Cowboys Johnson Returns to Practice

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History Made: First D-League Player Drafted by the NBA: Mike Taylor, Idaho Stampede
Published 6/27/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
A little bit of history happened tonight at the NBA Draft when you weren't lookinmg... Idaho Stampede guard Mike Taylor was selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers becoming the first player from the NBA Development League to be drafted by an NBA team. A member of the 2008 NBA D-League Champion Stampede, Taylor was then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second round draft pick. “Everyone at the NBA D-League joins me in congratulating Mike on his history-making achievement,” said Dan Reed, NBA D-League President. “Mike is a shining example of the NBA D-League’s core mission – to ...

Record Sales of Merchandise Set for 2008 NBA FInals
Published 6/27/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The Boston Celtics’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of The Finals was the culmination of the most successful sales season in NBA history, including the best post-clinch day in history at the NBA Store and NBAStore.com.  During The Finals, multiple merchandise sales records were set: Sales records set at the NBA Store in New York City and on NBAStore.com include: Largest post-clinch sales day in the history of both stores on June 18, with sales from NBAStore.com up 82 percent, and at the NBA Store up over 30 percent versus the previous best post-clinch day (2006 Miami Heat and 2002 Lakers, ...

Minnesota Timberwolves Unveil New Updated Logos
Published 6/27/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
In anticipation of the 20th season of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball, the Timberwolves primary logo, featuring the wolf's head amidst the tree line, has undergone a facelift. Additionally, the Timberwolves have unveiled a new, re-designed secondary logo. The new-look logos, designed by adidas, usher in a new era of Timberwolves basketball as the franchise celebrates its 20th season in the Twin Cities with the upcoming 2008-09 NBA campaign. The modification to the Timberwolves primary logo includes the incorporation of white on the wolf's head as well as a cleaner and sleeker design of the tree line and the script "Minnesota ...

Analyzing Team USA's 12 Man Roster
Published 6/30/2008 by David Friedman at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Last Monday, USA Basketball announced the 12 man roster that will comprise the 2008 U.S. Olympic basketball team. Five of the 12 have participated in the Olympics previously (Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade); the only U.S. team that had more Olympic veterans was the 1996 squad--the so-called "Dream Team II" that welcomed back six players from the first Dream Team, the 1992 U.S. Olympic team that is the only group that truly deserved the "Dream Team" designation. Eight members of the 2008 team played in the 2007 FIBA Americas tournament, which Team USA won with a 10-0 record; here is a list of those eight players, ...

Commentary and Interviews from NASCAR on TNT Live: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Published 6/30/2008 by maury at Maury Brown's Biz of Sports
NASCAR on TNT Live Announcers: Marc Fein, Larry McReynolds and Kyle Petty Petty on the impact of NASCAR’s Silly Season on the drivers: “It depends on what position you’re in. What I mean by that is Casey Mears was asked to leave the #5 car (at Hendricks Motorsports). That tells him that that team doesn’t have any confidence in him, so that’s a strange position when you have to finish out a season with a team that has no confidence in you as a driver, and they let it be known by saying they want another driver. Now, when you’re the bigwig and you’re making all the calls and saying ...

Blazers Sign Spanish Guard, Rudy Fernandez
Published 7/1/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network

NHL Free Agent Listing As of July 1, 2008
Published 7/2/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network
Below is a complete list of players, who, effective July 1, became free agents by way of the National Hockey League. Names will be removed from this list as the players sign with their respective Clubs. OFFICIAL FREE AGENT SIGNINGS Some players whose names appear on this list may recently have signed with their respective Clubs; however, their contracts had not yet been filed with the League prior to publishing. FREE AGENT CLASSIFICATIONS GROUP 2 - SUBJECT TO COMPENSATION AND RIGHT TO MATCH ...

Free Agent Signings - July 1, 2008
Published 7/2/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network
The following Signings as of today (July 1, 2008). The first day of free agency for the upcoming season.   The listing comes by way of the NHL's Official Free Agent TrackerJuly 1, Free Agent Signings ...

