Remember when Ron Artest (now MWP) atomic punched Michael Jordan?  If not? This is what MJ has to say about about one of my favorite Lakers when he is not leveling folks:  ”I love Ron Artest,” says Michael Jordan, who developed an appreciation for his physical style when Artest broke two of Jordan‘s ribs the first day the two played together last summer in Chicago. “He’s got so much intensity and such drive. I wish I could have played against him six years ago.” Adds Chicago coach Bill Cartwright, “When somebody brings that much energy to the court, it’s beautiful.” http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1141436/index.htm

 

The hottest rumor about Michael Jordan’s rib injury in Chicago is that it occurred in a fight with Artest. Artest denies it, but being slammed to the ground is how you can break ribs, and that’s the story going around.

It’s being said that Jordan was in full trash-talk mode that day. He had been telling Antoine Walker of the Celtics to count on four losses to the Wizards next season, and he was hitting jump shots in the face of Artest and taunting Artest about his time with the Bulls and was getting personal. The story is that Artest stayed back in the lane, and then when Jordan came in the next time, Artest grabbed him and slammed him to the floor. That’s supposedly when the ribs were broken.

Artest is also said to have thrown a punch at Jordan afterward. Word is the participants were sworn to secrecy or wouldn’t be allowed back in the private gym near Jordan’s West Side restaurant. Who knows if it’s true, but it certainly sounds more realistic than the story Jordan has been telling.

Copyright 2001 The Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagosports.com/bulls/c…154835,00.html

Here’s another link if you still can not believe the story: “In Artest, Sacramento Gets A King-Size Nuisance” By Michael Wilbon (Thursday, January 26, 2006)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012502153.html

He’s still one of my guys and he is a Laker so he is on the right squad!!!

Peace Kwame Tumi

http://www.nba.com/clippers/index_main.html

CP3 It’s going to be a great ride with the Clippers. I am going to miss the Hornets!” [Source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CP3/327852759291?ref=ts&sk=wall]
 
Los Angeles Clippers    tickets
PG 1. Chris Paul
  2. Mo Williams
  3. Eric BledsoeSidelinedEric Bledsoe underwent knee surgery on Oct. 7 and was expected to miss 6-8 weeks at the time — he is expected to return soon.

The Clippers couldn’t comment on Bledsoe’s surgery during the lockout, and it went unreported for two months. For the long-term, this won’t shake up our Clipper backup projections at all. Bledsoe is clearly in the team’s plans and will likely play 20-25 minutes per night.

Dec 9

SG 1. Chauncey Billups
  2. Randy Foye
  3. Willie Warren
PF 1. Blake Griffin
  2. Trey Thompkins
SF 1. Caron ButlerSidelinedCaron Butler and the Clippers have agreed on a three-year contract worth $24 million.

Butler chose the Clippers over the Spurs, Bulls, Heat, Nets, Pistons and Bucks. His $8 million annual salary is more than most of those teams could have offered, and he should immediately start at SF ahead of Ryan Gomes and Al-Farouq Aminu. The veteran Butler will be the Clippers’ fourth or fifth scoring option, and we don’t anticipate him playing a ton of minutes less than a year removed from knee surgery, so temper your fantasy-league expectations.

Dec 8

  2. Ryan Gomes
  3. Travis Leslie
  4. Adam Koch
C 1. DeAndre Jordan
  2. Brian Cook

Peace to Kaman, E. Gordon and Aminu…will watch your progression from a distance now…thanks for the exciting moments!!!

Until later,

Kwame Tumi

afrispora@gmail.com

Will the National Basketball Association become the INTERNATIONAL, WORLD or GLOBAL Basketball Association soon???

What’s good folks? Kwame Tumi chiming in again on another ‘offbeat’ sports topic! J So now that the National Basketball Association’s owners and players have come to terms on a labor deal, it will be interesting to see how the season starts and progresses. As the season is set to begin on Christmas day, some teams will be without key players like J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler and Kenyon Martin of the Denver Nuggets who went to China to play and apparently since they are under contract may not be able to return to the U.S. even with a buyout and similar plights confront NBA players elsewhere.

FYI: The NBA has been entertaining the idea of adding international cities to its host of squads…tell will tell but it looks inevitable!!!

Below are lists of NBA players that are/were playing in other countries.

SOURCE: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6793510/nba-overseas-player-movement (as of November 30th, 2011)

