Elite Baseball Opening Day Roadshow Announced
January 24, 2012

The 2012 select baseball season is just around the corner and Elite Baseball  will be on site for opening day festivities throughout Orange County.   The Elite staff will be out in the community to take part and support players in their program and offer fans the chance to win official Under Armour merchandise and enter to win Elite Baseball prize packs.

Mark your calendars and stop by the Elite Baseball booth for more information.

Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul: A lot more than a comeback
January 20, 2012

TORONTO – On the hard wooden bench in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dressing room, there rests the only evidence that Joffrey Lupul ever had a back problem. It comes in the form of a foam pad, light blue, a couple of inches thick, designed to keep his spine aligned. He said he uses it now because it’s “just more comfortable,” and his teammates tease him, calling it the La-Z-Boy.

But there is nothing lazy about Lupul, and that’s why you would never know about the surgeries, the mysterious infection, the IV antibiotics, all the doctors and specialists and physical therapists, the year out of hockey. Lupul is playing a power game on the left wing, and he is producing like he never has before. He has not only made a comeback. He has gotten better.

Look at the NHL scoring leaders: No. 1 is the Pittsburgh Penguins’Evgeni Malkin, a former scoring champion, with 54 points. Next is the Vancouver Canucks’Henrik Sedin, a former scoring champion, with 52 points. Then there is Lupul with 51 points, tied for third with two of the most dynamic players in the game – the Tampa Bay Lightning’sSteven Stamkos and the Detroit Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk.

Lupul has clicked with teammatePhil Kessel, who is only one point behind, and he is on pace for 35 goals and 90 points, which would shatter his personal bests. He needs only two points to tie his career high. No wonder he has been mentioned for the Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.

“People take credit for players’ success a lot in our game,” said Dave Nonis, the Leafs’ senior vice-president of hockey operations. ” ‘It was the coach.’ ‘It was this.’ ‘It was his linemates.’ I think Joffrey deserves the credit for his success. Yes, he’s got players who have played well with him. But he put the time in and the work in, and he prepared for the season as hard as any player we have on our team.”

You don’t take the game for granted when it was almost taken from you.

Lupul was playing for the Anaheim Ducks in 2009-10 when he had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. It was supposed to be routine. His recovery was supposed to take weeks, not months, not a year. Lupul – the seventh overall pick in the 2002 draft, already a six-year NHL veteran at age 26 – was supposed to have a bright future in front of him.

But then he needed a second surgery. And then he developed an infection. And then he spent six weeks taking intravenous antibiotics three hours a day. And then – just when he thought everything was fine, just when he started to rehab – he didn’t come back. The infection did. Eight more weeks of IV antibiotics three hours a day.

Read full article: Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul: A lot more than a comeback

 

Coach Brown embraces the spotlight of Los Angeles
January 12, 2012

As we learned during Saturday’s practice in El Segundo. In the clip below, Mike Brown was in the middle of talking about the interchangeable positions in his lineups when he interrupted his own train of thought to yell approval at Devin Ebanks for hitting the deck after a loose ball. It was then jokingly pointed out how well Brown’s glasses work. The coach is a famous connoisseur and collector of specs, so possessing this particular pair of high quality Oakleys is no joke to him.

Especially because they were given to him for free.

“This is one of my first deals right here with Oakley,” said Brown with gushing pride. “I got Oakley and Audi. Audi took care of me. But Oakley took care of me and they’re down in Orange County. They’re gonna supply me with my glasses, which I guess, that’s what being the Lakers coach is.

“When I was in Cleveland, I got the frames for free, and that was it. But now I’m the Lakers coach. Shoot, Oakley’s giving me the frames and the glasses, and plenty of them for free, so I can’t complain at all.”

It was then pointed out Phil Jackson is also an Audi pitchman, so perhaps the two could team up for a spot? Slow down, says Brown.

“I think they at me as ‘Junior’ or something like that, because I’m not in any commercial. I’m not getting paid big bucks like Phil, but I do get to drive one, so I’m happy about that. So I thank Audi of Santa Monica for taking care of me. (Laughs) You [media] guys like that plug, huh? (Laughs) Hey, now I’m just driving an Audi. With that plug, it might turn into some cash. And if it does, whoever ran it, I’m taking to lunch. If you guys get it on your station and I get paid for it, then it’s on me.”

“Well, it’s on Audi,” clarified Brown with a laugh.

As two guys with a love of lunch, particularly lunches with a bill footed by somebody else, Brian and I kindly request the Land O’ Lakers readership retweet this post to death until you see Mike Brown on television driving an Audi. Make sure to include hashtags with “Audi,” “Mike Brown” and “K Bros,” so the car company honchos don’t give credit — and our meal — to some TV cameraman or rival blogger. In our imaginations, the deep-pocketed folks at Audi only frequent places rated 5-10 stars, so this is a very exciting opportunity for us.

 

Via ESPN 

Time under Karl helped shape Brooks
January 3, 2012

Scott Brooks has helped build the Oklahoma City Thunder into a true contender.
Like every other current head coach in the NBA, Scott Brooks has definitely paid his dues. Oklahoma City Thunder head coach had stints as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Seattle SuperSonics before first being named Oklahoma City’s interim and eventually full-time head coach in 2008.

Since then, all the former Cal-Irvine Anteater standout has done is helped build the Thunder into a true contender not just in the Western Conference, but in the Association.

But if there was one experience that really helped shape him as an NBA head coach, it was the three seasons he spent in Denver — parts of two of which were as an assistant under current Nuggets coach George Karl, who was hired in Denver in Jan. 2005.
I think George is one of the best coaches in the league. One of the things I learned with George is you make no excuses,” Brooks said. “If you have guys hurt, it doesn’t matter. You go out and do your best to try to win the game. If you have eight guys in practice, it doesn’t matter. You try to figure out a way to have the best eight men practice.”
And his former boss epitomized such a no-excuses approach in how he handled several off-court issues during his time in the Mile High City.

“He’s a no-nonsense, no-excuse kind of guy and on top of all that, he had to fight through his son having health issues and himself having health issues and he fought through it. Not a lot of people can do what he did,” Brooks said. “He had to deal with those two issues plus manage an NBA team. That gave me a lot of respect for that man.”

Full article by Steve Hunt: foxsportssouthwest.com- Time under Karl helped shape Brooks

Nuggets coach embraces challenge of getting back to playoffs without a superstar on roster

DENVER — George Karl wasn’t being difficult. He just wanted his “glue guy.”

And the Denver Nuggets coach certainly wasn’t being demanding. He just coveted his underrated center.

That’s why Karl pleaded and petitioned with the front office to bring back both guard Arron Afflalo and Brazilian big man Nene. Management listened and locked them up with five-year deals. The perfect holiday presents.

To Karl, Afflalo and Nene were the building blocks he needed to make a run at a ninth straight playoff appearance. Karl doesn’t require a superstar, just stability. He doesn’t need a headliner, only hard worker.

Karl’s philosophy will once again be this: Keep rotating in fresh players from his deep bench. It’s a formula that worked last season in the wake of the blockbuster deal that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks last February. The team went 18-7 down the stretch, before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

He believes this way of playing can be sustained over the course of an entire season, even if it’s somewhat abbreviated because of the lockout. And Karl is eager to put his theory to the test.

“The best team wins championships,” Karl said, placing heavy emphasis on the word team.

Read full article via Associated Press: Nuggets coach embraces challenge of getting back to playoffs without a superstar on roster

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February 1, 2012 - Muscle Milk  [ MUSCLE MILK ] HallPass Media ha ... +++ January 24, 2012 - Elite Baseball Opening Day Roadshow Announced The 2012 select baseball season is ... +++ January 20, 2012 - Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul: A lot more than a comeback TORONTO – On the hard wooden benc ... +++ January 12, 2012 - Coach Brown embraces the spotlight of Los Angeles As we learned during Saturday’ ... +++ January 3, 2012 - Time under Karl helped shape Brooks Scott Brooks has helped build the O ... +++ January 3, 2012 - Nuggets coach embraces challenge of getting back to playoffs without a superstar on roster DENVER — George Karl wasn’t bei ... +++ December 21, 2011 - Lakers Coach Mike Brown Partners with Audi HallPass client, LA Lakers Coach Mi ... +++ December 17, 2011 - New York Knicks embrace Mike D’Antoni’s title talk No one inside the Knicks’ locker ... +++ December 14, 2011 - Mike Brown’s practices full of energy and structure On a crumpled piece of paper lies t ... +++ December 12, 2011 - Rick Carlisle excited about Mav’ trio DALLAS – After acquiring Vi ... +++ December 12, 2011 - Mike Brown brings his own style to Los Angeles Lakers It’s hard enough to replace a ... +++ December 8, 2011 - NBA Training Camps Set To Open NEW YORK – The NBA Board of ... +++ December 6, 2011 - adidas Nations Coach Aubrey McCreary named to Cleveland Cavaliers staff CLEVELAND, OH – December 5, 2 ... +++ November 18, 2011 - Under Armour Shop Page Now Open On Elite Baseball Site HallPass Media has launched the Und ... +++ November 1, 2011 - adidas Nations Class of 2012 Highlights Fourteen Division I Commits The talent at this year’s adi ... +++ October 13, 2011 - IntelliSkin and HallPass team up to launch the Empower PostureCue™ Sports Bra HallPass Media and IntelliSkin have ... +++ August 22, 2011 - USA 2012 Blue defeats USA 2013 Red in adidas Nations Championship USA 2012 Blue- Champions USA 2013 R ... +++ August 22, 2011 - USA 2012 Red defeats USA 2013 Blue in adidas Nations 3rd place game USA 2012 Red-3rd place USA 2013 Blu ... +++ August 22, 2011 - CBS airing of adidas nations preview show draws stellar ratings, over 750k viewers The 2011 adidas nations program is ... +++ August 22, 2011 - Elite Baseball Series Presented by Under Armour Announces 1st & 2nd Team 2011 1st Team All EBS C Arden Pabst ... +++ August 22, 2011 - IntelliSkin posts banner week at US Open of Surfing IntelliSkin and Dr. Tim Brown were ... +++ July 18, 2011 - Twenty-One Elite Baseball Alumni Selected in 2011 MLB Draft Elite Baseball and HallPass Media a ... +++ June 17, 2011 - IntelliSkin 2.0 Rollout Powered by HallPass Media HallPass Media is proud to announce ... +++ June 1, 2011 - WGL Management and HallPass client Mike Brown named new coach of the Lakers A new era begins as the The Los Ang ... +++ May 19, 2011 - HallPass Media Secures Partnership for adidas Grassroots Broadcasts Over the past three years, HallPass ... +++ April 18, 2011 - HallPass Positions IntelliSkin For Banner Weekend In Boston HallPass Media client IntelliSkin t ... +++ March 29, 2011 - HallPass Media Presents “The Dwight Howard Experience” HallPass Media covered Eastern Conf ... +++ March 28, 2011 - HallPass Relaunches IntelliSkin’s Website HallPass Media and IntelliSkin are ... +++ March 20, 2011 - Elite Baseball Announces Partnership With Under Armour Elite Baseball is proud to announce ... +++ March 15, 2011 - NBA Hoops for St. Jude Week Wraps with Record Results The second annual Hoops for St. Jud ... +++ January 13, 2011 - Dwight Howard headlines new team members for Hoops For St. Jude NBA stars Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wad ... +++ December 17, 2010 - Dwight Howard hits the streets for EA Sports NBA Jam EA Sports set up an NBA Jam arcade ... +++ December 17, 2010 - George Karl teams up with Taco Bell and Cups for Cancer Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Ka ... +++ December 6, 2010 - Try it On…Improve Today – HallPass signs IntelliSkin for digital branding IntelliSkin, a technically innovati ... +++ December 1, 2010 - HallPass Launches Joakim Noah’s New Website CHICAGO – November 4, 2010 – Ri ... +++ July 27, 2010 - HallPass at MLS All Star game to cover U-17 CUP HallPass Digital media is in Housto ... +++ June 22, 2010 - 2010 NBA Summer League Schedule NEW YORK — Twenty-two NBA tea ... +++ May 17, 2010 - HallPass Launches Victoria Azarenka’s New Website HallPass Media is excited to announ ... +++ March 9, 2010 - Virgin Mobile Partners with Melanie Oudin Virgin Mobile USA Believes in Melan ... +++ March 4, 2010 - HallPass Secures Deal with KeyBank for Anderson Varejao HallPass Media recently secured a d ... +++ March 1, 2010 - NBA players and coaches team up for Hoops for St. Jude Week MEMPHIS, TENN. 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