Hulk Hogan and The Lukewarm Golden State Warriors Intro

((ht: cbssports.com))

Oh Hulk Hogan, in the days of yore, you could tear the roof off a WWE arena with your mere presence.

But as you've aged into your 60's, the crowd pop just isn't quite the same.

Thursday night, the Hulkster was called upon to get the crowd revved up for the intros before the New Jersey Nets-Golden State Warriors game in Oakland.

Complete with his circa 1980's intro music (Real American),  the Hulkster came down and spoke the wisdom of the epic Nets vs. Warriors matchup.

The crowd...well, at least based on the sound, wasn't quite so into it...

Former NBA Star Blaylock Gets 15-Year Jail Sentence for Vehicular Homicide

((ht: ajc.com))

Former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock pleaded guilty to Vehicular Homicide and other minor charges in a metro Atlanta area courtroom Monday afternoon.

The charges stem from a May 2013 traffic accident south of Atlanta when he crashed into a car driven by Monica Murphy who died on the scene. Blaylock, who was also seriously injured in the crash, agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors that calls for 7-years of jail time and 8-years of probation, though he'd be eligible to have the prison term suspended after 3-years.

While Blaylock, who admitted he had an alcohol problem, was apparently not intoxicated at the time of the crash, he was under orders not to be driving due to a seizure disorder attributed to his alcoholism.

Read more from AJC.com RIGHT HERE

Blaylock played for 13-years in the NBA and retired in 2002. He was drafted in 1989 by the New Jersey Nets and played for the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors.

Here is some video of Blaylock with the Hawks:

DEVELOPING: J-Kidd To Brooklyn

Citing the ever-popular league sources... Jason Kidd is now the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets... for three years- the exact length of the contract of GM Billy King...

So, it will be interesting to see how much patience an impatient owner has with a head coach that has no head coaching experience...

He goes from being the 2nd oldest NBA player to the 2nd youngest NBA head coach...

Fred Kerber of the New York Post has some quotes from "sources..." and we know how well connected they all are...

“Jason is a good fit,” one of those persons maintained. “He is a culture changer. He did it before. He really has impressed on everyone how badly he wants the job.”

“Do I think Jason Kidd is going to be a great coach? Yes. Would I hire him? In a heartbeat,” Hall of Famer Magic Johnson said yesterday on a conference call promoting the NBA Finals.

More when we know more...

Developing: Mookie Blaylock on Life Support After Crashing Car (UPDATED To Serious Condition, One Other Dead And Charges Filed)

Former NBA All-star Mookie Blaylock is on life-support late Friday afternoon after being critically injured in a crash south of Atlanta.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Blaylock was hurt when his car crossed the median and hit an oncoming vehicle head on.

They report at least two people transported in critical condition as of this posting (6:50pm)

Read the AJC.com story RIGHT HERE

Blaylock, who went to college at Oklahoma,  played 13-years in the NBA for New Jersey, the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors, making the all-star game once. He was considered one of the best point-guards of his era. His name was often material for comics and many others.

PM UPDATE: According to the AJC's Alexis Stevens, the early parts of the investigation are yielding that Blaylock went over the center line. A passenger in the second vehicle has died from injuries. Blaylock himself has been taken off life support, but he is listed as "guarded, but critical."

Here's early coverage from WSB-TV...

SUNDAY UPDATE: Blaylock is set to be charged with failure to maintain lane and driving on a suspended license according to Jonesboro (GA) Police Chief Franklin Allen

Reports: Hawks trade Joe Johnson: Danny Ferry Executive of the Year? (UPDATED WITH SECOND TRADE)

Joe Johnson

Well, well, well.

It appears that Atlanta Hawks fans may indeed have gotten their wish. According to multiple reports, the Hawks have traded Joe Johnson to the New Jersey...oops, sorry Brooklyn Nets.

Why is this significant?

Because Johnson while a very good player, is being paid more money than anyone in the NBA. The Hawks owed him $90 million for the next 4 years and now apparently don't have to pay it.

They'll get Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro, Jordan Williams, a lottery protected 1st round pick next year and possibly a sign and trade receipt of DeShawn Stevenson.

Read more from AJC.com RIGHT HERE

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports has more details RIGHT HERE

This trade would make brand spanking new Hawks G.M Danny Ferry the frontrunner for NBA Executive of the Year.

Why? Simple. And we know this from covering the Hawks and being based in the ATL.

Johnson is a good dude. And a better than average basketball player. The Hawks are a decent team that has plateaued. They needed a change.

While Joe is good enough as a "Lead" guy to get them in the playoffs, he's not good enough to get them over the top. And his salary is SO big that it would have kept the Hawks from finding the true "Leader" that they need.

The trade frees up his salary and gives them a bunch of bargaining chips to find another great player. Josh Smith and Al Horford are good building blocks. But they need help. Help Johnson couldn't consistently give.

He tried. Really...despite what many Atlanta fans thought, the guy gave all he had. It's just not his personality to take over things. He's a laid-back passive kind of guy and it came out in the way he sometime played. If he tried to force things and get out of character, he just made things worse.

So the Nets get a semi-marquee player they hope will team with Deron Williams and possibly Dwight Howard to open their new arena. There is a thought they won't pursue Howard because of the money needed for Johnson and Williams. Don't believe that for a second. Mikhail Prokhorov wants butts in his new seats and he's smart enough to know he needs a winning product...this year. And our bet is he will do whatever is necessary to make that happen.

PM UPDATE: And if that wasn't enough, Ferry has apparently sent Marvin Williams packing to Utah for Devin Harris- pending league approval.

And, with that, goes Williams and his $15.8-million over the next two seasons. Harris has one year left on his contract at $8.5-million. That means that Ferry has dumped over $105-million in salary while bringing in only $23-million.

Conjecture from Stein and Windhorst over at the four-letter is that Dwight Howard could now be interested in moving to Atlanta since New Jersey would be in no financial shape to bring in Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Howard.

Early returns have Danny Ferry being very serious in a very short period of time...

Here's Magic GM Rob Hennigan confirming what we all know...
((HT: MyFoxOrlando))
FOX 35 News Orlando

Mikhail Prokhorov Raps- And It's Pretty Damn Funny...

((HT: The New Yorker))

He's the Russian Eminem...

And it was on a state-run show called "Projector Paris Hilton"- which, on it's own, should draw a laugh since there a joke in there somewhere...

The HQ cannot thank Julia Ioffe enough for the levity at the end of the 9-to-5 day...