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nba-clothes-store · 2 years ago

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The Sacramento Kings have made the NBA postseason for the first time since 2006. What’s changed?

The Sacramento Kings have made the NBA postseason for the first time since 2006. What’s changed? By Thomas Schlachter, CNN CNN — Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” was topping the Billboard Hot 100, Owen Wilson had just made his debut as Lightning McQueen in “Cars” and Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray was counting down the days to his sixth birthday. May 2006 was a long time ago and for all those involved with the Kings, it must feel like even longer. Sacramento has not played an NBA postseason game in almost 17 years but after turning a corner this season, fans in the Golden 1 Center will finally have something to cheer for after the 82 games of the regular season conclude. The Kings clinched a playoff berth following the team’s 120-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. They now sit with a record of 46-30 and become the third team to secure a spot in the Western Conference playoffs, joining the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies. With De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading a new era in Sactown, there is hope that the return to the NBA Playoffs isn’t just a flash in the pan, but a sign of things to come for future years. Trading places There were a lot of questions raised when the Kings opted to trade brilliant, young point guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in early 2022. Haliburton was drafted No. 12 by the Kings and was seen by many as the point guard of the future for the franchise. The 6-foot-5-inch playmaker was named to the 2021 NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting after his first season in the league. After averaging 13 points, 5.3 assists and three rebounds in his first year, Haliburton kept up the pace during his sophomore season and recorded a career-high 38 points and 17 assists early into his second year. However, the Kings began to have concerns over his long-term fit with Fox in their backcourt and a subsequent blockbuster trade sent Haliburton to the Pacers. Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson followed the guard to the Hoosier State with Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, a 2023 second-round pick and, most importantly, Sabonis heading to California. Like Fox alongside Haliburton, Sabonis was a star in a team which was not particularly well constructed around his skillset. The Lithuanian has excelled since arriving in Sacramento and is having one of his best years in the NBA in the 2022/23 season. Sabonis – son of Hall of Fame center Arvydas Sabonis – is averaging career highs in rebounds and assists at the time of writing and returned to the All-Star team for already the third time in his young career. Speaking to The Athletic shortly after his trade, it seemed that the 7-foot-1-inch star knew there were good things waiting for the Kings. Sabonis said: “They brought me here, and we want to change things, you know? “It’ll be a lot of fun. It’s just little by little, I think we’re doing great things and going in the right direction. We’re gonna have a big summer – we’ve been talking about it. And then we’ll have a good training camp and get all the people together, you know?” All change in the off-season After a dismal start to the 2021/22 season, Luke Walton was fired from his role as the Kings’ head coach. Walton was replaced by veteran coach Alvin Gentry on an interim basis and upon the completion of the campaign, the 68-year-old was also let go. The Kings then appointed the associate head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Mike Brown, as their new head coach before the start of the 2022/23 season. Brown had just won an NBA championship with the Warriors after a finals win against the Boston Celtics, and was tasked with bringing some of his winning know-how to Sactown. The 53-year-old has completely overhauled how the Kings approach the game and has turned the franchise into one of the most exciting offenses in the league. Along with Brown, guard/forward Kevin Huerter and shooting guard Malik Monk became key pieces for the Kings and No. 4 draft pick Murray also joined up with the squad. It is no surprise that the arrival of these pieces has coincided with the overhaul of the Kings’ offense. Since moving to the West Coast, Huerter and Murray are shooting over six threes a game, and both are draining shots from deep at over 40%. Monk is just slightly behind the pair in terms of three-pointers attempted (3PA) and three-point percentage (3P%) but helps demonstrate how far this Kings offense has come and the planning that went into building the squad. The Kings ranked 21st in terms of three-point attempts-per-game last season while also shooting from deep at a 24th-rated 34.4%. This term, Brown’s team has climbed to seventh in the 3PA rankings with 36.9 attempts a game at a clip of 37.4% – eighth best in the NBA – again demonstrating the offensive changes that have been made. Another contributing factor to the Beam Team’s success are the performances of Fox in the clutch. The brilliant 25-year-old is on top of the NBA’s Clutch Player Ladder and has been vital in helping his side grind out crucial wins in key moments of the season. Attack is the best form of defense So far this season, the Kings have led the league in points-per-game with a staggering 120.9. Last season, the Kings finished 16th in this ranking, averaging just 110.3 points per outing. The transition the team has made and the additions to the roster have been vital in terms of their increased offensive numbers. Summing up the franchise, the Kings top the offensive rating rankings but sit 26th in terms of defensive rating – demonstrating their all-out attack mentality. This was encapsulated in their record-breaking game against the Los Angeles Clippers. In the second highest scoring matchup in NBA history, the Kings won 176-175 in an incredible offensive display. Fox scored 42 and added 12 assists with Monk leading the team in scoring with an impressive 45 from the bench with six threes. ‘Light the beam!’ The fans at the Golden 1 Center have completely bought into the project and have also played their part in the Kings’ success this season. After every home win, the Kings project a huge purple beam into the sky, in what has become a key part of the culture created at the franchise. With a win approaching, the entire arena erupts with chants of “LIGHT THE BEAM! LIGHT THE BEAM!” which has created a social media sensation. While some opposing teams and fans have used this to mock the Kings if they lose a game, the beam has helped create a special relationship between the fans and the franchise. Whatever happens to Sacramento in the playoffs, it has turned things around this year while capturing the hearts of its fans by playing run-and-gun, fearless basketball. Everyone in Sactown will be hoping they continue to light the beam throughout the postseason. Read the full article

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nbatrades · 3 years ago

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Washington Wizards Deal Montrezl Harrell to the Charlotte Hornets

On February 10th, 2022, the Washington Wizards traded center Montrezl Harrell to the Charlotte Hornets for center Vernon Carey Jr., guard Ish Smith and a 2023 second round draft pick (Trayce Jackson-Davis).

A good start doesn't always lead to prolonged success. Montrezl Harrell joined the Washington Wizards after he was traded along with Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Russell Westbrook in a five-team trade.

The Wizards had retooled the roster also acquiring Spencer Dinwiddie via sign-and-trade from the Brooklyn Nets in that same deal. The Wizards had a new look on the sidelines with coach Wes Unseld Jr. taking over. Early returns were good as Washington went 10-3 in the first 13 games.

However, the team crumbled swiftly. Washington went 5-12 over the next 17 games to fall to 15-15. After getting to 23-21, the Wizards dropped eight of the next nine to fall to 24-29. By the trade deadline, the Wizards transformed the roster. Davis Bertans and Dinwiddie were dealt to the Dallas Mavericks for Kristaps Porzingis and guard Aaron Holiday was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

The other big move was Harrell who was offloaded to the Charlotte Hornets for Ish Smith, Vernon Carey Jr. and a second round pick. For Harrell, his Wizards tenure was good early on but quickly went south.

In the first month of action, the center was a force with 17.1 PPG on 64.3% shooting and 8.4 RPG. But his numbers quickly tailed off.

Harrell also had some drama. In January, Harrell and Caldwell-Pope got into a physical altercation at halftime of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and needed to be separated by teammates. Punches were thrown though no contact was made.

