Sound of music ... what the??

"... Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things"

Now, to clarify (before my manhood comes in to question), I've never actually watched The Sound of Music ... sure I've seen parts but thankfully never the whole thing. It just seemed appropriate to use it today since there's a number of news articles and stories about a few of my all-time favourite players.

We'll start with my #1 player, Tim Hardaway. Thanks to the guys at NBA Mate for bringing it to my attention, the Miami Heat are going to retire Timmy's jersey just before their opening game against the New York Knicks. This is kind of fitting as the memories I have of Hardaway in Miami are him leading the Heat to victories in the playoffs against the Knicks.

Next up is my boy Steve Nash. I've mentioned previously that he leads a pretty good life and has had a colourful/entertaining off-season. Thanks to the crew at Ball Don't Lie, firstly here is his latest vitaminwater commercial and a few days ago they had pictures of Nash getting in to a pick-up game in China.

Finally, despite being almost 50, here's footage of Dominique Wilkins showing he can still dunk (just). Yes, you'll also see Tim Hardaway in action there as well.

Rick Fox = balla

During the off-season (of both the NBA & NBL) you have to work a little harder to find a story and sometimes you have to talk about off-court action.

I was talking to my mate Tux last night and he mentioned he found himself constantly using the term "gangsta" (on this occasion to refer to some houses a friend had been looking at buying). I countered with the term "balla" which seems to be popular at the moment.

Urban Dictionary: balla

Balla

1.a pimp
2.some one who is good at sports

1.Im a balla fo real
2.Iverson is a Balla


2. BALLA

A pimp or player. Someone who makes alot of money and can got anyone or anything that they want with no problem.

'I've always been a balla see all this bread I get what I want when I want'


Now, the true definition and today's example of "balla" is ex-LA Laker, ex-Boston Celtic Rick Fox. Thanks to a story at Ball Don't Lie I've just discovered that Rick is currently dating the sensational Eliza Dushku.

As well as previously being married to Vanessa Williams, Fox has also dated Alicia Keyes, Tyra Banks, Sharon Stone, Mariah Carey and Kristin Davis. All this plus a 13 year NBA career, acting career and NBA analyst ...

Rick Fox, you are truly living the life ... balla indeed

Brisbane city & Carmelo Anthony

While checking out Ball Don't Lie today I came across the following pic:

So can anyone tell me why a sci-fi wallpaper of Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets uses the city of Brisbane, Australia as the futuristic/sci-fi backdrop??

Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out this photo of Brisbane's Riverside Centre and the CBD:

Notice a couple of familiar buildings?

Bizarre!

Michael Jordan/Gatorade street art photos

Tux sent an e-mail through to me earlier with an interview by the team at Ball Don't Lie with Scottie Pippen. From that article came the story about Gatorade's tribute to Michael Jordan's impending induction in to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Click on the title below to read the full story and the interview with Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen.

Michael Jordan/Gatorade street art photos - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

A street art tribute to Michael Jordan made out of 19,000 Gatorade bottles, including the new Gatorade Limited Edition Jordan Series, glows on a basketball court Monday on Chicago's South Side. Local Jordan fans and longtime Jordan teammate Scottie Pippen helped construct the mosaic, which Gatorade organized as a way to celebrate Jordan's Hall of Fame career.

Yes, its a pretty slow time for NBA news, but again, thanks to the crew at Ball Don't Lie, the guys at The Basketball Jones teach you how to keep basketball in your life. Pretty funny stuff for those of us who LOVE the game.