Whilst many of you will have read the news via various sources in the last couple of days, I'm still getting a lot of questions via facebook and twitter as to what is happening with tickets for the NBA World All-Star Classic tour. So it's best to update you here on what the situation appears to be panning out as.

Unfortunately, the news is not good right now for Australian fans waiting to see NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant, Amar'e Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade in Melbourne. The latest news on the tour is that the first leg, through Puerto Rico, has been cancelled, with all later legs (including London, Macau and Melbourne) being postponed until at least late November. 

Originally the Melbourne games were scheduled for 8 and 9 November.

This comes from ESPN:

The six-game, four-continent World All-Star Classic exhibition tour featuring two squads of All-Star NBA players is on hold, with Sunday's scheduled game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, postponed indefinitely.

The other five games on the tour, scheduled for London, Macau and Australia, already had been pushed back until late November. There was hope the game in San Juan could be salvaged and serve as proof to the other venues and investors that Atlanta businessman Cal Darden and his son, Cal Jr., were capable of pulling off the event.

Cal Darden Sr. could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman told The Associated Press a new date for the San Juan game will be announced by Nov. 3.

...

It remained to be seen if the game in Puerto Rico and the rest of the tour would be resurrected in light of NBA commissioner David Stern canceling regular-season games through Nov. 30 after labor talks broke off Friday without a deal.

Tickets already had been selling briskly in Puerto Rico, sources close to the organizers said, but there were no provisions made for refunds if the event was canceled or postponed.

So we wait until tomorrow to see if a new date for the Puerto Rico game is announced, at which point the other cards in the deck should fall into place. The fact that NBA labour negotiations are running so poorly may well be an impetus towards the tour eventually being resurrected and the players filling their idle time with some basketball around the world. 

Stay tuned for more details on dates and tickets as they emerge.

Channing Frye is one of the coolest people in the history of the world. I think that is something we can all agree on. 

You disagree? Okay, watch this video and see if it changes your mind...

Frye put this video together with Danger Ehren, Aaron Ross and Brian Baldwin for his "Dead Or Alive" themed Halloween party. The party was held to benefit the Frye Family Foundation's initiative, Frye Pads. (Now how cool a name is that?) The program aims to provide communication tools for patients and their families during extended stays at hospitals across the United States (starting in the Portland area).

The Smashing Pumpkins tie-in in the video really did it for me.

So, do you agree that he's pretty dope? He's certainly one of the coolest NBA players out there.

Given that we don't have any real NBA games in progress right now, I thought I'd post a video of a surreal NBA moment. 

Check this 2006 footage out as Kwame Brown (Los Angeles Lakers) not only catches the basketball on the break, but also manages to slam it down successfully, all over Andres Nocioni (Chicago Bulls). In addition to these unusual facts, the following is notable:

1. Kobe passed the ball to a teammate -- he didn't do much of that in 2006.
2. Is there really reason for a charge call here, or is this a matter of the NBA officials trying to give an advantage to the exciting play? Yes, Nocioni was standing in the "no charge" semi-circle, but he did not move, consequently, I'd call this a no-call more than anything else.

Watching Kwame in action also led me to ask the question: Is Kwame Brown the least talented #1 Draft Pick in NBA history? Take note, I'm not asking if he is the most disappointing (before you jump in and blurt Greg Oden's name), but just whether he is the least talented. I think it's fair to say that Michael Olowokandi is in with a chance in this race, though his best season (2002/03 Clippers: 12.3ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.2bpg) was far better than anything that Kwame has produced.  no comments

Further to yesterday's news about the forthcoming NBA World All-Star Classic tour, coming to Australia, Macau, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico, comes news that LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony will not take part in the games. The trio have pulled out of the tour, citing the hectic travel schedule and a desire to spend time with their families (understandably) as the NBA lockout wears on.

The news follows the revelation that Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook would not take part, for similar reasons.

