1-on-1 With Ron Artest

I had the chance to spend some time with Ron Artest today. I have met him and interviewed him a few times in the past, but I learned quite a bit more about him today than in previous meetings. From the question and answer session he held with the assembled media at the Lakers practice facility to my 1-on-1 interview with him, I really learned just how funny and insightful he can be.

From the time he agreed to join the Lakers for the mid-level exception (worth about $33 million), I thought it was a great move for the defending champs. I am even more convinced of it now.

Check out my interview and tell me what you think about LA's newest Laker. Enjoy!

http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=8f6e7657-b7a4-4db5-8300-369dee42d7c1

KINGS ANNOUNCE 2009 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

TICKETS FOR TWO GAMES AT STAPLES CENTER TO GO ON SALE AUGUST 1

LOS ANGELES--The Los Angeles Kings today announced their preseason schedule for the 2009-10 NHL season. The Kings are currently scheduled to play eight games overall -- including two at STAPLES Center -- September 15 versus the Phoenix Coyotes and September 19 versus the Anaheim Ducks.

In addition to the two home games at STAPLES Center, the Kings will host the San Jose Sharks at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on September 17; the New York Islanders at Sprint Center in Kansas City on September 22; and the Colorado Avalanche at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 26.

The Kings will travel to Phoenix on September 15, to Colorado on September 23 and to Anaheim on September 27.

Before the Kings begin training camp and their 2009 preseason schedule, the club will host LA Kings Hockey Fest '09--the largest event the Kings have hosted since the 2002 NHL All-Star Game -- from August 28-30 at LA Live. View all LA Kings Hockey Fest '09 details, including the latest news and videos, by visiting LAKings.com/hockeyfest.

Tickets for the two Kings preseason games at STAPLES Center will go on sale on Saturday, August 1. Tickets are currently on sale for the games in Ontario, Las Vegas and Kansas City. For all Kings ticket information, call 888-KINGS-LA.

Day Date Opponent City Venue Time (Pacific)

Tue. Sept. 15 Coyotes Phoenix Jobing.com Arena 7 p.m.

Tue. Sept. 15 Coyotes Los Angeles STAPLES Center 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Sept. 17 Sharks Ontario Citizens Business Bank Arena 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Sept. 19 Ducks Los Angeles STAPLES Center 7:30 p.m.

Tue. Sept. 22 Islanders Kansas City Sprint Center 5 p.m.

Wed. Sept. 23 Avalanche Denver Pepsi Center 6 p.m.

Sat. Sept. 26 Avalanche Las Vegas MGM Grand 6 p.m.

Sun. Sept. 27 Ducks Anaheim Honda Center 5:05 p.m.

Celebrate Kings hockey and launch the team's most highly anticipated season at LA Kings Hockey Fest '09! Set for Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30 at LA Live, this three-day interactive summertime festival will feature player autograph sessions, an NHL Legend speaker series, historic memorabilia, hockey exhibits and more. Plus, a kick-off concert and pep-rally with the entire Kings team. Perfect for hockey fans and the entire family. Call 1.888.Kings.LA or visit LAKings.com. For more LA Kings Hockey Fest '09 details, visit LAKings.com/hockeyfest. To view the official Hockey Fest '09 poster, visit LAKings.com/hockeyfest09poster.

-- LAKINGS.COM --

Follow the Pac-10 Conference on Twitter & Facebook

--Fans can receive instant updates from social networking sites--

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-- Pacific-10 Conference fans looking for the latest news and information about the conference and its member schools can follow the Conference on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can follow the Pac-10 via mobile devices using various cell phone applications for Facebook and Twitter, and on Instant Messenger (IM). On Facebook, fans can also receive updates through their email.

Pac-10 fans can receive and check regular updates at www.twitter.com/Pac-10. Fans do not need an account to view the Pac-10 twitter page, but must have an account in order to receive automatic updates.

On Facebook, fans must have an account in order to automatically receive updates from the Pac-10. To "Become a Fan," visit the Pac-10 Conference fan page at www.facebook.com/Pac10. To receive updates by email, users must set the appropriate account settings.

The Pac-10 will share news, links, photos and video throughout the academic year. Fans and followers of the Pac-10 Conference will also the opportunity to win tickets to special events, including the Rose Bowl, the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament and the State Farm Pac-10 Women's Basketball Tournament. Twitter and Facebook are free social networking sites.

To sign up for an account, visit www.twitter.com or www.facebook.com.

- www.pac-10.org -

UK's John Wall Projected To Be 2010 #1 NBA Draft Pick

Less than a week after the Clippers made Oklahoma's Blake Griffin the #1 overall pick, there's already a discussion on who should be the favorite to be next year's top NBA Draft pick.

Kentucky fans probably won't be surprised to hear that UK's top recruit John Wall seems to be the leading contender. He's got NBA-ready skills right now and likely would have been a lottery pick this year if he had been eligible for the draft.

Wall's chances of being next summer's top pick also has history on their side. Last year, the Bulls tapped Derrick Rose to be the number one pick, and just last week, the Kings drafted Tyreke Evans #4 overall. The common denominator of those two picks? John Calipari was their coach at Memphis--the same man who will coach Wall at Kentucky.

So enjoy him while you can UK fans. Not only is Wall a definite one-and done player, but he could become Kentucky's first ever #1 overall draft pick.

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=959971