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Sports Outside the Beltway

Washington Wizards give Coach Flip Saunders his 600th career win

He becomes the 22nd NBA coach to reach that milestone. From AP-

At the end of one of the toughest, most exhausting weeks in franchise history, the Washington Wizards needed a few smiles. And a win. And a nice ovation. And a milestone moment for the coach — just as an added bonus.

The Wizards beat the Sacramento Kings 93-86 on Saturday night, one day after their biggest star pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge and less than 24 hours after a deflating, double-overtime loss at Chicago.

The victory broke a four-losing streak and gave coach Flip Saunders his 600th career win, usually a significant moment that will end up merely as a footnote in an otherwise tumultuous season.

The Arenas saga has stolen the spotlight in Washington. The play of the Wizards hasn’t been very good, and so the press has not unexpectedly ended up concentrating on what has happened off the court.

 

Gilbert Arenas pleads guilty to felony gun charge

It was last week that the NBA suspended him indefinitely. From ESPN-

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty Friday to carrying a pistol without a license in the District of Columbia, a felony conviction that could jeopardize his future in the NBA.

Arenas pleaded guilty to a single count of violating the city’s strict gun laws as part of a plea bargain in D.C. Superior Court. He will remain free at least until his sentencing March 26.

The charge stems from a Dec. 21 incident in which Arenas admitted he stored guns in his locker at the Verizon Center and took them out to play a joke on a teammate.

Sheridan: What’s Next for Arenas?

ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan answers five key questions surrounding the saga of Gilbert Arenas, including whether the Wizards’ three-time All-Star holds any trade value. Story

The NBA has suspended him indefinitely. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to ask for more than six months in jail for Arenas. He will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin. Morin could sentence Arenas to anything from probation to a maximum of five years in jail.

Arenas has taken full responsibility for his actions. This will probably help him at sentencing. If Arenas serves more than 60 days, I will be surprised.

 

NBA Forward Shawne Williams indicted on felony drug charges

He was also released by the New Jersey Nets today. From AP-

Former NBA and Memphis player Shawne Williams has been indicted on felony drug charges.

Prosecutors said Friday that Williams was indicted Tuesday by a county grand jury on eight counts for possession and conspiracy to sell a codeine-based syrup.

Williams was jailed with bond set at $16,000. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.

Earlier Friday, the New Jersey Nets said they had waived Williams, a 23-year-old forward, after acquiring him earlier this week from Dallas along with Kris Humphries for veteran forward Eduardo Najera.

Man, it sure isn’t Shawne Williams week. He got arrested for a felony and released by the worst team in the NBA this year.

Williams, a former first round pick of the Indiana Pacers, hasn’t played in a NBA game this season. Lets hope he pulls his life together.

 

Keep digging- Indiana beats Phoenix 122-114

For the second consecutive game, the Pacers overcame a twenty plus point deficit. From AP-

Indiana’s formula for victory this week has been simple: fall behind by more than 20 points, then stage a frantic rally to win.

Danny Granger scored 33 points, Mike Dunleavy added a season-high 30 and the Pacers overcame a 24-point deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 122-114 on Wednesday night.

It has been a pretty impressive week for the Pacers. For the second straight game, Indiana trailed by more than 20 points in the second quarter and won.

It was the second straight game the Pacers trailed by more than 20 points in the second quarter and won. Indiana was down 23 against Toronto on Monday night before rallying for a victory.

“One of these days, we’ll get a lead,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said. “That’s another tremendous, gutsy comeback for our team.”

The biggest comeback seen in the 2009-10 NBA season was when Sacramento rallied from 35 points down to beat Chicago.

Last night’s loss was a painful one for the Suns in more than one way.

Watson elbowed Nash on a drive to the basket with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. A Suns spokeswoman said a tooth went through Nash’s upper lip. He received four stitches on his upper lip and three on the inside of his mouth.

Pardon the pun, but I think Nash and the Suns will make a quick rebound from their loss to Indiana.

 

Fire alarm sounds during LA Clipper-Memphis game

The Clippers have certainly had some interesting experiences this season. First a thief stole over 20,000 while one of their exhibition games, then their announcers were suspended for one game due to offensive remarks they made, now this.

FedExForum in Memphis was evacuated during Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies when a broken water main tripped a fire alarm during the third period.

Fans were told to exit the building by taking the stairs only.

Memphis went on to win the game 104-102 and deny the Clippers a chance to reach .500 for the season.

Maybe Clipper management can use this year’s happenings as a promotional tool. ‘Come see the Clippers play. You never know what will happen!’