Eventually, Washington moved on from Harrell. He was in the final year of a two-year, $18.9 million deal he signed with the Lakers. Harrell produced 14.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.1 APG and 0.7 BPG in 24.3 MPG.

The 2020 NBA Draft saw the Charlotte Hornets make a big decision, taking point guard LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick. The Hornets also added three other picks via the draft or trade in Vernon Carey Jr. (32nd), Nick Richards (42nd) and Grant Riller (56th).

One of the top high school prospects in 2019, Carey spent one year at Duke University, earning ACC Freshman of the Year with 17.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 1.6 BPG. The NBA was going to be an adjustment for Carey who was a paint bound big who preferred to play with his back to the basket in the post.

Carey signed a reported four-year contract with the Hornets with significant guarantees. The contract value was estimated to be about $6.1 million. There was no Summer League in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that caused a pause of the previous season.

The Hornets began the 2020-21 season 6-5 after 11 games. Charlotte dropped six of its next seven games to fall to 7-11. The season would be a rollercoaster ride for the young club. After reaching fourth in the East with a 27-24 record, Charlotte lost 15 of its final 21 games to fall to 33-39 for the season.

In his rookie season, Carey didn't play much. The big man played in 19 games (four starts) and amassed 2.4 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 6.1 MPG. He also spent time with G-League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. Carey averaged 16.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.1 APG and 1.1 BPG in 14 G-League games with the Swarm.

Charlotte qualified for the NBA play-in tournament. As the 10th seed, the Hornets faced the ninth seed Indiana Pacers on the road. The Hornets never led and fell behind by 13 points in the first five minutes of the contest. Charlotte never got the deficit under double digits as Indiana ran away with an easy 144-117 win, eliminating the Hornets from the postseason.

In the 2021 offseason, the Hornets acquired first round picks James Bouknight and Kai Jones. In free agency, the club signed and traded guard Devonte' Graham to the New Orleans Pelicans and also brought in forward Kelly Oubre.

Ish Smith was another free agent signee. He joined the Hornets, signing a two-year contract. The deal was later revealed to be worth about $9.3 million. A hometown product, Smith was entering a role as a backup point guard and mentor for Charlotte's guard LaMelo Ball. Carey played in 2021 Summer League with Charlotte, averaging 10.0 PPG on 45.8% from the field, 4.0 RPG and 0.7 BPG in 15.3 MPG.

Coming off a play-in appearance, Charlotte had hopes to make the playoffs during the 2021-22 season. The club started off 5-2 and was 13-8 after 21 games. The Hornets were in the thick of the East playoff chase but after a six-game losing streak, fell to 28-28 and ninth in the conference.

That's when the team made a trade deadline deal to bolster its paint scoring and frontcourt depth with Montrezl Harrell. Coming from Washington, Smith had a lesser role in Charlotte. He averaged the lowest minutes of his career in seven years. In 37 games, Smith produced 4.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.6 APG and 0.5 SPG in 13.8 MPG.

Carey saw action in four games with the Hornets, posting 2.0 PPG and 1.3 RPG in 4.3 MPG. He played three games in the G-League with Greensboro, averaging 15.0 PPG and 7.7 RPG in 20.3 MPG. Overall, Carey played in 23 games with Charlotte, producing 2.3 PPG and 1.4 RPG. The center shot 50% from the field and 79% from the free-throw line.

The second rounder the Wizards acquired was originally from Boston and was top-45 protected in the draft.

Montrezl Harrell was brought in to provide energy and a scoring punch off the bench. The former sixth man of the year played as a backup to starter Mason Plumlee. In 21 games with the Hornets, Harrell averaged 11.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.0 APG and 0.5 BPG in 21.0 MPG.

After the trade, the Hornets went 15-11 to finish the 2021-22 season 43-39. The club finished tied for the ninth best record. However, Charlotte lost a tiebreaker to the Atlanta Hawks, placing them 10th.

Charlotte qualified for the play-in tournament and faced the nine seed Hawks on the road. Atlanta led 60-52 at halftime and broke the game open with a 42-24 third quarter advantage. Charlotte never threatened as the Hawks cruised to a 132-103 rout. Harrell had 16 points in nine minutes.

After the season, Harrell faced a felony charge of marijuana trafficking for a May 12, 2022 incident where he was pulled over in Richmond, Kentucky, by a state trooper. The trooper said he smelled marijuana and, after a search, discovered three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags inside a backpack in the backseat.

The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor and Harrell pleaded guilty. The charge would be expunged from his record after 12 months if he had no further legal trouble.

Harrell did not re-sign with Charlotte. He signed a two-year, $5.2 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to reunite with former Houston Rockets teammate James Harden.

After the trade, Ish Smith had a larger role in Washington as a backup point guard. The guard appeared in 28 contests and managed 8.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.0 SPG and 0.5 BPG in 22.0 MPG. Vernon Carey played in three games the rest of the season with Washington, averaging 4.0 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 9.0 MPG. He also appeared in one game with Wizards G-League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.

The Wizards continued their late-season swoon, going 11-18 after the trade to fall to 35-47. The team did not qualify for the playoffs. After the season, the Wizards dealt Smith and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Denver Nuggets for Will Barton and Monte Morris. Also in the offseason, the Wizards signed all-star guard Bradley Beal to a five-year, $251 max contract extension.

Carey joined the Wizards for 2022 Summer League in Las Vegas. He appeared in three games with Washington, managing 11.0 PPG on 57.1% shooting, 6.3 RPG and 1.3 BPG in 18.0 MPG.

Carey spent a good amount of time in the G-League with the Capital City Go-Go. He appeared in 14 games and was productive with 20.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.9 SPG and 0.9 BPG in 27.6 MPG. The center also flashed an outside shot, knocking down 12-33 (36.4%) of his three-pointers.

Meanwhile, Carey had a small role with the big league club. He played in 11 games during the 2022-23 season, recording 0.5 PPG and 1.0 RPG in 2.5 MPG.

Carey was waived in early March by 29-32 Washington after never being able to consistently crack the rotation. He ended his tenure with the Wizards with averages of 1.3 PPG and 1.3 RPG in 14 contests. The big man shot 40% from the field and 50% from the free-throw line in that time.

The pick the Wizards acquired became the 57th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Washington took Indiana University center Trayce Jackson-Davis with the pick and subsequently sent him to the Golden State Warriors for cash considerations in a prearranged deal.

Montrezl Harrell on why he took a commercial flight to make sure he arrive early to play a game with the Hornets after the trade (via The Charlotte Observer):

“I like to play. I like to be around this game. I'm blessed to play this sport and be able to call it my job. So why miss the opportunity to be able to get out here and get acclimated with my team? Honestly, this is about not letting another one slip out of our hands. It's about coming out here and trying to do anything to get the team a win. "The team is on an even-keel right now, right at .500. Some teams are kind of packing it in waiting for the All-Star break. This is the time we can sneak and get four wins or put ourselves in a different spot than we are right now fighting for the playoffs."

Ish Smith on rejoining the Wizards (via Hoops District):

"I was excited to be back. [Washington] DC has been home for me for two years. It's excitement [for me]. The fans, the city, the organization, just everybody always felt like a family in a sense."

