admit it, but they were tired. One might have expected a pick-me-up from Stoudemire, the team’s youngest star at 26. Instead, Stoudemire gave the Suns nothing in consecutive losses at Boston and New York, shooting a combined 6-for-24 — including 0-for-7 against the Celtics.
Last Updated on Saturday, 24 January 2009 03:04 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 03:04
Here is John Rockers account of what happened the other night, when he had a run in with an Atlanta radio host, at a night club in the Buckhead W Hotel. Steve Shapiro claims Rocker called him a “Jewish Faggot” among other insults.
John Rocker was kind enough to call back and respond to Atlanta sports radio host Steak Shapiro’s claims that he verbally assaulted him last night. Rocker says he was provoked.
“Now, just let me say right up front that this all getting blown out of proportion: there was no arrest, I wasn’t escorted out, I walked out of the bar with my friend. I just love how this stuff goes from point A to point B in no time.”
Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 10:36 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 09:00
Arizona
Pittsburgh
Last Updated on Saturday, 24 January 2009 12:29 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 07:15
A streaker interrupted the Williams sisters doubles match against Japan’s Ayumi Morita and Martina Muller of Germany at the Australian Open on Friday. “I just thought, my eyes, my innocent eyes,” Serena Williams said Saturday.
Last Updated on Saturday, 24 January 2009 12:11 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 04:00
As seen on NBCsports.com
MONTREAL – The NHL Players’ Association is not thrilled with everything in the current collective bargaining agreement with the league, but sees no reason to stop playing under these terms yet.
The union’s executive board turned down an opportunity Friday to reopen the CBA, which has been in effect for 3½ seasons, to ensure hockey labor peace through the 2010-11 season.
The players’ association had until May to decide, but chose to make the announcement early during NHL All-Star weekend. The NHLPA can extend the deal, which ended the yearlong lockout in 2005, for another season if it chooses. That determination won’t have to be made until May 2011.
Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 11:57 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 02:00
Kanye West recently posted a response to the rumors he said he was down to do porn. He claims people hacked his accounts and made false statements. This is the quote he allegedly gave to writer David Watts:
Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 10:59 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 12:01
Last Updated on Saturday, 24 January 2009 12:00 Written by admin Saturday, 24 January 2009 12:00
The Vitamin Water Party had a performance by 50 cent, during his smash In Da Club, he invited Jim Carrey on stage to give him a Birthday shout. Here is the video of this moment and of Carrey grooving to the amusement of 50 and Tony Yayo.
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