News 3/23

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1160426&format=text
Glen Davis making most of shot

By Mark Murphy | Monday, March 23, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
Glen Davis’ jump shot may no longer need an introduction to the rest of the NBA.

After hours, days and months of work to develop a dependable mid-range weapon, the Celtics [team stats] forward is making opponents pay for leaving him alone.

But Big Baby has moved beyond the mere ability to hit an open shot. He is now making big shots as well. His 15-footer with 5.7 seconds left quieted the Spurs on Friday night in San Antonio. He followed up that feat with a career-high 24-point performance during Saturday’s win in Memphis.

Davis’ effectiveness allowed Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen to join Kevin Garnett on the bench for a much-deserved fourth quarter rest.

His big weekend is likely to stay with Davis. His shot against the Spurs, especially, may have been a breakthrough moment. Rest assured he is aware of that possibility.

“They say that when Michael Jordan hit his game-winning shot against Georgetown that it was the turning point in his career, so you never know,” Davis said with a smile that indicated his San Antonio moment was indeed a big one.

“It gives you a lot of confidence. It can be fuel for your fire, or you don’t acknowledge it at all.”

Guess which option Davis has picked.

“That’s something you take with you for the rest of your career,” said Allen, a pure shooter who understands better than most the place memorable shots hold in a player’s memory.

“Anyone who uses visualization is going to think of a shot like that forever,” Allen said. “You think to yourself, ‘I want to always be able to do that so that I can be counted on every night to make that shot.’ ”

Davis and Leon Powe have both logged big moments like this since being called on to plug the void left by Garnett’s Feb. 19 knee injury.

Powe, with an inside game that continues to pass the NBA test, scored a career-high 30 points against the Grizzlies on March 13, virtually all of them in the paint.

But Davis has blossomed in another way - when left alone on the wing. He faces the same challenge as Rajon Rondo [stats], albeit to a lesser degree, with his outside shot.

“He’s still getting his shot,” Rondo said of Davis. “Because he sets such a good pick, his man has to go out, and that leaves (Davis) open. I know he works on his shot a lot, and it’s paying off.

“It’s all about repetition. He believes in himself.”

In turn, Doc Rivers’ faith in Davis has been renewed.

“He’s been terrific,” said the Celtics coach. “He’s doing his job, he’s spotting up and taking his shot. When he catches the ball (in rhythm) he makes the shot.

“You can see that teams are trying to get out to him more now when he has the ball. That’s because they have to. But you have to help off of someone, and right now he’s the one.”

But until more respect arrives, Davis looks forward to more open shots.

“Definitely,” he said of whether teams still underestimate his offense. “Teams don’t look at me as a serious option, but I think teams are a little more conscious of me with every game.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/03/23/another_growth_spurt?mode=PF
Another growth spurt
Camby's matured since UMass days
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | March 23, 2009

With the 100th-year anniversary in mind, an old picture of Julius "Dr. J" Erving is shown in the top right corner of the University of Massachusetts 2008-09 men's basketball media guide. In the bottom right corner is the image of ex-Minuteman Lou Roe. And between them is a picture of Marcus Camby, who was the star during the best and worst of times for UMass hoops.

Camby led UMass to its only Final Four appearance in 1996. But a year later, the NCAA ruled the school had to forfeit its tournament victories because Camby accepted gifts from sports agents.

Twelve years after the NCAA wiped out the Minutemen's one shining moment, the Final Four banner still hangs in the Mullins Center rafters in Amherst and the school recognized Camby during its centennial celebration this season.

"It is tough to talk about it because of where I am now," said Camby, whose Clippers visit the Celtics tonight. "I was a boy then. I am a man now."

Camby became UMass's first national player of the year in 1996 after averaging 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds during his junior season. The Minutemen defeated Central Florida, Stanford, Arkansas, and Georgetown en route to the '96 Final Four. The Wildcats of Kentucky ended the best season in UMass history with an 81-74 semifinal win.

With Camby and coach John Calipari leading the way, UMass was viewed as one of the nation's premier programs.

Camby brought further acclaim to the program by being selected second overall in the 1996 draft by Toronto.