On fitting in with the Wizards:

"For me, when you start working with these guys, you come in and you fit in before you can all of a sudden stand out. Obviously, just being here a couple months ago, seven or eight of the guys that were here last year, it is a familiarity. But at the same time, you got to get a feel of what coach Wes [Unseld Jr.] wants to do."

On what he brings to the table:

"Defensively, [bringing] pressure. It takes some time to know what coach Wes and our coaching staff wants defensively. And then offensively, [my responsibility is] pushing the tempo, the pace and knowing where guys like the basketball. "When people kick it out, be ready to knock [open shots] down and just be aggressive and stay in attack mode."

Vernon Carey on arriving to the Wizards (via Hoops District):

"Being traded here I was excited just to get a new opportunity and to meet more people in the basketball world and coming to a great organization like the Wizards in the nation's capital. I was definitely excited."

Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard on acquiring Smith and Carey (via Wizards.com):

"Ish returns to us as a respected veteran leader who can guide our young players as we continue to compete over the stretch run of the season. Vernon is a talented young player who can build on his brief but promising NBA experience while continuing to develop within our system."

Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Mitch Kupchak on Harrell (via Hornets.com):

"It's obvious if you watch him play, he plays with a great deal of energy and passion. That goes a long way on the court, in the locker room. That's going to be something really welcomed to this group. He's one of the elite finishers in the NBA, a very good rebounder, particularly a very good offensive rebounder. "Those are things we felt we needed. We’re going through a little bit of an injury segment in our season and we felt to add a player that can come in right away and play would give us a boost, give our guys a chance to heal and hopefully win some games."

Where Harrell fits positionally:

"[Harrell's] a little undersized, but he makes up for it with his length, passion and energy. We do see him playing more five in today's game. Setting a high pick-and-roll, now he’s at the basket for a lob or offensive rebounds, finishing plays. Miles Bridges has played some small-ball five, so maybe there will be some minutes to go play the three since Gordon's injured. Coach Borrego is going to have to manage, but primarily, [Harrell] will get most of his minutes at the five position."

How the trade can give the team a boost for the stretch run of the regular season (via The Charlotte Observer):

"Originally at the beginning of the season we talked about what are our goals — which I thought we were a little bit ahead of ourselves — which was to get into the playoffs. That still remains one of our goals. I think we could have just stayed pat. But look the injury situation (and) our schedule is favorable in terms of home games, but they are really, really good teams. So I think this will also give us a little boost and hopefully push us toward the goal that we had at the beginning of the season.”

Hornets head coach James Borrego on acquiring Harrell (via The QC Hornets' Nest Podcast/The Charlotte Observer):

"Excited to add a player that brings us some energy, edge, a toughness, a physicality; an interior presence who can finish and rebound at a high level. He's always given us problems in the past. Now we get to use him on our end of the floor."

How Harrell can impact games:

"Many times he comes in off the bench and brings in a spark that can really turn a game. He’s one of those individuals that, immediately when he steps on the floor the game can change. The feel of the game, the intensity of the game can change."

Hornets guard Terry Rozier on what Harrell brings to the table (via The Charlotte Observer):

"Effort and energy for sure. That’s always been 'Trez. The toughness. He’ll bring the toughness to our team. The crowd is going to love him. He’s going to pump up the crowd. From his first day coming in, you are going to see a difference. So it’s going to be huge in that respect."

On his excitement (via The Charlotte Observer):

"S---, I was happy. That's my guy. We played two years together in college, always been keeping in contact. So we had kind of talked about it a year or two ago. But we are just happy to finally make that push and go grab him."

Hornets guard LaMelo Ball on playing with Harrell after one game (via The Charlotte Observer):

"I love 'Trez already. That's definitely a glue guy. I've been seeing him since I was a kid. He just brings a whole lot of effort, keeps people locked in. You want to play defense with him, so he's a great player."

Image Credit:

Montrezl Harrell via Rusty Jones/AP Photo

Ish Smith via Getty Images/Ned Dishman

Vernon Carey via Getty Images/Noah Graham

#Montrezl Harrell #Trayce Jackson Davis #Vernon Carey Jr #Ish Smith #2022 #2021*22 Season #Hornets #Wizards #2022 Trade Deadline

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rmfantasysetpieces1 · 2 months ago

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Thank saint garrincha for alex song. It is rare to find an honest player. 1st, he left to Barca for MONEY!!! so many players talk about how they loved the team they followed him. Get out of here. You left for the money. And there is nothing wrong with leaving for the money , but it should be nothing wrong leaving for the money anywhere, any confederation, any league. Second, all of these agents and entourages and "family" members, never help guide these players spent their money better... ahhhh

THE ARTiCLE

'I left Arsenal for the money – I knew I wouldn’t play but I didn’t think twice about leaving' Alex Song had only one thing in mind when Barcelona came in to sign him from Arsenal - and it certainly wasn't how many minutes he'd be playing in their star-studded side

Arsene Wenger the Arsenal manager chats to Alex Song during an Arsenal pre season training session on July 20, 2005

ByDan Burnham Senior Sports Reporter 13:09, 9 Sep 2024

Regular game time at Arsenal wasn't enough for Alex Song - who "didn't give a f***" about warming Barcelona's bench to become a millionaire.

Song, who celebrates his 37th birthday today (September 9), had been with the Gunners since 2005, first signing on loan aged just 17 and going on to make 205 appearances across all competitions under Arsene Wenger. He was a reliable defensive midfielder for their French boss, making him one of the first names on the teamsheet.

His Premier League form attracted attention from the Catalan giants, who made a £15million offer for his services in the summer of 2012. At the time, Barca boasted their star-studded midfield of Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

So Song was under no illusions he'd be anything but a back-up option used primarily from the bench and in cup competitions. But that was of no concern to him, "not thinking twice" before putting pen to paper on a five-year deal which earned him a reported pay rise from £55,000-a-week to £70k.

Recalling the moment while on an Instagram live with fellow Cameroonian and NBA star Pascal Siakam in 2020, he said: “When Barcelona offered me a contract, and I saw how much I would earn, I didn't think twice.

"I felt my wife and children should have comfortable lives once my career is over. I met Barca's sporting director, and he told me I would not get to play many games, but I didn't give a f*** – I knew that now I would become a millionaire."

Song had been on good money at Arsenal, earning £15k-a-week in just his first contract. But the lavish lifestyle he led in the English capital drained his earnings.

He detailed one costly purchase in particular - buying the same car as Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, which he returned within two months due to how much it was costing him in petrol.

"Most footballers live beyond their means. I was at Arsenal for eight years but only began to earn a good living in the last four," Song admitted.

"That was because my salary went up a lot -- but also because I came to realise what a waster I was. During my entire time at Arsenal, I couldn't even save £100,000, while people thought I must be a millionaire."

He'd spend just two seasons playing for Barca before returning to London for two loan spells with West Ham, departing permanently in 2016 to join Russian club Rubin Kazan. Song went on to also represent Swiss side Sion and Arta Solar 7 in Djibouti before retiring last November.

