No Moss? Randy Moss to Retire After 13 Seasons, 153 Touchdowns

 

Pictured: Randy Moss (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss has decided to retire rather than continue playing.

“After weighing his options and contemplating offers, he’s decided to retire,” Moss’ agent, Joel Segal, told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Monday.

Moss, 34, played 13 seasons, catching 954 passes for 14,858 yards with 153 touchdowns.

Moss split 2010 with the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans after three full seasons in New England.

He was instrumental to the Patriots’ 2007 record-breaking season in which they won 16 straight games before losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Moss, drafted 21st overall by Minnesota in 1998, spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Vikings before playing for the Oakland Raiders in 2005 and ’06.

Only two weeks ago, Segal described Moss as being in “freakish shape” after “working out, two-a-days, all spring and summer in West Virginia.”

“He is determined, motivated and quite frankly has a huge chip on his shoulder. Whatever team ends up getting Randy, they’re going to know they’re getting the old Randy Moss,” Segal told NFL.com in mid-July. “He’s not just coming in to be on the team, he’s going to be Randy Moss — a difference-maker.”

Moss finished 2010 with 28 receptions — including just six in eight games with Tennessee — along with 393 receiving yards and five touchdowns in an up-and-down season.

That production was a big drop for the receiver who ranks second only to Jerry Rice for most TD catches, 100-yard receiving games and most games with two TD catches or more.

The seven-time Pro Bowler was tied with the Steelers’ Hines Ward for eighth all-time in receptions with 954. He is just one of 10 players to have 950 or more career receptions.

SOURCE: ESPN | The Associated Press

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Yao Set to Retire from Basketball Wednesday

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Yao Ming is likely to make it official on Wednesday, announcing what is expected to be his retirement from the NBA and a sport that made him a household name in China.

This Oct. 13, 2008, file photo shows Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Kevin Durant, right, going up and under the basket as Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, left, defends, in the third quarter of an NBA exhibition basketball game, in Tulsa, Okla. Durant says it is “tough” to see Yao Ming retire and that the player deserves to be in the basketball Hall of Fame. Durant said during a promotional tour in China on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, that it has been an honor to play against the 7-foot-6 Houston Rockets center. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

The 7-foot-6 center for the Houston Rockets played eight seasons in the NBA, but has missed 250 regular-season games over the past six years.

His career, including frequent appearances for the Chinese national team at Olympics and world championships, has included leg and foot injuries.

On Wednesday, a large reception hall at a hotel in the Pudong section of Shanghai – Yao’s hometown – has been booked for what will likely be the country’s media event of the year.

Hundreds of media have been accredited to attend the restricted event and are expected to arrive hours early to go through security checks. It is expected to be broadcast live in China and in many countries around the world.

Reports have been circulating for nearly two weeks that the 30-year-old star would retire, but the Rockets have not commented due to the NBA lockout and his management refused to confirm the reports. The NBA said it has not received official retirement paperwork from Yao.

Yao’s contract expired after last season, and the Rockets said they were interested in re-signing him if he came back healthy. Yao said in April in China that his professional future depended on his recovery from a stress fracture in his left ankle.

Selected to the NBA All-Star team eight times after being the top overall pick in the 2002 draft, Yao averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds. More importantly, his impact expanded the NBA’s influence in Asia into lucrative merchandise sales and TV ratings.

Yao had played six years with the Chinese national team before joining the Rockets, and was already a star in his home country.

He carried the Olympic torch through Tiananmen Square and his country’s flag during the opening ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

He also donated $2 million and set up a foundation to rebuild schools in the wake of the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan.

After his rookie season, Yao helped the Rockets reach the playoffs in the next two seasons.

Yao played in 77 games in the 2008-09 season, when Houston reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

But Yao broke his left foot in a postseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and underwent complex surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2009-10 season. He lasted only five games at the start of the 2010-11 season, before breaking his left ankle. He underwent surgery in January, and was lost again for the season.

