Sports Notes - NBA's YOUNG GUNS - Thai Football Shakeup - March 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Friday March 23, 2007

Kobe Bryant & LeBron James take NBA to school - Thailand Football Make changes at the top to turn their now losing football around - THAILAND'S DECLINE - NBA to LOST WAGES??? Charles Barkley Knows - NBA Great Bill Russell Honored -- Never mind David Beckham we have revealed the Man Behind The Iron Mask - ASIAN CUP schedule in Bangkok

KOBE BRYANT & LeBRON JAMES TAKE NBA TO SCHOOL

When NBA commissioner David Stern replied to the media prior to a Clippers game 10 years ago regarding should high school players (with the focus being Kobe Bryant) be permitted to play in the league Stern mentioned the Taft Hartley law that permits people to work.

Since that time Bryant has proved that talent wise he could make the giant step from high school to the NBA and last year the league imposed a rule that players had to be 19-years old and a year out of high school before they could enter the NBA.

Bryant's results are memorable and numerous. His recent form of scoring three 50 point games in a row including 60 against the Memphis Grizzlies last night puts him in the company of only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. He, Chamberlain and Jordan are the only players to scored 60 or more points in four games during their career.

And last but not least let's not forget Bryant's 81 point performance last season. It is second only to Chamberlain's 100 point game on March 2, 1962.

James is setting the league on fire during his spectacular three year (now working on four) NBA career. During his first three seasons in the league he has averaged 26.5 ppg including the leagues third best last season with 31.4.

He trailed only Bryant's league leading 35.4 and Allen Iverson's 33.0 ppg. It took Bryant seven NBA seasons for him to reach a 30.0 ppg. average when he notched 30.0 during the 2002-03 season. Bryant's overall career average is 23.0 ppg. entering this season his 11th in the league.

As good as both players are neither has won the NBA MVP Award.

GROUP A BANGKOK THAILAND

07 JUL. 19:35 TST. THAILAND VS IRAQ

12 JUL. 19:30 TST. THAILAND VS OMAN

16 JUL. 19.35 TST. THAILAND VS AUSTRALIA

With high school to NBA players Kobe Bryant and LeBron James lighting up the NBA it raises the question is there any place in the league for an old man? The old man we're talking about is Scottie Pippen a six time NBA title winner with the Chicago Bulls of the 1990's while being Michael Jordan's teammate. James was only 3-years-old when Pippen started his NBA career in 1987.

The old Bull is at it again and he's contemplating a comeback to the league at the age of 42. What's that you say??? Oh my!!!

The now 41 year-old Pippen would be 42 when the 2007-08 season starts since he turns to the big FOUR TWO on September 25th.

The 6'7" (2.01) forward last played in the league during the 2003-04 season when he returned to the Bulls for one last stand. He played only 412 minutes in 23 games of an 82 game season and averaged 5.9 points per game (ppg). During his 17-year NBA career Pippen averaged 16.1 ppg. It raises the question what is left?

NEVER MIND DAVID BECKHAM

Never mind that David Beckham is heading for a career in Hollywood doing ads, TV appearances and films is that guy BEHIND THE IRON MASK that we're concerned about.

That man has been on FOUR NFL Super Bowl championship teams. He is the only kicker to do so. Seldom has anyone seen his face since it's covered with an iron mask. But that man has revealed himself. We're not talking about Spiderman, Bat Man or Superman we're talkin (talking) about the man who is featured in a Reebok commercial about the team he helped beat.

We're talkin (talking) about "Da Bears (Chicago) and that man is Adam Vinatieri who won three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots and another earlier this month with the Indianapolis Colts.

The ads plot is to help devoted Bears fans Bob Swerski and Carl Wolarski, played by George Wendt and Joe Mantegna, recover from their beloved team’s loss in the big game, Vinatieri will join their famous roundtable discussion on “Da Bears."

The 30-second TV ad, written by Robert Smigel and airs on ESPN and will also aired on the Saturday Night Live comedy show.

More….

NBA GREAT BILL RUSSELL HONORED

Bill Russell was honored Friday by Wheaties, “The Breakfast of Champions,” with a new limited-edition package featuring the legendary NBA Champion.

As one of the greatest superstars in NBA history, Russell redefined the way the game is played, adopting a team effort above everything philosophy, and demonstrating how basketball can be won on the defensive end of the court.

His well-deserved individual accolades are impressive, including five NBA MVP Awards, 12 NBA All-Star selections, one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, to name a few. More...

The idea that Las Vegas would be a good city for an NBA franchise is a brain dead idea. Gambling and sports don't mix well and the temptation for NBA players being on a Vegas based NBA team would be very tempting for them to lose major portions of their million dollar contracts.

Former NBA star and league MVP Charles Barkley admits to gambling. He noted that he has lost US $10 million over the years and also noted that he once lost US $2.5 million over a six-hour period.

