Thursday, March 31, 2011
Celtics 107, Spurs 97
Von November bis März waren die Boston Celtics und die San Antonio Spurs das Maß aller Dinge in der National Basketball Association. Ausgerechnet jetzt, kurz vor den Playoffs, stockt der Motor bei beiden Schwergewichten aber gewaltig. Boston kam mit einer mageren 8-7 Bilanz im bisherigen Monat nach Texas. San Antonio hatte sogar 4 Partien in Folge verloren. Das Parkett war also poliert für den hoch antizipierten Showdown der beiden Meisterschaftsanwärter, und das Spiel hielt, was es im Vorfeld versprach.
San Antonio's angeboxte Starter Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili und Tony Parker kehrten allesamt ins Team zurück. Bei Boston lief Jermaine O'Neal zum ersten Mal seit dem 10. Januar wieder auf. Der Gastgeber erwischte den besseren Start dank des schnellen, kleinen Franzosen, von dem die Grünen einmal mehr nur eine Staubwolke zu sehen bekamen. Parker penetrierte nach Belieben und erzielte 12 seiner 23 Zähler im ersten Abschnitt. Paul Pierce hielt den 18-fachen Champion aber mit 11 Punkten seinerseits auf Tuchfühlung. Nach einem High-Scoring Auftaktviertel justierten die Coaches wie erwartet die Defensive etwas nach. Beide Mannschaften verfehlten nun mehr als zwei Drittel ihrer Wurfversuche und verteidigten unerbittlich. Zur Halbzeit stand es ausgeglichen 49:49.
Nach der Pause kam die grosse Zeit von Celtics-PG Rajon Rondo. Der schwarze Blitz sezierte nun die Spurs-Abwehr nach Belieben, punktete entweder selbst oder verteilte einen Assist nach dem anderen. Boston zog dank eines 14-0 Laufs gegen Ende des Dritten auf und davon. Rondo's beeindruckende Bilanz im Spiel: 22 Punkte, 14 Assists, kein einziger Ballverlust. Pierce scherte knapp am Triple Double vorbei (21 Pts, 11 Reb, 7 Ast), während sich Kevin Garnett (20 Pts, 9-12 FG) und Glen Davis (16 Pts, 8-12 FG) im Frontcourt recht frei entfalten konnten. Die Kobolde trafen in der zweiten Hälfte 62% ihrer Wurfversuche und gingen als verdienter Sieger vom Platz.
San Antonio ist nach dieser erneuten Niederlage in nicht erwarteten Schwierigkeiten. Es war bereits die 5. Spurs-Pleite in Folge. Soviele hat der texanische Vierfach-Champ seit 1997 nicht mehr kassiert - also noch nie, seit Tim Duncan gedraftet wurde. Neben Miami ist San Antonio nun der einzige Titelanwärter mit mehr als 4 konsekutiven Niederlagen seit der All-Star Pause. Kein solches Team hat seit 1995 mehr den Pokal gewinnen können. Und auch der Heimvorteil schmilzt dahin wie Butter in der texanischen Sonnenhitze: Los Angeles hat den eigenen Rückstand auf Platz 1 durch den heutigen Sieg gegen Dallas auf nur noch 2 Niederlagen verkürzt und walzt mit einer 16-1 Bilanz seit dem ASG durch die Liga. In Boston hofft man währenddessen, das der 2. Sieg im 2. Spiel gegen das bilanzbeste Team der Liga endlich den Knoten platzen lässt. Die C's kämpfen mit Miami und Chicago und die besten Plätze im Osten. Die Bulls liegen nach wie auf Rang 1 mit jetzt 2 Siegen Vorsprung. Boston verteidigt durch diesen Sieg zunächst die Zwei und bleibt eine halbe Partie vor den Heat. Das entscheidende Duell zwischen den beiden steigt am 10. April.
Outside the Lines: NBA Sozialpreis
Vier allseits bekannte NBA-Grössen wurden heute von der Liga als Kandidaten für den 'J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award' vorgeschlagen: Dwight Howard, Marcus Camby, Kyle Korver und Ron Artest. Der Wohltätigkeitspreis wird Jahr für Jahr an denjenigen Akteur vergeben, der "herausragendes Engagement und Einsatzbereitschaft für seine Gemeinde zeigt". Benannt wurde der Award nach James Walter Kennedy, dem Commissioner der NBA von 1963 bis 1975, der sich neben seiner Rolle als Präsident zusätzlich auch noch für vielerlei soziale Anliegen einsetzte.
Kyle Korver, Shooting Guard der Chicago Bulls, gründete bereits während seiner Zeit bei den Philadelphia 76ers die Kyle Korver Foundation, eine Bürgerrechtsinitiative, die sich hauptsächlich um unterpriviligierte Kinder und Bedürftige auf der Strasse kümmert. Bei jedem seiner bisherigen Karrierestops - College in Nebraska, in Utah und jetzt Chicago - eröffnete Korver weitere Filialen seiner Stiftung, die den gesellschaftlich Benachteiligten durch Schul-, Sport- und Erziehungsangebote positive Möglichkeiten eröffnen sollen. MVP- und Defensive Player of the Year-Kandidat Dwight Howard engagiert sich schon lange für karitative Zwecke und eröffnete in diesem Jahr seine D12 Foundation. Diese will in Zukunft eng mit Kinderorganisationen auf der ganzen Welt zusammenarbeiten und Programme entwickeln, die nachhaltige Veränderung in den Lebensgewohnheiten der Kids bewirken - sei es eine sportive Lebensweise, Zusammenhalt, Toleranz oder eine hohe Bedeutung von Bildung und Erziehung.
Marcus Camby, Center der Portland Trail Blazers, etablierte bereits 1996 als Rookie seine 'Cambyland Youth Foundation', die er mittlerweile mit Aussenposten in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles und Denver betreibt. Obwohl Camby schon immer etwas unter dem Radar operiert, gilt er für viele als einer der großzügigsten NBA-Spieler überhaupt und soll hier wohl für sein Lebenswerk geehrt werden. Seine gemeinnützige Institution, die keinerlei finanzielle Interessen verfolgt, arbeitet eng mit Schulen, Bibliotheken und den Gemeinden zusammen, um Kinder und Jugendliche in ihrer positiven Entwicklung zu unterstützen. Die bemerkenswerteste Nominierung ist sicherlich die des ehemaligen Bad Boys Ron Artest, der sein ehemaliges Quennsbridge Gangster-Image in den letzten zwei Jahren vollständig gewandelt hat. Artest, einst für seine Aggressionen, Wutausbrüche und das 'Malice at the Palace' berüchtigt, kassierte damals die bis heute längste Spielsperre der Liga-Geschichte. Heute, knapp 7 Jahre später, gilt der Lakers-Forward als prominentester Pate für Geisteskrankheiten und versucht permanent, das öffentliche Bewusstsein für diese eigentlich stinknormale Maladie zu sensibilisieren. So sammelte er in einer beispiellosen Tombola-Aktion für seinen Meisterschaftsring knapp 700000 US-Dollar, die er komplett an verschiedene Wohltätigkeitsorganisationen spendete. Ausserdem setzt sich Artest vehement für die Einbeziehung von 'Kursen für psychische und seelische Gesundheit' in Schulen ein und arbeitet dafür mit kalifornischen Politikern zusammen.
Die letzten 5 Gewinner des Awards: Samuel Dalembert ('10), Dikembe Mutombo ('09), Chauncey Billups ('08), Steve Nash ('07), Kevin Garnett ('06).
Maria Sharapova – Nationality: Russian
Career: Sharapova is one of the top players in the world right now. She’s won three Grand Slam titles and has been ranked number one in the world at various times.