"That's the greatest time in UMass basketball history," said Minutemen coach Derek Kellogg, a four-year letterwinner (1991-95). "I talk about it all the time. I talk to my players about it. At that time at UMass, we were talked about in the same breath with [the nation's top programs]."

Athletic director John McCutcheon, who came to UMass in 2004, said, "Marcus brought UMass to a national prominence that it had never been to before. He had the ability to create media interest and exposure. It put us on a higher level.

"Without him, could Coach Cal taking the team to the Final Four have been possible? We had other players and Coach Cal. But to a man they say that without Marcus it doesn't happen."

Yet in 1997, the NCAA imposed its penalties on Camby and the school; UMass also was forced to return the $151,000 it earned from the tournament and its Final Four trophy. Under NCAA rules, an athlete may not accept money, gifts, or any other benefit from an agent.

A remorseful Camby reportedly gave back $28,000 to one agent and reimbursed the school for the $151,000 by splitting the money between education and health services programs. Despite Camby's gesture, the NCAA didn't reinstate the wins.

"I was a kid from the inner city not used to having too much," said Camby, who is from Hartford. "I was a young kid making dumb decisions.

"Looking back, I would do things differently. But not having a father figure, not having much, it was hard for me.

"I always took full responsibility. I gave the money back. It was an unfortunate situation, but the NCAA can't take back the memories. They can't take that back. We still have our rings, our memories. Still have it on VCR tapes. They can't take back the memories."

UMass hasn't come close to similar success since.

The Minutemen were ousted in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and 1998 and haven't been back since. Two seasons ago, UMass was co-Atlantic 10 Conference champion, winning a league title for the first time since 1996.

UMass hired Kellogg as coach April 23, 2008, after he served eight seasons assisting Calipari at the University of Memphis. Since Kellogg landed the job, Camby has been one of his biggest supporters.

UMass finished 12-18 in Kellogg's first season, falling in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.

"When I got the job here, [Camby] was one of the first guys to text me," Kellogg said. "He always lets someone know where his heart lies. He always sends texts after games, especially after wins. I don't know who texts first, him or Coach Cal. He's never been a self-serving guy. I'm happy he's doing so well."

Said Camby about UMass hoops today, "We're just about one or two recruits away. It's going to take some time. It was just Derek Kellogg's first year. He knows how to run a program. He worked for one of the best coaches that I've played for."

Today, UMass is proud of being linked to Camby, for good reason.

The 2007 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has played for Toronto, New York, Denver, and now the Clippers and has led the league in blocks four times. The slender 6-foot-11-inch, 235-pounder is averaging 11.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks for the struggling Clippers (17-53) this season. Other than Erving, no UMass player has had a more distinguished NBA career.

He also has built a reputation as one of the more giving NBA players, most notably to youth education.

He has given numerous scholarships through his Cambyland Foundation.

Camby says he hasn't been back to UMass since 2000 but hopes to come back soon and be involved more. Kellogg and McCutcheon hope to see him in Amherst soon.

"His NBA career has been fantastic," Kellogg said. "He does what he does. Unbelievable energy. He runs the floor, blocks shots. He's an unbelievable talent. I hope he can one day win an NBA championship because he deserves it. He's a coach's dream the way he plays the game."

"A lot of fans remember [1996] with passion," said McCutcheon. "We want him to be a part of our program. He's a big part of it. But things happen. In hindsight, he wouldn't have done the same thing. But you move on and we're happy to build the relationship."

UMass showed its gratitude and forgiveness to Camby by mentioning him frequently at home games throughout the 2008-09 season when centennial highlights were shown.

He also was showcased in a five-minute video tribute that McCutcheon said was well received by the fans Feb. 8 when the all-1990s team was honored during a game against Saint Joseph's. Camby couldn't attend because the Clippers were in Charlotte that day.

"I talked to a lot of the guys," said Camby, who turned 35 yesterday. "They e-mailed me and said it was a good time. They sent pictures.

"I love my school. I'm a die-hard UMass alumnus."