Oklahoma City Thunder star forward Kevin Durant was on a promotional tour in China earlier this month when he was asked about Yao’s impact on the game.

“Tough, man, tough to see a great player and a great competitor like Yao Ming leave the game after being injured a few years,” Durant said during a stop in the city of Tianjin, east of Beijing.

“He comes in, he works everyday. He sets such a good example for the players coming into the league.”

SOURCE: The Associated Press

Dennis Passa

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Howard strongly considering playing overseas

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Dwight Howard‘s frustration with the NBA lockout has caused the Orlando Magic star to strongly consider playing overseas.
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Lebron James on Losing to the Mavs: God Says It’s Not My Time

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

 

Miami Heat forward LeBron James tweets that God said it’s not his time to win an NBA title after losing the 2011 NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks. 

Shortly after the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals, Heat forward LeBron James took to Twitter to explain what happened.

“The Greater Man upstairs knows when it’s my time,” James tweeted. “Right now isn’t my time.”

James finished with 21 points, four rebounds, six assists and six turnovers in 40 minutes in Game 6, as the Mavericks closed out the Heat, 4-2.

James, 26, is now 0-for-2 in NBA Finals trips. He also lost in the 2007 NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His Finals averages: 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists. For the postseason, James averaged 23.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

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Class Is In Session: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Schools Scottie Pippen On NBA History

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As a result of Scottie Pippen’s statements regarding Michael Jordan and LeBron James last week, the educated Kareem Abdul-Jabaar decided he needed to enlighten him on some NBA history.

In an open letter to Pippen, Abdul-Jabbar acknowledged the accomplishments of two big men who dominated the game before he did:

How Soon They Forget: An Open Letter to Scottie Pippen

Dear Scottie,

I have nothing but respect for you my friend as an athlete and knowledgeable basketball mind. But you are way off in your assessment of who is the greatest player of all time and the greatest scorer of all time. Your comments are off because of your limited perspective. You obviously never saw Wilt Chamberlain play who undoubtedly was the greatest scorer this game has ever known. When did MJ ever average 50.4 points per game plus 25.7 rebounds? (Wilt in the 1962 season when blocked shot statistics were not kept). We will never accurately know how many shots Wilt blocked. Oh, by the way in 1967 and 68, Wilt was a league leader in assists. Did MJ ever score 100 points in a game? How many times did MJ score more than 60 points in a game? MJ led the league in scoring in consecutive seasons for 10 years but he did this in an NBA that eventually expanded into 30 teams vs. when Wilt played and there were only 8 teams.

Every team had the opportunity to amass a solid nucleus. Only the cream of the basketball world got to play then. So MJ has to be appraised in perspective. His incredible athletic ability, charisma and leadership on the court helped to make basketball popular around the world — no question about that. But in terms of greatness, MJ has to take a backseat to The Stilt.

In terms of winning, Michael excelled as both an emotional and scoring leader but Bill Russell’s Celtics won eight consecutive NBA Championships. Bill’s rebounding average per game is over 22.5 lifetime, MJs best rebounding years was eight per game (1989). But we will never know exactly how many shots Bill Russell blocked because again, they never kept that statistic while he played. However, if you ask anybody that played against Russell, they will just roll their eyes and say he blocked all the shots he wanted to block in the crucial moments of a game.

Bill played on a total of 11 championship teams and as you very well know, Scottie, the ring is the thing, and everything else is just statistics. So I would advise you to do a little homework before crowning Michael or LeBron with the title of best ever. As dominant as he is, LeBron has yet to win a championship. I must say that it looks like Miami has finally put the team together that will change that circumstance. Its my hope that today’s players get a better perspective on exactly what has been done in this league in the days of yore.

Affectionately,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer

Notice how Abdul-Jabbar makes a good case for Wilt and Bill as two of the greatest players in NBA history, and then he points out that he’s the “NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer.”

