If NBA stars are serious about playing overseas, basketball's governing body says they will be welcomed.
Just as long as they promise to leave once the lockout ends.
FIBA announced Friday it would clear NBA players under contract to play in its leagues during the work stoppage, provided the deals they sign come with opt-out clauses.
In a ruling that paves the way for players to earn a paycheck, FIBA agreed with NBA and players' association officials that players are free to sign anywhere but do so at their own risk of injury.
"As the world governing body for basketball, we strongly hope that the labor dispute will be resolved as soon as possible, and that the NBA season is able to begin as scheduled," secretary general Patrick Baumann said in a statement.
"In view of our role to promote basketball worldwide, we support any player wishing to play the game, wherever and whenever. We do so while obviously taking the interests, rights and obligations of all parties into account."
Playing overseas has emerged as an option for NBA players during a work stoppage that threatens to last months and could even wipe out the entire season. Nets All-Star Deron Williams has a deal with Turkish club Besiktas which is also courting Kobe Bryant and most top players said they would consider playing overseas.
Union executive director Billy Hunter has endorsed the idea, with players believing it will pressure owners at the bargaining table if they see their players have options elsewhere, and FIBA may have been faced with a legal challenge had it denied the players.
"Our players are gratified by today's announcement by FIBA, although it comes as no surprise," Hunter said in a statement. "We have consistently advised our members that in the event of a lockout they would have the right to be compensated for playing basketball irrespective of whether they were under contract to an NBA team or not. We have encouraged all of our players to pursue such opportunities and will continue to do so."
If a player under NBA contract agrees to a deal in a FIBA-affiliated league, he first must be cleared to go by the NBA. The league will allow partial clearance, meaning it must be guaranteed the player returns to his NBA team once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. FIBA will then give its approval once the player has signed a declaration stating he will do so.
The Lakers' Derek Fisher, president of the players' association, said Friday that he doesn't think the players going abroad will hurt the union.
"We don't view it as really weakening the union. We view it as a gentleman is being told that he can't come to work at a particular place and he's temporarily unemployed and he's seeking employment elsewhere," Fisher said. "That's kind of the way we view it. Our elected members myself, the executive committee, Billy Hunter, our staff, our legal counsel that's what we get elected to do is kind of carry that brunt and attend the meetings and be physically present.
"We fully expect and anticipate that our guys are going to want to find opportunities to do what they love to do, and that's play the game. We definitely don't view it as weakening our stance or our position, we just view it as guys going out and doing what they want to do."
There is still plenty of doubt that top players will head to Europe or Asia. All-Star-caliber players may not find enough money to make it worthwhile, and numerous players who have signed overseas have stories of missed or late payments from their teams there. Also, their NBA teams could void their contracts if they are significantly injured playing in another league.
Still, scoring champion Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City said Thursday he was "about 50-50" on the idea, while Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul both said they would consider China during a promotional tour in Hong Kong this week.
FIBA also expressed its pleasure that so many players are willing to play this summer despite the risks. Argentina Basketball Federation president German Vaccaro told FIBA.com that it had secured insurance Thursday, allowing Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola and its other top players to take part in the FIBA Americas tournament it is hosting.
France and Russia also have lined up arrangements to have their NBA players take part in Europe's qualifying tournament for the 2012 Olympics.
"We are delighted to see that, in spite of widespread doubts related to the lockout, national teams competing in this summer's Olympic qualifiers will be able to count on the participation of most of their NBA stars," Baumann said.
Hunter, NBA commissioner David Stern and their top lieutenants have agreed to resume collective bargaining discussions Monday, sources told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan. NBA owners imposed a lockout July 1, shutting down the league for the first time since summer 1998.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Eagles Steal Top Corner Nnamdi Asomugha
One day after acquiring Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Cardinals, the Eagles signed another Pro Bowl cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha, to a five-year contract, the team announced Friday.
Asomugha's deal will pay him $60 million, with $25 million guaranteed.
Asomugha, considered the top free agent on the market, spent his first eight seasons with the Raiders. He had a career-high eight interceptions in 2006, went to the Pro Bowl after the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons and was named a first-team all-pro in 2008and 2010.
Even though he has three interceptions in the last three years, Asomugha is considered one of the top cover cornerbacks in the NFL and was courted by several high-profile teams, including the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles have three Pro Bowl cornerbacks on their roster: Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie and Asante Samuel, who has 42 interceptions in eight years and has made the Pro Bowl four straight years.
The Eagles also confirmed the signings of defensive end Jason Babin, tight end Donald Lee and wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins on Twitter Friday.
