Thursday, September 30, 2010

Top national prospect Austin Rivers chooses Duke over Kansas, UNC

WINTER PARK, Fla. (AP) -- The son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and one of the nation's most highly recruited players says he is heading to Duke.

Austin Rivers posted on his Twitter site Thursday: "World i have decided to go to duke! Let's go blue devils ha'." Rivers, who later made the announcement on ESPN, chose Duke over Kansas and North Carolina.

The 6-foot-4 guard of Winter Park, Fla., is considered a terrific athlete and prolific scorer. He verbally committed to Florida in 2008 but reopened his search after the Gators struggled to sustain the success that won them back-to-back national titles.

Rivers led Winter Park High School to the Class 6A championship last season. He also played for the world champion USA Basketball 18-under team.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/highschool/09/30/duke.rivers.ap/index.html#ixzz113uWfh2t

Monday, September 27, 2010

Maryland's Gary Williams: Colleges Can Pay Players, and Should

By David Steele (CNN)

At least one prominent college basketball coach says that athletes in revenue-producing sports should be paid, and he said he is not alone.

Maryland's Gary Williams told a Baltimore radio station Tuesday afternoon that he would be in favor of athletes receiving a monthly stipend, that the NCAA undoubtedly could afford it without taking away from the non-revenue sports, and that as a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the topic is discussed constantly among his colleagues.

"The problem we have, anything we bring up with the NCAA, they kind of look at it as, 'What do these coaches -- what are they doing now, what do they want? This is just to help them,''' Williams told the "Sports With Coleman'' show on Baltimore's Fox 1370 Sports Radio. "But it's not, and I know with all the stuff that's in the paper right now, there's a ton of coaches out there who care about their players and do a great job, and hopefully will be heard in the future.''

Williams was referring to last week's return of the Heisman Trophy by Reggie Bush in the wake of NCAA findings that he received benefits while playing for USC, as well as the spate of agent-related controversies in college football, including at fellow ACC member North Carolina. Williams, entering his 22nd season at Maryland and his 32nd overall in college coaching, pointed to the new $11 billion television contract for the NCAA basketball tournament as a rebuttal to the idea that
there is not enough money to go around for all sports to give some to the football and basketball players.

"That's what the NCAA will tell you,'' he said, "but if you did pay the revenue-producing sports athletes, you would still have that money coming in that they exist on now. There's plenty of money off the men's basketball tournament that you can pay men's basketball players, football players, whatever, the revenue-producing sports, and still have enough money to run your other sports, and I think that's why a lot of people (believe) they should be paid.''

The figure Williams suggested was $200 a month -- based, he said, on the fact that when he played at Maryland in the mid-1960s, he and other athletes got $15 a month spending money as part of their scholarship. Even today, he added, regular students are allowed to receive living expenses and spending money as part of financial aid, but athletes on scholarship are not -- even though, he said, "they say that they want student-athletes to be treated just like everybody else.

"These guys don't receive anything except room, board, books, tuition and fees, which doesn't put any cash in their pockets,'' Williams said. "And some of these guys are pretty poor coming here, and a lot of college students have some money -- you feel out of place, you don't feel competitive academically sometimes, and I think it could do a lot of good.

"Plus, hopefully, it would keep away some of the unscrupulous people that do hang around the great athletes, where an athlete wouldn't befriend a guy just because a guy gave him 100 bucks or something like that.''

Better yet, Williams pointed out, it might keep players in school longer and decrease the temptation to go to the pros before they are truly ready, or if they are not ready at all. "The thing is, $200 is not gonna keep a kid in school if he's got a chance to be a first-round pick,'' he said, "but it's the other athletes, the four-year players and things like that, that might need money that, instead of taking a chance at going into the draft, they might stay another year so that they can afford to stay on the campus and they don't need that money and take the risk of not making a pro team.

"The whole thing was set up with college sports ... it was entertainment value for the other students on campus, but also to give people a chance to get an education because of the skill they do have. They shouldn't be discouraged, they should be encouraged in any way possible.''

Paying players is, he said, "a tough argument, I understand, but amateurs make money now,'' pointing to track and field athletes among others whose definition of "amateur'' has changed over the years.

