#alvin gentry

[seenartists]

PHOTOGRAPHER ALVIN KEAN WONG 

FEATURING ACTRESS ANTONIA GENTRY 

FLAUNT MAGAZINE 

WWW.SEENARTISTS.COM  @seenartists​ 

[handeaux]

Cincinnati’s High Society Was Dominated By Madame Devereux And Her Blue Book

Before Madame Clara Anna Rich Devereux stuck her nose into things around 1880, Cincinnati’s polite society was an embarrassment of disorganization. A half-century earlier, Frances “Fanny” Trollope had lambasted the local gentry in her scandalous 1832 book, “Domestic Manners of the Americans,” in which she states:

“All animal wants are supplied profusely at Cincinnati, and at a very easy rate; but, alas! these go but a little way in the history of a day's enjoyment. The total and universal want of manners, both in males and females, is so remarkable, that I was constantly endeavouring to account for it.”

In a thoroughly typical Queen City response, the local pinkies-up crowd pretended Trollope’s book did not exist, spoke no more of it, and carried on obliviously.

Mrs. C.A.R. Devereux was not amused. Born into a family of authentic Boston brahmins, she married General Arthur F. Devereux, who distinguished himself for bravery during the Battle of Shiloh. He was a ranking officer in the Army Corps of Engineers and was based at Cincinnati. The Devereuxs and their five children occupied a house in the fashionable East Fourth Street neighborhood, almost next-door to Murat Halstead, the publisher of the Cincinnati Commercial newspaper. Halstead recruited Mrs. Devereux to add some life and color to his newspaper’s society columns.

It is a considerable stretch to describe any of the pages in any of Cincinnati’s dozen daily newspapers (five were in German) back then as offering “society” news. What the newspapers published was a “personals” page in which tidbits provided by nearly any subscriber appeared in print. To pick one random example, the 5 March 1882 Cincinnati Enquirer’s “Random Notes” column featured a sick bill collector, a talented woman cobbler, and a traveling haberdasher along with reports of social gatherings among the wealthy tribes atop Walnut Hills and Clifton.

The upper crust was so appalled at finding themselves lumped indiscriminately with tradesmen and parvenus that they considered any mention of anyone’s name in any newspaper as something of a social embarrassment. As a result, Mrs. Devereux endured years of tribulation as she endeavored to convince the city’s blue bloods to provide her with any printable tidbits. According to Alvin F. Harlows’ “The Serene Cincinnatians,”

“Mrs. Devereux, when she called at some of these ultraconservative homes for items, was not even seated in the parlor, but had to wait in the hall until the lady of the house chose to go down and speak to her.”

The tables turned after 1892, when Mrs. Devereux published the first of her annual “Blue Book” directories of Cincinnati society. Overnight, she became the final arbiter of social standing in the Queen City. Any grande dame who dared confront “Madame” Devereux risked banishment from the now-official social register.

Just how influential was the annual Blue Book? In that inaugural issue, Mrs. Devereux announced a new schedule for “at home” days. Etiquette in the 1890s required a strict schedule of “calling,” in which the socially conscious made the rounds of their peers. Whole books were written about the proper distribution of “calling cards.” Anyone who was “at home” for callers on the wrong day faced social ostracism. Appalled by the seemingly random schedule of visitations in Cincinnati, Mrs. Devereux decreed a new schedule, totally fabricated by herself:

“The first two Fridays in the month are Clifton at home days, the last two are set apart for Mt. Auburn. The first two Thursdays of the month are at home days for Avondale, the last two for West Sixth and Fourth Streets. The first two Mondays for East Walnut Hills, the second two for the West Hill. Tuesday, the Burnet House, St. Nicholas, East Fourth and Pike, Broadway and the East End generally. Wednesday, Dayton Street and Covington.”

Cincinnati’s societal matrons fell sharply in line. They had no choice. Mrs. Devereux herself (often referred to as “Madame” because her surname appeared to be French) was quite pleased with herself. In the fourth (1896) edition, she bragged:

“The Blue Book has become as indispensable a requisite for the escuitoire of the woman of fashion as her silver-mounted writing utensils and her crested seal. To the man of business it is almost as useful, for it tells him ‘who's who’ at a glance and where he or she may be found.”

In addition to her annual directory and her unsigned contributions to the Cincinnati Commercial, Mrs. Devereux published her own occasional newsletter, called “Tips” in which she passed along the really good stuff to her subscribers.

