Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 6:25 am Post subject: "PRACTICE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE" IVERSON NOT
Shaq Expects Fine for Missing Practice
By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES - Shaquille O'Neal jokingly gave several excuses for missing practice the day after winning MVP honors in the NBA All-Star game, but acknowledged he made a mistake.
"The cow truck flipped over yesterday," O'Neal said before the Los Angeles Lakers (news) faced the Portland Trail Blazers (news) on Tuesday night. "There was milk all over the highway."
He said essentially the same thing about the chicken truck, the pig truck and the cereal truck.
Finally, he said when he left his house Monday to drive to the Lakers' first practice since the All-Star break, his vehicle was on bricks instead of tires.
"We'll keep whatever punishment he has to suffer to ourselves," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
"I messed up," O'Neal said. "I'll probably get disciplined real good. It's not a problem. I just couldn't make it yesterday. There'll probably be a fine. When you're wrong, you're wrong.
"I don't make excuses for the fish truck flipping over."
More seriously, O'Neal said he hopes Jackson remains his coach and fellow Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant remains his teammate after this season.
The Lakers announced last week that negotiations to extend the five-year, $30 million contract Jackson signed in June 1999 had broken off and wouldn't be resumed until after the season.
The contract expires July 1 the same day Bryant will be eligible to opt out of his contract.
Although Bryant said he hadn't made a decision on his future, All-Star weekend was full of speculation he will be playing elsewhere next season.
"Hopefully at the end of the year, everything falls into place," O'Neal said. "Phil's my guy. I want Phil around."
Regarding Bryant, O'Neal said: "I respect him. I'm the first guy to tell you, I need him. To get over the next level, I need a guy like that to be with me. I know that, I'm not afraid to say that."
O'Neal and Bryant have had several well-documented squabbles in their seven-plus seasons as teammates. O'Neal acknowledged the two sometimes have different agendas.
"It's never, ever, ever, ever been personal," O'Neal said. "If he wants to stay, he's going to stay. It's business. I know if he does leave, it won't be anything personal."
When bad feelings between the Lakers' stars resurfaced shortly before the start of this season, Bryant said if he left, at least part of the reason would be because of O'Neal.
Bryant told reporters last Friday he wanted to be a Laker for life, but added he still planned to opt out of his contract.
The Lakers have had an offer for an extension on the table for several months. Should Bryant opt out, he could sign a richer and longer deal with them than any other team.
AND
Pacers Bench Artest for Missing Practice
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Pacers (news) forward Ron Artest was benched for the start of Tuesday's game against New Orleans for missing a practice on Monday night.
Artest missed the workout because he did not return in time from Sunday night's All-Star game in Los Angeles. He was not on the flight that was originally scheduled for him and had to take a later flight.
Artest said he arrived from Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, but did not say why he missed his earlier flight.
Al Harrington started in his place. Artest entered the game with 5:37 to play in the first quarter.
It is the third time Artest has been benched this season.
Artest was benched for the second half of a game against New Jersey on Dec. 27 for what coach Rick Carlisle called "conduct detrimental to winning." He was also taken out of the starting lineup the following game against Memphis for missing the morning shootaround.
Artest was suspended for 12 games last season for his conduct on the court, but has been a much more mature player during his All-Star first half of the season. He was chosen as a captain, along with Jermaine O'Neal and Reggie Miller, during the All-Star break.
JUST A REMINDER
Iverson Benched for Missing Practice
DENVER - Philadelphia 76ers (news) guard Allen Iverson was benched for the start of Tuesday night's game against the Denver Nuggets (news) after missing practice a day earlier, coach Chris Ford said.
Iverson, the 76ers' only representative in Sunday's All-Star game in Los Angeles, failed to appear for Monday's practice at the Denver Athletic Club.
Iverson had contacted Allen Lumpkin, the team's director of travel and team services, to tell him he wouldn't be able to make it to practice. Ford was upset that Iverson didn't contact him personally.
Ford, chosen as interim head coach of the 76ers last Tuesday, called the two-hour practice an important one, during which he put in several new plays.
Ford declined to say if Iverson would be fined.
"He won't be starting," Ford said. "He had an unexcused absence from practice. We will determine his playing time as the game unfolds."
Ford, who said Iverson had no reaction to
his benching, said John Salmons would take Iverson's spot in the starting lineup.
Iverson, dressed in a George Gervin jersey before the game, joked with his teammates in the locker room but declined to speak with the media.
Iverson has a history of disdain for attending practice. He and former Sixers coach Larry Brown had several battles over the issue, leading to a memorable news conference in May 2002 when Iverson said, "Practice? We're talking about practice."
Joined: Nov 26, 2003 Posts: 294 Location: Somewhere over the Rainbow
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:53 am Post subject: "PRACTICE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE" IVERSON NOT
quote:Originally posted by AI3girl:
I JUST READ THAT ARTICLE SHAQ IS CRAZY "THE CEREAL TRUCK FLIPPED OVER" LOL
Lol!! I know right! He is crazy... I'mma have to use those when I don't feel like going to class or going to work. I doubt if they work though.
When my Professor asks why I didn't show up for class I'mma be like "Umm The cow truck flipped over yesterday.... Yep there was milk all over the highway! You didn't hear about it!??"
Joined: Dec 27, 2003 Posts: 289 Location: Somewhere in SC. The most boring state on Earth.
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:13 am Post subject: "PRACTICE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE" IVERSON NOT
I don't blame them guys.......I couldn't practice either............I'm not a morning person. S**t i don't get up untill like 12:00, and i don't start communicating untill about 12:30 or 1:00. I would never be at practice. They would just have to throw me out the league.
Joined: Nov 22, 2003 Posts: 485 Location: MEMPHIS AND CARMELO'S HOUSE
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject: "PRACTICE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE" IVERSON NOT
THAT FOOL SAID THE DAMN CEREAL AND PIG TRUCK FLIPPED OVER. THIS MAN IS CRAZY. I DON'T THINK HE HAS IT ALL UP THERE IN THE HEAD. WELL I CAN'T TALK CAUSE ALL MY FRIENDS SAY THAT ABOUT ME. DANG! THESE PLAYERS MISSING PRATICE, ALLEN NOT STARTING. I GUESS THEY HAD TOO MUCH FUN.
Joined: Nov 19, 2003 Posts: 894 Location: DA DUUUURTY SOUTH!!!
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:13 pm Post subject: "PRACTICE WERE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE" IVERSON NOT
quote:Originally posted by shakira:
I don't blame them guys.......I couldn't practice either............I'm not a morning person. S**t i don't get up untill like 12:00, and i don't start communicating untill about 12:30 or 1:00. I would never be at practice. They would just have to throw me out the league.
I KNOW THATS RIGHT! THATS WHY I GOT CLASS AT NIGHT NOW! AND THEY HAD BEEN PARTYING ALL WEEKEND! U WOULDNT SEE MY ASS TILL WEDNESDAY!
