NBA Steve Nash Photos, Bio 'n' News

Suns Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal and coach Terry Porter

Steve Nash NBA

Steve Nash Pictures

Steve Nash with his wife Alejandra Amarilla

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Steve Nash Biography
Stephen John Nash (born February 7, 1974) is a Canadian basketball player.

Nash is a starting point guard for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He was an NBA All-Star in 2002 and 2003.

Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. He played college basketball for Santa Clara University. He plays for the Canada national team in the summer, where he wears the number 7.

In an interview with Steve Nash, he said his favorite book is, "The Catcher In The Rye". He also mentioned that he is extremely fond of Mahatma Gandhi, because he is constantly searching for truth.

Could 2005 be the year that the Phoenix Suns finally win the NBA Championship? Back in 1993 the Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson, and Dan Majerle led Suns had a great shot at the title but were stopped short by the phenomenon known as Michael Jordan and his team, the Chicago Bulls. In fact, lots of franchises had their best shot at winning during that Bulls dynasty, yet fell short due to the unparalleled, unstoppable Windy City juggernaut of the early 90s.

Now, in an era where more than just a mere handful of highly talented superstars are almost equally distributed throughout the league, it's anybody's game. One such superstar, Steve Nash, using his talent, unique style of play, and strong leadership abilities, has led Phoenix to the best record in the NBA at 62-20. The mark also ties the team record for wins, set by that very 1993 team.

Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Feb. 7, 1974, and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He attended Santa Clara University, where he played college hoops and was twice named West Coast Conference Player of the Year. In 1996 he was drafted by the Suns as the 15th pick overall but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks two years later. While in Dallas, Nash and teammate Dirk Nowitzki led the team in becoming one of the NBA's elite. But in July 2004, Nash re-signed with the Suns, landing a $65 million contract over five years (with an option for a sixth).

Nash has excelled with the Suns. The 6'3" point guard has the keen ability to drive inside to the basket, creating plays on the fly, and is a master of the fast break. His ability to quickly dish the ball to teammates led him to a career high average of 11.5 assists per game and is superb from behind the three point line. He is virtually flawless at the free-throw line, and his animated on-court leadership has him in a position to vie with Shaquille O'Neal for the 2004-05 MVP. Nash's abilities aren't limited to basketball. He has also excelled in lacrosse, hockey and soccer, the latter of which he is a big fan; and his father and brother have both played professional soccer in England. He is also very charitable. Nash sponsors a youth basketball league with over 10,000 members in his native British Columbia, purchases blocks of tickets to each game he plays and distributes them to local charities, and has donated $10,000 to sponsor the YMCA's basketball court renovation.

A strong season put the Suns in the 2004-05 playoffs, and Phoenix fans hope that Nash, along with superstar teammates Shawn Marion, Quentin Richardson, and Amare Stoudemire, can finally bring home the title.

Recently, Nash's long-time girlfriend Alejandra Amarilla gave birth to twin girls, Lola and Bella.Could 2005 be the year that the Phoenix Suns finally win the NBA Championship? Back in 1993 the Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson, and Dan Majerle led Suns had a great shot at the title but were stopped short by the phenomenon known as Michael Jordan and his team, the Chicago Bulls. In fact, lots of franchises had their best shot at winning during that Bulls dynasty, yet fell short due to the unparalleled, unstoppable Windy City juggernaut of the early 90s.

Now, in an era where more than just a mere handful of highly talented superstars are almost equally distributed throughout the league, it's anybody's game. One such superstar, Steve Nash, using his talent, unique style of play, and strong leadership abilities, has led Phoenix to the best record in the NBA at 62-20. The mark also ties the team record for wins, set by that very 1993 team.

Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Feb. 7, 1974, and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He attended Santa Clara University, where he played college hoops and was twice named West Coast Conference Player of the Year. In 1996 he was drafted by the Suns as the 15th pick overall but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks two years later. While in Dallas, Nash and teammate Dirk Nowitzki led the team in becoming one of the NBA's elite. But in July 2004, Nash re-signed with the Suns, landing a $65 million contract over five years (with an option for a sixth).

Nash has excelled with the Suns. The 6'3" point guard has the keen ability to drive inside to the basket, creating plays on the fly, and is a master of the fast break. His ability to quickly dish the ball to teammates led him to a career high average of 11.5 assists per game and is superb from behind the three point line. He is virtually flawless at the free-throw line, and his animated on-court leadership has him in a position to vie with Shaquille O'Neal for the 2004-05 MVP. Nash's abilities aren't limited to basketball. He has also excelled in lacrosse, hockey and soccer, the latter of which he is a big fan; and his father and brother have both played professional soccer in England. He is also very charitable. Nash sponsors a youth basketball league with over 10,000 members in his native British Columbia, purchases blocks of tickets to each game he plays and distributes them to local charities, and has donated $10,000 to sponsor the YMCA's basketball court renovation.

A strong season put the Suns in the 2004-05 playoffs, and Phoenix fans hope that Nash, along with superstar teammates Shawn Marion, Quentin Richardson, and Amare Stoudemire, can finally bring home the title.

Recently, Nash's long-time girlfriend Alejandra Amarilla gave birth to twin girls, Lola and Bella.

