Latest news with #Blazers'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
VOTE: Herald-Tribune Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Network for April 14-19
VOTE: Herald-Tribune Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Network for April 14-19 Each week The Herald-Tribune staff will select nominees for the Herald-Tribune Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Network, Inc. Nominees are derived from scores and stats emailed in by Sarasota and Manatee county coaches during the week to htincoming@ Readers can then vote in the online poll to determine the Athlete of the Week. The winner of the April 7-12 poll was Sarasota High softball player Jade Hendrickson with 42.34% of the vote. In the Sailors' 18-7 victory over North Port, Hendrickson went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and six RBI. Advertisement A poll will be posted at each Monday, and voting will end at 10 a.m. Friday each week. The nominees for the week of April 14-19 are: Baseball Rowan Baum, Sarasota Christian: In the Blazers' 6-0 Class 1A-District 11 quarterfinal victory over Babcock, Baum got the win, pitching seven innings and allowing five hits with four strikeouts. Colton Hyde, Cardinal Mooney: In the Cougars' 3-1 Class 2A-District 11 championship victory over Out-of-Door Academy, Hyde got the win, pitching seven innings and allowing five hits, one run with three strikeouts. Boys lacrosse Dutch Anderson, Manatee: In the Hurricanes' 15-1 Class 2A-District 12 semifinal victory Lakewood Ranch, Anderson had two goals and four assists. Advertisement Jaminson McCusker, Cardinal Mooney: In two Cougar Class 1A-District 10 victories, McCusker combined for six goals and five assists. Girls lacrosse Madison Muller, Riverview: In the Rams' 15-6 Class 2A-District 12 championship victory over Lakewood Ranch, Muller has a goal, four draw controls, and four ground balls. Softball Brooklyn Loftus, Sarasota Christian: In the Blazers' 15-3 victory over Admiral Farragut, Loftus went 2-for-4 at the plate with two triples, a run scored, and three RBI. On the mound she got the win, pitching five innings and allowing five hits and one run. Raionna Smith, Venice: In the green-and-white's 7-1 victory over Riverview, Smith went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Track & field Damian Howard, North Port: At the Class 4A-District 12 meet, Howard finished first in the 100 (10.76) and 200 (21.73). Advertisement Chris Priede, Venice: At the Class 4A-District 12 meet, Priede finished first in the 110 hurdles (14.86) and first in the 400 hurdles (55.04). Atarah Robinson, Venice: At the Class 4A-District 12 meet, Robinson finished first in the 800 (2:16.64) and first in the 1600 (5:03.30). Landon Wise, Venice: At the Class 4A-District 12 meet, Wise finished first in the 1600 (4:22.68) and first in the 3200 (10:00.49). This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Herald-Tribune Athlete of the Week poll for April 14-19
New York Times
18-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Deni Avdija thriving for Trail Blazers after last summer's ‘very hard' trade from Wizards
PORTLAND, Ore. — As the Moda Center blared Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust' in celebration of the Portland Trail Blazers' comfortable 112-97 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night, Deni Avdija walked from the Trail Blazers' bench toward midcourt to say hello to and hug his ex-teammates. Advertisement There was only one problem: In a sign of how thoroughly the Wizards' roster has been transformed, only seven of Avdija's former teammates remain on the roster. Tristan Vukčević said hello, and hugs and conversations followed with Bilal Coulibaly and Jordan Poole. But gone are veterans from last year's roster such as Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones and Landry Shamet. Anthony Gill, one of Avdija's best friends in Washington, greeted his pal and also introduced Avdija to Bub Carrington. On draft night last June, the Wizards traded Avdija to the Blazers for Carrington's draft rights, Malcolm Brogdon, a 2029 first-round pick and two future second-round picks. 'I just wanted to make sure there was nothing there,' Gill told The Athletic about introducing Avdija and Carrington. 'A lot of people on social media say different things about, 'Someone was traded just so that this person could come into the organization.' (Those are) two great men right there, and I wanted them to meet. Deni was a big part of what this organization was building before. Bub is now (a big part of what we're building). I would love for them to meet, and maybe that way, the next time we come into town, we can all go eat together.' Avdija is thriving in his new digs, emerging as perhaps the young Blazers' best all-around player. His performance Monday was middling by his recent standards; he contributed only 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, all below his season averages. Then again, Portland didn't need much from him, or anyone else. Washington, which had been surging, took definitive steps to protect its lottery odds, holding out Poole and Khris Middleton from the second half and not playing backup center Richaun Holmes. The trade from Washington is not something the usually affable Avdija enjoys talking about. Before the 2023-24 regular season, he and the Wizards reached a rookie-scale contract extension, which kicked in this season, worth $55 million over four years. At the time he inked that extension, and for months afterward, Avdija considered his new deal as a vote of confidence in him, and rightly so. Advertisement The draft-night trade stunned him — and hurt him. In an Instagram story that he posted shortly after the trade, he wrote: 'Dc u will forever be in my heart' and included a broken-heart