"In college, you're kind of on an island now in terms of these guys,'' he said. "They do get a scholarship -- the scholarship's probably worth here, at Maryland, about $40,000 (a year), so it's not a bad thing. But it gets tough when you see what's out there, and you see the people that kind of take advantage of that situation with the players.''

Williams, who coached Maryland to the 2002 NCAA title, will be inducted next week into the new Hall of Legends at Baltimore's Sports Legends at Camden Yards Museum; also in the inaugural class of state honorees are Babe Ruth, Johnny Unitas, Brooks Robinson, broadcaster Jim McKay and former Ravens owner Art Modell, who moved the Browns to Baltimore in 1995.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Michael Vick shines in Eagles' 35-32 win vs. Lions

DETROIT (AP) -- On the bus ride to his first start at quarterback since 2006, Michael Vick thought of everything that has happened the last several years.

Then he went out and took full advantage of the opportunity. Vick looked like the Pro Bowler he used to be by effortlessly flicking the football down the field and avoiding sacks with slick steps.

Vick's second touchdown pass put the Philadelphia Eagles ahead just before halftime and they had to hold on to beat the Detroit Lions 35-32 Sunday.

He didn't take the first snap in a game the past three seasons because he served an 18-month prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation and spent last year as a backup.

Vick said he reflects "all the time" on his journey back onto an NFL field.

"It's been a long road for me," he said softly. "It's been tough. Throughout it all, I had to be resilient and overcome a lot of adversity and self-inflicted wounds."

The electrifying athlete was 21 of 34 - connecting with nine teammates - for 284 yards with two TDs, ran for 37 yards and escaped losses with the spin moves of a dancer and speed of a sprinter.

"A lot of people doubted him and said he wasn't able to do this," said DeSean Jackson , who caught four of Vick's passes for 135 yards and a TD. "He's been able to prove everybody wrong."

LeSean McCoy gave the Eagles (1-1) an 18-point lead on his third score with 6:17 left, but they gave Detroit comeback hopes.

The Lions (0-2) rallied to pull within three points and recovered an onside kick with 1:48 left, but turned the ball over on downs without gaining a yard.

"I'm proud to stand among the players," coach Jim Schwartz said. "This is a tough team, a team that's resilient, that fights through a lot of situations."

Detroit has had to deal with a lot of tough times, winning just twice last year after enduring the league's first 0-16 season. The franchise is a league-worst 33-113 since 2001.

The Lions lost their franchise QB - Matthew Stafford - in the season-opening loss at Chicago with an injured right shoulder and had to turn to Shaun Hill . He was 25 of 45 for 335 yards with two TDs, including one to Calvin Johnson late in the game, and had two interceptions.

"The losses are tough, but you can only worry about them for a day," Hill said. "You can't dwell on mistakes."

The Eagles didn't dwell on Vick's, giving him a shot to revive his career last year.

He was more than ready to take the first snap in place of Kevin Kolb , who missed the game because of a concussion.

Eagles coach Andy Reid insisted before the game he didn't need to reassure Kolb he was still the team's starting QB. Even though Vick seemed to do enough to make it tough to put him back on the bench, Reid said it won't be difficult to turn him back into a part-time player.

"We've got more plays for him than we did a year ago, so he'll be on the field," Reid said. "It isn't going to be five or six plays this year."

Vick passed his first test, rolling left and throwing back across the field against pressure to convert a third down on his opening drive to set up a 45-yard TD pass to Jackson.

After rookie Jahvid Best turned a short pass into a 75-yard reception to put Detroit ahead 17-7 midway through the second quarter, Vick ran and threw for first downs to set up McCoy's 14-yard run for his first TD.

Vick easily lofted a 53-yard pass that perfectly hit Jackson in stride before connecting with Jeremy Maclin on a 9-yard pass that put Philadelphia ahead 21-17 with 13 seconds left in the first half.

"You should have seen him before the game," Reid said. "He was like a kid in a candy store. He was so excited about getting a second chance at being a starter in this league."

The Lions, meanwhile, didn't have much to be proud about.

Best was an exception, catching nine passes for 154 yards and a score and running 17 times for 78 yards and two TDs.