Throughout the mid-1890s, Mrs. Devereux’s columns in the Commercial often jostled against saucy squibs penned by an ambitious young writer named Mary C. Francis, who provided gossipy material to several Cincinnati papers. So long as they shared space in the same newspaper, Mrs. Devereux held her tongue and her pen. When Miss Francis relocated to New York and published a few successful novels, Mrs. Devereux spread all sorts of calumny.

Mary Francis sued for libel based on an item in Mrs. Devereux’s Tips which implied that Miss Francis had escaped to New York because she had engaged in behavior unbecoming a lady, published salacious material and had been barred as a consequence from the best Cincinnati homes. Further, Mrs. Devereux claimed that Miss Francis had attempted to “hoodoo” money under false pretenses from a Cincinnati artist.

In court, Miss Francis’ attorneys demolished the Devereux defense, awarding the plaintiff $500 in damages. Mrs. Devereux, with typical chutzpah, immediately devoted an entire issue of her Tips newsletter to attack the judge, the jury, the plaintiff’s legal team and Miss Francis and her witnesses. Mrs. Devereux lamented the injustice of a judicial system in which a fine woman such as herself could be vanquished by rabble of such inferior social standing. Miss Francis sued again and appears to have been settled out of court.

Shortly after her courtroom defeat, Mrs. Devereux retired from journalism for a couple of years. When the Cincinnati Enquirer acquired the Commercial in 1900, the new publishers enticed her into resuming her duties at the society desk and she remained in that position until her death in 1910. In its obituary, the Cincinnati Times-Star recognized her influence:

“She achieved remarkable success, and it has been said of her that she was personally familiar with more prominent lives than any other individual in the city. Her acquaintance was as wide as society’s limits, and her knowledge of affairs embraced everything needful to the conscious newsgatherer and polished writer.”

Notably, throughout her final stint at the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mrs. Devereux was assisted by her daughter Marion, who assumed her mother’s duties for the next 30 years and escalated her family’s stranglehold on the city’s moneyed classes. While Clara may have been an arbiter, there were more than a few who saw Marion as nothing short of a dictator.

[nbatrades]

Charlotte Bobcats Acquire Melvin Ely and Eddie House from Los Angeles Clippers

On July 14th, 2004, the Los Angeles Clippers traded center-forward Melvin Ely and guard Eddie House to the Charlotte Bobcats for a 2005 second round draft pick (Daniel Ewing) and a 2006 second round draft pick (Paul Davis).

The 2001-02 season was a year of disappointment sprinkled in with some hope for the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite missing the playoffs for the fifth straight year, the team won 39 games, its most in nine years. With young players such as Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette on the roster, the Clippers had hope to build into a legitimate playoff team.

In the 2002 offseason, the Clippers held two picks in the lottery at number eight and 12. First, the team drafted athletic power forward Chris Wilcox from the University of Maryland. Next, the team selected big man Melvin Ely from Fresno State.

A throwback big man with the ability to score in the post with either hand, Ely excelled at the college level. A two-time WAC player of the year, Ely led the Bulldogs in his senior year with 23.3 PPG and 9.1 RPG. After the draft, Ely signed the traditional rookie scale contract for four years with a team option in the last year for $7.3 million.

The Clipper had high hopes for the 2002-03 season after trading for point guard Andre Miller. The team was a disappointment dropping 12 of its first 18 games. Los Angeles fell to third-worst in the West with a 19-39 record, head coach Alvin Gentry was fired. Assistant coach Dennis Johnson took over for the rest of the season. After the coaching change, the Clippers weren't much better, finishing the year with a 27-55 record.

Ely was on the fringes of the Clippers rotation, but injuries to starters Michael Olowokandi, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom in the frontcourt opened up time for the rookie. Ely appeared in 52 games (seven starts) and tallied 4.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 0.6 BPG in 15.4 MPG.

The Clippers had somehow compiled four players on the roster who were drafted in the first round of the 1999 draft in Brand, Odom, Miller and Maggette. That meant they all would hit free agency in the summer of 2003. All four players were restricted free agents. On top of that, starting center Olowokandi and reserve Eric Piatkowski were unrestricted free agents.

It would be a key moment in the franchise's history. Los Angeles went halfway in restricted free agency. Brand and Maggette signed offer sheets of six years and $82 million, and six years and $42 million with the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz respectively. The Clippers matched both offers, keeping the two players in Los Angeles.