Tim Duncan Biography, Profile, Pictures, Photos

Bulls-Spurs: Duncan Dominates Bulls in San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan is dunking

Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Tracy McGrady shooting an Adidas advertistment

Tim Duncan wallpapers 1200 x 900

Tim Duncan Photo

Tim Duncan Biography

Name : Tim Duncan
Birth date : April 25, 1976
Birth place : St. Croix
Full Name : Timothy Theodore Duncan
College : Wake Forest
Height : 7' 0
Weight : 260 lbs
Position : Center/Forward

Tim Duncan Trivia

* 2003 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team, All-NBA First Team 2003, NBA Finals MVP 2003.
* Two-time Most Valuable Player (2001-02 and 2002-03)
* Named the NBA Finals MVP in both 1999 and 2003 to become just the third player in history to earn Finals MVP honors in each of their first two trips to the Finals (joining Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan)
* Just the second player in NBA history to be named to both an All-NBA Team and an All-Defensive Team in each of his first six seasons (David Robinson was the first and he earned the honors in each of his first seven seasons)
* Has been named to the All-NBA First Team all six seasons, the first player since Larry Bird (fifth in NBA history: Baylor, Bird, Duncan, Pettit and Robertson) to be named All-NBA First Team in each of his first six seasons
* Has earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team each of the last five seasons after being named to the All-Defensive Second Team as a rookie in '97-98
* Named the 1999 Finals MVP
* Won the 1998 Rookie of the Year
* Named co-MVP of the 2000 All-Star Game
* Been named an All-Star five straight seasons (no game was held in 1999)
* Ranks seventh among active players in playoff career scoring average with 23.9 ppg
* Played for the USA Team in the 1999 Americas Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was selected to play for the U.S. Team in the 2000 Olympics but had to withdraw due to a knee injury.
* Been named the NBA Player of the Week 15 times and the Player of the Month four times
* Leads all players in the NBA in double-doubles over the last six seasons
* Named to the All Tournament Team for the 2003 FIBA Americas Mens Qualifying Tournament after leading the U.S. Team to the Gold Medal

Timothy Theodore Duncan was born on the island of St. Croix. His parents William and Ione also had two daughters, Cheryl and Tricia. Tim�s childhood dream was to become a swimmer like his older sister Tricia who swam in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, however after hurricane Hugo destroyed all of the pools on St. Croix in 1989 Tim shifted his focus to basketball. In 1992 Chris King, a recent NBA draftee and former Wake Forrest student saw Duncan playing at St. Dunstan�s Episcopal High School while visiting St. Croix to promote the NBA in the Caribbean. King convinced Wake Forest coach Dave Odom to recruit Duncan. While at Wake Forest, Tim was named the NCAA National Player of the Year by the Associated Press, he could have left Wake Forest after his junior year to become the number one pick in the NBA draft, but decided instead to complete his degree in psychology, fulfilling a promise he and his sisters made to their mom before she succumbed to Breast Cancer; to earn a college degree (all three have graduated). The San Antonio Spurs chose Tim as the first pick in the 1997 NBA draft. By season end Tim was voted as Rookie of the Year and was the only rookie selected for the 1998 All-Star game. A NBA championship would follow in his 2nd season (1999). A knee injury crushed Hopes of a repeat. Duncan has been a member of three USA Basketball teams. He works with various charities including Children�s Bereavement Center of San Antonio, working with children who lost a parent at an early age. He also provides 25 tickets to each home game in a section cleverly titled �Timbuktu.� to children who would be otherwise unable to attend a game. In St. Croix, Tim is devoted to bringing sports and business opportunities to the island. Duncan continues to play in the number 21 jersey as a power forward for the San Antonio Spurs while endorsing high-profile products such as Nike.

Tracy McGrady Bio, Photos, Pictures

Tracy McGrady Bio

basket top players Tracy McGrady And Yao Ming Photo

Tracy McGrady Picture

Tracy McGrady #1 of the Houston Rockets makes a shot over Josh Childress #1 of the Atlanta Hawks

