The newest craze to hit social media everywhere — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube — is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. What is the Ice Bucket Challenge? Well, assuming you haven’t heard of it yet, it is a choice, whereby someone either donates $100 to the ALS Association or they accept the challenge and dump a bucket of ice water on their head. Many people are opting to do both, making a donation and taking the proverbial plunge. The purpose of the challenge is
Photo NBAE / Nathaniel S. Butler Chicago — USA Basketball held their first practice since the gruesome injury that befell Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George. Practice was held at the Quest Multisport Center in Chicago, where the team will remain until after their exhibition game versus Brazil at the United Center on August 16. They will then travel to New York where they’ll continue training before exhibition games at Madison Square Garden versus the Dominican Republic (Aug. 20)
If you hadn’t heard already, troubles in Iraq, Gaza and Ukraine aside, there is an extreme amount of unrest here within our own American shores. In the small city of Ferguson, Missouri, an unarmed 18-year-old young man, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a police officer over the weekend. In the days since his ill-fated and untimely death, no charges have been filed against his shooter. If you’re looking to catch up on the events in Ferguson, USA Today has a
A year can make an enormous difference in the perception of an NBA team. Last summer, the Washington Wizards had the same backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal but they were faced with immense pressure of having to make the playoffs to save the jobs of head coach Randy Wittman and general manager Ernie Grunfeld. Before the season began, Grunfeld made what many perceived as a panicky move and sent its first round pick to Phoenix for Marcin Gortat, who was
Kevin Durant and the small-market Oklahoma City Thunder are the darlings of ABC, according to the NBA national TV schedule. Durant and the Thunder will appear on ABC six times this season, more than any other team. The games are against six different opponents, with three at home and three on the road. Among the NBA’s multiple TV partners, ABC is the only network available in every American home with a TV. It is the home of the NBA Finals but not the
J.R. Smith, like Philadelphia Sixers rookie Joel Embiid of recent memory, has been a frequenter of the Tweet of the Day. From making fun of an Appalachian State center’s failed free throw attempt back in December of 2012 to being accused of partying too hard in May of 2013, he has routinely been among the most entertaining NBA tweeters. The New York Knicks shooting guard captured the hearts of his followers Wednesday with an endearing look into his family life. [Read
The record $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers was completed Tuesday, with new owner Steve Ballmer saying he will be “hardcore.” The NBA announced the completion of the sale following disgraced former owner Donald Sterling’s failed attempt in a California court to block the the authority of his estranged wife Shelly Sterling to sell the team on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust. Sterling still has legal recourse, and given his history will probably use it. However, he cannot reclaim the
The Toronto Raptors are fighting vigorously to remain relevant in the NBA. While basketball takes precedent over all else, the organization has also made a clear effort to become more socially relevant. Part of that expansion has been the association with hip hop artist Drake. The Grammy award-winner was named the global ambassador for the Raptors, which instantly caught the attention of the entertainment world and all of its followers. On Monday, August 11, Drake earned the wrong type of attention for his hometown squad. He brought the wrath of