Miller and Odom both signed six year offer sheets with the Denver Nuggets and Heat respectively. Los Angeles declined to match the offer sheets, losing both starters. Olowokandi signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves while Piatkowski departed for the Houston Rockets.

The Clippers added Eddie House in free agency, signing the combo guard to a two-year, $1.6 million deal. In the first round of the draft, the Clippers added center Chris Kaman. On the coaching front, the Clippers hired head coach Mike Dunleavy in the offseason.

The Clippers started the 2003-04 season 4-2 after six games, but dropped nine of their next 11 games to fall to 6-11. Los Angeles was 24-30 after 54 games and the team finished the season 4-24 over the last 28 games to finish 28-54.

Ely was unhappy in his second season with the Clippers. With the departures of Olowokandi and Odom, there was hope for him to see an uptick in minutes. However, players like the rookie Kaman and fellow 2002 pick Wilcox received more playing time under coach Dunleavy.

The former Fresno State college player hoped to be traded at the deadline but that never happened. Near the end of the regular season, Ely expressed interest in being selected by incoming NBA team the Charlotte Bobcats in the expansion draft. But really, Ely just wanted to join a team where he could receive regular rotation minutes.

"I just want to play, so if that means going to another team, that's what I want to do. Obviously, I'm not a fit here. God willing, I could be somewhere else next season, start everything brand new ... and just try to get onto the court by any means necessary."

Overall, Ely saw action in just 42 games (two starts) with the Clippers and put up 3.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 0.5 APG in 12.1 MPG.

House was in a similar role to his previous stop with the Miami Heat. Mainly a reserve, House played in 60 games and made 10 starts. The guard posted 6.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.4 APG and 1.1 SPG in 19.8 MPG.

Ely's request for a trade didn't work out the exact way he had expected. The Bobcats were interested in taking Ely in the expansion draft, but the Clippers kept him on their list of protected players.

Instead, the Clippers worked out a deal where reserve center Peja Drobnjak was selected by the Bobcats in the expansion draft. Charlotte moved up to the second spot—drafting Emeka Okafor—of the draft while the Clippers moved down to number four—taking guard Shaun Livingston. As part of this arrangement the Clippers also received the 33rd pick in the draft.

Ely eventually got his wish as the Clippers sent him and House to the expansion Bobcats for two future second round picks in 2005 and 2006.

The primary motivation for Los Angeles was to free up cap space to make a run at Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant who entered free agency in the summer of 2004. The Clippers were considered a legitimate threat at signing Bryant because of his interest in staying in the Los Angeles area.

Ely was owed $1.7 million for the 2004-05 season and House's was $825,000. offloading those two salaries cleared a max cap slot for the Clippers to make a run at Bryant which turned out to be unsuccessful. The star guard returned to the Lakers.

Melvin Ely and Eddie House joined the expansion Bobcats after being cast off from the Los Angeles Clippers. Ely played in Summer League for the Bobcats in Salt Lake City. In six games, he contributed 11.7 PPG on 50% shooting and 4.8 RPG in 21.8 MPG.

The Bobcats were bad early on, starting their inaugural season 1-8. The club was just 8-31 after 39 games. Charlotte finished the season 18-64, tied for the second-worst record in the NBA.

House was waived in early December by the Bobcats as the club made room to acquire guard Kareem Rush from the Los Angeles Lakers. He later signed during the season with the Milwaukee Bucks. House played in 13 games (five starts) with Charlotte, compiling 11.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.8 SPG in 23.1 MPG.

Ely saw a boost in playing time with the Bobcats, playing in 79 games (17 starts) and recording 7.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.0 APG and 0.9 BPG in 20.9 MPG.

After the 2004-05 season, the Bobcats drafted point guard Raymond Felton fifth overall and power forward Sean May in the 13th spot of the draft. Charlotte began the 2005-06 season 5-17 which set the tone for another losing season. Charlotte was 26-56 which was an eight-win increase from the previous year.

Ely continued to grow his game as he tallied a career-high 9.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG and 23.6 MPG along with 0.5 SPG and 0.8 BPG during the ‘05-‘06 season. The big man flashed his post up skill on offense to the tune of 30 double digit scoring games in 57 appearances.

