World Hoops Blog

Don't Call it a Comeback.

2009-02-18T20:17:00.002-05:00

November 6th, 2008. Yeah, that's just how long its been. I thought I could let WHB fade back into obscurity, or rather let it fade into further obscurity. But after reconnecting with a couple running mates this week, I decided I at least owed a couple people a bit of a post-mortem on the World Hoops Blog project.I started WHB because I was interested in the globalization of the game of

Video: Allen Iverson's "We Talking 'bout Practice?" Redux

2008-11-06T13:05:00.002-05:00

Wednesday Afternoon Skip Pass

2008-11-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

Allen Iverson | photo: Getty ImagesHow awesome was that last night? Old as balls John McCain giving his concession speech by midnight. Things are looking up, ya'll. It's a brand new day.:: And One: Converst in the Church of LB - News flash: LeBron isn't going to Detroit unless Joe Dumars backs semi-trailer full of thousand dollar bills up to LeBron's spot, the Pistons don't have a shot.

Election Night Post

2008-11-04T20:16:00.005-05:00

Barack Obama is Hope | photo: barack-obama-sua.infoI have to share this with you, just because I think it's very cool.Four years ago today, right before I moved into the apartment that I was in until this summer, my grandfather and I got into his silver Chrysler and drove down to the junior high school building so that we could vote. He and I were damn near diametrically opposed on almost

The Rebirth of the Skip Pass

2008-11-04T13:56:00.002-05:00

National Basketball Association:: BDL: Behind the box score, where Memphis has another grizzly stud - Kelly runs point on the league. And I just want to make sure everyone knows that the Sixers ran all over the Kings. Donyell and K-Rush rained threes in trash time to twist the knife in Team Maloof's back.:: Philly.com: Both teams win in Iverson deal - My take: If Joe Dumars is angling to throw

Vote or Die.

2008-11-03T17:29:00.004-05:00

Barack Obama | photo: Elective DecisionsTomorrow is going to be a historic day in this country. Not just because it's a Presidential election, but because no matter what happens tomorrow in January we will have a first. We will either be swearing in our first black President or our first female Vice President.This is the stuff that takes up chapters in history books and gets tussled over for

Iverson to Detroit for Billups and McDyess

2008-11-03T12:44:00.003-05:00

Allen Iverson | photo: OdenizedMLive is reporting that the Detroit Pistsons are sending Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to Denver for Allen Iverson.

Now writing from Titletown, USA

2008-10-31T16:04:00.003-04:00

By way of confession, I have to tell you that baseball has always been my first sport. I grew up playing baseball and watching baseball. It wasn't until high school that I became a basketball fan, and not until even more recently that I became more than a casual hoops fan.My childhood memories are dominated with summer evenings sitting in the living room watching Phillies baseball on Prism with

Sixers Lose Season Opener

2008-10-30T17:52:00.002-04:00

But the Phillies are World Champions. So it's a city split I can deal with.So the Sixers lost, Marreese Speights was inactive for the season opener, but fans are calling for him to eat up some of those Sam Dalembert minutes. Greg Oden is out 2 weeks to a month with an ankle injury. Euroleague round 2 is underway. John Rillie's still smiling somewhere in Australia and Skeets is still dropping

I'm calling a time out.

2008-10-29T19:18:00.003-04:00

Interview didn't go as well as I had hoped. Big hearts and high fives to Carolyn, who's keeping the a lock on the Shakedown for sharing some ridiculous job interview stories with me.Somethings you need to know, since this is a basketball blog and not a "Paul Can't Get a Job" blog.Paul Pierce cried when he got his title ring. Then he smacked the Cavs for a 5 point win. The Sixers pushed up

Off Radar Day

2008-10-28T14:51:00.003-04:00

Philly News NBA Predictions | graphic: Philly.comOver slept and getting ready for my interview. But, Philly.com has a preview of the NBA season. Four Philly.com writers all agree that the west is the Lakers' to lose this year. Meanwhile only Bob Cooney thinks that the hometown crew can handle the Celtics and take the east.Cooney's also the only writer that puts the Sixers over the 50 win mark

Euroleague: Round 1 Top 10 Plays

2008-10-27T16:00:00.000-04:00

Josh Childress introduces himself to the Euroleague crowd with a defensive play worth a top 6 entry this week.

10 Strong: Q & A with Ed Odeven of the Japan Times

2008-10-27T12:00:00.001-04:00

Rizing Fukuoka Cheer Dance Team | photo: Rizing FukuokaEdward Odeven is a sports editor and BJ-League beat writer for The Japan Times, Japan's largest English-language newspaper. Here is a recent example of his basketball knowledge.Edward Odeven, sports editor for the Japan Times, thanks for taking some time out to talk with me today. Let's start at the logical beginning. According to your bio

Skip Pass: Somebody's Got a Case of the Mondays.