PLAYING OVERSEAS

Player

Team

Jeff Adrien
Golden State Warriors (free agent)
NBA experience: 1 year
Benetton Treviso (Italy)
Adrien has deal with opt-out clause »
Lavoy Allen
Philadelphia 76ers
NBA experience: Rookie
Strasbourg (France)
Deal includes opt-out clause »
David Andersen
New Orleans Hornets
NBA experience: 2 years
Montepaschi Siena (Italy)
Report: Andersen inks three-year deal »
Hilton Armstrong
Atlanta Hawks (free agent)
NBA experience: 5 years
ASVEL Villeurbanne (France)
Armstrong has one-year deal »
Leandro Barbosa
Toronto Raptors
NBA experience: 8 years
Flamengo (Brazil)
Back in Brazil; opt-out included »
Nicolas Batum
Portland Trail Blazers
NBA experience: 3 years
Nancy (France)
Batum has one-year deal »
Keith Benson
Atlanta Hawks
NBA experience: Rookie
Team Sassari (Italy)
Signs in Italy; opt-out included »
Craig Brackins
Philadelphia 76ers
NBA experience: 1 year
Maccabi Ashdod (Israel)
Brackins heading to Israel »
Aaron Brooks
Phoenix Suns
NBA experience: 4 years
Guandong (China)
Brooks headed to China »
Omri Casspi
Sacramento Kings
NBA experience: 2 years
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Signs deal with powerhouse »
Wilson Chandler
Denver Nuggets (free agent)
NBA experience: 4 years
Zhejiang Guangsha (China)
No opt-out in this deal »
Austin Daye
Detroit Pistons
NBA experience: 2 years
Daye leaves Russian team »
Boris Diaw
Charlotte Bobcats
NBA experience: 8 years
JSA Bordeaux Basket (France)
Playing native France »
Jon Diebler
Portland Trail Blazers
NBA experience: Rookie
Panionios (Greece)
Report: Signed one-year deal »
Joey Dorsey
Toronto Raptors (free agent)
NBA experience: 3 years
Baskonia (Spain)
Signs in Spain, no opt-out »
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Milwaukee Bucks (free agent)
NBA experience: 3 years
Virtus Bologna (Italy)
Reached agreement on deal »
Goran Dragic
Houston Rockets
NBA experience: 3 years
Caja Laboral (Spain)
Dragic signs in Spain »
Semih Erden
Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA experience: 1 year
Erden to play in Turkey »
Jordan Farmar
New Jersey Nets
NBA experience: 5 years
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Farmar to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv »
Rudy Fernandez
Dallas Mavericks
NBA experience: 3 years
Real Madrid (Spain)
Fernandez heads to Spain; has out »
T.J. Ford
Indiana Pacers
NBA experience: 7 years
KK Zagreb (Croatia)
Ford playing in Croatia during lockout »
Dan Gadzuric
New Jersey Nets (free agent)
NBA experience: 9 years
Jiangsu (China)
Signs with team for full season »
Danilo Gallinari
Denver Nuggets
NBA experience: 3 years
Olimpia Milano (Italy)
Officially headed to Italy »
Danny Green
San Antonio Spurs
NBA experience: 2 years
Union Olimpija (Slovenia)
Signed with Slovenian league champ »
Hamed Haddadi
Memphis Grizzlies
NBA experience: 3 years
Melli Haffari (Iran)
Signs to play in native Iran »
Justin Harper
Orlando Magic
NBA experience: Rookie
Strasbourg (France)
Report: Harper agrees, has NBA out »
Luther Head
Free agent
NBA experience: 6 years
Jiangsu (China)
Report: Head heads to China for season »
Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka
NBA experience: 2 years
Real Madrid (Spain)
Ibaka has out clause »
Ersan Ilyasova
Milwaukee Bucks
NBA experience: 3 years
Anadolu Efes (Turkey)
One-year deal with out-clause »
Darnell Jackson
Sacramento Kings (free agent)
NBA experience: 3 years
BC Donetsk (Ukraine)
Report: Jackson goes abroad; has out »
Pooh Jeter
Sacramento Kings
NBA experience: 1 year
Joventut Badalona (Spain)
Report: Jeter returning to Spain »
Andrei Kirilenko
Utah Jazz (free agent)
NBA experience: 10 years
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Signs with Russian team »
Nenad Krstic
Boston Celtics (free agent)
NBA experience: 7 years
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Reports: Krstic signs two-year deal »
Acie Law
Golden State Warriors (free agent)
NBA experience: 4 years
Partizan (Serbia)
Law signs one-year deal »
Gani Lawal
Phoenix Suns
NBA experience: 1 year
Zastal (Poland)
Report: Lawal to play in Poland »
Ty Lawson
Denver Nuggets
NBA experience: 2 years
Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Lawson inks deal with opt-out »
Jon Leuer
Milwaukee Bucks
NBA experience: Rookie
Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany)
Agent: Deal includes opt-out clause »
Ian Mahinmi
Dallas Mavericks
NBA experience: 3 years
Le Havre (France)
Report: Agrees with French club »
Kenyon Martin
Denver Nuggets
NBA experience: 11 years (free agent)
Xingiang Guanghui (China)
Martin headed to China »
Patty Mills
Portland Trail Blazers
NBA experience: 2 years
Melbourne Tigers (Australia)
Homecoming imminent for Mills »
E’Twaun Moore
Boston Celtics
NBA experience: Rookie
Benetton Treviso (Italy)
Rookie signs with Italian team »
Timofey Mozgov
Denver Nuggets
NBA experience: 1 year
Khimki Moscow (Russia)
Mozgov heading back to Russia »
Andres Nocioni
Philadelphia 76ers
NBA experience: 7 years
Penarol (Argentina)
Playing in Super 8 tourney »
Mehmet Okur
Utah Jazz
NBA experience: 9 years
Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey)
Agent: Okur signs in Turkey with out »
Zaza Pachulia
Atlanta Hawks
NBA experience: 8 years
Galatasaray (Turkey)
Returns to Turkey during lockout »
Tony Parker
San Antonio Spurs
NBA experience: 10 years
ASVEL (France)
Parker to play abroad for $2K »
Nikola Pekovic
Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA experience:1 year
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
Deal has opt-out »
Josh Powell
Atlanta Hawks (free agent)
NBA experience: 6 years
Liaoning Panpan (China)
One-year deal, no opt-out »
Chris Quinn
San Antonio Spurs (free agent)
NBA experience: 5 years
Khimki (Russia)
Quinn signs one-year deal »
Magnum Rolle
Atlanta Hawks
NBA experience: 1 year
LG Sakers (South Korea)
Rolle to play in Korea »
Brian Scalabrine
Chicago Bulls (free agent)
NBA experience: 10 years
Benetton Treviso (Italy)
Heading to Italy without contract »
Thabo Sefolosha
Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA experience: 5 years
Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Sefolosha signs with Turkey club »
Kevin Seraphin
Washington Wizards
NBA experience: 1 year
Caja Laboral (Spain)
Seraphin seeks challenge in Spain »
Mustafa Shakur
Washington Wizards (free agent)
NBA experience: 1 year
Novipiu Casale (Italy)
Report: Moves from France to Italy »
Kyle Singler
Detroit Pistons
NBA experience: Rookie
Alicante (Spain)
Ex-Duke star has opt-out clause »
J.R. Smith
Denver Nuggets
NBA experience: 7 years
Zhejiang (China)
Report: Hurts knee in China »
Darius Songaila
Philadelphia 76ers (free agent)
NBA experience: 8 years
Galatasaray (Turkey)
One-year deal with no opt-out »
Tiago Splitter
San Antonio Spurs
NBA experience: 1 year
Valencia Basket (Spain)
Splitter to play in Spain, team says »
Pape Sy
Atlanta Hawks
NBA experience: 1 year
Gravelines-Dunkerque (France)
Deal has opt-out clause »
Garrett Temple
Charlotte Bobcats (free agent)
NBA experience: 2 years
Casale (Italy)
One-year deal with no opt-out »
Ronny Turiaf
New York Knicks
NBA experience: 6 years
Asvel (France)
Turiaf finally debuts in France »
Ekpe Udoh
Golden State Warriors
NBA experience: 1 year
Bnei Hasharon (Israel)
Report: Udoh in agreement »
Nikola Vucevic
Philadelphia 76ers
NBA experience: Rookie
KK Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro)
Deal has NBA-out clause »
Sasha Vujacic
New Jersey Nets (free agent)
NBA experience: 7 years
Anadolu Efes (Turkey)
Signed one-year deal »
Von Wafer
Boston Celtics (free agent)
NBA experience: 5 years
Venoli Cremona (Italy)
Agreed to one-year deal with opt-out »
Sonny Weems
Toronto Raptors (restricted free agent)
NBA experience: 3 years
Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
One-year deal with no opt-out »
Mario West
New Jersey Nets
NBA experience: 4 years
Tezenis Verona (Italy)
Signs with Italian team »
Deron Williams
New Jersey Nets
NBA experience: 6 years
Besiktas (Turkey)
One-year deal with opt-out »
Reggie Williams
Golden State Warriors (free agent)
NBA experience: 2 years
Caja Laboral Vitoria (Spain)
One-year deal with opt-out »
Sean Williams
Free Agent
NBA experience: 3 years
Maccabi Haifa (Israel)
Agrees to deal with opt-out »
Yi Jianlian
Washington Wizards (free agent)
NBA experience: 4 years
Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
Yi heads home to China »

RETURNED FROM PLAYING OVERSEAS

Player

Team

Alexis Ajinca
Toronto Raptors (free agent)
NBA experience: 3 years
Hyeres-Toulon (France)
May return after one-week tryout »
DeJuan Blair
San Antonio Spurs
NBA experience: 2 years
Krasnye Krylya (Russia)
Blair released after four games »
Trevor Booker
Washington Wizards
NBA experience: 1 year
Bnei Hasharon (Israel)
May return once thigh heals »
Rasual Butler
Chicago Bulls (free agent)
NBA experience: 9 years
Gran Canaria (Spain)
Butler back for personal reasons »
Earl Clark
Orlando Magic
NBA experience: 2 years
Zhejiang (China)
Clark leaves Chinese League »
Alonzo Gee
Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA experience: 2 years
Asseco Prokom (Poland)
Leaves for personal reasons »
J.J. Hickson
Sacramento Kings
NBA experience: 3 years
Bnei Hasharon (Israel)
Lasts just one game abroad »
Trey Johnson
Los Angeles Lakers
NBA experience: 2 years
Teramo (Italy)
Johnson to rehab back in States »
Chandler Parsons
Houston Rockets
NBA experience: Rookie
Cholet (France)
Leaves France after four games »
DaJuan Summers
Detroit Pistons (free agent)
NBA experience: 2 years
Montepaschi Siena (Italy)
Left Italy, but now bound for Spain? »
Ben Uzoh
New Jersey Nets
NBA experience: 1 years
Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)
Uzoh, Russian team part ways »

WHAT WILL BE THE LEGACY OF THOSE THAT EXPLORED ‘OTHER HOOP WATERS’???

AT A TIME WHEN THERE WAS LESS HOPE FOR AN NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION SEASON, SEASONED VETERANS LIKE TY LAWSON ‘TOOK THEIR TALENTS’ OVERSEAS, EVEN IF LEBRON DID NOT LEAD THE WAY OR FOLLOW.

Below are some players from the NBA or U.S. colleges that I recognized earlier in the Fall when researching the various destinations of notable players. (Disclaimer: The information gathered is not comprehensive and may have changed since my last period of research in early October : -)

SOURCE: euroleague.com, fiba.com and my ‘knowledge’ of hoops

BOLD = played in the NBA / [ ] = College attended

Efes

4 BALBAY, DOGUS [U of Texas] Turkey Guard 1.85 1989
5 YIKILMAZ, SOYKAN Turkey Guard 1.86 1992
6 ILIEVSKI, VLADO FYROM Guard 1.88 1980
8 KINSEY, TARENCE USA Forward 2.00 1984
10 TUNCERI, KEREM Turkey Guard 1.90 1979
11 AKYOL, CENK Turkey Guard 1.97 1987
12 GONLUM, KEREM Turkey Forward 2.08 1977
15 BATISTA, ESTEBAN Uruguay Center 2.08 1983
19 VUJACIC, SASHA Slovenia Guard 2.00 1984
20 SAVANOVIC, DUSKO Serbia Forward 2.04 1983
21 ILYASOVA, ERSAN Turkey Forward 2.07 1987
23 KUQO, ERMAL Albania Center 2.07 1980
32 GULER, SINAN Turkey Guard 1.92 1983
34 SIRIN, OSMAN Turkey Forward 2.07 1990
42 BARAC, STANKO Croatia Center 2.17 1986

Prokom

5 LAFAYETTE, OLIVER {Houston] USA Guard 1.88 1984
6 SIKORA, SLAWOMIR Poland Guard 1.93 1986
9 SEWERYN, LUKASZ Poland Forward 1.96 1982
10 BLASSINGAME, JEREL [UNLV] USA Guard 1.75 1981
11 MOTIEJUNAS, DONATAS Lithuania Center 2.13 1990
12 DMITRIEV, FEDOR Russia Forward 2.05 1984
15 FRASUNKIEWICZ, PRZEMYSLAW Poland Forward 2.02 1979
16 LAPETA, ADAM Poland Center 2.17 1987
17 ZAMOJSKI, PRZEMYSLAW Poland Guard 1.86 1986
20 SZCZOTKA, PIOTR Poland Forward 1.96 1981
23 BROWN, DEVIN USA Guard 1.96 1978
24 KUEBLER, MICHAEL [Hawaii] USA Guard 1.95 1982
33 GEE, ALONZO USA Forward 1.98 1987
34 HRYCANIUK, ADAM Poland Center 2.06 1984

