These couriers claimed their dreadlocks were a religious statement protected under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
These couriers claimed their dreadlocks were a religious statement protected under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The New York Daily News reported that the Grizzlies could be targeting Larry Brown to replace first-year coach, Marc Iavoroni. Of all the potential coaching jobs that could be open this summer, does Brown really think Memphis is the most appealing?If we're led to believe that Brown doesn't want the last line of his legacy to be about his awful season in New York then why would he choose to go to a Western Conference team? Wouldn't the Bulls, Hawks or even Bucks be better jobs?For those Nuggets fans hoping that Brown succeeds George Karl, don't count on it. At what point will the media blame Shaq for his departure from all three teams and admit that he tanked it and faked the extent of his injury so that he would be dealt to a contender? The Lakers and Heat both did him a favor in sending him to contending teams and the best he could do to repay them is bad-mouth them on his way out of town.In today's Boston Globe he declares that Amare Stoudemire is more deserving of the MVP than Kevin Garnett because "Garnett doesn't play defense." He also told the Orlando Sentinel that he plans on being the Magic's GM when his playing days are over and that he'll hire Grant Hill to be the team president.I wish I had a tissue for all the Magic fans who just threw up in their respective mouths. 7) Those of you hoping for a Lakers vs. Warriors first-round match-up...As exciting as the two Lakers/Warriors games were this week, fans should proceed with cautious optimism if they're praying for a seven-game series.The absence of Laker bigs forced them to play small-ball against the Warriors. The return of either Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum would allow the Lakers to return to a more traditional lineup and style of play.Unlike Avery Johnson, Phil Jackson isn't stupid enough to allow the opposing team to dictate the tempo.
In their first meeting this season, Bynum had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a ten-point Laker victory.In the second game, Bynum had 17 points and 16 rebounds despite the Warriors winning the game by two.Andris Biedrins wasn't able to stay out of foul trouble in the two games against Ronny Turiaf. What makes anyone think he could do it against either Bynum or Gasol? The Warriors best low-post defender in those two early-season games was DJ Mbenga, who is now a member of the Lakers.The Warriors are also 3-15 against the Lakers over their last 18 meetings against them. Needless to say, the Lakers would prefer to play the Warriors than any of the other seven teams currently in the playoff race, except for the Mavericks.8) Chris Bosh calling out his teammates shouldn't be ignored...When Chris Bosh called his teammates soft after their loss to the Nuggets on Sunday he unintentionally fired the first warning shot toward his impending free agency in 2010.He clearly wasn't happy with how the team was playing and his teammates responded by helping him beat the Pistons in Toronto last night. The question now becomes whether last night's game was a permanent change or just an aberration. The Raptors were the third-seed in the Eastern Conference last season and currently sit in the seventh spot.
They are one game back of the fifth-seed and a first-round playoff match-up with LeBron & Company.Regardless of their seeding, I don't see the Raptors making it past the first-round of the playoffs against either the Pistons, Magic or Cavs. There's no denying the they have had injury issues all season long. But with teams like Philadelphia and Atlanta seemingly on the up-and-up and teams like Miami and Washington expecting the return of healthy superstars, the Raptors are in danger of being in a position where Bosh could explore other options in two years.The team has to do it's best in free agency over the next couple of off-seasons to make them attractive enough for him to commit his prime years to playing in Toronto. 9) Mutombo an example to all...The NBA recognized Dikembe Mutombo on Wednesday for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to the game of basketball.Richard Justice wrote a glowing piece in today's Houston Chronicle about Mutombo's achievements, including raising $29 million to build a hospital in his native Congo, $15 million of which he donated himself.If the rest of the NBA's players would use their fame and fortune to draw attention to injustices and worthwhile causes they would off-set every ounce of negativity thrown their way.Dikembe Mutombo made the world a better place. How many athletes can say the same thing?10) If the playoffs started today...The Western Conference would look like this:1) Hornets vs 8) Warriors2) Rockets vs 7) Mavericks3) Lakers vs 6) Suns4) Jazz vs. 5) Spurs The Eastern Conference would look like this:1) Celtics vs 8) Hawks2) Pistons vs 7) Raptors3) Magic vs 6) Sixers4) Cavs vs 5) Wizards . Ribbon cutting ceremony officially marks completion of new facility; Mayordeclares "Support Small Business Day" in Loveland, ColoradoWALTHAM, Mass & LOVELAND, Colo.--(Business Wire)--Constant Contact®, Inc. (NasdaqGM: CTCT), a leading provider of email marketingand online surveys for small organizations, today announced the official openingof its 50,000 square foot office building located in Loveland, Colorado.
Thecompany has been conducting business in Loveland from temporary offices sinceJuly 2008, during which time the permanent location was being constructed. "Today, we celebrate a major milestone in our company`s history while surroundedby local dignitaries - including Loveland`s Mayor Gene Pielin - our localbuilding partners, our employees and, of course, our customers," said GailGoodman, CEO of Constant Contact. "With the grand opening of our beautiful newfacility, we will be able to extend our award-winning customer service to betterhelp small businesses and non-profit organizations succeed in reaching theirmarketing goals, while also creating new jobs in the area." Constant Contact, Mayor Pielin and the City of Loveland have also declared thisday, April 28, 2009, as "Support Small Business Day" in order to bring awarenessand support to the region`s many small businesses. Goodman added, "The face of any city is shaped, in part, by the diversity andsuccess of its small businesses. By designating a day dedicated to supportinglocal small businesses, we hope to encourage members of the community topatronize these businesses not only on this day, but everyday." The new building, located in Precision Office Park at Centerra, a master plannedcommunity, currently houses customer operations personnel who service ConstantContact`s growing email marketing customer base of more than 250,000 smallbusinesses and non-profit organizations. "The Centerra community warmly welcomes Constant Contact into its new permanentresidence," said Jay Hardy, vice president and general manager, Centerra.