Tracy McGrady NBA high defination wallpapers

Tracy McGrady

Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr. (born May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Florida), commonly nicknamed T-Mac, is an American professional basketball player currently positioned at starting shooting guard for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He can also play as a small forward.
Entering the league straight from high school (Mount Zion Christian Academy), McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He is also a two time NBA Scoring Champion, winning the scoring titles in 2003 and 2004. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic before being traded to the Rockets in 2004. McGrady was ranked #75 on SLAM magazine's Top 75 NBA Players Of All Time in 2003. McGrady has never advanced to the second round of playoffs in his entire ten year-career despite his six trips to the playoffs: one with the Toronto Raptors, three with the Orlando Magic and two with the Houston Rockets. McGrady's style has been compared to that of George Gervin.
---------- Early Career ---------
McGrady (6 ft 8 in - 2.04 m), who plays either shooting guard or small forward, is one of the first players that went from high school (Mt. Zion Christian Academy) straight to the NBA without attending college. He created national buzz after his performance in Adidas ABCD Camp, which is for the best high school players in the nation. He was drafted ninth in the first round of the 1997 draft by the Toronto Raptors. Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause had arranged a draft-day trade to send Scottie Pippen to Vancouver for the 4th overall pick, which he would have used to take McGrady. But, Krause was forced to call off the deal when Michael Jordan threatened to retire if it was made.
McGrady had a decent start with the Raptors, getting better numbers in all categories every year. The cousin and teammate of Vince Carter, McGrady often found himself in the shadow of his cousin, whose dunks made him an instant star. McGrady even assisted Carter in the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest, an event in which McGrady also was competing in. While Carter was responsible for scoring, it was McGrady's job to be the team's defensive stopper and ball distributer. GM's recognized that McGrady was very versatile, and that he would demand great attention during the offseason. The young duo of Carter and McGrady led the Raptors to their first playoff berth in the 2000 Playoffs, where they were swept by the New York Knicks in 4 games.
---------- NBA Career - Orlando Magic ---------
McGrady's career took off when he forced a sign-and-trade to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a first round draft pick in 2000. In the 2000-2001 season, he won the Most Improved Player Award and was selected a starter in the All Star game. He and Grant Hill both were supposed to be valuable players for Orlando, but because of a long series of injuries to Hill, McGrady became the top player for the Magic. In the 2002-2003 season, McGrady captured the NBA scoring title, averaging 32.1 points per game. In the 2003-2004 season, he once again captured the NBA scoring title, averaging 28 points per game. and set an NBA season high when he dropped 62 against the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2004. With this performance, he became only the 4th player in the past 12 years to score over 60 points in a game.
However, fortunes turned for the worse in Orlando after a league-worst 21 win season. Amid allegations of slacking off during games (he later admitted to not giving 100% every game that season), the relationship between McGrady and Magic General Manager John Weisbrod worsened. Soon, Weisbrod decided to trade the unhappy McGrady instead of keeping him for another year and risk him leaving the Magic without compensation.
---------- NBA Career - Houston Rockets ---------
On June 29, 2004, McGrady, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines were traded to the Houston Rockets in a seven-player deal that sent Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato to the Magic. In his first year in Houston, McGrady teamed with 7'6" center Yao Ming, to end the season ranked 5th in the Western Conference. The season started slowly for the Rockets, but by mid-season, coach Jeff Van Gundy altered McGrady's role and made him the primary offensive option over center Yao Ming[citation needed]. On December 9, 2004, he scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds of a game against the San Antonio Spurs, with four consecutive 3 pointers (one of which was part of a four-point play), including a steal and the game-winning 3 pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the game. This helped the Rockets win 81–80.
Despite McGrady's play in the 1st round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Houston was eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in game seven by 40 points.
In the early 2005–06 season, McGrady missed eight games because of multiple back spasms. His back problems resurfaced on January 8, 2006 when he had to be taken out at halftime in a game against the Denver Nuggets on a stretcher to hospital because of severe back spasms. He had been out for five games. Since his return, the spasms have still been a problem for McGrady. In the 2005–06 season the Rockets were 2–15 in games he did not play in and 2–16 in games McGrady did not finish. While McGrady was injured for five games with his back injury, the Rockets did not win a single game. Other injuries include him falling on his tailbone in a game against the Indiana Pacers.
In the 2006–07 NBA season, McGrady started out slowly, and after missing 7 games with back spasms he visited a doctor. In an interview with TNT, McGrady said that he thought that his body was slowing down. He believed that he could no longer be as explosive as he was in the past due to his back injury. Since Yao Ming was having another breakout season, he was deferring to Yao as the number one option. However, since Yao went down with a leg injury, McGrady stepped up his overall play, re-establishing himself as one of the game's premier players and by doing so has led Houston to the 5th best record in the league. Despite his recent shooting slump, he continues to find his teammates for the assist.
He averaged a career high in assists per game. However, in the playoffs, the Rockets lost their first round series to the Utah Jazz 4-3, again preventing McGrady from advancing to the second round of the playoffs. A tear fell down his cheek during the press-conference after losing game seven 99-103 to the Utah Jazz in the 2007 Playoffs. Prior to the series with the Jazz, McGrady had stated in an interview with Stephen A. Smith that if he and the Rockets failed to make it out of the first round again, it was "on me." McGrady is currently under a contract which will end following the 2009-10 NBA season, and the contract is worth an estimated 21.1 million U.S. dollars per year.

Lebron James Bio, Pictures, Wallpapers

Lebron James photo

Lebron James Wallpaper

LeBron James - KING red picture

Basketball superstar LeBron James

Lebron James Covers Vogue Magazine with Gisele Bunchen (Tom Brady’s girlfriend)

Lebron James Bio
born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. Lebron’s mother Gloria was sixteen years old at the time and his father Anthony McClelland was an ex-con who deserted the young woman and the child. Gloria single handedly raised Lebron James. Things got more complicated because of Gloria’s boyfriends. One of them called Eddie Jackson who went on to play a pivotal part in the career of Lebron was also an ex-con. But his presence ensured that young Lebron James would not feel the absence of a father.

Lebron James was a natural athlete and took part in football and basketball. It was during his years in school that the most important man came into his life. Frankie Walker was the basketball coach in school. He not only coached Lebron James but also invited him to stay with his family. He wanted to give Lebron James a chance to live a normal life without the specter of violence and drugs hanging over his head. He taught the young Lebron how to shoot with his left hand. By the eighth grade he was six feet tall, could play all five positions and had a sixth sense for the game.

It was time for Lebron James to show off his skills on court. He went to the USA Basketball Development Festival. He was the first underclassman ever invited to the camp. Lebron James’s performance justified the invitation; he broke the festival scoring record. News of his talent began to spread far and wide. While he was a sophomore in high school he led the team to two consecutive championships. After his junior year, Lebron James was offered a nine million dollar contract to play basketball in Italy. Michael Jordan invited him for a workout at his private court with Antoine Walker, Michael Finley, Juwan Howard and Penny Hardaway. Lebron ended forming an enduring bond with Antoine Walker. He had already begun to make covers of basketball magazines. It was only NBA rules that stopped him from joining the 2002 draft.

Lebron James had become one of the best all round basketball players the world had ever seen. He is one of the best passers in the history of the game. Lebron James seems to have the ability to carry a blueprint of the court in his head, his speed and strength are above average. The only weak link in his game is the outside jumper but a couple of years in the NBA and that too will be taken care off.

