hi

Hey Maverick. Hi yourself. Does this mean your a Mavs fan?

Well the Rockets got Barkley. Anyone think they'll give the Bulls a run?

From the WELL: Any comments on the All Star game? Why didn't Shaq make it? Jordon got a triple double and Wilt groaned with his scoring record got busted. And the 50 greats was a legendary moment. Slam dunk? Ho hum. Topic 793 [sports]: NBA 1996-97 #542 of 547: quack-quack duck in the bathrub (carapace) Sun Feb 9 '97 (20:42) 10 lines Shaq got booed gigantic. It wasn't just him playing -- here he is 24 years old named as one of the 50 greatest players in the history of the game and he's got somewhere more important to be for the ceremonies. I'd have booed too. Jordan was the usual -- putting out just enough juice to blowe the doors off the up and comers, someday they're gonna find the little spaceship that brought him from Krypton -- but Rice can play this game a little too, as can Mr. Terrell Brandon, who I hadn't seen come to the office before. Kevin Garnett is something too, still growing into his puppy feet. Topic 793 [sports]: NBA 1996-97 #543 of 547: quack-quack duck in the bathrub (carapace) Sun Feb 9 '97 (23:38) 4 lines And, as corny, staged tv events go, the reunion of the annointed 50 greatest, minus (I think) three was intensely moving. All those guys together, wrapped in those insane neo-highschool jackets, one close-up after another; I wish I had it on tape. Topic 793 [sports]: NBA 1996-97 #544 of 547: Willie McGinest (ohmy) Mon Feb 10 '97 (10:53) 2 lines I liked it, too. And Shaq's absence didn't go unnoticed. I did notice the biggest ovations came for Bird and Dr. J (sans mustache). Topic 793 [sports]: NBA 1996-97 #545 of 547: jake at (publish) Mon Feb 10 '97 (10:55) 5 lines I can't believe the SF Chronicle didn't even (apparently) assign someone to watch the game and write their own story. They went with the AP coverage, and as a result have no individual item about Latrell Sprewell, who as far as I can see was the West's leading scorer. Topic 793 [sports]: NBA 1996-97 #546 of 547: quack-quack duck in the bathrub (carapace) Mon Feb 10 '97 (11:10) 2 lines "World B. Spree," as I understand he is now sometimes called.

What about those Bulls, 2-2 with the Jazz? And Rodman bashing Mormons and splitting for Vegas. Better order five sugar packets for the next game, java jordan. Where is fatty moon? Where is the Cellery stick?

Well congratulations to the Bulls and Jazz....... NBA stole the championship from the rightful team....... Knicks should be playing the Jazz

Jordan played his heart out last night. The mailman didn't deliver themail. Pippin masaged Jordan and porpped him up during the breaks. Will the Bulls wrap it up Fri night?

YEP!

They sure did! A ring for each finger. Steve Kerr iced it with a jumper on a pass from the doubled up Michael Jordan. And then the Jazz threw it away. The Jazz fortunes turned on just a few points in a couple of critical games.

Great win by the Bulls.

There is some exuberance coming out of Boston with all of the moves Pitino is making. The latest is his putting up Eric Williams for two second round picks, Chris Mills and Tyus Edney. The Celts now have a team that is much deeper than last year's, They'll be able to play the sort of pressing defense Pitino likes for 48 minutes. The Bulls-Celtics opener on Halloween may turn out to be a thriller.

The Celtics are looking much better as a team with the signing of Mills and Tyus Edney. I know some Celtics fans who think their team will win their home opener on Halloween. Will they give the Bulls a run for it this year?

My hopes and dreams for tomorrows winners: Bulls Spurs Rockets I loved to see the Twolves romp over the Seahawks. Were Kevin McHale and Kevin Garnett pumped or what? And the Heat? Hot, hot, hot. They hung around consistently the whole game. Good stuff.

