09/05/2008 - Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Centers Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, forever linked from battles in college and the NBA, as well as five-time NBA champion coach Pat Riley, were inducted into the Naismith Memorial National Basketball Hall of Fame Friday.
Former NBA star Adrian Dantley, Dick Vitale, best known as an ESPN analyst, Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson and Immaculata University women's coach Cathy Rush were also inducted.
Olajuwon, Ewing and Riley were elected in their first year of consideration, while Dantley, Davidson, Rush and Vitale had been named finalists in prior years.
Olajuwon burst onto the basketball scene at the University of Houston, where he led the Cougars to three straight Final Four appearances from 1982-84. He continued his success at the pro level in the same town with the Houston Rockets, winning back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and '95.
"My focus was not to be an All-Star or a Hall of Famer," said Olajuwon. "My role for the team was to hold the middle, control the middle and help the team win, then the credit will come later. I've been very fortunate to play on great teams."
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Olajuwon still holds the NBA record for blocked shots with 3,830 and is the only player to record more than 3,000 blocked shots and 2,000 steals in a career. He was also a five-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, a six-time All-NBA First Team performer and the 1994 NBA MVP. He recorded 26,946 points and 13,748 rebounds in 18 NBA seasons, good for ninth and 14th respectively on the all-time NBA leader board.
Ewing took Georgetown to three Final Fours in his four collegiate seasons from 1982-85, and denied Olajuwon an NCAA title in the 1984 championship game. He was the 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year with the New York Knicks, won Olympic gold medals in 1984 and '92, and earned 11 All-Star Game nods.
"Growing up, coming from Jamaica, moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and taking field trips to the museum, you never really thought that one day I would be enshrined in here," said Ewing. "People for generations will be coming in and see the things not only myself, but all these great people that are with me have accomplished. This is truly a dream come true."
A member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team, Ewing scored 24,815 points during his 17-year NBA career to go along with 11,607 rebounds. He was unable to secure an NBA title, however, as he and the Knicks lost to Olajuwon and the Rockets in 1994 NBA Finals and to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 Finals.
"We've had a love-hate relationship throughout the years," Ewing said of the Knicks fans. "I think that you showed me you respected what I brought to the table, every time I see you, no matter where I am. You appreciated that I worked and gave it 110 percent."
Riley, meanwhile, won five NBA crowns as a head coach -- four with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. A three-time NBA Coach of the Year, he is still active as president of the Heat and currently ranks fourth on the all-time NBA wins list behind Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson and Larry Brown.
Dantley was a finalist for the seventh time. He was a two-time All-America at Notre Dame and had a stellar 15-year NBA career with the Buffalo Braves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks. A six-time NBA All-Star, his 23,177 career points still ranks 23rd all-time in league annals.
Vitale, previously a finalist in 2004 and '06, is one of college basketball's great voices. He has been the top analyst for ESPN since its inception in 1979 and was a successful coach on the high school, college and pro levels.
Davidson, has been an owner of the Detroit Pistons since 1974 and the WNBA's Detroit Shock since 1998. The Detroit native has served as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors and his Pistons have won three NBA crowns.
Rush, previously a finalist five times, led Immaculata University to three consecutive AIAW national championships from 1972 to 1974. Rush propelled Immaculata, and women's basketball, into the national spotlight when the Mighty Macs appeared on national television in 1975, a first for women's basketball. She won 149 games and lost only 15 in just seven seasons, good for a .908 winning percentage.
<< White Sox thump Halos to keep pace in AL Central
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juan Uribe belted a pair of two-run homers to
carry the Chicago White Sox to a 10-2 rout of the Angels in a battle of
division leaders.
Paul Konerko had three hits, including a solo homer, and Ken Grif
<< Lowell, Beckett highlight BoSox rout of Rangers
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Lowell finished 3-for-5 with four runs
batted in, and Josh Beckett threw five shutout innings, as the Boston Red Sox
beat Texas, 8-1, in the first of three games with the Rangers.
Beckett (12-9) and
<< A's crush O's
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down the Baltimore offense, while the Athletics finally took advantage of
suspect pitching in an 11-2 rout over the Orioles in a rain-soaked opener of a
three-g
<< Braves notch back-to-back wins over Nats
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie Brandon Jones highlighted a seven-run
third inning with a three-run double, carrying Atlanta to a 10-5 win over the
Washington Nationals.
Kelly Johnson had three hits, including a pair of doubles,
Colorado edges Houston to snap Astros' eight-game win streak >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clint Barmes homered and Ubaldo Jimenez
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over the Houston Astros at Coors Field.
Brad Hawpe scored two runs and drove in
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Cardinals, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.
Mike Jacobs
Hardy gives Brewers a critical win over Padres in 11 >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - J.J. Hardy drove in the game-winning run in
the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers pulled out a 3-2 victory over the
San Diego Padres, in the second contest of a four-game set from Miller Park.
Brian
Morrow falls short in no-hit attempt; M's top Yanks >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Morrow's first big league start was
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Morrow, a
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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