When the nation is in such a frenzy over an individual, it is not possible that the corporates would be far behind. Nike and Adidas were in a battle royal to sign up Lebron James. Adidas even deployed Kobe Bryant to ensnare Lebron. He was eventually signed up by Nike for close to U.S. $90 million. All this before Lebron joined the NBA. Lebron James was the obvious first pick during the draft, he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers who dealt Andre Mills in the process. In order to test the hype surrounding him, Cavaliers coach broke NBA rules and invited Lebron James to practice with the team before the NBA draft. Lebron James wowed all his future teammates with his dunks over the heads of seasoned pros such as Jumaine Jones and Chris Mihm. His passes were better than anyone on the regular Cleveland Cavaliers team.

The 6’8 Lebron James plays as a guard on the team. He was selected in the U.S.A. basketball team that eventually won the bronze medal. Lebron James was the youngest male basketball player to play for U.S.A. He won all the Rookie of the month awards in the Eastern Conference. Lebron James is the youngest player in NBA history to capture Rookie of the Year honors. He was embroiled in little bit of controversy when his mother bought him a fully loaded Hummer with a bank loan. He also got into trouble for accepting free basketball jersey’s at a sports shop. Lebron James wears the same number as his idol Michael Jordan – 23. he recently became a father when his girlfriend delivered a baby boy. Lebron has his mom's name, Gloria, tattooed on his biceps. His mom wears a school basketball jersey to games with the words, "Lebron's Mom" on the back.

Los Angeles Lakers Basketball star Kobe Bryant Photos, Wallpapers, Biography

Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant

kobe bryant shoes commercial wallpaper

Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers photo

Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant
Vanessa Bryant. She is the wife of basketball player Kobe Bryant who has been notorious because of sexual assault charges filed against him. He was already married at the time of those allegations but his wife has stuck with him and apparently the couple is going strong.

Basketball star Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Biography ...

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents, Joe and Pam, already had two girls, Sharia and Shaya. Kobe was their third and final child. Life in the Bryant family was not your normal everyday existence. Joe, a playground legend from Philly’s John Bartram High School, was in the midst of a scattershot pro basketball career that took him to three different countries. After three stellar years at La Salle University, he was drafted in 1975 by the Golden State Warriors.

“Jellybean Joe,” a 6-9 forward with the skills of a point guard, never really found his place in the NBA. After the Warriors refused his contract demands, he was dealt to Philadelphia. From there, he bounced from one team to another, appearing in a total of 606 games for the 76ers, Clippers and Rockets and averaging 8.7 points along the way. He also played professionally in Europe.

Kobe grew up eating, sleeping and breathing basketball. A yearafter he was born, Joe was traded to the San Diego Clippers. The Bryants loved being in sunny Southern California. Their neighbors were friendly, and rain rarely forced the kids inside. Kobe developed an intense love of hoops on the West Coast. By his third birthday he was already telling people be would be an NBA star.

In November 1999, 21 year old Kobe met 17 year old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on the Tha Eastsidaz/ Snoop Dogg music video " G'd Up " (In the video Vanessa is in the convertible in a silver bikini). Kobe was in the building working on his debut musical album, which was never released.

The two began dating and were engaged just six months later in May 2000, all while Laine was still a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. Due to the media, she finished high school through independent study.

They married on April 18th,2001 in Dana Point, California. There were only about 12 guests at the wedding. Neither Kobe's parents, nor his two sisters, nor longtime advisor and agent Arn Tellem, nor Kobe's teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Kobe's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who wasn't African-American. This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, during which Kobe Bryant did not have any contact with his parents. Finally in Spring 2003 after Kobe's 1st daughter Natalie was born, Kobe and his parents reconciled.

According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement. Vanessa said Kobe "loved her too much for one".

The Bryants' first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on Sunday January 19th,2003. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents: Kobe/Vanessa & Joe/Pam were once again on good terms. Vanessa Bryant suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy in the Spring 2005; and later in Fall 2005 the Bryants announced that they were expecting their second child. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, was born on Monday May 1st,2006. Interestingly, Gianna was born 6 minutes ahead of of former teammate and rival Shaquille O'Neal's daughter Me'arah Sanaa, who was born in Florida.

In the summer of 1982 the Bryants packed their bags for Houston, after Joe was dealt to the Rockets. Kobe, who was gaining a better understanding of what his dad did for a living, started following the NBA seriously. His favorite player was Magic Johnson, a point guard in a power forward’s body—not unlike Kobe’s dad. The youngster responded to Magic’s flashy style and winning ways, and adopted the Lakers as his favorite pro team.

Kobe sizzled during the 1994-95 season. The junior averaged 31.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists and was named Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Kobe also unveiled his devastating cross-over dribble during the campaign. He learned the move from God Shammgod, a teammate on his summer AAU squad.

After Kobe’s breakout year, college recruiters from across the country came knocking. The soon-to-be senior boasted excellent grades and SAT scores, so academics would not be an obstacle. At the top of his list were Duke, North Carolina, Villanova and Michigan. But when Chicago schoolboy Kevin Garnett went in the first round of the NBA Draft in June of 1995, Kobe began seriously considering going directly to the pros. That summer, Joe arranged for his son to work out with members of the 76ers, and Kobe was awesome. He also made a big impression on scouts at the ABCD All-America camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

As a senior, Kobe’s sparkling play put Lower Merion on the high-school basketball map. The Aces posted a 32-3 record and captured their first state title in 42 years. The school’s name was in the newspapers constantly, college coaches filled the stands for every game, and coach Downer received invitations to several prestigious tournaments. Kobe finished the year with a scoring average of 30.8 points, pushing his four-year points total to 2,883, which shattered the Pennsylvania record set four decades earlier by Wilt Chamberlain.

