Exciting new amnesty clause might not be very popular this seaso

Exciting new amnesty clause might not be very popular this season Waiting makes perfect sense, mostly because there's no telling if some of these amnesty-worthy players -- many of them former stars and semi-stars -- might see the lay of the land under the new CBA and decide it's in their best interest to get their acts together and earn as much of their contracts as they can. With most high-payroll teams unable to afford any of these amnestied players even at a near-minimum contract, it's not in their best interests to become free agents again just to play for another lottery squad. Plus, there's no certainty that teams can use their new cap space to sign an appreciably better player. It's much more sensible for teams to wait a little, see if their big-ticket mistakes turn things around, and act accordingly later on. The question, then, becomes why so many of us assumed that Amnestypalooza 2011 was a given when logically it makes more sense to hang back for at least a season. The answer likely has something to do with our own impatience, or at least the hope that the lockout would have some immediate qualitative effect on the league. Why exactly would it be worth it to miss real games if these new rules didn't change things right off the bat? Unfortunately, labor deals don't work quite like that, especially when so many of the biggest changes don't take effect for two seasons. For at least a season, it may seem like the lockout was a waste of time that hurt the NBA product and brand. But it's going to change this league a lot, even if we don't see tangible results for a few years. Labor deals as complicated as this one are rarely irrelevant.One of the reasons we are looking forward to Amnestypalooza is that we are all excited to see our teams (A) clear salary space to sign that new prospect who is going to win us a championship (or at least look rad in one of our jerseys) and (B) we want to see these released players - all of which are as mentioned stars or semi-stars (Joe Johnson, anyone?) - teamed up with other better players to form really cool super teams like the Miami Heat.To those that love fantasy sports, I'd sit this one out if I were you...I played football this year and I saw a number of franchise type players get hurt this year. Its kind of hard when you lose Kenny Britt and Andre Johnson for any amount of time. A lot of football players dropped like flies due to hamstrings, ankles, and other ailments. I think the team to win the title this year will be the team that stays healthy during the whole year. Don't be surprised if some dark horse team wins it this year. I can see a young team like OKC or Chicago seriously contend because they have youth on their side. The older teams like the Celtics and Lakers may benefit from the time off, but injuries always loom large for veteran teams... group buying
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Albert Pujols¡¯ agent hit by a bombshell report

Albert Pujols¡¯ agent hit by a bombshell report Back in late September, Dan Lozano told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that being the agent for Albert Pujols(notes) and other baseball stars meant always feeling like he was wearing "a target on my back." Though its inspiration might have been murky at the time it was originally read, the article now reads like a man setting up for a mud-slinging battle he knows is soon coming. Lozano's clients are trotted out to reaffirm their support before it's ever needed. The 44-year-old offers answers to unanswered questions before they're even asked. Two months later, it all makes sense as the huge dirt bomb finally landed ¡ª boy, did it ever ¡ª on Lozano's reputation via the virtual pages of Deadspin. In a Barry Petchesky article entitled the "King of Sleaze," Lozano's character and business practices are called into question through a number of documents and photos that were sent to Deadspin's offices by an anonymous source, likely another agent if Lozano's claims and our natural instincts are correct.The whole post is something straight out of "Entourage" had that show ever been interesting, and the claims against Lozano, who also represents players like Jimmy Rollins(notes), Michael Young(notes), Carlos Beltran(notes) and Brian Wilson(notes), are too numerous to list in bullet points here. You really have to go read the whole dirty thing. They also probably don't belong on anything that can be considered a family website. From allegations that Lozano personally took prostitutes for, uh, "test drives" before hiring them for his clients to claims that his financial troubles led Pujols to sign a below-market extension with the Cardinals in 2004, it goes straight past the world of PG-13 and into X-rated territory. It's the type of stuff that you might have surmised after reading the original USA Today article, only to quickly dismiss it because it was too lurid. And yet somehow it includes all of that while also shining a light on Alex Rodriguez's(notes) involvement ¡ª of course A-Rod would figure into this ¡ª before it's all over. Anyone that questions Puljos's integrity has obviously not watched my play much. He is the best. Both on and off the field. Gives his time and money to some very good causes. Is devout in his faith. He has an off year that anyone else would die for (5th place in the MVP balloting) and everyone talks about how his best is past him. The Cardinals made enough money off the last 2 world series wins in 06 and 11 to pay Albert the 210 million over the next 9 years plus have a pile left over. The marketing revenue off his name will go on for decades after he retires. Its silly to talk about letting him go. Would be on par with the Red Sox trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees. St Louis is the best baseball town there is and it deserves to have the best player in the game. With Wainwright coming back next year and Motte taking over the closer roll, the resigning of Lance Berkman , look out for the Cards again in 2012. Matt Sebek of Joe Sports Fan's comment after reading this report was "Speechless. I have no speech" and I have to confess to having a similar feeling afterward. It's no breaking news that a sports agent may have resorted to some unsavory tactics to lure and sign clients, but the fact that it's Albert Pujols' agent as the St. Louis Cardinals superstar prepares to chase what could be the richest deal in baseball history? That makes it a lot more interesting. Thumbs down me all you want but this is a foolish article based upon shoddy references with suspect objectives. Writers, ahem, who wish to infuse reality TV's controversy or confrontational themes into their writs are not sports writers; they are bloggers who desire to pump up your opinion, and or, desire to spew. The allegations and facts in this case are not shocking to anyone who has ever met Lozano. This relatively new "judge in the court of internet chatter" is borish and destructive. group buying
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Target Practice, Week 12:

Target Practice, Week 12: So Jones had exactly one chance to put his name in the box score and he couldn't make the play. Thus, it's tough to spin his Week 12 performance as anything other than a letdown. He finished nowhere near the top of the target leader board. Julio was facing a defense that ranks 29th against the pass, yet he caught nothin'. Zero catches, zero yards, zero fantasy points. Bad day. But here's the thing: Football, at the pro level, can be pretty [expletive] complicated. For a big play to come together, many small events need to occur successfully in concert. The stars don't always align. And sometimes they do align, but a quarterback looks elsewhere. I just finished a re-watch of Minnesota-Atlanta, focusing on Jones. Going in, I'd expected to see him used exclusively as a decoy, maybe bothered by injury, struggling to separate. Instead I saw a guy who got open with ease. Jones, to my eye, looked great. He didn't have much trouble shaking Minnesota's corners and he blocked the hell out of Cedric Griffin(notes) on running plays. As a multi-league Julio owner, I'm feeling OK ... almost encouraged. If just a small handful of plays would have gone differently, he would have delivered a big fantasy number.Nice article and very persuasive commentary for a player that just returned a 0 total on points for the week. Now in week 13 when Julio Jones gets another 0 make sure you have the convincing screen shots of when he's open too. People eat that up! Rave reviews in the comment section too. Unfortunately, these kind of screen shots and being open should only open fantasy managers eyes up to the fact that it doesn't matter how open Jones is, he's not a main option in the offense, ever. And not being a main guy means you're counting on pot luck to get any points at all.Excellent article. You're the best Behrens. Keep up the great work. As a huge Falcons fan and a Julio Jones owner it was disappointing to see him only get one look on Sunday. However, he looked great running his routes and I'm sure he'll have a big day in the upcoming weeks. The Falcons just have so many great options that sometimes they all won't have big days (depending on coverage). However, hopefully the Falcons will stop getting so conservative in the second half when they're up and this will lead to more fantasy points in general. I see no reason to panic here, nor to bench. Let's recall that Jones has three 100-yard games to his credit and he delivered the catch of the year back in Week 9. I started him in three leagues on Sunday, taking three donuts, but I'm rolling with him again in Week 13. He remains a serious fantasy asset. Again: Don't panic, don't drop. Just as you can't fall into the trap of chasing last week's stats, you also can't overreact to every disappointing performance. group buying
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Taking Bondi boardies abroad

: Venroy Shitika Anand is a freelance journalist, based in Sydney, who is addicted to coffee, vintage boutiques, bright-glitzy earrings and British stand-up comedy. Her bank account weeps every time she walks out of a shoe shop, but her shoe rack throws a 'welcome home' party for the new member. Her undying love for words is obvious when she narrates her entire life story to a stranger on the train. Which is partly the reason she's resorted to writing.There are two types of designers in this industry: those who worship their customers and design solely for what they want, and others who design for themselves and take a risk for the popularity of the designs amongst the masses. This young Australian duo, from the label Venroy, fits in the latter category, and they¡¯re not ashamed of it. An Australian summer lifestyle has created much hype in the travel industry, but Venroy is determined to uplift the disdained image of Australian beachwear. Especially when it comes to everything unrelated to bikinis. This time, the men are here to do the talking. group buying
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pring 2012 collection shoe lovers

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groupon  spring 2012 collection shoe lovers Even those most noncommittal on the idea of wedges would have trouble not giving these Lanvin shoes their full attention. Sometimes a black leather court shoe is the kind of wardrobe staple we really must have, but to stand out and make it count there are options beyond the stiletto or platform pump. Hence the appeal of a gold base that sits somewhere in between Looking at Rodarte¡¯s metallic strappy shoes, with the twisted architecture of the solid heel, you might think there were some space-age inspirations. But the inspirations were otherwise: modern, yes, futuristic, no. The label¡¯s spring 2012 collection was inspired by the artworks of Vincent Van Gogh ¨C so gazing upon these shoes, as well as the deep shimmery blue pair which you can see after the ¡­What chocolate can¡¯t do, shoes can.¡± Whoever said that must be a very fit and financially-drained person. But, it¡¯s only when you look at Rodarte for Opening Ceremony¡¯s latest collection that you realise the veracity of that quote. The autumn / winter collection of chunky heeled lace-up booties caters of every category of shoe lovers. Without being in-your-face open toed, there¡¯s a small inch-wide opening

011 haircuts

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groupon 2When it comes to picking your haircut for 2011 there¡¯s one thing you need to know: the year¡¯s fashion is all about revivals. Revivals of the 60s, revivals of the 70s, and revivals of more recent looks. And as it is for fashion, so too is it for 2011¡äs haircuts. In 2011 the most on trend haircuts take their influences from the 20th century, with short haircuts influences by the 1960s and mid-length haircuts influenced by the 1970s. Read on for more information on 2011¡äs haircut trends.The year¡¯s hair trends are no different. For fashionisers in 2011, hair is all about revivals and evolution. With styles and colours we¡¯re seeing the best of 2010 reborn, whereas cuts are offering reworked and luxurious revivals of styles that sit perfectly with the year¡¯s clothing trends. Fringe / bangs Hair trends tend to come and go, but not so for this 2011 women¡¯s hair cut trend, which is experiencing a major resurgence. Last a major trend in 2007 / 2008 this hair cut detail had died off by 2010, which was a year in which hair trends were dominated by hairstyles as opposed to hair cuts. But in 2011 it¡¯s back as an overarching hair cut trend, one that can be worn with nearly all of the year¡¯s hair colour and hair style trends. Find out more about fringes / bangs for 2011.

Other autumn (fall) / winter 2011 trends Fall 2011 colour trends

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groupon Other autumn (fall) / winter 2011 trends Fall 2011 colour trends Just because it¡¯ll be cold and dark outside doesn¡¯t mean that the season¡¯s colour trends have to follow suit. Quite the opposite in fact. Visit our autumn (fall) / winter 2011 colours guide to find out more about the shades and palettes that will be on trend. Future of denim Looking at not just the styles of denim jeans but also the business side of things, this guide takes you through the future of denim giving you an indication of where styles will evolve and which denim labels will dominate the future. Read about the future of denim to get an insight into jeans in autumn / fall 2011 and beyond. 2011 hairstyles The beginning of 2011 doesn¡¯t just mean new clothes for your wardrobe, it means updating your style, it means evolving it. And of equal importance to having the right clothes and accessories for 2011 is keeping your hairstyle up to date.

Louis Vuitton gang Someone

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groupon , somewhere in Hollywood is undoubtedly hammering out a script wholly inspired by the recent fashion thefts. Its first act will detail the theft of a Marc Jacobs collection. Now they have the perfect material on which to base the script¡¯s second act: last week¡¯s robbery of over $400,000 worth of Louis Vuitton product Late one Oxford night Daniel P Dykes set about creating a fashion publication that would go someway to being an arbiter on fashion as it appeals to the emerging power generations: those who don't remember a world without the Internet and for whom work plays second fiddle to pleasure. And so Fashionising.com was born as a publication for those who were focussed not just on fashion's trends, but on society's too, and how those trends could all go to heighten the art of living. Hence, Daniel sees a future where, for those young at heart, both fashion and style are grounded in traditional quality, but with a youthful, sensualised edge. Daniel is Fashionising.com's Editor in Chief and Chairman.

Baseball

Baseball is the only major sport without a salary cap ! The diiference between haves and haves not remains the same ! the major league teams with minor league roster should have went on strike! The teams could have put a soft cap in place of a ceiling and a floor ! It seems to be working in hockey1 It is probably done in basketball as well! If there not going too do these things, then at least don't guarantee the contracts as is done in football ( which is the greastest sport because anyone can win! This is year number 20 that the Pirates won't have a winning season! It is apparent that none of the small market teams will get Albert Pulhois ! It allows the big market teams to continually cover up their errors in poor signings by continually spending more and more money ! If the small market teams make big signing mistakes they can't cover their mistakes up! There isn't any minimium standard of performance in baseball 1 offensive players could go through any entire year without getting a hit and it doesn't matter! they still get paid! teams can avoid agents like Scott Borias by taking an inferior player in the draft just too save money as well as raise prices on their fans after 20 years of losing! I realize there is some satisfaction of going too the games that is seeing good other teams!<a href="http://www.n5k5.com" target="_blank"> group buying</a><br />
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true blood Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

"true blood" is based on the sookie stackhouse novels - the first book was published in 2001 and the first season of the show aired Sept 2008. twilight's first book was published 2005 and the movie came out Nov. 2008
A human girl in love with a vampire has become one of the most common concepts in pop culture. But Robert Pattinson dismisses vampire TV shows such as "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries" as "Twilight" copycats.
"It’s like that Coke versus Pepsi thing, and how Coke just said <a href="http://www.n5k5.com" target="_blank">groupon&nbsp;</a>‘There’s a reason everyone compares themselves to us,’" he said, according to Web site Hollywood Life. "‘Twilight’ was the original and everybody’s trying to copy it. They’re all just trying to jump aboard the ‘Twilight’ train."

he third film in the "Twilight saga," "Breaking Dawn Part 1" opened last week and has already grossed more than $222 million. Meanwhile, stars Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, who are a couple offscreen as well as on, spent some time together in London this week. The two were spotted at a Marcus Foster concert and were reported by witnesses to have their arms around each other, swaying to the music.
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The Vampire Diaries Canada

The Vampire Diaries Canada

Welcome to "The Vampire Diaries Canada". A fansite from Canada dedicated to The Vampire Diaries. Our mission is to supply you with the latest in news, pictures, interviews and spoilers on TVD and to show the cast and crew how much love they have from their Canadian neighbours

The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural–fantasy horror television series created by Kevin Williamson based on the novels of the same name by author L. J. Smith. It was officially picked up for the 2009-10 season on May 19, 2009.
 It premiered on September 10, 2009 on The CW and received the highest ratings for a series premiere in the networks history scoring 4.91 million live viewers.
The series focuses on the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, that is charged with supernatural history. It follows Elena Gilbert portrayed by Nina Dobrev as she begins to get over her parents' death and two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore, portrayed by Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, respectively. Kayla Ewell portrayed Vicki Donovan for the first seven episodes until her character was killed off, Matt Davis was later cast as a history teacher in a recurring role to fill the void. He was later upgraded to series regular status. The season concluded on May 13, 2010, comprising 22 episodes.


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Take a Closer Look at Bella's Breaking Dawn Wedding Dress!

Take a Closer Look at Bella's Breaking Dawn Wedding Dress!


Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/hot_pics_take_closer_look_bellas/276991#ixzz1exbWnDik

By now, most Twi-hards have already seen Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) stroll down the aisle in her highly anticipated wedding to Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).
Breaking Dawn: Part 1 was the stuffing for Hollywood's otherwise lean Thanksgiving holiday.

The Twilight franchise's latest grossed $62.3 million from Wednesday-Sunday, estimates showed, and led the box-office standings for a second weekend.

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It still carries massive importance.

It still carries massive importance.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Now that NBA owners and players have reached a tentative labor agreement, the Portland Trail Blazers need to resume their search for a general manager.

If the lockout-ending deal struck early Saturday in New York is formally approved by both sides, the league will play a 66-game season beginning Dec 25. Training camps and free agency would open on Dec. 9.

“Glad to be back!” Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge(notes), the team’s player representative, tweeted Saturday
MIAMI (AP)—Free Agency 2011 will be nowhere near as celebrated for the Miami Heat as the player-movement bonanza that brought LeBron James(notes), Chris Bosh(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes) together a year ago.

It still carries massive importance.

James, Wade, Bosh, Mike Miller(notes) and Udonis Haslem(notes) are still under contract, meaning the core remains intact. Point guard Mario Chalmers(notes)—who came up big during the NBA finals—is a restricted free agent, though he clearly has an eye on being back in Miami. And rookie point guard Norris Cole(notes) figures to contend for some rotation time.
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2 car accident

2 car accident Eagle Staff Report A three-car accident on Texas 79 between Hearne and Franklin in Robertson County on Saturday afternoon left one man dead and four people injured. The Department of Public Safety reported that a Dodge headed west veered into oncoming traffic on Texas 79 shortly after 3 p.m., first striking a Volkswagen, which ended up in a ditch on the side of the road, and then colliding head-on with a Nissan. The driver of the Dodge, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was identified by DPS as Steven Lucas of Tyler. The accident caused traffic to be directed into one lane on Texas 79 for about three hours. The man driving the Nissan was taken by helicopter to Scott and White in Temple and was reported in critical condition late Saturday. The woman who was in the car with him was taken to St. Joseph in Bryan, where she was also reported in critical condition. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A two car accident on West Jefferson Boulevard near Swinney Park closed the road temporarily at the bridge over the St. Mary's River late Sunday night.groupon  Shortly before midnight, police and rescue personnel responded to the scene to find one person trapped inside a car. Fire crews removed that person from the vehicle. The individual was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the second car was not hurt. Eastbound traffic on Jefferson Blvd. was closed for about 45 minutes while crews investigated and cleaned up the accident. Westbound traffic was down to one lane. group buying
Fort Wayne police are i

Kobe's new low-top shoe.

Bryant won't be the first current NBA player to wear a low. Washington forward Gilbert Arenas is a longtime proponent of the low-top, and Nike made a lower-type cut for Phoenix guard Steve Nash last year. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore low-top shoes for much of his career, too. But Bryant is by far the biggest current star to take the plunge into the low-cut world. And he's doing so with his signature shoe. It's a gamble for him, a gamble for Nike and a gamble for the industry as a whole. "When you have the absolute best player in the world saying lows are safe, lows are actually helping me become a better player, that's a wrap," said Steve Mulholland, founder and publisher of Sole Collector, one of the leading consumer sneaker magazines. "The rules as we used to know are about to change." But not everyone believes this is a good thing. In choosing a low, Bryant will be swimming upstream against the long-held belief that a high-top protects the ankle and keeps it from rolling by providing extra support. Although a 1993 University of Oklahoma study that appeared in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found no relationship between shoe height and ankle injury, five years later a study in the Journal of Sport Sciences found that increased ankle support did reduce the likelihood of a sprained ankle. Whether a low-top shoe will be accepted by consumers will depend on breaking down myths. In testing for the Kobe IV, Nike found that its wear testers broke down into three categories: those who would never wear a low, those who were skeptical but curious, and those who were on board the instant they were handed a pair.groupon    purchase

Kobe Basketball Shoes -nike.

Kobe's new low-top shoe The end result is a shoe that weighs just 11.6 ounces, some 20 percent lighter than the average Nike basketball shoe. For a player such as Bryant, who Nike says runs an average of 2.5 miles per game, less weight on his feet means more energy on the court and the ability to move quicker, run faster and perhaps even jump higher. He is expected to debut the shoes Dec. 19 against Miami. That night, Bryant won't be the first current NBA player to wear a low. Washington forward Gilbert Arenas is a longtime proponent of the low-top, and Nike made a lower-type cut for Phoenix guard Steve Nash last year. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore low-top shoes for much of his career, too. But Bryant is by far the biggest current star to take the plunge into the low-cut world. And he's doing so with his signature shoe. It's a gamble for him, a gamble for Nike and a gamble for the industry as a whole. When you have the absolute best player in the world saying lows are safe, lows are actually helping me become a better player, that's a wrap," said Steve Mulholland, founder and publisher of Sole Collector, one of the leading consumer sneaker magazines. "The rules as we used to know are about to change." But not everyone believes this is a good thing. In choosing a low, Bryant will be swimming upstream against the long-held belief that a high-top protects the ankle and keeps it from rolling by providing extra support. Although a 1993 University of Oklahoma study that appeared in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found no relationship between shoe height and ankle injury, five years later a study in the Journal of Sport Sciences found that increased ankle support did reduce the likelihood of a sprained ankle.groupon    purchase

Kobe's feet to feature new shoe

kobe`s feet to feature new shoe SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- They are the unwritten but widely accepted bylaws of sports footwear. Here, we hold these truths to be self-evident: Golf is to be played in spikes. Ice hockey is to be played on skates. Baseball and football are to be played in cleats. And basketball? Basketball is to be played in a pair of high-tops. So Kobe Bryant understands the backlash. He knows there will be doctors, trainers, coaches, fans and even some fellow NBA stars who will look at his latest signature shoe from Nike, see that it's -- gasp -- a low-top and believe the Los Angeles Lakers guard has completely lost his mind. But he asked for this. Eighteen months ago, when Bryant met with a Nike design team and began brainstorming ideas for the Kobe IV, his focus wasn't on following the precedent but rather on setting his own. An avid soccer buff, Bryant marveled at the stress soccer players put on their ankles while wearing a low-cut shoe and figured if they felt could they do that on the pitch, he could bring it on the hardwood. So that day in a Nike boardroom, he gave Eric Avar, Nike's performance footwear creative director, one specific instruction: Create the lowest, lightest basketball shoe ever. Avar loved the idea, but at the same time, he knew the ramifications of the words coming out of the mouth of the reigning NBA MVP. Kobe Bryant loves the big stage of playing at Madison Square Garden versus the Knicks. With the big win at Boston the night before many were wondering if Kobe and the Lakers were ready for the game physically and emotionally. 19 points in the first quarter proved any naysayers wrong quickly. Although the 33 points he scored was well short of the 61 he scored two years ago to set the MSG record, it was still a brilliant performance for the Black Mamba. Soon after the game was done and the Laker¡¯s got the W, Kobe kindly stopped by Footlocker¡¯s flagship store on 34th Street to show love to his fans. There he would introduce the the special Zoom Kobe VI ¡°Rice¡± HS edition to his fans. Our very own Dirty Sole was on-hand to check out the event firsthand and give us a great close-up view of the shoes and experience. Check out the pictures below from the event and congratulations to the lucky few who got their hands on the shoes as they aren¡¯t set to release officially for another month.groupon    purchase

about kobe

about kebe Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. He decided to declare his eligibility for the NBA Draft upon graduation, and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.An abstract take on a classic Kobe Bryant image by artist Kim Min Suk that is 5 championship rings great. Kobe Bryant is set to make $28 million in off the court endorsements this year. He may lose out on $400K of that, according to SportingNews.com: Lakers star Kobe Bryant is among the largest creditors of Power Balance, the maker of what the company claims to be performance-enhancing wristbands that recently filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court, as he is owed $400,000 for his endorsement. Other athletes on the list of creditors include Clippers forward Blake Griffin ($20,000) and skateboarder Ryan Sheckler ($25,000). The L.A. Kings and Sacramento Kings are owed $250,000 and $100,000, respectively. Lakers Lamar Odom was also named as an investor/creditor, and was used on the companys website for marketing purposes. groupon    purchase

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On the other side of the kobe 1 Kobe Helps the Homeless Kobe Bryant has always been the type of person that will help out someone in need, whether it¡¯s on or off the court. This time around, he is helping those right outside the stadium. Bryant, who formed the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation back in June along with his wife, served as the honorary chairman of the United Way Homeless 5K Walk/Run at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. With the Black Mamba, the event drew in a record amount of participants with over 5,000 people who pledged to raise $100 at the very least per person. Kobe told the press during an interview, ¡°We have to do a better job of letting them know we care about them and letting them know we¡¯re here to support them.¡± He added, ¡°There are things we take for granted on daily basis, like getting up in the morning and eating breakfast and taking a shower that are inconsistencies for them on a day-to-day basis.¡± Kobe Bryant Makes A Cameo In UC Irvine Athletics¡¯s Horrendous "Love Shack" Video When Ray Lewis worried about the societal ramifications of an NFL lockout, he said evil would result. While he didn't say so, it's not much of a stretch to think it similarly applies to an NBA lockout. Case in point: Kobe Bryant's cameo in the video in which "UC Irvine Athletes kick off the academic year with their annual love song." Evil takes many forms, and this rendition of "Love Shack" complete with a Kobe's cross-country team cameo is nothing short of ear evil. This is not what Fred Schneider wanted. This is not what Fred Schneider needed. groupon    purchase

NBA owners, players resume talks

Representatives for NBA owners and players have started settlement talks in a last-ditch effort to prevent the cancellation of the league’s Christmas games, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The negotiations started Tuesday and were expected to continue Wednesday and through the Thanksgiving holiday, sources said. Kobe Shoes New Style
“We should know more by later [Wednesday] evening,” one league source said.
While the two sides have enough time to negotiate a deal for a shortened schedule for the 2011-12 season, they likely would have to reach agreement no later than this weekend if the league also hopes to save its showcase games scheduled for Christmas. NBA commissioner David Stern has repeatedly said the league would need about 30 days after an agreement is reached before the season could start.
Negotiations between the two sides broke off on Nov. 14 after the union decided to disband. Players Association president Derek Fisher is not involved in the current talks, a source said. Kobe Shoes New Style
In their last round of negotiations as a union, the players had agreed to accept a 50-50 revenue split with the owners, provided they resolved some of the system issues that could limit player movement. Stern had repeatedly said the owners were done negotiating and that the players must accept the league’s proposal or risk a worse offer.
The players rejected the deal and hired antitrust attorney David Boies to help represent them. Boies has repeatedly said the goal of the players’ litigation is to spur the owners to start settlement talks.
[ Related: Mavericks player criticizes Billy Hunter ]
Lawyers representing the players initially filed two antitrust suits against the league that have since been consolidated into one inMinneapolis. Players Association executive director Billy Hunter told reporters on Tuesday he thought a magistrate could be appointed in the case to begin settlement talks early next week.

AP Sources: Talks resume toward ending NBA lockout

NEW YORK (AP)—Talks aimed at ending the NBA lockout have resumed, two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday, with a quick settlement necessary to start the season by Christmas.

The discussions began quietly Tuesday and are expected to continue through the Thanksgiving holiday, the people told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the talks were supposed to remain confidential.

The talks between representatives of the owners and players are now centered on settling their lawsuits: The players filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league in Minnesota and the league filed a pre-emptive suit in New York, seeking to prove the lockout was legal.

Because the union disbanded, it cannot negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, but the settlement talks could lead to that. The CBA can only be completed once the union has reformed.

Neither side commented on the talks, first reported by Yahoo Sports, though the league said in a statement it “remains in favor of a negotiated resolution” to the lockout.

The news revived the hopes of saving the Christmas slate, when the league schedules some marquee matchups to kick off its national TV package. The NBA finals rematch between Dallas and Miami was to headline three games this season

Commissioner David Stern has said it would take about 30 days from an agreement to the start of the regular season, meaning a deal may need to be reached by the end of this week.

The league had wanted to open a 72-game schedule on Dec. 15, pushing the start of the playoffs and finals back a week, if players had agreed to the last offer. But players rejected the owners’ most recent proposal on Nov. 14, announcing instead they were disbanding the union to pave the way to sue the league. Kobe Shoes New Style

David Boies, one of the attorneys representing the players, has repeatedly said he hoped the league would be compelled to settle rather than risk a potentially lengthy trial that could end with players being awarded about $6 billion in damages.

When talks broke down, the sides were still divided over the division of revenues and certain changes sought by owners to curb spending by big-market teams that players felt would limit or restrict their options in free agency. Owners are insistent on a 50-50 split of basketball-related income. Union officials indicated they could be open to that, even though they were guaranteed 57 percent in the old CBA, but only if the league conceded on some of the “system” issues.

With the union no longer representing the players, it was unclear who was involved in the new round of talks. NBPA executive director Billy Hunter is officially part of the players’ legal team so he’s able to take part in the talks, though his participation in negotiations could strengthen the league’s contention that the disclaimer strategy was a “sham” and the union hadn’t really gone anywhere. Kobe Shoes New Style

Kobe Bryant's Endorsement Nightmare

If being the NBA's highest paid player during a work stoppage wasn't taxing enough, things just became worse for Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant isn't getting a penny of his $25,244,493 salary from the Lakers this season, and now he can forget about getting a payout from an endorsement deal gone bad. The Hollywood hoopster is listed among the biggest creditors in bankruptcy papers filed for Power Balance LLC.

The company claimed its popular performance bracelets, which retail for $30, help users improve strength, balance and flexibility. But when called out by Australian regulators, Power Balance fell like a house of cards, saying they had no credible scientific evidence that supported claims. Kobe I Shoes

Bryant is owed $400,000 for giving his seal of approval to the product, reports the Orange County Register. Blake Griffin, Clippers rookie of the year, is out $20,000. Pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler was supposed to have $25,000 coming his way for his backing. Even several professional sports franchises took a bath.

The NHL's LA Kings are owed $250,491, while the NBA's Sacramento Kings look like Jokers after selling an arena naming rights deal to the company which owes them $100,000 in financial support. Despite the bankruptcy, CBS Sacramento reports the NBA's Kings are standing by Power Balance, calling them "good partners since day one." (So what are bad partners like?)

All together, Power Balance has assets of less than $10 million and debts of as much as $50 million. Simple math tells you it's unlikely any of the athletes or teams will ever see the money they're owed. Kobe 6

Despite this frightening financial fumble, the Orange County Register reports Power Balance will continue to operate during its reorganization as it looks to find consumers willing to spend $30 money for a wristband

Former NBA lottery pick Marcus Fizer finds new calling

LostLettermen.com, the college sports fan site and player database, regularly contributes to Ball Don't Lie. Here's a look at former NBA player Marcus Fizer.

He's been labeled one of the biggest NBA draft busts ever and most people haven't heard his name since he last played in the NBA five years ago.

But now born-again Christian and former lottery pick Marcus Fizer is out to remove the "bust" label from his name, return to the NBA and, oh yeah, build a second career as a minister. Kobe 2010

That's why you'll now find Fizer, 33, in his hometown of Arcadia, La., where he is working out vigilantly for a return to the NBA hardwood (you know, once they actually resume play) while also serving as a youth minster at the local First Arcadia Church of God in Christ. Renewing his faith in October of 2010, he now gives sermons at the church where his guardian is the pastor, serves as the Sunday school superintendent and leads a youth hour each Wednesday. Fizer even has a Christian clothing line coming out.

"I'm at peace," Fizer said. "I'm living a great life with my family. I've gotten married. My wife and my kids are together... God took me to a place where he got a lot of people out of my life that weren't necessarily leading me down the right path."

[Related: JaMarcus Russell plots return to LSU classes & NFL] Kobe 2010

And Fizer believes his new-found faith will help lead him back to the NBA, where he averaged just 9.6 PPG and 4.6 RPG in six seasons after being compared to Karl Malone when he was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2000 NBA draft.

"Five years from now, do I picture myself playing in the NBA again?" Fizer asked. "No question."

To do that, he will first need to prove himself overseas or in the NBA Development League. And Fizer has his work cut out for him with his relatively old age, concerns about his surgically repaired right knee and the fact he's barely played the last three seasons.

He most recently signed with an Israeli team last December, but it didn't work out due to an injury. Fizer said he's currently fielding offers from teams around the globe and sounds confident in his knee that has suffered three torn ACLs.

On his mission to reach the NBA again, Fizer is also intent on setting the record straight about his first go-round in the league, even requesting an interview himself to tell his side of the story.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a new mascot, thankfully

It turns out that Nas was just five years ahead of his time when he announced that "Hip Hop is dead." It only took the Philadelphia 76ers a half a decade to realize as much.

On Tuesday the team announced that its mascot of 15 years, Hip Hop, has "fallen in love, married, and will relocate to a rural part of Pennsylvania to start a family." Actual quote from the team's press release.

That is to say -- ear muffs, kids -- Hip Hop is out as 76ers mascot.

The always on-it Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Kate Fagan spoke with new 76ers team owner Adam Aronabout what apparently was a necessary change:

"Before we bought the team — in one of my first meetings in August with (managing owner) Josh Harris — we were comparing notes about our reactions to everything Philadelphia 76ers. Both of us, independently, came to the same conclusion: Hip Hop wasn't the right image for the team we wanted to create and the product we wanted to offer 76ers fans."

Aron then explained that there was "no fan support for the Hip Hop mascot," and that the "interest in this issue was considerable." Aron appeared on WIP radio and the first question was basically when can Hip Hop go away? (Although asked in a more colorful manner, I'm told.)

Then the Inquirer held an on-line poll asking fans if they wanted Hip Hop to remain as the team's mascot. Only 1 in 7 Philadelphia sports fans supported Hip Hop. Aron noticed. A few days later he Tweeted on his Twitter account (@SixersCEOAdam), asking fans why they didn't like the mascot. He said he received about 40 to 50 responses within an hour. Kobe MS

For a team that barely sells 40 to 50 tickets an hour during an actual season, that can be accurately described as a fevered response.

Aron and company haven't fully committed to a new mascot, or even to who will design the team's new child-frightener, but he did confirm that the team is in "advanced" discussions with Jim Henson's Creature Shop, according to his interview with Fagan.

One thing you can count on, Revolutionary-era enthusiasts? You won't see Ben Franklin ambling around the Wells Fargo Center anytime soon. Cue Aron:

"Ben Franklin is a human being and these mascots are usually more animals."

Indeed. And mascots are usually less, y'know … genres of music. Kobe Shoes 6

Create-a-Caption: Great everything, Marcus Banks

I'm really glad you're enjoying your birthday party at the Chateau Nightclub & Gardens at the Paris Las Vegas, Marcus Banks. It looks like a very fun time, and I'm happy to see that you are making the most of it. Everything about this looks great. I don't know what it is you are about to lick, but I bet licking it is probably fine, since the round top matches your sleeveless hoodie and the shiny bottom matches your big diamond bracelet/watch. All coordinated everything.

Also, I like that you are apparently supporting Movember. Don't beat yourself up; you still have a few days left to turn that tiny thin line of a mustache into something that is more of a real thing. You're not "licked" yet!

In conclusion: Great everything, Marcus Banks. Happy birthday!

Best caption wins Ring Pops, my licking object of choice (wait). Good luck.

In our last adventure: CONFIRMED: No one is in greater agony than Hasheem Thabeet. Kobe 6 

Create-a-Caption: Great everything, Marcus Banks Kobe 6

Create-a-Caption: Great everything, Marcus Banks Kobe 6

Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan(notes), right, laughs as Washington Wizards' Mike James  , left, hugs him during the Houston Lockout Celebrity Basketball Game hosted by former player NBA and coach John Lucas ,Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, in Houston. Several NBA players participated in the event that will benefit charities including the John Lucas Foundation, which helps athletes who need after care or wellness services and programs Kobe 6 

Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Evan Turner mourns a friend

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Evan Turner: I just hear they got rid of Hip-Hop. I guess the recession and lockout is real. Its a damn shame when a mascot isn't safe smh lol

Amar'e Stoudemire: Earlier this year, I stopped by Shalom Sesame to talk to kids about how the word "tov" and how it is used in common Hebrew phrases. … Amar'e's Shalom Sesame piece will be released at the end of next week around December 1. ShalomSesame.org. #1LoveKobe 6 

Dwight Howard: Lookin at these old school games on nbatv. Zo is goin ham. His wristbands look like the QB play sleeves tho. But I'm Rollin with zo

Jeff Green: Did I not get the memo about being a rapper since there's a lockout? Lol

Kevin Durant: 33 cool ones RT @SaucyBR: @KDTrey5 What was your career high in high school?