He created a buzz at Ford Field, but by the time he scored for a third time against the Eagles - and fifth time in two games - most of the fans had left after growing tired of seeing the Lions lose again.

Detroit didn't give up, but it also couldn't come close enough to attempt a field goal that could've sent the game into overtime.

"We can't wait until the end of the game," Lions center Dominic Raiola lamented.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Hubbard’s suspension over, cleared to practice

By Kelly Hodge
Press Managing Sports Editor

East Tennessee State basketball coach Murry Bartow says senior forward Tommy Hubbard still has obligations to fulfill, but his suspension is officially over.

Hubbard was suspended indefinitely after an altercation on April 7 in which he reportedly damaged his girlfriend’s laptop. The charges were later dropped with certain conditions attached.

“Based on what happened, based on the agreement, based on things Tommy and I have discussed, there could still be some things that have to take place before he’s fully in good standing,” Bartow said Wednesday from Atlanta, where he was recruiting. “But he has been reinstated and is very much a part of our team. His suspension is over.”

Hubbard led the Bucs in scoring (13.9) and rebounding (8.2) as a junior. He’ll be part of a core of four seniors this season as the team shoots for its third straight Atlantic Sun Conference championship.

• Bartow certainly expects Hubbard to be a positive influence on his freshman roommate. Point guard Ryan Woumn is also from the Boston area and is the only scholarship freshman on the roster.

“Tommy and Ryan are from the same AAU program up in Boston,” said Bartow. “To have Tommy here for Ryan is huge. He’s got to be like a big brother and set a good example.”

Woumn said Tuesday that he’s still getting a feel for the East Tennessee scene. It’s obviously a world away from where he grew up in Lynn, Mass.

“It’s different than back home. Real different,” said Woumn. “But I’m getting used to it. I really like it here, to tell you the truth.”

Woumn averaged over 26 points and five assists as a senior at Lynn English High School and is expected to blossom into an outstanding playmaker for the Bucs. To his credit, he comes in with no preconceived notions about how his first season of college basketball will unfold.

“This year will be a learning experience, which is not a bad thing,” said Woumn. “People want to come in and start, but I think my first year will be about getting to know how coach Bartow runs his offense and defense. I’m going to watch Adam (Sollazzo) and the other guys to see how they do things.”

Woumn, 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, has already gotten a glimpse of what his teammates are capable of.

“We’ve played pickup a whole bunch of times,” he said. “These guys are good.”

Woumn is one of four newcomers, along with junior-college forwards Anthony Johnson and Curtis Wilkinson, and Josh Johnson, the 6-10 walk-on from Gate City, Va.

Bartow and his staff always keep a closer eye on the players this time of year.

“We’re concerned about all the guys and want to make sure everybody gets off to a good start,” he said. “As I look at our team this year, Ryan is the youngest and a long way from home. The junior-college kids have come in from California, so they’re a long, long way from home.

“Those three could potentially be homesick, and they’re having to learn new faces, new terminology and a new system along with just going to school. They can be overwhelmed the first three or four weeks.”

© 2001-2010 Johnson City Press and The Associated Press

Sunday, September 12, 2010

NEPSAC Realignment Finalized

September 10th, 2010
Realignment set for upcoming 2010-2011 basketball season.

The New England Prep School Athletic Council will have a new look this season as St. Andrew’s School head coach and NEPSAC boys’ basketball president Mike Hart confirmed the realignment has been finalized and will take effect in the upcoming season.

NEPSAC will add a sixth league abandoning the A through DD set-up of previous years and instead creating leagues AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D.

Triple A is essentially the old class A league minus a couple of defections. Eight schools make up this league moving forward in Brewster Academy, Bridgton Academy, Maine Central Institute, New Hampton School, Winchendon School, St. Thomas More School, and Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Classes A, B, C, and D were organized based on enrollment with any school who desired having the option to play up in AA.

While Hart says the realignment is still a work in process and could be adjusted following this season he says he believes the NEPSAC committee satisfied their goal of creating the “greatest good for the greatest amount of kids.”

“We finally have a model of classification where almost everyone agrees,” Hart said. “There were very few complaints. Three to be exact.”

Among the concerns were allowing longstanding private leagues to continue to exist even if participating schools were spread over three leagues. The most notable example is the ISL who will remain intact despite having their teams spread through AA, A, and B.

Hart said scheduling will be flexible during the first year but will be more strictly enforced by year two.

“It’s fair and we’ve created opportunities for kids to be successful and play in a good basketball league,” he said. “Each league is going to have exciting playoffs. Many teams have a chance to qualify for playoffs and possibly win a championship instead of having the same teams every year.”


2010-2011 NEPSAC Leagues

Class AAA

Participating Teams – Brewster, Bridgton, MCI, New Hampton, Winchendon, NMH, South Kent, St. Thomas More

Schedule – Each team is limited to 34 games including tournaments but is allowed to schedule any opponent they desire.

Class AA

Participating Teams – Holderness, Tilton, Kimball Union, Vermont Academy, Proctor Academy, St. Andrew’s, St. Mark’s, Worcester, Cushing, Boston Trinity, Brimmer & May, Lawrence Academy, Christian Heritage, Master’s School, Hotchkiss, Marianapolis, Wilbraham & Monson

Schedule – Each team is limited to 30 games including tournaments but is allowed to schedule any opponent.

Class A

Participating Teams – Andover, Exeter, Choate, Avon, Loomis, Brunswick, Belmont Hill, Deerfield, Milton, Salisbury, Trinity Pawling, Landmark, Taft, Tabor, Kent, Hopkins, St. Paul’s, St. Sebastian’s, BB&N, Thayer

Schedule – Each team is limited to 25 games including tournaments and allowed to play no more than six non-conference games “up” against teams from higher leagues. If a school’s location makes this a hardship, budgetary or otherwise, the school can appeal to the association.

Class B

Participating Teams – Nobles, Williston, Westminster, Suffield, Berkshire, Governors, Roxbury Latin, Rye Country Day, Portsmouth Abbey, Master’s NY, Kingswood, Canterbury, Cheshire, Brooks, Pomfret, Concord, Gunnery, Middlesex, St. George’s, Rivers, King, Groton

Schedule – Each team is limited to 25 games including tournaments and allowed to play no more than six non-conference games “up” against teams from higher leagues. If a school’s location makes this a hardship, budgetary or otherwise, the school can appeal to the association.

Class C

Participating Teams – Hamden Hall, Wheeler, Pingree, Cambridge, Gann, Beaver Country Day, St. Luke’s, Millbrook, Kents Hill, Harvey, Dexter, Hebron, Berwick, Storm King, Forman, PCD, Greens Farms, Lexington Christian, Marvelwood, Putney, Newman, Williams, Chapel Hill, Hyde CT

Schedule – Each team is limited to 25 games including tournaments and allowed to play no more than six non-conference games “up” against teams from higher leagues. If a school’s location makes this a hardship, budgetary or otherwise, the school can appeal to the association.

Class D

Participating Teams – Bancroft, Chase, Oakwood, Hyde ME, Cape Cod, Watkinson, Dublin, BU Academy, Wooster, Hoosac, Commonwealth, Rocky Hill, NYMA, MacDuffie, Darrow, ASD, High Mowing, Falmouth, Waring, Woodhall, Poughkeepsie, Learning Center, Waldorf

Schedule – Each team is limited to 25 games including tournaments and allowed to play no more than six non-conference games “up” against teams from higher leagues. If a school’s location makes this a hardship, budgetary or otherwise, the school can appeal to the association.

Brady, Welker produce as Pats beat Bengals 38-24

By Associated Press | Sunday, September 12, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | N.E. Patriots

FOXBOROUGH — Tom Brady [stats] was back where he’s most comfortable, on the field with Wes Welker grabbing touchdown passes.

The headline-making quarterback threw two of his three touchdown passes to Welker, who returned from a serious knee injury, and led the New England Patriots [team stats] to a 38-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The season-opening victory came just three days after Brady was unhurt in a two-car crash then agreed to a contract making him the NFL’s highest paid player.

His day was made smoother by Welker, who caught eight passes for 64 yards less than eight months after surgery for a torn knee ligament.

Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens combined for 19 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals, but their impact fell short of the hype that accompanied their partnership.

The Patriots’ dominance was complete as they also scored on defense with Gary Guyton’s 59-yard interception return and on special teams on Brandon Tate’s 97-yard runback of the second-half kickoff.

Welker led the NFL with 346 receptions the past three years, the last coming on Jan. 3 in the regular-season finale at Houston. He tore a ligament in his left knee on the play and missed New England’s 33-14 first-round playoff loss to Baltimore.

The Ravens led that game 24-0 in Gillette Stadium. On Sunday in the same stadium, the Patriots led the Bengals by the same score.

New England quickly boosted a 24-3 halftime lead to 31-3 on Tate’s touchdown.

Cincinnati cut that to 31-17 on Carson Palmer’s scoring passes of 1 yard to rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham midway through the third quarter and 28 yards to Ochocinco with 22 seconds remaining in the period.

Then, Brady took back control by leading a 14-play, 81-yard march capped by a 1-yard scoring pass to Rob Gronkowski, another rookie tight end. It was his first pro touchdown and, before lining up to block for the extra point, he handed the ball to Brady for safekeeping on the sideline.

Brady completed 25 of 35 passes for 258 yards. Palmer, forced to throw because of the big deficit, finished 34 for 50 for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Ochocinco had 12 catches for 159 yards, and Owens added seven receptions for 53 yards.

Cedric Benson scored on a 1-yard run for Cincinnati with 3:57 left in the game.

While the Patriots’ offense was expected to be strong, the young defense was suspect but was very stingy in the first half. The Bengals first five possessions ended with three punts, a lost fumble and Guyton’s touchdown that made it 24-0 with 5:38 left in the half.

On their first offensive play, Palmer threw about 35 yards down the left sideline toward Owens. Rookie cornerback Devin McCourty, a first-round draft pick, stayed with him step for step and broke up the play.

Ochocinco gave Owens the nickname "Batman" after the Bengals signed him as a free agent and assumed the "Robin" identity for himself.

On the Patriots’ first offensive play, Welker caught a 5-yard pass over the middle. He ended that drive with a 9-yard touchdown. Stephen Gostkowski’s 32-yard field goal made it 10-0, and Welker struck again with a 4-yard scoring catch about 6 minutes into the second quarter.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1280956

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Golden again: US captures world championship

By Associated Press | Sunday, September 12, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

ISTANBUL - The so-called "B-Team" turned out to be the best team in the world.

The United States won its first world championship since 1994 on Sunday, beating Turkey 81-64 behind another sensational performance from tournament MVP Kevin Durant.

Durant had 28 points, setting a record along the way for most in the tournament by a U.S. player. He left the court with 42 seconds left and shared a long hug with coach Mike Krzyzewski, who finally won the world title after his previous two attempts ended with bronze medals.

Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Americans, who won gold in the worlds for only the fourth time, doing so with a team that was no sure thing after coming to Turkey without the superstars from its Olympic gold medal team.

With Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Co. sitting home, this group was called a "B-Team," which the players were aware of and used as motivation.

And they came through where many of their bigger-name predecessors couldn’t four years ago in Japan in the world championship, beginning to quiet a raucous crowd midway through the second quarter with a superb defensive effort.

Durant, who scored 33 and a U.S.-record 38 points in the previous two games, again took care of the offense, qualifying the U.S. for the 2012 Olympics.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1280963

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Friday, September 10, 2010

Rumeal Robinson found guilty

Ex-Cambridge star misses bank shot

By Associated Press | Thursday, September 9, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

DES MOINES, Iowa - Rumeal Robinson, the former Cambridge Rindge and Latin star who led Michigan to the NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1989 and later played in the NBA, was convicted in federal court yesterday of borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business deal and then spending the money on a condominium, expensive furniture and cars.

A jury found Robinson guilty of 11 counts, including bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each count. A date for sentencing hasn’t been set.

Among a lengthy list of accusations by prosecutors was one accusing Robinson of scheming to sell his mother’s home in Cambridge, Mass., without her knowledge.