Looks like big men need love too.

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Shaq says on Twitter: ‘I’m about to retire’

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Shaq says on Twitter: ‘I’m about to retire’

By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP)—Shaquille O’Neal(notes), who struggled to get on the court for the Boston Celtics because of leg injuries, said on Twitter on Wednesday that he is going to retire after a 19-year career in which he won four NBA titles and the 2000 league Most Valuable Player award.

 

O’Neal sent a tweet shortly before 2:45 p.m. saying, “im retiring.” It included a link to a 16-second video in which he says, “We did it; 19 years, baby. Thank you very much. That’s why I’m telling you first: I’m about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon.”

An inveterate pranskter who gave himself a new nickname—or several—in each of his six NBA cities, the Big Shamroq did not notify his latest team of his plans. He played just 37 games this year, the first of a two-year deal at the veteran’s minimum salary, making just three brief appearances after Feb. 1.

“To my knowledge, he has not informed any of us that he’s retiring,” Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said.

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New Lakers coach Brown says it’s still Kobe’s team

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New Lakers coach Brown says it’s still Kobe’s team

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP)—Phil Jackson is retired, the triangle offense is out, and Mike Brown is in. And the Los Angeles Lakers are still Kobe Bryant’s(notes) team.

Brown made it clear Tuesday during his introduction as Jackson’s successor that Bryant’s role won’t change under his regime. He said his first meeting with the superstar who owns five NBA championships “went very well.”

“This is still his team. We’ll make sure that he’ll have the ball in the sweet spots that he likes,” Brown said. “He has a great understanding of my vision and he’s onboard.”

Bryant, Derek Fisher(notes) and Andrew Bynum(notes) had publicly supported longtime Lakers assistant Brian Shaw in his bid to replace Jackson, who retired after Dallas swept the two-time defending champions out of the second round.

Besides meeting with Bryant and talking on the phone with his wife, Vanessa, Brown said he’s talked to Fisher and his wife, Pau Gasol(notes), Bynum and Ron Artest(notes).

Public reaction to Brown’s hiring has been mixed.

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion, I respect that,” he said. “Winning will cure all of that.”

General manager Mitch Kupchak said he, owner Jerry Buss and Jim Buss, the owner’s son and an executive with the team, interviewed three people for the unenviable job of following Jackson, who owns the most titles in NBA history.

Besides Shaw and Brown, Rick Adelman also was in the running.

The elder Buss said that initially he didn’t think Brown “would be the man.”

“Then when he started talking to us, he said how he would handle this team. He was very prepared,” Buss said. “I liked his X’s and O’s, his visions for our future. Very few people understand that our job is to try and remain on top forever. He likes that philosophy. I like that.”

Shortly before his introduction, Brown signed a four-year deal worth roughly $18 million. He has yet to hire a coaching staff.

Matt Barnes(notes) was the only player on hand for Brown’s introduction at the Lakers’ practice facility, stopping after a rehab session nearby.

“Coming here is tough. He’s coming to LA, one of the biggest markets, one of the best teams in sports history,” Barnes said. “To carry himself the way he did, and answered all the questions and didn’t really shy away from anything just showed a lot that he’s ready and hope he’s got his thick skin.”

Barnes told reporters he will exercise his $1.91 million option to return to the team next season. He was limited this season after undergoing right knee surgery.

Brown and Kupchak have yet to discuss the team’s aging roster, although the new coach doesn’t expect a major overhaul.

“I still believe this core group of guys can go get it done,” Brown said.

The 41-year-old Brown led Cleveland to the 2007 NBA finals and went 272-138 with the Cavaliers, becoming the most successful coach in franchise history while compiling the league’s best regular-season record in each of his last two seasons.

He got fired last year before LeBron James(notes) packed his bags for Miami. Brown had been working as an ESPN analyst.

Brown knows there will be endless comparisons and references to Jackson, and he’s ready for it.

