It’s official, Skip to my Lou is back in Miami. The Heat just announced on their website that they signed Rafer Alston, who was released earlier this week by the Nets. Last season, the 11-year point guard was one of the key contributors of the Orlando Magic team that made it to the NBA Finals. Alston played the entire 2003-’04 season with the Heat, where he averaged 10.2 ppg, 4.5 apg and 1.43 spg. Read More »

In his three-year career at Duke, Gerald Henderson Jr. had gotten plenty of shine during big games. Last night at Madison Square Garden was not one of them. The Bobcats’ lottery pick (12th overall) in last June’s draft, has played sparingly so far in his rookie season. The zero minutes he logged last night against the Knicks marked Henderson’s fourth straight DNP-CD (did not play – coach’s decision). Read More »

Sometimes I have to laugh when sportswriters and fans get all indignant over stuff that doesn’t really matter. Example 1A: All-Star selections.

Don’t get me wrong, I used to be right there. But having attended a few All-Star Weekends and interacting with the players, I realized something: Most of them don’t care about All-Star NEARLY as much as everybody else does. Read More »

Steering clear of a competition with the Texas/Alabama national championship game, the NBA had just one game on the schedule last night, with the Bobcats visiting the Knicks at MSG. Not exactly the bright lights of a LeBron or Kobe appearance, not I’d Rather Watch ‘Man vs. Wild’ either. In fact, it’s not crazy at all to suggest both of these teams could wind up in the playoffs in 2010 … The Bobcats were up 10 late in the third, but NY put together a quick 15-0 run that bled into the fourth, highlighted by a couple of Nate Robinson threes, plus one play where he crossed up D.J. Augustin and took off from the dotted line, catching a dunk that would’ve been nasty if he was 6-foot-3; but was downright disrespectful considering he’s the size of a jockey … Read More »

Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) forward C.J. Leslie is a Top-10 prospect nationally. Previously committed to N.C. State, Leslie recently re-opened his recruiting and has opted to wait until the spring to decide on a college. That alone makes his one of the most intriguing stories in the 2010 senior class, and Leslie also happens to be one of its most exciting players. C.J. has agreed to give Dime and High School Hoop exclusive access in a bi-monthly diary about his season and the recruiting process as he inches closer to a decision. Here’s an excerpt from his latest entry: Read More »

Today marked the final balloting update leading to the announcement of the All-Star starters on Thursday, Jan. 21, prior to a TNT doubleheader – and right now, Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson are in the starting lineups. Check out the numbers: Read More »

When it comes to kicks, Nike Sportswear is always down for collaboration. And tonight marks the release of their latest offering. This past year, NSW offered the late DJ AM and DJ Premier a chance to share the spirit of athletics and rivalry through design. When it came to electing two music industry leaders from the East and West coasts, these innovators whose infatuation with their craft has not only created a culture, but also moved that culture with the sound that emanates from their turntables. DJ Premier from the East, and DJ AM from the West were chosen and tonight (with DJ Premier on the turntables) you have a chance to cop the outcome of their design battle. Read More »

Timing can be a blessing or a killer in the media/advertising business. On the eve of the ’08-09 NBA season, we put Gilbert Arenas on our cover, only to learn right around the time the issue dropped that Agent Zero would miss a big chunk of the season with more knee problems.

Apparently PETA is having a timing issue of its own involving Arenas. The day after Gilbert made all kinds of negative headlines when the NBA suspended him indefinitely in a still-unfolding story involving guns and personal threats, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals unveiled its latest “Ink, Not Mink” ad, starring the man of the hour. Read More »

Some extended thoughts from the last night’s games that weren’t big enough to warrant an entire column …

WANTED: SOONER SHOOTER Before we start talking about Oklahoma City as a juggernaut for the next decade, or even as a tough out in the 2010 playoffs, the Thunder need to get another shooter.

After Chris Paul shredded their D for an easy layup with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, OKC trailed by three. Obviously they would have to go to Kevin Durant, as he’s not only their go-to superstar, but also the only real three-point threat on the court, with James Harden (35% from deep) running a distant second. Read More »

One easy way to decide whether Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton or everyone else involved in the locker room gun incident is lying is having actual visual proof. That footage might exists according to TMZ.com. The gossip website is reporting that the Washington Wizards have told law enforcement officials that there is actually a video surveillance tape that might have what happened on it. The problem is, the team is having trouble downloading it. Read More »