Asomugha's deal will pay him $60 million, with $25 million guaranteed.
Asomugha, considered the top free agent on the market, spent his first eight seasons with the Raiders. He had a career-high eight interceptions in 2006, went to the Pro Bowl after the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons and was named a first-team all-pro in 2008and 2010.
Even though he has three interceptions in the last three years, Asomugha is considered one of the top cover cornerbacks in the NFL and was courted by several high-profile teams, including the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles have three Pro Bowl cornerbacks on their roster: Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie and Asante Samuel, who has 42 interceptions in eight years and has made the Pro Bowl four straight years.
The Eagles also confirmed the signings of defensive end Jason Babin, tight end Donald Lee and wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins on Twitter Friday.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Top football recruit chooses hoops path
At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Humble High School's Kyndahl Hill is one of the premier dual-sport athletes in the Class of 2012. As good a forward he is in basketball, Hill was expected to be a standout defensive end and a high-major football recruit.
After sitting and recently conversing with his parents, Hill decided to let one of the sports go and it wasn't the sport that many thought he'd eventually choose.
Hill decided to shelve his football cleats permanently in exchange for his basketball sneakers full time. Hill spoke with Humble football coach Walt Beasley on Monday, informing him that he would not playing defensive end in the fall and not be participating in upcoming workouts.
Instead, Hill is currently preparing to play in front of hundreds of college basketball scouts in Las Vegas. He will suit up for his summer select team, the Houston Hoopstars, at the prestigious adidas Super 64, which tips off this weekend.
"This was something I've been thinking about since right after football season," Hill said. "[Football] just wasn't as fun to me anymore. I wasn't having as much fun as I had when I first started playing."
Hill had 29 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions as a junior. His play on the gridiron earned him scholarship offers to Kansas State, UNLV and North Texas. His play also garnered interest from Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama and Illinois.
"I had some friends that played on the football team try to talk me out of it, as well as a couple other people," Hill said of his decision. "You could tell that [Beasley] wasn't happy about it, but when we had the conversation, he kind of understood."
Hill's play in basketball has earned Division I scholarship offers, as well. He averaged roughly 13 points and eight rebounds for Humble and coach David Martinez, and as August slowly approaches, he is sitting on offers from Holy Cross, Weber State, Sam Houston, North Texas and UT-Arlington.
Hill is hoping for more offers after the Hoopstars' trip to Vegas. He's played well throughout the summer for the Hoopstars, forming a respectable inside tandem with 6-foot-10 Texas signee Cameron Ridley and 6-foot-9 rising big man Aaron Durley.
After a productive football career, Hill feels he can bring a particular element to the basketball court that can serve beneficial.
"I can bring toughness," Hill said. "I think being able to deal with tough situation and the physicality [of football] will help me out. I've thought about this a lot, and I knew it'd be tough, but I think I made the right decision."
After sitting and recently conversing with his parents, Hill decided to let one of the sports go and it wasn't the sport that many thought he'd eventually choose.
Hill decided to shelve his football cleats permanently in exchange for his basketball sneakers full time. Hill spoke with Humble football coach Walt Beasley on Monday, informing him that he would not playing defensive end in the fall and not be participating in upcoming workouts.
Instead, Hill is currently preparing to play in front of hundreds of college basketball scouts in Las Vegas. He will suit up for his summer select team, the Houston Hoopstars, at the prestigious adidas Super 64, which tips off this weekend.
"This was something I've been thinking about since right after football season," Hill said. "[Football] just wasn't as fun to me anymore. I wasn't having as much fun as I had when I first started playing."
Hill had 29 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions as a junior. His play on the gridiron earned him scholarship offers to Kansas State, UNLV and North Texas. His play also garnered interest from Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama and Illinois.
"I had some friends that played on the football team try to talk me out of it, as well as a couple other people," Hill said of his decision. "You could tell that [Beasley] wasn't happy about it, but when we had the conversation, he kind of understood."
Hill's play in basketball has earned Division I scholarship offers, as well. He averaged roughly 13 points and eight rebounds for Humble and coach David Martinez, and as August slowly approaches, he is sitting on offers from Holy Cross, Weber State, Sam Houston, North Texas and UT-Arlington.
Hill is hoping for more offers after the Hoopstars' trip to Vegas. He's played well throughout the summer for the Hoopstars, forming a respectable inside tandem with 6-foot-10 Texas signee Cameron Ridley and 6-foot-9 rising big man Aaron Durley.
After a productive football career, Hill feels he can bring a particular element to the basketball court that can serve beneficial.