Said McCutcheon, "Time moves on."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/03/23/twitter_changes_the_playing_field?mode=PF
Twitter changes the playing field
By Scott Kirsner, Globe Correspondent | March 23, 2009

Tweeting at work. Posting messages to Twitter during halftime of an NBA game didn't seem much of a distraction for Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva. The Bucks went on to beat the Celtics March 15, with Villanueva scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter. Public relations executive Ben Haber of Racepoint Group blogged about it.

In what is considered a professional sports first, Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva posted a message on Twitter during halftime of his game against the Celtics:

In da locker room, snuck to post with my twitt. We're playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.

With professional athletes seemingly taking up Twitter with open arms, the micro-social networking site has begun to change the fans' method of obtaining information on their favorite sports teams. Instead of watching Sunday's basketball and having a sideline reporter tell viewers what went on during the Milwaukee's halftime meeting, players can alert fans themselves, telling them exactly what is happening while it's happening.

Senators have also begun using Twitter as a tool to connect with their constituents and tell them what they are doing, what decisions they are making, and what votes are coming up. Again, this communication cuts out the reporter and providers the reader/viewer with the information they are looking for directly, instead of through a third party.

This new model of information obviously has advantages and disadvantages, but the opportunity it creates is certainly valuable. However, it's important not to eliminate the media, which can often provide us with investigative reporting and bring our attention to the bad news that could otherwise be brushed under the carpet.
racetalkblog.com

Spend more on your iPhone. Apple offered a preview of a new operating system for its popular iPhone. One feature will allow application developers to "upsell" you as you use the phone, persuading you to purchase additional levels of a game or to access high-end features on a business app. Yankee Group analyst Carl Howe blogged about the software, expected this summer.

Why is this such a big deal? Because in-application purchasing:


Gives developers more ways to make money. Incremental purchasing takes the sticker-shock out of amortizing development costs. Not making much money on your $0.99 ebook-reader application? Charge another $0.99 to download another book to the same reader. Writing the next great global flight simulator? Now the flight-sim developer doesn't have to charge $29.99 to amortize the cost of all that global scenery; he or she can charge $9.99 for the initial application and charge the user another $4.99 for each new country of scenery.


Eliminates the need for developers to process payments. In the old days of software development, developers had to expend time and effort finding ways to get paid for application add-ons, either through credit card processing, Paypal, or, horror of horrors, cashing checks. No more: in-application purchasing goes through Apple's iTunes payment processing system and ends up in the developer's bank account once Apple has taken its 30 percent cut.


Adds oil to the gears of mobile commerce. Google has shown that if you process billions of little payment transactions, pretty soon you are making real money that's hard for other people to replicate. Apple has already parlayed 99-cent songs into a multi-billion dollar a year cash cow with iTunes; in-application payments will likely turn iPhone applications into the same type of blockbuster business. By removing much of the friction of buying and paying for mobile software, Apple will turn iPhone customers into some of the biggest consumers of paid software on the planet.
blogs.yankeegroup.com

Rewarding advisers. How should start-up companies compensate the advisers who offer them valuable guidance and advice over time? And how do you know if an adviser will actually be helpful? Spark Capital partner Bijan Sabet shared some advice on how much equity advisers should receive.

1. Create a small pool of options that are just for advisers up front. Keep it fixed. It will help you prioritize which advisers you want to bring on board.

2. Unlike employees, advisers may not be helpful as time goes on. They may become distracted with other things on their plate. That's the most common thing. With employees, options typically vest over multiple years. It's hard to use that type of vesting schedule with an adviser, but I would at least think about it in those terms.

3. VCs invest cash for their equity. I often will suggest that advisers also invest a fractional amount, which does two things. It qualifies their commitment and interest. It also it allows them to own more of the company than a straight option grant.

4. Make sure you ask for other founder references! Ask other founders if that adviser was helpful. What did they do for the company? Did they make important introductions? Help with key hires? Maybe fund-raising help? Product feedback/insight?

Frankly, we have had a mixed bag when it comes to advisers in our portfolio.

In some cases it didn't meet expectations. I think it was simply a matter of expectations and miscommunication upfront.

But when everyone is on the same page upfront and the founders and advisers click, it can be incredible.