Sharapova was born in 1987 to Yuri and Yelena, ethnic Belarusians, in the town of Nyagan' in Siberia, Russia. Her parents moved from Gomel, Belarus after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 affected the region.[6] When Sharapova was two, the family moved to Sochi where her father befriended Aleksandr Kafelnikov, whose son Yevgeny would go on to win two Grand Slam singles titles and became Russia's first ever World No. 1 tennis player. Aleksandr gave Sharapova her first tennis racket at the age of four, where upon she began practicing regularly with her father in a local park.[7] She took her first tennis lessons with veteran Russian coach Yuri Yutkin, who was instantly impressed when he first saw her, noting her "exceptional hand-eye co-ordination."[8]
At the age of seven, Sharapova attended a tennis clinic in Moscow run by Martina Navrátilová, who recommended professional training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, which had previously trained players such as Andre Agassi, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova.[7] With money tight, Yuri was forced to borrow the sum that would allow him and his daughter, neither of whom could speak English, to travel to America, which they finally did in 1994.[8] Visa restrictions prevented Sharapova's mother from joining them for two years.[6] Arriving in Florida with just $700 to his name,[8]Sharapova's father took various low-paying jobs, including dish-washing, to fund her lessons until she was old enough to be admitted to the academy. In 1995, she was signed by IMG, who agreed to pay the annual tuition fee of $35,000 for Sharapova to stay at the academy, allowing her to finally enroll at the age of 9.
2010
After playing two exhibition tournaments in Asia, Sharapova officially began her season at theAustralian Open, where she was upset in her first round by Maria Kirilenko. The loss meant that for the first time since 2003, Sharapova had lost her opening match at a Grand Slam event.[44] Immediately bouncing back, she competed in the Cellular South Cup, winning her 21st career WTA title and first of the year.[45]
At the BNP Paribas Open, Sharapova lost in the third round to Zheng Jie, aggravating a bruised bone on her right elbow in the process, which resulted in her eventual withdrawal from the Sony Ericsson Open,[46] and the Family Circle Cup.[47]
Returning at the 2010 Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, Sharapova lost in the first round to Lucie Šafářová. She continued her French Open preparation at the Internationaux de Strasbourg with her first title on red clay and 22nd overall title.[48] Her brief clay season culminated with a third round loss to four-time champion Justine Henin at the French Open. It was her seventh loss to the Belgian in ten career meetings.
Sharapova began her preparations for Wimbledon by making the final of the AEGON Classic for the fourth time since 2007, losing there to Li Na. As the 16th seed at Wimbledon, she made it to the fourth round before losing to world No. 1 and eventual champion Serena Williams, despite having three set points in the opening set.[49] The match was seen as another encouraging performance for Sharapova, with some stating their belief that she was approaching the form that would see her contending for Grand Slams once more,[50] and Sharapova herself stating she feels that she is "in a much better spot than I was last year."[51]
Sharapova started the US Open Series campaign at the Stanford. She advanced to the finals before losing to World No. 18 Victoria Azarenka in straight sets. Her next tournament was at the Western and Southern Financial Group Women's Open. Again, she made it to the finals, this time losing to Kim Clijsters in three sets.
At the 2010 U.S. Open, Sharapova made it to the round of 16, before losing to top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki.
Her last two tournaments of the season would end in disappointment. She played in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she was upset in the first round by 39-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm.[52]Her last tournament of the year would be the China Open, she would beat Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the 1st round, but she would once again be upset, this time in the 2nd round to fellow Russian Elena Vesnina.[53] Days later she announced the end of her 2010 season.[54] She would end the year at #18 in the world.
2011
It was announced that Sharapova would bring in Thomas Hogstedt as a coach for the 2011 season, joining Michael Joyce.[56] On December 5, Maria played an exhibition match against World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva in Monterrey, Mexico. She would go on to win that match, 6–1, 7–5.[57]
Sharapova would quickly be confirmed for her first tournament of the year, the ASB Classic inAuckland, New Zealand, held from January 4 to 9.[58] She was also announced to be leading theRussia Fed Cup team against France in February, in their first-round tie.[59]
In her first ever official Australian Open warm-up tournament at the ASB Classic in Auckland, she was the top seed. Sharapova beat Alberta Brianti and Renata Voráčová in straight-set matches, before being defeated by the Hungarian veteran Gréta Arn, who went on to take the title.
