4th Quarter

• Sports news. Yep, it’s that simple

Chris Bosh has a wife?

MIAMI Heat forward Chris Bosh may miss Game 3 of Miami’s Eastern Conference first-round series in New York on Thursday after being summoned home because his wife was preparing to give birth.

The Heat were told late Wednesday that Bosh had to return home. Bosh left from New York on a private plane, and his wife, Adrienne, posted a photo on a social media account saying ”hurry home.”

The Heat have not ruled Bosh out for Game 3. The team will hold a morning shootaround practice at Madison Square Garden.

[Via Yahoo Sports]

 

 

 

John Calipar new Knicks Coach?

There’s been some buzz Kentucky’s John Calipari could be in the mix for the Knicks’ head coaching gig, and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports had this Wednesday: “The circumstances are aligned for Calipari to make a move: the validation of an NCAA title, a suspect relationship with his athletic director and his ability to leverage a monumental contract out of the Knicks. Calipari is a great salesman, and he’ll sell owner James Dolan on his ability to get the most out of Carmelo Anthony, to keep the Garden sold out and get the Knicks winning in the postseason again.”

Wojnarowski also reported that “Phil Jackson still remains a possibility” and other names previously tossed out such as Jerry Sloan, Scott Skiles and Stan Van Gundy (if Orlando lets him go) could also surface as options should the Knicks not retain interim coach Mike Woodson.

[Via ESPN]

Super Bowl to be streamed online for the first time and available on iOS devices

According to Electronista, the NFL has announced that this year will be the first year that the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl will be streamed live across the internet. What is even better for iOS users is the news that this stream will also be available to view on your devices too.

The NFL stream will be available to view on its own site and the NBC channel. If you want to view it on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you will need to pick up the Verizon NFL Mobile app. The app is free in the App Store but unfortunately it will only work for Verizon Wireless customers.

The whole Super Bowl experience should be greatly enhanced next year with the promise of multiple camera angles, highlights and live stats, right in the palm of your hand.

[Via Electronista]

NBA forges new multi-year deal with Under Armour

As part of this partnership, Under Armour will be able to feature its endorsers — which include Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks, Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Bobcats, and Greivis Vasquez of the Memphis Grizzlies — in official NBA uniforms to promote its basketball footwear in promotional campaigns, brand advertising, and at retail. Additionally, Under Armour and the NBA will team up to refurbish community basketball courts throughout the US.

“Partnering with the NBA allows us to showcase our innovative basketball footwear and roster of young, talented players through a platform that represents the pinnacle of the sport,” said Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President, Global Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “We share a passion with the NBA to help young basketball players get better, and our joint court refurbishment program will create more access to functional basketball courts where the next generation can hone their skills.”

“Under Armour is a dynamic performance brand that is adept at capturing the imagination of athletes and sports fans alike,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Executive Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships. “With its dedication to enhancing the athlete experience, Under Armour is an ideal fit to help us expand access to the game in a variety of communities through the refurbishment of basketball courts.”

The agreement comes on the heels of Under Armour’s November 1 debut of its “Are You From Here?” campaign, the brand’s largest basketball campaign to date. The “Are You From Here?” campaign depicts the dedication to training, commitment to hard work and passion for the purity of basketball that defines young basketball players striving to be the best. Featuring Jennings, Walker and Williams, the highly acclaimed campaign launched with a 60-second spot and has continued via 15-second spots and two-minute vignettes that debuted on ESPN throughout November and December. This fall, the brand also launched its newest basketball footwear including the UA Micro G Bloodline — a collection of shoes inspired by Jennings’ path to the NBA. All of the “Are You From Here” spots and more information about the Micro G Bloodline are available on facebook.com/uabasketball.

An additional aspect of this new multiyear partnership is Under Armour’s commitment to refurbish five basketball courts in local communities. Through this refurbishment initiative, Under Armour will be able to reach the broad and passionate fan base of the NBA by supporting the game of basketball at a grassroots level. The court refurbishments will be undertaken with NBA FIT as part of the NBA Cares Community Caravan. Under Armour plans to refurbish an additional five basketball courts throughout the year.

About Under Armour

Under Armour (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand’s moisture-wicking fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.ua.com.

About the NBA

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a professional sports league and global business that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2010-11 season, NBA games reached 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. End-of-season NBA rosters featured 85 players from 41 countries and territories. NBA merchandise is sold in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA.com averages more than 26 million page views per day, with more than 50 percent of the site’s visitors coming from outside of North America. The NBA is the No. 1 U.S. sports league on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, with the most fans, followers, and videos viewed on each, respectively. Through NBA Cares, the league, its teams and players have donated more than $165 million to charity, completed more than 1.7 million hours of hands-on community service, and created more than 625 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play.

[Via NBA]

After missing the past four games with a toe injury, linebacker Ray Lewis will practice this week and the Baltimore Ravens expect him to play Sunday night against the San Diego Chargers, a team official told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

[Via ESPN]

NEW YORK — All points have been agreed to in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement and it is awaiting ratification, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Though players started voting on the deal Wednesday, some issues weren’t completed until late Thursday morning. The person spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because no announcement was being made.

