Headlines Widget updated to include your blog posts posted by Earn Money Blogging
We've added some additional functionality to our "Headline Widget" so that our bloggers can now promote their blog posts through the widget.  Simply go the "Headline Widget" page, type in your username in the appropriate blank, and copy the HTML to any webpages (i.e. your MySpace profile page or your personal blog) where you want your blog posts to appear.
 
The "Headline Widget" can be customized to display in any color and it comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. 
 
Important: The widget is geared towards displaying headlines and blog posts for a particular sport or team, so if you want the widget to display all of your blog posts no matter what the subject of the blog post is, be sure to choose "All Sports Headlines" for the first customization option.
 
This widget is a great way to promote your blog.  Get as many people as you can to put the widget on their webpages.  For example, tell your friends with MySpace and blogs to paste your widget into their pages.  Or contact other sports bloggers and see if they would put the widget on their blog page.  The widget is simply HTMl code, so any page where you're allowed to post HTML is a good place to post the widget.  We've had local television stations use this widget on their website to get up-to-date information about the local professional sports teams so there's no telling who might find your blog posts interesting and be willing to post your widget on their website.  Email the webmasters of... [read more]

Inbound link contest winner announced! posted by Earn Money Blogging

A big thanks to everyone who participated in the "Inbound Link Contest".  We have a winner!  A big congratulations go out to Marija.  Thank you for all your hard work on this.  While we had a lot of people participate, Marija was able to win with only 4 links!  So it wouldn't have taken a lot to win this contest!  We'll be having another contest soon so stay tuned.

The whole purpose of this contest was to get our bloggers networking with other webmasters and to start to build up their inbound links which will help their traffic.  Even a few links can help you with the search engines as they will see you as more of an authority on your topic the more inbound links you have.

To learn more about marketing your blog check out this post: http://www.nbabasketballonline.com/sports_content-rev_share_faq.html#my_faq_2971

Marija's blog can be found here.  If you're a Knicks fan, check it out: http://www.newyorkknicksnews.com/marijak

The original post announcing the contest can be found here: http://www.nbabasketballonline.com/bloggers/weblog/2984.html

And if you're not already signed up with Google AdSense and making money from your blog, check out our Revenue Share FAQ page: http://www.nbabasketballonline.com/sports_content-rev_share_faq.html

 ... [read more]

NBA Schedule Released!! posted by Evan Sorce

The NBA 2008-2009 schedule was finally released yesterday, August 6th 2008. The release of the schedule was delayed because of the relocation of the team formally known as the Sonics. The Portland Trail Blazers start the season on October 28th, against Kobe, and the Western Conference champions Los Angeles Lakers.  The home opener is on Halloween night against the mighty San Antonio Spurs. The Blazers schedule doesn’t get much easier for a while.  Seven out of their first nine games are against teams that made the playoffs last year, including the Jazz, the Suns, and the Rockets. To make matters worse, 10 out of their first 14 games are on the road, where the Blazers only won 13 games last year. However after this initial month full of challenges, their schedule does get easier. From November 24th, through January 2nd 12 out of the Blazers 19 games are at home.  The Blazers are on national television 13 times, 8 times on TNT, and 5 on ESPN, including a Christmas Day showdown against Jason Kidd and the Mavericks in Portland.... [read more]

People Get Ready posted by Chris Calarco

    The feeling in Portland is downright giddy.  Looking out across the Broadway Bridge onto the Rose Garden Arena perched above the Willamette River you sense that something special is happening at One Centre Court. The Portland Trail Blazers, the only major league franchise is the City of Roses, are simmering.  After seven years of sporadic play, poor teamwork, and more appearances in the Portland police blotter then NBA playoffs, the Blazers and their fans, like Nebraska -era Boss, have found a reason to believe.    

    Although this rebuilding project has been happening since 2006 when the team landed Washington guard Brandon Roy and Texas forward LaMarcus Aldridge through wily draft deals by general manager Kevin Pritchard, it was not until the team jettisoned black hole but incredibly talented scorer, Zach Randolph, to the NBA wasteland that resides on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets in Manhattan that these efforts truly took shape.  Although it was widely reported that Roy had taken emotional leadership of the team earlier in the previous campaign during a locker room confrontation with Randolph, the Michigan bred forward had remained the franchise cornerstone due to his impressive statistics, knack for scoring, and large contract.  It became increasingly evident to all Blazer fans that Randolph was holding this team back.  I didn’t necessarily want to believe it myself at the time because Z-Bo simply put up numbers game after game but his style of play (poor passer, lack of d... [read more]

Trailblazers Add More Punch posted by Jonathan Dintzer

Portland did another great job on draft night. Everyone knew coming into the draft that Jerryd Bayless will probably never be a suitable lead guard option in the league so you needed to put him with a guy who can handle and score on his own as well, while having the size and the ability to create for others. Brandon Roy is obviously a great fit there. Bayless may not start this year but the Blazer bench was dynamic at times last year and should be that much more explosive next season...and in two years they'll be ready for the playoffs with Bayless starting alongside Roy, Outlaw, Aldridge and Oden.

The only issue I see with this team is that they need a solid perimeter defender or they'll be in trouble (like last year) against a lot of teams in the West. They shouldn't have a problem at the rim with two of the best five or six shot blockers in the league in Oden and Pryzbila but that line-up doesn't have anyone to defend outside; that's why I had been hoping they'd take a Kyle Weaver with their first 2nd round pick...instead they went for broke on Nic Batum whom I've heard people argue very passionately about on both sides. Either way, they may've gotten too cute at the end of that draft for my taste. I liked Darrell Arthur as a gift late to them and I even like Mike Taylor, the PG they got late 2nd who ended up with LAC...I think he can definitely play in the league.  Beyond the nitpicking however, the night had to be looked at as another success for Kevin Pritchard and Co.... [read more]

Back in 1990 with the Portland Trail Blazers posted by David Lassen
This week on Comcast SportsNet Northwest they've been showing Game 6 of the 1990 Western Conference finals in the NBA. Being an Oregonian and Blazer fan it brings back vivid memories. I was nearing the end of my first term away from home at Southern Oregon State College (as it was known then) in Ashland, and a large group of friends were all Blazer fans. We got together to see them on TV every game it seemed. I remember being at my townhouse apartment I shared with my cousin, with a few guests on that great day of May 31st in '90. Man, it seemed like the greatest thing in the world when Buck Williams got the rebound at the end and heaved the ball upward like he was trying to hit the roof. The amazing thing is there were a number of segments in the series with the Phoenix Suns where Portland did not look so sharp, and even in this final game in which they came back to win. My cousin and I made a Memorial Day weekend trip down to the Bay Area to see an Athletics game a few days before (he's an A's fan). Coming from Ashland it wasn't really that long of a drive, and we hung out with his brother's family there too. I could have my exact days wrong but it seemed like on that Friday night the Trail Blazers played one of the games in Phoenix and got DESTROYED! I forget the score but they were down a ton. Then the next day, we went to the A's baseball game. People sitting nearby said they were sorry for us after telling them we were from Oregon. Hardly anyone then thought they could come back. But the Blazers did, and went into the Finals with a lot of momentum. (By the w... [read more]

Inbound link contest - Win $100! posted by Earn Money Blogging

To try and motivate our bloggers to get inbound links we're going to have a contest to see which blogger can get the most inbound links to their blog. The contest begins now and ends July 31st, 2008. To be entered in to the contest all you have to do is go out and get as many websites to link to your blog as you can and at the end of the month send us an email listing all those links. All links must be active from August 1st through August 7th when we'll be judging the entries - a winner will be announced on August 7th. All entry emails must be received by Midnight on July 31st, 2008. You can email them to sportsfan@nbabasketballonline.com

We're going to impose some restrictions on the types of links you can get so please see below for the full list of links that do NOT count.

To get started simply go to Google and find other websites and blog that are about the sports and teams that you write about. Email the website owner and ask them for a link by explaining that you think your blog would be a good resource for their readers. Or offer to write a guest post for them with your by-line and URL at the bottom of the article. Or offer to exchange links with them by writing a quick write up of their site and a reciprocal link back to them. Some webmasters will be happy to add you to their blog roll even if you don't give them a link back (which is ideal) but some may want you to link back to them - you can easily do this with a quick blog entry on your blog about their website.

To learn more about inbound links and marketing your blog in general check out this post:--b... [read more]

Blazers Aquisition & Update posted by M-D
The Blazers signed assistant coach Joe Prunty today, presumably to replace Bill Bayno, who took the head coaching job at Loyola Marymount University after last season. With Prunty comes experience, intelligence and three championship rings (from his tenure in San Antonio). He coached for Dallas last season and was one of Avery Johnson's first acquisitions as head coach of the Mavs. Here is a link to Prunty's bio.

This can only be a good thing, considering he worked for coach Greg Popovich and has the experience of winning a championship. Having coaches with playoff experience makes it infinitely easier for players in the post-season, so this is another step in the right direction. The talent is there, the coaching staff is coming along. Championship is imminent.

Another interesting piece of Blazers news is that Rudy Fernandez reported turned down $31 million to play in the NBA. CSKA of Moscow put up an offer of 20 million euros (roughly $31 million) recently. The Blazers can only offer Fernandez about $6 million for his rookie contract. You know he is telling the serious when he says that his dream is to play in the NBA. You don't turn down $31 million every day. From his interviews, it seems like he will be a great character guy and another important piece of the puzzle. Fernandez has the potential to be a better Manu Ginobli, a kind of player that is important to every championship team.... [read more]

In Defense of Darius Miles posted by jamie cooper

There's no question Darius Miles has acted like a fool both on and off the court at various times throughout his abridged career, whether it was that ridiculous, tricked out car of his, his consistent insubordination, or his inability to quit smoking weed for more than 2 seconds at a time. For this, he has no one to blame but himself.

My point of contention lies within the inclination to blame Miles for all the Blazers woes. Critics are quick to point out how his huge salary has hamstrung the team's trade manuevering or to blame his lack of productivity for the Blazer's dreadful regular season records of the past years. But doesn't at least some of the responsibility belong to the team's front office?

Is it Miles' fault they offered him, an immature young player, such a giant contract? Can you honestly blame him for the malformation in his knee that sidelined him for two full seasons and subsequently ended his career?

It's easy to sit in judgment of someone whose every indiscretion is paraded through the media outlets. Indeed, it's been harmful to the image of the organization, the city of Portland, and most of all Darius himself.

But as the old maxim goes, character is judged by what you do when no one's looking. And because Miles has been maligned aplenty, he deserves also to be commended for his moments of altruism.

I mean, honestly, how bad can a guy be who reads a random news story about the tragic death of a child and offers to pay for all of the family's funeral expenses, and without the media fanfare?

h... [read more]

Will Miles Make a Comeback? posted by M-D

Darius Miles, who the Blazers cut some three months ago, worked out for the Celtics last week. Reports claim the workout was "impressive", whatever that means. If he even plays ten games in the NBA in the next two seasons, his salary will go back on the books for Portland and the Blazers' Summer of 09' free agency plan will be in peril.

We all know that the guy who said the workout was "impressive" was in the Miles camp. I can't imagine Miles actually making a roster. He may have put together a decent workout, but after what happened to his knee, there is no way he could consistently pound that knee over the course of a season. After examination last year, a team doctor said Miles had the worst knee he had ever seen. The doctor then deemed the injury career ending.

So then, what is Boston doing? Is this a big "screw you" aimed at Kevin Pritchard for practically stealing Brandon Roy from Boston in the 2006 draft? Why would you want to add a guy to your championship team who has not played a game inalmost two years? He has poor work ethic, a poor attitude, and on top of that, he was just susspended for 10 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy. This is the kind of guy who will ruin team chemistry.

To put it in perspective, Amare Stoudemire returned to the NBA floor six months after his microfracture surgery. Miles wasn't even cleared to run six months after his microfracture surgery. If Miles is in fact able to come back to the NBA, it will be a miracle. I'd give him a .1% chance to come back. But he will not play 10 games. Th... [read more]