URL https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-transfer-alex-song-barcelona-33627318

#rmsoccer

#rmsoccer #alex #song #arsenal #fcb #fcbarca #barca #money #transfer

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scrapesaladofficial · 3 months ago

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LeBron James named 2024 Olympics MVP, Stephen Curry joins USA teammate on 'All-Star Five' team in Paris

James has now won six different MVP awards in his legendary career Getty Images LeBron James entered the Olympics having already won five different MVP awards in his legendary basketball career: four of the regular-season and Finals vintage, three from the All-Star Game, and one each from the In-Season Tournament and the McDonald's All-America Game. On Saturday, he added another MVP award to his collection. After Team USA defeated France to win its fifth-consecutive gold medal, James took home the Olympics MVP award. The Olympics MVP award has been handed out only three times. It was conceived in 2004 and given to Manu Ginobili, who led Argentina to gold, but was then scrapped for 2008, 2012 and 2016. It was revived for Tokyo in 2021 and won by Kevin Durant. Now, James has won it is well. https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1822391504691675210?ref_src=twsrctfwtwcamptweetembedtwterm1822391504691675210twgr46ecfa1af13f098d62dfa5090801b66e21dac8e3twcons1_&ref_url=httpswww.cbssports.comolympicsnewslebron-james-named-2024-olympics-mvp-stephen-curry-joins-usa-teammate-on-all-star-five-team-in-paris James averaged 14.2 points on 66% shooting in the tournament, adding 8.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game as well. In Thursday's semifinal victory over Serbia, James posted the fourth triple-double in Olympic history with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He was the offensive engine for Team USA, serving as its point guard and primary ball-handler throughout the tournament. https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1822364111117627663 Still, one of his teammates did manage to make a real run at the MVP award in the final two games. Though Stephen Curry started slow, he made 17 3-pointers in the final two games of the tournament. His 36 points saved Team USA against Serbia, and the four 3s he made down the stretch against France held off a rally and secured gold for the Americans. Ultimately, he fell just short. That doesn't mean Curry leaves the tournament without individual recognition, though. He was one of five players named to the All-Star Five from the Olympics. There, he was joined by his Team USA teammate James, semifinal opponent Nikola Jokic, gold medal game opponent Victor Wembanyama and fourth-place finisher Dennis Schroder, who led Germany to victory at the World Cup last summer and nearly to another medal in Paris. From a legacy standpoint, James had much more to lose than gain by participating in the Olympics. He is 39 years old. He already had two gold medals and four NBA championships. He had nothing to prove, but had Team USA lost, he certainly would have taken a fair share of blame. But James still played, and he proved that even as he pushes 40, he is capable of being the best player in the world when he needs to be. This MVP award may be the last he ever wins, and if that's the case, it's the cherry on top of an already remarkable career. Read the full article

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news4usonline · 4 months ago

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Curry, USA reach gold medal game

They knew it would not be easy, but the USA men's basketball team is one win away from gold. Team USA used an epic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Nikola Jokic and Serbia 95-91 in the semifinals. Stephen Curry reminded the world why he is regarded as the greatest shooter to ever live by scoring 36 points on 9-14 shooting from beyond the arc. Curry had struggled up to this point during the Olympics, but when his team needed him the most, he stepped up with the biggest performance from any member of the roster this Summer. "It was only a matter of time before he had one of these games. We can see it every day; he puts in too much work not to have a game like this, and we wouldn't want it any other way. It was the perfect time for Chef to come out and do what he did," said LeBron James.

Photo credit: USA Basketball At one point in the third quarter, Curry had accounted for nearly half of the team's points (27 of their 56), and his clutch three with 2:24 left on the clock gave the Americans their first lead of the game since early in the first quarter. Without his contributions, Serbia would have blown them out. https://twitter.com/usabasketball/status/1821717484178665794 "I just kinda got lost in the moment of understanding how big this stage is and what is at stake for this team. That is the most fun I have had in a very long time. To dig deep like we did with this group and get a win is special. I am just kind of basking in that right now, and obviously, we know we got another tough challenge in France on their home court," said Curry. The megastars for Team USA all showed up late in the game. Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, and James all pitched in with timely buckets to outlast Serbia's incredible effort. James posted a triple-double, and Embiid finished with 19 points. Head coach Steve Kerr tightened up his rotation as only six members of the team played more than 13 minutes. It took a heightened sense of urgency and focus for the Americans to overcome the fantastic play of Jokic (17 points, 11 assists), Bogdan Bogdanovic (20 points), and Aleksa Avramovic (15 points). "That was one of the best games I have ever been a part of, for the simple fact that we dug deep, being down 15 that late in the game," said Durant. "We talked about how each game somebody is going to have to step up, it might be your night, and (Curry) came and had the best night out of anybody the whole tournament. It was so incredible to watch him knock down shots and keep us afloat. LeBron played extremely hard the whole game, and Joel was insane tonight." https://twitter.com/usabasketball/status/1821724327181431154 France presents a new challenge in the title game, but it is hard to imagine anyone stopping this USA team after coming off such a gritty and emotional victory. Victor Wembanyama is the player to watch out for, standing 7'4" with a long frame and possessing a unique athletic ability. Still, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year is only 20 years old and might not have the experience to take down a juggernaut like Team USA in the same way that a three-time MVP like Jokic was almost able to. "I know this is probably my one and only time to enjoy this stage, and having seen Team USA play for years, I know what it means to stand on that podium and get a gold medal," said Curry. "I just praise God that I was able to stay confident. I haven't had it going this whole tournament, but that doesn't mean anything. You just gotta stay ready for your moment." Read the full article

#LeBronJames #NikolaJokic #Paris2024Olympics #StephenCurry #USABasketball

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laresearchette · 4 months ago

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Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: 24 HOURS IN POLICE CUSTODY (BritBox) BIG BROTHER (Global) 9:00pm WILD WILD SPACE (HBO Canada) 9:00pm THE ARK (CTV Sci-Fi) 10:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA SHOWGIRLS WNBA: CHICAGO SKY AT LAS VEGAS ACES

CBC GEM THE MISADVENTURES OF ROMESH RANGANATHAN (Season 4)

CRAVE TV WILD, WILD SPACE

DISNEY + STAR ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR TO CATCH A SMUGGLER (Season 7)

NETFLIX CANADA THE GRENE GLOVE GANG (Season 2) SIMONE BILES RISING T.P BON (Season 2) (JP)

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE (SN Now) 3:30pm: Kings vs. Knicks (SN) 5:00pm: Raptors vs. Jazz (SN) 9:30pm: Lakers vs. Hawks (TSN) 10:00pm: Warriors vs. Cavaliers

CEBL BASKETBALL (TSN/TSN3) 7:00pm: Brampton vs. Niagara

WNBA BASKETBALL (SN) 7:30pm: Fever vs. Wings

MLS SOCCER (TSN4/TSN5) 7:30pm: New York vs. CF Montreal (TSN4/TSN5) 10:30pm: LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake

BRONX ZOO '90: CRIME, CHAOS, AND BASEBALL (History Channel Canada) 9:00pm/10:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE): As the 1990 Yankees embark on a pivotal season, their pitcher is a no-show, the clubhouse is in disarray and their owner is under MLB investigation while feuding with their star player; somehow, this chaos leads to one of sports' greatest dynasties. In Episode Two, while the 1990 Yankees struggle on the diamond, what's going on off the field is more concerning; Mel Hall's relationship with a teenage girl takes a disturbing turn; MLB's investigation into George Steinbrenner comes to a head.

