HOW KOBE BRYANT SPENT HIS SUMMER VACATION

Fox Sports WEST Debuts “Lakers Insider: Kobe Bryant - How I Spent My Summer Vacation” on November 5 at 10:30 PM

Los Angeles - In this edition of “Lakers Insider”, Fox Sports WEST follows the NBA’s reigning MVP, Kobe Bryant, in what may have arguably been his busiest summer to date. “Lakers Insider: Kobe Bryant – How I Spent My Summer Vacation” debuts on Wednesday, November 5 at 10:30 PM following “Lakers Live” post-game coverage of the Los Angeles Clippers at the Los Angeles Lakers.

In one 24-hour period, Bryant juggled his personal fitness routine and time with his family with a promotional appearance for his new Nike shoe, speaking at his annual youth basketball camp and playing in a friendly coach’s scrimmage game for the campers. “Lakers Insider: Kobe Bryant – How I Spent My Summer Vacation” is anchored by Fox Sports WEST and PRIME TICKET Reporter Michael Eaves’ interview with Bryant. Following is a sampling of soundbites from the show:

Whether Bryant was concerned his commitment to Team USA would affect his 2008-09 Lakers performance: “If this was a couple years ago, yes, yeah, a couple of years ago I would have had to put 35 points up in a game. I don’t do that anymore. I’ve got a lot of help. That concern is not there.”

On taking his family to Beijing: “I would love for my kids to see what greatness looks like from all across the board, from swimmers, to archers, to track and field.”

Why he enjoys interacting with the kids at his basketball camp: “For me, when I was a camper growing up, it was always about the interaction that I had with the professional players that came down, or the big time college players, and having an opportunity to ask them questions personally. Face-to-face interaction was more important to me than anything else.”

In addition to conducting a one-on-one interview with Bryant, Eaves provides voice over narration for the half-hour show, which includes footage from the youth basketball camp, the scrimmage game, viral videos of jumping cars and aquatic snakes, promoting his new Nike shoe, and promotional appearances with fans.

Following its November 5 debut, “Lakers Insider: Kobe Bryant – How I Spent My Summer Vacation” reprises on Saturday, November 8 at 10:30 PM; Thursday, November 13 at 10 PM; Friday, November 14 at 1:30 AM; Sunday, November 23 at 9:30 PM; Tuesday, November 25 at 6:30 PM; and, Wednesday, November 26 at 10 PM.

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Geeter Rocking Out On The Today Show

I just had to share this video from a recent segment of The Today Show from Beijing during NBC's Olympic coverage.

The segment featured gold medal-winning beach volleyball duo Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. And as you all know, when it comes to beach volleyball, there's really only one person to do the intro: Chris "Geeter" McGee!!





Did my boy, Geet, really just break out the caterpillar in honor of Al Roker? CLASSIC!!

Kaman Hoping To Lead Germany To Beijing

Chris Kaman had planned to play for Germany for quite sometime, but during the NBA season the opportunity came into question after a series of injuries. He has since fully recovered, and this experience should only help his development, which took a giant leap forward last season.

The Clippers, however, see this opportunity slightly differently. Since they have about $50 million invested in their starting center, they'd much rather he didn't play. They are concerned he might get hurt and affect his season back in LA. But if I recall, Elton Brand got hurt working out with Kaman 1-on-1 last summer. Injuries happen wherever and whenever. You can't really prevent them, and worrying about them doesn't help either.

But from a pure comedy standpoint, it might not get any better than Kaman in Beijing. It's a reality show waiting to happen.

(AP) FRANKFURT, Germany -- Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman has received German citizenship and will team up with Dirk Nowitzki for Germany at an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season with the Clippers.

The 7-foot Kaman will add size to a German team seeking to qualify for its first Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

"We'll be stronger under the baskets with Chris," Nowitzki said Thursday.

The German team is practicing at home for a warmup tournament before it travels to Greece for the July 14-20 qualifying event in Athens.

"Chris is a significant addition and we'll now have to integrate him in time for the Athens tournament," coach Dirk Bauermann said.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

What's Really In A Name?

In the latest installment of "Some people just take some things way too far," comes this report from the Washington Post. And just for the record, when did "gay" become a 4-letter word?

OneNewsNow.com, a Mississippi-based website committed to delivering "news from a Christian perspective," has a strict policy to replace certain words deemed offensive. So imagine the surprise when readers learned Sunday that Tyson Homosexual -- not Tyson Gay -- had run the world's fastest 100-meter dash.

The website ran the following altered Associated Press recap of Gay's 9.68-second wind-aided sprint:

"Tyson Homosexual was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has. . . . Homosexual qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he's certainly someone to watch in Beijing."

"It means a lot to me," the 25-year-old Homosexual said. "I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me."

Fred Jackson, news director of OneNewsNow, told the Washington Post that the site has been fixed.

"We took the filter out for that word," he said, without uttering the "G" word, the Post reported.

DODGERS PREVIEW 2008 OLYMPIC BASEBALL SITE

"Dodgers Insider: Trip to China" Debuts on FSN PRIME TICKET on Tuesday, July 8

Los Angeles--FSN PRIME TICKET, the destination for the most comprehensive Los Angeles Dodgers coverage, debuts "Dodgers Insider: Trip to China" on Tuesday, July 8. The half-hour show is the fifth Dodgers' original program to be featured during the 2008 MLB season.

"Dodgers Insider: Trip to China" airs at 10:30 PM on Tuesday, July 8 on FSN PRIME TICKET.

In 2008, Major League Baseball (MLB) unveiled MLB China Series to showcase the sport of baseball in China. On March 15 and 16, the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres met in the first-ever MLB games played in the country. The games were held at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing, a 12,000-seat facility and the host venue for baseball during the 2008 Olympic Games.

"Dodgers Insider: Trip to China" educates baseball fans on the MLB's plan to grow the sport in China. Interviews with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and Chief Operating Officer of the MLB Players Association Gene Orza, alongside reaction to the historic events by Asian and American attendees, help to illustrate the plan. The half-hour show also spends time with Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt and Dodgers Manager Joe Torre. The experiences of the Boys in Blue traveling in and around Beijing are highlighted by Matt Kemp's side trip to the Great Wall of China.

Following the July 8, 2008 debut, FSN PRIME TICKET provides re-airs of the "Dodgers Insider: Trip to China", July 13 at 12:30 PM; July 21 at 9:30 PM; July 22 at 10:30 PM; July 23 at 10:00 PM; July 27 at 12:30 PM; July 28 at 10:30 PM and July 31 at 6:00 PM.

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