"I can bring toughness," Hill said. "I think being able to deal with tough situation and the physicality [of football] will help me out. I've thought about this a lot, and I knew it'd be tough, but I think I made the right decision."
Guard Leslie McDonald tears ACL
North Carolina reserve guard Leslie McDonald has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and could miss the coming season.
The school said Friday that McDonald was injured during a summer league game in Durham on Thursday night.
McDonald averaged seven points per game off the bench and was second on the team with 51 3-pointers.
Surgery has yet to be scheduled and the rising junior is out indefinitely.
McDonald's injury could be a blow to North Carolina's depth, though the Tar Heels return all five starters from a team that reached the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight.
The school said Friday that McDonald was injured during a summer league game in Durham on Thursday night.
McDonald averaged seven points per game off the bench and was second on the team with 51 3-pointers.
Surgery has yet to be scheduled and the rising junior is out indefinitely.
McDonald's injury could be a blow to North Carolina's depth, though the Tar Heels return all five starters from a team that reached the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight.
Barker coaxes Martinez via Twitter
Only in a world where social media has become such a dominant form of communication can a relatively unknown fighter land a title bout with ESPN.com's No. 2-rated pound-for-pound boxer.
The nerve of Darren Barker going on Twitter and challenging WBC "diamond" middleweight champion Sergio Martinez to a fight. Who does this Barker guy think he is? And why in the world should anyone take him seriously on Oct. 1 [HBO, 10 p.m. ET] in Atlantic City, N.J.?
"He's as legit a threat as anybody right now," Martinez's promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com on Wednesday during a news conference to promote the fight. "Martinez is a dominant middleweight, there is no question about that, but [Barker] is a kid who has never lost.
"He can box, he's very skilled. He's got a lot of heart, he throws punches and he is not afraid to fight. He hasn't had the quality of opposition that Sergio has, and that could be a big factor."
On paper, Barker has no business being in the same ring with Martinez. Barker owns a 23-0-0 record with 14 knockouts, and currently holds the European middleweight title belt. But his wins have comes against guys with names like Affif Belghecham, Danny Butler, Darren McDermott and Jason McKay good fighters by European standards, but nothing compared to the level of talent Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) has tangled with in his career.
When it comes to professional experience and quality of opponents, Martinez will have a huge advantage inside Boardwalk Hall on fight night.
None of that will matter to Barker. He possesses what he perceives to be great equalizers: confidence, motivation and inspiration.
Barker will enter the ring certain of victory. Although most observers would rate a Barker victory as an upset, the London native disagrees.
"My confidence is based on my life, my experiences," Barker said. "Sadly, my brother [Gary Barker] passed away in 2006. He died in a car accident. He was younger than me.
"He was a boxer. I'm doing this for him as well as myself. Through my success, my brother lives on.
"Just my hunger, my enthusiasm, my determination that I'm going to win this fight -- and, obviously, my skills."
Barker's 17 years of fighting, both as an amateur and professional, have prepared him physically for this moment. Add to that his life experience, and he believes the time to face Martinez couldn't be better.
"Everyone knows their own body," Barker told ESPN.com. "It's the way I feel. I feel in fantastic condition.
"It's well-documented that I had a hip operation, but I'm over that. My body is the best it's ever been. I feel, if anything, brand new new and improved.
"I have a daughter, and she's given me a hunger to give her everything to give her a great life. It's all those things rolled into one that brings out the best in me." But for Twitter, Martinez would not have gotten to know Barker. He knows him quite well now.
And though their online conversations have been respectful, Martinez does not intend to take it easy on the confident Brit. He plans to give Barker the Paul Williams treatment: an early trip home.
"I've seen a lot of his fights," said Martinez, a native Argentine who resides in Oxnard, Calif. "He definitely seems like he has a lot of power and he's slick.
"I'm going to stick to my game plan and try to knock him out in the seventh."
The nerve of Darren Barker going on Twitter and challenging WBC "diamond" middleweight champion Sergio Martinez to a fight. Who does this Barker guy think he is? And why in the world should anyone take him seriously on Oct. 1 [HBO, 10 p.m. ET] in Atlantic City, N.J.?
"He's as legit a threat as anybody right now," Martinez's promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com on Wednesday during a news conference to promote the fight. "Martinez is a dominant middleweight, there is no question about that, but [Barker] is a kid who has never lost.
"He can box, he's very skilled. He's got a lot of heart, he throws punches and he is not afraid to fight. He hasn't had the quality of opposition that Sergio has, and that could be a big factor."
On paper, Barker has no business being in the same ring with Martinez. Barker owns a 23-0-0 record with 14 knockouts, and currently holds the European middleweight title belt. But his wins have comes against guys with names like Affif Belghecham, Danny Butler, Darren McDermott and Jason McKay good fighters by European standards, but nothing compared to the level of talent Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) has tangled with in his career.
When it comes to professional experience and quality of opponents, Martinez will have a huge advantage inside Boardwalk Hall on fight night.
None of that will matter to Barker. He possesses what he perceives to be great equalizers: confidence, motivation and inspiration.
Barker will enter the ring certain of victory. Although most observers would rate a Barker victory as an upset, the London native disagrees.
"My confidence is based on my life, my experiences," Barker said. "Sadly, my brother [Gary Barker] passed away in 2006. He died in a car accident. He was younger than me.
"He was a boxer. I'm doing this for him as well as myself. Through my success, my brother lives on.
"Just my hunger, my enthusiasm, my determination that I'm going to win this fight -- and, obviously, my skills."
Barker's 17 years of fighting, both as an amateur and professional, have prepared him physically for this moment. Add to that his life experience, and he believes the time to face Martinez couldn't be better.
"Everyone knows their own body," Barker told ESPN.com. "It's the way I feel. I feel in fantastic condition.
"It's well-documented that I had a hip operation, but I'm over that. My body is the best it's ever been. I feel, if anything, brand new new and improved.
"I have a daughter, and she's given me a hunger to give her everything to give her a great life. It's all those things rolled into one that brings out the best in me." But for Twitter, Martinez would not have gotten to know Barker. He knows him quite well now.
And though their online conversations have been respectful, Martinez does not intend to take it easy on the confident Brit. He plans to give Barker the Paul Williams treatment: an early trip home.
"I've seen a lot of his fights," said Martinez, a native Argentine who resides in Oxnard, Calif. "He definitely seems like he has a lot of power and he's slick.
"I'm going to stick to my game plan and try to knock him out in the seventh."
Now This is a Upset I Guess!!!
Antonio Tarver stopped defending champion Danny Green in the ninth round Wednesday to claim the IBO cruiserweight world boxing title.
The 42-year-old American was in control from the start at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and twice hurt the Australian Green in the first round. He knocked him down in the second. The referee stopped the fight following the ninth after a punishing round for Green, who was defending the IBO title for the fifth time.
The victorious Tarver said he would be open to a rematch.
"It's up to them, but I'm the champ now and it's going to have to be on my terms and we can do it in America," Tarver told the Australian Associated Press.
"Danny Green is worthy of a rematch, he's been a champion for a long time and if he's ready for that and can go back to the drawing board, we can do it again."
Tarver, who was fighting at cruiserweight for the first time, got into the ring for only the second time since a clear decision loss to Chad Dawson in their May 2009 light heavyweight title rematch.
Tarver, a four-time light heavyweight world champion, improved to 29-6 with 20 knockouts. Green fell to 31-4 (27 KOs) after his first defeat since 2006.
The 38-year-old Green had won 10 consecutive fights since a decision loss to countryman Anthony Mundine in a 2006 super middleweight title eliminator.
Green called Tarver a "great fighter" after his defeat but also apologized to his home-country crowd, holding back tears.
''I had a terrible night. I'm so gutted, I couldn't do it for you guys, I'm so sorry. Right now I just want to chill out, take stock and relax and get healthy," he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The 42-year-old American was in control from the start at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and twice hurt the Australian Green in the first round. He knocked him down in the second. The referee stopped the fight following the ninth after a punishing round for Green, who was defending the IBO title for the fifth time.
The victorious Tarver said he would be open to a rematch.
"It's up to them, but I'm the champ now and it's going to have to be on my terms and we can do it in America," Tarver told the Australian Associated Press.
"Danny Green is worthy of a rematch, he's been a champion for a long time and if he's ready for that and can go back to the drawing board, we can do it again."
Tarver, who was fighting at cruiserweight for the first time, got into the ring for only the second time since a clear decision loss to Chad Dawson in their May 2009 light heavyweight title rematch.
Tarver, a four-time light heavyweight world champion, improved to 29-6 with 20 knockouts. Green fell to 31-4 (27 KOs) after his first defeat since 2006.
The 38-year-old Green had won 10 consecutive fights since a decision loss to countryman Anthony Mundine in a 2006 super middleweight title eliminator.
Green called Tarver a "great fighter" after his defeat but also apologized to his home-country crowd, holding back tears.
''I had a terrible night. I'm so gutted, I couldn't do it for you guys, I'm so sorry. Right now I just want to chill out, take stock and relax and get healthy," he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)