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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 26 2012, 09:48 AM (17 Views) | |
| lingzi | Oct 26 2012, 09:48 AM Post #1 |
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HOUSTON -- Jeremy Lin figured hed be having this kind of news conference in New York. Andrew Luck Jersey . Instead, he was talking about his new deal with the Houston Rockets on Thursday on the same practice court where he worked in virtual anonymity seven months ago before he was waived. Lin became a Rocket again when the Knicks decided not to match Houstons three-year, $25 million offer. "Its been an unbelievable ride," Lin said. "Just a lot of things I didnt expect to happen, in terms of just the way last season went. I still have to kind of remind myself that this is all actually happening, sometimes. But its a huge blessing. I cant believe how it all shaped up and for me to be here right now. Im definitely excited and thankful." Lin said he expected to be re-signed by the Knicks after he electrified the Big Apple last season before he was sidelined by a knee injury. Shortly after the Knicks officially declined to match, Lin was quoted on SI.com as saying, "Honestly, I preferred New York." Lin said the question he answered was set in the context of before the start of the free agency period. "The question was, Going into free agency, which team did you prefer?" Lin said. "Before July 1, I didnt even know what teams were interested in me. But all I was hearing was, Youre going back to New York. At that time, before free agency started, I preferred New York. By the time it came to the offer sheet, I was just excited about both opportunities. "Houston and New York," he said, "I was definitely excited about the possibility to go to both." But probably not as excited as the Rockets were to get him. Houston has missed the playoffs the last three seasons, and when Linsanity skyrocketed in New York, general manager Daryl Morey was kicking himself for waiving him on Christmas Eve. When Lin hit a winning 3-pointer in Toronto on Valentines Day, owner Leslie Alexander called Morey to tersely ask him again why Lin was no longer a Rocket. "He was killing me," Morey said with a smile. "I think one of the reasons Mr. Alexander is a great owner is because were constantly evaluating our past decisions and deciding what did we know at the time? What could we have done better? How can we improve? "People are making a lot of us admitting to our mistake," Morey said. "But the only way to get better is to quickly say, That was a mistake. How can we do better next time?" At the time Lin was released, the Rockets had Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry on the roster -- two point guards with NBA experience. And who knew what Linsanity would become? "We had very fair reasons to waive him," Morey said. "But the reality is, we shouldnt have." The Knicks didnt initially see his potential, either, dropping him briefly to the developmental league in January. He was recalled in early February and with team floundering at 8-15, coach Mike DAntoni turned to Lin. The 23-year-old undrafted point guard from Harvard scored 25 points in a 99-92 win over New Jersey and a global phenomenon was born. He proved to be more than a one-game wonder, becoming the first player in league history to average 20 points and seven assists in his first five games. Lin jerseys became the leagues top sellers, he made the cover of Sports Illustrated in consecutive weeks and had drinks named for him in New York. He was initially overwhelmed by the media glare. Now, he takes it in stride. He went to dinner with new teammate Chandler Parsons in Houston on Wednesday night and Parsons estimated they were interrupted 15-20 times by fans asking for autographs and photos. "This past year, it took me by surprise and it was just this huge storm," Lin said. "It was kind of baptism by fire. You get thrown into it and youve just got to make adjustments and learn. Thats a lot of what I had to do." While Alexander said the decision to pursue Lin was "all basketball," he acknowledged that he could potentially impact on the Rockets brand in the way that Yao Ming did, expanding its reach in Asia. But hat, Alexander, depends on how good Lin becomes and if the team improves along with him. Lin is American-born, but of Chinese and Taiwanese descent, and the number of Chinese media at the press conference was about equal to the American contingent. "If you dont win, what difference does it make?" Alexander said. "If you get him, and hes not a very good player, you look like a fool. How does that help you in any way?" Theres an added caveat for Lin and the Rockets this season -- the All-Star game will be played in Houston on Feb. 17. Yao was named to eight All-Star teams, largely on the strength of Chinese fans who voted online. "Its great for the city, its great for the fans, its great for everybody," Alexander said of getting Lin. "The sponsors, everybody associated with the team." On the court, though, all Houston really needed was a point guard. The Rockets lost the unrestricted free agent Dragic to Phoenix, then dealt Lowry to Toronto for a first-round pick, made more valuable because it has lottery protection. Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in 35 games (25 starts) for the Knicks last season. His aim is to improve his statistics every year -- and how good they get, not even he would venture to guess. "I dont know what my ceiling is, I dont know what my potential is," he said. "We dont know what the ending is going to be. But Im excited to find out." With Lin in place, the roster is still taking shape. Morey says the team plans to sign Bulls centre Omer Asik to a three-year, $25 million offer sheet on Friday. Dwight Freeney Jersey . The move, announced Tuesday, is retroactive to June 15, a day after Hellickson gave up nine hits -- including three homers -- and eight runs in just 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the Mets. Pat Angerer Jersey . JOHANN, Austria -- Canadas Brady Leman continued his remarkable comeback from three broken legs, racing to silver at a ski-cross World Cup and reclaiming the leaders bib. http://www.nikeindianapoliscoltsproshop.com/andrew-luck-jersey . -- Gavin Schmitt of Saskatoon and Fred Winters of Victoria were the offensive stars for Canada on Wednesday in a three-set victory over world No. Reggie Wayne Jersey . But considering how much the Miami Marlins are struggling, maybe its not all that surprising. "Its just a tough time right now for me and a lot of people," Nolasco said. Robert Mathis Jersey . Arenas is expected to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors on charges that he displayed handguns at the Wizards practice facility during a gambling debt dispute with a team-mate.??