Sports Notes - HIGH SCHOOL TO NBA ALL-STARS - January 2008

Kobe Bryant All-star game bound again - NBA photo Eddie Jones put Kobe Bryant to the test - NBA photo Kevin Garnett a top All-star game vote getter - NBA photo LeBron James a top All-star game vote getter - NBA photo

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

At this point high school to NBA players are receiving the most All-star game votes - NFL Alumni 2007 Player of the Year honorees - Heavyweight Tommy Morrison Makes a Comeback with ``The Tommy Morrison Story''

Wednesday January 9, 2008

High School to NBA players are receiving the most votes.

Eleven years ago in the LA Clippers press room at the LA Sports Arena NBA commissioner David Stern was asked what he was going to do about high school players going straight to the NBA and not attending college. Stern pointed out the Taft Hartley Law and the right to work.

The underlying point was that player that young would find it difficult to adjust to the NBA game and that they needed to attend college to mature, develop their skills and most importantly obtain a education.

Kobe Bryant was the man on the scene at the time in LA as he was in the Lakers locker room as one of those high school to NBA players. Kevin Garnett was also on the scene as were Tracy McGrady then with the Toronto Raptors, and Jermaine O'Neal then with the Portland Trailblazers who were in less prominent playing rolls early on their career.

Since that time all of these players have proven that they could make the transition as they are gaining large numbers of votes to appear in this years NBA All-star game to be played next month. The All-Star game starters will be announced on Jan. 24.

At this point high school to NBA players are receiving the most votes. Leading that list is Garnett of the Boston Celtics who leads in the second phase NBA voting results with 1,527,963 making him the top vote getter. LeBron James is second with 1,294,019 votes and Dwight Howard third with 1,260,987 just nudging out Bryant who registered 1,234,111.

The high school to NBA All-star vote getting list includes:

Forwards: KEVIN GARNETT, Boston, 1,527,963 LeBron James, Cleveland, 1,294,019

Centers: Dwight Howard, Orlando, 1,260,987 Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix, 583,249

Guards: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 1,234,111 Tracy McGrady, Houston, 809,395

The question is how does a high school player make the transition so readily to the NBA. One of the answers is as then LA Lakers guard Eddie Jones said that Bryant had to go against him in Philadelphia summer league games. Though Jones hails from Florida he played at Temple University in Philadelphia. There was a summer league in Radnor just outside of Philadelphia that attracted a number of college and pro players.

Playing in the NBA is not only about playing skills it's also about mental toughness. Playing in those areas and leagues players are also dealing with yo momma jokes and pops to the chops (fouls/hits to the face). A high school player that can graduate from that experience as well as gain his respect on the court against much older players is at the same time earning his degree to prepare him for the NBA. In Bryant's case his father played in the league and through that situation Kobe could an insight of the NBA attitude.

Since the players that have experience playing games against NBA players while they are in high school gives them a mental advantage and eliminates the fear of facing someone from the NBA since they've already been there and done that. With that behind them the next step is to gain respect from their respective teams and perform.

When then Lakers GM Jerry West was asked at a Southern California Broadcasters meeting why he made the trade for Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets his simple answer was, "He can play."

West went on to explain that he observed Bryant during several tryouts and was impressed with his ability thus that prompted his decision. Unlike James who broke on to the NBA scene like a hurricane Bryant's first NBA season offered limited playing time as he played only 1103 minutes and averaged only 7.6 ppg. Since that time he as raised his career average to 24.6 and is heading for his 11th All-star game performance.

TO BE CONTINUED

NFL Alumni Select Best Players of 2007 Season

Tom Brady and Randy Moss, the NFL’s new single-season record holders for touchdown passes and catches, respectively, were among 10 current stars voted by former players as NFL Alumni 2007 Player of the Year honorees.

These players were honored by a unique voting process in which former players cast ballots for their modern counterparts. Former pros vote only for the positions they once played themselves.

The 2007 awardees will be honored at the 26th annual Player of the Year Awards Dinner, to be held Friday evening, Feb. 1, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. The fundraising dinner will be held on the eve of Super Bowl XLII.

