The regular gossip as we head to the weekend.
Plymouth re-signs top British talent
Plymouth Raiders have secured the services of ex-Great Britain international Nick George and promising British star Louis Sayers for another season.
The British Basketball League side missed out on a post-season playoff birth and understands the importance to retain key players and attempt to build continuity for the new season – the latter of which – the Raiders were not able to manage, as they released a chunk of their squad during the season.
Along with playing for the Raiders, George will be responsible for mentoring and developing players in the national league programme, as well as the club’s Academy teams and Plymouth University team.
“I’m delighted to have re-signed Nick, as it shows on our part, a real intent on success for next season,” Raiders coach Jay Marriott said of George. “Nick brings real star quality from a British perspective. He feels that I can help to bring out the best in him individually, and I know that Nick can help bring the best out of this coming season’s team.”
Marriott added: “I’m excited to be able to work with Louis for a second season. He has shown that he is one of the emerging young British talents in the league. We have really seen him develop as a player under us, and Louis will be looking to turn his potential into a consistently high performer for the team.”
Jackson wants Steve Kerr as Knicks coach?
New York Knicks Team President Phil Jackson is rumoured to have approached one of his former players Steve Kerr to replace axed coach Mike Woodson.
Upcoming free agent Carmelo Anthony is a little weary about seeing Kerr, who has never coached an NBA team on the sidelines, but Jackson has assured the player that he will be around on the bench or nearby for advice.
Anthony, who reportedly met up with Jackson in Manhattan last week has made his opinions known that he wants a championship-calibre side for next season, after a season of mass disappointment, which saw the Knicks fail to reach the Playoffs and Anthony fail to play post-season basketball for the first time in his career.
Real Madrid to be honoured
Liga Endesa will be paying tribute to Real Madrid for its 28 consecutive victories in the top league in Spain.
The Spanish powerhouse set a new record in the ACB by winning 28 games in a row [27 this season plus the last one of last season]. Their unbeaten streak was ended by Valencia last week when the Eurocup finalists beat the Euroleague favourites 110-105.
The 1984-85 Madrid side held the previous record with 27 straight wins.
Gortat the film buff
Poland and Washington Wizards big man Marcin Gortat has revealed his love of movies and helps his team-mates by saying some of favourites quotes from different movies.
From the Washington Post:
“Do you say something from 300 before games sometimes?” I asked Gortat.
“Hell yes,” Gortat responded.
“What do you say?” I asked.
“PREPARE. FOR. GLORY!” Gortat responded, in a very theatrical and loud voice.
“Before a game?” I asked.
“Always,” Gortat said. ”When we’re running out, I’ll say from 300 ‘This is Sparta!’ or ‘Prepare for glory!’ [or] ’Give them nothing but take everything!’ ”
“He thinks he’s a guy from 300, the big swole strong guy,” Garrett Temple said of Gortat.
“He definitely could have played in that movie,” Drew Gooden added.
I asked Gortat whether he was doing this movie quote thing to be funny or serious.
“Serious,” he said. “You know, yelling loud. I’m saying the quotes from Gladiator: ‘We who are coming to die salute you!”
“The part in Training Day where Denzel says – excuse my language here, I’m quoting a movie – ‘King Kong ain’t got [nothing] on me.’ ” Temple explained. “Marc, he kind of messed it up. He said ‘King Kong ain’t [nothinged] on me.’ So we clown him about that now, and so he jokes about it now. Now he says ‘King Kong just [nothinged] on y’all.’ Marc is a character, man.”
“He knows the movie Bad Boys 2 like the back of his hand,” Temple said. “He knows it just as much – I mean, no offense – just as much as American black people know it. That’s one of our favorite movies, but he knows that.”
