Walk-in clinics
Posted on February 26, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
This is clinic week for the Bucks. Every February, the Bucks host two very special events that players and coaches alike look forward to.
The first is the annual YMCA clinic at the Bucks Training Center. On Sunday, Desmond Mason, Yi Jianlian, Charlie Bell, Royal Ivey and Ramon Sessions joined coaches Jim Todd, Bill Peterson and Jarinn Akana as they taught two groups of YMCA players the fundamentals of the game.
As always, it was a great experience for the kids and their families.
Then on Monday night at Homestead High School in Mequon, the Bucks hosted over 175 Special Olympics athletes for a 90-minutes clinic.
Bucks Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak appeared with Bucks players Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Andrew Bogut, Bobby Simmons, Jake Voskuhl, Dan Gadzuric, Michael Ruffin and Charlie Bell, along with assistant coach Brian James. The annual clinic is part of ongoing support of Special Olympics by the Milwaukee Bucks organization.
These athletes look forward to their event all year long, and it always shows in their enthusiastic approach. It was a great night again this year.
Gift of life
Posted on February 25, 2008 at 3:42 p.m.
It only takes an hour to lay the groundwork that can save a life. Sixty minutes is all it takes to donate blood.
On Monday, the Bucks and the Blood Center of Wisconsin held the 7th annual Bucks Blood Drive at the Bradley Center. The drive ran between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The annual Blood Drive goes a long way to supplying the blood necessary to save lives in Southeastern Wisconsin all year long.
Donors received two tickets to a future Bucks game and a T-shirt for taking part.
Participating co-sponsors for this year’s drive include the Bradley Center, Bob Lanier Enterprise, Pepsi-Cola and Palermo’s Pizza.
Several Bucks players and members of the Energee Dance Team stopped by the Bradley Center during the event.
Thanks to all of the participants, the volunteers and the sponsors for another successful, live-saving Blood Drive.
Farewell to NOLA
Posted on February 20, 2008 at 2:36 p.m.
It is great to be back in Milwaukee after a wonderful weekend in New Orleans. It was climate-shock moving from 70 degrees to 4 degrees, but no problem.
New Orleans handled the All-Star festivities very well. Everyone seemed to have a great time and there were very few glitches.
The game on Sunday was very entertaining. Writers from around the country were talking about the finish and the show the players put on. When the media has a positive take on an event, you can be assured that it went well.
I thought the Slam Dunk Contest was really appreciated by the fans and the media. Most observers felt the players, especially Dwight Howard, brought drama and pizzazz back to the event.
Overall, I heard very few if any complaints about the events or about the city. Well done New Orleans.
My flight left Louisiana about 6:30 pm Monday, so I was able to enjoy a final leisurely day in the French Quarter.
I strolled Jackson Square and Decatur Street, and visited with the locals about their experiences before, during and after Katrina. Their stories are frightening, inspiring and educational.
I have a favorite place that I stop for raw oysters harvested from Grand Island. They are excellent and just 50 cents apiece after three o’clock. Oysters and a Miller really hit the spot. It was the perfect ending to the weekend.
On the way to the airport, highway traffic was clogged, so our cab driver took side streets. It was my first up-close look at the aftermath of the hurricane. While it wasn’t the worst hit area of the city, the spray paint markers on the homes still standing was an eerie reminder of search efforts.
The NBA left its mark and restoration efforts on New Orleans. I am glad I attended. Now let’s hope the Bucks can warm us all up in the next eight weeks.
Rocking the Back of the House
Posted on February 17, 2008 at 10:25 p.m.
The Bucks had a popular presence during the 57th All-Star Game on Sunday night.
The Rim Rockers rocked the New Orleans Arena late in the second quarter during a timeout and a
break in TNT's exclusive national coverage. With special clearance, I was allowed to join the team
as they prepared to take the court, and to capture the performance on video.
While the guys were waiting to perform, Harry Connick Jr. walked by and wished them all well.
In effect, the Rim Rockers opened for Connick's halftime show.
The Rim Rockers have played the New Orleans Arena all week, and with great success. In fact,
representatives from the Guiness Book of World Records were here this week, and will include
the RimRockers as World Record Holders in two categories.
The Bucks dunk team will be recognized for the longest forward flip dunk in the history of
mankind; 19 feet - 2 inches, off a trampoline at the top of the free throw key.
The Rockers will also be in the Guiness Book for the most bounce passes in thirty seconds
by a five man dunk team. (I am only your humble reporter and do not pass judgement on the
significance of world records, but let's face it, Guiness is Guiness after all.)
Louisiana is home to some of the greatest NBA players in history, with musicians and food
to match. Now New Orleanians have seen our world record-breaking dunk squad.
The Bucks RimRockers put a great Milwauk-Yi exclamation mark on the All-Star Game in NOLA.
Take a look.
Stern's State of the Game
Posted on February 16, 2008 at 9:31 p.m.
Commissioner Stern held his annual All-Star news conference tonight prior to the All-Star Saturday events in New Orleans. Here are some highlights:
The game is open and fluid. Shots and scoring are up and people feel good about the league again. The state of the game is good and getting better.
Portland and New Orleans have been the biggest surprises this season. The league has never had a race as close as the Western Conference this late in a season.
The move of NBA.COM and NBATV to TNT in Atlanta will benefit both entities and NBA fans.
Regarding a possible five team division in Europe within the decade, the Commissioner stated that it is based on appropriate arena structure and fan affinity. London has an NBA ready arena, Berlin will have one. Real Madrid and Barcelona have discussed arena plans with the league. The NBA is watching various markets on a global level in a serious way.
NBA fans have been great in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal. There has been virtually no ugliness involved around the league. The commissioner commended the fans and officials for that success.
At the Commissioner's urging, the Sonics have offered to stay in Seattle a minimum of two years after this season. That having been said, Mr. Stern said he accepts the inevitability that the Sonics will be leaving at some point.
Other notes:
Yi, Jianlian is taking in the Saturday night events with his parents. He is scheduled to attend an NBA Chinese reception later tonight.
The Bucks RimRockers are performing here this weekend. They had a brief routine during a timeout in the Shooting Stars competition tonight.
More reports are coming in on the post-Katrina condition of New Orleans. Apparently just a ten minute drive from Bourbon Street, the devastation is still painfully obvious.
The motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Canal Street last night was incredible. Cars were cruising the street bumper to bumper all night long. The sidewalks were jammed throughout downtown, and Bourbon Street was beyond crowded. The New Orleans Police Department has done a great job directing traffic, and keeping an eye on everything.
New Orleans has been a great host city to this point, with pre-event concerns unwarranted. Let's hope it stays that way. The food and the street musicians make this a very special city. I will always want to return for a weekend escape.
Playfull-Yi
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 11:59 p.m.
Yi, jianlian'sfirst All-Star playing experience Is complete, and while the Rookies lost to the Sophomores, Yi had a decent performance. He worked hard for 24 minutes scoring 8 points on 3 of 8 shooting. He hit both of his free throws and added 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal, showing brief glimpses of every facet of his game.
Yi has handled the excessive nature of an All-Star weekend with smiles and with grace.
CCTV in China asked for an exclusinve intereview after the game, and Yi tactfully declined after a long day. Despite not doing the formal interview, he sat and chatted with the CCTV reporters for a long time and was one of the last players to leave the post-game "Mix Area."
Yi was even playful with me. I was positioning to get some video of him heading for the lockerroom, and before I could get the camera rolling, he covered it with a towel, smiled, and waved as he turned for the lockerroom.
Everyone gets tired after long days chaasing stories and avoiding humans. Yi handled his first experience with typical style.
Now he can "relax" and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Launch Video Player
Wis-China
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 11:35 p.m.
The Wisconsin-China connection struck another venue today. Believe it or not, a television production truck from Madison has been assigned to handle the China feeds for All-Star Weekend.
Token Creek Productions, which occasionally covers Bucks home games, has provided an HD truck for the festivities.
Of all the trucks in the country, how does a Wisconsin company happen to tie into China just as the Bucks have done so successfully with Yi, Jianlian?
Here's a quick look at the Token Creek facilities:
Launch Video Player
Rookies with Power Tools AND Young Star Power
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 7:58 p.m.
Young Star Power
The future of the NBA will be on display tonight in the annual Rookie Challenge Game in New Orleans.
This morning, the players took part in a media session and practice for tonight's event.
As usual, Yi, Jianlian drew one of the bigger crowds of reporters during the session and was as accommodating as always.
(SEE VIDEO BELOW)
Rookies With Power Tools
You would think NBA players could use a power drill and a power screwdriver without having to worry about their safety.
That was put to the test this morning in New Orleans, when the Rookie class took part in the NBA Cares service project. They put together mail boxes that will be distributed to families who have no mail service after hurricane Katrina.
Yi, Jianlian jumped right in and participated in everey phase of the project.
Launch Video Player
Rookie Service
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 10:58 a.m.
Yi Jianlian took part in the NBA Rookies Day of Service project this morning at the New Orelans Marriott.
The rookies assembled and labeled mail boxes for needy families in the New Orleans area prior to their
practice for tonight's Rookie Challenge.