Players will continue voting electronically until later Thursday afternoon and owners will vote at a meeting in New York.

If the deal is ratified by a majority on both sides, free agency and training camps will open Friday.

[Via NBA]

The house that Joe built is no more: Joe Paterno fired

More than 1,000 protesting Penn State University students poured into the streets around campus on Wednesday after head football coach Joe Paterno was fired in fallout from a child-abuse scandal at the school.

Chanting “Hell no, Joe won’t go” and “We want Joe back,” they also cursed former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, who was charged on Saturday with sexually abusing eight young boys over a period of nearly 15 years.

Two other university officials have been charged with failing to report an incident in 2002 when Sandusky allegedly was seen sexually assaulting a child.

Paterno, who has been head coach for 46 years, was dismissed Wednesday by the university’s board of trustees along with university President Graham Spanier hours after the U.S. Education Department announced an investigation of conduct at Penn State.

The students filled two city blocks near the campus and turned over a media van before earth-moving equipment was brought in to right the vehicle. Members of the crowd also damaged at least two light poles.

Scores of police and state troopers, some in riot gear, tried to clear the streets, and some officers used a chemical spray to disperse the demonstrators. Crowds thinned somewhat after a light rain began to fall.

At least three people were escorted away by police but it was not immediately clear if they were arrested. A police spokeswoman had said she was not aware of any arrests.

“I haven’t seen this kind of student outrage about anything since I’ve been here,” said Caroline Celoquin, a senior from Westchester, Pennsylvania.

Asked how she felt about Paterno being fired, Nicole Atlak, a freshman from Toms River, New Jersey, said: “Absolutely disgusted. From a student’s perspective, it’s like where do we go from here? We no longer have a president. We no longer have a 45-year legacy.”

A student with a bullhorn addressed the crowd, saying: “I think it’s only fair to let him (Paterno) ride out the season because this is the house that Joe built.”

While most of the students were protesting the decision, some said they understood the move by the board of trustees and did not condone Paterno’s failure to report the alleged sexual abuse to police. Still, the majority seemed more upset that Paterno was not allowed to complete the season, as he had wanted.

Paterno won more games than any other major college coach in history. He told a grand jury investigation that when he was informed in 2002 of his assistant coach’s alleged sexual abuse of a boy, he passed the information on to the athletic director but did not follow up. The alleged abuse continued for several more years.

[Cnews]

Week 2 of the Bad Quarterback League demonstrated just how difficult it is to be an NFL QB, unless your name is Cam Newton, then it’s no big deal. We saw two benchings, two game-winning drives and two teams that were inches away from triple-digit scoring. We also had our first 24/7 points with two votes of confidence.

After Tony Romo’s fourth-quarter bed-wetting in Week 1, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said this about his quarterback: “We are going to rise and fall based on what Tony Romo’s about over the next several years, and I’m excited about that.” This is a terrifying proposal for Dallas fans, but exciting news for BQBL Cowboy owners.

After Kyle Orton threw a pick and then just kind of gifted the ball to Oakland Raiders in Denver’s season opener, a group of fans announced plans to use billboards to lobby the Broncos to start Tim Tebow instead. There was enough anti-Orton sentiment around the Rockies, coach John Fox felt it was necessary to say: “Kyle is our starting quarterback.” Brandon Lloyd also said, “Whatever. He’s our quarterback, and we’re going to eventually win games.” Fox’s statement counts as an official BQBL vote of confidence. Lloyd’s was more a cry for help.

On the field this week, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger were redeemed, Rex Grossman was victorious and some dude named Luke McCown took his first step toward becoming the head coach of his high school alma mater’s football team. [via Gutland]

NEW YORK — The NBA has filed an unfair labor practice charge and a federal lawsuit against the NBA Players Association, accusing the players of failing to bargain “in good faith” and of “impermissible pressure tactics” in labor talks.

The claims were filed Tuesday.

The unfair labor practice charge was filed with the National Labor Relations Board. It accuses the players of making “unlawful” threats to break up their union and pursue an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA, a strategy used this year by locked-out NFL players in their fight against owners.

The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in New York. It asks the court to declare the NBA lockout does not break antitrust laws. The NBA also says it wants to void existing player contracts if the NBPA sheds its union status.
[Via AP]

The U.S. will win world cup

The U.S. will take on France from Borussia Park in Moenchengladbach at 12 p.m. ET with match coverage on ESPN at 11:30 a.m. ET. Additional live coverage will be on ESPN3.com and Galavision.

USA MEETS FRANCE IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL:

The USA’s dramatic victory over Brazil in a penalty kick shootout during Sunday’s quarterfinal match in Dresden, Germany, sent the Americans to the Women’s World Cup semifinals for the sixth consecutive time, making the USA the only country to advance to the final four in every FIFA Women’s World Cup ever contested. The match at Borussia Park Stadium will kick off at 12 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) on ESPN, ESPN3.com and Galavision with the pre-game show on ESPN beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. Fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and via Twitter @ussoccer_wnt. Borussia Park will be the largest stadium the USA has played in so far during the team’s World Cup campaign as the venue seats almost 46,000 fans. The USA’s semifinal will be the first of the day, following by Sweden vs. Japan from Frankfurt at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3.com.