2008-10-27T07:44:00.000-04:00

The NBA starts playing games that count tomorrow night. The NBL is in full gear with only 2 teams on the ladder below .500 and the Euroleague has rolled into week two of what could be it's most important season on the books. If you're a basketball fan and you're not excited right now, I can't help you, kid.Yank on those tear-aways, this is the final NBA preseason edition of the Skip Pass for

Highlight Reel: LA Lakers v Oklahoma City Thunder

2008-10-26T13:01:00.001-04:00

Video highlights of Andrew Bynum going beast-mode against the Thunder the other night.

Sunday Morning Skip Pass

2008-10-26T09:33:00.003-04:00

Los Angeles Lakers | photo: Wally Skalij for the LA TimesI'm still wearing the afterglow of a Game 3 Phillies win. So here's an incredibly distracted edition of the Skip Pass.NBA:: LA Times: Lakers-Celtics clash in Finals would rock - LA Times columnist Mark Heisler is calling out the Celtics for an NBA Finals runback. Screw that. How about an '83 rematch? Hey LA, how you like Mo Cheeks now?:

Highlight Reel: Avellino v Olympiacos

2008-10-25T23:30:00.002-04:00

Here's a highlight package of Josh Childress' first Euroleague game. His Olympiacos team defeated Avellino 89:63 this past week in Euroleague's first round of play.

Job Interview Next Week

2008-10-25T19:33:00.002-04:00

I hope I'm not jinxing it, but next Tuesday I have an interview with a sport ministry. The job will let me do four things I've been trying to do for a while:1. Get active in the ministry.2. Work with teenagers and young adults.3. Work around sports and athletes.4. Not work on third shift.The interview is right before work on Tuesday. Hopefully I'll be able to walk into work Tuesday night and be

Isiah Thomas' Overdose Drama Thickens

2008-10-25T13:56:00.002-04:00

According to an NBA.com, there is a dispute over the victim in the 'accidental overdose' call that police responded to last night.Isiah Thomas told reporters via a cell phone interview that the victim was his 17 year old daughter, who "had a medical issue". Harrison police officials are refuting the claim. And said without saying that it was, in fact, Zeke.I understand that this person claims

Box Scores, NBA Preseason, NBL, BBL

2008-10-25T11:45:00.000-04:00

Nets v Knicks | photo: Frank Franklin IINational Basketball AssociationNew Jersey Nets 111 (Carter 20, Simmons 16, Harris 16)New York Knicks 110 (Crawford 30, Robinson 13, Rose 12)Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York (NY) | Attendance: 15,688Full BoxJamal Crawford put together a strong 30 point game, but the Knicks were still outclassed by the Nets. New Jersey brought a five point lead out of

Euroleague Round 1: Hot or Not

2008-10-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

Will McDonald (TAU Ceramica) | photo: TAU CeramicaThe first round of the Euroleague is in the books. Ten players stood out, five were playing in beast mode, and five should think about taking up water polo.HotWill McDonald (TAU Cermaica)18 points shooting a perfect 7-7 from the field, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. McDonald won Week 1 MVP honors.Loren Woods (Zalgiris)17 points and 16 rebounds,

Kobe Bryant Knows Risky Business

2008-10-24T22:00:00.000-04:00

First of all, am I the only one who's fed up with Michael Phelp's country-fed ogrish ass? And why does Tony Hawk need a helmet to play fake drums?Anyway, here's a commercial with Kobe Bryant pimping the new Guitar Hero: Anabolic Steroids edition via an 80's movie motif.

Global Skip Pass on a Quiet Friday

2008-10-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

Europe:: The Global Hook: Jennings Makes Euroleague Debut - The Brandon Jennings watch is international. European basketball beat writer Evin Demirel shakes down B-Jen's first Euroleague minutes:Thursday, Lottomatica Roma's Jennings played 22 minutes, scored 9 points on 3-7 from the 3-point line, garnered 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 0 assists in a 68-63 loss to Alba Roma.Not the most auspicious of

NBA Skip Pass

2008-10-24T17:00:00.000-04:00

:: Dime: Shaun Livingston is back after 20 months on the comeback - A lot of players have gone down with injuries this preseason, but Shaun Livingston's put almost two full years of work into rehabing his blown-out knee. Moral victories, son. Moral victories.:: NBA: Commissioner Stern: Top players will stay here - David Stern basically calls Olympiacos fiscally irresponsible. Stern:I guess if

Police to Isiah Thomas' Home for Overdose

2008-10-24T16:02:00.002-04:00

(Thanks to Slam for the pick-up.)The AP report from ABC:PURCHASE -- Harrison Police were called to Isiah Thomas' house last night around midnight for a report of a possible overdose.Police confirmed they were at the home, but refused to discuss any details.Published reports say the call came in just after midnight, describing a 46-year-old male at the Azalea Circle home. It was not indicated