Hooped Up

It’s 10 games into the new season and the Knicks still haven’t budged on their Marbury stance yet. However, Mavs owner Mark Cuban is a fan of the Knicks point guard and given the right opportunity has said he would be interested in acquired him as a back up to Jason Kidd. 

“Mark Cuban held court before the game, and said he understood the Knicks’ decision with Stephon Marbury regarding changing the culture. Cuban also suggested there’d be a number of teams bidding for Marbury’s services when he becomes a free agent. Cuban was a guest on Marbury’s “Stars on Stars” TV show two years ago. Cuban likes him, thinks he’s a smart guy, has always lauded his business acumen from the Starbury sneaker campaign. The struggling Mavs (3-7) could use a deeper bench and a backup for Jason Kidd.”

NY Post

In nine days, the Mavericks will convene for the 2008-09 season, and if you’re wondering what they have learned since the commotion that engulfed the team four months ago, it can be summed up easily. Change is good. They are referring to new coach Rick Carlisle. But they also believe the transition from Avery Johnson will show an earlier change — trading for Jason Kidd – was a smart move. Carlisle has three assistants who were not with the Mavericks last season: Terry Stotts, Dwane Casey and Tom Sterner. He also has Mario Elie, a holdover from Johnson’s staff. Their job will start with Kidd, the trade-deadline addition who was supposed to take the Mavericks deep into the Western Conference playoffs. But Kidd and Johnson never meshed. Johnson’s offense was a poor fit for Kidd’s skills. That has to change.

Dallas Morning News

A few nights ago, Jason Kidd attended The LeBron James Family Foundation with Russell Simmons ex-girlfriend Porschla Coleman.  Also in attendance was Russell Simmons’s nieces Vanessa and Angela, who bumped into the new couple on the red carpet…awkward.

That Jason Kidd moves fast!

Via Page 6 + Bossip

LeBron James has got star power up the ying-yang and he’s putting it to good use again.  Last night, LeBron James and Ralph Lauren hosted a coacktail party for The Lebron James Family Foundation at the Ralph Lauren store in NYC and who didn’t show up is an easier question.

Jay-Z, Serena Williams, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Cassie, Russelll Simmons and Q-Tip were just some of the celebrities that came to show their support for a good cause.

To show your support, visit the The Lebron James Family Foundation website to learn more about this great foundation!

[Show as slideshow]

If Jason Kidd wins a NBA championship I’m calling first dibs on the ring.

“Don’t worry. This isn’t a case of Jason Kidd paying off a Charles Barkley-sized gambling debt. He’s just fulfilling a promise to Elaine Wynn of Wynn Casino fame. “Last summer, we stayed at the Wynn for (what seemed like) a lifetime, close to three weeks,” Kidd told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We met at a banquet, we got to talking, and she really understands the game. I told her I’d make a deal with her, that if we won the gold medal, I’d give it to her. She thought I was kidding. But I told her I had one already, and the way they treated us at the Wynn, it was the least I could do.”

Dallas Morning News

It was mission accomplished for the Redeem Team yesterday, with a 118-107 victory over Spain for the gold medal on the final day of the Beijing Games.  Carmelo Anthony who was one of four members of the current US squad who was also a member of the 2004 Athens squad. Called the Beijing victory a “blessing” .  

Carmelo also said “We were at the lowest point. Today, we’ve done a hell of a job and put U.S. basketball back on top of the world.”  

Dwayne Wade led the US with 27, followed by Kobe Bryant with 20. LeBron James added 14, and Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony each had 13 points.

Rudy Fernandez led Spain with 21, Pau Gasol had 21, and Juan Carlos Navarro added 18. Carlos Jiminez scored 12, Marc Gasol 11, and Felipe Reyes 10.

With the bar set high for the 2012 London games, will other countries catch up to the US?

Who would have thought that your girlfriend partying with with Lindsey Lohan was a bad thing. Well according to the New York Post, for Jason Kidd it was.  

“IT’S over between model May Anderson and her Dallas Mavericks beau Jason Kidd - thanks to Page Six. It seems Kidd was tired of reading about his woman’s nights out. “Jason couldn’t take her hard partying,” said one source. “While he was training for the Olympics, she told him she was staying in, but then he would read in Page Six that she was out with celebrities like Lindsay Lohan.” Our insider added, “It was too distracting, and he decided it better to focus on training and bringing home the gold for the US.” Reps for Kidd had “no comment.”

New York Post

99 problems but a model ain’t one!

Here are some highlights from the Steve Nash Showdown @ Chinatown Soccer Match in New York City yesterday.  The event was for charity and it looks like everybody had fun at this positive event.  I wish I could have made it.  Below are a list of Steve Nash’s friends that showed up.  What a list!

Steve Nash
Thierry Henry
Jason Kidd
Baron Davis
Leandro Barbosa
Juan Pablo Angel
Claudio Reyna
Jozy Altidore
Robbie Fowler
Steve McManaman
Raja Bell

Hooped Up

Several NBA players, and some of the best soccer players on the planet — will be playing a soccer game tomorrow afternoon in New York City to raise money for charity.

It’s free and open to the public. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Nike Field in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The game is just off Chrystie Street (between Rivington and Stanton Streets) south of Houston.

Among those expected to participate are Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Joakim Noah, Thierry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jozy Altidore, Juan Pablo Angel, and Gregg Berhalter.

What Stein’s story does not mention, however, is that Marc Stein himself will be playing. He’s a die-hard soccer fan who plays regularly.

He has a tactic in mind to look good in such a high-level game: Stay close to the NBA players like Kidd and Davis who did not grow up with the sport.

Davis, however, reportedly wants to get around his inexperience with his feet by playing goalie.

ESPN