Charlotte had the third selection in the 2006 NBA Draft which it used to select Gonzaga University standout Adam Morrison. Ely entered restricted free agency during the 2006 offseason. The post up aficionado reportedly turned down potential sign-and trade offers from the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. Instead, he signed a one year and $3 million qualifying offer deal with the Bobcats.. 

Due to poor defense and rebounding, Ely lost his place in the rotation to players like Emeka Okafor and Sean May. The dramatic decrease in minutes caused Ely to request a trade. Ely was producing just 2.9 PPG and 1.6 RPG in just 10.2 MPG, through 24 games before he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. The numbers were a career-low for him.

Ely averaged 7.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG and 0.7 BPG in two and a half years with Charlotte. The big man shot 46% from the field and 62% from the free-throw line in that time in the 160 career games he played with the Bobcats.

The two second rounders the Clippers acquired from Charlotte were juicy. Since the Bobcats were expected to be bad, both second rounders could be in the early 30s.

That happened right away in the 2005 draft. Since Charlotte was tied for the second-worst record in the NBA, the pick it sent to the Clippers was 32nd in the draft. Los Angeles used the pick on guard Daniel Ewing from Duke. Ewing was a productive starter for a quality Blue Devils program, but there were questions about his lack of size, suspect shooting and point guard skills.

The Clippers signed Ewing to a three-year, $1.8 million contract. An undersized combo guard, Ewing played for the Clippers' Summer League team in Las Vegas, recording 8.0 PPG on 37.1% shooting, 2.6 RPG and 1.6 APG in five games.

Los Angeles began the 2005-06 season 5-1 and was 9-2 after 11 games. The winning continued at an unprecedented rate for the franchise's modern history. Los Angeles held the fifth-best record in the Western Conference at 47-35.

The Clippers made the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-97 season, and it was the club's highest win total since 1974-75 when the team went 49-33. The franchise was the Buffalo Braves at that time and played in the Eastern Conference. Ewing played in 66 games in his rookie season, averaging, 14.7 MPG, 3.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.3 APG and 0.6 SPG in 14.7 MPG.

NBA playoff seeding rules at the time stated that division winners in each conference take the top three seed. Due to that rule, the Clippers were the sixth seed in the Western Conference despite having the fifth-best record in the conference.

The Clippers faced the third-seed Denver Nuggets. Denver was 44-38 and had a worse record than Los Angeles but was the third seed because it won the Northwest Division. Since Los Angeles had the better record, it held homecourt advantage in the first round.

The Clippers had a 16-point lead late in the third quarter of Game One. Denver tied the score at 87 after an Andre Miller layup with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter. The Clippers scored two after Vladimir Radmanovic was fouled and made free throws with 59.8 seconds left.

Elton Brand blocked Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and Radmanovic was whistled for an offensive foul on a drive. Anthony missed two different shots that would've tied the game and the Clippers held on for the two-point win.

The Clippers led by as much as 25 points in the first half of Game Two and held on for a 98-87 victory. The Nuggets won the third game Anthony scored 24 points. In the fourth game, seven Clippers reached double figures and Los Angeles won 100-86. The Clippers closed out the series in Game Five with a 101-83 blowout victory.

Los Angeles matched up with the Phoenix Suns in the second round. Brand starred with 40 points, but Phoenix had four players score at least 17 in a 130-123 win. The Clippers used a 19-5 offensive rebounding advantage and a 31-6 edge in second chance points to take Game Two 122-97 victory.

In response to great play from Clippers guard Sam Cassell (25.5 PPG), the Suns had 6-foot-8 forward Shawn Marion primarily guard Cassell instead of the 6-foot-3 Nash. Marion helped limit Cassell to 2-for-10 shooting as the Suns took back homecourt advantage with a 94-91 Suns win in Game Three.

In Game Four, the Clippers led for most of the contest. Cassell hit a three-pointer with 27.2 seconds left to give them a six-point lead. They ended up taking the game 114-107 and tying the series 2-2.

Game Five was one of the best games of the 2006 postseason. Los Angeles trailed by 19 points early on but stormed back. With 39.2 seconds left and the Clippers down by three, Cassell knocked down a corner three to tie the game. Neither team scored again in regulation, forcing free basketball.

Los Angeles took a three-point lead with 3.6 seconds left in overtime after Cassell hit two free throws. Phoenix tied it after Raja Bell hit a corner three over a recently subbed in Ewing with 1.1 seconds left.