[PhotoAgencies] NEW YORK: Gilbert Arenas and Washington Wizards team mate Javaris Crittenton were suspended without pay for the rest of the NBA season on Wednesday for bringing guns into the teams locker room.LONDON -- Chelsea dropped its first points of the season in a 0-0 draw against local rival Queens Park Rangers, and the non-handshake between Anton Ferdinand and John Terry upstaged big home wins by Arsenal and Manchester United in the English Premier League on Saturday. Arsenals 6-1 thrashing of Southampton and a 4-0 victory for United over Wigan -- sparked by Paul Scholes goal in his 700th game for the club -- allowed both teams to leapfrog defending champion Manchester City, which was held to 1-1 at Stoke. A top four filled with the likely title contenders is led by Chelsea, whose perfect start to the campaign ended with the stalemate at QPR in a game overshadowed by Ferdinands snub of Terry in the pre-match handshake. It continued their feud following a racism row that began last season when Terry, the Chelsea and England defender, was accused of racially abusing Ferdinand in the corresponding match at Loftus Road. Terry was acquitted in court in July but awaits a Football Association charge relating to the same case, and feelings continue to run high. Ferdinand blanked both Terry and Ashley Cole, who gave evidence on behalf of his Chelsea teammate in the court case, in the team handshake while Terry was booed and jeered throughout by a hostile crowd. "Everybody focused on the football and of course there would be high emotion but both sets of players played very professionally," Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo said. "As far as we are concerned, our players offered (their hands to Ferdinand) and if the other player doesnt want to receive it, then we move on." After three straight wins, Chelsea will not be too unhappy with a point after being stretched for long periods by a west London neighbour which has picked up only two points from four games this season. Park Ji-sung, who also refused to shake Terrys hand, headed a great chance straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech before Bobby Zamora wasted another second-half opportunity after intercepting a dreadful back pass by John Obi Mikel. After dribbling around Cech, Zamoras shot was cleared off the line by Terry. "We acquitted ourselves really well," QPR manager Mark Hughes said. "We were assured and calm and we dictated to the European champions for long periods." Chelsea is a point clear of United, whose third straight victory came after four second-half goals at Old Trafford. The 37-year-old Scholes scored his 163rd goal for United to put the team ahead in the 51st minute before strikes by Javier Hernandez, Alexander Buttner and Nick Powell -- the last two sccoring on their debuts -- in a 20-minute span.dddddddddddd Hernandez missed a fifth-minute penalty in a sluggish first half for the hosts. "We had to start all over again after the missed penalty," Ferguson said. "They slowed the game down a lot, but we werent playing at the speed we play at. The second half we did after becoming more aggressive and played some penetrating football." Arsenal condemned last-place Southampton to a fourth successive loss with a masterful attacking display that could help fans forget about the departure of Robin van Persie, who was on the bench for United on Saturday ahead of the start of the Champions League next week. Gervinho, playing as a central striker instead of his usual place on the wing, scored twice while Arsenal was helped out by two own goals. Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott were the other scorers at Emirates Stadium. "We have a chance for the title but first we must show consistency," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team is a point behind United and level on eight with City. "We have the quality to do it but we have to show how much we can do it." City dropped points for the second time this season, needing a goal by debutant Javi Garcia in the 35th minute to cancel out a controversial early effort by Peter Crouch, who appeared to handle the ball in the buildup to his goal. "It was basketball, not football," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "I didnt see it at the time but now Ive seen a replay -- its incredible." Liverpool ended an emotional week following the release of new evidence about the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989 with a 1-1 draw at Sunderland, leaving the fallen English giants fourth from bottom and still without a win this season. Uruguay striker Luis Suarezs 71st-minute goal for Liverpool cancelled out the opener scored by Steven Fletcher, his third of the season. Flags flew at half mast for the match at the Stadium of Light in honour of the 96 fans who died 23 years ago in a crush at Hillsborough -- Britains worst sporting disaster -- while Liverpools players walked out wearing tracksuit tops with the number "96" on the backs. Dimitar Berbatov scored twice for Fulham in a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, the Bulgarians first goals since joining from United on transfer deadline day, while Swansea lost 2-0 at Aston Villa following goals by Matthew Lowton and Christian Benteke. West Brom and Swansea were unbeaten and in the top four at the start of the day. Norwich and West Ham drew 0-0 in the other game. ' ' ' |
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7:21 AM Jul 11