“I’m not sure what size shoe he wears, but I’m not here to fill his shoes,” he said. “I’m here to help this team and organization carve our own path to success.”

That includes dumping the famed triangle offense that Jackson employed to such success in both Los Angeles and Chicago. Unlike Jackson, Brown may call more timeouts, too.

“We’re not going to run the triangle offense, but we will have bits and pieces of it that will be incorporated,” said Brown, adding that his offense will be tailored to 7-footers Bynum and Gasol, similar to what was run for big men Tim Duncan(notes) and David Robinson during his time as an assistant in San Antonio.

Brown was on the Spurs’ staff when they won the 2003 NBA title.

Brown ticked off his top three essentials on both offense and defense.

“If they don’t buy in right away, they will,” he said. “If they don’t, there’s going to be a problem because I’m going to hold people accountable.”

Brown said he wants to foster a culture that includes trust, communication, defense, a no-excuses mentality, a family environment, and a determined work ethic.

“As long as the group is willing, which it sounds like it is, we’ll get it done,” he said. “We want to be at the top forever.”

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Lakers C Andrew Bynum hyperextends right knee

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Lakers center Andrew Bynum(notes) hyperextended his right knee during the second quarter of Los Angeles’ game against San Antonio on Tuesday night, a potentially serious blow to the Lakers’ hopes for a third straight NBA title.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum leaves the court after injuring his knee during the second quarter against the Spurs.
(Getty Images)

Bynum was hurt midway through the second quarter when he stepped on the foot of Spurs big man DeJuan Blair(notes) while getting back on defense. Bynum awkwardly tumbled to the court and briefly stayed down before walking under his own power to the locker room.

Bynum won’t travel with the Lakers to Wednesday night’s season finale at Sacramento, team spokesman John Black said. The center will have an MRI on Wednesday morning.

Any significant absence for Bynum could be a major problem for the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers, who had lost their last five games before taking on the Spurs.

Bynum is averaging 11.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and nearly 2 blocked shots in 54 games this season while patrolling the paint as the Lakers’ most important defensive player. The 23-year-old’s imposing size alongside fellow 7-footer Pau Gasol(notes) is the Lakers’ biggest asset outside Kobe Bryant(notes), and Bynum is in the midst of a remarkable defensive season.

But Bynum missed the first 24 games of the regular season following offseason surgery on his troublesome right knee, and he has a long history of problems with both knees. He took one game off in February to rest a bone bruise in his left knee.

He had surgery on his left knee in 2008 after dislocating his kneecap, keeping him out for 47 regular-season games and the first of Los Angeles’ three straight runs to the NBA finals. The Lakers lost to Boston in the 2008 finals without Bynum, but they’ve won the last two championship series with Bynum in uniform.

Bynum also partially tore the meniscus in his right knee last season, but postponed surgery until summer to start all 23 playoff games in the Lakers’ championship run—and to make a trip to the World Cup in South Africa.

The Lakers struggled in the first half against the Spurs, who rested Tim Duncan(notes), Manu Ginobili(notes) andTony Parker(notes) with the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs already wrapped up.

 

Dennis Rodman says he’s headed for Hall of Fame

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By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Dennis Rodman has been voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rodman says he was informed Thursday to be in Houston for Sunday’s announcement.

The five-time NBA champion and two-time defensive player of the year was honored Friday night by the Detroit Pistons, who retired his No. 10 jersey, during halftime of their game against the Chicago Bulls.

Rodman was among 12 finalists for the Hall of Fame this year along with players such as Jamaal Wilkes, Maurice Cheeks, Chris Mullin and Ralph Sampson. The induction ceremony is in August.

Detroit selected Rodman in the second round of the 1986 draft of Southeastern Oklahoma. The native of Trenton, N.J., also played for Chicago, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas.