The Clippers turned it over on their subsequent inbounds play, and Marion missed a heave at the buzzer. The second overtime saw Marion and Leandro Barbosa scored 11 of Phoenix’s 14 points in the second overtime as the Suns outlasted the Clippers 125-118.

The decision by coach Dunleavy to sub in the rookie Ewing for Bell's three-pointer was heavily criticized after the loss. The team had one foul to give on the play and its original plan was to foul before anyone on Phoenix could get a shot off.

The Clippers took out Cassell, Brand and center Chris Kaman and had five perimeter players on the floor to switch and guard the three-point line. Ewing for his part said he intended to foul but didn't because he didn't want to foul Bell on a shot attempt creating free-throws (via ESPN):

"He caught the ball in the corner and turned and shot. I did the best I could, put pressure on the shooter. It was a good play for them and a bad break for us. It was judgment call. He made a tough shot. We have to live with it."

Brand had 30 points and 12 rebounds to help lead the Clippers to a 118-106 Game Six win and tie the series 3-3. The series finale saw Nash score 29 points and hand out 11 assists to lead Phoenix to a Game Seven 127-107 blowout victory.

Though Ewing is remembered for being on the floor for one of the Clippers' most significant playoff moments, he appeared in just six of the team's 12 games for a total of five minutes. The guard scored two points in the postseason.

In the 2006 offseason, Cassell re-signed with Los Angeles on a two-year, $13 million deal. In the draft, the Clippers filled a need in the frontcourt, adding 6-foot-11 center Paul Davis from Michigan State. A four-year player in college, Davis averaged 17.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG with the Spartans in his senior year.

Ewing played in Summer League for a second consecutive season with the Clippers. In five games, the guard averaged 31.6 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.0 APG and 1.6 SPG.

The 2006-07 season would be a rollercoaster ride for the Clippers. Expected to compete for a playoff spot, Los Angeles began the season 5-1 but soon dropped six of seven to fall to 6-7. A six-game losing streak dropped the team to 10-15 in December and a 7-1 stretch in January got the team to 24-22.

Injuries to point guards Sam Cassell and Shaun Livingston played a large part in the team's struggles all year. After 74 games, Los Angeles was in eighth place in the West with a 37-37 record. A 3-5 stretch in the last five games dropped the Clippers to 40-42. Los Angeles finished two games behind the seventh place Golden State Warriors and eighth place Los Angeles Lakers who both finished 42-40.

Ewing made appearances in 61 games in his second season and put up 2.9 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.5 APG and 0.5 SPG in 11.7 MPG. Ewing struggled to fill in at point guard with Cassell and Livingston out with injury as he felt more comfortable as a two-guard. Davis had a small role in his rookie season. The 6-foot-11 forward saw action in 31 games and amassed 1.6 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 5.8 MPG.

In the 2007 offseason, the Clippers waived Ewing. He ended his two-year run in Los Angeles with a stat line of 3.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.4 APG and 0.5 SPG in 127 games. The former Blue Devil shot 39% from the field, 32% from the three-point line and 78% from the free-throw line in two years. Ewing signed a two-year deal overseas to play with Khimki of the Russian League.

Davis played in Summer League with the Clippers in 2007. In Las Vegas, Davis started all five games, producing 12.6 PPG on 44% shooting and 8.0 RPG in 25.1 MPG.

Los Angeles' hopes for fielding a playoff team for the 2007-08 season were dashed before the start of the season. Brand ruptured his left achilles tendon during a routine offseason workout. The two-time All-Star would miss all but the last eight games of the season.

Los Angeles won its first four games but dropped 23 of the next 29 games. to fall to 10-23. The Clippers started a retooling, agreeing to a buyout arrangement with veteran starter Sam Cassell at midseason. After reaching 19-33, the Clippers went 4-26 over the final 30 games to finish the year 23-59.

In early January of 2008, Davis tore the ACL and lateral meniscus in his right knee during a game against the Dallas Mavericks. The injury required surgery and ended his season abruptly. Davis averaged 2.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.5 APG and 8.8 MPG in 22 games.

In the 2008 offseason, Los Angeles underwent significant changes. The team was able to sign All-Star point guard Baron Davis, but lost Brand and Maggette to the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors respectively.

In response to losing Brand, the Clippers traded for former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby in a deal with the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers renounced their rights to Paul Davis, but later signed the big man to a contract.

