Portland Trail Blazers all-star Brandon Roy scores cover of NBA 10: The Inside for the PSP system
PlayStation(R) And Roy Come Together To Bring Fans The Perfect Blend Of Arcade And Simulation Basketball
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced that Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Brandon Roy will lace ‘em up for the cover of NBA 10: The Inside, due to hit stores on October 6, 2009. NBA 10: The Inside will be the only officially licensed first party basketball game available exclusively for PSP (PlayStation Portable). Entering his fourth professional season, Roy has established himself as one the NBA’s most exciting young stars and a premiere pressure player. The 2008-2009 campaign proved to be a career year for the phenom as he averaged 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while earning All-NBA Second Team honors and a second consecutive All-Star nod in route to a Trail Blazers playoff berth.
Born in Seattle, WA, Roy played his college basketball in the Pacific Northwest attending the University of Washington. After an All-American career and a Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year award in his senior year, Roy was drafted sixth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he quickly made an impact being named T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year in a near-unanimous vote. Roy’s coming out party, however, came on November 6, 2008, against the Houston Rockets, when he hit a game-winning 30-foot jumper at the buzzer in overtime, solidifying the silky smooth shooter as one of the league’s clutch performers. As of February 16, 2009, Roy has hit 24 shots where he tied or won the game with 35 seconds or less.
“Brandon Roy has distinguished himself as one of the NBA’s brightest stars and we are thrilled to have him represent NBA 10: The Inside,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. “With his explosive game and cool demeanor under pressure, Brandon is the ideal ambassador for this title and its unique blend of arcade and simulation basketball.”
At its core a 5-on-5 basketball simulation game, NBA 10: The Inside brings an expanded Conquest Mode with three original features this year. Players can take on the entire country and battle in the classic acquisition style of Conquest while playing Dodgeball, Give & Go, or MiniQuest, which allows players to choose from one of four mini-games. In addition, two new quick action mini-games have been introduced – Open Lanes, a traditional 10 frame bowling game, and Cherry Pickin,’ a puzzle based mini-game with an NBA feel – both of which players can enjoy anytime, anywhere.
NBA 10: The Inside also brings back all of the popular carnival-style games from years past. From the skee-ball-like Hot Shot to basketball-themed pinball tables, all are available to provide fast and engaging action that further adds to the stable of traditional and nontraditional basketball gameplay. With expanded play-by-play and audio commentary from Kenny Smith and Ian Eagle, NBA 10: The Inside delivers an unrivaled experience for basketball fans and gamers alike.
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for NBA 10: The Inside is “E” for Everyone.
Michael Jordan Memorabilia to be offered at September 17th Basketball Auction in Chicago
Hunt Auctions, an 18-year veteran of the sports memorabilia auction industry, in conjunction with Upper Deck Authenticated, will offer Michael Jordan’s personal collection of golf clubs, bags, and other related accessories as part of a 300-plus lot basketball auction to be held live on September 17, 2009 at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago.
The items in Michael Jordan’s 50+ lot collection represent his substantial time on the golf course. While not every piece of equipment was employed by the basketball legend, some golf clubs and bags show substantial use. Expected to fetch $30,000-$40,000, the group is being sold to benefit the James Jordan Foundation.
“An iconic athlete’s personal ephemera is always a huge draw for bidders,” said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions. “We’re thrilled to be offering such a unique collection for both Michael Jordan and golf enthusiasts alike.”
Also up for auction is a private collection of Michael Jordan memorabilia that includes several significant pieces, including a selection of items from the famed 1992 USA Olympic Basketball “Dream Team”. Of particular interest is Jordan’s warm up jacket from the 1992 games in Barcelona estimated at $4,000-$5,000. The 125-lot collection is offered for the first time publicly with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the James Jordan Foundation.
Additional items up for bid include a pair of Nike sneakers LeBron James wore and inscribed in tribute to President Barack Obama. The sneakers, which read, “44th President Barack Obama,” across the front, were worn during a game on January 23, 2009.
