NBA Releases 2008-2009 NBA Schedule

I don't know about you, but I am all ready for the start of the next NBA season! After an exciting post season capped off by a legendary Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals, I am hungry for some NBA action. Well, the NBA season is still a few months away but the Association did release their regular season schedule Wednesday.

Opening night which will take place on October 28, will feature LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the “New Garden” in Boston watching the Celtics receive their NBA Championship rings. The Cavaliers took the Celtics to a seven game series in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, before the “Green Team” won the series. That game will be broadcast as part of a double-header on TNT. The second game to be televised on the Network will be a West Coast contest as Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers head down to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. Oden of course will be making his NBA debut, after missing last year due to micro-fracture surgery on his knee. Oden was the number one selection in the 2007 NBA Draft.

After an absence of two years, the NBA will be back with their double-header on Thanksgiving as the Orlando Magic spend the day in D.C. and take on the Washington Wizards. The second game on Turkey Day has the New Orleans Hornets in the Mile High City to face the Denver Nuggets. Your Christmas dreams will come true on Christmas Day as you can gorge on five nationally broadcast games! ESPN will have the first game at noon which will be the Hornets in Orlando to play the Magic. ABC then will have a double-header, the first game will be the San Antonio Spurs in Phoenix to match-up against the Suns. The second game is a re-match of the NBA Finals as the Lakers are in Boston to try to get some vengeance on the Celtics. And for dessert, another double-header on TNT as the Wizards are in Cleveland taking on the Cavaliers. The evening comes to a close as the Dallas Mavericks are in Portland facing the Trail Blazers.

The NBA All-Star game takes place in Phoenix next season. The game will be played on Sunday February 15. And the final game of the regular season will take place on April 15, AKA Tax Day In The USA. For a complete schedule go to http://www.nba.com/schedules/

NBA Dunk Contest: Frame by Frame

In case anyone needed more dunk contest coverage, USA Today posted frame-by-frame photos of the biggest slams of the night. These are fantastic photos that you must check out if you have not already.

Click here to get to the main page and follow the "take the controls" link on the left to get into the frame-by-frame. Enjoy!

NBA All-Star Game: Heading to London in 2011

Heard anything lately about the NBA's European additions? Well let's first start thinking about the 2011 All-Star game! Rumors have spread since the weekend in New Orleans about the 2011 game taking place in London's O2 Arena. A delegation from Events for London were present this past weekend and have already initiated some informal discussions.

The London Telegraph:

Last October, an exhibition friendly game between the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves at the O2 sold a capacity 18,000 tickets within hours of going on sale and there is the likelihood of more friendly games this autumn. NBA commissioner David Stern was full of praise for the London venue. He said: "The O2 Arena we played in London is an NBA-ready arena."

There have also been informal talks between Events for London and the NBA about the prospect of a regular season game being staged in the capital in 2009.

The 2009 All Star game is to be held in Phoenix with an announcement for the 2010 venue imminent - Boston has been mooted as a candidate.

Events for London would like to host the game in 2011 or 2012 as part of their bid for high-profile events in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Stern said: "We are making an announcement in the next couple of weeks or months about 2010. After that we are open. There is no time frame [for London] but the 2012 [Olympics] is interesting.

"There is a shorter, smaller circle of franchises and cities that can bid or want to bid for the All Star game. I think we're going to be on a tighter rotation over the next decade or so of fewer NBA cities - or non-NBA cities - but our guests, and media, I promise will enjoy it."

For the growth of the NBA a trip to London is probably a good thing, but what if I wanted to attend the 2011 All-Star game? I guess I better work on that passport!

NBA All-Stars: Best Pro Athlete Bowlers - Rankings

It is always fascinating to find out what other things athletes excel at! We all know how good LeBron James is at basketball and how solid Terrell Owens is as a wide receiver in the NFL, but what we don't know is how good they are at the recreational activities we participate in like playing pool, volleyball or in this case, bowling.

The USBC (United States Bowling Congress) released their US Celebrity Bowler rankings and it just so happens that 3 NBA All-Stars highlight the list!

Check it out here.

NBA All-Star Game: All About the Shoes!

As a kid growing up watching the NBA All-Star game, one of my favorite things was always to see which shoes would be showcased by the stars that year. Michael Jordan always had a fresh color scheme on his current Air Jordan and Shaq even brought out the cell phone shoe one year.

This year could be one of the best All-Star shoe showcases ever with some very significant shoe lines out. This year marks the release of the Air Jordan 23 and the 100th anniversary of Converse. The biggest hit will obviously be the Jordan's with this possibly being the last year ever for the Air Jordan and with a very limited supply released to the public. Carmelo Anthony will be wearing a special color scheme known as the 'Air Jordan 23 All-Star' that should get all those Air Jordan collectors a little too happy.

