New teammates Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson
"The Answer" could be revealed Friday night in Denver.
The Nuggets culminated a week of intense negotiations by acquiring four-time NBA scoring champion Allen Iverson from Philadelphia on Tuesday in a blockbuster trade.
Denver landed the league's 2001 MVP and 6-foot-8 rookie forward Ivan McFarlin for point guard Andre Miller, forward Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round draft picks.
Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, said Iverson would not arrive in Denver today. Traded players must join their new team within 48 hours. The best-case scenario for the Nuggets is that Iverson is in Denver for practice Thursday and makes his debut Friday against Sacramento. Nuggets vice president Rex Chapman is still hoping Iverson arrives today, though the odds of that happening are slim.
"I'm very happy about the trade," Iverson, 31, said in a prepared statement. "Denver's style of play fits my strengths. I'm looking forward to playing with Carmelo (Anthony), the rest of the Nuggets and for (coach) George Karl, who is a proven winner."
The trade gives Denver a scoring tandem rarely seen in NBA history, with Anthony (31.6 points per game) leading the league and Iverson (31.2) ranking second. Iverson, a seven-time all-star, hasn't played since scoring 25 points in the 76ers' 121-94 loss at Chicago on Dec. 6. The veteran guard asked to be traded soon after, and the 76ers cleaned out his locker while working on a trade.
Karl spoke with Iverson after the trade became official. Iverson had run-ins with his coaches throughout his career in Philadelphia, and has ranted at times about not wanting to practice, but Karl predicted he would get along fine with his newest superstar...[READ MORE]
This gift will keep on giving
By Woody Paige
Denver Post Staff Columnist
It could be an O. Henry Christmas short (180.34 centimeters) story.
The Gift Of The A.I.
Not quite Della and James sacrificing their hair and watch and getting in return a comb and a fob as gifts from each other at Christmas.
And the Nuggets' executives certainly aren't the Magi, but Stan Kroenke and his subordinates were extremely wise men Tuesday.
The Nuggets give to the 76ers guard Andre Miller, reserve forward Joe Smith and two first-round draft picks next year and receive guard Allen Iverson and a partridge in a pear tree (Ivan McFarlin).
In this case, it's better to receive than give.
Remember that Elway didn't win the Super Bowl until Davis arrived. Holmes couldn't solve crimes without Watson. Bell couldn't invent the phone without (another) Watson. Carmelo can't win the NBA title without Iverson.
Iverson, A.I., is The Answer to the Nuggets' Blue Christmas. Just in time for the holidays and four more home games in a row.
The Nuggets just lost Carmelo Anthony (15 games) and J.R. Smith (10) because of their uncivil behavior at Maddening Square Garden. (Maybe the Knicks were peeved Denver might get the Democratic Convention instead of New York.)
Anthony is the NBA's leading scorer; Smith is the Nuggets' second-leading scorer. Iverson now is the NBA's (non-suspended) leading scorer. And the Nuggets need him to score and assist and (occasionally) practice now.
The deal is done. The deal is terrific...[READ MORE]
HUMOR
Nora Ephron Feels Bad About Barack Obama's Neck
BY Rick Moranis for McSweeneys
I haven't met Barack Obama. But I've seen a lot of pictures and footage of him on television, so I feel like I have. He has an unusually thin neck for a man of his size. He's tall, thin, and extremely handsome, which always works very well on television.
Television is supposed to put 10 pounds on anyone who's on it, but I think the 10 pounds are more likely to wind up on the people who are watching it. Either way, Barack Obama could use 10 pounds, specifically on his neck. (I'm not sure which is worse—Barack Obama's neck or the gap in Condoleezza Rice's teeth. But that's another story.) [READ MORE]
VIDEO: Seinfeld and Festivus
MUSIC
According to Punknews.org, Oasis' star Noel Gallagher has accused punk trio Green Day of "ripping off" his song "Wonderwall" for their hit "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams." It seems that Gallagher is unaware that the entirety of American Idiot was composed by an Oregon grocery store clerk in 1992. (Since "Wonderwall" was released in 1995, that means Oasis also ripped off the grocery store clerk as did Dillinger Four.)
In all seriousness however, Gallagher adds:
If you listen, you'll find it is exactly the same arrangement as Wonderwall. They should have the decency to wait until I am dead (before stealing my songs). I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy.
They consider themselves to be - and I quote - 'a kick-ass rock 'n' roll band'. They could not be less kick-ass if they tried [LINK]
Featured Artist: Economy Wolf
Economy Wolf are part of an east London based collective of artists and musicians called Trial & Error.
They have releases on Fire Records and T&E under the name Lions & Tigers. Lions & Tigers are no more, and have been reborn as Economy Wolf.
Economy Wolf - "Mount Allen"
Economy Wolf on Myspace
Featured Holiday Album: Reverend Horton Heat We Three Kings
Reverend Horton Heat Gets a Jump on Christmas Merriment
by Paul Zimemrman
First Coast News
We Three Kings Christmas Favorites is a whimsical album of all your seasonal favorites. However, instead of just running through the standards, The Reverend adds his own special brand of fun to the mix. What you end up getting is a rock around the clock Christmas record that is a rockabilly take on all the songs your mom’s mom grew up singing.They’re all here, from “Jingle Bells,” to “Frosty the Snowman,” they are the songs you sing along to as you ride around in your sleigh. Well your Buick, anyway. (It is Florida after all.)
We Three Kings Christmas Favorites is a fun record. It’s cheeky, silly, loaded with classics and is the sort of record that will even put the Christmas spirit in the most grinchy of people. Merry Christmas!
Reverend Horton Heat - "Frosty the Snowman"
Reverend Horton Heat - "Jingle Bells"
Reverend Horton Heat - "We Three Kings"
Reverend Horton Heat - "Winterwonderland"
Reverend Horton Heat - "Run Rudolph Run"