The fun really began when the season ended. When an Italian League team approached Joe about becoming its coach, management insisted that his son be part of the deal. Meanwhile, with several other top high school seniors—including Tim Thomas of New Jersey, Lester Earl of Louisiana, and Jermaine O’Neal of South Carolina—thinking about going to the NBA, Kobe did nothing to squelch rumors that he would do the same. The 17-year-old added fuel to the fire when he wowed the scouts at the 1996 Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina

Kobe Bryant's career highlights

A member of the 2002 Laker championship team averaging 26.6 ppg and 5.8 apg and in four games in the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets

Selected to the 2001-2002 All-NBA First Team after averaging 25.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 5.5 apg

Selected to the 2001-2002 All-Defensive Second Team

Was named MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game after tallying 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists

Western Conference starter in his fourth straight All-Star Game

A member of the 2001 Laker championship team averaging 24.6 ppg and 5.8 apg in five games in the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers

Selected to the 2001-2002 All-NBA Second Team

A member of the 2000 Laker championship team averaging 15.6 ppg and 4.6 apg in five games in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers

Selected to the 1999-2000 All-NBA Second Team

Ranked 12th in the NBA in points per game (22.5) and 16th in the NBA in minutes per game (38.2)

Selected to the 1999-2000 NBA All-Defensive First Team and named to the 1999-2000 NBA All-Interview Second Team

Named the NBA Player of the Week for the week ending 4/16/00, averaging 29.7 points, 7.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds

Hit the game-winning bucket with 2.6 seconds remaining, lifting the Lakers to a 97-96 win over Phoenix on 5/10/00 in game 2 of the series

Posted a career-high 40 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 8 assists against the Sacramento Kings on 3/12/00

Netted 15 points as a starter in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game

Named to the 1998-99 All-NBA Third Team after leading the Lakers in steals (1.44 spg) and ranking 2nd on the team in scoring (19.9 ppg, 15th in the NBA) and free-throw percentage (.839, 20th)

Logged 9 double-doubles and led the Lakers in scoring in 11 games in 1999

Scored 33 of his career-high 38 points (15-24 FG) in the 2nd half, adding 4 assists and 3 rebounds, in a 113-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on 3/21/99

Posted 26 points and career-highs of 13 rebounds and 9 assists against the Denver Nuggets on 2/22/99

Totaled 17 points and 4 rebounds, in his only start of the 1997-98 season, against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/10/98

Became the youngest All-Star in NBA history, posting a team-high 18 points and 6 rebounds, in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York

Teamed with Lisa Leslie of the WNBA's L.A. Sparks in the inaugural Nestle Crunch All-Star 2ball during All-Star Saturday

Scored a career-high 33 points, hitting 3-of-5 three-pointers, and grabbed 3 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls on 12/17/97

Has appeared in 20 career NBA Playoff games, averaging 8.5 ppg in 17.7 mpg

Named to the 1996-97 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, averaging 7.6 ppg and 15.5 mpg in 71 games

Won the Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland and participated in the Schick Rookie Game, posting a rookie game-record 31 points and 8 rebounds

Made his first career start, scoring 12 points, against the Dallas Mavericks on 1/28/97

Made his NBA debut at the age of 18 years, 2 months and 11 days old, became the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game, against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 11/3/96

Selected by USA Today and Parade Magazine as the National High School Player of the Year as a senior at Lower Merion H.S.

Michael Ballack Biography, Bio, Profile, pictures, photos

germany football captain Michael Ballack

soccer Michael Ballack wallpaper

Michael Ballack Resimleri

Michael Ballack Pictures

Michael Ballack celebrates his double
Michael Ballack celebrates after scoring his second goal for Chelsea against Manchester United in their English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on April 26, 2008.

Michael Ballack Bio

Michael Ballack is a very smart midfielder too important for every coach he's ever had. Excellent touch on the ball. Criticized for being 'lazy' on the pitch, Michael proved that his seemingly slow gait in midfield was merely a case of the lion waiting to pounce. Owner of powerful shots from outside the area. Instrumental to both club and country, manager Rudi Völler will be counting on the attacking midfielder to set the tone for his side at FIFA World Cup in 2006.

Born in East Germany, Micheal Ballack broke into the Bundesliga at age 20 with Kaiserslautern. Clashes with then coach Otto Rehhagel prompted a 1999 transfer to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Ballack flourished under successive Leverkusen coaches Christoph Daum and Klaus Toppmoeller. The 2001/2002 season saw Ballack at his best as he took his side to the Champions League finals before losing out to Real Madrid. With Leverkusen finishing second in the Bundesliga, Ballack's 17 club goals earned him the German Player of the Year title. His first season with FC Bayern München was a success as the squad took the league title and Ballack once again won German Player of the Year.

At 27 Ballack is already a veteran on the international stage. Finishing second behind England in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifications, Ballack's three goals over two legs against the Ukraine were the saving grace for Germany. Ballack continued his quality play in Japan / South Korea, scoring three goals including the crucial semi-final strike against South Korea. His leadership and four goals carried Germany through the 2004 Eurocup qualifications, with his side finishing first in their group.

Diego Maradona New Argentina Coach Photo Gallery Bio

Diego Maradona New Argentina Coach

maradona-castro

Maradona Signed & Framed Argentina Jersey

Diego Maradona gifts autographed T-shirt to Iran

Legendary Argentinean soccer player Diego Maradona bestowed an autographed T-shirt to Iran as a sign of his affection for that country.

In a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Argentina, Mohsen Baharavand, Maradona presented the T-shirt that read ""With all my affection to Iranian people".

