After months of thinking it over — and coming off the heels of the annual uber-party that is Zo’s Summer Groove — Alonzo Mourning said he’s coming back for one more year with the Heat. A player of Zo’s age (37), stature (borderline Hall of Famer) and salary ($2.7 million) usually only comes back for another shot at a ring, but that’s the question: Is Miami a legit title contender? That ‘06 championship seems like a loooong time ago now. D-Wade is still D-Wade (despite yesterday’s report that he might not be ready for the start of training camp), but Shaq is getting older and more injury-prone, J-Will and ‘Toine have all but used up their effectiveness, and the Heat lost out on every free agent this summer who could have immediately helped them (Jason Kapono, Rashard Lewis, Steve Blake, Mo Williams, Grant Hill) … Either way, it’ll be weird if this ends up being one of those cheesy “farewell tours.” When Kareem was making his last go-round, he looked old. Who’s gonna give Zo a rocking chair as a gift when he still looks like he could go a couple rounds in the octagon? … And according to Zo in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Heat are “losing Gary (Payton),” which sounds like Zo either knows GP is gonna retire or he knows the team isn’t planning on re-signing him … After re-upping with Vince and bringing in Jamaal Magloire, the Nets apparently don’t have much going on this offseason, either. Jersey was involved in trade talks for notables like Jermaine O’Neal at one point, but GM Rod Thorn tells the New York Daily News, “They’re all dead.” … Remember when Desmond Mason called Bucks GM Larry Harris a “snake in the grass” a couple years back? Either they’re cool with each other now, or necessity proved bigger than an old feud, because Des Mase is reportedly close to signing with Milwaukee. Where are the need areas? Well, the Bucks need a reliable small forward, given Bobby Simmons‘ health, Ruben Patterson’s free agent status and Yi Jianlian’s uncertain situation. Mason needed a team, as he didn’t seem to be in New Orleans’ plans after they drafted Julian Wright and signed Mo Pete … Watch out, LeBron & Kobe: The Dalembeast could be suiting up for Team Canada in the Olympic qualifying tourney next month. You know you saw Sam go between the legs for that dunk in that AIDS awareness commercial with Jamie Foxx … FYI, Team Canada’s coach is ex-NBA and Syracuse guard Leo Rautins, father of current Syracuse sniper Andy Rautins … In other international news, Qyntel Woods will be balling in Greece this season, while Shammond Williams will be playing in Spain … Reggie Theus is filling out his staff of assistants in Sacramento, and interviewed Chuck Person recently. Not sure if it means anything for the Kings’ offense, but those two never had a problem getting their shots up in the League. And Chuck is, according to Ron Artest, one of the few coaches he really felt helped him (when Ron-Ron was with Indiana) … The Vegas and Orlando summer leagues are done, but there’s still the Rocky Mountain Revue in Utah. Last night Louis Williams kept his summer run going strong, dropping 31 points on the Bulls in a Philly win. Acie Law went for 24 and 5 dimes in ATL’s win over the Mavs, who didn’t lose a game in Vegas … The Summer Pro League in Southern Cali doesn’t have any NBA guys, but it’s got some names nonetheless. A few we came across in the box scores: Penny Hardaway, Samaki Walker, Kenny “Bad Santa” Brunner, Keith Closs and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr. … We’re out like Jersey’s offseason …
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July 17th, 2007 at 3:48 am
marketing online says:
Shaq + Wade = title contender…unless if they got injured again…
July 17th, 2007 at 4:26 am
Fish says:
Zo for a couple of rounds in the octagon? Don’t you remember the Heat V Knicks playoff brawl in 1998? Zo was out there slapping like a girl (don’t tell him I said that), and who can forget Jeff Van Gundy hanging on for dear life?
July 17th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Corporate Whore says:
HA HA HAHAH AH A HAA HA HAHA
Fish … I remember that!
That memory has made me smile.
HA HAHA HA HAA
July 17th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Amar says:
wow, sheldon gets spot in dime’s smack for his game vs. the Spurs, but paul millsap doesn’t get a mention? a guess 47th picks in the draft aren’t supposed to get love . . .
July 17th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Bust Jlaze says:
hahaha….Zo was definitely swinging like somebody’s little sister out there…I remember being like, oh snap he’s about to knock his block off, here we go!! And then just staring at the screen with my mouth open like HUH??
July 17th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Celts Fan says:
The real ? is, who’d win a girl (slap) fight - Zo or ‘Melo?
July 17th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Ian says:
just slappin prob melo hes the bigger girl
marketing sorry man but wade plus shaq = second round maybe
July 17th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
garbageman33 says:
What NBA player has ever thrown a decent punch? Well, besides Kermit Washington, of course. I seem to recall a cat named Sedale Threatt tattooing Danny Ainge way back in the day. In fact, judging by his GM abilities, I think he jarred Danny’s brain enough that he can’t think clearly.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
The reason Melo slapped him is cuz Mardy Collins told him he was gonna snitch…
July 17th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Celts Fan says:
Here are some NBA players that throw great punches:
Ron Artest
Jermaine O’Neal
Stephen “Way too excited” Jackson
I saw that on live TV that night. It’s one of the single most exciting moments of my life. Our parents will always remember where they were for the JFK assassination, I’ll always remember where I was when that poor bastard got the 1-2 from Artest then got destroyed by a sprinting Jermaine O’Neal. That that guy got up still shocks me.
Another one people forget about (because it was before the brawl) was the Keyon Dooling - Ray Allen fight that spilled into the front row. That was a good one too…
July 17th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
IGP says:
One time Shaq threw a punch directed at Brad Miller…back when Miller was on the Bulls…Shaq missed (it actually looked like he intentionally missed)…but you know if Shaq connected on that shit Miller would have had at least a concussion.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Celts Fan says:
No way IGP. Miller would have had at least a tombstone! There’s no way anyone survives that overhand smash Shaq “tried to” drop on his head…
July 17th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
mist says:
chris childs - kobe bryant
July 17th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Sambuu says:
Peeler pawning KG (it was a playoff game so KG was visibly holding himself back)
July 17th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
IGP says:
I want to see Oliver Miller and Jerome James fight…who wins that?
July 17th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
mmmntl says:
best baller punch ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWP-CSZWss
check it out…
hahahahahahaa
July 18th, 2007 at 12:33 am
Amar says:
that brazil league guy who ko’d the ref . . .
July 18th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Ian says:
shit i remember the peeler one
hahahahahahahahahaha kg kinda shoved peeler first peeler got a good one in
i dont think kg held back because of the playoffs but because he didnt want another one
reggie did a rockbottom on kobe once