Los Angeles began the 2008-09 season just 1-9. The team made a significant early-season deal, acquiring power forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins from the New York Knicks for forward Tim Thomas and guard Cuttino Mobley.

The losing continued as Los Angeles was 8-25 when it waived Davis along with guard Fred Jones in early 2009 to make room for recently acquired center Cheikh Samb. In 27 games, Davis was averaging 4.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 11.5 MPG. Over the course of three seasons, Davis appeared in 80 games with the Clippers, posting 2.2 PPG and 2.0 RPG. The big man shot 40% from the field and 74% from the charity stripe.

Melvin Ely on being eager to join the Bobcats (via LA Times):

"This is a great feeling to start all over with a brand-new team. I'm just happy that I can start with a new team and a new coach and a clean slate and finally show people that it wasn't a fluke that I was picked 12th and that I can go in there and help the new team out."

On the strengths in his game (via Bobcats.com):

"I'm a low-post presence, defensively and offensively, and that's something that every team needs. I'm hoping to add along with (Emeka) Okafor and all the other guys that have been there."

Eddie House on arriving in Charlotte (via Bobcats.com):

"I'm just happy to get the opportunity to come to a new team with a new start and a new beginning and try to start something good there. It's also a great opportunity for me to come in and show that I can play this game."

On how he feels he is best used:

"I just want to get on the court and play basketball. I'm a basketball player. It doesn't matter what position I'm at, I feel like I could have a positive effect on the game for my squad. If asked to run the one, I could do that. "I have definitely gotten better over the years. People don't know if I'm a one or a two. My answer since I came to the league is that I'm a basketball player. Once I get out on the court, that's what I do. I play hard."

On whether his jump shot is the best part of his game:

"Yes, I see that as my strong point. I think also the energy I bring to the floor. I energize the team. I get my teammates going and also get the crowd into it at the same time."

Charlotte Bobcats general manager and head coach Bernie Bickerstaff on adding Ely and House (via Bobcats.com):

"Adding these two players complements the make-up of our team very well. We now have six players that are 6-9 or taller for a nice rotation in the center and power forward positions and we have solidified our point guard position, as well."

On Melvin Ely:

"Melvin Ely is someone who commands respect in the low post on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. He is an old-school type of player who is physically tough. He can conceivably play multiple positions in the frontcourt, at both center and forward, and can attract double-teams in the post."

On Eddie House:

"Eddie House has the ability to be an outside shooting threat and will give us another scorer. Another thing I like about him is his versatility to play some point guard and off-guard."

On what the trade gives Charlotte (via Bobcats.com):

"The trade gives us another guy at 6’10 who was the 12th pick in the draft. The point is that he is a guy who can command respect on the low block. Kind of the old-school game, because I know people will have to double-team him. I think he’ll do a good job with rebounding. We feel comfortable with that. I think he matches up with a lot of the bigs we have and he and Emeka (Okafor) could play together. "In talking to Eddie House, I asked him about the point guard situation, he was telling me 'you know coach, sometimes they want me to play point guard, when I started to play point guard they'd pull me off and have me play the two.' My message to him was 'we just want you to come in and play basketball. Be yourself. That's how you excel.' There are things that we can do offensively when he's in the game that exemplify and are conducive to a good game."

On receiving Ely who was the 12th overall draft pick from 2002:

"Well, I'm just happy we got him. I can't speak for other people, but I'm certainly appreciative. Timing is everything. We were in the right place at the right time. There were some other offers from teams who had an interest in this young man, but we just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

On the deal’s effect on the Clippers salary cap room:

"They're in the Kobe Derby. This deal they tried to consummate at 12:01 a.m., but it didn't happen. But they probably want to make their move on Kobe. We certainly wish them well. They've been nice to us."

Los Angeles Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor on how the trade creates cap flexibility (via Clippers.com):

"We began discussions on this transaction in early July, with the goal of creating salary cap flexibility which would allow us to take advantage of any potential opportunities."