During the awards ceremony, each awardee will receive his NFL Alumni Player of the Year award from a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who once played the same position. The Don Shula Coach of the Year Award will be presented by the legendary Coach Don Shula.

The complete selections are:

OFFENSE

• Quarterback—Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

• Running Back—Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles)

• Wide Receiver—Randy Moss (New England Patriots)

• Tight End—Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)

• Offensive Lineman—Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis Colts)

DEFENSE

• Defensive Lineman—Mario Williams (Houston Texans)

• Pass Rusher—Jared Allen (Kansas City Chiefs)

• Linebacker—Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers)

• Defensive Back—Antonio Cromartie (San Diego Chargers)

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Special Teams Player—Devin Hester (Chicago Bears)

• Coach—Mike McCarthy (Green Bay Packers)

The NFL Alumni Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charity composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes. The NFL Alumni advances its motto of Caring for Kids from its national headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and an additional 30 chapters across the country.

(BUSINESS WIRE)

Heavyweight Tommy Morrison Makes a Comeback with ``The Tommy Morrison Story'' on KushTV

KushTV, the original and first multi-platform high-definition broadband and lifestyle network, and Digital Broadcasting Group, a producer of original webisodic video content, announced their new series “The Comeback: The Tommy Morrison Story” starring heavyweight boxing great Tommy Morrison. The show, that began December 24th, highlights Morrison’s battle in and out the ring as he fights his way to glory back in the arena to his decade-long struggle with the alleged HIV virus.

In the early nineties, Tommy Morrison was considered one of the most promising boxers of his time. With a budding movie career, debuting in the fifth installment of the Rocky franchise alongside Sylvester Stallone, and $38.5 million signing contract, Morrison was poised for greatness. It was when results from an alleged routine blood test came back HIV positive that his dreams were shattered in an instant. Ten years forward into the future, the virus which blacklisted him from boxing is miraculously undetectable and Morrison returns to reclaim his throne.

“This story is about much more than sports,” states Tommy Morrison. “It’s about overcoming the huge landmark of discrimination, the false and unreliable testing in the sport of professional boxing and monstrous prejudices and misconception surrounding HIV. Most importantly, it’s a story of overcoming all odds, being shunned by family, friends and business associates but still managing to claw my way back to the top.”

“Great stories and great characters are the backbone of all of our productions. And Tommy Morrison is a perfect example of that,” says Gregg Backer of DBG, the broadband production company based out of New York.

“The Internet is growing at a rapid pace and becoming a great outlet for content usually reserved for television,” says Joseph Gomes, also of DBG. “With the writer’s strike currently in effect, KushTV is a great way to carry content.”

KushTV, who currently hosts two additional sports shows, Perfect Picks starring the Olly Girls and Brother Up with Chicago Bears’ Brothers Brendon and Femi Ayanbadejo, partners with the Digital Broadcasting Group to give viewers a first-hand look at his amazing journey. KushTV currently has branded channel partnerships with some 50 partners such as Helio, YouTube, MySpace TV, Veoh, IMEEM, Akimbo and will release more interactive programming in the forthcoming months.

KushTV is the first high-definition video network for online, mobile and digital cable platforms. KushTV targets young adult audiences with original programming, live events and exclusive coverage of today's hottest stars in entertainment, music, comedy, gaming and sports. Through its wide network of distribution partners, KushTV reaches millions of unique users every month.

KushTV's most popular broadband channels include "Lifestyle", "Rush" and "Kush Girls". Founded in 2005, KushTV is privately held and headquartered in Santa Monica, CA.

Digital Broadcasting Group is a leader in the field of original webisodic video content for a global audience with offices located in Manhattan. DBG is comprised of both proven experts in the conception and production of offline television and documentaries and proven experts in online video and ad sales. Drawing upon the talents of our diverse team, DBG focuses on conceptualizing, selling, producing, and syndicating highly original webisodic video content.

(BUSINESS WIRE

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