After the ASB Classic Sharapova decided to take a hiatus from Joyce's coaching, despite having worked together for a number of years including during her successful years where she became a multiple grand slam champion.[60]
Sharapova participated in the first grand slam of the season at the Australian Open, where she was the 14th seeded player. She made it into the second round after beating former doubles partner, Tamarine Tanasugarn 6–1, 6–3 on Rod Laver Arena. Sharapova then defeated Virginie Razzano in round two 7–6, (7–3), 6–3 on Hisense Arena. In the third round she faced Julia Görges of Germany; after an episode in which officials dealt with and resolved an under-court air bubble which kept the ball from bouncing at a certain spot on the court, Sharapova advanced to the fourth round.[61] In the fourth round, she displayed her on-going inconsistency, hitting many unforced errors and double faults, and was defeated by Andrea Petkovic 2–6, 3–6.
After a Fed Cup tie against France, which she lost to Virginie Razzano, Sharapova withdrew from theOpen GDF Suez in Paris.[62] She also had to pull out of Dubai due to an ear infection.
Sharapova returned to the tour in March by taking part in the first premier mandatory tournament of the year, the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, where she was seeded 16th. After a first round bye she defeatedAnabel Medina Garrigues, 7–5, 6–7(3), 6–1, 20th seed Aravane Rezai 6–2, 6–2, former World No. 1Dinara Safina, 6–2, 6–0 and Shuai Peng, 6–2, 5–7, 6–3 to reach the semi-finals where she lost to World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 1–6, 2–6.
Sharapova's next tournament would be at the second premier mandatory tournament, the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Miami. As she was the 16th seed, she received a bye to the second round where she dismissed Petra Martic 6–3, 6–2 in a little over an hour. In the third round, she won convincingly against Sabine Lisicki 6–2, 6–0 in a 58 minute match where she won 10 consecutive games to advance to the fourth round. She froutined World No. 4 Samantha Stosur, 6–4, 6–1 and improving her lopsided head-to-head to 7-0. This victory marks her first top 5 win since defeating Ana Ivanovic at the 2008 Australian Open championship match. In the quarter-finals, she defeated 26th seed Alexandra Dulgheru in an epic three hour match prevailing, 3–6, 7–6(6), 7–6(5). By reaching the semi-finals, she has guaranteed her return to the top 10 for the first time since February 1st, 2009.
Sharapova's following tournament will be at the 2011 Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina to mark the beginning of her clay season campaign.
Galaxy Tabs introduce "device level encryption" to Android devices
Android Phone Tips
Android Phone Tips
Immediately after the keynote, Samsung held a press event titled “What’s Your Tab Life?”. Samsung had already announced its 10.1-inch tablet at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February and on Tuesday announced its refinement. Thinner, lighter, sleeker. Android 3.0Honeycomb front and back cameras. The new product was the third entry in Samsung’s
Android Phone Tips
Immediately after the keynote, Samsung held a press event titled “What’s Your Tab Life?”. Samsung had already announced its 10.1-inch tablet at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February and on Tuesday announced its refinement. Thinner, lighter, sleeker. Android 3.0Honeycomb front and back cameras. The new product was the third entry in Samsung’s
Android App Store coming to Nook Color in April
Android Phone Tips
Android Phone Tips
Not to be left behind by Amazon’s recent Android Appstore opening, Barnes and Noble (BN) announced that they will have an Android Apps store opening in April for their Nook ColoreReader. Many current Nook Color owners did not wait for this promise to come to fruition, and “rooted” their Nook Color eReaders in custom-made firmware that allowed them full
Android Phone Tips
Not to be left behind by Amazon’s recent Android Appstore opening, Barnes and Noble (BN) announced that they will have an Android Apps store opening in April for their Nook ColoreReader. Many current Nook Color owners did not wait for this promise to come to fruition, and “rooted” their Nook Color eReaders in custom-made firmware that allowed them full
Michael Jeffrey Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a former American professional basketball player, active businessman, and majority owner of theCharlotte Bobcats. His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."[1] Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
After a standout career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Tar Heels' National Championship team in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in slam dunk contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball.[2] In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and1993, securing a "three-peat". Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career inbaseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances, three All-Star Game MVP awards, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruthon the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 6, 2009 and was inducted on September 11, 2009.[3]
Jordan is also noted for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordansneakers, which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today.[4] Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam as himself. He is the majority owner and head of basketball operations for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats; he recently won a bidding war to buy controlling interest in the team from founding owner Robert L. Johnson.