Durant shines in US vs Slovenia game

ISTANBUL -- An arena that was nearly covered in Slovenian green grew louder with every U.S. miss.


Playing a rare early game, the United States had stalled after a quick start, and a double-digit lead was down to five as halftime approached.

Then, every time the Americans needed them, Kevin Durant seemed to get on the scoreboard and Kevin Love was on the backboard.

Durant scored 22 points, Love added 10 points and 11 rebounds in a gritty 13 minutes off the bench, and the Americans beat Slovenia 99-77 on Sunday in an opening-round game.

"They did a great job of fighting, getting stops and making plays, and we know that we can't go out here and blow every team out," Durant said. "We had to make this a grind game and we did that, and a good job of keeping our composure."

Rudy Gay finished with 16 points for the Americans (2-0), while Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala each had 11. Durant shot 8 of 13 before sitting out the fourth quarter and Love always seemed to be around the ball -- even when a Slovenian player tried holding his arm so he couldn't get it.

Bostjan Nachbar scored 13 points for Slovenia (1-1), which had an enormous edge in the stands but not enough to match the Americans on the court.

"I think we tried our best. We made Team USA play their best basketball, which was very important," said Nachbar, who once played with the New Jersey Nets. "I think across 40 minutes you could see which team was better, I don't think there was a question about it, but for us, especially for young players, it was a big confidence booster."

Slovenian fans, many dressed in green shirts, lined the streets outside the arena some 90 minutes before tipoff. They filled large areas throughout the building, and stood and roared when the Slovenians came out for pregame warmups.

[+] Enlarge

Mustafa Ozer/AFP/Getty Images

Kevin Durant shot 8 of 13 to lead Team USA to a 2-0 start at the FIBA World Championship.

There wasn't as much for them to cheer about once the game started.

"We're used to that playing in Spain and Greece, so it was cool," Durant said. "I think we had to do a better job of holding onto the game and keeping them quiet by making plays, and I think we did that."

Durant ripped the ball away on Slovenia's opening possession and raced in for a dunk about 20 seconds into the game. Nachbar answered with a basket, but the Americans ran off 10 straight points, with Durant nailing a 3-pointer before throwing down another dunk for a 12-2 lead.

The Americans made eight of their first 11 shots from the field and led 23-11 after one quarter, then suddenly went cold in the second.

They didn't make a field goal for the first 6½ minutes of the period, allowing Slovenia to crawl within 28-23 on Sani Becirovic's free throws with 3:36 to go. Westbrook snapped the U.S. out of that drought with a basket, then fed Love for another to start an 8-0 spurt that made it 36-23.

Love later flexed his muscle for another basket, grabbing an offensive rebound with one arm whileUros Slokar was holding the other, and putting it back in while being fouled.

"I was actually just trying to put it right over the rim," Love said. "It happened to go off glass and it's good to have a little bit of luck on your side."

Love is earning more of a role with the team after his minutes were limited by injuries during much of training camp.

"I know if I'm going to stay in the game and play minutes, I have to get out there and get every rebound and that's kind of what Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] tells me," Love said.

The Americans led by 14 points at halftime before putting it away midway through the third quarter. Lamar Odom and Derrick Rose made consecutive 3-pointers, Iguodala had a steal and dunk, and Durant added a basket and 3-pointer for a 59-32 bulge with 4½ minutes remaining.

The Slovenians got little from Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic, who had 16 points in their opening victory over Tunisia. He finished with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. Gasper Vidmar scored 10.

The Americans face Brazil on Monday night, then have an off day before their final two games in group play.

"No relax, never relax until the tournament's over," Odom said. "Then we have two or three weeks until training camp. Then we'll relax."

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

McCourts divorce battle might force sale of LA Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be ordered sold if the McCourts do not resolve payments, including property taxes and attorney's fees, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Each McCourt continues to complain of low liquidity, and L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon thought of one way to resolve their cash flow issue -- putting a for sale sign at Chavez Ravine, the newspaper said.

"The parties are unintentionally pushing the court toward an interesting position -- selling the asset which is being fought over," Gordon said in a court hearing.

More on the Dodgers

For more news, notes and analysis of the Dodgers, check out Dodger Thoughts from Jon Weisman. Blog

The Dodgers and their facilities are worth over $700 million, according to Forbes Magazine. According to an article in the July issue of ESPN The Magazine, Frank McCourt has borrowed an estimated $390 million against the team.

