Hooped Up

Sometimes things actually work in favor for the New York Knicks.  According to reports, the heart and soul of the Celtics squad aka Kevin Garnett was suspended today for a game, starting tomorrow against the Knicks for striking Bucks center Andrew Bogut in the face on Saturday. This is surprising given the incredible verbal taunting superpowers Garnett posses.

The incident happened in the last quarter of the Celtics 102 -97 victory over the Bucks when Bogut struck Garnett in the mouth after being fouled. Bogut was tossed from the game after receiving his second technical of the match and today his foul on Garnett was upgraded to a flagrant foul penalty one.

Is it me or is the NBA is handing out suspensions like condoms at a V.D. clinic these days.

Andrew Bogut, limping heavily toward Australia’s locker room, said he feared the worst. “I think it’s a ligament,” Bogut said. Halfway around the world, the Milwaukee Bucks were holding their collective breath. Bogut was to undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of an ankle injury he suffered during Australia’s 116-85 loss to the United States in the men’s basketball quarterfinals at the Olympic Games on Wednesday night.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Does team US even count as news now?  It looks like they will run the table in the Beijing Olympics, and today they rolled over Germany by 49 points in a 106-57 blow out.  

Dwight Howard had 22 points and 9 rebounds for Team USA LeBron James added 18 points and Kobe Bryant scored 13 for the United States, sparked by a 31-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki led Germany with 14 points and 8 rebounds sending Germanys record to 1-4 and pushing the USA to a perfect 5- 0 record.

Next up for the US is Australia who in exhibition play two weeks ago, faired well in an 87-76 exhibition loss in Shanghai without Australian center Andrew Bogut.

The Bucks are making a serious commitment to center Andrew Bogut, who will sign a five-year extension with salary and bonuses worth up to $72.5 million, according to agent David Bauman. Today is the first day for NBA free agents and players seeking extensions to sign contracts. The extension does not affect the $6.9 million he is owed for the coming season, the final year of his rookie contract. Sources indicated the guaranteed money in the extension is $60 million.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel