azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 21, 2005 12:00 AM
DENVER - The joint was packed with fans screaming for Amaré Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal and those who could not get the high-dollar tickets stuck on the outside, pining for a glimpse of the All-Star centers of attention.
East met West long before Sunday's All-Star Game tip-off. Stoudemire and O'Neal hosted a Friday party that was just a part of the Suns contingent's weekend of bling, bashes and basketball. Some paid ticket scalpers $200-plus for the right to be in a club with $11 drinks. The All-Stars appeared on the VIP floor for about as long as they did Sunday on the Pepsi Center floor.
"It was big-time," Stoudemire said, reflecting on his midnight appearance at a bash featuring Ludacris, Russell Simmons, Rev. Run, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Terrell Owens, Luther Campbell, Bill Bellamy, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson and Brandy. "Coming out here is when you really have to enjoy yourself. You've gotta mix it up."
Phoenix was in the mix all weekend, whether it was three All-Stars on Sunday's stage, a near Suns sweep of Saturday's events or the jam-packed schedule that had the Suns spread around downtown Denver like snow flurries.
Their Friday started with interview sessions at the team hotel, where stretch and Hummer limos clogged nearby traffic and the sidewalks were lined with fans like a parade.
Marion, wearing a dog tag reading "MATRIX," and the others held court with journalists seated and standing in a semicircle. Microphones and recorders practically sat on the players' shoulders. Stoudemire kept getting asked if he would become MVP while Marion handled a question about why there are no White American All-Stars.
Stoudemire and Marion moved on to appearances at local stores. As Steve Nash left the room, an "M-V-P" chant came from above. It was ESPN analyst Greg Anthony on a stage.
This weekend was not the party-packed experience it once was for Nash, who had about 15 players visiting his 4-month-old twin girls in his room Sunday. The best part was reuniting with best friend Dirk Nowitzki, who said the All-Star experience was most special because he was back on the same team bus and team with his former partner.
"I've been trying to catch up with family and friends," Nash said. "That's the most important thing to me. We don't get a break very often. During the season, I don't have that much energy when we're playing or on the road."
Some Suns went to Friday's Rookie Challenge, where Richardson, Brandy and her 11 1/2-carat ring drew more looks than Chris Bosh's game.
Richardson, a player selected by Michael Jordan for his exclusive line, also got to hit Jordan's party that night. A club was converted into a faux airport terminal with Jordan's new shoes unveiled on a baggage carousel and flight attendants serving those who had the exclusive boarding pass to enter.
The Denver party menu also included one hosted by Carmelo Anthony and Nelly, another by Kenyon Martin and one with Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley across the street from Stoudemire's red-carpet bash with O'Neal.
"That was the best part of the weekend," Stoudemire said Sunday, sitting in a locker room alongside Nash and Marion. "That's my guy. We're good friends."
There is far more interaction with fans than celebrities.
"Some of the people get aggressive," Marion said. "I had a guy at Foot Locker (where he made an appearance before going to a doctors banquet) saying, 'I drove so and so miles in from such and such. I'm not going anywhere until I get a photo or an autograph or something.' "
Marion obliged, which is what the Suns All-Stars did often every time NBA-TV, ESPN, TNT or any reporter like 8-year-old Michael Barrett of Cave Creek asked a question they had heard hundreds of times this season.
Stoudemire wrote a diary in the Rocky Mountain News and did not know it, as the newspaper assembled every comment he made Friday into a "diary."
On Saturday, they met more than 1,600 journalists on a court at the NBA Jam Session, where fans gathered to watch interviews and practices. Marion walked around with a recorder, voicing his in-depth thoughts for nba.com, like, "I'm tired. I need sleep."
The Suns' three All-Stars - Nash, Stoudemire and Marion - stuck together, posed for photos as a trio and Nash even put on Stoudemire's headband. He compared himself to Bjorn Borg, a reference lost on Stoudemire.
"More like Ben Stiller," Marion cracked.
"Same body," Nash said.
As they walked off Saturday, Stoudemire issued a parting shot: "We're coming home with all the trophies."
When Marion joined Diana Taurasi and Dan Majerle to win the opening Shooting Stars that night, Marion reiterated, "We're going to win them all," to a chuckling room before adding, with a stone face, "I ain't playin'."
It nearly came true Saturday. Nash outskilled fellow point guards and Richardson dropped his last nine shots to win the Three-Point Shootout.
Brandy, slapping Shaquille O'Neal's leg and pumping her arm, looked more excited than her fiancé.
"I don't know if it was classy but it was all I could do," she said.
The Suns All-Star contingent, except for Nash, hit the mother of all All-Star parties Saturday night. The National Basketball Players Association party had Nelly performing. Sunday night offered more choices, including a P. Diddy bash. But the Suns were ready to take their late Sunday charter flight home after a full weekend and a Wednesday home game with the Clippers to bring back their focus.
"I'm ready to ride around Phoenix with my top down," Stoudemire said.
Marion's All-Star agenda
Here is what the NBA had Shawn Marion doing in an official capacity before he even got to the nightlife.
FRIDAY
4:30 a.m.: Checks into Westin Tabor Hotel4 in downtown Denver after Suns charter flight left following Thursday's game in Phoenix.
12:45 p.m.: All-Star team meeting.
1:30 p.m.: Media interview session.
4 p.m.: Foot Locker appearance at Denver mall.
6 p.m.: Appearance for a doctors banquet at a restaurant.
7 p.m.: Rookie Challenge.
SATURDAY
10 a.m.: Bus leaves hotel for practice.
10:45 a.m.: Media interview session.
11:15 a.m.: Ball signing.
12:15 p.m.: Meeting with NBA Commissioner David Stern and National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Billy Hunter.
12:30 p.m.: All-Star practice.
1:30 p.m.: Bus back to hotel.
3 p.m.: Bus leaves for Pepsi Center.
4 p.m.: Shooting Stars team photo.
4:15 p.m.: Shooting Stars run through.
4:45 p.m.: Shooting Stars ball signing.
5 p.m.: Open shootaround.
5:30 p.m.: Media interview session.
6:12 p.m.: Take court for Shooting Stars competition.
SUNDAY
3:15 p.m.: Bus leaves for Pepsi Center.
4:15 p.m.: West All-Stars team photo.
4:45 p.m.: Media interview session.
5:15 p.m.: Open shootaround.
6 p.m.: All-Stars take court.
6:30 p.m.: All-Star Game.
Early a.m. Monday: Suns charter flight departs Denver.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0221sunsstars0221.html
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 21, 2005 12:00 AM
DENVER - The joint was packed with fans screaming for Amaré Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal and those who could not get the high-dollar tickets stuck on the outside, pining for a glimpse of the All-Star centers of attention.
East met West long before Sunday's All-Star Game tip-off. Stoudemire and O'Neal hosted a Friday party that was just a part of the Suns contingent's weekend of bling, bashes and basketball. Some paid ticket scalpers $200-plus for the right to be in a club with $11 drinks. The All-Stars appeared on the VIP floor for about as long as they did Sunday on the Pepsi Center floor.
"It was big-time," Stoudemire said, reflecting on his midnight appearance at a bash featuring Ludacris, Russell Simmons, Rev. Run, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Terrell Owens, Luther Campbell, Bill Bellamy, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson and Brandy. "Coming out here is when you really have to enjoy yourself. You've gotta mix it up."
Phoenix was in the mix all weekend, whether it was three All-Stars on Sunday's stage, a near Suns sweep of Saturday's events or the jam-packed schedule that had the Suns spread around downtown Denver like snow flurries.
Their Friday started with interview sessions at the team hotel, where stretch and Hummer limos clogged nearby traffic and the sidewalks were lined with fans like a parade.
Marion, wearing a dog tag reading "MATRIX," and the others held court with journalists seated and standing in a semicircle. Microphones and recorders practically sat on the players' shoulders. Stoudemire kept getting asked if he would become MVP while Marion handled a question about why there are no White American All-Stars.
Stoudemire and Marion moved on to appearances at local stores. As Steve Nash left the room, an "M-V-P" chant came from above. It was ESPN analyst Greg Anthony on a stage.
This weekend was not the party-packed experience it once was for Nash, who had about 15 players visiting his 4-month-old twin girls in his room Sunday. The best part was reuniting with best friend Dirk Nowitzki, who said the All-Star experience was most special because he was back on the same team bus and team with his former partner.
"I've been trying to catch up with family and friends," Nash said. "That's the most important thing to me. We don't get a break very often. During the season, I don't have that much energy when we're playing or on the road."
Some Suns went to Friday's Rookie Challenge, where Richardson, Brandy and her 11 1/2-carat ring drew more looks than Chris Bosh's game.
Richardson, a player selected by Michael Jordan for his exclusive line, also got to hit Jordan's party that night. A club was converted into a faux airport terminal with Jordan's new shoes unveiled on a baggage carousel and flight attendants serving those who had the exclusive boarding pass to enter.
The Denver party menu also included one hosted by Carmelo Anthony and Nelly, another by Kenyon Martin and one with Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley across the street from Stoudemire's red-carpet bash with O'Neal.
"That was the best part of the weekend," Stoudemire said Sunday, sitting in a locker room alongside Nash and Marion. "That's my guy. We're good friends."
There is far more interaction with fans than celebrities.
"Some of the people get aggressive," Marion said. "I had a guy at Foot Locker (where he made an appearance before going to a doctors banquet) saying, 'I drove so and so miles in from such and such. I'm not going anywhere until I get a photo or an autograph or something.' "
Marion obliged, which is what the Suns All-Stars did often every time NBA-TV, ESPN, TNT or any reporter like 8-year-old Michael Barrett of Cave Creek asked a question they had heard hundreds of times this season.
Stoudemire wrote a diary in the Rocky Mountain News and did not know it, as the newspaper assembled every comment he made Friday into a "diary."
On Saturday, they met more than 1,600 journalists on a court at the NBA Jam Session, where fans gathered to watch interviews and practices. Marion walked around with a recorder, voicing his in-depth thoughts for nba.com, like, "I'm tired. I need sleep."
The Suns' three All-Stars - Nash, Stoudemire and Marion - stuck together, posed for photos as a trio and Nash even put on Stoudemire's headband. He compared himself to Bjorn Borg, a reference lost on Stoudemire.
"More like Ben Stiller," Marion cracked.
"Same body," Nash said.
As they walked off Saturday, Stoudemire issued a parting shot: "We're coming home with all the trophies."
When Marion joined Diana Taurasi and Dan Majerle to win the opening Shooting Stars that night, Marion reiterated, "We're going to win them all," to a chuckling room before adding, with a stone face, "I ain't playin'."
It nearly came true Saturday. Nash outskilled fellow point guards and Richardson dropped his last nine shots to win the Three-Point Shootout.
Brandy, slapping Shaquille O'Neal's leg and pumping her arm, looked more excited than her fiancé.
"I don't know if it was classy but it was all I could do," she said.
The Suns All-Star contingent, except for Nash, hit the mother of all All-Star parties Saturday night. The National Basketball Players Association party had Nelly performing. Sunday night offered more choices, including a P. Diddy bash. But the Suns were ready to take their late Sunday charter flight home after a full weekend and a Wednesday home game with the Clippers to bring back their focus.
"I'm ready to ride around Phoenix with my top down," Stoudemire said.
Marion's All-Star agenda
Here is what the NBA had Shawn Marion doing in an official capacity before he even got to the nightlife.
FRIDAY
4:30 a.m.: Checks into Westin Tabor Hotel4 in downtown Denver after Suns charter flight left following Thursday's game in Phoenix.
12:45 p.m.: All-Star team meeting.
1:30 p.m.: Media interview session.
4 p.m.: Foot Locker appearance at Denver mall.
6 p.m.: Appearance for a doctors banquet at a restaurant.
7 p.m.: Rookie Challenge.
SATURDAY
10 a.m.: Bus leaves hotel for practice.
10:45 a.m.: Media interview session.
11:15 a.m.: Ball signing.
12:15 p.m.: Meeting with NBA Commissioner David Stern and National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Billy Hunter.
12:30 p.m.: All-Star practice.
1:30 p.m.: Bus back to hotel.
3 p.m.: Bus leaves for Pepsi Center.
4 p.m.: Shooting Stars team photo.
4:15 p.m.: Shooting Stars run through.
4:45 p.m.: Shooting Stars ball signing.
5 p.m.: Open shootaround.
5:30 p.m.: Media interview session.
6:12 p.m.: Take court for Shooting Stars competition.
SUNDAY
3:15 p.m.: Bus leaves for Pepsi Center.
4:15 p.m.: West All-Stars team photo.
4:45 p.m.: Media interview session.
5:15 p.m.: Open shootaround.
6 p.m.: All-Stars take court.
6:30 p.m.: All-Star Game.
Early a.m. Monday: Suns charter flight departs Denver.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0221sunsstars0221.html
