NBA - Miami Heat and Raptors Had a Players Exchange

The 30-year-old Shawn Marion and basketball guard Marcus Banks from Miami Heat were traded to the Toronto Raptors for Jermaine O'Neal and forward Jamario Moon; given that for different aspects each team is looking for a refreshing change. On one hand, the Raptors need basketball consistency in rebounding and defense, as well as solidify the small forward position, while Miami is looking for a stronger front line of forwards. Therefore the new players could be just the solution for both groups: O'Neal, being a top shot-blocker, would start to rule in the paint for Miami; as Marion should be a good ingredient at the Raptors' small forward position by opening options to the other players with his great shooting and rebounding.

Currently, Shawn Marion has an average of 12 points and 8.7 rebounds per game (RPG) -reached with the Miami Heats. Whereas Jermaine O'Neal, even out of the court for several games -due to a number of injuries suffered-, is averaging 13.5 PPG and 7 RPG. Moreover, Banks and Moon have helped their teams as well. Moon has been a strong forward, scoring 7.3 pts and 4.6 rebounds per game in 54 matches on his first time at the NBA; while Marcus Banks, although not being able to play that much, has a record of 2.6 pts and 0.90 RPG in 16 games for 2008/09.

According to some NBA sources, other conditions were added to the deal by Toronto, with a conditional draft pick being send to Miami with some sort of cash compensation in return. This trade has also saved money for both franchises, which is expected to be used to acquire new players next season.

Shawn Marion will be a free agent when he finishes with the Raptors, although general manager of Toronto Bryan Colangelo, who first drafted Marion in his early years in Phoenix Suns, will try to re-sign Marion for next campaign, who for this one is winning around $17,810,000. In contrast, O'Neal may decide to receive a lesser salary in Miami for the chance to compete for a title beside Wade and another prospective star free agent. O'Neal will win around $23,000,000 in 2009/2010.

Additionally, with Shawn Marion inclusion, the Raptors can get better use of Andrea Bargnani, who has been 50/50 in and out as starter and reserve this period; also Chris Bosh could enhance his work in the low post to take a better advantage of his talent. The joint of Marion, Barganani and Bosh will offer balance and a finer rotation to the team.

On the other hand, -as mentioned before- O'Neal and Moon would provide aid in the paint and in the forward positions for the Heat, on their intent to overcome the problems they have had this season.

About this deal, analysts think that it is a winning situation for both fractions, since their weaknesses are being strength with these four great players. Now, all left is to wish the best of the lucks for the players and their new teams on the remaining 2008/09 season.

Ally White is a top senior copy writer on NBA games and sports action for the sportsbetting industry.

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Comic Books - More Than Pretty Pictures

Gary Phillips is a crime and mystery novelist. But, that would be too limiting to express basketball variety of his endeavors or his interests. In this article from the Books of Soul Newsletter, Gary discusses writing for comic books and graphic novels.

Right off let me say that writing for comics is harder than it looks. It is and isn't like writing a prose short story or novella. A lot of people figure it's just these crazy panels with word balloons and captions getting in the way of the cool art, right? To an extent, that's true. Because I'm not kidding myself, comics are a visual medium, but a good script can suffer from mediocre or inappropriate basketball Yet it's the art that makes the script come alive so unless you're among the ranks of the talented few who write and draw their own stuff like Frank Miller or Jim Starling, then you as the scribe better have it tight on the page for the artist to have something to work with, something to get excited about.

The match between writer and artist is key. Take for instance R.M. Gura's dark, moody art on the crime comic book series Scalped, created and written by Jason Aaron. Can you imagine that cat drawing a Flash or Batman story? Okay, well, you can imagine him on a certain kind of Batman story but you see where I'm going with this. Conversely, it doesn't seem in this day and age, given everyone and they mama is blogging and sites like newsarama.com and others where comics are critiqued, you can get away with a sappy script and cool art. The fans are too sophisticated and too opinionated to go for the okey-doke.

In a standard comic book script, the writer describes, economically and clearly, what takes place in that panel. You don't over-describe and crowd it with too much, and also keep in mind your job is storytelling, maintaining flow and pacing as well as drawing in the reader like Paris Hilton to a camera. For instance: Largish panel, medium shot as Matt Murdock walks into the courtroom, sharp in a three-piece suit, take off his dark glasses and looks with his blind eyes at the jury - a mixture of various races and garb. Behind him at the defense table, Foggy Nelson wipes his brow, with their client, the manacled and subdued Mr. Hyde, seated next to him. Near to Foggy, the window explodes inward, the glass billowing everywhere. Matt's dialogue will be cut off as there is a boom from the exploding window.

The rewrite would be, bearing in mind the axiom that a panel is frozen action, Largish panel, medium shot as Matt Murdock, sharp in a three piece suit, stands before the seated jury, his dark glasses in one hand as he stares at the jury - a mixture of various body types and races, with his blind eyes. Foggy is behind him at the defense table, wiping his sweating brow, seated next to a manacled and subdued Mr. Hyde. Matt begins his final arguments.

Second panel, pushed in as Foggy, still with as handkerchief to his forehead, now looks toward the window near him that's exploding inward, the glass going everywhere. Mr. Hyde holds up his arms to shield himself from the flying glass. Matt's dialogue will be cut off as there is a boom from the exploding window.