Spirou

- HOUNHANOU, SENNA Belgium Guard 1.92 1990
4 HILL, CHRIS [Michigan State] USA Guard 1.91 1983
5 WELSCH, JIRI Czech Rep. Guard 2.02 1980
6 BROYLES, DWAYNE [James Madison] USA Forward 1.96 1982
7 HAMILTON, JUSTIN [Louisiana State] USA Guard 1.90 1980
8 GREEN, CALEB [Oral Roberts] USA Forward 2.03 1985
9 OVENEKE, RANDY Belgium Forward 2.01 1986
10 RIDDICK, ANDRE [Kentucky) USA Center 2.08 1973
11 JADIN, AMAURY Belgium Guard 1.89 1986
12 MALLET, DEMOND USA Guard 1.86 1978
13 PENNINCK, BORIS Belgium Center 2.02 1988
14 MORAY, YANNICK Belgium Forward 1.96 1991
16 BEGHIN, CHRISTOPHE Belgium Center 2.07 1980
20 SHENGELIA, TORNIKE Georgia Forward 2.02 1991

Cantu

- ABASS, AWUDU Italy Guard 1.94 1993
- MERONI, MARCO Italy Forward 2.02 1993
4 LIGHTY, DAVID [Ohio State] USA Guard 1.95 1988
5 MICOV, VLADIMIR Serbia Forward 2.01 1985
7 SCEKIC, MARKO Serbia Center 2.07 1981
8 ORTNER, BENJAMIN Austria Forward 2.06 1983
9 MARKOISHVILI, MANUCHAR Georgia Guard 1.97 1986
10 LEUNEN, MAARTEN [Oregon] USA Forward 2.06 1985
11 MARCONATO, DENIS Italy Center 2.14 1975
12 MAZZARINO, NICOLAS Italy Guard 1.81 1975
17 DIVIACH, MARCO Italy Forward 2.00 1988
19 SHERMADINI, GIORGI Georgia Center 2.16 1989
20 CINCIARINI, ANDREA Italy Guard 1.90 1986
21 BOLZONELLA, FEDERICO Italy Guard 1.84 1984
55 BASILE, GIANLUCA Italy Guard 1.92 1975

Bilbao

4 FISHER, JOSH [Saint Louis] USA Guard 1.89 1980
7 JACKSON, AARON [Duquesne] USA Guard 1.93 1986
10 HAMPL, TOMAS Czech Rep. Center 2.15 1988
11 MAVROEIDIS, DIMITRIOS Greece Center 2.08 1985
13 BANIC, MARKO Croatia Forward 2.04 1984
15 MUMBRU, ALEX Spain Forward 2.02 1979
16 STEVIC, OLIVER Serbia Center 2.05 1984
17 HERVELLE, AXEL Belgium Forward 2.05 1983
21 FISCHER, D’OR [West Virginia] USA Center 2.11 1981
31 LOPEZ, RAUL Spain Guard 1.82 1980
34 VASILIADIS, KOSTAS Greece Forward 2.00 1984
44 GRIMAU, ROGER Spain Guard 1.96 1978
45 BLUMS, JANIS Latvia Guard 1.90 1982

Brose

- MONSE, STEVEN Germany Forward 1.98 1990
- DIPPOLD, JORG Germany Guard 1.95 1992
8 SUPUT, PREDRAG Serbia Forward 2.00 1977
9 TADDA, KARSTEN Germany Guard 1.90 1988
11 JENKINS, JULIUS [Georgia Southern] USA Guard 1.87 1981
12 SCHMIDT, DANIEL Germany Guard 1.86 1990
13 STUCKEY, MAURICE Germany Guard 1.87 1990
14 NEUMANN, PHILIPP Germany Center 2.10 1992
21 PLEISS, TIBOR Germany Center 2.13 1989
22 ROBERTS, BRIAN [Dayton] USA Guard 1.88 1985
23 JACOBSEN, CASEY USA Guard 1.98 1981
24 TUCKER, ANTHONY [Iowa] USA Forward 1.98 1985
25 GAVEL, ANTON Slovakia Guard 1.89 1984
44 SLAUGHTER, MARCUS [San Diego State] USA Forward 2.03 1985

Caja Laboral

- GACIC, SADNRO Bosnia – Herzegovina Guard 1.95 1996
- MARTINEZ, CARLOS Spain Guard 1.96 1996
- DIOP, MAMADOU Senegal Forward 1.99 1993
4 RIBAS, PAU Spain Guard 1.90 1987
5 PRIGIONI, PABLO Argentina Guard 1.93 1977
9 DORSEY, RICHARD USA Forward 2.03 1983
11 BJELICA, MILKO Serbia Forward 2.07 1984
13 SERAPHIN, KEVIN France Forward 2.05 1989
19 SAN EMETERIO, FERNANDO Spain Guard 1.98 1984
22 HEURTEL, THOMAS France Guard 1.89 1989
24 OLESON, BRAD USA Guard 1.91 1983
33 TELETOVIC, MIRZA Bosnia – Herzegovina Forward 2.06 1985
42 CALBARRO, UNAI Spain Forward 2.05 1989
44 BJELICA, NEMANJA Serbia Forward 2.09 1988
55 WILLIAMS, REGGIE USA Guard 1.96 1986

Cska Moscow

4 TEODOSIC, MILOS Serbia Guard 1.95 1987
7 LAVRINOVIC, DARJUS Lithuania Center 2.12 1979
8 SISKAUSKAS, RAMUNAS Lithuania Forward 1.98 1978
11 MEJIA, SAMMY Dominican Republic Guard 1.98 1983
12 KRSTIC, NENAD Serbia Center 2.12 1983
15 KIRILENKO, ANDREI Russia Forward 2.06 1981
18 VORONOV, EUGENY Russia Guard 1.94 1986
20 VORONTSEVICH, ANDREY Russia Forward 2.04 1987
23 SHVED, ALEXEY Russia Guard 1.95 1988
24 KAUN, SASHA [Kansas] Russia Center 2.13 1985
30 SOKOLOV, DMITRY Russia Center 2.14 1985
31 KHRYAPA, VIKTOR Russia Forward 2.03 1982
33 PONKRASHOV, ANTON Russia Forward 2.00 1986
41 KURBANOV, NIKITA Russia Forward 2.02 1986
44 GORDON, JAMONT [Mississippi State] USA Guard 1.94 1987

