Tag: In the News

Novak hints that he could be headed for Spain or Russia during lockout

Spurs backup forward Steve Novak says he is likely to play overseas during the lockout.

Novak told Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times that heif the NBA’s lockout extends into the regular season (Hat tip to Project Spurs.com).

He would be the second player on the Spurs roster at the end of last season to play overseas during the lockout. Backup point guard Chris Quinn on a one-year, $1 million contract.

Novak, 28, appeared in 30 games for the Spurs last season after joining the team on a 10-day contract in February. He was productive in limited playing time, averaging 3.5 points and shootiing 56 percent of his 3-pointers in 7.2 minutes per game as he earned a contract through the end of the season. He also made the team’s playoff roster, playing six minutes in Game 4 of the six-game series loss to Memphis.

His shooting abilities have enabled him to play five seasons in the NBA. Playing overseas will only help his exposure as he aims to continue his NBA career after the lockout ends.

Schoening’s record benefits ‘Nothing but Nets’ malaria prevention

We all know Bill Schoening for his strong work as the “Voice of the Spurs” on WOAI and the Spurs Radio Network.  

Schoening is spending some of his free  time this summer as he promotes his new career as a budding vocalist.

He’s released a compact disc “Second Chance” that will benefit “Nothing but Nets,” an initiative developed to help prevent malaria in Africa.

On the four tracks, Schoening delivers contemporary gospel with an eight-piece backing.

Schoening started dabbling in music soon after moving to Austin, where he served as the voice of the Texas Longhorns for 12 seasons before coming to the Spurs in 2001.

“My goal is not to embarrass myself musically, and to raise money for charity,” Schoening told .

He accomplishes that goal rather admirably, as this.

Cost of the CD is $10 and more information can be found by going to the website of his . All of the proceeds will benefit Nothing but Nets. And each CD sold will be able to purchase one insecticide-treated bed net to protect families from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

It’s a worthy cause done by the Spurs’ resident voice — in terms of his play-by-play work and his singing.

Former Spur Walker jailed after allegedly eating his weed after traffic stop

Maybe it was the munchies.

But there’s more to the weekend story about former Spurs player Samaki Walker on drug possession charges that helps explains his arrest.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Walker was arrested by police in Kingman, Ariz., after a routine traffic stop. Arizona authorities allege that as a Department of Public Safety officer approached his 2002 Mercedes-Benz late Thursday in Kingman.

Officials said about 10 grams of marijuana was seized from the vehicle along with some prescription drugs and eight bottles of liquid steroids.

Walker, who played with the Spurs from 1999-2001, cooperated with officers at the Mohave County Jail, police said. He told police that he uses steroids to improve his athletic ability because he still plays professional basketball in Syria.

Walker told police the steroids are legal in Syria, but possession is a misdemeanor in Arizona, police told the Review-Journal.

The Woodland Hills, Calif., resident was drafted ninth in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft by Dallas. His 10-year NBA career ended in 2006 after stints with the Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Washington, Indiana and the Spurs.

He was a member of the Lakers’ 2002 championship team, starting 63 games during the regular season.

Bond was set at $2,000 for Walker’s release with a preliminary hearing set for Friday.

His story should be an interesting one for lawmen once his trial begins.