Observers of the divorce view the court commissioner's language in the court ruling as a threat. The commissioner is more likely to make the McCourts sell off other assets such as one of their many estates.

The McCourts purchased the Dodgers in 2004 from News Corp. Under the McCourts ownership, the Dodgers have been to the playoffs four times, advancing to the NLCS in 2008 and 2009.

Best Parody I've Seen: "Pretty Good Crack" (Thanks WSHH!!)

So I am on break during my shoot [via Vivid Productions =0) ] And I was browsing through http://www.worldstarhiphop.com   and saw this video by @KingBach. Of course he is making fun at the whole Kat Stacks and Soulja Boy situation. I'm not siding with anybody... but Soulja Boy .... it was bound to happen sooner or later....smh...


Enjoy!

Cancer-stricken father sees Son play with Florida Marlins

NEW YORK -- Logan Morrison's father remembers exactly what he said when the doctor told him he had inoperable lung cancer.

"Am I going to be around long enough to see my son get his first big league hit?"

Oh, he's seen that and much, much more.

“

Anytime he's in the stands I kick it up a little bit. He's the reason I'm here. And with him being sick, there might not be too many more opportunities where he can see me play.

”-- Logan Morrison

Morrison and his dad, both choking back tears, sat side by side in the Florida Marlins' dugout Wednesday trying to describe their emotions during a cherished reunion at Citi Field.

Words, in this case, could never be enough.

Not for a proud father who traveled 29 hours on a train to see his son play big league ballgames in person for the first time.

Not for a boy who knows all too well it could be their last chance to celebrate his birthday together.

Tom Morrison, 51, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in April and spent much of the summer fighting for his life in a hospital. Meanwhile, his son, Logan, earned a call-up to the majors July 27 and a spot in left field with the Marlins.

"That was killing me, not being able to see him play," the elder Morrison said. "It's just nice to be able to sit in the park and watch him."

Tom Morrison, finally well enough to travel, got the chance to do just that Tuesday night following the long train ride from his Louisiana home. He saw his son go 1 for 5 and score a run in a 6-5 loss to the New York Mets.

"It was an awesome feeling, for him to see that in person," Logan Morrison said.

Logan Morrison was in the lineup again Wednesday on his 23rd birthday. His dad was back at the ballpark, too, purple-tinted sunglasses sitting upside down on the bill of a black Marlins cap, with about 20 other family members and friends in attendance. A birthday cake awaited after the game.

"Baseball has kind of brought the family together," Logan Morrison said.

Doctors' orders prevent Tom Morrison from flying, but that didn't stop him from making it to the Big Apple this week. And after all of the radiation and chemotherapy he's been through, sitting in the left-field stands watching his boy play was quite a treat.

"It's probably the best recreation I have," Tom Morrison said, smiling. "I made him wave at me."

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Denis PoroyLogan Morrison is hitting .307 with seven RBIs since being called up to the majors by the Marlins.

The rookie outfielder, selected to the Futures Game for top prospects during All-Star festivities last month, singled twice, tripled and scored two runs in a 5-4 victory Wednesday night. He's hitting .307 with no homers and seven RBIs, and nobody is happier for him than his father.

"Anytime he's in the stands I kick it up a little bit. He's the reason I'm here," Morrison said. "And with him being sick, there might not be too many more opportunities where he can see me play."

After the game, the Morrison clan met up in a corridor before heading out for a postgame dinner.

"It's kind of surreal. The kid's living his dream," Tom Morrison said before the game. "He's a good kid. He deserves it."

Logan Morrison said it's not hard to concentrate on the field, but he often thinks of his dad during batting practice and when he's away from the ballpark. He said his all-out style of play and perfectionist personality comes directly from his father, still active as a chief petty officer in the Coast Guard and based out of Slidell, La.

"Now you know why when I get three hits and I get out once I'm mad," Logan Morrison said. "I'm never satisfied."

Tom Morrison, who said he played college football at Kansas, watches Logan's games on his computer at home and plans to go to Florida in early October for the Marlins' final series of the season. The weather should be cooler then, which is important for the elder Morrison because he gets dehydrated easily.

Next year, he wants to buy a special all-in-one train ticket that would allow him to hop on and off in different cities -- wherever Logan is playing at the time.

That's how Tom Morrison wants to spend the days he has left.

Sitting in the dugout at Citi Field, he could only hope he gets that chance.

NFL owners looking to expand regular season from 16 to 18 games

ATLANTA -- NFL owners are eager to increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games.

