ok itong article na ito
especially sa later part.

Lakers look to Artest to fill dramatic role
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-artestkobe070309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Kobe Bryant(notes) always admired that Ron Artest(notes) never acted like he wanted an autograph when duty demanded that he defend him. He loved that Artest was combustible and crazy and always left people wondering: Is this the moment when Ron-Ron loses his mind again, when all hell breaks loose?

Deep down, Bryant wanted Artest on his side. Artest gives a thirtysomething Kobe what Dennis Rodman gave a thirtysomething Michael Jordan: A belligerent, tough guy bearing the burden of protecting the superstar’s back.


..............................And maybe, in some ways, that won’t be the worst thing in the world for the Lakers. Chaos? That’s letting your agent’s agenda and big mouth get your butt shipped from the Los Angeles Lakers for lottery land in Houston. Kobe Bryant had been willing to take back his whole team, but Ariza made the mistake of giving the Lakers what they always wanted, what they always believed was available to them: the combustible and crazy Ron Artest.

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Kobe didn't even look at Artest in that pic, lol.

Ariza made the mistake of giving the Lakers what they always wanted, what they always believed was available to them: the combustible and crazy Ron Artest.

True that.

Especially now that Phil is EXPECTED to coach at least one more time for the Lakeshow, Artest's behaviour is even gonna flourish better than before. Assuming this ballclub can maintain its big four without getting any severe injuries throughout the season, they're gonna go gunning for the championship again along with the Spurs in the West coast.

I'm still waiting for the Lakers' FO to bring L.O. back. Can't wait for it already. Getting Shannon Brown back would be definitely a bonus for us. DO IT MITCH!

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Turkoglu agrees to terms with Blazers
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/07/03/turkoglu.blazers.ap.ap/index.html
"AS Expected" Byebye hedo!!!

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sayang naman at hindi na retain ng magic si hedo...

pero masaya na din ako para kay hedo kasi nakuha nya yung gusto nya, malaking kita at portland is still a PO team so mas pinalakas nya ang portland sa pagsama nya dito...

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"Gonna cry, are you gonna cry?" -Jecht in FF Dissidia

Turkoglu to Portland not a done deal yet
Hedo Turkoglu to Portland?

Probably. Just not yet.

A team source Friday afternoon said that there is not yet a deal between the Blazers and Orlando's free agent forward on a five-year contract, despite published reports claiming a verbal agreement was in place.

Turkoglu has spent the past two days in Portland touring the Blazers' facilities and meeting with team management, after having dinner in Orlando on Wednesday evening with head coach Nate McMillan. While other teams like Toronto had hoped to make an offer to the 30-year-old, Portland has been at the top of his list since the negotiating period began Wednesday.
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/07/03/tukoglu.portland/index.html

""whooooops?pero IMO in the end pipirma din si hedo"

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Fil-Am NBA head coach to visit RP
By Joaquin Henson Updated July 04, 2009 12:00 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=483605&publicationSubCategoryId=69


MANILA, Philippines – Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra will arrive in Manila, tentatively on July 27 for a four or five-day visit under the auspices of the Sports Envoy Program of the US Department of State, a highly-placed source revealed yesterday.

Spoelstra will likely be accompanied by an assistant coach and a WNBA player legend in conducting coaching and playing clinics here. No itinerary has been finalized but it appears Zamboanga will be a stop.

There will be a free day in Spoelstra’s visit and his Filipino relatives in San Pablo, Laguna, are planning to throw a family party to celebrate the NBA coach’s first visit here since he was three years old.

Spoelstra’s mother Elisa Caridad Celino, 68, is from San Pablo. She is a UP Diliman journalism graduate and taught at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City before leaving for the US in 1966. His father Jon is of Dutch-Irish descent and used to work in the front office of the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets.

Spoelstra has an older sister Monica who is involved in advertising and graphic design. His mother has a sister and two brothers living in the Philippines. A first cousin Dr. Andy Dimayuga of San Pablo said the family is excited about Spoelstra’s homecoming. Even a Filipino cousin residing in Singapore is booked to fly over to join the festivities.

