Friday Bolts – 9.2.11
A feature on Serge Ibaka from Edge Magazine, featuring some very pretty pictures of Serge: “In Greek mythology, the phoenix stands as a symbol of immortality and renewal. Its ability to be consumed in fire and rise unscathed has been well documented in religions, stories and speeches alike but with Serge Ibaka it is brought to life. For he embodies the essence of a thing that cannot be destroyed, ever rising to new heights from circumstances that others succumb to. With the phoenix is not the rise that most inspires us, it’s the fire. Fire being one of the most beautifully dangerous elements known to man…the phoenix bathes in it, welcomes it even. Ibaka has experienced the power of great loss, tragedy and peril but like the phoenix, he has not been defeated. He has instead come out victorious, bold and fearless. He’s risen from the ashes of his past and his journey is just beginning.”
Progress is happening at The Peake.
JM Poulard in the Blazers 5-on-5: “Joining the elite would mean that Portland would be somewhere among the best three teams or four teams in the Western Conference; and for the time being those are Dallas, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. Now add the up-and-coming Nuggets, Grizzlies and Clippers, and things could potentially get tougher for the Blazers.”
Sherwood Strauss of HoopSpeak on the WNBA: “Digressive notes: Really, I should have been a WNBA convert. Back in 2008, I worked for it. The job dictated that I read literally every news story printed on the league that year. “It’s a money makin’ league!” my boss forced while almost apologetically giving the assignment. His cadence seemed a confluence of sarcasm and steak knife hawking. And I did read every WNBA news story. All of them. Knew the context, had favorite stars, had the schedule memorized. I watched about two games. Reading about the WNBA was far more compelling than actually watching it. And reading about the league was boring enough to make me stagger through streets after work like a wounded zombie.”
Nazr Mohammed is posting videos of his workout. They don’t look easy.
From a great piece in the Portland Tribune: “According to Hatamiya’s study, Seattle stood to lose about $190 million each year, as well as more than 120 direct jobs, when the Sonics left town. It contrasted vividly with studies produced by the basketball team’s new owners showing that leaving wouldn’t hurt Seattle at all. Ironically, at the same time the team’s owners were saying that Seattle wouldn’t be hurt by the move, they produced a report showing how much revenue the team would generate in their new city if Oklahoma City were to provide tax breaks.”
Russell Westbrook, along with some other NBA players, are playing pickup hoops with UCLA students.
Pretty stoked that Bruce Feldman is now a colleague of mine. Just wanted to say that.
