Wednesday, July 7, 2010
''The Knicks Are Back'' Proclaims NBA Star Amare Stoudemire As He Signs Massive Contract To Join Franchise
The power forward and his agent met with team owner James Dolan earlier in the day to finalize the terms. Stoudemire's agent, Happy Walters, says the deal is for the maximum allowed. The deal can't be signed until July 8.
"I feel great about being a pioneer and showing my leadership," he said at Madison Square Garden, where signs throughout the entrances showed the player pictured in a Knicks uniform and reading "Welcome, Amare Stoudemire."
New York has struggled the past few seasons and went 29-53. Stoudemire starred for the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 23 points and nine rebounds.
The deal reunite him with current Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. Stoudemire has spent his entire career in Phoenix, where he played for D'Antoni before the coach came to New York in 2008.
"Totally comfortable, totally confident that my leadership qualities will uplift all of us to do something great this upcoming season," Stoudemire said. "So again, the Knicks are back."
The New York Post reported that the deal is uninsurable because of Stoudemire's past eye and knee injuries; Stoudemire had microfracture surgery on his left knee in November of 2005 and required surgery for a detached retina in 2009.
The agreement was a desperately needed score in free agency for the Knicks, who spent two seasons clearing enough salary cap space to afford two top players. They spoke to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh last week and believe they could still land one of them.
The big-name free agents could make their decisions this week, and perhaps they might take a second look at New York now that there's another huge piece in place.
"No one wanted to make the first move and I feel confident enough to take that first step and hopefully now we can bring a few guys in to join me," Stoudemire said.
The Knicks decided they no longer needed to wait on an answer from Bosh, especially because Stoudemire showed such a commitment to New York.
"I think to a degree the fact that Amar'e really wanted to come here, stepped up front, it got to the point where we had to acknowledge that and say that means something to us," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said.
Walsh said Stoudemire's arrival didn't necessarily mean the end for David Lee, the Knicks' own All-Star free agent who plays the same position. Lee could also be used in a sign-and-trade, though Walsh indicated he hadn't received any good proposals in discussions with Lee's agent.
Stoudemire has career averages of 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds and helped the Suns reach the Western Conference finals this season. D'Antoni called him "probably one of the best, if not the best finisher in the league" and dismissed the notion that their relationship was strained in Phoenix.
"We had no problem," D'Antoni said. "I had four great years. The reason I have a very good contract in New York is Amar'e doing what he did for me. So I can't have any animosity and don't, and he was great."Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/New-York-Knicks-Amare-Stoudemire...
Big Boi's "Sir Lucious Left Foot" Converse Sneakers
1/2 of Outkast , Big Boi has anew album is in stores NOW!! Make sure you pick up your copy of "Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty." In the mean time, Big Boi is giving fans a chance to win an Exclusive Pair of Big Boi's "Sir Lucious Left Foot" converse Sneakers.
Bosh to join Wade, Heat
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are teaming up together on the Miami Heat, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
ESPN's Shelley Smith also reported the pending move through independent sources.
Wade and Bosh are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday afternoon, according to the source, and continue to lobby James, along with Heat president Pat Riley, to join them in Miami, despite the financial complexities involved for the Heat to make room for all three.
Both players are expected to get the maximum amount allowable under the league's collective bargaining agreement, though the addition of James could change the players' salaries. Contracts cannot be officially signed until Thursday.
It was not immediately clear whether Bosh -- who spent seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors -- will sign with Miami outright or join the Heat through a sign-and-trade deal. Bosh could earn $125 million over six years via sign-and-trade, but only $96 million in five without it.
"Either way, he's definitely going to Miami," the source said.
League sources say Riley is trying to convince Bosh to take the five-year max deal and leave Toronto outright. The Raptors are trying to persuade Bosh to demand a six-year deal and a sign-and-trade so that they get something out of the deal.
Earlier this week, the Raptors reportedly had been reluctant to do a sign-and-trade, especially with Miami, contending the Heat did not have any players of interest. But if Bosh leaves outright, the Raptors are left with, at most, $4 million in cap space to replace Bosh.
One source with knowledge of Toronto's thinking told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the Raptors, as of 9 a.m. ET, had yet to hear anything official from Bosh's camp about his intentions.
Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo, in a text message to The Associated Press on Wednesday morning, said, "I have nothing official from anyone."
Amid a growing sense among rival executives that James intends to stay with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that James is still seriously considering joining forces with Wade and Bosh in Miami and had a discussion about the possibility that all three could wind up playing together for the Heat on a conference call early Wednesday morning.
James or not, the Heat could emerge as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Wade and Bosh aboard.
Wade, Bosh and James have maintained a dialogue throughout the free-agent process and in the days leading up to July 1, keeping alive the possibility that all three could wind up playing together for the Heat while also sifting through the various options on the table.
ESPN.com reported June 28 that the trio held a scaled-down version of the free-agent summit originally suggested by Wade to seriously discuss their futures, with a focus on the idea that all three could team up with the Heat. Sources close to the situation insist, though, that James has not promised anything to his Team USA colleagues and is not tipping off which way he's leaning.
For much of Monday and Tuesday, several team executives and league insiders expressed their belief to ESPN.com that James re-signing with the Cavaliers, and Wade and Bosh landing together in Miami, was the most likely outcome of a saga that began three years ago when James, Wade and Bosh all signed contracts that enabled them to become free agents in the summer of 2010.
But the New York Knicks, after securing a verbal commitment from free agent power forward Amare Stoudemire, have not surrendered in the chase for James, despite a growing sense around the league that the opportunity to play with Wade and Bosh is the only scenario that prevent the Cavs from keeping their face of the franchise.
UNDRCRWN’s “You Lose” shirt inspired by the University Of Miami
The You Lose Tee by UNDRCRWN features a Classic tee design and fit with a reworking of the mascot on the backside of the shirt. Now available at Dr. Jays by clicking here.
Air Jordan XI “Cool Gray” release date confirmed
The Jordan XI “Cool Greys” – Confirmed for December 23, 2010 at a $175 price tag. Get ready…
Maybach Music Group’s Sam Sneak Announces New Radio Show in Miami
Sneaker Box Coming Out of Your Speaker Box
(Miami, FL) — 92.7-FM, Miami’s fresh and innovative underground hip hop and R&B station announced today that its new radio show hosted by Sam Sneak — “Sneaker Box Out of Your Speaker Box”— will air every Monday through Friday from 3pm to 5pm, beginning on Monday, July 5, 2010.“We’re very proud of Sam Sneak and the important contributions he has made to local artist and Miami’s underground music scene,” said DJ Big Ralph, owner of 92.7-FM radio. “The Miami music scene hasn’t had a broadcast stage like this before. Sneaker Box will make radio uniquely personal to local listeners.”
“Sneaker Box Out of Your Speaker Box” will establish deep ties to the local music community and will serve as a positive force in building the artistic talent of South Florida. Sneaker Box will entertain and inform audiences with the best music of today, drawn from hip hop and R&B that reflect our diverse forms of musical expression. Sneaker Box is committed to providing a venue for local musicians and bands ” through recordings and live, in-studio performances and interviews” providing them wide exposure that would not otherwise be available.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