Maradona soccer player and Argentina new coach
Former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona controls the ball before a friendly soccer match called 'La Noche del Diego', at the National stadium in Lima

Footballer, born in Lanus, Argentina. Diego Armando Maradona became Argentina's youngest ever international in 1977, transferred to Boca Juniors for ₤1 million as a teenager, and in 1982 became the world's most expensive footballer when he joined Barcelona for 5 million. He broke the record again in 1984 when the Italian club Napoli paid ₤6-9 million for him. He captained Argentina to their second FIFA World Cup win in 1986, having eliminated England in the quarter-finals when he scored a highly controversial goal. At the height of success, his career then foundered amid accusations of drug-taking. Following a 15-month ban, he returned by popular demand, though without a club, to the World Cup side as captain in 1994, but was again suspended from the team following a positive drug test. He signed for Santos in 1995 and announced his retirement in 1997. In 2000, he developed a severe heart condition following cocaine use, subsequently moving to Cuba for two years treatment for drug abuse. In 2003, he was reunited with the son he had previously refused to recognize as his own. His health improved by 2005 when he began a new career as a television chat-show host. Most guests were drawn from the worlds of football and show business, including Zidane and Ronaldo, but also included interviews with other notable personalities such as Fidel Castro and Mike Tyson.

According to reports out of Argentina, the 'Hand of God' maestro is set to be unveiled as the new new coach of the Argentina national football team.

The news follows a meeting between Maradona and the Argentina Football Association (AFA) president, Julio Grondona, this evening in Buenos Aires.
The former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona star is now 47 years old and despite being on his death bed a few years ago, has made a quick recovery to re-appear on the national and international stage.

Sergio Batista, coach of the Argentina under-20 side, was believed to be in the frame for the position as well, but Maradona's iconic status - many believe he is the greatest footballer to grace the game - looks to have been the deciding factor in swaying the AFA's decision.

The appointment would be deemed risky given Maradona's numerous personal problems and limited experience as a coach in just two brief stints at Argentine club sides Racing Club de Avellaneda and Mandiyú de Corrientes.

MY POV: Risky? RISKY?!? Is there a strong enough word to describe the risk attributed to handing the reigns of one of the world's greatest teams to one of its most unstable icons?

While it's true that Maradona graced the footballing stage with his presence, the rampant excesses of his life tell the story of an undisciplined, immature man.

Hopefully 'El Pibe' has cleaned up his life enough to lead Argentina to the World Cup.

One thing is certain: The Argentine national team just got a whole lot more interesting!!

Jelena Jankovic - Tennis News, Bio, Quotes, Pictures

Jelena Jankovic in indian traditional saree

Jelena Jankovic hot photo gallery

Jelena Jankovic Serbian tennis player

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pictures of Jelena Jankovic
Jelena Jankovic - Bio

Jelena Janković (Serbian: Јелена Јанковић, pronounced [ˈjɛlɛna 'jaːnkɔviʨ]; born February 28, 1985) is a Serbian professional female tennis player. She is the World No. 1 player as of October 6, 2008 with a total of six weeks at the position (November 3, 2008), and was be the year-end No. 1 in 2008. Jankovic is the only No. 1 tennis player who has not yet won a singles Grand Slam title. Janković has reached the singles final of the US Open and the singles semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open. In 2007, she won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with British partner Jamie Murray.

Janković learned her first tennis skills in Tennis Club 'Red Star'. As a nine-and-a-half year old she was introduced to tennis by her elder brother and fitness coach Marko. She was later trained at the Tennis Academy of Nick Bollettieri. As a junior she won the 2001 Australian Open. In 2001, she started to play on the WTA Tour; she reached the second round at her first tournament at the Indian Wells Masters.

In October 2003, Janković entered the top 100 at No. 90 for the first time after winning her first ITF title in Dubai. Three months later, Janković garnered her first top 10 win against Elena Dementieva 6–1, 6–4 in the first round of the 2004 Australian Open. In May, Janković won her first WTA title, a Tier V event, in Budapest, defeating Martina Suchá in the final 7–6, 6–3. Following her win in Budapest, she reached No. 51 in the world. Elsewhere in her 2004 season, she defeated top 20 players Nadia Petrova (twice), Vera Zvonareva, Patty Schnyder and Paola Suárez. Janković finished 2004 ranked No. 28 in the world.

2008
Instead of defending her title in Auckland, Janković joined Novak Djokovic in playing for Serbia in the Hopman Cup, an exhibition team event sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation. In the final, Janković and Djokovic lost to the American team of Serena Williams and Mardy Fish, with Janković unable to play her singles rubber because of injury. In her final preparation event for the Australian Open, the Medibank International in Sydney, Janković lost in the quarterfinals to Nicole Vaidišová. Her first match at the Australian Open was against Tamira Paszek, which Janković won in three sets in over three hours. Both players needed medical attention during the final set.Janković then reached the quarterfinals for the first time, defeating defending champion Serena Williams reaching her third career Grand Slam singles semifinal where she lost to Maria Sharapova 6–3, 6–1.

Janković then played two tournaments in the Middle East. At the Tier I Qatar Total Open in Doha, Janković lost in the quarterfinals to Li Na 6–3, 6–4. The next week at the Tier II Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, Janković lost in the semifinals to Svetlana Kuznetsova 5–7, 6–4, 6–3. Janković played one more Asian event, the Tier II Canara Bank Bangalore Open in India. Although she was the top seeded player, she lost in the quarterfinals to Yan Zi of China 6–3, 3–6, 6–3. At the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, Janković was the third seed and defeated 24th-seeded Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals when Davenport retired from the match with a shoulder and back injury after losing the first set. Janković then lost to fellow Serb Ana Ivanović in the semifinals 7–6(3), 6–3. The following fortnight, Janković was the runner-up at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, losing to Serena Williams 6–1, 5–7, 6–3 after Williams was unable to convert on seven match points in the third set

Janković lost in the quarterfinals of her next two Tier I tournaments, the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina (where she was defending champion) and the Qatar Telecom German Open in Berlin. Janković then successfully defended her Tier I Internazionali BNL d'Italia title in Rome. She defeated Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, advanced by walkover against Sharapova in the semifinals, and defeated French teenager Alizé Cornet in the final. This was Janković's first singles title of the year. At the French Open in Paris, Janković lost in three sets to Ivanović. Janković failed to sustain leads of 3–0 in the first set and 3–1 in the third set, although she did win the second set after trailing 3–1. Janković committed 51 unforced errors compared to 28 winners during the match.

On grass, Janković withdrew from the DFS Classic in Birmingham, United Kingdom because of an arm injury sustained during the French Open. Nevertheless, she replaced Sharapova as World No. 2 following the tournament. At Wimbledon, Janković was the second seeded player and defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the third round despite injuring her left knee.[9] Because of early round losses by other highly ranked players, Janković only needed to reach the semifinals to replace Ivanović as World No. 1. However, she lost to Tamarine Tanasugarn in the fourth round 6–3, 6–2. Janković lost her third opportunity to grasp the World No. 1 ranking at the East West Bank Classic in Los Angeles when she lost to Dinara Safina in the semifinals 7–6(3), 6–1.

At the Tier I Rogers Cup in Montreal, Janković had a fourth chance to claim the World No. 1 ranking. Because Ivanović had lost in the third round, Janković only needed to reach the final to replace Ivanović as the top ranked player. However, Janković lost in the quarterfinals to Dominika Cibulková 7–5, 6–2 after Janković had led 4–0 in the first set. After the match, Janković said, "At the moment I don't deserve the top spot. I am not in the best shape, I am not at my highest level". Despite the loss, Janković moved up to World No. 1 on August 11, 2008.
She is the 18th woman to have been ranked World No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association. She is the first woman to have attained that ranking without ever having reached a Grand Slam final and only the third woman (the others being Amélie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters) to have become World No. 1 without first winning a Grand Slam title. Serbia is only the third nation (the others being Belgium and the United States) to have had consecutive World No. 1 female players.[citation needed] Janković then lost her World No. 1 ranking on August 18, 2008, to Ivanović.

At the Beijing Olympics, Janković was seeded second and played the tournament with a sore right calf muscle that caused her to consider withdrawing.[16] Janković defeated Cibulková in the third round but lost to sixth seed and eventual runner-up Safina in the quarterfinals in three sets.

Janković's next tournament was the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open. She defeated fifth-seeded Elena Dementieva in the semifinals to reach her first Grand Slam final, where she lost to fourth-seeded Serena Williams 6–4, 7–5. Janković then lost in the quarterfinals of the Tier I Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to Svetlana Kuznetsova 2–6, 7–5, 7–5. Janković scored a win over Kuznetsova the next week though, when she beat her 6–3, 6–2 in the final of the China Open. In the semifinal, she defeated Olympic bronze medalist, Vera Zvonareva, in three sets. Janković played in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, where she defeated Venus Williams in the semifinals 6–7(8), 7–5, 6–2, and Nadia Petrova in the final 6–4, 6–3. This was her second title in two weeks. After that, she returned to World No. 1 spot on October 6.

In the Kremlin Cup, Janković defeated Vera Dushevina 6–7(6), 6–3, 6–2 in round two after a first round bye. In the quarterfinals, she beat Italian wild-card, Flavia Pennetta, 7–6(6), 6–3. She defeated Elena Dementieva in the semifinals 0–6, 6–1, 6–0 before triumphing against Vera Zvonareva in the final, 6–2, 6–4 for her third title in three weeks, the first time for a player on the WTA tour to do so since 2005.[17] Because of her result in the Kremlin Cup, this made Janković the only female in 2008 to make all quarter-finals or better in Tier I events.
Janković on court at the 2008 WTA Tour Championships

Janković's 12-match winning streak came to an end at the Zürich Open where, playing in her fifth event in five weeks, she lost to eventual runner-up Flavia Pennetta 5–7, 6–3, 6–3 in the second round after an injury to her left wrist at the end of the first set and a cut on her knee, where the trainer was called, in the second. It was just her second pre-quarterfinal loss of the year, the other being at Wimbledon.

In the first round-robin match of the 2008 WTA Tour Championships held in Doha, Qatar, Janković saw off Ana Ivanović, for the first time since the 2006 East West Bank Classic in Los Angeles. This was also her first win at a WTA Tour Championships event. In the second round-robin match she beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7–6, 6–4, thus confirming her place in the semifinals. She lost her third round-robin match, which would determine whether she played Elena Dementieva or Venus Williams, to Vera Zvonareva, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4. She lost in the semifinals, to Williams, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3, and ended the year as World No. 1.

2009

Jelena Janković will start the 2009 tennis season at the 2009 Sydney International which will prepare her for the 2009 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic Bio, Wallpapers, Pictures, Photos

Tennis: Djokovic captures Masters Cup championship

Djokovic beats Davydenko in final: Novak Djokovic's victory celebration turned out to be more dangerous than his opponent.
Jubilant after overwhelming Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 7-5 in the Masters Cup final Sunday in Shanghai, China, Djokovic tossed just about everything in reach — two rackets, wristbands and his sweat-soaked shirt — into the cheering crowd.
The 21-year-old from Serbia headed to a box where his coach, family and a former Miss Universe were standing and cheering.
A joyous group hug ensued. When Djokovic walked away, he realized he had cut his left hand at some point. He had to ask a trainer to apply a bandage before the awards ceremony.

"You don't feel the pain in the moments of happiness," he said.

