Friday, April 29, 2011

Cam Newton picked no. 1

NEW YORK -- It wasn't an unexpected phone call, but Auburn quarterback Cam Newton said it stunned him just the same.

"Just to get that phone call, it was like a shock going through my body," Newton said of a call from Carolina general manager Marty Hurney, who told Newton the Panthers had taken him with the No. 1 pick in Thursday night's NFL draft in New York City. "I'm just blessed to be part of a great organization and I'm ready to get to work."

The Panthers, 2-14 last season, hope to rebuild their franchise around the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner, who was one of six players from the state and two from Mobile to be selected in the first round Thursday.

The six first-round selections from Alabama matched the 2005 draft, when Auburn's Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams led another group of six first-rounders from the state.

After the Panthers took Newton and Denver took Texas A&M's Von Miller at No. 2, Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus went to Buffalo with the third pick, Crimson Tide receiver Julio Jones of Foley went to Atlanta at No. 6, Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley of Mobile went No. 13 to Detroit, Alabama offensive lineman James Carpenter was taken 25th by Seattle, and Alabama's 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram went to New Orleans at No. 28.

The Saints took Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan with their first-round pick at No. 24, then traded their second-round pick this year and a first-rounder next year to New England to get Ingram.

"It was a long wait," Ingram said moments after his selection. "I'm going to a great organization ... and I hope to help them win another championship."

Citizen Artest

Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers is the 2010-11 recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The award is named for the second commissioner of the league and honors an NBA player or coach for outstanding service and dedication to the community.

Artest won for his tireless efforts to promote awareness of mental health, including fund-raising, appearing before Congress in support of Mental Health in Schools Act and his all-around advocacy on the issue. Artest also raffled off his 2010 championship ring, raising more than $650,000 for mental health awareness, and took part in a public service announcement in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

***

When Ron Artest went into the stands and confronted Detroit Pistons fans in 2004 he set off the epic "Malice at the Palace" brawl and seemingly ruined his reputation forever. But he has come a long way since. So far, in fact, he's been named the NBA's good citizen for this season.

The Lakers guard's efforts to raise awareness and funds for mental-health causes have led to him winning the 2010-11 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. It is voted on by the Pro Basketball Writers Association and is given to the NBA player or coach who has displayed "outstanding service and dedication to the community."

Among Artest's good deeds was raffling his 2010 NBA championship ring for more than $650,000, with the money going to mental health programs. news of the award is from the Los Angeles Times website.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Barry Bonds convicted

SAN FRANCISCO » Barry Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice Wednesday but a jury failed to reach a verdict on three other counts that the home run king lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly using steroids and human growth hormone.

The verdict, following a 12-day trial and almost four full days of deliberation, was a messy end to a case that put the slugger in the spotlight for more than three years.

Bonds sat stone-faced through the verdict, displaying no emotion. His legal team immediately asked that the guilty verdict be thrown out and U.S. District Judge Susan Illston did not rule on the request. She set May 20 for a hearing in the case.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Dennis Rodman, Hall of Famer

Dennis Rodman earned plenty of labels during his sometimes turbulent NBA career.

Here's one the player who created chaos on -- and sometimes off -- the court never expected: Hall of Famer. Rodman headlined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's 2011 class announced on Monday at the Final Four, a group that includes former Dream Team member Chris Mullin and Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.

"It's just unreal," Rodman said.

And somewhat unexpected, at least to the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and five-time NBA champion who believed his extracurricular activities -- including donning a wedding dress to marry himself and kicking a photographer in the groin -- would overshadow his on-the-court accomplishments.

"I looked at the way I am, and I thought I wouldn't get in," Rodman said.

Also part of the class were: coaches Tex Winter, innovator of the triangle offense, and Philadelphia University's Herb Magee; longtime NBA and ABA star Artis Gilmore; former Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis; Olympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards; Harlem Globetrotter Reece "Goose" Tatum; and Boston Celtic Tom "Satch" Sanders.

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