MADE FOR TV WITH BOMAN MARTINEZ-REID (Crave) 9:00pm/9:30pm/10:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE): Boman is joined by Reality TV star Francesca Farago as he dates seven strangers with the hopes of finding one person to love him forever. In Episode Two, Boman tries his hand at being a competitor in a Cooking Competition Show with guidance from celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford. In Episode Three, after always dreaming of being a News Anchor, Boman is put to the test with celebrity advisors Nathan Downer and Sandie Rinaldo.

FARMING FOR LOVE (CTV) 10:00pm: In the aftermath of the trip to wine country, the Daters must make the most of the remaining time with their Farmers during their final one-on-one dates, knowing at the end a farewell dinner is looming; Farmers prepare for their ultimate decision.

#cdntv #cancon #canadian tv #canadian tv listings #Made for TV with Boman Martinez-Reid #Farming for Love #nba basketball #cebl basketball #wnba basketball #mls soccer

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kaikkitahtipelipaita · 4 months ago

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Golden State Warriors voitti menestyksekkäästi Phoenix Sunsin

NBA Las Vegas Summer League on alkanut. Tänään esitellyt kaksi joukkuetta ovat Golden State Warriors ja Phoenix Suns. Nämä kaksi joukkuetta tuovat faneille upean visuaalisen juhlan pelissä. Joten minkä joukkueen NBA Pelipaidat väristä tulee kirkkain väri tässä pelissä. Pelin alkamisen jälkeen Golden State Warriors siirtyi johtoon rajusti hyökkäyksessä. Ensimmäisellä neljänneksellä he olivat kahdella pisteellä vastustajaansa edellä. Toisella neljänneksellä Golden State Warriors johti edelleen 17 pisteellä. Eroa oli puoliajan päätyttyä 17 pistettä. Golden State Warriors pelipaita pukeutuvat fanit kannustivat heitä. Toisella puoliajalla Golden State Warriors murskasi edelleen Phoenix Sunsin vauhdissa, mutta molemmat osapuolet pitivät pisteeron 17 pisteessä edestakaisin maalinteossa, ja lopulta Golden State Warriors voitti menestyksekkäästi Phoenix Sunsin. . Ottelun lopussa Golden State Warriors voitti Phoenix Sunsin 90-73. Toivon myös, että onnea voi jatkaa Golden State Warriorsin holhoamista ja saavuttaa parempia tuloksia uudella kaudella.

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trikotsnbastar · 4 months ago

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Golden State Warriors schlagen Phoenix Suns 90-73

Die NBA Las Vegas Summer League hat begonnen. Heute werden die beiden Teams Golden State Warriors und Phoenix Suns vorgestellt. Diese beiden Teams werden den Fans im Spiel ein wunderbares visuelles Fest bieten. Welches Team wird also in diesem Spiel die Günstige nba trikots farbe am hellsten haben?

Nach Spielbeginn gingen die Golden State Warriors mit einem heftigen Angriff in Führung. Im ersten Viertel lagen sie zwei Punkte vor ihren Gegnern. Im zweiten Viertel führten die Golden State Warriors immer noch mit 17 Punkten. Nach Ende der Halbzeit hatten die beiden Mannschaften einen Vorsprung von 17 Punkten. Die Fans in den Golden State Warriors Trikots jubelten ihnen zu. In der zweiten Halbzeit besiegten die Golden State Warriors die Phoenix Suns immer noch in Sachen Dynamik, aber die beiden Mannschaften hielten den Punkteunterschied bei 17 Punkten im Hin und Her, und schließlich besiegten die Golden State Warriors die Phoenix Suns erfolgreich.

Am Ende des Spiels besiegten die Golden State Warriors die Phoenix Suns mit 90:73. Ich hoffe auch, dass den Golden State Warriors weiterhin viel Glück bleibt und sie in der neuen Saison bessere Ergebnisse erzielen.

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wiwsport · 4 months ago

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lboogie1906 · 5 months ago

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Daniel Richard Green (born June 22, 1987) is a basketball player who last played for the Philadelphia 76ers. In his NBA career, he has played for six teams. As of 2020, he is one of just four players in history to have won NBA championships with three different teams; he won titles with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, the Toronto Raptors in 2019, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

In 2009, he won an NCAA championship his senior year and was drafted by the Cavaliers with the 46th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. During the 2013 NBA Finals, he set an NBA record for most three-point field goals made in a Finals series (23). He then won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs the following season and became just the third player from UNC to win an NCAA championship and an NBA championship. He won a second NBA championship with the Raptors and followed that up with a third championship with the Lakers.

He has been a key contributor on both ends of the floor throughout his NBA career, having been selected to his first NBA All-Defensive Second Team in the 2016–17 season.

His brother, Rashad, played for Manhattan College and the University of San Francisco. His younger brother, Devonte Green, played for Indiana University. His cousins are professional players Gerald Green and Garlon Green. A cousin, Jordan Green, played for Texas A&M University. Cousin Willie Green played for the University of Detroit Mercy and then in the NBA, he is now the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.

He married in 2021.

He and longtime friend and sports broadcaster Harrison Sanford launched a podcast entitled “Inside the Green Room”. While they intended to start with a soft launch in the summer of 2018, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors just before recording what was to be the pilot episode, so they decided to do a full launch with the first episode. The podcast gained sponsorship from Yahoo Sports Canada. Episodes have featured players and coaches from the Toronto Raptors, as well as players from other teams and other sports journalists. He has expressed an interest in moving into sports broadcasting after his playing career is over. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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coasttickets · 5 months ago

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The world has lost a professional basketball legend. At 86-years old, Jerry West has passed. His legacy as an NBA superstar will not be forgotten.

Jerry grew up in West Virginia in the early 40’s, and spent a large portion of his time shooting baskets. During high school and college, he played basketball and greatly excelled at it. He was captain of his freshman team in high school and in college achieved a perfect record of 17 consecutive wins. A couple years later he would be named Most Outstanding Player during his junior year at West Virginia University. West then went on to co-captain the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

In 1960, he made himself available for the NBA draft and was picked up by the Lakers, before they relocated to Los Angeles. Once on the Lakers, he switched to playing as a guard as opposed to a forward. Although the transition may have been rough, he began to excel in his new position by putting in countless hours of practice. All of this hard work dubbed him the nicknames of “Mr. Inside” and “Mr. Outside”, and earned him his first NBA All-Star game call-ups. He undoubtedly helped the Lakers reach the playoffs in 1961.

Throughout his career, he managed to dominate the sport of professional basketball. From scoring an amazing amount of points per game, to pulling off the win for the team in their time of need, he helped lead his team to victory on several occasions.

After his basketball playing career, in 1976, he moved on to coaching the Lakers for a few seasons. During this time the Lakers made it to the playoffs each season.

When his coaching stint was over, he started his executive career in basketball. He stayed with the Lakers for 20 years, and in that time he played a hand in getting Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal on the team. This would inevitably lead to one of the best periods of the Lakers history.