Milano

- MERLATI, ANDREA Italy Forward 1.98 1995
- BARTOLI, LORENZO Italy Guard 1.98 1994
- AMATO, ANDREA Italy Guard 1.84 1994
5 GIACHETTI, JACOPO Italy Guard 1.90 1983
6 MANCINELLI, STEFANO Italy Forward 2.03 1983
7 HAIRSTON, MALIK USA Forward 1.98 1987
8 GALLINARI, DANILO Italy Forward 2.08 1988
9 FOTSIS, ANTONIS Greece Forward 2.09 1981
10 COOK, OMAR USA Guard 1.86 1982
11 NICHOLAS, DREW USA Guard 1.93 1981
12 ROCCA, MASON Italy Forward 2.04 1977
14 FILLOY, ARIEL Italy Guard 1.90 1987
15 BOUROUSIS, IOANNIS Greece Center 2.10 1983
18 MELLI, NICOLO Italy Forward 2.05 1991
20 VIGGIANO, JEFFREY Italy Forward 1.96 1984
43 RADOSEVIC, LEON Croatia Center 2.08 1990

Barcelona

- GARCIA, IVAN Spain Forward 2.05 1986
- PEREZ, JOSEP Spain Guard 1.83 1994
8 SADA, VICTOR Spain Guard 1.92 1984
9 HUERTAS, MARCELINHO Italy Guard 1.90 1983
11 NAVARRO, JUAN CARLOS Spain Guard 1.91 1980
13 PEROVIC, KOSTA Serbia Center 2.17 1985
17 VAZQUEZ, FRAN Spain Center 2.09 1983
18 WALLACE, C.J. [Princeton] USA Forward 2.06 1982
20 INGLES, JOE England Forward 2.03 1987
21 NDONG, BONIFACE Senegal Center 2.13 1977
22 RABASEDA, XAVIER Spain Forward 2.01 1989
25 LORBEK, ERAZEM Slovenia Center 2.08 1984
31 EIDSON, CHUCK [South Carolina] USA Guard 2.02 1980
33 MICKEAL, PETE [Cincinnati] USA Forward 1.97 1978

Fenerbahce

4 UKIC, ROKO Croatia Guard 1.96 1984
5 JERRELLS, CURTIS [Baylor] USA Guard 1.85 1987
6 TURKCAN, MIRSAD Turkey Forward 2.06 1976
7 ONAN, OMER Turkey Guard 1.94 1978
8 EROGLU, ERBIL Turkey Guard 1.95 1993
10 ATSUR, ENGIN Turkey Guard 1.93 1987
13 VIDMAR, GASPER Slovenia Center 2.10 1987
14 PEKER, KAYA Turkey Center 2.08 1980
15 GIST, JAMES [Maryland] USA Forward 2.06 1986
21 SAVAS, OGUZ Turkey Center 2.13 1987
23 DEMIREL, HAKAN Turkey Guard 1.92 1985
25 SEFOLOSHA, THABO Switzerland Forward 1.99 1984
32 CANDAN, BERKAY Turkey Forward 2.05 1993
33 TOMAS, MARKO Croatia Guard 2.01 1985
44 BOGDANOVIC, BOJAN Croatia Forward 2.00 1989
55 PRELDZIC, EMIR Slovenia Forward 2.06 1987

Galatasaray MP

4 SHIPP, JOSHUA [UCLA] USA Forward 1.96 1986
5 LAKOVIC, JAKA Slovenia Guard 1.86 1978
8 TOPALOGLU, CANER Turkey Forward 2.00 1985
9 SHUMPERT, PRESTON USA Forward 1.98 1979
11 AÇIK, TUTKU Turkey Guard 1.94 1980
12 ANDRIC, LUKSA Croatia Center 2.10 1985
13 PACHULIA, ZAZA Georgia Center 2.10 1984
14 YILDIRIM, HALUK Turkey Forward 2.00 1972
16 BUKER, EVREN Turkey Guard 1.94 1985
17 SANLI, SERTAC Turkey Center 2.09 1991
19 ALDEMIR, FURKAN Turkey Forward 2.07 1991
22 LUCAS, JAMON-ALFRED [Virginia Tech]USA Guard 1.91 1984
25 SONGAILA, DARIUS Lithuania Forward 2.06 1978
33 ARSLAN, ENDER Turkey Guard 1.88 1983
41 OZER, CEVHER Turkey Forward 2.05 1983

Zagreb

4 MULAOMEROVIC, DAMIR Croatia Guard 1.95 1974
5 MASIC, ANTE Croatia Forward 1.98 1985
6 HALILOVIC, MIRALEM Bosnia – Herzegovina Forward 2.06 1991
7 SIMON, KRUNOSLAV Croatia Forward 1.97 1985
9 BABIC, PETAR Croatia Guard 1.90 1985
10 KASUN, MARIO Croatia Center 2.13 1980
12 DIASSE, PAPA Senegal Forward 2.12 1987
14 MAY, SEAN GREGORY USA Center 2.06 1984
21 GARRETT, DIANTE [Iowa State] USA Guard 1.93 1988
22 RANCIC, DAMIR Croatia Guard 1.98 1983
24 PROSTRAN, TONI Croatia Guard 1.81 1991
31 OZBOLT, SASO Slovenia Guard 1.91 1981
35 SARIC, DARIO Croatia Forward 2.07 1994
42 HEYTVELT, JOSH [Gonzaga] USA Forward 2.11 1986

Maccabi Electra

- HARARI, ARAD Israel Guard 1.90 1994
- ZALMANSON, IDAN Israel Forward 2.05 1995
4 PAPALOUKAS, THEODOROS Greece Guard 2.00 1977
5 HENDRIX, RICHARD USA Forward 2.03 1986
6 SMITH, DEVIN [Ohio State] USA Guard 1.96 1983
7 BLU, DAVID [Southern California] Israel Forward 2.01 1980
8 ELIYAHU, LIOR Israel Forward 2.07 1985
9 FARMAR, JORDAN USA Guard 1.88 1986
10 PNINI, GUY Israel Forward 2.01 1983
11 BURSTEIN, TAL Israel Guard 1.98 1980
12 OHAYON, YOGEV Israel Guard 1.89 1987
14 SCHYER, JONATHAN Israel Guard 1.96 1987
15 JAMES, SHAWN [Duquesne] USA Center 2.08 1983
21 SCHORTSANITIS, SOFOKLIS Greece Center 2.06 1985

