Hooped Up

Leandro Barbosa has made the Suns his family, so news that he left training camp to be with his critically ill mother resonated with teammates and club officials.

“It’s an awful situation,” teammate Steve Nash said. “I’m just really sad for him. I love his mom, and hopefully she’s going to fight through.”

Barbosa joined the Monday team bus to Tucson and attended a team dinner before learning of her sudden illness, “a family emergency,” Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. Barbosa arrived Tuesday morning in Brazil to be with his “Mama,” Ivete. It is not related to the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma she previously battled.  

The Arizona Republic

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

Brazil’s hopes of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics have suffered another blow after Leandro Barbosa became the third NBA player to withdraw from the squad for the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece.

The Phoenix Suns guard has suffered a right knee injury and will be unable to play in the tournament which takes place in Athens from July 14 to 20.

National Post