From the early 2000’s, until his passing, he continued to help shape the future of sport and players alike. Jerry West helped the Memphis Grizzlies retain their franchise and make it to playoffs. Afterwards going on to help the Golden State Warriors win their first championship in over 40 years. Finally landing back in Los Angeles with the LA Clippers, where he spent the rest of his years as an executive board member and consultant.

West had a very fulfilling life and was a legend of the sport. He helped shape the history of the NBA through more than one team, and he will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jerry West.

#jerry west #losangeles #nba #lakers #golden state warriors #milwaukee bucks #los angeles clippers

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newnoirstories · 6 months ago

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Illustrators Very Much Wanted

[Illustrators wanted. Generous terms outlined in pinned post: @scholarofgloom on Tumblr]

[As always, the inclusion of religious and mystical themes in my stories does not constitute an endorsement of them. The following story contains intense, horror themes, kidnapping, references to drugs and alcohol, and also a reference to parental neglect.]

"Ars Oculus"

Chapter I

When, amidst the festivities of June, 1976 in Boston, with the Boston Celtics basketball team having won its 13th NBA championship, certain tall men, household names in Boston, made out autographs to a 43-year-old man, one Caldwell Marion Rome, they could little have imagined how remarkable, perhaps even miraculous it was, and reflecting the determination of this man, that Mr. Rome was engaged in any activity reckoned so "normal" by society.

Yet this Boston Celtics fan, father of three at the time, had lived, at the beginning of the same year, what appeared, still waters running deep, to be the essence of every traditional American norm.

Caldwell Rome was a private detective by trade, but prior to this fateful year, had always laughed at fictional depictions of his profession, assuring those who knew him that it seldom had the "blood and grit" such stories would have one believe. In a quiet, middle-class neighborhood of Boston, Caldwell specialized in detecting forgeries and thefts of antiques, subjects on which he was an expert of no small renown.

Rome was the junior partner of the private detective agency Cross & Rome, occasionally mistaken for a Catholic organization, with Robert Cross, 62, his senior partner, working out the fencing and money laundering aspects of the same crimes Rome investigated. Cross was hardly less remarkable than Caldwell, being a man of the finest tailoring, physically fit, tall and elegant, mentally sharp with a quick wit, with a carefully coiffed silver streak in his hair that made him, sometimes likened to classic leading man Cary Grant in this respect, appear no more than forty, even as he entered his seventh decade.

With occasional assistants who came and went, these men earned a stream of income that moved them gradually into upper-middle class status.

On the home front, Agatha Rome (née Fisher), 38, was a sunny woman, known in her neighborhood as someone of the highest character, a responsible mother, with no one to say a word against her. More trivially, she was also known for her very floral wardrobe, and even as 1950's nostalgia became prominent in the seventies, to Agatha, it was not nostalgia, but simply the same life she had lived from the start.

One could not have imagined, or so it seemed, a lighter and brighter setting, yet the light would meet the most horrifying darkness, a darkness that would seek the light, no matter how the light wished to hide from it.

Chapter II

One horror that was undeniable was the death of Agatha's mother, Judith Fisher, in 1964, by homicide. Due to the brutality of the crime and its timing, the press generally attributed the crime to the Boston Strangler. Even this, however, served to turn Agatha into more a pillar of her community as, seeing the necessity of law and order even more clearly, she donated and raised money for the families of slain or otherwise deceased police officers.

Agatha had, in high school, been classmates with a deeply disturbed girl named Delilah Knudsen, nicknamed "Devil" by some, and while Agatha had long forgotten about "Devil" Delilah, Delilah remembered her very well, and there is the dark heart of the matter.

While the neighborhood in which the Rome family lived had little crime, in 1975, one incident did occur that broke the peace of the suburban setting.

In the summer of '75, on a balmy night, a 17-year-old boy named Andy Coran sneaked into the Rome family's yard, apparently to watch, through a window, Agatha disrobe. The family bulldog, however, Marmon by name, after a series of tanks, knew of his presence while the humans did not, and mauled the boy, nearly to death.

Even more seriously, as laws were then written, Andy had in his right sock a small plastic bag of cocaine, which may have explained why he seemed to feel little pain from Marmon's attack, at least initially.

"The boy is lucky Marmon got him before Caldwell did," remarked Agatha, "He won't even allow alcohol in the house."

Chapter III

No one in the neighborhood imagined that far worse awaited them, and to understand why, one must understand a materially wealthy woman of the darkest madness, Delilah Knudsen.

Materially wealthy, of old money, Delilah was poor in support in her developing years. Her paternal great-grandfather had earned the family fortune, but her father lived to squander it, and self-destruct in the process. He disappeared into the opium dens of New York City before little Delilah really knew him at all.

Living in one of Boston's oldest homes with her mother, a home some claimed was haunted, may have done neither Delilah nor her mother any favors, as by the time Delilah was 14, her mother, Christina Knudsen (née Nilsen) was in a mental hospital, and would never be released from institutional care.

Already a strange, shy girl, Delilah changed at this time into something frightening, becoming particularly obsessed with her classmate, Agatha, then Agatha Fisher. In one unnerving incident, though still not the most grotesque of Delilah's youth, a wide-eyed Delilah, alone in a classroom with Agatha, caressed Agatha's arm, and in a monotone voice said, "Your skin is supple. I must have it."

As an adult, wealthy enough to isolate herself from the world, with a revolving door of servants who either resigned in fear or were let go if they found out a little too much about their employer, Delilah Knudsen became obsessed with acquiring yet more wealth, convinced that if she could acquire enough gold, in her personal mythology, she could transmute, in alchemical terms, into someone or something immortal. To this end, she worshipped the Goetic demon Bune, said to grant wealth, but also took a deep interest in the dark side of Indo-Iranian beliefs, worshipping Angra Mainyu, the Zoroastrian father of evil, believing that she "belonged to him" and that he was responsible for her being, in her own mind, reincarnated from serial killer Countess Elizabeth Báthory.

Most ghoulish of all, she had in her possession, unknown to any of her servants, the fifth digit of the right upper extremity of none other than Judith Fisher. This terrible fact can be explained only by knowledge of what Delilah herself claimed: None of what she did was of her own accord, but answering to "the eyes in the painting".

In an old family portrait of her great-grandfather, the original breadwinner, Delilah, who by the late sixties was calling herself "Alexandra Medusa", insisted that eyes watched her, and a voice spoke to her, commanding her to do all that she had done. Indeed, a former maid claimed to have seen eyes in the painting fixed on "Alexandra", and a "croaking" voice giving instructions, a voice that could have come only from the painting.

Chapter IV

As Alexandra Medusa, now so-called legally, lived in an opulent chamber of horrors, Caldwell and Agatha Rome had quite different matters on their minds.

Since 1972, when it went missing from Yale University, Caldwell Rome had been more than a little obsessed with finding an evidently stolen Persian zarf, a container for spices, one in legend said to have been owned by the Three Magi from the Book of Matthew, though other stories claimed not only that it was a fraud, as far as such a holy origin, but instead was constructed by medieval German warlocks, and hexed accordingly.

Seemingly fantastical stories aside, it was an item of immense artistic and monetary value, and for this reason, Caldwell had been consulted by many on its disappearance, and one cold day in January, 1976, was chewing on a pencil as he typed notes on possible leads in the case.