Montepaschi

 - UDOM, MATTIA Italy Guard 2.00 1993
- SEVERINI, GIOVANNI Italy Guard 1.92 1993
4 McCALEBB, BO [New Orleans] USA Guard 1.83 1985
6 ZISIS, NIKOS Greece Guard 1.95 1983
7 ANDERSEN, DAVID Denmark Center 2.12 1980
9 CARRARETTO, MARCO Italy Forward 1.96 1977
12 LAVRINOVIC, KSISTOF Lithuania Center 2.09 1979
13 KAUKENAS, RIMANTAS Lithuania Guard 1.92 1977
14 RESS, TOMAS Italy Center 2.08 1980
15 MICHELORI, ANDREA Italy Forward 2.02 1978
18 LECHTHALER, LUCA Italy Center 2.06 1986
20 STONEROOK, SHAUN [Ohio State] USA Forward 2.01 1977
21 ARADORI, PIETRO Italy Guard 1.94 1988
34 MOSS, DAVID [Indiana State] USA Forward 1.95 1983
35 SUMMERS, DAJUAN USA Forward 2.03 1988

Olympiacos

4 HINES, KYLE [NC Greensboro] USA Forward 1.98 1986
5 LUCAS, KALIN [Michigan State] USA Guard 1.85 1989
6 ANTIC, PERO FYROM Forward 2.10 1982
7 SPANOULIS, VASSILIS Greece Guard 1.93 1982
9 HOWARD, MATT [Butler] USA Forward 2.03 1989
10 KESELJ, MARKO Serbia Forward 2.08 1988
11 PELEKANOS, MICHALIS Greece Guard 1.98 1981
12 PAPADOPOULOS, LAZAROS Greece Center 2.10 1980
13 GECEVICIUS, MARTYNAS Lithuania Guard 1.93 1988
14 GLYNIADAKIS, ANDREAS Greece Center 2.15 1981
15 PRINTEZIS, GEORGIOS Greece Forward 2.02 1985
16 PAPANIKOLAOU, KOSTAS Greece Forward 2.03 1990
17 MANTZARIS, EVANGELOS Greece Guard 1.96 1990
18 SLOUKAS, KOSTAS Greece Guard 1.90 1990
19 KATSIVELIS, DIMITRIOS Greece Guard 1.96 1991

Panathinaikos

6 MARIC, ALEKS Serbia Center 2.11 1984
7 PERPEROGLOU, STRATOS Greece Forward 2.03 1984
8 BATISTE, MIKE [Arizona State] USA Forward 2.04 1977
9 LOGAN, DAVID [U of Indianapolis] USA Guard 1.84 1982
10 SATO, ROMAIN [Xavier] Central Africa Republic Forward 1.94 1981
11 CALATHES, PAT [Saint Joseph’s] Greece Forward 2.08 1985
12 TSARTSARIS, KOSTAS Greece Forward 2.09 1979
13 DIAMANTIDIS, DIMITRIS Greece Guard 1.96 1980
14 VOUGIOUKAS, IAN Greece Center 2.11 1985
15 CALATHES, NICK [Florida] Greece Guard 1.98 1989
16 KYRITSIS, ALEXANDROS Greece Guard 1.92 1982
17 SMITH, STEVEN [La Salle] USA Forward 2.03 1983
18 KAIMAKOGLOU, KOSTAS Greece Forward 2.04 1983
19 JASIKEVICIUS, SARUNAS Lithuania Guard 1.93 1976
19 ZOUMPOS, FOTIOS Greece Guard 1.90 1993

Partizan

5 LAW, ACIE USA Guard 1.90 1985
7 KECMAN, DUSAN Serbia Forward 1.97 1977
8 RADULJICA, MIROSLAV Serbia Center 2.13 1988
10 JARAMAZ, NEMANJA Serbia Forward 1.96 1991
11 LUCIC, VLADIMIR Serbia Forward 2.02 1989
12 MILOSAVLJEVIC, DRAGAN Serbia Forward 1.98 1989
13 BOGDANOVIC, BOGDAN Serbia Guard 1.97 1992
14 KATIC, RASKO Serbia Center 2.08 1980
18 BESOVIC, NEMANJA Serbia Center 2.18 1992
19 DJEKIC, BRANISLAV Serbia Forward 2.06 1991
20 BOZIC, PETAR Serbia Guard 1.97 1978
22 CAKAREVIC, MARKO Serbia Forward 2.00 1988
25 MACVAN, MILAN Serbia Forward 2.06 1989
33 ANDJUSIC, DANILO Serbia Guard 1.95 1991
41 PEKOVIC, NIKOLA Montenegro Center 2.10 1986

Real Madrid

- KASSE, MANSOUR Senegal Center 2.06 1992
- FROEHLICH, JEFERSON Brazil Guard 1.93 1991
- ARTEAGA, VICTOR Spain Center 2.10 1992
4 TOMIC, ANTE Croatia Center 2.17 1987
5 FERNANDEZ, RUDY Spain Guard 1.96 1985
6 SANZ, JORGE - Guard 1.87 1989
7 POCIUS, MARTYNAS [Duke] Lithuania Forward 1.96 1986
8 SUAREZ, CARLOS Spain Forward 2.02 1986
9 REYES, FELIPE Spain Forward 2.03 1980
12 MIROTIC, NIKOLA Spain Forward 2.08 1991
13 RODRIGUEZ, SERGIO Spain Guard 1.89 1986
14 VELICKOVIC, NOVICA Serbia Forward 2.05 1986
16 BEGIC, MIRZA Slovenia Center 2.20 1985
20 CARROLL, JAYCEE [Utah State] USA Guard 1.88 1983
23 LLULL, SERGIO Spain Guard 1.90 1987