A telephone message left for Robinson’s attorney, J. Keith Rigg of Des Moines, wasn’t immediately returned.

Robinson grew up in Cambridge and was a star at Michigan best known for sinking two free throws that helped the Wolverines beat Seton Hall in the 1989 national title game. He was drafted 10th overall by Atlanta in 1990 and went on to play six seasons in the NBA with the Hawks, Nets, Hornets, Trail Blazers, Suns and Lakers.

Federal prosecutors say Robinson schemed between 2004 and 2005 to borrow the money from Community State Bank in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny. He had the help of Brian Williams, a loan officer at the bank who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud before Robinson’s trial began.

Prosecutors said Williams signed off on an initial $377,000 loan to Robinson for his business, Megaladon Development Inc., which was supposedly pursuing a development deal in Jamaica. Instead, Robinson bought a condo, plasma TVs and designer furniture, prosecutors said.

They said Robinson put the condo in the name of his girlfriend, listing her as his company’s marketing director though she actually worked in a strip club.

Williams later approved an $80,000 loan for Robinson, which was supposed to be used for business but again was spent on personal items, including cars, clothes and more furniture, prosecutors said.

When Williams’ lending authority at the bank ran out, he and Robinson circumvented the $500,000 limit by having the mother-in-law of Robinson’s business partner, Jorge Rodriguez, sign documents for a $150,000 loan that was wired directly to Robinson’s company.

Prosecutors said the woman was told she was signing the documents to invest in Robinson’s company, but he spent $44,000 to buy or lease 10 vehicles, including three Mercedes, two BMWs and five motorcycles. He also spent $3,000 at strip clubs, bought a dog for $1,000 and spent $28,000 on house-related payments, prosecutors said.

They said Robinson later obtained three more loans from the Ankeny Bank totaling more than $111,000 in the name of his girlfriend.

When it became obvious the Jamaica deal would fail, Robinson and Williams became involved in an energy project with a company called Fairway Energy. Williams loaned $495,000 to the company in exchange for a promise of a payment of that same amount to Williams. Another $101,000 loan was made by Williams in connection with the energy company.

Prosecutors also said Robinson arranged for the sale of his mother’s house in Cambridge. His business partner became the owner of the house in 2004 because Robinson persuaded his mother to use equity in the house for the Jamaica project, and the sale of the house occurred in 2006 without his mother’s knowledge.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt said Robinson paid off Williams to obtain the loans, lied on court documents and took advantage of people for their credit scores. Klinefeldt said he used the Jamaica project as an excuse to ask people for money when in reality "he planned to use it for his own lavish lifestyle."

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1280089

NBA continues to expand with new office in Moscow

MOSCOW (AP) -- The NBA has opened an office in Russia, shortly after approving Mikhail Prokhorov as owner of the New Jersey Nets.

Deputy commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement Thursday, saying the league wanted to move closer to its fan base in Russia and Eastern Europe. Former NBC Universal executive Egor Borisov also was hired as vice president of development for the region.

The announcement came the day the U.S. beat Russia in the quarterfinals of basketball's world championship.

Prokhorov, a billionaire who became the NBA's first owner from outside North America, said he looks "forward to working together with the NBA to create more opportunities for boys and girls and students throughout Russia to become active basketball participants."

The NBA's Atlanta Hawks toured the Soviet Union in 1988, and Russian power CSKA Moscow will play three preseason games in the United States against NBA teams.

"This is a great time for the NBA to expand its presence in Russia, especially given Mikhail Prokhorov's commitment to further grow the sport in the country," Silver said in a statement.

The NBA now has offices in 16 worldwide markets.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Celtics bringing back Delonte West

By Steve Bulpett | Wednesday, September 1, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Delonte West is coming back to the Celtics.

A league source confirmed moments ago that the former Celts guard is prepared to sign a free-agent deal with the team.

West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall in the 2004 draft and played in Boston for three seasons before being traded to Seattle as part of the deal that brought Ray Allen to the Green. On February 21, 2008, West was involved in a three-team deal that sent him to Cleveland to play with Lebron James.

According to a source, West will sign a non-guaranteed contract and will be on hand when the team begins camp this fall.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1278512