"C'mon, beaver man, can't you think of anything but work?" asked Agatha.

Chewing on a pencil, like a beaver chewing wood, Caldwell answered, in a somewhat limited range of vocalizations, "Like what?"

"How about we work on making a fourth child? You know I've wanted one so long."

Finally dropping the pencil from his teeth, Caldwell explained, "I have long felt, Agatha, that this is something more than professional. Call it fanciful, but this zarf, this chalice, it is connected to us in some way. I gave a guest lecture at Yale two weeks before it disappeared. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. Besides, the financial rewards offered for any solid leads would help us provide complete security for three or four kids."

Little did Caldwell Rome know, however, that the zarf was at that moment in the possession of Alexandra Medusa, now used for her strange theories on alchemy, as she believed the cup had magickal powers.

"What makes this old cup so expensive, Caldwell?" asked Agatha.

"Legends claim it has mystical import. Chimerical or no, many believe them, or have believed them."

"How did the legend start?"

"Well, technically, the volumes in which it is first mentioned begin with a prologue claiming that if the reader speaks the name of the books to anyone else, he hexes that unfortunate other. No, I don't believe it either, Aggie, but in your case, I'm not taking chances. Find me the zarf and I'll find you a fourth kid."

"Okay, I'll look in the kitchen cabinets," joked Aggie.

Chapter V

The parallel worlds interconnected as they are, the reader will learn that the three Rome children are all very much connected to the light and the dark of it.

The eldest child, Philip Rome, a bright if impressionable boy of seventeen, well-behaved but unpopular, outstanding in mathematics and planning to be an accountant, had befriended Thomas Banerjee, a boy whose parents were immigrants from India, but who had become distinctly American very quickly.

Thomas was what today we would call a "theatre kid", obsessed with Broadway and swearing that he would star on it one day, and soon began sharing his knowledge of musicals, as well as his often magenta wardrobe, with Philip.

"Thomas has an odd influence over Philip, don't you think?" asked a concerned Agatha of her husband.

"I think that we should, by all means, encourage Thomas's Broadway career," replied Caldwell.

"But you know he's…?"

"Of course, but people have to work things like that out for themselves sometimes."

Thomas was also friendly with the second Rome child, Natalie, 15, who spoke five languages already, but exaggerated all of Philip's tendencies. Philip was academically proficient, Natalie even more so. Philip was socially less than adept, but Natalie would, were it not for Thomas, have been an utter recluse.

It was not that Natalie did not long for human company. On the contrary, she had her eye on a shy, bookish boy from one of her classes, but her conversations tended to be awkward and circular, her understanding of every conversation and jest literal, such that the other kids were generally confused by her, and she by them.

Thomas, though, with his eye for fashion, helped Natalie blend in a bit more, as she, under his tutelage on the subject, ceased wearing wildly mismatching and clashing outfits.

This brings us to the potential black sheep of the family, Jeremiah Rome, just eight. For seven years, he had seemed like every other boy, but as he approached his eighth birthday, he became suddenly belligerent, a bully to smaller children, and wantonly destructive of property.

The family's priest, of the Roman Catholic Church, Father Callum Donegal, was of the opinion that supernatural forces were affecting the young boy, which, no doubt, makes the reader consider Ms. Medusa's influence.

Chapter VI

"I'm so lonely I'd do anything to make you like me," blurted out Natalie, speaking to a boy at the high school library. The boy, Paul Knudsen was, unbeknownst to Natalie, the estranged son of Delilah "Alexandra Medusa" Knudsen, his father's identity unknown.

Paul ran away from his grotesque home at just twelve, then was placed in foster care.

"Would you still like me if my mom was a killer?"

Paul had been feared by association before, and now felt that others would shun him if they knew about his mother, whom he termed "a killer" because of her claim of being reincarnated from one.

"Sure, Paul. Statistics indicate that criminal tendencies in a parent by no means genetically predispose a child to repeat any pattern of behavior," replied Natalie, in her ultra-academic way of speaking.

"Maybe not, but a lot of people get scared as soon as they know about my freak mom."

"My parents say I can start dating when I'm 16. That's next month, Paul, and your 16th is the same month. Do you at least think I'm cute? I'm not a glamour girl, but can I still be cute?"

Paul smiled, "Yeah, you really are."

In the midst of this budding romance, however, Caldwell Rome had finally found a lead on the Magi Zarf, or Magi Cup, as many called it. A retired fence of stolen goods came forward to say that a friend of his had sold something similar to the item's description to Alexandra Medusa.

Posing as a wealthy but unscrupulous collector, with fine apparel and a shifty eye, Caldwell went up to the front door of Medusa, striking a knocker that, appropriately, depicted Medusa. Rather than letting a servant answer, Alexandra answered the door personally, but said only, in the monotone sound for which she was known, "I hexed Jeremiah, you Papist", before closing the door in Rome's face.

Chapter VII

Now believing Father Donegal's supernatural theory about his youngest child, Caldwell's next step was to go to Confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, confessing any venial (minor) sins of his, reasoning that, if the devil were involved, this would fortify him.

In the confessional, however, Fr. Callum Donegal stated, "There is a storm coming, Mr. Rome, not of air or water, nor quaking of the earth, but of purest hellfire. Your son's behavior results from the world's growing wickedness, and a generation from today, it will be worse still. Worst of all, even the Church, or the appearance of it, is filled with atheists and the most contemptibly abusive. Soon, the world will be sheep with no shepherd, so you are quite right to put on Christ's armor now, as there will not be another opportunity."

At the Rome household, meanwhile, Magnus Fisher, 62, World War II veteran and widower, father of Agatha, was delivering a similarly grim message.

"If you want a fourth child, Agatha, the decision is yours to make, but I fought in the thick of combat against trained German killing machines, and even that is more comforting a thought than the future of today's children."

"Why? What is happening in the future?"

"I don't know specifics of the future, but it's like watching a building slowly collapse. If you have a fourth child, one conversation with a glib atheist and the child might become one, and you know what the Psalms say. Still, if you want to another kid…"

Chapter VIII

"You need to pose as a repairman," suggested Robert Cross to his junior partner, "But you might want to do a bit of legal research on what you can get away with in that regard."

"The lady seems to know me by sight," replied Rome.

"Oh, there are ways around that. If you know the right people, and the right techniques, you can look like anything. Disguises aside, we both know Alexandra has to be involved. It has to be someone who knows about The Tomes, and spooky Medusa is just the type to know all about that."

Given an idea by Robert's words, Caldwell went to the nearest library to research it, this being long before widespread Internet availability. Unfortunately for Caldwell, the librarian at this locale was Cassandra Mullin.

"Not only are you criminals for stealing this book an extra two days, but your loud pickup vehicle is destroying Mother Earth, and is an emblem of your cave-dwelling, reactionary, neo-Confederate ways! Never come back!"

Mullin's tirade was all over a man with a South Carolina license plate returning a book two days late. Her ordinarily sallow, gaunt face had turned a bright red in her rage, but then she saw Caldwell Rome.

"Oh, oh! Hello, Caldwell. How can I do you? I mean… what can I do for you?" asked Cassandra, fixing her hair and acting like a schoolgirl, which she had not been for thirty years. Caldwell's wry face showed his thoughts, utter disbelief that anyone put such a person in charge of any library, or of anything.