NBA Opening Stores in China Next Month. Using Olympics to Boost Interest
Published 7/2/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The NBA is preparing to open two stores in China this month, with 500 to 1000 planned in the future. The first two stores will be smaller versions of the NBA’s flagship store in New York and will be located in downtown Beijing. According to NBA China Chief Executive Officer Tim Chen, sales of NBA goods at the 50,000 current licensed outlets may rise 40 percent this year, buoyed by the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. As reported by Bloomberg News: “We've had super growth in the last couple of years and when we look at the potential, it's just amazing,'' Chen said in an interview today. “After the Olympics, people in China will know more about ...

A Drop in the Bucket: Why Clay Bennett and the Sonics Settlement Has Them Making $$$
Published 7/3/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
That laughter you’re hearing is the owners of the Seattle SuperSonics. Or rather, the owners of the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics as a settlement has been reached between ownership and the City of Seattle for as much as $75 million. The deal allows the Sonics to get out of the last two years on the KeyArena lease and relocate the team this off-season to Oklahoma City. How soon will they move? Principle owner Clay Bennett said the move begins Thursday. The deal calls for an immediate payment of $45 million, and an additional $30 million paid to Seattle in 2013, should the Washington State legislature pay $75 million in ...

Narcissist Alert: Former NBAer Doug Christie and Wife Jackie Announce They'll Get Married for 13th Time
Published 7/5/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Former NBAer Doug Christie and his wife Jackie are amusing in a nauseating sort of way. Yes, they have done charitable work, which should be applauded. And, yes, they promote building strong marriages. But there’s self-promotion, and then there’s the Christies. Case in point, today the couple declared through a press release that on July 8th they will get married for a 13th time at the Space Needle in Seattle, “in a lavish ultra private ceremony.” The self-proclaimed “power couple”, “will donate $100,000.00 to charity and plan to invite 100 gay and lesbian couples to join them next July for their 14th wedding to marry ...

Jaromir Jagr First Major NHL Player to Crossover to Continental Hockey League
Published 7/5/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network
The European “Super League” set to launch in September will boast the first major NHL player to cross back over the Atlantic to play for big money. Jaromír Jágr, who is ranked second in active players in career goals, assists, and points, will play next season for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League. Avangard Omsk   is one of 24 teams that will comprise the new Continental Hockey League set to launch in September. The 36-year-old Jágr, who hales from the Czech Republic, played for Avangard Omsk during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. While contract details were not made public, the deal is reportedly a 2 year, $7 million tax free (approx. $11 ...

Chicago's Wrigley Field to Host Next Outdoor Classic on New Years Day
Published 7/7/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Hockey :: The Business of Sports Network
It has been touch-and-go. First it was Yankee Stadium. Then, Wrigley Field. Then, Yankee Stadium, again. According to several sources, it seems that Wrigley Field will indeed host the NHL Outdoor Classic on January 1. The game will feature the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. The announcement is expected sometime this week. According to initial reports out of the Star-Tribune, the deal was finalized last week between NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Chicgo Mayor Daley. ...

Bryan Perez Named Senior VP and General Manager of NBA Digital
Published 7/7/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Bryan Perez has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president and general manager for NBA Digital, it was announced today by David Levy, president of Turner Sports, and Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner and COO of the National Basketball Association.  Earlier this year, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and the NBA announced a ground-breaking expansion of their long-running partnership, through which the companies will jointly manage a portfolio of the NBA’s digital businesses that Turner will operate out of its Atlanta production facility. ...

Blazers Name Joe Prunty Assistant Coach
Published 7/8/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The Portland Trail Blazers announced Monday that Joe Prunty has been named an assistant coach. The announcement was made by Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard Prunty spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. Prior to his time in Dallas, he served for nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as assistant video coordinator, video coordinator, advance scout and most recently, assistant coach. During his time with the Spurs, the team won three NBA Championships. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to add a talented, hard-working and experienced individual like Joe to the organization,” said head coach Nate ...