 

March Madness 2011: Round by Round Upsets, Final Four Breakdown & Predictions

By Steven Baldassari

It’s March again, but why all the madness? Are we not all surprised by the many upsets that this year’s NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament has brought our way?

Heading into the tourney, many analysts and fans alike felt that there was not one clear cut powerhouse team that was favored to win. Nevertheless, no one could have predicted the insanity that would unfold in this year’s tournament. As fans, we watched upsets galore pile up as early as the first round of the Men’s NCAA tournament.

Must Read: March Madness 2011: NCAA Tournament Dates, Printable Bracket & Upsets

 

First Round Upsets: In the first round of tournament play, we were surprised to see Morehead State’s victory over the No. 4 seed Louisville Cardinals, and the Richmond Spiders’ victory over the No. 5 seed Vanderbilt Commodores.

Must Read: March Madness 2011: Richmond Spiders Handle Highflyer Morehead State Eagles

The Kentucky Wildcats had a scare in their first game of this years competition. They narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of Princeton, the school known for scaring—and even beating—some of college basketball’s most storied programs in the NCAA tournament. Although the Princeton Tigers never gave up, eventually they did fall to the Wildcats by a score of 59-57.

Final Four 2011 – Courtesy of ESPN.com

The No. 8 Butler Bulldogs, now in the Final Four, also had a scare in the first round. They won on a buzzer-beater over the No. 9 seed Old Dominion Monarchs, 60-58.

Some other notable upsets in the first round were: No. 11 seed Marquette defeating the No. 6 seeded Xavier squad66-55, No. 11 Gonzaga rocking the No. 6 seed St. Johns 86-71 and the No. 11 VCU Rams beating the No. 6 seed Georgetown Hoyas by a final score of 74-56.

 

Second Round Upsets: In the second round, the VCU Rams picked up right where they left off, continuing their upsetting ways. The Rams rolled into the Sweet 16 by destroying the Purdue Boilermakers 94-76.

In other news, the No. 10 seed Florida State Seminoles decided to beat up on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, stunning the No. 2 seed 71-57. In the East, the No. 11 seed Marquette Golden Eagles shocked the world by converting on a late three-pointer and taking down the Syracuse Orange 66-62.

The No. 8 Butler Bulldogs put their game together in the second round and prevailed over the tough No. 1 seed Pittsburgh Panthers in another close matchup, winning by a final of 71-70.

Third Round Upsets: The No. 5 seed Arizona Wildcats narrowly defeated the No. 4 seed Texas Longhorns in Round Two 70-69. In the third round, they overpowered the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils, forcing their way into the Elite 8. Then they finally fell to the higher-ranked No. 3 UConn Huskies, who advanced to the Final Four.

Which team will win the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship?

Kentucky WildcatsUConn HuskiesVCU RamsButler BulldogsSubmit Vote vote to see results

The No. 4 seed Kentucky Wildcats‘ Brandon Knightdid it again in Round Three. He knocked down his second winner of the postseason—a 15-footer with five seconds left—to lift the Wildcats to a 62-60victory over the No. 1 seed Ohio State Buckeyes.

Fourth Round Upsets: Unlike the Arizona Wildcats, but reminiscent of the UConn Huskies, the Kentucky Wildcats were not eliminated in the Elite 8. Kentucky continued to play great basketball. They upset No. 2 seed North Carolina Tar Heels 76-69 to join theUConn Huskies, Butler Bulldogs and the VCU Rams in the Final Four.

The No. 8 Bulldogs advanced by defeating the No. 2 seed Florida Gators 74-71.

VCU socked it to the last No. 1 seed in the tourney, Kansas, 71-61 to also press forward.

Prediction: Butler will remain on fire and take down the ferocious VCU Rams in the Final Four. Regardless of the true outcome of this game, whoever wins the Kentucky/UConn Final Four matchup will win the National Championship. This game promises to be a great, down-to-the-wire finish. But, in the end, UConn will tame the Wildcats and advance to—and win—the National Championship.