The players aren't so sure.

During a five-hour meeting at a posh hotel in downtown Atlanta, the push to add two more games to the regular season picked up steam Wednesday -- at least among those who sign the checks.

"I think it's a win-win all around," said Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.

The owners also unanimously approved Stan Kroenke's proposal to purchase majority ownership of the St. Louis Rams, assuming he turns over control of two other teams he owns -- the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche -- to his son.

Kroenke owns 40 percent of the downtrodden Rams and exercised his right to purchase the rest of the team from the Rosenbloom family for a reported $750 million.

"Obviously, all of us know and respect Stan," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "He's been a terrific owner in the NFL and we're confident he will continue to be a great owner."

Kroenke must turn over operational and financial control of the Nuggets and Avalanche to his 30-year-old son, Josh, by the end of the year. He must give up his majority stake in the teams by December 2014 to meet NFL rules against cross-ownership of franchises in other NFL cities.

But talks on the expanded season dominated most of the meeting.

Goodell pointed out that the league already has the right to impose an 18-game schedule -- and keep four preseason games for each team -- under the current labor agreement with the players. But that contract expires after this season, and it's clear the expanded schedule will be a central issue in talks on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The owners would like to keep the season at 20 weeks, reducing the number of preseason games from four to two.

"We want to do it the right way for everyone, including the players, the fans and the game in general," Goodell said. "There's a tremendous amount of momentum for it. We think it's the right step."

The owners held off on voting on a specific proposal that could be presented to the players union. Among the issues that still must be resolved: when to start the expanded regular season, possible roster expansion to cope with more games and changes in training camp and offseason routines to come up with ways for evaluating younger players who wouldn't have as many preseason games to make an impression.

"We want to continue to address a variety of issues before putting together a specific proposal, which our negotiating team will provide to the union's negotiating team," Goodell said. "There's tremendous support for it. Almost all the questions, all the discussions, are how to do it in a way that's fan-friendly."

Around the NFL, however, many players questioned the wisdom of making an already grueling season even longer. At the very least, they want more money -- and several proposed changes in the rules governing injured players or adding an extra bye week to deal with the grind.

"With 16 games, every game is important and therefore the fans are very into it, the stadiums are packed because they know if their team loses, it pushes them further and further away from making the playoffs," Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said. "I think if you go to 18, each game kind of loses a little bit of its significance."

The players clearly expect to be receive a bigger chunk of the multibillion-dollar NFL pie if they're going to be putting their bodies on the line in two more games that count.

"Obviously the players want to be compensated for two more games," San Francisco 49erslinebacker Matt Wilhelm said. "That's the one thing the players have to get met."

They are also concerned about an increased risk of injuries and fret that it could shorten their careers or increase the number of health problems they endure after retirement.

"I would vote to eliminate two preseason games and then keep it at a 16-game season because the longer you're out there playing, the more your body breaks down," Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark said. "When you get into December, you're like walking zombies. You can't feel your joints."

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said the timing of the proposal is odd, considering the owners want the players to accept a smaller share of the revenue in the next labor agreement.

"They are asking you to play more games and put yourself at more risk, and they are also asking us to take a pay cut," he said. "That's a lot to ask. All those things don't make a whole lot of sense. We need to sit down and talk through it all and find out what it is they're really trying to do and see if it makes sense or not."

But Kraft said the expanded season is the most obvious step to bring in more money while the economy is struggling.

"I really think going to an 18-game season is critical to us getting a labor deal," he said. "There's not a lot ways in this economic environment we can generate incremental revenues. That's the best way.

"The other thing," he added, "our fans have said pretty loud and clear they'd like us to have fewer preseason games."

Several players and coaches have pointed out that having only two preseason games would likely make it more difficult for fringe players to get enough of a look to make the team.

Already, teams have been experimenting with joint workouts in training camp, believing those sessions could help replace the shorter preseason. This year, for instance, theAtlanta Falcons worked out with both the Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars.

"If it was a two-game preseason, then the starters are going to see most of that time because they've got to get ready for the season, so if you're third string, good luck," said Indianapolis linebacker Gary Brackett, the Colts' defensive captain. "When I was a rookie, I needed every bit of those four games."

But some figure it's a foregone conclusion that the owners will get their way.

"Personally, I don't see how it helps the game, or the quality of the game," said Barry Cofield, a defensive tackle for the New York Giants. "But if they demand it, they will probably get it."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press