Image Credit:

Melvin Ely via UPI/Nell Redmond

Eddie House via Getty Images/Kent Smith

[odk-2]

Frank Sinatra - One for My Baby (1958)

Frank Sinatra - One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) (1958) Johnny Mercer (Lyrics) | Harold Arlen (Music) from: "Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely" (LP) (2018 Deluxe Edition)

Traditional Pop

JukeHostUK (left click = "play") (320kbps)

Personnel: Frank Sinatra: Vocals

Orchestra: The Nelson Riddle Orchestra

Piano: Bill Miller

Guitar: Al Hendrickson Al Viola

Harp: Kathryn Julye

Double Bass: Joe Comfort Eddie Gilbert

Drums / Percussion: Frank Flynn Bill Richmond

Horns: Trumpet: Cappy Lewis

Trombone: Milt Bernhart   Russell Brown Ray Sims Tommy Pederson

French Horn: James Decker James McGee George Price

Reeds/Woodwinds: Clarinet: Gus Bivona   Sal Franzella   Chuck Gentry Morris Bercov

Oboe: Arnold Koblentz Champ Webb

Flute: Arthur Gleghorn Harry Klee

Bassoon: Don Christlieb Norman Herzberg

Strings: Violin: Israel Baker Victor Bay   Alex Beller   Arnold Belnick   Daniel Karpilowsky   Emo Neufeld   Ben Gill   Paul Shure   Felix Slatkin   Marshall Sosson   Victor Amo Gerald Vinci

Viola: Alvin Dinkin   Stanley Harris Paul Robyn Dave Sterkin

Cello: James Arkatov   Armand Kaproff Joseph Saxon and Eleanor Slatkin

Conductor: Nelson Riddle Arranger: Nelson Riddle Producer: Voyle Gilmore

Recorded: @ The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California USA on June 25, 1958

Album Released: on September 8, 1958

Capitol Records

[nba-clothes-store]

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

[xclusivecollectables]

2012 Hoops Alvin Gentry  Phoenix Suns #210 Basketball card   VHSB2

This, and many others are from a one owner collection where the cards have gone from pack directly to sleeve. Find More Alvin Gentry Basketball Cards 2012 Hoops Alvin Gentry  card that’s a perfect addition to any collection. This, and many others are from a one owner collection where the cards have gone from pack directly to sleeve. Create an account today to join the Beta launch of your site to…

[tiredmetalenthusiast]

Thank you for the tag @devcica!!

1) The book I read:

Her Orc Guardian by Zoe Ashwood [It's a cute little smut series]

2) A book i recommend:

Gone to see the river man by Kristopher Triana [Super fucked up if I'm honest]

3) A book you couldn't put down:

Masque of the red death by Edgar Allen Poe [IYKYK]

4) A book I've read twice (or more):

The entire Hellsing manga series by Kouta Hirano [VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES AND ZOMBIES]

5) A book on my TBR:

The Orc Trappers Bride by K. E. Wyatt [An Orc and his bride]

6) A book I've put down:

Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton [I'm gonna be straight it was super cringe and I didn't make it past chapter 2]

7) A book on my wishlist:

Den of Vipers by K. A. Knight [dark Reverse Harem]

8) A favorite book from childhood:

The entire Scary stories to tell in the dark trilogy by Alvin Schwartz [This series gave me so much life as a kid ong]

9) A book you would give to a friend:

Wait till Helen comes by Mary Downing Hahn [A little dead girl tries to kidnap and drown this girl's lonely younger cousin]

10) There was no tenth question so I am making up my own; a fiction book you own:

Uzumaki by Junji Ito [A fun little cursed town where fucked up supernatural shit happens]

11) A nonfiction book you own:

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry [Serial Killer doc]

12) What are you currently reading:

Her Orc Warrior by Zoe Ashwood [Look right it's a whole series and I'm a sucker for that fated mates shit man]

13) What are you planning on reading next:

Her Orc Protector by Zoe Ashwood [SEE 12]

My shelfie:

Honestly it's just piles of books scattered around my room😅

No pressure tags: @cumikering @deadbranch @soapskneebrace @gloomwitchtales @sofasoap @brewed-pangolin @391780 @lunarvicar @luminousbeings-crudematter @lunarw0rks @sprout-fics

13 Books!

I can't reblog the original post I saw this from for some reason but saw this originally from @/glassprism; thanks for sharing!

answer these 13 qs

tag 13 ppl

add a shelfie

1) The last book I read:

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

2) A book I recommend:

Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn

3) A book that I couldn’t put down:

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more):

toss-up between Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen/The Elephant Vanishes: Stories by Haruki Murakami

5) A book on my TBR: not sure what a TBR is but guessing to be read? idk im not a goodreads/booktok girlie

Nobody Knows My Name by James Baldwin

6) A book I’ve put down: I hate finished these books but nearly stopped...

