Bruce Bowen Retires

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By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
After helping the San Antonio Spurs win three championships and establishing himself as perhaps the premier perimeter defender of his generation, Bruce Bowen is retiring at 38.

Bowen told ESPN.com that he will formally announce his retirement at a Thursday afternoon news conference and said he would elaborate more on his decision then. The announcement was scheduled to take place at the San Antonio spa/salon he co-owns and operates with his wife, Yardley.

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Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
Bruce Bowen, seen defending LeBron James in the 2007 NBA Finals, helped the Spurs win three titles.
Bowen's eight seasons with the Spurs -- during which he became a fixture on the NBA's all-defensive team as well as a target for criticism after numerous opponents complained about his tactics -- ended in June when San Antonio included him in the three-team trade with Milwaukee and Detroit that brought the offensive-minded Richard Jefferson to the Alamo City.

Bowen became an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 1 after the Bucks, foiled in their attempts throughout July to move him along in a subsequent deal, paid $2 million to buy out his $4 million contract for next season.

It was initially believed that Bowen would then sign in August with one of the Spurs' championship rivals. Orlando, Boston and Cleveland were all mentioned as possibilities. But he has apparently decided instead to pursue his off-court business and community interests as well as a career in broadcasting.

Veterans with playoff résumés like Bowen's are frequently invited to sign with contenders as a stretch-run addition for the playoffs, but it was not immediately known whether Bowen would be open to an in-season comeback. His next basketball-related appointment is Oct. 10, when Bowen joins Canadian Football League legend Damon Allen and former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Boone in a class of six inductees into Cal State-Fullerton's Athletics Hall of Fame.

After going undrafted out of Fullerton in 1993, Bowen began his professional career in France as more of a scorer, before transforming himself into a defensive specialist to win over then-Miami Heat coach Pat Riley. He played sparingly for Miami, Boston and Philadelphia in his first four NBA seasons, before returning to the Heat in 2000-01 and breaking through to be voted by coaches to the league's all-defensive second team.

Bowen then signed with the Spurs in the summer of 2001 and wound up making the all-defensive first team five straight times between 2003-04 and 2007-08. Developing a reliable 3-point shot from the corners along the way, complementing his ability to guard players of all sizes and offsetting his struggles at the free throw line, Bowen was a fixture in the starting lineup as San Antonio won championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

But there were fines and controversies in San Antonio as well, as Bowen -- for all of his good work in the city as an off-the-court ambassador -- was accused by high-profile foes such as Vince Carter, Ray Allen and Steve Nash for stepping into the landing space of jump shooters or using his hands and feet too aggressively. After starting in every regular-season and playoff game in his first seven seasons with the Spurs -- and leading the league in 3-point percentage (.441) in 2002-03 -- Bowen averaged just 18.9 minutes per game in 2008-09. Injuries suffered at various points by Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili prompted San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich to slice into Bowen's playing time in the search for more offense.

Bowen averaged 6.1 points in 873 regular-season games, posted a career percentage of .393 from 3-point range and earned an unexpected invite at the age of 35 to try out for Team USA in the summer of 2006 from coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Under New Management

Like the career of every athlete, there comes a time where all good things must come to an end. From this day forward, I will be merging blogs with Antonio Ruggiero and The Sports World 360. Starting soon, we will be talking about all things sports, from Brett Favre being a Viking, to The Rashard lewis scandal in the NBA. The new site is www.thesportsworld360.blogspot.com

Dream Team inducted into USOC Hall of Fame

CHICAGO (AP) -- Athletes being inducted into the U.S. Olympic Committee's Hall of Fame walked the carpet at the induction ceremony Wednesday in Chicago, part of a final push to drum up buzz about the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.



The spotlight on the event dimmed slightly because one of the most high-profile backers of the city's bid, basketball great Michael Jordan, didn't attend, even though the 1992 gold-medal Olympic basketball Dream Team he played on was being inducted.

The former Chicago Bull has already lent his name and support to the bid, appearing in a public service campaign, but his absence did take some of the star power out of the event meant to put the sports spotlight on Chicago.

"Everyone wants to see Michael. Being inducted into anything with Michael is a great honor for us but it's Michael, I guess that mystique is part of what makes him so appealing to everybody," said David Robinson, one of Jordan's Olympic teammates.

Chicago is looking for all the attention it can get ahead of the International Olympic Committee's decision on which city will host the 2016 Games. Chicago is a finalist along with Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. The IOC will meet in Copenhagen on Oct. 2 to decide.

About 3,600 people attended the USOC induction ceremony, which was also the final blowout fundraiser for local Olympic organizers and raised about $5 million. About two dozen athletes, coaches and an Olympic official were inducted including such big names as basketball greats Patrick Ewing and Scottie Pippen, track star Michael Johnson and Mike Krzyzewski, who was an assistant coach on the 1992 Dream Team.

