Category: In the News

Kobe, KG show up for Tuesday’s bargaining session

Kobe Bryant made his first appearance Tuesday at the bargaining session as players and owners frantically attempt to end the NBA’s lockout.

Bryant was joined by Boston forward Kevin Garnett among the first-timers, according to a . Others players who were attending outside of the NBPA’s bargaining committe included Paul Pierce, Ben Gordon and Amar’e Stoudemire.

The apperance of Bryant, arguably the league’s most marketable star player, underscores the seriousness of the talks. About 10 NBA owners also attended Tuesday’s bargaining session in New York City.

The wider negotiating sessions have not been as effective for either side as the meetings involving smaller groups.

Both Bryant and Garnett have the reputation of being among the fiercest on-the-court competitors in the league.

But something tells me that their  celebrated determination that makes opposing players wilt in pressure situations probably won’t faze David Stern or Adam Silver when they are on the other side of the negotiating table.

Dirk tweets some friendly advice for Tony Romo

Dirk Nowitzki knows a little about public criticism over the years.

So with Dallas quarterback Tony Romo’s name being dragged through the dirt in the Dallas/Fort Worth area today after his choke job in the Cowboys’ loss to Detroit on Sunday, Nowitzki .

“Dear tony romo. Don’t worry abt all the critics. I heard that same garbage for a long time. Keep working hard and keep improving.”

Obviously, the Mavericks aren’t as widely supported in Dallas as the Cowboys during typical times. But Nowitzki has heard his share of criticism after the Mavericks’ 2006 NBA Finals loss to Miami and their resulting first-round playoff series loss to Golden State  the following season.

He took the criticism to heart and worked hard to get better. Nowitzki’s perseverance  was rewarded this year with the franchise’s first NBA title as Nowitzki claimed the NBA Finals MVP after beating the Heat in six games.

Maybe there’s a lesson for Romo to learn from that.

Parker: Lockout won’t hasten Duncan’s retirement

It’s long been considered the apocalypse scenario in San Antonio: The NBA lockout devours the entire 2011-12 season, and then Tim Duncan retires.

Duncan’s contact is set to expire after this season. If the NBA labor impasse winds up cancelling the entire schedule, would the Spurs’ franchise icon simply retire instead of re-upping for another season in 2012-13, when he will be 36?

In May, had played his final game in a Spurs uniform. Speaking at a basketball clinic Saturday afternoon in San Antonio, Tony Parker — Duncan’s point guard for the past 10 seasons — echoed those doubts.

Asked if a wiped-out 2011-12 season would also mean the end of Duncan’s career, Parker shook his head.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” Parker said. “I see myself playing at least two or three more seasons with Timmy.”

Obviously, Parker is not Duncan’s agent, and isn’t qualified to speak authoritatively on the two-time MVP’s career plans. Still, Parker has been in touch with the reclusive Duncan often throughout the lockout, and plans to work out with him Monday in San Antonio.

If doomsday occurs, and the entire season is scuttled, it would be quite a blow to a Spurs team that still relies heavily on aging stars like Duncan (35) and Manu Ginobili (34), whose remaining seasons of elite productivity are numbered.

That seemed to be the , when he said the Spurs could “no longer say that we’re playing for a championship.” Parker has since backed off those remarks, and did again Saturday.

“We still have a great team,” Parker said. “We just have to stay positive. Right now, you’re thinking too far ahead.”

For the record, Parker believes talk about a scuttled season to be a moot point. Despite the doom and gloom shrouding labor talks, Parker said Saturday he believes the NBA will return at some point.

“I think we’ll have a season,” he said.