THE NBA PLAYER ADOPTION PROGRAM NEEDS YOU! With an NBA player's strike against the team owners looming, now is the time for us to show the world just how much we care. It's just not right. Hundreds of basketball players in our very own country are living at or just below the seven-figure salary level! Atrocious! And, as if that weren't bad enough, they will be deprived of pay for several weeks--possibly a whole year--as a result of the strike. But now you can help! For about two thousand dollars a day--that's less than the cost of a large screen projection TV--you can help a basketball player remain economically viable during his time of need. Two thousand dollars a day may not seem like a lot of money to you, but to a basketball player it could mean the difference between a vacation spent golfing in Florida or a Mediterranean cruise. For you, two thousand dollars is nothing more than three months rent or mortgage payments. But to a basketball player, two thousand dollars a day will almost replace his salary. Your commitment of two thousand dollars a day will enable a player to buy that home entertainment center, trade in the year-old Lexus for a new Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in Rio. "HOW WILL I KNOW I'M HELPING?" Each month, you will receive a complete financial report on the player you sponsor. Detailed information about his stocks, bonds, 401(k), real estate, and other investment holdings will be mailed to your home. You'll also get information on how he plans to invest the $5 million lump sum he will receive upon retirement. Plus upon signing up for this program, you will receive a photo of the player (unsigned). Put the photo on your refrigerator to remind you of other peoples' suffering. "HOW WILL HE KNOW I'M HELPING" Your basketball player will be told that he has a SPECIAL FRIEND who just wants to help in a time of need. Although the player won't know your name, he will be able to make collect calls to your home via a special operator just in case additional funds are needed for unexpected expenses. Simply fill out the form below. ___YES, I want to help! I would like to sponsor a striking NBA basketball player. My preference is checked below: [ ] Starter [ ] Reserve [ ] Star* [ ] Superstar** [ ] Entire team*** [ ] I'll sponsor a player most in need. Please select one for me

From the NORML mailing list: NBA fans might also be interested in one of the "other" issues behind the lockout besides money: reefer. The previous union contract forbid the NBA and the owners from testing NBA players for cannabis use. The owners wanted to add cannabis testing to their random drug tests. The players (by some estimates, 80% regularly use cannabis) refused and instead accepted a compromise that they would be tested for cananbis use only once per year, in the preseason, during a non-random, pre-scheduled time. So the NBA gets to say "we test our players for pot" and the players get to clean out their systems or take masking agents before the scheduled test.

The Raptors dropped one to the Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves are on a 10-0 run. Pippen's on fire for the Portland Trailblazers. Wally just can't contain the Pip.

48 to 47 at the half. MN vs Blazers.

Closer than I would have thought...

>Blazers took it. But it was a close one. > >The Rapters Vince Carter just had an exercise in frustration, maybe hel'll bust loose in the next game. > >The Lakers seem to be rolling on in their game. I just learned in out of time(null) The Lakers seem to be rolling on in their game. I just learned (trivia alert) that Rick Fox's wife is expecting next Tuesday. Guess who she is? Sacramanento's Webber and Williams are good, but they're not up to Shaq and Kobie. The trivia answer: Vanessa Williams.

Ah...I had no idea. But, I am most curious to know how she knows the baby will be born next Tuesday?!

They've arranged it to happen then.