But Jordan isn't the only big name from Chicago who local organizers are counting on to help land the games as the IOC decision nears.

President Barack Obama could be the one who helps seals the deal. The former Illinois senator has a home in Chicago just a few blocks from the park where the proposed Olympic Stadium would be built.

"Certainly it will help put the bid over the top if the president can make his presence known in Copenhagen but I think the city has covered all bases," USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter said.

Then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair was widely credited with helping London land the 2012 Games because he lobbied IOC members in person in the days before the decisive vote.

Streeter said U.S. Olympic officials haven't gotten word yet on whether Obama will be in Copenhagen and if he does come they likely won't know about it until the last minute.

Obama already has been a frequent and vocal supporter of the city's bid, recently appearing in a videotaped message shown to Olympic officials in Africa and forming a White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport.

"Let's face it ... in many places around the world he's kind of a rock star," said Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Bart Conner, who's active in promoting Chicago's bid and attended Wednesday's event.

At this late hour in the city's bid, Conner said support from city residents also needs to be obvious.

"I think that's one of the most important things we can do is demonstrate to the IOC our city believes in the games, believes in what the Olympics stand for and will treat it right," Conner said.

But that hasn't always been so clear cut. Local Olympic officials have spent weeks holding public meetings around the city after some aldermen were critical of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley for telling the IOC he would sign a contract requiring the city to take full financial responsibility for the games.

Aldermen worried about the city's potential liability and complained they had been kept in the dark about Daley's plans.

But Daley has athletes such as Pippen behind him as he and others at the induction ceremony pledged to do what they could to keep building momentum for Chicago's bid.

More Hispanics tying to be reached into joining the NBA

The NBA makes a fast break to reach U.S. Hispanic fans.
There are only six Hispanics in the league, and it’s looking for more.
Carmelo “Melo” Anthony, with the Denver Nuggets is one of them.

Three years ago, the NBA launched its own Hispanic Awareness Month, which occurs every March.
The league is also tapping more international Latin players. Since 2000, the number of Hispanic or Latino players from outside the USA has grown from five to seventeen.

According to the US Census, from 2000 to 2007, the Hispanic share of the US population grew from 12.5 percent to 15 percent. This amounts to approximately 10 million more people.

The Hispanic viewership of this year’s All-Star Game in February surged by 13 percent over last year. Up to 472,000 Hispanic households tuned in, according to the Nielson ratings.

Particularly pronounced was the one-year jump in male Hispanic viewers between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four.

Written by Rob Kuznia, staff writer for Hispanic Business magazine, May, 2009, pp. 28-30. To subscribe to this magazine see: www.Hispanicbusiness.com.

Rashard Lewis suspended for P.E.Ds

We have all seen athletes that have been accused, and ultimately found, to be guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs. From Barry Bonds, to Roger Clemens, and as much as it pains me to say it, even Alex Rodriguez. Buy that's baseball. I have never seen a player in the NBA be found to have used perforance enhancing drugs, until now. Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis has been suspended for ten games without pay after doctors found that he had an elevated testosterone level. In a quote from ESPN.com Lewis says this:
"First and foremost I take full responsibility for the situation and accept the corresponding penalty," Lewis said. "I apologize to Magic fans, my teammates and this organization for not doing the research that should come with good judgment."
Lewis will lose over $1million during the suspension, but he should think about how his team will fare. Let's face facts, he is one of the magic's best players and this suspension is really going to hit them hard.

Magic Turns the Big 5-0

This week, legendary point Guard Earvin "Magic" turned fifty years old. The 13 year Laker point guard has certainly made his mark on America. Magic Johnson has opened America's eyes about HIV and AIDS after Magic was diagnosed with HIV. Ever since then he has made sure that people become aware of how you can receive HIV. And of course, Magic has also been known for legendary, and I mean legendary status as pehaps one of the greatest showtime point guards in history. He has also given us moments that last a life time, like the 42 point outburst he had in the playoffs, while playing center because his fellow superstar teammate, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar was sidelined with an ankle injury. It was mo
Ents like these that made people know that he would become one of the greatest players in NBA playoff history. Magic would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 and continues to show people what HIV is. Magic Johson has given this country 50 great years of life. Happy 50th Magic, and here's to 50 more!

Where's Quentin: Richardson Traded four times in the off-season

On draft night in late June, the New York Traded Sharp-Shooter Quentin Richardson to the Memphis Grizzlies for Darko Milicic, a few weeks later, he is then traded to the Clippers, shortly following, he is traded to the Minnesotta Timberwolves, now as told by ESPN, Richardson has been traded again, the the city of Miami, where he is to join good friend Dwyane Wade. This is the fourth time that Richardson has been traded in just 3 months! Let's hope that now, Q- Rich can unpack his bags, and keep it unpacked, because as of now, who knows where he will be next!