Due to the site switch on Thursday, we were not able to publish a gossip column, and we’re sorry about that. BUT, we are back after a day off with lots going on, especially as the World Cup edges closer.
ALEXIS AJINCA WON’T BE AT THE WORLD CUP
France’s Eurobasket winner Alexis Ajinca will not be at the FIBA World Cup this summer as he wants to concentrate on his family.
The NBA big man will be a father in the coming weeks and does not want to leave his family while he adjusts to family life.
NEITHER WILL GREECE’S KOSTAS KOUFOS
Greece’s Kostas Koufos will not be in Spain this summer either, as the center has chosen to concentrate on his pre-season workouts with Memphis Grizzlies instead.
With Koufos choosing this path for the second straight summer, it leaves Greece shorter on star players than ever.
The team will leave this Sunday for Karpenisi to prepare themselves for the big competition without veterans Antonis Fotsis, Vassilis Spanoulis, Sofo Schortsianitis, Kostas Perperoglou and Lukas Maurokefalides.
HASLEM STAYS IN MIAMI
Udonis Haslem will stay with the Miami Heat for a 12th season after he re-signed with the team.
Per club policy, the details of his contract were not discussed. But the three-time NBA champion will join Dwayne Wade and new team-mate Luol Deng with the Heat next season.
“Udonis Haslem has been a fixture in Miami over the last 11 years,” said Miami President Pat Riley in a statement. “He’s a team player, an encompassing all-purpose player, that would play just about any position or role in order to win. It’s been such a privilege and honor to have him with the organization and I’m so happy that he decided to come back.”
BILL RUSSELL COLLAPSE SCARE
NBA legend Bill Russell worried a room of people on Wednesday night as he fainted at a function in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Russell, 80 though recovered quick enough and boarded a plane back to Boston yesterday.