emoji. When asked about the trade on Sunday, after the Blazers' win over the Toronto Raptors, he said, 'It was nighttime at my place (in Israel), and I woke up. I saw I got traded, and it was very hard for me. All the friendships that I had with the guys there, the city, the fans — it all just disappeared in a second. But everything's for the good. I feel like I found a nice home in Portland.' He also took the high road, saying, 'I can only control how I play, how I practice, how I prepare myself for the season. If people wanted to trade me, it's above my paycheck, you know what I'm saying? I don't control it. I just do whatever I can to win games. That's about it.' It took him a little while to adjust to a new team, but he found his groove. On March 10 against Golden State, he scored 34 points on 11-of-15 shooting, collected 16 rebounds and distributed six assists. He followed up two days later versus New York with a 27-point, 15-rebound, five-assist game. Late in Sunday's victory over Toronto, he extended Portland's lead to 98-95 on a magnificent driving dunk as he absorbed a foul. 'We've let him have a lot more responsibility with the ball, and he keeps proving to get better and better at it,' Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. 'He's like a one-man fast break when he gets the ball. Some of these things, I didn't even know about when we got him, because we only played him twice a year, so I didn't know that much. But he's been a pleasant surprise. The fire that he plays with, I think, takes our team to another level. The edge that he plays with, the toughness that he plays with — we need it.' Advertisement Washington has missed Avdija's one-on-one defensive ability, rebounding and playmaking. His toughness has been filled by this season's trade-deadline acquisitions of Middleton and Marcus Smart and the elevation of Holmes into the backup center role. The Wizards also miss the camaraderie Avdija brought to their locker room. 'We were always together,' Coulibaly said. 'Me, him and A.G. (Anthony Gill) going to dinner together and all that. On and off the court, he was helping me all the time.' Coulibaly and Gill said they spent time with Avdija on Sunday night, after the Wizards arrived in Portland from Denver and after the Blazers faced the Raptors. 'It's such a blessing, honestly, to be able to see him,' Gill said. 'He brings so much joy. He brought so much joy to this organization.' Avdija remains close with coach Brian Keefe and with the Wizards' support staff. '(He has an) infectious personality,' Keefe said. 'I loved his care about the game, how much time he put into it and how much better he got during the year (last season). I really enjoyed watching him progress.' Now the Trail Blazers and fans in Portland are enjoying that progression for themselves. Sign up to get The Bounce, the essential NBA newsletter from Zach Harper and The Athletic staff, delivered free to your inbox.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Five things to know about Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox
On May 19, 52-year-old Walter Thomas Maddox will be inaugurated to his sixth term as mayor of Tuscaloosa. Here's five things to know about Tuscaloosa's 36th mayor, according to Maddox is a Tuscaloosa native who graduated from Central High School in 1991. He went to college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration. He was a four-year letterman on the Blazers' football team. UAB competed in Division III for Maddox's first two seasons and Division I-AA for his last two seasons. His resume includes a stint as field director with the Alabama Education Association. He's also served as executive director of personnel for Tuscaloosa City Schools. In 2001, he was elected to represent District 6 on the Tuscaloosa City Council. In 2005, he was elected to his first term as Tuscaloosa's mayor, succeeding Al DuPont, who served six terms. Between DuPont and Maddox, Tuscaloosa has had only two mayors since 1981. His hobbies include running (he's completed nine marathons and numerous half-marathons) and studying history (he's a World War II buff). More: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox looks to the future as he begins sixth term Reach Ken Roberts at This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Walt Maddox: Five things to know about Tuscaloosa's mayor
New York Times
14-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara and their secret dream for the Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. — Behind the scenes with the Trail Blazers, there has been a recurring conversation between Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara that previously has been kept to themselves. 'I haven't told anybody this …' Henderson started. Since their rookie year last season, the two have become more than just the foundation of the Blazers' future. They have become the best of friends. And in the moments when they just hang and dream, they keep coming back to the same vision. Advertisement Leading Portland to a championship. 'Me and Tou, we have told each other: 'We are going to do this. We are going to be great together … and we are going to do it here, in Portland,'' Henderson said. 'We haven't told anyone, but we have those conversations.' Added Camara: 'We've said that more than once. More than once. We keep saying, 'We are going to figure it out — the hard way.' That's something that has stuck with us.' Amassing talent is the primary skill in building a championship contender, and the Blazers (23-32) are a long way from having the depth or quality to contend. But with Henderson and Camara, they believe they have worthy cornerstones. That they have become united and aligned with their vision only helps the process. 