"I need your genealogical records, section B through D."

Picking it up with effort, her eyes still fixated on Rome, Cassandra put a large, dusty volume before him. As Caldwell reached for it, however, Mullin suddenly grabbed his face and kissed him.

"What's that June Cleaver wife of yours got that I haven't?" she exclaimed.

More than a little nauseated, Caldwell continued his research, needing several other books from Cassandra, who was now hiding her face in embarrassment at her own impulsive actions.

Chapter IX

"Why don't you give this zarf case to Mr. Cross?" suggested Agatha.

"Exactly what I can't do. Cross is not blunt enough to say it, but if I don't solve this one soon, without him, he will consider me expendable," Caldwell replied.

"I thought you were partners."

"Yes, I'm his junior partner. To put it another way, it's 1965, I'm John Havlicek, and I have to steal the ball or else!"

"If that's a sports reference, who won the Battle of Versailles [a 1973 Franco-American fashion contest]?"

"The what?"

"Exactly my point," snarked Agatha.

That night, eager and excited, Alexandra Medusa crept on to the Rome family's property. Bribing Marmon the bulldog with sweet words and a sirloin steak, Alexandra crept to the same window as Andrew "Andy" Coran had, to watch Agatha Rome.

"Oh, she's perfect…" muttered Medusa, nearly fainting from her interest.

While on the property, however, her hands gloved, Alexandra also slipped a message in a mailbox. Thomas Banerjee had, in fact, finally pursued his Broadway dreams, and merely took an early flight to New York, but a letter, addressed not to Caldwell or to Agatha, but to Philip, claimed that Thomas had been kidnapped, and instructed Philip to go to Medusa's address.

Chapter X

Natalie brought home Paul Knudsen, essentially for her parents' approval of him as her soon-to-be boyfriend. Nothing about Knudsen was objectionable to any sane parent, unless it were the identity of his mother. Paul got that out of the way first thing.

"Just so you know, Mr. and Mrs. Rome, I'm nothing like my mom. You may have heard stories about her. Well, I ran away to foster care now. I don't do any of those dark things."

When they were alone, Caldwell and Agatha discussed the boy.

"He seems like a good kid. I trust Natalie with him," said Agatha.

"So do I. He's being entirely honest, but he has another secret, one even he doesn't know."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I just solved the case of the Magi Cup, and I have Paul to thank."

Just then, however, Jeremiah, for all of his bad behavior, rushed into the room, very upset that his big brother, Philip, was missing, having left a note saying only, "Got to save Tom, Philip."

With a grim face, Caldwell went to the attic to load an old pistol.

"We should get the police immediately!" exclaimed Agatha.

"I know where Philip is, and if the police raid that place… no, I have to go in alone."

Chapter XI

Bareheaded in a driving rain, Caldwell Rome rushed to his car, a Ford Falcon from the sixties, and drove as quickly as its ailing motor would take him, going directly to the address of Alexandra Medusa.

Medusa was so audacious as to leave her front gate open, and her front door likewise, holding Philip Rome at the point of a knife, saying cryptically, as lightning punctuated her words, "Fate brings lovers together."

With pistol drawn, Caldwell replied, "No riddles, witch. Let go of my son! You can't possibly win now. If you hurt him, you die."

"Calm down, Mr. Rome, there is no need for anyone to die. I don't want Philip, or you. I need your wife. I need Agatha Fisher, who is Suvannamaccha."

"Who is what?"

"Suvannamaccha, the mermaid. Her maiden name, Fisher, and if you know the Kabbalah, the left kidney, Hod, corresponds to Hanuman. My left kidney was removed when I was 18. That was when I knew why I dreamt of the dear girl Agatha, for Mr. Rome, I am becoming a god. But I need a night… a ritual with Agatha to make it happen. Then I will be immortal."

"You need a psychiatrist. Just let my son go. They'll find you insane anyway."

"They will find a god. I swear by Ahriman, whose property my mortal form is, that if you give me one night, one ritual with your wife, not only will I release her and Philip unharmed, but I will lift the hex on Jeremiah… (lightning strike)… I will let you watch the ritual if you do not believe me!"

Philip Rome had been taught by Caldwell, in the strictest terms, never to hit a girl, but as he heard Alexandra's plans, he finally broke that rule and stomped firmly on her instep. In an instant, he was free, and Medusa was at Caldwell's mercy.

"Go ahead and shoot. If you will not let me be a god, sacrifice me and become one yourself…" said Delilah, tearfully.

"No, I will follow Jesus Christ as my God, and you will be safely in a hospital. I will even pray for you," replied Caldwell Rome, holding back his anger.

Chapter XII

Locking Delilah in one of her own closets, and warning Philip to stay outside, Caldwell Rome rushed into the old house feared by so many, an intentional labyrinth of dead ends and secret passages. Eventually, however, he found what he was seeking, the old painting of Delilah's great-grandfather, the one said to instruct her every move.

In an indication of Caldwell's uncompromising directness, he ripped most of the canvas, with his bare hands, from its frame, and there, too stunned to respond or even move, was Robert Theodore Cross, his eyes where the portrait's eyes had been.

The dreadful story of the Robert T. Cross, the mind of the evil if Delilah was its heart, is one that the author has kept from the reader for purposes of cynical emotional manipulation, as a literary ploy, but in this year of reckoning, all was revealed.

Robert T. Cross was born Samuel Matthews, but changed his name, in 1955, to Robert Cross, to make his initials R.C., standing, to him, for Rosy Cross. Still, in his black heart, he was more opportunist than occultist, and when the Second World War first involved the USA, eagerly took German money to act as a spy for the Third Reich.

From there, if it were possible to sink lower, he did. Not so much a womanizer as a fortune hunter, Matthews/Cross used his good looks and considerable superficial charm to court and obtain wealth from rich women, such as Delilah Knudsen, and it was seeing in Paul Knudsen the image of a younger Robert Cross that made Caldwell Rome's case complete, as he realized that Robert was Paul's father.

However, before Delilah, he had leeched the considerable financial means of Judith Fisher, Agatha's mother, then thrown her over for Cassandra Mullin, an eccentric woman from a wealthy family, a family that later disowned her. Bitter over this, Judith, also known as Judy, tried to blackmail Cross over his Nazi past, but such was a fatal game to play. Robert murdered Judy, and, taking advantage of hysteria over the Boston Strangler, made it appear to be one of his crimes.

From here, his greed knew no bounds. He took full advantage of Delilah's psychiatric weaknesses, and cunningly devised the oracle portrait, while in his other, seemingly respectable life as a private detective, Robert arranged the theft of antiques, then betrayed the thieves and so made money from both sides of the law, all without even Caldwell suspecting a thing.

At the trial for his many crimes, still looking like a leading man, Samuel Matthews had the nerve to refer to Caldwell Rome as "ungrateful", on the grounds that "I made him most of his money."

Samuel "Robert Cross" Matthews was sentenced to life in prison, Alexandra Medusa was committed to a secure psychiatric facility, and, in 1981, Natalie Rome, by this time with three siblings, married Paul Knudsen.

The end.

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