Basketball

June 23, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Welcome to the White House. And it is fitting that we use the East Garden because, one, this is rarely used; and two, it is an opportunity for me to welcome a lot of people to the -- that are here to see the WNBA champs, Phoenix Mercury. And we're glad you came.

George W. Bush greets WNBA champions: George W. Bush is presented a Phoenix Mercury Championship banner and a personalized team jersey June 23, 2008, during the 2007 WNBA Champions, the Phoenix Mercury, visit to the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Please sit down. Welcome. It's an honor to welcome the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball champs, the Kansas Jayhawks. So when Kansas fans come to the Rose Garden, they don't come to admire the flowers. They come to "wave the wheat." I just wish Big Jay and Baby Jay could have come with you. Barney was looking forward to meeting them.

George W. Bush smirks: White House photo

I want to congratulate this team. You brought new glory to one of our nation's most storied basketball programs, and you gave your fans all across America one more reason to chant: Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!    » read more »

Debut of No. 1 Draft Pick Candace Parker with the Los Angeles Sparks and Theme Song and Music Video by R&B Sensation Alicia Keys

March 13, 2008 -- ESPN2 will combine with ABC to televise 22 regular-season WNBA games, starting with the defending champion, Phoenix Mercury and Diana Taurasi, when they host the Los Angeles Sparks and No. 1 Draft pick Candace Parker from NCAA champion Tennessee Saturday, May 17, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. For the first time, ABC will use SkyCam for a WNBA telecast -- showcasing the speed and talent of the top female players in the world.    » read more »

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, May 13, 2008 -- A year ago, a new three-point line dominated discussions at the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Committee meetings. This year, the committee’s meetings produced relatively few changes, which committee leaders view as a positive step for the game overall.

“Our game and our rules are in really great shape,” said Ronda Seagraves, chair of the women’s rules committee and associate athletic director at Southwestern University (Texas). “We entertained approximately 50 rules proposals, and in the end only approved minor changes to the rules book.”    » read more »

Deal With InFront AMS Brings Top European Basketball League to U.S. Broadband Sports Net

May 7, 2008 -- ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband sports network, and InFront AMS, the Digital Media Company of the InFront Group, announced a new agreement today that will make ESPN360.com the exclusive U.S. home for Euroleague Basketball over the next two seasons.

Beginning next October, the broadband network will deliver more than 40 games in each of the next two seasons (2008-2009, 2009-2010). Additionally, ESPN.com will feature video highlights of the Euroleague. Games not carried by ESPN360.com will be available on a pay-per-view basis on Euroleague.tv. For U.S. fans, Euroleague games are available only via ESPN360.com and on a pay-per-view basis on euroleague.tv.    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the National Basketball Association’s vote to relocate the Seattle Sonics:

“This is a sad day for basketball fans across Washington state. The Sonics have a proud, storied 41-year history in Seattle and, as a sports fan, I am very disappointed with today’s action by the National Basketball Association (NBA) owners to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

Seattle Sonics warmup: Photo by Fizzgig (CC)    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, joined by state and local officials, today sent a letter to the National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern and NBA owners urging them to postpone this week’s vote on relocating the SuperSonics until legal and financial issues can be resolved.

Seattle SuperSonics, Key Arena: Photo by travelbug.nz (CC)    » read more »

Monday, April 7, 2008 -- NCAA Response: "Jeff Goodman’s April 7, 2008 post on FoxSports.com erroneously reported that NCAA President Myles Brand and NBA Commissioner David Stern would make a joint announcement regarding NBA age limits. The NCAA has no role whatsoever regarding the NBA age policy or its collective bargaining process. The joint announcement was on the establishment of a new youth basketball initiative. Click here to read the news release about the announcement."

Source: NCAA

Monday, April 7, 2008, SAN ANTONIO -- The NCAA and the NBA have joined forces to launch a wide-ranging initiative aimed at enhancing youth basketball programs in the United States, it was announced today by NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand and NBA Commissioner David Stern during a press conference from the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, TX.

The yet unnamed initiative is designed to reach and benefit everyone who participates in youth basketball programs, including the more than 23 million American boys and girls who play basketball, their parents and those who teach, officiate and administer youth basketball programs at every level. The initiative will create a platform for teaching youth the value of education and the important lessons of fair play.    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- Dick Vitale, in his 29th season as an ESPN college basketball analyst, was selected for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2008 as a contributor to the sport. The announcement was made today in San Antonio, site of the NCAA Final Four. Hall of Fame contributors are described as those who have made significant contributions to the game and its growth.

The Enshrinement Ceremonies will be held at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. September 4-6.    » read more »

April 8, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the KeyArena proposal:

“While I am disappointed that funding could not be found to renovate KeyArena., I am proud of the local ownership group that came forward, especially because those individuals have lived and worked in the community for years.

Seattle Sonics dance team: Photo by Andrew Hitchcock (CC)    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- ESPN’s extensive multimedia coverage of the NCAA Men’s Final Four will include in-depth analysis, news, interviews and highlights across many ESPN platforms as well as live telecasts of all three Final Four matchups on ESPN International. Coverage will feature on-site shows and reports on ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, ESPNU and ESPN.com, and Tournament specific content on ESPN Classic and ESPN Mobile TV.

Highlights:
- On-site Analysis from Bob Knight;
- Semifinals and Championship Game Live on ESPN International;
- On-Site Coverage on SportsCenter, College GameDay, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio, ESPNU and ESPN.com; Content on ESPN Classic and ESPN Mobile TV    » read more »

Wagers 40 Pounds Of Premium Iowa Pork; Governor: “I have confidence in our Drake Bulldogs!”

March 19, 2008 -- DES MOINES –(Des Moines) Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver praised the results of an independent study that found the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) had the lowest administration costs among government pension plan organizations of similar size. IPERS also ranked lowest in costs the previous year.    » read more »

February 15, 2008 -- Dick Vitale, in the midst of his 29th season as an ESPN college basketball analyst, has been named a finalist for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport. The list of finalists for the Class of 2008 was announced Friday. Hall of Fame contributors are described as those who have made significant contributions to the game and its growth.    » read more »

Jan 09, 2008 -- BATON ROUGE - The State of Louisiana and the New Orleans Hornets have reached an agreement to extend the team's lease an additional two years through 2014. The extension essentially makes up for the time the team spent when it relocated to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Under the lease terms, the soon-to-be expanded Alario Center in Jefferson Parish will continue to serve as the Hornets practice facility. The State will be relieved of its responsibility to construct a practice facility for the team.    » read more »