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro found it hard to follow, trying to keep up with the writing made me feel like I was wearing glasses with the wrong prescription strength, just had trouble focusing

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. an absolutely incredible and poetic read but I felt like I was getting constantly emotionally pickaxed in the eyes with the raw frequent recountings of trauma told in blunt detail

Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell (George Lucas hyped you up way too much sir...)

7) A book on my wish list:

I keep giving away the copies of all about love by bell hooks lol so for the fourth time it is back on my wishlist

8) A favorite book from childhood:

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Even now when I pass by a bookstore and see it prominently displayed I get such a happy curious and wondrous feeling

9) A book you would give to a friend:

I recently gave The Midnight Library by Matt Haig to a grieving friend who loved it ❤️‍🩹

10) There was no tenth question so I am making up my own; a fiction book you own:

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

11) A nonfiction book you own:

Wne and War: The French, The Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure by Don and Petie Kladstrup - this is a fucking fun and interesting read!!! great commute/plane/timekiller read

12) What are you currently reading:

Currently speedreading The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

13) What are you planning on reading next?

Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev

My shelfie:

I will be opting out of sharing a pic of my super-disorganized, filled to the brim with personal knickknacks bookcase but here's some gifs of the hottest bookwrangler in the known universe throughout all space and time as a substitute

no pressure taggies:

@evergreenfields @gemmahale @the-californicationist @valkyri @astraluminaaa

@devcica @vampirekilmer @void-my-warranty @ohgeesoap @glossysoap

@syoddeye @kyletogaz @bluemoonrover

@/you if you'd like to share 🤗🤗📚📚

[homensbrancosnaosabemblogar]

"A coisa que ele fazia que se tornou… como posso dizer? Marcante… era a seguinte: Shaq era notório porque a cada poucos dias - a cada semana mais ou menos - ele decidia que era hora desse, ãhn… ‘concurso brasileiro de luta livre pelada’”, conta Alvin Gentry, assistente e depois técnico do Phoenix Suns entre 2004 e 2012. “A gente nunca sabia quem seria o escolhido,” continua Gentry. “Mas quando você menos esperava, era o que acontecia: esse cara de 2 metros e 16, 160 kilos, dobrava a esquina completamente nu, agarrava você, te levava pro chão e rolava com você pra lá e pra cá umas cinco vezes.” Gentry conclui a história brincando: “Sim… eu fui uma vítima dessa brincadeira. Tive que ir para terapia por um bom tempo depois disso.”

Esse depoimento inacreditável do Alvin Gentry foi dado à ESPN em 2014, num contexto em que ele detalhava as palhaçadas que Shaquille O’Neal fazia no vestiário durante os tempos de Phoenix Suns, e como elas ajudavam, por incrível que pareça, rs, a construir uma amizade entre os atletas.

Pelo visto, nada mais eficaz para formar laços do que o Shaq pelado te dando um tackle enquanto grita ‘BRAZILIAN NAKED WRESTLING!” A humanidade é uma surpresa atrás da outra!

--

Por favor, considere apoiar a continuidade da existência do HBNSB! Apoia.se/HBNSB ou PIX: andremcavalieri@gmail.com

[the-football-chick]

IG:cbssports

[awesomenbamoments]

There’s no one in the league we would trade him for. Not even Beyonce.

Alvin Gentry

[doubleclutch]

[nouhamiri]

Interim Sacramento Kings head coach Alvin Gentry relieved of coaching duties

Interim Sacramento Kings head coach Alvin Gentry relieved of coaching duties

Interim Sacramento Kings head coach Alvin Gentry relieved of coaching duties Updated: 1:52 PM PDT Apr 11, 2022 Hide Transcript Show Transcript LETICIA: WE WILL TAKE IT, THAT IS REFRESHING. ANOTHER SHAKEUP FOR THE SACRAMENTO KINGS. AFTER THEIR COACH WAS FIRED IN NOVEMBER. NOW THEIR INTERIM COACH IS STEPPING DOWN. THE KINGS GENERAL MANAGER SENT OUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. TH AT INTERIM COACH…

[nbaoracle]

[givemegifs]

[dailyvideovault]

New video posted on: https://dailyvideovault.com/explaining-the-process-of-nba-players-entering-the-orlando-bubble-sportscenter/

Explaining the process of NBA players entering the Orlando bubble | SportsCenter