Bulldog

I was at the Arena watching it live. I was absolutely shocked when he was knocked out. But it was no fluke. Gonzaga bossed the whole fight. The UFC must be upset that the Randy versus CroCop superfight is now off though... Also Bisping got a huge reception in Manchester - was a great night!

Both Dallas and Miami hit a wall in the playoffs. Miami are paying top dollar for Shaq and if they do not think that Shaq and Wade can win it all again, then they may consider trading the big man. Dallas is a team with a free spending owner who might look to deal as their unit does not seem to have it. A Shaq, Dirk, Howard combo could be enough for a good shot next year however.

Would Terry, Dampier and Buckner plus a pick be enough to get Shaq? or would Miami seek an all-star in return? The problem is Shaq could only be traded to a team that thinks it can win now. That would really only mean Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio and Detroit. Dallas seems the most likely out of that bunch.

Phoenix will package the #5 and Thomas (and throw ins to make it work) for Kirilenko.

Nash, Bell, Stoudemire, Marion, Kirilenko.

Looks pretty good for the title in '08.

I would like to see Phoenix against Detroit. I think it would be an interesting mix of styles.

Bynum has had a surprisingly good season. He is a legit 7 foot center, with good blocking abilities and is still very young. He is a very good prospect, so I doubt the Lakers want to part with him. If offered Garnett though I suppose they would have to live with it and try and pick up another big man in free agency

Mitch Kupchak and Coach Phil Jackson spoke to about 900 season-ticket holders on Monday night at the team's annual "town-hall meeting" and fielded some questions on Kevin Garnett. Neither Kupchak nor Jackson answered directly, citing league tampering rules, although Kupchak did eventually say that, generally speaking, "You've got to trust myself and Dr. [Jerry] Buss that we'll do everything to get a top player."

Sounds to me like Garnett for Odom, Brown, Evans and a draft pick or something like it could be on this summer.

Pippen for Olden Polynice wasnt a great one for Seattle...

Mutombo became the oldest player in NBA history to record over 20 rebounds in a game, finishing with 22 boards in the Houston Rockets' 108-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

He has been playing amazingly since Yao went down. Well done to a great player and a great guy. The funny thing is that he is rumoured to be much older than 40!

I'd like to see James White in the contest doing the 2 handed dunk from the free throw line...

or see him try to do a one hander from outside the free throw line...

what about measuring the distance to the free throw line and mark it to the side of the basket, then run down from the crowd and jam it one handed from that distance...?

the 12ft dunk would be great too...

I think it is sad that Hardaway said what he said. I think it shows that he has his own issues to deal with if he hates gays that much. So Amaechi is gay. So what? If Hardaway is comfortable in his own sexuality and his own life I dont know why he even has to bother thinking that much about Amaechi and his choices. Hardaway was worshipped in a place with a large gay community in Miami and it displays immaturity for him to come out with this in my opinion. Gay / Straight / Whatever. Come on this is 2007 for crying out loud.

I am quite surprised about this move, as all sources seemed to say that he has great potential and could be a good defensive wing player. Obviously he can also jump out of the gym...

I'm sure teams will be looking at him (Denver?) but I think the Hawks already have enough wing players.

Yup - I'm not sure about Pryz's handle though! He doesnt look comfortable dribbling...

http://www.nba.com/blazers/team/

if you havent seen it - check it out. awesome site. Each player has a video clip etc on their roster section.

good lad - Liverpool is my team too. Steven Gerrard is the man... Crouch has had a good run of form and does some good robotix to celebrate!

Go Great Britain for Olympic gold in the London 2012 Olympics. The team could be a surprise with Deng, Ben Gordon (born in London), Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Joel Freeland and some other rising British stars on the team.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketbal...s/preview/2006/

see this link - has Kobe got a new number for a new beginning?

London, England.

I saw the Hawks (with 'Nique) play 2 games in London against the Magic in the '93 pre-season (before Penny's rookie year). 'Nique was wicked...

respect to UK Players Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, John Amaechi, Michael Olowokandi, Joel Freeland, Spencer Dunkley, Pops Mensah-Bonsu - they made it to the show!

Nene $10m per year, even Wilcox and Gooden have got around $9m per year in their big deals... but Harrington who averaged 18.6, 6.9 and 3.1 plus over a steal a game and basically improved his game every year of his 8 years in the league and the best he can get is a four-year contract worth $35.3 million at under $9m per year??? I dont get it.

agreed - the only one of the champs that he could even compete against is Maskaev. Lyakhovich is too fast and strong, Valuev has too much power and if he faced Klitschko I would seriously worry about him. He wouldnt have the power to rock Wladimir (which is his achilles heel), and Wlad has serious power in return. Holy would be too slow to get out of the way.

I hope the former Soviets have a tourney to unite the belts.

I was pleased to see Holyfield looking good in his 2nd round TKO victory this weekend. But I still hope he feels he can now retire on a victory. There is no way he wins a version of the title now, and he is only going to do himself damage. Whatever happens the Real Deal will be remembered as a true warrior of the fight game, so I would prefer him to let it go now, before suffering another bad loss against one of the top 10 guys.

In this day and age it is so refreshing to hear of a guy using his money to help others in this way. Dikembe is a great man - I salute you.

Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital to open in Congo

Aug. 14, 2006

CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

NEW YORK -- Dikembe Mutombo will fulfill a lifelong dream soon, opening a hospital in the Congo named for his late mother. The Houston Rockets center, who donated $15 million to the project, will open the doors to the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center on Sept. 2. The 300-bed hospital will provide health care to people in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Mutombo was born.

my guess is Garnett would only leave Minnesota to an immediate title contender - probably Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Miami, New Jersey, Detroit... thats about it.

George McGinnis - In 11 seasons, McGinnis scored 19,162 points and pulled down 10,461 rebounds

anyone think Tim Hardaway is always overlooked for these things..? for his career over 13 years (including some lean years to finish he averaged 17.7 ppg, 8.2 apg, 3.3rpg, 1.65 spg and was a great team leader. He had 22 assists in a game once...

1. Best chance to win - The Suns edge the Heat.

The Chemistry is great in Miami and they all appear to be coming back, but the Suns very nearly made the finals last year and now they can add Amare to the mix. They will be very good this year.

2. Most improved - Bulls. Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, Thebalosha, Khryapa, PJ and there may be more to come in a JR swap thay might give them a little cap room down the road and some draft picks. Also figure in that PJ will come off the books after this year too, giving them cap room next summer too (when they also could still land Oden in the draft via the Knicks). A great off-season.