The Big Easy
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 8:43 p.m.
New Orleans is an NBA extravaganza waiting to happen. I arrived in the Crescent City early Thursday afternoon. It is the first time I have been back since hurricane Katrina as we didn't televise the Bucks only appearance here this season.
Upon leaving Milwaukee, I ran into various Bucks staff members and media people who were either heading for New Orleans, or a for few well deserved days off. I had to connect in Atlanta, and that's when I started to run into other NBA people.
NBA official Louis Grillo said hello, and "Enjoy your five days off. I'll see you next week." If we see Louis for one of the Detroit games next week, or perhaps Denver a week from Saturday we'll know what he meant.
I was waiting for my flight out of Atlanta, and Oscar Robertson walked up to the gate and sat down. I am always amazed when people don't recognize the greatest players in the game. This is a Naismith Hall of Famer and no one seemed to notice.
Of course I re-introduced myself and Oscar immediately remembered that we had worked together a few years ago in New Jersey. He said he goes the to the All-Star festivities for various meetings, rather than all the hoopla.
Oscar said when he was first an All-Star in 1961, he either walked to the game or got a cab by himself. He also said he would never let anyone handle his All-Star uniform, becasue it would certainly disappear while someone was "helping."
It was great to see Oscar again. He is looking forward to having his number re-dedicated by the Bucks later this season.
I'll hook up with Yi, Jianlian tomorrow morning when the rookies take part in their portion of the NBA Cares project. New Orleans will benefit from about 25-hundred volunteers who will work on various projects throughout the city this weekend. I'll bring you as much YI coverage as possible.
The toughest assignment on day one has been getting reservations for dinner in one of the country's best cities for food. It's not the onslaught of NBA fans, but Valentine's Day that has nearly every restuarant in the area booked solid. More later, unless I starve to death. (You can count on more later.)
Wax on, wax off
Posted on February 13, 2008 at 10:57 p.m.
There was a funny moment during our telecast on FSN this past Monday. Mo Williams walked by our position and was preening a little bit, saying, “Don’t I look good?”
He was rubbing his hands over his arms and shoulders and I picked up on it right away. Mo had gotten rid of his body hair and was darned proud of it. I mentioned it on the air and Jon McGlocklin, Scott Williams and I had fun with it as part of our new “Three Man Booth.”
You can watch the clip here.
Enjoy.
History lesson
Posted on February 5, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.
It is unseasonably warm in Memphis today. So much so, there will be a tornado watch prior to the Bucks-Grizzlies game tonight.
This morning, I did something I’ve always wanted to do in Memphis. I walked a few blocks to the Loraine Motel. Forty years ago, as a high school senior, I watched in horror as the news came from Memphis on April 4, 1968.
Today, those video images vividly rolled through my brain as I approached the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s assassination. The turbulence of 1968 became fresh again.
The “Dream” has led us to progress in human relations, but we are not there just yet. The lead story in today’s Commercial Appeal details a shooting at Hamilton High in Memphis yesterday. Fortunately, the injuries are not life threatening, but the story still conflicts with the message at the Loraine Motel.
Let us all remember the “Dream” and the need to progress further as we mark Black History Month 2008.
It has been suggested by a certain member of the Bucks Public Relations Department that “Paschketball” might like to endorse a presidential candidate on this “Super Tuesday.” That’s not happening. All I know is the polls in Tennessee close at 7:00 tonight just as we take the air on FSN-Wisconsin.
Unfortunately, I know more about “Fat Tuesday” than “Super Tuesday.”
The Bucks pulled a prank on their coaches this morning. With all of the players on the bus headed for shoot-around and no coaches, the players decided that it was time to leave regardless. When players are late for the bus, they are fined. Apparently it was payback time.
After a couple of blocks worth of laughs, the bus headed back to the hotel, only to see the coaches walking toward the arena. The bus stopped, the staff got on, and the bantering about fines and authority began. It was a great light-hearted moment that perhaps will carry over tonight.
This is one of those games you concern yourself with all day. Memphis has traded away Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift in what many consider to be moves to make the Grizzlies more attractive for a potential sale. Memphis would appear to be eminently beatable. Therein lies the concern.
The Bucks must find focus tonight (and offense) without Michael Redd. This is a take-nothing-for-granted game if there ever was one. Larry Krystkowiak told me after the shoot-around that the bucks should concentrate on their game, not on what troubles the Grizzlies might be having. Good advice.
Yi Jianlian did not participate in the shoot-around, so as expected, his shoulder injury will keep him out of the lineup tonight. He banged it up in the first quarter Saturday night.
No tornadoes yet. See you at 6:30 tonight on “Bucks Live”.
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