Highlights of the basketball auction include:
– 1992-93 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls professional model home jersey (est. $10,000-$15,000)
– Michael Jordan autographed 1992 Nike USA Olympic warm up jacket ($4,000-$5,000)
– 1992 Michael Jordan USA Olympic Basketball Team Identification badge ($3,000-$4,000)
– Michael Jordan autographed personal golf bag ($2,000-$3,000)
– LeBron James game worn basketball sneakers with handwritten tribute inscription to President Obama ($5,000-$7,500)
– Rare Barack Obama autographed basketball. ($2,000-$3,000)
A preview exhibition will run Tuesday, September 15th thru Thursday, September 17th at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Complimentary appraisals of sports memorabilia will be available for visitors. Bids are accepted live at the auction, via phone at 610-524-0822, or at www.HuntAuctions.com.
Source: Hunt Auctions
SIRIUS XM Radio Delivers Bountiful Sports Buffet for Memorial Day Weekend
SIRIUS XM offers motorsports tripleheader on Sunday, May 24, with F1(TM) Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
Throughout the weekend listeners nationwide get live play-by-play from the racetrack, diamond, ice, hardwood, golf course and soccer pitch
SIRIUS XM Radio announced that it will offer sports fans a full lineup of sports programming over Memorial Day Weekend, featuring live play-by-play action from IndyCar Series racing, Formula One(TM), NASCAR, Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL playoffs, PGA TOUR, English Premier League soccer and college baseball.
MOTORSPORTS: On Sunday, May 24, SIRIUS XM will broadcast the ultimate auto racing trifecta, featuring three of the biggest events on the motorsports calendar: the Formula One(TM) Grand Prix de Monaco (8:00 am ET on SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 242), the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series race (1:00 pm ET, XM channel 145 and SIRIUS channel 211 (“Best of XM”)), and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race (5:45 pm ET, SIRIUS channel 128 and XM channel 128 (“Best of SIRIUS”)).
SIRIUS XM will also broadcast the Carquest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, May 23 (7:30 pm ET, SIRIUS channel 128 and XM channel 128 (“Best of SIRIUS”)).
NBA: SIRIUS XM will broadcast every game of the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals, carrying the team radio broadcasts of the Cavaliers, Magic, Lakers and Nuggets. (XM channels 232 and 233, SIRIUS channels 219 and 220 (“Best of XM”)). Visit www.xmradio.com/nba and www.sirius.com/nba for listings.
NHL: SIRIUS XM will also broadcast every game of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, carrying the team radio broadcasts of the Penguins, Hurricanes, Red Wings and Blackhawks (XM channels 204 and 205, SIRIUS channels 208, 211 and 212 (“Best of XM”)). Visit www.xmradio.com/nhl and www.sirius.com/nhl for listings.
MLB: XM listeners will get every Major League Baseball game from coast-to-coast throughout the weekend on XM channels 175 to 189. (Schedule available at www.xmradio.com/mlb). Fans can also tune in to MLB Home Plate, the only radio channel dedicated to covering MLB seven days a week, 365 days a year, for daily baseball talk and analysis (XM channel 175 and SIRIUS channel 210 (“Best of XM”)).
PGA: SIRIUS XM will offer live hole-by-hole coverage of the HP Byron Nelson Championship PGA TOUR event this Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24, on The PGA TOUR Network (XM channel 146 and SIRIUS channel 209 (“Best of XM”)).
EPL: On Sunday, May 24, SIRIUS XM will broadcast two English Premier League soccer matches: Chelsea v. Sunderland (11:00 am ET, SIRIUS channel 125 and XM channel 102 (“Best of SIRIUS”)) and Newcastle United v. Aston Villa (11:00 am ET, SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 103 (“Best of SIRIUS”)).
NCAA Baseball: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, XM subscribers and SIRIUS subscribers with the “Best of XM” can hear college baseball conference tournament games from the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and SEC. Visit www.sirius.com/collegesports and www.xmradio.com/collegesports for listings.
