Hooped Up

Paying tribute to the legendary US hit squad hired to stomp out opposing countries then sign their autographs in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. The Nike Zoom Barcelona in a red, white and blue color scheme will be available this summer for your Dream Team lovin’ consumption. Read More »

The Canadian men began their assault on a gold medal in the Vancouver Olympic games by destroying Norway 0-8 and Jerome Igilna scored three goals.

I have no idea who’s gonna win this hockey thing, but judging by the strength of this Canadian side. If they wanted to add Steve Nash to the squad, they could easily deal with the drop off.

Plus, somebody on this team might as well be in charge of all the jokes.

H/N The Score

After months of speculation of who would light the cauldron in B.C. Place, to kick off the 2010 winter Olympic games in Vancouver. VANOC decided to have five Canadian sports legends do the honors and 2-time NBA MVP Steve Nash was among the five.

Canada’s Man in Motion, Rick Hansen, gold-medal-winning speed skater Catriona Le May Doan, giant slalom gold winner Nancy Greene and Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky who then lit  the outdoor Olympic cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza beside the Vancouver Convention Centre. Read More »

Featuring nine members of the gold medalist 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and a total of 11 Olympians who have captured a combined 15 Olympic medals (nine gold medals and six bronze medals), USA Basketball revealed today 27 players who have been named to the 2010-2012 USA Men’s National Team program. The selections were announced by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

Read More »

It’s no surprise Kevin Durant is really pushing the team angle this week. When asked by FanHouse if he wants to play for Team USA in the World Championships next summer in Turkey, the Oklahoma City forward couldn’t stop talking about how badly he wants to represent his country. Sounds as if he’d settle for the role of scorekeeper. “I just want to be on that team,” Durant said of Team USA next summer. “I’ll do anything.”

Fanhouse

Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash will carry the 2010 Winter Olympics torch during a portion of its 45,000-kilometre, cross-country journey to Vancouver.

Nash, a Victoria native, has confirmed his participation, according to numerous reports. Thousands of people will run a portion of the route over 106 days, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron at B.C. Place in Vancouver. The Olympics are Feb. 12 to 28 in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., followed by the Paralympics from March 12 to 21. Read More »

I’m not a huge fan of the WNBA but, I’m a Candace Parker fan and when she gets knocked up, (which should be recognized as a medical term) its huge news! Why, you ask little Johnny? Well it’s as simple as this. Candace Parker being with child for 9 months is on par with LeBron James being with child for 9 months (eww!). In her brief time in the WNBA, after being seleceted No. 1 overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Candace Parker has dominated, winning both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player award followed by winning an Olympic Gold Medal at the Summer Games in Beijing.

Yeah, she’s kinda good!

“Shelden and I are very excited to be expanding our family,” said Parker. “We feel blessed and look forward to becoming parents.”

Candace Parker will be due in Spring of 2009, and this will be the first child for Parker and husband Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings. She will continue working out with the team and is expected to return to the court during the 2008-2009.

Congratulations, to the young couple and to future Uncle Anthony Parker of the Raptors!

Via LA Sparks

Clearly being successful is a bad thing to the people that run Basketball Canada, because today Leo Rautins was asked back to coach the Canadian Men’s basketball team as reported by The Canadian Press. 

“Rautins received a two-year contract extension, Canada Basketball announced Tuesday. However, the second year is contingent on success at next year’s world qualifying tournament.

Allison McNeill, the head coach of Canada’s national women’s team, also received a two-year extension.

Canada Basketball also announced the formation of a nine-member council of excellence that will provide guidance to the national programs. The group includes Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano, Raptors senior vice-president of basketball operations Maurizio Gherardini, Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash as well as longtime coaches Ken and Kathy Shields.”

I can’t believe that with Jay Triano being the only Canadian NBA coach in the league, coaching the only NBA team in Canada, who has previously coached the Canadian national team, they would make this choice. Plus, hiring a “council of excellence” to hold Leo’s hand only proves they need to hire somebody that knows what they ‘re doing.

Call me crazy.

Canadians and Raptor fans please discuss!

Despite reports of Yao Ming retiring from International play next year, Yao has set the record straight about the reports.

“NBA Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has denied reports that he will quit the Chinese national team. In an interview after a Rockets’ training course early Wednesday, Yao said he did not know the source of the release, the sohu.com reports. He said that he and China’s top basketball administration are the only reliable sources of the news about his future with the national team.”

CRI.cn

The man that put Chinese basketball on the map and was the focus of the Beijing Olympics, may be calling it quits from international play according to the China Daily.  At the young age of 28, Yao Ming has reportedly aimed for next year to be his last as a member of the Chinese national basketball team.  

The report quoted an unidentified source closely associated with the NBA all-star center as saying: “Yao has expressed his idea of retiring from international competitions.”"Yao is 28 and has played for the national team in three Olympic Games. He said this team (which competed in the Beijing Games) is the strongest in history and he feels he is unable to play for it any more”

I’m sure that the Chinese government will have the last say about Yao Ming’s retirement and if you ask me, I’m sure we’ll see him in the 2012 Olympic games in the UK.

That’s just communism baby.