Archive for August 12th, 2008

The World Is No Match For LeBron James In Olympic Basketball

lebron-james.jpgLeBron James simply knocked aside overmatched Angola players like a schoolyard bully, going wherever he wanted on the basketball court.Now come the teams that can push back.

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, James dominated the game with his size and strength on both ends, and the U.S. men’s Olympic team wrapped up the easy portion of its schedule with a 97-76 victory Tuesday night.

The Americans (2-0) Thursday face Greece, the team that stunned them two years ago in the semifinals of the world championship. The Greeks are physical, and they should provide the first test of these games for the United States.

The United States improved to 4-0 against Angola, starting with the Dream Team’s Olympic debut in 1992. That romp is best remembered for Charles Barkley’s elbow to an unsuspecting Angolan player in a 116-48 victory.

After the Greece game Thursday, the Americans face world champion Spain, who are also 2-0 after rallying to beat China in overtime behind 29 points from Pau Gasol.

James hadn’t done much offensively midway through the second quarter when he made his presence felt on the other end, jumping so high to block Felizardo Ambrosio’s shot that it looked more like a volleyball spike, with James glaring back at the fallen Ambrosio as the ball went out of bounds.

The U.S. shooting would have been much better if not for Bryant’s 0-for-5 half, but he quickly got involved in the third quarter with eight points, highlighted by a spinning, 360-degree dunk on the fast break.

The Americans lost some concentration on the defensive end, allowing Angola enough open looks to keep it from becoming too much of a blowout for a while. Eventually they pulled away to win almost as easily as they did in a 101-70 victory against China on opening night.

Anthony also scored 12 points for the United States. Every U.S. player but Jason Kidd scored, but the Americans were only 5-of-21 from behind the arc after they hit just 7-of-24 against the Chinese.

Pittsburgh Man Arreted On 11th DUI

A Pittsburgh man has been convicted of his 11th drunken driving offense.Forty-4-year-old Robert Neville tried to convince an Allegheny County judge that he wasn’t drinking and driving.

Neville’s brother even testified that an open beer found in the car belonged to him, and not Neville. But Judge Randall Todd says Neville is guilty of drunken driving, driving with a suspended license and being a habitual offender.

Neville was taken away in handcuffs Monday after his conviction. He’ll be sentenced Oct. 20.

Defense attorney Sid Sokolsky says this is only Neville’s second DUI conviction in the last 10 years.

PA A.G. To Sue Indian Telemarketer For Violations Of Law

Pennsylvania’s top legal officer is suing a telemarketer over what he claims is the largest attempt to violate the state’s “do not call” law.Attorney General Tom Corbett says a Baltimore-based firm called Direct Leadsource used a telephone center in India to call more than a half-million calls to Pennsylvania consumers as part of an effort to market mortgage loans.

Corbett, whose office filed a consumer-protection lawsuit against the firm Tuesday, says it is not licensed to sell such loans and not registered as a telemarketer in Pennsylvania.

Efforts to contact the company and its principal, Charles Ruppersberger IV, were not immediately successful.

Fabian To Be Honored By Jimmy Stewart Museum

Singing idol and actor Fabian Forte will be honored by the museum dedicated to actor Jimmy Stewart.Sixty-5-year-old Fabian will receive the 2008 Harvey Award on Oct. 24 from the James M. Stewart Museum Foundation. The museum is in Stewart’s hometown, Indiana, Pa., about 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Fabian was a pop singing star who appeared in more than 30 films, including two with Stewart, “Dear Bridgette” and “Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation.”

Past Harvey Award winners include June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Shirley Jones, Ernest Borgnine and impressionist Rich Little. The foundation’s award is named for the 1950 film in which Stewart befriends an invisible rabbit.

On the Net:

James M. Stewart Museum at http://www.jimmy.org

Groom Arrested For Being To Close To His Bride On The Wedding Day

A New York state man has been arrested for getting too close to his bride on their wedding day.

Police say Timothy Cole quarreled with a wedding guest at a party Friday after wedding his ex-wife in Batavia.

Officers knew the 45-year-old Cole from previous arrests and realized his bride had an order of protection against him. Cole was charged with first-degree criminal contempt, a felony, and ordered jailed without bail.

The Daily News in Batavia says Cole was convicted of criminal contempt on July 1.

The Genesee County public defender’s office says Cole hasn’t been assigned an attorney.