A famous photographer made a Tyson Chandler fanzine

If you were into any sort of artistic subculture during the pre-Internet era, you probably readfanzines. If you're unfamiliar with the term, they were unprofessional magazines created by fans, containing art, articles, and news for people who otherwise couldn't get much info on what they loved. For horror aficionados, indie rock fans, and the like, fanzines were an important source of news and opinion.

These days, they don't exist much in physical form, although they apparently are making something of a comeback. Serious fans still exist to put together a zine on a beloved topic. Which is exactly what Ari Marcopoulos, a famous photographer who's worked with Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, did for NBA center. From Ben Cohen for The Wall Street Journal (via my pal David Roth):

One night last June, Marcopoulos and Camilla Venturini, his 23-year-old Italian art director, walked into a Park Slope sports bar for Game 6 of the NBA Finals and watched Dallas clinch its series against the Miami Heat. It wasn't long before the artists were inspired by Chandler.

"Everybody was talking about Dirk Nowitzki, but here was this guy who was a worker-bee player," Marcopoulos said. Kobe 6

Venturini was captivated for another reason. "First of all, he's handsome," she said. "But what I really like about him is that he's always really calm and rational. I follow him on his Facebook page and he looks modest and devoted to his family." [...]

The 7-foot-1 Chandler was in Chelsea visiting art galleries Tuesday when he was briefed about the fan zine. Since he was in the area, he walked into Printed Matter, the only Manhattan bookstore with "Tyson Chandler" still in stock. "There was a dope vibe in there," he said.

Then the zine's namesake proceeded to purchase the remaining copies of "Tyson Chandler." He even autographed one and left it for Marcopoulos. "It's one of the big accomplishments of my career," Chandler said. He posed for photos while reading the zine and called Marcopoulos, who was in Italy on a video shoot with Venturini. Kobe 6

So there you have it, a true American story of wonder: two immigrant photographic artists watched a basketball game, became captivated by a role player, found a bunch of images on Google, and put together a publication that was most popular in the '80s and '90s. They printed up 150, have since sold out, and apparently now plan to shoot Chandler for a professional project. There's not much analysis to provide here -- it's the kind of story that requires you to shrug your shoulders and look on in awe at the beautiful randomness of life.

If we're lucky, the success of Marcopoulos' Chandler zine will spark a trend of artist-created basketball-themed zines. If we're doubly lucky, the next subject will be Chandler's Mavs teammate Brian Cardinal.Get at me, New York creative minds. These three photos are a great start.

NBA players move legal fight to Minnesota

NEW YORK (AP)—After filing two separate antitrust lawsuits against the league in different states, NBA players are consolidating their efforts and have turned to the courts in Minnesota as their chosen venue.

A group of named plaintiffs including Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash and Kevin Durant filed an amended federal lawsuit against the league in Minnesota on Monday, hoping the courts there will be as favorable to them as they have been to NFL players in the past.

The locked-out players filed class-action antitrust suits against the league last Tuesday in California and Minnesota. The California complaint was withdrawn Monday.

The likelihood was we’d get a faster result in Minnesota than California,” players’ lawyer David Boies said. “I think the result would be the same.”

NBA owners locked out the players July 1, and the labor strife between the two sides has forced games to be canceled through Dec. 15.

“This is consistent with Mr. Boies’ inappropriate shopping for a forum that he can only hope will be friendlier to his baseless legal claims,” Rick Buchanan, NBA executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.

Federal court in Minnesota was the venue for all NFL labor disputes that reached the courts for the past two decades. The NFL players enjoyed several victories over the owners there, most recently when U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson issued a temporary injunction this summer that lifted the NFL’s owner-imposed lockout. That decision was stayed and eventually overturned on appeal by the 8th Circuit in St. Louis.

Boies insisted the only reason to pick Minnesota was to speed up the process. The first case management conference in California had been scheduled for March 9, although the sides could have requested the date to be moved up. Boies expected a hearing in Minnesota next month. Kobe MS

“The docket is less congested there,” he said. “They have a good track record of handling these kind of cases very promptly.”

The owners had already filed a lawsuit of their own in the Southern District of New York, a venue that has issued several NBA-friendly rulings over the years, and could file a motion to have the Minnesota case moved there.

After the two sides were unable to reach an accord, the players disbanded the union last week. That set the stage for the increasingly bitter labor dispute to move from the negotiating table to the courtroom, which could jeopardize the entire 2011-12 season. Kobe 6

Disbanding the union allowed the players to file an antitrust lawsuit against the league, a move the NFL players also used. Chauncey Billups), Rajon Rondo, Caron Butle,Baron Davis, Ben Gordon, Kawhi Leonard), Leon Powe, Anthony