Mad Dog Radio: On Memorial Day, May 25, Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, host of Mad Dog Unleashed on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio channel (SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144) will host a two-hour special examining baseball’s all-time greatest teams. The program, airing at 8:00 am ET, 1:00 pm ET, 6:00 pm ET and 11:00 pm ET, will determine the greatest all-time team from each of the 30 MLB franchises and will feature interviews with baseball historians and some of the game’s greatest players, including Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, 9-time all-star catcher and 1971 NL MVP Joe Torre, 16-time Gold Glove-winner Jim Kaat and others. The 30 highlighted teams, plus two wild card teams, will be seeded into a tournament bracket posted at www.sirius.com/maddogbaseball and on Tuesday, May 26, fans can log on and begin casting their votes to determine the greatest baseball team of all-time.
Recession Fouls Basketball Superstar – A Player’s Loss is Collectors Gain
There are times when a team transcends the game and steps over the boundaries of the sports pages and into the consciousness of a nation.
It could be argued that the Chicago Bulls during the mid 1990′s was such a team – so well known that even people who never opened an issue of Sports Illustrated could name the starting lineup.
The “repeat the three-peat” wins of the NBA finals of ’96, ’97, and ’98 created a cadre of basketball superstars and characters and set the bar at a new high for the next generation of players. Now a little piece of that victory is up on the auction block. In a testament to the far reach of the recession, former Bulls guard and assistant coach to the Sacramento Kings, Randy Brown, has declared bankruptcy, and his three championship rings will be for sale to the highest bidder via online auction at WestAuction.com.
The Chicago Bulls of the mid ’90s has been considered one of the best teams ever to set foot on a court, and Brown’s role – both as guard and as a team player – was integral. Brown, who made a name for himself in Sacramento as a solid and hard-working assistant coach to the Kings, was well liked by players and fans alike. His focus and ability to help players get the most out of their training was a mainstay during the team’s recent trouble and instability.
Yet these hard financial times have impacted everyone, and Brown is no exception. “It’s a tough situation,” says Dennis West, of West Auctions, the company charged with auctioning the rings. “Randy seems like a really good guy, and he was a great player. However, these are tough times for a lot of people from a variety of backgrounds. People are making difficult financial decisions, and for some that means bankruptcy.” With bankruptcy rates rising rapidly across the nation, you can expect many more auctions in the future.
Brown’s three championship rings are expected to hit the auction block at WestAuction.com on May 19. The bid will start at $19,000 – a bargain in the world of sports collectables.
For more information visit http://www.westauction.com/.
Hot Rates, Free Tickets on visitphoenix.com Make NBA All-Star Experience Accessible for Fans and Families
First 100 people to book get passes to All-Star Jam Session, Rookie Challenge
Fans who want to experience the weeklong festival of events that surround the 2009 NBA All-Star Game can find great deals on last-minute accommodations if they know where to look.
The Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau has created a one-stop reservation Web page, www.visitphoenix.com/allstar, where select hotels and resorts have posted special rates and packages for All-Star week (Feb. 12-16). Rates are as low as $169, and the first 100 people to book a room at one of the featured hotels will receive two tickets to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Feb. 13 and two passes to the NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas.
“If you’re looking for prime hotel rates in Greater Phoenix for the NBA’s marquee event, this Web site is where you’ll find them,” said Doug MacKenzie, spokesperson for the Greater Phoenix CVB.
MacKenzie added that this NBA All-Star week promises to be more fan-friendly than ever.
“The enormity of new Phoenix Convention Center makes All-Star festivities really accessible this year,” he said. “This is a wonderful chance for fans and families to immerse themselves in the All-Star scene and see current and past NBA stars.”
The convention center is the site of All-Star Jam Session, the fan experience the NBA bills as the “world’s largest interactive basketball theme park.” Jam Session features more than 10 acres of interactive games and displays, and its Center Court will showcase the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 13 and All-Star team practice sessions on Feb. 14. Tickets to Jam Session are $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 3-12.
US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, will play host to Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, All-Star Saturday Night and the 58th All-Star Game itself. All-Star Saturday Night consists of the Shooting Stars competition, PlayStation Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout and Sprite Slam Dunk competition.
Sunday’s star-studded game will tip off at 6 p.m. MST.
Both US Airways Center and the Phoenix Convention Center are located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, on the city’s new METRO Light Rail line.
“Besides getting to see NBA stars and attend events like Jam Session, fans can expect sunny skies and 75-degree temperatures,” MacKenzie said. “This is simply a fabulous time to be in Phoenix.”
Source: Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau