Sep 29, 2008 | 8:00 AM | Monday Morning Skip Pass

by: Paul Miles

Did a lot of work to the site over the weekend. Still not done. But, if you feel like dropping some love, hit that Bloggers Choice button and make your vote count.

Now, here we go, lace 'em up guys, it's time for the Skip Pass.

NBA
:: Times Online UK: Basketball goes all out to score in UK - The first of a handful of articles we'll see in the run-up to the NBA's European tour. This one looks at the business side of the venture with high hopes and college level words (hegemony? seriously, dude). There are two problems with the article. First, not one mention of the domestic league. And secondly, well. I'll let Mark from Blackwood, UK say it:

How on earth is it supposed to catch on when we get only one game a week on t.v

:: Dallas News: Dirk wants Mavericks to look to Europe - It should be a no brainer for the Mavericks to play one of these European Tours and get a game in Germany. Dirk wants it, and Germany wants it. Great chance for Dirk to show off his home country to his fans, and it would be a great boost to the Bundesliga, which is one of the more competitive leagues in Europe. Big Dirk:

I asked him (Mark Cuban) a couple years ago and it didn't look like we really had a shot so I wasn't going to annoy him with it. But I have three more years here left and I'd love to do it one time, go over there and let my teammates see my country. We got a lot of basketball-crazy fans over there. I'm sure it would be sold out and a fun time. But I understand his point with the money and the preseason and the traveling. It's not always easy. But I think it would be a great experience for everybody.

:: Times-Picayune: Hornets say courts not fit for practice - The $8.7million expansion to the Alario Center is not basketball fit. Warped wood on the courts kept the Hornets in the original gym at the Alario for the first practice of training camp. More bad news from that first practice as Tyson Chandler spent a good part of the work-out on a stationary bike.

:: Bobcat Bonfire: In the spirit of Charlotte, Bobcats downsize - Around 35 company support staffers were laid off (screw the "downsized" euphemism, they're the same size, just unemployed) by the Charlotte Bobcats last week. The company is suffering from years of losses both on the court and in the bank account. The $15million C-Set debacle doesn't help. The team is trying to help laid off employees get placed in the industry and is in contact with NASCAR and Fox Sports for placement.

Fall out from Brendan Joyce's verbal vitriol after the jump.

NBL
:: Sportal: Joyce gets a warning - I really have to wonder what Chuck Harmison is watching. Because he certainly is minding his ship. In a disciplinary letter sent to Gold Coast Blaze head coach Brendan Joyce, Harmison said:

The NBL prides itself on being one of the most media-friendly professional leagues in Australia, which is important as we look to grow the profile of our game.

Okay Chuck. Enjoy whatever job you'll have next season. But back to Joyce. I certainly feel that a coach should have the right to be angry and challenge a writer who does a poor job reporting. If Joyce had removed the writer, that's when he would have crossed the line. But simply challenging him is well within his rights as the public persona of the team.

Europe
Going to finish it out with some good news. Highlights of the Supercopa Espana's dunk contest. Some heavy Dwayane Wade influence:

Labels: acb, bobcats, brendan joyce, chuck harmison, dallas mavericks, dirk nowitzki, england, globalization, hornets, nba, nbl, tyson chandler

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