Jackson announces return to Lakers bench
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07/03/2009 -
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil
Jackson, fresh off a record 10th NBA Championship as a coach, announced on
Friday he will return to the bench next year for a 10th season in LA and 19th
as an NBA head coach.
There was some speculation that Jackson would either decide to retire or coach
an abbrevaited schedule based on health concerns. Jackson discussed those
scenarios late last month in an ESPN radio interview but later came to a
decision along with general manager Mitch Kupchak to be all in or step away.
"After consulting with Lakers team internist Dr. John Moe, I feel confident
that I can gainfully pursue an NBA season with another long playoff
postseason. All things point to go!," Jackson said through a team release on
Friday.
Jackson, who turns 64 in September, had cited health concerns as the sole
reason behind any decision that would have had the Hall of Fame coach unable
to fulfill the final year of his current contract. He agreed on a two-year
extension in November, 2007 but since has felt the rigors of the road
following a pair of hip replacement surgeries. The "Zen Master"
specifically has addressed continued discomfort in his lower legs and cited
longtime assistant Tex Winter's stroke last year as another reason to give
pause to what will be a 19th year of coaching.
For Jackson, his 10th championship surpassed the legendary Red Auerbach for
the most in history. Coaching his 300th career playoff game, Jackson also
passed Bill Russell (11) for most titles won by a player/coach as LA finished
off Orlando in Game 5 of the Finals last month. It was his fourth
championship in Los Angeles, having previously guided Michael Jordan and the
Chicago Bulls to six titles in the 1990s.
The announcement comes less than 24 hours after free agent forward Ron
Artest reached a verbal agreement to join the Lakers next season. Artest
announced on ESPN's SportsCenter in Los Angeles late Thursday that he is
leaving the Rockets for LA and would play for the mid-level exception. The Los
Angeles Times has reported the pact is for three years at close to $18
million.
No deal can be officially announced until July 8, per league rules.
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Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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