 

Milwaukee Coach Scott Skiles hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat

Since he was hospitalized before a game with the Phoenix Suns, Jim Boylan coached in his his absence. From AP-

Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat before Monday night’s 105-101 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Jim Boylan, who coached in Skiles’ absence, said the coach was doing well.

“He’s fine,” Boylan said. “He’ll be joining us in Portland. He has a little arrhythmia.”

Skiles spoke to the media shortly before the game and showed no signs of illness.

A team spokesman said Skiles was hospitalized for precautionary purposes.

Get well Coach.

 

Too Passive- Philadelphia defeats Detroit 104-94

The New Jersey Nets aren’t the only NBA team struggling this season. From AP-

The Detroit Pistons played with lackluster effort for a half against the Philadelphia 76ers, leading their first-year coach to criticize their intensity and at least one player to agree with him.Det-Phil

Elton Brand matched a season high with 25 points and was one of six double-digit scorers for Philadelphia in a 104-94 victory over the Pistons on Saturday night.

“I thought we were passive at times,” Detroit coach John Kuester said.

That seemed surprising because Detroit has lost 12 straight in its worst slump since April 1994.

It was only two years ago that Pistons last made it to the Eastern Conference finals. Injuries and poor personnel decisions have turned back the clock for the franchise since then. After 12 straight losses they stand at 11-24 for the season. Still a hell of a lot better than New Jersey’s 3-33.

 

First ever Seattle Supersonics announcer, Bob Blackburn, dead at 85

In addition to being the voice of the SuperSonics for 25 years, Blackburn also worked Oregon and Oregon State basketball games during his career. RIP.

Bob Blackburn, the Seattle SuperSonics’ first broadcaster and for 20 years the lone voice of Sonics history, died Friday after a lengthy illness, his wife Pat told The Associated Press. He was 85.

Known for his smooth voice and simple, colorful descriptions, Blackburn educated two generations of basketball fans in the Pacific Northwest. From Lenny Wilkens to Jack Sikma, Blackburn was the narrator for Sonics basketball, including the team’s lone NBA championship in 1979.

“That beautiful voice. I fell in love with that voice,” Pat Blackburn said Friday night.

A year ago Blackburn fell and suffered a severe head injury requiring surgery, his wife said. There were complications following surgery, but Pat Blackburn said her husband of 61 years bounced back. He eventually fell ill with pneumonia.

“He was a gentleman, and he said he wants to be remembered as a kind person,” she said.

 

Never a calm moment- Portland defeats Los Angeles 107-98

The Lakers last win in Oregon was back in 2005. From the Oregonian-

A season that has never provided a dull moment just became a little more memorable Friday, when the short-handed and recently short-fused Trail Blazers did what they seemingly always do against the Lakers at the Rose Garden: win.LAK-Por

In one of their more well-rounded and entertaining games of the season, the Blazers controlled the Lakers 107-98, giving Lakers coach Phil Jackson until Feb. 6 to come up with new material on why his team has lost nine in a row in Portland.

“We played great basketball tonight,” Blazers coach Nate McMillan said.

The Blazers led wire-to-wire, and by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter, as Brandon Roy had the look of a candidate for league most valuable player, Martell Webster played inspired defense on Kobe Bryant, and Jerryd Bayless was a burst of energy off the bench.

Roy was as efficient as he was brilliant, finishing with 32 points, six assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers in 38 minutes. He matched Bryant in points, but Bryant went 14 for 37 from the field and had five turnovers, while Roy went 9 for 11 from the field and 13 of 14 from the free throw line.

Portland is now 23-15 for the season. This is truly remarkable in light of the injuries and illness that have befallen Trail Blazer players.

 

New Jersey Nets ban gambling on team plane

The new policy is a result of the Gilbert Arenas incident, From AP-

All bets are off on the New Jersey Nets’ team plane.

A team spokesman confirms the Nets have decided to ban gambling on their flights, not long after it apparently led to the locker room incident involving Gilbert Arenas and his guns.

The ban was first reported by The New York Times, which said players were informed Wednesday. Team president Rod Thorn told the newspaper that the Nets have never had a problem with gambling, but “obviously, you can see what can happen.”

It’s well known NBA players gamble when they fly. Will a ban prevent an Arenas incident? I see what happened there as a breakdown, but not one due to gambling. How many people failed to note Arenas bringing guns into the arena? Security, Washington Wizard management etc. If these people don’t do their jobs, gun incidents can happen no matter what the underlying issue happens to be.

 
 


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