A source said the visiting group will include a WNBA player legend in an effort to promote women’s basketball which has been singled out as a vast untapped potential market. No player has been named but Cynthia Cooper is an option if she is available. Cooper, 46, won two NCAA titles with the University of Southern California, played on the US team that won Olympic gold in 1988, was a two-time WNBA MVP and led the Houston Comets to four WNBA crowns. She retired from playing in 2004.

The Sports Envoy Program is similar to the “Understand The Game” project that brought former NBA star Detlef Schrempf to the country for clinics in 2003.

Schrempf conducted basketball clinics for kids in Olongapo and Lipa in a trip that was organized by the US Department of State and coordinated by the US Embassy.

Before landing in Manila, Spoelstra and his group will make a brief stop in Japan. Spoelstra made a big splash in his rookie debut as Miami head coach this past season. He took over the reins from Pat Riley and piloted the Heat to a 43-39 record, fifth overall in the Eastern Conference. It was a major turnaround from the previous season where Miami fell to the league cellar with a lowly 15-67 record.

Spoelstra brought the Heat to the first round of the playoffs and without the homecourt advantage, Miami lost to fourth-seeded Atlanta in a best-of-7 series that went the distance. The outcome could’ve been different if only center Jermaine O’Neal was 100 percent. O’Neal suffered a concussion from an elbow to the head by Zaza Pachula in Game 5 of the series, sat out Game 6 (which Miami won, 98-72, behind Dwyane Wade’s 41 points and Michael Beasley’s 22) and played only 42 seconds in a bit role in Game 7.

The series clincher was highly physical and Atlanta won, 91-78, as Wade pumped in 31, Beasley 17 and Udonis Haslem 14. Spoelstra and his troops went down fighting as the Heat gained the respect of the NBA cognoscenti, ending the season with their heads unbowed. Spoelstra deserved much of the credit for bringing life back to the Heat.
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Narinig ko rin last night kay Quinito Henson that Kobe Bryant will be coming to town on July 21. Mas nauna siyang darating kay coach Erik.

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LETTER DAY STORY Band

kobe in the phils on july 21?? dito ba gaganapin yung photoshoot ng nike with pacman? o baka iba yung agenda ng pag-visit nya? bakit kaya visit si KB24 here?

as for erik, he's one person that we filipinos can be proud of...san pablo, malapit lang kami doon...

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"Gonna cry, are you gonna cry?" -Jecht in FF Dissidia

Turkoglu, Portland negotiations fall apart

An already crazy free agent period in the NBA got downright bizarre on Friday, with the supposed sure deal between free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu and the Portland Trail Blazers falling apart late in the afternoon, with the veteran seriously contemplating taking an offer from the Toronto Raptors that may be in excess of the five-year, $50 million proposal the Blazers have had on the table since the start of the negotiating period on Wednesday.

"He won't be coming" to Portland, a league source said late Friday.
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/07/03/hedo.deal/index.html
sayang kala ko matutuloy!

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jayjay talagang sinubaybayan mo yang balitang yan kay hedo ah...

so if its not portland, ibig bang sabihin nyan e sa raptors sya mapupunta??

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"Gonna cry, are you gonna cry?" -Jecht in FF Dissidia

hahaha may pag asa pa ang cavs ko na masungkit si hedo..

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may pwesto pa ba si hedo sa cavs?

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. . .talaga pupunta si Kobe sa bansa? Kelan nga ba nung pumunta siya dito? Mukhang nawiwili na siya sa PInas ah, hehehe ^^

^^yan ang tanong pareng jagg, salary cap ang issue ngayon sa cavs kung sakaling plano nilang kunin si hedo..

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"Gonna cry, are you gonna cry?" -Jecht in FF Dissidia

""whooooops?pero IMO in the end pipirma din si hedo"

sayang kala ko matutuloy!

hai, ang gulo nitong isa natoh..


Eto may bago about Hedo:

Turkoglu had agreed on a five-year, $50 million deal with the Blazers, but changed his mind and could be headed for a five-year, $56 million deal with the Raptors. Toronto would have to renounce three free agents – Shawn Marion(notes), Carlos Delfino(notes) and Anthony Parker(notes) – to create the cap space for Turkoglu.
LINK

I guess it was a blessing in disguise for Portland after all..i don't think spending that much for Turk is worth it considering he is already 30..The RAptors are the ones in need of HEdo so i guess Hedo's decision to sign with them is good...

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