SLUC Nancy

4 POURCHOT, VINCENT France Center 2.17 1992
5 AKINGBALA, AKIN Nigeria Center 2.09 1983
6 GRANT, KENNETH Sweden Guard 1.88 1982
7 BADIANE, MOUSSA France Center 2.08 1981
8 SHULER, JAMAL [Virginia Commonwealth] USA Guard 1.91 1986
9 SYLLA, ABDEL KADER Seychelles Forward 2.05 1990
10 THALIEN, KEVIN France Guard 1.90 1992
11 LINEHAN, JOHN [Providence] USA Guard 1.75 1978
13 SAMNICK, VICTOR France Forward 2.03 1979
14 PINDA, KINGSLEY France Guard 1.95 1992
16 KURTIC, DZENAN France Center 2.06 1992
17 AMAGOU, PAPE PHILIPPE France Guard 1.84 1985
18 MOERMAN, ADRIEN France Forward 2.01 1988
55 BATUM, NICOLAS France Forward 2.03 1988

Unicaja

- KUZMIC, OGNJEN Bosnia – Herzegovina Center 2.14 1990
- ABRINES, ALEJANDRO Spain Forward 1.97 1993
- POZAS, JOSE Spain Guard 1.81 1992
4 FITCH, GERALD USA Guard 1.91 1982
5 RODRIGUEZ, BERNI Spain Guard 1.97 1980
6 ROWLAND, EARL USA [St. Mary’s] Guard 1.88 1983
9 VALTERS, KRISTAPS Latvia Guard 1.88 1981
10 PERIC, HRVOJE Croatia Forward 2.03 1985
12 DARDEN, TREMMELL [Niagara] USA Forward 1.94 1981
15 GARBAJOSA, JORGE Spain Forward 2.05 1977
19 FREELAND, JOEL United Kingdom Forward 2.08 1987
21 ZORIC, LUKA Croatia Center 2.11 1984
22 SINANOVIC, NEDZAD Bosnia – Herzegovina Center 2.22 1983
34 BLANCO, SAUL Spain Guard 1.94 1985

Kazan

4 LYDAY, TERRELL [BYU] USA Guard 1.91 1978
5 GOLOVIN, DMITRY Russia Guard 1.92 1988
7 ZAMANSKIY, IGOR Russia Forward 2.02 1977
9 SAMOYLENKO, PETR Russia Guard 1.86 1977
11 PASHUTIN, ZAKHAR Russia Guard 1.96 1974
12 VEREMEENKO, VLADIMIR Belarus Forward 2.08 1984
13 GREER, LYNN USA Guard 1.86 1979
14 SAVRASENKO, ALEKSEY Russia Center 2.15 1979
15 GUBANOV, PETR Russia Forward 2.06 1987
21 McCARTY, KELLY Russia Forward 2.01 1975
32 JAWAI, NATHAN Australia Center 2.07 1986
33 CHERNIAVSKII, EVGENII Russia Guard 1.93 1984
44 DOMERCANT, HENRY [E. Illinois] USA Guard 1.93 1980
54 WILKINSON, MIKE [Wisconsin] USA Forward 2.04 1981

Ljubljana

- KASTRATI, ERJON Albania Guard 1.98 1994
- MORINA, GEZIM Slovenia Center 2.03 1992
6 CAPIN, ALEKSANDAR Slovenia Guard 1.86 1982
7 ROTHBART, ROBERT Israel Center 2.17 1986
8 BLAZIC, JAKA Slovenia Guard 1.93 1990
9 THOMPSON, DEON [North Carolina] USA Forward 2.03 1988
10 WOODSIDE, BEN [North Dakota State] USA Guard 1.80 1985
11 MURIC, DINO Slovenia Forward 1.99 1990
12 JAGODNIK, GORAN Slovenia Forward 2.02 1974
13 SALIN, SASU Finland Forward 1.90 1991
14 GREEN, DANNY USA Guard 1.98 1987
21 VARDA, RATKO Serbia Center 2.13 1979
22 MARKOTA, DAMIR Croatia Center 2.08 1985
24 BERTANS, DAVIS Latvia Forward 2.05 1992

Zalgiris

- DIMSA, TOMAS Lithuania Guard 1.93 1994
- KYMANTAS, SIMONAS Lithuania Forward 2.08 1993
4 LAWSON, TY USA Guard 1.80 1987
6 POPOVIC, MARKO Croatia Guard 1.85 1982
9 KALNIETIS, MANTAS Lithuania Guard 1.95 1986
10 DELININKAITIS, TOMAS Lithuania Guard 1.90 1982
11 RAKOVIC, MILOVAN Serbia Center 2.08 1985
12 KLIMAVICIUS, TADAS Lithuania Forward 2.04 1982
13 JANKUNAS, PAULIUS Lithuania Forward 2.03 1984
15 JAVTOKAS, ROBERTAS Lithuania Center 2.10 1980
19 KUZMINSKAS, MINDAUGAS Lithuania Forward 2.05 1989
21 MILAKNIS, ARTURAS Lithuania Guard 1.95 1986
24 WEEMS, SONNY USA Forward 1.98 1986
41 COLLINS, DeJUAN [Louisiana State] USA Guard 1.88 1976

HOPE YOU GOT SOMETHING OUT OF THIS AND LOVE BASKETBALL IN MOST OF ITS FORMS AND MANY A LOCATION…

BRING ON THE NBA SEASON AND I SUPPOSE THE FURTHER GLOBALIZATION OF THE SPORT!!!

UNTIL LATER,

KWAME TUMI

www.afrispora.com/kwametumi.html

In between watching the last quarter of today’s NFL game on Fox, I clicked over to CBS and off all things Bullriding was on.  I have watched a tidbit of dudes on mad bulls about as much as I have watched Springer or Steve’s show usually until the next commercial break if not sooner. 

I watched one ride and the dude stayed on the bull for close to 8 seconds…then going into the commercial break they mentioned and showed a highlight of “Bushwhacker”…clicked over to the game, it was on commercial break, so I broke my habit and clicked back to bullriding just in time to see “Bushwhacker” buck this guy off his back in just over 2 seconds

…IT WAS AMAZING AND ENCOURAGING…this bull/animal/being of the ‘Earth’ had the attitude of “get up off me, fool” (in L.A. native parlance hahaha)…

Not sure if I am a fan of rodeo events like bullriding but I am surely a fan of “Bushwhacker” and other bulls that keep resisting a form of ‘domestication’…

Excellent video on “Bushwhacker” (I am super-late on him video is from 2009″

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/07/19/sports/100000000954768/a-bull-named-bushwacker.html

“He bushwhacked Cody Nance and now he’s looking to do the same to his fellow bulls.