PHIL MICKELSON SAID "FAILURE FUELS ME".

His collapse in last year’s U.S. Open was just the most recent of Phil Mickelson’s major meltdowns. Still, Lefty would rather play to win (and lose) than play it safe. But let him explain. By Phil Mickelson with The Magazine’s Jeff Bradley.

FULL STORY - Phil Mickelson on the cover

THAI FOOTBALL GOING THROUGH THEM CHANGES

Singer Buddy Miles sang it best with his recording Goin(g) Through Them Changes. Well the FAT (Football Association of Thailand) is doing just that.

Over the past few months Thailand lost the ASEAN Cup to Singapore for the second time in a row. It was a sign that their dominance in the beautiful game in the ASEAN region had come to an end after years of dominance.

After the loss head coach Chanvit Phalajivin accepted a job to coach a club team in Vietnam only to change his mind after agreeing and then demanding more compensation since he also left a job with the Thai government that reaps rewards when he retires. The Vietnam club refused to pay more money. Phalajivin returned to the coach the Thai national side but then the big boom rang out.

After 10 years as the president of the FAT Vijitr Getkaew stepped down. Speculation is that he was tired of all of the infighting that was going on in the organization. Worawi Makudi takes over after being the FAT'S secretary general for the past 12 years.

The 55-year-old Makudi is well known among International footfall circles and is well liked. His transition to the presidents job should be an easy one since he knows the who, what, where and how of Thai football and also is friendly with the FIFA brass.

There are those that are concerned that Makudi will be a figure head for Getkaew who will continue to call the shots.

Thailand has had its political problems but it is safe to say that the Getkaew administration has done an admirable job in bringing topnotch football to the Land of Smiles. During his reign the Brazil national team has made the trip as well as Japan, South Korea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and other English Premiere League clubs.

Related stories previously released -

SINGAPORE WIN ASEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Singapore proved to be a problem too much for Thailand's national team in winning the ASEAN Cup title when they finished in a 1-1 tie and 3-2 on aggregate at Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand tonight.

It is the second straight ASEAN Championship title for Serbian coach Radojko Avramovic's side. It's also the third title for Singapore having won in 2004 and 1998.

The three titles share a record with Thailand who won in 1996, 2000 and 2002. They are the only two teams to win the event since it began in 1996 then known as the Tiger Cup.

The game was hard fought and finished without incident. Extra security was put in place to insure there was no backlash from a controversial call by a Malaysian official in the first leg in Singapore. In that first game one of the strangest events in football occurred.

A Singapore player was said to be pulled down by a Thai defender resulting in a free kick. The Thai side was furious about the decision and left the pitch in protest that caused a 15 minute delay. Television analysts were stunned and didn't know how to explain what was going on. Confusion reigned.

When play resumed Singapore made the free kick. As it turned out it was the deciding point of the 2-1 first leg that resulted in the 3-2 aggregate.

NOTES:

The event formerly known as the Tiger Cup is now known as the ASEAN Football Championship after Tiger Beer pulled out as being the sponsor following the 2004 event.

The Thai side may be looking for a coach as Chanvit Phalajivin may be leaving to coach a Vietnam club. Thai manager Thavatchai Sajakul aka 'The Big Hoy' said after the game he wasn't sure what was going to happen. He pointed out that he didn't know how much money Chanvit was offered and that factored into a Thai decision if they could afford him or not.

That brings back an old tune when money was one of the reasons that factored into Thailand's letting Peter Withe go in 2003. The other problem with Withe was they didn't like they way he dressed.

The problem with that logic is that all of the coaches that followed Withe didn't wear a tuxedo on the pitch so…. Go figure.

After Indonesia failed to make the ASEAN Championship finals by losing out on total goals Withe was let go by Indonesia's football federation. The Irony is that Withe coached that last two Thai teams that won the ASEAN Championship in 2000 and 2002.

During that time Thailand was ranked in the mid fifties on the FIFA World rankings when the played Manchester United.

In dismissing Withe the FAT (Football Association of Thailand) claimed that the move was to IMPROVE the team. The improvement resulted in Thailand falling almost 80 positions in the FIFA World rankings to the 137th position.

At present Sajakul said that the Thai team would prepare for the Asian Cup that will take place this summer.

Thailand is in Group A which includes, Iraq, Oman and Australia. Three games will be played in Bangkok.

Thailand's Kiatisak Senamuang would be a perfect coach for Thailand IN THE FUTURE. He is an inspirational leader and is respected by the players.

Senamuang has good communication skills and plenty of experience in playing the big boys after games against several EPL teams including Arsenal and Man U as well as Brazil.

This past year Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl was in need of a donor to supply a kidney for a kidney transplant. The offers that came weren't a match.

BECKHAM GOES HOLLYWEIRD - we told you so

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