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Pat Garrity a candidate to replace Michele Roberts as NBPA's executive director
Over the past two months, league sources have identified other potential candidates contacted as part of a long-running search that began in March 2020 and was paused last summer while the league and the union were focused on restarting the 2019-20 season after a four-month shutdown imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. In alphabetical order: Noah Croom (former Minnesota Timberwolves executive who has also worked in the league office and as a player agent); Arne Duncan (former U.S. Secretary of Education in the Barack Obama administration who played pro basketball in Australia after his college career at Harvard); Nichole Francis Reynolds (attorney and former vice president of U.S. public policy at Mastercard; currently vice president and head of global government relations at business technology company ServiceNow).
Last Tuesday, as the Wizards were finishing up their first practice in weeks due to the hectic schedule of the condensed 2020-21 NBA season, former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan entered the gym at their practice facility in Southeast Washington. He's a towering figure, both literally and figuratively, as a former professional basketball player himself and a former cabinet member in President Barack Obama's administration.
Jon Krawczynski: On a #CAAamplifyTownHall, Arne Duncan tells Carmelo Anthony: "Philanthropy is important but insufficient." Said major issue that needs to be addressed is black/white wealth gap. People of color need to be hired in well-paying management positions.
Arne Duncan, the former U.S. Secretary of Education, was in attendance. He and Upshaw shared the same alma mater, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and played together in the NBA Mountain Dew 3-v-3 tournament this past summer with other representatives of the city. Former NBA forward and Chicago native Antoine Walker came through. Players, coaches and ownership of the Drive were there, fresh off Friday's playoff loss to the Raptors 905 in Mississauga, Ontario, the team's first game without Upshaw. Representatives of the Detroit Pistons awaited them.
Spruell’s work has led to the launch of new initiatives aimed at improving officiating, which the NBA will formally announce on Thursday. The league has created an Officiating Advisory Council that will include former NBA player and coach Doug Collins; retired Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of USA Basketball and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Arne Duncan, the former U.S. Education Secretary; ex-referee Steve Javie; and Kenny Smith, a TNT analyst and former NBA player. Together, they will help determine the future of NBA officiating.
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This year's rosters include celebrities from film, TV, and music. Reigning 2012 Sprit NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Kevin Hart ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"), will look to defend his title alongside stars like Grammy Award-winner Ne-Yo (R&B/pop); Nick Cannon ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"); Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games); Trey Songz (R&B Singer/Actor); Usain Bolt (Olympic gold medal sprinter); Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education); Terrence Jenkins ("E! News," Anchor); Common (Rapper/Actor); John Schriffen (ABC News Correspondent); Ryen Russillo (ESPN Host); NBA Legends Dikembe Mutombo (eight-time NBA All-Star), Clyde Drexler (ten-time NBA All-Star), Sean Elliott (two-time NBA All-Star), and Bruce Bowen (NBA legend); WNBA stars Tamika Catchings ( Indiana Fever) and Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx).
President Barack Obama kept his tradition of an Election Day basketball game alive Tuesday, with an assist from Scottie Pippen. At around 1 p.m., Obama's motorcade arrived at the Hope Athletic Center on Chicago's West Side, where the president played basketball with staff and friends. Former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias tweeted that he was playing on a team with Obama and former Bulls Pippen and Randy Brown. Their team reportedly won by 20 points. A White House spokeswoman confirmed that Obama also played with brother-in-law and Oregon State basketball coach Craig Robinson, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass, Reggie Love, Mike Ramos and Marty Nesbitt.
Lin said after practice that it meant a lot to hear that President Barack Obama is on his bandwagon and that he hopes to meet him someday. "That's part of the Harvard network and being a part of the Harvard family," Lin said. "They support me as I support them. I got a chance to meet with [Secretary of Education] Arne Duncan and work out with him last year. That was a pleasure. Maybe sometime down the road I can meet the president as well."
Though many observers are surprised at the quick success of rookie coach Tom Thibodeau, Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was optimistic all along. It doesn’t hurt that Reinsdorf’s optimism was fueled by a glowing stamp of approval from President Obama and his closest team of White House advisers, who had long lobbied for Thibodeau’s hiring. ‘‘Tom Thibodeau was first recommended to me by [U.S. Secretary of Education] Arne Duncan,’’ Reinsdorf said during an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times on Tuesday. ‘‘And that was two years earlier. The Celtics didn’t give us a chance to talk with him until after the playoffs, when they won the championship.’’
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