Bushwacker (Moreno & Oliveira), following his trouncing of Nance in the short go in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, has risen to the top of Cody Lambert’s estimation of who will become 2010 PBR World Champion Bull.

“Bushwacker bucked so hard at Memphis that I think he became the frontrunner,” said Lambert, PBR’s longtime livestock director. “It’s the best trip I’ve seen a bull have all year.”

Bushwacker was awarded a career-high-tying 47 points in casting off Nance in 2.1 seconds.

“If Bushwacker has two trips like that in Las Vegas, I don’t think anything can touch him,” Lambert said.”

Source: http://www.teampbr.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/937463/pid/400025

Hope you got a kick out of this post…much respect as usual,

Kwame Tumi

 Los Angeles Aztecs (1974-1981)
While shopping online for a cool, not to expensive :-) soccer aka football jersey I came across a bit of Los Angeles sports
I was not aware of as a Los Angeles native.  Interestingly I almost bought a New York Cosmos jersey and ended up not making a purchase.
I knew about the Los Angeles Lazers of indoor soccer fame and lore, I even had an elementary school girlfriend whose dad played for them which always made me feel good because they played in the Forum, home of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Nonetheless I had no knowledge of the  Los Angeles Aztecs.  Below is some of the information I was able to string together from online sources…enjoy and share a comment or link to important yet not well known soccer or sports history in general.
“From 1974-81 in the North American Soccer League the LA Aztecs had players like George Best and Johan Cruyff  (#14) in their ranks.”

NASL Los Angeles Aztecs 76 Road Back George BestNASL Los Angeles Aztecs 76 Home George Best (4)

“Though only for a brief while, the ’70s and ’80s were a time where the best players across the world wanted to play in America and boy were US soccer fans in for a treat!”

http://www.worldsoccershop.com/shop-by-team-los-angeles-aztecs.html (They didn’t have my size so I could not buy one :-( lol)

Los Angeles Aztecs Inaugural 1974 Season Roster

Num

Name

Pos

GP

G

A

Pt

Born/Citizen

1

Kelvin Barclay

G

3

0

0

0

Trinidad

1

Blas Sanchez

G

17

0

0

0

Mexico

2

Ricardo DeRienzo

D

19

2

0

4

Argentina

3

Ramon Moraldo

D

18

0

0

0

Trinidad

4

Sergio Martinez

D

9

0

0

0

Mexico

5

Mario Zanotti

D

15

0

1

1

Argentina

6

Pedro Martinez

M

16

0

0

0

Mexico

7

Doug McMillan

F

20

10

10

30

Scotland/USA

8

Renato Costa

M

16

3

4

10

Brazil

9

Uri Banhoffer

F

18

7

4

18

Uruguay

10

Luis Marotte

M

19

4

4

12

Uruguay

11

Tony Douglas

M

20

5

6

16

Trinidad

12

Julio Cesar Cortez

D

19

1

1

3

Uruguay

13

Jerry Kazarian

F

7

4

1

9

USSR/USA

14

Leo Brewster

F

0

0

0

0

Trinidad

15

Jose Lopez

F

10

0

0

0

Mexico/USA

16

Yeprem Nersepian

D

7

0

0

0

Turkey/USA

18

Paynof Filotis

F

17

3

3

9

Turkey

20

Frederik Sipman

G

0

0

0

0

USA

Miguel Brigida

F

4

0

1

1

Mexico

Rodrigues Vega

M

5

0

0

0

Chile

Hector Bentran

Dave Coskunian

Turkey/USA

Iris DeBrito

Brazil

Siragan Elian

Miguel Farrari

http://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/Aztecs_Rosters.htm

http://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/NASL_Rosters.htm (There were a heck of a lot of franchises that have popped up over the years!)

In the past there was also the Los Angeles Wolves (1967); Toros; Aztecs of course and even the Lazers in indoor soccer before the Galaxy!!!…will the L.A. GALAXY soccer dynasty last the test of time and other major American sports???

Thanks for reading,

Kwame Tumi

www.globalspora.com/kwametumi.html

Well at least for now if you don’t mind watching online.  Since the recent shutting down of the online sports provider www.channelsurfing.org was shutdown in the U.S. by government agencies…there is another domestic source for international football aka soccer ~~~ ESPN3.com shows a lot of sports that are harder to find such as tennis, college basketball, rugby, “rugby” and yes, cricket. 

If folks have not noticed, ESPN has expanded their programmatic offerings.  Their sphere of influence is broadening each week it seems and as a lot of my friends and recently myself like to say “It is what it is!”? [I like to add a ? mark because I am trying to figure out what "it" is] 

Okay back to sports and out of my “cyber-mine”.  Enjoy the games online if you have the interest and time…

…this week they are showing a lot of international friendlies starting on Feb. 8th which is Tuesday and then more on Wednesday (Italy v Germany, France v Brazil & some outstanding club matches and U20 this upcoming Saturday and Sunday (AZ Alkmaar v PSV, Juventus v Inter)  + Fulham v Chelsea on Monday.

Link to this weeks schedule – http://espn.go.com/espn3/index/_/sport/soccer-futbol/view/upcoming/?ex_cid=2011_psrc_e3_socc_nche&partner=MSN

Main site: www.ESPN3.com

I wish I could DVR these games. Oh well…I tend to go hard to scope international sports be it baseball, basketball, etc.

ALL FEEDBACK IS WELCOME, I WOULD LOVE TO START A PERIODICAL FOOTBALL (SOCCER) BLOG…a good way to get hyped for the next World Cup.

Thank you for reading and all the best,

Kwame Tumi

Full Disclosure: I am not currently:-) receiving anything from ESPN, I am pointing folks in the direction of a tool for entertainment with the hope that folks keep up with our page as we continue to develop our content.  I know I love ALL types of football, American and international (I would probably love Canadian Football if I could ever get to see a game). 

P.S. Is the CFL banned in the U.S.?  I know that a lot of former American players go north to play but are never heard of again.  Anyone with more information about why the CFL does not get much coverage in the U.S. please share with us.  Thanks in advance!