And don't forget about Yao Ming! He'll even have on a signature pair of his Reebok ATR Elite II's and are rumored to feature a dragon. Dwyane Wade will also have a new shoe out with the release of the WADE 3 by Converse.

"The WADE 3 was designed around the No. 3 being significant in my life," Wade said. "It carries into this weekend with this being my third year in a row to be named an all-star starter."

Here is a look at the 2005 All-Star game shoes just to give you an idea of what to expect. Some 2006 versions and more from ESPN.com. Here was the 2007 Adidas All-Star lineup.

NBA Cautions Fans About Counterfeit All-Star Merchandise

As the NBA All-Star game approaches in New Orleans, the NBA is starting to prepare to deal with the millions of dollars to be made from counterfeit merchandise at th event. Since 1993 the NBA has seized over 9 million pieces of counterfeit merchandise valued at over $329 million.

Here are some tips for fans:

• Look for the hologram sticker or holographic hangtag and a sewn-in or screen printed neck label identifying the merchandise as "genuine" or "official," as authorized by the NBA


• Shop at NBA-authorized retail locations, such as the NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans Arena, NBA Store on 52^nd & 5^th Avenue in New York City, NBAStore.com and official hotels – rather than buying items from street vendors, flea markets, or other questionable sources.


• Beware of ripped tags or irregular markings on apparel.

“The NBA insists upon the highest quality products, to protect both our authorized vendors and our fans,” said Ayala Deutsch, senior vice president & chief intellectual property counsel for the NBA. “Counterfeiting is a lose-lose situation, harming those retailers who play by the rules and cheating fans out of the lasting NBA mementos they deserve.”

The Super Bowl ran into counterfeiting issues just weeks ago with ticket scalpers selling fake tickets for thousands of dollars. Luckily the scalpers were caught but who knows how many others were effected by fake ticketing or merchandising.

Security at all NBA events will be tight this week and the NBA will be working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement authorities, who will be responsible for security measures including the enforcement of local laws prohibiting the sale of counterfeit merchandise during NBA All-Star 2008 events.

More info here.

2500 'NBA Family' Members Rebuild New Orleans

After last year's debacle in Las Vegas, the NBA for whatever reason decided to take on New Orleans for the All-Star game. Many players and fans were concerned that New Orleans might not be ready for such an event with Hurricane Katrina still fresh in our hearts and minds.

Las Vegas was a disaster for the league, so this year David Stern wanted to erase those frightening Vegas memories and make a positive statement. He has surely done exactly what he set out to do. This year in New Orleans, the NBA has brought together 2500 people to take part in the rebuilding of this great city.

For those who had concerns, be aware that the NBA has partnered with the state of Louisiana to create a season long rebuilding effort to assist over 30,000 children and build 40 places where families can learn, live and play.

NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS, February 7, 2008 – More than 2,500 people attending NBA All-Star 2008 will roll up their sleeves to participate in one of 10 service projects throughout New Orleans on Feb. 15, marking the largest single-day effort by the NBA Family in its ongoing support in rebuilding the city. The All-Star Day of Service, which will highlight a week-long schedule of community events impacting more than several thousand New Orleans-area residents, will include NBA All-Stars and participants, former players, NBA business and media partners and guests.

Over NBA All-Star week you can expect to see 25 community services events including reading rallies, hospital visits and new basketball court dedications. This will be an amazing event that everyone should try to find some time for.

“This season has given the NBA a great opportunity to support the revitalization of a great American city. With our NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service the entire NBA Family along with our marketing and media partners, players and guests are ready to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand. There is nothing more important to the league than helping this city and its people rebuild,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern.

If you will be in New Orleans during this week, here is a list of locations for events:

City Year School Revitalizations Laurel Elementary School 820 Jackson Avenue

McDonogh 35 High School 1331 Kerlerec Street

Rebuilding Together Home Refurbishments Holy Cross Neighborhood 900 Lizardi Street

KaBOOM! Playground Build Mahalia Jackson Center 2102 Freret Street

Hands-on New Orleans Supply Kit Assembly Marriott Hotel 555 Canal Street Hands-on New Orleans School & Home Refurbishments Capdau School 3821 Franklin Avenue

Fairmont Neighborhood 3531 Mandeville Street

Habitat for Humanity Home Builds Musician’s Village 4000 North Roman Street

New Orleans East 4733 Wilson Avenue

Central City 3627 1st. Street

Please read the rest of the article here.