Series glance All Times EDT EASTERN CONFERENCE INDIANA VS. MILWAUKEE Sunday, April 23 Indiana 88, Milwaukee 85 (Indiana leads 1-0) Thursday, April 27 Milwaukee at Indiana, 8 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 29 Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m., TNT Monday, May 1 Indiana at Milwaukee, TBA, if necessary, TBS Thursday, May 4 Milwaukee at Indiana, TBA, if necessary MIAMI VS. DETROIT Saturday, April 22 Miami 95, Detroit 85 (Miami leads 1-0) Tuesday, April 25 Detroit at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 29 Miami at Detroit, 12:30 p.m., NBC Wednesday, May 3 Miami at Detroit, TBA, if necessary Friday, May 5 Detroit at Miami, TBA, if necessary NEW YORK VS. TORONTO Sunday, April 23 New York 92, Toronto 88 (New York leads 1-0) Wednesday, April 26 Toronto at New York, 8 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 29 New York at Toronto, 12:30 p.m., NBC Tuesday, May 2 New York at Toronto, TBA, if necessary Friday, May 5 Toronto at New York, TBA, if necessary CHARLOTTE VS. PHILADELPHIA Saturday, April 22 Philadelphia 92, Charlotte 82 (Philadelphia leads 1-0) Monday, April 24 Philadelphia at Charlotte, 8 p.m., TBS Friday, April 28 Charlotte at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., TNT Monday, May 1 Charlotte at Philadelphia, TBA, if necessary, TBS Thursday, May 4 Philadelphia at Charlotte, TBA, if necessary WESTERN CONFERENCE L.A. LAKERS VS. SACRAMENTO Sunday, April 23 L.A. Lakers 117, Sacramento 107 (Los Angeles leads 1-0) Thursday, April 27 Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 30 L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 5:30 p.m., NBC Tuesday, May 2 L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, TBA, if necessary Friday, May 5 Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, TBA, if necessary UTAH VS. SEATTLE Saturday, April 22 Utah 104, Seattle 93 (Utah leads 1-0) Monday, April 24 Seattle at Utah, 10:30 p.m., TBS Saturday, April 29 Utah at Seattle, 5:30 p.m., NBC Wednesday, May 3 Utah at Seattle, TBA, if necessary Friday, May 5 Seattle at Utah, TBA, if necessary PORTLAND VS. MINNESOTA Sunday, April 23 Portland 91, Minnesota 88 (Portland leads 1-0) Wednesday, April 26 Minnesota at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 30 Portland at Minnesota, 3 p.m., NBC Tuesday, May 2 Portland at Minnesota, TBA, if necessary Thursday, May 4 Minnesota at Portland, TBA, if necessary SAN ANTONIO VS. PHOENIX Saturday, April 22 Phoenix 72, San Antonio 70 (Phoenix leads 1-0) Tuesday, April 25 Phoenix at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 29 San Antonio at Phoenix, 3 p.m., NBC Tuesday, May 2 San Antonio at Phoenix, TBA, if necessary Thursday, May 4 Phoenix at San Antonio, TBA, if necessary Day-by-day All Times EDT FIRST ROUND (Best-of-5) Saturday, April 22 Miami 95, Detroit 85 Phoenix 72, San Antonio 70 Utah 104, Seattle 93 Philadelphia 92, Charlotte 82 Sunday, April 23 New York 92, Toronto 88 Portland 91, Minnesota 88 L.A. Lakers 117, Sacramento 107 Indiana 88, Milwaukee 85 Monday, April 24 Philadelphia at Charlotte, 8 p.m., TBS Seattle at Utah, 10:30 p.m., TBS Tuesday, April 25 Detroit at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT Phoenix at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT Wednesday, April 26 Toronto at New York, 8 p.m., TNT Minnesota at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT Thursday, April 27 Milwaukee at Indiana, 8 p.m., TNT Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT Friday, April 28 Charlotte at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 29 Miami at Detroit, 12:30 p.m., NBC San Antonio at Phoenix, 3 p.m., NBC Utah at Seattle, 5:30 p.m., NBC Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 30 New York at Toronto, 12:30 p.m., NBC Portland at Minnesota, 3 p.m., NBC L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 5:30 p.m., NBC Monday, May 1 Charlotte at Philadelphia, TBA, if necessary, TBS Indiana at Milwaukee, TBA, if necessary, TBS Tuesday, May 2 L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, TBA, if necessary New York at Toronto, TBA, if necessary Portland at Minnesota, TBA, if necessary San Antonio at Phoenix, TBA, if necessary Wednesday, May 3 Miami at Detroit, TBA, if necessary Utah at Seattle, TBA, if necessary Thursday, May 4 Milwaukee at Indiana, TBA, if necessary Minnesota at Portland, TBA, if necessary Philadelphia at Charlotte, TBA, if necessary Phoenix at San Antonio, TBA, if necessary Friday, May 5 Detroit at Miami, TBA, if necessary Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, TBA, if necessary Seattle at Utah, TBA, if necessary Toronto at New York, TBA, if necessary

Sorry they are more concerned about their schedules than the baby. Oh well, if it does not work out right, they can always have another one. They are mostly a nusiance at that age (I cannot imagine her taking care of anyone but Vanessa Williams, actually *ducking under the desk*) You weren't kidding about games until Elian has his PhD... Amazing! Thanks for posting the schedule!

A little better formatting: Day-by-day All Times EDT FIRST ROUND (Best-of-5) Saturday, April 22 Miami 95, Detroit 85 Phoenix 72, San Antonio 70 Utah 104, Seattle 93 Philadelphia 92, Charlotte 82 Sunday, April 23 New York 92, Toronto 88 Portland 91, Minnesota 88 L.A. Lakers 117, Sacramento 107 Indiana 88, Milwaukee 85 Monday, April 24 Philadelphia at Charlotte, 8 p.m., TBS Seattle at Utah, 10:30 p.m., TBS Tuesday, April 25 Detroit at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT Phoenix at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT Wednesday, April 26 Toronto at New York, 8 p.m., TNT Minnesota at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT Thursday, April 27 Milwaukee at Indiana, 8 p.m., TNT Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT Friday, April 28 Charlotte at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., TNT Saturday, April 29 Miami at Detroit, 12:30 p.m., NBC San Antonio at Phoenix, 3 p.m., NBC Utah at Seattle, 5:30 p.m., NBC Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m., TNT Sunday, April 30 New York at Toronto, 12:30 p.m., NBC Portland at Minnesota, 3 p.m., NBC L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 5:30 p.m., NBC Monday, May 1 Charlotte at Philadelphia, TBA, if necessary, TBS Indiana at Milwaukee, TBA, if necessary, TBS Tuesday, May 2 L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, TBA, if necessary New York at Toronto, TBA, if necessary Portland at Minnesota, TBA, if necessary San Antonio at Phoenix, TBA, if necessary Wednesday, May 3 Miami at Detroit, TBA, if necessary Utah at Seattle, TBA, if necessary Thursday, May 4 Milwaukee at Indiana, TBA, if necessary Minnesota at Portland, TBA, if necessary Philadelphia at Charlotte, TBA, if necessary Phoenix at San Antonio, TBA, if necessary Friday, May 5 Detroit at Miami, TBA, if necessary Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, TBA, if necessary Seattle at Utah, TBA, if necessary Toronto at New York, TBA, if necessary

Late games today. Well, starting at 7 in about and hour and 15 minutes.

This year's all-NBA teams, voted by the media: first C Shaquille O'Neal F Kevin Garnett F Tim Duncan G Gary Payton G Jason Kidd second C Alonzo Mourning F Karl Malone F Grant Hill G Allen Iverson G Kobe Bryant third C David Robinson F Chris Webber F Vince Carter G Eddie Jones G Stephon Marbury Kidd on the first team? He's rated too high. Kobe on the second team? Should be on the first string. Iverson must be hated by the writers too.

Listmakers can be bought too?!

Vince Carter should probably be further up on the list too. He and Kobe are kind of the leagues super stars, at least they've got the moves and the flash. Payton and Kidd should be on the second team. But now that I look again, how are you going to displace a Duncan, a Garnett, a Malone or Hill with Carter. He's in good company.

Yup! How do you think the Blazers are going to do? Pacers Bask in Glory; Lakers-Blazers in Game 7 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - For the first time in their history, the Indiana Pacers will play for the NBA title. Who they battle will be determined on Sunday night, when the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers play a decisive seventh game. The Pacers captured their first Eastern Conference crown on Friday with a 93-80 victory over the New York Knicks. Reggie Miller, a noted Knick killer, scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles, the best team in the league during the regular season, is in danger of blowing a three games to one lead in the Western Conference finals after suffering a 103-93 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden on Friday. Game Seven is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT Sunday in Los Angeles, where Portland will have a chance to become the seventh team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 deficit and win a best-of-seven series. ``It's not about momentum. There's no momentum,'' Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``With this series, it's one game at a time and you have to bring it each time. The team that does that gets it.'' When the playoffs began, everyone thought it would be the Lakers awaiting a Finals foe. Now there is no guarantee the league's top team will even reach the championship round. Portland forced the series back to Los Angeles as they rode big games from Steve Smith and Bonzi Wells and stymied Shaquille O'Neal. For the second straight game, Portland raced to an early lead and turned back a half-hearted rally by Los Angeles, which fell to 2-5 in close-out games and seems to be feeling the pressure. Smith scored 26 points, including 10 in the first quarter, when the Blazers took the lead for good. He made 10-of-18 shots and also had a key steal and lay-up midway through the third period to stem a rally by the Lakers. Wells scored a playoff career-high 20 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, when Portland built its lead to 15 points. Playing just 19 minutes, Wells hit 8-of-13 shots. The Blazers again collapsed on O'Neal, who had his worst game of the series with 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Portland did a great job of denying him the ball and smothering him when he did get it. O'Neal's troubles at the line returned as he made just 3-of-10 free throws. Kobe Bryant scored 33 points despite a sprained right foot for the Lakers, who seemed more interested in fighting the Blazers than fighting their way back into the game. Forwards Rick Fox of the Lakers and Scottie Pippen of the Trail Blazers, who had a shoving match in Game Three, got into it again before Dunleavy traded obscenities with Fox. ``It can't work on me but I'm sure they're going to try everything,'' Pippen said. ``Rick Fox told me, `It's going to be on when we get to LA.' I'm looking forward to it.'' The Lakers have not been to the Finals since 1991. The Blazers are seeking their first trip since 1992. The West has been the dominant conference all season but the Pacers split two games with the Lakers and swept the Blazers. On Friday, Miller added another chapter to his litany of great playoff games in New York, sparking Indiana to the clinching win with a flurry of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 1994 conference finals. He scored eight points in 8.9 seconds in Game One of the 1995 conference semifinals and also had a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime in an eventual win in Game Four of the 1998 conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden. However, that had not translated into a berth in the NBA Finals until Friday for the Pacers. This was their fifth trip in seven years to the conference finals and they had lost the previous four in seven games to New York in 1994, Orlando in 1995 and Chicago in 1998 and in six games to New York last year. In Game Six last year, Miller shot 3-of-18 and was defenseless as Knicks guard Allan Houston scored 32 points. Friday, he finally came up with one of his patented playoff performances in a clinching game. The Finals are a 2-3-2 format and begin Wednesday in either Los Angeles or Portland.

Anyone watching the finals? Shaq dominated last night, Smits topples like a matchstick next to Shaq, and hack a Shaq is only getting moderate results. The Pacers are now down 2-0 and heading to Indiana for 3 games at home. A team has never one 3 games in a row at home in the playoffs, but they should be able to grab at least 2. Reggie Miller had a horrible first game (1 for 17 or something) and a mediocre second game. If he had been on for the first game the series would easily have been knotted now. Kobies out for at least one game with and injury. Rick Fox really stepped up last night. The most interesting player to watch has been the emerging Austin Crosiere (sp?), he's got some great moves for a white guy.

Caught part of it. House male not fond of Basketball and I am usually staring at the monitor locked onto Spring... Blazers out of it...Lakers gonna win it this year?! Installed the firewall Maggie suggested - Interesting pings!

Shaq is unlike any other player out there now. Talk about larger than life...

Now we're in the heat of the playoffs and I'm just starting to get interested again. Spurs alive. Dallas alive?

Paul Pierce scored 23 points and Raef LaFrentz had 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the host Boston Celtics to a 110-86 victory over the Indiana Pacers last night, spoiling Stephen Jackson's return from a 30-game brawl suspension. http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-spnba274127021jan27,0,2125954.story?coll=ny-basketball-headlines

There are the hands of . . . Sun Ming Ming from http://vh10634.moc.gbahn.net/sports/local/bkbtraining_041305.htm The 7-foot-8 3/4 center positions himself under the basket and awaits a pass from trainer Keith Gatlin. Ball in hand, Sun muscles his 350-pound frame into training partner Dshamal Schoetz, a 7-footer who played at Greensboro College who is nearly nine inches shorter. Sun pivots and places the ball firmly into the hoop. Swish. Sun, who is from Harbin, China, is training in Greensboro for a shot at the NBA. His agent, Charles Bonsignore, paired the prospect up with former client and former professional basketball player Keith Gatlin. Gatlin, a managing partner with 334 Sports, a local firm that trains athletes, has worked with Sun for about five weeks.

Dig this. It's last nights game. The score is Cleveland 112 and Washington 111. And the epsn camera cuts to the sideline on a time out. There's Lebron James of the Cavs with a cell phone and what's he doing? Text messaging. I'm watching the rerun on my tivolike Scientific Atlanta box and the guy is text messaging at the most critical moment of his career. Now, that's relaxed. By the way, the Cavs came out of the time out with 42.3 seconds to go in overtime and clinched the division title 4 games to 2. The exciting teams, for me, this year are the Cavs, the Lakers with Kobe, and the Heat with Shaq. San Antonio is my favorite but I just wish they weren't such dry personalities (maybe excepting Tony Parker and his Desperate Housewives girlfriend).

It was a great final, with the Mavs and Heat. The Heat went in to Dallas and pulled it off by coming back from 2 down and winning four in a row. I was hoping for a game 7. But the Heat were just too strong. Amazing comeback.