The over-arching idea here is the comic book script is about sequencing, what follows what and when do I need to better isolate an event and when is it better for the story to move along, to jump cut us forward?

For more on this I recommend Will Eisner's Comics and Sequential Art and his Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrativ, the DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics by Dennis O'Neil, and the print versions of Charles Fuller's play, A Soldier's Story, and David Mamet's House of Games and Glengarry Glen Ross - What can I say? I'm big on dialogue. And, while you can't go crazy with dialogue in a comic book, you want your characters saying just the right words at just the right moment. While you're at it, read a couple Walter Mosley's books as well as Ross Macdonald's Lew Archer books for their elegance of using dialogue to reveal, and not reveal, characters.

Gary Crime and mystery novelist Gary Phillips' short stories have appeared, most recently, in Los Angeles Noir (Akashic) and in Full House (G.P. Putnam's Sons). He is a member of PEN and past national board member of the Mystery Writers of America. Phillips previously wrote the comics series Angeltown for Vertigo as well as Shot Callerz and Midnight Mover for Oni Press, but he is best known for a series of mystery novels featuring private eye Ivan Monk. He's also currently writing Citizen Kang, a weekly prose political thriller hosted on The Nation's Web site. High Rollers, a new four-issue comic series detailing the rise of a Los Angeles gangster, debut in June 2008 from Boom Studios. Visit his website, www.gdphillips.com, to peruse more of his work.

Eric Brasley is the founder of Books of Soul website -- http://www.booksofsoul.com . The free site is dedicated to authors and poets to showcase their interest in African American culture and African peoples and issues. "In doing so, we think readers, publishers, agents, reviewers, librarians - everyone involved in the publishing industry - will find the site a valuable resource."

Yoga For Basketball

Before you read any further, I need basketball tell you something that can make a drastic effect on your results from training and the performance on the court:. This one secret can help you come over many obstacles on the court and in life. Take the five words and run with them:

[Let go of your ego]

There are athletes that simply have too big of an ego to do something that may hurt their "rep" or whatever. Check the ego at the door and go do your business.

Now that you are focused, let's get to today's topic: Yoga for Athletes.

I came across this video while searching for basketball exercises. The importance for yoga is hidden behind silly society norms like "only women do yoga" or my favourite, "what a loser, he does yoga??" Yoga is known for making the body flexible and the mind calm but it has some benefits that athletes aren't aware of. Injury prevention is the one that strikes me because the fact you athletes spend hours on end training and competing for sport but don't take the necessary steps to take care of that body the rough up.

The following video shows one exercise that is focused on the hip flexor. When I tried this out, I felt an instant sensation of the stretch.

I should mention that this is only one exercise. There are many different exercises, systems and programs that you can follow. I'm in the process of finding the perfect program for athletes. In the meantime, look at forums, websites, or join a source that is basketball oriented. *HINT
PS: Have you done yoga before? What were your experiences and what program did you use?

Dynamic Athletics provide hard-hitting, ground breaking basketball training exercises and techniques that elevate your basketball game.

Visit http://www.dynamic-athletics.com and receive a 5-day breakdown on how to attack your weakness and build your basketball arsenal with tips and techniques that will blow your opponents away.

Spud Webb Dunk or How to Dunk a Basketball

Do you remember Spud Webb winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1986? Standing at only 5'6"!, Spud basketball the defending champion Dominique Wilkins with a variety of nasty dunks - a one-handed 360, a two-handed double pump and a 180 reverse double-pump just to name some.

So, its clear that you dont need to be very tall to dunk. Its all about the vertical jump - your vertical jump! And what matters most: you can train it! You can increase your vertical leap. If you dont agree at this point, you dont need to read any further.

Spud Webb had a 42-inch vertical what is yours? To find out, stand near to a wall and stretch your arm upright over your head. Now, mark the top point of your hand on the wall. Put the hand down and mark your fingers with some chalk or paint. Now, jump as high as you can and touch the wall with your hand. The distance between the two marks is you vertical.

Ok, by now, you know where youre at and where you want to be.

The next step is your overall fitness. Your legs must be strong enough to take up a vertical program. You also have to lose the extra pounds (if you have some).

For that, go jogging and use the jump rope 3 times a week (jogging: minimum 45 min. 3 times/ week; jump rope: 100 jumps 3 times a week)

Jumping rope not only gives you explosiveness and calf strength but is also a great way to build stamina, and work on your overall leg strength.
Other, highly effective exercises are calf raises and squats, as they train the most important muscle groups in the jumping process. Do these exercises every now and then (the days you do not run).

Important note: dont exaggerate (max. 1 set of 8 reps 2 times/ week)! After 2 or 3 weeks your legs should be prepared for a vertical program.

You can now try exercises like this one:

Stand straight up, and jump as high as you can without bending your knees (they will bend slightly). As soon as you hit the ground, jump back up again. Repeat the motion a number of times. This exercise is very effective at strengthening your lower leg muscles.

personal trainer

Or, you take up a real vertical program. Personally, I can only recommend Go Up Strong http://www.howtodunk.org but you can also try other programs.

When you stick to it and do the exercises seriously, you should be able to dunk in less than 8 weeks. p.s. Did you know Spud Webb basketball dunked over the 76 (!) former NBA Center Manute Bol?