According to ESPN, Kevin Durant is also unsure as to whether he will take part in the tour. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant, Amar'e Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade are amongst a group that is committed to the tour that takes in Melbourne, London, San Juan and Macau. 

Other possible participants being floated are:

Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, Tyson Chandler, Steve Nash, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo and Chris Kaman.

Whilst many Australian fans have questioned why the tour will not come through Sydney, the current schedule has two games planned for Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.

More details here as they emerge... 

The tour of NBA All-Stars mentioned here a couple of months back is indeed coming to fruition. Australian NBA fans have been waiting with bated breath to discover whether the brightest and best from America would be touring downunder and the latest news indicates a positive.

After passing through Puerto Rico, London and Macau, the international tour will reach Melbourne, Australia for two games, according to reports from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski today. 

To summarise the details for Australian fans, in short:

What: World All-Star Classic

When: 8th and 9th November, 2011

Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Who: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant (these first four are locked in, according to ESPN). A total of 18 players will be named, including 14 from the following candidates, also per ESPN: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, Tyson Chandler, Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo and Chris Kaman.

Tickets: As details emerge, how to buy tickets has not been announced (nor have prices), however check back here for details, which we'll pass on as soon as they're available (follow us on Facebook below, or on twitter).

The games prior to the All-Stars' arrival in Australia are as follows:

• October 30: Jose Miguel Agrelot Colliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• November 1: O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom.
• November 3: O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom.
• November 6: Cotai Arena, Venetian Hotel, Macau.

This tour will be fantastic for the fans in the respective countries, will be handy for the pockets of the superstars involved and for promoting their personal brands throughout the world (thus why the tour is not happening around the United States), but will do nothing for the 400+ other lesser-known NBA players who still await a resolution to the NBA lockout. It is reported that each of the players involved will receive a salary of between six-figures and a million dollars (with much expected to go to charity). 

UPDATE: LeBron, CP3, Melo, Rose, Westbrook OUT of the tour

As the NBA Lockout continues to destroy the hopes of fans of the most athletic basketball league in the world, the guys from Jordan Brand, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony want to remind you to continue to love the game. And perhaps you'll see them playing ball at your local rec centre.

Rudy Fernandez (Dallas Mavericks), well known for his dramatic antics on the court (think dunking on Dwight Howard in international play, behind-the-back passes from out-of-bounds and three goggles after huge threes) is currently doing his thing over in Spain. Whilst the NBA lockout is in progress, the Spanish guard is playing for Real Madrid in the highly competitive ACB league (aka the best league in the world that is currently in play).

This amazing shot by Fernandez is pretty much indicative of the type of player he is.

Big thanks to Sarah Moon, co-podcaster and contributor to this site, for the heads up on this video.

Have you ever wanted to be Michael Jordan? Sure, many basketball fans have considered it more than once. Passing dreams are one thing, but how do you think it feels to be one of his sons, constantly being compared, prodded and monitored for greatness?

Over the years, as the media waited for each of MJ's heirs to reach their potential, it became apparent what should have been known already: there will only ever be one Michael Jordan. 

Now, the Jordan boys, Marcus and Jeffrey, show you what it's really like to be under all of that scrutiny as His Airness' Heirnesses. A new reality TV insight into their lives: Heir-Jordan.

Will you be watching? 

(Thanks to the Hoop Doctors for the link)

Michael Jordan videos on the internet number well into the thousands (with good reason), but this mix is one of the better productions I've seen in terms of variety and quality. Thanks to D-Ham and WorldStarHipHop.com, check out this Michael Jordan v Transformers mashup video:

Recently the young basketball up-and-comers of Australia were fortunate enough to have the coaching talents of the NBA downunder. Scoring great Alex English and multiple championship winners Ron Harper, Luc Longley and Horace Grant (uncle to Sydney Kings import Jerai Grant), were spreading the NBA love. During the camp, they appeared on breakfast program, Channel 7's Sunrise.

You can skip to about the 6:30 mark of this video if you'd like to get to the appearance of the players.