Djokovic won $625,000 and a Mercedes sport-utility vehicle. He got into the SUV on the court and honked the horn.

Djokovic & Sharapova in NEWS Head lines

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

Djokovic, the tennnis player

djokovic shirtless

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic Bio
* Began playing at age four and made his pro debut at 16
* Nicknamed Nole
* Father, Srdjan and mother, Dijana own a pizzeria and pancake restaurant on a mountain in Serbia for last 15 years
* Father, uncle and aunt were all professional skiers and his father was also an excellent soccer player
* His father wanted him to be a soccer player or skier but excelled in tennis at an early age
* Credits his family as inspiration for giving him so much support and says he wouldn’t be able to be where he is without their help
* Younger brothers Marko (19) and Djordje (13) are both in school and play tennis
* Idol growing up was Pete Sampras
* At age 12, attended Niki Pilic Academy in Munich and practiced there for almost two years before returning to Belgrade
* Speaks Serbian, Italian, German and English
* Favorite surface is hard courts but considers himself an all around player
* Best shot is backhand down the line
* As a junior, advanced to Australian Open junior singles and doubles SF (w/Jenkins) in 2004
* Has an 11-3 career singles record in eight Davis Cup ties since 2004
* His family invited 50 underprivileged Kosovo-Serb children to Belgrade in September 2007 to be courtside for Serbia-Australia Davis Cup World Group tie
* Appeared in September 2007 Vogue Magazine
* Named 2006 ATP Most Improved Player of Year
* Coached by former ATP pro and Slovak Republic native Marian Vajda (since June 2006).

Andy Murray Tennis profile - News, Photos, Biography

Andy Murray eliminated defending champion Roger Federer from the season-ending Masters Cup today after recording a thrilling 4-6 7-6 (7/3) 7-5 win in Shanghai.

House of Wax: Andy Murray in Madame Tussaud’s

Andy Murray tennis

Andy Murray

British tennis player Andy Murray

Andy Murray shirtless

Andy Murray vs Roger Federer

Tennis player, Andy Murray was born on 15 May 1987 in Dunblane. His mother is Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray.
Andy Murray started playing tennis aged three and turned pro in 2005.
Murray's first major breakthrough was when he won U-12s Orange Bowl world championships, Florida in 1999. Murray also won his Junior Wimbledon debut in 2002.
In September 2004 Andrew Murray won the junior men's singles title at the US Open and went on to become the 2004 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
In 2005 Andy Murray became Britain's youngest Davis Cup player when he played against Israel.

On 20 June 2005 Andrew Murray was ranked 312. A couple of days later, however, Andy Murray defeated 14th seed Radek Stepanek 6-4 6-4 6-4 at Wimbledon on the same day that Tim Henman suffered his shock exit from Wimbledon.
In the next round Murray led former finalist David Nalbandian by two sets to love before eventually being beaten.
Immediately pundits were writing Henman off and heralding Murray as the new king of British tennis.

After Wimbledon 2005, Andy Murray rose 99 places to 213th in the ATP rankings, making him the sixth highest-placed Briton. It was the start of a phenomenal rise up the rankings.

In February 2006 Murray beat Lleyton Hewitt 2-6 6-1 7-6 in the final of the SAP Open in San Jose. He had already beaten Andy Roddick in the semi-finals. With the win, Andy Murray, at the age of 18 years and 9 months became the fourth youngest tennis player to win an ATP Open - ahead of Federer and only older than Hewitt, Borg and Nadal. The result propelled his world ranking to 47th.

Andy Murray celebrated by leaping into the crowd and kissing girlfriend Kim Sears.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Andy Murray said:
"I'm not really too sure what I love about tennis - I just enjoy winning."

Andrew Murray's hero is Muhammad Ali.
August 2006 proved a turning-point for Andy Murray. He reached another APT Tour final - the Legg Mason Classic - although he eventually lost to Arnaud Clement; he hired the highly rated Brad Gilbert as a coach; and Murray gained a second and third career win over Tim Henman (beating him at the Toronto Masters and Cincinnati Masters).

It got even better for Andy Murray at Cincinnati when he beat the peerless Roger Federer 7-5 6-4. Federer had not lost in straight sets for 194 matches!

2007 started well for Andy Murray when he reached the final of the Qatar Open and gained a career-high world ranking of 15th.

2007 continued well for Andy Murray when he beat Ivo Karlovic to retain his SAP Open title in San Jose.

In April 2007 it was confirmed that Andy Murray was officially a top 10 player after his rival for tenth place, Tommy Haas, failed to reach the US Clay Court Championships semi-finals.

In October 2007, Andy Murray won the St. Petersburg Open to take his third career title.

Andy Murray started 2008 in fine fashion, taking the fourth and fifth titles of his career by winning the Qatar Open in January and the Open 13 in February.

Further signs of Andy Murray's quality came when he beat Roger Federer at the Dubai Championship in March 2008. It was Murray's second straight victory over Federer having defeated him, as mentioned above, in Cincinnati.

In 2008, Andy Murray released an autobiography, Hitting Back.

In July 2008 in Wimbledon, Andy Murray reached his first ever Grand Slam quarter-final but was decisively beaten by Rafael Nadal in straight sets.

In August 2008, Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic in the final of the Series Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was Murray's first Masters Series title and he climbed to number six in the world rankings.

In 2008, Andy Murray released his autobiography Hitting Back.

In September 2008 Andy Murray beat Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.

Murray then went one better by beating Rafael Nadal 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 to earn a place in the final against Roger Federer.

In the final of the US Open final, however Federer beat Murray in straight sets thereby thwarting, at least temporarily, his chances of becoming the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win one of the four major singles titles.