'The fact that they want to do it here and do it together, it's kind of rare nowadays,' coach Chauncey Billups said. 'It seems like everybody is looking for their own deal, their own path, their own city, whatever, whatever. So the fact that those guys have taken great pride in saying, 'I love it here, I want to do it here, we are going to do it here … that's a big deal. And you can see it with the passion both of them play with.' In a fitting reflection of their trajectory, Henderson and Camara were selected to Friday's Rising Stars Game as part of the NBA's All-Star Weekend. As they both left the locker room Wednesday night in Denver and headed for a private jet to San Francisco, it was with mixed feelings. They wanted to showcase their talent and connection in the game, but Henderson will not play because of a sprained right ankle. Still, he will be on the bench. 'Knowing I will have my teammate, one of my closest friends with me, it makes the scenario easier to digest, and will help me play more confidently,' Camara said. Said Henderson: 'It makes me so mad not to play, just because I wanted to be out there with Toumani. I wanted to be alongside him and throw lobs. That's all I was going to do — shoot 3s and throw lobs.' They first met as rookies at Trail Blazers training camp in Santa Barbara, Calif. Camara said he was in a blur after being traded by Phoenix days earlier, and Henderson said he couldn't remember his first impression because his head was spinning with learning the new system. But by the time the week was over, each had made a subtle impression on the other. Henderson noticed Camara was tough and didn't back down to anybody. Camara took note that Henderson was intense and demonstrative on the court, but calm and humble off it. 'I love Tou's dawg mentality,' Henderson said. 'If you a dawg, you've already got my heart, you've got my love. So I just respect that from Tou right from the jump.' GO DEEPER Toumani Camara 'doesn't give up': What opponents see in Trail Blazers' young defender Said Camara: 'I had heard a lot about him, but I had never seen him play, and at first he was really quiet, and humble, but then as soon as we played, he had this aggressiveness and intensity, and I was really impressed.' The Blazers coaches look at their growing friendship and nod as if to say, 'It figures.' Advertisement 'They're cut from the same cloth in a lot of ways, so it's not surprising that they would have a bond,' assistant Chris Fleming said. 'They have similar values.' Soon, they were visiting each other's homes, sharing rides to the airport, going clothes shopping on the road, and having rematches in video games. 'I think it's something that came really naturally. The way we talk with each other … joke with each other … it's hard to say how it happened,' Camara said. 'There wasn't a moment where we determined — that's my guy — it was more just something that evolved.' Besides the camaraderie, both saw value in building a connection with a teammate. 'His willingness to hang out outside of basketball and spend time together has created this environment that is more familiar, where it's not just like a job,' Camara said. 'It's like we are trying to get to know each other to get somewhere bigger. I think that's huge for a young team like us, to keep building chemistry and keep growing that relationship on and off the court.' Billups said he didn't know the extent of Henderson and Camara's friendship off the court, but he could detect a special connection watching them on the court. 'I definitely sensed them getting closer, because I could see them together a little more,' Billups said. 'But then on the floor, they started establishing a really good chemistry together. I thought there's certain passes that Scoot makes to Tou that he doesn't complete to other guys, and that's just connection, just kind of knowing each other.' Friday's Rising Stars Game was supposed to be their stage, where they could play off their friendship, their connection. But with Henderson's ankle injury pushing him to the sideline, they will instead focus on the bigger picture. The picture they have dreamed about: Camara and Henderson bringing Portland back to relevancy. Advertisement 'It would mean the world to me,' Camara said. 'And I feel like it's something that we are very capable of doing. Especially because of the care we have for each other, and the work we've put in. Even in a one-year span I think we have made a lot of progress and we still have another half season almost. I'm very much looking forward to the things we can do here in Portland.' With Camara, a 6-foot-8 forward who leads the league in charges drawn, they have a defensive force to build around. And with Henderson, a jitterbug point guard with a linebacker's body, they have a leader whose work ethic continues to enhance his game. Together, they have weathered one of the worst seasons in Blazers history — last year's 21-win campaign that included two losses by 60 or more — a part of their journey upon which they don't wince, but rather embrace. GO DEEPER With 4 meetings in 3 weeks, a Blazers season has changed 'We always joke that we are the hard-way twins,' Henderson said. 'Nothing was given to us, nothing has been easy. Our first year wasn't easy at all, but we still fought. That goes back to Toumani being a dawg.' Camara said they talk about the hard times because it will make it all the sweeter when he and Henderson lead the Blazers back. It's their dream, it's their drive, it's their once-secret goal. 'I feel like it's us wanting to thrive,' Camara said. 'Me and Scoot are guys who are never satisfied with the situation we are in. We are always going to want more, always going to try to reach the top. And I really feel he is somebody I can do that with. I have so much trust and love for Scoot.' Added Henderson: 'We have nowhere to go but up.'