[via ussoccer]

Five-time champion Venus Williams rallied to defeat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-7 (6), 6-3, 8-6 and reach the third round at Wimbledon.

Williams trailed 5-1 in the first set Wednesday and saved three set points before holding her own set point at 6-5. Williams saved four more in the tiebreaker before losing the set.

The 23rd-seeded American missed nearly five months of action this year with a hip injury, but she returned last week at Eastbourne.

The 40-year-old Date-Krumm became the second oldest woman to reach the second round at Wimbledon in the Open era when she defeated Katie O’Brien in her opening match.

[HuffPost]

Just like when the Jordan Bulls of old finally got past the Pistons. The win tonight by Miami Heat over the Boston Celtics will be the first stepping stone for them to win the ring. Lakers would have been their only road block. With Orlando and Boston out of the way there is no one left to stop them in the East. Now before you say anything; I love the Bulls. They are my favorite NBA team but lest be honest. Just like LeBron James when he was in Cleveland. Derrick Rose has no support system.

As good as Rose is, as great as Jordan was and LeBron James was they could not do it alone. Jordan had Scottie Pippen. LeBron James has Wade. Rose has… Thats right no one. For all it’s Superstars the NBA is still a team game. That is the main reason everyone expects Dwight Howard to leave Orlando for a home with a better support system. If he goes to LA Lakers, Kobe would have his go to center just like to good old days when Shaq was a force to be feared.

Now what about the Celtics. I think everyone is over reacting. They still have some legs left. They do not have to disband to win another championship. I also think this lost is a good thing. It is great for them mentally and for their ego. They were too sure of themselves. They should have never traded Perkins and bet on Shaq. Now they can focus and realize they are mortal. Mortals are can be beat. So they will work.

Bulls Will Win the NBA Championship (or so I think)

The Bulls owned the NBA this year. Derrick Rose was head an shoulders above anyone that was on the court with him this year. Yet there are those that say they can not get it done. Chicago Bulls have little playoff experience. They are not ready to take on teams like Boston Celtics, Miami Heat or Orlando Magic in the East. If they do make it to the finals. They can not take on anyone on the West in such a big game.

Maybe some people forgot. We have four Hall of Fame players that won 6 rings with the Bulls. We have 2 MVPs. We have the best record at home in the NBA right now. By the way Orlando did not make it past round one and Miami is playing the Celtics. So that leaves only one team for us to go through.

Now as far as the West is concerned. If the the Spurs can go down. Any team can go down. The Lakers are not perfect so don’t even start that jib jab. Chicago has guys who can shoot, rebound, drive, score and play. In other words stop hating and start loving them.

Seems these #nbaplayoffs are going to be closer than I thought. Both #BULLS and #Heat almost got beat today.

Rose MVP, Bulls 60+ wins. The most wins since Mr. Air Jordan ran the Bulls. Yet the number 8 seed almost took them out. In fact it was touch and go until a few minutes in the fourth quarter. LeBron MVP, Wade MVP, Heat more than 50+ wins. Yet they almost got took out as well. What s going on? Simple. The NBA playoffs are not the regular season. These teams went in thinking it as going to be a cake walk were violently woken up and sadly mistaken.

This years playoffs are going to be similar to the March Madness of the NCAA. Meaning here will be some upsets. That is not to see that Bulls are going to lose to the Pacers but they will have their hands full. That goes for everyone in the playoffs this year. There are going to be upsets. I’m calling it now. NO SWEEPS for any team in the 1st round.

5’11″ Jacob Turner headed to the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest. He has a 50 inch running vertical.

No words are really needed. I think the picture says it all

As expected Blake Griffin wins the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

The NBA All Star weekend just kicked off. Justin Bieber Fever was everywhere as he wins MVP voted on my fans.

ESPN launched a revolutionary new 3D channel

It was exactly one year ago when ESPN launched a revolutionary new 3D channel, the very first of its kind in the world. Now it has something else to announce – making that channel live 24 hours a day.

When ESPN 3D launched last year, it was only airing programming for specific live events. A total of 60 sporting events were aired over ESPN 3D in 2010.

Now, thanks to that back catalog, when there isn’t a live game ESPN 3D will air previously taped events. This makes it the only multi-carrier3D network with 24/7 programming.

ESPN 3D also only airs 3D commercials, so this news must mean it has found good advertising partners to air a constant 3D stream.

“As we continue to expand the number of 3D events on the channel, it made sense operationally to transition ESPN 3D to a 24-7 network. We’ve been very pleased with the rate at which our affiliates have adopted ESPN 3D in its first year and we continue to look for new
ways to serve fans, advertisers and affiliates with the best 3D sports content available,” said the network’s executive VP Sean Bratches.

The next live ESPN 3D broadcast will be today at 10:30 PM Eastern Time, with the Los Angeles vs Phoenix NBA game.